JENNIE
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It's been a week since I last talked to Lisa.
She's called, texted, emailed every single day.
I ignore them all.
I mean, it's ridiculous the way I'm acting. I know I'm being a brat. I know I said a bunch of things I didn't mean because I was just so hurt and vulnerable. And I know I can't keep ignoring her forever. Even if we weren't partners with two books out and a third in the works, even if we didn't have paychecks coming that we'd have to divide between us, I'd still have to talk to her because I'm in love with the asshole and that feeling isn't going away anytime soon, no matter how hard I try to crush it into the ground.
But I'm stubborn, way more stubborn than she is and when she finally stops messaging me, well then I feel the pinch. The real fear. It never was that our secret could come out and that people might judge us. Losing her has always been my number one worry.
I know she cares for me. I know, especially after talking to Chaeng, who told me just how wonderful Lisa was at the party, the things Lisa was saying about me, that she would never intentionally do anything to hurt me. And I know that the womanizer is gone and what's left is one hell of a sexy woman who makes me laugh, makes me come and worships the ground I walk on.
But I worry it's too late.
Because it was so easy for me to close myself off again, that after everything that happened with Niki, I'm not sure she'd be willing to open up again and give me a chance.
I just don't know anything anymore.
So I go for a run.
It's Sunday morning and Ana is making turnip pancakes again, so I head out of the house and decide to run into the city and dodge tourists. She's been very supportive of my new career. After I was outed, it was only a matter of time before I had to tell both her and Jisoo. They were shocked, no doubt, and Jisoo made me promise to write Slammed by the Single Dad one day and that she'd give me detailed descriptions of their escapades. I told her I'd think about it.
Ana of course wants some sort of credit in my books for being the world's best roommate. I told her I'd think about that too.
Then of course there are my parents, who haven't called me since that day. I'm fine with it. They're blood and family, so I know that eventually we'll reconnect. But I'm in no hurry. I can get by without their money, at least until I graduate and my loan runs out, thanks to the Amazon payments and I think it's about time I put some distance between them and myself. I can't grow, can't become the person I am with them holding something over me. Besides, after talking to Dara the other day, I know that they'll come around and be more meddlesome and involved than ever, so I should enjoy this break while I can.
For once the run isn't burning up my thighs and knees and the city is still a bit sleepy in the morning sun. I cut down across the Empress Hotel and start jogging along Wharf Street when I hear someone yell my name.
"Jennie!"
The voice belongs to a kid.
I turn around and see a tall, stately looking brunette, very Kate Beckinsdale circa her romantic comedy days and Kevin, Lisa's stepbrother. While she's dressed in a white pant suit, like she's about to board a cruise ship, he's dressed head to toe in plastic armor and carrying a flag with a yellow crest on it. He waves the flag at me.
"Hi," I say, feeling awkward as they come toward me.
Kevin looks up at his mom. "Mom, this is Jennie, Lisa's girlfriend."
I force a smile on my face, not sure if I should correct Kevin or not.
"Hi," I say, giving her a wave. "Sorry, I'd shake your hand but it's sweaty."
She smiles. "I'm Angelica, Lisa's stepmother."
"Nice shirt," Kevin says to me with a big smile on his face.
His mother peers at my chest. "Is that Benedict Cumberbatch?" she asks incredulously.
"Mom loves him," Kevin says, shoving his glasses up on his nose. "Our whole house is a shrine to him."
"Oh it is not," she says, putting her hand on his shoulder and giving me a quick smile.
"Yes it is. Remember when Lisa broke your Sherlock shot glass set and you got all mad and made her buy you a new one."
Oh my god. I see where Kevin's nerd genes come from. I can also finally see why Lisa hates Benedict Cumberbatch so much.
She keeps smiling, nervous now as she tucks her hair behind her ears. "They were a gift sweetie, that's the only reason why I was mad."
"And then you wouldn't let her touch that mug that says 'seductively deductive'."
"That's enough Kevin."
He just keeps smiling, turning his attention to me. "Hey guess what day it is?"
I frown. "Sunday."
"No, why I'm dressed like this." He pats his armor.
"Still figured it was just a Sunday."
Angelica looks at me. "I'm taking him to Beacon Hill Park to do his…what is it again? Comic con?"
"LAIRE," Kevin says. He frowns dramatically at me. "Did you forget, Jennie?"
Oh shit. The fucking LARPing shit.
"Lisa is doing it with you right?" I ask him.
"Yeah she's meeting me there in a few hours," he says. "But you also promised."
I wince, giving Angelica a look. "Well, the thing is…"
They both stare at me. Obviously Lisa hasn't told them anything.
I sigh. I really, really don't want to go there dressed as Phoenix from X-Men and potentially be shunned by Lisa. But I'm not sure I have a choice. "Do you mind if I bring my friend?" I ask him. "She's really good at fantasy makeup."
"Sure!" Kevin says. He stabs his staff into the ground, the flag waving. "Come on, mother dear, our kingdom awaits." He then turns around and starts strutting away.
"Thank you for doing this," Angelica says to me. "It will be really good for Kevin. And for Lisa." With that, she turns around and trots after her little king.
Hmmm. Lisa. Maybe she knows something after all.
There's no time to think about it though. I continue on my run all the way to a costume shop just outside of downtown where I manage to snag a Phoenix costume that's straight from a cosplay sex catalog. Then I run back home and break the news to Ana.
"I'll bring the wine," she says excitedly.
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Two hours later, Ana and I descend on a scene of utter madness. All of Beacon Hill Park is awash with fellow freaks and geeks from all walks of life. There are children and adults, men and women and a few people who could go either way since they're dressed like Groot or an Orc of sorts. Everyone seems to be split into groups, battling each other with weapons and shields, the air filled with cries and the dull thud of foam against foam. There's even a beer garden in the distance and a few food trucks that I have no doubt serve up Game of Thrones-style meals.
My Phoenix costume makes me look slightly out of place – there seem to be a lot of people here dressed up as their own creations and barely any of the women are dressed in such a form-fitting manner. Ana blends in a little more, wearing a full-length red and white Estonian folk costume she pulled from her closet, albeit with a makeup case in one hand and a bottle of opened wine in the other.
"Hello fair maidens." Two men are walking toward us, one round like a potato, looking like a medieval squire, the other dressed as Zaphod Beeblebrox from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
"I am Randy the Retiree," the potato man says. He gestures to his friend. "And this is—"
"Zaphod Beeblebrox," I fill in.
"No," Zaphod says frowning, tossing his straggly blonde hair over his shoulder. "I am Darth Star Lord from the planet Clorox, guardian of the galaxy."
I cock my head. "I think you're getting a bunch of things confused."
"We are from the Senate of Calgon," Randy the Retiree says and gestures to the field with his arm. "We put on this affair for many to enjoy. All are welcome. Especially the fair ladies."
"I brought makeup and wine," Ana says with a wide smile, totally in her element.
"Very good," Randy the Retiree says. "Your services are needed here." He puts his arm around her and leads her away.
Zaphod peers at me. "And what is your warrior name?"
"Um, Jean Grey, turned into Phoenix."
"Peculiar name, Jean Grey Turned into Phoenix" he says. "Come, let us retire to my tent up on yonder hill so we may properly get acquainted away from prying eyes. Everyone is always watching the Senate of Calgon."
He tries to put his arm around me but I shrug away from it. "I'm not here to battle, or whatever you're suggesting. I'm here to find someone."
"Ah," he says, folding his arms. "And who is this warrior you seek?"
I try and think. There are hundreds of people here fighting in a blur. "She's British…"
"Everyone here is British," he says. "Doth not hear thine accent?"
"Right. She should be with a kid. His name is Kev…I mean Betoolamous the Brave."
"I'm afraid I can't help you, for there are many brave ones here." He takes a step closer to me. "As am I. Did you know I've been called the best bang since the big one?"
"All right, Zaphod," I tell him, going around him. "Go back to your Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster."
"My what?" he asks as I start jogging across the field toward the beer garden, figuring that's where Lisa probably is. That's where I'd be.
Unfortunately I have to head right through a battle to get there.
Foam weapons are coming at my head in all directions and it doesn't seem to matter that I don't have a shield and I look like I'm trying to go somewhere, because I am hit absolutely everywhere. Foam to the face, shoulders, boobs, gut, ass. Then the ass some more by some medieval pervert with a very large sword.
"Ahhhh!" I cry out, trying to run and shield my head and ass at the same time when suddenly the pervert is struck on the back and he falls to the ground in dramatic fashion.
"Death is such a pity," he ekes out, reaching for me with his hand before he mock dies.
There is no reprise before the hits start up again but there is a hand grabbing mine and leading me out of the chaos and clamoring.
When we're a few feet away from the action and I can breathe I look up to see who my rescuer is.
I already knew from the feel of her hand.
Except this isn't Lisa at all. It's Tom Hiddleston. I mean, Loki.
Don't ruin my fantasy.
"You saved me," I tell her.
Lisa's face is far too serious for the battleground and far too serious to play Loki. But it's her, dressed from head to toe in her armor, from the green cape and gold-plated shoulders, to the horn helmet atop her head. She looks menacing.
Badass.
And fucking hot.
"What are you doing here?" Lisa asks as the battle rages around us.
"Kevin didn't tell you?"
She shakes her head, her helmet starting to tip over. Her hand shoots up to steady it. "No."
"Oh," I say, feeling stupid. "Um, well I ran into him today. He was with your stepmother. You never told me about her and her Benedict Cumber—"
"Don't even say his name."
"Anyway he expected me here today and your stepmother seemed really grateful when I said I'd still come so…here I am."
"And that's the only reason?" she asks softly, peering intently into my eyes.
"No," I tell her. "I came here for you. To tell you I'm sorry."
Her brows come together. "For what?"
"For being a twat. For not returning your messages. For blowing up at you like I did."
"Jennie," she says. "You had every right to be mad. I knew it was our secret and I wasn't thinking. Clearly. I get it."
"No," I tell her. "I shouldn't have freaked out and left you. I just didn't know what to do. You know…being with you…it scared me so much to imagine losing you, I couldn't handle it. It's almost like I made it happen so it wouldn't have to down the line."
"That is such a guy thing to do," she says.
"Don't be sexist," I tell her, punching her in the armor. It kind of hurts. "Girls are allowed to do stupid shit too."
"I don't know if you're allowed to do them but you do them anyway," she muses.
I raise my fist. "Don't make me punch you again."
"Hey, you're Phoenix. You can change the whole damn world with your mind, just as you can with your writing. Why do you think I wanted you to come dressed as her? You can do anything you put your mind to, whether it's making a fortune on erotica or writing something very dear and personal to you. You're practically a superhero. And you're really good in bed."
I swallow hard, the butterflies in my chest taking off. "So…it's not too late?"
"For what?"
"For us." I say feebly. "You stopped calling me."
"Just because we write about stalkers, doesn't mean I am one. I wanted to give you space and time to figure your shit out. I wasn't going anywhere. We're writing partners."
"And sex partners."
"And friends."
"And dorks."
"Speak for yourself," She says, raising her head high. "I'm the king of mischief."
"Well the queen of mischief needs a beer," I tell her.
She grasps my hand. "My queen," she says gallantly and we head toward the beer garden. The battle rages on and Lisa fends off a charging warrior with a fell swoop of her staff. We keep walking.
"My hero," I tell her as we step over the fallen, writhing soldier.
We give each other the nerdiest smiles and my heart feels like it's a big, bright balloon, too large and grand for my chest.
"Hey, is that Ana?" Lisa says as we approach the bar.
I look over to see her putting blue body paint on some buff, half naked Avatar. She's giggling and he's flexing and it looks like she's having the time of her life.
"Is that Kevin and your dad?" I ask because further down the line of people who want Ana's face slash body paint, there they are. "I didn't know your dad was coming."
"Neither did I," Lisa says. "Just was well, now we can enjoy these beers."
We find ourselves a spot on a picnic table between some wenches who are completely hammered and Neo and Felicity from the Matrix and we drink in the sunshine and we talk and catch up over everything that happened over the last week, from family, to our new fame, to book world drama (and there's always book world drama).
Two beers in though, we're both feeling pretty loose.
"Hey, come with me," I tell her, grabbing her hand and leading her from her seat and out of the beer garden.
"Where are you leading me, my queen?" she asks, playfully smacking me on my ass.
"It's a secret," I tell her, glancing up at her over my shoulder. "You know how to keep those now, don't you?"
She rolls her eyes in response.
I take her over to the white cloth tent that Zaphod mentioned earlier and cautiously pull back the curtain. It's empty inside except for an inflatable couch covered with faux furs while royal banners that say Senate of Calgon hang from the ceiling. I'm not that surprised to find that the place doesn't look used at all. Seems no other maidens have fallen for his proposition.
"Where are we?" Lisa asks, her horns nearly razing the top of the tent.
"The Senate of Calgon," I tell her, leading her over to the couch. "Or the site of every nerd girl fantasy." I sit down and stare up at her, opening my legs wide.
Her eyes nearly fall out. "You have a hole in your suit."
"I know that," I tell her. "And I'm not wearing underwear."
"I can see that," she says, practically salivating. "Was this all for me?"
"You get panty lines if you don't go commando," I tell her, beckoning her down with my finger. "And this is a full bodysuit. I'm not taking the whole thing off every time I have to pee."
"Right," She says, not even hearing me anymore. Her eyes keep roaming from my bare pussy, over my spandex covered breasts, to my lips and back down again. I feel like she's going to have a convulsion just standing there. "This is seriously the hottest thing I have ever seen in my whole entire existence."
"It's about to get hotter," I tell her as she drops to her knees and runs her hands up my inner thighs, squeezing as she goes, her eyes burning and locked on mine. She's about to dip her head but I reach up and grab her helmet, taking it off before the horns spear me.
I put the helmet to the side and out of the way. Her hair flops forward on her forehead. "Not up for the horns?" she says with a grin.
"Maybe later."
She lowers her head between my legs and I lie back, the sun streaming in through the parting in the tent door. Out in the distance the battle cries go on but in here there is nothing but Lisa's tongue on my clit, tentative at first, then her mouth opening right over it, gently sucking me in.
I feel the air sucked out of me.
Her tongue runs down me in broad, warm licks and I raise my hips, wanting more purchase, more tension, more relief, more of everything.
Two fingers come inside me, holding me open, while her tongue still works, alternating between gentle sucks and languid laps. Her teeth raze me at some point and I cry out loudly but the pain has never felt sweeter.
"Come inside me," I whimper as I feel myself getting close, my hands gripping her hair. "Please. I need you. I need to feel you again."
She pulls back, breathless, her mouth red and wet, and looks down at her costume. "You're lucky these are pants, otherwise I'd need a hole too."
"I'd cut it out with my teeth," I tell her.
She gives me an odd look. "I'm not sure if that's sexy or not."
"Shut up and fuck me."
"Yes, queen," she says, bringing her cock out. She brings her body on top of me and I relish her weight as her elbows plant on either side of my shoulders, pinning me between her. There's little hesitation before she pushes her cock in and I stretch around her, feeling impossibly full. There's nothing else like this. Nothing at all.
I roll my hips under her, pulling her even deeper, causing her to gasp. I've missed those sounds of hers. I've missed everything.
We are immediately lost in the silken push and pull of each other, our bodies joined, our souls grappling in lust.
It's so easy with her.
So easy.
She groans and slowly pulls out before sliding back into the hilt. I close my eyes, pleasure curling down my spine, opening my legs wider.
"Is this a bad time to tell you I'm in love with you?" She whispers against my mouth.
My heart stalls.
I open my eyes and find her gazing at me, her stare so raw and smoldering, like she's giving me all she has, all that she is.
"I suppose there could be worse times," I whisper right back, running my hands through her hair and holding on. "I love you too, you know."
"I didn't know," she says, breaking into a beautiful smile, the dimples deepening on her cheeks. "But I know now. And I won't forget it."
I grin, digging my nails into her ass and shrugging her forward, her cock sliding in deep.
"Take me to Asgard," I cry out. "Or Ragnarok. Or pleasure town, wherever."
"Anywhere you want to go, my peach," She murmurs. "But we're going together."
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