Lost and Found • mikhaiah au

08. Race to the Prize

Agnes stood under the shower's spray, the cool water doing little to extinguish the heat coursing through her body. The events of the past few minutes replayed in her mind, each detail more vivid than the last.

She clenched her fists against the tiles, feeling the cold, smooth surface beneath her fingertips as she tried to steady herself.

"What did I just agree to?" she murmured, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and anticipation. Her heart hammered in her chest, a wild rhythm that echoed the thoughts racing through her mind.

The bet, her impulsive challenge had been reckless, a spur-of-the-moment decision driven by a mix of adrenaline and something else, something she couldn't quite name but felt deep in her core.

Agnes' breath came in shallow gasps as she recalled the intensity in Maiko's eyes, the playful yet predatory glint that had sent a thrill down her spine. The memory of Maiko's warm breath brushing against her lips, her sultry voice promising a 'special prize,' sent a shiver through Agnes' body.

Her skin prickled with goosebumps, and she felt a flush rise to her cheeks, her body reacting involuntarily to the memory of Maiko's teasing touch.

"Tanga, tanga, tanga," Agnes muttered, her fingers curling into her palms. The thought of Maiko's suggested reward: a shower together, no towels, no clothes, played over and over in her mind, each repetition making her pulse race faster.

She could almost feel Maiko's fingers trailing down her arm again, the light touch that had set her skin on fire.

Agnes leaned her head against the tiles, closing her eyes. The cool surface felt good against her heated skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside her.

She couldn't believe she had let things escalate like this, all because of a stupid box. A box that now seemed like the least of her concerns compared to the tension and unspoken desires swirling between her and Maiko.

Her breathing grew heavier as she remembered Maiko's intense, smoldering gaze. The way Maiko had stepped closer, the heat radiating from her body palpable even through the steam and water. The memory of Maiko's lips so close to hers, the promise of something forbidden and thrilling, left Agnes breathless.

She turned off the shower, the sudden silence amplifying the pounding of her heart. "Get a grip," Agnes told herself, but her voice was barely more than a whisper.

She needed to focus on the race, on beating Maiko in the pool. But the thought of what could happen afterward—the dinner date, the possible consequences of their bet, kept invading her thoughts, making it hard to concentrate.

As she exited the locker room, the familiar scent of chlorine hit her, the pool stretched out before her, its blue surface reflecting the overhead lights.

Her coach, Colleen, stood at the poolside, clipboard in hand, giving last-minute instructions to the team. Her teammates were scattered along the edge, some stretching, others chatting quietly.

But it was Maiko who caught Agnes' attention. She stood by the starting block, arms raised above her head as she stretched, her muscles rippling under her skin.

Agnes' heart skipped a beat. Maiko's eyes were fixed on her, a smirk playing on her lips, a mix of challenge and something else.

As Agnes walked towards her, she felt an unfamiliar yet undeniable attraction. It was a pull she hadn't recognized before, a force drawing her towards Maiko. The way Maiko's gaze lingered on her, confident and intense, made Agnes' pulse quicken.

Maiko's smirk widened as Agnes approached, her eyes never leaving Agnes' face. Agnes felt a warmth rise to her cheeks, her heart pounding in her chest. The air seemed to crackle with tension.