by MJ Duncan
Joss grit her teeth as she felt herself begin to peak, and pressed her forehead against Maeve’s. “God…”
Maeve groaned and arched into Joss, her arms tightening around the brunette’s neck as Joss’ long thrusts became shorter, faster. She stared unblinkingly into Joss’ eyes as she rocked against her, mouth open, breath coming hard and fast and ragged as she rode the wave of ecstasy building inside her. “Come with me,” she demanded in a husky whisper.
Joss moaned and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold her climax at bay so she could do just that.
“Look at me, Joss.”
Fuck. Joss blew out a rough breath as she forced herself to comply, and she gasped as she watched ecstasy explode in Maeve’s eyes, dark and fathomless, flashing with the brightness of a thousand stars, begging for her to give in, to feel, to fall. Maeve squeezed her tight, pulling her deeper, strong muscles clenching and unclenching to the heavy beat of Joss’ pounding heart. It was all too powerful to resist any longer, and Joss captured Maeve’s lips in a desperate kiss as she drove herself forward one last time, burying herself to the hilt as the universe tilted and she fell, tumbling into ecstasy, her broken cries of pleasure muffled by the supple softness of Maeve’s lips.
They stayed pressed tightly together until long after the last aftershock of pleasure faded, trading soft kisses, basking in the feeling of closeness that surrounded them. Joss expected the warmth of happiness flooding her body to ease like it eventually always did, but it remained as strong as ever, tethering her to the beautiful woman she held in her arms, and she smiled against her lips as she closed her eyes and breathed Maeve in, hoping that if she did it enough that she would never lose this feeling.
Maeve shifted in front of her, and Joss complied with the unspoken request, canting her hips back as Maeve’s hands cradled her face, holding her close as she kissed her with such aching tenderness that Joss’ hand shook with the emotion swelling inside her as she tugged slick silicone from between her legs and let it fall to the floor.
She followed Maeve up onto the bed, mindful of not putting too much weight on her injured shoulder as she moved. The fluffy down duvet was as soft as a cloud when Maeve urged her with a kiss onto her back. She sighed as she settled into it, her legs falling open to welcome the toned thigh that slipped between them as Maeve hovered over her, the look in her eyes as tender as the lips that pressed against her own. Joss held Maeve to her as they came together once more, hips rolling, rubbing sensitive skin against firm muscle, breaths crashing lightly together between parted lips, lust-blown eyes full of affection locked in awestruck wonder as their separated universes aligned, seamlessly merging into one. It was as irrevocable as it was absolute, and Joss smoothed her fingers through Maeve’s hair as she debated putting everything she was feeling into words—worried that it was too soon to give voice to such powerful emotions.
“I love you,” Maeve whispered.
Joss smiled, her heart fluttering with joy that she was not in this alone, and kissed Maeve softly. “I love you, too.”
Thirty-Three
Scott handed Joss a bottle of beer. “Here’s to surviving another season.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Joss nodded and tapped the neck of her bottle against Scott’s.
Somehow, without her really noticing, July had turned to August, and next thing she knew, it was the Tuesday after Labor Day weekend—the official end of the summer high season, and the beginning of the fall shoulder season. It had ended up to be quite a good summer for her and Atramentum, with the store making more than enough to clear overhead costs for the next few months until the winter high season hit while still leaving a nice chunk in the bank, but her body and mind very much appreciated being able to roll into town around eleven each morning and being home by six each night.
Especially since “home” had become Maeve’s sprawling mountain retreat. It had been a gradual, organic change where Joss just slowly stopped taking clothes to-and-from the cottage after spending the night—instead just adding to her collection that was spreading along the left side of Maeve’s spacious walk-in closet. There had been no discussion about the change in her residence, no formal “will you move in with me” proposal, just a shirt hanging in the closet that was gradually joined by the rest of Joss’ clothes until the wardrobes at the cottage were bare.
“Oh, and Maeve wanted me to tell you that dinner would be done in five,” Scott said.
“Okay.” Joss nodded and slapped the cup of the ChuckIt over the ball George had just dropped at her feet and winged it toward the lake. George was dragging as she chased the ball, and Joss was pretty sure that the Dane would most likely trot right past her and into the house with it so she could not take it from her and throw it again.
Mission accomplished. Joss gave herself a mental pat on the back. “Okay. Pretty sure George is ready to crash, anyway.”
“Is this your job every night when you come home?” Scott chuckled.
“Yep. Every morning, too.” Maeve had started working on her next book not long after final edits had been finished and approved on her last, and as soon as Joss’ shoulder healed enough for her to run comfortably, she had started taking George with her on her morning excursion around the lake so that the energetic dog would sleep during the day and let Maeve work in peace. Making sure George was good and tired at night provided a completely different set of benefits, and Joss smiled as memories from the night before—a soft silk scarf wrapped around her wrists, holding her in place as even softer hair trailed over her stomach, following the path blazed by Maeve’s lips and teeth and tongue—flashed across her mind. She cleared her throat and bit her lip, grateful for the shadows that surrounded them and hid the blush she could feel burning her cheeks.
“You sure you don’t want me to work tomorrow night?” Scott asked, thankfully not picking up on her discomfort.
“Nah. I got it.” Saturday was the only day of the week during the shoulder season when the store was open late—though the eight o’clock closing was still far earlier than during the high season. “Maeve has something she needs to go to in Vail tomorrow evening anyway, so you may as well enjoy the extra time with your wife. I’m sure Michelle is happy you’ll be around more.”
“Fuck. That’s one way to put it. You should see the size of my Honey-Do list,” Scott groaned.
“Ah, so that’s why you want to work.” Joss smirked as she watched George trot right past them without making eye contact.
“Exactly.” Scott nodded. “Come on, help a guy out.”
Joss shook her head. “I would love to, man, but Michelle knows that we’re alternating weekends at the store. Never mind the fact Maeve and I are planning on taking George out to the Bells to go hiking next Saturday and I’m not going to screw that up.”
“Sounds like fun, but I swear I saw you grimacing when you picked up that box this afternoon. I don’t want you hurting your shoulder again.”
Joss laughed. “Nice try. But no.” She smiled around the mouth of her beer as she took a long swig. “You need to take care of your shit at home so your wife doesn’t come after me about it. Now, come on.” She tilted her head at the house. “Let’s go back. I’m starving.”
“Yeah. Whatcha making for dinner?”
Joss shrugged. “Chicken, steak, the usual. Did Michelle bring her salad?”
“Of course.”
“Cool. Is everybody here?”
“Pretty sure. It’s just us, the Greens, the Herolds, and Lennox—right?”
“Yeah. Did Paul bring anyone? I know Maeve went out of her way to make sure he knew that he could…”
Scott shook his head. “Nope. Michelle is trying to set him up with a science teacher from her school, but he’s so damn shy that it’s slow-going.”
“Yeah,” Joss murmured. “What if we all met up at O’Malley’s one night for beer and pool and she just invited her to meet us there? Then it’s not a date-date, but they can at least meet up.”
Sco
tt nodded. “That could work. Lemme talk to Michelle, and we’ll figure out a day. Can we count you two in?”
“Of course.”
“Sweet.”
“PERRAULT!”
Joss laughed and waved at the Herolds and Greens, who were relaxing in around the large patio table. “Hey, guys,” she greeted as she skipped up the stairs. She waggled her eyebrows at Wesley as she leaned down to kiss Kate’s cheek. “How you feelin’, momma?”
Kate laughed and rubbed her stomach, which was still relatively flat considering she had just entered her second trimester. “Tired.”
“Can I get you another glass of water?” Joss offered.
Kate nodded. “That would be wonderful, thank you.”
“I aim to please,” Joss quipped with a grin.
“What about us?” Wesley whined.
“What about you?” Joss sassed. She laughed at their looks of mock disbelief and tipped her head in a small bow. “Fine. Is there anything I can get you gentlemen?”
“Nah, we’re good,” Brock answered for the group. He kicked a chair out and added, “Sit. Hang out. We haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I will in a minute,” Joss promised. “I just need to go get Kate’s drink and check-in with the boss real quick.”
“Lemme know if you need help with anything,” Scott said as he pulled the chair out a bit further and made himself comfortable.
Joss nodded her thanks and started for the house. She could just make out George’s head propped on the arm of her favorite couch in the great room as she made her way through the open sliding glass door to the kitchen, and she chuckled at the sound of the dog’s loud, rumbling snore.
“You did good,” Maeve declared when Joss caught her eye.
“Thank you.” Joss grinned and made her way over to where Maeve was standing at the island. The long, rectangular counter was covered with the different side dishes everybody had brought to go along with the main course she and Maeve were providing—spinach and artichoke stuffed chicken breasts and steaks that were sitting on a cookie sheet beside the sink, waiting to be grilled. “Hey, guys,” she greeted Michelle and Paul as she squeezed past them to refill Kate’s glass.
Paul just waved, while Michelle smiled and said, “Hey.” She looked at Maeve and added, “If you’re sure you don’t need help with anything, I’m going to go outside.”
“I’m sure.” Maeve waved her along. “Go enjoy yourself. We’ll be out in a minute to start cooking. I just want to give the barbecue a bit longer to warm up.”
“Can you take this back to Kate?” Joss asked, holding the glass of water out to Paul.
“Of course,” he agreed affably, smiling as he followed Michelle out the door.
“Thanks.” Joss turned to Maeve with a frown. “I turned the barbecue on when I took George out like half an hour ago. Is something wrong with it?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it,” Maeve said, smiling as she wrapped her arms around Joss’ neck. “I just wanted a minute alone with you.”
“Oh.” Joss reached for Maeve’s hips and pulled her closer so she could claim her in lips in a sweet kiss. “Well…I definitely won’t argue with that.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t.” Maeve kissed Joss again. “George barely made it onto the couch, she was so beat.”
“Good.” Joss took a deep breath as she nuzzled Maeve’s cheek. “Because I have plans for you later that I don’t want her interrupting.”
Maeve hummed and turned her head to the side as Joss kissed her ear. “What kind of plans?”
“The kind of plans that make me happy I don’t have to go into work until noon,” Joss whispered huskily against her ear. She chuckled at the shudder she felt ripple through Maeve and nipped at her earlobe. “Mmm, exactly.”
“You two are so cute it’s gross,” Brock declared, his booming baritone tinged with laughter. “Christ, knock it off already. You’re setting a bad precedent for us old married folks.”
Joss rolled her eyes. “Yeah right. I saw your hand on Andrew’s thigh out there.”
Brock bowed his head in defeat. “Touché, Perrault. Maeve, the natives out there are getting restless—would you like me to start grilling up all this food?”
“Sure. That would be great.” Maeve nodded.
Brock picked up the sheet pan and gave them a small bow. “I shall take care of this, feel free to carry on, ladies.”
Joss grinned. “Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
“I’m not doing it for you,” Brock sassed, winking at Maeve. “I’m doing it for your girl there. But yeah. You’re welcome, too, I guess.”
Maeve laughed. “Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Brock promised, chuckling to himself as he turned and headed back out onto the patio.
“He’s a good man,” Maeve said as she watched him go.
“Yep,” Joss agreed.
“Joss…”
Joss looked back at her and a warm, wet shiver rolled down her spine at the mischievous smile tugging at Maeve’s lips. “Hmm?”
“Kiss me.”
Joss arched a brow and pinned Maeve against the countertop with her hips. “Like this?” she asked as she lifted her hands, lightly dragging the backs of her fingers along the line of Maeve’s jaw.
“Yes…”
“Okay,” Joss breathed. A familiar flutter settled in her chest as she captured Maeve’s lips in a slow, deep kiss that had them both breathing hard by the time it reached its inevitable end. She hummed softly as she dropped a tender kiss to the tip of Maeve’s nose. “I love you.”
Maeve licked her lips before stealing one last lingering kiss that left Joss completely weak in the knees. “I love you.” A shrill wolf-whistle split the air, and she laughed. “I believe our time alone is up for now.”
Joss flipped their audience off over her shoulder and kissed Maeve again, sucking on her bottom lip before coaxing her mouth open to deepen the kiss, swirling her tongue around Maeve’s as she began rocking against her. She groaned when Maeve’s legs parted just enough for her to slip a thigh between them, and rolled her hips in a slow, teasing grind a couple times before she forced herself to pull away, silently cursing the fact that they were not alone. “Okay. Fine. Now I’m done,” she declared roughly.
Maeve laughed and shook her head. “I’m going to get you back later for that one.”
“I’m counting on it.” Joss grinned and slapped Maeve's ass as she took a step back, putting some much-needed space between them so she did not succumb to her desire to strip Maeve down and have her way with her right there in the kitchen. Although, once they were alone… She cleared her throat softly and shook her head. “Oh, and I told Scott that we’d be in for setting Paul up with a teacher from Michelle’s school. We were thinking an ‘accidental’”—she framed the word in air quotes—“meeting at O’Malley’s one night.”
“That could work. Michelle brought her up, but Paul just blushed and made up some excuse about being busy at school.” Maeve paused and looked out the back door to make sure she could not be overheard before she asked in a low whisper, “He is into women, right?”
“My gaydar is for shit,” Joss said, rolling her eyes at the way Maeve chuckled and nodded in a yeah tell me about it kind of way, “but I’m pretty sure. Scott said Lennox had a pretty serious girlfriend for a few years a while back, but she ended up taking a job in Orlando or something.”
“Well, if it’s just everybody hanging out, I guess there’s no real pressure for anything to happen,” Maeve said. “Besides, it’d be fun to actually go out and do stuff together now that you’re not working yourself to death.”
Fuck. Joss’ stomach clenched. She thought she had been managing her time between Maeve and the store well, but maybe she was wrong. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
Maeve cut her off with a kiss. “I was just kidding, babe. I know that your hours at the store will be insane during the busy seasons, and I’m fine with that.”
“I don’t want
you to feel like I’m ignoring you. If you do…”
“I don’t.” Maeve smiled and shook her head. “And if I ever do, I will tell you. Okay? I promise.”
Even though everything about Maeve's tone and expression told her that she was serious, Joss still asked hesitantly, “You’re sure?”
“Positive.” Maeve kissed her softly. “Besides, after these next few months, I’ll probably be chomping at the bit for you to go back to work,” she teased.
“Oh really?” Joss arched a brow and dug her fingers into Maeve’s sides.
“Hey!” Maeve laughed and danced away from Joss’s wiggling fingers. “No tickling.”
Joss grinned. “But I like when you writhe against me.”
Maeve stopped and pointed a warning finger at her. “You’re insane. We have company.”
“They have food and drinks, they won’t miss us.”
“STOP PLAYING TONSIL HOCKEY WITH MAEVE AND GET YO ASS OUT HERE, PERRAULT!” Brock bellowed.
Joss laughed and shook her head. “YEAH, YEAH, WHATEVER!” she yelled over her shoulder at the patio.
Maeve chuckled and picked up her glass of wine. “Come on, Joss. Your public awaits.”
“My public,” Joss scoffed. “They all like you better.”
“Well, come on,” Maeve teased, “can you blame them?”
Joss smiled and dropped a quick kiss to Maeve’s lips. “No. Not at all.”
Thirty-Four
“Goddamn it,” Scott swore, shaking his head as he dropped his phone in disgust onto the front counter at Atramentum. Business was slow because it was nearing the end of the shoulder season, and they were both taking advantage of the lull in activity to do nothing of actual importance. “People who trap their town hall are assholes.”
Joss chuckled at his outburst but did not look up from the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle she was in the middle of trying to complete. Maeve usually stole the puzzle before she could get her hands on it, but because Maeve was in Cincinnati for the convention she had booked the month before, Joss figured she would give the puzzle a shot.
