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@nottheemusearc
hey y'all
call me cece. i'm 33 and live EST. semi-selective, literate roleplayer. i focus on character development and world building. i love asks and memes. I love chatting ooc about plots or anything. i match energy. mature, kink heavy. forever under construction.
preferred 25+, must be 21+ to write together - discord available upon request.
wishlist | wanted opposites
Perfectly arched brows pulled into a subtle frown at her words. Partly at the revelation that Marcus had stopped by without his knowledge. Not that he was naïve enough to think Marcus told him everything, just as he hadn't warned him that he'd drop that little bomb with Cora, even if Declan had no doubt it had been planned in advance, but this was a little beyond that. But that wasn't the part he eventually focused on. "Scared?" The word came out with a hint of surprise. "I will always pick up." It was the listening and perhaps his responses that probably left a lot to be desired. "I don't care if it's the middle of the night, Cora, I will always pick up." He could promise her that much, his voice weighted with certainty; like he was making a vow.
Cora started walking again, but Declan didn't let her. Catching her wrist, he stopped her and gently pulled her towards him. Because her words had landed, and Declan may have been a self-centred, selfish asshole, but he was anything but stupid, and everything she'd said - right from the part about them getting a place in Alston, to apologising about her watch, about making him worry, hadn't exactly been subtle. He'd been getting there, realising that maybe this was one of those rare instances where he was wrong - as ridiculous as that notion was. But then she'd asked him that question, like somehow she hadn't caught on to anything he'd said. "Cora..." A little incredulous, he shook his head, his available hand making it to the side of her face, cupping it gently. "If you don't think I'm fickle, darling, then why on earth would you think my affection is?"
Blue eyes locked on hers, he swiped his thumb over her cheek. "I can be angry with you and still want you." He didn't know at which point during her speech said anger had faded, but it had. "But you told me what you wanted, you told me what you thought of me, and then you left. When you took off the watch, I assumed you..." He paused, gaze catching on a hint of silver at her neck. His hand dropped from her face and he hooked a finger into the chain, gently fishing her necklace out, the pink diamond nestled in his large palm. His eyes lifted to hers then. "You're still wearing your day collar," he observed, voice low, a flicker of warmth surfacing in his gaze.
She felt a deep rush of shame at his words, his assurances, because he had always picked up, hadn't he? She knew she hadn't been fair. Not exactly fair, at least. And then it happened. His hand caught her wrist, Cora stopping immediately, a spark running through her at the feeling of him finally touching her again. Her entire body ached, like it was remembering how much she needed him, how easily she responded to him. And for a few seconds, she let herself get distracted by his touch, nuzzling against his hand, letting out one of those soft sighs she did when he touched her. "You've never told me exactly how you feel about me, Declan. I'm not a mind reader. Sometimes a little validation would be nice. It would make it easier for me to know where you stand with me."
Letting out a soft laugh, she nodded, cutting her gaze down to the pink stone against his palm. "Of course I'm wearing it. I can take some space from you and still be yours, Sir." A little bit of a peace offering, a little proof that she meant it. But she couldn't get distracted by him, by this, by them. And god, it would be so easy to. Even after only a handful of days away from him, and Cora felt a deep pull to him, to make up for their lost time. But there wasn't time for that now. Slipping her hand up, she caught his, lacing her fingers through his. "I wanna show you one of my favorite spots 'round here." Her accent was noticeably thicker on her tongue, as it always got when she'd been back for more than a couple of days. It was a mindfuck for her that he was here - she never thought she'd see the day that he entered this part of her world. And now he was here and that was a whole other level of added emotion she hadn't anticipated.
There was no waiting in seeing if he was interested, Cora feeling a new resolve about getting him up to the ridge. Needing to keep moving to keep from crying. She walked in silence for a few moments and then told him gently, "I don't think you're terrible. I don't think you're abhorrent. I think you can be those things, but you aren't those things." Hopefully that made sense. "But no... I wasn't leaving you. I wouldn't leave you like that, Declan. And I know Marcus doesn't believe me, but I certainly wouldn't leave without talking with Lily." Because Cora had grown to care deeply for the little girl, even if she tried to keep her space and not be 'too much'. She chewed at her lower lip, and then told him quietly, "I thought you'd be sending my stuff. I was waiting for you to tell me not to come back. All I did this whole time was miss you, though."
The tumblr police are gonna execute me so new blog time
Closed starter for @nottheemuse / Valeria & Caleb
Val had let Caleb slip out of her hands when Cora came back inside the house, opting to stay downstairs with Gabby to let the siblings talk. She'd settled Gabby on a blanket with a handful of different toys, and then just waited for Caleb, or Cora, or both of them, to come back. Obviously, whatever Caleb had said to Cora upstairs hadn't been the most supportive, because Cora didn't spare him so much as a glance as she went outside to get back to Declan. Val, for her part, returned Cora's little wave, and then turned her eyes on Caleb with a slight frown. "You said something stupid, didn't you?" She arched a brow, a tiny hint of a smile on her lips, tone soft and warm. If there was one thing she'd picked up pretty fast, it was Caleb's ability to put his foot in his mouth when it came to his sister.
Caleb sighed. He was stinging from Cora's own harshness, his hand going to the back of his neck, rubbing lightly. "You don't seem so surprised by the news..." Typical of Cora to tell Val and not him, he wasn't surprised, but he didn't like it, the feeling left out. "She's gonna have his kid and she's gonna disappear." He felt a deep sadness as he said it. "My mom used to be sparkly and fun. But the longer she stayed with my dad, the more dull she got. And I just... I told Cora not to be like our mom." He winced as he said it, because he knew what he'd been implying by saying that. Maybe that's why he wasn't too bent out of shape about what Cora had shot back at him. Because maybe he'd gone too far for once. "I'm just worried 'bout her."
"Thank you." And then she was gone, moving quickly into the house, and when she hit the landing of the stairs Caleb was behind her. "Cora you're pregnant?" Shocked. Absolutely dumbfounded. And horrified for what that meant for her, because he still assumed the worst about Declan. "Caleb I'm not talking to you until I talk to him. I'm takin' him up to the ridge." In the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, Alston had hills, valleys and a man made lake with a couple of breathtaking viewpoints. "He and I will be back when we're back." "Cora." Caleb's voice dropped as he followed her down the hallway to the guest room. "Don't... Don't just give in to him, okay? If you're having a kid." And then he said the least helpful thing he ever could, "Don't be like Mama." Cora stopped, and turned to him, glaring as she ground out, "Mind your fuckin' business for once in your fuckin' life, Caleb. You have a kid now. You don't need to parent me anymore." Which was the worst thing she ever said to him, and enough to have him falling back as she went into the room and slammed the door.
On the way out, she wouldn't look at Caleb, only giving a small wave to Val and Gabby. She'd slipped into a pair of black jeans, the denim hugging her, pulled on her hiking boots that lived at this house, too bulky to get packed, but too nice to throw out. Useful for this exact trail. Then she found an old hunting jacket of Caleb's, the smell of his cologne and tobacco smacking her, comforting her. Zipping it up over her hoodie, she met Declan outside and nodded toward the back yard.
It was unusual, Cora leading the way, and she felt shy as they passed by the garden that she'd played with her mom in as a child, feeling a surge of love for that little speck of life in her. It wasn't until they'd passed off of Caleb's land and onto the trail that Cora felt like she could finally speak. "I... I didn't want to tell you like this. And I'm sorry. I messed up." She meant that. But she also couldn't afford to get too upset too early in this, so she took a few deep breaths again. It was hard. Being near him but not touching him. He was intimidating as ever, and simply being around him had her on edge. Keeping herself, her voice, everything soft, she gently told him, "I was going to call you. I just... Things are different now. It's not just about you and me. Do you... Do you still want this?" Them, a child, any of it? She wasn't sure exactly what 'this' was, but he could fill in those blanks.
Declan looked more than a little out of place out on the trail. Not even a little dressed for the occasion, he looked like something someone had photoshopped into this picture as a joke. But he went along with her, too occupied with the thoughts in his own head to care much about how his shoes would handle the rough terrain. Thankfully, he wore brown leather dress boots today, giving him a little more support as he walked with her. At least more than his usual dress shoes would have. So he ignored the slight soreness building in his feet, and just kept walking, grateful for the silence in those first few minutes. His mind, always so quick to work out problems and their solutions, usually so much so that he could often be working on several things at once, considering an issue from all angles, wasn't working quite as sharply as it should. Like someone had jammed something into the well-oiled cogwheels of the machine, making it grind... maybe not to a halt, but definitely to a slow, laborious roll.
When Cora spoke, Declan turned his head to look at her, everything inside thoroughly concealed by the usual façade that was more habit than anything else at this point in his life. "You could have texted or called at any point," he told her then. Despite the neutral look on his face, his tone held none of the chill it had earlier. It was soft, carefully measured to hold very little emotion. "Or at least answered any of the attempts I made at getting in touch with you." Then he also wouldn't have driven himself mad worrying about her, but he supposed that wasn't really an issue for now.
"Do I still want the baby I already told you I'd like to have? Yes, Cora. How fickle do you think I am?" He shook his head at her, drawing in a deep, steady breath. Staying calm. Staying controlled. He hadn't imagined, had never even considered, having a second child like this, and perhaps, if things had happened differently, they might have had a chance to give it a real family. It didn't change the fact that he'd own his responsibility though. "Granted, with you living in Alston, co-parenting won't be as easy as it has been with Diane, but we can work that part out." Because that was a foregone conclusion, wasn't it? She'd practically thrown it in his face, that he was no longer a concern, when she took off her watch like that. "And of course you'll be taken care of financially." Straight to business, to working out the kinks, because what else was there? "Just let me know what you need from me."
“I could have.” Cora admitted softly. He was right. “My phone died yesterday and Marcus came and the morning sickness has been awful the past few days… I was scared to call you, Declan.” It was horribly embarrassing to admit, but she did it, her face a deep red. “Scared you wouldn’t answer. Scared you wouldn’t listen. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’re not doin’ too well with communication.” Her words were touched with humor, but it was largely the truth. And there was more to go into there, but then he said that and Cora stopped, a brow arching severely, her head tiling like a confused puppy.
“I'm not moving back to Alston.” She laughed a little. “I mean I wanted to talk to you about us maybe findin’ a place here or somethin’... I’ll want the baby knowing Caleb and Val and Gabs and that old place is full now. No room.” She let out a sigh, shaking her head as she straightened her posture. “My phone died.” And then it hit her, and she felt like an idiot - the watch. It had become like a part of her since he’d given it to her. “And my watch. The band was irritating my wrist.” And her entire body felt like a raw nerve right now, the slightest friction bothering her. “And I’ve been busy thinking about what to say to you. How to do this. What this looks like. I just forgot about it. I’m sorry.”
She felt it then, that emotion choking up in her throat. She’d touched on this with Val, but despite his stoicism, Cora didn’t struggle with this kind of vulnerability with him. Not about this. “I don’t think you’re fickle. I know you’ll want the baby. I meant…” She realized it then, and her voice cracked a little as she admitted it. “I mean do you want me anymore?” Taking in a shaking breath, she let it out, then started walking again. She needed to keep busy or she'd break down. And she needed to hold it together right now, couldn't stomach the idea of showing him more emotion and being met with none.
"I know I'm not what you want. But part of you wanted me and now we're having this kid." Of course she was rambling. She needed to get it out now. Things felt Now or Never to her. Like this might be it beyond co-parenting for them. Her only real shot at an honest conversation. "But first I need to have this kid, and I'm really scared. I couldn't figure out how to get home to you. I was coming back and then I felt sick and..." She felt stupid, because even if she didn't want to give him any feeling, here she was, spilling it out. "Fifteen positive tests later, and... my plans have changed." Everything had. "I've felt stuck. Like..." Tears were stinging her eyes, but she ignored them, staring at the path ahead of them as she continued, "Like no matter how much I move, no matter which direction I go in, I'll lose it. So I've just kept still. I'm sorry that I worried you. I'm sorry I didn't call or text or send a smoke signal. I've been panicking, and then I've been worrying that panicking is bad for her," She motioned to her stomach casually then, already convinced they'd have a little girl. All she could see was a second Lily. "I just... I'm sorry. All I can do is keep apologizing. I can't undo it."
He was almost to the car, having passed Val, Caleb and Gabby with barely a thought for their presence, when Cora's voice called for him. It didn't stop him, though. He needed to get home to his own daughter. Try to explain to her that he'd let her get attached to yet another woman, only for her to leave just like the last two had. And that only made him angrier.
Now, Declan didn't often have strong emotions, and when he did they were usually highly tempered by his need to pick them apart, dissect them - and usually try to figure out how to get rid of them. Last time he'd been furious had been when Jackson had put his hands on Cora, and that was fury with a purpose; with an obvious outlet. A plan to get it out of his system. And that made it easy to deal with. This rage though, he didn't know what to do with, because if he was honest with himself it wasn't just anger. Anger was a symptom of a whole slew of other emotions he was not accustomed to. Emotions he didn't want and had no use for.
So he had his hand on the car door when Cora blurted out her news, and he froze in place, shoulders tensing visibly. Then he slowly released the handle and turned around to look at her. Controlling his breathing, forcing his heart to steady, he blinked at her. Less cold, but no less inscrutable as he looked at her now. He licked his lips, realising they felt like all the moisture had left them, and then nodded once. "I'll wait." His gaze wandered from Cora to the three people inside, clearly within view of everything, the little girl perched on her mother's hip. Noticing how Val's one hand clutched Caleb's arm tightly, her features surprisingly soft, with none of the shock of Cora's revelation that he saw painted on Caleb's. His jaw shifted, eyes then back on Cora. But he didn't say anything.
"Thank you." And then she was gone, moving quickly into the house, and when she hit the landing of the stairs Caleb was behind her. "Cora you're pregnant?" Shocked. Absolutely dumbfounded. And horrified for what that meant for her, because he still assumed the worst about Declan. "Caleb I'm not talking to you until I talk to him. I'm takin' him up to the ridge." In the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, Alston had hills, valleys and a man made lake with a couple of breathtaking viewpoints. "He and I will be back when we're back." "Cora." Caleb's voice dropped as he followed her down the hallway to the guest room. "Don't... Don't just give in to him, okay? If you're having a kid." And then he said the least helpful thing he ever could, "Don't be like Mama." Cora stopped, and turned to him, glaring as she ground out, "Mind your fuckin' business for once in your fuckin' life, Caleb. You have a kid now. You don't need to parent me anymore." Which was the worst thing she ever said to him, and enough to have him falling back as she went into the room and slammed the door.
On the way out, she wouldn't look at Caleb, only giving a small wave to Val and Gabby. She'd slipped into a pair of black jeans, the denim hugging her, pulled on her hiking boots that lived at this house, too bulky to get packed, but too nice to throw out. Useful for this exact trail. Then she found an old hunting jacket of Caleb's, the smell of his cologne and tobacco smacking her, comforting her. Zipping it up over her hoodie, she met Declan outside and nodded toward the back yard.
It was unusual, Cora leading the way, and she felt shy as they passed by the garden that she'd played with her mom in as a child, feeling a surge of love for that little speck of life in her. It wasn't until they'd passed off of Caleb's land and onto the trail that Cora felt like she could finally speak. "I... I didn't want to tell you like this. And I'm sorry. I messed up." She meant that. But she also couldn't afford to get too upset too early in this, so she took a few deep breaths again. It was hard. Being near him but not touching him. He was intimidating as ever, and simply being around him had her on edge. Keeping herself, her voice, everything soft, she gently told him, "I was going to call you. I just... Things are different now. It's not just about you and me. Do you... Do you still want this?" Them, a child, any of it? She wasn't sure exactly what 'this' was, but he could fill in those blanks.
Closed starter for @nottheemuse / Declan & Cora
Declan had done a lot of things in his life. Some good, a lot bad. Most of them based on smart, meticulously planned, unemotional decisions. That night with Cora though, he probably had to add to a fairly short list of foolish things in his life. He shouldn't have let her leave like that; he knew that, and had spent at least the first few days going back and forth between anger and regret. Pride though, arguably his biggest influence as far as the seven deadly sins went, kept him largely locked in anger. Anger with Cora, with Marcus, with himself. And it wasn't logical, which only made it worse. To most people, Declan Archer seemed his usual self, though decidedly less likely to grant a smile, and perhaps a little shorter with his poor PA.
He'd been distant, had kept his sparse communication with Cora practical. She'd told him when she got on the plane, and had gotten an "ok" in response. She'd told him when she landed safely, and had gotten a "good" in response. Then Cora had removed her watch, something he always got an alert about, and he'd figured maybe she needed to charge it, or perhaps - more than likely, she was trying to send him a message that she was done. After a day or so, the tension in his chest got to be too much, and he'd texted her. With no answer, a few hours later he'd tried calling. No answer. Another text the next day with no response. Another call, this time going straight to voicemail.
By that point, he'd started to worry. He hadn't kept tabs on her while she was away, trying to give her the space she'd asked for, and he felt fairly certain that she was safe in Alston with her brother. But the tension in his chest had become more of a gnawing sensation in his gut, so he'd called his pilot and gotten the plane set up for take-off. Then he'd told Lily goodbye, telling her simply that he had a last minute business meeting and that he'd be back soon. He'd tried calling Cora again before getting on the plane and was sent straight to voicemail.
By the time he stood before Cora's childhood home, premium SUV parked behind him, a driver (not Tim) he'd hired in order to be able to work on the way there, seated behind the wheel, he was a lot less patient than he had been.
Two firm knocks on the door, before it was opened by a beautiful woman he had to assume was Val. She barely got a glance before Declan was breezing past her inside the house. He was perched to call out Cora's name when he spotted her in the living room. Steps quick, determined, he closed the distance between them and wrapped strong fingers around each side of her face, thumbs brushing over her cheeks as he took her in, azure orbs flickering around her face, concern written all over his austere features as he took in everything he could possibly read. Lips parted to let out the breath of relief that surged out of him. She was safe. She was okay. Which only left one other obvious conclusion: He'd come all this way for a woman who'd already decided to shut him out.
So as suddenly, as quickly as the flick of a switch, Declan dropped his hands from her face, and the curtains closed on that worried look, leaving the same shuttered, cold surface she'd seen before as he took a step back. "You're alive. Good." A curt nod before he turned to leave again.
Caleb had been outside with Gabby when the SUV had come down the gravel, the crunch pulling his attention. He’d been on high alert since Val and Gabby had come home. With Marcus showing up, he’d decided he needed to keep close to home for a few days. Because even if Cora couldn’t have seen this coming, Caleb had. Watching as Roo ran herd the car and the man he knew would appear, he whistled low to bring the dog back. He wasn’t surprised at all when Declan Archer stepped out of the luxury vehicle. The kind of thing, the kind of person that had no business in a place like this. Furrowing his brow, he was quick to pick Gabby up, kissing her on the top of her head and telling her they were going to go see mama. When he entered the house, he found Declan towering over his sister, who’d clearly just been emerging from her room. Looking at Val, he handed Gabby off to her mother, his focus on his sister.
Cora had every intention of calling Declan the day before, but then Marcus had shown up. And she’d felt even more compelled, the guilt about Lily eating at her, had spent an hour finding her phone (it had slipped under the bed), plugged it in. And then, she’d gotten pulled away by Caleb coming to talk to her about Marcus, and then dinner, and then feeling sick and not being able to sleep well. She’d finally passed out in the early hours of the morning, and so Caleb was right that she’d just been coming downstairs when Declan had entered. She’d hardly said good morning to Val, her body still swimming in an oversized t-shirt that concealed the shorts she wore, when he’d appeared. For a second she thought she must be dreaming. That was why she hesitated when he turned away. He must have been a mirage. She’d lost her mind finally and she was hallucinating him and she was pathetic, wasn’t she? He got through the door, and then Cora glanced at Val and Caleb - the looks on their faces telling her that he’d actually been there.
Shit. She hadn't expected him to show up without being prompted. Had expected him to fight coming here, to punish her for leaving in the first place. But Cora knew him well enough to know he wouldn't be happy to have wasted his time coming here to find her just fine. Even if she was anything but. She'd just gotten done being sick, brushing her teeth, was going to seek out some of Val's herbal tea to try and settle her morning sickness. Now there wasn't time. Ignoring the nausea, she grit her teeth and sucked in a deep breath, steadying herself for a conversation she wasn't ready to have.
“Val, keep Caleb inside.” That was all Cora said, before she was heading outside behind Declan. She knew she needed to get to him before he got to the car. She couldn’t run, but she moved quickly, getting to the front porch and calling out, “Declan, wait!” Going down the steps behind him, she felt desperate, not knowing what else to do, what else to say. She knew him. And as much as she wanted him to be the type of guy who would care enough to listen, she’d seen it. When he’d stormed in, Cora had seen the look in his eyes when he’d realized she was fine. Because she’d broken so many rules - her watch had been moved to the kitchen counter, her phone was still on the charger, his missed calls and texts were waiting for her, so of course he was furious.
So this wasn’t ideal, this wasn’t the plan, and maybe even this wasn’t enough at this point, but it was the easiest way to explain everything in the shortest way possible, blurting out, “Declan - I’m - We’re… I’m pregnant.” Cora stopped then, keeping some distance between them, a hand moving to her abdomen, holding there protectively, as if to shield the growing child from potential rejection. The thought made her heart squeeze a little. She didn’t wait before adding on, “We need to talk. But not here, not with Cal around." There was still a wintry bite to the air, even though it would likely warm up a little later in the day. "Can I put some clothes on and we can go for a walk? Please?”
"Declan very rarely knows what's best. And I mean that with nothing but respect and honesty. It's the thought that counts." Mostly teasing - clearly he was brilliant, could solve a problem, had control of most situations. It was Cora's turn to huff out a laugh, her crying stifling some, and she took a deep breath in, then out. "Do you think he's happy with me? Because I've... I've seen happy guys before and he seems..." It was something she wanted to say to Declan, and maybe she was saying it to Marcus so that someone else heard it. So that if things didn't work out, because that's what she figured would happen with them, someone in his life would have real context. "I don't know if he is or not. I can't tell. And he won't tell me. He expects me to just.. know what he's thinking and feeling and... I need to talk to him."
Cora swallowed softly, glanced at her journal on the coffee table, thought of the bulleted list. She had a plan. "I'm going to call him." She was. She'd need to work out her thoughts. Get it out in a list so she wouldn't get upset and forget something important. Nothing she wanted felt big. She just needed to get him here. To talk face to face. "Or you just tell him to come. 'Cause I really don't think he's gonna answer for me. I don't think he cares to hear from me."
Still, she had been planning to call him. Timing was a funny thing. She'd been working out her plan when Marcus had arrived. She'd thought about where she'd take him to talk - her favorite spot overlooking the lake. How she'd tell him about the baby - she'd found the baby blanket that her mother had knitted her - gender neutral, cream with ivy leaves knitted and lined with satin. A precious thing. Something to pass on, even if it just sat in the nursery for looks. She let out a sigh, "But you'll just have to tell Lily that I'll be home as soon as her dad and I can have a chat. She and I can facetime, for what it's worth. I'm not trying to vanish on her."
The tip of his tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth for a few second, his dark gaze lingering in silence on Cora a moment longer than they usually would at her words. Pondering for a brief moment whether to involve himself further, to voice some of the things he probably shouldn't. Instead he let his lips find their way into a humoured little half smile, a low rumble of amusement leaving him. "Words every Dom wants to hear from his submissive." There was a slight edge to the statement, a hint of sharp sarcasm to accompany the air of humoured nonchalance.
"I'm pretty sure I just told you, gorgeous. But you can't expect happy to look the same on Declan as it does on other guys." Brows pulled a little closer together as he leaned forward, perching forearms on his knees. "He's never told you much about Gerald, has he?" It was really more of a rhetorical question; of course he hadn't. Because that would mean really letting her in and being vulnerable, something neither Archer brother did very well - even if they handled it very differently.
He scratched at the stubble on his cheek. "I have no intention of telling Declan I was here. As for you calling him..." He glanced at Cora's naked wrist again, "I already said you should." For so many different reasons. "Just know that talk of yours would probably be going a whole lot better if you came home first." And that was the last he'd say on the matter; Declan Archer did not come running for just anyone, and he'd resent having to, which would probably not be conducive to whatever Cora wanted.
"She's gonna ask questions you can't answer." It was the truth of it; Lily was about as sharp as 11 year old came. "So I think it's best she doesn't hear from you just yet." He stood, giving his own watch a glance. "I better hit the road, if I want to catch the next flight out." Then he levelled Cora with what was probably the most severe look she'd ever seen on his face, a hint of darkness in his gaze. "To be clear though, you did vanish on her, Cora. Without so much as a goodbye. And she may not be yours, but she deserves better than that from you. So you won't be doing that again." He sure as shit would drag her back by her hair if it happened again, if nothing else then just to give the kid the benefit of a goodbye. His features eased back into casual as he gave her a nod. "See you around, gorgeous." And then he walked back out the way he came.
Her tone was sharper then, and Marcus didn't even try to stop the chuckle that emerged as a result. "Because Declan doesn't always know what's best, even if he thinks he does." He said it as a fact, a undisputable truth. And yeah, maybe it was still pretty vague as far as answers went, but the finality of his tone made it pretty obvious that she wouldn't get much more out of him in that regard. "Naïve, maybe." he pointed out with wry smile. "Not stupid."
When Cora started crying, Marcus shifted on the couch, but his eyes remained on her, less humoured and more thoughtful now. "He doesn't have to say it." Not with Marcus. Cora may have different needs (she obviously did), but he'd let her and Declan work that part out. He wasn't there for that. "And if you're waiting for that, my opinion is that you're gonna be waiting for a long fucking time." It could have sounded antagonistic, but Marcus was downright nonchalant as he said the words; calmly relaying the facts as he saw them. She could take them or leave them for all he cared; he'd done his part.
Marcus' head tilted slightly, a huff of laughter leaving him at her imitation of Declan. There was no doubt his brother was difficult, to say the least, especially for someone trying to carve out a place for themselves in his life. Marcus could think of a lot of women who'd romanticize the handsome business man, looking for a way in, and could name the many casual relationships with submissive women who'd never made it past the very surface and yet had looked at his brother with adoration in their eyes. None of them had any idea of what it means to love or be with not the idea of Declan Archer, but the man himself, and it seemed Cora was just now finding out.
He decided to forego commenting on most of it, primarily because it was none of his damned business and he felt no need to stick his nose in it, but when she told him Declan didn't seem happy with her, he actually let out a chuckle, shaking his head at her. "Look, I don't know shit about what you're cut out for - that's for you to know, and yeah, Declan's probably hard for most people to get a read on, but if you think he hasn't been happy up until a few days ago, you should've seen him before you waltzed your tight little ass into his life."
"Declan very rarely knows what's best. And I mean that with nothing but respect and honesty. It's the thought that counts." Mostly teasing - clearly he was brilliant, could solve a problem, had control of most situations. It was Cora's turn to huff out a laugh, her crying stifling some, and she took a deep breath in, then out. "Do you think he's happy with me? Because I've... I've seen happy guys before and he seems..." It was something she wanted to say to Declan, and maybe she was saying it to Marcus so that someone else heard it. So that if things didn't work out, because that's what she figured would happen with them, someone in his life would have real context. "I don't know if he is or not. I can't tell. And he won't tell me. He expects me to just.. know what he's thinking and feeling and... I need to talk to him."
Cora swallowed softly, glanced at her journal on the coffee table, thought of the bulleted list. She had a plan. "I'm going to call him." She was. She'd need to work out her thoughts. Get it out in a list so she wouldn't get upset and forget something important. Nothing she wanted felt big. She just needed to get him here. To talk face to face. "Or you just tell him to come. 'Cause I really don't think he's gonna answer for me. I don't think he cares to hear from me."
Still, she had been planning to call him. Timing was a funny thing. She'd been working out her plan when Marcus had arrived. She'd thought about where she'd take him to talk - her favorite spot overlooking the lake. How she'd tell him about the baby - she'd found the baby blanket that her mother had knitted her - gender neutral, cream with ivy leaves knitted and lined with satin. A precious thing. Something to pass on, even if it just sat in the nursery for looks. She let out a sigh, "But you'll just have to tell Lily that I'll be home as soon as her dad and I can have a chat. She and I can facetime, for what it's worth. I'm not trying to vanish on her."
"Sure." Broad shoulder lifted in a nonchalant shrug as he conceded that point. And he didn't know how much Caleb knew, so not wanting to make that particular situation any worse (he wasn't always a complete jerk, after all), he glanced pointedly at her naked wrist, as if to say you've been sending pretty clear signals. "It's just easier to ignore a call than it is to ignore all this." He gestured at himself, a playful smile on his face, mirth dancing in his dark eyes; Marcus had never been one to let a serious topic get in the way of humour. Something to both love and hate about him, probably. His attention drifted to Caleb when he practically spat in his sister's face, and he emitted a low grunt of amusement. Caleb was quick to follow his comment with giving himself an out though, so Marcus merely turned to Cora. "Five minutes with Declan, and he's an expert?" There was no offence in Marcus' tone, just pure humour dripping from it - and only a slightly derisive edge.
Marcus sat back on the couch, trying to make himself seem a little less imposing to her seated form. Both brows inched a little higher at her words, a hint of amusement making an appearance in his eyes once more. "Well, fuck, Cora. If I thought that was the issue, do you really think I would have told you anything?" The first real hint that he'd let the information slip on purpose, right there on the table. Marcus was a vault unless he chose not to be; no harm in letting her know that much. Declan already did. Marcus gave her a look of consideration. Then he finally said, "For the record, your brother's wrong."
"Well, I hate to disappoint, but I can't go." And Cora wasn't going to go into any further details than that. And she wasn't going to stress herself out fighting about it. Sighing, she glanced at Caleb then back to Marcus. "He and I have talked some. And I don't know. He likes to make a lot of assumptions." That was the truth of it. Caleb didn't get it and he never would, because he'd never delve deep enough to understand the nuances of her relationship with Declan. He saw the control, and made his own assumptions about what that would mean for Cora in the long term.
"Why did you want me to know?" She snapped this question, and it was the first time she'd been anything less than kind to Marcus. "Because he seems to think I'm stupid for not assuming he was operating this whole system." And the hormones, and the missing Declan, and the all of it, made her break down, crying, sniffling and wiping at her eyes with her sleeves. She was so emotional that she nearly missed what he said, but didn't quite. Tilting her head she glanced over at Marcus again, her eyes meeting his, sniffling and wiping at her face for a bit. "Oh? Is that your opinion or has he actually admitted to a feeling for once in his life?"
She was hurting all over again, and Cora curled into herself, wrapping her arms around her legs, pulling them to her chest. "I feel like I never see him, and then when I do I'm supposed to act grateful; And then he's all" Her voice dropped in register, doing a god awful impression of Declan saying, "Express your needs. Tell me things. Read my mind but don't expect me to read yours." She was just a little mad, "But when? When we're with Lily or when I'm waiting for him to finish a call or when he's busy with work and we barely have time to see each other and then when we do we're..." She blushed, thinking of the playroom, not going further. "and I just... Maybe I'm not cut out for this, Marcus. He doesn't seem happy with me."
Have a family birthday lunch at noon, then I’ll be around 💕
@munofmanyminds
“Everybody I ever loved, I still love a little.”
— Marilyn Monroe to Hedda Hopper, 1961
Marcus quirked a brow at her, a wordless go on with a hint of scepticism. Not that he didn't believe her as such. More so that he had this sense that she was being intentionally vague about shit. And as the king of vague bullshit sentences, he picked up on that. He didn't have Declan's analytical approach, but he was sharply observant and had good instincts, which was more than enough. His gaze followed her as she sat, not moving a single muscle himself, like someone had pressed pause on him while she got settled in. He emitted a low snort, not exactly derisive but not too far from it at her question. Like the answer should be obvious. "You left the state to get away from him," He deadpanned. In other words: no. "What do you think?"
Marcus shook his head when she explained about needing to talk to Declan and whatever issues she might have with getting around to it. Vague enough that he didn't care, specific enough that he felt inclined to say something anyway. "Not that it's any of my business, gorgeous, but you might wanna consider just giving him a call." He'd show up if she asked. Sharp senses picked up on the approaching car, quick to deduce that it could probably only really be one person; Cora's over protective brother who apparently had a whole set of issues with Declan and his relationship with Cora. Again, none of Marcus' business, but decent enough context to have.
Then a dog practically flew across the room, and Marcus' attention was redirected, eyes on Caleb the moment he stepped inside; registering everything from the immediate look on his face to the way it shifted when he saw Marcus. He unfurled his body to a stand, every movement so easy you'd never know he'd just been locked in a car for three hours. And then he took Caleb's hand with a low chuckle. "The one and only," he confirmed, "Try not to hold it against me." As his hand released from Caleb's, he glanced at Cora; the reminder of what he did for her, especially the parts none of them knew about, right at the front of his memory, before he looked back to Caleb. He shrugged off the man's thanks with a casual smile. "I'm sure she made my part in it sound a whole lot bigger than it was." He cut Cora a playful look, smoothly, teasingly, adding, "Not that I mind the boundless hero worship, mind you."
Marcus' eyes landed on Cora again as she spoke to him once more. He noticed Caleb stepping back but not exactly leaving out of the corner of his eye. Not that he was really bothered. If Caleb wanted to be present for this bullshit, then he was more than welcome to. "No. Lily asked me to bring you home. Can't do that over the phone. But since I didn't bring a suit-clad block of ice with me on the road, I'm kinda sensing that's out of the question." And that was that, really; he'd hate to disappoint Lily, but he couldn't very well drag Cora out by her hair.
"And I'd love to go home, and I'll do that as soon as I can talk to Declan." She thought of him. Of her phone. Of the watch she'd left on the table. If he'd really cared, wouldn't he have reached out by now? Again - she hadn't checked. In her right mind she would admit this wasn't fair, but she wasn't being logical. She was running on pure emotion. "I was going to call him soon." Because it was going to change everything. "I was working on..." Her list of demands? No. Just... Her list of points she wanted to make to him. Her concerns. Things she wanted to clear the air on before they settled in on her coming back to New York.
"You could have called to see if I wanted to come back before you came all this way to bring me back." Caleb snorted, and Cora glanced at her brother. "You want him to say that Declan misses you - news flash, Cor?" Her brother gave her a cutting look. "He doesn't. But I'll mind my business." Unlikely. "I'm gonna go check on Gabby." Brothers were the worst. But then she was left alone again with Declan's, and Cora sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. "I just needed some time Marcus. He... He's embarrassed of me. And that really hurts. I don't... I don't wanna be a dirty little secret. I can't be. I've gotta be somebody that someone is proud of." She gave him a sad little look, chewing on her lower lip. "Do you really think he could ever be proud of me? Cause it doesn't seem like it."
Val clung to him as best she could. Fingers digging into his upper arms, his chest, his shoulders, anywhere she might grasp at him as he pounded her into the camping pads beneath her. Legs wound so tightly around his hips, holding him against her. Her hips moved in tandem with his, wordless encouragement for him to give her everything he had, every inch, every thrust, every deliciously wonderful groan falling from his lips. Her sounds met his, no sense of where they were or who might hear as she left groaned, panted, gasped, back arching, the intensity of her tremors increasing.
His fingers found her clit, and Val cried out, gasping in breaths as her eyes rolled back. And just as she was about to lose it, walls fluttering helplessly around him, he came, finally, and she let go. Her upper body bolted up, her arms wrapping fully around his shoulders now to drag him down to her, to bring his chest flush against hers. Her entire body shook with the force of her orgasms, panting and moaning deliriously. Her walls clutched him tightly, clenching and unclenching, practically milking him for every damned drop as her mouth caught his, taking his lips in a needy, desperate kiss.
Caleb got lost in those waves, drowning in the feeling of her walls squeezing him. His eyes clenched shut, his jaw set, a grunt caught in the back of his throat, only relaxing when she kissed him. He didn't rush to let up with her, his hips rocking through her orgasm, encouraging her to feel every bit of it. "Fuck," He gasped when he finally became too sensitive to continue. Pulling out, he felt a warm gush of his cum following his movement, dripping out of her. He couldn't remember the last time he'd experienced something so intense. Taking a few moments, he caught his breath, collapsing on the camping beside her, his chest, covered in a thick mat of hair, rising and falling quickly.
He wasn't shy with her anymore though, and he reached out, scooping her up into his arms, kissing her again. A hand went to tangle in her hair, keeping her close. There wasn't rushing anymore either, being lazy about this, kissing her in the haze of that post-orgasm afterglow. "I'm serious Val," He chuckled a little as he said it, feeling shy, "You're absolutely perfect - you feel absolutely perfect." He was a little in awe, so you'll excuse him gushing about her. Another kiss, and then another, content to lay there, kissing her over and over again.
Honestly, Marcus hadn't ever considered stopping by this dead ass town himself. Cora may have grown up here, and she may be winding her way into Declan's life in a way that he'd initially considered very unexpected, but Marcus himself? He'd been happy to be on the outside of all that. He didn't need the added drama and he rarely gave enough fucks to get that involved in the first place. And yet here he was, all because of Lily. That kid could get Marcus to do anything.
"Of course not. How could you be?" He teased seamlessly, like this whole situation wasn't fucking strange. "And I figured," he noted with regards to the kid, shooting her a playful smirk. "A little swearing never hurt anybody though." He followed Cora inside, taking in the way she moved as they walked. Differently. Something was off, but he didn't comment; just observed her. "Seriously?" He shrugged. "Lily." Cora already knew about that one weakness of his; it was pretty obvious the second you saw him with his niece.
Not one to let himself get too bothered by the tension or awkwardness of others, Marcus sat down on the couch, elbows perched on his knees as he leaned forward, looking up at her. The smirk, usually a steady companion, fell away and he cocked his head a little to the side at her question. "Declan doesn't know I'm here." There was a slight pause to let that revelation settle. "He's not exactly feeling chatty these days." He shifted a little to compensate for the gun at the small of his back, getting a bit more comfortable. "Why are you still here?" He then asked, repeating her own question with the meaningful addition of a single word.
Cora felt a stab of guilt at the idea that Lily was wondering where she was. "I've been thinking about how to get back." She couldn't tell him why it wasn't as simple as going to the airport and getting on a plane. She wouldn't tell him that. It wasn't his business. Sitting on the chair across from the couch, she crossed her legs, tilting her head as she looked at him. She hated herself for asking, but she couldn't help herself, "Is he okay?" She'd imagined he was operating business as usual, that he hadn't even noticed that she was gone. But if Marcus were here, that couldn't be that true, could it?
"He and I have a lot to talk about." It was vague, intentionally so, and she had no intention on delving into it. Especially as she saw the red pickup truck heading down the driveway. Caleb would be coming through the front door in about five minutes, ten if he was finishing a phone call. "And I can't go back until we have that talk. And I need him here for that. So... I'm trying to figure out how to convince him to come here." And she knew he wouldn't agree to it. He wouldn't speak to her. Not that she'd tried. She was too scared of the rejection, hadn't actually looked at her phone in a day and a half.
Roo sprang through the door, and it distracted Cora, smiling as she saw the Aussie zooming into the house. It meant Caleb was already heading in. The front door creaked as it opened, and she glanced up, grinning at her brother as he entered. "Caleb!" Her voice light, bright, tone easy, as if to say this is a friend.
Caleb, on the other hand, had been suspicious at the sight of the unfamiliar SUV. He figured it would be Declan. Had rushed in. Instead he'd found a different city boy in his house. "I assume you're uh..." He thought about it for a second. Cora had mentioned this guy's name before. "Marcus, right? Declan's brother?" He walked into the house, extended a hand. "Cora told me what you did for her. I really appreciate that. I'm Caleb." He knew this guy knew that, but manners mattered of course.
Cora didn't let Caleb distract too much, not satisfied by his earlier answer. "Okay so Lily was wondering where I am but that doesn't explain - why are you here? You could have called." At the line of questioning, Caleb's brow furrowed, stepping back, glancing between Cora and Marcus, keeping quiet.
