Megan pulled away ever so slightly. “What?”
“Less tongue. I’m not a huge fan,” Ashley repeated.
Megan’s face flushed. Embarrassed, but she didn’t pull away. “So you’re basically saying I’m a bad kisser?” Her breath was on Ashley’s lips, teasing as she nibbled on her bottom lip. The sensation sent shockwaves throughout her body.
“I never said that,” she whispered, her heart rate increasing withevery word.
Megan smirked, “I’m not offended, let me trythis again.”
The confidence aroused Ashley. The initial kiss was always a risk; she had been too intimidated in the past by the intensity of the situation to say anything of the sort, but Ashley had learnt biting her tongue (mind the pun) got her absolutely nowhere in her past relationships. The kiss was the single most important thing at the start of any relationship. It builds chemistry, passion and desire; three things Ashley felt an abundance of inthat moment.
Megan’s hand grasped the nape of her neck. That was all the encouragement she needed. They stumbled towards the bed; Ashley fell backwards, pulling Megan on top of her flailing body. The inelegant way in which they fell caused a fit of laughter, easing any remaining tension.
Ashley felt all the emotions she expected when kissing Megan for the first time—desire, excitement, nerves—but what she didn’t expect to feel was familiarity. She hated a cliché, whether that be love at first sight or love conquers all, to name a few. It didn’t conquer all, otherwise, her past relationships would have worked. Despite her previous scoffs at the concept, she found herself wondering if it was a cliche to feel you’d known/met someone before? Maybe in a previous life—if you believe in that sort of thing. Ashley was sceptical, but open to being persuaded.
Trying to avoid the disruption in her head, she continued to explore Megan’s lips. Her hands roamed under her t-shirt, edging it closer to being removed.
“Ash...” There was a brief knock at the door, the kind of knock someone does whilst opening the door, defeating the object completely, “...Jason’s here, he wants the jacket back you borrowed.”
Madison barged in, unaccustomed to the word privacy, “Whoops.”
“Madison,seriously?”
Megan rotated and removed herself from the straddled position, hastily tugging at her unkempt hair.
“Sorry, you know what he’s like. Where is it?” Madison preceded to rummage through her closet. Ashley’s position on the bed didn’t change; she lay propped up on her elbows, awaiting Madison’sswift exit.
“Ash...girl...where you at?” a voice called from down the corridor, growing louder as it closed in. Disturbance number 2—Jason—the timing of her friends was outrageous, as always.
“There you are, girl. I need the denim jacket I let you borrow. I have a date tomorrow and it will go perfectly withmy outfit.”
Jason was a close friend of Ashley’s, going back to her first bar job in New York. They had only worked together for three months, but they hit it off instantly. He was the only gay man in her life and he was quick to remind her that was allshe needed.
“Damn, have I interrupted something?” The ‘damn’ was drawn out for dramatic effect; he stood in the doorway with one handon his hip.
“No, Madison kindly interrupted on your behalf!” Ashley launched the closest thing she could find at her best friend, who was still buried inher closet.
“Jason, this is Megan.”
“Hey, sweetie, it’s great to meet you.” He marched across the room and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you too, Jason. I recognise you actually.”
“You’ll have seen him at Midtown 101. He’s the manager there.”
Megan nodded, “That’s right.”
“Honey, I’m the manager unless you’re complaining, then I like to pass people on to my superior, Mr. Bird.” Jason showed the back of his hand with just the middle finger extended upwards, followed by a mischievous wink. Megan found the gesture hilarious.
“You’re the cute one that ordered an Appletini?” Jason raisedhis eyebrow.
“An Appletini? At 101?” Ashley taunted.
“Give me a break. How was I to know that wasn’t athing here?”
“Sweety, an Appletini is like asking for Caviar at Wendy’s.” Ashley laughed uncontrollably, whilst Jason remained as straight-faced as ever. Megan was the butt of the joke, but she didn’t care. She embraced it and Ashley admired that.
Madison emerged from the closet moments later. “Where is the damn jacket, Ash?”
