SLOW BURN LOVE STORY Luke Thompson and Arya O'Connor's friendship was one for the ages, woven together with shared laughter, unwavering support, and a quiet understanding. Luke, born July 4th 1988, and Arya, born just over two years later on October 13, 1990, first met as children in France, where both their families had moved for a fresh start. Despite the hurdles life threw their way-Arya's cerebral palsy from her premature birth and the challenges of growing up as expats-they formed a bond that became the cornerstone of their lives. From the day five-year-old Arya walked into six-year-old Luke's classroom with a spark in her eyes and a determination to prove she was more than her diagnosis, Luke knew he'd found a kindred spirit. Through childhood, teenage years, and the tumultuous early twenties, they were constants in each other's lives. Together, they navigated heartbreaks, triumphs, and the complexities of growing up in a foreign country before eventually returning to the UK, where their paths diverged yet remained entwined. Now in their early thirties, Luke has built a successful career as an actor, most famously as part of the Bridgerton cast. Arya, a talented artist, has poured her passion and perspective into breathtaking works that have earned her renown. Yet, amidst the glittering success, the years of laughter, and the unwavering friendship, an unspoken truth has lingered between them-feelings that have quietly grown beyond the boundaries of friendship. For the past year, both Luke and Arya have been grappling with the realisation that their hearts have long desired more.

𝓔𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓭 has spent years perfecting one thing: despising 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓬𝓽 𝓑𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓽𝓸𝓷. "𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶." "𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻." Ten years away gave her plenty of time to refine the art-hatred is, after all, much easier to maintain long-distance. But when the scandal that drove her family from London forces her back into society, Ellery discovers two rather inconvenient truths: Benedict Bridgerton has grown impossibly charming- and hatred is much harder to maintain face-to-face. One accidental scandal, one very public misunderstanding, and one entirely unplanned engagement later... Ellery finds herself entangled in a life she never wanted- and a man she can no longer pretend to hate. From Ellery's perspective, hatred is the safest mask she has left. But masks crack. And when hers does, Benedict is there to catch her-whether she wants to be caught or not. BENEDICT BRIDGERTON X OC (ELLERY MONTFORD) Started: 12/2/25 Completed: RANKINGS: #1 in #lukethompson | 12/3/25 #1 in #lukenewton | 12/3/25

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜 | 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 ⤷ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 ✓ 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 ع˖⁺ ☁⋆ ୭ 🕊.⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹.

One shots for Luke and on the odd occasion Benedict. As always I am open for requests!