Recipe for Love

by Aurora Rey

  She’d expected Hannah to be turned on, but she was so hot, so wet, Drew almost lost it. She clenched her jaw, bit back a groan. “You’re ready for me, aren’t you?”

  Hannah nodded.

  “Okay, then. Tell me what you want.”

  “Fuck me. Please.”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  Before shifting her hand, she gave Hannah’s clit a few teasing strokes. Hannah’s hips pressed forward. Drew smiled and pulled her fingers away. Hannah moaned. Drew brought her mouth to Hannah’s ear a second time. “Patience.”

  She wasn’t going to make Hannah wait, not really. But she relished calling the shots, leaving Hannah guessing.

  Drew brought her fingers to her lips, tasted Hannah’s arousal. “Fuck, you taste good.”

  Hannah made that noise again and thrust her hips back, pressing herself against the cock that bobbed between Drew’s thighs. It hardly made for any pressure at all against Drew’s throbbing clit, but it was all she needed to move things along.

  She eased her hand between Hannah’s legs, this time from behind. Drew didn’t hesitate to slide two fingers into her, all the way. Hannah moaned and bucked against her. “Please.”

  “I will. Don’t you worry.” Drew slid in and out a few times. The way Hannah clamped around her, seemed to pull her in even deeper, drove her absolutely crazy.

  She pulled out and positioned the cock where her fingers had just been. Since the condom came lubed, she didn’t bother with more. Hannah wouldn’t need it.

  She eased the tip in. The way it disappeared, while creating just the right pressure against her clit, drove her nuts. She pushed the rest of the way in, as deep as she could go. “Oh, yes. That feels so good.”

  Hannah ground against her. “Mmm-hmm.”

  The front of Hannah’s body reflected in the glass. Her eyes were closed, her lips pressed together. Her nipples stood erect.

  Drew reached around and cupped a hand over each breast. They swayed slightly with each thrust, filling Drew’s palms. She fought the urge to hurry, to drive them both over the edge, but it didn’t take long for Hannah to completely overwhelm her senses. Hannah came with an uninhibited scream that sent Drew tumbling into her own orgasm.

  She clasped an arm around Hannah’s waist, doing her best to hold them both up. Eventually, Hannah laughed and righted herself. “God, you’re sexy.”

  Drew let her go and took a step back. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

  Hannah turned to face Drew. She looked from Drew’s face to the cock, then back to her face. Her desire bounced back instantaneously, reignited by the idea of being with Drew in a way that was completely new to her. To both of them. “Does that mean I get that turn now?”

  Drew peeled off the condom and tossed it in the trash. She loosened the buckles of the harness and slid it down her legs. “Do you want a hand getting it on?”

  “I got it.” Hannah took it from her and headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”

  She closed the door and took a minute to get it situated, tightening the straps until they were nice and snug. She shifted back and forth in front of the mirror. The dildo bounced up and down lightly. Such a strange sensation, but sexy, too. It made her feel powerful. She strode into the bedroom, clad in nothing but Drew’s black harness.

  “Fuck, that’s hot.” Drew sat on the bed. Her eyes went right to the cock, making Hannah smile.

  Hannah joined her on the bed. She took her time kissing Drew and sliding up and down her body. She was never passive in bed, but wearing the strap-on made her extra assertive. After making Drew squirm, she pushed herself up and knelt between Drew’s thighs. The look on Drew’s face was one of hunger and it gave Hannah confidence. Any lingering shadows of awkwardness disappeared. Still, she didn’t want things to go sideways. “You’ll talk to me, right? Be honest if I’m not doing it right?”

  “I will. I’m not worried, but I will.”

  She grabbed another condom from the nightstand, glad Drew had thought to bring them, and rolled it on. “Okay. We’re doing this. Are you ready?”

  Drew placed a hand on each of her hips. “I’m ready. And I’m so glad I’m doing this with you.”

  The sentiment echoed what had been playing through Hannah’s mind. “Same.”

  She traced her fingers over Drew, then positioned the cock. She eased it in, not wanting to rush. The pressure against her own clit made her gasp.

  “It’s pretty incredible, right?”

  Hannah nodded, at a loss for words.

  She started slowly, soaking up the newness of the experience as much as the pleasure. The way Drew moved against her, communicating things without any words at all. It was so intimate. Did that have to do with what she was doing or with Drew?

  She continued to thrust, enjoying the way Drew arched beneath her. She hoped she looked half that sexy when being fucked. Drew’s eyes never left hers, although she looked down now and again to where their bodies were joined. It was mesmerizing, knowing she was the one controlling it.

  Her pace quickened, more instinct than intention. She could tell she was pushing Drew harder, higher, closer to the edge. It fueled her. She wanted Drew undone, completely at her mercy.

  She watched the pleasure play across Drew’s face, felt her tremble. It was the tremble that did her in, the surrender. Drew’s fingers dug into her hips, nudging her the last little bit into oblivion. She let it take her, rock her, until she and Drew were collapsed in a sweaty heap on the bed.

  When she was finally able to move, and to feel her limbs, Hannah lifted her head. “Was it just me or was that extra incredible?”

  Drew smiled. “It wasn’t just you.”

  Hannah nodded and eased just far enough away to shed the harness. She flipped off the light but left the shades open, letting the light of the city cast a faint glow across the bed. “Do we have to go tomorrow?”

  “Nope.” Drew’s answer was immediate, her tone playful.

  “I want to go. Just tell me we can do that again before we have to check out.”

  Drew nodded seriously. “Oh, at least once more.”

  “Good.”

  Hannah tucked herself into the crook of Drew’s arm. She couldn’t think of a time she felt more satisfied, or more spent. But it was more than that. She felt so connected to Drew. Not just that they’d shared something new. No, it was like they’d moved into some new plane of being together. Not love, surely, but something more than hookups and hanging out. Maybe that should freak her out, but in the moment, the only thing she felt was content.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  The next morning, they headed to Brooklyn and walked hand in hand, window-shopping and popping in and out of quirky shops. Hannah realized what a singular idea of the city she’d held. Which was unfair, considering how much she hated it when people did that with the whole of New York state. She picked up a set of funky linen napkins for her mother and a shirt emblazoned with “The Future Is Female” for Clare. They had lunch at a funky bar that reminded her a lot of Atlas, minus the bowling.

  They were just heading back to Drew’s mother’s house for the party when someone called Drew’s name. Drew stopped and turned, let go of her hand.

  “Javier.” Drew extended a hand and seemed truly happy to see him.

  “Where have you been hiding? I haven’t seen you in months.” Javier’s smile was huge and Hannah thought his accent might be Spanish. She got a gay vibe, too, but that was just conjecture.

  “Upstate. I took a head chef job at a little farm-to-table place in the Finger Lakes.”

  Javier tutted and shook his head. “Upstate. I never would have thought it of you.”

  Hannah would have taken offense had she not thought the exact same thing at first. She was so glad to have been proved wrong on that front.

  Drew shrugged. “A step on the ladder, my friend. A means to an end.”

  It shouldn’t surprise her that Drew would say such a thing, es
pecially in the long run of her career. Something about the tone, though, struck her. Detached, almost dismissive. She was grateful they seemed to have forgotten her presence.

  “I’ll gladly hire you whenever you’ve had your fill and want to come back. You just let me know.”

  “I have to say, life in the country has its perks.” She turned to Hannah. “Like this beautiful woman. She runs one of the farms that supplies the restaurant. Hannah, Javier.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.” He took Hannah’s extended hand and brought it to his lips.

  The gesture would have irritated her had he not been European. Well, that and the fact she was already irritated over Drew referring to her as a perk. She plastered a fake smile on her face and said, “Likewise.”

  Javier gave Drew his latest phone number and he went on his way. Hannah turned the conversation over in her mind, trying to figure out exactly why it bothered her so much. She wanted it to be Drew’s offhand comment, but really, it was the bigger picture. The one where Drew would pick up and leave the second a better offer came along. Maybe she shouldn’t be bothered by that, but she was.

  Drew, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the interaction. She grabbed Hannah’s hand again and they continued walking.

  Maybe she was putting too much stock in a passing conversation. The knee-jerk reaction was unlike her, and not in line with the seriousness of their relationship. She gave herself a little shake, a physical gesture to match her resolution not to let it get under her skin.

  “You okay?” Drew gave her a look more quizzical than concerned.

  “Of course. Looking forward to the party.” Which wasn’t a lie, even if she had a whole new slate of reservations about spending time with Drew’s family.

  They boarded a subway bound for Drew’s neighborhood, then made the short walk to Angelique’s house. They arrived early so Drew could help with food preparations. Hannah assigned herself to helping with setup, situating the table and arranging chairs in the small backyard. She liked feeling useful. Having a few minutes away from Drew to regroup didn’t hurt either. The last thing she wanted was to be snippy or sullen.

  Rose joined her outside. Despite being eighty and dressed to the nines, she carried chairs around and helped Hannah move a patio table. When they were done, Hannah put her hands on her hips and surveyed the space. “I think that looks very nice.”

  “It certainly does. Thank you for your help.” Rose put a hand on Hannah’s arm. “And thank you for coming all this way to help me celebrate.”

  “I should be thanking you for including me.” Even if it muddied the waters with Drew.

  “Family is who you choose, dear, as much as who you’re born with.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” She embraced that sentiment. Really, she did. But she’d never been in a position to extend the philosophy to girlfriends and their families. She’d never considered whether it was a conscious choice or something that just sort of happened. Either way, she and Drew weren’t there. Even if Drew had invited her. And even if Drew’s family felt, in some ways, more welcoming than her own.

  With the yard set, she and Rose went inside. Rose went off to greet the guests who’d started to arrive. Hannah steeled herself and headed to the kitchen to see if Drew needed help with any of the food. Angelique happily assigned her to fruit salad, so she peeled and sliced mangoes, papaya, and pineapple in a quiet corner of the kitchen. The task made her feel at home and spared her having to be introduced to literally everyone who set foot through the front door.

  By the time she stood next to Drew with a plate heaped full of food, at least a dozen conversations swirled around her. A few were in English, a couple in Creole, and one, she was pretty sure, was in Spanish. Way more diverse than an average party at home, in a good way. She’d not given a lot of thought to just how homogeneous her upbringing had been.

  Still feeling weird about Drew, she turned her attention to the woman next to her, who didn’t look a day over sixty but who’d apparently started teaching the same year as Rose. Growing up on a dairy farm proved quite the novelty. It didn’t take long for her to become the center of attention, fielding questions about corn and cows and other upstate oddities.

  At one point, Drew got pulled away. Hannah answered her apologetic look with a reassuring smile. She never minded being the ambassador for small farms. Not to mention conversations squarely in her comfort zone.

  * * *

  After kissing a second cousin and making sure the buffet was full, Drew wound her way back to Hannah. The unease of leaving her on her own evaporated when she found her chatting up three of her grandmother’s church friends, practically holding court. The women laughed, Hannah’s story clearly the source of their amusement. She had a flash of the first day she and Hannah met at the farm. She’d been not rude exactly, but aloof. It made Drew chuckle to realize that had little to do with Hannah’s personality and everything to do with Hannah’s initial assessment of her. Not her best moment, trying to save her best shoes from the mud pit that had been the farm parking lot.

  So much had changed since that day. Getting the job and moving, sure, but more than that. She’d never expected to be happy in the tiny town, but that’s exactly what she was. She loved her restaurant and her weird little cottage. She loved the friendships she’d built with the staff and her relationship with Nick. She loved Hannah and all the time they’d been able to spend together.

  Drew froze, beer bottle suspended halfway to her lips. She looked around, as though someone nearby might have heard her thoughts. The conversations around her continued. The jolting realization had been hers alone.

  She loved Hannah.

  The statement surprised her, but it didn’t set off all the alarm bells she would have expected. If anything, she had this almost eerie sense of calm. Like when a recipe she’d been fighting for weeks finally clicked—textures and flavors and colors aligned in perfect balance. She’d never been in love before, not as an adult at least. She didn’t expect it to feel like this.

  “Drew, do you think we should bring out the cake now?”

  “Huh?” Her mother’s face came into focus and the words slowly coalesced. “Oh, cake. Yes, we should.”

  Manman’s eyes narrowed. Little escaped her. When it came to Drew, it was like she had a sixth sense. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing at all.”

  She nodded. “We’ll talk later.”

  Drew didn’t need to fake the smile. “I’m sure we will. It’s all good, I promise.”

  “All right, then. If you say so.”

  She took a deep breath. It was all good. Well, the feelings part of it. The logistics were another matter. But worrying about that was like worrying about the name she’d give the first restaurant she opened on her own. She could spend hours coming up with something, but whether it worked would all depend on how things played out—location and feel, what the restaurant scene looked like when it came together. Thinking too much in advance wasted time and promised nothing.

  She’d sort things out with Hannah when she needed to. In the meantime, she’d enjoy the ride. She’d need to decide when and what to tell Hannah, but there was no rush. Neither of them were going anywhere anytime soon.

  She mirrored her mother’s nod. It would all be fine. “I do say so. You gather the masses and I’ll light the candles.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  In exchange for holding down the fort while she was gone, Hannah had offered Jeremiah a week off. She didn’t begrudge him kayaking in the Adirondacks with his boyfriend, especially after doing her such a huge favor, but Christ she was exhausted. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with an old bandanna and surveyed the field in front of her. September was usually lovely, but sometimes, it could be a real bitch.

  Even in her overheated, overworked state, she couldn’t really be angry. Hot days and cool nights made just about all her crops happy. Even with the irrigation working to keep up with the lack of rain, she had more produce
than she could harvest on any given day. She worked crazy hours, fell into bed face first every night, and hardly saw Drew at all. She was completely happy and utterly miserable at the same time.

  She loaded the last crate of squash on the wagon and climbed onto Roberta. The old diesel engine roared to life. The ride to the barn wasn’t quick, but it managed to create a hint of breeze, cooling her face and stirring the damp strands of hair from the back of her neck.

  She pulled up to the washing station and, instead of handing things off to Caroline, unloaded the crates herself. She dunked a dozen or so at a time, rinsing off the dirt and setting each one on an open rack to dry. She’d fill the CSA boxes and still have plenty for Drew. Assuming Drew wanted them. She’d made a comment about zucchini coming out of her ears the day before and Hannah hadn’t been able to tell if she was joking.

  She finished washing and went in to check on things at the farm stand. Clare had gone back to school and was only coming to the farm for a couple of hours each afternoon. For this week, she’d rotated through her seasonal staff. No one complained about getting the break from weeding or harvesting. Today, Guy stood behind the register, chatting up the bartender from Atlas. It might have been flirting, but she couldn’t be sure. “All right out here?”

  Guy glanced her way. “Easy-peasy. Hannah, do you know Leah?”

  “You know, I don’t think we’ve ever formally met.” Hannah extended a hand that, thanks to the washing tub, wasn’t entirely caked in dirt. “How’s it going?”

  Leah shook it. “Good. And good to meet you.”

  Guy said, “Do you want to take a turn in here? You look beat.”

  “Thanks.” Hannah laced the comment with sarcasm, but she smiled. “I’m good, actually, and Clare will be here any minute.”