Page 67 of Of Storm and Emerald
“Can’t a girl tell her own story?”
“Sorry, sorry. Please continue.” Auraelia chuckled to herself.
Piper had an affinity for dragging out her tales, making sure that everyone knew every detail. So, it wasn’t a surprise that she was weaving this tale into a wall sized tapestry.
“Thank you, now where was I?”
“You collided with mister‘eyes like pools of honey.’”
Piper glared but continued. “You took the fun out of it, but yes, it was Aiden, and he used the stupidest line of them all, but I couldn’t help it. I was stuck in his sticky gaze and drunk on his smile.” She sighed and picked up her coffee cup. Inhaling the rich scent.
“What line did he use?”
Piper rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her coffee, then placed her cup back on the table. “He said, and I quote,‘We really need to stop bumping into each other like this.’I mean really, he couldn’t come up with anything more suave? Say, I don’t know,‘Hello, My Star’is a good one.” Piper winked and then they fell into a fit of laughter.
When they settled, both women sighed and sank into a few moments of contented silence.
“So, what happened next?”
“You’re really not going to let this go, are you?”
Auraelia lifted her brows and cocked her head to the side. “Would you?”
Taking a deep breath, and then pushing it out through tight lips, Piper conceded and continued her tale.
As it turned out, Aiden had pulled her onto the dance floor and swept her off her feet. Then Piper whisked him off to the castle library where they made good use out of the couches, and no use of the books. But when they had returned to a mostly empty ballroom, they parted ways–her to find Auraelia, and presumably Aiden to find Daemon.
The day of the coronation, Piper remained aloof throughout the dinner. Focusing most of her attention on Auraelia, then continuing the trend long after the meal concluded. Seemingly not used to being ignored by someone he wanted, Aiden had followed her around like a lost puppy begging for scraps. When Auraelia became preoccupied with Daemon, only then did Piper give Aiden her attention.
It seemed that Aiden had a thing for being told what to do, and according to Piper, was quite good at following directions. When Piper had concluded her tale, both women sank into a comfortable silence. Consuming their breakfast with peaceful smiles on their faces.
Thankful that the tension between them had been lifted, Auraelia reached across the table and grasped her friend's hand. “Thank you for telling me. But I must ask, how are you now that he’s gone? Are you okay?”
Piper shrugged one shoulder. “I’m fine I suppose. The sex was good, but it wasn’t world altering.”
A pregnant pause followed her statement, and Piper suddenly became very interested in her plate, pushing around the few remaining berries that lay there.
“What is it, Piper?”
Piper covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Okay, the sex was better than good, it was great. Still not world altering, but do you know how fun it is to boss a man around in the bedroom?!”
Auraelia laughed, full and loud, at her friend’s outburst. “No, I can’t say that I can attest to that particular scenario. All my dalliances prior to Daemon–with both men and women–were merely two people seeking their pleasure. Though in my experience, women are moregivingthan men. Even in relationships, it was never anything world shattering. Nooneperson was in control, and when it was over, we went our separate ways. But, with Daemon, it’s…more.”
“More?”
Auraelia sighed, and a small smile played on her lips as she shook her head. “Yes, more. I don’t even know that I really understand what I mean by that, but it is. There is this electricity between us. It’s hard to explain.”
Quite literally if those shocks the other night were anything to go by.
Piper raised one eyebrow in confusion. “Try.”
Rolling her eyes, she continued. “In the bedroom, he’s almost animalistic. He’s very dominant and likes to be in control. But at the same time, he would give up some of the control to me. It was very give and take. Each of us seeking out the other’s pleasure instead of focusing solely on our own.”
Piper locked eyes with her friend, mouth agape. “Since when did you like that?!”
“Since Daemon, I guess.” She shrugged, then continued.
“But Piper, outside of the bedroom?” she sighed. “It’s like I’m standing outside in the midst of a hurricane. The wind and rain lashing at me from every direction. Then he looks at me, and it’s like the storm pauses and I’m grounded. The wind freezes in place, rain and debris are suspended in the air around me. The whole world just…stops.”
