BETWEEN OUR LIPS. paige bueckers

twenty seven

After the final bites of their homemade pasta, an easy silence lingers between Kai and Paige. The small kitchen table is cluttered with empty plates, forks resting on crumpled napkins, and the remains of their ambitious cooking experiment. The air is warm, infused with the aroma of garlic and fresh pasta, but also a sense of contentment that comes from creating something together. Kai stretches, leaning back in her chair, her gaze drifting over the mess they've made.

Paige lets out a satisfied sigh, leaning back in her chair as well, her eyes gleaming with a playful glint. "Well, we didn't burn down the kitchen. I'd call that a win."

Kai grins, glancing at the flour-covered counter, the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, and the mess they've made. "Yeah, but we're left with this disaster. I don't think flour is supposed to get everywhere."

Paige chuckles, getting up from her seat and walking toward the sink. "Come on, I'll help. I'm not going to let you tackle this on your own."

Kai watches her move toward the counter, admiring the easy way Paige carries herself. There's something about Paige that's always so effortless, so unbothered by the messiness of things—whether it's life, basketball, or even flour-covered kitchens. It makes Kai's heart skip a beat as she grabs a dish towel and joins her.

"I'll wash; you dry," Paige says, rolling up her sleeves and turning on the tap, the sound of water filling the sink.

Kai moves closer, their shoulders brushing as she leans in to grab the first clean plate from Paige. "You're a little too eager for dish duty," Kai teases, giving Paige a sidelong glance.

Paige smirks, handing her a soapy dish, their hands brushing as she does. "Just trying to impress you with my dishwashing skills."

Kai raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile. "Oh yeah? Think that's going to work?"

Without missing a beat, Paige leans in and presses a quick, soft kiss to the corner of Kai's lips, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Maybe."

Kai's cheeks flush as she laughs, her pulse quickening from the unexpected kiss. She takes the dish from Paige and begins drying it, her heart still racing. "Okay, well... consider me impressed."

They fall into an easy rhythm, working side by side as they clean up the kitchen. Paige washes the dishes, occasionally flicking water playfully at Kai, while Kai dries them, her thoughts still lingering on that brief, stolen kiss.

As Paige passes her another plate, she glances over with a playful smile. "Not bad for our first homemade pasta night, huh?"

Kai grins, shaking her head as she wipes the plate dry. "I think we nailed it. But next time, maybe we'll try not to cover the entire kitchen in flour."

Paige chuckles, her eyes bright with amusement. "Yeah, I'm not sure how I managed to get flour on my shirt. I don't remember doing anything that messy."

Kai tilts her head, her eyes narrowing as she inspects Paige's shirt, which still has a streak of white flour on it. "That's because you were way too into the kneading part. You had to go full-on athlete mode, didn't you?"

Paige laughs, her voice low and warm, her fingers dipping into the soapy water as she rinses another dish. "Hey, when I commit to something, I commit. No half measures."

Kai snorts softly, grabbing the dish from her, but before she can dry it, Paige leans in again, this time kissing her fully on the lips, the touch lingering just a little longer than before. The warmth of Paige's lips sends a rush of electricity through Kai, and for a moment, the world outside the kitchen fades away.

When Paige pulls back, there's a playful gleam in her eyes. "How's that for commitment?"

Kai blinks, momentarily stunned, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. "Um... I'd say you're doing a pretty good job of convincing me."

Paige smirks, handing her another dish. "Good. Then I'll keep going."

They continue working, the playful atmosphere between them becoming something more charged, more intimate. Every now and then, Paige finds excuses to brush her fingers against Kai's hand, or nudge her gently with her elbow. The air between them feels thick with anticipation, like they're both waiting for something to happen, though neither of them is quite ready to say it out loud.

As they move around the kitchen, cleaning up the last of the dishes, Kai can't help but feel the growing tension between them. It's not uncomfortable, but there's a weight to it, something simmering beneath the surface that neither of them seems ready to address.

After the last dish is dried and placed on the counter, Kai turns to face Paige, leaning her hip against the counter. "Well, that wasn't so bad. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?"

Paige crosses her arms, leaning back slightly as she meets Kai's gaze. "Yeah, it does."

The quiet between them shifts again, the playful flirting giving way to something deeper, something unspoken. Paige takes a step closer, her expression softening as her eyes search Kai's face. "You know, tonight was really nice."

Kai's heart skips a beat at the way Paige is looking at her, the closeness between them making it hard to think straight. "Yeah... it was."

Paige's hand reaches out, brushing a strand of hair behind Kai's ear. "I don't usually get nights like this. Everything's always so... chaotic. It's nice to just slow down for once."

Kai swallows, her pulse quickening as Paige's fingers linger against her skin. She can feel the warmth of Paige's hand, the way her thumb lightly grazes her cheek. "Yeah... it's nice."

Before she can think too much about it, Paige leans in again, capturing Kai's lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. This time, it's not playful or teasing—it's soft and full of intention, like they're both acknowledging the tension that's been building all night.

Kai melts into the kiss, her hand finding its way to Paige's waist as she pulls her closer, the warmth of Paige's body pressing against hers. The kiss deepens, and for a moment, all thoughts of the mess in the kitchen, of the flour-covered countertops, disappear.

When they finally pull apart, both of them are breathless, their foreheads resting together as they try to catch their breath.

Paige grins, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think we make a pretty good team."

Kai laughs softly, her hand still resting on Paige's waist. "Yeah, I'd say so."

Paige kisses her again, this time slower, savoring the moment as if they have all the time in the world. The warmth between them is undeniable now, a quiet, steady heat that seems to grow with each kiss. They stay like that for a while, exchanging soft, lingering kisses, neither of them in any hurry to pull away.

Eventually, Paige pulls back just enough to look into Kai's eyes, her hand still cupping the side of Kai's face. "You know... I could get used to this."

Kai's lips curve into a soft smile, her heart feeling lighter than it has in a long time. "Yeah... me too."

They share a few more kisses, each one a little slower, a little softer, as if they're both trying to savor every moment of this quiet, intimate connection. Eventually, they break apart, both of them smiling, their faces flushed from the closeness.

Kai clears her throat, glancing around the kitchen, which is now mostly clean. "Well, I think we've officially conquered the pasta-making and dish-washing game."

Paige laughs, shaking her head as she leans back against the counter. "Yeah, I think we did. Who knew we'd make such a good team in the kitchen?"

Kai grins, wiping her hands on the dish towel one last time before tossing it onto the counter. "Next time, I'll teach you how to make dessert. But no promises that I won't cover you in flour again."

Paige smirks, pulling Kai closer by the waist, her lips brushing against Kai's one more time before murmuring, "As long as we end up like this, I don't mind a little mess."

Kai smiles against Paige's lips, "I need you. Like now."

-

smut????

@kayywrites
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