Chapter Six – Breaking the Silence
The apartment was so quiet Nayah could hear her own heartbeat. It wasn't just nerves—it was anticipation, a thrum that seemed to crawl under her skin, alive and unstoppable.
Rina was still close, her forehead resting against hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between. Nayah thought the kiss earlier had been the peak, the climax of whatever impossible thing was happening between them. But the look in Rina's eyes told her otherwise.
"You're trembling," Rina murmured.
"I'm not," Nayah whispered back, though her voice betrayed her.
Rina's mouth curved into a knowing smirk. "Liar."
She kissed her again, slower this time, coaxing, savoring. It wasn't the messy crash from before. This was deliberate, patient—a kiss meant to unravel. Rina's lips pressed soft at first, then deepened, her tongue brushing against Nayah's in a way that made her toes curl.
By the time Rina pulled back, Nayah was already breathless, her chest heaving, her lips swollen from the force of it.
"Tell me to stop," Rina whispered. The words were soft, but her voice carried a weight that pinned Nayah in place. "If you don't want this, just say it."
Nayah swallowed hard, her mind racing. She thought about the reasons she should stop—the complications, the risk, the fear of what this meant. But when Rina's hand traced her jaw, sliding slowly down her neck, goosebumps bloomed across her skin, and every careful thought unraveled.
Her answer tumbled out before she could stop it. "I don't want you to stop."
The grin that spread across Rina's face was devastating—part smug, part tender. "Good."
In one smooth motion, she guided Nayah back onto the couch. The cushions dipped under her weight, and before Nayah could even register it, Rina was following, her body hovering over hers, her knees bracketing her hips. The lamp's golden light threw shadows across the room, softening everything, making the moment feel hidden, private—like the world had shrunk to just the two of them.
Rina's hand slid under the hem of Nayah's shirt, fingertips grazing warm skin. Nayah gasped, arching into the touch, her body betraying her need. Her hands, clumsy with urgency, roamed Rina's back, her shoulders, desperate for something solid to hold onto.
"You're burning up," Rina whispered against her lips, her breath hot and teasing.
"That's your fault," Nayah managed, her words breaking on a nervous laugh.
Rina chuckled, low and warm, before pressing her mouth to her throat. The kiss there was softer, slower, and yet it made Nayah shudder harder than anything before. Rina lingered at the spot just below her jaw, tasting, marking, her tongue flicking against skin that felt suddenly too sensitive.
Nayah's head fell back against the cushion, her eyes fluttering shut. She was dimly aware of the music still playing from the speaker—a slow, sultry beat that seemed to sync with the rhythm of their bodies. Every shift, every touch, every sound felt amplified, like the world was holding its breath just for them.
Her mind screamed at her to slow down, to think, but her body was louder. Her body was begging.
The silence that had stretched between them for weeks—filled with glances, smirks, texts, tension—was finally shattered. Their bodies were saying what their mouths had been too afraid to admit.
Nayah's nails scraped lightly down Rina's back, pulling a soft groan from her lips. The sound sent a shiver through her, pooling heat low in her stomach. She felt reckless, dizzy, like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous and thrilling, and instead of stepping back, she was diving headfirst.
Rina kissed her harder, then pulled back just enough to look at her again, her forehead pressed to hers. Her voice was rough when she spoke. "Say it again."
Nayah blinked. "Say what?"
"That you don't want me to stop."
The demand in her tone sent a thrill down Nayah's spine. Her lips parted, her voice barely a whisper, but steady: "I don't want you to stop."
Rina's smile was slow, wicked, but her eyes were warm. She brushed a strand of hair from Nayah's face, then kissed her again, slower this time, deliberate, like she was memorizing her.
For the first time, Nayah wasn't pretending. She wasn't holding back.
And in the heat of it all, she realized something terrifying: she didn't just want
Rina's kiss, or her touch. She wanted her completely