Brooklyn Summer

by Maggie Cummings

  “I’ll just stand behind you,” Kellan said, making room for a couple as she ushered Ashleigh in front of her.

  Ashleigh pressed against her, tilting her head up to whisper in her ear. “Can you see?” Ashleigh asked, but all she could focus on was Ashleigh’s breath hot on her neck. She looked out over the bright orange sky at the ball of fire in the distance. “Kell, you okay?”

  “Mm-hmm. Yeah.” She smiled at Ashleigh but was distracted by her perfect lips, wet and inviting. She shifted her focus to the horizon where the sun slipped below the ocean and out of sight. The crowd seemed to disperse nearly immediately, but she and Ashleigh stayed right where they were, their bodies still aligned. “It’s beautiful here,” she whispered.

  “It is, right?” Ashleigh turned to face her, and in the semidarkness, Kellan would swear she looked right at her mouth.

  “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

  “I know it’s far from Brooklyn. Thanks for coming with me.” Ashleigh leaned up and placed a kiss on her lips. It was a peck, but it hovered a touch too long to be truly platonic.

  “You’re welcome,” she responded, bringing their lips together a second time to return the favor. Kellan’s kiss lingered softly, purposely matching the ambiguous tone set by Ashleigh’s, as she was conscious to respect the confusing boundaries. But Ashleigh kissed her back. It was subtle at first, but Kellan read her with ease. Their bodies were close and Ashleigh’s hands touched her abdomen, urging her closer. Kellan responded instinctively. She kissed Ashleigh soft and slow, channeling the desire she had felt all day, all summer, if she was being honest. She caressed Ashleigh’s face as their lips and tongues found each other, over and over. Her heart was beating so fast she could feel her pulse everywhere. The moment was perfect and sweet and unbelievably sexy. Kellan would have stayed there all night—she didn’t care one bit about the ferry docking a few feet away.

  “We should get on that boat,” Ashleigh said, breaking them apart but finding her hand again.

  “I’m sorry, Ash. I feel like that went against everything you said on the beach.”

  “Why are you sorry?” Ashleigh slid into a seat on the lower deck. “I started it. I should apologize. I don’t mean to be a tease. I just…I wanted to kiss you. The moment seemed—”

  “Perfect.” She slid her arm along the back of the bench seat and kissed Ashleigh’s temple. “It was perfect.”

  They spent a lot of the ninety-minute commute back to the city in comfortable silence as they rode the ferry and the railroad, marginally cuddled together, their boundaries blurring by the second. There was no more kissing, and while it was probably the most rational decision, Kellan was disappointed when Ashleigh suggested separate Ubers to their respective abodes when they reached Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. All things considered, though, the events of the day left her too happy to be sad, so she gave Ashleigh a sweet kiss on the cheek as she opened her car door.

  “Good night, Kell.” Ashleigh hugged her tight. “Thank you for a great day.”

  “Same.” She gave Ash’s hand a small squeeze. “I’ll be up later if you feel like talking or texting or anything.”

  Ashleigh paused and her lips parted slightly. For the briefest moment, Kellan thought she was going to abandon her car and change the course of their summer on the spot. But then it was as though she came to her senses. “Maybe,” she said.

  On the surface, the word selection and its tone seemed cool and collected, but the flash of color in Ashleigh’s cheeks told a different story.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ashleigh stood under the steady stream of hot water, trying to make sense of the entire day. The beach had been amazing and lovely. The lunch place rustic and charming. The conversation delightful as ever. That purple and orange sunset, beyond words. But all of it, every last second, was eclipsed by that kiss. That perfect, decadent, soft, sultry kiss she could still feel in every part of her body.

  But then she’d said good night at the train station, when she obviously could’ve gone back to Kellan’s. She imagined Kellan kissing her, touching her, taking her. Doing all the things she dreamed about. Even now, she could hear Shauna’s voice and Granny’s too, telling her to go for it. There was part of her that wanted to, even though she knew it was foolish. She didn’t do well with hasty decisions. Particularly ones made out of pure lust.

  That kiss, though.

  Just thinking about it made her heart pound. Kellan’s lips were gentle but firm, her tongue strong but delicate. She gushed, wanting more. She needed it. Right fucking now. She shut the water off with force, knowing exactly where she was headed. Sure, she could go to her bedroom, live out the fantasy at her own touch. And yes, it was the logical, wise thing to do. But tonight, she wanted the real thing.

  She toweled off and pulled her wet hair in a loose messy bun, then tossed a few essentials in an overnight bag. Yoga pants and a loose but flattering tee later, she zipped by the living room where her family was glued to The First 48.

  “Going to meet my friends for drinks. I’ll probably just stay at Shauna’s,” she said, purposely avoiding eye contact with Granny as she raced to the car that was waiting by the curb.

  Her Uber cut through the empty Brooklyn streets in record time, giving Ashleigh little opportunity to come to her senses. Whether that was a good thing or not, she wasn’t sure. Likewise, Sanjay the doorman seemed to remember her right away, as he smiled and picked up the desk phone to announce her presence the minute she entered the lobby. For the briefest second she worried Kellan might not be home, or worse, she might have company, but with a small nod and an even smaller smile, he replaced the receiver.

  “You can go ahead up, Miss Ashleigh,” he said.

  “Thank you,” she said over the sound of her heart pounding in her chest. It seemed to get louder and more distinct with each step to the elevator. Her stress completely took over as the doors opened on the fourth floor and she second-guessed every decision she’d made up to this point. What if Kellan didn’t want to see her? What if she’d had enough of her games and sent her away on sight? She felt herself shaking but then she looked up and Kellan was standing in the open doorway of her apartment, a slight question in her eyes but a welcoming smile on her face.

  “Hey, you,” Kellan said, reaching for her arm and pulling her inside. She wrapped her in a sweet embrace. “You okay?”

  She felt the heat of Kellan’s body through the thin cotton of her V-neck tee, the fresh smell of soap wafting off her skin. Keeping her arms around Kellan’s shoulders, she looked up and registered concern in her magnificent green eyes. “I should have called. I’m sorry.”

  “You never have to call.” Kellan caressed her arms and led her to the stools by the kitchen island. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. I just…” She had no idea what to say.

  Kellan read her face. “Did you miss me?” Her tone was the perfect balance of playful and suggestive, and if Ashleigh had any game, she would have leaned forward and kissed her in that moment, but she waited a second too long, and Blue leaped onto the counter, stealing the attention. “Or did you just want to pay this guy a visit?” Kellan held out her hand and the cat brushed into it.

  “Hi, Blue,” Ashleigh said. “Are you allowed to be up here?” She reached forward to pet him.

  “We have an understanding.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  Kellan smiled and stood, reaching for the cat treats from the cupboard. “He does what he wants, and I don’t tell on him.”

  “He’s got you wrapped around his finger, I see.”

  “He’s not the only one.” Kellan tossed a treat across the room, and Blue scampered after it.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing,” Ashleigh admitted as she leaned her elbow on the countertop and dropped her face into her hand.

  “You don’t have to know what you’re doing.” She felt the gentle brush of Kellan’s fingers against hers. Kellan turned the stool around slowly and tou
ched her face. “I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t want to leave you tonight.”

  “Me either.”

  “Good.” Kellan touched their foreheads together. “I know the facts of what this is…” Her voice was husky as it trailed off, and she kept her eyes trained on the floor as she continued. “Look, it’s all really fast and I’m only here for a short time. I know that makes you nervous.” Ashleigh felt her hands move to her hips, and she opened her legs just to bring them closer. “Being around you, it feels right to me—I can’t explain it. And if you don’t want to do anything but be near each other, that’s one hundred percent fine. We can go over to the couch right now, put on a movie. Snuggle if you want—”

  She held Kellan’s face in her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. “If you don’t kiss me right now, I might die.”

  Their mouths crashed together in absolute synchronicity, the buildup of so much shared tension exploding in one single, perfect, epic kiss. In the moment Ashleigh was aware of every detail, the way their lips parted together, the urgency of their tongues moving desperately to make up for all the opportunities they’d let pass. Gone was the sweetness of the moment they shared on the dock hours earlier. In its place, nothing but passion. Pure and unfettered, and sexy as fuck. For a brief second she panicked it was a dream, but like magic she felt Kellan’s hands on her, bringing her back into reality as she caressed her bottom and pulled her flush against her body. Kellan’s touch ran the length of her body all the way up her back until she felt hands in her hair, at the base of her head, along the front of her neck as Kellan kissed her deeper and harder than she thought possible.

  She was tingling everywhere, her skin on fire. She didn’t know if it was because it had been so long since she’d experienced any kind of intimacy at all or if it was because the last few years with Reagan had been so utterly tepid. All she knew was the way Kellan was kissing and touching her right now made her feel wanted and needed and desired in a way that was entirely new. It was freeing and fresh and wholly erotic. She wanted to rip her clothes off and never leave this apartment for the rest of the summer.

  Somehow she managed to move off the stool, still finding Kellan’s lips as they backed toward the bed. In the dim light, she registered a look in Kellan’s eyes that almost seemed to be checking in, making sure it was all right to continue. It was in such stark contrast to their actions, she almost didn’t know what to make of it. Still, it moved her to know that even if she pulled back now, it would be okay.

  She stood on tiptoe to kiss her. “I want this,” she whispered in response to Kellan’s unspoken concern. It wasn’t racy but it was more than Ashleigh had ever said aloud, and hearing the rasp in her own voice surprised her. She slipped her hands under Kellan’s shirt, her fingertips grazing over smooth muscular abs.

  Kellan pulled her shirt over her head, and even though her state of nakedness was scant more than Ashleigh saw on the beach hours earlier, the exposure seemed entirely different. She traced the outline of the tattoo that covered Kellan’s waist and her rib cage, not brave enough yet to follow it up along the side of her small breast. Kellan leaned forward and pulled her close, kissing her fully, and Ashleigh was relieved and so fucking ready when she took the lead. She felt herself gush when Kellan slipped her hands underneath her shirt and unhooked her bra, her nipples hardening first in Kellan’s palm, then against her tongue.

  In seconds they were on the bed, Kellan’s warm mouth all over her body. She sucked and kissed her everywhere, making gentle circles with her tongue and then escalating to just shy of leaving a mark. It seemed as though she would get almost caught up in the moment and then pull back just in time. Ashleigh couldn’t care less if there would be evidence in the morning. Her head swirled in euphoria at Kellan’s distinct touch, beautifully hard and soft at the same time.

  As they kissed, Kellan was moving between her legs, and she couldn’t help but notice the friction caused Kellan’s sweats to inch down little by little. Ashleigh spread her legs wider, her breath catching at the heat she felt through Kellan’s boxers.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Kellan’s voice was heavy but measured as she kissed along Ashleigh’s neck and jawline, obviously trying for chivalry.

  Ashleigh answered with a searing kiss she hoped made her answer crystal clear, but just in case, she held Kellan’s face in her hands and looked her dead in the eye. “If you stop now, I’m going to kill you.”

  A crooked smile emerged, and Ashleigh’s heart pounded.

  “Let’s get under the covers then.” With one hand, Kellan pulled back the duvet and smoothly ushered them onto the soft sheet underneath. She didn’t ask for any more assurances as she removed what remained of Ashleigh’s clothes and tossed them to the floor. She discarded her own boxer briefs at the same time and Ashleigh shuddered at the feel of their naked bodies together. Kellan kissed the spot below her ear, her face, her lips. “Tell me what you like,” she said.

  Ashleigh wasn’t a talker, but if she knew the answer, she would have said it in a heartbeat. Kellan seemed so open that she didn’t think anything would be off-limits. But the problem was she honestly didn’t know. “I like you,” she said, hoping it sufficed.

  Kellan kissed her hard in response, and Ashleigh heard herself moan at the feel of their bodies touching everywhere. She could feel herself dripping with desire, and Kellan had to feel it too. Still, she took her time as she kissed down her body. Kellan hovered for a second, her breath hot against her throbbing center. Kellan kissed her softly there, holding back from giving real satisfaction as her tongue teased in a delicate, divine kind of torture.

  “Oh my God.” It was a breath more than a statement, and Ashleigh wasn’t entirely sure she vocalized it at all, but she felt Kellan smile against her skin, the thickness of her tongue making real contact a millisecond later. The moan that escaped her was completely beyond her control, but Kellan responded with the perfect amount of pressure in exactly the right spot. Her hips bucked wildly, but Kellan stayed with her as the orgasm rushed through her entire body.

  She knew it was fast, but in her defense it had been forever since she’d had sex—not that Kellan knew that. Or maybe she did. She was so out of practice that she had no idea what even passed as normal. Kellan seemed undeterred, still kissing her thighs and caressing them gently with her soft fingertips.

  “I’m a little embarrassed at how quick that was.” Ashleigh let out a laugh, hoping it might balance the awkwardness of her admission. She reached down and ran her hands through Kellan’s hair, feeling the short ends bristle against her palm.

  Kellan turned her head and kissed Ashleigh’s hand. “Oh, I’m not done with you yet.” She smiled devilishly, her mouth grazing along Ashleigh’s wrist and forearm as she baby kissed her way over her shoulder and along her collarbone. When she reached her mouth, her kiss was thorough and passionate, her tongue gentle and strong and leading. Ashleigh was wet and pulsing and so ready when Kellan slipped inside her. She cringed a little and heard herself whimper at the fullness of Kellan’s fingers.

  It only took her body a fraction of a second to adjust and find the right rhythm as they moved together. She gasped and moaned and gripped Kellan’s shoulders, as her legs opened wide. Before long, Kellan’s breathing got heavy, and she could feel her starting to sweat as she pumped faster. It was raw and hard and it felt amazing. Her nipples got hard against Kellan’s chest as she started to come. But instead of subsiding, a second orgasm followed in sequence, and then another, and another, the sensation cascading through her body like a domino of nerves crashing into each other until there was absolutely nothing left.

  Ashleigh could form no words, and her body went completely limp as she basked in an afterglow like no other.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I cannot believe I fell asleep.” Ashleigh covered half her face as she curled into Kellan’s side. She’d woken up with competing thoughts vying for space in her mind. Her conscience was trying to convince her she shoul
d feel bad for sleeping with someone she wasn’t dating, but everything in her being said she’d made the right choice. There was zero guilt present. Honestly, what she felt was alive. And comfortable. And relaxed. She brushed a hand on Kellan’s worn tee. “I’m not a pillow princess, I swear.” She placed a kiss on Kellan’s shoulder, snuggling in.

  Kellan draped one arm around her, pulling her close, and Ashleigh felt her pulse regulate. “I’m not worried.” She kissed the top of her head. “Plus, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to taking complete pride in totally knocking you out.” Kellan grinned, and it was sexy even if it was unabashedly arrogant.

  “Maybe I was just tired.” She let her hand drift to Kellan’s soft belly under her shirt. “You don’t know,” she added, employing full sass. “Long day at the beach. Full exposure to the sun.”

  “Mind-blowing sex,” Kellan finished. “It is a lethal combination. I get it.”

  “This is what I have to put up with now?” she teased. “So cocky.”

  Kellan answered with a killer smile. “Good morning, Ash.” She dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “Coffee?”

  “Oh my God, yes.” She watched Kellan crawl out of bed in a fresh shirt and boxers and Ashleigh scooted up, pulling the covers around her naked body. “When did you put clothes on?”

  “After you passed out. I can’t sleep naked.” Kellan spoke matter-of-factly as she slipped into sweats. Ashleigh idly wondered what other tidbits she might learn if they continued down this path. She leaned back against the headboard as she watched Kellan walk to the kitchen. Blue followed, weaving around Kellan’s legs until she scooped him up and kissed his head. She wished him a good morning as she rubbed between his ears and got his breakfast. Sexy and sweet. Could this honestly be for real? She was leaving at the end of summer, she reminded herself. She blinked slowly as she consciously kept her budding feelings in check. When she opened her eyes, Kellan was looking at her, holding a bag of freshly ground coffee from Brooklyn Beanery.