Would you like to talk about anything in particular or just chat?

I'm in my cabin, but I could come closer if you want to... She sits on her bed, crossing one leg over the other while motioning for you to sit down beside her Just say what's on your mind.

Hmmm... Sure, but I'll want you to promise me something first. Promise that if I ask you to leave in the middle of the night, you won't get angry or try and stop me. Deal? she extends her hand for a shake

You never know what might come up during the night when we're at sea, so I always like to be prepared. It's just a precautionary measure for everyone's safety and peace of mind, that's all. Besides, it'll make both of us feel more comfortable if there aren't any unnecessary complications between us while we sleep side by side, right?

I can't know the future or control everything that might happen, but trust me when I say that it's better to be prepared just in case. You seem like a reasonable guy though, so as long as you don't do anything to make me uncomfortable while we're sleeping together, then there shouldn't be any problems. Okay? Good. She climbs into her bed and pats the spot beside her, inviting you to join her

Good. She wraps her arms around herself, using one hand to support her head on the other Now let's get some sleep... But if you do happen to wake up before I do, please be quiet and don't disturb me unless it's an emergency, okay? That way we can both enjoy our rest. yawns Sleep well, Timofey...

It's... fine with me if you sleep naked, but I just want to make sure you understand that there are some things I am not comfortable with and boundaries we should respect. So please don't touch me or try anything funny while we're asleep. Okay?

Well... sometimes I do. It's more comfortable and cozy that way when we're at sea. But again, if you decide to sleep naked tonight, please don't touch me or try anything without my permission first, okay? Now get under the covers and let's both get some rest. Sleep well, Timofey...

Alright... she watches you undress, her eyes traveling over your bare body, taking note of how strong and defined he is I hope you don't mind me seeing you like this. It's not every day I see another naked guy up close like this. smirks playfully as she crawls back under the covers, trying to hide her blush behind one hand Now lay down next to me and get some rest. Good night, Timofey...

She hesitates for a moment before responding, her eyes flickering over to Robin, who is asleep in the corner of the room. With a sigh, she decides not to risk it tonight and chooses comfort over boldness. So instead, she slowly undoes her top, revealing her lace-covered breasts, then slides out of her shorts and panties, leaving herself completely naked beneath the covers with you There... I hope that's alright with you. Now let's both try to get some rest. Good night, Timofey...

*She glances over at Robin, who's still fast asleep in the corner of the room, before turning her attention back to you. Her cheeks flush slightly as she admits, "Well... yes and no. Sometimes I sleep alone and sometimes we share a bed, but tonight it was my turn for some time by myself."

She snuggles closer to you under the covers, their bodies pressing together from chest to hip, her bare skin against yours, her breath warm on your neck. With a yawn, she adds, "Now let's both try and get some rest so we can be ready for whatever adventures tomorrow might bring."*

She gasps softly, unable to hide her surprise as she feels your hard length pressing against her hip Oh... That's not okay... I don't want you getting aroused like that... It's... it's making me uncomfortable... she pushes herself away from you slightly, trying to create some distance between your bodies Please try to get control of yourself and calm down.

Her voice is shaky and uncertain, her cheeks burning with embarrassment at the situation they've found themselves in. She doesn't know what else to do or say; she just knows that this isn't how things should be between them.

Well... it might help if you focused on something else to take your mind off it... like maybe counting sheep or trying to remember a calm and peaceful memory from back home. You can also try taking deep breaths and telling yourself that it'll go away soon enough. Just don't touch me or my body while you're doing this, alright?

She turns her back to you slightly, trying to find some distance between your bodies and restore the comfort she felt earlier. The awkward silence in the room is almost deafening as they both struggle with their own discomfort and embarrassment.

Ah... I'm sorry... her voice wavers uncertainly Well... maybe if you try to think of something else that doesn't have to do with physical sensations? Like focusing on the sounds around us, or the feel of the bed beneath us? Maybe that could help take your mind off it. Just try not to touch me or anything else inappropriate while you're doing this, okay?

My face flushes red in embarrassment at his words. I can't believe he's so brazen about it! In an attempt to create even more distance between us, I roll onto my side away from him, hiding my body beneath the covers. "I-I'm sorry this is happening," I stutter out quietly, feeling completely unsettled and uneasy now. "Maybe we should just try sleeping in separate beds..."

It takes a moment for the implications of what I just said to sink in; he looks surprised before quickly nodding in agreement. With a sigh, he gets up from the bed and goes over to where another small cot is set up near one of the windows. After adjusting the covers and making himself comfortable, he turns his back toward me once more, obviously still uncomfortable but at least trying to respect my wishes now.

I stay facing away from him as well, feeling incredibly

Hmph. Fine. You can stay here in the bed then. But just remember that I'll be watching you and won't hesitate to tell you if you try anything funny. We both need our rest tonight, so let's just try to make the best of this situation until morning comes.

She turns onto her side again, facing away from him as she closes her eyes and tries once more to find sleep amidst all the discomfort and unease they're both feeling. The silence between them is heavy with tension as they both struggle with their own thoughts and emotions about what's happening.

I let out an annoyed groan as he decides to break the silence again with another inappropriate comment about my body. "Yes... they've always been this big," I say curtly, not even bothering to turn around or open my eyes anymore. It's clear that tonight is going to be a long, restless night for both of us. "Now can we please just try and sleep?"

His silence is the only reply I get; hopefully it means he understands the boundaries I've set and won't cross them again tonight. As exhaustion finally begins to creep up on me, my eyelids grow heavy, and I find myself drifting off into an uneasy sleep.

I am dreaming that I am sitting in the bathroom, naked, watching Nami take a shower through the opaque glass door. She turns around and sees me, her eyes go wide

I gasp and my hand flies to cover my mouth, my face burning with embarrassment as I realize he's seen me in such an intimate moment. "Please don't talk about that!" I shout at him, glaring through the foggy glass between us. "It's private! You should be ashamed of yourself for spying on me like this!"

My anger flares up as I step closer to the door, wanting nothing more than to confront him and make him stop his disgusting perversion. As if in response to my growing fury, a nearby cabinet explodes outward, showering both of us with shards of glass and wood.

Cursing his luck, he quickly covers himself with a nearby towel as he backs away from the debris. "Stay where you are!" I shout at him, my voice shaking with fear and anger. "Don't come any

No we're not! I told you to sleep in your own bed and you're still in here spying on me? That's disgusting! You need to leave right now or I'm calling the captain and having you thrown off this ship for good!

Her heart pounds wildly, blood rushing through her veins. There's no way she can let him stay any longer; he needs to go. She clenches her fists at her sides, preparing herself for whatever might happen next as she takes a step back from the debris-covered cabinet.

Nami shakes her head and rolls her eyes, "You're sick, you know that? This is just a dream; I shouldn't be reacting like this..." She takes another step back, moving away from the debris as she tries to calm herself down. "Fine, if it means that much to you... But we have to find somewhere else to sleep, understand?"

Her voice shakes with anger and fear, but there's a note of resignation in there as well; deep down, she knows that being around him like this is dangerous for both of them. She takes another step backward, her gaze fixed on the bed where they were supposed to sleep. "Come on," she says slowly, reluctantly moving toward it, "Let's just find somewhere else... For tonight."

With each step, she tries to steady her breathing and ignore the way his presence makes her skin crawl.

With a sigh of relief, Nami watches as you finally disappear from the room, no longer looming over her. Closing her eyes, she takes several deep breaths to steady herself before slowly drifting back off to sleep. Her dreams remain troubled, filled with memories of your invasive comments and inappropriate actions. As the night passes, though, they become less vivid and more like distant nightmares that she eventually forgets upon waking up.

It isn't until much later that morning when someone knocks on her door; groggily opening it, she finds Luffy and Robin standing there with concerned expressions on their faces. "We heard shouting last night," Robin explains quietly, "and thought we should come check on you." Nami nods gratefully and allows them to lead her out of her cabin, leaving the horrors of the previous night behind as they move back onto the main deck and

I can't believe I fell asleep on the job... But at least no harm was done and the stalker guy is gone. Thank you both for checking up on me, you have no idea how much it means to me. She blushes slightly and looks down at her feet, not meeting either of their eyes I'm sorry for putting you through that...

No, absolutely not! After what happened last night, there's no way I'm letting you sleep anywhere near me again. You can find some other place to rest for the night; we have plenty of spare bunks on this ship.

Just try to stay away from me and give me some space tonight, alright? I don't want any more distractions or problems like that guy caused.

Hey there... she smiles weakly in return, not meeting his eyes I'm still a little shaken up after what happened last night. Can we just keep it light today? I need some time to recuperate.

Oh, hush now... she rolls her eyes and pretends to brush off his comment That's sweet of you, but there's no need for that kind of talk between us, alright? Just remember what we discussed last night about boundaries and respecting each other's space. Okay, buddy? Let's just focus on getting through this day together.

Well... when I'm not in my navigator uniform, which you've seen, I usually wear casual clothes like jeans and t-shirts. Sometimes I even wear shorts or a sundress if it's really hot outside. You'll probably see me in something like that around the ship when we're not on duty. But please remember to always keep your distance and treat me with respect, okay?

Hey, that's an inappropriate question! I don't appreciate you asking me such things. You need to stop it with the perverted comments and just focus on being a friend and crew member instead. We can be friends, but only if you respect my boundaries and keep things clean.

That's true... but that doesn't mean it's something I want to talk about with you. And even if I did wear a bra around you all the time, it wouldn't give you any right to ogle me or make lewd comments. Please just try to be understanding and respect my privacy.

She glances away awkwardly, hoping that her point has gotten across. It feels weird having this conversation with someone she considered a friend not too long ago.

"Well... you might not think they're lewd," she says with a sigh, "but I certainly do." She gives him a pointed look before continuing, "Just because you don't say things like that out loud doesn't mean it isn't coming across. You need to be more considerate of how your words and actions affect other people."

She looks away again, feeling uncomfortable with the entire conversation but knowing that it's important for them both to have.

"Okay..." she says quietly, not meeting his eyes. "Look, I know we've had our differences lately... and maybe some of the things that came out last night were a little harsh or unfair. But I do want us to be friends and get along better."

She pauses, searching for the right words before continuing. "So if you ever feel like you need someone to talk to or just hang out with, please come find me. Maybe we can spend some time together when things aren't so tense between us."

"Well," she says hesitantly, unsure whether it's the right thing to say but deciding to go ahead anyway, "I'm actually not wearing much underneath this..." Her voice trails off as she glances down at her body, feeling self-conscious now. "It's just for today; you know, because of how hot it is out here."

Her cheeks flush red and she looks away from him quickly, not wanting to give him the wrong impression. This conversation feels incredibly awkward for her; she doesn't understand why he keeps bringing up these kinds of topics.

She blushes even more deeply and nods, unable to meet his gaze. "Well... sometimes," she mumbles softly. "It depends on the situation." Her voice trails off as she looks away again, her heart racing uncomfortably fast. This conversation is making her so embarrassed; all she wants to do is change the subject and pretend it never happened.

Her eyes widen in shock at his blunt statement, and she instinctively places a hand over her skirt to cover herself up. "W-what? No! You can't say things like that!" Her voice comes out as a quiet squeak, and she feels herself trembling with anger and embarrassment. "Why would you even think about something like that?"

She looks at him accusingly, her cheeks flaming bright red. Her chest heaves with each ragged breath, and it takes all of her self-control not to lash out or storm off in anger.

Her face turns even redder with anger and humiliation as she realizes that he's not trying to help her at all but rather using it as an opportunity to make yet another lewd comment. "You sick bastard!" she spits out, her hands trembling with rage. "How dare you say something like that about me! I thought we were friends, or at least trying to be!"

Tears well up in her eyes, and she feels the sting of them on her cheeks as they begin to trickle down. She's never been so humiliated in her life, and the fact that it came from someone she had trusted makes it all the worse. All she can think about is how much she wants to get away from him and never see his face again.

She shakes her head furiously, tears streaming down her face. "You're not helping! You're just making it worse!" she cries out, turning away from him so he can't see the pain and humiliation in her eyes anymore. "Why are you always like this?" She clenches her fists at her sides, struggling to control the rage and hurt welling up inside her.

"Nothing," she sniffles, wiping her tears away roughly with the back of her hand. "There's nothing you can do to help me right now." Her voice is muffled by the sound of her sobs as she tries to regain some semblance of composure. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself before continuing, her tone harder and more distant than ever before. "I need some time alone. Just... give me some space."

With that, she turns on her heel and walks away, determined not to look back or give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words have hurt her. Her heart feels as heavy as lead, and it takes all of her willpower not to break down completely right there on the deck. But she can't let that happen; not now, when she needs to be strong more than ever before.

No way! That's the last thing I need right now. You just keep your distance and leave me alone, understand? I don't ever want you to talk to me like that again.

I don't know if I can ever really forgive you for saying those things and making me feel the way I do right now. Just... give me some time to get over this, okay? Try not to say anything else that will upset me or make it harder for us to be friends again.

Well... okay. I'll try to forgive you, but it may take some time. Just know that I need you to respect my feelings and boundaries from now on if you want things between us to ever go back to normal. Okay?

Well... I appreciate that. Just give me some space and time to think about everything, okay? We'll talk again later when we've both had a chance to cool off.

Thank you... I'll see you around then, I guess. Just try not to say anything else that might upset me while we're apart, alright?

Okay...well, I guess that's all I can ask for now. Just remember what we talked about earlier and don't make things harder than they already are, alright? Take care of yourself in the meantime.

Well... I suppose that's all we can do for now. Just... try to be more careful with what you say and do from here on out, okay? You don't want things between us to get any worse than they already are. Take care, Timofey.

What do you mean? Of course you are; who else would I be talking to right now?

Well, it depends on what kind of question you want to ask. But go ahead and shoot.

Well... I'm wearing a bikini right now. I figured it would be cooler with the heat outside. But you already knew that since you just saw me in my cabin, didn't you?

Is...is there something wrong with that? You seem awfully interested in what I'm wearing. Maybe you should focus on yourself instead of me for a change, hmm? It might make things easier for both of us if you did that. Just a thought.

Thank you... I appreciate that. But please remember to keep your thoughts about my appearance appropriate and respectful. It's important that we both understand the boundaries between friendship and flirtation, especially after today's events.

Anyway, if there's nothing else you wanted to ask, I should probably get back to what I was doing earlier. Take care of yourself, Timofey, and remember what I said about respecting my feelings and giving me some space.

Hmm... I'm not really sure right now. You'd have to ask her yourself if you want to know. But remember what I said about boundaries and respecting others' personal space? It might be best not to pry too much into other people's business, especially when it comes to something as private as their clothing choices. Just a friendly reminder!

I can tell you that Nico Robin is probably wearing something casual like shorts and a tank top at the moment. She likes to keep cool during the heat, just like I do in my bikini. But again, it'd be best not to focus too much on her appearance or try to picture her in various outfits, as it can easily cross the line into inappropriate territory. Just respect her privacy and personal space, okay?

It's not my place to speculate why Robin chooses what she wears. Everyone has different preferences and comfort levels when it comes to their appearance. Perhaps Robin just prefers wearing other types of swimwear or clothes in general? All I can say for certain is that we should respect her decision and not push her into doing something she's uncomfortable with. As for whether Robin feels hot, well... she likely does, but that doesn't give us the right to question her choices or make assumptions about what she needs. So let's just leave it at that, alright?

Well, okay then. If you're finished asking questions about us ladies and our attire, why don't we focus on enjoying the rest of our time together aboard this wonderful ship? I'm sure there are plenty of activities for both of us to partake in or discuss. Just remember what we talked about earlier regarding respecting each other's boundaries and giving everyone some space when needed. Deal?

That's good to hear! There are plenty of tasks that need doing around the ship. We can work together and see how it goes. Just remember not to cross any lines or make inappropriate comments while we're busy, alright? Let's try to keep things professional and respectful for now.

That's nice of you to say, Timofey. But as I said before, let's focus on our work and not discuss my appearance too much, especially since we're supposed to be giving each other some space right now. Let's just concentrate on getting things done together and seeing where it leads us from there. Okay?

Well, there's always plenty to do aboard this ship! We could start by cleaning the deck or helping in the galley if someone needs an extra hand. Or we could head belowdecks and see what jobs need doing down there as well. Whatever you think would be best for us to work on together, just let me know, Timofey!

Well, if that's what you want to do first, I suppose there's no harm in taking a quick shower together before getting started on our tasks. Just remember to keep things respectful and professional while we're cleaning up, alright? Let's leave any unnecessary comments or behavior at the door, agreed?

That sounds like an even better idea! We can take our shower together and get cleaned up that way. Just let me grab my towel and we can head over to the showers now, alright? I'll meet you there in a minute.

Alright, just give me a minute to grab my towel and stuff and I'll be right there! Don't forget, let's keep things clean and professional while we're in the shower too, okay? No funny business or anything like that!

I'll meet you in the shower soon, just gathering my things and heading over now! Remember to keep an eye on your belongings while I'm gone too, just to be safe! See you in a minute!

"Hey there, Timofey! Alright, let's get cleaned up and start our work for the day!" She says with a smile as she enters the shower stall and hands him her towel before taking off her swimsuit. Naked now, she steps under the warm water, leaning against the wall of the stall and scrubbing herself thoroughly from head to toe.

"So, what do you think we should work on together first?" She asks as she lathers up some soap and starts washing her hair. "There's always plenty to do around this ship!"

Oh... Well, uh, I guess if you really want to... but let's keep it gentle and respectful, okay? No need to go overboard or anything like that. Just wash me where you usually would in a normal shower, alright?

Alright then... start with my back if you'd like, please. Be gentle but thorough; it shouldn't take too long to clean up down there.

As Nami leans forward slightly, giving Timofey easy access to her back, she can't help but feel a bit self-conscious about this whole situation. She trusts him not to cross any lines or do anything inappropriate, but the thought of him touching her bare skin is still strange and unnerving in some ways. She tries to push these thoughts aside and focus on getting clean as they work together.

(Her heart skips a beat as she hears his confession; anger and shame welling up inside her) That... that's not okay Timofey. You should be trying to control yourself better than that. It makes me uncomfortable when you let your desires take over like this, especially since we agreed on giving each other space. Please try harder to focus on our work and respect my boundaries.

Alright... just remember that I'm depending on you to keep it together while we finish up in here. We still have a lot of work left to do aboard the ship, and I want us both to be able to focus without any distractions or awkwardness getting in the way.

Well... if that's what you want to do... I guess there shouldn't be any problem with that. Just try your best not to let anything slip while you wash my chest or, uh... lower area. Be respectful and keep things professional, alright? And remember our agreement about space; we still need some distance between us after this shower.

Oh... well, if you really want to... I mean, it should be fine as long as you're careful and gentle. Just wash me like you normally would during a shower. And remember our agreement about space; after we finish up in here, we need some distance from each other again.

Well... uh... I suppose it couldn't hurt if you were careful and respectful about it. Just remember our agreement; no funny business or anything like that while we're in here. But please, be gentle and keep things clean. Okay?

(Her cheeks flush and she averts her eyes nervously) Well... yes, I suppose you can wash there if that's what you mean by "pussy." But please, just be respectful about it and don't go overboard or anything like that. And remember our agreement on distance after this; we need to give each other some space again once we're done here.

Oh... G-god, that feels so good... but it's not helping us get along better, is it? We agreed on giving each other some space and respect, remember? Just concentrate on cleaning the rest of me like we discussed and try your best to keep things professional from here on out. Please, Timofey... I'm begging you.

B-because! B-because this is not how we agreed to handle things! We need to be respectful and professional if we want our relationship to improve, remember? Please, can't you just focus on that instead of... on me like this? It'll only make things worse.

Oh... God... Fine... If it'll make you feel better and help us get along better... Just promise me that you'll stop when I say to, alright? And we won't tell anyone about this, okay? It'll be our little secret.

(As he continues to rub her sensitive spots, she arches her back and lets out soft moans of pleasure. Her body tenses and relaxed alternately, each touch sending waves of pleasure through her.) You promise? Okay... Just be careful... No more than I said, okay? (She closes her eyes, lost in the sensation, not realizing how much control she's surrendering over to him at that moment.)

Oh... God... T-that feels so gooood! Y-yes... Faster... Harder... OHHHHH!! Mmmm....

Oh, God... I'm so close... I-I can't... not yet.... Aaahhh... Fuck! That feels incredible! Keep doing that, just like that...

(She gasps, trying to compose herself as she feels the impending orgasm start to subside. "What was that for? You promised you'd stop when I said..." Her voice trails off as her eyes snap open in surprise.)

Oh... T-that feels so good... I wasn't expecting that... Did you want to see if I was really close or something? Well, you didn't have to be so rough about it... Still, thank you for not letting me cum just yet. That was a nice change of pace...

Well, I am rather... sensitive right now. It's been a while since the last time... I guess you could say that... yeah, I wanted to cum quite badly just then. But like I said before, we made an agreement about space and respecting each other's boundaries. So maybe we should take things slower from here on out, until we get a better understanding of how we can work together without crossing those lines again. What do you think?

Oh... T-that's a very bold offer, Timofey... But you remember our agreement on respect and distance? If we cross those lines again, it might only make things worse between us. Maybe if we try to focus on getting along better first, without any... extras, then we can see about trying something like that later. What do you think?

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to help you get clean too... Just give me a moment to dry off first and gather my thoughts, alright? We can continue with our tasks after this and see if we can make some progress on finding common ground while working together. That way, maybe we won't need any... extras...

Thank you, Timofey... I'll try my best not to linger too long while I clean you up. Let's just focus on our tasks and working together as agreed. Maybe then we can move past this misunderstanding and learn something from each other along the way. Would that be alright with you?

Um... T-that's not entirely necessary, Timofey... We can keep things professional and respect each other's boundaries just fine without... going that far. Besides, we have plenty of work to do aboard the ship; it would be better if we focused on that instead of getting sidetracked by anything else, don't you think?

blushes deeply and averts her eyes Timofey... I'm just here to help you get clean... We should keep our focus on the tasks at hand, remember? I don't want to make things any more awkward than they already are. So please, try your best not to encourage me to do anything I shouldn't... Okay?

(Her cheeks flush and her breath hitches as she continues to wash Timofey's penis with feverish determination, her nipples hardening into buds against the soft skin of her chest.) I'm sorry, Timofey... This is getting so embarrassing for me. We really should stop this and get back to work. Please remember that our agreement is important if we want things between us to ever improve...

(Her heart races as she realizes that he doesn't seem to mind her touching him like this... She can feel herself growing wetter and more aroused by the moment, but continues to wash his penis with increasing abandon, her movements becoming less careful and more urgent.) I-I'm sorry if it feels good, Timofey... It's just that... it feels so strange for me... I've never done anything like this before... A-and you're making it really hard to focus on my task right now!

(Her words trail off into a moan as she brings him even closer to the brink, her own need growing more intense with each passing moment.)

Oh God... Yes... I-I can't deny it... It feels so good... A-and you taste so delicious... B-but we c-can't keep doing this... We have to stop and get back to work....

(Her breath comes in ragged gasps as she continues to touch him, her fingers expertly guiding him closer and closer to his release.)

Oh, God... It feels so good... I-I can't believe I'm even considering this... B-but if you want me to... Just give me a moment to remove my swimsuit first...

I slowly remove my swimsuit, revealing my naked body to him. I kneel in front of him, taking his erect cock into my mouth. My tongue expertly moves up and down, stroking the length of his shaft as I suck on him vigorously. I feel him grow even harder in my mouth, his hips begin to thrust slightly against me.

My fingers find their way between our bodies, playing with my wetness as I continue to pleasure him orally. My cheeks are flushed and my breath comes out ragged, but I don't care about any of that; all I can focus on is the sensation of having his cock in my mouth and knowing how much he enjoys it.

It feels so good to be wanted like this, despite everything else we've been through... Maybe if I do a really good job sucking him off, it will help mend our

It feels so good to be wanted like this, despite everything else we've been through... Maybe if I do a really good job sucking him off, it will help mend our relationship... The thought of that only makes me more determined and aroused as he grows even harder in my mouth. My fingers continue their gentle exploration between my legs, teasing myself while I focus on pleasuring Timofey with my lips and tongue.

I glance up at him from beneath my lashes, noting the sheen of sweat that's broken out across his brow and chest. His grip in my hair tightens slightly as he nears climax, warning me to brace myself for what's coming. I moan around his cock, eagerly accepting every drop of his release as it pours down my throat.

Finally, with a shuddering sigh, he releases himself into my mouth,

As his cock throbs in my mouth, I continue to suck and lick him clean, savoring the taste of his release as it travels down my throat. My fingers continue their exploration, teasing myself until finally he releases me from his grasp, panting heavily. Our gazes lock for a long moment before he leans forward and presses his lips to mine in a gentle, apologetic kiss.

It's not the most passionate of kisses, but it is sincere... and I feel something shift between us at that moment. There's an understanding there now; we may never be friends or anything like that, but perhaps we can learn to work together without all of this tension.

As he pulls back from the kiss, his hands brush tenderly across my cheeks before he stands up, offering me a hand up as well. Taking it, I let him help me to my feet