Atramentum

by MJ Duncan

  Stars exploded behind her eyes a split-second before she came again, and she collapsed against the bed as she floated on the waves of her climax, her mind too fogged with ecstasy to register the feeling of Maeve’s body lying atop her own. The taste of herself on Maeve’s lips guided her back to the present, and she moaned as she wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled her back down into another kiss.

  “You’re incredible,” Joss murmured as she slipped her arms beneath Maeve’s and let her fingers dance along her sides. She teased the outside curves of her breasts before traversing the length of her ribs, and licked her lips as she grabbed onto Maeve’s hips and gave a small tug. “I want you,” she whispered huskily, pulling against her again, hoping Maeve would understand what she wanted.

  Joss’ heart hammered in her chest as she watched Maeve push herself up onto her knees so she was straddling her waist. She rubbed her hands over Maeve’s hips and tugged again, silently answering the question she could see in her eyes. She swallowed hard when Maeve nodded once, just the smallest tip of her chin as she allowed Joss to guide her where she wanted her.

  Joss stroked the backs of Maeve’s legs as she moved higher, her weight shifting from one side to the other as she maneuvered past her shoulders. Joss did not bother to try to contain the appreciative moan that escaped her as Maeve settled above her.

  “So beautiful,” she breathed as she ran her hands over Maeve’s sides and up around her breasts. She smiled at the rumbling groan that rained down on her when she gave Maeve’s nipples a firm pinch, rolling and tweaking the firm nubs as she peppered the soft skin of Maeve’s inner thighs with kisses. She let her breath fall in teasing waves over sensitive folds as she slid her hands slowly lower, caressing Maeve’s stomach and hips. She was utterly bewitched by the way Maeve was staring at her, mouth hanging slightly open so that each breath fell fast and ragged from her lips, her gaze scorching as she watched and waited, pleading for a more direct touch.

  Demanding it.

  Joss licked her lips as she ran the flats of her hands over the swell of Maeve’s ass, and her mouth watered at how much wetter Maeve became after each slow circuit. She moaned as she trailed her lips from Maeve’s inner thigh to full, outer lips, tasting, teasing. Maeve began to squirm above her, hips rocking from side to side, trying to force her mouth where it was so desperately needed, whimpering and moaning when each attempt failed to give the contact she so craved.

  “Stop teasing,” Maeve grunted, her right hand dropping from the headboard to tangle in Joss’ hair, holding her still as she rocked against her mouth.

  Joss groaned and grabbed Maeve’s ass more firmly, pulling her down as she covered Maeve with her mouth. The hand in her hair tightened as Maeve’s head fell back in pleasure, her hips rolling back, forcing her clit against Joss’ tongue.

  Maeve cried out ardently at the first slow swirl of Joss’ tongue around her clit, her hips jerking away from the touch before pressing down harder in a desperate search for more.

  Joss moaned against slick folds as she cradled Maeve to her mouth, licking and sucking at everything she could reach. She was in heaven, completely enveloped by the sight and sound and feel and taste of Maeve. She tightened her hold on Maeve’s ass as she ravished her, matching every quick thrust and slow, heavy grind of the body writhing atop her.

  Maeve’s movement became more unpredictable the closer she spiraled to orgasm, desperation driving each pump of her hips as she tried to find the rhythm, the touch, the pressure, that would send her soaring.

  Wanting nothing more than to experience Maeve’s pleasure herself, Joss pulled her closer, smothering herself in soft skin and slick arousal, and she moaned as she sucked Maeve’s clit between her lips and fluttered her tongue over it. Whether it was the focused attention or the rumbling moan or a combination of the two, she had no idea, but Maeve froze above her for a split-second before her hips pressed down hard and her pleasured cries shook the rafters.

  Joss caressed Maeve’s ass encouragingly as she lapped at the fruits of her labor, her eyes drinking in the exquisite beauty trembling above her. Maeve’s gaze was smoldering as she looked down at her, and Joss smiled as she pressed a tender kiss to her still twitching clit.

  “God, Joss…”

  “You are so goddamn beautiful,” Joss murmured.

  Maeve blushed and shook her head, her sudden shyness so endearing that Joss wanted nothing more than to hold her and reassure her with an endless string of kisses that it was true. Before she could say anything to that effect, however, Maeve was already moving, hips rolling away from her mouth as she curled against her side.

  Maeve propped her head on her hand and shook her head as she stared almost disbelievingly at Joss, her eyes dancing over Joss’ face as she searched for the words that eluded her. “You…” She sighed and leaned forward, her hair creating a curtain around their faces as she kissed Joss’ cheeks and chin before finally finding her lips in a deep, ardent kiss.

  It was soft and awed and perfect, and Joss smiled as she cupped Maeve’s face in her hand and guided her over onto her back so that she was hovering above her. She nuzzled Maeve’s cheek and kissed her tenderly, again and again, bracing herself on her right arm and letting her left hand draw lazy swoops and swirls over Maeve’s hip, stomach, breast, and shoulder. A warm shiver rolled down her spine as Maeve reciprocated the gentle touch, their tongues sliding languidly together as they basked in the moment.

  Maeve groaning into her mouth when her fingers brushed over a straining nipple sent a current of desire rippling through her, and Joss groaned as she shifted her weight, edging her knees between Maeve’s legs. The feeling of her nipples dragging over Maeve’s as she moved was electric, and she slanted her head to the side to deepen their kiss as she settled between her thighs.

  “Want you again,” Joss grunted as Maeve’s hips opened to cradle hers, smearing a hot, slick stripe of arousal down her stomach.

  “Yes,” Maeve moaned, lifting her hips.

  Joss swallowed hard and used her chin to turn Maeve’s head to the side as she laid a line of wet, heavy kisses from the corner of Maeve’s mouth to the sensitive hollow beneath her jaw. She closed her teeth around Maeve’s pounding pulse as she ground herself against Maeve, adjusting her position with each slow thrust until heat slid against heat, and they moaned in perfect harmony.

  “God, Joss…”

  Joss smiled and dragged the flat of her tongue up to Maeve’s ear. “Yes?” she asked, punctuating the question with a thrust of her hips.

  “Fuck,” Maeve grunted as she pulled her legs higher, opening herself further to each delicious roll of Joss’ hips.

  Joss groaned at the feeling of Maeve’s knees cradling her hips, and buried her face in the crook of Maeve’s neck as she thrust again. “Maeve…”

  “Don’t stop,” Maeve pleaded breathlessly.

  “I won’t,” Joss confirmed huskily with a nod as she drove her hips forward again, grinding herself against Maeve and making them both whimper. “I won’t.”

  Twenty-Three

  Falling asleep after three that morning had little effect on Joss’ internal clock, which still had her eyes fluttering open by ten to six.

  Five whole extra minutes, she grumbled silently as she rubbed a sleepy hand over her face. Gee, thanks.

  Of course, any annoyance she had about the staggering lack of sleep she was going to suffer from for the rest of the day was abated by the sight of a very naked Maeve Dylan laying next to her, tousled hair cascading wildly over the pillow she had captured in a stranglehold beneath her. The sheet she had pulled over them both after they made love one last time before collapsing in exhaustion lay bunched across the small of her back, and Joss smiled as she leaned onto her side to press a gentle kiss to Maeve’s shoulder.

  God, it would be so easy to fall for you, she thought to herself with a sigh as she pulled away.

  Maeve hummed as she shifted in her sleep, turning her head so Joss could see the serene smi
le tugging at her lips as she snuggled closer to her pillow.

  So easy.

  The distant sound of barking crept into Joss’ consciousness, and she shook her head as she slipped out of bed, careful to not disturb Maeve. She searched for her clothes from the night before in the dark, unwilling to turn on a light that would wake her sleeping lover, and she carried her clothes into the sitting area beyond the stone fireplace that divided the suite to get dressed.

  One of them deserved to sleep, after all.

  Once she was dressed, she made her way down the stairs and, after a quick stop in the powder room just off the living room, went in search of the four-legged monster whose barks were increasing in volume and hysterics.

  “Fuck, lady, chill,” she muttered as she hurried through the laundry room to open the door to the garage.

  George launched through the door the moment it was opened, knocking Joss back against the washing machine as she smothered her with kisses, acting like she had been left alone for ages instead of just one night. Which, granted, she was used to sleeping on the couch and she had been forced to slum it on a futon instead, but still. It was not like they had made her sleep outside in some rinky-dink doghouse or something.

  “Okay, okay,” Joss laughed as she gave George’s sides a vigorous rubdown. “I’m sorry, all right? We’re terrible people for forgetting about you.”

  George aroo-ed and shoved the top of her head into Joss’ hip.

  Well, you told me, Joss thought to herself as she gave George’s behind a light pat. “Okay, you. Ready to go outside?”

  That was all the direction George needed as she took off down the hall, her nails skittering on the wood floor in the great room as she sprinted toward the back of the house. She was doing a doggy version of the potty dance when Joss finally caught up to her in the kitchen to open the sliding glass door to the backyard.

  George bolted for the lawn as soon as the door opened wide enough for her to squeeze through, and Joss looked around for the ChuckIt that Maeve used to throw balls for her as she took care of business. She knew from the way George had pounced on her after being freed that if she did not do something to help her burn off her energy, the dog would be virtually impossible to contain.

  Once George had circled the lawn and done what she needed to do, Joss held up the blue plastic handle that had a grimy tennis ball in its cup and waggled it back and forth, immediately grabbing George’s attention. “Ball?”

  George barked and spun in an excited circle before dropping her shoulders and staring at Joss, her entire body quivering with excitement as she waited for the ball to be thrown. Joss faked a few throws before letting the ball fly, and shook her head as she watched George run it down. Playing ball with George had not been on her shortlist of preferred activities for the morning, but seeing how much the Dane was enjoying herself made it impossible to not enjoy it just a little bit.

  They had been at it for a good fifteen minutes when warm hands slipped beneath Joss’ shirt, and she smiled as she leaned back against Maeve. “Hey.”

  “So you leave me in bed to come play with my dog, huh?” Maeve teased. She dragged her nails across Joss’ stomach and laughed when Joss squirmed against her. “Should I be worried?”

  Joss shook her head as she turned in Maeve’s embrace, desire flaring low in her hips as she saw the loosely belted silk robe Maeve had thrown on that did little to hide the fact that she wore nothing underneath. “No.” Her smile softened as she cupped Maeve’s face in her hand, and she sighed as she guided their lips together. This was how she had wanted to spend her morning before she had to go to work. She nuzzled Maeve’s cheek with her nose when she finally pulled away. “She was barking and I didn’t want her to wake you up.”

  “That’s very sweet of you,” Maeve purred, rewarding Joss’ thoughtfulness by pulling her closer and claiming her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. “But I’m awake now.” She smiled against Joss’ lips. “And I want you back in my bed.”

  Joss groaned. She wanted that too, but there was an insistent tail smacking against the back of her legs that told her that might not be happening any time soon.

  Maeve chuckled and pecked Joss’ lips. “Come on.” She slipped away with a sultry smile and then looked at George. “Bone?”

  George froze, eyes wide and her mouth half-open as she looked at Maeve hopefully.

  “Come on, George.” Maeve smacked the side of her thigh as she turned toward the house, a sixth sense guiding her to her left just as George bull-rushed the door, a move that saved her from being knocked over.

  Joss laughed under her breath as she followed them inside. Maeve was flipping open a pair of scissors to slice the plastic off the bone, and she grinned as she caught her eye. “So that was a good idea then.”

  Maeve nodded. “Pure genius.” She unwrapped the bone at set it in George’s waiting mouth. “Take that to the rug,” she said, tipping her head at the great room.

  George bumped Maeve’s hand with her head one time and then obediently padded into the other room.

  “Now”—Maeve winked at Joss—“let’s go see about that bed.”

  Joss took the hand Maeve offered her and allowed herself to be led toward the stairs. “What about George?” She lifted Maeve’s hand to her lips and kissed the back of it. “With the exception of the bathroom, there really aren’t any doors we can close up there to keep her out.”

  “George,” Maeve declared as she stopped at the hall closet and pulled the door open, “is terrified of the vacuum.” She pulled said vacuum from the closet and used her foot to kick the door closed. “So all we have to do is this,” she continued as she rolled it to the foot of the stairs.

  Joss climbed ahead of Maeve, stopping on the second step, and turned to see her carefully standing the vacuum in the center of the first tread.

  The stairs were wide and George could squeeze by the vacuum if she really wanted, though she would probably knock it over in the process, and Joss eyed the purple Dyson skeptically. “I know she doesn’t like it, but you think that will seriously stop her from coming upstairs?”

  Maeve shrugged. “Only one way to find out.” She smirked as she pushed Joss’ back against the wall and joined her on the second stair.

  There was no mistaking the mischievous twinkle in Maeve’s eyes as she leaned closer, and Joss whimpered as she felt her shirt being unbuttoned. “Bed?”

  “We’ll get there.” Maeve kissed Joss as she continued to work at the buttons on her shirt, and pulled away with a smile as the last one slipped free. “Much better,” she observed as she reached for Joss’ breasts.

  Joss arched a brow in playful challenge and reached for the sash of Maeve’s robe. She held Maeve’s gaze as she gave it a tug, and licked her lips when Maeve was revealed to her. “God, I was an idiot for leaving you in bed this morning,” she muttered as she slipped her hands around Maeve’s waist and pulled her in for a bruising kiss.

  “Yes, you were,” Maeve agreed as gave Joss’ breasts a playful squeeze before turning her attention lower. She flicked her tongue over Joss’ lips as she reached for the clasp holding her pants closed, and a low, appreciative moan rumbled in her throat as she caressed the bare skin that was revealed to her. “Commando is a very good look on you.”

  Joss groaned and closed her eyes as a rush of arousal crash between her legs. They needed to get this off the stairs before they gave George one hell of a show.

  “Very, very good.” Maeve rubbed against Joss as she slipped two fingers between Joss’ legs, and she moaned when she felt how ready Joss was for her. She pressed their lips together as she swirled her fingers around Joss’ clit, and then sighed as she forced herself to pull away. “Bed.”

  “Absolutely.” Joss smirked and shrugged out of her shirt before she pushed Maeve’s robe from her shoulders. They left their clothes where they fell and hurried up the stairs with identical, wide smiles curling their lips, and Joss laughed as she caught Maeve beside the bed and pulled her into
her arms. “Gotcha.”

  Maeve sank willingly into Joss’ embrace and wrapped her arms around her neck. “You do.”

  The playful rejoinder was belied by the quiet earnestness in Maeve’s voice, and Joss swallowed thickly as an unmistakable affection bloomed in her chest as she kissed Maeve softly. It really would be so easy to fall, she thought as she brushed their lips together. “Let me,” she whispered as she guided Maeve back toward the bed.

  Joss' breath caught in her throat at the sound of Maeve’s breathy moan of consent, and she used her lips and body to push Maeve back onto the bed. She cradled Maeve’s right breast in her hand as they maneuvered into the center of the mattress, and sighed as she stretched out over her. Maeve’s nipple strained against her palm as she squeezed and massaged her breast in time with their deep, languid kisses, and she pulled back to look at Maeve as she adjusted her hold enough to give the hard bud a firm pinch.

  Maeve gasped and arched into the touch, and Joss echoed the sentiment as her clit twitched in sympathy.

  “Joss…”

  “I know,” Joss breathed, tweaking Maeve’s nipple one last time before letting her hand wander down her stomach and between her parted thighs. A low moan tumbled from her lips as she ran her fingers through the copious wetness that welcomed her touch, and she kissed Maeve softly as she rubbed slow circles over her clit. “What do you want, sweetie?”

  Maeve rolled her hips against Joss’ hand. “An orgasm.”