The spacious kitchen felt smaller and warmer as the bottle of white wine grew emptier. Sitting between Sophia and Mom, Beatriz had a completely different gleam in her eyes; her previous rigid posture had vanished entirely, replaced by a light flush on her cheeks, a relaxed posture, and a loose smile brought on by the alcohol and the welcoming environment.
Bia took another sip, glancing down the empty hallway of the house, and let out a low giggle, swirling the crystal glass between her long fingers.
"But seriously, girls... I'm still stunned by Lucas," Bia confessed, her voice softer and slightly drawn out from the wine. "I remember him being more timid, kind of keeping to himself—that younger brother who barely spoke. Now... wow. He walked into the living room without a shirt on, and I swear I completely lost my train of thought. He looks incredibly handsome. What kind of sculpted body is that? He grew up so much..."
Sophia looked at Ana out of the corner of her eye, a spark of pure amusement passing between the two of them. The hunters' plan was working better and faster than expected.
"Oh, he really is a spectacular sight," Sophia agreed immediately, leaning her torso forward and brushing her shoulder against Bia's, breaking the distance barrier. "Lucas started training seriously, changed his diet, and really began taking care of himself. But it's not just physical, you know, Bia? He changed on the inside. He became so much more confident, decisive, with the presence of a mature man... He's the kind of guy who knows exactly what a woman needs in bed and isn't afraid to take control."
"Absolutely, dear," Mom chimed in, leaning back in her chair with that natural elegance that left anyone disarmed. She crossed her legs, causing the fabric of her tight minidress to slide a bit higher up her full thighs. "As his mother, I have to admit he's turned into a hell of a man. He has an energy that dominates the room the second he walks in. He's affectionate, but very firm when he needs to be. Any woman would feel completely protected and... fulfilled by his side."
Bia sighed, looking down at the golden liquid in her glass, visibly pensive and letting her gaze wander, touched by the seductive description.
"It must be wonderful to have a man like that around," Bia murmured, letting the deep loneliness from her recent breakup slip through. "My ex... wow, he was a complete disaster. In bed, don't even get me started. It felt like he was doing me a favor, you know? Everything was rushed, without any affection, entirely selfish. I never felt truly desired or valued as a woman by him."
Sophia let out a dry, disdainful laugh, shaking her head.
"Girl, if it's any consolation, almost all guys our age are exactly like that," Sophia vented, moving even closer to Bia on the stool. "Last year, I went out with this guy from college—all cute, wealthy family, lots of posing on Instagram. When it came down to it, the guy didn't even last three minutes. And the worst part: he didn't even bother to care if I was enjoying it or if I reached the climax. He literally just turned to the side, pulled up the sheet, and went to sleep. It's a horrible feeling, it leaves you so frustrated... You lie there in the dark wondering if the problem is you, or your body."
Bia's eyes widened slightly, feeling completely validated and comforted by this sudden wave of intimacy.
"Yes! It's exactly like that!" Bia exclaimed, her voice raising for the first time, feeling like she could completely open her heart. "You feel used, disposable. It's awful."
Ana offered a warm, maternal smile, gently swirling her glass before taking her final sip.
"And don't think that's exclusive to younger men, Bia," Mom intervened, her voice melodic and calm, carrying the weight of her life experience. "After I found myself alone, I happened to go out with a few older men—successful doctors from the hospital who theoretically should have been mature and experienced. Complete nonsense. One of them was so focused on his own ego it felt like he was sleeping with the mirror, not with me. He didn't have the slightest sensitivity in his touch, zero patience for foreplay. It's a waste of time and energy. A woman needs attention, skin-on-skin touch, someone who gets turned on just by watching us moan."
Bia listened, fascinated, feeling the final barriers of social propriety crumble away inside this taboo-free kitchen.
"It's so hard to find a real man nowadays... who actually thinks about us," Bia commented, looking intently at Ana.
"It really is, my sweet girl," Mom replied, reaching across the table and covering Bia's hand with a light but very warm touch. "That's why, when you do find a man who actually has a strong grip, who knows how to read a woman's body and treats her pleasure like a mission... you don't ever let him go. Real pleasure only happens when you throw out the stupid rules and surrender to someone who knows how to dominate you."
Ana stood up elegantly, gathering the empty bottle. She looked at the two girls with a knowing smile that Bia couldn't quite decipher.
"Well, the chat is wonderful, but the wine is gone. I'm going to step down to the back pantry to fetch another bottle of a red wine Lucas bought, and I'll grab some cheeses from the secondary fridge while I'm at it. I'll be right back, girls. Keep bonding."
With Ana's strategic exit, the silence in the kitchen shifted entirely. Sophia didn't waste a single second. She pivoted her body on the stool, facing Bia directly, and eliminated any remaining distance between them. Her brown eyes were dark, focused directly on her friend's lips.
Sophia reached out and gently touched Bia's fair hair, sliding her fingers through the strands and tucking a lock behind her ear. The touch continued downward, slow and firm, brushing the tips of her fingers along Bia's neck and exposed collarbone, drawing a sudden gasp and a violent shiver from the girl.
"You know, Bia..." Sophia whispered, her voice dropping to a low, purely seductive register. "Mom and I talk about this a lot. We don't have any taboos in this house. After so many disappointments with idiot guys, we learned that pleasure doesn't need rules. Sometimes, we experiment with new things... things that most of the good girls at college are too afraid to admit they are dying to try."
Bia swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She could feel her neck burning where Sophia's fingers had traveled.
"W-What kind of things, Sophia?" Bia stammered, her breath growing short.
Sophia gave an audacious smile, bringing her face just inches away from Bia's, close enough that the girl could feel the sweet scent of wine on her breath.
"Things like... discovering how soft another woman's skin can be. How a feminine kiss can be so much sweeter and more affectionate than any idiot ex-boyfriend's," Sophia said, her voice heavy with intent. She moved her hand down from Bia's neck and rested it on her friend's thigh, squeezing gently over her pants. "You are way too beautiful, Bia. I watch you at college, and I've always thought about how hot and sexy you must be when you truly let go. Have you never been curious? To feel a different kind of touch, to be pampered and desired for real, without anyone in the world to judge you?"
Bia's eyes widened slightly, paralyzed by her friend's direct boldness. Sophia's hand on her thigh sent waves of heat straight to her core. The straight girl's mind was tying itself in knots; the safety of a female friendship had just been shattered by an overwhelming erotic tension, and worst of all, deep down inside, she was absolutely loving the feeling of being the center of attention.