NSFW Alphabet - Lionel Shabandar

Alright, buckle up. This is the dirtiest one yet. Time for some fun with Lionel "Sexy bastard" Shabandar.

Prompt 12 of @deepperplexity 's Rickmas 2023

December 12: Giver of Gifts

Lionel Shabandar x Reader

Lionel likes so to shower his partner with expensive gifts, but some out of line gossip makes his partner self-conscious.

(Again, taking a chance with something new and an underrated character)

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Lionel Shabandar was a man with a reputation for being an ice-cold bastard. But you knew a different side to him. You’d met at the art gallery where you worked. He’d seen you leading a tour group and couldn’t help but listen in as you stopped in front of Monet’s “The Thames below Westminster”, curious at what you would say about it. The way you talked with gentle passion about the artists use of light and subdued colour was entrancing to him and he’d approached you after the tour, wanting to hear more. An invitation to drinks had lead to dating and you’d made your relationship public by being his partner at a gala a few weeks ago. Lionel was many things, and as cold and calculating he could be as a businessman, with you he was affectionate, romantic, someone who loved to share his interests and passions and was eager to learn yours. He was also a lavish giver of gifts. Which lead you to here, sitting on the couch in your apartment on a December evening, while he fastened the most exquisite diamond necklace you’d ever seen around your neck. “Leo, you know you don’t have to buy me things like this, right?” You said, feeling a bit overwhelmed and awkward, “I love them, really. But you’re always so extravagant. You don’t need to be.” “I know, Darling. I like doing it, though.” You silently ran your fingers along the pearl drop pendant, looking at nothing.   Lionel brushed his hand along your arm, “What’s wrong?” He asked, “Something’s troubling you.” “It’s nothing.” You shrugged off his concern, getting up off the couch and heading to the kitchen “I was making some coffee, do you want some?”

Lionel followed you into the kitchen. Something was clearly weighing on your mind, and he hated seeing you so subdued. As you filled the coffee machine, some colourful paper sticking up out of the paper bin caught his attention. It was a copy of the Sun, with a picture of the two of you, taken at a Gala you’d recently attended. Along with the picture was the headline, “Billionaires new arm candy” and a short text making allusions about your relationship around his money and your looks. You turned around, saw him holding the paper and froze. “I thought you hated this trash rag?” he said, dropping it back in the bin, “Is that article what’s upsetting you?” You didn’t answer, but Lionel could see the tears welling up in your eyes and you quickly rubbed your eyes to try and hide them, focusing back on taking some cups from the cupboard. Lionel stepped up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist, spoon hugging you against him. Your body automatically started to relax when you were pressed against him, he’d had that effect on you from the start. After a moment, you started talking quietly, “Someone at the gallery, fortunately not someone I work closely with, came up to me today and showed me that paper. They said I got a sweet deal, landing you as a Sugar Daddy. I just…It hurt and it made me mad to see people think our relationship is so shallow.” Lionel turned you in his arms to see your face, “I’m sorry, Darling. Really, those noxious trolls will make up what they want to see no matter what we do. But they’re just hollow words from useless gossip peddlers. They don't know anything." You took a breath, “I know. It also just made me feel self-conscious. I mean, you took me to lunch the other day and ended up taking me shopping at Bond Street. You don’t have to do things like that. I love you without all the trimmings.” Lionel smiled softly and held you a little closer, “You know, I think you’re the only person in my life who actually likes me for me. One of the things I love about you. You really don’t care about my money or name. You met a sour old man with an art obsession and decided to give him your heart. I can’t pretend to know why. That’s why I like spoiling you. Why I want to give you everything you deserve. You’re my Lioness, my queen, and you deserve to be treated like one.” Feeling tears prick your eyes again, you pressed your face against his chest, “You make it really hard to be critical when you say things like that.” Your voice was muffled by his shirt. “You live a very different life from the one I’m used to. But, honestly I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.” You felt him chuckle and his arms wrap around you more fully. You stayed like that for a while before he gently tilted your face up with his hand. He trailed kisses down from your forehead to your lips before leaning back and saying, “Hang the world and their opinions. Come on, Darling, let’s go out.” You smiled up at him, leaning up for one more kiss before heading to your bedroom to get dressed. Lionel grinned as he watched you hurry to the other room. He hadn’t thought falling in love like this was on the cards for him. But loving you was just so easy. You made him happy in a way he’d never known before, and he wanted to do anything he could for you. Anything you would let him do. And he kept a secret hope in the back of his mind, if all went well, he’d be your fiancé by next Christmas.

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