My best enemy

Maea

The worst of all blessings

Conflicting emotions clashed beneath the surface, a raging storm noticeable only by her eyes. They moved like she watched a replay of what he described, searching for something to latch onto, some flaw in the matrix that would be the catalyst for the building tension to erupt onto.

But nothing did. A slow exhale left her when he got to the part where Flora repeated her own response to a teasing query, like steam being let out to lower the pressure. Coming alive again, Maea freed an arm and rubbed a spot on her chin - gazed off down the river, and finally nodded.
"I'm not angry," she said quietly. "Not at you, anyway. More at myself. If I'd been honest with myself from the start – " But that was a pointless line of thought, that she didn't care to entertain. "Honestly, I worried more about Flora. If she realized I had feelings for you, and kissed you anyway – " Turning back and raising her chin to look at Liam, her eyes flashed with a dangerous expression, pre-emptive hurt and rage with nowhere to go boiling on the inside. "But fortunately, it doesn't seem to be the case." And even if a possessive jealousy burned at the audacity of the Doubletake, it was satisfying to know that Liam had turned herr down. Had it been hard for him to do so? Did any part of him regret it, wondering what it would have been like?

Grinding her teeth together, Maea impulsively reached up on tiptoes, her hand catching him by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him down towards her so she could kiss him. Hard lips seemed to want to devour him, to erase any lingering taste of that golden queen who should be able to pick and choose from any number of suitors. She didn't need this one. Had no business putting hands on him, and if she ever tried again – there would be hell to pay.

The most beautiful of curses

Base by Skylark

Who was it that led you on
And makes you want to hurt me so?

If Liam regretted anything, it was that he’d allowed himself to get into a position to have to turn Flora down. He had never been one to entertain casual flings, and the mere memory of her kiss was enough to bring on a deep shame - he certainly wouldn’t be looking for the Doubletake any time soon, that much was certain.

Learning that Maea wasn’t angry with him eased something sharp and jagged in Liam’s chest. He relaxed, having been unaware that he had even tensed. What Flora knew or did not know seemed immaterial to Liam - she had had suspicions, clearly, even if she had been told otherwise, and that seemed like enough to dissuade her from making any moves towards him - however meaningless they might have been.

Opening his mouth to say something - what, we may never know - Liam was interrupted by Maea’s grip on his shirt, tugging him suddenly to her. Her kiss was possessive, and Liam responded in kind, cupping her face in one hand while tangling the fingers of the other in her hair. ”I am yours,” Liam growled against her lips. And nothing and no one would tear them apart.

Who do you want to forget?
Who forgot you long ago?

Liam

Maea

The worst of all blessings

It came down to respect, at the end of the day. You didn't go after the guy your friend was interested in, not if there was any genuine concern about their well being. But perhaps they hadn't gotten far enough to earn that label, Flora and her. Maybe they had wildly different ideas on how to cope with life and loss, and that's how the woman had chosen to ignore any suspicions about repressed and unvoiced emotions until Liam's rejection made that impossible. It wasn't enough to confront her with, yet Maea found it difficult to let the matter drop like she wanted to. It left a bad taste in her mouth - and she kissed Liam again, and again, until the hunger for him erased everything else from her thoughts.

"I'm yours," he said, without turning away from her lips and greed. She softened at that; fingers easing up around his collar, she sank back on her feet, startling the fish in the process. "Mine," she agreed, breathless but reassured. "And I'm yours. For as long as you want me." No, longer - forever, probably.

The most beautiful of curses

Base by Skylark

Who was it that led you on
And makes you want to hurt me so?

Liam leaned to follow her as she sank back down to her feet; he pressed one more lingering kiss to her lips before gently disentangling his fingers from her hair and leaning his forehead to hers. How he had gotten so lucky was anyone’s guess. But with vows exchanged and forever promised, it seemed like he was fortunate indeed. Not many would understand the depth of his devotion so soon, and yet Maea was meeting him word for word.

The fish darted around their feet, and the woods sighed around them as a breeze rustled past. Not inclined to release Maea any time soon, Liam simply enjoyed the sensation of the wind along his neck, the sun on his back, and the gravel beneath his feet. And when Maea offered herself for as long as he’d want her, he smiled. ”Always.”

fin

Who do you want to forget?
Who forgot you long ago?

Liam