Kyra carried me back to her bedroom. As Lyre opened the door for us I couldn't help but fidget with nervous anticipation. My face grew hot as my mind wandered with curiosity.

  "I can take care of her, Lady Kyra," Lyre said softly, as if to intervene, reaching out with a gentle gesture that seemed like it would envelop me in her arms. However, Kyra's grip on me tightened possessively at the suggestion.

  "I'll take care of her myself," Kyra said softly, her cheeks taking on a faint blush. I wondered if she was as nervous as I was.

  As Kyra id me down on her bed, my face grew even hotter. "You don't have to push yourself," I stammered.

  Kyra's face broke into a soft, gentle smile as she reached out to unbutton my dress. "Do you want me to stop?" She asked, her fingers trembling as she pulled the garment over my head, leaving me in a blouse and panties.

  "No... But, what do you intend to do with me?" I asked, trying to sound brave despite the butterflies in my stomach.

  With trembling fingers Kyra began to delicately unbutton my blouse. Her gaze, full of love and uncertainty, met mine as she struggled to find the right words. "I just want to take care of you," she said finally, her face turning bright red with emotion. She looked up at me and my heart skipped a beat as she continued, "Is this not what girlfriends do?"

  I stared at Kyra, my mind racing with the implications of her words. I didn't know what girlfriends did, not real ones. The only retionships I'd ever known were fantasies from books and manga. The way Kyra looked at me made my heart feel like it was overflowing with emotion. I couldn't deny the flutter in my chest whenever she touched me, but that didn't mean I was ready for... whatever this was.

  "I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Kyra whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "I... was really worried, you know? When you fainted I feared the worse. Even when Harriette said you weren't in any danger, I couldn't believe her. I just... I get so irrational when I think about you. It's been hardly a week since you agreed to be my girlfriend, and our first date didn't really go as pnned. I know I shouldn't feel like this. It's too much isn't it? I don't want to go too far, but I can hardly contain these feelings."

  "Kyra," I whispered, trying to find the right words to respond. "I... I care about you, okay? A lot."

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down. Reaching out I gently brushed a strand of hair behind Kyra's ear, my fingers trembling. She usually appeared so composed and self-assured, but now I couldn't help but see the vulnerability in her eyes. Even if we weren't the same age, we were each other's first love. She was just as lost as I was. Something about that reassured me.

  "You care," Kyra's face was a mixture of emotions too complex for me to decipher. "But you don't want me to continue?"

  "I never said that."

  Kyra's eyes searched mine, her gaze lingering on every feature as if trying to read the unspoken words. Her face was still flushed, but she seemed a bit more composed. Gently pulling on my blouse, she freed my body of the garment, leaving me in only my underclothes.

  My mind raced with implication. Kyra shared her body with Adelita. Was this truly okay? Not to mention there was so much else going on in our lives. Part of me wondered if it was even okay for me to have this. I had to recover quickly and study magic so that I could help Eurycelia save the princess. I needed to figure out what was going on with Eskame. Was it really okay to ignore all of that and share this moment with Kyra?

  "Kyra," I squeaked, barely able to speak more than her name. I could feel my body temperature rising from the way Kyra gazed at me.

  She leaned in closer, her eyes locked on mine. "Yes?"

  I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

  "Kiss me," I whispered finally.

  Kyra's face lit up with a radiant smile, and her eyes sparkled with emotion as she leaned in closer to me. Her lips were inches away from mine, and I could feel her warm breath on my skin.

  "Really?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.

  My heart raced with desire. I could hardly contain the impure thoughts coursing through my head. I'd always kind of hoped I'd get to experience the kind of love I read about, but I never thought it'd feel like this. If Kyra rejected me now, I feared the shock would kill me.

  Unable to squeak out another reply, I nodded. Desperate to feel her lips on mine.

  Closing the distance between us, Kyra pressed her lips to mine. It was a gentle, hesitant kiss, but it set my body on fire. I lost myself in the sensation of Kyra's lips on mine. The world around us and every worry in it melted away. All that existed in this moment was Kyra, she became my whole world, my whole reason for being.

  As I lost myself in the feeling of Kyra's lips on mine and the emotions coursing through me, she gently wrapped her arms around me. I could feel the coolness of Kyra's fingers gently tracing along my spine. Her touch sent sparks flying through me.

  After what felt like an eternity in her embrace I finally had to pull away for air. Sucking in ragged lust-addled breaths I looked up at Kyra. Her flushed face and the sparkle of adoration in her eyes was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

  "You're beautiful," I whispered, still trying to process the emotions coursing through me.

  "I'm so gd I could finally do that," Kyra murmured, embracing me. "I was afraid I'd never get the chance."

  "As if I could resist you for long," I giggled, pulling Kyra on top of me in bed. Her body fit perfectly on top of mine. The gentle weight of her enveloped me in a sense of comfort and happiness. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I squeezed her gently, suddenly frustrated she was still clothed. I wanted to feel her skin against mine more than I wanted anything else in the world in this moment.

  Gently tugging on Kyra's blouse, I gazed up at her pleading silently for her approval. Kyra looked at me, her eyes questioning my intentions before she broke into a radiant smile. Together we quickly discarded her clothes, revealing the smooth unblemished skin underneath. I couldn't help but gasp in awe as she lowered herself back on top of me, the gentle chill of her body enveloping mine.

  Losing myself in the sensation of Kyra's skin, I couldn't resist the urge to explore her body. Gently tracing her curves with my fingers I couldn't help but wonder if there was any joy in the world that could come close to what I was feeling now.

  With a mischievous smile, Kyra undid the band of cloth concealing her breasts from me. I couldn't help but gasp in awe as I gazed at Kyra in all her glory. Her body was fwless, like a painting. Hesitantly I reached out and cupped her chest in my hands.

  Kyra's breasts were no rger than mine, and yet I couldn't help but marvel at how different it was to touch them. The soft sensation against my fingers was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. With every squeeze Kyra whimpered softly, the sound of her igniting a primal desire within me.

  Pushing my hands away, Kyra leaned in closer and once again pressed her lips to mine. The feeling of her lips coursed through me like a wildfire. Our second kiss was nothing like the first. It was heavier, more intense, and completely driven by lust.

  I parted my lips allowing Kyra's tongue to slide into my mouth, meeting mine in a passionate dance. I had no idea what I was doing, but it felt right. As we deepened the kiss, Kyra reached her hands above me, gently massaging my ears. I gasped and trembled at her touch. My body convulsed and my toes curled.

  Wrapping my arms tightly around Kyra I pulled her closer, hugging onto her for dear life. As our tongues tangled together I felt my mind haze over. The fog of desire enveloped me. I found myself lost in the feeling as the emotion within me boiled over. I shivered and shook and then, I fainted.

  As I drifted through unconsciousness my dreams were full of Kyra. Her eyes, her smile, the way she looked at me with such love and adoration. I was at peace. In that moment I could've died and I'd have happily left for the afterlife feeling as if my life had been complete.

  When I finally opened my eyes, I was met with Kyra's sleeping face. Even in her sleep she had one arm stretched over me, holding me possessively. Rolling over I pced a gentle kiss on her forehead.

  Kyra's eyes fluttered open at my touch. "Hey," Kyra whispered, a soft smile spreading across her face as she gazed at me. "You're awake."

  I nodded, my throat dry from the sudden realization that I had fainted. Kyra's expression turned concerned as she sat up, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of distress.

  "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

  "Better than okay," I giggled. "I guess all of that stimution was just too much, given how tired I was."

  "I'm sorry," Kyra leaned in, pcing a gentle kiss on my cheek. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you like that."

  "It's what I wanted." As I id there in Kyra's arms, I couldn't help but feel as if this was what it meant to be in love. Even if we hadn't been together long, and had hardly had a successful date, Kyra and I were a couple. I wanted to be with her, and she with me. That was all that mattered. We didn't need to hit some imaginary milestones set forth by romance novelists for our love to be real.

  We cuddled with one another until a quiet rumble from my stomach interrupted us. "Sounds like we need to get you something to eat," Kyra ughed. The mirthful joy she radiated was infectious, and I quickly found myself giggling alongside her.

  "I'm starving," I admitted, rubbing my stomach. Kyra smiled and leaned over to kiss me again.

  "I'll go ask Lyre to make you something," Kyra said, swinging her legs off the bed.

  "If only you had coffee," I ughed, standing up and stretching my arms over my head. "After a night like that I feel like I could really use some."

  "I'll help you find it," Kyra smiled warmly. "I want to try it too. So I'll do everything in my power to help you locate it."

  We both quickly dressed and Kyra left to find Lyre while I sat down at the table and waited. Not long after Kyra returned with breakfast in hand. It was a heartier breakfast than what I was used to, full of sausage and roasted vegetables. We talked amongst ourselves as we ate, basking in each other's company.

  Halfway through eating a thought dawned on me. I froze, fork in hand. Stuck on the fork's prong was a roasted mushroom, the sight of it suddenly bringing back memories from my time on earth.

  "Is everything okay Bernice?" Kyra asked, worry evident in her voice.

  "Yeah," I looked up at her, my mind racing with possibility. "On Earth, some people made a coffee substitute out of mushrooms. I don't know which ones, but since you have them here—"

  "—We might be able to make it?!" Kyra's excitement was almost more palpable than my own.

  Cossimeri