𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 * / 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂

alistair’s  IMPETUOUS  nature  had  always  been  something  he  was  told  by  respected  authority  figures  (  namely  his  renaissance  art  professor  ,  but  respected  nevertheless  )  that  he  had  to  work  on  ,  but  then  again  ,  it  got  him  this  far  in  life  .  perhaps  some  bumps  along  the  way  but  it  made  life  all  the  more  EXCITING  .  while  he  had  hopes  of  securing  a  job  within  the  nearby  art  museum  ,  he  did  have  to  make  enough  to  live  and  pay  his  flat  rent  and  the  wage  at  baldwin’s  company  offered  that  .  while  alistair  wasn’t  particularly  expecting  to  fall  into  bed  with  his  boss  ,  he  really  had  no  complaints  since  baldwin  was  proper  fit  once  you  look  past  the  whole  MARRIED  situation  .  once  became  twice  and  twice  became  a  habit  .  it  was  a  difficult  circumstance  where  alistair  felt  off  kilter  and  he  didn’t  like  feeling  as  FOND  as  he  was  for  the  older  man  .  he  didn’t  do  sentimentality  —  he  kinda  just  fell  into  it  .  alistair  hoped  that  ignoring  it  like  he  did  with  most  of  his  problems  would  make  it  less  of  a  thing  .  certainly  hooking  up  with  baldwin  again  took  his  mind  on  a  detour  .  alistair  sat  placated  and  satisfied  against  the  desk  ,  leaning  back  on  his  hand  that  was  resting  on  the  surface  while  his  free  hand  ran  through  his  disheveled  hair  .  blue  hues  appraised  baldwin’s  chest  ,  a  loose  smirk  finding  its  way  onto  his  features  once  his  boss  speaks  and  his  gaze  trails  up  to  his  gaze  .  ❝  i  reckon  you’ve  said  this  a  handful  of  times  since  we  started  shaggin’  ,  love  .  so  —  ❞  alistair  lets  his  unfinished  sentence  hang  in  the  air  before  moving  to  start  up  on  buttoning  his  own  shirt  .  ❝  don’t  tell  me  your  wife  SUDDENLY  picked  up  an  interest  in  suckin’  you  off  .  ❞  his  tone  is  light  —  teasing  almost  ,  and  the  mirth  he  felt  translated  to  his  eyes  when  baldwin  spoke  again  .  alistair  cocked  his  head  to  the  side  as  baldwin  sat  in  the  desk  chair  in  front  of  him  ,  a  mischievous  grin  tugging  at  his  lips  despite  his  words  .  ❝  you  think  i’m  CUTE  ??  ❞  he’s  playing  more  coy  than  he  should  considering  what  they  were  just  up  to  but  messing  around  with  baldwin  in  all  ways  was  amusing  .

daniel  tried  to  convince  himself  that  if  baldwin  wanted  to  stop  their  affair  at  any  time ,   he’d  be  okay  with  that .    it  wouldn’t  be  a  breakup    (    they’d  have  to  actually  dating  for  that    )    so  he  shouldn’t  feel  sad  about  it  whatsoever .    yet ,   anytime  the  older  man  brought  it  up ,   his  heart  began  to  falter  and  all  the  younger  could  think  was    ‘    not  yet    ’ .    but  he  wouldn’t  be  selfish    —    baldwin  was  married ,   after  all ;    maybe  the  man  thought  of  this  as  a  fling ,   and  dan  wasn’t  going  to  embarrass  himself  by  confessing  otherwise .    his  eyes  are  locked  on  his  own  fingers  as  they  carefully  button  up  his  shirt .    pants  were  still  somewhere  on  the  office  floor ,   but  he’d  worry  about  those  in  a  moment .     “     i  know  we  can’t .     ”     softly  replied ,   then  follows  with ,     “     but  i  don’t  really  want  to  stop .     ”     he’s  careful  to  keep  his  voice  mostly  neutral ,   as  to  not  make  his  romantic  feelings  obvious .     as  he  finishes  up  the  last  button ,   he  looks  down  at  the  seated  man ,   offering  a  warm ,   soft  grin .     “     i  guess  i  can  come  into  work  tomorrow  with  a  paper  bag  over  my  head .    maybe  if  we  can’t  see  each  other  it’ll  be  easier  to  stop .     ” 

noah’s meant to reform himself and integrate himself into a society full of white collars. his probation officer was the only thing that had convinced him of taking the job, all to prove to the courts that he was trying to change his life around and be more than a thief, and a dealer. somebody more than the neighbourhood he had come from. but people that were more than that didn’t sleep with their bosses, and didn’t lie their way into getting a job; he’d hired his friends on as his references, and forged a number of letters to get it.  “ aw thanks. you think i’m cute? ”  he smiles, teasing in nature, while he pulls his shirt together, buttoning from the top down.  it was a find from a thrift store that he’d cut sleeves off and tried to rework  (  only to eventually shove it to his sister to do  ) ,  so he smiles even more.  noah turns a little, bringing his leg up so he can sit sideways on the desk to look at baldwin as he spoke.  “ why? did your wife suddenly start satisfying you, or are you starting to feel guilty? ”  brow raised. he didn’t know why he kept coming back to the relationship. it was so dangerous to keep, but it was like he couldn’t stop himself. 

he’s  big ol’ sucker. elias never knows how and when to say no, he never knows how to reject things he doesn’t want. an eyebrow raises at her question and he ponders for a moment just exactly how to respond to her. “nobody said it was a crime,” his head rolls back before moving once more to face her. “but you never seem to just want to see me.” that could be considered a lie but …he’s not going to get into it right now. he’s already poking the figurative bear enough. arms crossed and elias feels like he has some sort of advantage being the taller of the two. “why do you want to see me?”

“ well you’re acting like i’m not allowed to want something. ” she states , despite the fact that he’s well within REASON to have the reaction. his next words hit her harder than she expected - had she not made him feel wanted enough when they were together ? maybe she WAS overly needy , but they could talk about that later. “ i’m serious , elias. i just want to see you. i don’t want anything except ... you. ” she speaks , point-blank because at this point , why the hell not ? “ i just miss you. we fought over nothing and i lost you and -- maybe i just want to talk. shit , i don’t -- i don’t think i even know what i want this time. ” she’s rambling softly , running a hand through blond locks. maybe it wasn’t over nothing , but xio planned on trying to win him back no matter what.

an incoherent groan escapes her in response to harlow’s stubborness. face burrowing into her hands, she takes a moment to regain her composure before she’s looking back at her work. the longer she stared at it, the more she wanted to be.. anywhere but here. dee lets out another sigh, folding her hands on the table. “ you promise it’ll be just a few hours, then? ” she doesn’t bother waiting for an answer before she’s closing the book in front of her. “ if i’m not home by dinner, i’ll never let you hear the end of it. i’m just warning you now. ”