Hidden In Plain Sight

Red walked down the hallway, still riding the high from her tournament victory. Her mind buzzed, but it was a good kind of buzz—until she felt a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to find her teammate Ace grinning mischievously.

“Nice practice, Red,” he said, his gaze flicking to her neck. “But, uh… you might wanna check the mirror before you head back to the locker room.”

Red’s heart sank as she instinctively touched her neck, realizing with horror that a faint, unmistakable hickey had appeared. The heat of embarrassment spread from her chest to her face.

“Shut up, Ace,” she muttered, trying to maintain her usual tough exterior, but her burning cheeks betrayed her.

Ace wasn’t done teasing. “Holding out on us, huh? Who’s the lucky one?”

Red shot him a sharp glare, grateful the hallway was crowded with students rushing to their next class. She quickly pulled her collar up in an attempt to cover the mark.

Ace grinned. “I didn’t think you were into that kind of thing, Red,” he teased, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

“Not. Your. Business,” Red snapped, turning quickly and walking away, hoping he wouldn’t follow.

She made her way to the nearest bathroom, needing a moment to collect herself. As she pushed the door open, she heard familiar voices—Chloe and Bridget—talking near the sinks.

Red stopped just inside the door, pressing her back to the wall. She wasn’t sure she wanted to make her presence known, but Bridget’s voice rang out loud and clear.

“You’re never gonna believe what I just heard,” Bridget said excitedly. “Ace said Red showed up to practice today with a hickey.”

Chloe paused for a moment, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile as she continued smoothing her lip gloss. Her eyes twinkled with amusement, reflecting the subtle pride she always took in knowing things before anyone else.

Bridget gasped. “Oh my God. You already knew, didn’t you?”

Chloe’s lips curled into a playful smirk. “Maybe.”

Before Red could stop herself, she stepped into the bathroom, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “You two gossiping about me?” she drawled, her voice sharper than usual.

Bridget’s eyes widened, and she let out a quiet squeak, nearly dropping her phone. Chloe, however, didn’t flinch. Her calm, casual demeanor remained unchanged.

“Oh, hey, Red,” Chloe said nonchalantly, capping her lip gloss. “We were just talking about you.”

Red huffed, walking over to the sink and pretending to check her reflection, though she could feel Chloe’s gaze on her. “Yeah, I heard.” She shot Chloe a look through the mirror. “Glad to know you’re enjoying yourself.”

Chloe tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “Why wouldn’t I?” she teased, stepping closer to Red.

Red groaned, pulling her collar up again, attempting to hide the mark. “You’re insufferable.”

Chloe grinned, enjoying every second of Red’s discomfort. “And yet, here we are.”

Bridget, sensing the tension, immediately took a step back, nervously shifting her feet. “I… I didn’t mean to— I swear, I won’t tell anyone, okay?” she stammered. “But holy crap, this is…”

Red rolled her eyes at Bridget’s excitement. The girl was way too excitable, but at least Red knew she could trust her to keep the secret.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Chloe stepped closer to Red, wrapping her arms gently around her neck. Red stiffened for a moment but quickly melted into the warmth of Chloe’s embrace. There was something about being held like this that always left Red off-balance—especially now, with the mark still fresh on her neck. But it felt right, and Red’s shoulders relaxed as Chloe tightened her hold just a little, a slow, comforting gesture.

Red closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her voice soft as she spoke with unexpected vulnerability. “I want cuddles after school,” she murmured, glancing up at Chloe.

Chloe’s grin softened, warmth filling her expression. “Okay, my big baby,” she teased affectionately. “I’ll just use my spare key. No need to make up some stupid excuse anymore. I won’t have to explain why I’m so late, and Bridget will back me up with Ella.”

Red chuckled weakly, her heart swelling with affection. “You’re the worst.”

Chloe pressed a soft kiss to the top of Red’s head, letting her lips linger for a moment. “I know.”

Chloe unlocked the door with a practiced ease, the motion smooth and effortless. As she stepped in, the comforting scent of cinnamon filled the air—always present in Red’s space. It was a contrast to Red’s angry demeanor as she shoved the key back into her pocket. Chloe had seen Red frustrated plenty of times, but tonight felt different.

Red’s cat, Cheshire, immediately sprang onto Chloe as she entered, purring loudly. Chloe grinned and crouched down, offering the cat a treat before standing and turning her attention back to the bathroom door. She heard the shower stop, followed by the door creaking open.

Red stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Chloe’s heart skipped a beat as her gaze involuntarily followed the trail of water droplets down Red’s skin.

No matter how many times Chloe had seen Red in this vulnerable state, it still made her heart race. She watched as Red walked toward her, the towel clinging to her body in a way that made Chloe’s breath catch. Red, emotionally and physically exposed, stood before Chloe with an unspoken trust, like she knew she was safe here with her.

Chloe’s gaze fell to the tattoo of a snake on Red’s collarbone, a permanent reminder of her rebellious past—something she still wore with pride. Chloe thought about how the whole school would’ve been in a frenzy if they’d seen the state of Red’s collarbone, with all the marks left by Chloe during their last session in the art room. The thought of it sent a rush of desire through her.

Red, oblivious to Chloe’s gaze, shook her head as she tried to dry her hair, the towel moving in messy, erratic motions. Chloe stood there, watching, too tempted to resist.

Just as she reached out to wrap her arms around Red, Red looked up, her eyes narrowing. “What’s all this for?” she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and sarcasm.

Chloe didn’t hesitate. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice low and teasing. “I just missed my dummy.”

Red smirked into Chloe’s kiss. “We saw each other just a couple of hours ago—with Bridget in the room,” she added, a distaste creeping into her voice at the mention of Bridget’s name. Chloe didn’t respond to the irritation, knowing how Red felt about sharing her space and time.

“Yeah, well,” Chloe said, her hand resting lightly on the towel wrapped snugly around Red’s chest, “you’ve got intimacy issues. Especially with sharing.” Her fingers played with the edge of the fabric, tugging just slightly, teasing.

Red sighed, setting the smaller towel in her hand down on the key table before meeting Chloe’s gaze. Frustration flickered in her expression, but it melted into something softer. Something more vulnerable. “Whatever,” she murmured. “Just be with me. I need you.”

Chloe didn’t hesitate. She backed Red against the wall with more force than she meant to, sending a spark of something electric between them. The movement knocked Red slightly off balance, her knee hitting the edge of the bed. The shift was just enough for the towel around her chest to loosen—and in the next breath, it slipped, falling soundlessly to the floor.

Chloe stood there for a moment, her eyes tracing every inch of Red’s exposed skin. Red was vulnerable, but Chloe could see the strength in her—the raw, beautiful truth of who she was.

In that moment, Red didn’t feel embarrassed or exposed. Despite standing before Chloe with nothing to hide behind, she felt safe—completely unguarded, yet entirely secure.

She closed her eyes, her fingers curling into the fabric of Chloe’s shirt as their lips met in a deep, hungry kiss. This wasn’t just a kiss—it was something more. Something raw and desperate, a silent confession of everything they couldn’t say.

For Chloe, it was an unspoken promise. For Red, it was the kind of kiss that melted away everything else—the noise, the world outside, the need for anything but this. Every touch, every brush of their lips, was a quiet reassurance, a warmth they both sank into without hesitation.

As the kiss deepened, their bodies pressed together, drawn by an undeniable need. It wasn’t just about wanting each other—it was about needing each other. A desperate attempt to close the space that had always existed between them.

Chloe’s lips traveled along Red’s neck, pressing soft kisses before teasingly nipping at her ear. Red shivered, a flush creeping up her skin as a sharp gasp escaped her lips. Her fingers instinctively tangled in Chloe’s hair, pulling her closer.

Encouraged by the reaction, Chloe smirked against Red’s skin, letting her teeth graze the shell of her ear, drawing out a quiet moan. Red pressed into her, desperate for more—more warmth, more closeness, more of Chloe.

Chloe’s mouth continued its slow descent, her lips trailing along Red’s shoulder, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Red’s breath hitched, her chest rising and falling unevenly, her hands fisting the fabric of Chloe’s shirt as if holding on for stability.

Then, Chloe paused, lifting her gaze to meet Red’s, silently asking for permission.

Red swallowed, heat pooling in her chest as she nodded without hesitation.

That was all Chloe needed.

She captured Red’s lips in a deep, consuming kiss, her hands mapping the curves of Red’s body with a tenderness that set her skin ablaze. The urgency between them built as Chloe deepened the kiss, drawing Red further into the moment, further into her.

Red trembled beneath her, overwhelmed. A flush burned at her cheeks as she lifted her arm, pressing it over her face, as if shielding herself from the intensity of it all.

Chloe pulled back slightly, her breath warm against Red’s cheek. “I want to see your face,” she murmured, her voice both gentle and firm.

Red hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering her arm, eyes meeting Chloe’s—vulnerable, wanting.

A slow smile curved Chloe’s lips as she traced her fingers down Red’s side, savoring the way she shivered beneath her touch.

Red’s breath hitched, her fingers clutching at the sheets. Heat pooled deep in her chest, her voice barely more than a whisper as she exhaled a single word.

“Please.”