Soft sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting pale gold across the bedspread still rumpled from the night before. The air smelled faintly of sweat, sex, and jasmine-scented fabric softener. The sheets were tangled around Lia's thighs, her bare skin brushing against the warmth still remaining in the sheets Celine had left behind.
Lia blinked awake slowly, the quiet hush of the room gently welcoming her to consciousness. Her body ached in subtle, pleasant ways--her thighs sore, her lips a little swollen. But it was the memory, not the soreness, that hit her first.
Last night...
It came back all at once--Celine's commanding voice, her hands, her body, the way she had taken her. The feeling of being touched, explored, owned. Lia's face flushed immediately, her breath catching in her throat.
She buried her face in the pillow and let out a soft squeak.
She had given herself to Celine. Her best friend. Her roommate. Her everything. And it had felt right.
After stewing in the warmth of both embarrassment and joy, she finally slid out of bed. Naked and sore in all the most satisfying ways, she padded quietly to the bathroom, grabbing her robe from the back of the door. The hot shower was a welcome balm, and she stood there longer than usual, watching the steam swirl while letting her thoughts catch up to her emotions.
By the time she stepped out, wrapped in a towel and hair damp, she felt lighter. Not just from the shower--but from the growing certainty in her heart.
When she walked into the kitchen, she found Celine sitting casually at the counter, legs crossed in gym shorts, sipping coffee from her favorite ceramic mug. Her long legs were tucked up on the stool, golden hair still a bit tousled, skin glowing in the morning light.
She looked over as Lia entered--and smiled.
That smile.
It wasn't teasing or smug. It was knowing--warm and affectionate, and full of something deeper than either of them had named yet.
Lia blushed instantly, cheeks burning, but she didn't turn away. Not this time. She let Celine see her.
"Morning," Celine said, voice soft and certain.
"Morning..." Lia replied, fiddling with the hem of her towel as she sat beside her.
Celine poured her a cup of tea without asking--chamomile, just the way Lia liked it.