RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 75: FRIDA -

He kissed her.

Laz freaking kissed her.

Four years had passed since the last time his lips had met hers—on her lips, at least. He had kissed other parts of her, sure, but this?

It felt electric, unexpected, and deeply intimate. Her lips still burned, the sensation lingering, making her crave more.

She hadn’t even known he had a tongue ring. He wasn’t the type to flaunt jewelry, despite having multiple piercings. Maybe he liked the pain of getting them, which was a little... unhinged.

"Who are you talking to?" Laurel’s voice broke her thoughts.

Laz smirked, the moonlight catching in his dark hair, giving him an ethereal glow. "Oh, just my future girlfriend."

Her heart did a somersault.

"Frida?" Laurel’s squeal of excitement came through the speaker, and Frida flushed.

"Hey, Laurel," she said, her voice quiet.

"Come closer," Laz said, his tone low and commanding.

Reluctantly, she stepped forward until she stood between his legs. To her surprise, he shifted her easily, lifting her onto the car hood with one arm.

Now she was trapped between his body and the cool surface of the car. He handed her the phone, pressing it to her ear, his other hand resting possessively on her lap.

"Hi, Laurel," she managed to say, though her voice was shaky. Laz’s thumb traced slow circles against her thigh, his touch making it impossible to focus.

"Frida, darling, how are you?" Laurel’s voice was warm. "I hope Laz isn’t giving you a headache."

Frida’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "He’s too much of a troublemaker," she whispered, her gaze locked on Laz’s intense stare.

"I know," Laurel said with a laugh. "He’s a lot to handle, isn’t he?"

"A lot," Frida admitted, her hand absently brushing the zipper of his jacket. Laz’s gaze darkened, his body radiating heat against the cool night air.

Laz popped a Skittle into her mouth, his thumb brushing her lower lip. She fought back a shiver.

"You could always escape to a library or a café," Laurel suggested, her tone teasing. "Put some distance between you two. He’s clingy."

Laz scoffed. "I’m right here, you know?"

"Yeah, super clingy," Frida teased, her voice soft as Laz’s hand moved slightly higher on her lap.

The candy melted on her tongue, the sweetness mixing with the intoxicating tension between them.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered what his tongue ring would feel like against her lips again.

"Okay, I’ll leave you two alone," Laurel said. "Stay safe, and Laz, give Frida some space."

Laz groaned dramatically. "I haven’t seen her in days, Mom. Can’t I have her for a few minutes?"

Frida giggled, though her amusement quickly turned to unease. "I need to show you something," she said, her tone serious.

Laz tilted his head. "Show me what?"

She pulled out her phone, flipping through the photos before holding it out to him. His expression darkened as he studied the pictures, and she led him to the small grave where she’d buried the dead bird.

"That’s some seriously messed-up shit," he muttered, crouching to inspect it.

"I was busy on the circuits, when this happened," he added, standing to face her. "But I’ll change your locks tomorrow so you feel safer."

Her heart warmed at his offer. She didn’t expect this softer side of him, yet here it was.

"Also," she blurted, "I think the red notes are from different people."

He shrugged, his face unreadable. "Maybe. Either way, I’ve got your back, Frida. You’re safe."

Safe? Did he even realize he was the danger? Or was he just that good at playing dumb?

His dark eyes danced with delight, belying his words.

"How did you know I wanted Skittles?"

"I was dreaming about your tongue," he said casually.

She heated to the highest degree possible, her face burning as if it might combust. He made her blush so much she was convinced she’d develop smile lines soon.

He shoved a box into her arms, breaking her reverie. She looked at it and arched a brow.

"Crumble cookies?"

He shrugged again, attempting nonchalance. "I didn’t know what to get you. It was trending on TikTok or something. Leo said girls love it, so I bought it."

She fought back a grin. "You were thinking about what I’d like?"

His bravado faltered for a moment, and he got shy.

Adorable.

"Aww, it’s so cute when you try to act like you don’t care." She couldn’t resist pinching his cheek.

He broke into a grin, quickly recovering. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her toward him. "So, I’m cute, huh?"

Her heart fluttered, but a dark thought clouded the moment. Surely someone so cute can’t kill birds or people... right?

But the grey depths of his eyes seemed to challenge her to decide.

Do you trust Laz?

She took a hesitant step back.

He noticed and exhaled, running his fingers through his hair. "Sometimes, Frida, you make me want to fall back into my bad habits. It feels like every time I take a step forward, you take two back."

His voice softened, filled with sincerity. "What can I do to make you see beyond this shell? To make you trust me again? To have you back with me?"

Her response was barely above a whisper. "I don’t know."

The night swallowed them in its heavy darkness, and Laz gave a low, dark chuckle.

"Yeah, playing the good guy sucks."

Before she could react, he gently wrapped her hair around his hand, tugging her back into his arms. She gasped as he leaned closer.

"See." Kiss.

"This." Kiss.

"Is." Kiss.

"Why." Kiss.

"Good guys." Kiss.

"Always." Kiss.

"Lose."

Her body trembled, her pulse racing like a runaway train.

"I could put you on this car and eat you out until you’re begging me to stop," he whispered darkly, his lips brushing hers between words. "You’ll cry, but in the end, you’ll be mine—in pleasure."

Her heart pounded, and her breathing grew shallow. She was losing herself, slipping into his gravity.

"See that look?" His voice dropped to a growl.

"That look... makes me so hungry," he drawled, capturing her lips again and tasting the Skittles lingering on her tongue.

"Laz... someone might see us," she gasped, breathless.

"Then let’s give them a show," he said, his thirst for her undiminished.

Her entire body burned, her mind spinning. How was she supposed to walk back to her dorm after this?

"Making out in public under the moonlight? Gotta add that to my to-do list," a familiar voice drawled, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Frida froze, her soul practically leaving her body.

"Vanessa!" she shrieked, slapping Laz’s hand away and spinning toward her roommate. "You’re back!"

"Yeah," Vanessa chuckled, heading toward the building.

Frida turned to Laz, her face flushed. "Gotta go!"

His arms wrapped around her waist again, pulling her back.

"No. Who knows when you’ll be in the mood to hang out with me again?" he whined, his playful tone tugging at her resolve.

She laughed despite herself. "Let go! You’re coming to fix my locks tomorrow."

"Can I take you to go, though? You’re so pretty," he whispered, his eyes dark and intent.

For a moment, she almost caved but the thought of her messy dorm saved her.

She sprinted out of his arms, only to hear Vanessa’s scream echo behind her.

"What the fuck!"