Shota’s POV

Her lips are soft against mine, a tenderness I haven’t felt in so long, and it sends heat rushing through me. The cast on my arms makes it impossible for me to touch her the way I want to, the way I’ve imagined so many times before, but Mailin is here, her hands guiding me, taking the lead in a way that makes me lose my grip on everything.

I want her—more than I should, more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But I can’t even move, not the way I need to. My arms are useless, broken, and it’s driving me insane that she’s in control. Normally, I’d hate this feeling, but with her… It’s different.

Her fingers are brushing against my chest now, trailing down the bare skin of my torso, sending a shiver down my spine. The warmth of her touch is everything. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps as she presses against me, the weight of her body grounding me, her lips still trailing along my neck.

It’s been years—years of burying these feelings, pushing them down because it was easier that way. But now, here she is, in my arms, and I can’t hold back anymore. The way she’s touching me, the way she’s guiding me, I feel like I’m going to explode from the heat between us.

Her lips press against my collarbone, soft and warm, and I let out a low groan, my body responding instinctively. I can’t move my arms to pull her closer, can’t do anything but let her take control, and it’s infuriating how much I don’t mind it. How much I want this—want her—to take over.

"Mailin," I whisper her name, my voice rough, strained from the tension building inside me. I want her to know how much this is driving me insane, how much I want to kiss her again, deeper this time. I want to let her in, to tell her everything I’ve kept locked away for years, but the words get stuck in my throat.

Her fingers trace along my ribs, skimming lower, dangerously close to where I need her most. It’s almost unbearable. My head falls back, resting against the tiles, as her lips return to mine, soft at first but quickly deepening, her tongue brushing against mine in a way that sends sparks through my entire body.

I can't stop the sounds coming from me, can't stop the way my body reacts to her. She’s in control, and I’ve never felt more at her mercy than I do now.

“I want to touch you,” I rasp, frustration lacing my voice as I struggle to lift my arms even though I know it’s impossible. The casts weigh them down, but the desire—no, the need—to hold her is consuming me.

She pulls back slightly, her breath hot against my skin as she lets out a soft laugh, one that makes my chest tighten. "Not today, Shota," she murmurs, her fingers brushing through my hair. "I’m taking care of you."

---

Mailin’s POV

His voice—low, rough, filled with that edge of frustration—it sends heat pooling in my stomach. I know exactly what he wants, what he’s feeling because I’m feeling it too. His dark eyes are fixed on me, burning with need, and it makes my heart race knowing I’m the one in control.

I’ve dreamed of this—of kissing him, touching him, being close to him—for so long, and now that it’s happening, I don’t want to rush it. But God, the way he’s looking at me, the way he says my name… It’s taking everything in me not to lose control entirely.

His lips find mine again, and I kiss him back, deeper this time, my hands sliding down to his hips. I can feel him shudder beneath me, his breath hitching as I press against him. His arms may be broken, but I can feel the tension in his body, the way he’s struggling to hold back.

I don’t want him to hold back.

My fingers trail lower, brushing along his pelvis, teasing him, and I hear him groan, his head falling back as he fights for control. It’s exhilarating, knowing I’m the one driving him wild like this, knowing he’s letting me take charge because he can’t.

The air around us is thick with tension, and I can feel the heat rising between us. Every kiss, every touch, it’s like we’re losing ourselves in each other, and I’m not sure I ever want it to stop.

"Mailin," he says my name again, his voice a low, desperate whisper. His eyes are dark with desire, and I know what he’s asking for without him needing to say it.

I pull back slightly, my lips hovering over his, and I can see the frustration in his face, the need. But there’s something else too—something deeper. His vulnerability, his trust in me, it makes my heart ache in the best way possible.

“Let me take care of you, Shota,” I whisper against his lips, my fingers brushing against the cast on his arm. “Just this once.”

I see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, but he doesn’t argue. He can’t. And that only makes the moment more intense.

I stand, my heart pounding in my chest as I reach for his hand, gently guiding him out of the shower. His arms are useless, but he follows me, his eyes never leaving mine. There’s a tension between us, thick and heavy, and I can feel the way his body reacts to every small movement, every brush of my fingers against his skin.

Without a word, I lead him toward the bedroom. It’s slow, deliberate, each step filled with anticipation as I feel his breath against the back of my neck. I can tell he’s holding himself back, trying to stay in control, but I know he’s losing the battle.

The moment we reach the bed, I gently push him down, his body sinking into the mattress with a soft thud. He looks up at me, eyes dark and filled with something raw, something that’s been building between us for far too long.

I kneel beside him, my hands trailing along his chest as I lean in for another kiss. This time, it’s deeper, hungrier, the tension between us snapping as the need for each other takes over. His lips are warm against mine, and I can feel the frustration in the way he tries to move his arms, the way his body reacts to every touch, every kiss.

I climb onto the bed, straddling him, my hands resting on his chest as I look down at him. He’s watching me, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts, and I know he’s fighting to stay in control. But right now, I’m the one in charge.

My lips find his again, and this time, there’s no holding back. The kiss deepens, my hands sliding up to his jaw, cupping his face as I pour everything I’ve been holding back into it. Years of feelings, years of wanting, all finally coming to the surface.

I can feel him responding, his body tense beneath me as I press against him. His lips move against mine, desperate, hungry, and I know he’s feeling the same rush, the same overwhelming desire.

But I’m the one in control. And I’m not stopping.

---

Shota’s POV

I’ve lost control. Completely, utterly, lost to her. And I don’t care.

Her hands are on me, her lips trailing down my neck, and I’m helpless to do anything but feel. The heat between us is overwhelming, consuming, and I can’t fight it anymore. I don’t want to.

She’s leading this, taking over in a way that I never thought I’d let anyone do. But with Mailin, it feels... right. I trust her, completely, and that scares me more than anything else.

I want to touch her, to feel her skin beneath my hands, but my arms are useless, trapped in these damn casts, and all I can do is lie here and let her take control.

And God, do I want her to.

Her lips are soft against mine, but there’s an intensity to the kiss now, something deeper, more desperate. I can feel her need, her desire, and it matches my own in a way that sends a shiver down my spine.

I try to move, to shift beneath her, but she’s in control, her hands guiding me, keeping me where she wants me. And for the first time in my life, I’m okay with that. I want her to take the lead, to show me just how much she wants this—wants me.

Her fingers trail lower, brushing against my skin, teasing me, and I let out a low groan, my head falling back against the pillows. I’m losing myself in her, in the feel of her body against mine, in the way she’s making me feel things I’ve buried for so long.

This is more than I ever imagined, more than I ever thought I could have. And as her lips find mine again, I know there’s no going back.

I’m hers. Completely.