A new feeling ignited in my veins as Priya moved closer. She gave me new strength. New power.

  So I passed Isaac’s outstretched hand and grabbed for hers. Laying my claim to her and her to me. It felt good. It felt right.

  “Pri! I’m so glad to see you,” I said. She pressed a kiss to my forehead and I leaned in to her touch, closing my eyes and breathing in her scent. She continued to ground me with her presence, and I felt like I could face whatever Isaac had to say as long as she was here beside me.

  Isaac’s eyes lit up with anger as he looked at me and Priya. I could feel the tension sizzle and snap between them.

  “Now’s not a good time, Isaac,” I said finally. “Or any time, really.” There would never be a good time for Isaac to pop back in, ever.

  Mara stood in the doorway. “You don’t just show up unannounced, Isaac,” she said, blocking the doorway with her body.

  He looked between Mara and me.

  “What’s this?” He snarled and waved his hand to where I stood close to Priya, our hands intertwined. I leaned against her like she was the only thing holding me up.

  “None of your business. You made the choice to not be in my life anymore. So go, I won’t ask you again.” I squared my shoulders and crossed my arms over my chest, daring him to continue.

  “It looks like it took you no time to move on. Glad we meant nothing. And now, apparently, you're into women?” His voice was rising, and Priya looked ready to sucker punch him in the face. I would have let her, except all I wanted was for him to get out and never come knocking again.

  “You wouldn’t understand a damn thing about me, considering you were never really listening to who I am and what I wanted in the first place. Instead, you lied to me and to yourself, then blamed me. Leave, now. This is none of your business. I am none of your business anymore,” I snapped back. The anger was building. I tried to swallow it down as all the hurt and heartache pulsed forward in a white-hot rage that made me want to kick and scream. I was so done with being collateral damage to his indecisiveness.

  His nostrils flared and rage burned in his eyes, but it was Priya who spoke. “You took ten years of her life. You don’t need to take any more time.” She tilted her head as if challenging him to come closer. The air felt too tight, too hot. I wanted this conversation to end immediately.

  “Fine, but I deserve better than this.” He practically spit it out and stomped away.

  “Don’t be such an ass, Isaac!” Mara called after him, rolling her eyes. “I’ll uh…give you both a second. Nice to finally see you in the flesh, Priya!” she said, winking before turning back into the apartment and gently closing the door. I let out a sigh of relief.

  “Are you okay?” Priya faced me, her red-painted lips set in a hard line as her eyes filled with concern.

  I broke then. My emotions were all over the place, and her concern for me was my undoing. I wrapped my arms around her neck and smashed my lips against hers, hot and needy. She stilled for one second, then her hands were on my hips and my back was up against the wall. My whole body ached for her touch.

  Her mouth moved against mine, hungry and desperate as I swept my tongue across her lips and she slipped hers in mine. I moaned and pressed my body deeper into hers, wanting more than this moment.

  “I’m going to take that as a yes, love,” she said, pulling away slightly and resting her forehead against mine.

  I laughed.

  “Better now. I didn’t know he was going to be here. I can’t believe he had the audacity to show up. I don’t know what he thought the outcome would be, but it certainly wasn’t this.”

  Priya didn’t say anything, she just nodded and squeezed my hands. Her lips found my forehead and mine found the tip of her nose. We wrapped our arms around each other and just stood there, embracing until she laughed and said, “We should probably go inside. I’d really like to officially meet Mara.”

  She pulled away and I whined, “Fine, but I want you to myself later, okay?”

  She chuckled and pulled me towards the door. So many things swirled in my head but I couldn’t bring myself to focus on anything except Priya and the way my toes curl thinking about her kisses.

  Isaac’s unexpected visit hadn’t put a damper on the evening as much as I worried it might have. Mara and Priya got along swimmingly and it was such a surreal moment to see between my best friend and my…sort-of-girlfriend? Friend that kissed me? I wasn’t fully clear on our label. I should probably figure that out. Nonetheless, it was nice to see them laugh and enjoy each other’s company.

  Later, Priya and I were cuddling when I blurted out, “What, exactly, is this?” I felt Priya laugh as I was sprawled across her chest tracing my fingers along the lines of her tattoos.

  “What do you want us to be?” she mumbled. I looked up into her eyes.

  I should probably also bring up what I found out about her and the demon, and my surprise visitor, but I didn’t want to ruin our moment. I wanted to be with her and breathe her in and bask in this feeling. I wanted the outside world to take a fucking break, and just live in this little bubble with her.

  “More than friends, I think?” I pushed myself up to look at her with her dark hair fanning across my pillows and her black sweater dress hugging her body.

  “Okay,” she said, smiling and pulling herself up to be eye level with me. “Let’s start with ‘exclusive more-than-friends’?” she asked, whispering across my cheeks.

  “Sure.” I laughed. “We can start there. I like it!” I said, smiling. It felt like a good place to start. Like a gentle step in the right direction of dating after having my world flipped upside down.

  She leaned in and brushed her lips against mine. I pulled her into me and lightly started moving my lips across her jaw, her ears, and her throat. She smelled like something I wanted to devour. Fresh and crisp. I tentatively reached forward and ran my hands down her arms, then up to her breasts and gasped as a throaty moan escaped her lips.

  “Priya, I’ve never done this,” I said, suddenly insecure. This was my first experience with someone of the same gender, and I had absolutely no idea what to do.

  She smiled and cupped my face in her hands. “That’s okay. I’ll help you. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” She laid a sweet kiss on my mouth.

  “I want to. I want to touch you and taste you,” I said quietly. “If that’s okay?” I added, chewing my bottom lip and looking at her with a little bit of fear and hopefulness.

  “I would love nothing more. Don’t be afraid, Lincoln. You can’t do anything wrong.” She started to lift her dress up and over her head, displaying her brown skin. She had faint scars across her chest, belly, and breasts. I wanted to kiss each one, to take away the pain of what had happened, but it still didn’t feel like the time to bring up what I had read. Priya would tell me when she was ready. So instead of making it a thing, I slid out of my skinny jeans and my white cropped sweater.

  “I would just like to say that I can, in fact, do something wrong. I don’t know if you’ve ever been with a man but they, wholeheartedly, do most of this wrong,” I said, gesturing to my vagina.

  Priya laughed then, loud and throaty. “Yes well, even if that’s the case, considering you, yourself, have a vagina, I think you’re already more equipped to pleasure me—and yourself—than you think. You are much more familiar with this anatomy than a man will ever be,” she smirked.

  “If you say so,” I beamed back.

  I gazed at her black lace bra and thong, then down at my red set. Where Priya had long, lean lines, I had full, robust curves. We both just stared for a few moments, soaking each other in. I smiled like an idiot as Priya’s eyes simmered and she traced her finger along the lines of my bra strap.

  “You’re magnificent, Linc,” she said huskily.

  “So are you.” I gently pressed her back down and sat myself on top of her hips.

  I traced my fingers across her collarbone and slid off one strap then the other, laying kisses there. She traced her hands along my hips and kneaded my thighs. I let my lips create a path across the lines of her tattoos and scars.

  “Is this okay?” I asked as her hands left hot, tingling sensations across my body.

  “You’re doing great, love.” She looked up at me, smiling encouragingly.

  “I want this all the way off,” I said, tugging at her bra. She laughed and sat up with me straddling her. She acted like me sitting on her was the most comfortable and natural thing.

  I reached behind her and snuggled my nose into her neck as I unsnapped her bra. Gently, I pulled it off to display her full, beautiful breasts. I cupped both of them in my hands and she shuddered against me. I felt like a teenager all over again, discovering someone’s body and the fun that could be had as you found what the other person liked and didn’t. She reached up and released my bra as well. We were both open and vulnerable to one another.

  She leaned in and started to kiss along the swell of my breasts as I gently played with hers in my hands. She put her mouth around my hardened peaks and I groaned into her. She switched to the other breast and gently nipped her way along until her mouth began to suck and her tongue swirled against my nipple.

  I gasped as heat and pleasure built in my core, her tongue absolutely undoing me. I could feel my body aching for a release.

  “My turn,” I said, pushing her playfully to the bed. She laughed as I trailed my lips along her breasts and looked up at her.

  She moved her hands to cup my ass and pulled my hips to her in one swift motion as I closed my mouth against her nipple and began to suck and nibble. She groaned and ground her hips into me, and it sent butterflies wildly beating in my belly. I went to give her other breast the same attention as Priya began to move her hand to my wet center. She slipped her fingers into my panties and gently began to circle my clit. I gasped as her finger made lazy circles that caused my legs to shake. I braced my hands on either side of her ribs as I shuddered into her touch.

  “Do you like this, love?” she asked as I stared astonishingly at her. I could feel an orgasm start to build as she slipped one finger inside my wet heat, then another gently curling while her thumb continued to swirl over my center in a beautiful rhythm.

  “You finger like a fucking pro,” I said suddenly breathless.

  She laughed and slipped her hand out of me. “Just wait, Lincoln,” she whispered, moving to sit up.

  “Wait, I want to try something,” I said, feeling brave.

  Priya lay back down as I wiggled off of her and sat myself between her legs, gently slipping off her thong and exposing the small patch of hair that lay at her center. I started to kiss along her muscular legs and watched her eyes as I sucked on a finger and ran it along the seam of her. She arched her hips up and I slid inside her, my eyes widening at the feel of her slickness. She felt amazing in my hand.

  “Tell me how to move inside you,” I said, locking my eyes with hers.

  “Another finger, love,” she said as she moved along my hand.

  So I added another one and gently stroked her inside and marveled at her beauty and strength. I slowly slipped out of her and started to kiss her belly and move further down.

  “Lincoln. You don’t have to if it’s too much right now,” Priya said, looking at me sweetly. She was right though. I knew my own anatomy well enough to know what would most likely feel good for someone else.

  “I want to try,” I said, and brought my lips down until my breath hovered above her center. I pressed my mouth to her, kissed it slowly, and placed both of my hands underneath her beautiful backside. I started to softly lick and suck, reveling at how she tasted and smelled of sex and Priya.

  I swirled my tongue around and tried to listen to her groans. It sent pleasure throughout my entire body to be tasting her like this. I had a sudden moment of feeling right in between her legs, and I wondered why I’d ever thought I was straight.

  She gave me directions of pressure, how to move my mouth, and other things until she was gripping the sheets and quivering in her lower belly.

  “Stay right there, love,” she said, breathing hard as I continued the same movements with my tongue. “Now put your fingers in.” She moved her hips against me, and I obeyed her command. I was in complete awe of how she moved and tasted.

  I don’t know how long I stayed there, but I wanted to continue to make her writhe and move as I explored and savored the deepest parts of her. Priya shuddered and lifted her hips, groaning loudly, and I felt her tremor against my hands and my mouth as her orgasm ripped through her.

  I started to move my mouth back up her body, and slid my hand away so I was straddling her once more. I felt powerful and beautiful making her come.

  I kissed her, wanting her to taste herself on me.

  “See, you did very well, love,” she said against my lips. I laughed. “Now my turn.” She smiled wickedly and pushed me over so she was now on top of me.

  “Wait, you just looked so blissed out, you don’t have to…ahh…,” I whimpered as she slid her hand down my belly to where my clitoris was swollen and achy for her. My body was still tingly from making her squirm.

  The touch sent heat straight to my toes, and I arched my back.

  “Did you want me to stop?” she whispered in my ear.

  “No, please continue.” My body felt like it wanted to combust under her spell, and I was so ready for her touch.

  She laughed again and moved down my body, planting kisses across the softness of my breasts, belly, and hips, like she was memorizing my skin with her lips. Her kisses and nips lowered as her hand continued to move lazily against my clit. Fire burned in my veins and pooled straight to my navel. I wanted to erupt around her.

  She moved her mouth to hover right above my center and made eye contact with me as she bent down and laid a chaste kiss there. My whole body nearly spasmed from the light touch.

  “Tell me how to make you cum, Linc.” Her mouth hummed and moved against me, and I had no words. The woman ate me out like I was the most delicious dessert that she couldn’t get enough of, and the way her tongue moved…I could have written songs about it.

  “Everything you’re doing is amazing,” I gasped, practically seeing stars as her mouth moved against me and her fingers gently stroked inside me. My center turned to lava as I groaned and grabbed for my breasts, pulling at my nipples, aching for the release. I ground my hips against her mouth and chased the building pressure in my core until I was shoved off the edge. I cried out as my whole body shivered and pulsed with the orgasm cresting through me. She moved her lips, trailing her way back to my own and I hungrily tasted myself on her.

  “I like the way we taste together,” I whispered as she settled on top of me and gently moved her hand to stroke me tenderly.

  “Me too,” she said as she watched me.

  “Oh my god. I think I might cum again,“ I moaned, her lazy strokes building something else inside of me. “I’ve never orgasmed twice,” I whispered breathily.

  “Oh Linc, my love. You’ll get at least two, if not more. Women are much more equipped to pleasure women.” She smiled wickedly.

  She was right. I was nothing more than a puddle of sex and orgasms with the smell of Priya on my skin and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  14

  I woke up the next morning to an empty bed, and I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. My body felt great from the all the sex; gooey inside and out. I smiled, thinking of how being with Priya felt so right, and sighed loudly.

  What an exciting adventure we were on together. My mind started to wander to Isaac and the outburst yesterday. I knew that I didn’t want any sort of relationship with him, but it still hurt to see him and experience his anger. I wish he would just move on without me. I didn’t want him to be miserable, per se, but I didn’t need to actively contribute to his happiness or his life anymore.

  Why are breakups so messy?

  I frowned, glancing around my room. Where do Priya go?

  I grabbed my phone off my nightstand and saw a message from her.

  Priya: Emir needed me for something this morning and I didn’t want to wake you since you’re technically still supposed to be resting. :) Last night was wonderful, Lincoln. I hope we can do it again very soon. Text me when you wake up. <3

  I peeked over at the clock and my mouth dropped open. It was ten thirty. I couldn’t remember the last time I slept so late. I guess my body did need some rest. I stretched lazily, mentally chastising myself for not bringing up my weird guardian angel visitor or any of the things I’d learned the other day. I felt like I had invaded Priya's privacy by looking into the death of her parents and her demon encounter on the intranet, even though it’s public knowledge to all those who have access.

  That didn’t mean anything. She should have the freedom to bring it up on her own time. There’s no way for me to justify it because I was being nosy and rude.

  Ugh.

  Obviously I need to work on bringing up hard conversations and not just diving straight into sex. Clear and open communication are necessary here, and I was doing a poor job of actually following through on that.

  I whipped off my comforter and swung my bare legs around. I didn’t normally sleep naked, but I hadn’t seen the point of putting clothes on last night since Priya and I cuddled most of the evening. How lovely to be with someone who doesn’t immediately fall asleep after sex or totally neglect any sort of aftercare.

  I grabbed my robe hanging off the side of my full-length mirror when I saw a large snarling black beast in the reflection. I screamed and the robe fell out of my hand as I landed on my ass. I scrambled back from the mirror and looked behind me to see nothing.

  I breathed heavily and looked around my room. My heart was racing as I tried to think of how in the hell I was supposed to survive a demon attack, naked and alone. I frantically scanned the space for a weapon, for the beast, for literally anything to help me.