—BETTER LATE THAN NEVER—

—J

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Having thankfully taken charge of the situation, Rosé subtly dragged Michael and Jisoo to The Grind for a cuppa, offering Lisa and me the chance to finally be alone after five long days of not speaking. It didn't take long before the flat was completely emptied, which was just as well, given my desperation. Seeing as I was clutching house keys in one hand and my phone in the other, I chose to dispose of each item before tentatively making my way towards my best friend, unsure on what to do first.

Kiss her or slap her.

"Is it too soon to make an ill-timed prison pun?" I speculated, running into her open arms with no regard for her ribs what so ever.

"I didn't bend over to grab the soap if that's what you're worried about," she laughed, caressing my back with her hands. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean put you through all this. Rosé's told me how upset you've been."

Nothing was said on the matter as she pulled my entire body against hers, leaving no gap between our rapidly breathing chests. She then proceeded to stroke my hair and detangled my tatty strands, stopping when her fingers got caught up a little.

So I hadn't brushed my hair.

Sue me!

"Is it over? Have they released you forever?" I asked, desperate for some answers.

"It's over," she ensured, gifting me the one thing I needed most.

Relief.

Lisa's acceptance in my liberation was strong in its statement, yet gentle in its pursuit to further appease me. It was clear she hated seeing me in such a state of distress, but when I felt so horrendously responsible for everything, I couldn't help it.

"I need you to listen very carefully while I explain something, okay?" she asked, to which I slowly nodded.

She carefully moved us both to a seated position on the sofa, never once taking her hand away from mine.

"I know you feel guilty, Jennie. You have that look about you. It's the same look you had on the night of the awards ceremony," she explained, gently so. "But this is not your fault. I was never arrested. Not really. It was a setup."

She paused slightly, allowing my mind the time it needed to accept the information she was sharing. Not that it helped, mind you. I was still as confused as before and didn't understand what she meant by the term 'setup'. Was she working with the police?

"I knew I had to do something. You wouldn't settle knowing that man was still out there following you so I got in touch with Kai."

"Rosé's Kai?" I asked, clinging to her shoulders for physical support.

"Yeah, he put me in contact with some police officers he knew and I told them everything. As it turns out, they've been following Rucco's gang for a few years now but could never catch them in the act."

"Rucco? Is that who V owed money?"

"Yeah."

"So it was all part of the plan? You'd arranged to meet up in order to pay off V's debt and the police came sweeping in?"

"Exactly, and they had to fake my arrest as to not draw suspicion. If any of them were to get out one day, they'd come straight for me, knowing I was the one who set them up."

Her explanation came as quite the comfort, and I even allowed myself the privilege of thinking forward to our future together. I'd been so worried that I couldn't see past the end of the week, yet suddenly the possibilities were endless.

"I haven't ruined it, have I? Us, I mean? By walking away."

"God, no!" she insisted, grasping either side of my face. "I told you it wasn't over between us, didn't I?"

"You did, but then you got arrested, and I thought it was all my fault."

"I know, sweetheart, and I wanted to tell you everything, but I wasn't allowed to. It was never supposed to go on as long as it did. One of the gang members got away last minute, and I had to remain in pretend custody until they caught him."

"And they've caught him now?" I questioned, relieved when she nodded. "So it's really all over? No more scary men following me?"

"No more scary men," she confirmed, bringing me back in for yet another hug.

Thank God!

Knowing my stalker was now officially behind bars was definitely a cause for celebration.

"I'm happy you're back. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. Five days is a lifetime. It's been hell," she smiled, ever so dramatically.

I pulled away from her tight hold and found her gaze was as captivating as it was serious. My ability to become lost in those bright blue pools of lust certainly spurred me on. I didn't think twice before joining my lips with hers, showing her how much I had missed her as opposed to merely just stating it. I had longed to feel her warm mouth against my own, and mixed together with that signature smell of hers, I could barely contain my excitement.

"How is he?" She whispered, pulling away slightly. "V?"

"He's alright. He's starting group therapy and his family are supporting him," I explained, appreciating her concerns. "He told me to go easy on you," I smiled, lightly tracing the buttons on her white shirt.

"Did he now?" she questioned, seemingly picking up on my suggestive tone.

"Hmm and we do seem to have an empty flat," I added, removing the first button, followed swiftly by the second.

"Observation truly noted."

"I could text Rosé. Tell her to hold the fort over there for a while?"

"Or we could just have a quickie on the sofa?" she suggested, shifting her weight so that I became firmly wedged in between her and the cushions.

"So romantic," I laughed, pulling her shirt off by dragging the hem over her head.

"I do try," she replied, pulling off my own top and latching her mouth onto my neck.

I immediately moaned, encouraging her to continue her bruising kiss on my skin, sure it would leave a glowing mark. I desperately needed her to touch me. Though, knowing we didn't have time on our side, I decided to initiate things by eagerly helping her out of her jeans.

"Quickly Lisa, I need you now!" I panted, shoving my hand in her boxers.

I instantly felt her growing erection and slowly dragged it through the palm of my hand, teasing her shaft.

"Oh fuck!" she growled, planting her lips against the beating pulse in my neck. "Jennie, hold on," she begged, reaching into her wallet for a condom.

She had it out of the wrapper and sheathed onto herself within seconds; the only thing left stopping us from joining being my own jeans. I struggled to kick them off and in doing so, ruined the slightly intimate moment by ungracefully grunting and cussing my way through the action. She laughed at my flustered state, but in spite of her amusement, didn't dare lose sight of her mission.

Sex.

"Open your legs for me," she demanded, helping me out by gently pushing on my hips.

She used her strength to lift me up by the arse, where positioning her mouth at my entrance had me seeing literal stars before anything had even begun.

"Lisa, please!" I pleaded, thrusting forwards and practically offering myself up on a plate.

Words couldn't describe my desperation at feeling her tongue at my most intimate parts. Whilst my inner thighs reacted to having her delightfully feast on me, I craved more.

"I'm gonna make love to you all night, Jennie." she rasped, although doing so would've proved extremely difficult.

Her Dad and sister were due back any minute now, not to mention my own Mother and Step-Dad's prompt arrival at two. Something told me we had to be quick and Lisa was being anything but.

"Faster Lisa! We don't have long!"

"Now who's being romantic?" she laughed; inflicting one, long lick to appease me.

All witty remarks were rendered dead in the water when I knowingly succumbed to the pleasures of being tongue fucked by Lisa and as I 'Ohh' and 'Ahh'd' my way through each jolt of electricity, I didn't once consider locking the front door, too far gone in my own selfish desires.

"Now, Lisa. I want you now," I pleaded, angered by her insistence to ignore me.

She remained buried deep in between my legs and even as I began to gently pull on the roots of her hair, she still didn't move a muscle.

"Lisa!"

Nothing.

"Please."

Still nothing.

"I'm fucking in love with you, do you know that?" I yelled, finally grabbing her attention.

She was up and wiping at her mouth almost instantly, flashing me that dimple showing smirk of hers.

"What did you just say?"

"I'm not telling you until you give me what I want," I moaned, positioning myself at her tip.

Seeing my stubbornness for exactly what it was; unrelenting, she slowly pushed into me and gently held my arms in place above my head, kissing my nose as she went.

"Now tell me," she demanded, leaving my body completely, only to then slam full force back into it.

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you."

"Once more."

I laughed at her inability to let it ago and pushed up from my hips, hitting her in the exact area I required.

"I'm crazy in love with you, Lalisa Manoban," I whispered, blowing my words right across her blushing face.

"I'm crazy in love with you too, cupcake."

With our spoken declarations lingering in the surrounding air, we both clung to each other as though our lives depended on it and never once let go. Even when we both reached our much anticipated, very shared release, our arms remained locked in place.

"I love you, Jennie." she sighed, attempting to catch her breath.

"I love you too, Lisa. Sorry it's nine, maybe ten years late."

I giggled at my comment and found I enjoyed the sound of her laughing alongside me; all while she lazily proceeded to roll onto her side, taking me with her.

"It's better late than never, right?" she suggested, kissing my sensitive lips.

Before we were tempted to fall asleep, I shuffled out of her embrace and began the process of redressing, even though doing so went against all human instinct. Naked cuddles were my favourite thing about being with Lisa, but we had the rest of our lives to engage in that. What I didn't want was my future Father-in-law seeing my naked lady parts.

"Does this mean we're friends again?" I asked, pulling on my knickers.

"I'd say we're long past the stage of friends," she remarked, buttoning up her shirt.

"Prove it."

I removed myself from the sofa's cushions and elegantly slipped on my jeans.

"How?" she asked, clearly confused.

"Tell your Dad and Jisoo about us," I suggested, to which she happily beamed.

I could tell she had no objections to doing such a thing, and in a way, telling the family made things all the more real for us.

"I'll happily tell them, sweetheart," she replied, kissing my smiling lips. "Will you do it with me?"

I nodded my head in an eager motion and upon hearing the return of Rosé's loud voice, sprang into action to rid all evidence of our shared encounter. I quickly binned the used condom and threw on my shirt, addressing Lisa in the living room when we were both fully dressed and seemingly presentable.

"You ready to tell them now?"

Born ready!

"Hell yeah," I smiled, allowing her to grab my hand. "Let's do this, Manoban!"

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