Chapter 24 #3
Denny’s mouth opened to protest, but no sound came out.
Her throat clamped. She would never do anything she didn’t want to do.
Smiling at rude customers didn’t count. Maintaining a semblance of functionality when all she wanted was to lock herself in a dark room and cry didn’t count, either. All responsible adults did that.
All responsible adults gave up chunks of themselves to fit into their box.
Right?
A deep discomfort coiled around her stomach.
Eris ghosted the pads of her fingers over Denny’s cheekbone. “I don’t want to sound like I’m implying that I can fix you, but… Maybe it’d be different with someone who actually gives a shit. Know what I mean?”
Of course Denny knew. She could feel the difference between being a purpose and a mere tool: none of those three times had been about her own pleasure.
It was different with Eris. Denny was well acquainted with the importance Eris gave to reciprocation, the comfort she found in balance.
But Denny wasn’t ready for that. As strong as the temptation to take what Eris was offering her was, she didn’t want to risk finding herself in the condition of having to choose between lying to her and disappointing her.
“Maybe,” she mused. “Maybe it’d be different.” She didn’t know what to do with the seed of doubt that was sprouting within her. “We need to get some kip now if we want to be able to function tomorrow.”
Eris snorted. “Neither of us will ever ace that functioning thing, anyway.
Laughing, Denny kissed her cheek. “Let me clean you up.”
“That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
Denny had a hard time convincing herself to leave the bed. Padding to the bathroom, she could feel Eris’ eyes burning into her back.
She returned with a damp towel. Eris parted her legs and let her run the cloth between them, hissing when the fabric made contact where she was most sensitive.
“Sorry.”
“Shut up,” Eris mumbled fuzzily, running a hand up Denny’s arm. “Never been so pampered in my life.”
Denny bent to lay a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll make sure you get used to it.”
* * *
She knew it was late because the room was bathed in sunlight. It was that kind of bright light that came after storms, limpid and crystalline. Cleaner. Warmer.
The suncatcher in the window shone like a gem, its greens and yellows and pearly whites casting glittering reflections on the bed.
Beautiful in the dark, beautiful in the light.
It had been in the kitchen for a couple of days before Denny had decided that she wanted its kaleidoscope of colours to be the second thing she saw when waking up in the morning.
The first thing being Eris’ bright eyes watching her stir and yawn like it was some kind of daily wonder.
Eris was slumbering upon her chest, her breath warm on her skin, tickling her bare breasts. Denny’s heart was brimming with tingles that felt like the sparkling reflections on the floor looked: hypnotic and a little magical.
She wasn’t going to let anyone put a single dent in this perfection. If it was war that Blake wanted, Denny was ready to fight, whatever the cost.
Eris stirred with a feeble groan. Denny greeted her with a soft peck on her hair.
“Why’s it so bright?”
“Because it’s late.”
Eris smothered another groan into Denny’s neck.
She didn’t seem intentioned to move any time soon and, honestly, neither was Denny.
On the other hand, it wouldn’t be very mature-and-responsible-adult of her to keep the shop closed just to rot in bed with her girlfriend.
Amazing, yes, but unprofessional. And Rocco had taken a day off, so they couldn’t even count on him for backup.
“You can sleep in,” she said against Eris’ braids. “I have to go and cosplay a human.”
The disgruntled growl she received in response summed up how she felt about it, too. It got worse when Eris hooked her leg around Denny’s and dragged her lips enticingly down her neck.
“Tell you what: ten more minutes.” A treacherous nibble on Denny’s pulse nearly obliterated all her well-meaning resolve.
Eris suckled at the spot, tongue swiping in small, measured circles.
“You can use your last-minute superpowers to get ready in record time and open the shop.” Another nibble.
Another maddening tongue swipe. “I’ll change the sheets and bring you breakfast downstairs. ”
Denny was struggling to stay focused with Eris’ heat pressed against her thigh, wet and tempting.
“I think I’ve called you a menace before,” she gasped out, half giggling, as Eris’ canines grazed their way up throat.
“You love it.”
Denny pulled her back to be able to look at her. “I love you.”
All the mischief in Eris’ expression vanished. She grew soft and serious, melting in Denny’s arms.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Eris set her head back down, closed her eyes. A long sigh blew out through her nose. “Everything feels just right.”
* * *
It was just four minutes past opening time when Denny unlocked the shop’s door. Outside, the cold wind of November swept flurries of leaves around the streets.
A man came in, cautiously peering around.
“Morning!” Denny chirped, way too gleefully. She couldn’t help it. Her euphoric giddiness would be everyone’s problem today.
“Good morning.” Handsome, angular features stretched into a polite smile that didn’t reach the blue eyes above it. “I’m looking for Eris Keane. Is she here?”
A spike of dread coiled up Denny’s spine.
‘When your little bubble pops, remember it’s a consequence of your own actions.’
The man was well dressed, dark hair neatly combed back, only a couple of thin locks falling on his forehead. The well-groomed stubble was probably an attempt to add a few years to the young face. He couldn’t be much older than Denny. Old enough to be a lawyer, though.
She tried to maintain a semblance of calm despite her trembling knees. “Who’s asking?”
“My―” Something darkened in the man’s eyes, a stiff pinch between his eyebrows. A muscle shifted in his jaw as his throat bobbed. He was staring past Denny, wide-eyed.
She turned around: Eris stood behind her, a box of muesli bars dangling from a hand.
“Sorry, I’ll bring these―”
“Eris,” the man exhaled. A tentative smile twitched on his lips. “My god, you’re a woman.”
“Do we―” Eris’ frown disappeared with her voice.
There was a moment of absolute stasis, during which no one seemed to be breathing. The confusion on Eris’ pale face shifted to shock, then slowly shattered into grief as her lips parted to form a soundless word that caused Denny’s heart to skip.
“Mikey.”