Isabella ran through the garden, her chest tight with panic. Ava was nowhere to be found. The memory of her face—shaken, wounded, and on the verge of breaking—haunted Isabella with every step.
She first checked the quiet bench under the big almond tree, the place where she and Ava had sat so many afternoons talking about silly things, laughing, and sometimes sharing secrets that no one else knew. But the bench was empty, the wind swaying the branches as if mocking her.
Her heart pounded harder. Where could she be?
Next, Isabella hurried to the playground at the far end of the compound. It was another spot they loved, where Ava used to swing while Isabella pushed her gently, teasing her about acting like a little girl. But again, the space was silent, only the empty swings creaking back and forth.
A lump rose in Isabella's throat. She could almost feel Ava slipping away, like sand running through her fingers.
Finally, breathless and nearly breaking down herself, she rushed upstairs to Ava's room. She pushed the door open and froze.
There she was.
Ava was on the floor beside her bed, knees drawn to her chest, her face buried in her arms. Her shoulders shook as soft sobs escaped her.
Isabella's whole body ached at the sight. She had seen Ava cry before, but never like this, never so raw, so broken. For a moment she stood still, unsure if she should even step closer. She was terrified, not of Ava, but of what her own heart was doing. Why do I feel like this? Why does it hurt so much to see her like this?
Slowly, she moved closer, her steps careful, almost trembling. She forgot to close the door behind her, too focused on the girl in front of her.
"Ava…" her voice cracked, soft and pleading.
Ava lifted her head, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red but still shining with that fragile beauty that tore Isabella apart.
"I—" Isabella's words caught in her throat. She dropped to her knees in front of Ava, desperate to explain. "I don't want you to misunderstand. What happened earlier… it wasn't what it looked like. I swear I would never hurt you. Not you."
"What you saw… it was nothing. Jonathan kissed me, but I didn't want it. I swear it wasn't what you think."
"But I saw you… and it hurt, Isabella. It hurt so much." Ava cried.
The weight of Ava's words pierced Isabella deeply. She realized then just how much she had begun to mean to her, more than she had allowed herself to admit. Fear flickered inside her, fear of what she was feeling, fear of losing her. But she pushed it aside, because Ava needed her now.
She cupped Ava's cheeks gently, her thumbs wiping away the tears. "I would never betray you. Please… believe me."
Something in her voice, in the raw honesty of her trembling words, finally broke through Ava's pain. Slowly, Ava nodded, though her tears didn't stop. Isabella felt a wave of relief wash over her.
The rain started suddenly, pounding against the roof in heavy sheets. Thunder rolled in the distance, rattling the quiet of the house. Isabella glanced at the window, then back at Ava, who sat cross-legged on the floor with tears streaking down her cheeks. Something in Isabella's chest tightened—an urgency she couldn't ignore.
She moved more closer beside her, brushing the wetness from Ava's face with her thumb. "Hey… don't cry," she whispered, her voice softer than the storm outside. Then, almost without thinking, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Ava's forehead, as if sealing a promise she couldn't yet put into words.
Without a word, she reached out, grabbed Ava's hand, and pulled her up.
"Bella—where are we—" Ava started, but Isabella only hushed her with a look, tugging her firmly toward the outside of her room.
Her fingers stayed laced with Ava's as they hurried past the stairwell, Isabella's eyes darting around to make sure no one saw. She didn't slow down until they slipped into her room, closing the door behind them.
The rain tapped faintly against the wide glass window, but inside Isabella's room, it was warm, dim, and heavy with silence. Not the awkward kind—this silence carried weight, every unspoken word between them, every stolen glance, every touch that almost happened but didn't… until this afternoon.
Ava sat at the edge of the bed, her hair falling in soft waves, her hands clenched in her lap. She was nervous—Isabella could see it. But beneath that nervousness was something rawer, a hunger she tried so hard to hide.
Isabella stepped closer, her fingers brushing along Ava's jaw, lifting her face gently. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Ava's walls crumbled.
"Bella…" Ava's voice trembled, fragile but laced with need.
"Shhh," Bella whispered, pressing her lips to Ava's forehead, then her cheek, then finally, finally capturing her lips. The kiss started soft, almost careful, but desire broke through quickly. Ava responded, hesitant at first, then desperate, her hands clutching Bella's shirt as if she'd fall apart without her.
The kiss deepened, tongues tangling, breaths stolen. Bella's hands wandered, one sliding up the curve of Ava's waist, the other gripping the back of her neck to keep her close. Ava gasped against her lips when Bella pressed her down into the sheets.
"You taste like wine," Bella murmured between kisses.
"And you…" Ava's voice caught when Bella's lips grazed her throat. "You taste like trouble."
Bella chuckled softly, her breath warm against Ava's skin. "The kind you like."
Ava shivered, her legs tightening around Bella's hips before she even realized she was doing it. The sound of her own soft moan embarrassed her, but Bella didn't let her pull away. She kissed her harder, devouring her lips, her neck, the line of her collarbone.
"Isabella…" Ava whimpered, her voice breaking. "Please…"
Bella slowly moved down to her breast, she had been wanting to touch them for God knows how many years. She circled her breast teasing until Ava wanted them in her mouth already. She pressed her lips against one breast caressing it before swirling her tongue around it until it became so hard that Ava moaned.
The sound of her voice filled the room and she had to quickly cover her mouth before anyone else heard her embarrassing moan.
Bella moved her hand touching the sensitive spot in between her legs realizing how wet Ava was.
"You are so darmn wet" Bella looked up and when Ava looked away, shy, she smiled and went back to sucking her other breast.
Bella's face looked down,running her tongue from her breast down to her belly button, she kissed and licked every inch of skin down to her thigh and in between her thighs.
"Open your legs love" Bella whispered and Ava obeyed, dying in the pool of pleasure.
As soon as her tongue touched her sensitive part playing with it,Ava moaned so loud Bella had to cover her mouth with her own hand not stopping for a second. Ava burned with pleasure.
Her body was on fire shivering,she wondered if Bella had been doing this with others because she seems so good at it. She played with her sensitive spot like she did with her breast.
One of Ava's hands gripped Bella's hair and the other supported Bella's hand on her mouth pressing it harder on her lips to help swallow all the moaning and pleasure.
Her hips moved involuntarily seeking for more of whatever Bella was doing to her. Bella's tongue was exploring every inch. Ava let out another loud moan which was prevented from coming out due to both of their hands on her mouth when Bella thrust her tongue inside her tight canal. Ava arched her back, shivering uncontrollable but Bella wouldn't stop for a second.
Feeling the growing wetness Bella devoured her even more. She wanted to hear Ava moan loud but couldn't afford anyone hearing what was going on. She enjoyed the moaning she felt in her palm and the way Ava struggled to swallow all the pleasure.
Bella pulled back just enough to look at her, her eyes dark, her chest rising and falling fast. She let her hand drift lower, teasingly slow, tracing Ava's stomach, stopping just above where Ava needed her most.
"Tell me," Bella whispered, her lips brushing Ava's ear. "Do you want me to stop?"
Ava shook her head violently, her breath ragged. "No."
"Then tell me what you want."
"I… I don't know" Ava stammered, cheeks flushed deep red.
"Yes, you do." Bella kissed her again, biting her lower lip just enough to make her whimper. Then she pulled back, her voice low, husky. "Do you want one… or two?"
Ava's eyes widened, her breath hitching. The question alone sent fire rushing through her veins.
"Do you want two fingers, Ava?" Bella asked, slow, deliberate, meant to leave her trembling.
Ava turned her head away, ashamed at how badly her body wanted it. "Bella… this is my first time," she whispered, her voice breaking.
For a moment, Bella froze, then her lips curved into the faintest, tenderest smile. She caught Ava's chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Good," she whispered softly. "That makes us both."
"Say it," Bella urged. "Say what you want."
Ava's lips parted, but then panic flickered across her face. She grabbed Bella's wrist, whispering harshly, "Bella, what if your dad walks in? You know how strict he is, and we are both women,what if he catches us?"
Bella smirked, leaning down so her hair brushed against Ava's cheek. "Relax. No one's coming in here. The door is locked." She kissed her again, slow and reassuring. "Not even my dad will see you like this. You're mine tonight."
Ava wanted to believe her, God, she wanted to—but fear and desire clashed inside her. "Promise me, Bella…" she whispered.
"I promise," Bella breathed, her lips grazing Ava's ear. "No one's ever going to see you but me."
But neither of them knew Bella's mother had been in her bathroom before they came into the room silent, unseen, the water still dripping from her shower.
Oblivious, Ava finally surrendered, hips arching against Bella's teasing hand. "Yes… two, but first one" she whispered, her voice breaking under the force of her need.
Bella's smirk was dangerous, but her eyes softened with something Ava hadn't seen in years,love.
"Good girl," Bella murmured.
And then her hand slipped past the last barrier, her fingers finally pressing where Ava ached most. Ava gasped, her back arching, nails clawing at the sheets. Bella kissed her again, swallowing every sound, every plea, as her rhythm deepened.
"The room filled with the soft, broken moans of a girl who had spent her childhood trying to figure out if Isabella was just her best friend, or something far more dangerous, far more irresistible, only to be undone in the arms of the only one who ever truly owned her heart."
For Ava, the world outside disappeared. There was no Adrain, no Claire, no expectations, not even her own mum Joyce , only Isabella. Only this. Only them.
And then—quiet footsteps echoed from Bella's bathroom.
The door creaked open.