Free Queen of the Clueless (Interim Goddess of Love) by Mina V. Esguerra Page A

raise your right hand and hold onto me."
    It suddenly seemed like a really good idea to raise my right hand and reach for his. So I did.
    'That's right. Can you come a little closer?"
    It suddenly seemed like a really good idea to do that. And I did, taking two tiny steps closer.
    He let go of my hand as I stood close, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin. I couldn't look away, didn't want to.
    And I still wasn't breathing.
    Neil didn't let up the staring, waiting. He breathed deeper, and this time I actually felt his body touch mine. He brought his nose to my hair, and held it there. It seemed like a long time. Immediately the insides of my fingers prickled, wanting to connect with his shoulder and push. Half my head was still processing what just happened with Diego, the other half protesting this new, unwelcome advance.
    But I didn't push.
    I didn't feel like it.
    He took my hand again and pressed his lips against it, slowly, and then I felt a rush of warm air as he smelled my skin.
    That's enough. My mind told the nerve endings responsible for action. They didn't feel like doing anything about it.
    "Hannah," he said, "You're a really great listener. Do you think it's warm up here?"
    It was always warm in this country. But that wasn't what he meant, I knew we weren't suddenly talking about the weather.
    "It's very warm," I heard myself say.
    Neil's eyes. I wish I could describe what it was like to look straight into them. I barely blinked and felt like I was seeing him think through those eyes. Irises making tiny, nearly unnoticeable movements. Calculating. Commanding?
    And then I had the strangest impulse.
    It's so warm.
    I should take my shirt off.
    Then the next second I did just that. Reached for the hem of my top and pulled it over my head, as casually as someone taking off a jacket, a hat. And I stood in front of him in my black sporty bra, still not blinking, still not breathing.
    He didn't have to say it.
    "Interesting. Hannah, please reach into my pocket for my phone."
    No I will not, perv! And yet my hand obediently crept up the space between us. I felt the material of his jeans, my fingers dipping into his front pocket. He sort of nudged his head and my hand moved to his back pocket instead. I grabbed something solid by its corner and pulled it out.
    The phone wasn't the same one as mine, and yet I operated it with ease, swiping through the menu to get to...
    The camera.
    I held up the phone at an incriminating angle and snapped three photos.
    "Thank you, Hannah." He retrieved the phone and stuck it back in his jeans.
    I wanted to get my shirt off from the floor and put it back on, and was relieved to discover that I could. When I was fully clothed again, he retreated, looking satisfied.
    "I can't seem to ask Sol to do anything, Hannah. I'm surprised that this worked. Maybe she's more special than you."
    A flood of thoughts:
    I too am more special than Sol, you just didn't get the memo!
    Thank goodness he hasn't been able to command Sol to do awful kinky stuff.
    Oh no he just realized he can command other people to do awful kinky stuff.
    I could see that the last thought had occurred to him at the same time.
    "Well maybe if it doesn't work out with Sol, I won't be so lonely after all," he said. I felt his hand grip my elbow again, and I wanted to shudder. He relaxed his fingers, and color—actually, regular night sky darkness—returned all around me.
    He blinked and fixed his shirt; something was caught in the yellow collar. He looked at me expectantly.
    I cleared my throat. What was he expecting me to say?
    Act oblivious. "We shouldn't miss the bonfire, Neil," I said, cheerfully, trying not to look at his jeans, trying not to kick him in the nuts and break his phone. But I couldn't make him angry, not when he could do things to me like this. Effortlessly.
    He smiled. Maybe I made the right call.
    "Are you joining me and Sol? We're watching it."
    "Oh you are? No, no, I'll leave you two alone