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Kate’s hands were trembling as she fished out the front door keys from her pocket. They rattled when she tried to jab them in the key hole.
“Stupid… door.”
Tried being the operative word, since she missed twice before kneeling in front of the door and guiding the key in with her opposite hand. The lock clicked open.
“Suck it!” Kate breathed. She stumbled inside, trying to get up and push the door open at the same time and getting her wires crossed in the meantime.
There were a lot of wires.
Some of them live.
She slammed the door closed behind herself, locking it just for good measure, and leaned up against it with a heavy sigh. The fine hairs on her arms were standing on end, her breathing as shaky as her hands. Adrenaline was prickling her skin and heat was coiling in her belly—
“Kate Bishop!”
Kate’s head shot up, knocking into the door behind her. She hissed in pain for just a second, registering it at the same time as Yelena, who was sitting on her couch, wincing in sympathy. “Okay, now’s not a good time, Yelena,” she said, marching into the apartment as she rubbed at the back of her head. She walked straight over to Yelena, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up and towards the door. “Really, really not good. Terrible. Could not be worse.”
Yelena let herself be dragged along for only a moment. “What—Kate—stop.”
Kate was already frazzled, but she swore Yelena did some unnecessarily flashy move just to wrangle out of her grip and get Kate’s arm twisted behind her back. “Okay, ow,” she complained lamely, feeling hot and pained and uncomfortable in her own skin.
“You see me and you try to get rid of me,” Yelena said, confused. Kate betted that if she could see Yelena’s face, she would be frowning at her like she was offended. “Why are you like this?”
Yelena was pressing closer to catch a glimpse of her face, and Kate panicked, because she could feel the heat of her touch, and now she could smell her oh so clearly.
Kate’s pupils blew out at the scent, and heat crawled up her nape and into her face. She grimaced to herself, trying futilely to wriggle out of Yelena’s iron grip. It figured that she would smell as great as she looked.
With Yelena’s face so close to her ear, she could hear when she breathed in deeply.
Oh shit.
“Ah, you are starting rut,” Yelena concluded, finally releasing Kate.
Kate stumbled away from Yelena, covering her nose and mouth with the oversized sleeve of her sweater. It barely helped. The scent had all but imprinted in her memory. “Yeah, and you’re an omega!” Kate said, panicking. She pointed to the door. “You need to get out.”
Yelena just stood there, a single eyebrow raised, her mouth quirking up into an honest to god smile. She looked fantastic in her civvies, of course. “Or what, you will mate me?” Her smile turned into a full blown laugh. “Please, Kate Bishop, you are too funny.”
Kate’s face scrunched into an uncomprehending frown. “This is serious, Yelena! You smell really—good,” she caught herself from waxing poetic just in time. “You smell good.”
Yelena chuckled in a more genuine manner. “Of course I smell good. I am very healthy,” she said matter of factly, punctuating the not so humble statement with a humble shrug of the shoulder.
That stupid brag was like a punch to the gut. If that punch put her on fire and made out with her.
Kate blinked hard at the thought and turned away. If Yelena wasn’t going to walk away, she was. But not outside, where there were more omegas. She stopped in her tracks and headed for the stairs, giving Yelena a wide berth. She would lock herself in the bathroom.
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that,” Yelena sighed, following after Kate. “I can help, you know?”
Kate whirled on Yelena, nearly walking into her. She reared back slightly, pressing her sleeve more tightly against her face. Through the stale smell of cotton, she could still taste Yelena’s crisp scent. It made her mouth water. “Help how?” she asked, watching Yelena in wonder for a whole second before she shook her head. “No. No, this is the rut speaking. Just leave.” She could see that Yelena was unaffected, so she threw her the best puppy eyes she could conjure. “Please!”
Yelena put her hands on her sides, and settled Kate with a look. “Okay.” For a moment, it seemed like she was folding. “Okay, because I am such good friend, I will ignore your pleas and help you.”
Kate deflated at the answer. Then she whipped her head up to look at Yelena.
Yelena looked right back, trepidation seeping into her features at Kate’s sharp look. She tilted her head.
Kate feinted one way before running the opposite direction, up the stairs. The feint, however, was completely unnecessary as Yelena simply watched her go with a roll of the eyes. Kate thought she was safe once she reached the bathroom and had locked the door, breathing an unfiltered sigh of relief.
Finally alone, she realized her clothes had become stuffy and, under the added pressure of an attractive omega in her apartment making her lose her composure, she ripped off her coat, followed by her sweater. The resulting cool air on her skin calmed her marginally.
She was undoing her shoes when she heard Yelena’s voice through the door. “This can work. Sure, okay.”
Kate sat down on the cold tiles to pull off a boot, finding relief in any bit of skin that touched sweet, cool air. Her stomach rolled with possibilities. Her very body itched for action.
She briefly considered opening the door and throwing down with the assassin, but then her thoughts took a nosedive into slimy thoughts of pinning her underneath her and she shot up to turn on the shower.
“If you will calm down for just one second,” Yelena said, exasperated.
Remarkably, Kate stopped just shy of taking a cold shower in her jeans.
As if Yelena could tell, she continued, “Now take a deep breath.”
Kate realized she was breathing fast and shallow, and despite being suspicious, tried slowing down her breathing. At first she smelled nothing, just soaps and the odd scented candle that were present in the bathroom. Then, something tickled at the edge of her consciousness. Something soft and warm that seeped into her skin.
Kate glanced at the door, where the scent originated, and back to the cold, wet shower. She pressed her lips together, mentally cursing at herself before shutting off the flowing water. Who in their right mind was gonna choose the shower over Yelena?
“Good,” Yelena purred, and Kate’s skin prickled all over again. “Now open the door,” she suggested playfully.
Kate scrunched her face, strongly opposed to the idea even though she was inching closer. Just to see if she should or not. The lock was still in place. The fine hairs on her arms still stood on end, and her shoulders refused to relax, but the more she breathed, the more the tension in her belly melted into a fuzzy warmth. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Yelena sighed audibly. “Is this because of your teenage experience with another omega?”
Kate’s jaw slackened as she stared at the door. “How the hell do you know that?”
“Ah, so it is true!”
Kate pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut. She walked straight into that one. And Yelena wasn’t even trying.
“I promise I will not jump your bones, Kate Bishop,” Yelena said, in a manner that sounded more bored than cool and collected. Kate looked up, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe. “Though I am crazy good looking, so you will probably struggle.”
Kate snorted, folding her arms. “Wow. Very comforting. Super convincing.”
“And yet your heart has settled, has it not?”
Kate paused to listen to her body, and damn it, it had. She’d drifted over to the door and now she was ensnared in Yelena’s trap. Her trap, which was… calming her down. Still, she was hesitant. With heavy limbs, she unlocked the door, and cracked it open enough to peek at Yelena. The air was thicker outside, and she tasted—something. Something that registered as sweet.
Yelena was watching her, not forcing her way inside as Kate was expecting. “What is the problem?”
Kate frowned, eyes flickering down at the floor. “I’m scared, okay?”
“Oh, Kate,” Yelena mirrored her position by leaning against the wall, “you have every reason to be afraid.” She let a silence drop for long enough that Kate sent her an incredulous look. “But not for me. I can take care of myself.”
Kate shook her head, breathing a laugh through her nose. “You have a weird way of convincing people.”
Yelena simply smiled, tilting her head ever so slightly.
Kate still felt tense and uncomfortable, but she figured whatever Yelena had to offer was better than the cold shower. “Okay.” She nodded her head a few times, holding the door in a white knuckled grip. “Okay.”
She did nothing.
Yelena arched a brow.
With a clenched jaw, she released her death grip and pushed the door open.
Yelena raised a hand to about waist level, palm downwards, and it took a moment for Kate to realize she held out a hand for her to take. She eyed the hand for a second longer, then Yelena’s expectant eyes, then her hand again.
What was the worst thing that could happen? It wasn’t like she’d never had her ass kicked before.
Finally, she unclenched her hand (when had that happened?), and slipped it into Yelena’s. Yelena’s hand, which was smooth and warm, and holding her tenderly. Yelena tugged at her, leading her away from the bathroom, and Kate managed to set one foot in front of the other.
Kate wanted to panic, because Yelena smelled fucking delicious, but at the same time, the distinct need to act on it was missing. It was confusing Kate’s hormone-riddled mind.
“Still so tense, Kate Bishop,” Yelena tutted, though she looked far from disappointed as her gaze fell down to Kate’s arms and bra clad torso. Before Kate could fidget, she was pulled further into Yelena. “Come.”
Unable to process what she was asking, Kate stepped into her, feeling those same smooth hands sliding around her waist and settling on her back. Her mind fizzled as it tried processing multiple things at the same time, most of them revolving around Yelena’s bare hands running along her back, but also the scratch of clothes against her bare skin, the warmth underneath, and her cheek pressed against her shoulder. She was so close, Kate could feel her breathe.
How in the world was she supposed to relax like this??
Kate felt the words before they were spoken.
“You have been holding out on me,” Yelena said, pleasantly surprised. Her fingers squeezed at Kate. “Your muscles are very dense and lean. You make a strong alpha.”
Kate felt her chest swell with pride before she could help herself. Her extremities flushed with a warmth that melted away most of the tension. She felt weirdly competent all of a sudden, and it was when that sunk in that she realized it had been Yelena’s intention.
It had to be, right? She felt more like herself than she had the entire evening.
“Does—“ Kate‘s voice came out oddly low, and she cleared her throat to speak in a regular tone. “Does that work on all the alphas?”
“No,” Yelena said offhandedly, snuggling into Kate. “Only if it is true.”
Kate’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but Yelena didn’t even flinch (though she didn’t expect otherwise) and pressed her lips against the meaty part between her shoulder and neck. After a few reality checks, Kate kicked her arms into gear and wrapped them around Yelena as well, hesitantly at first, but more firmly at an encouraging squeeze.
Kate silently marveled at Yelena’s competence, letting that reassurance seep into her bones. Her body still wanted to go, but at least it also recognized it had an omega to take care of, and that this omega was pleased with it. Though technically, that wasn’t true, but her body couldn’t tell the difference, so it was irrelevant. She’d never felt that way before, but she decided it was infinitely better than the usual sweat soaked torture.
She didn’t mind this.
“Let’s get food in you.” Yelena patted her on the back. “You’re burning calories like crazy.”
###
Kate sat on the edge of her seat at the dinner table, once again fully dressed, having snuck on the comfiest cotton shirt she owned. It was well worn and used to be black; now it was a dark shade of grey. It wasn’t that she was cold or self conscious, but it felt like social convention not to walk around half naked.
Yelena was rummaging around in her kitchen, and Kate had wanted desperately to help, but Yelena had smacked her hand away and told her, “no.” So she had tried not to pout and sat down.
She watched, tense, as Yelena finally decided to grab a packet of instant ramen and—a knife? A bottle of mayo? An egg?
What the fuck.
Kate’s eyebrows were knitted together, jaw slack, as Yelena used the knife to stab and cut open the ramen, then did the same to the flavor packet. “That’s one way to do it,” she muttered to herself.
As luck would have it, Yelena heard. “Would you prefer I used my teeth?” she asked with what only could be described as a playful grin. She proceeded to do just as she suggested, grabbing the edge of the second flavor packet with the sharpest of her teeth and ripping it open smoothly.
Kate closed her eyes in a prolonged blink. “I, um, am partial to fingers, myself,” the words fell from her mouth but her mind was still processing Yelena’s mouth. And teeth. A sharp canine. The tip of her tongue.
Her face felt warmer than she remembered.
Yelena let out a laugh as she turned around to the job at hand. “Oh Kate Bishop, you would make a terrible spy.”
Kate was simultaneously offended and embarrassed as she replayed the last few seconds in her head. She palmed her significantly warmer face, and rubbed at her eyes. “In my defense, I’m a mess,” she said, like it was an excellent argument. Because it was an excellent argument. She was an alpha in rut. She should be locked away for at least 24 hours and instead, she had a Black Widow omega making her… noodle soup, she hoped.
“On that, we can agree.”
Mercifully, Yelena dropped the teasing so Kate could focus on getting her raging hormones under control. She didn’t know how Yelena stayed so calm, while she must smell like an alpha cub with a huge crush. Though to be fair, Yelena was needling her. Possibly to see where her limits were. Yeah, that made sense.
She hadn’t reached her limit. She was fine. If Yelena could keep her cool, so could she. She just needed to learn. Fast.
Kate watched, transfixed, as Yelena reached for the cutlery drawer. Her long-sleeved shirt had been pushed up to her elbows, and the muscles underneath tan skin almost flexed in slow motion as she took out a singular fork—
Kate averted her eyes to the ceiling, the ground, the window, before settling on the table top. Learning was apparently harder than she thought, with all that visual input. Clearly, all her senses were more sensitive than she thought. She could focus, she could break it down.
Pheromones were impossible to block. Scent could be masked. Sight could be obscured. Hearing could be impaired. Touch could be avoided. Taste—was not applicable. Nope, she wasn’t going there. Taste who? She didn’t know her.
“Ta-dah.” Yelena materialized beside her and placed a bowl of milky looking noodle soup in front of her.
Kate eyed it skeptically, and shot Yelena the same skeptical look. “This is—is this safe to eat?”
“Ha ha,” Yelena said sarcastically, but nevertheless grabbed the fork and took a demonstrative bite. She chewed, nodding to herself. After she swallowed, she made a point of showing her empty mouth. “See? I didn’t die. It’s good,” she concluded, giving Kate a rough pat on the back before sitting herself down on the chair next to her.
Kate jostled with the impact, startled out of her thoughts about taste and Yelena’s mouth. “Right, yeah. Okay,” she said, shaking herself out of it and taking the fork into her hand.
Oh God, that had been in Yelena’s mouth.
Forcibly shutting off all thoughts, she twisted the fork in the noodles and took a bite that was, in hindsight, way too large. Still, it was… good. It was creamy and rich, and she couldn’t believe she’d never had noodles like this before. Her face must have reflected her disbelief because Yelena was shooting her the smuggest look yet.
Yelena nodded down at the bowl. “Go on.”
Kate half expected to be needled again - she could feel Yelena vibrating with mirth - but she was spared. Trying not to dwell on it, she continued eating. “Don’t you want some?” she asked, feeling weird about eating alone like that, underneath her watchful eye.
“I’m good.” Yelena settled more comfortably in her seat, arms on the table. “Thank you, Kate Bishop. You are a very thoughtful alpha.”
Kate pouted as the familiar pride swelled within her chest. “Stop that,” she muttered, sounding anything but convincing.
Yelena smiled.
###
Kate stared down at the bottle of pills in front of her.
The meal had been as simple as it was great. She felt like a need had been fulfilled that she hadn’t been even aware of. Whatever dubious ingredients Yelena had put in the noodles were spot on.
And now Yelena was sliding over an unmarked bottle of pills.
“What are these?” Kate asked, taking the bottle and bringing it closer to her face. The pills were dyed-blue liquid capsules, and looked a lot like some brand of ibuprofen.
“Experimental inhibitors, for alpha’s specifically,” Yelena explained. “They should calm you physically, while your mind stays sharp.”
Kate put the bottle down, and grimaced. “This is because I’ve been broadcasting everything I feel, isn’t it?”
Yelena chuckled, tilting her head this way and that. “That is very adorable, like a little puppy.” The earlier pride slipped from Kate’s chest, and she felt herself deflate a little in embarrassment. Then Yelena looked straight at Kate, eyes crinkled in good humor, and she forgot about it. “But they are not here for me. I cannot stay all night, so, if you want, these will make you more comfortable.”
That sounded all kinds of amazing, and honestly, Kate had some trouble playing it cool—which she was probably broadcasting as well, so she dropped the act and nodded. “Okay, sure, how many do I take? What are the side effects?”
###
Kate felt really good.
She blinked, glancing up at Yelena. Her smile was soft, and her eyes glimmered in the lighting of the apartment. There was a distinct lack of physical reaction within her body, while her heart soared at the pretty, smiling omega. Carnal delights suddenly seemed so secondary to everything.
“This is great,” Kate said with a big smile.
“I can tell,” Yelena laughed, her presence so bright and sharp. Kate wasn’t sure if it was the drugs or not, but Yelena seemed more at ease, all but slouching.
“Yeah, I’m not even thinking about—uh,” Kate stopped herself before she could admit to having a libido, which was not a secret. And definitely not to Yelena. “Chemistry,” she finished lamely, not entirely lying.
Yelena leaned forwards in her chair, quirking a mischievous eyebrow. “What are you thinking about, Kate Bishop?”
Oh, that was definitely a trap.
“Bed,” Kate answered quickly. “Going to bed. Sleeping,” she elaborated underneath Yelena’s sparkling eyes and smiling lips. “I would be really good in bed right now. Asleep. For hours, definitely.”
What the fuck was that? It was like she wanted to be teased by Yelena.
Oh God, did she?
“That is a good idea,” Yelena said, getting up. Kate followed her with her eyes as she walked around and disappeared behind her. Hands appeared on her shoulders, giving her a slight tug. “Up.”
Kate got up, following Yelena’s lead. Her lead, which was going in the direction of the stairs and probably the bedroom. “Are you taking me to bed?” she asked, even though she knew that was 100% where the conversation had been leading towards. The hand on her shoulder moved to her hip, and, instinctively, she slung an arm around Yelena, who was solid and warm and stellar.
“You have the great honor, Kate Bishop,” Yelena said, bringing them up the stairs step by step. “Not many can say that.”
Kate grinned, squeezing Yelena to her. “You’re taking me to bed,” she confirmed happily. Yelena’s profile was fascinating to look at, with the way she tried to appear annoyed, but was also kind of smiling. She smelled as relaxed as Kate felt, and it was making her feel light and amazing.
Yelena’s eyes flickered to her. “Stop staring.”
“Okay,” Kate quipped, smiling brightly. She stared a second longer before looking ahead at—her bed. That was fast.
It didn’t take long for Kate to lose her jeans — she was immensely thankful she chose plain black briefs that morning opposed to the bullseye target ones — and get situated in bed underneath the blankets. She watched in barely concealed admiration as Yelena sat down on the edge of her bed.
Catching her eyes, Yelena asked, “Good?”
“Great,” Kate sighed, slinking a little closer to Yelena’s warmth. She didn’t stop until their hips bumped together, and Yelena sent her a questioning look.
“What are you doing?”
Kate shrugged. Huddling closer wasn’t weird. Especially when Yelena was being so nice to her and looked so very cuddle-able. That actually sounded like a rad idea to her, but she wasn’t sure how the serious assassin would take it. She was better off taking it to her grave.
Yelena shook her head, a little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I’ll check up on you tomorrow.” She looked down at Kate, hesitating for a second, before succumbing to whatever thought she had and leaning down to press a kiss to Kate’s forehead.
“Yelena—“ Kate began, warm lips still pressed to her forehead. She reached out and grabbed at her shirt, her fingers brushing against the solid muscle underneath.
Yelena backed away to look Kate in the eye, scant inches away from her face. She seemed to assess something, probably Kate’s state of mind, before she whispered, “Good night, Kate,” and disentangled herself. With one last look over her shoulder, she headed in the direction of the stairs.
Kate watched her until she could no longer see her, and then let out the longest sigh, feeling bare and cold without Yelena’s presence. But, she reasoned, it was probably for the best. She couldn’t immediately think of why, but it was.
And besides, how much could one night alone really suck if Yelena would greet her again in the morning?
###
She slept like a baby.
She’d wiggled her way out of her bra and fell asleep within minutes, feeling comfortable and spoiled. She didn’t even wake up at the first rays of sunlight, or her front door opening and closing.
“Kate!”
“Wha?” Kate cracked open an eye, recognizing the voice but not able to place it yet. “Yelena?” She tried opening her eyes but the room was too bright, and she ended up face planting in her pillows. “I’m up here!” she called back, muffled.
No reaction.
She was about to chalk it up to her imagination, until she heard the familiar creak of the stairs, followed by some muttering in Russian.
“‘Sup?” Kate said, raising a hand in greeting before flopping it back onto the bed.
“Still, Kate Bishop?” Yelena asked incredulously.
“Still, Yelena Bishop,” Kate confirmed dryly, thinking it was an excellent joke to copy Yelena’s way of saying her last name, until she realized it wasn’t. She lifted her head from her pillows with a sleepy half frown. “Wait.”
“I must confess, I don’t know what to do with that,” came the mirthful reply.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I just woke up,” Kate muttered, rolling onto her side and rubbing at her reddening face. Finally, she felt brave enough to squint up at the shape standing next to her bed. “Hi.”
Yelena was looking down at her, wearing a barely there smile. She brought cold air with her from outside, still wearing her coat. “Hello,” she whispered.
Kate blinked the sleep from her eyes, finding that Yelena’s eyes were less sharp than usual. Normally, that would’ve been fine for the average mortal, but Yelena was anything but average. “Everything good?” Kate asked, trying for nonchalance and being so comfortable that she actually managed.
Yelena blinked, focused on Kate’s eyes, and looked away. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out.
Kate had never whipped out of bed that quickly, coming to a stand still at the edge of her bed on her knees, in front of Yelena. Her hands reached out towards Yelena’s elbows, but stopped short of touching her. “What’s wrong?” she asked, brows furrowed in worry as she searched Yelena’s body for any injuries.
Yelena’s breath hitched.
Kate snapped to attention, but it was as if she’d imagined it, nothing in Yelena’s features showing any indication that she was in distress. Kate took a figurative step back, breathing in through her nose. She rarely scented people, mostly because she had no reason to, but she felt a protective streak rearing its head and she had to know if Yelena was okay.
Yelena’s crisp scent washed over her. There were no notes of distress, no acrid smell of fear. It was just her, and underneath, hidden away, a taste she couldn’t put her finger on. She came close, only for it to dance out of reach. It was teasing and tempting and it was suspiciously like… yearning?
Yelena blinked back into focus, her breathing so ridiculously calm for the signals she was sending.
Kate swallowed, starting to feel a little ridiculous with her arms still up in the air, but she didn’t know what else to do. She longed to ease her troubles, make her at ease, but if she moved an inch in the wrong direction, Yelena would surely disappear.
Yelena was the one to break the standoff. Eyes searching Kate’s, slowly, carefully, she moved closer.
Kate felt all the fight leave her, her mind going blank. Yelena’s breath was warm and sweet against the side of her face, and her soul left her body when the tip of her nose brushed her cheek.
“You smell so inviting, Kate Bishop,” Yelena said softly, tickling Kate’s skin. She tipped closer until she could nuzzle at the sensitive bit of skin underneath her ear.
For a second, Kate feared she was still in rut, but try as she might, she could not find any trace of it.
“I—I’m not even in rut.”
Still so attuned to Yelena, Kate felt her give in. And yet all she did was breathe her in so gently that it almost tickled. She didn’t even touch her, and Yelena was already broadcasting contentment with the closeness they shared.
“I know,” Yelena said simply.
They were two simple words, but they blew Kate’s mind. Yelena was attracted to her scent when she was most herself. She returned back to earth when two hands grabbed her wrists, and guided her arms around Yelena. She’d been so stunned, she’d forgotten all about her limbs. And body in general. The shock faded, making room for the pretty stellar amount of affection that washed all over her.
If she wanted to be close to her, she was going to make it happen. She pulled Yelena into her, and held her tightly. The light padding of her coat was unsatisfying beneath her fingers, but the mild frustration was smothered when Yelena wrapped her own arms around her.
Braless, in a flimsy shirt, it felt incredibly intimate to be touched, let alone squeezed into another body.
Kate relished it.
Yelena let out a content hum, slipping a hand up from Kate’s spine, across her shoulder, to cup the side of her neck. Fingers smoothing across her skin. Just to feel.
It left a trail of raised skin and a barely suppressed shudder. Her hand was so warm, in contrast to the cool air around them, and despite her biology (or maybe because of it), Kate found herself melting into the gentle touch. Yelena’s crisp scent became headier the longer they stood like that, until it slowly but surely slipped once again into what Kate now recognized as yearning.
Kate righted herself from the embarrassing lean she’d settled into, trying to catch Yelena’s eyes. She backed away at the nonverbal prompt, giving Kate only a glimpse of her darkened eyes before she leaned right back in to press their lips together.
Soft and pliant.
Warm.
Kate felt her chest bloom at the give and take of their kiss, first slow and experimental, then pressing close, with more purpose. Yelena was as good at kissing as she was at fighting, which was simultaneously incredibly unfair and the best fucking thing ever. She was pretty sure it was gonna kill her when she felt a tongue slip past her lips—only for her to back away and break their kiss.
Kate blinked stupidly at Yelena, who was shooting her an odd look as she licked her teeth. “What—?”
“Maybe we should brush our teeth first, hmn?” Yelena said, her voice soft and low, but also thick with amusement.
Kate squeezed her eyes shut in mortification, lolling her head back. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” She disentangled herself, flinging herself off the bed with a graceless bounce, all the while enjoying the sound of Yelena’s muffled chuckle. Before she disappeared into the bathroom, she shot Yelena a look. “Don’t move.”
Yelena held up her hands in surrender, pointedly sitting herself down on the bed.
Kate took in her slightly disheveled look, trying to tear herself away, but Yelena was grinning at her, leaning back on her bed like she belonged there. With a herculean effort, she pulled herself into the bathroom, walking over to the sink in a daze. In the mirror above the sink, a flustered woman was staring back at her.
“I’m gonna die,” Kate told herself.
But man, was she looking forward to it.