Saeko spent a long time under the shower, letting the hot water run over her as she stared blankly at the tiles.
Not only did I fail to talk to him, but I also let him down, spending the night with Mr. Aoki's niece…
She sighed and pressed her forehead against her palms in frustration.
By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair, the girl in the other bed was already fast asleep. Saeko glanced at her, unimpressed.
She snorted.
Sota leaned against the thick stone railing on his balcony, shirtless despite the winter chill. His shirt lay draped over the railing, forgotten. The cold didn't seem to bother him. If anything, it felt refreshing, a relief against the storm raging in his head.
He felt a growing guilt. He ended up having a quarrel with her instead of listening to what she wanted to say. She'd been trying so desperately to talk to him.
But… in a way, he was relieved she hadn't managed to. The longer he could avoid it, the longer he could stand by her side.
I'm afraid that if she finally tells me her decision, I might lose her forever.
"Hey," Saeko's voice came.
He snapped out of his thoughts and looked up.
Saeko was standing on the balcony just one over from his. She wore a silk nightgown, the thin fabric clinging slightly to her damp skin.
Sota blinked in disbelief. Did she actually pack that, expecting we'd be sharing a room?
"I wanted to talk to you," she said.
Then, before he could react, she climbed up onto the concrete railing.
His body tensed.
"What the hell are you doing?"
She was already shifting her weight, gripping the edge of the balcony wall as she prepared to cross over. The gap between them wasn't huge, but for someone not used to heights, it was still dangerous. One wrong move, one misstep…
Goddammit.
Her foot slipped slightly, but she caught herself, fingers tightening against the cold stone. The wind played with her hair as she leaned forward…
"Damn, are you crazy?"
He reached out, grabbing her before she could land unsteadily. His arms locked around her, holding her close.
For a second, neither of them moved. Her body was warm, her breath uneven.
Then, slowly, he set her down onto the wide railing. In a swift, unconscious motion, he spread his shirt beneath her, shielding her from the cold stone.
With a deep sigh, he placed his hands on either side of her.
When he lifted his gaze, their faces were close. Too close. Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
His expression darkened, his jaw tight. Serious. Intense.
Saeko swallowed. They were so close, she could feel his breath. It was as if a magnetic pulse were pulling them toward each other.
"Since when are you so reckless?" he muttered.
"Well, it's new to me too," she admitted.
"Seems like I'm a bad influence on you," he whispered bitterly. He started to pull away, but Saeko didn't let him. Without a hint of hesitation, she grabbed the back of his neck and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Letting instincts take over, she closed the gap between them and kissed him eagerly.
Sota stiffened at first, caught off guard, but then his restraint shattered. His hands ran down her back, gripping her firmly, fingers tangling in her hair as he kissed her back with raw intensity.
When their lips finally parted, they were both breathless.
"I thought you wanted to talk…" he murmured against her lips.
"We can talk later," she whispered, her fingers trailing down his neck, stopping at his bare chest. A soft, involuntary sigh escaped her lips, so intoxicating, so utterly inviting that it was impossible to resist.
"Saeko… if you don't stop now… I won't be able to hold back later," he warned, his voice tight with control he was rapidly losing.
"What are you so scared of?" she asked, looking at him, puzzled, as if she were expecting other reaction.
"Scared?" He tilted his head slightly, then corrected her. "I'm terrified… that you might regret it."
"There's no way I'm going to regret it," she whispered, her fingers wandering lower on his toned abdomen.
Sota didn't reply. He just stared at her, like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then he moved.
He grabbed her, his hands sliding under her thighs as he lifted her effortlessly. Saeko instinctively wrapped her legs tighter around him, clinging to him.
His kisses trailed down her neck, his hands exploring, teasing, his touch both rough and careful. Saeko gasped, a moan escaping her lips.
A faint noise came from one of the neighbouring balconies.
Sota heard it but didn't care enough to break the kiss. He simply carried Saeko inside his room, shutting the balcony door behind them.