Page 107 of Whirlwind

“Any other big revelations?”

“Um… I’m a woman.”

“I kind of got that. Um, me too.”

Angel finally pulled away and Nina already missed her warmth. She missed even more that dangerous thrill of having Angel loom over her, crowding her against the wall and taking control.

Angel, apparently remembering that it was polite to give people space, took another step back. Her face was kind now, but tired. Like she’d seen too much.

It didn’t feel right for Angel to look that way.

Nina realized that she hated seeing that expression, even now. Throughout those precious weeks in the dorms, her only dream had been making Angel happy. And now that she was in front of her again, Nina was feeling that same sharp need.

Not that Angel was necessarily interested anymore. Down for a hook-up, clearly. But Angel couldn’t possibly still feel that same burning emotion she’d described from her youth. Nina had missed her chance.

The thought of losing all of that hit her again. The support and care that she could have had during her transition. The smug dominance that had pretty much ruined her for anyone else. It was almost like losing that bright star of a memory all over again.

“I wish we could have a do-over. Just, start all over again.”

Angel put a gentle hand on her cheek. It was far gentler than any touch between them in the past. It almost made her want to cry.

“You want that, sweetheart?”

Angel had never called her anything like that before, either. Especially not with that caring, careful voice.

Fuck, if she could have that again, even for one night, for one little stab at an uncertain future… Yeah, she wanted it.

“Please.” She meant to sound confident, but the word came out as a whisper.

And then Angel was devouring her mouth, pushing in with her tongue like they were already fucking. Nina melted into the wall, surrendering to Angel’s control like she’d been waiting for it all her life. Her head was spinning with velvet pleasure, and then like shooting stars through the black sky as her air ran out.

It didn’t matter, though. Because Angel was kissing her. Angel, Angel, Angel.

When Angel finally let her fill her lungs in a sudden dizzying rush, she stayed pressed against her. “Do I get to take you home, pretty baby?”

Nina nodded. She would go anywhere with Angel if she was going to keep calling her that. Although… “My place is upstairs.”

Angel smirked down at her, dark eyes almost lost in the night. “Even better. Lead the way.”

She took a step back but slid her hand down Nina’s arm until they were holding hands. Another thing they’d never dared to do all those years ago. Another thing that said maybe this was more than just a single night.

She walked past the employee entrance to the bar and unlocked the door to her apartment. Her fingers were steady, to her great surprise. Usually she wasn’t this confident when she brought someone home with her. Not that it happened often.

But this was Angel. Angel who was a whole different person, but also that reckless, unpredictable older student who had been the harbor in the storm and the first person who let her see what might be possible.

They got up the first few stairs when Angel gave a little tug on her hand. Not enough to upset her balance, but enough to get her attention.

Angel looked up at her, dark skin glowing in the stairwell, her hair and dress exquisitely put together like they weren’t going up to Nina’s room to hopefully do mind-blowingly dirty things. She looked like power and hunger, but perfectly composed, all of her attention focused on her prey.

“Nina?”

“Yes?”

“Are you still that slutty little whore you were in my dorm room?”

Oh, fuck. The words rushed through her like a tidal wave, turning her inside out. She could feel her cheeks warm, embarrassment warring with pounding need. She nodded her head.

“Words, slut.”