Fame

by Susan X Meagher

  “Is that what you want?” Haley asked, finding herself leaning toward Piper. “To build something?”

  “Definitely,” Piper said, her gaze intent. “I’m very serious about this…about us.”

  “And if we click? There’s nothing keeping you from being in a committed relationship? Just the two of us?”

  “Just the two of us?” Piper blinked slowly. “Who else would…” Then her eyes shot wide open. “I’m monogamous, Haley. I don’t have any interest in being with more than one person—”

  Chuckling, Haley scooted over and pressed her hand to Piper’s mouth. “I am too. But I’ve found that’s not the default in LA.”

  “It is for me.” She cocked her head quizzically. “Who are you hanging out with?”

  “Obviously a bunch of people who aren’t into the same kind of relationship I want.”

  “Well, I am. I’m monogamous and as faithful as a well-behaved dog, which I hope to have one day.”

  “Are you…?”

  “Am I what? Rabidly interested in you? Yes.” She leaned into Haley and growled when their lips met again. She had the softest, warmest lips in the world, and knew just how to use them. Haley dissolved into her embrace, pressing into Piper’s body, letting it envelop her. She found herself stroking Piper’s hair, then realized her hand was shaking noticeably.

  Moving away slightly, Piper sat up and grasped the hand, then let it lie in her open palm, where it trembled. “Is that from being turned on?” she asked, so empathetic and concerned that Haley immediately felt a little of her anxiety disappear.

  “Nerves,” she said, hearing how shaky her voice was.

  Piper wrapped her in a tight hug, then shifted so they were resting against the corner of the sofa. With a tender touch, she stroked Haley’s cheek slowly. “Talk to me. I don’t want to pressure you into something you’re not ready for.”

  “I’m just anxious,” she said, now embarrassed on top of it.

  “Are you worried you’re not going to enjoy this? That we won’t like the same things?” She bent and kissed her again, her touch as gentle as the breeze. “’Cause I’m really flexible. I’m up for just about anything. If you have a certain thing you like to do, or a certain way you like to be…” She grasped her chin and tilted it so they were looking into each other’s eyes. “I’ll figure out how to keep up. Really.”

  “Nothing like that,” Haley said, wondering what kinds of things Piper thought she wanted. She banished those musings and said, “Are you sure you’re not hiding something awful?” She laughed at that, rolling her eyes at how silly that sounded. “As if you’d tell me if you were involved in sex trafficking.”

  Piper’s smile was sweet and very warm. “If I was, I’m bad at it, and should give it up. I should be able to afford more than a smallish house in Woodland Hills in exchange for my soul.”

  “Don’t make fun of me,” Haley said, still shaky.

  “I wasn’t. Just…lightening the mood.”

  “I’ve been lied to, Piper. By people I trusted. That makes me want to check and double-check before I trust someone. But I’m trying to stop that.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with checking to make sure people are genuine. Nothing at all.”

  “No, but I’ve taken it to extremes.” She pursed her lips and let out a breath. “I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to take you at face value and dive in. But doing that makes me nervous.”

  “Because…?” she asked, head cocked, eyes narrowed.

  “Because this seems important.” She put her hand on Piper’s chest and tried to collect her thoughts. “I’m more attracted to you than I’ve been to anyone in years. So I want to go slowly enough to make sure you’re someone I want to be with, but quickly enough to not be too invested if we don’t hit it off. It’s a delicate balance. And—” she shrugged “—it makes me nervous when I think I might get it wrong.”

  Piper put a hand on her shoulder, then pulled her close, so close their noses were touching. “I’m just me. A good, fairly successful, not very driven hair stylist. I’m a loyal friend, a very good sister, and a pretty awesome girlfriend.” She chuckled softly. “I might be exaggerating on that awesome girlfriend part. But I’m not hiding anything about myself from you. What you see is what you get.”

  “I like what I see very much,” Haley said, inclining her head to press her lips to Piper’s. “Why don’t you let me see more of it?”

  “I’m on it,” she said, excitement nearly radiating from her. Instead of racing for a prize, Piper slowed down, with her movements growing thoughtful, almost precise.

  Starting with Haley’s face, she carefully and delicately touched her features, following up each gentle touch with an equally tender kiss. It felt like being mapped by a very kindhearted cartographer, and while it was exposing, it was also soothing. Some of their earlier bouts of kissing in the car had made Piper seem like she might be the kind of woman who rushed through the act, and Haley was pleased that was clearly not the case.

  Silky soft lips caressed her sensitive ear, making chills race down her body while she shivered from the sensation. “Love that,” she whispered.

  “Your skin is so beautiful,” Piper said softly, continuing to lick and suckle. “I can’t even tell you how attracted I am to you.”

  “Me too,” she sighed, pulling on Piper until they were face to face. “It might be your birthday, but I feel like you’re my present.”

  A big smile lit her face, then she gathered Haley in her arms and really went for it, kissing her with such intensity that her head got all fuzzy, like she’d had too much to drink, which she probably had. But now they were getting somewhere. Somewhere really good.

  Asserting herself a little, Haley pressed Piper up against the sofa and let her lips travel wherever they wanted. Taking over for a second let her feel more in control, letting the rest of her anxiety fade. She concentrated on Piper’s throat, which was exquisitely sensitive, making her squirm under Haley’s kisses, with the sexiest sounds rumbling in her chest.

  It didn’t take long for Haley’s whole body to tingle, with the pulse throbbing between her legs. Then she was on her back, with Piper lying on top of her, pinning her down—exactly the way she liked it. As her conscious mind shut down, her body took over, reacting to each of Piper’s fevered kisses.

  A warm hand settled on her waist, burrowed between their bodies, then moved up until it grasped her breast and squeezed.

  “So nice,” Haley murmured. She loved it when a woman acted on instinct, not stopping every second to ask for a good report card. Assertiveness was her prime turn-on, and Piper was just the right kind of assertive. Tender and sweet, yet driven.

  They probably should have moved to Piper’s bed, but this was better. Once the boulder was rolling down the hill, it was dangerous to get in front and try to stop it.

  Piper managed to lift her and slide her sweater off. Then her blouse disappeared. As her bra was whisked away she felt the chill of the evening reach her skin, which began to pebble. Then Piper whipped her own sweater and shirt off, then her bra followed a second later. Sitting up and facing each other, the warmth and softness of Piper’s breasts made her head spin, but she focused on the whole picture, which was fantastic.

  Her hands went to Piper’s shoulders and she let out a purr as her fingers danced along the muscles. In her shirts, she just looked thin, but she was rock-solid. The muscles weren’t bulky, but were very well-defined, making it clear she worked on being strong.

  “Someone spends time at the gym,” she murmured, entranced by Piper’s body.

  “Little bit,” she admitted, a proud smirk on her face.

  “I thought maybe you were secretly a blacksmith or something.”

  That made her laugh. “The heaviest thing I pick up at work is a hair dryer.” She held her arm out and tightened the muscle in her right forearm. “That’s why this one’s bigger.”

  “I like these,” Haley said, feeling the smooth flesh over
the muscles in her shoulders and arms. “Maybe I should get some.”

  “Don’t change a thing,” Piper said, leaning back a little to let her eyes roam over Haley from shoulder to waist. “All of the ratios are just perfect.” Piper’s fingers delicately tickled along her breast, and Haley closed her eyes as her nipple hardened. Piper’s arms wrapped around her and she could feel rigid nipples brush against her own, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. More kisses, nearly frantic now, as Piper’s breathing roughened.

  Piper’s muscles weren’t just for show. She was strong. After unbuttoning Haley’s shorts, she easily pulled her onto her lap, with Haley helping out by lifting her hips. It was remarkably erotic to sit on Piper’s lap, fully naked. Her arms went to encircle Piper’s neck and she relaxed in her embrace, so turned on she felt like she could combust.

  “I’m going to touch you,” Piper murmured into her ear, sending shivers down her body. “I’m going to put my hands on every part of you. All…of…you,” she whispered.

  That was perfect. Piper didn’t ask for permission, she’d simply made her plans clear. All Haley had to do was object and she was sure Piper would stop. How had she known that’s just the kind of decisiveness that turned her on more than anything?

  “Touch me,” Haley said, finding her voice wasn’t shaky any more. Piper had boosted her confidence just by being determined. Warm, soft hands slid across her body, touching her breasts, her sides, her back, then tickling along her always sensitive neck. Haley squirmed in the embrace, unable to feel enough—to open herself up enough to satisfy the need throbbing deep inside. She wanted to expose herself in every way, to share her body with a person she trusted to cherish it.

  Piper stilled her thoughts and made her head swim with a series of heated kisses. All Haley could do was hang on and open her senses, forcing herself to savor every touch, every smell, every taste.

  When Piper’s cool hand tickled her thigh, Haley immediately let her legs fall open, giving those questing fingers full access. She let out a satisfied gasp when Piper’s sure touch slid along her flesh, feeling herself start to shiver again. But it wasn’t the cool night or jangled nerves this time. It was arousal. The deep need to feel Piper caress her body.

  “Love that,” she murmured, with her lips and teeth licking and nibbling on Piper’s flushed ear.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she purred, so focused she seemed unable to form words.

  Haley pushed her hips toward Piper’s fingers, needing more pressure, more friction.

  In the blink of an eye, Piper read her signals and began to stroke her more firmly, making Haley moan. So good!

  When her head fell back to rest on Piper’s shoulder, she could smell her, could take in the scent of Piper’s body while she worked to make Haley feel every sensation possible.

  Her body grew stiff, lingering just on the edge until she was afraid she was losing it. Then—at the last second—her body caught up with her mind and she shuddered against Piper as a climax rolled through her, leaving her weak and sated.

  “You’ve done that before,” she managed to say, after taking a minute to catch her breath. “You’ve been practicing.”

  “Once or twice,” Piper agreed. “But not for a while. I was afraid I might have forgotten how.”

  “You have very talented fingers,” Haley said, grasping her hand and pressing it to her chest. She shivered once again, then burrowed into Piper’s embrace. “I’m getting cold.”

  “I left the door open,” she said, effortlessly lifting Haley and placing her gently onto the sofa. “Don’t go away,” she said, rushing over to slide the door closed. “I’ve got to be more careful. Coyotes might have come in and eaten the rest of the chips.”

  She walked back to the sofa and stood in front of it, hands on her hips. In that position, she looked bigger than she actually was, more powerful too. “Don’t get me wrong,” she said, grinning. “I really enjoyed that. But it was kind of rushed, wasn’t it?”

  “Kinda,” Haley said, shivering on the sofa, stark naked.

  “Come on. Let’s go to bed,” Piper said, extending her hand. “We can slow down and really enjoy each other.”

  Haley stood and enjoyed the warmth that enveloped her as Piper tucked an arm around her. They went into the bedroom, but Piper didn’t turn on any bright lights. Instead, she lit a couple of candles resting under hurricane globes atop dressers that bracketed the door. “I don’t light these very often,” she said as she blew out a match, “but I love the way they make the room look.”

  With quick efficiency, she pulled off a quilt, then tugged the sheet down. “Lie down and warm up while I match your outfit,” she said, grinning.

  Haley watched her undress, pleased to see how casually she did it. Of course, when you were thin and muscular it probably wouldn’t bother you to stand on Ventura Boulevard and strip, but Haley had been with equally fit people who were ashamed of every minor flaw. Piper’s easy confidence was a turn-on, and the second she slid into bed, Haley was ready for her.

  “I’m glad we just jumped in and went for it.” Haley opened her arms and Piper cuddled against her body, all of that warm, soft, pliable skin feeling fantastic. “I’m not nervous anymore.”

  “I’m not either.” She scooted up and wrapped an arm around Haley’s shoulders. “I love lying here with you,” she sighed, with a big yawn following. “I feel so relaxed. I guess I didn’t know how keyed up I was.”

  “Because of me?”

  “Mostly. But the party was a lot of work, too. I had to get up at six to do some things before I went to work. And getting up that early is never a choice—always a requirement.”

  “Why don’t you let me help you relax,” Haley murmured into her ear.

  At once, Piper removed her arm and slid down, grinning at Haley as she made her entire body available. “It wasn’t too hard to convince me, was it,” she asked, her smile truly charming. In her mind’s eye, Haley imagined what it would be like to lie in this bed and see that smile every night. If there was a sign-up list, her name would be first.

  Haley moved around so she was on her side, pressed up against Piper’s body. “Like this?” She put her hand on Piper’s leg and let it slowly tickle along the skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

  “Yeah,” she said, closing her eyes as she shivered slightly. “I love your hands.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” she purred, with the delightfully soft skin making her ache.

  As Haley’s hand continued to move, Piper growled with pleasure, shifting her hips, then her shoulders, trying to get every bit of stimulation possible.

  “You do like to be touched,” Haley murmured.

  “I do,” Piper said, her voice lazy and slow now. “I’m imagining what’s going to come next.”

  “You are,” Haley whispered, taking a nibble on her earlobe.

  “No doubt,” Piper said, chuckling. “I was close when I was touching you.”

  Haley nuzzled her face against Piper’s neck, with her fantastic scent making her long for another turn at bat. But she focused, keeping up her gentle exploration of Piper’s body, eventually turning her onto her belly to caress every inch of skin.

  With her arms raised over her head, legs splayed slightly, Piper was the epitome of vulnerable. Haley took that implied trust seriously, promising herself she’d never make her regret her choice to be intimate.

  She leaned over Piper’s body and started to kiss her way down it, smiling at the mews of pleasure making Piper’s body vibrate. She was like a big cat whose chin was being scratched, a true pleasure-seeker.

  By the time Haley got to her shapely, firm ass she was dangerously close to flipping over and demanding Piper’s attention again. She’d seen her share of nice butts, but this one was perfection, just the right combination of pillowy softness encasing firm muscle, and touching it made her throb.

  Piper didn’t seem far behind, wiggling her hips to press her flesh against Haley’s lips.

  She was about to
urge her onto her back again, but Piper slid up onto her knees, then grasped the headboard, waiting to be touched. Haley was just about to make a joke about Piper not being shy about asking for what she wanted, but her eyes were closed and she seemed like she was in some form of sensual trance.

  Haley slipped a leg between Piper’s, then rested atop her body, pressed so close together she could feel her heartbeat. Slipping a hand between her legs, she teased all around her sex, making her shiver. Piper had grown silent, with not even a sigh leaving her lips, but she was clearly enjoying herself, with her legs spreading open a little more to give Haley better access.

  While her fingers caressed Piper’s sex, she slipped a hand around her hip and slid inside, making Piper gasp with satisfaction.

  “Perfect,” she murmured, pressing back against Haley’s questing fingers.

  It took a little while to get in sync, but when Piper’s body started to shake continuously Haley knew she’d hit her sweet spot. Then it was just a matter of hanging on while Piper ground against her as she began to pant. “Almost,” she whimpered, her voice an octave higher than normal. Then she let out a rough moan, shaking hard, with her flesh contracting around Haley’s fingers, rhythmically squeezing them. She pulsed for a long time, not moving in any other way. Then her head lifted to rest against Haley’s shoulder.

  “I could sleep with you right there,” she said, chuckling softly, “but we’d never walk again.”

  Delicately withdrawing, Haley helped her turn around and lie down, then began to touch her belly again. But she shivered and warned, “Give me a second, okay? Too sensitive.” She turned her head and offered a crooked smile. “I hope that was half as fun for you as it was for me.”

  “Maybe more,” Haley said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

  “Okay,” she sighed. “I’ve calmed down. Green light.”

  Haley rubbed her gently, just soothing her. In seconds, Piper’s body grew limp, then jerked sharply. “What?” she asked, picking her head up, clearly groggy.

  “I didn’t say anything.”