#the author S.J

[bookaddict24-7]

AUTHOR FEATURE:

﹒S.J. Sindu﹒

Six Books Written By this Author:

Marriage of a Thousand Lies

Blue Skinned Gods

Shakti

The Goth House Experiment

I Once Met You But You Were Dead

Dominant Genes

___

Happy reading!

[bookish-wanderer]

Book Review: Play the Game (Blue Devils Hockey #1) by S.J. Sylvis

There’s nothing wrong with playing the game – except when you know you’re about to lose.⁣As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming many things. A twenty-five-year-old photographer struggling to make ends meet with a mountain of legal fees wasn’t one of them. Making questionable decisions wasn’t either. ⁣⁣After hanging up my camera, I start a job I loathe that has me questioning my morals on a daily…

[myarmsaretoolong]

reading a book about the queen solving a murder and twenty pages in shes having a discussion about autoerotic asphyxiation with philip

[thewidowsledger]

Look Out For That Rage

© thewidowsledger 2024 - DO NOT REPUBLISH AND PLAGIARISE

Pairings: Avenger Natasha Romanoff x Agent Female Reader

Word count: 5.6k

Tags | Warnings: +18, pregnant reader, pregnancy rage, emotional wreck r, sleepy r, jealousy, puking, weird food cravings, weird pregnancy cravings in general not just with food👀 r being obsessed in watching Natasha eat🥴 watching you eat…is so exciting ‘cause nobody else does- S.J.

Author's Note: This part can be boring, just highlights the weird pregnancy cravings that were actually referenced by my cousin's weird cravings and needs when she was pregnant. And I also watched and researched some pregnancy experiences on TikTok so if you find them weird, just scroll away. If I would have a weird food craving it will definitely be vanilla ice-cream and I will dip nuggies and fries to it, what's yours? xD

MINI SERIES: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

⧗

“Aunt Y/N wants Uncle Thor in her bedroom.” Morgan mumbled innocently and everyone's attention honed in on her.

Natasha immediately tensed, her eyes widening with disbelief and possessiveness.

“Why on earth does she want Uncle Thor in our bedroom?”

⧗

You abruptly woke up, feeling a wave of nausea wash over you. Your stomach churned uncomfortably, and the overwhelming sensation of being sick forced you to scramble out of bed and rush to the bathroom. You barely made it to the toilet in time, hunching over and vomiting repeatedly.

The absence of Natasha only heightened your emotions, and tears welled up in your eyes. You clutched the edge of the toilet, the solitude only adding to your already distressed state.

You looked back in the bedroom in desperation, searching for any sign of your girlfriend, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Natty?” you called out for her, weak and nauseous, your voice growing more desperate with each hoarse call. “Nat?”

“Lybov?” Wanda called on the door. She heard you call for Natasha with a hoarse voice, panic instantly shot through her and she flung open the door to the bathroom, only to find you hunched over the toilet retching and weeping.

Kneeling beside you, she gathered your hair away from your face and held it in a ponytail, gently rubbing soothing circles to soothe your upset stomach.

After what felt like an eternity, the last wave of nausea finally subsided, and you collapsed against Wanda, your body weak and shaky. She held you close, her arms wrapping around you protectively as she murmured soothing words into your ear.

“It's alright, I’m here.”

Wanda gently took a tissue from the nearby countertop and carefully wiped your mouth, gently removing any remaining vomit. The overwhelming smell of your own vomit caused your stomach to churn once more. She looked down at you as you looked up at her. For a brief moment, you suddenly broke down, a sob escaping your lips, raw and uncontrollable. Your tears spilled from your eyes, and you huddled against your best friend, your body shaking with the force of your crying. Your sobbing grew more intense, Wanda's panic rose, her heart aching at the sight of your distress. She held you tighter, her arms wrapping around you protectively as she tried to soothe your anguish.

“Shh, shh, it's alright,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I've got you, lyubov. I've got you.”

Wanda eased you back onto the bed, her gentle touch guiding you carefully. Just as you leaned against the pillows, the door creaked open, and Natasha appeared, a tray in her hands. She carried a plate of freshly cooked pancakes, topped with a generous dollop of strawberry jam, the aroma of sweetness filling the room. It was your favorite that she always made but right now you fought hard not to want to eat it.

“I want to sleep.”

Natasha, despite the tension in the air, gently insisted, “Detka, you need to eat.”

Wanda remained standing awkwardly in the room, caught in the middle of the tense exchange between you and Natasha. Her eyes darted between the two of you, unsure of what to do or say to ease the mounting tension. But one thing for sure is that she likes how you’re being stubborn and hard with your girlfriend, as you should, she said in her mind.

Natasha picked up the plate of pancakes, but you only huffed in response trying to fight the sweet aroma wafting through the air as she held it out towards you.

“No!” you tucked yourself back in the bed covering your whole body so you wouldn't get the smell of the freshly cooked pancakes.

“Give it to me.” Natasha's grip on the plate of pancakes tightened at Wanda's words. She despised the idea of you listening to Wanda instead of her, she’s your girlfriend for god’s sake. But knowing that this is the only way to ensure you'll eat, she reluctantly handed over the plate to Wanda, her expression betraying her frustration and jealousy.

“I think Y/N would appreciate it if you go out that door right now,” she tried to soften the blow with a gentle smile, but Natasha knew that the witch was really trying to get into her. It took all her self-control to suppress her initial reaction of anger. Instead, she simply nodded tight lipped, biting back any biting retorts that threatened to spill from her lips.

Natasha looked at the comforter you're hiding from, “Detka, please eat. I’ll be right back.” You only huffed, rolling your eyes beneath the thick blanket.

As soon as your girlfriend was out of the door. Wanda sat on your bed, she made sure that she's not sitting on your leg. “Lyubov, I know you're hungry.”

“No, I’m sleepy. I don't want to eat.” You groggily respond, trying your best to keep yourself awake.

“I know you're sleepy, I know you're tired, but that's all the more reason to eat something. You need to keep your strength up, especially now that you're pregnant. Think of the baby. The baby needs you to eat and be healthy.”

“Lyubov?” Wanda called again, as she waited for a response. But when she heard nothing, she carefully peeked over the blankets. There she saw you, fast asleep, your face relaxed and peaceful in slumber. She let out a sigh and carefully, she tucked the comforter around you, making sure to leave your head free from its cozy confines.

Wanda gently set the plate back down on the tray beside your bed and covered it. She looked at you for a moment, her heart filled with affection as she watched you sleep. Without a sound, she then quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

“Did she eat?” Natasha inquired as soon as she saw Wanda, she was actually waiting for her but Wanda remained silent, her expression betraying nothing. Natasha took that as a sign and a smug look at her face, confirming her suspicion that you also didn't listen even to your best friend. Wanda saw the look on Natasha's face and immediately felt the need to defend herself.

“She fell asleep immediately,” Wanda finally spoke up, annoyed by Natasha's reaction.

A heavy silence fell over the two of them after Wanda's words. Natasha fidgeted nervously, her eyes darting around the room while Wanda was preparing herself some orange juice. The weight of the silence became unbearable and finally, Natasha broke it.

“Wanda, I know I messed up with Y/N and I know you're upset about it. I want to fix things and make it up to her, but I can't do that if you're constantly standing in my way.”

Natasha continued, her voice growing more earnest and frustrated. “Please, Wanda. I apologize for hurting your friend, let me fix my mistake. I care about your best friend deeply, and I don't want to lose her love because I was a stupid. I know I screwed up, but I promise I'll do better. Just give me a chance.”

Wanda's gaze softened just a bit as she saw the sincerity in Natasha's eyes, but she still wasn't fully convinced. As your friend or best friend, she needed to look out for you and make sure you weren't hurt again.

“Do you remember what I said to you through comms?” the witch asked.

“I do,” Natasha replied, “you'd kill me if anything happened to Y/N and the baby.”

Wanda hummed, “Good, you remember. I want you to keep that in mind,” she firmly reiterated before exiting the kitchen leaving your girlfriend alone.

⧗

After an hour of peaceful sleep, you finally stirred, slowly opening your eyes. This time, there was no lingering dizziness or nausea, but a nagging hunger pang made itself known in your stomach. You sat up in bed, groggily rubbing your eyes, your thoughts immediately turning to the need to satisfy your appetite.

You remembered the pancakes your girlfriend made for you. There, you noticed the tray that Natasha had brought earlier, adorned with the pancakes still waiting for you.

Hungry and eager, you picked up the plate of pancakes and began devouring the.. The taste of sweetness and warmth filled your mouth with each bite, each mouthful satisfying the ache in your stomach. You could feel the texture of the pancakes, the sticky sweetness of the fresh strawberry with the syrup mingling with the fluffy softness as you hurriedly finished each bite. Within a matter of minutes, you had nearly cleaned the whole plate, no crumbs and syrup marks remaining.

Natasha slowly eased open the door, peeking her head into the room. You glanced up at her briefly, your expression flat as you remained in bed. Your bad mood was evident, and you made no attempt to acknowledge her presence. She entered the room quietly, sensing your mood but still approaching you anyway.

Natasha tried to engage you in conversation, her voice gentle and careful.

“Hey, detka. Did you have a good sleep?”

You don't know why you are being like this, but you cannot actually stand the presence of your girlfriend. Is it because of the other night? Maybe. Is it because earlier that she was nowhere to be found when she literally said that she'll be here for you? Maybe.

Your cold attitude was evident as you placed the plate back on the tray with a loud thud, the sound so forceful and sharp that one might worry it had been broken.

Natasha flinched at the noise, her eyes widening slightly as she watched you set the plate down. Your irritation was palpable, and even the harsh sound you made didn't seem to bring you any satisfaction.

“You finished the pancake, I see,” she winced. You met her gaze with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms, your expression unamused and aloof.

“Can you not talk?” you demanded.

Natasha tried to soothe you, but she was quickly cut off by your next outburst.

“Det—”

“Can you not breathe?” you continued, your voice getting louder to Natasha's liking. Your girlfriend was taken aback by your demand but held her breath instinctively.

“Can you just…just leave?!” you finally shouted as you flail your hands, your demand and mood only worsening.

And with that your girlfriend hurriedly made her way out of the room. Natasha gasped for air, her breaths coming out shaky and fast. The redhead was terrified to do anything that might only fan the flames of your mood.

“Hey Auntie Nat.”

“Fuck!” Natasha hissed in surprise as she heard a small voice call her name. She looked down to see Morgan standing in front of her, startled by the unexpected presence of the child. Her heart was still racing from your mood swings and the sight of Morgan only made her gasp for air once more.

Natasha took a deep breath to calm herself, and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she looked down at her goddaughter. “Hey, kid whatchu here for?”

Morgan's small voice piped up, “I wan’ see Aunt Y/N.”

Natasha quickly shifted gears, determined not to let the kid witness your moodiness. So the redhead found herself awkwardly explaining to Morgan that you are not in a good mood right now, trying to skirt around the truth in a way that the kid would understand. But Morgan, being a curious and innocent kid, kept firing off questions.

“Aunt Y/N is resting now.” Natasha started.

“Is she sick?” the kid asked, her voice full of innocent confusion. “I really wan’ see her.” she pouts.

“No, no, she's not sick,” Natasha replied immediately, “Well, she was.”

“She was sick?” Morgan repeated Natasha's words, still puzzled and now worried for you.

Natasha bit her lip, mentally sighing at the kid's persistence. She’s trying to remain patient despite the barrage of questions.

“Okay…” Natasha sighed kneeling in front of the kid, “You see, your Aunt Y/N is sick, but she's getting better,” Natasha said, she pushed some hair on the kid’s face using her slender fingers, “but she's very sensitive right now, and seeing people might stress her out. So it's best if we don't disturb her…for now.”

Natasha paused, Morgan always wanted to go to the compound’s gym but her father didn't want her to see the team training and sparring there. The redhead was quick to ask the little Morgan, “What about we go to the gym?”

The kid thought about it for a brief moment, her enthusiasm momentarily diminished as she thought of you. She had brought lots of hair ties, ribbons and hair brushes to play with you, and she’s really excited to see you. So when the kid hesitantly nodded Natasha smiled at her, and she reached out to pinch her cheek affectionately before she took Morgan's hand in hers, her small fingers intertwining the redhead’s.

As the two were making their way to the gym, they happened to bump into Maria.

“Nat!” Maria called. “How are you? How's Y/N and the little bean?”

“We’re all okay, how's your shoulder?” Natasha asked her partner, inquiring about her injury that she had during the last mission.

The two fell into a deep conversation, neither of them noticed Morgan carefully slipping away from Natasha’s grasp. She quietly tiptoed down the hallway, her small feet barely making a sound as she moved towards your room.

You were lying on your bed, your mind in a storm of mixed emotions, when you heard the distinct sound of the door handle turning. At first, you only saw the door opening with no one at the entrance. But then, your gaze shifted downward and your eyes landed on the small figure of Morgan, standing at the doorway.

Immediately, a warm smile spread across your face as you saw Morgan standing at the door. You sat up in bed, your expression softening.

“Hi little girl,” you said in a gentle voice as if you didn't sound like a dragon shouting at your girlfriend earlier. You patted the spot on the bed next to you. “What are you doing here?”

Morgan, who's very excited to see you eagerly trotted into the room, her small feet pattering against the floor. She climbed up onto the bed and sat next to you. The kid looked up at you, her small frame barely taking up any space on the bed. “I wanted to see you,” she said, her voice filled with eagerness.

Morgan's simple but heartfelt confession touched your heart, melting away some of the storm emotions you're feeling a while ago. You smiled at her, your eyes softening as you looked down at the sweet little kid sitting beside you.

“Aww, that's really sweet of you. I'm glad you came to see me. Whatchu got there, Morgan?” You reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately.

Morgan's eyes lit up as she showed you the set of cute ties, a variety of ribbons, glittered hairpins and mini scrunchies and hair brushes she had brought with her.

“I brought it so we can play salon,” she said, her tone filled with innocent eagerness.

“Want me to tie your hair?” You asked and the kid’s small head nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

With a gentle smile, you patted your lap, she quickly moved to settle onto your lap comfortably. You began to sift through the hair ties and brushes that she had laid out before you, asking her which one to use first and the ones she likes.

You started to tie Morgan's hair, she couldn't help but giggle with excitement. Every now and then, she would let out a small gasp or a squeal as you pulled a lock of hair into place. She occasionally turned her head to look up at you with a big smile on her face, expressing her joy at the play time you were having together.

After completing the hairstyle, you reached over to your bedside table and pulled out a small compact mirror. You handed the mirror to the little girl sitting on your lap, a smile on your lips.

“Look at that!” You beamed, “You look so beautiful, little miss Potts!”

Morgan took the mirror and looked at her reflection, her eyes widening with delight. She admired the hairstyle you had just done for her, her hand touching the butterfly clips curiously.

“Thanks aunt Y/N!”

“You're welcome,” you squeak, poking Morgan’s cheek that made her giggle, “Can you call uncle Thor for me? Love?”

The kid eagerly nodded and immediately sprinted towards the door.

“Careful love!” You yelled out to her.

⧗

“So? What's up with Y/N?”

“She doesn't want me to breathe,” Natasha sighed plopping herself to the sofa and that made the team burst into laughter.

Natasha's face scrunched up slightly as she spoke, “I didn't know that being angry when your partner is breathing was included in the package deal of pregnancy.”

Clint held his hands up, trying to contain his laughter, “Ah, pregnancy rage. It's a thing alright.”

“Laura, you know,” he started, laughing between his words, “One minute, she would be laughing uncontrollably at my joke, and the next, she would be yelling at me for forgetting to put the toilet seat down. I swear, I slept on the couch more during those nine months than I ever did!”

Thor clapped a hand on Natasha's shoulder, his voice filled with booming Asguardian laugh. “That’s not pregnancy rage, it's the joys of pregnancy!”

Maria smiled warmly at her partner, “Just be patient with her,” she suggested gently.

“I won't get tired, I don't have the reason to,” she asserted. A slight smile tugged at her lips as she continued, “In fact, I find it cute and scary. I can handle it.”

“Oh wait until she makes you sleep on the floor or couch, I’m here when you have back pains already.”

As the conversation continued, the group's attention was abruptly interrupted and it was none other than Morgan, who came charging into the room with a big smile on her face.

“Uncle Thor, Uncle Thor!”

Thor chuckled as Morgan practically threw herself at him, his strong arms effortlessly catching the little girl.

“Morgan, you ditched Auntie Nat, where did you go?” she asked, pouting at the girl. Then, noticing the girl's hair, she added, “And your hair looks so beautiful!”

“Auntie Y/N did my hair!” the little girl announced proudly, her face lit up with a bright smile.

Clint suddenly spoke up, a puzzled look on his face. “Wait, Nat,” he began. “I thought Y/N is in a bad mood and doesn't wanna see people. How come she did Morgan's hair?”

“Oh no, I think Y/N only doesn't wanna see Nat…” she whispered, her teeth grazing her lower lip as she looked at her partner.

“Aunt Y/N want Uncle Thor in her bedroom.” Morgan mumbled innocently and everyone's attention honed in on her.

Natasha immediately tensed, her eyes widening with disbelief and possessiveness.

“Why on earth does she want Uncle Thor in our bedroom?” She leaned forward, her voice sharp as she repeated the question, emphasizing the word “our.”

The little girl shrugged innocently. She then promptly hopped off Thor's lap, her small hand gripping his fingers with surprising strength. Her voice carried a tone of innocent excitement as she tugged gently on his hand.

“C'mon, Uncle Thor,” she urged, her small figure already setting off in the direction of your shared bedroom.

Thor's eyes shifted nervously to Natasha, seeking her approval before proceeding. After all, she was your girlfriend, and he wasn't sure why you had specifically requested his presence in your room, and your girlfriend has no idea too which is making her crazy.

Natasha released an exasperated sigh, she crossed her arms before Clint spoke up, breaking the palpable tension in the room with his words.

“Guys, you really think Y/N would do something immoral?” Clint asked in disbelief. After a brief pause he told Thor to go.

Thor nodded slowly, his expression contemplative as his eyes darted towards Natasha who was looking at the ceiling, her frustration evident in the way she chewed on her lower lip and crossing her arms together tightly. Before anyone could say anything else, Morgan impatiently tugged on Thor's hand, her young energy fueling her impatience.

As the little girl pushed open the door to your room, Thor followed closely behind her. The door closed quietly behind them as Morgan led Thor further inside, her small hand still wrapped around his calloused fingers.

“What's up, Asguardian?” you greeted, your arms crossed, cocking your brows at him playfully.

“I’m good and delighted to be here, how about you? How are you feeling Y/N?” Thor replied with his usual charm.

His voice seemed to have a profound effect on you, causing your cheeks to flush lightly, and you responded softly, “I'm doing good, Thor. Well, thank you for accepting my invite.”

Morgan quickly ran towards your bed and in a moment, she plopped down in your lap, a giggle escaping her. The little girl snuggled against you, her small frame feeling warm and soft against your own.

You gestured gently and patted the edge of the bed, silently inviting Thor to take a seat.

“Y/N…” he called out your name very carefully, “I don't think Natasha will like—” but you cut him off mid-sentence. Without giving him a chance to finish, you retorted, “She's not here, is she?”

The Asguardian froze in place, he knew better than to deny you. He has heard your girlfriend rant about your mood swings and he has no intention of provoking or triggering your pregnancy rage which he calls joys of pregnancy and he’s now taking it back.

“I think you can sit on the floor while I sit at the edge of the bed,” you smiled innocently pointing at the floor between your legs.

Thor slowly settled himself between your legs, the metal components of his armor clinking against each other. His broad back was facing you and his heart was beating fast calling all the gods he knew, to his surprise you began to run your fingers through his hair, gently fixing the locks and neatening his usually unruly mane. Then, you requested Morgan to hand you the biggest brush with glitter and ribbon resins on it.

And that to set Thor at ease. He breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that you were just simply intending to do his hair.

As you continued to brush through Thor's hair, you found yourself admiring its beauty and thickness. The golden locks felt soft and smooth under your touch, and you couldn't help but marvel at the healthy and radiant appearance of his hair.

“I hope my baby will have your hair.” You whispered and Thor just nervously chuckled. “Can you ask the goddesses you know if they can make my baby's hair like this?” you peeked at his side.

Thor took a deep breath, choosing his words with extreme caution, “I know some of the goddesses of my realm,” he repeated, his voice laced with nervousness. He knew he was treading on thin ice, both literally and figuratively, as he tried to find the right words to explain.

“But I cannot guarantee that they can grant such a boon,” he continued, his voice softer. “You understand, right? These things are…not completely within my control.”

“Blah, blah, blah…”

Thor's heart thumped loudly in his chest, he cannot believe that a human is making him feel dangerously scared and nervous!

“You could have said no, Thor,” You handed him a mirror, “Okay your hair is all done and pretty.” Thor held the mirror, taking a moment to regard his freshly braided locks with a lot of pink ribbons and sparkly pins in there, he then saw you at the mirror behind him with a small grin tugging at the corners of your lips.

“The payment is my baby having your hair, if that really is not possible I guess I’ll just have to settle with another redhead,” you said as the Asguardian stood. Right now you only have two choices, making Thor ask for a goddess that can grant your wish or just accept the fact that your baby will have the same hair as your girlfriend, your hair is not even on the choices.

As Thor stepped towards the door, a thought crossed your mind and you called out to him, “Oh, and Thor,” to which he turned back to face you. You added cheerfully, “Tell Jane I said hi!”

Thor nodded with a smile on his face and waved at you before disappearing in your room. You now turned your focus on Morgan behind you who’s too focused on placing the hair ties on the bed, “So, who's our next client?”

Natasha has been staring at Thor, Yelena and Wanda who’s in a kitchen laughing and admiring each other’s hair. You also called Yelena and Wanda for you to have their hair done with glittery ribbons and hairpins.

“I want my hair done like that too!” Natasha whined as she was unable to contain her jealousy, she actually doesn't know if she wants her hair done like that or she was more interested in getting your attention than the actual hairstyle itself.

Clint couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Natasha's pouty expression. He reached over and gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, a knowing smirk on his face.

“Maybe you can ask Morgan if they accept walk-ins.”

⧗

It had been three weeks since the initial pregnancy was revealed, and now you found yourself in the fifteenth week of your pregnancy. Over time, your baby bump has grown more prominent, a visible evidence of the life growing inside you. The symptoms such as morning sickness and cravings had lessened slightly, but a new set of discomforts had taken their place. Your body felt heavier, your feet were swollen, and there were times when you felt exhausted and sluggish.

As for Natasha, Clint had been true to his warnings, and you had banished Natasha to the couch. Your irritation and mood swings were becoming more and more intense as your pregnancy progressed, and you found it increasingly difficult to tolerate even the smallest actions from your girlfriend. Although Natasha was being nothing but loving and supportive, your pregnancy hormones had rendered you quite irritable, causing you to snap at her often…and grew distant to her.

There are also specifically weird things that grew into you like you being not able to go a day without touching Thor’s silky golden locks, which made your girlfriend extremely jealous whenever you ask for Thor and whenever she had to watch you get to play with his hair.

And the food cravings had taken a strange and unexpected turn. There was this one time, you had a hankering for a mango, but it couldn't just be any mango; it had to be from India and you want Natasha to get it, not anyone. Tony, always eager to appease you, even if it meant borrowing one of his jets he arranged for Natasha to go to India to get you those specific mangos you wanted. And the moment Natasha returned, you just placed the mangos in the refrigerator and simply stared at them. Every time you opened the fridge, you made sure the mangos were there, almost as if they were a security blanket.

Sam, who just came back from a mission, was unaware of your mango situation and he accidentally ate one. When you checked the fridge and noticed that one mango was missing, you lost your temper and stormed through the compound, determined to find the culprit who had dared to touch your sacred mangos. Thanks to Natasha for saving Sam from your raging wrath, she immediately replaced it and told you that it just fell god knows where in the fridge but you immediately bought it though.

Today, your pregnancy cravings had struck again, like always and this time, you found yourself craving Wanda's famous paprikash. The thought of the rich, spicy dish made your stomach growl. Wanda, upon hearing of your desire, was absolutely delighted. She was thrilled to cook her speciality for you.

Your eyes lit up as Wanda approached, she carried a steaming plate of paprikash, the rich red sauce clinging to the edges and the golden, tender vegetables visible within. You could almost taste the dish already, your mouth watering in anticipation. Wanda reached the table, placing the plate in front of you with a radiant smile on her face.

You smiled up at your bestfriend, thanking her for the meal before taking a spoonful of the dish. The spicy, fragrant flavors exploded on your taste buds, the warmth of the food coating your tongue. After a moment of pure satisfaction, you placed the spoon back down, once again just staring at the food. Wanda, who had resumed her cleaning at the kitchen counter noticed you not touching your food, furrowing her brow in confusion at your lack of enthusiasm for the food. She knew how much you had been craving it, so why weren't you eating more?

“Lyubov? Is there something wrong?” Wanda asked, worried that you didn't like her cooking. But she always cooks her paprikash the same way so nothing could go wrong.

You quickly reassured her, the words tumbling out of your mouth. “No, Wanda, it's perfect, but I think it's not that spicy for me.”

Wanda chuckled at your comment. “Y/N, I actually reduced the spice because I know you're quite sensitive to spicy foods,” she explained.

“Well it's not that spicy to me.” You said flatly which made Wanda freeze in place, your attitude shifting from being ecstatic about the food and being cold about it.

Your actions seemed almost frenzied as you suddenly stood up, rummaging through the cabinets to find a hot sauce. With a splash, you poured almost half an amount of hot sauce onto the plate of paprikash, the vibrant red sauce mixing with the redder colors of the dish.

Wanda watched all of this in stunned silence, her mind racing to make sense of your behavior. Weird pregnancy cravings, she thought to herself.

You took a spoonful of the food again, now satisfied at the level of spiciness of the food.

“I’m full,” You announced as you pushed the plate away.

“Y/N, you've only had two spoons.” Wanda scolded, placing her hands at her waist. She glanced at the barely touched food on the plate, confusion etched on her face. How could you possibly be full after eating such a small amount, especially when you had just drenched it with hot sauce? It seemed like your pregnancy cravings were reaching new heights.

Food cravings, check. Weird food cravings, check.

“Where’s Natnat?” you asked as you tap the table impatiently, when you were about to stand you saw your girlfriend entering the kitchen.

“Hey, I was looking for you. I’m gonna go to the grocery do you want some—”

“Eat,” you cut her off not minding a word coming out of her mouth.

Natasha didn't hesitate and approached you immediately. She enveloped you in a tight hug, planting a tender kiss on the side of your forehead like she always does whenever she sees you. You clung to her for a brief moment before abruptly pulling away, creating a physical and emotional distance. It's no new to Natasha actually, since the incident you grew distant to her but she couldn't pinpoint if it was due to the hormones associated with your pregnancy or if you haven't forgiven her yet.

You haven't been affectionate to her and you haven't been actually intimate to each other and it's been so hard for Natasha…literally.

Natasha took a seat across from you at the table, you pushed the bowl of paprikash to her, “Here, eat.”

“Oh, okay.”

When Natasha took a bite she immediately felt the burning sensation on her tongue. Her eyes water as she tries to suppress the urge to cough. She didn't want to let on that the food was too spicy, not wanting to dampen your efforts in making her eat.

Wanda, however, simply tightened her lips, saying nothing as she watched Natasha try to maintain her composure.

You watched Natasha struggling with the food, completely oblivious to the fact that it was too spicy for her. You asked, “Good?”

Natasha, just responded with a tight smile, her eyes watering from the spiciness. “Y-yeah, it is,” she forced herself to say, hoping to avoid further questions. She looked back to Wanda who just gave her an awkward smile.

“Wanda cooked it. But I contributed by adding some generous amount of hot sauce.” You said plainly as you watch her like a hawk watching its prey eat.

“Thanks, Wanda,” your girlfriend managed to say between coughs, “Generous amount of hot sauce, huh,” she added, as she wiped her forehead that began to gleam with sweat as she took another bite.

Yelena entered the kitchen and saw Wanda watching you and your girlfriend, “So what are we watching?” the blonde asked.

“Let's just say that Y/N craved my paprikash, had two bites and she made her girlfriend eat it and now she's having some fun watching her girlfriend finish the food.”

“Did you notice that she has been watching Natasha eat for like a week now?” Yelena whispered to the redhead.

“Yeah, we bring in her favorite foods or Natasha gets them herself, only for her to end up consuming almost all of it while Y/N watches her, because if she won't, it's the end for your sister.”

The blonde's voice dropped to a murmur, when an intriguing theory just came up in her mind, “Is it like a... kink thing or something? Y'know watching your partner eat brings you pleasure...” she then stopped when she saw Wanda staring at her in disbelief.

“Seriously, Yelena?” she snapped as she crossed her arms, “I doubt it's that. Y/N is pregnant, hormones and cravings do weird things.”

Yelena, never one to back down, pointed another idea she had in mind, “And horny things.” Wanda could only let out an exasperated sigh.

“Why in the hell Natasha is all red?” Yelena whispered as she looked at her sister who looked like a tomato, she then let out a gasp as she spotted a familiar hot sauce bottle at the table.

“Is that my hot sauce?!”

Next

[gayerthanevertbh]

another me?

s.j oneshots masterlist | n.r masterlist | navigations

summary: you and your girlfriend, scarlett, were having a normal dinner when you heard someone breaking into your house. 

warnings: pure comedy, flirting, and none to be honest lol

author’s note: what you ask you shall receive!

“This is good,” Scarlett said with a cinnamon bun in her mouth. “I don’t think I’ve tasted a dessert like this in my life.”

"I'm glad you liked it," you said, swirling a glass of red wine in your hand as you watched her eyes twinkle with love, desire, and desperation. You can't take your eyes off them. “Are we still going to your best friend’s wedding?”

“Oh yeah, she just texted me actually. We have to be there I’m assuming… around late afternoon.”

“Well, I guess we should go to–”

You could both hear the front door open as she looked over her shoulder to see who was there. You stood up and walked slowly towards her house's corridors, when you noticed someone you hadn't expected to see. It was another Scarlett, but this one was drenched and had a bruise on the corner of her lips. You cover your mouth in surprise and stare intently at the woman's eyes.

“Y-Y/n? Is that really you?” her voice was thick, like a woman from another country, as she returned your stare with bright eyes - she even had Scarlett's eye color.

"How did you-" you paused for a moment, moving your eyes up and down to see if this was real. “A-Aren’t you Natasha Romanoff? You look exactly like my girlfriend!”

“Girlfriend?” she chuckled deeply, crossing her arms. “You have a girlfriend?”

"Yes," you nodded, as if certain Scarlett was your girlfriend. “I’m sorry, you just… look like that character she played.”

You hear your girlfriend's footsteps approaching you until you hear a faint gasp from her, noticing that she, too, is in shock. Scarlett put her hand on your shoulder and asked, "W-Who is this?"

“My name is Natasha Romanoff,” the alleged twin of Scarlett says in silence with a smug look on her face. “And you’re touching my girlfriend.”

“This has to be some sick joke,” your girlfriend replies with a loud snicker, clapping her hands together as she looks back at you. “Y/n, this has to be some cosplayer who broke into our house.”

“That’s what I do, I break into people’s houses. I am Natasha Romanoff, I don’t know who you are but you look exactly like me. Just don’t like that hair of yours, it’s gross.”

Scarlett shot back a glare and grumbled, “Excuse me? Did you just insult me in my own home?”

“You’re touching my girlfriend, so yes.” she shrugged.

You had no control over the situation, and you were as perplexed as hell. Who was this person? How did she gain access to your home? What could have caused Scarlett's character to come to life? This made you laugh on the inside, but you had to keep a straight face because you didn't want to start another fight.

“Who says Y/n is your girlfriend?!” Scarlett exclaimed with annoyance, wrapping her arm around your shoulder as she pulled your body into hers possessively. “You must be some sick fucking stalker, watching my girlfriend. Look, this might be a fun game for you, but you gotta stop this.”

Natasha sighed, dropping her hands to her thighs. “But she is my girlfriend! I don’t know how I got here, I just used the time travel that Bruce made and now I’m here, in New York.”

Scarlett stayed silent for a bit until she screamed, “This isn’t Marvel! You have to stop this!”

“Scar–”

“What is Marvel? Wait, are you talking about Carol?” she asked, who seemed aloof with the situation. You were starting to understand what was going on, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. Somehow, Natasha slipped into your universe with Scarlett, and now she is talking to her twin.

It was like a comedy for you.

"You have to stop touching my girlfriend," Natasha said threateningly, grabbing your wrist and pulling you closer to her. "I came here to save her, and you appear to be my nemesis."

Scarlett scoffed and grabbed your other wrist, attempting to pull you closer, but Natasha was stronger, and she was staring at your girlfriend with a dark glare in her eyes. You couldn’t lie, but this was slightly turning you on. There were two women fighting over you, and they look exactly the same. You had to hold your laugh.

“Guys, stop,” you begged, removing both of your wrists from their grasp as you stood back, biting your right inner cheek. “This has to be some funny dream, you know? Like Natasha, how are you sure that I’m your girlfriend? Maybe your girlfriend is in another universe, but not this one.”

“Don’t fall into her games Y/n, please.” Scarlett rolled her eyes, leaning against the staircase wall.

“I’m not, I’m just–”

“Steve told me you were here,” she said, her voice sumptuous. “And you look exactly like Y/n, so I know it’s you. Plus, you have the same fashion sense as hers. So stop lying to me and come back, kotenok.”

Your girlfriend snickered once again. “Detka? What does that even mean?”

"It means she's my baby, and she belongs to me!" Natasha slapped Scarlett's arm as she attempted to tackle her, but Scarlett pushed her torso away and held her neck, attempting to push her against the wall, but the redhead was strong, far stronger than your girlfriend. “She’s mine! I don’t care if you’re Natasha Romanoff, but she’s mine! So back off–”

"Scarlett, stop!" you yelled, yanking your girlfriend away from the poor redhead as you turned her face to look you in the eyes. “Come on, stop this. We have to help her get back from your universe–”

"Not until I get you out of here," she says. Natasha cuts you off, gently squeezing your hand into her palm. You find it endlessly romantic that she brings it to her lips as she kisses it. “Come with me, let’s go home. You know she’s just trying to manipulate you–”

"Oh, please!" Scarlett cried out, her hands in the air, like a child who had lost its mother. “You can’t be serious, right? Y/n is my girlfriend, I don’t know what you’re on but if you… you know, don’t get back to your universe then I might have to beat you up!”

"You couldn't even choke me a few minutes ago," the redhead murmured, a sly grin on her face. “So how could you ever possibly beat me up? I might do all the dirty work for you.”

"I-" you couldn't say anything as you watched them stare at each other, almost as if they wanted to hurt each other, but you couldn't let that happen. At the end of the day, it was going to be a disaster. “Can we just sit down and talk this out?”

"If we fight over you, then yes," Natasha said, her voice tense and her lower lip chewed. “I know I’ll win anyway.”

"Fine, I'm in," Scarlett said smugly, crossing her arms, which turns your body on even more. God, she looked hot like this. The blonde smirked and returned her gaze to her adversary. “You know she’ll fall into my arms at the end of the day.”

“Yeah sure,” she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t think that’s ever gonna happen but, sure.”

“Here,” you said kindly with a smile on your face as you offered Natasha some clothes that you had years ago. “I hope this guest room is cozy for you, what is New York like in your universe.”

“The weather there right now is dry,” she responded, her eyes never leaving yours. “But here, it’s cold.”

“It’s still the winter season, unfortunately.”

“Well, I guess that explains.”

You were about to leave when you heard her ask, “I know it’s you, Y/n. We had a fight in my universe and you left, I tried finding you for a month. I don’t know if you’ve forgotten our love but… I’m sure it’s still there.”

You sighed in defeat, knowing that Natasha was in the wrong on this one. You turned around slowly and shook your head, causing Natasha to falter her smile – which hurt you immensely.

“I don’t think I’m from your universe, Natasha,” you whispered, but she could still hear you from afar. “I don’t know if your girlfriend is dead or alive but, I’m most definitely not your Y/n.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay,” she sniffed, rubbing her nose. You couldn’t help yourself but admire her masculine beauty with a mix of feminine because of her eyes and her mouth. If you have to admit, you find this Avenger attractive. “I’ll still get you, though.”

“H-Huh?”

“Your personalities are the same, and the way you both think are the same. Somehow, you are no indifferent from my Y/n. It’s going to be so easy for you to fall in love with me, just watch.”

“I don’t–”

“Y/n, it’s time for bed.” you turned over your shoulder to see Scarlett leaning against the doorframe, smiling at you wholeheartedly as she gives Natasha a quick glare – causing you to giggle softly.

“Coming, my love.”

“You’ll be calling me that someday,” Natasha said confidently, lying her head on the soft pillows. “And Scarlett, you have the nicest pillows. I’m very comfortable in my bed.”

“Whatever, Natasha.”

should i continue this?

[the-writing-mobster]

Because I constantly get hate for WDYW Chapter 49,

(I get it, it's polarizing) allow me to like,,, explain why I went with the plot point? I don't really owe anyone an explanation, and literally fuck any of my haters, they're ants, but I think my readers/people who actually like my writing would like to know the lore behind my choices.

So, context, in chapter 49, Frisk is drugged into obedience by Muffet and Muffet, being the money hungry cunt that she is, sells Frisk's body on the black market. It's a really uncomfortable concept, and when it happened it caused a lot of readers to drop the fic or rant at me in the comments, talk shit about my fic in private forums behind my back, or even imply a bunch of horrible things about me as a person lmao.

So why did I decide to go with this plot?

Well, for one, it all stems from two books: The Hunger Games, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and the Empress by S.J Kincaid.

In both of these books, there is a pivotal character who is drugged, manipulated and used for political gain by a dastardly authority figure. In The Empress, this plot point was ESPECIALLY devastating, because it completely changed and corrupted the character into a horrific shell of their old self to where they were actively antagonistic and irredeemable!

This plot device has intrigued and fascinated me ever since. Drugging a protagonist to make them wholly dependent on their abuser/villain, manipulating them, having them at rock bottom is, in my opinion, one of the worst things that can happen to a character... And seeing how the character can overcome it is the greatest triumph!

Ever since reading these books, this plot device has buzzed in the back of my mind and there is a part of me that always tries to recreate it, but I can never come close to perfecting it.

Either I always miss on the addiction part of the manipulation, or I can never commit truly to character corruption. Either way, the closest I've ever gotten to scratching this itch has been in WDYW part 3, but even then, I barely came close to getting it right.

My second reason for choosing the route; In WDYW, Frisk's whole arc is about having control over her own agency/autonomy/fate. What happens to her in Part 3 is the culmination of everything she's ran away from, fought against, and her greatest nightmare come to life. It was the lowest point I could bring her character, and make her face her past demons in a horrifically evil way. But my plan had obviously been that despite all of the torture she survives, that she not only survives but fucking WINS!

That was the whole point, but when I wrote it I was like,,, 17/18 😅, so there was definitely things I wasn't as graceful about.

With that said, would I change anything? Yes. If I could change anything I wrote about part 3, I would do a couple things:

1. Take out that obedience spell Muffet puts on Frisk. The reason I made that was because it was like a catch all spell to keep Frisk in Muffets clutches? But it was pretty OP and seemed like a hand wavey excuse to brush aside plot holes. I should've just simplified the spell to where she was simply tethered to Muffet's soul so Sans couldn't kill Muffet, or teleport Frisk away.

2. Frisk's "obedience" to Muffet should've been entirely addiction based, which would make the plot point of Frisk using determination to burn out her addiction in Part 4, and then eventually Determination becomes the addiction instead, (because overcoming addiction is really fucking hard actually and a constant struggle) a lot stronger.

3. I would probably be much more careful with my word choice in chapter 49. Some of it comes off as sexualization. Not my intention, but it was because I was writing in the creepy photographer's pov and he was objectifying her. In my head I was like, "surely people can read between the lines right???" (They can't. Only a select few fanfic readers have media literacy apparently)

So, TLDR, No chapter 49 was not some author's barely disguised fetish (that's honestly a really gross way to think about my writing and about me as a person) it was my genuine worst nightmare as a woman, and one of my favorite plot devices from two of my favorite books 😭 Please lay off me about chapter 49, and Part 3.

Last but not least... Some art is meant to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.

.

.

.

[hero-villian-blog]

Marvel And DC Lose The Trademark OF The Word Superhero

So something I and many others didn't know is that Marvel and DC had awhile back made a joint trademark over the word super hero, and of course as a means to stamp out compettion.

Recently S.J. Richold the author of a comic series called Superbabies fought against this trademark and eventually it has been undone. Now the word superhero a broad term that can even be regarded as a genre itself is no longer a trademark owned by DC and Marvel.

[stygianoaths]

Luke Castellan and his team of godkillers but they don't kill with weapons stained with ichor, but with the illusive Mist that warps the mind of mortals so easily, it shakes their faith.

In eons past, these mortals revered the Olympians with offerings and prayers daily, told their stories that inspired fear and awe all the same. It was something the pantheon had gotten hooked on, something more addicting than the ambrosia and nectar the texts had waxed poetry over. And the council of twelve did their damn best to keep it around. After all, there was no other high out there that can compare to the feeling of being in control, of being powerful.

But like any high, it wears off, sooner or later.

So that's exactly what happens.

Alabaster C. Torrington, with the help of Dr. Claymore, "discovers" new texts that discuss Greek gods that have never been heard of before; gods who are kinder, wiser, more trustworthy, than the ones everyone has come to know in this era.

It's interesting, how the origins of these gods and their lives seem to have no relevance or connection to the other pantheon and its history. No Titanomachy or Gigantomachy to speak of. There are a few parallels, but they are pleasant, like the love stories of Dionysus and Ariadne or Pygmalion and Galatea. Otherwise, it's like an alternate timeline of its own, where every god present is named a god for a reason.

It's fake.

But the mortals don't need to know that. For what's false, if persisted in, would become true anyways. Furthermore, it isn't like a new pantheon will harm any of them. The lucky ones with clear sight may win the heart of a deity who would actually see them beyond their fleeting mortality, who would care for them.

It takes a while, though, for the mortals to adjust to this suddenly newfound information. They are stubborn creatures, Luke knows, who tend to fear the unknown and new. Yet the youth crave it like bears after a beehive laden with honey. With time, they'll come around, he knows. Maybe he might not be there to see if the plans work out for himself, but someone would, and that's all that matters to him. He just needed to be the one to start the movement.

Luckily for him, he doesn't have to wait too long.

The faith spreads through idealized modernized takes on the mythology, as silly as it sounds. It's very of the era, isn't it? Books are being published on these gods who endure hardships and come out irrevocably changed but for the better. Ethan flips through one by an author under the pen name S.J and devours it in three hours. It reads nicely and he wonders when he'll get a chance to meet the main character of the story, and ask her if the myth holds true. It is, obviously, but it's different hearing it from a god. The fanfictions are even better, but Lou Ellen Blackstone gets drowned out by Alabaster's "lalalalala" before she can start talking about the recent one that was updated a few hours ago. Eh, so what if it's a little spicy?

Nonetheless, the new band of believers grows, and it's like a sucker punch to the gut for the Greek pantheon.

Apollo comes to camp and drops to his knees before his own cabin, surprising the campers. He looks terrible. Dionysus had already looked miserable, but the children attributed that to his sour personality. And, as usual, no one noticed the girl by the hearth who had disappeared weeks ago. But Apollo, golden boy Apollo, well, he has eyes that are sunken and sickly yellow, matted hair, muscles shrunk, and hands that shake as if they are beyond his control.

"They're killing us," he whispers to Lee Fletcher, "all of us."

"What do you want us to do?" Lee asks. Apollo coughs into his fist and looks down to see a smear of gold staining it.

A nosebleed. Gods don't get nosebleeds.

His children, gods bless them, are trying to heal him, but to no avail. It's kind of funny, how on any other occasion, such an act would have been annoying. If the solution was to simply heal, don't you think he would have tried that? But, weak as he was, he felt touched. Loved, even.

But love wasn't always enough to save another. He, of all gods, should know that.

"Can you write?" he asks. Lee scratches his head.

"Write?"

"Stories. Poems. Songs. Anything."

"Um, no, not really. Dyslexia kicks my ass, and you know archery is more my thing. But Will does sometimes. Healing is his forte, but I always see him writing something in a notebook, though that could just be medical notes, now that I think about it-"

Apollo disregards that last part and begs Will Solace to take up the pen and fight back. It's their last hope. If nothing is done, this camp and its children will become all that is left of the Greek Pantheon, for textbooks and website links are not enough to keep the faith going, especially if left to collect dust or rot in an archive.

"Write us new myths. Stories that can happen now, that we can make happen. Redeem us, so that we can live. We'll do it. We'll do any of it," Apollo begs.

"Anything?" Will asks. Apollo nods.

"Anything."

The Fates looked at each other from above. How time has changed. In the past, battles were fought with swords. Now, they had to be fought with words.

[bookwyrminspiration]

do you have any scifi recs (hard scifi or otherwise)? i’ve been currently reading ball lightning by cixin liu which is also hard scifi which is why i was reminded after seeing ur ask abt the martian. but anything is appreciated!

Certainly! My pool of sci-fi knowledge is lesser than fantasy, but here's a few:

The Expanse by James S.A. Corey: book and show, hard sci-fi, follows a rag-tag crew of people set in the future where we've colonized Mars and the Asteroid belt as the existence of a freak new organism decides the laws of physics are optional <- not at ALL a good summary, but I actually have yet to read the books, but I have it on good authority they're phenomenal

The Insignia Trilogy by S.J. Kincaid: Tom Raines is bad at school and real good at video games, and what do you know! The U.S. military thinks that the perfect skill set to recruit him for cyberspace war against China and Russia. Surely nothing can go wrong when he signs up and gets a computer implanted in his brain! I recently described it as "deep critique on surveillance states except we view it all through a 14(?) yo boy who thinks about boobs half the time"

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barbara Higuera: middle grade soft fantasy. Petra's family is one of those selected to flee Earth so life can continue, since there's an asteroid coming, but when she wakes up from cryosleep a couple centuries later, the people assigned to watch over them through generations have...had a change of plans. Now she's on her own and their programming hasn't worked on her, and she needs to figure out what to do.

If you're open to more like science fantasy, I've got a couple I'd rec as well--Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan, etc.

This is a limited list, but hopefully there's something here you'd like. My reading pool skews heavily towards fantasy, so I'm trying to branch out :)

[thatwritererinoriordan]

S.J. Chambers is the Hugo award-winning feminist horror author who allegedly threw a drink on Matt Gaetz, cussed him out, and flipped him off. I think I like her.

#BookRiot Day 2: Orange Covers – The Steampunk Bible, edited by Jeff Vandermeer and S.J. Chambers

#books #booklove #bookstagram #steampunk #steampunkbible #orange #readersofinstagram

[biteofcherry]

can you share the book titles cause I’m about to buy some books for myself and I’d rather not waste my money 😭 since I love your writing I trust your take on this and do you have any books you do recommend?

Ah, honestly, I don't keep a list 😅 I get disappointed and I stop reading, and forget about the book.

I can however recommend (not flawless, still with some issues, but overall enjoyable and hot) authors: Sadie Kincaid, J.T. Geissinger, Jagger Cole, S.J. Tilly, Cherise Sinclair, Nicole Fox.

[bookish-wanderer]

Book Review: Puck Block (Bexley U #3) by S.J. Sylvis

Ford Collins is my brother’s best friend and Bexley U’s favorite defender on the ice. Unfortunately, he feels the need to block much more than the puck. Namely, ME and any chance I have with a guy. Encouraged by my older brother, Ford has ruined every single date I’ve ever had. With his hot smirk and sly maneuvers, he has made it his mission to make me the most unattainable female college…

[oceanflowerbird]

Hi, I hope you're enjoying your little vacation :) you always seem to give great book recommendations and I was wondering if you know of any good 'romantic' type novels?

Thanks, I definitely am! These are some of the best romances I’ve read this year (including historical and fantasy). Bit of a trigger warning for lots of spice and kink and controversy: Overall spice:

Credence - Penelope Douglas (already read her new book too and I was not impressed)

The Wild One - Daisy Jane 

All My Love - Daisy Jane 

Give Me More - Sara Cate

Overall plot:

Out on a Limb - Hannah Bonam-Young 

The Seven Year Slip - Ashley Poston

When A Scot Ties The Knot - Tessa Dare

Worthy mentions:

His Darkest Desire - Tiffany Roberts 

Tied - Carian Cole

Black Wings and Stolen Things - Kayleigh King

Lights Out - Navessa Allen

Sustained - Emma Chase

In A Jam - Kate Canterbary

Ignite - Melanie Harlow

Bride - Ali Hazelwood

Series I read and LOVED:

The Ravenels - Lisa Kleypas

The Hathaways - Lisa Kleypas

Mackenzies & McBrides - Jennifer Ashley

Deep Waters - Emma Hamm 

Fire & Desire - Chloe Chastaine

Castles Ever After - Tessa Dare

Second Sons - Emily Rath

Frozen Fate - Pam Godwin (the last book came out this past Monday!) 

Of Flesh & Bone - Harper L. Woods

The Alliance - S.J. Tilly

Authors I read multiple books of:

Daisy Jane

S.J. Tilly

Emma Hamm

Kate Canterbary

Tiffany Roberts

Sara Cate

Laurelin Paige

Elsie Silver

Melanie Harlow

C.M. Nascosta

Ashley Poston

Kathryn Moon

Lisa Kleypas

Lillian Lark

Lilith Vincent 

Katee Robert

Emily Rath

Kate Stewart

Sorcha Black

Tessa Dare

Jennifer Ashley

Kerrigan Byrne

[lexalovesbooks]

Top ten best books of all time????????

Too TEN… anon I thought about this so hard. In no particular order:

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor (sequel to Strange the Dreamer): This book. God. Amazing worldbuilding and storytelling, left me fully satisfied in a way fantasy series rarely do, also laini Taylor’s writing is just… so beautiful and unique. She’s one of the authors who I aspire to write like.

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake: I don’t talk about this book enough. Twelfth Night retelling, beautiful and messy and hit really close to home at the time of reading, made me cry. 10/10

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik: El Higgins my beloved!! Nothing to say except that these books are masterfully put together, funny and heartwarming and great social commentary and some of the most entertaining info-dumping I’ve ever read

Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine (final book in the Great Library series): putting this one on the list because the stress reaction I was having the entire time I read this book was genuinely unrivaled. I was on the verge of tears for 80% of the twenty-four hours I spent reading this book. 10/10, I never want to experience that kind of stress again.

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid: putting this on the list because any book series that’s had a grip on my brain for as long as this one has deserves it. They’re 100% aimed at middle school boys, i was that age when I first read them and can’t really guarantee that I’d have loved them or found them as deep as I did in the same way if I’d read them later, but man. When I finally gave into nostalgia and reread them for the first time in years as a college student, I really just had to sit there like… hang on, the silly funny books I was obsessed with in middle school are good? These books have social commentary and themes and all the things I learned to analyze in English class? It’s probably the nostalgia bias talking but I’m still inclined to say that these books are really well-put together for a ya series of it’s time.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (book two of The Diviners): still my favorite book in this series… they’re all pretty good but the creepy vibes of this one were unmatched… two of my fave characters got the spotlight and I just love the brand of ghost we got in this book and the spookiness of the dream walking and dream worlds

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: holy SHIT this book. Kuang somehow managed to fit an entire trilogy into just this one book. And then wrote two more full books after that. It left me wrung out and in shock, the rest of the series was fantastic too but the tone shift in this one + the choice Rin makes at the end… this one has to be my favorite for sure

A Memory Called Empire + A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine: these books. They’re about aliens and hiveminds and the experience of watching your culture be subsumed by another that you love but that will never be yours. They’re about language and imperialism and lineage and ghosts and they’re some of the best books I’ve ever read

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan: this book is just a super fun time, and Elliot is one of my favorite main characters ever. He’s rude and snappy and hard to like and he knows it, he’s an unwilling jock, and he’s the most terrifying pacifist you’ll ever meet. He’s in love with his best friend, he’s not sure where he belongs, he’s trying his best. I’d die for him

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler: this book gave me nightmares. Like, actually, multiple nightmares. It’s dark and horrific and awful, but towards the second half this shift begins and this little seed of hope starts growing, and it left such an impact on me. One of my favorite books I’ve ever read for school and also, seeing as it’s on this list, probably one of my favorite books just in general.

That’s ten! Thanks for the ask :D

[gayerthanevertbh]

the young mistress’ keeper.

pairings: scarlett johansson x fem!reader

n.r masterlist | navigation | s.j masterlist

summary: you meet an actress on the subway and fall in love with her eventually, not knowing that she was married to someone else. 

warnings: car sex, g!p scarlett, breeding kink, pet names, pure angst, cheating, age difference, cum eating,  fighting - 18+ MINORS DNI. 

author’s note: since m is leaving tumblr, i decided to write their request. please don’t go at least, we will miss you so much. hopefully you enjoy what i wrote for you :)

You thank God or whoever was up there that got you into the last train going home.

It was a cold winter night in New York, and everyone was out and about except for you, who was working your tail off at a coffee shop to help pay the rent. You were holding a book, barely reading it due to the commotion from the train, but you managed to read a few sentences. You sighed to yourself as you rubbed your eyes, going home on a typical night.

“Watchu reading?”

You looked up to see a blonde woman holding a bar and smiling down at you, unsure whether she was giving you a devilish smirk or a sweet smile. In any case, you responded calmly to her.

“Little Women.”

She clicks on her tongue. “Ah, yes. One of the classics?”

You nodded as you were about to start reading your book, but she asked another question, indicating that she may not leave you alone for the duration of the ride.

“I have a friend who played a character there,” she said. “And it’s a very good book.”

"It is," you replied cautiously, shifting your gaze from your book to the woman when you realized she was an actress. Scarlett Johansson? “A-Are you?”

“Yeah,” she smiled. “You don’t mind, do you?”

You chuckled lightly, surprised that an actress - a big shot - was talking to you on the train late at night. On the plus side, there weren't many people there, aside from a couple of strangers sleeping on their seats.

“I don’t at all.”

The woman nodded and sat beside you, her bag against her lap, her face close to yours, staring down at your book. You weren't sure if this gesture bothered you, but you were happy to be sitting next to a famous person. She returns her gaze to you as she flips through her book.

“You got the old copy of the book.”

“My mother gave it to me,” you sheepishly smiled at her. “You like reading too?”

“From time to time,” Scarlett answered with a yawn. “I don’t read much anymore because I’m always out of the house.”

“Yeah, it seems like it,” you said. “I didn’t know the famous Scarlett Johansson took the train at this hour.”

“I still want to feel like a city person,” she chuckled. “Plus, I hate driving. Makes me angry sometimes.”

You both sat in silence, listening to the train's constant ruckus until it came to a complete stop. You watch as the door opens, but no one enters. She asked: “What’s your name?”

“Y/n.”

“Nice to meet you Y/n,” she took your hand and shook it firmly, smirking at you as if she was luring you into something. “How about we get out of here and walk around the city?”

You looked behind you to see the city lights and the sky, knowing you had an early shift at work tomorrow. You returned your gaze to her and shook your head, causing her to frown.

“I-I got work.”

“A day off wouldn't hurt too much, would it?”

She was definitely urging you to walk with her.

“How do I know you’re not a creep?” you snickered.

She sighs and stands up, taking your hand in hers, which electrified your veins and caused you to almost fall to your knees.

“I guess you just have to trust me.”

Scarlett walked down Manhattan with you the entire night. She said she wanted a friend like you because you weren't so judgmental and pushed her into something uncomfortable. You enjoyed hearing about her childhood and how she got into the acting business. You asked if she enjoyed working as an actress, and she responded with an amazing smile that will stay with you for days.

“I love acting and I always will, it’s not something I could just give up on.”

“At least you're committed to your job,” you said as you tucked your hands into your cheap coat. “It's nearly four o'clock in the morning; I should probably go home-”

“Where do you live, sweetheart?”

When she called you by that nickname, you felt yourself come to a halt. But you didn't, you just kept walking beside her and staring at the ground the whole time. You didn't tell her how much that name affects you physically; instead, you kept your mouth shut as usual.

“At the 48th street.”

“Let me take you there, then.”

“No, that’s fine! Really, you should go–”

“I insist,” she finishes you off, taking your hand as she squeezes it with care. You look up at her smiling at you, and that did it for your heart. You had a massive crush on her, she was too caring. “It’s okay. We’re no longer strangers, are we?”

Scarlett did indeed take you home that night. You told her you had a nice time as you opened your apartment door. But just as you were going to shut the door, the woman kissed you passionately on the lips. She runs her hands through your hair as she sucks on your tongue, terrified that she will lose this ecstatic moment that happens just once in a lifetime. It was risky and reckless, but she didn't care. She liked this moment, and she wanted it to happen.

You pulled away, breathing hard against her lips. “I uh, w-we shouldn’t have–”

“But you liked it, didn't you?” She asks breathlessly, licking your upper lip while her other hand moves down to the back of your waist. “You are by far the most interesting girl I've ever met. I like you, Y/n.”

You giggled in response.

“We met like 5 hours ago!”

“That’s enough for me to like you, right?” she chuckles, kissing your lips again with so much desperation within her – it’s almost despicable. “Go out with me tomorrow at my place. I make a good dinner, we could like… watch a movie or something.”

“I wouldn’t oppose that idea.”

“Good,” she says tiredly, bringing your lips together again before releasing your waist and pecking you on the chin. “Goodnight, Y/n; I'll see you tomorrow.”

You were thinking about how spontaneous this was as she departed. You met an actress on the subway, walked around New York City with her, and kissed her at your apartment door. It appeared to be a romantic novel, perhaps a fairy tale. But this was all too real, and you didn't know how you'd ever deal with it.

Scarlett had become your girlfriend at the end of the month. She drove you around the city and persuaded you to quit your job so that you could work for her in her small company. You work there a lot, but you spend most of your time with her at her Manhattan apartment. You'd bake for her, and she'd cook for you. When she needed some good fuck, you became one of her fleshlights; sometimes making love was also an option. You felt terrific about whatever you were doing with her.

Although there was something intriguing about her. Every time you ask to go to her house on Staten Island, she either refuses or starts a fresh conversation about the company. You didn't say anything else, instead allowing the issue to pass and leaving her to speak. It's as though she's trying to keep something malicious from you. Of course, you did your best not to notice. You believed her as much as she believed you.

She was planning to take you on a date by the second month of your relationship with her. But it wasn't anything spectacular; she just wanted to drive with you to the hills and stay as long as you wanted.

“I love this,” she sighed happily as she turned off her engine. “I love you so much.”

You smiled as you felt your hand being kissed by her, closing your eyes as she did so.

“I love you too, Scar.”

“You do?” she asked as if she didn’t believe you. “Even though I can be rough at times?”

You nodded in response. “Of course,” you whispered. “I love it when you’re rough, though.”

She lets out a deep chuckle and reclines her seat, asking you silently to sit on her lap. You let out a trembling sigh as you removed yourself from the front seat, sitting gently on her lap as she roams her hands through your shirt, unclasping your bra.

“S-Scarlett,” you moaned quietly as her lips pressed against your neck. “Don’t you think it’s a little dangerous for us to have sex in the middle of nowhere?”

“You don't like that idea?” she teases, her cock hardening through her pants. “You could scream all you want, baby girl. No one will hear us from here.”

“Are you–”

She kisses you deeply as she holds you close to her warm body, causing your body to ignite. “Baby, don’t worry. It’s okay, no one will hear us.”

Scarlett pulls down her jeans, pulling out her thick shaft as she pushes up your skirt, her eyes looking down at your white panties, making her smirk. “You wore this for me, didn’t you?”

You nodded helplessly as you felt her thumb brushing against your clit.

“Oh, baby,” she whispers with a moan, pushing aside your underwear as she grabs her thick tip, pushing it slowly through your entrance. “Gonna fuck you, m’kay?”

“W-Wait,” you stuttered as you tried reaching for the glovebox. “Condoms?”

Scarlett shook her head vigorously. “We don’t need it, baby. Aren’t you on the pill?”

“I am,” you answered. “I’m just trying to be s-safe here.”

The older woman pushes the length inside of you, both of you groaning as you feel her bottoming out inside of you so quickly. She clings to your waist, straining upwards as she uses your body to please her dick. You cocked your head slightly as you felt the tip brush against your cervix, almost imagining her being this large and destroying your insides.

“You’re taking me so well,” she whined loudly as she repeatedly ruts into you, both of your wet skin slapping almost irritating your skin. “You like this, little girl?”

“Ugh, yes!” you nodded, rolling down your hips to take more of her cock. “Y-You make me feel so good, Mommy. I’ve wanted this for so long, please–”

“I’m here now, baby,” she whispers, wrapping her hand around your neck as her lips suck on your nipple greedily. “Fuck, fuck, fuck…”

Scarlett brought her other hand down to your core, furiously rubbing your clit with her thumb as she pounds into you, causing the car to move wide, and your screams are getting louder and louder in her car until you were sure people could hear you from down there.

But did neither of you care? Absolutely not.

“I’m close,” she grumbles, her mouth hovering over your chest as she lets out a warm breath each time she thrusts into your cunt vigorously. “You’re gonna make me cum so hard for you, I want to cum in you…”

Scarlett cradles you in her arms as you feel her flowing inside of you, her warm milk covering your walls as you groan loudly around her cock, kissing her lips with so much love that you can't quite fathom them.

The woman moans and slowly pulls away, kissing your chest one more time before you return to your seat and watch her cock deflate after some intense sex. She brought her finger to your abused hole and gathered some mixed juices that you both shared, bringing them to her lips as she tasted the juice.

"We're going to be together for a long time, right?" she questioned, sounding skeptical. You soothed her by holding her hand near to your chest and nodding slowly at her.

"I promise you I'll be here forever.”

“Yeah?” She smiles sweetly as if she can't believe what's going on between you two.

You simply nodded. “Yeah, baby.”

You were carrying her child.

You had no idea what to do about it.

You wanted to call Scarlett, tell her the wonderful (or bad?) news, and maybe celebrate. But, before you took the test, your girlfriend told you she'd be gone for a few months since she was filming in London, which you didn't mind because you valued her work.

But as time passed, the apartment grew colder and colder, and you realized she might not be returning home as soon as you expected. So, with a kid on the way, you didn't know what to do but go to her house in Staten Island, even though you'd never been there before.

Maddie, your friend, drove you to the house. You were surprised that it was a mansion, and it appeared to be more to her liking. Your friend said, "So she's really rich."

"And she never told me about this," you muttered.

"Girlfriends keep secrets," Maddie said, rolling her eyes. "Now, go, maybe she's there."

Looking down at your lap, you snickered. "She hasn't returned my calls, so you're probably right."

"I'm always in the right."

You got out of the car and pressed the doorbell as your feet melted into the earth. Surprisingly, the door swung open, revealing a tall man who appeared to be a kind man. "Can I do anything for you?" he asked with a smile.

"I, uh, is Scarlett at home?"

"Are you one of her fans?" he chuckled and rubbed his chin. "Listen, kid, it's not okay for you to come by and play a prank on us like this."

"Oh um, I'm not a fan," you quickly said, stroking the back of your neck. "I'm her girlfriend."

He let out an agonizing laugh, making you feel smaller and smaller as you stood there for approximately a minute in his presence.

What was he laughing about?

“Girlfriend? I'm her husband."

Your face dropped as a result of that word. Husband? What did he say?

“I–”

"Although I've seen you with her a couple of times," he remarked, his brow furrowed. He remained motionless for a moment before letting out a long sigh and folding his arms about his chest, his expression filled with realization. "Didn't you know she's married to me?"

You shook your head, tears running down the brim of your eyelids.

"You're her mistress," he said flatly. "I'm sorry to have to break it to you like that, but you're her mistress."

"I'm sorry," you said quietly, wiping your tears away with the back of your palm. "I must be disturbing your time-"

"You aren't," he says, cutting you short. "In fact, we're only just getting started."

The spouse, John Doe, told you that Scarlett must've messed with your devices so that you couldn't find her anyplace on the internet - which you believe is accurate since when you tried searching for her, she didn't come up. He informed you that they'd been married for a few years, but he never expected the woman to do something so heinous. When he said heinous, you laughed inwardly since what you shared with her was considerably more than that.

At least, that's what you believe.

Maddie drove you home that night and looked after you until Scarlett returned from her shoot. When you were in your sweatpants, she knocked on your door and opened it till you saw her face again. You shook your head as you attempted to close the door, but she said as she pushed it shut, "I know you're pregnant."

"I also know that you have a husband."

She entered your flat and locked the door behind her before wrapping her arms around you and kissing the back of your head. "Please let go of me," you said quietly. "I-I can't even look at you right now."

"Baby, love-"

"You could've been honest with me from the start!" you raged, flinging your hand in the air as you watched her recoil at your words. "Now you're the one crying? You knocked me up! I was going to tell you sooner, but I found out from your spouse that you have a good relationship with him."

"He's lying," she screams as she grabs both of your hands and clutches them tight to her stomach. "He's lying, baby. We've been at war for a year, okay? I love you more than I love him."

You laughed sarcastically. "You're a great liar, aren't you?"

"If you could just sit down and-"

"No, I'm getting rid of this fetus inside of me until I no longer need you," you stated coldly, knowing it was true. "You got it? You talk to your fucking husband and leave me alone. We had nothing, and I will not be the other woman for you. I'm more than that, and if you won't give it to me, give it to your spouse."

"Stop," Scarlett pleaded, shaking her head as you uttered those words. Nothing else could possibly stop you. She kept touching your arms, but you pushed her away. "Please, Sweetheart, give me one more chance! I promise to divorce him soon, just don't get rid of our baby-"

"There's no such thing as a baby."

The woman got down on her knees and begged you to stay with her until you could trust her. But you pulled her away, trying not to think of the pain that had been hammering inside your heart and coursing through your veins. There was nothing but red, red, and red. The longer you looked at her, the more disgusted you were with yourself. You could've been smarter about it, and things could've finished sooner.

But she adored you in a way that no one else could.

At the end of the day, you ended your relationship with her and never saw her again. That, however, is a deception. You'd occasionally see her outside your apartment, her car parked a few blocks away, waiting for you to return. However, you never did.

What a way to conclude a love story, don't you think?

oof

[givemearmstopraywith]

When. we speak of theology, we mean a theology that takes into account its variation according to time and circumstances. From this we can deduce three characteristics: 

1. Theology is a progressive and continuous understanding, which is valuable to a certain extent. If it were merely the understanding of abstract thought, this would not be true. If theology is the understanding of an existential stance, it is progressive, it is the understanding of a commitment in history concerning the Christian's location in the development of humanity and the living out of faith. 

2. Theology is a reflection - that is, it is a second act, a turning back, a reflecting that comes after action. Theology is not first; the commitment is first. Theology is the understanding of the commitment and the commitment is action. The central element is charity, which involves commitment, while theology arrives later on. 

This is what ancient authors said with regard to philosophy: "Primum vivere, demde philosophare- first you must live, and then philosophize." We have interpreted this as first la dolce vita, and then some reflection if we have time. No, the principle is much more profound: philosophy, like theology, is a second act. The pastoral consequences of this are immense. It is not the role of theology to tell us what to do or to provide solutions for pastoral action. Rather, theology follows in a distinctive manner the pastoral action of the church and is a reflection upon it. 

3. If it is the intellectual understanding of a commitment, theology is an endeavor that must continuously accompany that commitment. The pastoral action of the church will be a commitment to God and the neighbor, while theology will accompany that activity to provide continual orientation and animate it. Every action of ours must be accompanied by a reflection to orient it, to order it, to make it coherent, so that it does not lapse into a sterile and superficial activism.

Gustavo Guiterrez, "Toward a Theology of Liberation" (July 1968), trans. Alfred T. Hennelly, S.J.