120-some odd gifs of the ridiculously awesome alicia keys for @ambitionrps under the cut.

Dara hasn’t even stepped a foot inside the home before the order’s given, and Rachel doesn’t budge from her position in the entryway.

“Yes. Just right there,” she confirms with a nod of her head, answering the unasked question apparent in Dara’s wide eyes. And as Dara begins to undress, Rachel adds, “Slower, please. I promise the only eyes witnessing your beauty right now are indeed my own.” 

As she watches, Rachel toys with the knot keeping her robe together, but she doesn’t tug it loose to join Dara in her current state. Instead, she offers her hand when Dara finishes depositing a semi-neat pile of clothes just inside the door, and leads her upstairs to her bedroom.

Rachel’s not surprised to find that Samantha hasn’t moved an inch, long, tired limbs still sprawled out across the mattress and eyes closed to the dimming light of the room. She’ll let her rest for a few more minutes, especially since she has someone else to currently occupy her attention. 

“Hey,” Selene tried to get Beckham’s attention. His parents were in town and insisted they had dinner at his place. She didn’t expect the dinner to be all rainbows and sunshine but this was not how she thought the night would go. “Hey!” She stood up, grabbing his arm. He had abruptly stood up at the table, clearly ready to start fighting or something. She had never seen him like this before. “Come on.” She tugged him away from the dining room. As they left she turned to look at his parents and told them that they should leave. 

They made their way to the kitchen only for him to unfreeze from his silence. His parents had only come to ask for more money, which understandable was upsetting. All he was good for to them now was the money, at least that’s what she was seeing. “Babe,” She reached up to gently hold his face but he just turned away, stepping away from her. 

“How could they?” He started to walk around the kitchen. “First they show up, demand to have dinner here and then expect me to just write a check?!” He continued to ramble and vent, the blonde trying to get him to stop and take a breath but it seemed that she was just making it worse. All of a sudden a glass left on the counter was hurled toward a cabinet, shattering. 

The act startled Selene. “Beck!” She shouted, grabbed him again. She moved in front of him and held his face in her hands. “Look at me!” She looked into his eyes, all she could see was the anger and hurt in them. “Parents suck. I get it, believe me, but you don’t need to be breaking shit.” She started. her tone much calmer and softer than before. “Hey, look at me.” She held him so he couldn’t look away. “Yeah, they’re your parents but you don’t have to give them what they’re asking for. It’s insane what they are asking for.” She wanted to make sure he knew she was on his side but this reaction was dramatic, even for her. 

“I don’t like this side of you. It scares me.” Selene bit her bottom lip. “I don’t want you to feel like this, ever. So, if we need to talk to them, set some boundaries, then let’s work on that. Okay?” Her hands moved down to his shoulders and then his biceps and she leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek. “But we can discuss that tomorrow.” She kissed his other cheek. “For now let’s just forget about dinner.” She smirked before pressing her lips to his. “What can I do to make tonight better?” She raised a brow. “Hm?” She hummed as she gave him another kiss.

Speaking in front of hundreds of people wasn’t anything new to Nicholas. He had given many speeches at business functions but this wasn’t some business function. This was his wedding, his wedding vows. While he and Norah would have preferred a smaller ceremony, their families were not having it. The venue was filled with family, friends, associates. This was one of the biggest weddings of the year where two powerful families finally joined together. 

Nicholas took the microphone, nervousness completely overtaking him. He was about to let all these people listen to him open up about his feelings about the woman standing in front of him. This was not an easy task for him. “Norah,” He started, letting out a small sigh but smiled at her. He had the microphone in one hand and notecards in the other. “It’s been a long journey to get to this point, with a lot of turns, twists, and sometimes even u-turns.” There was another pause, looking from his notes to her. He put the notecards away and took her hand. 

“I remember the first time we met, before university. That’s where it all started. Our friendship turned to a relationship, but I think we were so young and there were so many outside forces trying to influence our relationship that we needed to take a step back. Our own desires blurred with the desires of others.” There were whispers in the crowd but he ignored them. “But when we decided to give this another try, it was like a breath of fresh air. I fell in love with you, some would say, for the first time. I love the way you see the world, how you see others, especially through a camera’s lens. I love that you’ve gone after your own dream and how much you are thriving - I am so proud of you. I love your sense of adventure. You remind me that life isn’t always about work but are also understanding when I have late nights at the office. I love how you try to cook even though we both know I’m the better one in the kitchen, which isn’t saying much.” He chuckled, as members of the audience did as well.

“I love how you watch football matches with me even though I know you would rather be doing something else. You care far more than people realize…” Nicholas gave her hand a small squeeze. “You are full of surprises and I honestly can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Whatever you want darling, I’d give it all to you. I would do anything for you, that is how much you have a hold on my heart.” 

“Please,” Grace stood on the small wooden deck of Trevor’s home, looking at him through the glass door. The sun had already set but it wasn’t terribly late at night. They had an argument earlier, one of the biggest ones they have ever had. It was her fault, with preparing for finals and the anniversary of her dad’s death approaching, she was more short-tempered than usual and it was worst with him. She was pushing him away.  “I’m sorry.” The brunette stepped out of the way when she saw Trevor coming to open the door. 

She didn’t move from her spot, “I’m sorry,” she repeated with a softer voice, looking at the ground. “I didn’t mean what I said. I won’t make excuses, I just…” Grace pressed her lips together and forced herself to look at him. “I didn’t mean when I said I didn’t want you around. I know you’re just trying to help.” She added the last bit in her head. Tears pricked her eyes, she had spent almost every night this week crying herself to sleep. “Can I stay here tonight? I don’t want to be alone.” Her voice was weak as she tried not to cry. She wasn’t even sure if her words were coherent.

There was a moment of silence and she thought he would turn her away but when he stepped aside, clearing a path for her to enter, she stepped inside. No words were spoken. She slipped off her shoes and went to lay on the couch. After some time of just laying there in the darkness, Grace quietly got up and moved to the bedroom. She crawled into bed, lifting his arm so it could be wrapped around her. Being there with him holding her made her feel safe like she could finally rest, but that’s what scared her because at any moment this could be taken away from her.

Iris looked up at Henry, wondering if he meant to say what he did out loud. It was the middle of summer and they had gotten into a routine of her coming over at least once a week to hang out, just the two of them. Throwing him into her friend group was a bit much at times, especially when people were coming and going. It was almost like he couldn’t get used to the group before more came in. That’s what they were doing now, they had just eaten dinner and were now trying to pick a movie to watch. She was so tired for the day’s events that she laid on the couch with her head in his lap. 

That was until he said what he said. They were talking about some of her friends that had shown up the other day and everyone’s sleeping arrangements. She hadn’t expected him to admit wanting her beside him at night. Iris sat up, turning herself to fully face him, pulling her legs up as she sat crisscrossed. Her eyes narrowed momentarily before she started to smile. “Well, we can make that happen. You just have to ask.”