by Radclyffe
“I can’t wait to find out.” Honor breathed unevenly as Quinn drew back from the kiss and stilled the movement of her hand. “Oh, don’t stop.”
Quinn smiled lazily and twitched her fingers teasingly, watching Honor’s pupils flicker in response. “Soon.”
“Please, tell me now.” Honor reached up and fisted her hand hard in Quinn’s hair, pulling her head down to claim her mouth. At the same time, she arched her hips and closed around Quinn’s hand, moaning as pleasure pulsed through her at the press of Quinn’s fingers inside her. Distantly, she heard Quinn groan. This time, the kiss was fierce, hungry and urgent, echoing the ache in her depths.
Quinn’s head reeled as velvet muscles closed around her, but she clung stubbornly to control, refusing to follow the call of Honor’s thrusting hips. Deep within her now, she eased her lips away from Honor’s mouth. “Not yet.”
“Can you feel me?” Honor’s fingers trembled against Quinn’s neck as she caught her breath on a sob. “I’m so close.”
“I know,” Quinn murmured, thrilling to the minute contractions rippling around her fingers. She eased down on the bed until she could bring her mouth to join her hand in answering Honor’s need. Still, she went slowly, bestowing soft kisses on the hard peak of Honor’s desire, sucking gently to tease even more pleasure from the engorged tissues.
Moaning, Honor twisted on the bed, one hand thrust into Quinn’s hair, the other clutching the sheets tightly. Her legs tightened as the pressure bore down, coalescing into a white-hot fist of arousal against Quinn’s mouth. “Oh! I’m coming. Baby...I’m coming.”
Scarcely breathing, Quinn waited until she felt the first wave undulating beneath her lips, and then she drew her fingers nearly free before beginning the deep, steady thrusts that drove Honor to orgasm.
Honor gave a hoarse cry and arched from the bed, holding Quinn’s lips to her raging flesh as she climaxed. Heart thundering and belly convulsing, she triumphantly shouted her release before collapsing bonelessly back onto the pillows. In a faint, stunned voice she murmured, “Oh, Quinn. Quinn.”
Quinn stayed inside her, stroking gently as she soothed her still-pulsating clitoris with her tongue. When at last Honor quieted, Quinn carefully withdrew and slid upward, gathering Honor into her arms. When Honor trembled against her, a small cry wrenching from her depths, Quinn pressed her lips to Honor’s forehead and rocked her tenderly. “You okay, sweetheart?”
Unable to do anything but nod, Honor pressed her face to Quinn’s neck, wrapping her arms around Quinn’s shoulders. Her stomach still rolled with the aftermath of the cataclysmic orgasm, but even beyond the unexpected force of her physical response, she was staggered by the power that Quinn possessed to touch her in the far reaches of her soul. Places she had been certain were lost to her forever.
As Honor slowly returned to herself, she became aware that Quinn was trembling, too. Beneath her cheek, Quinn’s heart pounded fiercely, and for the first time, Honor recognized the fragility of the moment, and the very real fragility of the woman. And she was afraid. Afraid of what she felt inside, afraid of what she felt beneath Quinn’s breast, afraid of what she could lose again if she allowed herself to care. She brought her hand between them and pressed her palm to Quinn’s rapidly beating heart. Leaning back to look into Quinn’s eyes, she asked, “Are you all right?”
For a second, Quinn stared, puzzled, and then she laughed softly. Resting her forehead against Honor’s, she answered quietly, “Never better. That is, if you don’t count the fact that I’m crazy out of my mind over you.”
To her amazement, Honor felt herself blush. Nothing that had transpired between them, not even the furor of their lovemaking, had touched her quite as much as that simple admission. And considering what she just did to me...God. Working to keep her voice light, Honor tapped a finger against Quinn’s chin. “I was talking about your heart.”
“So was I,” Quinn said completely seriously, lightly kissing Honor’s lips. But she could hear Honor’s concern. “I feel fine.” She hesitated, wondering if she should go on, but knowing, too, that anything less than total honesty would endanger Honor’s faith in her. And that was something she could not risk. “This is the first time I’ve made love since I got sick.”
Honor stiffened. “Oh, Quinn. You should have told me. God, I didn’t even think—”
“That was the point,” Quinn interrupted firmly. She smoothed her hand down Honor’s back to the small hollow at the base of her spine, holding Honor closely against her with the slightest bit of pressure there. “I wanted you to lose yourself with me. I didn’t want you to be thinking about anything—especially not my goddamned heart.”
“I don’t suppose you considered what I might want?” Honor drew her fingers along the edge of Quinn’s jaw to soften her words.
Quinn turned her face and kissed Honor’s fingertips. “I considered it, and then decided to do it my way.”
Honor growled softly. “I hope that isn’t going to be your usual modus operandi.”
“I’m a surgeon.” Now Quinn caught Honor’s index finger and sucked it lightly. “It’s not in my nature to seek consultation before making a decision.”
“Really?” Honor brought both palms to Quinn’s shoulders and pushed her flat on her back. Then she leaned over her for an instant to stare into her insolently handsome face before bending down to bite her lower lip. “I can see that we’re going to have to work on that.”
“Would that be like...homework?” Quinn ran her tongue softly over Honor’s lips, then nipped back. “Because I could probably use some practice.”
“Quinn,” Honor said seriously, “was last night the first time...” She laughed and shook her head. “God, I can’t believe after the way I was with you last night that I could feel embarrassed now. Was last night the first time you’ve climaxed, since your surgery?”
With a sigh, Quinn nodded her head in the affirmative. When she saw Honor’s eyes narrow, she hastily said, “I wasn’t given any restrictions on sex. My cardiologist said it was fine. The opportunity just never arose.”
Honor’s eyebrow quirked. “Actually, I’m rather glad. I was getting a little worried about Mandy.”
“Please.” Quinn grinned and kissed Honor again. “I did have a few close moments thinking about you, though.”
Remembering the vivid dreams she’d had of Quinn and the nocturnal pleasures associated with them, to her complete and utter consternation, Honor blushed once again. “I’d have to say we were on the same wavelength there.”
“Really.” Quinn grinned, pleased. “So you’ve been...thinking about me?”
“I don’t usually have the urge to tear a woman’s clothes off and climb all over her in a sexual frenzy after a simple evening out,” Honor said dryly. “So considering what happened last night, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve been...lusting after you.”
Quinn shifted onto her side and ran her hand over Honor’s hip and down her leg, murmuring in appreciation. “If you keep saying things like that, we’re not going to get out of this bed today, and I have a big game.”
“And I expect that my daughter and her grandmother will be arriving here in another hour or so,” Honor said softly, glancing past Quinn to the clock on the bedside table.
“Jesus,” Quinn said, sitting up quickly. “I need to get out of here.”
Laughing, Honor drew her back down until they lay facing one another again. She brushed her fingers through Quinn’s hair, realizing that she didn’t want to let her up. She didn’t want to let her go. She didn’t want to spend the day away from her. The feelings were foreign and frightening and exhilarating all at the same time. “You have a few more minutes. It’s Saturday morning. And considering that the kids were probably up half the night, I don’t expect them to arrive early.”
“I don’t want to upset Arly,” Quinn said quietly.
“Oh, you are so sweet,” Honor murmured as she shifted on top of Quinn and kissed her, long and deep. As they m
oved together in the easy rhythm of seduction, she slipped her leg between Quinn’s and groaned appreciatively when Quinn’s thighs tightened around her. She pressed rhythmically into Quinn as she explored her mouth, enjoying her heat and her hunger. When she felt Quinn tense and heard her gasp sharply, she lifted her head to watch the passion take her. What she saw nearly swept her away.
Quinn’s eyes were clouded with need, and the muscles in her neck stood out with the strain of the impending explosion. Honor found her at once vulnerable and incredibly beautiful, open and trusting and so powerfully honest in her giving and her taking. “Quinn,” she breathed in wonder.
Quinn grasped Honor’s hips as she came against her leg, jerking once with an astonished cry. What began as a ripple that trailed along her spine built rapidly into a fist that beat within her blood, until finally her nerves caught fire and her muscles melted in the flame. “Oh God.”
For long moments, Quinn was unaware of anything except Honor’s arms around her and the joyful ache of completion. She couldn’t feel the tears upon her cheeks.
“It’s all right, it’s all right,” Honor murmured as she held Quinn close. I’m not going to let anything hurt you. I promise.
“Honor, you’re magic,” Quinn whispered. “The things you make me feel...I never knew it could be this way.”
Honor had no words. She had anticipated the physical passion, because the pull had been so strong from the beginning. She hadn’t expected the tenderness or the longing or the terrible frightening need. She hadn’t expected to want to keep Quinn safe, to want to have her near, to want to feel her in every part of her being.
“You scare me, Quinn Maguire.”
Quinn placed trembling fingers against Honor’s cheek. “Why?”
“The things you make me feel...I’m not sure I want to.”
“But you might, someday?” Quinn’s heart was in her throat waiting for the answer. Just don’t close the door. Just don’t shut me out. Please.
Honor took a long shaky breath. In a voice so soft, it was barely audible, she said, “I might.”
“Like I said, I’m patient.”
Although she wondered if Quinn really meant that, Honor knew she had nothing more to give her and no promises to make at that moment. As much as she didn’t want to, she drew away. “I put the coffeemaker on the timer last night. It should be ready about now. You can shower here if you want to or just relax while I get us some.”
Quinn felt the withdrawal sharply, but did not try to hold her back. “I’ll just get cleaned up now and shower later at my place.”
Honor kissed her swiftly then slid from the bed. “I’ll be right back.”
When Honor returned to the bedroom a few minutes later with two mugs of coffee, Quinn was dressed and standing by the bureau, gazing at the photo in its center. Honor walked to her and extended one of the cups. “Here you go.”
Quinn turned with a smile and accepted the coffee. “Thanks.” She took a sip and made an appreciative murmur. Then she nodded toward the photo. “Terry?”
“Yes.” Honor picked it up and studied it for a second, then looked up at Quinn, trying to imagine what she was thinking. Do you know that I still love her? Will that keep us apart?
Reaching out, Quinn asked gently, “May I?”
Wordlessly, Honor handed over the photograph and watched Quinn as she looked at Terry. When Quinn looked up, there was sadness in her eyes.
“She looks so young.”
“She was.” Honor sighed. “She was twenty-six in this photograph. She died later that year.”
Carefully, Quinn replaced the photo in the center of the bureau, then turned and looked steadily into Honor’s eyes. “If there were any way that I could go back in time and change that, I would. Even though it would mean not standing here today.” She took a deep breath. “And I want to be here with you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”
Honor’s lips parted in stunned surprise, and her hands shook so badly that she had to put the cup down to prevent spilling its contents. When Quinn would have reached out to her, she held up a hand. “No. I’m all right.”
“I’m sorry,” Quinn said swiftly. She wanted to touch her so badly she ached, but she didn’t move. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No. You didn’t. Just the opposite.” Honor smiled tremulously. “Since the moment we met, you’ve constantly surprised me.”
“Is that bad?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Honor stepped closer and put her palms lightly on Quinn’s chest, stroking her fingertips along her collarbones, then slipping one hand behind her neck, caressing her gently. “I loved her very much. I still do.”
“I know.” Quinn tilted her head slightly, and her smile was soft, her blue eyes deep as a summer sky. “Do you think I want that to change?”
“Do you?”
“No.” Quinn placed both hands gently on Honor’s waist, but she did not pull her any closer. “All I want is what you want to give me.”
“What if it’s not enough?”
Quinn leaned forward and kissed Honor gently. “What if it is?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
If you don’t stop staring at her like that, she’s going to burst into flames.”
Honor jumped, then exclaimed in irritation, “Will you stop sneaking up on me? And I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“I’m talking about the way you’re watching the new coach,” Linda remarked sweetly. “You know, kind of like all hungry and desperate.”
“I’m watching my daughter,” Honor said icily, pointedly ignoring Linda’s smirk. She had intentionally chosen to stand a little apart from the enthusiastic throng of family and friends gathered to watch the soccer game. She didn’t feel like casual conversation, not even with Linda. It had been all she could do to maintain a normal façade with Phyllis and Arly at breakfast that morning, because all she could think about, or wanted to think about, had been Quinn.
Not just the way she had felt touching Quinn, or when Quinn had touched her. Gloriously free and wildly alive. That in itself was close to a miracle. But it was the way that Quinn had held the image of Terry, so tenderly and with such honest sadness in her eyes, that had truly shaken her. It was hard for her to believe that Quinn could accept the fact that part of her heart would always be Terry’s, but she could not deny the truth of it in Quinn’s eyes. Nor could she refute that Quinn truly cared enough about her to want to change the past, an astonishing admission that stirred her still.
Now, though, all she wanted was to be left alone to look at Quinn, simply because it felt so good. “If you don't mind, I’m trying to enjoy the game here.”
“Ooh, somebody’s very cranky this morning.” Linda linked her arm through Honor’s and gave her shoulder a little nudge. “Sexual frustration getting to you, is it?”
When Honor failed to respond with the anticipated cutting repartee, Linda studied her curiously. There was a flush of color high on Honor’s sculpted cheeks and a wash of heat in her eyes as she followed Quinn’s movements on the opposite sideline. Linda blinked, then caught her breath, stunned to silence when she recognized the signs. She had almost given up hope of ever seeing that look on Honor's face again.
I can’t believe it! They slept together. Quinn must be some kind of miracle worker to have gotten Honor to let her that close. And now Honor must be scared to death.
Wordlessly, Linda slid her fingers down Honor’s arm and grasped her hand.
“We were together last night.” Honor squeezed her friend’s fingers gently, appreciative of the comfort and unspoken solidarity. She still couldn’t quite believe it. Oh, she knew it, because her body reverberated with that peculiar combination of excitement and satiation that only good sex could instill. But she still couldn’t absorb the fact that she’d allowed Quinn to touch her in a place, she feared, far beyond the reach of the physical. It had been so easy. Too easy. Now, as she watched the dark-haired woman sprinting effortlessly up
and down the field, stopping now and then to brush off a dirt-skinned knee or to murmur encouragement to an uncertain player, Honor found herself amazed at the panoply of sensation she experienced. Admiration, respect, and aching desire. God, what have I done? What have I started?
Linda cleared her throat. “You can tell me all the details later. Are you okay?”
Honor kept her eyes straight ahead, hoping to sound less frightened than she felt. “I’m a little surprised. She’s very attractive and very sweet, and I guess—” She shrugged. “I guess I got a little carried away.”
“Carried away. Uh-huh.” Linda turned the idea over in her mind. “Honor, my love, you never get carried away. It’s just not your style.”
“It certainly was last night.” She couldn’t deny that she’d been attracted to Quinn from the moment she’d seen her. It didn’t make the slightest bit of sense, but she supposed that it was only natural that someone with Quinn’s considerable charms should have sparked a physical response. Just because she hadn’t felt that way about anyone since Terry didn’t mean it wasn’t possible. “She’s attractive.”
“Is she? I suppose—if you like your women hot blooded and drop-dead gorgeous.”
Honor cast her another irritated glance. “So I decided to enjoy her. Is that a crime?”
“I have no problem with it being just a...sexual thing.” Linda struggled not to roll her eyes. “Seems perfectly reasonable. Everyone needs a good turn on the sheets now and then.”
Not entirely certain why, Honor objected to the impersonal sound of that, as if Quinn were just a nice body and a handsome face. “Well, of course, I like her. How could you not like her? She’s intelligent and kind and gentle and...” Honor sighed in exasperation. “Well, you know.”
“Yes,” Linda replied gently, wondering how long it would take for Honor to admit the rest of it to herself. “I know.”
