On the final night of the session, Alice didn’t make it back to the cabin until late. She’d been making the rounds, ensuring suitcases were packed, stuffies were secured, and pickup plans were memorized. It had been a hard night of goodbyes.
‘Bri?’ she called out as she climbed up the porch steps. There was no answer.
Alice crept into the hallway, catching the door before it could slam behind her. She tiptoed into the bedroom, listening for Briar’s light snores, but there was only silence.
Alice felt arms sneak around her waist, pulling her backwards into a warm body.
‘Jesus, you scared me,’ Alice said, trying to turn around, but Briar’s hands tightened on her hips, keeping her still.
‘What took you so long?’ Briar murmured into her ear, kissing the back of her neck. The sensation shot goosebumps down Alice’s back.
‘There was a lot to do,’ Alice said, her voice growing weaker as Briar kissed across her shoulder, slipping the strap of her tank top down. ‘Why are all the lights off?’
Briar laughed, her breath tickling Alice’s skin. ‘I wanted to surprise you.’
There was a rustling behind her, like Briar was digging around in her pockets, and then the room was cast in a low pink glow. Briar had hung fairy lights all around the room, ones that faded from pink to purple to blue and then back again. It gave the room a magical glow.
‘Oh,’ Alice said, touched.
‘I thought we could celebrate surviving the summer,’ Briar said, her lips brushing the sensitive skin under Alice’s jaw.
‘Like a party?’ Alice asked coyly, grinding back, enjoying how Briar’s fingers tightened on her hips. ‘Should I invite the others?’
Briar bit sharply at Alice’s jaw, making her gasp. ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Because I wanted to thank you,’ Briar said, then spun Alice around in her arms. Their faces were close, and Alice’s body was practically vibrating with anticipation. She leaned in, but Briar kept her lips just out of reach. ‘Properly.’
Then Briar kissed her, groaning as she tugged at Alice’s hair.
Alice melted into her, hooking a leg around Briar’s calf and nearly toppling them. They broke apart, and Briar fell to her knees.
‘What—’ Alice started, only to be hushed by Briar.
‘Just let me take care of you,’ Briar said, pulling at the laces of Alice’s boots, taking them off, followed by her socks. She kissed Alice’s knees, her fingers drifting up the back of her thighs. Alice felt unstable, like if Briar wasn’t holding on to her, she’d collapse.
Briar undid the front of her shorts, pulling them down and leaving Alice in her tank top and panties.
‘This seems hardly fair,’ Alice breathed. ‘You’re still dressed.’
‘This is about you,’ Briar said, kissing up her thigh.
‘And ifIwant to see you?’
Briar paused as if she were considering, then dropped a final kiss to Alice’s hipbone before standing. Alice reached for Briar’s shirt, pulling it over her head, then fumbled at the drawstring of her shorts.
Briar huffed out a laugh, swatting Alice’s hands away. ‘So impatient.’
‘Well, stop teasing me,’ Alice said, biting at the side of her neck. She sucked at the skin there, selfishly wanting to leave a mark, wanting there to be some proof of her having been there, even after she was gone.
Briar pushed her, and Alice fell onto the bed with a gasp. She only had a second to recover before Briar was on top of her, grinding a knee between Alice’s thighs. The friction was torture, lighting a fire low in her abdomen. Alice claimed Briar’s mouth with a kiss, snaking a hand down to grab her ass and bring their bodies together.
Briar broke away, her expression making Alice shiver. Briar was even more beautiful like this, her bangs sweaty and stuck to her forehead, her lips wet and swollen from kissing, her eyes dark and dangerous.
‘You’re distracting me,’ Briar said.
Alice blinked, trying to figure out why they weren’t kissing anymore. ‘Sorry?’
