Morning crept in slow, spilling light across the tangled sheets. Elise lay half-draped over Remiri, her breath still shallow, her skin warm against hers. For a rare moment, Remiri allowed herself to simply exist—her curls messy, her lips tender, her body humming from the night before. Elise stirred, eyes heavy but glowing, and whispered, "You're dangerous, you know that?"
Remiri smirked, dimples flashing even in the quiet. "Dangerous? Or unforgettable?"
Elise laughed, low and shaky, kissing her shoulder. "Both." She shifted, tracing lazy circles along Remiri's skin, the kind of touch that spoke of wanting more, not just a night but something lasting. That was the problem.
Remiri had never promised forever. She was the storm behind closed doors, the heat people begged for but couldn't hold onto. She had warned Elise not to regret it, but regret wasn't the risk. Obsession was.
By the time Remiri stepped out into the city later that day—heels sharp against the pavement, hair tucked flawlessly into curls again—the whispers were already there. At brunch, a friend eyed her with suspicion. At the lounge that night, two women watched Elise too closely, jealousy biting at the edges of their stares. Word had a way of spreading even when lips stayed sealed. Elise's glow gave her away.
Remiri felt the shift instantly. She'd been through this before. Once someone tasted her, everything changed. They wanted more. They thought they could claim her. And the others—the ones who hadn't—wanted to know what they were missing.
Elise slid into her seat beside her at the bar, fingers brushing against Remiri's like a secret signal. It was subtle, but everyone saw. The air thickened. Conversations dulled. The glances sharpened.
Remiri's almond eyes caught Elise's, steady, unreadable. She leaned close, voice low enough that only Elise could hear. "Careful. You're drawing attention."
Elise smirked, bold where others faltered. "Let them watch. I don't care."
But Remiri cared. Not because she feared the whispers—she was used to envy—but because she knew how quickly affection turned to obsession, how easily desire spilled into danger. And as much as she liked Elise pressed close, as much as she had claimed her the night before, she would not be owned.
She kissed the rim of her glass, gaze flicking around the room. Jealousy was already brewing, and Remiri could feel it like smoke before the fire.