Sometimes doing the bare minimum is enough when the attraction is obvious. Billy was playing video games with Emma; it was the third game in a row that he beat her, completely outplaying her. Everyone—almost everyone—usually let her win or gave her an advantage. Billy never did that. Instead, he leaned into it, turning it into a challenge for her.
—I think we should stop— Billy said, rubbing his eyes. The time change was catching up with him; for days now, he hadn't understood rest or sleep. It was hard for him to fall asleep when he traveled so much, and even though he remembered his bed, he wasn't detached from everything that was going on.
—Yeah, I think we should stop— Emma replied, a little drowsy. But clearly, she expected to go back home. When Billy took her hand and led her upstairs to the bedroom, her heart wouldn't stop pounding in her chest. She had even lied to him about having her mother's permission—the truth was, she had only said she would stay late doing homework at home. Luckily, her brother was at school full-time.
Rest, food, and study all in one place. Just a large bed, and Billy taking off his shirt. She noticed the many instruments and a small, impersonal library of volumes scattered throughout the house. It was impossible not to think she needed an ice-cold shower.
—You're blushing like a tomato— Billy whispered, taking the sleeve of her shirt and slowly pulling it up, a hint of mischief in his gesture. When the shirt no longer rested on her shoulders, he brushed her hair aside and placed soft kisses along her neck. He pressed his face against it, feeling her shiver—the chills, the way she seemed to melt into his embrace—it all felt overwhelming, beyond anything she could handle.
He handed her one of his oversized shirts, the kind he used for working out, with a round collar. She put it on nervously as she watched Billy lower himself, removing her long school skirt that reached below her knees. She trembled when she realized nothing remained but her shoes, which he removed gently as he kissed her legs. Emma felt like she was going to burst, one way or another. She lost all sense of things—maybe her mother's reprimand didn't matter anymore, nor anyone else's. Not his recent work at Warner, not her assignment due Wednesday.
Skipping class—everything that once defined her normal life faded away when she felt him kissing his way up her slender legs. She clung to his back, nervous and completely overwhelmed.
—I think I've fallen in love— Billy said, lifting his gaze to meet her eyes.
—Don't say nonsense— she replied.
—Let me kiss your lips. Let me kiss you. For so long, all I've thought about is kissing your lips—your presence is a kind of torment to me— Billy said, silencing her next words with a rush of kisses. He began with a gentle kiss, then another, and another, until their mouths finally met fully. She could think of nothing else but that moment—the butterflies rising from her stomach to her head, then falling to the tips of her toes, running through her like blood in her veins. She was dizzy. Completely undone.
Billy continued kissing her, his tongue now entwining with Emma's, leaving her speechless. The way he held her tightly against his body erased any possibility of words. When he finally pulled away, they remained connected by a thin thread of breath, everything else fading into nothing.
—Come here— Billy said, taking control as he turned on the television. He removed his shirt and pants, standing in his boxers. She hesitated, wanting to say no, but Billy's confidence led her to accept—without any clear reason. Whatever he said became enough; everything else was just a whisper in the air. She felt the warmth of his body pressed against hers.
As he spoke, he said beautiful things about her—about everything that defined her, her dreams, what they would do in the future, the life they would live. His kisses never stopped. He spoke about fame, and how he would erase it if it meant living a life for her. About how people always treated him like a product. She didn't know what to say or how to respond, but the kisses grew more intense. He touched every part of her, and she responded with delicate curiosity. He whispered that there was no need to rush, that just having her by his side was enough—and that even she would give everything when the time came.
—They say you have a girlfriend— Emma whispered.
—We are seeing each other…— Billy began, but was interrupted. —Let me finish. It's all business—we're doing a film, and the production pays us to be together. We have to make it look real. I accepted because I thought it was best for me. Do you know how hard it is to realize our love is forbidden?—
—You really think that— Emma replied softly, her wide eyes fixed on him. She pressed her legs against his, her hips against his, her chest against his.
—What can I do? You're a woman worth everything— Billy replied, his words dripping with sweetness, repeated again and again. He didn't want to hold back or avoid speaking about what might happen now, and in less than a second, he kissed her again, overwhelming her completely with everything he chose to call love.
—When I turn eighteen—
—It's your decision, my love. Though I think we should wait a little longer. It should be something special—something we remember forever— Billy replied.
She could only process his words—they sounded so coherent, so true. Each of those simple, minimal phrases felt logical and real to her. She had nothing more to say than yes—a nod, a quiet yes. Timely, unquestioned.
—Why are you so kind to me?— she whispered.
—You take care of the people you love—your friends, your partner, your future… you just care for them the way you were taught— Billy replied calmly, kissing her lips again, pushing his tongue to the edge, unwilling for any of his words to feel shallow or merely vain.
Billy understood, in his own way, that women fall in love with what they hear—and when they hear it with confidence, when it's given with warmth and closeness, what remains is a simple response. Even when they try to resist, even when people drift apart—a strong love reveals the truth.
That truth is magnificent.
—I think I want it now. Let's not wait— she whispered intensely, the heat running through her body undeniable.
—How can you say that? Let's take it slow, step by step. As time passes, nothing will happen— Billy replied, showing her different ways to approach it—to kiss, to feel, to discover the pleasure that remained between them.
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