Chapter 18: That Which Burns, That Which Freezes
The room was dim.
Outside, the world cracked in quiet ruin.
But inside—it was heat and trembling restraint.
Aria curled into her, breath hot against Selene's neck, her skin slick with fever.
Her body was a furnace.
Selene stayed beside her, calming her with presence alone.
But it wasn't enough.
Not anymore.
⸻
"Selene…"
Her voice was soft.
Almost shy.
But burning at the edges.
Selene turned toward her. "What is it?"
Aria's eyes fluttered open, unfocused, dazed.
Her fingers curled around Selene's shirt.
"You feel so good," she whispered, "So cold… I want it again."
Selene's breath caught.
"Aria—"
"I want to kiss you again."
And gods—how could she say no?
⸻
Selene kissed her.
More slowly this time.
Savoring the shape of her lips.
Letting Aria lead at first—until she begged softly for more.
"Please…"
Selene deepened the kiss.
Tongue sliding gently against hers, barely coaxing her open, trying to be careful, trying to stay soft—but Aria clung tighter, lips parting with a quiet, burning moan.
Selene's resolve cracked like porcelain.
She pulled Aria closer, cupping her face with trembling fingers, kissing her harder now, tongue sliding deeper—slow, drugging, desperate.
Aria whimpered, holding onto her like she'd drown otherwise.
More kisses.
Longer.
Deeper.
Fever and frost entwining, her legs tangling with Selene's as she sought every inch of cold she could touch.
Selene's heart thundered.
Every moan from Aria felt like a blade to the gut.
Because she wanted her—god, she wanted her.
But Aria didn't remember.
Not yet.
Didn't know her.
Not really.
⸻
Selene broke the kiss, panting.
"I can't—" she whispered.
But Aria kissed her again, soft and pleading, hands sliding up her back.
"You help me… please don't stop."
Her voice was a whisper of silk and fire.
Selene gave in.
Again.
And again.
Each kiss deeper, longer, edged with restraint she no longer believed she had. Her tongue moved slower now—purposeful, drawing sighs from Aria's mouth as if she were the only thing keeping her from burning alive.
Selene's hands gripped the sheets beside Aria's hips—not her, never her—desperate not to cross the line she wasn't sure she'd come back from.
Her mouth found Aria's neck instead, leaving cool kisses that made the girl tremble.
Aria moaned quietly, head tilting to give more.
Selene stopped again.
"I like you too much to touch you like that when you don't know me yet," she whispered raggedly.
Aria only pulled her closer, curling into her chest with a sigh.
"…Stay," she murmured.
Selene closed her eyes.
And did.