hi,i remember reading your fanfic âthe other side of paradiseâ about 2 years back,and it genuinely re wired my brain. I have yet to read a better fanfic⊠The way you wrote it stuck with me and i remember CRYING TO IT lol. Sorry for the glaze i just wanted to let you know how much of an impact it had on me, being so iâm still thinking about it 2 years laterđ
this is so sweet of you đ„č i loved writing it and since then iâve edited a few times bc i think my writing evolved a little but itâs still my baby at its core đ«¶đ» first fanfic i was invested enough to actually finish!! thank u again for loving it đ„ș
†summary: you decided to test a theory that asking for rafeâs help might push him to finally make a move on you
†w/c: 3.5k
†warnings: kiiinda obsessive/softie rafe, sexual tension, making out, a bit suggestive at the end
masterlist taglist
You and Rafe have been circling each other for months.Â
It started seemingly out of nowhere. One day neither of you seemed to care or notice each otherâs existence, and the next you became painfully aware that he was everywhere. Like the bulb just lit up in your head, and your eyes started catching him in your peripheral vision all the damn timeâat the bonfires, at the beach when you came there with your girlfriends, at the country club with that smug grin on his face as if he knew he was the best, at the dinners that your families held together. Well, at least that's what it was like for you.Â
You caught his eyes staring at you more times than you could count, and you started looking back, thriving on the attention, loving the way he always noticed you even in a room full of people. Not to mention how hot he actually was and how it made you feel whenever he brushed past youâall big and warmâaccidentally touching your arm and mumbling a low âsorryâ as if it were just an accident.Â
You were in somewhat similar circles, so you made sure to give him all the cues that you didnât mind him actually approaching you to talk for more than two seconds.Â
But he never made a move.Â
Which, on its own, was ridiculous to you. You waited. Because duhâhe was Rafe. He was the one who usually approached girls and flirted like his life depended on it. He was the one who, apparently, didnât give two shits about anything or anyone enough to care what people were thinking of him, but when it came to you, he suddenly was hesitant.Â
Every random run-in became more tense, more weirdâthe heavy glances, the smirks, the way his tongue ran over his lower lip when you caught him staring again, the way your fingers just barely glazed each other whenever he passed you the cup at the party. You probably would never forget when you accidentally bumped into him when he walked out of the corner so suddenly, because the look in his eyes was priceless. You clearly caught him off guard, and he didnât expect to meet you. In a few seconds a thousand different emotions flashed through Rafeâs face, from surprise to a sudden, ever so noticeable millisecond of shyness, then back to his usual nonchalance. His eyes then darted down to the floor, and he brushed past you. Just like that.Â
You knew you werenât crazy. You could feel it in your bones that you were right about all the little signs. And honestly, after hearing a stupid yet interesting idea from your friend, you were done waiting. She said something about guys getting stupidly attracted when you ask them for small favors. It makes them feel needed and useful, even rewarded, and since Rafe already looked at you like he wanted you, you might as well give him an idea that you donât mind him taking care of you.Â
It seemed like you didnât even have to try to find an excuse to ask for his help, because one day when you and your girlfriends went to the country club for some fun time, Rafe and his buddies were already there, standing in the back area of the main building and seemingly waiting for somebody else.Â
You saw them when you walked out of the back door to get the forgotten tote bag with all of your swimming stuff you planned to use for a day near the pool. The door squeaked heavily under your weight as you pushed it to open, and you groaned, both palms flat against the slick glass, realizing that they still hadnât fixed it despite the many complaints from the visitors.Â
Your eyes caught his immediately after you got under the bright sun, his form straightening up a bit the moment he saw you walking out of the building, and you couldnât help but smile at the way Rafe's eyes studied you briefly in your baby blue bikini and a cover-up at your hips.Â
âHey, guys.â You greeted them, moving past the group with only your flip flops now slapping against the pavement, like nothing was happening, like you werenât really excited to see a certain someone youâd been planning on. The bag felt heavy on your shoulder, but a few intense gazes at the back of your head were sure as hell even heavier, but you decided to ignore them for now and get back into the building to not cause any more interest.Â
You walked past them looking straight ahead of you, as confident as ever, but then you reached the handle of the door, pulling it once, twice, and then again with both of your hands. It stayed closed shut, and your slippers were only sliding off your feet the more effort you put into it. You groaned, frustrated instantly, looking back at the guys to see Rafe still looking directly at you like it was the most normal thing.Â
You smirked to yourself before turning back around to face the group. âRafe?â You asked softly, your voice smooth and light, which made his brows shoot up instantly. Well, that was new. âCould you help me open the door, please?â He moved before you could even properly end the sentence, slightly jogging towards you to reach you faster, all while his friends were snickering and grinning like idiots at the sight of it allâRafe Cameron willingly helping someone without a single complaint or roll of his eyes.Â
And then he was right in front of you. All tall, big, and tanned from the never-ending days on the golf course or his boats, with his cap turned backwards and light shirt clinging to his broad shoulders. You could read the surprise on his face, the sliver of hesitation because of your sudden ask, which quickly turned into something completely different the moment his eyes roamed over you againâthe little bit of fabric that you had covering your body had suddenly stripped his mind of all of the other thoughts.Â
âI really hate that they still didnât fix this damn door, I can barely move it on my own.â
âSure.â He rasped finally, hand reaching out to open the heavy door with little to no effort, and stepping aside to let you walk in.Â
âThank you, Rafe. Youâre my savior.â A smile touched your lips again as you looked up into his bright and surprised eyes. You reached with your hand without even thinking, briefly touching his forearm in a thankful yet innocent gesture, before you walked inside and left him standing there with a million things on his mind.
Not even three days later Sarah called you to say that she maxed out Wardâs card. Which, in your language, meant a shit ton of new clothes that you could possibly steal or borrow from her, and which meant a girlsâ night at Tanneyhill.Â
By the evening basically all of the available surfaces in her room were covered in clothes, while the bed looked like Sarahâs closet had just exploded. In the middle of it all you stood in the shortest turquoise dress youâd even worn, with your friend promising that you looked hot as fuck in it. You twirled in front of the mirror, looking at yourself from different angles, being slightly unsure about the model and an unusual color.Â
âI am telling you, this dress was literally made for you, babe. Everyone would go nuts if they saw you in it.â Sarah laughed again, while still digging through the pile on the floor to find the skirt she wanted to pair her new top with.Â
âYou think so?â You turned around again, looking at your legs, which did look good with that exact length. You looked at your friend, biting your lip at the lie that was about to roll off your tongue. âI have to go pee real quick, okay?âÂ
You didnât have to. But there was an idea that sounded way too good in your head, and never-ending voices of the guys from downstairs made your skin itch with the thought that Rafe was not that far away and it was way too good of an opportunity to miss it.Â
You padded down the stairs into the main room, almost instantly walking into something you knew Ward didnât allow when he was at homeâRafe, Topper, and Kelse sprawled on the expensive leather couches, beer bottles on the glass table, and some random football match on.Â
âRafe?â You turned your head to the side as you called his name, noting the way he, once again, straightened up and gave you his full attention. So damn pathetic, he thought. âQuick question, but do you think the dress looks good? Sarah says it does, but I'm not really sure about the style and color. I need an unbiased opinion.â
Rafe found himself almost choking on air the moment those words left your mouth because, why in the hell, were you asking his opinion? His one was for sure far from unbiased when you looked like that. The tips of his ears instantly started warming up, indicating how thrown off he felt, the palms of his hands slid down the jean material on his thighs in a weirdly nervous way.Â
He tried not to stare at you like an idiot and tried to get back to his usual routine of rolling his eyes at any stupid question people tried to ask him. But with you it felt different, and he couldnât bring himself to be rude when you seemed so soft and genuine. When you wanted his opinion out of all people.Â
You twirled again, the material riding up your thighs just the tiniest bit, but sure as hell enough for Rafeâs eyes to go there. âSo?â You smiled impatiently, half actually wanting his approval and attention and half just enjoying how jittery he looked.Â
âYeah.â Rafe's voice sounded hoarse. He looked up and down again, eyes heavy-lidded and as intense as always, adjusting himself on the couch as if he felt uncomfortable. âItâs pretty.âÂ
He wanted to say that you were pretty but bit his tongue at the last moment to not make it seem weird. He shifted his body so his elbows rested against his knees and you couldnât help but focus on the tanned skin of his biceps that now bulged from the polo. You bet he was as soft and warm as he looked.Â
You smirked, content enough that you managed to throw him off again. You mumbled a small and almost way too intimate âthanks,â looking him straight in the eyes before stepping back toward the stairs.
âWe also think it looks good.â Kelse snickered at the fact that you didnât even acknowledge any of them, making it seem like he was aware of the game that you were playing.
You paused, as if remembering that it was a bit impolite to so bluntly ignore boys who were barely holding back their smirks. You totally forgot that they were even there.Â
âYeah, well, thanks!â You smiled at them, a bright contrast with how you responded to Rafe, before turning around and running back upstairs.Â
He thought he was going crazy. You were making him go crazy. And he wasnât even sure whether you were just that oblivious or if it was your fucked-up plan all along.Â
As if the first two instances were not enough, over the next weeks you seemed to become overly dependent on Rafe, or at least somehow you always ended up in a situation where you would be able to ask for something. That one time when you asked him to make you a drink at a party because âTopperâs always tastes like shit,â or when you really needed to make a call from his phone, or when you and your families were sitting at a restaurant and you asked him to bring you your charger from the car. And it was just things off the top of his head.Â
Each time you looked up at him with those soft doe eyes, a small smile was on your lips that always made him stare just a tad bit longer than it was acceptable. He made you a drink. He let you make a phone call. He got your charger. Just to hear your gratitude each time, as his name naturally rolled off your tongue.Â
Just to get that weird kick of pride every time he was useful for you.Â
Just to then step back away from you, sit at the farther corner of the table, and sulk in his own weirdly warm and kind of uncomfortable feelings. Rafe could feel your fragrance stuck around him like some sticky honey even if he still hadn't gotten the chance to touch you. His eyes returned to you not even a minute later to see you already looking at him but then focusing on something else as if he didnât just catch you.
You smiled to yourself, not looking at him anymoreâfixing your hair or your necklace, checking your phone, or already switching your attention to anybody elseâas if knowing that that little favor got him hooked on you for the rest of the night. It made his skin itch and leg jump nervously, because whatever you did, it worked.  Â
Now Rafe stared at your name on his phone with a mixture of emotions. You were calling him. For the first time. And he knew that it was you because a few months ago he accidentally found your phone number and had it saved âjust in case,â not thinking too much about it.Â
Now it was ringing in his hand while he looked down at it with brows drawn tightly together and jaw tight from sudden nerves. He couldnât understand what the fuck was going on for the life of him.
He swiped right with a weird tremor in his hand, his throat suddenly dry as if he had eaten a handful of sand.Â
âYeah?â Rafe winced at the sound of his own voice. His hand reached up to the back of his neck, rubbing it even before he could hear your answer.
âRafe? Hi, itâs me.âÂ
âI know.â
âYou know?â
âYeah.â
âOh.â Your voice sounded so soft, and he swore he could hear you smile. Rafe fell back against the back of the couch, sprawling against the sleek leather and patiently waiting for you to speak again. His eyes focused on the shadows on the ceiling, but in the back of his mind he thought about how you probably looked nowâsoft, probably twirling something in your hand the way he saw you doing a million times, and, well, probably planning on torturing him a bit more. âUm, yeah, okay! So I didnât want to bother youâlike, reallyâbut I kinda need some help with the boxes at my place, and I just thoughâŠâ You trailed suggestively. Rafe shut his eyes, jaw tight. âMaybe you could help me out, please?â
He was there not even fifteen minutes later. Pathetically enough, he couldnât say "no." He didnât want to. He felt the tugging feeling in his chest that maybe you were using him because he was so fucking obvious with his crush. Maybe you were, in fact, just like the other girls on the island who were not new to manipulating guys for their money or things they could get, even if deep down he knew that it was dumb to even consider that. But Rafe still, like a desperate teenager who got a sliver of attention from the cool girl from his school, came around and let himself be useful to you, because what ifâŠ
âIâm so sorry that I called you, Rafe!â You greeted him the moment he jumped out of his truck, all smiley and friendly as always. You were dressed in a cute little set of shorts and a tank top, which was good enough for Rafe to take a double look down your body. His palms were sweating from the sudden want to run over the soft material that hugged you perfectly and in all the right places. âI really need to get this into my car, and my dadâs out of town.â
He rubbed the back of his neck, jaw tight. âItâs fine.â Short. Gruff. He hated how unsteady he felt around you latelyâlike his skin was too tight and his thoughts too loud. Yet not a single part of him was able to resist you when you looked at him like that or when you murmured his name. It was something that he could only imagine before that, something that made him feel useful and crave your approval more.Â
Rafe moved quickly, picking up boxes from the front steps of your house and then loading them into the trunk of your car, while you followed him back and forth. Your eyes never left his body, lingering on the way the veins on his arms bulged from the heavy weight, wondering how they would feel on you when he finally pulls himself together. While Rafe thought of it as sweet, sweet torture, because what else could he call it when you fully enveloped him in your scent and stood way too close to him, so whenever he bent down for a box, he was only met with your silky-smooth legs right in front of his face?Â
When the last box slipped into the trunk, he closed it with a soft thud, dusting off his hands, and turned to face you. You leaned against the side of the car, hands crossed across your chest, eyes already set on his face as if you were waiting for him to notice. Rafeâs pulse spiked up. He finally got too aware that you two were the only ones standing on the street, and the sun was setting behind him and coloring everything around you in a warm golden light. You were almost too pretty like this, and the nauseous feeling of realization made his face twist involuntarily.
âWhat?â You murmured softly.
âWhy me?â He asked bluntly, his voice low and rough. Rafe stepped closer, backing you against the side of the car, trying to regain at least some part of the control you got over him. âYouâve got friends. Family. Half the island would trip over themselves if you asked them for anything. But you keep picking me. The door. The dress. Drinks at parties. Now fucking boxes. What game are you playing?â
You didnât flinch. Instead, you tilted your head, lips curving into a slow, flirty smile as you looked up at him through your lashes. Probably for the first time since you've known Rafe Cameron, you saw him being actually nervous with his emotions all over the place.Â
âMaybe I like that youâre helping me. Maybe I like that you canât say ânoâ to me. Maybe I wanted to stay on your mind all the time.â Your hand reached out to the collar of his polo, fixing it. Innocently, but enough for Rafe to feel blood pumping in his ears. âDid it work?â
Fuck.Â
You could visibly see the realization settling in, the way his pupils dilated and the baby blue got almost fully consumed. His throat bubbled, yet he still couldnât say a thing. You waited a few long moments, observing his reaction, trying to figure out what was going on in that head of his that seemed to never actually turn off. His jaw flexed like he was fighting every instinct he had.
Rafeâs hand shot up, cupping the side of your face as he closed the last inch of space between you. The kiss hit like a stormâhungry, desperate, months of circling and teasing exploding all at once. His mouth claimed yours with bruising heat, tongue sliding deep and possessive, tasting you like heâd been dying for it, even if you felt just the tiniest tremor in his hand. You moaned into him, fingers tightening in his shirt as you kissed him back just as fiercely, bodies pressing together against the warm metal of the car.
Rafe groaned against your lips, finally giving in to the urge of touching you, allowing his free hand to gently land on your waist and, the next moment, fully circle around it to bring you impossibly closer to him. He was everywhere around you, filling all of your senses, completely shutting down your brain, until the only thought was how right it felt. When he sucked your bottom lip between his teeth and tugged gently, you whimpered, nails digging into his shoulders.
He pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against yours, both of you breathing hard, lips brushing with every exhale. His voice was hoarse this time. âYouâve been driving me insane⊠on purpose.â
You didnât deny it. Instead, you smiled, soft and wicked, then silently tightened your grip on the front of his shirt. Your eyes held his as you started walking backward toward your front door, tugging him along.Â
Rafe followed without a word, like an obedient puppy with big, hungry, and glassy eyes, letting you pull him inside.Â
i needd ur other rafe recs on tumblr ? which authors do u love
so, all of my recs are on my @ihrtharlow blog! but, off the top of my head, some authors i always return to and some new ones that i've seen and loved would have to be...
@zyafics will always be a top rec from me as well! what started it all was her heartbreak:live smau for rafe and it was all downhill from there lmao
@itneverendshere : her stuff is so good (ik she's probably tired of me, this is the second time tagging her SORRY). everything i've ever read of hers was amazing, and it's so funny because i was just reading her fic saudade last night, but read everything. the way she writes rafe and her readers is so mesmerizing, truly
@spankyourlocalbrat as well! she has some amazing concepts , a beautiful theme and layout, and the way she writes rafe has to be chef's kiss
@lacyydollette her babydaddy!rafe x babymama!reader is lowkey out of this world and i believe she has this one blurb where the reader does that thing where she calls ex!rafe just to say goodnight and i lovedddd it
@angelicstarkey her masterlist is a gold mine! i have yet to go through it entirely but what i have read, i've loved
@lovelydollzz too! she has such a unique way of setting up her pieces, for one, and "im sorry that he hit you" really hooked me i cannot lie
@bittersweetlyblue I DONT' KNOW HOW I FORGOT HER SO LATE DOWN THE LINE? but her concepts are so amazing, her ideas are some i've never seen before and her work overall is just so fascinating to me
@lynnieverse just stumbled across her last night and have bookmarked some things to read but her smau's that i have yet to finish are SO good
there are lots of ppl missing from this, so sorry for that! but follow my recs blog to keep up with what i read from all the other talented ppl xx
