Coltland gentry AU where Grace is chatting with Carl and casually mentions he has a brother who's a government agent too, and Carl is like oh what department and Grace, absorbed in his work while talking and not paying attention and totally forgetting you know, the SECRET, just blurts out "Oh he's a Sierra, he's Six."
And Carl's jaw just drops and is suddenly very aware of the gun in his own pocket and starts glancing around like a nervous jumpy cat like Six is gonna jump out of the walls at him at any moment because if Six finds out what his brother is involved with and...what that might mean if things go wrong...holy shit!
And that's exactly what happens, Grace gets sent to space against his will and there's a damn firing match through the halls Carl trying to protect Stratt and get her to safety as Grace's big brother comes charging through the complex and bursts into Stratts office, and Carl is in front of her pointing his gun at a bloody and very pissed off Courtland who is pointing his own gun right back at him and breathing heavily,
"Where the fuck is Ryland??!!"
(Colt is outside causing general chaos and jumping in front of cars to stop backup getting closer to the building)
Hii! Itâs been a while since Iâve sent in a request! Can I please request a Lloyd Hansen x fem!reader where Y/nâs ex bf (heâs a bad bf so she broke up with him the day before) owes Lloyd a lot of money, so Lloyd comes after him. Y/nâs ex shows up at her apartment and she is so annoyed wondering what this man could possibly want and he starts saying how he messed up and a bad man is after him and he tells her heâs so sorry (which sheâs so confused what this has to do with her) and thatâs when Lloyd and his men are trying to break down her door, and Y/nâs bf sneaks out the window, leaving Y/n to face this herself (she is terrified and begging Lloyd not to hurt her, that itâs her ex heâs after) and he leaves a letter to Lloyd saying while he doesnât have the money, he can have his ex gf. Lloyd reads the letter out loud and Y/n is absolutely livid that her ex would do this to her, and Lloyd comes up with a proposition, she is absolutely pissed at her ex and Lloyd wants to go after him so he asks her if sheâd like to help him coax him out of hiding. So the two of them fake him dragging her out of the apartment, like sheâs pretending to be kicking and screaming, and pretend sheâs in actual danger, all to guilt her ex into revealing where he is. Lloyd and Y/n fall in love during this time as sheâs living with him in his mansion, heâs spoiling her, affectionate, and loving her the way her ex should have
I hope you'll enjoy this đ
Warning- Toxic ex, pretend play, kidnapping, fluff, Lloyd Hansen!
You shouldâve known something was off the second your phone started buzzing at 11:03 PM.
You don't answer, of course. Itâs your ex. The same asshole you broke up with yesterday after finding his burner phone full of messages from three different women, none of whom were you. You figured blocking him on everything would send a clear enough message.
Apparently not, cause some people are dumbasses.
The second round of banging this time on your apartment door confirms it.
You groan, slipping off the couch and wrapping your blanket around your shoulders like a robe. You shouldnât open it. You know you shouldnât.
But itâs past 11, and you donât feel like dealing with a noise complaint from your cranky old neighbor down the hall.
You open it, âWhat the actual fuck?â
Your ex-boyfriend barrels in, sweat-slicked, wild-eyed, and shaking. His cheap hoodie is half unzipped, and you catch the glint of something tucked into his waistband. A knife? What the fuck?
âWhat the hell are you doing here, Richard?â you snap, stepping back instinctively, âI told you weâre done.â
âI fucked upâŠâ he says, breathless. âI really fucked up Y/n, listen to meâŠsomeoneâs after me. A very bad man.â
You cross your arms, unimpressed, refusing to believe the selfish liar, âWhat does that have to do with me?â
âJust listen to meâŠfuck Iâm sorry, okay? BabyâŠâ he says, words rushing out like water through a busted pipe. âI didnât mean for it to get this far. Heâs gonna kill me. I didnât know heâd actually come after me!â
Your face twists in disbelief, wondering if you should really help him, âWho?â
Just then, a heavy slam rocks your door. Not a knock. Not a polite check-in. A slam like someoneâs trying to tear it off the hinges.
Your heart jumps into your throat.
âOh, God!!!â your ex whispers, turning pale. âThatâs him.â
Your fingers tighten around your blanket, âWho is him?!â, you finally snap at him.
âLloyd Hansen.â
You blink, youâve heard that name. Everyone in this city has. Whispers of a private contractor who does anything for the right price. Extortion. Assassination. Torture. Ex-CIA. A sadistic monster who looks like he was carved from Greek marble and dipped in chaos with a sexy moustache. Well that's what you have heard.
And heâs at your door.
âWhat did you do?!â, you yell at Richard.
âI didnât think heâd actually come after me!â your ex whines, and then, without another word, he bolts for your bathroom, throws open the window, and climbs out like a goddamn raccoon.
âWait⊠Richard, what the fuck?!â you shriek, running after him. âYouâre leaving me here?!â
But heâs already gone.
Another crash hits the door, this time cracking the frame.
You spin around, heart racing, and start sobbing without meaning to, âPleaseâŠplease donât hurt me!â you cry, backing away. âI donât even know what he did!â
The door explodes inward with a final kick.
And there he is.
Lloyd Hansen.
White button-down, sleeves rolled, black gloves, brass rings and that pornstache. He strolls in like he owns the place, flanked by two silent men in dark suits.
You tremble, holding your arms up. âPleaseâŠitâs not meâŠIâŠIâm not the one you want.â
Lloyd glances around casually, then bends down to pick up something by your kitchen counter.
A folded envelope.
He opens it slowly, eyes scanning the paper inside.
Then, like the worldâs most unhinged audiobook narrator, he reads it out loud in that deep, teasing drawl, âLloyd, I donât have the money, I can't pay you, I spent all of it. But you can have Y/n. Sheâs smart, hot, and great in bed. Consider this my final payment.
XO, Richard the dickhead.â
Your jaw drops, âHe what?!â
You see red, he left you here, for this. He offered you up like a bribe, like property, like a thing. You start shaking up, crying hard.
Lloyd grins at your outrage, looking positively entertained. âWell, sweetheart, Iâve gotten worse offers.â
Your hands shake, âYou canât be seriousâŠâ
âOh, Iâm always serious about collecting debts,â he says with a wink. âBut Iâve got a better idea than, yâknow, dragging you to an auction.â
You glare at him with the tears still running down, because why not?
He paces your tiny living room, like heâs inspecting your apartment for signs of life. Or escape.
âYou hate that little shitâŠâ he muses. âI can see it all over your face. And I know men like him. Heâs not gonna disappear quietly. Heâs hiding, sure. But his ego? Thatâs still flapping in the breeze.â
You narrow your eyes carefully, âWhat are you suggesting?â
He turns to face you fully. âWe fake it. You and me. A little performance. I âtakeâ you. Drag you out kicking and screaming. You cry, you beg, you play the terrified girlfriend. Iâll leak it to the right people. Guilt will eat him alive. Heâll call. Heâll text. Heâll come running, thinking he can âsaveâ you.â
Your lips part, âYou want me⊠to help lure him out?â
Lloyd smiles, slow and devilish. âItâs poetic, isnât it?â
You should say no. You should scream. You should demand a lawyer, call the cops, do anything but agree to help the man who just broke down your door.
But all you can think about is how your ex threw you to the wolves. Like trash.
And how good it would feel to drag him into hell for once.
ââŠWhat happens to me after?â
Lloyd tilts his head, âWhat do you want to happen?â
You glare again and he laughs, though he slips the blanket on you like safety.
A week later, you're wearing nothing but a satin slip and Lloydâs leather jacket when the camera rolls. Because Lloyd insisted it will be wonderful to sell the act.
âI look like a foolâ
âYou look like an angel.â
âThis is ridiculous!â
âJust act!â
You glared and Lloyd glared back. Finally, you complied.
âLet go of me!â you shriek, your voice echoing down the marble hallway of Lloydâs estate.
His grip on your waist is firm, but not painful, more like a stage actor pretending to be a villain.
âShut up!â he growls for the show, hauling you back against his chest.
You stomp your foot, nearly missing his foot. You scream, you kick the door for good measure.
Somewhere, Lloydâs assistant is recording from a discreet angle, ready to post the footage to a carefully selected burner account thatâll make its way to your ex in less than twenty four hours.
The performance is flawless.
You expect to cry after.
Instead, you end up curled in Lloydâs bed, champagne in hand, watching Kill Bill as he feeds you chocolate-dipped strawberries and runs his fingers over your thighs like they belong to him.
âMost women would be terrifiedâŠâ he mutters, brushing your hair back, âBut you glare like you own meâŠâ
You shrug, âMost women havenât been left for dead by their ex!â
He chuckles, âYouâve got bite, baby.â
âYou like that?â
His eyes darken, âLove that.â
Soon enough, it starts with touches.
His fingers grazing your back when he walks by. His lips brushing your knuckles when you hand him a drink. A smirk, a wink, a cocky little hum whenever he catches you staring at him shirtless after sparring in the gym downstairs.
Plenty of women came and gone, but Lloyd ignored them like they didn't exist. Only looking at you.
And of course you noticed.
Then one night, he corners you in the kitchen at midnight, boxers low on his hips, breath warm against your neck.
âYou want me, donât you?â he murmurs, trailing his fingers up your inner thigh.
You should slap him.
Instead, you grab him by the collar and kiss him like you hate him.
He lifts you onto the marble counter without breaking the kiss, tearing your shirt down the middle as you wrap your legs around him and grind against the thick bulge beneath his briefs.
From there onwards, it is romance. Unfiltered and explicit.
One night after he carries you to his bed like a bride, âYouâre mine nowâŠâ he whispers against your skin.
And for once, you believe it.
The message came two nights later.
Lloydâs men had scattered the staged footage everywhere, burner accounts, whispers in bars, word-of-mouth through shady networks. Your âabductionâ was trending in the underbelly of the city like a grim fairytale.
And just like Lloyd predicted, your ex came crawling back.
Not to save you.
Not to apologize.
But to gloat.
You were pacing Lloydâs study when his men escorted your ex into the house. Your stomach tightened, hands curling into fists.
He looked worse than before, stubble grown out, hoodie stained, hands trembling. But his eyes? Still that smug, self-satisfied glint.
Lloyd was leaned back in his leather chair, swirling whiskey in a glass like he had all the time in the world. His calmness was terrifying.
Your ex cleared his throat. âSo⊠you got her now.â He jerked his chin toward the door where you stood just out of sight. âSheâs yours, Hansen. Do whatever you want with her. Sheâs good for a fuck, if nothing else.â
The words hit like a slap.
Lloydâs lips curled into that dangerous smile.
Calm. Too calm.
âIs that so?â His tone was honey smooth, but you could feel the knives underneath.
That was your cue.
You stepped into the room.
Your ex blinked, startled, then smirked. âHey, babe. Guess youâre not mine anymore, huh?â
The fury boiling in your chest snapped. You crossed the floor and slapped him across the face so hard the crack echoed off the marble walls.
âYou worthless piece of shit!â you spat, voice trembling with rage. âYou cheated on me. You lied to me. And now you try to sell me like Iâm some kind ofâŠofâŠthing?!â
He stumbled back, clutching his cheek. âY/nâŠbabyâŠlistenâŠâ
âDonât you dare call me that!â you hissed, eyes blazing. âYou left me to die in my apartment. You climbed out a window and left me there to face this.â You gestured at Lloyd, who was watching the show with a smile that could freeze blood and turn you on. âYouâre a coward. A disgusting, pathetic coward.â
Lloyd let the silence hang for a beat. Then he set his glass down with a soft clink.
âAnd one more thing! I hate when you call me âBabyâ!â
âYou heard the lady,â he said lightly, flicking his hand toward his men. âTake out the trash.â
âNo...waitâŠplease!!!â your ex begged, twisting as Lloydâs men grabbed his arms and yanked him backward. âYou donât understand, heâll kill me baby, I meanâŠY/n, please!â
His pleas fell on deaf ears.
The heavy doors closed behind him, his shouts muffled until silence swallowed the room.
You stood there shaking, chest heaving, adrenaline still surging through your veins.
Lloyd rose smoothly from his chair, walking toward you with deliberate steps. His eyes roamed over your face, your trembling hands, your fire.
âYou did good, sweetheartâŠâ he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. âBetter than good. You stood up to that rat and put him in his place.â
Tears stung your eyes, though you refused to let them fall. âHeâŠhe was supposed to love meâŠâ you whispered, voice cracking, âAnd he just⊠handed me over like garbage.â
Lloyd cupped your chin, tilting your face up. His thumb brushed the corner of your mouth, gentle despite his dangerous nature.
âHe didnât deserve youâŠâ Lloyd said softly, and for once his voice wasnât edged with menace, it was low, warm, almost tender. âBut Iâll tell you a secret, Sugar. Men like him? They never know what theyâve got until someone better takes it away.â
Your breath hitched, âAnd you think that someoneâs you?â
That dangerous smile curved his lips again. âDarlinâ, I know it is.â
He hugged you tightly as if protecting you from everyone.
Later that day, Lloyd didnât take you back to your apartment. He didnât even offer.
He brought you to his bedroom in the mansion sprawling, luxurious, overwhelming. Black silk sheets, floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace flickering golden against the shadows, a view that you have started to like more and more.
He poured you wine with his own hands, fed you seared steak and dark chocolate for dessert, and kissed your fingers of the hand youâd slapped your ex with.
âStrong little thing, arenât you?â he murmured against your skin.
You shivered. âIâm not yours.â
He smirked, setting your hand down on his thigh. âThen why are you here in my bed, Sugar?â
You opened your mouth to argue, to deny, to protest but his lips claimed yours before you could speak.
The kiss was fire. Possessive and consuming. His hands were everywhere gripping your waist, sliding under your shirt, tugging you into his lap.
âSay itâŠâ he growled against your mouth, teeth nipping your lip. âSay youâre mine.â
You shook your head, breathless. âNoâŠâ
âLiar,â he whispered with a chuckle.
âFuck youâŠâ
âOh, you will, sweetheart...â he said, eyes dark with hunger. âAll night.â
For once, you didnât argue.
Because deep down, you knew he was right.
Lloyd Hansen maybe dangerous to the world, but he was yours. No lies only honesty and loyalness.
I'm overwhelmed to be reaching such an amazing milestone and to say thank you to everyone who has supported me, I wanted to give a little something back đ
So, send me an ask with a character, a trope(s), a genre, and a setting from the options below, and I'll write you a drabble! (Now with new characters!)
And if there's anything missing that you would like to see, send me an ask and I'll definitely consider it!
Characters: Rick Flag, Takeshi Kovacs, Ed Baldwin, Stephen Holder, Erik Heller, Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Harley Quinn, Adrian Chase, Chris Smith, Sierra Six, Dream of the Endless, Bucky Barnes
Trope: Hurt-comfort, mutual pining, enemies to lovers, friends with benefits, forced proximity, fake dating, one-bed, memory-loss, first date, undercover
Tagging some of my lovely followers who may be interested: @a-reader-and-a-writer @sociiallydiisoriiented @yespolkadotkitty @babblydrabbly @heresathreebee @christinasyellowflowers @littlefreakingfangirl @luxurybeskar @phoenixhalliwell @katjnordstrom96 @ed-baldwin @lacontroller1991 @mayhem24-7forever @bewitchedignition @green-socks
Ooo can I please request a Lloyd Hansen x fem!shy!reader where she is Carmichaelâs assistant (so sheâs not an agent or anything). She doesnât know about the more shady stuff that her boss has been up to but she has met Lloyd on the few occasions that he had worked with Carmichael and Suzanne. He took a quick liking to her and was all intimidating and flirty, and she shied away from his attention. Anyways, now later on, the start of the Gray man plot starts, where Carmichael has Suzanne contact Lloyd to use âHansen Government Servicesâ to track down and take out Six. Lloyd agrees to help on one condition, Carmichael to give up his assistant (Y/n) and have her permanently be Lloydâs assistant instead (which he would also require that she lives in the mansion). Y/n would probably be scared about this whole situation, between finding out about her (now ex) bossâ shady business and now being sent to work for and live with a man like Lloyd. He doesnât treat her like he does his other employees though, heâs patient with her, never yells at her, and heâs also extremely flirty and sweet in his own intimidating way. He spoils her rotten and tries to make her comfortable in her new home. Lloyd is completely in love with her and he knows she is is love with him too. One of Lloydâs enemies breaks into the mansion one night to get to Lloyd, but finds Y/n first and they try to hurt her? Lloyd would completely obliterate them omg, no one hurts his girl! Sheâd cling to Lloyd after he saves herđ„ș
Hey, I hope you enjoy this.
Warning- Fluff, little angst, slight assault. Lloyd is a warning!
Youâve worked for Denny Carmichael for just over a year.
Itâs not the worst job in the world. The payâs decent, the office has a view, and if you keep your head down. Carmichael usually ignores you, which is honestly a blessing. Heâs curt at best, cruel at worst. Youâve mastered the art of silent efficiency, typing fast, fetching coffee hotter than hell, and answering his calls before the first ring finishes.
Youâre not an agent, not even close. Just a regular assistant who updates schedules, reviews briefings sheâs not supposed to read too closely, and pretends not to notice the occasional encrypted file with a red warning label.
Itâs all above your paygrade, anyway.
Or it was, until he walked in.
The first time you saw Lloyd Hansen, it was like someone dropped a wolf into the middle of a business meeting. All sharp smiles, arrogant swagger, and a polo-shirt unbuttoned just enough to be inappropriate. He looked like trouble dipped in designer cologne and fancy moustache. And he looked right at you.
âWhoâs the shy one?â he asked, gesturing toward you with a half-empty coffee cup heâd just taken from Carmichaelâs desk without asking.
You froze.
Carmichael didnât bother to introduce you. He waved you off with an irritated glance, mumbling something about "irrelevant staff." But Lloyd? He didnât stop looking.
And he kept looking every time after that.
Now, weeks later, youâre alone at your desk, tucked in the corner of the tenth floor office, typing up meeting notes and wondering if itâs too early to sneak your third cup of coffee, when the elevator doors open with a ding.
You donât look up right away. You donât need to. You feel it, that oppressive, magnetic presence. Like gravity just shifted.
You glance up. And there he is.
Lloyd Hansen. All six-feet-something of smirking, menacing charm. Aviators hanging from the front of his polo-shirt. A toothpick between his teeth. Like he owns the building. Like he owns you.
âHey there, Sugar.â
You flinch. The nickname slides off his tongue like a threat wrapped in honey.
He saunters closer, not even pretending to head for Carmichaelâs office. âI was hoping Iâd catch you here.â His voice is lower now, just for you. âDid you miss me?â
You blink, mouth slightly parted, your fingers still frozen above the keyboard. âIâŠI didnât know you were coming inâŠâ
âOh, itâs a surprise visit.â He leans against your desk, so close his cologne makes you dizzy. âThought Iâd see how my favorite desk jockeyâs doing.â
You flush. You hate how warm your face gets when he talks to you like this. You manage a whisper. âIâŠI have a lot of work, Mr. HansenâŠâ
âLloyd,â he corrects with a slow, teasing grin. âMr. Hansen makes me sound like I give a damn about rules.â
Your breath catches as he plucks a paperclip from your holder and flicks it between his fingers.
Carmichaelâs door opens sharply behind him. âHansen!â your boss barks. âOffice. Now!â
Lloyd doesnât move right away. His eyes stay on you, then he winks. âIâll be back for you, Sugar.â
And just like that, heâs gone.
But your pulse is still hammering and you already know youâre in trouble.
"You want me to clean up your mess, Denny?â Lloyd Hansen leans back in his chair, legs spread like he owns the Pentagon and the planet it sits on. One boot scuffs the marble floor with deliberate disrespect, his smirk lazily cruel as he watches Carmichael squirm.
Carmichael grimaces. âSierra Six has gone rogue. Heâs dangerous.â
âAnd you lost him.â Lloydâs voice is soft, almost bored. âTsk, tsk. Thatâs not very 'elite CIA' of you, is it?â
Suzanne Brewer shifts beside Denny, clearing her throat. âWe need someone outside the Agency, someone untraceable. You said you could handle it.â
Lloyd twirls the gold pen he stole from Carmichaelâs desk earlier, then pauses mid-spin.
âOh, I can handle it,â he says. âIâll find him, Iâll gut him, and Iâll gift wrap his corpse with a bow, red or black, your pick.â
Carmichael exhales a breath of relief, but Lloyd raises a hand.
âOne condition.â
Dennyâs jaw clenches. âOf course there is.â
Lloyd doesnât bother to explain. He simply pushes a thin folder toward them, one you didnât know existed. One labeled with your name.
âHer.â
Suzanne glances at it, brows lifting. âThe assistant?â
âMy assistant now.â Lloydâs tone sharpens. âSheâs underutilized here, answering your pathetic emails and dealing with your tantrums. Waste of good potential.â
âSheâs not part of this operation,â Carmichael says flatly. âShe doesnât have clearance, hell, she barely has spine!â
Lloyd chuckles. âExactly. Sheâs perfect. Quiet, soft, compliant. I like her.â
Carmichaelâs face reddens. âShe doesnât belong in this worldâŠyou areâŠâ
âAnd yet, here she is.â Lloyd stands, towering, voice turning venomous. âDonât forget who the fuck I am, Denny. You called me. You donât get to say no.â
For a full ten seconds, no one speaks.
Then Carmichael nods, bitter and furious. âFine.â
Lloydâs smile returns too sharp. âGood boy.â
You donât know any of this until itâs already done.
Youâre filing some paperwork Carmichael left for you, he didnât say goodbye, didnât even glance your way, when two men in suits show up at your desk.
âMiss,â one says, holding out a leather folder with a red seal. âEffective immediately, youâve been reassigned.â
âWhat?â Your voice wavers. âReassigned to what?â
The man doesnât blink. âYouâll be working for Lloyd Hansen, under Hansen Government Services.â
Your blood turns cold, âIâŠIâm not trained for field workâŠthis is a mistakeâŠâ
âYou wonât be in the field,â the second man says. âYouâll be his executive assistant. Relocation is part of the contract. Your things are already being packed.â
You stare at them. âI didnât agree to this!â
âItâs been authorized,â one replies. âBy Carmichael himself.â
Your heart pounds. You donât understand. This has to be some kind of joke.
But it isnât.
Thirty minutes later, youâre in the back of a black SUV, gripping your phone with numb fingers, trying not to cry as the city fades behind you.
The driver says nothing. He doesnât have to. Heâs taking you somewhere far more dangerous than youâve ever imagined.
To him.
The mansion is surreal. Marble floors. Velvet drapes. Security cameras everywhere. It smells like leather, bourbon, and something darker.
Youâre led up winding stairs, into a private wing with tall doors and a view of the world you used to belong to. Youâre not sure if itâs a gilded prison or a wolfâs den.
When the door opens behind you, you already know who it is.
âSugar.â
You freeze.
Lloyd strolls in like this is all perfectly normal, tugging off his gloves, grinning like a cat about to play with its food. âYouâre finally home.â
Your voice is small, terrified. âI didnât agree to thisâŠâ
He steps closer, tilting your chin up with two fingers. âYou didnât need to.â
His eyes devour your fear. He likes it. But beneath the thrill in his gaze, thereâs something else, obsession, maybe. Possession.
âRelax,â he purrs. âIâll take real good care of you.â
You expected chaos. Screaming. Orders barked in your face. Maybe even a locked door or two.
Instead, Lloyd gives you a room with cathedral ceilings, the softest sheets you've ever touched, and a closet full of clothes you know damn well didnât come from a department store.
You havenât even unpacked yet when he knocks and waits patiently.
You open the door slowly. Heâs leaning against the frame, two glasses in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.
âRoom service!â he says with a wink.
You blink at him. âThis⊠this isnât a hotel.â
âNo,â Lloyd murmurs, handing you a glass. âThis is my house. My rules. And rule number oneâŠâ he raises the glass in a mock toast, âyou get spoiled.â
You donât know what to say. Youâve been bracing for a nightmare, but heâs smiling at you like you hung the damn moon.
The next few days blur like a fever dream.
He doesnât yell. Not once. Doesnât scold you when you mess up his calendar or accidentally send the wrong file to one of his contractors.
He just laughs, nudges your foot with his under the desk, and says, âYouâre cute when you panic, Sugar. Makes me wanna bite you.â
You try to keep things professional. You really do. But damn he makes you blush, all the time.
But Lloyd doesnât play by anyoneâs definition of professional.
He brings you breakfast every morning. Personally. Scrambled eggs, avocado toast, fresh fruit, exactly how you like it. You never told him. Somehow, he just knows.
He has your favorite snacks stocked in the kitchen before you ask. He adjusts the AC because you looked a little cold once. He even sets up a separate workspace, facing his, of course so he can keep an eye on you while you work. âI like you where I can see you,â he tells you, voice low. âYou calm me down. Which is ironic, âcause all I wanna do is wreck you.â
You choke on your coffee.
He just grins.
The weirdest part?
You start to feel safe.
Safe in a mansion built like a fortress. Safe in the presence of a man with blood on his hands and your name on his lips like a prayer.
And he never touches you without permission. Never pushes. Just lingers.
Like now, when he walks past your desk and drops something beside your laptop. You glance at it. A box.
You open it carefully. Inside is a delicate, glittering necklace. A charm in the shape of a sugar cube. Diamond encrusted.
Your lips part in disbelief. âLloydâŠâ
âWear it,â he says, already turning away. âSo everyone knows who you belong to.â
Your heart pounds in your chest. You want to argue, say something snarky, logical, self-protective. But instead⊠you touch the necklace with trembling fingers.
And smile.
That night, he sees it around your neck and smiles like a man whoâs just won a war.
You meet his eyes, your voice barely above a whisper, âI know what youâre doing.â
Lloyd leans in, gaze molten. âYeah?â
âYouâre trying to⊠soften me. Spoil me into staying.â
His lips brush the shell of your ear. âSugar, you already stayed.â
He pauses. âAnd I already know youâre in love with me.â
Your stomach flips, âWâŠwhat makes you think?â
âI know,â he interrupts gently. âBecause I know how you breathe when I walk into a room. How you flinch, not because youâre scared, but because your body doesnât know how to handle me.â
He smiles against your jaw. âYouâre mine, Sugar. Always have been.â
And the worst part? Heâs right.
The mansion is quiet that night. Too quiet.
Youâre curled up in your oversized bed, one of Lloydâs T-shirts hugging your body like a second skin. You never meant to fall asleep in it, it just smelled like him, and your own clothes didnât feel comforting enough anymore.
The dreamless dark is thick when you hear it.
A faint creak. A footstep where there shouldnât be one. Your eyes snap open. Your chest tightens. You slip out of bed, bare feet padding across the hardwood floor. Maybe itâs one of Lloydâs men doing rounds. MaybeâŠ
A cold hand clamps over your mouth.
You scream, but itâs muffled.
âShh,â a low, unfamiliar voice hisses against your ear. âThis isnât about you, sweetheart. But if you make it about you, Iâll carve a message into your skin before he even gets here.â
Your heart races like itâs trying to escape your chest. You struggle, thrashing, clawing at the masked man holding you against the wall.
He slams you once hard into the dresser. Pain blooms across your ribs. And then, you hear it.
The echo of a gunshot. Not from the intruder.
From him.
Lloyd crashes into the room like a hurricane dressed in black and fury. No mask. No hesitation.
Just rage.
âWhat the FUCK do you think youâre doing?â he snarls, voice rough and feral.
The intruder doesnât get a full sentence out before Lloyd unloads, two to the leg, one through the shoulder. Precision pain. The man screams, buckles, and tries to crawl away.
Lloyd stalks after him like a goddamn lion.
âYou thought you could touch her?â he growls, grabbing the man by the collar. âYou came into my house and laid your hands on my girl?â
Another shot.
âYou shouldâve died before you even thought about it.â
By the time his team storms in, the man is bloodied, sobbing, and barely breathing.
âClean this shit up,â Lloyd mutters, panting, gun lowered but still ready. âHe doesnât get to die yet. Not until I say so.â
He turns back to you. Youâre on the floor, still shaking, arm cradling your side. Your lip is trembling, and you hate that youâre crying, but you canât stop it.
Lloyd kneels beside you in one breath. His hands hover before they touch, so gently it almost breaks you.
âSugar,â he whispers, lifting you like you weigh nothing. âJesus. I shouldâve been here. I shouldâveâŠâ You cling to him hard, not letting him finish his sentence. He holds you closer. âIâve got you now,â he murmurs into your hair. âYouâre safe. I swear it. No one touches whatâs mine.â
You bury your face in his chest.
And thatâs the first time he doesnât smirk. Doesnât flirt. He just holds you. Tight. Like heâs anchoring both of you to the earth.
Days pass. You sleep in his room now, his bed, his arms. Not because he makes you, but because the nightmares only stop when heâs there.
He never pushes. Never crosses a line.
But he never leaves your side.
And somewhere between quiet breakfasts and late-night movies on the massive couch, it happens.
You fall.
Not slowly. Not sweetly.
You fall like a match to gasoline.
One morning, you turn to him with trembling fingers and swollen eyes, half embarrassed, half defiant. âI think I love you,â you whisper. âNo. I know I do. Iâve tried not to, but I canât⊠I canât stop. I donât want to.â
Lloyd blinks.
Then, something softens in his face.
The kind of softness no one alive has ever seen in him. Not Suzanne. Not Carmichael. No one.
Only you.
âSugar,â he breathes. He cups your face like youâre porcelain.
And kisses you. Not rough. Not angry. Not possessive.
Just home.
But you still feel the hunger under his skin. The heat barely restrained. When you pull back, breathless, he chuckles against your lips. âFinally,â he murmurs. âTook you long enough.â
You smack his chest. He catches your wrist. Kisses your palm.