Lisa
The day of the wedding is so completely hectic that I don't even see Jennie until she's lining up behind me with Nathan. She doesn't even glance at me, and I wonder if I've pissed her off or something. She's barely spoken to me in two days.
I want to spend the night with her, even if that's all I'll ever get with her, but something's changed since that day we spent together. She's scared, and I can't say I don't blame her. I felt it, too. Getting close, feeling vulnerable. She doesn't want to open up to someone that'll just be leaving afterward.
After the ceremony, a hundred or two of pictures, and heading to the reception in the party bus, I'm determined to get her alone, even if just for a minute. She's clung to Yeri most of the day, so getting any time with her hasn't been easy. The other girls in the party have been obvious in giving me their attention, and I wonder if that's what's been bothering her.
I don't plan to go home with any of those girls tonight, or ever. My only plan tonight is spending it with Jennie and if it's the last thing I do, I will kiss her lips again.
Once the party bus arrives to the venue, we have a few minutes outside before going in, and I take the opportunity to find her.
I grab her arm and pull her back to me, the warmth of her body pressed against mine is immediate. "Hey," I say with a smile, relieved to finally get her attention.
"What do you want?" she asks, pushing away so bodies part.
I furrow my brows, confused by her harsh tone. "I haven't been able to talk to you all day or yesterday." She keeps her hard stare, looking unimpressed by my presence. "I've missed you. I want to dance with you later." I take a step closer, and when she doesn't step back, I take another.
"I don't think so." Her voice is sharp and final. The rest of the wedding party starts walking in and she follows without another word.
Well, that didn't go as I anticipated.
I have no idea why she's pissed or what I did to make her upset, but I'm not about to let her walk away from the week we've shared.
The reception is packed, filled with high energy. Kai had a lot of college and work friends, multiplied by all their families and extended family members. Jennie sits next to Yeri at the head table, putting her too far away from me to grab her attention. I decide to watch for an opening when she stands up, but then I realize she's holding a microphone for her maid of honor speech.
I watch, mesmerized, her face completely lit up as she talks about Yeri and how they grew up together. She talks about how Yeri talked about Kai from day one and that if anyone deserved eternal happiness, it was them. I see the sincerity in her face and for a split moment, I want to stand up and scream at her—scream at her for pushing me away before I even got close, scream that I'm right here, wanting her.
But I keep my cool and when she excuses herself from the table to use the restroom, I take the opportunity to follow her. She turns the corner into a quiet hallway and when I'm sure no one else is around, I catch up to her and pin her against the wall.
"What the hell, Lisa?" she snaps. "Let me go."
"No," I say firmly. "Not until you tell me what you're so pissed about."
"Oh, like you don't know," she fires at me. "We're not doing this. Not here."
"Oh, we are," I retort. "So just tell me what your problem is."
"Fine! You wanna know?" she hisses. I nod, loosening my grip around her. "I heard you last night, okay? I was in the bathtub and when you came into your room with your little visitor, I heard. And well, it pissed me off. I don't know why, but I couldn't stand the thought of you being with someone, so I thought it was best to just keep my distance."
I narrow my eyes, trying to hold in satisfied grin. "You were jealous," I say, taunting.
"Screw you, asshole!" She slaps my chest, but I catch it before she can pull back. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm done. Whatever this is—was—it's done."
This time my grin spreads wide, my eyes fixed on hers. "You're adorable."
She pauses, scowling at me. "Was that you getting even with me or something?"
"Listen, Jennie…" I press my body to hers, lowering my body to capture her chin with my fingers. "I didn't even sleep in my bed last night. When I walked in and saw two people laying naked on my bed, I went and slept on the couch."
Her breath hitches. "You slept on the couch?"
I nod. "Alone."
"Did you change your sheets?" she asks with concern.
I laugh and nod my head. "Ripped them off first thing this morning."
She licks her lips, and I can almost see the thoughts spinning in her head. "Why didn't you come in by me then?"
"I thought about it, but it was late. I was afraid I'd wake up again to you screaming at me," I say with a smirk.
She rolls her eyes, a smile finally forming on her lips. "Fair enough."
"So you were jealous, huh?" I taunt.
"Shut up. You're still an asshole."
I shrug, curling my lips. "But a cute asshole, right?"
"You're going to need a bigger fedora. It's about to burst with that ego of yours."
I laugh, happy that she's finally relaxed around me again. "You look beautiful, by the way. Pearls and feather bands really suit you."
"You mean a 1920s hooker?"
"But a classy hooker."
She rolls her eyes again and chuckles. "God, Lalisa Manoban. What am I going to do with you?"
"You sound pretty sexy saying my name like that," I say, pressing my lips to hers before she can pull away. "Say it again."
"No," she says, parting our mouths.
"I love it when you're defiant."
She giggles, and I nearly lose it right then and there.
"I need to use the restroom," she reminds me, pushing me back.
"Fine, but I get a dance with you."
She starts to walk away, her heels accentuating her ass as my eyes following her down the hallway. "We'll see," she taunts, briefly looking over her shoulder at me with those smoldering eyes that tell me everything else I need to know.
Jennie
My mind races as I think about Lisa and the last dance we had together. The way she touched me. The way she stole my breath with just her eyes. The way she pressed my body tenderly to hers, clenching me as if she couldn't hold me tight enough.
It was the first time I allowed myself to feel vulnerable around her. The walls that surrounded me lowered and I let myself feel the moment with her—even if it were just for tonight.
After sending Yeri and Kai off, I stayed to help clean up. Lisa and I exchanged looks the entire time, but something was stopping me from making that final step into her arms. The battle of my heart and mind kept me from inviting her into my bedroom when I arrived back to the house before she did.
Now, I'm standing outside her bedroom door in bare feet, pajama shorts, and a tank top. My hair is pulled up in a messy knot, makeup half-rubbed-off from dancing all night long.
But I don't care. Not anymore.
She's leaving tomorrow and although I don't want to ruin the absolute perfect night we had together, I'm going to risk it. Even though it's best I leave it alone.
I listen for any movement behind her door, but it's completely silent. Inhaling a deep breath, I knock on her door. I anticipate her turning me down, but I can't sleep not knowing. I won't live with regrets any more.
I hear the soft steps of her feet coming toward the door and my body feels every cliché of butterflies, tingles, and heart-throbbing.
She has to know it's me on the other side of the door, but when she opens it and looks at me, I notice a slight look of relief. She's wearing her black slacks still, but her white shirt is unbuttoned and hanging off her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" She finally asks as we both stare at each other.
I swallow. I'm doing this. Just do it.
"Will you do something for me?"
"Anything." Her response is immediate.
"Help me with another number on my list."
She looks down at me, one side of her mouth tilts up in an easy grin. Her eyes soften as she shifts her feet. "Okay," she agrees.
"You don't even know what it is yet."
"I don't need to. I'd help you do a hundred items from your list if you asked me."
Talk about a sucker-punch right to the heart.
Why does she have to be so perfect at times?
"Okay," I say softly, hesitation evident in my voice.
"So…what is it?"
I blink up at her. "Have a one-night stand."
Her eyes fixate on mine, her lips in a firm line as her hard stare burns into me. Finally, she takes a step back and brushes a hand through her hair, looking down at the ground and then back up to me.
"Do you know how hard I've been trying to not have sex with you this week? Do you know how many times I've wanted to do more than shut your smart mouth up with my lips and kiss them until they bruised? I've imagined it every day since I've met you." She inhales a sharp breath. "Jesus, Jennie."
Fuck, she's angry.
I look down, unable to handle the way she's looking at me right now and completely humiliated that I just asked her to have sex with me.
"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. Honestly, I'm probably still drunk." I quickly turn to retreat, but she grabs my arm and pulls me back to her, her mouth so close to mine, we're nearly touching.
"I want you, Jennie. I do. Trust me. But one night would never be enough for me. You deserve much more than a one-night stand." Her words, so powerful, hit me like an emotional backhanded slap to the face.
"One night is all I can give…" I say softly, lowering my eyes. "I could find any drunk guy at a bar to sleep with, but it wouldn't be you. I feel safe with you."
She tilts my chin up, making my eyes meet hers again. They're intense and captivating, and everything I shouldn't want. "I could die happy hearing that." She smiles with that devious look in her eyes and my body melts into a puddle all over again.
"I could die happy knowing that I met someone like you, Lisa Manoban. Even if all I know about you is you climb trees like a champ, can dance like your feet are on fire and are an expert at using all the hot water. It's enough."
She slips her hand from my jaw to my cheek and pulls my lips to hers.
Soft lips collide with mine. But it feels like so much more than that. She kisses like it's the last day of her life and the only way to breathe again is from feeling her lips against mine, knowing she's pouring every ounce of passion to me.
"If I can only have you for one night, then I'll take it. I'll make sure it's the best one-night stand you ever have." Her words vibrate against my lips, forcing giggles out of me at her devoted response.
"It'll be the only one I have," I promise. "Anything after would just be a disappointment." I inhale as she nips my lower lip. "And life is too short for disappointments."
Her mouth covers mine again, but this time she reaches around me and pulls me up against her, wrapping my legs around her waist. She walks us into her room and presses my back against the door as she closes it.
Gently, she lowers me to my feet, but doesn't let me go. She kisses down my jaw, neck, and chest. Her hands explore on her way down, palming my breasts, as she pulls my tank top down and wraps her lips around my nipple. I moan at the way she's paying extra attention to my sensitive buds, figuring out what makes my body hum.
She kneels down in front of me, feathering kisses down my torso as she pushes my top up. I look down and watch her, her fingers pressing aggressively into my skin as her mouth lowers to my panties.
The moon shines through the window, reflecting off her skin and giving me just enough of a view to know she's not planning to stop anytime soon.
"I've been dying to know what you taste like, Jennie. It's all I've been able to think about every morning while you were in that shower, the same shower I was using, thinking of all the ways I could make you scream in there if I had my way."
My palms are pressed against the door, holding my body up as best as I can. With every word she says and every indent her lips make into my flesh, I want to sink lower and lower to the floor, knowing that this is the only moment we'll ever have together. The last moment I'll ever spend with her or any other guy while I'm on this earth. The last moment I'll know I can now die happy.
She slowly pulls my panties down, softly kissing the skin underneath as she lowers one side at a time. I shiver at the way her fingers press into the flesh, marking me as hers, even if just for tonight. Her lips are warm, leaving a trail down my body as my arousal continues to grow with every breath I feel her exhale.
Her tongue slides up my slit over and over, building up the arousal as I try to steady myself against the wall. I can barely take it anymore. I fist my hands in her hair, letting her know exactly what I need.
And with a heavy moan, she delivers. My arousal releases as I scream her name and beg for more.
I watch, dazed, as she stands up and shrugs her shirt down her shoulders until it pools to the floor. She brings my gaze back up to her when she grabs my wrist and covers her arousal with the palm of my hand. "I've been hard all week, just thinking about you. The more I resisted the urge to throw you in my bed, the harder I got."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I say with a knowing grin. "Guess I should take care of that for you."
I start to kneel down in front of her, but she grabs me before I can and pulls me back up. "This may only be for one night, but it's going to be nothing like a one-night stand. I'm making love to you, Jennie. I'm not fucking you like a nameless girl at the bar. You understand?"
I swallow and blink up at her.
"Jennie?"
"Yes," I say. "That doesn't mean I don't want it rough, though." The moment the words spill out of my mouth, she captures my mouth again and begins taking the rest of our clothes off. Soon, they're a trail on the floor as we make our way to her bed, where she keeps her promise of making it the best I've ever had.