Page 5 of For the Plot (The Stone Siblings #1)

Nikki

Lunch - Billie Eilish

This was a terrible idea. Why did I think listening to Collins of all people was a good call? Oh, that’s right, because I was sick of feeling like an impostor. Sick of wondering what it really felt like, instead of just imagining it.

So here I was, freshly showered, natural waves behaving for once, make-up on and wearing my favorite going-out dress.

You know that lemon milk maid dress that everyone and their mother seemed to own if you looked at social media?

Yeah, the ads got me on that one, but for once it actually turned out well.

I took a sip of my drink and looked around the crowded bar around me.

I debated going somewhere new, but in the end I opted for the comfort of The Sleepy Siren instead.

I figure if I was trying to do something that terrified me, I should at least be in a place that felt safe.

I hadn’t said hi to James yet, as he was too busy tending bar on the opposite side of the room.

Leaning back on the wall, I took a sip from my vodka apple juice I'd gotten from the other bartender on shift.

The bar was a big U-shape leading from the back wall into the middle of the space.

On my side, there were a few pool tables, a dart board further down the wall I was leaning on, and a long shuffleboard.

On the other side of the bar, booths lined the wall while high tables were scattered the rest of the area.

The Sleepy Siren was packed tonight, all the tables and booths full, the bar itself almost completely hidden behind the people sitting or standing and waiting for their drinks.

No one had paid me any mind, and I questioned whether this was a good idea or not.

Did I really think I could just decide to go to a bar and get laid for the first time ever?

As if I was suddenly going to stop being socially awkward around strangers and just hit up a random person.

It had been forty-five minutes now and I was just about ready to call it quits, my people-observing adventure enough excitement for one night.

I pushed off the wall, slurping up the last dregs of my drink.

Right as I went to set my glass down, someone bumped into me from behind.

I stumbled forward, an oof escaping me as my stomach slammed into the edge of the bar.

Warm hands wrapped around my waist. “Whoa there.”

Shrugging out of their grip, I turned around ready to tell them off only to pull up short.

The woman standing behind me was tall, with long golden-brown hair tumbling pin-straight over her light brown shoulders.

The words dried up on my tongue as I took in her sparkling green eyes, which were currently looking me up and down.

The thing so many people didn’t realize about attraction was that there were different kinds.

Romantic, sexual, aesthetic. Demisexual people may not experience sexual attraction without an emotional connection, but we sure as hell understood aesthetic attraction.

And this woman was absolutely stunning. And if I wasn’t wrong, she was totally checking me out.

“How in the world did I miss you? ” she murmured, biting her lip.

I had a choice here. Flirt back with the Amazonian goddess, or head home alone like I had planned.

“Can I buy you a drink?” The words were out of my mouth before I even decided.

Well, I guess my brain decided for me. Or was it my vagina?

For me, it was the idea of the act itself that tripped me up more than who my partner would be.

Although, imagining her… I could feel my face beginning to heat up, and quickly tore my eyes away from hers.

I wasn’t even sure if she was actually interested. I needed to get a hold of myself.

“Only if I can buy you one, too.” My eyes whipped back up to hers as a small smile grew on her mouth.

“I think I would be OK with that.” We both turned back to the bar, shoulders brushing as I flagged down James’s coworker, Megan.

I’m sure he’d be thrilled about that. The thought flitted across my mind, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Wait, why was I thinking about James? Get your head in the game, Nikki .

As Megan made our drinks, I turned to the woman. “So, what’s your name?” I asked, realizing that neither of us had even bothered to ask.

She chuckled self-deprecatingly. “ I guess we should have started with that, huh?”

“Hey, we got there eventually.” We both laughed, and she tucked a chunk of hair behind her ear, before looking down to me.

“Penny. Yours?”

“Nikki.”

“Nikki.” She said my name slowly, her eyes heating. “And what are you doing at a bar all alone Nikki?”

I raised a brow at her. “Are you not also alone?”

Penny threw a look over her shoulder to a group of women standing around one of the high tables, throwing covert looks at us. “I am not.”

“How do you know I’m alone then?”

“It was more hoping than knowing, if I’m being honest.” Penny bit her lips, eyes dropping to my mouth as she spoke. OK, I knew I was inexperienced, but even I could tell she was laying it on thick . It couldn’t actually be this easy, could it?

I paused for a minute, thinking about how I wanted to play this. I was just looking for a hookup, not a relationship. From the way Penny was acting, she probably also was looking just to hook up. So what was the harm in being honest, then?

“Well,” I started, before taking another sip, “I am definitely here alone. What are you going to do about it?” I forced myself to keep looking her in the eye as I spoke, even a every fiber of my being rebelled against it.

Penny set her full drink down, reaching a hand out to run a finger along my cheek, watching the motion of her finger as it went. “What do you want me to do about it?” I licked my lips, setting my drink half full down on the counter and leaning into her.

“I want you to do me.”

I tried to school my face as my brain caught up with my mouth. Had I actually just said that? Out loud?

Well, it was out there now, and there was no taking it back. Besides, this is what I came here to do anyway. I needed to fully commit to this plan, and Penny was just as good an option as anyone.

I clenched my shaking fists, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me and bolt for the door. Penny let her hand drop to my upper arm, slowly dragging it down to my hand, until she held it in hers. She turned, aiming towards the bathroom and pulling me along behind her.

Oh my god. OK. This is really happening. I felt dizzy with anticipation, trembling with an equal mix of terror and excitement. Was this really about to happen? Just like that? Is this how allosexual people do it? Just jump right in?

Opening the door to the women’s restroom, Penny threw a smirk over her shoulder, and held a finger up to her lips. As soon as I was past the door, she pushed me up against it, turning the lock and then resting her hand on my waist, the other cupping my cheek.

“God, you’re so pretty,” she whispered, breath fanning across my lips. As she leaned in slowly, the grip on my waist tightened, and the hand at my face slipped around to the back of my neck. I closed my eyes, tilting my chin up to meet her halfway, reaching my own hand up to grip her wrist.

My heart had either stopped beating or was beating so fast I could no longer feel it by the time her lips met mine. They were soft and warm and wet and… and I felt absolutely nothing. She tilted her hand, angling her head to kiss me deeper. It wasn’t bad, but it did absolutely nothing for me.

I shook myself mentally, reminding my brain that I knew I wasn’t going to feel a spark or butterflies.

That didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the act itself, right?

I kissed her back, trying to ignore the buzzing of the lights above us, the sour smell of a bar bathroom, the way my shoes were sticking to the floor.

She brushed her tongue along the seam of my lips, seeking entrance, and I opened myself up to her.

That was when things really started going downhill.

The feeling of her tongue in my mouth was…

weird. Weird and so, so wet. The strange feeling of her tongue plunging into my mouth was all I could focus on, and I couldn't enjoy myself of the kiss.

Finally, she broke away, gasping for air.

Her hand gave my waist a squeeze, before slowly drifting down my thigh to toy with the hem of my dress.

“How do you want me?” Penny kissed along my neck lightly, the feeling more ticklish than sensual.

I closed my eyes, trying to picture it. Grinding against her thigh, or riding her hand, or her kneeling on this disgusting-ass floor to eat me out?

None of those options sounded appealing or sexy in any way.

Decision made, I braced myself for her reaction. “I’m so sorry, I don’t think I can do this.” My breaths were starting to come fast, the edges of panic closing in on me.

Penny’s fingers gently tilted my chin up to look at her. “Hey, are you OK?’

I gulped before responding, “I’m OK, I swear. I’m so sorry, I really thought I could do this, but I just can’t.” My voice picked up pitch and speed as I continued to babble, “You see, I’m demi and I don’t normally do this and I just—”

“Hey,” she said softly. “It’s OK.’

“Really? You’re not mad?” The words came out of me a whisper.

“No.” She laughed softly, only the barest hint of disappointment in her eyes. “You don’t owe me anything, not even an explanation.”

I felt every muscle in my body loosen at her words, not even realizing just how tense I had gotten the longer we kissed.

“Thank you,” I muttered weakly. She gave me one last smile before I turned and unlocked the door, swinging it open and bolting for the door.

I wanted to fall into a very deep, very dark pit and never come back out.