Chapter 15: Part 5 Three Kisses

= Sarah POV =

I tossed and turned in the bed, the sheets tangled around my legs as if they, too, were conspiring to keep me restless. No matter how tightly I shut my eyes, I couldn't shake the ghost of Chris's touch—the way her hands had lingered, the way her lips had teased. It was burned into me, a heat that refused to fade.

Sighing, I reached for my phone and opened the request app. The screen glowed softly in the dark, illuminating the long string of notifications. I scrolled through them, my thumb hesitating over each one as if their presence alone carried weight. This entire time, I'd waited—waited for Chris to come to me, to make the first move. But what if…I took a different approach? What if I went to her instead?

The thought made my stomach flip. Would it even count as fulfilling a request if I was the one to offer myself up first? The app didn't exactly spell that out, and Chris was always so busy. I'd been distant—standoffish, even—because of how awkward I felt about everything between us. But maybe that was the problem. Maybe I needed to show her that I wasn't going to keep hiding.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pushed off the bed and straightened my shirt. My heart pounded in my chest as I left my room and padded barefoot across the apartment. Every step felt heavier than the last, like I was walking straight into the lion's den.

I stopped in front of her door. It was closed, and I hovered there for a moment, suddenly unsure. What if she was asleep? What if this was a mistake? My hand lingered by my side, fingers curling and uncurling before I finally worked up the courage to knock softly.

The sound barely echoed, and I immediately regretted it. What was I even doing? Just as I turned to leave, the door creaked open, and there she was.

Chris stood in the doorway, her eyes heavy with sleep but sharp enough to make my breath catch. Her shirt hung loose, the front unbuttoned just enough to reveal the curve of her collarbone and the faintest hint of skin. She looked unguarded but still effortlessly in control, her gaze sweeping over me like she already knew why I was there.

"Couldn't sleep?" she murmured, her voice low and husky from sleep.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "No. I…um…"

Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Come in." She stepped aside, and I obeyed, stepping past her into the room as the door clicked shut behind me.

I leaned against Chris's desk, my fingers curling around the edge as I stared down at my feet, searching for the right words to explain why I was here. My breath felt shallow, and my heart raced with the weight of my own boldness.

Chris's voice broke the silence, low and velvet-soft. "Darling, were you feeling lonely? Did you want to sleep next to me again?"

She stepped closer, her hand coming up to cradle my cheek. The pad of her thumb traced lazy, feather-light circles against my skin, leaving heat in its wake.

"I…" My voice faltered. I looked up at her, then quickly back down, my hand nervously rubbing at my forearm. "I wanted to ask if you would like to request something of me. I know I haven't been fulfilling requests, so… if you would like to, I'd be happy to fulfill whatever request you desire." I dared to meet her gaze again, my stomach twisting in knots.

Chris straightened, her lips curling into a slow, wicked smile. The kind of smile that made my knees feel weak.

"You're a bold one tonight," she said, her voice rich with amusement. "Are you requesting me… to make a request of you?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words died on my lips as long fingers seized my forearms, pulling me flush against her chest. My breath hitched. Her scent surrounded me—clean linen, warm sandalwood, and something distinctly her.

Chris's eyes darkened as they searched mine, and her smile deepened. "In that case, I have three requests."

I swallowed, my lips parting as I tried to form a reply. Instead, I could only nod, trembling in her arms.

"Can I kiss you?" Chris asked, her voice dropping lower. "Three times."

I nodded again, my pulse thrumming at my throat.

"In three places," she added, her lips brushing the shell of my ear, making me shiver.

I exhaled shakily but still nodded.

"Good."

Her hand shifted to my cheek, tilting my head up as she leaned in. Her lips met mine in a soft, deliberate kiss that sent heat curling through my veins. Her other hand traced down my back, following the length of my spine before settling possessively on my hip.

Chris lingered there, her mouth barely moving, but the heat of her breath and the softness of her lips left me dizzy. When she finally pulled back, her eyes lingered on mine, sharp and commanding.

"That's one."

Her lips curved slightly before she dipped lower, brushing against the curve of my throat. The warmth of her breath and the softness of her mouth made me gasp as she pressed a lingering kiss just above my collarbone.

I tilted my head back instinctively, giving her more access as heat bloomed under my skin.

"Two," Chris murmured against my neck, her voice vibrating against me like silk.

Her hands roamed again, steady and sure, sliding down to rest on my waist before she leaned closer.

"For the last one…" She hesitated just enough to let the anticipation build, her lips hovering over my skin. "…I think you already know where."

Her voice was low, almost teasing, but the weight of her words settled between my legs, making my thighs clench. My breath hitched, and I looked at her, wide-eyed, as if daring her to finish what she started.

Chris smirked, her confidence unwavering, before finally leaning in and pressing a slow, heated kiss just above the edge of my shirt, right between my breasts.

I bit my lip to stifle a moan, my fingers digging into her shoulders as heat rippled through me.

"Three," Chris murmured, pulling back just enough to meet my gaze again, her hands sliding back up my sides in deliberate, claiming strokes. "Do you have any requests for me, sweetheart?"

I could barely think, let alone speak. My breath came in shallow bursts, my entire body humming with unspoken need.

Then, just as abruptly as it began, Chris released me. Her hand lingered for a moment before slipping into mine, her fingers warm and steady. She smiled, that slow, disarming smile that always made my knees weak.

With our eyes still locked, she raised my hand to her lips and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against my knuckles. The tenderness of it sent a shiver down my spine. But before I could even process the gesture, Chris let my hand drop, leaving it suspended in the air—empty, weightless—as she stepped back and crossed her arms, deliberately putting space between us.

"I'll update the app immediately. Good job, baby girl," Chris said, her voice smooth but tinged with something unreadable. "You're finally paying back what you owe. Keep it up."

She winked, the playful confidence in her expression a sharp contrast to the sudden distance she imposed.

I nodded, unable to form words, and gulped as I turned toward the door. My heart raced in my chest, every step echoing in my ears as I reached for the handle and pulled it open.

But before I could escape, Chris's hand shot out, catching the door and pushing it back open. I gasped as she leaned in, her body close, her scent wrapping around me like a cocoon.

"You know…" Chris murmured, her voice low and teasing, "you can come back to my bed anytime you like—if you're feeling lonely."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with suggestion, and her eyes sparkled with mischief as she studied my face, waiting for a reaction.

I swallowed hard and shook my head. "I—I'm fine. I like sleeping in my own bed," I stammered, my voice shaky and unconvincing.

It wasn't true. Not even a little. I hated sleeping alone. I craved warmth—the feeling of someone else's heartbeat against mine, the security of being held through the night. But I couldn't admit that. Not now. Not when this arrangement was so fragile and undefined, teetering between control and chaos.

"Suit yourself," Chris said, her voice light but tinged with something softer—something almost like disappointment.

Then she leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. The gesture was so gentle it made my chest ache, like she was laying claim to me all over again but holding back at the last second.

"Goodnight," she whispered before retreating and closing the door behind her, leaving me standing there, trembling.

I pressed my forehead against the door, my breath shallow and uneven. My fingers grazed the handle, aching to turn it, to step back into her room and let myself sink into the comfort of her arms.

But I didn't.

Instead, I stood there, rooted in place, and for the first time in weeks… I regretted saying I could pay for the storage unit. I regretted it so badly I could taste it.

What I wouldn't give to be on the other side of this door right now.