by Donna Jay
“Damn, you’re sexy when you come.”
“Thank you, Miss,” Simone said, suddenly feeling shy.
“I want to see you come again.”
Before Simone could protest—she needed time to recover—Nadia was back between her legs, long blonde hair tickling her thighs.
When she kissed Simone’s clit, Simone jerked back, too sensitive. “I can’t…” she moaned when Nadia did it again.
“You can.” Her voice was soft, her words powerful. “You’re beautiful, Simone. Your surrender’s a magnificent gift. You will fall apart for me, and I’ll catch you.”
“I can’t,” Simone whimpered.
“I’ve warned you about lying, Emmett,” Nadia growled.
The slap on Simone’s arse sent shockwaves through her body. She gasped, pelvis thrust forward.
“You like the feel of my palm on your backside.” It was a statement.
When Nadia entered her, thumbing her clit, she was back on the edge within seconds. She needed to come. Desperately. She felt delirious, consumed by a haze of ecstasy she couldn’t wrap her mind around.
Nadia worked her clit, tongue circling then retreating, keeping her on the edge of glorious release. When she dragged her wetness backward, running her fingers up the crease of Simone’s backside, she clenched—an involuntary reaction.
“Relax,” Nadia ordered. “I promise I won’t penetrate.”
She might have added the word ‘tonight’ to that statement but Simone was too far gone to care.
Nadia circled the rim of her anus. “Anticipation is half the fun. It might not happen tonight, but make no mistake about it, it will happen.”
Nadia gripped the back of Simone’s thighs and yanked her forward. The shock of her teeth when she nipped Simone’s clit dragged a scream from her. Her head spun, whirling with pleasure, and she couldn’t hold back.
Nadia delivered another slap and that was all it took. A second orgasm tore through Simone, robbing her of breath. Her shoulders sagged. Her knees buckled. She felt like she would fall.
Nadia’s arm went around her waist. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” She held Simone as she freed her arms. They fell to her sides, heavy as lead weights.
“Sit.” Nadia guided her to the floor, placing a sofa cushion beneath her. Footfalls padded away, but Simone was too spent to turn around.
“Drink.” A glass of water appeared in her hand.
“My arms feel dead.”
“I know.” Nadia’s smile was warm. She lifted the glass to Simone’s lips. She gulped greedily, surprised by her sudden thirst.
Once the glass was empty, Nadia helped her to her feet and led her over to the sofa. Sitting behind her, she massaged Simone’s shoulders, her scent wrapping around Simone like a comfort blanket.
“Thank you for trusting me.” She kissed the nape of her neck.
Overwhelmed and suddenly exhausted, Simone let Nadia take care of her, revelling in the aftershocks still pulsing through her body.
Chapter 22
Nadia
Over the next few weeks, life kept getting better and better. Nadia could no longer deny that for the first time in her life, she’d fallen hard and fast. It was thrilling and terrifying. All day, every day, Simone was never far from her mind.
It was too soon to suggest moving in together, but Nadia couldn’t say the thought hadn’t crossed her mind. Who would move where? If she moved in with Simone, she would have to find someone to rent her place. Someone she trusted. Darrin and Rose would be ideal, but Nadia doubted they could afford the mortgage anyway.
If Simone moved in with her, she would have the same issue. Although, perhaps Simone was only renting. That would make things so much easier when the time came.
A courier driver knocked on the front door, dragging Nadia out of her head. She really needed to keep her mind on the job or the next thing she knew she’d be planning her own wedding.
Boy, she had it bad.
Nadia unlocked the front doors. “Morning, Murray.”
“Morning, Ma’am.” He handed over the handheld device and Nadia signed for the goods.
“Have a good day.”
“You too.” She watched him jog back to his van and speed away. She’d just opened the box when Shelley hustled in the back door.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“You’re not.” She was ten minutes early, although by Shelley’s standards that was late.
“I know, but I like to make sure we’re ready to roll before the first customer of the day arrives.” She hung her bag up and joined Nadia at the counter.
“What have we got here?” She plucked a leopard-print baby doll set out of the cardboard box. “Oh, wow. Cute.” Shelley held it in the air and damned if it didn’t have Simone’s name all over it.
“What else did you order?” Nadia asked. Shelley had worked for her for five years, and Nadia relied on her to make sure they had the latest designs and stock levels were kept at an optimum.
“These.” She fished out a burgundy G-String.
Together, they priced and tagged each item before moving them to the new arrivals stand, with the exception of the baby doll set Nadia had put aside. She couldn’t wait to see Simone model it for her.
Later that morning, Nadia’s mind flicked to Helen. She picked up her phone and fired off a quick text.
You doing okay, chick?
Helen’s reply was instantaneous. Fabulous. What you up2 Saturday night?
Hopefully spending it with Simone, but if Helen needed her, she’d be there for her. Rather than say as much, Nadia answered the question with a question. Why?
Folks taking the kids for the night, wanna catch up? Helen’s text was accompanied by clinking wine glasses and a smiling emoji.
Sure, drinks at my place. My treat. She hoped Helen was humble enough to accept the offer.
It went without saying she couldn’t afford a night on the town. If they had a night in, Nadia could invite Simone over too. Win-win.
Nadia’s phone pinged and she read Helen’s text. It’s a date.
Yep. You, me, and Simone. Nadia hoped Helen wouldn’t feel like a third wheel.
Oh, Kinky.
She laughed. There wouldn’t be anything kinky about the night, well, not when it came to Helen anyway. But the comment had her mind running riot.
See you Saturday. And behave.
Of course. I wouldn’t want to upset Miss Proper.
Be nice.
Her phone blew up with smiling emojis from Helen.
Grinning, Nadia tossed her phone aside then snatched it back up and tapped out a quick message to Simone.
***
Simone
After a busy Saturday, Simone threw a change of clothes into an overnight bag. Since Nadia had texted and invited her over, she hadn’t been able to think about much else.
She couldn’t wait to spend the night together, even if it meant having to share Nadia with her best friend for a while.
The plan, according to Nadia, was to drink wine, eat pizza, and pretty much hang out like teenagers enjoying a sleepover. Except Helen wouldn’t be sleeping over, and Simone doubted she’d be getting much sleep.
No matter how frantic or gentle their lovemaking was, it always took Simone a while to fall asleep afterwards. She loved to watch Nadia sleeping, long lashes fluttering as she dreamed about who knew what.
Shortly after four p.m., she arrived at Nadia’s. Just being there made her insides light up with joy. She drove through the open gates and parked.
Nadia came bounding down the porch steps, yellow sundress billowing around her thighs, blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail.
“Hey, gorgeous.” She wrapped her arms around Simone’s waist.
The sparkle in her eyes warmed Simone more than the afternoon sun. The low murmur of voices from neighbouring houses filtered over the fence, but right then Simone felt like they were the only two people in the world.
“Hey,” she said softly.
>
For what felt like forever, they gazed into each other’s eyes. If it was possible to say ‘I’ve fallen for you’ with your eyes only, Simone hoped Nadia was receiving the message loud and clear.
A dog barked next door, breaking the spell. Simone pulled out of her arms and retrieved her overnight bag.
Inside, her gaze landed on an empty can of reduced cream and a packet of onion soup.
“Wow, you’re a remarkable cook. Open a tin, rip open a packet, stir, and ta-da. Gourmet dip! Amazing.”
Grinning, Nadia pulled her into a hug. Simone squealed when fingernails dug into her backside.
“Ow.” She swatted at Nadia’s hand, but her grip was relentless.
“Brat.” She finally let go. “Take a look under there.” She nodded toward the kitchen table.
A fabric dome covered a large plate, the contents hidden beneath. Half expecting something to jump out at her, Simone tentatively lifted the cover. Her mouth watered when her gaze landed on a childhood favourite. Lamingtons.
She closed her eyes, imagining the squares of sponge cake coated in chocolate and sprinkled with shaved coconut sliding down her throat.
“You’re drooling.” Nadia grinned.
“Did you fill them with cream?”
“Almost, then I put the bowl in the fridge, figuring it would be more fun to use later on.”
Food play? That was new to Simone, but she wasn’t opposed to it.
“Where’s Darrin?”
“Gone to an engagement party. He won’t be home until the wee hours of the morning.”
“Good to know.” Simone put her worries aside and picked up her bag. “I’ll put this in the bedroom before Helen arrives.”
Nadia followed her up the hallway. “Great. I can give you your present before she gets here.”
That was unexpected. What was the occasion? Simone put her bag on the floor and perched on the edge of the bed.
“On your feet.” Nadia’s tone broke no argument.
“Yes, Miss.” Simone stood, her gaze on the gift in Nadia’s hand. It was rectangular in shape and wrapped in bright blue paper.
“For you.” She handed the parcel over like a sacred gift.
Nerves and excitement warred within Simone as she lifted the sticky tape and peeled back the paper.
“It’s a panty vibe,” Nadia stated the obvious.
“I can see that.” Simone pointed to the words on the box.
“You’re going to wear it tonight.”
“What?” Stunned, Simone gaped. “Helen’s coming over.”
“So? She doesn’t have to know. Just keep your ice queen expression in place. Easy.”
Rather than harrumph like she wanted to, Simone straightened her spine. She could do this. Her poker face had got her out of more than one jam.
She ripped open the box and pulled out the vibe.
Nadia held out a hand. “I’ll have that.”
Without having to ask what, Simone handed over the remote.
“Put it in your panties.”
Spurred on by the approving look thrown her way, Simone hiked up her skirt, pulled on the waistband of her briefs, and slid the toy home.
It was smooth and cool against her recently waxed skin and felt wickedly naughty.
“Shit!” She jumped, clutching her chest when the toy buzzed to life.
The tiny vibrations felt exquisite. She let out a low moan that turned into a groan when the vibrations stopped.
She popped her eyes open to see Nadia shaking her head in disapproval.
“Let’s try that again.”
Simone frowned in confusion. What was she supposed to do? Act indifferent? Oh, shit, that was it.
Nadia nodded as if she could read her mind.
The toy buzzed to life again, and Simone fought the urge to close her eyes and absorb the sensations. She held Nadia’s gaze and gave her the iciest glare she could muster.
“No wonder Helen was scared of you.” Nadia flicked off the remote, but she didn’t need to, the comment wiped the smile off Simone’s face.
“She was scared of me?” The thought was depressing. She made a mental note to apologise to Helen for making her feel uncomfortable.
“Not of you per se, she just said she always felt like she had to tiptoe around you.”
An image of Nadia tiptoeing into her office the first night they’d met came back to her. “Hence you tiptoeing around me?”
“Yeah, but unlike Helen, your icy demeanour called to me.” She gripped Simone’s jaw and kissed her hard, devouring her mouth with her lips and tongue.
Simone moaned into the kiss, unable to get enough of Nadia.
After a beat, Nadia broke the heated exchange. “I could see the warm, loving woman beneath.”
The vibe pulsed to life making Simone jump.
Nadia grinned, and Simone glared. It was going to be a long night.
***
By ten p.m., all three were slightly buzzed. Well, Simone was the only one who’d been literally buzzed on and off all night, but they were all feeling the effects of plenty of wine.
“Were you really scared of me?” Simone asked hating that she’d made Helen feel like she had to tread carefully around her. Although, that was exactly what she’d done.
The vibe pulsed to life making her eyes bug out before she quickly regained her composure. Thankfully, the music playing was loud enough to drown out the buzzing.
“No, not of you. Just scared to make a peep.” She grinned. “Peep-peep.”
Nadia tossed a peanut at Helen. “You should’ve said squeak, you timid little mouse.”
“Pfft, whatever. Last week, someone rang work and sung my praises. Said I was the best cleaner they’d had.” She dusted her knuckles on her chest. “Saved my arse actually. The boss was going to fire me for going AWOL, but his wife, our receptionist, said we might lose a good client.”
The buzzing stopped and as odd as it felt to thank someone while she was pulsing with need, Simone did what she should’ve done long ago.
“I really should thank you.” She smiled at Helen before reaching for Nadia’s free hand. The one not tucked in her pocket fiddling with the remote to the vibe.
“If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be together.”
“I know, right!” Helen’s expression was animated, eyes wide, strawberry locks bouncing around flushed cheeks. “I didn’t think she’d go along with it, but Nads never could resist a challenge.”
What the fuck?
The wine Simone had consumed turned to ice in her stomach. The glare Nadia shot Helen didn’t help.
“What do you mean?” Simone asked.
After downing the last of her drink, Helen wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “The dare.”
Feeling sick, Simone narrowed her eyes. “What dare?”
“It was nothing.” Nadia shot Helen a warning look.
“Oh, please.” Helen laughed, oblivious to the mounting tension. “If I hadn’t dared you to kiss her, you two wouldn’t be together. Simone thanked me, and you should too.”
A potent cocktail of humiliation, hurt, and anger slammed into Simone. Her cheeks blazed. Her mind raced. How had she been so gullible? Right from the start, she felt like she’d been set up, and here she was.
Fuming, she ripped the vibe out of her briefs and threw it in Nadia’s face, literally. It smacked her in the cheek and landed in her lap. “I was a fucking dare? Well guess what? I’m not a toy you can play with.” She stabbed herself in the chest. “I have feelings!” Her voice cracked right alongside her heart.
Helen let out a nervous giggle. When neither of them paid her any attention, she jumped to her feet and disappeared.
Loose lips sink ships, ran through Simone’s mind.
But Helen wasn’t the one at fault here. Nadia was a grown woman with a mind of her own. And a shrewd businesswoman who made make or break decisions every day.
“I can’t believe you,” Simone said around the lump of emotion
clogging her throat.
“It wasn’t like that. I—”
Not wanting to hear it, she cut Nadia off. “Did she, or did she not, dare you to kiss me?”
“Yes.” Nadia looked crestfallen. “But—”
“Don’t.” Simone held up a hand. Nadia reached for it, but Simone smacked her hand away. “Don’t touch me.” She jumped to her feet.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“You’re not driving. You’ve had too much to drink.”
“Since when did you care?” Simone stamped her foot, fists clenched at her sides.
“Since the day I first laid eyes on you,” Nadia said softly.
Her expression was so sincere, Simone wanted to believe her, but she wasn’t that gullible. Once bitten, twice shy.
“Tell it to someone who cares. Like your best friend.” Where was Helen anyway?
As though her thoughts alone were enough to summon her, Helen waltzed back into the room. “I called a cab.”
“Thank you,” Simone said.
Helen frowned. “What for?”
“Calling a cab.”
“I called it for me.” Helen looked wasted and confused.
Too bad.
Simone wasn’t spending another minute in Nadia’s home. “I’ll tell them to send another.”
After a tense standoff, headlights cut across the drapes. The taxi was here.
Without so much as a backward glance, Simone grabbed her handbag off the coat rack and quietly let herself out.
As tempting as it was to slam the door, she wouldn’t give Nadia the satisfaction.
Chapter 23
Nadia
The door clicked closed and Nadia felt like her heart had been cleaved in two. Half of it was in the room with her best friend, the other half with Simone.
None of it belonged to her, because right then she felt like the heartless bitch Simone clearly thought she was.
Experience had taught her trying to resolve a misunderstanding when alcohol was involved was often futile. As much as it pained her to let Simone go, knowing she had to come back for her car gave her hope not all was lost.
