Crimson Lights

Reaffirmations

With Madam Ahjunta's blessings, Samar and Anna helped Inness pack her things and move into Karmen's room temporarily.

"Karmen? Can I come in?" Inness asked, knocking on the door slightly.

"The door is unlocked."

Inness pushed open the door, carrying a bag full of clothes with her. She was followed into the room by Samar, who was carrying a big box full of her other possessions. Glancing at Karmen who was lounging on the bed, she raised her brows questioningly at her.

"Oh, just leave it on the dresser for now. I'll show her where to put them later on."

Reading the situation perfectly, Samar shrugged and dumped the box onto the table before proceeding to leave without saying anything to either of them.

Bemused with her actions, Inness watched her retreating back as she went to close the door.

"She's certainly unreadable, isn't she? She's just like Madam; I've no idea what to think about either of them."

"They're both kind-hearted. You can trust them without doubts," Karmen replied.

Her remark stung Inness suddenly; unconsciously, she began rubbing her chest.

"So, you'd trust them more than me?" Inness asked, testing the waters.

"Why not? At least they've been kind to me all this while, especially Samar. She didn't have to but she did – and all because I asked for her assistance. I'm sure she'd help me no matter what and..." Smirking sarcastically at Inness, she continued, "I'm sure she wouldn't just disappear on me just like that."

Feeling unsteady, Inness approached Karmen, slumping onto the empty space beside her.

"Karmen... I'm sorry."

"It's going to take more than that for everything to be alright between us."

"I'm really sorry."

"Seriously? You think adding 'really' into that sentence is gonna make me..." Her words were muffled by Inness' lips.

She should have known; she was mentally kicking herself for not realising or anticipating it. She should have known that Inness would use the first chance she got to reaffirm each other's feelings. She has always been like that since she was a child – how could she have forgotten it?

The kiss, despite the timing of it, was soft yet persistent on her lips. Karmen was not only taken by surprise with the suddenness of it, but also by the intensity of it. It felt as if Inness was slowly pulling out her soul through her mouth – the kiss was too intense for her; she could feel her sister's longings and desperate love punching through, seeping through the gaps of her parted lips, slowly oozing into her, onto her heart.

She couldn't help but respond to that kiss; she wanted it just as much. The years that had passed in between flashed by; it was as if that empty gap that separated the last time they were together and the present had melted away. When Inness' tongue traced her lips, Karmen opened up easily, allowing her to come in and tangle with her. Jolting visibly with shock and pleasure, a loud moan of pleasure escaped her, but she just couldn't care anymore. No regrets; her mind kept whispering to her those words again and again. Her tongue began exploring too, licking Inness' lips and coming across her torn skin.

Tasting copper, she pulled away, breaking the kiss as she studied Inness' face.

"What actually happened to you?" she asked, cupping Inness' face as her hands ran across the sides of her head, checking for other injuries.

"I...don't really know. All I remember was Samar helping me up and taking me back to the house. She cleaned the cuts and well, applied first aid on me but that's all I remember." Looking sheepishly at Karmen, she added, "Samar said it's possible that I was jonesing for a fix when I was ... with a client last night and so he dumped me there. I'm not sure but I guess it's possible."

"Aren't you craving for some now? You're already beginning to sweat, and your hands are ice cold."

"I have been craving ever since Samar splashed that damn iodine all over my wounds."

"So, what do we do?" Karmen asked, concerned as she had seen previously what happened when Inness was off from her fix – of course, Inness had no idea she was watching from afar back then.

"I'd rather not take it, at least not yet. I have my own stash, of course, but I don't want to take them when I'm with you. I know it's impossible to go cold turkey all of a sudden, but I'd like to see how long I can last without it, especially now that I'm with you."

Stunned, touched, Karmen brushed Inness' torn lips softly with her fingertips.

"Doesn't it hurt?" she asked. "What can I do – do you want me to get the first aid kit for it?"

"Karmen..." Inness slowly took her hand into hers, lifting it up before kissing it softly. "You know exactly what to do, what I need at this moment."

She didn't know why but she was feeling shy all of a sudden. She knew that Inness had more experience than her in this kind of thing despite whatever skills she had acquired along the way. The fact that her kid sister towered above her was another thing that threw her off. She felt 'less' in so many ways in comparison with Inness.

As if understanding the thoughts in her head, Inness shortened the distance between their bodies. Hovering just inches above her, she waited still for Karmen to say something, to push her away – yet, Karmen met her halfway instead, mating their lips together. The kiss was sweet; she was aching with the love that overflowed between them. She had missed this; she had missed them so much. She had missed being a unit with Inness.

Softly applying pressure, she pushed at Karmen, causing her to gently fall back onto the bed – and still she held her lips captive. Their brushing bodies were vibrating heat; Inness felt the clothes between them were melting onto them, sticking onto their bodies. Impatient, she broke the kiss and hurriedly stripped her t-shirt away as she straddled Karmen, exposing her tanned skin beneath.

Her breath caught in her throat, Karmen could simply stare at what she felt was a marvel in front of her.

"You've...certainly grown during our times apart."

Inness laughed out loud, her rich laughter pouring over Inness like rain after a prolonged drought.

"Oh, how I've missed hearing that laughter," Karmen remarked, tears shining on her eyes.

The laughter was still caught in her eyes, even though her features had softened at Karmen's remark. Lowering her head, she brushed her lips softly over her sister's, her unspoken apology rocking them both.

"How did you become so tanned?" Karmen asked, breaking the silence and sadness that hung over them.

"Well, I was exposed to the weather out there for a long time; I'm more than glad that I didn't get burned instead!"

She moved to remove Karmen's top as she spoke but Karmen stopped her all of a sudden.

"Inness, we have to talk about something first."

"I'm sure it can wait – I can't."

"You have to know something first before we go any further."