The next three days were a fever dream of sex and silence.
They barely left the apartment. Mia fucked Elena on every surface—bent over the kitchen table, against the shower wall, tied to the bedposts with silk scarves while Mia edged her for hours with the wand until Elena was begging, squirting, crying.
Elena gave as good as she got—riding Mia's strap reverse cowgirl, making her watch in the mirror; fingering her slow and deep while whispering every filthy thing she wanted Vera to see them do.
But the questions hung between them like smoke.
On the fourth night Elena finally asked.
"Tell me about Vera."
Mia stared at the ceiling, Elena's head on her chest.
"She was my mentor when I started tattooing. Older. Intense. We fell into something… dark. She liked control. I liked how it felt to give it up. Until one night she didn't stop when I said stop. I walked away. Blocked her. Swore I'd never be that person."
Elena's stomach twisted. "And now?"
Mia turned, cupped Elena's face. "Now I'm terrified I'm becoming her. But I can't stop wanting you this much."
Elena kissed her, soft at first, then deeper.
They made love that night—slow, eye contact, Mia's strap buried deep while she rocked gently, thumb on Elena's clit, whispering "I love you" every time Elena moaned.
It was the tenderest they'd ever been.
And it terrified both of them.
The next morning Elena's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Vera's voice, calm and amused.
"Hey, Elena. Claire gave me your number. Thought we should talk. Woman to woman. About the girl we both can't seem to quit."
Elena's blood ran cold.
Vera continued, almost gentle. "Meet me at the old pier tonight. Alone. I'll tell you the parts Mia left out. The parts that explain why she's so scared of losing you… and why she might destroy you trying to keep you."
The line went dead.
Elena stared at the phone.
Mia was in the shower, singing off-key, happy for the first time in days.
Elena deleted the call log.
But she saved the number.
And when Mia came out, towel around her hips, smiling like the world was theirs again, Elena kissed her like nothing was wrong.
She was already lying.
And she didn't know which one of them she was protecting.