That Julian seemed utterly exahusted didn't register with Sapphira, a fault that she had in relation to most of her friends - the inability to take notice of their own needs. Perhaps, had any one of her friends ever called her on it, she may have learned to pay more attention, but then she never really gave anyone the chance to call her on most things. Or on anything really.

Outside of the bloke who she was currently imposing on, that is.

And so she waited, on edge, for him to speak, twining the fingers of his hands until he spoke, a sigh of relief escaping her before she plopped onto the couch beside him. "It's nothing, really. Or not much of anything. Though, well, just promise to hear me out and not reject my request right out. I simply have no one else I can ask this of and, well," she took a deep breath, "Julian, I need to learn how to kiss. I mean, really kiss. A kiss that will curl the toes of the bloke I'm kissing. One that will make him not forget me and, more importantly, will make him want no one but me."

And there went her cheeks again, though she kept her gaze steady on Julian's face waiting for the laughter and hoping that it wouldn't be followed by an outright denial.