#jiara au

[hepaidattention]

wait but like an AU where JJs mom never died and he grew up a Kook, friends with the Cameron's, and always wishing he was friends with those Pogues always running around????

we also could say instead of Luke taking him in, Shoupe did, and he grew up as the sheriffs son?????

and him and Kie like hate each other as like Kook rivals?????? because Kie always wants to hang out with the pogues and he doesn't get it???? but secretly he DOES???? but it worries him because they're always getting themselves in trouble

and then one day he gets mixed up with a Kook and Pogue fight but Kie gets dragged into it and tries to stop JJ from beating up John B, and he listens to her because it's Kie.

but Rafe tries to punch John B and Kie gets caught in the cross fire and then JJ gets defensive over Kie, and starts fighting RAFE for JB????

and then John B, Pope, and Kie all thank JJ and start treating him like they kinda like him - they give him a nickname and everything.

and then one day, Sarah's been sneaking around with John B, and JJ accidentally catches them macking at Midsummers???

and Sarah begs him not to tell Topper or Rafe, and he agrees. He likes Sarah, way more than he ever liked Rafe or Topper.

but because he knows their secret she starts trusting him to continue to keep her secrets, and somehow he gets pulled into stuff he didn't ask for.

and then one day he sees Kie and Pope out, so he comes to say hi only to overhear them talking about breaking in somewhere. he follows them, afraid Kies gonna get herself in trouble, only to hear them talk about gold.

and they almost get killed, so he jumps into stop Kie from getting hurt, and now he's apart of the secret too??????

and he didn't know when it happened but somehow he's helping the pogues find a hidden treasure and his new found family is a bunch of crazy pogues he'd do anything to protect????

I NEED this AU. need it.

[kiekiecarrera]

The bathroom is not big enough that he can stand without brushing her back, so he perches himself on the closed toilet seat instead. Watches her quietly, taking in the way she leans over the sink, cupping her hands to catch some water in her palms. He clears his throat for a moment, and when she doesn’t look at him, he brushes her elbow with his fingers, trying not to startle her. Offers her the cup when she meets his eyes through the mirror. She turns to take it, a small, grateful smile slipping on her face.

#jiaraweek2023

day 6: fic to gif → this is looking like a contest of who can act like they care less by @kiekiecarrera

[homebody-nobody]

funny how true colors shine (in darkness and in secrecy)

Carrera and Maybank are her best agents. They’re both smart, creative, and driven. Carrera is clever and quick-thinking, and an excellent executor, and there’s no one quite like Maybank with a gun. Peterkin taps her pen on her desk, waiting for one of them to break. They will, of course. Peterkin is betting on Maybank. He’s twitching. He’s twitchy. But then, the muscle in Carrera’s jaw is doing an awful lot of jumping, too. “I’m not doing it with him.” “Literally anyone else.” -- Kie and JJ are fake married for undercover purposes, and hilarity (and also feelings) ensue.

read on ao3

(Happy Birthday, Belle!!)

[mellarkisa]

jiara movies x My Best Friend's Wedding

God, what the hell was she doing?

She fled from the lilac silk dress that was stinging her and Emily's romantic speeches, barely waiting to go back to the dressing room and start a call with Cleo, who didn't stop talking for a second.  Still in her bra and panties, she looked for her lighter to try to light a damn cigarette, but she couldn't find it in the middle of that mess. Fuck, she really needed a smoke.

"Fuck this!" she threw her purse on the couch.

"Kiara, are you listening to me?"  Cleo squeaked and Kiara balanced the phone against her shoulder and her face.

"No, Cleo, I'm kinda busy here."

"Sorry if I'm trying to be a good friend and help you think of some plan to crash your best friend's wedding, since you don't have any," she snapped wryly.

"Don't say 'crash my best friend's wedding', I feel like a movie villain like that."

"Well, I don't see what else to call it, Kie"

Well...

"I'm saving him from a terrible idea" she tried and heard Cleo chuckle on the other end.

"Yes, saving him to be with you" she pointed out.

Ok. Maybe her motives weren't entirely altruistic. But JJ wasn't thinking straight. Clearly. Marrying a kook he'd known for a year?  That didn't sound like him, that didn't sound like her Jayj.  But it was real and it was happening.

"Emily looks like a doll, Cleo! So dreamy and-" A brief knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Thinking it was the seamstress, Kiara urged her to come in, while she waited for her friend's answer.

"Calm down, girl…"

But it wasn't the seamstress. It was JJ. Clutching a bridesmaid dress in his arms, he seemed more surprised by her startled yell than by her lack of clothes. He chuckled as she tried futilely to cover herself with her arms. "Hi" she said uselessly.

"Do you want me to turn around or something?"  his smile widened as he leaned back in the doorway, his damn dimples showing as he looked way too comfortable with the situation.

Kiara searched for anything she could cover herself with, clumsily clinging to her coat and wrapping it around her body.

"You weren't the person I was expecting..."

He shrugged and twirled the end of the hanger in great amusement.

"I've seen you a lot more naked than that."

Kiara bit her lip, not at all surprised by the insinuation, resisting the urge to flirt. It was hard when he looked the same JJ as ever, who she knew would flirt back.

"Well… things are different now."

He nodded briefly and, for a moment, neither of them knew what to say.  Maybe she killed the moment, reminding him that they weren't as young, passionate, and free as they used to be.  A lot had changed.

"Yeah, I think they are."

He turned the end of the hanger again before placing her dress gently on the chair that stood there.  He looked nervous, the way he did when he tried to hide it, and there was a small satisfaction when Kiara realized that she could still read him well.  He backed to the door, and before leaving he gave her one of those mischievous smiles that told her everything was going to be okay.  JJ looked her up and down, not ashamed to drink in the sight of her half-naked body before leaving:

"You look really good... without your clothes on."

The door had barely closed before Kiara fell unceremoniously onto the couch, her legs too shaky to stand.  The intensity of his gaze, the familiarity with which he changed the energy of the room with a smile, or even his stupid bright blue eyes were too much for her.

A glimmer of hope began to glow deep inside her chest, and Kiara blindly reached for her phone lying on the couch, and by some miracle Cleo was still on the call.

"KIARA!"

"Cleo… I'm back in the game"

[notbadweird]

‪@jane_shows‬ MADE THIS AND POSTED IT ON TWITTER AND YOU GUYS OMFG ITS SO BEAUTIFUL

ITS FAKE BUT BEAUTIFUL

MADE ME HYPE FOR S4

[slipmams]

headers obx3

[outerbaanksjiara]

Missing moments

If someone would have told Kiara that in only two days she'd have been sent to a wilderness therapy camp, find a whole lost city, burried her friends parents and kissed her best friend she'd have thought that it's the craziest thing she ever heard.

But it happend.

Her parents sent her away only two days ago. They didn't even warn her, just two people dressed in polos suddenly appeared and dragged her away while her parents were watching her begging the two people to stop.

The whole way she couldn't even process what happened, she kicked, yelled, cried and begged them to stop and let her go but they didn't even seem to hear her.

The car finally stopped after hours, in front of a big place full of kids doing different chores. Some of them were planting flowers, some were moving boxes with stuffs around and other chores she couldn't really focus on.

The thing that catched her attention was the girl yelling and kicking into some mans in polo shirts that were dragging her away towards some small cabin. She didn't even have time to react cause she got dragged by the mans that brought her here into a big cabin. This time she didn't fight back. It was pointless anyway.

In that cabin some lady told her the camp rules and diagnosed her with some condition she didn't care enough to remember and told her that she'd get put on medication. She tried to escape but was stupid enough to think it'd work. After that she got dragged away into a similar cabin the girl she saw earlier did.

She spent there a whole day. She was sure she was gonna become insane.

Luckily she didn't spend much more time in there cause apparently her cousin told her that, her cat, Marley died. She didn't even have a cat and she was pretty sure her parents didn't have time to tell her whole family about how they sent their daughter away to a crazy wilderness therapy camp.

So she instantly knew it was JJ. So of course she had to play the act and pretend to be devastated by the news when inside she was almost jumping of happiness knowing that JJ was here. He came.

After this she got sent to another cabin with other girl. She waited almost the whole night hoping that JJ would come and get her out at any point. And he did.

He brust into the room looking for her and when he finally spotted her she run right into his open arms, waiting for her.

As soon as they broke the hug he apologised for the moneys he stole from her dad, for the fights, for everything. She didn't even care about this all.

I love you. That's all she could say. She didn't even care if he'd say it back or not, she just needed him to know. I love you too. He did say it back.

That's when they kissed. It was slow and peaceful like they had all the time in the world. Like nothing else mattered. They were finally togheter and that was all that mattered.

They didn't even relaise all the cheering from the girls that watched everything, they didn't even care at all. He took her hand in his and run with her out of that stupid camp.

He told her he left the Twinkie so no one would recognise the car and risk ruining the mission, even if they knew John B won't like this when he'll find out.

When they finally got in the car and drove away neither of them talked at all but when they finally got into the plane they had six full hours of talking about everything.

He told her about the barracuda Mike incident and that their friends are already on the way to South America. She took a change of clothes she had in her bag and happily changed off the camp's uniform. Then they talked some more.

They talked about them, they talked about their friends and made a quick plan of finding them. They'd ocasionally stop talking for a kiss or two too.

As soon as they got off the plane, they took some small bus that was going away too slowly for their licking. They needed to hurry to their friends.

They heard some stories about El Dorado on the way and made a few ideas about this place even if, if Kie didn't know everything John B and his dad been through this days she'd have thought that this people were being delusional.

Then they finally found Pope and Cleo, and heard what happend with Ward, they started looking for John B and Sarah. When they finally found them too, they were surrounded by people with guns including Ward.

Maybe what they did wasn't the smartest move but it was the only thing they could do and think about at that moment.

They jumped with some machetes towards the people with guns. Then the guns turned towards them too.

Kiara knew JJ. Maybe more than he knew himself. She knew he was gonna do something stupid. She slowly touched his shoulder, carefully whispering his name so no one else would hear them but suddenly the gun was aimed and the sound made Kie's attention go back towards the others.

Ward was in front of the gun, dragging the one that was aiming at them earlier and dragging the man with him, falling down.

After this they all took a while to mourn and watch Sarah making a small grave for her dad. Not too long after this big John died.

Kie wanted to help her friends even if she knew nothing she'd say would help, they both lost their dads in the same day.

The realisation of everything that happened hit her the night after they burried big John. They were on the same boat Kiara, JJ, Pope and Cleo came on towards John B and Sarah.

Kiara tried her best to fall asleep but it was harder than she expected. Don't get her wrong, she was so tired but her mind was wide awake. She looked around, trying to tell if everyone was asleep.

Cleo and Pope were sleeping with their heads on some backpack while Cleo was still holding her knife and looked like she was ready to wake up and fight if needed.

Sarah was sleeping between John B's arms, it took her a lot to fall asleep, Kie heard her talking with John B for what felt like hours, until it was finally silence even if they weren't talking too loud.

Kie looked next to her where JJ was asleep with some shirt over his face so the light and bugs wouldn't bother him. She tried to get up without making the boat's floor to crack and wake everyone up.

When she managed to walk towards the other side of the boat, she let her legs fall over the water but without touching it.

She was tired, mad, sad, happy and the adrenaline still didn't leave her body. She had no idea what she felt. She just wanted to shut everything down with some joint from JJ.

The water didn't help too much in calming her down especially after what happens a few months ago with the boat and the machete. Usually she'd just watch the ocean and instantly feel better but after this whole day nothing helped.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder which made her almost jump. When she turned behind, she saw JJ slowly sitting down next to her.

"Didn't mean to scare you" he whispered and as soon as she heard him she instantly felt a little better "I heard you getting up and I wanted to check on you"

"I'm sorry for waking you up" she said keeping her eyes on the water and trying her best not to face him.

She was scared that if she'd look at him she'd break down into tears and that's the last thing they need right now. John B and Sarah just saw their parents dying and here she was stupidly crying. She didn't even know why she was crying at all. Too many things happened for her to just pick one.

"Nah I wasn't sleeping anyway, it's not like you can with Pope's and Cleo's snoring contest" he said pointing with his head towards them.

She turned to look at him trying to hide a laugh so I won't wake anyone up and as soon as he noticed her failed attempt not to laugh, a proud smile appeared on his face but it was quickly washed away.

"Kie, what's wrong?" he asked, the concern visible in his voice which made Kie feel guilty to make him worry about her too.

When she didn't answer, he slowly moved one hand on her cheek, carefully moving her head towards him so he could get a better look at her. Her eyes were red and puffy and she probably looked like a mess apart from that too.

He didn't say anything, his lips moved towards her forhead, giving her a soft kiss that made Kie brust into tears. As soon as he moved his lips away he let her head fall on his shoulder allowing the tears to fall, while quiet sobs were escaping her.

He didn't say anything, one of his arms was holding her while his hand was playing with some loosen curls from her bun, if you could call that one after everything it been through.

She didn't even relaise that she stopped crying until she heard JJ's voice again after what felt like hours.

"I promise everything is gonna be okay now" he whispered softly, still playing with her curls.

"I'm sorry" she finally said, her voice breaking in the middle of the sentence, he slowly lift her head up so he could get a better look at her.

"What are you sorry for?" he asked confused.

"For this" she whispered but when she noticed that JJ still didn't understand she countinued. "I'm sorry for crying when John B and Sarah are the ones that actually been through a lot"

"Hey no Kie, don't say that" he said as soon as he heard what she said. "Yes they've been through a lot but you've been through shit too, okay?"

She shaked her head mumbling "It's not the same"

"It might not be the same kind of shit but it still meant a lot Kie, you have all the right to feel like this okay?" he said but when she didn't say anything else he countinued. "Kie you have all the rights to be sad too, okay?"

"I miss them" she whispered, if JJ wouldn't be so focused on her he'd have probably didn't even hear her. "I don't want to but I do, I hate them so much but I still miss them"

They were still her parents after all. They were still her parents and they sent her away to some camp that was gonna drug her.

"There's nothing wrong with that" JJ said softly trying to make her feel better. "I mean look at my dad, he's a piece of shit and yet I can't help but wish he's doing alright wherever he is"

At the mention of his dad Kie's stomach twisted a little. She knew that JJ's house was gonna be taken away, he told her everything on the boat but after this whole day she completely forgot that he had no where to go.

Neither did she.

Neither did Sarah or John B.

"If you wanna go talk with them when we're gonna be back I'm gonna go with you" he said snapping her out of her thoughts. "I'll be with you whenever you need me"

Kie couldn't help but smile and his lips quickly formed into a smile too when he noticed that he made her smile. JJ always could make jer smile even if no one else could. He was the only one that could make her laugh and feel better when everything was horrible.

"Damnit Kie, I'll be there even when you don't need me, you might get bored of me" he countinued this time earning a whole laugh from her.

"This will never happen" she said with a bright smile that warmed up JJ's heart.

"Good because you're stuck with me" he said before leaning in and making the soace between their lips disappear.

The kiss was slow and peaceful but at the same time they needed it as much as they needed air. She could've finally relax and feel like all the pain and exhaustion was slowly going away.

For a moment nothing else mattered, they were finally togheter.

They were togheter and nothing could ever change that. No matter what was gonna happen the next day or the day after or anytime.

They finally had eachother.

[ktsaysthings]

the blue that lasts - chapter 4

In 1729, JJ is a pirate. 

It sounds worse than it is. It’s not theft—not really. More like redistribution.

He’s no Robin Hood. He takes from the rich and keeps for himself. Rum, money, rare and exotic gems—things he really has no use for.

Except for the rum. He does have use for the rum.

Maybe it is theft. Either way, he doesn’t feel bad about it. Even without the spoils of their looting and pillaging, he’d still be sailing. He’d still be searching.

JJ’s been searching his whole life. For purpose, for salvation. A way out. 

He found all three in the water. The sea provides a safety he never had at home. It keeps him warm and weightless and strong. It carries him, taking him places he never could have dreamed of, far out of the reach of his leech of a father, out of sight of the debtors and foes that are always on his tail.

He joined Cleo on The Phantom when he was freshly fifteen. The first year on the water nearly broke him, the sun harsh on his pale skin, the salt rough on his soft hands. He’d been delirious from dehydration, half-dead from hunger, and still more alive than he’d ever felt. The sea filled in the gaps, softened the edges of his broken pieces. It gave him something to fight for, something to stake his life on.

And yet, there was still something missing.

He finds her in a pub.

Read the rest on ao3.

[eemolu]

feels like a night to carry a tune

(track three: tide song)

JJ woke up at the insistent blare of his alarm, the scent of coconut shampoo lingering during the split second it took for him to figure out where he was: alone, hungover, in his ridiculously expensive house in Malibu. “Fuck,” he groaned, groping for his phone on the nightstand and managing to hit snooze without lifting his head from the pillow. He had dreamed about her again. Would he ever stop dreaming about her?  He’d tried everything to get her out of his head. He’d slept with girls on tour, and B-list actors, and girls in bars who had no clue who he was. He had tried to fall in love, more than once, and got dumped each time because flowers and sex weren’t enough, apparently. He had even (and still was) trying to date himself, or whatever Sarah called it when she gushed about how important it was to be comfortable being alone. The problem was that he dreamed about Kie no matter what he did. And he never, never told anyone about it.

(complete, 29,659 words)

read on ao3

[hepaidattention]

if i loved hated you in another life | five

“No,” Kiara crossed her arms, her feet placed firmly in front of the entrance. 

JJ looked at her with a pathetic pout, “C'mon Carrera. There's nowhere else for me to sleep.” 

His backpack was swung over his shoulder, and a big blanket that definitely looked like it belonged to the Keets stayed bundled up in his arms. His hair was a mess like he had already been sleeping, which was ridiculous because it was 9 pm. 

“Actually, you do, it's called your own room.”

JJ's brow line raised up, “Would you want to be in there while they talked about their feelings?” 

Kiara realized that Sarah going to talk to John B meant the fact that John B shared his room with JJ, who now was moping outside hers.

“They kicked you out. didn't they?”

“Didn't even hesitate.”

“And you decided my room was the best option why ?”

She in all honesty didn't trust herself with JJ, alone in a room, after the stunt he pulled only an hour ago. She was afraid she'd lose all common sense again and kiss him, or even- no she could not let her mind go there. She would win this. She was strong, and JJ had no control over her.

“Technically, this is our room - I just let Sarah crash in it.” He was right, but Kiara wasn’t going to let him know that. He sighed, annoyed that he's had to stand there this long. “Sarah told me to crash here until they were through, alright?”

Kiara knew just as well as anyone that that door wasn't opening for the rest of the night. “I'm not sharing my bed with you, Maybank.”

“Okay, alright, see now that makes it easy. You can sleep on the floor.” She blinked at him, unamused. He didn't expect a laugh, but a smile would've been nice. “I'll sleep on the floor, Carrera. I don't care. I just want to sleep .”

OR JJ and Kiara have to share a lot more than just a weekend together.

Read chapter 5 on ao3 :)

[jiarafics1]

emotional motion sickness (somebody roll the windows down) by barbariansbsides (barbarianprincess) 1/1 (G)

Summary: He’s touching her bracelet when she figures out what he was saying on the dock.

He’s saying something now, but her ears are ringing and now she’s looking at his lips too and she's terrified but she’s also never been this sure about anything in her life. His fingers brush her bracelet, intertwine with hers and she feels his breath on her nose and she remembers.

or

a collection of moments in which Kiara loves JJ. (and he loves her back)

[kierreras]

Hey , I love your Jiara AU so much ! it's so beautiful and their insta feeds are so soft Do you plan on adding fic to it or other parts ? And if yes, do you take requests for some stuff for that AU ? I have a few ideas I'd like to share if you don't mind

woooow, thank you so much, i'm so glad that you like my au i'm not planning to write a fic for it cause we have so many great surf trip fics now and i'm not going to bring anything new to that theme i'm definitely going to add new parts of that au and i have some social media posts done already, so need to do a few more things before posting new part. i don't think that there's going to be many parts of that au, but still if you have some ideas, you can always share them with me, i'd be glad to hear them. so don't be shy and hit me up

[notbadweird]

Jiara Week Day 6

Five Times JJ Realized He Liked Kie & The One Time He Realized He Loved Her

Word Count: 2212

JJ was not one to trust a Kook, his dad was quite clear on that growing up...well that was until he met Kiara Carrera. He, John B and Pope were all on the beach and had just finished surfing. It was late and they thought they were the only ones left on the beach but about a hundred feet away from them was another person in the water...Kiara.

The boys already knew of her existence and sometimes they wanted to talk to her but they thought she was another stuck up Kook who would immediately spit at them the moment she made eye contact with them.

[outerbaanksjiara]

hey so im writing this jiara famous fanfiction on au where JJ, Kie, Pope and John B are in a band and Sarah is their manager. There always been rumors about JJ and Kie dating. Kie got out of a relationship and the guy won't leave her alone so she and JJ start fake dating.

here is how their Instagram accounts look like

[ktsaysthings]

It’s titanic au eve. Tomorrow we find out if you’re going to hate me or not :)

[cakesunflower]

lovelorn (and nobody knows) [rafe cameron au fic] chapter 9

Summary: Isla Carrera had planned for the summer before college to be focused on three things: helping out at her family’s restaurant (the helpful daughter), preparing for college (the good student), and having fun with the Pogues (the loyal friend). But one fateful night, where her car breaks down and her rescuer is none other than Rafe Cameron, seems to send her summer down a path she didn’t see coming–one teeming with a secret, illicit romance with the last person she expected. And if her friends and sister found out, Isla isn’t sure they’ll be so understanding, no matter what her feelings are.

Previous Chapters: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

A/N: Happy reading!!!!!

Isla touches up her lipstick under the bright lights of the bathroom, which smells like apples thanks to whatever air freshener is plugged in here. When she drops the lipstick in her purse, Isla sighs at her reflection, the frustration evident in her green eyes. She knows it’s only been a little over an hour since she and her family arrived at Midsummers, but it was an hour spent unable to get to Rafe, and the thought has her blowing a slow breath out of her nose.

Relax. You’re becoming desperate. When has she ever chased after a guy? It’s not in her nature, really, and she’s not sure why it’s becoming so prominent about Rafe Cameron, of all people. She tells herself that it’s guilt that’s driving her, feeling badly for assuming he was the one who had punched JJ because of how offended and hurt he had looked when it came up. Truthfully, Isla hadn’t expected Rafe to be hurt by it, not the way she had seen it reflected in his eyes, and she guesses maybe that’s why she’s so adamant on talking to him and properly apologizing to him.

And especially after that date. . . The way he set it up for them, cooking their meal—it was the sweetest thing any guy has ever done for her to show her their interest. Anyone she has been with before, whether it was a relationship or whatever, never put that kind of effort for her. And that. . . It meant a lot to her. Not to mention the fact that she really did have a good fucking time and, frankly, wished that he had kissed her. Or she should have kissed him.

They should have fucking kissed.

Isla blows out a breath, knowing she can’t change the past as she gives herself one last look over before walking to the door. She begins her walk down the hallway back to where the party is, hearing chatter and music in the distance, only to come to a sudden halt to avoid running into someone who turns the corner from a connecting hallway.

“Isla?” She freezes upon hearing her name from the familiar voice, taking in a deep, quiet breath when her gaze lifts and her eyes lock with her ex-boyfriend.

Of all the people to run into. . . 

She hadn’t once thought of running into Carlo at Midsummers, but that was also because she forgot that a few months ago, his mom got remarried and his step-dad is from the Kook side of Outer Banks, and while Carlo hadn’t changed schools and still went to the public school Isla and her friends go to instead of switching over to the Kook academy, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he and his family would come tonight. She had been lucky enough not to spot him—until now, as he stares at her in mild surprise, like he hadn’t expected to run into her, either.

“I was just heading back,” she says, moving to brush past him.

“Wait—” She is forced to stop when he suddenly appears in front of her. “We never got a chance to talk at Sarah’s party.”

Her patience is already wearing thin. “That’s because I made it clear I don’t want to talk to you,” she tells him, trying to keep her voice steady. Goddammit, why can’t he take the hint? What is there for him to say? To apologize for cheating on her? Beg for her forgiveness? She doesn’t care—not anymore, at least. Her annoyance builds, and Isla narrows her eyes and says, “Let’s get one thing clear, Carlo. I don’t owe you shit, alright? You fucked up. You threw our relationship out the window. So I’m well within my rights to tell you to go to hell and never have to speak to you again, because you don’t deserve it.”

Carlo’s jaw tightens, the vein in his temple beginning to protrude with every word Isla hits him with. But she simply keeps glaring at him, undeterred and sick of him trying to have a conversation with her that he thinks will change her opinion of him. “You never even gave me a chance to explain myself—”

“Explain yourself?” Isla repeats, eyebrows rising in disbelief at his audacity. “I’m sorry, I don’t need a step by step walk-through of how your dick ended up in some Jersey girl. It’s been a year since we broke up, Carlo. Move on. I sure as hell have.”

She sees the muscle in his jaw work, indignation firing up in his eyes. But right when Isla thinks he’s going to argue back, spew some bullshit, he surprises her by dipping his chin briefly in a nod. “Fine,” he says tightly. “You win. Won’t bother you again.”

Isla arches an eyebrow as she watches him turn and go, mildly surprised at how easily he gave in. But she doesn’t have a chance to dwell on it, because a new voice from behind her speaks up. “Are you always this brutal to guys who have a thing for you?”

Heart jumping, Isla spins around to see Rafe leaning against the wall on his side, watching her with an almost blank expression. Unable to help herself, Isla’s gaze dips, taking in the sight of him now that he’s this close after days of not seeing him, admiring the pristine press of his suit, his bangs framing his temples, and the family ring he wears on his pinky that gleams under the hallway lights.

When her gaze lifts to meet his, he arches an eyebrow, and instead of being embarrassed that he noticed her blatantly checking him out, she’s just relieved to see him—to have him talk to her. “Only the ones who deserve it,” she replies, her voice growing soft on its own. There’s about five feet of space between them, and she’s desperate to diminish it. “Rafe, I—can we talk?”

“About what?” he asks, but there’s a shift in his gaze that tells Isla he knows exactly what she wants to talk about.

She takes a couple of steps towards him, all too aware of the party going on behind her and that any one of her friends or her sister could walk by at any point and spot them. But she doesn’t want to add fuel to this already sensitive situation as she tells him, “I want to apologize—”

“Not here,” he cuts her off.

Isla blinks and before she knows it, his hand is holding hers and Isla’s gaze instantly drops down to the way his larger hand engulfs hers, his touch warm as their palms press together, and the air hitches in her throat as he tugs her forward. She has enough sense to use her free hand to lift the skirt of her dress so she doesn’t trip as Rafe pulls her around her corner, her heart thundering and too quickly for her to comprehend, they’re suddenly in a small, dark room.

Isla’s gaze darts, just barely making out the shelves next to her and along the wall opposite of the door as she turns around when the sound of the door clicking shut breaks the silence. She squints when a light is switched on, bathing her and Rafe in dim yellow lighting. Her throat tightens when she notices how small the room is—feeling smaller still with Rafe towering over her. Even in the shitty lighting of the supply closet, he’s unfairly gorgeous, the kind that makes her heart skip a beat in one second and pick up its pace in the next. And in the small space, the scent of his cologne is more prominent; fresh and woodsy and delicious.

When her gaze meets his, he arches an eyebrow and tells her, “Wouldn’t want your friends to spot us.”

He says it dryly, and it tightens something in her chest—even as she notes the way his gaze seems to trace the length of her, her skin prickling with awareness. His words have her blurting, “Rafe, I’m so—”

“I overreacted,” he cuts in, effectively surprising her as she gapes up at him. She most definitely hadn’t expected that. When he takes note of her surprised expression, one corner of his lips tilts up in a small, knowing smile. “I was thinking about it and I can’t exactly blame you for thinking I gave Maybank the black eye.”

“I was unfair,” she says with a frown, unsure how this conversation turned around. “I shouldn’t have just assumed that it was you.”

“I can’t exactly blame you for it,” he says, that half smile still visible as he rubs his bottom lip with a thumb. “Not with the history I have with your friends. I can’t expect you to forget all of that after just one date. It was unfair of me, too, to just shut you out these last couple of days.” His gaze meets hers and Isla’s throat locks at the genuine apology in his eyes, the kind that you can’t fake. “I’m sorry for not responding to your messages.”

Isla’s lips part, though no words come out as she stares at him in surprise. Part of her wonders if she’s imagining things, but she still can’t help the way her lips curve up into an incredulous, fond smile. Rafe’s gaze tracks the movement as he asks through a short chuckle, “What?”

She shakes her head, biting down on her smiling bottom lip. “I came here today fully intent on apologizing to you for not giving you the benefit of the doubt. And you just completely turn it around and apologize to me instead.”

His smile widens a bit, looking down at her with a lift of his chin. “Did I steal your thunder?”

Isla lets out a laugh. “A little bit,” she says with a nod. The air between them grows tense, in a way that makes her skin heat up as she realizes their proximity. But even so, her smile falters and she tells him, “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Rafe’s smile fades a bit and for a second, Isla thinks he’s going to deny being hurt. But then again, Rafe is full of surprises, because he nods, gaze dropping to their feet as his lips twist to the side briefly. “I appreciate your apology.” His gaze lifts, blue eyes locking with her deep green, and the air seems to crackle. “You’re forgiven.”

Her shoulders sink in relief, not realizing how badly she wanted to hear those words until Rafe says them. The guy had given her one of the best dates she had ever been on, and she had turned around and insulted him, hurt his feelings, and Isla hated that she did that. If you asked her months ago if she would be up at night, tossing and turning over hurting Rafe Cameron’s feelings, she would have laughed in your face. But now, Isla feels an immense amount of relief knowing that he has forgiven her, and it’s a crazy development, but it’s not one she minds.

“Good,” she says quietly through a smile.

Her heart jumps when Rafe takes a step towards her, the already small space between them diminishing more as he does. “What about me?” he asks, voice low and enough to threaten goosebumps breaking across her skin. “Am I forgiven, too?”

She has to tilt her chin up to maintain eye contact as he gets closer, her pulse skittering in anticipation as the distance between them diminishes. The world beyond the door of the supply closet ceases to exist and all Isla can think of, can focus on, is the man before her, towering over her in his staggering height that she never before admired. She sees the way Rafe’s gaze dips from her eyes, lingering on her lips, and her stomach flips at the hungry look that darkens his eyes. She desperately wants him to act on that hunger.

“Yes,” she answers, her voice a whisper as if she’s divulging a secret only for him to know. Her own gaze flickers to his mouth, at lips that look so soft and make her wonder if they feel the same. Desire makes heat pool in her belly, her heart thudding faster and faster with every passing second. Through her dried throat, she speaks up, “If I tell you something, you promise not to hold it against me?”

Maybe he hears the vulnerability that slips into her tone, because Rafe’s gaze snaps up to meet her eyes once more. His chin dips into a single nod. “I promise.”

Her pulse quickens even more. For a split second, she hesitates in spilling her truth, knowing it’s going to leave her open and vulnerable in front of a person she never before wanted to be in such a state. But somewhere along the way, things changed so fast that Isla is left dizzy from it, but it’s a slow turning change she finds herself wanting to explore more of. It’s scary and new, but Isla wouldn’t be a Pogue if she shied away from trying scary and new things.

So conjuring up every ounce of her confidence, she looks him in the eye and confesses, “I missed you.”

Rafe’s eyes flare and she swears she hears him suck in a sharp breath, like her words were a punch in the gut. Her own cheeks warm as her statement hangs between them, feeling her heart pounding in her ears as she waits for him to say something. Anything. The tension in the small space is taut, ready to snap at any second, and she wonders if he can feel it so intently, too. Is she just imagining it? Can he, too, feel the sizzle of energy that exists between them?

“Isla.” His voice is rough, eyes darkening with a need that she feels deep in her bones. “Tell me I can kiss you.”

She nearly wants to cry in relief. “Please.”

It’s all the permission he needs, thankfully, and their collision is earth shattering.

Rafe’s arm winds around her waist and he tugs her close, erasing any remaining space between them as he leans down and captures her lips in a searing, breath-stealing kiss. Isla can’t stop the instant, gratifying moan that sounds from her throat at the first contact of his lips against hers, her hands coming up to grip the lapels of his suit jacket as she practically melts into him and the head spinning kiss.

Their fronts are pressed together and she swears she can feel every hard line of his torso against her as Rafe’s other hand grips her jaw, thumb on one side and his fingers on the other as he tilts her head just the way he likes it. Isla’s knees threaten to give out when his tongue teases her lips and she parts them for him immediately, wetness pooling in her underwear when he groans as his tongue languidly, teasingly slides along hers, tasting her as if he’s savoring every moment. Liquid heat pours through her blood as Rafe takes a few steps forward until Isla is being pressed against a shelf, the contents of it rattling yet neither of them paying any attention as he continues to rob her of her breath with his kiss.

One of her hands slides up to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair, and the pace of the kiss doesn’t slow for a second as Rafe’s arm moves from around her waist—only for his hand to grip her thigh from the parting of the slit of her dress, his skin warm against her already heated one, and she gasps against him as he lifts her leg to hook it around his hip. It brings them even closer, if possible, and Isla whimpers when she feels his hardness press against her panty covered core, the fiery need for him intensifying even more.

Yes, yes, yes. This is better than she could have ever imagined, going beyond her wildest fantasies. Every movement of his lips against hers sparks electricity in her veins, bringing her closer and closer to the point of cataclysmic explosion. She has kissed plenty of people before but, God, never like this. This, she can feel deep in her soul, bringing every cell in her body to life. She thinks she can easily get addicted to this—to Rafe’s kisses. How can someone be so damn good at kissing?

Isla doesn’t want to stop, she never wants this to stop, but air becomes an annoying necessity. Their kiss slows down, but it seems that Rafe doesn’t want to end it, either, dragging it out as long as he can, tasting her lips with sweet, soft kisses that make her heart ache in the best way. They don’t pull apart, foreheads pressing together as they catch their breaths, the supply closet filled with the sounds of their labored breathing as they share the air between them.

Isla’s eyes slowly open, heavy with dizzying lust, eyelashes fluttering as she finally opens them—only to see that Rafe is already watching her with a hooded gaze of his own. Her heart leaps, noting his kiss swollen lips, which have pinkened also because of her lipstick. The sight of her lipstick smeared on his mouth intensifies the heat pooled low in her belly, watching him with a hunger no doubt he can see.

Fuck. He kissed her in a way that ruined anyone else for her. There’s no going back from this.

“That was. . .” She trails off, still trying to catch her breath, their noses brushing together.

His mouth curves up. “Better than I could’ve imagined,” he finishes, making her already flushed cheeks blush more as she lifts her gaze to meet his, a shy yet thrilled smile dancing on her own lips. Especially when she feels his fingers brushing along her thigh, her leg still wrapped around him, and the blush deepens as she slowly puts her foot back onto the ground.

A breathless laugh escapes her as says, “You’ve got lipstick on your face.”

Rafe grins. An honest, panty-dropping smile that makes her want to kiss him again. His hand on her jaw shifts and she feels his thumb swipe along her bottom lip. “So do you, baby.”

Oh, God. The term of endearment does more to her than she cares to admit, breath stilling in her lungs as her lips tingle not only from his kiss, but the gentle caress of his thumb. His voice is low, a dizzying rasp, and if he ever finds out the kind of effect he has on her, then Isla is in trouble.

Dropping her gaze, she opens her purse and pulls out a small tissue packet. When she takes out a tissue and holds it up to him, Rafe glances at it before meeting her gaze, smirking as he says, “Your mess. Only right for you to clean it up.”

She finds herself grinning at the teasing glint in his eyes, biting her bottom lip as she moves her hand further up and, gently, wipes at Rafe’s lips. His gaze is heavy on her as she does so, heart thudding wildly as she gets rid of her lipstick smeared on his smiling mouth. “Done,” she says once she’s finished, crushing the tissue in a ball in her hand.

“Thank you,” he hums before taking the tissue pack from her hand. “My turn.”

Her pulse stutters once more when he places a knuckle under chin to lift her face up, gazes locking as he, oh so gently, wipes at the skin right around her lips, as if he’s being careful not to displace the rest of her makeup. It’s the most tender anyone has ever been with her, even if it’s something as mundane as him fixing her smeared lipstick, and Isla is a hundred percent sure she falls for him a little bit more, right at this moment. Who knew Rafe Cameron could be so soft, so gentle? After kissing her senseless, nonetheless.

“What do you say to a second date?” he asks, head tilting slightly as he dabs at the corner of her mouth.

Isla finds herself smiling, stomach fluttering. “I’ll say yes if you promise to kiss me again.”

Rafe grins, lowering his hand. Her body craves to be wrapped up in him again as he lifts his chin and says, “That’s a promise I’ll always keep.”

He proves himself when he presses a slow kiss to her lips once more, and Isla melts into him once more, wishing that they could stay in here, just the two of them, instead of returning to the Midsummers party. Her heart flutters wildly, happily, as she returns the kiss before they break apart slowly. “Just let me know when,” she tells him.

“Hmm?” Rafe hums, his gaze on her lips, like he wants to kiss her again. She’d totally let him.

Isla laughs. “For the date.”

His eyes flicker up to meet hers. “Yes, ma’am.” He glances over his shoulder. “Let me make sure the coast is clear.”

“One sec,” she says, taking out her phone and lipstick. Using the camera, she checks her reflection for a moment and grins at Rafe. “Nice clean up job,” she says, making him chuckle as he watches her quickly reapply her lipstick. He really did wipe away any remnants from her skin, and with the lipstick newly applied, no one would ever know. “Okay, I’m ready.”

She watches as Rafe steps to the door, switching off the light and plunging them into darkness, only for some light to slip through the crack that appears when Rafe opens the door just an inch or so. He peeks out, his hand gesturing her forward, and she steps up. “Okay, you’re good to go.”

He opens the door wider and Isla’s heart thuds as she steps out into the empty, bright hallway. She can hear the music and the party continue on outside, glancing down at the last second to make sure her dress is straightened, which it is. Right when she’s about to make her way down the hallway, not wanting to linger in case someone comes by, Rafe’s voice stops her.

“Isla.” She glances at him where he remains inside, standing in the space between the door and the door frame. He grins that panty-dropping smile once more, his gaze dipping to take in the length of her and igniting a fire in her skin as it trails back up to meet her eyes. “You look beautiful.”

Her cheeks flush, glancing away momentarily to give herself a second to get her wits about her, before musing, “You’re only saying that ’cause you just made out with me.”

He chuckles. “Doesn’t make it any less true.” He winks and somehow makes even that seem hot, when Isla would otherwise find it cringey if it was anyone else. Rafe nods in the direction of the party. “Get back out there.”

Isla’s not quite ready to leave him, but she knows she has to because her friends and sister will start looking for her if she’s gone for too long. When she rejoins Kie and Sarah, her sister asks, “Where have you been?”

“Bathroom,” Isla answers. “Why, did I miss something?”

“No,” Sarah hums, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. 

“Other than watching people ask Mom and Dad about their anniversary party. I think Mom’s gonna break out in hives,” Kie adds in. Their parents’ twentieth wedding anniversary is coming up quick, and they’re planning a party which Kie and Isla will be helping out with, and while their mom loves to throw a good party, the whole planning part stresses her out. “But we saw Carlo and were worried if you ran into him.”

Isla scoffs, trying to ignore the way her lips are still tingling from Rafe’s kisses. “I did,” she says, making both of their gazes whip to her. Isla rolls her eyes. “It’s fine. I told him to fuck off, and that was the end of that.”

Sarah shakes her head, expression scrunching up in annoyance. “If men are gonna have one thing, it’s the fucking audacity.”

Kie nods as Isla chuckles. “Tell me about it,” she says, just as her skin prickles with awareness. Her gaze wanders until it lands on Rafe, back on the porch with his friends, and Isla bites the inside of her cheek as his gaze seems to find hers in that moment, too. They lock eyes on opposite sides of the party, and her belly flips as that dizzying kiss replays in her mind on a loop.

She has to look away before anyone notices, tuning back into the conversation with Kie and Sarah while trying not to think of Rafe. But it doesn’t help that he watches her from wherever he is throughout the party, a secret just between them in a crowd full of people, but theirs to keep. For now, at least.