The Quiet Contract

Exclusive Courting

Jennie POV

As I sat at the dining table, watching Lisa wash the dishes, I couldn't stop myself from staring. There she was, standing in my kitchen in an oversized shirt and borrowed shorts, sleeves rolled up as she worked her way through our plates and utensils. It wasn't glamorous or sexy in the traditional sense, but God, it did something to me.

Her shoulders, broad but not too much, shifted as she moved. The way her hands handled the plates—strong yet gentle. It was all so... Lisa. My eyes trailed lower, over her back, to the slight curve of her hips. The shorts I'd given her weren't doing me any favors. They clung just enough for my imagination to fill in the gaps, and suddenly, my brain was full of thoughts I had no business thinking.

I shook my head and reached for my wine glass, only to realize I'd already emptied it. Was I tipsy? Maybe a little, but that wasn't why I couldn't stop staring. It was her. She was doing something to me, and I wasn't sure if I should be embarrassed or lean into it.

The way Lisa had kissed me earlier... it was like a drug. Even now, I could still feel the warmth of her lips, the weight of her body pressing against mine. My skin felt alive, buzzing with electricity, and I hated how much I wanted her to come back over here and kiss me again.

What was wrong with me? Maybe I was just... deprived? Yeah, that had to be it. It had been so long since I'd been with anyone, and Lisa—she was different. She wasn't just some random person. She was Lisa.

But it wasn't just the physical attraction. It was the way she made me feel. The way she made me laugh when I was stressed, how she handled everything in that cool, laid-back way of hers. She didn't push me or demand anything. She just was, and somehow, that was enough to unravel me completely.

Before I could stop myself, I got up and walked over to her. My heart was pounding, and I felt like an idiot, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to be near her. Needed to be near her.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pressed my cheek against her back. She froze for a moment, and I panicked. What if she thought I was being weird? But then she relaxed, leaning back slightly into my embrace, and I felt my chest tighten.

"What are you doing, Jennie?" Her voice was soft, teasing, but it didn't push me away.

I closed my eyes, breathing her in. "You smell good," I mumbled, knowing I sounded ridiculous but not caring.

She laughed, low and warm. "Well, I did just take a shower with your shower stuff"

We stood like that for what felt like forever, the sound of the water running in the sink the only thing breaking the silence. My mind was racing, and my body was hyper-aware of every inch of her against me.

Finally, I found the courage to speak. "Lisa..."

"hm?"

"Will you... sleep with me tonight, in...uhm my room?"

She stopped moving completely, and my heart nearly stopped with her. Why had I said that? She probably thought I was being clingy or weird.

Lisa turned around slowly, her hands still damp, her eyes searching mine. "You sure about that?"

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I want to sleep with you tonight." I admitted.

Something shifted in her expression—softened, almost—and then she kissed me. It wasn't like the hungry kisses from earlier. This one was slower, more deliberate, like she was trying to tell me something without words.