Chapter Text
2006
“Yeah, no, you're right. That is a very cute story,” Tashi says.
“Thanks,” Patrick chuckles quietly. Tashi’s head tilts back as she drains the last of the beer, and then she puts the can on the floor.
“But what about the two of you?” Art responds eagerly. It's a reasonable question to ask after the, yes, very cute – and also very embarrassing – story they just told you. Although now you’re even less sure that there’s a heterosexual explanation for them pushing those beds together like that.
You and Tashi look at each other, grinning a little. Finally, you say, “Um, yes?”
“Yes?”
“Yes, we’ve hooked up,” you admit, face going warm.
All three of them start talking at once.
“You have?” Art asks in disbelief.
“Okay, details, details!” Patrick encourages you with an expansive gesture.
“Oh, I wouldn't put it like that,” Tashi says, and all of a sudden all eyes are on her.
“No?” you ask her, nonplussed.
“You and I have spent many beautiful nights together. I resent you referring to it as ‘hooking up,’” Tashi answers.
You’re thrown. Tashi’s expression is unreadable, and you can't be sure whether she's joking. You try to adjust, clearing your throat and turning back to Patrick and Art. “Don't listen to her bullshit. We've never dated, it's not romantic.”
“That’s not true,” Tashi counters. “You're very romantic. Always buying me dinner or something like that every time we see each other.”
You feel heat rushing to your cheeks again. Tashi doesn't usually call you out like this. No, she typically allows you the dignity of harboring your crush in secret; your feelings for her are something you’ve never discussed. Apparently, though, Tashi is in a mood tonight. You remember the intensity of her gaze when she described the match you two had played today and the relationship you and Tashi had shared to the boys, the way she turned to look you directly in the eye as she said, “It was like we were in love. Or like we didn’t exist.” The flush in your cheeks starts to spread across your body. Still, a sly little smirk arises on your face, and you can't help yourself.
“What can I say?” you demur, looking down at your lap. “I like to eat out.”
Patrick throws his head back and laughs. Tashi and Art are a bit more subtle, shoulders shaking in silent appreciation. Tashi actually gives you a little golf clap.
“Okay, that was cute, too. I liked that. Fifteen for you,” she says.
There’s a brief silence, and you seize the opportunity to change the subject. “Well,” you say, turning the empty can on its side and twirling it like you’re playing a game of Spin the Bottle, “we're out of beer.” The motion of the can slows, and then it comes to a stop with the mouth pointed at Tashi. She gives you a look, eyebrows twitching up slightly. Then she glances between Patrick and Art. A longer silence, now.
“Um…” both boys start to say, obviously afraid that you and Tashi are about to take off on them.
Tashi stands up. She adjusts her shorts and puts her hands on her hips, and then she turns in a circle, looking around as if she’s evaluating the room. She sits on the bed. When she jerks her chin, you stand, too, and join her, seated to her right. She shifts her body towards yours, and her eyes go from your own to your lips and back. Then Tashi is leaning in, and her soft lips are brushing yours, just lightly at first, then harder, both of your tongues getting involved, too. Your hand goes down to Tashi’s waist as you feel her fingertips grazing your jaw, tracing the shell of your ear, and you kiss her back, feeling butterflies just as you do every time, no matter how often this happens. Then Tashi draws back a bit, checking in with the audience. You turn your head in their direction as well.
The boys are staring at you two with parted lips, looking awed. Art has drawn his knees in and locked his arms around them. Patrick, meanwhile, is making zero attempt to hide his interest.
“Come here,” Tashi tells them softly, and Patrick practically flings himself upwards, snagging the seat on Tashi’s other side. Art is just a half-second behind him, mattress bouncing as he drops down to sit next to you.
Tashi’s head turns back and forth, sending a small smile to you and Art, then to Patrick. She leans in toward him just slightly, as if she’s about to kiss him, but then she’s turning away. She looks at Art with obvious intent, and you lean back to give her room, and now Tashi is kissing Art, reaching out to put her hands on his neck, brushing over his hair. You watch them for a moment, then you look over at Patrick. You two share a smile, amused but also full of anticipation. He moves toward you a bit, then your lips are meeting behind Tashi’s head.
Unlike the sweet kisses you saw Tashi and Art exchanging, Patrick is intense almost at once, hands sliding over your body, tongue deep, and it’s all you can do to keep up with him. After a few seconds, you feel another hand just barely skimming your thigh, and you break away from Patrick to see that it’s Art’s and that he and Tashi have turned to watch the two of you. Tashi twists around in the other direction, and then suddenly Patrick is giving her the same treatment, while you turn to find that Art is already ahead of you. His lips are on yours immediately. He’s gentler with you than Patrick was, tongue softer and hand more cautious. He kisses the corner of your lips, then your jaw, then he’s moving down to your throat, pressing open-mouthed kisses there, tongue rubbing over the tendons of your neck. Your eyes open and then flit over in Tashi’s direction only to see that Patrick’s mouth is on her neck, as well, and that her eyes are closed in obvious enjoyment. Then they drift open, too, and she gives you a slow, sensual smile, clearly pleased with herself. See? Look what I did, her face says. You smile back, unable to resist her even if you wanted to, just like always.
Art is mouthing at your ear now, and Tashi’s hand once more comes to your jaw, urging you toward her. You go, of course, pressing your lips against hers, sliding your tongue into her mouth. Her hand slips backwards, arm moving across your upper back, and Art is kissing his way back to your lips, and then for a brief moment you’re all together in one place, you and Tashi and Art and Patrick, all kissing one another at once.
The boys spring back, surprised. They each let out a quick, nervous laugh. Tashi giggles, as well, and you smile at them. Then Tashi reaches to put her hands on their faces, drawing them back in with an encouraging nod. This time when you all meet again, it’s fully intentional, tongues and jaws working, chaotic and wild but exhilarating. You can’t tell whose hands are on you, whose shirt you're gripping in your own. Then, after several long seconds you feel a tug, and you pull back to see Tashi looking at you with a filthy smirk. She gives you a wink and looks ahead, where…
Where Patrick and Art are still kissing each other. For the very first time, if they’d been telling you the truth before. Whether they’re lost in the moment or know damn well what they’re doing, you don’t actually know.
In sync, you and Tashi lie back on your elbows, closer to the pillows, to watch the show. Tashi grabs your arm tightly, and you’re in agreement with her, pressing your thighs together. Good fucking God, is this hot. Patrick’s hand is on Art’s neck, and okay, he at least is aware of what’s going on, you’re suddenly sure. Good for him. You saw the way he’d looked at Art earlier, when Art denied that there was anything between them. The guy has serious feelings for his friend, you’re positive. It takes one to know one, after all. Then:
“Okay,” Tashi says suddenly. The boys stop making out, pulling back to stare at each other and then at you two, both comically wide-eyed. Tashi stands, parting their bodies with her own. “I'm going to bed. You coming?” She holds out a hand to you.
You bite your lip, feeling a touch of disappointment. You kind of wanted to see where that was going. You could stay by yourself, of course. Patrick and Art aren't about to kick you out, if the situation in their boxers is any indication. But the idea of being double-teamed by a literal doubles team…
Okay, it’s sexy as hell, and you'll tuck that fantasy away for later. In reality, though, you just met these guys tonight. They seem nice enough, but this is how Bad Stuff happens, right? And even if not, the last thing you need is to start Stanford with a reputation as the girl who let two strangers fuck her at once at a tournament.
All of this goes through your mind in a single second. None of it really matters, though. You've never left Tashi Duncan hanging in your life.
She waggles her fingers at you in expectation, and you lace your own through hers, helpless, following her lead as you always do. You rise to your feet, slipping on your shoes and then turning around to view the boys’ crestfallen expressions.
“What about your numbers?” Patrick demands.
“Okay, uh… we will be watching your match tomorrow. How about… whoever wins can have both of our numbers?” Tashi suggests.
Patrick seems pleased with this idea. Art… less so.
“Sorry,” you tell him sympathetically. “Tashi doesn't fuck losers.” Although, thankfully, based on your own experiences, losing to Tashi herself is a different matter. You saw Anna Mueller at the party tonight, still sulking over the way Tashi brutally beat her ass in their semifinal match. Idiot. She doesn’t know that playing Tashi at all is a privilege. You’ve lost to her numerous times over the years, so you’re used to coming second to her in tennis. And, well, in other areas, too. Never let it be said that you aren’t chivalrous. Of course, Tashi takes care of you in her own way.
“What about you?” Patrick asks.
“No, I do,” you answer immediately, startling a laugh out of Art.
“So does that mean the loser can still get your number?” he questions hopefully.
“No way,” Tashi cuts in before you can respond. “Winner takes all.” She eyes Art's defeated face with fondness. “You can beat him, you know that? You should beat him, actually.”
“Are you saying you want me to?”
“I’m saying you’re not getting our numbers if you don’t.”
“Yeah, but what do you want?”
“I want to watch some good fucking tennis. Good night,” Tashi tells them, and she tugs you away by your hand. You lift the other to wave goodbye to the boys, and then the door is shutting behind you.
You and she pad down the hall for a moment, silent.
“You, uh, you didn't want…?” you trail off.
Tashi looks at you with amusement. “Those two needed a little motivation. It'll be good for them.” She stops and gives your hand a squeeze. Her chin lifts. Her eyes glitter. “Besides, you know what I want.”
You feel a renewed wave of butterflies in your stomach, a more powerful fluttering than you felt when she kissed you earlier. You've been with Tashi before, but she makes you weak every time.
“Your dad won't mind if you stay over in my room?” you ask, a little breathless, thanking God that you haven’t been forced to share with some random girl this time.
“Of course he won't. He never does.” Tashi's parents like you. You've perfected a look of angelic innocence that says, Oh no, Mr. Duncan, I wasn't just fingerbanging your daughter until she gushed five minutes ago. Sir, I would never.
Tashi heads back to her family’s room to let him know. You follow her obediently.
***
Tashi’s sweatshirt and shorts have been abandoned on the floor of your hotel room, and she lies underneath you, stripped down to her sheer bralette and thong. It doesn’t matter that her hair is mussed against the pillow; Tashi is beautiful, always. Your thigh is between her legs, rubbing slowly. You can feel how wet she is even through her underwear, though in this case it may not be a testament to your kissing or the way your thumb is teasing her hard nipple. She was damp before you even got started.
You draw away from her face. “You liked watching those boys kiss,” you say, the corners of your lips curling up.
“I did,” Tashi confirms without a trace of shame. “So did you.” You hum in agreement, and you drop down to kiss her collarbone, her chest, the curve of her breast through the fabric of her bra, her bare stomach. You gaze up at her to see her hungry look as you start to slide down her thong, matching it with one of your own. You pull it down her legs, over her feet and finally toss it behind you. Tashi parts her legs further for you.
“What do you think they’re doing right now?” you ask her before brushing your lips over the soft skin of her inner thighs, working your way up, alternating from one side to the next.
“I think they’re talking about what we’re doing right now with their dicks in their hands. Assuming they’ve lasted this long,” Tashi answers. She sucks in a breath as you run your tongue across the underside of her outer labia, the line between her lips, not quite slipping inside to the sensitive nerve endings within yet.
“Their own dicks or each other’s, you think?” you say and make her gasp as you spread her open and drag your tongue over her broadly, from bottom to top.
“Depends on… if they’ve gotten any braver since Kat Zimmerman,” Tashi replies, voice shaky now as you make circles around her clit, just grazing it. She cries out as you suck on it quickly, hand scrabbling over your head.
You move to lick and suck on her lips instead and then swipe your tongue across her clit over and over, intentionally too lightly, until she’s shoving your face in closer.
“Come on!” Tashi groans, and you smile against her. There it is. She’s given you what you want, so you graciously give her what she wants, too, the muscle of your tongue working her clit harder now, index finger slipping inside of her and rubbing her front wall with just the pressure she likes. You grip her thigh with your other hand, uncaring that your face is getting wetter and messier as you drive her toward her first orgasm of the night. Tashi can come fast and often, at least for someone who knows how to treat her right.
And thanks to years of experience, you do.
She grits her teeth and slaps a hand over her mouth to muffle her moan as she comes, considerate of the people in the neighboring rooms. You two have always had to be quiet, meeting mostly at tournaments, doing this in hotels or sometimes behind flimsy curtains in locker room showers. And that part won’t be any different in the dorms at Stanford, either, surrounded by your classmates. One day, though. One day you’re gonna make Tashi scream exactly the way she did on the court today.
Passionate. Gorgeous. And right out fucking loud.
You give Tashi a break as she comes down from it, a little sweat glistening on her forehead. You withdraw your finger and suck it into your mouth to watch her smirk down at you. She knows you like her taste.
“You gonna let me get you, too?”
“Later,” you say, kissing her knee. You've got all night. You're not the ones with a final tomorrow. Speaking of which… “You really think Art can beat him?” You know Tashi won’t be offended that your mind is on tennis right now. Tashi’s always thinking about tennis.
“Tomorrow?” Tashi considers it. “Maybe not. The guy is desperately lacking confidence, and I don’t know that he’s going to grow it overnight. Eventually, though? Yeah, I do. I think Patrick is about to get his shit rocked out there in the real world. And I’m not sure if he has the stamina to lose like that and keep going.”
“Guess it’s nice to know I don’t have that problem,” you say cheekily, “thanks to you.”
“No,” Tashi agrees, straight-faced. “You’ve never had any trouble with stamina.”
You smile up at her, closed-mouthed and pleased. Tashi gives a little giggle as you throw her legs over your shoulders and drag her in closer, lowering your head to prove her right.