ʟɪɢʜᴛɴɪɴɢ * / 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓴𝓮 .

She’s intelligent, beautiful, and just about everything I want in a partner. I’m very lucky to have her.

@taburose

A laugh is punched out of Derek; maybe the exhaustion was getting to him. “Please tell me you’re kidding,” he says but not unkindly. “I would have come in with a more casual outfit but when you said lunch, I automatically assumed meeting.” Donned with a button down, he takes a look around at the fast food establishment. “Let me guess. Craving for something a little unhealthy?”

@indulgencerpgstarters​

The fact that Derek brought her to his place, is still confusing for her. Strange. Weird. It’s… Unfamiliar. Although, the whole situation is unfamiliar. When did she last actually stay the night with anyone? Lina doesn’t count, they’re friends, not fucking. And boyfriends or girlfriends.. Well, very few people are okay with an escort for a girlfriend, and when they are, Rose’s issues tends to push them away anyways. So this thing with Derek is really just a benefit for herself too. Ensure no one wants her too much. Keep others on a distance. “Fine. That’s good.” She nods as she remains on the other side of the counter, not stepping closer to Derek. Almost like it’s poison to get too close. After last night… Yeah, it wasn’t good. She should never have done any of it, but she’d been out of control. Out of control of her own body. “I’m not fussy. No allergies either.”

--

The conversation feels stilted and Derek doesn’t blame her. What happened the night prior still confuses him and while he wants to broach the topic, he’s not too sure how to go on about it. Certainly it wasn’t that much of a deal breaker. He’s just worried it might put a strain in their contract. 

Eggs out and and whatever he can just fry up on the stove, he stands with his back turned towards the woman. It’ll be easier that way, he figures.

“So, Rose,” he starts, choosing his words slowly. “Last night was really convincing. I’m sure you’ve solidified this ‘relationship’ with your acting.” There. An out. He still feels like an ass about it, though. “Could have warned me beforehand, but that’s fine.”

“Mhm, awfully boring.” Excitement is rushing through her veins, pulling at her to give into lusts and desires, rather than being so prim and proper. Body aching to be made a mess out of. When he keeps on talking, not following her lead, Rose takes a step back. Hands taking his, guiding them to her waist, and back to her behind, letting him have an easy time to take a proper grip. “Why are you so boring tonight? Why don’t you have another drink? I’ve had more than enough water, but you, you need another drink. Something delicious. Mhm, maybe the drink I had earlier… I can’t remember what they called it though. But it was good. So you should try it too. Maybe you’d relax.” 

--

Derek suppresses a groan at Rose guiding his hands. Instinctively, he tightens his grasp but he ignores the urge to pull her in even closer at where his palms are clutching. He’s already giving himself the luxury of not pulling away. God, he’s going to feel so guilty later.

“I’m not being boring,” his voice is clipped. Short. Derek is not going to give in to the temptation even if he really does need a drink right now. “Rose, I’m sure one of us would need to stay sober. I don’t know what was in that drink but clearly, I’m the level headed one here.” 

Sighing, he reluctantly releases her but grabs onto her hand to lead her down towards one of the sofas. “Take a seat. Will you be good and stay put while I find some water for you?”

Rose could just feel her blood grow hotter under her skin, and while she really she should wonder if someone had spiked her drinks, considering she never is the one who feels hot and heavy unless she’s straight out asked to act like it, yet now? She can’t think of anything but bodies warm, sweating against each other. Warm breaths against sensitive skin, and lips touching over and over. Her mind definitely highly affected by whatever she’s had to drink. Oh poor Derek at the receiving end of it all. 

“You’re so boring, Derek.” She whispers against her, her hot breath brushing against his jaw and cheek, brunette remaining close to him, even as he tries to play it cool. What was it she’d drunk that was making her body act so much against her? “I’m just doing my part, you know? Playing your girlfriend. Isn’t a girlfriend supposed to want you everywhere? Anywhere?”

--

Concern is etched on Derek’s features now as he looks over Rose. Under normal circumstances she wouldn’t be this bold. Hell, the contract is evidence enough that whatever she’s trying to insinuate isn’t necessary. It’s not that he doesn’t want to. Anyone with eyes could see how gorgeous Rose is. He just has other priorities at the moment and he’s not allowed any distractions.

“I’m boring,” he repeats and God, were he a weaker man, he would have taken her then and there against that glass window just to show how not boring he is, but he has some semblance of control and so he refrains even if the lips on his jaw is not helping. “Yes, darling,” -- the word is laced with such disdain , “ -- but not in public. You don’t want this, Rose. Trust me. Let’s get some water in you.”

It was strange to see Derek in the kitchen. To see him rummaging through a fridge. Not that she tended to be home with him all that much. Not that she tended to be in his home, wearing clothes from the night before. After all, they were business associates now. They had a contract. They had a deal. Business. They were business associates, not lovers. Not friends. Not whatever… Whatever had happened the night before. Whatever had lead to her sleeping in his bed. Had they…? No, that couldn’t be. Her underwear was still on after all, and he’d not been pressed up against her as she woke up. 

Accepting the glass with a nod, she lifts it to her lips, taking in the cold sensation of water. The refreshing feeling of drinking it. God, she felt suddenly so dry. Lord, what had been in the drinks the night before? “I slept fine. How did you sleep?” It’s strange. Unfamiliar. To be discussing things like sleep with him. “Unless you’re planning on having breakfast, I’m fine without. Don’t tend to eat much for breakfast.” Well, that’s a lie. Her stomach is feeling empty, but she can just eat once she gets herself out of there. 

--

Derek’s still not a hundred percent convinced that his plan of getting Rose back to his place was the best course of action. He couldn’t just leave her there but then again, he could have also just brought her home. His excuse is that were to someone find out about it, it might have made local news somehow. Would it have tainted his reputation? Probably not. But he’s not willing to take that risk after all that he’s for his image. 

“I slept fine.” His back is killing him and he’s pretty sure that his neck is gonna stay sore for a bit, but he doesn’t voice those out loud. They’re not like that. “I could go with some breakfast,” he shrugs. “Is there something that you don’t eat or are allergic, too?” It’s strange, asking more than what he needs to know as per the contract, but surely, he couldn’t be a rude host. It’s just for today, he tries to convince himself. Derek shouldn’t be weird about it.

Who would have thought the girl who used to hide under her covers, and count to 10 over and over, would ever be the woman standing by the man who’d run for mayor? The girl who barely dared to speak her name, be a business owner, be a challenger in this game of power? Yet, there she was. Pressed up against who the world was to believe was her boyfriend. Who the world was going to see her be a mayors girlfriend next to, at least for a while. “Mhm, you should know better. Know so much better, than to underestimate me.” He wouldn’t have entered the contract with her if he knew she’d be someone to underestimate, right? Her lips continuing to brush against his skin gently, before she puts a kiss to just by where ear and jaw would meet. “The act of babymaking, hmm? I thought you’d say you were more a man of love making.” He did seem fairly… Traditional, in some way.

--

It’s not that Derek never had any experience when it came to relationships. They usually bore him after the first month or they get a little too demanding especially when it concerns time away from his work or his family, and so he finds the first excuse to leave. After questions about his bachelor lifestyle that have spread within his political career, he figures that the smartest move would be to hire someone who he knows wouldn’t ruin his plans.

But as he holds onto Rose, he’s not quite sure about that anymore.

Sighing, he pulls on all his self restraint to pull back slightly once he feels her lips on his skin once more. “I don’t do love making,” he reminds her, though there are lots of times when he’d sure imagined. Those are the moments when he allows himself to think of her just a little more than a contract. “Rose,” he sighs. “What are you doing?”

“Goddamn it!” Sammy stumbled back as Derek bumped into him. He wasn’t exactly looking were he was going either. It was more a shout of surprise than anger. His attention had been fixed on the birds in the pound right next to them. The birds that his cat, Duckie, was currently trying very hard to stalk. Not that she could get any of them because of the leash she was attached to. Yes, Sammy was that weird, crazy, man taking his cat for a walk. The vet had suggested it after Duckie gained a few pounds. Turning ten really did a number on his beloved cat. The poor thing just needed to get out more. 

Leaning down, Sammy scooped Duckie into his arms and put her on his shoulders. The white fluff ball puffed up, ears back and eyes on the stranger. “M’fine. Kinda zoned out there. Totally trying to deiced if it would be worth it to see this old bag of bones try and catch a goose.” Sammy admitted pointing to the cat on his shoulders. He brushed off his side and stuck his hands in his jacket pockets for a moment. “You okay? Someone trying to chase you or some shit like that?”

--

Derek keeps himself from reflexively acting on the warranted cry, though he knows if the man were truly upset, they would have had a whole different interaction. His eyes zero in on the cat and there's a moment of confusion when he realizes that this stranger is actually taking it for a walk. He's not one to judge -- out loud -- and so he keeps his mouth shut, pasting on a polite smile once the cat is practically at eye level with him. In his head he can practically hear Rose telling him that it would be in his best interest if he showed a little concern for both pet and owner, but he's not sure how to do so without overdoing it. 

"The cat. You wanted the cat to catch a goose." His head turns towards the pond and sure enough the goose are there acting like an audience to his blunder. "Huh. Well it does look like they could use a little playmate." Derek straightens his posture and hesitates before lifting a hand to try and pet the thing. "May I?" 

Snorting, he shakes his head at the question but figures that in a place like Santa Ysabel, it's a fair one. "No, just doing a couple of laps. I guess my workout playlist took me out of it, too." He regards the man with a once over. "Are you new around here? I'm sure I know just about everyone in town but I can't seem to recognize you."

Rose woke up with a pounding headache. Her head pounding, suffering, and her body feeling just as bad. Oh god couldn’t she just fall back asleep? She’s not even quite sure what bed she’s in, all she knows it’s not her own, for there’s definitely not enough pillows under her to be her bed. But, the need for water and something to eat forces her out of the bed, and wearing the clothes of the night before, although more wrinkled, she shuffles herself down to the kitchen. 

And then, she sees him. Derek. Slight memories from the night before flashes before her eyes. Pressing herself against him. Skin against skin. Him holding her. Nope. Nope. It couldn’t have happened. IT didn’t happen. They would not end up like that, no. She didn’t approve of that. IT was a contract, that was all. “Got any ice cold water there?” Rose speaks gently, stopping by the entrance to the kitchen. 

--

There's the tell tale signs of pitter patter in his bedroom that has Derek pausing for a bit. When the noise makes its way down his hallway, he makes himself look busy, rummaging through his fridge. There's a carton of eggs that he could probably do something about. He's not a breakfast man, per se, but he's seen his mother cook enough times that he's pretty sure he could do it. It's just like following directions, right? Derek's good at that.

Her tone of voice surprises him a bit but he tries to not let it show on his face as he retrieves the Brita. Derek grabs a cup from the drawer, pours water in before handing it to the woman. "How'd you sleep?" The conversation to be had is inevitable. Though they didn't do anything, he needs to at least explain how she made it into his bedroom, but then again, there's no harm in delay. "Did you want something to eat?"

The park provides the perfect route for Derek and his runs as it gives him enough to complete a handful of miles within a couple of loops. There's never a certain time when he goes; in a place like Santa Ysabel, it'd be foolish to have some sort of routine that anyone can just take note of. The evening wind is crisp and he's gotten that itch to relieve some stress. He's out of his house real quick, already jogging his way towards the direction of where he usually starts. Earbuds on, he loses himself in the music, raising his hand to greet those he recognizes. Boy next door Derek. He can keep up the appearances; it's almost second nature for him to do so. 

It's near the curve of the small pond where Derek accidentally bumps into someone, causing him to stumble back a bit. "Are you okay," reflex has him asking about the other first. "Sorry, man. I wasn't looking." 

Usually not one to frequent the local bars, Derek's surprised by actually finding himself at Worth a Shot, nursing his bourbon while his eyes flit onto one patron to the other. It's been told that the citizens of Santa Ysabel have a bit of a drinking problem and so if he showcases himself as a man that can relate to an extent, he might gain their interest. The drink itself isn't too bad -- the establishment prides itself in having high quality in stock -- but he'd rather much prefer to drink in the comfort of his own home. Derek should have invited Rose, he muses, but he's not quite sure if it would be necessary. 

A couple of sips in and he sees him. There's been rumors surrounding Augustine Evers -- aptly dubbed the cult leader of Santa Ysabel. Of course nothing really came from the rumors but Derek's been intrigued ever since.

Approaching the man, he takes a seat on his side. If he's to gain the popular vote, it wouldn't hurt to befriend one that has actual followers. "Augustine, right?" The polite smile on his face has been practiced for so many years now, it feels almost natural. "I've heard about your work." Or the stories they've told of it, anyway. "Let me just say I'm very curious as to how you operate." 

Derek casually sips on his cup of coffee, flipping through the newspaper as if he isn't straining to hear if Rose has gotten up yet. Like a gentleman, he let her sleep on his bed while he took the couch though it did take a lot of him to resist the advances. The champagne must have been stronger than he thought and so he doesn't really think anything much of it, but if he's being honest with himself, he can't deny the want. Rose is undeniably one of the most gorgeous women he's ever met and there's the wit, the banter, and just about everything else that makes spending time with her actually bearable. But the focus is to win the elections and he can't have any distractions. 

There's another mug that sits in front of him on his breakfast nook, unfilled, but the pot's available for Rose when she's ready. Maybe he should have cooked her breakfast, but he's never been one to have meals this early in the day, anyway. Still, it could be considered rude to not have anything for his guest save for a brew and so he stands, makes his way to the fridge and tries to see what he can come up with.

The contract between the two of them clearly indicates just how conniving the both are. Suffice it to say Derek had been a little apprehensive going in, but Rose has clearly proven herself to be a woman of class with an eye for business. It's very rare that he happens upon people who share his vision without judgment, which makes the whole thing all the more enjoyable. "Apologies, darling," and there's a hint of amusement in his voice. "I should know better than to ever underestimate you." Rose is a little too close that it makes it that much harder to resist but Derek's counting on the years of self preservation. Her lips graze along heated skin -- and Derek would forever deny that this woman's managed to get a reaction out of him. If she's going to draw out a tease, then there's no reason why he shouldn't. "While that's true, I wouldn’t mind the act of baby making -- minus the baby, of course.”