My own way to call you

Notes:

Thanks for reading, but.. are you humans? Are you bots? I'll never know

WARNING: NSFW, smut, bondage, spanking and whipping

Written for the ‘Hey, sweetheart’ 2026 challenge, with the bonus prompt:
‘a note hidden in a coat pocket ’

IMPORTANT: on ao3 deleted the previous chapter and replaced it with this one which is longer, richer and, of course, a lot smuttier ;P

III: Beloved

Joe’s POV

Tonight I’ve dreamed of you, you know?
Nothing of this had happened.
We were together, carefree, happy, as the characters on our pages.
I can’t help wondering why they can get a happy ending, but we can’t.
We never will.

It's time to use double standards.

I reach my trusted Corona, sit down and start typing.

Ezra, my dear fellow. Until yesterday Ella was with you, slept with you, watched you hunting and she trusted you so much that she allowed you to bite her, without consequences.
Un-life couldn’t be sweeter than this, right?

Instead, guess what? Once you wake up, Ezra, Ella will be gone, without a note, an explanation.
And you’ll look for her, uselessly, and will cry tears of blood, wondering why this happened to you.
At least you have a dead heart, mine is alive and suffers twice as yours.

I keep typing until I leave Ezra alone in his misery, wondering if it's time for him to get up at sunrise and see the sun, after centuries, for one, glorious, last, lethal time.

And I get up, as well, but only to take a walk outside.

I’d like to set fire to every newsstand my eyes meet, because they’re only selling lies.


I thought you understood me, Bronte.
If this has happened, it’s all your fault.

If I’m not free anymore to wander around without some dumbass trying to frame me in a picture, it’s all your fault.

But mostly, if I lose my son, it’s all your fault and I don’t think I'll be willing to forgive you.

****************** (In the meantime)

Bronte’s POV

You know what, Joe? Tonight I’ve dreamed of you, of us.
But this time I grabbed my courage by the hands and told you the whole truth, before the trap could start.
I dreaded your reaction of course, but after a slight anger and dismay, not only did you forgive me, but you thanked me for having warned you in time.

And then we left together, taking your son with us.
Just like a happy family.
If only things could have gone differently…

I would like to tell you about my dream, Joe, if only I found a decent way to start our chat.

And then my friends call me in the dining room.

“I know you’re grieving.”

Yes, Dom, hell yeah I am, but not for whom you think.

But then I found out what they’re up to.
And they want me to help them.

Fuck, no, not this time.
I’ve already made this mistake once.

I refuse, even if this means to have a very violent confrontation with Dom.

I can clearly see the letdown in her eyes.

But I don’t care.

There’s a huge plot twist in my dark romance.

The Huntress chose to leave her people who tried to poison her against the Magician for years, with their lies, making her mind foggy.
She doesn’t know what’s right and what’s wrong anymore.

She just needs to find the Magician, telling him how sorry she is.
Maybe he will never forgive and ask her to leave him alone forever.
Maybe he will hurt her, with something even more powerful than his dark magic: his words.
Maybe he can find the proper spell to heal her.

Maybe together they will start a new kingdom.

--------------------------------------- 

Joe’s POV

Thanks to the lovely trick your Scooby Gang played on me now I’m trending for the worst possible reasons, just now that my lawyer advised me to keep a low profile if I want to get my soon back.

And to get out of this nightmare I have to stomp on my dignity, doing something I’ve never dreamed I would.

An Instagram direct.
Facing all questions about my private life.

Exposing myself at the utmost.

And where are you in all of this, Bronte?

Of course, I'm still mad at you.

The interviews starts pretty well.
I manage to answer all of her questions correctly, even Maddie is giving me some approval signs.

Then the issue moves to you and when the so-called journalist asks me about my feelings about you, I have to be really harsh.

But it’s not enough.

They insist that I show them the cage.
Then I have to talk briefly about my past and… something goes horribly wrong and I have the worst breakdown of my whole life.
There’s only a not irrelevant detail: every fucking one of this million people tuned here watched that.

Unlikable. Unlovable. Fucking damaged. Fucking ruined.

Maddie helps me get my shit together and just when i thought nothing can save me from this fucking situation, I see your text message.

You told the police I was protecting you.
You didn’t betray me.

You saved me.

I can feel the ice layer that has been covering my heart for days melt down.
Such a warmth.
To know there’s a slight chance that it wasn’t all a lie.
That you fell for me for real.
The way I fell for you.

Oh wait, I have to get out of this cage, I have to fix things.

It feels so good to feel loved by you again, sweetheart.

******************** (In the meantime)

Bronte’s POV

“Louise Flannery is the biggest regret of my entire life.”

It’s a miracle if I don’t drop the phone on the ground.

It hurts Joe, it hurts in a way you cannot begin to imagine.

There’s no more room for me here.

That’s why I bought a fucking flight back to Ohio, but not before letting you know the truth.

When I’m on my way to reach the airport, I met this weird guy and just when I figure out how ill his intentions are, everything goes black.

And when I open my eyes I’m not on the street anymore, I’m back to your apartment, with you.

If the price to have all of this is just a swollen ankle that’s been bothering the hell out of me, I’m fucking in.

I’m so happy I get the chance to explain to you how things went, but also to tell you that what happened between us… the biggest part of it was real.
We still can be what we used to be.

That’s why I’m beyond happy when, after all those draining and angsty confessions; you rush to me, giving me a kiss I missed for so long.
But this one tastes even better, because there’s not even the shadow of a lie.
No more acting.
No charade.
Just me and you, finding each other again.
To make it last this time.

“Tell me, Joe, tell me that word I miss for so long.”

“Welcome back, sweetheart.” You whisper, kissing me deeper.

However, it seems there are some obstacles before we can finally be together.

An obstacle in the shape of my aggressor who now lies down in the cage, thanks to you.

You, leaving me with him, while a camera observes every of my moves.

Easy peasy. No fucking pressure at all.

--------------------------------- 

Joe’s POV

I couldn’t be prouder of you, Bronte.

You’ve brilliantly passed the test.

The way you read inside my soul.

I’m still shivering, recalling those moments, when you assured me you are here with me to stay and we made love in the cage, in the deepest, most incredible way.

Sure, I would have preferred you to allow me to kill whoever hurts you; but looks like I got what I wanted anyway.

All I have to do is never let you know.

It’s just a white lie that can keep us forever.
More like red lies, for all the blood it’s soaked with.

Maybe one day, when I’m sure I can fully trust you about everything, I’ll let you know.
I’ll display the darkest side of me you're not still fully aware about.

Maybe one day I’ll let you know that it wasn’t that Dane guy who twisted your ankle.
It was me.

Just consider it a tiny mark, just like the tiny bites Ezra leaves on Ella’s neck to let the whole world know she belongs to him.

It’s just a little drastic measure I had to take to keep you closer.
By the way, also Ezra found his Ella again, they made up, even more in love than before and now they just need an epic final.

And as I’m watching you sleeping beside me, I’m searching for the right extract to read to you from this book, then sending my ‘good morning sweetheart’ vocal message. 

Life looks so good for us.

------------------------------------------------------------- 

Bronte’s POV

It’s been days, more than a week, since we have made love in the cage.

And from that night on everything is going on awesomely.

Our life together is better than a movie.
We make love every day, in every corner of the house.

We read, we write, we watch movies.
We listen to music.
We cook.
Okay.
You cook.
I mainly do menial jobs, such as peeling and cutting the vegetables or washing the dishes.
I also do some chores.

Some days I wake up with one of your super romantic vocal messages.
Some other days it’s a beautiful text message.
Some other days you place on the table a heart shaped box, chocolate filled.

Well, this morning it seems you have nothing for me.
Just today when I’m resuming my job.

My ankle starts collaborating a little more, so it’s time to test how well it can work.

I’ve missed this job so much.

You’re away because you have to meet your lawyer again - I really hope you’ll come back home with good news -.
This place looks pretty crowded, I’ll have plenty of work all morning long.

I’m dusting a shelf and it makes me sneeze.

I put a hand inside the pocket of my coat to take a tissue … and there’s where I find it.

A folded note, but not typed, written with your beautiful handwriting.

A new way to treasure that petname I’m so fond of, along with the typed pages where Ezra calls Ella that same way; with the text messages and the vocal ones.
I guess I’ll never grow sick of hearing or seeing that.

Now I just have to read your note.

‘Good morning sweetheart,
Thank you for sneaking into my bookstore, that night of some months ago.
Thank you for sneaking into my life, first, then into my heart.
To stay.
Thank you for all the troubles you created, but fixed as well.
Thank you for having challenged, seen and accepted the real me.
Thank you for making me feel truly beloved.
Thank you for letting me love you the way you deserve.
You’re really my sweetheart to all intents and purposes.
With endless and never ending love.
Forever yours.
 

Joe’

I immediately take my phone and dial my favourite number.
I don’t give you not even the time to utter a word, once you pick up the call.

“Joooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” I squeak.

You chuckle from the other side.

“I guess you’ve found the note.”

“I love it!”

“I hoped so, sweetheart.”

And yet I can hear a slight low inflection in your voice.

“What’s wrong, honey? The meeting with your lawyer didn’t go well, did it?”

“Follow-up question?” Is your more than explicit answer.

“Oh, Joe, I’m so sorry!” I sigh.

“Me too, sweetheart, but you know me, I never easily surrender.”

“It’s one of the things I love the most about you, Joe.”

“Ohh. Thank you. Would you mind going on with the list? With both of us naked, eventually…”

Not only did you tear a smile from me, you also filled my mind with wild, hot scenarios.

“Sounds like a plan. And I have every intention of cheering you up. Still two long hours to go and then you’ll be my top priority.”

You chuckle.

“Ohhh, I like that. and especially the top part…”

And that’s it, my legs feel like jelly after that sexy innuendo and the lower, sexier tone of your voice.

“I’ll tell you what, Bronte. Why don’t we make it earlier than two hours? I’m on my way home and… I’m sure you can already close the bookstore. I’ll have a chat with your Boss.”

I giggle.

“Got it. I’m gonna chase away the customers from Mooney’s, even resort to violence, if necessary! See ya soon, honey!”

---------------------------------

Joe’s POV

And you did keep your word, Bronte.
Not only about getting home earlier, but about wanting to cheer me up.

You welcome me with a breathtaking kiss, but that’s not enough.

Without even speaking, you begin to unbutton my shirt, as you do the same with your pink and black dress.
You go on until we wear only our underwear and you lead me to the bathroom, inside the shower, when it’s time for us to get utterly naked.

But things don’t go as I expect.

Just when I’m about to kiss you again, you pull away and kneel in front of me, proving you are planning something different.
Something I’m definitely gonna like.

Your hands start caressing my groin and my still too soft cock slightly twitches.

Even more when you grab it and your mouth places wet kisses on his tip.

“Oh yes, sweetheart; please, don’t stop.”

“I won’t. This time let’s focus only on your pleasure. Forget about me. Just let me take care of you, I wanna make you feel so good.” You explain, as your hands keep their job.

Your fingers, your palm, your lips, your tongue, even your teeth, with the proper intensity.
Every one of these things makes me feel so good, until I can’t hold a second more and explode, like a bottle of warm champagne.
Champagne that you enjoy till the last drop.

I let the pleasant water fall over us, as you get up, cling to me and kiss me.

You take the sponge, smear the showergel over it and… ooooh, the way you wash me with that is just another kind of worshipping.

I would like to do the same with you, but you shake your head.

“Ah-ah, Joe. I said it’s only about your pleasure.” You wink at me, as you proceed to wash yourself on your own.

Well, it’s a pleasure even just to look at you.

Once we’re both done, clean and dry, still naked, you take me by the hand, towards our bed.
 

You lay down and roll towards your side, where you take from your drawer something new: a pair of pink, plush handcuffs.

Definitely,a purchase that I approve.

“Bronte, what…”

“Our first time doing that was a disaster.” You start to explain. “Our second time, at the Sandbox, was a lot better, but was still imperfect, behind all those lies, the charade. I want something more genuine this time, one hundred percent authentic.”

Oh, sweetheart. For this to be one hundred percent authentic between us, I should share so many dark truths with you. About your still aching ankle, about that Dane guy, and even before that about Beck, London, all my other killings you still ignore.

But it’s still too soon, my love. The darkness you’re willing to accept from me must be gradual, like the way Ezra bites Ella.

I accept the handcuffs from you, because this is a good step to take.
Just like the blindfold you hand to me, silently asking me to cover your eyes with.
I do it, and I close the fluffy handcuffs to your wrists and to the bedrail.
You smile, waiting for my next move.
 

As I kiss your neck, leaving many hickeys, there’s no sign of jitter from you.
Not even when my teeth and thumb gently toy with your nipples.
You’re enjoying whatever I’m doing to you, you’re at my complete mercy and this is so exciting I don’t need any kind of preparation to become hard enough for you.
I always am.

You shiver, the good kind of shiver, as I slowly enter inside you.
You deliciously move your hips, adjusting to my increasing pace.

“Jooooe, I want you to have more control over me.” You moan.

“More than this?” I chuckle, as I part your thighs and increase the intensity.

“Aahh.. yesss. I want you to be in control of… the pain you can inflict to me.”
 

“What?” I startle and this gives you a new kind of vibration.

“You heard me. After all I did to you, I think I deserve it. So c’mon, Joe, hurt me a little bit, I might even like it.”

Oh, Bronte Louise, you have no idea what you’re doing to me.
I’ve never felt so beloved, so trusted, in my whole life

I begin to spank your buttocks, lightly at first, but you ask me to do it harder and harder.
You even want to try with my belt and I do it, but I take off your blindfold to make you see the reddish mark around your left hip.
 

You stare at it first, then at me, right before jumping on me and kissing me hard, giving yourself to me, so wholeheartedly.

This is a side of you I still ignored, Bronte.

I’m even more in love with you, now, if possible.

If you wanted to make me forget about all the troubles of my life, about my son being in another continent, about all Kate’s potential schemes… Congrats, sweetheart, mission accomplished.

----------------------------------------

Days go by, days I’m grateful for because I have the luck to spend them with you.
And as Iìm taking a walk outside and planning my next moves in the war against the fucking Lockwoods, I also decide that I want to do something nice for you.

Just like the most prestigious Publisher contacts I have in my phone book.
I mean, why shouldn’t such a talented writer as you deserve a little push?

Then my eyes land on the jewelry store at the other side of the street and I decide I could do something even nicer.
And a bit reckless, maybe.

But when you know, you know.

-------------------------------------------

Bronte’s POV

I know it was just ‘pour parler’, a cute innocent game between us; but since I talked with you about the mossy castel in Ireland, I can’t get that picture out of my mind.
Not the castle itself; of fucking course I don’t want you to buy me a castle.
And it’s not even about Ireland.
It’s about getting away with you.
And your son, once you manage to get him back.
To start from scratch.
Far away from everything and everyone.
All the three of us. Like a family.

Am I really ready for such a thing?
Fuck yeah, i am.

I’m a little afraid of how far I’m willing to go for you, Joe.
And I don’t mean only the miles your car would travel.
 

I mean it physically; the way I let myself go with you, in bed, our kinky and amazing games… I never reached such a level of trust with anyone else.

And I mean it morally, too.
Just this morning, as we were walking through the park, you talked to me about the umpteenth kill you had to perform under the pressure of someone who just pretended to love you, but only wanted to use you.

Well, this is not people’s average daily routine.
A life with you can be anything but average.
But the good things overcome the bad ones.
I guess that’s what makes me stay.

It’s almost as if you were blinding me so much with your oh so kind, mesmerizing, overwhelming love that I can’t see anything else.
You’re for real a Magician casting his spell.
And I’m the Huntress who doesn’t want it to be broken.

How could I, after the umpteenth beautiful thing you did for me?
The manager of one of the most important Publishing Houses who wants to meet me, thanks to you.
The meeting that went so fucking well, thanks to me.

Nope, okay, thanks to us.
And I guess that that interview live on instagram played a big role in making us so interesting.

That, and all we’ve been through since I’ve sneaked into your bookstore that night, many months ago.
Such a valuable resource to dip into to draw inspiration for our story.
It looks like I’m going to temporarily put aside my dark romance to focus on this brand new project.
And I can’t wait to start.

I mean, you said it yourself, now that I’ve just given the news by the phone: who wouldn't want to live vicariously through us?

And as I’m already plotting all the chapters in my head, I can be utterly sure about one thing only: this story is going to have the best possible fairytale happy ending.

--

THE END