paint the town red.

Kit was incapable of putting up any kind of fight when it came to Azra Demirci—she'd always been the one thing he couldn't say no to, right up there with a goddamn bull begging him to ride it. Maybe it made sense to some people, the way he chased things he could never fully have and got bored with the ones that were easy to come by, but it never clicked into place for Kit. All he knew was that Azra could ask him to climb a ladder up to write her name on the damn moon and he'd do it without thinking twice. His gaze followed the fabric of her dress down her body before working its way back up her body, a devilish grin on his face as soon as he landed on her eyes. "Might know a thing or two about fixin' your mood," he replied as he took a step closer.

Kit didn't care where they were, or who could potentially waltz in through the tent's flap. All he cared about was that Azra had started something and Kit wanted to finish it. When she asked him to hand her shirt to her, Kit shook his head back and forth as his only response. He didn't need to say a word to get his point across before he was pressing his lips to her neck, hands lifting her up onto the small desk behind her. Lowering his head, Kit peppered the skin of her collarbone and chest with gentle kisses before he pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes as he knelt down before her. Kit pressed a kiss just below her navel before resting his chin in the same spot. "Nice thong," he teased before hooking his fingers around the fabric of her thong on either side of her hips and pulling it downward. "It's even nicer when it's not in my way." Once she was free of it, Kit lifted one of her knees over his shoulder and ran his lips slowly along the inside of her thigh before finding his target.

#ft. kit mcgrady.#kit mcgrady 002.#event. peach festival.#nsfw tw

Azra smirked, her head giving a small nod in agreement. He knew more than just a thing or two, and she figured that had become quite obvious over time. As he shook his head, refusing to hand her her shirt, Azra felt her pulse begin to quicken, so much so that she felt confident he could probably hear the erratic beat himself if he got close enough. She knew she’d started something, and had even given him an out– one that he hadn’t taken. A soft sound of approval hummed in the back of her throat as his lips found her neck. She didn’t protest, allowing him to reposition her onto the edge of the desk. A rush of adrenaline surged through her, raising goosebumps along her skin and sending a rush of color into her cheeks. What the fuck were they doing? It was the only resounding thought in her brain as he trailed kisses down her body like they couldn’t be walked in on at any given moment. “What are you doing?” She breathed, like it wasn’t fucking obvious the second he was kneeling before her. There wasn’t even a hint of a complaint in her question though– how could there be? Hands gripped the edges of the table like it was a lifeline, grounding her there in the moment as she watched him kiss his way up her thigh, and then finally, reach her core. “Holy shit,” she let out on a sound that was equal parts gasp and moan as her back arched, leaning that much more into whatever madness his mouth was unleashing on her. Using her right to keep a much needed grip on the table, her left hand twisted in his curls, keeping him anchored where he was. For however quiet she’d planned on being, all of that flew out the window as a moan flew out of her mouth, entirely unbidden. Her heel dug into his back as she tipped her hips upward, giving him more access to her. “Fuck– right there,” Azra managed, hips rolling against his mouth even as her legs began to tremble in the wake of everything this man was doing with his mouth and tongue. “Baby,” she panted, the title flying out of her lips completely unchecked. She could deny it or dwell on the implications of it later, but for now she was too consumed by everything he was doing to even care that she’d called him something he’d never asked to be. Fire smolded in the soles of her feet, traveling upwards until it reached her core. Stomach twisting into knots, her back arched, hips bucking against his mouth as her orgasm ripped through her and a moan shattered the silence she never had a shot at maintaining. She didn’t even care who heard now, not when Kit worked her over the way he did. Her hand relaxed against his head, untwisting from his hair and smoothing against his scalp, “Fuck– you’re too good at that. Come here,” she pleaded, eager to get both her hands and mouth on him as soon as she could.

Mickey nodded at Azra's promise that Yas didn't bite, tapping the send button on the message before she could change her mind or second guess it any more than she already had. As Azra lit the joint, Mickey sank her teeth into her bottom lip hungrily. Her eyes squinted slightly, because of course she was the kind of bitch who could watch someone light up and instantly crave it. She knew she could smoke a cigarette but it wasn't the same, and that familiar itch was already far too deep to ignore. After Azra's coughing fit ended, she licked her lips slowly, turning her gaze toward the rodeo ring. "Did you bring enough to share?" Her lips turned upward into a smirk, mind racing already. "I mean, not for me, but when Aslan gets back..." They'd figured out a system that worked out beautifully for them both, and she hoped Azra wouldn't mind spreading the love a little, even if Mickey was giving her shit.

"Sixteen? Jesus Christ," she said, eyes widening as the words sank in. Somehow, she hadn't pegged Azra for the iifelong pining type, but here they were. "Oh, absolutely, but it's clear he's just as horny for you as you are for him. Maybe worse, actually." Mickey scanned the faces of the cowboys all gearing up to do whatever the hell it was they did at these things, instantly smiling when she caught Kit watching Azra. Waving at him to let him know he'd been busted, Mickey flicked her gaze back to Azra. "Did you believe that when Aslan and I were playing that card, or was it just as ridiculous sounding then as it is when you say it?"

#ft. mickey maddox.#mickey maddox 002.#event. county fair.

“Of course,” Azra snorted, opening her purse so that Mickey could see the rest of her stash. Glancing over at her, she lifted a brow, “Why not you? The Navy piss testing you left and right or are you just not a fan?” No judgment either way from Azra’s end, and she knew her twin felt the same way. They’d both been destined to smoke in some way, shape, or form, and they hadn’t disappointed. But both knew it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, or that there were circumstances preventing some people from indulging the way the two of them did.

“Yeah,” Azra sighed before clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, “We were each other’s firsts– guess that kinda dies hard.” Still, though, she didn’t know what that meant. But what she did know was that Kit wasn’t one to settle down, and so she wasn’t going to delude herself into thinking she was any sort of exception to that. Chuckling at Mickey’s words, she shook her head, “Well, can you blame him?” She was joking, of course, but liked to think she gave the man quite a bit to be horny about. Following her gaze and spotting who she was waving at, Azra gave a little wave of her own, a crooked smile instantly tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I never believed the two of you for a second,” she clarified, turning her attention back to Mickey, “But this isn’t that. Kit and I…I don’t know, it’s complicated. We’re not commitment people,” she explained, or tried to, but it was the biggest lie she’d ever told herself or anyone else. Azra had been a commitment person once upon a time– hell, she’d been engaged– and while she swore it off now, she knew there was one person who could change her mind. But would he want to? “Anyway, why am I in the hot seat? Are you two planning your wedding yet?” Ah, deflection at it’s finest.

chasingxclouds-deactivated20251

WHO: @azrademirci

WHERE: Fletcher Law Firm

Taking over her family's law firm would not be an easy feat. Going from such a large-scale firm to her hometown with the Fletcher name at stake felt like a larger undertaking than anything else she had done before. Not only did she have to maneuver in a way that continued to represent the family well, but now she had to balance her newly gained employees. Failure was not an option. It had only been three weeks since she took over, and she was feeling like she was starting to get her bearings.

"Hey Azra," she knocked on their office door. "Penny for your thoughts…pros and cons of working here? What would you like to see improved? More importantly, how much of an asshole was my dad?"

#ft. isla fletcher.#isla fletcher 001.

Glancing up from the text message she was typing as she heard the knock on the door, Azra offered a polite smile to her new boss and set her phone down. She couldn’t claim to know Isla all that well yet, but she’d been encouraged upon hearing that she was taking over. She tilted her head, a thoughtful hum sounding in the back of her throat as she considered Isla’s questions. Like Isla, Azra had come from a large firm, and the transition had felt monumental at times, but Fletcher hadn’t been horrific. Like anywhere, there was room for improvement, but there was a reason she’d stayed on ever since she’d been back. “Pros and cons…the work-life balance is good, Tae might be the absolute wisest hire in the history of this place, and the caseload is enough to keep me busy but not so much that I’m pulling my hair out,” she explained, mapping out the pros. “Whatever cons there are aren’t unique to here…at least not anymore,” she began, wondering just how to toe the line with a woman she barely knew, especially when it came to her father. When he left her alone, she didn’t mind him so much, but when she was in his crosshairs, he could be a holy terror. How did she politely tell her new boss that? “Permission to speak freely?”

🎡 closed starter / azra demirci (@azrademirci) 🎡 location: rodeo building / parker county fair

Mickey had joined Azra and Aslan to watch Kit do his rodeo thing, but she'd only agreed completely once she saw the space it was taking place in. It didn't have to be huge, necessarily, but Mickey needed to know there was plenty of space between wherever they ended up sitting and the horses. She wasn't about to get horse fluids flung up in her direction, no matter how much Beck had tried to tell her they weren't that bad to be around. They still gave her the creeps, but she'd brave them for Aslan and Azra's sake.

Truthfully, she liked spending time with Aslan and his twin. It was funny watching them interact, often reminding her a lot of how she and Mitch behaved together. Plus, being around Azra brought out a side of Aslan Mickey didn't get to see with anyone else, and she loved seeing every side of him that existed. There was the added benefit of getting to know Azra better, and Mickey had to admit, she was becoming extremely fond of Aslan's twin sister.

"Hey, does this look okay?" She held her phone out for Azra to look at the text she'd typed out to their little sister, Yasemin, before she hit send. Aslan had just left to get them all another round of beers and Mickey was taking this opportunity to pick Azra's brain before bringing up something pretty evident to the woman that she wasn't quite sure her boyfriend had caught on to yet. "By the way," Mickey said as she popped some more popcorn into her mouth, keeping her casual act going, "how long have you been screwing Kit McGrady anyway?" Without missing a beat, she looked at Azra and shrugged. "It's written all over your face, woman, don't even try to lie to me. Your brother might be blind as a bat but I sure as shit am not."

#ft. mickey maddox.#mickey maddox 002.#event. county fair.

If she’d never met Kit McGrady, it was fair to say that Azra Demirci would’ve never shown any interest in rodeo, nor would she have stood to test herself against the ever present smell of horse shit permeating the grounds she found herself in. But here she was, being supportive and trying her damndest not to overthink it. She doubted Kit was even thinking about it to begin with, so why should her thoughts be racing a mile a minute? It’d never been anything more than….whatever it was, right? Quickly, she shut her own mind up before it got the better of her. Plus, she had company– Azra wasn’t about to spend her night in frantic silence when her brother and his girlfriend had joined her.

But still, those lingering thoughts remained and it was only when Mickey held her phone out that Azra finally abandoned them. She hadn't even noticed Aslan's departure. Turning to stare down at the screen, she read over the drafted message and cracked a grin, “It’s fine,” she assured the other woman, “She doesn’t bite– you’re good, I promise.” Discretely, she reached into her purse and pulled out one of the joints she’d rolled before showing up. If she was going to have to sit in a place that reeked of horse shit, Azra figured she deserved to be high while doing it. Lighting it, she set it to her lips and inhaled a drag, coughing not at the sudden intake but at Mickey’s question.

Quite the perceptive little shit, apparently. Chuckling softly, Azra blew out a cloud of smoke and shook her head, “Since I was sixteen,” she admitted with a snort, seeing no point in lying about it when Mickey had clocked it so easily, “Off and on.” There’d been a pattern to it, though– at least until now. Anytime something awful happened, she’d found herself in Kit McGrady’s arms– or in his bed, more accurately. Now, it’d happened twice without anyone dying and that was starting to become a problem for Azra– because what did it mean? “That obvious, huh?” Azra murmured, pulling another drag from her joint, “It’s just sex, don’t get too excited.”

dcmsonidris

Bensu Soral — TUZAK (3)

#mirror.

Kit should've known better than to tell her to behave. Azra was never one who played by anyone else's rules, and he didn't need her to prove just how much that hadn't changed. When she slid her hand further up his leg, Kit swallowed audibly and lowered his gaze to follow its path. Damn it, he thought to himself, mentally doing his best to think of any possible shortcut to her place that he could come up with. The kiss on his cheek did him no favors in covering up the way he groaned at her touch but he didn't care—he wasn't worried about hiding anything from her now.

"Yeah, go ahead," he replied, doing his best not to think about the latter half of her statement. She was playing with fire, and she had to know it. As much as he wanted to get to her place first, Kit was only so strong. He didn't mind if she smoked, knowing damn well it might be the only reprieve he could find from her wandering hands and lips. He was already letting his truck make its way to her place, a drive that felt entirely too familiar for just how often he didn't get to make it. "I'm always in trouble with you," he replied after a moment of silence, letting the fingers of his right hand dance across her shoulder and arm. "I don't stand a chance, you know that?"

#ft. kit mcgrady.#kit mcgrady 001.

Azra knew exactly what she was doing, but she figured she could only be considered a tease if she didn’t plan on following through with it the moment they got to her place. No, she wouldn’t be the one to hold out on him– not Kit and not when he left every nerve ending she had buzzing with anticipation whenever he reacted to her. It made her feel powerful, but not in a way that she’d abuse– at least not with him. Resigning herself to the one bit of good behavior she was actually capable of on this trek home, she lowered her window the slightest bit and set one of her cigarettes between her lips. Lighting it, she inhaled a steadying drag and glanced over at him. “Lucky me,” she murmured, tossing a smirk at him before exhaling a plume of smoke out the window. The chillbumps lining her skin had nothing to do with the cool draft coming in through the window, but everything to do with the light touch of his fingertips. God, how was it that even the simplest gesture like that could send her heart fluttering along at a pace so fast that even a nicotine buzz couldn’t chill out? “Mm, so you say, but that’s kinda the point, Kitkat,” she countered, not at all thinking that it was a bad thing that he didn’t stand a chance. To her, it just meant that tonight was going to keep getting better. “Still, I like your odds better than most.”

goldenboyhale

Nate chuckled lowly, studying Azra's reaction. "Owe me one, huh?" He murmured, his voice easy and measured like he would at least try noi to take the words too seriously. He reached for his own glass and swirled the liquid slowly, watching it catch the light. "Could be another rink, or maybe something a little less conventional." He added, letting the suggestion hang between them. There was a quiet confidence, a steadiness that felt almost grounding in contrast to the playful energy Azra carried.

He tilted his head, giving her a glance as he leaned in just a touch and being careful to respect the space between them. "But if we're talkin' 'owe me,' I should warn you..." He murmured, his lips quirking into a sly grin. "I tend to hold people to the promised they make. Not 'cause I'm trying to be scary or something, I'm just...curious." He lifted his glass in a casual toast, blue eyes meeting hers over the rim. "Consider this me keeping track. Don't think you're getting off scot free with tangy drinks and a grin and leave it at that."

#ft. nathan hale.#nathan hale 001.

“Well, you told me if you got it right, I’d owe you– so I guess I do,” she supplied, shoulders giving a coy shrug as she lifted her fresh drink to her lips again, sampling another taste. Lifting a brow at him from behind the rim of her glass, she was almost grateful for the way her drink hid the smirk forming on her lips at whatever suggestion Nate left between them, “I’m all for the less conventional. I hate predictability.” Setting her drink back down, she shrugged again, a thoughtful hum sounding in the back of her throat, “Lucky for you, when I give my word, I’m good for it.” He could keep track as much as he wanted, as far as she was concerned. “I wasn’t thinking that,” the getting off scot free bit, that was. “Just thinking about the getting off part,” she clarified with a smirk that was just as dangerous as a loaded gun, “Too forward?” Probably. She often was, but rather than apologize for it, she’d let Nate be the judge.

"Now that is impressive," Mickey replied, a knowing grin on her face in response to Azra putting men in her place. "Your brother didn't spare any details there, and trust me, I'm dying to see it in action. Just, you know, with a man that isn't Aslan." She laughed gently, feeling like they were making some real headway in getting to know one another. "I think that's probably why your brother said we'd hit it off, because nothing brings me as much joy as being better than men and throwing it in their faces." She hoped Azra knew she didn't do that to Aslan, because as far as Mickey was concerned, there was nothing that man couldn't do.

"I have," she responded quickly, not ready to divulge just how she'd learned the hard way that not communicating with Aslan was the fastest way to upset him. It still haunted her sometimes, the way he'd looked that night she dragged some guy into his bar, and she had promised herself not to do anything like that again. "I can honestly say he's taught me a lot about communication, and it's really been a game changer. I'm lucky he's so patient." The words weren't just genuine, they were something Mickey believed to her very core: Aslan's patience for her was unmatched, and it was her saving grace when it came to their exclusive-but-not-official relationship.

"Your brother and I still make jokes at Tinder guy's expense," she confessed with a chuckle. "I don't even remember his name, I deleted the app the very next morning and haven't touched it since. Whoever he was really did me a solid, though, because I know there's no way he was as great as Aslan." Great at sex, great at conversation, great at everything: it didn't matter who the man was, he could never hold a candle to Aslan. "Actually, that was my way of starting a conversation with Aslan that night we met. I asked him if he saw me at a bar, if he'd stand me up, and he knocked it out of the park with his answer."

"Yep, like the movie," she said with a nod. "Okay, the fact that he's never seen it is single-handedly making my life harder than it needs to be," she joked. "I mean, it's a little different in real life, but the program is real. My brothers and I all went, and sometimes I make references to it so people understand some of the more complicated parts of my job. Thankfully, Aslan doesn't need me to break down ranks, but still, my dad raised us on that movie. I keep telling him we're doing a movie night and I'm going to make him watch it." She hadn't managed to follow through, of course, because the way the two of them got distracted any time they watched a movie or show meant everything took much longer to get through. "Oh, I met Tom Cruise, actually," Mickey said, checking to see if Azra was impressed. "Perks of my dad's job, I guess."

When Azra said Michaela sounded terrible, Mickey laughed so hard that her head fell backward. "She is, actually," she agreed after a moment. "It's just so nice to meet someone who feels the same way, even without meeting her. Everyone else assumes we just don't get along because we're sisters, but it's deeper than that. She's the bane of my existence, and that's on her good days. You guys have a little sister, right?" She'd asked Aslan about his siblings after meeting Azra, wondering how many more time she'd have to go through meeting a sibling. She'd do it, of course, but she wanted to have a game plan. "Thank you, I think it's pretty badass. I actually didn't expect the promotion for a couple more years, but I guess I impressed the right people." She and Aslan had talked a lot about their service over the past couple of months, and she was impressed by what she'd heard from him, but she had a feeling he wasn't being entirely truthful about his military career. "Can I ask you something about Aslan's service?" Mickey looked at Azra, trying to gauge how she'd respond. "He's humble as shit, you know him," she explained, "but he was pretty decorated, wasn't he? He showed me some pictures, and any time I ask, he brushes it off or changes the subject, so I get the feeling he was such a badass but won't own up to it."

#ft. mickey maddox.#mickey maddox 001.#event. peach festival.#this got so long and for what

“I’m just happy I get paid for it– it’s quite satisfying,” Azra continued, her lips twisting into a playful smirk. “If you’re serious, feel free to swing by the courthouse sometime– I like an audience.” She’d never been much of a performer in the traditional sense, but something seemed to take over her the moment she got up to argue a case, but even then, it didn’t feel like she was putting on a show. To her, she was just displaying passion for her work and for the lives she got the privilege to defend.

Azra could sense that there was more to the story that Mickey wasn’t saying, but it wasn’t her place to pry into just how and why she’d figured out how well Aslan communicated, or why it was so critical that he was patient with her. It wasn’t any of her business at the end of the day, but she was glad they were clearly finding common ground in ways that really mattered. Azra snorted, “You might be the only person he’s patient with, then,” she divulged, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, “My brother pops off quicker than anyone I’ve ever met– but that might be because I know how to push his buttons and I do it very well.”

A warm smile crossed over her features– it was nice hearing someone speak so highly of her brother. It didn’t happen nearly enough, in her opinion, but she knew Aslan preferred it that way. The man hated a spotlight and didn’t know how to take a compliment even when one slapped him in the face. “Yeah, he’s alright, I guess,” she teased, another chuckle rumbling in her throat. “Did he? Well, I’m sure it was a resounding hell no. My brother is a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them.” He’d have never stood Mickey up and Azra felt sure he’d come up with a very smooth way to tell her that. Was swagger just some innate thing that military personnel seemed to possess? She was starting to think so.

“He really is missing out– it’s a classic.” Aslan’s issue was that he could never sit still for very long. Even as kids, she’d hated going to the cinema with him because within half an hour, he’d already be fidgeting next to her. It was even worse now, but Azra would still wish Mickey luck in her endeavor to get him to watch the movie. Her jaw dropped hearing that she’d met Tom Cruise. The man was a god and one of the first celebrities Azra could remember having a crush on. “Tell me he’s just as hot in person– that’s all I need to know.” Anything less would ruin her perception of him forever.

Azra snorted, having never seen the appeal in pageants or what that sort of life tended to do to girls at such a young age. Mickey didn’t need to explain her relationship with Madison– if she was anything like the girls she’d competed against that one time for Princess Peach, Azra already understood the disconnect between them. Her expression softened at the mention of Yasemin, “Yeah, but Yasemin’s great,” she explained, head tilting to the side in thought, “I mean, she’s got a bit of a rose colored glasses view of the world, in my opinion, but she’s this bright light, y’know? Offsets me and Aslan’s doom and gloom a little bit,” Azra paused, cringing a bit at how she was making the family sound– particularly her and Aslan, “I’m really selling this, aren’t I?” It was why she’d never make it as a salesperson– she was too blunt and honest.

Surprise touched the edges of her expression as Mickey continued, “No guarantee I’ll know the answer, but sure.” Azra wasn’t sure where this was going, but her mind had whipped up a couple guesses. Was it about the scars adorning Aslan’s body? Or was it just something simple about what he’d done in the military? “To be honest with you, he doesn’t talk much about it with us either,” she divulged, a sad smile forming on her lips. She didn’t pretend not to know why– while many of the specifics were unknown to her, she knew they had to be horrific. Aslan hadn’t come back the same man that had left– not by a long shot. “But…from what bit I do know– yes, he was,” a badass, that was. “He was one of the most decorated snipers in TAF history– and I only know that part because it’s what we were told when he was discharged.”

yasdemirci

“Well, let’s hope that if you ever end up with someone, they can do more than just put bread in a toaster and boil water.” If that were the case, Yasemin was concerned for Azra’s well-being. However, she would never let her sister eat subpar food and would find a way to ensure she had prepared meals, rather than relying on frozen dinners. Bleh. As she grabbed some dinner plates and cutlery for the two of them, she eyed her sister for their response. “Okay, and what does busy entail?” After the whole debacle of her sister's rejection at the altar, it often felt like Azra was ever so meticulous and selective with what she revealed about the happenings in her life, as if not to jinx herself into another moment of disappointment. Even though it was gut-wrenching to witness, Yas still believes it’s probably the best thing that could have happened to her sister.

“Nope, not at all. Auntie yapped away on speaker, going on and on about her perfect son and that it was not Emir to blame yet again.” Yasemin had run out of eggs for a cinnamon loaf and had entered her parents’ kitchen only to see her mom rolling her eyes as her aunt continued to praise every action of Emir. “Selena, or was it Bridget? Honestly, I can’t remember her name. Either way, she accepted a job position abroad even though Emir told her not to take it, and a betrayal of his trust supposedly justified an annulment of a marriage.” Yasemin knew from her parents that marriage was a daily choice to continue and to maintain. Love would not sustain it for the long haul, but it was intentionality and a commitment to the other through the highs and lows, as the vows indicated, that led to longevity. “Definitely Sauvignon. I feel like reds are starting to give me a headache, which is not great,” she sighed before handing her sister her wine cork and a glass for her to pour.

#ft. yasemin demirci.#yasemin demirci 001.

“Hell would have to freeze over first,” Azra countered to her sister’s mention of if she ever ended up with someone. As far as Azra was concerned, that door was effectively slammed shut unless some sort of miracle happened. “But until then,” she continued, not wanting to linger on that part of the conversation, “At least I have you.” Blowing out a breath as Yasemin essentially asked her to define busy, Azra shot her a pointed look, “Mostly work, and then feasting on the souls of men whenever I get bored– the usual,” she supplied, only halfway kidding about that last bit. It went without saying that ever since her wedding had blown up in her face, Azra had been rather demonstrative within her sexuality, choosing to take what she wanted ever since she’d been liberated by her unfaithful fiance a couple years ago.

Rolling her eyes at their aunt’s flawed perception of Emir, Azra shook her head. “She probably accepted the job just to get the fuck away from him– I can’t blame her.” Emir wasn’t exactly the most likeable person in their family, but Azra was glad he existed, solely because it prevented her from occupying that spot. As long as Emir was around, she couldn’t possibly be the worst of the various Demirci offspring. Taking the wine opener and glasses from Yasemin, she set to opening the Sauvignon Blanc, “Excellent choice.” Sauvy B had never failed her and she didn’t see that changing now. She turned her attention to Yasemin as she twisted the bottle opener down into the heart of the cork, “So what’s new with you? Things going well at the bakery?”

Kit swallowed audibly when Azra started walking toward the changing area, eyes taking in the view of the backside of the dress with a sigh of appreciation. He'd never get used to the way she managed to look that good in just about everything. As much as he wanted to reach for her hand, Kit fought the urge, knowing there were too many people watching—ready to stir up some gossip. That's what these things were all about, really, was the gossip train getting fed.

He took in the changing area, nodding as if he was impressed. "Well, you are royalty," he teased before his gaze landed on hers in the mirror. Seeing her standing there, Kit felt his heartbeat kick up a notch. She always managed to do this to him, and Kit should've expected it the moment they were alone. He stepped up behind her and lifted his fingertips to gentle trail up her arms before trailing them over the curves of her shoulders, his eyes never leaving hers in the mirror. Once he found the zipper, Kit took the dress's material between the finger and thumb of his left hand and slid it downward with his right. He had far too much experience getting Azra out of dresses for his own good, and he knew exactly where his mind was headed. When he finished unzipping her dress, Kit let the knuckle of his right forefinger slowly drag up the now bare skin of Azra's back. "You need help gettin' out of anything else, beautiful?"

#ft. kit mcgrady.#kit mcgrady 002.#nsfw only bc she's half naked?

“Only in your mind,” she quipped back, having never put any stock into this Princess Peach bullshit, or whatever it was. To her, it was just some dumb thing her mother had forced her into, and now, it was some sort of cult belonging that she would forever be a part of. It was quite far from royalty, in her opinion, but Kit could call it whatever he wanted– it always sounded better coming from him anyway. With her back to him, she drew in a sharp, stuttered breath as he took his time finding his way to her zipper. Somehow, he always knew where to go, and what she wanted. Maybe it was a gift, or maybe he’d just known her better than anyone ever had ever since they were sixteen.

At his question, and the featherlight touch of his knuckle against her back, Azra slowly turned around to face him, her shoulders rolling in a nonchalant shrug as she let the peach colored gown slip its way down her frame until it was nothing more than a pile at her feet. Bracing her palms against the small make-up desk behind her as she stood there in nothing but her underwear, Azra shrugged again, this time with a soft smirk gracing her features, “I don’t know– maybe this bad mood I’m in,” she supplied, just curious to see what he did with that. Only seconds later though, she thought to backtrack. There weren’t any walls protecting them, no guarantee that someone wouldn’t barge in at any given moment, and there was no part of her that was willing to make life harder for him, regardless of what she wanted. Azra shook her head with a laugh, unwilling to subject him to that unless he really wanted it, “Can you hand me my shirt?”

"'Course I remember," Kit said with a smile over at her. His arm felt right wrapped around her shoulder, like she belonged under it right up next to him like this. It felt like he'd been kicked in the chest at the realization of that feeling, knowing himself well enough to know that no one had ever felt quite as right there as Azra Demirci did. How many times had he driven around, picturing her right here with him, windows down and the wind through blowing her hair? She was his kryptonite, and Kit was ready to let her tear him apart one more time.

He looked down at her hand on his thigh and smiled at it with a gentle laugh. "You behave yourself," he warned teasingly, reaching over the wheel with his left hand to shift his truck into drive. Before taking his foot off the gas pedal, Kit pulled Azra in close for another kiss, nipping at her bottom lip playfully once he finally broke for air. "Just until we get to your house, of course. After that, I expect no such thing."

#ft. kit mcgrady.#kit mcgrady 001.#nsfw adjacent tw?

Flares of nostalgia rose up in her chest like tendrils of smoke off the end of a cigarette as Azra settled in beside him. Suddenly and all at once, she felt sixteen again and excitement swirled low in her gut for the first time in recent memory. But she wasn’t sixteen anymore and neither was he. She wasn’t shy about anything even remotely sexual anymore and she was intentional now, so much so that when Kit told her to behave and kissed her again, Azra chuckled against his lips, clearly up to no good. “Afraid I don’t know the meaning of that word,” she warned him, the hand on his thigh sliding upwards to rub against the crotch of his jeans. She wanted him aching for her by the time they hit her driveway. But…she wanted them to make it there first, and so behaving was something she figured she could manage…maybe. Giving him a final squeeze and pressing a kiss to his cheek, Azra sat back and reached for her purse. “Mind if I smoke?” She asked, already digging through her purse for her pack of Marlboro Golds. “Gotta find something to do with this mouth or you’re gonna be in trouble.” Azra didn’t bother clarifying. Knowing her, that could mean damn near anything.

smartiesclub

❛❛That sounds like you're into some shady business.❜❜ he laughed as the thought was a little funny to him. ❛❛You're the second lawyer I know that doesn't make me want to throttle them.❜❜ he meant it as a compliment. Azra was tough, he saw it with his own eyes and knew that to some, she'd be intimidating to the point of crossing her off as an asshole. But Eli's friendship with her proved that there was always more than met the eye.

❛❛Well, I haven't told her yet. I'm waiting until I'm back in the bakery to do so. I did, however, tell her to curate a playlist for the bakery. August is her turn. I'm not sure if I just made a huge mistake though. Tell me, did I just play myself with handing over the keys? June's playlist drove me nuts.❜❜

He sighed and nodded, taking a look at his cousin who was doing his best. ❛❛That makes sense. I'm glad he gets to live a life a free man. Kind of sucks that this had to happen to him. You don't happen to have contacts in child services?❜❜

#ft. eli deveaux.#eli deveaux 001.

“Aren’t all lawyers a little shady?” Azra countered with a playful gleam in her eye. Sure, she knew plenty that were downright diabolical and bonafide scam artists– that was the kind of lawyer she desperately did not want to be– but there were others who were smart enough to play by the rules, yet witty enough to outmaneuver their opponents. That tended to be more of Azra’s style. “Only the second?” She gasped, feigning shock in the moments before her expression warmed, “Well, I will definitely take that as a compliment– I know we can be pretty rough to deal with sometimes.”

Azra chuckled and shook her head, “Nah, I think you made the right call– her taste in music seems pretty solid if our dinner nights are anything to go by.” She was sure it was better than any of her own playlists, at least. Azra had very specific taste when it came to music, and it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Something told her that her taste in wildly electric beats might clash with the warm, soothing atmosphere of the bakery.

Casting a glance over at Eli’s cousin, Azra nodded, “Yeah, I hate that it had to happen this way, but I’m excited to see what he does with a fresh start, you know?” Azra knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it had to be better than the reality JJ had come from, and the cold, iron bars of a lonely prison cell. “I know a couple people,” she supplied, “want me to reach out, see what I can do?”

WRITING ON THE WALL. – task 2

Azra is left-handed, and it shows in how meticulously upright her penmanship is. It doesn't lean one way or the other, and she's careful to avoid any smearing that lefties are notoriously known for. Her handwriting is light, feminine, and has enough flare to make it distinctly hers. She crosses her "z's" and "7's," much to the chagrin of her 6th grade English teacher, but Azra is nothing if not fueled by spite.

#blackstoneridgetask

goldenboyhale

Nate huffed a dry little laugh, eyes narrowing faintly at her over the rim of his glass. “Yeah, figured you’d say that,” he said, almost like he admired the move. “No hints, no help. Lawyer to the bone. Typical. Don't hate it, though.” He flagged the bartender down anyway, turning slightly to rest his elbow on the counter as he considered the options, gaze flicking over the back bar without much urgency. “Alright,” he muttered, more to himself than anything, “let’s see if I’m about to ruin your whole night.. Hopefully not.”

It took him a beat, but eventually he pointed to a bottle. “Two G&Ts. Splash of grapefruit, not too heavy.” He turned back toward her, leveling her with a look that didn’t quite ask for approval—but wasn’t entirely without hope either. “Figured if I went whiskey, you’d think I was posturing. Wine, and you’d think I’m soft. Beer’s the easy way out. So here’s me splitting the difference. Grown-up drink. Little bite. Little brightness.” He took the fresh glass when it landed in front of him, but didn’t drink right away. Just tilted it toward her in a quiet toast. “If I tanked it, I’ll take the hit. But if it’s good,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth again, “you owe me one. And don’t think I won’t cash it in.”

#ft. nathan hale.#nathan hale 001.

“That predictable?” She teased, crossing her arms over her chest. At least he seemed to have her figured out, at least on a surface level, because she was, quite literally, a lawyer to the bone, and it tended to translate over into interactions outside the courtroom too. Maybe it made her a hardass, but some people just ran with it and had fun. So far, Nate seemed to be situating himself into the latter category, and Azra was glad for that. It let her know that she could at least let her hair down a little and not take herself seriously around him. “Who would I be if I gave you all the answers, huh? Plus, maybe I’m just curious to see what you come up with,” Azra admitted, shrugging her shoulders, “It’d take more than a bad drink to ruin my night, Nate– don’t worry.” Brow lifting as he rattled off his choice, Azra shot him a fleeting look of approval, “Not bad– the grapefruit is an interesting choice though, can’t say I’ve tried that before.” But she welcomed the chance to. “Appreciate you going with hard liquor over beer or wine– lets me know you’re serious.” All in all, it was a good choice– a tad risky, which was always better than strictly safe in her book. She took the fresh drink once the bartender slid it her way and raised it, “Trust me, I fully expect you to– might even welcome it,” she added, tipping her glass to return to the toast before lifting it to her lips and sampling the drink. It wasn’t bad– it was tangy enough as it rolled over her taste buds and burned a bit more smoothly than she’d expected as it went the rest of the way down. She hummed a bit thoughtfully as she took another sip just to confirm the experience before setting the glass back down on the bartop, “Looks like I owe you one, Nate,” Azra supplied, shooting a grin over at him, “What’s that look like?”

"Don't worry, I'll be making sure he doesn't forget it," she replied with a nod, letting Azra know she would be staying on top of it, just in case Aslan did slip up down the line and pull this stunt again. She didn't think he would, because Azra had made it pretty memorable to say the least. "Trust me, when it comes to crazy, it takes a whole hell of a lot more to scare me off." She wasn't going to explain why that was the case, not when she cared about making a good impression on Aslan's sister, but she wanted to make sure Azra knew she didn't hold it against her. "If anything, I have mad respect for a woman who knows how to put her brother in his place like that."

Mickey glanced down at her feet for a split second before jerking her gaze back up to Azra, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. "When you asked that, I had no idea what he'd say, but I'm really glad he didn't instantly shut it down. Kind of made me feel special, but I'm sure you caught that." Azra had to have seen the way Mickey reacted to Aslan's statement about them figuring it all out, because she hadn't been the least bit subtle. "That's one thing about him I was not expecting, actually. He's so easy to talk to that sometimes I forget we haven't been doing this for years." She'd mentioned something similar to Laurel and Eli, talking about how easy it was to talk to Aslan, and it was becoming more and more clear to her that it was special with each passing day. Every time something happened, he was the first person she'd want to tell. Aslan somehow knew more about the real Mickey than anyone else, even Javi or her brothers, and they'd only been doing this for two months now.

"We actually met at Şerefe," she replied to Azra's question, pronouncing the bar's name with it's intended Turkish pronunciation—something she'd asked Aslan about half a dozen times just so she could get it down. "I got stood up one night and was pissed, so I hit up a different spot and Aslan was working that night behind the bar. We just hit it off instantly, as ridiculous as that sounds." Mickey smiled thinking back on that night, knowing Azra was not the person to share the specifics with. At least not yet.

"So, the short version is that I'm a Navy brat. Born and raised in San Diego where my dad was stationed for most of my life, between his stints as an instructor at TOPGUN. My oldest brother's a Navy Seal, then there's two pilots like me, then me, and my little sister. She did pageants, like for fun, and I'm not talking about the Peach Princess level stuff. I'm talking Miss America contender level shit." Mickey shook her head, rolling her eyes at Madison's stupid face popping into her mind once again. "I got stationed here last fall when I was promoted to Captain. A friend back in California was from Blackstone and he mentioned it a few times, so I ended up buying a house. I figure if I'm not going to be stuck on a coast where there are at least beaches, I might as well give myself a little bit of a sanctuary to come home to. Turns out this place is pretty great."