Elle opened her arms and pulled Autumn into an embrace. “Thank you so much for coming, and hang in there.”
“Less than a month,” Autumn said. “I got this.”
“We’re right behind you,” Taylor said, corralling Isabel, who still wandered the expanse of the living room in a curious daze, taking in each piece of art.
“And me,” Hadley said. “The lonely fifth wheel! Don’t forget me.”
Isabel grabbed Hadley, put her in a headlock, and gave her hair a tousle. “I have a feeling you won’t be lonely for long. Good things are coming for you, Hadley-Pants.”
“That’s a new nickname,” Gia said, quirking her head.
Isabel grinned. “I’m keeping it. Gonna get all Had’s stuff embroidered with it for Christmas.”
Holly pointed at Isabel. “I like you.”
“I like you back,” Isabel challenged.
Elle smiled as everyone gathered their belongings and headed for the door. These women were endlessly entertaining, and she enjoyed getting to know them more and more. Gia, who was wonderful enough on her own, came with a lot of perks.
“You were so great to have them all here,” Gia said, once they were alone. “But halfway through, all I wanted them to do was leave, already.”
“Leave? Really? Why?” Elle asked, clearing a tray. “Everything okay?”
“More than okay.” Gia came behind Elle at the sink, wrapped her arms around her from behind, and kissed her neck slowly. “I was just dreaming about doing this…and more. You were so cute in your hostess mode.” She slid her hands up the front of Elle’s shirt to her bare stomach.
“Yeah?” Elle asked. She turned in Gia’s arms and stared into those chocolate brown eyes. “Is there anything I can get for you, ma’am?”
“Now you’re just trying to torture me with your hostess voice.”
“No, ma’am. I’m just happy to help with anything you need.”
“Well…in that case.” Elle’s phone rang, interrupting them. She held up one reluctant finger, because this conversation was on its way to somewhere really good. Her temperature had already risen multiple degrees and her body tingled wonderfully. Cleanup from the barbecue could definitely wait until other matters were attended to.
She found her phone by the couch, clicked over to the call, and took a seat. “Hey, Isabel. You guys forget something?” Gia was hot on her heels, not ready to pause what they had going.
“Not at all,” Isabel said. “I guess I’m just feeling a little glowy for you two, and I also realized that I forgot to thank you for having us over. Today was fun. You’re a cool chick.” Gia knelt in front of her. Elle passed her a questioning look.
“You’re so sweet to call,” Elle said. “You didn’t have to do that. We had fun with you guys, too.”
“Oh! And Taylor wanted me to thank you on her behalf as well.” Gia ran her hands up the back of Elle’s calves and pulled her forward to the edge of the couch. Elle sucked in a breath, holding Gia’s heated gaze.
“Please tell Taylor she’s very welcome. The cake she made was amazing.” Her eyes fluttered as her pants were unbuttoned, her zipper lowered. In a quick motion, Gia slid her jeans right off her body. Elle’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t tell her I told you this, but the cake was from a box. She excels at finding the best boxes, though, and now she’s poking me in the arm for telling her secrets. I’m fucked.”
Elle shivered at the use of the word coupled with Gia’s hand sliding slowly between her legs. When that hand applied pressure to the square of fabric, she bit her lip hard. “Boxes can be just as good,” Elle said evenly. “Who doesn’t, uh, love a boxed dessert?”
“Right? She’s a whiz of innovation,” Isabel said, just as the fabric square was moved to the side. With just a touch of her tongue, Elle dropped her head back. Gia groaned quietly.
“Thanks so much for calling, Iz. I’m sure I’ll be…seeing you soon.”
“No doubt. Take care, Elle. Oh! I forgot to tell you. We’d love you both to drop by set sometime. I know you’re a fan of the show, and it might be fun to see the shooting of a scene or two.”
Elle dug her fingers into the couch as Gia worked her magic and the pressure built steadily.
“We wouldn’t miss it.”
Moments from orgasm, Gia took the phone. “Hey, Iz. I gotta steal Elle for a second. Household matter. We’ll talk later.” She clicked off the call and tossed the phone behind her onto the carpet. “Where was I?” she asked, moving in for more.
Ten seconds later, Elle knew exactly where she was: enjoying the blissful payout from just one of the many sexy moments that came with life alongside Gia, whose name she repeated as she savored the wash of pleasure.
Elle never knew such happiness was possible for her. Looking back on her life just one year ago was startling, almost unrecognizable. Her mundane existence had shifted dramatically to a full and rich life alongside one of the kindest and most beautiful people she’d ever known.
She looked forward to waking up each day, seeing what the world had in store. For the first time…she felt alive.
“What about a little surfing at dusk?” Gia asked. “Would you be up for that?”
“Yes, Four,” Elle said with a sated smile. “I would love to surf with you tonight. And after that, I have a few plans of my own for you.”
Gia blinked back at her. They shared a lingering kiss as, through the window behind them, the sun descended slowly to the water.
“This has been a really good day,” Gia murmured.
Elle smiled against her mouth. “I have a feeling we can top it.”
About the Author
Melissa Brayden (www.melissabrayden.com) is a multiaward-winning romance author, embracing the full-time writer’s life in San Antonio, Texas, and enjoying every minute of it.
Melissa is married and working really hard at remembering to do the dishes. For personal enjoyment, she spends time with her Jack Russell terriers and checks out the NYC theater scene as often as possible. She considers herself a reluctant patron of spin class, but would much rather be sipping merlot and staring off into space. Coffee, wine, and donuts make her world go round.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Alias by Cari Hunter. A car crash leaves a woman with no memory and no identity. Together with Detective Bronwen Pryce, she fights to uncover a truth that might just kill them both. (978-1-63555-221-8)
Death in Time by Robyn Nyx. Working in the past is hell on your future. (978-1-63555-053-5)
Hers to Protect by Nicole Disney. High school sweethearts Kaia and Adrienne will have to see past their differences and survive the vengeance of a brutal gang if they want to be together. (978-1-63555-229-4)
Of Echoes Born by ’Nathan Burgoine. A collection of queer fantasy short stories set in Canada from Lambda Literary Award finalist ’Nathan Burgoine. (978-1-63555-096-2)
Perfect Little Worlds by Clifford Mae Henderson. Lucy can’t hold the secret any longer. Twenty-six years ago, her sister did the unthinkable. (978-1-63555-164-8)
Room Service by Fiona Riley. Interior designer Olivia likes stability, but when work brings footloose Savannah into her world and into a new city every month, Olivia must decide if what makes her comfortable is what makes her happy. (978-1-63555-120-4)
Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden. Professional surfers Gia Malone and Elle Britton can’t deny their chemistry on and off the beach. But only one can win… (978-1-63555-016-0)
Take My Hand by Missouri Vaun. River Hemsworth arrives in Georgia intent on escaping quickly, but when she crashes her Mercedes into the Clip ’n Curl, sexy Clay Cahill ends up rescuing more than her car. (978-1-63555-104-4)
The Last Time I Saw Her by Kathleen Knowles. Lane Hudson only has twelve days to win back Alison’s heart. That is if she can gather the courage to try. (978-1-63555-067-2)
Wayworn Lovers by Gun Brooke. Will agoraphobic composer Giselle Bonnaire and Tierney Edwards, a wandering soul who
can’t remain in one place for long, trust in the passionate love destiny hands them? (978-1-62639-995-2)
Breakthrough by Kris Bryant. Falling for a sexy ranger is one thing, but is the possibility of love worth giving up the career Kennedy Wells has always dreamed of? (978-1-63555-179-2)
Certain Requirements by Elinor Zimmerman. Phoenix has always kept her love of kinky submission strictly behind the bedroom door and inside the bounds of romantic relationships, until she meets Kris Andersen. (978-1-63555-195-2)
Dark Euphoria by Ronica Black. When a high-profile case drops in Detective Maria Diaz’s lap, she forges ahead only to discover this case, and her main suspect, aren’t like any other. (978-1-63555-141-9)
Fore Play by Julie Cannon. Executive Leigh Marshall falls hard for Peyton Broader, her golf pro…and an ex-con. Will she risk sabotaging her career for love? (978-1-63555-102-0)
Love Came Calling by CA Popovich. Can a romantic looking for a long-term, committed relationship and a jaded cynic too busy for love conquer life’s struggles and find their way to what matters most? (978-1-63555-205-8)
Outside the Law by Carsen Taite. Former sweethearts Tanner Cohen and Sydney Braswell must work together on a federal task force to see justice served, but will they choose to embrace their second chance at love? (978-1-63555-039-9)
The Princess Deception by Nell Stark. When journalist Missy Duke realizes Prince Sebastian is really his twin sister Viola in disguise, she plays along, but when sparks flare between them, will the double deception doom their fairy-tale romance? (978-1-62639-979-2)
The Smell of Rain by Cameron MacElvee. Reyha Arslan, a wise and elegant woman with a tragic past, shows Chrys that there’s still beauty to embrace and reason to hope despite the world’s cruelty. (978-1-63555-166-2)
The Talebearer by Sheri Lewis Wohl. Liz’s visions show her the faces of the lost and the killers who took their lives. As one by one, the murdered are found, a stranger works to stop Liz before the serial killer is brought to justice. (978-1-635550-126-6)
White Wings Weeping by Lesley Davis. The world is full of discord and hatred, but how much of it is just human nature when an evil with sinister intent is invading people’s hearts? (978-1-63555-191-4)
A Call Away by KC Richardson. Can a businesswoman from a big city find the answers she’s looking for, and possibly love, on a small-town farm? (978-1-63555-025-2)
Berlin Hungers by Justine Saracen. Can the love between an RAF woman and the wife of a Luftwaffe pilot, former enemies, survive in besieged Berlin during the aftermath of World War II? (978-1-63555-116-7)
Blend by Georgia Beers. Lindsay and Piper are like night and day. Working together won’t be easy, but not falling in love might prove the hardest job of all. (978-1-63555-189-1)
Hunger for You by Jenny Frame. Principe of an ancient vampire clan Byron Debrek must save her one true love from falling into the hands of her enemies and into the middle of a vampire war. (978-1-63555-168-6)
Mercy by Michelle Larkin. FBI Special Agent Mercy Parker and psychic ex-profiler Piper Vasey learn to love again as they race to stop a man with supernatural gifts who’s bent on annihilating humankind. (978-1-63555-202-7)
Pride and Porters by Charlotte Greene. Will pride and prejudice prevent these modern-day lovers from living happily ever after? (978-1-63555-158-7)
Rocks and Stars by Sam Ledel. Kyle’s struggle to own who she is and what she really wants may end up landing her on the bench and without the woman of her dreams. (978-1-63555-156-3)
The Boss of Her: Office Romance Novellas by Julie Cannon, Aurora Rey, and M. Ullrich. Going to work never felt so good. Three office romance novellas from talented writers Julie Cannon, Aurora Rey, and M. Ullrich. (978-1-63555-145-7)
The Deep End by Ellie Hart. When family ties become entangled in murder and deception, it’s time to find a way out… (978-1-63555-288-1)
A Country Girl’s Heart by Dena Blake. When Kat Jackson gets a second chance at love, following her heart will prove the hardest decision of all. (978-1-63555-134-1)
Dangerous Waters by Radclyffe. Life, death, and war on the home front. Two women join forces against a powerful opponent, nature itself. (978-1-63555-233-1)
Fury’s Death by Brey Willows. When all we hold sacred fails, who will be there to save us? (978-1-63555-063-4)
It’s Not a Date by Heather Blackmore. Kade’s desire to keep things with Jen on a professional level is in Jen’s best interest. Yet what’s in Kade’s best interest…is Jen. (978-1-63555-149-5)
Killer Winter by Kay Bigelow. Just when she thought things could get no worse, homicide Lieutenant Leah Samuels learns the woman she loves has betrayed her in devastating ways. (978-1-63555-177-8)
Score by MJ Williamz. Will an addiction to pain pills destroy Ronda’s chance with the woman she loves or will she come out on top and score a happily ever after? (978-1-62639-807-8)
Spring’s Wake by Aurora Rey. When wanderer Willa Lange falls for Provincetown B&B owner Nora Calhoun, will past hurts and a fifteen-year age gap keep them from finding love? (978-1-63555-035-1)
The Northwoods by Jane Hoppen. When Evelyn Bauer, disguised as her dead husband, George, travels to a Northwoods logging camp to work, she and the camp cook Sarah Bell forge a friendship fraught with both tenderness and turmoil. (978-1-63555-143-3)
Truth or Dare by C. Spencer. For a group of six lesbian friends, life changes course after one long snow-filled weekend. (978-1-63555-148-8)
A Heart to Call Home by Jeannie Levig. When Jessie Weldon returns to her hometown after thirty years, can she and her childhood crush Dakota Scott heal the tragic past that links them? (978-1-63555-059-7)
Children of the Healer by Barbara Ann Wright. Life becomes desperate for ex-soldier Cordelia Ross when the indigenous aliens of her planet are drawn into a civil war and old enemies linger in the shadows. Book Three of the Godfall Series. (978-1-63555-031-3)
Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden. Coffee shop owner Autumn Primm is ready to cut loose and live a little, but is the baggage that comes with out-of-towner Kate Carpenter too heavy for anything long term? (978-1-63555-014-6)
Love at Cooper’s Creek by Missouri Vaun. Shaw Daily flees corporate life to find solace in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains, but escapism eludes her when her attentions are captured by small town beauty Kate Elkins. (978-1-62639-960-0)
Somewhere Over Lorain Road by Bud Gundy. Over forty years after murder allegations shattered the Esker family, can Don Esker find the true killer and clear his dying father’s name? (978-1-63555-124-2)
Twice in a Lifetime by PJ Trebelhorn. Detective Callie Burke can’t deny the growing attraction to her late friend’s widow, Taylor Fletcher, who also happens to own the bar where Callie’s sister works. (978-1-63555-033-7)
Undiscovered Affinity by Jane Hardee. Will a no strings attached affair be enough to break Olivia’s control and convince Cardic that love does exist? (978-1-63555-061-0)
Sparks Like Ours Page 27
