“Damian, you really need to leave.”
Jamison’s voice had become insistent, and Andi moaned as he pulled out of her. She pouted and grabbed his head, bringing his face to hers. “Why the fuck are you still hard?”
He hadn’t come because he hadn’t wanted to be distracted…more distracted. He hadn’t really thought about the demoralizing consequence it’d have on her.
“The first time we get to have sex in weeks, I wanted to feel you lose yourself in me.” She pressed a fist against her stomach, above where he’d just been. “I like it,” she said and frowned.
His mate begging him to come inside her was, and would remain, up at the top of his long list of Things that Made Andi Perfect for Him.
“I know you do, but….” he said, turning his head.
He didn’t want to leave her.
He definitely had to.
“Damian?” Jamison said, his voice spiked with worry.
“What’s that?” she asked, reaching up for his ear. He caught her wrist.
“An earpiece. Jamison’s been monitoring me.”
She turned pale. “Can he hear us?”
Damian laughed. “No,” he said, tucking himself down as he pulled his jeans up. “I’m not that perverted. Unless you wanted me to be, but even so, there’s issues of consent and—”
“You’re going, aren’t you?” She pushed herself up to sitting again. Her hair looked like a small tornado had hit it and her whole beautiful body was covered with the marks of his love.
“I shouldn’t be so rough with you.”
She ran her hands down her sides as if sealing them in. “I love it. I love you. Are you in danger?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Around you? Always.”
“Five targets, Damian,” Jamison said in a serious tone. “I can see them coming in. I don’t know how it is that they’re getting to you though, it looks like they’re walking through buildings? Shit’s making me nervous, I’m sending in a crew….”
“Stop being a smart ass,” she said, grabbing his hoodie’s collar for his attention.
“Andi, I don’t want to worry—”
“Am I your mate or am I not?”
He snapped to. “You are,” he told her firmly.
“Then is this how you’re supposed to treat me?”
He glowered at her, angry—because she was right. “Hunters are on their way.”
“For you?” she asked, her voice going high.
“Who else would they be coming for?”
“Yeah, you missed some shit while you were gone.” Andi pushed him back and hopped off the counter to start pulling on her clothes.
He grabbed her arm. “Come with me.” All he had to do was take her away from here, back into his castle with him. Him tying her up in his closet was still a valid option.
Yes, his dragon agreed readily.
“No,” she said, stepping reluctantly back. “I think I’m hanging out with my brother tonight. He wants to show me my mom’s notes.”
“What?” Damian said, in far more stern a tone than he intended.
“Because it’s all fate or no fate, and I’m betting on no.” She gestured between them quickly. “This? This is real. And my brother? Is just a jackass. But if I participate in your fairytale ending, what’s that do for his? I don’t want any of it, Damian, I’ve told you that, repeatedly.”
“Damian, they’re just about on top of you….” Jamison’s voice was loud, insistent.
“We have to go now to keep you safe!” he shouted at her, then managed to find restraint from somewhere as he hissed, “I’m not letting you go, Andi.”
“And I’m not asking you to, this time! I can’t do that again, not to you or myself. So,” she said, taking another step back, “fucking call me or text me, like a grown-up, but don’t you dare fucking die.”
“What the fuck are you doing, man?” Jamison demanded.
It was clear she was staying behind, and he was going to have to leave her to protect her. Damian ripped the earpiece out of his ear, crushed it, and threw it against the wall. “You are killing me.”
“I’m a nurse; I would know if I were.” She grabbed hold of his arm and started dragging him down a narrow hall, propelling him into a strange small room, before pointing at a beautiful mosaic on one wall. It must have taken years to create. “That’s how Eumie got out. They stepped through it and disappeared.”
Damian grunted and frowned. “Then they were indeed Unearthly.” Now that he wasn’t target-locked on Andi and they were in the baker’s room, he could scent something of them beneath all the other strong fragrances of the bakery. An Unearthly hiding here made sense. He waved his hand against the wall—he could tell it was magical, but it didn’t respond to him. “Although that’s a type of magic that I don’t understand.”
“Fuck,” Andi said, tensing.
He scanned around the room, casting out with his dragon’s senses, and felt a much cooler area behind the decorated wall. “Don’t hate me,” he told Andi, and then punched a hole in it. Mosaic crumbled, showing the drywall behind, which he then kicked through—finding a cement lined service closet, with a metal plate on the ground, and a faint scent of sewer. “That’s my exit,” he said, stepping into the much smaller room, to lift up the metal lid.
“If you see them down there, give them my regards?” Andi tried to sound lighthearted but he could read the very real panic in her body, watching him. “I need you to stay safe, Damian,” she whispered, and he realized he’d never gotten the chance to explain his earlier gift to her either.
“That’s why I gave you that necklace, Andi. As long as there’s light in the stone, I’m yours.”
She gasped as her hand rose to her throat, and seeing her standing there flooded him with fresh desire. He stepped back into the bedroom to pull her to him and give her a kiss worth dying for, the kind where he owned her mouth, sucking with his lips and pushing with his tongue, feeling her melt against him as she went weak in the knees, until he relented slowly, dragging his teeth over her bottom lip before releasing it.
“I can’t lose you,” she said, pushing him away with only the strength of a kitten.
“You won’t. I swear,” he promised, watching her swoon, before stepping away to drop down the hole.
The tunnel beneath the bakery was dark, but he had no problem using his dragon’s senses to navigate it. It was an access tunnel offset for a sewer somewhere. He could scent the waste, and it was barely big enough for him to get through, but it explained why Jamison couldn’t figure out how the Hunters were coming for him—they were travelling underground. He heard someone’s soft cough from up ahead, and another person mutter, “This is disgusting.”
His dragon, who’d been close beneath his skin with Andi, hadn’t yet gone away.
We’re leaving her, it stated. Again.
Yes. But not permanently. Damian pressed his bulk against a damp, cool wall, still listening.
And you expect me to have patience. Again.
It would be nice if you could muster some, he told the beast sarcastically. Try it, you might like it.
I would prefer to be angry.
Damian fought back a laugh. I had fucking noticed.
The dragon made a thoughtful sound. So, we cannot be with her. But we are not fully going away. And the only thing that stands between us and her are more Hunters?
It was an oversimplification at best, but the beast was trying. Yes.
Like the Hunters down here with us?
Also, yes.
Can I take my anger out on them?
Damian put a hand to his chest, feeling the dragon’s power blossoming inside of him, as it used its ability to sense heat, pinpointing each and every one of the Hunters Jamison had warned him about in the dark.
Dragon, be my guest.
Damian walked into his home an hour later, after having left a large enough Uber tip for the driver to buy himself a new car. Jamison came down the stairs to see him, with Ryana close behind, carrying Grimalkin.
“Damian! What the hell happened out there?”
“Where are the others?” Damian asked, carefully taking off his hoodie. The thing was trashed which was upsetting because up until he’d had to go into the tunnel, it’d smelled like Andi.
“On their way back. By the time they’d gotten there the targets had stopped moving…which I took to mean that you’d killed them, despite the fact that your earpiece cut out. Did it break?” Jamison asked.
“You could say that,” Damian said, grinning.
“Brother, you stink.” Ryana’s lip curled. Grim bounced down from her arms toward him, bounced back with a disgusted mew! then disappeared. “Even your cat agrees.”
“The reason you couldn’t trace the Hunters was because they were in tunnels. The same tunnels I wound up using to escape. It wasn’t pretty.”
Jamison’s brow rose. “What you did to them, or your surroundings?”
“Both?” Damian kept smiling while he pulled off his shirt. “I think it might be easier to just burn my clothes off of me. I’ve got to go shower.” He dodged around them and trotted up the stairs.
His shower was an indulgent thing. It felt like not only was he washing away the gross grit of the sewer, he was scrubbing off weeks of angst and pain, like he was peeling off a second skin, leaving only fresh new man behind.
The kind of man who knew that his mate loved him. He laughed, hit the wall of the shower just slightly lighter than the point at which it’d break, and whooped his joy, before getting out to dry himself off.
Coming into his bedroom, he found his sister sitting on the edge of his bed, with a hand over her eyes. “Are you decent?”
“Never,” he said, laughing, moving the towel he’d had draped around his shoulders to circle his waist. “Now,” he told her, and she lowered her hand.
“Somebody’s happy,” she told him. Her lips were fighting back an impish grin. “Don’t deny it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Well?” She spun her hand between them, urging him on, as he went inside his closet to change.
“I saw Andi. And while technically it was a hugely bad idea, it was also the best thing I’ve done this century.” He pulled on jeans and leaned out the door. “Actually, in my whole life.”
“Do tell,” she said, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her knees.
“I finally told her we’re mates, Ry. And while she wasn’t maybe entirely enthusiastic about the concept, she loves me, and that’s good enough.”
“Uh-huh,” Ryana said, looking smug, and Damian narrowed his eyes at her.
“Are you judging me?”
“Perpetually!” she said with a laugh. “But no. I’m happy for you. And happier still that she was receptive.” She tilted her head as though she were waiting for him to say something else. His eyes narrowed.
“I’m scared to ask, but to what do I owe the pleasure of your current company, Ryana?”
“Remember how I said I’d find a place for myself if you didn’t?”
Damian thought back and remembered dimly—anything prior to his recent events with Andi felt like a lifetime ago. “Yes…we’ll work on that today. I think Zach’s idea is excellent.”
She waved it away. “Well, last night I sat around and thought, ‘How best can I be helpful?’ and then I thought, ‘Perhaps I’ll meet this Andi.’”
Damian was struck with horror. “When…wait…how?”
“Your stack of photos over there,” she said, gesturing behind her. “I can use a mirror as well as you, Damian. I concentrated on finding her, then I went to threaten her last night.”
“With what?” he asked, blindsided for a moment by the idea that Andi’s professed feelings for him might not be true. Then he thought back to the way her blood moved through her body as she sat beside him on the bus. There was no faking that or anything else they’d gone on to do.
“Death, of course. So any minute now, you can say ‘Thank you.’ Although, ‘Thank you, Ryana, who is the best sister in this world and all the others,’ has a certain ring to it.”
Damian blinked, and then laughed, roughing his hair with the towel again. “Thank you, Ryana. But I didn’t need you. Andi and I have fate on our side.”
Ryana demurred with a thoughtful sound. “Did you solve anything?”
“We solved absolutely nothing…and I don’t fucking care.” He shrugged, pulling on a shirt. “We’re mated. I know it. She knows it. Things will work out.” He watched her eyebrows arch as she rolled her eyes to the heavens. “What?”
“You can’t just rely on that, you know,” she said in an exasperated tone.
“Why not?”
“Because. You know who else was mated? Our dad and your mom. Did things ‘work out’ for them?”
Damian rocked his head back, remembering. “I’m a different man than he is, Ryana.”
She stood up and put an affectionate hand on his chest. “I know you are, brother. Just make sure of it.”
Andi went back to her apartment, each step feeling heavier than the next. She was worried about Damian, obviously, but it was also the increasing weight of all her realizations.
All the times when he’d told her that she was his only, or that no one else could make her feel this way, she’d assumed it was just braggadocio, words he’d said to win fights or to make her feel sexy.
But no.
He’d really, truly meant them.
They were true.
And so was he.
She rocked up on her toes and bit back a squeal of delight, before heading inside.
Sammy was in their kitchen on the other side of their short breakfast bar, munching on a bowl of cereal, looking worse for the wear.
“What’re you doing up?” Andi asked her.
“No reason,” Sammy chirped, despite her apparent exhaustion. “Is Eumie all right?”
“Yes, but, about that…they took off, for their own safety.” Andi set the spare key down on the counter. “We might not see them again for some time.”
Sammy blinked in disbelief. “For real?” she asked, and as Andi nodded, she went on. “That fucking sucks.” She put down her cereal bowl slowly, stunned. “And I didn’t even get to say a proper good-bye.”
“You helped save their life, Sammy. They told me to tell you they loved you. And also they left money behind to help clean your car.”
Sammy frowned. “They could keep their money, if it meant they’d stay,” she muttered.
“I know they wanted to, but it’s just not safe.”
Sammy took in a deep breath and sighed. “It’s just sad, is all.”
“I know. Good-byes are not actually ever good.” Andi sat across from her on a barstool because she might as well tell Sammy everything right now. “And, I’ve known Danny was back for a while now. It’s just that he’s in some things, deep—”
“Of course,” Sammy snorted.
“And I didn’t want you to get involved. Or me, for that matter.” Despite the fact that, according to Danny, it was inevitable. She wondered what Danny was going to try to show her tonight. She imagined him pulling out one of the folded paper fortune tellers kids used to use in the back of the bus. Or maybe they’d play a rousing game of MASH. She did know someone who had a mansion, after all…. “Anyhow, if you see him, stay away from him, please.”
“Oh, obviously,” Sammy said, sounding offended that Andi even felt she had to say something. “Does he still owe you money?”
“Yep.” Andi had finally turned the cash Damian had given her into Danny’s bail bondsmen, so at least they were off her back, but it was the spirit of the thing. Danny’d gone and left her high and dry, completely unsurprisingly.
She kicked off her shoes and felt all her energy drain away, except for a tickle of pleasure of knowing she was with Damian. “Anyhow, Sammy, we can talk more later, but I really need to sleep now.”
“Yeah, I’m heading back to sleep myself,” Sammy said, giving her cereal bowl a desultory rinse in the sink. “Uh…I don’t know how to say this, but…just in case you’re gonna do that again?” she began, gesturing downward. “You should know that Eumie was absolutely not kidding about the walls.”
Andi felt herself turn bright red. “Oh my God,” she said, sidestepping toward her room. “I just turned invisible, bye!”
Sammy laughed indulgently. “I’m telling you as a friend!”
“You can’t see me! I’m not here!” Andi called from the safety of the darkened hall.
“You didn’t sound invisible earlier!” Sammy hooted after her, as Andi closed her bedroom door.
While the most hygienic thing to do would’ve been to take a shower, she didn’t want to. She could catch whiffs of his breath in her hair, and she was sure she smelled like exactly what they’d done, but it was good. It felt like reality. Love and fates and mates was nice and all, but on some level, because she wasn’t used to it, it felt unreal.
Whereas this? The satisfied soreness running through her body, the air that smelled like sin? She had this—and he’d had her.
She kicked off her shoes, flopped into her bed, and basked in how badly he’d wanted her—to the point of distraction, if not release.
She didn’t think she was dozing until her phone buzzed and she found out that she had been. She fumbled for it, quickly, and found one word:
Home.
Really? Andi texted back. Just, ‘home’?
I could ask you what you’re wearing.
You already know what I’m wearing. I’m tired and very lazy.
All right then, princess. Go to sleep.
Andi glared at her phone. He wasn’t wrong, but he also wasn’t right. And just because he was the boss of her when they fucked, sometimes, didn’t mean he got to order her around in daily life.
Would you like a bedtime story? If you haven’t already turned off your phone, that is.
Andi bit her lips and stared at her phone, not touching the keys.
Perhaps I will tell you one, regardless, and if you have turned off your phone, like a good and tired princess should, you can read it when you wake up.
Andi turned onto her side, propping her phone beside her on a pillow, so that she could see its screen, tucking her arm up beneath her.
Once upon a time, there was a particular cat who loved cheese more than anything in the world. So much so that he talked his beloved owner into buying him cheese from Serbia, despite the fact that the export restrictions on said cheese made it highly illegal to do so.
Andi laughed so hard the phone fell over. She picked it up and put it into her scrubs breast pocket to save Damian’s story for later, relishing the feeling of it buzzing periodically as she drifted off to sleep, like a tiny mechanical heartbeat.
Danny stood her up that evening.
She hadn’t precisely been looking forward to seeing him, but she didn’t want him to treat her like she didn’t matter, either. Andi didn’t know why she expected anything to be different now; he’d essentially taken her for granted her whole life, but it still hurt.
She’d held off on texting Damian back because she knew his opinion on her brother and didn’t want to hear it, but she’d read the entire story about his efforts to procure illegal cheese for his magical Siamese cat when she got up. She wasn’t sure if it was real or if he’d made it up; it didn’t matter. It delighted her.
Around ten o’clock though, when it became clear that Danny wasn’t showing—or that if he did, she was only going to flip him off—she settled in with Sammy on the couch, to watch Investigation Discovery, and texted Damian first.
Hey.
He didn’t text her back for three hours, by which time she was sprawled out on her bed, reading book review blogs on the internet, but when he did, at least it was longer than one word.
Hey, I’m in trouble, because my brother’s done something bad again, or just a normal, casual, hey?
The last one. Also? That was a really nice bedtime story. It made me laugh. It’s been awhile.
Me too and you’re welcome. What’s going on?
She knew what he wanted to know. Danny ghosted me. Surprise, surprise. I…uh…don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?
It took him longer to respond than she might have liked. When I do fight your brother, I’ll have the decency to let you know.
Sorry. Just had to ask.
I understand.
And just like that, her brother was messing with her dates again, when he wasn’t even in the room.
A new text came in from Damian: Are you sure you’re all right with this?
She frowned at the screen. I thought it didn’t matter, because we’re fated, right? she texted, immediately followed by three ironic eye-rolling emojis.
I know you don’t believe me, he sent, and she could see he was still typing. I’m trying to be kind.
Hard for you, eh?
I am half-reptile.
She snorted. So was that what this morning was? The story, not the sex. An effort to be nice to me, before you kill my brother or fuck my brains out again?
There was quite a long pause before he sent his next message. Why do you insist on being so prickly, princess?
I’m half-nurse. We don’t get fairy tale endings at the hospital. I distrust them implicitly.
And another, longer, pause. Explicitly as well, it seems.
Andi set her phone down to rub her forehead with her fingers. This wasn’t going how she wanted at all. She was just taking out her anger with Danny—and worry for him, too, if she were completely honest with herself—on Damian. The easiest way to make things better, if he were here, would be to kiss him, which was the exact kind of cheating she was attempting to avoid.
Her phone buzzed. She picked it up and was flooded with a wall of text.
We each have our burdens, Andi, and neither one of us can escape our pasts. But I refuse to believe that our chance at happiness is over. There has to be a forever for us, and I’ll do anything to make it happen.
Even if that means being nice, sometimes, to you.
Even when—not if—you make it hard.
Andi tapped her finger on her phone. I make it hard…???
It’s nice to know I’m not the only pervert.
Trust me, no normal girl would sign on for this.
Nor would I want to have her, he sent her. And speaking of, I heard you met my sister.
And you think I’m the prickly one? I’m generally unarmed.
That’s not true. You always disarm me.
Andi felt herself start to flush. Want to hear the whole sordid story?
Of course.
Andi typed in an abbreviated version of what had happened with Eumie and Xochitl at the theater the other night, up through Danny, and the helicopter survivor, and Jack too. Damian didn’t say anything until she finished.
So that’s that. They’re gone now, which makes me sad , and now I have a key to the bakery with a tunnel to…Hades? Where did it go, anyhow?
He ignored her question. You were in DANGER AND YOU DIDN’T CALL?
He didn’t need the all-caps for her to know that he was shouting. It was pretty live-time, Damian. I didn’t have a chance. Besides which, I survived. Faaatteeeeee?
It’s too late to try to use that for cover now. She watched the typing dots swirl. And your baker friend was the Echidna? Damian followed his text up with a mind-blown emoji, which made Andi snort, because she knew he used them only under extreme duress.
Yeah. Although they’d never told me. I wouldn’t have known, except for the crazy lady fighting them.
The Echidna? he pressed again. That just seems so highly unlikely, Andi.
You’re telling me, she thought as she typed. I know you never met them, but you know I’m not lying—and you punched through their magical wall! She sighed as she typed the next bit. Before they left they might have implied it was ‘meant to happen.’ You already know how I feel about that, but I did save their life. So, who can say?
Interesting, he said, and she heard it in his rumble.
They also said we might meet again.
I hope to be there when you do.
Andi squinted at her phone. Wait…how does a Prince of the Realms know about Greek mythology?
I’m a dragon. I like heroic tales. Go figure.
Which begged the question: What does your dragon think of all of this? She meant…everything. All the fate stuff, Andi pushing him away, Andi pulling him near. She couldn’t blame the beast if it was angry with her.
That we’re insane. Then he amended. No, that I’m insane.
Not me?
No. He always takes your side. And he also always thinks he’s on your side, even when we’re fighting. He thinks he knows you better than I do…. He’s a bit much, if you ask me. Andi smiled, as he went on. But monstrous as he is, Andi, he would never, ever, hurt you. He loves you.
Andi’s mouth fell into a tiny ‘o.’ And you? You haven’t said it yet, you know.
I will, princess.
When? She pouted softly at her phone.
The next time I get to see you in person.
The next three days passed the right kind of slow. She spent an hour or two texting with him each night, before work or her bedtime. He told her about how Ryana had seen Austin’s favorite movies and now probably thought that humans were half-metal, hiding aliens inside, and when she’d pointed out that Jamison was part metal, he pretended like he’d never noticed that before. He told her strange things about the Realms, like how they celebrated birthdays: outside, under a moon—out of three! they had a lot to choose from!—and your loved ones threw handfuls of dirt on you while someone played a flute. She wanted to believe that that was made up, but Damian swore on his dragon that it was true.
And she woke up to some vignette from his life each late afternoon. The first time he remembered Grim. How his dragon had once tried to help his sister fly. What dawn looked like over the sarcoplex, the cemetery for royalty in the Realms where his father was interred.
She didn’t ask hard things, like about his curse or the Heart, and he never once mentioned her brother or uncle. It wasn’t because they were hiding anything; it was because they already knew those things were there, swinging overhead like dangerous trapezes. What they were doing now was weaving a safety net. They’d acknowledged the dangers above and were trying to build something to catch themselves below.
“Oh my God, just make out with it already,” Sammy said, leaning over on the couch, shoving her phone at her face. Andi fought her back with a laugh. “Jesus,” Sammy teased.
“Look, not all of us get to see our men in person, all right?”
“How am I supposed to rest secure in the knowledge that you’re going to be able to protect me from freaking murderers, if we don’t pay attention to the show together?” Sammy said, gesturing to the TV.
Andi shook her phone. “I know someone who knows someone,” she said, like a mobster. Sammy rolled her eyes.
Andi knew her roommate didn’t quite believe her about Damian…but she also didn’t quite disbelieve her either. Sammy was biding her time, and Andi knew if Sammy ever did see Damian again, for once her first question was not going to be about the Pagani—she’d want to see his dragon.
“I’m gonna go take a nap,” Andi announced, getting up, no matter that it was already eleven. Time worked weird when you were nightshift, everyone knew that.
“A ‘nap,’” Sammy said, with air quotes, turning off the TV.
“Shush,” Andi told her, walking back into her bedroom.
Andi stretched out on her bed, staring at her phone. Damian had last said something about food and so she knew she had a moment before he returned. She liked that he had the same weird schedule she did; it was nice not being lonely at night, for once.
Except in all the ways she was.
Texting was nice and all…but….
Visit me? she messaged him.
Almost immediately the dots of his words started spinning. You want to hear the words that badly? he teased. No. Despite your uncle’s promises, I don’t trust my being there to not put you in danger.
Jamison had told Damian, who’d told her, that her apartment was under perpetual surveillance now. Probably for Eumie’s return, but….
Can I come to you? There was more than one decent sized mirror in her house.
That’s not safe either, Andi.
Why not?
Because if you came over here I might not ever let you go.
No, really, Damian, she sighed.
You know how many ropes I have. You think I’m joking?
Andi’s heart skipped a beat. She never knew fully if he was joking when he said things like that via text. She also wasn’t sure if she wanted to.
Turn your mirror around, princess.
What, so you can see me? she asked, looking over at the mirror that’d been turned around since the night they’d flown. How do you know I need too?
Don’t ask.
She snorted and ran into the bathroom quickly, to make sure she looked presentable in a tank top and pajama bottoms. The temptation to put on something more alluring was high, but she had limited time before he’d tease her about it, as they both knew she wasn’t going out again tonight. She leaned forward, fluffed her hair, swiped on lip gloss, and returned.
Don’t make me regret this, she texted, then turned the full-length mirror across from her bed around.
No promises, he said, as she sat down in front of her bed, cross legged, then bent her head to text him.
I feel silly. He was going to get to just sit and watch her text…hooray?
You shouldn’t.
Andi rolled her eyes at her reflection, and then typed out, We could just video call, you know, like normal people do, quickly.
And make your poor roommate hear? His reply was almost instantaneous.
Hear…what?
He ignored her question. Come closer to the mirror, princess.
Andi licked her lips, and did as she was told. Their texts so far had been flirty, but neither of them had ever taken things further, and up until right now, Andi didn’t think they ever would. But as her phone buzzed again, she started to hope….
I often wonder if you know how beautiful you are.
Andi read his text and then felt herself grow red. It’s not fair for you to put me on the spot, just because you can see me and I can’t see you.
When have I ever not pressed an advantage?
She stuck her tongue out at him. I could turn the mirror back around.
You won’t.
You sound so sure.
I am.
You realize when you act like this it just makes me want to defy you?
You realize when you want to defy me it just makes me want you more?
Andi closed her eyes. She didn’t need him in the room with her to hear his smug laughter.
And also defile you, he went on.
She gave her reflection a challenging look. How?
Take off your top, princess.
This is so unfair, she complained.
If it makes you feel better, I’ll take off mine, too.
I won’t be able to see.
No, but you know I’m not a liar, Andi.
Andi’s hands bunched at the bottom of her tank top. Everything about this was ridiculous, but she wanted to see where it would lead. She yanked her top off with a burst of energy, and threw it at the mirror.
So feisty, he teased, and she remembered what it felt like to hear him rumble. Lick your fingers, Andi.
She tilted her head up. Either she was going to fight him at every stage of this game or give up and play along. She batted her eyes at him, and pushed two fingers into her mouth, sucking on them meaningfully before pulling them out.
And now you’re plotting something. I like that, too, he told her. Take your fingers and trace them over your perfect breasts for me.
Andi did as she was told. Her nipples perked as she brushed them gently, one by one, pebbling under her own attention, and then she picked up her phone. Okay, well, that was fun, now I need to go do some online shopping….
He sent her a string of laughing emojis. Yes, well, before you start shopping, I think you should know that I’m very, very hard.
Hmmm…then that begs the question…how hard are you? she asked, before giving her reflection a mischievous grin.
Hard enough I could break both our mirrors, easily.
Andi lay back perpendicular to the mirror and held the phone overhead. What a sad thing it is to waste a raging erection.
Oh, I won’t be wasting it, princess. You can go ahead and shop, but I’ll be over here, stroking myself, thinking of you. With the mirror, or without.
What if I told you not to?
You love me. You would never be so cruel.
Andi turned her head toward the mirror. The temptation was to impetuously demand abstention—an obedience she could never prove—just because she could, to fight him.
But then, again, he was right.
How badly do you need me, dragon? she asked, then reached out to the mirror with a delicate hand.
The dots danced as he typed. I wake up aching without you. I go to sleep, if it can be called that, burning for you every night.
I wish we could solve all of our problems, somehow.
I wish we could, somehow, too.
Andi rose up then, rising up to her knees, and shimmied her pajama bottoms and underwear off. She felt very silly to be in front of the mirror with just herself there in the nude, but she heard his pain. She felt it, too.
She crawled over to the mirror on her knees and then knelt in front of it. “If you were here,” she said without sound, just mouthing the words so he could read them, and then spread her knees.
She set her phone aside and ignored it, she didn’t need to know what he wanted anymore. She licked her fingers again and played them in broad strokes around her breasts, one by one, then tugged on her nipples the way he liked to with his lips, pinching them as if he himself were there, lifting them up and then letting them drop.
“Dragon,” she mouthed. “Is this what you want?” she asked, as she sent her hands over her ribs, sliding slowly down. She sank them lower then, pushing them down her thighs like she was pushing down stockings, until she reached her knees, only then to rake her fingertips back up, leaving soft pink lines behind.
Her phone didn’t buzz again. She hoped on his side he was entranced and touching himself—because that’s what she was going to do. She rested one hand on the mirror’s frame and pushed the other between her legs, entering herself, pulling the wetness that she found there out to rub her clit with, and she closed her eyes.
What if he were behind her, taking her again? Or what if she were on top, astride him, riding his cock—or riding his face as he lapped at her? It felt so raunchy to be touching herself like this in front of him with him not there, which was silly. He’d seen her touch herself during sex what felt like a hundred times. But now that she was putting on a show, she made herself open her eyes and look up so that he could see her, and saw her own reflection—the way he must see her when she was getting close. The way her jaw was dropped, her hot short breaths making the mirror glass mist, how her hips bobbed as she wound. Her dark hair brushed against her skin like it was strokes from his fingers, and sometimes she pushed her fingers in to rock against, and it wasn’t like he was there, but it was still good, and she knew he wanted her to come. In fact, she knew he wouldn’t come till she did. She leaned forward, one hand moving fast, the other clenched against the frame, biting her lips to stay quiet as her orgasm built.
“Come with me,” she whispered at the mirror’s glass, and then cried out silently, breathing hard as she did, shuddering and quaking until she was through, slowly pulling her hand away from herself before leaning in to smear her mirror with her juices and give its corner a chaste lip-glossed kiss.
After that, her phone didn’t buzz for quite some time, and she wondered if he’d been called away. She laughed at the thought that he’d missed her performance, but no, her phone vibrated just after she’d pulled her pajamas back on, and she picked it up to read his text.
They were back to one word again, but this time it was, Incredible.