Velvet kisses

The familiar glow of your phone’s screen illuminated the car as you set it up on the dashboard, adjusting it just enough so that everyone could be seen. The chat on your livestream was already blowing up, the comments flooding in as they always did when you went live with your friends.

The four of you were in your usual spots: you in the passenger seat, Rafe in the driver’s seat, and Topper and Kelce lounging in the back. It was late, but that only added to the chaotic energy that always fueled these live sessions.

“Alright, we’re live,” you said, glancing at the screen. “What’s up, guys! Welcome back to another livestream. You already know the drill—Kelce..” you say turning the camera to him.

“Hi, internet,” Kelce said through a mouthful of fries, holding the carton up like it was a trophy.

“Kelce, at least try to look alive, man.” Topper teased, nudging him with his elbow.

“Don’t make me expose you, bro,” Kelce shot back, earning a laugh from all of you.

You turned the camera toward Rafe, who was leaning back in his seat, one hand casually draped over the steering wheel. He gave a small wave, his smirk still in place.

“And here we have Rafe, who, as usual, looks like he doesn’t want to be here,” you teased.

“Maybe I don’t,” he shot back, but the sparkle in his blue eyes said otherwise.

You chuckle as you look towards Kelce and topper. “Kelce,” you groaned, pretending to grab the fries from him. “Do you have to eat on live every time?”

“It’s my brand,” he retorted, leaning back smugly.

“What are we even doing tonight?” you asked.

You looked around the car for suggestions, your brows raised expectantly. “Anyone?”

Kelce suddenly perked up and slapped Topper’s arm. “We should do ASMR. I mean, we’re already eating, right?”

The chat immediately erupted with laughing emojis, and you read out a few: “ASMR? Oh my god, someone said ‘Kelce, the ASMR king.’”

Rafe groaned, leaning back in his seat. “Oh my god, no. Please, no.”

The comments exploded with laughter, hearts, and emojis, and you couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Why not, Rafe? You’ve got the perfect ASMR voice,” you teased.

Rafe gave you a side-eye, lips twitching into a smirk. “I’d rather eat glass.”

“HEY that’s very ASMR-friendly,” you shot back, earning laughs from Kelce and Topper.

Kelce dramatically leaned into the camera, chewing obnoxiously. “Fine, I’ll carry the ASMR segment. You’re welcome, internet.”

“See? This is quality content. I’m practically carrying this livestream.” He said basically invading everyone’s personal space.

“Carrying it straight to cringe-ville,” Topper retorted, shaking his head and trying to push Kelce back.

You reached forward and muted Kelce with an exaggerated press of your hand in the air. “Alright, ASMR is off the table. Moving on. What else do we have?”

“Drama,” someone commented, and you read it aloud, laughing. “Drama? Oh, don’t worry. There’s always drama in this car.”

Rafe glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah, and it’s usually your fault.”

Your jaw dropped as the chat flooded with laughing emojis. “Me? You’re the most dramatic one here, Rafe!”

“Debatable,” Kelce chimed in, leaning back smugly.

The stream went on as usual—chaotic, hilarious, and full of playful banter. But tonight, something felt different. Your focus kept drifting to Rafe, the way his fingers drummed against the steering wheel or how his gaze would flick to you whenever you said something. You couldn’t deny the tension that had been building between you two lately, but you weren’t sure if it was all in your head.

The chat, of course, was relentless.

“Rafe looks at her like she hung the moon.”

“The tension is INSANE.”

“Just kiss already!”

You shook your head, laughing nervously.

“Hey, Rafe,” you said, a sly smile creeping onto your lips. “Do you remember this?”

Before he could answer, you reached for his right hand, guiding it to your neck. His brows furrowed in confusion, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he let his hand settle there, his thumb brushing your skin lightly.

Topper and Kelce immediately exploded in the backseat.

“OH MY GOD, THEY’RE DOING IT AGAIN!” Kelce shouted, shaking Topper’s shoulder dramatically.

“They’re gonna fake us out, aren’t they?” Topper groaned, though he was grinning ear to ear.

The chat was a flurry of all caps, hearts, and exclamation points. Everyone was expecting another playful tease.

The chat was going insane, hearts and all-caps messages flooding the screen.

But this time, it wasn’t a tease.

Rafe didn’t pull back. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath hitching audibly just before his lips met yours. It was soft, tentative at first, but as you responded, his grip on your neck tightened slightly, pulling you closer.

The world seemed to blur, the only thing grounding you being the feel of his lips on yours and the warmth of his hand against your skin.

“NO WAY,” Kelce screamed from the backseat.

“They ACTUALLY DID IT!” Topper yelled, slapping Kelce repeatedly in disbelief.

The chat exploded.

“I TOLD YOU!!!”

“THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

“THE SOUND HE MADE BEFORE THE KISS IM DYING—”

When you and Rafe finally pulled apart, the reality of what just happened hit you like a wave. Your face burned as you buried it in your arm, letting out a loud, dramatic yell.

Rafe’s face wasn’t much better. His cheeks were flushed, and he turned to look out the window, the faintest of smiles tugging at his lips. He stayed quiet, one hand gripping the steering wheel while the other remained on the back of your neck.

Kelce and Topper, meanwhile, were absolutely losing it in the backseat.

“THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE,” Topper declared, throwing his hands up.

“PEAK CONTENT. PEAK CONTENT!” Kelce yelled, leaning forward to practically scream at the camera.

Topper nodded furiously. “The shippers are gonna lose their minds. This is legendary.”

The chat was moving too fast to read, but you could still catch glimpses of comments like “HIS FACE AFTER THE KISS AHHH” and “I KNEW IT! THEY LIKE EACH OTHER!”

You peeked out from behind your arm, still feeling the heat in your cheeks. “Okay, um, I think we’re done here.”

“DONE?” Kelce shouted. “YOU CAN’T JUST END THE STREAM AFTER THAT!”

“Yeah, we need a recap, a breakdown, an—” Topper started, but you reached forward and hit the end stream button before he could finish.

As soon as the screen went dark, the car was filled with silence. Well, except for the sound of Kelce and Topper losing their minds.

You stayed where you were, your hand still on Rafe’s arm, your head spinning. His thumb grazed your skin one last time before he let go, settling his hand back on the wheel.

“Yeah,” he said finally, his voice low, his gaze still out the window. “I remember that.”

And that was it. No teasing, Just a quiet confirmation that left your heart racing all over again.

Rafe and you had been together for a while now—long enough that the idea of moving in together didn’t feel like a leap but more like a natural progression of your love. You’d both talked about it endlessly, debating everything from rent to how much space you’d need for your things. It wasn’t practical, it wasn’t sensible, but neither of you cared. What mattered was that you couldn’t imagine life without the other. It was stupid, really, but you were both too in love to think about anything else.

It had been a whirlwind of decisions, and in the middle of it all, you had found yourself staring at the laptop you’d been saving for months to buy. It was your first real splurge. Every dollar you’d worked for, every late-night shift, had been towards this moment. You were excited, but you had been hesitant too. It was an investment, an expensive investment at that.

When you finally went to purchase the laptop, Rafe had insisted on helping you out. You tried to resist, explaining that you had saved up for this moment and that you wanted to do it on your own. But Rafe had insisted on paying for half, knowing you’d have to save for more important things soon. Though you were reluctant, you finally gave in, realizing he was right.

Unpacking the boxes in your new condo took longer than expected. Your place was still a bit empty, yet there was an excitement in the air that you couldn’t shake. It wasn’t much yet—just you sitting at the kitchen island, surrounded by scattered boxes. It was cozy in its own way, the space slowly starting to feel like home. You’d claimed the spot on the island chairs by the window overlooking the sea as your own because of the view. The large windows gave you a perfect view of the sea, making it a peaceful place to unwind and relax.

You sat on the chair, legs crossed, finally opening your new laptop. The smooth surface of the keyboard and the glow of the screen felt like a reward for all the hard work that had led to this moment. You clicked a few things, feeling the thrill of something new and shiny. Everything was good. But then, you hit a snag.

The cursor wouldn’t move in the way you wanted it to, and no matter how many times you tried, the issue remained.

You frowned at the screen, clicking at random, but the problem persisted. You leaned back slightly, pushing a hand through your hair as you stared at the screen.

You were determined not to ask for help, convinced that if you tried hard enough, you could figure this out. But the minutes dragged on, and you began to feel the frustration creeping in. It was one of those little things that seemed simple but just wouldn’t budge.

Rafe was across the room, setting up the TV in the living area. Your eyes briefly lingered on him—how focused he looked, how comfortable in his element. You let out a quiet sigh and glanced back at your laptop, trying to work out the problem on your own for a few more minutes. But your fingers hovered over the trackpad, unsure of what to do next.

You shifted in your stool, your patience wearing thin. You couldn’t let yourself keep wasting time on something that was so simple to solve, but you couldn’t quite figure it out. You sighed, calling out, “Rafe? Can you come over for a second?”

He turned from his spot in the living room and immediately walked over. He paused when he reached you, his voice gentle, a slight concern on his face. “What’s wrong, baby?”

You didn’t look up, just pointed at the screen and said, “The cursor’s glitching. I’ve tried everything, but it won’t move right.”

Rafe leaned down slightly, standing beside you. His hand came to rest lightly on your back, rubbing gently. His attention flicked between you and the laptop, but his gaze lingered on you more than anything. He took in your expression—slightly exasperated, but with that familiar determination you always had when you got frustrated. He reached over to the laptop, clicking and adjusting, but his focus was still on you, his chest lightly brushing against your back.

He didn’t immediately lean over, instead standing beside you, his presence both comforting and distracting. You didn’t mind. You loved the warmth of his closeness. He was so gentle, so careful in how he made sure you felt supported.

He glanced at you, then back at the laptop. He hummed thoughtfully, then gently rubbed your back again. “Alright, let’s see…” he said softly, his tone light but assuring.

You didn’t bother turning the laptop toward him, neither did he. Rafe stepped closer, positioning himself behind you, and you could feel his presence envelop you completely. His hands, big and strong, slightly engulfed you, hovered over the laptop keyboard as he adjusted a few things.

You could barely focus on the screen anymore. The closeness of his body, the subtle warmth radiating off him, made it hard to concentrate. The way he moved, the way his breath brushed the skin on your neck—it was enough to make your heart skip a beat and make you smile.

Rafe, unaware of the effect he had on you, continued explaining, his voice low and steady. His hands worked expertly at the laptop, moving the cursor to where it needed to be. But your attention was elsewhere.

You didn’t realize it at first, but when Rafe paused and glanced at you, his brow furrowing slightly, he realized that you weren’t listening to him. You weren’t even looking at the screen anymore. You were lost in the feeling of him being so close.

Rafe tilted his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips when he saw yours. “You’re not even listening to me, are you?” he said softly, his voice teasing but warm.

You opened your eyes, the small smile grew on your lips when you look up at him. “Sorry..” you muttered, but the smile on your face told him you weren’t sorry at all.

Rafe chuckled softly and pressed a light kiss to your temple. His hand rubbed gently over your right upper arm, making your smile widen.

his hands shifted, his right hand moving over your chest to rest lightly on your left upper arm, his left hand still on the keyboard. His gentle touch was a reminder of how much he cared, and you couldn’t help but feel giddy having him so close.

You leaned back into him even more, your head tilting back to rest against his shoulder. Making him lean his head towards yours.

His left hand remained steady at the laptop, but the closeness between you made everything else seem distant. All you cared about was this moment.

Rafe was explaining the issue with the cursor in more detail once again, you focused on the words this time. You kept your hands in your lap, cross-legged on the stool, as you simply allowed yourself to bask in his presence.

Rafe sets you down gently on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping your waist as he kneels slightly, bringing his face level with yours. His lips quirk into a soft, almost teasing smile as his eyes sweep over you, taking in every detail.

"You're so beautiful…" he murmurs, his voice quiet but full of intent.

Before you can respond, his hands are firm on your waist, guiding you backward. The bed dips slightly beneath you as your back meets the soft mattress, and Rafe moves with you, following your body down. He settles between your legs, his weight pressing into you just enough to make your breath catch.

His lips claim yours in another deep kiss, his hands holding your waist firmly, as though he's anchoring himself to you. The kiss is slow, intoxicating, and leaves you gasping when he pulls back, his mouth now trailing to your jaw and down your neck.

As his lips press soft, yet hot and wet kisses to your neck, you can feel him, feel just how aroused he really is. The pressure is enough to send a wave of heat crashing through you, your hips shifting instinctively to meet his.

He groans softly, the sound low and rough in your ear, and you feel him move, his hips rolling slightly against yours. The friction is electrifying, and a quiet gasp escapes you, your hands instinctively gripping his shoulders.

"Feel that?" he huffs, his voice deep and strained as he kisses just beneath your ear. "That's what you do to me, baby…"

The words send a shiver down your spine, and when his hips grind into yours again, a broken moan slips past your lips. His breath comes heavier now, warm against your skin as he keeps his lips on your neck, his movements slow and deliberate, almost teasing.

Rafe pulls back slightly, just enough to sit up on his knees between your legs, his hands sliding down to rest on your thighs. His chest rises and falls heavily, his eyes dark and glassy as they sweep over you like you're the only thing that exists in the world.

He looks intoxicated by the sight of you beneath him—it sends a thrill through you.

Slowly, his fingers move to the rest of the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one, his gaze never leaving yours. The fabric parts to reveal his toned chest, his muscles flexing as he shrugs the shirt off completely, tossing it to the side.

You can't help yourself. Your hands reach out, trailing over the hard planes of his abs, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath your fingers. His breath hitches at your touch, his lips quirking into a small, crooked smile as he watches you, letting you explore him for a moment.

"Like what you see?" he teases, his voice low and gravelly.

You don't respond with words, just nod, your eyes filled with desire as your fingers move up and down his chest.

The way you're looking at him, so full of want, makes him groan softly before he leans down again.

Rafe's lips find your shoulder, his hands gently moving the strap of your slip dress aside as he kisses the newly exposed skin. His mouth trails slowly down your arm, his kisses featherlight, before he moves back to your collarbone, then lower, his lips skimming along your chest, Pushing your dress higher.

When his hands hook into the waistband of your panties, your breath catches. He presses another kiss to your stomach, his lips warm against your skin as he slowly slides the fabric down your legs. Every movement feels deliberate, every touch sending a spark through you.

His hands rest firmly on your thighs, holding you open as he lowers himself.

The heat of his breath against your most sensitive spot makes you gasp, your hips shifting instinctively toward his face.

"Please..” you whisper, your voice barely audible, your chest heaving as you look down at him.

Rafe glances up at you, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Whatever you say, baby.." he murmurs, his voice dripping with affection and hunger.

Then his mouth was on you, and the world melted away. The sensations were overwhelming, his tongue and lips working magic as his hands gripped your thighs, keeping you steady beneath him.

Rafe's tongue moved against your folds with practiced ease, each stroke sending a bolt of pleasure rippling through your body. His grip on your thighs is firm, keeping you open and steady beneath him, though it's hardly necessary— you've already surrendered completely to the feeling of him.

The room is quite safe for the sound of your breathy moans and the obscene, wet noises he's making as his mouth works relentlessly against you.

"God, you taste so good.." he groans, pulling back for just a second, his voice muffled and rough. His lips are glistening, his eyes dark and half-lidded as he looks up at you.

"So sweet. Like honey..."

The words hit you like a spark to dry kindling, and your hips buck against him, seeking more.

"Rafe…" you gasp, your fingers tangling in his hair, tugging him back toward where you need him. He doesn't resist, letting out a low hum of approval as he dives back in, his tongue sliding over your entrance in a way that makes your toes curl.

"Rafe—oh, my God…" you whimper, the words almost unintelligible as your head falls back against the pillows. Your entire body feels like it's on fire, like every nerve is alive and buzzing, the pleasure building higher and higher until it's almost unbearable.

He moans against you, the sound muffled and guttural, the vibrations of his mouth has you crying out, your hips jerking as you grind harder against his face.

His tongue flicks over you faster, more deliberately, and the pressure sends you careening toward the edge.

"Come on, baby…" he urges, his voice rough and coaxing as he presses a kiss against your inner thigh before returning to your core. "Let me have it. Let me feel it…"

His hands shift, one sliding up to rest on your stomach while the other presses down on your hip, grounding you as his mouth devours you. The combination of his touch, his words, and the relentless rhythm of his tongue is too much, and with a strangled moan, you fall apart beneath him.

Your whole body shakes as waves of pleasure crash over you, your cries echoing through the room. Rafe doesn't stop, his mouth working you through your climax, drawing every last bit of pleasure from you until you're trembling and gasping for air.

When he finally pulls back, his lips and chin glistening, he looks up at you with a smug, satisfied grin, his chest heaving.

your body was still humming with the aftershocks, but you manage to reach for him, pulling him up until he's hovering over you. His weight settles against you, grounding you as you tangle your hands in his hair and pull him down into a kiss, tasting yourself on his lips.

"You okay?" he murmurs softly when he pulls back just enough to look down at you, brushing a strand of hair out of your face.

You nod, your lips curving into a dazed smile, full of love and admiration. "Better than okay…."

He chuckles, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to your forehead, his hands trailing softly over your sides as he whispers, "Good. Because I'm not done with you yet."

The door creaked open, and your breath hitched the moment you saw him.

Rafe was hunched over the counter, his shaking hands fumbling with the small bag in front of him. The sharp, chemical scent of something bitter lingered in the air, but what hit you harder was the sight of him. He wasn’t just using—he was unraveling. His movements were frantic and jittery, his shoulders trembling with tension.

“Rafe,” you said, voice sharp enough to cut through the haze he was lost in.

His body went rigid, the bag slipping from his fingers as he whipped around to face you. His eyes—glassy and rimmed with red—widened, but you couldn’t tell if it was the drugs or the sudden surge of shame that brought the tears to the surface.

“Baby, I—”

“Don’t.” The word escaped like venom, your voice steady even as your hands trembled.

He flinched as if your word was physical blows. “I wasn’t—I mean, I was, but—”

“Spare me the excuses.” you snapped, stepping closer, even though it took everything in you not to walk right out. “You promised me, Rafe. You swore to me you were done with this.”

He opened his mouth, his lips parting, but no words came. Just silence. He looked utterly paralyzed, like a child caught red-handed but too ashamed to speak.

The sight of him like this—high, broken, and barely holding himself together—made your heart ache. But that ache was overshadowed by the searing pain of betrayal.

“You can’t even defend yourself….” you said quietly, shaking your head. “I can’t keep doing this, Rafe.”

“No,” he finally croaked, his voice weak, pleading. “Don’t say that. Please—”

But you couldn’t bear to hear any more. You turned on your heel, walking out before he could stop you, before your resolve could crack.

And just like that, it was over.

~~~~~~

The next morning, you sat in the sweltering heat of Barry’s makeshift office, the metallic whir of a fan doing little to ease the suffocating air.

Barry leaned back in his chair, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement as he eyed you. “Didn’t think I’d see you here,” he drawled. “What’s the occasion, princess?”

You ignored his smug tone, sliding a stack of bills across the table. “This is for you to stop selling to Rafe.”

Barry raised a brow, picking up the wad of cash and flipping through it lazily. “You serious?”

“Dead serious,” you said, your voice steady, even though your insides were churning. “I don’t care what it takes. Just keep your shit away from him.

A low whistle escaped him as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Gotta say, I admire the dedication. But you really think cutting me off is gonna fix him? Kid’s got his ways.”

“Then I’ll deal with them too,” you shot back, fire in your eyes. “I’ll deal with every dealer on this goddamn island if I have to.”

Barry smirked, clearly entertained. “Your funeral, sweetheart. But hey, a deal’s a deal. Rafe’s off my list.”

You stood, leaving without another word. The weight in your chest didn’t lift—it only grew heavier.

You loved Rafe too much to let him kill himself, even if it meant breaking yourself in the process.

~~~~

It was past midnight when you heard the knock.

You weren’t expecting anyone, and for a moment, you hesitated. But curiosity won out, and you swung the door open without checking.

Your breath caught when you saw him.

Rafe stood on your doorstep, disheveled and trembling. His skin was pale, his eyes sunken, and he looked like he hadn’t eaten or slept in days. He was a mess—not from drugs, but from something deeper, something raw and human.

“Rafe?” you whispered, barely recognizing him.

The moment his gaze met yours, his face crumpled, and without a word, he dropped to his knees.

“Please…” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. “Please, just let me explain.”

You stared at him, frozen in place. “What are you doing? Get up.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head vehemently. “I can’t—I can’t lose you...” His hands clutched at the hem of your shirt, his grip desperate. “I’ll do anything. Therapy, rehab, counseling—anything you want. Just don’t walk away from me. Please...”

“Rafe…” Your voice broke as tears filled your eyes, but you didn’t stop him.

“You’re the only good thing in my life,” he said, his voice cracking. “I can’t breathe without you…I can’t live without you... I’ll fix this—I swear to God, I’ll fix this. Just… don’t leave me…”

The raw vulnerability in his voice shattered every wall you’d built around your heart. Slowly, you stepped closer, your fingers trembling as they cupped his face.

“You lied to me…” you said softly, your tone breaking under the weight of your pain. “You promised me, Rafe. How am I supposed to trust you again?”

His tears fell harder, and he shook his head, his words spilling out in a desperate rush. “I’ll prove it to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you, I swear. I don’t care what it takes—I’ll get clean. I’ll fix everything...”

You wanted to believe him, you really did. But the wounds of his betrayal were still raw, still bleeding.

“You hurt me..” you whispered, your tears falling onto his cheeks as you leaned down. “And if you do it again, I swear, Rafe…”

“I won’t,” he interrupted, his hands trembling as they rested over yours. “I won’t. I swear on everything—I won’t lose you again.”

You studied him for a long moment, your heart aching at the sight of him so broken, so desperate. Slowly, hesitantly, you leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

He closed his eyes, his entire body trembling beneath your touch.

“I’ll hold you to that..” you murmured, your voice cracking.

When you pulled away, you saw the flicker of hope in his tear-filled eyes. You didn’t say anything else, stepping back into the house and leaving the door ajar.

He hesitated for a moment, looking up at you like you’d just handed him salvation. And for the first time in days, he rose to his feet—not with confidence, but with determination.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. This wasn’t the end of your pain, or his. But it was the start of something new.

it was enough to try again.

Rafe walks through the front door, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, tie loose around his neck, and hair messy from a long day at work. He drops his keys on the counter, letting out a sigh before he catches sight of you leaning against the kitchen island.

you stood there, clutching a glass of water in an effort to distract yourself from the way your stomach flips every time you see him.

"Hey, princess," he greets, his deep voice tinged with affection as he crosses the room in a few easy strides.

He reaches you, his hands immediately finding your waist like they always do, and presses a soft, casual kiss to your lips.

You're breathless by the time he pulls away, though he doesn't notice, already moving toward the fridge. "Miss me?" he teases lightly, throwing a glance over his shoulder as he grabs a water bottle.

"Always," you mumble, feeling heat rise to your cheeks. He shoots you a quick grin, but you can tell he doesn't think much of it. He's too busy twisting the cap off the bottle and leaning against the counter opposite you, taking a long sip.

"So," he starts, setting the bottle down and resting one hand on the counter behind him. "Dad had me running in circles all day. He's got this big deal he's working on, and guess who got stuck doing all the legwork."

You nod along, trying to seem like you're listening, but your eyes keep drifting to the way his chest looked with the first few buttons open, the way his throat moves when he talks. His voice, low and casual, is like a drug, making your pulse race.

He's oblivious to your inner turmoil, stepping closer to you as he continues talking. His hands naturally find your waist again as he leans in slightly, not because he's trying to fluster you, but because it's just second nature for him to be close to you.

"And then-" His words trail off as, without even thinking, he lifts you effortlessly onto the counter. The movement is so smooth, so casual, that it barely registers for him.

But for you, it's like a spark to a flame.

Your breath hitches as he sets you down, his hands still lingering on your hips.

He doesn't notice, though. He's still talking, still distracted, one hand on the counter beside you and the other lazily brushing against your hip.

It's too much. You can't take it anymore.

You slide forward slightly, your hips brushing against his, and suddenly, his voice falters.

He looks down at the contact, then back up at you, his expression flickering between confusion and realization.

"Oh," he breathes, his voice dropping an octave.

You feel like your face is on fire, but you can't stop yourself. Your hips roll gently, testing the waters, and you swear you see his jaw clench.

"Baby..." His tone shifts, softer, deeper.

His hands tighten on your hips as he steps closer, his body completely flush against yours now. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

You mumble something incoherent, too shy to respond, but the way his lips curve into a grin makes it clear he understands now.

He leans in closer, his lips brushing your ear as he whispers, "Too shy, huh?" He chuckles softly, the sound sending a shiver down your spine.

His mouth trails down your jaw to your neck, peppering soft, teasing kisses along your skin. Each press of his lips leaves you breathless, and before you realize it, your hands are tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.

Your breathing grows heavier, the sensation of his lips on your neck too much and not enough all at once. A quiet sound escapes your lips, a soft moan that you can't hold back, and he freezes for a moment.

"Alright," he murmurs, his voice dropping further as he effortlessly lifts you off the counter and walks towards the bedroom. "Let me take care of you."