Chapter 13 - Takin it Slow

With a gentle nudge, she pushed me back toward the glass panel behind us, her eyes never leaving mine. I let her guide me, my breath quickening as the cold surface pressed against my back. Emily stepped closer, her hands finding their way to my shoulders, then sliding down my chest, and every inch of me ached for her touch. The warmth of her body beneath the tight fabric of her suit sent a thrill through me, and I could feel her trembling. One hand slid down to the small of her back, my fingers tracing a slow path down her spine beneath the thin fabric of her uniform. I wanted to feel her skin. Emily shivered, her eyes fluttering closed as my touch left trails of warmth in its wake. My breath brushed against her neck, and she tilted her head, inviting me closer. My other hand gently cupped her hip, my thumb making slow circles, grounding her in the moment, and we were both lost.

“You have no idea how amazing you make me feel,” I murmured against her ear, my voice rough, raw, and probably a little cheesy, but I didn’t care. I meant it. Every word.

Emily let out this soft, musical laugh that filled the observation deck, and even though my neck was burning, I couldn’t help but smile. That laugh? It could fix anything. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service,” she teased, her eyes glinting with that mix of mischief and... something else. Nervousness? Maybe. She leaned back just enough to meet my eyes, and I felt like I could get lost in there forever. Honestly? I was ready to.

A grin pulled at my lips even. God, Rossi, get a grip. “I mean it,” I said, quieter now, like the words might break if I said them too loud. Vulnerable wasn’t really my thing, but with her? It felt... right.

“I know you do,” she replied softly, her hand drifting to my chest. I felt her touch through the suit, light and deliberate. Her fingers found the zipper of my suit, tugging it just enough to let her fingertips brush against my skin. A shiver ran through me, sharp and undeniable. Her hand rested there, over my heart, like she could feel it racing, and it was grounding and electrifying all at once.

And yet, a small part of me wanted to bolt. To run. Because this was big, much bigger than I’d ever let myself imagine. It scared the shit out of me.

“So why didn’t you ever ask me out?” Emily’s voice was soft, playful, but she searched my face, looking for something real. There was a flicker of insecurity there, something I wasn’t used to seeing from her. It hit me like a punch to the gut.

I froze. Like, full-on deer-in-headlights froze. Did she just ask me that? My lips parted, but nothing came out. Of course, you didn’t ask her out, idiot. She’s Emily. She's everything, and you’re... you.

Finally, I managed to look at her, and I knew my face was a mess, a mix of shyness, longing, and whatever else was swirling inside me. “I… I didn’t want to ruin our friendship,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It sounded stupid even as I said it, but it was the truth. And now, saying it out loud, I felt so exposed, like I’d just laid my whole heart on the table for her to pick apart.

Emily’s expression softened, her lips curving into a smile so gentle it made my chest ache. But her cheeks were pink too, and that small vulnerability in her made me feel less alone. She reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from my forehead, her fingers lingering against my skin like she was trying to steady me or herself. It felt great.

“Oh, Luca,” she said with a quiet laugh, warm and teasing but just a little shaky, like she was nervous too. Her tone made my heart swell, like it was trying to burst right out of my chest. “You’re so silly. We’ve been friends for years, and if anything, it’s about time we took things to the next level.”

The way she said it, like she’d rehearsed the line, was so damn cute it made me want to grab her and never let go. This is happening. I could barely wrap my head around it. Holy shit, this is actually happening.

Her words hit me like a shockwave, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. “Really?” I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted, almost disbelieving. “You just… wanted this?”

“Absolutely,” Emily said, her fingers sliding down to intertwine with mine. The warmth of her touch sent a spark straight through me. She gave my hand a light squeeze, tugging me closer, her confidence making it impossible to resist. “Now come here,” she said, and my heart pounded so loud it drowned out everything else. This can’t be real.

She pulled me into a kiss, her lips warm and eager against mine. Every nerve in my body lit up. I leaned in, one arm wrapping around her, drawing her closer until her body was flush against mine. Emily pressed closer, her free hand sliding up to rest on my chest, and I could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat syncing with mine. I was lost in her, completely. This wasn’t just right, it was everything.

“I didn’t want to risk losing you,” I murmured, hoarse and breathless, my forehead resting against hers as we paused for air. I needed her to know how much she meant to me, and honestly? I just needed her, period.

Her eyes softened as she looked up at me, something in her eyes that made my chest ache. She was trembling just a little, and it hit me how much this meant to her, too.

“You couldn’t have lost me, Luca,” she said quietly, brushing her thumb along my cheek. Her voice cracked slightly, like she was trying to reassure both of us. “Not now. Not ever.”

The way she said it, like she was clinging to the words as much as I was, made me feel less alone. We were both lost in this, figuring it out as we went, and that somehow made it even better.

Her words hung in the air for a beat before she leaned in again, her lips crashing into mine with a hunger that hadn’t been there before. This kiss wasn’t tentative, it was all urgency, all demand, like we were making up for every second we’d held back. And yeah, it scared me a little. Emily’s hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I pressed her gently back against the cold wall of the ship. Everything else, like time, space, the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere, just disappeared.

My hands roamed up her sides, her suit thin enough that I could feel the curve of her body underneath. I wanted more, needed more. My lips trailed down her jaw, finding the soft skin of her neck, and when she shivered under my touch, it sent a jolt straight through me. I kissed her collarbone, the delicate line of it, dipping lower until her breath hitched, and it was the most intoxicating sound I’d ever heard.

Her fingers curled into my shoulders, her nails pressing just enough to make me hiss softly against her skin. She arched into me, her body fitting against mine like this was what we were made for. Every nerve in my body screamed for more. I slid my hands down her back, finally reaching the curve of her lower back, pulling her impossibly closer. I didn’t want this to end and couldn’t imagine it ending.

“Luca,” she whispered, her voice trembling, full of something that made my heart slam against my ribs. Certainty? Anticipation? Both? Her arms wrapped around my neck, her fingers curling deeper into my hair, and when our kiss deepened, when her tongue brushed mine, all coherent thought vanished. Holy shit. Her nails grazed the back of my neck, and it sent a shiver so sharp down my spine that I pressed even closer to her, instinct taking over completely.

But then the reality of it hit me. The tight confines of my suit, the maddening barrier between us, kept everything pent up, leaving my arousal coiled and tense, my entire body practically vibrating with need. My chest tightened as I processed what was happening, my breaths uneven and shallow. Holy fuck, did she really just…? I couldn’t stop. Couldn’t fucking think. Emily was all I could feel, all I could see, all I could want, and every ounce of logic in my head had officially clocked out

We pulled apart, both breathless, our faces inches apart, and I felt like I’d just landed on an alien planet; new, strange, and completely overwhelming. Emily’s eyes locked onto mine, bright and full of something that made it impossible to think straight. Longing? Mischief? Desire? Probably all of it.

Her hand slid down my chest, slow and deliberate, her fingers brushing the unmistakable bulge in my suit. She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing in a way that was equal parts innocent and not, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me, followed by sheer terror. Oh God, her tongue. What just happened?

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. When did she get so bold? The moment felt huge, like all the air had been sucked out of the room. This was everything I’d wanted for so long, but now that it was happening, I was overwhelmed, struggling to take it all in. It was exhilarating and terrifying, like playing a game where the rules changed every second. And God, I didn’t want to mess this up. The air between us was thick, heavy with emotions I couldn’t name, anticipation coiling tight in my chest. It was so much, too much, but I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t move.

“I’ve never done this before,” I blurted, my voice hoarse and barely audible. My face burned, and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. Why the hell did I just say that? The words hung there, and for a second, I thought I’d ruined everything.

Emily’s smile softened, her hand sliding to trace lazy circles on the back of mine. “Me neither,” she said quietly, her voice steady but warm. She’s nervous too? That realization hit like a wave, and it was strangely comforting. At least I wasn’t alone in whatever this mess was.

We both let out these awkward laughs: hers soft and musical, mine rough and uneven. It broke the tension for a moment, but the pull between us was still there, impossible to ignore. The memory of her tongue darting out to brush my lips flashed in my mind, and I had to physically stop myself from groaning out loud.

The laughter faded, replaced by something quieter, heavier. Her eyes softened as she tilted her head, brushing her lips against mine again, and I couldn’t help it, I leaned into her, wanting more. Always more.

“It’s okay if we take it slow,” she murmured, her voice gentle and grounding. The words hit like a lifeline, and relief washed over me. Slow. I could do slow. But God, I wanted to pull her closer, kiss her again, let her know just how badly I needed her.

I exhaled deeply, relief flooding through me as her words settled something inside I hadn’t even realized was broken. My heart felt like it stopped for a second, only to start pounding all over again. I’d been so afraid of messing this up, of disappointing her, but now? Now it felt like maybe I hadn’t.

“Okay,” I murmured, a sense of calm washing over me, even as the adrenaline still thrummed through my veins. She had completely taken my breath away.

With shaking hands, I cupped her face, my thumbs brushing softly against her cheeks as I leaned in again. My chest tightened with want, and yeah, a little bit of terror too. This kiss was different, slower, deliberate, like we were memorizing the feel of each other while trying to navigate the uncharted territory we’d thrown ourselves into. Our lips moved in a quiet rhythm, exploring, promising. I couldn't stop thinking about her tongue from earlier. God, I wanted to feel that again.

Emily leaned into me, her hands sliding to my shoulders, and the warmth of her touch sent a rush of pure need straight through me. The way she sighed against my mouth? Sparks. Confidence. Everything I didn’t know I needed. My fingers tangled in her hair, tugging gently, and when she let out a soft moan against my lips, it sent a tremble through my entire body. I wanted her, needed her; but also, God, I wanted to savor this moment, hold onto it like it was the last thing I’d ever feel.

Then she pulled back, slowly, her forehead resting against mine, and it was the perfect mix of right and torture. Her breaths came in soft, uneven gasps, her hands steady on my chest like she was grounding us both. She was calm, but I could feel the heat radiating off her, see it in the way her cheeks flushed.

“I think we should stop here for tonight,” she said, her voice breathless but firm, her green emerald searching mine for understanding. She was right. I hated that she was right.

I nodded, swallowing hard as I tried to get my racing heart under control. “Yeah,” I said, my voice rougher than I wanted. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Even though every part of me screamed to keep going, to hold onto her just a little longer.