16. hot n heavy

The night air was cool against my skin as we stepped out of the apartment, the city buzzing with its usual energy. Martin, Mandy, Hamzah, and I had decided to hit the bars. The plan was simple-just a few drinks, a lot of laughs, and a break from the routine. But there was an unspoken tension in the air, the kind you couldn't quite shake off, no matter how hard you tried.

Hamzah walked beside me, his easygoing nature the perfect contrast to the anticipation I felt curling in my stomach. His hand brushed mine as we walked, and I fought the urge to reach for it, to let him take my hand like he used to when we were kids.

"Hey, you good?" Hamzah's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me out of the haze of my own mind.I looked up at him and nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... tired, I guess.""Don't tell me you're gonna bail on us tonight, Cora," he teased, bumping my shoulder lightly.I laughed, feeling the tightness in my chest loosen just a little. "No, I'll survive. Just need a drink or two to wake up."

Martin and Mandy were already at the bar when we arrived, laughing and chatting with the bartender. The music was loud, the kind that thrummed through your body, making the floor vibrate beneath your feet. It was familiar, the chaotic energy of the crowd, but tonight it felt different. Maybe it was the way Hamzah's eyes kept meeting mine, or how he stayed just a little too close, his presence always there like a magnet pulling me in.

We got our drinks, and the night unfolded with the usual banter-Martin cracking jokes, Mandy joining in with her sharp wit, but I couldn't quite focus. My mind kept drifting back to Hamzah. The way his lips curled into a smile, the way his laughter seemed to pull me in. I wasn't sure when it started, but somewhere along the way, this wasn't just friendship anymore.

As the drinks kept coming, I felt the walls around me begin to fade. I didn't know if it was the alcohol or the electric tension that had been building between Hamzah and me for weeks, but suddenly, it was all too much to ignore.

I caught his gaze across the bar, and for a moment, everything else seemed to stop. The chatter of the crowd, the clinking of glasses, the thumping music-all of it faded as Hamzah's eyes locked onto mine. I felt the pull between us, an undeniable force that made it impossible to look away.

"Come on, Cora," Hamzah said, his voice low, the words barely audible over the music. He was standing close now, his breath warm against my ear as he leaned in. "You've been staring at me all night. What's going on in that head of yours?"I swallowed, my throat dry. "Nothing," I said too quickly, shaking my head. "Just... enjoying the night."He chuckled, his hand brushing against mine once more. "Right."

Before I could stop myself, I found my hand in his, his fingers lacing through mine. The contact sent a jolt through me, the heat of his touch making my pulse quicken. My heart raced, and I could feel the weight of the moment settling between us.

"Let's get out of here," he said suddenly, his voice urgent. "Now."

The words were barely out of his mouth when he was pulling me through the crowd, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation. We left the bar behind, the cool night air hitting my face as we walked down the quiet street. My hand was still in his, and I could feel the heat between us, almost tangible.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice breathless, not sure if I even wanted to know the answer."Somewhere quiet," Hamzah said, his gaze never leaving mine. "Somewhere we can talk. Where we can... be alone."

His words hung in the air like a promise, and I wasn't sure what exactly he meant, but I didn't care. There was something magnetic about him tonight, something that made everything else feel unimportant.

We ended up at a small, quiet park, the kind where no one really went this late. The streetlights cast long shadows across the grass, and the silence of the night felt different, charged.

Hamzah stopped walking and turned to face me, his body inches from mine. The tension between us was unbearable now, thick with unspoken words, unacknowledged feelings.

"Are you sure about this?" I whispered, my voice shaking. I wasn't even sure I was asking the right question. Was I asking if he wanted this as much as I did, or was I asking if we were willing to risk everything for it?

Hamzah's hand moved to my cheek, his touch gentle but firm, as if he was anchoring me to him. "I'm sure," he murmured. His lips were so close to mine now, his breath mixing with mine in the night air. "I've never been more sure of anything."

And then, without another word, he kissed me.

It was nothing like before. It wasn't a slow, hesitant brush of lips. It was urgent, hungry, as if neither of us could wait any longer. My hands moved to his chest, pulling him closer, feeling the heat of his body through the fabric of his shirt. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me against him as the kiss deepened, the world outside fading into nothingness.

I felt the warmth of his skin against mine, the weight of his hands as they cupped my face, the heat of his lips as they moved over mine. Every touch, every movement, sent a spark of electricity through me, setting my body on fire.

And when he pulled away, just slightly, his forehead resting against mine, I felt breathless, overwhelmed, but also... right. Like this was the only place I was meant to be.

"I can't believe we just did that," I breathed, my voice shaking.Hamzah didn't pull away, his hand brushing my hair from my face. He smiled, a small, teasing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Me neither. But I'm not sorry."

Neither was I.

We had rushed home, hand in hand. As soon as we opened the door and entered the apartment, the heat radiating off of him was intoxicating, our lips instantly met. My hands running along his sides as I help him pull off his hoodie, at the same time my coat dropped to the floor and we stumbled trying to keep our lips together while getting undressed, making our way to hamzah's room.

I needed him, more than I had thought. It felt as if our bodies were being pulled together, our kisses sloppy, giggling in between. He was sat on the end of the bed, he held my hips as I straddled him, gaining the upper hand as we made out. I pulled his shirt off, allowing myself to catch my breath for a moment before he swiftly picked me up and switching so I was laying on his soft bed sheets with him above me. I giggled at the suddenness and he joined my laughter before attaching his lips on mine once more.

He pulled the long sleeve shirt I was wearing off, exposing my back on his sheets, he began kissing down my neck and to my breast, while his fingers made their way to my jeans unbuttoning them. I gasped as his lips met my stomach, causing him to look at me as head lowered to in between my thighs."You okay," he spoke, the vibrations rippling on my skin,"Yeah, yes," I spoke breathlessly, as what felt like torture when he slowly pulled my underwear down, I lifted slightly so he could get them off. His lips met my stomach once more as he placed soft kisses that travelled lower and lower. Kissing in between my thighs, teasing me."Are you sure," he whispered into my legs, looking up at me, his curls shining from the moon coming through the window."I'm sure," I spoke leaning up on my elbows to get a better look at him.