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As Jordan and I's hands desperately run over each others bodies as we kiss like we're both starved and have only craved each other... they mumble into my lips.

"You're a fucking liar."

I chuckle, using this as an opportunity to catch a breath as I slide my hands underneath their shirt, laying my palms flat against their abs. "Mmm, but you keep coming back."

Jordan digs their hands into my ass, squeezing harder. "I can't seem to get enough."

I shudder as their lips run down my neck. God, I know there's still so much left to say... but this is all I want right now... and it's consumed me long enough.

Before I singe Jordan's shirt of their body, we both take a moment to breathe, only able to taste each other as our noses rest against each other's faces.

"Feel better now?" The words quietly leave my lips and Jordan snorts, they laugh fanning my face and my eyes flutter shut. My body's buzzing, like I had the night of my life snorting all the drugs I could possible get my hands on and I'm not floating out of my body, drowning in the drunk start of liquor. I can't control anything when I'm around them. My body, my mouth... anything.

"I think if we don't stop now, I'm going to take your right here against the wall and not care who watches." They speak lowly, their fingers looping through the belt buckles of my jeans, tugging me closer if that was possible. "And then I'll hate myself for it even more later."

"Mmm." I hum, nodding slowly as words can't seem to form for a moment. I swear to God, Iliana, you have BEEN touched before. "Then let go of me." I challenge, their touch searing itself into my skin, and permanently into my mind.

A small smirk graces their lips. "Yeah, I do." Well, I believe both of us came out here with a much different purpose, but here we are... "What are you going to do about Cate?" They unfortunately move to, rubbing the pad of their thumbs against my hip bones.

I relax into their touch, the only thing keeping me tame at the question. "Shouldn't we focus on one problem at a time?" I look down at the nonexistence space between us and Jordan knows exactly what I mean.

They tilt their head towards me, and I know that we're not going to be able to until this whole entire fucking monster of a mess Cate made is solved.

I huff, grinding my teeth together. "Well." I start bitterly. "Can't do fucking anything with her yet, can I? We need her to destroy Shetty." As much as if fucking pains me to admit. So, for now, I can't crush her windpipe with my hand like I wanted to earlier, or melt her ass into ashes in the ground until she is no longer of use to us. And right now she's the only use we've got.

Look at her making herself fucking useful for once!

"Do we?" Jordan looks at me and I squint my eyes curiously. "If we get proof ourselves, we wouldn't."

Jordan Li I could fucking blow you right now.

"And how would we do that?" I lean into them.

"Shetty's in the city all day, right?" They start. I nod and they slip one hand down my hip before swiftly holding up a card between their fingers. "I got the key to her office. I'm her T.A."

"Don't we all know it." I sigh and their look becomes pointed. "Sorry." I mutter. Not the time... bite your tongue.

"If we find proof about The Woods or what they've done to Sam and those other kids down there." They shake their head. "It doesn't matter what Cate does." They tug my jeans once again with their one hand. "It doesn't matter what you do to her."

I know Cate's betrayal didn't only effect me. I'm not selfish enough to know Jordan suffered from her as well. Jordan, Andre, Marie... And Jordan didn't even hesitate to cut her off and defend me, even after everything we have been through...

But Cate was also Jordan's friend... And I'd be naive, and incredibly selfish, to not see the hurt in Jordan's eyes, or that took over their face when Cate revealed it was her. Behind everything.

"And then what?" I ask, breaking my own thoughts for once, tired of hearing them. "They will cut me off at the mic or social media live before I even get the chance to utter a word about any of that."

I can't even begin to imagine the amount of calls, text, emails, and dm's I have waiting for me on my phone, simply from Ashley alone about how much in deep fucking water I'm in right now...

And I couldn't give two fucks less. But, if they won't allow their puppet off the strings to play... then she will just have to go behind the scenes.

I click my tongue. "Actually." I grab the card from Jordan's grasp. "Leave that to me." I smirk. "Let's go."

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Tehe... hey guys!! Welcome backkk!!

First of all I just wanna say thank you to those who voted for Golden Facade for the fanfic award that it was nominated for!! Y'all are the best & I seriously cannot say enough how much I appreciate y'all!!

Okay second lol, sorry for no update on Sundayyy!! I worked on my own fanfic awards book the whole day & published that & this chapter was nottt ready to publish lmao, but here we are todayyy!! Honestly this was shorter compared to other chaps & I def could've kept going, but I'm ngl I'm ready for bed & got to a good stopping point hahaha (we listen & we don't judge!)

ANYWAYSSS... CAN WE TALK ABOUT ILORDAN IN THIS CHAP?! Cause omfg I had myself screaming & kicking my feet the WHOLE chapterrr over them & the tension, the yearning, the underlying anger towards each other, mmmm!!! And yes... I wanted to make sure y'all know I am not sweeping their anger, words, & everything under the rug, okayyy!! We have made progress!! But like Iliana said there is still so much to be said & discussed still, I'm not just gonna sweep all that angst under the ruggg!! They're justtt horny & in love but won't admit itttt, okayyyy... bahaha.

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter & screamed at all the Ilordan tension as I did!! Can't wait to hear y'all's thoughts & reactions for this chapter, so don't forget & don't be afraid to comment ;) (also can we commend Iliana for her growth for a minute acknowledging Jordan's hurt over Cate & not just focusing on her ownnn?!?! I also feel like Jordan's hurt over Cate in the show was VERY underrateddd!!)

Wellll... until next time where we'll pick back up on Ilordan's little field trip adventure ;)

And if you're interested in celebrating fanfiction as a fellow writer or lovely reader... my fanfic book is called Bejeweled Aesthete-2024 Fanfic Awards & it's OUT NOWWW!! Run to nominate your favs if you're looking for a little end of the year fun!! <333 (and yes you can TOTALLYYY nominate me... if you want... no shameless self promo here or anything bahaha, love y'all!!)