#the clinch in the corner is from the gorgeous step back of Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas

[hardcovernights]

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint

Alexandra Vasti

[shannaraisles]

“Your smile is beyond gorgeous… please, keep doing it.” or "Shut up and kiss me already." for whichever OC + LI you want!

My choice ... well, they kind of chose for me. Here’s a wee snippet of Rumor x Callum Hawke. And thank you for the prompt!

“Your smile, my lady, is beyond gorgeous ... please, keep doing it.”

The line was so awful, and delivered with such commitment, Rumor felt herself snort into her glass. Dragged to a fancy soiree at the request of his mother, who felt it was time he started making himself available to be married to a nice rich girl with good teeth, Callum Hawke was doing his damnedest to put them all off him while at the same time saying nothing that Leandra would disapprove of if it got back to her. It was resulting in some truly terrible compliments, delivered from behind the worst attempt at a charming smile Kirkwall had ever seen. No wonder most of these ladies were politely excusing themselves.

Why was she here? Well, she’d had business. Yes, that was the excuse she was going to stick to. It had nothing to do with Callum being here, on display for the rich and hungry. Nothing at all. After all, he was sleeping with Isabela. And so was she. Just not ... together. She bit down on her own lip, the sharp pain just shy of breaking the skin, more than enough to jerk her out of the downward spiral into feeling sorry for herself. She watched from the corner of her eye as yet another noble girl awkwardly excused herself from Callum’s gleefully earnest attentions, catching a glimpse of his self-satisfied smile.

“Enjoying yourself, are you?” she asked, her own smile turning just a little wicked as he choked on his wine, spluttering in an attempt not to spit the mouthful down his pretty tunic.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed, grabbing a cloth from a passing servant to dab at the spill on his chest.

“Watching you offer yourself to Kirkwall, safe in the knowledge none of them want to risk marrying you,” she informed him with an impish cast to her smile. “I may have had business with the host, too.”

“And Lord Delauncet is happy to let you wander through his party?”

Callum finally looked at her properly, and Rumor felt the barest flutter at the look on his face. In order to blend into a gathering of nobles, she’d had to pretty up a little. Isabela had thoroughly enjoyed painting her eyes with kohl to make the startling blue really pop, her lips with a red so rich it was almost blood dark. Leda had volunteered an hour of her time to loop the upper part of Rumor’s hair into a braided crown, leaving the rest to fall free. And, of all people, Varric had held her hand while she selected a dress. It was almost as though everyone knew the real reason she wanted to be here. But the reaction was definitely worth it. She’d never seen anyone’s jaw drop quite like that before.

His eyes started to drift downward before he caught himself, always a gentleman, but the blush that seemed to rise beneath the scruff on his cheeks was proof positive that he had definitely caught more than a glimpse of the neckline that made her look surprisingly well-endowed. He cleared his throat, glancing away, and fidgeted with the hem of his tunic.

“So ... nice party, hmm?”

Rumor laughed, shaking her head at his awkwardness. “Not a patch on the shindigs they throw in Lowtown,” she told him, glad to see him relax with a far more natural grin.

“We could always skip this one and start something in The Hanged Man,” Callum suggested, gently nudging her elbow with his forearm.

“Eager to escape your duty to be adorable for the noble masses, aren’t you?” she countered, sipping her wine to hide the satisfaction in her smile at his reluctance to be here.

He sighed. “I do not want to marry a noble woman, I want to ...” He trailed off, his blue-eyed gaze flickering toward her briefly. “It keeps Mother happy. She knows I don’t want to be a part of her noble life, but ...”

“She wants you to be acclaimed and praised for the man you are,” Rumor told him quietly. Oddly - or perhaps not - she was in complete agreement with Leandra on that point. “She’s proud of you.”

“She wants grandchildren,” Callum said bluntly, rolling his eyes as, across the room, he spotted his mother encouraging yet another flapping ninny to come and speak to him. “I feel like a stallion being sent out to stud.”

Rumor felt herself chuckle lightly, but the smile faded from her face quicker than she wanted. This was a different world to the circles he usually walked in, but he fitted here just as well as he fitted in her world. Better, perhaps - a nobleman should be handsome and strong, gentle and kind. These people looked down on him for being just a mercenary for hire, but his looks alone would earn him plenty of willing bedfellows. The sting of jealousy rose as she remembered Isabela’s gleeful teasing about Callum’s expertise in bed, and a rebellious spark flared.

“Could always give the nobles some gossip that’ll make her happy,” she offered, setting her glass down on the nearest flat surface. Her hand caught his, bare skin to bare skin something of a shock to her system as she stepped backward, out onto the open balcony that overlooked the city.

“How is this going to become gossip?” Callum laughed as he followed her, the warm weight of his hand settling with startling security about her own. “We’re on a balcony.”

“Aye, and everyone here thinks I’m some mysterious noble heiress with pots of money and a title to die for,” she pointed out, raising her brow. “Feel me up a bit where they can see us, and everyone’ll be congratulating her on your skills as noble bait in no time.”

He gaped at her, his eyes drawn downward once more to where midnight velvet cupped soft peaks he had been trying very hard not to think about for more than three years now. He swallowed, forcing his gaze to hers once more.

“You ... that could be a little awkward,” he attempted to say, raising a hand to rub his fingers through his hair. “Mother does know who you are, you’ve met. I mean, not when you’re ...” He gestured to her noble get-up. “... like this, but she does know that you’re not a noble. And there’s Isabela to consider; she made a very firm threat against my testicles should I do anything to mess with you -”

“Cal.”

He stuttered into silence at the firm intonation of his name. Not even his name, but a nickname no one but she used for him. Rumor raised her brow, feeling a warm glow in her chest at the knowledge that Isabela hadn’t told him not to approach her, just not to mess with her. Wise woman, for all her inability to keep her hands off even when she knew someone else was interested.

She stepped close to him, dancing her fingertips teasingly over the cling of his stained tunic. “Shut up and kiss me already, would you?”

His mouth worked silently for a long moment, remembrances of Isabela’s threat, Varric’s warning, his own unwillingness to let himself hope for anything more than this woman’s friendship, all battering through his mind. But here she was, looking utterly edible in noble finery that showed off all the hints her usual attire only suggested at, asking him to - no, telling him to kiss her. And while his mind was prevaricating, his body had other ideas.

Large hands more used to holding a sword slid over her sides, tentative only because he’d seen what she did to people who touched without permission. But he did have permission, even if it was only to save him the embarrassment of being noble bait and give his mother something to preen about with her noble friends. His eyes flickered from Rumor’s astonishingly blue eyes to the rich dark red of her lips, smiling in invitation ... and his mind abruptly lost the battle. 

He pulled her close to his chest, head dipping to capture her lips with his own, stealing her breath to savor the taste of the deadly little woman in his arms as she gasped for him. There was no hesitation in that kiss, no sense of testing the waters. He had longed for this kiss for entirely too long, and if this was going to be his only opportunity, then he was going to make certain it was one to remember. Strong arms wrapped about her waist as her fingers crept up to tease over his beard, into his hair, the gripping tug of her touch spurring him on to let his hands wander just a little from their place at her hips, seeking the smooth dip of her spine to stroke fingertips over the first swell of her backside as the other hand rose to gently tilt her neck, lips demanding more than a simple kiss.

All thought of the nobles, of his mother, of Isabela, of jealousy ... it was all swept clean from Rumor’s mind. All she could think of, all she could focus on, was the man in her arms, doing his damnedest to pick her apart with just a kiss. Was it all just for show? Was this passion in him a pretense to send those gossips running to please his mother with their feigned excitement and eager bitterness? But those fears were a world away behind the rising tide of her own long-suppressed desire, blanketed in the warmth that she refused to give a name to. She wanted ... and it felt as though he did, too, pressing her back against a cold stone column to ravish her mouth as she nipped at his lips, tugging on the sandy hair she had imagined doing just this to for far too long.

A harsh laugh from the room beyond broke their clinch, both of them lurching away to share ragged breaths in the shadows of the balcony. They had been seen. But that had been the point, hadn’t it? So why were they still wrapped around each other, nose to nose, desire soft and hungry in the eyes that locked in the darkness? Callum leaned down to her again ... and Rumor abruptly remembered why she couldn’t let this go any further. 

“No,” she denied, shaking her head as she pressed against his chest, slipping from his arms. “They’ve got their gossip. Time for me to go.”

“But -”

His protest died on his lips as she slipped away, back into the house, through the crowd, leaving him on the balcony with confusion in his head, an ache in his heart, and an indecent bulge in his pants he was going to have to stay out here for a while to let subside. That ... wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. She was supposed to stay, to let herself feel what he knew she was feeling now he’d tasted it on her lips. She wasn’t supposed to run away from him, not again. Not this time.

He straightened his shoulders, glancing down from the balcony to the city beyond, a city that had given him nothing but what he had fought for with his own hands. Well, this was a fight he was prepared to win, even if it meant getting slapped a few times by the stubbornest woman he’d ever known. Then he remembered who was waiting for him tonight. Isabela.

“Shit.”

Well, that got away from me, somewhat! Fun, though.

[Romantic/Fluff Starters]

[carey-pricemas]

Nutella- Johnny Gaudreau

I got time at work so I got caught up with my imagines without being last minute! So my Johnny Hockey anon gets his/hers today! Ok so Johnny Hockey man... such a child someone help him. Does he know what a vegetable is now? Anyway! Anon I hope you like this one! Enjoy smut lovers! For everyone else, up next: Sidney Crosby!

Warning: sex, smexy time, smut

Anon Request: Hey! Can I request a Johnny Gaudreau smut? No requested context! I love your writing! one of my favorites!!!

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/

              You bounced on your toes as you waited for Johnny to walk through the door.

              He was going to be in a great mood and you were so proud of him. The Calgary Flames had clinched their playoff spot tonight and Johnny had already texted you that he was going to be a little later than normal because the guys were all going out for a beer to celebrate.

              He had texted you about twenty minutes ago that he was dropping off Sean and Matt and then he'd be home.

              So here you were, wearing only Johnny's jersey, and holding a sign that said 'Playoffs here we come!'.

              "BABE!" Johnny called out the moment the door was open, not noticing you at first. The moment his eyes landed on you, you jumped up and down. "We did it!"

              "I knew you could! We all did!" You dropped the sign and rushed to hug him. "I'm so proud of you babe!"

              "I definitely couldn't have done it without you" he said. He kissed you, but before he could go farther, you pulled away.

              "You could have, but I'm glad you didn't have to. Come on! I made a stop on the way home too!" You grabbed Johnny's hand and pulled him into the kitchen where two glasses of chocolate milk and a jar of Nutella with two spoons sat. "The celebration ritual of two responsible adults" you giggled.

              "This is better than the beer" Johnny said with a laugh. You both sat down at the counter and tore into the chocolate hazelnut spread. "You know, this is how I want to spend the rest of my life."

              "What? Eating Nutella from the jar when you're old and grey?" Johnny laughed.

              "No, being able to have you by my side." He paused. "But the Nutella isn't half bad either." You laughed. "Love you."

              "Love you too, Johnny Hockey." You leaned over like you were going to kiss him. Instead you smeared a dollop of Nutella on his cheek.

              "What? (Y/N)!" You giggled and gasped as Johnny reached out and wiped Nutella on your nose.

              "Johnny!"

              "All's fair in love and war" he sang. He swallowed when he saw the glint in your eyes. You splashed the remnants of your chocolate milk on Johnny. "Oh it's on!" You squealed and ran, Johnny running after you with the jar of Nutella. "Come on babe! It's just a little messy!"

              "Johnny, don't" you said giggling. You stood on opposite sides of the counter, you now holding more chocolate milk. He wiggled his fingers, all covered in the chocolate spread. You squealed and splashed his chocolate milk as he ran around the counter. You weren't able to move fast enough and he grabbed your jersey with one hand, his other hand coming up and wiping down your face. "Johnny!"

              You turned and showed him you face and the streaks of Nutella. He pulled you close, wiping the chocolate milk on your jersey.

              "I think we ruined these clothes" you said with a giggle.

              "I think so too. Maybe we should get them off. Grab a shower." He waggled his brows at you. You laughed but grabbed his hand, pulling him to the bathroom.

              "Strip" you said, turning on the water. Johnny came up behind you, holding you close.

              "Maybe we should strip you first." Your breathing hitched as Johnny's hands moved to the hem of your jersey, pulling it up and over your head, tossing it in the corner. You smiled at him over your shoulder.

              "Your turn" you said, stepping into the warm water. You watched as Johnny's eyes darkened and he quickly ditched his suit with the ruined jersey in the corner. HE stepped under the warm stream with you, eliminating the space between you. He reached behind you, grabbing a wash cloth and wetting it. Your breathing hitched as he gently washed the chocolate from your face. Once he was done, you took the wash cloth from him, wiping the smear on his cheek off, tossing the wash cloth in the corner with your clothes.

              "Gorgeous" he breathed, his hands settling on your hips as yours wound around his neck. "With and without Nutella." You laughed.

              "If those aren't in our wedding vows, I won't say 'I do'." Johnny chuckled.

              "I'll remember that." He leaned down and pressed his lips against yours, backing you up so your back was pressed against the wall. You moaned into the kiss, your arms tightening so he wouldn't be able to pull away. His hand slid down your leg, hooking under your thigh and lifting it up to rest on his hip, sliding his body further into you. You moaned as his cock rubbed against your wet core, Johnny's lips leaving a trail of kisses down the side of your neck.

              "Johnny" you whimpered. You were already worked up from the excitement of the game that you just wanted him.

              You knew he was feeling the same, despite wanting to play it cool.

              "Patience" he murmured. His mouth moved back to yours, swallowing your protests as his fingers moved to your breasts, tweaking the aching peaks. You rocked your hips against his. He hissed as your core slid against his rock hard cock.

              "Johnny, please" you whined, rocking your hips once more. Johnny smirked at you, his hand moving to his cock and stroking it a few times. "Please" you whimpered, your eyes darkening in desire. You licked your lips and that seemed to undo Johnny.

              He moved the tip of his cock to your entrance, resting it there for a moment before sliding inside. You hissed in pleasure, your nails digging into his back. He bottomed out and held himself there, kissing you hard once more. As your body relaxed, Johnny slowly slid out before thrusting back inside. You gasped in pleasure against his mouth.

              "Good?" he asked. You nodded, your head falling back against the shower wall, the water still trickling over your now overly sensitive skin and adding to the pleasure. Johnny thrust into you at a slow pace, dragging the pleasure out for both of you.

              "Johnny" you breathed, your orgasm building to a peak. He reached between you, tweaking your clit. You cried out as your orgasm washed over you, the contracting of your muscles milking Johnny's cock. Johnny's thrusting became more sporadic and harder, his hips slamming against yours as his orgasm reached its own peak. He bit down on your shoulder as he shuddered, cumming inside of you.

              You both stood under the now luke-warm water, trying to get your breathing under control. You lowered your leg from his waist, trying to stand on your jelly extremities. Johnny bent and turned off the water, slowly slipping from you and making you moan. Johnny grabbed the towel and wrapped it around you before grabbing another and wrapping it around his hips.

              "Johnny!" you squealed as Johnny bent down and picked you up. Your arms wrapped around his neck and your head resting on his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head before setting you down on the bed. He climbed in beside you and pulled you into his arms. "I'm so proud of you Johnny" you whispered. He pressed a kiss to the tip of your nose. "Love you."

              "Love you too, (Y/N)."

~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~/

Ok there we go! Johnny Hockey is going to the playoffs! NOW IF WE COULD CONCRETE THE ATLANTIC DIVISION THAT WOULD BE GREAT! Let me know what you thought! Up next: Sidney Crosby!