Chapter twenty seven

Nowadays everybody knows when am asleep into the edges of conversation .I'm in regular rotation on the nightly news .Folks think they know my story because of that first big hoopia I made in the papers when I ended that standoff at the bank , but someone discovered me long before that.That's when I became something .My story begins on that night.

I was in a club , feeling nothing but the bass in my bones and the sway of my limbs .When I closed my eyes , the flash of strode lights illuminated my darkeed lids. Wheny I opened the again , a aside of her mouth hooked into a wry smile .She was tall with evocative curves and big, black eyes.I casually danced closer, only glancing at her once in a while , trying to play it cool .Every time I looked at her, she was looking back at me. She wasn't shy. Maybe I shouldn't be either.

I walked over close and stood looking up into her eyes .She began to dance around me, not touching me, sensuously moving her body like a snake. Then she ran one light -brown finger down my dark -brown chest, tracing a line of sweat taht ran between my breasts.The world receded as her finger lingered on me .As if hypnotized ,I let her take my hands and put them pn her.Together we moved.The beast infused our movements with rapture.Our wet limbs entwined like water.Our hips thrummed with fire. Some guy came up behind meand put his hands on my ass.The steamy ,sexy spell was broken .Outrage choked me .I slapped him away, yelling , ''Fuck off creep'' My fingers spasmed.

He moved behind my dance partner and pawedd at her.She swatted at him like the cockroach he was.

Then it happened...again .My vision blurred as my eyes rattled around their sockets .All the hairs on my body stood up , and gooseflesh rushed to cover every inch of my skin .My teeth tattooed a spasmic rythm .The ground shook, and the concrete floor cracked in a circle beneath my feet.

I reached a shaking hand out to the man harassing her and grabbed his wrist .He stopped kneading her high and went rigid .His eyes rolled back , and he convulsed .I dropped his wrsit, afraid of what I've done.

All the manic energy drained from me , and my vision cleared .the woman blinked from me to him, her mouth a shocked O.i shrunk into myself , turned and pushed to the rxit .The air in that place was too hot and too close .

Whe I spilled intothe street , the night was cool with a lght, misting rain.Bent double ,I swallowed deep breaths and whoaed my heart to slow it's canter.I looked up to see her standing in front of me.

''Holy shit,''She said, her voice a higher pitch than I'd expected.

''What did you do to him?''

I cpould only dully shake my head.

''That was so fucking cool''Was tht awe in her voice?Reverence? My eyebrows drew together .She grabbed my hand and pulled me into a run.

''C'mon Let's get out of here before that assshole recovers or the po-po show''

With her warm hand developing mine, it was hard to focus on the thoughts ricocheting like bullets in a barrel around my brain.I picked up my pace until our strides slapped the damp pavement like atched heartbeats .

Beetween puffs of brath that cloudede the cold air , I asked ,

''Where are you taking me?''

She flashed a wide , red lipped cheshire cat-grin .

''Patience , my dear.''

For the next few blocks , all I could think about was that mouth .I was still imaginning how acrobatic a mouth that big would be when she abruptly stopped.

We stood infront of cat's corner ,a greasy spoon dinner.The large windows were smudged with grease and fingerprints .The booths loooked like an ancient mouain lion with blunted claws used them for scratching posts.

The people inside moved lethargically as if the air had heft to it.

I arched a brow .

''Is this the place you take all your potential conquets?''

''Only the superhuman ones who might be on the lam from the law.''

I flinched

''Plus , they have the best fries .''

I squared my shoulders .''I will judge them by their milkshakes .''

We were seated at a two-top booth beneath the table. Her hands rested in her lap , and her fingrtips brushed my leg .My estem for the place rose.

I gave her an appraising look, which she returned .thankfully , half the lights in the place wer busted , so we weren't bathed in unflattering flourescent spotlights .Her olive skin was shiny from the rain. She had bold , liquid eyes that matched her confident mouth .

After our run , the fine , dark hair piled on top of her head was an artfu mess .AS head and a half taller than me, she had curves for the days.

I hoped I passed muster with my compact form , shaggy hair, and deep -brown skin.

Her glistening gries arrived along with my enoumaous strawberry milkshake. Feeling oddly exposed ,I slurped down a couple of quick swallows of shake .

''Wow ,''I said.'' I think they use real , actual strawberries .''

She snatched her hands away from the fries , shaking burnt fingers.''Never judge a diner by it's -she looked around us-''everything.''

''So waht are you, mystery lady?''

There was that wry smile again .Her words came fast .''I'm Amira .I was born in pakistan , but my parents moved to the states when I was four .I'm a programmer at a tech firm .Smore.I've lived in a loft a couple blocks from here for six or seven years .And my cat , Witchy , is the boss of me.''

I closed on eye and squinted out the ther one .''Tell me something sexy about you.''
She leaned in closer , her round , braless breasts resting on the table.''What isn't sexy about me?''

I wondered what it would feel like to hold each of her breasts in my hands. How heavy would they be? Would her nipples grow hard undr my thumbs ? What sound would she make if I touched those nipples with my breath ?Grazed them with my lips ?

Her smile quirked at me .''I lke to play video games in lingerie.''

Without missing a beat , she continued , ''But I think the real question is ''What's your name?''

''Anna,''I said .'' My parents always say I was sweet and dark as a blackberry when I was born.''

''Are you sure it's not Quake?She-snake?Maybe the southern rattlre ? Maybe you're a memmber of asuperhero club?''

I looked down at my melting pink ose .;;No one's ever seem me do that before ....or more like no one's ever known it was me who was doing it before .It's lke you're the only one who's ever really sen meI dared to look up at her from behind my bangs .H

er eyes were round , her lashes a painter's elegant feathered brushstrokes .

''How ?''She asked .

''When I saw you back there, you were a magnetic pulse that I could feel through all the noise .Like a desert calling to water , I felt you calling to me.''

My lips parted and I let loose a whiapr of a gasp.

She flashed a fox grin .''Plus girl , you are a whole lot of hotness in such a small package .''She put on a twang .''And that down south accent ,mmm.I could just eat .....you...up...'

I snorted .She reached across the table and gripped my arms .Her touch sent waved of heat through my body , making me question which one of us had superpowers.

''Seriously, You've got to tell me .I'll die of the shame of ignorence if you dont .Litereally ,I'll die a hot lobely tech nerd .You'll have basically killed the digital age equivalent of a sexy librarioan.''

Thinking , I licked my lips .''Invite me back to your place , and I'll tell you everything.''

Like a withering flowere, she drew back her outsretched arms.

''Is it.... i dont know...safe?You've got some serious ,uh,kick when you get worked up.''

She was right;it probably wasn't safe, but my heart was hammering out a syncopated ditty ,My thoughts were clouded with the sweet scent of her .I ached with want and had to squirm in my seat.

In the quiet fields of North carolina where I'd grown up, i had practiced controlling my power on broken tables and rusted -out cars.In the secret of solitude ,I'd even used that power on myself, regulating the waves of vibration for pleasure and, sometimes , a delicious edge of pain.

Mustering a aveener of confidence , I said.''Take me to bed and find out.''

By the time we left the diner , the sky had let loose it's troubles.We flat-ran for Amira's aparment while the fat raindrops soaked us through.Her hand clasped mine and practically dragged me up the flight of stairs .Before I could settle my brathing ,we wre inside her apartment.

She made no move to trun on a light.Instead she let me stand there, looking around .Her polace had big windows Te city lights shone thrpugh , casting abstract shadows across our faces.I fumbled with a floor lamp untoil a feeble,amber light emerged from its Edison bulb.The apartment was one open room,and my eyes lingered on the neatly made bed .

The floor was old , scarred wood.Little toys sat like totems in twos and threes on he mantle , coffee table, and counter I recognized a legend of Zeldafiguirinr and smiled.

Then I looked at her .In the soft light , her face was anxious .Almost against my will, my gaze was drawn downward .The wet fabric of her pale dress clung to her curves .I could se her dark nipples and the outline of her thighs through the thin fabric .The dress cleaved to the place where her legs met.I stepped toward her, reaching .I stopped in mid-motion, my arms halfwway extended.

I swallowed .''Is it okay if I kiss you?''

Amira didn't say anything.

I whispered .''Evere since I saw you,I've wanted to touch you. Can I?''

She bit her lip , weighing deciding , choosing .

Then her lips were on me , her body against mine.If I was the quavering earth , she was fire made flesh .Her skin steamed beneath her wet clothes , and her big mouth enveloped me. She swallowed me , consumed me.My universe wa her mouth , her lips , her tongue .Our breath was a living being , passing back and forth between us .She nipped me, and the flash of pain was exquisite , lighting up my body, reminding me I had a body .I had been born with hands tto worship at the atar of her.

I drew my hands up her legs , pulling her dress up over her head .i stood transfixed , staring at the mound of her hip and curve of her breasts , each nipple like an upturned purple bud seeking sunlight .She tore off my shirt and unzipped my pants .I knelt before her,tracing the line of her little red panties with the tip of my tongue .Her hands in my hair , she moaned and leaned into me.

With agnizing slowness ,I used only my teeth to tug her panties down .Small gasps kept escaping her .I wanted to bury my face between her legs and lap like a kitten at her clit, but I held back .Instead I darted my toungue out in quick motions Licking my lips that were hidden beneath soft black hair.My darting tongue parted those lips , but I wasn't ready yet to search for her treasures.

''You tease , Anna''she moaned. I laughed and shood up .''I can't have you cumming quick ,sugar''