LETS PLAY THE “TYPE THESE WORDS IN YOUR TAG BOX AND POST THE FIRST AUTOMATIC TAG THAT COMES UP” GAME:  

"Did you have a nice nap?" Beth asked, moving her head and kissing his lips, getting out of the car and pulling him with her, "I think I’m going to take a shower before I go to bed. I’d ask you to join me, but I think you’re a bit too tired to stand." 

Jason could only nod as she pulled him from the limo.  “Yeah, I’ll just head into bed if that’s alright.”  He yawned again, feeling drained.

"No, that's not alright. You're so lazy." Beth joked, nudging him and walking inside. When she entered the penthouse, she pulled off her blazer and began to unbotton her blouse.

Beth chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder, relaxing until they arrived back at the penthouse. When they drove up, Beth pressed soft kisses to Jason’s head, whispering soft words into his ear.

"Jason.. we’re home.." She informed him. 

Jason hadn’t even realized he had fallen asleep until he heard Beth’s voice breaking through his dreams and into his waking mind.  He yawned and blinked his eyes twice before looking over to Beth.  “Hey, baby..”  He kissed her cheek.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Beth asked, moving her head and kissing his lips, getting out of the car and pulling him with her, "I think I'm going to take a shower before I go to bed. I'd ask you to join me, but I think you're a bit too tired to stand." 

Countdown to Eternity ||

He could hear the broken fragments to her voice. He could pick up on the sadness which enveloped each syllable that she spoke. It was his fault. He knew that he was to blame for the muffled sobs earlier and for the injury that he could sense from her delicate touch. He should’ve apolgoised. He should’ve comforted her. But he doesn’t feel remorse anymore. He lost all ability of kindness the second that his wife left him. His wife. The one person that he trusted with each and every fibre of his being. She was the singular person that he told everything. The one individual that he could be his true self around. Right from the beginning he had warned her that he wasn’t a decent person and that was when she promised that she wouldn’t run no matter what happened between them. And now look what she did. Look what everyone did! They all fled at the sight of him. And even if they did stick around it would only be long enough for him to bring them to an orgasm; that’s all he’s really good at these days.

The miniature part of him that wishes to silence her worries is drowned in his bitterness. He wants her to hurt. Just like he hurt each and every day of his dull fucking life. Why should she be happy of all people in the world? It’s in her blood to detest him. Eventually she’d come to her senses and leave him just like Lavinia did. He’s refusing to allow himself to become attached because he’s aware that it will happen and he physically couldn’t survive against another battle of the depressive state that shadowed all concepts of love. Never again. He swore to himself that he wouldn’t get caught in this bullshit for as long as he walked the Earth. It didn’t matter that his soulmate was the one and only Elizabeth Townsend. He didn’t care that she was beautiful and strong and the most intelligent person that he’s ever met. None of it mattered anymore. What mattered was him being him and if he was destined for a life of booze, cheap sex and destruction then so be it.

“Stop saying that damned fucking word.” He wants to make a joke out of it. He wants to imitate her voice and tease her dreadfully so that they could laugh about their situation end forget all of the shit for one blissful night. But he couldn’t. Christian Edwards would never allow himself to have fun. He wouldn’t even allow himself to smile. “If you really want to help me out Elizabeth, then just go grab me some more medicine. And some water. Please?” The last word is scarcely more than a whisper, but he’s aware that she’d catch it. And maybe he wanted her to. Maybe he wanted to be the nice guy for once. The man who had manners and was charming and led a happy, fulfilled life. Maybe — oh just maybe — there was an actual beating heart inside of him that pounded rapidly when she was beside him. He’s really screwed things up now, hadn’t he?

Reaching behind him, he pushes her hands away with his arm and somehow manages to slowly shift himself inch by inch so that he could lie on his back. He’s blaming the sharp pains for his sudden need of contact and warmth. He’s pretending like this won’t last. He’s acting as if holding her hand was his choice and not something that he needed more than anything in this moment in time. God, couldn’t she see how terrified he was of this? Of falling for her? It was such a dangerous and unstable plan and he wants nothing to do with it. But he couldn’t help his feelings and that’s what’s irritating him the most. A deep sigh left his pursed lips and he momentarily opened his eyes to watch her in his drowsy state. He could blame this on the alcohol and then it would all he fine. Christian could only hope that she didn’t notice his slight wince at the bandage on her hand that his fingers traced delicately over.

“Eliz— Beth. I don’t want you to be Lavinia. I don’t want you to be anything like her. I want you to be you. I want the great legendary Elizabeth Townsend staying in my apartment and I want her to be happy with the fact that she’s with a miserable old dickhead and that he may or may not change in the foreseeable future. I know that she isn’t a coward because if she were, she’d have left this room the second that she was invited in two days ago. I also know that she’s beating herself up because her father was a prat, her exes have always been dreadful and that her dream of a family is in shatters when all of those things aren’t her fault in the slightest. But you know what? I’m pretty sure that she can realise how ridiculous she’s being and see that she’s done nothing wrong besides trusting a man that is likely to destroy her if she doesn’t go and stop him from being in complete agony in the next few minutes.”

"I know what you're trying to do all the time. Make me hate you, prevent yourself from liking me, but despite your efforts, you can't and I can't. And this is why.." Beth whispered, tapping a finger to his arm where the timer was, frozen at 00:00:00. Now, it was nothing but a tattoo, a reminder that Beth was here, waiting for him to realize that he couldn't fight destiny. 

"Lavinia is the only girl who seems to have decent attention from you. You love her, and that's great. She seems nice from the things you say, but she found her destiny. And she had the same problem you and I have. She couldn't fight it. In some places, it's even illegal for you to turn down your mate or be with someone else's. Drover got turned down by his and I'm not exactly being turned down by mine, but we're not making brownie points. I try to be the girl you seem to like. Fiery. Sexy. Sweet. But.. when you treat me like that all the time, all I want to act like around you is a bitch. I'm your mate because I'm the one girl in the world who won't take being degraded. I'm your life's curve ball. I want to get you back on your feet. If I work on enough paintings and sell enough and just work my ass of, I can. And you are a smart man. There's just a world of opportunities that you're throwing away because you don't want to be happy. I'm only here because you exist. I just wish you could say the same for me sometimes." Beth said, standing and walking into the bathroom to grab some pain medicine for him and a glass of water. She returned and didn't move back to her position on his lap, but sat on the bed beside him. 

"And I don't know if you've noticed, but on your good days, I have been happy being with a miserable old dickhead who may or may not change in the foreseeable future. Your son is my best friend and you are very romantic when you're not drunk or cranky." Beth's hand rested on his cheek and she leaned forward to softly kiss his forehead. 

"You can try to think of a billion reasons as to why loving me is a bad idea.. but I want you to try and find one reason to why it would be good." The girl whispered to him, resting her forehead on his before curling up under the sheets beside him.