RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 47: FRIDA -

He cupped her face in his hands, his palms warm against her soft cheeks. "You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to," he murmured.

His voice was so gentle, so achingly tender, she felt as though she could dissolve into it and never want for anything again.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. His dark eyes softened, their intensity ebbing into a stormy gray that seemed to glow faintly.

She guessed that’s what pupil dilation looked like.

But why?

He was the one who hurt her.

Had he forgotten what he did?

"If you want me to stop, I will." His voice was a quiet promise, his warmth seeping into her trembling body.

Her body betrayed her heart. Her heart betrayed her mind. And her mind seemed to shut down entirely as the words tumbled out: "Teach me how to ride."

His smirk curved slowly, wickedly, his gaze a seductive caress.

Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms, his movements slow and deliberate, as if the world around them held its breath, jealous of the heat between their gazes, in stark contrast to the morning’s chill.

He mounted the horse behind her, and the moment his body pressed against hers, she became hyperaware of every inch of him.

Her entire being screamed at the proximity, a need so raw it was almost unbearable.

Gently, he took her hands, guiding them to the reins. His voice dropped to a low growl, rich and teasing. "Frida... your thoughts are so loud."

Her cheeks flamed, and she turned her head sharply. Her lips accidentally brushed his, and the sound he made, a strangled, restrained noise, sent shivers down her spine.

Her wide eyes locked onto his, and for a split second, it was as though his brain had short-circuited.

His lips were tantalizingly close, their breaths mingling as if testing the waters of what could happen next.

"Are you going to ride the horse or him?" Leon’s voice cut through the charged moment like a cold gust of wind.

Frida snapped her gaze forward, her face burning, while Laz cleared his throat.

"All right," he said, steadying his tone, though she could hear the faint tremor beneath it.

His hands were back on hers, his warmth a steady anchor. "First, you hold the reins like this." His hands brushed hers, lingering just enough to make her stomach flip.

"Straighten your posture," he instructed, his hands briefly grazing the curve of her waist to adjust her position. Her breath caught in her throat, but he moved on without hesitation.

"Now your legs-" His hand moved lower to correct her positioning, and for a fleeting moment, it grazed her breast.

The touch was so brief, so accidental, and yet, it sent shockwaves through her.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and caught the faintest tug at the corner of his lips. He was playing with her.

Fine, two could play this game.

Shifting subtly, she leaned back until her body pressed firmly against his. She felt him stiffen immediately, his sharp inhale loud in her ear.

"Something wrong?" she asked innocently, glancing over her shoulder with wide, feigned-naive eyes.

His jaw tightened as he tried to shift back, but she followed his movements, keeping the pressure between them constant.

"You’re too close," he whispered, his voice a low rasp.

"Oh," she replied sweetly, blinking up at him. "I thought we needed to be this close to ride?"

He coughed, averting his gaze. "Right. Let’s... keep going."

Taking the reins firmly in his hands, he guided the horse forward. Frida, seizing the opportunity, arched her back slightly, pressing herself against him.

The motion sent another sharp breath through him, and this time, she didn’t miss the way his lips parted as though to hold back a groan.

"Maybe we should stop to rest," he managed to say, his voice strained. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"But I’m starting to get the hang of it," she replied, her tone dripping with mock innocence.

She twisted her head up to look at him, her smile coy as her movements against him became just a touch more deliberate.

His grip on the reins tightened, his knuckles white as tension rippled through his body.

She could feel the way his breath hitched, the way his body trembled, and it gave her a heady rush of power.

When the horse picked up speed, his hand instinctively moved to her waist, holding her steady.

The added pressure, however unintended, sent a shudder through him that he couldn’t hide.

Frida grinned.

By the time the horse slowed to a stop, her own legs felt unsteady, her body buzzing with adrenaline and something far more intoxicating.

Laz’s hands lingered on her waist longer than necessary as he helped her dismount.

She turned to him, reaching up to tilt his chin with her finger. Her lips curled into a victorious smile as she murmured, "That was a great ride."

His breath was shallow, his cheeks faintly flushed as he stared at her, utterly undone.

And for the first time that morning, it wasn’t just her body betraying her, it was his too.

The way he looked so unraveled, so utterly breathless, made her body tremble with a mix of power and longing.

His dark eyes were heavy with an intensity that stole the air from her lungs, and the faint flush across his cheeks was her doing.

She wanted more.

Something dangerous lingered between them, crackling in the air like a storm about to break.

His presence was magnetic, suffocating, and she couldn’t decide if it thrilled her or terrified her.

But one thing she knew for certain, he would be the death of her. And she wasn’t sure she cared to stop it.

"Tomorrow is finally Thanksgiving. Are you excited?" Laurel asked as Frida approached the car, her steps casual despite the crisp chill in the air.

Frida shrugged, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I mean, it sounds good."

"Will the dads be around?" Leo chimed in, his voice muffled as he leaned over to sprinkle kisses all over Danny’s face.

Frida rolled her eyes at the scene. Leo was the clingiest boyfriend she’d ever seen, practically glued to Danny, who looked like a happy puppy basking in the attention.

"Get a room, will you?" she groaned, crossing her arms.

Leo laughed, unbothered by her complaint. "Just say you want to be kissed this way." He punctuated his words with a soft kiss on Danny’s lips, making Danny’s cheeks flush in response.

Frida snorted, turning her attention away from the lovebirds. Her gaze, however, caught Laz just as he was sliding into his car.

His dark eyes met hers, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, slow and deliberate.

She swore she saw his lips curve into the faintest ghost of a kiss, a silent tease meant only for her.

Her breath hitched as her lips parted slightly, and before she could stop herself, she bit down gently, as though accepting his unspoken dare.

Laz’s smirk deepened, and the spark in his eyes promised mischief, leaving Frida’s stomach in knots as he drove away.