𝙰 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎 (𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆)

[Lady Jace Beleren]

For Bunny <3

A Learning Curve
Chapter 1

Mikaela tapped her nails against the side of the red Solo cup in her hands. No matter how much she stared at the table in front of her and wished silent social cues into the world, it seemed that she would be doomed to listen to stories about what he, Daniel she recalled vaguely, and his "boys" liked to get up to. Not that he was really all that terrible. She had been subjected to far worse just walking around campus. It was just that flirting and talking were both equally difficult for her.

Flirting because she had no memory of ever really being interested in it. No boyfriends, no first kiss, no anything. At first, she hoped college would be different. Now, just finished up her first semester, that hope had gone away. Her roommate, bless sweet Anya, had been so incredibly sweet about everything. About her weird roommate who never seemed to show much interest in other people. That led to the other problem. Conversation.

Mikaela always found speaking with people to be a complicated web of bullshit that had no solution. You could try your best and be turned away, never to know what went wrong. Even worse, if you were too kind, people assumed they could get to do things for them. So, she only spoke with people she had gotten to know. Painted herself on the wall like a pretty flower when strangers were around. And yet, somehow, she had ended up at a party.

Finals were over and Anya had told her about a party. Mikaela, as always, had been skeptical. But, there were going to be free drinks, not too many people, and Anya had promised the older girl who invited her would only be allowing fun people in. Anya, unfortunately, knew most of the people here. Apparently half of the physics department at Harden University were besties and met up like this regularly. Which meant Anya disappeared to talk with them. At the least, Mikaela had free beer, another thing Anya had introduced her to early in their friendship.

Now, it was all she has to keep her distracted while Daniel talked at her. Her focus was directed so intensely at the coffee table that she did not notice when he finally stopped until a new voice joined them above the low murmur of the party.

"She isn't interested, Dan. Don't be a pain in the ass." The voice was strict, but surprisingly soft given what it said. Mikaela looked up to see the source and nearly dropped her cup.

Standing above the couch, half leaning on one of the arms, was the prettiest girl she had ever seen. Even leaning as she was, it was clear she was on the taller side for a woman, probably only a few inches short of six feet. Her hair was a bold combination of dark scarlet and fathomless black, long enough to reach her shoulder on one side with an undercut on the other. She was pale as snow, her bloody red lipstick and dark eye liner making it stand out even more. Most striking of all, her eyes were so green they shone in the light. Mikaela had no idea how long she stared before Daniel replied.

"We were just having a conversation, right..." The silence hung like a guillotine over Daniel.

"Mikaela." Her voice was thin even by her own standards.

"I wasn't forcing her to sit here or anything."

The beautiful woman sighed and gave Daniel a withering look that she doubted anyone could weather for long. Not if they suspected they were doing anything wrong. It took Daniel about seven seconds to give in and stand. He did not seem especially angry, but there was something about his posture Mikaela thought was strange. He muttered a quiet "sorry Bella" as he slipped around pretty girl.

It happened from time to time. Mikaela would see someone who was visually pleasing. But, it never went further than a glance. Never lingered. She was sure she would forget about this woman, Bella, before the party was over. That is, until she felt the cushion sink down beside her and a shoulder nudged her own. Mikaela looked over to see that Bella had settled onto the couch beside her.

"Sorry about him. Dan isn't like... a creep or anything. I don't invite creeps to my parties. He just talks a lot and you looked panicked. I'm Bella. I don't recognize you." There was no accusation in her voice, just curiosity. It only took Mikaela a moment to figure out that she was the cool older student Anya talked about.

"I'm Anya's plus one. Blonde with the curly hair." The little smile told Mikaela that Bella knew who she meant immediately. However, it took only a moment for that to turn into a long silence as Bella looked at her, likely waiting for more. "I'm a freshman. Psychology major."

"Do you usually go by Freshman or Psychology Major? Should I call you Psych for short?"

Mikaela felt the blush immediately spread across her face, one hand releasing its death grip on her cup to nervously push hair away from her face. "My name is Mikaela." A quick sip of her beer was the only thing that came to mind. She would need to find Anya or more alcohol if she wanted to survive.

"Mikaela is a cute name. I always just get Twilight jokes. I am going to guess that Anya left you alone to go flirt with Cam." There was a small and knowing smile on Bella's lips. Like she knew everything about everyone she invited to these things. And now Mikaela was next to he studied.

Mikaela, however, just gave her a little nod. It seemed Bella understood exactly why Daniel had gone on talking for so long. She was ready for the gorgeous woman to get up and leave. After all, it was a party. Except, she stayed right where she was. Just looked at Mikaela with nothing but kindness on her face. It must have been another thirty seconds before Mikaela felt the silence too heavily to stay quiet.

"So... this is your apartment?" Mikaela felt her stomach flip over at how widely Bella grinned.

 

[Lady Jace Beleren]

Chapter 2

Mikaela was laughing and Bella could not help the smile that seemed to be a centerpiece of her face tonight. It had honestly been fun trying to tease out bits of information from this stray freshman who showed up at her party. Eighteen years old, Psychology Major, born on the east coast. More than that, Mikaela was firmly what Bella considered her type. There was no way she was taller than five foot, and she looked like a princess. Long, dark red hair, the kind of color Bella would have killed to get. Her blue eyes and generous spray of freckles put her firmly in the ginger category. She was terminally shy, but still showed up in an adorable blue and white gingham sundress. Clearly west coast winter did not fazed her.

There was only one problem. Mikaela seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that Bella was interested. From the faces she was making, she knew what Daniel was looking for. Maybe Bella was a hypocrite for chasing him off, only to spend the next hour asking questions and poking. But, they were both on their third Solo cup and Mikaela seemed to be loosening up. She had even sent Anya on her way when she checked in.

"So, I know all your info now. But, I've been asking all the questions. It's your turn." Bella was leaning closer now, sitting with her shoulder pressed to Mikaela's, that stupid fucking smile she could not stop creeping back up.

"Um... I guess all the same stuff you asked me?" Even her little freckles could not hide the creeping blush that came with having to do the talking. It made Bella want to give her a hug, but she settled for answering instead.

"I'm twenty three, second year of my master's program for physics. Which is why I inherited the obligation of hosting the physics department hookup parties." The words hookup had Mikaela suddenly wide-eyed, looking around. "I'm a local, my parents have two cats and a dog. What else did I ask?"

There was a small lull, one of a dozen that had crept up. Most people would have found it awkward, but she was enjoying watching the redhead fidget, never pushing her to talk more or answer faster. However, this time, Mikaela was just looking up at her, blue eyes wide like an owl. The quiet stretched on longer than normal, but of them just watching. Until, finally, a small voice spoke up. "I can't remember. I don't know the last time I talked this much."

Bella smelled blood in the water. Two cups of shitty beer was not enough to have Mikaela forgetting conversations. So, she decided to pick a question that got more to the point. "Well, Mikaela... do you have a boyfriend?"

Neither of them really needed an answer. It was fairly obvious that this little wallflower was not dating regularly. However, when her entire face lit up pink, Bella suddenly felt guilty. Why was she being such a nosy bitch when obviously Mikaela was just tagging along with her roommate?

"No..." Mikaela was so quiet that Bella leaned in closer. She could practically feel the heat flowing off her cheeks. When the shy girl noticed, she spoke up a little and answered again. "No."

Bella suddenly found herself feeling a little shy as well. Why, she had no idea. Instead, all she could think to do was rephrase, try again. "What about a girlfriend?"

That broke something fundamental in Mikaela, had her shoulders go stiff and her eyes dance between Bella and the coffee table. It was a long time before she answered, this time not looking up. "I've never dated anyone before."

"Seriously?! You are so cute, though." Bella wanted to bite her tongue as soon as it slipped out. Now there was no getting around it. She was flirting shamelessly, being the worst kind of hypocrite. And now, she was feeling a bit like a creep. Mikaela was five years younger, nothing in the relative scale of things, but she had never dated. Meanwhile, Bella was... experienced. She felt like a creep, plying this poor girl with alcohol and almost asking if she was interested in hooking up. She was ready to apologize and go find Anya when Mikaela turned to look at her with those wide eyes and confessed like she was admitting to sin.

"I've never wanted to. I talked to a few people about it. I think I might be ace or something? I don't know. Does that make me a weirdo?" Mikaela seemed to be very concerned about the answer and Bella found herself wanting to go find the nearest cliff the throw herself off. She had scared the girl into coming out to a stranger. All she could think to do was try to be gentle.

"That doesn't make you a weirdo. And you didn't have to explain anything to me. Do you want me to go fuck off like the nosy asshole I am?" Bella's face showed her remorse. If there was one thing she could understand, it was having people give you shit for not being their version of normal. As it had so many times, the silence stretched for a while. This time, it was Bella's turn to stare at the coffee table. And, when the silence started to become painful, Bella took that as a hint. She would go find Anya.

And she almost tripped as she went to stand and Mikaela pulled her down to sit again. It was surprising how much the little pixie managed, especially when one hand still held her drink. Mikaela stared at her fiercely now, like she was holding a whole conversation in her head and did not like the outcome. The redhead lifted the cup to her mouth and took a long, gulping drink, her fingers still tight on Bella's wrist. It made the older woman smile, made her want to explain that a sudden chug was not going to make her feel better.

"I don't think I would mind. If it was you." Mikaela's cheeks were now burning red, but she looked determined.

"Are you asking me out on a date, Mikaela?"

There was no long silence before the other girl nodded vigorously.

 

[Lady Jace Beleren]

Chapter 3

Mikaela stared at herself in the little mirror propped on her desk. Today, she had probably spent more time looking at herself than the rest of her life combined. Doing this in the bathroom would have been too embarrassing, given that anyone could walk in whenever they felt like it. Most people were already packing up to head home now that finals were over, but having someone catch her checking her outfit would have been mortifying. No, she was better off with Anya, who sat on her bed and evaluated her roommate with the keen eye of someone who had actually been on a date before.

"I think you're trying too hard. She flirted with you all night and you weren't even wearing makeup. Just do your usual wholesome and innocent thing." It was probably the fifth time Anya had expressed a similar opinion. Not that it was fair for Legally Blonde Anya to give advice. Mikaela had been jealous from the moment they met, though she never really understood why.

"Easy for you to say. Cam looked like he was ready to die, all goals in life complete, when you kissed him." It had been sweet, chaste. Likely because Mikaela had been ten feet away, waiting for her roommate to come with her into their dorm building.

Talking with Anya had come naturally, and evolution from necessity to friendship. Asking if she was hungry turned into complaining about classes. Now, it felt like she was with family. Natural and easy. It had been the only reason Mikaela even went to the party. She would likely follow Anya into Mordor if it meant keeping this connection alive. Which, it seemed, went both ways, considering that Anya had been sitting and going over outfits for two hours now. They had hit a bit of a dead-end when they realized Mikaela's wardrobe ranged from cute to Mormon house wife. Her sundress from the party had been as sexy as it got.

Anya was four inches taller and in possession of several times the amount of breasts, so borrowing was out of the question. The most amazing part was that, for the first time in her life, that mattered. She wanted Bella to think she was attractive and it was so fucking weird. There had been attempts at dating. Friends who wanted more than friends. Mikaela had tried. Really tried. But, even an attempt at kissing had shut the whole thing down. She had always known she was not sex repulsed, had desires on her own. Having them apply to another living, breathing human being was a surprise. Now, it felt like everything was on overdrive. Like it been building up, waiting for the right moment.

"Are you sure I can't wear the dress again? She liked it." Anya's sigh was dramatic enough to be an answer. The blonde looked her over before doubling down in the dramatic sighs and threw herself off the bed to stalk over to her dresser.

"Fine. I'll give you something to wear. But, you are forbidden from complaining about it. Your pearls will remain unclutched." If it had sounded exasperated, Mikaela might have felt safe. Startlingly, Anya sounded excited. So, when Mikaela gave her a nod, she had a feeling she would regret it.

-----

Mikaela tugged at the skirt for probably the sixth time since she sat down. It was black and just long enough to sit atop her knees as she waited at the little table on the patio of the coffee shop. That meant it was shorter than anything she had worn by her own choice. The cherry blossom pink button up shirt was much more her style, except it was so thin that it mostly created the illusion of clothing. Thankfully, she had her own tank top to wear underneath, despite repeatedly informing Anya it was an undershirt. The black fabric stood out under the pink until it blended with the skirt at her hips. Anya had forbidden her from doing up more than half the buttons, insisting she already looked like she was on a job interview. Mikaela felt like she was exposed to the world. She had cleavage showing, for fucksake.

Except, when Bella arrived, the other woman seemed to light up. She had waved and disappeared inside to get her own drink. All plans had gone into stop-and-start conversation that ended with Mikaela not being able to pick something. She had been afraid Bella might call everything off in the two days since the party, but yesterday she had sent one message. "I'll take care of it." Mikaela could have wept for joy. So, they were meeting up for coffee before Bella whisked her off on whatever she thought was a fun date. It seemed unlikely she would be bored, to say the least.

That was more or less confirmed when Bella finally came out the side door, massive cup of coffee and whipped cream in her hand. She could have been carrying a bomb covered in neon signs and Mikaela would not have seen it. When she waved, the redhead had only seen her from the shoulders up. Now, Mikaela was fairly certain her heart stopped. Or dropped into her stomach. Or both.

Bella was wearing an all black dress covered in cute cartoon skulls. Unlike the sundress she had so desperately tried to wear again, this one hugged tight to generous curves. It cut off mid-thigh and led into the fishnet stocking that covered pale legs. The neckline plunged low, showing off more cleavage than Mikaela could have conjured with a pushup bra and a miracle. When they had met, Bella had been wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, and she had been stunning. This was torture. All she could think to do was lift her cup to her mouth and fill her mouth with peach tea to avoid saying something stupid. Or just sitting with her mouth open.

Bella settled across from her, seemingly so confident as she crossed her legs and leaned forward. There was a big smile on her lips as she looked Mikaela over in a polite way. Like she knew anything more might scare her off. "You look cute. But, I think you would look amazing in a plastic bag."

Mikaela was malfunctioning. That was the only way to describe the things that fired off randomly in her brain. Was this what everyone felt when they saw a gorgeous woman dressed up just for them? It was so distracting, so difficult to keep her eyes in one place. There was a trademark silence between them again, but this time it was because Mikaela forgot words existed. When she finally remembered that it would he polite to actually speak, it must have been almost too long. They both started at the same time.

"You look..."

"So are you..."

Another pause, but only for a heartbeat before Bella laughed and it made Mikaela want to melt into a puddle. "Go ahead."

"You look... really pretty. I like your dress." Mikaela felt her face starting to heat up.

Bella preened, like a compliment from Mikaela was so much more valuable. She was about to inform the other woman that she still appreciated attractive people, but Bella spoke first. "I thought about dinner and a movie, but that felt too cliché for your first date. Plus, lots of people. Would you rather it be a surprise?"

If Mikaela had not already been in the throes of her first crush, it would have started there. It felt unfair to rob Bella of her surprise when she clearly thought about this a lot. So, Mikaela lifted her drink to her lips and gave a small nod again.

Bella sat back in her chair and looked rather smug. "Alright. Buckle up, buttercup."

-----

Buckling up had probably been an overstatement, but Mikaela had smiled stupidly anyway. It seemed they were staying on campus, but she was grateful she had gone with sneakers. The park was a regular figure of campus activities. All the social events the school held were there. Mikaela had yet to visit it. But, they had been walking among the orange leaves for a while now, sharing occasional information and asking questions. Bella had gotten into the habit of providing her own answer for everything she asked before making Mikaela respond.

She was the middle child between two brothers, had never dated any cis men before, planned to start graduate school after she finished her master's, and thought turtles were the superior pet because they could outlive their owner if you got the right kind. Apparently, she planned to leave her entire estate to her turtle, when she got around to getting one. When Mikaela laughed at that, Bella wore the same face she had seen on Cam.

Mikaela was an only child, had already expressed her dating history, wanted to go to med school, and still thought cats were better than turtles even if they could not inherit you worldly belongings. She had expected it to be harder to talk with Bella when there was zero alcohol involved. Somehow, it was easier. They were alone, most of the campus a ghost town, and having all the attention solely on her felt... exhilarating. When they finally walked through a little arch, covered in ivy, Mikaela would have already called it a successful date. Then, she realized where they stood.

"Oh my god. Did you use Anya to spy on me?" Mikaela felt a hand close on her own as she looked around, and did not hesitate to squeeze back.

Bella had obviously texted her roommate at some point because they now stood in the sculpture garden. It had been one of those stupid things she always obsessed over. At her orientation, they hyped it up as some kind of cultural touchstone for the university and Mikaela had asked Anya to go with her a half dozen times. Going alone had felt silly, but Anya had said, quote "those statues are ugly as fuck, Kay." Now that she stood among them, the row of abstract art and questionable knockoff Greek sculpture, Mikaela had to agree she was right.

"I might have done some recon. I refuse to believe that using all my resources is creepy. I will not be taking questions on the matter." Bella laced their fingers and guided Mikaela to the left. The whole thing was one long row, hidden from all sides by lattice fencing and crawled with plant life. "You know this place is like... a huge inside joke right?"

Mikaela shook her head, cheeks flushing as she walked alongside the taller woman, looking over the twisted metal that looked like a giant hamster ball. It was a good thing it was all hideous. She would have been too distracted to enjoy it anyway.

"Yup. They have all kinds of fucked up nicknames. The school just kinda bought whatever was cheap to fake some culture." Bella started pointing as they walked. "Gerbil Jail, Red Light Green Light, Two Men and a Horrifying Baby, The Stinker. Oh, and my favorite!"

Mikaela was already giggling at every little nickname, but then they reached the end of the row. It was a man playing a piano, while a police officer tried to pull him away. It was, Mikaela thought, very unfortunately position. The man leaned over to try to play, with the officer pulling at his shoulders. Proudly, Bella declared. "Sodomy in G Minor!"

Mikaela felt like she was going to pass out when she finally stopped laughing.

 

[Lady Jace Beleren]

Chapter 4

First the statue garden, then burgers and fries that were not from the dining hall. Mikaela was starting to feel like things were actually going well. Like she might be able to manage this whole dating thing. Even her endless staring at the way the dress hugged every curve of Bella's body had calmed down. Conversation had been a little slow, but it was blistering compared to the relative zero she usually managed to maintain. Little things that felt silly to ask several hours into their first date.

Bella's last name was Higgs, but she was not related to the god particle, which was a physics joke Mikaela actually managed to get. She stayed on campus during breaks because she had managed to get herself into the good graces of the grad school mentors and stayed there by doing clerical work part time. She planned to name her hypothetical turtle heir Franklin. It seemed that Bella was happy to keep talking if it meant that Mikaela was comfortable, and she always paused politely when it Mikaela wanted to say something. That alone had earned her undying gratitude.

The sun had set while they were eating and Bella led the way to their final destination. Honestly, they could have been heading to Hell itself and Mikaela would have marched after like a good soldier. Instead, they stopped at a park bench and Bella sat without a word. Mikaela looked around, trying to find what the goal was. They were at the little pond she sometimes walked past on the way to classes, but there was nothing else. A little confused, but willing to trust, she sat on the bench and turned to look at Bella.

"I just like this spot. After sunset, at least. People eat lunch here all the time during the day. But, I thought it was only fair I share something since I interrogated Anya about you." The gorgeous woman was smiling a little, but her eyes stayed on the dark water of the pond. Mikaela, on the other hand, could only stare at her profile.

They had been together for only a few hours total, but she was beginning to suspect why Bella caught her interest so much. Her looks were obviously pleasing, but there was something else. The way she seemed to genuinely care about the people around her. She had been harsh with Daniel at the party, but not cruel. Like they both knew he was in the wrong and he just needed a gentle reminder. She never rushed Mikaela even if talking could be hard. She was funny and bright, despite dressing like the queen of the night. Maybe it was just a crush, but Bella certainly deserved to be the first one.

The quiet stretched out again, almost natural now that they had allowed it to happen so often. Bella was watching the water, and Mikaela noticed that the stars were beginning to come out, reflecting on the pond like a mirror. Even then, she found herseld staying right where she was, half turned so she could watch the older woman. When Bella finally turned, her expression changed to something like surprise. Maybe she was being a little too intense, or maybe Bella saw something in her face Mikaela was unaware of.

All she knew was that when Bella leaned in, retreating was not even a thought in her head.

It was the first time anyone had kissed her, at least in any meaningful way. The others could have been considered accidents or mistakes. Someone who had been overeager and scared her away. This was not that. The first thing that struck her was how incredibly soft Bella's lips were. A hand lifted to the side of her face and Mikaela let her eyes drift completely closed, surprised to hear the soft sound that came from her own throat. This was nice. Gentle and almost innocent. Bella was being considerate, letting her decide how she felt about all of this. That only made it sweeter.

Only, a moment later, those amazing, soft lips began to pull away. Mikaela panicked, not ready to let go of it, and her arms went around Bella's neck before she could catch herself. She tugged Bella back in and made their mouths meet in a clumsy and inexperienced kiss with Mikaela at the lead. That was how she found out Bella had been holding back.

The hand on her cheek moved to the back of her neck, pulling her deeper into the kiss, her lips parting a little from how close they suddenly were. Bella's other hand found her hip, sliding along it to her lower back. This time, Bella let out a soft moan, mouth opening to match, then wider so that Mikaela would match next. Suddenly, everything felt hot, her stomach floating somewhere into space while liquid heat took its place. Something warm and wonderful brushed against her bottom lip before Bella seemed to catch herself, breaking this kiss and leaving them both panting.

"Sorry... fuck, I'm so sorry Mikaela. I just wanted to kiss you and you pulled me back in and..." The panic in Bella's voice was reflected on her face, but Mikaela could barely hear it over the pulse in her ears.

Was this what people felt like all the time when they kissed? She usually only got like this when she was alone. When she read a particularly satisfying scene in a romance book or read a good fan fiction about her favorite characters. With just a few seconds, Bella had made her feel the kind of desire that made her normal needs feel like a candle in a furnace. And she was apologizing for it.

"Stop." The words felt suddenly firm even in her shaking voice. Bella went from panicked to stricken, hands starting to pull away. Mikaela only tightened her hold around the other woman's neck. "No, stop apologizing. I like it. Please..."

There was so much in that please. So many years of doubt and worry. The realization that she had given up on wanting someone without meaning to. When Bella finally figured it out, finally leaned back in, Mikaela was not ashamed to admit she moaned into her mouth as they kissed again.

 

[Lady Jace Beleren]

Chapter Five

They had kissed. Bella had tried to start off with something sweet. After all, she had more or less confessed she had zero experience by choice. She should not have even tried for a kiss on the first date. It was stupid and greedy. Except, Mikaela had been so cute. All freckles and red hair, wearing a skirt that was just short enough to have Bella glancing down at her legs without being even remotely provocative if you were not some rampaging pervert. Which she knew she was. Especially when she noticed the freckles went all the way down to the little dip at her collar.

Bella had it bad and she knew it. So, she kissed her. And Mikaela had been so eager that Bella lost it. So, they had spent fifteen minutes kissing on that bench and when Mikaela bit her tongue playfully she had a feeling that maybe she was underestimating the girl. But, after that first conversation, there was no way she was making any assumptions.

"Do you want to come back to my apartment?" Bella was absolutely sure that she was going to get a resounding no. After all, she was being a creep and asking a girl back to her place on her first ever date.

Mikaela stared up with those pretty blue eyes, cheeks flushed with either embarrassment or arousal. Probably a bit of both. Except, instead of extending into their normal silence, a hand laid over top of her own and squeezed. Bella was beginning to think that the little redhead was going to be dangerous, because there was not a hint of no in that expression.

"Are you su..." Bella almost squeaked with surprise as Mikaela leaned up to kiss her again. Maybe she was being a little harsh on herself.

-----

Mikaela had refused to let go of her hand all the way back to her apartment. While Bella had kept the conversation going to whole time during their date, it felt like there was really nothing to say. Both of them were thinking of something else besides talking. By the time they had skirted through the living room and avoided her roommate, Bella felt like her heart was in her throat. She had been with plenty of women before this, but this felt so different.

It did not help that Mikaela was constantly staring up at her, like she was daring the older woman to take the first step. So, she did the only thing that came to mind and kissed her again. Mikaela moved closer, pressing herself against Bella. When they finally broke apart again, this time back to the short and sweet kiss they started with.

"I haven't done anything like this before. I haven't really wanted to. So, I don't think I'll be very good." Mikaela was practically whispering, but she glanced down, putting a gentle hand on Bella's stomach.

That was it. Lethal damage. Bella was completely fucked. There was no holding back. "Just relax. I don't mind showing you what to do. And you are already very good, Mikaela."

Bella leaned forward and it seemed like Mikaela was preparing for a kiss right up to the moment she tilted her head and pressed her lips to the redhead's neck. Mikaela made a tiny noise somewhere between a gasp and a moan, then froze completely. Her hands moved to sit in her own lap, but the little lean closer told Bella that it was absolutely not a complaint. So, she continued. Put a hand on the younger woman's hip and began to kiss between just under her ear and the curve of her shoulder.

Mikaela melted out of her tense posture, one hand moving to Bella's hair to rub her thumb against the short hair of her undercut. Each kiss prompted a little reaction. A sharp breath, a little shiver, even a squirm. When Bella slid her hand higher, she let it brush over subtle rise of Mikaela's breast, she got a sweet reward. The redhead parted her lips and moaned loud enough that her skin flushed immediately. Only, she just leaned closer. So, Bella pushed a little further. Opened her mouth and let her teeth gently drag against pale skin. It seemed that was what broke the other woman. She leaned completely into Bella and let a shuddering breath leave her.

"A little faster. Please. I'm going to die." Despite her desperate tone, Mikaela still kept one hand in her lap and the other on Bella's hair.

"Aw, are you having too much fun?" Bella dragged her tongue from shoulder to ear, flicking it against the other woman's earlobe.

Mikaela nodded eagerly and Bella decided there was no denying her after that. Her mouth drifted over to find Mikaela's, continuing the heated kissing they had begun on the bench. Both of her hands moved to the buttons of the petite little pixie's shirt, popping them free one by one as their tongues teased and tangled. Mikaela was touching her now, putting hands on her neck, her shoulder, letting them drift down until she felt the soft skin of her tits, then heading back up right before she really touched.

They were forced to part when Bella pushed the shirt off Mikaela's shoulders, their kiss breaking so she could pull the tank top off. And it was too much. Not for Mikaela, who was burning red wish embarrassment, but for Bella. She was wearing the most plain gray bra Bella had ever seen, but she still pounced like an animal. Pushed her sweet virgin partner down and began to lavish her chest with kisses, finding every freckle she could to place her lips on it. Mikaela seemed to know what she wanted as well, shifting and reaching back to unhook her bra and pull it off. Bella purred at her first glimpse of bare breasts.

Mikaela was so flushed that it was halfway down her chest, but the straining peaks of her nipples said how much she needed this. They were so pale you could hardly tell there her nipples started, but that hardly mattered when one was so quickly covered by Bella's mouth. And the sound she heard was perfect. A soft cry of surprise, followed by a pleased moan, two hands sinking into Bella's hair. This close, she was overwhelmed by how good Mikaela smelled, sweet and almost flowery.

"You too. I want to see you." Mikaela was squirming on the sheets, not letting go of Bella's hair even as she asked for her to strip.

So, Bella continued to suck and lick and bite, never giving a moment of rest as she reached back to unzip her dress. Once she heard the zipper, Mikaela released her hold, looking down with glassy and hungry eyes. Bella sat up on her knees, shimmying the dress from her shoulders and down her body. She was confident in her figure, knew she was more traditionally sexy and felt like most people would enjoy it. Mikaela was not most people. She was fairly sure she figured out how the othe girl worked, but that meant looks were not especially important.

From the way Mikaela rushed to push herself back up and shove her face between the valley of her breasts once she had the dress to her waist made Bella think she was safe. Her own underwear was black and lacey, her panties a matching set as the dress rolled down her hips. Mikaela kissed and bit, hands moving to grip Bella's ass as soon as it was available. There was no technique or goal, just desire, and that was so nice in a very new way. The almost painful ache deep inside her core and the slick mess barely hidden by her panties were proof of that.

"I'm supposed to be showing you, Kay." The words were soft and intimate. She had heard Anya call her Kay before, but had been afraid to try it until now.

Kay was busy practically drooling over Bella's tits, which were still mostly hidden behind fabric. "You are so pretty."

Bella laughed softly, her fingers twining into red head before tugging just a little. Like a test. Mikaela gasped with a pretty little sound and looked up. "My turn again."

Mikaela gave a wide-eyed nod and grudgingly gave up her grip on Bella's ass, only to be pushed back down to the bed. The skirt was a little too big, which meant it came off with barely more than a little tug. Bella kicked her own dress off her legs as she pulled the skirt off and dropped it to the floor. The fact that a noticeable dark stain had grown on the front of Mikaela's sky blue panties told her it was time to stop teasing. Given that the other woman was so petite, it was barely an effort to lift her legs and turn her so that she was laying fully on the mattress.

Despite all the stops and starts, there was no attempt to struggle as Bella tugged those panties down Mikaela's hips. She was greeted with a perfect little pink slit, glistening with need and clearly freshly shaved. Bella raised an eyebrow and looked up at the younger woman, one hand moved to brush against the smooth skin of her mound. Mikaela shivered and arched from the touch.

"Do you not like it?" Mikaela's voice was so small and scared that it sparked something a little sadistic in Bella.

She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Kay's forehead. Then, to her nose, her cheek, the corner of her mouth. She kissed her way down to the redhead's belly button, though she did make a stop to lick her nipple and got a nice little gasp for it. Bella did not say a word until her nose brushed that smooth spot Mikaela seemed worried about. "I fucking love it. You are perfect."

Bella extended her tongue and gave that pretty little slit a slow sweep of her tongue and could not suppress the sudden slutty groan that escaped her, her eyes fluttering closed. It was, however, nothing compared to the shocked moan that came from Mikaela. Her thighs parted further, spreading to allow better access while her back arched upward. The second lick caused much the same, eager little hips lifting to try to get more. Whatever was going on in Mikaela's head, it was fully nonverbal, nothing but unrealized desire. So, Bella did what she wanted.

Her hands moved to hold those soft little thighs, parting them further while she opened her mouth to cover the younger woman's slit with her lips. Her tongue pushed between those folds, dragging from her entrance to her clit, moaning from the taste. Because Mikaela was fucking delicious. Beyond delicious. Nothing and no one compared to it. She found herself plunging her tongue into that little opening just to taste more, moaning louder and louder.

Mikaela was matching her sounds, eclipsing them as she writhed with newfound pleasure. Her eyes were wide, watching Bella with shock. Suddenly, Bella was curious all over again. She pulled away, giving another long lick to hold her over. "Have you ever cum before?"

Mikaela was panting, had to stop to swallow before she could talk. Then, when the words did not come out, she simply shook her head no. Bella let go of one of those thighs and there was a small whine, like Kay needed every touch. Unfortunately, Bella was not exactly under control either. She slipped that hand in her own panties, curling two fingers to plunge them into herself, slowly fucking her own eager cunt as she lowered her head. She was going to make Mikaela learn every good thing Bella could provide.

Soon, she was dragging her tongue in long and torturous strokes, starting just below her slit and going all the way up to curl her tongue and flick against her clit. Each flick had Mikaela twitching, her hips lifting to try for more. Bella had switched to rubbing two fingers against her clit, letting it rest in the valley between them so it got all the friction she needed. Mikaela was a wire, pulled so tight she could snap it on demand. She just wanted to snap alongside the little pixie.

When she finally felt her own orgasm rising, her core clenching around nothing as it begged for attention, she buried her face in Mikaela's perfect cunt. Nose pressed against her mound, she put the other girl's clit between her lips and sucked softly, tongue tip making aggressive circles. The reward was immediate as Mikaela grabbed fistfuls of hair and rose off the bed tight as a bow string. Sneaking past her roommate was clearly pointless as Mikaela moaned long and loud, eyes still open, but unseeing as she left this plane of existence.

Bella followed a moment later, hips jerking as she grinded against her own fingers, soaking her panties further. But, even as her breathing went erratic and her thoughts turned to an empty white, her mouth stayed, sucking desperately to just get more. What she needed, she was unsure. Just that, when it came to Mikaela, it would always be more.

 

[Lady Jace Beleren]

Chapter 6

Mikaela was pretty sure she had screamed. At least, it felt like it. She had never made a sound that loud before, barring maybe yelling as a child. Now, she was whining and squirming, trying to push Bella away as the older woman just kept licking. Every flick of her tongue, every greedy suck, was pushing her already sensitive body so hard it was almost painful. And yet, it was also the best feeling in the world. Whether she was being pushed immediately into a smaller orgasm or just continuing the first, she arched her back again, heels digging into the sheets.

"Too much!" Her voice was breathy, but it seemed to get through because Bella finally stopped.

She lacked the energy to even sit up, but Bella rose up to meet her, straddling her hips and staring down while her lopsided hair fell to the mattress. Mikaela saw the shine on her lips even as she licked them clean, saw so much in those eyes that scared her. Not because it had been bad, but because it had been so fucking good. Bella seemed to hesitate for some reason, hovered a few inches above, her bra tickling as it brushed against Mikaela's nipples, though the fabric felt surprisingly good. Whatever she was waiting for, the redhead was too overwhelmed to wait with her. She needed to be grounded.

So, she wrapped her arms around Bella's neck and pulled her down. That was when she understood why Bella had hesitated. Mikaela could taste her own wetness, especially when her tongue slipped between the older girl's lips. And to her own surprise, she tightened her hold and deepened the kiss, shocked to hear the pleased sounds coming from her own mouth. Bella understood, it seemed, because she lowered her body, played with Mikaela's tongue in a way that had her toes curling. Had she taken time to catch her breath after cumming, they could have kissed for an eternity. Unfortunately, Mikaela had to pull away to suck down oxygen.

"How was it?" Bella flopped to the side, laying on the bed while her hand moved to rest on Mikaela stomach.

It felt like an impossible question to answer. Just saying good felt inadequate. Earthshaking. Mind-numbing. Really good. That felt inaccurate as well. Finally, she decided to just explain how she felt now.

"I'm really glad that we did this. I don't usually make new friends and this was... amazing." Mikaela turned on her side, smiling shyly at Bella.

The change in Bella's expression was sudden and drastic, like Mikaela had slapped her. That was enough to trigger the panic she normally felt in new social situations. She had made a mistake, said something wrong. It was enough to give her whiplash how sharply her emotions changed. From floating on the echoes of pleasure to wanting to hide, to disappear. Bella had never made her feel like this, had caused a whole new range of feelings to crop up. It was a shame to end up back where she started. Maybe she was broken.

"Is that what you want? To just be friends?" There was so much sadness in Bella's words, but acceptance. Like it was a peace offering.

That made her feel stupid. God, she was so stupid. Anya had said Bella was with different girls all the time. But, the panic was still tight around her throat, tears burning hot against the backs of her eyes. She was going to fuck this all up. She was drifting into one of those silences that had been so comfortable before. No. Nononono! She had never gotten to feel like this before and now Bella was drifting away, and not just emotionally. She was lifting her hand off of Mikaela's belly, turning to lay flat.

"No!" It tore out of her as intensely as the pleasure had. She gripped Bella's wrist and pulled her hand back, clutching it tight to her chest between her breasts.

The slow blinks, the surprise, was so much better than the hurt expression she had just seen. Bella just stared, eyes a little wide. Like thawing ice, a smile broke through and Bella was pressing her nose just under the redhead's ear. She kissed ravenously, like letting her rest for a moment might undo the word. Mikaela wanted to say she stood her ground and tried to stay serious. Bella dragged her tongue along her throat and her eyes fluttered shut, soft moans on her lips again.

"I want you to be my girlfriend, Mikaela. I can take you back to this room every day if you want. Or not. I don't care. I just... feel so relaxed around you." Bella was practically whispering in her ear, which she then proceeded to bite surprisingly hard.

From how she was acting, Mikaela suspected not wanting to have sex again would have been a strain. Not that it would be an issue, given how good it had been. It was hard to blame herself for never trying it when every potential partner made her feel nothing. Whatever Bella unlocked, it was overflowing. Every kiss had her body getting hot, her core aching to be touched. When she used her hold on Bella's wrist to move that hand to her breast, the other woman purred against her skin, squeezing rougher than she expected.

At some point, she would need to text Anya she was not coming home tonight.

-----

Mikaela opened her eyes to a pair of gorgeous tits. They were mostly covered by the sheet that had been their blanket, but she could see a little bit of rosy pink that somehow had her heartbeat spiking from just a glance. She was curled up on Bella's shoulder, arm draped over the older girl's stomach. Normally, she would have expected to be disoriented waking up in a strange room. Right now, her body was so full of memories of the night that it could never forget.

Bella had brought her to orgasm four times before they finally curled up to sleep. It was a dramatic increase, going from zero to four all in one night. She had barely touched Bella, by comparison. In truth, she had tried. Wanted to learn how to please her new girlfriend.

The thought gave her pause. Girlfriend. It was just as dramatic go from being fairly sure you were ace to dating and having sex in a few days. When she had been curious about the things she did not feel, wondered why her friends all wanted to date and fuck, but she did not, she had looked into it. Gone to her high school LGBTQ+ group, a few queer teens trying to help the others feel normal and a teacher trying to help them understand. They had told her a whole slew of information. Told her she might find someone eventually, but if she did not it would be okay.

Despite how world altering last night had been, she could not conjured another face that she might want to do that with. Bella was the right combination of comfort and appearance. Like a special person made just for Mikaela. Which was incredibly embarrassing to even think. For now, that could be a private thought just for her. For now, she could just close her eyes and enjoy being next to her special person.

Bella chose that moment to arch and stretch, rolling so that Mikaela was pressed to her chest, her head tucked under the other woman's chin. It prompted a little laugh, which had Bella opening her eyes.

"Don't laugh at me. I like cuddling." Before Mikaela could even respond, she was being squeezed tighter, which only made her laugh harder.

"I won't stop you. But, you are going to shove my face into..." The words trailed off as the redhead felt her brain catch up to reality. She could not say boobs out loud. Not in front of Bella.

"Into my tits? Oh, no. That would be terrible." Even as she said it, Bella shifted herself upward, pressing Mikaela's face between her breasts.

A giggle came from the valley before she pulled her head back and looked at what was in front of her. God, Bella was beautiful. Not just her face. She was exactly what a person might think of when you thought of a hot goth, but Mikaela had never really appreciated it before. Pretty pale skin, curves that made whatever she wore look amazing. The fact that her breasts were significantly bigger than Mikaela's own and her butt was round and perfect was becoming a regular distraction. It was amazing anyone could function feeling like this all the time.

Now that they were in front of her, Mikaela decided to make up for last night. She put her mouth on Bella's nipple, which had already been stiffening before her eyes. Her tongue lapped at it curiously, the taste of Bella's skin surprisingly nice. Bella responded by gasping and putting a hand in her hair. She thought her girlfriend would encourage her. Instead, she pulled her away, which prompted a little whine.

"Hey, now. I want to focus on you for now. I've had plenty of orgasms before last night. And I had plenty last night too." Bella ran her fingers through Mikaela's hair, smiling.

Mikaela wanted to pout, wanted to demand that Bella let her return the favor. But, the idea of demanding anything was frightening enough to stop her. After all, Bella knew best. The kiss that immediately followed was enough to wipe those thoughts away, too. Her brain was just so full of Bella, there was no room for pouting.