It wasn’t a need for pleasure, either, but as if Ariel was a piece of a puzzle, and Melanie could not exist without her. It was a feeling different than lust or love. It was a feeling of helplessness, of needing rescued. And because it was a feeling completely new to Melanie, it was total confusion. She panicked when she realized that Ariel wasn’t just going home, but that Ariel’s home was here, a thousand miles away from Melanie’s home.
And Melanie wouldn’t be able to take the girl with her.
Melanie got out of the car and approached Ariel slowly. “You don’t have to go. You can stay with me tonight.”
“I can’t. My parents are already going to be mad at me. I have to get home. I should’ve been there three hours ago.”
But as she said this, Ariel realized it didn’t matter. She was in trouble one way or another. She’d have to lie, of course, but that meant she had to come up with a good enough story. She needed time for that. More importantly, she needed Melanie. She had to say no to this invitation, but she couldn’t.
“If I stay,” Ariel whispered, her mind racing through scenarios that shocked her, “can we forgive Ryan?”
Melanie immediately knew what Ariel was driving at. Ordinarily the prospect would’ve bothered her. But Melanie was so enamored with this young woman that the idea of giving her what she wanted, of pleasuring her in a new way, was beyond thrilling.
“For you?” Melanie said as she kissed Ariel softly on the lips. “Anything.”