our Top 100 Artists countdown continues! here is the second group of 20 performers that tumblr users listen to, draw inspiration from, and follow for exciting updates.Â
based on user data from this past year, coming in at spots 80-61...
80. Paramore | 79. Wonyoung | 78. Beomgyu | 77. Yeonjun | 76. Ozzy Osbourne | 75. Halsey | 74. Kendrick Lamar | 73. Mark Lee | 72. EXO | 71. Doechii | 70. Rihanna | 69. Hoshi | 68. Bruce Springsteen | 67. ITZY | 66. Karina | 65. David Bowie | 64. LE SSERAFIM | 63. Mitski | 62. Dua Lipa | 61. Red Velvet
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch âą No registration required âą HD streaming
mark jerks off to his best friendâs voice during a late-night call.
â content 1.7k words, 18+ [ MDNI! ], explicit sexual content, male reader, best friend! mark, phone sex (markâs side), voice kink, masturbation, reader is oblivious at first.
âââ ( part two )
markâs hand was already slick.
it was shameful â he knew that â but by now, the thrill of shame was a part of the arousal.
mark sat hunched in bed, legs spread wide, phone pressed to one ear, breath shallow and uneven. the room was dim. just the soft blue glow of his laptop screen lighting his face, chest rising and falling like heâd just run a mile, bare thighs tense and trembling.
the call had barely even rung when you picked up, voice soft and just a little rough like youâd been napping.
âhey,â you said. âwhatâs up?â
markâs stomach turned over. the second he heard your voice, his grip tightened, his rhythm stumbling on instinct. he sucked in a breath through his teeth.
âyo,â he rasped. his voice cracked. âyou, uh⊠you busy?â
ânah. im just watching dumb videos. you okay? you sound weird.â
weird. yeah. that was one word for it.
he leaned forward a little, curling into himself, phone tucked between his cheek and shoulder while his other hand kept working over his cock. he was flushed to the neck, chest mottled with heat, pulse visible in his throat.
every time he heard your voice through the speaker, it was like a jolt right to his cock â he could feel the way your mouth moved, imagine how your lips would wrap around syllables if he were just a bit closer.
he bit his bottom lip, hard.
âiâm fine,â he said quickly, too quickly, then swallowed. âjust⊠wanted to talk to you.â
he was already so close and that was humiliating in its own right.
your voice was casual, kind. âoh, yeah? what about?â
mark gritted his teeth, hips twitching upward into his palm. âi⊠i dunno. just missed your voice.â
a pause. you laughed softly.
âthatâs weird. you literally saw me earlier today.â
âi know.â
mark closed his eyes, pressing the heel of his palm against the base of his cock to try and slow himself down. it didnât help. he was throbbing. leaking. his stomach muscles clenched tight every time you said anything.
âbut⊠i like hearing you.â
you went quiet for a beat. âyou sure youâre okay? you sound kindaâŠâ
âiâm fine,â mark said again, but his voice broke in the middle of it, strained and raspy, like he was talking through gritted teeth.
he had to pull the phone back a little as a soft, stuttered moan slipped out of him.
shit.
his hand kept moving â too fast now, driven by pure instinct. he tried to breathe slow, tried to pretend he wasnât literally jerking off with your voice in his ear, but you werenât helping.
you chuckled again. âyou sound like youâre sweating or something. hot in your room?â
ây-yeah,â mark gasped, closing his fist tighter. âhot. so, so hot.â
his knuckles were turning white around the phone. he pressed it harder to his ear, needing to hear every note of your voice. his eyes fluttered shut, head falling back against the wall behind his bed. sweat was already gathering under his arms, on his lower back, on the backs of his thighs. jus toes curled into the sheets, ankles twitching with every slick stroke of his hand.
you kept talking. talking like everything was normal. like your best friend wasnât secretly jerking off to your voice and biting his fist to keep from moaning into the receiver.
âyou been staying up late again?â you asked. âyou really sound tired.â
mark choked on a sound that wasnât a laugh, wasnât a sob, wasnât quite a moan.
âmmhâyeah. c-canât sleepâŠâ
âyou should take melatonin or something. or stop watching porn at 3am.â
if only you knew.
mark was panting now, trying to keep it quiet, but every breath was a tremor. his thighs shook with tension, every muscle in his body drawn tight like a bowstring. he sped up again without meaning to, his body begging for release. it wasnât just the friction. it was you â your voice, your laugh, the way you sounded like you were half-asleep and smiling through every word.
and fuck, he wanted you to hear. even if it ruined everything.
âhey,â you said again, more curious now. âyou really okay? you sound like youâreââ
âiâm fâfuck,â mark hissed through his teeth, a broken sound slipping out before he could stop it.
his back arched. he turned his face into the pillow beside him and bit down, hard. his whole body jerked with need.
âs-sorry, sorryââ
you blinked on the other end. âmark⊠are you⊠are you sick or something?â
ân-no,â mark whimpered, voice cracking again.
his chest was heaving, cock twitching wildly in his hand now. the wet slick noises of it were starting to get louder â he was so close it hurt.
âmark, you sure youâre okay? your voice soundsâlike youâre in pain or something. youâre not crying, right?â
he almost was.
ânoân-not crying. j-justâŠâ
his fingers slipped, the slick glide of his palm stuttering for a second. he couldnât do this much longer. every syllable you said was like fuel thrown on the fire. his entire body was one big live wire, and all it would take was one more second of your voice, soft and unknowing in his ear, and heâdâ
âoh fuckâfuckfuckâahââ he gasped suddenly, louder than he meant to.
he couldnât stop it. his hips jerked up off the bed, his legs kicked once, hard, heel catching on the sheet.
âshitââ
âmark?â
bit it was too late.
he came with a guttural noise halfway between a gasp and a whimper, hand still pumping as thick heat spilled across his abs, wrist, stomach. his thighs were trembling, whole body shaking, the pleasure rolling over him in uncontrollable, stuttering waves. he clenched the phone so tight it creaked in his palm.
your voice cut through the haze.
ââŠwait. are youâholy shit. were you jerking off?â
mark froze. his face was bright red, chest heaving, jaw slack as the last pulses of pleasure shook through him.
he didnât answer. he couldnât.
the silence stretched â the only thing in his room now was the sound of him breathing. hard and shallow. still a little shaky, his hand still cupped over the base of his cock, half-hard and twitching against his sticky palm.
the mess was cooling on his stomach, and he was pretty sure his heart had stopped beating somewhere between orgasm and panic.
ââŠmark?â
you sounded different now. not angry. not teasing. just⊠surprised. confused. and a little quieter. your voice had dropped half a note, softer in a way that made his throat close. mark swallowed.
his voice cracked when he finally said it :
ây-yeah.â
one word. barely more than a whisper.
he shifted in bed, feeling how damp the sheets were under his thighs, how raw his skin felt, sensitive to the air now. still holding the phone, mark let out a low, shaky breath and forced himself to speak again.
âi was. i⊠i was jerking off.â
silence.
god, he wanted to disappear. the shame was burning. he shut his eyes and dragged a hand down his face, fingers shaking slightly. his cock gave a small, involuntary twitch in his hand even now. he shouldâve hung up. shouldâve made up some lie. shouldâve said anything else.
instead, he added : âi couldnât stop thinking about your voice. itâfuck, it made it worse. better. i donât know. i justâneeded it.â
there was a pause on the other end. but this one felt different.
ââŠdamn,â you finally said.
the word came out low, cautious.
markâs breath caught. he squeezed his eyes shut.
âyouâre mad,â he mumbled, voice hoarse. âi get it, iâmâfucked up, iâm sorry, i shouldnât have calledââ
âno,â you cut in fast. âno, iâm not mad.â
mark blinked. âyouâre⊠not?â
âi meanâŠâ you hesitated. âthatâs kinda⊠hot.â
mark sat up straighter, heart kicking into a full sprint again. âwhat?â
your voice was a little different now. lower. a little breathy. âyou really called me⊠while you were doing that?â
mark nodded before realizing you couldnât see it.
ây-yeah.â
he was still hard. somehow. his body didnât know how to stop with you still on the phone, your voice suddenly filled with something heavier. curiosity? tension? hunger? whatever it was, it sparked like a live wire right in his chest.
âyou⊠wanted to hear me that bad?â you asked.
and mark could picture the look on your face now â confused, pink-cheeked, maybe biting your lip the way you always did when you were trying to process something fast.
âi did,â mark whispered. âi wanted to imagine you in my ear. i already was. but when i actually heard you⊠i couldnât stop. you sounded so warm. likeâlike you were laying next to me.â
âshit,â you mutter, your breath hitched now. âthatâsâŠâ
mark gripped the phone tighter. âwhat?â
âkind of really hot,â you admitted. âlike, weirdly hot.â
something inside mark broke open at that.
his hand reflexively slid down over his cock again â not stroking yet, but holding it, grounding himself in sensation, in your voice and the feeling of still being on the edge, desperate for more. his stomach clenched, hips shifting under the blankets.
âare youâŠâ he tried. âturned on right now?â
a soft exhale from you bedore you anwser.
âyeah.â
the sound mark made wasnât even a word. just a needy gasp, like heâd been underwater and your answer let him breathe again. he rolled his hips forward a little into his palm, dragging his fingers lightly over the head of his cock. still sensitive. almost unbearable.
âcan i come over?â you asked.
markâs breath hitched. the thought was overwhelming, making his cock twitch even more.
âyes,â he said immediately, too fast, too eager. his voice cracked on it, raw and wet with want. âyes, pleaseâfuck, i want you to.â
there was a pause â not hesitation, but heat. you were quiet for a second, and he could hear you shifting on the other end, probably sitting up now, heart racing like his.
âleave the door unlocked,â you said.
mark nodded again, even though you couldnât see.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch âą No registration required âą HD streaming
popping in to say that while iâm so sad by markâs departure, iâm also so incredibly moved by markâs words in his letter.
thereâs a particular courage in walking away from the thing that built and shaped you and in being able to leave something so grand and safe to find something bigger than your current self. most people never do that. i am incredibly moved that he has chosen that journey: to leave the thing that made him, so he can become the person he knowâs he was always meant to be.
his departure isnât him just leaving, but it is him also modeling a kind of self-trust people hardly ever have. people often think courage is that cinematic moment where someone stands up and declares their new path to everyone, but, truthfully, it is often a quiet, fearful, and private decision where you turn it over in your head a million times and have a million conversations over the same topic over and over again with loved ones before you decide youâll eventually have to loosen the grip on whatâs defined you to find whatâs waiting for you.
letting go of something big isnât just courageous either, itâs painful, lonely, and disorienting, and i can only imagine what it feels like when the life youâre letting go of is whatâs been the majority of your life AND career.
i donât mean to sound parasocial. i am, in full honesty, just recognizing the weight of someone making a life changing decision in full view of the world and admiring the courage it takes to do that. as someone who understands the courage it takes to walk away from personal experiences, this has given me the opportunity to watch someone name a truth iâve been developing for a while now. shout out to mark lee, i truly believe when you choose yourself, youâll find where youâre meant to be.
summary: One night during freshersâ week, followed by a quiet disappearance. No promises, no numbers exchanged, no reason to ever see each other again. But when you run into Mark on campus two years later, it becomes painfully clear that some nights donât stay in the past â no matter how hard you try to leave them there.
pairing: student!mark x female student!reader.    Â
genre: university!au, fluff, crack, angst, strangers to lovers, smut! mdni!
word count: ~15k Â
warnings: emotional slow burn, blurred lines, itâs giving âšsituationshipâš, mark is a sweetheart, like tooth-achingly sweet, alcohol consumption, lots of flirting and awkwardness, heâs shy but confident at the same time(?), he says âdudeâ a lot (obvs), talks of pregnancy, menstruation and sanitary products, oc is one confused human being pls donât judge her, smut: fingering, unprotected sex, pull out method is used (donât be silly), multiple orgasms, overstimulation, dirty talk, praise, light choking, lots of teasing, nipple play, heâs a hard!dom for like a sec and then pathetic again, multiple positions, oral (fem receiving), brief masturbation (he watches lmao), cumshot, cum eating<3, he makes her cum while sheâs on her period bc he's a king (sheâs wearing a tampon dw), probs moreâŠya'll should know how unhinged i am by now so read at your own risk.
a/n: hi hi hi hi!! After many many requests, I wholeheartedly give you Mr. top yearner himself, Mark Lee! This part is mostly smut and emotional turmoil bc I had to somehow introduce their backstory. The second part is where shit goes down, so there will be a lot more plot in that one. This story is very dear to me bc itâs basically inspired from real life events (yes, I used to be a messy bitch back in uni, sue me), but my Mark wasnât as nice as the one in this fic. Anyway, I genuinely hope you guys love it as much as I do and pleaseeeee do let me know your thoughts!! I would also appreciate ideas and guesses for part two as Iâm still currently working on it. I canât wait to read your comments and asks. Please don't hesitate to bombard me.Â
Love always,Â
Cookie <3
Part 2 | masterlist | ko-fi
Mark squints against the morning sun, nursing the headache pounding at his temples. Coffee in hand, he trudges along campus with Giselle beside him, whoâs already mid-rant about something heâs only half-listening to. Maybe a date? Heâs pretty sure itâs not too important anyway.
 Last nightâs party is still hanging around in his skull like a bad song he canât skip. Every step feels like itâs happening underwater â students rushing, bikes clattering, the faint smell of coffee â but Mark barely notices
 ââand then heâugh, I canât evenââ she huffs, flopping her arm dramatically against her tote bag.
 âMm,â Mark mumbles, focusing on nothing in particular, willing the throbbing to ease.
 Out of the corner of his eye, movement. Someone rushing. Head down. Bag bouncing. Textbook late-for-class energy.
 âGiselle!â a voice calls, sharp but friendly.
 Mark freezes. Head still fuzzy. He glances overâand it clicks.
 Y/N. Shit. What the actual fuck. No way.
 His chest stutters in a way thatâs both familiar and alarming. Two years ago. One night. One too many drinks. Memories creeping in before his brain has a chance to protest.
 Giselle, oblivious, smiles warmly. âOh! Y/N, hey!â
 Mark blinks, still stunned.
 âMark,â she says, gesturing to him, âthis is Y/N. WeâŠuh, go to the same Pilates class.â
 Simple. Casual. Like nothing else exists.
 You raise an eyebrow, calm, clear recognition. âWe actually know each other,â you say lightly, voice teasing but neutral. âSmall world, huh?â
 Markâs throat goes dry. Words stick. Coffee threatens to slosh. His hangover doesnât help. He wants to say something witty, somethingâanythingâbut his brain refuses to cooperate.
 You glance at your phone, already in motion. âSorry, Iâm actually so late. Catch you later Gi!â You pause for a moment. âGood to see you.â That last bit is directed at him and all Mark can do is bob his head like an idiot.
 âSee you tomorrow!â Giselle exclaims, her chirpy voice penetrating his throbbing skull.
 You dart off without another word, back straight, long strides taking you in the opposite direction from the library.
 Mark stands frozen for a second, watching the familiar sway of your shoulders disappear down the path, stomach twisting, headache forgotten.
 Giselle nudges him. âYou good?â
 Mark snaps back, clutching his backpack strap like a lifeline. âYeahâŠyeah, fine,â he mutters, voice rough. But inside? His heart refuses to behave.
 This must be some kind of joke.
 âDude.â Markâs voice comes out in a whisper. As though heâs wary of people hearing.
 Giselle takes an inquisitive look at him. âWhy are your eyes so big?â
 Great, now he looks insane.
 âHow do you know her?â Mark asks, completely ignoring Giselleâs valid question. He needs to know.
 âI literally just said Pilates?â
 âOhâŠright.â He keeps walking and Giselle quickly follows. Her expression nothing short of baffled.
 âUmm. What am I missing here?â She speaks in a rushed manner as she tries to keep up with Markâs quick strides. Who is he even running from?
 âNothing.â Mark deflates as he quickens his step. The library couldnât feel any further.
 âOi, spaz!â Giselle grabs onto Marks elbow. âSlow down and fess up.â
 Her demands get through to him. He halts his pace and turns to face his friend properly for the first time since you walked away from them. With a heavy sigh he accepts that even the slight attempt of hiding something from her, would be futile.
 âWe slept together first week of uni.â The words come out so jumbled, heâd be surprised if Giselle caught them.
 âPardon?â
 âWe fucked. Two years ago.â He rephrases. Slower this time.
 âSorry. What?â The question more of an indication of shock than a demand of clarification.
 âEver heard of sex?â He tries sarcastically.
 âUh-huh.â Giselleâs frown almost resembles an animated characterâs.
 âIâve had it. With her.â He points a thumb towards the direction you earlier walked off to and he canât help but feel amused at Giselleâs flabbergasted reaction.
 âHow-â
 âA party. Fresherâs week. Câmon dude, switch on please.â Heâs embarrassed. Maybe even slightly irritated that his reckless escapades from freshersâ week have become such a big matter of attention.
 âOkay. Sorry, I just- I pictured it and now I need someone to reset me.â Giselle pinches the bridge of her nose, eyes closing as if trying to erase the picture from her brain.
 Marks rolls his eyes at his friendâs exaggerated gag. âI could flick your big fat head.â
 âOkay, okay. SoâŠâ She trails expectantly, completely dismissing his irritation.
 Mark doesnât really know what more he can say. Heâs elaborated enough.
 âYeah..?â He gestures his hand for her to continue.
 âWell, what happened after theâŠyou know.â Giselleâs eyebrows shoot up suggestively.
 âThe sex?â Mark points out on purpose and snorts a laugh when his friend scrunches up her nose in disgust. He might as well make her feel as uncomfortable as he is.
 âYeah, that.â Giselle nods, the pained expression still on her face.
 âI havenât seen her since. Well, hadnât.â He admits simply. Itâs the truth.
 âShit, so you quite literally just fucked.â Itâs a statement but it comes out more like a question.
 âPretty much.â Mark shrugs, struggling to keep an unbothered front. âShe sneaked out in the morning and I just never saw her again.â
 âYou didnât get her number orâŠ?â
 âI mean, I didnât really get the chance. PlusâŠâ He pauses to think. Or more like reminisce.
 It was his first night out on campus, and you? You were the first person he noticed when he stepped foot in that house party. The first girl he brought back to his tiny, undecorated dorm at the time.
 He didnât really expect anything more than what he got. Thatâs what he approached you for initially. But he also didnât expect you to disappear without so much of word after the night you had together.
 Mark still thinks about it sometimes. Not because it was magical or anything of the sort. If anything, his performance could easily be described as bang out average.
 What he really thinks about is how you two stayed up for hours. Naked. Talking, kissing, fucking then talking and kissing, then fucking again. He thinks about how he felt so comfortable. So at peace but also confused at the same time. How youâd only known him for a few hours but still trusted him enough to fall asleep on his chest, in that small first-year dorm bed.
 Mark, never having been the naive type, he knew he couldnât just date the first girl he met at the first party he went to on campus, but spending days typing your first name in his instagram search bar definitely wasnât on his bingo card. Not only that, but unintentionally searching for you at pubs, bars, parties, uni corridors for weeks? Yeah, that certainly wasnât on his bingo card.
 âPlus, it wasnât anything serious.â He concludes, sounding almost defensive.
 âAww, Markie poo. Did she break your heart?â Giselle pouts performatively.
 âTsk.â Mark kisses his teeth in annoyance, adamantly refusing to succumb to her mocking, as he resumes his quick steps. Giselle, of course, unfortunately for him, isnât one to let things go. So she matches his pace.
 âOh, come on. Iâm just playing-
 âWait. So, if youâre, like, friends,â Mark abruptly turns, index accusingly pointing at her, his steps coming to a halt again and Giselle exhales in relief. âHow come youâve never mentioned her?â
 âI literally met her a month ago. She was on a year abroad last year.â Ah. Well, that certainly explains a lot.
 âDamn, thatâs cool.â He utters in surprise, as though he was hoping you were some kind of loser who was hiding out in a library. Meanwhile, you were out in god knows what country, doing god knows what and god knows who.
 âDamn, you falling back in love already?â Giselle coos annoyingly and Mark starts walking again, dismissive of her teasing. âWait! Iâm sorry! At least tell me if the sex was good. Oh my god, is she like the best youâve ever had? Is that why youâre hung up on her?â
 âYouâre a nuisance.â He mutters grumpily.
 âAwh, really? I mean I could invite her to Chenleâs on Saturday but if Iâm such a nuisance then I guess I wonât bother-
 âWait. Actually?â Markâs head snaps toward his friend a lot quicker than he can comprehend, sounding too hopeful and probably a little pathetic, and Giselleâs sinister grin makes him realise his slip up.
 How can someone go from not existing to occupying every corner of this plane earth?
 Heâd gotten accustomed to not worrying about bumping into you, but now heâs always wary. Always alert. Heâs even started putting more effort in his outfits, just in case you see him. Even though, heâs pretty sure you never notice him. At least not like he notices you.
 And however wary he is, he still feels taken aback each time he comes across your presence.
 And now, Mark is annoyed. Because he simply canât enjoy his Saturday night like he always does.
He canât get absolutely plastered with his friends like he always does to forget about deadlines and assignments. Because what if youâre here, at this very party? Yeah, Giselle did invite you and of course, you gave a very vague response â something along the lines of âyeah, that sounds like funâ â and of course, youâre allowed to do as you please, but what if you turn up out of nowhere while Mark is blackout drunk? What if he embarrasses himself in front of you? Or worse, what if his big gob utters something stupid? God forbid.
 And so, he takes it easy tonight. Small sips. Slowly consuming whatever his cup contains. He thinks itâs vodka with some kind of tropical mixer. Not really his cup of tea, but he settled anyway.
 âWhat sort of pace is this?â Chenle asks, sounding almost offended.
 âHuh?â Mark looks up from his cup, one hand swirling the liquid in his cup, the other splayed on the back of the sofa behind Chenleâs shoulders.
 âYour drinking pace is embarrassing.â The younger boy explains. âWe got no practice on Monday, so the whole two-day hangover excuse ainât gonna save you this time.â
 âI got other commitments too, you know.â Mark side eyes his friend. âBasketball isnât my only worry, Iâm in final year.â
 âBlah blah blah. Donât give me that shit, youâre acing all your exams. Pretty sure youâre on for a first class.â Chenle babbles loudly, definitely tipsy by now and Mark canât help but wrap his arm around his friendâs shoulders, playfully trapping him in a headlock. Chenle doesnât even fight him off, comfortably resting his head on Markâs shoulder.
 âSince when do you worry so much about me, huh?â Mark teases, squeezing Chenle into his side.
 âSince when are you so affectionate?â Chenle questions suspiciously.
 âI thought you said being a little gay for your bros is acceptable.â Mark defends, referring to the time they spooned while having a drunk, deep meaningful conversation about their childhood trauma and then fell asleep.
 âDonât remind me. Iâll get hard.â
 âGet off me.â Mark shoves a giggling Chenle away, squishing him against a random girl sat next to them. And just like that, in the midst of apologising, Chenleâs already compromised attention span works in Markâs favour, because a few minutes later, the younger boy is entrapped in a flirty conversation with the girl that laughs a little too loud at his bad jokes.
 Thankfully, Markâs gaze catches Giselleâs, whoâs stood by the kitchen counter. She excitedly waves him over, holding a shot of clear liquid in each hand and he canât help but scrunch his nose in disgust. The tilt of her head along with the disappointed expression on her face does enough to convince him.
 Fuck it. One shot wonât hurt. Heâs a big boy.
 He spills a bit of his drink as he squeezes through the swamp of people that occupies the living room. Pitbull blares through the speakers and Mark realises that shot is definitely needed. Heâs too sober for this chaos, so he rushes for the kitchen.
 âHonestly, how the fuck does Chenle get girls so-
 Mark is pretty sure the colour drains from his face the second he steps in the kitchen vicinity. There you are. Again. Like his fucking shadow. Haunting him. Only this time youâre mid-laugh, perched up on the counter, a filled shot glass in your hand and Mark realises that heâs walked right into Giselleâs trap.
 âHey, loser.â Giselle interrupts his trance, casually shoving the spare shot glass in his free hand. âHere. Do a shot with us.â
 âUmm. Yeah, okay.â Mark doesnât have the time to ponder his actions. As though heâs on autopilot, the second you and Giselle down your shots, he tips his head back, doing the same. He doesnât even flinch at the burn, probably in need of it and the second his eyes land on yours, Giselle starts violently coughing.
 âJesus.â He mutters, quickly grabbing an empty glass from the counter, filling it with tap water before passing it to his struggling friend. âDown it, you idiot.â
 And Giselle starts doing just that, but before she can finish the contents of the glass, sheâs covering her mouth in panic. Mark steps closer, and the second he touches her shoulder in concern, sheâs running out of the kitchen and down the hallway where the bathroom is.
 Fucking brilliant.
 âDo you think she needs help?â Your voice penetrates his ears, urging him to turn around and face you. As always, taken aback by your presence.
 âI- um- nah. Nah donât worry. Sheâll be fine.â Mark tries to sound reassuring, but his voice has a slight tremble to it. Get a grip, dude.
 âI can go check up on her if-
 âHonestly, sheâll be fine. The woman can never stomach shots. Trust me.â His words are rushed. Partly because heâs telling the truth, and partly because he refuses to miss the opportunity of whatever this is.
 âAre you two together then?â
 âWhat? No.â He shakes his head so fast his neck slightly cramps. âNo, weâre not. Just friends. We live together.â
 He relaxes a little when you nod. A tight lipped smile adorns your pretty face and for the first time in what feels like forever, Mark finally gets the chance to take you in.
 Here you are, again. Right in front of him. So close. Looking at him. As pretty as he remembers you. Albeit looking different in a way, still carrying the same calm aura.
 âWhat?â You ask softly, smile a little lopsided.
 âNothing. Just â donât worry.â He shakes his head again, eyes drifting down to his hands, twirling his drink in his cup again to distract himself from his fast heartbeat. âItâs weird.â
 âI like weird.â Youâre still smiling when he meets your eyes again.
 His eyebrows raise a little when you pat the spot next to you, silently asking him to join you on the counter as more people crowd the kitchen.
 His shoulder brushes yours briefly when he hoists himself up, the warmth hard to miss. He does his best to steady his breathing but feels like heâs miserably falling when he breathes in your sweet perfume. âI dunno. Just weird seeing you. Feels like Iâm seeing a ghost. Kind of.â
 God, that sounds so lame. He almost winces in pain.
 âWait, how do we know each other again? I know we do, but Iâm having trouble placing you.â You say in genuine wonderment and Mark feels his heart drop to his stomach. He miserably prays that youâre playing a horrible prank on him, but your perplexed eyes tell him otherwise.
 âYou donât re- we- um- freshers week? Câmon. Surely you remember.â He tries subtly, hoping he wonât have to spell it out for you.
 You shake your head in denial. âI honestly have no clue what youâre on about.â
 Fuck. You have actually forgotten. Were you that drunk or was that night so insignificant to you?
 This is fucking horrifying. A nightmare he's hoping he can wake up from. âYo, seriously?â
 âRemind me?â You suggest lightheartedly, with the most innocent smile. âI have the worst memory, Iâm sorry.â
 What the actual fuck.
 âWha- you actually donât remember? Like no recollection whatsoever?â He checks one more time, hating that he sounds so desperate. He really finds it hard to believe that youâve forgotten a night he remembers so vividly. A night he often has to lock up in the back of his mind.
 You snort, a short laugh escaping as your face shows nothing but amusement. âYouâre really gullible, you know.â
 Jail. You belong in jail for that. Heâs suing you for emotional damage.
 He scoffs loudly, hating that he almost fell for it.
You laugh a little louder this time and he canât help the little smile that curls on his lips. âYou fucking- are you having me on?â
 âSorry, it was just too easy.â
 âDude.â He whines, hiding his face in his hands. âThat is actually vile behaviour. Youâre going to hell.â
 âFor being too funny?â Your comical expression would have normally pissed him off if you werenât this captivating.
 He doesnât have a comeback. He just stares straight ahead, jaw clenching to retain a smile, hands struggling not to squish the plastic cup in them and he almost flinches when your foot kicks his. Intentional, playful, soft as ever.
 âOf course, I remember.â Your gaze burning his side profile is so difficult to ignore. So he succumbs. Head turning to face you, eyes finding yours. âKinda hard to forget.â
 âReally? That bad?â He jokes, although, heâs worried he might be right.
 You breathe out a cute laugh, eyes dropping to your fumbling hands, fingers playing with the rip on your jeans. âIâm not insulting your performance, Mark Lee.â
 Heâs positive heâs blushing. His face and neck feel hot, hands are sweating and heâs very aware of your proximity. The music is loud enough for you to lean closer to speak.
 âWhat are you insulting then?â
 âI could be praising you know.â You side eye him for a reaction he refuses to offer. âUnless youâre not into that anymore.â
 He canât help the shocked laugh that escapes his throat. How can someone be so forward? Bringing up a kink of his you clocked back then? Outrageous. Uncalled for. And honestly? Kind of sexy.
 âWell, this is embarrassing.â Mark nervously downs the remainder of his drink in a big gulp at a failed attempt to cool down as heâs pretty sure steam is coming out of his ears that donât fail to pick up at the loud snort you let out.
 âSee? I remember a lot more than you think.â You tap your temple with your index finger. A harmless gesture, which Mark finds inexplicably attractive.
 âWhy hard to forget?â He redirects the subject, refusing to have a nervous breakdown before he finds out whatâs important.
 You seem skeptical, as though youâre assessing your words before you utter them and Markâs nerves resurface. âI guess thereâs no harm in telling you now.â
 âWhat?â He presses impatiently.
 Did he get you pregnant or something? Oh god, is that why you disappeared? Does he currently have a two-year old child running about?
 âOkay, donât make it a big deal.â
 âShit. Do I have a kid?â He accidentally thinks out loud.
 âWhat? No, Mark, what the- no!â Your loud laugh helps him relax a little and he canât help but notice the way you lightly shove him by the shoulder as you throw your head back. At least one of you is amused. âI was just gonna sayâ that it was my first time.â
 Oh.
 OH.
 âHuh?â It comes out louder than intended. He canât help it. Youâre definitely lying. âAs in you neverâ before that?â
 âYes.â
 âReally?â
 âYes.â
 âShit.â He can feel his eyes widening to the max as he looks around in shock. âIâm sorry.â
 âWhat for?â Youâre clearly holding back a laugh and Mark feels like he desperately needs air. Or a whole bottle of vodka. Yeah, that would do.
 âI donât know.â He panics. âI justâ I mean, your first time isâ you know, important. It should mean something. No?â
 You narrow your eyes at him for a second and Mark decides heâs going to die. Here, tonight, in Chenleâs fancy kitchen. âFirst of all. That couldnât be more of a stereotype. Second of all. Who said it didnât mean anything?â
 âI mean, it was pretty obvious it didnât.â The words roll out like waterfall.
 âWhat?â
 âHow much could it have meant if you justâŠleft?â That seems to shut you up, your eyes wider than before, mouth slightly open. âWithout a word.â He adds. He had to say it. After all this time, he finally gets to complain about something that bothered him long enough and he feels relief. A weight lifted off his shoulders.
 He expects you to argue. To defend yourself, and the little nod you give, somewhat shocks him.
 âFair point.â Your attention returns to the rip on your thigh, your fingers pulling at the loose threads.
 âI didnât do anything weird, right? Like, I didnât make you feel uncomfortable in any way, orâŠ?â He canât help but worry that maybe it was all too much for you, considering you hadnât been with anyone else prior to that. Maybe thatâs why you quietly escaped in the morning?
 âNo. Not at all.â You quickly shake your head with a sweet smile. âIf anything, I donât think it could have been any better.â
 Mark feels relief wash over him, his limbs instantly relaxing. He nods with a satisfied pout on his face but inside heâs proudly gloating.
 âWell, Iâm glad Iâummm, you know.â He realises that whatever heâs about to say, could easily be misconstrued.
 âYouâre glad you took my v-card?â You ask with an amused frown and he canât help but roll his eyes. Mostly at his stupidity, but also at your relentless teasing.
 âNo.â He gives you a pointed look. âJust glad I didnât ruin it for you.â
 Your fond smile makes him feel warm. In a good way this time.
 âCan I ask you something?â He blurts out, curiosity getting the better of him. You simply give him a small nod as you take a small sip of your drink. âHow come you didnât say anything? Not that you had to obviously. I just feel like I would have been more careful if you had.â
 âThatâs exactly why I didnât.â Your purse your lips in thought. âI would have. But, with you, I figured it was unnecessary.â
 âOh, sorry, was I a little too vanilla for you?â He complains sarcastically.
 âIâm not gonna give you feedback.â You retort with a grin and Mark swears your cheeks werenât as flushed a minute ago.
 âI didnât ask you to.â He shrugs, feigning nonchalance.
 It could be his delusion, but Mark feels tension brewing, and he wonders if itâs just him. Maybe itâs the alcohol finally catching up to him, but your silence betrays something he canât quite decipher.
 âWas it not obvious then?â You interrupt his inner thoughts, the question simple, easy to answer, but Markâs brain short circuits for a moment.
 âI mean, I wasnât that experienced myself.â He clears his throat once. âI just thought we were both shy. Clearly thatâs not the case for you anymore.â
 âThat a problem?â
 âNah. Itâs been what? Two years? And youâve spent a year in a foreign country. Iâd be surprised if you were the exact same person.â He explains and he circles the rim of his cup slowly, suddenly a little bashful, but content at the same time.
 âWhat about you? You think youâre still shy?â You slowly reach over, hand gently wrapping around his wrist gently before you bring his hand to your lap. Mark is about to question your actions but your fingers delicately untying the knot of his bracelet make him hold back his protest.
 âAt times.â He responds as he watches you fix the knot carefully.
 And when youâre done and heâs about to remove his hand, your hold tightens, preventing him. His breathing stutters and so does his pulse. The heat of your skin on his, too much for him to handle, but he still obliges, letting his hand rest limp on your thigh, palm facing up, unable to properly touch you, but still enough for his brain to remember things. To remember how he touched you that night. How you touched him.
 âWhat about now? Feeling shy?â You donât meet his gaze when he looks at you, your eyes still on his hand as your thumb traces his pulse point. Goosebumps litter his skin, the tiny twitch of your lips telling him youâve noticed.
 âI donât know. Do I seem shy?â Answering with a question is the only way his brain can muster.
 âHmm.â You finally eye him, carefully inspecting his face, and he feels exposed. âMaybe a little. I kinda think thatâs part of your charm, though.â
 His eyebrows lift in genuine surprise. âMy charm?â
 âMhm.â
 âYou think Iâm charming?â He canât conceal the stupid smile that erupts on his face. Weak man. Maybe he does have a praise kink.
 âYou managed to get me in your bed. Iâm not that easy.â You say with a casual shrug. Too casual. And Mark has to look away. If he could, heâd run away, but your damn hand is still wrapped around his arm, locking him down. Itâs your fault he canât escape and definitely not the fact that he doesnât want to ever pull away from your touch.
 âDude, are you, like, flirting with mââ
 âDo you wanna come back to mine?â Again, youâre too casual. No ounce of hesitation, just plain expectation.
 âNow?â Itâs the only word he can come up with.
 âI mean, at some point tonight would be ideal, yes.â Your smirk irritates him. He wants to kiss it off your face. Maybe he can if he agrees to go back with you.
 Should he?
 âYou want me to fuck you again?â He only realises heâs said the lewd words out loud by the widening of your eyes. Why does he always end up putting his foot in his mouth?
 âTo put it plainly, yeah, I guess I want you to fuck me again.â You say with the most demure smile.
 The contrast scares him. You scare him. He should have been wise and ran for the hills the second he laid eyes on you two years ago.
 âI didnât mean to say it like that.â He rushes to apologise but you cut him off with a squeeze around his wrist.
 âYay or nay?â You ask, a hint of impatience in your tone that makes Mark bite his lip to hide a smile. Youâve got one eyebrow raised, expression almost offended at the delay in his reply.
 He quickly hops off the counter, empty cup forgotten on the surface, the skin on the arm you were touching only seconds ago, already tingling. But heâs made his decision.
 You seem taken aback, the crease between your eyebrows betraying your confusion. And if Mark were to take a guess, he could say thereâs a trace of disappointment in your eyes.
 Youâre about to hop off the counter when he cages you in. Almost in panic at the thought of you walking away from him. Your ass is on the edge of the surface and he canât help but smile at the way you quickly grab onto his shoulders to steady yourself.
 âWhere you off to?â He asks quietly, only for you to hear. His hands settling on each side on you on the counter as he steps closer.
 âNowhere.â You match his tone, legs parting, allowing him to take up the space between them as your hands trail down to his chest. Your touch soft on his jumper, but he can still feel the weight of it.
 Heâs positive you can feel his insane heart trying to jump out of his rib cage. He doesnât mind. Not when he gets to have you this close and feel the heat radiating off your body.
 âDo you think about it?â His voice comes out in a whisper but he knows you hear him. âThat night?â
 âSometimes.â You admit. Eyes anywhere but on his; avoidant.
 âAre you embarrassed?â He leans down a little, levelling with you and you smile bashfully as you finally meet his gaze.
 âMore like flustered.â Your hands travel down to his stomach as your knees squeeze him in and he moves even closer, his torso flush against yours.
 âTell me. What do you think about?â He whispers, his lips brushing against the bridge of your nose as your hands slowly slide lower, until your fingers hook into his belt loops.
 âNot here.â Your breath hits his chin and he desperately wants to lean in, but he refrains, enjoying your squirming a little too much.
 âWhy not?â He tilts his head, your lips just millimetres away. His hands decide to move on their own, finding their way to your waist as you inhale deeply. âWhatever it is, Iâve probably already thought about it.â
 Your cocky expression annoys him. âDo I often occupy your mind?â
 âYou used to.â He admits openly as he delicately strokes along your ribs, thumbs smoothing over the undersides of your bra, your thin top making the touch more intense.
 You smile smugly as you let your fingers slip under the hem of his hoodie, finding the bare skin of his lower abdomen and he hates that the simplest of touches affects him so much. Itâs all effortless. Just a trace of a finger has him weak in the knees, his breath unstable, lips aching to be on yours.
 âMark?â You lean closer, your forehead dropping on his shoulder as you exhale a trembling breath.
 âHm?â He traces his knuckles up and down your spine, his other hand splaying on your lower back, where your skin is uncovered.
 âIâm so wet right now, itâs fucking embarrassing.â
 âJesus.â He whispers, lips touching your ear and he feels your shudder as his hand slithers in your hair, lightly tugging to get you to look at him.
 Your hands clutch at his belt, not really initiating anything, just holding. Itâs enough for his blood to rush where it shouldnât, heart pounding. Your hooded eyes donât help either, and if it werenât for the people occupying the kitchen, heâd be bending you over this counter right this second. The scandalous thought very unlike him.
 âThereâs a spare room here. I stay in it sometimes after basketball practice.â He suggests carefully, not really possessing the patience to go back to either of your apartments. Fuck being in an uber with a hard on.
 You seem skeptical for a moment. âYou ever fucked anyone in it?â
 âNo.â He answers quickly. âI donât really do one niââ
 âOkay, yeah.â You nod, teeth trapping your bottom lip as you not-so-subtly stare at his mouth.
 He knows what you want. He wants the same thing. But when he kisses you, itâs going to be private. No people staring or interrupting.
 So he pulls away. Your shaky exhale makes him smile proudly. He made you nervous.
 âCome.â He takes your hand in his when youâre back on your feet and he feels giddy at how easily you comply, how you follow him, naturally clinging onto his arm as he guides you through the crowd.
 You squeeze on his bicep with the hand thatâs not in his to get his attention and he slightly leans down to hear you over the music. You point your chin over to the occupied sofa, cheeky smile taking over your face as you take in the sight of a perfectly healthy Giselle, laughing her lungs out at something Chenle is so passionately rambling on about.
 Mark shakes his head with a smile, but mentally makes a note to later grill his friend about the totally fake throwing up incident. He doesnât even say anything, just keeps walking down the hallway, where both bedrooms are.
 When you both enter the neat spare room, he shuts the door behind him and sighs at the loud crowd and music becoming nothing but a background noise.
 âIs this Chenle guy rich or something?â You ask curiously as you look around, inspecting the spacious room.
 Mark lets out a quick laugh, eyes following you around, observing you. âYeah. His parents are loaded. Pretty sure his dad owns this whole building.â
 You nod with an approving pout and all Mark can think is how adorable you look as you fumble with the bedside lamp, trying to figure out how it works. The second it illuminates, you let out an exaggerated gasp, your eyes widening and Mark doesnât know what takes over him but he flicks the main lights off, surprising both of you.
 He leans back on the door, resting his weight there, hands at the small of his back as he patiently waits for your next move.
 âSmooth.â You comment with a small grin as you place the small lamp back in its spot.
 He just shrugs, mirroring your expression as you slowly retrace your steps, walking back towards him. Itâs difficult for him not to blush as you get closer and closer; his heart threatening to beat out of his chest again and again and he awkwardly lifts a hand to rub against his jawline. His eyes rake over you unintentionally, taking in the outfit youâve got on tonight. Itâs simple; an off-shoulder crop top and light-washed baggy jeans. Pretty. Easy to remove.
 He feels hot at the thought of undressing you. What if heâs too clumsy? What if your earrings get tangled in your top? What if he accidentally pulls your hair?
 âAre you just gonna stand there?â You speak tentatively, as though youâre enjoying the silence. You seem a lot more composed and calm than him. Not like someone who not too long ago uttered the words âIâm so wet right now. Itâs fucking embarrassingâ, but then again, maybe youâre always like this. Fluctuating.
 âWhere do you want me?â He asks, not intending for the words to sound sexual, but somehow, they do, and he has to close his eyes for a moment. Composure slowly slipping away.
 âTo be honest, you look pretty good just like thisâ You halt in front of him, but still out of reach. âBut for tonightâs purposes, ideally, Iâd want you on the bed.â Fuck. âUnless you have any other ideas.â
 Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
 âDude.â He exhales a pained laugh, hand covering his eyes in frustration. You simply just giggle at his misery.
 Without him seeing, your hands are suddenly on him; one touching his chest, the other peeling his hand away from his face, forcing him to look at you. And heâs definitely not complaining. Before he has time to take in your pretty face, your palm is engulfing the back of his neck, pulling him down to your level.
 Heâs not sure who finally closes the gap, his mind too occupied with the softness of your lips and the way they slot with his. So effortlessly. Deja vu is inevitable when your arms wrap around his neck, holding him closer, and his limbs suddenly come back to life; the sliver of skin between your top and jeans so soft under his touch and so are your hands trailing from his hair down to the sides of his neck.
 The kiss is slow, sensual, almost romantic and the little noise of satisfaction you let out goes straight to his already hardening cock. The way you kiss him, contrasts the demeanour you've held up until now. Youâre going along with the pace he sets. Youâre not leading and he wonders if itâs deliberate. Can he just do however he pleases with you or will you eventually take the upper hand?
 He decides itâs worth a try by slipping a hand into your hair, tilting your head to the side so he can easily slip his tongue into your eager mouth and heâs rewarded with a low moan of yours, your lips parting for him, allowing him to taste you properly as you lazily glide your tongue with his.
He moves on autopilot, slowly walking you backwards. One hand still in your hair, the other hovering above your ass, keeping you close.
 âShoesâmphâoff.â He mumbles against your lips before you obscenely lick into his mouth and he canât hold back the grunt that escapes his throat.
 It all becomes messy so quickly. His hands clumsily unbutton your jeans as you rush to kick your shoes off without breaking the kiss, both of you gasping and laughing as you stumble over your feet. Youâve somehow managed to turn the situation around and he only realises when the backs of his knees hit the mattress.
His back hits the covers with a push from you and within seconds, youâre straddling his thighs; bare legs on either side of him as you go back to kissing him. He surprises himself with the noise he lets out when both his hands grope your ass. Not just because itâs your ass heâs touching, but mainly because of the lack of underwear, and heâd love to comment on your hastiness but at this point he doesnât really care. As long as heâs got you naked and in bed, heâs a content man.
 âTake your top off.â He instructs in a whisper, and you oblige without a question, sitting up in a heartbeat and removing the last piece of clothing youâve got on. No bra underneath and he mentally thanks the heavens. âFuck.â
 His hands caress your thighs absentmindedly as he takes in the sight above him. Thereâs something about the fact that youâre fully naked, while heâs not removed a single article of clothing. And youâre not rushing him either, patiently letting him enjoy the view, hands on his chest, ass directly above the very prominent bulge in his jeans. You seem comfortable in your nakedness and that turns him on even more, cock twitching in its confines.
 âCâmon. Nothing you havenât seen before.â Your voice is sultry, patience clearly wearing thin as his hands remain on your thighs and he abruptly sits up, crashing his mouth onto yours. One hand holds the back of your neck as the other slips between your bodies, shamelessly cupping your entire pussy, the heel of his palm rubbing against your undeniably swollen clit.
 âFuck, youâreâŠâ Heâs not able to form a complete sentence, interrupted by the loud moan you let out against his lips.
 âI told you. Itâs embarrassing.â Your fingers thread in his hair, desperately pulling, driving him insane.
 âItâs fucking hot.â Heâs corrects, completely enamoured with the way your body responds to him. Youâre literally grinding on his hand, seeking relief, kissing him like a starved woman, spit coating both of your lips as he sucks on your tongue, earning a cute whine from you.
 âFeel like Iâm dripping on your jeans.â You complain, breathing harshly as the pads of his fingers slide between your drenched folds, spreading your arousal, making a mess between your legs.
 âCause you are.â He whispers with a smug grin.
 He purposely avoids your clit, in the mood to tease you as his lips drag from your jaw down to the base of your neck. His tongue makes contact with your sweaty skin, tasting salt, your scent engulfing him as his hold on your hair tightens, pulling your head back to gain full access to your sensitive skin.
 âPlease, I really need you to fuck me.â You murmur weakly, the hoarseness of your voice causing his heart to quicken and his cock to throb painfully.
 Heâs so fucked. Beyond salvation. And youâre so fucking needy. But he doesnât want to give into you just yet. Itâs his turn to torment you a little.
 âIn a bit.â He dismisses your pleas with another suck on your neck, your crazy pulse delicious on his tongue.
 âMarkââ
 âShh. You can wait a little longer.â Two of his fingers tease your entrance, slowly circling, dipping shallowly before slipping out and repeating the action.
 He almost feels bad when your body starts trembling, so he snakes his arm around your middle, holding you as close as possible. Your messy kisses on his neck are cut short the second his fingers ease into you, following the curve of your cunt until theyâre knuckles-deep. And when he curls them slightly, your walls tighten and so do your arms around his neck, face burying in his neck as he starts to slowly pump in and out, making sure to repeatedly hit that spot that made you tremble.
 âThis feel good?â He whispers against your shoulder, arm tightening around you, the pads of his fingers almost reaching your side boob.
 âYeah.â You sigh, sounding wrecked already and that urges him to quicken the pace. He starts jackhammering his fingers into you, cunt greedily sucking them inside, your slick dripping down his wrist, smearing on his jeans and the sleeve of his jumper. The filthy thought of never washing his clothes again crosses his unhinged mind.
 Youâre both sweating unimaginably, and now he wishes heâd at least taken a layer off, but he pays no mind to that as your body tenses. âYou close?â
 âYeah. Don't stop.â Your nails dig into the skin of his nape, most likely leaving crescent moons and he desperately needs you to come before he combusts in his trousers.
 He starts slamming the heel of his hand into your clit, making sure youâre being stimulated to the max and your whiny exhale reassures him. âCum.â
 And you do. Body tensing up for a moment before you start trembling against him, the secure arm around you helping you stay upright as you gasp for air.
 âOh my god.â Your hips buck up, pussy spasming violently around his fingers as he fucks you through it all.
 âYouâre okay.â His knuckles caressing your spine, attempting to calm you down as your body gradually goes limp on him.
 âI think I just saw god.â You mumble half-conscious, causing Mark to let out a little laugh.
 âDid you say hi?â He steals a little kiss off your cheek as he slowly pulls his fingers out. Your shudder makes him smile fondly and he lets his fingers lazily caress your slit, before they gently circle your swollen bundle of nerves.
 âYouâve definitely been in at least one relationship since l last saw you.â The statement catches him off guard, and he pulls back a little to look at you.
 âWhat makes you say that?â
 You blink lazily, sweat dripping down the sides of your face. âYou found my g-spot. Real fucking quick as well.â
 âI need a girlfriend for that?â
 âWell, someoneâs taught you.â Your smile is teasing and so is the light touch of your fingers on his jaw.
 âSituationships, I guess. No girlfriend though.â He takes in your expression, heart beating a little quicker at your silence. âRed flag?â
 You give him a sweet smile. âI just came. All your flags are bright green right nowâ
 He mirrors your expression as he leans in, silently asking for a kiss, which you easily give, slowly dragging your swollen lips against his.
 âWanna keep going?â He speaks softly, praying for an affirmative response.
 âYes, please.â
 He moans at your words, hands trailing up your sides until theyâre cupping your tits, tongue sloppily licking into your mouth. The whine you let out as he pinches your nipples, spurs him on, and he squeezes the supple flesh a little harder.
 âCan I just fuck you? Please? I promise Iâll go down on you later.â The begging tone his voice carries almost makes him cringe. Pitiful.
 You let out a yelp when he flips you over, your back on the mattress now, and he canât help but notice the way your tits bounce a little as well as the slippery mess between your spread thighs.
 âYeah, no more foreplay.â You sit up as he stands between your legs that hang off the edge of the bed. âAnd take that stupid jumper off right now.â
 He chuckles lightly at your frustration but obliges anyway. His jumper and t-shirt are off in one go and he quickly kicks his shoes off as you start unbuckling his belt, lust-clouded eyes gazing up at him.
 âDonât look at me like that.â He rasps as his hands join yours, quickly unbuttoning and unzipping.
 âLike what?â Your seductive tone clouds his head and the kisses you start leaving down his happy trail make his hands shake.
 You donât give him time to answer, immediately shoving both his boxers along with his trousers down, deeming him incapable of thinking properly. Your warm exhale hits him straight where it hurts, his throbbing length twitching the second you wrap a hand around the base.
 âGet on your all fours.â He instructs, tone purposely devoid of any warmth. Heâs had enough of your games now. But still, his hands engulf each side of your face, thumbs stroking your flushed cheeks. âOr I just cum on your face and we call it a night. Up to you.â
 Your smirk is sinister as you scoot up the bed until your head hits the pillows and you swiftly turn on your front, knees spread wide, supporting your lower half as you arch your back like a pro, tits squishing against the mattress.
 âHoly shit.â He exhales in awe.
 Youâre on full display. Ass up in the air, cunt staring right through his soul, inviting him in, and who is he to decline such an invite? As though the mental breakdown heâs experiencing isnât enough, you shamelessly slip a hand between your legs, two fingers sliding through your dripping folds.
 âMarkie, please. It hurts.â You briefly look over your shoulder with a performative pout, shamelessly putting on a show for him.
 âWhat the fuck.â Heâs lost for words, standing there butt naked, staring at your fingers circling your clit before they slowly trail up, catching at your clenching hole and easily slipping in.
 Youâre an evil evil woman. He decides right there and then. And the moment you start fucking yourself, he sees red, any resolve left, completely forgotten.
 Heâs on his knees behind you within seconds. Hand ripping your fingers away before shoving your face against the pillows by the back go your head. His cock slips inside easily, walls vacuuming him in and he doesnât wait for you to adjust; his free hand grabbing your waist as he starts slamming into you.
 âYouâre fucking filthy, you know that?â He grunts through your high pitched moaning. âBeen torturing me since day one.â
 Your muffled voice sounds like a song heâs been trying to find for a long time and heâs finally succeeded.
 âMâmarkie,â You sound like youâre crying and he loves it. âFuck, it's so good.â
 âShut up.â His thrusts become more intense, balls harshly slapping against your pussy, the wet sounds of your walls suctioning around him each time he pulls out, sending him into a frenzy. âI bet this is what you wantedâfuckâto piss me off. Huh?â
 âN-no â I just wanted you.â You mumble in your delirious state, and of course, it goes straight to his head.
His eyes focus on the way his cock slips in and out of your sopping hole. A white ring of slick has already formed at his base and heâs afraid he might finish sooner than expected.
 So he buries himself to the hilt to take a much needed moment. His head dips back in ecstasy, a low groan rumbling in his chest as he tries his best to compose himself and when he looks back down, your droopy eyes are already on him, neck twisted as you stare over your shoulder, face half-hidden.
 You look nothing short of ethereal. Your skin glowing in sweat, back still arched beautifully, eyes glistening with want and unshed tears as they roll back briefly the second Mark experimentally grinds a little too deep.
 âMark?â Your voice is broken, his name sounding like a prayer.
 âHm?â He leans down, nose nuzzling against yous jaw as he keeps grinding his hips slowly, relishing in the mewls you let out.
 âWant you close.â You whisper into the pillow, a little whimper adorning the end of your sentence. Your desperation breaks him.
 âIâm here.â He reassures you with a sweet kiss on your cheek. âDâyou wanna change positions?â
 Your tiny nod pulls at his heartstrings in a way thatâs foreign to him. Heâs always been gentle by nature, soft spoken, sensitive. But this is untouched territory.
 âAlright,â He leaves a kiss on your shoulder as he pulls out. Gentle hand patting your thigh. "Câmon, turn around."
 With rushed movements, you eagerly flop on your back and his hips find home between your parted legs, the soft skin of your inner thighs dragging against his sides, making him shudder as he slowly slips back into you with a choked moan.
 âYou can still be rough. Just wanted to touch you.â You admit bashfully, eyes blinking up at him, eyebrows tensing as he bottoms out with a loud squelch.
 Your hand delicately brushes the hair off his drenched forehead, your fingers threading through the strands and the clenching and unclenching of your velvety walls cause his eyes to flutter closed âthe intense feeling of contentment clogging his brain up.
Itâs unholy. The effect you have on him. Itâs fucked. It makes no sense to him. He barely knows you, yet he welcomes everything you give him. Gives into everything you ask for, like itâs some sort of ritual. Something predetermined. A done deal with the universe. Like heâd burn in hell if he resisted.
 âDo you actually want me to be rough?â He searches your face for a sign, but he only finds conflict.
 âI dunno. Iâm confused.â
 âAbout what?â He carefully settles his weight on top of you, arm by your head, free hand caressing your ribs delicately, barely cupping the underside of your breast.
 âI umâI liked it just now. How you were. But I kind of justââ You sigh in frustration, hips slowly raising for some friction.
 âWant it slow?â He matches your rhythm, grinding into you, going as deep as he can as he awaits for a verbal response. He doesnât need it. Your bent legs spreading even further is enough confirmation, but he wants to hear it anyway. âYou know I donât mind vanilla.â
 His joke lands. Your breathy laugh, hard to ignore as it hits warm on his shoulder.
 âDonât make jokes right now.â You scold with a little whine.
 âWhy not?â He gives you a chaste kiss before setting a slow pace; deep languid thrusts, his fingers fisting the pillow by your head as he tries to hold back from giving into the sensation of your warm, gummy walls enveloping his sensitive cock.
 âYouâre literally balls deep inside me.â Your hands pull his face closer, connecting your lips again, small pants mingling as you kiss him as slow as heâs fucking you.
 âWhatever.â He mumbles dreamily in your mouth, palm finally engulfing your boob, gently squeezing the soft flesh and he involuntarily delivers a harsher thrust. âShit, sorry.â
 Itâs not his fault. Your pussy tightening every time he does something new, has him reeling, losing the little control heâs got over his actions.
 âNo, keep going, it feels good.â You kiss him harder, holding both of his cheeks desperately as he quickens his movements a little, hips lightly slapping against yours, the lewd, squelching sounds of sex, loud enough to echo alongside your wet kisses and intense breathing. âFuckâMarkâyouâoh shitâright there.â
 âYeah?â He pants, unrestrained.
 Itâs pathetic. Beyond pitiful how your incoherent but praiseful words turn him into a whiny mess. He feels dizzy, and heâs pretty sure heâs drooling on your lips as his jaw goes slack, tongue slipping out a tiny bit, attempting to taste you in the hazy mess. His eyes roll back in raw bliss as your nails scratch down his back, arms trembling on either side of your head.
 He feels helpless.
Your legs lock around his hips, only allowing him to pull a tiny fraction of his cock out before thrusting back in; quick short pumps seeming to do the trick for you both.
 âShit. You gonna cum?â He asks in awe. Your suffocating walls and trembling breaths a clear sign, but he still asks, needing to hear you as he looks down, taking in your flushed body. Your bouncing tits, a sight for sore eyes.
 âMhm.â You nod quickly, eyebrows tensing in a cute frown before your face nestles in his shoulder, your hot breath hitting his damp skin as he starts scattering a dewy mess of kisses up and down your neck. âOh my god, I'm-â
 âI know, I know.â He gasps as he puts extra effort in keeping up the same rhythm as your cunt squeezes him, his impending orgasm clouding his brain.
 You go completely quiet for a few moments, before becoming a trembling mess beneath him and he knows youâve reached your peak. He relentlessly pushes past the tight grip your walls have around him, desperate to keep your pleasure going as he starts fucking you harder through it, the cry you let out against his shoulder, a reward to his efforts.
 âShitâIâm close.â He feels lightheaded, breathing laboured as he tries to hold on for a little longer.
 âYou have to pull out.â You utter in panic, a thread of sensibility still holding onto one of you at least.
 âYeah, I will.â He rasps, hand grabbing onto your thigh, fingers digging. âIf you fucking let me.â
 âShit, sorry.â You mumble in realisation.
 You quickly unwrap your legs from his waist, the tremble in them still noticeable as he sits up a little, delivering three more stuttering pumps before dragging his sensitive cock out with a grunt, his release immediately spilling all over your pussy, a spurt landing on your inner thigh, a few on your tummy, while some of it drips on the comforter. He pumps himself empty, until heâs got nothing more to give.
 You hold him close when he collapses on top of you with a tired huff, not even caring about the mess between your bodies.
 Itâs quiet for a few moments. Just muffled music and heavy breathing. Just your hands combing through his damp hair. Just his cheek squished up against your chest. Just his fingers tracing random patterns on your ribcage.
 Itâs only when his index accidentally brushes against your sensitive nipple that you whine, breaking the silence and causing him to breathe out a small laugh.
 âMy bad.â
 âYouâre good.â You pet his head gently. âDude.â
 He snorts at your mocking tone. A little surprised at how not awkward this feels.
 âMy guy.â He says casually, still a little out of breath, but joining the silly joking session regardless, and your chest vibrates under him in a giggle that makes him feel giddy.
 âYou got a really peachy ass you know.â Your unexpected comment makes him raise his head to look at you in question.
 âThanks, I guess?â His eyebrows furrow in a funny expression as his hand sneaks beneath your weight, playfully squeezing your asscheek, forcing a cute screech out of you. âI prefer yours.â
 âAh, of course. An ass man.â You state with a playful roll of your eyes. He likes it.
 âHmm, I dunno. I like your boobs just as much.â He drops his gaze to your chest in a very unsubtle manner. Intentional. An action which, of course, earns him whack in the head. âYo, that hurt!â
 âStop being a guy.â
 âI am a guy!â
 âAnd for that, youâre suffering.â Your tone is sweet and so is your smile, but thereâs an edge hidden.
 âIâm actually having a pretty good time right now.â He retorts, making sure to add some smugness in his voice, though, itâs become abundantly clear that youâre not one to back down. Your free hand sneaks down his back, nails harshly digging into the muscle of his ass, making him yelp in pain. âOw! Watch it with the claws.â
 âIâm actually having a pretty good time right now.â You imitate his tone, mocking him.
 âWhat kind of twisted way of flirting is this?â He hides his face between your boobs, nuzzling against the soft skin of your sternum as he allows his arms to circle around you, the gentle thump of your heart easing his nerves.
 âWho says Iâm flirting?â
 Mark is aware of how oblivious he can be when it comes to girls, but he also knows a thing or two. And itâs the way your fingers scratch the back of his scalp soothingly that betrays you. Maybe even the goosebumps on your chest, just under the spot he kissed a few seconds ago. Or maybe itâs your legs tightening around him, holding him right where he wants to be. Could be the slight twitch of your hips under him as he moves to get more comfortable. Can it be the whimper you accidentally let slip when his lips start kissing across your chest?
 âMy bad, my bad.â He murmurs as he presses a wet smooch just millimetres off your clearly hardened nipple. âI must be losing the plot.â He continues, sarcasm intentional, and so is the light flick of his tongue against the erect bud. âYouâre not flirting.â His words sound mindless, but heâs definitely aware of what heâs doing to you. And heâs loving your cute little squirms as his release from earlier smears between your lower halves. âYouâre just being a brat, as per.â
 âDonât remember you being this annoying.â You complain breathlessly, back arching as you chase his tongue when he pulls back a little.
 âMm, things change.â He feels himself getting hard again, but he ignores it. Heâs got other plans. Teasing you seems to have become his priority and you donât seem to mind either. âI donât remember you being this needy.â
 âFuck you.â Thereâs not an ounce of a malice laced with your tone.
 A deep moan escapes your chest the second his lips wrap around your wet nipple, sucking lazily as his tongue licks obscenely. He releases it with a lewd pop before letting the tip of his wet muscle flick, forcing louder sounds out of you.
 He hopes the remaining people in Chenleâs living room can hear you, discretion the last thing on his mind.
 He lifts his body a little, creating space for his hand to slip between your legs. The wet mess even worse now, but perfect nonetheless, and he doesnât hover this time. Two of his digits find your clit in no time, circling the same way his tongue circles your abused nipple. Slow. Gentle.
 He can tell youâre still sensitive, overstimulated. But he wants more. Needs more. So he takes it. And you give it.
 Itâs sloppy, the mixture of both your essences making everything slippery and he feels the subtle pulse of your bud under the pads of his fingers as he rubs with a little more precision; your laboured breaths nothing but an encouragement. His mouth hangs open against your chest, lips dragging aimlessly, your skin covered in his spit and he canât help but moan lowly when you tug at his hair a little too hard.
 He really needs to feel you unravel again. The desire might as well be engraved in him by now.
 âCan I go down on you?â He looks up, gauging your reaction and youâre nothing but hooded eyes and flushed cheeks.
 âIf you feel like tasting your own cum, go for it.â You respond casually, a lazy smirk forming on your lips.
 âIâm an introvert, Y/N, not a fucking prude.â He mumbles carelessly as he descends kisses down your body, no hesitation behind his actions when he reaches parts painted in his release. He just licks it all up, like heâs done it a million times. And Mark realises he actually never has. Sure, heâs kissed girls right after theyâve given him head, but eating his own cum off someoneâs skin is something heâs never explored before.
 He greedily makes out with your pussy the second he settles between your thighs, tongue gliding gently up and down your slit, dipping a little when it reaches your entrance, your taste combined with his own, intoxicating him. The more he teases, the whinier you get.
 You get so restless he has no choice but to wrap his arms around your thighs to hold you down â one hand splaying just above your pubic bone to ground you, the other just settling for your thigh â and when his fingers pull the hood of your clip up, just a tiny bit, revealing the cute nub, he sucks. Hard. Then he flicks. Mercilessly. And he keeps interchanging between the two, letting your sounds guide him. Hard sucks and vigorous flicks just where you ache the most. He doesnât need to do much more.
 Within a few minutesâmaybe two, maybe threeâhe feels the quaking of your legs, hears the intensifying cries, relishes in the hard tugs on his hair and when youâre cumming on his tongue, just like he wanted you to, heâs moaning with you, helping you ride the high for as long as possible.
 âFuck, sâstop.â You beg helplessly when it gets too much and he delivers one last kiss on your swollen bud before climbing up your body again.
 Your tongue is in his mouth, tangling with his before he can process whatâs just happened, arms wrapping securely around his neck, as though he would escape otherwise. You flagrantly lick in his mouth, tasting everything like you need it. And maybe you do. He doubts you need it as much as he does though.
 You donât seem to have a care in the world that his chin is smearing your combines fluids on yours. Itâs dirty. Filthier than anything heâs ever experienced. And he feels corrupt. You simply have corrupted him. Ruined him without even trying, like itâs some daily routine of yours. And heâs gobbling it all up like a much needed fix.
 He needs air. Needs to breathe. But all he seems to be able to do is kiss you again and again and again, until you release him.
 âDo you think weâll have to wash the bed covers?â You ask with a sincere look of curiosity, albeit out of breath.
 It takes a second for the random question to register due to his hazy state, but when it does, Mark canât help but let out a weak laugh.
It takes you a second to realise why you feel so warm when you wake up. At first, you assume itâs the sun slipping through the curtains and hitting the skin of your back where the covers have fallen off.
 But then you shift slightly. Your eyes flutter open, looking for the real source of heat.
 Mark.
 Heâs on his side, facing you, his face tucked gently against your bare chest like he drifted there without thinking. His arm is draped lazily over your waist, heavy and warm, hand resting at the small of your back. Not gripping. Just there. Like holding you is something he does without effort â even unconscious. Like even in a deep slumber heâs decided youâre something to hold onto.
 You stay still. Still taking it all in.
 He looks unfair like this.
 Sleep has softened every sharp edge he usually carries. His brows, normally expressive and quick to knit together, are smooth now. His lashes rest against his cheeks â longer than they have any right to be â casting faint shadows in the morning light. His lips are slightly parted, relaxed, the corners tilted just enough to make him look younger. Gentler.
 Pretty.
 The word slips into your mind before you can stop it.
 Thereâs something almost innocent about him like this. No teasing smirk. No knowing glances. Just warm skin and steady breathing and a boy who trusted you enough to fall asleep pressed this close.
 The faint stubble along his chin brushes against you when he shifts, softer than it looks. You trace it lightly with your fingertips, watching the way his mouth moves in response â a tiny unconscious reaction. His nose nudges closer, breath fanning against your skin. It tickles a little.
 Your heart speeds up.
 You hate that it does. Why would it?
 You hate that it isnât just physical. That it isnât just leftover heat from last night. Itâs something else. Something quieter and far more dangerous. Itâs odd. The way your chest feels tight just looking at him. The way youâre memorising the exact shape of his lips, the slope of his nose, the soft curve of his cheek in the sunlight.
 Heâs too handsome first thing in the morning. Too warm. Too real.
 Your pulse thuds harder than youâd like, and you swallow, trying to steady yourself.
 This isnât supposed to feel like this. Itâs too simple for it to feel like this. Youâve slept with the guy twice over the course of two years for crying out loud.
 His fingers flex faintly on your skin, tightening for a brief second before settling again. Even asleep, he pulls you a fraction closer, like heâs afraid you might slip away. Just like you did last time.
 Your heart betrays you again.
 You brush his hair back gently, letting your fingers linger in the softness. He stirs at the touch, lashes fluttering before slowly lifting. His gaze is unfocused at first, hazy with sleep, and then it lands on you.
 He freezes.
 You watch awareness dawn in real time â the slight widening of his eyes, the way his throat moves when he swallows. A faint flush creeps up his neck.
 âHi,â he murmurs, voice rough and small in the quiet room.
 Itâs so shy, it almost doesnât sound like the guy from last night.
 You donât answer. You just keep looking at him, taking in the softness that hasnât fully faded yet.
 His lips press together briefly before he adds, quieter, almost unsure, âStill here?â
 The way he says it makes something in you constrict.
 Before you can respond, he ducks his face back into your chest, hiding like he regrets letting you see that vulnerable edge. His arm slides a little tighter around your waist, pulling you in closer. You feel the warmth of his cheek against you â and then, softly, almost absentmindedly, he presses a small kiss on the skin between your breasts before settling there again, like itâs the most natural thing in the world.
 You should say something. Make a lighthearted comment. A joke. Something. Anything.
 You donât.
 Instead, you tilt his face up gently, fingers brushing along his jaw. He looks startled for a split second, brows lifting slightly.
 And then you do something that you shouldnât feel that comfortable doing. You kiss him.
 Itâs soft. Slow. Not teasing. Just your lips pressing against his like you couldnât not do it.
 He makes the tiniest sound of surprise against your mouth â a quiet, breathy little noise thatâs so embarrassingly cute. His hand flexes at your waist like he forgot what to do with it.
 But he kisses you back.
 Careful at first. Shy. Still waking up into it. Then a little surer, lips moving softly against yours, warm and unhurried.
 When you pull back just enough to breathe, heâs looking at you differently. Still flushed. Still flustered.
 Still holding you close.
 âYou canât just do that,â he mumbles, even though his thumb is tracing absent patterns against your waist now.
 And your heart, traitor that it is, keeps beating too fast.
 âDo what?â you whisper back, close enough that your lips almost brush his when you speak.
 He hesitates. You feel it â the flicker of nerves beneath the warmth. His gaze drops to your mouth like heâs debating something with himself.
 It doesnât take him too long to decide, it seems. His lips are on yours in not time again.
 Not shy this time. Not startled.
 Just slow. Sensual.
 His hand tightens slightly at your waist, fingertips pressing into your skin as if to anchor himself. It all starts soft â just the gentle press of his lips to yours â but thereâs intention behind it now. A quiet hunger that wasnât there seconds ago.
 You feel the shift immediately. The undeniable throbbing between your legs. Your breathing matching his quickened one.
 His mouth moves more deliberately, head tilting to deepen the kiss, nose brushing lightly against your cheek as his tongue grazes your bottom lip, asking for permission you instantly give. Mouth parting for him without a thought, too excited to taste him. The faint rasp of his stubble grazes your skin when he adjusts closer, and you canât help the small inhale that slips out of you.
 He hears it, of course. You feel the corner of his mouth lift against yours before he kisses you deeper.
 Your fingers slide into his hair again, nails barely grazing his scalp, and he exhales into your mouth â warm, shaky, almost reverent. His arm around your waist pulls you flush against him, his thigh pressing between yours, the warmth of him suddenly impossible to ignore when his skin drags against your sensitive and already wet cunt.
 The sound of it â soft breaths, fabric shifting, the quiet press of skin on skin â fills the room and it all feels⊠different compared to last night. Unrushed.
 Like heâs not trying to impress you. Not trying to prove anything.
 Just kissing you because he wants to.
 Your heart pounds harder than you like. Harder than it makes sense. You barely know him outside of dim lights and late-night tension and shared heat â and yet the way heâs touching you now, feels careful. Thoughtful. Like heâs memorising the shape of you through his hands.
 No oneâs kissed you like this.
 Not like they could do it for hours. Not like it could become routine.
 His hand slides slightly higher along your spine, slow enough to make you aware of every inch it travels. Your body reacts before your brain can catch up, leaning into him, hips shifting unconsciously closer, grinding, looking for release against the muscle of his thigh.
 He makes that soft sound again â the small, surprised hum youâre starting to recognise â but this time itâs deeper. Less startled. More affected.
 The kiss grows wetter, heavier, until breathing becomes necessary. He pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against yours, lips parted, eyes darker now as they take in your lips. You can only imagine what they look like, judging from his swollen, glistening ones.
 The innocence of it all has disappeared as his hand travels down your back, settling when itâs reached your ass, kneading softly. Once. Twice. And then just resting there. Intentional and comfortable.
 Dangerously comfortable.
 You realise, with a slow creeping clarity, how easy this would be. To wake up like this again.
Next time you sleep with Mark, itâs in your bed. The one after that, is in his bed. And the one after that, in your bed again. And the one after that is memorable because he makes you cum in any position you can think of. The time after that, heâs rougher than heâs ever been; manhandling you like itâs his job, fucking you so hard, pain mixing with pleasure, your tears blinding you, your cries deafening you, until his hand is around your throat, shutting you up.
 It gets to a point where the nights (and mornings) youâve spent together, blur into one. It all easily becomes a habit. Calling him, texting him, meeting with him between classes. Itâs all normal. Like it would be with a close friend.
 For you at least. Youâre not really sure how he feels, but the fact that heâs never complained, comforts you in a way. Other times, it makes you doubt everything. You try not to dwell on those thoughts.
 Random hang-out sessions, that turn into lazy movie nights, become a frequent occurrence between the two of you.
 Much like right now.
 âWhat the hell?â You exclaim all aggravated, sitting up a little from your lying position on the sofa. Your feet shift on Markâs lap and you canât see his hand under the blanket, but you feel its warmth around your calf, through the cotton of your sock. Itâs comforting. âIs that it?â
 Mark chuckles lightly.
 âI mean, yeah.â He shrugs casually as he pops a piece of pop corn in his mouth. âThoughts?â
 âIâm fucking sad.â
 âAww, dude, why?â He sits up a little too, getting more comfortable so he can look at you better as the credits keep rolling. âThey said theyâll meet again.â
 âYeah, but we donât actually see that.â You complain loudly, making him chuckle again. At least one of you is entertained.
 âThatâs the whole point.â He squeezes your calf once. âIt all ends before sunrise for them, hence the title, but they get to experience so much in just one night that they donât really need to know if theyâll actually meet again.â
 âIs that why itâs your favourite movie? Youâre into the whole soppy, enigmatic love trope?â You tease with a smirk, loving his flustered reactions a little too much.
 The cute roll of his eyes makes you smile wider, without realising.
 âI guess weâre not watching the second one then.â He says with a playful pout and you canât help the excited yelp you let out.
 âThereâs a second one?â
 His eyes widen a little at your excitement, tiny amused smile taking place on his face. âAnd a third one. But Iâve never seen it.â
 âWell, we have to watch them.â You catch yourself moving closer. His hand slips higher on your leg, just below your knee, the warmth seeping through your comfy sweatpants.
 âOh, we have to?â He raises his eyebrows expectantly, making your heart skip a beat at his subtle way of teasing you.
 âYes, we.â You say stubbornly, refusing to let him have his way. âYouâre the one who suggested this ridiculously sad shit.â
 He stares at you for a moment, in thought as he spreads his legs a little, letting your own dangle between them, bent knees hooked over his thigh. You instinctively move even closer, one of your arms stretching behind his shoulders, against the back of the sofa, as your free hand starts playing with one of his hoodie strings.
 The familiar scent of his after shave mixed with a hint of detergent engulfs you. Itâs distinct. The kind that could traumatise you if things ever went south with him.
 âDid you not like it then?â His voice comes out quite this time.
 You purposely avoid eye contact, though, you can feel his gaze on you, and you have to actively force yourself to not focus on the way his hand caresses your inner thigh. Itâs nothing but innocent, but that does something to you. It feels domestic. Absentminded.
 âNo, I did.â Your eyes are still on your finger twirling the string on his chest. âJust hoped for a happier ending is all.â
 âHmm, you canât always have a happy ending, though.â He says skeptically and for some reason the words sit heavy in your chest.
 You ignore the unpleasant feeling and force your eyes onto his. âWhen did you become so wise?â
 âTsk, Iâve always been wise.â His cute nose scrunches a tiny bit as his eyes narrow in a challenge.
 You try your best to mirror his expression as you tickle his chin with your index finger. âSure, you have.â
 Your teasing gets interrupted quickly. A giggle erupts from you as he playfully tries to bite your finger off. His pearly whites making an appearance; a silly imitation of a cat making you act all giddy.
 Heâs too cute for his own good.
 And so you give into the urge to drop a very sweet kiss on his cheek. Your hand cradles his jaw as he tries to pretend an escape.
 When you pull away, you have to bite your lip to hide your smile, your cheeks hurting.
 He looks away, attempting to hide his own smile from you, tongue poking the inside of the cheek you just smooched a little too loudly.
 âYouâre still so shy with me.â You observe quietly and his frown makes you let out another giggle.
 âNo, Iâm not.â He pouts adorably.
 âItâs okay.â You lean closer as he sulks. Another kiss on his cheek, this time a tiny bit closer to the corner of his lips. âI like it.â
 âDo you really think Iâm shy with you?â He searches for a reaction in your eyes as he wraps a hand around your wrist, urging you to wrap your arms around his neck.
 You give in too easily. Itâs too difficult not to with his face so close to yours.
 âNot always.â You admit, as you start playing with the hair at his nape. âYouâre shy, like, maybe fifty percent of the time.â
 âFifty?!â He shrieks with an offended tone. âDude, thatâs still high.â
 âAnd I still like it.â You scold, arms tightening slightly around him as his hands rest on your thighs, still draped across his lap.
 âYou just like being a pain in my ass.â He states with a knowing smirk, and you canât even deny it.
 âSee? Youâre not shy now.â You deflect, enjoying the back and forth dynamic you have going on with him.
 âStop flirting.â He scolds, hand squeezing your thigh softly.
 âMm, no.â You cradle the back of his neck gently with one hand as your other arm drapes casually around his shoulders.
 âNo?â
 âNo.â
 âJust like that?â
 You simply nod. âJust like that.â
 He nods back with an approving pout. âFair.â
 The second he leans in for a kiss, a dull pain in your lower abdomen reminds you of your state and you panic.
 âYou canât stay tonight.â You blurt out. The surprise evident on his face as he pulls back.
 âUmm, okay?â His confusion pulls at the strings in your heart. âIs something wrong? Like, did Iââ
 âNo.â You interrupt him, before he can make things even more awkward. Arm still around him. âIâm just on my period. So, we canâtâŠyou know.â
 Realisation downs on him. Eyebrows raising slightly, lips parting. âOh.â He nods once. âRight.â
 âMmhm.â You give him an awkward, tight smile.
 You could have cancelled tonight. Should have. But you hadnât seen him in almost a week due to a stupid essay you had to focus on. And you hate to admit it even to yourself, but you missed him. A little more than you a friend misses a friend. But thatâs another story.
 âAre you feeling okay?â He asks a little too casually, but still concerned.
 The way he sneaks an arm around your middle, is too smooth. Itâs with effort that you manage to maintain your composure as he pulls you closer into his side, his hand resting on your lower back. Gentle and reassuring.
 Your heart does something weird at the intimate gesture. âYeah, Iâm good. Itâs the third day, so, itâs not too bad.â
 He nods understandingly. âOkay, wellâŠI donât know if Iâm being too slow, but why exactly canât I stay?â
 The question definitely catches you off guard, but you manage to stay grounded. âI mean, you can. Youâre welcome to. Weâre just not having sex.â
 âYeah, fuck that, Iâm off.â He moves to playfully shrug you off, but laughs at the way you childishly whine, refusing to move, stubbornly clinging onto him. He settles back with a huff and you bashfully hide your face in his shoulder. âY/N, I obviously donât care. Iâll stay if you want me to.â
 His voice is too soft. Too sweet.
 You exhale loudly, feigning annoyance. âFine. Stay then.â
 âUgh. Fine, I will.â You feel the delicate nudge of his nose against your forehead and, inevitably, you look up at him, still tucked safely in his side with your legs comfortably resting on top of his spread ones. âSo, like, is kissing out of the question too?â
 You snort at the silly question. âNo. Kissingâs allowed.â
 Youâve realised over time that you have a soft spot for his cheeky side. Itâs rare that Mark Lee drops his serious stance, but youâve managed to break through a few times now and each one of those has felt like a special reward.
 His lips find yours for the first time tonight. The hand cradling your jaw shouldnât feel that good on your skin and the arm around your waist shouldnât feel as safe as it does. But you savour everything, matching his slow pace.
 The kiss becomes less innocent with each drag of his lips against yours, but you canât bring your self to pull away. Blame the raging hormones, blame the way heâs holding you so close, blame the universe.
 You need him to keep kissing you.
 The whiny sound you unintentionally let out, betrays said need, but Mark doesnât seem phased at all. If anything, he deepens the kiss. More intent behind his touches.
 âCome here.â He mumbles against your lips as he tries to manoeuvre you, and you quickly oblige, throwing a leg over him, straddling his thighs without a second thought.
 He doesnât seem to approve of your hovering as he shamelessly pushes you down by the hips, encouraging you to properly sit on him. And you do.
 He lets out a delicious sound, which you hungrily swallow as your crotch meets his. Hard length familiarly nestling between your thighs, nudging against your needy clit, and youâre glad you opted for a tampon instead of a pad earlier.
 âAre you comfortable?â He asks, pulling away slightly, watching your face for any sign of discomfort.
 âYeah.â You nod as you allow your hands to rest on either side of his neck.
 âIs there anywhere Iâm not allowed to touch?â
 You smile at the cryptic question. Heâs clearly testing the waters, while trying to be respectful of any boundaries. You can see right through him.
 âMy boobs are a little sore still, so be gentle.â
 He nods. âAnything else?â
 Your breath hitches as his fingers sneakily slip under the waistband of your sweatpants, eyes silently asking for permission.
 You give him a chaste kiss. âYou canât finger me, if thatâs what you mean.â
 âNot exactly what I meant, no.â He murmurs as his hands completely slip inside your bottoms, cupping your ass over your underwear, deliberately urging you to drag your hips against his, fingers slightly digging into the flesh of your bum.
 He devours your lips in another kiss. Heated, but lazy. Slower than ever.
 Your tongues gliding languidly makes you unintentionally grind a little harder, allowing your sensitive clit to drag against his clothed cock and you feel your underwear slipping between your folds messily. Heâs got you all wet and needy when he really shouldnât.
 âFuck, I really want you naked.â He whispers in your mouth, hands travelling up your back, taking the hem of your baggy t-shirt with them.
 Thereâs nothing else to do other than give him what he wants. So you reluctantly break the kiss, letting him remove your top before you rush to do the same for him.
 Your sports bra is gone in no time, both your top and his hoodie are somewhere on the living room floor and the second your tits are free, heâs got both his arms tightly wrapped around your middle, biceps flexing deliciously. Your nipples feel extra sensitive as they rub on his skin; breasts squished against his warm chest, the sensation comforting and arousing at the same time, you canât help the sigh you let out against his lips.
 âDonât really know where weâre going with this.â You speak all muffled as he eagerly tries to lick into your mouth, lips a little uncoordinated but you love it.
 Youâre more than aware of the double meaning your words carry, and the hesitation in his eyes when he pulls away, tells you he is too. You both seem to ignore the complicated side of the statement.
 âI can still make you feel good, no?â His fingers splay in between your shoulder blades as his eyes inspect your face, lingering on your spit-kissed lips for a little too long.
 He doesnât wait for an answer. He pulls you by the back of your neck, his mouth finding yours in another wet kiss, lips parted wide as tastes you with a quiet hum, and you feel more wetness seeping out of you, drenching your panties.
 A buck of your hips forces a moan out of both of you as your hands bury in his hair, gripping tight, searching for an anchor. You lean your head back with a soft exhale when he starts leaving wet kisses along your jaw, down to your neck. He licks, sucks, bites your flushed skin, tongue swirling on each mark he leaves behind, turning you on more than ever.
 This is so fucking inconvenient.
 He takes you by surprise when he licks a stripe from between your tits to your collarbones, painting your skin with his saliva.
 âAh, shit.â You tighten your hold on his hair and he lets out a little grunt that vibrates against your sternum, his quick breaths hitting your damp skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Your nipples harden uncomfortably, asking for attention and he must notice as his hand cups one of your breasts, gently massaging the underside.
His lips find the raised peak, kissing around it, teasing you, forcing needy sounds out of you, and when he softly sucks it in his mouth, tongue swirling, you canât help but grind down harder with a loud whine.
 âCareful.â You whisper weakly when his tongue flicks a little too hard, making you jolt.
 âSorry.â He apologises with a sweet kiss between the space of your tits, and for a few moments, he gives all his attention to your slightly swollen mounds. Licking and sucking, carefully massaging them in his palms until you pull a little too hard at his hair, singling that itâs too much for you.
 You force him to lean back as you trap him between your body and the back of the sofa. The sound he makes when you wrap a hand around his throat, exhilarates you, and you give into another make out session as you let your fingers lightly press on his pulse points, loving the effect you have on him.
 Youâre completely lost in his kisses and the way his firm chest feels on yours. Itâs all too much and not enough at the same time and you really just donât know what to do with yourself. So you just try to relax on top of him, arms loosely wrapping around his neck as you relish in the wet smacking sounds of your lips.
 Itâs his hand that sneaks between your crotches that urges you to pull away, but he holds you there, his other hand on the back of your head.
 âCan I try something?â He mutters as his fingers slowly start undoing the knot at the front of your waistband. âStop me if itâs weird.â
 Fuck Mark lee and his persuasiveness. âOkay.â
 You probably shouldnât. Itâs too intimate. Too vulnerable. And you normally wouldnât let anyone else, but when Mark slips his hand past the front of your waistband, you let him.
 Heâs careful. No rushed movements as he holds you close, lips brushing yours as he gauges your reaction and your mouth parts against his when you feel the warmth of his palm, engulfing the seat of your underwear. He rubs lightly over the drenched fabric until his fingers find your clit, pressing a little harder, evoking a half desperate half surprised sound out of you.
 You self-consciously wonder if he felt the thin string of your tampon when his fingers brushed past your entrance, but whether he did or not, he doesnât really let on.
 He starts rubbing you in slow tiny circles, the gentle friction making you breathe harder, fingers shaking in his messy strands.
 âCan I touch you properly or is that a bit too far?â He must sense your contemplation as his fingers come to a brief halt. âIâll stay here.â His fingers press on your clit, signalling what he means. âWonât go anywhere else.â
 You pull back a smidge, the need to look at his face getting the better of you. His pleading eyes, full of adoration, overwhelm you and you cowardly hide your face in his neck, arms wrapping tighter around his shoulders.
 âWhat if I bleed all over your hand?â You whine dramatically. The thought of that actually happening, too embarrassing.
 He breathes out an amused laugh. âIâll live.â
 âYeah, well, I wonât.â You joke halfheartedly, but inhale sharply when he presses against the swollen bud again.
 âAt least youâll die happy.â He giggles at the warning bite you leave on his shoulder, playfully shrugging you away, but his arm around your middle holds you close. âYou wanna cum. I wanna help. So let me.â
 âFuck sake.â You sigh in defeat, forehead dropping against his shoulder. âIf you touch anywhere other thanââ
 âI wonât. Promise.â He seals it with an intimate kiss on your shoulder, making you shiver.
 âOkay.â
 He slips his hand inside the front of your cotton panties, quickly finding your pulsing bud and you instantly melt against him with a relieved whimper, the skin on skin contact already feeling a million times better. His two fingers send you reeling, making you moan in his neck, your jaw slackening when he speeds up a little, rubbing harder, more precise circles on the bundle of nerves. His hold around you tightens when you start slightly shaking on his lap and you feel dizzy when he starts flicking from side to side, bringing you closer and closer to a dangerous high.
 Itâs addictive. The way he touches you, holds you, breathes on you like heâs the one being pleasured. Itâs all out of this world. Too good. Too mind-numbing.
 âMmphâf-fuckâright there.â You beg, all out of breath and flustered. His fingers keep brushing a spot on your clit, too sensitive, the pleasure so intense, you can barely handle it.
 âYeah? Feels good?â His breathy tone adds to the hot sensation between your legs, your toes and fingers tingling as your eyes inevitably roll back.
 âSo good, Markie.â
 He grunts when your nails dig into the flesh of his shoulder. âFuck, baby. Wanna see you cum.â
 âOh my god.â You whisper with a tremble, mouth ajar against his shoulder, your saliva smearing on his skin as you struggle to breathe, to keep a little bit of your sanity intact. âMark. Ffffuck.â
 Your release crashes into you with force. A muffled shriek erupts from your throat, resonating in the silence of the living room. You sound broken as he keeps rubbing fast and hard. Until your whole body shakes in ecstasy. Until the overstimulation is too much to endure.
 Your walls are spasming so hard youâre worried they might accidentally squeeze the tampon out, and you have to grab his wrist in panic, forcing him to stop his torturous ministrations on your abused clit.
 You slump forward. Body completely spent. Weight dropping on him in surrender as your brain floats somewhere unknown.
 The gentle scratch of his blunt nails against your scalp, helps bring you somewhat back to the surface.
 âFuck, that feltââ You pant, struggling to form anything coherent. Your throat feels dry when you swallow.
 âIntense?â He finishes your incomplete thought for you.
 He has a tendency of doing that. Understanding you better than you can understand yourself sometimes. Unveiling thoughts and feelings you didnât know you were capable of carrying.
 You donât like it. The grip he has on you â you feel it most when he's not even touching you. When he's not even with you.
And itâs too intimate. More than you can handle.
 You often feel scrutinised under his gaze. Especially in raw, unfiltered moments like this. It never feels transactional. Whatever you have with Mark. Itâs never just about fleeting pleasure. Thereâs always something underlying but undeniable at the same time.
 Something undoubtedly there, but difficult to define in your head.
 Something you wonder if his complex mind has been able to translate into words you always fail to find.