Official Description: 20 down: feeling deep affection or passion for; 17 across: to believe, desire, or trust. A daily fix of summertime fluff about a small town boy, a big city girl, and what happens when they give into the simple things in life.
Word Count: 67,044
HMonster4′s Links:
TheHeartofLife’s Links:
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I love me some Emmett. He is both a joy to read (and to write) because he’s so much fucking fun, and even more lovable when he’s allowed to be vulnerable.
Because when Emmett fell, he fell hard, and the crash was mighty.
And that’s why I’m here: Hmonster04 and TheHeartofLife’s collaboration for Down & Across. Two people with preconceived notions begrudgingly figure out how to have it all in life—and love. The idea is vaguely “don’t judge a book by its cover,” and never before have I found an interpretation of this so enjoyable. It’s fresh, easy, and well-written. There’s no real angst here, peeps; this is a summer vacation for fic. So stretch out on your towel, slather on your SPF 100+, and get ready to for the slow burn.
Emmett and Rosalie are lovingly rounded out characters, their flaws and weaknesses readily showcased, and they are all the more enjoyable for it. Both are significantly canon-esque, but with the allowance for all the great facets that La Meyer didn’t get to. They are both tired of the bullshit, and have no patience for it. Each naturally turn the other inside out, an intricate dance ensuing with military precision and a heavy dose of teasing.
“Nice to meet you, Rose,” he replied. Her heart skipped a beat at the nickname. She hadn’t been called that in so long, but somehow it sounded right coming from him. It was scary how right it sounded.
She leaned back slightly, increasing the space between them, but kept her hand in his. Her smile turned playful. “You too, Moondoggie.”
Emmett’s mouth dropped open and he squeezed her hand before releasing it. “You just completely ruined it.”
“I didn’t,” she laughed. “I just think you should embrace the nickname.”
His eyes sparkled with good humor as he shrugged. “Fine, Smurfette.”
Rosalie wrinkled her nose. “I obviously got the short end of the nickname stick.”
I was immediately hooked and instantly impatient. These bitches do like to tease. They amp up the UST like pros, making you wait “forever” for a simple kiss.
“Oh my god, thank you for doing that,” she gasped, a hiccup setting off another round of laughter.
“Can’t say it’s everyday that I pull someone out of a car and land flat on my ass.”
“I don’t mean that!” She said, placing her hands on either side of his face. Before he could say anything more, Rose kissed him with the same ferocity that had caused them to land flat on their backs in the sand, their tongues sweeping over each other as her hand wove into the hair at the base of his neck. She was winded when they finally broke apart, “I swear to god, I would have lost my mind if I had to go another hour without you kissing me.”
Well said, Rose. I felt the same way. But it only made me antsier for a little, uh, lemony (read: shmexin’).
As it is now complete, none of you lucky bastards have to wait until the next chapter. I, however, usually reviewed with something akin to, “MOAR NAO!” Maybe when you read, your review will be more complimentary. 
So, dig your toes into the sand and get to it!
I knew when I started this that the words would be beautiful. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy it. I’m the first to admit that it takes a lot for me to read something that isn’t Edward and Bella, I mean a lot.
With descriptions like this, I couldn’t help myself.
How had he gotten so far under her skin in such a short period of time? Regardless of the conversation she’d stumbled upon the other day, there was something about him, something inherent and almost elemental that spoke to her. The harder she tried to fight it, the further she got pulled down. And so she decided with the warm air rushing over her damp skin and the crisp smell of salt in the air, that she wouldn’t fight it anymore. If, by some miracle, he decided to see her and accept her apology, she would let it happen. If he didn’t, which seemed like the most likely possibility, she’d let that happen, too. She was tired of being in absolute control, not that she had any in this situation anyway.
It was with that thought that Rosalie breezed into the diner and immediately skidded to a halt. If she’d been a cartoon, a dust cloud would have formed at her feet.
As if that wasn’t enough, the UST that hmonster4 and theheartoflife have created is, well see for yourself…
“Yeah, I do,” Emmett said, grasping her wrist and pulling her hand up to his mouth. The corners of her lips curled up just the slightest bit, amused that he was playing along. But instead of going after the Popsicle, Emmett raised her fist to his mouth, gently licking at the small rivulet of syrup that had melted and run down the side of her hand. The syrups mixed together, red and blue blending into a dark amethyst as the flavors melded into a sickeningly sweet tang. “Not bad,” he said, quickly releasing her hand so he could cup her face in his hands, running his thumb along her lower lip. It was sticky from the Popsicle, and she darted her tongue out, instinctively swiping at the corner before he could cover her mouth with his. That strange knot in his chest twisted a bit, tugging him downward as he lost himself in the riptide of emotions she sparked.
You definetely don’t want to miss out on this story. No matter what characers or ‘ships you normally read, this needs to be added to your list.
Emmett? On the beach? In a wetsuit?
I know what most of you little Edward h00rs are thinking… “But I only read Edward/Bella stories with a side of J/A and Em/R.”
Blah. Blah. Blah.
This is where you need to stop and try something new. Seriously. Case in point right here:
She saw him now, her eyes automatically drawing to him like some sort of magnetic pull as he rode in on a wave. The muscles low in her stomach tensed and twisted. It was hot today, hot enough that he was wearing only low-slung board shorts, and her eyes followed the water that ran down over his broad chest and along his stomach. His board skimmed along the wave, moving in a sinuous pattern driven by the movement of his legs and narrow hips and god, he was gorgeous and relaxed, effortless. Rosalie had always appreciated power in a man, but she’d never seen anything like this. He was in control but loose, so completely in his element. She could watch him like this for hours.
Are you ready for Surfermmett now??? You should be!
If you’ve been following the recs this month, you might realize that I really love Emmett, and since fantastic Emmett/Rosalie stories are few and far between, this one is even more of a gem. There isn’t even any mention of Edward and Bella in Down & Across, and I know that once you start reading, you’ll appreciate that.
Plain and simple, this is a story about two people finding themselves, finding home, and finding love. The angst is kept to a minimum, but the development of their relationship and the growing sexual tension are high, just how we all like it in a fluffy story. Tell me I’m wrong – I dare you.
Even better, this story was recently completed, so you can see the full scope of how TheHeartOfLife and hmonster4 bring these lovable, sexy, fun characters to life. With an extremely likable Esme and Jessica, as well as a hilarious, large Irish family (complete with a couple of dirty uncles), you’ll be addicted to this story as much as I was. If you need anymore evidence as to why you should read this, just take a gander here and swoon along with me!
“I feel like we are waiting for some silly music cue,” Rose said, her words barely audible over the gulls, the waves and the wind. “You know, that final scene setter before the zoom in for the epic kiss.”
“Someone needs to tell the director to roll camera first,” Emmett teased, adding to her moment of levity. She didn’t let him keep it though.
“Quiet on the set,” she said, her eyes darting back and forth between his eyes and his lips.
“This is Oscar worthy material.” When she smiled, it was the same enigmatic expression from the backyard when she tried to defer his teasing about dating. To borrow her phrase, it was his cue to leap and hope that when he emerged he wouldn’t be alone.
He dropped Rose’s hand, bracing his palms against the open car window. In a motion not unlike an inverted push up he slowly leaned forward to brush a feather light kiss against her lips.
“I don’t think that print took,” she said immediately. “We’re supposed to be going for epic. Maybe something a little…slower…” Emmett laughed, and kissed her again, harder this time, their lips slowly parting as one kiss gave way to two, and then three. He kissed her like he’d wanted to since before he knew she existed. He kissed her the way he’d seen Esme kiss her husband or Mike kiss Jessica. Like there was no one else in the world that ever could or did matter.
Because he was slowly beginning to realize that no one else probably ever would.
::Runs to the beach to search for my own Emmett::
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