#maisie001;

[mccncreatures]

Asher gave her a hum as she gave him confirmation, pressing a kiss to the inside of her hip before he leaned back, hooking his fingers into her belt loops and tugging them down. He took his time, eyes not missing a single detail before he dropped her jeans beside them onto the floor and moved to hover over her. Forehead leaned onto hers as he let a hand dance down her waist to the back of her thigh, aiming to coax her into hooking it over his waist. “I’ve got half a mind to take this upstairs.” He teased with an easy smile.

“And the very good news is if I perform below expectation in any regard, it’s big enough to boot me to the other side.” His lips caught hers lightly, skimming them to see if she’d chase him. “Just do me a solid on this one…..” a hand slid up to find hers before he bared himself just a little more. “If you run on me come morning, leave me a way to find you again. Hm?” It was far more desperate than he wanted it to sound. “Just so I can keep thinking I deserve good things every once in a blue moon.”

Well shit. If Asher’s mind had gone anywhere, it hadn’t headed here. Not in a million years did he think she’d be here with her shirt off in his lap. As her forehead rested against his, he chuckled to himself. “You’re gonna be the death of me. Sitting here, with a smile like that, as fucking pretty as you are… Mais, you really gotta start being mean to me.” He told her, mesmerized by every inch of new skin exposed to him. Hands traced and touched with reverence before he moved to settle her with on her back against the cushions.

Asher dared, then, to kiss from her lips and head down, taking the time to appreciate every bit of her that was open to him. He hadn’t needed a drink that night, he was sure to end up getting drunk off her before the night was over. His lips pause above the waistband of her jeans before he stopped and looked up at her. “May I?” He asked, fingertips toying with the button.

[owenstark]

who: @maisiemormont what: during the winter ball, the king of the north meets with different ladies of his court, including the always loyal daughter from house mormont.

His father thought it important to speak with all in your lands. The Warden of the North could have called himself a King at anytime were it not for Dragons. The Starks knew their subjects well and hoped to know them better with each passing generation. Marriage didn't come to mind, the Mormonts were loyal and their loyalty didn't come to them at the cost of anything more than holding true. The Starks supported their bannermen. And Owen made sure to speak all those that were true to him. Especially in such uncertain times.

"Lady Mormont, it's an honor to see you in these halls as always." The Lady was once a member of his wife's part, a lady perhaps. Owen couldn't recall what they were called, not at the moment. Perhaps the black ale clouded his mind. But that mattered not, Owen Stark never lack for charm when the time called for such.

[angel-thorne]

after the urban manuscript || angel & maisie

@therealmaisiepace​:

angel-thorne‌:

[They’ve no way of knowing, of course. It’s through their ignorance that they’ve cultivated this memorial garden, and Angel adores it.

He’s not got the heart to tell anyone that it’s meaningless. Nobody is up there watching over them; he would know, he’s been there. The Afterlife isn’t as simple as that. It’s nothing and everything, and your sense of self dissolves so absolutely that you become one with everything. In the Afterlife, Angel disconnected utterly from the concept of his parents, or loved ones, because the cosmos was so much bigger than that. It’s difficult to imagine, now, being so limited that you devote your love exclusively to those of your blood.

But, it’s not easy to put into words. For mortals on earth, there is comfort in ritual. Gravestones and eulogies and memorials are all for the living, not the dead, and that’s just as beautiful. Angel isn’t in the Afterlife any more, he is here on Earth with the living, and it’s their comfort he seeks. It’s why he loves the memorial garden so. It’s a place of great comfort to so many, and for that reason it helps him feel close to them.

Perched on the low, stone wall, the gauzy chiffon of his skirt caught against a few sharp edges, he pulls out a little note tucked between two stones. The words are sacred, a prayer from one of the living to one of the dead, but as Angel is not really one or the other, he can’t imagine anyone will mind.] ‘…and in my grief, I smile, knowin’ you’re with dad again.’ 

[He reads the words aloud in the melodic lilt of his accent. It’s a beautiful sentiment, grief and joy married as one. His eyes are half shut in the sort of pensive ecstasy he often loses himself to when the world sings these songs to him. He hears the wind play through the trees, and the grass dancing together, blade against blade, and he hears the soft approach of footsteps.]

Mm. Beautiful, isn’t it? And in my grief I smile. [He might have that for some of his lyrics, Angel thinks.] 

Wow.

[The word comes out in a breathy whisper.] 

You’re Angel Thorne.

[For the second time since her arrival at the Colony, Maisie is starstruck. The first had been Felix, and now Angel. Freaking. Thorne. She wonders if this is what Annie felt like when she told her that Felix was here. But while Felix had seemed more like a celebrity, to her, at least, Angel Thorne was an artist. He wasn’t just the lead singer of Wing’ed Things, he was Wing’ed Things. The last thing she could remember hearing about him was that he’d checked himself into rehab, although she didn’t put much stock into celebrity tabloids. But she is certain of this, that he is here, and he’s talking to her, and she can’t help but smile excitedly.]

I- I’m sorry, what did you say? [She peers at the note.] Oh, um, yes. It is, beautiful. I, uh, I don’t know if we’re supposed to read it, though. It seems awfully personal.

[Maisie gives him an awkward smile, before bursting out in praises.] I’m sure you’ve gotten this a billion times already, but I’m such a big fan. [When Wing’ed Things’ first album was released, she begged the music director to consider one of their songs for the show. Of course, they wouldn’t use it on just her word alone, but it was enough to be put on the list, albeit at the very bottom. But then it sailed to the top of the charts, and instantly became worth the thousands of pounds they ended up paying to use it for their season finale. The last season finale they ever got to do, since D-Day happened before they could wrap the next season.]

I saw you sing in London and Dublin. You were so- [Beautiful. There honestly is no other word for it. But that sounds weird to say to someone you technically don’t even know.] Amazing.

[It takes him by surprise, and he’s not sure why. It’s not as though getting recognised is massively unusual -- Wing’ed Things might not have been number one across the global charts but they’d been pretty popular. It just all feels so long ago, like another life.

Which it wasn’t, not precisely. Even after his Rebirth, the band had stayed together. Angel had worked on material that was different from their usual sound, and thanks to D-Day they never released another album that might have explored that, but the band had still been together when the end came.

But, they’d all moved on. They were in the Afterlife now, and Angel wouldn’t be seeing them for a while. He’s taken great strides forward in their absence, but not musically. He still writes with a fevered energy, more prolific now than he had been when he desperately sought inspiration in the bottom of a whisky bottle, but that’s not his path. That’s just fulfilment. His true path is in helping to heal the Infected.

But here’s someone that recognises him, that saw him live, that... admired him. She looks starstruck, says his name like an exultation. It’s as flattering as it is unexpected. For a moment, he remembers how life is when you’re a rockstar and not a prophet. It’s a very different sort of fulfilment, a moment of selfish delight when usually Angel’s concern is helping others. It’s the trouble of being who he is: something vast, stuck in a human body. He’s still as prone to weakness as any of them.] 

Did you? [Memorials forgotten, he tucks the paper back between the stones in order to devote Maisie his full attention. Angel leans forward, eyes all aglitter.] London and Dublin; weren’t followin’ me, were you, rosebud?

[He can’t help it. Flirting with fans had always been part of his shtick. It had always been slightly odd to Angel, because he’d always considered himself gawky and graceless, but apparently everyone loves a rockstar. You get bonus sex appeal points simply by virtue of being in a band, and this particular fan is beautiful. Her smile lights up in a very authentic way. It’s hard not to be charmed by it. So many people are stoic these days, mired in their obstinate misery, and Angel is always seeking goodwill and joy. As much pleasure as he takes in offering relief to the suffering Infected, he delights just as much in basking beneath the warm glow of the joy of other people.]

[annie-perrault]

stories of your life | maisie + annie

@therealmaisiepace:

[Maisie laughs.] Oh, god help us if I’m the dating expert. I don’t know the rules, I just think it’s better for everyone to be yourself. [It sounds like an afternoon special, but somehow it’s kind of worked for her so far? (Well it did, before D-Day, at least.) Everyone simply gravitated towards her like a bed of sunflowers towards the sun, and everyone wanted to be her friend. Sometimes they wanted to be more than friends. Not that she hadn’t spent her fair share of Friday nights alone in her apartment watching Some Kind of Wonderful; just that she’d much rather be with someone who liked her for who she was. Even if that someone took a long time to turn up.]

[Maisie laughs, shaking her head.] You’re never going to let me forget that, aren’t you. And I never asked them to do it—not that you could get those boys to do anything—and I don’t even think it’s very “hot.” It kind of makes you sound old. The only exception is Richard Madden in The Bodyguard, and I don’t see him around anywhere.

So, I happily accept the position of vice president of your celibacy club. [Never mind the fact that the imaginary position hasn’t been actually offered to her, or that if a cute Empath ever called her “ma’am” it would blow her pants off faster than you could say “party house.” She laughs again, pushing that last thought firmly out of her head.]

[It would be easy for Annie to feel bitter at the concept of ‘just being yourself’ being a reasonable idea. She’d only ever tried to be herself, and she’d still been bullied relentlessly. But, she recognised now that it was more bad luck than anything else. She happened to be the new kid, the outsider, that had come from an expensive private school, so the bullies had a lot of material to work with. And then, she’d responded so weakly to the bullying that it only encouraged them to keep going.]

Aw, well that’s just an unfair double standard. Maybe he was trying to emulate Richard Madden for you, knowing that you have a type. But wait - [Annie pauses, looking very serious and thoughtful.] - if you’d let Richard Madden in The Bodyguard call you ma’am, does that mean you’d let Mr. Donovan call you ma’am? Because he’s got a similar vibe of like, stoic, hardworking policeman.

[She’s not sure why they always end up doing this, but Annie’s glad they do. She missed out on the quintessential high school experience of slumber parties and giggling with your girlfriends about who’s cute, so it sort of feels like making up for lost time. It’s also nice, in a world where everything feels life or death, to just breathe for a second and giggle.]

[spellbindingnights]

The flush on her cheeks didn't pass unnoticed and Royce smirked to himself. "It's the truth, I'm glad you think it's sweet" he winked at her playfully. Unlike Maisie, he was very chill. Don't get him wrong, he was excited too, but he was a confident man, one who had her do all sort of things without even getting to know her.

"Of course I did, you invited me over, I should bring something with me" he said dismissively. "Sure, why not" he nodded his head as he took off his suit jacket and hang it on the back of a chair, still looking around curiously. "How long have you been living here?" He asked as he rolled up his sleeves. His eyes posed on her and he noticed her staring, that made him smirk. "Here, I'll open it" he said, meaning the wine. "Do you have a corkscrew, beautiful?" He asked smoothly, fully aware of the word that he had just used. Nothing Royce said or did wasn't premeditated, he always thought his words and actions thoroughly, he was a laywer after all.

His compliment brought a flush to her cheeks and a bashful smile to her lips as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He'd seen far more of her than anyone else ever had and yet she still managed to blush under his keen gaze. "That's sweet of you to say," she smiled, shutting the door behind him, filled with a nervous yet excited energy.

"You didn't have to do that," she grinned, taking stock of the bottle in his hands before moving towards the kitchen with far more confidence than she felt. "Did you want to crack it open now?" She asked, hand already opening a cupboard to retrieve two glasses as she turned to look up at him, gaze drinking in his tall frame and ridiculous good looks, attempting not to look as if she was staring and... failing.

[mccncreatures]

Of course it was too much to ask the seeing eye dog to do his job. Not when the librarian was all too familiar with him and he knew she had treats behind the desk for him. Julien sighed as he picked up the books he had admittedly knocked over, if not for any reason other than Teague taking off running to the lady who was already cooing at him despite the disturbance that seemed to get everyone else’s attention.

Even if he couldn’t see well he could tell that eyes were on him and he nodded, waving everyone off. “Yes, yes… so sorry.” The annoyed rolling of eyes seemed to have its own breeze as Teague trotted back, thoroughly pleased with himself. “You’re a menace.” He muttered, lovingly as he scratched the pups chin. That’s when he noticed the stifled laugh. It was soft, but not enough for him to miss. Glancing up, he gave the unfamiliar face a wry grin.

“I’d be lying to you if I said that’s never happened before.” He admitted with a wry grin.

open starter !

Maisie sat with her legs crossed underneath her in a big, comfortable chair on a high floor of the library with a book in her lap. When she didn't want to deal with the ever-present supernatural threat and her brother's desire to get revenge, she often found herself tucked away in library, her own secret world where nothing bad could happen and no one could find her. It was truly a moment of peace and solitude, a time each week that she truly cherished.

There was a loud bang, the sound of books falling over, that made Maisie jump. Though she was a self-proclaimed hunter, she wasn't exactly unafraid. In fact, most things scared the absolute daylights out of her. But she'd gotten very good at putting on a brave face. Too good, even.

At the sound, she let her book fall shut, tucking it into the space between the cushion and the chair's arm as she stood up to look around the corner. Investigating the sound, she stifled a laugh, then pulled back behind the shelf, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping on someone's misfortune.

[mccncreatures]

Well shit. If Asher’s mind had gone anywhere, it hadn’t headed here. Not in a million years did he think she’d be here with her shirt off in his lap. As her forehead rested against his, he chuckled to himself. “You’re gonna be the death of me. Sitting here, with a smile like that, as fucking pretty as you are… Mais, you really gotta start being mean to me.” He told her, mesmerized by every inch of new skin exposed to him. Hands traced and touched with reverence before he moved to settle her with on her back against the cushions.

Asher dared, then, to kiss from her lips and head down, taking the time to appreciate every bit of her that was open to him. He hadn’t needed a drink that night, he was sure to end up getting drunk off her before the night was over. His lips pause above the waistband of her jeans before he stopped and looked up at her. “May I?” He asked, fingertips toying with the button.

The sounds that fell off her lips left him sure this wasn’t going to be a one night thing, not if he could help it. She shut his mind right down from the moment her eyes found his and she was hitting every point in him that could be with these simple moments and easy conversations. He was starving for it, needed it more than he’d realized.

For now, though, that worry of having to search for her again was far out of his mind as he let his lips linger on the crook between her neck and her shoulder, wishing for nothing more than to keep having her let those little moans slip out. He pulled away for one more nano second tugging his shirt off and chucking it into some corner to be forgotten about. Once he was free and the cool air could hit his skin, his lips found hers again.

They’d have time to explore later if she wanted. Talk about scars, tattoos, piercings. For now deleting the hard drive of every rough thing that had occurred in previous weeks was all he wanted as he deepened the kiss, fingers tangling in her belt loops to keep her as close as he could manage.

[mccncreatures]

The sounds that fell off her lips left him sure this wasn’t going to be a one night thing, not if he could help it. She shut his mind right down from the moment her eyes found his and she was hitting every point in him that could be with these simple moments and easy conversations. He was starving for it, needed it more than he’d realized.

For now, though, that worry of having to search for her again was far out of his mind as he let his lips linger on the crook between her neck and her shoulder, wishing for nothing more than to keep having her let those little moans slip out. He pulled away for one more nano second tugging his shirt off and chucking it into some corner to be forgotten about. Once he was free and the cool air could hit his skin, his lips found hers again.

They’d have time to explore later if she wanted. Talk about scars, tattoos, piercings. For now deleting the hard drive of every rough thing that had occurred in previous weeks was all he wanted as he deepened the kiss, fingers tangling in her belt loops to keep her as close as he could manage.

Her touch was soft. It wasn’t something Asher was used to. He did rough things, was built up to be tough as nails. And yet somehow it was always the more gentle things that really got him as he eyes closed for a second when her hands found his face. Laughing a little, he clicked his tongue. “I dunno. You don’t look like you’ve got a mean bone in that body of yours.” He teased. But then her lips were on his and everything else was background. He all but melted into it as he moved to lift her easily, only to settle into the couch with her on his lap. Hands moved to finally feel warm skin as the slipped just under her shirt and along the expanse of her back, taking his time to learn what he could with the time they had.

Coming up for air for a second he took a breath before he made sure she understood him. “Hey… no expectations. Nothing has to go further than this, and the moment you say ‘hold it’, everything stops. Okay?” But then he leaned in to kiss along her jaw and down her neck, humming. “On this part, I’ll follow your lead.”

[mccncreatures]

Her touch was soft. It wasn’t something Asher was used to. He did rough things, was built up to be tough as nails. And yet somehow it was always the more gentle things that really got him as he eyes closed for a second when her hands found his face. Laughing a little, he clicked his tongue. “I dunno. You don’t look like you’ve got a mean bone in that body of yours.” He teased. But then her lips were on his and everything else was background. He all but melted into it as he moved to lift her easily, only to settle into the couch with her on his lap. Hands moved to finally feel warm skin as the slipped just under her shirt and along the expanse of her back, taking his time to learn what he could with the time they had.

Coming up for air for a second he took a breath before he made sure she understood him. “Hey… no expectations. Nothing has to go further than this, and the moment you say ‘hold it’, everything stops. Okay?” But then he leaned in to kiss along her jaw and down her neck, humming. “On this part, I’ll follow your lead.”

The closer she got, the more he could feel himself warming up from the inside, like a smoldering burn catching. As she settled between his legs, his hands went back to her waist as he looked up at her, some semblance of his usual grin in place. For the longest time Asher had been alone. Ever since he shifted for the first time, he didn’t trust himself to really be physically involved, always nervous that he’d push himself too far and lose control. But he’d had years of practice now. No flames were lurking to burst from his skin, and for once the furthest thing from his mind was the pain Ingrid had incidentally laid into him. “You keep talking to me like this and I’m gonna want you here for more than one night. And then we’re gonna be in some serious trouble.” He murmured quietly as his fingertips danced along the sides of her legs, tracing small circles into the back of her thighs.

[mccncreatures]

The closer she got, the more he could feel himself warming up from the inside, like a smoldering burn catching. As she settled between his legs, his hands went back to her waist as he looked up at her, some semblance of his usual grin in place. For the longest time Asher had been alone. Ever since he shifted for the first time, he didn’t trust himself to really be physically involved, always nervous that he’d push himself too far and lose control. But he’d had years of practice now. No flames were lurking to burst from his skin, and for once the furthest thing from his mind was the pain Ingrid had incidentally laid into him. “You keep talking to me like this and I’m gonna want you here for more than one night. And then we’re gonna be in some serious trouble.” He murmured quietly as his fingertips danced along the sides of her legs, tracing small circles into the back of her thighs.

Chuckling, he took her hand and walked her through the small space. “So I’m fortunate enough to have this wonderfully small dining space. Means I don’t have to invite anyone over when I’m in my head cause there’s really not a lot of room to hang out. And the living room,” gesturing to the large L shaped couch sitting before the TV. “Decent bathroom with a rainfall shower in there, but don’t tell the landlord because that was my preference of install. All the other usual commodities. And then up the steps here…” he pointed at the loft space above them. “Is my bed and closet. Don’t worry. No bodies. No ones offing you here.” He said quietly as he moved to sit on the arm of his couch. “Definitely more kissing though. Considering I’m still having trouble believing you’re real. It’s been a rough few weeks and I’ve started believing nice things aren’t meant for me.”

[mccncreatures]

Chuckling, he took her hand and walked her through the small space. “So I’m fortunate enough to have this wonderfully small dining space. Means I don’t have to invite anyone over when I’m in my head cause there’s really not a lot of room to hang out. And the living room,” gesturing to the large L shaped couch sitting before the TV. “Decent bathroom with a rainfall shower in there, but don’t tell the landlord because that was my preference of install. All the other usual commodities. And then up the steps here…” he pointed at the loft space above them. “Is my bed and closet. Don’t worry. No bodies. No ones offing you here.” He said quietly as he moved to sit on the arm of his couch. “Definitely more kissing though. Considering I’m still having trouble believing you’re real. It’s been a rough few weeks and I’ve started believing nice things aren’t meant for me.”

“Can do, darlin’.” He slid his hands into hers, interlocking their fingers. The walk back to his place was peaceful, quiet. And most of the time, his thumb ran along the back of her hand. Unlocking the door, he opened it for her and stepped in behind her. Dropping his keys on the side table, and flipped on the lights. Turning to her, Asher kept very little distance between them. The pull to her was just a little too strong, and he wasn’t strong enough to ignore it. “Can I get you a drink? Definitely no beer. But something else if you want it.” At this point she could’ve asked Asher for a thousand dollars and with the hold green eyes had on him, he’d sell a kidney. Thank the lord they didn’t need to go that far. One hand settled on her waist, the other back on her cheek. “Or do you want an impromptu tour?”

[mccncreatures]

“Can do, darlin’.” He slid his hands into hers, interlocking their fingers. The walk back to his place was peaceful, quiet. And most of the time, his thumb ran along the back of her hand. Unlocking the door, he opened it for her and stepped in behind her. Dropping his keys on the side table, and flipped on the lights. Turning to her, Asher kept very little distance between them. The pull to her was just a little too strong, and he wasn’t strong enough to ignore it. “Can I get you a drink? Definitely no beer. But something else if you want it.” At this point she could’ve asked Asher for a thousand dollars and with the hold green eyes had on him, he’d sell a kidney. Thank the lord they didn’t need to go that far. One hand settled on her waist, the other back on her cheek. “Or do you want an impromptu tour?”

Asher paused with her and looked at her for a moment. They were fortunately directly between both locations and Asher grinned, looking to the ground as well before he moved into her space again. “You sure you wanna come see my place?” A hand moved up to let a finger dance lightly along her jawline. “You may see my choice in furniture and run right out the door. I’m a guy who was left alone in a thrift store with no assistance.” He joked. “But really, if you’re sure, it’s just a few blocks down that way.” He offered. Good lord did he want her to be sure, because the idea of not kissing her drove him up a wall.

“But personally? I’d love to take you home with me tonight. No brothers, no whistlers. And a little more time to… get to know you a little better so I can prove my brain hasn’t dreamt you up.”

[mccncreatures]

Asher paused with her and looked at her for a moment. They were fortunately directly between both locations and Asher grinned, looking to the ground as well before he moved into her space again. “You sure you wanna come see my place?” A hand moved up to let a finger dance lightly along her jawline. “You may see my choice in furniture and run right out the door. I’m a guy who was left alone in a thrift store with no assistance.” He joked. “But really, if you’re sure, it’s just a few blocks down that way.” He offered. Good lord did he want her to be sure, because the idea of not kissing her drove him up a wall.

“But personally? I’d love to take you home with me tonight. No brothers, no whistlers. And a little more time to… get to know you a little better so I can prove my brain hasn’t dreamt you up.”

Asher smiled and took the bag for her before he offered a hand to help her up. “To the regency it is.” If he were being honest, it felt like the night was heading toward an end all too soon. But he still wanted to make the walk safe and ensure she had the time to really know where she was going so she could explore more. As the walk started, he pointed out places to avoid. “If you head down that way, you hear about people getting swindled by street merchants, and try to avoid the down part of downtown late at night. That’s where the wild things are.” He joked as they went on.

[mccncreatures]

Asher smiled and took the bag for her before he offered a hand to help her up. “To the regency it is.” If he were being honest, it felt like the night was heading toward an end all too soon. But he still wanted to make the walk safe and ensure she had the time to really know where she was going so she could explore more. As the walk started, he pointed out places to avoid. “If you head down that way, you hear about people getting swindled by street merchants, and try to avoid the down part of downtown late at night. That’s where the wild things are.” He joked as they went on.

Was it grief, and everything that had cumulated pushing him here? Who the hell knew. What he did know was in this moment, in this snapshot of time, there was a girl who made him forget. The hand that was on her cheek slowly moved to her hair and he lost himself just that much further into this feeling before the world around them interrupted. A whistle from other patrons had Asher smiling against her lips before he pulled back just enough to meet her gaze again. “I guess a taco truck isn’t the best place to really get lost in someone.” He joked clearing his throat. His hand dropped back to her cheek before he placed another small kiss to her lips and sat back a little. “Wanna take this to go so I can help you home?”

[mccncreatures]

Was it grief, and everything that had cumulated pushing him here? Who the hell knew. What he did know was in this moment, in this snapshot of time, there was a girl who made him forget. The hand that was on her cheek slowly moved to her hair and he lost himself just that much further into this feeling before the world around them interrupted. A whistle from other patrons had Asher smiling against her lips before he pulled back just enough to meet her gaze again. “I guess a taco truck isn’t the best place to really get lost in someone.” He joked clearing his throat. His hand dropped back to her cheek before he placed another small kiss to her lips and sat back a little. “Wanna take this to go so I can help you home?”

There was something about the way she looked at him, it made him stop and catch a breath or two. Everything else was just muted background noise in this instance. “See? The nights getting better every damn time you look at me like that.” He assured her. A hand moved to settle on her cheek, warm to even his touch which was saying something as he framed her face carefully, leaning in. Asher was a believer in a handful of things: walking under ladders was horrible luck, a walk on the beach at night could calm any woe, and that first kisses were more important than almost any other interaction. He moved with intent, slow and sure as his lips met hers for the first time. Whatever came before that kiss disappeared if just for the moment as his eyes shut to stay in this feeling.

[mccncreatures]

There was something about the way she looked at him, it made him stop and catch a breath or two. Everything else was just muted background noise in this instance. “See? The nights getting better every damn time you look at me like that.” He assured her. A hand moved to settle on her cheek, warm to even his touch which was saying something as he framed her face carefully, leaning in. Asher was a believer in a handful of things: walking under ladders was horrible luck, a walk on the beach at night could calm any woe, and that first kisses were more important than almost any other interaction. He moved with intent, slow and sure as his lips met hers for the first time. Whatever came before that kiss disappeared if just for the moment as his eyes shut to stay in this feeling.

Maisie looked like the idea of a second go of whatever this was occurring between them surprised her. And even if it was just tonight, he wanted to leave an impression, so he put the food down for one second and straddled the bench, tucking another flyaway hair behind her ear. “That’s good. Because while you’re sitting here, thinking I’m handsome, I’m sittting here thinking you’re incredibly pretty. And despite the fact that this is probably the greasiest food in the whole world… I’m wondering if you’ll let me kiss you. Doesn’t have to be right here, right now. But at some point tonight, I damn sure would like to, if you’ll let me. I usually don’t on the first uh… taco truck outing. But tonight I’m feeling like I’m not gonna have a whole lot of time and room to make an impression on you.”