Chapter Twelve – Edible Panties
“Ialmost fucked Jenna.” The words fell out of my mouth as soon as they walked through the front door of my house, and Sire flew around my head in a chaotic halo, screeching a mocking laughter. I rolled my eyes at her and then turned my attention to my friends, who stared at me in disbelief.
Tayvion was already mid-toss, returning my car key to me.
When I confessed I was too drunk to drive home— mean, I did imagine seeing another woman in the bed—she magically retrieved the valet ticket from my pocket.
I’d refused to give them any details until they were in front of me, because I knew it would lead to hours of conversation I didn’t want to have via text.
In the absence of their response, Sire sang loudly and made a tsk noise between the lengths of the melody.
I know damn well that bird ain’t judging me!
“I’m sorry, you want to repeat what you just said?” Cadence finally gasped.
She held the emergency shit-is-about-to-hit-the-fan bag.
It had all our favorite snacks and drinks in it, and even some tissues, though I didn’t think this occasion would call for them.
There would be no tears, but there would be heavy bouts of regret only strawberry cheesecake ice cream could help!
“I’m so glad I ordered pizza on the way over here!” Tayvion clapped her hands. “Something told me this would be juicy! Now, how the fuck did you go from meeting Likosa to talk about business to almost fucking your ex?”
“Yeah, I just knew we were headed over here for a breakdown of a magical booty call,” Cadence said. “I’m intrigued by this unexpected plot twist!”
With a deep sigh, I closed the door and led them from the entrance of the house to the living room, where we would set up shop for the night.
I’d already covered the floor in plush cushions, perfect for lounging after we’d said all there was to say.
That was when we’d switch to watching a chick flick to help take our minds off things.
After plopping down on a large pink beanbag and snatching a beer from the cooler, I looked at my friends.
“After I left Likosa, I went over to Jenna’s hotel. She invited me up to her room. I went into the bathroom, and when I came out, she pounced.”
“What?” they both screamed in unison.
“I’m sorry. No.” Tayvion crossed her hands in front of her face. “You’re not about to skip all these important details. Go back to the beginning. What happened with Likosa?”
“Her business deal was more of an exchange. She helps me with my company if I help her by using my abilities. I’m not exactly sure what she needs me to do, though, because we didn’t get that far in the conversation.”
“Why not?” Cadence asked. “Seems like that should have been said upfront.”
“We kissed.” I watched their eyes widen simultaneously.
“Bitch, you kissed Likosa and then somehow ended up in Jenna’s hotel room?” Tayvion snatched the emergency bag from Cadence and started digging through it. “Caddy, please tell me you have some popcorn in here.”
“White cheddar, three bags. Give me one too.” Cadence held her hand out, waiting for Tayvion to dish out the supply.
“Things were tense with Likosa,” I continued.
“Like, insanely so. I could feel her, but only when she wanted me to, and when she did, I felt like I would fall over. She wants me, but there is something else there, something deeper. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with what she wants me to help her with, but she said she wants to take our time getting to that. ”
“So she wants you to help her with your power but won’t tell you what it is you would do?” Cadence frowned. “Yeah, I don’t like that at all.”
“Me neither,” I agreed. “That’s exactly why I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
“Yet—so you’re considering it?” Tayvion asked.
I nodded.
“What else happened? How did you get from conversation to kiss?” Cadence sat across from me with her freshly opened bag of popcorn.
“I’m pretty sure that had something to do with the way she sat in my lap to feed me cake. After that, a kiss was bound to happen.”
“Oh, I like this Likosa girl. I mean, her deal sounds kinda shady, but she’s bold as hell!” Tayvion snapped her fingers. “I love a bold bitch!”
“Tayvion!” Cadence smacked her thigh. “Be serious right now.”
“Cady, come on. You know no one else she’s been with would ever take the lead like Likosa. I mean, Jenna was the boldest, but I think that’s because she’s a little off her rocker.”
“You say that about everyone I date.” I held my hand out for popcorn, and Tayvion tossed me a bag.
“Didn’t you have to stop her from getting your name tatted on her ass?” Tayvion asked. “I bet she was going to make it real big, too!”
“You’re right. Shit. This is bad. I knew it would be when I went to see her.” Suddenly, I was scolding myself again for being so foolish.
“I mean, I dare you to name one woman I said was insane who wasn’t. Come on, I’ll wait,” Tayvion challenged. “Still can’t do it, can you?”
“That really isn’t the point,” I huffed.
“Isn’t it?” Tayvion laughed. “Girl, get yourself together, please.”
“Okay, so you kissed her. Then what?” Cadence refocused our conversation.
“It was like the kiss, which was really fucking good, by the way, shook her. When we kissed, that was when I got a glimpse behind the barrier. She couldn’t keep me out.”
“And what did you feel?” Cadence asked as Sire landed next to her, and she absentmindedly petted the bird.
“On the surface, arousal, but then there was this deep longing. Not the kind of thing that comes from wanting to get laid. The kind that is born out of missing something or someone,” I explained.
“It was heavy, but not enough to make me want to stop kissing her, which sounds really bad now that I say it out loud.”
“You think there is someone else?” Tayvion asked. “Maybe she wants you to help win that person over. Like you can change how they feel and make them love her back.”
The thought of her suggestion made my stomach hurt.
Would I be willing to do that? Could I even do that?
I’d never even considered pushing someone to love.
I’d always been focused on calming people down, maybe scaring them a little.
Cheat on my friend, and I’ll dedicate my time to making you experience the worst case of paranoia you can imagine.
Though pushing him to quit his job and move across the country might have been a little farther than I intended.
“Anything could be possible. It’s not like I know all that much about her. But this wasn’t supposed to be a getting to know you, or getting to kiss you, kind of occasion. This was supposed to be about business.”
“Did you wax?” Tayvion pointed at my crotch.
“What?” I flinched and immediately gave myself away.
“Don’t play like you didn’t hear me. You say this was supposed to be business only, but did you get that coochie serviced or not?” She looked at Cadence.
“Girl.” Cadence leaned forward in her seat, and Sire pecked at her hand when she stopped showing her love. “Answer her!”
“Well…” I trailed off, letting them reach their own conclusion.
“You did! Which means you weren’t all about business when you went in there. You were open to something more, and that’s what you got!” Tayvion celebrated. “It's about damn time you got some action.”
“That woman got you that riled up, huh?” Cadence brushed off Tayvion’s enthusiasm.
“It was crazy, hypnotic, and then she just ran away.” I sighed. “At least one of us had some sense. We were supposed to be making business moves, not physical ones.”
“But you said it felt like she was into it?” Cadence asked. “She didn’t pull away until the barrier dropped?”
“Yeah, she was definitely into it. She was the one who initiated things. Told me I would have to get used to mixing business with pleasure.”
“Oh, shit!” Tayvion dropped her popcorn. “She really said that?”
I nodded.
“Of course she did! Because you fine as hell!” Cadence snapped. “Of course she wanted you!”
“Did you take your backpack?” Tayvion popped up to her knees.
“What?” I frowned at her.
“Come on, you’re cute, but we know you carry.” She mimed putting on a strap. “So did you?”
“No, because I wasn’t expecting it to go there.” I rolled my eyes at her. “I told you, this was supposed to be business.”
“Fine, well, clearly, you wanted more and couldn’t get it. That’s why you ended up at Jenna’s place.” Tayvion plopped back down and returned to her popcorn. “I can’t believe you called her up to be a stand-in.”
“Technically, I didn’t call her. She sent me a text right after Likosa ran off.
” I dropped my head back to stare at the ceiling, because the guilt was eating me up!
“I know I should have said no and carried my ass home, but I was all riled up after having that woman in my lap. Everything feels so much more intense when I’m around her. ”
“It’s because you get to let your guard down. Already, I can see the difference she is making in your life. You get to be free with her.” Cadence swooned.
“Don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions here?” Tayvion snapped at Cadence. “You’re over-romanticizing things. For all we know, she feels that way because she has to try harder to get a read on ol’ girl.”
“True, but what I said sounds far more romantic.” Cadence rolled her eyes.
“Anyway. So Likosa straddles and kisses you before leaving you high and dry, and then you answer Jenna’s call.” Tayvion laughed at Cadence’s heart eyes. “Continue the story.”
“Yes. I met her at her hotel. At first, we were at the bar until it got too crowded. Then, we headed up to her room. I should have said no when she suggested it, but—”
“It was her ass, wasn’t it?” Cadence pointed at Tayvion and then at me.
“Yes.” I dropped my head.
“A big booty was always your weakness!” Tayvion laughed.