#troy hardwood

[magiccarpet121]

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[insom-nom-nom-niatic]

DD - Savior

Welome to tonight's drunk drabbles...

Set after Troy "died"

CHARACTERS: Troy Otto X Fem Reader

PROMPT IS FROM THIS LIST!

77. “If we’re going to get out of here, we’re going to have to work together. After that, we can go back to killing each other.” “Oh, fine.”

"Will you stop struggling so much, my God!"

Troy kneeled on the hard, concrete floor with a menacing look at the woman in front of him, snarling with the look of death in her eyes.

Both grew silent at the sound of footsteps above them. Boots pacing on the hardwood planks as the guard stretched his legs. Something Troy has now timed that the man wielding multiple weapons, lest being a dull machete, does every 23 minutes like clockwork.

Once the footsteps headed away, both abductees shook of their tense muscles.

Troy zeroed his eyes in on the woman's, pinching a small golden key between two fingers as he spoke with intensity.

“If we’re going to get out of here, we’re going to have to work together." The woman rolled her eyes with a long sigh. " After that, we can go back to killing each other.”

Troy studied the woman's features as she did his own. Bruises marked both patrons faces, only a mark or two from one another.

“Oh, fine.” The woman shrugged, holding out shackled hands.

With one quick motion, Troy freed the girl before raising to his feet. She sat where she had, hands rubbing the weathered skin rubbed raw from the old, rusted metal before raising both hands towards him. Troy obliged, helping the girl to her feet with a scoff.

"You have to promise to go your separate way once were out of here."

Troy looked down at the woman questionably, brows furrowed in the middle and teeth gritted.

"I would very much like to be rid of you, I can promise you that. Death at the hands of anyone else sounds better than hearing your whining."

"First off, I have not once whined, thank you mister let me talk back and get my ass handed to me on a golden platter." Troy's expression shifted to that of shock, watching the woman close the distance between them with a smug grin.

"And secondly, I know you're going to grow madly in love with me once I save your, cute I'll admit, but dumb-ass from this place."

Troy stood toe-to-toe with a woman he had only met less than a week prior whilst in a pretty shitty situation... and yet, she already had him at a loss for words. It usually takes a few dates for any pretty woman to earn that from the tall brunette.

[moonleeai]

Namaste Collab: Teri Hasee Ka Noor 

Title : Teri Hasee Ka Noor 

Pairing : Hoseok x female reader 

Word Count: 13.8k

City/State : Kashmir / Goa 

Timeline : February / March

Rating : Mature 18+ 

Genre : travel au, friends to lovers, fluff, baby angst, SMUT 

Warnings: unprotected sex, slow burn, explicit language

Summary : Hoseok takes best friend duties seriously and makes it his mission to cure your winter blues. He intends well by surprising you with a tropical vacation but it starts off colder than anticipated. Hoseok fixes his mistake in time for the hot weather to stir something in both of you, but will his flirty nature hinder the flame? 

AN: The meaning of the title is “the radiance of your smile/laugh”. Thank you Baby Queen Jiya @btsstan12 (ao3) for the beautiful banner. It’s so much more than I expected and I love love love it as much as I love love love you.

A huge shout out to Jasz @downbad4yoongi, Sara, and Kari for beta reading this and helping me so so much! xoxo

Special thanks to @sugarwithtea , @btsstan12 (ao3) and @apotatomashedbybts for having me in your desi BTS fanfic collaboration! It was so fun learning about India! I hope you like my take on it ☺

Read More Stories here: Namaste Collab Masterlist

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. 

Life is so boring sometimes. The highlight of your month was buying a cordless vacuum for your newly renovated hardwood floors—adult things. You love your job as a dance director at your best friend Hoseok’s dance academy. He keeps the days entertaining, but you’re tired of repeating the days in the same ways. Today, after teaching the last class of college dance majors, you helped Hoseok do the nightly cleaning of the studio. He blasts hip-hop music and moves rhythmically around while sweeping, and you wipe down the mirrors, watching how his body flows to the beat like a graceful bird gliding in the wind. He glances over and catches you staring, you quickly look away and grumble.

“Hurry up, Seok. I wanna go home.”

“For what? It’s not like you have plans!” 

He wasn’t wrong. Your best friend of a few years knew exactly what you were going to do tonight. Nothing; your favorite thing. He used to get offended when you wouldn’t come out to clubs but quickly realized you just enjoyed the comfort of being home. Once he learned that about you, he started inviting himself to your place instead.

Hoseok is a man of many talents, but he’s most known for dance and his ability to choreograph and practice until perfection, spotting any slight flaws in a millisecond. The hottest dancer there is, was, and will ever be. His presence is a force known as J. Hope or Jay, his stage name. Hoseok is an above-average gentleman, J. Hope is the motivator everyone needs at the end of an exhausting practice, and Jay– well, he’s the performer with the sultriest moves.

The next song comes on, and you both pull your faces into surprised expressions. The song-- Troy Sivan’s “Youth”-- was one of your favorite duo choreos from back in the day. Quickly, you both jump into place and begin the dance from muscle memory. This time though, you two are a little too close, and Hoseok decides to improvise; instead of grabbing your hand at the end, he pulls your wrist up, raising your arm above your head, making you spin, and your back firmly presses into his torso. He places his chin on your shoulder and wraps his arms around your waist, swaying your bodies together. You can feel your temperature rising, and the need to melt into his hold almost takes over. 

“Ahh…I love this dance!” Hoseok nearly screams in your ear, forcing you to pull away, hand over your ear. He laughs and goes back to cleaning while you’re glad to have a reason to walk away. Hoseok is a very touchy-feely friend, and it never bothered you until recently. During the holidays, you were both single and spent too much time together. Too much because now... now you think you’re falling for him. 

You both like the same music, the same movies, and you both love to dance. So many of the holiday nights turned into spontaneous dance battles or deep conversations about those things you equally enjoyed. His laugh was beginning to be your favorite sound, like poetry in pretty handwriting. Every giggle and smile from him filled your soul with something you couldn’t pinpoint.

You finish the mirrors and watch him two-step to the trash can. He glances over as if he can feel your eyes on him and gives his charming smile. The smile that drew you in and made you crave his friendship. He embodies comfort, like the feeling of a favorite oversized sweater on a cold day, wrapping you in warmth.

“Let’s stay here and dance.”

“No, Seok. I’m hungry.”

“We can order takeout.” He walks over and reaches for your hand, but you pull away, knowing you’d give in to whatever he wanted once the slightest spark ignited your bones from his touch. 

“Let’s go to my place… it’s close; we can grab food and move the couch to dance. Plus, I have all the alcohol.” 

Hoseok watches you, amused by all the layers of clothing you put on as if you’re preparing for a snowpocalypse and your strawberry lip balm. He knows you are a tropical person at heart, and every winter, you believe it just may be your last. Your beach-loving, sun-soaking spirit is having the most challenging time battling winter blues this year, and Hoseok is going to fix that. He’s been planning something and intends to tell you tonight. Only if you would give him the time to do so; he’s been dying to say something but hasn’t found the right time all night, and now you’re rushing to get home. 

“Why aren’t you getting dressed?”

“Oh, I was just…lost in thought.” He throws a midweight jacket on, “Let’s go!”

“At least put this beanie on, Seok! You’re going to get sick one of these days!” A hint of a smile plays on his lips as he gently takes the hat and turns away from you to hide his flushed cheeks. He’s always faintly enjoyed you taking care of him. 

After grabbing food and arriving at your apartment, you hurriedly remove your shoes, rush over to your freestanding electric fireplace, and turn it on. Hoseok, still at the door hanging his jacket, tells you to throw your jackets over to be hung. Then you both sit at your coffee table in front of the fire to eat. 

“So, I’ve been wanting to tell you some news.”

“What news?” 

“I’m going to close the academy for a week and go on vacation.”

“Va–? What! To where? When?!”

He stifles a grin and tots his tongue over his teeth, “India.”

“In–! Are you serious right now? By yourself?”

“Well…no. I bought two tickets and have everything planned out. A week in a tropical place–”

“Jeong Hoseok! Who are you going with?”

“I was hoping… you?” The last word comes out so soft and shy you almost miss it.

“You’re serious?” Hoseok nods his head yes to your question. “O–Okay! Yeah! I’ll go!” 

Cutely, his shoulders rise as he half states and half questions, “Soooo… we’re… going to India?” 

“We’re going to India!” I could kiss you right now!

But you don’t; you settle for a tight embrace and huge smiles before you both return to eating. After a few beats of awkward silence, you’re looking up pictures showing each other beaches and cabanas. The excitement is too much to hold in, and you both surrender to fits of giggles. Hoseok throws his body into your lap and you’re enchanted by his comfortable sound. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

On the plane, you sit back and get cozy in the oversized seat. Thankfully Hoseok splurged a little for business class. The dijon yellow cushions and extra pillows make it feel like you’re sitting on the couch in the tranquility of your home. 

Achoo! You look up in disgust as you were just sprayed unexpectedly. A child in front of you stands in their seat, looking at you. Snot running from their nose is enough to tell you they probably have a cold but– achoo!-- the menace is sneezing directly at you. You swat at the air to rid your space of the germs and scrunch your nose at the kid, making them turn around in their seat. 

“Let’s look up the places and try to plan what to see and what to do before you lay this kid out,” Hoseok says, pulling the reservation up on his phone.

“More than the beach?” You laugh because that’s all you want to do. Sit in the sand and sun, letting your body absorb enough heat that might keep you content until summer arrives.

“Well… I saw a boat ride on Dal Lake. The boats are pretty, and yes, the beach, of course.” He shows you a screenshot that he took of a row of wooden boats painted in pastel colors with vibrant cushions. The boats are beautifully resting on a still body of water, but the background catches your attention. There are snow-capped mountains exquisitely reflected in the lake. Snow-capped. Snow.

“Seok, when was this picture taken?”

“Mmm, I just got it off the internet.”

You connect your phone to the Wi-Fi and ask for the resort’s name.  

“Well, it’s two hotels because the package is split into like a north and west tour. Gulmarg and Goa. It was rated pretty high.” He pulls up the reservation and shows you the booking. You type in the first name.

“Hmm... How do you spell the city?” The first picture that came up showed a building with a snow-covered roof.

Hoseok spells it out as you slowly type in the name along with ‘things to do’ and choose the first option. You notice a few pictures with snow again.

“Seok. Did you happen to check the weather for this time of year?”

“What? No. It’s India. Isn’t it always hot?” You both stare at each other. As quick as uncertainty weighed on your chest, his candied hazelnut eyes swept it away, sweet and syrupy, glazing over any discomfort. 

“Let me see the reservation again.” Kolahoi Green Resort, Gulmarg. A luxury resort is nestled near India’s most popular spot for skiing. Skiing. I can’t strangle him on the plane. Reading on, you also see he’s booked a honeymoon package, whatever that means. You close your eyes and take a deep breath. “Seok…maybe you should read the whole resort description.” You tilt his phone toward him and hold your finger under ‘skiing’ and ‘honeymoon’.

His expression turns into a panic. Eyes wide, he covers his mouth with his hand. 

“I am so sorry. I swear I booked the beach package! I saw honeymoon packages, but I didn’t think I chose that one. I was only looking at the differences in price.”

You pull the phone back and start reading the entire reservation. There is, in fact, a beach for four days, but only after the one by the ski lodge for three days. Three days in the cold, which you just left. To say all excitement has left your body is an understatement. You immediately begin thinking about the lack of clothes you packed. Your suitcase is full of cute sundresses, tank tops, and shorts. You don’t even remember packing jeans. Luckily, there are the sweatpants and hoodie you’re wearing on the plane. Maybe, just maybe, it’s warmer now. You look up the weather in hopes of quelling your thoughts. 

“Seok, I don’t know if I have enough warm clothes for three days in the cold. The temperature is like 11 to 15 degrees Celsius. I– I only packed dresses and–” 

“I’m sure we can buy some clothes somewhere. You can also wear some of mine; you know I overpacked hoodies and sweats.” He goes into compassion mode, a voice of reason. There’s always a solution to a problem; he does just that as you both continue talking. His voice is a soothing palette of neutral tones, easing you into solace. 

“Yeah.” You turn and stare out the window with your hands tucked under your thighs. Hoseok can feel how disappointed you are and will spend these hopefully not-too-cold days doing whatever he can to see you smile. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

The resort is pretty. Not your cup of tea with the patches of snow still covering the surrounding property, but you can kind of see the appeal. The receptionist gives some information on the area and informs you that it’s the last weekend for skiing since it’s warming up. 

Warming up. Ha! Skiing is the last thing on your mind, but Hoseok’s body wiggles, and his face lights up. When he turns to look at you, you return a small smile, feeling your cheeks heating up. As the receptionist hands over the key card, they congratulate you with best wishes, and you both walk away confused. 

“What was that about?”

“No idea,” he rushes through those words to get to the next subject, “but would you want to snowboard tomorrow? The sign says they rent out everything, even snow gear.”

“Seok.” You press the button on the elevator, and the doors open instantly.

“Please! I promise I will do whatever you want if you do this with me!” Hoseok begs as the elevator ascends to your floor.

“I literally want to stay in a warm room the entire three days.”

“No way! The lake boat ride is here.” 

“Okay. Then I want to be inside for the rest of the time.” You joke, waiting for him to open the door.

Hoseok scans the room key and holds the door open for you. You walk through and see pretty decorations. Gold balloon letters spelling ‘congratulations,’ flower petals leading to, as well as covering, the bed in a heart shape. The four-post bed has a canopy with sheer white linen cascading down, surrounded by fairy lights, illuminating a tray with a champagne bottle in an ice bucket and two glass flutes. 

There’s only one bed.

Across from the bed is a large two-seater sofa in front of a gas fireplace. You walk further inside with Hoseok on your heels, following the flower petals that continue through sliding doors into a spa-like bathroom. Flameless tea lights and votives of various sizes cover every possible surface area. While everything is beautiful, you’re both still confused.

“What in the world?” 

“Do you think they gave us the wrong room?”

You both walk back to the bedroom and find a card on the small table. You pick it up and read it aloud, “Congratulations, newlyweds. Best wishes from the Staff at Kolahi.”

Hoseok finds another note. “Look at this! It’s not a mistake. It has our names and ‘please call when you’re ready for your complimentary desserts.”

“You did book the honeymoon package, Hoseok!” You start laughing because, honestly, what else can go wrong?

Hoseok submerses in your laugh. He’s been worried, but now a warm tingle is stirring inside him, and his heart beats faster. He watches as you go back to the bathroom.

“Ah! It’s a jacuzzi! We have our own hot tub! I want to use this right now!”

Hoseok freezes at the words. A hot tub… in the room… where you both have to sleep… for three days. The beach is a vast open space, so being in a bikini among a sea of others is no big deal… but you’ll be wearing one so incredibly close. Intimately close. The blur of you walking by brings him back to the present.

He clears his throat as you walk to your suitcase, “Don’t you want to explore the area first? See what all is out there?” 

“Oh. True. Yeah, let’s do that. We can use the jacuzzi to end the day. I could use a nap, too.” 

“No naps. We have to get on this timezone. Come on! We’ll unpack later; let’s go look around.”

Down in the lobby, you sit on a loveseat in front of the fireplace while Hoseok talks to the receptionist. You pull out your phone and check to see how far the lake is that Hoseok is dead set on. It’s two hours away and all the way back by the airport. You close your eyes and let out a deep breath, frustrated by the lack of planning. When you open them again, you see an activities book on a table next to you. You pick it up and start browsing through the pages. 

There’s a gondola ride, shrine, temple, and three restaurants. Anything indoors sounds excellent. One of the restaurants is a glass igloo, and you immediately look for Hoseok to tell him, knowing he will love it.

He comes up beside you, and you flash the page so he can see the igloo. 

“I was just about to tell you about that!” He plops down next to you, showing some notes he took on his phone from the receptionist. Pretty much everything in the book you’re holding. “They said the gondola is beautiful at sunset, so we could do that first. Then come back to eat–”

“Then jacuzzi!” You shriek, too excited for a night of relaxation.

Hoseok looks at you, baring a tight-lipped grin; your eyes trace the lines ending in dimples, then float to the mole on his upper lip. He unexpectedly jumps up, pulling you both from a haze and holds his hand out for you. You take it and make your way to the gondola.

Staring at the cables disappearing into the distance, you remember Hoseok’s fear of heights. 

“Are you going to be able to do this?”

“Yeah, I should be okay.”

You both continue following the small crowd and chatting. You were cold at first, but the constant conversation has seemingly kept you warm by occupying your mind. Or maybe it’s his presence. 

Closer to the front, you can see that the ride is in two parts–ten minutes to the first stop and then twelve to the last. The gondola fits six, but with the small number of attendees, you get a cable car to yourself. You sit across each other and observe the surroundings as it ascends the mountainside. 

“I feel so dumb.” Hoseok sighs after the statement.

“What? Why?” you ask while sliding your lip balm over your lips. Hoseok watches and notices the way your lips shine afterward.

“For one, not checking the weather. And two, I had no idea there were huge mountains here!”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I didn’t know either. Now we do.” You offer a smile, plumping your cheeks into two small plums. Hoseok melts into the seat, responds with a simple grin, and gazes back out the window. 

You pass over pine trees and snow-submerged valleys. You stay on, opting not to get off at the first stop, and before you know it, you’re at the peak. You would’ve never known Hoseok was afraid of heights, at least on the outside. A frigid breeze slices across your bare face when you step off the gondola. Your body quakes as you follow people to a scenic point. 

The setting sun plays peek-a-boo with the fluffy clouds, displaying pastel colors across the sky and a fiery glow on top of the mountains. Hoseok asks you to take fun photos of him, and you laugh while getting every angle possible. A lovely couple offers to take a picture of both of you, and you return the favor for them. 

After a few more steps along the mountain’s edge, Hoseok grabs your wrist and starts jogging, “I’m done! It’s so cold!” You giggle, keeping up with him, and breathlessly throw yourselves back into a gondola. This time he sits next to you. When the door shuts, and the cable car begins descending, he wraps his arms around you. He wiggles and gets as close as possible, pulling you into him and placing his chin on your shoulder.

“Thank you for doing this; let’s warm up.” His warm breath strikes your neck, and a kaleidoscope of warmth ignites in your stomach. You rest your head against his and take a deep, shaky breath. That’s how you remain the entire ride down, quietly wrapped in each other as the light disappears from the sky. You’re tempted to ask what’s on his mind, but you also don’t want to read too much into his actions. He’s always been touchy in a friendly way, and you don’t want to ruin it.

After dinner, you walk back to the suite and discuss the delicious food. You can’t help but think about how great the hot water in the jacuzzi will feel. In the suite, you open your suitcase and pull out toiletries, pajamas, and bathing suits. You start to feel shy about the itty bitty fabric barely covering your ass. Hoseok watches you as your eyes flit from one to the other, then calls the receptionist to deliver the complimentary dessert, and then goes to turn on the water. 

He comes back out with a robe for you as there’s a knock on the door. He gets the delivery and places it on the tray on the bed. You both marvel over the creative mithai charcuterie board; various ladoos, plain and chocolate-covered strawberries, sweet boondi, and kaju katli. After Hoseok takes a million pictures, he carries the tray of dessert and champagne into the bathroom and puts it on the shelf by the jacuzzi.

Coming back for the glasses, he mentions, “I’ll change in the bathroom. Take your time.” He closes the doors behind him, and you change before pulling the robe over your bikini. When you open the doors, he’s already in the water with the jets on full blast.

You stand at the edge of the jacuzzi, “Would you, maybe, close your eyes?” You chuckle before continuing, “This feels a little awkward.” He turns his head from you and closes his eyes with a massive grin. You drop the robe and quickly get in, sinking until the water is at your clavicle. “Okay. You can be normal again.”

Hoseok sits up, fills the champagne glasses and hands you one. “A toast to our buddymoon!” 

You roll your eyes but still laugh, “You’re so corny.” You both clink your glasses and take a sip. “Did you try any of the desserts yet?”

“No. I wanted to wait for you. Do you want me to hold the tray in front of you?”

“Oh, uh, no. It’s okay. Will you hand me one of the diamond thingies?”

“According to the little guide, that is kaju katli: cashews, sugar, cardamom, and ghee.” You reach for it, but he’s already bringing it to your lips. As you open your mouth and let the sweetness hit your tongue, your lips graze his fingers, and your eyes briefly meet before looking away. He grabs one for himself and rests back against the basin. 

After some time, you’re on your last glasses, having finished the bottle, and feeling relaxed. You both have been chipping away at the dessert and reveling in all the deliciousness. 

Deciding it’s been enough time in the jacuzzi, Hoseok stands, and you notice how his shorts cling to his thigh muscles; he pulls at the fabric, easing the clinging fabric away from his groin. He steps out, drying off haphazardly, and walks to the bedroom, closing the door behind him again. You get out and dry off before donning the robe back on to join him. Standing at the minifridge, he pulls out a bottle of rosé, but all you can see is his waistband resting low across his hips, dangerously low, exposing a faint happy trail under his belly button. The dips and hills are graciously defined on his stomach, and you feel a warmth overtake your body. You raise your hand to your cheek in hopes of hiding the flush. 

“Are you drunk already?” Hoseok teases.

“No! It’s just… hot.” You roll your eyes and motion toward the new bottle, “Where’d that come from?”

“It was in the fridge. Strawberry time!” He places the wine by the fireplace sofa and returns to the jacuzzi to get the fruit. You can’t help but smile at his excitement and the little noises he makes with every step to and from the bathroom. He motions for you to sit, pours the drink, and hands you a glass. You both reach for the same strawberry from the tray and then giggle at the chances. He grabs it, reaches toward your mouth, and watches intently as your lips wrap around the heart-shaped fruit forming a perfect pouty circle. You can’t unsee his tongue slowly swiping across his bottom lip as his eyes glaze over, trapping your attention like a mosquito in amber sap. You remember to chew when his eyes break from yours and roam down your slightly open robe. You reach for the neckline to close it, and he turns away, grabbing a strawberry for himself before sliding against the back of the sofa. “You’re right… it’s really warm in here.”

You clear your throat, eyes on the flames. “So…one bed. Looks like we’re going to be pretty close.”

“Yeah. It’ll be nice to have something to keep me warm tonight.”

The night ends with bellies full of wine and dessert and happily planning the next day of adventure. You have absolutely no desire to snowboard, but Hoseok’s sunshine smile and light laughter seep into your heart. You want nothing more than to continue seeing his smile and hearing his laugh. 

In the bed, you both lie facing the ceiling like statues when he breaks the silence. “Can we like… cuddle?”

You snicker at first, but the idea of it sounds lovely. “Sure, why not.”

Hoseok falls asleep quickly with his arms and legs wrapped around and over you, while you lay there, calming your racing heart in his grasp. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Slightly waking, you adjust your body, rolling on your side as something rigid grazes your hip, eliciting a hiss from Hoseok. “Shit! Sorry, Seok!” Startled, you sit up and fling your legs over the bedside, jolting yourself awake. 

“You didn’t have to jump away. It just–”

“No, no. I should get up anyway. Snowboarding, right? Let me start getting ready.

Ignoring everything that happened, you both take turns in the bathroom to get ready and head to the lobby area. First, you stop in the gift shop and buy matching ‘I love Kashmir’ long-sleeve t-shirts to go under your hoodies, then proceed to the rental shop. You’re not thrilled while standing in line, dreading the cold and the effort and energy snowboarding takes, but your soul is soaking in the radiant smile coming from Hoseok. 

To add more dread, you had hoped to look at least cute while being drained of all excitement, but the shop has the hottest trends from the 1990s in snow bibs, boots, and boards. You settle for the rose brown and black gear and a snowboard with a pale purple bottom. Hoseok, on the other hand, chose to pair the ugliest of every color together and call it ‘fashion.’ You won’t lose him in the crowd.

A few passes on the bunny slope, and you’re as ready as you’ll ever be. As you both glide over the lift, you look for the signage that informs riders which slopes are the easiest to hardest—usually, a color scale. Here, there are only signs stating zones one through four.

“How do we know where to get off?” you ask while staring, puzzled at the signs. 

“Beginner slopes are always the first stop, I think.”

“Seok! I need facts, not guesses. Didn’t the brochure say the locals use the first one to get around to other villages?” Hoseok shrugs and continues with the flow of the line. When you reach the front of the line, Hoseok asks the operator where to get off and they confirm ‘one.’ 

“I guess it’ll be a surprise.” Your nerves are a wreck, and as much as you want to have fun, for Hoseok’s sake, you can’t get into the right mindset. 

You both get off at the first stop and glide down the path to make way for others behind you when you quickly realize this slope is not for you. It’s not steep, but the rivets and snow conditions make it least favorable for a novice like yourself. 

Hoseok yells that he’ll meet you at the bottom, and you watch as he gracefully swoops across the mountain slope. You watch a woman wearing neon teal pants drift delicately right behind him. How you wish that were you. 

You ride on your heels the first bit, destroying your thigh muscles like lava is coursing through the veins. You glide to the side, out of the main path, and fall on your butt to take a break. Watching people pass by, even kids, you curse under your breath and hold back tears of frustration. A pep talk would be nice, but the one best at those just left you to your demise. 

A few deep breaths, and one too many children passing you, gives you very little motivation but enough to hop back up and continue down the slope. Your thighs are on fire, but you alleviate the pain by using other muscles, which also gives more speed-- speed you don’t want. You panic and tense up, causing you to dig your toes too far into the snow, making the edge catch, and you brace for impact. You hit the ground face first, so hard your body goes into a forward roll; your goggles rip off as your head clashes with the firm snow, and all air expels from your lungs. 

Hoseok yells your name a few times from behind and stops next to you frantically. 

“Are you o– is there– are you hurt?!”

You take a few short breaths to test your lungs for proper functionality. Quietly you let out, “No but– that hurt. So fucking bad!” Then tears begin to prickle, and emotions are ready to boil over, “I’m done! I didn’t come here to be freezing my ass off in the snow or to be bundled up like this!” You break down into the ugliest of cries while your shoulders bounce up and down from the force of your sobs. “I wanna go back to the rooooooom,” you whine while sniveling.

You look at Hoseok through hazy eyes, but his face turns away from you. He is likely holding back a giggle in hopes of not upsetting you more. He clears his throat and faces you with a gentle smile and twinkle in his eyes. It soothes you enough that tears stop falling, and you begin to feel warm. Hoseok pats your head and uses his glove to wipe your face, then rests his hand on yours.

“Let’s take the boards off and walk down. I’ll get you some spiked hot chocolate.” You nod your head, and he unclasps your bindings first. 

Walking down the mountain silently makes you feel bad for what you said. 

At the bottom, you prop the boards in the holding area when the woman in neon pants appears. You watch as a scene from a drama unfolds, and before you know it, Hoseok is walking with her as they flirt back and forth. Your eyes dance between the two, noticing how smiley they are. You feel like an outsider. Your hand is balled tightly by your side, and when you can’t stand the pain of your nails digging into your palm any longer, you shake it off and walk past them into the lodge. 

You order your drink and find a table to sit at. Jealousy has reared its ugly head, and you’re fighting with yourself. You shouldn’t feel this way. You can’t feel this way for your best friend. You take a sip and let the alcohol flush the jealousy down into the pit of your stomach. 

Hoseok finds you and sits beside you with his body angled toward you. “Here you are. Why’d you leave?”

“If you want to keep riding, go ahead. I don’t want to make you miserable.” 

He reaches up and places both hands on the sides of your cheeks. His thumbs swoop under your eyes, wiping the last remnants of tears. “I promise you. I’m having a great time.” 

Radiant. His warm touch and kind words weave into your soul alongside the space occupied by his smile and laugh. Serene. Your body relaxes in the window seat and immediately feels every ache and pain from your tumble. You roll your neck around and pause in the areas that need more stretching. 

“Do you want to get a massage?” He pulls out his phone, “I’m pretty sure I saw one here.”

“No, no. A good stretch and maybe the jacuzzi will be enough.” You both stare out the window at the snow-covered nature. Taking a gulp of courage, you say, “Sorry, Seok. What I said on the slope was mean, rude, and uncalled for.”

“Would you stop that? I had fun, now let’s do something you want. You wanna get in the jacuzzi then order in for dinner?” Hoseok notices how your eyes light up like a candle at the mention of food.

“Yes! Let’s get different dishes to try new stuff. Chicken and beef, maybe?” Now it’s your turn to pull out your phone and find the room service menu you took pictures of. “Oh, look, lamb! Butter chicken and lamb biryani? Or maybe curry? Oh! Hummus! And garlic naan! What?! There’s so much!” 

“I love how excited you get over food.” He chuckles, “I’ll look up pictures, and if it looks good, we get it.” 

You replay his words in your mind. Love. How did he mean that? Does he feel something like you? Or was it more of a friendly love? You glance his way, eyes soaking in his profile. You must’ve stared a little too long because he meets your gaze. Your eyes flit to his heart-shaped lips, and you can’t help but wonder if they feel as pillowy as they look. 

“You okay?” His voice forces you to finally blink and look down at his phone.

“Yeah. This set looks good.” You point to a picture, and he takes a look. 

“Okay. It’s settled. I’ll order while you’re getting blasted by the jets.”

Finished with your drinks, you return all the snow gear to the rental shop and head to the suite. Hoseok runs the water for you and turns on some of the flameless tea lights. He sets his phone in the corner, plays a Lofi Bollywood playlist, shuts off the light fixture, and walks out. You carry your bathing suit into the bathroom and close the door. 

Hoseok lies on the couch, closes his eyes, and surrenders to the sound of the jets and soft music. He imagines the bubbles around your collarbones; your eyes closed, body relaxed. A throb sends a jolt through his stomach, but he places a hand on his groin and adjusts to calm himself down. You call for him, and his body freezes, lifting his head to ensure you’re not standing there.

“Come join me. I’m bored, and this music is so relaxing. I think you’ll enjoy it too.”

“I can hear it out here.”

“Please?” 

There’s a flutter in his chest, and he’s changing to join you.

You smile at him as he walks through the threshold and close your eyes when he enters the basin. You both don’t say a word but enjoy every second of your closeness. The water feels electrified as you chat away.

Later, with bodies relaxed and bellies full, Hoseok pulls you into a hug on the couch. 

“I hope you’re having an okay time. I’m excited to see all the cute dresses you packed for the beach tomorrow.”

“Any time spent with you is a great time, Seokie. Thanks for bringing me. I promise not to throw any more tantrums,” you chuckle at the last word and pinch his ribs in an effort to break away.

“Hey!” He laughs and smacks you with a pillow. “Wanna finish the night watching the sunset from the balcony? Then a nightcap by the fire?”

“Sounds perfect.” 

You couldn’t think of any other way you’d love to spend the evening. Well, maybe cuddling again, but for now, sunset and a drink with your best friend, who you adore, and possibly more, sounds like a truly perfect night.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

A few hours later, Hoseok wakes to vibrations in the bed and discovers you shivering. He pulls the quilt up to your neck and wraps his limbs around you before feeling that you are soaked. He sits up, trying to see anything in the pitch black, getting his eyes to focus on you. He swipes his hand across your forehead and gasps at the heat that comes off you. He briskly walks to the bathroom, turns the light on low, then kneels by your bedside to better understand what’s happening. You whine as he tries to wake you. 

He calls your name softly while rubbing a hand down your back, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“S–so cold,” you mutter as he watches sweat bead on your forehead. 

“I’m gonna go get you medicine. Drink some of this water for now.” He helps sit you up against some pillows and slowly guides the water bottle to your lips. After a few sips, he hurries out of the room and to the lobby mini-mart in hopes of getting you something to aid in breaking your fever. 

When he comes back into the room with two rustling bags, you look at his hands bewildered. He unpacks an array onto your side table: ginger tea, bananas, children’s applesauce squeeze bags, chicken noodle soup, a box of jello, orange juice, and Gatorade. 

“I thought you were getting medicine?”

“I mean, these are the natural way, right? But I have more.” He grabs the second bag and unpacks a variety of cold medicine in liquid and pill forms.

“Seok! What–” Your head pounds at your words, and you close your eyes as if that will stop it. You take a deep breath, open your eyes and turn toward the side table. You reach for the box of jello and scoff, “How were you going to make this?”

“Hmm…not sure, but I will figure it out if you want it.” He grabs the box from you and starts reading the directions.

“Seok, I probably just have a cold from that kid sneezing on me. A fever at most; I’m not puking.”

“Right! Um…tea? Soup?”

“How about medicine and a cool rag so I can go back to sleep?” You smile at his thoughtfulness, but keeping your eyes open becomes more difficult. 

Hoseok opens the medicine, opting for a liquid form, and brings it to your lips to drink. Then he grabs a cool cloth for you, places it over your forehead, and gently rubs his hand over your hair. You scoot down to lie comfortably and begin to relax again. You hear Hoseok rustling around, turning off lights, and getting changed for bed again. He snuggles up close to you, wrapping you in his hold. You can feel yourself drifting into dreamland when his hushed voice brushes the side of your neck.

“I went overboard, huh?”

“I didn’t expect anything less from my Seokie,” you whisper. He warms at your words and buries himself further into you. Even with a fever, you could still feel his radiance healing you deep inside.

Sometime in the twilight hours, Hoseok woke again, but this time you were talking…or more like mumbling. He raised his head and blinked heavily several times to ward off the grogginess. 

“I like your lips.” He heard you say softly. 

“Hm?” he asked quietly. 

“Heart-shaped clouds. Pretty clouds.” He grinned, feeling a kaleidoscope swarm in his belly, then leaned into you and kissed your cheek. He watched as a smile swept across your lips and thought you looked like an angel, fast asleep.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

The next morning you feel like a brand new person. You stretch and realize Hoseok isn’t next to you. You sit up, and just as you’re about to call for him, he walks in with a beaming smile and a mug of ginger tea. He hands it to you as you make room for him to sit. 

“Thank you.”

“Of course. How are you feeling?”

“So much better! I’m glad it was just overnight. We have so much more to see!”

Hoseok clears his throat and looks toward the ground, “Do you happen to remember what you dreamt about last night?”

“Dream?” You think for a few seconds, “I don’t think I had any,” you lie, bringing the mug to your mouth. You did remember. However, you weren’t going to tell him you dreamt of his lips, soft and pillowy, pressed against yours. Or how his hands felt like heaven as they rested on your waist while his tongue moved slowly over yours. A heat was creeping up your neck from the recollection. 

“None at all?”

“Nope. Why?”

“No reason. I just thought I heard you say something in your sleep.” Hoseok snickers and hops off the bed.

“What? What did I say?” 

Hoseok sing-songs from the other room, “Just nonsense.”

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Today was a smidge warmer than the others, and for that, you were thankful because Hoseok was still dead set on taking a shikara ride on Dal Lake. With your suitcases in the trunk, the taxi made its way to Srinagar. You asked the driver about the weather and how cold it may be on the lake. He reassured you the boatmen would have blankets to help keep you warm. 

When you arrived, the scenic view took your breath away. The snow-capped mountains staggered along the horizon against an unblemished blue sky, towering over their reflection on the lake. Your suitcases were taken to a houseboat for courtesy storage, and you both set foot on the shikara—a beautiful wooden yellow boat with a half-bed on one side and a bench on the other. The cushion is covered in red velvet with a black floral print, and the boat’s roof has vibrant blue curtains draping down but drawn back elegantly so you can see the scenery. As you get comfortable among the cushions, the man hands you a rich red and gold-toned blanket. 

The man rows and speaks, “Welcome to the second-largest lake in the Kashmir valley. We call it the ‘Jewel in the crown of Kashmir’.”

“May I ask why?” you question.

“Well, not only is it an important source of fishing and water plant harvesting, but it’s also a beautiful, tranquil piece of nature. It sits against the backdrop of the gorgeous Himalayas.”

He continued to explain that people live in the houseboats lined along the bank. How the lake was usually bustling in the warmer months with floating markets and locals selling food and drinks. A few were working, but it wasn’t worth it without many tourists. He rowed to a houseboat with a shop where you bought hot tea and then navigated to a souvenir market where you bought a few trinkets for memories.

The guide continued his journey around the lake while you and Hoseok snapped pictures and awed at the beauty over and over. With the Himalayas in the background, the guide slows the boat to a stop and gestures toward a chest full of garments, traditional Kashmiri attire with authentic accessories. 

“Would you like to put some on for a picture?”

“Oh! Um it’s–” you begin, but the guide cuts you off.

“Honeymoon package, yes?” You and Hoseok look at each other and smile.

“Right…yes.” You reach for a magenta ghunghat with a gold embroidered border and drape it over your head, “Like this?”

“Yes, yes. Beautiful.” The guide takes a few shots at different angles and then commands, “Now kiss.”

“I’m sorry?!” You both bark but with smiles.

“Newlywed pose! You must kiss with this background.” The man gestures his hand around, emphasizing the beautiful scenery.

While he’s right about the scenery, you can’t help but wonder if he would be offended if you said there was a mistake. You’re not really newlyweds. You turn toward Hoseok, who is already grinning from ear to ear. Hoseok giggles and you can feel your body flush, even in the cold air. 

“It’s just a kiss,” Hoseok says calmly. The way the words and your name flow from his mouth is music to your ears. They float around your head and cause a dizzy spell as his lips creep toward yours. The subtle touch of his lips sends you into a freefall from the top of the mountain. Your heart shivers as he ignites a flame, thawing winter and bringing spring to life. 

The guide clears his throat, and Hoseok pulls away first. Just a kiss that has now set a fire within your heart. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

There was mostly small talk from Dal Lake to the airport and even less on the plane to Goa. You didn’t want to talk about your feelings, especially with the one who ignited them and probably didn’t feel the same. 

You watched episode after episode but had no idea what the story was because you were playing the kiss repeatedly in your mind. You tried to nap but were restless from the lingering tingle of that moment. Hoseok, on the other hand, was sound asleep. One more reason you knew he didn’t feel anything. 

Hoseok faked being asleep, shoving his feelings away and jamming them so far down they couldn’t threaten to escape in a confession right there in row seven. He would peek and steal glimpses of you, and when you had your eyes closed, he would trace his finger over his lips, craving to taste your strawberry lip balm again, yearning to feel– whatever that feeling was deep in his stomach when your mouth molded to his. 

The taxi ride to the beachfront hotel is full of excitement. Already the weather was hotter, and you could smell the salt in the air. You hung your hand out of the open window, making the slightest little movements to your fingers to let the wind carry your hand into ‘catching waves.’ Hoseok basked in your happiness and watched the wind breeze across your face and jostle loose strands of hair. 

Check-in to the hotel was smooth, and you were given yet another honeymoon suite, much like a villa. Although this time, you couldn’t complain. You felt like a liar but also spoiled and enjoyed every minute. This luxury villa has its own personal plunge pool surrounded by tropical plants and flowers. The lush lawn surrounding the pool and the gorgeous view of the sea from the verandah made the setting a romantic oasis. 

Staring out at sea, Hoseok’s hand brushes your lower back, sending chills down your spine. “What do you want to do tonight?” he asks softly.

“You wanna just hang out here and adventure out tomorrow? We could swim and eat dinner. There’s still a few hours before sunset; maybe we could watch it from here?” You feel yourself rambling, but if you stopped, the feelings from earlier would surely emerge again. Your mind begins spiraling, wondering if staying in was a bad idea. Maybe out in public, you wouldn’t be nervous, you would be able to act normal. “Or–”

“I like that idea,” Hoseok quickly cements the plan to be together, alone, in your villa. 

Not much later, you’ve ordered a pitcher of a coconut-based cocktail to drink during your swim. Dinner and wine are set to be delivered before sunset. Music plays while Hoseok lays on an inflatable pool float, and you lay on a chaise to soak in some of the sun you’ve been dying to stain your skin. Twenty scorching minutes later, you’re ready to cool off. You reach for Hoseok’s cup and pour both of you another before setting the pitcher closer to the pool’s edge and make your way into the refreshing water. 

Hoseok has been watching from behind his sunglasses. The way the sun illuminates your skin and accentuates every curve. The barely there bathing suit covers just enough, letting his imagination go wild, too wild. An ache arises between his legs, and he groans before falling into the water to cool off and calm down. 

You walk over to Hoseok’s float, and he swims to meet you there. Handing him both glasses over the float, you dip into the water and then rest your arms on the other side. 

“What is on your agenda here, Seokie?”

“Mmmm, well, I thought you would just want to lay on the beach all day, so I didn’t actually plan anything. There’s water sports, some old monuments, and lots of clubs and parties. I think I saw something about a sunset cruise.”

“While all that sounds interesting…I am only interested in sun, sand, and saltwater! But, for you, my Seokie, I will make an exception for parties and maybe a cruise.” 

You raise your glass toward Hoseok, and he matches your gesture, clinking his glass against yours. You both chug back the contents, finishing the liquid. Hoseok takes the cups to the side of the pool and fills them again. 

“Let’s go sit in the little nook.” Hoseok nods toward the built-in bench. It’s so tranquil; you both are leaning back, eyes closed, with your arms resting on the stone surrounding the pool. Hoseok speaks first, “I kinda like when you call me your Seokie.”

Your heart gallops at the sound of his voice. Slowly, you open your eyes and turn your head, catching sight of his lips. Your bottom lip curls between your teeth, but as your eyes rise, something catches your attention over his shoulder: a not-so-cute gecko inches from his arm. 

“It’s a cute nickname, yeah? Can we switch seats? I think the sun is better where you are.” You tell a quick fib hoping to keep him calm. “I’ll go over you; just slide this way.” 

Hoseok obliges, and as you’re straddling his lap. His eyes can’t help but fixate on your chest. He lets out a huff of air which hits between your breasts, triggering goosebumps to rush over your skin. You ignore the sensation and cup some water in your hand to splash the reptile away, but Hoseok’s hand touches your leg lightly, drawing your attention. You look down at him with dreamy eyes. His candied hazelnut richness sticks to your soul and pulls your heart with its gooey sap. Your skin tingles as you recall the kiss on the lake while his other hand slowly slides up your other leg.

Then, the universe had other plans, changing time into slow motion. 

The gecko betrays you, moving just enough to attract attention. Hoseok jerks under you, squeals, and stands up, sending you back into the pool. As you swim back to the nook, Hoseok prances and yips his way back into the villa. 

You giggle and rise to your feet to step out and refill drinks. You call out while pouring the last of the cocktail mix, “Seokie, it’s safe!”

He peeks his head out of the cracked door, “You sure?”

“Yes, scaredy cat, come on.” 

Hoseok slowly walks out, watching where he steps, then takes the glass from you. “Dinner should be here soon. We should get cleaned up and go inside.”

“I wanna watch the sunset while we eat.”

“We can see it from the window. There are things out here.”

“I thought we were gonna do what I wanted since I endured the freezing cold and went snowboarding and got sick,” you whine.

Hoseok’s lips stretch in a straight line across his face, and his dimples make a full display. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he says, moving toward you to grab your hands with his. “For you, I will eat with the creatures.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” you scoff and try to pull away, but Hoseok doesn’t let go. You scrunch your eyebrows and search his face for a reason, but he only smiles with a gaze that caresses your soul. Hoseok seems like he wants to say something, so you wait; his mouth opens as the doorbell sounds.

“Food delivery.” Hoseok releases your hands and walks toward the door. You stand there for a second longer, trying to assess what just happened.

The food is brought in by multiple staff and laid out gorgeously on the dinette, and each dish has a tag placed next to it with a description. An oversized center plate has fish thali and a few smaller plates and bowls with rice, crab masala, butter-garlic calamari, vindaloo, and naan. They also placed dessert trays full of sweet bread with perad– or guava cheese– sweet turmeric cakes called patoleo, and a bowl of melted chocolate surrounded by coconut cookies. To make things even better, two bottles of alcohol that are popular in the area, coconut Feni and a rich Syrah wine from a local vineyard, are provided with the food.

The staff leaves and your stomach rumbles in the silence. Apparently loud enough for Hoseok to hear as well.

“Wow! You must really be hungry. I’ll make the plates; you pour the drinks.”

Time passes too quickly while eating on the verandah. The two of you have yet to run out of things to talk about, and this new adventure to India has just given you even more to discuss. 

Delicious food, full-bodied wine, and a sunset later, you take a dip in the pool one last time before heading to bed. It’s illuminated with soft purple lights, giving off a milky way appearance. Hoseok sets up the Lofi Bollywood playlist again, and you both float peacefully together. 

When the peppery syrah runs out, you’re both tipsy and a little tired from being in the sun for most of the day. You both have kept your distance, mostly just floating on the pool floats and admiring the star-studded sky. When you both decide to clean up and call it a night, you stumble inside after each other, laughing and pulling at one another to get to the shower first. 

Hoseok wins by a quick battle of rock, paper, scissors and is off to shower first. You take another gander at the food and do some picking before grabbing your clothes to change into. 

When Hoseok walks out with only a towel, your mind goes blank while your eyes fixate on a few drops of water beading along his v-line. He voices it’s your turn, and you quickly grab your clothes, beelining to the bathroom. Hoping the warm water would sober you up before bed was wishful thinking. When you step out to grab your towel, you lose your balance, bang into the wall, and start giggling to yourself. 

“You okay in there? Did you fall?”

“Nope! Just a little…bump. I’m fine!”

“Do you need…help?”

“No! I’m not dressed, Seok! Don’t come in!” You can feel your cheeks flush a hot crimson while you dry off. Why is his voice so sexy right now? You wrap the towel around you and look in the mirror, then tap your hands on your face a few times. The sound of music grabs your attention, so you snap out of it and reach for your clothes. Only to find there is just a T-shirt. Somehow you forgot underwear. You shake your head and put your shirt on, realizing it’s not yours. 

Well, this will be awkward. You open the door and scan the room for Hoseok, but he must be in the other room. Before he notices, you beeline to your suitcase to find your hairbrush, undergarments, and another shirt that’s not his. You find everything and turn to go back into the bathroom.

“Is that my shirt?” he asks from the threshold. You wince at being caught red-handed.

“I accidentally grabbed it! Sorry! I know you hate when people wear your clothes. I came out to get my shirt, and I will change.” You lift your hand to show your shirt and inch back to the bathroom, but something holds you back. Hoseok’s hand is around your wrist, keeping you in place.

“Let’s go dance.”

“Let me finish getting dressed.”

“Nope!” Hoseok pulls you into the other room, where he’s moved some furniture and made space for dancing. You didn’t realize you were holding your breath until he pulled you into him, taking the items from your hand and tossing them onto the nearby chair. That’s when you see you grabbed a lacey lavender thong instead of the boy shorts you usually wear when sleeping. Embarrassed, you go to hide them, but he keeps a firm grip.

“Seok, I need to finish getting dressed.”

“You’re dressed enough. Dance with me,” he whines, and you search his eyes for any hint of his mood. 

“You’re kinda cute when you whine,” you tease and bop his nose with your finger.

“And you’re kinda cute in my shirt.” 

His words take you by surprise, and you look away but his hand catches your chin and pulls your attention back to him. You look into each other’s eyes as he sways you back and forth. He smiles and you feel warmth bore into your skin. He removes the towel from your head and drops it to the ground. Your mind is already foggy from the wine, but now this– whatever this is– adds to the cloud. He raises your hand above your head, making you spin. You clutch at the hem of your shirt as it lifts, exposing the side of your upper thigh and buttcheek. Hoseok pulls you back into him, face to face, and tucks some of your hair behind your ear, maintaining eye contact. You’re dizzy; from the wine or the spin, maybe both. The music you forgot was playing stops abruptly, and you both stutter-step, clashing your feet together. 

“I guess we’re tipsy, huh?” he says just above your ear. “Maybe we should get to bed. We have to wake up early for the tour, right?” He hugs you tight, then walks toward the bedroom, leaving you standing there with your thoughts. Your body, hotter than the sun, almost collapses under your weak knees. 

Completely forgetting about your hair and undergarments, you follow in his footsteps. All of the lights are off save for the one on your side of the bed. Hoseok is waiting for you, covers lifted for you to get in. You sit on the bed and reach to turn the light out, then assume the position you’ve been sleeping in for days. As you scoot back into Hoseok, his arm rests just under your breasts, his hand sliding between your ribs and the bed. You can feel how the shirt has bunched under his arm, and the hem rests just above the bottom of your butt. 

Hoseok thinks about how close he was to kissing you again, feeling your lips rest on his. He can feel how doughy your breasts feel on his arm, and he’s fighting the urge to squeeze them in his hands. He imagines how they would fit perfectly in his palm, his fingers massaging into your flesh. He tilts his pelvis back a little, feeling a sensation between his legs, and he lets out a sigh. 

Hoseok’s breath tickles the back of your ear, sending a vibration down your spine, your back arches sending your ass into his half-hardened member. He pulls his lower half back from you and rests his forehead on your shoulder. 

“S–sorry, Seok.”

“Please be still,” he whispers.

Hoseok raises his head only for his wet lips to catch the skin on your neck. You gasp and stir again, sending his hips into a frenzy. Unable to ignore the feeling, he tugs at your earlobe with his teeth. Your hips roll again, this time against a rock-hard Hoseok. He lets out a shaky breath, and his arm across your chest pulls you closer. 

“I want you,” he mutters along with your name against the crook of your neck before dusting your neck and shoulder with his lips. He pulls his arm from your chest and brushes the underside of your breasts. His hand traces your ribs and follows the curve of your body. He stops on your hip, digs his fingers into your flesh, then does the same to your breasts while slowly thrusting into your backside. He feels good. Too good. He pushes himself up onto his elbow and pulls you under him. 

It’s dark, but he still searches for your eyes when he places his hands on either side of your head, then lowers his body onto you. His lips, those beautiful lips, push onto yours and part them just enough for his tongue to swipe across yours. You follow his lead and press your tongue to his, your hand snaking up to his nape and the other dragging your nails down his back. Hoseok shivers and moans, moving one hand to your ass, pulling you into his throbbing manhood. He grinds against your aroused button and swallows the mewl that escapes your mouth. 

You feel euphoric, and part of you wants to go all in with Hoseok. The sober part realizes this may just be the alcohol speaking. You wouldn’t regret it, but what if he will? What if his flirty self isn’t thinking straight and is just being a man chasing his sexual desires in the moment? Hoseok lets go of your ass and moves his thumb against your core; he coats his thumb in your slick and uses it to slide against your nub with intense pressure and slow rubbing. Juicy lips wedge together between his tongue, languidly dragging it along yours.

“Wait, Seok. Wait,” you mumble against his lips breathlessly. He stills and meets your eyes. “May–maybe we should wait until we’re both completely sober.”

Hoseok passionately kisses you again, following an imaginary line down your jaw to your neck. He sucks the skin into his mouth gently. “Is that what you want?” His teeth graze your clavicle, then he nibbles and chuckles at your arching body. “It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

His weight is crushing you, much like the words– suffocating your senses– and there is no way out. There isn’t enough air to help you overcome the punch to the gut. It doesn’t have to mean anything. It sounds like something someone would say when they were just scratching that itch.

“I–I think it’s best,” your voice trails off like you have more to say, but you don’t know what else to say.

“Okay. You’re probably right.” He briefly stays on top of you, then slides off to your side. “I’m sorry if I crossed the line.”

“That’s not it… I don’t want us to regret anything we did while intoxicated.”

“Makes sense.” There’s a long pause before he continues, “Can I still use you as my body pillow?” 

“Yeah. Sure.”

 It doesn’t have to mean anything. Easy for him to say. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

The four days in Goa are going quickly, too quickly. You’ve mostly spent them relaxing on the beach, finding adorable cafes, and avoiding what happened and what was said the first night. Even though you said you only wanted to sunbathe and party, you made sure to experience the local culture. 

You walked a beautiful heritage tour through a place blending Portuguese and Indian traditions. The quaint streets were lined with traditional Portuguese-style homes in a palette of bold, bright colors—breathtaking preservation of heritage amongst modern development. 

One day also consisted of a bus ride to the jungle and trekking to a waterfall. The private tour guide told you the water had minerals like a natural spa where you could sit and relax to rejuvenate, but they forgot to mention the little fish that would surround you, and Hoseok’s scream was too embarrassing to stay.

Today was your last full day, and you were determined to soak up every last second you could in the sun. The morning was spent walking along the shoreline, and this afternoon was spent by the pool. You promised Hoseok tonight would be spent at the club because it was the last night to do so. He wanted to dance badly. 

You made sure to have enough time for a shower and a nap. The nap turned into another cuddle session that was quickly becoming your favorite way to sleep. The way Hoseok’s body molded to yours felt too good ever to let go. You were also growing accustomed to his warmth and how his lips would sometimes skim over your skin. But you kept a wall around your heart again, only thinking of it as a friendly snuggle.

It was time to get ready for the club, so you took your outfit into the bathroom. Hoseok gets dressed into his white button-down shirt and yellow shorts, then begins making pregame drinks, and you can hear him making little sounds while he concentrates. It made you recall a few nights ago; you heard little moans while his body subtly rutted into yours. You didn’t wake him or mention it because it was thrilling and made you want more. You wanted to take his hand and place it where you really needed to feel the friction... 

“Do you need help in there?” Hoseok says right outside the door.

You shook your head, looking in the mirror, wondering when you even got dressed. Your outfit was a khaki knit romper. It was backless save for the lace-up string to hold it in place. It looked perfect against your tanned skin with gold hoop earrings and three layered gold necklaces. Keeping your hands behind your back, you realize you need help tying it.

Holding the top, you opened the door with one hand behind your back. “I do, actually,” you swallow hard, noticing his bulged eyes, “can you –uh– tie it, please?” 

Hoseok couldn’t blink. His brain was malfunctioning, and his heart was tearing through his chest. He stumbled backward, then nodded his head yes. You turned slowly, and his eyes roamed every millimeter of your figure. The khaki color accentuated your tan, the perfect sun-kissed, silky skin. He tied the strings and noticed how the shorts ended just below your ass cheeks. He spun you around and looked at the front.

“Y–you can’t wear this,” he said barely above a whisper.

“Hm? Why not?” You turn toward the mirror, twisting, looking for something wrong.

“It’s basically see-through!” he scolds.

“I have pasties on…can you see them? Can you see my underwear?”

Hoseok feels like he’s going to have a cardiac episode. “No. Well, I mean–I– I don’t know. I’m not looking that hard.”

“Well, look! I need to make sure before we go out.”

He steps back again, and you feel naked under his gaze as you slowly turn, making sure everything is in place. 

“One bend or squat and your ass will be out.” 

“Who cares? Not like we’re going to see these people ever again.”

“Right. Okay, looks good. I’m just gonna pee before we go.” He walks into the bathroom and closes the door. 

Now you’re wondering if the outfit is too much. You walk into the bedroom, check yourself out, and decide you look hot and ready to party. Something else crosses your mind as you let your thoughts drift to the other night, how Hoseok raked his hands over your body. How you molded into him while your tongues did the tango. When one of his hands caressed your breast and the other sought to pleasure you? The excitement ends when you also recall, ‘It doesn’t have to mean anything’.

You snap out of it when you hear the bathroom door open, “Ready for the drinks?” he calls out. You both down some shots, quickly sip the cocktails, and then start walking to the club.

You both arrive at the club tipsy and giggly. The booming bass takes over your bodies, and you float rhythmically to grab a drink and then hit the dance floor. Dancing together feels good. His sparkling smile penetrates your heart like the sun’s rays penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. Drunk off the excitement, and you find yourselves getting closer and closer. You’ve slowed from the beat and look up into his eyes, glossed over from bliss. He leans down as if to say something but the song changes.

He can’t stop his body from reacting, and he’s off to a new dance, showing off his skills… Jay has arrived. He finishes his drink, nudging you to do the same, then sets the empty cups on a nearby table. His sultry steps stalk toward you and turn you around, pressing himself against your backside. You gasp at the sudden movement but flow perfectly with him. His hands rest on your hips, fingers applying pressure to your hip bones. He grinds into you slowly, and you feel the slightest bulge. You push your ass into him and hear a slight hiss escape his mouth. His one arm snakes around your shoulders while the other hand firmly rests on your belly, holding you in place. He grinds into you again and brings his lips to your ear, “You look irresistible in this outfit.”

Your breath hitches, and your back arches away from him, causing your ass to press against him again. He moans your name softly, “Be careful, or we may have to call it a night.” 

Overwhelmed by impulsive thoughts and the cracks in the wall around your heart, you giggle and turn in his arms, “Maybe we should…get water? I’ll be right back.” You walk off the dance floor and head to the bar. 

You ask for ice while the bartender makes cups of iced water. You grab a cube and drag it along your clavicle to cool off; the water glistens on your skin. Once the bartender places your drinks in front of you, you turn to find Hoseok in the crowd before you start walking. 

When you finally spot the back of his yellow shorts, you smile and begin to turn toward the drinks when you see hands with hot-pink nail polish grasping Hoseok’s neck. You watch the hands play at his hairline and swear you hear his distinctive chuckle over the booming music. 

The sinking feeling in your stomach tells you to run away. You look back at the drinks on the bar and reach for your water. When the cup gets to your lips, you realize you’re trembling. The neon lights become dizzying, so you follow your gut and leave. 

Walking along the shoreline, shoes in hand, the sea laps at your feet, each impression erased. You stand still, facing the water, once a vibrant blue full of life, now slumbers in a dreamy black robe. The moon casts its light in a pathway, calling you to walk its passage to serenity. 

You step away from the water, find dry sand to sit on, and plop down onto it. The sand retreats into your shorts, but you don’t care. Your eyes stay fixated on the moonlit path until self-made salt water trickles down your cheek. 

You fell carelessly in love with someone that you’re not sure was even capable of doing the same. “Who was I kidding?” You speak softly to the moon, dig your feet further into the sand, and wrap your arms around your legs. 

Back at the club, Hoseok feels dehydrated from all the dancing and leaves the dance floor to find you. After two laps around the place and asking women outside the bathroom if you’re inside, he starts walking out. He thinks back to when he last saw you, going for water, and then he got distracted dancing. Not just dancing– dancing with another woman. “I’m an idiot!” Hoseok nearly sprints out of the club on a mission to find you.

Clouds slowly roll across the sky, obstructing the moon and the moonlit path vanishing. The shots from earlier have worn off quicker than you’d hoped, and it’s getting chilly sitting by the water with little clothes on. You brush the sand off your butt and legs, grab your shoes in one hand, wrap your arms around yourself, then start walking toward the villa. 

From a distance, Hoseok ardently calls your name. You turn toward his voice and watch as he races toward you. His body slams into yours, almost knocking you over, but his arms hold you tightly in place. 

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“The ocean was calling me. And you... You seemed a little preoccupied.” You step out of his hold. “Plus, seeing you dance like that with someone else– after saying– I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry for upsetting you.”

“Am I crazy, Hoseok? I know we both feel there’s more to this... more to us.”

“You’re not crazy. I feel it too. I–”

“You’re confusing, you know? You flirt with me all day but then do the same with other women. You’re all over me in bed and on the dance floor but then dance the same way with someone else. It hurts, and I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“I’m an idiot, I know. But please, please let me fix this. I–” Hoseok stops talking and stares into your eyes, searching your soul for the words.

“You what? Want to have your cake and eat it too? I don’t want to be your toy.”

“I meant what I said the other night, granted it wasn’t the right timing, but I do want you–”

“Forget it, Hoseok! Let’s just pretend nothing happened and go back–”

“I don’t want that. I want you in more ways than just sex. If anything, this trip has brought us so much closer, and I can’t imagine not waking up next to you, and I don’t want it to end.”

Unsure of what to say or if you should believe him, he was the one who said it didn’t have to mean anything, and now he says this. Your eyes brim with tears as raindrops prickle your skin. Hoseok looks up at the clouds and scoffs at the inconvenience. The rain falls steadily, drenching the two of you and masking your tears. 

Hoseok grabs your hand and pulls you along while running back to the villa.

Neither of you say a word on the way back, yet your minds are not silent. When you enter the door, you gently slide off of Hoseok’s back and straighten your romper down. He turns to face you and runs his hand through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face. He toes off his shoes, keeping his eyes on you, and then dashes for the bathroom coming back with a towel and robe.

“I wasn’t sure which one you may want.”

“Thank you,” you mumble.

Hoseok watches you sluggishly dry your hair as much as you can, then puts his hands on yours and takes the towel. He dabs your face, slowly moving down your body, removing as much water as possible from your satiny skin. When he’s finished at your feet, he looks up at you, eyes warm and inviting like a cup of coffee. You swear you can see hearts dancing in the richness of his irises. 

He drops the towel, removes his shirt, and stands before you. You can tell he’s nervous before his hand lands on your cheek, spreading his warmth into your skin. 

He holds your hands and rests his forehead on yours, “I made stupid decisions, but I promise you, I am stupid for you. I’m scared I ruined everything when in reality, I wanna be with you. More than friends, more than a hookup. I want to be your partner.”

“Seok–”

“I never should have said, ‘it didn’t have to mean anything’, because it would always mean something to me. I regretted the words the minute they came out but didn’t want to dig myself deeper.”

You pull away slightly to better see his face, attempting to find whatever answer your heart seeks. 

“Yes, I swear. I have wanted to confess my feelings to you for years–”

“Years!?” You swat at his chest and step back, but he doesn’t let you get far, pulling at your hips.

“I love our friendship and working with you. I was afraid my feelings would ruin what we had, but then it felt like you maybe had those feelings too. Instead of talking to you about it, I tried to hide it in other ways that ended up hurting you and almost lost you. I will never let that happen again.”

Hoseok leans in and presses his plump lips to yours, the air from his nose tickling your upper lip. You fuse your lips to his, and the kiss radiates your surroundings, the dark, damp room now ambient and forgiving. Your body molds to his as sweet tingles of butterflies escape the crumbling wall around your heart. Hoseok lifts you onto him with his lips still pressed to yours, and your arms wrap around his shoulders. He walks gingerly to the bed and lowers you down onto it. His mouth breaks away from yours and moves to your breasts, barely held in by the top of the romper. His tongue outlines the mounds as his hand feverishly runs along your thigh.

He murmurs your name, “Please be my partner…my lover?” He stills his hand and sprinkles kisses up to your neck. 

You giggle at the tickle, “Yeah, I’ll be yours, Seok.” You can feel his smile broaden against your skin before he lifts his head and looks at you.

“One more thing…a favor.”

“Hm?”

“Call me Jay when we’re in this kinda mood.”

“Okay?” Your curious tone prompts him for more.

“It turns me on, and I wanna hear it from your pretty mouth,” he coos before swiping your bottom lip with his tongue. 

Hoseok stands, eyes roaming your body, and pulls you up to do the same. His hand reaches behind you, untying the strap and letting the top of your romper loosely fall. The material sits on your hips before you push it down, letting it fall to your feet. Hoseok grins at the sight of your pasties, and you hide your face behind your hands. 

He tugs gently at your hands and pulls you into him, swaying into a dance. He kisses your forehead and then twists you, placing your back against his chest. Your body melts into him as his hands explore, and teeth nip at your ear. Hoseok begins to bend you forward, pressing your body into the mattress. You put your hands out to soften the fall onto the bed, and they slide above your head. Hoseok admires the sight before he lowers himself onto you, pressing his semi-hard cock into the crack of your ass and sliding a hand down your arm until his hand intertwines with yours. 

You lift your body, making him adjust so you can roll onto your back. Pulling his face into yours, you place soft kisses along his cheeks and jaw. He grinds against the thin cotton between your legs and squeezes your breast. You let out a slight noise that ignites his desire, and soon enough, his mouth is ravishing anywhere it can reach, stirring fire within you. 

“Mmm, Jay.” 

Hoseok stops abruptly at the words that escaped your lips. His forehead collapses against yours, “Say it again.” He peels the pasties off your nipples and pushes your breasts together, licking the crease between them. He sucks the skin into his mouth hard enough to leave his mark, then moves onto a nipple and nibbles lightly before swirling his tongue around it. He sucks it and releases it with a popping sound. You squirm under him as he does the same to the other breast.

“Fuck, Jay.” His body turns to jello– weakened by your whisper– falling limp on you. 

“It sounds better than I could’ve ever imagined.” He slides a finger into your underwear and pulls it off you. Kisses linger on your skin from your breasts to your stomach. His warm breath is on your thigh, and your body shivers under the heat. 

His mouth sweeps your folds, and he licks a long, unhurried stroke. Your legs shake, and your hands fly into his hair. His tongue flicks at your swelling nub as mewls escape your lips. 

“Jay, please.” 

He continues flickering his tongue and makes eye contact with you, raising one eyebrow. “Hmm?” The moan sends vibrations up your spine and a whine from your chest. You grab the sides of his head and steady him as you rock your hips against his face. He chuckles, sending your body into a frenzy. You moan his name repeatedly until you climax, dropping your hands, but he continues. You whine and wiggle out of his grasp when it becomes too much. 

Hoseok lets you come down a little before repositioning on top of you. You can feel his thickness against your leg, you push his underwear down until he takes it off. He kneels between your legs, and you watch as he pumps his cock a few times, eyes trained on you. He leans down with his hands on either side of you, “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Blissed out, you can only mumble a resemblance of a response. Hoseok laughs and an iridescent aura overtakes your body, giving you more energy to continue. 

“Can you handle a little more of Jay?” he quirks. You bite your bottom lip and nod your head. He eases into you; his cock drags along your walls, filling you deliciously. “Fuuu…so wet and tight.” He lulls, waiting patiently for you to adjust to him, and peppers soft kisses onto your mouth. 

His hips pull back slowly and gently push back into you. His tongue pushes in the same movement against yours. He swallows all of the moans slipping from your throat. Lewd sounds are coming from each movement, and he groans, “Do you hear that? I’m gonna cum so fast.”

Hoseok holds himself up off of you and quickens his pace. Your tits bounce with each thrust, along with little sounds leaving you; he’s close. 

You hiss and moan his name again as you hit another high. When he feels your walls throbbing against him, he lets go, not stopping until every drop is out of him. He rests on you, staying buried in your warmth. 

Hoseok nibbles along your shoulder, then bestows tenderhearted kisses up your neck, landing on your mouth. You drink him in like a refreshing iced tea on a hot summer day. 

He mutters your name against your neck, “That was even more amazing than I’d ever imagined...and trust me that's been a lot.” His smile against your skin radiates happiness into your bones, a feeling overwhelmingly pleasant. 

“Mmhmm. I think India is my new favorite place. It's beautiful here, even the cold part, and the memories are enough for a lifetime," you pause for a moment, your fingers combing through his fluffy hair, "and I really like this too."

Hoseok suppresses a laugh, letting out a puff of air, “Me too, but it's only my favorite because I'm with you.” He kisses your shoulder and finds one of your hands to wrap his fingers around yours.

The two of you lay there, one hand interlocked and the other tracing each other’s bodies, gentle kisses on exposed skin, letting this new experience seep into your core memories. Like traveling to a new place for the first time and becoming deeply smitten with a new, beautiful place. 

You look at Hoseok’s face, his eyes closed and soft features aglow, even in the dark. His smile is your favorite sight and his laugh is your favorite sound. He is easily your favorite adventure. 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Namaste Collab Masterlist

Glossary:

Ladoos- traditional Indian dessert is made with different types of flour that are mixed with sugar and shortening, then shaped into balls.

Sweet boondi- fried gram flour balls soaked in flavored sugar syrup. 

Kaju katli- a cookie-like Indian sweet made from a dough consisting largely of ground cashew nuts; the name translates as "cashew slice."

Shikara- a wooden, flat-bottom boat

Ghunghat- head covering or headscarf

Vindaloo- Indian curry dish, which is originally from Goa, based on the Portuguese dish

Fish thali- complete meal consisting of Rice, fish curry, fried fish, and veggies

Feni- a liquor indigenous to the state of Goa, India. The two most popular types are cashew and coconut.

[starsarefire824]

Demons of Change & Wildflower Eyes

Chapter 17: Badflower

A tap at the windowpane stirs Troy from where he is staring blankly up at the dirty, white ceiling. He doesn’t know how long he’s been tracing the cracks along the plaster as he tossed a baseball up and down. Over and over, until the words of the song melted together and his vision blurred. He’d dropped it when he heard the sound and it landed heavily on his pillow with a loud thud, a mere inch away from his face. His dad would fucking kill him if he had a bruise on his face.  Tap Tap Tap  Troy sits up and squints through the gauzy curtain and half broken blinds, but he already knows who it is before he sees him. There’s only one person who’d be climbing on his roof at this time of night when they have school tomorrow. He shouldn’t be here , he thinks hotly. He knows his dad is home on Mondays, and they had just seen each other yesterday. It wasn’t like Mike to come to him two days in a row.  He sighs and rolls off the bed in one swift motion, padding over in his bare feet towards the window, toes cold on the thin carpet that covers the old hardwood floors of their Cape Cod his dad’s father had built in the forties. He goes to the dormer and shoves the window open with two hands, sticking his head out towards the porch roof. The cold night air nips at his nose and he scrunches his brows at Mike.  “What the fuck are you doing?” he hisses, taking hold of Mike with both hands around his shoulders and tugging him through the window.

[nookflex]

Your Guide To a Better Future

Best Cordless Vacuums for 2024

Grab one of the best cordless vacuums from Samsung, Black & Decker, or Tineco to keep your house free of dust and pet hair.

Your Experts

Written by Ry Crist, Chris Wedel, Brian Bennett

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Ry Crist

Originally hailing from Troy, Ohio, Ry Crist is a writer, a text-based adventure connoisseur, a lover of terrible movies and an enthusiastic yet mediocre cook. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, broadband, and home networking.

Expertise: Smart home technology, Wireless connectivity

Credentials: 10 years product testing experience with the CNET Home team

Chris Wedel

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter. However, by utilizing his years of experience in the tech and mobile communications industries, success is assured. When not conquering the outdoors and testing new gadgets, Chris enjoys cruising a gravel road in his UTV with some good tunes, camping, and hanging out with his family.

Expertise: Smart home devices, outdoors gadgets, smartphones, wearables, kid's tech, and some dabbling in 3D printing

Credentials: Covered the mobile and smart home tech space for the past five years for multiple large publications.

Brian Bennett

Brian Bennett is a former senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET.

What to Consider

Type of flooring

Battery life and runtime

Weight, size, and bin capacity

Warranty

Best Cordless Vacuums of 2024

Tineco Pure One S11

The Tineco Pure One S11 cordless vacuum is our top-recommended cordless vacuum of 2023. It performs as well as or better than pricier elite vacuums, works great on both hardwood and carpet, and comes with several handy attachments. It has a battery life of 40 minutes and a weight of 6 pounds. The bin capacity is 0.16 gallons, and it features a four-stage HEPA filter. The Tineco Pure One S11 is priced at $400.

Black & Decker Power Series Extreme

The Black & Decker Power Series Extreme is the best budget cordless vacuum. It costs less than $200 and offers formidable performance in suction tests. It has a runtime of 55 minutes and a weight of 10.45 pounds. The bin capacity is 0.65 liters, and it does not have a HEPA filter. The Black & Decker Power Series Extreme is priced at $177.

Tineco Pure One S15 Pet

The Tineco Pure One S15 Pet is the best cordless vacuum for pet hair. It is priced at $500 and offers excellent performance. It has a battery life of 40 minutes and a weight of 6 pounds. The bin capacity is 0.16 gallons, and it features a four-stage HEPA filter.

Samsung Jet 90

The Samsung Jet 90 is the best cordless vacuum for thick carpets. It is priced at $591 and delivers exceptional results on thicker carpets. It has a battery life of 40 minutes and a weight of 6 pounds. The bin capacity is 0.16 gallons, and it features a four-stage HEPA filter.

Dyson V15 Detect

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best cordless vacuum in terms of suction power. It is priced at $638 and offers outstanding suction capabilities. It has a battery life of 40 minutes and a weight of 6 pounds. The bin capacity is 0.16 gallons, and it features a four-stage HEPA filter.

How We Test Cordless Vacuums

At CNET, we rigorously test each cordless vacuum to ensure we recommend the best options. Our testing includes evaluating performance on different floor types, assessing battery life and runtime, examining weight, size, and bin capacity, and considering additional features such as warranties and attachments. We aim to provide accurate and reliable information to help you make an informed decision.

Other Considerations When Choosing a Cordless Vacuum

In addition to the specific models we recommend, there are various factors to consider when choosing a cordless vacuum. These include your specific cleaning needs, the type of flooring in your home, the size of your living space, and any particular features or attachments that would be beneficial. Taking these factors into account will ensure you find the perfect cordless vacuum for your needs.

Why You Should Trust CNET Testing

16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience

14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers

6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space

Keeping Your Cordless Vacuum Clean So It Can Clean Better

Maintaining a clean cordless vacuum is essential for optimal performance. Regularly emptying the bin, cleaning or replacing filters, and removing any tangled strands from the brush roll will ensure your vacuum continues to operate efficiently. It's also important to store your cordless vacuum properly and follow any maintenance guidelines provided by the manufacturer.

Cordless Vacuum FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about cordless vacuums:

Can cordless vacuums clean as effectively as corded vacuums?

How long does the battery of a cordless vacuum usually last?

Are cordless vacuums suitable for cleaning different types of flooring?

What are the advantages of using a cordless vacuum over a corded one?

Conclusion

Choosing the best cordless vacuum for your home is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. The Tineco Pure One S11, Black & Decker Power Series Extreme, Tineco Pure One S15 Pet, Samsung Jet 90, and Dyson V15 Detect are all excellent options to consider based on your specific needs. Whether you have hardwood floors, thick carpets, pets, or a need for strong suction power, there is a cordless vacuum on our list that will meet your requirements. By investing in a high-quality cordless vacuum, you'll be able to keep your house free of dust and pet hair, ensuring a cleaner and healthier living space for you and your family. So, what are you waiting for? Make your cleaning routine easier and more efficient with one of the best cordless vacuums of 2024!

About NookFlex

NookFlex is an innovative technology company specializing in electronics. Our main goal is to fuel digital growth and provide cutting-edge solutions to enhance your everyday life. Whether it's a cordless vacuum, a smart home device, or a high-performance computer, NookFlex products are designed to exceed your expectations. Visit our website at www.nookflex.firmx.co to explore our wide range of products and discover how NookFlex can revolutionize your digital experience.

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Article updated on June 8, 2024 at 8:00 AM PDT

[cabinetekmi]

Luxury Upgrades To Add During a Bathroom Remodeling in Plymouth and Farmington Hills, MI

A bathroom is more than just a functional space. It can also be a sanctuary to escape and unwind after a long day. Homeowners planning a bathroom remodel in Plymouth or Farmington Hills, MI, may add a touch of luxury to the existing design. Here are some ideas for luxury upgrades that will elevate the bathroom to the next level.

High-end fixtures

Upgrading the faucets, showerheads, and other bathroom fixtures can add a touch of luxury. Consider opting for fixtures made from high-quality materials such as brass or chrome or those with special features like rainfall showerheads or touchless faucets. One can also choose fixtures with unique designs or finishes, such as brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze, to give your bathroom a more luxurious feel.

Heated flooring

There's nothing like stepping out of a warm shower onto heated floors. Installing heated flooring in the bathroom can make the space feel cozy and welcoming, especially during the colder months. Depending on their budget and preferences, homeowners can choose from several types of heated flooring, including electric and hydronic.

Custom cabinetry

Investing in custom cabinets in Troy and Northville, MI can add functionality and luxury to the bathroom. Custom cabinets can be designed to fit the space perfectly, allowing one to maximize storage while creating a unique look. To create a custom look, one can choose from various high-end materials and finishes, such as hardwood, glass, or metal.

Smart technology

Integrating smart technology into the bathroom can add both convenience and luxury to the space. Consider installing a smart toilet with features like heated seats, bidet functionality, and self-cleaning options. Homeowners can install smart mirrors with integrated lighting, Bluetooth speakers, and built-in televisions. Don't forget about smart lighting and sound systems, which can help create the perfect ambiance in your bathroom.

Statement lighting

Adding statement lighting in the bathroom can instantly make the space feel more luxurious. Consider installing a chandelier, pendant lights, or wall sconces to create a focal point in the room. One can also install lighting under cabinets or around mirrors to create a soft, warm glow.

Custom shower

A custom shower can take the bathroom to the next level of luxury. Consider installing a walk-in shower with a rain showerhead, body jets, and built-in seating. To create a unique look, one can also add custom tilings, such as mosaic or subway tiles. Don't forget to add luxury features such as steam or waterproof sound systems for the ultimate spa experience.

Freestanding tub

A freestanding tub can add a touch of elegance and luxury to any bathroom. Consider installing a soaking tub from high-end materials such as cast iron or acrylic. One can also choose from various shapes and sizes to fit the space and preferences.

One can consider many luxury upgrades for a bathroom remodel in Plymouth or Farmington Hills, MI. Whether one opts for high-end fixtures, heated flooring, custom cabinetry, smart technology, statement lighting, a custom shower, or a freestanding tub, these upgrades can elevate the space and make it feel truly luxurious. So why not indulge in a little luxury and create a functional and beautiful bathroom?

[world-wide-content]

Furniture In Troy, MO 02/23

At Troy Furniture, we understand you take pleasure in having a great time with friends during game night, invest a whole afternoon talking to a longtime pal, or take pleasure in a great hot cup of coffee. What much better way to do it than with a premium coffee table? Finding the ideal furniture in Troy, MO, that fits your needs according to your design and budget isn't easy ... until now! Troy Furniture is your one-stop buy all your furnishings requires. So if you're on the hunt for the perfect coffee table for you, you can stop looking around, we're the best place! Learn more about us below. With a family-owned business model, we are committed to offering outstanding customer care. We offer a variety of styles and sizes to quickly fit into any room or budget plan, varying from timeless traditional pieces to modern contemporary styles. All of our tables are made from top quality products, including hardwoods like oak and cherry as well as metals like steel and brass. So stop hesitating! Buy a coffee table from Troy Furniture today!

[the-writers-newsletter]

Furniture In Troy, MO 02/23

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[the-writer-posts]

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[dumdumsun]

Lost and Found

A/N: Welcome, lovelies! I'm finally back to uploading and let's just say that this one has been a long wait for me. I've been so friggin excited to finish and upload this story. I miss this show so much and I can't wait for season four to come out. This fic was all I thought about for a long time and now that it's done, I can obsess over writing the other two installments of it. But for now, I hope you enjoy this first chapter!

Warnings: bullying, brief racism (Troy towards Lucas), mentions of vomit

Word Count: 3254

—————————————

Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers

On a dark autumn’s night, at the edge of Maple Street’s suburban cul-de-sac, sat two sprinklers. They spat out their water to refresh the newly mowed lawn of the Wheeler residence. This lawn, amongst other aspects, was a symbol for the perfect nuclear family residing within the two-story home. Below those two stories, within the basement, sat the four members of Hawkins Middle School’s Audio Visual Club and players of the current Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

“Something is coming. Something hungry for blood,” whispered the president of the AV Club, Mike Wheeler, eyes trailing across his three friends who sat around his square table. “A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It is almost here.”

“What is it?” The soft voice of Will Byers impatiently asked across from Mike.

“What if it’s the Demogorgon?” Dustin Henderson raised his brows at his friends. Will sighed out and slumped against his chair in distress. “Oh, Jesus, we’re so screwed if it’s the Demogorgon.”

Lucas Sinclair, across from Dustin, widened his eyes and spoke with gestured hands, “It’s not the Demogorgon.”

Mike smirked at his friends’ groans and moans before grabbing a figure from behind his cardboard covering and slamming it upon the board in the middle of the table. “An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!”

“Troglodytes?” Dustin grinned at Lucas, who smugly smiled back at him.

“Told ya.” He chuckled.

After the three unsuspecting boys’ laughter trailed off, a moment of silence passed before Mike’s face dropped in feigned confusion. “Wait a minute. Do you hear that? That… That sound? Boom… boom… Boom!” He banged against the table, causing the boys to jump and gasp. “That didn’t come from the troglodytes. No, that… That came from something else.”

Lucas and Dustin shared a knowing look before Mike slammed another figure onto the board. “The Demogorgon!”

Three sets of groans filled the basement, Dustin smacking his hand against the table. “We’re in deep shit.”

“Will, your action!”

“I don’t know!” The Byers boy exclaimed.

“Fireball him!” Lucas said as if it were obvious.

“I’d have to roll a 13 or higher!”

At this, Dustin widened his eyes. “Too risky. Cast a protection spell.”

“Don’t be a pussy. Fireball him!”

“Cast Protection.”

The argument between Dustin and Lucas ended abruptly upon Mike banging his hands against the table yet again. “The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps toward you. Boom!”

“Fireball him!”

“Another stomp, boom!”

“Cast Protection.”

“He roars in anger!”

From above the basement, on the other side of the closed door, a figure leaned against the wall, listening to the clamoring of the boys. Her sock-covered feet excitedly tapped the hardwood floor as a small smile graced her features. At Dustin’s chants of ‘oh my god’, a soft giggle escaped from her throat. From behind her, she heard the approaching footsteps of her mother, Karen Wheeler. The woman moved to her side and opened the basement door, revealing Mike at the bottom of the staircase, seemingly searching for something. “Mike!” She called out.

The Wheeler boy snapped his head up to them, throwing his hands out to the side. “Mom, we’re in the middle of a campaign!”

“You mean the end? Fifteen after.” She tapped her wristwatch before walking back into the kitchen. As she passed her daughter, she gently touched her arm. “It’s time to get ready for bed, (Y/N). You have school tomorrow, and you threw up earlier. You need rest.”

Mike sighed and charged up the stairs, moving past his sister to get to Karen. Before he could start pestering their mother, the girl caught up to his side. “Hey, Mike, can I be added to your game next time? I was thinking-”

“For the thousandth time, Doc, no. Mom! Just twenty more minutes!” He brushed off his sister and turned to Karen.

“It’s a school night, Michael,” Karen sighed as she cleaned the remains of dinner. “I just put Holly to bed. You can finish next weekend.”

“But that’ll ruin the flow!”

“Michael-”

“I’m serious, Mom. The campaign took two weeks to plan. How was I supposed to know it was gonna take ten hours?”

Karen raised her brows in shock. “You’ve been playing for ten hours?”

Mike hesitated before turning to his father, Ted, who was adjusting the antennas on their television irritably. “Dad, don’t you think that twenty more-”

“I think you should listen to your mother.” He spoke before banging his hand on the television and quietly cursing. When Mike turned away from him, his sister walked over to the television and quietly whispered to her father.

“Dad. Can you please tell Mike to let me play with them next weekend-”

“Doc! I said no!” Mike yelled at her before storming away towards the garage. With a huff she crossed her arms and turned to her mother.

“Mom!”

“(Y/N), I can’t force Mike to include you.”

Leaning against the wall glumly, she could hear Will and Lucas stomping up the stairs and wishing the Wheeler couple a goodnight as they headed towards the garage with Mike. Behind her, she felt someone poke her shoulder, causing her to turn around.

It was Dustin, holding a pizza box in his hand. “Hey, Doc! Want this last slice?”

“No, thanks, Dust. I’m not hungry. Thank you, though.” She smiled and left the Henderson boy to see her friends out with her brother. Upon her arrival, Will grinned.

“Hi, Doc!”

The girl matched his expression and pranced to his bike, placing her hands on the handlebars from the front. “Hey, Will! How’s the game going? I heard you guys screaming.”

“It’s pretty heated right now, but I think we’ll be okay.” He nodded, his voice trailing off as Doc absentmindedly brushed her index finger against his. The two, once she had realized, made eye contact and shared a nervous smile before Dustin interrupted.

“There’s something wrong with your sister.”

“Which one?” Mike smirked, receiving a light slap to the arm from Doc.

“Nancy. She’s got a stick up her butt.”

Lucas nodded as the three boys mounted their bikes, Doc removing her hands from Will’s handlebars. “Yeah. It’s because she’s been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington.”

Doc furrowed her brows. “Douchebag? I think Steve’s pretty nice.”

“Well, obviously. There’s no chance for him if he isn’t nice to the little sister.” Dustin pointed out, Doc rolling her eyes. “He’s turning her into a real jerk.”

“She’s always been a real jerk.” Mike frowned as the boys turned on their bike lights. Dustin shook his head and began to pedal away.

“Nuh-uh, she used to be cool. Like that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign.”

“That I wasn’t even invited to.” Doc muttered before Mike placed a hand over her mouth to shush her.

“That was four years ago!”

“Just saying!” Dustin called back. Lucas wished the two a goodnight and pedaled away as well.

Will watched as Doc smacked her brother’s hand from her mouth before he spoke up. “It was a 7.”

Before they could break out into an argument, they both turned to Will. “Huh?”

“The roll, it was a 7. The Demogorgon, it got me,” He smiled as he moved his eyes to Doc. “Night, Mike. Night, (Y/N).”

“Night, Will,” She smiled and watched him pedal away. “See you tomorrow! Tell your mom and Jonathan I said hi!”

“I will!” He called back.

Once the two were alone in their garage, Doc turned to her brother. “Mike, hear me out. I’ve been thinking about my D&D character and was thinking I could be a sorceress!”

“We don’t need a sorceress,” He sighed. “Besides, you don’t know anything about D&D!”

“You could teach me!”

Mike threw his hands up in the air. “Why can’t you just leave my friends alone?! You don’t even do the same things as us. You don’t play D&D, you’re not in the AV Club, you don’t like science, and you don’t even bike!”

“I do like science, I ride my bike when the skates aren’t practical, and you won’t let me join the AV Club! You never let me do anything with you guys. I may not be in your Party, but they’re my friends, too!”

“No, they’re not! You have Brenda Holloway and Sheriece Jacobi! Those are your friends! Why can’t you just do the things you like to do with the people you like to spend it with? Just stick with making clothes with your friends. It’s not hard.”

And with that, Mike made his way back into the house, leaving Doc with a clenched jaw and crossed arms. The moment he closed the door, the lights above flickered, arising confusion within her. The next second, the hairs at the back of her neck stood to attention and she tensed slightly at the feeling of a looming presence. Turning on her heel, she switched off the lights and trudged inside.

Routinely, Doc took the stairs two at a time before she ended up in front of her older sister’s, Nancy’s, door. Raising her hand, she softly knocked three times. On the other side of the closed door, Nancy could be heard groaning. “I’m on the phone!”

“It’s (Y/N)!” She called back. A moment of silence passed before Nancy opened the door, a small smile on her face.

“Sorry,” She sighed and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Night, sis. Feel better, okay?”

“Okay, Nance. Say hi to Barb for me.” Doc whispered before turning away and allowing her feet to carry her to her bedroom. As usual, she left her door open just a crack and changed into her night clothes. Switching off her light, she crawled into bed and turned to her nightstand, where two framed pictures sat.

One was of her, Brenda and Sheriece holding a trophy for winning the school’s talent show with their revolutionary dance number. Beside it was her favorite. It was of Mike and his friends standing with her on her most recent birthday. They had just smashed her face into the cake and the five of them were grinning from ear-to-ear. Burying her face into her pillow, Doc heavily sighed. “One day…”

The next morning, Doc was the final Wheeler to join the breakfast table. After setting her pair of roller skates beside the front door, she sat beside her brother, who was currently pouring syrup onto his eggs. “You feeling better today, sis?” Nancy gently asked.

“Oh, yeah. I don’t know what yesterday was about. Maybe I ate something bad earlier.”

“Yeah, I heard you almost blew chunks all over Nancy’s bed last night.” Mike chuckled, receiving no response from his sister.

As Doc began to wordlessly eat, Nancy and Mike partook in their routine morning banter. “That’s disgusting.” Nancy scoffed.

“You’re disgusting!” Mike immediately shot back. Doc shook her head and watched as her mother answered the ringing phone, her little sister, Holly, on her hip as she spoke. Her attention cut to her siblings. Mike had just poured syrup onto Nancy eggs.

“What the hell, Mike?!”

“Hey! Language!” Ted scolded.

As the two continued their bickering, Doc only dove into her breakfast further. This was uncharacteristic of her, for she and Mike always tag-teamed on bothering Nancy during breakfast and making her miserable just before school. But now, Mike felt as if he were doing all of the work. He turned to his sister with a frown. “Hey. What’s wrong? You’re not getting in on this?” He grinned just before Nancy kicked him in the shin, eliciting a hiss from him.

Doc looked up at her brother, acting as if she had just seen him for the first time that morning. “Oh. Oh. So, now you wanna include me in something?”

“Come on, Doc, don’t be like that. Look, I’m sorry, okay? You can be in the AV Club,” He offered a smile. “You can even make shirts for us.”

It took a few seconds, but Doc couldn’t help the small smile she cracked. She did like the sound of that. When Karen hung up the phone, she turned to her tween kids. “Will didn’t sleep over last night, did he?”

Mike and Doc exchanged a look and shook their heads. “We watched him leave. Why? Can Mrs Byers not find him?” Doc set her fork down. Karen placed Holly in her highchair and shook her head.

“Joyce thinks he might have just left for school early. Just… make sure to check, okay?”

The two slowly nodded. After breakfast, they grabbed their bags and headed to their modes of transportation. As Mike went to retrieve his bike, Doc laced up her roller skates. They were nothing special, just her favorite color with tan laces, gifted to her on Christmas a couple years prior. She wore them with pride all throughout school despite her teachers’ threats to take them and keep them in the front office until her mother picked them up. When those days did occur, she always had an emergency pair of shoes waiting for her in her locker. Thankfully, those days were rare.

The Wheeler siblings met in the middle of the driveway, Mike now mounted upon his bike. Doc adjusted the straps of her bag and slowly glided towards the street. She carefully watched her brother, who seemed unsuspecting. “Hey, Mike?”

“Yeah?” He noticed that she was trying to hide a smirk. “What?”

“I’ll race you to the end of the street.”

“You’re on!” He grinned. “On your mark, get set, go!”

Biting her tongue in concentration, Doc bolted down the street, expertly moving her feet to avoid rocks and branches, all while forcing her brother to eat her dust. Coming to a stop at the end of the street, Doc grinned at Mike, who had reached her side three seconds later. “You barely beat me! It’s not fair, skating is basically walking and running!”

“Oh, yeah? I’d like to see you try.” She chuckled. Rolling his eyes, Mike continued forward.

“Whatever. Come on, we gotta meet the guys.”

Catching up with Dustin and Lucas took no time and soon, the four were off. As they casually talked, Doc would hum a song and skate between them, Lucas or Mike freaking out about almost running her over a few times. Within minutes, they reached Hawkins Middle School.

“That’s weird,” Mike hummed after the boys parked their bikes. “I don’t see him.”

“I’m telling you, his mom’s right,” Lucas followed right behind Mike and Doc as they moved forward towards the school doors. “He probably just went to class early again.”

Dustin caught up to them after parking his bike. “Yeah, he’s always paranoid Gursky’s gonna give him another pop quiz.”

“And he has every right to be,” Doc chuckled, her smile faltering a bit. “I hope that’s the case, though…”

“Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!” The voice of Troy Walsh instantly made the four freeze and then slowly turn in his direction. Beside him was James Dante, an obedient goon to Troy. “Step right up and get your tickets for the freak show. Who do you think would make more money in a freak show?”

He took a few steps forward, punching the four per insult.

“Midnight?” He punched Lucas, who reared back a bit.

“Frogface?” Mike tried to block, but ended up getting hit anyway.

“Toothless?” Dustin attempted to do the same, but got the same fate.

“Or Lost and Found?” Troy shoved Doc, nearly causing the girl to trip over her own skates. He and James cackled at this before the latter looked over the four.

It seemed Dustin was the target for the day. “I’d go with Thoothless.” James mimicked Dustin’s voice.

Dustin exhaled. “I told you a million times, my teeth are coming in. It’s called cleidocranial dysplasia!”

“‘I thold you a million thimes’!” He chuckled as Troy’s eyes zeroed on Doc.

“I don’t know, James, I’m thinking Lost and Found.”

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

The two surrounded Doc as she clenched her fists, face scrunched up in a look of irritation. Mike moved past Dustin to get closer to them.

“Because she’s so easy.”

“Leave her alone! And don’t call her that!”

Troy and James snapped their heads up to Mike, grinning wolfishly. “She’s all yours, isn’t she?” They laughed before they both kicked either of her skates from under her, sending the poor girl to the ground. Doc cried out when she landed on her back. The two bullies howled with laughter and high-fived as they walked away from the group.

“Jesus, Doc, are you okay?” Dustin asked as Mike and Lucas helped her to her feet. She dusted off her pants and nodded.

“Yeah, I’m fine…”

Placing a hand on her arm, Mike guided her inside the school. “Don’t listen to them, (Y/N). You’re not a lost and found object. You’re family. Okay?”

“I know that, Mike, I just… uh,” She cleared her throat. “My back hurts, that’s all.”

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

“Remember, finish chapter 12 and answer 12.3 on the difference between an experiment and other forms of science investigation,” Mr Clarke called out to the retreating students. The four who actually appreciated the class took their time in packing up. “This will be on the test, which will cover chapters 10 through 12. It will be multiple choice with an essay section…” His voice trailed off when he realized no one had been listening to him.

Turning forward, he was met with Doc, Mike, Lucas and Dustin who eagerly stood before him. “So, did it come?” Mike grinned.

“Sorry, boys,” Mr Clarke sighed, earning looks of disappointment. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but… It came!”

As the five made their way to the AV room, Mr Clarke turned to Doc. “Ms (Y/N) Wheeler, it’s nice to see you take an interest in our club.”

“It’s a pleasure to be a member,” She grinned before hushed whispers called out to her. Turning around, she was met with Brenda and Sheriece. “Um… Mr Clarke, I’ll be right back.”

“Of course. We’ll be right over there.” He pointed to the room the three boys were currently in, excitedly talking over each other.

With a nod, Doc turned and skated towards her friends. Brenda held her hand as soon as she was close. “(Y/N)! We were gonna go to my house after school and hang out. Wanna come?”

“Oh, uh,” Doc pointed behind her with a smile. “I’m… kinda in the AV Club now.”

“AV?” Sheriece scrunched up her nose in distaste. “You know, you don’t have to join nerdy clubs to get Will Byers to like you-”

“No, no!” She felt her cheeks burning. “No, I’ve always wanted to be in this club. It’s just… Mike never let me. And now he is.”

Brenda sighed and crossed her arms. “Next it’s gonna be that stupid board game and then we’ll never see you again.”

“Dungeons and Dragons isn’t really a board game, I think…”

“Either way, we just hope you won’t forget about us.” Sheriece raised her brows suspiciously. “Especially when you and Will start dating.”

Doc went to scold her friends when a voice called out to her, “(Y/N) Wheeler?”

The three turned to see their principal walking with two other figures.

She gulped at the sight of Chief of Police, Jim Hopper, striding towards her with a look of indifference.

—————————————

Taglist: @yurtletheturtlehenderson @crybabyalex @sapphicsyn @shydestinymoonalexa @nailbatbitch @that-one-multifandom-chick

[magiccarpet121]

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[mrs-gray]

MIDNIGHT GRAY – Part II

Michael Gray x female reader (OFC / OC) – A Peaky Blinders™ fanfiction

Summary: You arrive at the Shelby mansion, first time meeting Thomas, his brothers and Polly – as well as a known stranger, Mr. Gray. 

Word Count: 3.7k 

Status: Incomplete 

Warning(s): English is my second language, melancholy, smoking, strong language

Published: February 2022

Part 2 of the ‘Midnight Gray’-saga

Author's note: Slow burn, (Fr)Enemies to lovers

Song recommendations for this chapter:

Rue Des Trois Frères – Fabrizio Paterlini

In My Feelings – Lana Del Rey

Breaking Down– Florence + the Machine (MTV Unplugged version)

Bad Blood – Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox feat. Aubrey Logan

Light Me Up – Ingrid Michaelson

_________________________________________

Chapter 2: 

Zemblanity – the inevitable discovery of what we would rather not know; the opposite of serendipity.

Welcome to hell...

‘Here it is.’ You whispered to yourself. Your personal prison named ‘Arrow House’. 

__________________________________________________

You opened the door of the car and took a deep breath – the air was fresh and clean and you were surprised by the pleasant quietness. 

The mansion looked imposing, standing proud in the middle of the country estate, surrounded by befogged trees. 

You walked to the back of the car, pebbles under your shoes disturbing the silence. Just when you wanted to lift your luggage, one of the men already grabbed the suitcases. 

‘We’ll take care of it.’ He mumbled, a cigarette resting in one corner of his mouth.

‘Thank you, Sir.’ You replied and reached for your purse to tip him. 

Both men laughed at your well-intentioned gesture. You sighed deeply in defeat. A servant opened the enormous front door and asked you in. You entered the entrance hall, observing several different paintings on the wall as well as the old hardwood floor. The scent of flowers lingered in the air and breathed a little bit of life into the otherwise dark and almost oppressive foyer. 

‘Lady Huntington-Coldwell?’ You heard a deep unfamiliar voice behind you and turned around. 

Two sky blue eyes intently inspected you. The man in front of you was standing tall, hands behind his back. 

‘Mr. Shelby?’ You retorted.

‘Yes.’ He replied politely but without any emotion, then you two shook hands. ‘Follow me, please.’ He guided you to his office. 

Dull daylight flooded the dark and spacious room. Several wooden bookshelves filled with old classics on each side of his office – Shakespeare, Lord Byron, as well as the highly controversial Freudian theory caught your eye. It made you wonder if he read any of them…

‘Did you have a pleasant journey?’ He asked and you knew he didn’t care.

‘As well as possible, considering the circumstances. Thank you.’ You replied.

‘Good.’ He retorted sharply. 

He lit a cigarette and sat down in his chair, studying you wordlessly. 

You held his intense gaze and you promised yourself that you wouldn’t look away first. You may loose everything but you’ll certainly won’t break this eye contact first. You didn’t fear this man, despite his shady reputation. 

Moments past, your greenish blue eyes defied his blue ones till he finally blinked. He turned his desk chair, facing the large window, red curtains with golden ornaments on each side of the glass. The satisfaction of winning made you feel even calmer. 

A maid entered his office and asked for drinks.

‘Whiskey, Sir?’ She supposed, he nodded and thanked her briefly. 

‘For you, madam?’ She addressed you attentively.

‘Scotch. Thank you.’ You gave her a smile and she mirrored it right away. 

‘You’ll find your luggage in your suite, Miss.’ The maid added.

‘Thank you.’ The two of you once again shared a heartfelt smile, then she left silently. 

‘I wanted to tip the gentleman but he refused.’ You told him.

Thomas smiled to himself, ever so lightly. 

‘I assume this situation is amusing to you, Mr. Shelby?’ You said calmly but equally annoyed. 

‘A bit.’ He said while inhaling the tobacco. 

‘…just like your henchmen.’ You crossed your arms, visibly wanting to signalise a barrier. 

‘They aren’t my henchmen, Miss Huntington-Coldwell.’ His brows furrowed for a second. ‘They’re part of my people. You’ll see I have a big family.’ He stated, one side of his mouth forming a half smile, his eyes stayed impervious. He leaned in a wee bit closer, his hands folded together. 

‘We are not here to imprison you. You are free as long as you stay in the mansion or the estate. Everything else has to be arranged beforehand and attended by one of my men.’ He informed you. 

The maid entered his office again and you thankfully drank a sip of the Scotch, the burning sensation in your throat calming your nerves. 

‘How long do I have to stay, Mr. Shelby?’ You asked motionless. 

‘At least 4 month, 26 days.’ His voice throaty due to the smoke.

‘My birthday.’ You whispered. 

‘Exactly.’ He approved. 

Both of you knew that the signing over will be legally binding on your next ‘day of glory’.

‘When can we start with the paperwork, Mr. Shelby?’ You bit the inside of your mouth.

‘We can’t for now.’ He paused and you tasted some iron in your mouth. ‘Situations have changed and we have to wait for my accountant for any business affairs.’

‘I see. When can we expect him?’ You awaited his answer.

‘In a day or two.’ He drank some of his whiskey. ‘Once he’s back from London, Miss Huntington-Coldwell.’

‘Just Coldwell.’ You abridged.

‘Alright, Miss Coldwell.’ He repeated. 

You closed your eyes a few seconds too long and he noticed it, a sad smile on his face. 

A beautiful black horse strutted along the window facade. 

‘Your Friesian?’ You asked full of curiosity.

‘Yes, just bought him at an auction last week.’ He searched for your eyes with intensity.

‘Do you enjoy horse riding, Miss?’ His eyes widened a bit. 

‘I do.’ You exclaimed.

‘Feel free do do so.’ He casually replied.

‘Really?’ You sounded far too excited – your stoic facade gone. 

‘Of course. Whenever you want.’ His brows narrowed, a slight smile on his edged face. 

‘Miss Coldwell…’ He paused, exhaled and sat a bit closer, arms resting on his office table now. 

‘We aren’t dehumanized.’ His sky blue eyes were lost in thoughts. ‘I am fully aware of your situation.’ Addressing you now, even more distinctly. 

You sighed and your tense shoulders relaxed a bit. 

‘Now, if you'll excuse me.’ He put his coat over his shoulders. ‘I have to attend another meeting. One of my maids will escort you to your suite.’

‘I will expect you tonight.’ He checked his pocket watch. ‘Dinner.’ He added and looked at you once more. 

‘I guess I’m about to meet your family then?’ Your eyes locked with his blue ones.

‘I'm afraid that can't be avoided.’ He said jokingly, almost sounding like he wanted to make a funny remark and you wondered if he wanted to make you smile?

‘Thank you, Mr. Shelby.’ You gave him a slight smile, showing no teeth. 

He sympathetically shook your hand, ocean blue eyes matching his sad smile and he escorted you to the foyer again. The maid awaited you and showed you the suite, your lavish prison cell for the upcoming months. 

The suite was stylishly furnished; a grand four-postered bed, gilded baroque-framed paintings on dark forest green walls, matching the vevelty green pillows, curtains and every other fabric. Dark, almost black wooden furniture completed the elegant interior.

It could be a lot worse, you knew that and you were grateful that you were allowed to stay in this suite instead of some sort of dungeon or damp cellar. 

You walked to the window, and your hand absentmindedly touched the cold glass while Mr. Shelby drove off, away into the distance. Your other hand played with the silver-coloured charm hanging around your neck. 

‘I’ll do it for you.’ You breathed and gently kissed the platinum pendant, memories aggravated your longing.

The afternoon passed by quickly while unpacking your belongings, still you continued reading one of your favourite books, yet again. It soothed your soul to find shelter in written fiction, at least for a few moments, escaping reality. 

A soft knock disturbed your wholesome daydream and another maid entered your suite. 

‘Dinner will be served in half an hour, Miss.’

‘Thank you.’ You replied politely. 

She closed the door again and you decided to change into something more suitable for the dinner – a black dress, the slightly flared skirt reaching your knees, matching silk stockings underneath. You removed both hair clasps, soft golden waves falling into place around your hips. Despite your apparently neat semblance, your eyes betrayed you. Sorrowfulness beheld your reflection. 

‘If I only left…with him.’ You let your thoughts wander, ignoring your inner promise to even think about such reverie. 

He is in Southampton now, probably walking down the boardwalk, which you knew so well, thanks to several different sea voyages. A feeling of familiarity arose from your soul – ‘Lordy!’ You even imagined the rich smell of salty foam filling your lungs. Crossing the mighty ocean, seeking refuge in America. A new start, a new life.

Suddenly your mind developed your secret thoughts even further. ‘…but he wouldn’t be there’ You thought and your heart skipped a beat.

‘…but I could take the next train to Southampton…’ Your inner voice had a mind of its own now. 

You could begin to search for him and if the universe wanted you to find him, you would find a way. You sighed so deeply and let your head hung, negating this absurd notion. How could that man, this Mister Gray, become so important to you? It was ridiculous - you knew it but still, he lighted up a spark within you. It scared you, it was foreign, presumably dangerous and most certainly addictive.

You observed your mirror image one last time; pearl earrings and a matching bracelet around your wrist. Your make-up was subtle but flawless. 

Being a ‘prisoner’ didn’t mean you couldn’t look presentable, right?

You were satisfied with your appearance for tonight and confidently walked down the stairs, through the entrance hall, past the parlour, the library and a couple of unacquainted voices guided you to the dining room. 

A maid conducted you inside but you stayed a few steps in front of the doorframe, then your eyes met Thomas’ powerful ones. He put out his cigarette in an ashtray and ended your eye contact. 

‘Everyone.’ He addressed two men standing in front of him.‘This is Lady Harlow Georgienne Adelaide Huntington-Coldwell.’ His hand gestured in my direction. ‘She will be our special guest for the next months.’

You entered the room and several eyes focused on you entirely, studying the ‘new arrival’.

Thomas came a few steps closer in oder to introduce you to his family. 

‘Quite a few names, love!’ You heard a deep voice pronouncing it with a heavily Brummie dialect. He sounded like the epitome of a proud Birmingham accent.

His lips formed a kind smile under his moustache. 

‘My brother Arthur Shelby.’ Tommy declared. 

‘Mr. Shelby.’ You shook hands with the man and you supposed he was the oldest Shelby brother. 

‘Arthur.’ He replied while his other hand gently wrapped around your small one now too, a kind action, you thought. 

‘Harlow.’ You rejoined, smiling. 

He waltzed off to grab himself a drink, certainly not the first one tonight nor today.

‘My youngest brother Finn.’ Thomas continued. 

He had a friendly face and you’ve been quite surprised by the noticeable age difference, but didn’t let it show, hiding your wonderment. 

‘I am Finn.’ He said smiling a wee bit flustered, his eyes shining brightly while his cheeks flushed as red as a cherry. 

‘Pleased to meet you, Finn.’ You tried to reassure him. 

Suddenly a loud voice filled the entire dining room.  

'The kids stole the fucking car keys and forgot where they hid it.’ He continued walking in an utmost unique and nonchalant way. 

‘Well hello.’ He eyed you up and down, cockily taking his time doing so. 

‘So what have we got here?’ His smile even more smug. 

‘Lady Huntington-Coldwell, this is my brother John Shelby.’ Thomas informed you, sounding a bit annoyed by his brother’s manners, or more his lack of it.

‘Good evening, Mr. Shelby.’ You greeted him.

‘John’s the name.’ He stated and winked while shaking your hand. 

‘Harlow, pleasure.’ You replied, squeezing John’s hand a bit tighter now, wanting to put him in his place. He perceived it and it only widened his snotty yet charming simper. 

You sensed someone behind you and cautiously let your head turn. A woman with dark, shoulder-length hair and even darker eyes pierced yours. She made no move to approach you and proudly took a pull on a her brownish cigarette.

‘Hang on! Should we make a curtsey?’ Finn’s eyes widened, curiously surveying your reaction before looking over to Tommy next. ‘I mean…she’s a Lady.’

John slapped the back of Finn’s head - making him stroke the fresh source of pain. Your light eyes showed compassion and you felt sorry for the youngest member of the Shelby clan. 

‘We don’t! Do we?’ John asked you, a questionable look on his face now too. 

‘No! No, please don’t!’ You insisted, showing them your pearly whites in order to lift the mood. 

‘Miss Huntington-Coldwell?’ A female voice spoke to you, extremely placid. ‘Polly.’ She reached for your hand. 

‘Please call me Harlow.’ You took her hand. ‘My pleasure.’

__________________________________________________

Later that night you laid in your bed – eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling through the semi-transparent green tester bed fabric and recalled the evening. 

Finn was truly a sweetheart and he was so nervous and slightly clumsy, so eager to make an impression on you. The fact that Arthur and John had to constantly tease him didn't help the redness in his cheeks. 

Still, the brothers were a coherent entity and it made you chuckle. John is driven by his brash manner, constantly cheering everyone up and joking around. Arthur is more reserved but good-hearted, very companionable once he reached a certain alcohol limit.

Totally different from Thomas, the human byword for guardedness. If you didn’t knew better, you would have never guessed that Thomas has three brothers and also a younger sister named Ada whom you didn’t meet this time. He conveys an impression to be more of a loner – so very calm, highly intelligent and constantly analytical.

Polly is indeed a whole other level. You only met a handful of similar women prior to her – sly, alluring, wary and overall fascinating. She has this singular aura and you weren’t able to make sense of her. Well, not for now, at least.

‘Polly and Thomas are definitely the thought leaders of the Shelby family, without a doubt.’ You will keep a very close eye on both of them, defending yourself from their manipulation.

Nevertheless the first evening wasn’t too bad and it took a load off your mind. You liked the energy that emanated from this loud, sometimes uncouth, yet heartfelt family. It seemed like the old rich families you constantly had to deal with most certainly always lacked this special kind of unconditional love.

For tonight you felt less tense, knowing that the family you would have to stay with for the next couple of months, wasn’t as bad as you imagined. 

You turned to the side and looked out of the window into the everlasting darkness, a bright star shining in the distance. Maybe he is looking at the same star right now? What a lovely thought…

You smiled like a child and a certain part of you wanted to see him, this mysterious man named Mister Gray, again – if only in your dreams tonight…

Your eyelids became heavier and heavier until you drifted off to sleep. 

__________________________________________________

You woke up early, got dressed and put on your riding gear. 

You just finished tying up your soft golden hair with a black velvet braid, matching the rest of your dark outfit, when you heard a knock on the door. A maid entered and asked what you wanted her to prepare for breakfast.

‘Just a strong cup of tea, please.’ You thanked her and drank it once she came back with the steaming porcelain. 

You reached for your riding crop as well as your helmet, walked down the stairs and Thomas approached you. 

‘Good morning Mr. Shelby.’ You greeted him.

‘Good morning Miss Coldwell.’ He gave you the once-over and added ‘I see you’re about to go for a ride?’

‘If the offer still stands?’ You awaited his answer raising your brow.

‘Indeed. I’m a man of my word, Miss.’ He said smiling but his eyes stayed unlucid. 

‘Thank you, Mr. Shelby. I appreciate it very much.’ Your excitement clearly audible.

‘Would you like me to escort you to the riding stable?’ He offered. 

‘No, thank you.’ Your lips formed a small smile and you continued. ‘There is no need for it.’

‘Alright.’ He responded sharply. ‘My man Curly will acquaint you with the horses.’

You two bid goodbye and you set off to the stable. The little pebbles once again gnashed under your leather riding boots.The purple-coloured dawn lit up the morning sky as well as your mood. About a dozen horses were housed in the stud.

Next you met Curly. He might not be the most intelligent man but he had very friendly, almost childlike eyes and a heart of gold. The way he spoke to the horses made you feel unexpectedly sentimental. 

You felt at ease once the cremello coloured mare’s legs started to move and you swiftly changed your position from starting to ride sidesaddle to gallop with each of your legs on one side of the saddle, the way men rode –  surely not like a lady.

After your riding out you walked back to the mansion and saw Polly, attentively watching you from Thomas’ office window, observing each and every of your movements. You gave her a nod and she continued talking, most probably to Thomas. 

You changed your clothes, choosing a velvety black dress with a matching ribbon on your back, half-sheer black stockings to keep you warm. You powdered your nose, applying some more mascara and a rosy lipstick to emphasize your facial features. Your golden hair fell in loose curls, a black ribbon pinned up some of your strands on top of your head. Another pair of pearl earrings hanging from your ears. 

You looked and more importantly felt good. 

You grabbed a bite to eat and decided to read another book in the library, this time picking Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. 

You reached chapter three, after that Polly entered the room, standing next to the fireplace. None of you spoke, therefore you didn’t mind her presence. Shortly afterwards you heard Arthur, John and Finn walking and vividly talking while strolling down the courtyard. Boisterous laughter got louder with each step. 

‘Sometimes I wonder if any of them ever held a book in their hands, not to mention actually reading it.’ Polly confidently remarked. 

You smirked and could hardly contain a laughter. 

She gave you a cocky half smile. Another car arrived and made her dark eyes light up. ‘Finally.’ She breathed, slightly above a whisper and disappeared towards the entrance hall. 

You closed Hardy’s masterwork and decided to follow her into the foyer. 

‘Michael.’ You heard Polly greeting a man and embraced him tightly.

She stood in front of the stranger, glaring daylight made it impossible for you to observe him. 

Several leather bags were carried inside by different servants and a draft of air flowed towards you – an extremely pleasant and oddly familiar scent hung in the air.

You saw Thomas entering the entrance hall and his left hand gestured in the direction of Polly and the stranger.

‘May I introduce you to my accountant?’ He addressed you and you followed him. 

The door snapped shut and just like the loud slam, it hit you. 

There he stood, so very smug and dapper. 

The two of you stared at each other for what felt like ages without articulating a single word.  

‘That fucking bastard!’ You thought. You felt your heart run wild - anger, fury, deep sadness, betrayal…but yet bliss. 

It was too much for you. How could he do this to you? 

Tommy cleared his throat and introduced us; ‘Michael, this is Lady Harlow Georgienne Adelaide Huntington-Coldwell. Miss Coldwell, this is my accountant, also Polly’s son Michael Gray.’ 

‘Pleasure to meet you, Lady Huntington-Coldwell.’ He said, hiding the fact that you two already met.  

Well well! So we don't know each other? He wants to play this game? He can have that. 

‘Good afternoon.’ You said, your voice monotonous. 

‘We will settle the business affairs tomorrow.’ Tommy addressed both of you. 

‘The sooner the better.’ Your statement sounded sharp as a razor. 

‘Good.’ Tommy replied and looked to your nemesis. ‘Michael I need to talk to you.’ Michael nodded in return. 

Polly hugged her son once again and kissed his cheek as lovingly as only a mother can. ‘I will see you later, Michael.’ She whispered. 

‘Thanks mum.’ He retorted softly, showing her a small smile. 

‘Miss.’ He nodded, his cobalt blue eyes burning your soul, a shiver ran down your spine. 

He turned to Thomas and walked down the corridor and you literally fled into your suite. 

‘This fucking prick!’ You were so furious you almost forgot to breathe. 

‘For God's sake! I am so stupid, so damn fucking stupid. Why did I trust him? Bastard!’ You continued to insult him over and over again, even the devil himself would blush. 

You heard a knock on your door and you weren’t in the mood for any maid, servant or anyone. You opened the door and there he stood. 

‘Miss.’ He started and you interrupted him right away. 

‘What do you want?’ You replied, voice full of annoyance. 

‘Honestly…’ You continued. ‘…I don’t want to talk to you, apart from business matters.’ You stated, brows furrowed. 

His expression softened, his eyes faced away from you for a moment – he clenched his jaw and his midnight blue eyes met yours again. 

‘I wish I had more time to explain myself. I would like to continue this conversation tomorrow.’ He requested, his glance surprisingly sincere.  

‘Or never.’ You rolled your eyes. 

‘I’ll make it up to you.’ He explained and you believed him, if only for a second. Hating yourself for doing so. 

‘Without a doubt!’ Your patience snapped. 

‘Promise.’ Calm honesty drowning his voice. 

You shut the door in his face, one of your hands still touching the wooden barrier between the two of you. Little did you knew that he mirrored your motion behind the other side of your door. 

You inhaled deeply und walked over to the window, arms crossed. You saw him striding towards the parked cars with Thomas and the other Shelby brothers in tow. 

‘Bastard!’ You spat out the harsh insult again, like it’s his legal name. 

You looked daggers at this fucking Mr. Gray and you could barely recall a time you felt that angry. 

Just when he opened the door of his car he looked up to you once more, your eyes locked with his. Sparks of fire spreading in your stomach, perhaps even a bit higher, your heart matching your emotional outburst.

It certainly didn’t help that he looked even better than the first time you met him, a lot better to be honest  –  if indeed such a thing is possible?

You didn’t even admitted it to yourself but something within you couldn’t wait to continue your hot-tempered discussion…

_____________________________________

To be continued...

Thank you so much for reading my second chapter – stay safe everyone and lots of love & positivity!✨🤍🤗

[thevibraniumveterans]

Corphelion Interlude

By Troy Denning, for Valentine’s Day of 2003

Happy 19th Anniversary to this amazing Legends story 🥰

-

A flight of cornets hung just beyond the observation dome, their luminous heads arrayed in a ragged double arrow, their long tails striping the dark sky with silver splendor. The largest were visibly creeping across space, and one-a blazing giant with a braided tail that seemed to stretch across half the system-was rapidly swelling to the size of a hubba melon. The panorama was just as advertised, the perfect honeymoon view, and Han Solo could tell by the gabble of three-hundred beings packed onto the small viewing floor that everyone else thought so, too.

At Han’s side stood Leia, dressed comfortably but fashionably in a sleeveless doublet and a pair of slinky zoosha pants that Han found especially alluring. Her brown eyes were fixed on the patio below, and on her face, she wore a cordial diplomat’s expression that was more mask than smile.

Behind them, a swarm of droning Kubaz spilled out of the turbolift and brushed past, making pointed comments about blocking access to the viewing floor.

"Sorry about this," Han said to Leia. A stop to watch the Corphelion Comets had seemed a romantic way to start their honeymoon-at least until they had discovered that it was the height of the season and every resort on the asteroid was badly overbooked. "I guess the private dome isnt so private, either."

"I dont care, as long as we’re here together." Leia took Han’s hand and started down a broad set of dark, hardwood stairs. "There’s a pair of empty chaises out there in the middle. Once we settle in and order a drink, we won’t even notice the noise.’

"Sure. A Pink Nebula sounds good." Jostling for elbow space was hardly the romantic way Han had hoped to start their marriage, but things were bound to improve. Around Leia, they usually did. "Maybe the serving droid has earplugs or something."

They were halfway down the staircase when a brilliant starburst of radiance filled the sky. The Solos stopped to look and saw the giant comet splitting into a spectacular set of twins. The crowded patio fell silent.

"Now that’s more like it," Han said.

The twins began to drift apart, their tails crossing as one comet angled toward the rest of the Corphelions. The other continued to swell in the darkness above the dome. Finally, when its head had grown to an apparent diameter of more than a meter, a nervous murmur began to build on the patio below.

Leia turned back up the stairs. "Maybe we should go back to the Falcon."

Han caught her arm. "Not so fast." He continued to study the approaching comet-or rather, the darkness around its edges, watching to see how quickly and evenly its head was obscuring the distant stars.

"I thought you wanted to see the Corphelions?"

"Not this close, Han."

"Relax."

As he had hoped, the stars on the comet’s lower left were vanishing by the dozens; those on the upper right were disappearing only in twos and threes. "Everything’s under control."

"You’ve said that before," Leia objected. "You’re sure we don’t need to go back to the Falcon?"

"I’m sure." Han slipped a hand down to the small of her back. "And this time I mean it. Everything’s under control, Sweetheart."

Leia glanced from Han to the approaching comet, then back to Han again. Her expression grew more trusting, and she smiled slyly.

"Okay, Flyboy." She took his arm. "My life in is in your hands."

They descended the rest of the stairs arm in arm. The comet had doubled in size during the last few seconds, its tail becoming a fan that curved across a quarter of the dome. A portly Bothan couple rose with their fur standing on end and turned toward the stairs, and that was all it took to send the rest of the crowd scurrying for the evacuation stations inside the asteroid.

Leia pulled Han into a quiet corner and reached up with both hands. As jabbering humans and growling aliens continued to shove up the stairs in a near-stampede, she laced her fingers together behind his neck and stared deep into his eyes.

Han’s heart began to beat faster.

"How did you arrange this?" Leia asked.

"Arrange what?" Han was genuinely confused.

Leia gently pulled his head close to her mouth. "The comet." She flicked her tongue along the lobe of his ear, then continued in a sultry voice. "Come on, Flyboy, you can tell me. Did Wedge help you?"

"Wedge? You think Wedge is out there moving comets around?"

Leia gently nibbled his earlobe. It felt warm and . . . well, wonderful. "Lando, then. He has that big asteroid tug, and this is just his style. Grandiose, effective." She glanced over at the now-deserted patio. And just a little bit devious."

"Lando’s busy on Nkllon." Han was keeping one eye on the comet.

"You know that."

"You wont tell me?" Leia slipped her hands under the hem of his tunic and playfully ran her fingers up his back. "You’re sure?"

"Well, I’m..."

Leia dug her fingertips into the flesh behind his shoulders.

"Pretty sure," Han said. "I think."

The comet was the size of an Endorian moon now, and he was beginning to worry that his pilot’s eye had gone weak. The different rates at which the head was obscuring the surrounding stars suggested it was approaching at an angle, but unless the stars on the right stopped disappearing-and soon-the comet would not actually miss the resort.

"Uh, Leia?"

"No-I’ve changed my mind, Han." Leia lowered her hands and, one arm still wrapped around his waist, turned to look at the sky. "I dont want to know how you arranged this."

"But..."

"Sshhh." Leia touched a finger to his lips. "I just want to look. It makes me wish we could forget everything back on Coruscant and stay here forever."

"You don’t say?" The approaching comet was a large as a bantha now. Han glanced toward the empty stairs, trying to estimate how long he could keep his real secret-that he may have miscalculated the comet’s trajectory-before they would have to make a mad scramble for the evacuation shelters. "I just might be able to arrange that."

Leia leaned her head against his shoulder. "If only you could.’

"Oh, I could..." The comet grew so bright that its radiance lit the whole dome and there were no stars visible around it at all. Deciding that things were starting to get dangerous, Han pulled Leia out of the corner. "In fact..."

The white spike of an antitail finally appeared in front of the head, and the entire comet began to angle across the dome-away from the resort. Han exhaled in relief, then put on 

his best lopsided grin and turned to Leia.

Leia looked puzzled. "In fact what, Han?"

"In fact..." Han waited while the comet drifted over their heads to the other side of the dome, then said, "You’re going to be really impressed with what I’ve arranged next."

Leia cocked her brow. "Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?"

Han nodded. "I have a reason."

The asteroid entered the comet’s tail, and billions of tiny dust grains exploded against the resort’s particle shield. Space above erupted into a glittering veil of micro-flashes.

"Okay, I’m impressed," Leia said. "Really impressed."

"That was nothing," Han said. "This is what I was talking about."

He drew Leia close and lowered his lips to hers. She pressed herself tight against him and returned the kiss passionately, and that was how they remained until a loud cheer from atop the stairs interrupted them.

Han opened an eye and, finding an audience of two dozen comet watchers leering down at them, broke off the kiss. "Leia?"

"Yes, Han?"

"Maybe we should go back to the Falcon after all."

Leia took his hand and started for the stairs. "Han, I thought you’d never ask."

[bonesofapoet]

To Bloom Through a Blade

[ donna troy x you ]

author’s note: admittedly im still getting a hold of donna as a character but like.....donna with a sword was a concept i refused to let go of okay i regret nothing. implied violence, cursing, slight injury

word count: 481

It was an accident. Really.

This was all so new, and the excitement was almost impossible to truly contain. Jitters of dream-chasing flew through your veins as if you were genuinely flying. As if you could feel the crisp September air rise up to meet you in-between rooftop leaps, and twists during a street fight.

And you did – fly, that is – sort of. You felt the crisp September breeze swirl over exposed skin as you flew backwards through empty air. The uneven ground of the library threw you off, and Donna gained the upper hand – only for a moment – and you went down, sword tumbling from your grip to clatter away out of reach.

Accidentally.

A well earned groan rattled between your lips. You’d always wanted to learn how to fight with a sword, and this is how it was going.

“Is he – you don’t think he’ll uh. Arrest me, or something – do you?”

You heard a giggle from across the room, the sound of honed metal clanking gently on wood. Footsteps echoed faintly on vintage hardwood flooring – original, you assumed – and then Donna Troy stood above you, absolutely sprawled on your back.

A shoulder began to ache.

It wasn’t he hardest land you’d ever taken, though this was something that now held the top spot in your “Things I Never Want To Do Again” list. Donna still held the ghost of amusement on her face.

“For scratching the hell out of the floor? I don’t know,” Donna grins, offers you her hand. She pulls you up with ease, fingertips moving to hook through your own. “Maybe,” she drags out, “Just for a night. Teach you about respecting property, or the dangers of lazy parries.”

“Oh bullshit-” you glance at your blade, now successfully penetrating a plank of polished wood a few paces away. The humor had fallen out of Donna’s good graces. Your eyes went a little wide. “Wait, you’re not – Donna this isn't funny.”

It kinda was, though, and you could no longer hold back your smile, or the laughter that bubbled up through your chest and mixed with Donna’s. Her eyes caught the sunlight streaming through a window,  and they sparkled with the kind of joy reserved for the little moments – the ones that meant the most, carried the deepest weight on the darker days.

The sound filled the room, light and sweet. You were grateful, suddenly, for your half-assed attempt at defending yourself, for letting your mind wander during the session. You were also exceptionally grateful that Donna agreed to practice in the library, if only to feel her hand in yours, to hear her laugh loud and careless and blissfully at peace.

“Look, all I’m saying-” she begins again, tugging you closer by your hand. Both of you were warm and sweaty from training, but neither of you minded. She leans close, presses a kiss to your lips. “Maybe next time we work with swords, we use a training room.”

[hanleiaquotes]

Corphelion Interlude | Troy Denning | 2003 | Legends Universe

Part 2

“Sorry about this,” Han said to Leia. A stop to watch the Corphelion Comets had seemed a romantic way to start their honeymoon—least until they had discovered that it was the height of the season and every resort on the asteroid was badly overbooked. “I guess the private dome isn’t so private, either.” “I don’t care, as long as we’re here together.” Leia took Han’s hand and started down a broad set of dark, hardwood stairs. “There’s a pair of empty chaises out there in the middle. Once we settle in and order a drink, we won’t even notice the noise.” “Sure. A Pink Nebula sounds good.” Jostling for elbow space was hardly the romantic way Han had hoped to start their marriage, but things were bound to improve. Around Leia, they usually did. “Maybe the serving droid has earplugs or something.”

[hockey-fics]

I didn't know you already had a request with number 47! so maybe number 13 from the angsty prompt list with petey? please?

Thank you for the request! 

Prompt: “You did a wonderful job convincing people that you love me, I almost fell for it” with Elias Pettersson 

Warning: insinuations of sex

Word Count: ~3,400

Moving to Vancouver was a big step for you. But the job was too good to turn down and the apartment you found was a little too perfect and all the pieces just fell into place too easily to not do it. 

The transition was difficult though. Your workplace was smaller than you expected and almost everyone who worked there was much older than you. Meeting people in the new city was hard. It was cold and rained all the time and you found navigating the larger city difficult, getting lost more time than you would care to admit. 

But then you met him. 

Elias. 

He had stepped through the apartment lobby doors, hesitating when he saw you struggling to drag a box that contained the pieces of a desk you had ordered online. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The desk would fit perfectly against the window in the den of your apartment, it was absolutely beautiful, and it was on sale. But now that you alternating between bouts of yanking or shoving it across the all too big lobby you were beginning to wish you hadn’t made that purchase. 

“Do you want some help?” Elias had asked. 

You had looked up at him, immediately caught off guard. His voice was soft, an accent that you couldn’t immediately place. He was tall and handsome with intriguing blue eyes and a reassuring smile. 

“I-,” you started, standing up straighter and glancing down at the box. You hated asking for help, even when someone was offering. Hated it even more when it was a stranger. But at the rate you were going that desk wasn’t even going to get into your apartment for a sizeable amount of time. 

Before you even have a chance to deny the help he was offering he had stepped closer, silently letting you know that it was okay for you to say yes. 

“Thank you,” you breathed out in relief as he leaned down to pick up the opposite end of the box. Together the two of you navigated the box into the elevator and up to your apartment. 

Elias had helped you bring the box into your apartment. You introduced yourself to him before he left and when you mentioned that you were new to the city Elias had given you his number, told you to call him if you needed anything at all. 

And for awhile you didn’t contact him. Not because you didn’t want to. Truth be told you would have loved to have called him because the city still felt so lonely and he truly seemed like such a nice guy. But every time you contemplated it the idea was outweighed by worry that you would be annoying him. 

But then a few weeks later you were having a truly catastrophic day. Like always you left for the skytrain, because it was just as quick as driving and you didn’t have to pay for parking at work. But you ended up being late, missing your train and being a few minutes late to work. Where you were immediately berated by your manager despite your apologies. And you tried to put that behind you but throughout the rest of the day you were slightly frazzled and nothing seemed to be going smoothly. By the time the work day ended it had started pouring, typical Vancouver rain that could be heard pounding off the roof of the building. Dumping the contents of your purse onto your desk before leaving you realize you had forgotten your umbrella at home. So you packed up your stuff and prepared yourself for the miserable walk to the skytrain station. By the time your commute was over and you had hustled back to your apartment you were freezing cold and soaking wet. And as if the day couldn’t get worse as you rifled through your purse you realized your keys were missing, mind flashing back to dumping your purse contents onto your desk at work. 

Groaning you stare at the locked lobby door of the apartment building. A few minutes of contemplating your options you pull your phone out, dialling Elias’ number. 

“Hi,” Elias answers after a couple rings. “How’s it going?”

“Could be better,” you admit, huddled under the awning outside the lobby door to protect yourself from the rain. “Are you home?”

“Yeah, I am. What’s up?”

“Can you let me in?” You ask, not knowing what you would do from there, the key to your actual apartment missing as well. “I think I forgot my keys at work.”

“Of course. I’ll be down in a minute,” Elias assures you. 

And true to his word he was opening the door a few minutes later, letting you into the warm lobby. Droplets of water drip off your jacket and onto the doormat as you wipe a combination of rainwater and tears from your cheeks. You hadn’t even realized you were crying till the situation had calmed down a bit, till you were away from the loud stormy weather. 

“Are you okay? You look cold. Do you have the keys to your apartment?”

Shaking your head you wrap your arms around your body. “No, I’ll have to call a locksmith or something, I don’t know.”

“Come on, you can wait in my apartment if you want,” Elias offers, stepping towards the elevator as you trail behind him, feeling cold, miserable, and deflated. 

You step into Elias’ apartment behind him you stand on the doormat, careful not to get water on the hardwood floor. But you’re not sure how to handle the situation so you stand in one spot, watching Elias kick his shoes off and step into the apartment. 

“You can come in,” Elias tells you, smiling gently. “I can get you some clothes, if you want to shower and warm up you can do that too.”

“You don’t have to do all this,” you tell him, pulling your jacket off and hanging it up over one of the hooks by the door, pushing your shoes off. 

“I’m not doing much,” Elias comments, nodding towards the hallway. Following after him Elias points out the bathroom, leaving you alone for a moment and returning with an armful of clothes. “Towels are in the cupboard there,” he tells you, gesturing towards the cupboard by the door. “I’ll be out in the kitchen, take your time.”

Something about how kind he was, how considerate he was left you feeling overwhelmed. He didn’t need to be this nice to you, you had never met anyone who was so kind so soon after meeting. After standing under the hot water in the shower while the chill dissipated from your bones, you get out and dry off, pulling on the large t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that you had to fold over at the waist a number of times to be able to stay up. 

Folding up your wet clothes you shuffle out of the bathroom, finding Elias in the kitchen. He was standing in front of the stove, cooking dinner with his phone pressed to his ear. 

“An hour?” You hear Elias say into the phone. “Yeah, that’s fine.” He hangs up his phone, setting it down on the counter and glancing over at you. “Hey, I called the building manager, he said they have emergency access keys to all the apartments. If you have ID he’ll be able to let you into your apartment but he won’t be here for an hour. I was making dinner though, do you want some?”

You stare over at Elias in surprise, eyes welling with tears. “I…you didn’t have to deal with this for me, you’ve already helped me more than you need to.”

“It’s not a big deal,” he assures you, grabbing a couple plates from the cupboard. “I moved here not that long ago, I had all the guys on the team for support though. I can’t imagine not knowing anyone.” 

“Team?” You ask, sliding onto one of the barstools at his bar counter. 

“I play hockey, for the Canucks,” he explains, setting a plate of food in front of you before sitting down beside you with his own food. 

“Oh, wow, that’s amazing,” you tell him in surprise. Because truthfully you didn’t know much about him aside from his generosity towards you. And so you spent the rest of the hour getting to know each other till he came with you to meet the building manager, making sure you got back into your apartment before saying goodnight. 

And after that night you two began spending more and more time together till you were practically inseparable. He introduced you to some of his teammates and some of their wives and girlfriends. 

You would spend evenings curled up on his couch watching movies. Eventually sharing the couch turned to cuddling turned to falling asleep with your head on his chest. You would go grocery shopping together, while it made sense with both of you living in the same building, the truth was that you both just wanted to spend as much time together as possible. You would go for early morning walks, discussing all sorts of deep thoughts. Going for coffee or dinner together became a common occurrence. 

And you fell for Elias. Hard. But you were uncertain about his feelings. He had always been the friendly guy who lived on the floor below you. He never tried to flirt. When you cuddled on the couch his hands never wandered. You never caught him checking you out or staring just a little too long. 

It was a Saturday night eight months after you first started hanging out with Elias and Elias had invited you over to Brock and Troy’s place along with a few other people. You were reluctant at first, telling him you didn’t want to intrude. But Elias was persistent and you found yourself sitting beside him on their couch a few hours later. The night had gone by as expected, they discussed stuff about hockey that you didn’t fully understand, you got to hear about their personal lives, girlfriends and family issues. You were glad Elias had invited you, happy to get to be more involved in his life than you already were.

“I’m going to the washroom,” you tell Elias a few hours after you had gotten there.

“Okay,” he mutters and you don’t notice the way he watches you stand up, the way he watches you walk out of the room. But Brock does and he can’t just not say anything. 

“You’ve got it bad for her,” Brock chuckles, shaking his head. 

“What?” Elias asks, only half-aware of what Brock was talking about as he turns his attention to him. 

“Why don’t you just tell her how you feel?” Brock asks. 

“How I feel?”

Brock shakes his head again, sighing loudly. “Don’t pretend you don’t have feelings for her, man.”

“We’re just friends,” Elias defends, adjusting uncomfortably on the couch as he glances around the room, looking for any distractions. 

As you wander back from the bathroom you pause outside the living room entryway, frozen with the words you hear Brock say. “You’re in love with her, we all see it.”

“She just needs a friend right now,” Elias reiterates. 

“Just needs a friend? But you don’t want to be just a friend?”

“Just drop it, okay?” Elias snaps, unusually out of character for him. 

A few moments later you step into the room, trying your best to act like you hadn’t just heard everything you heard. Was Brock right? Elias hadn’t denied it. But that didn’t mean he was right either. No matter how hard you tried to remain unfazed by the comments you had overheard you simply couldn’t, catching yourself staring at Elias just a little too often and for a little too long. 

By the time you leave that night you can’t manage to keep your heart rate steady or your breathing even. Elias parks his car and you climb out, an uncomfortable silence filling the air around you two and you begin to wonder if he knows something is up. Stepping into the elevator you can’t handle the tension anymore but you’re not sure how to deal with it either. So you let your body take control, stepping in front of Elias, one hand on the back of his neck as you lean closer to him. “Kiss me,” you whisper in the silence of the elevator. 

“What?” Elias asks in shock, but he’s grabbing at your waist already, pulling you closer. And he doesn’t wait for you to say anything else before he’s kissing you, surprisingly fast and eager. When the doors of the elevator slide open you grab Elias’ hand, pulling him out onto your floor with you. There’s a nervous excitement as you both walk to your apartment. You barely have the door closed before Elias has his hands on your hips, pulling your back into him as he leans down, pressing his lips to your jaw, reaching up to brush your hair away as he moves his lips down to your neck. 

Gasping softly you push your body back into his, hand curling around Elias’ wrist. “Please,” you whimper, head tipping back to rest on his shoulder. You hadn’t so much as kissed a guy since moving to Vancouver. And maybe it was because you were too busy to worry about going out with guys, but maybe it was because there was only one guy you were interested in and he just happened to be right there behind you. 

“Are you sure about this?” Elias asks, turning you around in his arms as he holds you by your waist. 

“Yes,” you whisper, grabbing one of his hands and pulling him along with you into your bedroom. 

Waking up the next morning you roll over, finding the bed empty beside you. The way your heart sank was a feeling you had never felt before. You had slept with guys before and it meant nothing, had woken up the next morning alone or snuck out during the night. But this felt different. Because you really thought it meant something. But clearly you were wrong. 

Slowly you pull yourself out of bed, yanking on an oversized t-shirt and shuffling to the kitchen to make coffee. Because you needed to do something, anything, to keep your mind off the fact that you had slept with your one of your best friends and he left before you were even awake. Left without saying a single thing. And with each passing hour of the day where you hadn’t heard anything from Elias the worse you felt. 

Sure, you knew there was the chance that he really wasn’t in love with you. But when he kissed you back in the elevator you thought it had to have meant something. The last thing you would have expected was for him to just leave like that. 

‘Movie night?’

The text came early in the afternoon and normally you would have replied within seconds of seeing it. But today was so different, hesitation as your thumbs hovered over the keyboard on your phone. 

‘Sure. Your place or mine?’ You finally send. You couldn’t say no to Elias, no matter how hurt you were from earlier. 

‘Mine? 7 work?’

‘Sure’ you reply vaguely. Your conversations were never like this. You always said more, talked about what the other was doing, made jokes. You can’t remember a single one word text you had ever sent him, it always needed at the very least a smiley face. 

That evening you head up to Elias’ apartment, knocking on the door and staring down at the ground anxiously. Elias pulls the door open a minute later, stepping aside to let you walk inside. “Hey,” you whisper. 

“Hi,” Elias replies, closing the door behind you before pulling you into a hug. It’s warm and comforting and you want to stay there with him forever. But you know you can’t, not after the night before. Slowly pulling back you take a deep breath, preparing yourself to bring up what happened. “Do you want to order takeout or should we find something to make here?” Elias asks. 

You’re caught off guard by him brushing past everything that happened, not acknowledging the fact that less than 24 hours before you were moaning his name. “Uh,” you hum, prepared to talk about the implications of hooking up but not about dinner plans. “Takeout.”

Elias nods, pulling his phone out and opening DoorDash. “What do you want?”

“For you to stop ignoring what happened last night,” you blurt out, staring up at Elias with watery eyes. 

Elias lowers his phone staring at you in silence for a moment. “What do you want to talk about?”

“What?” You croak, shaking your head. “What do you mean? What do I want to talk about? The fact that we slept together last night. That you left before I was even awake the next morning. Any of that ring a bell?”

“What do you want me to say about it?”

You feel your chest tightening, throat aching with the threat of tears you were so desperately trying to hold back. “You know, you did a wonderful job convincing people that you love me, I almost fell for it.”

“What do you mean?” Elias asks, eyes softening as he steps closer, arms moving towards you before you step back. 

“I heard what Brock said, about you being in love with me,” you explain. “That’s why…that’s why I slept with you last night, Elias. Because I’m in love with you and I thought maybe, just maybe he was right. Or at the very least you would have the decency to not just fuck me if it didn’t mean anything.” Wiping at the tears streaming down your face you whirl around towards the door, trying to escape before you broke down any further. 

But Elias is grasping for your hand before you can get to the door, pulling you into his chest. “He’s right,” Elias whispers. “I am in love with you.”

“So why are you acting like such an asshole then?”

Elias pulls back, reaching over to wipe the tears off your cheeks. “Because I was scared. I didn’t think you felt the same way. I thought…I thought you just wanted a, uh, like, friends with benefits. But I know I can’t do that with you so I thought just going back to normal was the only option.”

You let out a shocked breath of laughter, clutching tight to Elias as if he might try to distance himself again if you let up even just a little. “You thought all of a sudden I would try to just turn this into a friends with benefit agreement? After all this time?”

“I didn’t think you could have feelings for me,” Elias mumbles into your hair, holding onto you with just as much intensity. “I mean, look at you. You’re perfect. And I can’t give you everything you deserve, I’m not even here all the time, so…”

“What are you talking about you?” You ask, interrupting Elias’ ramble with a quiet, surprised laugh, your hands moving to the back of his neck as you stare up into his eyes. “You already give me more than I deserve. You’re the person I call when I need anything. You come down to my apartment at two in the morning to kill spiders for me. You pick me up when I have to work late and it’s dark and you don’t want me taking the skytrain at night. You helped me repaint my kitchen on one of the very few days you actually have off. And you don’t have to do any of those things so when you’re not here to do them it’s okay, because it’s already more than I need. You’re more than I need, Elias, and I hate that you would think you aren’t.”

“I love you,” he whispers, saying it like it was a weight off his shoulders. “I love you so much,” he repeats, a smile growing on his face. 

“Should I spend the night here tonight? Or do you want me to sneak out after you fall asleep?” You joke, pressing your lips to his. 

Elias smiles against your lips, pulling back and shaking his head, clearly still feeling guilty. “Don’t leave…you don’t ever need to leave."