Page 28 of Sun-Kissed Fangs
“Yes. My older sister is named Hope, and my younger brother is named Henry.”
Maya didn’t just chuckle then. She cackled, the noise so infectious that Harper couldn’t help but join in.
“This isn’t really what I expected today to be like,” Harper said once the laughter had died down. “Figured it would be fun, but notthisfun. I haven’t laughed like this since…”
Her smile fell. Then she groaned. The problem with bad decisions was that they had long-lasting consequences. That included popping into her mind when they weren’t wanted.
“SinceKieran.” She broke away from the path, slumping down on a nearby bench. “Which is kind of tragic, I guess. It’s been a long time since being around him could be described asfun.”
Maya sat next to her. “Dammit. I had my money on him being an asshole from the beginning.”
“Oh, he was. I just pretended he wasn’t. Paid attention to all the good parts rather than the bad ones. They were easier to see past in the beginning. He was nicer back then. He made it feel safe.”
“Made what feel safe?”
Harper tensed. She hadn’t actually meant to share that, but there was something about Maya’s easygoing attitude that kept you talking when you really shouldn’t be.
Blame that pretty smile of hers. It was made to summon secrets.
“The sex,” Harper said casually, eyeing Maya for her reaction. The topic change would have made most people let out a nervous laugh or look away to hide a sudden blush.
Maya did neither. She just narrowed her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
She didn’t sound amused anymore. Instead of responding to Harper’s flirty tone, she’d pivoted the conversation in a more serious direction.
Which wasn’t necessary. Nothing bad had happened. If you ignored a few specific moments.
Her mouth had just gotten in the way, like usual. To shut her up, Kieran had twisted every limit she’d set into awfully creative punishments. He’d said it was normal for the dynamic they were playing out. Even if it hadn’t felt likeplayingby the end.
She hadn’t talked about it before, with anyone. In part because the only person she would consider discussing stuff like this with was Nell, and she didn’t even know about Kieran. But Kieran had also told her not to share anything. Had insisted that their sex life was between them and no one else.
That relationship was over, though. And Maya was waiting for an answer.
“Kinkysex.” Harper armored the comment with a smirk. “Like I said, he was nice at first. Made sure he knew everything I liked and didn’t. If there was an exam on the topic, he would have aced it. But it didn’t work out. Apparently, I’m toobratty.”
Maya regarded her with a surprisingly stern gaze. But then she relaxed, smiling again.
“Sounds like he didn’t know what he was doing. Anyone can be tamed, no matter howbrattythey are. With the right partner at least.”
Harper’s mouth dropped open. “Wait… You know about…”
Maya grinned. The subject of sex made most people flustered, so Harper had thrown in the kinky descriptor, thinking it would summon that kind of reaction.
Instead, Maya redirected the energy right back at her. Like she’d done all goddamn day.
“What can I say? I’ll try anything once.” Maya shrugged, putting her arm on the bench backrest. “Some things I’ll try more than once. I like women with a little fight in them. And I like beating them at their own game.”
Her expression was the very definition of teasing. As though she could tell, despite the darkness, that Harper was blushing.
“You have to be careful with those comments,” Harper said. “And with mine, too. I flirt for a living, so you can’t take it seriously.”
“Fine. I won’t take it seriously.” Maya stroked her thumb over Harper’s chin. “But then you can’t take it seriously either.”
Damn, she was good. The butterflies in Harper’s stomach were undeniable evidence. They didn’t dissipate either, since Maya didn’t withdraw her hand. She stayed put, fingers resting around Harper’s chin in such a natural way it was like being settled there was their sole purpose.
The touch could be broken with ease. Either of them just needed to lean back and the moment would be shattered. But they didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.
