57. Athena
CHAPTER 57
Athena
T he sting from the fresh tattoo on my hip pulls me out of the most contented sleep I’ve had in a while.
Someone’s in my kitchen. From the clunking around and clattering of metal on metal, I’m going to guess it’s my adorable, but not at all kitchen-competent boyfriend.
I can’t move. Ophelia’s curled into my chest, her leg threaded through the middle of both of mine, and her wild hair splayed across both the pillow, my face, and my chest.
Her snuffly breathing is adorable, and the way she’s clinging to me like a spider monkey makes me smile.
Neither Scott nor I want a third in our relationship, but I think we’ve found something more in Ophelia than simply someone to come play with from time to time.
I might have made a brand-new friend.
An unexpected feeling prickles in my chest.
I can walk into a boardroom, present proposals, deal with any number of problems in the day to day of things, and yet, when it comes to human connection, to trusting another human with a piece of myself, it’s so fucking hard.
My circle has been small for so long that I wasn’t sure I knew how to expand it.
Things with the Raccoon’s girlfriends are going well, but they kind of have to like me, right? Two of them are dating my brothers, one’s my best friend… it kind of feels like cheating.
Ophelia… she’s… actually new. Sure, Scott brought her home, and I’ll need to send Slade something nice to thank him for being the web weaver that brought us together. But I like spending time with her.
She’s easy to talk to, she’s fun to be with, and I can envision her joining us at book club, or at hockey games, and being something more than just a physical assist for Scott from time to time.
Granted, the sex last night was mind-blowing. So much so, my mind blew at the same time as my clit, and I don’t remember much past soaking the sheets with my third orgasm.
Ophelia shifts toward me, curling her arm around my waist as she does. It’s as if she doesn’t want to lose the physical connection any more than I do.
It’s a hard thing to change, to overcome, the notion that I’m better off alone, that I need to be strong. It’s something I see Mamá realizing right now, as well.
Papá has kept her in an ornate tower like Rapunzel for so long, now she’s getting herself ready to reassimilate in the big, bad world, she’s not sure how.
It’s like Papá encouraged the men in the house to make contacts, to step out and be social but the women, his women, were conditioned to be strong, and capable, to be pretty but keep everyone at arm’s length.
And with Ophelia in my arms, and the warmth of yesterday’s get together with my friends still fresh, part of me wonders what I’ve missed out on having been made this way.
I kiss her forehead. Not to wake her, but as a way of grounding myself, reminding myself that while Papá might have instilled stupid principles in me about being an island, being so strong that no one dare try to destroy you, I’m not completely broken.
I can, and will, find a way through the muddy waters and make a life I want to live, with people I want to live it with.
The fresh ink on my hip stings again. My Saniderm protective cover stayed on, thankfully. Scott probably still hasn’t even noticed it. I don’t blame him, we escalated from fully clothed to me riding Ophie’s face pretty quickly.
The memory sends a bolt of lust to my exhausted core. I have no intention of trying to orgasm today. The orgasm store is closed, there’s a ‘no fucking way’ sign dangling from the window. If anything, I need an ice pack and some Tylenol.
Absently stroking her hair feels nice, it’s calming. Not that I need to be calmed, but it’s a pleasant thing to do while I lie here with another woman in my arms. Her aftercare included cuddling, but she was happy to leave last night if we wanted her to.
I don’t know for sure, because I was likely drooling into my pillow, but I bet Scott asked her to stay for my benefit. He hasn’t come right out and said it, but he knows me best. If there’s changes happening in me, he’ll see them first before anyone else.
Has he noticed the sliver of need to build human connections.
“You’re staring at me awfully hard for so early in the morning.” Her mumbled voice makes my boob vibrate as she speaks.
“It’s way too early for the level of thinking I’m doing, as well.”
She tips her head back, looking up at me with concern in her eyes as she presses her lips together. “Are you okay?”
I nod, dropping a chaste kiss on the tip of her nose. This feels like one of those times where I should give a piece of myself to someone to see what they do with it. Anxiety simmers in my gut. I’m naked, vulnerable, and all-the-way exposed, but I’m also brave, the mighty Athena, so I take my shot.
“I was thinking that I’m glad we met.” I pause but not for long enough for her to say anything to fill the gap. “I don’t just mean for your wicked talented tongue. I…” Just breathe. Don’t stop. Keep going. “I’d like for us to be friends if you’re okay with it?”
She’s been grinning up at me since I said I’m glad we met, and when I say the word friends, she glomps me with both hands, burying her head in my boobs. She’s saying something I can’t quite hear, and my anxiety has me in a choke hold. Even though her reaction was positive, I need to hear her say it.
Fuck. I feel so damn pathetic.
I push her back, finding her chin and tipping it up so her eyes meet mine.
“I’d love that.” She smiles. “And I know you guys aren’t looking for a thruple, but if you ever want to play.” She shrugs. “We can totally be friends with benefits. I’m good with boundaries.”
Is it really that simple? Is it really still as easy for adults as it was when we were children? You just find a person you like and say hey, you’re my friend now?
Surely not.
The urge to kiss her overwhelms, and before she can blink, my lips are on hers.
She lets out a shriek, pulling back from me, and my stomach clenches. She covers her mouth. “I have morning breath.”
I relax, this isn’t about me, it’s her own hang up. We all have them. “And if I don’t care?”
She squints at me, trying to figure out the answer to that. “I’ve never kissed anyone before brushing my teeth before.”
I stroke her face. “Your call, but I’m game if you are.”
Her hand on my hip is warm, soft, and as she pulls me to her our lips connect. It’s lazy, soft, and sends tiny little shocks through my body.
“Mmmm.” Even her hum is adorable.
She rolls on top of me and curves her hips against mine making me moan.
Scott clears his throat in the doorway and our heads both snap his direction like a comical movie moment.
“If you two are hungry, food’s ready.” There’s amusement in his tone, teasing, a lightheartedness we’ve been missing since before I got attacked.
“Definitely hungry.” Ophelia skims her lips across my cheek, and my body reacts by heating from deep within.
I nod, holding Ophelia’s gaze with a telling stare of my own. “I could definitely eat.”
“I made pancakes.” Scott persists, stepping into the room, his gray sweatpants catching on his toe and sliding down just a little with every step toward my bed. His adonis belt, his pubic hair, a rock-hard cock that can’t be ignored.
Ophelia looks at Scott, then looks at me. “I’m down for another round if you are. I dreamed about how delicious your pussy tastes.”
She doesn’t wait for my answer, though she keeps looking at me as she slides down my body until she settles between my thighs. She pries apart my labia, groans, then looks at Scott who already has his cock in his hand.
“May I?” She pauses. “Please? She’s so wet already.”
My breathing is ragged and heavy. I arch my back, lifting my hips so my pussy is closer to her face. I’m close to begging, my body is buzzing with energy, remembering how her mouth felt against my pussy.
I look at Scott who’s licking his lips as his assessing stare glides over my body. The more he stares, the more my body reacts. My nipples are so hard, aching for his mouth to close around them and suck and bite them until I come.
My throat still aches from screaming last night but I’m panting, and each labored breath catches on my swollen vocal cords.
Scott climbs onto the bed, kneeling next to me. His fingers trail from my jaw, down the column of my neck, straight down my breastbone to my belly button. He walks his fingers to my hip and circles my new tattoo.
“I didn’t get to appreciate this last night.” He leans over to get a better look. “I look cute on your hip, Bright Eyes. I can’t wait for it to heal so I can kiss it.” He kisses me instead, it’s deep and filled with longing, and when he pulls back, his chest is rising and falling with heavy breaths.
His cock is right there, so close. I scoot down in the bed so I can reach it and sit up to take him in my mouth. After he grips the back of my head and gives a few hard thrusts into my mouth, he turns to Ophelia who is still quietly awaiting permission to devour my soaking wet pussy.
“Go ahead, Ophie. Have your breakfast.”