Page 91 of Storm of Shadows

Clare hiccups, then giggles – the alcohol has definitely taken effect. “I do know that.”

“Do you have any practical experience?”

She shakes her head.

“Well, if you do want to do that – not that I’m offering by the way, you are not my type – there’s birth control to stop you getting knocked up. We can get you some.”

“Have you, Briony?” Clare asks, pinching the liquor bottle off Fly and pouring three large measures into the glasses. “Had practical experience?”

Usually I would not answer a question like this, but the alcohol has loosened my tongue.

“Yes, once – well more than once but with one person.”

“The cute boy with the black eye.”

“He used to be cute,” and kind and sweet, “trust me, he isn’t anymore.”

“Did you like it?” she asks me next. “I’m so desperate to try it.”

“You are?” Fly says, laughing.

“Just because I’m a girl and smart, does not mean I don’t have needs, Fly Arison,” she says, waving her glass in his direction, liquid slopping over the rim and onto the carpet.

“Oh yeah, we all have needs,” he nods, “but the only one of us even close to having those needs fulfilled is Briony.”

“Do you seriously not find them hot, Briony?” Clare asks. She lowers her voice to a whisper. “I wouldn’t be able to help but have my needs fulfilled by those three.”

“I do find them hot.” The alcohol hasdefinitelyloosened my tongue because that is not something I’ve even admitted to myself up until now. “Even though I really really don’t want to.”

Fly sighs. “Most of the time attraction is something we can’t help. The last dude I had a crush on was a serious asshole but I still worshipped the ground he walked on … he was just too darn beautiful.”

“I don’t know,” I ponder. “If it was just that, I don’t think it would be so hard. Sometimes it feels like more …” I trail off struggling to articulate my thoughts, to describe how I feel whenever any one of them is close. I roll my eyes and change the subject. “How about you, Fly? Do you have practical experience?”

“Some,” he says a little coyly. “But mostly just head. I’d be very happy to expand that experience.”

“Head?” Clare asks.

“Oh gosh,” he says, rolling his eyes. “My poor innocent sheltered little lamb. Do we need a sex ed lesson?”

“What does it mean?” she says, ignoring his sarcasm.

“Sucking dick. Or licking pussy. I’ve only had experience of the former.”

“And you liked it?” Clare asks, seeming a little unsure.

“Like it? I fucking love it. I dream of it. I’d do just about anything for it.” He cackles.

“How about you, Briony?” Clare asks. “Have you done that?”

I shake my head.

“Not with the psycho cutie with the black eye?”

“No, that was more of a …” I shrug, “fumbling in the bushes kind of thing.”

“Well, you should learn how. Give a good blowjob, Cupcake, and those Princes will be putty in your hands.”

“Uh, no.”