The chapter opens with Alice describing a consuming kiss from Charlie Florek, noting how he uses his whole body and adjusts to her responses. Charlie loosens Alice’s hair and compliments her beauty with unguarded intensity, recalling his instant attraction to her from the day they met. Their flirting turns explicit as they admit when they first felt desire for each other, and Charlie positions her closer, heightening their arousal.

Alice tries to escalate to sex, invoking their “friends with benefits” agreement, but Charlie stops to say he wants to be careful because she is actually his friend. He proposes taking it slow and suggests limiting the night to kissing. They continue, and he focuses on savoring kisses and building intimacy without rushing further.

They joke about teenage “bases,” with Charlie giving Alice hickeys and both of them laughing about acting like seventeen-year-olds. The mood stays playful and affectionate even as the physical intensity increases. Charlie praises Alice’s laugh and presence, reinforcing a respectful, attentive tone.

As they grind together fully clothed, Alice becomes overwhelmed by sensation and climaxes while Charlie encourages her, whispering her full name. Afterward, Charlie appears concerned for her, but they share relief and humor about how far they went relative to “first base.”

Alice offers to reciprocate, touching him through his pants, but Charlie declines for the night, joking about not messing up his favorite comfy pants. Their banter continues as he calls her “Trouble,” she playfully bites his finger, and he tickles her, leading to shared laughter and a role-reversal with Alice on top trying to make him laugh.

The scene ends with Alice realizing her face aches from smiling so much, and Charlie responding that there is no such thing as smiling too much, cementing the warmth and cautious pace of their new physical relationship.