A/N: Smut warning below! This isn't really that explicit, but if you're uncomfortable with smut, you may skip the second half. xx

******

Thalia gracefully claims her space on the bed, tucking herself underneath the duvet cover after she's certain that Miguel has had the chance to take a peek under her robe. Clad in a white laced pair of underwear, another lucky purchase from Victoria's Secret, she aims to set him on fire.

Miguel, feeling his hardness growing to the point of visibility, hurriedly turns away from Thalia. He snatches his neatly folded white shirt and pajamas from the study desk, striding purposefully to the bathroom without sparing her another glance.

As he stands under the pouring water, he mentally curses himself, laying his palms flat against the cool tiles. He knows he'll have to wait until later to shake off the pictures tattooed in his mind. Yes, he had seen the white fabric, barely covering her chest, her exposed stomach appearing flawless.

He wants to run his tongue along her skin and taste her and be inside her.

"Fuck," Miguel lets out a low, guttural moan, raking his fingers through his wet hair. These four corners feel like a sanctuary where he can contain the tumult of his emotions. He's afraid to leave. He might not be able to hold himself back.

Unfortunately, he cannot remain in this private haven forever.

Miguel cautiously pokes his head out, checking if Thalia is still awake. His hopes vanish as he catches her gaze, the blanket modestly concealing her thighs and beyond, the shape of her breasts discernible under the robe. His boner inevitably shows up again.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"N-Nothing," he answers, walking briskly to his side of the bed, trying his hardest to hide his hard-on. Swiftly, he plops down sideways, turning away from Thalia, and squeezes his eyes shut, reminiscent of the previous night.

"Sleep well."

Thalia has seen it coming from miles away.

"Good night," she replies nonchalantly.

However, in contrast to her previous behavior of letting him fall asleep first, she hastily scoots toward Miguel, deliberately pressing her chest against his back.

Miguel's eyes snap open, a surge of jitters flowing through him, his mind swirling in overflowing emotions–sexually motivated, primarily. He crumples the pillow case under his fingers, taking a few deep breaths.

Thalia observes Miguel, pouting at the missing response. He's really putting up a fight.

She props her chin with a palm and then leans closer to him. The sound of her breath becomes palpable, causing his heart to pound and thrash against his rib cage.

When her lips touch his ear, Miguel ultimately loses control. He jumps from the bed, flushed, and hisses, "What the heck? I'm... I'm sleeping!"

Thalia's eyebrows meet, and she pulls herself up, kneeling on the bed, the knot of her robe coming undone. He immediately looks away.

"You're sleeping? Really?"

"C-Cover yourself up!"

"Cover myself?" she huffs, patience running out. "What's wrong with you?!"

"With me? It's you! You're messing with my head!"

Thalia's shoulders sag. "I can't believe you're actually making me say this." She removes the robe defiantly, completely baring her body. "I want to have sex... With you."

Miguel's jaw hangs agape as he locks eyes with Thalia, her gaze ablaze with resolve. A hesitant gulp echoes in the charged silence. "You don't have to."

Thalia jerks her head back. "What?"

"I know why you're doing this, but you don't have to."

Her frown deepens. "And why am I doing this?"

"You want to pay me back. Well, I'm telling you, it's fine. You've done enough."

Thalia takes a moment to get her breathing steady, then she slides off the bed, inching closer to Miguel. "Is this why you're running? Because you think I'm prostituting myself, and you're feeling bad?"

She's articulated the unspoken, leaving him with no reason to deny it. "I... I wouldn't use the word 'prostituting'--"

"We're getting married. Regardless of the reason why, we're getting married. You and I will be husband and wife. And my choice to sleep with you..." Thalia pauses, then eventually reveals the truth she's tried to push aside, "It has nothing to do with me wanting to return the things you've done. That's not what this is all about," she states strongly, prickles of tears springing up in her eyes.

"I... I..." Miguel stammers, the guilt resurfacing. "I just don't want to make you feel like you have to give me everything."

Thalia grunts in disbelief. "You think my body is everything to me?"

"No! Of course not. That's not what I meant!" he replies instantly, staring at his shuffling feet. "I don't know, Thalia. I just feel horrible. I feel like I've taken advantage of you. You were in a vulnerable position, and I... I offered you help, which wasn't exactly without strings attached... So you're now tied to me. And it's not because you really want it."

Thalia takes in his words.

It's true. At first, she thought Miguel was a jerk, then a weirdo after he suddenly proposed marriage to her. She was initially afraid that she would be completely under his control, and that he would do whatever he wanted with her.

He never has. Everything they've done so far, some kissing here and there, is consensual. Looking back, it was her who had bolted in and kissed him first!

So, Miguel has proven her suspicions wrong. She can lower her defenses around him because he is kind. A little immature sometimes, but often kind. And the fact that he's thinking about all these things only demonstrates that he's a good man.

And she wants to be with a good man who values her.

"But you do want to sleep with me?" Thalia asks, eyeing the hardened body part between his legs.

"Yes... I do," Miguel sighs, a blush creeping across his face. "You know, I do. You've enjoyed seeing me frustrated."

"Good," she utters. "That's all I need to hear."

With the admission slipping from Miguel's lips, Thalia seizes the opportunity, drawing near and bestowing him a kiss. And she doesn't start slow. She'd done her research for this exact moment!

Thalia inserts her tongue to meet his, and Miguel, succumbing to his frustration and his long-held desire, cradles her back and pulls her nearer to him. His hands quiver and fumble carelessly, his thoughts still debating whether what he's doing is right.

Thalia senses this uncertainty as their lips stay connected, and she clutches his wrists, placing them on the curves of her waist. Miguel's nerves calm down at the invitation to explore her body, and his fingers move gradually, sowing a passionate trail in its aftermath.

Soon, they reach their destination–Thalia's breasts. He fondles them carefully, massaging them how he'd always imagined he would.

He had been right. Beneath her oversized shirt are these perfectly contoured features.

Miguel skillfully removes her robe entirely, throwing it to the nightstand, and then he draws away from her lips, casting a glimpse at her exposed chest. He exhales, "You're so sexy."

A scarlet blush tints her cheeks, which meet Miguel's lips as he resumes kissing her. He moves to her ear, then peppers her neck with licks, eliciting a moan from her mouth.

"I hope you are ready for this," he groans hungrily, leading Thalia to the bed.

His frame dominates her as she lies on her back. "Just so it's clear... This... You want this. Even if the marriage isn't–"

"Mm," Thalia shushes him. Tracing a finger along his jawline, she commands, "No more."

Miguel concurs, feeling dizzy, intoxicated, and ecstatic all at once. Words seem unnecessary as the anticipation of making love to this woman consumes him.

This woman whom he's craved every single day since the night she'd revealed her heart and soul to him.

Thalia retreats, holding his gaze, only stopping when her back collides with the wooden headboard. She puts her right palm on Miguel's abdomen, and she swallows at the heat he exudes, aware of the wetness accumulating in her entrance.

Miguel wriggles out of his shirt, and Thalia gasps when he inclines forward and kisses her again, their naked chests meeting and rubbing dangerously.

His fingers find their way to Thalia's bottom shortly, and he cups one cheek, carressing it hungrily. She lets out a soft moan, withdrawing with a hint of hesitation. She needs to tell him before her sanity completely unravels.

"Wait," she breathes.

"What is it?" Miguel asks, also grappling with breathlessness, tiny pearls of sweat gliding down his temples.

"I... I actually have some stuff..."

"Stuff?"

"Hold on..."

Thalia gets to her feet to grab her backpack, zips it open, and pours the contents into the bed.

Wide-eyed, Miguel gulps in astonishment, unable to comprehend that Thalia possesses items he hasn't considered using.

He picks up a pair of stainless handcuffs and asks, "Um, are you into... This?"

"Not really..." she shrugs, peering downward coyly. "I saw people liked it, and..."

Miguel's imagination runs wild, and excitement causes his lashes to dance, realizing that it might be something they explore at some point... Possibly.

A throaty fake cough escapes him, and he continues to dig, pinching his lips as he views all the other toys. The pink backpack's been carrying a Fleshlight for the past two days!

Miguel is unable to stifle his laughter. "Thalia, what have you been watching?"

Her complexion turns a deeper shade of red, folding her arms to at least hide her chest. Not that it changes anything. "All sorts of stuff... I explored different tags... I couldn't resist looking it up, you know? Going into something blind is scary..."

The confession renders Miguel speechless, the realization that it is indeed Thalia's first time weighing on him. He places a hand on her thigh, and she flinches in surprise. Though barely perceptible, the trembling in her knees is proof enough that, despite initiating the whole thing, she's not as dauntless as she appears. The unknown is frightening.

Miguel crawls forward and lovingly pecks her forehead before enveloping her in his arms. "Thalia, you're so cute."

"What?" she panics, her voice reaching a higher pitch.

He recoils, securing a hold on her slender shoulders, their gazes interlocking. "I can assure you that we don't need these. What you've watched were performances by skilled actors."

"I know that," she murmurs, skimming her collection. She did think the whip was outrageous, but it came as a set with the handcuffs. "I've paid money for these, though. Can't we try any of it?"

He winces. "Well, the thing is... For your first time... It'll be too much." And again, he's not into gimmicks. The most he can do is probably a roleplay, and even that is not going to be extreme.

"How bad can it be? It's supposed to feel good, right?" Thalia asks innocently, her lips forming a pout in wonder, and Miguel feels himself swell, getting even more stimulated than he already is.

"It's not bad, but it's... Not for everyone. Without these, uh, it's still gonna be good. I can make you, um, feel good," he sighs, grabbing a box of condoms and a bottle of lubricant among the pile. "These ones, we can use. The rest can go away."

"Okay. I can probably sell them online or something."

"Please don't," he interjects, smiling, then helps Thalia put the goods back into her bag. "You don't want to meet in person with people who will want these. Especially since they'll buy them knowing they might have been used."

"Makes sense."

Thalia drops the bag on the floor, while Miguel tosses the box and the bottle on the nightstand.

"Um, so how do we... Go back to it?" Thalia asks, dropping her arms to her lap, revealing her assets to Miguel again. "Or... Are you still in the mood?"

He chortles toothily, pointing to his length that's sticking out of his pajamas. "Well, you're free to check it out."

Thalia's gaze falls at the tip emerging, and her pulse quickens, gradually extending a hand to touch him. Miguel squirms at the contact. Even with the two layers acting as buffers, the heat of her skin tantalizes him.

"You're really turned on," Thalia whispers, amused.

Miguel's toes curl as she begins to stroke him. "You can... Take it off," he suggests, a subtle plea woven into his voice.

She obliges instantly, undressing him, and with the sight of what's hidden underneath her breath hitches. The real thing is a far cry from the on-screen versions.

She touches it, and it throbs within her grip, the thrumming in her chest reaching new peaks. Miguel swallows hard.

"Am I... Am I doing okay?" Thalia murmurs, pumping him, her heartbeat in a frenzy as she questions, Is this thing supposed to fit me?

Scientifically, it is supposed to. The human race wouldn't have survived without this process. She's merely uncertain if she's capable...

But she's also so excited, her underwear thoroughly soaked. She feels as though he would slide in easily... Or maybe that's just how she optimistically envisions it because of those videos.

Erase, erase!

Feeling himself nearing his climax, Miguel catches her wrists. "Wait, Thalia."

"Why? Doesn't it feel good?"

"It does," he moans. "But I want you to enjoy it, too. Come here."

Miguel tugs her, disrupting her balance and causing her to tumble and collapse on top of him. His erection rubs against her private flesh, and she emits a low whimper. She feels him pulsate as he scoops her behind.

"Wow. You're so ready for me, aren't you?" he whispers. "Thalia, I've waited way too long for this..."

When Miguel nibbles her neck, Thalia melts into him, unable to resist gripping his shoulders. She rocks her hips over and over to feel him more, with each grind igniting flames within. She arches her back in pleasure, providing him the opportunity to go lower from her neck, to her shoulder. And before she knows it, his whole mouth captures her breast.

She pants, "M-Miguel..."

His tongue swirls, his teeth bite, and his lips switch from one to the other, with his fingers massaging what is left. Disheveled, Thalia sinks her fingers to his scalp, pulling his hair. "Miguel..."

Maybe it's pure ecstasy talking but... There's no way she can deny it. She's ached to be with him not out of obligation nor gratitude. Certainly not out of simple desire to get it over with.

She has lost the mind games.

Her heart now belongs to him.

******

A/N: This is my very first sexually explicit work. Hope it was alright! I wasn't sure how much I could go, but I opted to making it less of an erotica. My forte is driving people to the edge by writing the most wholesome and slowest slow burns of all time after all, and not smut. So please forgive me LOL!