At some point, I had slowly dozed off to sleep, though not completely. I was just drifting, that delicious point where the mind floats between wakefulness and sleep, when a soft knock at the door jolted me fully awake.
My heart skipped a beat—not out of fear, exactly, but because it was unusual for anyone to visit at this hour. I rubbed my eyes, groaning softly.
"Who could that be?" I muttered under my breath, swinging my legs off the bed a bit groggily. The room felt colder than before, though a bit of warmth still lingered in the room. My hand hesitated over the doorframe, a mix of curiosity and a weird fluttering in my chest keeping me still for a moment.
I opened the door slowly, squinting against the dim hallway light, and froze.
Emily. She was standing there, fidgeting with her hands, eyes a little wide and nervous. Her nightgown was simple and modest, covering her completely, but even in the faint lamplight, she seemed… fragile. Vulnerable.
"Uhm… were you sleeping?" she asked, her voice soft and uncertain.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to mask my surprise with a calm tone. "Yeah… but it's fine. Do you… need something?"
She hesitated again, glancing down at the floor, and I noticed her hands twisting the hem of her gown nervously. "Can I… come in?" she asked finally, almost whispering.
I stepped aside, gesturing with a hand, and she slipped in. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us alone in the quiet, the only sound the faint creak of floorboards and the soft night breeze drifting through the window.
"Are you… okay?" I asked cautiously, taking in her posture. She wasn't about to start crying or anything, not exactly, but there was a tension around her shoulders, a kind of quiet despair that set my chest tight.
Emily shook her head slightly, biting her lip. "I… I just… I didn't want to be alone tonight," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
'That is quite...Suggestive you know!'
I swallowed hard, feeling a warmth bloom in my stomach that I was not quite familiar with. Not just concern, but something deeper—something protective, instinctively tender. "You don't have to be," I said, keeping my voice calm, trying to anchor the moment. "You can… sit, if you want."
She nodded, slowly lowering herself onto the edge of my bed, sitting a little too close for comfort and yet not touching. I felt the subtle shift of air between us, the faint scent of lavender and candle smoke lingering from the hallway, and I realized my pulse had picked up without me noticing.
"Do you… want to talk about it?" I asked, settling into a chair I'd pulled near the bed, trying to give her space while still staying close.
She shook her head, but her hands remained fidgeting. "I… I don't know how," she admitted. "It's stupid, really. I've been staying alone for a while… but tonight I just… I felt… small. I guess I just wanted someone here. I- I don't know... I just feel stupid."
'How Do I approach this?'
I leaned back, letting a small, soft smile tug at my lips. "You're not stupid," I said quietly. "And… you're not alone. Not while I'm here."
Emily's eyes flicked up to mine for a brief second before darting away again, a faint blush colouring her cheeks in the dim light. She said nothing, but I could feel the tension in her shoulders slowly relax, a little.
"Sometimes," I said, keeping my tone gentle, "it's okay to just… be quiet with someone. You don't have to explain anything."
She let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh, and for a moment neither of us spoke. The quiet of the room settled around us, comfortable and intimate. The soft glow from the window reflected in her eyes, and I noticed a faint glimmer, like the first hint of vulnerability meeting trust.
"I… I don't usually do this," she murmured, finally breaking the silence. "I don't usually… come to someone's room. But tonight…" Her voice trailed off.
"You don't have to explain, really." I repeated, softer this time. "Really. You can just… sit here." A gave her a light, kind smile.
Her gaze met mine again, a little longer this time, and she gave a tiny, tentative smile.
"It's really not fair you know, when you smile like that. I just can't..."
Suddenly, Emily leaned in, not giving me any time to react. Her lips crashed against mine in a sensual kiss, catching me off guard. My eyes widened in surprise, but I quickly regained my composure.
Her kiss was clumsy, inexperienced, but aggressive all the same. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on my lips. The shy girl who was always blushing whenever she looked at me was being so proactive. It was a fascinating transformation.
I opened my mouth for her, letting her tongue explore, her inexperienced probing a contrast to my equally amateur strokes.
The kiss turned messy, our mouths slapping together as we exchanged saliva continuously. I bit her lower and upper lips, sucking on them with a growl of desire. She whimpered into my mouth, her fingers clutching at my chest.
We broke apart after what felt like an eternity, both of us breathing heavily, a thin line of linking out lips even as we parted. Our faces were flushed, and lips swollen from the intensity of our kiss. I stared at her, my gaze raking over her features, taking in the dazed look in her eyes.
"Well," I said, my voice low and husky, "that was unexpected." A chuckle rumbled in my chest. "But I have to admit, it's rather intriguing to see this side of you."
I reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" My thumb brushed against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. "Do you want more of that surprise, Emily?"
I asked, my tone a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "Because if you do, I'm more than happy to oblige." I leaned in closer, my breath hot against her lips. "Just say the word."
Her eyes darted around frantically, panic setting in as she realized what she'd just done. The boldness vanished, replaced by a deer-in-the-headlights look, and I almost laughed at the sheer contradiction. Before she could bolt, I took the initiative.