Star Blessed

Girl Talk

MERIBELLA

"Really you two?"

Meribella jerked at the sound of Thorne's voice booming in the alley, smashing her head against Raff's. The man didn't even have the decency to wince, but he did release his grip on her. Feet back on solid ground, she felt anything but stable as she pushed away from the wall and greeted her friend.

"Has it been fifteen minutes already?"

"No, ten. I told you I'd send Joe at fifteen. I decided to send myself at ten minutes."

"Thorne, please. I promise everything is okay."

Raff extended a hand, but the witch ignored it. "Meribella and I still have some things to discuss."

"Bit difficult to do with your tongue parked in someone else's mouth, huh?"

"What are you doing?" Meribella hissed, stomping to her friend and snatching her by her arm. Standing in the light cast by a street lamp, they disappeared in a halo, but Raff had extra sensitive hearing. No amount of whispering would escape his notice.

"Saving you from yourself, clearly."

"Raff, perhaps we should talk later."

His mouth worked soundlessly, reminding her so much of the fish Caspian had caught that she couldn't stop the smile that formed on her lips. Her sore, well-kissed lips. Thorne is right. What am I doing?

"Do you have a phone?" he asked. "I need a way to get in touch with you."

She rattled off her number, watching as he punched the digits into his sleek smartphone. Somehow that simple exchange left her feeling more exposed than his hands half way up her shirt had. Sure, changing a number was easy enough, but for this moment, she was tethered to him.

"Alright, you can call her later. We're leaving."

If Meribella wasn't mistaken, Raff growled when Thorne drew her out into the street, but he didn't follow. If his blood was as hot and bothered as hers was, he'd likely need a minute to adjust before stepping out into polite public.

The man he called Lincoln, likely his Beta, stepped into their path, and she decided the public was not very polite. "Can we help you?"

Thorne eyed him with interest, and even in his pique, he paused to give her a cocky smirk. The woman practically purred until Meribella stomped on her toe. Serves you right. If I don't get any, you don't get any.

"Where's Raff?"

Through teeth gritted in pain, Thorne managed to speak. "Sulking the shadows."

"I don't trust you."

Unleashing her temper, knowing that high emotions would make her eyes gleam in the dark, she stepped into his personal space and snapped, "Just to clear up any misconceptions, I'm not terribly interested in your opinion. This is between me and Raff. Back off."

"Damn the crazy women tonight," the man said, backing up as though afraid of her. With a disgusted grunt, he jogged towards the alley, yelping when he tripped. "What the hell?"

Thorne just giggled.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with that?" The soft glow around her finger was a dead giveaway, but the witch just shrugged.

They walked along the mainstreet, enjoying the pleasant evening. Rain was in the forecast for the rest of the week, but for now, the sky was clear and sparkling. The moonlight lit the walkway to the wharf, and they turned to follow it home. Couples wandered by, arm in arm, most so intent on one another that they missed the spectacular beauty around them. A few had children waddling between them or running ahead, their sweet laughter bouncing through the night.

And for the first time, Meribella found herself watching the people more than the ocean. More than the stars and moon. And she found herself wanting.

"Spill," Thorne commanded as they stopped in front of the houseboat they'd rented. Funny really that she'd never considered a boat, but having a roommate to split the bill with broadened her choices.

"Oh no. We're not going to discuss me right now. What the hell were you thinking?" She fumbled with the keys, the calm she'd gathered on her walk dissipating as she recalled the witch's behavior. "You could've ruined everything."

The lock clicked, a little magic no doubt, and the other woman pushed past her to enter the cabin. The living area was surprisingly spacious and more than fit their needs. Sleeping areas and a bathroom were below the main room. But her favorite feature was the wall of windows that let them have an unobstructed view of the sea.

"Hmmmm." Thorne's voice was muffled as she rummaged in the fridge. A triumphant shout was released before she appeared with bottle of chilled white wine. "I get it. I went rogue. But let's think about the plan. Please remind me of the part that required you to have alley sex with the man the moment after you met him."

Spluttering, Meribella held up a hand to stop her. "We weren't having sex."

"Honey," she drawled out the word, eyebrows raised. "You just lacked penetration."

"Give me that." Snatching the bottle of wine, she tipped it back and relished the little bubbles that popped on her tongue. Still doesn't taste as good as he does. "Oh my god... I can't do this. I can't go through with this."

"You're just now realizing this?"

"I-I forgot how strong I reacted around him. I mean, I know he was forward and creepy. And he's a complete and total controlling asshat..."

Thorne stole the bottle back. "Go on."

"But he makes me feel things. He makes me act on those feelings in a way...in a way I've never done."

"That second of his could make me act on a few things."

"Thorne."

"Right, not the point. But it seems that he's feeling the same things. Why don't you use that to your advantage. You can't get any closer to him than you were tonight. If you have to kill him, you've got the in."

Meribella flopped down on the small sofa and pulled on the ends of her tangled hair. "I've got the in, but not the proof. I need to know what they said was true. I just can't believe he would do that to human women. That he doesn't care. I mean, you should've seen him when I told him I wasn't human. I swear it was like seeing a kid on Christmas morning, and that's when he kissed me. It was like he was restraining himself, but once he knew I was safe, he went all in."

"No all in is what he would've been if I'd left you two alone for another couple of minutes."

"I can't even with you. But would a monster really care?"

Thorne laughed and took another swig. "You're a hot woman. He knows it. Don't read into things. Stop acting so virginal. You knew this was part of the plan from the beginning." Silence. "B. Are you?"

"Am I what?" Meribella squeaked, knowing full well what the question was.

"Are you a virgin? B, I can't hear when you speak into that pillow."

"Yes! Ok, yes. That's why I'm freaking out here. I'm in way over my head."

"Well, shit."

Yes. Shit.