They pulled up to the Crown Hotel, its Victorian facade a stark contrast to the modern interior Emily knew awaited them. As they gathered more flyers, Sophia’s questions continued.
“Have you ever used a safe word?”
Emily nearly dropped the stack she was carrying. “Jesus, Soph! No, I haven’t needed to. Lucas is… he’s attentive. He reads me well.”
As they walked into the hotel lobby, Emily’s mind wandered to Lucas, to his strong hands and piercing blue eyes. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand.
“Look,” she said, handing over a bundle of flyers to the concierge, “can we talk about something else? Anything else?”
Sophia grinned, a wicked glint in her eye. “Not a chance in hell, Em. Not a fucking chance.”
Emily sighed, exasperated but unable to suppress a smile at her friend’s relentless curiosity. They climbed back into the car, the scent of sea salt mingling with the leather interior.
“Fine,” Emily conceded, starting the engine. “What else do you want to know?”
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, I’ve got one. Any other weird things you two have gotten up to?”
Emily snorted, navigating through Seabridge’s narrow streets. “Fuck, you’re nosy. And what exactly are you classing as weird?”
She glanced at Sophia, who was practically bouncing in her seat. Emily’s mind raced, memories of heated encounters with Lucas flashing through her thoughts. The way his hands felt on her skin, the intensity in his eyes when he…
“Earth to Emily!” Sophia waved a hand in front of her face. “Come on, spill. I want all the juicy details.”
Emily rolled her eyes, pulling into the parking lot of their next stop. “Christ, Soph. It’s not like we’re swinging from the chandeliers or anything. We’re just… exploring.”
“Exploring what?” Sophia pressed, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
Emily killed the engine, turning to face her friend. “Look, it’s not about specific acts. It’s about trust, about letting go. Sometimes it’s intense, sometimes it’s playful. But it’s always fucking amazing.”
She paused, considering her next words carefully. “And no, before you ask, I’m not giving you a blow-by-blow account. Some things are private.”
Sophia pouted, but nodded. “Fair enough. But you can’t blame a girl for being curious.”
“Curious is one thing,” Emily laughed, grabbing another stack of flyers. “You’re practically writing a fucking dissertation on my sex life.”
They stepped out of the car, the crisp coastal air a welcome respite from the charged atmosphere inside. As they walked towards the hotel entrance, Emily couldn’t help but feel a mix of embarrassment and pride. She was discovering sides of herself she never knew existed, and despite her reluctance to share every detail, there was a part of her that relished Sophia’s interest.
“Come on,” Emily said, nudging Sophia with her elbow. “Let’s get these flyers dropped off. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll throw you another bone on the way to the next place.”
Sophia’s eyes widened with excitement. “Now you’re talking, Em. Lead the way!”
As they pushed through the revolving doors of the Seabridge Grand Hotel, Emily’s mind wandered to Lucas. She imagined his strong hands on her hips, his lips brushing her ear, whispering…
“Earth to Emily!” Sophia’s voice snapped her back to reality. “You were a million miles away just now. Or should I say, in Lucas’ bedroom?”
Emily felt her cheeks flush. “Shut up,” she muttered, but couldn’t hide her grin. They approached the concierge desk, all business now.
“Flyers for the upcoming art exhibition,” Emily explained, handing over a stack. The concierge nodded politely, barely looking up from his computer.
As they exited, Sophia linked her arm through Emily’s. “Toys?”
Emily groaned. “Jesus, Soph. You’re relentless.” She paused, considering. “Look, it’s not that I’m opposed to it. We just… haven’t gotten there yet. Everything’s so intense already.”
Sophia nodded sagely. “I get it. But maybe a little buzzy friend could take things to the next level?”
Emily laughed, shaking her head. “I’ll keep that in mind, Dr. Love.”
As they walked along the cobblestone path towards their next drop-off point, a gust of wind whipped around them. Emily clutched at her scarf, but not before Sophia caught a glimpse of what lay beneath.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Sophia reached out and tugged the scarf to the side. “Holy shit, Em! He’s really got a thing for your neck, hasn’t he?”
Emily felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks, but she couldn’t suppress the smile that crept across her face. She shrugged, trying to play it cool. “What can I say? The man knows what he likes.”
Sophia whistled low. “I’ll say. It looks like you’ve been mauled by a sexy vampire.”
Emily snorted, adjusting her scarf. “Yeah, well, at least he’s not actually drawing blood.”
As they rounded the corner, Emily’s mind drifted to the night before, Lucas’ mouth hot on her skin, his hands everywhere. She shivered, and it wasn’t from the coastal breeze.
“Earth to Emily, again,” Sophia teased. “I swear, one mention of Lucas and you go all glassy-eyed on me.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Can you blame me? The man is… well, you’ve seen him.”
Sophia nodded appreciatively. “True that. But seriously, Em, I haven’t seen you this happy in ages. It’s good to see.”
For a moment, Emily felt a pang of guilt. She’d been so caught up in her whirlwind with Lucas, she’d barely had time for her best friend. “Hey Soph, I’m sorry if I’ve been-”
Sophia cut her off with a wave. “Don’t you dare apologize for being happy, you idiot. Now come on, let’s drop these flyers off so you can get back to your sexy vampire.”
Emily laughed, linking arms with her friend as they headed towards the next hotel. “You’re the best, you know that?”
“Oh, I know,” Sophia grinned. “Now spill. Has he used teeth anywhere else?”
Emily shoved Sophia playfully, her cheeks flushing despite herself. “Jesus, Soph, you’re relentless!” She glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. The cobblestone street was mercifully empty, save for a seagull picking at a discarded chip.
“Fine,” Emily conceded, lowering her voice. “Yes, he can do things with his tongue and teeth that you wouldn’t believe. Happy now?”
Sophia’s eyes widened, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Oh, I’m just getting started. Details, woman!”
Emily groaned, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “Let’s just say… he knows how to use his mouth in ways that make me see stars. And not just on my neck.”