🪐

You loved seeing him like that. And Riri brought it out of him. You knew how much he missed her when she was away at school, how his other friendships never measured up to his bond with her. They’d been inseparable since they were kids. Like they shared a language only they understood.

You smiled as you reminisced on fond playground memories between the two, memories that weren't your own, but ones you bore witness to. Tyzen and Riri, bonded by scraped knees, shared secrets, and a thousand inside jokes.

But unlike your older brother, you weren’t here to chase nostalgia. No, your plans for the weekend were far less innocent. You were here to collect new memories, souvenirs to tuck away and revisit when the nights got too quiet and Riri was three states away.

With a sly grin, you gave yourself a once-over in the mirror, mentally patting yourself on the back for the outfit you put together. The charcoal-grey top clutched your chest like a second skin, particularly the reason you chose it. You’d tugged the zipper down as far as decency—or temptation—allowed, framing your breasts with just enough boldness to dare her to stare. Your nipples peaked against the fabric, shameless and defiant.

The black mini skirt? Shorter than it needed to be for a casual night in, and you wouldn’t have had it any other way. It sat high on your waist, sculpted to every dip and swell of your body like it was part of the plan. Because indeed it was. That hem danced across your thigh with every shift of your hips, flirtatious and fearless, daring gravity to try its luck. Pull it down? Not a chance. Let it ride up. Let her look.

One final glance in the mirror, and you stepped out of your room, hips swaying as you strutted down the hallway—bait cast, hook sharpened, and your favorite kind of trouble waiting on the other end.

•••

You heard her before you saw her.

“Ty, you still got that weak-ass jump shot?” Riri questioned, her voice carrying that same mischievous edge you remembered from all the years she spent hanging around your house. It used to annoy you, back when you were younger, when she was just your brother’s best friend. When you didn’t look at her the way you did now.

You pushed open the front door and stepped onto the porch, leaning against the frame as you watched them play in the driveway. The late afternoon sun spilled across the backyard, catching in Riri’s curls as she dribbled the ball low to the ground, quick and smooth, like she didn’t even have to think about it.

Ty snatched the ball and backed up a few steps, bouncing it lazily like he had all the time in the world. “You talking like I won’t dust your lil ass right now if we was actually playing for real.”

Riri scoffed, hands on her hips. “Nigga, you got one move, and that shit barely work.”

Ty laughed, then hit her with something quick—a fake-out that had her losing balance. “My one move got yo ass stumbling right now. You better watch them ankles, Ri.”

Riri blinked, then burst out laughing. “Okay, you got it. But try that shit again, and I’m locking yo old ass up.”

You leaned against the patio railing, watching them go at it. They were all elbows, sneakers, and insults. But it worked for their dynamic.

And in the middle of it all, you kept your eyes on Riri, awaiting the moment she finally glanced your way.

You crossed your arms under your chest, pushing your boobs up higher, welcoming your spilling cleavage. Your skirt was riding up some more, and of course you let it—assisted it even.

You were dripping with intent, radiating want like heat off pavement, and you needed Riri to notice.

As if pulled by some unspoken force, her eyes flicked your way. Brief, like an afterthought—until it wasn't. She did a double take, gaze snapping back to you, locking in on your skin, your curves, the deliberate softness barely covered by your clothes. There was awe there, laced with disbelief, like she was seeing you for the first time and didn’t quite know what to do with it, the game with your brother no longer holding her attention.

You had her. Hook, line, and wide-open stare.

You didn't even bother hiding your smirk. Why would you? You were dressed for the role you wanted, now it was time to play it. And by the look in Riri’s eyes, dark and pulling, she was already halfway.

“Well, damn,” She muttered, low. Almost too quiet to catch.

But you caught it. You saw the way her mouth twitched into an intrigued smirk before Ty stepped into her line of sight and launched the ball dead at her chest. “Hell nah. Don't even think about it.”

“Whatchu mean?” Riri retorted, feigning confusion. Her eyes never left you, their glare refusing to let you exhale, her grin still curved and dangerous.

You watched Ty narrow his eyes, a warning flashing across his face—dead serious and in protective older brother mode. “Think I don’t see the way you eyeing my baby sister? I know you, Ri. And I’m telling you no. Fuck no. You not starting nothing with her.”

“Starting what?” Riri lifted a shoulder, all casual, amusement coating her words like this was all funny to her. “I’m just saying hi.”

She lifted her hand in a short wave, eyes glued to yours. And you waved back, slower, bolder—your gaze drifting down the length of her fingers.

Yeah… those fingers would do just fine.

You bit your lip, unable to suppress your ever-growing grin. Your cheeks burned hot, not with shame, but with fire. Thrill thrummed through your veins like static, alive and buzzing as you drank in the image of Riri. You didn’t even pretend to look away. You let her know exactly where you stood: opposite of everything Tyzen was saying.

You wanted her to start something.

Needed it like air.

•••

She didn’t look at you again for the next five minutes, not until you arched a brow in her direction, then turned on your heel and sauntered back toward the house. You knew exactly what you were doing. Knew your ass was practically begging for attention beneath that skirt, and knew Riri wouldn’t be able to ignore the invitation written in every step you took.

By the time you were clicking the door shut behind you, you caught her voice, weightless and nonchalant as she muttered something to Ty about needing to call her mom.

A weak excuse. But you didn’t care.

Whatever got her inside.

Once you were inside, the house felt still. Cool air, dim light, and that quiet hum of anticipation settled into your bones. You took your time on the couch, legs tucked just right, your glass of lemonade perched between your fingers like a prop you knew exactly how to use.

And Riri was right on your heels.

Her sneakers padded lightly over the wood floors as she walked in, slower now, like she was stalling for something she hadn’t admitted to herself yet. She didn’t notice you at first, just moved straight into the kitchen like she knew the layout by heart, because she did. She grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and leaned against the counter while she pulled out her phone.

You listened quietly as her voice lifted, caring and soft.

“Yeah, Ma… I’m still here. Probably for another hour, maybe two… yeah, I’ll be back in time. Promise.”

A pause, then a short laugh. “No, I’m not getting into anything. Just chillin.”

She hung up, set her phone on the counter, and let her weight shift against the kitchen island. That’s when her eyes finally landed on you, traveling up the length of your legs, all the way up your exposed skin until you two were staring at each other.

And just like that, the smirk was back—slow, wide, and full of intent.

You took a sip from your lemonade, straw between your lips as you held her gaze. Deliberate. Unbothered. Dangerous.

“Thought that lil line about calling your mom was a weak ass excuse to come see me,” You said, your voice smooth, head tilted slightly as you played with the straw. “But I respect it. Not lying on your moms like that.”

Riri didn’t take the bait—not directly.

Instead, she stepped a little closer, cocking her head, gold chain catching in the low light. “When you start dressing like that?”

You crossed your legs, slow and precise, your skirt shifting just enough. “I only dress like this when I know who’s coming over.”

Her lips parted like she had something smart to say, but all she managed was a quiet,

“You tryna get me in trouble?”

Your smile didn’t waver, it spread wider. “What if I am?”

The air stretched between you like a balloon threatening to pop. You could tell Riri wanted to say something reckless—do something worse…

Then the front door opened, and the balloon deflated, exhaling all the tension back into the air before returning to its original, boring shape.

Ty walked in, his expression already suspicious. He took one look at Riri, then at you, then back at Riri again before dropping onto the couch beside you like a man with a mission.

“Y’all real quiet in here,” he said slowly, settling in way too comfortably. “I ain't interrupting anything am I?”

You kept your face blank, and took another sip.

Riri just shook her head, that smirk now tucked behind her teeth as she crept over to the couch, dropping down on the other side of you. Her thigh brushed yours—light, unintentional on the surface—but she didn’t move away.

“Nah,” She hummed, grabbing the remote and flipping on the Bulls game, already halfway through. “Just got off the phone with Ma. We got dinner plans later, so y’all only got me for like another hour.”

She said it like it was nothing, eyes glued to the screen, but her body leaned ever so slightly in your direction, like gravity was playing favorites. And you could feel the warmth of her skin where it pressed into yours, barely there but impossible to ignore.

You sat in silence between them, enduring their cheers, screams, and over-the-top commentary through the last two quarters of the game. Normally, you would’ve dipped out, shut yourself in your room, ignored their loud-ass shenanigans. But not today.

Sitting next to Riri was part of the plan. Letting her thigh brush against yours, her palm rest on your bare skin when Tyzen was too caught up in the game to notice, that was the game you were watching.

The corners of your lips curled as her fingers crept higher, slow and shameless, inching closer to the heat between your legs. She hovered there, teasing, always on the edge of something more. Never quite touching, until the final buzzer sounded and the Bulls took the win.

Tyzen jumped up with a shout, arms thrown in the air. And in that moment, Riri slipped two fingers beneath your skirt, rubbing them against the soaked fabric of your panties. Brief, yet firm, just enough for you to become acquainted with the feeling.

It took everything in you not to cry out. Your breath lodged hard in your throat, thighs twitching, nerves stinging. And she knew it. She didn’t even look your way. Riri kept her eyes on the screen like nothing happened, save for the smug little grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

Your heart was racing. Your plan was working like magic. Minimal effort, maximum effect, and you silently thanked whoever made Riri so damn easy to tempt.

You leaned back, watching as your brother walked her to the door, dapped her up, and exchanged their usual “see you laters.” But her focus wasn’t on him.

It was on you.

And of course, you gave her something to look at, letting your legs fall open so she could witness the growing wet stain on the fabric of your lacy panties. You held the pose for a beat, long enough to see her lick her lips before turning back to Ty, who still had his back to you.

“Aight, Ty. Ima see you,” She said, pulling him into a quick hug before heading out.

“Don’t be a stranger, Ri,” You called after her, all flirtation, sugar-sweet and dripping with suggestion.

She didn’t respond, but you caught the shake of her shoulders on the way out as she laughed to herself.

Ty shut the door, then turned to you with that big-brother face that said he knew something was up. And he wasn’t happy.

“I’m warning you right the fuck now,” He began, dead serious. “Whatever ideas you got that involve Riri, get that shit out your head. She’s family. Y’all better dead that shit. I’m not fucking playing.”

“I’m not fucking playing,” You mocked under your breath, rolling your eyes as you stood. “Go to hell, Tyzen.”

Like hell you were gonna listen. He should’ve known better than to waste his breath on you.

You sauntered off to your room, smug and satisfied, heat still pulsing between your legs, and Riri’s touch still lingering like a secret written on your skin.

•••

It was nearly 1 a.m., and sleep wasn’t even pretending to come.

You’d flipped your pillow three times, kicked off the blanket, dragged it back over your legs, rolled to one side, then the other. But the heat under your skin had nothing to do with the room. It was her. Still. Riri’s hands, her smirk, the way her fingers had pressed into you, melding with your wetness like they were supposed to be there. That shit had replayed in your head like your favorite song stuck on loop.

You grabbed your phone from the nightstand, screen lighting up your face in the dark, and stared at it for a few seconds before typing out the first thing that came to mind.

You: ty ain’t home

Simple. To the point. You knew what it meant. And so would she.

Then you waited. And waited.

Forty-five damn minutes passed. Long enough for you to talk yourself out of it twice, then back into it a third time. You tossed your phone onto the mattress with a groan, only to snatch it up the second it buzzed.

Riri: where he at?

You rolled your eyes, already feeling the corners of your mouth tug upward.

You: with his bm

Riri: oh aight

That was it. No follow-up. No movement. Just those two words and radio silence like she didn’t know exactly what the hell you were trying to say.

You tapped back into the chat and reacted to your original message with a little exclamation point. Emphasis, bitch. You knew she saw it.

A minute later:

Riri: okay, he ain’t home. what that mean? lol

You narrowed your eyes at your screen, giggling under your breath even though you were annoyed. She was being so irritating on purpose, and it was almost cute. Almost.

You took a deep breath, chewing your bottom lip before finally typing:

You: it means come over dummy🙄

There was a beat. Then her reply came in, slow, like a smirk in text form.

Riri: what i’m coming over for?

Oh, she knew. She knew and she was dragging it out, sucking every bit of patience you had straight to the surface.

You sat up, head falling back to your headboard with a groan, but you were grinning now, fully wrapped in her little game.

You: what other reason would i have to text you at damn near 2 in the morning? riri stop playing with me.

Another pause.

Riri: you was playing with me earlier. what, i don’t get a turn?

Your stomach fluttered.

She was still teasing, but her tone had shifted, something a little deeper in it now, something real. You could feel the change through the screen.

You: come over then. i promise you’ll get your turn.

You hit send and stared at the message, nerves and excitement warring in your bosom. The silence that followed was louder than anything. You laid back, phone on your chest, eyes on the ceiling, heart thudding.

She was coming, no confirmation text necessary.

•••

About fifteen minutes later, your phone lit up with a single text:

Riri: outside.

That was all it took.

You damn near flew down the stairs, bare feet silent on the wood. You’d done away with the oversized T-shirt you fell asleep in, swapping it out, instead, for something silkier, sexier—your short, satin nightgown. The material moved against your body like it had a motive. Just the right amount of skin, just enough reveal. You didn’t throw it on for comfort.

This was bait.

You paused at the door, hand on the knob, imitating the tact needed to play it cool. Then you cracked it open.

The night air rolled over your skin, light and dry, making your curls dance as the door swung wide. And there she was.

Riri stood just outside, one hand buried in the pockets of her grey sweats, the other gripping her backpack, holding it in place on her muscular shoulder. That black tank stretched across her chest in a way that made it hard to focus on anything else. Her gold chain glistened, the little “R” pendant resting right at her collarbone like punctuation. She looked comfortable, casual, too casual for someone making this many waves in your system.

Her eyes dragged down your body languidly, stopping and lingering over everything you had exposed to her.

“Damn,” She said, that smirk creeping onto her lips. “You don’t leave nothing up to the imagination, do you?”

You raised a brow. “And yet somehow you still standing there imagining shit.”

That remark made her laugh, and you rolled your eyes. “This whole situation amusing you, huh?”

“Lil bit, yeah,” She said, not bothering to deny it. “You gon invite me in or…?”

“In a minute,” you murmured, leaning into the doorframe, voice lazy and sweet. “Need some time to remember what you look like before...”

She huffed a laugh, eyes dancing. You saw the way her fingers twitched in her pockets like she was resisting the urge to reach for you already. That cocky patience of hers was barely holding.

You gave her a slow once-over, letting your gaze linger unapologetically. “Sweats and a tank, huh? That’s what you wear to your 2 a.m. booty calls?”

Her brows lifted. “That what this is?”

“You showed up, didn’t you?”

“Who says I wasn't already on the way over? Maybe I had to handle something for your brother.”

“Mhmm,” You said, drawing the sound out. “And maybe I'm just wearing this because I ran out of clean laundry.”

She laughed again, scratching her nose a little. “You so full of shit.”

“Just like you, boo.”

That made her smile for real, and you stepped aside to let her in. You held out your hand, fingers open.

Riri didn’t hesitate, she just slid her hand into yours like it belonged there.

And without another word, you turned, leading her up the stairs, hips swaying, entrancing the shorter girl with every stride. Her hand stayed in yours the whole way, grip firm.

She was still smiling when you pushed open your bedroom door, and she stepped through, eyes dark and knowing.

•••

Your bedside lamp casted a gentle glow over the room, accentuating your shadow and Riri’s as you walked into the space.

She stepped inside behind you, locking the door with a quiet finality. Riri dropped her backpack onto the chair in the corner without a word, turning to look around your space like she hadn’t been in your room a thousand times before.

But this wasn’t the same room anymore. Not tonight.

You leaned against your dresser, arms folded just under your chest, nightgown sliding dangerously high up your thigh. You watched her as she stood there, hands in her pockets again like that could somehow keep her grounded.

“What’s in the bag, Ri?” You asked, voice dripping with mischief, head tilted in curiosity. You already had a feeling. And judging by the flicker of a smirk on her face, she knew you knew.

She hadn't answered right away, just looked over at you with that slow-burning kind of gaze that fried a hole through your skin.

And in true Riri fashion, she deflected, wandering toward your bed like she owned the place. “What would Ty think if he knew his little sister was texting me in the middle of the night like that? Using the fact that he with his kid to get me over here?”

You laughed under your breath, “I look like I give a fuck what Tyzen think?”

“No. You don't.” Riri sat down at the edge of your bed, legs spread slightly, arms resting on her knees like she was holding back. Her eyes dipped to the hem of your gown again, lingered, then snapped back to your face. “So what, you just couldn’t sleep?”

You walked towards her. Slowly, every step deliberate. “Couldn’t sleep,” You echoed, standing between her knees now, letting her fingers skim your silky nightgown. “Had a lot on my mind.”

Riri looked up at you, her breath cracking just slightly. “Oh yeah?”

You nodded, letting your fingers trail lightly across her shoulder, then down her chest, just grazing that damn chain.

“Like what?”

“You.” You blew it jaggedly, the answer to her question full of air and unrelenting lust. “You were on my mind, Ri.”

The silence between you stretched again, electric and tightly wound. Her hands twitched where they rested on her thighs. She was barely holding on, and so were you.

Riri reached for you, wrapped a hot palm around the expanse of your thigh, pulling you closer with a famished grunt. “I need to know you're sure about this. Need you to know what you're starting.”

“Oh, I know what I’m starting, Ri,” You purred, letting your digits tangle in her thick curls. You yanked her neck back, your force rough and unapologetic, causing her to wince beneath you. “Question is… do you know what you’ve started? That you're not leaving this room until I’m done with you?”

That yanked another breathy grunt from her throat. Not really a laugh. Not quite a moan. But something that let you know she felt your words all the way through.

“Been thinking about you all day,” She admitted, finally, the words soft but heavy, like they cost her something to say. “Since earlier… since before earlier.

Her slender digits were traveling up your inner thigh now, like your core was calling them home, drawing them closer and closer like a magnet. “Thinking bout all that ass you been flashing me,”

“This pussy…” Eager fingertips found your soaked crotch, your wetness coating Riri’s hand. She began rubbing slow circles into your budding clit, coaxing a few rapid moans from between your parted lips. “Fuck. I should’ve known your nasty ass wouldn't have any panties on up under here.”

This time she did moan, and fuck was the desperate little noise glorious. “I been trying to be good, but damn, you make it so fucking hard, bruh.”

“Funny,” You tilted your head, mouth curling. “I been thinking something similar for the past five months you been gone. Except, I never planned to be good, never wanted to.”

You shoved her hard, making sure she landed smack dab in the middle of your mattress before straddling her hips. In a swift, skilled motion, you peeled your nightgown off, discarding it somewhere to the side, not caring. What you cared about was the girl trapped underneath you, practically drooling as she stared up at your naked figure.

“Jesus Christ…” Riri exhaled, forcing you to taste the hunger she breathed into the air.

You giggled, leaning down to drag your tongue up the length of her throat. Then you nibbled on her earlobe, lips brushing the shell of it as you whispered, “You were too fucking easy.”

Riri’s hands gripped your bare ass, fingers digging in as she bucked her hips up into you, her clothed crotch pressing right where you needed it. “I was easy? You were the one prancing around the house in that thong you insist on calling a skirt.”

“You folded during a Bulls game.” You quipped, eyes glittering.

She smacked your ass hard enough to make you screech. “You had your legs open.”

“You had your fingers under my skirt.”

You were grinning down at her now, still perched in her lap, shamelessly grinding against her, chasing friction like your life depended on it. “This little tit for tat we got going is hot and all, but we both know why I called you over here. I need to be fucked, Ri. Now.”

“So demanding,” She smiled deviously. “And vulgar too. Just like a nasty little slut..” She pulled you down, kissing you then, slow at first, but there was no tiptoeing now. No guessing. Just mouths parting, hands moving, heat rising between you like a fire finally fed. Your hands found her hair as her grip tightened on your hips, pulling you closer, closer, like the space between you was never meant to exist in the first place.

You were the one to break the kiss, breathless, your hands tugging at the fabric still separating you. Riri was still fully dressed, and it was starting to piss you off. “Take this shit off.”

“Get off me and I will.”

You rolled your eyes, but obliged. The two of you switched positions, and you gawked from below as Riri ridded her body of every article of clothing, including her briefs. Immediately, your gaze dropped to her pussy. Neatly trimmed and calling your name, beckoning you near.

You hadn't even noticed you were reaching for her until Riri stopped you. “Not yet.”

Her refusal caused you to groan.

“You never been told no before?” She chuckled, eyes gleaming as she hovered over you, clearly amused.

You stared up at her, deadpan, wearing a face that screamed what the fuck do you think?

Riri only shook her head, moving to kiss your neck and you whimpered. Her lips traced a path down your throat, over your collarbone, dragging heat in their wake. It was deliberate. Reverent. She was finally taking what she’d been eyeing all night.

You arched under her touch, skin prickling as the cool air met warm flesh. Her mouth followed, and when it closed around your right nipple, your breath caught hard, hips bucking up into nothing, a quiet moan slipping out before you could stop it.

“You getting shy on me baby?” She teased, returning to suckle your left breast next.

You slid your fingers into her hair, tugging harshly, just enough to make her exhale against your skin. “I don’t even know what that word means.”

“Reckless girl…” Riri muttered, eyeing you with menacing intent.

You laughed, but it melted fast when her hand slipped between your legs, sliding over your throbbing, attention starved clit. “Riri… please.”

She hissed, “Damn baby, you wet as fuck…”

The wonder in her voice served as motivation, “Yeah, no shit,” You spat, already breathless, already unraveling. “You took forever.”

Riri didn't reward you with a worded response, instead, she let her digits do the talking. Her middle finger ran up the length of your wet folds, rousing, hovering at your crying entrance before sinking in, deep.

A whine sprung free, loud and reverberating, and you thanked the heavens your mother was a heavy sleeper. Riri’s slow strokes were plucked straight from your dreams, a thing you'd imagined, but never thought you'd get the chance to live. She let her fingers slip through you, slow and firm and devastatingly good. You were moaning, a mess splayed out beneath her. Your hips lifted off the bed, reaching for more.

Her thumb circled your swollen nub, her fingers slipped in and out of your soaked cunt, and the pressure built fast, like your body had been holding this tension for days instead of hours.

You were abusing Riri’s curls, pulling and fisting every strand as you felt your climax build in your deepest depths.

“Riri… right t-there! Don't fucking stop! Don't!”

She didn't. If anything, she got more focused, her eyes locked on your face like she wanted to watch the moment you fell apart for her. “This all I needed to do to get yo ass to act right? Hmm?”

You didn't respond because you couldn't.

She smiled, “You look so fucking good right now baby, all stuffed with my fingers,” She pulled them out momentarily, eyes transfixed on the way your slick coated the digits. “Sound good too. So loud for me, so messy.”

Riri splashed around in your sopping cunt, coaxing your orgasm nearer and nearer with her rapid thrusts and sinful words. You would say she didn't know what she was doing to you, but she did, wholeheartedly. And you knew she'd keep going, keep fucking you hard and deep until you were weeping, and begging her to stop.

“Wonder if you taste as good as you look.”

You hummed, plastering a dazed smile across your mouth, “You know I fucking do.”

“So mouthy, baby,” Riri whispered, her wet lips traveling the length of your abdomen, making their way down, down, down. “Can't wait to shut you up again with my tongue.”

Your breathing was already ragged, your legs already twitching as her mouth ghosted lower, teasing just above where you needed her most. Her wet hands pushed your legs apart, spreading them with no hesitation. You watched her eyes roll the moment she heard a soft squish erupt from your wet pussy as your thighs separated for her, felt her breathy moan kiss your sweaty flesh as she moved her mouth closer to your heaving cunt.

You tried to say something smart, another slick comment, another jab, but the words got caught in the back of your throat the second her tongue flicked out, attacking your clit with haste.

All at once, your sass collapsed into a gasp, your hand flying up to grab onto something, anything, needing something to anchor you in this moment. But Riri didn’t give you time to adjust, didn’t let you settle, she kept going, kept tasting you like she had all night and nothing else to do.

Riri’s mouth attacked your aching pussy, latching on to your clit, breathing you in like a woman drowning, and starved for oxygen. She slurped and sucked, drinking all of your juices as you thrashed above her.

She paused for half a second, lips slick, eyes gleaming. “Still got something to say?”

You wanted to smack her, just a little. Just to remind her who she was dealing with. But violence would have to wait.

She was making you feel too good. Your orgasm was clawing its way up, hot and heavy, and there was no stopping it now.

The wet sounds of her tongue lapping you up, her hungry growls vibrating against your skin. It was all so obscene, and it was everything. Riri wasn’t just trying to make you come. She was consuming you, like she needed you to live.

And fuck, she was getting off on it too.

You could feel it in the way her hands trembled, in how she rutted subtly against the mattress with every moan that tore out of your throat. This wasn’t just about you. The way your voice broke on her name, the way your body writhed under her mouth, it was all pushing her to the edge, too.

If the tension in her frame meant anything, Riri was going to come right along with you.

And fuck, that thought alone almost finished you.

“Ri, baby, I’m close. S-So close…” You whined, fucking her face with your slippery cunt.

And she didn't shy away. Riri quenched her thirst with pools of your slick juices, suckling harder on your sore little nub, trying to bring you closer. “Me too baby. Come in my mouth, make me take that shit.”

You howled, the sound dragged raw from the pit of your stomach as your vision blurred, then vanished completely, eyes rolling back, going white with the force of it. You couldn’t see. Couldn’t hear. All you could do was feel.

And fuck, did you feel it.

Waves of pleasure crashed through your body, relentless and overwhelming, tearing through your senses like a storm. Your toes curled, locked in place, your body trembling as you rode it out, desperate to hold onto the high for as long as possible. You didn’t want it to end. You weren’t ready to let it go.

You were gone, so out of it that you didn’t even realize Riri was coming too, twitching between your thighs as her own orgasm sucked her under. But she’d come up before you had. And now, she was murmuring something low, lips brushing your inner thigh, her hand smoothing over your stomach like she was trying to coax you back to earth.

Trying to remind you you were still here.

Still hers.

“Baby? You good?” Her voice was muffled, faint in your ringing ears, but you heard it.

You managed a weak nod, barely able to make out her drenched face through your blurred vision, and she chuckled.

“You never squirted like that before, huh?” She sounded confident in her accusation, and you wanted to slap that smug smirk right off her face.

But she was right, and you let her know, “No… f-first time…”

“I can tell. I never came from just eating pussy either. Guess we both got firsts tonight.”

You grinned wide, finally able to take in just how soaked her face really was, like she’d laid there and let you waterboard her on purpose. She looked satisfied as hell, licking her lips slowly, chest jumping as she tried to catch her breath.

You smirked, voice syrupy and bold. “Don’t tell me you a one-nut wonder, Ri. That’d be… disappointing.”

Riri huffed a little laugh, shaking her head as she peered down at you, wonder stricken by your tenacity. “You really think that?”

You shrugged, smirk still sitting pretty on your lips. You weren’t backing down.

Your gaze followed her lazily as she stepped off the bed, sauntering toward the chair where she’d dropped her backpack earlier. Her eyes were glinting, mischief written all over her face as she picked it up and walked it back over to you.

“Still wanna know what I got in here?” Riri asked, voice steeped in trouble.

Your laugh was one you could not swallow, it’s intensity causing you to topple over into your mattress, cheeks blazing, and your stomach bubbling with excitement.

Your laugh broke out before you could stop it, loud and bright, your the quiet room. You collapsed back into your pillows, cheeks flushed, stomach flipping with anticipation.

You already knew you were in for it.

You couldn’t fucking wait.

•••

“Knew you’d be tight, but god f-fucking damn, b-baby…”

You were on top of her, riding her specialty strap like there was no tomorrow. Your thighs were burning, a thick, sticky ring of cum already gathered at the base of the toy, but you refused to relent. The stretch was too good, the girthy member spreading your walls wide as you took her, over and over again at your own pace.

Of course Riri wasn’t helping. She just gripped your hips, holding you there, letting you do all the work while her eyes dragged over your body, half-lidded but locked in. Watching you bounce on her dick like she was committing it to memory. Like the show was just for her.

You hated how much that turned you on. Hated how smug she looked, how languid her touch was, like she knew you’d ride her regardless. And she wasn’t wrong.

So you’d given yourself a new mission: Break her chill exterior and make her lose it completely. Make her beg for release just like you had.

And judging by the way her grip on your waist kept tightening… maybe you were getting close.

“Yeah? My pussy feel good wrapped around that big dick, don't it, Ri?” You flipped your hair to the side, eyes penetrating her soul as you grinded down harder, more fervent than before.

Shit this was good. No, it was fucking fantastic. Your third orgasm was clawing its way out, so close you could taste its flavor all over your tongue.

Riri was a mess beneath you, whimpering louder than you now. Her thumbs dug into your lower back, leaving heat in their wake as she clung to you. She was rutting up into you, her thrusts syncing perfectly with your relentless grind. The both of you were chasing the same wild and wordless sensation.

“Shit, y-yeah. Too damn good. Fin- Finna bust in this pretty pussy baby… mmm.”

That declaration made you clench around her, strangling her dick with your gushing, wet walls. But Riri fucked up into you anyway, working against your restriction. God, you could combust right here, right now.

“Play with your titties for me.” Her voice was a rasp that hardly existed.

You obeyed without reluctance, lifting your palms from her damp abdomen to tug on your puffy nipples. You groaned immediately at the contact, hips jerking forward on Riri’s pelvis. You were dripping now, clenching tighter with every movement as you climbed toward something holy, chasing relief like it owed you salvation.

“Baby… I’m finna come, finna come inside baby shit…” She was delirious, “Keep showing off for me. Please, please, please don't stop.”

You couldn't help the way your lips flicked. God this girl was soo easy to test. But you loved it. You continued fondling your breasts and tweaking your nipples, moaning all the while. Your attentive buds had always been so extra sensitive.

“You wanna come in me?” You picked up your pace, fully aware of how close she was to the edge. Your well-used cunt clenched in anticipation, eager to welcome every drop of what she was about to give you.

“Mhmm! Wan– Wanna–”

You leaned forward, cradling her sweaty throat in your palm… and squeezed. “Beg for it.”

Defiance flared in her eyes, and you could tell Riri wanted to rebut, but the way you held her neck in your grip barred any chance of that happening.

And she had no choice but to adhere.

“Let me come in this tight pussy, ma. I’m begging you. Let me fill your hole up, please. I need to fuck it back into you when it starts to spill out… baby… I-I, I need– please...”

Blubbering and pathetic. Just how you liked your women.

You smirked, you knew it would take nothing to tip her over now. She was practically crying as she struggled to hold it in.

But you weren't quite done with her yet.

You were slamming down onto her dick, hard and rough like you like it, strangling her, restricting her airway as you edged yourself again and again.

And then you let her go, allowing her to take her first breath of air in minutes, before whispering, “Fuck me from the back and nut in me, Ri.”

Riri didn’t need to be told twice. In seconds, she had you flipped onto your stomach, her grip firm and unrelenting as she manhandled you into place, your face buried in the pillows, the scent of your own skin and sweat surrounding you, hips yanked up until your ass was arched and begging.

“Shit…” She hissed, reacclimating her strap to the warmth of your hole.

You barely had time to catch your breath before she started moving, like she knew the exact angle that would have you clenching the sheets and biting down on a moan. “Fuck me Ri, fuck meeee… ju-st like th-at!”

“Like this, ma? This how you wanted it?”

You whined agreement, knees beginning to buckle.

“You not giving up on me yet, right baby? We not done.”

Riri slammed into you, once, twice, three times before you felt her hot seed settle into your entrance, warming your body all over. But she didn't stop fucking her mess deep into you.

Your orgasm followed just seconds after hers. Quicker than the last, but slower in how it bloomed through you. It rolled over every nerve ending like it was dragged by gravity, heavy and hot, stretching the moment into something endless. Your limbs went limp, and for a second, it felt like time cracked open and spilled out.

“Wish you could see how fucking messy you are right now, you're dripping.” She was still gliding in and out of you, like she physically could not stop—she couldn't let your pussy go. “So filthy.”

You gasped, too fucked out to stop her, not really wanting her to stop anyway. “Fuck it back into me, Ri. Make me take it.”

You didn't need to see her face to know she wore her signature smirk on her mouth, already granting your request without a sliver of hesitation. “God baby, you look so pretty when you full… need to keep you like this. Full of me. Full of you. Shit…”

•••

Minutes passed, maybe hours. You couldn’t really tell. Somehow, you were waking, eyes breaking open from what felt like the deepest sleep. Your limbs were heavy, your body sore in the best, most sinful way. You were warm, wrapped in sheets and skin, the faintest scent of sex still lingered in the air.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

Riri’s voice drifted over you like a hug you didn’t ask for, but most certainly needed after the shit she put you through. You smiled without thinking, full grin, lazy and genuine.

She didn’t let it slide.

“Not you grinning when you hear my voice. Ego boost.”

“Girl, shut the hell up.” You giggled, turning your face toward her, cheek pressed into the pillow.

“You sleep okay?”

“Mhmm.”

She was already watching you, one hand kneading your ass like she wasn’t yet finished with you. Like she’d never be done. But the suggestion in her eyes was quiet now. She looked thoughtful. And a little hesitant.

“So,” She started, fingers still moving, “Not to

bombard you with the ‘what are we’ question, but…”

You blinked at her, fully awake now. “You say as you bombard me with the ‘what are we’ question.”

“I just wanna know what this means for us. You telling me you wouldn't wanna know what we are after the way we just fucked?”

“Riri–” You began, but she cut you off.

“And I don’t wanna lie to Ty,” She added, a little quieter. “He’s my best friend. You know how it is. But I’m not gonna act like this didn’t happen. Or like I don’t want it to happen again. I want it to keep happening.”

You rolled onto your side, facing her completely. “You think I regret this?”

Riri shrugged, but there was something vulnerable in the way she avoided your eyes. “You always been good at acting like shit don't phase you, so.”

“Only when it’s shit I don’t want,” You said simply. “And I want this, I want you. We’ll just... deal with Tyzen when the sun comes up.”

That got her to smile again. Not cocky this time. Just soft. Real.

You leaned in and kissed her, slow and steady, with none of the urgency from earlier. It wasn’t about wanting. It was about having.

And when you both finally pulled away, bodies entangled beneath the covers, you let the silence hold you for once.

No teasing. No biting. No banter.

Just the two of you, breathing in sync.

Sleep found you like that—arms wrapped around each other, legs locked, your satisfied grin still tucked into her collarbone.

Tomorrow could come whenever it wanted.

It was easy to distract her brain from the chaos consuming her life, by staying in her garage, by working on her suit. That way, she was in control of the thoughts being birthed, thoughts that consisted of equations, and algorithms, and dimensions. Anything irrelevant to her work got shoved into the deepest parts of her skull—unretrievable unless she was alone, or, in the setting she currently resided in.

In front of Dr. Fring—her therapist.

It’d been weeks since her last session, an intentional act on Riri’s end. She ignored emails and texts, dodged phone calls, the young genius even went out of her way to abandon her favorite hardware store, simply because she knew Dr. Fring frequented the coffee shop right around the corner. A lot of effort to avoid a single person, sure, but Riri deemed her actions worth it. She wanted to evade that fracture in time’s veil for as long as she could.

Yet somehow, ending up here was inevitable.

Riri chose to beget her own stagnancy now, because as much as she tried, she could never outrun her thoughts, her feelings. They were as real as she was, and it didn't take a licensed professional to help her realize that. She needed Dr. Fring for reassurance though, however condescending she thought the woman to be, Riri could admit her guidance was warranted.

Without her therapist, she found herself in a self-deprecating loop with no end, one where she relentlessly punished herself for the things she felt but shouldn't feel, images she couldn't sleep away, and a monster she could never escape. He fed on her guilt and she let him, thinking herself deserving of the pain.

“Why them and not you?”

“What makes you so special?”

Perched on her shoulder, he’d whisper sour nothings in her ear, filling her stillness with his devilish murmur. And because she hadn't an angel in the other ear, equipped with combative words of their own, she found herself believing him.

That was until, Dr. Fring entered the chat. She challenged those beliefs, spent months chipping away at the barricades protecting them, all in attempts to strengthen Riri’s self image, and she appreciated the older woman's efforts wholeheartedly. But in true Riri Williams’ fashion, she could never admit that out loud, nor could she make the task an easy one.

Riri sat across from Dr. Fring, sizing her up like a predator would its prey. Time dragged like molasses down a cold wall, each second clinging stubbornly to the clock’s hands just to spite her. Riri sat there, arms crossed and jaw clenched, watching the minutes crawl by like they had nothing better to do.

“Riri? Would you like me to repeat the question?” She regarded the short girl with a pleasant smile, one untested by Riri’s sullen demeanor.

Dr. Fring was a slender, fair skinned woman who wore circular wire rimmed glasses, and a red lip, always. It was unclear to Riri if the shade of red varied upon each visit, she didn't see the woman nearly enough to notice, nor did she quite care. What she did note though, was the signature way her therapist’s blood stained lips would stretch into that mocking smile each time she was made to repeat a question Riri purposely ignored.

She was so smug, so proud of her ability to see through Riri’s facade, as if she wasn't already painstakingly aware that her cunning held no weight in this room, in her presence. Out there, in the real world, Riri got away with so much, was able to hide so much—too much.

But not here. And she loathed every single second of it.

Riri huffed, “Uh, yeah.”

“I asked how you’ve been. It's been some time since our last session, so I’d like to know what brought you back today.”

Riri chuckled to herself, “Well, I’m here, so what does that tell you about how I’ve been?”

“You know, you don't always have to answer my questions with snarky ones of your own. This is a safe space, your safe space, it is perfectly okay to say what you're thinking.”

“See that's where you're wrong Doc.”

Dr. Fring tilted her head to the side, her freshly retwisted locs swaying with the motion, inquiring the same as her. “Help me understand what you mean.”

“You said it's perfectly okay to say what I’m thinking.”

“Correct.”

Riri shook her head, “That's not true.”

“Why do you believe that?”

Riri sensed the genuine curiosity in the woman's words, and she rolled her eyes involuntarily; she wasn't really in the mood to explain why her thoughts were fucked up, and how much they infringed on her morals. But, she supposed that was the point of her decision to come here today—to open up.

It took her a moment to respond, too busy overthinking her answer, still believing there was indeed a wrong one, and she couldn't chance repeating it. “I uh… I’ve been having the dreams again.”

Riri hoped this sentence would be enough to convey the weight of her sorrows, and when Dr. Fring sighed apologetically, she knew her confession was received.

“For how long?”

“Off and on, for the past few weeks…” Riri exhaled, “But uh, it was really bad this past weekend.”

Dr. Fring nodded as she scribbled away in her beloved purple notebook, “Did something happen over the weekend that could've triggered them?”

“I guess you could say that.”

She allowed her mind to think back to Sunday night, and everything that happened. And then she couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting further and further back, fighting to pinpoint the exact moment her demise began. They landed on you, just as she knew they would, and Riri shuddered. You always placed yourself at the forefront of her memories, existing as the object of all her desires.

Riri could feel her therapist’s eyes on her. The woman was studying her contorting face, dissecting her, assessing her internal struggle in preparation for her next question. “You’ve said before that the nightmares often come when you’re feeling guilty, when something is weighing heavily on you. Can you tell me what’s been happening lately, Riri?”

Her eyes flickered towards Dr. Fring before dropping back to her lap, voice tight. “I don't know. It's just… everything’s been too much.”

“I know things can feel overwhelming, but something has triggered these nightmares again. And it's okay to talk about them.”

Riri shook her head, her breaths shallow. She could feel the words building up in her throat, clawing desperately at her flesh; they wanted out, but she wouldn't let them. “It's uh, it's not that simple Doc.”

She was avoiding eye contact with Dr. Fring, finding fascination in the arm of the couch, her fingers familiarizing themselves with the idle threads residing there. This was also another attempt to keep her mouth shut. If she wasn't looking at Dr. Fring, her thoughts would remain on the inside. Sound logic, to her anyway.

But said logic did not keep the shame at bay. It continued to rise in the back of her throat like stinging bile, choking her as she struggled to swallow it back down. She shouldn't even be considering it, saying everything out loud. She'd only just admitted it all to herself recently, and look how well she's handled it since. Admitting this to Dr. Fring could change everything.

There were a million “what if's” banging against Riri’s skull, on top of everything else she wished she wasn't thinking.

“What if she thinks I’m a horrible person?”

“What if she's disappointed in me?”

“Or worse…what if I say the bad thing out loud, she understands, and then I’ll have to actually face it?”

“I know it feels that way, but you don't have to carry this on your own. I can see how much you're struggling with whatever this is, and I can assure you, we can talk it through. No judgment, just understanding.”

Riri sighed, “How can you understand something I don't even fully understand myself?”

“Okay, so explain to me the parts that you do understand.”

There was a pause, one that felt like it dragged on forever as Riri sat there. She pulled her legs onto the couch, tucking them beneath herself, as if trying to appear smaller than she already was. When she opened her mouth to speak, her typically steady voice cracked along with her defenses, and they began to falter.

“These thoughts I’m having, these feelings, they’re uh… they're keeping me up at night.” She began, eyeing Dr. Fring shamefully.

The doctor nodded for her to continue.

“Every night, when I close my eyes, I-I see my dad, I see Natalie. And it's like I’m right back there, frozen, watching it all happen again—watching them die. I’m reliving that pain over and over, feeling that guilt, and I’m reminded of the worst thing I've ever done.”

Dr. Fring straightened her back, leaning in with quiet intensity toward the trembling girl, her gaze sharp and unwavering, “Riri, we’ve talked about this. What happened to your loved ones was not your fault. You didn't do anything w–”

“Yes, I did. I survived. I walked away and they didn't. I got a second chance I clearly didn't deserve, because now I'm fucking it all up. And every time I try to sleep, I see them, and I can tell they're ashamed of me.”

“Why do you think they're ashamed of you?”

“Because Dr. Fring, I’m not a good person,” She blew a jagged breath, frantically swatting at tears that had escaped unnoticed. “I keep hurting the people I care about.” Riri could feel her chest constricting as she said the words, ignoring her body’s pleas for her to bolt.

Dr. Fring’s voice was calm and steady as she tried to ground Riri, “You aren't messing everything up, you're hurting. You've been through so much, and it's normal to have thoughts that don't align with who you want to be. That doesn't make you a bad person, it just makes you someone who's trying to find their way through all the pain.”

This response snapped a chord inside the girl, and immediately, her tear-filled eyes turned wild and accusing. “Have you been listening to anything I’ve said? I’m hurting people. I had a fight with Zariyah, and it was completely my fault, I hurt her.”

“She wants someone who's gonna give her commitment, and stability. And that can never be me, because the feelings she wants me to have for her… they belong to someone else already,” She couldn't stop the words gushing out, her voice panicky, burdened with remorse. “They belong to someone I shouldn't even have those types of feelings for. I shouldn't but I do, and it's a fucking struggle not to act on them, and my best friend, he’s–”

And then she stopped. “Actually, no. I'm not gonna do this. I don't have to do this.”

“Riri, wait a sec–”

She had risen to her feet before Dr. Fring could complete her sentence, reaching for her backpack hurriedly. “I gotta get to class.”

The puzzled expression on the older woman's face was anticipated, but Riri decided it was far too late to amend that. She dashed past Dr. Fring, a little skeptical in her decision to flee, but instinct seemed mightier than hesitation right now. Riri stormed out of the therapy office, the heavy door crashing shut behind her with a deafening echo.

•••

Quick, unsteady steps guided Riri on her path back to campus, her mind still spinning from the near disaster in Dr. Fring’s office. Her pounding heartbeat had still been present, a chaotic rhythm that presented no signs of stopping despite the increasing distance she put between herself and her therapist. But beneath the frantic beat, there was an undeniable sense of relief—she’d escaped before saying too much, before she revealed the feelings that threatened to unravel everything.

It scared her how close she'd been to admitting it, to letting the shameful truth spill out about her feelings for you. Had she been a bit more fragile, Dr. Fring’s tactics surely would've shattered her cracking disposition. Riri prided herself on her restraint, ignoring the tension pooled in the depths of her empty stomach. Who needed food when she had crippling guilt to feast on?

Yet still, with every step closer to class, she sensed something else brewing beneath all that guilt, something she didn’t want to acknowledge, but couldn’t suppress: excitement. The anticipation of seeing you tugged at her, and even though she knew it was wrong—especially because she knew it was wrong—it was the only thing she could focus on.

Riri’s breath hitched, her thoughts racing competitively against her heart. She despised herself for it, for the way her stomach fluttered at the idea of seeing your face, of being near you, even if she didn’t deserve it. The panicked drumming in her chest from leaving Dr. Fring’s office hadn’t slowed, but she knew—without question—that the second she saw you, it would change, morph into a different thing entirely. Her heart would still race, but it wouldn’t be from fear or shame. It would be the quickened, excited beat she’d come to crave, the one she welcomed whenever you were around.

The difference terrified her, but it did not deter her, because she wanted it—wanted you—all the same.

When she entered the classroom, her eager eyes scanned the room in search of you, but the action proved fruitless, because you had not yet arrived. This didn't seem to throw her though, it only heightened her anticipation.

One of Riri’s favorite things to do was watch you, and arriving before you awarded her the opportunity to do so. It was wrong, she knew that, but in those quiet moments when you remained unaware of her scrutiny, the guilt slipped away. She allowed herself to admire you, to take in all your delicate details as though each of your features were secrets she was meant to discover. Her favorite place to watch you was in class. To her, this was the most intimate setting, where she could witness not only your beauty and grace, but also your intelligence.

Your genius existed as a force field surrounding you, an invisible, yet palpable aura that radiated in every direction. It wasn't visible, but everyone in proximity could sense its presence; it’s the thing that drew Riri to you on that very first day of class. Quiet, unforeseen, lulling—like the subtle hum of electricity in the air before a storm—she just wished she knew how dangerous it would be before getting caught in the eye of it.

But that ceased to matter now anyway, because here she was, climbing the steps to the last row in the class, all in preparation for you, her calm and her storm.

And your entrance was one that marveled. It was almost as though you knew she was awaiting you, eager to study you from a distance, desperate to see you tense under her revision. You strode in on a preexisting high, moving effortlessly through the other students, their sea parting for you with ease.

Your ruby locs haloed you like a setting sun, reflecting on your rich complexion with shades of crimson and gold. Riri's focus hadn't existed on anything apart from you, and off just that one glance, she felt ready to surrender to you, as completely as the sky surrenders to the night.

Her gaze wandered, tracing the outline of your figure as you walked to your seat. Your outfit was impossible to ignore—a cropped knit sweater that hugged your sculpted arms and shoulders just right, its patchwork of soft browns and creams forming a gentle harmony against the smooth expanse of your skin. The sweater left enough room to reveal a white top underneath, perfectly accentuating the curve of your chest, drawing Riri’s eyes like a magnet.

She nearly choked on her own spit when her gaze ventured lower, to the high-waisted cargos sitting snugly on your hips, clinging to you in all the right places. Her stomach tightened. She knew she shouldn't stare, but realistically, how was she expected not to? When your exposed waist moved so hypnotically as you got closer and closer to her.

Riri’s eyes were lingering longer than she typically permitted them to, and a heat wave crashed down on her as her sinful mind drifted to places they shouldn't.

How good would it feel to trace her digits along your waist? To run her hands over the fabric resting there, to sense the feeling of your skin beneath hers?

Quickly, Riri caught herself, trying to look away before anyone noticed the desperation flooding her pupils. But, it was too late, because you were standing next to her now, towering over her small, flushed physique like an Amazonian.

Your eyes met as you slowly sank in the seat two chairs over from hers, and she was certain you heard her heart screaming on its plummet into her stomach. You looked… amused, and the smug expression on your features only heightened her ever-growing embarrassment. She shifted all her focus to her iPad, pretending to focus on the nonexistent notes residing on the screen. But her mind was racing, her thoughts still buzzing with guilt and shame, knowing she’d been caught in the act of wanting something she wasn’t supposed to.

Fuck.

Fuck!

God, she was losing it, and it was getting increasingly worse—bad enough that you seemed to be catching on. Even with her eyes glued to her iPad, Riri knew you were looking at her; she sensed your glare on her person, and it made her skin tingle. And when she turned, she indeed did discover your eyes on her, stealing shy glances as you unpacked your bag.

Typically, this would be the moment she’d take hold of opportunity, allowing something sly and condescending to slither off her tongue, something she knew would get under your skin. But she couldn't. Her session with Dr. Fring brought up memories and feelings she liked to keep buried, and they were throwing her off her game.

“Hey.”

You muttered it softly, barely above a whisper, but Riri heard it. It shocked her honestly—the fact that you chose to speak to her after she turned your weekend into a shit-show. Maybe you’d accepted her apology, and were trying to move forward. But even the thought of that sounded too good to be true in her head.

Riri’s eyes traced a slow path up your exposed chest, lingering on your throat, skimming over your glossed lips, before finally letting them rest on yours. There was a question in your gaze, a curious look that seemed to wait for something—an answer, perhaps, or at least a reaction from Riri. But words remained absent. Her mouth hung agape as she watched you nervously, and before she could find the right thing to say, Dr. Lucas’ voice filled her ears, breaking through the tension; he was beginning his lecture.

“Imagine a world where one infected person could cause a global pandemic. How do we predict the spread? How can we stop it?” He started, and you were already scribbling away in your notes like the little teacher’s pet you were. Riri laughed to herself as she watched you, shaking her head at your eagerness.

Class unfolded as it typically did: Riri watched you intently from her seat, as you held all of your attention on Dr. Lucas and his boring lecture. His voice, flat and unenthused, blurred into the dull hum of the classroom, barely snagging her attention. Every now and then, Riri tuned in, just enough to catch fragments of his lecture—hearing something about the SIR model, and how differential equations could predict people's movements between each group in the model.

He jotted something down on the board, then turned back to face the class. “People start here, in the susceptible group, which is everyone who could potentially get the disease. Then, some of these people get infected and move into this group—the infected. Finally, they either recover or are removed, so they move here—to the recovered group.”

But the details slipped away as quickly as they came, because she found you to be far more captivating.

Riri sat back in her chair, her iPad screen blank, notebook open but untouched, her pen resting idly in her palm. You had her undivided attention, unknowingly of course, because unlike her, you were fully absorbed in Dr. Lucas’ lesson.

This was her opportunity to see your mind work up close—she studied you like you were the lesson being taught.

Your brow furrowed in concentration, eyes narrowed slightly as you absorbed each of the professor's utterances. And then there was the moment it all clicked for you. She witnessed understanding spread all across your face, your eyes lit up just slightly as you lifted your shiny lips into a confident smile.

Riri felt an overwhelming sense of pride rush her heart. She loved how excited you got when you fully grasped a concept, like you’d conquered something no one else could. Your grin reminded her of that day you helped her work on Hakeem's car in her garage. She hadn't expected your extensive knowledge on the inner workings of the vehicle; she was wrong about you, but she took the ego hit in stride.

She found it difficult to tear her eyes away from you in those moments, devoid of guilt and shame. These stolen moments were her secret, her only allowed alone time with you, even if the two of you weren't truly alone. But it felt like that to Riri, like this was your space, away from the Zariyah, and the Hakeem of it all. Just you and her.

It should feel wrong but it didn't.

Was it? Truly?

As she pondered her inner turmoil, Riri suddenly became aware of your big brown eyes on her. She knitted her eyebrows in confusion, then she noted the uncomfortable silence filling the lecture hall. She blinked, realizing too late that Dr. Lucas was now staring at her, his face expectant, similar to yours. The faint murmur of a question reached her ears, but she had no idea what he’d asked.

Her heart skipped as the realization set in—he’d caught her not paying attention, completely zoned out and absorbed in something, or rather someone, else entirely.

“Miss Williams?” He cocked his brow.

Riri cleared his throat, her cheeks scorching, “Uh, what?”

“I asked, if the infection rate suddenly doubles in the SIR model, what happens to the number of people moving from the susceptible group to the infected group?”

She couldn't answer.

“No pressure—just the fate of humanity at stake here.” He laughed smugly.

“Well uh, I think if–”

“If the infection rate doubles, the number of people moving from the susceptible group to the infected group also increases dramatically. The rate of infection will spike, meaning the disease spreads much faster, and we’ll see a steeper rise in cases over a shorter time.” You chimed in for her, not missing a beat.

Riri rolled her eyes, unaware of what had triggered her sudden mood shift. All she knew was that irritation had crept in, and now she was annoyed.

But your answer did take the focus off her, so she was grateful for that at least, and she decided to finally tune in to the exchange between you and Dr. Lucas.

“That's correct. And what effect would that have on the overall shape of the epidemic curve?”

“It would make the curve much steeper, with an earlier peak and more cases at once, which could overwhelm healthcare systems.” You grinned.

“Excellent. Even though you aren't Miss Williams.” He turned back to Riri, “I hope you wrote that down. But if not, I’m sure you'll get a chance to, seeing as I’ve decided to make you two partners on your upcoming project.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Riri huffed.

“You’re joking!” You exclaimed.

He shook his head, “Fraid not. I'm as serious as a spreading infectious disease.” He chuckled at his own joke. “The rest of you can find your respective partners on the list I have posted in the front, along with your list of topics.”

And just like that, class ended. But as students shuffled to leave, your gaze locked onto Riri’s, piercing straight into her soul—though not in the way she’d imagined countless times before.

•••

No matter what Riri did, it seemed she could never put real distance between the pair of you. Not that she’d really tried—if she was being honest, she wasn’t even sure she ever had. You were always just there, effortlessly present in her life, and though she’d never admit it out loud, she secretly loved that.

And now, it seemed even Dr. Lucas wanted you two to share space. Was the universe playing some sort of sick prank on her? How was she supposed to stay away from you, if even school projects were determined to keep you two close? And why was she so irritated by this notion?

This was all she could think about as she hurried behind your long, determined strides.

“Damn, slow yo ass down.” She cried, growing more impatient by the second. She must've looked so desperate to the other students passing by.

“Gotta get to work, sorry.”

You kept walking, and each of your steps ignited a flare in Riri’s chest, the one that always flickered to life whenever she was made to watch you walk away from her.

She finally caught up to you, stopping you dead in your tracks, and she could tell by the jarred expression in your eyes, that you had not expected it. “So we not gon talk about the project?”

“It's not due til next week, we have plenty of time to talk about it, but I really gotta get to work.”

“Benny gon be alright until you get there. But this…” She gestured between the two of you, holding your stare as she spoke. “This is more important.”

The ambiguity of her words hung heavily in the air, their underlying, double meaning stifling her. And Riri could tell you felt it just as she did. She heard the hitch in your breath when you inhaled, and not once did you blink as you looked down at her, not once did you rip your eyes from her soft, yearning ones.

“The project… you mean?” Your voice rippled through the quiet surrounding you two, sounding accusatory.

Riri laughed dryly, “W-What else would I mean?”

“Can we talk about this later?” You began walking again, and of course, Riri was on your heels.

“You know you didn't have to answer that question for me in class. I would’ve figured it out.”

She was strolling behind you, taking the opportunity to glance at your ass with a satisfied smirk.

“Yeah, so why didn't you?”

“I was uh… distracted.”

“Right...” You whipped around to face her. “So look I gotta go. I get off at eight. If you wanna talk about the project after that, you know where I live. That work for you?”

She heard you speaking to her, but the incessant buzzing in her pocket nabbed her attention. Riri pulled her phone out, and her heart stopped when she saw Hakeem's face lighting up her screen, the familiar nickname BestieWestie hovering above it like a taunt.

The sight knocked the wind out of her.

Guilt swallowed her whole almost immediately, making it hard to breathe. She was gonna be sick. Her thunderous heart echoed in her eardrums, her stomach twisted violently as she stood there motionless, watching the phone ring and ring and ring until she couldn't take it anymore. It was as though she could feel the weight of her betrayal pressing down on her, hear her monster's mocking laughter in her head, and without thinking, her thumb swiped across the screen, declining the call.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the bile that had risen in her throat, but the guilt still lingered.

“Riri?”

Slowly, her eyes rose to find you, trying to compose herself before responding. “Uh, yeah. Yeah that works.”

“Aight. See you then I guess.”

There you went again, strutting out of her life it felt like, abandoning her as she drowned in an ocean of guilt. It was times like these where her mind drifted to a singular person—the only person who could help her escape when her world crumbled.

Riri’s phone buzzed again, but this time only once.

“Fucking oracle.” She muttered, shaking her head at the text message she just received.

Can I come over? Miss you… and those fingers.

•••

“How that dick feel deep in them guts, Z?” It was a rhetorical question—Zariyah couldn’t respond, not with the way Riri had her positioned. Her tattooed arms were pinned behind her back, face embedded in Riri’s pillow, the soft material muffling her pitiful cries.

But Riri enjoyed hearing her girl struggle as her strap tunneled into her soaking cunt from behind, so she questioned her again. “You ain't hear me?”

Zariyah murmured something incoherent, making the shorter girl chuckle. She was so over the guilt she'd been feeling. No longer would outside forces dictate her days, her nights. Control would be hers again, she’d decided, and she aimed to reclaim it through the babbling girl buried in her mattress.

Being with Zariyah was easier. It always was. Fucking her gave Riri what she needed—a distraction, a way to redirect everything she felt for you into something less…complicated. Riri could pretend, just for a little while, that the feelings she couldn’t express to you were meant for someone else.

And right now, that was exactly what she desired—to forget, to not feel so conflicted, and to push everything down just long enough to make Zariyah come.

The tip of her strap teased that special spot Zariyah so impatiently needed her to graze, but Riri was devious, pulling out just before the collision, taunting her. And then, she was thrusting with abandon, fucking into her girl’s dribbling pussy ferociously. The motion sent shock waves through Riy’s skin, and Riri grinned proudly as she marveled at the ripples she created.

“F-fuck…” The only audible word Zariyah had managed to splutter since they’d started.

Her thrusts hadn't slowed amidst Zariyah's desperate little whimpers. She found them to be encouraging, using each whine as motivation to ravage her sopping hole over and over again. “How that shit feel, Z? You still ain't answer me.”

“S’good m-mami… f-fucking me s’good.” The larger girl was a mess, a pathetic one at that—just how Riri liked her.

Her bed creaked intandem with her frantic hips, rocking back and forth slowly beneath the both of them. But there wasn't a sound that reverberated louder than her girl’s wetness. She could hear it, Zariyah's cunt crying for her, leaking more and more the harder she fucked into her.

Riri reached forward with her free hand, the other still pinning Riy’s wrist to her perspiring back, and she grabbed a fist full of Zariyah's flaming curls, yanking her neck backwards. “You hear that shit? You hear how wet that pussy get for me?”

Zariyah didn't answer, far too delirious from the feeling of having her walls stretched. All she could manage was a long drawn out moan, but that wasn't enough for the prowling scientist working over her heated depths. Riri wanted words, no matter how shattered or fragile they might tumble from Riy’s lips, she needed to hear her speak.

She tugged harder on her girl’s hair, tightened her grip on her wrists, using both as leverage to plow into the now weeping girl below her. “Answer me when I fucking speak to you Zariyah.”

Her full name was enough to get Riy’s attention, and she parted her lips, “So wet for you b-baby. A-All f-for you!” She cried, her body shaking, hole clenching.

“Yeah? This for me?” Riri let go of her hair and Zariyah’s head jerked forward.

“Y-Yes mami! All this s-shit for you! God, fuck me!”

Riri could feel her clit jump in her briefs, her own pussy begging for attention as she drilled Zariyah. “Fuck Z, youn know how bad I needed this. After the day I had, shit.”

“Use me mami, take all that shit out on me, ooh fuck!”

“Take that dick baby, just like that. Sooo fucking good.”

As she watched Riy’s greedy hole consume her strap, Riri couldn't help but zone out to the echoing sound of skin slapping against skin. And as she expected, her mind wandered—to you. She imagined it was you underneath her, your hole expanding around the length of her, swallowing her inch by fucking inch, sounding utterly blissed out from the pleasure she orchestrated inside you.

She wanted you to make those unholy sounds for her, scream her name again and again, as she brought you to your edge. You’d weep for her, real, raw tears as she tended to your every need. And she’d dry your eyes, just before dropping to her knees to devour you, filling her system with your lust.

But alas, this had only been a fantasy, an immoral one, and Zariyah’s desperate groans recentered Riri in actuality.

“Fuck me mami, fuck me harder! I'm finna come!”

She hadn't stopped fucking Zariyah all the while, and it seemed her rapid strokes were on the verge of making Zariyah come all over the dildo moving in and out of her center.

“You wanna come, Z?” She let go of Riy’s hands to grip her hips as she thrusted into her.

“Yes m-mami, pleaseeee!” Riy reached up, grabbing hold of the headboard, deepening her arch.

This was the part that excited Riri the most, the moments right before her girl reached her peak; she reveled in the way she pleaded for release. “Show me how bad you want it, baby. Fuck yourself on this dick baby.”

She let Riy go, expecting her to do as instructed, and she smirked a little when her girl obeyed. She took control, rocking herself up and down the span of Riri’s girth, babbling all the while. And Riri was eating it all up, the visual of Zariyah’s ass bouncing with each glide, the loud squishing coming from her soaked center—a fucking symphony—sweet and sultry as Zariyah sang each syllable.

“Ri, I'm coming!”

“All over this dick? You gon make a mess for me, Z?”

“All over that fucking dick mami!” She grunted.

Riri had taken hold of her girl’s flesh again, ramming into her as she wailed out. “Give it to me baby!”

“Right there mami, right fucking there! You finna make me come!”

God, it was fucking glorious, this unrelenting rush of control. It bred regularity back into Riri, it gave her hope again, that things were hers to seize hold of, whether it be Riy, her sleep, or even–

Zariyah’s guttural cry cut her thoughts short, opening the door for a self-satisfied smirk to overtake her face as she watched her girl collapse gracefully, falling deeper into the sheets with an exasperated whine. Riri chuckled as she slowly slipped from inside Zariyah's depths, her eyes entranced by the thick cum oozing out as well. “You did so fucking good, Z baby.”

“I know.” Riy quipped back.

Riri leaned in slowly, her lips brushing soft, lingering kisses along the inked image of Excalibur that adorned her girl’s spine. “You can't just say thank you?”

Zariyah rolled over on her back just as Riri had settled into the covers beside her. “I’m s’posed to thank you for fucking me?”

“And if I said yeah?”

“You the one that need to be saying thank you. Cause after the way you was acting last weekend, you lucky you still have access to this pussy at all.”

Riri chuckled, reaching under her bed for her rolling tray. “Yeah, aight.”

“You think I’m playing with you?” Zariyah’s voice was shrill.

Riri hadn't looked over at her girl as she answered, her thoughts trained on the blunt she was in the process of rolling. “No, I don't.”

“Good. Cause I meant everything I said Riri. I swear to God if you ever embarrass me like that again–”

Riri laughed again, “Yeah okay, do you wanna hit this or not?”

“Don't fucking cut me off,” Zariyah warned. “Like I was saying, before your rude ass interrupted me, if you ever embarrass me like that again, this is done, for good. Cause I don't play that, and I’m dead fucking–”

She paused before gripping Riri’s jaw with an almost bruising force, wrenching her head around until their eyes locked. “I’m dead fucking serious Riri. Act like you got some fucking sense when it comes to me and you.”

The sincerity weighing on Zariyah’s words wasn't up for debate, and Riri didn't see herself capable of fully accepting the warning tossed her way. Because if she did, it would mean opening the door to the possibility of losing Zariyah, and she couldn't stomach that idea. Not now, not when Zariyah remained the only constant amongst her chaos. So she deflected, “You putting your hands on me like you tryna start round four.”

“You so damn irritating.”

“I don't doubt it.” Riri lifted the blunt to her lips, eyes drifting shut as she leaned back, pressing her cloud of curls into the headboard with languid ease. The soft sound of the lighter clicked, and she sensed Zariyah’s steady hands bringing the flame closer, the heat brushing her skin just before the blunt sparked.

As the smoke cleared, Riri laid naked in her bed with a zoned out Zariyah sprawled across her lap. Her fingers traced the outline of the sword etched into her girl's flesh, admiring the precision of the dagger’s design, and the artist’s careful attention to every detail. “This tattoo is my favorite.”

Zariyah giggled, “Yeah?”

“Mhmm. You know why?”

“Why?”

Riri cleared her throat, “Because it kind of embody’s you.” She could tell from the way Riy scrunched her nose at her that she didn't quite understand the point she was attempting to make, so she continued, “To me, you hold the same authority as the blade. You demand respect and you're not to be ignored—Excalibur is like that—like you.”

“You always get to talking all kinds of shit when you're high Ri.” She laughed.

And Riri joined her, “Yeah, but you love it though.”

“I love making you come way more. You gon let me?”

Riri cocked her brow, “Who said I ain’t come?”

“Girl, I know what the fuck you look like when you come, what you sound like, and it didn't happen once tonight.”

The shorter girl grinned. She loved moments like these, when her mind focused solely on her and her fiery-headed lover. “Oh so you be watching me?”

“If I'm making you feel good, best believe I'm getting caught up in every single detail. I love seeing you react to my touch. So let me do that shit Ri!” Zariyah whined.

“Next time.”

Riy groaned, “So what you got going on for the rest of the night then? Since you turning down head from me.”

“Not much. Homework.”

Zariyah poked her stomach, “Want me to stay and help? I know a thing or two about engineering.”

“Nah, it's uh, a project actually. Gonna go work on it with my partner when she gets off work.”

“Can't believe you're ditching me for some nerd from class. Is she cute at least?” Zariyah asked, sitting up to grab her phone off the charger.

Riy was oblivious to the mental minefield she'd just thrusted the smaller girl into; she hadn't even looked up from her phone after asking her, so why was Riri beginning to panic? It was an innocent enough question—just a playful, offhand remark—but there lived no innocence beneath the lie Riri was gearing up to tell.

Riri forced an easy smirk, glancing over at the tattooed girl lying beside her in bed, “Ion be looking at nobody but you, baby.”

“Bullshit!” Zariyah cried, causing them both to erupt in laughter.

“But nah, it's uh, my partner is Keem’s girl. We just got paired up today so Ima go over there in a little bit.” Riri finally admitted, but she still couldn't get the pit out of her stomach, still unsure why it was even there to begin with.

Beside her, Riri could sense Zariyah's energy shift at your mention; she could sense the unspoken question hanging in the air, but Riri wasn't sure she'd have an answer to give, and if she did, it'd be nothing more than another half truth.

Riy turned, eyeing the calculating scientist with weariness in her pupils. “What do you think of her? Hakeem's girlfriend I mean.”

“I don't.” She lied.

“So you don't have any opinion on your best friend’s girl? You, Riri Williams? Nah, I’m calling bullshit again.” Zariyah narrowed her eyes slightly, but Riri knew she could still see right through her.

She straightened her back, and Riy did the same, not letting up. “Why do you care so much?”

“Don't care at all actually, but I spoke to her at the party, and she seemed a little…”

Riri raised her brow curiously, “A little what?”

“I don't know, immature, I guess? She just doesn't seem too sure of herself. Which isn't a bad thing, it's just what I’ve observed.”

This assessment of you felt like a personal offense. Immature? Unsure of yourself? Riri’s eyebrows furrowed as she attempted to keep her expression neutral, but Zariyah's words grated at her. Aside from Riy herself, you were probably the most self-assured person she'd ever met. Sure, you had some trouble seeing yourself that way, but Riri could tell that was because of someone else's doing. Still, there was an unmistakable strength to you, one that came with ease and intelligence, and the idea that anyone would label you as immature, was so misguided.

“Just because she doesn't wear her confidence like a fucking accessory don't mean she's unsure of herself.”

Zariyah huffed a dry laugh beside her, “And here I was believing that you don't think about her.”

“I don't,” Riri sighed, “I just know her well enough to know that you're wrong about her.”

“Hmm. Well alright.” Riy conceded.

Riri was grateful she’d managed to dead the conversation there; she didn’t have the energy to continue if Riy decided to press it further. Yet, there was something in Riy’s tone—an edge, a subtle hesitation—that made it clear she wasn’t entirely done with the topic.

“Where you going?”

Zariyah had risen out of bed while Riri was deep in thought, and she was half dressed now as she scoured the room for her underwear. “I’m not finna be waiting around for you while you off doing science experiments or whatever the fuck. I got people that wanna see me, so that's where I’m going.”

“And who the fuck are these people that wanna see you?”

Zariyah slipped her panties back on, and then her dress before leering over at Riri seductively, “I’m finna make somebody daughter come tonight. If it ain't you then it's on to the next, lil mamas.”

“Damn, it's like that Z?” Riri tutted. “Here I was thinking you was faithful.” She added jokingly.

Riy shook her head, “Faithfulness is for committed folks, and you’ve made it crystal clear that ain't something I’m getting from you.”

She could hear the slight hurt that tinged her girl’s words, and immediately, the guilt she'd been fleeing flooded back. “Z, you know I’m tryna get there.”

“But them demons on your ass right? They fighting back?” She laughed a little, making Riri roll her eyes.

Riri flinched at the comment; it was like salt in an open wound. “You don't gotta do all that bruh.”

“All what? Tell you the truth? Look, it's cool. I knew what I was getting into with you, I ain’t tripping bout it. When you get there, you get there,” She reassured the smaller girl peering over at her with saddened eyes, “But let's hope for your sake, I'm gracious enough to still be here too.”

“I'm not some commitment-phobe you know. I just don't wanna bring all my shit into your life.”

“Ri, it's good. Like I said, fight your demons lil mamas. I like what we have, I wouldn't keep coming back if I didn't.”

“Okay…” Riri forced a smile. “But I am your favorite though right? Outta all them other bitches? They fuck you like me?”

“You are too much.” Riy inched toward the bed, hand outstretching to cup Riri’s chin as she tugged her in for a peck, a gentle one that contrasted the others they’d shared earlier in the night. “But yes you are my most favorite, Ri baby. Done got my feelings involved messing with your lil ass.”

Riri giggled, “All I’m hearing is I'm the favorite.”

Riy rolled her eyes, “Walk me out?”

She nodded, pulling on a hoodie as they both moved towards the door. Riri pulled Zariyah in for one final kiss, allowing the tenderness to stretch out, savoring the closeness for a little while longer. When their lips parted, Riri lingered in the moment, heart racing as she met Zariyah's gaze. She grinned, dazzled by the twinkle existing in her girl's deep eyes. “Don't allow yourself to be wielded by the unworthy, Zariyah. I mean it.”

“Okay, Ri,” Riy smiled shyly, “I’ll see you later.”

Riri stood in the doorway, grinning to herself as she watched Zariyah disappear down the hall, the warmth of their night still ever-present in her chest. But as soon as the door clicked shut, the crushing weight returned.

Gone were her fleeting moments of comfort, and now she was alone again, alone with her thoughts and the guilt that had been creeping at the edges all night. She leaned back against the door, the grin fading as she sighed, already feeling the pull of everything she was trying to avoid.

In less than an hour, she’d be seeing you.

Riri sighed again, this time deeper, more defeated, knowing she couldn’t outrun her demons forever.

•••

Riri sat in the dark parking lot, engine off, but her mind revving uncontrollably. The clock on her dashboard glowed 9:37 PM. You’d be arriving home soon—if her calculations were correct.

She had replayed it in her head a dozen times since you mentioned you’d be off at 8:00. Simple math, really—enough time to wrap up, walk to your bus stop, and make it home by 9:43. Still, she was beginning to doubt her accuracy the longer she was made to sit silently and alone in her car.

Her eyes dropped to her outfit for what felt like the millionth time, fingers nervously tugging at the collar of her black baby tee. She’d worn this shirt countless times before, paired with her favorite gray shorts—normally her go-to for comfort. But tonight, the fabric stuck to her skin in a way that made her feel exposed and uncomfortable. Everything felt too tight, too revealing, and for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she regretted every choice she’d made in getting dressed.

The stunning moonlight reflected on Riri’s golden “R” pendant as she played with it, catching the last of the fading daylight, but now, even that felt like it had been drawing too much attention. She carried her hands from her neck to her steering wheel, gripping tightly to the vehicle as a means to steady herself, but the act had no use.

Where the hell were you?

Maybe it would have been smart to let Zariyah eat her out when she offered, perhaps a bone rattling orgasm would have prevented her impatience, or at the very least dampen it. Riri’s eyes darted to the rearview mirror, then back to her phone, then to the empty sidewalk outside her car. She could still leave, you could've very well forgotten she was to come over.

You were probably with your boyfriend.

And if she decided to go now, you'd have never known she was here. It would save her the embarrassment she was feeling.

9:44 PM.

The numbers on the dashboard ridiculed her, mocked her akin to how her monster would, if he were present. But just as Riri had geared up to start her car, she heard the city bus screech to a halt behind her, and the deep, guttural exhale of the brakes followed shortly after. She gazed breathlessly at her side mirror, watching as you emerged through the automatic doors.

9:45 PM.

She'd been off by two minutes.

You looked exhausted, the glow of the street lights casting shadows over your worn out features. Yet, there was still something inherently you about your movements—effortless in your fatigue. And Riri found her attraction to you growing, gaining strength as she watched you at your most mundane.

She eyed you as you took your long, signature strides up the sidewalk towards your building, but they were tempered tonight, more deliberate. You disappeared inside soon after, and Riri had to physically restrain her body with her seatbelt to prevent herself from following immediately after you. She knew you needed time to settle in before she bombarded your space, and she wanted you to have that.

After exactly twenty-three minutes of impatiently tapping her feet against the car floor, Riri finally sighed, muttering, a quiet “Fuck it,” as she threw open the door with aggressive gusto.

She found herself rehearsing her opening line on her way up the elevator. Why had it felt like this was your first time meeting? Why was she so nervous?

It could be because she couldn't classify her reasons for coming over as innocent ones. Showing up on a Friday night, to work on a project due in two weeks with not so much as a pen and paper said a lot about her intentions; Riri was just banking on you being too tired to ask any questions.

The elevator dinged, and Riri’s stomach dropped in sync with the slight dip the elevator made before the doors parted, and she stepped out, on the hunt for your door. She could feel the weight of her hesitation in every step, the cool hallway air doing nothing to soothe the nervous energy buzzing beneath her skin. Once in front of your door, Riri’s hand hovered just inches from knocking, frozen in indecision.

She knew the guise for being here was thin—a project, she told herself, but the empty space at her side where her backpack should’ve been conveyed a different story. She hadn’t come to work. Not really.

The thick door loomed over her short build, daring her to knock. She wondered if you'd fallen asleep, and maybe if she turned around, it'd be something you both could forget. But she called bullshit on herself, because Riri knew the basis of her hesitancy. The second she touched the door, a current of guilt would pull her under, and she’d struggle to stay afloat.

Still, something stronger—something living deeper in her gut—urged her forward. And before she could stop herself, her knuckles rapped softly against the door. Too soft, she thought. For a second, she almost hoped you wouldn’t hear it.

But, a few beats later, the door swung open… and there you stood. You were dressed in a delicate loungewear set—white with lace trim—and your hair was pulled into a loose bun that left a few tendrils framing your face. She’d never expected to see you dressed in something so… intimate, with so much exposed skin.

Thighs, and hips, and ass; this was too much; Riri was too gay for this. God, she knew you were gorgeous, but seeing you like this, at home and dressed down, made it a lot more impossible to ignore.

You blinked at her, surprised, and Riri realized she might have caught you off guard.

“Riri?” Your voice was low, the greeting more of a question than a statement.

Riri was regretting this already. Was this how you felt whenever she scolded you for showing up at her door unannounced?

She forced a smile before clearing her throat, trying to do away with that everlasting tension, “Hey… uh, the project, remember?”

You blinked the confusion away, “Yeah, um, yeah come in.”

Riri followed behind you when you turned, compelling her eyes not to venture lower, and she stepped inside.

When the door clicked shut behind her, the reality of where she was settled in at once. Your apartment was different from how she remembered it. She'd been inside maybe twice before, briefly, when she was with Hakeem, but this time was different.

She was in your space, experiencing it through different lenses.

The place felt like you. Soft floral patterns scattered across the pillows and curtains, the warm amber hues of autumn blending into every corner. Riri’s eyes flickered over the small details, the way the light from the lamps bathed the room in a soft glow, the rich rust-colored throw draped over the back of the couch. The air smelled faintly of jasmine, and everything was extremely clean, almost compulsively.

She knew you had a roommate, but it was clear that this apartment—at least from the way it looked—belonged to you alone.

“I like your place.” Riri murmured, feeling the words slip out before she could bite them back. She hadn't even been looking at you when she admitted it, too busy absorbing everything.

“Thanks,” You nodded, moving towards the kitchen table, where Riri noted your backpack. “So, I had a chance to look over the list of topics from class,”

You were walking back over to the shorter girl now, laptop in hand, “I think these two could be interesting. They're just the ones that stuck out to me, but if you're thinking something different…”

Why were you being so formal with her?

Riri glanced at the screen she was presented with, reading the highlighted topics aloud, “Environmental Modeling and Mechanical Vibrations…”

“What do you think?”

She gave the screen another once over before sighing, “I mean, I guess?”

“You have something else in mind?”

Riri chuckled softly, her eyes sweeping over you with a teasing smirk. “Isn't the whole point of us being partners to, you know, make decisions about the project together?”

“Do you have something else in mind, Riri?” The words were clipped, your tone laced with irritation, as though you’d been dealing with this back-and-forth for too long.

She chuckled awkwardly, “To be honest, I ain't really look at them for real, I was–”

Your jaw tightened, the frustration in your eyes cutting her off mid-sentence,“Then why the hell are you here?”

Riri blinked; she hadn't expected you to snap at her like that. “I was just thinking we could look at them together and choose one… damn.” Her voice trailed off, a twinge of defensiveness creeping in, “Like the fuck you getting all snappy for?”

“I don't know Riri, maybe because I just got off work and I'm fucking tired,” You argued back. She could hear the exhaustion in your voice, “And I’m really not in the mood to deal with your shit right now.”

Riri flinched at the sharpness of your tone, the sting of it seeping in deeper than she wanted to admit.

After she apologized, after she confessed to wanting to earn your forgiveness, she thought maybe things would get easier. But it felt like the wall between you two was still there, and what hurt Riri most was knowing she was the one who had built it in the first place. She didn't know how to tear it down, and now, it seemed like you hadn't wanted it to crumble at all.

Couldn’t you at least put it aside for the sake of the project? For the grade?

“You acting like you ain't told me to come over…”

“Yeah, after you basically hounded me about starting the project today.” Your arms were crossed, shoulders tensed as you glared back at Riri.

Riri could feel her own irritation brewing in her bosom, as she stood before you, skin hot and prickly. Her heart hammered away at her chest, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the argument or from the look in your eyes—a look that seemed to hold more than just anger.

There was restraint in the way you looked at her, like you were forcing yourself to stay guarded even if the intensity in your pupils betrayed you.

The silence grew heavier, both of you standing there, unrelenting. Riri’s breathing grew shallow, her frustration mingling with something else—a thrill she wasn't sure she should acknowledge.

“If you want me to leave, Ima need you to say it.” She whispered, noting the way your eyes melted almost instantly, and she grinned to herself.

You shook your head, grabbing your laptop from her, and moving to the couch. “You're already here, might as well agree on a topic.”

Riri sank down next to you, scooting closer than necessary so she could see the screen, but the moment your arms brushed, any hope of focus vanished. The faint warmth of your skin on hers made her body buzz, her senses completely tuned to the soft point of contact.

You were talking, your voice drifting over her like a heatwave, but she couldn't focus on a single thing besides the dizzying sensation settling in her bones.

“...Epidemiology modeling…” You trailed off, explaining something, but it went over her head. “Similar to… model… class.”

“Riri?” Your voice startled her out of her daze.

Riri shook her head, her eyes discovering your parted lips, “Huh?”

You rolled your eyes, “Did you bring your notes?”

She forced a casual shrug, scrambling for an excuse, “Oh. Uh, no.”

“Did you bring anything?” You pressed, your tone cutting through the fog in her head.

“Yeah... no sorry... I was already here when I realized I forgot my backpack.” She lied. Truth was, she hadn’t thought about her notes, or the project, or anything besides the fact that she’d be here, with you, alone.

You sighed, indicating your frustration hadn't gone away. “It's fine, I guess I can just email you.”

“Okay.” She mumbled softer than intended, guiding her eyes back to the screen, though she still wasn't paying attention; Riri’s mind was muddled by her desperate desire for your arms to brush again.

“So, did any of the other topics sound interesting to you? I still think environmental modeling is the best choice. We could like, model the population growth of an endangered species or something.”

Riri wasn't equipped with an answer, but she knew you were expecting one, so she decided the safest choice was to just agree with you. “I uh, actually think I agree with you, it made more sense after you explained it.”

“M’kay. Well, we don't have to do the research right away. I’ll send you my notes, and maybe we could uh, get together on Sunday to–”

In front of you, your phone started ringing on the coffee table, the vibrating sound cutting your sentence short.

Slowly, your eyes panned to the screen, and Riri allowed hers to follow.

Mom.

The phone kept buzzing, but you hadn't moved to answer it, which piqued Riri’s curiosity. You were frozen, lost in a haze as you watched the device ring, and ring, and ring, until it finally stopped.

Riri watched the subtle shift in your expression as you snapped back into conversation, brushing off the strange silence like it hadn’t happened at all. “We could meet up on Sunday. I know this coffee shop that's really qu–”

Your phone was ringing again, same caller—your mother. You went silent for the second time, your expression draining of anything recognizable as you focused on the lit up screen.

“You gonna get that?”

Then it rang a third time, and you reached forward, completely powering the device off before responding. “Uh, no.”

You stood abruptly, gunning for the kitchen with sudden determination. “You want some fries? Got em from work.”

Riri couldn't help herself, her eyes immediately found your ass. She shook her head, overwhelmed by the way your cheeks spilled out the bottom of your shorts, just enough for her to witness.

“Goddamn…”

You whipped around, “What was that?”

“I said yeah, I’ll take some fries.” She chirped.

The universe was testing her, and Jesus fuck, she was failing so miserably. But, at least she would get to enjoy her favorite food ahead of her demise.

She watched as you sauntered back over to the couch holding a Freeda’s take away container. “They're still kinda warm. I made them fresh before I left work.”

Riri hadn't wanted to look greedy when she reached for the fries, but it was kind of hard not to. She hadn't eaten since earlier with Zariyah, so when that familiar aroma of potatoes and grease hit her nose, she was practically salivating.

“Thank you,” She muttered with a stuffed mouth, letting out a satisfied moan as the flavor of seasoned salt coated her taste buds. “These fries be too fucking good.”

You laughed beside her, a real, genuine giggle as you undoubtedly watched her in amusement, “I’m glad you like them, but please slow down before you choke.”

Riri popped another fry in her mouth, savoring the taste as she lifted her face out of the plate to meet your eyeline. You weren't eating, just watching, a smile playing on your lips. She paused, heart fluttering unexpectedly.

Had you brought these just for her? This would challenge her previous conclusion, that you had forgotten she was coming. The thought warmed Riri, and she decided not to question it; she liked the idea that you were thinking of her, just as she thought of you.

“Can I ask you a question?” Riri began.

“You mean a follow up question to the one you just asked me? Because can I ask you a question, is a question.”

Riri rolled her eyes, “You know what I mean.”

“Do I, though? Because if I’m being honest Riri, I literally never know what you mean.”

Riri deadpanned, “Why didn't you answer the phone when your mom called?”

She wanted to tread lightly, because it seemed these were murky waters between you and your mother, but she was still curious as to why the calls upset you.

You swallowed hard, clearing your throat as you smoothed your hands down your bare thighs. “Don't think you're equipped to handle my mommy issues. How bout you just eat your fries.”

Riri could detect deflection like a bloodhound. She knew why she was so keen on it, and she assumed your reasoning would mirror hers, but she couldn't do away with the feeling of wanting to know; to help; to soothe.

“I might be more equipped than you think. I’ll have you know, I have my very own therapist.” Riri joked, wanting to lighten your mood.

“You're in therapy?” You questioned, sounding genuinely astonished.

Riri scoffed playfully, “Fuck you sound so surprised for? A nigga can't wanna better their mental health?”

You laughed again, the sound intoxicating as it escaped you. “No offense, but have you met yourself? You and the premise of bettering your mental health do not go…”

“You know what, I won’t take offense to that,” Riri said, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Because I know all this”—she waved a hand up and down in your direction—“is just you trying to avoid the question.”

The room had gone quiet, lit only by the dim, warm glow of a single lamp. “Why do you wanna know anyway, not like you actually care.” Your words punctured the silence, sharp, yet subdued, as though you’d resigned yourself to the idea that you didn't matter to her.

And she hated herself more than ever now, hated that she had made you feel this way, made you doubt your worth to her, made you think your feelings were unimportant. Nothing could mend that hurt; it was too late. But in the gentle quiet of this moment, she could try to show you something real, something she hadn’t known how to say before.

“Maybe I do care,” She huffed, her somber stare boring into your abyssal eyes. “Maybe I can relate.”

A question flickered in your eyes, swirling through the depths of your deep browns, softening them with curiosity. “And what is it that you think you can relate to?”

“My relationship with my mom isn't the best right now. I’ve done my fair share of dodging calls and ignoring texts.” Riri admitted.

“What's your mother like?” You questioned.

Riri felt her emotions tangle in her throat, choking her as she attempted to answer. “If I’m being honest, she was kind of the best, still is in some ways. Growing up, her and my dad were overly involved in my academics, but not in a way that made me feel pressured. It wasn't easy being labeled a super-genius at the age of five,” She laughed. “I think they thought I’d turn into a dangerous, detached child if they didn't pay enough attention to me, and make me feel normal or something.”

You watched her attentively, without interruption.

“I’m grateful for that, grateful for them as a team… But after my dad died, things sort of changed. Mom changed.”

“How?”

Riri exhaled, swallowing the lump in her throat, “She became extremely overprotective, worried way more. And I understood why, more so now that I'm older, but I think she got so caught up in trying to navigate life without dad, that she didn't see that I was changing too. I blamed myself for his death. I knew my mom didn't, but she wasn't as attentive as she used to be, she couldn't… see me, anymore.”

She had to stop talking before the tears came.

She glanced over at you, eyes glassy with barely contained emotion, searching your features for a glimmer of understanding, anything bereft of judgment.

She hoped you'd relate, not because she wanted you to know her pain, but because she needed to believe that exposing the cracks she worked so hard to hide, hadn’t been done in vain.

You offered her an empathetic smile, your eyes filled to the brim with an emotion Riri knew better than most. You too had been kissed by death's lips—you knew loss as deeply as she did.

“My dad died when I was twelve,” You began, voice a bit unsteady, “He was my best friend. He'd always pick me and my sister up early from school on Fridays, take us to get burgers and milkshakes. His time with his girls—that's what he called it.” You smiled briefly, like the memory itself was nostalgic. “And to this day, I don’t think my mom even knows."

Riri watched relief prance across your face, a lightness that told her you hadn’t let yourself talk about this in a long time, and she couldn't help but smile.

But your expression dimmed as fast as it brightened, your voice dropping in octaves. “I don’t have any memories of my parents as a team like you do,” You continued, glancing down. “ But I know I felt my mom’s love most when my dad was still around. She'd say it—I love you—but only when she thought we were worthy of hearing it. Sometimes I wonder if she ever really loved any of us… But I don’t think I actually wanna know the answer to that.”

“I’m sorry.” Riri whispered, voice jagged, her heart breaking for you.

You didn’t look at her, your eyes fixed somewhere beyond the room, palms pressed firmly to your knees like you were grounding yourself in place. “Not your fault. I don’t even know why I just told you all that.”

But Riri knew. She knew what it felt like to carry heavy feelings, what it felt like to be crushed by the weight of them. Eventually you lose control; you break.

“I know why I did.” Riri sliced through the thick silence with her confession, exhaling languidly as your eyes moved to find hers. “Because… it needed to be said, I needed to say it out loud to someone.”

You blinked at her, pupils blown wide, “Okay. But why me?”

There it was—that rush of doubt, the uncertainty Zariyah mentioned earlier. You questioned yourself because your mother planted those seeds of insecurity, and there was no doubt her own behavior added to it as well. But she could rectify all that… if you let her.

“You make me do things I don't normally do,” She said, voice rough with frustration. “Feel things I shouldn't. And when you look at me like that…”

You gasped, your breath stuck in your throat. “Like what?”

“Like that… With those fucking eyes…” Riri swallowed hard, her irises darkening with lust and intensity.

“These are just… my eyes.” You whispered, barely able to speak.

But Riri wasn’t listening anymore; her brown globes were tracing the expanse of your exposed skin, every inch of you on display, and she didn’t bother to hide it.

She drank you in, taking in every curve, every line, every stretch mark like a map she wanted to follow. Your nipples were erect beneath your top, and she studied those too.

Her lip was caught between her teeth, her restraint slipping with each passing second as the tension between you both thickened.

“I know…” She pressed her forehead to yours, and you didn’t pull away. Her eyes fluttered shut as she breathed you in, savoring the closeness, each shared breath laced with a tension neither of you dared to break.

Your perfume was faint, almost washed away by the day, but Riri could still smell it. That soft aroma of vanilla and saffron she'd become addicted to, and now she was finally getting her fix. “But the more you look at me, the harder it is for me to look away.”

“Oh–”

“And I don’t wanna look away.”

The room was cloaked in a stillness that swaddled the both of you. She committed the outline of your visage to memory, every subtle movement, every shift of breath. Your heartbeat created a haunting rhythm in her ears, urging her to pull away, to step back. But with you this close, eyes this dark and needy, she couldn’t bring herself to listen. Not now. Not when she could feel the warmth radiating off you, filling the narrow space between you with a terrifying tension.

You exhaled shakily, your charged utterance fanning the flames between you, “I don't like it when you look away…”

You and your delicate, daunting eyes—you’d be her undoing. But it would all be worth it if she got just one taste of all that you were.

“I-I’m struggling,” She cooed, fingers trembling as she cupped your face, trying and failing to fight off her hunger for you. “Tell me to stop, please... before I do something I can't take back.”

She was so fucking desperate—her entire being thrummed with it, that raw ache she knew only you could soothe. Desperate for you, your lips, for any sense of release from the emotions tearing her apart.

And as she stared at your perfect, pouty lips, she was beginning to accept that this might be it—the moment she finally risked it all.

“Riri… I–” You sounded wounded, and it shattered her heart all over again. Because she could see it in your eyes, hear it in your rapid breaths—that same intense longing—that hurt. And all she wanted was to ease it, to answer your silent cries.

Riri leaned in, closing the remaining distance between you, her ravenous mouth hovering inches away from yours, the heat of your breath entangling with hers as everything faded away.

But just as your lips were about to meet, a knock at the door shattered the silence, yanking her back to reality.

“That's Keem...” You mumbled, but you didn’t pull away, your sight still locked on hers, lingering, like maybe you didn’t want this to end any more than she did.

Riri’s world began to topple in on her as the reality of what she was doing started settling in. She pulled back, her hands slipping away from your cheeks, and her heart seemed to stop beating when she noticed the look on your face—unmistakable rejection etched into your features.

She wanted to reach out, to somehow make it right, to tell you that none of this was your fault and that everything would be okay. But the words wouldn’t come. She was already wrapped up in a web of lies—lies to herself, to everyone around her, and she couldn’t bear adding you to that list.

“I should go. Yeah, I should go. I'm gonna go.”

She stood up, and you didn't stop her, as she made her way over to the door. The knocking came again, echoing in her blazing sternum, and she froze, not sure what to do.

“I uh–”

You crept up behind her awkwardly, just as frazzled as she was. “I’ll uh, I’ll get it.”

When you opened the door, there stood her best friend, dressed in the floral fleece sweater she’d given him for Christmas, his favorite jacket—the one he practically lived in. Her stomach churned violently; she wouldn't be able to hold her vomit any longer, and when their eyes locked, Riri gagged.

“Hey baby.” You chirped, your voice flustered and nervous. She could see you were trying to smooth over the awkwardness, but the look on Hakeem’s face made it clear you were only making things worse.

Hakeem's eyes darted from you to Riri, then back to Riri, his face unreadable. “Ri, what are you doing here?”

“Project,” Was all she could manage, anymore words and she’d puke all over his Air Forces.

“Your phone don't work?” He turned back to you, eyes sharp with accusation.

“Sorry baby, I had my phone turned off. We were working on the project and just lost track of time. I forgot you said you were coming over.”

God, you fucking sucked at lying.

Hakeem's broad shoulders filled the door, blocking Riri’s only escape route. She knew that look in his eyes too—suspicion. She needed to get out, fast, before she passed out from the guilt storming her little body.

“Yo shit was off too?” He shot Riri a look, his eyes erratic and filled with something she didn’t dare try to decipher. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze, and she was certain he noticed that too.

Riri shook her head, looking everywhere but at his gorgeous face; she wouldn't be able to lie to him if she did—Hakeem was the only person that could make her unravel with a single glance. “I was with Z when you called. My bad, man.”

She shielded herself from his threatening glare as she finally slipped past him and into the hallway. “I gotta go though, I’m seeing her later.”

“Oh, aight.” Keem’s tone was flat—unconvinced.

Riri glanced at the two of you one last time, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the way Keem’s arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you close almost protectively—possessively. A pang of confusion hit her as she caught a flicker of jealousy in his gaze, as if he suddenly saw her as a threat.

Your eyes were glued to the floor in shame, averting hers as she backed away.

“Ima see you…”

Speculation thickened the air as Riri made her way down the never-ending hallway, battling her rising nausea with each step.

Just before she reached the elevator, Hakeem called after her, his voice steady, and a little too deliberate, “Drive safe, Ri, say hey to Riy for me.”

Her steps faltered, and she turned, locking eyes with him. His stare was sharp, assessing, almost daring her to slip up.

“Yeah.” She called out, wanting to appear untested.

But the second the elevator closed, Riri was doubled over, emptying the contents of her stomach all over the floor. She’d never had a fear of confined spaces before, but now, it felt like the walls were closing in on her, restricting her airflow as she descended down to the depths of Hell—where she knew her monster had been lying in wait.

she tapped impatiently, turning her back to the bartender. the aroma of sweaty bodies lingered in the air as the bartender replaced the empty glass with two shots of whisky.

looking out into the crowd, shuri clenched her jaw. her attempt at tracking you down with solely her eyes was proving to be a failure. she couldn’t see you but she could smell you, and unfortunately, your scent was growing distant by the second.

“maybe if you take those dark ass shades off, you’d be able to find whoever you’re looking for!” yelled the bartender in shuri’s direction.

shuri turned to face the woman behind the bar, tossing a diamond studded grin her way. “and maybe if you had kept that to yourself, your tip would have been much larger. keep the change.” shuri reached into her blazer and tossed two hundred dollar bills on the counter.

the bartender rolled her eyes as she picked up the cash. her eyes scanned shuri in disbelief. the king’s tip was generous, unlike her demeanor.

“assholes like you are always good looking.” the older woman replied as she turnt on her heel to greet the influx of customers darting towards the bar.

the whiskey’s intensity matched the fire that brewed inside of shuri’s chest. her skin was hot, full of rage and tension. shuri licked her lips as she used her hand to brush off a piece of lint from her pants.

prior to your arrival, you spent the evening scrubbing dishes, sweeping, and mopping. you and shuri did a decent job at maintaining your shared apartment by assigning tasks to each other. but lately, shuri hadn’t been around.

it started off small— an extra ten minutes added to her council meetings turned into twenty. as a result of the extended meetings, her presence in wakanda had become increasingly demanding. a day in wakanda would turn into a week until eventually, the lines between catering to her nation and you merged until the victorious winner landed on top. you loved her nation and her culture. but you could not stop the jealousy that fermented in your gut.

you had stopped texting her during her away trips. she took note of this, and proceeded to call you daily. you answered, annoyedly, which she also took note of.

when you stopped answering her calls, shuri put no thought behind your lack of response. she knew your temperament — this was just one your moments. you’d get over it, after some time. the king figured that you’d missed her, because of course you would, and your stubbornness would run dry, ensuring a phone call from you would be coming soon.

that was three days ago.

on the fourth day of her trip, she discovered that you turned your location off. she was fine with allowing you to have your space, which she soon realized was needed after you two made it official. but your whereabouts served as a makeshift safety net for shuri. she didn’t care where you were, as long as you were safe. her trust in you was undeniable; yet her destain for being alone was fiercer. your presence in her life was the start of a new journey for the king. her wounds, rooted in pain and hatred, slowly began to heal as your relationship became stronger. you curated a space for shuri to be emotional without judgment. she needed you, craved you and your scent like a drug.

and that very smell is how the king found herself at club roxi, one drink and two shots deep, on the prowl for you.

quickly, shuri inhaled your panties. she placed them inside of her inner blazer pocket as she trudged deeper into the sea of bodies.

she didn’t want to be here; shuri hated the club, but you didn’t. you didn’t mind the volume, the stares, the touches. it was all too—

“MUCH! this is much better!” you shouted to kelsie as you clutched your salt rimmed glass. she grinned, twirling her drink in hand as she motioned toward the packed dance floor. the crowd of people moved like one living, breathing organism.

“your drink was free of charge! the bartender kept calling you sexy.” kelsie replied.

you gagged as you took a sip of your drink.

“she looks like she bites people.”

kelsie choked before she erupted in laughter.

since your arrival, shuri’s absence had been lingering in the back of your mind. the distance between the two of you had become too wide to ignore, though you’d made a habit of trying. a part of you wondered if she was thinking about you— if she missed you.

kelsie nudged you playfully.

“come on, you’re here to have fun! let’s dance!” she shouted over the thumping speakers.

you smiled, as you followed her toward the mass of swaying bodies. the rhythm took over, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to get lost in it — the movement, the music, the freedom. you hadn’t noticed the pair of eyes following you from the shadows.

shuri watched from a distance, her jaw clenched tight. your scent was a guiding thread that she had no intention of losing. she weaved through the crowd, the pulse of the music did little to distract her from her mission. her thoughts were wild— anger, frustration, longing, all swirled together in a cocktail of emotion she wasn't used to swallowing. you’d shut her out, and now all she wanted was to be close to you again.

her heart skipped a beat the second she located you.

you were laughing, carefree, and the sight tugged at something deep within her. your laughter was not the driving factor that threw her overboard. it was the woman’s grip on your waist that awoken the demon inside of her.

there you were—dancing, swaying to the music as a woman was pressed up behind you, her hands on your hips, moving in sync with you. her lips were dangerously close to your ear as she whispered something that made you giggle.

for a moment, shuri wondered if you even needed her the way she needed you. but then she saw it— the flash of sadness in your eyes, the way you seemed to hesitate between the beats. you weren't as carefree as you appeared. you missed her, too. something clicked, and shuri realized that all you needed was her attention. all you wanted was her touch. a pair of hands were touching you but they did not belong to her and it infuriated her.

“enough is enough.” shuri growled.

without thinking, shuri pushed her way through the crowd, her eyes locked on you. as she stalked closer, you still hadn’t noticed her. you were too caught up in the rhythm of the music. the woman behind you spun you around, her hands lingering on your waist as she pulled you closer.

you felt the shift in the air before you saw her. it was subtle, like the slightest pressure in the atmosphere. you’ve always been able to feel her presence, even when she’s not saying a word. you turned, as your eyes searched through the flashing lights and moving bodies. and there she was, standing in front of you, dark glasses hiding those pretty eyes of hers. but her posture, her presence— it was unmistakable.

she didn’t say anything at first. she just looked at you, her lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw still clenched. you could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands were balled into fists at her sides. she tried to stay calm, but you could tell she was barely holding it together.

“why are you here, shuri?” you asked, your voice sharp enough to cut through the music. you didn’t bother hiding the frustration in your tone.

“i could ask you the same thing,” she barked back, as she stepped closer.

“i thought we were past running away.”

you scoffed, as you folded your arms across your chest.

“i’m not running away. i’m just… taking a break from my responsibilities. that’s something you seem to do all the time these days.”

shuri winced at your words, but she didn't back down.

“i’m not the one who turned off my location,” she fired back. “i listened to you when you protested wearing the beads and bought this phone instead. you know i don’t like not knowing if you’re safe. i tried using your ancient technology. yet here you stand, testing my patience.”

“and i don’t like feeling like i’m second place in my own relationship,” you snapped back, as the frustration bubbled inside you.

“i get it, shuri. you have responsibilities, your country needs you. but what about me? what about us?”

“us? you just made it clear that there is no us! tell me, y/n, who the fuck is this?!” shuri yelled. her eyes flickered to the girl beside you, who was standing too close for her liking.

you blinked, thrown off by her outburst. “this is—what? shuri, i—“

but shuri wasn’t listening to you. her focus had already shifted to the woman besides you.

“who are you?” her voice was cold, with a dangerous edge to it.

“WHO. ARE. YOU?!?!” shuri shouted in kelsie’s face.

unbeknownst to you, shuri had managed to remove her top grill to relieve herself from the pain of her canine teeth.

as a side effect of taking the herb, when threatened, the panther’s canines grow thicker and longer. the king did not wear her kimyo beads tonight— so naturally, her body became the armor she needed. and it was up to you to stop the panther before she attacked.

kelsie raised her hands in defense. “whoa, hold up. i’m not trying to cause any problems here.”

you quickly stepped between them, as you placed a hand on shuri’s arm. you were trying to diffuse the tension that was in her body.

“shuri, stop. it’s not what you think.”

shuri’s eyes flickered back to you, her expression softened slightly as she searched your face for an explanation.

“then tell me what i’m supposed to think.” she replied. her voice was quieter now, but still laced with frustration.

“because from where i’m standing, it looks like you’re having a good time with someone else.”

you sighed, realizing how this must have looked to her.

“shuri, this is kelsie,” you said, as you gestured towards kelsie’s direction.

“she’s a friend. we’ve known each other since forever. we were just cutting up, nothing serious.”

kelsie eagerly noded as she stepped forward with a scared grin on her face.

“no harm was intended. y/n is a little too girly for my liking anyways.” she teased.

“please go find a stud to play with!” you shot back.

the two of you shared a laugh together before kelsie walked back to the bar.

shuri’s tense posture loosened slightly, but her eyes were still narrowed. she was clearly not entirely convinced. “and the dancing?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“it was just dancing.”

the silence that was dangling in the air was thick and palpable.

shuri’s face softened as the tension in her body fully loosened. she reached up to take off her sunglasses, revealing the dark, tired eyes that had been hidden behind them. you could see her clearly—the vulnerability, the guilt, the longing.

“i’ve never stopped thinking about you,” her voice was faint, almost pleading.

“i’ve been trying to balance everything, but it’s harder than i thought. i’m not used to… needing someone this much.” she confessed.

her words hit you like a wave as they washed over the anger you desperately wanted to cling to. you wanted to stay mad, to keep your walls up, but the truth was, you’ve missed her too.

“do you see the state that i am in? do you see what being away from you does to me?”

you eyed her as you processed her words. her vulnerability felt raw, unfamiliar. you’ve always known her as the confident, unwavering king of wakanda. but in that moment, she was just shuri—the person you loved, the person who let you slip through her fingers without realizing it.

“do you think saying that changes anything?” you stated, your voice trembling slightly.

“do you really think admitting that you need me after all this time fixes the fact that you made me feel like an afterthought? you left for wakanda last week.”

shuri flinches at your words, her jaw tightened again, but she didn’t retreat. instead, she took a deep breath and stepped closer, close enough that you could smell the familiar mix of her cologne.

“i know i’ve messed up,” she admitted, her voice was rough, but steady.

“i’ve been trying to protect everyone, to be everything for Wakanda, for my people… and in the process, i forgot how to be here for you. but i can’t lose you. not like this.”

your throat tightened and for a moment, you didn’t trust yourself to speak. you wanted to believe her. you wanted to believe that the woman standing in front of you is the same one who promised she’d never let you feel alone, even when her world felt like it was falling apart.

shuri took another step closer, her eyes searching yours. “i’ve been running on empty,” she whispered, yet you heard her. but i can’t run from this. from you. i need you.”

her words hung in the air between you, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. you could feel the weight of her gaze, the quiet intensity of her presence. the music, the flashing lights, the crowd—everything faded into the background, leaving just the two of you standing there, suspended in the tension that’s been building for far too long.

“i’ve needed you too, shuri. but it’s hard to keep needing someone who isn’t around.”

shuri’s eyes softened, and for the first time tonight, you see the guilt etched deeply into her features.

“i know,” she murmurs. “i know I haven’t been here the way you deserve. but i’m here now and i’m not going anywhere.”

you search her face for any hint of insincerity, but all you see is her—your shuri, stripped of all the walls she’s built up around herself. you wanted to believe her, but the hurt was still there, lingering like a bruise.

“how do i know this won’t happen again?” you ask, your voice wavering slightly.

“how do i know that you won’t get caught up in your world and forget about me all over again?”

shuri reached out, hesitating for a moment before she gently cupped your face in her hands. her touch was warm, grounding, and for the first time in weeks, you felt a flicker of that connection you’ve missed so much.

“i can’t promise i’ll be perfect,” she said softly. “but i can promise that i’m going to fight for this—for us. i can promise that you’ll never have to wonder if you’re second to anyone ever again. i have told the council to refer all of my duties to my assistant.”

tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, as you blinked them away, swallowing the lump forming in your throat. you wanted to hold on to your anger, to the hurt that’s been gnawing at you for so long. but as you look into shuri’s eyes, you realize something: you didn’t want to lose her either.

you nodded, your voice was barely a whisper. “i just… i don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

shuri’s thumbs brushed softly against your cheeks as she held your gaze. “you won’t,” she declared. her voice was thick with emotion. “i swear to bast, you won’t.”

and in that moment, standing there with her hands on your face, the weight of the past few weeks seemed to lift, just a little. it’s not perfect. it’s not fixed. but it’s a start.

shuri leaned in, her forehead resting gently against yours. her breath was warm against your skin. “let me prove it to you,” she whispered, as her voice slightly cracked.

“just give me a chance.”

you closed your eyes, feeling the heat of her body so close to yours, the steadiness of her presence. and after a long, painful pause, you finally exhaled.

“okay,” you whispered, your voice soft, but resolute.

“prove it to me.”

shuri pulled you into her arms, holding you tightly.

for the first time in a long while, you let yourself melt into her embrace, the familiar warmth of her touch soothed the ache in your chest.

it’s not everything, not yet—but for now, it’s enough.

you tightened the grip on her hand.

“when did you get an assistant?”

“okoye has many different titles, sthandwa.”

jokingly, you pushed shuri away from you as you laughed.

“it’s in your best interest that she never hears you call her anything other than her name.”

shuri snickered to herself.

“and it’s in your best interest that you start stretching now. i’m not done with you.”

with her hand in yours, shuri guided you out of the club.

Your pussy begged for more, begged to be stuffed full, which Shuri was hyper aware of, yet still, she rejected your pleas. And no amount of whining or whimpering seemed to sway her. “Are you proud of yourself, Thandiwe?”

You couldn't respond, not that she seemed to expect you to, so you opted for a nod, hoping the gesture would tilt the odds in your favor. You had only the need to release knocking about your brain, directly into her palm so she could feel just how much you felt because of her. If only she would stop teasing you.

“Years of sleepless nights,” Her fingers pressed into your sore bud, eliciting a sharp wince from your throat. “Years of overexerting yourself.” Slowly, she began to swab at your wet clit, increasing the pressure with each flick, and your quiet sobs alike. “And here you are, my perfect girl, my perfect graduate.”

Your knees would buckle any second now, you were sure of it, so you sank your claws into the nearest thing to you, which just so happened to be a bag of unopened rice.

“You're amazing.”

Shuri had you pinned against the pantry racks in your childhood home, nimble fingers gliding your dress straps down sweaty shoulders, eager to watch your bountiful breasts spill free. She was circling your hole now, your entrance beckoning her touch forward, throbbing as she inched closer.

You should have known you'd end up here when you stepped away from the party in the backyard. You knew your girlfriend; you’d been watching her watch you all day, and only you could discern that devilish look swirling in her darkened eyes.

This was inevitable.

You were just happy Shuri managed to hold it together until you two were alone. The pantry was not ideal, and you were definitely in for much, much worse when the two of you returned to your apartment, but the location would suffice for now, so long as you were able to tame Shuri's beast until then.

“You amaze me every day,” She licked a long, sloppy stripe up your throat, all the way to your quivering lips, which you parted eagerly for her, inviting her hungry tongue to caress yours. “And you deserve this.”

Before you could register her words, her digits plummeted into your heated deepness, stroking your walls as she kissed you fiercely, swallowing your cries. Shuri’s fingers created a rhythm with your sticky folds, gliding out momentarily, before your hole sucked them back in. Her mouth drifted from your lips, and you exhaled desperately. You watched, teary-eyed as she moved to suckle your left nipple, still working your sopping cunt over with gusto.

She fucked you senseless, skillfully guiding you to the edge with each pump. You were able to control your moans, somewhat, but getting a handle on the wetness at your core was impossible. Your pussy was messy, and sticky, and leaking right into your girlfriend's palm.

She thumbed your clit, and your entire body jerked, your fingers still clenching the rice. “I know you're close.”

“My perfect girl. You deserve to come, don't you?”

Shuri was revving your engine, pulling cry after cry from your throat as she fingered you. She was in a trance in front of you, watching your boobs bounce with every electrifying thrust.

She leaned in, her warm breath making your skin tingle as she whispered into your ear, “Come on my fingers Thandiwe.”

That was the encouragement you needed, and before long, you were approaching the peak of your climb. One last flick of your swollen clit had you descending, erupting around Shuri’s digits as she fucked you through your forceful orgasm. You cried out, twitching, finally breaking through the plastic encasing the rice beside you. And then you were tumbling to the floor, every single grain following, trickling right down to land beside you.

You laughed softly as Shuri joined you in the dim space, eyes dazzling with nothing but pride. She was grinning, and you mirrored it.

“I’m proud of you my love, so proud.”

“Oh? Are you? I wouldn't have known.” You mocked sarcastically with a giggle.

Shuri leaned in to peck your sweaty forehead. “Now, let's get you back out there before your family thinks we snuck off to have sex or something.”

You rolled your eyes at your girlfriend as she helped you up and fixed your dress. “I can barely walk.”

“Oh, Thandiwe, enjoy your ability to stand upright while it lasts, because it's likely to disappear the second I get you home.”