Katarina

Vessel looks as confused as you do. Why does anyone have meet him? He's just a dude and, quite frankly, he'd prefer to go back to acting as such instead of talking about himself and pretending to enjoy going over his accomplishments. So when you latch onto something he says and launch into "oh my god, so-and-so, that reminds me…" he's overjoyed. Has anyone ever thanked someone for interrupting them? Because you're his literal savior. For the rest of the night, he relishes in being a wallflower. Well, as much as one can be with this group. He speaks when spoken to but otherwise just listens and blesses the room with his laugh every once in a while. But not speaking up gets you in trouble sometimes. Like when it's almost midnight and someone in the group who still wants to party says, "let's do spin the bottle."

You and Vessel had the opportunity to leave or say "no let's not." But you didn't take it. Why didn't you take it? Thankfully it's not as awkward as one might imagine. A lot of times people pretended to kiss dramatically much to everyone's amusement, but it's even funnier when a real couple would kiss and the group would "boo." No one wants to see real love! Finally, it's Vessel's turn. Two of your mutual friends snicker, making Vessel glare at them.

"Don't even. It'll spin all the way back to me, just watch."

Famous last words.

Your stomach clenches as you stare at the empty beer bottle pointing right at you. You stare up at each other like a ouija board just told you you're going to die tonight. But then, he lifts his eyebrow as if to ask, "you game?" It doesn't feel like a challenge. It's more like solidarity. "I'll do it if you do it." But you're more encouraged by a friend saying that you wouldn't do it because you're a prude now after your break up. Whatever.

So. You know how a conversation stops being fun when that one person says something weird or how it feels when your boss walks up behind you and a coworker asking "what's so funny?" That's how it feels when you sit back down. No one really wants to play anymore, which makes you think you did something wrong OR you've won at Spin the Bottle and everyone is intimidated by you (not likely). Thankfully one of your friends has the decency to tell you that you seemed a little too eager during the kiss.

"What does that even mean," you scoffed.

"I don't know, just seemed like you weren't in a hurry to stop."

You only meant for it to be a peck. Really. Yeah it was a little longer and deeper than the others. And you held his chin. But to you, the kiss was a "fuck you" to the friends who didn't think you were game. Though, maybe that wasn't fair to Vessel, a guy you don't even know. Before you consider that apologizing might make things more awkward, you're already following him. You find him in the kitchen, cheeks bright red as he sulks and pours out his drink.

"Hey," you murmur.

Vessel turns like he expected you. "Hi again…"

"Are you alright?"

"Oh…oh yeah. Yeah don't worry about me. I'm just…" He trails off as he attempts to take a drink from the cup he just emptied. "I'm such a knob, sorry. Should've asked you if you were ok first. That's the more chivalrous thing."

Any other time you'd think someone was being sarcastic. Who gives a shit about chivalry anymore? But Vessel means it. You kissed him and he's blaming himself before you can even say your piece.

"Hey, no, it's no big deal. No hard feelings." You shrug, struggling to hide your smirk. Something about this felt like high school, but in the best way possible. "Honestly, it was a great kiss. You're a great kisser."

"Oh…OH! Me?" Vessel stutters. "So are you…that was….uhm. Cool. Thanks for that. I-I don't get to do that a lot. Not much of a relationship guy, I guess."

"No? Sweet guy like you?"

"You have to stop that. I should be the one making you blush, not the other way around."

Vessel gets bashful and rubs his hands together nervously. You wonder what he'd had in his cup because he's flushed as though he's been drinking all night. He didn't taste like alcohol….although maybe you needed a longer kiss to figure that out. And the longer you talk to him and see how impressionable he is to your bare-minimum-flirting, you're tempted try again.

"Awww Vessel! Was that your first kiss," you tease.

"Oh god…n--well--"

"Well?"

"First in a long time...?"

You give him a sad look and, somehow, miss the insecurity in his answer. "How long? it's been a minute for me, too."

"Uhm…what year is it again? 2026?" his face screws up as he mentally calculates. After a while, it seems the most merciful thing to do is interrupt him before he can finally answer.

"Look, I get it. Better to not even mention it, right? Uhm…hope it was worth the wait."

Vessel licks his lips without really meaning anything and chuckles. "You could say that."

You aren't sure what to say now. Do you actually want to keep talking to him or do you feel obligated since you kissed? In your pocket, your phone buzzes a few times, and Vessel takes your distraction as his cue to leave.

Or should he have stayed? Fuck. No one tells you how to handle these situations, and even then, you aren't owed any divine compensation if you follow everything to the letter and still don't get the girl or the job or whatever. But he doesn't pout long. No. When he's alone in the hallway he leans back, trailing his fingers down his bottom lip. He still feels the warmth from when you kept his bottom lip between yours for just a fraction of a second longer than you should have before breaking the kiss. "Aroused" isn't the feeling that comes to mind. Sure it spiked his adrenaline and made him a little hard, but the kiss made him feel…awake. Present. Aware of how cool the wall that supported him felt. Of how his breathing changed when he replayed the memory. Of how he needed to be kissed again. Certainly he knew girls he wanted to kiss, or at least had seen them, but there might as well be only one girl in the entire world right now. Just like you had, Vessel starts walking back to the kitchen before common sense catches up.

"Hey, lis-"But he stops. He finds you grinning at your phone, perhaps blushing. Fuck. No. No. He already decided to be here for the weekend and put off his depression spiral. And he already agreed to that stupid game of Spin the Bottle. Just go for it. "Hey I need to talk to you."

"Oh….?" You feel like you're in trouble. Finishing your text wasn't an option as Vessel invaded your space against the counter. It was so frustrating…he wasn't even touching you. There was at least 5 inches between you, but the heat was unbearable.

"I'd…" Vessel's voice is a strained murmur. He feels so cringe asking for what he wants but there's no time like the fucking present. "I'd really like to kiss you again. If that's ok."

A pretty little smirk pulls at your lips as you gaze up at him through your lashes. "So what's stopping you?"

"I…fuck…I've never done this. You were my first kiss. Ok? You know my little secret. And I want you to keep kissing me until you're sick of me."

"Hah…Vessel, oh my god, I'm not that good. You'r—"

"I'm not joking. I'm not being dramatic." At his sides, Vessel's hands shake. Your eyes trail down and watch his fingers twitch and rub against his palm. You'd feel so precious in those hands. "Please."

No one had ever begged for you. You were either just as eager or you weren't an option. Something felt taboo about Vessel's request. "You don't feel…emboldened to venture out?"

The answer nearly suffocates you. Vessel's lips practically clamp to yours as he digs his fingers into your back. He kneads the softness of your back and pulls at your bra through your shirt. Finally he pulls away, leaving you wrecked with sharp gasping breaths. "Don't make me sleep alone tonight."

"Ves…no, honey," you whisper. It takes everything in you to deny him, but you know it's for the better. "Not here, ok? People will talk and-"

"Let them talk," he scolds softly against your neck. As he grabs your waist and pulls you closer than before, his mouth explores the softness below your ear…the sweet smelling hollow where your neck meets your shoulder. "I'm drowning in you…"

You're barely through the door of Vessel's room before he has you scooped up against his chest. Vessel can't help himself from pulling your face to his as he moves his lips desperately against yours. Like he hasn't figured out that he has permission to smother you in kisses and doesn't need you to initiate every kiss. The next time he tries to force you back, you graze your lips against his and pull away, giggling as you tease him.

"Don't be a bitch," he rasps.

"You'll have to learn at some point, won't you?"

Vessel pushes you to the bed, only stare down at your pinned form with starving eyes. He lurches forward to devour you again, but instead he presses his forehead to yours. Between little the stolen kisses and soft moans you let out as you lay together, Vessel can't hold back. To his surprise, he feels good about himself in the moment. He likes the space he's taking up…his sensuality…his clear affect on you. It's almost too much when you lift your hips to grind against him. The pressure of his weight on you and your eagerness as you rub your clothed heat against his snaps him out of his trance. "I…sorry…" He sits back on his knees, trying to desperately catch his breath. "This is a lot for me. Lots…lots of firsts."

You sit up, realizing your responsibility here. Sure getting off and giving this man who's practically a stranger the night of his life would feel amazing, but shit like that is for the movies. Completely idealized. He's scared. "We don't have to do anything else. I promise," you whisper as you cup his face. "We can stop if you want…"

"Isn't it pathetic though? I've got you here on my bed…p-pre-presumably wet…" he says, letting his his gaze trail down your body in the low light and linger between your legs, "and all I want is to kiss you."

"What's so wrong with kissing?"

Vessel looks away. "My mind's all fucked and muddled from the stupid rhetoric everyone gets fed that intimacy always equals sex," he gestures vaguely, "and that when a woman opens herself to you, you need to take it. Don't you think less of me?"

"Hah! For wanting to make out and actually telling me what you need? Do you know how rare that is, Ves?" Your words are a balm to his conflicted soul. He looks back to you, unable to even articulate his gratitude. The sheer warmth he feels for you. He doesn't think it's lust and desperately hopes that what he feels is more. "So…what would you like to do?"

He thinks for only a moment. You're a literal safe haven right now for him to explore…and he hopes you let him return the favor some time soon. "I…I just want to kiss you…and…and…"

"It's ok." You lift your chin and challenge him. "Own it, Vessel."

"Fuck it. I want you to keep kissing you and to grind against you. Get you as close as you can just from that. That's what I want."

"Of course, sweetheart." Without a second's hesitation, you both slip off your jeans. The sight of his bulge makes your thighs clamp together. You desperately hope there's a next time so that he can wreck you with what he's hiding. Until then, you're happy let him lay atop you and make up for his lost time. With the first kiss, you're both moaning and rubbing against each other. Every desperate throb thuds against you…you've never felt so wanted…so desired. He could take everything, but instead he holds you with reverence and slips his tongue over your lower lip as he whispers about how beautiful and good you are. "You're good, Ves…you were made for kissing, weren't you? Hmm?"

"God…keeping talking to me like that," he pleads. His kisses on your neck get rougher, but you don't stop him. You relish in the feeling of his teeth grating over your soft skin when he likes what you're saying. If he left a mark, then he left a mark. You'd be proud to wear it.

"Fffuuuck, baby…I want your lips everywhere. I'm yours, Ves…please!" You can't help but grind against him as if he's fucking you. You've completely soaked your panties but you know you haven't cum yet. Even if you had you'd keep going. When you bump against the head of his cock, it's over. "Oh my god…Ves…"

"You're…ffff-I'm gonna cum…fuck…fuck," he whines as if he's on the verge of tears. "You're so…fucking hot I'm gonna….fucking lose it." He slams his mouth to yours and bucks into despite the barriers. He's owning it, just like you told him to.