Mar 29
Triple Frontier 2 UPDATE: script was finished, never got “polished”
so I had the chance to meet attend a Q and A with Garrett Hedlund and he’s lovely!
I asked about TF2 and this is how the convo went-
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Triple Frontier 2 UPDATE: script was finished, never got “polished”
so I had the chance to meet attend a Q and A with Garrett Hedlund and he’s lovely!
I asked about TF2 and this is how the convo went-
I said I was introduced to his works through the three films he did with Oscar Isaac. Garrett interjected and asked if I was a pretty big fan of Oscar, I said “huge” and he said “Oscar’s a good person to be a fan of”
I said Triple Frontier means a lot to some very queer people online and he smiled
I said I knew a few years ago Charlie Hunnam said he had and idea for TF2 and I asked if he knew if it had gone anywhere or was still potential to happen.
I joked “might be kinda hard to get Pedro Pascal now” but Garrett said not to count him out and seemed to think he’d do it
he said there was a full script, but that it had never gotten “polished” enough and said he hasn’t heard anything else.
Garrett did say that he had a great time filming, said him and Charlie had been “best buds” for 15 years by that point and that it was his third movie with Oscar and so getting to do the movie with friend was great
he also said “if Charlie does make that m movie, his baby brothers gonna be there”
he was super thoughtful in his answer and answering everyone’s questions I love him 🙏🏻
plz rb to spread word
full pieces (+ colored version of fishben) on patreon
Miller boys do it better
girly I need you to listen- you and benny have been seeing each other for about 2ish months. he called you one night before bed and asked what you were doing saturday afternoon and you told him that you need an oil change. you and ben go back and forth because he’s saying he can fix it but you think it’s too much then he says “darlin’ let me do this for you. i have a garage and tools to do it” then you FINALLY crack and let him help. you spend the whole saturday just watching him work on your car🤭(he also did a full inspection of your car bc that’s just benny) i need benny brain rot😭😭
Mechanic Miller
Pairing: Benny Miller x f!reader
Word Count: 800ish
Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!
Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.
Notes: I'M SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG
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**Reader is not described
Main Masterlist
Benny Miller Masterlist
"What are you up to this weekend?" Benny asks me through the phone as I finish brushing my teeth.
I put my toothbrush back in the cabinet. "I have to get an oil change before I come over, but then I'm all yours."
"Why didn't you tell me? I can do that for you."
I sit on my bed. "It's ok. I didn't want to bother you with it."
"You don't ever bother me."
I chuckle. "Good to know, but still. It's boring stuff."
"It's not boring when I'm with you."
"Benny, really, it's ok. I'll just get the oil change then pop over."
Benny takes in a breath and slowly lets it out. "Sweetheart, let me do this for you. I have a garage and the tools to do it."
"Hhhmm. What will it cost me?"
There was a short pause. "Time with me?"
"That's it?"
"…I also want to see your tits."
"There it is," I chuckle.
Saturday morning, I show up at his house, surprised when Benny meets me out front, garage already opened, a black tank top and jeans with that fucking backwards baseball hat that I know he wears only to heat me up. He waves me into the garage, putting a hand up when I've pulled up the appropriate amount of space. I open the door and get out, Benny coming up and pulling me to him with one arm, pressing a quick kiss to my lips while holding some tool with his other.
"Hey, sweetheart."
I smile up at him, his eyes bright and so very blue. "Hey, baby."
"So," he steps back and I hand him the keys, trading places with him as he leans down to pop the trunk. "I'm going to give you the Benny special."
I smirk. "I thought that would come tonight?"
His eyes darken slightly. "Oh it will. But I meant for the car. I'm doing the oil but also a whole tune up and check."
"Benny, you don't have to-"
"I want to. Gotta make sure my girl is safe."
Fuck, he's so hot in protector mode. I nod. "Yes, sir."
Benny stumbles slightly as he stands up. "Save the sir for later, sweetheart."
He had set me up a little space to sit on an old lawn chair, a crate pulled up beside it with a piece of wood over it so whatever I set on it didn't fall through the gaps. I sat down and pulled out my book as he turned on some music, opening the hood and propping it open.
I never did pull out my book.
Instead, I watch him while he works. His muscles tightening and moving as he works, sliding under the car to let the oil out. Reemerging with sweat glistening on his forehead. I leave only once to make some lemonade in his house,nearly dropping the pitcher when I come out to him reaching behind his head and pulling his shirt off, sweat glistening on his torso. I let my eyes roam down his body and when they make it make to his face, I see his smirk as he stalks over to me. He stops a couple steps in front of me, watching me as I attempt to remember any words.
"This for me, sweetheart?" he gestures to the glass in my hand.
"Huh? Oh. Uh, yeah." I hand him the glass and he brushes his fingers over mine, tipping his head back slightly as he takes a drink, his throat bobbing with each swallow.
I may have forgotten how to breathe.
He chugs the whole thing and hands the glass back to me, his eyes not leaving mine. "That was delicious. Thanks." He winks, the asshole, and turns around, heading back to the car, and slightly leaning over to push his ass out in my direction, his jeans hugging him perfectly.
I somehow manage to refrain from smacking it.
What seems like an enternity later, he closes the hood, wiping his hands on a spare rag.
"She looks good. All tuned up and ready to g-" he turns to me and stops, his eyes darkening as he takes in my bare chest, my shirt already lifted up to flash him.
"What?" I say in the most innoccent voice I can muster. "I do believe I owed you some titties."
He grins wide. "Yeah you fuckin' do."
In one fast motion, he scoops me up and tosses me over his shoulder, my screech turning into laughter as he carries me into his house and shows me exactly what the Benny special includes.
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No love lost
Series, ongoing
Summary: The passing of your runaway father triggers a series of events that brings you back to the place where you grew up. You’re back in Hoboken, and sleep eludes you. Haunted by waking nightmares, you find an unlikely refuge in the basement laundry room of your building, where you keep bumping into one of your neighbors, a certain Frankie Morales. Soon, it becomes obvious that the man is also running away from some ghosts of his own. Can you two strike a deal that'll help you find some rest? Should be pretty harmless, right?
A Triple Frontier / A Most Violent Year AU.
Pairing: Frankie Morales x OFC (Leigh Reinhorn) Please note that this story is written in reader format but Reader is an OFC. There are sparse but still present physical descriptions; she has a thorough background, and a name.
Rating: Explicit 🔞
TW: THERE WILL BE NO TRIGGER WARNINGS ON INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS. So please tread carefully because there will be (ghosts) (no really) mentions of: PTSD, death, self-harm, secondary characters dying, gun violence, grief, depiction of very vivid nightmares, all the spooky vibes I can infuse, I am not kidding, my first writing love was horror (but I'm only just getting back into it, so baby-scary level). Some newcomers: slow burn (my first, bear with me), idiots in love (like, very stupid). And the usual suspects: love at first sight, soulmates, pleasure and pain, an alarming level of feelings denial, light bondage, rough sex, size kink like WOW this is Francisco Morales, lots of bodily fluids (come spit and sweat, sweat come and spit, my MVPs), unprotected sex, the usual very intense Orange bedroom Frankie, "I can fix you but I won't let you fix me" Frankie, and an OFC who's a match for him.
A/N: my dearest Orange bedroom besties, I don't know who's still here, but I'm very grateful for you all, past, future and present 🧡 This is probably the same story, the same tropes, again and again, only this time I will explore grief in a way I hope to be a bit spooky but not too off-putting. I promised myself this story would contain less angst, but the outline has already destroyed all hopes of a successful attempt... So here's yet another long love letter to our Pilot™. I hope you enjoy the flight 🧡
Chapters
Prologue - Better in Hoboken
Chapter 1 - Walking With a Ghost
Chapter 2 - Jersey Girl
Chapter 3 - Black Magic Woman
A drabble - The Past Will Catch Up
Chapter 4 - Night Time Is The Right Time
Chapter 5 -
Chapter 6 -
Chapter 7 -
Chapter 8 -
Chapter 9 -
Epilogue
Playlist
Playlist · 11 morceaux
Close asshat cousins Jax Teller and Benny Miller swinging at one another (or others wink wink) in the ring for babygirl's giggles, smiles, hands, body, WHATEVER, would be so HILARIOUS and hawt at the same, mama—I mean, WHAT.
WHO SAID THAT.
Vanilla Milkshake
part 2
Jax Teller (SOA) x fem!reader | Benny Miller (Triple Frontier) x fem!reader
/!\ the smut only happens with Benny. Jax has a crush on reader.
+18 mdni
10.5k words
tw: Jealousy, Protective Jax, Not Beta Read, Banter, Flirting, Making Out, Strength Kink, Frottage, Dry Humping, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Squirting and Vaginal Ejaculation, Vaginal Fingering, Coming Untouched, Fighting, Attempt at Humor, Aftercare, Fluff, Hair-pulling, Soft/Sweet Benny, Bathing/Washing, Jax Teller and Ben Miller are Cousins, Dom/sub Undertones, Teasing, Scents & Smells, One Night Stands, Out of Character (possibly because it's been a while since I watched the movie, and I'm almost done with s1 of soa and It's been a while since the last ep I watched), Crossovers
summary: Jax invites the prettiest girl in town to a fight, where she meets a handsome stranger that makes her feel all sorts of exciting things. Jax's not too happy about it, especially since it feels like a personal betrayal, considering the stranger's his damn cousin.
Reader is referred to as Tangy (nickname by Jax because she smells good, like tangerines), pronouns are she/her, genitals are referred to as hole and pussy.
a/n: this is for my baby @reveluving <3 I really hope I was able to deliver what you wanted. Also im sorry for any spelling mistakes. Thank you for pulling me out of writers block. Sometimes I felt a little rusty writing this, so I hope it doesn't show! :) Here's another one for the garrett girlies! Cheers!
Charming is usually quiet, especially at night. But that is if you aren't anywhere near the Sons of Anarchy.
Every week or so, the Sons gather up to throw a boxing match, usually just to bet to try and make some money, drink a shit ton of booze and watch their friends get the shit beaten out of them. They tend to get really rowdy, and immediately scatter if the police ever showed up, which doesn't happen as much as it should for some reason.
It also means that people from out of town show up looking to make some cash on their fighters as well.
Jax used to fight, a lot, when he would burn with excess energy and would try to get in as much trouble as physically possible. And when he couldn't for whatever reason, he'd beg to be put in the ring and come out with two black eyes, a busted lip and a shit-eating grin on his face. It satiates him for a good three weeks until he gets the itch to punch and get punched until he sees stars.
Jax's special girl never comes to these things, but tonight he invited her. She agreed after he assured her there would be a bench for them to sit, apparently she didn't want some drunk idiot stepping on her shoes or spilling his beer down her back, not like Jax would let it slide if that ever happened, she may not be technically his girl, but soon (he hasn't even asked her out yet).
That night outside, behind their local gym, the boxing ring was set up and a generous amount of people were in the audience. The girl was sitting with her bag in her lap, and Jax was sat with his body angled towards her, their knees and shoulders touching. He really didn't need to be that close but apparently, how else is he meant to sit to be protecting her? It was strategic! Totally innocent and very serious because he'd hate for anything to happen to her, and especially since he likes to feel the heat of her body radiating off her and to be so close that he can smell her fruity shampoo off her hair and see the shimmer of her lipgloss.
She was so damn adorable, she was frowning a little too, clearly concerned about the health and safety of the fighters.
"Hey," Jax couldn't help but smile, throwing his arm around her shoulder and squeezing her to his side.
"What?" She said, still staring at the referee explain the rules to the two men before they start punching each other.
"What're you looking worried for, baby?"
She shrugged and finally turned to look at him, Jax watched her inhale sharply and squeeze her thighs, lifting and dropping her bag back on her lap, trying to pretend like his little pet name didn't make her tingle. "Well, I don't see the appeal in getting your shit rocked for sport,"
"Well, it's for sport,"
"Yeah, but it can't feel good the next day,"
"Sure, but it's like— It's like sex, it can feel good, but, if can also hurt so bad it feels good," Jax spoke right in her ear while the audience shouted and cheered around them as one of the men hit the ground with a thud, dripping with sweat and a little blood from his brow.
"Sex and getting punched by Mark the lumberjack is not the same," She rolled her eyes and huffed when Jax leaned down and dug his teeth in the crook of her neck. She wasn't really annoyed and Jax knew that, so when she pushed his face away with her hand, he laughed and licked her palm making her squeal in juvenile disgust, "Jax! Ew!"
She made a show of wiping her wet palm on his thigh, over his dark denim while he laughed.
The girl sighed and Jax quickly planted a kiss to her cheek, "Sorry,"
"Get me a drink, I'm thirsty," She said and Jax immediately stood up, "What do you want?"
"Whatever's good," She shrugged and Jax nodded, "Alright, stay here,"
She had a small smile on her lips when Jax turned around and left to go fetch her a drink. When he was out of sight, she turned back to the fight and opened her bag without looking, when her fingers felt plastic she dug her fingers inside it and finally glanced down. After a couple of seconds of looking around, she grabbed a lollipop, the one that was Sour Apple flavoured. She looked back at the fight right as the two fighters are trying to choke each other out.
When she couldn't open the package with her fingers, she huffed and started gnawing on the plastic covered hard sweet. The plastic finally ripped and she pulled it apart with her fingers, shoving the wrapper in her bag and right as the lollipop hit her tongue, a dark figure obstructed her view of the ring.
With her tongue out and the round green lollipop on it, she slowly trailed her eyes up, and when she couldn't make up a face she shoved the lollipop in her mouth and moved it to inside of her left cheek, then grabbed the bench with one hand and the other on her bag as she leaned back, tilting her neck to make out the face of the idiot blocking her view.
When her eyes readjusted to the change of light, she just glared up at the man until a weird feeling fluttered in her stomach, "Do I know you?"
"Uh, no, I'm sorry if I scared you," A deep voice answered and the body finally lowered to her level, squatting right in front of her.
The man was ridiculously tall, if she had to guess, maybe as tall as Jax, or maybe a little taller. His hair was blonde under his backwards cap, the same as Jax, his eyes were even of a lighter colour, not the same as Jax but pretty close, a grey-green, the type of colour that constantly changes with the sunlight, sometimes it's green, other times turquoise, or perhaps grey? Or grey-blue? Who the fuck even knows, they're pretty eyes and they're staring straight at her as if he knew something she didn't.
"You don't look awfully sorry to me," She said, squinting her eyes at the man.
He chuckles and the sound goes straight to her stomach in the form of traitorous butterflies, he was handsome. The man had a boy-ish charm to him, the sheepish look fits him like a damn glove as he rubs the back of his neck with one of those huge manly hands. His bicep bulges at the movement, and his short-sleeved button up wasn't even horribly tight that it'd look it'd burst at the seams under the pressure of those muscles, but she could still see how strong he was.
He wasn't massive by any means, he didn't look like he was on steroids, he looked homegrown, and that was bad, really bad because the girl was a sucker for homegrown and homemade things, including men if that even makes any damn sense.
She almost squeals when she realises he caught her staring a little too long at his bicep, and she whips her eyes below his chest, trying to bury her feet in the dirt, and that was a mistake because she can see that his thighs looked really good in those stupid cargos he was wearing.
She swallows a mouthful of sour apple flavoured saliva, and takes the little stick from her mouth, licking the sugar and lipgloss off her lips.
"You got one for me?" He smiles and his dimples pop, making her stomach flip as she starts rummaging in her handbag without a second thought.
"Which one do you want?" She asks and this time tries very hard to keep the eye contact steady, he bites his lower lip, still smiling, "Which one are you having?"
"Sour Apple," She replies.
"Sour Apple it is," He nods and finally stands to his full height.
She's almost worried he's just about to leave, even though she came here with Jax, but it's not like she's Jax's girl, or they're even really talking, the man just likes to uhh— Doesn't matter, they haven't even fucked because she knows how much Jax goes stupid for sweet pussy, so if he wants to date her, he has to prove himself responsible and capable. So for now, she can play with other boys, it won't kill him (just a little).
"Can I sit?" He nods at the empty spot next to her and she nods.
Once he sits, he tries to make a little bit of space between them, out of respect of course, but there isn't much space with people on both sides, and the man has stupid broad shoulders and long legs, so that doesn't help much either. So their bodies are pressed from shoulder, to down their hips and thighs.
She hands him his lollipop and he accepts it with a whispered thanks that makes her flush a little, his voice deep and pleasant, making her tingle every time he opened his mouth. The man immediately brings the plastic covered hard sweet to his mouth and rips the plastic with his teeth, pocketing the wrapper and she smiles a little as he pops the sweet treat in his mouth, humming, "I'm Benny, by the way,"
"Tangy," She answers with the nickname given to her by Jax, the one that was quickly adopted by half of Charming because he can't keep his mouth shut. It's not like she hates it, she thinks it's cute, it's just that he tends to get a little carried away when he's face to face with a pretty girl, I mean, he did admit to be a sucker for a pretty face on more than one occasion, so when he thinks he likes a girl, he's probably just in love with what's between her legs, and Jax tends to confuse that a lot. So as much as Tangy entertained the man - a little attention from a handsome fella never hurt a gal - she was aware enough to know she had to keep him waiting on her, just to see if her effect on him will wear off and maybe he'll realise he actually loves her, or he just loves being with her. She was a pretty girl after all, and a lot of guys do want to be with her, and Jax is not immune to the feeling you get when a gorgeous girl wants to be seen with you.
"Tangy? Your mama saw you in that hospital and decided to call you Tangy?" Benny teased and Tangy made a face, scrunched her nose, "No! It's a nickname!"
"Aw, alright, and what does it mean?" He grinned, leaning a little closer.
She shrugged, "It means tangerine,"
He frowned, confused, and held his chin in his free hand, "Why?"
"Cuz I smell like them,"
Benny stares at her without saying anything and her eyes fall to his lips, realising his lollipop was long gone, and he was now chewing on the little white plastic stick. He must be one of those people who chew on lollipops because they're too damn impatient. He takes it out of his mouth with his left hand and leans in, grabbing a strand of shiny hair between his fingers and Tangy holds her breath. Benny doesn't break the eye contact when he brings the hair to his nose, inhaling.
His eyelashes flutter and he gently lets go of her hair, "Well, if I'll be damned, you do smell tangerine sweet,"
Benny doesn't straighten up, instead his head is still tilted down and super close to hers, Tangy can feel his left hand on the bench behind her back, and she could smell cologne and Sour Apple and just feel how warm he was, or maybe she was the one burning up, hard to tell.
His stare was intense and she didn't dare to speak. Her heart is beating fast in her chest and she feels a little vulnerable under his gaze, like she was naked, in a good way, in a thrilling way.
She was wearing an off shoulder mini dress with boots, but Benny was looking at her like she was lathered in cream and sprinkles. Tangy gulped and watched how Benny ever slowly brought a hand up, to give her a chance to pull back or run away if she didn't want him to touch her. But Tangy sat still, looking at him with huge Bambi eyes until he caressed her naked shoulder with his knuckles. She shivered and his eyes looked darker then, his pupils blown as he leaned in even closer, tilting her chin up with his thumb and index finger, "Jesus, look at you,"
His hold on her chin trembled a little and he looked a little pained. Tangy frowned in concern, "What?"
Benny laughed, finally pulling away and took his hat to run his fingers through his hair and put his hat back on. Tangy watched him pull at his shirt to try and cool his skin and started pulling down at his short-sleeved button up, as an attempt to cover his crotch.
Tangy looked a little confused until she saw his red ears, "You okay, Benny?"
"Hm, yeah, I just—" Benny cleared his throat and ran a hand down his face, looking at her with heavy lidded eyes, "Wanna get outta here?"
Tangy didn't say anything, she looked down and thought about it. That would be a dick move to just flake out on Jax like that, but also, where the fuck was he, anyway?
"I came here with someone…" Tangy said, sounding apologetic.
"Where's he then? He's your boyfriend?" Benny asked and Tangy shook her head, "He's not my boyfriend and he left to get me a drink,"
"He's taking an awful lot with those drinks, it's not nice to leave a lady hanging like that," Benny said and stood up then, looking around and back down at her.
Tangy was almost tempted in making an excuse for Jax, but he was taking way too long with those drinks, God knows what he's up to, and she wasn't his old lady or his damn pet, so if she wanted to up and leave with a hot stranger, she would.
"Ah fuck those drinks," She grabbed her bag in her right hand and got up, pulling down at her short dress down, bringing Benny's eyes down at the movement. He tries not to stare, acting cool and dragging his eyes further down on the ground. But even then, he can't wipe the grin from his face. Tangy notices, because of course she does, "Benny,"
"Hm?" He lifts his eyes to her pretty face and his heart skips a beat when she sticks her hand out, palm facing up. Benny doesn't hesitate to place his bigger hand in hers. As soon as she grips his hand, she turns around and pulls him through the benches and the crowds while he's smiling from ear to ear like a damn fool.
His own name rings in his head like an echo too, her voice was pretty and his name sounds so good coming out of that mouth. He'd love to hear her say it again and again right in his ear until he can hear it even in the dark of the night, when he's alone in bed.
Benny's a little distracted staring at her soft, smooth thighs when her back hits his firm chest and he quickly stops in his tracks, his hands on her shoulders now.
"Oh, hell no!" Jax is standing right there, with two beers in hand as he glares at Benny. He looks a little disgusted too.
Tangy doesn't say anything, instead she crosses her arms over her chest and steps a little backwards, and Benny realises she was trying to mold her back to his chest, to make sure he wasn't going anywhere, and he'd rather break both legs before he even gets the chance to suck the sour apple flavour off her lips.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Jax is pissed, glaring at Benny and Tangy realises they must know each other, so she whips her head, hair hitting Benny's chest.
"Sightseeing." Benny rolls his eyes, "I came here to check on my favourite cousin,"
"Fuck you, Benny," Jax scoffs and Tangy looks at him and back at Jax in shock, "You're cousins?" No wonder they look similar.
"I love you too, Jax, now, I'll come say hi to your mom later in the week, I'm busy right now," Benny says and grabs Tangy by the arms, about to herd her out of the place.
"Busy doing what, you unemployed asshole?" Jax seethes.
"First of, I'm retired, you dirtbag! And I'm—" Benny just looks down at Tangy, Jax clenches his jaw and Tangy knows he's about to punch Benny in the face so she raises a finger in the air, "Don't you fucking dare, Jackson!"
Jax freezes in place and Tangy glares at him, "I'll be leaving with Benny now, good night,"
Tangy doesn't wait for him to speak when she grabs Benny by the hand and pulls him away from the man. Benny's a smug bastard and he doesn't even have to look back to know that Jax was furious. So Benny squeezes the hand in his and grins when the prettiest girl he's ever seen looks over her shoulder and smiles back at him.
.
.
.
That night, Benny led them to his truck and opened the passenger door for Tangy, she climbed and buckled herself in. She immediately noticed a lot of things when the man got in the truck and turned the ignition on. She couldn't see the truck that well in the night, but once inside, it was clear it was a new truck. It was modern and spacious on the inside. She wasn't a car person by any means but she has an inkling that this vehicle must've cost him a pretty penny, if the heated and comfortable seat she was on was anything to go by. Benny had a friendship bracelet hanging off the rear view mirror too, with "BENY" spelled on the beads, clearly made by a child who can't spell very well. It was cute.
Tangy grinned and leaned forward, thumbing at the bracelet, "Cute, made that yourself?"
Benny snorted, "Is that a military joke?"
"You're in the military?" She asked, genuinely surprised.
"Not anymore, retired," Benny answers, "Aren't you gonna ask where I'm taking you?" He's now on the road, driving past the gym and the parking lot.
"Probably back to the motel where you're staying," Tangy answered with a shrug and Benny was surprised she got it right, "Yeah, that's right," He chuckles a little.
"Benny?"
"Yeah?"
He sees her shuffle in the corner of his eye, and he quickly glances at her, Tangy is now facing him and looking at him with her teeth in her lower lip. Benny just blinks at her and then looks back at the road, waiting for her to speak. "I'm not promising anything tonight, I've got limits and I expect you to respect them,"
"Of course," Benny nods.
Usually he goes straight to foreplay and fucking on one night stands, he's never had anyone really talk to him before, maybe some dirty talk, but never like this.
"So, Benny, all I ask is for you to listen and do what I say, that is if you're comfortable, of course," She speaks steadily in his rumbling truck and Benny shifts a little in his seat.
"Alright," Benny nods.
"You think you can do that for me?" She asks right in his ear this time and he shivers, "Yes, ma'am,"
"Okay," He feels her grin against the side of his face and she presses a quick, sticky kiss to his cheek over his stubble.
He inhales sharply and presses his foot a little harder on the gas pedal, trying to get faster to the motel.
Once they get to the motel, Benny's room is at the end of the building, Tangy is barely inside the room when Benny immediately drops to his knees and grabs her thighs in his big hands, squeezing and nuzzling his face on the soft skin, scratching her with his facial hair. Tangy squeals, dropping her bag on the floor and taking his hat off, throwing it on the floor and grabbing his blonde hair tight in her hands, she pulls and Benny moans, the sound travelling up her legs right to her pussy.
His head is thrown back and his Adam's apple bobs, then he blinks quickly and looks back at her, he looks so desperate on his knees, with his eyes shiny and his hair mussed up, the tips of his ears were red and his chest was rising with each breath he took. Tangy tilts her head to the side, staring at the man at her feet as he ever so slowly drags his hands higher up her soft thighs, the calluses on them making her breath come out a little shaky.
Benny doesn't drop the eye contact when he slowly pushes the hem of her mini dress higher and higher up her thighs, with every millimetre of newly exposed skin, his hands are migrating closer and closer to the back of her legs where his fingers make contact with the swell of her ass and the soft fabric of her panties. Benny closes his eyes and pushes his head closer, burying his face right between her legs, right on her covered pussy as he groans and paws at her ass like a starved man.
Tangy lets him. Her hands on his hair as a makeshift leash as he shakes under her, breathing her in like he's never had pussy in his life.
Benny starts moving his face around, absolutely shameless in the way he tries to bite the fabric of her panties to try and pry them off, his beard rubs on the sensitive skin on the inside of her thighs, making her hiss, "Benny!"
She pulls at his hair and he looks up, gaze heavy and a little stupid, "Hm?"
"Your beard's scratchy," She says with a small smile, enamoured with the big man at her feet.
"I can shave it," Benny blurts out without thinking and Tangy gapes at him, surprised.
She sees the moment his brain comes back online and he realises what he just said, flushing a pretty pink, "Uh, I mean— I could, if you wanted me to, it grows fast anyway,"
Tangy starts laughing, bringing a hand to her mouth, trying to control her giggles while Benny watches her with big honest eyes. He's smiling too at least, loving the sound of her giggles due to his antics.
"No, uhm, you don't have to shave anything, honey," She says in between giggles, shoulders shaking.
"Okay," He nods, his thumbs simultaneously rubbing at her skin while he just waits for her to tell him what to do.
"Benny, baby," She coos and bends down a little and cups his face in both hands. Benny holds onto the back of her legs, over her boots and she kisses his forehead, then the bridge of his nose and finally his mouth. Benny's insides are turning in excitement, his groin is tingling and the hairs at the back of his neck are standing straight.
He raises a little higher on his knees, neck bent back to accept everything she was giving him. And Benny was over the moon when he realised her mouth still tasted like sour apple and everything he's dreamed of in dark barracks, rainy days curled up under mud and stone, and scorching heat hugging the back of his sweat slick neck like a noose. She tasted like heaven in the flesh.
When Tangy pulls back, her lips are wet with spit and she speaks right in his mouth, "Take me to bed and kiss me like you mean it,"
Benny does just that, quickly getting back on his feet and lifting her body off the ground with his hands on her ass. Tangy immediately wraps her legs around his hips and puts her arms around his shoulders. The bed was just three steps away, but the raw display of strength made it so that her pussy throbbed with every step he took with her in his arms.
Benny makes quick work of dropping her on the bed on her back, she bounces a little on the old mattress and she's still got her boots on.
Benny practically rips his shirt off and she's glad he's not wearing anything underneath it. Her eyes zeroed on the light hairs on his chest, he doesn't waste time when he gets on the bed and hovers above her body, grinning when her hands go straight to his pecs, shamelessly feeling him up.
"You like whatchu see?" Benny murmurs, leaning down to nuzzle her neck.
"Yeah, I do," He can hear the smile in her voice and he feels her hands trail down his back, running over his skin, making their way to his cargo's waistband, he feels her grab tight on the fabric and pulls. Benny gasps when he feels her knee between his legs and her hips lift off the bed, grinding onto his.
Benny locks their mouths together then, making out with her like it was the last time he'll ever do it, sinking his body as low as he could without squishing her under his weight. She was warm and soft, and smelled so heavenly. She did smell like tangerines. In truth, as soon as he first stood in front of her, he could smell her, he just didn't say anything, and boy was he glad, because then he had an excuse to get close to her.
He also knew she was with Jax that night, before he even spoke with her. He didn't even contact his cousin to let him know he was dropping by Charming for a short visit. He planned on surprising Jax over at the fight and have a beer with him, maybe even jump in the ring if they felt like it. But as soon as he saw Jax with Tangy his plans were scrapped.
He watched Jax look at her with a hunger akin to a lion who hasn't eaten in weeks. He also knows that in no way she was Jax's old lady, if she was, the news would've already made it back home, no way Jax can resist the temptation of mentioning her, especially with how gorgeous she clearly was.
Benny just wanted to say hello, but he was a bastard, and when he saw Jax get up and leave, he had to strike. He knew if Jax was around, he won't really have the chance to talk to her properly. Especially since his cousin was a greedy motherfucker. And who wouldn't? When she was sitting right there, looking like an angel in her mini dress and boots.
And now he was asked to take off the same dress and boots in the darkness of his motel room. Benny doesn't need to be told twice when he grabs the hem of the dress and pulls it higher and higher, over her head. His breath hitches when his eyes land on her naked chest, and then down to her panties, baby blue with tiny lace trims. Benny slowly lets the dress drop down on the floor, by the bed, and he holds her hips in his hands before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
His gentleness surprises her a little, but she quickly recovers and wraps her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling him in closer. He smiles in the kiss and pulls away, she makes a sad noise and he quickly pecks her again, "I have to take your boots off,"
"Okay," She sighs, as if his attention wasn't 1000% on her, and her alone. Tangy lays back down on the bed and lifts one of her feet up. Benny chuckles and takes it in his hand, unzipping her boot to reveal white socks. He drops the leg, drops the boot beside the bed and takes the other one off, this time Benny kisses the side of her knee, then bends the leg towards her, she gasps and Benny places a warm kiss to the inside of her knee.
"What're you doing?" Her laugh was breathy and a little shaky as he peppers her legs in kisses.
"Saying thank you," He murmurs against the meat of her thighs and opens his mouth, digging his teeth in the flesh a little to feel her jump.
"Aw, you're so sweet," She bites her lower lip and holds his hair in one hand.
Benny stares at her when he closes his mouth and lets her leg go, then he starts unbuckling his trousers off and tries to push them off his hips while he's on his knees between her legs. He tries to get them off and huffs when they don't fall off in half a second.
"You need to take your boots off," Tangy smirks and Benny grumbles, moving to sit on the edge of the mattress as he pulls the laces of his boots loose. He tries to toe them off multiple times, which takes him longer to take off rather then just making sure his laces were loose enough, now at this point Tangy was watching him on her side, her head resting on her hand while she laughs.
Benny was flushed in embarrassment as he slips his cargos off and throws them across the room, making her squeal and laugh even louder.
Benny never felt so clumsy or just plain stupid on a one night stand before in his life. So he's struggling a little here, his heart was hammering in his chest and his dick was hard as a rock while the prettiest and sweetest sight was right there on his bed, half naked, and laughing at him. Benny takes a deep breath and runs a hand down his face, running his fingers down his short beard as he tries to breathe a little, to calm down.
He feels the mattress dip next to him and the sweet scent of her hits his nose, he closes his eyes and sighs when she wraps her hands around his chest, from behind.
"You need a minute?" She asks, her breath hitting the crook of his neck as she squeezes her body to his, her bare chest to his muscular back and Benny shivers. His hands grabs hers and she hums, pressing in even more, curling her body over his back and now he can feel her thighs press at his back, she was warm and her sweet, fruity scent was enveloping him in a cocoon he almost never wants to come out of.
Benny remembers she just asked him a question so he tilts his head up, looking at her upside down, "How about you give me another kiss?"
Tangy smiles and she leans down, kissing him, her chin to his nose. Her lips were soft and Benny was addicted.
At some point, Tangy ends up on her back again with Benny on top of her, and this time he was kissing her all over her neck and chest. He goes lower and lower until he reaches the waistband of her panties. She grabs his hair again, he humps the mattress and shakily slips her panties off. And once they're off, something in Benny's brain shifts and he drags her towards him by the legs, she yelps and he doesn't say a word, eyes stuck to the tantalising sight of her wet pussy.
He pushes a pillow under her hips and gets in the sniper position between her legs. She barely gets a warning before Benny locks his mouth over her hole and filthily sucks her lips. She tries to talk to him, to maybe ask him to slow down, but all that's coming out of her mouth were debauched moans and sighs. Her hands were holding onto his hair firmly as he ate her out with a passion and drive like no other. She squirms in his hold and Benny just holds her still with his hands, no shy with using his strength to push her down and harder on his face.
Tangy was too engrossed in trying to keep her soul in her body instead of flying straight to space to even notice the cacophony of noises Benny was making against her pussy, and out of it too, playing it like a musical instrument. Even with a mouth full of pussy, he was still desperate, so desperate he couldn't even take his hands off her skin to jerk himself off. Instead, Benny was humping the bed faster and faster, his eyes watering with how much he wanted to come, but mostly have her come in his mouth.
Tangy was panting, trying to take in oxygen more than the pure pleasure that was coursing through her veins. Her back arched off the bed and she was frantic, eyes watering with the rush of pleasure, "Bennnnnghhhh,"
She tried pulling at his hair to catch his attention, to warn him, that she felt like she was about to make a mess, "BennyBennyBenny—"
But Ben didn't look up, didn't slow down or even stop, if anything he went faster, harder, pushing his tongue in as deep as he possibly could inside her, his nose knocking her clit and his facial hair rubbing her in her most intimate places. Tangy couldn't even call his name another time because when he finally pulled off, he pushed a finger inside and the sound her pussy made was so wet and filthy she turned her head to the side and tried to bury it in the pillow. Benny didn't waste a single second and immediately started thrusting his middle finger in her slick hole, and when he deemed her wet, and loose enough, he shoved another and went to town.
Benny held his body up with one muscular arm as he fingered her faster and faster. He wasn't giving her even the chance to breathe or process when her trashing got more frantic, so Benny quickly lowered himself back down and sucked her clit in his mouth while fingering her. Tangy's body couldn't hold on anymore and her thighs closed around his head, squeezing him as she loudly came. She throbbed and squeezed tight around his fingers, spilling warm juices and even then, Benny didn't slow down, her breath hitched and she clenched her jaw, eyes unable to open back up as she started squirting all over his face, sobbing with her whole chest.
Tangy's body was tingling all over, her cells singing with pure, zesty pleasure. Her skin was warm to the touch and slick with sweat, her ears were ringing and her eyelashes were wet and clumped together. The bed's old, cheap sheets felt like silk at her back, and the rickety mattress felt like the softest, cotton candy cloud. And she never felt so naked before. So when her soul settled back in her body and her brain came back online, she opened her eyes with difficulty and when she met Benny's honest eyes, she smiled.
Benny grinned, his facial hair darker with her slick, panting and his hair a mess from her abuse, sticking in all directions.
Tangy tried to get up but her body failed her, not moving a single inch, so she sadly whined, desperate for a kiss and a cuddle.
Benny somehow was able to read her mind and hovered over her body, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then on her mouth.
He smells like her.
He smells like her pussy and her body lotion.
Tangy has never tasted or smelled anything so right before.
.
.
.
Tangy stays over that night, not like she even had a chance to get her legs to work. And Benny was over the moon, so excited, like a kid on his first sleepover.
She complains about being sticky when she's half asleep and Benny's in the bathroom, washing his face, but he catches her scratchy voice still. Once he's done, he goes back in the room and gathers her in his arms like a baby, sits her on the toilet seat and tells her to go ahead and pee. Tangy is still naked, and frowns at him in confusion and in sleepiness, "What?"
"I'll wait right here," Benny says with his arms crossed over his chest.
The woman whines, resting her head on her knees, nothing happens at first, and then after a minute, the sound of a light trickle gets heard. She lifts her head back up to look at Benny, she's pouting now, "Can you look away?"
Benny doesn't tease her like he wants to and instead turns around, slipping his ruined boxers off and throwing them in the hamper. He grabs his toothbrush and starts brushing his teeth right as he hears the sound of the toilet flushing. He glances behind his back and she's still sitting on the toilet seat, looking at him like a kicked puppy, "I can't stand,"
Benny's heart squeezes in his chest, but also he feels his ego inflate and it feels so damn good.
He quickly leaves the bathroom and comes back with a new spare toothbrush, still in the packaging. He opens the thing and runs it under the sink, squeezing toothpaste on it before offering it to the girl so she can brush her teeth. And she does, after thanking him in a small tired voice, once he's done brushing his own teeth, he grabs her arm and throws it over his shoulder so he can help her up. He helps her get to the sink where she spits and rinses her mouth, once she's done and the toothbrush is next to his in the little cup hanging off the wall, Benny gets them inside the shower.
"Am I heavy?" She asks while Benny fiddles with the water tap and water starts trickling down the shower head.
Benny turns his head to look at her while she's pressed to his side, arms wrapped around his neck, "Ain't nothing heavy about you," And he says it so gently, so softly, as if he always knew her, and that makes her want to cry a little, but she doesn't.
"How hot do you like it?" Benny then asks as he fixes the water.
"Really hot," She says and Benny grins, "Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, we only have mildly hot, and just a little hot in here, which one would you like?"
Tangy grins against his chest and squeezes him tighter, "I'll have it the hottest it gets,"
"Okay," Benny kisses her on the forehead and turns the hot water to the max, waiting for it to heat up a little, and when it does, he walks them a little closer to the wall, under the water spray.
"Water pressure's shit," Tangy mumbles and Benny snorts.
"Water pressure at my place is much better, it's strong and got all sorts of fancy settings," Benny says as he grabs his body wash and the loofah, he holds it out for the woman when the thing's all covered in foam.
"Why're you telling me about the water pressure at your house, mister?" She starts rubbing the loofah all over her skin, starting with her neck, arms, chest and then down her body while Benny watches, well, mostly holding her up because her legs were still shaking like hell after the mind numbing orgasm he pulled out of her.
"I don't know," Benny shrugs, staring at her breasts while she soaps them up, "Maybe I'm trying to give you an incentive to do this again with me,"
"What makes you think I want to do this again?" She raises a brow and Benny rips his eyes away from her nipples to look at her face.
He makes a face, like he thinks she's trying to be funny, but then he says, "Okay, raise both of your arms right now,"
Tangy frowns in confusion, and when she realises if she even lets go of his neck with her other hand, she'll eat the floor, she glares at him and slaps his chest with the soapy loofah, "Do my back,"
"Alright," He chuckles and grabs the loofah. She hugs him, chest to chest and Benny covers her back with soap all thanks to his long arms, and because he's a little shit he goes the long mile to cover her ass too, taking longer than he should, just squeezing the flesh in his hands like she was his own personal stress toy.
"Benny, what's wrong with you?" She whines, trying and failing to push him off when he's the only thing keeping her standing.
"Appreciating you, baby,"
"Well hurry, I'm tired,"
Benny does hurry up and washes her legs and feet without her having to ask. He washes her hair too fo good measure and he washes himself as fast as he could with her cheek squished to his arm and her weight on his side.
They're done sooner than later and Benny does a quick job of drying them. He, of course, carries her back to the room and places her on the chair next to the bed. He changes the sheet as fast he could, itching to just hop in bed and go to sleep with her in his arms. He throws the old sheets next to the door and he contemplates getting under the new sheets naked, but decides against it. So he quickly slips on a new pair of boxers and fetches the woman one of his clean t-shirts out of his duffel bag, the softest one he could find.
Tangy hums in satisfaction once she's enveloped in soft cotton and then in warm, muscular arms and finally under the sheets with Benny. The man lays on his back and he pulls her closer by the waist, so she could rest her head on his chest, her hair was still drying but it didn't bother him as he leaned down and kissed the crown of her head.
He relaxes on the mattress, and his eyes fluttered shut, ready to sleep when he felt her move a little and call his name, "Benny?"
"Hm?"
"Did you get to come?" She sounded confused and a little worried.
Benny cracked one eye open, "Yeah, why?"
"What- When? I don't remember," She said and he could hear the pout in her voice.
"It happened right after you squirted on my face,"
"Oh,"
Her voice came out smaller then, she sounded shy and that made him smile.
"Good night, sweetheart," He said, squeezing her arm once and closing his eyes back up.
"Night, Benny," She yawned and nuzzled her face on his chest.
.
.
.
The next morning Benny drives Tangy back to her place, and she tells him to be a good boy and wait outside for her. Benny listens, even though he really wants to go inside. He's leaning against his truck, hands in his pockets when she comes back out, after 20 minutes, dressed in a new outfit.
Benny straightens up like he's back in the army, high on alert, eyes glued to her and only her.
She decided to swap the mini dress and boots with a cropped t-shirt, low-rise jeans and a pair of converses. Tangy grins and walks right past him to get to the passenger' seat, "You promised me breakfast, come on!"
The diner they end up in is at least a hundred years old, the type that's run by a local family and got waitresses who know everyone and everything going on, and the food happen to be really delicious.
So Tangy and Benny get settled in a booth by the windows by an older woman with gorgeous braids falling down her back, "Hey, sweetheart, who do we have here?" She greets Tangy and raises her eyebrows at Benny, who's already got the menu in his hands.
"That's Benny, my friend," Tangy answers with a glint in her eye, and Benny looks at them with a small smile.
"Uh-huh, I'm sure, honey," The woman nods knowingly and fully turns to Benny, "First time in town?"
Benny puts the menu down, "No, ma'am, I just haven't been here in a couple of years,"
"The military does that to you, hm," She nods and Benny nods in understanding, arms crossed over his chest and leaning back in his seat.
Tangy looks at Benny then back at the waitress, "How did you know?"
"I just know these things," She shrugs, "Welcome back to Charming, Benny,"
Benny tilts his head in courtesy, "Thank you," He glances down at the name tag on her chest, "Thank you, Jamila,"
Jamila grins and looks at Tangy, a hand over her mouth, "He's handsome, girl!"
Tangy laughs and Benny grins, "I like your name, it fits you,"
Jamila and Tangy stare at him. Jamila pops her hip out, "Is that right?"
"Yeah, it means beautiful in Arabic," Benny nods and Jamila squeals, "It does! How did you know?"
"I just know these things," He shrugs, mirroring her previous words and Jamila giggles, throwing one of her long braids behind her shoulder.
"Tangy," She turns to the woman, "You have to keep him. Marry him, tie him down, don't let him leave Charming,"
"Uhhh," Tangy feels her skin warm up as Benny laughs, head thrown back and all.
"I'm just joking with you, unless," Jamila smirks and looks between the two with a knowing look.
Once Benny and Tangy calm down a little, Jamila takes out a pencil out of her pocket, and a notepad, "Alright, do you know what you two want or should I give you time to decide?"
Benny looks at Tangy, "What do you want to do?"
Tangy smiles, "I'll be getting two sunny side up eggs with cherry tomatoes on the side, please,"
"Hm, alright, how about you, baby?" The older woman turns to Benny, who smiles, "Can I have a stack of pancakes, and a cup of coffee, black, please?"
The waitress nods, jotting down their order, "Coming right up, lover birds,"
"Oh, can I have some water too, please?" Tangy says and the waitress nods, "Yeah, of course," She then leaves, going straight up to the counter to shout their order to the kitchen.
Benny sighs, relaxing a bit in his chair, staring at Tangy sitting from across him, "So,"
"So?" Tangy repeats, playing with a napkin and not meeting his eyes.
Benny crosses his arms over the table and leans forward on it, "How are you feeling?"
Tangy looks up at him, "I'm okay, you?"
"Better than okay," He licks his lower lip, his eyes falling down to her lips then back up at her eyes.
"How long are you staying in town for?" She asks, resting her cheek in her palm.
"A week until I have to leave and go back to work," Benny answers.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a boxer," Benny says and Tangy makes a 'ooh' sound.
"Like professional?"
"More like semi-professional," Benny answers with a small smile.
"Jax fights too, sometimes," She says ripping the napkin in half with one hand and Benny feels the corner of his mouth twitch at the mention of his annoying cousin.
"Illegally," Jax adds and she nods, "Well, yeah, he's fucking crazy but he's good at it,"
"I don't know, last time I saw him fight was when we were ten and it was behind the dumpsters by the Goodwill with some other kids," Benny sighed and Tangy snorted, "He told me about that, didn't mention you though,"
"Well, he did fall on his head that day," Benny says and Tangy chuckles, the sound making him smile.
"Did he mention how when one of the older kids threw him in one of the dumpsters, he grabbed a rat and threw it at them?" Benny says and Tangy squeals with laughter, shoulders shaking.
"No!" She laughs and Benny laughs, "Yeah, and I had to pull him out of the dumpsters and we beat them up before a cop saw us and we had to run home,"
The two keep giggling like children, Tangy's feet intertwined with Benny's under the table, but really, his legs were too long and Benny had no choice but to have her legs between his, their knees touching. Their food came soon enough, with a smiling Jamila who poured them coffee and water. Benny thanked her with a charming smile and she couldn't resist ruffling his hair.
They ate in relative silence, comfortable to just focus on their food and hum when the food was especially good. It wasn't anything special but for some reason it tasted much better than what you could make at home. Maybe it was just because they were having a great morning, and someone else was doing the cooking, whatever it was, Tangy and Benny were having a great time.
However, their peace didn't last long when the diner's door swung open with a ding and a shadow was cast over their table.
"Morning, Jax!" Tangy greeted with a smile, not feeling guilty in the slightest for leaving him yesterday at the gym.
Jax looked her up and down, then looked at Benny, who kept on chewing the last remains of his pancakes with a raised brow. Jax then sits on the bench, next to Tangy, "Move over,"
Tangy sighed and grabbed her empty plate, moving further into the booth as Jax sits right across from Benny, "You betrayed me,"
"Okay, I didn't, though," Benny shrugs, not giving a rat's ass while Jax glares daggers at him.
Tangy looks around, noticing that the patrons are looking a little uncomfortable with Jax glaring at his cousin like he pissed on his bike, so she rolls her eyes and raises a single hand, catching Jamila's attention, "Can I have a vanilla shake?"
Jamila nods and Tangy smiles, "Thanks!"
"You knew she was with me that night and you still went ahead and took her," Jax points an accusatory finger at him, speaking in a low voice.
"She's not with you though, not her boyfriend," Benny crosses his arms over his chest.
"He didn't take me, I went with him," Tangy glares at Jax.
The two ignore her as Jax glares at Benny and Benny just raises his chin in defiance, daring his cousin to do something about it.
"You're leaving Charming today," Jax says and Benny bursts out laughing, "Oh, oh, or what? You gon' run over my foot with your bike?"
Jax growls and leaps across the table, grabbing his cousin by the collar, making Tangy jump in surprise, "Hey!"
Benny smiles at Jax, and holds his wrists in his hands, "Go on, I dare you,"
"No! Jackson Teller! You want to break someone's nose, you do it outside my diner!" Jamila glares at them, pointing at the door with Tangy's vanilla milkshake in the other.
Jax stares long at his cousin before he pushes him back and gets up from his seat, leaving the diner with his hands in his pockets.
Benny then shoves his hands in his pocket and takes out a couple of bills, sliding them under an empty glass and gets up, "Benny, what are you doing?" Tangy asks, a little worried.
"Don't worry about it," Benny grins and follows his cousin outside.
Jamila comes over to the table, counting the money left and hands Tangy her shake, "You alright, honey?"
"Yeah," Tangy nods and thanks the woman, following the men outside the diner, the door closing behind her with a ding as she watches Jax run his hands through his hair in frustration, "Okay, what did you?"
Benny looks a little surprised, "Excuse me?"
"Last night,"
Benny snorts, "Oh buddy, I wouldn't tell you in your condition,"
Tangy has never seen Jax move so fast before in her life, he throws a neat punch to Benny's jaw, who stumbles back with a grunt.
She doesn't even gasp, but she does wince at the hit, cold milkshake held with both hands as she takes sips while watching them fight.
Benny quickly gets his bearings back and he buries his hands in his pockets, taking out his wallet, keys and phone, handing them to Tangy. She takes his things, and looks behind her to the stairs by the diner's door, she sits down on the side, so people can still come and go without stepping over her. She puts his things next to her and looks up at Jax who throws his kutte over her lap without saying anything.
The two men start circling each other with their fists up, Jax looks pissed and Benny looks amused, "That really grinding your gears, Jax, didn't it? I never knew a girl like that would even look your way and look how things played out for me. I never, and I'm being serious, never tasted anything better than what's between her le-"
Jax lunges at him and this time tries to punch him in the stomach, Tangy tries to keep up but they're fast and Benny wraps his arms around Jax's midriff and slams him on the ground. He gets on top of him and tries to punch him in the face as Jax uses his arms to protect his face. He suddenly raises his hips and throws Benny off balance, he even kicks him with his knee on his ass and Benny falls forward on his hands. Jax rolls from under him and gets back on his knees, wrapping an arm around the man's neck and pulling.
They're really going at it, kicking up dirt and pebbles, but Tangy can't help but notice that even though they sometimes hit each other in the face, Jax's not really trying to really hurt Benny. She's seen how he fights when he tries to kill someone, and it isn't a pretty sight, so it's relieving that Jax is not looking to seriously injure the man but to just drag him through the dirt for getting his hands on her before Jax could, because sure, Benny doesn't know, but Jax knows that he hasn't even gotten the chance to taste what's between her legs, the closest he got was kissing her and feeling her up over her clothes. So Jax was pissed, knowing Benny met her for one day and managed to get personal with her body. It pissed him off.
So Tangy sips more of her milkshake, enjoying the sweet drink on the stairs, sitting pretty while they pull and punch at each other in front of the diner, giving the patrons a free show behind the windows.
She looks down at her drink, pulling out the straw to bring the bottom of it up to her mouth, liking the bits of ice cream stuck to it, she tries to be careful but a chunk of ice cream still falls on her chin and on her chest, over her t-shirt. She whines, bringing a finger to scoop the ice cream off her chest and lick it clean. She looks up then, freezing with her finger in her mouth when she meets Jax and Benny's eyes, the two staring at her while panting, knees covered in dirt and hair mussed with sweat. Benny's left eyebrow was quickly swelling up and Benny's got blood down his chin, from his nose.
A laugh bubbles out of her throat in disbelief and she takes her finger out of her mouth, swiping the sweet ice cream from her chin with her finger, to then suck it off with a hum. Jax blinks out of the hypnotising sight before Benny and punches him in the shoulder.
Benny doesn't even wait a second before kicking Jax square in the ass and Jax shouts. He jumps to grab Benny by the hair, about to headbutt him when Tangy's laugh distracts him, he turns to look at her and she's almost on the floor now, hunched over with one arm over her stomach, laughing with little tears at the corner of her eyes.
"Let go, asshole," Benny grits through his teeth and Jax lets go of his head with a grumble.
She keeps giggling as Jax rubs at his ass and Benny tries to wipe the blood off his chin with the back of his hands and failing. Then the door of the diner opens behind her, she looks back and Jamila's standing there with two towels and two ice packs. Tangy thanks her, grabbing them and handing the woman her empty milkshake glass.
"Get them home before they scare off all of my clients," Jamila says, tilting her chin towards the two men.
"I will," Tangy nods and Jamila sighs, turning around and going back inside the diner.
Benny and Jax squeeze themselves next to her, on both sides of the small stairs, she makes a face, "Guys, you're sticky with sweat,"
None of them care as they try to sit as much as possible on the stairs, which doesn't work. She's squished between them and Jax glares at Benny, "Move over,"
"No, you move,"
Tangy sighs and wraps the ice packs in a towel each, then hands them to the men.
Benny starts wiping the blood off his chin and nose, and Jax hisses when he presses the cold towel to his eyebrow and immediately takes it off his brow to wipe his forehead and neck.
"No, Jax," Tangy sighs, grabbing the towel off his hands and holding his face in one hand, and holds the towel to his brow, "You have to keep it on so it doesn't grow to the size of a golf ball,"
Jax licks his lips, staring at her like she just told him she'd heal him with the wave of a wand, then because he's a little shit, he glances at Benny without moving his head and smirks at the other man.
"Fuck off," Benny glares at Jax while holding the towel to his nose.
"Stop that," Tangy huffs, leaning down to kiss Benny on the forehead, and before Jax even has the chance to open his mouth and complain, she smacks a sweet kiss on his forehead too.
The two men melt at the same time, calming down while Tangy holds the towel to Jax's forehead, and checks on Benny from time to time. They eventually calm down and Jax takes the towel from her hold and pulls his shirt up, to look at his red side, and he pressed the ice pack to the area. Tangy looks at Benny, who's running the towel on the back of his neck and when he meets her eyes, he grins and winks at her. She rolls her eyes and stands up.
"Where're you going?" Jax immediately asks.
"Nowhere? Calm down," Tangy puts her hands on her hips and looks down at the two men sitting on the stairs.
"So, did you get that out of your system? Or should I expect you to fight everyday that Benny's here?" She's looking at Jax, but really, she's talking to both of them.
Jax leans back a little on the stairs, "Oh, I'm good,"
Tangy doesn't really believe him, but she looks at Benny, and he flashes his pretty dimples at her, "I'll behave, but you can't blame me if I have to fight anyone for you,"
The woman gapes at him, speechless, and Jax looks at him, "What's wrong with you, dude?"
"What? Look at her and tell me you won't fight anyone for a chance with her," Benny throws his hands in the air and Jax can't fight him on it. He already has fought for her, now and then, behind her back because he can't stand anyone talking about her like she's a piece of meat and not do anything.
Right in that moment two men show up, wearing kuttes, not like Jax's, so they have to be out of town. They're walking up to the door of the diner but their eyes are glued to Tangy standing there. One of them shamelessly lowers his sunglasses down his nose and looks her up and down. She glares at the men and crosses her arms over her chest, moving away from the door and that's when she sees Jax and Benny look at each other and stand at the same time.
Her heart jumps in her chest at the menacing look they were wearing, and especially when Jax slips his kutte back on and moves to stand next to her, snaking a hand around her waist to hold her.
The two strangers don't get in the diner even when Benny and Jax got off the stairs, staring at them without saying a word. Tangy's getting a little nervous when the men stare at Jax's kutte for a long time, and back at her face.
When no one moves or speaks, she moves and walks away from them and the diner, throwing a, "I'm going home!" over her shoulder. She was not interested in being in the middle of a fistfight, or worse, a shoot out.
Luckily Jax and Benny both run after her, "Hey, wait!" Jax calls, but she doesn't stop, trying to get away from those men as far as possible.
A hand grabs her arm and she yelps when she hits a firm chest.
"I'll drive you home," Benny says and Jax frowns, "I'll take her home,"
Tangy wants to groan but Benny says, "I said it first, though,"
"I know where she lives," Jax glares at him.
"I took her home so she could change this morning?" Benny scoffs.
"You can't even remember how to spell your own name, Benny," Jax snarks and Tangy looks at Benny in confusion, he immediately flushes, "I was six! And it was one time!"
"Don't believe him," Jax whispers to Tangy, like Benny wasn't right there.
"I'll kick your teeth in, Jax, I swear," Benny threatens and Jax grins, "I'd love to see you try, boy scout,"
Tangy's head is starting to hurt standing in between these two, so before they start fighting again like they're in elementary school she grabs both of them by the arm, "Enough!"
Jax and Benny's mouths click shut and they look at her with big eyes.
"Rock, paper, scissors. One round. Whoever wins drops me home." She says and when Jax opens his mouth, to probably complain, she raises her brows and he doesn't say anything, shoulders slumping and holding his fist behind his back, Benny mirroring him.
Jax throws scissors and Benny a rock.
She's swept off her feet by Benny then, who spins her around and is cheesing like he won the lottery. And if a small grey cloud could materialise on top of Jax's head and rain on him, it would.
.
.
.
(i remember @anime-lover-forever-1127 asking to be tagged for any jax fics, this is technically a crossover fic, but if it's not your cup of tea, just ignore it, much love <3)
Part 2
garrett hedlund as ben ‘benny’ miller in triple frontier (2019)
Rescue Mission
Fandom: Triple Frontier Pairing: Santiago "Pope" Garcia/f!reader word count: 9.7k rated: Mature for sex and cursing Description: You haven't spoken to Pope in a year since he dumped you. But when he calls asking for help you agree. Can you rescue your missing friend and find out why Pope left?
The phone number on your phone isn't familiar, but you're waiting on a food delivery so you answer it.
Rookie mistake.
"Don't hang up."
Fucking Pope.
"Give me one reason not to."
"Benny is missing."
You pause. It's probably the only thing he could have said that would keep you on the line and he knows it.
"If you are fucking with me, Pope I will close all of your credit cards and donate your life savings to PETA."
Your heart rate is already thrumming, the spike a clear sign that you don't really think he's dumb enough to make that joke.
"I really wish I was. We could use your help."
If it was anyone else you might have told him to paddle with his hands. But Benny was the only one who stayed in touch after Santiago unceremoniously dumped you without so much as a single word of explanation. The rest of the guys, Frankie, Tom, Will, they all made it clear they were team Garcia. But Benny, pure of heart, remembers your birthday. Still makes plans with you when he's in town. Never (ever) mentions Santiago by name.
"Where are you?"
"I'll send you our location through secured server. Get here as soon as you can and bring your gear."
A moment after he hangs up the door bell rings and your phone buzzes. The address is a two hour drive, you know it well. You can eat in the car.
The safe house is a shitty looking trailer that nobody would think to look at twice if they happened this far from the main road, which no one does. It was an oft used location to meet at when you used to work with Pope and the guys. Off the book mission the government would deny any knowledge of even if that is where the funding flowed from. It would take someone with your particular skill set to figure that out and you were paid well enough not to look. You park the car a mile away near a commonly used hiking trail. Your backpack contains your computer, an external power source, a scrambler, a signal scanner, and a booster. Plus a toothbrush and a change of underwear.
You hike through the backwoods, a trail that’s been overgrown a 100 times over but still gets you to where you need to be. Before you’re within 50 feet of the trailer the door opens and Tom is standing there, firearm pointed in your direction.
“Exactly the welcome I was hoping for.”
Tom lowers his gun.
“Good to see you, Charlie.”
Charlie is a nickname, or maybe a call sign, though you’re not sure you earned that.
For the first seven months you worked with the guys you were nothing but a disembodied voice on a com giving them assignments and opening doors (literal and figurative) for them. Santiago came up with the name. You were Charlie and they were your angles. It stuck even after you started getting sent on missions with them. Even after Pope started making excuses to hang back after the mission was over. Hotel rooms booked under fake passports that you holed up in for a few precious hours, fucking on squeaky beds and rickety desk chairs.
“Redfly.”
He opens the crooked screen door wide so you can enter. Inside, Will, Frankie, and Pope are huddled around a small table with a map spread out over it. All three of them look at you. Will is the first to move. To your surprise he wraps you in a hug.
“Thanks for coming, Charlie. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
You nod against his shoulder until he releases you.
“I’m sure Ben just lost his cell phone in the local brothel. We’ll find him.”
The tight smile says he doesn’t believe that. Neither do you.
You nod once at Frankie. “Fish.” Is all you say to acknowledge his presence. You don’t look at Pope.
“So, fill me in.”
One Year Ago
“Confirm your location, over.”
“Alpha team in position, over.”
“Delta team in position, over.”
“You will have three and a half minutes from my countdown to secure the package and get out before you have company. Coms will go silent. You will have to clear 50 yards from the building perimeter before you have com access again. Does everyone understand? Over.”
One by one they confirm. Pope last.
“See you on the other side, Charlie.”
“Happy hunting, angels. You’re clear in three, two, one, over.”
The doors to the facility unlock, the cameras shut down, the alarms are disabled and the signal jammer you installed there yesterday triggers, guaranteeing that no one inside the building can call out for reinforcements when they realize the building’s security has just been compromised. However, the security system is on a loop, it pings the other facilities every three minutes. When that doesn’t happen, big men with guns get sent to lock down the building. It takes forty-five seconds. You know because you did a dry run of this five months ago in preparation for this mission.
You wait back in the safe house, tapping your fingers nervously on a formica kitchen table. The countdown on your computer screen drawing ever closer to zero. The numbers go red and start counting negative. Your foot starts to tap too.
The thing is, there’s nothing you can do. If no one pings you on coms you have to assume the mission is compromised. Your only course of action is to pack up and get the hell out. There’s no extraction team coming. No back up. No plan B.
At negative thirteen seconds your com buzzes.
“Charlie, this is Redfly. Package acquired. All members of Alpha and Delta teams accounted for, over.”
You take a subtle breath.
“Roger that, Redfly. Good work, angels. Meet you at the rendezvous, over.”
Now all you have to do is wait. Redfly and Ironhead will get the package to the drop. Pope, Fish, and Benny will make their way to you, one at a time, each taking a different, circuitous route.
Pope arrives first. It’s not an accident.
“We have exactly forty-five minutes before Benny shows up,” Pope says as he drops his gear by the door. He wastes not a single minute of it. He backs you into one of the bedrooms, pulling off your clothes, his need to feel your lips on his the only thing slowing him down. The adrenalin of a mission always drives his need for you, though, recently, you’ve been noticing something more.
“Full disclosure,” Pope says as he spreads you legs wide on the bed. “The condoms I have with me are expired.”
His fingers drag through your center. You arch, needing him closer even as he slides a finger inside you.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice until after I was on the plane and then it was too late.”
“It’ll be fine,” you assure him. And even if wasn’t you’re not sure you would care at this exact moment.
He leans over you, your thighs bracketing his hips. Dark eyes drawing closer to you until his tongue is in your mouth. He grinds against your with his sheathed cock. Your pussy flutters, desperate to be filled.
“Are you sure?” He asks, forehead pressed against yours, his cock teasing at your entrance.
You wrap your fingers around him and guide him in.
He lets out a sound half way between a groan and a laugh.
"I guess that's a yes."
"Thirty-two minutes, Pope," you say after looking at your watch.
He thrusts into you, holding himself just above your chest. The kiss is soft, almost impossibly slow, like he might just do this for 32 minutes. And if you weren't on the clock, and if your body wasn't burning with need, maybe you would let him take all the time he wanted. Instead, your hips move underneath him, muscles contracting and squeezing. He follows your tempo, your bodies colliding, the only sound in the room the meeting of your flesh and the rocking of the wood-framed bed.
It's been just over a year since you started this, whatever this is. At first it was simple. Pope was a flirt, incorrigible, really. One night, after a few drinks, when the rest of the squad had gone off to bed, you just gave into it. Into him. It was easy, uncomplicated. He never changed the way he treated you when the others were around. Followed your instructions to a T when on mission. And then, when it was just the two of you, he would take you apart. He would look at you like no one else existed. All of the focus that made him a good soldier made him and even better lover.
He finishes moments after you do. He's quick to disentangle himself and throw away the condom, being careful to bury it in the garbage where attentive eyes won't see it. Before you can sit up to get dressed he's pushing you back into the mattress and wrapping his naked body around you.
"We still have ten minutes."
He skin is warm on yours. The rough edges of his jawline scratch against your neck where he has buried his face. Easier to deny the reality of your situation, you suppose. You let him stay. Would let him stay longer if it were just up to you. But you don't want the complication of the others finding out. Because if the higher ups find out they'll assign you to a different team. And while you don't think any of the guys would tattle on you (well, maybe Will) you don't want to put anyone in a compromising situation.
So this thing, whatever it is, stays between you and Pope.
"I want to see where you live."
You lift your head, forcing Pope to look at you.
"What did you say?"
"I want to see where you live," he repeats.
You let your head fall back to the mattress and you stare up at the ceiling.
"It's not very impressive. A small house on a block of other small houses."
"Yeah, but it's yours and I want to know what its like."
You have follow up questions, but you know Benny will be here any moment.
"Okay."
Pope sits up, a smile on his face like he just won an argument. He kisses you again before he gets up to get dressed. You watch him, amazed at how he looks the same but somehow everything has changed.
Present Day
You rub your eyes, the strain behind them from staring at your computer screen for too long finally forcing you to pause.
"Here."
Pope sets a mug down next to you.
"I don't think I can consume anymore caffeine."
"I know, it's herbal tea."
You look up to find his worried face staring back.
"Thank you."
Its the longest conversation you've had since you arrived three hours ago.
Ironhead did most of the talking since he seemed to have the most information. Ben had taken a job with a crew, private ops, lead by James Butler. You all knew Butler from previous work, which is how you all knew he is a pompous, self-righteous, asshole who couldn't plan a mission to the grocery store for snacks. Will begged Ben not to go but Ben shrugged him off.
"Butler's not so bad. Besides, it's a simple snatch and grab. Could probably do it with a team of monkeys."
And maybe that is what he was working with because within 24 hours of touching down in San Jose, Ironhead had lost contact with him. According to him, he should have been state side yesterday.
Will had looked right at you.
"You know Ben, he wouldn't go radio silent for no reason."
You were bound to agree with him. Ben would find a way to call, if for no other reason than to keep his big brother from flying down to Costa Rica and searching for him.
So you got to work. The private ops company who was running this shit show was a joke. You were behind their firewall in under ten minutes, you know paranoid gamers with more secure setups. You got mission plans, lodging, travel arrangements. Shit, this idiot had made a dinner reservation for the night they arrived under his own name. You tracked their coms to a small town in the Limón Provence right on the border with Panama at the edge of the national forest.
You talked them through all of this information and set up a satellite loop to continuously ping their last known com signal. Then the four of them bent over a map, started making plans and calling in favors. You kept working, searching for out of phase communications and hidden packets of data in otherwise unsuspicious messages.
"We're going to head out. We got a lift from a private not far from here. Thanks to you, we know where to start." Pope was still standing over you.
You put your tea down and close your laptop.
"I'm coming," you say as you stand.
Pope looks back at Will.
"We got it from here," Ironhead assures you.
But you've already made up your mind. You start putting everything into your pack.
"He has a 24 hour head start on you. I can get you closer if I'm down there."
Pope opens his mouth, the objection clear on his face without his words.
"I'm coming," you say again. "Ben would do this for me."
And maybe you emphasize Ben just a little bit. Sure, none of these assholes would save you from Panamanian gun runners, but Ben would hack his way through miles of untamed jungle for you. This is the least you can do for him.
Pope looks at Ironhead one last time for reinforcements. But Will just shrugs and hikes his bag on to his back.
"Let's go."
One Year Ago
You never thought much about your home. Considering how much you travelled for work, sometimes it felt more like a hotel then a home. But now you're looking at it through Pope's eyes. The photos on the wall of you and your sister. Another one from when you were a child with both your parents. A painting hung above the couch that you bought at a gallery in Oaxaca. A small statue made from white jade from a bazar in Marrakesh. The crochet throw blanket that your grandmother made when you were a baby that adorns the back of your couch. All of it paints a life. Your life.
Pope takes all of it in. Studying, carefully. It's been almost six weeks since you were last with him on a mission. You thought he would forget about his request to see where you live. A post-sex moment of softness that he would quickly regret. But two weeks later he called and held you to it.
Now you realize, with him here, you're not sure how to act. Outside of this moment you've always been sneaking around. A countdown ticking the minutes away until one of you had to leave. On to the next mission, the next job, the next gig.
Finally, Pope turns toward you, sly grin on his face as he wraps his arms around your waist.
"Do you have a good takeout spot near here?"
His lips find your neck, his tongue darting out to lick the sensitive skin there.
"There's a good Thai place."
The words are soft, half spoken as your body reacts to Pope. He pulls you flush to him, palms sliding down to your ass.
"Excellent, then we have no reason to leave this house all weekend."
He smiles as he maneuvers you down to the couch, tugging off your shorts and underwear as he goes. Without another word he settles himself between your legs, gripping your thighs to open you wide so he can takes his mouth to your center. He works slow, teasing his tongue through your folds, taking the time he never gets to on missions. He builds you up, your muscles burning with tension as you try to move underneath him, but his hands grip you tight, refusing to give you control.
"Pope," you whine, the sound desperate and undignified.
"Don't call me that," he whispers against you.
The request is so quiet you almost miss it. Your head is so foggy with desire it takes you a moment to understand what he wants.
"Santi," you say. Soft and aching. You fingers grip his hair, thick and black between your fingers.
He growls, the sound vibrates against you. You're so close. You beg him, hips desperate for just a little more friction until finally he gives in. His tongue moving fast against you until you break. A cry that sounds like his name. He laps at you as you shudder through your orgasm.
He crawls up your body, sucking on the soft skin of your stomach and breasts until he arrives at your lips. His are swollen and wet, his tongue tastes like you as it enters your mouth.
There is a part of you that wonders why it took so long to do this. Be together outside the confines of the mission. But there’s another part that wonders why this is happening at all.
The first time you slept with Pope you were sure it would be a one time thing. Men like him aren’t interested in relationships. They just have a scratch to itch and you were the closest set of finger nails. You were okay with that. But each time he came back into your orbit he found a way to be alone with you. And each time you would learn a little more about each other. He told you about his sister and his two nephews who never gave her any peace. He told you about meeting Frankie in basic and the bond they shared over deadbeat dads. He told you he loved to cook, his favorite movie was A Few Good Men, he could play the guitar.
Without you realizing it was happening, you were falling in love.
Present Day
The cargo plane gets you to San Jose. From there, Ironhead has a van waiting for you to take you south toward the Panama border. It’s a windowless transport van without seats in the back. Out of chivalry, they offer you the front seat. You tell them it makes more sense for Pope and Fish to take the front since they’re both fluent in Spanish and you have work to do that might arouse suspicion if you’re up front. They agree with you logic. Or they’re just used to doing what you tell them from previous missions. Either way, you find yourself on the uncomfortable floor of a transport van with Ironhead and Redfly for the next three hours.
You ignore their silence and get to work. Piggybacking off a wireless network you check back into the search algorithm you initiated before you left the States.
“I got something,” you say as you begin to download communications between two outposts of the syndicate Benny and his crew were going after. You run them through a translation app so you can read them first.
You tap on the sliding door that separates the front of the van from where you’re sitting.
Pope opens it, turning to look at you.
“I’m sending you encrypted communication. I have a translation, but there's dialect and I don't know how accurate it is.”
Pope nods at you.
“What does the translation say?”
Ironhead is leaning forward. You know he’s nervous. You know because the expression on his face is one you’ve never seen before.
“I want Pope and Fish to confirm—"
"Charlie, tell me what it says.”
You look up at Ironhead. His steel gray eyes hold your gaze.
“It confirms Benny’s unit infiltrated the compound. But it sounds like they were expected and ambushed. Out of the five unit members, two were killed and three are being held. There’s no information on their status other than they’re alive.”
You says this as clinically as possible. You don’t offer an assurance that one of the two men killed wasn’t Benny.
Pope sticks his head through the opening.
“I can confirm that’s what it says.”
Ironhead nods once. “This is still a rescue mission.”
Redfly squeezes his shoulder. “Damn straight it is.”
“I think I can triangulate the location of the compound that Benny’s unit is in. I just need a little more time.”
What you don’t take into account is what riding in the back of a van with no shocks and no seats while trying to stare at a computer screen is going to do with your body. You make it twenty miles before you need Fish to pull over and let you out to puke.
Redfly gives you water and crackers from his pack when you get back in the van. He even gives you a sympathetic smile.
“The first time I hitched a ride on a frigate to an undisclosed location in the middle east, I puked for three days straight,” he confides.
Ironhead laughed at the memory.
“I thought we were going to have to airlift him out of there with an IV in his arm.”
“I imagine the open ocean is a bit bumpier than this,” you say, refusing to let yourself off the hook.
“Not really,” Redfly says.
You appreciate their camaraderie even more when, after another thirty miles you need to pull over again.
This time Pope gets out of the van. You’re leaning on a tree about thirty feet from the road washing your mouth out with water.
“You okay?”
You spit the water out of your mouth.
“Peachy.”
“We can stop for a bit. Let you take a break. I know these roads are tough.”
You’re not looking at him. You don’t want to see the pity on his face. Or worse, the condemnation for insisting on coming along just to hold them back.
“No, I’m fine. We have to keep going. Benny is waiting for us.”
“Benny is tough, he’ll be okay.”
You know Benny is tough. You know because you ran enough missions with him to know he didn’t flinch. You also know the version of him that would come over and crash on your couch and eat popcorn and watch The Golden Girls with you when you were having a bad day. That version of the man can’t wait for your stupid stomach to get it’s shit together.
“I’m fine.”
You turn to head back to the van without realizing how close behind your Pope is standing. You end up walking right into him, already unsteady on your feet. He grabs you to keep you standing.
“Fine?”
“Yes,” you say stepping away from him and his grip. “And if I wasn’t, you aren’t they one I’d be coming to for help.”
You’re surprised with how hard that lands. The hurt on Pope’s face is obvious. He looks down to keep you from noticing but he can’t hide it fast enough. You don’t know why it makes you feel bad. After all, he’s the one that left you.
One Year Ago
Soft morning light spills out through the crack where your curtains don't quite meet. But that's not what wakes you up. Santi's fingers are tracing slowly down your bare stomach. His fingertips gently pressing into the flesh around your hip bones. The sensation is just enough to makes you sigh and roll sleepily toward him. His fingers continue their caress, so light that you think you might fall back asleep, your face pressed against his chest. But then he says your name, your real name, not the nickname you've become accustomed to answering to. It falls from his lips as he pulls you even closer to him.
You like the way his voice sounds in the morning. You like the way his skin feels pressed against yours. The way he slowly lifts your leg around his hip and his fingers brush your center.
“Santi?”
Your voice is barely more than a whisper. Your hips roll lazily against his hardness, trapped between your bodies.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Fuck me.”
You can't see his face but you can hear the smile on his lips.
“Oh, I see. My baby likes it a little nasty in the mornings?”
You nod against his chest, your eyes still closed to the day.
Santi reaches behind him for a condom. You hear him tear open the wrapper. You feel his hand snake between your bodies.
Then he’s rolling you on to your stomach and letting his weight press you into the mattress. He drags your hands above your head, trapping them there, wrists bound between his fingers. His hard cock sits nestled between your ass cheeks. It should feel overwhelming. Confining. But it doesn’t. You just feel safe underneath him. You know without a doubt that everything he does will be to make you feel good.
He shifts down just enough to plunge his cock into your wet pussy. Without pausing he begins hard, shallow thrusts, never quite pulling out, just hammering against that sensitive spot inside you. Your moans are muffled by the pillow your face is pressed into but they're enough to urge Santi on. His pace picks up. His breath is heavy against your ear.
"Pussy feels so good, baby. Wanna fuck it every morning, make it mine."
Santi's words burn through you. The edge of your orgasm throbbing at your core. Your fingers curl around his, nails digging into his flesh. He squeezes your hip with his free hand, a low growl vibrating off your neck. Your breath is caught in your chest as your muscles coil tighter and tighter until, finally, you snap. The air punches from your lungs and you cry out your pleasure.
Santi lets out a strangled sound as he follows you over the edge. His body weighs heavy on yours for a moment before he rolls over.
You turn your head to look at him. He's staring up at the ceiling, chest rising and falling as he pulls in air.
"Every morning should start like that," he says.
He looks over at you. The smile across his face infects you. You wish you could start every morning with it also. You swallow down that thought, too sentimental for the moment.
"You inviting yourself over again?" You ask instead.
"You love having me here."
He reaches over and pinches your side. You squeak and move away but not fast enough. He rolls overs and pulls you toward him, traps you against his body and nibbles on your neck. No matter how much you squirm and laugh he won't let you go.
"You have such a crush on me," he teases.
You don't deny it.
Finally he releases you and heads into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. You catch your breath while he's gone. Laying on your back and staring at the closed bathroom door. You still can't believe that he's here.
After a few minutes he comes out. Something has changed. The smile is gone from his face. He looks at you like he's trying to solve a puzzle.
"Does anyone else live here?"
"No, why?"
He shakes his head. "No reason."
He puts on a pair of shorts from the floor, making it clear he's not coming back to bed.
"Do you want some coffee?" You ask, sitting up.
"Uh, sure. But then I probably need to get going. I'm shipping out tomorrow."
"You are?" This is the first he's mentioned it. You thought you'd have at least the rest of the day with him.
"Yeah," he answers without looking at you. "Official military business."
"Is it dangerous?"
You can't figure out what changed in the last few minutes but Santi is acting like a stranger.
He shrugs. "Could be."
Finally he stops moving around the room.
"Do you have anything you want to tell me before I leave? You know, just in case?"
"Jesus, Santi."
You move to the edge of the bed and reach for him. He lets you take his hand in yours. You look up from his fingers entwined in yours to find him watching you. Dark eyes intent on your face. Looking for something, though you're not sure what.
"I... I'm really glad you came this weekend. And I would really like it if you came back. Will you be able to call while you're overseas?"
Santi pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. Whatever he wanted you to say, that wasn't it.
"Maybe."
He pulls his hand away from yours and keeps packing.
"I'll go make coffee."
"Thanks."
Standing in your kitchen, rotely making coffee, your throat tightens up with tears. When Santi comes out of your bedroom, dressed and packed, you have to clench your jaw to keep from crying.
You're not trying to manipulate him, but it does have that effect. He drops his duffle bag and wraps his arms around you, tucking you against him.
"You know, you can tell me anything. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
His words swirl with confusion in your chest.
"I know," you say. But you really don't. You feel like he's waiting for you to tell him a secret. And you would, if you had one to tell.
"I'll be back in a few weeks. We can talk then."
He presses a kiss to your forehead and leaves. He doesn't even ask for coffee.
Present Day
The van gets you as far as it can go. You have coordinates for where you think Benny and the others are being held.
(Because Benny is definitely still alive).
But to get there will be an eight mile hike through jungle terrain.
The conversation from earlier repeats itself.
"I'm coming."
"No, you're not. It's dangerous just getting there. And once we're there, you have no combat experience." Pope is taking a harder line this time. He's not looking at anyone else for support. He made his decision and that's final.
Except it's not.
"I'm not going to storm the castle with you. I'm not an idiot."
Pope opens his mouth like he might argue that point but you don't let him.
"I can make the hike just fine, and once we're there you will need my eyes and ears to get you past the electronic security."
"Its a stash house in the middle of nowhere. How much electronic security are they going to have?" Pope asks.
"According to this heat map I found? A shit ton."
You open your computer screen to them and show them an areal view of their target. The building is red hot, lit up from the inside out with a clear electronic fence perimeter giving off it's own signal.
"Shit, where did you get this?" Redfly asks.
"That's need to know."
Redfly raises an eyebrow at you but doesn't push.
"We get close enough for me to shut all of this down. Then I'll wait quietly and hope I don't get eaten by a jaguar while you guys go be heroes and rescue Benny. Deal?"
All of the guys look at Pope. He knows he's out numbered. Still, he scrubs his hand down his face letting his palm rest over the dark shadow of a beard that's been there since you first saw him 12 hours ago.
"I hate this." Is all Pope says.
"Tough titties," you say as you pack up your bag.
Ironhead can't help the small smile that graces his face.
"Missed you, Charlie," he whispers as the other are walking ahead.
"At least someone did," you mumble to yourself.
When you said you could make the hike "just fine" that was probably and overstatement. But you do make it and you convince yourself you don't slow them down too much. Three hours in relative silence. Just the bird song above your head and the sound of insects chirping from below. Every once in a while you heard something larger that makes you move faster to keep up with the pack.
You stop when you pick up the signal for the stash house. Everyone one hunkers close to the ground behind a thick outgrowth of trees and ferns.
The building should be about a fifty yards southwest of where you're stopped. But the sun is starting to get low. You estimate you only have about an hour and a half of sunlight left. And then this jungle is going to get very dark. You try not to think about that and instead focus on getting past the bunkers security.
You work quietly and quickly. Poking at the firewall until you find what you're looking for.
"Gotcha," you whisper.
You let your code in through the backdoor and let it loose on their electric grid.
"Okay, I can't guarantee how long this will work so you better get moving. I'll manage what I can from here."
The guys all check their weapons and their coms. Each one nods at you before they head out. Except Pope.
Pope hands you a small firearm.
"I was only kidding about the jaguars," you say.
"I'm not worried about the jaguars. If someone approaches and doesn't identify themselves, you shoot them. And if we're not back in thirty minutes, you run. Okay?"
He grabs your wrist, turning your hand so he can place the gun there.
"I don't—"
"For once, just do what I say. Please?"
His face is drawn close to yours, his fingers still wrapped tightly around your wrist. For a moment, you think he might kiss you.
"Okay."
He sighs and then he's on his way, chasing after the rest of the team.
You look down at the gun and then at the computer screen. You watch as the electrical grid goes down.
You click on your com.
"Angels, all clear, over."
Then you sit, back against a tree, computer in your lap, gun at your side, and wait.
One Year Ago
Santi never called. The only reason you knew he was back in one piece was because you got called for a job with a different team. When you asked why you weren't with Redfly's team you were told they requested someone else on coms.
It felt like being punched.
The other team was fine but it wasn't the same. They didn't treat you like you were one of them. You were just a machine spitting out code. Nobody gave you a nickname.
A two months later, Benny shows up at your house. You open the door and he immediately envelops you in a hug, squeezing you until your feet lift off the floor.
You laugh, you can't help it.
"What are you doing here?"
"I missed you!" He says without missing a beat.
You know that's not the reason.
He looks you over as you let him into your home.
"They gave us some new nerd. He's lame. Never laughs at any of my jokes. Also, he's not nearly as good at the job as you are."
You're not sure why Benny is offering this olive branch but you take it.
"Thanks, Ben. It means a lot."
"So," Benny says, putting an arm around your shoulder and walks you around your own living room like he's looking for something. "How have you been? Feeling okay?"
You squint up at him, the question doesn't sit right.
"Honestly? My feelings are hurt."
Benny stops moving and turns to you.
"I am really sorry."
"I don't think you're the one who is supposed to be apologizing. Can you at least tell me what happened? Did I do something wrong or did he just get bored?"
Benny steps away, his head tilting back. He pushes his hair away from his face and then looks at you with those clear blue eyes.
"I don't think I can give you that answer."
"Can't or won't?"
Benny doesn't respond. He has the decency to look guilty.
"Look, if you just came here for proof of life, you got it. You're off the hook, you can go now."
"Hey, hey, hey," Benny reaches out and grabs both your hands. "I really did come here because I missed hanging out with you. Can we be friends? Outside of all the other bullshit?"
You pause because you're not sure the answer to that question is yes. Having Benny here feels like a reminder of everyone who isn't here. But he is looking at you like you stole his favorite toy so you give in.
"Yeah, we can be friends."
He smiles wide. "Sweet. Now take me to your favorite bar!"
You're three rounds in, you've lost count of what Benny's on but you're definitely not trying to keep up with him.
"I should be better at this," Benny says as he whiffs another dart wide.
"You really should be."
Your dart lands on double 20s. You walks to the score bored and close out the circle.
"That's game."
"Damn!" Benny says. "You just kicked my ass!"
You laugh. He looks proud of you.
"I played this a lot growing up. Unfair advantage," you say with a shrug.
"I was top of my unit in marksmanship. I thought that would count more in darts."
He looks genuinely confused and you think maybe Benny's never been bad at anything before.
"Next time."
Benny throws an arm around you. "Hell yeah, next time I'm gonna kick your ass."
Benny shares a cab back to your house. You flop down on the couch, tipsier than you've been in awhile. You look up at Ben. You're suddenly struck by a feeling of grief. The missing of a life you thought you might have. With Santiago. Going out with the guys then coming home, just the two of you. Maybe you have no right to grieve something that never really existed. But it makes you sad none-the-less.
It must show on your face because Benny sits down next to you.
"Don't be sad," he says as he puts an arm around you. "Please?"
You wipe your eyes as best you can pressed against Benny's chest.
"I'm sorry. Stupid alcohol."
You lean back and find Benny's worried face focused on you.
His pretty, worried face. Pale blue eyes and dimples that hide at the corners of his mouth.
Benny's lips press together.
"I know that look," he says. His tone is light and playful.
You wrinkle your nose. "Sorry, can I blame the alcohol for that too?"
"I don't want you to think I'm turning you down..."
You shake your head. "It would just be revenge sex. That's not fair."
"I don't think revenge sex will make you feel better in the morning."
"No, you're probably right."
You know you should be embarrassed. You just, drunkenly, made a move on your ex's best friend. But Benny is still smiling like nothing weird happened.
"How 'bout some revenge cuddling and a movie?"
He opens his arm wide, letting you know where you belong.
You grab the remote on the coffee table and settle into his side.
When you wake up the next morning you're in your bed, alone. You walk out into the living room to find Benny on your couch. He opens one squinty eye at you.
"That couch is not big enough for you. You could have slept in my bed. I would have behaved."
Benny stretches and sits up.
"Hey, I said revenge sex wouldn't make you feel better. Doesn't mean it wouldn't have made me feel better."
He's got a goofy grin on his face and his hair is matted to the side. It's not a bad sight to wake up to. It's just not the sight you want.
"Coffee?"
"God yes. I feel like I drank a whole brewery last night. Did you beat me in darts?"
"Twice."
Benny spends an easy morning at your kitchen table talking to you about everything but Santiago. When he finally goes he hugs you tight.
"Meant what I said. I like having you in my life. Don't be a stranger, okay?"
You nod.
"Thanks, Benny. I really needed this."
He shrugs as he walks down your front steps.
"You'd do the same for me."
Present Day
The sun is getting lower in the sky. The darkness of the jungle settles in around you, a claustrophobic feeling you have to take deep breaths to loosen. The light from your computer screen is looking brighter by comparison and you realize that you'll need to turn it off or risk giving away your location. Before you do you confirm the grid is still down. At least you could do that much for your angels. You look at you watch.
Twenty-two minutes.
The computer sits dark on your lap and the gun sits cold in your hand. You pull your knees up, sandwiching the laptop between your thighs and your chest. Your heart is beating faster. You press the gun between both hands. Then you hear it.
Movement off to your left, the direction of the bunker. You hold your breath, listening. The sounds is getting closer. Someone or something is definitely moving through the jungle toward you.
You quietly stand and face the direction the noise is coming from. Squinting in the low light, waiting for a sign. You raise the gun, your finger on the trigger.
"Charlie?"
"Benny?"
Your arms drop to your side and you move as quickly as you can toward the noise. Finally he's close enough to make out. All six-foot-four of him lumbering toward you. He nearly falls into you. Only managing to stay standing with your help.
"Hey, it's okay, I got you." You help him back to the small clearing where you've been waiting with all of the gear.
"Where's everyone else?"
"Coming," Benny says as he sits. "They wanted to clean the place out before they left. Told me to come find you."
In the dim light you examine his face. Swollen and bruised. But not so badly that he can't offer you a half smile.
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Goddam it, Benny," you shake your head but there is no anger in your words. Nothing could replace the relief you feel having him here, solid beneath your finger tips. "You scared the shit out of me."
"I can't believe you came."
You can hear movement coming from the same direction as Benny came from. Before you can grab the gun you hear Ironhead.
"Charlie, you here?"
"Yeah, and I have Benny."
A moment later Ironhead, Redfly, Fish, and Pope come crashing through the trees.
"Time to go," Redfly says.
You catch the look Pope gives you and Benny where you're seated on the ground with Benny practically in your lap.
Ironhead wastes no time, he lifts Benny up from the waist, getting him on his feet.
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah."
"Charlie, which direction are reinforcements going to come from?" Fish asks as he hikes his pack on.
"Behind us. The other base is in Panama, about twenty miles away. If they're on foot we should have a good head start, even moving slowly. If they're using a com I'll pick it up."
Fish nods at you. "Nice job." He pats your back as he moves to head up the squad.
You and Pope trail behind him with Ironhead and Redfly in the back helping Benny stay up right.
You're heading back the way you came, not that you would be able to tell. Between the encroaching darkness and the thick of the jungle you would be completely lost out here on your own. The thought makes you stay closer to Pope, even as you keep looking back to make sure Benny isn't far.
"He'll be fine," Pope says quietly. "Thanks to you."
"What about the other two guys?"
Pope looks down. "Didn't make it."
Guilt tightens your chest. "If I—"
But Pope grabs your forearm. "No. The only 'if' here is if you hadn't helped us Benny would be dead too."
You look down at where he holds you. He lets go.
"You don't know how much it means to me. To all of us."
Your gaze is focused on the uneven terrain in front of you but you can tell Pope's attention is on you.
"I know I'm not, like, one of the guys. But I care about Benny too."
Pope is quiet for a moment and you think he's going to leave it at that.
"Are you sleeping with him?"
"What?" You say too loudly. Your hand immediately comes over your mouth like it can quite the word you already said.
"First of all," you go back to whispering, "you have no right to give a shit who I sleep with. And second of all, no. Why would you even think that?"
Pope doesn't get a chance to answer. The transponder in your hand starts to beep softly. You look down at it.
"Shit, angles, we have company." The moniker slides out of your mouth without thought.
"How many?" Fish asks, stopping to let you catch up.
"Two and they're only about a hundred yards behind us and gaining."
"We must not have gotten everyone at the bunker," Ironhead says.
"Okay, we're not going to outrun them, so we're going to ambush them," Redfly says.
Benny hides with you behind a tree about fifty feet away from where the others set up.
"Why does Pope think we're sleeping together?" You whisper into Benny's ear.
"I might have told him we did once. Just to make him mad."
"Benny," you hiss his name to match the disappointment on your face.
"Sorry, but he hurt you and it pissed me off. He deserved to feel at least a little shitty about it."
You sigh. "Thanks, Benny." You kiss him on his bruised cheek.
"You're welcome, now be quiet and get down."
Benny pushes you closer to the ground and covers your body with his own. You want to push him off right up until the sound of gunfire rips through the air. Then your body instinctively makes itself smaller and your hands come to cover your ears. You feel Benny press himself against you, covering your head with his hands.
When it finally stops you find you're shaking, even with Benny's heavy frame around you. He gently helps you sit up.
"You okay?"
You nod.
"Welcome to your first firefight. You did great."
Pope is kneeling at your side before you can respond to Benny's joke.
"You okay?" He is asking, but he's already got his hands on you checking for wounds like he might not believe what you say.
"I'm fine," you insist. "Really. We're both okay."
"Of course he's okay, that asshole is indestructible."
Pope helps you to your feet but leaves Benny on the damp ground.
"Tell that to my kidneys. Pretty sure one of them is rattling around loose in there."
"You'll be fine. Quit complaining," Will say as he helps Benny up.
"Could we maybe not joke about major organ damage?"
"We alone out here?" Redfly asks you.
You look down at your transponder. Silent.
"So far as I can tell."
"Great. We still got two more miles to go and it's not getting any lighter."
When you make it back to the van it feels like coming home. You crawl into the back, sitting up and helping Benny lay down with his head on your lap to make him more comfortable.
"Do we have a first aid kit?" You ask.
"You wanna play nurse with me?" Benny asks.
He is smiling but his eyes are already slipping closed with exhaustion.
"Yeah, gonna start by sewing your mouth shut."
Benny smile grows shallow as he continues to fall further into sleep.
You let your body rest against the cool interior of the van. Unlike the trip here your body is too exhausted to even consider getting sick.
When you wake up the van has come to a stop. The back door opens and Fish and Pope are standing there.
"We have a place to crash here. It's safe," Ironhead assures you and he gently wakes Benny up and shifts him off your lap. You stumble getting out of the van. Pope sticks his arm out to catch you.
"You okay?"
You're getting tired of hearing that question.
"Yeah, legs are asleep, that's all."
Pope leads you into the small, nondescript house.
"I'll take first watch," Redfly says.
"I thought this place was safe?"
"Everything is relative. Bedrooms are down that way," Redfly says as he takes a seat at the small kitchen table.
"I'll take the couch and second shift." Fish doesn't leave this up for debate as he stretches out on an uncomfortable looking sofa.
Will keeps his arm around Benny as he guides him into one of the bedrooms. That's when you realize there are only two bedrooms.
"Come on," Pope says, ushering you into the empty one.
A single full size bed sits in the middle of the room. Thin blankets and two pillows the only dressing.
"I'll take the floor," Pope says as he grabs a pillow.
"Don't be an asshole. We can share the bed."
You tug off your boots and your mud covered pants and shirt leaving you in your underwear and a tank top. You lay down on one side of the bed and stare at Pope expectantly. Finally he follows your lead. Leaving his boots near the door and his clothes folded on a chair. The mattress moves underneath you as he lays down.
"Maybe we can talk tomorrow?" He asks, staring into the darkness across the room.
"Maybe we can talk now."
"You're tired it can—“
“Why did you leave me?"
You hear Pope sigh. He still doesn't look at you.
"I thought our relationship was one thing and you thought it was something else. I just needed to end it before I..." He sighs again. "Before I fell in love with you. Which, for the record, didn't work."
You roll on your side and tug at him, forcing him to turn toward you.
"What are you talking about? I was in love with you. I'm sorry I hadn't said it yet but I thought it would scare you off."
Pope curls on his side and traces his fingers over your cheek.
"You didn't love me. Maybe you wanted to but you didn't, not really."
This makes you mad. Who is he to tell you how you felt? Still feel.
"If you really loved me you would have told me about the baby."
"What?"
"Because if you felt like I felt you might have been excited about the idea. Even if the timing was wrong." Pope squeezes his eyes closed for a moment. "Because I know the timing wasn't great but I would have supported you no matter what decision you made. You didn't even give me the opportunity to prove myself. To hold your hand at the doctor's office. You just—"
“Santi! What are you talking about. What baby?"
You can see the way his brow furrows at you.
"Don't lie to me. I saw the pregnancy test in the garbage in your bathroom. I may not be as smart as you, but I know what a positive pregnancy test looks like."
The whole morning comes rushing back to you. All of his weird questions and the shift in his demeanor. You press your fist against you’re forehead so you don’t punch him.
"My sister. My sister was pregnant. She came over a few days before you did to take the test because she didn't want her husband around when she did it because she already had three kids and they weren't trying for a fourth."
"Your sister?" He doesn't sound completely convinced.
"Yes! And if you need proof, she decided to have the baby. You can count backwards from her birthdate if you want."
"But the expired condom."
You cover your eyes with your hand as you roll back.
"I have an IUD. That's why I told you it was fine."
“But—“
“But you're an idiot. Why didn't you just say something to me?"
"Because I was waiting for you to say something to me! I just thought, that, if you didn't want to tell me that I had to respect that wish. And I tried to but it fucking hurt. That you didn't care about me like that."
Now Santi is propped up on his forearm and neither of you are trying to be quiet.
"But I did care about you like that."
"Then why didn't you call me? It's not like you didn't know how to find me."
You close your eyes. You don't know if you should be angry, or sad, or relieved.
"I just figured you were bored with me. People get bored with me. I didn't want to hear you give me an excuse about how it's not me it's not you, so... I didn't give you the chance to."
"How could I possibly be bored by you? You once built a video game with all of us as players while we were away on a mission for three hours. Your brain moves ten times the speed of mine. If anyone is going to get bored, it's you."
You open one eye to find Santi hovering over you. His eyes are glassy staring down at you.
"I would tell you if I were pregnant," you say softly.
"Unless it's Benny's. Then I don't want to know." His mouth ticks to the side, a smile he can't quite contain.
"I'm not sleeping with Benny."
"He was just fucking with me?"
You nod.
"I had a feeling. He's such an asshole."
"Hey, that asshole is why I'm here."
Santi lowers himself until his nose brushes against yours.
"I don't want to talk about Benny anymore."
"Me neither."
Santis lips are soft on yours. They press there for a moment, letting you remember the shape of them. Then he's opening his mouth, begging entrance with his tongue. You eagerly open your mouth and let you legs spread so his thigh can can drag between them. You bury a moan against his teeth as his leg moves up and down, your center arching up, desperate for friction.
"At a minimum, Redfly is going to hear us," Santi whispers against your skin.
You stop moving. "Do you want to keep this a secret?"
"Me? God no. I want everyone to know. I don't care if they hear you three blocks away, baby."
You smile as he kisses you again.
"I'll try to confine it to this building."
"You'll have your work cut out for you. I have fucking missed you so much."
He is pulling your clothes of and settling between your legs. His cock rocks against your clit and he sucks on your nipple. You grip his hair between your fingers, your hips raising. You need him inside you. You drag his face up to yours. There will be time for other things later. Right now you just want to feel him fill you. When he does slide in something in the back of your brain relaxes. A weight you hadn't realized you were holding. The simple feeing of belonging.
Your legs wrap around his back as he pulses into you. The bed shakes under you, dragging against the wood floor has you both move in time. You don't care about the noise, or who might hear. You just care about the twisting cord in your abdomen that is so close to snapping.
"Don't stop," you beg him.
"Never," he says, "never again."
He rocks into you harder and faster until your nails are scratching down his back leaving red, raised skin. You bury your mouth against his shoulder as your orgasm hits you. He chases his own, holding firm to you hips as he fucks you, spilling inside you and collapsing forward, pressing you both into the mattress.
You stay like that, holding each other in the warm room, an errant streetlight illuminates part of the bed. Sodium-yellow light highlights Santi’s features as he lifts himself enough to look at you.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. I made it about my own insecurities.”
You trace his eyebrow, his cheekbone, his lips.
“I think I might have done the same thing. I’m sorry too. From here on out, we share the things that scare us. Okay?”
Santi nods and nips at your fingers where they rest against his mouth before he settles next to you to sleep.
The next morning you and Santi emerge from the bedroom to a round of applause from the rest of the angles.
“Fuck you guys,” Santi says.
You cover your mouth with embarrassment. But Santi only pulls you closer to his side.
“You have no idea how unbearable he’s been this last year,” Frankie says to you.
You peek over at Santi.
“There may be some truth in that.”
“Just a whiney little bitch,” Tom piles on.
“Alright,” Santi says with a hand up.
“Charlie this and Charlie that,” Will says.
“He just cried. All the time,” Benny says.
You can’t help laughing at their teasing. You slide your arm around his waist and tuck yourself against it.
Santi doesn’t fight back, he just shakes his head and takes it.
“I’m sure he’s going to be a complete delight now,” you offer.
The guys laugh at Santi’s expense. Santi’s only response is to press a kiss into your forehead.
Waiting on the tarmac for your ride back to the States, you rest your head on Santi’s shoulder.
“My contract is up in six months,” he says. “I’m not going to renew it.”
You turn to him.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he says with a shrug. “But I know I’m done doing this.”
You remain quiet, waiting to see what else is on his mind.
“I do know,” he finally says after a pause, “that whatever comes nexts involves you. If you’ll have me?”
You nod. “I’ll have you.”
That smile is back on his face. The one you want to wake up to every morning. Knowing that you put it there.