Evie Awakened Ch. 01

Chapter 1: Visions

Evie groaned and looked blearily at her phone. It was far too early to be awake, but this alarm woke her up immediately. It was Housesitting Day! Today marked the beginning of a full month of independence, away from her parents and free of roommates. Every summer since middle school, Evie had jumped at the chance to take care of her neighbor Jasmine's gorgeous home.

This year, Jasmine would be traveling longer than usual, leaving her house (and her pool, hot tub, home theater, plush guest rooms, and fully-stocked international snack pantry) in Evie's hands for thirty-three glorious days. Add in that the college senior had not taken any new tutoring sessions until the last week of June, and she was looking at nearly three weeks of uninterrupted vacation in a luxurious mansion.

Evie turned off her alarm and got to her feet. Full of anxious energy, she quickly made the bed and began her morning stretches. By the time she had finished the routine, she was breathing deeply and felt a bit calmer. Grinning, Evie pulled her vibrant copper hair into a messy bun, shrugged on a hoodie, and picked up her overnight bag to head downstairs.

As she reached for the handle of her bedroom door, Evie felt a sudden chill. She paused, gasping as a vague image appeared in her mind. There were two people searching for her, one slender with long, green hair, and the other tall and bulky, dressed in bright colors. It was too blurry to focus on any other details. At the same time, Evie felt an odd pull in her chest, like a hook behind her sternum.

She turned toward the window, drawn westward by an invisible force. Her legs trembled, then moved on their own, taking two ungainly steps. She tried to turn back around, but her legs were out of her control. Her arms hung unresponsive at her sides, and while she could still breathe and move her head, she couldn't shout for help. Panic bubbled in her gut. What was happening, and what was she going to do when she reached her second-story window?

Terror rising, Evie took a shaky breath, seeking her calm center. Her right leg took a bigger step, and she breathed out. Her left leg shuffled forward, and she took another deep breath. She imagined keeping her muscles still as she held the breath in her lungs, then relinquished control on the exhale. Her right leg moved again, but shorter this time. Inhale, hold, exhale, and her left leg moved less than an inch.

On the next exhale, Evie tried turning both feet inward. It wasn't much, but her ankles bent awkwardly. Her right leg jerked forward, and she stumbled as most of her weight came down on the edge of her heel. She fell, knocking her forehead against the windowsill. Fortunately, pain shocked her out of the bizarre episode, and she groaned in relief. Unfortunately, most of her muscles were in agony and she had developed a pounding headache. Eyes squeezed shut against the first feeble light of day, Evie huddled into a ball on the floor and tried not to cry.

After a few minutes, the throbbing in her head began to fade. She flinched at the unexpected sound of the coffee grinder in the kitchen directly below her bedroom. She felt like the flu had kicked her down several flights of stairs, but maybe coffee would help. Gently, Evie stretched and opened her eyes. She stood, bracing herself against the wall, and picked up her overnight bag again. Wincing at the weight of the duffel, she opened the door and hobbled downstairs.

Sore and distracted, Evie failed to skip the creaky bottom step, and her father called out softly from the kitchen, "Good morning, Evelyn. The coffee needs another minute."

Evie dropped her bag at the base of the stairs and crossed the living room to the kitchen, mumbling a "morning" in response.

Roger Zeller stood at the stove, working a large griddle. Satisfied with the state of the bacon and hashbrowns, he set down the spatula and turned to face his daughter. "I know it's early, but--good lord, Evelyn, what the hell happened? Are you alright?" He looked up at the scrape on her forehead, concern written across his blunt face.

Evie pulled the much shorter man into a hug, then groaned in protest when he squeezed. He pulled back in alarm and Evie gave him what she hoped was a reassuring closed-mouth smile. She had realized, while lying miserably on her bedroom floor, her parents would not let her go to Jasmine's house if they thought she was having some kind of breakdown.

"I'm fine, Dad. I was kinda out of it while I did my morning yoga and tripped over my bag. I didn't sleep well again last night." The last part was true, at least.

Roger frowned and scrubbed at his curly hair, its color identical to Evie's but for the dusting of grey at his temples. She turned away, avoiding the intensity of his gaze. Evie had yet to completely abandon her childhood belief that he could actually see it when she lied. She busied herself with the coffee pot, pouring a mug for herself and her dad.

"More nightmares?" Roger asked as he accepted the brew. He added a splash of creamer.

Evie nodded. She leaned back against the counter, sipping her black coffee. "I still can't remember anything but the feeling that someone is looking for me and it would be bad if he found me." She took another sip and suddenly realized the Creeper, as she had taken to thinking of her nightmare pursuer, was the same as in this morning's vision. "It's a man--a large man in a suit and hat." She shuddered and gripped her mug tightly.

"I admit we're ranging a bit out of my field, Evelyn, but might this man represent some larger idea? Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed by graduation?" Roger turned back to the stove and began flipping bacon. "Or perhaps this is a manifestation of your anxiety about choosing a career path? You know, your mother has an opening at her office..." he trailed off with a sheepish glance over his shoulder.

Evie snorted, her worry over the Creeper temporarily forgotten. "No, Dad, I don't think my nightmares are a Psych 101 case study on anxiety. And can we please not talk about Mom's internship right now? It's barely five AM, let me at least eat breakfast." She paused, her sluggish brain finally waking up. "Speaking of, does Mom know you're cooking bacon? I thought we were a low-sodium house for the summer." Evie smirked, a plan forming in her mind as she watched her father's shoulders tense.

Roger cleared his throat, clearly collecting himself before answering. "I thought a family breakfast would be a nice surprise. You've been busy tutoring thus far, and now you will be housesitting. Mom has taken so many volunteer shifts at the emergency clinic. Even with all of us in the same home for the summer, it seems we three can't find time to be together. I have an early appointment anyway, so family breakfast made sense." He hunched over the burners, now refusing to meet his daughter's gaze.

"You didn't answer the question, Dad. Does Mom know you're cooking bacon?" Evie crossed the kitchen to stand next to Roger and began cracking eggs into a mixing bowl. She wasn't concerned about his health--the results from his last physical were excellent--her mom was just a worrier. But this rebellion against the anti-sodium regime presented an opportunity. She gave her dad a sly look and decided to gamble. "What's it worth to you to say breakfast was my idea? How about we don't talk about the internship until this weekend? I want at least one week of real vacation." She let him stew for a few seconds, then pressed, "Your call, Dad. But don't take too long, she's home!"

Evie's lips rose in a small, sweet smile, unfazed by her father's glare. The hard look in his green eyes did nothing to dim the mischievous sparkle in her own. She pulled a whisk from a drawer and started beating the eggs, schooling her face to a neutral expression at the sound of the front door.

Outmaneuvered, Roger grunted. He rubbed the back of his neck, then gave Evie a reluctant nod and turned toward the doorway as his wife entered the room. He leaned against the stove, and Evie thought he might have pulled off a casual air if not for a loud pop that splattered hot grease on his arm. "Ow shi--." Roger cleared his throat and lowered the heat of the burners. "Hello, Christie. Ah, how was your run?" He wiped his arm with a dish towel and gave her a sheepish grin.

Christie Stafford stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking between the griddle and her husband, hazel eyes full of suspicion. Her short brunette ponytail whipped around as Evie swooped in to distract her with a hug. The curvy woman rocked back, hugging her daughter back for stability more than anything else.

"Morning, Mom. You should have gotten me up to go running with you!" She playfully poked Christie in the side, drawing her attention away from Roger and the guilt plain on his face. Based on her mom's look of surprise, it was working.

"Evelyn! You haven't gotten out of bed before I leave for work once this summer. Why're you awake now?" Christie asked, seeming a bit more shocked than Evie would have expected. She was usually up before eight for a tutoring appointment; compared to most college students, she was an early riser.

"It's Housesitting Day, remember? I have to meet Jasmine at six. Dad was nice enough to cook breakfast before I head over, but I would have loved to get a little bonding time with you, too. At least let me help you stretch while Dad finishes cooking. Come on, I bet you didn't cool down properly." Evie gently pushed her mom back into the living room and winked at Roger before following.

Evie quickly rolled out mats and led her mom through a series of poses, occasionally reaching out to adjust the older woman's posture. The familiar routine helped settle her mind. The panic she had felt upstairs had faded, and teasing her parents had helped with the lingering unease of her recurring nightmares. The Creeper wasn't real, and she had just had some sort of weird, prolonged muscle spasm in all of her limbs. That happened to otherwise perfectly healthy twenty-one-year-olds, right? Evie controlled her breathing and focused on the day ahead, doing her best not to dwell on bad dreams. Housesitting!

Within a few minutes, Christie was also breathing deeply and evenly, and she relaxed into savasana. "Okay, Evelyn. I've stretched, I'm resting. Now explain to me why you asked your father to go against his doctor's orders." So much for distraction.

Evie shoved aside her jumbled thoughts to focus on an argument her mom would buy. She spoke in a low voice that would not carry into the kitchen. "First off, doctor's suggestion--singular--not orders. I didn't expect Dad to be awake before I left. I thought I might catch you between your run and work, and I was just going to stretch, make coffee, and watch the sun rise in Jasmine's garden.

"Anyway, Dad said it would be nice if we all had breakfast together. You were disappointed we skipped family dinner last weekend, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make up for it, and Dad gets to feel like he's taking care of his darling wife and daughter. Plus, if we cook up the bacon now, I can smuggle the leftovers over to Jasmine's so they're out of the house. Really, it's almost like we're tricking him into doing what you want." Evie propped herself up on an elbow, giving her mom the same innocent smile she had used earlier.

Everything she had said was true, and should satisfy both her parents. She put on a mock-serious expression and added, "Besides, he seems nervous about whatever it is he's doing today, and he can have a treat every once in a while. Go easy on the poor guy, I won't always be here to protect him." She stood and extended a hand toward her mom.

Christie sighed and rolled her eyes. She took Evie's hand and got to her feet. "Fine, I suppose there are worse things than my husband and daughter conspiring to cook a family meal."

Evie gave her mom a lopsided grin and ducked into the kitchen. "I love you, too, Mom, and you're welcome." She thought she might be pushing her luck a bit, but Christie just rolled her eyes again and put away the mats while Evie set the table. Roger plated the bacon and veggie scramble, hash browns, and toast just as both women took their seats. He gave his wife a quick kiss, then sat with a contended sigh.

Evie was already several bites in before her parents picked up their forks. "Thanks, Dad, super tasty." She inhaled another mouthful. Roger chuckled and Christie shook her head, watching their daughter demolish her meal, then dug into their own plates. About halfway through her serving, Evie finally slowed down. "Dad, seriously, breakfast was a really nice surprise, but this is way too early to be awake--"

"Some of us are up at this time every day," Christie interjected. On top of her more-than-full-time veterinary practice, she had been helping cover a friend's leave at the local emergency clinic, mostly taking shifts before her own office opened. It was actually unusual for her not to have departed by now.

"Alright, most of us woke up earlier than usual, and we're enjoying family time, but what are you doing today? Aren't you working remotely for the summer? I thought your first meeting on Mondays was at like ten o'clock."

Roger was a professor of philosophy at the University of Denver, specializing in metaphysics. His class schedule was reasonably consistent during the regular school year, but it seemed like summer term was different every year. He shrugged. "I think I had mentioned Carol Wong at CU is hosting a conference on paranormal research this week? Well, one of her headline sessions is a panel on extrasensory perception and mental suggestion that supposedly includes a live, verified demonstration.

"The panel was originally scheduled as the closing event, late Thursday morning into the afternoon, but last night she called me in a bit of a tizzy. The demo subjects changed their availability at the last minute and her preferred skeptic couldn't fly out in time. She asked me to step in as a replacement."

Evie tilted her head, confused. "Why would Professor Wong want you on the panel? Didn't you send one of her PhD candidates back to her in tears last year?"

A slight blush colored Roger's cheeks as he answered, defensive. "That is not entirely fair. The young man was struggling with his dissertation and I pointed out several weaknesses in his arguments, thinking he may use my feedback to sharpen the focus of his research. As I understand it, there were other events unfolding in his personal life which were none of my business and unrelated to the constructive feedback I offered."

Christie chuckled, patting her husband's arm. "Roger, honey, you tore apart a year of research in less than five minutes. I'm sure you were every bit the kind and supportive teacher you always are, but you made the kid cry."

"Yeah, Dad, you went full Bulldog." Evie growled cartoonishly and chomped a strip of bacon, and noticed a playful gleam in her mom's eye as well.

Building on her daughter's teasing, Christie leaned forward. "Is that why Carol really called? She could have gotten anyone, but she wanted to see The Bulldog take down another fraud. Wanted my man to be the one on stage, ripping her life's work to shreds, knowing there's nothing she can do about it." Christie's light tone became husky. "I bet she gets so hot watching you. Knowing once you dig in you won't stop. This little charlatan will be begging by the end, and Carol will be, too. She's going to try pulling you into an empty room the first chance she gets, even though she knows you would never. She's wanted you since we were in college, but you're all mine and it drives her wild." Roger blushed harder, sputtering under the sudden intensity of his wife's smoldering gaze.

Not entirely shocked by Christie's horny turn, but also wanting to be elsewhere for the inevitable outcome, Evie shoveled the last of her eggs and toast into her mouth and carried her plate to the sink. "Okay lovebirds, don't mind me, just leaving." Torn between happiness her parents were still madly in love with each other and exasperation at their inability to keep their hands to themselves, Evie picked up her bag and dashed toward the front door.

For the second time that morning, she paused as she reached for the door handle. A pleasant shiver traveled down her spine. Dawn had broken, and as always, Evie physically felt the promise of a new day. Accompanying the familiar jolt of energy, she saw the visions from earlier, but in sharper detail. Her bag hit the floor with a heavy thud and Evie caught herself on the wall. An image of the Creeper swam in her sight, looming behind the green-haired woman. He was unsettling, but Evelyn knew from something in her stance that, of the pair, she was the deadlier predator.

"Evelyn, what's--sweetheart, are you alright? Did you fall again? Are you ill?" Roger had leaned out of the kitchen to check on her and hurried over when he saw her, pale and shaken.

From the sound of clattering dishes, Christie was tidying up after breakfast, so she was unlikely to overhear. Evie still dropped her voice to a whisper. "Don't go to this panel thing, Dad. It's at CU, right? The Creeper is west of here, him and his friend, but not that far. They have to be in Boulder. Stay away from them. Stay home, get Mom to call in sick for once and don't leave the house." She was pale, shivering.

Roger pulled his daughter into a tight hug, not knowing what else to do. "Sweetheart, everything is fine. I'm going to an academic conference for a few hours. Danger and excitement are not on the agenda." Taking a deep breath, Evie pulled herself together enough to glare at her dad, and he raised a hand to mollify her. "Okay, Evelyn, I trust you. What am I looking out for?"

Although skeptical by both professional responsibility and personal inclination, Roger had long since proven he would listen to his daughter's occasional bizarre warnings. He would insist there was some microscopic detail she had seized on, intuiting a nonobvious but correct conclusion. Whether that was actually true or not--whether Evie's subconscious operated on the same level as a great literary detective or she simply possessed some sensory ability Roger could not explain--was irrelevant at that moment. All that mattered to her was he listened.

She took another steadying breath, letting it out slowly before answering, listing details quickly as they came to mind. "The man from my nightmares is in Boulder. Avoid his eyes if you can, but absolutely do not make skin contact with him. He's tall and broad, and he wears brightly colored suits. Blue today, maybe indigo? And a hat, like Sinatra." Focusing on the specifics was helping. Evie could feel her heart rate slowing. She wiped her clammy forehead and pushed on. "I call him the Creeper, but he's not as bad as his companion, the green-haired woman. Her eyes are muddy and full of hate. Don't let her taste your sweat."

Evie shivered once more, willing Roger to take her warning seriously. He studied her, processing. He closed his eyes, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and summarized, "I should not participate in today's panel because two people there are looking for you and mean you harm. Presumably, they will use me to find you?" Evie nodded. "If I do still choose to attend, I should avoid a green-haired woman and large man in an indigo suit and fedora. No handshakes and try to avoid eye contact with the man, don't let the woman lick me. Anything else?"

Evie ignored the smirk playing at the corner of his mouth and closed her eyes as well, concentrating. She tried conjuring the image of the Creeper and his companion, and it was like a low-quality video began playing in her mind. "The woman may try to kiss you. Don't let her. And it's a trilby today; don't call it a fedora."

There was something else just out of focus, something important. The man reached into his coat pocket--she froze, holding her breath, as the image of the Creeper sharpened. He looked around--could he see her? She imagined the video as playing in a browser tab and closed it, now desperately trying to cut off whatever connection had been created. Gradually, the image of the Creeper became fuzzier. At last, she let out a shuddering breath and forced the man of her nightmares completely from her mind.

"Everything okay out there?" Christie called from the kitchen. Evie flinched, then laughed with relief. She realized the mysterious stranger had been watching her from afar all morning, and somehow she knew she had finally escaped his notice. ¬

Her dad looked at her with bemusement. "Evie, are you sure you're feeling well? Perhaps you should stay home, or at least take a nap after you settle in at Jasmine's house. And call us if something happens."

Evie nodded weakly and gave her father another hug. "Yeah, Dad, I'll be fine. Just bad dreams and a weird morning. Have fun helping your freaky friend with her panel. Be safe." She bent down so Roger could kiss her forehead, then let go and turned back to the door.

Roger started to speak, but was interrupted by the beeps of the dishwasher starting and Christie calling again. "Honey, did she leave? Evelyn, are you still here?"

The mixed look of excitement and embarrassment on her dad's face helped take Evie's mind off the unsettling visions. She patted him on the shoulder and grinned. "Have a good day, Dad. I'll see you later this week. Be safe. Now go bone your wife!" She raised her voice, "Bye Mom, love you, don't break Dad!" Cackling, Evie grabbed her bag and strode out of the house, leaving her scarlet-faced father to shut the door.

*****

The sun had just broken free of the horizon as Evie hopped down from her parents' porch and cut across to Jasmine's yard. She ducked under a maple tree, stepped carefully through the abundant flowers surrounding the small clearing, and sat in her favorite lounger. From this vantage, in her special spot, Evie could watch the summer sun rise through a gap in the trees at the far end of the property.

A family of hawks nesting in the branches above stirred, and she babbled nonsense in a soothing voice. Gradually, Denver came to life around her as the day brightened. Ensconced in the sanctuary of her neighbor's garden, Evie finally shook off the sickly residue of the morning's visions.

Jasmine's home had always felt safe. Evie loved her parents' house, a small craftsman that had belonged to the Zeller family since her great-great-great-grandfather had built it just before the turn of the 20th century, but something about the neighboring estate just felt right. It didn't hurt that Jasmine's property stretched across eight lots, encompassing a fenced yard with a lagoon pool and screened patio, and a sprawling garden ringed by stately trees that all but shut out the noise of the surrounding city neighborhood. Jasmine's house was built at the same time and in similar style to Evie's, but the Zeller home was a cramped backwoods cabin compared to the elegant mansion next door.

Yet Evie's affection for the estate went beyond its size and its luxury. There was a welcoming quality to the very land, a sense of belonging the young woman felt in her bones the moment she set foot inside its boundaries. Her parents chalked it up to nostalgia and an obvious enjoyment of the amenities. Her boyfriend Marcus and best friend Kelly shared in the feelings of maturity and independence that accompanied Evie's annual stint as housesitter.

Jasmine, though, understood. There was something unique about the Duvergier estate running deeper than the grounds and house. The lady of the home had hinted as much before her last summer trip, teasing the existence of a secret only Evie had ever suspected. Part of her motivation for arriving early had been to offer her host the opportunity for another such conversation.

As though summoned by the thought, Jasmine Duvergier appeared on the flagstone path, two steaming mugs of coffee in hand. Despite the softness of her steps, Evie had been aware of her approach from the moment she left her front porch. "Singing to the birds is not helping you beat the princess allegations," Jasmine said by way of greeting.

Evie looked up, swiping her mouth to cover her grin at their old joke. "If I were singing, every critter within a mile would have run away screaming by now. I was talking to the birds. And they were enjoying the conversation until you showed up, thank you very much." She stuck out her tongue at Jasmine, who laughed and dropped onto a nearby lounger.

"I'm not sure chatting with the wildlife is better, but you do you." Jasmine set one of the coffees down on a wicker table between their chairs and sipped from the other. "So, what brings my favorite neighbor to my garden before our appointment?"

Evie considered the older woman, unsure how blunt to be. On the one hand, despite their age difference, Jasmine was one of her closest friends and confidantes. Jasmine was the person she talked to when she first got her period, when she thought about losing her virginity with Alex Steiner, when she actually lost her virginity with Alex Chan, any time she was arguing with her parents or worried about Kelly. On the other hand, Jasmine could be a huge tease. The older woman was one of the few people who could consistently get under Evie's skin, and admitting she was fixated on something might just be handing Jasmine ammunition.

Picking up the mug of dark roast, Evie decided to talk her way around her actual question to avoid raising suspicion. "Dad has a thing in Boulder this morning, so he decided to make a big breakfast for all of us. Mom forgot I would be up early to come meet you, and I think she was planning on jumping Dad after her run--she was definitely surprised to see me awake when she got home. I tried to clear out as fast as possible, but she didn't bother waiting."

Evie let out an exasperated sigh, distracted by her own irritation. "She caught me with Marcus one time and apparently decided we were a family without shame. Like, I'm glad my parents still like each other, but come on. She works sixty-hour weeks and I still walk in on them every other day. I'm supposed to be the one on vacation and I haven't gotten laid in over a week! Is she rubbing it in my face? Does she like getting caught?" Maybe there were things on her mind besides bad dreams and the mystery of the Duvergier estate.

"You done?" Evie didn't like the sparkling mischief in her neighbor's rich brown eyes. Suddenly cautious, she studied Jasmine's face. The older woman was beautiful--otherworldly gorgeous, really--and delighted in using her charms to keep people off balance. Evie had never seen Jasmine happier than when there was a bit of mildly embarrassing gossip, preferably sexual, that she could playfully hold over someone's head. Something in Evie's rant amused Jasmine, though it wasn't clear what.

"Yeah, I guess. Why, what's so funny?" Evie grumbled as Jasmine's smile grew.

"Oh, I'm just wondering if liking to get caught is a family trait? Or maybe Christie just passed on her carelessness."

Evie froze mid-sip. She set down her mug, trying--and likely failing--for a vaguely interested, unsuspicious expression. "What, uh, what do you mean?" she stammered.

"You said you haven't seen Marcus in over a week. But he did come over last Saturday when your parents were out, right?"

The glee on Jasmine's face was too much. Evie averted her gaze, turning to look up at her bedroom's bay window. Her parents had built it out, with a low padded bench and bookshelves, as a birthday gift when Evie turned thirteen and moved upstairs. As a surprise, Jasmine had trimmed several trees to frame Evie's view into this little grove. Jasmine cleared a space among the flowers for comfy chairs, and it had quickly become their special spot, a haven Evie had cherished throughout her teenage years. When she had to stay indoors, Evie loved to sit in the window and read, do her homework, or just watch the wind in the trees.

Years later, Evie discovered the bench's modest height and the handholds on either side also provided the perfect location for other activities. Her previous boyfriend had been fairly short, especially next to six-foot-tall Evie. He had loved taking her from behind, and Evie found she had better leverage and enjoyed the position more when kneeling on the bench instead of lying on her bed.

The height difference was not an issue with Marcus, who was just shy of 6'1", but Evie had found the sturdy shelves facilitated all sorts of positions. Unfortunately, the windows were less durable, and the couple had snapped a latch on one of the casements during their spring break. Now the offending pane had a tendency to open on its own when jostled. And of course, being able to look out on the garden from her bedroom meant the reverse was also true.

Vividly recalling the feel of her breasts against the glass as Marcus pressed into her back, Evie mumbled "Yeah, he had a job in the neighborhood and took an early lunch break."

Marcus spent summers working for his father's roofing company and had been taking every available shift since school let out. The full-time crews kept regular schedules with quite reasonable hours, but Marcus always put himself on the sub list to cover sick days and short-notice jobs. The pay was great, especially for a college student, but it wasn't doing Evie's libido any favors. She had to take every opportunity she could.

Jasmine laughed, a throaty chuckle rich with mirth and heat. "If you want to complain about catching folks in the act, maybe you should be more careful and make sure your curtains are closed." Heat bloomed in Evie's cheeks. Silence stretched between the two friends as mortification drove any hope of a response out of her brain.

Jasmine was not going to let her off the hook. "Oh, come on Evie, don't be embarrassed. From the looks of it, your boy was doing great. If you'd ever let me take a run at him, I bet I'd end up going literally tits to the glass, too. And now I've actually seen them, can I just say 'damn'?!"

Fingers pressed to her forehead, Evie let the hot waves of humiliation roll over her. Eventually, she steeled herself and met Jasmine's ruthlessly delighted gaze. "Jas, you were supposed to be on a date all weekend! Please tell me you didn't just sit here and watch me get railed for an hour."

"Okay, I won't tell you." Evie groaned, willing the ground to open up and swallow her whole. "What? My date bailed and you put on a hell of a show."

"Jaaaaas!"

"Evieeeee!" Her laughter quieting, Jasmine held up her hands to placate her blushing young friend. "Jesus, Evie, you're hard to fluster, but it's so much fun once you get there." She wiped a tear from her face. "No, I didn't sit and watch. I assumed you weren't looking for an audience. Like I said, my date canceled, so I figured I'd spend a quiet morning in the garden. You turned it into a pretty loud morning--fix that busted window before it rains, by the way--so I went to work by the pool and give you a bit of privacy. Can't say what the rest of the neighbors heard, but at least I'm the only one who saw the goods." She wiggled her eyebrows again, but finally relented.

It was strange to hear that Jasmine had seen her nude, but after the initial shock, Evie's embarrassment was already fading. She took the compliment, not finding it weird that Jasmine had been admiring her tits. Evie had been given free access to Jasmine's pool once she was old enough to swim unsupervised, and she had spent a good portion of her summer vacations swimming or lounging on the patio. Jasmine had never been shy about her own body or with compliments for Evie, and as a result Evie had grown up comfortable in her skin.

Two years ago, she had walked in on her neighbor skinny dipping with several extremely attractive companions. Aside from the momentary awkwardness of one of the men encouraging Evie to shed her bikini and jump in, the incident had become a shared funny story, changing nothing about their friendship. Almost nothing, anyway--the image of a very naked Jasmine emerging from the pool was seared into her memory.

In her mind's eye, Jasmine's black hair was plastered to her head, then sprang into its usual tight curls as she playfully shook herself off. The same motion caused her massive breasts to jiggle enticingly, puffy nipples standing proud in the summer breeze. The sun glinted off rivulets of water, giving Evie the impression that her black skin was glowing with a light all its own.

The older woman had pulled a stunned Evie aside, making sure she didn't feel pressured or uncomfortable, and promised to text as soon as the pool was available. Taking in the scenery, Evie had marveled at her adventurous friend. She hugged Jasmine (who was wrapped in a fuzzy towel for the conversation) and thanked her for being cool about showing up unannounced. She put an extra sway into her hips as she walked back to the gate and was rewarded with appreciative calls from Jasmine's guests, men and women alike. It only occurred to her later that, while Jasmine had been protective, she hadn't actually told Evie to leave. She still wondered what would have happened if she had decided to strip and join the party.

Evie was confident in her beauty. Natural grace and a love of meditative exercises enhanced her tall, slender form. She was toned and lean, her muscles defined but not bulky, with long legs that might have been carved from marble. Wavy copper hair framed her face--when she didn't pull it up in a bun--playing off the deep green of her eyes and shimmering in the sun. Among many other blessings, Evie had avoided acne in adolescence. Her flawless, creamy complexion lent itself to a light tan and dusting of freckles in the summer. She rarely burned like her dad, despite their similar skin tone.

She liked to think she had inherited the best physical features from both her parents--her father's vibrant hair and large eyes, and her mother's ass. Her butt wasn't as juicy as curvy Christie's, but Evie's flared hips and firm, plump cheeks were an exquisite exception to her otherwise lithe frame. Her breasts were small--delicate A-cups she sometimes wished offered more to play with. Still, no one who had seen her petite rosy nipples had registered a complaint. If there was one part of her body she could change, her chest wouldn't be her first choice.

Steering away from self-conscious fretting, Evie's thoughts wandered back to her rendezvous with Marcus. In this fantasy, Jasmine joined them instead of quietly leaving. Evie imagined the look of hunger on her boyfriend's face as he watched her lithe, pale limbs wrap themselves around Jasmine's dark, voluptuous figure, and it sent a wave of desire through her core.

"You good?" Jasmine asked.

Evie shook off her reverie and the last of her embarrassment, trying to ignore the warmth between her legs. "Yeah, just picturing Marcus's face when he finds out you saw us. I'll probably have to convince him you really left and you're not hiding in the coat closet or something when he comes over." For a moment, Jasmine seemed to consider the suggestion. Evie glared back threateningly. "Oh no, you're going to the airport as planned so I can remind Marcus what happens when he makes time for his girlfriend. I'm way too horny to let you scare him off for a joke!"

"You're going to defile my home as soon as I'm out the door?"

"Of course not! We'll wait at least twenty minutes to make sure you don't interrupt us because you forgot your sunglasses or something and had to come back."

Jasmine shrugged, conceding that was exactly the sort of thing she might do. She opened her mouth, but was interrupted by a chime from Evie's phone. The redhead scowled, anger spiking as she typed.

Marcus: Emergency commercial job. All crews. Cant make it this morning sry Ev.

Evie: Nooooo! You promised!

Marcus: I know babe. Dads fav client. Big bonus to do it today.

Marcus: Sleep over tomorrow and treat u sat.

Evie: I miss you.

Marcus: Miss u too. Gotta go. See u tomorrow.

Evie: You'd better. I need that dick!

Evie added a few suggestive emojis and dropped her phone on the table. She buried her face in her hands and let out an exaggerated yell, then slumped back in her chair with a ragged sigh.

"Bad news?" Jasmine may have tried to keep the amusement out of her voice, but not very hard.

"Marcus canceled. Again. We were supposed to spend the day together, but he got called in to work. And he's going to his sister's for dinner so I won't see him until tomorrow night."

"Sorry, Evie."

"I just want to fuck my boyfriend! Why does this keep happening?"

"I'd hook you up with one of my regulars, but I know you and Marcus are exclusive." Jasmine paused, scrolling through her contacts. "Actually--are you exclusive-exclusive or just no other men? Because I've got a few ladies and nonbinary folks who would absolutely adore you."

Evie gave her neighbor a long look. For once, there was no teasing in Jasmine's tone. This was a serious question. Evie knew Jasmine maintained a deep roster of hookups, booty calls, and friends with benefits, but she had not offered to make introductions before. "No men. Anyone else is fair game, not that it helps. I don't want my first time... branching out to be with a rando."

"Wasn't there a girl in your mummies class?"

Evie sighed--she seemed to be doing that a lot this morning. "Ancient Egyptian History, and no. I thought she was really into me, but she got nervous and said she wanted to ease into it with Marcus there. We ended up having a threesome and she basically ignored me after one kiss. I get more action from Aunt Debbie at Christmas." She gave Jasmine a tight, rueful smile.

Jasmine often hosted family gatherings for the extended Zeller-Stafford family, and Christie's sister-in-law Debbie was infamous for her "European greeting". Evie was pretty sure it was not a cultural practice anywhere to open-mouthed kiss everyone you meet. Also, Debbie had lived her entire life in Cleveland, occasionally travelling as far east as Buffalo.

"Alright, so I can't set you up. Is Kelly coming over?"

"Yeah, of course. She's bringing lunch and we're going to chill by the pool. Marcus was supposed to be there, too, but I guess it'll be a girls' day."

"There you go, just get Kelly to come early. And several times afterward." Jasmine grinned at her little joke.

Evie responded slowly, confused. "How would Kelz coming over early help?"

Jasmine blinked. "Evie, what's your agreement with Marcus?"

"No other men. I have to tell him about anyone else."

"And Kelly is...?" Jasmine let the question hang, continuing when Evie shrugged, clearly lost, "... a woman, right?"

"Yes? I mean, she is, but what's your point?"

Evie was a smart young woman. She excelled in nearly every subject; school just came easily. So did relationships, when she felt like putting in the energy. Reading people wasn't really that hard most of the time. But Jasmine had her stumped at the moment.

"My point is Kelly is a snack and you should have a taste. She's bi, single, and interested. Go for it."

"What? Kelz doesn't want to have sex with me."

"I'm a polyamorous sex therapist, Evie. I know what attraction looks like. She wants it."

Evie shook her head. "Kelly's my best friend. I'd know if she wanted to sleep with me. Besides, I'm not even her type."

Jasmine's look reminded Evie of the year they had played Pictionary at Thanksgiving and Jasmine's partner managed not to score a single point. Evie had enjoyed some of the more outlandish answers, but Jasmine was much more competitive than her. She had seen this look directed at many people throughout her life. Receiving it herself was a new and unpleasant experience.

"Seriously Jas, there's no way. We tell each other everything. If she was into me, I'd know."

After a long moment, Jasmine conceded, "Okay, Kelly's not an option. So, if you can't find someone to scratch your itch, you'll just have to take care of it yourself."

"Not exactly groundbreaking advice."

"Maybe not, but if you go up to my bedroom and look through the black dresser in the corner, I guarantee you'll be satisfied. At least it'll tide you over until you get Marcus to focus up." Jasmine gave her a conspiratorial wink. "In my professional opinion, of course."

"Ew, I'm not raiding your toy collection."

"Relax, everything's clean and it's not like I'll know what you use. Promise me you'll at least take a look?"

Evie wasn't sure why she was so resistant. She wasn't embarrassed about using toys or discussing it with Jasmine--they had picked out Evie's first vibrator together years ago. Still, something about this felt more intimate in a way she couldn't quite articulate. Unfortunately, her own modest collection was back at school and her hands weren't getting the job done.

"Fine, I'll check it out," she agreed, and Jasmine clapped giddily. "Now can we please talk about something other than my sudden lack of a sex life?"

Jasmine looked like she wanted to continue offering alternatives to a currently-unavailable boyfriend, but she swallowed her commentary with the last of her coffee and changed the topic to household logistics. Evie had taken care of Jasmine's property every summer since middle school.

Aside from watering the houseplants (schedule on the fridge) and feeding Dr. Boots, the black tuxedo cat (dry food, wet food, and treats in the pantry), there wasn't much to do in the way of chores. Jasmine had a gardener (Giacomo, Thursdays) and cleaner (Yvette, Saturday mornings) to keep up the house and grounds, and of course her security guard (Enrique, on call) in case of emergencies. Evie could even leave for a day at a time or have overnight guests. Jasmine only had one strict rule, which she repeated as she finished her list of responsibilities.

"And make sure whoever wants to stay is in and whoever wants to leave is out before dusk, because--"

Evie joined in with gusto, "Doors lock at sunset!" She laughed at Jasmine's serious look. "Jas, I know! I have an alarm on my phone and everything. Kelz and Marcus will be here as much as they can, but I doubt anyone else will even sleep over."

"It's not a joke. You're locked in or out. Don't get stuck."

Evie rolled her eyes at her friend's continuing overreaction. "You've had the same rule my whole life. I'm used to it! We have this conversation every year, and it's fine every time."

"Remember when you locked yourself out and had to walk home in your underwear? And Kelly had to spend the night alone? I don't want that to happen again."

"I was fourteen!" She leaned forward and reached for Jasmine's hand. "I'll be careful. I promise. Now let's go get your bags, I think I hear Ricky." The low thrum of an engine broke through the arboreal sanctuary, and a moment later Jasmine's phone buzzed. Her sternness vanished as she answered the text.

Both women rose, picking up their phones and empty mugs. They walked side by side on the winding path, taking the long route through most of the garden. Jasmine bumped her hip against Evie's, smiling playfully. "You excited?"

Evie couldn't help but grin in response, holding her hand to her mouth as her eyes sparkled with excitement. "You're the one going off the grid for a tropical vacation."

"True, but you get to spend the month snooping around my house. Think you'll find anything interesting?"

Here was the subject Evie had been dancing around, laid out in front of her. Jasmine must have waited for the last minute on purpose, knowing Evie would have dug in and not let go otherwise.

"More interesting than an entire extra basement under your wine cellar? It's not like I know what to look for. You could give me a hint." Evie batted her eyes, but Jasmine was unmoved by her charms.

"That would be telling! Just relax and enjoy yourself." She gave Evie a sideways glance as they arrived at the house. "And I am serious about taking care of yourself. Go through my toybox and see what calls to you."

The sound of a car door closing cut off Evie's reply. A short man with dark brown features, handsome and thickly muscled, approached from the driveway. "Miss Duvergier, Miss Zeller, good morning. Ma'am, we're ready when you are." He spoke in a pleasant tenor with a slight lisp, nodding respectfully to each of the women.

"Thanks, Enrique. Let me get my purse and I'll be ready to go."

Jasmine stepped inside, leaving her personal security guard with Evie. "Mr. Vega, a pleasure," she said in an overly-formal tone.

"Thank you, ma'am. We have a scheduled debriefing at 1400. Is there anything I can do for you before that time?"

"No, Mr. Vega, 1400 will be sufficient, although I do expect you to arrive promptly and inform me of any security concerns you have in advance of our meeting." Laughter crept into Evie's voice, undercutting her affected sternness.

"Of course, ma'am." Evie had only broken through Ricky's professional demeanor once, and she was determined to do it again.

Jasmine emerged, purse (and sunglasses) in hand, and pulled Evie into a crushing hug. "Have fun, be nice to Enrique, enjoy yourself." She gave Evie an exaggerated wink and strode off toward her car.

"Miss Zeller," Enrique said in farewell.

Before he could escape, Evie laid a hand on his arm. "See you this afternoon, Ricky. Kelz and I will be out by the pool. Come join us, suits optional." She kissed him lightly on the cheek, laughing at his grunt of surprise as she went inside and shut the door. She waved from Jasmine's foyer window as the car disappeared into the rising sun, marking the beginning of what was sure to be a month of pure fun and relaxation.

*****

Jasmine departed at 6:38 a. m. and Evie's excitement lasted well past seven. She greeted Dr. Boots, who grumbled at the disturbance and slunk off to find another bed. She unpacked her bag, settling into the bedroom that was unofficially reserved for her. With no Jasmine to complain about screens, she hooked her Switch up to the projector in the theater room, though she wasn't in the mood to play. Kelly was probably still asleep and had not responded to Evie's invitation to come over early.

She also texted Valeria Simmons, Ricky's fiancée, to gloat about getting a rise out of him, and to confirm their dinner plans for Friday night. Val called her back and the two had a laugh trying to imagine Ricky's reaction if he walked in on Evie and Kelly sunbathing topless.

"Or nude. I did say suits optional."

"Evie, no! He'd dump me on the spot! I can't compete with the two of you."

"Are you kidding? He'd give us the 'Miss Zeller, Miss Fuentes' nod and rush home to confess that he looked at another woman. You're stupid hot and Ricky is disgustingly in love." They chatted for a few minutes before Val hung up to get ready for work.

An elementary school teacher, Val spent her summers supervising lifeguards at the local rec center. She and Evie had become friends through Val's younger brother Nicolo. When Nicky had gone east for college and all but dropped out of their lives, the two women had remained close, Evie helping to keep Val's spirits up through graduation and her first two years of teaching.

By 7:30, the thrill of solitude had worn off and last night's poor sleep was taking its toll. The disturbing visions she had experienced earlier began running through her head again. Deciding it was too early to nap, and she may be inviting more nightmares anyway, Evie made her way out to the patio.

The day promised to be hot later, but for the moment there was still a slight chill in the air. Evie's skin pebbled as she shucked her hoodie and socks, leaving her in a sports bra and thin leggings. She focused on breathing, letting the birdsong and her frustration with Marcus and the morning breeze and thoughts of the Creeper flow over her, then fall away. She stepped into a tai chi routine, and for a time, nothing existed but the sinuous motion from one posture to the next, the gentle burn in her muscles, and the even rhythm of her breath.

By the end of her exercises, the sun had climbed high overhead. Despite the shade of the covered patio, Evie was sweating freely. She made her way back inside after nearly two hours and took a quick shower. Clean and cool, she sprawled luxuriously on her king bed. Eyes closing, she considered just lying there and trying to nap. Her body was relaxed, her mind calm, and she had no responsibilities until later in the week.

But as she rested, the ember of desire caught in her belly. She groaned, pressing her thighs together and imagining a very different morning where Marcus had not gone to work. Her hands drifted to her breasts, gently circling her sensitive areolas. Evie usually liked to take her time and enjoy the approach to a satisfying orgasm. Today, though, she was frustrated and on edge; she needed to come.

One hand quickly moved lower, passing over her stomach and neatly-trimmed landing strip to begin teasing her slit. She spread her legs and dipped a finger inside, surprised at how wet she already was. Seeing no reason to wait, Evie curled her finger and sought the rough pad within. She moaned loudly as she made contact. Her other hand grasped a nipple, lightly squeezing the small bud. Her legs twitched, spreading themselves further as she felt her orgasm already beginning to rise.

Evie pinched her nipple harder, pulling it slightly upward. She gasped at the sensation and swapped hands to mimic the gesture on her other breast. Smearing her wetness around her taught areola, she backed off the swollen nub and focused again on her pussy. She coated two fingers in her moisture and began to tease the crest of her labia. Evie's clitoris was on the large side, and she loved how easy it was to find and please. Pulling gently on her hood, she felt her clit emerge.

She lubricated her fingers again and groaned. She was so close. Impatient, Evie began to rub her moistened fingers over her button. Her moans turned into a constant, quiet whine as her pleasure built. Her fingers flew back and forth over her clit, and she moved her other hand lower again, eager to push herself over the edge.

"Ow!" Pain lanced through her left breast. "Boots, what the fuck?!"

Jasmine's cat stood over Evie's prone form, judgment clear on his feline face. He raised his paw, then smacked Evie's other boob.

She sat up and the cat slunk away to the door. "Did you just come in here to interrupt me?" Dr. Boots tilted his head and meowed. Evie moved to the mirror and checked her reflection to make sure she wasn't bleeding. Thankfully, it seemed like the cat hadn't used his claws. He meowed and scratched at the door.

"It's open, you dick." Dr. Boots scratched again. "What the fuck are you doing?" Supremely frustrated, but with her veterinarian mother's warnings about behavior changes echoing in her mind, Evie followed him to the door. Dr. Boots was generally an extremely easy pet to care for, mostly entertaining himself during the day and then snuggling comfortably around Evie's legs at night.

She reached down cautiously, trying to get some sense of why the usually well-behaved animal was being so aggressive. He padded away from her, down the hall toward Jasmine's room.

"Hey, get out of there!" Predictably, the cat ignored her and ducked inside. Evie had a vague recollection that Jasmine's door had been closed, but her focus returned to the cat as he began to make a disgusting hacking sound around the corner.

Naked, flushed from her interrupted exertions, hair still damp from her shower, Evie dashed to Jasmine's room. She hoped she could at least find a towel or something to catch the mess if Dr. Boots was going to be sick. Evie threw open Jasmine's door, looking around wildly. The noises had stopped, and she found the cat curled up on a massive black wood dresser. He looked at her expectantly.

Treating him to her most threatening glare, Evie moved to pick up Dr. Boots and carry him elsewhere. It seemed like he wasn't going to be sick, but she figured it was better to go somewhere easier to clean, just in case. He hissed as she reached for him and Evie froze.

"What is going on with you?" The cat returned her glare. He leaned over the edge of the dresser and pawed at the handle, then looked back at Evie. She hesitated. This was the dresser with Jasmine's toys. "You want something in here?" Dr. Boots offered no response, but then, he was just a cat. "Did your mom put you up to this?" Meow. "Really?" Meow.

Evie shrugged. Whatever the reason, she was here now and it seemed like a bad idea to either leave Dr. Boots alone or try to pick him up. She had promised Jasmine she would peruse the collection, too.

The drawer pulled out smoothly, snapping into place with a soft click. Evie's eyes widened as she took in the range of toys on display. The drawer was filled end-to-end with dildos and vibrators of every size and shape. There was a small handle in the middle of the shallow base, lifting it on hinges like a folding tacklebox to reveal another layer, and then another beneath it. This drawer alone easily held at least a hundred toys. Overwhelmed, she decided not to explore the other two drawers until later.

Evie's arousal returned in force as she inspected the collection. She traced her hands over several of the more remarkable options, including a few she was sure would split her in half. She squeezed the tip of a pliable pink double-ender, causing the other end to bulge--unbidden, she imagined working the swollen head into Kelly's eager slit while her own walls gripped her side of the toy. Snatching her hand away, Evie banished the image and moved on. She was about to settle on a rabbit--vanilla compared to most of the drawer's contents, but Evie figured she would have all month to expand her horizons--when a plain phallus caught her attention.

It was tucked into a corner, half-covered by the harness of the neighboring strap-on. Although longer and thicker than the average penis, it was hardly notable in such exaggeratedly impressive company. It did look to be a realistically pleasing size, now that she studied it closer. In fact--she wrapped her fingers around the shaft--it was almost exactly the same size as Marcus. The surface was pleasantly soft, which surprised her, since it looked to be made of glass. She held the dildo up and sent rainbows cascading over the walls as it caught a sunbeam. She giggled at the memory of her high school physics teacher using a quite different prism to perform a similar demonstration.

Still laughing, Evie brought the tip of the phallus to her nipple and felt a jolt of ecstasy shoot directly to her core. Her giggles turned to moans. Thought fled and she braced herself against the dresser with one hand, lowering the other to her sopping mound. Evie teased the dildo over her labia, drawing out the anticipation a moment longer. Up and down, she drove herself wild with feathery touches.

An insistent paw tapping on the back of Evie's hand brought her out of the fog of arousal. She was on the verge of masturbating in the corner of Jasmine's bedroom. "Thanks, Boots," she mumbled in a daze. The cat purred and hopped off the dresser. Evie quickly shut the drawer and staggered back to her room.

Evie threw herself onto the bed and lifted the phallus to her mouth. She snaked out her tongue and licked its head, imagining it was Marcus. She groaned as she lowered the dildo into her mouth, swallowing as much as she could without gagging. Meanwhile, two fingers slowly stroked in and out of her vagina. The last of her patience gone, Evie withdrew the rod with a lewd smack of her lips. The sheen of her saliva played with the prismatic material, but she spared no attention for the colorful display.

Shaking with anticipation, Evie lined up the head of the toy at her entrance. She pressed the first inch inside and cried out in delight. She took half the length before pausing to adjust to its presence. Her legs began to spasm and her breathing was becoming erratic. She felt wonderfully full, and there was still more to go. Energy unlike anything she had ever experienced suffused her body.

Evie rocked her hips upward, drawing more of the shaft into her depths. Fingers closed on her nipple, sending her to the edge. With a final push, Evie watched herself take the dildo to its base. For a moment, all the fatigue and tension and frustration of the morning seemed to collect in her gut. Then she swiped a finger through her wetness and pressed it to her clit, finally reaching her peak.

With a ragged cry, Evie came. Every nerve in her body lit with pleasure. It felt like every inch of her skin, every organ, every muscle and bone had become an erogenous zone and they were all being stimulated at once. The walls of her pussy gripped the toy, holding it snug within her. She felt each ridge and vein, savoring the delicious width of the head as it began to slowly pump in and out. Evie strummed her clit, prolonging her orgasm as long as possible.

Riding out the last waves of her climax, Evie's mind drifted. She closed her eyes, imagining Marcus's weight spread over her, pinning her legs back. The dildo was nearly identical to his erect cock. It was so easy to imagine her boyfriend thrusting into her tight tunnel, quickening his pace to carry her to a second orgasm. She shifted her hips, humping up to meet his relentless rhythm. The new angle caused the head to press against her g-spot and Evie completely surrendered to the fantasy.

Strong hands wrapped around her hips, pulling her toward the edge of the bed. Her imaginary lover stood in a wide stance, holding her in place to maintain this perfect angle on every stroke. His hands slid down to her ass, kneading tops of her firm cheeks. Still, he held her locked in place. His cock pistoned into her. Her clit tingled at the end of each stroke, but she wanted more.

She imagined a mouth descending over her body, a tongue trailing from her belly button down to her pearl. Without further preamble, her new lover's nimble tongue wrapped around Evie, sending her tumbling into another climax. She screamed, hands clenched on the bedding, unable to do anything but melt under the incredible assault. When she finally became too sensitive, the tongue withdrew from her clit to tease gently at the edges of her labia. The cock slowed to a languorous pace.

"What do you think, babe? Got another one in you?" Marcus asked, seeming to speak the words directly into her mind. He paused to hook an arm under her knee. Her leg rose until it stood straight in the air. The thick tool resumed sawing in and out and Evie whimpered in response.

The playful tongue pulled away and she felt a weight press on her belly. Evie whimpered again as she looked up at Kelly sitting astride her, arousal clouding her friend's dark grey eyes. "I think that's a yes. How about it, Evie? Return the favor?"

Evie and Marcus had an active, satisfying sex life, and it was not unusual for her to fantasize about him when they were apart. Most of the time, though, she enjoyed a diverse cast of imaginary partners. She had only been with men in real life, one disappointing threesome aside, but Evie frequently masturbated to thoughts of mixed groups or lesbian encounters. Until today, she had never dreamed, fantasized, or so much as speculated about sex with Kelly.

The fantasy image of her best friend lowered herself to lie on top of Evie. Their faces were inches apart. Gone was Kelly's usual reserve, replaced with unabashed lust. Firmly reminding herself this was not real, Evie raised a hand to Kelly's cheek and pulled her into a kiss. Their lips pressed together, tongues intertwining. They made out for a long moment while Marcus kept a steady pace, the wet schlick of Evie's pussy drowned out by her constant moans.

Kelly broke their kiss and began to crawl further up. Her nipples dragged across Evie's petite pair, eliciting a shudder in the midst of all the other stimulation. Evie laid a hand on her friend's shoulder, pausing Kelly's ascent to feast on her full tits. She lavished affection on the soft orbs, suckling at the abundant flesh as she traced a lazy spiral toward Kelly's areola. It was wider than Evie's, and much rougher. She played with her friend's long nipples, licking and squeezing, blowing and nibbling, but Kelly's reactions were muted. Wanting to earn the rapturous screams her friend had given her, Evie allowed her to resume sitting up.

At last, Kelly's slow crawl reached its destination. Her knees rested on either side of Evie's head. Kelly's vulva shone with the evidence of her excitement, but she made no move to close the last bit of distance. Long past hesitation, Evie gripped her friend's meaty ass and pulled her forward. Evie drove her tongue deep, tasting another woman's flavor for the first time. Her moans intensified and her walls contracted on Marcus's tireless pole. He varied the motion of his thrusts and Evie knew she wouldn't last long.

Determined to acquit herself well in her first bisexual foray--real or not--Evie tried to combine everything she enjoyed when getting eaten out with her lifelong knowledge of her friend. Kelly liked to let her partners make the first move, so Evie went to work, ears open for the subtle cues that would signal her friend's true enjoyment. She forced herself into an almost clinical detachment to bring Kelly to climax without letting herself come first.

Evie slowly pulled her tongue away, slurping Kelly's nectar, reveling in the taste. It was similar to her own, but with a juicier quality and slightly bitter. She dove in for another sample, broadening her tongue for a long lick from bottom to top, likely flicking Kelly's clit at the end. The hitch in Kelly's breath was a good sign, but not the one she was seeking.

Eager to draw Kelly's small clit out further, Evie got her hand involved. She licked and stroked, gently loving on her friend's shy pearl. Kelly made happy noises, bucking her hips as Evie delicately caught her nub between two fingers, but Evie knew she could do better. She eased a finger into Kelly's folds, exploring the interior of her pussy for a few minutes and earning several moans and a quiet squeal for her efforts.

Kelly had reacted most when she had straightened her finger to push deep and sucked on one of her inner labia at the same time. Curious, Evie tilted her head to tickle the other lip with her tongue, then gently suckled on it. Kelly's moan was more guttural, and Evie increased the pressure slightly, drawing the tender flesh into her mouth. She had to withdraw her finger from its awkward angle and tighten her grip on Kelly's ass as her friend began to grind against her face. Kelly was panting, ready to be pushed over the edge.

Smirking in triumph, Evie craned her neck to return to Kelly's clit. She pursed her lips in an exaggerated pucker and formed a seal over Kelly's hood. A bit of suction and a flick of her tongue made Kelly freeze, body tensing. Another flick earned a low hum of pure animal pleasure, nearly a purr. There it was. Evie dug her hands into Kelly's cheeks and prepared to hold the vacuum seal of mouth on clit no matter what.

The second stroke of Evie's tongue set Kelly thrashing. By the fifth lick, Kelly's legs gave out and she tossed her head back. She managed to prop herself up on her hands, resting them on either side of Evie's chest. The movement caused Evie's hands to curl inward, one knuckle brushing against her anus.

"Fuck, Evie, there. Right there, suck on my clit and play with my ass! Oh fuck, keep going!" Quiet Kelly found her voice for the briefest moment before Evie sent her into incoherent cries of pleasure.

Pride and excitement at giving her friend a screaming orgasm melded with the accumulated pleasure of Marcus's relentless fucking, and Evie immediately followed Kelly to the peak. Her entire body seized and she clamped down on her boyfriend's cock. With a wordless grunt, he buried himself in her pussy. Kelly's intoxicating release washed over her face while Marcus unleashed a torrent of semen into her depths. Her world narrowed to the electric bliss of simultaneous orgasm with her best friend and boyfriend. Evie's brain valiantly tried to reason that fantasy lovers should not produce real fluids, but her exhaustion won out before the thought could take hold.

*****

This panel was a waste. There was some talent in the audience--less than he'd hoped for a party school--but no sorcerers, and he was running out of time. He crossed his arms, brooding. He'd been close to snaring his prey this morning, prey that had gone to ground in the face of his obvious superiority. Not that he expected to learn anything at the conference, but his companion had insisted. Vexing woman. A beauty, but hardly worth the trouble, and now she was distracting him from finding their mutual target. She caught his eye, likely coming to report some tidbit to salvage the squandered day.

"Quit sulking. We're supposed to mingle and you spent half the morning lurking in corners." Or she just wanted to berate him. Typical female. "There are hundreds of people in this room who came to see a psychic demonstration. At least one of them must have a magical connection. You don't exactly blend, so use that to draw them out. Like we agreed, remember?" She glared at him. A lesser man would probably be intimidated, but he was in command here.

"I remember the plan, which fell apart the moment I discovered no one here has the gift. Why bother ingratiating ourselves with this mundane herd when we have a lead in Denver? You should be scouting the city. Go, I will cover your departure." He doffed his hat and waved it toward the door in dismissal.

She tossed her green hair, defiant. "Go search an entire city for one person who blocked your scrying and has since become completely undetectable? Yeah, that sounds more useful than--"

He stepped close to her, looming, and laid a hand on her cheek. "You are my servant, Sabira, and I expect to be obeyed. Go, before I become angry."

She lowered her gaze. Her raspy alto, usually so proud, sounded tired, defeated. "Yes, sir." Her submission sent a wave of arousal through him. "I believe one of the panelists knows something. I wanted to catch him after the last demonstration. Perhaps you could talk to him instead?"

She wrapped her hand around his wrist, stroking her fingernail along a tendon. His skin prickled and he felt his cock lurch in his pants. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain a gruff tone. "Hmm. At least this detour won't have been a complete waste. Which one is it?"

Sabira raised her arm and pointed toward a squat man with frizzy red hair, the panelist who kept pointing out the trick or boring "scientific" explanation behind each topic of discussion.

Dad?

He shook his head. Where had that come from? His father was dead, good riddance, and had looked nothing like this beat-up professor.

"Very well. I will speak with the skeptic. Anything else before you go do your job?"

Sabira stared, her face unreadable. "No." She paused, adding just quickly enough to be respectful, "Sir." She patted his hand lightly, then walked off toward the ladies' restroom.

He found a seat and pulled up the event program on his phone to re-read the panelist's bio. "Dr. Roger Zeller. Well then, what secrets lie within your mind?" he whispered, taking out his pocket watch and smiling for the first time all day.

*****

A soft tickle followed by sudden pressure woke Evie as Dr. Boots settled himself on her stomach. His rumbling purr sent tingles through her body, quite different from the pleasure she had just experienced, but still lovely in a companionable way. She petted the fluffy creature and reached for her phone. Kelly had texted and was coming over an hour early. Her dad had sent several texts that she would look at after cleaning up. The cat must have only let her sleep for a few minutes, but she still needed to hurry if she wanted to shower before Kelly arrived.

Even with a brief nap, she felt refreshed, more energized than she had since the nightmares with the Creeper began. She had expected to be sore as well, if not from the intense tai chi, then from her wanton session with Jasmine's dildo. Instead, she felt limber, her muscles loose and ready. In all, despite restless nights and the morning's strenuous activities, Evie felt better rested than she had in months.

The only things spoiling her contentment were the fading memory of another dream--she had been in the Creeper's head--and an empty ache in her chest. It felt like hunger, the sort of hollowness that would settle in her stomach hours after she should have already eaten, except she was also actually hungry and the two sensations were definitely unrelated. Thinking of the tacos Kelly was bringing roused her stomach, but did nothing for the pit in her chest. She rubbed her sternum and grimaced, wondering yet again if she should call a doctor.

"Not to worry, Lady Bearer, we can sort that out," said a voice from across the room. A tall man, stunningly handsome, leaned against the closet door. He smiled at Evie and dropped into an elaborate bow. "It has been some time since I engaged in so vigorous an introduction. Greetings, Sorcerer Evelyn Zeller. I am Eronis."

*****

Thank you for reading the first chapter of Evie's tale! I've had this story bouncing around in my head for years and I'm so excited to finally share it. If you enjoyed, please leave a comment and a rating, and keep an eye out in a few weeks for chapter two. -SF