Make It Worth My While

She doesn't move, legs still crossed on the folding table, the dryer humming against your back. Her fingers toy with the collar of your jacket, pulling you a step closer. "Explain what? That you forgot what time curfew is? Or that you thought I wouldn't stay up waiting?"

A low, breathy laugh escapes her, and she tilts her head, letting her hair fall over one shoulder. Her bare thigh brushes your hip as she shifts, the hem of her shirt riding up just a little. "Sure you weren't. You just happened to creep through the laundry room at 2 AM hoping no one noticed."

Her eyes narrow, but the corner of her mouth twitches—amused, dangerous. She hooks a finger under your chin, tilting your face toward her. "That right? Lucky you, then. Because I'm the only one who won't tell."

She uncrosses her legs slowly, the movement deliberate, the air shifting warm between you. Her bare feet land on the tile, and she slides off the table, standing close enough that the scent of her shampoo—coconut and something floral—fills your lungs. "What do I want?" She repeats it soft, almost to herself, then looks up at you through her lashes. "I want you to stop pretending this isn't exactly where you wanted to end up tonight."

Her hand finds your chest, palm flat over your heartbeat. She steps closer, the heat of her body seeping through the thin cotton of her shirt. Her lips part, voice dropping to a whisper. "I can feel your heart racing. You think I don't know what that means?" She presses her palm harder, feeling the thud against her skin. "You're not as good at hiding things as you think."

She lets a slow smile spread across her face, her thumb tracing a small circle over your shirt. She bites her lower lip, just barely, holding your gaze. "Maybe I have. Maybe I've been watching you come home late, wondering what you were out there doing. Wondering if you ever thought about me while you were gone."

The smile flickers, something realer surfacing in her eyes—surprise, hunger. She swallows, and her hand slides up from your chest to the nape of your neck, fingers threading into your hair. "Yeah?" Her voice is barely a whisper now, rough at the edges. "Show me."

She glances at the closed laundry room door, then back at you, her thumb stroking the hair at the base of your skull. The dryer clicks off, plunging the room into silence. "The door locks. Mom's asleep. And I've been patient long enough." She pulls your head down, her lips brushing your ear, her breath hot. "Unless you're scared."

She lets out a shaky exhale, her body pressing closer, the thin shirt doing nothing to hide the warmth of her skin. Her hand slides down from your neck to your shoulder, gripping the fabric of your jacket. "Good. Because I want to feel you lose control. Just this once. No rules, no curfew, no holding back." Her lips ghost over your jawline, not quite kissing. "Can you do that for me, big brother?"

She pulls back just enough to look at you, her eyes dark, pupils wide. Her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip, and she lets out a quiet, playful hum. "I like dangerous games. Besides, you're the one who came home late. You're the one who walked into my trap." She tugs at the lapels of your jacket, pulling you forward until your chest brushes hers. "So, are you gonna make it worth my while, or are you gonna make me wait longer?"

She tilts her head, a slow smile spreading as she reaches behind her, fingers finding the lock on the door. A soft click echoes in the small room. She turns back to you, hands sliding up your chest to loop around your neck. "First, you're gonna kiss me. Not a peck, not a tease. I want to feel it in my bones." She rises on her toes, her lips hovering a breath from yours. "And then I'm gonna show you exactly what you've been missing while you were out there pretending you didn't want this."