just like heaven

"Ah, that's what it is. I understand." Was he hoping that Ben would care more than that? He wasn't sure. One way or another, he enjoyed having the younger male around. Ben fit his lifestyle, his personality and they looked fine as hell together. "We have some days, I'll take you out in the streets. Buy you a nice watch or a pretty dress or whatever for sticking up with me." - Winston smirked, eyes lingering on Ben's face. There wasn't really anyone he was paying attention to now when Ben was right here in his lap. He also knew Ben had plenty of money himself but Winston liked to give him a little souvenir of the memories they were yet to make on Monaco. After all, their entire connection could be over with a flick of a wrist or a simple 'no'. Winston didn't meet many people to share his life with so he promised himself to look after the pretty faces he hired and give them something to remember him to. At the mention of Chiara, he rolled his eyes and let out a low chuckle. "So you are jealous after all." He couldn't help the smile from growing on his lips - which was rare - and dropped his gaze to Ben's lips for a moment when he cupped his cheeks. "Maybe." Big hands slowly and gently massaged Ben's ass as he pressed the other into him some more. "You keep showing up in these cropped shirts, showing off.." Winston shook his head as he brushed his fingers up and along Ben's cheek, tucking some hair behind his ear. "I'm just a man."

Ben just squints for a second because he really doesn't know if Winston understands. Then again there's nothing to understand in the first place. Ben's not a bitch and he's not going to be crying and whining over a dude who pays for his time. He knows Winston's got a roster worldwide. Why would he waste his time with hurt feelings? It'd be endless. "I don't think they make dresses for my body." Ben shakes his head. He'd also have no interest in wearing one and he's not about to complain that Winston must be trying to mold him into one of the girls he likes fucking more than him. That'd be crazy. Ben stares in confusion because he can't seem to understand what Winston wants. The older man always tells him he's got others, he doesn't want anything more from Ben and then he's talking about how Ben is stuck with him. "Jealous of what?" Ben asks in that familiar exasperated tone. "You keep rubbing all these people in my face and then accuse me of being jealous. What are you trying to get out of this?" Ben tips his head to the side with wide eyes like he's trying to see the answer. "I am showing off idiot. You're paying me." Ben reminds him. Winston loves to do that so why shouldn't he? He's being very sweet and Ben's not jealous. He lets silence hang between them so Winston can take the words back. He doesn't. "You want it like that? I'll give it to you like that."

tennille is an ever-revolving door of questions. despite the notoriety her family leads, with all of her parents' eccentricities (and the much lesser know ploys of her brother), tennille is someone that people can't ever seem to figure out. she won't let them, either, compartmentalization is something she does particularly well. just when one thinks they've got it, she switches it up. with kyree, it's a tad different. not that she thinks he sees through it, necessarily, but that he catches her off-guard on occasion. in those split second in-between moments before the facade solidifies and it's just whoever tennille is. she doesn't even know if he catches it when it happens, but they're out here, and he's drinking her in in a way that thrills her, unnerves her, but she'll refuse to let it show. instead she just lets him, lazily adjusting the necklace against her bare collarbone, the attention draped there with lithe fingers, as if she's unaware of what she's doing, her cigarette a welcomed prop. he's not denying it, and the smirk blooms across her face, peering up through heavy lids, a la a silent film starlet. "perhaps not," she'll concede to that, she isn't interested in the surface level expectations that came with her first profession. and while, yes, beauty is revered for her, for her family, she mostly just wants to hear it from him. "perhaps i want to know what you are really thinking." a lot to ask for someone so reticent herself. between the haze of the cigarettes, and the city lights dotting the horizon, it felt dreamy, in a way. like they'll blink and she'll wake up. "if i wanted to engage in a conversation with an imbecile, i'd speak to ozzy," and that's something she tries to avoid at any turn she can get. this is the first conversation she's had tonight that actually feels like they are talking to each other, not simply at. "take me somewhere else," it's less a question, and more a command, but she does not forget her etiquette. "if you please. i will not be picky." tonight. that's the silent addendum. her threshold here has quickly been hit. "just ... away from these people."

"do you think i should admit any of what i'm thinking out loud?" kyree asks with wide eyes. as if it would be earth shattering. he simply wants to tell her all about how he wants her. the silence swells between them as he waits. should he make a move? it seems as if she is waiting for him. "i've been thinking about you since that night." he exhales for a final time as he stubs the cigarette out on the concrete railing. her words come out pleading in the sweetest of ways and he can't help himself as he reaches a hand between them to cup her face. he tips it up towards his own as he peers down at her. "let me see something first." kyree insists as he leans down to press his lips to the corner of her mouth. not too much. "my flats not far. come with me. i'll take you home."

"Letting you hit. You've been obsessed with my abs forever, don't play me." Eloi rolled his eyes with a massive smirk. He loved when Ash yapped like that. Hand reached for his own coffee cup which was a double espresso, sipping from it before putting it away again. "You can't keep that pretty mouth shut. I'm not getting kicked out of a store for fucking. You gotta learn how to be quiet first." He scoffed at the mention of having the beg for it, hand coming up to the back of Ash's neck. "Baby," Eloi sighed. "C'mon." He pushed his hips up, sitting back a little more to give Ash some space. "One of us has a reputation to keep up, baby." He grinned, fingers brushing his scalp and pulling his face a little down. "Please baby, you know how to make me feel good."

Ash pulls away as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. His mouth is salty as fuck and as he settles back into the passenger seat he puts on his seatbelt and grabs his mostly melted iced coffee. He takes a sip and swishes it around his mouth to get the taste of nut out. "Now what was that about a reputation to keep? What sort of shit you got to keep up? I'd love to know." Ash huffs out in irritation as he side eyes the other. It's very easy for Ash to get irritated with Eloi. He says stupid shit and does even more stupid shit. "Why don't you blow another bag on me to keep me happy?" Ash pulls his phone out of his pocket before he takes a photo of Eloi just above the waist where his dick is still out. "Dumbass man." Ash feels real fucking fond as he posts it to his story. "Now everyone knows what you look like after you got head."

Samuel rolled his eyes. Visibly and with a loud sigh. He didn't look at Nyjah when he spoke, eyes still pinned on the TV screen as the waves of words came over him. They all triggered him in the worst way possible. Samuel had been here, done that, seen this. He'd been kept a secret, had been called names, being told he was too much or expected too much. He promised himself he wasn't going to settle for anything less ever again. Yet here he was again. "Difficult, doing too much, pissed about nothing, attitude, drama queen. You got any nice things to say or you wanna continue to be a bitch all night? Fucking hell." Samuel snapped as he yanked his head to a side to meet Nyjah's gaze. He'd never raised his voice with so many disappointment at Nyjah ever before. "How fucking hard is it to let people know you're taken? Why you wanna keep that to yourself? Who out there is making you want to keep this on the low? And don't tell me there's none because it's always like that, Nyj don't play me. I'm not an idiot." With another shake of his head, Samuel turned to put his attention back to the TV screen, kicking off his shoes and putting his feet up on the couch so he could lean sideways. The comment about the nut-dripping content made him scoff. "Yeah, cause that's all there is to us, right? Crazy fucking sex." He couldn't even laugh about it anymore. "Never mind, forget I asked. I'll just keep my mouth shut like you want me to, right?" Sam snapped a last time. "Knew you'd find me too much. You're not able to handle me. You're all the same." He murmured under his breath as he picked the material of his black sweatpants.

Nyjah had genuinely believed that Samuel was just looking for something to fight about. Something unserious like a social media post. It's clearly something else entirely and he watches him practically curl in on himself. "Sammy. That's not what I meant. You're not too much." He insists softly. "I didn't know you were genuinely pissed about it. I thought you were just bustin' my balls about a post." He can see the far away look in the others gaze and he bites the inside of his cheek trying to figure out how to fix this. "People know I'm taken." Nyjah shakes his head. His friends and family all know. Even his co-workers know because he's annoying as fuck about it at the office. He knows that Samuel thinks he's got floods of DM's. And he might but it's not like he's answering them. He's got no time and he got this man in front of him. "All the same like who? I ain't those other guys you been fucked around by. I don't think you're too much. You're just enough. I wasn't-" Nyjah breathes out, "I'm sorry Samuel. I wasn't trying to say anything honestly. I thought you weren't being forreal. I didn't know it bothered you so much. Nyjah doesn't know how to fix this but he comes to sit next to Samuel. He pointedly doesn't touch him though. "You're not too much. You're perfect. I'll post whatever you want. I'm not hiding us."

sully huffs a low chuckle, shaking his head. it's something to know he at least cares. something to grasp onto, to convince himself it's not just bad habits he's falling back into. his thumb trails lazily against his cheek, “ still so good for me. ” he sighs, cocking his head, “ ... don't want anybody seeing, though. they don't get to see what's mine. want you all to myself. ”

"isn't that why you liked me in the first place?" it's almost laughable for the words to come off of his tongue. ash remembers how they met and how he had been cussing some dude out before he turned and saw sully. how the argument died on his tongue. it's always like that whenever he sees sully -every other thought is always silenced. it's just him. "oh yeah? you gotta put those greedy hands all over me to prove it." he feels a little breathless at the thought. "missed you, big head."

“It was a devil and an angel tattoo. It said something underneath: Serendipity. I really loved the idea of being in this quite formal priest uniform with the dog collar — and there’s this little bit of his past creeping up. That is how Father Jud is attempting to be this version of himself. He’s not denying his past, hence he still has the tattoo. But that anger is still there.” — Josh O'Connor (x)

"It's not cruel, it's in your contract. Our contract." Winston answered, unable not to smirk at the way Ben spoke to him. It was like seeing Ben's walls come down brick by brick. Slowly but surely. Because why would he care about sitting in a hotel room? Laying at a pool all day? It meant there had to be some sort of jealousy. "Why would you care if I was with someone else?" Winston asked with a tilt of his head, a wide and amused smile playing on his lips. "You're not my girlfriend." Words that Ben has used against him before. He shifted on the daybed, sideways so he could move his hands around Ben's frame, gripping his ass and pulling him into his lap. "I'll show you. But not tonight." Winston mumbled, nuzzling his nose in the other's neck. He looked so fine, there was no-one else he wanted to get his hands on. When Ben turned his head towards him, Winston looked him in the eye and ran his tongue along his bottom lip. "You know," he started. "I've never been fucked by a pretty boy like you." One of his hands moved up to caress his back. "You wanna explore something new with this old man?"

"I never read it." Ben shakes his head as he offers the other a shrug. He can't help himself. There was no way he was actually reading that shit and he probably already broke every clause in it. The question makes him squint like he's trying to figure out Winston's angle here. "I wouldn't care if you were with someone else. I'd just like to be out in the streets of Monaco if you were." Ben tells him. He leans back against the cushions and meets Winston's gaze. He watches the muscles in Winston's arms as he starts to move and realizes he's reaching for him. Ben moves easily because he's getting paid. He'd do anything Winston wanted. There's nothing for him to say so he doesn't. A soft sigh is breathed out as Winston's nose nudges against his neck. It feels sweet when their eyes meet and Ben can't even attempt to tamp down his smug grin. "Oh. I know." Ben laughs, "You're stingy as fuck with that hole. Does Chiara not get out the strap?" Ben asks a little snappy. Winston had seemed very interested in her when he saw her. He cups the others face anyway and nods. He's a little rough as he rubs his hands down Winston's face. "Is that what you've been thinking about?"

he's not used to something like this. sure he has friends , but they usually hung out at the bar or at the gym. he didn't typically have people over unless they were in - and then quickly out of - his bed. so this was different , not weird but unusual for him and he really wasn't sure how to act. " i think your first mistake was going to woody's. " he scoffs slightly , shaking his head. " if you were looking for a hook up , why not just call me before going there ? or anyone , i'm sure you have others. " he's not sure , and he's also not sure how he feels about it. it wasn't often jules though about other peoples feelings. " why ? " he's muttering around , throwing the pizza in the oven. " i mean , we're friends , right ? " he didn't actually know the answer. he had no clue what ash thought they were. " i have friends but we don't usually hangout at my apartment. we go out or go to the gym or something. i'm not much of a party host. " he pauses , and then laughs softly. " feel free to continue. i love being stared at like that. " and it was true , jules loved the feelings of others thinking he was hot. " you just sit there and look pretty. "

he likes the way it feels as though he's surveilling jules in his own home. very neat. ash leans back on his hands to get a better view. he can sense a tiny bit of stress? or is it something else? ash wonders if he's the cause. it's certainly not the hook up who got to escape ash's wrath. "well i like to diversify my tastes once in a while." he insists which is a lie. ash's best friend is trying to hook up with the bartender with the mullet and he's a good wingman. also it's easy to get every drink bought for him since the clientele is more than a little sketchy. ash certainly attracts interesting characters. he likes to think it's his aura. or his big mouth. "of course i have others but i wasn't trying to be in some guys messages as a second option." his face screws up at the idea. or third. "i wanted to see what our great city had to offer tonight. what if i had found my husband?" ash would rather die than be tied to someone by a document. at the question he squints at jules because he doesn't think so. if ash runs into him at the club he usually just glances once. "you've never had your friends over for a sleep over?" he feels genuinely horrified. "it's the best time to do mushrooms for sure." and make sure they're not fucking the same dudes cause they all love the men in these streets. "i know you do, tryna not give you a massive ego to match that big head." ash teases. "why don't you stand right here," he points between his legs, "and i"ll show you how to host friends."

“Fucking stalking me now? That’s cute.” He lobs back, weak for the guy’s accent, the way he looks at Bodhi like he’s this piece of meat, smiles at him like he’s about to sink his teeth in. Some sick part of him is really hot about the idea that Ben did track down his exes, caring enough to do so. “Do you know the meaning of that word?” He asks, cocking his head to the side, moving like trying to get away (but not really). He says nothing about whether or not he’s going to miss Ben. They both know it’s true. “Obviously not, Ben. But I’m not interested in belonging to you when you have no intention of returning the favor. So, fuck you for running that guy off, but can you get the hell out of my way so I can find a suitable replacement?” He’s still not making a move to put any real distance between them.

"It's called data research." Ben corrects with a scoff. He'd had plenty of time in bed after the cowboy from the bar left to look for all of Bodhi's hideous exes. Ben really was carrying here. "Do you want me to show you the meaning of it?" He asks curiously instead. Ben fills the little space between them as he shakes his head. "No one can replace me. What do you think you'll find out there? They don't know what's wrong with you to know how good to fuck you." Ben insists softly as he reaches a hand up and slips his fingers into Bodhi's hair. "Besides," He glances around the bar shaking his head, "They're probably scared off of you by now baby."

the thing people quickly come to understand about tennille is that a lot of what she seeks is control. control over her image, control over her surroundings, control over her plants, control over the people she wants around her. she knows she is in a unique position of that being possible because of her name, her status, her looks. but kyree comes around her, and despite her intuition saying don't get any closer, i'm poisonous, she doesn't make any attempt to keep him away. most people want her for one thing or another. maybe kyree is the same, but he's gotten this far, and there is something to be said with that. tennille does not do crushes, she does not obsess or fawn. she's severe and specific, her cards close to her chest at all times, but it's impossible to not think back to their previous meeting now that they are in proximity. the heat his body gives off beside her a staunch reminder of their bodies in this space. "ha. just for me, you are obsessed." it's a tease. "and?" she's asking for an opinion, as much as she prefers aloofness, the perfectionism that haunts her still makes her crave that validation. she reaches into her clutch and produces one more cigarette, gingerly leaning into him to use the tip of the lit one to light her own. it's an intimate gesture. "oh, you do, do you?" she asks-- challenges? an eye roll is shot towards him. "who could have guessed that after the umpteenth time of listening to them complain about their coke habits and microtrends that i might snap? numpties. all of them." she breaks eye contact finally, glancing back inside where haze and lights pulse through the windows. "what else are you doing tonight?"

"we could call it that." kyree grins as he nods once in agreement. he wouldn't be opposed to admitting that. it is intrigue. the cigarette is damp from both of their mouths and he can't help but grin as he watches her pull out another. he'd steal that one from her too to share. "and what? you don't want to hear me talk about how enthralling it was...how ethereal." he smirks before adding, "you're not interested in that." he insists softly as he smells her perfume as she leans in to light hers off of his. "you don't love listening to someone sniff every few seconds while talking to them?" kyree laughs at that. he follows her gaze and sees the throng of bodies. he can hear the conversations going on without being there. "whatever you want to do, tennille."

their gaze dragged over ash's figure. he was ready to pounce and unfortunately still hot. it was a shame that ash couldn't appreciate their arrangement for what it was — for what it had given both of them. robin ran a hand through his hair, tugging lightly in frustrating, finding something soothing in the sting. "do you like me, darling? is that it? or should i say did you? surely, being as principled as you are, you feel nothing looking at me now. it shouldn't matter how carefully i took you apart two days ago."

principled. ash is not that because he really, honestly doesn't know what it means. but he's not about to be fucking someone's husband. "like you for what?" ash irritation is always all over his face. "i'm not playin' with you no more. you should wear your ring when you pick up. you can find the types of dudes you're lookin' for that way." he rolls his eyes and definitely doesn't think about robin naked at all. "i can find any guy to fuck me. you're not special." he sits back and squeezes his thighs together. robin is annoying as fuck. "doesn't matter. what's your wife like?"

“The fuck you know about my type?” He asks. “Also… boyfriend? BOYFRIEND?” It doesn’t matter that pretty much everyone in the immediate vicinity looks over at the way Bodhi’s escalating. “That a two way street, or I just belong to you?”

"I found all your exes. I know." Ben insists with a shrug. He steps closer to Bodhi and smiles when he smells that familiar cologne. He wants to sink his teeth into his neck about it. "I thought you were my boyfriend for the summer. You'll miss me when I go back home." Ben insists with a frown as if he's really hurt about it. Bodhi's question makes him have to bite his lip to tamp down the smirk. Got him. "What do you think Bodhi?" Ben knows Bodhi has seen his stories, has probably seen him on other people's stories on yachts and on jets. "Do I want a little American boy to own me?"