Alex remained buried inside her, his breathing slowing from ragged gasps to deep, steady pants. Jessica, still collapsed over his chest, was the heavier weight now. After a long moment, Alex stirred, his arms slowly reaching up to hold her waist. He shifted beneath her, rolling gently to his side without fully withdrawing. Jessica, still straddling him, lifted her torso. He looked up at her, his eyes half-lidded, a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"There," he muttered, his voice still thick and low from exertion. "That's how you earn your keep, Jessica."
The phrase sliced through the remnants of her physical haze. Earn your keep. It wasn't praise; it was an acknowledgment of successful service delivery. The sudden, brutal reality of her position crashed back in. A wave of intense gu
