#pen falling for colin cause he's the only one nice to her but loving him for being an insecure lil mess with too many feelings and issues

[alexalblondo]

No, but ... Penelope being like "Your eyes shine the brightest when you are kind" and falling for Colin cause he was being nice to her ... meanwhile one of the Polin scenes so far is her making fun of someone and him going: "damn giiiiiiirl, that's the funniest shit I've ever heard"

I love true soulmates (and lying)

[moirindeclermont]

It's day 17 of myPolin Kinktober, and the prompt is Praise Kink. I think it's time for our boy to get the soft words and touch he deserves. As always, have fun and enjoy this!

"Ugh, I'm so tired," Colin said, returning home that day. In reality, he was a week tired as they were going through the minute details of transferring the ownership of the house to his child and, until he was of age, to him. He thought it was absurd—that was Pen's house, and she should have it, but it seemed impossible. Pen was not mad about this, although Eloise had some stuff to say in her letters.

Still, it was a gruesome process that devoured him of energy, especially with Anthony there to ensure everything was perfect. So, when he returned home late that day, Pen made sure he ate something good and nourishing (and she also brought some cakes from the Bridgerton House), and then they went straight to the bedroom. She hugged him tight.

"Let me take care of you tonight?" she asked in a soft voice.

He nodded and smiled at her. "If you go on your knees, I might hug you better, you giant," he laughed at that but complied. Once on his knee, she didn't waste time and hugged him again, one hand touching his hair and slowly touching his scalp. He sighed, almost purring like a cat - as it happened every time she did that. She tilted his chin, a gesture similar to the one he often did to her, and kissed him.

"My beautiful, gorgeous husband," she said, passing a hand in his tie to help him remove it. "You are so good at taking care of our family."

Pen saw him shivering at her words, and she smiled happily. "Why don't you undress and lie on the bed?" she asked. Colin was tired but not so tired that he could not comply with Pen's request. Once on the bed, he looked at her with hunger and such tenderness in his eyes that Pen's heart skipped a beat. She had only a nightgown and a robe on, so she untied the knot, keeping the robe together, "Every since I met you, your kindness was your biggest strength."

Pen left the robe falling, noticing how his peen was filling rapidly. "The best friend a girl could ask for," she teased herself, pinching her nipple through the nightgown fabric. "And then, once you realized we belong together, the way you commit to this, to us, since day one. How you listened and forgave me, even in your anger," her voice cracked a bit, her eyes showing the raw emotion behind her words, making Colin look at her in awe.

She left the hem of her nightgown and removed it completely. "My first kiss, my first time, my first love. You, Colin, are a wonder," and she straddles him, sliding his peen on her slit, moaning softly. "And while you are an amazing father, an amazing writer, and an amazing person all around, you are mostly my husband. The way you love and cherish me is like a balm to my soul," she whispered, moaning softly when his hands touched her bosom.

She felt herself getting wetter and wetter, so she took him in her hand and pushed down, feeling her filling him so nicely. "Ever since we did this, you showed me a lot of ways in which our minds and our bodies can intertwine..." she didn't push, just moving her hips in a slow circle, feeling how well he fitted inside her. "And yet, one of my favourites remains the one in which I get to show you how much you mean to me in words and action," she pushed herself, causing both of them to moan.

Then, Colin lifted himself so she was in his lap, and they kissed as he matched her rhythm, like always, and pushed inside her slowly. "Yes, my love, exactly like that. You're so good at knowing me and my pleasure," it was like a dam was broken. I love your lack of selfishness and your always ensuring I have my release before yours. " Her hands found their way to his scalp again, pulling his hair just a bit. Colin threw his head back, his eyes rolling, and she kissed his neck.

"How you always make sure I have my breakfast and a book ready for me before starting your day. How you spend days writing notes to leave in the house so I don't feel lonely when you're not here," she stopped because she could not talk anymore. She felt him spending inside her, closing her eyes and having her release as well. She didn't move, though. "You, Mr. Bridgerton, are everything I always dreamt of," she said, giving him a kiss before getting up.

She cleaned them with a warm towel, which he usually did, and then she entered his arms. Colin was smiling at her, touching her ever so gently. "Thank you, my love," he said softly before falling asleep in her arms. She watched him sleep for a while, wondering how she had gotten this lucky, and then she said a small prayer of thank you for the gift of having him at her side.

[romancingmr-b]

Sunday Tea

“Colin” Pen said entering into the drawing room at Bridgerton house. Kate and Anthony sitting across from Colin drinking their Earl Gray. “Yes” he says with a crooked smile. “Don’t forget to grab some of your old journals from your room.” “What for?” Said Kate “Penelope wants to edit them for a part two of my book.” “Oh that’s wonderful!” Kate said taking a sip of tea.

Colin and Pen walk into Colin’s childhood room. A room that Penelope had always imagined but had never dared to look in. Until of course after they wed. Colin looked at his bride with with amazement. He can’t believe she was truly his wife. He never knew he could love someone with all his soul. Colin walks to the bedroom door and shuts it and locks with the key. “Now that I have you to myself, let me kiss you in my bedroom.” He said with a flirty smile. He grabs Pen around her waist and pulls her closer. Sharing the same breath he cups her cheek with hand locking eyes. She still gets butterflies when he looks at her with a hunger that can only get filled with her touch. Colin kisses her gentle at first, but he could hardly contain himself. Being in his childhood bedroom made it more thrilling almost inappropriate. Building this fire in his belly moving to his chest. Pushing Penelope against the door kissing her deeply making her moan “oh Colin they could hear us!” She said in between Colin kissing her lips and moving down her neck to her chest. “Shhh let me kiss you” she wasn’t going to fight him. She was rather enjoying this inappropriate escapade in her husband’s family home. Colin pulls down the front part of her dress exposing both of her porcelain breasts. “So perfect” he says scooping one of them into his mouth sucking and swirling her rosie nipple in his mouth making Pen go wild with excitement. Colin takes Penelope’s hands and presses them against the door above her head. Causing her to limit her movement. Colin liked this, he liked to see her squirm underneath with pleasure. Colin with his other hand to lift his hand under her dress fallowing her inner thighs up towards her women-Hood, reaching her opening he rubs her pear in a circular motion making her arch her back back with a deep moan. “Ooh mmmmm” with her arms still above her head her legs began to shake. Colin takes two of him fingers and inserts himself feeling how ready she was for him. He rubs with his thumb and pushes in and out with his other two fingers. He watch’s his wife quiver with pleasure breathing heavily into his neck, making this manhood grow harder with every thought of him inside her. Colin took his hand out from between her legs and stuck them in his mouth. “Mmm you’re nice and ready for me” he said in a dark but confident tone. Penelope’s eyes widened and was eager to do what ever was next.

Colin lifts her leg up making her dress fall against her waist. Colin lets go of her hands above her head allowing Pen to hold on to her husband’s muscular shoulders. Lifting her other leg around Colin waist allowing his erection to enter making Colin groan with angst. Penelope gasps as her body adjusts to him entering, moving fast and hard. Colin couldn’t contain himself “do you like it hard and fast?” He asked as the curls were falling around his forehead with small beads of sweat glisten. “Ohh yes COLIN yes!!” She matches his rhythm, pushing her against the door making a fast and loud “thud thud thud” “Colin they will hear us” she whispered Colin didn’t respond he just darkened his eyes and thrusted harder and harder. Penelope covered her mouth with one hand and dug her fingers into Colin shoulder knowing will leave a mark under his shirt. “Oh my oohhh Colin!” She said under her hand. Colin with one last thrust fell into her releasing himself. “Oh Pen THATS A CUP OF TEA!” He said in joyful laughter while pulling up his britches. Penelope giggled trying to get her bearings, “ you must want to add a sibling for Elliot” she said jokingly. “I simply just enjoy a cup of afternoon tea.”

Thank you guys for reading! More to come!

[riansdiary]

My BRIDGERTON S3 E1 Reaction/Annotation 🎉

My dearest gentle readers,

It is finally time to start off my new series of posts for my written reaction to Bridgerton Season 3! We are doing the first episode on this one! I wanna thank all the amazing members of the ton who have liked my post about this letting me know that you'd like to see this. I will include screenshots if it is extremely necessary! This is not the first time I'm watching, this is my second but I'll still share thoughts I had from my first watch! My favorite characters are Eloise and Benedict! Yes, my favorite Bridgerton siblings! Penelope would be the third probably! I also have a special place in my heart for Lady Danbury and Kate! I love them. Philippa is also super adorable to me especially when she said her iconic line. Now, Varley! The bugs!

That is all, shall we start? Warning: There will be spoilers.

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

I love that they do this every year! It's like someone was giving birth inside the room but it's just really one of the sisters getting their makeup done and putting on their beautiful gowns!

This is my face when Kathony appeared: 🥹

Would you look at her dress? It is just so beautifully done! I love Kate's looks even more this season and I'm so happy that Anthony is being himself and is so cute with her! How is it that they didn't know that it was Frannie playing the pianoforte downstairs? Even Kate knew. Now, do you know what I'm really curious about? How did our girl escape from that room? Everyone is literally outside of that room. How did she get to the drawing room from there? Nevermind, I think she said that she woke up early.

I love Hannah Dodd! I actually recognized her as soon as I saw her. I thought that she looked familiar at first and then it clicked to me that she was in Enola Holmes 2! One of my favorite movies! She was the missing girl. Her character was Cicely or Sarah Chapman. She was amazing there so I knew she would do Francesca justice!

Aw, Pen staring at Eloise as they walked out of Aubrey Hall was heartbreaking to me. Not my favorite besties in the show not getting along anymore! They both made a mistake and I really hoped that they could resolve it.

Here's my honest opinion on Colin's F-boy era: I know his glow up was great and every girl is out to get him but he didn't need to be such a RAKE about it! I want our sweet romantic boy back!

Let's look at our boy's glow up though! I am very proud of him. Look at our boy! If only he used that to be more honorable and acted like a prince more instead of turning into a rake. Come on, where's our sweet Colin from S1 and S2? I just really miss him not trying to fit in and just being his sweet self.

Nice Colin! I love his hair better now. We love the curls! He did look cute before but I gasped and my jaw dropped when I saw him first in this specific scene! I was like: Wow! He looks so good! Penelope will fall even more for him.

I love that he calls Eloise "El" it's so cute! I myself have a nickname for her but let's be honest, Colin's nickname for her is way better. It's "Lou" or "Loulou" cause she's Eloise. There's that "Lou" sound when you say her name even if the u is not there but you know what, Colin's is way cuter. I'm gonna call her "El" instead.

Ah, the intro always hits. It just calms me down when I hear the opening theme!

I love Anthony's line when the brothers were in the carriage! "Who are you? What have you done with our brother?" My second favorite Anthony line after "Lilies, Forget-me-not, Lilacs!" 😆

Gregory was so adorable when he was imitating Colin! "Mm. I should like some... proportion." That was so funny for me. I loved Anthony and Benedict's reaction to that! Love how they both leaned to the left when they smiled at Gregory! One of my favorite Bridgerton brothers moments for sure!

The mom and the daughter speaking to each other with sign language! I loved that they added that!

Let me say one thing about Mama Featherington. What I like about her is that she always does her best to take care of her daughters. Maybe not in emotional ways but rather in the financial way. Love that about her. The thing that I disliked about her is how she treats Penelope. She teaches Pen to dumb herself down so men can tell her things. While that is a good strategy, it is not entirely true. I think Lord Debling would have wanted Pen to just be herself and talk intellectually with her. I didn't like the way she treats Pen at all. She underestimates her own daughter. Dare I say, she doesn't even know her daughter.

Oh Portia, you are so so clueless. That is literally Pen to a T except she has more money.

Cressida, Cressida, Cressida. I hate it every time she comes to bully Penelope or ruin her dress like she does almost every time. I do love her gigantic sleeves 🤣

I never wanted Mama Bridgerton to move so thank God Kate doesn't want her to move either! Also, look at her entire outfit and hair! Slayed! So gorgeous!

One of my favorite moments appears after that which is the moment Lady Danbury called them Lady Bridgerton and they both answered! I found that so heartwarming to be honest.

Great, every debutante is in love with Colin. He is the charm machine this season. Just be yourself sweetie!

When Cressida's mom said: "Or does common thievery run in the family?"

I would've immediately said: "Does bullying run in yours?" 😎

Portia is the one who has been dressing or at least choosing Penelope's gowns and you don't know how relieved I was when Pen said that she doesn't want to see a single citrus color on her new dress. She's finally using Whistledown money for her own good. Yes girl!

I love how Anthony is letting Gregory play with the bow and arrow but not where their mother can see it! Benedict and Hyacinth coming along with them was so cute!

Colin's timing when his mother wondered if they will ever be on time was fantastic! And the fact that it's a watch gift too! 💡

I cannot say enough about how much I love Francesca's gowns! They're so pretty and the hair! I wanna do that with my hair too! It just gives me Belle from the Beauty and the Beast vibes! So elegant! Emma Watson, my role model of all time was a great Belle but I think Hannah Dodd also looks like Belle especially with the hairstyle they gave her which is almost exactly the same hairstyle that Belle often has!

Eloise reading Emma! Okay, personally I haven't read but as my favorite YouTuber Darling Desi loves Emma, I know for a fact that it is an amazing book! Please watch her if you wanna relax or if you are a book lover too! She has a lot of aesthetic and lovely seasonal, cottagecore and other types of videos!

Colin questioning Eloise about why she's befriending Cressida. Our boy is at least there for Penelope when it comes to El and when it counts! She said that no one showed her kindness but Penelope does.

I cried. It was so hard and heart-wrenching to watch Eloise and Penelope's first scene together at the modiste. It's the first scene where Penelope finally approached her. Not my favorite best friends!

This necklace on Nicola was so beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off it!

Okay, I know there are people who are siding with both. There are some who said a lot of bad things about my Eloise. That it's her fault and that she's a horrible friend but let's get into the bottom of this. I want to share my point and this is it. What's a character without a flaw? Someone who's too perfect, could be boring and seemingly less human. Penelope and Eloise both made mistakes and it's true.

Penelope could have told her earlier that she's Lady Whistledown. Eloise is her best friend and I feel like she would be fine with it. She didn't really hate Whistledown and I'm sure she would have been ecstatic if Pen confessed to her earlier. Yes, Penelope only wrote about Eloise to save her but she still dragged her family to filth. I know she had no other way to protect her but it still did something to their reputation. It was revealed in part two that it was true, that Eloise was a little jealous of Penelope's success and her being Lady Whistledown. That kind of added fuel to the fire. Pen did write about Colin and Eloise both as Lady Whistledown and that did a lot of damage to their reputation as a family. People tend to forget that Eloise couldn't continue to be friends with Theo because Pen wrote about it. They were so cute and she was starting to feel something for him. Both of them.

I am kind of hoping that we get a different kind of love for Eloise if it's possible for her to be with Theo instead of Crane. It would be quite interesting to see someone from nobility fall in love with a normal person. I would love to see that and that would be so much more dramatic and romantic. Rich girl, poor boy trope anyone? Yeah, I did adore Theo a lot, he's so cute with her!!! ❤️

Eloise wasn't always mean to her during their feud. When Cressida ripped Pen's dress, she looked so apologetic and almost teary-eyed. What I wanted to say is that they both hurt each other and I hope this will make them grow.

The Mondrich couple are one of my favorite side stories. They might not be nobility or royal before but damn, they dress so well! Just look at them! I love that pink gown 😍 and it matches with his outfit!

I love Newton so much! One of our puppies is part corgi so she kind of looks like Newton! So cute!

Me when Penelope said "I should like to try something a little different tonight.": 😱🫢👍

Yes queen, enough of the citrus colors (not that they're bad cause I saw the Featherington fam in S2 wearing gold and I was like 😍) that your mamma always dresses you in! Penelope hair and gown glow up! Ahhh! Her entrance scene with the new look is one of my favorite moments! Everyone was astounded by her beauty and we all know it especially you Colin! A lady with red hair in green dresses is just a match made in heaven! It just works! Nicola or Penelope's smile when she walks down the stairs and notices that everyone is looking at her was so beautiful!

Cressida Cowper and her iconic always gigantic sleeves!

Oh Colin "down bad" Bridgerton stopping to stare at Pen! I think he doesn't know he had feelings for her or is it because of the fact that he is roleplaying as his brothers? I heard somewhere that Colin is trying to put on a mask, be a rake and act like his brothers because he's trying so hard to fit in. He just always has seen Pen as a friend and doesn't recognize how he feels about her.

Pen was so nervous when she was talking to the men who approached her and yet she's so confident and charming as Whistledown. I guess we can say they never talked to her as much before so this is the first time. I hate that they left her early because they don't want Whistledown to write about them with Pen ugh! They don't wanna be written that they're with her but remember they were the ones who loved her look and approached her? Oh my God, fight me! 😠

Eloise staring at Penelope: 👀

Me: "I'm sure you're proud of her. Maybe secretly but just go talk to her!" 😆

The Penelope and Francesca moment was so wholesome and I loved that they had each other.

Every time Cressida Cowper ruins Penelope's gowns I'm like: 😤���🤬

The guy who said this to Colin: "Miss Featherington, why concern yourself with her?" I don't like him. I don't like any of Colin's new friends, they are insufferable! How rude! Why concern himself with her? Well are you dumb? They're friends hello?

"I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington" was the worst thing that came out of Colin's mouth. Lies, lies and more lies!

Portia is so smart when it comes to saving her girls! I love that about her!

They were so smart about how they covered Claudia Jessie's injury! I did enjoy the Eloise and Cressida's promenade scene where she's scolding her about what she did to Penelope's dress! Eloise still does care about Pen. We're seeing a bit of Cressida's good side there. Loved that. I think she thinks Pen is a threat even though she doesn't wanna say it. She has been bullying her for a long time and trying to ruin her chances with men. She feels threatened by her. She could easily snatch the attention of the men without doing that to Pen. She wouldn't do that if she thinks that Pen doesn't have a chance.

Love that Kate convinces Anthony to let Violet stay! The Bridgerton drawing room is literally my favorite room or place in the show. The blue is just so calming and the place is so cozy.

Colin apologizing to Pen was sweet but she got friendzoned yet again! Oh Colin. Pen's wearing green again! It's so perfect with her red hair I tell you! He's finally appreciating Pen. Thank God.

The Mondrich family are now members of the ton? Yes! They deserve it!

Me when Eloise is reading the new Whistledown issue about Colin: "No no no no no, I feel a storm coming on! A storm of drama. She's not going to like that. Neither will he. Yikes, Pen."

Colin: What are you reading?

Eloise: Nothing.

Colin: 🙂‍↔️🤨

Eloise: 😐

This was so funny to watch even though the situation was, you know, dire. I loved that they could talk just with their eyes and face expressions! Something that reminds me of me and my own siblings!

Penelope calling out Colin's act! Yes!

Colin: I will never forgive her

Me: They're setting it up, oh no. Here we go. He's not gonna like it when he finds out it's her

He literally said "I will make sure it is her life that is ruined." Oh my God! Pen, what now!

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

And that is it, everyone! I hope you enjoyed my first one! My reaction to the first episode of Bridgerton! This was fun to do! If you noticed that I'm suddenly talking in Bridgerton style, it's because it's easy for me to pick up accents and ways of speaking! I had so much fun with this! See you on the next one! 💋

[kepnerandavery]

PERSONALLY I think the whole "I will set you up with someone" thing would have worked better with Gregory/Lucy than Colin/Penelope. Can you imagine it? Baby Gregory is crazy to find love and meets Lucy at a party, they talk, he thinks she might be the one and then boom he finds out she's engaged. Lucy feels bad for him bc poor guy just wants to find love (very unlike her who is fine with an arranged marriage) and has the ideia to set him up with her friend Hermione, who is also a romantic. Little does she know that Hermione has feelings for her brother so she guides Gregory on how to win a woman's heart and it backfires spectacularly

Ahhh grecy!! 😭 Bless you for having this much hope to think about grecy’s season, cause I can never be optimistic about anything that has to do with this show. I personally really liked the story of RMB and wish they wouldn’t deviate from it so much, but I’m pretty desensitized to the atrocities that the writers keep committing after they massacred TVWLM (which is in one of my top three favourite books in the series).

I liked how Pen and Colin had a natural reason to be in each other's space in the book. It's nice that she’s getting her chance to fall in love sooner than later, but there was something poetic about the two of them being alone/lost in life for years when the person they were meant to be with was right in front of them (I like angst, sue me). Plus I would have liked to see Colin grow as a person and see what he was like outside of romantic relationships before he fell in love. I guess it’ll be nice to see him being jealous and realising his feelings for Pen that way, but I hope they don't get rid of how sassy Pen was towards him in the book cause she provided him reality checks time and time again, and made him take a second look at both her and his life. Adding a third party to all of that could dilute the gravity of the story, but who knows, maybe they’ll be more careful with the writing of this couple compared to how they treated kathony (we all know that they would).

I also think that the angle you mentioned works for grecy. It's a little similar to what happened in the book with a touch of drama added. And it's just the kinda unfortunate situation that Greg would find himself in. There’s a certain level of humour and irony in the headcanon you mentioned that goes well with Grecy as characters. But I do love how Gregory was forced to understand the difference between an infatuation and real love in the book, so if that layer was added to the story it will be amazing. For now, we can only hope that we at least get to see Greg and Lucy interact in this god-forsaken show.

[harmonizingsunsets]

It might be foolish, but you got me all soft

Read on Archive here.

Kate's nose crinkles as she watches Penelope and Colin. Their feet dance with one another underneath the table. He leans over, whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle. Their smiles are brighter than the fluorescent lights of the coffee shop. Watching them is almost blinding.

"You guys are so cute," Kate observes with puckered lips. "I hate that."

Penelope turns to Kate with a bemused expression. "No, you don't. You love us."

"Love isn't the word coming to mind. Nauseated is more like it."

"Kate, everyone finds us adorable," Colin insists, wrapping an arm around Penelope. "It's not a matter of opinion. It's just a fact."

"I'm happy for you two. Honestly, I am. But you're acting so lovey-dovey and sweet that it makes my teeth ache," Kate jokes, picking up her coffee for a sip.

"If we make your teeth ache, then you and Anthony cause cavities," Colin mutters.

Kate chokes a little on her mocha, causing a few patrons to give her odd looks.

"Excuse me?"

"Colin, we talked about this," Penelope says through gritted teeth, shooting him a disapproving look.

"No, you talked about how we weren't supposed to say anything because they're both so jumpy about it, but I disagreed," Colin protests. "Someone needs to open their eyes."

"Hello, I'm still right in front of you," Kate says, waving her hands at them. "Open my eyes to what?"

Colin and Penelope argue with their eyes for a few moments before Penelope cracks, nodding. Colin turns to Kate with a sly grin.

"That you're in love with my brother."

It was a good thing she wasn't drinking that time, or she'd have to spit her coffee all over them. Although, perhaps a spritz of hot coffee would wipe the amusement off of Colin's face.

Kate feels her cheeks heat. She opens her mouth, but only incomprehensible protesting sounds come out.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Colin says, his smile turning softer. "He loves you too."

"That is not true," Kate insists, standing up straighter in her chair. "I don't love him, and he certainly doesn't love me. Right, Penelope?"

When Kate turns to Penelope, the friend she usually can rely on for back-up is instead chewing her lower lip.

"Well...."

"Pen!"

"I'm sorry, but Kate, Colin's right," Penelope says, the words rushing out guiltily. "I write romance books for a living. I know the enemies to lovers trope very well, and you two embody it."

"That's ridiculous!" Kate exclaims, her heart beginning to hammer in her chest. "We drive each other crazy. I mean, we've become better friends over the past few months—but it's not like that."

Penelope tilts her head. "Would it be so bad if it was?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

A hundred reasons that Kate could never utter go through her mind. She wants to say, "Anthony dates pop singers and models, and I can't live up to that." Or she could confess, "When he looks at me a beat too long, I feel like I could combust from the weight of it." Most of all, Kate wants to say, "If I let myself love him, I know that I'll never be able to stop."

But she can't tell them any of that. Kate had been just fine about the prospect of being alone. She's satisfied with her career, family, and friends. But if she admits that she loves him, then she'll never be content with any life that doesn't include him in it.

No matter what Colin and Penelope think, Anthony doesn't love her. He can't. Letting herself hope that he does is too dangerous. It scares her more than any thunderstorm she's ever endured.

"I have to go," Kate murmurs, standing up numbly from the table.

"Kate, wait," Colin says, grabbing onto her arm. He looks apologetic, and it's impossible to be upset when looking into his puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's fine," Kate insists with a thin smile, tugging her arm away from his grasp. "I got to go. Have a nice evening."

As she walks out of the coffee shop, she hears a cheesy pop tune about love play on their radio.

The lyrics inspire Anthony's face to surface in her mind.

Kate groans, knowing she's in deep trouble.

That night, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in her bed but couldn't stop hearing Anthony's teasing voice in her head.

In a huff, Kate gets out of bed and quickly puts on her clothes. She debates whether to reapply makeup but decides against it. No one else will see her where she was going.

Luckily, she's friends with the security guard, who let her inside the building that turned off the lights twenty minutes prior. She thanks him and hastily goes to her office, turning on the light and booting up the computer at her desk.

If she wasn't going to sleep, she might as well get some work done.

For a while, all that she hears is the sound of her keys as she typed and the soft hum of music she'd put on to work.

She thought she'd be safe listening to music without lyrics. But Anthony creeps into every note, every chord, and every song.

Just as Kate lowers her head to beat it against the table in frustration, a knock on her door causes her body to jolt upright.

She stands from her chair slowly, walking to the door with caution. No one else would be here this late, so she fears what was on the other side of the door. But if someone was there to hurt her, why would they bother knocking on an unlocked door?

When Kate turns the knob, she sees the face of the man who's been haunting her thoughts for the past few hours (longer than that, if she was honest with herself).

"Hey, what are you doing here so late?" Anthony asks.

"Um, working."

Anthony scans her with curiosity. "On a Sunday?"

"So are you," she points out, crossing her arms.

He holds up a black leather journal. "Actually, I just came by the office for my phone book."

"You have a phone book? Anthony, there's a reason for that contact list on your phone."

"I like writing it down," he defends, looking affronted.

"But you can't add emojis, which adds personality to someone's contact." Kate pulls out her phone and holds out the contacts for him to see. "Edwina has two pink hearts, Penelope has a book, Benedict has an easel, and you have a fire emoji."

"Why do I have a fire emoji?"

"Because you make me want to set things on fire, of course."

Anthony smirks. "Well, next time we play that 'who's most likely to' game in the office, I'll be sure to put you down for becoming an arsonist."

Kate smiles at him, and they fall into one of those moments that's becoming more frequent between them—ones where his body seems to close, and his eyes gleam with something she can't name but feels a kindred sensation within her heart.

Kate takes a step back from him. "Why did you need your phone book so late, anyway?"

Anthony itches behind his ear. Kate frowns, as it's a nervous tick she's never seen from him before. Anthony, like fire, was all-consuming. His feelings were as hot as flames and easy to detect. But now, he looks more guarded, his eyebrows scrunched and his posture squirmish.

"Anthony?" she asks again.

Anthony takes a deep breath. "Well, I actually needed it to call you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. My phone hasn't been working since I went out on the boat with Simon. The bloody idiot knocked it onto the water," he grumbles. "I got a new phone and need to add my contacts back on, which is why I'm lucky I have this phone book which you mocked me for having."

Kate rolls her eyes. "What did you need to call me about?"

"Well, I know we had a rocky start to our relationship—."

"Because you hit on my sister?" she asks, arching her brow.

"I did not hit on her. I merely danced with her at the Christmas party," Anthony corrects with an exasperated sigh. "How many times are we going to argue about this?"

"Until you admit I'm right."

"It'll take a long time for that to happen."

"I've got plenty of time to spend with you."

As soon as those words are out, that heat radiating from Anthony's fire feels warmer. It's as if more time with her is exactly what he wants.

But Kate doesn't let those thoughts get far. She squashes them before they can take root in her mind.

"Continue," Kate tells him.

"Yes, well, as I was saying, we didn't start on the right foot. But, over these past few months, I feel like we've become friends." He looks at her with a hesitant kind of hope. "We have, haven't we?"

Kate smiles. "Yes, we have."

"So, I thought as my friend. You'd like to come with me to this."

Anthony draws two tickets from his pocket and holds one out to her. Kate takes it from in, and her eyes widen as she reads what's on the paper.

"The Vitamin String Quartet?"

"I know you listen to them to relax. I saw that they were touring and coming to London, so I thought that—." His words suddenly halt, tilting his head at her curiously. "What?"

Kate blinks in confusion. "What do you mean 'what?'"

Anthony points at her face. "You were looking at me all funny."

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were! You were looking at me like this."

Anthony imitates a soft-looking expression, gazing at her with an affectionate smile. Kate, in horror, realizes she had been looking at him like that.

"Shut up," Kate scoffs, nudging his arm and hoping it distracts from the blush on her face. "Like I'd ever look at you like that."

"If you're going to be mean, I won't give you the ticket."

He reaches over, but she pulls her hand back.

"Fine, I'm sorry," Kate says, looking down at the ticket in awe. "This is really nice of you."

"So, you'll go with me?"

"Of course I will," she nods, beaming in excitement.

Anthony releases a breath. "Good."

He begins to back out of her office, but she steps forward from her desk, grabbing his arm.

"Anthony?"

He turns. "Yes?"

Before she can second guess herself, she leans up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. When she pulls back, it takes a few seconds for his eyes to open, as if he thinks she's a figment of his imagination that will disappear.

"Thank you," Kate whispers.

Anthony nods, giving her a kind smile before leaving her office.

The music on her computer is still playing. Kate hears the gentle notes of a piano, cautious and optimistic-sounding.

The night had been amazing.

The quartet performed beautifully. They played orchestrational versions of pop songs, which makes Kate feel less guilty about listening to them.

She worried when Anthony said he'd never heard any of their music himself, that he wouldn't enjoy it. But when the concert started, she kept stealing glances out of the corner of her eyes. She saw him watching the players with a content expression.

However, the music didn't help her much with her newfound Anthony problem. When she closed her eyes, the violins sang his name. When his hand grazed hers on the armrest of the chair, the music swelled in tandem with her heart.

He was a song she couldn't get out of her head.

And the worst part was, it was a tune she didn't think she'd ever tire of hearing.

They bantered a bit about the weather while waiting for their Uber. Kate claimed the night was perfectly brisk, not enough to warrant a coat. Anthony, however, disagreed. He poked at the goosebumps on her arm as proof and insisted she take his jacket. She eventually relented, letting him drape his jacket over her shoulders.

When he looked away to wave at the car they'd been waiting for, Kate turned her nose to the jacket. She smelt the scent of amber, sandalwood, and something that was discernibly Anthony.

When they get into the back seat of the car, Anthony turns to her. "Can you believe that couple who sat in front of us?"

"I know! They were all over each other the whole night."

"Music is the food of love, but couldn't they have got the meal before the concert?"

"You'd think," Kate huffs, curling her fists further into his sleeves for warmth. She looks back at him, offering a smile. "I had a really nice time."

"I'm glad," Anthony nods. He swallows nervously, forcing himself to meet her eyes. When he does, Kate sees a raw vulnerability glistening in them. "I just wanted to make you happy."

She bumps her shoulder against his. "You do that by just being you."

Kate's words skim a cello string, creating a deep note that lingers in the air. Something flickers in Anthony's expression, his gaze steadying on her. Suddenly, it's harder for Kate to breathe.

"Look at us, acting like that couple," Kate jokes, trying to ease the tension. "The music must be getting to us too."

"Yeah, that's probably it," Anthony hums, moving a fraction closer to her. "Because right now, I feel this urge to put my arm around you."

Anthony gives in to the feeling, putting an arm around her back. Kate's breath hitches as his thumb rubs circles on her arm. Even through the material of Anthony's jacket, his fingertips send electric shocks to her skin.

"And I want to lean my head right here," she finds herself saying, resting her head on top of his shoulder.

"I want to tuck this strand of hair behind your ear.”

Kate feels his fingers skim against his cheek, gently moving a curl that had fallen into her face behind her ear. Her breath quickens, slowly turning her eyes up at him, and the look he's giving her is overwhelming.

"This is all so ridiculously stereotypical. You make me feel so—so..." Kate's words drift, unable to finish her sentence. Her tongue goes out to wet her lips that suddenly feel dry. "I hate it."

Anthony's index finger goes to her chin, tilting it up and off of his shoulder. "Do you hate this?"

He leans forward, kissing her so sweet and tenderly that she knows if she were standing, her foot would pop up like all of those delusionally romantic heroines in movies do when they kiss.

She gets lost in him. Her hands go up to cup his cheek as she deepens the kiss. Anthony's arm moves from her shoulders to her waist, pulling her flush against him. He swallows her gasp, and Kate hears a cacophony of melodies in her mind.

Kate doesn't know how long they stay wrapped in another's arms. It's only when the driver clears his throat that she realizes the car had come to a stop.

They jump apart, and Anthony gives the driver an uncomfortable nod. "Sorry, sir."

"It's alright," he says gruffly and mutters something about "just wait till you have kids, it won't be like this" as they get out of the car.

They stand awkwardly on the street for a few seconds. Kate looks around them. The vivid leaves of the trees stand out amongst the darkness of the night.

Kate remembers when she first met Anthony. It'd been fall, and the trees were bare with leaves littering the ground. It had felt fitting. Back then, her publishing company announced that they were joining one of their competitors. She had to work with Anthony, as they were both the top production editors of the separate companies. Like the leaves, it felt like everything was falling apart. Every smirk or retort of Anthony's felt like the leaves blowing chaotically in the wind.

But now, the trees were alive again, flooding with color. Kate's at the dawn of a new season with Anthony. It's something as inevitable as the change of weather but as everlasting as the stars above them.

No—stars eventually burn out. Kate thinks that whatever is between her and Anthony will continue to burn when all other flames dim.

"So, that happened," Kate says, breaking the silence.

Anthony takes a cautious step towards her. "Yeah, it did."

"I didn't hate it," she shrugs with a teasing tilt of her lips.

"Wow, what great appraisal. Can I list you as a reference for giving me such a raving review?"

"Excuse me, who else are you planning to apply with?"

"No one, I'm quite satisfied with my employment with you," he assures smugly, his hand going up to her cheek. "But, I'd like to have a slight promotion in my position."

Kate leans into his touch. "Oh really, what position do you want to fill?"

"Well, I think I've done everything that I can in the enemy job. I've enjoyed the friend's position. But, if the boyfriend position is available, I'd like to submit my candidacy."

Kate loops her arms around his neck. "Well, how about we check over your application one more time?"

"Where do you want me to start?" Anthony asks, pressing his lips to her temple. "My education?" he murmurs as he kisses her forehead. "My goals?" Kate sighs as his lips move to the corner of her mouth, and his hand curls around her waist. "My experience?" He kisses her again, and Kate feels his smirk against her lips. "Or, my skills?"

Kate pulls back with a smirk of her own. "How about what drew you to this position?"

His eyes gleam roguishly, looking at the lack of space between them. "This particular position?"

Kate tries her best to give him a stern look. "Anthony."

"You," he answers simply, resting his forehead against hers. "Everything about you."

Kate's unable to stop herself, chuckling softly. "Wow, that's incredibly sappy."

"But it's true."

She takes a deep breath, feeling content and peaceful in his arms. "Maybe being sappy isn't such a bad thing."

"No," Anthony agrees, the corner of his lips tilting up as he studies her intently. "I'm starting to think that it's not."

This time when Kate kisses him, she does it without a single reservation about cliches or stereotypes, or how she would roll her eyes if she saw the two of them on the street.

Kate's foot pops, and the song that's been stuck in her head gets set on an infinite loop.

[titanicnerd-blog]

♥️ Penelope Featherington

No, but ... Penelope being like "Your eyes shine the brightest when you are kind" and falling for Colin cause he was being nice to her ... meanwhile one of the Polin scenes so far is her making fun of someone and him going: "damn giiiiiiirl, that's the funniest shit I've ever heard"

I love true soulmates (and lying)