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izzih22 · 3 days ago

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Hiii pooks! Happy game day! ( kind of) anyways, who else is surprised Ive actually kept my promise of posting every game day because im lowkey surprised to! Please send in more request!! Thats the only way i can keep these coming out consistently:) Feeback and I’ll get you a pet monkey okay bye ily.

*****

Word count: 3k?

CW: drinking/drunk

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The hotel ballroom had been gutted and reborn as a club for the night—low lights, neon strips curling along the walls, bass pounding so hard the floorboards rattled. It was All-Star Weekend, and the league had gone all out. Everyone who was anyone in women’s basketball was crammed inside—rookies, vets, overseas stars, agents, influencers orbiting the same area.

And in the middle of it all was Paige Bueckers, the loudest of them all.

She was perched on the edge of a makeshift stage, one sneaker planted on a speaker, hair wild and damp against her temples from dancing too hard. Her blazer was tied around her waist, tank top clinging, and she had a glass cup in each hand like dual trophies.

“YEAAAAH!” she screamed, head thrown back, voice cracking but uncaring. Her grin was stupid and wide. Someone from across the crowd screamed her name back, and Paige flexed like she’d just won MVP.

She took another huge swig from the cup in her left hand, then the one in her right, wobbling as she did it. She blinked at them, confused, like she couldn’t remember which one was which, then shrugged and kept both.

A wave of heat and bodies surged around her—teammates grinding against teammates, strangers laughing, people half-shouting, half-singing over the music. Sweat hung in the air like humidity. Lights strobed across faces, making it all a blur of motion and teeth and glitter.

Paige was right at home.

She hopped down from the speaker, landing clumsily, bumping into some poor rookie guard from the Pacers. “My bad, lil bro!” she shouted, steadying him by the shoulders. Then, with that tipsy charisma only she could pull off, she added, “You cold though, keep shootin’, they gonna know your name by next year. Trust.”

The rookie blinked, nodded like he’d just been blessed, and Paige wandered off before he could answer.

Ice was somewhere near the bar, shaking her head at her best friend’s antics, but Paige was long past caring. The drinks had her floaty, her temples buzzing sharp and fizzy. Every beat of the music seemed to ripple through her chest, making her want to yell even louder.

“ALLLLL-STAR WEEKEND, BABYYYY!” Paige bellowed at nobody in particular, spinning in a slow, uneven circle, arms outstretched. She almost toppled, but someone caught her elbow. Paige laughed, hair falling in her face, eyes glassy and shining.

The truth was, she’d been waiting for a night like this. She’d been grinding through season after season, injury after injury, endless travel, media, responsibility. Tonight wasn’t about that. Tonight was about letting go—about screaming until her voice broke and dancing like she was still a teenager sneaking into a house party back in Hopkins.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it. She was here, in this moment. She was a star. She was young, dumb, tipsy, and alive.

She tossed one of her half-finished cups to some stranger and raised the other high, yelling along to a random drake song blasting over the speakers. She had her eyes closed, head back, chest heaving with laughter, like nothing in the world could touch her.

She didn’t notice the familiar figure slipping into the room.

Not yet.

Paige had just finished yelling the entire chorus of a song she only half-knew when a familiar hand hooked her arm and yanked her sideways out of the song.

“I swear to God, P,” Ice muttered, steadying her before she toppled, “you’re two seconds away from face-planting.”

Paige blinked, wobbling in Ice’s grip. Her eyes were glassy, her grin crooked. “What do ya mean? I’m fine.” She tried to pull herself upright, straightening her shoulders like she was about to check into a game. Unfortunately, her knees buckled immediately, and she had to grab Ice’s hoodie to stay vertical.

“Uh-huh,” Ice deadpanned, looking her up and down. “Totally fine. Can barely stand, but yeah, MVP of balance.”

Paige waved her off, sloshing half her drink onto her way too expensive shoes. “C’monnnn, Ice. It’s All-Star weekend. We supposed to be—” she gestured grandly with her cup, nearly smacking a stranger in the head—“having fun, in case you forgot”

“You are having fun,” Ice said dryly. “And drunk as hell.”

Paige burst into laughter, head falling against Ice’s shoulder. “Yo, you sound like Azzi right now.”

“Good. Somebody’s gotta babysit you before you do something stupid.”

“I don’t do stupid things,” Paige announced proudly, standing upright again—only to stumble a half-step and nearly topple backwards into a group of Mercury players. Ice grabbed her just in time, shooting them an apologetic look.

“Uh-huh,” Ice repeated, deadpan as ever. “Totally not stupid.”

Paige pressed her free hand dramatically over her chest. “I’m a responsible citizen. A role model. Kids look up to me, Ice.”

“Not if they see you like this.”

“Like what?!” Paige demanded, offended. She spread her arms wide, cup dangling, tank top clinging damp to her skin. “I’m thriving.”

Ice just raised an eyebrow.

Paige squinted at her, swaying slightly. Then, like it was the funniest thing in the world, she broke into another loud, sloppy laugh. “Okayyy, maybe I’m a little tipsy.”

“You’re gone,” Ice corrected.

Paige ignored her, spinning back toward the dance floor, eyes shining under the flashing lights. She downed the rest of her drink in a heroic gulp, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and shouted, “ANOTHER ROUND!” even though she could barely stay upright.

Ice groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Bro, Azzi’s gonna kill you if she sees you like this.”

But Paige was already gone again, staggering toward the crowd, arms out like she was floating through the chaos, lost in her own little storm.

Azzi slipped through the entrance like she belonged there—not pushing, not shouting, just moving with the kind of effortless composure that made heads turn even without trying. She had on an oversized black button up over her shoulders, skirt fitted just right, her hair catching the glow of the neon strips along the wall. The chaos around her barely touched her.

Her eyes scanned the room once, practiced, sharp. She wasn’t really surprised to find Ice first. Ice stood near the bar, half-bored, half-annoyed, nursing a soda while the party raged.

“Finally,” Ice muttered when she spotted Azzi. She tilted her head, relief in her eyes. “You better handle your girl, ‘cause she’s out here embarrassing both y’all.”

Azzi’s brows lifted, just a touch. Not really surprised. “How bad?”

Ice sighed, motioning with her chin toward the middle of the floor.

Azzi followed the line of sight.

There she was.

Paige.

Her Paige, in the thick of it, wobbling in a circle like she was balancing on a surfboard only she could see. She was surrounded by a group of guys she sometimes trained with in the summer—big, loud dudes hyping her up as she tried to show off some half-dance, half-basketball move that looked more like a drunk octopus than anything else.

Azzi closed her eyes for half a second, like she was summoning patience. When she opened them again, her lips were pressed into a tight, amused line.

“Of course,” she murmured.

“I tried to stop her,” Ice said quickly, holding up her hands. “I really did. But, you know. Paige.”

Azzi’s shoulders dropped with a tiny sigh. “Yeah. I know.”

And then she was moving. Smooth steps cutting through the crowd, the music vibrating under her feet, her expression the same calm mask she wore walking into an arena tunnel before tip-off. Her chest tightened just a little, though—because as much as she wanted to roll her eyes, there was also something unbearably Paige about the scene. Loud, ridiculous, the center of everything. And yet…Azzi could already tell she was going to have to pry her girlfriend off this dance floor before she broke something.

Azzi adjusted her shirt, squared her shoulders, and closed the last of the distance.

Azzi slipped into the crowd, weaving through swaying bodies and flashing lights. It took all of two steps before someone stopped her.

“Yo, Azzi! Big fan, big fan!” Some guy in a Suns cap held out his phone like she was supposed to pose. Azzi gave him a polite smile, leaned in for half a second, then excused herself with a quick, “Thanks, appreciate it,” before moving on.

She wasn’t here for selfies. She wasn’t here to mingle. She was here for Paige.

Another voice called her name—this time a player from the Dream, tipsy and laughing, pulling her into a hug that lingered just a little too long. “Girl, you look so good tonight. Where’s Bueckers? Don’t tell me she ditched you.”

Azzi smirked, sidestepping the question. “She’s…around.” Her eyes flicked toward the center of the floor, where Paige was now balancing on one foot like she was trying to prove a point, her buddies cheering like it was the dunk contest.

God. Azzi’s jaw tightened. If Paige leaned any further, she was going to topple into the DJ booth.

“I’ll catch you later,” Azzi told the player, brushing off the lingering hand on her arm. She cut through another wave of dancers, her patience thinning with every person who tried to stop her. It wasn’t annoyance at them—it was at the sight of her girlfriend wobbling dangerously close to chaos, still laughing like the world was hers to play with.

Azzi felt the difference instantly between herself and the room. Everyone else was submerged in the blur—sweat, music, drinks, neon haze. She moved through it like water parting, steady, untouched, eyes fixed.

She caught Paige’s laugh again, rising above the music, wild and carefree. Azzi’s lips twitched despite herself. As much as she wanted to scold her, as much as she wanted to drag her home this second…there was also something stupidly charming about the way Paige threw herself into every room like she owned it.

But still. Enough.

Azzi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, steadied her breath, and closed the last few feet. Paige had her back turned, mid-story—or maybe mid-rant—hands flying, body swaying like she was on a boat.

Azzi reached out, her hand brushing over Paige’s arm.

Paige was in the middle of explaining—loudly, passionately, with her cup sloshing all over—that she could, in fact, out-dance anyone in the building. Her buddies were hyping her, chanting her name like she was back in the Final Four.

That’s when a hand touched her arm.

She flinched, spun halfway around, bleary eyes trying to focus. The lights behind her blurred whoever it was into a shadowy silhouette. Too close. Too random.

Paige staggered a step back, hand out like a traffic cop. “Noooo,” she drawled, shaking her head so hard her damp hair slapped her cheeks. “Uh-uh. Back it up. I don’t dance with strangers.”

The crowd chuckled, but Paige wasn’t finished. She jabbed a finger clumsily in the air. “I got a girlfriend. Best girlfriend. Prettiest girlfriend.” She dragged out the last word like it tasted sweet. “And you? You're not her.”

Azzi said nothing—just stood there, lips twitching.

Paige swayed, tried to squint through the flashing neon. “Nuh-uh. Nope. Not Azzi. My girl’s like—like…” She lifted her hands, struggling to find the words, before letting them fall dramatically to her sides. “Like, stupid pretty. You wouldn’t get it. You can’t just walk up and be her.”

The buddies around her were howling now, recording the whole scene. Paige, blissfully oblivious, kept going.

“I miss her,” she mumbled suddenly, quieter but not quiet enough. “My girlfriend. She’s not here. She should be here. She—” Her voice cracked a little. She clutched her cup to her chest like it was a microphone. “She got these eyes, man. Eyes that look at me like…” Paige trailed off, blinking hard. “Like I’m worth somethin’.”

The “stranger” finally stepped forward, hand curling gently around her wrist, steadying the wobble Paige didn’t even notice she had.

Paige yanked back clumsily, half-pouting. “Stoppp, I told you, you’re not Azzi. She’d never grab me like—” Her words cut short as her gaze finally steadied.

The lights flickered across the face in front of her.

Her face.

Azzi.

Paige froze, mouth falling open. “...Wait.”

Azzi couldn’t help it—she laughed, soft and warm, her forehead nearly tipping against Paige’s. “Baby. It’s me.”

Paige blinked, processing with all the speed of a snail. Then, suddenly, her jaw dropped wide, like she’d just discovered fire. “AZZZZI!” she yelled, nearly falling into her. She flung both arms around Azzi’s shoulders, clutching her like a lifeline, cup dangling dangerously from one hand. “You’re here! My girlfriend’s here!” She announced no one in particular.

Azzi steadied her with both arms around her waist, shaking her head in disbelief. “Yes, I’m here. You were just telling half the room how much you miss me.”

“I was!” Paige said proudly, voice cracking. She pulled back just enough to squint at Azzi again, as if she couldn’t quite believe it. Her lips curved in a sloppy smile. “You’re so pretty. Like—like way prettier than them.” She waved vaguely at the stunned circle of guys still watching.

Azzi’s cheeks warmed despite herself. “That’s…good to know.”

“I told everybody,” Paige announced, jabbing her thumb at her own chest. “Whole room knows I got the prettiest girlfriend. They can’t compete. No competition.”

“Clearly.” Azzi chuckled, trying to pry the cup out of her hand. Paige resisted for all of two seconds before relenting, only to immediately wrap both arms around Azzi’s neck again, swaying against her.

“You’re my girlfriend,” Paige muttered, suddenly soft. “I don’t let anybody replace you.”

Azzi’s heart clenched. She smoothed a hand over Paige’s damp hair. “Nobody could, P. Come on—let’s get you out of here.”

Paige groaned dramatically, but let herself be steered toward the door, leaning on Azzi like a sleepy kid. “Told you…everybody’s ugly here. You’re the only pretty one.”

Azzi laughed under her breath, kissing her temple as she guided her through the crowd. “Yeah, yeah. I heard you.”

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izzih22 · 5 days ago

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Hi pookies!! I know y’all have been waiting for this, again I am not an expect at smut but I took some of y’all advice and this is what happened. Sooo I hope you guys enjoy and please please please leave feedback!! It’s really helps! I think this turned out pretty well written! Send in requests, I post after every wings game also my graphics cooked thank yew. Have fun;)

@izzih22 🤍

— — — — — —

Cw: s m u t!!!

Word count: 6,370

Pairing: No established relationship, Paige and Azzi are around 27 and 26, set in LA.

Leave feedback and u get a cookie :)

**********

The air in the room was thick with that strange, unshakable stillness that follows a night game—the kind that clings to your skin like leftover adrenaline. The hotel’s AC hummed softly, but the real light came from the slice of moon spilling through the barely drawn curtains, silvering the edges of everything it touched. Somewhere outside, Los Angeles was still buzzing, but up here, it felt suspended.

Azzi sat down on the bed across from Paige’s, legs folding under her with casual ease, her warm-up still hanging loose on her frame.

“It’s so crazy being here,” she said, eyes flicking over the room before settling on Paige. “Y’know… really here. After all these years.”

Paige peeled off her jacket, tossing it onto her bed. “Yeah… I get what you mean.” She leaned back on her hands, studying her like she wasn’t sure if she should smile. “I mean, what’s it been—five years?”

Azzi nodded slowly. “Five years since we shared a court”

The first game of the USA tournament had been a blowout—72–103 against Canada—but the scoreboard didn’t matter. Not compared to the quiet, electric fact that this was the first time they’d seen each other off a competing court since college. No tunnels filled with WNBA camera crews. No jerseys declaring their loyalties. Just the two of them, stripped of that noise. They had lost contact when Paige got drafted, from teammates to just..respectable silence.

“Still,” Azzi said after a beat, her voice softer now, “seeing you tonight… I almost forgot what it’s like playing with you, not against you.”

Paige’s gaze flickered to her in the moonlight. God, she looked different—but not. Same eyes. Same calm. But without the overhead glare of stadium lights or the Mystics’ red and blue stitched into her skin, she was just… Azzi. The real one. And it hit Paige in the chest harder than she’d expected.

She didn’t plan on saying anything. But the thought had been scratching at her all night, from warmups to the final buzzer, and now—here in the hush of a shared room—it pushed its way out.

“You know…” Paige shifted forward a little, elbows resting on her knees. “I used to have a thing for you back then. Like, during college. Fact is, I almost told you the night we won that championship.”

Azzi blinked, her head tilting just slightly. A small, amused breath left her, but her eyes didn’t waver. “You’re telling me this now?”

Paige’s lips quirked into something between a smirk and a wince. “Guess I figured it’s been long enough to admit it.”

Azzi didn’t answer right away. She leaned back slightly, propping herself on her palms, eyes flicking down for just a second like she was deciding if she wanted to step into that space Paige had just opened.

“I—” she started, then stopped, her lips pressing together in a small, self-conscious smile. “Okay… I guess I should be honest too.”

Paige cocked her head, already grinning. “Oh, should you?”

Azzi laughed quietly, but it was the kind of laugh that carried nerves under it. “Yeah. I had a crush on you too. Back then.”

Paige’s eyebrows lifted, a slow smirk tugging at her mouth. “Oh, you did?”

Azzi nodded, her gaze dropping to the comforter she was absentmindedly tracing patterns into. “Mhm. I just… never said anything. You were—” She paused, her eyes flicking up to meet Paige’s briefly before darting away again. “You were Paige Bueckers. You had that whole… thing about you. Confident, easy with people, always knew exactly what to say. I figured the last thing you needed was me throwing a crush in the mix.”

Paige chuckled, leaning forward on her knees like she was closing the distance just to make Azzi squirm. “You think I always knew what to say? That’s cute.”

Azzi’s lips curved. “Well, you looked like you did.”

“Yeah, that’s called faking it so no one knows you’re actually losing your mind,” Paige said, her tone light, but her eyes didn’t leave Azzi’s.

There was a beat where neither spoke, the air between them filled with the faint hum of the AC and the distant noise of LA nightlife through the window. Paige was the one who broke it, her voice softer now.

“So… all that time, we were both walking around with the same secret?”

Azzi tilted her head, meeting her eyes again. “Guess so.”

Paige let out a low whistle. “Man… we could’ve been dangerous.”

That earned her a genuine laugh from Azzi—quieter than Paige’s, but warmer. “Dangerous?”

“Yeah,” Paige said, shrugging one shoulder. “You and me, back then? On the same team, winning everything, already in sync on the court. Add the off-court part?” She leaned back a little, smirk widening. “Would’ve been over for everyone.”

Azzi shook her head, smiling despite herself. “You’re ridiculous.”

Paige grinned. “Yeah, but you missed it, huh?”

Azzi hesitated just long enough for the pause to mean something. “Maybe I did.”

Paige didn’t push after that. She just let the words hang there, watching how Azzi sat a little straighter now, how the moonlight caught in her hair. The years between them felt thin all of a sudden—like the version of them from college was still somewhere in the room, pacing just outside of reach.

Azzi glanced toward the window, her voice quieter when she spoke again. “It’s funny. We’ve both had all this life since then—different teams, different cities—and yet… this still feels…” She searched for the word, eventually settling on, “Familiar.”

Paige nodded slowly. “Yeah. Like we never actually stopped.”

Their eyes met again and stayed there this time, a little longer than necessary. Not tense. Not awkward. Just that low, steady hum of recognition you can’t fake.

And then Paige smiled, slow and deliberate. “Guess we’re finally saying the things we should’ve said five years ago.”

Azzi smiled back, her voice just above a whisper. “Guess we are.”

Paige let her weight sink back onto her palms, eyes drifting over Azzi like she was relearning her. The braids were the first thing she noticed—long, a little wavy at the ends, curls spilling from them in light shades of brown and a little blonde, catching in the moonlight when she moved her head. They were nothing like the two neat braids she used to wear on game days, but they suited her. Made her look older, sure, but also softer. Maturely gorgeous.

“You changed your hair,” Paige said, her tone casual, but her gaze lingering.

Azzi lifted a hand, fingers brushing lightly over one braid as if to check it. “Yeah… been like this for a while. Easier for me now.” A tiny smile tugged at her mouth. “You noticed?”

Paige gave her a look that was almost teasing, but not quite. “Course I noticed. Hard not to when it’s this good.”

Azzi’s eyes flickered down and then back up, maybe to deflect. “And you… you’ve got tattoos now huh. Not too scared anymore I guess”

Paige glanced down at her left arm, twisting it a little under the light so the ink shifted. Black lines and shading curled over muscle—abstract shapes, a cross, a few words tucked in places only visible up close, some Bible quotes that were her favorites. “Yeah. Got it done during the off-season last year. Kept adding to it.” She smirked. “Not bad, right?”

Azzi’s lips curved. “It’s… different. Makes you look…” She hesitated, then settled on, “Like you’ve lived a little.”

Paige chuckled low in her throat. “Oh, I’ve lived. Don’t worry about that.”

That earned her another soft laugh from Azzi, but it faded into a quieter kind of stillness. The kind that wasn’t awkward—just full. They’d gone years without speaking, and yet here they were, trading small details like they were catching up over coffee, not sitting in the dim hum of a hotel room with the city pressing in beyond the glass.

“You know,” Azzi said after a moment, voice thoughtful, “I think part of why I didn’t tell you back then… is because I didn’t want to mess it up. The team, the rhythm we had. I was scared it would change everything.”

Paige tilted her head. “And now?”

Azzi’s gaze held hers for a beat longer than before. “Now… I guess I’m wondering if that was a mistake.”

Paige let a slow smile spread. “Could’ve been. Or maybe it’s just… timing.”

Azzi arched a brow. “Timing?”

“Yeah.” Paige leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on her knees again, eyes locked on Azzi. “Like maybe back then, we weren’t supposed to. But now? Different story.”

Azzi’s fingers stilled on the braid she’d been absently toying with, her breath catching just enough for Paige to notice.

It was subtle, but the air in the room shifted right there.

Paige moved without thinking too much about it—just eased forward until she was sitting at the edge of her bed, close enough to see the way the moonlight painted tiny highlights along Azzi’s cheekbones.

“You keep looking at me like that,” Paige murmured, “and I’m gonna think you’re still crushing on me.”

Azzi’s lips curved, but there was a flicker of shyness in it. “Maybe I am.”

Paige’s grin turned slow, deliberate. “Good to know.”

For a moment, they just stayed there—close, watching each other like neither wanted to be the one to break the line they’d finally crossed back into.

Paige didn’t rush it. She just let the pause hang between them, watching how Azzi’s shoulders rose and fell with her breathing. Then she shifted—slow enough for Azzi to see it coming—and crossed the narrow space between their beds.

The mattress dipped under her weight when she sat down on Azzi’s, close enough that their knees brushed.

Azzi’s head tilted slightly, one of her braids sliding over her shoulder. “You’re just gonna sit here like you belong, huh?”

Paige smirked. “Didn’t hear you tell me not to.”

Azzi shook her head, but her smile gave her away. “You always did have a way of getting what you wanted.”

“Mm,” Paige said, leaning in just a fraction, her voice dropping. “Guess I still do.”

The hum of the AC felt louder now, like it was the only thing keeping the room from boiling over. Paige’s eyes lingered on her, slow and deliberate, tracing over the curve of her jaw, the way the moonlight caught the subtle gold in her skin, the soft movement of her fingers still playing with a braid.

“You smell the same,” Paige said suddenly, a little grin tugging at her mouth. “Like… whatever that lotion was you used to use. You still got it?”

Azzi blinked, a quiet laugh slipping out. “You remember that?”

“Yeah,” Paige said, her gaze dipping just enough to make Azzi’s stomach flip. “You used to drive me crazy with that. I’d catch it in warmups and…” She trailed off, smirking like she’d caught herself saying too much.

Azzi’s voice softened, curiosity edging it. “And what?”

Paige held her eyes, the corner of her mouth lifting. “And I’d forget the play we were running.”

Azzi shook her head, but the blush at her cheeks was undeniable. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” Paige said, leaning just a little closer, “but I’m honest.”

For a second, neither moved. Paige could see the slight flare of Azzi’s nostrils when she took in a deeper breath, could feel the faint warmth radiating between them. She wanted to touch her—badly—but she didn’t. Not yet.

Instead, she murmured, “It’s weird, huh? How easy it is to sit here like this. Like no time’s passed.”

Azzi nodded slowly. “It’s… nice. And a little dangerous.”

Paige’s grin spread. “You say that like you’re warning me.”

“Maybe I am,” Azzi said, but her voice was quiet now, almost like she didn’t want to ruin the way Paige was looking at her.

Paige let the silence stretch for a heartbeat, then shifted again—turning slightly so their thighs brushed, her arm draping loosely over her knee, close enough that her fingers almost touched Azzi’s.

“You think we’d have been good together?” Paige asked, her tone softer now, less teasing.

Azzi’s lips parted just a little, her eyes dipping before finding Paige’s again. “I think… we might’ve been unstoppable.”

Paige’s smirk deepened, but there was a heat in her eyes now, steady and locked in. “Guess we’ll never know… unless we find out.”

That landed. Paige could see it in the way Azzi’s breathing shifted, in the way her fingers stilled completely.

And still, Paige didn’t move in. She just stayed there, close enough that Azzi could feel every ounce of what she wasn’t doing—yet.

Azzi’s gaze lingered on Paige’s mouth just a little too long. Paige caught it, of course — she caught everything — but didn’t say a word. She just sat there, steady, her knee pressed against Azzi’s, her arm draped casual but close, like she was daring her to close that gap.

And then Azzi moved.

Not quick, not hesitant — just slow enough for Paige to feel every inch of it. Her weight shifted toward her, her braids sliding forward over her shoulder, the faint scent of her lotion curling into Paige’s chest. When she stopped, their mouths were maybe a whisper apart — no more than the space of a breath.

Close enough that Paige could feel the ghost of Azzi’s exhale on her lips.

Close enough that pulling back would mean admitting too much.

Close enough that leaning forward would change everything.

Paige’s eyes dropped to her mouth, then back up. “You trying to start something?” she murmured.

Azzi’s voice was barely there, but steady. “Maybe I am.”

Paige’s jaw flexed. She’d been holding herself in check all night — watching, teasing, testing the edges — but that? That undid her.

Her hand slid up the side of Azzi’s neck, fingers curling into the base of her braids, and she pulled her forward hard enough to erase the space.

The kiss hit like it had been waiting five years to happen — no soft testing, no polite brush. Just heat. Paige’s mouth claimed hers instantly, deep and greedy, her thumb stroking over Azzi’s jaw as she angled her head for more.

Azzi didn’t melt into it, though — she met her, pressing forward with equal force, one hand fisting in the front of Paige’s shirt like she was holding her in place. Their mouths clashed, parted, clashed again, tongues tangling in a rhythm that felt more like a fight than a dance, neither giving an inch.

Paige’s other hand slid down Azzi’s side, over the dip of her waist, gripping her hip and pulling her closer until their knees knocked and their thighs pressed. Azzi responded by sliding her own hand up Paige’s inked arm, fingers tracing the edge of the tattoo before curling tight around her bicep.

The air between them was gone — nothing but heat and the ragged sound of breath between kisses. Paige tilted her head, deepening it, sucking lightly on Azzi’s bottom lip before dragging her teeth over it, earning the faintest, muffled sound in response.

That was all the encouragement Paige needed. Her hand slid lower, splaying over the small of Azzi’s back, pulling her flush, chest to chest. Azzi broke the kiss just long enough to breathe, their foreheads touching, both of them still gripping like letting go wasn’t an option.

Paige’s voice was low, rough. “Five years, Az. Five years and you kiss me like that?”

Azzi’s lips curved against hers, breath still fast. “Guess I was holding back too.”

Paige didn’t answer — she just caught her mouth again, harder this time, both hands in Azzi’s braids now, holding her right there as the kiss turned frantic, messy, unstoppable. Azzi’s fingers slid under Paige’s shirt, nails grazing the warm skin at her waist, and Paige groaned into her mouth, the sound vibrating between them.

It wasn’t careful anymore. It wasn’t patient. It was all pent-up want spilling out in touches that were everywhere at once — Paige’s hands roaming over her back and shoulders, Azzi’s tracing the line of her spine before gripping her hip again and pulling her closer still.

By the time they finally broke for air, both of them were breathing like they’d just come off the court, foreheads pressed together, neither letting the other go.

Paige’s smirk was faint, but her eyes were still dark, locked on Azzi’s. “You know you just made it impossible to stop now, right?”

Azzi’s lips brushed hers, the barest tease of a touch. “Good.”

Paige didn’t break eye contact when she moved.

Her hands slid from the back of Azzi’s braids down to her waist, firm and deliberate, guiding her forward until she was straddling Paige’s lap. The mattress dipped slightly under their weight, Azzi’s knees sinking into either side of her hips, and suddenly the air felt thinner.

Azzi’s hands found her shoulders for balance, fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt. The position put them so close that their noses nearly brushed, their mouths just a breath apart. Paige could feel the heat radiating off her, every tiny shift in her weight sending a low thrum through her body.

Her voice was low, almost teasing, but steady. “You have any idea how long I’ve wanted you right here?”

Azzi’s answer came with a quiet, unshaken confidence, even as her eyes dipped to Paige’s mouth. “Probably as long as I’ve wanted to be here.”

That was it — Paige closed the last inch, their mouths colliding in a kiss that was nothing like the first. It was deep, searching, like they were both determined to make up for every minute they’d lost.

Paige’s grip on her waist tightened, holding her in place as her tongue slid against Azzi’s, drawing a quiet gasp from her. Azzi's right hand sliding up to cup the back of Paige’s neck, her thumb brushing over the edge of her jaw like she needed to feel her as much as taste her.

The kiss slowed for a moment — not because they wanted to stop, but because they couldn’t help lingering, learning the shape of each other’s mouths. Azzi murmured something against her lips, too soft to catch, and Paige smiled into the kiss, letting it break just enough to ask, breathless, “What?”

Azzi’s eyes opened, dark and unguarded. “Worth the wait.”

Paige laughed softly, the sound rough in her chest, and pulled her back in. The kiss turned hotter, more urgent, their mouths parting and finding each other again with a rhythm that was messy in the best way. Azzi’s fingers slipped into Paige’s hair at the base of her neck, nails grazing lightly over her skin, pulling a low hum from her.

The position made every movement magnify — when Azzi shifted to get closer, her hips brushed against Paige’s in a way that sent a jolt through both of them. Paige’s hands roamed up her back, over the curve of her shoulders, before sliding down again to hold her tighter, thumbs pressing into her sides like she couldn’t bear the thought of letting her drift even an inch away.

The room was quiet except for their breathing — uneven, tangled — and the faint, wet sounds of their mouths meeting and parting. Paige let one kiss break just long enough for her lips to graze Azzi’s cheek, her words low and almost a growl. “You’re killin’ me sittin’ like that,” she murmured, her voice low, gravel threaded through the heat.

Before Azzi could ask what she meant, Paige’s hands slid — deliberate, steady — to grip the backs of her thighs. That casual strength lifted her just enough, guiding her forward and down until her hips found the ridge of Paige’s bent knee.

The shock of pressure stole Azzi’s breath. A sharp, unplanned sound escaped her throat, and Paige caught it with her mouth, swallowing it like she’d been starving for it.

“Fuck…” Paige exhaled against her lips, kissing her again — deeper, wetter, like she’d decided there was no going back now. Her hands didn’t just hold Azzi there; they urged her in slow, controlled movements, the pressure beneath her rubbing exactly where her body had been screaming for friction.

Azzi’s fingers tangled in Paige’s hair, pulling lightly, but every pull only made Paige guide her harder over the pressure, her knee pressing up just enough to make Azzi gasp into her mouth.

Paige kissed like she had a point to prove — not rushed, but all-consuming, every brush of tongue and catch of teeth syncing with the subtle drag of her knee under Azzi’s weight.

“You feel that?” Paige muttered between kisses, her breath hitching against Azzi’s cheek.

Azzi could only nod, the motion tiny, desperate, her forehead pressed to Paige’s as she rode the steady, teasing rhythm Paige was dictating with her hands. The friction through her clothes was maddening — not enough to finish her, but enough to burn every nerve raw.

Paige’s thumbs stroked slow circles into the backs of Azzi’s thighs, grounding and inflaming her all at once. “Good girl… just like that,” she whispered, voice dipping low enough to make Azzi’s stomach tighten even more.

Azzi didn’t know what she wanted more — for Paige to keep her exactly here, or to push her over that line they’d both been tiptoeing around for years.

Azzi’s hands were everywhere now — not frantic, but searching, insistent. Her mouth broke against Paige’s every few seconds, breathless gasps between kisses that had gone from smooth to stuttering. She rocked down, slow at first, then harder, the muscle of Paige’s knee pressing exactly where she needed it.

Her fingers bunched into Paige’s shirt, nails catching on the cotton as if she could rip it over her head without even thinking about it. Paige’s hands caught her waist, not to stop her movement — not yet — but to guide it, dragging her forward, back, forward again until Azzi’s breath hitched against her mouth.

The friction was maddening. Every shift sent heat curling up her spine, made her knees weaken even though she was straddling Paige. The kiss faltered entirely when Paige flexed her thigh just right, and Azzi’s head dropped to Paige’s shoulder, muffling a sound she hadn’t meant to make.

Her grip on the shirt tightened, tugging upward, desperate for more skin, more anything — but Paige’s voice was there, low, steady, cutting through the haze.

“Uh-uh,” she murmured, a thumb pressing into Azzi’s hip to still her just enough. “Not yet.”

It wasn’t a rejection, not in her tone — it was a promise, one that made Azzi’s whole body shiver in frustration and want. Paige kissed her again, slow and deliberate, keeping her perched right at the edge, nowhere to go but exactly where Paige allowed.

Paige’s lips broke from Azzi’s just long enough to breathe, her hands sliding over her waist and down the curve of her hips. She gave a soft, low chuckle, letting her thumbs drag lightly over the edge of Azzi’s shorts.

“Pull these off for me, okay, sweetheart?” she murmured, tapping gently on the fabric damp, her voice soft but commanding.

Azzi’s hands trembled just a little as she nodded, lifting them over her hips and rolling the waistband down. The soft gasp that escaped her lips when her skin hit the cool air of the room made Paige’s chest tighten with need.

“Good,” Paige murmured, leaning in to kiss her again, slower this time, tasting her, memorizing every curve. Then, in a swift, smooth motion, Paige tugged her own shorts down, letting the warm, bare skin of her thigh meet Azzi’s.

Azzi froze for a heartbeat, just letting the sensation hit her before a shiver ran through her. Paige caught it in a hum, tilting her head to kiss her neck, her hands sliding up Azzi’s back to hold her close.

“Over me,” Paige whispered, nudging her forward gently. “I want to feel you.”

Azzi shifted carefully, sliding herself onto Paige’s bare thigh. The friction hit immediately, making her gasp into Paige’s mouth, clutching at her shoulders to steady herself. Paige’s hands moved down to her hips, guiding her movements, lifting her just slightly, rocking her slowly.

“Like that…” Paige murmured against her lips, thumb brushing over the line of Azzi’s hip. “Slow… you feel so good.”

Azzi’s moans started quiet, shaky, but soon grew in rhythm with the gentle push and lift of Paige’s hands. Every press of her body against Paige’s thigh made her head spin, every gasped breath into Paige’s mouth pulling a low groan from her.

Azzi's eyes locked on hers, lips brushing hers between murmurs and sighs, guiding her with careful pressure. “That’s it… just like that… Don’t stop—please.”

Azzi’s hands tangled in Paige’s hair, nails grazing lightly, every motion building a tension so acute it was almost painful, but so right. She rocked with deliberate, slow movements, letting Paige’s thigh press into her, Paige’s hands steadying her, controlling the rise and fall, until she was trembling, building, aching for release under Paige’s steady guidance.

Paige’s eyes stayed locked on Azzi’s as she shifted her grip on her hips, tilting her forward just enough so the pressure of her bare thigh pressed into her in all the right ways. Azzi’s breath hitched, hands clutching Paige’s shoulders as she rocked against her, hips moving in a rhythm dictated by Paige’s steady hold.

“patience,” Paige murmured, voice low, rough with need. Her thumb brushed teasing circles along the side of Azzi’s hip, dragging her closer.

Azzi could only nod, her lips parting into a soft gasp as she moved, trying to ride the heat Paige was giving her. The friction alone was enough to make her knees tremble.

Paige didn’t stop. Slowly, deliberately, she slid one finger along Azzi’s slickness, brushing just the edge at first. Azzi froze, a sharp, startled gasp breaking past her lips, and Paige caught it in a hungry kiss.

“Shh…” Paige whispered against her mouth, letting the tip of her finger slip inside slowly, teasing, careful, inch by inch. Her other hand cupped Azzi’s jaw, tilting her head so their eyes stayed locked.

Azzi moaned into her, the sound shaky and desperate. She pressed down harder against Paige’s thigh, grinding just enough to feel the added pressure, letting her hips roll with the guidance Paige was giving. Her hands fisted in Paige’s hoodie, nails grazing the fabric as if she could anchor herself in the moment.

Paige’s lips trailed along her neck, murmuring her name softly between strokes. “God, you feel so perfect… just like this,” she said, her voice low and throaty. Her finger moved with deliberate slowness, matching the rhythm of Azzi’s hips, teasing her, making her body tighten around her.

Azzi’s gasps grew louder, uneven, broken by shallow breaths. Her movements stuttered, hips rocking almost uncontrollably as Paige’s finger and the hard ridge of her thigh combined to drive her higher. Every inch, every deliberate press and slide, was building her toward a desperate, aching edge.

Paige’s eyes stayed locked on hers, dark and commanding, watching every reaction, every tremor, every gasp. “You like that, don’t you, Az?” She said, almost teasing.

Azzi couldn’t answer — all she could do was shiver, rock, and gasp into Paige’s mouth, feeling herself coil tighter and tighter, every nerve on fire, every motion guided by the woman under her.

Paige’s gaze didn’t leave Azzi’s as her hands moved up, tugging at the hem of her shirt. Azzi’s breath hitched, fingers tangling in Paige’s hair.

“P-Paige…” Azzi stuttered, her voice trembling,

Paige’s smirk was slow, knowing. “I know.”

Before Azzi could react further, Paige peeled the shirt up over her head, tossing it aside. Her hands skimmed over Azzi’s bare skin, fingertips ghosting along the curve of her waist, teasing every nerve.

Azzi murmured, hips rocking slightly, pressing against Paige oh my God. “Feels… so good, just being… like this.”

Paige leaned in, capturing her mouth again, but now her fingers pulled away from Azzi, sliding to the waistband of her own boxers. With a low groan, she pushed them down, freeing her thighs to spread and anchor Azzi more firmly.

“Now,” Paige murmured, tugging gently at the hem of Azzi’s shirt, making her sit back slightly. “I want all of you on me.”

Azzi shivered, a mix of nervousness and hunger in her eyes. “okay,” she whispered, pulling it off, letting Paige’s hands help slide it over her head.

Paige smiled, teeth grazing Azzi’s shoulder as she leaned her back against the mattress. With one fluid motion, she guided Azzi over her, helping her lay flat, back to the bed, their bare skin pressing together for the first time.

“Look at you,” Paige murmured, tracing a finger along Azzi’s spine, down her side, watching her shiver. “So perfect… just for me.”

Azzi let out a low, shaky laugh, pressing herself closer. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”

Paige’s lips captured hers again, slower this time, savoring, tasting, letting her hands roam. Both of them were bare now, throbbing with need, every nerve raw and alive. The heat between them was unbearable, electric, ready to consume them entirely.

Paige’s lips hovered over Azzi’s core for a heartbeat, just looking, just tasting the anticipation thick in the air. Her fingers lingered on Azzi’s hips, steadying her as she lowered herself, letting her breath ghost over her clit before brushing it lightly with her tongue.

Azzi’s back arched instantly, a sharp intake of breath shattering the quiet. “Oh… god…” she whispered, hands tangling in Paige’s hair. “Paige… fuck…”

Paige smiled against her, teasing, letting her tongue trace tiny circles, drawing out every gasp, every whimper. She took it slow, torturing her deliciously, letting her lips hover just over the sensitive spot, dragging lightly before dipping lower.

Azzi’s fingers dug into her hair, tugging gently but insistently as her hips rolled down, searching for more friction against Paige’s lips and tongue. “ Oh god…” she moaned, voice shaky, uneven.

Paige groaned, loving the way Azzi’s body moved against her, like it was made for this. She shifted subtly, rocking her hips against the mattress, trying to get friction against her own thigh, teasing herself while keeping every movement dedicated to Azzi.

Her tongue moved with painstaking slowness, flicking, circling, dipping — every pass coaxing more sounds from Azzi, each gasp and moan urging her to go just a little harder. “You taste so good Az… every inch…” Paige murmured, voice low and thick, almost a growl as she pressed her lips against her, fingers sliding to spread her more for access.

Azzi’s head fell back, lips parted, every breath coming in shallow gasps. Her hands clawed through Paige’s hair, tugging, holding, desperate for more, for release, for friction, for everything Paige was giving her. “Paige… I’m… I’m—oh fuck—so close,”

Paige didn’t rush her, didn’t let her go just yet. She kept her movements slow, aching, torturing her in the best possible way. She teased her, sucked lightly, licked in tiny, precise motions that made Azzi shiver and tremble. Every brush, every flick, every press of her lips made Azzi’s body coil tighter and tighter.

Azzi’s hips started to buck lightly, uncontrolled, hands in Paige’s hair, moans spilling out in ragged gasps. “Fuck…” Her voice broke halfway, a guttural sound of need and surrender as she teetered on the edge.

Paige groaned, one hand bracing at Azzi’s hip to guide her, the other still threading through her, holding her in place even as she shivered and quaked. The friction against her own cunt was a delicious burn, but every thought, every motion, every groan was about Azzi — making her come undone, slow and shattering, while Paige took it all in.

Azzi’s body finally trembled, the first wave hitting hard. She let out a strangled cry, fingers clutching Paige’s shoulders, pulling her impossibly close, every nerve on fire. Paige hummed against her, soft, possessive, letting her taste every sound, every shiver, every desperate gasp until she came down just enough to kiss her softly, letting her lips brush along Azzi’s in a quiet, intimate aftershock.

Paige stayed on Azzi just long enough to feel every shiver, every tremble, every ragged breath, but she didn’t linger. Azzi’s gaze locked on hers, eyes wide and glistening, mouth parted in soft gasps as her hands fisted in Paige’s shoulders. “Paige… don’t stop…” she murmured, voice raw, almost pleading.

Paige smirked against her lips, letting her teeth graze the side of Azzi’s neck before she lowered her mouth back down, teasing, pressing just enough for friction while her own hips rocked lightly. She was deliberate, controlled — not letting herself go fully yet, just edging, tasting, feeling Azzi’s body coil tighter around her.

“Mm… you’re killing me,” Azzi whispered, hips rocking involuntarily, stuttering as Paige guided her. Her hands clutched at Paige’s hair and shoulders, pulling her closer, desperate for more.

Paige groaned low, letting her lips brush along Azzi’s neck, tongue flicking at sensitive spots, fingers teasing just enough to keep her on the edge. And then, with a smooth, careful roll of her hips and a low, guttural murmur, Paige let herself slip over the edge, shivering, thrusting slightly into Azzi as her climax hit in a sharp, scorching pulse.

Azzi gasped against her, breath coming in rapid, shallow bursts, eyes fluttering as she clutched Paige’s shoulders, still trembling with aftershocks. Paige didn’t stop to recover fully — she was already coaxing her, grinding and guiding Azzi against her thigh, keeping the rhythm slow, torturous, and perfect.

Azzi moaned, head tilting back, lips brushing hers in a messy, wet kiss, riding the wave of her own building need. Paige’s hands slid down her sides, gripping her hips, guiding her gently but insistently.

Every movement was synchronized — every press, every glide, every teasing flick of lips and tongue — until Azzi’s gasps and moans grew frantic, her body trembling in perfect time with Paige’s control, every nerve fired and raw.

Paige kept her steady, murmuring her name, kissing, teasing, holding her close, letting her ride out wave after wave of desperate need — until Azzi’s whimpers finally turned into a ragged, shuddering release, body quaking atop Paige, hands clutching at her shoulders as if she could anchor herself to her.

Paige held her through it, soft and possessive, lips brushing hers, murmuring praise between ragged breaths. Just so Azzi was on the edge again.

Azzi shifted slightly atop Paige, hips still tingling from the first release, and Paige’s hands slid to guide her closer. “Come here,” she murmured, low and throaty, letting her thumbs drag along the curve of Azzi’s waist.

Azzi’s breath hitched, trembling slightly as she obeyed, hips brushing against Paige in just the right way. “Like… this?” she whispered, voice shaky, warm, full of need.

Paige’s grin was wicked, soft, and slow. “Better,” she said, rolling her hips to press the slick heat of her thigh against Azzi’s once more. Then she leaned her own thigh up and across, guiding Azzi to match — slow, deliberate, until the two of them were grinding together, flesh against flesh, slick against slick, every movement amplified by the closeness of their bodies.

Azzi gasped, pressing her chest to Paige’s, hands threading through her hair, tugging lightly as she rocked. “Oh my god… Paige…” her voice was ragged, broken by the shivers racing down her spine.

Paige kept her steady, hips adjusting just enough to make Azzi gasp again, moaning into her mouth as they kissed, lips messy, tongues brushing. Paige murmured, voice low, thick with need. “God, you’re so perfect”

Azzi’s hands roamed down Paige’s back, gripping her hips, urging her impossibly closer. “Y-yes… fuck… don’t stop…” she whispered, rocking harder, grinding against Paiges cunt in small, shuddering motions. Every movement sent delicious friction through them both, heat pooling, muscles tightening, and gasps spilling out like fire.

Paige guided her with careful movements, hips tilting, pressing, shifting slightly to maximize the friction, letting Azzi take the lead while she subtly controlled the pace. Her hands cupped Azzi’s cheeks at one point, pulling her down into a kiss, tongues tangling, lips parting in ragged gasps.

Azzi let out a strangled moan, nails dragging lightly along Paige’s shoulders. “Shit…Paige” Her voice broke on the edge, body trembling in response to the slick, perfect connection.

Paige hummed against her, a low, possessive sound, grinding just enough to push her closer, her hands moving to cup her hips, fingers digging in lightly. “Let go, Az. Lemme feel you, okay?” she whispered, guiding her still.

Azzi’s back arched, chest pressing into Paige’s as a loud, breathless cry tore from her throat. She shook against her, just as Paige came undone at the same time. Her hands clutching at Paige’s shoulders, every nerve on fire, every gasp dragging them both higher. Paige let her ride it out, holding her close as she did the same, whispering praises between ragged breaths, letting them shiver and melt together .

Paige’s forehead rested against hers, both of them panting, sweat-slick and trembling. The world outside their room didn’t exist — not the village, not the court, not the years of missed chances. Just this heat between them, the taste of each other still lingering, the raw, spent pulse of their bodies pressed together.

Azzi’s lashes fluttered as she tried to steady her breathing. “That…” she whispered, voice hoarse, “wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”

DPaige smirked, thumb brushing lazily over the side of her hip. “What, perfect?”

A soft laugh broke from Azzi’s throat, and Paige felt it against her own chest. She kissed her once — slow, lingering — before finally letting their bodies ease apart, though her hands refused to leave her.

Azzi rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling, still feeling the echo of Paige everywhere. Paige leaned on her side, watching her with that same maddening focus she’d worn on the court — like she was already planning her next move.

“You’re in trouble now, Az,” Paige murmured, voice low and warm.

Azzi turned her head, meeting her gaze. “Why?”

Paige grinned, brushing a strand of damp hair from her cheek. “Cause I’m not letting you disappear for another five years.”

Azzi’s smile softened, but there was a dangerous little glint in her eye as she pulled Paige closer again. “Good. ’Cause I wasn’t planning on letting you, either.”

****

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