Taking a calming breath, I let the good feeling engulf me. Instead of being afraid of it, I let it in with open arms.
I keep massaging Briggs, now being more aware of how soft and warm his skin feels under my palms. His muscles flex slightly when I move over them, but relax once I knead the tension out.
The longer I sit, the heavier my body feels. I notice how I’m slumped over slightly. I try to straighten up, but everything is so heavy. My limbs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds.
I look down to find my hands digging into Briggs’s back now because I’mleaning on them for support. “I think I need to lie down,” I say a second before I collapse onto Briggs.
Something shakes me, and it takes me a minute to realize that Briggs is laughing. “Oh, bird, I guess that was a big brownie for someone who hasn’t built up a tolerance like me.”
I want to tell him to shut up, and that he is an asshole, but my mouth is suddenly so dry. My cheek is pressed against Briggs’s bare back. His skin is silky soft and smells like lotion. I want to cuddle him, which I guess I’m already doing.
He must notice too, because next thing I know, he turns his body, so I tumble off him and onto the mattress.
“Food is here,” he announces, as he sits up, and my stomach growls at the mention. I sit up myself. Using the wall for support, I lean my back against the cool brick.
I watch Briggs get up and move toward the door just as a knocking sound fills the space. How did he know the food was here? It must have told him on his app, I decide, glancing at his phone on the mattress.
“Thanks.” Briggs’s deep voice comes from the door before he closes it again. He returns to the bed holding a large pizza box, two smaller boxes, and a two-liter Sprite bottle.
I cross my heavy legs and pull them toward me so he has room to put the boxes down. As soon as he does, the savory smell of pepperoni and cheese hits me. My stomach growls again. I wonder what the chances are he will actually share this with me. He ordered enough, that’s for sure.
“Mhhh, doesn’t that smell great, little bird?”
I glare at him in response. I almost expect my mouth to water but instead it remains dry as a bone. I don’t even care because Briggs was right. My cramps are gone now, thanks to the weed in my system. I didn’t even know it was good for pain like that.
Briggs opens the pizza box, and another wave of savory smell hits my nose. “Would you like a piece, bird?” he asks, while grabbing a piece for himself and taking a big bite. “Mhhh, it sure is tasty.”
“What do you want in return?” I question, knowing damn well nothing comes for free with him.
Briggs grins, and I know he already has something in mind. “Take off any clothing item on you. One item, one piece.”
I think about it for a second. He said any item. I pull my arms out of my shirt like I’m about to pull it off, but instead I just reach back and unhook my bra to take it off. Then I pull it down my arm and place it on the bedside table. Then I pull my arms through my shirt again before looking at him, expecting my reward.
“Fair enough.” Briggs chuckles and hands me a piece of the pizza.
I take the warm piece from him and take a huge bite. I chew slowly, and it’s like I’ve never had pepperoni pizza before. At least nothing that tasted this good. It’s like a flavor explosion in my mouth. I feel as if my taste buds are amplified. I cantaste everything all at once, and it’s absolutely delicious. I savor every last bite. Even the crust tastes fantastic.
When I’m done, I lick my fingers.
“Another piece?” Briggs asks, while he starts his second slice.
“No, thanks.”
“Are you sure? You are still wearing a lot of items.” He glances down at my shorts and shirt. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you try to wiggle out of your underwear while wearing shorts.”
“I can guarantee you my underwear will remain on me today.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” His voice turns sinister, his eyes darkening.
I wait for the usual fear and dread to kick in when he looks at me like that, but somehow it never comes. Maybe that’s another side effect of the weed, one I’m not sure I like. There is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of fear, yet it evades me completely.
I choose to ignore his comment, and the lack of being frightened.
Briggs finishes his third slice while I watch him eat. He suddenly closes the box and grabs the soda bottle. He unscrews the top with a hissing sound before drinking a good amount of it. Then he hands me the bottle.
I don’t think. I just grab it before he changes his mind. I take a big sip myself, letting the crisp liquid wet my parched mouth. The Sprite also tastes better than normal, sweeter somehow. I screw the top back on and hand him the bottle.
“You owe me an item,” he declares.
