26. Noa
NOA
Aarti clicks open the door of her condo and I follow her in.
For whatever reason, I assumed she would live in some sleek, minimalist-modern box, but this place is nothing of the sort.
It’s a charming Old Hollywood building bordering Hancock Park, where the stucco and wrought iron from the exterior beautifully match the arches, ornate decorative tiles, and exposed beams of the interior.
“Diti, you home?” she calls out. Silence. She turns to me. “Want anything to drink?”
“Water would be nice.”
She pads to the kitchen, returning with two glasses. There’s something about watching her in her private space, a place almost no one else gets to witness, that makes my pulse quicken. Up Extra Late with Aarti Nair: audience of one.
“Do you want to…?” She nods toward her bedroom, voice dropping slightly. “Just in case Diti comes home.”
I follow her into her bedroom, immediately drawn to the massive floor-to-ceiling arched window that opens onto a vine-covered balcony.
“Wow.” The lights of the city shimmer in the distance, and I can tell that in daylight, the Hollywood sign must be visible from here.
“The view will never get old.” Her arms circle my waist from behind, chin settling on my shoulder. “How are you feeling?” she murmurs against my ear. “Do you need anything?”
I turn my head to catch her eyes, struck by how genuinely she’s asking. “I’m perfect,” I tell her, meaning it completely.
“Good.”
She kisses me from behind, soft and lingering. Her hands find the hem of my T-shirt dress and follow the curves of my body as the fabric rises.
When I try to turn around, she guides me back to face the window.
“Enjoy the view,” she whispers, voice carrying a hint of command that sends heat straight through me. Her lips find my neck as her hands map my skin beneath the dress.
I’m beginning to understand something fundamental about Aarti–how much pleasure she takes in my pleasure, how she seems to come alive when she’s focused entirely on me.
I let my head fall back against her shoulder as her hand slides down the front of my panties. The first touch of her fingers against my wetness makes me gasp, and she hums approvingly, using the slickness of my arousal to circle my clit in perfect, maddening strokes.
“Aarti… ” I breathe her name. I want to tell her how incredible this feels, how right, but I can barely form coherent thoughts as her palm presses against me and her fingers find exactly the right spot inside. My legs begin to shake and she holds me steady, supporting my weight effortlessly.
“Come here,” she murmurs, guiding me to her California King. When I move to sit, she turns me around once more, hands gentle but insistent as she guides me to bend over the plush comforter.
She leans down, her body a warm line across my back. “I want you like this,” she whispers against my ear. “Is that what you want, too?”
The question, asked so softly, so carefully, sends fire racing through my veins. “Yes,” I manage. “Please, yes.”
I feel her smile against my shoulder before she straightens, lifting my dress off and letting it fall away. Cool air hits my skin as she slides my panties down my legs, and when I glance back, she’s kneeling behind me, taking me in with appreciation.
Her palm connects with my ass in a playful spank before she leans forward to press kisses along the back of my thigh. “God, you’re beautiful,” she murmurs against my skin. “I want to taste every inch of you.”
“Please,” I whisper, and I hear her soft laugh at my eagerness.
Her hands spread me open and then her mouth is on my pussy, tongue working in slow, deliberate strokes that make my spine arch. Every lick sends shockwaves through me, and when I moan for more, she responds immediately, her tongue slipping inside me.
I stretch forward, gripping the comforter as I rock back against her mouth, chasing the sensation. But as incredible as this feels–
“Can I… will you…?” I attempt.
“Words, Noa.”
“Will you get on the bed?” I manage to ask, voice rough with need. “Please.”
She pulls away and turns me around, capturing my mouth in a deep kiss that lets me taste myself on her lips. The intimacy of it makes me dizzy.
“How do you want me?” she asks, and the genuine question in her voice, the way she’s willing to give me whatever I need, makes my heart stutter.
“Lay back,” I instruct.
She settles against the pillows and pulls her camisole over her head, revealing she’s braless underneath. Her perfect breasts culminate in perky erect nipples that have my mouth watering. I slide her pants down over her hips, then her silk boyshorts.
I smile, satisfied. Finally, we’re both fully naked together.
I lean over her and suck her tits into my mouth.
They’re smaller than mine, like generous scoops of ice cream–the ideal size for me to devour whole.
She groans and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.
My pussy pulses, even wetter. Aarti's hand slides down to touch me again, and I hear her sharp breath when she discovers how aroused I am.
“Get up here,” she demands, hands circling my ass and pulling my dripping pussy over her face.
The view from up here–her dark hair spread across the pillow, eyes bright with desire–is almost too much.
“Yes.” She breathes me in. “Good girl.”
She pulls me onto her face, her tongue finding my center.
She controls my movement, setting a rhythm that has me crying out, one hand braced against the headboard while the other tangles in her hair.
The city lights blur beyond the window as my pleasure builds and builds, radiating outward from where her mouth works magic.
The orgasm hits like a wave, starting deep in my core and spreading through every nerve ending until I’m shaking above her, her name falling from my lips like a prayer. I rock against her mouth until the last tremor subsides, then collapse beside her, boneless and breathless.
“I could do that forever,” she says, pulling me close, pressing soft kisses to my temple. “Watching you fall apart like that.”
I curl into her side, still catching my breath. As the waves of pleasure subside, my hunger for her builds in me.
“My turn,” I whisper against her neck, pressing a kiss there that makes her shiver. “I need to touch you.”
The vulnerability in her eyes, mixed with desire, makes my heart race. She nods, and I begin my own exploration, trailing kisses across her collarbone.
“You’re incredible,” I exhale, letting my hand trail down her body, watching as she arches into my touch.
My fingers reach her wetness and she gasps, hips lifting toward me instinctively. She’s so ready, so responsive to every caress. I start slow, learning what makes those beautiful sounds spill from her lips.
“Noa,” she breathes, her hands twisting in the sheets on either side of her wriggling hips.
I love the way she says my name like that–desperate, needy. I increase the pressure of my fingers, until I find a rhythm that makes her whole body tense with pleasure.
“That’s it,” I whisper, watching her face as I work her toward the edge. “Let me take care of you.”
She’s close–I can tell by the way her breathing changes, how her thighs squeeze around my hand. I lean down to capture her lips in a deep kiss just as she comes apart beneath me, her body arching as waves of pleasure wash over her.
I hold her through it, fingers gentle now as she rides out every aftershock, until she’s pulling me up to collapse against her chest.
“That was…” she starts, then trails off with a contented sigh.
“Perfect,” I finish for her, settling into her arms as we both catch our breath.
Outside the window, the city continues to twinkle, but in here, wrapped up in each other, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world.
I tiptoe out of Aarti’s apartment the next morning and fire up Ringo with a grin I can’t wipe off my face. Not even the Tesla driver who flips me off for going the speed limit can dampen my mood. I just smile and wave, singing have the day you deserve, sir!
I park on the street, skipping as I make my way to my apartment, whistling Fiona far too cheerfully and completely off-key. I unlock the door and– jumpscare –am greeted by the demonic grin of my twin knitting a giant carabiner plushie on the couch.
“Noa,” he nods at me.
“I should have never given you keys,” I groan, dropping my purse to the floor.
“But alas, you did.” He stands, circling me like a hawk. “Where might you have been this morning?” His eyes narrow.
“I, uh–went to get–”
“DON’T you lie to me Noa Jacqueline!” he cries. “Twin telepathy!!!” He points to his temples as if he’s reading my mind.
“Fucking fine ,” I start, then immediately stop myself. “Actually, no. You know what? No.” I cross my arms. “I don’t owe you an explanation for where I spend my nights.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’m serious, Aiden. Just because we’re twins doesn’t mean I have to report my every move to you.” I’m deflecting hard and we both know it, but I can’t help myself. The whole thing with Aarti still feels too new, too fragile, like if I say it out loud it might evaporate.
His theatrical energy deflates a little, and he settles back onto the couch. “Okay, look.” His voice drops to a more genuine tone. “I’m not gonna force it out of you, alright? That’s not… that’s not what this is.”
I eye him suspiciously. “Since when are you not nosy?”
“I’m always nosy. But I’m not cruel.” He runs a hand through his hair–the same unconscious gesture I have. “Here’s the thing, Noa. I have eyes. And a brain. And two feet that walked into a very suspicious vibe in my own backhouse several nights ago.”
My stomach drops.
“So if you wanna keep pretending I don’t know, we can totally do that,” he continues. “But you should know that I know. And I think I know that you know that I know.” He pauses. “You know?”
I stare at him for a long moment, my resolve crumbling. Of course he knows. He’s always been able to read me better than anyone, even when I desperately don’t want to be read.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter.
“Is it?” He tilts his head. “Because right now you look like someone who spent the night getting thoroughly–”
“Okay!” I throw my hands up in defeat. “Jesus Christ, fine. Yes. Okay? Are you happy? You can’t say a word to anyone .”
“That you’re fucking Aarti Nair?”
“Aiden!”
“WHERE’S THE LIE!!!?” he shouts dramatically, his serious moment officially over.
I collapse onto the couch and bury my face in my hands. “There isn’t one.”
“I fucking knew it.” He bounces like he just won the lottery.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’m right.” He settles in next to me, propping his chin on his knuckles with delight. “Now tell me everything.”
I tell him from the beginning about the dumpster, the rising tension between me and Aarti, the night we saved Diti, the BFI freezer. How we started off at odds and suddenly that, well… yeah, turned into hot, hot sex. That absolutely no one can know about.
“Firstly, may I say that I love this for you,” he squeals. “And B, my lips are sealed…” He trails off and gives me a loaded look.
“Say it,” I sigh.
“What’s the long-term plan here if she can’t be out?”
“No further questions at this time, your honor,” I plead.
He squints his eyes, not thrilled about it, but resigned. “Case dismissed.” He bangs my vintage candle holder on the table like a gavel. “For now.”