Marina cried out again and again, her body belonging entirely to River and whatever it was she wanted to do with it. She came with a soul-shattering intensity that brought tears to her eyes. River’s arms wrapped around her, and she guided them down to the bed, then onto their sides before she pulled out.
Marina pressed back against her, needing the feel of River’s strong body, the feel of her arms, the comfort and steady beat of her heart. And River gave it all, pulling her close and enfolding her tightly.
They stayed that way for a long time, and Marina let some tears fall. They were tears of release, tears of letting go. And she felt safe enough there in the darkness of River’s room to simply feel.
“You okay?” River murmured eventually.
“I just had sex with a god in disguise. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be okay again.” Marina shifted so she could stay in River’s arms but face her. “That was even better than I thought it would be.”
River smiled and gently moved hair off Marina’s cheek. “I’m never going to let you live down that god compliment. I might have business cards made with that quote.” She laughed when Marina swatted at her. “You’re exceptional. You’re gorgeous,and the way you gave yourself to me…” She shook her head and blew out a breath. “Damn.”
Inexplicably, Marina found herself feeling shy. Plenty of women had said she was good in bed. But this somehow felt like more than that. “Thank you.”
“Thank you.” River kissed her softly. “Let me go get cleaned up and then we can crawl under the covers. It’s getting cold in here.”
Marina shivered and realized she’d been so wrapped up in River’s heat that she hadn’t noticed. Now goosebumps covered her, and she squeaked. River laughed as Marina yanked back the comforter and burrowed beneath it. She inhaled River’s woodsy cologne on the pillow, and her clit twitched in response. Jesus, it was like being a teenager again. She giggled, a sound she probably hadn’t made since she was twelve, but she couldn’t help it. Her body felt all kinds of perfectly used, and yet she still wanted more.
River came out wearing a fresh tank and boxers, and Marina watched her move around the room. Her thighs were thick slabs of muscle, and her stomach was nearly flat. Once again, it was easy to stare at her heavily muscled arms, the biceps covered in ink. She went downstairs and came right back with a big glass of water that she handed to Marina.
“In case you got a little dehydrated.” She winked and slid under the comforter next to her.
Marina rolled her eyes, but she was actually really thirsty. She drank down half and handed it back. “Thanks. Although it does seem like the least you can do after using a girl that way.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.” River lay on her back, and Marina snuggled in against her, her head on River’s shoulder.
River stroked her hair, and Marina let herself relax into the touch and the feeling of rightness. Tonight it was perfect, and that was all that mattered. Tonight she could pretend that she’dbe happy in this little house, next to this hot, handsome butch, and that there wasn’t anything waiting beyond tomorrow’s sunrise to tear them apart again.
CHAPTER 28
“Whore!”
Marina’s eyes whipped open and she screamed, scrambling backward on the bed.
“Marjorie!” River snapped, blinking awake, her heart pounding at Marina’s scream. “That’s enough!”
The ghost floated backward, her wild white hair drifting around her head, the black holes where her eyes should be staring daggers at Marina. She faded into the shadows, her hair the last thing to disappear.
“What the actual fuck?” Marina’s eyes were wide, her face pale. One hand was pressed to her chest, the other held the blanket to her chin like a shield. “River, what the fuck was that?”
River ran her hand through her hair and tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. “Sorry about that. Marjorie was here when I moved in, and that’s her favorite way of waking me up in the morning. I thought she’d stay away, since I have company.”
Marina’s head turned slowly toward her, like she was reluctant to look away from where their ghostly alarm clock had gone. She blinked, and then slowly started shaking her head. “Nope.” She lurched out of bed, got tangled in the blanket and fell to her knees, then struggled with it until she was loose.“Nope. No. No. No. Ghosts don’t exist. I don’t know what the fuck that was. Maybe you have some crazy lady in the attic who messes with you. I don’t know. But…” She pulled on her sweater and slacks and shoved her bra and panties in her pockets. “Nope.”
“Marina, she’s harmless, I promise.” River tried to reach for her, but Marina was too fast. “And she’s gone. She doesn’t really come out at all during the day.”
Marina looked at her sharply. “Do you even hear yourself?” She took the stairs almost too fast and stepped into her boots in front of the door.
“Wait.” River hopped on one leg, trying to pull her jeans on and not go head first down the stairs. “Let me take you to breakfast, at least.”
Marina’s phone buzzed, and she looked around the living room before glancing at her screen. “Fuck. I have to go in to work after I go see my mom.” She pulled her coat tight around her. “I’ll call for a Lyft and wait outside.”
Before River could argue that it was too cold to wait outdoors, she was gone. River sighed and rubbed at her eyes. So much for a nice, slow wake-up and some morning sex. “Thanks a lot, Marjorie.”
The curtains moved in response, snapping with undisguised irritation.
River grabbed a sweatshirt off the sofa and slipped on some shoes. Marina was standing on the sidewalk, doing something on her phone. “Hey.” River put her hand on Marina’s back and kissed her cheek. “I’m really sorry about that. Please don’t go like this.”
Marina looked up at her, and the beautiful openness of the night before was gone. Those walls were back in place, and even though she smiled, it was missing that part of her River had gotten to see last night.
