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RED VELVET | 2025 season's greetings - joy poster

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it’s supposed to be another friday night for ivy, partying away with her friends until her boyfriend’s text sent her mood plummeting. fortunately for her — or perhaps unfortunately — the familiar, handsome face she recognises as someone who works for her father has offered to be her companion for the night as she drowns her sorrows. she probably went a little too hard; the weight of inebriation begins to settle in, and by the time she feels it, it’s already too late. now, she’s half-asleep in his car, barely able to keep her eyes open as he drives her home — or is it to her home? somehow, it doesn't feel like it, the landscape on the ride different from what she's used to but she can hardly call herself a reliable judge right now. she can vaguely feel a hand on her thigh, skirting under the fabric of the silky slip dress she chose for the evening, the warmth both comforting and alarming all at once. “i just feel so… sleepy, all of a sudden." she slurs, her manicured fingers rubbing against her temple as if trying to chase away the fog. “how much longer until we get there?”

open to ... female muses.

potential connections ... friend with benefits. boss' daughter. one night stand. any and all connections that fit, messed up or not. please specify.

muse ... cameron knox. 30 - 35. mechanic + fugitive.

"is my pretty baby getting tired?" the man cooed with a small patronizing pout and pulled on a singular lock of hair to get her to react, following her yawn. he looked from the road, towards the girl in the passenger seat who was currently slumped against the window. he was completely sober himself, having offered to give her a ride home from the party like a gentleman, when his desires were anything but gentlemanly. he didn't drink, constantly prepared to run when needed, and when he had seen her floating around the gathering like an angel, he'd decided on the spot that she would be his. the way he'd fed her her more and more drinks, the way he'd dropped half a pill in one of them, just enough to make her feel like she was floating and make her memory hazy, and the way he intended to take her to his place rather than her own, all played a part. "we're almost there... stay awake," he demanded in a soft voice, a calloused hand squeezing her thigh as his eyes were trained on the road leading up to his small house.

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she beams at his silly reaction — there’s nothing she loves more than hearing just how smitten he is with her. “that’d better be true… or else you’d be in big trouble.” she shoots him a playful glare to make her point, before her bubbly chuckle mingles with his own. laughter fills the air, light and carefree, though she can’t exactly deny his accusation. “duh. if i’m barbie, then you’d be my ken.” she pinches his cheek, her eyes now beaming into crescent shapes. “it’s one of the best compliments one can get — so take it.” while his fashion sense had been a disaster before, he’s an artist in his own right, his wardrobe has only elevated since they began dating seriously. she’s taken it upon herself to add pieces she loves to his collection. her heart skips a beat when he presses his lips against the sensitive shell of her ear, sending shivers down her spine, only for her heart to flutter even more at the content of his whisper. “yah! it’s way too early to even be thinking about that.” she giggles, even though they both know their hunger for each other knows no bounds. his exhibition is merely a wall away, yet he slides his hand down her back as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. “and you make me the luckiest girl on earth.” she beams, pressing her lips against his in a saccharine-sweet peck, savouring the warmth of the moment as it wraps around them like a cozy blanket.

     both hands lift momentarily to feign his innocence, acting accordingly to her judgment act.  " sue a guy for finding his girlfriend attractive. "  always this pull and push with a playful demeanor with the two of them, probably also why they had been hitting it off so well right from the beginning.  " you're the only damsel in distress i'd want to save. "  a wink before a more sheepish chuckle emits from him, knowing now just how cheesy that sentence was sounding. so much love was seen in his eyes whenever they'd look down at ivy, having always considered himself to be a lovesick fool but, ever since the two of them became more official ; it had only verified it.  " yah  —-  am i just some mannequin that you're trying to dress up for the day's outfit ? "  failing to stay serious at his own comparison as a laughter rolled off of his lips soon after, displaying that same happiness that had always been present on his appearance when ivy was near him.  " also ... "  speaking subtly before leaning forward until lips are leveled with femme's ear, whispering lowly into it while lips brushes against shell of her ear.  " you look beautiful even without the clothes, baby. "  thumb caresses along ivy's side, palm sliding behind and resting just above the curve of her rear  ;  wanting to bask in her beauty all evening if allowed to.  " i consider myself the luckiest man on earth. "  voice is still soft-spoken and there's a change of glint in his eyes now, wanting to just be near femme.

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she notices the fear and despair in his eyes, understanding the kind of bad he’s referring to — the kind that signifies he was too close to losing her for good. her mind brims with questions about the accident he mentioned and the choice he’s alluding to, but her head aches too much — everything hurts too much — for her to voice each of them aloud. so, she decides to leave them unspoken, at least for now. reaching out for his hand, she wraps her fingers around his once he extends his own, giving it a light squeeze. “well, you haven’t.” she forces a smile, feeling dazed and confused, yet hating to see the sadness in his bloodshot eyes. “i’m still here, aren’t i?” she manages to jest, but her voice falters, followed by a relentless cough that worsens her headache. something about her body feels indescribably wrong, yet she can’t pinpoint what makes it feel almost unlike her own.

It's that look on her face that magnifies his guilt. The lost confusion. Trying to make sense of what's going on. He remembers that moment. The moment before his world was turned upside down and changed forever. "I--You..." Jae-sung isn't sure where to start. None of it is good or simple. And he'd chosen that for her. There's plenty of horrors he's committed, but this is another stand out moment. His breath hitches, fingers curling into tight fists on his lap. "You were in an accident. It was... It was bad." His face searches hers sadly, willing her to understand. He hopes she does. "I thought I didn't have a choice and I just didn't know what else to do...." He's pleading, asking for forgiveness before he's even fully explained what's happened. It's pathetic and cowardly, but every alternative has his insides twisting. "I thoght I was going to lose you, Yisoo."

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“that’s true… you can never rule it out.” asami tries to suppress the beam threatening to take over her face. “or maybe you should just admit the fact that i might be your greatest weakness by now.” she wouldn’t call his eagerness to satisfy her every whim a weakness; in fact, it might even be considered a strength. “so are you saying that i should be meaner around you — is that what you want?” she teases, knowing full well she couldn’t be even if she tried. her heart is too full, head over heels for him in a way that’s far from one-sided. she takes note of how his body weakens and tenses simultaneously under her kiss, interpreting it as an invitation. mischief dances in her eyes, remembering what he said earlier about wanting more foreplay. “yeah?” she whispers, her voice low and wicked, thick with playful intent. “and how do you like it, baby?” her lips trail lower on his neck, teasingly licking the skin with her tongue before her lips suck gently over his artery. she lingers there for a moment, savouring the warmth and pulse beneath her mouth, then lets go with an audible pop, a playful smirk curling on her lips as she revels in the effect she has on him.

"for fear of inflating your ego, i want to say there is not... but who knows how well that will hold up when the moment actually comes." so far, she's gotten plenty of preferential treatment from him. the fact that he's chosen to single her out and speak to only her is a tell-tale sign that she's special to him. someone that he wants to put his remaining focus into after a long, hard day. "exposure therapy works wonders and if you keep this up, i might grow some resilience to it all," he warns playfully, even though some is the operative word. with however many months they've been together now, he's certainly not close to the immunity of which they speak, especially with how his body subtly shifts beneath her and eyes immediately clamp shut at the press of her lips to his neck. "m-mhmm..." the nerves are always there, mind you, but now they've momentarily transformed into an unspoken neediness — something insu hasn't exactly mastered quite yet. "my mannerisms haven't really changed but you certainly get it in full. nobody's taken the liberty of kissing my neck like this before," right where he's most sensitive.

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has he always felt what she feels for him? it would be a lie to say she never noticed the signs: how he’d do anything for her, even while grumbling about it on the surface; the blush that steals across his cheeks when she leans a little too close; the unmistakable fondness in his gaze, reserved for no one else. yet, she’s been too afraid to respond, fearful that she might be the one to mess things up if they dared to venture out of the safe, comforting confines of their friendship. but now that they are here, now that they dare to — driven by a moment of drunken courage — she isn’t so afraid anymore. she doesn’t want to think about anything beyond the taste of his lips against hers, how perfectly his body feels pressed flush against her own. she savours the way his breaths become shallow and hasty because of her, each exhale sending a thrill through her. swallowing not from nervousness, but anticipation, she feels him pull her onto his lap, and she straddles him in turn, the fabric of her skirt hiking up her thighs. she faintly notes how it might be unfair that she hasn’t confessed her feelings in words, but does she really need to when she’s kissing him like her life depends on it? like she needs him as desperately as the air she breathes? her fingers tighten their grip around his shirt as she kisses him fervently, pouring all her longing and desire into the moment, wanting nothing more than to engrave the shape of his lips over her own.

good, he repeats in his head, each taking the edge off of the anxiety that continues to itch beneath skin. that's all i wanted to hear. it begs the question just how long she's been waiting for it, how in-tune with his emotions she is to see his yearning for her in full. apparently everyone else in their group has understood the assignment for years now, equally waiting with bated breath for something to inch along. he won't tell them of this though. wants to keep the memory to himself now that their lips are back together in full, thunder crackling between them and the temperature rising around them as a result. of course he doesn't push her away, can't push her away now that he's said all that he's said. muscles work to pull her flush, chest on chest and leaving no crevice for air to filter in between. adoration pumps through his veins in a dizzying rush, his mind totally gone and body moving on its own accord at this point to be entirely consumed by her. victor even goes so far as to drag her carefully onto his lap so he can better wrap his arms around her person, to have a better angle in kissing her deeper such that she no longer tastes the bright fruits on her tongue, replaced by him instead. does he dare ask her? if the feeling is mutual? does he need to?

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“ah, that’s a bummer.” asami laments with a sigh, though there’s no real disappointment in her voice. “so you’re saying there’s no preferential treatment just for me?” satisfaction swells in her chest as she watches his blush bloom prettily over the skin of his face and neck, a delightful shade that warms her heart. “hate to break it to you… but you’d never be immune, i fear.” her smile widens, a mix of affection and mischief, as she revels in the sight of his adorable pout, knowing this vulnerable side of him is reserved just for her. “it’s nightfall, but it’s not pitch-black darkness… of course i’d be able to tell.” her fingers trace along the side of his cheek, gliding down to the sensitive skin of his neck, teasingly, before pressing a soft kiss over the nape of his neck. the warmth of his skin beneath her lips sends a shiver of delight through her. “besides, you were so nervous at first you could barely speak coherent sentences around me.” she whispers, exaggerating just a bit, but there’s truth in her playful tone. “were you always like this around all the pretty girls you come across, or was i just special?”

"you're not the first to ask for a room upgrade, no, but sorry to disappoint that i have given a few out before..." granted it was for other logistical reasons and not because he was floored by someone else's beauty. no, she can remain the reigning champion in that regard, a title he figures would suit her quite nicely. "the... older..." so much for the resolve he thought he'd finally honed in after all of this. insu can't even finish a complete thought when she's toying with his lip like this, those boba eyes of hers glistening up at him like she's pleading for him to give her something. it's not a far cry from reality; he would give her whatever she asks for but it's certainly a threat to his typical stoic nature especially now that the blush she's teased him over has somehow managed to creep up his neck and rest in his cheeks. did she summon it? does she have superpowers? a grumble and his lips jut out into a softer little pout, the warmth across his face slightly uncomfortable. "i fear i'm not immune just yet... and how on earth were you able to tell? we'd only ever ran into each other under the cover of nightfall." it's not a rebuttal because then he'd be lying.

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“are you going to keep talking in riddles, or are you actually going to tell me what’s bothering you this much?” yisoo can’t say she’s been entirely oblivious. she’s picked up signs that suggest the person she’s come to trust and care deeply might be the furthest one she should be developing feelings for. she understands why he might think it’d hurt less to leave first, but does it really? “i want this — us — but i can’t keep doing this if all you do is keep me in the dark.”

julien lets out a quiet breath, one that sounds more like defeat than relief, and his gaze drops to the ground between them. ❝ because if you knew everything… if you saw all the things i’ve buried, all the things i’ve done… maybe you would. ❞ he says, barely above a whisper. ❝ i didn’t mean to push you away, yisoo. i just… thought it’d hurt less if i did it first. ❞ his jaw tightens, eyes finally lifting to meet hers again, full of something raw and remorseful. ❝ but you’re right. it’s not my choice to make. ❞

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if she were more sober, she’d likely agree with his act of holding onto the last strings of his self-control, restrained by the fear of jeopardising their friendship by daring to explore more. if she were more sober, perhaps she’d care more about the warning in his voice — the hint of fear that clung to his words, worried they might mess everything up. but now that she’s here, with everything that’s unfolded, how can she cling to resistance when she already knows how fruitless it is? even though his words are spoken with trepidation, they thrill her, igniting a spark of curiosity about all the ways she could drive him crazier. it’s dangerous to want someone so much that it teeters on the edge of her own sanity, yet she needs more than his half-hearted attempts to push her away to begin caring about her own sanity. her heart pounds impossibly loud, almost thunderous in her eardrums as she waits for his answer, breath held in anticipation. when his confession blooms into the air between them, her lips curve into the brightest beam, and she releases the anxious breath she didn’t know she was holding. “good,” she whispers, her breath a luring caress against his lips. “that’s all i wanted to hear.” with a greedy, aching need, she presses her lips against his once more, pouring all her hopes and desires into the kiss, praying with every fibre of her being that he won’t push her away.

the answer is yes, no matter how dangerous it is to say that in this moment when there's nothing around to hold them back from one another. no friends to contend with, no event that headlines their evening, and — most importantly — no god damn self control. his fingers itch to hold her tighter to him, closer, and his knuckles are far too white from being clenched around her shirt to keep from doing entirely that. "my... sanity, i guess," he murmurs, an empty sort of reply since his sanity around her has been long gone. if this is the best he's able to do then he's not exactly great at executing on it but then again, he's never been in this position before. no, it's always been a pipe dream and now his dreams are coming to fruition and he's got nobody but himself to blame for keeping the barrier between them up. "jia...." it's spoken as a warning, a hazard sign to let her know that she's approaching dangerous territory. his heart has been wrapped in barbed wire for years and she doesn't want to get hurt as a result of crawling her way through. his chest feels like it's going to burst, swallow him from the inside out, and the only thing that manages to keep him going is the air she breathes into him being so close to his lips like this. “you’ve never been just the best friend,” he finally concedes, the words thick as they stumble off of his tongue. it’s almost in defeat that they do, teeth biting into his lower petal to keep himself from saying more. it fails spectacularly. “you’re all i’ve ever wanted.”

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“am i going to be the first, too?” asami teases with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “come on, i can’t be the first pretty girl that’s ever asked for a room upgrade. have you ever given anyone said room upgrade?” she recalls how easily flustered he was initially from her shameless flirtation, and now he’s taking it almost too well with how accustomed he became. she finds herself missing those moments of endearing shyness that used to color his cheeks. “you do… one of the best, if you ask me.” she claims with a grin, watching mesmerised as his beautiful lips part under her manicured finger, the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin. “we wouldn’t…” tingles run along her skin again from where his fingers graze the sides of her breasts, and she sighs softly, relishing in the tenderness of the moment, each gentle touch sending shivers through her. “almost makes me miss the older version of you.” she teases, her teeth playfully biting down gently on his lip as she stares into his deep brown eyes, a swirl of emotions reflected in their depths. “remember how much i used to make you blush? prettiest man i’ve seen with a blush, i swear.”

"do you have to ask?" surely she knows he would. surely she knows that her smile and laughter and brilliance is infectious enough that he would've just given it to her at that point. or hell, maybe insu wouldn't have picked up the cues nearly as quick as he now does knowing how asami speaks to him. he's certainly been more aware of the flirtatious behaviors in that sense since the one night they'd shared together. "i have a good teacher." a shudder crawls over his skin like a purring cat when she gingerly touches his lip, mouth slightly parted to light out a breathy exhale he didn't realize he'd been holding. "mmm." the hum is gentle into her soft lips, eyes closed so he can fully take advantage of the bliss within their little bubble. fingers glide up and down the length of her bare sides, feeling the shift in her topography as they trace over the outer curve of her chest. "you poor thing... we wouldn't want that now would we?"

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“anything… whatever i need you for?” jia repeats, her voice low and raspy, laced with longing and a hint of greediness. but she shouldn’t be so greedy, right? she shouldn’t let her desires grow so loud that they drown out everything else. his voice reveals so much against his wishes, her heartbeat racing in her eardrums, and the quickened, shallow breaths reminding them of the kisses they just shared. “...and what is this that you’re keeping together?” she dares to ask, even though she knows that if his answer isn’t what she wants to hear, she might be embarrassed enough to bolt out the door, never mind that it’s her own home she’s in. can they go back to being friends after this, even if they stop here? “tell me… am i always going to be just the best friend to you?” her forehead leans against his, and she shuts her eyes to take a deep breath. listens to the telltale beating of her heart in its full, aching honesty for the very first time. his lips are just an inch away, and her self-control is dwindling at an alarming rate. “tell me you’ve never wanted more, and i’ll stop.”

her plea takes him by surprise, words that he'd hoped she would say to him under normal pretense when she's entirely there and aware of her feelings — if they even exist. this is just another thrill for her to seek, isn't it? kissing your best friend and finding out that it's good so she wants more? he doesn't want to be friends with benefits with her if that's the case, would prefer that they come at this from a better angle so that the line between them is clear, not blurred. but that was never going to be the case, was it? "i did promise you i'd never leave but in the sense that i'll always be here for you, for anything. whatever you need me for," outside of this. "huh? j-jia, i — wh — i have no idea... what you're talking about..." he's just as terrible a liar as his roommate apparently, the stammering making that point quite obvious. how has she managed to glean all of that in her current state? his entire body is now warm from something else altogether and he worries that she can feel the hammering of his heart beneath her curled fists. "self-control is what keeps this together."

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yisoo’s eyes remain wide as she hears him speak, her mind struggling to process the absurd situation fate has thrown her into once again. it’s ludicrous enough that her ex is back, offering her the chance to take him back, but now he’s her new neighbor—after she made it clear she never wanted to see his face again. she glances down at the bag she just dropped, the glass bottle shattered into countless shards, but that can wait. her gaze drifts back to him, filled with suspicion. while she doesn’t genuinely believe he’s desperate enough to be a stalker, the idea that they are neighbors by mere coincidence is even more laughable. it’s as if the universe delights in turning her life into a comedy, though she isn’t the one laughing. “...i renewed it last month.” a dry laugh stumbles from her lips when he tells her to move out — his audacity is nothing she isn’t already accustomed to. “i’m not moving anywhere, sunwoo. i’ve lived here for a full year, and i’m staying for the next.”

Even though he’s desperately wishing this is just a nightmare, Sunwoo knows it’s not. He could never imagine Yisoo’s face this well; when she’d appeared in his dreams while he was away her face had been murky, missing all the details he loved so dearly and it left him with a gaping hole in his chest when he eventually woke up, itching to find photos of the two of them just to make sure he still remembered how she looked. His eyes dip to the bag she’s dropped, hands clutching on his box all that tighter. “Don’t be ridiculous. You told me to piss off and I did. You should probably pick your trash up.” Sunwoo grits his teeth, flushing slightly from embarrassment and annoyance both. Ridiculous. His life is ridiculous and his ex is ridiculous. “How would I find the time to stalk you? I have a job and plenty of other things to do. Like unpack my stuff, still. I just found this place and I thought it looked nice and met all my numerous criteria so I moved in.” Surely, there’s a way out of this uncomfortable situation. One that doesn’t require him to up and move again. “When does your lease end? Can you move out before that?”

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“oh?” asami blinks, her lips curling up with unbridled amusement. “has that ever worked?” she asks, genuine curiosity dancing in her eyes. “if you didn’t know me beforehand, would you give me that hotel room upgrade if i tried to sweet-talk you into it? be honest.” she’s not the type to shamelessly ask for things she hasn’t paid for, but she has scored unexpected goodies simply by being likeable in the past. the smile brightening her features is fraught with endearment when he playfully nips at her fingers. instead of retreating, she chuckles softly, her thumb gliding along the curve of his bottom lip. “you did.” she echoes, offering an affirmative nod. “you’re a good student.” he gives off the impression of someone who excels in everything he sets his mind to, his determination and quiet confidence among the traits that initially drew her to him. “maybe a little." she whispers, feeling herself melt all over again as their lips meet in another tender kiss. “who knows… it might not take long until you become a dangerous hazard for my heart.”

oh, he's actually pleasantly surprised that that... worked. not that his intent was to pointedly flatter her but he supposes that it's easy enough when the feelings are there and the words happen to come to him in the appropriate order. "i wouldn't get used to it," he snickers back, bringing a hand up to wrap around the finger the prods at him and lifting it to where he can nip at it playfully. "oh, you know, maybe some of the clients that i pick up late at night or the folks who want to butter me up at the hotel for an upgrade to their room..." feels the need to dangle the carrot just a little bit longer before the facade is all but washed away with the shake of his head. "i told you that i'm learning, did i not?" he rests her hand back down on his chest and brushes the back of his fingers over her warm, soft cheek. most importantly, he wants to. has never really felt the need to be anything more than what he is — an average and content wallflower — until she bulldozed her way into his life. the smirk returns and insu leans in to kiss her softly, not pulling away when he speaks up again. "is it working?"

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normally, she’d be tormented by relentless fears over what’s going to happen once they take the leap they can never come back from — but now, under the haze of intoxication, the consequences feel like a distant concern for future her to handle. “then don’t.” jia pleads, a hint of her usual stubbornness shining through her tone. “it’s what you promised, isn’t it — that you’d never leave?” does she even know what she’s saying? will he still stay when they’re more than friends? can they even call themselves friends after that kiss, the one that sent her reeling and made her realise how irrevocably drawn she is to him? “...is that why you’ve stopped drinking altogether when i'm around?” she dares to ask, her heart racing as she feels the weight of her words. fingers curl into a fist, bunching around the fabric of his shirt like a frustrated child denied what she wants, muttering under her breath, “self-control is overrated anyway.”

what comes out is a bit unexpected, even for him — a tiny chuckle that he knows is tinged with frustration deep down. his eyes close and he shakes his head despite the smile, berating himself already for having let this go too far. it's given him a taste of her, more than what she's already made him privy to by the sheer closeness of their friendship already, and he's become immediately addicted. needs more. what help can someone in his position get, however, when he's the dumbass who chooses to remain in this position? "and i'll never leave." feels like an appropriate enough response to get his point across, letting the vagueness remain so that she can fill it in with her own imagination of the things they could do overnight. that's what they'll remain — a dream — and victor has already acknowledged that he will take the brunt of it. "i've already broken my rules taking a sip of that cocktail when i told you i wouldn't. my self-control is pretty much in the toilet right now."

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CRUEL INTENTIONS 3 —2004, dir. Scott Ziehl

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CULPA MIA (2023)

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3b/4b for ivy & mikah ?

mikah had learned very early on what he liked to do to ivy. how much he liked to tease her and how much he adored hearing her softly beg for his cock. learned all the little whispered words that seemed to push her right over that edge, too. made her wet between her thighs. that's how the demon liked her — drooling and waiting for him. just how he has her in the moment with her face pressed down into a pillow, back arched with her ass up and waiting. "so needy, baby." the demon purrs his words as a hand comes down to slap against her cheek, sure to leave behind a red mark on her sensitive skin. "you really want me this bad?" a smirk growing on his lips as he uses his free hand to guide his cock against her, taps it against her ass before sliding it along her slick folds. "beg for it then." doesn't really give her the chance to do so before his hand comes back down against her ass once more. a spank, harder than the last that jerks her body forward. makes his cock ache in his own hand to be inside of her. like he needed it like air to breath.