#i'm not even impatient at all for the next season

[loverboybrightsideghost]

i have read the summary of the vampire lestat and now i'm really excited to see how they adapt it (and presumably maybe mush it also with other books of the vampire chronicles?) for the show :DDD

[mypussytasteslikeharibo]

Tight plans

Summary: Viktor buys Reader a nice little (lacy) present. They discover it while Viktor is still working hard at the lab. Maybe they put it on to see if it fits.

No gendered pronouns used for reader. Afab reader. Not proof read, no guarantee for quality oops

Notes: I'll probably do a part two, depending on how fucked my time management and sleep schedule is going to be the following week. Sorry about the language, I'm not a native speaker. My English professor would be disappointed at my use of inverted sentence structures. I'm sorry. You'll see me again next semester still. Anyway, have fun everyone! Hope you'll never be able to wear tights again :)

It's not unusual for Viktor to be home late from the lab. He's always working hard, that's what you love about him. His attitude towards his passion and his great mind to match it make him as endearing as he's always been to you.

What IS unusual though is the present sitting on your bed. No special occasion. Did you forget your own birthday? No. You might be getting slower but not that slow. Maybe it's meant for someone else. But you throw that idea out of the window as you're holding a small card in your hands, spelling out your name and signed by your loved one with a Love, Viktor.

Well. As it's not an anniversary, and there's not been any big, big news about his or your work either, you decide to just open it. If it was a bomb then Viktor probably had his reasons to blow you up anyway.

You unravel the bow on top of the golden present, hands slightly shaking in anticipation. You wonder what could be inside? Maybe it's the earrings you've looked at longer than necessary at the shop three weeks ago, or a useful tool for your work in the lab. Even though that would not require a bow as decoration. It would've been enough to just... Lay it on your desk and let it find it's way to you while you're working.

But no, it is instead... A pair of tights. Well even with winter on the way, these tights are not made for cold weather or even day to day going out, no matter the season.

Made of black net, with an artistic rose pattern on the back of the calves and sitting at an angle that makes the seam disappear into your ass, these tights can only have one use.

They're... sexy.

A shudder runs through you. There has to be an explanation to this.

Yes, you and Viktor have been together for a few months now and it's going amazing. He's affectionate, he's gorgeous and he understands you better than anyone else in this whole city, if not world. You love even his droopy morning faces or his annoyed expressions when he comes home frustrated after an unsuccessful lab day. But what you love most, right now at least... Yes, well, it's the sex.

You've been with people before and you've had great sex before. But for Janna's sake, the way this man makes you quiver under his body while he fucks into you like a machine built only for one purpose and one purpose only, it drives you insane. He isn't rough but loving in a way that still makes you see stars for the next hour.

So you are not only confused at the reason for this kind of foreplay but also incredibly and utterly horny about it. The thought of Viktor having to shop at a store and pick out this pair of tights specifically for you, paying for them with his hard earned money while he thinks about you and the way you would look in these tights... Him having to plan when and where to give these to you and ultimately deciding on leaving them on the bed while he's at wor-

He's at work. He's at work, knowing that you'll be home earlier than him. He knows that you will unpack this present as soon as you see it, knows that you get too impatient otherwise. And he counts you opening it without him, alone. In your bedroom, right in front of your bedroom mirror. He's thinking about you, seeing these tights and figuring out all of his plans, even playing along with them.

He knows that you will put them on and he knows that you will be waiting for him at home.

Your pussy pulses.

To think that this is the same man that couldn't hold your hand without getting crimson red ears four months ago.

A shudder runs through you. You don't even know what to do. Viktor could be home anytime but he could also stay at the lab for two more hours. It would be nonsensical to put on these tights without him here, just walking around in them without him there, knowing that he pictures you in them but doesn't see them until he's finished at the lab-

Ah, yes.

That makes sense.

It is slightly cool in the apartment when you take of your clothes bit by bit. It's not that you're freezing or anything. You're cold but it's not uncomfortable, it's... ironically, very hot.

You can feel your nipples getting hard underneath your lace bra.

You've put it on since you've had plans of your own on your way to Viktor's place. It doesn't help that your skin feels overly sensible right now. The thought of Viktor thinking about you at this very moment and what you could be doing in his bedroom without him there to observe...

It drives you crazy.

It tingles at the spots where your bra meets with the sensitive skin of your nipples. You can feel your pussy getting wetter by the second, pulsing to your heartbeat. All you can think about is Viktor, his hand on your lower stomach, your tits, your throat, the other directing itself to your burning core, only waiting to be touched by his calloused hand-

You snap out of it, panting. You've not even finished undressing, let alone putting on the beautiful pair of tights driving you crazy right now.

You wonder what his reaction will be. Before you lose yourself in thought again, you decide to finally let this pair of art decorate your body as you wait for the artist to arrive.

You bunch up the fabric until it reaches the toe end of it. Slowly, you let the toes of your right foot enter the smooth net. It stretches beautifully around your foot and spreads up your calves. As it reaches your knees, you see how the pattern paints the back of your calf with black roses and thorns. They follow your hand up to the start of your thighs, as you become a hot mess again.

It is as thought they are his hands wandering over your body. His eyes following every movement your hands make up your body, landing on your inner thighs and the burning desire waiting between them.

What a cruel man to do this to you.

You continue. The tights crawl up your thighs as you enter with your left foot. The same torturous process plagues you until both ends off the tights have reached your hips. At this point you've reached the part where the tights should end and close at your waist.

Instead they continue.

They're not normal tights.

Pulling them further up, you realize that these tights also double as a lace bra. They are as see-through as the rest of the tights but they also repeat the pattern from the calves in the stomach, leading up to your breasts. So you take of your own lace bra, letting it fall to the floor as you don't expect Viktor to have a problem with that later on. He would probably be too distracted to notice anyway.

As you lay the fabric down onto your breasts, one by one, you shiver from the sensation. The pattern and the lace of the fabric stimulate your hardened nipples and make you yearn for a hand similarly stimulating as the pattern, smelling of cologne and freshly brewed coffee.

The fabric closes in the middle of your breasts, creating an oval hole on your stomach. Not only does it look incredible, it also grants easy access for... Later activities.

As you put the straps of the tights on your shoulders, you turn to the mirror standing in the corner of the bedroom. The view makes you gasp. Not only that you feel so hot and ready to be banged against all surfaces of the apartment, you also look unbelievably lewd. It's not something you're used to but it makes you feel powerful. Like you're a goddess waiting for her pray to seduce. Letting your eyes wander across your breasts, your stomach, your hips you turn to look at your ass, which looks fucking burning hot.

But you also notice the hole cut into it.

Hm.

You can feel how wet you are without touching yourself. The anticipation is wrecking your body apart. How much longer is he going to take to come home? You can't walk around like this for hours. It would drive you to the brink of insanity.

You run your hands down your breasts, your sides, your stomach. You can barely touch your thighs before your knees buckle. As you turn your ass to the mirror again, your hands follow your direction. You massage it, feeling the net prickle at your skin and sending irritating shock waves towards your wet pussy. It is driving you bananas.

You bend forwards, looking back to your ass. As you actually see how wet and hot you are between your legs, you clamp your knees together from all the arousal. How can this little piece of fabric make you feel this unbearable way?

As the mirror stands directed towards to bed, you get up on the edge of it on all fours. Bending down your head, shoulders and upper back to the soft plush of Viktor's bed, you look back towards the mirror again.

Wow.

You've never seen yourself in this kind of state before. As you're only hearing your heart beat and your own panting, you don't even register the door keys turning in the front door.

"My fucking god."

You sit up out of surprise.

"No, no please stay like that! My love, you are simply..."

He sighs from endearment.

"...enthralling."

You blush. How come you still blush at his compliments seven months into dating?

"Well-" you lay down your upper body again. "-you were the one who chose and bought this for me, correct?"

You spread your legs just a little wider.

"Frankly, I feel like I should thank you for this gracious present."

You lock eyes with him while running a finger down your dripping pussy.

"How may I repay you, Darling?"

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A/n: Hope you enjoyed this small... Whatever this is :) I'll try to do a part two soon. Hopefully ruined your night with this open ending, let me know if so. Love you xoxo (no, I don't have any lacy underwear to give you)

[mianexil]

◇ Misunderstanding ◇

◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇

⭕️ Warning: Angst ⭕️

💫 [ I love these boys so much, and I don't want them to worry, but I couldn't get this angst out of my head, I had to write it ]

💫 [ Cuties, I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I needed to rest and regain my mental strength after the recent events in my life. I have managed to do a lot during this time. Although the July rainy season was killing me with the weather, but I'm already fine. My small trips that I have made during this time have allowed me to find inspiration again, so I am with you again ]

◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇

ㅡ Umemiya, Sakura

Umemiya

The white-haired head of Bofurin had just returned home, humming to himself some song he had heard from the radio while working with vegetables on the roof.

Umemiya was impatient with the desire to embrace the love of his life, which warmed his heart like a ray of sunshine. So, after taking off his shoes, he immediately headed to the kitchen, where you were presumably.

However, before entering the kitchen, he froze when he heard a sharp exclamation.

《 Why did you come here again?! 》

"Why did you come here again..?"

Umemiya's hand trembled over the handle of the door, which he had not yet managed to open, and immediately another stream of curses rang out.

《 Why are there so many of you?! I'm suffocating! Can you just leave me alone for a day? 》

Hajime's heart sank into his heels.

“What? Why? Suffocating? ...I..am I boring her..?"

Thoughts instantly flashed through the white-haired man's head, and then there was an overly loud minute of silence in his thought space.

It seemed that his heart was about to stop from realizing all this.

Pain pinched in his chest and moisture had already appeared in his blue eyes, but Umemiya restrained himself.

Deep breath.

Umemiya is the type of person who will go and talk even if he is in pain, even if he knows that he is about to get a dagger in his heart, because you are the love of his life. He is ready to open his heart for that very dagger himself, if it is in your hand.

He needs to hear it directly, listen to you, talk and fully understand the situation, even if it hurts him.

Nevertheless, the hand presses the door handle and the desperate gaze of Umemiya is presented with a picture of how you, with slightly swollen eyes and a clogged nose, express dissatisfaction to a large piece of fluff that you hold between your fingers.

Someone planted poplar fluff on your street and now, with the onset of summer, it clogs the whole street and flies into the windows, preventing you from living peacefully without allergies.

Turning around at the sound of the door opening, you see your boyfriend, who seems to be on the verge. The sight of Umemiya, who now looks more like the most unhappy puppy in the world, makes you go into shock for a few seconds.

Of course, you immediately rush to your lover with dumbfounded eyes and gently wrap your hands around his face.

When asked about what happened, he asks you in a firm voice, as usual, but slightly trembling at the end, who your previous words were intended for.

Having clarified the situation, you immediately find yourself in his strong and silent embrace. The silence is broken only by his soft sob.

This poor boy has just gone through too much in 3 minutes.

For the next hour, you will have to hold Umemiya in your arms, wipe away tears, soothe and assure him that you are not tired of him, that you still love him more than anything in the world and that he will never be "too much" in your life.

Oh, dear, take care of him, because he loves you too much.

Sakura

《 You don't understand, he's constantly nervous and yelling at me all the time. I'm sick of it already! To me..it seems to me that soon I will simply not stand it and leave.. 》

You were so immersed, emotionally complaining to your friend on the phone about the new teacher, that you didn't notice how your boyfriend froze in the doorway and had been listening to your conversation for several seconds.

Turning away from the window, you finally noticed Sakura.

ㅡ Oh, honey

Quickly concluding your dialogue with your friend with the promise that you will call back soon, you went to him.

ㅡ Has something happened?

You pull your hand to his forehead to remove the two-colored hair that fell over his eyes, covering his face, but he silently intercepted your hand.

ㅡ Why...

ㅡ What?..

ㅡ Why are you touching me?

There is anger in his tone, but you both understand that pain and resentment are hidden behind it. You felt the feeling of Sakura still holding, but not squeezing your hand. Even now, he treated you with care.

The voice dropped almost to a whisper, leading you more and more into misunderstanding and making you wary.

《 Do you hate me? 》

At that moment, there was silence in the room. Fright washed over you in an instant.

It seemed like another second and he would have run away, but you managed to grab him by the collar. A firm but careful grip.

《 What are you saying, Sakura? 》

This conversation didn't last long, but it was hard. You were so worried that you made this kitten go through this moment of shock, and it took Sakura at least ten minutes for him to let go of the shock of those experiences.

You spent the rest of the day together. His head rested on your lap, and his hands were still gently but tightly wrapped around your waist while you gently hugged him, stroking his head, restoring him from shock and occasionally scolding him for allowing such a terrible thought that you would treat him so cruelly. Sakura, on the other hand, was silent for a lot, but when he spoke, it was with words of apology and a quiet, but incredibly warm for your heart declaration of love.

His fragile heart is in your hands and you both know it. He gave it to you himself, so take care of it.

◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ◇

[slightly-knot-insane]

Hi! Are you still taking orders or something? If so, I have an idea for you~ For example, a werewolf × a Fox!the reader is like enemies-lovers. Where we tease him all the time, and it really annoys him, ho-ho~

I was listening to a song when I got the inspo for this. It's in Croatian, by a band called Tutti Frutti, and the lyrics go like this (my translation):

Kao srna gonjena preko snijega duboka (Like a pursued doe in the deep snow) Iza moga ramena skloni se od lovaca (Hide from hunters behind my shoulder) S oba oka sklopljena (With both of your eyes closed)

Thank you for the ask! This fic got a bit long so I'll split it in two, I apologize ^^'

Don't You Dare! (part 1)

Monstertober 2024 - day 13 [ Mating / Hunting season ] by @/ozzgin

[ m!werewolf x fox hybrid fem!reader ]

You two grew up together. Since your clans have lived next to each other peacefully sharing a vast forest for many years, that wasn't so unusual. You and Ash were friends when you were kids, but he was too shy and aloof for your teen tastes, and you slowly grew distant.

Today, for the first time, you were tasked of guarding the eastern part of the forest. The hunting season began just a few days ago.

"Ugh, you're so booooring," you complain. "Let's at least play a game."

"We're supposed to be watchful," he retorts.

"You know hunters never come this far so early. It will be a peaceful evening, I just know it. Come on, Ash, truth or dare?" The werewolf huffs and keeps walking in front of you. How dares he ignore you! You take your staff and smack his ass.

Ash jumps from shock and swings his strong arm, ready to strike. With a swift leap backward, you escape him, giggling. When he realizes it was only you teasing him, he growls. He is kinda cute when he's angry. "Don't do that! I could've..."

"What? You're too big and slow for me. Truth or dare, Ash? I'll slap your cute ass until you accept."

His werewolf ears fall behind and he awkwardly rubs the back of his head. With another huff, he continues walking. "Uhh... Truth?"

"Have you ever orally pleased someone?"

He trips and turns toward you in shock. "That's a really private question!"

"That's the game, pup, you know the rules." You loved calling him pup because he was three years younger than you and everyone knows werewolves mature slower than fox hybrids.

He scowls at you but answers, as quietly as he could: "Yes..."

"Oh you're a big man now! Good job, pup, I'm glad you know how to please your partners." He shakes his head and continues walking, faster than before. You run after him. "I choose dare!" You're sure he heard you, but he was quiet for quite a while before asking his question.

"I dare you to—" but he suddenly stops and sniffs the wind. He looks at you and and swallows hard. "D-do you know you're... you're about to..."

Why is he so uncomfortable all of a sudden? "Ash, speak up, I can't hear you!" you shout, impatiently dragging your fox tail across the ground. But the silly big pup in front of you continues being awkward. You can sense he is blushing, even though you can't see that on his canine face. "ASH!"

A rifle blast shuts you up, and a bullet flies dangerously near Ash's face. Hunters!

Instinct immediately kicks in and you start running. You are faster than Ash, but you would never leave him behind. Hunters are apparently too far away because they don't shoot again. Still, your heart is racing, fear and excitement electrifying your blood and also... also...

Oh no.

Your cycle. You're in heat! It's still early and you can focus on other things, but... You need to get to a safe place, quickly.

"Ash, I'm—"

"I know," he immediately replies, checking your surroundings. "There is a waterfall not far from here. The water will hide us and our tracks."

You change direction and very soon you hear the rushing in the bottom of a ravine. Of course, you and Ash have no problem getting down safely and you jump into the shallow stream. It is cold and fast, but walking upstream will confuse your pursuers. Also, you need to warn your clans as soon as possible. Yes, you need to focus on that. Only that. Not on how tall Ash is or how good he smells. Or how you always thought he was smart and sweet. And how you saw him swimming once. Or how you wanted to push your finger into his sheath and see what's inside. Or how... shit.

Your pussy started aching, itching, pulsating from need. You had to press it, rub it, stimulate it somehow or you'll go mad. You squeeze your thighs together, pushing your fist against your entrance, with a weak whimper - and you trip, almost dropping your staff. "Fuck, Ash. I can't hold it."

Ash stops but doesn't help you - he hasn't said a single word the entire time or looked at you. And he was constantly trying to walk upwind from you. "Do it quickly and we'll continue. I'll... keep watch."

That idiot pup. "Ash..." Your voice got a note of urgency. "Don't make me beg."

His ears perk up and he stares at you all big eyed, looking like a virgin doe-eyed buck. You roll your eyes, irritated. "Just my luck - I'm horny as a rabbit, and stuck between rifles and a cherry boy. Maybe rifles will give me..."

You are interrupted by a hand grabbing your throat. The other palm is on your ass squeezing it like a sponge. Ash is in your face, snout almost touching your nose. He is quietly growling, but you feel that tremble in your core.

"You chose dare, didn't you?" he asks you. His palm slides from your ass, follows the roundness of your hips and cups your mound. The tip of his finger immediately finds your aching clit. You gasp. "I dare you not to scream when you cum with my knot inside you."

[ part 2 ]

[spidybaby]

The "A" Team

Summary: Kylian needs your help to get out of an awkward situation.

Warnings: none ❤️

Kylian was impatient, knee bouncing as a sign of it.

He was in a PSG meeting, all the players needed to be there for a very long talk about the new season changes with Luis Enrique.

Kylian was leaving, but that didn't mean he wasn't forced to go. He tried his best to get out of there.

He wasn't going to be there for the new season, so why was he there?

Hakimi and him were making jokes and messing with Ousmane and Fabian. Earning a few glares from the technical team and making them stop.

He needed a plan, he wanted to get out of there. He was thinking about taking a nap, he felt tired.

"Don't yawn again, you're making me yawn." Achraf hit him with his arm. "Why are you even here for? You're fired."

"I'm not fired." He says, the sassy tone makes Achraf smile. "I put up my two weeks."

"Six months better say." Ousmane joins. "Kylian Saint Germain ain't going to be Kylian Saint Germain anymore." He jokes, sad that at the end his friend will leave the team.

Kylian laugh, he can't deny that he will miss the team, the trainers, the family he created there, and people who he will forever love.

When they give them a few minutes to get something to eat or drink at the little table they set for that, Kylian got an idea.

You were home, resting from a flue. You were free to help him to get out of there. Maybe if you called him he can fake an emergency.

He texted you, ready to settle the plan and make it work in the next fifteen minutes he has to use his phone and to eat something.

You were doing some tv marathon, watching Sponge Bob while eating some popcorn. When your phone rings, you check that kylian was asking you to call him in five and ask him to pick you up.

You smile, he was bored and helpless with the talk.

Credit of the pic to: @kylianmbappee, thank you for letting me use it for this ❤️✨️

You continue watching Sponge Bob, waiting for the time to go. When you checked if the five minutes passed, you were ready to act.

Kylian was with Achraf, Fabian and Luis Enrique when his phone rang, he smiled. "Lover boy can't spend a moment without his lady." Fabian says.

"C'mon, let us say hi to our favorite girl." Achraf jokes. He always request to talk to you and mess with you over the phone.

"Let me put her on speaker." He smiles, he knows the show is about to start. "Bonjour, bébé."

"Kylian, oh my God, please, I need you." You fake cry, it sounds so real that he almost forgets about your plan. "I don't know what happened, I don't have anyone to call, please come. I don't want to be alone here, ky please."

The looks of the three men is a poem, the worried eyes, and open mouths. They're down.

"Joder, where is she?" Fabian says, he's very much worried about you. "Joder, Ky you need to go."

He was about to turn to where they were seated when you kept going.

"Kylian, please hurry. I need you here." You cry harder this time.

"Kylian, go. This meeting can wait." Luis pushed him to the door. They all are worried. "Hurry, go."

He takes the speaker off, you still acting up and crying for help. He asks you where you are, pretending to be worried, and he wins a few glares of people around them.

"I'm on my way, amour, wait please." He grabs his coat, Achraf is asking him is he needs a ride, he shake his head no. "Don't hang up, I'm on my way."

"Text me when you're with her." Hakimi pats his back as he runs to the door. "Be safe."

He exited the club quickly, telling his driver to take him home. Once they're two blocks away from the club he laughs.

"You're such a great actress. If you want, I can get you a role on a show." He jokes with you. "I'll be home in a few, mon amour."

"Bring me some boneless and a soda, a big one, like really big." You say, hungry after that big role you pull. "And some dessert, maybe two pieces of cake." You exaggerate.

"Everything for you, I'll be there as soon as I get your things."

You smile knowing that your role was good and you will have your man all the evening with you.

While he gets back to you, you are still streaming Sponge Bob, realizing and thinking about what a krabby patty taste like.

"Amour, I'm home."

You turn your head to him, getting up and walking to him with your arms open, ready to greet your lover.

"Hello, Mister Mbappé, I heard your girlfriend had a thing going on, poor girl. She's really unstable." You kiss him, smirking about your joke.

"She is, but you know what they say, the crazier the better." He kisses you again, pecking your lips many times until he pulls away.

"I got you your wings and your cake, plus the biggest soda I could purchase." He hug you from the back, pointing at all the things he got you.

You two sit down to watch a movie, not thinking much about the day or the meeting.

"Hakimi just texted me, he's asking if I'm okay." You show him the text. "I'm just going to ignore it for the day."

"Yeah, I left my phone on airplane mode." He smirks. "I'm spending some time with my fav member of our A team."

"We're an A team." You smile, hugging him while cuddling on the couch.

🪷🪷🪷

[wileys-russo]

Hayley Raso + “you’re such an asshole I can’t believe I like you” + playing video games together ! 🧎‍♀️🫶🏼

world class II h.raso

"hay, baby you can't sleep yet." you wandered past the lounge and noticed the australian start to drift off, shaking her ankle as she groaned and opened her eyes.

"why?" hayley sighed deeply, rubbing her face and crossing her arms over her chest. "because the entire point of your jetlag plan is so you're back and fit to train a few days before your match babe." you smiled sympathetically.

"baby i could just take a tiny nap? then i'll still sleep tonight!" the brunette tried to bargain as you shook your head. "not part of the plan, and as both your girlfriend and a physio i have to ensure you follow that plan!" you laughed, gesturing for her to sit up.

you and hayley had met during her season at everton. you were only a trainee physio then, on work placement to finish your degree but you'd caught the australian's eye right away, the two of you getting along like a house on fire.

hayley was sat with a proud smile at your graduation, still only a friend to you then but not for a lack of trying, you only taking her attempts to flirt with you as banter and not yet clicking she wanted to be much more than just friends.

after you were fully qualified you quickly found yourself with a job offer in manchester for the devils, though still with 6 months left on your lease you stayed living where you had been and hayley amped up her efforts to woo you.

finally you clicked that she wasn't just being friendly on a drunken night out with some of her friends who were visiting from australia that she'd insisted you join, two of them quickly pulling you aside and asking when you and hayley had started dating it all suddenly made sense.

fast forward a couple of years and you'd both made the move to spain and were living in madrid, hayley still playing football and you working in a local sports clinic, working more with younger kids and teenagers who came up from the academies than directly with a team like you had been prior.

"you're no fun." hayley pouted with a frown as you shook your head. "maybe not, but neither is being medically benched because the team physios catch wind you're too tired to be cleared to play." you warned lightly, her eyes widening.

"you wouldn't!" hayley sat up properly now with a scoff. "i would love, if it meant you avoided any and all risk of injury." you promised softly, running a hand through her hair and shrugging.

"i wish you'd stayed working in england." hayley mumbled as her eyes began to once again feel heavy. "well aren't you absolutely charming." you rolled your eyes, turning to leave as a hand grabbed the back of your top.

"sorry! i'm just tired." hayley groaned, pulling you down onto the lounge and trapping you in between her arms and legs in a tight bear hug. "i know baby, but this plan will mean you aren't tired like this for very long." you twisted your neck to sweetly peck her lips.

"will you play fifa with me then? i was getting my ass kicked at tillies camp and i have to make sure i can hold my own before the next one. i didn't win a single game!" your girlfriend huffed, forever hotheaded and fiercely competitive much as it amused you to watch.

"love i've not got a clue how to play. in fact hay you banned me from playing because it was 'too hard to watch' remember?" you quirked an eyebrow as a guilty smile curled into her features.

"babe that was ancient history, i'm a new much more patient woman now." hayley grinned as you let out a loud sarcastic peal of laughter and tapped at her forearms to let you up.

"it wasn't even eight weeks ago raso." you hovered over her with a shake of your head, suddenly pulling back as she tried to sit up and capture your lips in hers. "oi! come here and give me a kiss." the australian frowned impatiently.

"no." you smiled, standing and heading toward the kitchen to make lunch for the pair of you, not at all surprised at the sound of footsteps hurrying after you.

"hayley!" you gasped as a body barrelled into you almost taking you down to the floor before your girlfriend grabbed your hand, spinning and dipping you, holding you just from falling as your heart raced.

"don't do that! its not funny." you smacked her chest with a thump as she laughed and you scowled, trying to move past her but before you could take another step her mouth was pressed against yours, feeling the winger smile into the kiss.

"you're a child sometimes." you pulled away and smacked her on the head with a magazine that was handy on the counter, only causing her to smile wider clearly proud of herself.

"that can wait! just one game? it'll help keep me awake." your girlfriend tugged you back from the kitchen with her best puppy dog eyes as you sighed. "fine. one game!"

"how the hell do you defend? i forget the controls!" you moaned in annoyance, only having had possession for about two seconds this entire half as your girlfriend knocked back goal after goal.

"hayley!" you huffed as she made her player do a backflip after another goal and cheered loudly in your ear, kissing your cheek apologetically from where you lay between her legs, your elbows resting on her knees and your back pressed to her front.

"you said this would be easy." you complained as the game stopped for half time. "no, i said i would put the match settings on easy." your girlfriend corrected as you pinched her thigh unimpressed with the answer.

"you're winning 8-0 surely you can spare five fucking minutes to show me the controls again?" you huffed before she could click to resume play, a lazy kiss pressed to your jaw as she dropped her remote and her hands settled over yours.

"when you attack you click this to pass, this to clear, this one to sprint and this one for a header or a short ball, and this to shoot." she explained slowly, pointing out the different buttons as you nodded.

"when you defend its the same sequence just different results. this one to chase, this one to tackle, this one to slide tackle and this one to clear." your girlfriend explained as again you nodded, doing your best to follow along.

"so does this mean you might let me keep the ball for more than thirty seconds and maybe even give me a pity goal?" you asked hopefully as the winger grabbed her own control and grinned.

"not a chance darlin." she stole a kiss and clicked resume before you could bite back with a remark. the second half you played a little better, but still you failed to score and conceded yet another five goals making it so hayley won with a whopping 13-0.

"that was humiliating." you scowled tossing the remote to the side onto the lounge and rolling your eyes. "thats life, win some you lose some. i feel a lot better about my results at camp now! thanks baby." her hands settled either side of your face and tilted your head back so she could press kisses across your skin.

"you're welcome." you rolled your eyes, gently tugging her hands away and sitting up, glancing to the screen only for a moment as your head snapped back to it and you frowned.

"world class!? you said you put it on beginner." you turned to glare at your girlfriend who shrugged, quickly turning off the tv and sitting up on her knees.

"did i? guess i must have clicked the wrong one babe, sorry." she grinned, pushing you to lay down as her face hovered over yours, not an ounce of remorse in her eyes.

"you're such an asshole, i can't believe i like you." "only like?" "barely tolerate." "what happened to love!" "maybe if you weren't a world class bad loser, you might get some."

[jaywritessometimes]

Nat x Inexperienced!Reader

nsfw!! 18+

It was well into the soccer season. You'd been to more of Nat's games than you could count. So when you asked to miss just this one, Nat had no issue with it. You had a lot of work to get done anyways.

You're sat watching the tv while working on some projects for work. You tapped away on that laptop for hours on end, binge watching whatever they latest show was. You were so focused on your laptop, that you hardly noticed when Nat walked down the stairs.

She took her spot next to you on the couch. You only noticed her once she had sat down. You takes your hands through your hair, and expelled the breath in your lungs.

"Hey, what's up? I know that sigh." She questioned.

"Just this work thing, the guys haven't touched the thing, and the deadline is in 2 days. So on top of my own work, I have to finish and supervise the work of 2 complete morons." You blurt. "I'm sorry, I didn't even ask about your game. How was it?"

Nat looks over to you, that goofy grin on her face. "The game was good, we lost. I guess that's what happens when our good luck charm doesn't show." She's joking, but you can't help but feel a little guilty for having to miss her game.

"I'm sorry babe, I wish i could have been there."

You save your files, and shit your laptop. You'd take a break for a little while. The laptop is shoved aside as you crawl into Nat's lap. You sling your arms around the back of her neck, your fingers playing with the hair on the nape of her neck.

She smiles at you before leaning in. This was always how it started. She started slow, and you followed her lead. After all- you were new to this, and she knew a great deal more about these things than you did. As the kiss went on, you became more desperate.

You'd never been with anybody this way before, but Nat made you feel things you'd never felt before. You were worked up from just a little kissing. You attempt to change the direction of the kiss, from soft sweet kisses, to hungrier and dirtier ones.

She smirks as you take charge, eventually moving on from her mouth, and down her chin and neck. You kiss around for a while, not even noticing your hips, which began to buck themselves into Nat's lap.

She giggles when she notices it. "All worked up just from some kissing baby? What's gotten into you?" She jests.

You whine into her neck, your face heating up with embarrassment. You reluctantly move yourself off her lap, and onto the floor between her legs.

"Hey, you didn't have to move, it was fine, I was just teasing." She says.

You look up at her through hooded eyes, and start to remove her shorts. You tug them all the way down, leaving her on her underwear (i'm sorry i refuse to call them panties).

"Can I?" You ask, knowing that question never fails to get you going, and hoping it does the same for her.

All she does is nod weakly, along with a little whisper that's released from her throat when your fingers reach the band and brush her sensitive stomach. Your fingers play with the little ribbon on the front of them, while your mouth goes to work on her thighs. You had no idea what you were doing, you just tried your best to copy the things she had done to you.

Your mouth leaves wet open mouthed kisses along her inner thighs, and as you move up towards where she wants you, she begins to squirm. You grin to yourself in triumph. She eventually gets impatient, and removes her underwear herself.

Your jaw drops at the sight. She was soaked. All because of you.

You dive in (literally) like it's your last meal. Nat's hands instantly go to your hair, guiding you. You start with little strokes of your tongue, avoiding her clit, wanting to tease her just a little longer. She tasted heavenly. You'd tasted her before, from her own fingers, but this was so much better.

Eventually, you get bored with the teasing, and give her the pressure she had been desiring from you. Your tongue moves in an 8 motion, just like she did to you. She obviously liked it, considering the response you received. She grabbed your hair and brought you closer to her, your scalp tingling, but only intensifying your pleasure.

"God- Fuck y/n that's so good. Just like how I do it." She let out between moans and whines. Her eyes barley left yours, only to shut or roll back.

You had always found her voice attractive. But right now? You could come just from her voice praising you between the sounds she made because of you.

"Rub your clit baby, I want you to come with me. God yah just like that. Do the same to yourslef, come on baby."

You rubbed yourself in the same pattern as your tongue moved. You could tell she was getting close. You moved your tongue down to tease her entrance. She let out a nearly pathetic moan when you tested her entrance with your tongue.

"Oh my god. You're doing so good. You're doing such a good job babe, I'm almost there. Come with me baby. Come on, keep rubbing your clit like that, yah. Fuck-"

Her entrance spasamed around your touch, the same way yours did around her fingers when you were on the edge. You brought your uncocuppied hand to her clit, and began to apply pressure again. That was all it took.

Her legs shook as her orgasm crashed over her. Yours did as well, and you struggles to keep your hands and tongue working, but you were determined to help her ride out her high as you did your own.

Your movements got sloppy, but they did the job. Nat looked down at you from her place on the couch, her bangs stuck to her forehead with sweat, and a post orgasm glow making her appear like a goddess.

You grinned up at her, not able to say much of anything, your heads still in the clouds.

"Oh babe, you have got to do that more often. That was amazing." She praised.

You let your head rest against her thigh as she stroked your her with her fingers. You wished you could stay like that forever.

[lovesickhughes]

Could you write about the reader comforting bedard about not making it to the playoffs

a/n: of course 🥺i hope you enjoy !! (not edited)

tags: connor bedard x reader

warnings: none ! just fluff

word count: 0.8k

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

you were stood outside the locker rooms alongside the other wives and girlfriends of the players, with few remarks being made amongst each other. usually, even if the hawks had tallied a loss to their record, conversations were still made, however with the team losing in overtime against the kings for their last regular season game, it was a different atmosphere.

you were able to hear the celebrations from the opponents from a distance as you all anticipated the departure of your significant others. you checked your phone absentmindedly to see if it would pass time, but you knew the coaches were making their final remarks as they reminisce their season. and disappointing loss. for the someone you waited eagerly to see, you knew it would be especially difficult for him, having it be his first national league season without making it to the stanley cup finals. of course he excelled in junior hockey, but for connor it was different now. his hobby, turned career was what he had worked for his entire childhood, and even though he had a great career ahead of him, it was inevitable for him to doubt his ability.

the players started rolling out of the guest team locker rooms, and the wives, girlfriends and other close members to the players gathered to console them, knowing it was a tough loss.

you grew impatient as you waited for connor to exit, but the familiar eyes caught yours as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair, visibly sighing and letting his shoulders relax. you gave him a sorrow smile, with a downturn of the corner of your mouth as he came up to you.

"hey," you said softly, but before connor had the chance to process your greeting, he pulled you into his body, wrapping his arms tightly around your arms, embracing you as you instinctively hugged him back. his face fell into the crook of your neck and you felt him inhale your scent and his body relax, pulling you closer into him if it was even possible.

you then pulled away as he rested his forehead against yours, eyes closed in disappointment. meeting your sympathetic eyes, he gave you what would barely be considered a smile, and you brought your hand to his cheek, rubbing your thumb against his soft skin.

"i'm so proud of you, babe," you spoke in hopes of clearing the distraught look on connor's face. without speaking, he pulled you into a kiss that felt so intimate, so compassionate, filled with lust and desperation. you pulled away and immediately brought him back into a hug, letting him engulf your smaller size compared to him. when you pull away again, wanting urgently to make your way back to your hotel room, you rub up and down his arms, feeling the stiffness of his bicep muscles from under the fabric of his suit.

"let's go back to hotel, and we can order room service and find a good show to watch." you suggested as you nodded your head to the side in the direction of the exit.

connor nodded in agreement, not being able to find words as his reality settled.

the pair of you made your way to the rental car, hand-in-hand as you entered the arena's underground parking, and when you were situated in the vehicle, you immediately intertwined your hand with connor's again, not letting go the entire drive to the hotel.

you efficiently made your way up to your hotel room, swiping the key card, and flipping the lights on, while your boyfriend followed you sadly, like a puppy.

you took off your jacket that you had been wearing for the evening, and hung it on the hook near the door to your apartment, and turned back to find connor laying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, with his hands tangled in his hair.

you walked over, placing yourself on the bed next to your boyfriend, and placed a consoling hand on his abdomen, which caused connor to meet your gaze with teary eyes.

"oh, babe," you cooed, leaning forward to attend to the saddened boy in front of you. you laid on his chest, having his arms fall from his hair, to wrap around your shoulder.

"it just sucks, y'know? i want to be the best i can possibly be, and it was just a tough loss today." connor confessed, you felt the vibrations of his voice through his chest up against your ear, and you nuzzled yourself closer to his warm body.

"i know, connor. but you've already made it to this point in your career and have been so successful at such a young age. one loss is only a step closer to success, and you have so much ahead of you." you responded, hugging him tighter.

"thank you, i know," connor spoke, placing a kiss on the top of your head, into your hair.

you sit up and look down at the boy beneath you, and smile, "why don't i go start the bath and we can have a nice, relaxing night?" you suggested, which earned a nod of a response from connor.

"you deserve it."

[aemondapologistfrfr]

Anything for You - Pt 0.5

daemon x daughter!reader 

Previous Parts

*i wrote and posted this after pt4 btw bc Part 1 was supposed to be a one shot*

Summary: Daemon returns home from the war in the Stepstones after years and when you both see each other it feels as if everything shifts. Upon seeing you again Daemon knows he has to have you regardless of the consequences. 

Warnings: 18+ swearing, wine, fingering, face riding, oral(f), loss of virginity, p in v, masturbation(m), two daemon PoVs

Authors Note: i did steal a scene from season one bc i wanted to and that’s ok 🙂‍↕️ wioumcysicha - gnawing at the bars of my enclosure fr 

Word Count: 6k sry

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Two years ago

My hands shake as I read his half scribbled words across the parchment. Tears pour down my face as I read it over and over. I send all of my handmaidens out and curl up in my bed letting the sobs tear through my body. I wipe my eyes to read it one last time before crumpling it up and tossing it across my chambers. 

Daughter- 

I'm sorry I didn’t tell you that I was leaving in person. I couldn’t bear to see the look on your face, sweet girl. I’ll come home to you as soon as I am able. 

-Father

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Two moons before Part 1

My handmaidens fret about my chambers offering me new dresses and necklaces to all I shake my head. My doors are thrown open as more come in with different wines and sweets and I get up and lay across my chaise on the balcony. There is only one thing, one person that could truly make me feel better: my father. 

He left me that night two years ago now and hasn’t returned since. There has been such an emptiness inside of me since then. The Red Keep is crawling with whispers and rumors of different fates that have befallen the rogue Prince but I know in my heart that he will return to me. I’ve been lonely the past two years and the King has tried everything to get me to agree to a marriage I have no interest in. 

My handmaidens whisper about eligible Lords who are visiting and known to be very generous. I’ve shared a meal with a handful of them but none of them could offer me what I truly desired or needed. I’m not deaf to the whispers around the Keep that surround me that call me a ghost ever since my father went to war. 

In the fortnight following my nineteenth name day I have begun to truly believe what they say. I have no interest in anything besides laying on my chaise or taking baths. I call my handmaidens over to prepare me a bath as I slowly begin to rise. I stretch out and look across the Bay and my heart stops when I see a streak of red. 

It cannot be. I shake my head and run over to the railing. The piercing song I remember travels through my chambers and I drop everything and sprint down the hall. My guard chases after me as I make my way to the main hall. I wait at the bottom of the stairs and stare at the doors, not daring to wait outside. I pick at my nails and focus on trying to calm my breathing. 

“Princess, could I escort you back to your chambers?” my guard looks down at me concerned. 

“No.” I don’t even deign to look at him. I keep my focus ahead as the minutes drag by. Servants pass by and avoid contact with me as I take a seat on the bottom step. I rest my head in my hands as I continue to wait for the door. My guard shifts uncomfortably next to me and I roll my eyes as I begin to grow impatient. 

“Princess, it’s been well over an hour. Do-“ 

“No,” I snap, rising from the stairs. “I’m waiting for-“ the doors push open and I turn as the breath is taken from my lungs. I notice his short silver hair first. I take a deep breath and run over to him as the tears start to fall down my face. “Daddy?” I sob and he opens his arms and picks me up. I wrap my body around him holding him tightly as I cry into his neck. 

The metal of his armor bites into me but I have no care as I hold onto him tighter. I press my lips against his neck as I burrow in closer to him and his arms constrict around me. He slowly sets me back on the ground and I look up at him with watery eyes. 

“My sweet girl.” his eyes look me over. 

“Don’t leave me again.” my lip wobbles and I wrap my arms around him in another hug. 

“I promise that I won’t.” he whispers into my hair. “Come with me, sweet girl.” he threads his fingers into mine. “I have to go see the King.” he starts to lead me in the direction of the throne room. 

I continue to look up at him as we walk and I can see the smirk painted across his face. I look up at his short hair with a makeshift crown sitting atop his brow. He looks down at me before pulling me closer and I splay my other hand on the metal covering his torso. I look up at him with such an intense need that a whine slips from my lips. 

“Daddy.” I breathe out clinging to him. 

“We’ll have time later.” he presses his lips against my forehead before ushering us into the throne room. 

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After an hour long talk with the King, my father and I are finally leaving the hall. His hand has stayed molded to mine since we clasped them together. As we walk up the stairs I call my handmaidens to prepare a bath in my chambers. My father and I sit on my couches staring at each other while my handmaidens prepare everything. After they’ve placed everything out I dismiss them and my father looks at me with a raised brow. 

“What happened to your hair?” I purse my lips walking over to him. 

“Do you not like it?” he looks up at me with a smile. His hands grab my waist and pull me between his thighs. 

“I do. It’s just different.” I lean over him and run my fingers through his short locks. His fingers dig into my waist as he pulls me onto his lap. A shiver tracks through me as his armor presses against me.

“You look different, sweet girl.” he cups my face. “A woman now.” his hands slide up my sides and my breath catches. 

“Let me bathe you.” I hum. “I’m sure it’s been moons since you’ve had a proper bath.” I raise my brow and he smiles. 

“Are you trying to say something?” he chuckles, raising a brow.

“I missed you. I want to make sure you’re okay. Check you for wounds. Scars.” he squints his eyes at me before lifting me off his lap. He stands up and presses his lips to my forehead. 

“I will come find you later.” he nods before slipping out of my chambers leaving me there feeling more lost and alone than ever. 

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Daemons PoV

He had to get out of her chambers and quickly. The way her body pressed so perfectly to his had him thanking his armor for hiding his hard cock. Gods and she wanted to bath him. This is the first non selfish decision that he has made in ages. He felt a strange feeling when she frowned so deeply when he declined her offer. 

His sweet girl's face deflated and he watched her round violet eyes begin to water. He didn’t intend to cause her so much upsetness; he just needed to clear his mind and think. Upon entering his chambers he’s bombarded with servants buzzing around and bringing in clothes and candles. 

“Out.” he holds the door wide for them and they all begin to filter out. 

He clicks the door shut behind him and begins to remove his armor. Once all of the metal is littered across the floor he goes over to his bed and collapses. He inhales deeply and groans. He has to be going mad or his want is taking over his senses but he can smell her on his sheets. He thinks about her sneaking through the tunnels to curl in his bed over the years and his cock stirs again. 

He can’t take it anymore and shoves his hand into his trousers. He groans as his fingers wrap around his shaft and he thinks about her tossing and turning in his bed. The sweet little pout on her lips that he wants to rub his tip over. His thumb swipes over his tip as it begins to leak and he jerks up into his tightening palm. He turns his head to the side and he gets another smell of her sweetness and a low groan slips past his lips. His mind conjures a picture of her squirming beneath him begging for him and his pleasure bursts across his hand. 

He sighs, pulling his hand out of his trousers feeling like a young boy who just saw his first low cut gown. He walks to his bath chambers and looks at himself in the mirror before cleaning up and changing. He walks back out to sit in front of his hearth and he rests his head in his hands. 

He wants her so badly. He thought he would have more clarity after taking care of himself but it’s only made his desire stronger. He hopes that a night on the street of silk will fix his problem and if it won’t he’ll make her his. 

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Your PoV

It’s been three days since my father left my chambers and I’ve only seen him in passing in the halls. He hasn’t come to see me or share any meals with me. My handmaidens look over me worriedly as I continue to decline their efforts. They prepare me for bed and I pout under the covers as they begin to blow out the candles. Once they leave me for the night I stare at the ceiling waiting for sleep to take over. 

I groan as I continue to toss and turn, not comfortable or warm enough to find sleep. I wrap the blankets around me tighter and whine before pushing them off and getting up. I grab one of my candles and light it before walking over to the door hidden next to my bed. 

I was always thankful that my father showed me these tunnels before he went off to war. On particularly bad nights I would sneak through them and curl up in his bed as the sobs tore through my body. Tonight I’m hoping to be engulfed in his embrace. As I push open the hidden door to his chambers I frown, finding it empty. 

I blow out my candle as I make my way deeper into his chambers. I see that the bed is still made as I make my way over to it and begin to pull back the blankets. I slide beneath the covers and inhale deeply smiling that it smells like him once more. I hug a pillow against my chest and finally my eyes are heavy enough to shut. 

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I whine as I feel the cool breeze skirting across my skin. I reach blindly for the blanket and turn over on my back to try and find it with my other hand. I gasp, opening my eyes as I feel fingers trailing up my legs. I blink them a couple times so they can adjust to the dark chambers and look up and see my father looking down at me. I look down and notice I shifted my night dress up in an attempt to find the blankets. I pull at the hem and my father lets out a low chuckle. 

“What are you doing in here, sweet girl?” his voice like gravel. 

“I wanted to be held by you.” I look over his flushed face and smell the ale on his clothes. 

“So you come lay in my bed and wait for me in this little dress?” his fingers skim just beneath the edge of my night dress. I nod my head and look up at him. “You should be in your own chambers.” he shakes his head and sits at the end of the bed. 

“Why?” my voice a whisper. 

“It’s hard for me to control myself around you.” he looks at me over his shoulder. 

“What do you mean?” I sit up and drape myself across his back. 

“I want to ruin that sweet little cunt between your legs.” he turns around and pushes me back onto the bed. I look up at him with a heaving chest and flushed cheeks. “Gods, look at you.” his fingers brush over my hardened nipples and I gasp, biting my lip. 

“Please,” my voice broken and he removes his hands. 

“No,” he shakes his head. “I’m taking you back to your chambers.” I push my bottom lip out at his words and he scoops me up from the bed and tosses me over his shoulder. 

His hands rest on the back of my thighs as he brings us into the tunnels. He walks back to my chambers on steady feet and when we enter them he walks over to my bed and tosses me down. He watches as I bounce back and my dress slides scandalously up my thighs before shaking his head. 

“Go to bed, sweet girl.” he pulls my blankets over me and presses his lips to my scrunched brow. 

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Daemons PoV

After he brought her back to her chambers he sealed himself in his chambers and stroked himself until he was spent. The little sounds she made when he brushed over her nipples had him almost bursting in his trousers. The intense want and need in her eyes was all he needed to know that she felt the same way. He made his decision and went to bed knowing he would get what he wanted on the morrow regardless of the consequences. 

He wakes early and dresses himself to meet the King in the throne room. The traditions of his family are strange to others but he’s hoping that if anyone will understand it’ll be the King. He ignores everyone because his mind is set and he’s ready to get what he wants. He pushes open the doors to the throne room and finds it empty. He looks up the jagged steps and turns as the doors open again. The King walks in and looks at him curiously. 

“What is it?” the King sighs, approaching Daemon. 

“Brother, I have something to ask of you.” he searches the King's eyes. 

“Calling me brother? You must be truly desperate.” the King's eyes crinkles as he smiles. 

“When I offered up my crown you said I could have anything.” the King's amusement begins to fade. “I want my daughter.” Daemon nods his head. 

“What do you mean?” the King shakes his head. 

“Wed her to me.” Daemon feels his heart beating faster and he doesn’t care if his brother says no or not. He plans to claim her tonight and nothing is changing that. 

“No.” the King scoffs. “Daemon, there are plenty of other women for you to choose from.” Daemon lets out a chuckle. 

“They’re not good enough.” he waves his brother off. 

“I wonder if anyone will ever be good enough for you.” the King shakes his head.

“She is.” Daemon looks to his brother. 

“I’ll hear no more of this.” the King brushes past Daemon and begins to ascend the stairs and take his seat upon the throne.

“I will have her.” he points at the King before leaving the throne room. 

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Your Pov

I flare my nostrils as I’m jostled once again through the covered carriage that’s pulling me through the city. I push the linen back and look out the small window at the stands and life going on. We hit another hole and my head hits the wooden frame. My handmaiden flies across the carriage to me and cups my head. I roll my eyes and have her take her seat once more. 

A small smile starts to form on my lips as we pass through the gates to Rhaenys’s Hill. The carriage makes its way up and comes to a slow stop in front of the Dragonpit. I smooth my skirts as I step out of the carriage and onto the ground. I hear Caraxes' song and pray that he remembers who I am. I walk through the doors with my head held high before my feet falter as I see my father in his riding gear. 

“What are you doing here, sweet girl?” he tilts his head walking over to me. 

“I wanted to see Caraxes.” I chew my lip looking up at him. 

“By yourself?” he raises his brow. 

“You don’t want to see me.” my lip wobbles and I clench my fists to steel myself. 

“Who said that?” he cups my cheeks and I huff as a tear spills over the edge. 

“You don’t come and see me. You’ve been pushing me away. I’m so alone.” my voice cracks and I frown at how I sound. “I don’t know what I did.” I sniffle and he pulls me against his chest. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.” he mumbles against my hair. His arms pull me tighter and I begin to settle. He pulls back cradling my head in his hands as he dips down. “Do you want to fly with me?” I search his eyes. 

“Really?” I start to smile as he brushes away my tears. 

“Come, we’ll find you a change of clothes.” he pulls me away from my handmaiden and rustles through some closets and finds me better attire. 

“Can you untie my gown?” I blink up at him. His eyes darken as he slowly turns me around. He pulls on the laces slowly while his other hand brushes the hair cascading down my back. Once loosened enough it starts to slip down my shoulders. “Thank you,” I hum, turning back to him. 

“Of course.” he nods his head. He turns and I push my gown off and begin to pull on the trousers and jerkin. He turns back to me and smiles. “I’ll have to get you your own riding gear made.” he chuckles, tightening the belt around the jerkin. 

“I would like that.” I offer him a shy smile. He grabs my hand and leads me down into the pits. Soft grumbles and songs come from deep within the earth as we continue our way to Caraxes. He slows our pace as we step into an opening with a curled Caraxes within. “Just as handsome as I remember.” I hum and his eyes blink open. 

Caraxes uncurls and pushes his snout forward into my father before pushing into me. A smile spreads across my face and my fathers arms wrap around me. He walks me over to Caraxes side and helps me start climbing up. He helps me take a seat in front of him and he holds me against his chest. 

“Are you ready, princess?” he whispers in my ear and I nod quickly. “Fly, Caraxes.” his dragon begins to move us out of the pits before climbing us into the sky. 

With every wing beat my heart jumps and my hands cling onto my fathers arms. As Caraxes levels out on the breeze I slowly relax. I close my eyes as I feel the familiar bite of the wind as Caraxes dips to circle the city. My father has him bring us over to the KingsWood. We land in an open field and we begin to slide off. My father cups my face once we make it to solid ground. 

“You have become so very beautiful in the past couple years.” he brushes his fingers across my cheek. 

“Thank you.” I look up at him chewing my lip. His thumb pulls my lip from between my teeth and I feel my cheeks flush. His thumb continues to ghost across my lips and I look up to him breathing heavily. He steps back and studies me. 

“Are there any young men who have caught your eye?” a smirk forms on his lips. 

“No.” I shake my head. “The King has expressed his wish for me to marry but no one is good enough.” I scrunch my brows because there is one person who is. “I’ve shared some meals but nothing ever progressed after.” I bring my hands together and pick at my nails.

“No little late night rendezvous in your chambers?” my head snaps up to his as I feel my cheeks blush.

“No.” I shake my head quickly. “No one touches me besides my handmaidens.” I feel my heart beating quicker as he starts to approach. 

“Do they now?” he tilts his head. 

“No, not like that, like bathe me and dress me and,” I shake my head feeling my face heat even more. “No one has touched me.” I blink up to him not knowing what to say. 

“Not even yourself, sweet girl?” he smiles. 

“Daddy.” I pout, not wanting him to tease me any longer. 

“I asked the King if I could wed you today.” my breath catches at his change in tone and conversation. I search his eyes to make sure he’s not teasing still. 

“Did he say we could?” my voice filled with unabashed hope. 

“You want to wed me?” he steps closer to me. My heart beats faster as he pulls me against him. “Be my wife? Carry my children? Let me bury myself between these pretty thighs?” he tilts my head up to him. 

“Yes, please,” I wrap my hands around his arms. He dips down and presses his lips against mine. I melt into his arms and he lifts me up holding me against him. His tongue pushes into my mouth as I gasp when his fingers dig into my ass. 

“I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you, sweet girl.” he mumbles. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.” he sets me back down on the ground and I pout looking up at him wanting to still be within his arms. 

“Can we wed?” I ask softly. 

“The King said no.” my smile drops. “But I don’t care. You’ll be mine.” he nods and my smile starts to return. 

We continue to stroll through the woods until the late afternoon. By the time we make it back to Caraxes the sun is starting to slip below the horizon as he carries us back to the pits. Once we land he takes me back to my gown and I quickly change. “Go back to the Keep with your handmaiden and I’ll come to your chambers later.” he kisses my brow and I smile up at him. 

                                         ᓚᘏᗢ

I allow my handmaidens to give me a bath to get the smell of dragon off of me. After I’m smoothed with oils and perfumes they pull my silk night dress over me. I dismiss them for the night and lay on my chaise near the hearth. I wish I knew when he was coming or if I should just sleep. I frown and make my way to my bed when the door to the tunnel opens. A smile spreads across my cheeks as my father shuts the door behind him. 

“Were you going to bed, sweet girl?” he saunters over to my bed. 

“I was going to lay down and wait for you.” I walk over to him. 

“In an even shorter dress than before?” he groans, resting his hands on my hips. He gently lays me back on the bed and looks down at me. “Gods, I just,” he shakes his head. “Can daddy touch you?” his eyes snap to mine as a whimper spills from my lips. 

“Please,” my voice barely a whisper. 

He starts to lift my night dress off and I squirm under his heated gaze. His eyes trail over every inch of skin that he exposes. I squeeze my thighs together as he lifts my dress higher. When he pulls it over my chest I feel my nipples harden from the cool air. I lift my arms and he smiles, slipping the dress the rest of the way off. 

“Good girl.” he hums, skating his fingers up my torso. His fingers roll one of my nipples and I gasp below him. He crawls over me on the bed and I sigh, engulfed by his warmth. He dips his head down and sucks my neglected nipple into his mouth and I squeak as his tongue flicks across it. 

“Daddy,” I cry out. “Please,” I whine and he teases the hardened bud with his teeth. He chuckles against my skin before kissing his way down my torso. I watch with a flushed face as he spreads my thighs and settles between them. He presses his lips on the insides of my thighs and I tremble. 

“Do you want me to make you feel good?” he looks at me with dark eyes. 

“Yes,” I whine. My head falls back to the pillows as his tongue pushes through my slit. Soft moans fall from my lips as he softly kisses my bud. His tongue trails down to my core and my legs shake on either side of his head. He holds my legs open against the bed and starts to lick at me with more fervor. “Please, yes,” I cry out and I bury my fingers in his hair. My body goes taught as my pleasure slams through me. 

I look down at him and see him staring up at me already. Soft pleas pour from my mouth as he starts to lap at me slowly again. One of his hands move from my thigh and soon I feel one of his fingers start to press into my core. My fingers dig into his hair and he groans against me slowly pushing his finger into me. He slowly starts to move his finger and let my head fall back as I feel my pleasure building once more. 

A loud moan is pulled from my lips as he presses a second finger in. My hips roll against his face as my stomach starts to tighten. His fingers curl slightly and I pulse around his fingers lifting up off the bed. He licks me through my pleasure before sitting up and watching my squirming body. I sit up and press my lips against his. 

“Please daddy,” I whine, pulling at his trousers. He watches me with an amused expression as I start to pull on the laces. I try to push them down and he chuckles, grabbing my hands. He rises off the bed and watches me as he slowly peels off his clothes. I lick my lips as he bares himself to me. 

“Lay back.” he watches me lay back and he starts to spread my legs to settle between them. “Such a good girl for me.” I mewl as his length spreads through my wetness. “I may not be able to wed you right now, but I promise you that I will one day.” he presses his lips against mine as he slowly starts to push into me. 

Every inch pulls a moan from my lips as he splits me open. My nails dig into his back as he stops his moments. I squeeze my eyes shut adjusting to his fullness while he kisses softly at my neck. He rubs soothing circles into my hips and I slowly open my eyes looking at him. 

“I’m so full of you.” I pant and he groans resting his forehead on mine. 

“You feel so good. So warm and wrapped around me so tightly.” he slowly rocks his hips into mine. I whine at the friction as he continues to softly rock into me. “You like the way daddy feels?” he groans and I nod my head. He pulls out of me and pushes back into me quickly, stealing my breath. He does it again and I arch up into him. 

“Yes,” my voice breaks and he chuckles against my neck as he starts a steady pace. 

I wrap my legs around him as my high watches through me. He stills in me softly cursing while his fingers dig into my hips. He starts to pound his hips into mine and desperate whines fall from my lips. My chambers are filled with the sounds of our skin and my soft cries. His rhythm falters and he groans stilling inside of me. I gasp as I feel his warmth spill inside of me as he collapses on top of me. I hold him closer enjoying the weight and warmth of him. 

“You did so good.” he lifts up and presses his lips to mine as he pulls out. He rolls over and pulls me against his chest. “My sweet girl.” He hums, pressing his lips against my hair.  

“Will you stay with me?” I look up at him with pleading eyes. 

“Of course.” he wraps his arms around me. “Go to sleep.” I wrap my arms around his chest and close my eyes. 

ততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততত

One moon before Part 1

I pour my father wine as he takes his seat around the council table. He looks up at me with a soft smile as I take my place next to him. The other members slowly trickle into the room and I step closer to my father. His hand rests on my lower back and he rises when the King enters. The King places a kiss on my cheek before he takes his seat. 

The meeting today seems to drone on forever and I begin to lean against my fathers chair. He starts to rub circles onto my back and I look out the windows allowing the boring meeting to fade away. I’m brought back to the present as chairs begin to scrape against the stone as the members start to leave the hall. The King looks to my father and sighs. 

“There are plenty of eligible Ladies for you to court.” he looks at my father with tired eyes. 

“They are all plain.” he chuckles looking at the King. “You know who I desire.” my fathers bold words cause my knees to weaken and I shift on my legs to keep me upright. 

“I’ve already told you no,” he scoffs, sitting back in his chair. “I tire of this and the ceaseless rumors.” he waves us off. 

I feel the tears well in my eyes. My father rises with a shake of his head and leads me out into the halls. I softly sniffle as I cling onto his arm and he tugs me into an alcove and looks down at me. His thumbs brush away my tears and he softly places his lips on mine and I gasp pulling back but he pulls me back against him. 

“Someone could see.” I whisper up to him. 

“Let them.” he kisses me once more. “Let them see that you’re mine and only mine.” he kisses down my neck and I cling onto his arms. “Daddy’s good girl.” he purrs into my ear. I whimper and squirm in his arms before he’s pulling me back up to my chambers. “I got you something.” he shuts the doors behind us. 

“What is it?” I turn to him with a smile. He walks over to the table and returns to me with a box. He opens it and shows me the most beautiful necklace that I’ve seen. The jewels inlaid have to be worth a kingdom at least. “This is..” I press my fingers against the chain and he pulls it out and turns me around. His fingers ghost across the nape of my neck as he brushes my hair away. He clasps the necklace around my neck and steps back. “How does it look?” I turn and look up at him.

“You look divine. Though I think a lower cut dress would show it off more.” he licks his lips. 

“Do you want to take this one off?” I tilt my head, nibbling my lip.

“I do.” he nods his head and steps over to me. His fingers start to pull at the laces on my back before pushing it down. He helps me step out of it and looks over my body left in my slip. “This too.” he pulls at the hem and I lift my hands as he pulls it over my head discarding it to the floor. “Like this,” he nods. “Perfect.” his hands press against my skin softly digging into me.

“Please,” I lean up to try and kiss him. He smiles before pressing his lips against mine. I hold him close as he slowly starts to walk us back to the bed. He pulls his lips out of my reach and I pout up at him. 

“Get on the bed.” he helps me crawl onto the bed and watches as the jewels move across my chest. He lays down on the bed next to me and grabs my hand tugging me over to him. “Sit on daddy’s face.” I look down at him with wide eyes. 

“What?” I scrunch my brows. I squeak as he pulls my thigh and lifts it over his head. I straddle his face and look down at his mischievous eyes. “I don’t- Daddy,” I whine as he trails his tongue up my slit. His hands grab at my waist and push me down on his tongue causing me to cry out. I look down and see him watching me as his tongue lashes against my bud. “Yes, yes,” I roll my hips against his mouth and he groans, lapping at me faster. 

My hands catch on the hardboard as I start to fall forward. My back arches as he starts to lick against me more wildly. One of his palms lands against my ass and I jerk forward on his tongue. I whimper out and I start to roll my hips chasing my pleasure. His other hand lands upon my other cheek and I whine leaning back into his hands. He removes both his hands only to have them both land on me at the same time. My pleasure tears through me as I shake against his face. 

His tongue pushes into my core and I try to lift off of him but his fingers dig into me holding me down. I cry and gasp above him as his tongue swirls around my bud and I feel my high start to ripple through me. His palm lands on my cheek and I feel more pleasure start to pour out of me. He lifts my hips up slowly kissing down my thighs before laying me back on the bed. 

“You were such a good girl for me.” he murmurs, kissing my neck before licking across my breasts. He laps against one of my sensitive peaks and I whimper threading my fingers in his hair. “You look so beautiful like this. Flushed with pleasure, chest heaving and covered in jewels and sweat.” he hums, kissing over to my other nipple. He teases the bud between his teeth before letting it go. “A vision.” he shakes his head watching my breathing start to settle. 

“Thank you.” I reach up for him. He lays down and pulls me against his chest and allows me to cling to him. 

“Of course, anything for you, sweet girl.” he presses his lips against my brow. 

ততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততততত

masterlist 🔌 

i’m currently writing the final rn 🥺 i’ll prob have it posted by sunday tbh buuut before then if you guys  have anything you want to see in the final lmk and i’ll see what i can do 😏🤭

anything for you taglist: @mamawiggers1980

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[inthedoghousern]

i'd have to think about it

pairing: daniel ricciardo x fem!reader

summary: it seemed like it was meant to be, but things don't always work out. too bad you might still be in love with each other. inspired by "i'd have to think about it" by leith ross.

contains: childhood friends to lovers, fluffy stuff, angsty stuff, cursing, reunions, breakups, proposals, pregnancy (is it drs? maybe not...) there's a lot.

5.2k words

a/n: sorry it's been a minute, school distracts me from the truly important things in life (this acc).

18 years old 

"Danny," you whisper into the dark guest room. You weren't sure if he was asleep, you hope he wasn't. "Danny," you whisper again, slightly louder. You can hear blankets shuffling. 

"What?" you hear him groan. 

"Are you awake?" 

"Now I am," he answers, annoyance in his voice.

There's a bit of light filling the room from the moon outside, and your eyes finally adjust to the darkness. You can make out Danny in the bed, he sits up looking towards you.

"Good, come on," you whisper still standing at the door. You're trying to be as quiet as possible to avoid waking up the rest of the house. 

The two of your families had been close your whole life. You and Daniel were only one year apart, which meant that the two of you were always paired up. Over the years you became inseparable, and the dynamic between your families only got stronger. Your families were always on vacations together, at the race track to support Danny, staying at each other's houses for a few days for a change of scenery. This weekend was one of those instances. 

You peek your head into the hallway, making sure there's no light from under any of the bedroom doors, the last thing you wanted was to wake up your parents, Danny's, or any of the siblings.

"Why? What time is it?" He rubs his eyes.

"Danny, come on!" you whisper-yell, getting impatient. 

"Ok ok." He finally surrenders and gets up. He trails behind you as you quietly make your way through the house. At the door, you slip on your flip-flops and Danny follows suit. 

You open the door and lead the two of you away and down the suburb street. After you're a good distance away from the house, Daniel finally speaks again, "Where are we going?"

"The beach," you answer plainly, still walking and looking ahead. You lived just a few minutes away from the shore. 

"Okay... and we're going because?" Daniel asks. He's confused why you've dragged him out of bed and are cryptically answering his question. 

You turn and look at him, "You're leaving in a few hours. I wanted to hang out!" you answer, a hint of a smile tugging at your lips. 

He smiles back and shakes his head. "Why didn't you just ask before we went to sleep? Like a 'hey Danny, let's sneak out later, ok?'" He grins. "You let me get comfortable."

You laugh, "Sorry, I couldn't sleep and just decided in the moment."

"It's alright, I guess," he teases as he wraps his arm around your shoulder. 

The two of you walk in step with each other the rest of the way. A comfortable silence between you, only the sound of your flip-flops slapping on the pavement and the rustling of the trees around you. The March air is cool on your bare legs, but you're both in hoodies and don't really mind the temperature. As you get closer to the beach, the crashing of the waves also fills the silence. 

When you get to the beach, you kick off your shoes and walk to the edge of the water. It's quiet as the two of you watch the waves roll over your feet. 

"Are you excited?" you ask breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I really am," he answers. 

In a few days Daniel was leaving for the start of his racing season, he was going to be all around the world for the next few months. This year was an even bigger deal than normal, as last year he was selected to drive with the Red Bull Junior Team, so this was his first year with them. 

You look down as you lightly kick around the sand with your feet. 

"I'm going to miss you, you know," you say in a playful tone, but you really do mean it. 

"Hey, I'm back in August." He nudges you with his shoulder and ducks his head slightly to try and meet your eyes. 

You look up from the sand and at him, "I'm leaving in August before you get back, remember?" You give a small smile. He wasn't the only one traveling this year, you'd graduated from school in December and decided to go to an American university. So your first semester started in August. 

"Oh, right." Daniel looks out at the water again with a small frown. 

A silence falls over the two of you again. You just listen to the steady rhythm of the waves crashing. 

"It won't be too bad. You're still coming to some of my races, right?" Daniel starts, still looking out. "And when you start school it's not like you're never coming home again," he jokes.

You laugh softly. "True."

It's quiet again as you let your mind wander. It was normal for Danny to be out and about with his racing stuff, but starting school across the world was going to make both your schedules even crazier. But your families always found a way to spend time together. It would work out. You really hope it would. 

You're ripped out of your thoughts when you feel Daniel grab you and throw you over his shoulder.

"Hey!" you yell in surprise. He laughs and starts walking deeper into the water, and you know what he's going to try and do. 

"Don't you dare... oh my god, put me down!" You're squirming and hitting him, trying to save yourself.

"Put you down?" You stop fighting and simply rest your head on his back when you've realized your fatal error. "Sure!" he answers happily. 

And with that, he throws you off into the water. You're completely submerged for a moment and then come back up to the surface. Daniel stands in front of you, a smile plastered across his face. You push your now wet hair out of your face and stand up too. The water is up to your mid-thigh at this point. 

"Really?" You splash water at him. 

Daniel just laughs in response and turns slightly in a weak attempt to avoid the water. 

You splash more water at him and he does the same back. His clothes are progressively becoming more wet but it's nothing compared to how drenched you are.

As you go to splash him again, Danny grabs both of your wrists and holds them in front of you. He starts pushing you back and the water is rising to your waist. 

You push back, trying not to get dunked again. In a fit of giggles, the two of you struggle against each other. 

Danny slips a little bit and you take your chance, pushing him hard. But his grip on you is still strong, and as he tumbles backward into the water, you go right down with him. 

When the two of you come up to the surface you're both laughing hysterically. Daniel lets go of you and you move back slightly, you're floating in the shallow water facing each other. 

"This is your fault," you joke. You're smiling so hard that your cheeks are starting to hurt. 

"I don't know what you're talking about," he smiles just as hard back. 

The water isn't deep, but you and Daniel stay submerged up to your shoulders. You don't know what else to say, and it seems like Daniel doesn't either, the two of you just look at each other. Both of your smiles relax a bit, and you notice Danny's eyes flicker down to your lips and back to your eyes. You feel your stomach drop a little. You're probably seeing things. 

He swims even closer to you, a lazy smile still on his lips. You lightly push his face to the side, your heart beating fast. What was he doing?

He slowly looks back at you. "I'm going to miss you too."

"I'd hope so," you answer teasingly. You're trying to ignore how he's looking at you. 

"Yeah?" He counters with a raise of his eyebrows. 

"Yeah."

It's quiet again and you just look at each other. The way your heart is beating out of your chest is just too much. You break your eyes away from him and stand up, making your way to the shore. 

Daniel lingers for a moment, watching you, but eventually, he gets up and follows. 

Your wet clothes are heavy as you make your way across the beach to your shoes. As you pick up your flip-flops, you feel Daniel come up beside you, grabbing his shoes too. Neither of you put them on, and instead, just hold them at your sides as you leave the beach. 

There's a certain amount of tension between you two as you walk back to the house. You can't describe it, and honestly, you're not even sure if it's just in your head or not. But you can't help but feel your stomach doing flips as you walk side by side down the street. 

As you're walking, Danny starts to veer towards the side, walking into you. His side hits yours, and you laugh a bit as he gets you off balance. He keeps doing this and you run forward to escape him. 

You turn to look at him behind you, walking backward down the street. A grin is back on his face, and on yours too. 

You throw one of your flip-flops at him, and it hits him in the leg. It's not a hard throw by any means, but shock spreads over Danny's face at your assault. 

He grabs the flip-flop and throws it back at you, but you dodge it. He still has two more shoes though. 

When he launches the next one, you're not prepared and it connects with your arm. 

The next moments are filled with you and Danny throwing shoes at each other and running around the empty road like maniacs. 

There are still no words exchanged between the two of you, just laughter and the slap of flip-flops against your wet sweatshirts, bare skin, and the pavement. 

-

You wanted the street to stretch on endlessly. You didn't want to get to the house because you knew that the moment would be over. It would've made it a reality that Daniel was leaving soon and so were you. 

But unfortunately, the street had its limits. You and Daniel walked into the house and quietly made it back to your respective rooms. You said your goodnights. After the sun rose in the next few hours, Daniel and his family packed their stuff into the car. You two said your goodbyes. 

You weren't able to go to any of his races that season. He didn't get back before you left for university.

You only came back for winter break that school year. Your families saw each other once. 

When your summer vacation came around and you were back in Australia, Daniel was already gone. 

This cycle repeated for the next three years. He invited you to races. You couldn't make it. You invited him to your graduation. He couldn't make it. 

The frequent phone calls got difficult with time zones, so your communication turned exclusively to texting. Eventually, those slowed down too.

You watched each other's lives in pictures. Forgetting what the other's voice sounded like in person. But you never forgot how much you cared for him, and he never forgot how much he loved you... 

-

24 years old

"Danny!" You call out across the lobby of the Monaco hotel. He turns and flashes you one of his signature smiles. You hadn't seen it in what felt like ages.

He walks over and you two embrace in a tight hug. 

You pull apart and his hands are on your shoulders as he looks down at you. "I'm so glad you're here," he says.

"Me too!" You respond with just as much enthusiasm.

The past few weeks you and Daniel had been talking more frequently, finally trying to coordinate seeing each other again. You were both in luck when the days leading up to the Monaco Grand Prix, as well as the race weekend, fit into your schedule.

For a moment you're just smiling at each other, taking in one another's presence. A long overdue reunion. "Let's go, yeah?" He asks.

You nod and the two of you leave the hotel, ready to start making up lost time.

For the rest of the day, you two are attached at the hip. It was nice you got to spend so much time together before all of his racing and media obligations.

You're smiling to yourself now as the evening breeze dances lightly through the narrow streets of Monaco. You and Daniel stroll side by side, relishing in the familiarity of each other's company.

The city lights cast a warm glow upon the cobblestone pathways, and laughter and chatter spill from the restaurants, blending with the soft melody of distant music. It's a picturesque scene, one that perfectly reflects this moment shared between two old friends reconnecting.

"You know," Danny says, breaking the silence, "I should've kissed you that night."

You glance at him, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What?"

"On the beach," he clarifies. "I know you remember." He laughs slightly. 

A soft chuckle escapes your lips as you shake your head in disbelief. "I can't believe you're bringing that up now."

"But I'm serious," he insists, his tone playful yet earnest. "It might just haunt me."

"Haunt you?" you echo, unable to suppress a smile at his confession.

Danny shrugs, his expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah, I mean... I've been thinking about it, seeing you again and everything. Wondering what could've been if I had just taken the chance."

You pause, the weight of his words sinking in. Despite the casual atmosphere, there was an underlying tension, a silent acknowledgment of the unsaid feelings lingering between you.

"I guess we'll never know," you say finally.

Danny nods. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

"I have missed this though," Danny continues, his voice softer now, "Just being with you, like old times."

You smile. "Me too."

Daniel wraps his arm around your shoulder, and the air is filled with a comfortable silence as you continue your stroll back to the hotel. Despite the passing of time and the unspoken words hanging in the air, there was a sense of ease in your companionship, a familiarity that went beyond any tension.

Lost in your thoughts, you steal glances at Danny, noting the way the lights danced across his features, casting a soft glow on his easy smile. Memories continue to flood back in your mind, intertwining with the present moment. You recall the laughter you've shared, the secrets whispered, and the countless hours spent together. But now it seems like you've spent just as many hours apart. 

Lost in reflection, you barely notice when Danny's arm falls from your shoulder and he stops walking. 

You stop too, turning to face him, confusion on your face. "What's up?"

He meets your eyes, his expression unreadable for a moment before he takes a deep breath as if steeling himself. "I know I shouldn't bring this up now, especially after all this time, but…"

Your heart skips a beat, anticipation and a tinge of anxiety rising in you.

He looks down for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before meeting your eyes again. "...I never stopped thinking about you, you know. Even after all these years, even when we were apart."

You feel a rush of emotions within you, "Danny…"

"I know it's complicated, and I don't expect anything from you. I just needed to say it, to let you know."

You're taken aback by his confession, you feel surprise, uncertainty, and a flicker of something you dare not name. For years, you've kept your feelings tucked away, buried beneath the weight of missed opportunities.

You don't speak, but you can feel a small smile start to tug at the corners of your lips. 

You laugh a bit, shaking your head, and step closer to him. You're amused by just how much time the two of you have wasted. 

He smiles back.

Neither of you have to say anything. The expression in your eyes and the ease with which your arms wrap around his neck and his hands find your hips say enough. 

You feel his warm breath against your lips as he leans in closer, closing the gap between you. The world seems to fade away, leaving just the two of you in that moment, suspended in time.

It's a gentle yet passionate kiss, filled with years of longing and of the realization that perhaps fate had brought you back together for a reason.

-

After that reconnection, you two didn't waste any time. It felt as though the universe had conspired to bring you back together, and you weren't about to question its timing.

You officially started dating soon after, diving headfirst into a relationship that felt both exhilarating and comforting.

Years flew by in a blur of shared laughter, quiet moments, and unforgettable adventures. You celebrated milestones together, from anniversaries to Daniel's achievements in racing, always by each other's side through thick and thin.

You couldn't be happier. Your families couldn't be happier. Even the fans couldn't be happier. Childhood best friends to lovers. It was perfect. Everything was perfect. For a while it really was. 

-

32 years old

"What do you think?" Daniel holds a ring in between the two of you. It wasn't some over-the-top gesture, he didn't get down on one knee; he knew you wouldn't want that. 

So tonight he brought up the question, he asked if you would marry him. 

"Daniel, I..." you trail off uncertainty in your voice. You look at the ring and then back up at him. 

Daniel feels a lump form in his throat. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting. What made it worse was the seriousness in your voice. 

"What's wrong?" His brows furrow. 

"What does the future look like after this?"

He should've known you were going to ask this. You two were lucky in that your relationship had little tension. You rarely fought, even after the many years spent together. But there was one point of contention, even more so lately: Family. Kids. 

During the first few years of dating, you two were always pestered about marriage and kids. Then, the two of you said it wasn't the right time. There was no rush to get married, to start a family. Not back then. But it's been eight years and now you're the one who's been trying to bring up the topic. You certainly didn't need a diamond ring from Daniel to cement your relationship, but starting a family with him was something you wanted. But Daniel was never as clear in what he wanted. 

"You really want to get into this right now?" He sounds a little annoyed. 

"We need to talk about this. I can't ever get a straight answer out of you." You start while shaking your head. "I'm ready to settle, Daniel. Soon. And I can't tell if you want that too. I want to start a family and I want that to be with you, but every time we try and talk about this we just put it aside for another day."

"Baby..." he trails off, his hand holding the ring falling to his side. 

You cross your arms over your chest. "No, I'm serious. You know we don't have forever to decide this."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Tell me where you see us after this. Is it still just racing?"

"We do both," he says. 

"I don't want that. I know it's not fair to you, for me to ask this. But I don't want to do it alone. I can't."

He takes a step closer, "You wouldn't be alone."

"No Daniel, I would. It's inevitable."

You're right. He could try his best, but there was no way he could be there every step of the way while starting a family. Racing was just too demanding and time-consuming. 

"Are you seriously doing this to me?" his voice cracks.

"I'm sorry," you choke out. "I love you so much okay? But tell me the solution to this. I'm not going to ask you to stop racing." You've been with him through his whole career, you know how much work he's put in. How much he loves it. And you know he's not ready to stop yet. 

He runs his hands over his face. It was an impossible decision. A gut-wrenching situation. But Daniel's stomach drops because he knows you're right. 

"So what? We're breaking up right now?" His voice is laced with anger. 

"Don't be like that." You're hurt by his tone.

"Be like what? We've been together for almost eight years and you want to end it just like that. I just asked you to fucking marry me!" 

"Eight years of me following you, Daniel! My life has revolved around wherever you have to be, where you have to race. And that's fine, I didn't complain because it wasn't all bad. And I love you so what did it matter? But I'm tired of it Daniel."

He doesn't say anything and the two of you just look at each other. 

Finally, Daniel speaks, "So this is it?"

You bite the inside of your lip. It seemed like Daniel made a decision, you weren't surprised by it, but it still hurt. Racing was his everything. 

"I guess so."

Daniel runs his hands through his hair and turns away from you. 

"What a waste of time," he mutters.

You feel your brain go numb and you can't believe what you've just heard. This wasn't easy for you. You weren't happy about it either, not one bit. 

Before the two of you got together, you didn't even want to start a family. But eventually, that changed, and when you became a mom you wanted it to be with him, it was supposed to be with him.

"Are you fucking serious?" You snap back at him. 

"What else would you call this? It's been nearly a decade."

"So none of it even matters anymore? You can be mad at me, but what the fuck is wrong with you." You're awestruck at how he is handling this situation. 

"What the fuck is wrong with me? You're the one making me choose between you and my career." He answers angrily. 

"And you chose."

"I guess I did."

-

You knew that you would love again. But the months after you and Daniel broke up were difficult. The two of you didn't talk at all. You coordinated move-out technicalities through friends and family members. Any trace of one another on your social media was wiped clean, which was nearly your whole account considering you'd been together so long. Plus the fans and media did not take the situation lightly. Your comments were always filled with things about him, and vice versa on his accounts. 

But eventually, things slowed down. 

You just left social media altogether and started a quieter life in Australia, without him. Eventually, you met someone and you started to make amends with the situation. You moved on. Your new boyfriend is a gentleman. And soon he became fiancé, then husband. And you're content. 

Daniel focused on racing. He avoided the ongoing questions about you from the media, from his team, the rest of the grid. He avoided the silence in his drivers room without you in it. He avoided the empty space next to him as he traveled the world. But eventually, he moved on too. The late-night drinks over you turned into drinks with friends. He knew he could be content again too...

-

37 years old

Daniel could feel a wave of anxiety wash over him as he walked up the front stairs of your childhood home. He hadn't been here in years. He hadn't seen you in years. For the last few family events, you and Daniel were never there at once. He'd go to one, you'd skip, the next one, you'd go and he'd skip. 

But it's been five years since you broke up. It's been five years and he knows you've gotten married. He hasn't met your husband. He knows you've had a kid. He hasn't met your daughter. 

It's been five years and your families have gotten sick of walking on eggshells around the two of you. Especially since it seems like both of you have moved on. So they put their foot down and said you both had to come.

Daniel walks into the house and is welcomed by the familiar sight of both your family members bustling around, preparing for the gathering. There's a mix of nostalgia and apprehension within him as he scans the room, searching for a familiar face.

"Daniel!" Your mother's voice cuts through the chatter, and he turns to see her approaching him with a warm smile. "It's been too long. How have you been?"

He manages a small smile in return, "I've been good, thank you. How about you?"

As they engage in small talk, Daniel can't help but steal glances around the room, his heart pounding in his chest as he anticipates seeing you again. He wonders if you're here yet, if you're as nervous as he is about this encounter.

"Oh, come here!" your mother calls out, beckoning a man that Daniel doesn't recognize. Daniel's heart sinks as your mother introduces your husband. Daniel extends a hand, forcing a polite smile as he greets him.

"It's nice to meet you," Daniel says, trying to ignore the knot of jealousy tightening in his chest.

Your husband offers a friendly smile in return, shaking Daniel's hand firmly. "Likewise, Daniel. She's told me so much about you."

Daniel's smile feels strained now, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. He can't help but feel like an outsider in this moment, a silent witness to the life you've built without him.

"Speaking of her," your husband says as he looks around the room, "she might be in the backyard."

Daniel nods, his heart sinking even further at the mention of you. He forces himself to maintain his composure, offering a polite nod to your husband before excusing himself from the conversation.

As he makes his way through the house, Daniel can feel the weight of the past five years pressing down on him. He wonders what he'll say to you, how he'll navigate seeing you after all this time.

Daniel freezes as he catches sight of you in the backyard, playing with a little girl who bears a striking resemblance to you. His heart skips a beat at the sight, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. He hadn't expected to be hit with such a strong reminder of the life he could've had with you.

You look up and notice him standing there, and for a moment, time seems to stand still as your eyes meet. There's a flicker of recognition, a hint of surprise.

"Hey Daniel," you say, your voice soft.

"Hi," he responds.

There's a brief pause, a silent acknowledgment of the years that have passed, the wounds that have healed, and the memories that still linger.

As you stand up, Daniel notices the slight baby bump under your dress.

"Congratulations," he manages to say, his voice laced with genuine warmth despite the turmoil he's starting to feel. "I didn't know that you were expecting."

You offer him a small smile in return, a mixture of gratitude and sadness shining in your eyes. "Yeah, I'm only a few weeks along." 

There's a heavy silence between you, you both struggle to find the right thing to say. 

You pick your daughter up and rest her on your hip, walking closer to Daniel. 

"Can you say hi?" you ask her with a smile. 

The little girl looks at Daniel with wide eyes, seemingly studying him for a moment before offering a wave.

"Hi," she says with a smile.

"She just turned two," you say, looking between her and Daniel. 

Your daughter nods, still smiling. 

Your husband comes out to the backyard, and you excuse yourself from Daniel for a moment. 

"Here," he says grabbing your daughter from you. "Time for us to hang out, little lady," he says to her and then gives you a small smile. You return it and he goes back into the house, giving you and Daniel a moment to yourselves. 

Daniel watches silently as your husband takes your daughter, feeling a pang of envy at the easy familiarity between the two of them. He knows he shouldn't feel this way, that it's irrational and unfair, but he can't help the twinge of jealousy that gnaws at him.

As you turn back to face him, there's a tense silence between you, filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. 

"How are you?" he asks softly. 

You glance away for a moment, gathering your thoughts before meeting his gaze again. "I've been good, thank you," you reply, your voice steady.

Daniel nods. "I'm glad to hear that."

"How are you?" you ask. "Racing seems like it's going well."

"Yeah, I'm loving it. It was shifty for a while, but I'm happy with how everything is going," he answers with a slight smile.

"That's great." You two sit down on the porch steps.

Side by side, legs slightly pressed against each other, it was a position you two had been in countless times. In this exact spot. But obviously, things were different now. So different.

There's a tension between you but despite it all, there's a flicker of something in your eyes, a hint of warmth and familiarity that draws him in.

"I'm sorry," Daniel says suddenly. "For everything."

You meet his gaze, your expression softening at his words. "Daniel..."

"What I said then. That it was a waste of time," he continues, his voice filled with sincerity. "It wasn't. Whether you were my girlfriend, or just best friend. Those years really did mean a lot to me."

You feel a rush of emotions within you, a mixture of sadness, regret, and longing.

"They meant a lot to me too," you admit.

 You both struggle to find the right thing to say, the right way to bridge the gap that has grown between you over the years.

"I know it's too late for us," Daniel says softly, breaking the silence. "But I just needed you to know."

You nod, a lump forming in your throat as you fight to hold back tears. "Thank you," you whisper, your voice thick with emotion.

You hate that you still feel this way about him. That it's been years and you have a new life, your own family. You're the one who wanted this. You're the one who left. 

But Daniel sits next to you and your mind wanders to what could be different. 

He's here at your childhood home. Your family, your kid, your husband just inside.

But in all honestly, if Daniel asked you to leave to be with him and split. 

Well, you'd at least have to think about it. 

[duxbelisarius]

The Velaryon Blockade or, How Not to Fight a War at Sea

Greetings and Salutations! After many months since completing the Military Analysis series, and having watched Season 2 of House of the Dragon (surely one of the shows of all time), I've returned to do some further analysis of the war of the Dance. I may end up including this entry in a subsequent re-write of the original analysis series, but I'm currently in the middle of working on a Daeron fanfic and wanted to write this to get my juices flowing. Without further ado, onto the main event: The Blockade of the Gullet (WARNING: Spoilers for HOTD and F&B; this is gonna be a long one!)

Analyzing the blockade of the Gullet or the Velaryon Blockade, as portrayed in Fire and Blood and House of the Dragon, requires tackling the subjects of how King's Landing is fed and whether such a blockade is feasible given the technology available to the setting. I'll start with the provisioning of King's Landing since the show made a big deal out of it, and it has implications for Fire and Blood's portrayal of the Dance.

The idea of a blockade of the Gullet leading to food shortages and near-starvation in King's Landing is a non-starter, since it is supported neither by the ASOIAF books or the show Game of Thrones. In the former case, we know that House Tyrells support for Renly leads to the Roseroad being closed and near famine conditions in KL, as noted by Tyrion in A Storm of Swords:

The mob loved Margaery so much they were even willing to love Joffrey again. She had belonged to Renly, the handsome young prince who had loved them so well he had come back from beyond the grave to save them. And the bounty of Highgarden had come with her, flowing up the roseroad from the south. The fools didn't seem to remember that it had been Mace Tyrell who closed the roseroad to begin with, and made the bloody famine. (ASOS, Tyrion VIII)

GoT retained this thread in Season 2 and returned to the subject of the Reach supplying KL with the 'Loot Train Battle' in Season 7.

Looked at more broadly, there are three sources of food that KL can access which render the Gullet completely redundant: Firstly, there is the Crownlands themselves, which should be accessible to KL by road or by boat via Blackwater Bay; there's the Reach, which is the most agriculturally abundant of all the Seven Kingdoms, although the main artery of this supply really should be the Mander river and not the Roseroad; and finally we have the Riverlands, which ought to be more important of a source for food since goods could reach KL from there entirely by boat or barge thanks to the Blackwater Rush and the God's Eye lake. Regardless, access to these areas means that little if any food provisions should be required to pass through the Gullet to support the capital, and this creates problems for the show and the books.

Leaving aside how the Blockade in the show is rendered useless, there is a massive plot hole for the Dance created by acknowledging this information. Prior to Criston Cole's Crownlands Campaign, most of that region, most of the Reach and all of the Riverlands have sworn fealty to Rhaenyra. Even if rationing was introduced and every source of food in the city were exploited, KL is still cut off from it's main food providers and this fact should have been addressed by the councils of either faction. Rhaenyra's allies were capable of cutting off the city's food supply and their armies could have come together to lay siege to the city. The only real obstacles they would face are Vhagar and Sunfyre, since Borros Baratheon and the Stormlands vanish from the narrative following Luke's death.

On the other hand, Aegon should have seized upon this threat to push for immediate action given his impatience with Otto's letter writing, the only payoff for which is the Triarchy's attack on the Gullet at the start of the next year. Aemond already secured the Baratheons, Tyland guarantees the Westerlands' support, and Ormund is effectively alone in supporting Aegon's cause in the Reach. As it turns out, neither faction is cognizant of this specific vulnerability of the capital at this time or later on in the Dance. When living conditions deteriorate under Rhaenyra, her tax policy is blamed rather than the fact that Cole's campaign should have negatively affected Crownlands agriculture; the Reach is rapidly switching sides thanks to Daeron; Daemon left the Riverlands in the hands of his army and those of the Lannisters, Aemond and Cole, with devastating consequences for the land and people; and finally, that the onset of winter should be having a negative effect on the food supply of the the Kingdoms.

It also needs to be stressed that for KL to rely on overseas shipments for the majority if not entirety of it's food supply, it would require the Targaryen monarchy to possess far greater governmental and military resources than they are given by George. Looking at Rome from the Middle Republic onwards and the Eastern Roman Empire prior to the Arab invasions, we can see that grain shipments helped to sustain far greater cities than King's Landing in Rome and Constantinople. In both cases though, they could rely on a hinterland for local food markets (Italy for Rome, Thrace/modern day Bulgaria for Constantinople) and possessed almost overwhelming naval supremacy which ensured the security of the seas. Rome could reliably access Sicily, North Africa, and Egypt for its grain needs, and Constantinople could do likewise with Anatolia, Egypt, the Black Sea basin and later Sicily and North Africa as well.

Ships bound for KL from the Reach would have to sail the treacherous waters and barren coast of southern Dorne, brave storms and pirates in the Stepstones, and risk further storms off the coast of the Stormlands, and this is without considering how dangerous the transit would be during years long autumns and winters. Essosi shipments have the same problem but with the added wrinkle that the crown would have to pay for them, whereas Roman grain shipments were often provided by collecting taxes in kind rather than cash from farmers in Egypt and North Africa. This alone would automatically elevate House Lannister above the Targaryens as the foremost house in the Seven Kingdoms, given their access to nigh-infinite gold deposits. This is all to say that the premise of the Gullet Blockade starving out KL is utterly preposterous, which makes it completely unsurprising that Ryan Condal and Sara Hess chose to run with it!

By contrast, the blockade attempted in F&B was meant to put pressure on the Greens by cutting off all trade to the capital, preventing merchants from reaching the city or leaving it. The foreign and domestic merchants trapped in Blackwater Bay are among the loudest voices criticizing Aegon and his leadership, which was seemingly the aim of Corlys Velaryon. Unfortunately for George's plot, close examination of the development of naval warfare in the Medieval and Early Modern Periods (c.500-1500 and c.1500-1800 respectively), the very periods George has derived his naval technology and ship designs from, indicate that the blockade of the Gullet makes no sense militarily. I arrived at my conclusion about the Blockade after consulting John H. Pryor and Elizabeth M. Jeffries excellent book The Age of the Dromon: The Byzantine Navy c.500-1204, with further insight provided by X users SzablaObr2023 and the "Orc Logistics Guy" himself, Professor Bret Devereaux.

The most fundamental problem with the Gullet Blockade is that it's the wrong kind of blockade to attempt within the setting; historically, there have been two types of blockade attempted in war: Close and Distant. Close blockades were the most common in pre-modern times, and involved cutting off naval traffic from a region or area (typically a port) with ships posted within sight of the coastline. Distant blockades aim to cut off traffic to a much larger area by posting ships at sea far from the coastline of the intended target. The Velaryons are attempting the latter kind by controlling the waters between Dragonstone and Massey's Hook, to prevent any ships from entering or leaving Blackwater Bay and thereby isolating King's Landing.

The forces available to Corlys Velaryon are not insignificant: we know that Alyn Velaryon sailed against the Stepstones in 133 AC with 60 war galleys, 30 longships, and over 100 cogs and great cogs, to which we can add the 7 warships that escorted the Gay Abandon in 129-130 AC. Increasing this fleet by a third and rounding up to account for the losses suffered in the Battle of the Gullet gives the Velaryon Fleet at least 270 ships at the outset of the Dance, potentially as high as 300. By comparison, the Redwyne Fleet in 300 AC possesses 200 warships, about equal to the Carthaginian fleet at the outset of the First Punic War and larger than any fleet used by Athens against Sparta during the Peloponnesian War (see this video from 15:27 onward).

Based on Alyn's order of battle, it appears that the Velaryon Fleet was evenly split between oared warships and pure sailing vessels, which presents a problem for the Gullet Blockade. While oared and sailing vessels could maintain a close blockade, the former are completely unsuited for a distant blockade due to their logistical requirements and seaworthiness. Close blockades were often used to cut off a port or narrow stretch of water in support of a siege by land forces; an excellent historical example is the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, when the army and fleet of Gaius Octavian trapped Mark Antony's forces in the Ambracian Gulf. Closeness to the coast and the friendly armies stationed there ensured that oared ships had access to food supplies and more importantly, fresh water. Pryor and Jeffries estimate that each member of a Byzantine rowing crew required a minimum of 8 liters of fresh water per day; a Dromon with 108 rowers would thus need 864 liters per day and 1000 liters or one tonne if the marines and officers are included (adding a second crew of rowers would almost double that amount). Mediterranean war galleys of the Medieval and Early Modern Periods had storage for only 4-8 tonnes of fresh water on board, making accessible fresh water sources a sine qua non for operations of any length.

The other factor rendering oared warships unsuitable for distant blockade duties is their seaworthiness, which Pryor and Jeffries discuss at length:

if the wind rose to Beaufort Scale Four-Five (16-17 knots) ... That would raise waves of around 4.75 feet, 1.45 metres. All galleys at all times were designed to cut through the water rather than to ride the waves and such a wind, which is just a “moderate” to “fresh” breeze on the Beaufort Scale, nothing out of the ordinary, would send waves washing over the deck of any dromon. Even if the wind were astern, she would still be forced to run for the coast. If the wind were ahead, it would be worse because that would mean that the ship was attempting to beat to windward and therefore would be heeling over with one gunwale continuously under water." ... Scale Seven winds would raise seas up to 13.5 feet (4.115 metres) and no dromon would stand a chance of continuing its voyage in such conditions. The authors of the Olympias project have concluded that a trieres [Trireme] would be swamped in waves above 0.85 metres, and we believe that in all probability a dromon would have been also. ... However, galleys were simply not designed to be sailed and throughout history they were always notoriously poor sailers. Because their lack of deep keels meant that they made excessive leeway when beating into the wind, because their shallow draft and low freeboard meant that they could not heel under sail very much, because their narrow beam and low depth in hold meant that their hulls did not have the structural strength to carry a large press of sail, and because their extreme length:beam ratio and lateen sails meant that they carried pronounced weather helm, constantly griping, the bows coming up into the wind, galleys were always notorious for poor upwind performance under sail. That is nothing to be wondered at for they were not designed to do that ... Moreover, a heel under sail of a mere ten degrees or so would put the lower rims of the lower oar ports at the flat water line and at that point it is highly questionable whether the oar sleeves would have prevented water from entering the hull, even if they were tied off. (Age of the Dromon, pg. 336-338)

Velaryon war galleys and longships would need to stay close to Cracklaw Point, Massey's Hook, Driftmark and Dragonstone to be of any assistance to the Blockade, although with the rough seas and weather of autumn and winter even this would be a doubtful prospect. Corlys would have to rely upon the cogs and great cogs of the Velaryon Fleet to conduct the blockade; Devereaux and Szabla noted that sailing vessels are capable of conducting distant blockades, as demonstrated by Britain's Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. They also note that conducting such a blockade entailed problems all its own:

A distant blockade with sailing vessels still required significant logistical support, a well developed naval command structure and bureaucracy, and only began to be attempted centuries after the High and Late Middle Ages when the Cog was widely used.

Even if we leave these issues aside, the Gullet Blockade still has another serious problem: Communications. Based on a distance map of Westeros, the distance between Crackclaw Point and Sharp Point appears to be c.125 miles while the length of the Gullet proper from Dragonstone to Sharp Point may be 100 miles or less. Meleys is the only dragon known to have supported the Blockade and seems not to have been replaced after her death at Rook's Rest. Over 100 cogs and 1 dragon at best would be the only forces capable of patrolling the Gullet to any effect, while the need for ships to resupply the blockade and to act as reserves to relieve ships from the Blockade line drastically reduces the amount of ships that could patrol the Gullet. Pryor and Jeffries' assessment of Byzantine visual signaling suggests that communications within the Blockade would be almost impossible:

The masthead height of the foremast of a standard dromon as we have reconstructed it was only around 10.65 metres above sea level. There were, admittedly, larger dromons; however, for what follows a couple of metres more of masthead height would make no difference to the conclusions reached. With a foremast height of 10.65 metres above sea level, the theoretical horizon of a lookout at the masthead would have been only around 11.8 kilometres. Theoretically, the peak of a lateen sail 21 metres above sea level could be seen a further 51.7 kilometres away but, of course, no man could see 63.5 kilometres with unaided sight. In all probability, around 15-20 kilometres would have been the limit of visibility from the masthead of a dromon. Scout ships could not, therefore, patrol a space more than 30-40 kilometres in advance of a fleet and probably no more than 30, since they were always said to have been smaller than standard dromons and would have had lower mastheads. In fact, in order to be able to actually read signals with unaided eyesight and communicate them back to the fleet, distances must have been even less than this. Syrianos Magistros advised that a fleet should always proceed with scout ships out ahead, up to six milia or so. Two scout ships should be 6 milia ahead and another two should be between them and the fleet to relay any messages. Six milia was only around 8 kilometres. If the forward scout ships then had a range of visibility of another 8-16 kilometres, then the real maritime space that could be observed was only around 25 kilometres at best. (Age of the Dromon, pg. 388-389).

Compared to the Gullet, the Strait of Otranto is 100 km wide (c.69 miles) while the distance between Crete and Rhodes is 180 km (c.112 miles) with the island of Karpathos in the middle; neither the Byzantines nor contemporary Mediterranean powers could control entry and exit through such space.

It might be argued that spyglasses, known in ASOIAF as Myrish Lenses or a Myrish Eye, could offer a solution to such long distances; unfortunately these devices are only produced in Myr, and of the three mentioned in the main books only one is used onboard a ship. The lenses used by Maesters Luwin and Aemon are large enough to require a tripod; the only one mentioned aboard a ship is a collapsible Eye carried by a Myrish captain whose ship is taken by Victarion en route to Slavers Bay. Even if Myrish lenses were available to some degree, it's unlikely they could overcome the problems of distance and the conditions at sea.

Writing about the War of 1812, Frederick Leiner states that a lookout "perched on the masthead, 80 or 100 feet above the main deck, and equipped with a spyglass, with the horizon perhaps 20 miles off ... might be able to discern a larger warship-like frigate perhaps as far as 15 miles distant, if the weather were clear and sea conditions allowed." 15 miles or 24 km is impressive compared to the 8-16 km of the Byzantine scout ships mentioned by Pryor and Jeffries, but the heights of Leiner's masts are more than double that of a Dromon and taller still than a cogs. Even a spyglass from two centuries after they were first introduced would not greatly enhance the vision of a Velaryon lookout, and the notoriously poor weather and seas of the Westerosi autumn and winter would certainly counteract it. With ships being kept off station to ferry supplies and act as reserves, the area needing to be patrolled would make visual signaling highly impractical.

To quote Pryor and Jeffries once more, "Expeditionary objectives could frequently be achieved best by preserving one’s forces intact and actually avoiding battle since naval warfare was essentially amphibious warfare whose purpose was to secure control of terrestrial objectives rather than to attempt to control maritime space (Age of the Dromon, 388)." Using the Velaryon Fleet to support the Black armies rather than attempting an exercise in futility by blockading the Gullet, would have applied pressure to Aegon and the Greens more effectively while being consistent with the setting that George created and its inspirations.

The most obvious way for the Velaryon Fleet to support the Blacks would be through transporting Northern and Vale troops south of the Neck and the Mountains of the Moon, to take the fight to Aegon rather than sitting back passively once Daemon rallied the Riverlords and the Blacks in the Reach marched on Oldtown. Considering how swiftly both of those armies were raised, it makes no sense why the Vale could not at least send troops to assist Rhaenyra in the Crownlands. Another option and one which I proposed in part 12 and the conclusion of my military analysis series, would be to send the Velaryon Fleet south against the Stormlords.

Otto Hightower believed that Tarth would support Rhaenyra's cause, and Lord Buckler and Lady Fel were both executed by Aegon for refusing to swear fealty to him instead of Rhaenyra. The bulk of the Crownlands supports Rhaenyra prior to Criston Cole's campaign, and Felwood and Bronzegate are located south of the Crownlands astride the Kingsroad to Storm's End. The Wendwater flows through the Stormlands and Crownlands before emptying into Blackwater Bay; assuming the river is even partially navigable, this could allow shallow drafted boats to move troops and supplies into the lower Kingswood and prevent Aegon and Borros from aiding one another. Naval operations along the coast would be risky given the arrival of autumn, but the weather rarely affects the plot of the Dance if the author doesn't want it to. Tarth would serve as a base for the Velaryon ships to resupply and further raid the coast or land troops and the Blacks in the Reach could threaten the border, with the Cockleswhent and Blueburn rivers potentially serving as supply arteries for an invasion from the west.

There are also compelling political reasons for the Blacks and particularly the Velaryons to attack the Stormlands: It would punish Borros Baratheon for breaking his father's oath to Rhaenyra, esp. since his father supported Rhaenys and Laenor in 101 and Rhaenys is currently part of the Black council; it could be portrayed as vengeance for the death of Lucerys Velaryon over Shipbreaker Bay; and it could potentially force the Greens out of King's Landing. Aemond's betrothal to Floris Baratheon would give him some obligation to support his ally and future good-father against their common foe, and failure to give aid would endanger the Baratheon alliance. Aegon's only other allies are in the Westerlands and the Honeywine valley of the southern Reach, and without the Baratheons he is completely surrounded by his enemies. Whether Aegon, Aemond or both set out with an army to aid Borros, King's Landing's garrison and perhaps one dragonrider are all that would be left to defend against an attack by Daemon and the Riverlords and/or the Black houses of the Reach.

These scenarios offer a more effective employment for the Velaryon Fleet, but there is a way to retain the blockade while ensuring that the ending of the Dance remains relatively the same (Rhaenyra and Aegon are dead, Aegon III and Jaehaera marry, most of the dragons are dead, etc.) by acknowledging that the blockade is a poor strategy. It could start by allowing Mysaria's spies to discover the fate of the Royal Treasury, with ships carrying 75% of the treasury out of Blackwater Bay without the awareness of the Velaryon Fleet. It can even be implied that Larys Strong leaked this information to play both sides and drive a wedge between Rhaenyra and her Hand; this pays off as Rhaenyra blames Corlys and the Velaryons for this embarassment and imposes the Blockade against Corlys' judgement. The blockade serves as a way for her to get back at Aegon while asserting her royal authority after her claim was usurped.

The Velaryon Fleet is thus forced to commit the entirety of its forces to a task that Corlys, his vassals, and his captains and crews know is beyond their means to carry out successfully. Many galleys could be lost to the stormy seas and their crews drowned, while the cogs must endure the same weather and miserable conditions in pursuit of a pointless task. Morale declines steadily as many ships desert completely, turning to piracy or becoming merchantmen and sellsails in Essos, which further undermines the blockade. Tensions between Rhaenyra and Corlys would already be high before Rhaenys' death and could reach a crisis point after the Battle of the Gullet. The way the battle plays out in F&B could likewise be retained if the mistakes made by the Blacks are acknowledged, being the failure of naval or dragon patrols to detect the approach of the Triarchy Fleet. Gyldan could point out that both Prince Jacaerys and Lord Corlys are at fault for the disaster, but that Rhaenyra solely blames the Velaryons. I would even go a step further: Medieval and Early Modern naval combat relied heavily on boarding actions, excluding cannons since they're not present in George's setting. With many galleys and ships being entangled in these close-quarters bouts, it would not be surprising if the dragonriders set fire to Velaryon ships by mistake and further contributed to the deterioration of Velaryon support.

With many officers and crews having lost their families and homes in the Triarchy attack, this would present a perfect opportunity for Vaemond Velaryon's sons, Daeron and Daemion, and his nephews the 'Silent Five' to take action if they were not already involved in the events of the Dance. With Larys possibly assisting them, they could begin organizing a fleet-wide mutiny against Rhaenyra and the Black Council, which would take place after Corlys is arrested. Addam and Alyn would flee to Dragonstone and Driftmark, the former to seek Baela and Moondancer's help and the latter to rally ships and crews to help his father. The mutineers capture Alyn while Addam finds Moondancer dead, Baela imprisoned, and Dragonstone in the hands of Aegon II, with a battle ensuing between Sunfyre and Seasmoke which leads to Aegon's injuries and Addam fleeing the bay worse for wear. Heading to Maidenpool and finding that Nettles has fled and Daemon and Aemond are fallen in battle, Addam could then rally what forces he can for a suicide mission against Tumbleton with the aim of killing Daeron and the Betrayers and mauling their army before it can join Aegon at King's Landing.

This sets up how I would fix Second Tumbleton, by Addam showing up to find Daeron already battling with the Betrayers and the army divided. Knowing that neither Aegon and Alicent nor Alyn, Baela and Corlys will survive if the Betrayers take the capital, Addam and Daeron join forces and rout the Betrayers army, with all four dragonriders being killed in the battle. This change is important if Jaehaera's death is retained, since there needs to be strong foundations for reconciling the Greens and Blacks. Addam and Daeron the Daring's sacrifice gives both factions heroes that they can memorialize and honour together; Daenaera's marriage to Aegon III is also helped by her father and uncle having been actively involved in Rhaenyra's downfall in support of Aegon II. A final touch I would add would be for Alyn to lead a counter-mutiny following Aegon II's death which leads to deaths of Daeron Velaryon and three of the 'Silent Five'; Alyn could swear an oath to the dying Daeron to look after his daughter Daenaera now that both her parents will be dead. This magnanimous act by Alyn and the respect the Velaryon Fleet has for him could inform Daemion's decision to break with the remaining 'Silent Five' and support Alyn's claim as Corlys' heir.

If you've made it to the end of this wall of text, I commend you! For those that want a TL;DR: The Show's blockade is nonsense; the Book blockade is unworkable as a strategy; nonetheless, the blockade and the Velaryon Fleet can still play an important role in the story if the aforementioned flaws are acknowledged. Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

[something-tofightfor]

On Deck Part 1: Hot Corner

Pairing: Jack Daniels x Female Reader Baseball AU

Word Count: 8,117

Rating: M (language, general adult thoughts, etc.)

Summary: Taking your best friend's little brother to a minor leage game to see his favorite player just might lead to a lot of changes in your life.

And you're ready.

Author’s notes: 

This story has been in progress for more than two years. I've written about Baseball Jack many times before ... but only the "after". It's time to see how - and where - it all began.

(On Deck universe masterlist for all the extras!)

Thank you to everyone that convinced me to work on this and to keep this pairing going / to flesh them out more. I have had so much fun with this because I have such a love for the MLB (and the men who play in the league) - and I'm so excited to share it.

While there are a lot of baseball references within this story, you only need to know the basics to enjoy it and understand them - we're not getting overrly technical here.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out. I hope you enjoy this as much as I am.

Third base is often called the ‘hot corner’ due to the prevalence of right handed hitters - and subsequent on-field action - in the league. The third baseman is typically the infield position player closest to the batter, so to excel in this position, players need to display quick reaction times and exceptional hand-eye coordination. 

“We’re going to be late.” He stood next to you, arms crossed over his chest. “We still have to walk to the stadium.” 

“Caleb.” You sighed, closing and then locking the car door before sticking your keys into the small bag you’d bought specifically for games. “We’re here. We’re parked. The stadium is right there.” Pointing with one finger, you raised a brow and grinned. “The parking lot is only half full, and we’ve already got seats, so -”

“Yeah, but we’re going to miss warm ups and the pregame.” He rolled his eyes, turning away from you and heading toward the ballpark. “And those are the best parts.” 

You agreed, but for a very different reason than the twelve year old you were with. 

You’d been to games with him and Erin before. You and your friend sat a few rows back while the pre-teen hurried down to field level, a baseball and a pen clutched in one hand, hoping to meet at least one of the players after they’d finished warming up and stretching. 

From your vantage point, the two of you had been free to whisper about the players - pointing out the way their uniforms fit, discussing whether or not their asses were in mid-season form yet, or even commenting on the stretches they chose to warm up with before the game. Typically, you didn’t have a thing for men in uniform - but baseball pants were a different story. 

You loved the game, and had been visiting The Distillery - your local team’s home park - since you were a child, attending games with your family and friends and even dates as the years passed. Baseball games were the perfect summer activity no matter who you were with, and that was even true when your company was the younger brother of your best friend… and the game wasn’t a Major League competition. 

“She’s got the tickets.” He made the announcement when you reached the gates, the boy pointing back over his shoulder at you. “Two of them.” You smiled at the attendant, sliding your unzipped bag across the table so she could search it, and then returned your eyes to Caleb. He’d already removed his ballcap and the wallet he carried, pushing them forward and stepping through the metal detector. 

“He’s excited, hmm?” 

“Yeah.” Letting her scan the ticket barcodes, you laughed. “He really is.” Caleb waited for you to follow him through the turnstiles, his hat flipped backwards on his head, and you could see the impatience on his face. “Caleb, do you want to get something to eat before we -”

“No.” He shook his head. “Not yet. Before the game starts, but …” He glanced over his shoulder and you looked down at the field, where the grounds crew were still getting everything ready. “Can we go down there? I want to try and meet him. He’s playing today. They said it on the news.”

“Go.” Your smile widened, head moving up and down in a nod. “I’m right behind you, kid.” 

Caleb took off running toward the stairs that led down toward the third base line, and you followed him slowly, taking your time and eyeing the seating situation. There were people already waiting; a handful of kids and their parents, along with a few women that looked to be your age or a little younger, but there were still plenty of seats open adjacent to the field. 

You sat closer than you normally would have, deciding to take a seat in the row directly behind the boy. Just in case. For the next ten minutes, you paid no attention to the field, instead scrolling through social media and waiting, the music pumping through the speakers fading to background noise as you mindlessly browsed and clicked ‘like’ on a few posts. 

You also let Erin know that you’d made it to the game, and that Caleb was exactly where he wanted to be. But when you glanced up, ready to take a picture to send to her, you were distracted by the sight of the team taking the field. Caleb was too, the boy bouncing up and down in place as he leaned forward, resting his hands on the low wall in front of him. 

You watched for a few minutes - eyeing the players as they did their sprints and stretches, your lips twisting into a small smile at the sight of some of them utilizing their trainers for extra resistance during a few of the exercises. “He’s not here.” Caleb turned back to look at you, disappointment on his face. “Why isn’t he here?”

“Maybe he’ll come out late.” You shrugged, still looking at the field. “You never know, kiddo. You said he’s in the lineup, right?” 

“Yeah.” He turned back to the field, leaning forward. “They talked on the radio about how he was coming back today, because they want him to back in Louisville by the end of next week, and -” Caleb stopped mid sentence, straightening up. “There he is!” 

You couldn’t help it, your attention snapping in the direction that he was pointing. Sure enough, Jack Daniels and one of the trainers - a woman with short, dark hair and glasses - were taking the field to a low chorus of cheers, many of them coming from the section you were sitting in. There he is. 

Despite yourself, you leaned forward to watch him, staring as Jack began his warm up. He started with a few stretches - knee hugs and focusing on his quads, carefully extending and testing his arms, and then bent forward at the waist, the man almost able to press his palms flat against the ground without bending his knees. 

You didn’t take your eyes off of him, because like Caleb, one of the reasons you liked going to the Statesman games was looking at Jack Daniels. And there’s so much to look at.

The trainer watched him closely as he continued to warm up, speeding up his movements and then doing a series of static stretches. But when Jack started to do lunges, you actively fought back a groan, settling against the backrest of your seat and chewing on your lower lip. That’s hot as fuck. 

He looked healthy, and you were happy to see it, because the truth was that the Statesman needed him to be. “He didn’t warm up yesterday.” You turned your head toward the voice, watching as another woman next to you stared at Jack, her smile wide. “He stretched a little, and took batting practice, but he didn’t warm up.” 

“Oh, you were here yesterday, too?” She nodded, and when you glanced back at the field, you saw that Jack and the trainer had switched to more arm exercises, warming up the muscles of his upper body. 

“He pinch hit late in the game.” She leaned forward, her smile widening as she watched Jack start arm circles, the trainer standing a few feet away from him with her arms crossed. “So I knew he’d play today. And that’s why I’m here.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Gonna shoot my shot when he comes over here to sign for the kids. Why not, right? We both know he goes for it sometimes.” 

The girl was pretty - and definitely dressed to get his attention. She wore one of his t-shirts artfully slashed to show off her cleavage and had her legs on display in a pair of cutoff denim shorts. Good for her. “Yeah, why not.” You smiled, turning your head away from where the players were sprinting into the outfield and back to give her your full attention. “Even if he’ll be back in Louisville pretty soon, you might as well. See what happens.”

“It’s only 40 minutes away.” She shrugged, looking out and pointing at where the man was laying on the field, one knee bent and his other ankle resting against the top of it. The trainer was applying extra resistance, and you hummed in approval as you watched. I wish I was that trainer.  “I’d drive there if I needed to.” 

Her eagerness didn’t surprise you. Jack was a notably eligible bachelor, and one of the most desirable men on the team. Unlike the others, though, he didn’t often publicly date. But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t hook up. And … You returned your attention to the field, watching as he stopped to talk to the woman, pointing at the front of his left shoulder and grinning. And I’m sure he’s got his pick in every city he visits. 

“Oh, I think they’re coming over now.” 

She adjusted her shirt and you watched her posture change, the woman’s shoulders straightening and her smile widening. Instead of staring at Jack’s strut toward the seats, you looked at Caleb. The boy was buzzing with excitement as he turned toward where the man was headed - about ten people to your left, where a small crowd had gathered. “Do you think he’ll come over?” Caleb said your name, frowning. “There’s not much time, and -”

“He will.” You leaned in, reaching out to touch his arm. “You’re wearing one of his shirts, right? He’s gotta stop for you.” Caleb grinned, turning back toward the field, though he kept his head turned to the left. 

You watched Jack then, smiling as he interacted with the fans. He signed autographs and posed for a few pictures, his smile genuine. But you noticed that he was really only focused on the kids and teenagers, spending more than a few seconds with them instead of moving along as quickly as was politely possible the way he did with adults. He took pictures with a few women, the man leaning in but keeping both hands behind his back. He puts his hands on the kids’ shoulders, but doesn’t touch the women… interesting. 

“Keep your phone out. I’m gonna need you to take a picture.” Caleb was excited, the boy happier than you ever remembered seeing him. You laughed but did as he asked, leaning to the right and angling the phone so that you could snap a picture of the two of them, though Jack was barely in the frame. 

The girl next to you leaned forward when he was only a person or two away, and then seemed to second guess that decision. You bit back a laugh as she stood and climbed over the seats, standing next to Caleb and effectively blocking your view of the man on the field. Gee, thanks.

He finished with the little girl that he’d been speaking to, handing her back a signed baseball and a pen, and then took a step to the side and in front of the woman, saying hello. 

Clearly hearing his voice in person shocked you - the man’s accent thick, even in the few words he spoke. You desperately wished that you could see him, but you didn’t want to shift in your seat and draw attention to yourself. I’ll see him when he talks to Caleb.

“I heard you were playing and had to come today.” She leaned forward, fingertips resting against the wall. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.”

“Yeah?” He laughed, reaching up to pull his hat off and then set it back down on his head, taking a few seconds to think. You caught a glimpse of the bullseye tattoo on his hand, biting down on your lower lip at the sight. “Well thank you for comin’ out. It’s good to be back on the field.” The woman giggled and then held her phone up, tilting her head to the side. 

“Can we get a picture? I’ll tag you in it on Instagram, and -”

“Sure.” You watched as the woman spun around and then leaned backwards, holding her phone up to take a selfie. “Hope it’s a good one.” He smiled, peering at the phone from over her shoulder, and you fought back a roll of your eyes at how wide and practiced her smile was - the woman’s head cocked to the side - and toward his. 

When she straightened up, he took a half step toward Caleb, already tipping his head down and toward the boy. But the woman spoke up before he could fully move on, reaching out to touch his arm. “Thank you, Jack. You have no idea how much I -” He flinched - just barely, but you saw it, his shoulder jerking back slightly as her fingertips made contact.

“No problem. Thank you, and enjoy the game.” She stiffened, but you didn’t focus on that. You turned your attention to the boy in front of you - and in turn, Jack, whose face split into a grin, the man’s dimple on display, even beneath the shade from the brim of his hat. “Well hi there. I’m Jack, what’s your name?” 

“Caleb.” He leaned forward and you opened your camera app again, your smile widening, too. Caleb’s going to be so excited later. “I had tickets to see you play in Louisville and then you got hurt and I didn’t know if you’d be back this season but then my mom bought me tickets for today after I found out you were going to play again, and so we drove all the way here -” 

“Slow down there, big guy.” Jack laughed, giving you a glimpse of his teeth, and then gestured to Caleb’s hand, the boy holding a Sharpie tightly. “You want me to sign somethin’ for you?” 

“Yeah. This ticket, please.” Caleb held the marker out, looking up at Jack. “And I’ve got your jersey, but it was too hot to wear it today, so I picked this t-shirt instead.” 

“Of course I will.” He nodded, taking the Sharpie and the paper, scrawling his name across the front of it. “Turn around and I’ll sign real big on the number on the back.” Caleb spun around and you were thrilled to see that he was almost delirious with excitement, his eyes wide and his smile nearly splitting his face in two. 

“Can I take a picture of you signing for him?” Jack glanced up at the sound of your voice, his smile faltering for a split second and a confused look passing over his features. “I didn’t want to just do it and have the flash go off, and…”

“Go right ahead.” He smiled again, giving you a nod. “Thank you for askin’.” It only took a few seconds for him to sign, but you took multiple pictures, and then as Jack capped the marker, you decided to speak up again, not wanting to make Caleb ask. 

“And can I get one of the two of you looking at the camera before he turns around again?’

“You’ve already got your phone out.” Jack smirked at you, and then reached up to tilt the brim of his hat back, showing you more of his face. Holy shit, look at him. “I’m more’n happy to take a picture with my new buddy Caleb.” 

You couldn’t help smiling at that, and when Jack settled his hand - the Sharpie poking out from between his fingers - against the boy’s shoulder and squeezed, it widened. “Got it.” You lowered the device, mouthing the words ‘thank you’ at Jack at the same time Caleb spoke them out loud, turning back to face the man. 

There were only two more kids to the right of you waiting to talk to Jack, but before moving to them, he hesitated, looking between you and the boy. “Where are you and your mom sitting today, Caleb?”  Mom? Do I really look like -

“She’s not my mom, she’s my sister’s friend. And we’re over there.” He pointed at the outfield. “Somewhere.” Why is he asking? 

“The section right at the end of the dugout.” Jack pointed, but looked directly at you. “First row. Aisle seats, 23 and 24. They’re mine, and if you want ‘em, today they’re yours.” 

“What? Jack, that -” 

“I’ve gotta go.” He nodded, looking at Caleb and grinning, and then back at you, his smile softening. “Enjoy the game.” He didn’t say anything else before he stepped down the field and then stopped to talk to the other kids waiting. What the fuck just … “That was so cool!” Caleb spun back to look at you, his eyes wide. “He signed my shirt and took a picture with me and now we get to sit in his seats, and -”

“Caleb.” You took a breath, still trying to process what had happened in the previous few minutes. “I don’t -” 

“We’re going to sit in them, right?” You didn’t know how to answer him. Should we? You sighed and then looked to your right, watching as Jack signed a baseball and handed it back to a little girl before laughing with an older man that was with her. “I mean he told us to, and -” 

“I definitely would.” The girl next to you spoke up, and when you looked over, you saw that she was jealous, her eyes narrowed as they looked you over. “Do you know him? Is that -”

“I’ve never spoken to that man before just now.” You shrugged, unsure of what else to say. “I have no idea what … or why, or …” You would have been lying if you’d said that no part of you was a little smug at the fact  that he’d offered the seats to you and not to her, but you didn’t want to be that woman. “He must have liked you, Caleb.”

“Yeah, that’s it.” She rolled her eyes, scoffing. “Whatever. I’ll just see him after the game at the players’ parking lot.” She stood then, but didn’t say anything else before she spun away from you and headed down the row and toward the aisle. 

Caleb watched her go, his head tilted to one side.“What crawled up her butt?” You snorted at his question but there was no way you could give him an actual answer - so you gave him a partial one. 

“She’s probably just sad that you get to have a great view of the game tonight, kiddo.” With a sigh, you stood up, sliding your phone back into your bag and zipping it. You looked at Jack, watching as he said goodbye to the last of the fans and then headed for the dugout. 

But he didn’t go straight there - instead, he stopped and spoke to one of the security guards, pointing at the stands. Oh, he’s… And then you were stunned when both men looked back in your direction, Jack raising one arm to point at you while nodding. The security guard caught your eye and nodded too, and you then watched as Jack gently smacked him on the arm and smiled again, finally turning away to disappear back into the dugout. 

“Can we go and see the seats? And can I get french fries? Will you send the picture to my mom? And Erin? And -” He was excited - and you couldn’t blame him - but you still laughed, gesturing for Caleb to follow you down the row and toward the opposite aisle, closer to your new seats. 

“Yeah. We’ll do all that. Let’s go.” 

There was plenty of room for the two of you to walk to where Jack had indicated, and when you got close, the same security guard that Jack had spoken to stepped forward, gesturing with one hand. “You’re right here tonight.” 

You thanked him, letting Caleb choose which seat he wanted, and when you dropped into the remaining one, you pulled your phone out again as the boy leaned forward, resting his elbows on the back of the wall in front of him. 

You had just enough time to send off a few quick texts to Erin - the pictures of Caleb and Jack, as well as one that you took from the seat and a message that said we got upgraded, I’ll explain later before the National Anthem started. 

You rose to your feet again, keeping your eyes on the field. Once the music faded and the announcer began to give the starting lineups, you were excited, your smile just as wide as Caleb’s. 

And when they announced Jack and the man trotted out onto the field to even more cheers from the crowd, you clapped along with them, pulse quickening. I love watching him play. 

He and the shortstop tossed a ball back and forth a few times while the pitcher made his way from the bullpen, and the grin never left the dark haired man’s face. By the time the ump signaled the start of the game, he was settled in place and standing a little behind the bag, knees spread and both hands resting on his thighs. 

It took a few batters for him to see any action, and when you heard the crack of the bat, Jack sprung into motion, moving toward second and bending over to scoop the ball off the infield before tossing it to first for the out. 

You cheered just as loudly as Caleb did, clapping your hands without looking away from the field - but you weren’t expecting to catch Jack’s eye when he turned to move back into place at third… and you definitely weren’t expecting him to grin at the sight of you. 

The moment was over quickly, and as the players ran off the field after the third out, you turned to Caleb, clearing your throat. “You said you wanted fries?” 

— 

You made it back to your seats just in time to watch the bottom of the second, both of you carrying a drink and a snack. Jack was batting 8th, so there was a good chance he wouldn’t hit until the next inning, giving you time to eat before he headed to the plate. 

You also checked your messages, a series of exclamation points from Erin and a thumbs up from her mother the only two you had waiting. You showed Caleb, the boy laughing and then scrolling up to look at the picture of him and Jack, his smile so broad that you thought it must have hurt. 

There were no seats in front of you, which meant that you had an unobstructed view when the man finally headed to the plate, the familiar sound of his walkup music - Hungry Like The Wolf - blaring through the stadium’s speakers. Here we go. C’mon, Jack. 

He took a few practice swings and you were relieved to see that he didn’t wince or hesitate. His swing looked comfortable, and when you leaned forward, resting your hands on your knees, you nodded as he took another, pointing the bat outward before settling it on his shoulder and waiting. 

He swung at the first two pitches, making contact on the second one and hitting a long foul down the first base line. But Jack ended up walking, taking his place on first and then getting into position as the catcher stepped to the plate. 

You watched him closely - taking in the way the dark blue jersey fit him, the V of upper chest skin - and a peek of the gold chain he wore - visible thanks to two of the buttons being undone, his socks pulled high to accentuate his muscled calves. He always looks fucking great. 

You knew it meant nothing that he’d offered you and Caleb his seats that day - that he’d just done it to be nice. But you would have been lying to yourself if you said that it didn’t make you feel good, Jack’s momentary attention a confidence boost, especially after the reception he’d given the woman next to you. 

The batter hit a single, and when Jack advanced to second and stopped, you cheered again, the man clapping his hands and shouting something that you couldn’t hear at his teammate. But it was all for nothing, because the following player popped out, ending the inning. 

Jack trotted across the field and toward the dugout, the disappointment on his face evident - but again, when he saw you he smiled, the expression only there briefly … though you certainly didn’t miss it. 

As you settled back against the seat, halfway listening to Caleb as he recounted team stats, you wondered why Jack was making so much of an effort when nothing would come of it. You thought of the woman’s comment about the players lot, wondering just how likely it was that you’d be able to meet him if you went, too. But not with Caleb here. 

The night would be a good memory at least - for both you and the boy, and that would have to be enough. 

By the time Jack stepped to the plate, you were more than ready. The setting sun shaded the sky in hues of orange and purple, the stadium’s lights brightening up the field. Your eyes flicked from where Jack stood to the scoreboard, scanning over the information about him that was displayed there and lingering on the giant image of his smiling face. 

But when you heard the groan of the crowd, your attention snapped back to home plate, where Jack was arguing with the umpire over the previous call, his head shaking back and forth. He stepped back into the box, but you could see his irritation, though it didn’t last for long.

He swung on the next pitch and made contact again, sending the ball straight through between first and second. It rolled halfway into the outfield before anyone got to it, and you got to your feet and cheered, the sound signaling that a run scored loud through the speakers. Not only had he gotten his first hit after the injury, but he’d batted someone in, giving the Cavalry the lead. 

And when the next player swung hard, sending the ball up and out and over the center field wall, the stadium erupted - Jack raising his arm and pumping his fist as he rounded third, before stopping to wait for his teammate to make it home. They celebrated for a few seconds and then off the field, and you slung an arm around Caleb as both of you cheered, too. 

They took a three run lead into the next inning, and then handled their business, setting the batters down 1-2-3 thanks to a double play that Jack initiated. You could see his confidence in every movement; his body remembering exactly what he needed to do to be successful on the field even after weeks away. And he’s good at it, too. That makes a difference.  

Caleb left the seats to fill up his cup from the fountain at the top of your section, and by the time he came back the game had started again. It was a productive inning. You spent more of it on your feet than sitting, joining the crowd in cheering as the Cavalry scored three more runs. But when Jack’s turn to bat came, you realized what the celebration meant. 

“They took him out.” You looked down at Caleb, watching as he frowned. “They’ve got such a lead, that it’s better to rest him, and …” 

“That’s stupid.” Caleb crossed his arms, sighing. “He only batted twice.” You agreed, but you also weren’t the manager of a baseball team. You figured he had a better idea of what the right strategy was when it came to Jack’s rehab … even if it did disappoint you that you wouldn’t get to see him at the plate or on the field again. 

The rest of the game went by quickly, and though they gave up a few runs, your team ended up winning handily. Caleb requested to stay and watch the on-field celebration after, and as the players lined up for high fives and handshakes before leaving for the locker room, you focused, too. Maybe he’ll come back out for a second. 

It was stupid and you knew it, but the moment the field emptied, it meant that the night - and the experience in Jack’s seats - was over… and you didn’t want it to be.

He took his place in line - still wearing his uniform but without his hat - and you watched as he greeted the other players, smiling and laughing with them as they interacted. You couldn’t hear him, but you could tell he was happy, and that made you smile, too. Maybe he really will be back in Louisville by next week. 

The handshakes ended, and when Jack headed back toward the dugout, he didn’t look in your direction again - until right before he made it to the top of the steps. 

It was then that he stopped, eyeing the seats until he saw the two of you. You tried not to react, but Caleb didn’t hide his response; the boy raising his hand and waving wildly. Jack laughed at the sight of it, lifting one of his hands in a wave, too. 

You thought that was it, but then his head turned just enough that he made direct eye contact with you. 

Even from the distance, you could see one side of his mouth lift into a half smile as he nodded, raising one hand and touching the tips of his fingers to his temple before tipping them toward you. Your smile grew and you nodded in return, but before you could do anything else, Jack disappeared into the dugout, leaving the two of you standing in front of the seats. 

Well that was something. Biting your lip and letting out a breath through your nose, you turned your attention toward Caleb, saying his name. “Alright, kiddo. We’re going to go to the bathroom before we head out, because I am not stopping twenty minutes into the drive to let you pee.” 

— 

You’d expected Caleb to talk your ear off the entire drive home. Instead, he fell asleep before you made it back to the highway, leaving you with your thoughts on the drive back. 

And you would have been lying if you said that most of those thoughts weren’t of Jack. 

The interaction with him had been limited, sure. But it had been meaningful in more than one way, for both you and Caleb. He had a cool story that he could tell his friends, and pictures that he could show them. You’d look back on the way his gaze on you had felt and remember the thrill of being on the receiving end of one of his bright smiles. 

You didn’t know him any more than any other person that had ever seen him play or interacted with him briefly, but that didn’t matter. Even if you never spoke to him again, and never saw him in any capacity aside from on the field, you’d have that night as a memory. And a damn good one.

After dropping Caleb off and promising Erin a recap the following day, you drove the short distance to your house and parked in the driveway, turning the car off and enjoying the silence for a few seconds before unbuckling your seatbelt. 

Your house was quiet and dark as you moved through it, leaving your shoes and bag by the front door and grabbing your phone before heading upstairs. You tossed that onto your bed and went into the bathroom, scrubbing your face and changing into your pajamas before staring at your reflection in the mirror. 

You’d been single for six months, and though you’d talked to a few men through the same dating app Erin had used to meet Troy, none of the conversations had led anywhere past the first awkward meetings. It wasn’t that the men weren’t interested, it was you that was selective, opting not to waste your time with anyone that reminded you of the time you’d spent with your most recent ex. 

You knew that you were being picky, but you were content with that knowledge, even if it meant a longer period of being on your own before you found the right person. And Jack couldn’t ever be the right person. You wrinkled your nose while you brushed your teeth, still watching yourself in the mirror. Because he’s been consistently single for his entire career. 

Jack kept much of his personal life private, but Janie was the exception to that. 

And after climbing into bed and plugging your phone in, you searched their names, refreshing your memory of the story that you’d become familiar with when The Statesman had first drafted Jack. 

They’d been high school sweethearts, opting to go to college together. He was going to play ball and major in engineering, and her chosen field was communications. It was clear from all of the pictures of the two of them you found that though they were young, they were in love. 

Everything had gone well for the first few months; Jack and Janie settled in on campus, started classes and began making friends. They’d come home together for Christmas, and Jack was set to begin baseball in January with the rest of the team. 

But only a few weeks into the pre-season, the unthinkable happened: Janie stopped at a convenience store to buy coffee on her way to meet her study group off campus while Jack was at a team workout, and was caught in the middle of a robbery. She hadn’t even made it to the hospital, and Jack had considered quitting the team due to his grief. 

Her parents had convinced him otherwise - reminding him that he’d worked hard for years to get to where he was, and that she wouldn’t have wanted him to give up on his dreams on her account. His parents had agreed, though there were interviews where they admitted that they would have understood if he’d chosen to take a break or even quit outright. 

And Jack had taken a few weeks off, but was ready to go on opening day, dedicating his season to Janie and her family. He was a skilled player, there was no question about it, but the coverage of a D1 athlete losing his girlfriend in such a shocking manner helped draw attention to the man and his performance, and it hadn’t taken him long to grab the attention of scouts. 

He’d had some attention in high school, too, though nothing had panned out - aside from the offer of a partial athletic scholarship. That all changed in his sophomore year when everyone really took notice of his exceptionally high fielding percentage and his infectious enthusiasm toward his teammates. 

Jack declared for the draft that was to take place a month after finishing his junior year - only days after his 21st birthday, and The Statesman had taken him with the fourth overall pick in the first round. 

The rest was history. 

He’d played with The Cavalry for almost four seasons before getting his first call-up, and though it had been toward the end of the regular season, Jack had received an invite to Spring Training the following year … and he’d never gone back. 

In his second season with The Statesman, he’d been named the starting shortstop, making a name for himself with both his agility and personality. His teammates loved him. The community loved him. The cameras loved him, and in the five seasons he’d played in his original position, he earned two gold gloves and got voted into the All-Star Game once. 

But he was injury prone, and after careful consideration, they moved Jack from shortstop to third base. It was an adjustment period for everyone involved, though after a few years of playing the position, it seemed almost natural for him, and there were fewer injuries. 

Until earlier that season, anyway, when Jack had misjudged a slide into second and jammed his shoulder, spraining a muscle and knocking him out of all baseball activities for weeks. He’d gone on the 60 day injured list, though you’d seen him at more than a few games in the dugout before he’d headed down to rehab with The Cavalry. 

He was lucky he hadn’t needed surgery, and even luckier that there’d been no complications with his healing. According to the newest articles you read as you scrolled online that night, Caleb was correct and the team was aiming to have Jack re-activated by the following weekend so that he could finish the final 7 weeks of the season in the majors. Which is where he deserves to be.

You sighed and rolled onto your side, eyes still on the screen - and on a picture of Jack that had been taken a week or two earlier during a Statesman season ticket holder event. He was grinning from behind the bar, one hand holding a glass and the other pulling on a tap to pour someone a drink. 

“Enough.” You closed your eyes and took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of your nose with your free hand. Doing a deep dive on Jack wasn’t going to change anything, even if it was keeping you occupied as you wound down for the night.

But before you put the phone down and rolled in the opposite direction, you couldn’t help opening his instagram page and checking his tagged photos, just to see if the woman from next to you had posted the picture like she said she would. 

There were countless pictures of Jack in his uniform posted - everything from on-field screenshots to pictures of him with his teammates and family - but those were dotted with more personal ones; people tagging him in photos of themselves, edited photos, or photos of Jack alone that had been taken from other sources. You didn’t have far to scroll before you found the picture of Jack and the woman, tapping it with one finger to make it bigger. 

She’d put more than one filter on it, smoothing out her features and his, and when you zoomed in on it, you wrinkled your nose. Why would you filter him? He doesn’t need it. Even with the filtering, you could see the bored look in Jack’s eyes, his smile small and tight. Not like it was with Caleb. 

She’d captioned the picture with a black and a yellow heart bracketing the number 7, and it already had more than a few likes. She also had a story, and even though you knew that she’d be able to see who viewed it, you didn’t care, hesitating for only a second before tapping on it. 

The girl - whose name was Brittany - had posted a few times throughout the game; pictures from in her seat, a video of Jack walking up to the plate, her grinning at the camera at the end of the game with the scoreboard behind her… but the final story post was clearly a picture of a parking lot with a tall fence around it, and what looked like a security guard in the corner. She went to the lot. 

You sighed, backing out of the story - and her profile - and going back to Jack’s, eyes lingering on his account’s picture. You followed him, and had for years - liking and commenting on the pictures he posted as well as tagging him and the other players in the occasional ones you’d taken at games. He’d never replied or acknowledged them in any way, though. 

And he won’t, you admitted to yourself as you closed out of the app and opened your alarm, making sure that it was set. “Good luck, Jack.” Closing your eyes after setting the device down on your bedside table, you rolled away from it and got comfortable. As you settled in, you let your thoughts wander back to earlier - to the way Jack’s eyes had warmed when he’d smiled at you, and the way his smile had widened when he saw you and Caleb sitting in his seats. 

You would have been lying if you’d said that the memories didn’t make you feel good. It didn’t matter that he’d likely smiled at hundreds of others in the same way. He’d made the night special for you and for Caleb, and that was the important thing. 

It didn’t take you long to fall asleep - and Jack followed you into your dreams… which you didn’t mind at all. 

— 

You didn’t have a meeting until 10:30 the following morning and so you slept in a little, taking a shower and getting dressed before you even checked your messages. 

There were a few from Erin, asking for details, and you promised you’d reach out once you had a break. But before then, you needed to focus and settled in in front of your laptop, clicking open your first email of the day. Back at it. 

You worked steadily until almost 1 PM, checking things off of your to-do list and scheduling a second consultation with the same client for the end of the following week. You typically worked virtually - and had since your uncle had hired you a few years prior - but there were occasional accounts that required your presence in person. And this one’s going to be one of them. 

That wasn’t an issue. Their offices were located in New Orleans, and you were looking forward to potentially spending a few paid days in the city. But we’ll see. 

While you waited for your lunch to heat, you called Erin, your friend picking up on the second ring and groaning into your ear. “Whatever happened yesterday must have been incredible because Caleb hasn’t shut up since he woke up this morning.” 

“It was pretty great, Erin,” Taking a seat at your kitchen table, you laughed. “I sent him the pictures, did he -”

“He’s already set the one of him and Jack as his phone background. And he’s been bugging me to take him to get them printed.” You weren’t surprised; Caleb loved baseball, and the opportunity that he’d had at the game the previous night had likely meant the world to him. “So how did that happen? He just offered you the tickets?” 

“Pretty much. He stopped to sign for Caleb, and just out of nowhere, asked where we were sitting.” You wet your lips, laughing. “And then once he knew we were in the outfield seats, he just … pointed at the dugout and told us that we could sit in his instead.” 

“He offered them to Caleb? Or to -”

“Well… sort of.” You stood, looking out your back window. “He asked your brother where we were sitting but he was looking at me when he offered the tickets…” You pulled your food out of the microwave and set it down to cool. “And then when we were in the seats, he made eye contact with me a couple times, but -”

“How hot is he up close?” You snorted, but she continued. “Because that picture of him and Caleb? That man’s hand is -”

“Really hot.” Humming in agreement, you reached for a fork. “And he seemed really nice, too. Paid more attention to the kids than to the adults. There was this girl sitting next to us and she was clearly trying to catch his eye, but he barely looked at her.” You figured that he was a professional and wouldn’t have done anything to jeopardize his reputation while on the field - and in front of younger fans. But still. She made it obvious. “He was polite, but he was just … going through the motions.” 

She hummed again, the sound non-committal as you took your first bite. “But not with you. And not with Caleb.” No, I guess not. “You should post those pictures and tag him.”

“Erin, I’m not trying to -”

“No, just hear me out. Maybe he’ll see them. And maybe he’ll remember you. And maybe he’ll -”

“Erin, come on. That’s a fantasy. I’m sure he’s got a million people tagging him every day. He won’t even see it if I do.” 

“You never know. It can’t hurt.” She said your name, the tone teasing. “And since Caleb’s account is private since he’s twelve, it makes sense you’d post ‘em for him. He really had a lot of fun with you. He’s already asking if you want to go to a game again.”

“Yeah. There’s still a little over a month left this season, so I’m sure we can figure out a weekend to see the Statesman. I’ll third wheel with you and Troy.” She laughed at that, agreeing. “I’m going to go, though. I need to eat. I have to run and analyze metrics for two campaigns this afternoon, and it’s going to take forever.” 

You hung up soon after, but as you ate, you contemplated what she’d said about posting the pictures. It was really no different than any of the other games you’d been to or posted about. You’d taken pictures that weren’t of Jack, and those could go up, too. Why not post the one of him and Caleb? It’s a good picture. 

After sending the final email for the day, you shut your laptop and changed into more comfortable clothes before stretching out on the couch. You needed to go to the store, but figured it could wait til later … and you had pictures to post. 

You chose five of them - one of the field from the concourse, one of the scoreboard, a picture from the seats, and then two of Jack and Caleb - one while he was signing and the other of them looking at the camera, which you made the main image. Choosing a caption was harder than picking the pictures themselves, but you finally opted for something extremely neutral: First @The_Cavalry game of the season. Great game, even better seats, and @CalebOnBase got to meet his favorite player. 

You tagged the picture - adding Jack and The Statesman’s accounts - and thought about adding one of Jack’s walk up songs to the post. No. That looks too desperate. So you posted it without, taking one final look at the images - and lingering on Jack’s smile - before you checked the Cavalry’s account to see if they’d posted that night’s lineup. 

Jack was starting again, but instead of being in at 3rd, he was the designated hitter. So he’ll get to bat, but can save his arm. It made sense, and you figured that if all went well, he’d only play in a game or two more before being called back up to the majors. And he’ll be back here. It made you smile, and the expression widened when you got a comment on the post from Caleb - four baseballs and the thumbs up emoji. 

You’d done your part, and that was that. Caleb could see that you’d posted the photos, and if by chance Jack saw the tag, he’d also see that you appreciated the seats he’d allowed you to sit in. With one final look at the pictures, you nodded and then sat up, sighing. 

“Alright. Grocery shopping’s not going to do itself.”

— 

You were stunned the next afternoon when you got an alert that The Cavalry tagged you in a story, and didn’t even try to hold back your grin when you saw that they’d reposted your pictures. You got a comment from their account a few seconds later - Glad you had a great time, thanks for coming! - the words accompanied by a blue heart and a baseball. 

After sending the link to Erin so that she could show her brother, you set your phone down, returning to the work you were doing. You stayed busy throughout the rest of the day, and even though your phone kept lighting up with new alerts - strangers liking the pictures and commenting on your post, it didn’t break your focus. 

And by the following day, things were pretty much back to normal. The story was gone, strangers weren’t still finding your profile, and you’d opted to work for most of Saturday morning to get ahead, which meant that you could take Monday off. And I can take a nap. I haven’t been able to do that in weeks. 

You pulled the drapes shut and then climbed into bed, the darkened room helping you to relax much faster than you anticipated. There was no need to set an alarm, and so you didn’t, figuring that you’d wake up on your own when you got hungry… which you did, just after 6 PM. Maybe I’ll order food. I don’t feel like cooking. 

You stretched, pointing your toes, and then reached for your phone, mentally flipping through restaurant options. But you froze with the device in front of your face as the screen lit up, eyes zeroing in on the alert in the center of it. 

Whiskey_Jack7 liked your post

---

[noellawrites]

Become A Bridgerton - Yandere!Colin Bridgerton x reader

requested by: @ilovechickenwings & anon

summary: Colin does something horrible to you on your eighteenth birthday which forces you to marry him.

warnings: rape, noncon, somnophilia, manipulation, drugging, baby trapping, forced marriage, breeding

author's note: this is really dark so please take care of yourself before and after reading <3

As you entered the Bridgerton home, you were struck with awe. Even better, today marked a special occasion. Today, you were celebrating your eighteenth birthday with your best friends, Eloise and Penelope. Your parents had allowed you to have a small sleepover to celebrate your age, and of course Viscountess Bridgerton and the elder brothers would be watching over you three.

You walked in through the foyer to the parlor, where most of the family was gathered.

"Oh, (y/n), welcome and happy birthday," the Viscountess said, embracing you in a warm hug.

"Officially marrying age, how exciting?" Benedict teased as he turned away from his easel and looked at you.

"Leave her alone, Ben!" Eloise groaned. Her and Pen stood up from the settee and hugged you as well.

"Do you ladies have any special plans for tonight?" Viscountess Bridgerton asked the three of you.

"I thought we could roam around the gardens and read a bit. Perhaps play pickleball or another yard game," Eloise said.

Behind you, Anthony and Colin entered the parlor. Hyacinth all but jumped into Anthony's arms, and Colin walked right over to you.

"Happy birthday, (y/n), and congratulations," he added, smiling at you and making intense eye-contact. You hadn't seen him since before he had left on his travels, and you had to admit he was now very handsome.

"Congratulations? What for?" you inquired teasingly.

"You are now marrying age, correct? Your mother told mine that you would be entering society next season."

"Oh, well yes, I suppose. I don't feel ready yet at all," you confessed, twisting a lock of your hair.

"If we want to walk in the gardens, we must leave soon," Eloise urged impatiently.

"Oh, right, sorry. I'll see you later, Colin," you added before being pulled away by your best friend.

Even long after, you were left daydreaming about how tight Colin's shirt looked, allowing you to see the outline of his strong chest. You liked the light facial hair he had grown and the new styling of his hair, which suited him much more. You thought about him even while Pen and Eloise were debating about Lady Whistledown, and all throughout your garden walk. What was this feeling blossoming in your chest?

---

"I'm not ready to be a wife, I feel like I have so much more fun left in my life!" you groaned, stretched out on one of the parlor settees. The Viscountess had allowed you three some time to socialize in the parlor alone after dinner, so you all took the opportunity to get comfortable and talk.

"Being a wife can be fun sometimes," Pen volunteered.

"And how would you know?" Eloise snapped, setting her book aside.

"El!" you scolded.

"There's the marital act, which none of our mothers have explained to us, but it is supposed to feel good. And if you have a nice husband, he might let you enjoy it, too," Pen shrugged. She began to take some of the pins out of her hair, causing red locks to fall around her shoulders.

"The marital act," you shuddered, "those words alone scare me enough."

"Colin, Benedict and Anthony know but they won't tell me. And of course Daphne won't, either. But I assume it has something to do with the process of carrying children," Eloise said.

All of a sudden you heard a loud knock on the closed door. The three of you gasped.

"Bedtime, ladies," Anthony commanded in a stern voice.

"Fine, brother!" Eloise shouted back, rolling her eyes and standing up from the settee she had been laying on.

---

The Bridgerton house had a quite a few guest rooms. It was one of the reasons you enjoyed staying there, as your home was definitely not as fancy. You made your way to a small guest room the maids had made up for you at the order of the Viscountess.

Taking a deep breath, you shut the door behind you and turned on the oil lamp. You changed into your nightgown and began undoing your hair, twisting the pins and decorative ribbons out of the style. Your mother had done your hair in a special style for your birthday.

A slight knock sounded at your door. Who could it be? Perhaps Penelope needed more sanitary napkins.

"H-hello?" you asked, opening the door slightly. Colin.

"Good evening, (y/n). I was wondering if we could talk? I brought some tea for you."

"This isn't a good time, I'm getting ready for bed," you whispered.

"Just a few minutes?"

"Alright," you agreed. Colin closed the door behind him and sat down on the bed. You sat down next to him, taking the tea saucer from his hands and sipping tentatively.

"You never told me, how was Greece?" you asked, looking up at the man beside you. Although he was only twenty-three, he felt like a grown adult compared to you. Even at eighteen, you still felt like a little girl.

"It was beautiful, (y/n). Maybe I'll bring you there someday. Would you like that?" he asked, eyes trained on you as you took another sip of the tea.

You nodded, wanting to speak but finding yourself unable to. You tried to set down the tea saucer but Colin took your hand and raised it up to your mouth again.

"W-what are you--" you stuttered before he made you take another sip.

"Shh, it's okay my love. Just drift off to sleep," Colin urged. After you finished the tea, he helped you lay comfortably on the bed.

You fought to keep your eyes open, but the last thing you saw was Colin staring at you with a sickly smile.

---

You awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the sun streaming through the guest room's shades. As you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, you realize there was a sharp pain in your lower region. It was not yet time for your monthly cycle, but perhaps you were early?

The shooting pain was still there as you hobbled to the washroom, hoping a quick urination might relieve the pain.

You looked into the bowl after you were finished, a small bit of blood there. You must be starting early, there was no other explanation. Maybe Colin knew something, as he was there with you before you fell asleep. You went to sleep a lot quicker than you'd been meaning to, but perhaps it was because you had a long day.

---

About six weeks later, you still had not gotten your monthly cycle since before you'd stayed at the Bridgerton's, aside from the small bit of blood from the toilet. You felt fragile and constantly sick. You looked bigger and your breasts felt heavier. You'd never felt anything like this, and you were scared. Did you have the plague? How could you have even gotten it?

After a few weeks of worrying, your parents were able to get a doctor out to your house to check on you.

The doctor, a stern old man, examined you, asked questions and inspected you thoroughly. When he was finished, he took your parents aside.

"You stupid, stupid girl!" your mother yelled from across the room. You looked at her, confused and surprised.

"What are you talking about?" you asked innocently.

"Who did you have sexual relations with?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

"The marriage act, who did you do it with? Oh my, we must find the boy and ask him to do the honorable thing and marry her. Or else she'll be a soiled spinster!" your father shouted.

"I didn't do the marriage act, I promise! I don't even know what it is, I've never even kissed a boy!"

"If you will not be honest, we must take this into our own hands as soon as possible. You are pregnant, stupid girl," your mother spoke. She yelled back and forth at you with your father, but your brain couldn't comprehend it anymore.

You were confused, having been sick for almost six weeks straight. Six weeks ago was your birthday, when you had fallen asleep by Colin. Could that be the marriage act? You would have to speak with him as soon as possible. How does one get pregnant?

---

"I need to see Colin," you tell the butler urgently once you arrive at the Bridgerton estate.

The butler nods and escorts you to what you assume is Colin's study, as he is sitting there at a desk, writing in his journal.

The butler leaves and you make a guttural noise, alerting Colin of your presence.

"Oh, hello! It's great to see you again, (y/n). I've been expecting you."

"Y-you have?"

"Yes. I heard the doctor was coming to your home to check up on you. I knew it meant my seed had taken."

"What?"

"Marry me, my love. We can travel with our baby and eventually settle down. You will have a luxurious life with me, more than with anyone your parents could pick for you. Come on, (y/n). Become a Bridgerton."

"What did you do to me?" you cry, reaching your hand gently down to touch the tiny bump of your stomach.

"The tea I gave you put you to sleep and boosted your fertility. I picked it up at a bazaar in Greece, when I first had the idea to do this. I consummated our marriage, though a bit early. You would be wise to accept my proposal. This is your only chance at a good life, (y/n)," Colin explained with a slight smirk on his face.

You slid to the floor, dress cushioning your fall. You nod through the tears, in disbelief that Colin had taken advantage of you. You didn't even know what he'd done to you. You weren't sure you wanted to know, either.

[the-froschamethyst4]

Over the Net

𖤐Pairing: Single Father! König x Volleyball Coach! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐Warnings: fluff, language, volleyball terminology, flirting, high school, badly translated German, a bit of an age gap, drinking,

𖤐Summary: König needed to pick up his daughter from Volleyball practice and he ends up meeting her coach for the first time

————

————

König sits in the parking lot waiting for his daughter to get done with Volleyball. Normally he would allow her to get a ride with one of her friends but after practice she had a physical therapy appointment.

She rolled her ankle, twisted her knee and ended up breaking her thumb all within a span of 4 weeks into the new season of Volleyball.

König was worried about Heidi. He told her to sit out for this season but nothing was going to stop her from playing and not only that her coach asked for her to be on the team.

He gets out of his car knowing they were going to be done soon. He stood in front of his car waiting, tapping his foot and then tapping his fingertips on his forearm.

“Come on, what’s going on?” König mumbled to himself. He was just being impatient because he’s never missed an appointment and he’s definitely not going to miss one now.

"Hey, you waiting as well?" Another father came up to König.

"Yeah, what's going on? Don't they usually finish as 5?"

"Yeah...I'm not sure either."

"THEY JUST SENT OUT THAT PRACTICE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN EXPECTED!! MAYBE TILL 7?!" A mother yells from her car waving her phone.

"Oh okay, I'm going back home then," the father says getting back into his car. Not König.

"What," he groans. He needs to get Heidi so they could get her physical therapy done. He walks to the gym, seeing the one right door open and he could hear the sound of shoes squeaking on the gym floor.

He peaks his head into the building, he sees the girls running up and down the court, sweating, panting and tagging the next person to run up and down the court.

König could see Heidi, he could tell she was pushing herself to her limit, she sat on the gym floor, panting, wiping sweat from her forehead and taking a swig of her Gatorade.

"Heidi, is that your dad?" One girl bent down to Heidi's level pointing to the tall buff man walking in.

"What the hell is he doing here?" She mumbles before getting off the floor. "Dad-"

"Why's practice all of a sudden becoming longer? We have an appointment to get to, you know this."

"I can't control that, dad, it's up to my coach."

"Well where is he, I wanna talk to him," he says, looking around for an adult. He hears the whistle blow and all the girls stopped.

"TAKE A BREAK!!" A woman's voice called to her athletes. "Heidi, who's this?" She comes up to Heidi and her father.

"Coach Y/n, this is my father."

"Why don't you go get water, Heidi...can I help you?" She looks up at König.

"Well...I'm here to collect my daughter, she has an appointment for physical therapy-"

"I'm aware," she says, tapping her clipboard with her pen.

"You're aware of?"

"Her appointment, she told me..."

"And you made practice longer?" König was confused.

"I made practice longer for the girls who needed the help the most, Heidi says she would like to practice longer..."

"But...can I take her for today, and next practice she could stay the long time?"

"Sure, but she'll miss a new play we'll be going over."

"Why didn't you teach it during the first hour of practice?"

"Because Mr. King, the first hour we do review, second hour we do some scrimmaging, and third hour we go over new plays, this new longer hour, we are going to start doing some exercises and practice hits in between and then we start doing the new play for the court, now...can I do my job or are you going to tell my boss that I'm trying to make a better team?"

König was kind of shocked by Coach Y/n's sudden outburst. She seemed kind of frustrated as well, like ever since she made this longer practice, parents have been getting on her tail about it. EVEN SOME OF THE PARENTS ASKED FOR LONGER PRACTICE HOURS AND THEY STILL GET ON HER ASS ABOUT IT!

"I understand...completely I do...Heidi, come on, we need to get going, we can't be late..." König says as Heidi groans and Y/n just discreetly rolled her eyes.

----------

König sits in the waiting room of the Physical Therapist. He was mainly thinking about how that small woman has such a big temper. He's never really met anyone like that.

He leans back his head hitting against the wall behind him, his hand playing with the fluff of his daughters coat. Heidi soon comes walking out of the therapy room huffing and puffing taking her coat off König's lap.

"You ready?"

"Yep," she says, putting her coat on and König pats Heidi's head.

"What's up with that Coach of yours?"

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"She's got a temper on her."

"Only when she's frustrated," Heidi tells him. "And when we have games."

"I see," König says.

-----------

The Next Practice

Coach Y/n sits on the outside bleachers as the gym they usually use was being used by the male basketball team. So, they were booted to the outdoor court, where the girls had to wear their knee pads, just in case.

Y/n hates this court because half of the time most of the girls will scrap their knees and Y/n has asked the school so many times for a little sand pad for the girls, if they will have to practice outside then why can't they be more comfortable in sand and brace their falls versus the concrete.

"Careful!" Y/n yells as some of the girls landed on the concrete almost half her team had sat out because of their knees and or feet hurting.

Heidi groans as her hands were on her knees, she sat on because of her bad knee hurting her, so she barely practiced. Y/n then blew her whistle getting the girls to stop.

"We'll call it for today...I know you girls are hurting, I'm sorry about today," Y/n apologizes to the girls.

Heidi chugs some of her water and then waited for König. She texted him that practice ended early. She sits on the curb, she looks at the blacktop kicking some of the small rocks or throwing them.

Soon someone sat next to her, she looks at the person and it was Y/n. She gives Heidi a small smile and handed her a new water bottle, Y/n knows Heidi's water bottle was empty, she's just bored.

"Dad's late?" Y/n asked.

"Just a bit...he's getting off work now..." she says, twisting the cap of her water bottle taking a few swigs from it.

"I see..." Y/n says. "How's your knees?"

"Fine, my right one hurts," the one she twisted late season.

"I bet, I'll have to tell the principal that male basketball and girls volleyball need to figure out their practice times...this is the 2nd time they've done that...they have an outdoor court, I don't know why they can't use that one instead?"

"It's because the principal only cares about the male sports and what they need, even though this school is only popular for their female sport programs...didn't the girls basketball make it to finals and the male basketball team like lost almost every game they've played?" Heidi says.

"Agreed..." Y/n and Heidi could agree on so many things wrong with this school giving so much money to male sport programs but giving the girls a lower budget. It was stupid.

The girls had to come up with fundraisers to be able to get a new net, the old one had big holes from the net being old and being dry-rotted.

Heidi then saw her fathers car pull into the schools parking lot. Heidi grabbed her things and headed to her dads car, he steps out after she gets into the passenger side.

"Sorry, about that," he apologized to Y/n.

"It's okay...Mr. King, before you leave..." he turns back to her.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry, for being rude to you the other practice, I know you had an appointment to get your daughter to that day, I was going to release her to you, but I wanted her to get done with some exercises before I released her."

"I understand, I get it, really, coach-"

"Please, call me, Y/n..."

"Okay, see ya' later, Y/n." he gets into his car driving off.

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

A Week Later

Heidi's first game of the season, she was ready to hit the ball back over the net, it was coming right at her too. König watches his daughter and Y/n is making sure Heidi had enough time to get the ball back over the net before the timer runs out.

Soon Heidi hits it back over the net and another came running up from her side and spiking it, hitting the floor on the opponents side. Heidi's team wins and Y/n was excited that they won the first game.

The girls all ran off the court to hug Y/n and line up to shake hands with the other team. Heidi runs to her chair grabbing her water bottle. She heads to the locker room and some of the parents went to Y/n to thank her.

König stood in the back of the group of parents as Y/n talked to every parent. Once the parents left König walked to Y/n, hands in his hoodie pocket and he cleared his throat.

"You did good."

"I didn't do anything."

"You helped our girls...you did good," he tells her before leaving to go get Heidi.

"Mr. King."

"Yes?"

"This may be...highly inappropriate and I thought about getting it off my chest, and you are allow to deny me...would you like to get some drinks, one day?"

"Coach Y/n...are you asking me on a date?"

"Forget it."

"No, no, I'm joking, I'm joking...yeah...I'll get some drinks with you."

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

A Few Nights Later

König sits at the bar tapping his fingers on the bar counter and waiting for Y/n, she wasn't late or anything König was just early. 10 minutes early.

Probably to get a good spot for the both of them, this bar usually filled up quickly. Soon Y/n comes in and sits next to König. He turns and smiles at her.

"You look..."

"Dumb? I didn't know what to go with-"

"Wunderschön (Gorgeous)," he says.

"Danke (Thank you)." She says back.

König and Y/n just talked and drink the whole night. König then brought Y/n to his car. She came by UBER not knowing how much she would drink. She wasn't drunk nor tipsy, but König didn't want her in a car with a stranger after drinking.

He took her home. König held Y/n to his side as they entered König's domain, they laughed as they removed their shoes at the front door and once they walked in Heidi peaks over the couch.

"Dad!? Coach Y/n?!" Both adults stopped in their tracks looking at the Junior.

"Hey, kiddo, I thought you might have been asleep."

"What would you two have done if I was?" She asked.

König and Y/n looked at each other before laughing like to teenagers, Heidi rolled her eyes and scoffed before getting grossed out and leaving.

"You know what, I don't want to know..." she says as she goes up the stairs.

"So...since she's upstairs...do you wanna?" König raised his eyebrows at Y/n before she lightly pushed him away.

"You're so weird," she teased.

"I'm not weird, I'm fun, come on," König takes her hand and going to his bedroom, shutting the door behind them.

[brownsugarwrites]

Superstar

★ pairings: Johnny cage x black!fem!actress!reader

★ warnings: fluff & smut. bossy head strong reader, smug bastard johnny, enemies to lovers, oral (f!receiving). they have sex idk what else to say. sub!reader. creampie. one night stand elements. dirty talk & pet names. maybe a bit of brat taming? squirting. written with a black reader in mind but anyone can read!

★ wc: 2.6k (wow!)

★ dedicated to @lxnarphase

“Is there any way for this car to go faster?” you asked impatiently. 

“No, ma’am, I'm sorry traffic is horrible,” your driver told you sympathetically. 

Rolling your eyes, you continued typing the email to your casting agent, letting them know you would be late. Not that you really cared or anything, but it was still considerate to let them know you wouldn't be on time. 

This was your life. Going to casting meetings and getting scripts. You just wrapped up one of your movies about two months ago, and now you were onto the next one. 

Finally, pulling into the movie studio's lot, the driver drove to the main building where all the meetings occurred. As you pulled up, you grabbed your purse, stepped out of the vehicle, and walked to your destination.

Asking for directions, you go to the elevators and wait for it. Growing anxious, the elevator pinged and opened its wide doors.

Stepping onto it, you pressed the button before taking out your phone to see the exact room for the meeting.

Stepping off the elevator, your heels echoed throughout the hall as you approached the room.

Opening the glass door, the director greeted you first. 

“I'm so glad you were able to make it! Please have a seat.” 

“This is who we were waiting on?” you heard a smug familiar voice say 

Snapping your head in that direction, you rolled your eyes before scoffing loudly.

“Is there a problem-”

“Yes, there is a problem. Dont tell me this is my co-star?” you asked with annoyance. 

Johnny Cage. Seasoned actor who has a long rapport with Oscars, Golden Globes, and even some Emmys. He was arrogant and big-headed. You didn't like him from a movie you did a while ago, even though it was a small cameo. 

“Dont be like that, sweetheart. I sure we can put the past behind us and focus on the movie?” he said with a smirk playing on his face.

Rolling your eyes for the third time today, you walk to the table and sit next to one of the writers. 

After the meeting, you stood off to the side, waiting to talk to your agent to ask why she put you in this situation, knowing the beef you had with your co-star. 

“Looking good, as always, superstar,” Johnny complimented, walking up to you. 

Even with your stilettos on, he still hovered over you so slightly that you had to stare up at him. 

“Just stay out of my way, Cage,” you scoffed, crossing your arms. 

“I don't think that’s possible with us being leads in the same movie.”

“I'm not going to repeat myself,” you retorted.

“Dont have to, superstar. I'm excited to work with you again, sweetheart,” he said before putting his sunglasses back on his face and walking away.

Watching him leave the boardroom room, your casting agent walked over to you. 

“So.. are you guys made up?” she asked with a grin.

“Dont make me fire you.” you snapped, not thinking her joke was amusing. 

Watching her face drop in fear, you strode towards the door and left the building. 

When it was finally time for filming, you were greeted with a vase of hydrangeas in your makeup trailer. Opening the note with the initials J.C on it, you tore the paper and threw it into the garbage can.

“Did ya get my flowers, superstar?” Johnny asked as you walked onto the set.

“I did. Thanks, I guess,” you responded flatly.

Smiling, his voice boomed throughout the studio, letting the crew know he was ready to shoot.

This became the routine. Sometimes, you and Johnny would have good and bad days. But the good started to outweigh the bad, and you tolerated him a bit more throughout this journey. 

He felt the same about you. He wouldn't tell anyone about his crush on his co-star. He felt like a little kid teasing you and annoying you just so that you would give him your undivided attention. As juvenile as it sounded, it worked. Seeing you get so annoyed with him really gave him the satisfaction of driving you crazy. It was all a part of his plan to make you his girlfriend finally.

Hearing a knock on your trailer door, you invite the person in

“I would say someone is warming up to me.” You heard the familiar voice as he walked in. 

Scoffing playfully, you asked what he wanted.

“Just bored and wanted to see my pretty co-star. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked, sitting next to you on the couch. 

Seeing that he was shirtless with the robe barely covering his chest, giving you a peek of his abs, you felt a sweat drip down your forehead.

Shaking your head no, you released a shaky breath, feeling him inch closer to you. 

“Cat got your tongue, sweetheart?” he asked, arrogance in his tone.

“Oh shut up.” you simply said before looking away, feeling your cheeks warm up in embarrassment, 

“Wow, am I making my superstar nervous right now? That’s new,” he teased, face coming closer to yours.

“My superstar” had you weak in the knees. You were sure you would fall onto the ground if you stood up. 

He was toying with you, and you needed to fight back the best way you could.

“No, I'm not nervous, Johnny. Why are you so fucking close?” you asked, trying to keep your guard up and turning to meet his eyes. 

“Cause maybe I think you're gorgeous, and I wanna get a better look at you,” he replied smugly. 

Rolling your eyes, the two of you sat silently, feeling the thick tension clouding over you. His face came closer to you as you felt your breath synch with his. Your eyes fluttered close, accepting whatever was about to happen.

“We need you on set in five minutes,” you heard one of the production assistants yell through the door.

Eyes shooting open, you jump away before apologizing and look out, feeling your face burn up. 

“Dont apologize. Come on, they need us on set,” he said with a wink, taking your hand in his 

Snatching your hand away, you got up and left your trailer. Johnny trailed behind you with a sly smile on his face.

Three and a half months later, you were finally done filming. Feeling a weight leave your shoulders, you congratulated the crew members on their achievements.

“I had fun working with you, superstar. You almost did as good as me,” he joked.

Smacking your lips, you looked at him in shock. “Almost as good as you? I'm pretty sure I did as good as you, maybe even better,” you jabbed back. 

“Well, how about we celebrate? That new lounge just opened downtown. Meet there tonight?” he asked, giving puppy dog eyes. 

“Sure, I could go for a glass of wine or two. 8:30.” 

***

8:50. You’re twenty minutes late even though you chose the time to meet him. Sitting in the section he brought for the two of you, he pulled out his phone to see if you were still coming out tonight. 

Looking up, he saw you walking in with your thigh-high boots on with the tight black dress, hugging you tight as you carried your Chanel purse over your shoulder. 

“You must have a thing for being late, sweetheart,” he teased, grabbing your hand to help you not trip over your feet.

“I'm here, aren't I?” you asked, rolling your eyes.

What would he give to make those pretty eyes roll behind your pretty head

“I had them put your wine on ice. I think it's warm now.” 

“Eh, I’ll be ok. Thank you for inviting me out.” you thanked him.

As the night went on, the two of you joked and conversed about things going on in your daily life. What new brand deals have the two of you got down to, and what have you all made for dinner this week. 

You could feel the tension between the two of you, especially with the way he placed his big hand upon your plush thigh, giving it teasing squeezes.

“Take me to the bathroom?” you asked. 

Grabbing his hand, you led the way to the bathroom. He waited for you outside as you went into the bathroom.

Coming out, you stood before him, peering up at him with your big brown eyes. Grabbing your face, you felt his soft lips placed upon yours. It may have been the drinks talking, but you wanted him.

“Tell me you want this as much as me,” he whispered in your ear before kissing along your neck, grabbing a handful of your ass.

“Yes, b-but not here. Papz might be watchin',” you whimpered. 

Taking note, he let you lead the way as you walked out of the club to get to his sports car, trying not to get caught by the sneaky paparazzi.

“Nice car,” you complimented, walking up to his matte black Maserati as he opened the door for you. 

 Giving you a tap on your ass, he thanked you before closing the door after making sure you got in ok.

The car ride seemed like it took forever, even with Johnny exceeding the speed limit, to get to his house. Feeling the needy grip on your thigh was driving you crazy. Biting your lip in anxiousness, you started to scroll on your phone so you did not think about the current climate in the car.

Finally pulling into the garage with his other cars, he quickly turned off the engine as you unbuckled your seatbelt. Before you could open the door to get out of the vehicle, Johnny beat you to it before lifting you out of the car bridal style and taking you into his mansion.

Fighting with the door that led inside his house, he grunted in annoyance. 

“Why dont you put me down-” you asked, trying to give a solution.

“Because if I put you down, I'm fucking you in this garage, and a lady like you should be fucked properly.” he simply responded, finally getting the door to open.

Stepping inside with you in hand, he closed the door with his foot before taking you up the stairs that led to the bedroom. 

Kissing you with fever, he placed you on the bed gently as you started to tug off his shirt. You felt yourself growing more aroused as he moved down to your neck, gently sucking on it. 

Mewling softly, you pulled him away from your neck so that he could take off his clothes. 

“Nun uh sweetheart. Dont be impatient,” he instructed you as he moved down towards your legs to take your shoes off.

Once your shoes were discarded, he began to litter kisses upon your leg leading up to your inner thigh before coming dangerously close to your clothed, needy cunt.

Withering away, his grip on your legs became tighter as he held you in place, fighting your urge to run away. Lifting your dress, he was met with the blue lace trim underwear. Pulling them to the side swiftly, he smiled at the way it glistened before putting his fingers on your sticky clit and rubbing circles on it. 

Mewling in response, he replaced his fingers with his mouth before sucking on your pussy and running his tongue between your folds. Thick thighs squished his ears as he continued his assault on you, hearing your muffled moans as your nails raked through his hair, tugging on it lightly.

He was in heaven. In between your thighs was where he belonged, listening to the way you whimpered for more, feeling you come close to your first orgasm of the night. Feeling his pants tighten around his dick as you begged him to let you cum. Bringing his calloused fingers back to your puffy clit he began to make small circles on it feeling you shake slightly as your orgasm washed over you. 

Releasing your legs from his grip, he watched as your chest rose and fell as you tried to think about your current predicament. Not having a chance to let your brain catch up, you feel Johnny hover over you to take off your dress, revealing the matching lace bra that held your tits with the piercings on them.

“If I knew any better, I would think you planned on me to fuck you,” he chuckled before unbuckling his pants, letting you see his hard-on as it could barely be contained in his boxers before squeezing it.

“Fuck you look so sexy like this,” he said as he reached to pull your panties off, being mesmerized by a string of slick connected to your underwear, throwing them on the floor before taking off his own. Hearing the way his long, girthy dick stood at attention. 

Feeling embarrassed, he kissed your temple, loving the way you shivered under him.

“You’re awfully quiet, doll,” he whispered. 

“Are you gonna keep teasing me, or are you actually going to fuck me” you spat quietly in his ear.

Kissing his teeth, he gave your needy pussy a few slaps before bucking into you. His pace started off relentless as his balls collided with your thighs; as the loud, squelchy sounds started to flood the room.

“F-fuck.” you moaned, hands coming to play with your clit as he continued fucking into you. 

“S-shit, that's it, sweetheart. Keep playing with that pretty clit for me,” he groaned out, lips going in between his teeth as you clenched down for me. 

You felt yourself about to cum again. Drawing tighter circles on yourself, you began to cry for release.

“Cumming again, baby? Fuck” he asked with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I-i need it. Johnny, please let me cum” you squirmed, feeling it becomes too much for you. 

“You can cum, my superstar.” he fought out, feeling you clench down on him.

Hearing you squeal, you lay on the bed breathless and dizzy, some small pieces of your hair sticking onto your sweaty body.

“You have no idea the things you do to me,” he said, kissing you deeply. 

Soon after, he was flipping you over to your knees, making you arch your body so that your ass was in the sky. You felt vulnerable as you looked back at him, sticking his angry flush tip and inserting your weeping pussy again.

“Next time, I should try your wrist together and fuck you like this all night,” he grunted as he pushed your back further into its arch, beginning to fuck you again.

Trying to catch onto his rhythm, you began to rock your hips back and forth, trying to meet his thrusts. Grabbing a handful of your ass, hit bit his lip in pleasure, accepting your thrusts.

“You‘re gonna make me cum. Fuck” he moaned out, squeezing his eyes shut.

“You can cum inside,” you whispered. 

Feeling something animalistic turn on in him, he started to fuck you deeper as he was nearing his release. 

“S-say it again for me,” he asked. 

“Inside, you can cum inside,” you responded louder this time.

“You’re gonna drive me crazy,” he grunted.

Feeling a bubbling pressure in your abdomen, you knew you were close again. Not giving a chance to warn Johnny, you felt a warm liquid trickle down your thighs as your legs shook.

Feeling squirt on his dick had him seeing stars as he delivered one last thrust before ropes of thick cum filled your cunt.

Falling onto the bed, you drooled onto the pillow, feeling your eyes get heavier by the second. Instantly, you felt a pair of warm arms cradle you to the bathroom, sitting you on the toilet as you heard water running into the tub. The smells of lavender and vanilla filled your nose as you attempted to keep your eyes open. 

Feeling yourself get picked up again, placed into the warm water, and feeling a structured body come behind you as you lay on it. 

“Did so good for me, sweetheart. My superstar,” he said, kissing your temple as you nodded off. 

[deliciouskeys]

Beware the Patient Woman (my foray into Sagelander)

This is set right after season 4. I don’t address anything beyond Sagelander. Ashley disappeared. Ryan is presumed returned to Vought Tower, maybe staying in a different room while they have to renovate Homelander’s apartment top to bottom. This is either a standalone or a chapter 1, idk. Had to get it out of my system. Rated PG cause I'm lazy/ a coward? (for now). AO3 link.

Sage may not have x-ray vision but she can tell who’s behind the door by the sound of the knock before she opens it. She didn’t have time to change out of her pajamas, but at least she was awake.

"May I come in?" he asks, peering down at her before his eyes start roving around the room.

"Of course," she says, even though she was looking forward to lying around in bed before having to put her suit on and trot out to the board meetings.

"Sorry, I know it’s early. I couldn’t really sleep last night." He walks in, almost brushing past her, arms clasped behind his back and hidden by the American flag cape billowing slightly behind him, so close that she has to lean back slightly to avoid getting an eagle beak to the face. But he didn’t mean disrespect by it, just distracted by looking all around the room.

"This was so much emptier when Maeve lived here," he remarks, stepping around various small pieces of furniture, nearly all stacked with books.

"I’m sure she needed the space to practice her combat techniques."

"Yeah or her drinking or her threesomes. I’m not sure she had the attention span to read a book in her life," he mumbles angrily, and Sage doesn’t like where this conversation is going at all. She knew there might be a downside to being given the room where Homelander’s old flame used to live.

"Did you want to discuss something?" she says, trying to keep any impatience out of her voice.

He turns around sharply to face her. "I really wanted to thank you for… everything that happened yesterday. I couldn’t even articulate how grateful I was for what you did for me."

For him, he thinks, despite her telling him point-blank that she did it to see if she could. But she was banking on his gratitude and on the high value he places on loyalty.

"You’re so very welcome. But I only did what you hired me to do," she says, cautiously, hoping this will emphasize that she may not necessarily have any interest in going beyond what she was hired to do. Maintaining boundaries with a man like this was always important.

"No, no." One of his hands emerges from behind his back to wag a finger at her. "Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about. You did what I hired you to do, sure, but you did it even after I dismissed you. I’m not stupid, Sage. I know you could have used that brain of yours to fuck me thrice over and get revenge for how badly I treated you. I admit, I underestimated you. I did a dangerous thing, letting you go, when you were my best ally all along. So I… I know you could have made things worse for me, but you chose to side with me anyway. I was absolutely wrong about you, and it won’t happen again. I will listen to you, like I promised."

Sage hesitates. He’s saying all the right things, but these hollow promises aren’t worth much when they’ll fall to the wayside the next time he gets fed up with her. No, he’s leading up to something, and she’s wary of what might come next, so she’s not sure how she should reply to steer the conversation away.

"That’s good to hear. And no hard feelings, trust me."

Homelander nods. "Yeah, trust. I do want to ask you one thing. It’s just… I do trust you, but could I just ask you to keep me in the loop? No more lies?"

"I don’t think I ever outright lied to you," Sage answers, taking a deep breath, trying to keep her breath steady. Was this human powderkeg about to explode again? She thought she had him placated for at least a few weeks, but maybe she’s miscalculating just how paranoid he is. It's hard to feel completely calm when he's standing over her, forcing her to tilt her face upwards to meet his gaze.

"Well I’m including lying by omission," he says, but then his expression changes, softens strangely, and he steps back as if realizing that he's been looming over her. "I’m sorry, you’re misunderstanding, I didn’t come here to threaten you in any way. I just wanted to… maybe just establish best practices, going forward."

Shit, her heart rate must have spiked, finally given away that she was getting nervous. "Oh yeah, I understand. I appreciate that. Let’s discuss that."

Homelander shakes his head, wincing. "Look, I really don’t mean to dictate how you should work. I realize I’m doing it automatically. I’m catching myself telling you what to do again. I respect that you might not want to tell me everything– I do. I’ll be honest, it is a blow to the ego, and I’m not used to it, because… well you’ve seen the caliber of idiots that I've had to deal with. I’m not used to trusting someone else." 

He looks … unsure of himself? Is he genuinely apologetic? Sage is so reluctant to interpret anything he says as benign and without ulterior motives, but it’s tempting to believe him right now. She’s really at a loss for words, content to let him just keep talking and explain himself.

"So… I take back everything I said," Homelander mutters, his mouth folding even thinner as soon as he says it. "I trust you so much that I allow you to lie by omission. But if I ask you something, I’d really like a straight answer. Call it my weakness. I’m not a details guy. I’m not aspiring to look over your shoulder and micromanage your plans. But I just- I just need a little something in return for the trust. I need to be able to check in once in a while and know you won’t lie to my face."

Sage can’t believe she’s getting to watch this man wrestle with himself, threatening to spiral out while trying to define what’s important to him and what’s reasonable to ask of her. He’s debating with himself with only the barest input from her. She needs to nip this in the bud. She’s never felt that comfortable seeing him cry, and she doesn’t want things to get to that point, where she’ll have to comfort him instead of just reassuring him. "Hey listen. I love working with you. You’re giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I’ll gladly discuss plans with you if you’re really interested in the boring details." Maybe she’s overselling it a bit, but he looks like he recovers his poise at least. 

"Anyway, that’s not even what I came here to ask you." he says, his tone sounding more like his usual self. "I wanted to invite you out for dinner. Just as a small token of appreciation- ah-ah! Nope!" he says, raising his hand as she tries to interrupt him. "Don’t say no before you hear the proposition. I found out you like sushi."

Sage’s blood runs a little cold at hearing him know something about her that she doesn’t think she ever revealed to anybody on staff at Vought.

"I located your mother and asked her a little about you over the phone last night," he says, as if guessing the question in her mind. Of course he did. He probably thinks that gives him leverage over her. Well, joke’s on him, because she hasn’t been in much contact with her mom, they haven’t gotten along since she was a teenager, and she’s not going to be manipulated by him threatening her mom. But her mom is right that she likes sushi.

"Oh yeah?" Sage asks, summoning a genuine looking smile to her face because she’s not sure how well he can tell when her mind starts running at triple speed when she’s feeling pressure. "I do love me some sushi. And I haven’t tried that many places since moving here, because it’s been so busy."

"Great!" he says, and now his smile looks genuine too, the fleeting reference to her family thankfully fading out of their conversation. "I’ve rented out this place called Masa night. You’re gonna love it. Three Michelin stars and all that. Best sushi in New York."

"Yeah, tonight works," Sage says, hoping it’s not too rude to imply that his setting her daily schedule for her is overstepping, his certainty that she’s going to love hanging out with him is overstepping. 

"Usually I wouldn’t put you through the hassle of going out, just have the chefs come to work at the Vought kitchen and host it at my place, but you know… my place is a bit of a disaster zone right now and yours… well I don’t wanna disturb your little setup you’ve got going on here."

Yes, there’s a problem she needs to solve as soon as possible brewing here. She’s very fucking glad she’s not being invited to dinner at his place. "So is there a dress code? Do I have to wear my superhero suit?"

Homelander scoffs. "I’ve rented it out. No paps, no photos. You can come in whatever you damn well please. Wear sweatpants if you want. This is all for you!" He smiles again, and it’s really genuine, and now she’s concerned that her fears are true. In his mind, this is a date.

"Just you and me?" she verifies, and when he nods she takes a deep breath and says something risky, but better now than later. "Just so you know– I don’t really do romantic relationships. I’ve slept with a couple of members of the Seven, but you don’t strike me as the kind of person who would want to get in on that action."

Homelander blinks, clearly taken aback. "It’s just dinner with a colleague," he says, but his tone is halting. "I don’t- that’s none of my business what you do in your free time with-" he licks his lips and Sage tries to guess what bothers him most about this. "Were you sleeping with A-Train? Is that how you knew?"

"No, I don’t mix work and pleasure like that." Sage can’t help but laugh a little. "I can tell you with whom. ‘No more secrets’, right? Noir and the Deep."

Sage can practically hear the wheels in Homelander’s head turning as he tries to picture it. "Huh," he says. "Well that’s uh… your prerogative certainly." Is that hurt in his voice? Maybe disbelief that she’d fuck people he considers far beneath him?

"Exactly. I assumed that someone like you would have no problem with workplace hookups," she says, shrugging. "Being part of the Seven isn’t really a normal gig. It’s so full-time, it’s your entire life. Might as well get some fun out of it."

"Yeah, makes sense," he mutters, trailing off, still thinking.

"So tonight then? What time?" she asks.

He snaps out of his thoughts. "I rented it out for the entire evening. So anytime from five onward. Up to you."

"Seven then?" she says. He nods and walks out stiffly. Sage shuts the door and leans back against it. She has to navigate this right. This overpowered manchild doesn’t have a good track record of keeping work and pleasure separate, but she can’t rebuff him in a way that insults him. She thought she was in the clear– that someone like her would never attract that kind of attention from him. She needed to be smart about this.