Her desperate attraction makes her bold.Grabbing the hem of my t-shirt, Luna pulls it over my head after waiting for me to raise my arms.But when she fumbles at the belt buckle again, I grip her wrists.
“I play by my own rules, Luna.I will never pull up in the middle of the night just to fuck you.I want so much more from you than just sex.”
Slipping my hand under the band of her panties, I slide a finger over the plump hood of her clit.The lovebud throbs with the need to orgasm.The crotch of her panties is soaking wet?—
And then Luna jumps off me, pulling her tank top closed.Her expression is mournful but determined.
“I’m sorry, Shadow.I’m not looking for a serious relationship right now.I just got out of a messy long-term partnership.I can’t give you more.Nor can I give you even the possibility of it.”
The best thing for me to do is stop breathing.Doing that instantly freezes all those lovely smells that want to float up my nostrils and down my throat.
Luna looks at me in such a way that lets me know I’m going to have to say something if I want to continue my imitation of humanity.
Standing up from the couch, I walk to the kitchen in double-quick time.I get busy lighting the stove top and filling the kettle.Only when Luna’s mouthwatering scent has left my head do I dare reply.
“I’m confused.One moment you want sex, and the next moment you don’t.”
Luna does not do me the discourtesy of making this all about her.I admire that.
“You said you wanted more from me, Shadow.I’m open to discussing what that is.You mentioned playing by your rules, which seems to preclude you from visiting me at night for sex.So… what is it that you want from me?”
Everything.
Holding out my hand in a “pause” gesture, I wait for the kettle to whistle while reaching for a mug out of the cupboard and a teabag.Filling the mug with boiling water, I dunk the bag a couple of times and add honey before re-entering the living room.
The hunger inside me has subsided.Telling Luna a half-truth is best.
“Let me rephrase what I said.”Handing Luna the mug, I go and sit on the armchair.“You were dreaming about a man when I came over.It brought out certain feelings of… possessiveness inside me.”
Warming her hands on the mug, Luna blows the steam.When she does that, it reminds me of a song from long ago, something about every little thing she does is magic.If I had normal dreams, I am sure that Luna Blackwood would be able to give me a delightful one.
Pointing her finger at me, Luna pretends to shoot her trigger finger.
“Bingo.That’s what I was talking about.This is a small island, Shadow.You can count the number of times we have met on half a hand.I can’t have someone like you… I mean, anyone in general, feeling possessive of me.”
A woman who wants to control when she falls in love and who she falls in love with.Luna has hidden depths of discipline I never knew.But she’s canny, because she knows the best way to keep the hungry wolf of infatuation from knocking on her door is to avoid having sex with anyone.
Intelligent and beautiful.Such an attractive combination.
I have to smile before changing the topic of conversation.“When we do hook up, Luna, I can promise you that it will stay our secret until you choose to tell someone.”
Chuckling, Luna covers her mouth with her hand as she shakes her head.“No need to worry about me wanting to make our relationship ‘Facebook official,’ Shadow.There are no phones or connectivity!”
My upper lip curls into a sneering snarl and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
“Those things are citified crap.Like a collector who likes to pin butterflies to cardboard to show how pretty they are when they are dead.That is what I think of people signaling their affections to the world by using electronic methods.”
Luna’s eyes widen.
“What?!You don’t like social media?”Luna taps her teeth thoughtfully.“I’ll admit it has its pros and cons.But choosing your relationship status to be a ‘civil’ or an ‘open partnership’ is a bit cringe.”Giving me a little wink, Luna concludes.“I think everyone should be forced to choose ‘it’s complicated’ as their status, because you know, italwaysis.”
I know I should try to act like the modern man I wish to pass for, but my ancient heritage overtakes me.
“Certain tribes dress their youth in bright clothing to indicate when they are ready for marriage.Once the wedding night is over, then the wife makes a newgáktifor her husband to show to other women he has taken.If the wife leaves her husband, he can show his wife that he wants her back by continuing to wear thegáktishe made for him.Do you not think this is a better way to communicate the longings of the heart without posting it online for all the world to see?!”
Her pretty mouth widens as she suppresses laughing at my passionate outburst.“What is agákti?”
I am so relaxed in Luna’s presence that I forget she is not Tempest.She knows nothing about our origins or traditions.
