Summer glided two fingers through dripping arousal. Slick and throbbing, she wasted no time in pushing deep…Prue’s cries of ecstasy spurring her on. “Yes, you are.” Prue rode her hand, sinking down and gasping as Summer’s slender fingers continued to hit the right spot.
“Oh, God.” Prue gripped Summer tighter, their bodies rocking against one another’s. “I-I can’t,” Prue whispered, shuddering as her orgasm approached faster than the speed of light. “I-I, fuck… I’m coming.”
“I can feel you.” Summer pressed her lips against Prue’s ear. “You feel so good against me, babe.”
Slumping against Summer, Prue’s chest continued to heave, her ruined underwear now somehow on the floor beside them. That hadn’t been expected. She was sure Summer could give her a run for her money when the chance presented itself, but that? Ripping her underwear from her body…shocking but ridiculously sexy.
“I-I liked that set…”
“I’ll replace it. Don’t worry.” Summer nuzzled into the side of Prue’s neck. “Maybe I’ll pick up a few. Never know when that could happen again.”
“God.” Prue sighed, holding Summer close. “I could really get used to having you around.”
16
Summer waited impatiently in the arrivals lounge, Jade’s flight showing as landed on the board above the exit for incoming flights. This wasn’t where she wanted to be. Not this morning. Prue had one hundred percent rocked her world over the past month—in every possible way—so to be standing here waiting for Jade…it didn’t feel right. It was nine-thirty, the sun was beginning to heat the volcanic island, and Summer was standing in a sweaty airport. She could definitely think of better things to be doing. She paced up and down, in and out of pick-up drivers. The last time she was here, at the other side of the airport, she was leaving. It never came to anything, but she still felt a pang of sadness when she thought about it. Just one month ago… Summer should have been leaving. How things have really changed since then, Summer thought.
The doors opened, a rush of arrivals bounding towards their designated drivers. Kids screeched and laughed, excited to begin their next week or so in a pool, but Summer could have done without it. She was tired. Beyond tired, actually. When Prue told her she would give her the time of her life some two weeks ago, she wasn’t lying. That had only continued as the days passed. Like last night…four am and they finally fell asleep in one another’s arms, the same place Summer wished to be right now. Come on, Jade is here to see you. Summer knew she should be grateful—her best friend had spent a small fortune coming back out for the second time this season—but she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Jade would want to know everything. She would want every piece of information on Prue, her life, who she was. While Summer had no issues with that, Jade would only have something to say about one or more things.
“HEY!” Jade’s voice bellowed through the terminal as she rushed towards Summer. “You actually came to get me.” Jade released the handle of her suitcase, yanking Summer into a bone-crushing hug.
“I told you I would.” Summer pulled back. “Good flight?”
“Full of kids.” Jade rolled her eyes. “Kids who felt the need to kick the back of my seat…repeatedly.”
Summer said nothing. She knew the relationship Jade had with flights. It was often all she talked about during the four-and-a-half-hour travel. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Are you staying at the hotel with me?”
“Prue cancelled your booking. You’re staying with us.”
“Us?”
“At the villa,” Summer said, glancing back as Jade struggled to keep up with her fast-paced stride. “That’s okay with you?”
“Summer.” Jade caught up. “Are you living with this woman?”
“You know I’m not.” She may be renting a room, the cheque yet to be cashed, but Summer hadn’t spent the night in the annexe yet. “I’m renting. You’ll be staying in the annexe.”
“And you?”
“I’ll be staying with you.”
“Cool.” Jade shrugged. “So, how are we getting there?”
“Taxi.” Summer yawned, heading towards the taxi rank outside the airport. “It’s only ten minutes away.”
“I can’t wait to see her place.” Jade’s voice held an element of excitement. “What’s it like?”
“It’s gorgeous but the annexe is separate from the villa so I’m not sure you’ll see much of it.” Summer appreciated Prue’s offer to have Jade at the villa, but she wouldn’t allow her best friend to go in there, all guns blazing. It was Prue’s home first and foremost, not a place for Jade to lounge around. If she wanted to catch some sun, she would have to head down to the beach. Jade wouldn’t like that, and Summer had already anticipated the face she would have when she found out, but that was life. It was tough. “You have to remember that the villa is where Prue lives, Jade. It’s not a holiday home and we don’t have free reign over it.”
“No. Of course not.” Jade held up her hand. “So, how’s it goin’ with her?”
“Good. I mean, we’re not together or anything like that.” At least, Summer didn’t think they were. As far as she knew, Prue was free to do and see whoever she pleased. Summer wouldn’t like it, but nothing between them was exclusive. “She’s just really great, Jade.”
“I’m happy for you.” Jade shoulder-bumped Summer. “So, I know she’s not like our age…no way, but how old actually is she?”
“Oh, uh…”
“I was thinking maybe thirty-five. Possibly closer to forty.”
“Yeah, something like that,” Summer mumbled. “Does it really matter?”
“Well unless she’s like fifty…” Jade snorted. “No, I don’t suppose it does.”
“Okay, you’ve lost me.” Summer turned to face Jade fully, no longer interested if a taxi arrived or not. “Why would being fifty matter?”
“Oh my God! She’s not!” Jade covered her mouth with her hand, laughing hard. “Summer, please tell me she’s not.”
“You’ve been here for five seconds and you’re already acting like a dickhead.”
“Um, that’s not true.” Jade held her stomach, giggling. “But come on… I wanna know.”
“I’m beginning to wish she’d let you stay at the hotel.” Summer didn’t like her best friend’s reaction to this. She hadn’t even confirmed Prue’s age and Jade was already laughing about it. To Summer, it didn’t matter and it never would, but Jade would have the time of her life with this. Summer could only hope that Jade would keep her opinions to herself during this trip. “She’s forty-seven.”
“What’s that now?” Jade narrowed her eyes, leaning in closer. “Thirty-seven?”
“Forty-seven.”
“Well, fuck me!” Jade burst into a fit of laughter. “You’re not serious? Please, tell me you’re not serious!”
“Do I look like I’m not serious?”
“Have you lost your friggin’ mind, Summer?” Jade’s face suddenly hardened. “How can you date a woman who is older than your mum?”
“My mum is dead!”
“Still, Prue is older than your mum.”
“I’m aware of that.” Summer’s stomach churned. This stay was going to be a nightmare with Jade. Perhaps it would be best if Summer moved out of the annexe until she’d gone back home to the UK. “But why does it matter? She makes me happy…”
“Yeah, until you want different things. Until she’s cashing in her pension!”
“You know what, fuck off!” Summer walked away from Jade, no longer willing to listen to her supposed best friend talk about her potential girlfriend.
“Summer, wait!”
“No!” She turned around. “I support you when you shag every girl you meet. I’ve never once told you how stupid you are for taking them home, night after night. When you get attached, I’m the one who is there for you. But this? You’re really out of line.”
“Surely you see the issues here?”<
br />
“What issues?” Summer scoffed. “Issues you’re creating in your head?”
“I can’t believe you’re actually considering this.” Jade shook her head. “I’m sure you have nothing in common with each other. She’s a successful middle-aged business woman…and you’re well, you’re you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Summer. A woman like her is only going to do that.”
“You don’t even know her.” Summer frowned, saddened by how her best friend felt. “You haven’t had the opportunity to get to know her…and now I’m not sure I want you to.”
“Fine, I’ll get to know her.” Jade sighed. “Sorry, I just worry about you out here alone.”
“You’re the one who told me I was making a mistake coming home. You’re also the one who told me I wouldn’t know if it would go anywhere with Prue unless I tried.”
“That was before I realised her age,” Jade explained. “This isn’t right…”
“Maybe if you forget about her age…you’ll see past it. You know, like I have. Like she has.”
“Okay, okay.” Jade held up her hand, gripping the handle on her luggage. “Come on. I should unpack.”
“Sure, yeah.” Summer’s shoulders slumped, anxiety suddenly settling in her stomach. “But I swear, if you say one thing to hurt her… I’ll never forgive you.”
“My lips are sealed.”
Prue sat alone in the living room, painfully aware that this next week would remain that way. She’d briefly met Jade, before she and Summer disappeared into the annexe to unpack her luggage. She seemed nice enough, quite quiet, which was the total opposite to how Summer had once described her best friend to Prue. Perhaps she just felt uncomfortable here, as though she was intruding. Prue would do everything she could to welcome Summer’s best friend, but it would require them leaving the annexe in order for her to do that.
Prue checked the time, knowing she needed to leave for the club soon. It wouldn’t be for long, an hour at the most, but she didn’t want to interrupt Summer and Jade’s time together. She sat forward, turning the TV off and running her fingers through her hair. She hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss much with Summer, as she’d woke to find her gone, but they appeared to be okay for the short time they’d spent together today. The whole ten minutes. Prue made her way into the kitchen, catching the canvas on the wall from the corner of her eye. How times had changed since that night when she received the image from Summer. Heartbreak, annoyance, miscommunication. If that had never happened, they may have been exclusive by now. If Prue had forced Summer to listen, to understand, this would be a whole different ball game.
Startled when there was a light knock on the patio doors, Prue turned around to find Summer standing on the terrace. “Hi.” Prue smiled. “Is your friend settled?”
“Pretty much.” Summer shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “Just thought I’d come and see you for five.”
“Just five?”
“I’d prefer more time alone with you, but Jade is here…and you know?” Summer shrugged.
“Jade is welcome in here too, Summer.”
Yeah, that’s not a good idea. Summer had gone into panic mode from the moment Jade had said what she did back at the airport. The thought of Jade and Prue being alone together instilled a fear in her that she’d never imagined, so now she was trying to keep everyone happy…separately.
“I know she is.” Summer smiled. “I think she’s just tired from her flight.”
“Who is?” Jade’s voice interrupted their conversation. “Me? I’m ready to rock and roll.”
“Jade,” Prue started. “Can I get you a cup of coffee or some lunch?”
“Oh, no thanks. Me and Summer were thinking of heading out for lunch and cocktails.”
“Oh, right.” Prue’s eyes switched to Summer’s, noting the desire to be anywhere but on the strip right now. “I can fix us all something up, I don’t mind.”
“Nah, it’s okay. But thanks.”
“Well, if you change your mind… Summer knows where everything is.”
Prue reached for her car keys on the kitchen counter, taking her phone with them.
“Are you going somewhere?” Summer asked, her forehead creased.
“I have to go to the club for an hour.”
“Oo, the club? What club?” Jade asked. “We’ll come with you.”
“No, we won’t,” Summer said, leaving no room for discussion.
“Sure we wi—”
“I said we’re not going.” Summer turned, facing Jade. “Prue has to work, okay?”
“You work at a club?” Jade’s eyes lit up. “Which one? I’ve probably been…”
Prue cleared her throat, the tension in the room building between Summer and Jade. “I don’t work at it. I own it.”
“Even better.” Jade nudged Summer. “Free drinks.”
Summer pinched the bridge of her nose, blowing out a deep breath.
“God, you’re so touchy lately.” Jade scoffed. “Getting old!”
Prue furrowed her brow, noting the smirk on Jade’s face and the anger on Summer’s.
“Okay, well I’ll leave you two to discuss this amongst yourselves.” Prue shook her head, approaching Summer. “I’ll be back in an hour or so.” She kissed Summer’s cheek lightly and stepped past her. “Bye, Jade.”
“Bye.”
Summer gritted her teeth, annoyed that her best friend would even suggest going with Prue, let alone free drinks. Inside, she wanted to scream and yell, but Prue was still heading for the gate so she would give it another moment or two. Jade moved further inside the villa, looking around and nodding at the impressiveness.
“You were right. This place is gorgeous.”
“What the fuck is your problem?” Summer spat.
“Alright, it’s not.” Jade looked at Summer, confused. “It’s a shithole.”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about!”
“Me? I know nothing…”
“If you’re going to fuck about the entire time you’re here, you can find somewhere else to stay.”
“Harsh.”
“No, it’s not.” Summer closed the patio doors, not wanting to spoil the peace and quiet outside. “You won’t ruin this for me, Jade. You may be incapable of holding down a relationship, preferring to fuck everything with a pulse, but I’m happy here. For the first time since Bryony left, I actually feel genuinely happy.”
“I was joking. Relax.”
“See!” Summer threw up her hands. “You think everything is a joke. Except it’s not funny. In fact, with you…it rarely is.”
Jade’s brow knitted. “What the hell has she done to you?”
“She’s shown me that I don’t need to go out drinking to please other people. She’s shown me that I can have a life here. She hasn’t changed me…she’s made me happy. Why can’t you be happy for me?”
“I am.”
“No, you’re not.” Summer shook her head. “If this is what you being happy for me looks like… I’d rather you weren’t.”
“Summer, come on…” Jade moved closer, attempting to hug her best friend. “I’m sorry.”
“I need to go out for a bit.” Summer turned away from her, shunning her hug. “Finish unpacking.” She took the spare key from the drawer in the kitchen, ushering Jade out of the villa. “I’ll see you later.”
“You’re really going out and leaving me here?”
“My key for the annexe is in there.” She pointed at the annexe door. “Use it or don’t.”
Summer slowed her pace as she approached the harbour wall. Her phone had been her saviour during the hot, sweaty walk into the old town, her search engine only providing the addresses for two strip clubs in Tías. One looked seedy, the other looked high-end. Summer chose to venture to the classier-looking one, praying it would be the business that belonged to Prue. She wasn’t sure why she’d bothered to come here be
cause Prue would likely be busy, but she felt as though Prue had left with concerns on her mind a short while ago…and Summer didn’t like the idea of that. She wanted her and Prue to be okay. If she was going to survive Jade’s stay, they had to be okay.
She approached the closed door of the establishment, pushing it to find it locked. She took a seat on a bench across the pathway to it and pulled out her phone.
S: Are you busy?
She waited, tapping the screen repeatedly to keep it lit up.
P: A little. Is everything okay?
S: I’m outside the club…
P: My club?
S: Yes. Can I come in?
P: Be right there, beautiful.
Summer smiled at Prue’s response. When she felt down, she could always count on the woman in her life to put a smile on her face. A heavy thud alerted her to Prue’s presence at the door, glancing up to find her leaning against the frame.
“I didn’t expect to see you here…”
“No, me neither.” Summer shrugged as she got to her feet. “I’m assuming you’re closed?”
“Correct. Doesn’t open until nine tonight.”
“So, it’s okay for me to be here?” Summer closed the distance between them, taking Prue’s hand. “I probably shouldn’t have shown up, but I wanted to see you.”
“You can always show up in my life, Summer.” Prue drew Summer closer, planting a soft but firm kiss on her lips. “Come on in, I’ll get us some coffee.”
Summer followed, waiting until Prue had closed and locked the door behind her. She heard voices, chatter, leading her to give Prue a questioning look.
“Don’t worry, it’s only a few of the girls.”
“Oh, maybe I should just see you when you’ve finished here…”
“Don’t be silly.” Prue leaned closer, taking Summer’s hand. “I’m happy you’re here.”
“At least one of us is.” Summer smiled a half-hearted smile. “But I’d rather be here than back at the annexe with Jade, so…lead the way.”
The Heat of Summer Page 16
