So originally, I was gonna rate this four stars, but after a few chapters I was fully invested. A “why choose”, fake dating, friends to lovers? Yeah, I knew this was gonna be a rollercoaster. And boy, I was NOT disappointed.
There’s the ex-rugby player who says the infamous “don’t fall in love with me” line, the sweet “boy next door” who’s secretly been in love with her for YEARS, and then the ex-teacher who’s ten years older than her. It shouldn’t work and for a few chapters everyone’s worst fears come to pass, but this foursome pulls themselves together to talk everything out.
Faking with Benefits is filled with humor, spice, and DRAMA! Seriously, don’t let the cover fool you. The spice is.. well, you’ll see.
* Wow. I totally don’t blame Layla’s date for bailing. lol. Too strong, girl. Too strong for a first date.
* Hottie Zach to the rescue 😍
* Zach and his pet names are kinda swoon-worthy, ngl.
* Lol she’s drunk and hitting on her old teacher. Nice.
* Oohhh. I was wondering why “sweet” Josh seemed kind of dick-ish to Layla when she drunkenly stated she’d pay them for relationship advice. He loves her.
* Aww. Luke doesn’t wanna fake date his ex-student. I like that he has boundaries, but I’m excited for those to vanish. He should totally take Layla on as his date to the wedding his ex keeps inviting him to 😂
* Goddamn. She’s so bad at dating 😬
* Oh la la. Layla’s got a sharing kink 😏
* Those kisses… 🥵 wtf haha. 6/10.
* Luke is starting to hurt MY feelings lol.
* Oh wow. Josh really went in while Zack and Layla were kissing. He found her weakness and totally doesn’t know 😂
* Oohhh. She bold now. She wants both of them to fuck her for practice 👀 Luke is gonna fly off the fuckin handle if he walks out and sees them.
* Goddamn. Josh CAN EAT 🤭
* And Zack… that dude really took her to pound town. Along with Josh. Those two would ruin me.
* Oh no. Finding out Zack had an ex who died when they were eighteen is so sad 😭
* C’mon, Luke. Just make a move, for fuck’s sake!
* Ugh. Luke and Layla’s outing was going so good! And then Donny, an ex-something, had to go and ruin it. Fuck that dude.
* I want Josh and Layla together so bad! And with Zack and Luke, but Josh! Oh my goodness.
* Luke finally snapped! Thank god haha.
* Goddamn. Luke is very… dominant. I did not expect this 😏
* “Okay, babe. I don’t know how strong the human head is, and I don’t think it matters. There’s no weight capacity. Just sit on his face, and if he dies, he dies.” // “Damn straight. Bury him alive. Lucky guy.”
* Ayyyy. She’s at the ex-wife’s wedding with the ex-husband. Be petty!!
* She has to move to America if everything with this collaboration works out? 😬 None of the boys are happy. They all caught feelings but no one wants to fess up.
* Fuckkkk. She leaves in a week. Just reluctantly says they’ll end their experiment before she has to leave and Zack is not happy. The one who didn’t want her to fall in love with him doesn’t want her to leave. Damn.
* Goddammit, Zack.
* Well this wedding reception is an absolute shit show. Josh desperately wants to tell Layla he loves her, Zack is intending to break things off, and Luke’s es-wife is telling him that Layla is a whore. wtf.
* Wow. Luke and Zack fucked up. Poor Josh. How’s that gonna go for him?
* The fucking drama. I can’t. My heart hurts.
* Well I’m happy they came to their senses, but fuck. Zack and Luke were kind of harsh. Zack especially. I don’t want her to give in and forgive, but I know she will.
* Oh wow. She lost the collaboration with the designer in New York because of the podcast. This sucks.
* So after crying and groveling, all is well!
* And now she’s taking them has her dates to the high school reunion. Oh fuck 😂
* Damn. Drama at the high school reunion. I totally saw that coming.
* Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. They GOT MARRIED!
Summary: From the imagine, “Imagine going to a Christmas party, and John Porter is there, drunk."
Comments: Requested by @sweetestgbye Thank you! As always, reblogs and comments are appreciated very much. If you would like to be added to or removed from my tag list, let me know.
You could see Danni keep eyeing John up from across the large table, which was littered with wine bottles, pint glasses and shot glasses. All of the empty plates on which you had enjoyed your Christmas party meal had all been taken away. Layla was at your right hand side, giving eye to the newest member of your team, an admin officer named Robert.
All of you, including Hugh Collinson, your commander, were wearing cheesy Christmas jumpers. Robert had organised the outing for you all and made it mandatory for you to all come in Christmas jumpers. Yours was bright red with 'Merry Christmas, you filthy animal' plastered across the front, and was probably the one that had had the most people comment on it.
John downed another shot and shouted as a new song came on. All of you rolled your eyes at 'Last Christmas' by Wham! This was definitely how you could tell that John Porter was steaming. He had been drinking since the moment all of you entered the front door of the bar.
The bar itself was beginning to get busier, with more customers appearing every few minutes. There was a general hustling and chattering sound on the air, like a loud hum. Bursts of laughter, glasses clanking and chairs screeching across the floor echoed through the huge room at regular intervals.
You remained quiet, drinking your glass of Coke. You very rarely drank alcohol, and between you and Danni, had volunteered as designated taxi drivers. Every now and again you noticed Danni turned her attention to you after she had been eyeing John. There was history between Porter and Danni; everyone in the team knew of it. But it had been short lived, a simple fling that was never meant to last…on Porter’s part anyway. Danni still made it obvious that she was interested. And now, since you had joined the team ten months ago, she was always watchful of you.
Porter got up and staggered over to the small dancefloor that had been set up especially for the Christmas period. Collinson rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to his pint.
“You’d better go and keep an eye on him,” Layla told you, winking.
Were you that obvious? It was true that you had a massive crush on Porter, but was Layla actually aware of it? You smiled at Layla and then noticed her own smile drain as she locked gazes with Danni who was sat opposite her.
By the time you made it over to Porter, he was already close to collapsing. He was gyrating his hips stupidly, making duck lips towards the ceiling, and generally looked a complete and utter fool. You noticed other customers beginning to watch him and whisper among themselves.
“Oh,” Porter said, finally looking down at you. He may have been drunk, but his face lit up when he saw you standing in front of him. “My little Christmas angel is here.”
A blush hit your cheeks hard, and then you felt even more embarrassed and shocked as he wound his arm around your waist and pulled you in. “John, you’ve had enough. Maybe we should think about getting you home now.”
“No, I’m…” Then he belched.
“You’re not anything,” you demanded, grabbing his hand. “Come on. I’m taking you home in a bit.”
“Will you come and curl up in bed with me? Keep me warm. It’s really cold,” he continued, feigning a shiver for dramatic emphasis. Porter then leaned in and winked at you. “I’ve always had a thing for you, you know? But shhh, don’t tell anybody. It’s a secret.” Porter placed his finger against his lips, emphasising the need to keep it quiet.
You momentarily stared at Porter, unable to move. Of course he didn’t mean that. He was drunk. That realisation allowed you to unglue yourself from the dancefloor. You grabbed his hand and weaved through the small crowd, back to the table.
“I’d better get this one back home,” you announced. “He can barely stand up.”
Danni’s jaw clenched as she stared at you.
“Are you still taking Layla and Hugh?” you asked Danni.
“Yeah,” she replied, her tone cold.
“Rob, do you want to think about making a move?” you asked.
You dropped Robert off first, thanking him for his company and he thanked you for the lift home. He slipped away into the darkness of the night and up the path to his house.
Porter was in the passenger seat, his head bobbing back and forth as you drove. By the time you got him back to his flat, he was almost asleep.
“Come on, sleepy,” you told him, beckoning him out of the car.
Porter followed you into his flat as you let yourselves in, using the key from his back jeans pocket. “Are you staying tonight?” he asked with a smirk, staggering into his living room.
“No, I need to get home, John.”
“Oh, please. I fancy the pants off you and want to give you a good night kiss.”
That all too familiar blush hit you again. “Maybe tomorrow you can once you’ve slept off the alcohol.”
You left John to his own devices, but couldn’t help wonder as you got back into your car if that was truth talking, or the alcohol. Did he really fancy the pants off you? And would he still want to kiss you tomorrow?
Layla is having none of Porter's charm and gives him a set-down. (Strike Back S1, ep1)
Porter: So, I get to be B Team.
Layla: I think you're lucky to be that far up the alphabet.
Porter: Listen, I'll settle for an R and you can call me Romeo.
Layla: Aaah, yes, that. Danni's a special operative for Section 20. Her remit includes honey traps and so forth. She was assigned to you after the psychologist diagnosed "mission-limiting self-esteem issues, compounded by a fixation on physical and sexual inadequacy". In layman's terms, you needed a shag. (throws him the car keys) You're driving.
Ms. Thompson, my name is Virginia. I'm going to be needing your services. I've got myself in a little bit a trouble so if you could come down to the police station, that would be greatly appreciated.
