Looking back up, she watches Nuria turn back around and lean in to whisper something in Riley’s ear. Her expression changes from sultry, to surprised, to absolutely evil.
Whatever it is Nuria has just asked her—Charlotte is sure it means trouble. The thing inside her knows it too, because it starts buzzing through her like she’s overloaded with electricity. She glances to the side to see if there’s some alcohol left, but her glass is empty.She slumps down in her chair and takes a deep breath, preparing herself for what’s coming.
On stage, Nuria’s fingers are fumbling with the metal chain that holds Riley’s blazer together. When Charlotte clocks what’s going on, it’s already too late to look away. Nuria falls down on her knees to give all the attention and praise to Riley as her blazer gradually comes off. The yelling of the people around her now drowns out the music, people go feral in support of her. Charlotte isn’t sure she’s still breathing as Riley turns her head and looks at her with that evil smile plastered to her face. Covering her front with her blazer in her hands, she walks in Charlotte’s direction, right to the edge of the stage.
Charlotte can’t recall when she started losing this battle, but she’s undoubtedly the loser here. Every little bit of ego, composure, control she once had—it’s gone. It has slipped away to make space for the thing that’s setting her veins on fire, sizzling through her head, and squeezing her stomach. But no, apparently that’s not enough for Riley. She has to kick her while she’s down.
Looking up at her, Riley biting her lip is the last thing she sees before Charlotte’s vision is suddenly blocked by the blazer that’s being thrown her way. Not only does she get smacked in the face by the fabric, but also by a wave of the earthly perfume that clings to it, snuffing out all her other senses. Charlotte thinks she’s about to pass out when she takes the fabric in her fists, gripping onto it likeit’s her lifeline, and pulls it from her face to be able to breathe…
Big mistake. Riley’s still on stage, graciously receiving the standing ovation the room is giving her, covering her nipples with her palm.How proper of her,Charlotte’s mind provides. She wants to give up, she wants to tap out, she wants to wave a white flag. Instead, she covers her head again with the blazer.
She’s not sure how much time has passed when she feels a tap on her shoulder.
“No,” she says, the sound muffled.
“Charlotte, please, I’m half naked,” Riley says.
Charlotte pushes the makeshift blanket off of herself with lightning speed. “Oh, are you?”
Riley takes the blazer from her and calmly slips it back on. As the next dancer prepares herself on stage, she leans in and quips: “So what was it you said about making things harder for myself?”
The complete mess of a woman that Charlotte now is, sneers: “Did you have fun out there?” and Riley has the audacity to shrug and replies: “Yeah. She’s not really my type though.”
Charlotte shuffles to sit up in her chair, not breaking eye contact with Riley, who is still standing in front of her. Whether it’s the alcohol, the dancing, the atmosphere, Riley herself, or the goddamn thing in her goddamn chest, she doesn’t know, but something makesher take the bait. She walks right into the trap, eyes wide open.
“Oh yeah? So what is your type?”
The next couple of seconds are excruciating. Neither woman says anything, both breathing heavily. When she realizes Riley isn’t gonna answer her, Charlotte slowly,slowlygets up, until eventually, because Riley is too stubborn to move, their noses almost touch.
Being this close, Charlotte can see the storm that brews in Riley’s eyes. A storm that matches the hurricane coursing through her own body. That connection makes her cave: she knows what she has to do.
For just a fraction of a second, Charlotte’s eyes flick down to Riley’s lips and back up again. It’s almost too subtle, but she knows it’s enough. They keep staring at each other for a just moment longer before Charlotte turns around and walks away.
When she pushes open the bathroom door, she doesn’t need to turn around to know Riley is following closely behind her. Charlotte calmly turns around and leans back, arms crossed, the cool porcelain of the sink pressing in her back.
Riley looks at her with a dark, piercing look in her eyes, almost predatory. Her lips are slightly parted and her anticipatory grin is back at full force. With a five-foot gap between them that slowly closes as Riley stalks toward her, Charlotte can’t help but feel like her prey, except for the fact that she willingly cornered herself.She tilts her chin up in defiance; even if she’s about to be devoured, she needs to be in control.
What she soon realizes is that Riley gives it to her, coming to a halt right in front of her. She just takes Charlotte in, who suddenly knows exactly what to do to finally wipe that smugness off her face. She drops her arms and places her hands on the sink behind her, cocking her head to the side.
“What would you do if I kissed you right now?” she dares, her voice hoarse but confident. Indeed, Riley’s smile falters, even if only for just a moment, and she lets out a throaty laugh.
“If you kissed me right now… I might be about to give you the best makeout of your life.”
The knot in Charlotte’s stomach gets pulled so tightly it feels like a punch to the gut. She knows the energy that’s been building up inside of her can’t be contained much longer, so she reaches out to Riley’s arm, and yanks her closer. Riley’s hands land on her hips, their lips meet, and the beast inside her roars. Her own hands wrap around Riley’s waist as they finally give in to the kiss. With Riley slightly towering over her, she’s pushed back into the sink as their bodies collide in an undeniable need to be even closer. It’s slow, but it’s intense; both women desperately inhale each other, pushing their lips together like they are each other’s lifeline.
Charlotte feels one of Riley’s hands slowly tickling up her body, the touch of her fingers light and yet driving her absolutely crazy. When they reach Charlotte’s neck,she softly scratches at the base of her skull, sending goosebumps all over her body. Riley’s tongue swipes over her top lip, asking for permission to enter, and Charlotte opens her mouth.
The groan that leaves her throat when she feels the other woman’s tongue consume her—she’s sure that she’s never made a sound like that before.
It’s like Riley is trying to taste every part of her mouth, and Charlotte lets her. In response, her own hands slide lower until they rest on Riley’s leather-clad ass and she pulls their bodies taut. Riley lets out a soft moan that vibrates against her skin, and Charlotte revels in the sound.
Their kiss deepens, and Charlotte decides she wants to do whatever it takes to hear her make that noise again. However, she’s caught off guard by one hand now sliding its way into her hair, finding a gentle grip, tugging softly yet possessively on the roots. God, that’s good. It’s Charlotte’s turn to gasp, and she feels Riley smile against her lips.
The heat is almost unbearable; it’s like her body has pushed all the emergency buttons, but at the same time it feels extremely satisfying. All of her pent up energy expels through the kiss, their hands, their bodies, and it's so freeing, so exciting, and yet relaxing. Her brain has turned to complete mush and she lets her hands explore Riley’s back freely as the kiss gets even more intense, lips and tongues are being sucked and—oh, is Riley nipping at her bottom lip?
A voice in the back of her head challenges her that this is in no way similar to the sloppy makeout sessions with her drunk female classmates that never did anything for her. She realizes it’s true because this time she wants, no, she needs...
“...more,” she all but chokes out when Riley pulls back from the kiss to look at her. Her slightly swollen lips and hooded eyes are an outright attack to Charlotte’s blood pressure; she can feel her ears ringing. She registers the heaving of Riley’s chest and the faint sheen of sweat near her hairline, and chuckles coyly at the realization the other woman is just as affected as she is.
