Page 5 of Warmer, Colder

Told you they were too close of friends.

Determined to forget all the repressed memories that’ll haunt me if I don’t hide from them, I go back inside. Under the weight of it all, each step is a thousand pounds, but I attempt to keep my head held high. Passing the keg, I go right for the hard stuff, tipping the vodka bottle for a heavy pour and add a splash of soda that’s just enough to take the edge off the foul taste. I’m not much of a drinker—especially not hard liquor—but if any time warrants it, it’s right now.

“That was quite a show birthday girl,” Nate taunts as he takes the bottle from my hand to top off his own drink. “So, tell me, what do I have to do to be next?”

“You’re disgusting,” I say with a slight slur. He steps in my way as I try to leave, and my hand meets his chest. “Piss off; I’m notin the mood.” I attempt a glare, but my fuzzy vision probably means I’ve missed the mark.

“Excuse the fuck out of me, Princess. Didn’t realize you couldn’t take a joke.” He looks down at me, no warmth in those hazel eyes that so many people swoon over. “Don’t let that mouth get you into any more trouble tonight. For once, Aiden isn’t here to stand up for you.”

“Yeah, probably because he’s avoiding you,” I hiss as I shove around him and make a break for my bedroom, hoping to take a few minutes to pull myself back together so I can try to enjoy some part of my own birthday party.

In the quiet sanctuary, I take a few deep, steadying breaths with each inhale, my heartbeat slows down to something resembling a normal pace. Taking a seat at my desk vanity, I start to conceal the dewiness that’s gathered on my forehead. I’m adding a bit of blush when Brittany and Theresa join me.

“Have you seen Meg?” Brittany asks carefully.

“No. She stormed off. I assumed she went to make another drink.”

My friends make eyes in the mirror. “What?” I fight the urge to snap the lip liner pencil in my hand as I try to repair the perfect lip combo that my party crasher messed up.

“It’s just…are you two okay? You’ve been weird since the party started, and she’s seemed really upset.”

“We’re fine. I’m fine. If you’re so worried about her, why don’t you go ask her yourself?” Lashing out isn’t usually my style but I can’t seem to hold back the striking words. The events of tonight have sent me reeling. Maybe another sip will dull the edge.

“We looked everywhere for her.”

Reluctantly, I open my phone and check Meg’s location. My brow creases with worry, but it’s replaced with another bout of anger when I see the message she sent me fifteen minutes ago.

I’m tired of playing pretend with you.

I attempt to chase away the shame that ripples through me with a large gulp of the vodka soda.

“She’s a couple blocks down, on Spruce and Ivy. It looks like she’s walking home. You should go after her.”

“We should. We’ll come back, though, once we make sure she’s okay,” Theresa promises.

“It’s fine. This birthday is an epic fail. I’m going to tell everyone to leave soon.”

Brittany squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Bec.”

With a weak smile, I dismiss them, then take a long chug of my revolting drink that nearly comes back up. I drop the lip liner, no longer caring enough to finish it off with the lipstick I was wearing earlier. I just want this night to end but my plans fall apart as my feet sway beneath me. I have to grip the edge of my dresser to keep myself upright, while the room rocks back and forth in front of me. Everything is swimming around me, the bright hallway light spills in sideways as the door creaks open. The distorted tinkling of my chimes is a delayed warning that reaches my ears too late.

A vague muscular shape blocks out some of the light, growing larger as it comes closer. I squint to force focus but instead of clarity, the form triples. I’m plunged into complete darkness before I can make sense of what I’m seeing.

Chapter 3

Stasi

119 Days till Death

Surrounded by incense smoke and bathed in candlelight, I double-check that everything is prepared for my ritual, but first, I need to make my offering. The last month has required a lot of work with Aphrodite to help me get back on track. Despite putting my plan in motion, the public rejection did reopen some old wounds. But I’m back to myself and more determined than ever to make Becca mine. I’ve waited all these years, what’s a few more weeks or months?

I’m close; I can feel it.

The flames burn bright and warm in reassurance as I light the pink and red candles that are interspersed between the rose quartz towers, tea lights, statues, and unique trinkets I’ve collected for my goddess over the years from shops along the coast. Carefully, I open the shell trinket I picked up on my most recent trip. The pink and white ombre of the beautifully cut shell will definitely please her, more so as I fill it with the pearls, miniature shells, rosebuds, and rose quartz chips that I set on top of the tiny mirror at the center. Igniting her favored honey and rose incense, I cleanse the offering, then leave it in the middle of the altar as a token of my gratitude for all the ways she’s changed my life.

The altar frames my naked body in the mirror as I shrug off my lacy robe and begin my manifestations. “I am magic. I am desired. I am everything she wants and needs,” I whisper as I take inventory of myself, appreciating every inch of my body like I want Becca to and willing the sight before me to make its way into her dreams. The way my full cleavage sits low on my chest, my nipples embellished with silver piercings.They’re ready and waiting to be taken into her mouth.My gaze moves down, caressing the dreamy moth tattoo that spreads over my wide stomach, hugging the curves and rolling contours.How perfect would it look with her hand splayed across it?With gentle strokes, I rub over my large thighs that press together, dimpling the soft flesh that’s adorned with pink garters tattooed across the width of each leg.There’s nothing I look forward to more than her kneeling to worship me between them.Turning around, I lift the flowing length of my hair over my shoulder, exposing the gentle folds at my sides that are kissed by the shadows of the flickering candles.My spine tingles with the ghost of her delicate fingers trailing down my back.I step back a few feet, revealing my calves that bear the figures of the beloved poet, Sappho, and Aphrodite herself. She may have her altar, but together, we’ve made my body into a temple that I’ve proudly learned to worship over the years under her love and guidance.

Which brings me to the ritual. Sex magic has played a vital role in my journey from a terrified, angry, and insecure little girl to a confident and empowered woman who’s in control of her destiny. Tonight, I’m fortifying the plan I set in motion at the party. Spitting in her mouth should have secured the bond that had gone lax during our separation. She took it sowillingly, after all. I’m going to pull that thread between us taut. I won’t let it falter again.

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