“I wonder where Apollo’s roommate is,” Kirby said.
“We’re all playing musical beds. Someone is going to be without a place to sleep. Not that I’m expecting you to sleep with me. If you don’t want to. I know that’s not what this?—”
“Mara, shut up.” Kirby grabbed the key from Mara and yanked open her door.
Mara expected to be shoved onto the bed, but Kirby just stared at her once the door shut behind them.
“It’s okay to be sad,” Kirby whispered.
Mara nodded. She was sad. But it still didn’t quite feel real. Soon, it would catch up with her, but it hadn’t yet.
She’d hugged her mom, who she hadn’t seen in months, after the race. Then her dad, who had been tightlipped but kind enough. She’d thrown away her new sunglasses. Because she was sure that would make her feel better. It hadn’t. Then she’d turned off her phone and drifted through the rest of the day in a daze.
Until right then, when the world sharpened into focus on Kirby’s lips, her mouth, her smile.
Kirby cupped Mara’s chin and tilted her head back, so Mara was forced to meet her eyes.
“Let me take care of you.”
She already was. “Okay.”
Kirby helped Mara undress. She tugged Mara’s shirt over her head. Her hair fell in a mess over her shoulders and down her back. Her bra came off next, followed by her sweats and panties.
Was it the first time she’d been totally naked with Kirby? It felt like it.
“You too,” Mara murmured as she half-heartedly shoved at the waistband of Kirby’s sweatpants.
Kirby flung the pants off, then the rest of her clothes too.
They lay together looking their fills, like two virgins who had never done it before. Mara discovered more tattoos on Kirby’s body—a moth on her shoulder blade, tiny snowflakes fallingdown her ribs. And Kirby rubbed her back in long sweeps until Mara was practically wrapped around her in her desire to get closer. To feel Kirby’s hands.
Mara felt like she had to say something important, something urgent, as her fingertips explored the bumps of Kirby’s rib cage, the soft flesh of her ass, the strong stretch of muscle down her thigh.
“You didn’t kiss me the last time we did this. And I didn’t kiss you,” was what slipped out when Mara opened her mouth. That had haunted Mara, that she hadn’t taken full advantage. Every time could be their last, and she needed to treat it that way.
“We kissed in the bathroom. After my panic attack.”
“That was a good kiss,” Mara said.
“It was. Top-of-the-podium kissing.”
Mara started to smile, but Kirby pressed their lips together before her smile fully formed. Gently, and then harder as Mara’s body pushed for more.
Kirby rolled Mara onto her back. Mara spread her thighs and wrapped her legs around Kirby’s.
“Mmm, one day, I’ll fuck you like this,” Kirby said, her voice slow and sleepy. “Get a nice big strap-on and fill you up.”
Mara arched at the words. She didn’t know ifone daywould be possible, but it turned her on anyway.
“Kirby,” Mara whispered. The name tasted sweet on her lips. In her mouth.
“I’ve got you, princess.”
They kissed again. Syrupy slow. And Kirby slipped her fingers into Mara. Their bodies moved together. It felt dreamlike. Almost like Mara was half asleep. Her muscles hurt, from the race and from the fall. But every clench felt unbelievable.
“I’m gonna come,” Mara said, dazed at how a few fingers were about to shatter her so easily.
Kirby brushed their lips together, and Mara’s breath went haywire. Kirby kissed her deeper, her lush lips more overwhelming than her fingers.
