The room was still spinning from the sudden movement, my back pressed against the mat, his body hovering over mine. His face was close—too close. Warm breath fanned over my cheek, his weight pinning me just enough to remind me who had the upper hand. My chest rose and fell rapidly, the charged silence between us thick, suffocating, as if we were both waiting for the other to break first.
"Kieran," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place, his smirk faltering just slightly as he focused on me.
Taking advantage of his distraction, I shifted my weight and managed to flip him over, a triumphant laugh escaping me. "Gotcha," I teased, but my victory was short-lived. Kieran moved with lightning speed, catching me off guard and twisting us into a blur of limbs.
Before I knew it, I was in some kind of pretzel position, my legs pinned awkwardly next to my ears. My laughter turned into a startled gasp as I tried to process how I even ended up like this.
Kieran leaned back, clearly proud of himself, his grin wide and mischievous. "You really thought you had me, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "This, Anh, is called a submission hold. Don't worry, it's totally safe… unless you want to tap out already."
My brow furrowed as I became acutely aware of how intimate this position was, my crotch now raised in the air in a way that felt far too exposing. A wave of panic washed over me as I worried that he might notice the wetness seeping through, betraying me completely. Squirming, I tried to twist out of his hold, my movements frantic and desperate to break free.
Kieran's grin faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing in focus as he adjusted his hold effortlessly, his voice teasing but softer. "Careful, Anh. The more you move, the tighter the hold gets. But if you're uncomfortable, just say the word, and I'll let you go."
Kieran's fingers twitched slightly, his grip adjusting as if grounding himself. His teasing tone remained, but something in his expression had shifted—his jaw tightening just slightly, his breathing deeper, measured. His gaze locked onto mine, something unreadable flickering beneath the surface, like he was holding something back. His hold was firm but careful, as if waiting, as if testing to see how far I would let this go. Was he feeling it too? The charge beneath my skin, the unbearable tension that neither of us dared name? His grip hesitated for just a fraction of a second, a moment so brief I almost convinced myself I imagined it.
"You can let go, Kieran," I said softly, my voice tinged with something unspoken. His eyes lingered on mine for a moment, his grip steady.
"You won," I said softly, my breath still uneven as I tried to shake the lingering tension between us. I forced a grin, hoping to lighten the moment before my thoughts spiraled into dangerous territory.
Kieran let out a quiet laugh, his smirk playful but his eyes holding something deeper. "Alright, alright," he said, his hands releasing me carefully as he shifted back slightly. "But let's get one thing straight, Anh—you're only walking away from this because I let you."
I laughed, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. "Oh really?" I teased, tugging playfully on his shirt as if coaxing him to let his guard down.
Kieran raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "You sure you want to challenge me again? Because I'm starting to think you like losing."
I laughed, leaning back slightly. "I'm down for another round if you are," I said without thinking, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My body betrayed me, wanting him badly, while my mind subconsciously tested the waters without my permission.
Kieran's smirk softened into something unreadable, his eyes studying me closely. "Another round, huh?" he said, his tone laced with playful challenge, but there was a distinct pause, as if he was weighing the shift in our dynamic. "Careful, Anh. You might end up biting off more than you can chew."
I grinned, leaning in slightly as I tested the charged air between us. "So how do we start round two?" I asked, my voice carrying a teasing edge, though my heart raced wildly in my chest.
Kieran's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Start? Anh, we've already started." He leaned back casually, his confidence oozing as he let the moment hang in the air, tension thick and palpable. "The question is—are you ready to keep up?"
I laughed, leaning forward with a daring grin. "Come at me then," I challenged, tugging on his shirt playfully. With a burst of energy, I wrestled him to the ground, my laughter filling the room as I tried to pin him. My chest pressed against his as I leaned in, the contact sending unexpected heat coursing through me, heightening every sensation.
Kieran's laughter joined mine, though his movements were calculated and deliberate as he shifted beneath me. "You've got some fight in you," he said, his voice low and teasing. "But let's see if you can handle this." In one swift motion, he twisted his body, flipping us again with ease, leaving me breathless beneath him. "Still think you can win, Anh?" he asked, his tone laced with playful arrogance, though the intensity in his eyes betrayed something deeper.
As he lowered his face toward mine, the air between us felt impossibly thick. "Don't," I said softly, my voice trembling as I forced the words out. "You don't want to do this."
Kieran froze, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, he hesitated. His thoughts raced, torn between the pull he felt toward me and the boundary I was drawing. The vulnerability in her voice struck a chord, forcing him to wrestle with the emotions he had been burying for months. Slowly, he released me, his hands dropping to his sides as he leaned back. "Alright," he said quietly, though his tone carried a weight that betrayed his inner turmoil. The heat of the moment lingered, leaving him conflicted yet acutely aware of how far he had already fallen.
I pushed myself up, my legs wobbling beneath me as I tried to steady myself, the heat coursing through my body making every step feel heavy. Without looking back, I forced myself to walk to my room, each step more difficult than the last as I wrestled with the turmoil inside me.
Kieran watched me retreat, his jaw tightening as he ran a hand through his hair. The space I left felt colder, emptier. He let out a long breath, frustration mingling with longing, and muttered to himself, "What the hell are we doing?"