RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 34: FRIDA -

Frida’s breath hitched as she walked toward the aisle, curiosity gnawing at her.

Her steps were slow and deliberate, the dim lighting of the drugstore suddenly feeling overly intimate, like it was spotlighting her every move.

She reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing the edge of the fancy box, and tilted it toward her to read the label.

The words flashed in her mind before she could fully process them.

Her gasp escaped before she could stop it, loud in the quiet aisle, like she’d been scalded by fire.

Her hands trembled, and she dropped the box immediately as though it had burned her fingertips.

Why her?

She bit her lip, crouching down quickly to pick it up, wishing she could vanish into thin air. Her cheeks felt impossibly hot as she turned the box over in her hands again.

It was a vibrator.

The revelation made her flush even deeper. She could feel the heat crawling up her neck as she stood there frozen, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Quickly, she shoved it back on the shelf, her hands trembling as though it had a mind of its own.

She was just about to turn and leave the aisle when her phone beeped, breaking the tense silence.

Pulling it out, her heart skipped a beat. The message was from the same unknown sender.

Lately, his texts had come like clockwork, one in the morning, one in the evening. Short. Commanding. Impossible to ignore.

Her heart pounded as she read the two bold words on the screen:

BUY IT.

Her head snapped up instinctively, her eyes darting left and right. Was someone watching her? She felt a chill run down her spine, but the aisle was empty. She was alone.

Then another text arrived.

Don’t be shy.

Her pulse raced. Her hands trembled slightly as she looked at the screen again, her breaths coming quicker now.

Quickly, like a thief, she grabbed the vibrator off the shelf and tossed it into her basket.

She didn’t allow herself to think, didn’t give herself a moment to process the rush of heat surging through her body.

With her head down and her cheeks flaming, she all but ran to the counter, her heart hammering in her chest.

The kind lady at the register greeted her with her usual cheerful smile, but her demeanor faltered for just a second when she packed the vibrator into the bag.

Frida noticed the glance, subtle but unmistakable, and she felt her stomach churn. She forced herself to look anywhere but at the cashier, praying for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

She handed over her card quickly, wanting this ordeal to be over as fast as possible.

But the cashier shook her head and smiled politely. "Someone already paid for everything."

Frida’s brow furrowed, her breath catching in her throat. "What?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"That’s the third time today," the cashier muttered under her breath, the realization sinking in. Someone had paid for her things in every store she’d visited. It was too much to be a coincidence.

"Can you tell me who?" Frida asked, her voice trembling, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.

The cashier smirked, her cheeks dimpling slightly. "Nah," she said, shaking her head. "But he did say you should enjoy your toy."

Her face burned hotter than ever, but it was the cashier’s next words that froze her in place.

"Oh, and he was fine as hell, too."

The words echoed in her mind as she grabbed her bags hastily, muttering a hurried "thank you" before fleeing the store.

The night air hit her like a balm, cool and soothing against her overheated skin.

She stood there for a moment, letting the wind calm her racing heart, the weight of the vibrator in her bag suddenly feeling heavier than it should.

If he wasn’t Laz and God help her, she wouldn’t dare wish it was someone else. Someone who knew her far too intimately.

As she walked home, the vibrator sat in her bag like a heavyweight.

She wondered what he wanted her to do with it. How would she use it?

Curiosity gnawed at her impatience until she could take it no longer. She withdrew her phone and dialed Leah.

"What’s up, hoe? You on your flight to Vegas yet?" Leah’s voice was bright and teasing.

Frida chuckled nervously. "No, honey, not yet."

"I hope Laz is gonna be there," Leah teased mischievously.

"LEAH!" Frida exclaimed, drawing questionable looks from passersby.

"What? If not him, then your fuck buddy," Leah teased, laughing. "Anywho, why’d you call?"

Frida hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I wan-wan-wanted to ask how to u-use a vibrator..."

Leah laughed so hard she had to pause for air. "OMG, babe, you’ve never? Damn, your fuck buddy needs to fuck the shit out of you quickly. Are you telling him to take it slow?"

Frida’s face was so red, she felt like her temperature was rising alongside the rain droplets hitting the street. "Never mind. It’s about to rain. Talk to you later."

"Run, coward," Leah teased, laughing as the call ended.

Frida sighed, tucking her phone away. The rain began to pour, and her thoughts swirled chaotically, her bag feeling heavier with each step.

Was she really a coward?

Yes maybe. A coward afraid to explore her desires, a cowards afraid to explore her own body, a coward always wanting to be in control.

This man was determined to bring out the woman she had surpressed with her obsession with academic excellence.

Refusing to pursue any other pleasures, even the pleasures her body craved.

She starved her body of its needs and now he was here in full temptation a depiction of her desire.

Who was this mysterious man? And what did he want from her?

Her fingers brushed against her phone, tempted to call someone, to type something, to do anything.

But instead, she let the night wrap around her like a cloak, her mind filled with questions she didn’t yet have answers to.