“Definitely.” She ran her fingers up Jess’s delicate rib cage and pinched her nipples lightly. They stiffened immediately.
“Harder,” Jess whispered.
She obliged, squeezing the pink pebbles til they turned red, and Jess let out a moan that made her shiver. Jil teased her then raked her fingernails down Jess’s sides to her waist. Heat pooled on her stomach where Jess’s open thighs made skin-to-skin contact.
She pulled her closer, sliding her hands around the tops of Jess’s thighs til her thumbs curved around her hot crease. Gently, she stroked farther and farther inward, teasing the delicate skin and stroking the pink folds.
Jess shuddered, slick juices wetting Jil’s thumbs as she groaned. She arched her back and cried out, not in pleasure, but in pain.
Jil froze. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Fuck,” Jess said, leaning forward across her. “I’m so sorry. I have to get down.”
Jil helped Jess maneuver herself into a sitting position on the couch, noting her white face. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?”
“It’s my hip,” Jess groaned. “It spasmed.” She leaned back against the opposite arm, letting her leg fall open. Her lips were pinched white as she gently straightened and bent her leg.
Jil watched her, frowning. “I guess the straddle doesn’t really work for you?”
Jess shook her head. “I’m sorry, Julia.”
That name snapped her back to reality. Jil felt guilt close in on her. What the hell were they doing?
“It’s okay,” she said soothingly. “Just try to relax.”
Jess closed her eyes and massaged the top of her thigh, breathing through the pain.
“Sorry,” Jil whispered, and laid her hand on top of Jess’s, gently kneading the knotted muscles. “I guess this is what you meant by joint problems?”
“Yeah. Pretty damn inconvenient. I was having fun,” Jess said, a small smile playing around the edges of her white lips.
“I’ll bet.” She winked, though Jess couldn’t see. “Do you want me to run you a bath or something?”
Jess opened her eyes. “You don’t have to take care of me.”
“Sure I do. You’re a guest in my house.”
“Oh. And do you treat all your guests this way?”
“Um, no. Usually I don’t invite anyone over in the first place.”
Jess cracked a wan grin. “I like bubbles.”
Jil laughed. “Coming right up.”
When the water had reached halfway to the brim, and bubbles layered the surface in a soft creamy foam, Jil helped Jess climb in the tub. From the next room, her cell phone beeped.
“Enjoy,” she said, closing the bathroom door behind her.
Padraig’s number flashed across her screen.
“Hey, boss man, what’s up?” Jil said, a little too brightly.
“Chet’s sat there for an hour and hasn’t seen anyone,” Padraig said, getting straight to the point. “Except the girl you’ve got with you.”
Jil froze. She’d almost forgotten about their tail, but sobered up when Padraig mentioned it. “I, uh…picked someone up at the bar.”
“Don’t let me interrupt you.”
“Is Chet going home now?”
“As soon as you give the all-clear.”
“I’m okay. Well, I will be tomorrow anyway. Got myself a watch dog.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I adopted a Great Dane from the shelter downtown.”
“You must be joking. You’re going to own a pet? Something living? Breathing? That needs to be walked and loved?”
“Shut up, will you? I’m—”
“What? You’re not lonely are you?”
Jil swallowed past the lump in her throat. No, I’m not lonely…I’ve got plenty of company. Company she shouldn’t have at all, let alone be having fun with.
“If more people would spay and neuter, there wouldn’t be so many dogs in shelters,” she said in her best TV voiceover. “But seeing as there are, I’m doing my part.”
“By adopting a horse?”
“Yes. By adopting a horse. They happen to make fantastic apartment dogs. Now, is there anything else important?” She was sure Padraig hadn’t even heard her over the sound of his own chuckling.
“No, that’s all, Saint Kidd. Hope you enjoy your leather shoes tonight. Not to mention your expensive couch.”
“Thank you ever so much. You will be the first one to fall in love with him; I guarantee it. Good night.”
Chapter Seventeen
From the bathroom, she heard subtle laps of water, and the occasional groan as Jess stretched out her leg. She was suddenly overcome with fatigue. It had been a long week, a long night, and a really good—
“Julia?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a towel?”
“Yes, sorry. I’ll be right there.”
She ran upstairs to get the spares, then ran back down, double-checking her route to make sure no personal information was lying around. She kept everything in her locked office as a force of habit, but every once in a while, she’d toss a bill on the stairs.
Jess stood in the bath, bits of bubbles clinging to her flushed skin, her nipples standing out, soft and pink.
Jil held out the towel, trying not to stare. “You’re hot,” she said with a small smile.
Jess blushed. “That’s why I’m getting out.”
“So not what I meant.” Jil brushed her teeth as Jess toweled off. “Do you want some pajamas?”
“Not particularly.”
Jil laughed, laying out an extra toothbrush on the counter. “Suits me.”
They slipped into bed, Jess’s head cradled in Jil’s arms. “I’m sorry about that,” she said softly.
“Why? It’s not your fault. I’m sorry you have problems like that. Makes sex a bit…”
“Of a chore?”
“Well, no, I was going to say challenge, but is it a chore for you?”
Jess sighed. “I’d kind of forgotten.”
Jil stayed silent, waiting for her to explain. The dark enveloped them, and she ran her fingers lightly through Jess’s hair.
After a moment, she went on. “I’d forgotten what it felt like to be really into the moment…and how much pressure it is when my body doesn’t…and then going to bed feeling…”
“Disappointed?”
“Yeah, I guess so…like I’m disappointing.”
Jil kissed the top of her head. “I’m not disappointed,” she whispered.
Jess leaned in closer on her chest. “No?”
“No.”
Silence followed, and Jil wondered what else Jess wasn’t telling her.
“When I was with Lily, I had issues for a long time before we found out about my arthritis,” she said at last. “I kept putting off going to the doctor, thinking I’d just overdone it jogging or gardening or something, so it went on for a year or more before I got treatment, and…”
“Wasn’t that painful?”
Jess nodded. “Definitely. Everything hurt all the time, and I felt guilty about being such a drag. Lily wasn’t very…she didn’t understand, and she was such a fast-paced person.”
“Impatient, you mean?”
Jess snorted. “Yeah, you could say that. When I stretched in the morning, or took too long in the shower, she’d get frustrated. I’d encourage her to go out on her own, and she did, but I always felt like I was letting her down. So when she wanted to make love, I’d make her come. Honestly, sometimes it just felt like she was using me as a quick get-off-and-go-to-sleep. We never…or she never…”
“You never worked it out, you mean?” Jil finished gently. “Found a way around it?”
Jess shook her head. “No. I felt like she was already making enough compromises in the relationship by being with someone in the closet, and add to that someone who was sick so often. So when I wasn’t able to…do it like we used to, I just…let her think I didn’t want…” Her voice
trailed off and Jil squeezed her tighter.
“Jess, are you saying that you haven’t had sex—like really had sex—since you got sick?”
“Yeah.”
“So tonight…”
“When I said it had been a while…”
“You weren’t kidding.”
Jess sighed. “I should have remembered how hard it was.”
“No,” Jil said softly. “You should forget how hard it was. It shouldn’t be hard, and it’s not going to be. You are beautiful and sexy, and we will find a way for us to enjoy each other—not a way for you to please me and go to bed crying. Okay?”
Jess exhaled slowly, not saying anything for a long moment. “I can’t believe I just said all that to you. What the hell are we going to do on Monday morning?”
Jil bit her lip. “I’m only there til December,” she reminded her.
“Thank God. I don’t think I could fake it any longer than that.”
In the dark, Jil bit her lip and sighed silently. No fucking joke.
*
When Jil woke up, the first streaks of dawn were just beginning to paint the sky. She looked over at the pillow next to her and froze. She felt so many things: joy at knowing last night wasn’t a dream, panic at how she was going to ever explain her real identity to Jess, fear that she would lose everything she’d worked for because of this reckless decision, and this insistent tugging feeling in the pit of her stomach that drew her closer and closer to this woman sharing her bed.
The sheet had slipped down, exposing one of Jess’s generous breasts. Jil felt heat gather between her legs. She’d never had the chance to finish what she’d started the night before. If straddling didn’t work for Jess, maybe the good old missionary style would, especially if she were as relaxed as she looked right now.
For a full minute, she lay and watched Jess’s deep, even breathing, her breast rising and falling with every inhale. Sex could be so easy. So slow and gentle and sweet. There was no reason at all that Jess shouldn’t be able to enjoy it, and come hard.
Slowly, she let her fingers wander across Jess’s shoulder and over her exposed throat.
Jess stirred but didn’t wake. Her legs were entwined with the sheet. Should she do it? Take advantage of her relaxed, unsuspecting position? All she needed to do was push the sheet up a few inches higher…
She trailed her hand over Jess’s thigh, up to her stomach.
Jess sighed in her sleep and turned onto her back. An invitation?
Jil’s nipples hardened at the thought of everything she could do. Gently, she pushed the sheet up higher onto Jess’s waist and let her fingers probe and stroke every inch of her legs, igniting, teasing.
Jess’s legs fell open, but her breathing remained soft and even. She was still asleep. She sighed as Jil kissed along her pale thighs, licking lightly until she came to the slit.
Jil took her time stroking up the crease, into the pink folds that moistened in response to her touch. There, she slipped her tongue gently inside, probing the delicate cherry skin that bloomed open as Jess’s thighs fell apart. She went slowly, licking and teasing until she found the hardening nub.
She heard Jess moan softly, felt her fingers pressing on her head. “Oh my God,” she breathed. “What are you doing?”
That was all the encouragement Jil needed. She circled Jess’s clit with her tongue, backing off the moment she felt her thighs tense. She waited until she had relaxed again, then pushed in gently, tugging lightly with her lips and teeth.
Jess raked her fingers through Jil’s hair, moaning and guiding her mouth.
Jil massaged her thighs, relaxing any tense muscles before they had the chance to cramp. Jess’s legs melted under her fingers, and she arched into Jil’s mouth, sighing as her fingers traveled up to her nipples, tugging and tweaking.
Softly, Jess’s hands covered hers, their fingers snaking together as they worked Jess’s responsive nipples into hard, pulsing nubs.
“Okay?” Jil whispered.
Jess nodded, her face flushed. She bit her lip as Jil pinched one nipple, then the other one, harder. She gasped, open-mouthed, whimpering.
Jil hesitated.
“Don’t stop.”
She didn’t. Below, she made firm circles with her tongue, flicking away from the most sensitive place, making the zone wider and hotter.
Jess shifted her hips.
“Too much?”
“Getting tense,” Jess managed.
“Try putting your legs over my shoulders.”
Jess obeyed and her hips relaxed. She gasped as Jil’s tongue met her flesh again. “Christ, you’re good at this,” she groaned.
Jil could feel the tightening of her skin, the rock-hard pulsing of her clit. “You’re going to come,” she said, barely breaking contact.
“I know.”
She licked and sucked until Jess arched her back, moaning softly, then louder. Her head ground into the pillow as her hips lifted to meet Jil’s every move. Finally, she groaned deeply, her legs trembling as she collapsed against the pillows.
For a moment, they both lay still, then Jil disengaged herself from Jess’s legs, and slid up the bed to lie beside her.
Jess turned away and drew the covers up, her back to Jil.
“Hey,” Jil said softly, running her hand down Jess’s spine. Jess’s ribs shook, and Jil realized she was crying. “What’s the matter?” she whispered. She snaked her arm around her smooth waist, holding her tight. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
“I just didn’t…expect that,” Jess whispered, her voice shaking.
“What? To come like that, or…”
“To wake up with someone trying to make me feel—”
Jil froze. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Did I make you uncomfortable? Did you want some warning?”
“No,” Jess broke in. “No, it was perfect. I didn’t have time to worry about anything, or tense up. I was practically having an orgasm in my sleep and it just felt…so natural. So good. It was amazing…”
“Yeah? Well, I sort of think that’s how things are supposed to go.” She squeezed Jess tighter, putting her mouth to her ear. “So why are you crying?”
Jess laughed through her tears. “Because it’s been a long time since someone cared about me enough to want to do that, to force me to have fun.”
“Oh, that was more than fun,” Jil said, kissing her temple. “That was downright hot.”
“No kidding.” Jess turned around, pulling Jil tight against her, their breasts pressing together as they kissed, deep and slow. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Jil touched her face, her neck, her shoulders, letting Jess play with her tongue. “My pleasure.”
When Jess dragged her teeth along Jil’s lower lip, Jil felt slow fire igniting throughout her entire body.
Jess must have noticed, because she slipped her leg between Jil’s, her thigh fitting hot and snug against Jil’s pulsing groin.
Jil groaned. “Are you kidding me?”
Jess ran her hands down Jil’s back, cupping her ass cheeks and pulling her closer so Jil rode her thigh, the friction between them making her cry out. With a surprising swiftness, Jess flipped onto her back and pulled Jil on top of her. She held her hips tight to steady her while Jil pushed up on her knees, riding Jess’s thigh, and arching back.
Jess ran her hands up Jil’s belly and chest, massaging her breasts and tweaking her nipples until she moaned. “It’s not fair,” Jil panted. “You can’t do this.”
Jess smiled, continuing the skillful use of her hands. “No, but I can watch you.”
Jil ground against her leg, her slick juices easing the friction and making her head swim. Jess kept one hand on the small of her back and tweaked her nipples with the other. Occasionally, she’d pull Jil closer, and suck one of her aching breasts into her mouth before releasing her.
When Jil began to see stars, Jess slipped her hand between them and thumbed her screaming clit. Within a few deft strokes, Jil was plung
ing into a mind-blowing orgasm, arching and riding Jess’s hand and leg, barely even noticing the bed frame cracking against the wall. She closed her eyes and threw her head back as the sensation enveloped her, and then she toppled down onto the bed, groaning and laughing.
Jess giggled too—a sweet sound coming from her otherwise serious mouth.
“All right, we need to get a grip,” Jil said, flopping down on the pillow. “And maybe a shower.”
Jess pushed up on one elbow and trailed a finger down Jil’s breastbone, stopping just below her belly button. “I hate to get out of bed, but we have a dog to pick up. Not to mention a car.”
Jil smiled, trying not to think too far ahead, purposely not thinking about Padraig and the investigation she had to pick up again on Monday morning.
*
At the shelter, Zeus recognized them immediately. He whined and stomped, waiting impatiently for Henri to open the door to his enclosure.
“Got everything?” Henri asked as he leashed Zeus for Jil.
“Food, dishes, giant dog bed, a leash, and a few chew toys. Think that’s enough to get me started?”
“Don’t forget doggie bags.” Henri grinned. “Extra-large.”
Jess shoved him. “We went shopping this morning,” she said. “I brought your list. Stop teasing her, or she might change her mind.”
“Ahh,” Henri said, a twinkle lighting his eye as he turned around. “Went shopping this morning, eh? Does that mean you never made it home last night, Jessie?”
Jess blushed and bit her lip. “Could be,” she muttered.
He put his muscled arm around her and squeezed tight. “Good for you.” She smiled when he kissed her cheek and put his lips close to her ear. “I like her a lot better than what’s-her-name.”
Jil grinned, taking the leash.
Henri winked. “At least this one likes dogs.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jil reported to St. Marguerite’s on Monday morning, her stomach doing nervous flip-flops and her palms sweating. How was she going to face Jess in the halls? What would they say to each other? How would they act?
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