[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER WHITLOCK.

     smile slowly dropped from his lips and eyes narrowed when carly snatched his phone and began to panic, taking in her question with a sense of silent contemplation. jasper hadn’t thought it was all that big a deal when he’d first seen the photo, but he supposed he’d never really considered the fact that her father may not be all that impressed to see his daughter drunk online, given his career. even so, she hadn’t been tagged and it wasn’t as though people who attended his parties would be facebook friends with a preacher. he looked down at the photo when she returned it to him, tongue running over his lower lip as he considered whether or not he could do anything about it, and whether he actually wanted to do anything about it. there was a disconcertingly quiet voice in the back of his head that told him he should do what he always did and brush her concerns aside, laugh it off as just another hungover girl regretting letting her partying make it’s way online. but the panic, the expression on her face seemed too GENUINE for jasper, leaving a sick taste on his tongue at his part in it.

     ❝ i can talk to her. ❞ he cleared his throat, hand scratching lightly at his jaw. ❝ the girl who posted the photo. she’s y’know, an old friend. she’ll take it down if i ask her nicely. ❞ a wry grin; he was pretty sure they both knew what he meant by asking nicely. not that he had any objections to doing so, but he figured it was more about whether or not her MORALS would be okay with letting him sleep with a girl to get a photo taken off the internet. a thought occurred to him as he considered whether or not he still had victoria’s number in his phone, a frown forming on his brow. ❝ how old are you, anyway? is it an underage drinking thing that you don’t want your father to find out about, or? ❞

          pesky anxious thoughts overwhelmed her headspace, unable to stop the worst case scenario despite the low probability. sydney and zoe remained in high school, with no ties to the college life or any motivation to explore social media. mama would either have her head under the hood of a car or with her hands in their backyard garden. only keith held the closest tie, but he was too busy with his internship and new city life for the moment to worry about her transgressions. still, what a wonderful start to the day rang cynically in her cranium. fingers quivered, palms sweaty as she slowly clenched and unclenched her fist in sync with each shallow breath. carly tucked her arms around her frame to hide the meticulous action, then began to shift her weight in place to release some tension from her body. white noise clouded her lobes, golden hues glazed over until jasper's honey drawl broke through the anxiety radio channel. the first part barely registered, but the words began to click in her brain towards the end. despite the rather gross innuendo of what asking nicely looked like, she remained taken aback at the offer. why would he take the time to do a favor for her when she'd most likely puked on him at one point, judged his character to his face without realizing, and currently wore his clothing because she'd been too drunk to function at his party.

          before the question could spring from her tongue, the blonde caught his downturned lips and his own follow up question. breath slowed to a somewhat normal rhythm, low chuckle on her lips as she shook her head. ❝ for the party king, i didn't think underage would be a problem for you. i'm eighteen, nineteen in january. if it helps, i promise to never drink again after this wild experience. ❞ her voice wavered, knuckles white against the cloth of his button down. she finally released the constricted muscles, bit her lip after an exhale of breath and studied his expression before the words sprung from her lips. ❝ why would you talk to them on my behalf? not that i'm not grateful for the offer, but jasper whitlock doesn't have the reputation to help save reputations. why save mine when it's probably great to see the preacher's daughter knocked off her pedestal? ❞ hues stayed glued on his, teeth quick to grasp her lower lip in comfort as fingers drummed along her ribs. internally, carly wanted to hit her head against the wall or crawl back underneath the covers to hide her face. why couldn't she ever just say thank you or something besides vomit all her inner thoughts?

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER WHITLOCK.

     head tilted slightly to the side as he registered the emotion in her tune, reading the anger on her face with a hint of curiousity as to where it came from. he assumed someone had made somewhat of a similar comment in her past… interesting. did the preacher’s daughter have her own DEMONS? ironic, really. here jasper had been thinking the perfect girl came with a perfect life, and yet there was a possibility that her life was more interesting than the two dimensional perfection she seemed to portray herself with. he held his tongue, knowing better than to get into other’s business when it had no impact on his own life; the last person he’d made the effort to get to know and solve the problems of had been maria, and look where that got him.

     he shook his head in response to her denials, in no way surprised she’d already sworn off his lifestyle. ❝ disappointing. i liked her. ❞ a quick flash of teeth as her grinned before moving towards his drawers, glancing over his shoulder with an arched brow as he opened the top drawer. ❝ take whatever; you don’t seem the type to hold a grudge and leave my clothes burning on the front lawn. ❞ a low chuckle as he moved aside, one hand shuffling through his hair as the other dipped into his pocket to take out his phone as he waited for her to dress. thumb scrolled absent mindedly through his facebook, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at all the photos people had tagged him in from the party last night. one could practically taste the desperation that radiated through the screen. another chuckle fell from his lips as a familiar blonde crossed his screen, turning the phone to show carly. ❝ hey look, you’re famous. ❞

          momentary color crept onto cheeks at the grin, gaze quick to lower and turn her head. golden strands covered the blush, thankful for his assistance and quick change of conversation. the imagery of fiery button downs caused a chuckle to slip past lips, digits quick to grab a pair of black sport shorts from the drawer. ❝ i'm going to take that as a compliment, i guess. ❞ carly wondered what type he took her for; a quick notion, one out of left field. why did she care what jasper whitlock, -- charismatic party host who MISLED to her when they first met, -- think of her? she was nothing more than a wayward girl who fell suseptible to liquid courage to get herself through the night. or maybe just too far gone for her mind to remember things locked & sealed.

          she pushed all the nonsense from her cranium, slid the shorts up bare limbs and rolled the fabric at her waist to keep a better grip on her slender hips. fingers raised to close the last top buttons of the shirt, a smile of satisfaction once completely covered and clothed. a sigh of relief poised on her tongue, until jasper turned the phone towards her. golden gaze raised to see what he meant, spread wide as she took a sharp inhale of breath. lips laid agape, a fish out of water and barely able to register the photo. messy hair, white shirt halfway unbuttoned, with a bottle of traitorous whiskey in her left hand while the other steadied her balance on the pool table. chest rapidly expanded, breath shallow and quick as panic seized hold of her heart. ❝ i'm dead. ❞ carly snatched the phone from his hands to inspect the post, and saw she hadn't been tagged as the wild blonde babe on the pool table. still, if anyone who closely knew her, or had seen what she'd worn to her family's saturday night dinner could tell her mother -- or worse, her father. or keith... ❝ is... is there a way i can get this taken down somehow? ❞ as she spoke, breath escalated to hyperventilation and head reached woozy levels, in hyperdrive to create a solution. digits registered it still held his phone hostage, and handed it back to him before running fingers through golden strands.

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     how he’d ever managed to stay away from her as long as he had, jasper would never know. with his body pressed against carly’s, he could forget the world that awaited them outside this room, get lost in the moment and forget anything other than the feel of silky smooth skin below his fingertips, the slide of their lips and tongues as they fit so perfectly together. god, she was stunning. his body thrummed with warmth as he pressed against her, breaths growing heavy as heart raced within his chest. without a doubt, he knew he’d never grow tired of these moments.

     a hum of satisfaction sounded when carly begun removing his shirt, shrugging his shoulders and moving back his arms to slip it off, not caring for where he dropped it as his gaze opened to meet carly’s when she broke their kiss. tongue ran over his lower lip before teeth latched on, corner of his lips curved up as her fingers made their way downwards, stomach clenching when she paused just before the waistline of his pants. one arm rested on the bed beside her head, letting out an amused huff of laughter when she spoke, his other hand cupping her chin as he brushed his nose against hers. ❝ taken a look in the mirror lately? ❞ words were a mere whisper as his hand let go of her jaw to slide her strap from her right shoulder, lips brushing over sun kissed skin to her neck, a hint of teeth nipping at the delicate skin before he chuckled. ❝ what are the chances of me being able to convince you to wear a scarf in public for a while? ❞

           happiness radiated from every pore, consumed in the moment and the fact he loved her in return. the drum of her heart met the tempo of his laughter, a sound she wished to elicit forever if she had the chance. in these stolen moments, carly felt the walls fall around him as she saw not the prince, but the man underneath his polished facade. breathless laughter sparked when their noses brushed, a slight shake of her head on the sheets. ❝ not lately, i've been too busy sneaking off with you. ❞ carly hadn't realized, but she used to stare at the mirror often; assessed each flaw or blemish and the hollowness of her gaze. now, when she quickly glanced before rushing off to meet him, golden hues met the glowed complexion of a woman in love. through the tumultuous love affair, carly restored the confidence she'd tasted in paris and believed her own beauty.

           thoughts flicked back to the present when lips brushed against the sensitive curve of her neck, delirious in desire the second she felt the nip of his teeth. a moan softer than a whisper fell from her parted lips, chest rapidly rising and falling below him. the hand poised above his belt ran across his apollo's belt, found purchase at his hips where digits tightened their grasp. bolts of electricity sent shivers up her spine, a hum of pleasure in her throat. ❝ you could convince me to do many things right now. ❞curse him for knowing all her weak spots, and the thrum of her hummingbird heartbeat underneath his lips. a smile upturned features as the hand on his waist looped back to unbuckle his belt. the other snaked up his arm to grasp the strands at the back of his neck, encouragement for his actions. ❝ but yes, i'll wear scarves for a month if i have to. i just don't want you to stop. ❞ besides, the thought of marks on her skin from him sent a thrill to her system. she wanted his love etched on her sunkissed skin, even if they would be the only two to know.

[bellissimoxinganno]

whitlxcked:

     there was a possibility that jasper would regret this moment; a possibility that they’d fall apart sooner rather than later and leave him CURSING HIMSELF for succumbing to such base pleasures over the logical reasoning that ruled his every day. but when carly rose to her knees and her hand moved to grip his hair, all sense of reason was quickly erased. every inch of his body was alight as delicate fingers made their way across his thigh to his stomach, a soft moan falling from his lips only to be smothered as their lips remained pressed together. doubts and negativity were erased for the sheer purpose of enjoying being with carly, the woman he loved… the thought brought just a hint of a smile to his lips as they kissed, somewhat overwhelmed by the whole experience but enjoying losing himself in the moment.

     hands dropped to his sides as she pulled away, looking up at her and her goofy grin and returning it with a small one of his own, head tilting to the side when she spoke. stopping himself from apologizing for giving in and sending them down the track of heartbreak wasn’t likely to be something he stopped himself doing, but in the meantime… ❝ i love you. ❞ grin morphed into his usual smirk as the words were spoken lowly, a chuckle sounding as he watched her. gaze remained fixed on hers when she climbed on his lap, hands instinctively moving to brush over her thighs, fingers trailing under the material to find the bare skin of her waist beneath the dress, chin tilting up towards her. smile grew as kisses were trailed down the side of his face to the corner of his lips, a hum of agreement in response to the words she spoke before bringing their lips together once more, his eyes falling shut. teeth nipped at her lower lip as fingers brushed over her skin, holding her closer as his tongue touched hers, allowing himself to focus on nothing more than the feeling the heat of her body against his, her perfume around him. hands tightened on her waist, lifting her up just enough to flip her over so he was hovering above her, keeping their lips together as one hand slipped out from under her dress to slide up her body to her jaw. fingers brushed lightly over her cheek to the side of her face, and finally to the nape of her neck to grip onto her hair, wanting no space between them.

           jasper's smirk never failed to unravel her. it quickened her pulse, left her delirious in desire or beyond any sane amount of frustration. the combination of jasper's smirk & drawn out confession caused legs to wobble where she stood, still in disbelief of tonight's turn of events. goofy smile turned absolutely RADIANT in the silver light, pearly whites rival to the full moon peaked through the curtains. carly moved onto his lap, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace. she focused on her peppered kisses across his face, rather than the shockwaves sent from the tip of his fingers on her bare waist. though she prepared to say goodbye, now... now the blonde couldn't fathom her life without him. she knew eventually they'd have to say painful goodbyes, agonizing now those three little words were out in the open. so tonight; carly would shut off the thoughts of their doom and allowed herself to melt into the present.

           the trace of his fingers sent a shiver up her spine, depite the forest fire dancing on her skin. lips parted after he nipped at her lower lip, tongue swept over his as she pressed herself impossibly closer to his frame. finger clenched on golden strands, tightened when his grip on her waist flipped her onto her back. she gasped into the kiss, muffled on his lips and the curve of her smile. the forest fire turned into a volcanic eruption in her chest, molten pooled between her thighs. limbs detached from his waist to allow her hands to slide down his chest and hastily unbuttom his shirt with trembled digits. breathless in their kiss, carly pushed the fabric off his arms to leave his chest bare, then unlocked their lips and opened her golden hues. fingers rested on his cheek, a happy sigh on her lips as they ran down the edge of his jaw; to his collarbone; then a slow, curved path down taut skin to rest just above his belt. carly marveled in his strength, the beauty of muscles in the moonlight and the fact her shaky hands were allowed to touch someone so godly. ❝ you're breathtaking. ❞

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     as painful as it all was, jasper knew that if he could take all of this back to the point before she’d told him she loved him… he wouldn’t consider it for even a moment. with his heart shattered in his chest, anxiety whispering in his ear that the best way to deal with it was to shut down emotionally and cut her out, he still knew he’d rather they suffer the consequences than go back to a time when they were just stuck in limbo. ❝ i’m sorry. ❞ eyes remained closed, jaw clenching as free hand lifted to wrap his fingers around her wrist, thumb brushing her knuckles as he placed a lingering kiss to her palm. he wished it were easier for him to change his way of believing, to be able to stop pushing and pushing people away until they agreed they were better off leaving him behind. he knew his life would be a whole lot easier if he could. eyes opened once more when she spoke, teeth latching onto the inside of his cheek. ❝ you’re a foolish woman, carly sage. ❞ a pause, bringing his lips to hers as fingers laced themselves through blonde strands. ❝ and i’m a selfish man who loves you and can’t stand the idea of losing you just yet. ❞ a shuddering breath as dread coursed through his system at the realization his WEAKNESS had doomed them both to the continuance of a relationship that couldn’t go anywhere, surging forward to kiss her hard enough to force himself to forget where their future together was going. ❝ i love you too, carly. i’m so sorry. ❞

          definitely not the response she expected, yet her heart lurched with hope when digits wrapped around her bare wrist. there was nothing to apologize over, but the lingered kiss on her skin did wonders to alleviate the churn of her knotted stomach. it seared into her bloodstream and began to thaw her chilled veins. when his gaze opened to find hers, she melted completely and utterly. breath hitched in her throat at foolish, pause potent between them until lips found purchase with hers. a smile upturned her lips, a hum of satisfaction as his fingers laced through her golden waves. carly didn't dare open her gaze when he broke the kiss, until words popped eyes open in surprise. selfish man who loves you. the shattered heart kickstarted alive, hummingbird heart beat quick to soar in her rib cage. before doubts could creep into her mind, or the anxious turmoil of worse case scenarios for their cemented doom; jasper interlocked their lips once more. desperately, carly raised herself on her knees and let herself bask in the happiness of the moment. right hand raised to rest at the nape of his neck, digits clenched around strands of his blonde locks. the other snaked its way up his thigh to his waist, then snuck underneath his shirt to slide fingertips over taut skin. lost in the passion of the kiss, it took carly a moment to snap back to her thoughts, and the fact the height difference didn't allow the amount of contact she wanted.

          she broke the kiss only to stand, goofy smile stuck on her face as she stared at him on the bed. ❝ jasper, stop saying sorry. though you can most definitely say the other as often as you want. ❞ a giggle bubbled to the surface, one only a foolishly, deeply in love girl would create. carly dropped her purse to the ground, kicked her heels off, and felt the tears dry. JOY replaced all trace of pain in her system, reality unable to disuade the current elation. they were foolish idiots in love, never able to be together; yet the blonde's heart sang in her chest. carly climbed into his lap, wrapped her lithe limbs around his frame, and placed featherlight kisses from his forehead down to his chin, just shy of his lips before she smiled against them. ❝ i love you, jasper. so tonight, let's just forget the rest of the world and let ourselves be two foolish idiots blissfully, tragically in love. ❞ lips crashed against his, frame flushed against his as she poured every shred of the love she felt for him within her embrace.

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     he wanted to laugh when she called him vexing, knew if it were any other time he’d have smirked and made it his mission to prove to her just how VEXING he could really get… but thoughts like those were from a time that had passed, a time when he could hold her without worry for what the future would bring. now, with every word spoken and left unspoken between them, worry plagued him for he knew already that the pain he felt now would be nothing in comparison to what he’d have to deal with when the day came that he’d never be able to touch her again. as she dropped to her knees before him, his gaze remained fixed over her shoulder, steeling himself against the words and what they did to him, until he couldn’t help but look at her. a frown still marred his brow, even as his gaze was filled with MISERY at the impossibility of their situation, her words burrowing deep inside him and leaving him feeling vulnerable before her. his own words failed him at the magnitude of what she was suggesting, his heart aching at the idea that he could love her and keep her while still fulfilling his duties… it seemed utterly impossible that things could ever work out for him like that. silence as a hand lifted to cup the back of her neck, eyes closing as he rested his forehead against hers. a shaky exhale of breath, thumb brushing against the base of her skull as he spoke, words barely more than a whisper. ❝ you deserve so much more than someone who can’t offer you more than a love hidden behind closed doors. ❞ and yet, even as he spoke those words, he knew he was the one being selfish as he still couldn’t bring himself to tell her to leave. he knew the exact words he needed to speak to end things between them, knew exactly how to hurt her just enough that she gave up on him… but to his core, jasper knew he was a selfish being, and sometimes he couldn’t help but give into that.

          when his gaze finally met hers, the constricted air released in a staggered exhale and mometarily eased the tension in her bones. despite the frown etched on his face, jasper still took the last of her breath away and left her a puddle at his feet. nails dug into her palm to keep the eye contact, even when her anxiety screamed to turn her gaze away so he wouldn't see the tear stains down her cheeks or the well still in her hues. brows furrowed when his hand lifted to the nape of her neck, surprised until she melted at the contact of their skin. golden orbs fluttered close, a sob to follow the whispered words in the space between them. the trail of his thumb on her neck sent shockwaves to her system. shoulders shook, heart painfully quick in her chest as arms wrapped to steady her torso. unraveled on the carpet, she didn't dare open her eyes as her words crackled harshly between shallow breaths. ❝ can you stop, please? stop telling i can't, stop telling me i deserve more. i want you, no matter how IMPOSSIBLE a real future is for us. ❞ she opened her eyes and lifted a hand to rest on his cheek, a gentle plea in her gaze as she continued. ❝ you deserve the chance to feel loved before you're condemned to hold the weight on the crown on your head. so please, i beg you --- tell me i'm a foolish woman and you don't want to see me again. or let yourself, at least behind closed doors, be a man in love with a woman who selfishly, hopelessly loves you with every fiber of her being. ❞ too bold and desperate? maybe, but carly couldn't take another second of this misery and begged for an end to the suffering.

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     heart continued to break down into little pieces when the word selfish was spoken, knowing that the word couldn’t be farther from the truth when spoken in regards to carly. but he remained silent even as his own heart SCREAMED for him to stop doing this, to stop letting her believe anything so negative of herself and tell her he knew exactly how he felt. he longed to put them both out of their misery and take the risk that came with making his own decisions irregardless of whether they would match up with the plans his family had for him. but after a life of being reminded just how important it was for him to be the perfect prince for his people and how their needs were always to be worth more than his own, it was as though the two sides of jasper were at war with themselves; the idealistic side who longed for the life he’d told francis wasn’t for him, and the realistic side who knew he had no other option but for those claims to be true.

     a slightly bitter laugh fell from the male’s lips when carly spoke once more, fingers tightening and pulling strands of his hair as he tried to calm the racing of his heart, to regain control over himself as he all but fell apart. ❝ but if i admit how i feel, you’re just another thing i’ve loved and lost. ❞ shaking his head at his own words, hands released his hair and elbows dropped to rest on his knees as he let out a sigh, gaze remaining fixed on the carpet for he knew he’d never be able to let her go if he looked her way. this was why he kept his emotions under lock and key. this was why chose to remain cold as he followed the path expected of him by his parents, ready to take on the crown with a woman he could never bring himself to love. this… this was why even just the thought of admitting that he’d fallen in love with carly sage left him feeling as though his feet had been knocked from beneath him and his whole world flipped upside down. in a world of arranged marriages and political plays, LOVE was one of the few things that could truly destroy jasper savoy.

          once turned away, teeth tore into her lower lip to silence the sob in her throat. blurry vision lifted to navigate the escape, static in her ears as she felt glass run through her bloodstream. if only she'd bit her tongue, enjoyed another blissful night in his arms rather than RUIN everything between them. carly thought she would be able to say goodbye when things hit their expiration date, yet each slow step felt torturous. then, carly registered his words behind her and felt her feet freeze in place. HE LOVED HER. in the time spent together, carly sage learned long ago how to decipher between the lines, -- words unspoken due to his loyalty to his future as king, or his fear.❝ jasper savoy, you are the most VEXING person i've ever met. ❞ the blonde turned back to face him, gaze bright and fiery through her tears as she walked back to stand a slight distance away. after her whole confession, all the cards she'd laid on the table tonight, and he talked of losing her? was he serious? with a huff, carly dropped to her knees in front of him, so she could look up at him and try to meet his gaze. ❝ your logic has a fatal flaw. you almost let me walk out the door without admitting how you felt, and i don't think anything you admit to me would make me love you less. i know it's complicated, i know LOVE can't change the circumstances, but i want to be in love with you for as long as i can. i'm okay with hiding it from the world, but i can't keep hiding it with you. ❞

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     panic settled in when carly took his hand, part of him wanting to pull away and put more distance between them, end the conversation and all future interactions before it went too far. free hand raised to rub the back of his neck, eyes closing as he let out a sigh. god, what the fuck had he done? her words were everything he’d hoped someone would say to him, sentiments he’d wanted to be able to speak in return to the one he was to marry and share his life with. but what scared him the most about it all was that there was a part of him that felt like this might just be that moment he’d wanted; the moment francis always seemed to wax poetic about when she spoke about the future and the life she wanted not only for herself, but him. hand dropped as his gaze moved to focus on their joined hands, unable to look up at carly as his heart raced and his thoughts were left a tangled mess from the pandora’s box she’d opened within him. ❝ this doesn’t… this doesn’t help anyone but yourself, carly. ❞ hand pulled from hers as he stepped back to sit on the edge of the bed, head dropping into his hands. ❝ i’m glad you got it off your chest. i’m glad you’re allowed to follow your heart and admit your feelings to the one you love. not all of us can afford that luxury. ❞

            silly, stupid heart became shrapnel in her ribcage the moment their hands broke contact & jasper moved to the edge of the bed. carly stood frozen in place, weakly attempting to pick up the scattered pieces and keep herself together until she returned home. it would be too selfish of her to let herself fall apart in his presence, not after her selfish confession. SELFISH. the word left a bad taste in her mouth & echoed within her cranium. the girl who sacrified her happiness for her sister's freedom to choose; the girl who did everything she could for others -- finally selfish towards the one she loved. how could she be so CRUEL ? water ran a trail down her paled cheeks, silent as teeth gripped her lower lip. once one fell to her collarbone, carly hastily wiped them away. she'd hurt them both enough to add useless emotional responses to the catastrophic mix.

            the blonde told herself to simply leave, walk out the door & out of his life before she caused more DAMAGE. ❝ you're right, that was selfish of me. i... i'll go. ❞ without a glance in his direction, carly hastily collected her purse from the nearby chair, then began to walk away. when she got to the archway, feet paused, words stuck in her throat & aching for release. before she could process their gravity, or how he might respond, carly turned her gaze back to him. ❝ just... know that's not true. at least, not completely. we may not have the luxury to choose who we end up with, but we are all able to LOVE who we love. our hearts are our own, and selfish as it may be, i'll never be sorry for the fact mine chose you. even if it destroys me knowing that we'll never be more than a selfish daydream. my heart will still be yours, even though yours will never be mine. thank you for the infinite happiness you brought me in our stolen time together. ❞ voice faltered at the end, gaze on the floor so he couldn't see her tears. the blonde finally turned her back to begin her escape, welted hues ready to sprint the moment she got out the door.

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER SAVOY.

     white noise sounded in jasper’s ears when carly spoke, heart clenching in his chest at the implications of what her words could mean for them. he’d never meant to allow their relations to go as far as they had, assuming it would go no further than physical and remain behind the scenes while they were both stuck in their unwanted marriages. the possibility that feelings may form… jasper supposed he’d been so far in denial that it’d never even crossed his mind. a frown scrunched his brow as he met carly’s gaze, silent for a moment as he struggled to find his words until they tumbled out. ❝ don’t do that to yourself. ❞ regret filled his system the moment he spoke, pulling slightly away to put a bit of space between them. ❝ i’m sorry. you just… you can’t. ❞

           ❝ but i do ❞ she whispered, unable to bite her tongue and concede to his logic. she shouldn’t love him — couldn’t in their circumstances, yet her chest ached the instant he added distance between them. the weight of his silence after her confession implied lack of reciprocation, but caution already thrown to the wind urged the blonde to continue. carly moved closer, took tentative hold of his hand as her golden gaze rested on him. ❝ i have spent most of my life pretending to be the perfect daughter, and lock away all my true feelings in favor of my father’s wishes. with you, i stopped needing to pretend and let myself just be who i am… and who i am is stupidly, maddeningly in love with you. i know you can't love me back, and i'm not expecting anything from this. i just didn't want to keep pretending that i didn't love you a second longer, and i wanted you to hear it just once before i lost you. ❞

[missquickstudy]

❝ i feel like a soccer mom. i’m too young for that.❞ she picks up her iced coffee and takes a sip. why does everything have to make her feel so old? // @bellissimoxinganno

[bellissimoxinganno]

       ❝ don't you think that's a little dramatic? you're still young, even if you're a mom. ❞ the elder blonde chuckled, then took a sip of her own latte. ❝ at least you're a hot mom, and brilliant to boot. you're the envy of all the moms. so what's the worry? ❞

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER & CARLY ┊ WHEN IN ROME

             ❝ i love you. ❞ confession dipped in honey, nervous & sincere as she forced herself to keep contact with his gaze. ❝ i know it’s not mine to say; i know what i just said could mean the end of this and i know this is probably the absolute worst timing… --- i just couldn’t spend another second pretending i don’t. i love you, jazz. ❞ teeth dug into her bottom lip, trepidation for the worst case scenario in consequence to a foolish woman’s midnight confession.

[facelesssnaps]

[jcekeerys]

[bellissimoxinganno]

TIA.

          a quiet sniffle as she made her body tremble, a hand lifting to bring her thumb nail between her teeth, though more so using the action as a convenient way of hiding the tiny little grin that formed when he fell for her act, stopping himself before her could hold her. this kinda boy… oh, it was her favourite kinda boy. gaze lifted to meet his when he spoke, nail leaving her smile free mouth to wipe away the tear that’d fallen, everything about her practically SCREAMING innocence as she nodded, seemingly reluctant to agree to his reassurances. she bit her lip when he spoke once more, though this time with an offer to look after her had daddy’s voice whispering in the back of her head about what a good girl she was for having her plan go so perfectly to plan. she couldn’t wait to tell him all about cicero next time she wrote to him. she remained silent after his offer, wanting to seem as though she were nervously contemplating his offer and knowing she’d seem SUSS if she agreed to be alone with another jock so quickly after being rescued from another. gaze shifted to glance around him and she quickly shook his head as though spooked, shifting further forward to tuck herself under his arm so he could protect her from boys who were less a monster than she girl he thought he’d saved. ❝ i don’t feel safe here anymore. ❞ looking up at him, she swallowed with a slight frown, keeping her voice timid though inserting just a hint of an attempt at determination. ❝ do you promise? i’ve got pepper spray, y'know. i swear i’ll use it this time! ❞

          when the blonde shifted closer to tuck at his side, cicero raised an arm to lay gently on her shoulders, a sign of comfort rather than possession. she was obviously shaken after the ordeal, and guilt lodged itself in his throat. the least he could do was offer her a protector to get home safely; his conscious wouldn't let himself be otherwise. a low chuckle at the thought of this little cute blonde using pepper spray, happily unaware of any danger she might pose. the hand not on her shoulder lifted to mark an X over his heart, hazel orbs warm as he stared down at her. ❝ cross my heart, you have my word. no pepper spray will be necessary, and if i do make you uncomfortable, you can tell me to buzz right on off. i have my jeep outside if you want a ride, or if you live closeby i don't mind the walk. ❞ cicero allowed the blonde complete control, his way of being a gentlmen as he slowly ushered them off the dance floor and towards the front door.

[bellissimoxinganno]

DAD.

     head dropped forward as he gave a snort of amusement at the admission, unable to help himself despite how utterly ridiculous and somewhat surreal the whole conversation was. ❝ you got yourself a keeper, kid. ❞ ushered into the hallway with the door closed behind them, eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden switch in demeanor, previous smirk and joking manner replaced with a whole new nervous version of elliot whitlock that didn’t always make an appearance. a soft smile crossed jasper’s lips when elliot spoke further, a swell of PRIDE in his chest that even after everything he’d put his family through over the years, his youngest son still trusted and respected him enough to seek his advice on such a topic. sure, a father hardly wanted to consider his children’s sexual activities and how his youngest was no longer a child, but it filled him with pride to know from that question alone, he had nothing to worry about in terms of elliot’s future relationships. crazy how a fuck up like himself could have a hand in creating two brilliant sons. throat cleared as one hand lifted to scratch his jaw, considering his words. ❝ that depends; how is this girlfriend of yours with clichés? ❞ a quiet huff of laughter before he spoke once more. ❝ you have to make sure she knows the moment is about her; regardless of whether it’s her first time or not, you treat her well and make sure it’s the only time she wants to remember. ❞ eyebrow arches, hint of a grin. knowing his son, his next two suggestions had already been covered. ❝ flowers can’t hurt, either. or music. appropriate music, of course. and uh. make sure no one is home to interrupt, yeah? family members barging in is a bit of a mood killer. ❞

          ❝ pfft, you've met my girlfriend dad, but it doesn't stop me from doing them anyway. ❞ besides, elliot loved clichés and all the silly romantic shit jordan rolled her eyes at. mainly because he loved seeing the way her dark eyes twinkled before dealing the blow to his arm. he wanted to make their night the most magical, wonderful, unforgettable time he could despite the bundle of nerves lodged in his belly. he listened to his father's wisdom; happy to have his dad here rather than needing to go to his mom as an only resort. there's just some things you need a dad for, and this was one of those times. ❝ thanks dad for the good advice. two questions. one, would i just had sex, pour some sugar on me, and i'll make love to you be good for the playlist? ❞ toothish grin broke on his face, the nerves lessened after the sound advice and paved the way for his normal antics. ❝ and two, could you maybe help me get out of family game night at aunt francis so i can invite jordan over? we can't at her place and i don't want my first time to be in a car.... ❞

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER WHITLOCK.

     he couldn’t quite help but let his eyes pan over her form when she stood, mentally patting his own back for the shirt he’d chosen for her when he’d gotten her into his bed last night. it’d been a shock to say the least when ❝ pretty sure you could have given he a lap dance in front of everyone last night and still no one would consider carly sage to be a harlot. ❞ gaze flashed at his words, mental images crossing his mind of her doing so, but preferably in a place where he didn’t need to share her. hand gestured in the direction of his drawers, trying to keep the amusement out of his tone. ❝ you puked on your clothes, but i’m sure there’s something of mine you could make fit if you really want to. or i can show you where the laundry is. ❞ he remained in place now that he’d given her the options she had, curious to see whether she’d take up the offer of wearing his clothes. part of him hoped she would; knowing what she looked like in his button down, he knew it wouldn’t hurt to see a pretty girl in his old university jumper and a pair of his shorts. ❝ can’t say i expected you to show up again, let alone to actually enjoy yourself this time around. ❞ a hint of a smile formed on his lips; regardless of her current state of discomfort, he had no doubt she’d had fun during her drunken antics, and jasper… sure, he’d only known her briefly, but it was nice to see that side of the girl who came across as so perfectly restrained. ❝ refreshing, certainly. but far from expected. ❞

           ❝ you'd be surprised. ❞ words muttered under her breath without a second thought to their gravity and the dark flash of anger in her eyes. she pushed away the pesky tune of keith's voice in her head, and focused on the options placed before her. wait until her laundry finished here to arrive in her clothes from last eve, or come back in a guy's clothing ? sarah will never let her live this down. she could already hear the jokes sarah would make at her expense after this overnighter. carly pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes shut to block the annoyingly bright morning sun. why did anyone drink themselves into oblivion if it came with such a killer repercussion the next morning?

           before she could settle on an option, jasper's voice broke the silence. golden gaze opened to see the hint of a smile on his lips, knowing how much he must have enjoyed the show last night, especially after she'd be so critical the first night they'd met. ❝ i'm glad you found my drunken self refreshing, but i doubt she'll make an appearance again. i'll gladly settle for being a one hit wonder at your parties. ❞ at least so long as her father didn't try to push another date with the wonderful darnell boy a few doors down from her childhood home. ❝ i don't want to overstay my welcome, but if i could wash my clothes, that'd be nice. and maybe get some shorts while i wait? ❞ carly bit her lip, hoping she didn't come across ungrateful for all jasper had done last night for her.

[bellissimoxinganno]

JASPER WHITLOCK.

     morning afters were far from a regular occurrence for jasper; mornings were for recovering from the night before, sending the occasional straggler packing, or even entertaining maria if she deigned to drop by and require his attention. morning afters with someone in his bed… there was a feint tug to his heart strings at the thought, even considering this particular morning after was entirely platonic, an unfamiliar pang of LONELINESS at the understanding that this was to be a one off experience. mentally shaking himself from the thoughts that entangled him, jasper quickly brought himself back to the moment at hand when she spoke. one eyebrow quirked in response to her stammered question, the smirk still firmly in place as he rested his hip against the dresser. he drew out the silence as he continued watching her, making her wait before he shook his head lightly. ❝ trust me, if we’d spent the night together, you wouldn’t have forgotten so easily. ❞ an amused chuckle, fully aware he was being ARROGANT but knowing from previous experience that was it was entirely justified. ❝ but yes, that’s mine. fits you quite nicely, don’t you think? ❞ head tilted to the side, amusement clear in his gaze as he remained ever so casual before her.

          oh no oh no oh no. the blonde began to spiral in the silence, eyes fixated on the smirk as she tried her best to thread the fragments of her memory together for a clear picture. carly sage, the preacher's daughter, was not the girl who got drunk at a party. she was not the girl who woke up practically naked in a man's bed, let alone one who carried a hefty reputation and already hooked up with her roommate, sarah. the moment the hyperventilating began, jasper shook his head and eased the knot from the pit of her stomach. a sigh of relief escaped her lips, a silent thanks to god, before brows furrowed ever so slightly. she had been drunk, in her lace underwear, and jasper whitlock hadn't taken advantage? interesting. an eye roll met the amused spark in his gaze, cheeks flustered but breath steady as she awkwardly rolled herself out of the bed and tugged at the rather short button down. the blonde shifted on her toes, limbs quick to wrap around her frame and cover herself as much as possible. she ignored the backhanded compliment, eyes searching the floor for her clothes before her gaze returned to his. ❝ um... thank you for the shirt, and for being a gentlemen last night, but could you guide me to my clothes so i don't look more like a harlot than i already do on my walk back to campus? ❞