บท 65: Chapter 13: Part 6 - Read To Me
= Sarah POV =
The drive home was suffocatingly silent. I clutched my bag tightly, my fingers digging into the fabric as I stared out the window. Chris had grabbed it from my office without a word, her movements sharp and purposeful. I could feel her anger radiating off her, a heavy weight that pressed down on my chest. I didn't know what to say—or if saying anything would help.
By the time we reached the apartment building, the silence had grown so thick it felt tangible. The elevator ride was no different. The only sounds were the faint hum of machinery and the soft rustle of my bag as I adjusted my grip.
When we finally stepped into the apartment, Chris didn't even glance my way. She tossed her car keys into the bowl near the door, the clink of metal loud in the quiet space, and stormed off to her room. The slam of her door echoed like a thunderclap, leaving me frozen in place.
I lingered in the hallway, unsure of what to do. Should I knock on her door? Try to apologize, even though I wasn't entirely sure what for? Or would that only make things worse?
Eventually, I retreated to my own room. I changed into something more comfortable, but the unease gnawing at me didn't fade. I paced the small space, my mind spinning with worst-case scenarios. Would she kick me out? Deliver another one of her icy, cutting lectures? I couldn't predict her next move, and the uncertainty made my stomach twist.
The knock on my door made me jump. My heart leapt into my throat as I hesitated, staring at the door like it might bite me. When I finally opened it, Chris stood there, a book in her hand and an expression that caught me completely off guard.
She was smiling. Beaming, even. The sight was so unexpected it felt almost surreal.
"I want you to read to me," she said, her voice soft but firm, the corners of her lips curling up in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Uh… sure," I managed, stepping aside to let her in. Chris strode past me and sat down on my bed without waiting for an invitation.
I followed, still a little dazed, and before I could even settle, she flopped over onto her back, resting her head in my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her arms looped loosely around my waist as she stretched, her body languid and relaxed despite the tension lingering in the air.
"Start from page sixty-seven," she said, holding up the book. Her smile softened as she glanced up at me, her eyes searching mine for something I couldn't quite name.
I took the book from her hands, its red cover plain but elegant, the gold-embossed lettering catching the light. "The Heiress and Her Right Hand," I read aloud, running my fingers over the title.
As I opened to the page she'd requested, my mind raced. Why was she acting like this—so calm, almost playful—after how furious she'd seemed just minutes ago? Was this her way of cooling down, or was it another one of her mind games?
But as her head rested heavily on my lap and her arms tightened slightly around me, I realized it didn't matter. For now, I'd just do as she asked. Maybe the answers would come later.
"Yes, go on, flip to page sixty-seven," Chris urged, her voice dripping with anticipation as she shifted slightly on my lap, making herself more comfortable.
I hesitated, glancing at the book's plain cover. Why was she so eager? With a resigned sigh, I opened it and flipped to the page she'd requested. The words at the top of the page immediately made my cheeks burn. My eyes widened as I processed what I was reading, and I snapped the book shut, clutching it to my chest like a lifeline.
"T-This is…" I stammered.
"Yes. Erotica. Lesbian erotica," Chris replied, a dreamy smile spreading across her face as her hand slid lazily up and down my back, sending a shiver through me. "I'm redeeming thirty strikes, which means…"
I gulped, dreading where this was going. "T-Thirty minutes? You want me to read this… this fiction, out loud, for thirty minutes?" My voice rose in pitch with every word.
"Exactly," Chris said, her grin widening. She tilted her head up to look at me, her eyes glittering with mischief. "Out loud," she repeated before closing her eyes and stretching languidly, like a smug cat basking in the sun.
I groaned, pressing the book tighter to my chest. "No way. This is too embarrassing! I don't read stuff like this. It's… it's cringe! It makes me feel weird."
Chris sat up abruptly, poking my cheek with a finger, her expression mock-serious. "Oh, really? And what would you call getting caught making out with your boss in the middle of the afternoon? On the job, no less?"
My jaw dropped. "I did not! I didn't kiss her! It wasn't— I didn't mean for that to happen!" I spluttered, the heat in my face rising to unbearable levels.
Chris's grin turned downright devilish. "Uh-huh. Should I tell Heather?" she asked, her voice dropping into a low, almost threatening tone. "I'll do it, you know. I'll tell her. And then she'll scold Ms. Jun again. I need to see her get scolded at least twice today." She pouted for dramatic effect, crossing her arms with exaggerated indignation.
"No!" I blurted, horrified at the idea. "I don't want to cause her any more trouble. It was… mutual. Maybe?" My voice faltered, and I glanced away, clutching the book tighter as I struggled to untangle my emotions.
Chris yawned, flopping back onto my lap with a theatrical sigh. "Well then, this is your punishment. Read the book. Thirty minutes. Who knows? You might even learn something useful. Then, during your next encounter with Ms. Jun, maybe you can do more than cling to her shoulder like a scared little kitten wailing, 'Don't eat me, Ms. Jun~! Nooo~!'" Chris flailed her arms in mock imitation of me, her voice pitched high and dramatic.
"Stop it!" I cried, my embarrassment reaching its peak. I tossed the book onto the bed and grabbed her flailing arms, pinning them against her chest. "That was so humiliating! Stop teasing me, already! I'll read the stupid book, just stop!"
Chris looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes, her pout returning in full force. "I don't hear any reading."
I groaned again, releasing her arms and snatching up the book. Flipping it back to page sixty-seven, I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I prepared myself for the inevitable. "Okay, okay. I'll start."
As the words spilled from my mouth, detailing the raunchy scene unfolding on the pages, I felt the heat in my cheeks spread all the way to my ears. Chris, of course, looked absolutely delighted, her head still resting on my lap, her smirk growing wider with every syllable.
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