Chapter Fifteen – Pink fur and magical kisses #2
I immediately picked up my phone and called the number I programmed for Likosa. It rang once and then went to voicemail. I left a brief message asking her to call me back and hung up the phone.
“I guess we just have to wait for her to call me back.” I accepted the tea from Cadence and moved to sit on the couch.
Just as I took my first sip, there was a knock at the door.
“I thought you said nobody else's up here.” My eyes snapped to Cadence as I prepared for the onslaught of outside emotions, but nothing came.
“No one else is supposed to be up here.” She shrugged.
“Hell, let me get it.” Tayvion stomped over to the door and swung it open. “Can I help you?”
“Likosa?” I stood, looking over her shoulder at the woman in a pink fur coat.
“Shontae.” Likosa looked at me, her pink eyes brightening when she found my face.
Now, of course, I had to pretend like my heart didn’t skip several beats when she looked at me like that, because I swear, I could feel her hand on the back of my neck and her lips pressed against mine. The moment was so intense, it would have been impossible for my girls not to notice.
Tayvion cleared her throat, interrupting the silent conversation happening between Likosa and me.
“I take it this is your mystery friend?” Tayvion glanced over her shoulder at me, and I only nodded.
“How did you get yourself fast?” I asked Likosa.
“Told her she would need directions.” Tayvion stepped inside, allowing Likosa to enter the cabin before she shut the door behind her.
“Your voicemail said you needed me. Are you okay?” she asked, but I could tell by the tightness around her eyes that she already knew I wasn’t.
“Something's going on with my power, and I'm hoping you can help me figure it out,” I answered. “For some reason, I can’t control it anymore. That’s why Cadence brought me here, because I couldn’t put my shield up anymore.
“I was afraid this might happen.” Likosa reached me, pausing just a foot away.
“You were?” I looked up at her, realizing for the first time that she was slightly taller than I was. “Why?”
“I felt a shift when we kissed, and I know you did as well. It’s the reason I pulled away from you like I did. I hoped if I got away from you, it would avoid any complications on your end. But I was wrong. I apologize for that.”
“So, your kiss short-circuited our friend?” Cadence asked.
“Something like that, yes.” Likosa glanced at her with a short nod.
“Great! Just kiss her again and fix it.” Tayvion offered a very simplistic solution.
“Trust me.” Likosa locked eyes with me again. “I wish it were that easy.”
“Tay, this isn’t a fairy tale. You know damn well that's not how things work,” Cadence fussed.
“Well, damn, a kiss messed up everything. I’m just saying maybe they could try it again and see what happens.”
“Can y'all give us a moment alone, please?” I looked at my friends, who now stood next to each other, though I hadn’t realized Cadence crossed the room. “Let me talk to Likosa in private. I appreciate both of you being here for me, but come on, y'all.”
“Yeah, you're right. You two talk. You can fill us in later.” Cadence grabbed Tayvion’s arm and pulled her to the door. “I'll get us some food to eat.”
“Yeah, she'll get us some food to eat.” Tayvion resisted Cadence’s efforts and stuck her tongue out at me.
“Tay,” Cadence gave one strong tug, which had Tayvion stumbling back. “Bring your ass. Can’t you be serious for a moment?”
“Damn. Okay, I'm coming.” She followed Cadence out of the room, but I overheard her say one more thing. “You think they're gonna kiss again? I bet you they're gonna try it.”
The door shut behind them, and I could no longer hear my friends fussing at each other.
I knew Cadence would be getting on Tayvion’s ass for how she acted.
Cadence cared about making a great first impression, no matter the situation.
Tayvion only ever cared about being true to herself and, to be honest, I loved that about her.
My attention fully returned to Likosa, who still had her eyes trained on my face. Ten different shades of pink twirled in her irises, glowing with her internal power.
“The kiss did this,” I repeated what she said to me.
“It did.” She nodded, lips pursing, as if preparing to kiss me again.
“Another one won't fix it.” My eyes were locked on her lips, wanting to taste her once more.
“No. But it doesn't mean it won't feel just as good as the first time.” She smiled, flashing those pearly white teeth at me.
My eyes snapped up to hers. “You didn't come here for another kiss.”
“No, I didn’t.” She took a deep breath. “I came here to make sure you are okay, but if that comes with kisses, I welcome it.”
“How do I fix this?”
“I have an idea but would need to actually touch you to assess what's going on, if you're alright with that.” She lifted her hand between us.
“Yeah, I am.” I took a step closer to her.
Likosa pulled the fur coat from around her, revealing a tight-fitted bodice that dropped into a floor-length black skirt. As she moved, the skirt swayed, and pink sparkles flashed with the movement.
When her hand returned to view, she held a small glass bottle sealed with thick black wax. She pulled back the seal and poured the liquid, which looked like nothing more than water, into her palm.
The liquid spread, guided by her power, and coated her hand like a latex glove, snapping firmly onto her skin. She then pressed her palms together, transferring the liquid to her other hand.
“This might be a little cold,” she said as she reached for me.
“Okay.” I nodded and gave her permission to continue whatever she needed to do.
She cradled my head in her hands, one hand on either side of my face. It was cold at first, but it quickly warmed as the water moved like tiny brushes across my skin, creating a rushing noise in my ears. My body relaxed, guided by her power, as I felt pushed aside within myself.
Internally displaced, her power moved and analyzed everything within me.
She held my gaze as I felt her power stretch across my body. When I tried to look away from her, she pulled me back by leaning in just slightly. Yeah, she was assessing what she felt within me, but there was something deeper there, that glow in her eyes as the pink shifted between shades.
“What do you feel?” she asked in a low whisper.
“I'm not entirely sure.” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
“Do you want to know what I feel?” Her fingers caressed my cheek.
“Yes.”
“You are very strong, Shontae. Stronger than I might have given you credit for.” Her thumb outlined the corner of my lip before settling on my chin. “But you're afraid. There's something that terrifies you, and I won't pretend to know what that is.”
“Is that why my magic isn't working right?” I asked. “I need to face my fear?”
“In part, but there is something else.”
“Something else?” I had the urge to place my hand over hers, but I fought it.
“It's me, Shontae.” Likosa took another deep breath, lifting her chest and straightening her shoulders. “Being near me has warped your magic.”
“Oh.” There was an ache in my chest as I heard those words. It was fear. I wasn’t concerned that my power would never be the same. That would have been the logical response. All I could think about was whether it would mean I could never be near her again.
“Yes.” Her hand warmed again, pushing away the tension that followed her confession. “You will be okay.”
“How do I fix it?” I knew she would think I was only concerned with myself, and I let her believe that.
“I can give you something now that will help you temporarily while I look into it. I do not think this is a permanent issue, but it is one that will affect you for the time being.”
“How long will that take?”
“It is already in the works. I had anticipated this, so it should only be a little while longer. But I will need to leave again. I promise to return. Just stay here until I do.”
“I'm not going anywhere. Even if I could, my friends wouldn't let me.” I chuckled, thinking about how Cadence would tie me to the fireplace if that was what it took.
“You have good friends. More people would be lucky to find friends like yours.” There it was again, that flash of longing. Likosa had something heavy on her heart. If only I was brave enough to ask her what it was.
Mind ya business, girl! She might say something that rocks your world!
“I won't tell them you said that.”
The soft chuckle left her parted lips. “I understand. I will get going.”
“What did you need me to help you with?” I asked, needing at least one answer.
“I'm sorry?”
“You said you had a problem my powers could help you with. What was it?”
“I'm not sure that matters right now.” She shook her head. “Our only concern is making sure you’re okay. Once we do, we can discuss if that’s still a possibility. In the meantime, rest, and I'll be back.”
Likosa dropped her hand and turned to leave, but impulse made me grab her wrist.
Shit, maybe a kiss can fix all this.
That was the thought that drove my motivation, followed by the possibility that I might never be able to kiss her again. I pulled her to me, and she gave no resistance as I pressed my lips against hers.
Likosa leaned into the kiss. Her hand returned to my face before sliding down to the back of my neck, and she pulled me closer.
Her tongue pressed against my lips, and I parted them, welcoming her.
Eyes shut and tongue tasting every bit of Likosa I could, I moaned, moving my hands around her waist to pull her body tighter to mine.
Our bodies were still touching, chests rising and falling heavily, as our lips finally parted.
“What was that?” Likosa asked, those eyes now swirling with light.
“Suddenly, I thought I might never kiss you again, and I thought that would be such a shame.”
“Yeah, it would be.” She leaned in and kissed me once again.
As her hands moved through my hair, fluffing my curls, I felt a sudden warmth wrap around me before her touch faded.
When I opened my eyes, suddenly feeling her absence, I was all alone.