Glass Stares

take a pic, its will last longer

[mckinleyxryan]

(SAMANTHA LOGAN, CIS-WOMEN, SHE/HER) Oh, is that McKINLEY RYAN? I heard the TWENTY EIGHT year old is BUBBLEY. But don’t let that pretty face fool you, they are also CLOSED OFF. Makes sense seeing how they are a CONARTIST in the CRIMSONS gang. (Leila)

BASICS

Full Name: McKinley Tate Ryan

Nickname: Kinley, Kin, Kins, Ry, Ryan

Age: 28

DOB: April 8th

Parents: tbd

Siblings: tbd

Hair color: brown

Eye color: Brown

Height: 5'5

Tattoos: tbd

Scars: tbd

Piercings: tbd

Sexuality: bisexual

Occupation: tba

Inspired by : Toph Beifong (Avatar) Winter Ashby (Kill Switch) Lexie (Ice Castles)

BACKGROUND

Kinley was a free spirit growing up, spending the second half of her childhood in busy Brooklyn. She grew up financially comfortable, as one can get with a single father in the NYPD.

KInley was sweet, kind and popular. Head cheerleader, Worlds champion, smart. Everyone wanted to be her or be with her. That was the thing about Kinley, she was friends with everyone, nice to any person.

She faced a harsh reality when all the people she supported did not return the favor in her time of need. She never turned bitter, only pushed her to work harder. Everyone saw her as weak after the car accident, that she would no longer be the person she was. She took a year off school to recover and adjust to her new life and when she returned on the first day of school the following year, no damn person could blame anything on her blindness.

After the accident, her father turned dirty to help pay for her medical bills. He tied himself to the notorious Crimson's gang and after a few years, he became incredibly close with the gang.

Kinley stayed local for college and as the Ryan and Crimson bonds strengthened she met a fellow gang member in her early college days who brought her in, her last name was enough a free ticket in. This put a lot of strain on her relationship with her father who never wanted that life for her, but for the first time in a long time, she felt protected.

Kinley and Adam Ryan had problems way before the ties with the gang or the accident, he grew bitter he was stuck with annoying teenage girl, that his wife left him, that her mom also jumped ship. He took a lot of those frustrations out on Kinley with the help of burbon.

While Kinley persevered and came out on top, she STRUGGLED to get where she was. Her already dwindling confidence took a major hit after the accident and she struggled mentally on top of her new physical challenges. This pushed Kinley to advocate for mental health and what she studied in school.

Kinley works at St. Johns Hospital as a traumatic injury consultant. She talks to patients who come in and have to endure big changes such as loss of sight, and hearing, amputees, and cancer patients.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Enemies to lovers/fuckers: They fight, bicker, he does not take it easy on her one bit. He will go out of his way to be outright mean and cruel in ways people would say what the fuck and it brings out the little fire in her. HAte fucking but he is obsessive and possessive, does not see her as weak, and will never treat her any different.

[drkeminity]

Hero released a low, guttural chuckle, the sound edged with raw need as his fingers traced the gentle dip of her spine, pulling her firmly against him. "That so?" he murmured, his voice thick, laden with something deeper, something primal. His lips hovered near the curve of her ear, the warmth of his breath teasing before trailing lower, leaving deliberate, burning kisses along the exposed column of her neck.

His hands, though unhurried, carried a palpable urgency—an insatiable hunger he had been forced to temper for far too long. Two weeks of restraint, of skirting the edge of control, of pretending patience was within his reach. The notion felt almost ridiculous now, with the way she softened against him, with the way her breath hitched as his fingers dipped lower, grazing the smooth expanse of her abdomen with featherlight precision.

"You’re right, sugar," he drawled, his voice a slow pour of molasses, thick with intent. "I reckon I got a real good idea of how to warm you up."

He took her hand then, his calloused fingers curling over hers, guiding her downward—pressing himself closer from behind so she could feel the full extent of his need. "Let’s see if you remember those lessons of ours, hmm?" he rasped, his lips curling against the sensitive skin of her neck. His teeth dragged over her pulse point, just enough to send a tremor through her, just enough to remind her that patience had never been his virtue.

No, tonight, there would be no holding back. Not when she was here, in his space, in his hands, exactly where she was meant to be.

Because he needed her.

[mckinleyxryan]

As his lips trailed down her neck she was brought back. This was new but old at the same time. As his fingers lingered down her spine a small chill followed.

It was Hero, her Hero. In name and title. He was still the cute brown eyes boy who saved her. It was insane to think they went this long since the last time they shared a bed. Twelve years. It would be an entirely new experience, their tastes were not the same and nor would they.

"Hero-" She gasped as she pressed her eyes shut, focusing on his touch, "Please." She nearly whimpered as he took her hand and pressed into her back.

She let their combined hands slip below her waistband and push past her panties. At the first brush, she let her head fall back and rest against him. She let her fingers slide through her wet folds as she let a few whimpers leave her lips. His nips and bites on her neck had her ready to give in to him.

"Please, I think you need to show me again." She said as she let her free hand grip the forearm of the one in her pants. "I need your help. I need your fingers."

[mckinleyxryan]

location: The Alibi Central Status: Closed @grinningdevils any

McKinley did like to go out and have some fun at bars but lately, with everything going on, she has been keeping it pretty chill. Going up to the bar, she ordered her drink but was disappointed to hear that Elias wasn't working tonight. Jackson was around, though, and he always was the owner of the joint. Hearing someone come up next to her, she put a soft smile on her face, "They are a little slow tonight."

[drkeminity]

His place wasn’t much—just a small apartment that smelled like leather and whiskey, the kind of place where a man didn't waste time on decor. But it was his. And now, it had her in it.

He shut the door behind them with a quiet click, eyes on her the whole time. His fingers were rough but careful as he reached for her coat, tugging it from her shoulders with slow, deliberate ease. “Watch your step, sugar,” he murmured, low and gruff, as he guided her past a scuffed-up tool kit and a pair of well-worn work boots near the door. “Place ain't exactly guest-ready.”

Like hell he’d planned on bringin’ anyone back here tonight.

And yet, here she was—soft in his hands, warm against the chill that clung to them both.

His breath was steady, but his mind was runnin’ a mile a damn minute. What the hell was he doin’? What the hell was he thinkin’? He shoulda let her go, shoulda walked away before this got even messier than it already was.

But then she was there, close enough that he could feel her heat, close enough that the scent of her shampoo wrapped around him like a noose.

His fingers brushed the bare skin of her arms as he finished slipping her coat off, knuckles grazing her ribs as he took his time with it. Maybe longer than necessary. But damn if he could help himself.

Hero let out a breath, rough and heavy, as he finally stepped back, his eyes flicking over her like he was still tryin’ to convince himself this was real. “‘Bout time I got you somewhere warm, huh?” His voice was quieter now, deeper. “Bet you ain’t numb no more.”

A slow smirk tugged at his lips as he reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But just in case,” he murmured, fingers lingering at her jaw, “I can think of a few ways to fix that.”

[mckinleyxryan]

They made it out. Kinny didn’t mind leaving the even early, not when she was going home with Hero. Two painful weeks of bliss and yet neither of them can hold out a second longer. She need d him. Needed to feel him close. To make love with him again.

He was her first and she knew some day, hopefully now, he would be her last too. Because at the end of the day no one compared. There was no one else.

“Trust me, I don’t mind. You helped me move and have seen the state of that mess already,” she said with a soft smile as she held onto him as they moved throughout the space.

Kinny let him remove her coat, the feel of his fingers lingering over her bare skin sent anticipation right down to her core, she only hoped that wouldn’t be the only article of clothing he would be removing off her tonight. She came prepared, and what lied under her clothes was just for him.

She took in a deep breath, taking his scent in. Everything about him sent her in a frenzy. “I’m still a little cold. But I think you know how to fix that.”

[lionhcartt]

Lily's eyes widened before she smacked her head with the palm of her hand. "Oh fuck, you're right. I'm sorry, this week has been a bit of a blur." She shot her a sheepish smile before her eyes drifted down to her shoes. "I've kind of... blacked this whole week out if I'm being honest." She picked up a stray hoop before tossing it aimlessly onto one of the bottles.

A miss.

"It's my first Valentines day single, which honestly... I'm surprised I'm not sedated right now. I've been crashing out for a week." Lily winced at the thought. She let out a sigh before shaking her head of the memories before shooting McKinley a smile.

"But that's not important, I'm sure your man's gonna spoil you relentlessly. Pretty girl like you deserves it." Lily stretched her hands above her head with a sigh before immediately turning to the kid trying to sneak another ring in.

"Another five dollars if you want another go, kid." She chirped.

[mckinleyxryan]

McKinley shook her off, "It'd all good. It's been one of those weeks." She said with a soft laugh. "Honestly, I understand the sting of being single but I'm sure it will all be okay eventually. Was it a recent break-up?" Kinny asked, she felt bad, she could tell the girl was still upset by the split. "Don't give whoever that power over you, I'm such you are a baddie and a catch so get out here and live it up. Don't let some loser ruin your fun."

"I'm sure he is." She said as a smile spread across her face. "He's pretty great. We grew up together and were high school sweethearts and all that. We just recently got back together after a long time apart. It's so healing being brought back together after all these years and everything is the same as it was from before. I love him with everything I got. Life just wasn't kind to us."

[drkeminity]

Hero’s blue eyes flickered, heat simmerin’ beneath the surface as he watched her, that slow, easy smirk playin’ at his lips. Hell, she had him—and hadn’t she always? He let out a low chuckle, forehead resting against hers as his fingers traced slow circles against her skin. “Oh, I ain’t disputin’ just how good you’ve been for me,” he murmured, voice thick with something deeper. Need—for her, always for her.

Havin’ her back was somethin’ he’d only dreamed of, and even now, he wasn’t sure this wasn’t one of those dreams he’d wake up from. A groan rumbled in his chest, his grip flexin’ slightly. He knew exactly what she meant by strugglin’—and damn if he didn’t feel it too. “You’re gonna be the death of me, you know that, woman?” His voice was rough, but the chuckle that followed gave him away. He was hangin’ on by a thread.

Barely.

“If this wasn’t a family-friendly event, I’d have no problem helpin’ you out.” His voice dipped, laced with dark amusement. His fingers kept up their slow, torturous path against her skin, but at the mention of Lily, his touch hesitated—just for a second.

Lily.

He still remembered the words he’d thrown out in that elevator, the way he’d twisted the knife just to push her away.

You’re gonna fall in love... and I’ll have to watch.

Clearing his throat, he shoved the thought aside just as Mickey hopped up on the counter. Hero chuckled, hands already movin’ as he stepped between her legs, palms warm against her thighs. “Ain’t no one keepin’ you here if she’s runnin’ late, then.” And with ease, he lifted her into his arms like she weighed nothin’ at all. “Whatever you want, princess,” he murmured against her ear, his grin slow and sure. “I know exactly where we can go.”

He kissed her, soft at first, like he had all the time in the world, but the urgency simmerin’ beneath it told a different story. When he finally pulled back, he cast one last glance toward the booth—just hopin’, prayin’, that the Lily she was talkin’ about wasn’t that Lily.

“Let’s get you outta the cold,” he murmured, already movin’. And this time, he wasn’t waitin’ on a damn thing.

[mckinleyxryan]

The death of me. Yeah, she felt the same way. But that didn't stop her from pressing on, not when she heard the roughness in her voice. "I'm sure you could find a way to help me." She let her tone drop, it was low and seductive. "Like you have before." She was feeling bold, he brought that out of her. She was never one for public displays, actually, she was rather shy. She whispers her next words, nice and low and only for him. "With those master fingers of yours."

"Oh well no, She was late at the start of our shift. I think she's just on the other side of the booth. Let's slip out before she notices or sees." McKinley didn't know the girl, and after tonight she didn't care to so she had no problem slipping out on her. Hero scooped her up and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

"Hm? You do?" She smiled and pondered at all the possibilities of where he could be taking her but she had no objections. "Yes, please. My poor toes have gone numb. I need some warming up." she said before pressing a kiss to his lips.

[drkeminity]

MCKINLEY GIFTS : VALENTINE'S DAY

For their first Valentine’s in 12 years, Hero surprises Mickey with a thoughtful collection of gifts: @mckinleyxryan

Bouquet of Flowers: A mix of white roses, baby's breath and cherry blossoms, her favorite flowers, delicate and beautiful.

Heart-Shaped Candies: A small bag of sweet heart-shaped candies, nestled alongside a second bouquet of Snickers—more of a candy than chocolate, but Hero knows it’s Mickey’s favorite.

Photo Album: A collection of old photos, painstakingly put together. On the front, a polaroid from their first school dance, a nostalgic reminder of the days when they were younger.

Fragrance & Lotion Set: Thanks to Theo's @hedcniist help with shopping, Hero found a gift of fragrance and lotion using cherry blossoms as the base—a lovely touch, crafted with Mickey’s favorite scent.

Balloons: No Valentine’s Day is complete without a bit of fun, so Hero adds some balloons to Mickey’s new place, filling the space with lightness and love.

Audible Subscription: Remembering how often he’d find Mickey with her nose in a book when they were younger, Hero surprises her with an Audible subscription. One book in her library, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is his personal favorite, now a gift for Mickey to enjoy in a new way.

[drkeminity]

His chuckle was low and deep, the sound rolling through his chest as his fingers curled just a little tighter around hers. “Darlin’,” he murmured, his voice as easy as a slow-burning flame, “that’s the best damn deal I’ve ever made. “Ain’t no stuffed bear or oversized prize could compare.””

His gaze dipped, tracing the curve of her lips before draggin’ back up, slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world. But the truth was, he didn’t—never had when it came to her. Two weeks of takin’ it slow, of playin’ at patience, and he was already itchin’ to cross that line.

“Now you’re just teasin’,” he drawled, the smirk on his lips pure sin. “Can’t have you waitin’ on what’s already yours, now can I?” He leaned in, lazy with it, drawin’ out the moment just to feel her breath hitch, to watch the way she reacted to him like he was the only thing in the damn world worth feelin’. And when he finally closed the space between them, there wasn’t nothin’ hesitant about it.

It was a kiss that stole, that claimed—deep, slow, meant to leave a mark long after he pulled away. His fingers traced along the inside of her wrist, lingerin’, like he wasn’t quite ready to let her go.

“What’s life without livin’ a little reckless?” His voice was low, just a little husky, his thumb still drawing lazy shapes against her skin. He’d already ducked out of his shift early—not that it mattered. Wasn’t like they were gettin’ paid for this gig, and if his booth partner couldn’t handle it? Well, that sounded like a them problem.

“Besides, we’ve waited long enough. What’s fifteen minutes gonna hurt if you slip out now?” His tone was teasing, damn near pleading, as he let himself soak up her warmth. “Point me toward whoever I gotta sweet talk to get you outta here early, and I’ll have ‘em convinced before they even know what hit ‘em.”

[mckinleyxryan]

She gave a slow shrug, "I mean, I think a stuffed bear would be a close second, not as good as a cuddler as me though." She said with a soft smile. She had some of the best sleep in her life since he was back on her bed holding her till she was out.

"Me? Teasing?" But she knew what she was doing, she had him wrapped around her finger and she would use that lovingly. "I think I've been waiting long enough." She let her voice drop so only he could hear her, "I've been such a good girl you know and I think I deserve to be rewarded." She leaned in deeper, "Besides... I've been... struggling. I think I need you to give me that lesson again. I need help." He would know exactly what she meant.

She loved the feel of him, his lips on hers, his fingers tracing against her skin, this time being her wrist. She could live the rest of her life happy as long as she had one of his hands on her at all times. She was simply obsessed.

"Well, the girl I am working with was late and I handled it on my own. I suppose she is the one you would have to talk to so she would cover. Her name is Lily, but honestly, what are they gonna do if I leave? Fire me?" She said as she turned her back to him and popped herself up on the counter and then swung her legs over. She let her legs part so he could slip between them. "Carry me away babe. I need you now."

[lionhcartt]

Lily couldn't help but smile. Even if the love gods seemed to absolutely loathe her right now... that didn't seem to stop her from melting over other people's.

"God, date night before Valentine's day really is the way to go." Lily smiled softly before unwrapping her power bar. "My parents do that. 'Cept they celebrate the whole week except for Valentine's day. My dad jokes that its to save on the surcharge but in reality, I think he knows it makes my mom happy to celebrate it beyond the holiday, y'know?" Lily grew up on that love.

She grew up on the love her and Val read in the romance novels they traded.

... She had held that kind of love for what she thought would be forever. Her eyes dimmed slightly before she shook her head and took a bite.

"Okay, but if you get hungry, I got a couple of snacks in my bag." She nodded before looking over to an incoming kid. "Though I guess it's a good idea to save your appetite if you got a man to treat you after this." Lily winked as she walked over to the kid and leant against the counter.

"Giving it a shot? 5 dollars." She smiled, handing him a few rings before turning to McKinley.

[mckinleyxryan]

"We went last night actually on Valentines day." She liked that the Carnival was the day after so people could be together on the day. It was their first Valentines day together in twelve years and it was truly special. They shared laughs and love. Hero was everything to her and she loved every second they were reconnecting.

"Awe, thAts really cute, I lopve that for them ." Kinny didn't really have a happy childhood or happy memories of her parents. After her mother died, things got worse at home and that's were Hero came in to save her.

"Thank you, You are so kind. I will let you know." But hearing the rest of the words, her face turned a little red. "Oh my. I mean. I am hoping." But McKinley shook her off, she couldn't think about that right now.

[drkeminity]

Hero chuckled, the sound low and smooth as he leaned in just a little closer, fingers drumming against the wooden counter. “Darlin’, you already know my answer to that.” His gaze dipped, taking her in like she was the only damn thing worth seein’ in this whole place. “Ain’t no stuffed bear or oversized prize could compare.”

But he let the tease linger, let the air between them grow thick with somethin’ deeper, somethin’ unspoken but damn near tangible. Two weeks, and already she’d settled back into his world like she’d never left. And hell, maybe she never really had. Maybe she’d just been waitin’—or maybe he had.

His lips twitched, that slow, lazy grin playin’ at the edges. “As for that other prize,” he drawled, tilting his head slightly, “I was thinkin’…” He reached out, barely grazing his fingers over hers, just enough to send a hum of warmth up his arm. “Somethin’ a little more interestin’ than a fairground trinket.”

He let the moment hang before his smirk deepened, a glint of mischief sparkin’ in his azure eyes. “How ‘bout this—you let me win somethin’ tonight, and in return…” He leaned in just enough that only she could hear him. “You let me steal you away . Just you, me, and a place where I ain’t gotta share you with a hundred strangers.”

His thumb brushed over her wrist, slow and deliberate. “Reckon that’s a fair trade?”

[mckinleyxryan]

A small smirked tipped up on her face, "I mean, I hoped I knew the answer." She teased, "I'll be your prize. I'm sure there will be a lot in it for you." She said as she pulled her lip between her teeth. She had a few ideas on how they could spend there night, maybe taking the next step, the very thing they have both been trying to take it slow.

She was feral for him, she wasn't sure how long she could keep up this good act for, she wanted him, needed him. She was already telling everyone he was her boyfriend, with no shame at all.

"Oh?" her tone was suggestive and playful, like she knew where he was heading. "Oh I promise you baby, You will win a lot tonight." She said as she leaned further over the counter, "But first you owe me a kiss."

The idea od getting somewhere for just them excited her, "It's a very fair trade, and I only have a little bit left of this shift."

[lionhcartt]

"McKinley." Lily repeated with a smile and a nod. "Good to meet you, McKinley. Yeah don't worry about it, you and I are gonna make a great team. You won't have to do everything else on your own either." She zipped her jacket up to the neck before gathering all of her hair into a messy pony and prepping everything needed for her side of the booth. "Just give me a shout too if you need anything and I'll be happy to do it."

Leaning against the booth's counter, she let out a sigh.

"I guess it kind of sucks to have to work on valentine's day but hey, at least we get first shift." Lily grabbed a snack from one of her tote bags before offering it first to McKinley. "Wanna split a power bar?"

[mckinleyxryan]

It was honestly hard to find good people these days and this girl seemed nice. McKinley might have been a Crimson but most of her friends weren't. She preferred the company of the hospital coworkers like Avery. Then there were her two civilian roommates who she adored. "Perfect, I think we will too." She smiled softly at the other girl.

"Yeah it kinda does but I had a date night last night so it's okay. I'm just happy I was off from my hospital shift." She said as she rested against the countertop. It was still early into the evening so there weren't too many people around. "No thank you, my boyfriend and I ate before. Plus I'm saving room for some friend oreos"

[lionhcartt]

where: cupid carnival (heart toss) who: @mckinleyxryan

She was late... and it was only kind of her fault, but nobody needed to know that. The wind bit at her cheeks as she ran through the carnival, carefully dodging carnival-goers and nearly running into a man with a too-large stuffed bear in his arms, shouting out a quick 'Sorry!' before bolting to the booth she had been assigned to.

Because of course she was assigned to a fucking Valentines day booth.

"I'm here!" She gasped as she stumbled into the booth, much to the disgruntled disappointment of their organizer.

"You're late." They grunted.

"Yes, but I'm here, so... I think we can just let it go and move on, yeah?" Lily beamed a saccharine sweet smile at the now fuming organizer before chuckling softly as she watched them go, attempting to flatten down her curls as she turned her flushed face to her booth buddy.

"Hey, I'm Lily." She said with a smile, quickly removing all her tote bags from her person before shoving them under the booth. "I really am sorry about being late, I just had the worst day." She blew a stray piece of hair away from her face before sticking out her hand for McKinley to shake.

"Happy to know I won't be alone for this though. Makes things so much more bearable."

[mckinleyxryan]

McKinley was getting a little nervous that her partner wouldn't show up, she did not want to be left here on her own. Not when she would struggle to find all the heart rings they would be throwing. The minutes ticked by as she helped a few customers, the spares being a lifesaver.

Hearing a girl come up, Kinny smiled. "Oh hello, I'm Mckinley." She said softly. She always had a sweetness to her. Until you got on her bad side. "It's okay, everyone has one of those days, I'm just glad you are here."

"Yes for sure, Just to get it out there, I'm visually impaired so I can't actually see where the rings are landing... Do you think you can collect them and I can do everything else."

[drkeminity]

location: heart toss stall closed starter ( @mckinleyxryan)

The carnival lights cast a warm, flickering glow over the fairgrounds, laughter and music tangling in the crisp night air. Hero had been wandering, not aimless but not exactly with a destination in mind either—until that familiar pull, that damn magnetic force, led him right to her.

Mickey.

He spotted her at the heart toss booth, the soft glow of the bulbs tracing the delicate angles of her face, her presence as effortless as ever, like she belonged in the chaos of it all. A kid in front of her took his shot, the ball bouncing wide, and Hero couldn't help the amused grin that tugged at his lips as he strolled up, slipping a five-dollar bill onto the counter with an easy flick of his fingers.

"So, if I get the ball into the heart," he drawled, voice rich with teasing, "does that mean I win you, Mickey?"

The words left his lips like a challenge, but there was something softer beneath them, something in the way his gaze lingered on her, sharp and knowing. He leaned against the booth, arms folding as his azure eyes traced over her like he was committing every inch to memory. It had only been a few days since their last run-in, but hell if that time hadn’t stretched too long. Now that he was here, standing in front of her, that familiar heat curling low in his chest, he knew one thing for sure—he wasn’t lettin’ this moment slip away.

"Because I do have another prize in mind," he mused, a chuckle threading through his voice, smooth and warm like aged whiskey. "If you're open to hearin’ it."

[mckinleyxryan]

The last two weeks with Hero had been pure bliss. It was crazy how quickly he stepped back into her life and everything changed. He was there for her, helping her move places, and giving her support. They were still taking things slow but she wasn't sure how much longer either of them could hold on to that.

McKinley had been working the heart ring toss for the shift and she liked it. She was in charge of giving out the prizes as she couldn't keep track of where all the rings landed. Hearing his voice instantly put a smile on her face, "Oh hey you." She said as she came over to the counter.

"That depends, is that the prize you want?" She asked with a raise of her brow, a hint of suggestion in her tone. She would not be his prize, not at all. Either way, she would be leaving with him tonight regardless.

"Another option? Hmm." She paused for dramatic effect, "I may be open to hearing it. What ideas do you have in that cute lil head of yours."

[drkeminity]

His breath remained uneven, each inhale catching in his chest as though his body was still struggling to keep up with the moment. His pulse hammered beneath his skin, a relentless cadence that matched the tension coiled within him. Every nerve was attuned to her—her warmth, her scent, the intoxicating press of her body against his. She had him on the edge, every muscle strung tight, his hands locked at her waist as if letting go would mean losing himself entirely. The slow, teasing rock of her hips against his sent another pulse of heat through him, his restraint stretched thin, threatening to snap. He was a breath away from giving in, from letting the hunger swallow them whole—until she spoke.

The words cut through the haze like a blade, sharp enough to still him. Hero tensed beneath her, fingers flexing against the curve of her waist as though bracing himself. The shift was subtle but undeniable, the air between them thickening with the weight of what she hadn’t yet said. His jaw clenched, that slow burn of unease igniting low in his chest, spreading like wildfire.

“Mick…”

His voice was lower now, raw and uneven, as if dragged across gravel. There was something in the way she said it, the hesitation, the fracture in her voice—it lodged deep in his ribs, burrowing into his gut. Every possibility, every worst-case scenario, rushed forward all at once, clawing at his thoughts.

He swallowed hard, the movement slow, deliberate, as one of his hands drifted up to her face. The backs of his fingers brushed against her cheek, a gentle reassurance, even as his own heart threatened to break free of his chest. “Ain’t nothin’ you could say that’d make me hate you,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. But there was something else, something he couldn’t keep from slipping through—“But you’re scarin’ the hell outta me right now, darlin’.”

He couldn’t fathom a world where he’d ever turn against her. Hatred wasn’t what he felt when he looked at her. No—she had been his solace, his sanctuary in the wreckage of his past. The one steady thing in a life that had never known stability. But the look in her eyes, the hesitation in her voice—this was something that mattered, something she had carried alone for too long.

His other hand trailed up the curve of her spine, the touch firm but grounding, meant to anchor her in whatever storm she was about to unleash. His thumb swept slow circles against her back, a silent promise that he wasn’t going anywhere.

“So go on,” he rasped, the words rough, quiet—meant only for her. “Tell me.”

[mckinleyxryan]

McKinley let out an exhale, she had to do this, to tell him because every moment she didn't she was lying to him, letting them fall in again when he didn't even know what happened. It wasn't fair to him... to either of them.

She shifted in his lap, moved to sit sideways and pull her knees into her chest, leaning against his. The air in the thickened as the intensity settled in, this was not going to be easy, not at all.

"I just... I wanted to tell you, I just couldn't reach you." Not in time before everything happened. "Soon after we split I... I took a pregnancy test and it-it was positive." She had never spoken these words before, never told another soul.

"I didn't realize I missed a period or two... I just-I wasn't thinking." She remembered how she felt when she saw those two blue lines. She was scared and nervous to tell him. "My dad... he found it.." Kinny pressed her eyes closed as she took a handful of his shirt. "He was so mad" Her voice cracks again and the tears start to fall.

It was Christmas and it should have been one of the happiest nights but things were never like that in the Ryan house hold. She didn't know that a few hours later she would be blinded and babyless.

"I lost our baby." Her voice shook with each word as she fell apart in his arms. She still hasn't forgiven herself after all these years. "It's all my fault." She said as she nuzzled her head into his neck.

[drkeminity]

She was so warm, so soft, even with the storm of memories raging inside him. It was damn near impossible to hold her like this—to hear her speak about the night of the accident, about how she couldn’t remember. Hero tucked that information away, locking it deep in the back of his mind, because if he let himself think too hard on it now, he’d drown in it.

He remembered too well. The way his heart damn near stopped, seeing her in that hospital bed. Too still. Too quiet. Not like the girl he remembered. Nothing like the woman he held now.

His grip on her tightened as if his hands alone could keep her tethered to him, as if he could chase away every ounce of pain that had ever touched her.

“Listen to me,” he rasped, his thumb brushing away the tears that cut a path down her cheek. “You got nothin’ to apologize for… nothin’.” His breath came out shaky as his hand fell away. “It wasn’t your fault. Whoever done it, that’s who’s at fault." That’s who’ll pay.

His words landed, settling over her features, but Hero wasn’t sure she truly believed them yet. God, what sort of good deed had he done in a past life to have her, to hold her?

The thought barely had time to form before her lips crashed into his, knocking the breath from his lungs. She took him by surprise—just for a second—before a low, hungry groan rattled in his chest.

Fuck. She had him. Had him good. Had him undone with just the press of her lips, the heat of her body against his. His hands roamed up her back, broad palms rough, greedy, like he was relearning every curve, every inch of her he thought he’d never touch again. He ached with it. With want. With the weight of everything they’d lost and everything they still had left.

“Shit,” he breathed against her mouth, His mouth slanted over hers again, deeper this time, desperate, like he was tryin’ to make up for every second they’d been apart. His fingers tangled in her hair, giving the gentlest tug just to hear a hint of a whimper from her before his lips found the column of her throat. He latched onto her pulse, sucking’, tasting’, reveling in the way she melted into him. Hero slotted his thigh between hers, his hands guiding her movements as she rocked against him, dragging another tortured groan from his lips as his head fell to her shoulder, breath hot, unsteady.

Mine.

The word wasn’t spoken, but it may as well have been, thick in the air between them as if he’d carved it into her skin. His cock strained hard against the seam of his jeans, but he didn’t let go, didn’t stop. Didn’t care that his lungs screamed for air because this—this fire, this want, them—was all he needed.

Only when the heat threatened to consume them both did he finally pull away, red lips dragging down the line of her jaw, his tongue flicking out to taste the sweat-slick skin at her pulse.

“You keep kissin’ me like that,” he rasped, voice rough, breath comin’ in ragged pulls, “and I’m gonna forget we’re s’posed to be takin’ it slow.”

A small, wicked grin tugged at his lips as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck, inhaling deep, letting her scent flood his senses. “Fuck, Mick,” he murmured, “— I missed the taste of you…”

And with the way she clung to him, the way her body called to his like she was made for him, like she was his… he knew damn well he wasn’t lettin’ her go.

[mckinleyxryan]

The accident took a toll on her, physically and mentally. There were a lot of hardships that followed and for the first few weeks she couldn't see a way out of it. Not after what she lost. Him, her sight, their baby. Then there was the added stress from her father, the police doing the investigation and her trying to adjust.

It was the therapy she was forced to go to that made a big difference, she had already struggled enough with mental health in her teen years and the accident made her slip. It took a few months but eventually her mind set changed and she turned that devastation into determination.

Right here, right now, all she felt was safe. Safe in his arms, safe with the way he tightened his grip and anchored her down.

But he was wrong. It was her fault. All of it. But she wasn't going to fight him on it, she would choke back her guilt for a little longer. Maybe one day he could take away her pain, make her not feel so horrible.

But with the crash of her lips, she was on him, letting her hands run up his sculpted body. It was much more firm now than it was before, everything was bigger, harder. She let herself get lost in him, all the pretenses of taking it slow had left her mind as she rocked against his lap, seeking that knowing friction.

This kiss wasn't like the one from before, it was needing, desperate, hungry even. She needed him, in more ways than one and she couldn't hold herself back, not anymore. Because the ache in her heart dropped down to heat her core. It was consuming her in the best ways possible. Small whimpers escaped her lips pressed against his and it was sounds of the past and the future. No one else could ever make her feel the way he did.

She moved up more to be straddling his lap, feeling this hardness below her as she moved on him. She let out a deep moan as things seemed to progress. She wanted him to claim her. She was his, she always had been and now everyone should know it. She was at a point that she didn't think she could stop, or would.

But Hero always followed her wishes and pulled away for the both of them. Feeling his lips and breath on her neck at her leaning into him further, wanting him to latch on. And with her words she let her head drop to her shoulder.

"Fuck, you're right." She whispered as the chick rise and fall of her chest started to stabilize. She was out of breath and her heart was beating in her ears. "I missed tasting you too."

But they couldn't go further, not until he knew everything. "I have to tell you something." Her voice nearly broke, "Before anything else goes any further. And you might hate me for it." She didn't want to start anything on hidden truths, she never kept things from him and she wasn't doing it now either.

[drkeminity]

Hero let out a shaky breath, somethin’ caught between a laugh and a sigh, as his hands settled on her waist, fingers flexin’ like he still couldn’t quite believe she was real, sittin’ here, wrapped up in him like she was always meant to be.

“Darlin’,” he murmured, voice thick, rough at the edges, “ain’t nothin’ in this damn world coulda kept me away from you.” His thumb traced lazy circles against her back, like maybe if he kept touchin’ her, he could make up for all the times he hadn’t been there.

His gaze flickered down to the marble still restin’ in his palm, feelin’ heavier now than it ever had before. She’d kept ‘em all. All their little pieces, their quiet promises, the things they couldn’t say out loud but still meant with every damn bit of ‘em.

His throat worked as he looked back at her, takin’ in the way she cradled his face, the warmth of her palms against his skin like she was holdin’ him steady. “Hard don’t even cover it,” he admitted, his lips quirkin’ into somethin’ small, somethin’ raw. “Damn near killed me seein’ you like that, knowin’ I wasn’t there when it counted.”

His grip tightened just a little, not enough to hurt, just enough to anchor himself to the moment, to her. “But I came,” he said, softer now, like he needed her to hear it, needed her to know it down to her bones. “And I never stopped checkin’, sugar. Not once.”

He tipped his forehead against hers, breath minglin’ between ‘em, his eyes searchin’ hers for somethin’—forgiveness, maybe, or just the promise that this right here was real, that it wasn’t too late.

“You held on,” he whispered, his lips barely brushin’ hers, the words nothin’ but a breath. “Guess that makes two of us.”

[mckinleyxryan]

Feeling him under her... it did something to her she didn't expect. But it didn't distract her from the moment they were having, not yet. She felt the circles he rubbed into her back, the way the words fell from his lips. She loved this man with everything she had.

"I-I know that. You never let me down. Never." And she meant that. "That marble... it meant so damn much to me." She let her thumb mindlessly caress his cheek.

"I know, baby, I know." She let out an exhale. "I never had to see the photos.. but I heard all bout it." How mangled the car looked, what it was like seeing her. What she looked like. "I-I'm sorry." She whispered because she knew what part she played in this. "The accident... it was all my fault." It was her fault the people around her had to suffer.

Because he didn't know yet. What she lost. They lost. She would have to tell him. Everything. They had a lot of catching up to do. "You kept checking?" His words knocked the air out of her lungs. "All this time?" She felt a tear fall again, god she hated crying, but these weren't sad tears.

They were so close now, their foreheads pressed together as the air he breathed out filled her up, like they were sharing life. Of course, she held on, there was never any other option. Guess that makes two of us. Then she is closing the centimeter of space between them, crashing her lips against his as she rolled her hips against his, giving into him fully.

[drkeminity]

Hero huffed out a quiet laugh, all warm and deep, the sound rumblin’ low in his chest. Damn, he thought, she always knew how to knock the breath right outta him. Had him sittin’ here, touchin’ her like he’d never stopped, like there weren’t years and miles of hurt between ‘em.

"That right?" His fingers curled a little tighter in her hair, slow and lazy, like he was savorin’ the weight of it between his fingers. "I like the sound of that, sugar. You and me. Just like old times."

Except nothin’ about this felt like just old times—it felt like somethin’ new, somethin’ rebuilt from the ashes of what they used to be. It felt real.

When she told him to grab the remote, he reached without thinkin’—but what his fingers landed on weren’t smooth plastic. It was smaller, cooler, familiar in a way that made his pulse stutter. He pulled it into his palm, feelin’ the weight of it, thumb brushin’ over the glassy surface before his throat damn near closed up.

A marble. His marble.

He turned it between his fingers, the light catchin’ the swirl of color inside, a little storm of green and blue. The same one he’d left for her at the hospital, tucked beside a few others, prayin’ she’d know what it meant even if he hadn’t been able to say it out loud.

Hero swallowed hard, his voice rougher when he spoke. "You kept it?"

His gaze lifted to hers, and hell if that didn’t make it worse, seein’ her like this, the warmth of her pressed up against him like she belonged there. His free hand lifted, the calloused pad of his thumb grazin’ soft over her cheek. "You knew I was there, at the hospital?"

He wanted to be cool, wanted to keep it light, but that lump in his throat wasn’t lettin’ up, and he was feelin’ too damn much. The weight of the past, the years between ‘em, the fact that maybe—just maybe—he hadn’t lost everything after all.

[mckinleyxryan]

McKinley nodded, "That is right." she said with a smile. "So that is a yes, huh? Lucky me. You better get planning. I want to be swept off my feet." She teased him lightly. "Which could very easily be sitting right here in bed, playing some movie, and laying together." She said as he nuzzled into him some more.

But like old times, it didn't feel right to her either because this was so much more now. She chewed on her bottom lip as she started to think about all the possibilities of their upcoming date, that's what it was, right? "This is a date, right?" She asked as she perked up. "You and me on Valentine's Day?" She asked as she tipped her head up towards him, but she knew the answer already.

When he turned, she heard the roughness of his voice, the words that followed. She knew exactly what he was referring to, she forgot it was there. It was always there, next to her bed. She would play with it often, rubbing it between her fingers. It was the marble he left on her bedside in the hospital.

Her brother questioned why a marble was there and gave it to her when she woke up. She instantly knew Hero had come to visit her.

Slowly, she nodded her head, "Of course I did." She said with a small smile. "I have all our marbles." the ones left on her window sill.

"I knew Hero." She moved to sit up, swung a leg over him, and straddled his lap, she leaned forward and pressed her chest against his, wrapping her arms under his as he rested her head on his shoulder. The closeness, feeling his chest rise against hers was perfection. It was all real.

"You came for me, Hero. I've held on to that for so long," she said as she pulled back and placed her hands on his cheeks. "I know it must have been hard... seeing me like that."