Page 43 of Box of Frogs
Morgan sighed. ‘I should have thought that was obvious.’
‘Is that why our relationship didn’t work out?’ I demanded. ‘Because you’re actually gay?’
‘If I were gay, Maddy, then believe me when I say you wouldn’t be my type.’
I put my hands on my large hips. ‘And why not?’
‘Stop complaining. This is far harder for me than it is for you.’
‘You kissed me!’
He gazed at me patiently. ‘Yes. I’m attempting to remind you of who you are. I’m telling your body that you’re not this man but that you’re Maddy. A heterosexual female faery.’
‘I know that’s what I am!’
He smiled. ‘Yes. But right now your body and your magic believe otherwise. If I’m right, this won’t take long. Just let me kiss you properly and we’ll be done with it.’
My eyes narrowed. ‘You’re assuming that my body will respond to yours, that the feeling of your lips against mine will make me feel like a woman again because of your superior, awe-inspiring masculinity.’
‘It’s not an assumption. It’s not arrogance either.’ His gaze remained on me. ‘It’s simply fact. Regardless of anything else between us, I make your toes curl.’ For the first time since I’d met him, his grin had an edge of wickedness. ‘My kiss makes you wet.’
‘Not in this body,’ I retorted, though I couldn’t deny the zippy turmoil in the pit of my belly. ‘But fine. Do your worst.’
‘No, Maddy. I’ll do my best.’ He stepped up to me. This time both of us closed our eyes – and I kept mine closed. Somehow it seemed safer that way.
To begin with, Morgan’s lips were light, barely pressing against mine. I couldn’t help wondering what this was like for him, snogging another man who was both a foot taller and a foot wider than he was. The strangeness of the situation meant that it took me a few moments to relax. As soon as I did, however, Morgan must have felt it because he increased the pressure of his mouth while his hands moved to my shoulders, gripping me lightly. My lips parted.
The moment I could taste him properly, all rational thought flew away. His heady masculinity absorbed me, his stubble brushing against mine. I could feel myself involuntarily pressing my body against his. Before I begin to wonder how uncomfortable this would be if my current body were to get an erection, the air around us shifted. It would have been all but imperceptible except for the change in our heights. Suddenly, it was Morgan’s whose head was curved down towards mine rather than the other way around.
I inhaled deeply, opening my eyes to see his emerald irises gazing into mine with satisfaction.
‘It worked,’ he said. ‘It didn’t even take very much.’
‘We should keep going,’ I breathed. ‘Just to be sure.’ I reached up, coiled my arms around his neck and raised myself up onto my tiptoes. I was going to enjoy this.
Morgan reached up, unhooked my arms and stepped back. ‘I don’t think so.’
His rejection was akin to having a bucket of icy water flung over me. As if drenched, I sprang back and rubbed my arms. ‘Yeah. You’re right.’ Gasbudlikins. Without looking at him directly, I returned to the chair, sat down and busied myself examining my body. Everything seemed to be in order. Until I looked in a mirror, I couldn’t be entirely sure but it seemed that all my limbs were as they should be. I pulled at the neck of my T-shirt so I could glance down at the bare skin of my torso. My breasts were back. Hello.
‘I never thought I’d be glad to see my bra,’ I muttered. I reached down for my waistband to check my other parts.
Morgan coughed pointedly. ‘Perhaps you should do that later,’ he said. ‘When you have some privacy.’
I shrugged, still avoiding looking at him. ‘I don’t mind.’
His answer was quiet. ‘I do. Everything appears to be in order. I wouldn’t worry.’ He nodded to himself, all business-like. ‘My plan worked.’
‘I started out with nothing,’ I whispered, ‘and I still have most of it left.’ Almost unconsciously I brought my fingers to my lips. Then I shook myself. Wakey wakey, Maddy.
‘Right,’ I said. ‘Come on then. What are your three questions? What do youreallywant to know?’ The faster I did what I had promised, the faster I could get out of here with some scraps of dignity left. I looked up, my gaze finally meeting his. His expression was inscrutable.
‘I will know if you lie,’ Morgan said.
I pursed my lips. ‘This is where our relationship goes wrong. You immediately assume the worst. Lying hadn’t even crossed my mind. I have no reason to lie to you.’
‘You don’t know what I’m going to ask.’
Unless it was about Julie – which would be impossible because he couldn’t know anything about her – then I was a completely open book. Mr I’m-Too-Good-To-Be-Turned-On-By-That-Evil-Bitch-Even-When-She’s-Panting-For-Me was entirely too untrusting.
