When? When had she become this person? She’d always thought herself to be a controlled individual. But bit by bit she found herself bending for Haley, and the results had been spectacular. So she shouldn’t be that surprised that her control was waning. Maybe if Haley hadn’t looked at her the past hour like she wanted to tear her clothes off. Maybe if Tonya hadn’t done the same thing. Tonya stood. An ice-cold bottle of water would probably help a little.
“Go ahead and start without me. I’ll be right back.”
Jen and Stephanie nodded and turned back to their conversation. Tonya didn’t even look Haley’s way. As she made her way toward the bathroom, the door opened and three women walked out. Tonya returned their good evening with courtesies of her own. She didn’t really have to go, but she needed a moment to herself. Her nerves were frayed, too sensitive and attuned to Haley.
The same classic rock music from outside was piped into speakers in the bathroom. The two stalls stood open, empty. She went directly to the sink and glanced at herself briefly in the mirror. She was a little flushed, and the pulse in her neck was fluttering like it had wings. “God, what is she doing to me?” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. When she opened her eyes, the bathroom door opened too.
Haley walked in.
Their gazes met in the mirror and everything between them sizzled.
Instantly, Tonya’s breathing hitched.
Haley locked the door.
In just a few steps, Haley was behind her, pressing her against the sink and pulling her against her body at the same time. Tonya whimpered. Haley’s breath was hot and ragged against Tonya’s ear. Then her hands were everywhere. Tonya arched and strained to meet each caress. She watched, wide-eyed, as Haley’s hands trailed up her torso toward her breasts. Her nipples were hard. The evidence was there for both of them to see.
Tonya moaned thickly when Haley cupped her breasts and brushed her thumbs over the aroused flesh. Haley nipped at her ear and neck. Before Tonya could enjoy it and settle into all the other sensations, Haley tugged frantically at the button on Tonya’s jeans. Tonya shook with anticipation. The woman in the mirror staring back at her was not anyone she recognized, but she liked her all the same. This was what need looked like: raw and vulnerable.
“Look,” Tonya said in a rough whisper.
Haley did just that as she slid her hand inside Tonya’s loose jeans.
Tonya cried out as Haley took the direct route, straight to her clit.
Haley dipped her fingertips lower. She groaned. Yes, Tonya was that wet.
She turned her head and met Haley’s lips in a kiss that ripped her wide open.
Haley rubbed her clit in tight circles, and Tonya could already feel the burn of orgasm at the base of her spine. “I need…” she whispered into Haley’s open mouth.
Before she could finish that statement, she was already filled. “God!” She was sore, but it didn’t matter.
Haley moaned.
Tonya was barely hanging on, but she had to. She had to. She searched for a way to get her desires across with the least amount of wording. “I want you…to see. I want—”
“Oh fuck yes!” Haley yanked Tonya’s jeans down her legs and immediately started fiddling with her own belt.
She wanted Haley deep inside her. She wanted to feel her hands, grasping, guiding, and controlling. She wanted Haley everywhere.
Tonya got her wish. She held on to the sink as Haley pulled the rest of her body taut. She stood behind her, tall, powerful, flushed, and ready.
All Tonya knew was that one moment she was empty and in the next she was filled.
She bit her lip hard to clamp down on a scream.
Haley’s first few thrusts were slow, decadent.
“Yesss,” Haley groaned. Within seconds, her pace shifted, becoming relentless. Her grip was bruising.
Tonya whimpered brokenly with every undulation as her pleasure increased. Haley wrapped her arms around Tonya, pulling her closer.
“I do this to you,” Haley whispered in Tonya’s ear.
Tonya imploded. For a few seconds, everything went black before flashing brightly again. She couldn’t breathe. Pleasure gushed through her, leaving room for nothing else. She was dimly aware of Haley calling out her name as she slumped against Tonya, still holding her tight. It was a good thing; Tonya wasn’t sure she could stand. Haley’s hips continued to roll, and the aftershocks made Tonya moan as her body bucked in response.
That’s when she heard pounding at the bathroom door.
Haley squeezed tighter before stepping away. She groaned. “Shit.”
Tonya moved a little slower. Haley’s faculties were quicker to return.
“Go in one of the stalls. Don’t freak out. I’ll take care of it.”
Her growing mortification must have shown on her face. Regardless, Tonya nodded. When she got inside, she leaned against the side of the stall. Wanting someone had never been this urgent. It should have been scary, but Tonya smiled. Another door had opened, giving her a bigger picture of who she was, who she should have been, and who she could be.
“I’m a cop. A group of women just left the bathroom, and they looked high. I was just havin’ a look around.”
The people on the other side mumbled something, but Tonya couldn’t hear clearly.
“No, no need to panic or get the manager. I didn’t find anythin’. I guess they were just drunk. Give me a minute to clean up, and it’s all yours.”
Tonya chuckled. Then she heard water running. A few seconds later, the stall door opened.
“Laughin’ at me already? Really?” Haley was smiling. She moved closer to Tonya, leaning against her and wrapping her arms around her. “You okay?”
Tonya nodded.
“Not mad at me for all this? I just couldn’t—”
Tonya pressed her hand against Haley’s cheek and kissed her, getting lost in their embrace. Having Haley in her arms grounded Tonya and made her feel like she could fly simultaneously.
“Mmm, so you know, they are gonna know what we were doin’ in here. We’ve barely been gone ten minutes, but still. You ready for that?”
Tonya sighed. She wanted to revel a little while longer, but she was ready. “I’m surprised Stephanie wasn’t the one beating down the door.”
“Ah, she speaks.”
“Shut up.”
Haley laughed. “Uh-huh.” She kissed Tonya again. “Let’s go.”
Tonya grabbed Haley’s hand. “How’d you convince those women you were a cop?”
“Badge.”
“You carry it around with you?”
“Yeah, it’s kinda like a business card.”
When Haley opened the stall door, there were two women standing at the sinks. They stared. Tonya ignored them. She stopped at the mirror. She fluffed her hair. Her lips were bare, but there was nothing she could do about lipstick until she got back to her purse.
After releasing Haley’s hand, Tonya sat down near Stephanie while Haley joined Jen and Nate. She reached for her purse and reapplied lipstick.
With a raised brow, Stephanie watched her silently.
Tonya put the lipstick back where it belonged and turned to her.
Stephanie’s eyes widened, and it looked like she was fighting hard not to smile.
Tonya did it for her and Stephanie joined in. “I love the effect she has on you.”
“Me too.”
Jen came over a few minutes later. Tonya looked up at her as she sat down.
Jen grinned, and there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “I sent Nate for drinks. I assumed everyone wanted the same as before.”
Maybe another wine wouldn’t hurt.
“We’ll start another game then.” Jen got back up. “I’ll go—”
“No, I’ll help. This round is on me.” Tonya got out her credit card and stood.
“Oh, in that case, I wonder if they have champagne?” Jen smiled teasingly.
Tonya gave her a mock glare. Hal
ey walked toward them. Their gazes met. Haley’s smile was crooked, but her eyes gleamed. Tonya’s insides heated.
She got to the bar just as the bartender was setting the first pair of drinks in front of Nate. “Close out the old ticket and open one on this card.”
The bartender nodded and took it.
“Oh, hey, you didn’t have to do that,” Nate said.
“It’s my turn. You guys got the others. I can help carry them back too.”
“Good. I don’t think you’d want your wine anymore if your cup was danglin’ from my mouth.”
Tonya chuckled. “No, probably not.”
The bartender returned her card and went to work on the remaining drinks.
“I’m sorry. We haven’t really had a chance to talk.”
“I’m sure my wife had a lot of interestin’ stuff to say in the meantime.”
“Very interesting.”
Nate grinned.
“You and Haley really do look a lot alike.”
“I always take that as a compliment.” He paused but he kept his gaze on Tonya. “I really like who she is nowadays, but she hasn’t figured out what’s goin’ on yet.”
Curious, Tonya asked, “Hasn’t figured out what?”
Nate smiled, straightforward and sincere. “That she’s fallin’ in love with you.”
Tonya’s vision narrowed and everything inside her stopped. Seconds later, the world opened up again and it was full of warmth.
Nate laughed. “Yeah, that look right there.”
She stared at him.
“You didn’t know either.” Even though he barely knew her, Nate covered her hand with his own. He squeezed lightly before letting go. “I like seein’ her like this,” he repeated.
No, she hadn’t known, but she didn’t mind. She didn’t mind at all. Tonya swallowed. Fireworks exploded inside her.
Chapter 24
“Oh God. We should never leave this bed, and the sheets. We should never leave these sheets,” Haley said sleepily.
Tonya chuckled as she signed off on the last of her staff’s progress notes. She glanced to the side and over the rim of her glasses to see Haley hunkered down like an animal in its den. The tribal tattoo across her shoulders, similar to the one on her arm, was the only thing visible besides her head. Tonya closed her laptop, took off her glasses, and adjusted the scarf holding her curls in place.
They had spent almost every night together since the bowling alley. The whole thing was highly domestic, and Tonya found that she was settling into it. Perhaps settle wasn’t the right word. Embracing was better. However, this was the first time she’d done all this embracing in her own home. Fallout be damned. She had to see this through.
Haley was facing away from her. Tonya reached out and ghosted her fingertips over the tattoo. Goose bumps erupted where she touched. Tonya smiled at the response. “Did it hurt?”
“Hmm?” Haley lifted her head and turned toward Tonya. Her hair was all over the place, some of it partially obscuring her eyes. She brushed it out of the way.
“The tattoos. The people I’ve asked always tell me that they didn’t hurt.”
Haley’s eyes cleared. “Hell yes, it hurt. I got them both the same day.” She yawned. “Had to take like twenty breaks, and I still almost cried like a baby. Two was enough. I won’t be gettin’ any more.”
“Aww, so brave.”
“Uh-huh. Nate was with me too. He has a matchin’ one on his arm, but it doesn’t go all the way around. He couldn’t take any more.”
“I won’t tell him that you told me that.”
“Mmm, ’preciate that.” Haley stretched, lifting her arms over her head and elongating her entire body. She groaned when she finished. “Now we gonna talk about the elephant in the room? Or do you wanna wait a little while longer?”
Tonya made a show of looking around. “I don’t see anything.”
“I’m being serious.”
She sighed, “I know. I like that you know me so well.”
“Well, you have a tell.”
“I do?”
“Uh-huh, when somethin’s up with you, I usually end up talkin’ my fool head off. You listen, smile, and when you’re ready, you open up. I just thought I’d speed things up a little tonight.”
“We didn’t do a lot of talking tonight,” Tonya reminded her.
Haley grinned. “Oh, I know. I was there, but when we did. Well…”
“Since I bought this house, you’re the first woman to stay the night here. In fact, you’re the first woman I’ve been involved with to be in this room.” Tonya paused. “I was going to tell you.”
“I know you were, but whoa, why me?” Her eyes were wide. She looked surprised but not displeased.
“Because I wanted to, and since we’re together, we should be together everywhere, even here.”
Haley pulled her close and slid a hand underneath the T-shirt Tonya had stolen from her. “I like the sound of that.”
She trailed her hand up Tonya’s torso, between her breasts and back down again. “Your dad is gonna shit a brick when he sees me. I guess it’s a good thing he was hidin’ in his room when I got here.”
“I know, but it is my house. I won’t censor myself anymore in my own home. I hope he can learn to accept it.”
“For your sake, I hope he does too.”
Tonya’s cell phone rang. It was after ten. She reached for it and squinted. It was Tracy. She held up a finger to Haley, halting their conversation, and answered the phone.
“Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, sorry. I just got off work. I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I just wanted to check in.”
Tonya smiled. “It’s been busy. I was going to call you this weekend.”
“Well, I beat you to it.”
“Yes, you did.”
“How’s things with Daddy?”
“We’re talking. We’re actually talking, and he’s listening. I think he’s learning his perception of things is vastly different from my experience. He actually told me he was ashamed of what happened.”
“That’s huge.”
“I agree. It is, but we have a long way to go. He asked me if my childhood pushed me toward women since he wasn’t there to protect me like he should’ve been.”
“That doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. But I’m glad he was able to bring it up.” Tonya glanced at Haley. She lay beside her with her elbow propped up on a pillow, watching. She smiled. Tonya pushed a hand through Haley’s tousled hair and smiled back. “Speaking of, I think, when you come home, it’s time for you and Haley to meet. Too bad you weren’t available last week; you could have come bowling with us. Stephanie was there, and Haley’s friends.” Tonya’s body heated with memories. She met Haley’s gaze again, grinning as if she had a dirty little secret.
Tonya watched as one of Haley’s hands disappeared under the covers. She wasn’t that surprised to feel it on her thigh, but she still gasped. She pushed Haley away and glared at her. Haley blinked back innocently. Tonya pointed at her and mouthed, “Stop it.”
Haley nodded.
“Oh really?” Tracy said. “Will this be an ‘I have to be on my best behavior’ type thing or ‘I can just be myself’ type thing?”
“Be yourself. I’d never ask otherwise.”
“You really do like her.”
Tonya smiled and stared at Haley. “Mmm.”
Haley grinned. She was taking in every word.
“I’m taking that as a yes, especially since you already told me.”
Haley pulled the duvet over her head and started wriggling around underneath.
“Hold on.” Tonya pulled away from the phone and muted it. “What are you doing?”
“Nothin’, promise. Carry on.” Haley’s voice was muffled.
Tonya stared at the lump for a few more seconds, but it didn’t move. Satisfied, she unmuted the call. “Sorry, I’m back.”
“What was all that ab
out?”
“Nothing. I was just—” Haley’s fingertips brushed over the back of her knee. Tonya sucked in a shocked breath.
Haley did it again.
Tonya tried to back away.
Haley followed and tickled her some more.
Tonya sputtered with laughter. “Stop it!” Haley didn’t stop, and soon Tonya was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe. She squirmed, swatted, and kicked the covers away, losing her iPhone in the process.
“Uh, hello?”
Somehow, the phone was now on speaker.
Haley’s eyes were wide and innocent—as if she could play that card again. She rolled away and got out of the bed. She stood there, blissfully naked.
“Don’t give me that look.”
Haley smirked.
“Tonya! What the hell is going on? Do you have somebody…?” Tracy paused. “Hello, Haley.” She sounded amused.
“Hello, Tonya’s sister Tracy.”
Tonya glared and reached for her phone. It was still on the bed.
Tracy laughed.
“I thought you’d be at home in bed. It didn’t even occur to me you’d be out. Why’d you answer the phone?”
“Because it’s you and I’m not out. I’m at home.”
“Ohhh, Daddy’s gonna freak. But you’re not twelve, and it’s your house. Look at you taking your power back. I’m scared of you.” Tracy chuckled.
Tonya rolled her eyes.
Haley wrapped the duvet around herself and crawled back into bed.
“I won’t be home until next weekend. We’ll make plans then. Get off the damn phone with me. You have company. Don’t be rude.”
Tonya grinned as Haley inched up beside her. “Fine.”
She barely had time to hang up before Haley covered her with the duvet. Tonya laughed, “You’re so bad.”
Haley sat up and leaned over her. Tonya parted her legs to be more accommodating. “I don’t wanna talk about your father or sister anymore.” She traced her fingers from Tonya’s foot all the way to her knee, but there was nothing ticklish about this touch. Haley pulled Tonya’s thighs farther apart. Her eyes dipped from Tonya’s face to between her legs, and she dragged her tongue over her bottom lip.
Between the Lines Page 29
