Just Like That
Page 21
Syrah’s arms quivered as Toni pulled the sleeves of her dress down all the way. The sound of the fabric crumpling in a heap at her feet was eclipsed by Toni’s moan as she slid her hands over Syrah’s hips.
“I assure you,” Toni said softly, “there will be a time when I will need you to do the thinking, but not right now.”
Syrah nodded and closed her eyes as Toni’s hands cupped the sides of her breasts.
“Please,” Toni whispered. “Please open your eyes.”
It was hard, but once her gaze locked with Toni’s Syrah couldn’t look away. Her lips trembled and a little sound of need escaped her as Toni’s fingers found her nipples.
“Your eyes are so expressive.”
Syrah managed to say, “I didn’t think it was my eyes you were admiring right now.”
Toni didn’t glance down, but her fingers squeezed each nipple gently. “Your body makes me sweat. I’m afraid of being too…”
“Too what?”
“Primal. I want you. I want to feel you move the way you made me move for you.” Toni’s hands slipped under the waistband of Syrah’s panties.
“The water.”
“Hmm?”
“Water. Bathtub.” Syrah swallowed hard as Toni’s fingertips brushed lower. “Overflow.”
“Oh. Be right back.”
When Toni let her go Syrah thought she might faint. There was no air in this room, and she was so swollen with desire there was no blood in her brain. She pressed one shaking hand to her eyes and then felt the welcome strength of Toni’s arms around her.
“Who needs a bath?” Toni pressed Syrah gently down onto the bed.
Only when their bodies were entwined did Syrah realize Toni had taken off her clothes. She groaned as her hands explored the muscles in Toni’s back. Toni’s thigh slipped between her legs and Syrah lifted her hips, craving more intense contact.
“Please, Syrah.”
She opened her eyes to find Toni smiling at her. “You make it hard to keep them open.”
“It’s not a fetish. Well, at least if it is, you’re the first time I’ve felt it. But when I touch you, I can see it in your eyes. Like that.” Toni’s fingertips slipped alongside her thigh, sinking into Syrah’s puffed, soaked center. “Just like that.”
Their lips brushed as they shared air and Syrah kept her gaze locked with Toni’s, even as Toni’s fingers opened her, swirled around all of her wet skin, and then went inside. She didn’t recognize the sound she made and the waves of response inside her were also foreign.
Toni whispered, soft and low, “Beautiful.”
Fighting to breathe, Syrah asked, “Do you feel that? Feel me?”
“God, yes.”
Syrah shuddered and fought to keep her eyes open, clinging to the adoration and passion in Toni’s eyes as the sensations inside her seemed to surge beyond her muscles and nerves and skin, enveloping parts of her she had not realized could be touched.
“Yes,” Toni groaned. She kissed Syrah hard and quick and her hand moved faster. “I can feel everything.”
“Yes, kiss me.” Syrah panted against Toni’s mouth, aware of the rising pressure as she arched into Toni’s embrace. Her skin felt burning hot, as if all the sensation was too much to hold in and she shook, cried out. Their bodies froze and she marveled at the tears in Toni’s eyes before she could stand it no longer.
“Toni, please! More…” Syrah shoved her pelvis against Toni’s hand. “More.”
Toni’s earthy groan drew a matching one from Syrah. Her hips pushed Syrah’s legs apart and she went inside her again as Syrah’s climax peaked. “Always more, anything you want.”
Syrah’s head pounded as she shuddered one last time, then everything seemed to melt into the bed and she finally could not keep her eyes open.
Ragged breathing in her ear was a welcome sound as Toni settled half on top of her. Another shock wave rippled through Syrah and she laughed.
“I’m assuming that means you feel good.”
“Oh, it does.” Syrah sighed. “Bath time?”
Toni sounded all too smug. “Not quite yet.”
Syrah turned her head and caught Toni slowly licking her fingers. “There’s more where that came from,” Syrah said shyly.
“Is there?” Toni trailed her wet fingers over Syrah’s breast as she waggled her eyebrows. “Can I check?”
Syrah started to laugh but other emotions overwhelmed her. “I’m sorry I sent you away. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry—”
Toni quickly kissed her. “You were right to do so. Neither of us was ready for this.”
“I lose my temper and I’m not tidy.” Syrah suddenly felt it was important for Toni to know all her flaws. “I make mistakes all the time.”
“Darling, I’m not perfect, either, but I am trying to be worthy of your respect.”
“I do respect you, Toni. I didn’t understand at all who you were, but now I think I’m beginning to.”
Toni made that little noise that Syrah was quickly growing to love but said nothing.
“Do you remember when I said I could never love you?” Syrah drew Toni’s still wet hand to her breast.
“I try not to.”
“I was wrong.” She grinned. “I may never say that to you again, so savor it.”
“Oh, believe me, I am savoring everything about you, and I fully intend to go on doing so for a very, very long time.”
“I’m in love with you, Toni.” Syrah said the words softly and hoped her eyes were saying them, too. “I hope you still love me.”
Toni exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath for months. “I think I loved you from the moment I saw you, but it was the middle of loving you before I even knew I’d begun.”
Touched, and once again wondering how she had ever thought Toni cold, Syrah wrapped both arms around Toni’s waist. “I think, given time, that you could cry over grapes.”
The End
About the Author
Karin’s first crush on a woman was the local librarian. Just remembering the pencil through the loose, attractive bun makes her warm. Maybe it was the librarian’s influence, but for whatever reason, at the age of 16 Karin fell into the arms of her first and only sweetheart.
There’s a certain symmetry to the fact that ten years later, after seeing the film Desert Hearts, her sweetheart descended on the Berkeley Public Library to find some of “those” books. The books found there were the encouragement Karin needed to forget the so-called “mainstream” and spin her first romance for lesbians. That manuscript became her first novel, In Every Port.
The happily-ever-after couple now lives in the San Francisco Bay area, and became Mom and Moogie to Kelson in 1995 and Eleanor in 1997. They celebrate their twenty-ninth anniversary in 2006.
All of Karin’s work can now be found at Bella Books. Details and background about her novels, and her other pen name, Laura Adams, can be found at www.kallmaker.com.
Bella Books, Inc.
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