𝑱𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏 ☽

DARK! LEDGER WARD X BLACK/FEM OC! CHIARA BATISTE

𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨.. 𝙄'𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙚 / 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙖 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙪 𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙪𝙭 𝙅𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙪𝙭 𝙙𝙚 𝙢'𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙚

・❥・ ch. synopsis: in which Ledger and Chiara come to a head after all this time.

warnings: 18+ content, (MNI or be blocked indefinitely) cussing/swearing, stalking, obsession, kidnapping, hitting (f to m, only once), death/m*rder.

a.n: we’ve got two more chapters to go, y’all! This was so fun lol. More chaos to come but we’re nearing the end with Ledger and Chiara 🥹 heed the warnings, I’ll talk to y’all later…

on the jukebox: ‘Eyes Without a Face’ by Billy Idol 🩰

current day —

The last time Ledger Ward was knocked out, it cleared about 50% of any memories he’s had from life beforehand as of 3 years ago.

This time when you knocked him out, it seemingly restored all memories he thought he lost forever.

It all made sense but nothing made sense at the same time.

Slowly, his eyes opened. That triggered all of the other systems of his body to awaken.

The heat to his body to lull his head, nerves working to move his heavy limbs. It was then that he got the scene before him.

In a car, passenger seat. Ahead of him in the front mirror was nothing but a highway that seemed like it’d go on forever. Wooded areas on both sides, an early morning sun painting the sky baby blue.

Not to mention the heavy duty duct tape that bound his arms to his side and ankles together. The seatbelt across his chest to secure him in the passenger seat.

“Sweetheart, you’re awake!”

Ledger slowly rolled his head to his left, finding the voice that was oddly cheery. Your eyes stayed on the road but it was easy to identify you.

His beautiful worst nightmare.

I genuinely have NOTHING appropriate to say 🥵

“Don't you give me up, please don't give up on me, I belong with you, and only you, baby”

In which Jackson takes on a special case client that takes a turn for the worst… or so he thinks 🍒

warnings: 18+ content (MNI), witch! black/fem! reader x Special Agent Jackson Brooks, witchy themes, spell work, stalking, obsession, infatuation, dark! reader, cussing/swearing, flirting, smuttt— dirty talk, pnv penetration, lowk sub! Jackson Brooks, handjob, touching, creampie.

a.n: heyyy bae, we’ve unlocked a new character! 🤭 expect to see more of him and Mr. Ledger Ward <3 anyways, this is mad random but I hope y’all like it. Heed those warnings and enjoyy 😚

on the jukebox: ‘Dark Red’ by Steve Lacy + ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Nina Simone 🍒

It was something about you that Jackson Brooks couldn’t quite understand or put a finger on.

The more he looked at your sleeping figure in his gargantuan hotel bed— that you weren’t supposed to be sleeping in— the more he continued forming questions to ask you eventually.

The more a deep settling feeling hugged on him like a blanket.

Your body shifted on top of his duvet, the hood of your jacket softly exposing your dark, reddish brown coils. You really weren’t supposed to be in his bed, you had your own bed. You knew that.

But he knew that he couldn’t go into your room— privacy reasons. He also didn’t want to wake you up and make you walk to your room. The last time he tried, you got really upset with him.

He vowed to never do it again.

As annoying that it was, it also felt like the more Jackson Brooks looked at you, he realized just how much his job mattered.

He had to protect you, he had to make sure you were safe and in his line of sight at all costs.

You were also really fucking beautiful too. That didn’t help his conflicting feelings either.

blk! fem reader x golden boy cameron cade

Fluff, friends to lovers. just some kisses ᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

୨ৎ

Loud music, smoked dusted walls and people to fill out rooms. And there he was, your best friend, Cameron Cade. The golden boy himself. Everybody thought yall was dating and you both, always denied it. What's the problem with being just friends?

Thats what you would always say.

Friends. Just friends. You didn't see him like that (or so you thought)

You were chilling at some party, a mixture of his friends and yours were there. They were smoking, you weren't, neither was he. You just watched out of boredom. You talked with your friends quietly, some of them talked about him. You lightly pull your hoodie sleeve down, adjusting to the seat. You ate some of your candy that you got from one of the snack corners.

"Well if you like him so much, you go talk to him," You tell your friend.

She laughs quietly while shaking her head, "Nah that's all yours girl" she says nudging you.

"When yall gonna...you know?" She asks smiling. I lightly scoff, the rest of the group laughed.

"Girl please, been his friend for how long? Ion want none of that." You replied, "Not like he can handle me anyways"

"Well girl go test it out then." The teasing continued and you just rolled your eyes. Sure, Cam was sweet on you, but it's because you were his best friend. Years of connection between yall. A few simple hugs, some forehead kisses, it's not what you think.

Cameron was on the other side of house. He would look over, eyeing you from time to time.

"You sure you dont wanna?" One of his friends asked. He removed the blunt from his mouth and passed it over to him. Cameron glanced at the blunt making its way around the circle, watching it pass from hand to hand before it finally reached him. He barely hesitated before shaking his head, leaning back into the couch instead.

“Nah,” he muttered, waving it off.

“C’mon, Cade,” someone groaned, holding it out toward him again. “Just one.”

He huffed a quiet laugh under his breath, running a hand over the back of his neck. “Coach would kill me, bad enough im around all this"

A few of the guys chuckled. “Man, you’re no fun,” another voice said from somewhere across the room. Cameron only smirked, stretching his legs out in front of him as he let the blunt pass to the next person.

“I like winning more,” he said simply. For a moment the conversation drifts, music thumping low through the speakers, someone arguing about last week’s game. Then one of the guys nudges Cameron’s shoe with his own.

“Aight, Mr. Discipline,” he says, squinting at him. “So if you ain’t smoking, why you even here?”

Cameron shrugs, gaze drifting toward the window. “Just came through.”

“Man, stop lying,” another voice cuts in with a laugh. “You only showed up ’cause y/n was supposed to be here.”

Cam stops and a couple of the guys snicker. Cam's head tilts slightly. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you ain’t deny it either,” someone adds. He lets out a quiet breath through his nose, shaking his head a little, but the corner of his mouth lifts. “Y’all talk too much.”

“Yeah, yeah,” the first guy grins. “So what is it with you and her anyway?”

Cameron leans back deeper into the couch, eyes dropping to the floor for a second like he’s thinking about the answer longer than he should. “Nothing,” he says finally. "Same shit I tell yall, just came through"

They let the convo die down, for a bit. On your side, you still heard a little bit of this and that with your friends, but mostly tuned it out. Another topic got brought up, the conversations kept shifting every few minutes. Someone starts talking about classes, another person jumps in complaining about a professor. You hear pieces of it, laughs, someone arguing about a game, a couple people debating where to go after this, but most of it fades into background noise.

You nod when someone looks your way, half-smiling at the right moments, but your mind isn’t really there anymore.

It keeps drifting.

Back toward the couch across the room.

Back toward Cameron.

You don’t mean to look, but your eyes slide over anyway, catching the sight of him leaning back like he always does, calm, relaxed. One arm draped over the couch, while the guys around him talk over each other. He looked like he was trying to get into it, but seemed unbothered by it all.

For a second, you watch him longer than you should, studying the way he laughs at something someone says, or the small shake of his head after.

Then you quickly look away, pretending to focus on the conversation in front of you again.

You could admit he was handsome, too damn handsome. Funny, and smart.

There was this time at his house, he had just gotten off practice. So, being bored you decided to come over. You were sprawled out on his couch in your college hoodie, half listening to him talk about some girl he used to date. Some pretty girl from the dance team, you knew that wasn't gonna last long. He went on about, why it didn't work out, something about her being too busy, or him caring too much about football. It seemed like background noise at first, you've heard it time again and again. But, the more you heard, the more your chest felt tight.

Was it jealously? Couldn't be.

You didn't like him like that you kept repeating to yourself. So why is him talking about another girl bothering you to the bone? Why does it matter who he dates? Why can't you even focus on what he's saying right now? You were staring at him, but weren't even listening.

Unfortuatly, that feeling grew. But all you could do, was suppress it.

You finally remember you're at a party, but your thoughts are already somewhere else. Why am I even here? You already know the answer. It’s stupid, honestly. You told yourself you were just stopping by for a bit, that you weren’t coming to see anyone in particular. But your eyes had found him the second he walked in.

You drag your stare away quickly, pretending to pay attention to the conversation again. Occasionally looking at your short french tips, but the words barely register. All you can think about is the way he’s sitting over there, like nothing’s changed, like he hasn’t noticed you at all.

Maybe that’s what bothers you the most.

You shift in your seat, tugging lightly at the sleeve of your hoodie before finally exhaling under your breath. Hours went. Games and drinking followed. Your head pounded with thoughts.

“I think I’m gonna head home,” you say suddenly.

Your friend glances over. “Already, you ain't been here long"

You shrug, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. I’m kinda tired, all the smoke n stuff."

But the truth is, you just don’t feel like sitting across the room pretending you’re not thinking about him anymore. And before you can second-guess it, you’re already standing up. A couple people glance up when you move, conversations dipping for a second before picking back up again. You tug lightly at the sleeve and step away from the group, weaving through the living room.

You can feel a few eyes following you.

But you don’t slow down. Your gaze is already fixed on the couch across the room, on him.

Cam’s still there, leaning back with the guys. One arm rests along the back of the couch, his head tilted slightly while someone beside him talks. His hair low cut and jaw lightly flexed, clearly not interested in the conversation.

Then he notices you.

His eyes lift, locking onto you as you get closer.

He straightens just a little.

You stop in front of him.

“Hey,” you say, keeping your voice casual.

“Hey,” Cameron replies, brows pulling together slightly like he’s trying to read your expression. "You good?"

You shift your weight. “You mind taking me home?” you ask. “I’m ready to go.” He doesn’t hesitate, as if he was ready to leave himself.

“Yeah,” he says, already leaning forward, grabbing his hoodie from the arm of the couch.

Someone nearby lets out a quiet laugh. “Damn, Cade.”

Cam ignores it, pulling the hoodie over his head before standing up. He glances down at you. “You good?” he asks again.

You nod. “Yeah. Just tired.”

He studies your face for a second like he’s deciding whether to ask more, but then he jerks his head toward the door.

“C’mon.”

And just like that, he’s walking out with you, with no problem. Cam walks out first holding the door open for you. You give a small nod and start walking to his car. “Thanks,” you say, giving a small nod, your hands tucked into your hoodie pockets.

“Anything for you,” he says casually, tilting his head just enough to meet your eyes. That wasn't helping your thoughts. Each one of them getting louder and clearer. He stood taller than you. His tone lightly tired, but there’s that quiet weight behind it that makes your heart skip.

You fall into step beside him, the cool night air brushing past. “Long night,” you mutter, more to yourself than him.

He glances at you, one eyebrow just slightly raised. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you say again, shrugging. “Thought I’d get out before it got later than I already feel.” Cam didn't answer right away. He just keeps walking, silent but aware, like he’s cataloging every little thing about how you move, how you breathe, how you’re holding yourself.

After a moment, he says softly, “Smart.” You glance at him sideways, almost catching the corner of a smirk.

“You’re always so… you know,” you lightly tease.

"Like what?" He asks looking at you.

“Like nothing can shake you.”

He shrugs, opening the door. “Not always” he says. The answer of it makes it feel heavier than just words. You slide into the passenger seat, and he closes the door behind you with a quiet click. The engine hums to life, and suddenly it’s just the two of you. You both sat in silence, the radio played quietly.

But there it was. The feelings swirling over you. The thoughts of him, and you. Together in ways that definitely weren't for just friends. The tension—, the tension that’s been simmering under the surface for years. And you wonder if he ever felt it too. It seemed ridiculous to ask, because you knew how he was, but maybe, just maybe it was different with you. The drive is quiet, the streetlights passing overhead in slow streaks. You’re tucked into the passenger seat, hoodie pulled a little tighter around yourself, while Cameron keeps his eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel.

˖ ᡣ𐭩

He pulls into your driveway. The engine hums low as he kills it, and for a moment, neither of you moves. The quiet is comfortable, but it makes your heart beat faster than usual.

“So…” you start, glancing at him sideways, “what are you gonna do now?”

More of like, "I don't really wanna leave yet"

He shrugs, one corner of his mouth lifting just slightly. “Probably head home. Do practice … or, I dunno, watch something.” You can feel the unspoken tension in the way he looks at you.

You felt like the words spoken were enough, so you reach for the door, pulling the seatbelt free. As you're about to go, he gently lays a hand on your wrist. “Hold up for a second, we gotta talk,” he says, and suddenly there’s a shift in the energy of the car.

"Wassup?" You ask him a lil confused. He leans over just slightly, tilting his head with that quiet, teasing expression he always wears, and taps his cheek gently. Not demanding, but just enough to make it obvious what he wanted.

You blink, then let out a soft laugh, shaking your head a little. “You’re ridiculous, like actually ” you murmur.

“Yeah,” he says, leaning just slightly closer, the corner of his mouth twitching like he’s enjoying himself, “You love me.”

Your chest tightens. “I do not,” you snap softly, though you can’t stop the small smile tugging at your lips.

“Uh-huh, cmon now” he murmurs, voice dropping low, quiet enough that it feels like it’s meant just for you. His hand shifts a fraction on the console between you, brushing close to yours without actually touching, just enough to make your fingers itch to reach for him. You wanted to, but didn't.

You lean in, pressing your lips to his cheek. Soft and cute. Like normal. The sound of your laugh mixes with the quiet night outside. Neither of you moves to leave just yet. You pull back slightly, still smiling, and your eyes meet his. His gaze locks onto yours and for the first time tonight, it feels like all the tension that’s been building between you, has a chance to breathe.

"Happy?" You asks chuckling.

He nods, giving that smile that you like. You bite on your tongue, trying to stop anything wrong from leaving your lips.

Friends. Thats it.

"Why"d you wanna leave?" He asks suddenly.

"Told you, just tired" you replied, hoping he would leave it at that. But he knew you, he knew it was something else.

"Nah, cmon tell me y/n" he asks you again staring. He had a feeling of what it was, but he wanted you to say it. You rolled your eyes lightly, "You know what it is, about us, being friends"

“Friends, huh?” he says, the corner of his mouth pulling into a small smirk. “Just friends?”

“Yeah… friends.” He watches you for a second, quiet like he’s turning the words over in his head. Then he leans a little closer in his seat, not crowding you, just enough that you notice. “Yeah?” he says softly. “That what you call it?”

You stare at him, little caught off. “What else would it be?”

Cam lets out a small breath through his nose, almost amused. “I mean… yeah,” he says. “We are friends.”

You nod, a little surprised he didn’t argue. “But,” he continues, tilting his head slightly, “you and I both know we close.”

Your fingers fidget in your lap. “Friends can be close.”

“Sure,” he says easily. “Ain’t saying they can’t.” His eyes flick over your face again, like he’s catching every little reaction.

“Just feels like lately it’s been… different.”

You look away. “Different how?”

He shrugs one shoulder. “Just different.”

The corner of his mouth lifts again. “And you know what I mean.”

"Well that's not helping is it?" you say rolling your eyes.

But you did know. You’ve felt it too—the small pauses, the looks that last a little longer than they used to, the way sitting next to him suddenly makes you more aware of everything, even the subtle touches with him. But you keep telling yourself it’s nothing. Just friends. But here he was, singing a whole new tune.

“Look,” he says after a moment, voice calm. “I ain’t trying to make it weird or nothing.” Your eyes flick back to him.

“We friends,” he repeats simply. “That’s not changing.” Then he adds, a little quieter, “Just saying… sometimes stuff shifts.”

There’s a short silence.

Then he glances at you again, that easy smirk coming back. “And if I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”

He leans back slightly in his seat after that, like the conversation doesn’t bother him either way, but the way he looks at you says he definitely noticed something. You take in everything, so, clearly he's noticed it too. Way to go y/n for trynna be subtle.

"I dont like you, like that. I could kiss you and id be fine."

You didn't think the words would come out that fast, but they did. You wish you could take them back but they were already out.

Cameron’s eyebrows lift a little, the first real break in his calm expression. “You could what?”

You curse calmly, trying to act normal. “I’m just saying. It wouldn’t mean anything. We’re friends.”

He looks at you for a second, quiet, then the corner of his mouth pulls into a slow smile. “Wouldn’t mean anything, huh?”

You shake your head, staring out the windshield. “Nope.”

“That’s a crazy thing to say,” he mutters.

"Why?”

He shifts back in his seat, one arm resting along the console, still relaxed. “’Cause now I’m tryna figure out if you serious… or just talking.”

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah?” he says, tilting his head slightly.

You nod once. “Yeah.”

He lets out a quiet breath through his nose. “Aight.”

You blink at him. “That’s it?”

Cam glances back at you, calm as ever. “What you want me to do?” he says. “You the one said it wouldn’t mean nothing.”

“I didn’t say you had to do anything.”

He shrugs. “Exactly, and I told you already… I ain’t doing nothing unless you do something.”

The silence after that feels heavier than before.

You look at him for a second too long. He doesn’t move, just watches you like he’s got all the patience in the world.

“You serious?” you mutter.

“Yeah,” he says simply. “Dead serious.”

You hesitate, then lean over before you can think too hard about it.

You glance down to his lips, his mouth in a small smirk.

"Stop smiling" you tell him, he smirks wider. You press your glossy lips to his, kissing him quick.

You pull back fast, sitting straight again like nothing happened.

“See?” you say, trying to sound casual. “Told you.”

For a moment Cameron doesn’t say anything.

“Nothing?” he repeats.

“Yeah.”

He studies your face for a second, quiet again. The car feels smaller somehow. “You sure about that?” he says.

You shrug. “Pretty sure.”

Cameron lets out a small breath through his nose, like he doesn’t believe you for a second. “Aight,” he says again, nodding slowly.

You start to slowly open the door, again. You figured you had embarrassed yourself enough. Perhaps you could distract yourself from this whole day or maybe sleep the feelings off. But, before you can, his hand lightly taps the side of your knee, stopping you. “C’mere a second.”

You glance at him. “Why?”

He tilts his head slightly, that calm look still on his face. “Just come here.”

Your heart starts beating fast, but you lean a little closer. For a moment he just looks at you, like he’s deciding something.

“Yeah,” he murmurs.

“Yeah what?” you ask.

Then he leans in and kisses you. Warm and slow, in a way perfect, giving the smallest bit of attention to your bottom lip. Like he’s actually trying it, instead of proving a point.

When he pulls back, he watches your reaction for a second. You sat there, staring him. He actually kissed you. Not a cheek kiss, not a forehead kiss, but a kiss that you've thought about multiple times. A small part of you felt a small relief and a sudden finally. But the other part shot up fast and went straight to the warmest parts of your body. Your eyes tried focusing on him while your hands fixed to stay in your lap and not pull him close. And he noticed.

“Yeah,” he says casually low. “That definitely wasn't nothing.”

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at you, his eyes dark and questioning. You didn't stop him. You couldn't. You needed this, craved this.

"You want another one?" He asked quiet.

Maybe the smell of his cologne was getting to you, or maybe the taste of his fainted peppermint gum from the kiss. Or maybe how he always cared about you, busting his ass for you like it was no problem.

You liked it. You liked him. You then slowly nod your head at him.

He listened and leaned in again to kiss you. It was gentle. A soft brush, barely there, then gone. Then some more.

Kiss—stop—kiss—stop

Each brush of his lips sent another confirmation to yourself, your mind started to stutter, trying to process the sensation. That familiar sweetness from his gum, felt so intimate. Your own lips tingled, wanting more from him. He watched you the whole time with that calm look in his eyes, as if he knew exactly the chaos he was pouring inside you.

“i don’t wanna fight with you, tryna end my night with you

don’t let your mind get you, i’m tryna vibe with you”

PAIRING senators son!tyriq x black oc!amerie

IN WHICH, the senators handsome, charming son has never had to work hard for anything. especially women. he leaves each one more heartbroken than the last—until amerie.

CASSETTE Make it to the Morning - PND

¡WARNINGS! wc 5.7k ➺ smut smut smut! 18+ MDNI! strong language, alcohol consumption, strong tension, pining (he wants her bad), unprotected car sex (p in v), sub!tyriq, dom/sub switch, sp!t, praise kink, cowgirl, creampie

A/N bout mine IV next i promise!! another tyriq fic for the girls cause i been rewatching veep and it gave me inspiration. i couldn’t stop thinking about it so i had to gone ahead and put my pen to work, and i ate down if i do say so myself 😭 i love writing women like this it’s so invigorating. please let me know what yall thinking! <3 feedback always welcome also, requests are open if there’s anything specific you’d like me to write!

it was supposed to be a normal, easy going night for tyriq.

after he’d spent the entirety of his afternoon faking wide smiles, laughing at jokes that weren’t even remotely funny, and generally being his mothers show horse in an effort to appease her congressman friends, he needed a moment of relief.

so imagine how easy it was for him to get out of the presidential suite and down to the bar.

he expected it to consist of the usual. too many drinks, dirty dancing with beautiful women whose names were never important enough to remember once he crossed state lines (one of which would end up in his bed by the end of it all, two if he’s feeling lucky), and explicit pictures that would be the talk of the internet by morning, undoubtedly pissing his mother off. the goal.

of course things don’t always go as planned. sometimes, you fly a little too close to the sun.

except this sun in question has a name,

amerie.

a goddess. an angel, even. but most importantly

his ruin.

amerie isn’t sure why she let her friend convince her to come bar hopping. it’s never been her scene, especially tonight. she didn’t want to be in the same room as anyone important, but it would be damn near impossible not to considering the congressional hearing first thing tomorrow morning.

“i don’t know why i let you drag me out.” she mutters, fidgeting with the strap of her purse as they walk the pavement, inching closer to the building

her best friend, mecca, waves her off with an unbothered laugh “because you been glued to that desk for weeks. and please don’t start! ain’t nobody worried about congress in here amerie.”

she shoots her a look

“saying that like the city isn’t crawling with people who literally know faces and names for a living”

and it’s true. foreign diplomats, politicians, attorneys, lobbyists, journalists trying to blend in with the crowd, itching for a slip up. anyone who means anything. anyone who could easily recognize her and spin a night out into a headline.

and her boss would kill her if she did anything to jeopardize her run for senator.

she’d been very clear when she brought her on as her director of communications:

“i’m trusting you with one of if not the most important thing in this line of work: my image. you’re part of my team now, therefore everything you do, everything you say, every mistake—no matter how small—reflects back on me. and you know how badly they want to be ‘right’ about jasmine crockett, so don’t disappoint me.”

but alas, here they are. stilettos clicking rhythmically against the marble floor as they move in tandem through the hotel lobby like they own it, heads turning and jaws dropping in their wake.

nothing they aren’t used to.

“see? the ambience is so nice here,” mecca’s head swivels around the place in awe, still trying to convince her with a bright, coaxing smile “it’s not a regular bar” she adds, and amerie huffs “yeah, that’s exactly my point.”

warm lighting, dark, polished wood, stone walls that curve around the edges and soft jazz humming into the air from the stage perched in the center beneath the sharp sound of glasses clinking. not to mention, it’s packed.

her eyes immediately travel through the room out of habit. cataloging faces, placing names on them.

“mm mm,” she slows her pace “i told you it would be way too many people in here” mecca loops their arms together and keeps her stride, dragging her further “girl everybody minding their business. stop worrying so much”

“colonel sanders in the corner just broke his neck twice looking this way.” she objects and mecca sucks her teeth “because you look good as fuck” she retorts in an obvious tone

the two slide into stools next to each other and the bartender approaches almost immediately.

“what can i get started for you lovely ladies?” he tosses glances back and forth, mecca turns to look at amerie who’s already looking at her

“nothing crazy. you know i gotta be up early tomorrow” she warns, mecca rolls her eyes “this is why you needed to come” she turns back to the blonde man “we’ll have two margaritas, and two lemon drop shots, please” she smiles innocently

“mecca! i said nothing crazy!” she shoves her arm lightly “it’s not crazy. a little dangerous? maybe” she can’t help but giggle at her

she shakes her head, still smiling, intertwining her fingers and placing her hands neatly atop the bar. scanning the room.

again.

“i swear if i see one fucking press badge I’m leaving.” she grumbles “calm down, you not on the clock right now” mecca reasons

as if on cue the bartender comes back with their drinks in hand and slides them across the counter

“cheers to being a badass comms director by day, and that girl by night” she raises the shot glass “and to nobody asking me about talking points for the next ten hours” they let their glasses touch and drop them onto the bar top before tossing them back

she exhales, shoulders less tense than they were just a second ago. trying not to let her nerves consume her, because despite how annoying it is, mecca’s right about her needing a break from work.

she adjusts in her seat a little and plays at the honey blonde blowout cascading past her shoulders, twirling and flitting the ends to her liking, and pulls her phone out to admire herself in the camera. snapping a few pictures in the process

and then, she feels it. staring.

now her head is on a swivel, as she knows it should have been from the start.

“miss?” the bartender comes back, a distraction from the frantic search for the pair of eyes that are seemingly glued to her “yes?” she asks without looking at him “for you”

“oop.” mecca chirps

she turns slightly, eyebrows furrowing as he slides a dirty martini over the bar toward her. the olive skewer more patronizing than usual

“from the gentleman over there”

she follows his line of sight and freezes when she sees who’s looking back at her. she recognizes him instantly. how couldn’t she? he made headlines for something new every other week, and truthfully she was starting to think it’s intentional.

politicians’ kids tend to do that.

but he isn’t just any politicians kid. he’s senator withers’—the markswoman who doesn’t take shit from anyone. except her son, apparently.

“oh bitch, he’s fine” mecca gasps under her breath “and he cannot take his eyes off of you”

“well he needs to” she retorts “he’s trouble. i don’t want any parts”

he’s super handsome, though. she’ll give him that.

sandy brown hair styled in a way that suits his face shape perfectly, a little muscle on his arms beneath the black blazer, long legs outstretched in perfectly tailored slacks beneath the table he’s sitting at, fingers fidgeting with his cuff link, and a smirk playing on his pink lips.

he’s at a good distance from the bar. far enough to pretend it isn’t intentional, but close enough that she can see the way his blue-green eyes drag unapologetically up and down her body. slow. deliberate. hungry

he’s daring her to take the bait, and she can tell by how relaxed he is that this usually works for him.

but she’s far too smart.

she finally breaks free from his gaze and turns back to her drink, bringing the straw to her lips and taking a more than generous swig of the fruity concoction. making a point to ignore mecca burning a hole in the side of her face.

“this is exactly why i didn’t want to come!” she whisper yells “what are the odds that a fucking senators son is here? and trying to get in my pants?!” she gulps down another heap of the slush to drown out the feeling of her pulse beating against her skin.

meccas biting her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing out loud, but the shake of her shoulders is evidence enough

“please relax, nobody knows what you do” she reasons “it doesn’t matter, mecca. all it takes is one picture, one rumor”

mecca opens her mouth to respond but closes it just as quick, gaze slipping past her head

“um, he’s standing up.” she whispers a warning, inducing panic into amerie. “what? stop.” “girl im not joking, he’s coming this way”

she curses under her breath and angles her body more toward mecca, hoping that he gets the hint and stops his advance, but men like him never do. something about the chase entices them

she then hears the soft scrape of the stool beside her being pulled out from under the bar, and a heavy presence follows. he doesn’t say anything yet, just lingers. letting her know that he’s there

mecca brings her cup to her mouth with wide eyes. the silence in this corner of the room is extremely loud

until,

“i’m guessing you don’t like your martinis dirty?”

his smooth, sultry voice cuts through the quiet, clearly amused

she releases a steady breath before she turns to face him

and my god he’s breathtaking up close.

she hates that it’s the first thing that comes to her mind when her eyes meet his, but she isn’t blind. just careful

“i’m a little preoccupied.” she corrects “but thanks anyway” she tightly smiles and he chuckles with a slight nod “too ‘preoccupied’ to help me put a name to the beautiful woman in front of me?” he pushes, his first attempt at charming her

she sets her cup down firmly on the bar in front of her, never breaking eye contact, “yes, exactly.” her tone is so sweet it could’ve passed as a compliment.

“wow. i can’t at least get a fake name?” he says rhetorically “tyriq” his hand is outstretched now, patiently waiting for her to follow suit

she doesn’t.

instead, she lets her eyes drop to his large, veiny hand and back up to him just as quick

“not interested.” she says with a smile and an explosion of laughter leaves mecca.

he retracts slowly. but there’s a slight glint in his eyes. like he’s entertained, and just getting started.

he drags his gaze over her again, a smirk tugging at his lips before he huffs a laugh

“a straight shooter. i can respect it”

she tilts her head at the man, “glad we’re on the same page, then.”

mecca’s still laughing at the interaction beside her, head tossed back and shoulders bouncing, “girl,” she says in between giggles “why you doing him like that?”

amerie doesn’t look away from him, if anything, the eye contact gets even more intense

“because he looks like needs it.” she smiles again, practiced and polite. the way she trained herself.

he grins at that, teeth catching his bottom lip for a moment before he releases it “you sure?” he asks “you don’t even know why i came over here” he leans back into the stool, stretching an arm across his chest, with the other hand resting on his cheek as he studies her, really studies her. like he’s fully decided she’s something that needs figuring out.

“i know that you expect this to end with me in your bed” she insists, manicured fingers tapping rhythmically atop the bar

he laughs quietly and shakes his head at her in awe “damn, you don’t miss” her lips curve into a smirk “never.”

a moment of silence passes. lingering stares, unspoken words. and then he straightens in his seat before speaking again, his expression turning more intentional than playful. calculating his next move

probably because he sees it wouldn’t be as easy as he initially thought.

“give me five minutes.” he says finally “just five, let me prove you wrong”

she scoffs and reaches for the stem of her glass

“you’d be lucky if you got one.”

mecca chokes back a laugh at that, meanwhile tyriq just smiles even wider. like that just made his want even worse

“two then” he retracts his initial offer which earns a soft laugh from amerie. she finally breaks the unfaltering eye contact to take a sip of her drink, “you’re persistent.”

“nah, i’m patient” he corrects “when it’s worth it” he says pointedly. she doesn’t respond, but she fights the smile curving around her straw

mecca hums loudly

“i’m about to go find me a table,” she announces which earns a panicked look from amerie “i can tell this about to turn into a .. moment” she slides off of her stool, and grabs her clutch

“mecca-

“i’ll be right over here. yell if you need me” she says with a wink before disappearing into the crowd of bodies, quicker than amerie can object, leaving them both in their own little tension-filled bubble.

after placing his cup back onto the bar he extends his arm to slip the sleeve of his blazer down a bit, glancing at his watch

“one minute and thirty seconds left” he announces with a smirk. she looks at him now, intensely, more intrigued by him than she’d like to admit

“amerie.” she offers finally.

he nods, satisfied, like everything clicks instantly with the sound of her name “amerie” he repeats as if he’s trying to burn it into his memory “fits you perfectly”

“saying that like you know me.” she scoffs, his eyes catch hers again, blue-green irises burning even hotter than before “i feel like i kind of do.” he says through a chuckle

“i can say the same about you.” she shoots back “wouldn’t be any good at my job if i didn’t.” she adds

“oh yeah? and what job would that be, amerie?” his voice dips, almost purring “the kind where this— she points between them “could get me in trouble.”

that peaks his interest. his smile shifts into something more serious, like she said the magic word

which, she probably did.

“trouble, huh?” he repeats with raised brows “sounds interesting” he swivels in the chair, knees angled toward her now, tracing his finger along the rim of his almost empty glass.

“i’m sure it does. seems like your thing” she says and he hums a response, bringing the cup to his mouth to finish it off

her eyes are following before she can stop them. studying the way his lips latch onto the glass

she gulps, “forty five seconds.”

he swallows the remnants of his drink and runs his tongue over his bottom lip, deliberately, she noticed “since we’re figuring eachother out,” he leans in a little closer, knee slightly brushing against hers beneath the surface “what else can you tell me about myself?”

she watches his eyes drop to her mouth for a split second before flicking back to hers which sends heat crawling up her neck.

she clears her throat, “fine. i’ll bite.” she shrugs

“congresswoman’s son. which means you didn’t get much attention growing up, so you look for it everywhere else— women, mostly,” she tilts her head “and you like making headlines because you know it gets under her skin.”

her eyes narrow during the pause, “did i miss anything?”

he’s chuckling lowly, shaking his head like she just said something cute. but she knows better.

“damn,” he says evenly “sounds like you practiced that. i feel special” a smile curves at his lips but his jaw twitches for a moment, not long. just enough to let her know that she hit a button.

he then leans back into the chair and lets both arms spread along the backrest, ego practically oozing out of him

“went straight for the kill” he adds

he straightens in his seat now, sharpening his interest back to her, searching her face, tracing every inch.

“but since we’re being honest..” his voice dips into something dangerous “my turn”

“hm.” she hums “fifteen seconds.” she smirks “that’s more than enough.” he shoots back

“you’re a listener, you let other people do the talking. makes it easier for you to assess them,” he glances down at her hands “tasking job. high pressure, i’m assuming? probably something like public relations, which explains why you’ve been looking around the room every five minutes from the moment you walked in,” her lip twitches at that. he’s been watching her since she walked in?

“it’s also why know so much about me.” he smiles at himself “smart enough to know i’m trouble, but curious enough to indulge anyway.”

silence falls over the two again. she doesn’t move, doesn’t blink.

he then tilts his head, studying her back, “did i miss anything, amerie?”

“times up.” she says simply

the hum of the room fills the air between them. loud chatter and glass serving as a buffer she didn’t know she would need.

despite every single instinct telling her to get up and go, to leave him sitting here with nothing but her name, she doesn’t. even knowing how risky it all is. it’s like she’s glued to her seat.

at least that’s what she’ll keep telling herself.

he doesn’t say anything, but he’s watching her. waiting for her next move. she sips quietly at the remainder of her margarita, avoiding his eyes and the heat sweeping across her cheeks.

he lets his eyes wander down to her chest, and then down the rest of her curvy frame being hugged just right in the black dress. he can’t help the smile creeping onto his face

and then, she catches him

“jeez, like what you see?” she leans back into her stool, hands folded neatly in her lap. his eyes stagger at her waist for a moment before snapping back up to hers “you know i do,” he responds easily “you’re still sitting here after calling time, and you’re not the type of woman to linger if you’re not even the least bit interested, so i know you do too.” he insists which earns an eye-roll from her

she couldn’t deny it if she tried.

“don’t flatter yourself. also, you were watching me as soon as i came in?” she asks softly, the corner of her mouth betrays her “look at you. how could i not?”

“hm. cute.” she’s still smirking

her skin is humming under his gaze. chest tightening as she attempts to fight off the temptation beginning to wash over her, she can’t do this, can she?

she hates constantly having to worry about her job, but it’s what she signed up for. and still, somehow, she ends up sliding out of her stool, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. but she doesn’t leave yet. not before she tosses a glance back at the man watching her hips move as she switches away

“you coming?”

amerie shoots mecca a quick text to update her as they exit the bustling building, hands stiff from the cold air as the door slides shut behind them

and of course, mecca responds,

mecca

told you!

then a moment later

mecca

have fun 🤭

“i have a suite here,” he speaks up as they inch further away from the glow of the hotel’s entrance “we could’ve just gone upstairs”

she scoffs, breath turning to fog between them “of course you do. i just didn’t want to give you a false sense of authority”

he chuckles lowly at that.

they walk in silence for a little, passing glances back and forth, the only sound cutting in being the low growl of nonstop traffic moving around them along the busy street. as soon as they get to the end of the pavement, right before the curb, she stops abruptly, almost sending him stumbling into her

“let’s set some things straight, ‘kay?” she says sharply, turning to face him. he stuffs his hands into the pockets of his pants and nods, taking his bottom lip into his mouth as he stares down at her

“first, this isn’t a ‘win’ for you. this is mutual. i don’t get cornered, or hunted” she says and he smirks “understood.” his eyes flicker over her frame, barely listening to a word she’s saying because she looks so good bossing him around,

“second, no touching” she says firmly “not here. not yet.” that gets an eyebrow raise out of him “yet” he repeats quietly to himself

“and lastly, whatever happens, there won’t be any follow ups. no questions about my social media, my personal life, my job. this is it. got me?” she asks, eyes searching his for mutuality

there isn’t any, and she can tell this is the last thing he expected from her. but she doesn’t care. she has her rules for a reason

a long moment of silence passes before he exhales slowly, shaking his head a bit

“damn, do you always negotiate like this?”

“that’s none of your business. again, do you got me?” his jaw tightens which kind of satisfies her, “yes, i got you.” he says quietly

“good. let’s go” she says sweetly

as soon as they make it into the dimly lit parking garage she retrieves her keys from her purse, slowing her pace once they get closer to the black escalade

“this yours? let me find out you got kids at home, amerie” he jokes, she cuts him a look but playfully rolls her eyes “breaking rules already i see” she fights back a smile

they both climb into the backseat of the truck and once she closes the door behind herself she immediately bends down to take her heels off, tucking the hair that’s falling into her face behind her ears

he doesn’t waste any time either. as soon as she leans back into her seat, she’s his.

he slides into the middle, reaching over her and pulling her into his lap by her waist. her dress rises to her hips, and her pulse is drumming in her chest

for some reason she feels her nerves begin to swell now, even though she initiated it to this point, something about the way his gaze unravels her. and she hates that she loves it.

he stares at her for a little while longer, waiting to see if she’ll make the next move, and when she doesn’t he decides to take the lead.

"come here" he whispers desperately, placing a hand around her neck and bringing her face to his. he traces a thumb over her bottom lip, colored eyes picking her apart the longer he stares, and then gently presses their lips together as if he wants to savor every second

the kiss heats up quickly, both of them breathing heavy and feeling all over one another, tongues sliding in and out of each other’s mouths as their lips move together

he breaks away, "let me taste you." he murmurs breathlessly against her, shutting his eyes and holding his mouth ajar

she obliges without question and pools saliva between her cheeks, hovering over him and slowly emitting the string of drool into his mouth

the heat between her legs turns into a sticky mess at the sight of him below her. his cheeks flushed. needy. desperate.

he moans lowly, face contorting with pleasure as he catches the rest with his tongue before tilting his head to one side and resuming the messy, hungry kiss

they make out sloppily, fighting for the upper hand, but she doesn’t have any intention of losing. she has one hand cradling his head and the other resting at the nape of his neck, sliding her tongue further into his wet, warm mouth than it already is

he releases a shaky breath through his nose and digs his fingers into the soft flesh of her thighs, tracing along the stretch marks etched into her skin, then gently glides up her bodice, finger tips slipping beneath the hem and slowly riding the little black dress dress up her toned back

he doesn’t hesitate to break the kiss before settling further back into the seat, eyes dropping from her angelic face to the exposed skin of her torso, down to her legs as she straddles his waist. he’s been feigning to see her frame beneath that dress all night.

her hips curve perfectly into the thickness of her thighs, ass sitting plump in his lap, and the belly piercing she usually tries to hide beneath her dress shirts and sweaters dangles freely against her smooth, brown skin. cherry gemstones adding to the perfectness of her body

“fuck.” he whispers, eyes wide “you hide all this under pant suits?” he’s looking up at her in awe, genuinely searching her face for the answer and she sputters a laugh “shut up.” she grabs his shirt and pulls him back in for more, lips smacking and strings of saliva traveling between them each time they retract

his fingers slide into her honey blonde hair, grabbing a fistful to deepen the kiss more than it already is while his free hand is traveling along her thigh, up her hip and planting at her waist, bringing her down harder onto the bulge in his pants

he grunts, “so beautiful” he murmurs into her mouth, grinding himself into her from below “never wanted someone this bad” he sighs

she whimpers at the feeling of his thick dick print rubbing against her clit through her dampened panties, pressing a hand against his solid chest to steady herself. they continue to kiss and he sucks and bites at her bottom lip, bringing his hands to her ass and cupping both cheeks, still winding his pelvis into hers, the friction sending what feels like fire through her body

she breaks away, “take this off” she demands as she fumbles with the hem of his shirt and he helps her get it over his head, his chiseled abs and tone body coming into view, sending a second pulse to her pussy

pulling the remaining half of her dress up her arms and tossing it into the seat next to them, he brings both hands to her perfect breasts, taking his bottom lip between his teeth as he kneads them together in the black bombshell bra she’s wearing before sliding both straps down her shoulders

he leans in, taking one into his mouth at a time, circling each nipple with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth, and gently grazing at her nipples as he releases, she tosses her head back, an exasperated sigh leaves her mouth at the sensation, and his low moans vibrating against her skin makes her shudder

he slides a hand down to her center and into the seat of her panties, jaw dropping from how slippery she is, “drenching the fuck out of my fingers" he sighs into her chest, breathing picking up "i need to feel you" he quickly lifts her from his lap and undoes the belt around his slacks, rising a bit to pull them down to his ankles along with the briefs

he looks up at her and uses his free hand to thumb the string of her panties to the side, too impatient to even wait for her to take them completely off, lifting her from beneath her thighs and steadying himself at her entrance

"wait" she holds his gaze and he pauses "i got it."

she then reaches down and takes his pretty brown dick into her french-tipped fingers, rubbing over his tip with her thumb, precum dripping down his shaft. he curses under his breath at the action, face full of frustration and angst

she slowly brings herself down onto his length, and his whole body jerks. he sighs, tossing his head back into the headrest but she grabs at his jaw forcing his eyes back to hers "don't you dare look away from me, you wanted this" she says against his parted lips, his body shudders again

he nods slowly, “okay” his eyes never move from hers, he brings his large hands to her thighs and slowly grinds himself into the tight, wetness of her entrance from below, matching her rhythm and pace, trying not to cum too quick

"mhm, just like that,” she purrs, “you’re doing so good, baby" she whispers, pushing forward on her knees as she winds her hips up and down his member, meeting him halfway

"so fucking tight" he says breathily before nuzzling his lips into her neck, sending shivers through her body “kiss me, please” he whimpers, she looks down on him and his eyes are full of nothing but desire and desperation

it turns her on completely.

she cups his face into her hands and attacks his lips, moving their mouths together slowly, lips smacking upon release, botch moaning softly into each other

he slides his arms up her back, planting his hands on her shoulders from behind and lifts himself up from the seat using the muscles in his legs to anchor himself to the car floor and hold them both up midair as he digs deeper into her sticky, dripping pussy, the squelching and squishing of their juices mixing sounds like the most perfect song.

“fuck you feel so good” he breaks the kiss with a low, throaty moan “making a mess all over me” he grinds deep and slow, their combined juices sticky, lapping his pelvis on impact. his mouth falls agape as he slides in and out of her warmth

"oh my- tyriq wait- she yelps and grabs ahold of the headrest behind him, her acrylics scratching at the fabric, toes curling, heat building in the pit of her stomach. “take it, baby. you can do it” he whispers, fingers digging into the skin of her back

her moans are uncontrollable now, tearing through her throat with almost every stroke

he then slides a hand down to her ass cheek, grabbing a handful as he lifts and drops her onto him

“shit” she gasps sharply, eyes fluttering shut, and her head falls lazily to his shoulder, but he entangles his large fingers into her pressed hair and yanks her back, bringing her forehead to his and thrusting even deeper into her pussy,

“look at me, pretty girl, i got you” he whispers against her lips and drops her ass harder onto his pelvis, eyes never leaving hers, faces so close together that he’s inhaling her moans “mhm, give me all of this pussy” he grunts

he eases them back down to the seat still grinding deeper, harder, faster as he inches them both closer to the finish line

“f-fuck i’m about to- a moan escapes him before he can finish his words “not yet baby, wait for me,” she breathes, bringing her lips back to his

she matches his pace, leveling her knees on either side of him, bouncing up and down to catch him with each thrust,

“you wanna cum in me? hmm?” she purrs into the kiss, and his eyes flutter shut “y-yes baby” he stutters, breathing ragged. she traces her lips along his jaw as she lowers herself to his ear “beg for it.” she whispers, bringing herself down on him harder, taking every inch, electricity knotting her gut

he plants his fingers on her thighs as he continues to pound roughly into her, “please let me nut in this pussy” his eyes hold hers with desperation laced into each word, “please, amerie” he whimpers her name, thrusts stuttering, but she doesn’t stop, she brings herself all the way down onto him, and he tightens his eyes shut

“mhm, good boy. nut all in your pussy. it’s all yours”

he curses under his breath and she feels him begin to throb inside of her, the muscles in his abs spasm as he slows his thrusts

he brings a hand firmly to her waist to hold her down on his length as he thrusts sloppily, “nngghh— don’t fucking move,” he chokes out a moan “stay right here” he wraps a hand around her neck and connects their mouths as he finishes inside of her sticky walls, his body seizing and a guttural moan tears from his throat into the kiss, she comes right behind him

her core begins to twist and tighten with warmth, and then, the knot in her stomach snaps and a wave crashes over her entire body

“shit, shit shit, tyriq, i’m cumming— she squeaks, eyes tightened shut. her legs tremble as her body jerks and seizes before she can register the orgasm, she moans loudly “get your nut baby, you deserve it” he says breathlessly as her juices and his spill all over them both, dripping down her thighs onto his stomach and pelvis

neither of them talk for a while, he’s holding onto her long after they finish.

still inside of her.

he lays his head on her bare chest with his arms wrapped around her torso, rubbing circles into the small of her back with his thumb

she stops running her fingers through his hair and pulls back

“tyriq..” she says softly, “it’s late, we should call it” he looks up at her and sighs heavily, unraveling his arms from around her and leaning back into the seat, eyes glued to hers “why? do you have somewhere else to be?” he asks with furrowed brows which earns a smirk from her “no, not that it’s any of your concern.” she climbs off of his lap and he hisses

he runs a hand along her thigh as she moves into the seat next to him, collecting her bra and dress

“so..when can i see you agai— “don’t.” she cuts in with narrowed eyes “what did i say before this?” he sucks his teeth and bends to snatch his briefs and slacks back up to his waist, the sharp clinking of his belt buckle cutting through the charged silence between them

“just saying, the city isn’t big enough for you to pretend i don’t exist.” he grumbles as he pulls his shirt over his head “why not? i’m sure you do it all the time.” she says pointedly. he pauses from putting his blazer on and shoots her a look “so that’s what this was? you proving a point?” he asks in disbelief

“no this was both of us getting what we wanted. why are you tripping? don’t ruin it.” she shoots back. he doesn’t respond, just shakes his head and smiles unbelievably, jaw clenched “i’ll be seeing you, amerie.” he says her name slowly, but snidely before popping the door open and climbing out, slamming it behind himself.

a smile creeps onto her face.

did she just get him, the known playboy, to crack? and why does it feel so good?

whatever the case, it can’t happen again. this was a one off, and that’s all it needs to be.

“ i got more than a thing for you, tattoo with the ink for you

right over my heart girl i’ll do the unthinkable. ”

PAIRING brothers bestfriend!tyriq withers x black fem!reader

IN WHICH, you and your brother’s funny, down to earth best friend have secretly been dating for a few months, and he finally works up the courage to make it official.

CASSETTE Unthinkable - Alicia Keys & Drake

¡WARNINGS! cuteness overload

A/N short & sweet! didn’t do really any editing to this, been sitting on the idea for a while and it turned out so much better than i imagined 😭💞 ugh i love love

you land light as a feather.

wide smile, limbs on fire, chest rising and falling quickly as you hold your final pose beneath the stage light that beams down on your mark.

exuberant cheering erupts and the constant blaring of the air horn you warned your family not to bring echoes off of the theater's walls. you lower yourself into a graceful bow, a cascade of flowers being tossed at your feet

you've danced this routine a million times, but tonight feels different. tonight you're finally being rewarded for all of your hard work. the long hours, early mornings. your skin hums with joy and fulfillment, you couldn't be happier.

after exiting the stage you make your way back to the shared dressing room, sending warm smiles and thanks to everyone who congratulates you on your performance in passing.

"there she is! ohhh i'm so proud of you, baby girl!" your mother darts toward you first with tear-filled eyes, taking you into her arms tightly despite the huge bundle of roses she's holding

and then your dad "you did amazing up there sweetheart. your mama hasn't stopped crying since you stepped on that stage" he chuckles some

"thank you mommy and daddy," you smile sheepishly as you take the flowers from her grasp, and then you narrow your eyes at them, "now what did i tell y'all about that horn?!"

they immediately begin placing blame, pointing and talking over each other which earns a giggle from you.

your older brother isn't too far behind, and your stomach flutters at the sight of his longtime friend tyriq beside him. both smiling wide, arms outstretched.

you were under the impression that he couldn't make it tonight due to filming late but alas, here he is. holding a bouquet of lilies (your favorite) and a small box of your favorite chocolates.

"aw, y'all came!" you beam, hugging them both

"duh" your brother says through a chuckle "proud of you, big head" he playfully nudges your head upon release, placing the lei decorated with bills and candy around your neck

you lean into tyriq next

fingers curling into the leather of his jacket, trying to stay in his embrace as long as you can with everyone watching

"you did so good, mama" his velvety voice muffled into your shoulder, low enough that it only reaches you "congratulations"

he thumbs a gentle circle into your waist through the fabric of your forma wrap as he retracts, eyes lingering longer than they should, full of words that have to go unspoken for the time being. you turn your head to hide the blush

"thank you guys, i didn't think you would make it" you say pointedly, mostly to tyriq, "well yeah that's why it's called a 'surprise'" your brother jokes and you suck your teeth before hitting him over the head with the bouquet "shut up, dummy" the three of you laugh amongst each other, just like old times.

meanwhile, tyriq's eyes don't leave you for a second and neither does his wide smile.

he's beyond proud of you. he knows firsthand how hard you've been working, picked you up when you were down, spoke life into you when you were so close to giving up.

and then to see you twirling and dancing so elegantly across the stage like you owned it, looking as enchanting as ever in the baby pink set that compliments your brown skin perfectly.

it makes his heart beat even more for you.

and he knows it's time to do something about it.

you're laid sprawled out on the futon that sits in the corner of your room, scrolling mindlessly on tiktok when a text slides into the screen.

ty 🫶🏾

are u busy?

you

i am not

ty 🫶🏾

come down please?

you peek outside of the sheer curtains on your bedroom window, humming to yourself, watching him climb out of the drivers side of the platinum grey jetta s fumbling with something that looks like a ribbon

you meet him downstairs as he asked, eyes narrowed with curiosity as he inches toward you with his hands behind his back and a playful grin on his face

"you trust me?"

"boy where are you taking me ?" you say through a mouthful of giggles, holding your hands out in front of you, feeling around for any signs that you may need to brace yourself "i'm gonna be so mad if i fall, ty"

"relax, it's okay, i got you" he chuckles warmly, "we almost there i promise" the grip he has on your shoulders tightens a bit

you shuffle a few more steps and he finally removes the cloth from its place over your eyes,

you're met with the most beautiful view.

the ocean in front of you, the sunset stretched across the sky in the prettiest shades of yellow and pink, and then you see a blanket laid out with a spread of finger foods, neatly wrapped gift boxes, flowers and tiny easels with paint waiting

you gasp, eyes widened at the sight

"oh my gosh, tyriq, are you serious?! i-i don't even know what to say" you breathe out, "this is beautiful" you laugh, stunned at the thought he's put into the display. the sound of the waves lapping at the shore mere feet away calms the nerves that begin to swell

you turn a bit to look up at him, and of course he's already staring down at you, that beautiful dimpled smile and perfect teeth, with nothing but stars in his blue eyes

"i know how crazy the last few months been, and i know that we gotta be .. careful" he says quietly, "but i wanna celebrate you. no sneaking, no hiding. just us." he takes a hold of your hand "you deserve it"

your lip trembles at the words, eyes glossy

of all the guys that have courted you, he's the only one who has ever made you feel this way. so wanted. like you're the only girl in the world. even with all of the complications that come with it

"tyriq," you pout "i can't believe you did all of this" you say, still breathless "you better believe it boo" he says in a mock woman's voice with a snap of his fingers and you burst into a laughing fit "you're so annoying!" he joins in as well, pulling you by your arms into his embrace, swaying as he holds you "nah but for real, it's nobody else i'd want to do this with" he rests his chin on your head

nothing but the sounds of the beach cuts through the silence that’s fallen over the two of you. you just stand here, holding eachother, not wanting to let go because you know moments like this have been scarce.

but after a while, the both of you retract

"now come on so i can kick your ass at this painting game" he plants a kiss on your cheek and intertwines your fingers with his, you scoff playfully, following his lead to the blanket 

warmness courses through your body and a seemingly permanent smile graces your face.

to see how far things have come since the day that started everything, the day your date stood you up outside of the movie theater and you just so happened to run into tyriq who sat in with you instead, it makes you feel like you’re doing something right.

your brother will just have to understand.

everything was amazing. he snapped pictures with his polaroid as you went through the gifts, capturing your reaction to each one, and by the time you were done opening all of them your cheeks were stained with tears.

now, the both of you are heading to the pier in a comfortable silence, enjoying the scenery. he has an arm draped over your shoulder

and then your eyebrows furrow once you notice that you’re not heading to the pier at all, you’re in the parking lot

“i thought we were going to the pier?” you look up at him, confusion all over your face. “i gotta grab something from the car real quick” he says casually, smirking

you narrow your eyes at him, “you’re acting weird.” you stifle a laugh “me? never” he chuckles too

once you inch closer to the car he releases the hold he has on you and hurriedly retrieves his keys from his pocket before jogging ahead and swinging the passenger door open

“ladies first.” he motions to the seat, and when you lean in—

you freeze.

there’s a small sign sitting on the seat, along with a bouquet of pink roses. your heart beats faster with each word

“Can I Be Your Boyfriend ‘Perchance’?”

a laugh that turns into a gasp explodes from your mouth, your eyes softening and a hand flies to your heart as if to slow its pace

“no way” you say breathlessly, turning to look at him. his hands find his pockets, a sheepish grin on his face “we’ve been sneaking around for a while, and i know how complicated this— he gestures back and forth between you “is, but being with you is so easy. you mean so much to me, girl, and it scares me to feel this way, to know that it’s no going back, but i’m tired of not being able to call you mine. ”

you’re smiling so wide it almost hurts.

“you did all of this today to ask me, tyriq?” he steps around the door toward you, eyes never leaving yours “i couldn’t half step. not with you”

you don’t respond, just bring him in by the strings of his hoodie, planting a kiss on his lips