No Such Thing As A Hollywood Ending

chapter 17

Lucy sat on the edge of her bed, nervously fidgeting with the edge of her shirt. The room felt warmer than usual, and she wasn't sure if it was because of Henry's presence or the way her thoughts had been spiraling ever since their last conversation.

Henry sat beside her, leaning back casually against the pillows, completely at ease. He was flipping through one of the books on her nightstand, unaware of the tension Lucy was feeling as she stole glances at him. She had invited him over, and now they were here, alone in her room, the air between them heavy with unspoken possibilities.

Lucy wasn't sure how to bring up what she wanted to ask him, or even if she should. The idea of being with Henry like that still made her nervous, but after everything they had talked about, she knew they were both at least thinking about it.

Suddenly, Henry shifted closer to her, snapping her out of her thoughts. He leaned in, his breath warm against her neck. Lucy's pulse quickened as his lips grazed her skin, and then he pressed them a little harder, leaving a kiss just below her ear. It was soft at first, but then it deepened, and she felt his mouth sucking gently at her skin.

A shiver ran down her spine as she realized what he was doing—he was trying to give her a hickey.

Her body reacted immediately, a surge of arousal making her heart race. She let out a soft gasp, her hands instinctively reaching for him, gripping his arm as he continued his slow, deliberate motions. It felt intense, sending waves of warmth through her, and it was becoming harder to think straight.

Henry pulled back slightly, his lips hovering near her ear. "Do you like that?" he whispered, his voice low and almost teasing.

Lucy could barely find her voice. "Y-Yeah," she breathed, trying to steady herself. "But... are you sure you want to go further?"

Her question hung in the air for a moment, and Henry sat up, meeting her gaze. For the first time, she saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. But then, he gave a slow nod.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I've been thinking about it, and... I do. But only if you want to."

Lucy blinked, surprised by his answer. She had been prepared for hesitation, for him to need more time—but here he was, telling her that he was ready. She hadn't expected it, but hearing him say it made her heart skip a beat.

"I do," she replied softly, her voice filled with more confidence than she felt.

Henry smiled gently, leaning in to kiss her again, this time on the lips. It was tender, slow, and Lucy melted into the moment, her body responding to his touch. She could feel her own desire building, the intensity of the situation making her pulse quicken.

As they kissed, Henry's hands began to move, his fingers brushing against the hem of her shirt, tentatively testing the waters. Lucy didn't pull away—she wanted this too. But she also wanted to make sure they both felt safe, that they were both on the same page.

"Let's go at whatever pace feels comfortable," she murmured between kisses, her fingers intertwining with his.

Henry nodded, but the way his hands moved quickly up her sides told her he felt comfortable going faster than she expected.

Lucy's heart raced as he pulled her closer, their bodies fitting together in a way that felt so right. As he continued to kiss her, she found herself surrendering to the moment, the warmth of their connection enveloping her.

Though part of her wanted to slow things down, she couldn't deny how good it felt to be with him like this. She trusted him, and he seemed to know what he wanted. So, she let the intensity of the moment wash over her, feeling grateful that they were exploring this new chapter of their relationship together.

As the evening went on, the two of them explored their desires, moving carefully, making sure each step felt right. It was intimate and honest, and though Lucy's heart raced with excitement, she knew they were in it together—just as they had agreed.