Midnight Readers || Hope ||

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

It felt like months since Hope had such a restful sleep and she had no doubt in her mind why. Her eyes fluttered open as she vaguely heard the sound of moving cars from outside the store. She felt a strong arm around her and closed her eyes in reaction to remembering the events of last night. Hope lifted her fingers to touch his arm gently, wanting to wake him up gently. She could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck as they both lay glued together on the couch. Flashbacks of ragged breaths, moans of each other’s names, and kisses that she still felt burned onto her lips and skin.

Hope wondered if Jess was now regretting staying the entire night with her in his arms. She had heard he was a bad boy but hell, she was a bad girl. He had the perfect time to leave after the first time but instead he stayed. As any girl would there was that nervousness in the pit of her stomach of his attitude when he actually woke up. Hope glanced instinctively at her wrist for her watch but it wasn’t there. Sighing she craned her neck up to see the clock that sat on the desk. It was 6 AM…too early to do anything. She wasn’t planning on opening the shop today anyway so she relaxed her body back into Jess.

She turned as best as she could to face Jess’ body without waking him up. Facing him she watched him sleep and was suddenly reminded of his boyish features…he was still young. Age didn’t mean much to Hope but it was moments like these that he looked so innocent that it woke her up. But then she remembered that he acted much older for his age and when he was awake he looked more mature than he did now. Thankfully Hope didn’t wear her age for everyone to see so she was sure people thought she was younger. Either way, Hope felt like her puzzle piece fit pretty well with Jess’.

He was a classic type of handsome when he didn’t look like he was trying to be a hard ass the entire time. She liked him either way honestly and last night went over her expectations. His touch was rough but never too much. His murmurs of sweet nothings made her feel special in his arms. She didn’t even have to try so hard with him to get the pleasure out of their bodies clashing. It was effortless.

Thinking of a way to wake Jess up she felt a draft from some open window and felt goose bumps rise of her legs. Hope had just managed, in the midst of getting comfortable on the couch, to put on his discarded tank top. Sleeping at night must not have been that bad with their warmth aiding each other. She used her fingers to gently push back the hair out of his face, something she had wanted to do evertime she watched him reading. Hope, finally, leaned forward kissed Jess’ bottom lip gently. Kissing his lips once more she waited for him to react.

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words; 797
muse; took your idea! outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

It never took much to coax Jess out of his admittedly light slumber. At home he might as well have slept with one eye open with how alert he remained when he settled down for the night. He'd be awake in a second if Catherine had an episode, Faith needed him, or if there was something wrong in the apartment like a fire. And no matter how late he was up, Jess often endeavored to get up early during the week to make breakfast as well as fix Faith's lunch for the day, as well as do what he could to get Catherine moving down to the bakery.

Light sleeper that he was, all that Jess needed to be roused was Hope's slight movement, the distant sound of morning traffic, and her featherlight touch. He scarcely moved, though, nor did he open his eyes. The cushions that currently supported his weight certainly did not belong to the ratty couch he spent most of his nights on at home. The soft leather clung a bit to his bare skin as he shifted "in his sleep", letting out a soft sigh.

As Hope shifted in his arms again, Jess barely inched one eye open to get a look at her. Quickly he returned to his faux sleep as she settled back down against him. Slowly the events from just hours before came back to him as his mind shook off the cobwebs of lethargy. He'd slept with the bookstore owner.

Jess allowed that thought to sink in. Hope Summers, the bombshell from whom he had long purchased books, and occasionally with whom he shared a few cordial words, had slept with him. Not only that, but she was presently donning his tank top and snuggling into his side, one of those gorgeous bare legs draped over his.

Hope's gaze practically bore holes through his flesh she was watching him so intently. Jess wondered if she knew he was awake, but he had become rather adept at faking sleep when he needed to. Right now, he needed to assess the situation. As much as he tried to look at this logically, his thoughts kept going back to the body so willingly nestled into his arms. Any other time, Jess' mind would have been focused on getting back home. Surely Catherine or Faith would realize he was gone soon. And then in a few hours there was work.

Usually he would have been thinking about those things. And in any typical situation he would be on his feet by now, getting dressed--rather, in most situations he would have been home long before this moment. But instead, Jess remained still and relaxed as her fingers grazed his forehead in pushing his hair back.

He let her kiss him, still keeping up the act of sleep. However, as she made to pull away from the second kiss he lifted his head somewhat to kiss her back, lazily. Jess' hazel eyes fluttered open, still a little hazy from sleep. "Morning, Marilyn." He teased, remembering her little song and saunter that got this whole thing started. Jess shifted slightly, his arm wrapping a little tighter around her as he free hand lifted to tuck a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. "Sleep well?"

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) nada
( NOTES ) morning after rp can be as fun, if not more so, than the sexytimes
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

Hope felt him kiss her back gently, a warm spreading over her body. She watched him open his eyes and she couldn’t help but smile. His eyes were a beautiful hazel color that she never truly had a chance to see. Being this close to his face she could see every aspect of his face. She wanted to take in now because she had no idea how he would respond to her in a day or even a week. Hope didn’t really know what their night meant for the both of them. Yes, Hope was interested in him but was she willing to enter a relationship? She didn’t know. She doubted Jess was one for relationships…she could imagine he liked to move around a bit. Hope, at least, was prepared for whatever was coming.

She let out a soft laugh as he called her Marilyn, a high compliment in her book. Hope didn’t know what came over her but at least it all ended up in this. She was not complaining. Hope felt his arm wrap around her tighter, their bodies wonderfully closer. She closed her eyes in reaction to his fingers gently touching her face as he tucked hair behind her ear. ”Very well. For someone who seems so rough and tough you’re actually a very good spoon,” she scoffed at her own comment and hooked her arm around his waist, her fingers gently creating circles on his smooth back.

They lay in comfortable silence as she aimlessly used her nails to trace designs lightly on his back. It wasn’t always that one could sit in silence with someone else and that could be okay. She leaned her forehead onto his forearm, taking in the moments they were sharing before they both had to inevitably get up. Hope kissed his arm before leaning her head back to look at him.

”What are you doing today?” she asked him, her tone hinting she had some ideas on what they could do. The dim light of the room still making it feel like they had hours to spend together. She didn’t want him to assume he now had to take her out to breakfast or anything like that but she genuinely enjoyed talking to him. Hope knew he had work and he had more people to take care of. From the small conversations they had in the store she knew he had a little sister that she could tell he cared deeply for. He had things to do but if she may be planted an idea in his mind it would grow slowly.

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words; 797
muse; sorry its a bit shooort outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

Jess allowed a slight chuckle and glanced away, showing the slightest indications of embarrassment. One night with the woman and she was already seeing right through him. Maybe there was a good reason he chose not to actually spend the night with the girls he had. Such a position, sharing a bed--or in their case, a couch--with someone, forced a sort of vulnerability.

He supposed he could not complain though. Hope had given him the best night's sleep he imagined he'd had in a few years, really. "It is one of my secret talents. Spooning, snuggling and all that. Don't tell anyone." His lips curled into that lop-sided smile and he dipped his head to press a light kiss to her bare shoulder.

As the silence settled, Jess closed his eyes, focusing on the patterns Hope traced along his back. This was so strange and foreign to him, laying like this with someone, so at peace. Jess entertained the thought that he could gladly do this all day. But of course there was that nagging in his mind that informed him that, no, he really could not lay here on this couch with Hope all day. The thought elicited a sigh from his lips. However, Hope's on lips brushing against his arm temporarily shoved those troublesome thoughts away.

"That is a very good question." He quirked a brow, half expecting Hope to present whatever devious plans she had in store. But one again he sighed and looked away, frowning slightly. "I have to go to work later today." One finger twirled a strand of her hair around in one direction, then in another. "But..." Jess allowed a smile, "It's still early...could go grab some breakfast I guess."

Gently, he nudged Hope up so he could get to his feet. While she had the luxury of stealing his tank top at some point during the night, most of Jess' clothes had ended up flung across the room in the heat of things. Not that he had much of a problem displaying his body to the bookstore owner. If there was anything about himself Jess could be proud of, it was his body. So he lifted his arms above his head and arched his back, stretching freely before he began hunting down his clothes.

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) nada
( NOTES ) steal his boxers, I dare you xP
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

The simple act of kissing her shoulder felt like this wasn’t the first time they had slept together. Or at least it was a reminder of how badly both of them had wanted to do those simple things. It was clear that they both weren’t in it last night just for the sex. She could imagine how great of a birthday gift she had given him but that wasn’t why she pursued him. Oh, it was so much more than that. ”Your secret is safe with me,” she told him, knowing she might have been one of few women in the town…or the world he would have the pleasure of finding out.

Hope watched him frown and instinctively frowned with him. She had always thought he looked much better with a smile on but when he came into her store he often had a look of intensity. Hope never tried to read his expressions because she hoped it didn’t dictate how he was always feeling. Hope used the palm of her hand to rub his back gently as he twirled a strand of her hair in his finger. All of this seemed a bit surreal as she lay with the person she had fantasized about just last week. His next suggestion blew her away but hearing it from his mouth made it sound so much better than in her head. Breakfast with the person you just slept with didn’t seem appetizing to her but with Jess, maybe she could actually enjoy it. "That sounds perfect" she agreed with him.

Hope moved herself to let him get up from the couch. She continued to lay on the couch, her head leaning on one arm. A pose like this would normally get any guy to crawl but Jess was too busy stretching to see it. But Hope appreciated the view far more than she would the attention. She bit her bottom lip to stifle any low groan of disappointment that he had work and the girly sigh that would escape her mouth. The curve and tone of his body made her want to drag him back down on top of her but she knew he had his mind set on going to work. That didn’t mean she could have some fun with him first.

Hope got up as soon as she spotted his boxers somewhere across the room. She must have thrown them far, far away after they left his legs. Hope took quick steps to pick them up and put them on before he could protest. Wearing his clothes while he was completely naked made her smile to herself as she ran a hand through her hair. ”Are you looking for these?” she asked him, feigning naïve. Hope on the way towards Jess picked up his top shirt and jeans before placing them on the desk. She was now in front of him and let out a sigh. ”I think we should go to my place, stay in bed all day, watch crappy movies, and I can show you my Marilyn impersonation in whatever you want,” she told him painstakingly slow with that drawl she had perfected a long time ago. She wanted him to go back with her so they could stretch out this day as long as they could.

”Think about it,” she finished and took his hand in hers, bringing it up to her face to kiss it gently. She would have never thought in a million years she would be the one suggesting to Jess i to come back to her apartment. But she liked the way it rolled off her tongue. ”For now, I suppose you’ll have to get your clothes back,” she let go of his hand and lifted her arms to take off his tank top but stopped. ”Since this is your shirt and boxers…you take them off,” Hope stepped forward closer to his body. Morning after was never boring when it came to Hope Summers.

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words; 797
muse; haha oh these two outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

A cool breeze swishing by Jess turned his attention over his shoulder, to the couch he had just left Mel on. Empty. He blinked and looked back around to see the leggy brunette stepping into his green and black plaid boxers. He stared for a moment, without any sort of protest even in mind. The elastic waist band barely clung to her slender hips. His Adam's Apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed.

He found himself rooted to the floor as Hope sauntered across the room and gathered the rest of his clothing and folded them on the desk. Why was there something so mind-numbingly sexy about a woman wearing his underwear? Not that Hope's underwear--wherever it had landed last night, Jess thought he saw her bra hanging off a lamp--wasn't sexy or anything. Quite on the contrary. It was very sexy, and it wasn't even the type of lingerie one intentionally wore when they planned on getting laid. It was just sexy on her.

But something about Hope working his boxers and tank top stirred something in Jess. Pretty soon he was going to have to bring her back down onto that couch, if she kept this up. Jess was tugged away from his fantasizing as Hope spoke up again, standing before him with that smile of hers, and in a slow, sensuous drawl that tempted him to say 'Yes, yes of course whatever you want'.

"I am thinking about it, doll..." He heaved a soft sigh and gave her hand a light squeeze after she kissed it. "And it is a very, very tempting thought. But I've got work to do." Damn work. Damn responsibility. Damn living for others and not himself for a while. Jess shook his head and frowned slightly as he thought about just what he could do if he could shirk work for a day.

Hope's near purr once again brought him back to reality. Or what he hoped was reality, because if this whole thing was a dream boy was he going to need a miserably cold shower when he woke up. For a split second, Jess was frozen again at Hope's order. Why was it that this woman could affect him so? Quickly, Jess was able to regain his composure and without skipping another beat, slipped his hands beneath the white tank to slowly lift over Hope's head.

His lips curled up into that lopsided grin and he let the tank top settle over his shoulders and around his torso. Now for his boxers, though any other day he would happily stand there and watch her walk around in them for hours. Until he couldn't stand it anymore and he took them off her for other purposes. Slowly, Jess crouched before her, his hands resting on her thighs to steady himself.

He peered deviously up at Hope and pressed a few kisses down the length of her tummy until he came to the waistband of the boxers. Grinning, he hooked his thumbs around the fabric and slowly slid them down for Hope to step out of them. "Thank you." Jess murmured with a smirk as he stepped into the shorts. Now their roles were, wondrously reversed.

"Should wear my clothes more often." He teased as he stepped around her to pull on his jeans. He left the long sleeved shirt untouched and went in search of his socks, plucking them each up from the floor and tugging them on. As his eyes scanned the floor, he spotted Hope's own underwear and grinned wickedly. He snatched the bit of fabric up and tucked them into his back pocket. His now.

He turned back to face Hope curiously. He hadn't missed work in a while. Maybe...

"Hey, there's a phone up at the front desk, right?"

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) nada
( NOTES ) weeeee
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

Hope didn’t understand the appeal behind a woman wearing men boxers but she liked his reaction. It was much more comfortable than wearing the pajamas they made for women. She was enjoying the attention from the way his eyes moved along the soft curves of her body. Taking his hand Hope wondered if this was all enough to make him forget work for a day.

She nodded her head in understanding…even if she didn’t want to accept it. At least he admitted that it was tempting, it was tempting for her to simply push him back onto the couch and prove to him what they could do all day. But thank god for restraint because she let him shake his head and she simply moved on. Hope could only imagine the things he felt he needed to do for his family. She would have bought up the idea that this one day was his vacation he so desperately needed. But if anyone told her that in the heat of helping her grandmother she would look at them like they were crazy.

Hope watched Jess as he just looked at her, the look on his face a mix of doubt and desire. His hands found their way underneath the tank top, his hands a cross between smooth and rough terrain. She appreciated that his hands were the hand of a working man. She wanted him crouch and in any situation Hope would have been prepared for something entirely different o happen.

Hope inhaled a short breath as he looked up at her with that scheming look on his face. His lips pressed against her stomach and she bit her bottom lip to stop a moan from escaping her mouth. Despite the fact that he often looked surprised that all of this was happening he bounced back without pause to prove to her he knew what he was doing. There had been some moments where she had to take control with whoever she was seeing because they were so timid. Not with Jess. He knew what he wanted and what he needed to do to get it. That alone was incredibly sexy.

She stepped out of the boxers to let him them back. Hope barely heard his thank you before she let out a sigh and a ”You’re welcome as she turned to get her own clothes on. Hope grinned and looked at him as he stepped into his jeans. ”I’ll take you up on that,” she told him and stepped towards her bra that was hanging on a lamp. Clasping the back Hope saw her sweater and leggings right in front of the couch. She tried to look for her underwear until she saw Jess pick it up and pocket it. ”Jess!” she told him with a laugh but didn’t make a move to take it back from him. She put her leggings on and then her sweater as she saw him turn to her.

She smirked and nodded her head. Was he cracking under the idea? ”Yeah, it’s right up front,” she watched him go as she ran a hand through her hair. The events of last night didn’t disturb much of the room so thankfully there wasn’t any cleaning up to do. She knew she should probably do something about the couch because their bodies were all over it. Eventually, she thought. The lazy side of her was kicking in as she stepped to her desk. She still needed to complete the bills for the store, something that completely escaped her in the heat of things. ”Tomorrow…tomorrow,” she told herself and placed the folder back down on the desk. Hope decided then and there it was best to just hire somewhere locally to help her out. There was no way she could do it alone.

Hope pushed the chair into the desk and turned the dial to turn off the rest of the light in the room. Hope found her shoes right outside the door, the place she left them even before Jess came over. Slipping her feet into them Hope glanced at Jess as she zipped up her shoes. She couldn’t really hear him from the front of the shop but she could hear him through the gap of the bookshelves. She walked toward him but look a right at one of the second row of bookshelves to head to the bathroom.

Stepping into the bathroom she didn’t even bother to lock the door behind her. She used the bathroom quickly before looking at herself in the mirror. Thankfully she was privileged with hair that could be tossed around and lay in messy curls. And she didn’t wear much makeup but she used a wet napkin to wipe any residue eyeliner on her bottom lid. Hope tossed the tissue away and looked at herself once more in the mirror. This was what she looked like after sex…or maybe after a good night’s sleep for once. Her skin wasn’t pale which it normally looked when she woke up after a nightmare or after 2 hours of sleep. She touched her cheeks with her fingertips and let out a sigh.

Hope turned away from the mirror and flicked off the light. She made her way to the front of the store where she could hear Jess still talking. Hope walked around him; scratching his back gently as she did. Hope picked up her bag from behind the desk and fished out her phone. She had a few missed calls from random friends and one from her grandmother. Without thinking she dialed her grandmother.

Turning away from Jess she waited for her grandmother to pick up. ”Hey…How are you doing, Gam?” she asked. Her grandmother was fine but wanted to see if Hope could come over for dinner this week. ”Of course, darling. I can come by tomorrow and I’ll drop off groceries. You know meats, vegetables, fruits, and the such,” she suggested and nodded as her grandmother gave her some specific things to get. ”Sounds good. How are you feeling?” she asked and frowned as her grandmother didn’t sound so confident as she replied she was doing okay. ”Alright well…I’ll talk to you tomorrow afternoon. Love you,” she clicked off the phone and looked at Jess.

She got why Jess had to take so much time out of his day to take care of his family. Hope worried about her grandmother nonstop on certain days but she had to remind herself that today was her day. Her grandmother wasn’t going to die today and she was strong enough to take care of herself. Hope took Jess’s hand in both of her own gently and rubbed her thumb against his skin until he got off the phone. Until then she could listen to what he was saying to whoever he called.

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words; 1140
muse; (: (: (: outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

"Thanks, Marilyn." Said Jess with a sly, crooked grin. There was a good chance that she would never live that spur of the moment Marilyn impersonation down. It was a habit that Jess had long employed, and thoroughly enjoyed; calling people by names that were not their own. The confusion he was usually met with when he used those pseudonyms was entertaining to say the least. Oh, the little things in life.

On his way out of the office, Jess grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. While he'd been plenty warm with naked limbs tangled up on the couch, the building itself was now a little chilly this early in the morning. Jess made his way to the front of the store and picked up the land line. He did not carry a cell phone, though he wished he could for emergency's sake for his sister and mother. However, even with the income from the bakery getting better they really hadn't the money for a phone, and certainly not the credit score. Jess imagined he was one of the few people his age almost completely disconnected from social technology.

After a beat to recall the number to the shop--he seldom called in sick or anything of the sort--Jess dialed and leaned forward, elbows on the front desk as he listened to it ring...and ring...and ring. He drummed his fingers, mumbling to himself as he did so, "Come on...come on." As he waited for someone to pick up, he spotted Hope weaving between the bookshelves. Spying? he wondered with a sly smirk.

As Hope dashed into the bathroom, someone at the garage finally picked up.

"Yeah?" Huffed Ben, a part-timer who was a bit younger than Jess.

"Nice way to answer the phone, man." Jess scoffed at his co-worker.

"Whatever, I'm tired and here alone. Jess? Where you at?"

Jess paused a moment. He had not exactly thought through his excuse for not showing up to work. He was not particularly good at faking sick. And even so, if he was going to be traipsing around town with Hope someone was bound to see. And word spread fast in this damned small town. His boss would figure out he lied. He sighed softly as Ben waited impatiently on the other line. Honesty it was, then.

"Let the boss know I am..taking a personal day." He informed the boy on the other end. There was a beat, during which Jess assumed Ben was trying to wrap his brain around that concept.

"...You at a girl's place, man?"

Jess could barely keep the smirk out of his voice, "No..not exactly. But anyways, yeah, I need a personal day. So...Won't be coming in today. Let the boss know if he wants me to pull a double shift or something another time to make up for it, I will. He had progressively begun to lower his voice as he heard Hope returning from the restroom.

"I don't know, man. Not many people are coming in today..."

Jess sighed quietly and rubbed his crooked nose. He had near perfect attendance at work since he started there when he was seventeen. He worked hard and efficiently and did a good job with the things he did. No one ever complained about an engine Jess fixed. He deserved a personal day, damn it.

"Look, just let the boss know." He was nearly whispering now as Hope was behind him now, but she was soon distracted with her own phone call.

"Yeah okay, whatever." Ben grumbled, though whether he was irked that Jess wasn't coming in or that Jess was clearly with a girl was not clear, and frankly he didn't care.

"Right. Okay. Thanks, have a good one." He feigned a good natured goodbye and hung up the phone just as Hope slipped her hands into his. He smiled and gave her smaller, softer hands a light squeeze and brought them forward to wrap her arms around his middle.

"I guess you're in luck..." Jess began with a sly smile as he turned, strong arms curling around Hope in a firm hold. He lifted her off her feet with ease and sat her down on the desk, smirking. "I actually don't have to head into work today." One hand eased up along her thigh.

"What were you saying about..your house and Marilyn impersonations?" Grinning crookedly he leaned up, cutting off any answer she may have had with a kiss.

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) Abbey Lincoln - Up Jumped Spring
( NOTES ) yay i posted
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

Clicking off the phone with her grandmother Hope took Jess’ hand as he finished up his conversation. His goodbye seemed like the conversation went well but Hope was learning quickly that Jess was full of surprises. But she didn’t want to question it as he wrapped her arms around his middle. Her body molded into his without hesitation; something she was becoming addicted to. Her eyes perked up to look into Jess’ as he told her she was in luck. She was about to ask why as he lifted her off her feet onto the desk. Hope laughed as she adjusted herself and placed her hands on his strong shoulders.

Part of her had always envisioned a moment like this. It was like a classic story of a girl who works at a bookstore and is normally always consumed in what she’s reading until he walked in. And when the two finally got past the fleeting glances he would lift her up onto the front desk and kiss her senseless. It was completely cliché but every girl had a certain day dream that was too girly for words.

She smiled at him as he told her he didn’t have to go to work and his hand moved up her thigh. Hope took in his striking features as he looked up at her ever so slightly. His eyes spoke more than the words he was saying as he stared into her blue-green orbs. She was prepared to answer him but he instead pressed his lips against her own. She leaned her head down into the kiss as her hands cupped the side of his neck.

Hope leaned back slowly before she could take off his shirt right then and there. Kissing him was like drinking that perfect cup of hot cocoa that it reaches down to the very pit of your stomach and wills you to drink more and more. She wanted more of him each time she looked at him but restraint was needed. The blinds of the shop were down so the people walking past them couldn’t see them so she wasn’t worried about the gossip. Honestly, she wouldn’t be worried if the blinds were up either. She just didn’t want anyone to see Jess shirtless kissing her, that’s when people would start to get really crazy.

Hope let out a content sigh as she used her fingers to push back hair that had fallen in Jess’ face. With a grin she laid her hands on his shoulders and rubbed them gently. ”I feel like you’re the type of person that never takes days off,” she told him as she used her nails to gently scratch his shoulder blades, a mindless action as she was more focused on his eyes on her.
She wondered what kind of thing was going on between them but she genuinely liked him. She could see them taking this into something more but it needed to be two sided. And she couldn’t read minds. Hope wasn’t one to propose dates until she was absolutely certain that the other person was up for that. She had just slept with Jess; yes, but it was a crime of pure passion. They had both wanted I it but what else did he want?

”Are you sure you’re alright spending your personal day on boring, bookstore owner, Hope Summers?” she asked him as she leaned down and put her lips daringly close to his. ”You don’t have any more important obligations to…take care off?” she asked him and wrapped her legs around his middle and pulled him in to her.

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words; 602muse; (: (: (: outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

As their lips parted, Jess was acutely aware of how out in the open they were. No, they weren’t going at it in the town square or anything, but he felt as if some nosey townsperson could burst into the shop at any moment. These thoughts were scarcely forgotten as Jess’ jacket suddenly landed in a heap on the ground and his tank top left him bare chested. A chill crawled up the length of his spine as goose bumps began to raise the hairs on his arms. The remnants of winter still permeated the building.

However the slight shiver that shook him and forced him to briefly close his eyes had nothing to do with the temperature. How long had it been since Jess stepped into this store, as he did almost weekly, to first see Hope behind the very counter he had her perched on? Certainly it had been some time ago, though Jess could not pinpoint the exact day and time. He could, however, remember hovering and skulking about the different shelves and paying little mind to the books he chose at random to flip through as he watched this girl smile and help other customers.

He also recalled her speaking a few simple words to him, something like ‘Can I help you with anything?’ As innocent as he was of any wrong doing, Jess nearly dropped the book he was holding, curtly told her ‘Nope’, and promptly fled the store. He came back, however. Week after week he returned to weave through the shelves, peruse the various books, and watch this woman who was far too gorgeous to be working in a bookstore from afar. Or as far as Hope allowed him, as over time she slowly coaxed a little more out of him besides the ‘Nope’ he had first curtly given her. He allowed her to recommend things, and on occasion held small conversations as he checked out.

And now this. It was difficult to believe that just a few weeks ago, he and Hope seldom exchanged more than a few pleasantries, and suddenly they had progressed to exchanging much more than that. Not to mention the very event that had set the ball rolling was Jess’ attempted break in. If things had progressed normally, he would be asleep on a bench in a jail cell right now, rather than kissing Hope Summers in the early hours of the morning.

Though as he thought about it, Jess supposed he had never assumed Hope Summers to be normal. Hence the draw he had to her.

As Jess considered these things, his thoughtful, hazel eyes remained trained on the smiling girl in front of him. He could tell a few things were running through her mind, besides the fact that she currently had the local “bad boy”, as he was referred to, shirtless in her store. Just as he began wondering what things bounced around in that mind of hers, Hope spoke up as her hands found his shoulders again. “I don’t.” He confirmed with a slight nod. “I take every hour of work I can, usually. But everyone needs a day off every once in a while, right?”

Her remark elicited a chuckle from him and he shook his head just slightly, drawing her teasing lips into a brief kiss. “I do not think bookstore owners are very boring…” Jess smiled crookedly, his hand drifting up along her thigh again. “Now if you were a librarian that’d be a different story.” As he was tugged close against her, he chuckled again and dipped his head to kiss the spot just beneath her ear. “Actually…I don’t think I could imagine any better way to spend my day off.” Jess confessed with a sheepish smile, unused to such honest vulnerability. But it came almost disconcertingly naturally in this woman’s presence.

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) nada
( NOTES ) morning after rp can be as fun, if not more so, than the sexytimes
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.

[HOPE A. SUMMERS]

Hope again loved the feeling of Jess’ eyes on her as they scanned her face for the hundredth time that month. They were two people who had watched each other for a while and finally this happening was unreal. Hope remembered so many moments of him cautiously walking in and she debated each time whether to say something to him. She was the type of person to always reach out to others instead of them seeking her out. Jess just looked interesting and she had heard stories about him around town that he was the one to look out for. It was like he always had some trouble to cause but in actuality Jess was calm. He made her feel like he was the arms to be in…why be with anyone else in that moment? A guy who could make a girl feel like he was the only viable option in a town, city, or the world was someone worth keeping around.

”You work hard,” she told him and thumbs ran circles on his skin. In the midst of their kiss she somehow managed to take off his shirt and jacket. It was something he did to her that simply wanted their skin to touch. As she leaned her lips in front of his he took the bait and kissed her for a moment. Hope let him kiss the top of her neck as she let out a deep breath. Jess must have had experience with women because he knew exactly what drove her crazy.

She watched him smile at her as he said something she had maybe been told just once before in her life. Hope got compliments, lovey dovey comments, and all that but someone genuinely saying that they wanted to spend time with her was the best sounding things to her ears. It was the little things that made her feel so much more invested in wanting to keep Jess around.

She slid down the desk, her body pressing against her own as she kept her arms circled around his shoulders and neck. Hope kissed him softly, leaning every so slighty into the desk behind her as their bodies pressed together. Before someone could barge into the store Hope realized that they should probably get going before things got out of hand. She let go of him and leaned down to pick up his shirt and jacket.

Handing him his shirt she smiled, ”Sorry…you kind of make me lose control,” she grinned and leaned up to kiss the side of his mouth gently as she turned away to get her bag from behind the desk. Taking out her keys she turned back to Jess. Hooking her bag across her body she held her jacket close to her as Jess fiddled with his shirt. ”Do you want to eat out or go to my place? I’m not sure if you’re ready to be seen in public with me,” she grinned and placed his jacket next to her on the desk for him to take.

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words; 602muse; (: (: (: outfit; click
credits; zie @ CAUTION!
lyrics by fun.!

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[JESS MORETTI]

With Hope pressed up so close against him, and his chest bared and his heart racing, Jess wondered if they were ever going to manage to leave the bookstore. Though, he really couldn't complain. An image formed in his head of the pair of them stumbling through the shop, in the throws of passion. Jess would press her up against the Science Fiction section, and later she would shove him back into the Young Adult novels, knocking several vampire stories to the ground. Later, they would be on the ground, surrounded by shelves of classic literature...

God, what was so sexy about kissing this woman in a bookstore?

In fact, what as it about Hope that affected Jess in such a way that his brain just ceased to function, and all his concerns merely melted away. With her body melded perfectly against his, and her breath tickling his skin, Jess felt several pounds lighter. Never had he really just spent the day with a girl--not counting his little sister--just for the hell of it. He certainly had never shirked his responsibilities at work for a girl before.

The fumes must have been going to his head. He was thinking unreasonably, and that's why he stood there with Hope pressed back against her desk and allowed her to kiss him once again. Reason did not even have a chance to claw its way back into control. As much as Jess would deny it, Hope had somehow found herself in control.

One night of--admittedly amazing--sex, and she had him wrapped around that pretty finger of hers. Perhaps he was just a sucker for Marilyn Monroe impersonations. ...Or perhaps for once Jess was realizing that he could let go for a bit, and allow someone else to take the reigns for a while. And he could sit back and enjoy himself.

A soft chuckle escaped him as Hope picked his jacket and shirt up off the ground. She would say that just as he finished deciding he'd let her be in control for now. Perhaps they both did that to each other. Two people, wildly out of control due to this suddenly sparked passion. Jess could not quite figure out right now if this was to be considered a good thing, or a bad thing.

And really, he thought vaguely as she kissed him once more, he had no desire to figure that out.

Jess tugged his shirt back over his head as Hope retrieved her things. As she bent over at the waist he took a moment to simply appreciate the view, and the knowledge that her undergarments remained in his back pocket. Grinning devilishly as she turned back to him, Jess shrugged his jacket on and zipped it up part of the way.

Her question caught him off guard. Not ready to be seen with her? He shook his head slightly, smiling. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit, babe." It should have been Hope worrying about being spotted eating breakfast with him. As far as he knew, Hope had a fairly good reputation about town. As for Jess, his was far below good. He worried, briefly, that perhaps people would disparage poor Hope for being out and about with him.

Was that what she was actually thinking, too?

"Well...you've made your place sound so tempting, I'll have to say we should head there. Jess straightened his shoulders and sauntered over to the door, pushing it open to allow Hope out before him. "I make some really excellent toast." He teased with a lopsided smile.

( TAG ) Hope!
( WORDS ) i cant count.
( OUTFIT ) click!
( MUSIC ) nada
( NOTES ) too adorable
( CREDIT ) by SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE. at caution. banner to uhhh me.