Their eyes met unexpectedly in the humid, rain-filled air. The clouds were thick, the sky completely dark now. As if sensing the shift, the streetlights flickered on in rows along the road. Tires hissed on the wet asphalt as cars sped past, blurring the world into a cinematic rain scene. Red and green lights splashed haphazardly across the glistening black road, constantly broken and scattered by the falling rain, casting a warm glow on the faces of the two figures standing by the roadside.

The young man took a deep breath, the wind and rain swirling around them, and exhaled as if making a decision. The vein in his lower abdomen, where she was pressed against him, still throbbed. His arm remained around her; he didn't step back.  In fact, he moved even closer.

Xia Yao stumbled back half a step, caught off guard by his sudden advance. He, who was usually so considerate and respectful of boundaries, was suddenly throwing all caution to the wind.

"Zhou Ye…" Xia Yao's face flushed crimson.  She could barely breathe, her voice a mere whisper, each syllable a soft pant against him.

"I like you." His dark eyes held hers intently. His voice, though clear, had a subtle huskiness that added a magnetic quality to his confession.

She felt as if her heart would burst from the pressure of his embrace. She hadn't realized a boy's arms could be so strong. She tried to pull away, but he seemed oblivious, their bodies still pressed tightly together. He refused to let go.

The rain continued to fall, the wind still whipped around them, but she no longer felt cold. Zhou Ye's body was hot, and her face burned.

She couldn't refuse anything the person she liked wanted to do, especially not her class monitor, who had always been kind to her even before they started dating.

"I… I like you too."

They’d been together for a while now. Perhaps it was time for that.  She’d overheard the other girls talking about who had already done it.

The mere thought that it might happen between her and Zhou Ye made her tremble; her legs felt weak.

His subtle pressure against her was a clear enough hint.

It was up to her to agree or disagree.

…And she did like him very much.

"Should we?" Xia Yao asked, offering him an out, her lips pursed, cheeks flushed.

Zhou Ye looked at her, momentarily stunned. He just stood there, his thoughts unreadable.

"Do you still have your ID card?"

The teacher had collected them recently and just returned them yesterday. She hadn't had a chance to take hers home yet.

"Yes."

Zhou Ye released her and walked into a nearby building. He returned about six or seven minutes later and led her inside, where she also registered at the front desk with her ID. Then they went to the elevators.

The elevator ascended smoothly, carrying them to the seventeenth floor.

They walked down the hallway, turning several corners, before he swiped a card to unlock a room.

The room was large, with an open layout and artistic decor, but what Xia Yao couldn't ignore was the large, white bed in the center.

She felt a little lost as Zhou Ye turned on all the lights, then dimmed them, leaving only a soft, yellowish glow.

The bed was really big.

Realizing where they were, Xia Yao's scalp prickled.

She felt numb as Zhou Ye walked towards her.  He pulled her close with one arm, his breath heavy against her skin, and lowered his head to capture her lips.

Here, all pretense was gone.

The silence amplified the sound of his ragged breathing.  They had only kissed once before.

It was last month, after an exam.  Xia Yao had been going over the answers with him, and they disagreed on several questions. The more they discussed, the more nervous she became, her words stumbling. He, seemingly wanting to distract her, had leaned in and gently pecked her lips.

That was her first kiss, sweet and tart.

After that kiss, Zhou Ye had stared at her for a long time, his intentions unclear.

Xia Yao, her neck flushed, wondered if she had something on her face.

In her mind, kissing was lips touching, gently brushing against each other. But this Zhou Ye was different.

He was like a young beast on the verge of maturity. One hand held her close, the other cupped the back of her head, his breathing heavy.

He opened his mouth and sucked on her lips, his tongue teasing hers.  Her limbs felt weak.

The intimacy of the act, in this private space, felt strangely illicit. Even though no one was watching, it felt as if they were surrounded by unseen eyes.

Xia Yao, desperate for air, gasped against his skin. Sensing her need, Zhou Ye kissed her even harder, his teeth grazing her lip.

He nipped at her lower lip, whispering against her mouth, "Open your mouth. Let me kiss you."

"Mm," she mumbled, obediently parting her lips. But the moment she did, a warm, wet softness invaded her mouth.

His breathing grew more urgent. He pressed her closer, his hands roaming over her body, his voice punctuated by soft moans.

The wet sounds of their kissing filled the room, heavy with unspoken desire.