Comfort Zone 2/2 (Alexis PoV)

We stumbled back, Chloe walking me towards her bedroom. It was slow, neither of us daring to break contact as we awkwardly maneuvered through the dark. The dim light from the living room cast long shadows across her features, highlighting the curve of her cheek, the soft part of her lips I couldn’t stop kissing. The sound of something hitting the ground and a soft curse against my lips brought a brief smile to my face.

“Sorry,” she whispered, and I felt her smile against my mouth. “Room is a bit of an obstacle course right now.”

“I don’t mind,” I murmured back, enjoying this slow, fumbling journey more than any practiced seduction I’d ever executed.

My legs hit the edge of the bed, and there was no grace in the way Chloe and I tumbled to the bed. My hands moved, gripping at her thighs and ass as I pulled her to me. She gasped against my mouth, the sensation making my head fuzzy as that electric feeling coursed through us.

A memory flickered through my mind—another bedroom, another girl, my Gift already creating a feedback loop of pleasure before we’d even properly begun. I pushed the nameless woman away with the mental **** of a bouncer kicking out a troublesome drunk. Focus now, on the moment.

The feedback of my Gift made me want to go further, to feel more. I didn’t know who was feeling what, and I didn’t care. We were both moving in a haze, hands sliding under clothes as they were shed and tossed aside. The feel of her skin was warm and inviting, and she let out a sharp gasp when my fingers traced over the swell of her breast.

I rolled her onto her back, moving to cover her as she lifted her face up to mine. Our bodies were flush, the feel of her warm and soft as my thigh pressed between hers. The last of her clothing fell away as my hands tossed them aside. Her breath hitched as I kissed along her neck, hands enjoying the feel of her body. She was perfect in a way I’d never experienced before. Every curve, every line, the way her skin felt against my fingers consumed my attention as I sought to memorize every little detail that was Chloe.

Unlike past encounters where I moved on autopilot, each touch, each kiss felt deliberate and new. Her skin carried the faint scent of vanilla lotion, and beneath it, something uniquely Chloe that made my heart race faster than my body.

Through the blaze in our connection, there was... something else. It was growing the more I touched her, and it took me a minute to realize it was nervousness. I opened my eyes, pulling back to look at her. Her eyes averted away from mine and she had a **** grip on the arm wrapped around her. “Hey,” I whispered, leaning to brush my lips against her neck. It took far too much willpower to pause like this. My lips quivered, running them along her skin. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” The words were too quick to be believable. Her hand gripped at the one on her stomach, the other tracing along her leg. “Just...” There was a pause and she tried to swallow. “First time doing something like this sober. And...”

“And...?”

“I’m not exactly as experienced with...” Her words trailed off, her eyes flicking to mine before running away once more. “This.”

“With women?” I asked softly, my chest tightening with unexpected tenderness at her vulnerability.

She nodded, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “Emotions too.”

My heart ached. She was so damn adorable, yet her insecurity was clear. I pushed with my Gift, getting the first bit of resistance. “Sorry,” I said, reaching up to brush a lock of hair from her face. “Am I coming on too strong? I tend to do that.” Fear crept into my mind. Was she not enjoying this? No, that wasn’t it. I would have felt it, right?

Her blush deepened. “It’s not that. Not really.” Again, more resistance to my Gift as she pushed with her mind. That was new. Usually it was too easy for my Gift to connect with her. I pulled back, lessening the connection to a step below surface emotions. She seemed to relax, tension leaving her shoulders. “The emotions are... overwhelming.” Her grip on my arm loosened. “I want this, but it’s hard to relax.” She hesitated again. “It is confusing. I don’t know what I’m feeling, and what you are. Am I feeling like this because of you, or is this me?”

Her question pierced through my usual defenses, laying bare the crutch I’d been using all these years. I’d never asked myself if my partners truly wanted me, or if they were just swept up in the emotions I projected. I’d never cared enough to wonder. In the end, we both got what we wanted.

It was hard, but I pulled back. The emotional heat cooled between us, though my body still burned. It took effort to resist the urge to kiss her, to lose myself in the moment. My Gift hummed beneath my skin, instinctively seeking the connection that had become so automatic. Like a muscle memory, it strained against my restraint—the easy path, the familiar route to pleasure.

Her hand reached up, tracing along the side of my face. I closed my eyes, leaning into it. “I’m not saying your Gift is a bad thing, but I need know how I feel.” Her smile was so god damn cute, all shy and adorable. “At least this first time.” Her voice was soft, as if she were embarrassed admitting this was only the first to come.

“You’re braver than me,” I whispered, the truth slipping out before I could stop it. “I’ve always hidden behind my Gift. Never had to wonder if what I felt was real.” A deeper truth, only for her. “Never wanted to.”

For the briefest of moments, I hesitated. It instantly shot a bolt of guilt through me as I realized why I was hesitating: I was selfish. It was easier to enjoy pleasuring your partner when you skimmed a bit of that off the top for yourself. The more the thought dug into my mind, the more I realized it was true. How eager would I be to go down on someone if I got nothing in return? Reflecting on that only made the guilt worse. Here I was, doing the same to Chloe only worse. It wasn’t just about extracting pleasure, but dumping my emotions onto her when she was so inexperienced with this. I could take the easy way and say it was just the passion and heat of the moment, but I knew better. I pushed so hard because I wanted this. It hurt knowing how I hadn’t cared about what she was feeling, only caring about my own emotions reflected back.

My past conquests flashed through my mind—faces blurring together, moments of pleasure without true connection. How many times had I used my Gift to amplify their desire, letting their lust fill the emptiness where intimacy should have been? How easy it had been to ride their emotions instead of facing my own.

In short, I was a leech. Same as always.

With a deep breath, I pushed away the last bit of my Gift and closed the connection. Just like that, the raging inferno was snuffed out. Despite the warmth of our bodies pressed together, it was cold. Not in the physical sense, but internally. The loss of that heat was painful in a way I couldn’t describe, as I’d never felt this way before.

My heart pounded in my chest, suddenly loud in the quiet room. Without my Gift’s blinding connection filling the space between us, I could hear Chloe’s breathing, the soft rustle of sheets as she shifted beneath me. The world became sharper, more present, each sensation singular and undiluted.

Her hands against my cheeks brought my attention away from within as she pulled me into a kiss. The tenderness of her lips felt nice, but... lesser. With the echo from my Gift missing, I felt lost in the moment. For all my experience, it all felt useless when it mattered most. How was I supposed to make her feel good if I didn’t have that feedback? I’d always prided myself on being an amazing lover, especially to those who had captured my attention. That image of myself shattered in the moment, revealing the lie I’d built around myself. Once again, Chloe **** me to confront myself, and I wasn’t all that happy with who I saw.

She pulled back, a cute furrow to her eyebrows. “Are you okay? Am I that bad at kissing?”

“God, no. It’s not you. I just realized...” How honest should I be here? I found myself chuckling softly. First the date, now this. Could anything go right? “I’ve only ever done things with my Gift. It’s making me a lot less confident than I usually am.”

“You’ve never been with someone without using your Gift?”

“Oh, I’ve had plenty of sex without using my Gift,” I said quickly. “But never with someone I cared about—and none of them were even close to being you.” I took a deep breath, fighting at the nerves tightening in my core as I fought against the worries and insecurities bubbling up in my mind. My words were barely a whisper, a reflection of my most intimate desires. “I want you to enjoy this.”

Her smile, that heart melting blush, and the tenderness in her eyes eased the storm inside me. The words were soft as she leaned in to kiss me. “I am, because I’m with you.”

A spark in the void flared. It wasn’t nearly as intense as it was before, yet it was no less potent. Instead of letting it consume me, I focused on the moment. The way her lips moved against mine, her hand on the back of my neck pulling me down to her. The scent of her familiar perfume helped quiet the loud thoughts in my head, my racing heart no longer fueled by anxiety, but of excitement. Her skin was soft and warm as my hands traced along her sides and stomach. My lips ran along her jawline, her head tilting to give me access to her neck. The soft noises she made were intoxicating and encouraging. The shivers through her body when I hit that one spot, were all little treasures of discovery. Each demure moan a reward for my efforts.

“Is this okay?” I found myself asking, words I’d never bothered with before. Her whispered “yes” sent a thrill through me unlike any feedback loop my Gift had ever created.

She laughed softly when my hair tickled her collarbone, the sound intimate and unguarded—and just a hint of nerves that so perfectly mimicked my own. I joined her, our shared laughter creating a different kind of warmth between us. My hand found hers, fingers intertwining as I moved lower, each inch of skin explored with a reverence I’d never shown anyone.

I was only vaguely aware of how much effort it all was. Sex always seemed so easy before. A natural extension of my own lust, a need that required little thought. Now, it felt like I was stumbling to find my way. Sure, I had solid experience to guide me, yet it felt woefully inadequate. A part of me hated that. It was an affront to my pride, to know I had to work at something that used to come so easily; so effortlessly. It was a given my partner would enjoy themselves: they were with me, and I was an amazing lay.

But now, it was slow. Deliberate. Each touch, each movement of mine was with a purpose. There were no feelings to guide me, no feedback or whispers of thought, and no shared pleasure to reward me for my efforts. Only her body against mine, and the sounds and expressions she made to guide me. Never before had I been so... present... in the moment. Without the distraction of pleasure, I was fully focused on Chloe. Her taste, the feel of her, and the sound of her gasps and soft moans. My actions had a weight to them they never did before. If I wanted to see her face flush, hear her breath hitch; to feel the tremors in her body, I had to earn them. There was no magic trick, no shortcut to take. The physical toll was minor, but I was spent emotionally as I found my way.

It was the hardest thing I had ever done, yet somehow, the most fulfilling thing I had ever experienced.

“Alexis,” she whispered, and my name on her lips sounded different. Not a cry of Gift-induced pleasure, but something honest and present. My name had never meant more.

Her body arched against mine and I my hand slipped between her legs. She was so goddamn wet. Her fingers dug into me, her eyes closed tight and lips parted. The tremor that ran through her was the reward I chased, a primal satisfaction filling me at the way she reacted to me. My fingers circled her clit, drawing a sharp gasp and shiver.

“Fuuuck...” Her whisper was hot against my neck. She clung to me desperately, her body moving against my fingers. Her breaths were heavy, interspersed with quiet whimpers and soft moans. My free arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her to me as I moved faster, chasing her pleasure. Her body felt hot to the touch, each breath coming as a needy pant. “God,” she gasped. “Don’t stop.” Her fingers dug into my arms as a shudder ran through her. Her body was quivering and tense, all sense of time fading away. My attention was fully on her.

It was amusing seeing her enjoying this so much. Poor girl had no idea what was coming. I might not be leaning on my Gift, but I still knew how to eat a girl out.

I was going to ruin her.

I worked my way down her body, enjoying the feel of her against my lips and tongue. My mouth traced the curve of her neck, her hands sliding up to lace through my hair. I lingered at her chest, teasing and tasting with gentle nips and kisses. Her breaths grew heavier as I worked lower, kissing along her stomach as my hands moved up the inside of her thighs.

The sound of her breath hitching in anticipation when I placed a tender kiss on her hip only spurred me onward, my fingers a teasing hint of what was to come. The tremor that ran through her was enough encouragement for my tongue to follow my hand, slowly working towards the source of her pleasure. There was something intoxicating about the way she reacted to me, the subtle taste and smell of her almost as good as the sound of her soft, muffled gasps. Her hand slid down, fingers tightening in my hair and trying to guide me. The silent encouragement was cute and I rewarded it with a slow swipe of my tongue that followed the curve of her lips, a satisfied grin on my face at the shudder that followed.

She tried to speak, only to cut off as my tongue circled her clit. The soft whimpering sounds she made were fucking addicting, my eyes closing as I focused on drawing them out. I could feel her thighs press against my shoulders and her hand tensed in my hair, tugging when I would hit something she really liked. I kept up a steady pace, exploring with lips and tongue as I found what made her react most. The way her body moved, the heat of it, how she tasted... This was a high I hadn’t experienced before. I wanted more. I needed more.

When was the last time I had so much fun? I had always enjoyed it on a physical level, but this? It was fun. Really fucking fun. Not only that, but it was... right. Yeah, I wasn’t getting anything physically out of this right now, but I was barely thinking about that anymore. It seemed so... small. It was surprising how important it had been to me until now.

Yet a part of me still craved it. A small part of my mind whispered how great things would be if I only reached out with my Gift. How much better it would be. Just a touch of my power to amplify what was already here, to ride the wave of her arousal and let it fill me too. Feeling the pleasure myself would make this all better. For her, of course. We’d both win, the voice insisted. I’d enhance what she was already feeling, and I’d get to experience it alongside her. I bet she wouldn’t even notice if I only used it a little bit. And the benefits. I could make it so much better for her if only I—

My fingers hesitated on her skin, the temptation pulsing beneath my fingertips like a second heartbeat. I didn’t like how hard it was to not give into that little voice, which if I had to admit, wasn’t all that little.

But Chloe had asked for something real, something unmixed with my Gift’s influence. She was the only one that mattered. I wanted to make her happy and giving her a moment where she didn’t have to worry about anything.

I refocused on what I was doing and she let out a soft cry, thighs tensing against me. My hands slid along her thighs and stomach, enjoying the way she quivered against my fingers as I drew light circles. I had found a rhythm, alternating between slow strokes of my tongue and faster movements to work her up to the breaking point. I knew the moment she was getting close. Her body would tense, and I’d slow down to draw it out. The frustration at my teasing had her writhing in pleasure, but that tension slowly drained away the longer I worked. She was lost in it, the hand in my hair no longer guiding, instead clinging for dear life. Her free arm clung to the side of the pillow, her head pressing into it. Each time she approached that climax, her breathing grew faster, almost gasping for breath as I denied her.

I enjoyed how she said my name in that **** tone, her body quivering in pleasure as she tried to move her hips against my tongue. I had no intention of letting her get off just yet. She was close, but not nearly where I wanted her. My hands explored her body, enjoying the feel of her skin. It was a struggle to deny myself the use of my Gift, the urge to skim a bit of the pleasure growing. No. I was doing this for her, not me. Besides, it would make the end all the sweeter.

I mentally grinned to myself, kissing her and enjoying the way her thighs pressed against my head and her hand in my hair. She had started to beg, quiet pleas that I had no intention of listening to just yet. It was so goddamn sexy the way she said my name. The desperation. How badly she wanted it. I was going to give her the fucking ride of her life.

When I sensed her getting close again, I slowed the pace, drawing out the build-up. It wasn’t until she was trembling in need that I wrapped my lips around her clit, sucking gently. A shudder raced through her and I didn’t let up, moving with her as her body tensed and released. Her hand pressed my head harder against her, a series of sharp gasps followed by a low moan of pleasure. Finally letting go, her thighs relaxed as she melted into the bed. The soft sound of her panting for breath made me grin, giving one final kiss against her clit as I withdrew, enjoying the sight of her body to see her face flushed, her hair a mess, and the bedding clutched in her hand.

I drank it in, hovering over her. My smile slowly faded as I looked into her eyes. I did that to her. A sense of satisfaction filled me, pride at being able to make her feel that way. The way she was looking at me now was different. It wasn’t just adoration and desire. There was something else. Everything felt... weird—in a good way. My thoughts stilled and for a moment, it was just the two of us and nothing else.

She reached up to caress my cheek, a smile forming on her face as her thumb traced my lower lip. “That was... amazing.” She giggled. “God, I can still feel the trembles in my legs.” She pulled me down, giving me the most tender kiss. When she pulled back, she brushed my hair back, a shy expression on her face. Her voice was so clear and innocent. “As much as I would like to return the favor...” A blush colored her cheeks as she looked away. “This... is a lot. Not in a bad way, but... you know what I mean.” Her voice dropped. “Sorry.”

Huh. Odd. Why wasn’t I upset at that? Instead, my heart fluttered, unable to resist her flustered look. I couldn’t stop smiling, and I didn’t know why. I felt giddy. “If you’re not comfortable, then that’s fine. There is no rush.”

“Really?” she asked, searching my face for any hint of disappointment or frustration.

“Really,” I answered, surprising myself with how much I meant it.

It earned me a shy smile and I couldn’t hold back anymore, kissing her. “How do you feel about cuddling?” she asked in that warm, welcoming voice of hers. I didn’t need to answer, moving to lay next to her and wrap my arms around her. She turned towards me, her head finding a spot against my shoulder and her arm wrapping around me. It was a perfect fit. We traded lazy kisses, holding each other.

This was different too. I wasn’t the cuddle sort of girl. People tended to get... clingy. I missed out on a lot of great sex because I made the mistake of relaxing my guard only to find my partner ‘catching feels’ or some shit. But this...? I didn’t mind it. It was nice, even. The feeling of her body pressed against mine, the rise and fall of her chest, the way she smelled...

But it wasn’t the physical that had me so confused, I felt...

...

Grr. What the hell? Why was it so hard to put a fucking word to it?

Comfortable.

Like nothing could go wrong in the world. That everything would be alright because she was here. Not to mention... The more I thought about it, the more I realized how I’d gotten nothing out of this whole thing. Sure, kisses and the few times Chloe touched me, but this was an absolute disaster of a night. If I used my Gift, I would have got a halfway decent orgasm off Chloe’s. I should be upset, angry really. A complete fucking mission failure. Not only had the date not done anything to reveal anything about our relationship, but I didn’t even get off at the end! I don’t think I’d ever put in so much work and be left empty handed at the end.

So why was I content? Nothing had gone the way I thought it would!

Nothing made sense.

I pulled her closer to me, and she responded by snuggling into my side. No matter how fucking confusing all this was, this here? It was perfect. ‘Comfortable’ wasn’t a strong enough word for this. It didn’t complete me or fill some hole that was missing or any of that nonsense. I was perfectly fine as I was. I am happy as I am.

No, this was something different. Something... more?

Whatever it was, whatever this feeling was that I couldn’t place, it was a good one.

One that, I had to admit, scared the shit out of me.