#so I tried to draw myself more accurately

[chickenchirps27]

Bill is so special to me I just want to study him under a microscope and watch him make bad decisions.

[hinamie]

for @cherryys who (rightfully!) hcs lategame megumi as having a bunch of scars befitting his status as resident punching bag

[sysig]

Looking his very best, as much as he can anyhow (Patreon)

[scribl1ta]

I'm going to post one of the silly indulgent drawings from me just trying to recover from the semester like i promised myself for my BIRTHDAY🔜

[snekdood]

bitches prolly out here psychoanalyzing my old art on behalf of my abuser to cushion their belief that im a Horrible Person but then dont see the irony when I point out the shitty things my abuser has drawn and how I see it as clear evidence of their mindset and beliefs (of what's okay to do and how to treat people) descending and pairing that along with everything else they've done and it paints a clear picture of how this person got to the point of thinking it was okay to abuse me the way they did and then the people looking for reasons to hate me through my art will act like "they're just drawings !!!" about their art. which one is it. does someones art say something about them or not? or does it only say something about them if you hate them?

[mikawa13]

Every time I look at fanarts of TID I have to take a deep breath because some of the clothes aren't completely period accurate, so I wanted to try to draw them with more accurate dresses.

Charlotte did not take as long as I expected, probably because I always imagined her style in a more simple and elegant style.

I used Cassandra Jean's design for the gear and tried to adjust it a bit following the Codex's information about older versions of the female gear having a skirt, but I just decided to make that padding around the abdomen and hips longer and simulate a skirt (but not too long to not reduce the mobility), whereas the male gear would be shorter and the way that Cassandra Jean did it.

RIP Charlotte, you would've loved jumpsuits QUEEN

(February 4, 2024)

Little Miss Barbie x Regina George (1878 Edition)

Jess was a bit more complicated because she does care about her appearance more and has a more intricate style. And normally I try to not add a lot of detail with Victorian characters because Queen Victoria didn't like makeup and found it vulgar, so women usually went for a natural look. Jessamine paints her dark circles whereas Charlotte naturally has them for obvious reasons. ☠️

Low-key, I loved doing Jessamine's ghost form.

And please let's not talk about my strange doodling attempt with the electrum lace design on the parasol. Halfway through it I started telling myself Henry is not a fashion designer and he tried his best to mimic a lace design with the electrum and hide some runes for her protection.

(February 13, 2024)

I will be honest, I struggled with the color of the dress because I do not imagine Cecily with a plain color dress, but not too intricate as Jessamine's. Everything looked too blue at first and I switched so many colors until it ended up like that. And don't get me started on the hair... It felt ✨WRONG✨ to give her a historically accurate hairstyle considering everyone gives her straight hair down.

So in my head her hair IS straight, she just has to appropriately wear it up. But nothing too complicated. And it's worth mentioning my memory is starting to blur out a lot. I had to check her wiki for the weapon and whatnot, and I found that she was petite and thin. In my head she was about Tessa's height. But I barely remember a lot from the books by now.

But I did try to make her look closely similar to Will. And I think she does look like a female, better, version of him. Also, if you're wondering why she's not wearing the necklace: I didn't realize I didn't add it until I finished coloring the dress and by that point I was so sick of it I left it like that. I had the sketch of the necklace, I just forgot to put it with the dress. 🫠

(March 2, 2024)

Gideon is so lucky. 😩

The suits might discourage me from doing the men because there's not really much difference aside of small details of how each man wears it. But anyway... Back to Sophie.

The damn maid dress. It's simple. It is ten times simpler than Jessamine's dress and YET I was struggling with it. And don't get me started on the scar.

The wiki said it was a big, silver, scar on the left side of her face from the corner of her mouth to her temple. I had an existential crisis trying to figure out how to do it, because in the other set ups of these drawings, I depict them like they're facing me, so the portrait wouldn't have shown the scar.

And it's a problem because I also suck at drawing scars. The first try looked fine but it wasn't silver, then I did this and in one part I guess it's fine because I didn't want to make a pretty scar when it's supposed to be bad and shocking for the time period. But a part of my brain thinks it looks like the fungus from The Last of Us. ☠️

Anyways. You may be wondering, "why didn't you do the Shadowhunter gear?" And it's a simple answer... I wanted to see her in a pretty dress. Of course, I could have done the portrait with the maid dress, the middle with her fancy dress, and the second full-body drawing with the gear but I didn't think about that until 10 minutes before posting. 🫠 And that gear is COMPLICATED (Not really, I'm just tired after the dresses).

(April 10, 2024)

If you are wondering why there is a huge time jump from the last fanart to this, I had a really bad art block and the frustration from the inaccurate dresses brought me back lol

Unfortunately I am currently in another slump 🫠

The next one was supposed to be Tessa but the dresses really frustrated me and I never even started the sketch. Idk if I'll ever finish it. I hope so, but don't get your hopes up.

[hisnumber1]

Devil's Embrace

Paring: Lucifer Morningstar x reader

Summery: (Y/n) had found herself at the hazbin hotel. She never thought of redemption but she got a free room while she does her work. (Y/n) made outfits and tailored for people if they pay enough. She loves trying to make unique dresses for balls or for higher class. Keeping her name in the high class of hell, she tailored for the king of hell himself. Finding herself tailoring for him in the hotel of his daughter is an interesting situation.

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Genre: fluff, slowburn, close proximity.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

I find myself leaning back in my seat, sighing. Watching AngleDust flirt with Husker and he growls in response. Charlie is putting more stuff on her board as she tries to figure out how to make the hotel work. I jump back on feet, strolling down the hallway ways to get to my room. I walk into my room filled with drawing and projects I've worked on. I fall flat on my face into my bed, I turn my head, looking at my recent project of a dress.

The dress was a long ballroom dress, with a long v going down the chest. The sleeves were mesh, and at the top it came off the shoulder. The skirt came out and poofed out, with the back covered in a long black mesh. The dress was white, with highlights of red, all of the mesh was black, giving it a dark energy.

Something just seems off, I don't know what it is but it just does. I hear a ping come from across the room. Lifting up my head and seeing my phone light up, I groan as I pull myself up. Walking to my table, I grab my phone and sit on the table. I read the notification, it was an email. I tapped on it, scanning over the text.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

I hope this email finds you well. I recently purchased a suit, while I am pleased with the quality and style, I find that it is slightly larger than my measurements. Therefore, I am writing to inquire about the possibility of having it tailored to a smaller size.

The suit in question is a white Shawl Lapel with red highlights, the fabrics are jacquard and velvet, and I purchased it about a week ago. I have attached a copy of the receipt for your reference.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with information on the process and cost involved in resizing the suit. Additionally, if you require any further measurements or details, please do not hesitate to let me know.

I am eager to have the suit adjusted so that it fits perfectly, and I trust your expertise in handling this matter. I am available to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm regards,

Lucifer Morningstar"

I sigh as I look at the photos he sent. It is a beautiful suit, but if I did it, the style would be better, but it is not mine. Thinking of what the price is, I need to get his exact measurements to tailor it correctly. Pressing the reply button, I started typing out my reply.

'Dear Mr. Morningstar,

Thank you for reaching out and for providing the details regarding your suit purchase. I appreciate your trust in our tailoring services.

I will be more than happy to assist you with resizing your suit to ensure a perfect fit. Before proceeding, could you please bring the suit to my studio for a fitting session? This will allow me to accurately assess the alterations needed and provide you with a precise cost estimate.

Once I have examined the suit, we will discuss the adjustments required and provide you with a timeline for completion.

Please let us know a convenient time for you to visit our store, and we will schedule an appointment accordingly. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.

Looking forward to seeing you soon and assisting you with your tailoring needs.

Best regards,

(Y/n) (L/n)'

I read over the email before hitting send. 'Wait, isn't Charlie his daughter?' I thought as I look back over his name. I press another reply button and put the the address, letting him know where he could meet me. Tossing my phone onto my bed, I walk out into the lobby again, sitting on the bar stool. "A shot of anything strong." I grumbled at Husk, he was cleaning a glass when he heard me. "What's the occasion?" He asked grabbing a shot glass before pouring some. "Work." I groan with my head on the bar, keeping my eyes shut, my headache gets worse with light.

"Ever thought of getting anything for those migraines?" Husk asked when he placed down the shot, I look up, grabbing the shot and downing it. "Another please. I've looked into it, but I don't need to, I'll just deal with it." Sighing as I push the shot towards Husk. He shakes his head as he pours another one, pushing it towards me. Taking the glass and downing it again.

I hear Charlie in the lobby talking to Vaggie about something, I turn to her. "Hey Charlie. Your dad is gonna come in a few days." I slur out, catching her attention she turned me wide eyed. "What?" She asked as she walked closer. "I'm tailoring a suit of his, I told him I need to take measurements cause he could have grown in the last year." I replied to her. "So he's coming to the hotel?" "Yeah, I think so." Replying to her she chuckled a but before pacing back and forth. "He's only gonna be in my room, just to get measured. He's one my highest paying customers." I chuckle, feeling the alcohol get to my system.

"He emailed me a few minutes ago about getting a suit tailored. I told him that I needed for take his measurements and then I would come up with the price." I explain to her. Charlie's pacing got faster, but she's stops when Vaggie puts her hand on her shoulder. "When would he be here?" Vaggie asked me and I shrugged.

"I can go see if he answered if you would like?" I got up from my seat, walking to my room. Opening my door, I walk to my bed, grabbing my phone. I look at the notifications, seeing a email. I walk out to the lobby, opening the email.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

Thank you for your prompt response and for offering to assist with resizing my suit. I appreciate your attention to detail and professionalism in addressing my tailoring needs.

I will certainly bring the suit to your studio for a fitting session. I propose scheduling the appointment for this Friday afternoon around 2:00 PM. Please let me know if this time works for you, or if an alternative time would be more convenient.

I look forward to meeting with you and discussing the necessary alterations. Thank you once again for your assistance, and I am confident in your expertise to ensure a perfect fit for my suit.

Best regards,

Mr. Morningstar"

I read out loud. Charlie pauses and starts pacing again. "He can't come. We don't even know if this works. If he comes he'll know I failed." Charlie said lowly, Vaggie hugs her and kisses her cheek. "It'll be fine love." She said as she pulled away from the hug. Vaggie looked over at me and sighed. "He'll be here in two days, just make sure he is only here for that a not going anywhere else. Charlie isn't ready to face him at the moment." She said as she looked up at the clock to check the time.

I nod, I grab the shot glass and down the last one before walking to my room. Falling onto my bed, a breath left my lungs as I hit the bed. I turn over and pick up my phone, unlocking it and looking at the photo of the suit. Thinking for a second, it looks a lot like the dress. Looking between my phone and the dress on the lay figure, they would look together.

Standing up from my bed, I tiptoe to the sewing mannequin. I run my finger across it, looking back at the photo and then back at the dress. A light bulb lit up and I ran to my desk, grabbing safety pins. Taking out my sewing needles, turning on my machine, grabbing buttons. I pull the mannequin next to the desk, sketching out the idea in my head.

A bang woke me from my slumber, I jerk up and look around. Standing in my door way is AngleDust, he looks out of breath. "(Y/n)! My shirt is ruined!" He said as he walked closer with his torn shirt. I groan and put my head back on the desk. "You alright toots?" He asks as he puts his arm on my shoulder. "I'm fine, I finally figured out what was wrong with the dress, and I fixed it. There is a problem though, Lucifer is gonna be here tomorrow and he's kinda matching with his suit." A groan left my mouth, Angle walks over to dress. "It's gorgeous. I mean it's always been." He said as he looked over it.

Sighing as I felt my eyes closing. I stayed up all night working on it, adding new fabrics, adding the details. I felt myself falling asleep again as Angle looked over the dress.

My eyes slowly open, I groan as I sit up. "My back hurts like hell." Groaning as I stood up. It looked dark out, I must have slept all day. Walking out of my room into the lobby, the lights were still on so someone was awake. Yawning as I walk to the bar, my eyes saw Alastor, he was sitting on the couch as he read a newspaper. "Morning Al." I yawn as I pour myself something to drink.

His head perked up at my voice. "Morning, you know it's in the late afternoon right?" He asked as he placed his newspaper down.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep last night. So I slept all day." Yawning as I walk over to the couch, sitting next to Alastor. "Why didn't you sleep?" He asked as he sipped his drink. "Working on that dress." I groan. He hummed in response. I downed the rest of my drink before standing up. "Well Lucifer is coming over tomorrow, so I need to sleep. Night Al." "Oh goodnight (Y/n)." He grinned.

I step into my room, closing the door behind me. Sighing as I walk over to my bed, sitting on the edge before falling backwards. Grunting at the sudden stop, I throw my arm over my eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Waking up to my alarm, I groan. I slowly sit up and turn off my phone. I whimper as the sun hits my eyes, I have to get ready and clean up for the appointment. I pick up my phone reading the time, but I saw that I had a email.

'Dear Ms. (Y/n),

Hello, I hope this email finds you in good health. I wanted to make an appointment to have a meeting. I want some new clothes by your hand. If you have the time for a meeting please contact me.

Love,

Valentino <3'

I read over the email before putting my phone down. I really don't want to deal with him right now, I sighed as I went to my drawers. Pulling out some presentable clothes, then walking to my restroom to take a shower. I turn the knob letting the water start, after I pull my clothes off of me, letting it hit the floor. Pulling my undergarments off before sliding into the shower. The hot water hitting my skin and wetting every inch of my body.

I put shampoo in my hair and scrub it in, soap going down my body as I rinse my hair out. Grabbing the bottle for conditioner, letting my hair run under water. Pouring some into my hand before scrubbing it into my scalp. I let the conditioner soak, I wash my body before rinsing off everything. Turning off the water, I grab a towel and put it around my body.

Walking into my room, striding to my bed, where I put my clothes. Taking the towel and drying off my hair before dressing myself. After wards I look at the time, it read 12:47 pm. I sigh, I still have almost two hours before he gets here. I look around the room, seeing my room is a mess, knowing us have to clean it sooner or later.

Cleaning up my room, putting everything in place before he gets here and picking up trash and dirty laundry. I organized everything and I looked at the time, it was 1:36 pm. My eyes widen as I look at the time. "Shit he'll be here soon!" I yelled at myself and I got a new mannequin out for the suit, making sure I knew where everything I needs was. Keeping track of time, I brushed my hair and put on light makeup, so I didn't look like I was dying.

Getting myself mentally prepared to see the sin of pride. He was cocky everytime you saw him, not a bad cocky but like 'he knows he's hot and he's not afraid to show it off' cocky. The man was hot, I can't denie that.

I walk to the lobby waiting for the knock, not a second later I hear it. Walking to the door, slowly opening it to reveal Lucifer. "(Y/n), it's been to long." He grinned as walked in to the hotel, his eyes shifted all over the lobby. "We will be working in a room back here, just follow me." I say as I lead the way to my room. He gladly follows along behind me, still looking everywhere. We make it to my room and I close the door after he walks in.

"Now if you would please stand here." I ask him to stand on a X mark on the floor. He looked down and nods with a smile. "So how have you been (Y/n)? I haven't seen you in about a year." He asked as he gave me the suit. "Eh, tired. I have been working on a new dress over that year, I finally finished it the day before yesterday." I reply, setting the suit on the mannequin.

"Yeah? May I see it?" He asked as he looked around my room. I nodded and I walked into my other room, I have to rooms attached to each other for my bed room and my studio. Rolling the mannequin out, the jewels sparkled in the sun light.

"That is gorgeous." Lucifer said as he walked over, feeling the fabric. "It looks a little familiar." He said as he put his hand on his chin. His eyes caught on the suit and he gasped. "It's like a set! The dress and my suit." Lucifer stated as his eyes light up. I chuckled and nodded. "I noticed that when you sent me the photos."

"I would love to buy it." He said as he looked at it. I stopped in my tracks. "What?" I asked with a chuckle. "How much, I could gift it to my daughter." He stated as he started pulling out his wallet. "I'm not selling it right now. I actually made it for myself, kinda a dream dress." I chuckled nervously.

You could practly hear his face light up. "I've never seen you wear a dress." He said surprised. "Well yeah, I don't like wearing them." "You should put it on." He said. "No." I said flatly.

"Oh come on (Y/n). You even match with the king if hell, why not put it on?" He asked. "Lucifer, I need to start measurements, please stand where you were." I said with no tone. He was a persistent man. "Come on, I would love to see you in it." He purred out. "Lucifer arms up." I said with a measuring tape in my hands. "Come on." He whined out.

As he is begging me to put on the dress, I just ignore him and measure his body. As I measuring his bust to his groan there was blast and the hotel shaked. Causing Lucifer to tumble over and fall on me.

I closed my eyes at feeling of the rumbling, so I didn't know how close he was to me. "Well hello gorgeous." I hear Lucifer say, I open my eyes to see his face a few inches away from mine. "Oh you're wearing makeup, it looks good on you." He complemented me. "Lucifer get up." I say as I start pushing him. "I am darling." He chuckled. Standing up, he offered me a hand, which I gladly took.

"Well that didn't sound good." He stated as he dusted himself off, I nodded in agreement. "I actually finished measuring you, I would probably charge you about $230." I said as I looked over my notebook, adding the measurements. "Always straight to business. That's what I liked about you." He chuckled. Taking money from his wallet, handing it over to me, before I pull away he takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. Kissing my knuckles for a moment before pulling away. "Well I'll see myself out, and you should probably check what that sound was." Lucifer said as he started walking out of my room.

Watching him walk off, I felt the heat leave my face. When did that happen? When did my face get so hot? I asked myself, but just blew it off as me just getting hot. Placing down my money on the table, and I hear another bang. Groaning as more rubble falls down in my room. "Ughhh! What is that!?" I yelled out.

A/n: My first story on here and I plan to write more. Sorry if I update slow but I'll get around to doing it!

[ktaerssoi]

plsss kate martin angst

drunk words

kate martin x fem!reader summary: you had known kate since you were kids, what happens when you except your feelings for her?

you and kate had known each other for years, you had even gone to Iowa with her. over the years, you've developed a small crush on her, kate's amazing attitude and kindness drawing you to her. 

kate walks into your shared apartment, arms full of grocery bags. you quickly spring up from your spot on the couch to help her. "hey, successful trip?" you joke, gasping as you spot your favorite snack. 

kate laughs, closing the fridge as she looks at your excited expression. "i saw you were running low, thought i would get you some more." 

you quickly put it in your secret stash in your room, "what would i do without you?" kate shrugs, her eyes seeming to sparkle. "i dunno, probably starve." 

"oh shut up, acting as if i don't do anything by myself.." you mumble the last part, continuing to put away groceries. 

"hey i heard there's a party tonight! wanna go? i heard there will be cute guys." kate nudged your arm lightly, smirking at the thought of setting you up with someone. "plus you and i both know we need to get out more." 

"hey, i get out! plus, i don't need any guys, i have you for a reason." you cross your arms as you watch her put away the last item. "okay true," kate hums, "but I'm tired of rotting away every friday night. it'll be fun i swear. need a remind you about the cute guys?" 

you sigh, nodding. "okay, what time is it at?" you over to the clock on the wall, it reading 5:23 pm. "it starts at eight but we should probably get there earlier for the good liquor." kate winks, a grin on her face.

"i bet i could get a guy to get me a drink," she smiles, leaning against the kitchen counter. "can you shut up about the guys? that's not helping." 

kate was taken aback by your sudden attitude, but her shock was quickly replaced by a smug look. "are you jealous or something?" 

you scoff, rolling your eyes at her implication. "jealous? of what?" you tried to shrug off her idea, knowing deep down you were jealous that she wasn't talking about you like that. 

kate gives you a teasing look, smirking "yes you are! admit it, you're crushing on some girl." she gasps, giggle "aw are you crushing on me?" she teases you, playfully pushing your shoulder. 

"no kate, can't you just drop it?" you uncross your arms, walking over your bed as you try to ignore her surprisingly accurate accusation. kate laughs as she follows, jumping onto your bed next to you. "c'mon you know i won't judge, just tell me" 

"no kate, this is something i want to keep to myself." you turn on your side, facing away from her. kate frowns, a little disappointed. she stays silent for a few moments before speaking again. "okay fine, i'll drop it, but you know i always find out." 

"shut up," you mumble into your pillow, "plus how could i have a crush on you? i'm not even gay." kates eyes widen before she bursts out laughing, "good one, but we both know that's bullshit." 

you don't say anything, know that speaking would just dig yourself a deeper hole of no return. you decide to take a quick nap before the party. 

you wake up a little before seven, meaning you had about an hour to get ready. you first got dressed, throwing on something party-appropriate. realizing that kate had fallen asleep too, i woke her up. “c’mon kate, we gotta go soon.”

she got up with a groan, dragging her feet over to the bathroom. kate usually takes a little while to get ready, but she manages a good pace as she walks around the apartment. "ready,"

you stand up from your seat at the kitchen table, looking at her up and down. she looks good. "you look really pretty," kate smiles at you, causing color to rush to your cheeks. 

you point to the door, regaining your composure, "lead the way." the party wasn't far from your apartment, so the two of you opted to walk. as you got up to the house you could already feel the vibrations of the loud music. 

kate takes a look at you and grins, "alright, lets do this." you shake your head as she pulls you forward, walking through the front door. taking a deep breath, you take in the unfamiliar surroundings. people were crowding the small space, empty solo cups already littered the available surface area. 

kate quickly got caught up with people, fitting right in. you on the other hand, had made your way to a nearby wall, trying to scope out the people. you smiled as you spotted jada and gabbie, two of kate's teammates. 

the duo was taking to a group of football players, and you grabbed a drink on the way over to calm your nerves. "hey guys," jada's face lights up at your appearance, and gabbie is quick to hug you. 

"hey! we didn't expect to see you here tonight?" gabbie looked to jada, who then nodded at you. "yeah how's it going?" jada took a sip of her drink, waiting for your answer. 

"good, kate dragged me here. something about cute guys." you shrug, taking a sip of your drink. jada looks around, nodding. "yeah, i guess there are some cute guys here. they're all total douchebags though."

gabbie nods, also looking around. "speaking of our dear friend kate, where is she?" you pause, trying to remember if you saw her on your way over. "um, last i saw she was talking to some group of girls." 

jada and gabbie give each other a look, causing your eyebrows to knit together in confusion. "what?" you ask, feeling nervous almost. "nothing, it's just kate said she liked someone and we've been trying to figure out who." jada explains 

"and you think its a girl?" you take another sip of your drink, taking in the new information. why hadn't kate told you? "well she said no to every guy we said, so were out of ideas. plus it would kind of make sense" 

"how?" you were interested, maybe you did have a chance. "well you know, you guys have always kind of been like, you know." gabbie tries to explain, but you don't understand what she means. "no? i don't know?" 

"you guys have always had that kind of friend or dating type of thing." jada puts in bluntly, causing you to nod a barely audible 'oh' escaping your lips. "we're not saying she likes you though, or that we think you're like that, just, you know." 

"no, i still don't 'know'" you cross your arms, tired of people being vague. "i'm going to go get a refill," i mutter, walking away from them. 

getting over to the drink table, you run into the main topic of conversation. kate was chatting it up with a new group of people, all of which seemed to be paying a great deal of attention to her. you know it's wrong, but you're tired of seeing her with everyone but you. 

you pour yourself another drink before walking over to her. "hey kate," you mumble, squeezing in between her and some random guy from the group she was talking to. 

kate turns to you, still laughing from whatever joke the guy had said. she beamed at you, giving you a once-over. "look who it is! i was wondering where you went." 

"i ran into jada and gabbie, so i was hanging with them." you smile, and you can smell the strong scent of alcohol on her breath. kate giggles as she sees you eyeing her. "mm, well im trying to have fun too and these guys aren't the best company, you know?" 

why does everyone think you know? you turn to look at the group of guys, they're all drunk, laughing their asses off about something. "but anyway, you're here now," she murmurs, looping her arm around your waist loosely. "we can have our own fun now," 

you nod, trying to ignore the butterflies in your stomach. "yeah sure, want to go dance?" kate smiles as she pulls you to the makeshift dance floor. the alcohol had clearly relaxed her significantly, making her more carefree and touchy. 

you smile as you watch kate, she looked like she was having fun, even catching some people's attention. a few songs in a guy approaches you, "hey, i noticed you dancing over here. is that your girlfriend?" you laugh as he nods to kate. "uh no, she is just my roommate."

"oh so you're single then?" he gives you a cheesy smile as he looks you up and down. "you're really pretty, would you maybe want to go grab a drink?" you turn back to kate, seeing her talking to some other girl.

"yeah, i would love to." the guy smiles, offering you his hand. "i'm eric, by the way." he comments as he leads you away from kate. "okay, i am going to make you the best damn party drink you've ever had." eric says, grabbing a cup.

"hmm, i don't know, a shearly temple is pretty hard to beat." you laugh, watching him pour things into your cup carefully. meanwhile, kate has finished up her conversation, and is now scanning the room for you, coming up empty-handed.

"so you having fun tonight?" eric asks, handing you the cup. "yeah, it's been fun. i don't go to parties much." you nod, taking a sip of the drink he made. "really? you seem like the type to be invited to them all the time."

"i didn't say i don't get invited, i just don't come." you laugh, nodding your head as you take another sip. "you're a real stunner and you always know what to say, i like that in a girl. want to find somewhere quieter where we can talk?"

he eyes you hungrily, and you realize how much taller he is than you. "aw, im flattered but i need to finish this drink you made me! it's really good." you say, taking yet another sip.

"you could be enjoying much more than the drink if you come with me." he smiles, whispering into your ear. "thanks for the offer but i have to get back to my roommate, she's a. bit of a lightweight if you know what i mean."

"you're picking her over me? i thought we were having a good time, but i guess we have to cut it short because your friend can't handle herself." you nod, confused as to where this attitude is coming from. "yeah, i guess we will."

you walk away, trying to locate kate. you finally spot her talking to jada, a worried look on her face. "hey guys, what's up?" you say breathlessly, tired from squeezing through the crowd. kate's eyes widen as she sees you, relaxing a little. "there you are, i was looking everywhere for you. where'd you go? and why didn't you answer my text?"

"oh sorry, i was with some guy." kate narrows her eyes at your response, seeming almost mad. "'some guy?' who? and how is he more important than us? what were you even talking about" kate was mad, she was mad that you had someone else prioritized above her.

"a bunch of things, and it wasn't like we were hooking up in the bathroom, so calm down." you cross your arms, getting defensive. "he asked if i was single and you were off talking to some girl so i just said yes. he was a nice guy."

"what was his name? or did you guys not get to talking about that?" kate asked pointedly. "what is with the interrogation? i said he was a nice guy alright?" you roll your eyes, not quite sure why she was acting this way.

kate places her hand on your shoulder, trying to comfort you? "hey im just trying to understand who this guy is." you shrug her hand off of you, pulling back. "okay i just told you, so can you drop it? i'm going to go get a drink."

kate flinches, her smile dropping as you brush her off. "whats with her mood?" jada asks, sitting on the couch next to kate. "shut up, dude." kate says, leaning back, resting her head on top of her head.

"fuck," you mumble as you accidentally spill a drink. you eventually clean it up. after that, not paying any mind to how you might feel the next day, you pour yourself a few more just to try and lighten your mood.

you find your way to the dance floor again, you see kate as you dance. you don't know if she sees you, but you dance as if she's watching you.

some random football player comes up to you, just making you even more ticked off. you excuse yourself, squeezing past him to go find kate. even if you were slightly upset, you weren't going to leave with out her.

kate sees you coming towards her, and her face lights up immediately. she moves to wrap her arms around you, relieved to see you again. but as she looks closer, she notices your glassy eyes and flushed cheeks, and her smile fades. "hey are you okay? you look a bit..drunk."

she pulls back from the hug slightly, gently holding your face in her hands and studying your expression. "yeah i'm fine, can we go home?" you hiccup.

"yeah, yeah for sure. hey jada we're going to head out." kate days bye to people on the way out, guiding you through the crowd with her hand on your lower back.

"sorry i'm making you leave so early." you mumble, your eyes barely staying open. "hey, it's okay. don't worry about me. i just want to make sure you're alright." she looks at you with concern in her eyes, clearly worried about your emotional state.

once you and kate get back to your apartment you quickly change, completely forgetting she was still there. "woah, hey im still here." kate says, turning around, even if she has seen you many times before.

"sorry, you can turn back now." you mutter, walking to the bathroom to wash your face. "hey, don't worry about it. It's no big deal. I just wasn't expecting you to change so quickly." she smiles softly, noticing the tear stains on your cheeks. her heart aches for you, and she wants nothing more than to comfort you

"guys suck, so much." you sigh, climbing into bed, "and i don't even like them!" kate chuckles, a mixture of amusement and sympathy in her eyes. "yeah, well you know you don't have to force yourself to like them? you don't need to be in a relationship to be happy."

you nod, still very much under the influence, "i guess, but like i don't like any men, like i just want you. why can't you want me like i want you?" you begin to doze off, "things would be so much easier."

kate's heart skips a beat at your admission, her eyes widening in surprise. she wouldn't admit it, especially to your drunk self, but she knew deep down she wanted you too.

"get some sleep, we can talk tomorrow." kate said, leaning down and brushing some hair out of your face.

notes: sooo 🌝 you asked for kate angst and i think i failed miserably but whatever! anyway, i hate this sm and it makes zero sense so i would love feedback!

[thewritetofreespeech]

Gale x Tav

words: 1613

rating: E

pairing: Gale x Tav (post game pairing)

summary: part ii of the previous Gale x Tav work. (part i part iii)

tags: magic sex (literally. but also metaphorically), heterosexual sex, f/m, slight voyeurism, Gale still using magic for naughty reasons

To say it was hard to focus the rest of the day was an understatement.

Not only were you still reeling from what Gale had done earlier, you were also now looking forward to tonight when he would do it again.

Once classes were over, and the day done, you went home immediately. You ate a small dinner, which you weren’t hungry for with your stomach in knots, but Gale would be disappointed if you didn’t eat. You took a bath. Then you laid naked in bed waiting for the fun to start. The two of you hadn’t set a time. So, you anxiously waited to start feeling the now familiar touch on your clit and body from Gale’s ring.

You weren’t sure if it had been a while or blink of time, your anticipation making it hard to get an accurate read on an internal clock, but eventually the sensations started. You let out a sigh as you sunk deeper into the soft bedding.

Now that you knew what was going on, and you were alone, you were able to enjoy it fully. Letting your body go with the feeling. Uninhabitable moaning. Touching parts of your body that the ring wasn’t linked to. Your mouth gasped open as you cupped your breasts and played with your nipple. Pleasure building as you writhed on the bed for your phantom lover.

“Gods above….”

Your eyes snap open at the sound of that hushed exclamation. Sitting up on your elbows and seeing Gale there in the doorway. In the flesh. His own eyes on you with this look of dumbfounded stupor and lust. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the summit.”

“I left early.” He told you. Crossing over the threshold now and into the room. “There was only one more day, and it was boring anyhow, so I told them I had to return home. Because my wife needed me.” You bite your lips and draw your knees closer together, as you feel a warm pull in the pit of your stomach. Technically, he didn’t lie. Oh, how you needed him.

Gale was by the bed quickly and was already out of most of the buttons on his shirt by the time he was there. “I see my new present works. Do you like it?”

“It’s certainly…stimulating.” You reply in a cheeky manner. Gale returns your smirk and touched the stone on his ring again. The reaction instantaneous as you moan to the feeling. Somehow more intense and arousing with him in the room.

“I’ll say. It certainly was stimulating watching you enjoy it earlier today through my minds eye.” The wizard climbed on the bed and on top of you with an uncharacteristic amount of grace for a wizard. His eye, normally warm and a soft brown, burning with desire only for you. “I had to come back and see it for myself.”

Your arms wrap around Gale’s neck and pull him down for a kiss. Unable to wait any longer. The kiss was hungry. Passionate. The build up was one thing, but now that Gale was here, it was like an inferno had been lit inside you. You don’t think Karlach and her infernal engine could burn as hot as you did right now for your husband.

Gale returned your fire wholeheartedly. It was a surprise. The former chosen was by no means apathetic in bed, but he usually liked to take things slow. Be patient. Capture and build on the moment. Make sure everything was done thoroughly and properly before you both exhaled in ecstasy and calling it a night. Now, however, he was like a man consumed with fervor. The distance and almost 8 hours of foreplay ‘til now, if you counted the anticipation from this afternoon until now, seemed to have its effect on Gale as well.

He fumbled with his trousers as he tried to get out of them but not break the kiss. Eventually, he realized that was impossible, and let out a curse as he pulled back from you to get them off. “Such language, professor.”

Gale smirked at you. Immediately back on top of you once he was free. “You’re one to talk. I heard you earlier, and just now. Nearly as bad as that foul mouth pixie.” Hardly, you want to tell him. But Gale was shifting his weight above you and pulled off his ring before handing it to you. “Here. Put it on.” He was already slipping the ring onto your finger by the time he finished asking. The band only able to fit on your thumb with the size difference in your fingers. “I want you to use it while I make love to you. Feel the full effect of its magic while I’m inside you.”

Your mind lets out a guttural moan at the suggestion, but your lips stay closed as you examine the ring. It was a thrilling idea. To be, in part, the master of your own pleasure. Hesitantly you touch the ruby red stone on the ring and feel a surge of sensation rush from your center and up your spine. This time, you do indeed moan.

“Gods above…it is better in person….” Gale’s attention seemed fixed on your face, fascinated by it, as he brought up a hand to caress your cheek.

Your eyes open, and you have to assume your eyes are as black as the darkness of Shar. “Are you going to just stay there and stare at me?” Your head lances up, out of his grasp, to give him a biting kiss. “Or are you going to fuck me?”

There was a low growl from Gale. Though he was usually a man who didn’t appreciate vulgar words in his immense vocabulary, in bed was the only place he tolerated them. Judging by the twitch of his cock against your inner thigh, he more than just tolerated them.

Never one to disappoint a request from his lover, Gale moved to position himself between your legs and slid in. You were so wet from earlier, and the anticipation of finally getting a hard cock inside you, that there was little resistance as he pushed in. You moan eagerly. Though the Mage Hands earlier today had been nice they were nothing compared to the firm feel of your husband inside you. “Gods you’re so hard….”

“You’re not the only one in need, my love.”

He began to thrust. Slow and deep inside you. Sweet words of how much he missed you this week fall from that skilled tongue. You reciprocate his feelings but are too tightly wound to respond. So you just babble.

His thrusting increases and you feel like you’re on the edge of a great void. Been on the edge of some great void. Yet you can’t jump off of it. You reach of Gale’s ring still on your finger from he behind his head, your legs and arms wrapped tight around his back, and start to rub. A cry came out of your mouth as it was more intense than before, but you were surprised to hear Gale cry out as well.

“Hells…I can feel it….” His hip movements become erratic as he thrust deeper and faster into you. Seeming to want to get closer to the sensation. “I never expected….this is an unexpected turn of events….Oh Gods…is this what it’s been like for you?”

You want to tell him yes but you’re too lost in ecstasy to say anything coherent. The magic from Gale’s ring teasing your clit. His hard cock plunging into your body. Hands on your breasts and body so much so that you wonder if he had in fact called Mage Hands back into play. Still you were just on that precipice. Until you toppled over it not with a step but violent push. Your body & mind racked with waves of pleasure that batter you like a ship as your hands cling to the bedding to make sure you weren’t swept away in its current.

Gale continues until you fall back to the bed like jelly, and he collapses on top of you. Clearly having splendidly finished as well.

After a moment to catch your breath, Gale rolled over beside you to his side. Then with a tired, limp hand he reached over to remove his ring. Placing it safely on the nightstand where it wouldn’t be bumped and cause anymore trouble. “That was amazing.”

“It certainly was.” You agree as you curl up beside him.

“You were amazing. I had no idea when I created this that it would…well…be so…” It was amusing to watch Gale stumble over his words on the topic. Like he hadn’t just aggressively fucked you into the mattress like a mad man. Like he hadn’t come up with the idea for his ring all on his own. “Well I think the word ‘stimulating’ was used earlier, and that certainly hit the spot.”

“You certainly did.”

You giggle at Gale’s flustered expression. Still finding the shift from Gale 30 seconds ago to now utterly amusing. And in all honesty, incredibly hot. You lean up to give him a kiss before your tired bones give out and call you back to the bed. “Let’s get some sleep. We can certainly do more ‘experimenting’ tomorrow, if you’d like.”

Gale doesn’t respond. But you can see the grin out of the corner of your eye before the close with desire for sleep. He lifted his hand and waved it in the air. A blanket carefully draping over you to magically tuck you in. Magic was certainly helpful for so many things.

[shotmrmiller]

Okay but, this is fun! (When I was a server? I wore short skirts, stockings and heeled boots. They let me wear them, I had no joy in my life. So? I dressed up my uniform to make myself happy at the sacrifice of my feet at the end of shift.) I don’t miss it but, I had fun as a server.

Running up to the bar and whispering to Johnny to ‘look at table 4’ because the lady sitting there is recovering from a bbl and has bandages *holding* her butt up. (True story)

Any bit of gossip, you beeline back and Simon’s already waiting like ‘wots happenin’ now?’

Making faces at Johnny as you take someone’s order to show you’re displeased.

Whining to Simon ‘it’s that guy who sends everything back to get it comped again!’ When he hears someone sent the wings back… *again*

Snickering openly as Johnny is stuck with 2 horny old ladies at the bar and making faces at him when the customers aren’t looking to mock him.

Standing with Johnny at the bar and quietly conversing. “Nae way, that’s her father’ ‘I’m telling you! Crusty dusty with his side dish!’

Quickly squeaking behind Simon when shit looks like it’s going to get real in a few seconds. ‘Oh, that local crack head is back- Simon! Great to see you!’ *quickly scoots behind him* and just like- ‘hi!’ And peaking around him like he’s a s.w.a.t shield

Having to shoo Johnny away from the food Simon made you- ‘yea left it unattended!’ ‘This is the only food I’ve had in the past 6 hours! Simon! He’s eating my food!’ ‘She lies!’

Going to Simon with puppy dog eyes when you can’t open a jar-

Johnny plonking his butt down in the booth you’re rolling silverware in and not leaving even when you try and shoo him away to tend to the bar- the boss is glaring at me! He’s getting mad at me! Move your butt before I get in trouble because of you!’

Price being the manager that lets you get away with murder. If it makes you happy? He’ll turn a blind eye as long as you do your job. That goes for the other two knuckle heads… with you around? Johnny’s not fucking the customer base as often, leaving less upset girls coming in and making scenes when he inevitably doesn’t call them back. And Simon is fighting less, taking less smoke breaks (saving them for later) and making more orders properly (so you don’t get flack for it) so, he’ll turn a blind eye to what they’re doing to you… not that he isn’t doing it himself.

Trauma bonding from the shit job makes you real close that it kind of- makes you ignore when they get too handsy? ‘They’re still the guys, it’s fine’

(Bistro Huddy is so accurate it’s painful…)

(Dubious *not really* consent: Being trapped in the out of the way supply closet in the far back where no one goes. Your shift ended an hour ago but, you’re stuck; bent over an old chair stored there. Price zips up his pants- before you can stand back up again Simon’s stepping in where Price is stepping out and pushing you to bend back over the chair again. -Johnny running in for a quickie whenever he can- By the time the guys close up? You’re sore, gaping, leaking, overstimulated, and sniffling. And they’re all drawing straws who get’s to take you home and ‘take care of you’ so you’ll show up to your shift tomorrow.…I can’t do nsfw to save my life… I’m sorry, lol)

(Thought of this at the end but, Server Gaz?)

I WANT YOU TO KNOW

YOU WRETCH (affectionate, oh so affectionate i could kiss you)

THAT THE LAST BIT

OHHH MAN IM SCRREAMINGGGGUH

chile. having to give your receipts and the 3% you owe to price always ends up with his spend soaking your knickers :/ he prob knows your body better than you do, clever fingers making you peak before he does because yall (he) doesn't have the luxury of time on yalls (his) side. (not the other servers banging on the door because theyre just trying to go home)

imagine running to kyle because he seems to be the only sane one. you tried to eat lunch with him that one time in the back but it ended up with you cockwarming him as you attempted to pathetically eat your burger. (he hadn't even touched you and you'd come twice. poor you, so pent up from the week's frustrations. wait til simon hears about this.)

johnny doesn't hear about it but feels it once he finds you in the corner booth no one uses except the waiters who close, tiredly doing the silverware. his hands make quick work of your apron and the button on your jeans, pads of his fingers lightly catching your clit and dipping into your entrance but surprise surprise. wet. slick.

he mutters in your ear if it was price or simon that's left a mess behind but kyle's sitting a couple tables down from you counting his tips. that'd be me, sorry.

he's not sorry.

simon would be the type to scoop up his seed with his thick fingers and stuff it back into your used cunt talkin bout take that with you like it's a box to go lmao

[magic-worms]

I stumbled upon your tf2 art a few weeks ago and I just have to say that you have one of the coolest art styles I’ve ever seen

Also-do you have any tips for drawing the tf2 characters?

that’s so kind of you :’) !! “one of the coolest art styles i’ve ever seen” is going to make me cry

and yeah sure i can offer a few tips!

an important thing to internalize about the character designs for the nine classes is that no two have the same body type. whenever i draw them, i try to accentuate their differences by identifying and applying these three main elements for each body:

i’ve found that developing an eye for how an individual’s body is built and breaking that body down into more digestible components like these helps me immensely, especially when i do more heavy stylization. there’s definitely more that goes into drawing bodies accurately, but these are the three most basic points i can think of that i use all the time

faces! faces are hard! every face has a margin of error in which you can get something a little “off” and it’ll still look like whoever you’re drawing, and (for me) this margin varies by character. these are some of the first tf2 character faces i ever drew:

as you can see, i was making notes of key facial features on certain characters to help myself internalize them. also did a lot of turnarounds because you can’t get all those essential features from any one angle. but overall, their faces take practice to draw! practice!! that’s why i wrote it in my speech bubble thing!!

nothing i’m saying is limited to tf2 of course! i hope that these little tips are helpful :] i’m not really one for giving tutorials or really in-depth advice so i tried to keep this reply brief and in my area of knowledge

[stygianclan]

six clangen cats!

loved drawing these! sorry for the colors aren’t accurate, i tried making them myself instead of colordropping for practice 😭

@fallenclan - goldenstar!!! i love his design and your newest moons have me HOOKED

@vespidclan - webspeckle!!! she’s so awesome i love her and the whole concept of 404 and everything is so cool!!! (also uhhh forgive me if i got her name wrong i forgor 🙁)

@loudclan-clangen - songpaw!!! his design is so neat and i especially love the oil!!! your entire world building is so interesting!!

@ashpaw-is-alone - beeskep!! he seems so interesting, can’t wait to see more on him + future moons !!

@aiko-kpwc - quickstar!! you’re an epic mutual plus quickstar is a diva,, i’ve never seen the mouth injury done before and you ate

@deliveryclan - cinnamon!! she’s so cute and i love her hair, a clan that makes pizza is also so creative !! and i’m sorry about the hate you’ve been getting anon sucks :((

[tgmsunmontue]

To wake, perchance to dream 6/6

Hangster - Jake wakes up ~13 years in the future and thinks he has amnesia. Instead it's a glimpse of what his life could be. When he wakes up right before being called back to Top Gun for the special detachment he's going to try his damndest to make that future come true...

Edited to add: One of the first piece of TGM I saw was this amazing piece by @beezelarts as well as this follow on one (both of which I have printed and up on my wall). They both deserve ALL THE LOVE. I stared at them both a lot while drawing this last chapter.

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

                “Why do you put up with me?”

                “Well that’s a stupid question.”

                “Jake. I’m serious.”

                “So am I. Why do you put up with me? When I’m angry and I say hurtful things or piss you off… Why do you put up with me?”

                “Because I love you.”

                Jake looks at him and tries to convey just how much of an idiot he thinks Bradley is being. He remembers future Bradley, how alarmed he’d been at Jake having to deal with all his shit. He wonders if getting those two days of his future were offered as an incentive to not give up. Wonders what he did to deserve it. Or whether it’s somehow Bradley that deserves him.

                “Do you think I love you any less than you love me?”

                “It’s not a competition.”

                “Good thing, because if it was I’d win. I put up with you because I love you. All of you,” Jake says, flicking him on the forehead to drive his point home, and it makes him feel more settled as well when Bradley startles at the sharp pain but then laughs, captures his hand and kisses over the knuckles.

                “Oh.”

                “Oh he says. Oh. Did you think I was lying all those times I said it?”

                “No. No. I just…”

                “You thought I only loved certain parts of you?”

                Bradley shrugs, unable to meet his eyes and Jake shakes his head. They’ve come a fucking long way in sixteen months however he expects they’ve still got a chunk of work ahead of them. However Bradley is working with him now, rather than against him or trying to break up, so it’s so much better. It helps that Bradley is back in the air, flying again and while Jake is proud of him he’s also waiting for the day when Bradley decides he’s had enough. Knows it has to be soon if the rough timeline he sketched out is accurate.

                “I’m… I’m going to make myself some tea. You want any?”

                “Of course…”

                Tea making is almost a ritual now between them, and he’s always dropped everything when Bradley has said he’s making tea. It’s for moments of quiet, but also deep conversation, reassurance and also the simple act of making it now grounds Jake in a way nothing else does. He knows it’s similar for Bradley, that if he wants to talk something out, he’ll make an entire pot of tea. Jake watches as he reaches for the stupid pot that is painted like a rooster and wonders if this is the moment. Watches Bradley turn over the little three-minute timer he’d bought and watches him watch the sand fall through the hourglass silently. He knows from experience to not interrupt the silence now. Bradley is gathering and organizing his thoughts.

                “I… I think I’m going to retire.”

                And there it is. All of the sand hasn’t even fallen through.

                Another piece falling into place.

                “Okay.”

                “Okay? Just okay?”

                “You want me to talk you out of it?”

                “I… no? I… fuck. I don’t know. I don’t know. What am I going to do if I’m not flying planes anymore?”

                Jake knows exactly what he’s going to do, but he can’t, won’t, just blurt it out. He wants Bradley to figure it out for himself. Reaches a hand across the counter and wiggles his fingers and waits impatiently for Bradley to hold his hand. Grips it tight and jiggles it to give his next words more weight.

                “How about, how about you find a dream you actually want huh, rather than chasing what you think someone else would want for you? You have time…”

                “Yeah. I guess.” Jake hums. “I think I’ll talk to my therapist about it…”

                “I think that’s an excellent idea,” Jake says, and he wonders if it’s them that places the seed in Bradley’s mind.

                “When did you get so smart?” Bradley asks and Jake snorts.

                “I’ve always been smart. You were just too busy to notice.”

                “Oh no, I always noticed you. I meant… you’ve gotten smart about me. It’s like… you sometimes know what I need even before I do.”

                “Just been paying attention Bradshaw…”

                “Bradshaw is it?” Bradley asks, eyebrow quirking up and Jake raises both his eyebrows in response, because he’s never going to get sick of flirting with him.

                He knows it to his core.

…            …            …

                “What do you think about me becoming a therapist?”

                “I think you’d kill it.”

                “Jake. Be serious.”

                “I am being serious! You would make a great therapist…”

                “I… you really think so?”

                “Babe. Bradley… why’d you join the Navy?”

                “To fly.”

                “If you hadn’t made it into aviation, what would you have done? Stayed?”

                “Yeah. Probably.”

                “Why?”

                “What do you mean why?”

                “Deeper than flying… why did you join?”

                “To…” Jake waits. He’s pretty sure he knows why, suspects Bradley’s therapist also knows why but Bradley hasn’t maybe put it together yet. “To serve… well. To help people I guess.”

                “Hmm. Like I said. I think you’d be pretty good at it.”

…            …            …

                So their lives shift a little again, and Bradley goes back to study, and he’s going to the same University as Amelia and suddenly he gets why and how Amelia becomes so entrenched in their lives. She spends the first year in the dorms, and Bradley rattles around in a two-bedroom apartment. Bradley has never lived alone and while he’s away Jake worries, so when he suggests Amelia maybe move in and they live together everyone treats him like it’s a genius solution. Which finds him, the summer before her second year helping her move in. While she’ll keep Bradley company while Jake’s deployed, her living with Bradley has made both Penny and Mav feel an infinite sense of relief about her living off-campus.

                “I feel much better about her living with you than in a sorority house or… well. I know you’ll keep an eye on her,” Maverick is saying and Jake catches Bradley’s eyeroll from across the room. Penny is busy cleaning the kitchen and doing a deep clean, which he knows Bradley is going to appreciate. Eventually. Once everything is back where Bradley wants it.

                “Yeah, because she’s totally going to want to hang out with me…” Bradley says with a grin towards Amelia and she grins back.

                “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re okay looking for an older guy, might make me look a little more interesting if I’m seen talking to you…”

                “You hear this Jake? I’m okay looking!”

                “For an older guy. I mean… I’d fuck you,” Jake calls back with a grin and Amelia pretends to vomit. Penny calls out a reprimand and all three of them roll their eyes, because they’ve all heard Penny swear a blue-streak.

                “Can you two ever not be gross?”

                “Nope.”

                He likes Amelia living with Bradley, it means he doesn’t worry so much when he’s deployed. That Bradley will make sure Amelia eats, and therefor taking care of his own needs. Plus he starts messaging Amelia for behind the scene updates and she doesn’t disappoint and Jake gets daily candid photos of Bradley doing domestic shit, or passed out cold on the sofa, or on campus meeting with his study group. When he comes back she makes herself scarce for twenty-four hours and then he takes her out for an expensive meal, which is apparently an acceptable trade.

…            …            …

                “This weekend! We’ve got forty-eight hours man. You said you wanted to be my best man, well, time to be the best…”

                “What?”

                “We’re getting married this weekend! Sunday!”

                Jake freezes, because they hadn’t set a date and he’d sort of been drifting, knowing that it was going to be ten-years from whenever they got married. And now he has a date. One only two days away.

                “Why are we in such a rush?”

                “You’re here, I’m here, Nix is here… Bradshaw can get here. She wants it in the small chapel on base, the one with those big pale wood arches. Plus we don’t want to wait anymore.”

                “Holy shit. Yeah. Okay. Fucking… tell me what you need me to do.”

                He rings Bradley, tells him he needs to get on a plane if he wants to stand up as witness for Nix. Of course Bradley drops everything, Amelia insisting on coming and Jake knows that that’s how it’s going to work, she’s going to be as big a part of Javy and Nix’s kids’ live as he and Bradley will be, so her being at the wedding feels right. Then Jake finds himself organizing a cake and a simple flower bouquet. Javy and Nix both have given him very strict instructions to not even think the word wedding when talking to anyone.

                The service is going to be small and private, set for the afternoon after the standard Sunday morning service. They have a week before they both get deployed again, so Jake searches for a resort within an hour drive which also has a honeymoon suite available, books it for them for five nights and lets them know he’s sorted his and Bradley’s wedding present to them.

                He’s pretty proud of what he and Javy have managed to achieve. The chapel didn’t need any decorating, but the Hard Deck, where they’re having the reception of sorts tomorrow evening, well, he supposes he has Penny and Amelia to thank for that, along with Maverick and Bradley. They’ve found soft fairy lights and large white paper lanterns and the whole place is unrecognizable as their usual watering hole. Except he recognizes it. It’s exactly like it is (was?) in the photos he can still remember looking at. As they shut up for the night everything is set for tomorrow and Jake doesn’t know why he’s so nervous.

                It’s not his wedding.

…            …            …

                Bradley has the confidence to look good in a hessian sack, and the legs to pull it off. In a tailored suit he looks mouthwatering. Jake knows he isn’t too shabby looking himself, glad he has an excuse to wear his suit rather than his dress uniform.

                “You look good…” Bradley says, giving him a slow sweep with his eyes and Jake laughs.

                “I am good…”

                “Fuck yeah you are…”

                “Not how it’s meant to go, but I’ll take it…” Jake says with a smirk, because he gets it now, why Bradley had looked at him so weirdly when he’d told Jake he looked good and he’d replied with a simple good morning. Fuck, no wonder Bradley believed him. That and Jake told him. At the wedding that they’re both at right now. Javy and Nix have disappeared somewhere for some photos, but Jake knows that they’re going to come through the doors, with Nix wearing a different dress from the one she got married in but looking no less gorgeous or happy.

                “Want to hear something really crazy?” Jake asks, leaning against Bradley for the reassurance of his presence, hopes he manages to come across as… sincere rather than insane.

                “Crazier than deciding to get married within two days?”

                “Yeah. Much crazier…” Jake says, and he’s still hold the half-filled champagne glass they’d used to toast Javy and Nix earlier. “I’ve seen photos of this… of this moment right here that we are in right now.”

                “How much have you had to drink?” Bradley asks with a laugh, taking the glass from his fingers.

                “Four sips of that champagne.”

                “So… what? You’ve got a sense of déjà vu?”

                “No. More than that… Just… imagine this with me. One day, actually, exactly ten years in the future, we’re happily married; I wake up and your arms are around me. Javy and Nat are off celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary and we’re looking after their three kids. They love and trust us enough to look after these three precious little humans. So I wake up and I don’t remember any of that. All I remember is being on a carrier stationed near Japan and suddenly I’m not anymore.”

                “What are you…”

                “Just… listen. So in ten years if I act a little weird for a couple of days, well, you made me fall in love with you over the space of a weekend… showed me how well we work together. I’m looking forward to filling in all the blanks.”

                “You’re… Jake. Are you being serious right now…”

                He shrugs.

                “Maybe it was just a dream. But it was a very fucking vivid dream. And I’d put money on Natasha and Javy coming through that door, she’s changed to a salsa dress and Javy’s going to be wearing suspenders and looking ridiculous, but they’re going to do a surprise dance number for us… we have a photo of it on the wall.”

                “Oh my god, you’re serious. Jake.”

                “I fell in love with you in this dream, and it made me want that with you so much… and I kind of figured if I could make you fall in love with me then we might get a chance at this happily ever after dream of mine.”

                “You’re a secret romantic… I mean, I knew that already. But just getting it confirmed again. I love you, you weird strange man.”

                “Mmm. Yeah. Love you too.”

…            …            …

                With the wedding photos now available he starts building the photo albums for his future-past self, and even if it’s all crazy and it never happens he doesn’t want to take the chance. Also he finds going through all their photos and picking the ones for including in a book to be an activity that brings him a lot of joy, seeing all their happiest moments and proudest achievements frozen in time.

…            …            …

                When they’re on vacation in the Rockies and Jake recognizes the view, stands there and takes it in with a deep breath, turns back to see what the hell is keeping Bradley only to find him on bended knee holding a ring box and even though he knew he would end up marrying him, having someone declare they love you so much they want to spend the rest of their live with you makes him burst into tears. He takes so many photos through blurry eyes, knowing that at least one is going to turn out so he can include the view in the photo album.

…            …            …

                Their bands are simple gold, although they’re made from gold melted down from Bradley’s parents wedding rings and a bangle that used to belong to his mom. Maverick had insisted on him keeping it all, and when Bradley gets a little emotional slipping the ring onto Jake’s finger he knows the moment is bittersweet, the fact that his parents aren’t here sad but the joy of the day will be everlasting. A photo of their joined hands, both showing off their rings, means more than just the start of their marriage. It encompasses their pasts too and he goes through the process of changing his name to Bradshaw.

…            …            …

                They have their honeymoon on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, and despite Jake’s insistence that Bradley didn’t use high enough SPF sunscreen and reapply it often enough after swimming Bradley gets terribly sunburnt on their third day. Fortunately the air conditioning in their private cabin is good, and they’re more than happy to spend the time together in bed. When the worst of it is over though Bradley starts peeling, making it somehow look worse and when they venture out to the night markets to find food Bradley gives him such a stink eye after he snaps a quick picture and sends it to the group chat.

…            …            …

                There are moments which he doesn’t capture. Natasha and Javy inviting him and Bradley over for dinner and telling them that they’re expecting a baby. That they’d like Jake and Bradley to be the godparents, and legal guardians, and that they want them both involved in the family care plan, seeing as they both still serve. Bradley’s jaw drops but Jake knew, hoped, and he wonders when he starts looking for their house. Their home. Of course both he and Javy are deployed when Nix gives birth to Alleisha, but Bradley is there for the birth, sounds fairly awed and disgusted by the whole process. Amelia makes herself invaluable and he knows now that she’s a speech and play therapist. Her and Bradley talk about things that overlap, but Bradley doesn’t ever work with kids, but he is good with them. One of Jake’s new favorite pastimes is watching Bradley hold Alleisha.

…            …            …

                He sees the notice and does a double take, because there’s a photo and he finds himself paying more attention to those these days than he ever has before. The dog looks like Thea. Bradley’s Thea. He wonders if he’s the one that gets Bradley a puppy. He snaps a picture of the flyer to show Bradley. When he raises it later, whether Bradley has ever thought of getting a dog, he gets a shake of the head and a weird look. Apparently Carole was allergic. Huh. Okay. Maybe things will be different.

                Of course he comes home two days later and finds a book about therapy dogs on the counter and he grins at it, raps his knuckles against it and then turns to find Bradley watching him from the doorway.

                “Am I getting a dog?” Bradley asks, and it’s like this sometimes, like he thinks Jake is somehow psychic and he guesses he does have quite a few insights about their future, but they’re more like markers laid out on a trail and he has to find all the paths between the points. He tries to keep them to himself for the most part, not wanting to enjoy the moments and time he has.

                “I don’t know. Do you want a dog?”

                “I didn’t think so. But I had my therapy appointment today.”

                “Yeah?”

                “And my therapist had a friend visiting who breeds therapy dogs. And that picture you showed me? That was her.”

                “Oh shit…”

                “Hmm. Her current litter is all spoken for, but Ali asked me if I would be interested in one from the next litter.”

                “That’s a hell of a coincidence…” Jake says.

                “Yeah well, I said I was. So I guess I’m getting a dog.”

…            …            …

                He’s deployed when Bradley sends him the link to several house listings, and then he sees it. Pictures of their house and his heart swells. There it is. He sends back this one. Bradley asks him if he’s sure, says it needs a lot of work. Jake replies that he’s as certain about the house as he is about loving him and that’s all that Bradley needs to make an offer. When he steps inside the first time his eyes widen, because it is nothing like he remembers but also Bradley had said it needed a lot of work. He wasn’t fucking joking.

                “I hope you like DIY…” Bradley murmurs, coming up behind him and pressing against him and Jake looks around, remembers photos of them painting and grins to himself.

                “Yeah, I think I’ll like it fine…”

…            …            …

                They have a trip to the beach, Nix and Alleisha firmly planted under a sun umbrella when Javy pulls out a soccer ball. He remembers the pain in his knee and he wonders if he should maybe avoid playing if it means he doesn’t get hurt. Except he can’t. He can’t not take part and he tries to be careful but when he feels his foot shift on the sand and his body weight goes the wrong direction over his knee he knows. He doesn’t try any heroics like walking on it. Tells Javy and Bradley both that they’re going to have to carry him and take him to the hospital immediately; asks for icepacks to assist with the swelling. Javy looks at him like he’s crazy but Bradley looks at him with wild eyes.

                “It’s my ACL and LCL. I’ll need surgery but I will fly again. Going to have to get used to having me around for a bit though…”

                Of course Bradley rolls his eyes, has words with Jake later about why he didn’t avoid the injury and he shrugs, says he doesn’t have it in him not to be competitive and kick a ball around with Javy. The benefit of being on light duty while he recovers and rehabs his knee means he’s there for James’ birth and holy shit. He gets why Bradley didn’t want to do it again.

…            …            …

                He smears the paint down Bradley’s naked chest, and the dark blue looks really nice against his skin. He says as much and Bradley twists against him, laughs and tries to buck him off where Jake’s got him pinned.

                “Uh uh Bradshaw… going to take you apart…”

                “Jake… the paint… it’ll dry and make a mess…”

                “Don’t care. We can buy more paint. We can clean up the mess… want to make another sort of mess right now.”

                With that declaration Bradley stops fighting and instead reaches to bring him down for a kiss and Jake grins into it, because he likes getting his way.

                Later, when Amelia and Bradley are both laughing at him over glasses of wine as he clips chunks of dried paint out of his hair he is less happy, but he still wouldn’t change anything.

…            …            …

                “Bradshaw… any relation to Nick Bradshaw?”

                “My late father-in-law,” Jake provides, and the eyebrows of the Admiral in front of him shoot up.

                “You married…”

                “Lieutenant Commander Bradley Bradshaw. Retired. Nick Bradshaw’s son.”

                “Huh. Means you must know Maverick as well then. I’m sorry Captain, what was your name previously?”

                “Seresin sir. Much prefer keeping the Bradshaw name and legacy alive and well instead.”

                There is a flash of recognition at his old name, because he’s just as legendary as Maverick now, if not better because he’s also known as someone who has saved Maverick’s life in the top-secret mission that of course everyone has heard rumors about. It’s years ago now though, and he doesn’t need to think anymore about his signature when he signs paperwork.

                “Fair enough.”

…            …            …

                Bradley buys him a camera for his obsession with taking photos and he enjoys it, becomes the unofficial photographer of their wider group of friends even though he’s got his own reasons for taking the photos. However he continues documenting all their vacations and gatherings, takes family photos and candid shots of them just hanging out. He doesn’t take any of it for granted, still occasionally blinks awake from sleep with his heart pounding and the knowledge that his life would be very different if he’d been a second later.

…            …            …

                When Brandy is born Javy is not deployed and both he and Bradley tell him he’s on his own. Instead they look after Alleisha and James, their bedroom is the biggest one in their house and there’s already a crib ready and waiting for when Brandy is old enough to start staying over. He startles then, realizing that it’s getting closer. The ten-year anniversary of Javy and Nat’s wedding. He pulls out a phone and looks at the calendar for 2035. Their anniversary is on a Friday next year. He has about nine months to prepare and he submit his leave request immediately.

…            …            …

                Of course he doesn’t get nine months. He’s deployed for a long six-month stint and he knows he’s missing some key moments in Brandy’s life, having seen so many of James’ while he was rehabbing his knee. However he’ll be home two weeks before the wedding anniversary and that’ll give him plenty of time to reacquaint himself with his husband before he… well. He’s not sure where he might go while his younger self is going to be hanging out in his body. He wonders if he’ll be back on the carrier in Japan and suddenly scrambles for memories that he might have to recall. Maybe he’ll just fake a stomach bug and get quarantined for the duration.

                “I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years…”

                “Best ten years of my life… and then some,” Jake murmurs, pressing a kiss onto the naked skin of Bradley’s shoulder. “Ten years…” Jake repeats and Bradley startles a little.

                “Yeah. Tenth anniversary. You uh…”

                “I remember what I told you… I still have no idea what the hell happened, or if it is even real but I guess we’ll know soon enough.”

                “Yeah, I guess we will.”

…            …            …

                He wakes under the weight of Bradley’s arm, his entire body pressed up tight against the line of Jake’s back, including a semi-hard erection and he knows without even opening his eyes that he’s back home, right time and right place, right name and also that while he can’t explain it he’s also not been fucking imagining what happened. He rocks back against Bradley’s cock and feels joy bubbling away through his entire body.

                “Mmm… Jake.”

                “Morning.”

                “Mmm,” Bradley mumbles, snuffling into the back of Jake’s hair and he keeps rocking, can feel the effect it’s having, can feel Bradley beginning to rock back into the friction, seeking it out. Then he’s gone, sharply pulling away, snapping on the bedside light and Jake winces and shades his eyes.

                “What the fuck Bradley…”

                “Are you…”

                “One hundred percent me, back to normal.”

                “You’ve never been fucking normal a day in your life…”

                Jake laughs.

                “Glad to have me back?”

                “Yes! Oh my god. So glad. I completely forgot… you let me sleep in! You… how the fuck did you just wake up and not freak the fuck out? I stress cleaned Jake. Our house is fucking spotless.”

                “Oh yeah… I remember that. I thought you were putting off having sex with me…”

                “That’s what I was stressing out about! You didn’t seem any different!”

                “You can have sex with me now. Again… also I was plenty freaked out but I also remember feeling pretty pleased that I had somehow gotten married to you.”

                “Oh my god… how… what even...”

                “I don’t know. Some things just can’t be explained I guess. Now going to give me my standard welcome home?”

                “Jake…”

                “Mmm… I fell in love with you over this weekend and then made you fall in love with me.”

                “You… so you don’t know what’s going to happen from now?”

                “I mean, I have some hopes for the short term…” Jake says, reaching a hand to stroke Bradley’s cock which makes him laugh and settle back against Jake, facing him and circling his hand around both their cocks. “And it’ll be our anniversary soon. Want to go to Hawaii?”

                “I guess the future is all ours…”

                “Baby, it’s always been ours.”

THE END

[kiesbrainjuice]

— TEACHER’S PET ! kuroo

syn : he is your teacher, you’re his student

wc : 4.1k

tw : smut, teacher and studen,t relationship (but they're around the same age), rough sex, fingering, cervix fucking, mid public sex, university au

The early morning sunlight filtered through the large windows of the gymnasium, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Motes of dust danced in the golden beams, lending an almost ethereal quality to the empty space. I stood at one end of the court, my muscles coiled with anticipation as I prepared to practice my serves. The solitude of the gym was a comforting cocoon, allowing me to focus solely on my technique without the distraction of my classmates' chatter or the weight of their expectations.

Or so I thought.

As I tossed the ball into the air, my arm pulling back to strike, a deep voice behind me shattered the silence, making me startle. The ball fell forgotten to the floor, bouncing away as I spun around.

"Your stance is a bit off, y/n."

Kuroo-sensei stood there, his tall frame silhouetted against the morning light. His usual smirk played on his lips, but there was something different in his eyes today - an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. His presence was both commanding and disarming, drawing me in even as it set my nerves on edge.

"Um, sorry?" I stammered, feeling heat creep up my neck and settle in my cheeks. "I didn't realize anyone else was here, sensei."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and rich. "Clearly. You seemed pretty lost in your own world there." Kuroo-sensei took a few steps closer, his gait casual but purposeful. "Mind if I give you a few pointers?"

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my heart rate had suddenly accelerated. "Of course not. I'd appreciate the help."

He nodded, closing the remaining distance between us. "Good. Now, let's start with your basic stance."

Before I could prepare myself, Kuroo-sensei's hand was on my shoulder, warm and steady. "Relax," he murmured, his voice pitched low. "You're too tense. Volleyball is about fluid motion, not rigid poses."

I tried to take a deep breath, but it caught in my throat as his other hand came to rest lightly on my hip. The touch was professional, meant to guide my posture, but it sent a jolt of electricity through me that I couldn't ignore.

"Your feet should be a bit wider apart," he instructed, using gentle pressure to nudge my stance wider. "Like this. It gives you a more stable base."

I nodded mutely, hyper-aware of every point of contact between us. Kuroo-sensei's chest was mere centimeters from my back, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. His breath tickled my ear as he continued his instructions, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Now, your arm motion." His hand slid from my shoulder down my arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake. "You're rushing it a bit. Try to make it one smooth movement, like this." He guided my arm through the serving motion, his larger hand engulfing mine.

"L-like this?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kuroo-sensei stepped back slightly, his hands falling away. The loss of contact was both a relief and a disappointment. "Much better," he said with a nod of approval, his dark eyes meeting mine. "Now, let's see you put it all together."

I took a deep breath, grateful for the chance to regain my composure. Retrieving a ball, I tried to focus on the techniques he'd shown me rather than the lingering sensation of his touch. I tossed the ball into the air, my body moving through the serve with more fluidity than before. The ball sailed over the net with a satisfying 'thwack', landing just inside the back line.

"Good," Kuroo-sensei commented, his tone genuinely pleased. "That's a significant improvement already. Keep working on that form, and you'll see your serves getting more powerful and accurate."

"Thanks," I replied, a mix of pride and embarrassment coloring my voice. "I really appreciate your help, sensei."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. There was something in his eyes - a warmth, an interest - that made my pulse quicken. "Anytime, y/n," he said finally, his trademark smirk returning. "Just remember to focus on the fundamentals. And maybe…" he paused, his smirk widening slightly, "…consider coming in for some extra practice sessions. I'd be happy to work with you one-on-one."

The offer hung in the air between us, laden with unspoken implications. I found myself nodding before I could fully process the suggestion. "I… I'd like that, sensei. If you're sure it wouldn't be too much trouble."

"No trouble at all," he assured me, his voice dropping to that low register that seemed to resonate in my very bones. "I always enjoy working closely with dedicated students."

The double meaning in his words was impossible to miss, and I felt my face flush anew. "Then… I'll look forward to it," I managed to reply, my voice steadier than I felt.

Kuroo-sensei's smile softened for a moment, becoming something more genuine and almost tender. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, his usual cocky grin was back in place. "Excellent. We'll set something up soon. For now, though, I should let you get back to your practice."

He turned away then, retrieving a stray ball from the court and tossing it into the air absently. I watched him for a moment, trying to make sense of the conflicting emotions swirling inside me - gratitude, excitement, and a nervous anticipation that I wasn't quite ready to name.

--

The gymnasium buzzed with activity as our class filed in for volleyball practice. The familiar squeak of sneakers on polished floors and the rhythmic thud of balls hitting the ground filled the air. I took my place among my classmates, trying to focus on our warm-up exercises, but my eyes kept drifting to the tall figure of Kuroo-sensei.

He stood at the center of the court, clipboard in hand, his messy black hair as untamed as ever. As he began to explain today's drills, his gaze swept over the class, pausing briefly as it met mine. A small smirk played at the corner of his mouth before he continued speaking.

"Alright, everyone. We're going to work on receives today. Pair up and spread out."

As we divided into pairs, I couldn't help but notice Kuroo-sensei's eyes following me. When I glanced back, he quickly looked away, jotting something on his clipboard. The memory of our early morning encounter flashed through my mind, bringing a flush to my cheeks.

Throughout the practice, our eyes seemed to find each other repeatedly. Each time, a jolt of electricity ran through me, making it difficult to concentrate on the drills. More than once, I fumbled a receive, earning a raised eyebrow from my partner.

"y/n," Kuroo-sensei called out after one particularly poor attempt. "Remember what we discussed about your stance. Wider base, stay low."

I nodded, trying to ignore the knowing look in his eyes. "Yes, sensei," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.

As the class progressed, I managed to regain some of my focus, but the undercurrent of tension remained. Every time Kuroo-sensei approached to offer advice or demonstrate a technique, I was acutely aware of his presence, the scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from his body.

Finally, as practice wound down, Kuroo-sensei clapped his hands for attention. "Good work today, everyone. Hit the showers. y/n, could you stay back for a moment?"

My heart leapt into my throat as my classmates filed out, a few casting curious glances my way. I approached Kuroo-sensei, wiping my palms nervously on my shorts.

"You wanted to see me, sensei?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

He waited until the last student had left before speaking, his voice low and tinged with concern. "Is everything alright, y/n? You seemed distracted today."

I swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze. "I'm fine, sensei. Just… a bit tired, I guess."

Kuroo-sensei stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. "Are you sure that's all it is?" he asked softly. "Because if our session this morning made you uncomfortable…"

"No!" I said quickly, perhaps too quickly. I forced myself to meet his eyes. "No, that's not it at all. I appreciated your help. It's just…" I trailed off, unsure how to explain the turmoil of emotions I was feeling.

He studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes intense. "I see," he said finally, a note of understanding in his voice. "Well, my offer still stands. If you'd like some extra practice sessions, I'm available."

I nodded, my heart racing. "I'd like that, sensei. When… when were you thinking?"

A slow smile spread across his face. "How about tomorrow morning? Same time as today. We can work on your receives."

"Okay," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be here."

Kuroo-sensei's hand came to rest on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Good. I'm looking forward to it, y/n."

As I turned to leave, he called out once more. "And y/n? Try to get some rest tonight. I need you focused tomorrow."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As I walked out of the gym, I could feel Kuroo-sensei's eyes on me, and I knew that sleep would be the last thing on my mind tonight.

--

The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of the empty locker room, casting soft, dappled patterns on the floor. It had been several months since I first joined the volleyball academy, and in that time, Kuroo-sensei and I had established a routine of sorts. We often met before and after practice for extra coaching or to discuss strategies. Our interactions were always professional but tinged with a subtle tension that neither of us acknowledged outright.

I had arrived early again, hoping for some solitude before practice began. As I changed into my practice gear, the cool air and the routine helped calm my mind from the events of the previous day with Kuroo-sensei.

Lost in thought, I didn't hear the door open quietly behind me. Startled by the sudden movement, I turned just in time to see the figure of someone entering. Without thinking, I grabbed my water bottle from the bench and instinctively threw it towards the intruder.

The bottle sailed through the air with surprising accuracy, but just before it hit its target, Kuroo-sensei moved swiftly, catching it in mid-air with a deftness that belied his usual confidence. For a split second, his eyes widened in surprise, his usual smirk replaced by a startled expression as he registered the scene before him.

"Oh, my… I'm so sorry, Sensei!" I blurted out, my face turning crimson as I realized what had happened. "I thought…"

Kuroo-sensei held up a hand, cutting off my apology. His gaze flickered between me and the bottle in his hand, his posture suddenly less assured. "It's okay," he said quickly, his voice a touch huskier than usual. "I should have knocked. I didn't mean to startle you."

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and relief. "I-I didn't know it was you," I managed to say, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline rush.

He glanced away, his fingers tightening around the water bottle. "Right. Sorry about that."

We stood there in awkward silence for a moment, the air thick with tension. I shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of my state of undress and his presence so close to me.

"I'll… I'll just finish getting ready," I muttered finally, turning away to retrieve my uniform.

"Yeah," Kuroo-sensei replied quickly, his voice slightly hoarse. "I'll see you on the court."

I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak further. As he left the locker room, I let out a shaky breath, feeling a strange mix of confusion and curiosity about the encounter. Kuroo-sensei's sudden lack of confidence had surprised me, adding another layer to our already complex dynamic.

Once dressed, I made my way to the gym, trying to shake off the unease that lingered from the encounter. The image of Kuroo-sensei's startled expression played over in my mind, along with the memory of how quickly he had retreated from the situation.

As practice began and the rest of the team arrived, I couldn't help but steal glances at Kuroo-sensei, wondering what had caused his unusual reaction in the locker room. The tension between us remained, but now there was a new element of uncertainty that made me question everything I thought I knew about him.

--

The next day at practice, I tried to shake off the awkwardness from my previous encounter with Kuroo-sensei. As I entered the gym, the usual buzz of conversation and the sound of volleyballs hitting the floor filled the air. I made my way to my usual spot, stretching and warming up for the day's drills.

Practice started as it always did, with Kuroo-sensei leading us through a series of warm-ups and drills. I focused on my form and technique, trying to push the lingering thoughts of the locker room incident out of my mind. But my concentration was soon interrupted by one of my classmates, Hiroshi, who had taken a particular interest in me over the past few weeks.

"Hey, you’re looking really good out there today," Hiroshi said, flashing me a charming smile as we partnered up for a drill.

"Thanks," I replied, my smile polite but not particularly enthusiastic. Hiroshi was nice enough, but his constant flirting was starting to wear on me.

As we continued the drill, Hiroshi kept up a steady stream of compliments and casual touches, his hand brushing my arm or shoulder a bit too often. I tried to focus on the practice, but his attention was distracting.

Kuroo-sensei's voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. "Hiroshi, focus on the drill, not the flirting."

Hiroshi chuckled, not seeming to take the hint. "Relax, Sensei. We're just having a little fun."

Kuroo-sensei's eyes narrowed, his usual smirk replaced by a hard, disapproving line. "Fun is fine, but not at the expense of your teammates' concentration. Get back to work."

I glanced at Kuroo-sensei, noticing the tension in his jaw and the way his eyes flickered with something akin to anger. The rest of the practice continued in a similar fashion, with Hiroshi's flirtations growing bolder and Kuroo-sensei's irritation more evident.

By the time practice ended, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. As the rest of the team filtered out of the gym, I lingered, waiting for my usual post-practice chat with Kuroo-sensei. I made my way to the locker room, hoping to avoid any further awkward encounters.

As I waited for the other girls to finish changing and leave, I replayed the events of the day in my mind. Hiroshi's flirting hadn't particularly bothered me, but Kuroo-sensei's reaction had been intense, almost possessive. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind.

Finally, the locker room emptied out, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I leaned against my locker, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat of my skin. Moments later, the door creaked open and Kuroo-sensei stepped inside, his expression unreadable.

"Waiting for me?" he asked, his tone more casual than his earlier demeanor.

My eyes widened in surprise, but I didn’t have a chance to respond. He continued, his voice rising with each word.

"AnI couldn't hold back my frustration any longer and blurted out, "Why are you so bothered by this? Hiroshi is just being friendly."

But Kuroo-sensei's expression turned dark and his jaw clenched tightly. "Friendly? That's what you call it?"

My frown deepened as I crossed my arms over my chest, challenging him. "Yes, he flirts a little, but it's harmless. Why do you care so much?"

He took a menacing step closer, his eyes blazing with anger. "Because it's not harmless. It's a distraction from your training – something that you need to focus on."

"I can handle it," I retorted, feeling my own anger rise. "I'm not some fragile doll in need of protection."

"That's not the point!" Kuroo-sensei snapped, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. "He's disrespecting you and you don't even see it."

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down. "Why does it matter to you so much? Why are you so bothered by someone flirting with me?"

But as he stepped closer, his presence felt overwhelming and his words made my heart race even faster. "Because...because I care about you," he finally admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. "More than I should."

I couldn't respond in time before he continued, his voice low and dangerous. "It drives me insane to see you with someone who doesn't appreciate you, who doesn't see how incredible you are."

I could feel my face heating up, my heart racing in my chest. "Sensei, I…"

He closed the distance between us until we were almost nose to nose, his breath hot against my skin. "You deserve so much more than some ignorant boy who can't control himself."

My throat constricted as I struggled to find words. "But why do you care? Why does it make you so angry?"

His eyes blazed with a fire that both scared and intrigued me as he leaned even closer, his hand slamming against the locker beside my head. The metal groaned in protest.

"Because I love you, goddamnit" he admitted through gritted teeth, his emotions raw and unfiltered. "And it kills me to see you with anyone else."

I gasped, my heart skipping a beat. "You… you love me?"

A hint of vulnerability softened his intense gaze, but the anger still pulsed beneath the surface. "Yes. I've been trying to fight it, to keep things professional, but I can't hold it back any longer."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I processed his words. "I had no idea," I whispered.

Kuroo-sensei's expression softened further, his hand moving from the locker to gently cup my cheek. "I didn’t want to scare you away," he said quietly. "But seeing you with Hiroshi… it just pushed me over the edge."

I leaned into his touch, my heart swelling with emotion. "Sensei, I… I don’t know what to say."

He leaned in closer, his forehead resting against mine. "Just tell me how you feel," he murmured. "I need to know."

Taking a deep breath, I looked into his eyes, the sincerity and vulnerability in his gaze breaking down my last defenses. "I… I think I love you too," I admitted softly.

His eyes darkened with a primal hunger, and in an instant his lips were on mine, the kiss consuming and filled with all the pent-up desire we had been denying for so long. His hand trailed down my body to cup my breast, igniting a fire within me that threatened to consume us both.

When we finally broke apart, our ragged breaths mingling in the air, I could feel the heat radiating from our bodies. "What now?" I panted, unable to contain my craving for him any longer.

Kuroo-sensei's lips curled into a wicked grin as he caressed my cheek with his fingers. "We take what we want," he growled.

A guttural moan escaped my lips, the sound vibrating through my whole body as we surrendered ourselves to the intoxicating passion between us. My hands shook with desire as he leaned closer, his intense gaze locking onto mine. In that moment, it felt like the world was about to end and we were the only ones left in it. His hands drifted downwards, tracing a path from my waist to my inner thighs, sending shivers of anticipation through me. As his fingers reached the hem of my panties, I let out a gasp and arched my back, eager for his touch. With skilled precision, he slipped his fingers beneath the fabric and spread my pussy's lips apart, making me moan into his mouth. And then he entered me, one finger at first and then two, igniting a fire within me that I couldn't control. With each movement of his hand, I felt myself surrendering completely to him and the overwhelming pleasure he brought me.

As his skilled fingers danced over your most sensitive spot, a wave of pleasure coursed through your body. You couldn't help but let out a series of moans that were met with his passionate kisses. "S-sensei! Please don't stop!" you pleaded, feeling the intense building sensation in your core. But just as you were on the brink of an explosive orgasm, he suddenly stopped, leaving you feeling frustrated and desperate for release. Your breaths came in short gasps as you silently begged for him to continue, craving the satisfaction he could provide.

"Bend over for me," he commanded, his voice low and husky. You felt a shiver run down your spine as you obeyed, slowly peeling off your delicate garments to reveal your naked body. Your legs trembled slightly as you spread them apart, fully exposing yourself to him. As you glanced back at him, your breath caught in your throat at the sight of his impressive manhood. "Sensei..." you whimpered, anticipation and nervousness mingling in your voice. His glistening tip hovered over your entrance, and you couldn't help but let out a small whine. "It...it won't fit," you protested weakly, but deep down, a part of you wanted it more than anything. "Oh, it will," he replied confidently, his deep voice sending delicious shivers through your body.

With a low growl, he declared, "I'm starting," as he forcefully pushed his large cock into you. A moan escaped your lips at the overwhelming sensation of his size inside of you. He struggled to enter your tight pussy, but with a determined thrust, he filled you completely, causing you to cry out in pleasure. His hand quickly silenced your cries as he leaned in close and whispered in your ear, "I know, baby..." The intensity of his words sent shivers down your spine as you felt his hot breath on your skin. You could feel every inch of him stretching and filling you, making you feel more alive than ever before.

The rhythm of his thrusts shifted from gentle to rough, eliciting cries of pleasure with each movement. "Yes! Y-Yes!" you gasped, your voice trembling with desire. His name slipped out as a moan, "S-Sensei!" but he quickly corrected you, "Kuroo. For you, it's Kuroo." The intensity of his desire for you was evident in the way he violently thrusted into you, like a punishment for calling him by that title. "K-Keep going," you pleaded, your voice filled with need. "I'm so close, K-Kuroo!" Your body trembled with anticipation as you neared the peak of ecstasy under his skilled touch.

Your body writhed in ecstasy as waves of pure pleasure crashed over you, your senses completely overwhelmed by Kuroo's skilled touch. Your walls clenched tightly around him as his hot release spilled into you, filling you up and overflowing from your dripping entrance. Gasping for air, you looked into Kuroo's eyes and saw the same euphoric satisfaction mirrored back at you. He scooped up some of the excess cum on his finger and held it out to you, commanding "Open wide." Without hesitation, you opened your mouth and let the warm liquid slide down your throat, savoring every delicious drop.

As Kuroo withdrew himself from inside of you, a content smile spread across your face. You loved these intense moments shared with your lover, where nothing else existed but the two of you and the raw pleasure coursing through your bodies. But as always, Kuroo had a mischievous glint in his eye, a reminder of the punishment that awaited you for losing their earlier match. "This is definitely a great endurance exercise," you teased playfully, knowing full well the consequences of your words. Withdrawing his slick fingers from your pussy, Kuroo chuckled darkly before leaning in close to whisper in your ear, "You're going to have to work extra hard tonight." A shiver ran down your spine at his words, anticipation building within you as the warm hues of the setting sun added to the sensual atmosphere.

The grass beneath you provided a sharp contrast to the heat emanating from your bodies as Kuroo pushed you onto your hands and knees. In this provocative position, you eagerly awaited his next move, feeling utterly helpless under his control. The anticipation only intensified as he slowly trailed his tongue along your spine, leaving a trail of fiery desire in its wake. And with each touch and sensation that followed, you lost yourself in a world of intense pleasure, completely consumed by the all-consuming fire of your love for Kuroo.

Ⓡ kiesbrainjuice all rights reserved. please to not plagiarize, repost, or translate !

tag : @haechansbbg

[thesunlistens]

I really love @gigizetz’s Warrior Penelope AU (for those who don’t know, it’s Epic/The Odyssey but Odysseus and Penelope swap places and some of the other characters swap too) and I have some questions that would have been too long for an ask:

• Is it based more on Epic or the original Odyssey? (If it’s more the original then you can disregard some of my Epic-specific questions.)

• I’ve seen you post a drawing where Ares is Penelope’s mentor (side note: I love that you accurately represent Ares supporting women! It really annoys me when people assume that male+violent=misogynist when actually supporting women is his main trait after violence!) Is Athena still Odysseus’s mentor in this AU? Because I’ve been giggling to myself imagining this happily married couple whose divine mentors are huge rivals and don’t like each other! Like, they would both invite their mentors over whenever they had a party or something and the two gods would spend the whole time glaring at each other while their mentees are in love and oblivious to the tension. It’s making me laugh!

• If this is the case, who does Ares have to convince instead of… well, himself, in God Games? You could just switch them, but if Athena is still Odysseus’s mentor, she wouldn’t really need convincing because she wants him to be happy, and besides, I can’t see her being paired up with Aphrodite. So who takes his place (is it someone else with a connection to Aphrodite, or is it reworked so she and the new god have separate verses?), and what’s their argument?

• I saw that you posted a really cool Iris design with Penelope - am I right in assuming she’s this AU’s version of Hermes since they’re both messenger gods?

• Are Odysseus’s suitors the same people as Penelope’s suitors, or do they swap places with the people who tried to seduce him in the original (Circe and Calypso)? And if it’s the second, how does the slaughter of the suitors work considering that, as Calypso says, goddesses can’t die?

• Are the crew the same people, or does Penelope have her own friends? And if they’re different people, who are they?

• Are there any other characters who swap places? Considering that the roles that are swapped mostly seem to be gender swapped, I can see Cassandra taking the place of Tiresias if her curse ended when she died, but that’s just an idea.

• Have you thought about reworked lyrics, e.g. a few times in Epic, “my wife” is used as the rhyme, what would the rhyme be for “my husband”? Or when the name of a character who’s swapped with another is the rhyme, e.g. what would replace “arena”? (I’m imagining something like “fight if you dare, he’s” something, but again, just an idea.)

• If you haven’t thought about reworked lyrics yet, can I work with you on it? I like writing, especially lyrics!

• Are there any major changes to the plot aside from the role swaps?

[s4svnn]

Out of bounds . JJK

↳ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬; his love subjected you to the true extent of deception, a merciless lie wrapped in the illusion of paradise, until the truth tore it apart - he was always out of bounds.

↳ Jungkook x reader

↳ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: ongoing

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

Chapter Sixteen

The hours passed more quickly than I anticipated, and as I lounged on Jungkook’s oversized couch, I found myself grudgingly admitting that staying at his house wasn’t as bad as I’d initially thought. Sure, the circumstances weren’t ideal, but his place was a hundred times better than my cramped apartment. The space was immaculate, filled with high-end furniture, and equipped with every comfort you could imagine.

And the quiet. God, the quiet was a luxury. No neighbors yelling through thin walls, no leaky faucets dripping incessantly. Just peace.

Jungkook had left earlier to attend a meeting, leaving me to my own devices—or, more accurately, to the iPad he’d handed me with a casual, “Use this for whatever you need.” Since all of my own electronics other than my phone were still at my apartment, it was a lifesaver.

I’d decided to spend the afternoon catching up on some design work. The iPad was surprisingly intuitive, and once I got into the zone, I completely lost track of time. Sketching and colouring ideas for upcoming projects became all-consuming, the stylus gliding effortlessly across the screen. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t hear the front door open, nor the faint footsteps approaching.

“Miss Banks?”

The deep, unfamiliar voice startled me so badly that I nearly dropped the iPad. I whipped around to see a tall, broad-shouldered man standing a few feet away. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, a tiny earpiece nestled in his ear. His neatly styled hair and calm demeanour screamed professionalism.

“Who—” I began, my voice shaky.

“I’m Ace,” he said quickly, holding up his hands as if to show he meant no harm. “One of Mr. Jeon’s security detail. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Oh,” I said, blinking. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

Ace gave a small smile. “That tends to happen. We’re trained to move quietly.”

I relaxed slightly, setting the iPad down on the coffee table. “Right. Well is everything okay?”

“Yes, of course,” he replied, his tone polite. “Just wanted to make sure you’re comfortable while Mr Jeon’s out. Is there anything you need? Food? Water? Anything at all?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. But, uh, thanks for checking.”

Ace nodded but didn’t leave right away. Instead, his expression softened slightly, and he tilted his head as he looked at the screen. “You’re an artist?”

“Something like that,” I replied, surprised by his interest.

“That’s impressive,” he said, his tone genuine. “I can’t even draw a straight line.”

I laughed despite myself. “It’s not as hard as it looks. You just need practice.”

“Trust me,” he said, grinning. “I’ve tried. Stick figures are about as far as I get.”

I chuckled, the tension easing between us. Ace had an easygoing way about him, and it wasn’t long before we were joking and laughing like old friends. He told me a story about how he once mistook Jungkook’s delivery guy for a potential threat and ended up accidentally tackling him in the driveway.

By the time we were both laughing uncontrollably, I’d almost forgotten where I was.

“What’s so funny?”

The low, familiar voice cut through the laughter like a knife. I looked up, startled, to see Jungkook standing in the doorway. His sharp eyes flicked between me and Ace, his expression unreadable but tense.

Ace immediately straightened, his amusement vanishing as if it had never existed. “Mr. Jeon,” he said respectfully, inclining his head.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook asked, his tone calm but laced with authority.

“I was just checking if—”

“Go do your job,” Jungkook interrupted, his gaze hard.

Ace hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Of course. My apologies.”

With a quick glance at me, he turned and left the room. The atmosphere shifted the moment the door closed behind him.

I glared at Jungkook. “What was that about?”

He crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “What?”

“You didn’t have to be so rude to him!” I snapped. “He was just being nice.”

Jungkook’s gaze narrowed. “He’s not here to keep you entertained. He’s here to do his job.”

“Oh, so now I’m not allowed to talk to anyone?” I asked, standing up and planting my hands on my hips. “What’s your problem?”

“I don’t have a problem,” he said, his voice sharp.

“Oh my god.”

“What.”

I tilted my head, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Are you jealous?”

He scoffed, his eyes widening slightly. “Jealous? Don’t flatter yourself.”

I took a step closer, my smirk growing. “You are. It’s written all over your face.”

“You’re imagining things,” he said defensively, his arms dropping to his sides.

“Am I?” I teased, enjoying the way his composure seemed to crack.

Jungkook didn’t reply, but the way his jaw clenched gave him away. I laughed, shaking my head as I grabbed the iPad from the table.

“Alright, Mr. Not-Jealous,” I said, turning back to him. “I think we should add a few more rules to your precious list.”

His brows furrowed, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “What kind of rules?”

“First,” I began, holding up a finger, “you’re not allowed to touch me. No more surprise kisses, no leaning into my space—none of that.”

His expression darkened. “What—”

“Second,” I continued, ignoring his protest, “you can’t boss me around unless it’s life-or-death. I don’t care if you’re used to everyone jumping when you say so.”

“This is my house—”

“Third,” I cut him off, “if I catch you being rude to your staff again, I’m calling you out on it. Every single time.”

He stared at me, his frustration growing by the second.

“Fourth,” I added, “no more walking around shirtless.”

“Why the hell not?” he demanded.

“Because it’s distracting,” I said simply, grinning at the way his ears turned red.

“Fifth,” I concluded, “you’re not allowed to break any of my rules.”

Jungkook glared at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “No.”

“No?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m not agreeing to any of that,” he said stubbornly.

“Suit yourself,” I said with a shrug, turning back to the iPad. “If you don’t follow my rules then I’m sure as hell not following yours.”

His exasperated groan followed me as I sat back down. I couldn’t help the smug smile that crept across my face in having succeeded in getting a reaction out of him.

As I sank back onto the couch, iPad in hand, I tried to pretend Jungkook wasn’t looming nearby like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury. His glare was practically searing into the side of my head, heavy and relentless, but I kept my eyes glued to the lines of the design I was perfecting.

For a moment, I thought he’d finally get the hint and stalk off to brood somewhere else. But, of course, that would’ve been too easy. Jungkook wasn’t the type to let things go.

“You think this is funny, don’t you?” His voice cut through the quiet, sharp and tinged with irritation.

I sighed, finally looking up at him. He stood in front of me, arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes locked on mine with a challenge I didn’t care to entertain. “What are you talking about now?” I asked, feigning innocence.

“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped. “The rules. This whole list of yours.You’re trying to make this difficult on purpose.”

I leaned back against the couch cushions, folding my arms. “I’m just setting boundaries, Jungkook. Isn’t that what peaceful cohabitation is all about?”

“Boundaries,” he scoffed, his lips curling into a bitter smirk. “You mean a bunch of ridiculous rules designed to make my life miserable.”

“Your life isn’t miserable,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “You live in a mansion, drive cars that cost more than my entire existence, and have people at your beck and call. Forgive me if I don’t feel sorry for you.”

His jaw ticked, but instead of firing back, he leaned forward, bringing his face uncomfortably close to mine. His dark eyes locked onto mine with a heat that made my pulse flutter despite my best efforts to remain unaffected. “You don’t know the first thing about my life,” he said, his tone low and challenging.

I swallowed hard, willing myself not to react to the magnetic pull of his presence. “You’re right,” I said evenly. “I don’t. But I do know one thing—you’re not going to intimidate me into getting rid of my rules.”

A flicker of something—frustration, amusement, or both—passed across his face. His lips twitched like he wanted to argue, but instead, he straightened up and ran a hand through his damp hair. “Fine,” he muttered, stepping back a fraction. “Keep your stupid rules. Let’s see how long you last before you break one.”

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion blooming. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” He smirked, the arrogance in his expression making my blood boil. “Just don’t come crying to me when you realise how hard it is to resist.”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

But before I could fire back, he turned on his heel and strode toward the hallway, his broad shoulders radiating smug satisfaction.

“Resist!” I called after him, my voice incredulous. “You’re the one who can’t seem to keep his hands—or lips—off me!”

He didn’t even pause, disappearing around the corner without another word.

I sat there fuming, his words playing on an infuriating loop in my mind. The audacity of him to suggest that I’d be the one to slip up first. If anything, he was the one who couldn’t seem to keep his distance. Wasn’t that what this whole argument was about? His inability to just let me exist without interfering or—God forbid—touching me?

The thought lingered longer than I wanted it to, sparking an unwelcome warmth in my cheeks. I shoved it away and focused back on my designs, channeling all my frustration into the crisp lines and bold ideas taking shape on the screen.

But no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, Jungkook’s words—and the way he’d said them—continued to linger in my mind. Every sharp smirk, every heated look, every infuriating, arrogant word echoed in my thoughts.

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

After several hours hunched over my iPad, sketching and re-sketching, exhaustion began to creep into my body. The ache in my shoulders and the slight burning in my eyes were enough to make me set the device aside with a frustrated sigh. The couch had been comfortable at first, but the position I’d sunk into for so long was now wreaking havoc on my back and neck. I let my head fall back against the cushions, closing my eyes for a moment to reset.

Without meaning to, I drifted off into a nap.

When I woke up, it wasn’t the peaceful kind of rest I’d hoped for. My neck felt stiff, my shoulders tense, and my lower back throbbed faintly from the awkward position I’d apparently curled into. Groaning, I pushed myself upright and rubbed the back of my neck, grimacing at the soreness. Stretching my arms above my head, I leaned to one side and then the other, small pops emanating from my joints as I tried to shake off the discomfort.

Despite the stretches, the tension in my muscles didn’t completely fade. I needed to move, to get my body into motion and loosen up. Jungkook’s house was massive, far bigger than any space I’d ever lived in, so there was plenty of room for walking around without feeling confined. My gaze flicked toward the closed door leading to his room.

He was probably still in there, which meant I could roam around freely without worrying about his rules. Sure, exploring the house had technically made it onto his ridiculous list of rules, but what harm could it really do if I stuck to the downstairs? It wasn’t like I was rifling through his things or prying into his life. I just needed to stretch.

I stood and padded toward the hallway, passing through the wide archway that led out of the living room. The house was eerily quiet, the kind of stillness that made you hyperaware of every small sound. My bare feet barely made a noise on the smooth, polished floors as I wandered into what I quickly realised was the dining room.

It was grand, far more impressive than anything I’d ever seen in person. A long, polished oak table dominated the room, surrounded by at least ten high-backed chairs upholstered in a rich navy-blue fabric. A glittering crystal chandelier hung overhead, catching the faint light from the wall sconces and casting tiny, dancing reflections onto the tabletop below. Along one wall, there was a built-in sideboard with shelves and cabinets that displayed ornate silverware, china, and glassware that looked like it belonged in a museum rather than an actual home.

The room exuded a sense of elegance, but there was something impersonal about it, as if it had been designed for appearances rather than comfort. I couldn’t imagine Jungkook actually sitting here for meals unless he was hosting one of those elaborate, high-society dinner parties you saw in movies.

Curious, I continued down the hall, eventually stumbling into another space that immediately caught my attention: the wine bar.

It was smaller and cozier than the dining room, but no less impressive. Dark mahogany shelves lined the walls, each one holding an array of wine bottles arranged by region and vintage. The sheer number of labels was overwhelming, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the level of organisation and curation. A marble-topped bar sat in the center of the room, complete with high stools and a glass rack hanging overhead. Everything gleamed under the soft ambient lighting, giving the space an air of understated sophistication.

This room felt more personal, like a place Jungkook might actually use. I could imagine him sitting here late at night, nursing a glass of something expensive as he brooded over whatever it was that occupied his enigmatic mind.

I lingered for a moment, running my fingers along the cool marble surface of the bar before deciding to move on. I walked past the formal sitting room, which looked pristine and untouched, as if no one had ever dared to sit on the perfectly arranged furniture. The entryway with its grand staircase and towering ceilings made me pause briefly, but I resisted the urge to head upstairs. Exploring the second floor felt like crossing a line I wasn’t ready to breach just yet.

Eventually, I found my way to the garden.

The cool night air hit me the moment I stepped outside, carrying with it the faint, earthy scent of freshly watered plants. The garden was expansive, with stone pathways winding through perfectly manicured hedges and clusters of vibrant flowers. Low garden lights illuminated the space, casting a soft glow that accentuated the natural beauty of the foliage.

I tipped my head back to look at the sky, which stretched endlessly above me. The stars were scattered like tiny diamonds across a velvet-black canvas, their light faint but steady. The moon hung low and full, its silvery glow bathing the garden in a soft, ethereal light. It was breathtaking, the kind of tranquil beauty that made you forget about your troubles, even if only for a moment.

As I wandered, something unusual caught my eye near the edge of the patio. A large, round shape sat beneath a gray waterproof sheet, tucked into a corner as if trying to blend in with its surroundings. Intrigued, I made my way over and carefully lifted the edge of the sheet.

My curiosity quickly turned to delight as the sleek surface of a jacuzzi came into view. It was larger than I expected, with built-in jets arranged around the edges and a control panel that hinted at customisable settings. The polished metal and acrylic exterior gleamed faintly under the moonlight, and I couldn’t help but grin at the discovery.

The idea of sinking into warm, bubbling water was beyond tempting, especially with how stiff and sore my body felt. For a moment, I hesitated, glancing back toward the house. Would Jungkook care if I used it? Probably. But then again, this was his fault. If he hadn’t been so insufferable earlier, I wouldn’t be walking around with my muscles in knots.

Decision made, I headed back inside to prepare.

Once at the wine bar, I quickly stripped out of my clothes, folding them neatly into a pile and setting them on the countertop. The cool air against my skin sent a small shiver down my spine, but the promise of the jacuzzi’s warmth kept me from second-guessing. I grabbed a towel from the bar’s storage unit and made my way back outside.

Dipping a toe into the water, I sighed in relief at the perfect temperature. It was warm enough to soothe every ache and pain without being overwhelming. Without wasting another second, I slid into the jacuzzi, the bubbling water enveloping me like a comforting embrace.

I leaned back, resting my neck against the edge of the tub as the jets worked their magic on my tense muscles. Closing my eyes, I let myself relax completely, the stress of the day melting away with each passing moment. For the first time since arriving at Jungkook’s house, I felt truly at peace.

But unfortunately for me the peace didn’t last long. After about ten blissful minutes of soaking in the jacuzzi’s bubbling warmth, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the serene stillness of the garden. My body tensed instinctively, the quiet invaded by the firm, deliberate sound of someone walking toward me. Reluctantly, I lifted my head to lock eyes with the last person I wanted to see.

Jungkook stood at the edge of the jacuzzi, arms crossed over his chest, his posture as rigid as the glare he was directing my way. The soft garden lights illuminated the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the dark intensity in his eyes. He didn’t look amused, though there was a faint hint of something—curiosity, perhaps—lingering in his expression.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, his voice calm but edged with that signature irritation I was starting to recognise.

I tilted my head lazily and leaned back against the edge of the jacuzzi, pretending to be unfazed. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m soaking in this luxurious jacuzzi you conveniently left outside for all to enjoy.” I paused for dramatic effect, my tone dripping with mock sincerity. “Lovely placement, by the way.”

His jaw tightened, his fingers flexing like he was physically restraining himself from saying something harsher. “I told you not to wander around the house.”

“And I didn’t wander,” I said matter-of-factly, letting my hand glide lazily through the water. “I was stretching because I woke up with every muscle in my body screaming in pain. It’s not my fault I happened to stumble across this oasis in your maze of a mansion. Should I have sent a memo first?”

“You’re not supposed to be out here,” he said firmly, ignoring my attempt at humor. “Rules are rules.”

“Oh, please,” I said, sitting up straighter. “Don’t act like those rules of yours are gospel. They’re just a way for you to micromanage me, and honestly, they’re not doing much for my aching muscles, Jungkook. So excuse me if I decided to prioritise my physical well-being over your fragile sense of control.”

His eyes narrowed at that, his posture stiffening further. “Fragile sense of control?” he repeated, his tone dangerously calm.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I said,” I replied, refusing to back down. “Honestly, what’s the big deal? I’m just using the jacuzzi. It’s not like I’m hosting a rave in your precious garden.”

He ran a hand through his hair, the motion frustrated and slow. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point?” I challenged, folding my arms across my chest. “Enlighten me, Jungkook. What exactly is so wrong about me sitting here, minding my own business, and trying to loosen up a few knots in my back?”

For a moment, he didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on me, dark and unreadable, and I could see the internal battle playing out behind his eyes. Finally, with a long, exasperated sigh, he threw up his hands in defeat.

“Fine,” he muttered, stepping back slightly. “Do whatever you want. Just...don’t drown or something.”

“Wow, such concern,” I said dryly, reclining back against the edge once more. “Don’t worry, Jungkook, I promise I won’t disrupt your carefully curated bachelor lifestyle by doing something as inconvenient as dying in your jacuzzi.”

He shot me a look, his lips twitching like he wanted to argue, but instead, he shook his head and turned to leave. “Five minutes,” he tossed over his shoulder. “Then get out.”

“Sure thing, Your Majesty,” I said under my breath, closing my eyes again and letting myself sink back into the water.

For a brief moment, I actually thought I was in the clear. The garden fell silent again, the soft hum of the jacuzzi and the faint rustle of the night breeze lulling me into a rare sense of calm. I let out a long breath, my muscles slowly unwinding in the warm water, as I tried to forget about the frustrating man I was sharing a house with.

But, of course, Jungkook wasn’t one to let me enjoy my peace for long.

The first sign of trouble came when a splash of water hit my face, jolting me out of my relaxed state. My eyes flew open, and I immediately sat up, wiping the droplets off my face.

“What the fu—” My words caught in my throat as I took in the sight before me.

Jungkook was climbing into the jacuzzi, his expression as smug as ever. The glow of the garden lights reflected off his damp skin, and to my utter disbelief, he was wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded, my voice rising as I stared at him.

“Enjoying my jacuzzi,” he said casually, sinking into the water with a satisfied sigh. “You don’t get exclusive rights to it just because you decided to break the rules.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest as I glared at him.

“Am I?” he shot back, raising an eyebrow. “Last I checked, this is my house. If anyone’s breaking the rules, it’s you.”

“I wouldn’t have needed to break your stupid rules if you weren’t so obsessed with controlling everything,” I retorted.

“Controlling?” he repeated, his tone mockingly offended. “I’m not the one setting up ridiculous boundaries to make life miserable.”

“You really can’t live without touching me, can you?” I shot back, my words laced with sarcasm.

His smirk faltered for a split second, replaced by a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place. But then it was gone, and he leaned back, draping his arms lazily over the edge of the tub.

“You’re imagining things,” he said smoothly. “This isn’t about you. I just wanted to enjoy my jacuzzi without worrying about a guest accidentally drowning in it.”

I let out an incredulous laugh. “Right, because you’re such a selfless host.”

He shrugged, clearly unbothered by my sarcasm. “Believe what you want.”

I stared at him for a moment, my frustration warring with a begrudging sense of amusement. He was infuriating, sure, but there was also something almost...entertaining about the way he refused to back down.

“Fine,” I said finally, leaning back again. “You stay on your side, I’ll stay on mine. Deal?”

“Deal,” he agreed, though the playful glint in his eye made me wonder if he had any intention of keeping his word.

As I closed my eyes again and tried to recapture the calm I’d felt earlier, I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer I’d be able to endure sharing a house—and apparently, a jacuzzi—with someone as insufferable as Jungkook.

The silence in the jacuzzi was palpable, broken only by the soft hum of the bubbling water around us. I closed my eyes and tried to steady the erratic beating of my heart, willing myself to ignore how close Jungkook was. The way his presence seemed to fill every inch of the space around me made it impossible to fully relax, even though the water soothed my sore muscles.

But, of course, peace wasn’t something Jungkook allowed for very long.

“So,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. “I’ve decided what we should bet on.”

I opened one eye to look at him, already bracing myself for whatever ridiculous idea he was about to throw my way. “When did we agree on a bet?”

“Our conversation from before remember,” he said, leaning back against the edge of the jacuzzi as if this was the most natural thing in the world. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a way that immediately made me suspicious.

“And?” I prompted, narrowing my eyes at him.

“And,” he continued, dragging out the word just to irritate me, “I bet that you’ll touch me first.”

I let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Seriously? That’s the best you could come up with? How mature of you.”

He shrugged, unbothered. “It’s a fair bet. You’re always acting so above it all, like I don’t get under your skin. Let’s see how long that really lasts.”

“Please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If anything, you’ll be the one to slip up first.”

His smirk deepened, and something about the way he leaned forward slightly made my pulse quicken. “Is that your bet, then?”

“Fine,” I said, sitting up straighter to meet his challenge head-on. “I bet you’ll touch me first.”

“And the stakes?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual, though his gaze was sharp and focused.

I thought for a moment, wanting to come up with something that would wipe that cocky smirk off his face. “Whoever loses has to do whatever the other person asks. No questions, no arguments.”

His eyebrows rose in mock surprise, but the amused grin never left his face. “You’re that confident, huh?”

“More like realistic,” I shot back.

“Deal,” he said, holding out his hand for me to shake.

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed his hand, shaking it firmly to seal the bet. But the moment my fingers wrapped around his, his grin turned into a full-blown smirk.

“You just lost,” he said, his voice laced with triumph.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You touched me,” he said, holding up our joined hands as if to make his point perfectly clear. “Bet’s over. I win.”

My jaw dropped as realization hit me. “You cheated! That doesn’t count!”

“A bet is a bet,” he said smugly, releasing my hand and leaning back like a king who’d just won a war. “Now you owe me.”

I glared at him, my frustration bubbling up alongside the water. “What could your majesty possibly want me to do?”

His smirk softened into something more playful, but the glint in his eyes remained as dangerous as ever. “Oh, it’s nothing crazy,” he said, his tone dripping with false innocence.

Before I could protest further, Jungkook reached out again, this time grabbing my wrist and tugging me forward with surprising ease. My body moved before my brain could catch up, and suddenly, my chest was pressed against his, my legs brushing against his in the water.

I froze, my breath catching as I looked up at him. His face was so close, his dark eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

“I want you to kiss me,” he said, his voice low and steady.

My eyes widened, and I blinked at him, sure I hadn’t heard him right. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. “Don’t get shy on me now.”

“I’m not shy,” I said quickly, though my voice betrayed me by coming out softer than I intended.

His expression was unreadable, but the way his hands rested on my hips, holding me firmly but gently, made it clear he wasn’t planning to let me go anytime soon. “Then prove it.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing in my chest. My mind screamed at me to pull back, to say something sarcastic and end this before it got out of hand. But my body seemed to have other ideas.

Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes and leaned in. My lips brushed against his lightly at first, tentative and unsure, but the warmth of his mouth against mine made it impossible to stop.

The kiss deepened quickly, Jungkook’s hands sliding down to my thighs as he pulled me even closer. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and I felt his fingers press into my skin, holding me as if he was afraid I’d let go.

His lips moved against mine with a confidence that made my head spin, and I found myself gripping his shoulders to steady myself. The heat between us was overwhelming, and every brush of his mouth felt like a spark igniting something I couldn’t control.

When I finally pulled back for air, my chest heaving, Jungkook’s forehead rested against mine. He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my skin. “I wonder what pretty noises I can get you to make.”

My cheeks burned, and I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. He didn’t give me a chance to gather my thoughts, leaning in again to press his lips to my neck.

The sensation sent a shiver down my spine, and I bit my lip to keep from making any sound. His mouth was warm and soft, leaving a trail of kisses along the sensitive skin of my collarbone.

“Jungkook…” I whispered, unsure if I was pleading for him to stop or to keep going.

“Yes princess.” He hummed against my skin, his grip on my thighs tightening as if to anchor me to him. The sound sent a rush of warmth through me, and I felt my resolve slipping further away with every touch, every kiss.

He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. Neither of us said anything, but the unspoken tension between us hung heavy in the air, impossible to ignore.

“You’re such a pervert,” I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smirked, his hands still resting on my thighs. “You’re the one who made the bet.”

I opened my mouth, ready to argue and remind him that he’d cheated, but the words died on my lips the moment his kisses began to trail lower. My breath hitched as I felt the soft press of his lips against the skin of my chest, each kiss igniting a spark that traveled down my spine.

My chest rose and fell with nervous anticipation as he paused, his lips hovering just above my breasts. His gaze lifted to meet mine, dark and questioning, as if silently asking for permission to continue. The intensity in his eyes sent a wave of heat coursing through me, and I felt my cheeks burn under his stare.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gave him a shy nod, my curiosity and the pull of the moment far outweighing my nerves.

Jungkook’s lips quirked into the faintest of smiles before he leaned forward again, his mouth leaving a soft, lingering kiss in the valley between my breasts. The simple gesture sent shivers racing through me, and I felt my body respond in ways I hadn’t anticipated—my skin warming, my breaths growing shallow, my mind clouded with sensation.

Then, with deliberate slowness, he slid his hands up my sides, his fingers grazing the straps of my bra before pushing them down. The fabric gave way easily, and before I could fully process what was happening, his lips were on me.

The first touch of his mouth against my bare nipple sent a jolt through me, and I gasped quietly, my fingers instinctively clutching at the edge of the hot tub for balance. He moved with a hunger that was both overwhelming and intoxicating, his tongue and lips working in tandem as he lavished attention on one breast and then the other.

Each pull and flick of his tongue sent ripples of pleasure through me, leaving me breathless and trembling under his touch. His hands weren’t idle either—one rested firmly on my waist, holding me in place as though he were afraid I’d run any second now, while the other skimmed up my thigh, the sensation leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

“Don’t stop,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the bubbling water and the erratic pounding of my heart.

He hummed in response, the vibration of the sound against my skin making me shiver. The way he moved—confident, deliberate, and utterly unrelenting—made it clear that he knew exactly what he was doing.

I tilted my head back, my eyes fluttering shut as I surrendered to the moment. It was impossible to think about anything else—about where we were, about the consequences, about the bet we’d made. All I could focus on was the heat of his mouth, the way his hands seemed to mold perfectly to my body, and the delicious ache that was building in the pit of my stomach.

When he finally pulled back, his lips were slightly swollen, his breathing heavy. He rested his forehead against my chest for a moment before lifting his gaze to mine. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, filled with something that made my pulse quicken all over again.

“You’re too tempting for your own good,” he murmured, his voice rough and low, sending a shiver down my spine.

I stared at his disheveled face in awe, unable to look away. His hair was damp and slightly tousled, his lips swollen and pink from the intensity of our kiss, and his cheeks were dusted with a deep flush that made him look almost boyish. For a fleeting moment, he reminded me of someone who had just shared their very first kiss with their childhood crush—vulnerable and utterly endearing.

Jungkook caught me staring and arched a brow, his smirk returning despite the obvious redness in his face. “What are you looking at?” he asked, his voice soft but laced with teasing.

“You,” I replied before I could stop myself. My own cheeks flared as I realized what I’d just said, but I tried to cover it up by adding, “You look different. Not so cocky for once.”

His smirk widened, and the cockiness I’d just mentioned flared back into place as if I’d summoned it. “Different, huh? Is that your way of saying you like what you see?”

“Don’t push your luck,” I shot back, rolling my eyes, though my lips twitched with the hint of a smile.

Before I could overthink what was happening, Jungkook closed the small distance between us once more, his hand cupping the side of my face. “If you’re going to stare at me like that, I might as well give you something to really look at,” he murmured before capturing my lips again.

This time, the kiss was softer. There was no rush, no urgency—just the slow, intoxicating press of his mouth against mine. It felt like he was savouring the moment, drawing it out as long as possible, and I couldn’t help but melt into him. My hands found their way to his shoulders, and I clung to him as if letting go would break the spell we were under.

Jungkook’s hands began to roam, one slipping down to my ass lightly squeezing the flesh, while the other cradled the back of my neck. His touch was firm yet gentle, and every brush of his fingers against my skin sent a thrill racing through me.

“You’re addictive,” he murmured against my lips, his words making my heart skip a beat.

I pulled back just enough to catch my breath, my head spinning. “You’re one to talk,” I whispered, unable to hide the smile that tugged at my lips.

His eyes softened as he looked at me, and for a moment, it felt like the world around us had disappeared. There was no bubbling water, no cool night air—just him and me, tangled together in a moment that felt far too perfect to be real.

But Jungkook, being Jungkook, couldn’t let the moment stay tender for too long. “You know,” he said, his smirk making a comeback as his thumb brushed over my cheek. “If you keep kissing me like that, I’m going to think you’ve already forgotten about your little bet.”

“Forgotten?” I echoed, narrowing my eyes at him. “Hardly. I’m just playing along since you already gave in.”

“Playing along, huh?” he teased, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine. “That’s a bold strategy. Let’s see how long it lasts.”

He kissed me again before I could respond, his mouth moving against mine with a renewed fervor that made my heart race all over again. It was impossible to think when he kissed me like that, and maybe that was the point—maybe he was trying to throw me off my game.

But two could play at that.

I slid my hands up his chest and around his neck, pulling him closer until there was no space left between us. If he thought he could distract me into losing, he was sorely mistaken, I was going to prove just how much he craved my touch.

Jungkook groaned softly, the sound vibrating against my lips, and it took everything in me not to smile in triumph. His grip on my waist tightened, and I could feel the tension in his body as he struggled to maintain control.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other as we tried to catch our breath.

“You’re dangerous,” he muttered, his voice low and husky.

“Right back at you,” I replied, my own voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the air between us thick with unspoken tension. Whatever was happening between us, it was undeniable, and neither of us seemed willing—or able—to stop it.

“Should we call this a draw?” I asked, half-joking but also half-serious.

Jungkook chuckled, the sound deep and rich as he shook his head. “Not a chance,” he said, his eyes glinting with mischief. “This game is far from over.”

And with that, he held me tighter against him body and stepped out of the jacuzzi making his way inside and up the stairs to his room.

He tightened his grip on me, holding me securely against his chest as he stepped out of the jacuzzi with ease. Water dripped from his body and mine, leaving a trail behind us as he made his way toward the house. I shivered slightly as the cool night air hit my damp skin, but Jungkook’s warmth was enough to keep me from protesting.

Without a word, he carried me through the sliding doors and into the house, his steps steady despite the slippery floor beneath him. I could feel the strength in his arms as he held me, and though part of me wanted to object to being carried around like this, the other part of me was too distracted by the steady thrum of his heartbeat against my ear.

“Jungkook,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Hmm?” he responded, his tone casual as he started up the steps.

“You’re soaking wet, and so am I,” I pointed out, though it sounded more like an observation than a complaint. “We’re going to ruin the floors.”

He chuckled, the sound low and deep. “I’ll survive. And so will the floors.”

I huffed, but before I could say anything else, we reached the top of the stairs. Jungkook turned toward his room, pushing the door open with his shoulder before stepping inside. The familiar scent of him—something warm and woodsy—wrapped around me as he gently set me down on the edge of his bed.

“Stay here,” he said, his voice softer now as he brushed a strand of wet hair away from my face.

I blinked up at him, surprised by the sudden tenderness in his tone. “Where are you going?”

“To grab towels,” he replied, his lips twitching into a small smile. “Unless you want to sit here and drip water all over my bed.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue, watching as he disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. A moment later, he returned with two plush towels in hand. He tossed one onto the bed beside me and used the other to start drying himself off.

I hesitated for a moment before picking up the towel and wrapping it around myself, suddenly hyperaware of how exposed I felt in just my bra and underwear. Jungkook didn’t seem fazed, though. If anything, he looked entirely too comfortable as he ran the towel through his hair, the muscles in his arms flexing with each movement.

“Are you always this bossy?” I asked, trying to fill the silence as I began to dry my arms and legs.

“Only when someone breaks the rules,” he shot back, his tone light but teasing.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re not seriously still mad about that, are you?”

He smirked, leaning against the edge of the bed. “I’m not mad. But I am curious. What made you decide to break the rules tonight?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “I was sore, and the jacuzzi looked inviting. It’s not like I was snooping around or anything.”

Jungkook tilted his head, studying me with an intensity that made my stomach flip. “You could’ve just asked me for permission, you know.”

“And risked you saying no? I don’t think so.”

His smirk widened, and he stepped closer, his hands resting on the bed on either side of me as he leaned down. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood tonight,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as his face hovered just inches from mine. “And if you weren’t?” I challenged, though my voice lacked the confidence I was trying to project.

“If I weren’t,” he said, his eyes flicking down to my lips, “you’d be in a lot more trouble.”

He started to pull away, but before he could fully step back, I grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward. Caught off guard, Jungkook stumbled backward, landing flat on his back against the plush mattress. Without thinking, I climbed onto the bed, straddling his lap in nothing but my bra and underwear.

The movement was instinctive, fuelled by a mix of adrenaline and mischief, and the look on his face made it all the more satisfying. His wide eyes darted up to meet mine, his cheeks flushing a deep red that crept down to his neck.

“What are you—” he choked out, his voice uncharacteristically unsteady.

I smirked, leaning down slightly so our faces were closer. “What’s the matter, Jeon? Cat got your tongue?”

His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides, unsure of where to place them. He looked utterly flustered, and it was a stark contrast to his usual composed, cocky demeanor. I couldn’t help but laugh softly at his reaction, enjoying the rare sight of him so off-balance.

“This is payback,” I said teasingly, my smirk widening as I watched him struggle to maintain eye contact.

“For what?” he managed to ask, his voice a little higher than usual.

“For cheating,” I replied, placing my hands on his chest for balance. “And for thinking you can always have the upper hand.”

Jungkook swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he let out a shaky breath. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he murmured, his voice low and laced with tension.

“Am I?” I challenged, tilting my head. “Or are you just scared I’m winning?”

He chuckled softly, though the sound was strained. “You think this is winning?”

“Pretty sure I’m the one in control right now,” I said, trailing my fingers lightly down his chest.

His hands finally moved, gripping my hips firmly but not aggressively. “You’re in control, huh?” he said, his voice regaining some of its usual confidence despite the way his ears were still tinted pink.

“Completely,” I confirmed, raising an eyebrow.

In a swift, unexpected move, Jungkook rolled us over, flipping me onto my back as he hovered above me. His hands pinned my wrists gently to the mattress, his smirk now fully intact as he loomed over me.

“How’s that control working out for you?” he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

I glared up at him, though the heat in my cheeks betrayed my attempt at annoyance. “That’s cheating.”

“Again with the cheating,” he said, shaking his head with a laugh. “You’re just mad you can’t keep up.”

“Oh, I can keep up,” I shot back, struggling lightly against his grip.

Jungkook’s gaze softened for a moment as he looked down at me, his smirk fading into something warmer. “You know, you’re kind of cute when you’re confident,” he said, his tone more sincere than I expected.

I rolled my eyes. “Flattery isn’t going to get you out of this.”

“Out of what?” he asked, leaning down so our faces were inches apart. “You’re the one who started this.”

“And I’ll finish it too,” I said stubbornly, though the way my heart was racing made me question how much longer I could keep up the act.

Jungkook’s eyes flicked to my lips, and for a moment, the teasing air between us shifted into something heavier. The tension crackled like a live wire, and I realized with a jolt that I wasn’t entirely sure who was going to make the next move—or if I even wanted to stop him if he did.

He leaned down further, his breath warm against my skin. “You talk a big game,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, “but I think you’re just as caught up in this as I am.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat as his lips brushed against mine—not quite a kiss, but enough to make my pulse spike.

“Say the word,” he said, his voice husky and low. “And I’ll stop.”

I stared up at him, torn between the rational part of me screaming to push him away and the reckless part urging me to pull him closer. After a long pause, I finally whispered, “Don’t stop.”

Jungkook’s lips curved into a soft smile before he closed the distance, kissing me deeply, his grip on my wrists loosening just enough for me to free my hands and slide them up his back.

It was electric—every touch, every kiss igniting something inside me I didn’t know was there. My fingers tangled in his damp hair as his kisses grew more fervent, and for the first time, I stopped overthinking and let myself get lost in the moment.

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