Page 36 of A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love
If she was sure…I kicked off my shoes and joined her in the back.
She had a plush black blanket wrapped around her and was lying underneath another one.
After some maneuvering, I slid under, too.
She’d already closed all the curtains over the windows, so once she tugged the one to the front closed, it was completely black.
Only a small amount of light that had come from a nearby streetlamp came through at all.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the new darkness.
“See? Isn’t that better?” Christina lay on her side, her head propped up on her hand.
“It really is.” I turned on my side and matched her, resting my head in my hand propped up by my elbow. “Now, what were you saying?”
She laughed, and the scent of mint tickled my nose. “I was asking what you think it must be like being tall. Like can you imagine what it would be like to, you know, actually see everything while you’re walking around?”
“I’d never really thought about it.”
“It was a question in this game the kids were playing the other day in class, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. About how one’s perspective can be so different based on their height.”
We never played any games like that when I taught, but since I couldn’t say that, I thought about my answer. “I could see what was on top of the refrigerator; that would be one thing.”
“Exactly. That’s what I mean. Like, the world must look so different.” She was clearly very excited about this discovery.
“And what does it look like for you?” I asked. While I wasn’t exactly what one would call tall, I wasn’t as short as Christina either. She was petite.
“I see a lot of chests.” She locked eyes with me, and we both started laughing.
“Shoulders and necks for me, so it’s not much better.”
“But people probably don’t try to pick you up,” she said.
“No! Stop it.” Was she serious?
She shook her head. “I wish I could tell you it’s not a thing. It happened a lot in college.”
“Guys?”
“Guys,” she confirmed.
“It’s not all guys, but it’s always a guy. Why is that?” I’ve had the pleasure of knowing a lot of great men in my days, but the ones that weren’t great sure ruined it for the rest of them.
“I wish I knew,” she said.
And then it was quiet. The rain pounded the roof of the hearse, and here I was lying next to this beautiful woman. Her damp hair hung halfway to her elbow, and there was a strawberry-shaped birthmark on her shoulder, next to her black bra strap. I wet my bottom lip with my tongue.
Thunder crashed somewhere in the distance, and the wind began to howl.
“You did lock the doors, right?” Christina’s voice sounded tentative. Which wasn’t surprising since she had made it abundantly clear that she didn’t enjoy being scared.
“I did,” I assured her. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“What about serial killers?”
“I don’t think they would be out in the rain like this. Too much hassle,” I said. “I mean, how would they hold their umbrella and a knife? It isn’t practical,” I joked to help lighten the mood—something she had done on numerous occasions.
She scooted closer. “And werewolves?”
“It’s not a full moon.”
She came even closer, her leg touching mine, and butterflies took off in my stomach. “Plus, you’ll protect me if anything scary comes along, won’t you?” Her gaze dipped to my mouth.
“I got you.”
“You and that saying.” She cracked a smile.
“Everyone needs a catchphrase,” I said.
“So what’s mine?” She tipped her head to the side, her damp hair tickling my arm.
I shook my head. “You have to figure that out yourself.”
“Well, we’ll need to do something to pass the time.” She ran her finger down my arm, giving me goose bumps.
“Did you have something in mind?”
She smiled even brighter than she had before.
“I do.” She pressed her lips to mine, and there was something bolder and more intense than the kiss we’d shared before.
A longing, or a deep desire, drew me in like a vacuum.
Heat rushed from my lips down to my toes and back.
I brushed the damp hair from her face and held her cheek in my hand.
She tasted like mint and smelled like roses.
The blanket she’d been cocooned inside slipped down as she lifted herself up, and I lowered my head onto the soft cushions around us. She took the lead, and I willingly followed. My heart was racing in my chest.
I wrapped my hand around her exposed bare back, pulling her deeper into me. The satin lace of her bra was smooth and cool. “Is this okay?”
“Uh-huh. What do you like?”
“This is all a little new to me,” I admitted.
“I’m no expert either, so just let me know if you’re uncomfortable, and I’ll do the same, okay?”
I nodded.
Her fingers found the place where my shirt and skirt met, and she slid her hand up, my skin igniting under her touch. She cupped my breast as I kissed her neck, tasting the rain on her skin.
I couldn’t get enough of her. Time slipped by as we explored each other, and our breathing got heavy.
She pulled my shirt over my head, and our hearts beat against each other—skin on skin.
The car rocked with the howling wind, but the storm outside was nothing compared to what was raging between me and Christina.
Not only had it been too long since I’d been with anyone, but this was also my first time with another woman, and it felt right, so natural, and even better than I ever thought it could be. Her hand slid between my legs, and I gasped, rocking my hips forward, encouraging her to keep going.
Somehow along the way, I lost my skirt and bra, and sweat began to bead up along my lower back, but I didn’t want to stop.
Now that I had a taste of Christina—of what it was like being with her—I completely drank her in.
I was drunk off the way my body tingled as she touched me, and the moans that escaped her luscious lips were the most beautiful sounds I’d ever heard.
Completely spent, I laid in Christina’s arms as the rain quieted.
Being with her like this would’ve made it impossible to be without her, but I had a plan.
I had found a way to hopefully break the curse my way—so no one would have to get hurt.
This may have been the first time with Christina, though it didn’t have to be the last—I’d make sure of it.