#apologies for my late reply anon

[p-receh]

Need to rant feel free to ignore :D

Have you seen the new windara poster? I'm very excited for june now, i am SHOCKED at how well the bug aliens look. Also kokotiam's armor design looks so fun and fits so well with the overall bug theme (Gopal and fang are hilarious i cackled when i saw them)

Boi's an ant and theres probably an essay someone already wrote about the meaning behind that, yaya's a lady bug and gosh she looks pretty, ying is a bee and i love the sporty look since bees are very fast bugs so it fits very well (also thank God she finally has a helmet my girl you are basically at a war protect your head dear God) it also fits better than the previously more "mage" look which.. did not make sense to me WHY she was designated that class

Fang and Gopal are Hercules beetle and rhinoceros beetle, which looks absolutely hilarious but makes sense. Again theres probably already an essay out there about the significance of each bug that has been designated for each kokotaim member so i won't bother you on that (though the research is fascinating and i highly recommend!)

Now.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ...

Consumers. Kindly. SHUT UPPP

Kritics are getting WAY too comfortable, we get it its not based on the comics designs. Infact i'd argue its better since the comics are literally just them with armor. In a bug planet. They have armor. For. Humans. That LOOK human, with the exception of Fang's but do you realize how nonsensical that sounds?

Also we were already told there were going to be changes in the story and design. The creators were very open on that, you don't like the 3d animation design? Great! You have a preference, sure; fantastic happy for you, we have our opinions so kindly. Shut up :D

Look kritics are normal i am not dissing on that, i'm more on people being mad that kokotiam doesn't look as "pretty" or "cool" or whatever and all i can say is. ARMOR IS FOR PRACTICALITY NOT LOOK POINTS WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE ONNNNNNNN

Also adapting a 2d design from a comic to a 3d design is HARD (trust me, blender i both love and hate you) thats not even counting ANIMATING it, you hate the 3d version? Well boi do i have good news for you that theres a 2d version :D its in the comics thats FREE for you to read on webtoon.

There wasn't even supposed to BE a galaxy season 2, there was no preparation for it ehich is why the comics are so different than the status quo. They took risks because there was never a plan for an animated version. So the fact we're getting anything at all for FREE mind you is a BLESSING

You can kritic sure yeah thats fine but use at least polite wording. These are people thats working on these things not your slave.

DON'T JUST SPEW NEGATIVITY AROUND LIKE ITS NOTHING. YOUR RUINING THE FUN FOR EVERYONE; THOSE WHO DIDN'T MIND THE DESIGN CHOICE, THOSE WHO JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, THOSE WHO ARE ENJOYING BBB JUST AS IS.

You have a specific design or writing that cater to you or you enjoy more? Do it yourself :D

Grab a pencil and start writing/sketching. HAVE FUN, you may not like it but not everyone is like that. There are those who like it, there are those who don't mind, there are those who understand that its not easy to create an adaptation.

Moreover the comics and show have very different audiences. Look at the difference between movie 2 and its comic, you can see that some scenes were either soften up or cut entirely because what audience it caters too more

If you want a more serious and emotionally mature view you can go read the comics (they are fantastic btw! Highly recommend movie 2 and the compilations)

Take a deep breath and think for a second. Is this kritic important? Is there an ACTUAL issue with this design choice? Will there be people who feel hurt by your words?

Anyway how was your ramadan and eid? Did you have fun :D ?

ALLAHUAKBAR ANON 🤣🤣

I can feel your emotions went turmoil in your long essay and yet still managed to end it with a smile. Of course I could not ignore yours anon😅

Have you seen the new windara poster?

Definitely~~ :3

The poster fire af!!!!!!!! It packed from top to bottom!

(oooooh I'm scared yet excited for the fully animated version of Beliung omgggg >_<)

I'm very excited for june now, i am SHOCKED at how well the bug aliens look. Also kokotiam's armor design looks so fun and fits so well with the overall bug theme (Gopal and fang are hilarious i cackled when i saw them)

Boi's an ant and theres probably an essay someone already wrote about the meaning behind that, yaya's a lady bug and gosh she looks pretty, ying is a bee and i love the sporty look since bees are very fast bugs so it fits very well (also thank God she finally has a helmet my girl you are basically at a war protect your head dear God) it also fits better than the previously more "mage" look which.. did not make sense to me WHY she was designated that class

Fang and Gopal are Hercules beetle and rhinoceros beetle, which looks absolutely hilarious but makes sense. Again theres probably already an essay out there about the significance of each bug that has been designated for each kokotaim member so I won't bother you on that (though the research is fascinating and I highly recommend)

My biggest spotlight of all for me was how they reimagine the adult characters since well to be fair it has been uhh.... six years ago we had more than a few we had since movie 2? (Sori only had Gaharum and....uuuhh the trio lobster guys that I forgot what their names were in the tv ver :/)

And yes anon. The lady bug, Maripos, General Reramos and Princess Kuputeri. That number alone is a big step up from Sori. We also need to mention the army below in the poster. I highly appreciate they risking themselves by involving more characters like in Galaxy season 1.

To my suprise, I really looove Maripos in this ver. 😘🤌

Wait there's an essay behind Kokotaim's suit? Can I see???👀👀

Now.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ... Consumers. Kindly. SHUT UPPP Kritics are getting WAY too comfortable, we get it its not based on the comics designs. Infact i'd argue its better since the comics are literally just them with armor. In a bug planet. They have armor. For. Humans. That LOOK human, with the exception of Fang's but do you realize how nonsensical that sounds? Also we were already told there were going to be changes in the story and design. The creators were very open on that, you don't like the 3d animation design? Great! You have a preference, sure; fantastic happy for you, we have our opinions so kindly. Shut up :D Look kritics are normal i am not dissing on that, i'm more on people being mad that kokotiam doesn't look as "pretty" or "cool" or whatever and all i can say is. ARMOR IS FOR PRACTICALITY NOT LOOK POINTS WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE ONNNNNNNN Also adapting a 2d design from a comic to a 3d design is HARD (trust me, blender i both love and hate you) thats not even counting ANIMATING it, you hate the 3d version? Well boi do i have good news for you that theres a 2d version :D its in the comics thats FREE for you to read on webtoon. There wasn't even supposed to BE a galaxy season 2, there was no preparation for it ehich is why the comics are so different than the status quo. They took risks because there was never a plan for an animated version. So the fact we're getting anything at all for FREE mind you is a BLESSING You can kritic sure yeah thats fine but use at least polite wording. These are people thats working on these things not your slave. DON'T JUST SPEW NEGATIVITY AROUND LIKE ITS NOTHING. YOUR RUINING THE FUN FOR EVERYONE; THOSE WHO DIDN'T MIND THE DESIGN CHOICE, THOSE WHO JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, THOSE WHO ARE ENJOYING BBB JUST AS IS. You have a specific design or writing that cater to you or you enjoy more? Do it yourself :D Grab a pencil and start writing/sketching. HAVE FUN, you may not like it but not everyone is like that. There are those who like it, there are those who don't mind, there are those who understand that its not easy to create an adaptation. Moreover the comics and show have very different audiences. Look at the difference between movie 2 and its comic, you can see that some scenes were either soften up or cut entirely because what audience it caters too more If you want a more serious and emotionally mature view you can go read the comics (they are fantastic btw! Highly recommend movie 2 and the compilations) Take a deep breath and think for a second. Is this kritic important? Is there an ACTUAL issue with this design choice? Will there be people who feel hurt by your words?

ANON CALM DOWN

I absolutely understand your feeling, sister/brother. 😅

I think I already written an essay, twice. Either if it's your ask box or not I'm just gonna put it here

and here.

My version gonna be a bit different from yours, so bear with me anon. Every perspective from each individual is still counted as subjective, no matter how objective they are, including myself.

Ehem.

Me personally... I'm on both sides of the group. I can understand why some people are angry about the suit design because I'm gonna be honest, even tho there were two different media between the comic and the tv/movie, staying in the source material without changing anything is essential to any adaptation series.

So the way people are furious with it. I can see where are they come from.

'The Kokotiam armor suit is heavily different than the comic ver?' Valid; 'Still use the chubbier render ver from Sori when this arc starts to get darker?' Valid.

And other takes that I obviously ignore since that were just beyond logic. I kid you not, anon. When they posted it the first time, my instinct was muting all words related to Boboiboy or spending my timeline with another topic. Because your frustration was my biggest worry that came true.

But at the same time, not many franchise could do the same strategy. Sometimes, refurbishing them without losing the source material could also work WITH extra proper care and permission from many parties. Because this tactic is such a gamble to please anyone. I also highly recommend studying the story behind the redesign of Sonic Movie 2020, Pre-Launch-Post Launch, and the impact on its linked franchises.

(Well to be fair the MCU franchise starting from Spiderman 1 was also a good topic to study)

So my bet is...maybe Monsta doing the latter strategy. It is risky for sure, I can guarantee that when they published it on YouTube since og era. But I can see the reason for their decision. Designing a proper armor for their planet's theme is genius tho. Big bonus to differentiate each bug for Kokotiam's gang that has meaning to them.

(Were they attempted to make Bug's Life in Boboiboy series? Lol😅)

Critics aside, people need to know, that even tho the comic looks dope as heck, Boboiboy's first release was on the screen, not on the paper. The screen audience within SEA is waaaay higher than the comic enthusiast. Therefore comics, in this case, is a fan service. You don't need to know the details, but you might get curious to search behind the scenes further.

(That's what I do after I finished Sori btw.)

There are advantages & disadvantages of Monsta releasing the second season comic first before the animated ver. The launch of the Mechamato series and Galaxy 2nd season may or may not help Monsta during the pandemic. Monsta's mini-series about covid awareness also helped them to survive.

Yet, people treat the Boboiboy franchise now are kinda similar to how people demanded things from an animated series that adapted from the manga. Which... Uuuh a bit unhealthy to be honest.

But again as I said before, at the end of the day, criticism especially from the internet always wants what they ask, not what the creators want.

This is also the reason for my decision to not meddle my interest further on the internet. The damaged left me a scar from my previous fandom that I'm at this point I'm toooo lazy to engage more in the community.

(But that doesn't mean I don't like the franchise anymore tho. I still love it af)

Anyway how was your ramadan and eid? Did you have fun :D ?

Alhamdulillah anon! My schedule really packed pre-during-and post Ramadhan!

I went to two towns for "mudik" tradition before and after ramadhan for the first time after the pandemic! (for outdonesian or maybe outside of malaysian as well, it's like a Christmas gathering at grandparent's house... I guess(?)).

It was such a wholesome trip for sure! but boy I did need some time to adjust too(It was a challenging ride if you have a place at the mountains🤢)

My ramadhan month was also busy with working as a part-time job at my family stand. It is tough to sell things that were really not on the most target wanted.

But Allhamdulillah most of them were sold! I'm soo relieved! 😆😆

And because it was a holy month, I really need to take a rest from any social media. I still use them honestly, but not as many as before.

Now I'm struggling to get my drawing and writing enthusiasm back.

Hope you also had a wonderful ramadhan too, Anon!😆👍

[finz-art]

what has chibi jon and eddie been up to I wonder? :3 (cant get enough of those lil dudes)

They've been busy trying to break out of Arkham!!

Their asses are DONE being docile, the only option now is criminal MISCHIEF ( •̀ω•́ )

[mazzystar24]

I'm just a boring little straight white girl. I would never speak for queer people even though I have a ton of friends in the community. I'm an actual ally Buck.

But why do I have to switch my ship from to men I met 6 years ago. Who's bond has evolved in a beautiful way over the years. Especially based on all the interviews from Ryan and Olive since last season

Why does Lou deserve Ryan's storyline? Ryan deserves all the same credit as Oliver . Because one day 911 will end and yes playing the slow burn of Buddie deserves to be told on their resumes. Why does nepo baby get the story??

Hi “boring little straight white girl” that intro was so funny I’m afraid I have no choice but to stan

Exactly like people need to cut that shit out where they act like you HAVE to get on board with bucktommy or tommy like no the fuck you dont

Ship what you want say what you want and as long as you’re respectful and not an asshole then it’s fine

Yess like Oliver and Ryan and the writers have built such a beautiful story with buddie that it’d be a flat out waste not to fully actualise that because not only is their story so well built and meaningful but also would offer something to media that we really don’t see and it’s not just queer representation but well crafted and meaningful representation of a slowburn similar to so many iconic straight ships

Like with queer characters it’s usually they are introduced queer or on a blue moon we have a late in life realisation story and queer couples usually have the rushed or like very typical story where you don’t really see much development but to have TWO best friends realise they’re queer late in life (one of whom has the absolute writing minefield of Eddies storyline) and to have this great story between them is like so rare and unique that it’d be so amazing

Like we’ve said it time and time again but if Eddie or buck were a woman there would be no question on where their storyline would be going

[broh3m3]

Absolute loved your jack and joker interactions! Like you said it's okay if you don't wanna draw idv for now as you have other bigger interests for now, but sometimes i check your hightlights on instagram of them and you make their dynamic on point.

wishing you the best and keep up with the great art

Mado-duo!! I'm glad you like them! :D I remember it was really fun getting to do those requests. And thank you for the well wishes anon. Funnily enough, there should be some idv art on the way soon.

[catboyidia]

Okay but I feel like Genesis would be such an inspiration for other omegas bc hes the first (and only??) Omega to make it to first class

Also, if you have any note thoughts about omega genesis or genesis in general I'd love to hear them

yeah, i can definitely get behind that too! i think it’d be really sweet if he got to be that kind of inspiration for people!

as for other little omega genesis headcanons:

- i definitely feel like he’s the type to get super clingy around the time of his heats, but as soon as his heats are over he will deny that he ever acted that way…

- i feel like despite omega stereotyping of being oh so uwu helpless, he’s the one that generally takes charge, and he keeps up with his alpha counterparts, sometimes even needing to save and lead them! he’s a strong independent omega for the most part!

- even in romantic situations he will rarely let himself be outwardly submissive, even if his omega instincts will sometimes desperately try to make itself known, but there are always subtle signs; a certain amount of clinginess, stealing his partners clothes and using them to nest but doing it slowly over time so it’s hard to notice, just doing all the normal omega stuff but in the subtlest way possible and denying it if anyone asks!

[loafbud]

this will not be the last time you see me then

I'll see u in the future!

[dailyfigures]

Could I request the mini figures from “Todays menu for the Emiya family”?

absolutely i'll post the two that don't have an ugly watermark on them (🙄) as a bonus post!!

[raineandsky]

BRO #78 ATE THAT UP!!!! If u were up to it, I would love a part two <33

THANK YOU IM GLAD YOU LIKED IT!! i dont have any plans for a part 2 honestly, but if i do manage to get the Idea Machine crankin i'll be sure to get it out :)

[sketchingstars03]

Another reminder to stretch!

-sweetheart anon

Thank you very much <3

[steve-keychain]

i want you to know that i read ex libris the other day and now im desperately looking for a book that can give me the same experience that it gave me you have fundamentally changed my brain thank you

i aM OPENLY WEEPING AHHH This means so much??? Jfc I love u ppl so much, you are all so lovely and it is literally EVERYTHING to me that my words mean something. Thank you for sending this, I am so happy you enjoyed my silly nandor book worm fic <3

[shouyuus]

harambe because you are as iconic as it was TO ME... love the way you write HAHAH -- @anonymilk

LMFAOOOO im not mad about that tbh harambe was a SENIMAL part of my teen years so ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊

though it does seem that most ppl think im moo deng??? ALSO not mad LOL i personally picked honeybadger bc that was ALSO an important part of my upbringing. oh the early meme days

[lilarkylore]

sharky won’t affection me :(

How very unfortunate.

[gearstationsubwaybossingo]

[the gift bag contains a durable black travel coffee mug with the words “World’s Okayest Boss” in white letters, and a little handwritten card]

Happy Yule, Frowny Boss! 🖤

I look forward to working with you guys here soon!

(Emmet hired me, just in case he didn’t tell you~)

-Pru

Thank you for the gift Pru! And welcome to the team! I'm sure you'll have a great time here!

Pru... Ah yes, Goth Anon! A name to the face now! Bravo! No longer Anonymous!

[bnuuy-anon]

*it settles itself in more, tucking its head between her head and its body to take a little nap.*

- crow

..?

She stayed still for a moment, unsure what the movement was until she somewhat felt the crow's beak.

oh.. did you tuck in..?

(...)

..goodnight...

[guardian-angle22]

Hi there! I was reading your tags on the Colson Baker post (particularly the ones about always being expected to be the most perfect version of yourself, etc.) and I just wanted to say how wonderful and lovely your blog is and how much I love coming here. Especially these days its one of the safest places to go and not feel immediately judged, so thank you for that. I hope you have had or are having a fantastic day 💖💜💛

[reference to my tags on this gifset]

Thank you for this! 💜💜 I'm glad the rambling I sometimes do in my tags isn't too much lol. I hope you're having a fantastic day too.

[pbaz7]

SOFT SPOT: CHAPTER 12

paige x azzi

warning: sexual content(dom/sub P & dom/sub A)

word count: 11.8k

a/n: life got real hectic and this took wayyy longer than expected so i apologize for that. to makeup for how long it took me to post this i took my anons of punishment and wrote the end of this chapter for them. like always let me know what you think and if you notice any typos!

—————————————————————————

It had happened so casually it almost didn’t feel real.

Azzi was stretched out on Paige’s couch with her head in Paige’s lap and her phone resting on her stomach, scrolling through her information for Unrivaled when she mumbled, “You should just come with me.”

There was no drawn out invitation or any nervousness about asking, Azzi just asked casually while Paige was half distracted.

Paige had barely glanced up from her phone as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through Azzi's braids, and had just said, “Okay.” Like it didn’t feel like something important shifting in her chest at the implications of them spending a few months living together.

…

About a week later the Miami light was peaking through the blinds of their room painting streaks of gold across the room. Azzi twisted under the sheets, confusion immediately taking over when she reached out sleepily using one arm and her leg to sweep across the bed to find a cool space where a furnace should’ve been.

Azzi frowned and felt around again. Her hand dragged across the rumpled sheets, but there was definitely nothing but linen and air so she stopped moving to listen around the apartment.

That’s when she heard Paige’s breath, it was quiet but a little heavy as she counted, the faint creak of the floor every time she went up a number.

Azzi didn’t open her eyes before she whispered, loud enough to carry across the bedroom, “Why am I waking up by myself, baby?”

The sound of Paige’s quiet counting paused, then she laughed quietly. A few seconds later, Paige crawled back in the bed, her body still warm and the muscles in her arms flexing as she moved. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Azzi’s shoulder as she mumbled, “M’sorry, baby,” before wrapping an arm around Azzi and pulling her closer to her.

Azzi let herself melt into Paige’s arms, burying her face in her neck. “Why you up so early?”

Paige shrugged her fingers trailing up and down Azzi’s spine. “I don’t know. I’ve had too much energy lately.” She paused, before adding. “Been thinking maybe I should start training again. Just to get it out.”

Azzi cracked one of her eyes open, then closed it again as she nuzzled in closer. “Or you could just let me wear you out later.”

Paige smirked, pressing her lips to Azzi’s head. “Mmm, that works too.”

Azzi’s voice was muffled against Paige’s neck when she replied, “Gimme a few minutes then we can talk about it.”

Paige laughed using her fingers to play with one of the loose braids that slipped from under Azzi’s bonnet, twirling it gently between her fingers. “Talk about you wearing me out?”

Azzi pinched her side, making Paige playfully flinch as she laughed. “Talk about you starting to train again.”

Paige hummed. “You gotta be more specific, baby. One of those topics sounds way more fun.”

Azzi sighed and shook her head, but the smile on her lips gave her away. She chose not to respond as she pressed herself tighter into Paige’s body, tangling their legs underneath the sheets and giving herself five more minutes of her favorite part of the day.

About thirty minutes later, Azzi was on her stomach between Paige’s legs with her chin resting on one hand and her phone propped up on Paige’s stomach. Paige was leaning against the headboard with pillows behind her back as she quietly scrolled through gym options.

Azzi’s search strategy was much less refined than Paige’s; she’d just typed “best gym near me" and was scrolling for ones with nice ratings with zero concern for specific filters or distance.

Paige glanced down and saw Azzi taking a digital tour of a gym and laughed a little.

Azzi hummed as she kept moving through the gym. “What we laughing at?”

“Nothing you’re just cute,” Paige mumbled with a grin as she reached down to gently tug on one of Azzi’s braids.

After a few more minutes Azzi says, “Ooo what about American Top Team? This says they’re one of the best gyms in the world.”

Paige blinked as she processed the words before lowering her phone as she looked at Azzi. “Excuse me?”

Azzi turned her head up to meet her gaze. “It says it right here.” She held her phone up to show Paige. “Top tier facility, top tier fighters—” she paused when she saw Paige’s face. “What?”

Paige raised her eyebrow, barely fighting a smile at how cute Azzi looked. “I’m Cali-based, baby.”

“Okayyy…and?”

Paige let out a soft laugh, reaching down to smooth the crease forming between Azzi’s eyebrows with her thumb. “There’s like…camps in MMA. Like teams, kind of. Certain fighters represent the camps they’re based out of.”

Azzi’s eyebrows arched in interest after hearing about this for the first time. “What’s yours?”

Paige leaned back against the headboard. “I mean you know I train privately with my coach at home gym. That’s just always been what works for me, but my camp is technically American Kickboxing Academy, that’s where I met him. It’s in San Jose so I only go a few times a year.”

Azzi turned her head again to squint up at Paige with her cheek pressed against her stomach. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”

Paige laughed under her breath. “Cause I don’t take the whole camp thing that serious but some fighters do so I can’t really go to American Top Team.”

“So is there like a contract or something that goes along with it?”

Paige nodded, brushing her fingers through Azzi’s braids, letting one of the goddess curls to wrap around her knuckle. “Yeah, but even if I didn’t officially have one, I still wouldn’t go to ATT.”

“Why not?”

Paige shrugged casually. “I’ve probably beat like four? Maybe five of their top fighters. Wouldn’t exactly be a warm welcome if I walked in there.”

Azzi let out a soft laugh, burying her face into Paige’s stomach. “Damn I didn’t know it was like that.”

“It’s basically like you trying to go work out at the Valkyries’ practice facility. Might not make it out without somebody trying to throw a ball at your head.”

Azzi laughed even though it was slightly muffled against Paige’s stomach. “Alright, so not American Top Team.”

Paige reached down to brush her fingers across Azzi’s cheek. “Absolutely not.”

They both went back to silently scrolling for a few minutes as the faint sounds of Miami waking up outside the window took over the space. Azzi repositioned herself, tucking her chin more comfortably into the space just above Paige’s waistband before she peeked up at her, “So does this mean if somebody challenges you, you’ll take the fight?”

Paige exhaled, laying her phone flat on her chest so she could look at Azzi. “I don’t know yet, honestly.” She paused, before adding “I know I miss fighting. Not necessarily competing but like…just hitting a bag. Being in the gym. Feeling like me. So I’m just tryna start there.”

Azzi nodded, keeping her eyes on Paige. “Mmm. Okay.”

Paige studied her. “Why? You got thoughts?”

Azzi smiled at her gently. “No. I just like to know what’s going on in your head.” She tilted herself up to kiss Paige’s ribs before laying back down.

Paige’s jaw flexed, as her eyes softened at the affection. “You’re too good for me.”

Azzi didn’t entertain the comment saying, “No, I’m not,” before she tucked her face against Paige’s hip. “I’m exactly right for you.”

Paige chose to reach down and let her hand rest in Azzi’s hair instead of responding. Softly stroking the back of her head, as her fingers moved through the braids without thinking.

Azzi went back to scrolling through potential gym options, her eyes flicking across the screen with one hand propped underneath her chin. Paige wasn’t reading a single word on her own phone anymore because she was still watching Azzi.

She wasn’t watching her in the way people watched something they thought was beautiful. It was in the way you look at something you never thought you’d achieve or thought you deserved. The way someone looks at the sky just before the sun breaks open the horizon, like they’re stunned it’s real even though it happens everyday of their life. Paige’s blue eyes had gone softly quiet, like a still crystal lake early in the morning before the world was awake. Every so often her gaze would drift from the curve of Azzi’s shoulder to the way her lips pursed when she read something, to the goddess curl falling loose near her temple, and back again.

There was a kind of admiration in Paige’s expression that didn’t need words. She didn’t even realize she was doing it. She was just...looking at Azzi. Like she was her calm. Her beginning and her end. Like every version of love Paige had ever gotten to know had led her to this moment, with this girl laying on her stomach, in a basketball complex in Miami.

Almost sensing Paige looking at her, Azzi's thumb stopped moving across her screen and she slowly tilted her head and looked up causing their eyes to meet.

Paige didn’t blink and Azzi held the gaze for a few seconds. Her lashes fluttered slightly as a soft and and wondering expression filtered across her face as she whispered, “What?”

Paige brushed the goddess' curl from Azzi’s face, letting her fingers linger for a second longer than they needed to near her temple. “I just—” she started, then paused, blinking as her eyes glossed over suddenly.

Azzi’s eyebrows knit together reflecting her concern almost immediately, the change in Paige’s tone tugging at her chest. She reached up to cup Paige’s jaw. “What’s wrong, beautiful?”

Paige swallowed, her throat working around something waiting to come out before she whispered, “Can I tell you something?”

Azzi nodded. “Of course.”

Paige pulled at Azzi’s hands silently telling her to come here. Azzi moved up easily, shifting to straddle Paige’s waist with her knees framing her sides on the bed. She laced their fingers together, stroking her thumbs over Paige’s knuckles as her eyes searched her face for a hint of what was going on.

Paige’s breath hitched like she was bracing herself. She looked up at Azzi like the moment might break if she even took too harsh of a breath. “I just—” she paused again. “I’ve never done this whole thing before.”

Her voice trembled but it didn’t crack, as her thumb traced circles into Azzi’s palm. “So I don’t know if I’m supposed to do a whole grand gesture or just…tell you. I don’t know if I’m supposed to just let it slip out when I”m walking out the door and not make it a big thing or just—I don’t know how to make it perfect for you.”

She blinked up at Azzi, something naked in her expression before she just decided to let it out. “But I’m so in love with you, baby.”

The words landed between them as Paige finally let out the truth she’d been carrying for a while. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was confident, making sure Azzi knew she was hesitant about it. “I’m so in love with you it makes my chest tight sometimes. And I didn’t wanna wait to say it just because I didn’t have the ‘perfect’ moment anymore.”

Paige let out a breathy laugh at herself, her eyes still glassy as she added, “At first I was scared as hell to tell you because my feelings just felt too big, too soon. Like I didn’t even know how to hold them, let alone say them out loud. I just didn’t wanna scare you away.”

Azzi let out a quiet laugh, her smile huge, showing her deep dimple as she leaned in a little closer letting her forehead almost touch Paige’s. “You didn’t wanna scare me away?” she teased. “The girl who was practically harassing you before you finally gave me a date?”

Paige laughed at this, her cheeks flushing pink. “That’s fair,” she admitted with a crooked grin. “You were pretty persistent.”

Azzi tilted her head, brushing her nose against Paige’s. “I’m in love with you too, baby. I have been for a while now.”

It was like Paige let out a long exhale of relief from hearing these words back.

Azzi smiled, making sure to keep her gaze steady. “I didn’t say anything before because I didn’t want to rush you. I didn’t know what you needed, but I knew I wanted you to feel safe getting there with me before I said anything.”

She leaned in and pressed a kiss to Paige’s cheek, then her jaw, then finally her lips. “I’ve loved you quietly while you figured it out,” Azzi whispered, causing her lips to brush against Paige’s as she spoke. “But I promise I’ve loved you all the same.”

Paige mumbled against Azzi’s lips, “I swear I don’t deserve somebody like you.”

Azzi didn’t hesitate to whisper back just as softly, “I promise you deserve the world.” She kissed her again gently and both of them smiled into it knowing they were finally letting themselves exist in the truth they’d been holding for too long.

“I mean it,” Paige said between pecs, brushing her nose against Azzi’s. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Azzi grinned, kissing her again. “Keep acting like it then and we’re good.”

Paige laughed quietly, nipping at her bottom lip. “Yes, ma’am.”

Azzi giggled, sliding her hands slowly up Paige’s arms, pausing to admire the toned muscles under her palms. “You’re so sexy.”

Paige smirked, settling her hands on Azzi’s hips. “Yeah?” she said, her cockiness evident in her tone.

Azzi nodded, about to lean down and say more when her alarm sounded through the room. She groaned, dramatically flopping forward onto Paige’s chest for a second before dragging herself toward her phone.

Paige just laughed and smacked Azzi’s ass as she moved to turn off the alarm. “Have a good practice.”

Azzi glared at her over her shoulder, her lips twitching with the effort it took to not smile.

Paige grinned, tucking her arms behind her head. “You love me. You can’t be glaring at me now, that’s not how it works.”

Azzi rolled her eyes as she got up, muttering something under her breath. She leaned back over the bed, braced her hands on both sides of Paige’s shoulders, and whispered, “You have a big head and you’re annoying,” before kissing her forehead aggressively on purpose before walking toward the bathroom.

Paige watched her go with a huge grin.

…

While Azzi was at practice, Paige had an online session with her psychiatrist.

She was making sure it became a steady part of her routine, a choice she’d made after a long conversation with Azzi one night in bed when they peeled back layers Paige hadn’t even realized she’d built. They decided against medication or any type of immersive therapy, choosing to just focus on consistent psychotherapy. It was a form of healing that gave Paige room to show up just as she was and give her an open space to feel.

Paige didn’t go into much detail about her relationship during sessions. That part of her life, the softness, intimacy, and love, was sacred to Paige and she only wanted Azzi to see those parts of her.

Today’s session was mostly about the recent pull she’d been feeling toward starting to train again. She brought it up casually and her psychiatrist reminded her to stay aware of her intentions. Telling her to not fall back into using the pain and routine as a distraction from what she was feeling. Paige had nodded along, sharing her thought process about it all before they both ultimately decided she was in a good enough place to at least get back in the gym.

By the time the session ended Paige felt lighter. She wasn’t fully healed but she was more aware of herself and that counted for a lot.

When she closed her laptop and leaned into the couch cushions she let herself sit there in reflection for a few minutes before picking up her phone and seeing a text from Azzi.

Azzi [3:58PM]:

Come meet me at the gym when you’re done

Paige smiled and got up to grab her keys.

…

Azzi was standing on the court, laughing as she caught up with Aaliyah, Nika, and Leah. Even after not seeing each other for some time they were back in their usual rhythm within a few minutes. Messing with one another and reminiscing a little bit about UConn. Currently they were teasing Azzi about her new ‘grown woman energy.’

“Okay but your skin looks so good,” Aaliyah said, narrowing her eyes like she was suspicious. “Is LA making you glow or is it something else?”

“Something else or someone else?” Nika asked.

Azzi opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Leah almost broke her neck as she leaned around Aaliyah. “Hold on, who is thattt?” she asked, dragging the last word out flirtatiously.

All three of her friends turned their heads at once.

Across the gym, Paige was standing next to Rickea. Her blonde hair was a little messy from the Miami humidity and was in its natural waves in a ponytail. She had on her glasses instead of her usual contacts and she was looking at something on Rickea’s phone with her.

Azzi’s forehead creased as soon as her eyes landed on the two of them. “Rickea?” she asked, because surely she wasn’t talking about Paige.

Leah shook her head quickly, waving it off. “No girl, of course I know Rickea. I’m talking about blondie next to her.”

“That’s Paige…my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend??” Nika and Aaliyah whipped their heads toward her at the exact same time.

“Yes. Girlfriend,” Azzi confirmed as her eyes briefly drifted to Leah a little pointedly. It wasn’t enough to start anything, but enough to say “I know you heard me.’ But Leah hadn’t taken her eyes off Paige.

Azzi took a quiet deep breath and stopped herself from saying anything else for the sake of friendship.

She and Leah had never been particularly close. Leah had transferred to UConn during Azzi’s last two years, and while they got along just fine in practice and in the locker room, there was always a quiet distance between them. It wasn’t anything hostile, just two people who didn’t click. They respected each other’s game, knew how to play side by side, but off the court, it was completely different. Azzi chalked it up to different personalities and left it at that.

So watching Leah eye Paige like that, even after Azzi had said girlfriend? It pissed Azzi off almost immediately. Azzi tilted her head and called out, “Paige.”

Paige looked up from Rickea’s phone already fighting a smile. Like just hearing Azzi say her name was enough to brighten her whole face.

Azzi tilted her head telling Paige to come where she was.

Paige handed Rickea her phone back and started walking across the gym.

When she got in front of Azzi Paige licked her lips, dragging her eyes up Azzi like she always did, like she was memorizing her again. “Hey pretty,” she murmured.

As soon as Paige was close enough, Azzi melted into her while her fingers found the waistband of Paige’s sweats tugging them up to cover the boxer band peeking out, because she felt the way a certain set of eye’s had shifted. The motion was subtle but possessive in a soft way. The corner of Paige’s mouth twitched like she knew that was Azzi’s way of silently claiming her space and she liked it.

“These are some of the people I wanted to introduce you to.” She turned toward the group with her hand still brushing against Paige’s waist. “Nika, Aaliyah, and Leah. Some of my old UConn teammates.”

Paige gave a polite nod with one hand tucked in her pocket and the other draped around Azzi.

“Leah Jackson,” Leah said, a little too eagerly as she extended her hand.

Paige glanced down at it but didn’t offer her own. She kept her hands where they were, before turning back to Azzi instead. “Wassup.”

Azzi had to bite down on her bottom lip to stop herself from smiling. Something about the way Paige moved with complete disinterest for other people was so attractive.

“I just wanted to introduce you,” Azzi said, smoothing over the moment. “We were thinking about getting some food later, just to catch up. I’d probably invite Cam and everybody for you.”

“For me?” Paige asked with a crooked smile as she lifted one of her eyebrows.

Azzi rolled her eyes. “Fine for the vibe, whatever.”

Paige hummed in response, clearly enjoying herself as she grinned at Azzi.

Leah decided to cut back in for a moment. “So, Paige how did y’all meet?”

Everyone could tell the question wasn’t out of normal curiosity. Nika, Aaliyah, and Azzi exchanged a look they’d shared more times than they could count. Leah wasn’t ever known for her discretion, or boundaries.

Paige glanced at Azzi in slight confusion before she answered dryly. “My sister.”

Leah smiled at her. “That’s nice. Who’s your sister?”

“Cam.”

Leah squinted, her voice tilting with recognition at the name. “Cameron Brink?”

Paige gave a tight nod before she turned to Azzi. “Imma go back over there, aight?”

Azzi didn’t need a full explanation, the slight tightness in Paige’s jaw said enough. So she hummed a soft, “Mhmm,” her eyes drifting down to Paige’s lips just before Paige leaned in to give her a quick kiss. Then she was walking back toward where Rickea and now Rae were laughing about something.

There was a brief silence among the group before Aaliyah cleared her throat. “Sooo…that’s your girlfriend?”

Azzi laughed. “Yeah that’s Paige for you.”

Leah mumbled, barely loud enough for the group to hear, “I figured she’d be nicer to your friends.”

Azzi's jaw tensed before she brought her Gatorade to her lips, sipping it slowly to stop herself from saying something rude. “She’s just not that talkative,” Azzi eventually said when she was done drinking, her tone slightly clipped.

Leah’s gaze drifted back over to Paige who was sitting in one of the sideline chairs with her legs stretched out in front of her with one arm tucked behind her head. Her eyes were closed, but her mouth twitched every so often indicating she was listening to whatever Rickea and Rae were talking about next to her.

Leah nodded slowly, still watching her as she said, “Got you.”

Azzi opted to not look at her again. Keeping her focus on her gatorade; on the label and the condensation slipping down the side until the tension started to bleed out of her shoulders.

Nika jumped in to shift the energy. “So where are we going to eat?”

Aaliyah clapped her hands together once. “Thank you! I’ve been starving since this morning. I'm not bouta lie.”

“I’m craving pasta,” Nika said. “Or tacos. Ooo taco pasta.”

Azzi laughed. “I don’t think that’s not a thing.”

“It definitely is and if it isn’t it should be,” Nika argued back.

Aaliyah pulled out her phone. “Alright, let’s find somewhere we can all agree on.”

“Y’all are so picky,” Azzi mumbled, glad to feel the tension in her shoulders finally ease. She let herself glance toward Paige, who had cracked one eye open as soon as Azzi looked over, like she could sense her about to look.

Azzi quickly looked away like a school girl with a crush as she smiled to herself, then turned back to the group. “Just let me know what y’all decide and I’ll let everybody else know.”

They all nodded as Azzi went to grab her stuff wanting to have a few hours of peace with Paige before going to meet up with them.

…

Later that night the sun had started to drop below the Miami skyline when Paige and Azzi stepped out of an Uber a few doors down from the restaurant Nika picked.

Paige climbed out first, turning to offer her hand to Azzi, even though she knew damn well she didn’t need help. Azzi accepted it anyway, letting Paige guide her out of the backseat with the same smile she always gave her when she was unnecessarily gentle.

As soon as Azzi’s feet hit the pavement, Paige put her hands on her waist and moved her a few inches over so she was on the inside of the sidewalk.

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Paige just shrugged. “You already know how I am.” As she said that her gaze dipped, lingering a few seconds too long on the hem of Azzi’s short skirt before she said, “You been wearing a lotta short skirts lately.”

Azzi tilted her head towards Paige. “Is that a problem?”

“No, m’not saying that. Just an observation I’m making.”

Azzi smiled as Paige held the restaurant door open for her. “Well, keep observing. I like your attention.”

Paige just chuckled and shook her head before walking in behind Azzi.

Azzi spotted the table toward the back and there was only one seat left open, directly facing the entrance. Rae noticed them walking in and tapped Cam so she could slide out of her chair in the middle, before circling around the table to settle into a new spot. Paige caught the gesture and gave her a small nod of acknowledgment as she and Azzi made their way over.

When they sat down, the first thing Azzi noticed—before the music, the clatter of dishes, or even who was already talking—was Leah’s outfit. Or rather, the lack of it. The girl had on an extremely cropped halter top that barely covered her chest and a skirt that wasn’t very visible while she was sitting down. Azzi blinked once, maybe twice, before deciding not to say anything, instead ust filling it away for later.

She greeted everyone as she slid into her seat while Paige didn’t say much, just nodding at the table before glancing down to look at the taco menu.

Azzi settled into a conversation with Nika and Aaliyah to catch up on how their seasons were. Aaliyah talking about finding a better rhythm with the Mystics and Nika’s adjustment to being a part of the Storms roster rotations.

After a few minutes, Azzi nudged Paige’s thigh under the table and leaned closer, tone a little lower. “What are you getting?”

Paige flipped the corner of the menu with her thumb, then looked up at Azzi. “What do you want?”

“I don’t know if I want the chicken or the shrimp…”

That made Paige smile before chuckling as she reached for her water. “I’ll get the chicken for you.”

Azzi smiled widely like it was just them in the room. “Okay.”

Then, just as quickly, Azzi turned back towards Nika and Aaliyah like she knew Paige would end up getting the other meal of whatever she was debating between.

Across the table, Leah tilted her head as she watched the interaction, watching Paige for a few minutes afterwards. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as she directed her voice across the table to Paige. “So, Paige, what do you do for a living?”

The question hung in the air for a few seconds too long without an answer.

Azzi noticed before anyone else did or she noticed differently. Her eyes flicked toward Paige and instead of finding her engaged in any sort of conversation, she found her sitting there silently. She was sitting back in her chair, rolling the paper from her straw between her fingers, her eyes seemingly focused on the spiral she was.

Azzi leaned closer and dropped her voice so only Paige could hear her. “Hey you.”

Paige looked up, her soft blue eyes blinking once before settling on Azzi’s brown ones. “Wassup?” she said gently.

“You okay?” Azzi asked as she studied her expressions.

Paige gave a faint smile, her fingers still moving around the straw paper. “Yeah, why?”

Azzi tilted her head. “You zoned out on me.”

Paige’s grin grew a little, at how cute Azzi looked. “Just wanted to turn my ears off for a second, that's all.”

Azzi looked at her for a few more moments making sure there was nothing else there before reaching under the table to squeeze her knee. “Okay.”

Leah took that as her moment to jump in again, making her voice a little brighter this time, like she wanted to be impossible to ignore. “So Paige, what do you do?”

Paige glanced up from what she was looking at. “I fight.”

Leah nodded like she already knew, sweeping her hair to rest on one shoulder. “Yeah, I feel like I heard Azzi mention that”

Paige just stared at her for a second processing the words without offering much in return before she looked away.

Not ready to let it go, Leah tried again. “You ever train other people?”

Before Paige could respond, Rae snorted and leaned in from across the table. “She’s not very good at it. First time she helped me she left me to go fuck Azzi in—”

“Rae!” Cam yelled loudly, cutting her off.

Azzi’s head snapped toward the conversation, stopping whatever she’d been saying to Nika. “Excuse me?”

Rae coughed, trying to swallow her laugh and walk it back at the same time, mumbling under her breath, “She did though…”

Cam shook her head, dragging a hand down her face in exasperation. “God, you have no filter.”

Of course this is when the waiter approached the table adding to the chaos when he paused with a huge grin that made it clear he thought he was charming. “Damn,” he said as his eyes swept across the group, “must be my lucky day. Never seen this many pretty women at once in my life.”

The table gave a collection of polite laughs as he started to take orders, going around the table one by one. With each woman he made sure to let compliments slip in between confirming the tacos and drinks they wanted.

When he got to Azzi, he grinned at her before licking his lips. “What can I get for you, babygirl?” he asked, letting his eyes linger on her.

Azzi gave him her polite practiced smile and said, “The shrimp tacos and my water is fine, thanks.”

As he scribbled her order down, Paige who had already given her order shifted in her seat. She moved the hand that was previously resting on the table, to settle it on Azzi’s thigh. Using her thumb to slowly brush over the inside of Azzi’s leg.

Azzi didn’t look at her, but the corner of her mouth twitched as she surprised her grin.

The waiter didn’t seem to notice because he was already distracted with flirting with Rae.

Azzi reached down a few seconds later, lacing their fingers together underneath the table.

After that dinner carried on easily. The table was lively but never got too loud as everyone was naturally attuned to their surroundings and didn’t want to interrupt anyone else having their meal.

At one point Cam turned toward Paige, “So you thinking about taking another fight?”

Paige glanced at her. “Maybe.”

Cam raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? No explanation? No other comments?”

“There’s an explanation. Just not a public one yet.”

Cam nodded, accepting that answer as Paige added, “I just miss it. The rhythm of being in the gym. The work that comes with it.”

“Long as it’s not a crutch Paigey.”

Paige gave her a small nod and the conversation flowed back into other parts of the table allowing Paige’s eyes to go down toward her plate. Or, more accurately, what used to be her plate.

Azzi, without noticing, had eaten more off Paige’s plate than her own, her fork drifting over often between comments she threw toward Nika or Aaliyah.

Paige watched her for a few seconds before she lifted Azzi’s plate and slid hers in its place in front of Azzi. Azzi didn’t even pause in her sentence; she just kept talking, moving her fork to the new plate like it was always there.

Rickea caught the quiet plate swap and grinned, shaking her head before calling Paige out, causing a few heads to turn. “Paige, you soft as hell.”

Paige just grinned a little as she finished chewing, before she leaned back in her chair. “Aight, chill.” She said, chuckling a little. “She was already halfway through my food anyway.”

Azzi just shrugged her shoulders as she finished chewing. “It was better than mine.”

That got a few laughs from around the table.

Cam leaned over, giving Paige a look. “So that’s what you’re doing now?”

“What?” Paige asked as she sipped her water.

“I mean, it’s cute but I definitely remember you talking shit when Ben did stuff like that,” Cam teased.

“I appreciate you,” Azzi said softly, nudging Paige with her knee under the table. Paige bumped hers back as she ate some rice to hide her smile.

Leah, who’d been relatively quiet, leaned on the table accentuating her cleavage and tilted her head toward Paige. “Paige, I feel like I know something about everybody at this table but you.”

Paige barely looked up from her plate and didn’t bother to stop chewing. “Not much to know.”

Rae snorted, trying to cover it with her hand causing Rickea to nudge her leg under the table subtly kicking her and telling her to stay out of it. Cam was in the middle of cutting through her enchilada and just raised her eyebrows without looking up.

Nika leaned in offering a more lighthearted tone. “So, is Cam your blood sister or…?”

Cam glanced up. “She’d probably be nicer to me if we were blood.”

Paige just shook her head, biting into her food.

“But we’re god sisters,” Cam clarified, wiping her mouth. “We grew up together, our dads are super close.”

The UConn players nodded and Rickea grinned, deciding to add to the information they had about Paige, “Rae had a lil girl crush on Paige when we first met.”

Rae’s jaw dropped. “No I didn’t!”

Azzi laughed and said, “You still do.”

The table all laughed while Rae looked betrayed. “Wow, Azzi. That’s crazy.”

Azzi gave her a mock innocent look before she sipped her drink. “You were blushing when y’all found us in the kitchen a few weeks ago.”

Cam covered her mouth, laughing.

“I wasn’t blushing!” Rae insisted, but the redness creeping up her neck betrayed her answer.

Rickea leaned into the teasing. “Nah, you definitely were. Face was pink as hell.”

Rae groaned and dropped her head on the table. “Y’all are ridiculous and I hate y’all.”

Leah’s eyes drifted between Rae and Paige. “So you’re used to women throwing themselves at you Paige?”

“No.”

Paige’s one word answer sat in the air before Leah pivoted, looking at Azzi. “You’re cool with one of your teammates crushing on your girlfriend?”

Azzi added a slight sharpness to her tone when she answered. “Rae doesn’t actually want Paige. She just gets a little bi panic sometimes.”

Rae lifted her head from the table. “Y’all gotta stop calling me gay every chance you get.”

A collective chorus came from around the table, “You literally are.” Even Paige cracked a smile.

Azzi, calmly added, “Rae’s also not grimy, though. I know I don’t actually have anything to worry about.” She let that last sentence hang in the air purposefully letting her eyes drift to meet Leah’s.

Leah lifted her glass to drink it, offering Azzi a tight smile over the rim.

The moment passed and there was a slight tension that lingered but the table rolled on like nothing happened.

Azzi turned back toward Paige, “You like the shrimp baby?”

Paige nodded with her mouth full. “It’s good.”

Azzi gave her a look. “Do you really like it, or are you just saying that ’cause I like the chicken more? You don’t usually like to eat shrimp.”

Paige laughed, quietly from her chest. “Nah, it’s good don’t worry about it mama.”

Azzi was skeptical so she picked up one of her chicken tacos, and held it out for Paige to take a bite. Paige grinned as she leaned in to take a bite, her lips brushing the edge of Azzi’s fingers.

Azzi smiled softly, wiping the sauce from the corner of Paige’s lips, and letting her eyes linger on her for a second longer than she realized.

While Paige was chewing, she caught Leah, looking again. Not even trying to be subtle with it this time around.

Paige leaned in closer to Azzi to put her lips near her ear. “Wassup with your friend?”

Azzi chuckled under her breath, shaking her head as she looked down at her plate. “She’s…” She paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully like she was editing herself. “Loose.”

Paige coughed to hide her laugh. “That’s the word you went with?”

Azzi nodded slowly, biting back a smile. “It’s the nicest one that came to mind.”

Paige kept her eyes on Azzi as she asked, “Why she here then?”

“Because I’m nice.” She glanced at Paige and made her tone a little drier before she added, “And we went to UConn together.”

“Mmm,” Paige hummed, leaning back in her chair. She stretched her arm out, throwing it across the back of Azzi’s chair before she went back to eating.

When the two of them drift back to the conversation taking place at the table Cam was talking about something that happened at a photoshoot while Rae and Rickea threw in their two cents every few seconds. It was the kind of disorganized energy Azzi was used to from her teammates but her eyes kept drifting to Leah.

More specifically the way Leah kept watching Paige out of the corner of her eye. Or the way her laugh got a little louder whenever Paige so much as shifted the way she was sitting. The way her fingers ran along the rim of her glass like she was trying to catch attention.

Azzi opted not to say anything at first. Deciding to just lean a little closer into Paige, running her hands along her arms or messing with the hair on the back of her neck subtly.

But then Leah did that thing again where she dragged her straw between her lips slow as hell while she looked right at Paige like she wanted to be caught ‘subtly’ doing it.

Azzi decided not to make a scene. She just reached for Paige’s water without asking because hers was empty and took a long sip before setting it back down.

“Baby, can you pass me your phone?”

Paige naturally went to grab Azzi’s phone out of her pocket before she processed what she asked. “You said my phone?”

Azzi nodded. “Mhmm.”

Paige reached into her sweats pocket and handed it to her. Azzi leaned into Paige’s side as she took it, her shoulder pressing gently against Paige’s side as she scrolled through the screen.

Paige glanced down at her, laughing when she saw Azzi looking for something to do. “What are you even looking at?”

Azzi shrugged. Paige grinned and leaned closer, dropping her voice to make sure no one else could hear her. “You know I love it when you do that.”

Azzi’s eyes lifted slowly, meeting hers. “I know.”

You plan on doing something about it later? Follow up on that whole ‘wear me out’ talk this morning?”

Azzi tilted her head, looking up at Paige in that way that always made Paige’s stomach warm. “Seems like that’s what you want.”

Paige licked her lips, dragging her eyes over Azzi’s lips before meeting her eyes again. “Maybe.”

Azzi chuckled under her breath. “The marks from last time just faded a few days ago.”

Paige hummed. “Mmm. I get real lonely without ‘em.”

That made Azzi grin and she slid her hand up, to curl her fingers gently around Paige’s jaw to guide her ear close to her lips. “You’re such a bottom, baby.”

Paige tightened her jaw turning her head so her eyes could linger on Azzi’s lips. She licked her own slowly before asking, “Am I?”

“You are.”

Paige nodded once. “Bet.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, catching the shift in Paige’s tone. “I don’t like how you said that like I won’t put you in your place.

Paige just nodded as she used her fork to grab some rice. “We’ll see.”

Azzi chuckled. “We will.”

The rest of dinner passed in an easier rhythm. Paige kept one arm around the back of Azzi’s chair, using her fingers to brush over Azzi’s arm now and then. Azzi had her hand on Paige’s thigh, her thumb tracing over the fabric of her sweats absentmindedly.

When the check came, Paige reached for it with her card already in her hand.

Nika leaned forward. “We can split that.”

“Let me send you some of it,” Aaliyah added, already opening her phone.

Rickea didn’t look up from her phone. “Y’all, don’t waste your time. She already gave it to the waiter.”

Cam added, “There’s really no point. You’re just going to waste your breath.”

Leah chimed in, making sure to make her tone sweet. “So how can I pay you back?”

“Azzi’s gon’ pay me back for it,” Paige said, making sure her eyes lingered on her girlfriend. “Don’t worry about it.”

Azzi bit her lip at the insinuation and Cam groaned next to them, closing her eyes. “You’re truly disgusting,” she mumbled

The waiter returned with Paige’s card and she handed him a cash tip causing him to pause. “Yo, this is too much, man.”

Paige waved him off without looking up from her lap where she was putting her card back in her wallet. “It’s all good.”

Once everything was squared away, Paige turned to Azzi, already reaching for her hand underneath the table. “You ready baby?”

Azzi nodded as they stood up with their fingers still laced.

As they slid their chairs in, Rickea needed to get one more dig in. “Y’all gonna make out in the Uber or wait till you get back home?”

Azzi shot her a look over her shoulder. “Worry about your own ride, Kea.”

Paige just huffed out a laugh, keeping her hand on the small of Azzi’s back as they walked toward the door.

…

Contrary to what Rickea thought, the car ride was quiet. Azzi had her head resting on Paige’s shoulder and their fingers were laced together on her lap.

“Thank you,” Azzi whispered, her voice soft and close to Paige’s skin. “For dinner. For always paying.”

Paige shrugged, glancing down at her. “You know it’s nothing.”

Azzi tilted her head up to look at her. “Still. I appreciate you and everything you do for me.”

They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the lights from the street outside sliding over their faces.

“You good?” Paige asked quietly, her eyes still looking out the window at the city rolling by.

“Yeah. I’m amazing, actually. Why?”

Paige gave her a soft smile. “Just wanted to check in with you. Make sure you’re okay.”

Azzi looked up at her again, letting her gaze linger this time. “You always do.”

Without saying anything else, Paige leaned her head down, brushing her lips softly against Azzi’s.

Azzi let her eyes flutter closed, whispering against Paige’s mouth, “I love you.”

Paige grinned as she pulled back to look at her for a few seconds, using her thumb to gently brush a loose braid out of Azzi’s face. “I love you.”

Azzi squeezed Paige’s hand a little tighter then leaned her head back on Paige’s shoulder.

The city passed by them in streaks of color as Azzi let the silence settle between them comfortably to let Paige have a moment.

Paige rested her head on top of Azzi’s and neither of them said anything else for the rest of the ride.

…

Paige was standing under the hot stream of water when she felt arms wrap around her torso. A soft smile immediately pulled at her lips and she wiped the water from her face before she turned around finding Azzi with her braids up in a bun, skin already dewy from wiping her makeup off.

“Wassup.”

Azzi laughed, returning Paige’s smile. “I need to remove that word from your vocabulary.”

Paige laughed, moving her hands up to rest on Azzi’s hips. “Why you hatin’?”

“You talk to me like I’m everybody else.”

Paige’s smile softened and she pulled Azzi in a little closer, wrapping her arms tighter around her waist to tuck her head into Azzi’s neck, where she pressed a few gentle kisses against her skin.

“You want me to talk to you softer, sweetheart?” she asked quietly, each word causing her lips to brush against Azzi’s throat.

Azzi leaned into her touch, letting the warmth of Paige’s mouth and the water ease her into silence.

Paige whispered again, gentler this time, “Answer me when I’m talkin’ to you, baby.”

Azzi felt that flutter in her chest and the warmth curling deep in her stomach almost immediately. She took a quiet breath and let her fingers slide up Paige’s back to the nape of her neck, holding her in place.

“I love when you’re gentle with me,” Azzi whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

Paige hummed as she started to kiss along Azzi’s neck. She sucked gently enough to draw a soft sound from Azzi’s lips before soothing the spot with her tongue causing Azzi’s eyes to flutter closed.

“You make it easy,” Paige whispered. “So perfect for me.”

Azzi swallowed, stroking her thumb in slow circles along the base of Paige’s neck.

Paige kissed at Azzi’s pulse point, opening her mouth a little more. “It’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

“Paige baby,” Azzi whispered. It was barely audible, like it slipped from somewhere in her chest as she pressed herself into Paige a little more, like she couldn’t help it.

Paige smirked against her neck. “Be a good girl and say please for me.”

Azzi barely hesitated. “Please, baby.”

Paige stopped moving for a second to let the tension grow between them, before whispering close to her ear, “Please who?”

Azzi swallowed as she felt heath pooling between her legs. “Please, daddy.”

Paige grinned before she messily kissed at Azzi’s neck slowly “Good girl.”

Paige let her fingers trail down, to rest against Azzi’s clit. She made sure to just barely brush her fingers against it as she traced soft circles against the bud. Azzi’s forehead dropped onto Paige’s shoulder and her breath was a little shaky against her neck. Neither of them said anything for a while. The only sounds coming from the water and the rhythm of Azzi’s quiet moans filling the space.

Paige made sure to keep her hand steady, drawing tight circles without thinking. Azzi’s body rose and fell with each breath she took until she tilted her head up her nose brushing along Paige’s jaw before she lifted her chin enough to kiss her.

It was soft at first, patient as Paige moved her fingers in perfect circles running through Azzi’s folds every so often.

But when Azzi pushed herself closer, shifting her hips against Paige’s hands her fingers slipped near Azzi’s entrance and she felt her stomach tighten at how wet Azzi was.

Paige slid her tongue gently against Azzi’s, deepening the kiss with a loud exhale that sounded more like a sigh than anything else. She pulled her hand from Azzi’s center to circle her arms around her waist instead to pull her in tighter.

Their bodies slid together easily keeping the kiss slow but not as neat.

When Azzi caught Paige’s bottom lip between her teeth, she tugged it just enough to pull a low groan from Paige, her fingers flexing against her skin. Azzi let herself be backed up, her shoulder blades pressing into the tile as Paige’s body crowded her space.

Azzi gasped when her back met the semi cold wall, and Paige took the opening slipping her tongue into Azzi’s mouth. Azzi tried to take back control tilting her head to deepen the kiss herself but Paige met her halfway, one hand sliding up the nape of her neck to hold her in place gently.

Neither one of them were rough but the energy between them was taut. Like every move was from one of them trying to gain the upper hand. Paige pressed forward with a gentle force, like she could pin Azzi in place without using her hands. Azzi answered by dragging her nails down Paige’s spine, making her groan in her mouth from the slight sting.

Azzi kissed with a hungry rhythm intent on trying to lead and Paige kissed back with a more steady control trying to make her earn it.

Before Azzi could fully register the shift, Paige was turning off the water. The sudden stillness of the steamy air only made the tension between them more pronounced. Without breaking contact for long, Paige reached for a towel, wrapping it around Azzi and running it gently over her shoulders as she walked them backward until Azzi’s back met the edge of the bathroom counter.

“Sit up here for me, mama,” Paige whispered.

Azzi met her eyes and didn’t move, her lips still swollen from their kiss. This was her subtle, stubborn attempt to hold her ground. To keep the little bit of control Paige had given her.

Paige raised her eyebrow before she just decided to lift her onto the counter like she didn’t weigh anything. Azzi caught as she was set on the counter, her thighs parting instinctively.

Paige moved to stand between Azzi’s legs, her blue eyes appearing darker as she dragged them slowly across Azzi’s frame. She licked her lips without thinking, her gaze focusing on Azzi’s bare chest, the way the water still clung to her skin, on Azzi’s natural toned muscles.

Noticing the daze she had Paige in, Azzi decided to use it to her advantage. “Get on your knees for me.”

Paige’s lips parted in awe as she processed that Azzi was talking to her, giving her instructions. She blinked once, then met Azzi’s brown eyes. “Hm?”

Azzi let her hands glide up Paige’s shoulders to press her down. A slight nidge letting Paige know what she wanted. “I said get on your knees for me.”

Paige dropped almost immediately, looking between Azzi’s legs and shaking her head. "Jesus you’re so wet for me baby." As she says this she spreads Azzi’s legs further, lifting one over her shoulder.

Paige closed her mouth around Azzi’s center sliding her tongue through her folds with a slow pressure before she zeroed in on her clit. She sucked it into her mouth, circling her tongue a few times on the bud before realising it and dragging her mouth down. Azzi slapped one of her hands against the counter behind her as she tangled the other one in Paige’s hair jerking her hips forward in an attempt to feel more. "Oh shit baby, you're so good. Fuck don't stop."

Paige moaned into Azzi’s center like she was feeling it herself. Like Azzi was her favorite thing to eat as she swirled her tongue messily around her. She locked her lips around her clit again before sliding her tongue down and easing it into Azzi. This caused Azzi to moan as her eyes rolled back in bliss.

"You taste so good mama," Paige said. Her horse voice vibrated against Azzi making her hips jerked forward, again gushing around her tongue. Paige hummed at this, pushing her muscle deeper into Azzi urging her to tighten her fingers in her hair. The sounds echoing through the bathroom were louder than they probably should’ve been for an apartment but Azzi couldn’t help it.

All Azzi could do was grind into Paige’s mouth, chasing every movement of her tongue as she let her head fall back against the wall of the bathroom. Paige pulled Azzi closer, lapping at her center like she couldn’t get enough of how she tasted.

“Shit baby swear I could eat you for the rest of my life,” Paige whispered before she dipped back down.

Azzi moaned at this but before she let herself fully melt into Paige’s mouth she remembered she was supposed to be the one in control.

She pushed herself into Paige’s mouth a few more times, biting her lip to stop the obscene sounds that were trying to fall from her lips before her fingers flexed and she pressed against Paige’s shoulders to ease her back. Paige resisted with a low whine, her hands tightening to hold onto Azzi’s ass.

“Uh-uh,” Paige whispered, her lips brushing against Azzi’s center. “Come on, baby, you doing so good for me.”

Azzi’s hand down and she wrapped her fingers around Paige’s jaw to tilt her head up towards her. Paige’s eyes were hazy, her pupils blown as she licked her lips. Her nose, lips, and chin were all slick, shining with the bathroom lights.

Azzi held her gaze. “Stand up.”

Paige blinked in a slight daze, clearly not ready to let go. “Azzi, please,” she whispered with a horse, needy voice. “Lemme help you finish—I swear, baby, I got you, you don’t gotta do nothing. Just sit back—”

Azzi shook her head once, slowly. “No.”

She tightened her grip and pulled gently on Paige’s jaw to make her stand up. Paige’s legs responded before the rest of her did as she stumbled up to stand in front of Azzi with slightly uneven breaths, her hands twitching at her sides like she didn’t know what to do with them now.

Azzi studied her for a long second before smiling. “You listen to me right? Not the other way around.”

Paige swallowed hard and nodded.

“Good,” Azzi whispered. “Now go in the room and lay on the bed for me.”

Paige licked her lips, still breathing a little heavier than usual, trailing her eyes down Azzi’s body and back up to her face.

“What if I don’t want to?”

Azzi didn’t say a word. She just tilted her head to the side and raised one eyebrow slowly. Paige felt the message hit her square in the chest.

She bit the inside of her cheek, deciding not to argue back yet before she turned and walked out of the bathroom.

When Azzi walked into the bedroom, she paused for a second at the door, to look at Paige sprawled out on the bed. Her blonde hair was messily fanned over the pillow. Her body was relaxed but her eyes were more alert now, following every step Azzi took toward her.

Azzi licked her tongue across her bottom lip and couldn’t help but smirk when she caught the gesture. Azzi crawled up the bed, her knees sinking into the mattress until she was hovering over Paige, her lips brushing over Paige’s collarbone before settling next to her ear. “Don’t touch,” Azzi whispered in warning.

Paige just hummed lowly, as she cockily grinned up at Azzi.

Azzi moved down pressing soft kisses along the top of Paige’s chest before letting her mouth drift lower. Her lips dragged across Paige’s skin before she started to suck and nip at it, leaving marks that bloomed beneath the surface. She wasn’t biting enough to hurt Paige, just enough pressure to make her feel it later the way Azzi knew she liked.

Paige's breath hitched when Azzi’s mouth traveled across the edge of her ribs, a faint sound leaving her throat when Azzi bit a little harsher than expected. Azzi pulled back to glance up, her eyes meeting Paige’s. “You good?” Azzi asked softly, her fingers still tracing the side of Paige’s waist.

Paige nodded. “You know I love it baby,” she whispered.

Azzi grinned before she attached her mouth back to Paige’s skin and worked her way down her torso slowly, biting and sucking along the smooth plane of her abs, then lower. With each one she purposefully left behind a faint sting and followed it up with the soft drag of her tongue to soothe it.

“Shit,” Paige whispered as she tilted her head down to look. Her torso already littered with marks, her skin glowing under the low light in the room.

Azzi lifted her head, both of their eyes dark as they looked at each other before, Azzi lowered her mouth, just above Paige’s hip. She bit down hard enough to make Paige wince slightly before she sucked, harshly.

“Ah fuck, Azzi…” Paige exhaled, her hands gripping the sheets to stop herself from touching her. “Feels so good baby—fuck.”

Azzi sat back tracing her fingers over one of the deeper marks near Paige’s ribs. “You like feeling all this don’t you?” she said quietly, but it wasn’t really a question.

Paige nodded as her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I like it. I love—I love when you do that.”

Azzi smiled and leaned back over Paige, her hands bracketing the side of Paiges ribs, letting her lips brush just above her sternum.

“You wanna be marked up like this? Wanna walk around letting everybody know I did this to you?” As she asked this she trailed her tongue along Paige’s abs as she looked up at her.

Paige tightened her jaw and dropped her head back against the pillow, “Yeah…yeah, I want that baby.”

Azzi sucked on her hips again,lower this time, before lifting her head and whispering, “Say thank you.”

Paige’s eyes fluttered. “Thank you, baby.”

Azzi bit at her hip again, drawing another soft moan from Paige’s throat. She pulled back to admire the growing constellation of love bites, flushed skin and marks.

Satisfied with what she saw, Azzi moved up to hover over Paige whispering, “You can touch now baby.”

Paige wrapped her arms around Azzi’s neck and pulled Azzi’s body on top of hers connecting their lips in a slow dance.

Azzi slid her hand down Paige’s side, gliding her fingers over her waist until she settled between Paige’s legs feeling how warm she was already. Azzi ran her fingers through Paige’s folds a few times before she slid to fingers in slowly.

Paige couldn’t help but arch into the feeling, letting out a low moan as her mouth parted.

Azzi rested her forehead against Paige’s as she watched every expression flicker across her face. “I love you like this.”

She kept her forehead resting lightly against hers, watching every twitch of her face, every little shiver. her legs shifted feet planting against the mattress as her hips rolled up to meet the rhythm of Azzi’s hand.

"Right there baby," Paige whispered out as she started to roll her hips to meet Azzi’s movements. "Shit feels good baby."

Azzi made sure to keep moving her fingers in careful strokes. Moving her thumb up to circle Paige’s clit with just enough pressure to make her body shake slightly underneath her.

"Fuck keep going for me baby," Paige said.

Azzi descended down Paige’s body keeping her same rhythm as she felt Paige’s core tightening around her fingers. When she reached Paige’s hips she pressed her legs apart easily before she leaned down and dragged her tongue over her clit a few times.

She placed her free hand on Paige’s hips to keep them down before she wrapped her lips around her clit and gently sucked as she curled her fingers.

Paige’s hand moved down to rest on Azzi’s head, a loud moan coming from her throat. Azzi couldn’t help but look up to see Paige’s expression. The way her lips parted, how her eyebrows creased together and how she worked to push her hips up into Azzi.

“Fuck—shit so crazy mama,” Paige moaned out, her voice horse.

Azzi moaned into her mouth in response, letting go of Paige’s hips to let her arch further into her mouth. Azzi sped up her movements and Paige burrowed her head further into the pillows biting on her bottom lip to suppress the sounds coming from her throat.

Paige started to push herself unrhythmically into Azzi’s face and fingers to chase her release.

The sounds of Paige’s low moans and the sounds dripping from her center had Azzi pushing her own hips into the mattress for any kind of friction.

Without any warning Azzi felt Paige’s thighs start to tremble, heat pooling out of her as she came undone. Azzi made sure she fucked her through it, keeping the same pace with her tongue and fingers until Paige was no longer twitching under her.

Azzi eased away from Paige’s center, moving herself up to straddle her stomach. She sat there for a few minutes, watching Paige’s relaxed expression before she leaned up and whispered in her ear, “Can I ride you please baby?” slowly rolling her hips over Paige’s stomach.

“Of course you can mama.” Paige whispered back as she let Azzi suck a mark into her neck. When Azzi was done she connected her lips with Paiges and rolled her hips into the kiss.

Paige reached down to rest her hands on Azzi’s hips, guiding the way her hips were rocking further into her stomach. She attached her lips to Azzi’s nipple and Azzi’s back naturally arched into her mouth as she let out a string of moans.

Azzi ran her hand through Paige’s hair, holding her head against her chest and letting out a soft moan when she felt Paige nip at her nipple. “Oh fuck,” she moaned when Paige tightened her grip around her waist guiding her movements with more pressure.

“Shit daddy—“ Azzi moaned as she started to move a little more frantically, breathing faster in Paige’s ear. Paige tensed her abdomen and Azzi moaned again shakily, rolling into Paige harder now as her slick spread across her stomach.

For a few minutes Paige just watched Azzi in awe, watching every grind that made Azzi whisper her name, the way her head fell back and her eyes fluttered shut in bliss.

“Shit I’m about to cum baby,” Azzi cried out, rocking herself harder, moaning out into the air of the room. “Please don’t shit—please…fuck baby.” Azzi's head dropped near Paige’s now as her release started to coil tight in her stomach.

Azzi gasped, her voice cracking against Paige’s skin. “Fuck daddy I’m—I’m about to—”

Before the words slipped off Azzi’s tongue Paige’s hands were on Azzi’s hips dragging her across her stomach one more time before lifting her off of her abdomen causing a startled whimper out of her as she gushed down her legs without permission. Azzi’s legs were still shaking when Paige flipped her onto her back gently.

Paige got up to stand on the side of the bed with her stomach glistening with the evidence of how wet Azzi got for her. She ran a hand through her damp hair and then looked down at her girlfriend who was messy and flushed, already watching her with wide eyes for whatever was next.

“C’mere,” Paige said.

Azzi crawled forward on her hands and knees stopping when she was kneeling right in front of her. Paige tilted her head down to look at her. Smiling a little at what she saw. “Clean me up.”

Azzi’s lips parted to say something before she just nodded and did exactly what she was told. Taking her time, letting her tongue slide over Paige’s skin generously. Paige’s hand slid to the back of her head as she watched her.

When she was done, Paige gently cupped her jaw with one hand. “You had fun?” she asked, brushing her thumb along Azzi’s cheek.

Azzi nodded into her hand, as she looked up at her with her doe eyes.

Paige grinned before whispering. “Don’t move.”

She stepped away, and Azzi obeyed, deciding to just sit there and watch her move. Paige crossed the room, grabbing the strap before she climbed back onto the bed slowly.

She slid her fingers under Azzi’s chin and guided her face up before leaning in to kiss her gently, a contrast to the rounds before. Paige kissed her like she owned every inch of her, and Azzi kissed her back like she was okay with that.

Paige adjusted the strap easing one end into herself with a soft sigh before she leaned down to look at Azzi.

“You good beautiful?" Paige asked gently.

Azzi nodded and Paige pushed into her slowly, both of them moaning at the feeling. Paige rested her head on Azzi’s shoulders for a few seconds, adjusting to the feeling before she started moving her hips into Azzi. She made sure to hit deep into Azzi’s cervix each time, using her hands on Azzi’s waist to pull her deeper into the thrust causing the headboard to hit the wall behind them.

Paige leaned down, pulling Azzi’s mouth into a messy kiss, their lips sliding against each other like they couldn’t get enough. Azzi's fingers found Paige's hair without, pulling gently at the slightly strands as she pulled her closer.

There was something incredible, almost dizzying, about the way Paige moved into her. The rhythm she had. How she could fill Azzi up completely in one moment and make her ache from complete absence in the next. The constant push and pull and the quiet control it gave Paige made Azzi feel owned in the most respectful way.

Paige pulled back to drop her eyes to where their bodies were meeting. Her breath hitched, and she muttered, “Shit,” almost like she didn’t mean to say it out loud when she saw the slick pooling between the both of them.

Azzi couldn’t find her voice to answer. She just wrapped her arms around Paige’s back, nails grazing skin as she pulled her even closer, wrapping her legs around her hips. Her forehead pressed against Paige’s jaw.

Paige kissed along Azzi’s cheek before bringing their foreheads together.

“You feel that baby?” she whispered, her uneven breaths brushing across Azzi’s skin. “That’s mine. You’re mine.”

Azzi nodded, her lips parting as quiet moans fell from her mouth.

Paige brushed her thumbs across Azzi’s cheeks. “Tell me it’s mine.”

Azzi choked on a moan, her voice unsteady as she nodded quickly. “It’s yours, baby. Fuck I’m yours.”

Paige smiled, leaning in again so their foreheads could touch. Her hands still resting on Azzi’s cheeks gently.

Azzi’s hands moved up, gently guiding Paige’s wrists toward her neck to wrap around it. Paige shook her head no. “Don’t do that, mama.”

“I want it daddy,” Azzi whispered. “Just be gentle with me.”

Paige swallowed,letting her eyes search Azzi before she nodded, adjusting her hold to have both hands wrapped gently around Azzi’s neck.

Azzi’s lashes fluttered as her eyes rolled back and Paige leaned in again. “Say it again for me,” Paige moaned out, her mouth brushing Azzi’s jaw as she rolled her hips into her. “Say who you belong to.”

“You, Paige. Only you baby.”

Paige hummed, like that was all she needed to hear to make it in the world before she started to speed up. “Suck a good girl.”

"Fuck yes…shit baby harder," Azzi moaned out as Paige started to roll into her quicker. Azzi’s lips parted as silent moans slipped out and Paige leaned down, using her thumb to open Azzi’s mouth further, spitting in her mouth and watching as Azzi looked straight at her and swallowed it.

The sight made Paife’s stroked falter so they flipped over, Azzi easily finding a rhythm to grind on the strap. Paige hands found Azzi’s hips as she started meeting her movements with her own hips, both of them moaning without restraint. “Mmm, just like that mama. Ride me just like that,” Paige groaned and Azzi bounced on her harder, filling the room with the mix of their moans, the bed hitting the wall, and their skin meeting one another as they chased an orgasm together.

Paige sat up, chest to chest with Azzi, pulling her into a sloppy uncoordinated kiss. "I need you in me so bad daddy," Azzi whispered as she dug her nails into Paige’s back, the sharp sensation making her hiss.

Paige let her head rest back against the headboard as she moaned, “Do it again and I promise Imma give it to you baby. Give you whatever you want.”

Azzi grinned, settling Paige further into her lap, her fingers trailing down her spine in slow, deliberate strokes.

It only took a few more thrusts of their hips into one another before they came undone together, Azzi’s nails dragging down Paige’s back as she clung to her desperately.

Paige collapsed on the bed, easing Azzi down with her, both of them sweater and more sticky than they’d probably prefer.

Azzi trailed lazy kisses along Paige’s neck as she caught her breath before whispering, “I love you.”

Paige smiled with her eyes closed, teaching her finger down Azzi’s spine. “I love you, baby.”

They stayed like that for a few minutes catching their breath, Azzi gently tracing patterns over Paige’s stomach with the tip of her finger while Paige did the same to her back. The silence felt like a second skin to both of them.

Then Azzi’s phone buzzed. Holding the sheets to her chest Azzi stretched over Paige to grab it from the nightstand.

Her eyebrows raised as she read the screen, then she snorted, turning her phone toward Paige.

Rae [3:22 AM]:

If you’re keeping me up until 3 a.m., at least invite me next time.

Paige laughed, starting to shift underneath Azzi a little before a sting pulled a small wince from her. “Shit,” she mumbled, reaching back instinctively.

“You okay?” Azzi asked, a little more alert with concern.

Paige’s fingers came back with a faint streak of red. She looked at it before she shrugged. “I’m good. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re bleeding and trying to cuddle like that’s normal,” Azzi said, already sitting up.

Paige reached for her. “C’mon, lay back down—”

“Nope.” Azzi cut her off, pulling the sheet off them and standing up, not giving Paige a choice to say no as she tugged her up by the wrist. “Shower. Now.”

Paige groaned but followed her, letting herself be led with a small smile on her lips. “You’re bossy,” she mumbled.

Azzi glanced back at her pretending to glare but Paige just grinned cutely and Azzi could only roll her eyes.

The two of them stepped in the shower again, rinsing away everything from the night. Azzi stood behind Paige at first, resting her arms around her waist and resting her chin between her shoulder blades. Paige covered her hands with her own and leaned back into her.

Both of them mumbled I love you’s before they closed their eyes and let the warmth hit their bodies.