Mira melted a little at the gesture… until her eyes dropped back down to Jerry's half-open shirt. The gift underneath still hugged her perfectly, like it belonged there.
But then curiosity lit her eyes. She tilted her head and narrowed her gaze.
"Wait… why are you even wearing that?" she asked, her voice sharp but soft. "If you were just going to take a photo?"
Jerry froze. Her confident grin faltered.
"Ahh…" Jerry looked away, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's… complicated."
"Jerry," Mira warned, taking a step closer, arms crossed.
Jerry sighed, clearly cornered. "I—I asked my assistant to arrange for any girl who could take a picture with me. Like… fake it. Just for Grandpa. But…"
Mira raised a brow. "But?"
Jerry's voice got quieter. "But every girl… kept asking for something in return."
Mira's eye twitched. "Something like?"
Jerry cleared her throat. "Like… one-night stands."
Mira's jaw dropped. "You were gonna trade a fake photo for a night with someone?"
Jerry held up both hands quickly. "I didn't! I swear! I turned them all down!"
"Then why the hell are you red like a tomato?" Mira growled, stepping forward again.
Jerry sighed in defeat. "Because… the last girl… said I didn't have to touch her. She just… wanted to sit on my lap, wear that, and, uh… do her own thing."
Mira blinked.
Then her mouth fell open in horror. "She what?!"
Jerry flinched. "She just… sat on me. I didn't touch her! I swear!"
Mira stepped closer and grabbed Jerry by the collar, dragging her in like a furious wife catching her husband mid-sin. Her voice dropped, low and dangerous.
"Are you insane? Who gave you that disgusting idea?"
Jerry's voice cracked, "Y-You talked to Grandpa and I panicked! I just… wanted to stop lying to him!"
"You'd rather let some random girl ride you like a rented bike?!"
"It wasn't like that! I sat there like a mannequin!"
Mira's face turned red with rage—and something else. Her breath hitched.
Her jealousy wasn't just boiling now—it was erupting.
Still gripping Jerry's collar, she yanked her down until their faces were inches apart.
"From now on, if you ever need a picture, a date, or a girl to sit on you—" Mira hissed, her voice shaking with possessive fire, "—you come to me. Got it, Mr. Kingston?"
Jerry blinked. "Mrs. Kingston," she corrected with a weak smile.
But Mira didn't laugh.
Instead, she grabbed Jerry's hand and slammed it against her racing heart.
"I'm yours. For every damn photo, every night, every single touch. But don't you dare offer what's mine to someone else."
Jerry swallowed hard. "Understood…"
Mira finally let go of her collar, breathing heavily.
Jerry slowly leaned in, trying to ease the storm in her lover's chest. "So… you forgive me?"
Mira looked away, blushing. "You're lucky I love you enough not to kill you."
Jerry grinned, whispering near her lips, "Damn… I really am the luckiest man in the room."
Mira punched her arm lightly, cheeks still flushed.
The tension still hung in the air, but something softer started to settle between them.
Jerry gently cupped Mira's cheek, her thumb brushing away a tear Mira hadn't realized had slipped.
"Hey," Jerry whispered, her voice low and warm. "I didn't want anyone else. Not really. Just got stupid trying to fix things my way."
Mira looked up at her, lips trembling slightly.
"I know," she mumbled. "I just… can't stand the thought of someone else touching you. Even for a second."
Jerry smiled, leaning down to press her forehead to Mira's. "You won't have to. I'm all yours, remember?"
Mira closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "Then prove it."
Jerry smiled wider, gently holding the back of Mira's head and placing a soft kiss on her lips—slow, delicate, with a quiet reverence that made Mira's heart flutter.
They stood like that, lips barely touching, breathing each other in.
When they finally pulled apart, Mira rested her head against Jerry's chest, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"Promise me," she whispered.
"I promise," Jerry replied, kissing the top of her head. "Every piece of me is yours."
Mira smiled, eyes still closed, fingers tightening around Jerry's shirt like she never wanted to let go.
And in that quiet moment, with no chaos or jealousy, just warmth and breath shared between two hearts—everything felt right again.
Jerry yawned and stretched her arms, her body still aching from all the emotional whiplash of the day. "Okay, I'm officially shutting down. I need sleep before I crash on the floor."
Mira crossed her arms with a raised brow. "Oh, why don't you go and do your stuff with that girl then? She seemed ready to 'sit in your lap' and 'do her stuff', remember?"
Jerry blinked at her, caught off guard. "Mira—"
Mira turned her face away dramatically. "Sorry, I meant Miss Mira. Please, don't let me stop you."
Jerry narrowed her eyes. "Oh? Is that how we're playing tonight?"
"Play?" Mira smirked. "You sure you're not too tired for that too?"
Jerry turned to walk toward the door, clearly bluffing. "Fine. I'll go. Better not waste her time, right?"
Mira's eyes sharpened. In a flash, she grabbed Jerry's wrist, yanked her back with surprising strength, and shoved her gently toward the bedroom door.
"Go and change," she said, voice husky. "So you can do all your 'stuff'—with me."
Jerry smirked, loving every second of Mira's possessiveness. "Hmm? Not tired anymore?"
"Shut up," Mira grumbled, pushing her again with a warm flush spreading across her cheeks.
As Jerry laughed and walked into the room, Mira called out after her, arms folded with a mock-serious expression. "And don't forget we have a meeting tomorrow with Mr. Kingston."
Jerry peeked back, raising a brow. "Grandpa?"
Mira grinned, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Yeah. About our engagement. The weird one you said no to, remember?"
Jerry paused in the doorway, heart thudding. Mira was standing there like a wife waiting for her husband to get ready for bed, and it melted something inside her.
"…Engagement, huh?" Jerry murmured.
"Yes. Weirdo." Mira winked. "Now hurry up. I want to sleep—with you. Not argue."
Jerry disappeared into the room with a flustered smile, and Mira curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow.
Tomorrow might be chaos again—but tonight, Jerry was hers.
Jerry stepped out of the room wearing soft pajamas and a silly grin on her face, the thought of finally sharing a bed with Mira still spinning in her head. But the moment she reached the living room, her steps slowed.
Mira had curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow tight in her arms, fast asleep.
Jerry's smile softened, turning tender. Her heart tugged as she walked closer. Mira's lashes fluttered slightly, her cheeks resting against her own arm, lips parted just a little. Her whole body was tucked into a gentle curl like she'd been waiting for Jerry to return—but sleep had claimed her first.
"You always look like trouble when you're awake," Jerry whispered, brushing a few strands of hair from Mira's face, "but when you sleep… damn."
Carefully, Jerry slipped her arms under Mira's legs and back, lifting her bridal-style. Mira stirred a little, nuzzling into Jerry's shoulder but didn't wake.
"You're lucky you're cute," Jerry muttered playfully, carrying her into the bedroom.
She gently laid Mira down on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, and then lay down beside her with a long sigh. The day had been wild—but this felt like peace.
Just as Jerry closed her eyes, she felt movement.
Mira rolled toward her in her sleep, pressing her body into Jerry's, one arm flinging across her stomach. Her face nestled into Jerry's neck, warm breath fanning across her collarbone.
"Mira…" Jerry whispered, trying not to let the heat rise.
But then Mira's soft lips rubbed lightly across her neck in a lazy, half-conscious motion, like a kitten seeking warmth. Jerry groaned quietly, her fingers twitching against the sheets. "Don't do that if you're really asleep…"
She closed her eyes, biting her lip—but then she whispered into Mira's ear with a soft growl, "I can't hold back forever, you know."
She gently kissed her forehead.
And that's when Mira's lips curved against her neck.
Jerry froze. "…You're awake."
Mira grinned, eyes still closed. "I just like how you whisper when you think I'm asleep."
Jerry narrowed her eyes, both amused and exasperated. "You little—"
Mira opened her eyes fully now, tugged herself even closer, and whispered, "I like your voice when you're about to lose control. But tonight… let's just sleep."
Jerry smirked, brushing her fingers through Mira's hair. "You say that, but you're the one rubbing against me like a heat-seeking missile."
Mira giggled sleepily. "It's warm here."
"Mmhm." Jerry kissed her softly on the nose. "Then stay."
And Mira did—wrapped around Jerry, the tension melting into soft breath, lingering touches, and a night of quiet heartbeats echoing in sync.