Jenny & Sam

I was practically bouncing down the hall, my coffee in one hand, biology notebook tucked under my arm, ready to take on the world. First day of college, first day of freedom. Then—bam!

I stumbled backward, my coffee sloshing over the rim of the cup, and next thing I knew, I was on the floor, my notebook skidding a few feet away.

“Oh my god!” a voice said. “I—I’m so sorry!”

I looked up, and there he was. Messy dark hair, slightly crooked glasses, and a face that looked like he’d just seen an angel—or maybe a ghost. His cheeks were on fire as he reached out to help me up.

“I’m fine,” I said, taking his hand and letting him pull me to my feet. My jeans felt a little damp, but I barely noticed. My focus was entirely on him, standing there, stammering like he’d just forgotten how to human.

“I, uh, didn’t mean to—uh—knock into you. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you okay?”

The words tumbled out of his mouth, and I couldn’t help but grin. He was cute in that shy, nerdy way, and I had a soft spot for guys like him.

“Relax,” I said, brushing myself off. “No harm done. Except maybe to my coffee. You owe me one now.”

He laughed nervously but didn’t say anything. His eyes flicked down, then back up, then down again.

It wasn’t subtle.

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the weird eye thing? You keep looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.”

“I—uh…” He swallowed hard, his face somehow getting even redder. “It’s just… uh… you’ve got—um…” He gestured vaguely toward me, his hand hovering somewhere near his chest, then lower, then back up, like he couldn’t quite decide where to point.

“What?” I asked, frowning. I glanced down, trying to figure out what he was seeing.

Then I saw it.

Right there, on the crotch of my white jeans, were two very obvious brownish stains from the coffee. They’d soaked into the fabric, spreading just enough to look, well… questionable.

“Oh.” Heat rushed to my face as I realized what it probably looked like. “Oh my god.”

“I—I wasn’t—I didn’t mean to—” Sam stammered, waving his hands frantically like he could erase the whole situation. “I just—uh—thought you should know…”

I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or die of embarrassment. “Well, thanks for pointing it out, I guess,” I said, crossing my arms and trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “You’ve got a sharp eye, huh?”

“I—I wasn’t looking! I mean, I wasn’t staring! I just—uh—noticed—” He looked like he wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “Relax, Sam. I know it’s just coffee. You’re not in trouble.”

He looked at me like he wasn’t entirely convinced. “I’ll, uh, buy you a new coffee,” he said quickly, clearly desperate to change the subject.

“You better,” I teased, grabbing my notebook off the floor. “And maybe throw in a pack of napkins while you’re at it.”

His laugh was nervous, but he managed a small smile. “Deal.”

As we walked off together, I decided college might turn out to be a lot more interesting than I’d expected.

We walked into the cafeteria together, and Sam still looked like he was trying to recover from the coffee-on-the-jeans incident. He led the way to the counter, stammering out an order for two coffees and nervously grabbing a handful of napkins.

“Here,” he said, handing me the cup and the stack of napkins like they were a peace offering.

“Thanks,” I said, flashing him a smile as I set the coffee down on the nearest table. I grabbed a few napkins and started dabbing at the stains on my jeans. The fabric was already clinging awkwardly, and the damp spot wasn’t going anywhere without a fight.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, working on the stain with more determination. The napkin brushed against the spot between my legs, and suddenly, the absurdity of the situation hit me.

I started laughing. Loudly.

Sam blinked at me, startled. “What’s so funny?”

I gestured at myself, still rubbing at the stain. “This! I mean, look at me! Sitting here, scrubbing between my legs in the middle of a cafeteria. I must look so graceful right now.”

His face turned redder than ever, and his eyes darted away, like he couldn’t decide where it was safe to look. I grinned and tilted my head, teasing him a little.

“Haha, my god,” I said, shaking my head as I laughed again. “Enjoying the show?”

“I—I wasn’t—” he started, but the way his voice cracked betrayed him. He looked absolutely mortified.

“Relax,” I said, waving a hand. “I’m just messing with you.” I held out my other hand. “I’m Jenny, by the way.”

He stared at my hand for a second before shaking it, his grip tentative but warm. “Sam,” he said quietly, like he was afraid of messing that up too.

“Well, Sam,” I said, leaning back and tossing the crumpled napkins onto the table. “Congratulations. You’ve officially made my first day at college unforgettable.”

“I, uh… I guess that’s something?” he said, scratching the back of his neck.

“It’s definitely something,” I said with a grin. “But hey, you bought me coffee and napkins, so I’ll let it slide. You’re off the hook.”

“Thanks… I think?” he said, giving me a small, nervous smile.

I couldn’t help but notice how cute he looked when he smiled like that. There was something endearing about how awkward he was, like he wasn’t used to people paying attention to him. I decided then and there that I liked him.

“So,” I said, sipping my coffee. “What’s your deal, Sam? You a freshman too?”

“Yeah,” he said, shifting in his seat. “Physics and chemistry major.”

“Smart guy, huh?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Guess I better be careful around you. You might be some kind of evil genius.”

He laughed nervously. “Not exactly.”

I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand. “Well, Sam, looks like we’ve got a lot to talk about. But first—let’s make one thing clear.”

He looked at me, wide-eyed, waiting for whatever I was going to say.

“You’re buying me another coffee next time,” I said with a wink.

He blinked, then smiled—a real one this time. “Deal.”

We sat there for a few moments, sipping our coffees. Sam kept sneaking glances at me, but every time our eyes met, he looked away so fast you’d think he’d been caught stealing something.

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “Haha, Sam… you’re still not over me rubbing between my legs, are you?”

He nearly choked on his coffee, his face going bright red again. “W-What? I—uh—I wasn’t—”

I cut him off with a laugh, shaking my head. “Relax, I’m kidding! You’re way too easy to mess with, you know that?”

He gave me a sheepish smile, but his ears were still burning. That only made me want to push him a little more.

I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand as I locked eyes with him. “Tell me, freshman,” I said, my voice dropping into a playful whisper. “Would you have preferred to be the one doing the rubbing, huh?”

His mouth fell open, and for a second, he looked like he might short-circuit on the spot. “I—I—uh—what?” he finally stammered, his voice cracking.

I laughed so hard I almost spilled my coffee again. “Oh my god, Sam, you should see your face right now! You’re so easy to fluster.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly trying to figure out how to respond. “I, uh… I don’t think there’s a right answer to that question.”

He smiled back, and this time, there was a flicker of confidence in his eyes. “Well, you are a pretty good teacher,” he said, surprising me.

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Ooh, look at you. Was that a flirt? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Maybe,” he said, his smile widening just a little. “Or maybe I’m just figuring out how to keep up with you.”

I laughed again, leaning back in my chair. “All right, Sam. You might just survive college after all.”

“Thanks to you,” he said, his tone half-sincere, half-teasing.

“Of course,” I said, finishing the last sip of my coffee. “Stick with me, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

“Everything?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I smirked, letting the question hang in the air. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand and giving him a sly smile. “Hey, we’re both freshmen, and we’re both into science… That’s something, right?”

Sam nodded, still a little hesitant, but I could see he was starting to relax. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’m all about biology, you know,” I continued, my grin widening. “Procreation and all that. Hahah!”

He nearly spit out his coffee, his eyes going wide. “Uh… yeah, that’s, uh… important,” he mumbled, trying to keep his composure. I could practically see the gears in his brain turning as he tried to figure out if I was messing with him. (Spoiler: I totally was.)

“Do we have any classes together?” I asked, tilting my head. “Biology and chemistry aren’t too far from each other, right?”

He shrugged, clearly unsure. “Maybe? I haven’t memorized my schedule yet.”

“Well, you’d better check,” I said with a wink. “Because I think I’d like to teach you more in class.”

He blinked, his face going red again, but this time, there was a flicker of a smile. “Teach me, huh? What exactly are you planning to teach?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, leaning closer and lowering my voice just enough to make him squirm. “Let’s just say… I’m great at hands-on demonstrations.”

His jaw dropped, and for a moment, he looked like he had no idea how to respond. Then, to my surprise, he smirked—just a little—and said, “Well, I guess I’ll have to make sure I take good notes.”

I laughed, genuinely impressed. “Okay, Sam. I see you. You’ve got potential.”

He grinned, finally starting to feel a little more at ease. “Good to know.”

As we finished our coffees, I couldn’t help but feel like this was going to be the start of something fun. Maybe it was the way he blushed every time I teased him, or maybe it was the way he was starting to give it back, but one thing was clear: this freshman was definitely worth my time.

I drained the last of my coffee and stood up, brushing a strand of hair from my face. Sam looked up at me, still sitting there with that adorable mix of awkwardness and curiosity.

“This was fun,” I said, flashing him a grin. “You’re not as bad company as I thought you’d be.”

“Uh… thanks?” he said, his lips quirking into a small, uncertain smile.

I pulled a pen out of my bag and grabbed one of the napkins from the table, quickly scribbling something down. Then I slid it across to him, my hand lingering just a second longer than necessary.

“My room number’s 27,” I said, giving him a playful wink. “In case you feel like seeking me out. And that,” I tapped the napkin, “is my phone number. Text me! Sweety… anything you like.”

His face turned beet red, and I couldn’t help but laugh at how easily he got flustered. I slung my bag over my shoulder and gave him a mock salute. “Bye! See you around! Over and out.”

I turned on my heel and started walking away, feeling his eyes on me as I moved. I could almost hear the gears grinding in his head as he tried to process everything. As I reached the door, I threw in a little extra wiggle to my step, just for fun. I didn’t look back, but I could feel him noticing.

Cute and nerdy, and totally worth teasing. Yeah, this was going to be fun.

SAM:
I sat there, staring at the napkin in my hand like it was some kind of alien artifact. Her phone number. Her room number. Jenny. The most stunning, confident, and completely out-of-my-league girl I’d ever met just… gave me her number. And called me “sweety.”

I was still processing that when she turned to leave, her laugh echoing in my ears like a song I couldn’t stop replaying in my head.

“Bye! See you around! Over and out,” she said, tossing me a wink before she walked away.

And that’s when I noticed it. Her walk. Specifically, her hips. There was this little extra sway in her step, like she knew exactly where my eyes would be and was giving me a free show. My face went hot, and I quickly looked away, but then my gaze drifted back—like I couldn’t help myself. Was she doing that on purpose?

She disappeared out the door, and I finally exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my breath. I looked down at the napkin again, her handwriting scrawled across it in a casual, carefree style that somehow felt just like her. Room 27. Her number.

What the hell just happened?

My mind was racing. Girls didn’t usually talk to me like this. Sure, I wasn’t exactly shy, but Jenny had this energy about her—like she could see straight through me and was enjoying how much she was throwing me off. It wasn’t just the way she looked (though, let’s be honest, she was gorgeous). It was the way she talked, the way she teased, like she knew she was in control and was having the time of her life.

I folded the napkin carefully and slipped it into my pocket, my hand lingering there for a moment. Should I text her? Right now? No, that’d seem desperate. Cool. Play it cool, Sam. But what if she was waiting for a text? What if she thought I wasn’t interested?

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. My thoughts were all over the place. I barely noticed when someone walked by and gave me a weird look. Probably because I was sitting there grinning like an idiot.

Finally, I stood up, grabbing my bag and heading out of the cafeteria. My next class was in ten minutes, but there was no way I was going to concentrate. Not with Jenny stuck in my head. The way she laughed, the way she smiled, the way her jeans hugged her hips…

I shook my head, trying to snap myself out of it. “Get it together, Sam,” I muttered under my breath.

But as I walked to class, my phone felt heavy in my pocket, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the napkin. Her number. Her room. Did she really mean it? Did she actually want me to…?

I didn’t know. But one thing was for sure—Jenny had just turned my entire day upside down. And I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

I couldn’t focus in class. At all. The professor was droning on about reaction rates and catalysts, but all I could think about was Jenny—her laugh, her teasing grin, those anime-like eyes that seemed to see right through me. She was tiny, almost fragile-looking, but there was nothing weak about her. She had this energy, like she owned every room she walked into. And me? I was hopelessly caught in her orbit.

But let’s be real—I was probably overthinking everything. Girls like Jenny didn’t just hand their numbers out to random guys. She was probably messing with me. That number? Fake. The whole thing? A game to her.

Still… what if it wasn’t?

My hand slipped into my pocket, fingers brushing against the napkin. Her handwriting was quick and a little messy, like she didn’t have time to worry about perfection. It was weirdly charming, just like her. I unfolded it, staring at the number again. I didn’t even know what I wanted to say—just something to see if it was real.

The professor scribbled something on the board, and half the class started typing notes. I pulled out my phone, glancing around to make sure no one was watching me. My fingers hovered over the screen, my heart pounding like I was about to do something dangerous.

Finally, I typed:

“Hey… um, it’s Sam. From earlier. Uh… thanks for the coffee chat? Just… making sure I got your number right. Hope I’m not bothering you or anything.”

I stared at the message for what felt like forever, debating whether to send it. Was it too much? Too awkward? Would she even reply? I could almost hear her laughing at me for overthinking it. She’d probably say something like, “Relax, sweety. It’s just a text.”

I hit send before I could second-guess myself again, then locked my phone and shoved it into my pocket like it might explode.

The rest of class crawled by. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Every few minutes, I’d sneak a glance at my phone, half-hoping for a reply and half-terrified of what it might say. Nothing. No buzz, no notification. Just silence.

Figures. I sighed, trying to push her out of my head. She was probably laughing with her friends about how some nerdy guy actually fell for her fake number.

And yet… part of me couldn’t let it go. She didn’t seem like the kind of person to do something mean like that. Teasing, sure. Playful, absolutely. But cruel? I didn’t think so.

By the time class ended, I was no closer to an answer. My phone stayed silent as I packed up my things and headed for the door.

Maybe I’d just have to accept it. Jenny had been a moment of bright, chaotic energy in my day, and maybe that was all it was meant to be.

Or… maybe not.

I had barely stepped out of the classroom when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart leapt as I fumbled to pull it out, nearly dropping it in my haste. A message. From… her?

I stared at the screen, my eyes widening as I read:

“You would not believe how long I had to rub until I got off.”

My brain short-circuited. What?! I blinked at the words, re-reading them to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. My cheeks burned as images I definitely shouldn’t be thinking about flashed through my mind. There was no way she meant… that, right? Right?!

Before I could spiral any further, my phone buzzed again.

“it… oh god… until I got IT off.”

My jaw dropped. She was… correcting herself? My initial shock gave way to laughter, the kind that bubbled out uncontrollably in the middle of a crowded hallway. People were giving me weird looks, but I didn’t care. Jenny—of course it was Jenny—had just sent that. The typo, the correction, the chaos of it all… it was so her.

I leaned against the wall, trying to get my heart rate back under control. My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, unsure of how to respond. I couldn’t just ignore it, but I didn’t want to say something that might make things weird—or weirder.

Finally, I typed:

“Haha, so you did give me the right number! And don’t worry, I wasn’t judging your… rubbing. Hope the stain’s gone now. “

I hit send and stared at my phone, waiting, my heart pounding all over again. A part of me wondered if she’d meant to send that first message at all—or if she was just teasing me. Either way, she had my full attention.

The phone buzzed again almost instantly.

“LOL, you’re such a dork! Yes, the stain’s gone, thank you very much. You’re lucky I’m not easily embarrassed!”

I smiled, relief washing over me. She wasn’t mad, and she was still talking to me—teasing me, even. For a girl like Jenny, this was probably just another casual conversation. For me? It felt like winning the lottery.

Two hours had passed since our last exchange, and I’d been replaying it in my head on a loop. Every time I thought about her “rubbing” typo, I couldn’t help but laugh. She was so effortlessly funny and bold, and I… well, I was just trying not to say anything stupid.

Then, my phone buzzed again. I grabbed it, my heart doing that now-familiar leap, and opened the message.

“Hey dork. I don’t know anyone here. Care to examine the grounds with me? But no rubbing this time!”

I blinked, rereading the text twice just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. She wanted to hang out. With me. My stomach did a flip as a mix of excitement and nerves hit me all at once.

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard. Don’t overthink it, Sam. Just be cool. Be normal. I started typing.

“Haha, no rubbing? Well, there go all my plans for the day. But sure, I’d love to! Where should we meet?”

I hit send and stared at my phone, waiting for her reply. It came almost instantly:

“Front of the library. Ten minutes. Don’t be late, dork!”

I grinned, slipping my phone into my pocket and heading toward the library. My mind was racing the whole way there. What would we talk about? Would she tease me the whole time? What if I said something dumb again?

When I reached the library steps, she was already there, leaning against the railing with her arms crossed and a playful smile on her face. She looked tiny next to the towering columns, her big eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on me.

“There you are!” she said, straightening up. “I was starting to think you chickened out.”

“Not a chance,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I wouldn’t want to leave you all alone to wander the grounds.”

“Come on, dork. Let’s go explore.”

As we started walking, she fell into step beside me, her energy as vibrant and magnetic as ever. And for the first time all day, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could keep up with her.

As we walked together, arm in arm, my senses were completely overwhelmed by her. It wasn’t just the way she spoke, her energy bubbling over with every observation she made, or the way her big eyes sparkled like she was seeing the world for the first time—it was her scent.

It hit me the moment she grabbed my arm. Subtle at first, but as she leaned in closer to point at something, I couldn’t ignore it. It wasn’t just one thing—shampoo? Deodorant? Some kind of skincare product? Or was it simply her? Whatever it was, it wrapped around me, warm and inviting, and I was completely hooked.

I tried not to be obvious about it, but every time she moved closer, I caught it again, like a whisper brushing against my senses. Sweet, fresh, a little floral, maybe? Or was there a hint of something softer, like vanilla or cream? I couldn’t pin it down, and that made it even more intoxicating. Her scent wasn’t just part of her; it was her—subtle and powerful, drawing me in without effort.

She kept up a steady stream of chatter as we wandered the campus. “So, I grew up in this tiny town, you know? Nothing like this place. We had one main street and, like, two restaurants, both serving the same greasy burgers. It’s kind of weird being here, surrounded by so many people.”

“Must be a big change,” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t completely distracted by the fact that she was still holding my arm.

“It is,” she said, glancing up at me with those impossibly big eyes. “But I like it. It feels alive here, you know? Like anything can happen.”

I nodded, though my brain was more focused on her than anything else. She was so animated, like she was taking in every detail around us. The way she talked about her home, her family—it was so open and unfiltered, like she didn’t have a wall up at all. It was… refreshing.

As we passed a cluster of trees, she gasped and tugged me toward one of them. “Look!” she said, pointing. A tiny squirrel was perched on a branch, holding a nut between its little paws. It tilted its head at us, as if deciding whether we were a threat.

Jenny’s face lit up like she’d just found buried treasure. “Isn’t it the cutest thing? Look at those little hands!”

She let go of my arm and crouched down, her hands resting on her knees as she looked up at the squirrel. “Hey there, little guy! You’re so busy, huh?”

The squirrel twitched its nose, and Jenny giggled, the sound so pure and joyful that I couldn’t help but smile. She was like that squirrel, I realized—small, lively, always moving, always curious.

She stood up and grabbed my arm again, like she couldn’t bear to be too far away. “Anyway,” she continued as if nothing had happened, “my parents were super strict, but not in a bad way, you know? They just wanted me to do something important with my life. That’s why I chose biology.”

She tugged on my arm, pulling me toward the pond. “Look, Sam! Ducks!” she exclaimed, pointing at a pair gliding across the water. Her voice was alive with excitement, and as she turned her face up to me, her scent floated in the air again. I felt my pulse quicken, and for a moment, I had to remind myself to breathe.

“You’re really into nature, huh?” I said, managing to find my voice.

“Of course!” she said, giving me that smile that made everything else around us seem dull in comparison. “How can you not be? Everything’s connected—us, the ducks, the trees, the air… even the water in that pond.” She gestured with her free hand, her enthusiasm shining in every word. “It’s all part of the same system. Biology is, like, the study of life itself. How amazing is that?”

“It’s pretty amazing,” I admitted, though in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about biology at all. My thoughts were consumed by her—the way her tiny fingers clung to my arm, the sound of her laugh, the way her scent seemed to fill the air around us like an invisible aura.

She let go of my arm briefly to crouch near the edge of the pond, watching the ducks with an almost childlike fascination. I stayed a step behind, acutely aware of how her absence made my arm feel colder. When she stood again and looped her arm back through mine, I felt a strange sense of relief, like all was right in the world again.

As we continued our walk, I tried to focus on the scenery she pointed out—the campus gardens, the way the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees—but all I could think about was her. Her laugh, her energy, the way she seemed to radiate life itself. And that scent—warm, inviting, and entirely her. It lingered in the air even after we walked past a spot, as if it refused to let go of me.

By the time we made it back to the library, the golden light of the setting sun was casting long shadows across the lawn. She stopped and turned to me, her big eyes glowing in the fading light. “Thanks for this, dork. I needed a break from everything.”

“Anytime,” I said, my voice a little hoarse.

She smiled, gave my arm one last squeeze, and walked away, her petite frame bouncing slightly with each step. Even after she disappeared down the path, her scent lingered, as if it didn’t want me to forget her.

I woke up the next morning with Jenny still firmly planted in my mind. Her laugh, her touch, her scent—it was like every little detail of her had etched itself into my brain overnight. I lay in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything from our walk around campus. She was so full of life, so effortlessly captivating, it almost didn’t seem real.

But it was real. The napkin with her number, still on my desk, was proof of that.

After dragging myself out of bed and getting through the motions of my morning routine, I grabbed my bag and headed out, my mind still stuck on her. Would I see her today? Should I text her first? Or would that make me seem too eager?

I was halfway to my first class when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart jumped as I pulled it out, and there it was—her name lighting up my screen.

Jenny: Hey, dork. Where are you?

I quickly typed back, my fingers fumbling a little.
Me: On my way to class. Why?

Her reply came almost immediately.
Jenny: Because I’m bored. Meet me at the quad after your class?

I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face.
Me: Sure. See you there.

The next hour dragged on as I tried to pay attention to the lecture, but my mind kept drifting. What did she want to do? Another walk? Was she just bored, or did she actually like hanging out with me? By the time class ended, I felt like I’d been sitting there for a week.

I headed to the quad, scanning the area until I saw her. She was perched on a low stone wall, her legs swinging as she scrolled through her phone. She wore a simple white top and denim shorts, her small figure somehow managing to command the space around her. The moment she saw me, she grinned and hopped down, bouncing over to me like she couldn’t wait another second.

“Hey, dork,” she said, looping her arm through mine without hesitation. “Took you long enough.”

“I was coming straight from class,” I said, smiling despite myself.

“Excuses, excuses,” she teased, tugging me toward the main walkway. “Come on. Let’s do something fun.”

“Like what?” I asked, letting her lead the way.

“I dunno yet,” she said, her voice light and full of possibility. “But we’ll figure it out.”

As we walked, she launched into another stream of chatter, telling me about the weird dream she’d had, her favorite thing about campus so far, and the one time she tried to sneak a baby bird into her house as a kid. I barely said a word, but I didn’t need to—just listening to her was enough. She had this way of making everything sound exciting, even the most random details.

At one point, she stopped abruptly and pointed at a cluster of wildflowers growing near a path. “Look at those!” she said, crouching down to get a better look. “Aren’t they pretty?”

“Yeah,” I said, though my eyes weren’t on the flowers.

She looked up at me, catching my gaze, and for a second, I thought she might say something. But then she just smiled, stood up, and grabbed my arm again.

By the time we ended up at a small café near the edge of campus, I was completely and utterly smitten. She chattered away as we ordered drinks, her voice filling the space between us like music. When she laughed, it felt like the whole world lit up.

“So,” she said as we sat down, resting her chin on her hand and giving me a sly smile. “What do you think of me so far?”

The question caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “You’ve spent, what, a couple of hours with me now? First impressions are over. I’m curious what you think.”

I hesitated, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. How could I even begin to put it into words? That she was the most beautiful, lively, captivating person I’d ever met? That she made me feel like the world was brighter just by being in it?

“You’re… amazing,” I said finally, the word feeling inadequate even as I said it.

She laughed, a genuine, delighted sound. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing, and exploring more of campus. And by the time we parted ways, her scent still lingering in the air around me, I knew one thing for sure:

I was falling for her. Hard.

The next day, after my last class, I was heading across the quad when I spotted her. Jenny. She was standing with a group of girls near a bench, her tiny frame somehow the center of attention despite being the smallest by far. She was talking animatedly, her hands moving as she spoke, her laugh ringing out like a bell.

Even in the crowd, she stood out. There was something about her—this energy that made people want to be around her. I slowed my pace, unsure if I should interrupt. But then she noticed me.

Her face lit up instantly, her big eyes sparkling as she waved enthusiastically. “Sam!” she called out, her voice carrying over the chatter of her friends. “Get over here, dork!”

Every head in the group turned to look at me. For a second, I froze, heat creeping up my neck as I realized I was now the center of their attention. Jenny, oblivious or maybe just unconcerned, waved me over again, bouncing slightly on her toes.

I hesitated, but her smile was impossible to resist. I walked over, trying to ignore the curious stares from the rest of the group.

“Hey,” I said, managing a small smile as I reached her.

Jenny immediately grabbed my arm, her touch familiar and warm. “Girls, this is Sam,” she announced, like she was introducing some kind of secret weapon. “The guy I was telling you about.”

Telling them about? My heart skipped a beat at the thought.

“Sam, this is… well, everyone!” she said, gesturing vaguely to the group. “They’re all in my dorm, and we were just talking about the absolute chaos that is our schedules.”

One of the girls, tall with long blonde hair, gave me an appraising look. “So, this is the infamous Sam, huh?”

“Infamous?” I asked, glancing at Jenny.

She laughed, nudging me with her shoulder. “Oh, don’t worry. I only said nice things. Mostly.”

The girls chuckled, and I felt myself relax a little. Jenny had a way of making everything feel easy, like I didn’t have to try so hard to fit in.

As they went back to chatting, Jenny stayed close to me, her hand lightly resting on my arm. Every now and then, she’d glance up at me with a grin, as if to make sure I wasn’t overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve her attention, but in that moment, I didn’t care. She was radiant, the smallest yet liveliest person in the group, and somehow, she wanted me there with her.

When the conversation shifted to weekend plans, one of the girls asked, “So, Jenny, are you coming to the party on Saturday?”

Jenny tilted her head, pretending to think. “Hmm, I might. Depends if I can convince someone to come with me.” She looked up at me, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Me?”

“Of course you,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re not getting out of it, dork.”

The girls laughed, and I could feel my face heating up again. “I… guess I’m in, then?”

Jenny beamed.

As the group started to disperse, Jenny kept her hold on my arm, pulling me aside. “Thanks for coming over,” she said softly, her voice a little more serious now. “I know that was probably a lot, but… I wanted you to meet them.”

“Why?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Because you’re part of my world now,” she said with a smile, her eyes locking onto mine. “And I like having you in it.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. She didn’t wait for an answer, though—just gave my arm a squeeze and started pulling me toward the library.

“Come on, dork. Let’s grab coffee before we both combust from all the socializing.”

And just like that, I was hers all over again.

As we walked toward the coffee stand, Jenny’s hand lightly gripping my arm, she suddenly slowed down. Her big eyes scanned the crowd ahead of us, and then she stopped altogether.

Her face lit up. “Peter! Peter, over here!” she called, her voice carrying over the bustling noise of students milling about.

Before I could react, a tall guy with sandy blond hair turned and spotted us. He smiled, making his way over with an easy confidence that immediately made me feel… smaller.

When Peter reached us, Jenny let go of my arm and grabbed his instead, looping her fingers through his in that same effortless way she’d done with me. The warmth of her touch that had been on my arm moments ago now belonged to him.

“Peter, this is Sam,” she said cheerfully, gesturing toward me. “Sam, this is Peter.”

“Hey, man,” Peter said, offering a hand. His grip was firm but friendly, his smile easy.

“Hi,” I said, shaking his hand and trying not to let my thoughts show on my face.

Jenny was already talking again, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Peter and I went to the same high school. We’ve known each other for, like, forever.”

“Yeah, Jen and I go way back,” Peter said with a chuckle, his tone warm and familiar. He glanced at her, and there was a softness in his eyes that made my stomach tighten.

Jenny laughed, nudging him with her shoulder. “Don’t let him fool you, Sam. He’s a total dork too. Just in a taller, sportsier package.”

“Wow, thanks,” Peter said, rolling his eyes but clearly used to her teasing.

Jenny grinned, her hand still resting on his arm. “So, what are you up to? Busy being a big, fancy sophomore?”

“Something like that,” Peter said, shrugging. “Just heading to meet a friend for lunch. But what about you? Making new friends, I see?” He nodded toward me.

Jenny gave me a quick squeeze on the arm. “Yup! Sam’s my favorite dork so far. You two would totally get along. He’s into science stuff, like me.”

“Chemistry and physics, huh?” Peter said, raising an eyebrow at me. “Nice combo. Guess Jen’s keeping you on your toes?”

“Something like that,” I said, trying to match his casual tone.

“Well, good luck,” Peter said with a grin, glancing at Jenny. “He seems cool. Don’t scare him off.”

Jenny laughed. “No promises.”

Peter glanced at his watch. “I should get going. Good to meet you, Sam.”

“Yeah, you too,” I said, feeling a weird mix of relief and… something else as he walked away.

Jenny turned back to me, her hand slipping back onto my arm as if it had never left. “Peter’s great, isn’t he? Total sweetheart.”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “He seems nice.”

She didn’t seem to notice my hesitation, already steering us back toward the coffee stand. As she chatted away, I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling in my chest. She was Jenny—bright, lively, full of life. She had room in her world for everyone, and maybe Peter was just part of that.

But as much as I told myself not to care, the image of her grabbing his arm—so familiar, so effortless—stuck with me. For the first time, I wondered just how many people were part of her world. And where, exactly, I fit into it.

We were sitting on a bench just outside her dorm, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over everything. Jenny had been unusually quiet, her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt as if she were deep in thought. I was about to ask if something was wrong when she suddenly looked up at me, her big eyes searching mine.

“Sam… you…” she started, then hesitated, biting her lip. “You’ll protect me tonight, won’t you?”

The question caught me off guard. “Protect you? From what?”

She let out a small sigh, her gaze dropping to her hands. “I’ve made… some bad experiences at parties before,” she said softly. “Guys… they… hm.” She paused, frowning as if trying to find the right words. “I’m cute, you know? And when people drink, some guys… they don’t know how to leave me alone.”

The way she said it, so matter-of-fact yet tinged with vulnerability, made my chest tighten. She wasn’t just talking about being pestered—this was something that had genuinely hurt her before.

“I don’t always know how to handle it,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I thought… maybe, if you’re there… if you’re with me… they’ll leave me alone.”

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The idea of anyone bothering her—making her feel unsafe—set something off inside me. She might have been lively and confident, but right now, she was asking me for help. Trusting me.

“Of course, Jenny,” I said, my voice firm. “I’ll look after you. No one’s going to mess with you while I’m around.”

She looked up at me then, her expression softening into a smile that made my heart ache. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “It means a lot.”

I smiled back, trying to keep my voice light even as I felt the weight of her trust settle on my shoulders. “Hey, that’s what dorks are for, right?”

She laughed, the sound breaking the tension like sunshine after a storm. “You’re the best dork,” she said, nudging me with her shoulder. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

As we stood up to head back inside, I made a silent promise to myself: tonight, I’d be the protector she needed. No one was going to hurt her—not while I was there.

And as she looped her arm through mine, her warmth radiating through me, I knew I’d do whatever it took to keep that smile on her face.

The party was already in full swing by the time we arrived. Music pulsed through the house, the bass vibrating in my chest. The living room was packed with people, red solo cups in every hand and conversations competing with the music. Jenny clung to my arm as we wove through the crowd, her small frame practically disappearing among the throng of taller students.

“See?” she said, grinning up at me. “Told you this would be fun.”

I nodded, though the sheer chaos of the party made me uneasy. Still, I’d promised to look after her, and that promise was more important than anything else. She led us to the kitchen, grabbing two cups of something fruity from a massive punch bowl.

“To new friends!” she said, holding her cup up in a mock toast.

“To new friends,” I echoed, though my eyes kept scanning the room.

She chatted and laughed with everyone she met, her energy lighting up the room. I stayed close, a silent shadow by her side, my presence meant to ward off any unwanted attention. For the most part, it worked.

But then, as the night wore on, things changed.

We were standing near the back of the house when a guy stumbled over to us, clearly drunk. He was big—probably a football player—with broad shoulders and a swagger that screamed entitlement. His eyes locked onto Jenny, and I felt my muscles tense.

“Hey,” he slurred, leaning in way too close. “Haven’t seen you around before.”

Jenny took a step back, her smile faltering. “Uh, hi.”

“Wanna dance?” he asked, his words slow and heavy with alcohol.

“No, thanks,” she said politely, trying to sidestep him. But he moved with her, blocking her path.

“Aw, come on,” he said, reaching out to grab her wrist. “Don’t be like that.”

Before I even realized what I was doing, I stepped between them, gently but firmly removing his hand from her. “She said no,” I said, my voice steady.

The guy blinked, clearly not used to being challenged. “Who the hell are you?”

“A friend,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “And she’s not interested.”

He scowled, his posture shifting. “You think you can just—”

“Hey, man, let’s not do this,” I said calmly, raising my hands in a placating gesture. But I was already assessing him—his balance, his stance, the sluggish movements that came from too much booze. If it came to a fight, I’d be ready.

And it did.

He lunged at me, his fist swinging wide. I sidestepped easily, catching his wrist and twisting it just enough to make him stumble. “Walk away,” I said, my voice low. “Now.”

He growled, throwing another punch, but it was sloppy and predictable. I blocked it, stepping into his space and sweeping his leg out from under him. He hit the ground with a thud, groaning.

A couple of his buddies started moving toward us, but I straightened up, my stance firm. “You don’t want to do this,” I said, my tone hard enough to give them pause. They exchanged glances, then backed off, muttering curses under their breath.

I turned back to Jenny, who was watching with wide eyes. “You okay?” I asked, my voice softening.

She nodded, her expression a mix of shock and awe. “I… yeah. I’m fine. But… Sam, where the hell did that come from?”

I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious now that the adrenaline was wearing off. “I, uh… I’ve trained in martial arts for years. I didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”

Her lips parted as if she was about to say something, but then she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she said, her voice muffled against my chest. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

I held her for a moment, feeling her warmth against me. “You don’t have to worry. ”

She pulled back, looking up at me with a newfound intensity in her eyes. “You’re incredible, Sam. Really.”

The rest of the night was quieter after that. We left the party early, walking back to her dorm under the cool night sky. Jenny stayed close, her arm linked with mine, her usual energy subdued but still present.

When we reached her door, she hesitated, turning to face me. “Sam… you’re not just a dork, you know. You’re… amazing. And I feel really lucky to have you around.”

Before I could respond, she leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Goodnight, protector,” she said with a smile before disappearing into her room, leaving me standing there, stunned and completely smitten.

The walk back to my dorm was quiet, the cool night air doing little to calm the whirlwind in my head. My fingers brushed the spot on my cheek where Jenny had kissed me, the warmth of it still lingering like a phantom touch.

Should I have kissed her back? The thought came unbidden, making my chest tighten. It had been such a sweet, unexpected moment, and now my brain was tearing it apart.

No, I thought, shaking my head. That would have been… wrong. That would’ve put me on the same level as that asshole at the party, wouldn’t it? The way he’d tried to force himself on her, ignoring her boundaries—it made my blood boil just thinking about it. I couldn’t risk coming across like that, not even for a second.

But then another thought crept in, quieter, but no less persistent. What if she wanted me to? What if she’d kissed me because she was trying to tell me something? And instead of stepping up, I’d just stood there like an awkward idiot, letting the moment slip away.

I sighed, raking a hand through my hair as I turned onto my street. Damn it, Sam. You confirmed your dork role, didn’t you? That’s what she called me—a dork. It was playful, sure, but was that all I was to her? The safe guy? The guy she could trust not to mess up or push too far?

Part of me hated how much I cared about the answer. But another part—maybe the bigger part—couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way she’d looked at me tonight, her big eyes shining with gratitude and something else I couldn’t quite name. The way she’d held on to my arm all the way home, like she didn’t want to let go. The way she’d said, “You’re amazing, Sam.”

I groaned, kicking at a stray pebble on the sidewalk. Why couldn’t I just know what to do? Why did everything with her feel so complicated?

By the time I reached my dorm, I still didn’t have any answers. But as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, one thing was clear: I’d do it all over again for her, without hesitation.

Because no matter how much she teased me or how much I overthought everything, Jenny had a way of making me feel like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. And if that meant being her “dork,” then maybe… just maybe… that wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

JENNY:

As I closed the door to my dorm room, I leaned back against it, letting out a long, shaky breath. My heart was still pounding, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was from the party or from… Sam.

I touched my cheek, the one that had been pressed against his chest when I hugged him. He’d felt solid, steady—like nothing in the world could shake him. I smiled softly, replaying the moment in my head. The way he’d stood between me and that guy, the calm but firm way he handled everything—it was like he’d switched into protector mode without a second thought. And when he’d taken the guy down so effortlessly… wow.

I walked to my bed and flopped down on it, staring up at the ceiling. Sam. Sweet, dorky, unassuming Sam. When I’d asked him to protect me tonight, I’d been half-worried that he might feel too awkward to take it seriously. But he had—completely. And more than that, he’d made me feel safe. Safer than I’d felt at any party before.

I rolled onto my side, clutching my pillow. He didn’t even hesitate. That guy had been bigger, stronger, and clearly drunk, but Sam had stepped in like it was nothing. I’d never seen him like that before—so confident, so capable. It was… well, it was kind of hot.

But that wasn’t all. It wasn’t just the way he handled himself; it was the way he looked at me afterward. His eyes were full of concern, not for himself, but for me. He’d asked if I was okay, his voice soft, his gaze steady, and for a second, I’d wanted to melt right there in his arms.

I sighed, hugging the pillow tighter. Should I have kissed him? That thought had been bouncing around in my head since the moment I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. It had felt right at the time—a way to show him how much I appreciated everything he’d done for me. But then he just… stood there. He’d smiled, sure, but he hadn’t said anything. Had I misread things?

“Ugh, you idiot,” I muttered to myself. Of course, he didn’t know what to do. He’s Sam. He’s not like the other guys. That’s why you like him, remember?

Wait. Like him?

The thought hit me like a freight train, and my heart sped up all over again. Did I like him? I mean, of course, I liked him—he was sweet and funny and adorable in that dorky way of his. But… did I like him?

I buried my face in the pillow, groaning softly. Tonight had been so much simpler when all I’d needed was his protection. Now, everything felt more complicated.

Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way he’d walked me home, staying close, like he was still keeping an eye out for me. The way he’d said, “You don’t have to worry. ” with so much certainty it made my chest ache. And that look in his eyes when I’d kissed him—surprised, maybe, but warm. Like he didn’t mind it at all.

I sighed, rolling onto my back again. You’re overthinking it, Jenny. Just go to sleep.

But as I closed my eyes, his face was the last thing I saw. His voice, steady and reassuring, echoed in my mind. And as I drifted off, I realized something: Sam wasn’t just my protector tonight. He was becoming something more.

Something I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit just yet.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts spinning like a carousel. The room was dark except for the soft glow of my phone screen on the bedside table. The night had been so much… more than I’d expected. The party, the walk home, Sam.

Sam.

I bit my lip, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. He’d been so steady tonight, so sure of himself. I kept replaying the moment he stepped between me and that guy, the way his voice had dropped when he said, “Walk away.” It sent a little shiver down my spine just thinking about it.

I sighed, rolling onto my side, my fingers brushing absently against my stomach. This was a nightly routine for me—a way to unwind, to let go of the day. Normally, I didn’t think too much about it. But tonight… tonight was different.

My mind drifted back to him. The way he’d looked at me when he asked if I was okay. The feel of his arms around me when I hugged him. The quiet confidence in his movements, the strength I hadn’t expected but couldn’t stop thinking about now.

I slid my hand lower, my body already responding to the images playing in my head. I couldn’t help it—Sam was there, in my mind, more vivid than anyone had been in a long time. His shy smile, the way his voice softened when he talked to me, the way he looked at me like I was the most important thing in the world.

I let out a soft sigh, my fingers moving with practiced ease. I imagined the way his hands would feel—strong but careful, just like him. The thought made me shiver, my breath hitching as my arousal heightened.

“Sam,” I whispered, the name slipping from my lips before I could stop it. My cheeks burned, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. The thought of him, his touch, the way he’d made me feel safe tonight—it all wrapped around me, pulling me closer to the edge.

My breathing quickened, my body arching as I imagined his lips brushing against my skin, his hands trailing down my sides. It was so clear in my mind, like he was right there with me, his warmth enveloping me completely.

When the climax came, it was like a tidal wave, crashing over me and leaving me breathless. I lay there, my heart racing, a soft laugh escaping my lips. “God, Jenny,” I muttered to myself. “You’ve really got it bad for him, huh?”

I stared up at the ceiling, a mix of satisfaction and confusion swirling in my chest. Sam. Sweet, dorky, strong, protective Sam. The thought of him had been so unexpected, but now that it was there, I couldn’t shake it.

Maybe I didn’t want to.

With a soft sigh, I rolled over, pulling the blanket up to my chin. As I drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in my mind, warm and insistent: He’s more than just a protector. He might be the one I’ve been waiting for.

SAM:

I stared at my phone on the desk, the screen black and mocking. My finger hovered over it, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Not yet. My thoughts from last night had followed me into the morning, circling endlessly.

Should I text her? No… I just saw her last night. If I message her too soon, I’ll look desperate. But if I wait too long, she might think I’m not interested.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. My mind was a battlefield, each side arguing over what the right move was. The memory of her kiss on my cheek replayed in my head, making my stomach flip all over again. What if she was waiting for me to make a move? But what if she wasn’t?

I groaned, dropping my head onto my folded arms. Why does this have to be so complicated?

JENNY:

I sat cross-legged on my bed, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. My dorm room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the heater. Normally, I’d be bouncing around by now, full of energy and ready to face the day. But today… I just felt off.

My phone sat beside me, and every few minutes, I’d glance at it, half-hoping, half-dreading a message from Sam. Why do I care so much? That thought had been running circles in my head since last night.

I flopped onto my back, staring at the ceiling. I was used to being flirty, chatty, the center of attention. It was who I was, who everyone expected me to be. But Sam… he made me feel different. Like there was more to me than just the bubbly, squirrel-like girl everyone saw.

And that scared me.

I’d always kept my emotions light and breezy—surface-level. Safe. But last night, when he stepped in for me without hesitation, when he looked at me like I mattered more than anything else in the world… it had cracked something open.

“What if I mess this up?” I muttered to myself. I’d never felt this way before, and it was throwing me completely off balance.

By mid-afternoon, neither of us had reached out, though we’d both checked our phones more times than we cared to admit. I was heading back from class, walking through the quad, when I saw him. Sam. He was sitting on a bench under one of the old oak trees, his bag at his feet and his phone in his hands.

For a second, I almost turned around. No, don’t be stupid, Jenny. I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath before heading his way.

Sam glanced up from his phone, and his eyes widened when he saw me. He quickly shoved his phone into his pocket, standing up like he wasn’t sure whether to stay put or come to me.

“Hey, dork,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt inside. “What are you doing out here?”

“Oh, just, uh… waiting for my next class,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “What about you?”

“On my way back to the dorms,” I said, shrugging. I hesitated for a second, then added, “You didn’t text me.”

His eyes widened slightly. “I, uh… I didn’t want to bother you.”

I tilted my head, studying him. “Bother me? Sam, you’re the least bothersome person I know.”

He gave me a small smile, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. It made my chest ache. He really doesn’t know how amazing he is, does he?

“Well, you didn’t bother me at the party,” I said softly. “Or on the walk home. Or… anytime, really.”

His smile widened just a little, and I felt a flicker of relief. I plopped down on the bench, patting the spot beside me. “Sit with me for a bit?”

He nodded, settling down next to me. For a moment, we sat in silence, the breeze rustling through the leaves above us. It wasn’t awkward, though. It was… comfortable.

“Sam,” I said after a while, turning to face him. “Last night… thank you. For everything. You didn’t just protect me. You made me feel safe. And that’s not something I take lightly.”

He met my gaze, his expression soft. “You don’t have to thank me, Jenny. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. “You really are amazing, you know that?”

He flushed, looking down at his hands. “I don’t know about that.”

“Well, I do,” I said firmly. Then, because I couldn’t help myself, I added, “And, for the record, I was hoping you’d text me.”

His head snapped up, his eyes searching mine. “You were?”

“Yeah,” I said, laughing softly. “You’re not just my dork, Sam. You’re… more than that.”

For the first time, I saw a flicker of confidence in his smile. “Thanks, Jenny.”

We were sitting on the bench, the afternoon sun casting dappled light through the leaves above us. Our chatter had been flowing easily—light, random, just two people enjoying each other’s company. But beneath my playful tone, my mind was running in circles.

Sam. Sweet, dorky, surprising Sam. Last night had been something else entirely, and I couldn’t stop thinking about him—how he’d made me feel safe, how he’d stepped in without hesitation, how he’d looked at me afterward with those deep, steady eyes. There was something about him that drew me in, something that made me want to know everything about him.

“So, dork,” I said suddenly, keeping my voice light and breezy, like this was just another random thought popping into my head. “How many girlfriends did you have?”

It was buried in a stream of other chatter, sandwiched between a comment about the weather and an observation about the campus squirrels, but my heart clenched as I waited for his answer. I didn’t look at him, pretending to be more interested in a patch of wildflowers nearby, but inside, I was dying to know.

Who are you, Sam? Have you loved someone before? Did they love you back? How much of you has already been given to someone else?

His voice broke into my thoughts, hesitant but honest. “Um… none, actually.”

I blinked, turning to face him. “None? Seriously?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve had crushes and stuff, but nothing ever, you know, happened. Guess I’m not exactly the kind of guy girls go for.”

I stared at him, my heart doing this weird little flip. Not the kind of guy girls go for? Are you kidding me? I wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him, tell him he was incredible, that any girl would be lucky to have him. But instead, I just smiled, trying to keep things light.

“Well, their loss,” I said, nudging him with my elbow. “They clearly didn’t know what they were missing.”

He glanced at me, his eyes soft but searching, and for a moment, I thought he might say something. But he just smiled, a small, shy smile that made my chest ache.

I leaned back, letting my gaze drift up to the sky, though my mind was far from calm. His answer had surprised me, but in a way, it hadn’t. Sam wasn’t like most guys—he wasn’t loud, or pushy, or constantly trying to prove something. He was quiet, steady, thoughtful. And maybe that’s what made him so… special.

And what about me? I thought, biting my lip. Everyone probably assumed I’d had a dozen boyfriends, that I was experienced in every sense of the word. But the truth was… I’d never felt that spark. Sure, I flirted, I teased—it was fun. But when it came to something real, something more, I’d never been ready.

I could’ve had ten boyfriends on each hand if I’d wanted to. But I didn’t. Because if I ever gave myself to someone, it wouldn’t be because I could. It would be because I loved them.

Even my… other needs—the ones that had me bringing myself to climax almost every night—had never inspired me to seek out someone else to fulfill them. That part of me felt private, like something I needed to understand for myself before I could share it with anyone else.

But now, sitting here with Sam, I felt something I hadn’t felt before. A spark. A pull. Like maybe, just maybe, this could be something real.

“Jenny?” His voice broke into my thoughts, and I realized I’d been silent for too long.

I turned to him, giving him a quick smile. “Hmm?”

“You kinda spaced out there,” he said, looking concerned. “You okay?”

I nodded, my smile widening. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“About what?”

“About how lucky I am to have you as my dork,” I said, leaning in slightly. “Don’t let it go to your head, though.”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I wasn’t ready to open myself up. Not fully. So, I did what I always do—I chatted away, filling the space between us with words. My voice was light, playful, and flirty, the way it always was when I didn’t want someone to see what was really going on underneath.

I told him I’d had boyfriends. Several, actually. I smiled and laughed as I painted this picture of myself—confident, experienced, worldly. I even told him he should have a girlfriend, that he deserved to know how amazing it felt.

But the truth?

The truth was, I let my own wishes slip into those words. Every time I said how great it felt to be in a relationship, to have someone close, to share that kind of connection, it wasn’t because I’d lived it. It was because I wanted it. Because I’d imagined it so many times that the line between my fantasies and reality had started to blur.

And I don’t know why I lied. Maybe it was habit—this instinct to keep people at arm’s length, to shield myself with this persona I’d crafted over the years. The bubbly, chatty, flirty squirrel. The girl who had it all figured out.

Or maybe it was fear. Fear that if I let Sam see the real me—the me who’d never had a boyfriend, who’d never been ready, who’d never felt that spark until now—he might not understand. Or worse, he might see me differently. Vulnerable. Fragile.

I bit my lip, stealing a glance at him. He was listening so intently, his eyes fixed on me like I was the most important thing in the world. I felt a pang of guilt. He deserved my honesty, but instead, I was giving him… this. A version of me that wasn’t real.

Why? To protect myself? From what? He wasn’t like other guys. I knew that. He wouldn’t hurt me, wouldn’t push me, wouldn’t laugh at me if I told him the truth. But still, the words wouldn’t come. The real words, anyway.

I guess… part of me didn’t want to risk it. Didn’t want to shatter this growing connection between us by showing him the cracks underneath my surface. It was stupid. He probably would’ve liked me even more if I’d just been honest. But I didn’t know how to let go of the mask. Not yet.

So, I kept chatting, my voice breezy, my laugh light. I told him about “boyfriends” I’d never had, about experiences I’d only dreamed of, and I watched as he nodded, smiling softly at my stories. I wanted to believe he couldn’t see through me, but a part of me wondered if he could. If maybe, just maybe, he already knew.

And if he did… maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

SAM:
As Jenny chatted, her words flowing in that effortless, lively way she always had, I couldn’t help but hang on every one of them. She talked about her past boyfriends, how amazing it felt to be with someone, how I should have a girlfriend too, because I deserved it.

But the whole time, something felt… off.

It wasn’t her usual chatter. It sounded the same—light, playful, teasing—but there was something underneath it that didn’t match. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it made my chest feel tight, like I was missing something important.

I watched her as she spoke, her hands gesturing animatedly, her eyes flickering with the same spark they always had. But every now and then, there was a pause, a quick shift in her gaze, like she was searching for something or trying to decide what to say next. It was subtle—so subtle I almost missed it—but it was there.

I smiled when she laughed, nodded when she teased me about not having a girlfriend, but inside, I was turning over her words, wondering why they didn’t sit quite right. Jenny was always so open, so free-spirited, but right now, it felt like she was trying too hard. Like she was saying what she thought I wanted to hear instead of what she really wanted to say.

And then there was the way she brought up boyfriends. She made it sound so casual, like she’d had her share of relationships and knew exactly what it was like to be with someone. But as I listened, I found myself… jealous. Not just of the idea that other guys had been close to her, but of the way she spoke about it. Like she knew something I didn’t, like she’d experienced a kind of connection that I couldn’t even imagine.

Still, a part of me wondered—was she being completely honest? Maybe it was wishful thinking, but something about the way she said it didn’t feel entirely real. She wasn’t lying, was she? No. Jenny wouldn’t do that. She didn’t need to. So why did her words feel like they didn’t quite belong to her?

I wanted to ask, to dig deeper, to understand the layers I could feel beneath her chatter. But I didn’t. I was afraid—afraid of pushing too far, of making her uncomfortable, of ruining whatever this was between us. She was sharing something, and even if it didn’t feel like the whole truth, it was still hers to share.

“Yeah,” I said, managing a small smile. “I guess I’ve just never met the right person.”

She nodded quickly, her grin bright, but her eyes flickered again, just for a moment. And that flicker… it stayed with me. What was she hiding? And why?

As she shifted the conversation to something else, I found myself watching her even more closely. I didn’t care how many boyfriends she’d had or how much experience she claimed. I just wanted to know her—the real her, the one I’d glimpsed in those quiet moments when she let her guard down.

JENNY:

The room was quiet, the kind of silence that only settles in after everyone else has gone to bed. I lay there, my skin still tingling, my breath coming in soft, uneven gasps. The sheets felt warm against my bare legs, but it wasn’t the heat of the room or the rhythm of my nightly ritual that had my heart pounding.

It was Sam.

Again.

I didn’t know what it was about him—his quiet strength, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world, or just the fact that he made me feel… different. Special. Real. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, the way he smiled, the way his voice dropped when he’d said, “You don’t have to worry.”

My hand drifted to my phone on the bedside table before I even realized what I was doing. My thumb hovered over the screen, the glow lighting up my face as my mind raced.

What are you doing, Jenny? It’s the middle of the night. He’s probably asleep. And even if he’s not… what are you going to say?

But my heart didn’t care. My fingers moved before I could stop them, typing the words that had been stuck in my head all night:

“Thinking about you…”

I hit send and stared at the screen, my chest tightening. A part of me wanted to throw the phone across the room, to undo what I’d just done. But another part—the part that had been fighting its way to the surface ever since the party—felt… free.

SAM:

I wasn’t asleep. I’d been lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the day in my head. Jenny had been on my mind nonstop, her laughter, her teasing, the way she’d grabbed my arm like it was the most natural thing in the world. And those moments when she’d seemed… different. Quieter. Like there was something she wasn’t saying.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence. I frowned, reaching for it, expecting some random notification. But when I saw her name on the screen, my heart stopped.

Jenny.

I sat up, the glow of the phone lighting up the dark room as I opened the message. Three words stared back at me, simple but loaded with meaning:

“Thinking about you…”

I blinked, reading it again just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. Thinking about me? Why? How? My heart raced, a mix of disbelief, excitement, and a dozen other emotions I couldn’t name.

I stared at the screen, my mind spinning. What did she mean? Was this her usual teasing, or… was it something more? My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, my breath catching as I tried to figure out how to respond.

Finally, I typed:

“I’m thinking about you too.”

I hit send before I could overthink it, my hands shaking slightly. The seconds after felt like hours, my eyes glued to the screen, waiting for her reply.
Jenny’s Reaction

When his reply came, my phone lit up the darkness of my room. I grabbed it quickly, my heart hammering in my chest.

“I’m thinking about you too.”

I stared at his message on the screen, my chest tightening as the words “I’m thinking about you too” settled into my heart. Warmth bloomed inside me, spreading through my entire body. This was real—he’d said it. He was thinking about me, just like I was thinking about him.

And that terrified me.

I wasn’t used to this. Sure, I flirted, teased, and laughed, but those were games I knew how to play. This? This was different. This felt deeper, like we were peeling back layers we hadn’t even realized we’d wrapped ourselves in.

I couldn’t handle it—not yet. Not without putting some distance between the softness of what we’d just shared and the walls I’d spent years perfecting.

So I did what I always did. I turned it into a joke. A flirt. Something lighter, easier to manage. My thumbs moved quickly over the keyboard, typing a message I didn’t even have to think about.

“Don’t leave that wet tissue of yours lying around…”

I hit send and immediately regretted it, biting my lip as my cheeks flushed. It was ridiculous, suggestive, and so me. But even as I felt the familiar safety of my mask sliding back into place, part of me wished I could’ve just… left it alone. Left the moment to be as sweet and raw as it had been.

I stared at my phone, heart thudding in my chest as the seconds dragged on. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent that. My joke had been impulsive, a way to deflect from the vulnerable moment we’d just shared. But now, with no reply, the silence felt heavy, almost suffocating.

Then, my phone buzzed, and I nearly dropped it in my rush to pick it up. His message lit up the screen:

“Haha – you girls have it easier than us guys! You don’t need to clean up afterward!”

For a moment, I blinked, then burst into laughter, the tension in my chest dissolving. Of course, Sam would answer like that—direct, a little awkward, but playful enough to match my tone. It was so him, and somehow, that made it perfect.

“You dork,” I muttered under my breath, my smile widening. I could practically hear his voice in my head, teasing but earnest, trying to keep things light while still acknowledging the moment.

But underneath my laughter, a flicker of warmth lingered. He’d replied. He hadn’t left me hanging. And in his own way, he’d met me where I was, turning what could have been a messy moment into something easy and fun.

SAM:
When her message popped up on my screen, I didn’t know whether to laugh or overthink it.

“Don’t leave that wet tissue of yours lying around…”

Classic Jenny—playful, bold, turning a sweet, vulnerable moment into something flirty and ridiculous. I could tell she was trying to keep it light, but there was something about her words that made me hesitate. Was she just joking, or was there more to it?

I smiled to myself, imagining the look on her face as she typed it. Mischievous, no doubt, with that little spark in her big eyes. I could hear her laugh in my head, and before I could overanalyze, I typed back:

“Haha – you girls have it easier than us guys! You don’t need to clean up afterward!”

I hit send, then immediately questioned whether it was the right thing to say. Was it too casual? Did it match her tone? Would she laugh, or would she think I was being weird? But the message was out there now, and there was no taking it back.

My phone buzzed almost immediately with her reply:

“Haha! Oh my god, Sam, you’re such a dork!”

I smiled, relief washing over me. That was the Jenny I knew—playful, teasing, and somehow making me feel like I’d said exactly the right thing. For a moment, I just stared at her message, my chest feeling lighter than it had all day.

Next Day

The sun was warm, and a gentle breeze rustled through the trees as I made my way to the park. It was a perfect day, the kind of day that begged you to be outside, to soak up the life around you. But my mind wasn’t on the weather or the scenery. It was on Sam.

I spotted him sitting on a bench near the pond, his head tilted back slightly as he looked up at the sky. He didn’t notice me at first, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching him. He looked so… at ease. Peaceful. It was a side of him I didn’t see often, and it made something in my chest tighten.

“Hey, dork,” I called out, breaking the moment as I walked up to him.

He turned, a smile spreading across his face when he saw me. “Hey, Jenny.”

I plopped down on the bench beside him, my usual energy masking the butterflies in my stomach. “You know, you looked so zen just now. I almost didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Almost,” he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“Yeah, well, what can I say? I like being a little disruptive,” I said with a grin, nudging him with my shoulder. “So, what are we doing today?”

“I thought we were just… hanging out,” he said, his voice soft, like he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

“Hmm, hanging out,” I mused, looking around. “Okay, then. Let’s walk.”

SAM:
“So,” she said, breaking into my thoughts as we strolled along the path, “did you dream about me last night?”

I nearly stumbled, her question catching me completely off guard. “What?”

She laughed, her big eyes sparkling as she looked up at me. “You heard me. Did you dream about me?”

I hesitated, feeling the heat rise in my face. “I, uh… I don’t think so.”

“Hmm, disappointing,” she said, feigning a pout. “I might have dreamed about you.”

My heart skipped a beat, her words sending a jolt through me. I glanced at her, trying to gauge if she was serious, but her expression was unreadable—half teasing, half something else.

“Really?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

“Maybe,” she said with a sly smile, looking ahead again. “But I’m not telling you what it was about.”

JENNY:

I couldn’t help myself. Teasing him was just so easy, and the way he blushed, the way he stumbled over his words—it was adorable. But under all the joking, there was a nervous energy in me that I couldn’t shake.

Last night had been… unexpected. Texting him, admitting I’d been thinking about him—it wasn’t like me. And then his reply, playful but sweet, had stuck with me all night. Now, seeing him here, walking beside me, I felt that spark again. That pull.

We stopped near a small clearing, the sun filtering through the trees and casting dappled shadows on the ground. I turned to him, crossing my arms with a playful smile. “So, Sam… you were thinking about me too last night. What were you thinking?”

His eyes widened slightly, and I could see his brain scrambling for an answer. “Uh, just… you know, stuff.”

“Stuff?” I raised an eyebrow. “Come on, dork. Be specific.”

He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “I was just… thinking about what you said. That you were thinking about me. It kind of… surprised me.”

“Why?” I asked, tilting my head.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice soft. “I guess I just didn’t think… I didn’t think I’d be on your mind.”

His honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, the words I wanted to say tangling in my throat.

Instead, I stepped closer, reaching out to loop my arm through his. “You’re always on my mind, dork,” I said lightly, leaning my head against his shoulder. “You just don’t know it yet.”

SAM:
Her words hit me like a punch and a hug all at once. I didn’t know how to respond—didn’t know if I even could respond—but the way she leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder, made everything else fall away.

We stood there in the clearing, the world around us fading into the background. For the first time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t imagining things. Maybe she really did feel the same spark I did.

And for now, that was enough.

JENNY:

As we walked along the shaded path, I couldn’t resist teasing him. I glanced up at him, catching the faint flush that was still lingering on his cheeks from earlier. He was so easy to rile up, and I loved every second of it.

“So, dork,” I said, tilting my head with a mischievous grin, “honestly, did you have a tissue in bed with you tonight?”

He froze mid-step, his face turning an impossible shade of red. “W-what?” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.

I burst out laughing, doubling over as I saw the mix of embarrassment and horror on his face. “Oh my god, Sam, you should see your face right now!” I managed between fits of laughter.

“I… I don’t even know how to respond to that!” he said, running a hand through his hair, clearly flustered.

“You don’t have to respond,” I said, still giggling as I looped my arm through his and started walking again. “I’m just messing with you. It’s fun watching you squirm.”

He muttered something under his breath, but I couldn’t hear it over my laughter. I gave his arm a squeeze, leaning into him a little. “Relax, Sam. You’re so easy to tease—it’s adorable.”

SAM:
Adorable. That’s what she called me. I wasn’t sure whether to feel flattered or mortified. Jenny had a way of keeping me completely off balance, her words swinging between playful and suggestive in a way that made my head spin.

Still, as much as her teasing embarrassed me, I couldn’t help but smile. She was laughing, leaning into me like she didn’t have a care in the world, and I couldn’t deny how much I liked being around her—even when she was asking ridiculous questions like that.

JENNY:
Later, as we sat on a bench overlooking the pond, I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, a sly smile playing on my lips. He looked calmer now, though I could tell he was still replaying my earlier question in his head. I decided to poke the bear again.

“Haha,” I said, turning to face him, “but you were right too, you know.”

He frowned, confused. “Right about what?”

“I didn’t need a tissue,” I said with a wink, my tone laced with clear double meaning.

His eyes widened as the implication sank in, and I saw his face go beet red again. “Jenny…” he started, but his voice trailed off, his brain clearly short-circuiting.

I laughed, loving how easily he reacted. “Oh, come on, dork. I’m just joking! Mostly.”

“Mostly?” he echoed, his voice rising slightly.

I just grinned, leaning back against the bench with a contented sigh. “Relax, Sam. You’re way too fun to mess with.”

SAM:
She was relentless. Absolutely relentless. And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling, even as her words sent my mind spinning in a thousand different directions.

Jenny had this way of keeping me on edge, teasing me one minute and grounding me the next. It was like she knew exactly how to keep me guessing, and as flustered as she made me, I couldn’t deny how much I liked it. How much I liked her.

The sun was starting to set as we walked back toward the entrance. Our conversation had been light, playful, full of teasing and laughter—just the way I liked it. But underneath it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. About the way he made me feel… safe. Seen. Like maybe I didn’t have to be just the flirty girl everyone expected me to be.

As we neared the path where we’d part ways, my heart started racing. The thought had been brewing in the back of my mind all day, and now it was bubbling to the surface. Do it, Jenny. Just do it. Be brave for once.

We stopped, facing each other. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, his shoulders slightly hunched, and his eyes—God, his eyes—were so soft and warm as they looked down at me. He didn’t say anything, just smiled, that quiet, gentle smile that made my chest ache in the best way.

“Thanks for today, Sam,” I said, my voice coming out quieter than I’d intended. “It was… nice.”

He nodded, his smile widening. “Yeah. It was.”

I hesitated, shifting on my feet, my pulse pounding in my ears. Do it. Just do it.

Before I could overthink it, I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around him in a quick, tight hug. He froze for half a second before his arms came up to gently return the embrace, and I felt his warmth envelop me.

But I wasn’t done.

Pulling back just enough to look up at him, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. It was quick, just a peck, but for me, it was huge. Monumental. My cheeks were already burning by the time I pulled away.

“Bye, dork!” I blurted, my voice higher than usual as I spun around and started running.

SAM:
She hugged me. Out of nowhere, she just… hugged me.

My brain barely had time to register the warmth of her arms around me, the faint scent of her shampoo, before she pulled back. And then—before I could even process what was happening—she leaned up and kissed my cheek.

A kiss. Jenny kissed me.

My heart stopped, then stuttered back to life in a frantic rhythm. I froze, too stunned to speak, as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed a deep pink.

“Bye, dork!” she called out, her voice light but shaky, and before I could say anything, she was gone, sprinting down the path like her life depended on it.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, my hand instinctively touching the place where her lips had been. It was warm, still tingling, and my brain felt like it had been hit by a freight train.

Jenny kissed me. She kissed me.

I didn’t know what to do, what to think. Part of me wanted to run after her, to ask her what it meant, but another part knew that this was a big deal for her. That kiss—small and fleeting as it was—was her way of saying something she wasn’t ready to put into words yet.

And for now, that was enough.

I smiled, my cheeks still burning as I turned to head back to my dorm. The world felt lighter, brighter somehow, and I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face.

Jenny kissed me.

JENNY:

I didn’t stop running until I was halfway across campus, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest. I ducked into a quiet corner near the library, leaning against the wall and pressing my hands to my burning cheeks.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.

I couldn’t believe I’d done it. The hug, the kiss, the running away. What had I been thinking?

But as my breathing slowed, a small smile crept onto my face. I’d done it. I’d been brave.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the faint glow of my phone on the nightstand casting soft shadows across the room. My heart hadn’t stopped racing since I’d left the park—since I’d kissed him. Oh my god, I kissed him.

I pressed a pillow to my face, groaning softly as the memory replayed in my mind for the hundredth time. His stunned expression, the warmth of his arms during the hug, the soft feel of his skin when my lips brushed his cheek—it was all so vivid, so alive, like it had been seared into my brain.

“Why did I run?” I muttered, my voice muffled by the pillow. But I knew why. That kiss, small and innocent as it was, had been huge for me. It was a crack in the wall I’d built around myself, a moment where I let myself be seen. And now that I’d done it, there was no going back.

My body felt hot, restless, like a current of energy was pulsing through me, refusing to let me settle. I kicked off the blanket, my legs tangling in the sheets as my mind kept circling back to him. Sam. Sweet, awkward, protective Sam.

I closed my eyes, my breathing quickening as I replayed the hug in my head. The way he’d felt against me—solid and warm, his scent faint but intoxicating. The way he’d looked at me after, his eyes wide with surprise but soft with something else. Admiration? Affection? Desire?

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and before I even realized it, my hand slid down my body, my fingers trailing over bare skin. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. My mind was too full of him, and my body ached for release.

I let out a soft gasp as my fingers found the sensitive spot between my thighs, my imagination running wild. I pictured him again, his hands—those strong, steady hands—touching me the way I was touching myself now. His lips brushing against my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

“Sam,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, and the sound of his name on my lips only pushed me closer to the edge. My body tensed, I heaved up a loud moan escaped my lips and the world vanished in lustfull throbbing, leaving me breathless.

I lay there for a moment, my chest rising and falling as I tried to calm down. But it wasn’t enough. The restless energy was still there, swirling just beneath the surface, and my thoughts were still consumed by him. By the way he made me feel—safe, seen, wanted.

With a soft groan, I started again, my body already sensitive from the first release. This time, the images in my mind were even more vivid. I imagined him pulling me close, his lips capturing mine, his body pressing against me as his hands roamed over my skin. I let the fantasy take over, my breath quickening, my fingers moving with more urgency.

It didn’t take long before the second climax hit, more intense than the first, leaving me trembling and gasping for air. My mind felt hazy, my body warm and sated, but my heart was still racing.

I rolled onto my side, pulling the blanket up to my chin as my breathing began to slow. For a long moment, I just lay there, staring at the faint shadows on the wall, my thoughts still spinning but quieter now.

What are you doing to me, Sam?

I’d never felt this way about anyone before. Sure, I’d flirted and teased, but it had always been a game—a way to keep people at arm’s length. With Sam, it wasn’t a game. It was real. Scary, exhilarating, confusing. Real.

As I finally drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in my mind, soft and insistent:

He’s worth the risk.

SAM:
The dorm room was dark, but sleep wasn’t even close to finding me. I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts tangled in a relentless loop. Her. Always her.

Jenny.

I could still feel the ghost of her touch, the warmth of her arms around me, the soft press of her lips against my cheek. That kiss. That moment. It had been so quick, but it had left a mark I couldn’t stop thinking about. She’d kissed me and then ran off like her life depended on it, leaving me standing there, stunned and speechless.

I turned onto my side, my mind replaying every detail of the day—the way her laughter had bubbled up as she teased me, the way her eyes sparkled when she caught me off guard, the way her voice softened when she said, “You’re always on my mind, dork.”

Was she serious? Was it just part of her playful nature? Did it even matter?

Because here I was, hours later, and I couldn’t think of anything else. My heart felt like it was too big for my chest, my pulse racing like I’d just run a marathon. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was something more than just the awkward guy she liked to tease.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. Why does she have this effect on me? I’d never felt like this before—so alive, so restless, so completely and utterly captivated by someone.

My phone was on the nightstand, and my eyes kept drifting toward it. I’d picked it up and put it down at least five times already, my thumb hovering over her name in my messages. I wanted to say something, anything, but every time, the doubts crept in.

What if she’s asleep? What if I wake her up? What if I come across as desperate?

But the thought of her—her laugh, her kiss, her warmth—was too much. I couldn’t stand it any longer. Before I could overthink it, I grabbed the phone, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

“I AM SO THINKING OF YOU!”

I didn’t know what to expect—if she’d even reply at all. It was late, after all. But a part of me hoped… No, I know she’s awake. She’s probably laughing at me right now. The thought made my cheeks heat, but it didn’t stop the buzz of excitement thrumming under my skin.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed, and her name lit up the screen. I opened the message with a mix of eagerness and trepidation, my breath catching as I read her reply:

“Use another tissue… I know guys get sleepy afterwards! XOXO”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands, though a grin was already tugging at my lips. Of course, she’d say that. Of course.

“Jenny…” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as my face burned. She was relentless, her teasing hitting that perfect mix of playful and suggestive, and she knew exactly how to make me squirm.

But as much as her words embarrassed me, I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up in my chest. She’d replied, and in her own unique way, she’d turned my impulsive text into something light and fun, just like she always did.

And honestly? I didn’t mind.

JENNY:

I lay back in bed, grinning at my phone as I imagined his reaction. I could practically see him now—red-faced, groaning, running a hand through his hair as he tried to come up with a response. It was almost too easy to fluster him, and I loved every second of it.

But underneath my teasing, there was something warmer, something softer. His text—so loud and earnest and completely him—had stirred something deep inside me. I didn’t know how to put it into words, not yet, so I hid it behind the joke. It was easier that way. Safer.

Still, as I set my phone down, my smile lingered. His words echoed in my mind, filling the quiet of my room: “I AM SO THINKING OF YOU!”

My cheeks flushed, and I buried my face in the pillow, the giddy warmth in my chest making it impossible to sleep.

When his reply came, I burst out laughing, my cheeks already flushing.

“How many tissues did you not use?”

I stared at the screen, biting my lip as I considered my response. The truth was… well, the truth was two. I hadn’t used any tissues, and I’d brought myself to climax twice already tonight, both times with Sam on my mind. But of course, there was no way he’d take me seriously if I said that.

Still, the thought of sending the truth, knowing he’d think it was a joke, made my heart race with a mix of excitement and nerves. I grinned, letting my fingers type the word before I could change my mind:

“TWO.”

I hit send, my stomach doing a little flip as I imagined him reading it. He’d laugh, for sure, maybe tease me back. But the idea of sharing even a sliver of what I’d been feeling tonight—even in my own, roundabout way—felt exhilarating.

SAM:

When her message popped up, I stared at it for a moment, blinking as I read the single word:

“TWO.”

I laughed out loud, shaking my head. She’s really doubling down on the joke, huh? I thought, a smile spreading across my face. Jenny had this way of saying things that always kept me guessing, and this was no different.

Still, part of me couldn’t help but wonder—was she serious? No, of course not. She was just playing around, like always. But the way my heart skipped at the thought of her thinking about me, even in a teasing way, was enough to send my thoughts spinning.

I typed back quickly:

“Two, huh? You must’ve been really thinking about me.”

I hit send and set the phone down, my mind still buzzing. Whether she was joking or not didn’t matter—what mattered was that she was talking to me, letting me into her world, even if it was wrapped in layers of teasing and laughter.

JENNY:
When his reply came, I laughed, my face heating up as I read:

“Two, huh? You must’ve been really thinking about me.”

If only he knew.

I stared at the message, my fingers twitching as I considered what to say next. I could keep the joke going, throw something flirty back at him. But instead, I found myself smiling softly, my heart full of something warmer, something more real.

“You have no idea, dork,” I typed, hitting send before I could second-guess myself.

As I lay back in bed, the phone still warm in my hand, I couldn’t help but feel like we’d just crossed some invisible line—one I wasn’t sure either of us had been ready for, but one I didn’t want to go back from.

SAM:
Her last message stayed on my screen, the words glowing in the dark room:

“You have no idea, dork.”

My chest tightened as I reread it for the tenth time, the playful tone still lingering in my head. But something about it felt… different. Beneath the teasing, there was a softness, a hint of something deeper that made my heart race.

What does she mean? I turned the question over and over in my mind, my emotions swirling between hope and doubt. Jenny always kept me guessing, always danced that fine line between playful and serious. But tonight… tonight felt different.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The kiss she’d given me at the park, the way she’d run off like she was afraid of what it meant. The way she’d teased me tonight, but also let something else slip through the cracks. And now, the weight of everything unsaid between us was pressing down on me, too much to ignore.

I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to say something—something real. Something that would cut through the layers of jokes and teasing and let her know how I truly felt.

My hands shook as I typed, my heart pounding with every word.

“The next time I see you—”

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen. Was this too much? Too soon? Would she laugh it off or pull away completely? But then I thought of her smile, the warmth in her eyes when she looked at me, and the way she’d said “You’re always on my mind, dork.”

I took a deep breath and kept going.

“The next time I see you, I will kiss you. If you do not want that—run. I will not follow… you are safe—always. Any way you like.”

I stared at the message for a long moment, my chest tight with a mix of fear and anticipation. Then, before I could second-guess myself, I hit send.

JENNY:
I stared at the screen, my heart racing as Sam’s message settled over me like a wave.

“The next time I see you, I will kiss you. If you do not want that—run. I will not follow… you are safe—always. Any way you like.”

My fingers trembled, gripping the edges of my phone as I read and reread his words. He wasn’t joking. He wasn’t teasing. This was Sam—sweet, thoughtful, awkward Sam—telling me exactly what he wanted, what he felt, and giving me the freedom to decide.

Run.

The word echoed in my head, a spark of fear flickering in my chest. He was giving me an out, a way to protect myself if I couldn’t handle what this was becoming. And for a moment, I considered it. I considered pulling back, hiding behind the walls I’d spent years building, keeping everything light and easy and safe.

But then I thought about him. The way he looked at me, the way he made me feel seen and understood in a way no one else ever had. The way he’d stood up for me at the party without hesitation, holding me together when I didn’t even realize I needed it. And that kiss at the park—my kiss—how he hadn’t pushed, hadn’t demanded, had just let me be in that moment.

My chest ached, the spark of fear mingling with something warmer, stronger. You don’t have to run, Jenny. Not this time.

I took a deep breath, my thumb hovering over the keyboard as I fought to quiet the voice in my head telling me to retreat. I didn’t want to hide anymore. Not with him.

Finally, I typed the words that had been burning in the back of my mind.

“Come here, see me now!”

I hit send before I could second-guess myself, my heart pounding as the message disappeared into the ether. The silence that followed was deafening, my chest tightening as I waited for his reply.

When I heard the knock at the door, my heart leapt into my throat. I hadn’t realized how fast he’d come until now, standing in the middle of my room, my palms damp with nerves.

Taking a deep breath, I crossed the small space and opened the door. There he was—Sam. His hair was slightly messy from the breeze, his eyes wide and full of questions, his chest rising and falling like he’d been running.

“You came,” I said softly, the words catching in my throat.

“Of course,” he said, his voice quiet but steady. “You told me to.”

For a moment, we just stood there, the silence between us heavy with everything we wanted to say but couldn’t. Then, before I could lose my nerve, I stepped forward, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside.

The moment I closed the door behind him, the air in the room felt electric. He stood there, just a step away, his chest rising and falling like he was trying to catch his breath. His eyes locked onto mine, full of something raw, something I couldn’t quite name but felt all the same.

“Sam,” I started, my voice barely above a whisper.

But before I could say another word, he closed the space between us in a single step. His hands cupped my face, gentle but sure, and his eyes searched mine for the briefest of moments. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn’t just a kiss. It was everything.

His lips were warm and soft, but there was an urgency to the way they moved against mine, a depth that took my breath away. It wasn’t rushed or clumsy—it was deliberate, full of emotion, like he was pouring every unspoken word, every lingering thought, every feeling he’d ever had for me into this one moment.

I froze at first, my mind spinning too fast to keep up. But then the warmth of him, the sheer weight of his feelings, broke through my defenses. My hands slid up to his shoulders, holding onto him like he was the only solid thing in a world that had suddenly tilted on its axis.

My heart raced as the kiss deepened, his hands slipping from my face to my waist, pulling me closer. He held me like I was something precious, something he’d been waiting for his whole life. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel the same.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his breath coming in shallow gasps. I opened my eyes, meeting his, and the intensity there made my knees weak.

My heart felt like it was about to burst, the weight of his kiss still lingering on my lips. He’d meant every word in his text, and he’d followed through with a kind of honesty that left me breathless.

Why did I ever think of running? The thought flickered through my mind, chased away by the warmth of his hands still resting on my waist.

As I looked up at him, his eyes filled with so much care, so much devotion, I realized something I’d been too scared to admit before.

I didn’t just feel safe with him. I felt seen. And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of what that meant.

I pulled back from the kiss, my hands still clutching at his shirt, my breath shallow as my heart raced in my chest. His gaze held mine, steady and full of something so pure it made my chest ache.

“Stay,” I whispered, my voice trembling but sure. “Stay with me tonight.”

Sam blinked, his lips parting slightly as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right. “Jenny, I… I don’t want to push—”

“You’re not,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I just… I don’t want to be alone right now. I want you. Here. With me.”

The words came out in a rush, but I didn’t care. For once, I wasn’t trying to mask my feelings or hide behind a joke. I wanted him to know, to feel what he meant to me.

His hesitation melted away, and he nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

For a while, we just lay there in silence, our breaths evening out as the tension from earlier began to fade. But my mind was anything but calm. The dam I’d been holding back for years had finally cracked, and now everything was rushing out, demanding to be spoken.

“Sam,” I said softly, my fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He tensed slightly, his hand resting gently on my back. “What is it?”

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. But then I felt his arms tighten around me, steadying me, grounding me. And I knew I could tell him.

“I lied,” I said, my voice barely audible. “About having boyfriends. About being experienced. I… I’ve never had a boyfriend. Never been with anyone.”

His breath hitched, but he didn’t say anything, letting me continue.

“I guess I’ve always been afraid,” I admitted, my fingers stilling against his chest. “Afraid of letting someone in, of letting them see… me. I’ve spent so long pretending, keeping things light and easy, but… with you, I can’t do that. I don’t want to do that.”

I looked up at him, my heart pounding as I searched his eyes. “You make me feel safe, Sam. And that scares the hell out of me. But it also makes me want… more.”

The dam had broken. Every touch, every kiss, every moment spent in his arms felt like a piece of myself I’d kept hidden was finally being freed. I couldn’t stop touching him, my hands roaming over his shoulders, his chest, his face, as if I were trying to memorize him.

We spent the rest of the night tangled in each other, talking in hushed voices about everything and nothing. I told him about my fears, my insecurities, the things I’d never shared with anyone. He listened, his fingers brushing gently through my hair, his voice steady and reassuring as he told me his own truths.

When we weren’t talking, we were kissing—soft, lingering kisses that left me breathless and wanting more. But we didn’t go further. We didn’t need to. Just being together, holding each other, feeling the warmth of his body against mine, was enough.

As the hours stretched on, I felt something shift inside me. For the first time, I wasn’t just pretending to be okay. I wasn’t hiding behind a mask or running from my feelings. I was just… me. And with Sam, that felt like enough.

When sleep finally claimed me, it was in his arms, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. And for the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt truly at peace.

I shifted in his arms, the warmth of his body grounding me as my mind swirled with thoughts I couldn’t hold back any longer. My fingers traced lazy patterns on his chest, the rise and fall of his breath steady beneath my touch. The words were on the tip of my tongue, waiting to tumble out, but my nerves kept tangling them up.

“Sam?” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the quiet of the room.

“Yeah?” he replied softly, his hand gently brushing through my hair.

“There’s… there’s something else I need to tell you,” I said, my cheeks burning even as I tried to keep my voice steady. “Another truth.”

He shifted slightly, his arms tightening around me. “I’m listening.”

I hesitated, my heart pounding as I stared at the faint shadows on the ceiling. You can do this, Jenny. Just say it.

“I wasn’t lying about everything,” I started, my voice trembling. “You know when you asked about the tissues? And I said… two?”

He froze for a moment, and I could feel his chest rise sharply under my cheek. “Yeah?” he said, his voice cautious but curious.

“Well… I wasn’t joking,” I admitted, the words rushing out before I could stop them. “I… I guess I’m just… a very sexual girl. Even though I’ve never had a man.”

The silence that followed was deafening, and I felt my cheeks burn hotter as the weight of my confession hung in the air. “I mean… while we’re telling truths and everything… I thought you should know. Oh god, I should shut up now.”

I buried my face in his chest, squeezing my eyes shut as if that could erase what I’d just said. Why did you say that, Jenny? Why?

SAM:
Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning, equal parts shocking and… endearing. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to process the honesty of her confession. But as I looked down at her, her face buried in my chest, I felt a surge of warmth and something deeper—admiration.

She was trying so hard to be honest, to let me see the parts of her she usually kept hidden. And that meant more to me than anything else.

“Jenny,” I said softly, my hand gently stroking her hair. “Hey, look at me.”

She hesitated, then slowly lifted her head, her big eyes meeting mine. They were filled with a mix of embarrassment and vulnerability that made my chest ache.

“I’m glad you told me,” I said, my voice steady. “You don’t have to be embarrassed or… or feel weird about it. It’s part of who you are. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You’re not?”

“No,” I said firmly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me. That means everything to me.”

Her lips curved into a small, shy smile, and I felt my heart swell. She leaned up, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek, then settled back against my chest with a contented sigh.

“Thanks, dork,” she whispered, her voice lighter now. “You’re… amazing.”

I smiled, holding her close as her breathing began to even out, her body relaxing in my arms. In that moment, I knew one thing for sure: whatever this was between us, whatever it was becoming, I was all in.

JENNY:
His words settled over me like a warm blanket, easing the tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. The way he looked at me, his eyes steady and full of understanding, made my chest feel tight in the best way. He wasn’t running. He wasn’t judging. He was here.

I smiled softly, then felt the corners of my lips curve into something sly as a spark of mischief lit up inside me. “You know,” I said, my fingers tracing a lazy line along his chest, “I think I’m finally starting to feel comfortable with you, Sam.”

He chuckled, his hand resting lightly on my back. “Yeah? That’s good.”

“Oh, it’s very good,” I teased, tilting my head up to look at him. “Good enough that I think I can ask you something very… personal.”

His eyebrows rose slightly, his cheeks tinting with that adorable flush I was starting to love. “Okay…?”

I grinned, propping myself up on one elbow so I could see his face better. “So, dork—how many times do you wank in a day?”

Sam’s face went red instantly, and I couldn’t help but laugh as he sputtered for a reply. “W-what?”

“Haha! Just asking,” I said, holding up my hands in mock innocence. “You know, checking out our compatibility.”

“Compatibility?” he echoed, his voice cracking slightly.

I nodded, biting my lip to keep from grinning too wide. “You see, the ‘two’ I told you about? That was only before sleep. That didn’t include the time before breakfast… or the lonely afternoon hours.”

His jaw dropped, and I burst out laughing, collapsing back onto his chest as he groaned and covered his face with his hands.

“Jenny!” he said, his voice muffled but full of that nervous, flustered energy I couldn’t get enough of.

“What?” I said, my laughter bubbling over. “I’m just being honest! We’re telling truths tonight, remember?”

SAM:
I groaned, my face burning as her words echoed in my head. She was relentless—absolutely relentless—and the worst part was, I couldn’t even be mad about it. She was laughing so hard, her body shaking against mine, and it was impossible not to smile, even as I tried to gather my scattered thoughts.

“How do you even…?” I started, then stopped, shaking my head. “Jenny, you’re unbelievable.”

She looked up at me, her big eyes sparkling with mischief and something softer underneath. “So, are you going to answer me or not?” she teased, her grin widening.

I hesitated, my mind racing. “I… I don’t know. It depends.”

“Depends on what?” she pressed, tilting her head.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know—how stressful the day is? How much free time I have? Do you really want me to go into detail here?”

She laughed again, leaning up to kiss my cheek. “No, dork. I just like seeing you squirm.”

I groaned again, but I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” she said, settling back against my chest with a satisfied sigh.

JENNY:
I felt his arms tighten around me as I rested my head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calming the laughter that still bubbled inside me. Teasing him was too easy, but the way he took it in stride, the way he let me be myself without hesitation or judgment—it made me feel more… alive.

“Thanks for putting up with me,” I murmured, my voice softer now.

“Anytime,” he said, his tone light but full of meaning. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I smiled, my fingers tracing small circles on his shirt. For the first time, I felt like I didn’t have to hold anything back. With Sam, I could just… be. And that was more than I’d ever thought I’d find.

As sleep began to tug at the edges of my mind, I whispered, “Goodnight, dork.”

“Goodnight, Jenny,” he replied, his voice warm and steady.

And as I drifted off in his arms, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The first rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting soft golden patterns across the bed. I stirred, still nestled in Sam’s arms, the steady rhythm of his breathing reminding me he was still sound asleep. For a moment, I just lay there, my head resting on his chest, listening to the slow, comforting thud of his heartbeat.

But the morning was always like this for me. Waking up had never been a quiet, peaceful thing—it was a fire, a restless energy coursing through me, demanding attention – I was in heat. And today, with Sam beside me, his warmth, his scent, his body so close, it was more intense than ever.

I bit my lip, my cheeks flushing as I felt the familiar ache building deep inside me. He shifted slightly in his sleep, his hand brushing against my back, and a spark shot through me, making it impossible to stay still.

My fingers trailed over his chest, my touch light and unobtrusive, but it wasn’t enough. I shifted slightly, my thigh brushing against his leg as I adjusted my position. The friction sent a shiver up my spine, and I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to calm down.

He’s asleep, Jenny. Don’t be weird. Don’t ruin this.

But my body didn’t listen. The heat was building, a slow, insistent burn that made me want to press closer, to feel more. I shifted again, subtly, my hips brushing against his side, and a soft sigh escaped me before I could stop it.

SAM:
Something stirred me from sleep—not a sound, but a feeling. A warmth, a weight, a presence that tugged me gently toward wakefulness. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Jenny, still curled up beside me, her face half-buried against my chest.

She looked peaceful, her dark hair splayed out on the pillow, but there was a tension in the way she moved—a slow, almost deliberate restlessness that didn’t match the stillness of the morning. Her fingers brushed against my chest, feather-light, but there was something about her touch that felt… different.

I blinked, my heart starting to pick up its pace as I became more aware of her movements. She shifted slightly, her thigh brushing against mine, and I felt her hips press against my side, just for a moment. A soft sigh escaped her, barely audible, but it was enough to make my cheeks flush.

“Jenny?” I said softly, my voice rough with sleep.

She froze, her hand still resting lightly on my chest. “Oh,” she murmured, her voice higher than usual. “You’re awake.”

I nodded, swallowing hard as my mind tried to make sense of what I was feeling. “Yeah. Is… everything okay?”

Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink, and she looked away, biting her lip. “I… uh… mornings are kind of… tricky for me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Tricky?” I repeated, my eyebrows lifting as I tried to catch her gaze.

She groaned softly, burying her face against my chest. “Oh my god, Sam, just… don’t make me spell it out, okay?”

JENNY:
Why did you say that? My mind screamed at me as I pressed my face against his chest, hoping the ground would open up and swallow me whole. But there was no escaping this now—he’d noticed, and I’d just… confirmed it.

“It’s… mornings,” I mumbled, my voice muffled. “I always feel… kind of… randy.”

There. I said it. And now he was going to freak out or laugh or—

“Oh,” he said softly, his hand resting hesitantly on my back. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, well, now you do,” I muttered, peeking up at him through my lashes. His face was red, his expression somewhere between nervous and curious, but there was no judgment there. Just… Sam. Sweet, steady, understanding Sam.

“You don’t have to hide it,” he said after a moment, his voice gentle. “It’s… it’s okay.”

His words—“It’s okay”—echoed in my mind, soft and steady, wrapping around me like the warm blanket of his arms. I stayed there for a moment, pressed against his chest, his hand resting lightly on my back. The tension I’d been holding began to ease, but the restless heat inside me didn’t wane. If anything, it grew stronger.

I shifted slightly, my thigh brushing against his as I tried to settle the ache, god all I wanted was to rub myself on him. His hand tensed against my back, but he didn’t pull away, didn’t move to stop me. I tilted my head up, my eyes meeting his, and in that moment, I saw the understanding there—the patience, the quiet encouragement.

“Sam,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I… I can’t stop. I don’t know how to.”

His hand moved gently, brushing along my back in soothing strokes. “You don’t have to,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Just… do what you need to do. I’m here.”

The simplicity of his words, the quiet acceptance in his tone, sent a shiver through me. My cheeks burned as I shifted again, my body pressing closer to his. My hips moved almost instinctively, seeking the friction that would bring me relief, and a soft, involuntary gasp escaped me.

SAM:
Her movements were subtle at first, her body tensing and relaxing against mine as if she were fighting some internal battle. But then she shifted again, her hips brushing against my side, and a soft sound escaped her—a sound that sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

“Jenny…” I whispered, my voice caught somewhere between surprise and awe.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her face pressed against my chest. “I can’t help it. I… I need this.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I tried to focus on her words instead of the warmth of her body against mine, the way her breaths came faster, more shallow. “It’s okay,” I said softly, my hand resting gently on her back. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Shhhh!” she hissed.

She nodded against me, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. Her hips moved again, a little more deliberately this time, and I could feel the tension radiating off her, the way she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.

JENNY:
I needed a climax, now, the ache so deep it was impossible to ignore. I pressed my face against his chest, muffling the soft whimpers that escaped me as my hips moved in slow, subtle circles against his side. The friction wasn’t much, but it was enough to fan the flames that had been building inside me all morning.

“Sam,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I clung to him. “I’m sorry. I… I need this.”

His hand moved up to my hair, his fingers brushing through it gently. “You don’t have to be sorry, Jenny,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

The tenderness in his voice broke something inside me, and I let go of the last thread of restraint I’d been holding onto. My movements became a little more urgent, my breaths quickening as the tension built higher and higher.

The release came suddenly, crashing over me like a wave. My body tensed, my hands clutching at his shirt as soft, muffled cries escaped me. I pressed myself closer to him, riding out the waves of pleasure until they ebbed, leaving me trembling in his arms.

SAM:
Her body went still against mine, her breath hitching as she clung to me. I held her close, my hand brushing soothing circles along her back as I felt the tension leave her. She was trembling, her breaths coming in shallow gasps, and all I could do was be there, steady and unwavering, as she came back down.

When she finally looked up at me, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with a mix of embarrassment and relief. “I… I’m sorry,” she said softly, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Hey,” I interrupted gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to apologize. Not for this. Not with me.”

Her lips curved into a small, tentative smile, and she let out a shaky laugh. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

I smiled back, my chest aching with something I couldn’t quite put into words. “So are you,” I said, my voice soft.

She nestled back against me, her body relaxing completely for the first time since we’d woken up. As I held her close, my hand resting on her back, I couldn’t help but feel like this moment—raw, vulnerable, and utterly real—was more intimate than anything I’d ever experienced.

JENNY:
As the tremors in my body began to subside, I buried my face against his chest, my cheeks burning with a mix of relief, embarrassment, and something I couldn’t quite name. The warmth of his arms around me, the steady rhythm of his breath, and the quiet comfort of his presence wrapped around me like a cocoon.

I expected him to be quiet, unsure of what to say, or maybe even uncomfortable. But instead, his voice broke the silence, soft and trembling with emotion.

“I… I’ve never experienced something more beautiful,” he said, his words catching slightly as if he was still finding the courage to say them.

I froze, my breath hitching as his words sank in. Slowly, I looked up at him, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes wide and filled with something raw and unguarded.

“Promise me,” he continued, his voice shaking but steady with conviction. “Never hold back. That… that was the most amazing thing. I… loved it. Really… honestly… I… I…”

He trailed off, his words hanging in the air as his eyes searched mine, desperate to convey the depth of what he was feeling. My chest tightened, the weight of his honesty hitting me like a tidal wave.

For a moment, I just looked at him, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. Then I leaned up, pressing a soft kiss to his lips—a kiss that wasn’t about teasing or flirting, but about everything I couldn’t put into words.

“Thank you,” I whispered as I pulled back, my voice trembling. “For being you.”

His words kept echoing in my mind.

“Never hold back. Not with me. I want to see all of you.”

There was something in the way he said it—steady, honest, full of conviction—that made me feel like I didn’t have to keep anything hidden. Like I could finally let go of the restraint that always seemed to cling to me, even in my most private moments.

The first climax had been enough to ease the ache for a moment, but his words… his presence… his everything stirred something deeper, something I couldn’t ignore. The warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath me, the faint scent of him—it was overwhelming in the best way.

I shifted slightly, my thigh brushing against his, and I felt the tension ripple through me again. My body was already sensitive, my skin tingling as I sought the friction that would ease the growing pressure inside me. My hips moved almost instinctively, my breath catching as I felt the subtle contours of his leg beneath me.

But it wasn’t enough. Not this time.

I opened my eyes, glancing up at him. His face was flushed, his breathing uneven, but his gaze was steady, full of something that made my heart race. “Sam…” I whispered, my voice trembling with a mix of nervousness and need.

“Jenny,” he said softly, his hand brushing along my back. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

His encouragement, his patience, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered—it broke down the last of my walls. I shifted again, this time straddling his thigh more deliberately. My hands clutched at his shirt as I began to move, the friction sending sparks of heat coursing through me.

And then I felt it.

The faint pressure of him beneath me, the undeniable bulge in his pants pressing against my most sensitive place through layers of clothing. I froze for a moment, my breath catching in my throat as the realization hit me. For the first time, I could feel him—not in fantasy, not in my mind, but here, real, solid, hard, THROBBING and so, so close.

The the need inside me flared, my hips moving almost involuntarily as I sought out that pressure again. A soft, broken moan escaped me as the friction ignited something deep inside, and I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to stop myself.

The pressure built quickly, faster than I expected, I was wet and randy I was spiraling out of control with every slow grind of my hips against him. My hands clung to him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as soft, breathy moans escaped me.

He was quiet beneath me, his hands steady on my waist, his presence grounding me even as my body burned with need. The tension coiled tighter and tighter, until it finally snapped, a wave of pleasure crashing over me so intense I couldn’t hold back the soft cry that spilled from my lips.

I collapsed against him, my body trembling as the aftershocks rippled through me. His arms wrapped around me instantly, holding me close, his hand brushing gently through my hair as my breathing slowly evened out.

SAM:
I held her as she came down, her body still trembling slightly in my arms. Her face was pressed against my chest, her breaths warm and shallow against my skin. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to put into words the mixture of awe, affection, and sheer amazement that was swirling inside me.

“Jenny,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her lips curved into a small, shy smile, and she let out a soft, nervous laugh. “You’re not… freaked out?”

“Freaked out?” I repeated, shaking my head. “No. I… I loved it. I loved you.”

Her smile widened, her fingers brushing against my chest as she nestled closer. “Good,” she murmured, her voice soft and content. “Because I think I’m falling for you, dork.”

I sighed softly, feeling the warmth of his arms around me and the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek. For a moment, I wanted to stay like this forever—safe, content, completely at ease. But reality had a way of creeping back in, and as much as I hated to admit it, we couldn’t stay here all day.

“Aww,” I said, tilting my head up to look at him with a teasing smile. “I guess there’s no other way… we have to get up and study.”

He chuckled, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“But you really liked it?” I asked, my voice quieter now, laced with a touch of uncertainty. “Like… really?”

His gaze softened, his fingers tracing gentle circles on my back. “Jenny, I meant what I said. It was… amazing. You’re amazing.”

I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest at his words. But then, as the heat of the moment faded, a new kind of nervous energy began to creep in. There was something else I needed to say, something I couldn’t quite believe I was about to admit.

“Sam?” I began hesitantly, my cheeks already flushing. “I… I need to tell you something else.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly, his expression encouraging. “What is it?”

I bit my lip, looking away as my fingers fiddled with the hem of his shirt. “The… afternoon,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible. “I… I’m usually a bit… more… lusty.”

He blinked, clearly not expecting that, and I hurried to keep talking before I lost my nerve. “Three o’clock,” I blurted out, my cheeks burning. “Here? Will you… I mean, do you want to… help me again?”

The silence that followed was deafening, and I felt my stomach twist with a mix of embarrassment and anticipation. “If not, it’s okay,” I added quickly, stumbling over my words. “You can come later, or… or I can visit you… or—oh god, what am I even saying?”

I buried my face in my hands, groaning softly as the heat in my cheeks spread all the way to my ears. “I still need that shower,” I muttered, half to myself, hoping the ground might just open up and swallow me whole.

SAM:
Her words tumbled out in a rush, each one more unexpected than the last, and I could only sit there, stunned and trying to process what she was saying. Three o’clock? Lusty? Help her again?

The image of her earlier, the way she’d let herself go, trusting me completely, flashed through my mind, and I felt my cheeks heat. But beneath the initial shock was something deeper—something that made my chest ache with affection.

“Jenny,” I said softly, reaching out to gently pull her hands away from her face. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide and nervous as she looked at me.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed,” I said, my voice steady. “I’ll be here. Whenever you need me.”

Her lips parted slightly, her eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge if I was serious. “You will?” she whispered.

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Of course. If three o’clock is when you need me, then I’ll be here at three. Or whenever you want.”

Her face lit up with a mix of relief and something softer, and she let out a shaky laugh. “You’re… incredible,” she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m the lucky one.”

JENNY:
She rolled her eyes, though the smile on her face gave her away. “Okay, dork, stop being so perfect. You’re making me feel all mushy.”

I laughed as she sat up, her cheeks still pink as she grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest. “But seriously,” she added, glancing at me with a shy smile. “Thanks… for everything.”

“Anytime,” I said, my voice soft.

Her smile widened, and she let out a mock groan as she stood. “Ugh, I still need that shower,” she muttered, heading toward the door. “You better be ready for three o’clock, though, dork. No backing out!”

“I’ll be ready,” I called after her, my heart racing as I watched her go.

As the door closed behind her, I leaned back against the pillows, a grin spreading across my face. Three o’clock couldn’t come soon enough.

Three o’clock felt like an eternity away. All day, I had been replaying the morning in my mind, the way Sam had looked at me, the way he’d held me, his words that broke through every wall I’d ever built. And now, as I stood in my room, completely bare, my heart raced with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

I glanced at the clock—3:02. He’d be here any second.

When the soft knock came at my door, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Come in,” I called, my voice trembling slightly.

The door creaked open, and there he was. Sam. His eyes met mine first, wide with nervous excitement, before they drifted downward. His breath hitched, his body going completely still as he took in the sight of me—completely naked, standing before him for the first time.

SAM:
The door opened, and the sight in front of me stole the air from my lungs.

Jenny.

Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, her fair skin glowing in the soft light of the room. She was small and perfectly proportioned, her curves delicate and inviting. But what captivated me the most were her eyes—wide, bright, full of vulnerability and trust.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. I’d seen beauty before, but nothing—nothing—could have prepared me for her. She was breathtaking, a vision I could barely believe was real.

“Sam?” she said softly, her cheeks flushing under my gaze. “Are you… okay?”

I nodded slowly, my voice caught in my throat. “You’re… beautiful,” I whispered, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Her lips curved into a small, shy smile, and she stepped toward me, her confidence growing. “Thanks, dork,” she said lightly, though her voice carried a hint of nervousness. “So… how do we do this?”

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. I’d come here expecting to sit quietly, to let her guide things, but now, standing here, so close to her, I couldn’t stop the pull I felt. Something deeper, something instinctual, was drawing me closer.

Before I realized what I was doing, I stepped forward, my hand reaching out to gently rest on her hip. Her eyes widened, her breath catching as I leaned in, my lips brushing softly against her collarbone.

“Sam?” she murmured, her voice trembling.

I didn’t answer, couldn’t answer. My thoughts were clouded, my focus entirely on her—the warmth of her skin, the softness of her curves, the way she trembled under my touch. My kisses trailed lower, down her chest, her stomach, until I was kneeling in front of her.

Her hands fluttered to my shoulders, her breaths quick and uneven. “What are you…?”

But the words caught in her throat as my lips brushed the sensitive skin between her legs, and a soft, broken moan escaped her. Her smell intoxicated me. I paused, glancing up at her for confirmation, for permission. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, but she nodded, her fingers gripping my shoulders tightly.

JENNY:
The moment his lips touched me, a jolt of electricity shot through my body, making my knees weak. I’d never expected this—not from Sam, not today. But the way he looked at me, the way he touched me with such reverence, made me feel like I was the most precious thing in the world.

“Sam,” I whispered, my voice trembling as he pressed another kiss against me, his lips soft and warm. “I… oh…” He touched my clit with his tongue.

Words became impossible as he continued, his tongue tracing over me with a gentleness that quickly gave way to something more. My fingers tangled in his hair, my body arching toward him as waves of pleasure built inside me.

He was slow at first, almost hesitant, but as my moans grew louder, as my body responded to him, he became more confident. His hands gripped my hips, holding me steady as his tongue moved with deliberate strokes that drove me higher and higher.

The first climax hit me like a tidal wave, my legs trembling as I cried out his name, my hands clutching at his hair. But he didn’t stop. Even as I came down, his tongue and lips continued their work, coaxing another release from me before I even had time to recover.

SAM:
Her cries were the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard, each one spurring me on, pushing me to give her more. I couldn’t get enough—the taste of her, the way her body responded to every touch, the way she said my name like it was the only word she knew.

When her second climax hit, her body shuddered against me, her hands gripping my shoulders for support. I pulled back slightly, my lips brushing against the inside of her thigh as I looked up at her. Her face was flushed, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, her eyes glazed with satisfaction.

“Jenny,” I said softly, my voice trembling.

She let out a shaky laugh, her hands reaching out to pull me up. “Sam,” she murmured, her voice breathless but full of something deeper.