by Julie Cannon
“Elliott?” The expression on Elliott’s face and the longing in her eyes made Lauren feel more desired than she ever had in her life. Feeling like the most powerful, feminine woman in the room, she gave Elliott a shy smile and tugged on her hand. “Come on. I want your arms around me again.”
Elliott was unable to do anything other than follow Lauren out onto the dance floor. It took several moments before she regained her composure. As they danced she noticed the reaction of other guests to Lauren’s provocative attire. Some seemed shocked, while others looked completely envious.
“You seem to have created quite a stir.” Elliott could not remember the last time she had felt such a visceral reaction to a woman.
“What do you mean?”
She really has no idea of her beauty. “Your vest,” Elliott replied. “Every pair of eyes in the room is on you.”
Lauren didn’t bother to pretend she didn’t know what Elliott was talking about. “The only eyes I’m interested in having on me are yours.”
Elliott stumbled a little and knew, from the twitch of Lauren’s mouth, that her reaction was a dead giveaway. Soft hands slid behind her neck and began stroking the baby fine hairs at her nape.
“Have I created a stir in you, Elliott?”
“Yes.” Yes to anything you want.
“Good.” Lauren moved closer.
Elliott’s mind reeled with the feel of bare skin and the smell of warm flesh. Tight muscles jumped beneath her fingers and sent pulses of heat directly to the sensitive spot between her legs. The familiar pounding of arousal coursed through her body, and her silk boxers did little to stop the juices threatening to slide down her leg. She could not remember ever being so turned on by a woman still fully clothed. If she were not careful, there was the distinct possibility that she would embarrass herself on the dance floor. She had been in the arms of many women, but none made her feel like this. She wanted to make love to Lauren; of that she was certain. But there was something else as well, and she struggled with exactly what that was. Inhaling the fragrance of Lauren’s hair, she gave up trying to decode her responses and simply closed her eyes and lost herself in the woman she was holding.
The music ended way too soon and Lauren led them slowly back to their table. Elliott was not quite as shell-shocked as she had been when she first saw Lauren’s naked back, but she still couldn’t take her eyes off the skin she’d so recently caressed. She pulled out Lauren’s chair and lightly stroked her bare shoulders after they were both seated. Elliott lifted her water glass and the ice clinked erratically against the sides due to her shaking hands. I need more than a glass of cold water to quench this thirst. Her dance partner was flushed and breathless and gazing back at her.
Elliott stood. “Let’s go outside for some fresh air.” Maybe it’ll cool me off enough not to ravish her right on this table.
She reached for Lauren’s hand, and when their eyes locked her breathing became shallow. She lowered her head to kiss Lauren again, but a couple leaving the dance floor bumped into her, offering a halfhearted apology. The interruption was enough to break the spell, and Elliott did her best to appear effortlessly in control as they moved out the door. As soon as they stepped into the evening chill, Lauren lifted her hair to catch the cool breeze and Elliott saw a light film of sweat on the back of her neck. She wanted to run her tongue over the damp skin and catch the liquid, but before she could satisfy the urge, a high-pitched cry of recognition intruded.
“Lauren, I thought it was you.”
Lauren turned with barely concealed dismay. “Marcie…” The unmasked desire in Elliott’s gaze almost made her fall in a heap. Gathering strength from God knows where, she smiled at
her business acquaintance. “It’s good to see you again.” Bullshit.
“Lauren, what have you been doing? You have got to come with me to meet Samuel Parker.” In her usual manner, Marcie didn’t give Lauren the opportunity to answer any of the questions she rattled off in her Southern drawl. “You look fabulous in that outfit. Where ever did you get it?” She reached for Lauren’s hand, and almost as an afterthought said to Elliott, “I’m Marcie Webster, by the way. You’ll excuse us for a minute, won’t you? We won’t be long.”
Lauren flashed Elliott a pleading look that said, What am I supposed to do? She had always found Marcie abrasive, and the impression was not dispelled when Marcie pulled her into the ballroom and demanded in a loud stage whisper, “Have you given any more thought to the opportunity we talked about a few months ago?”
Rattled, Lauren glanced around. She hoped no one she knew was standing within earshot. “I’m sorry, Marcie, I’m not sure if…”
“Oh, don’t give me that false modesty,” Marcie chided. “The community needs an attorney with your skill and connections, and you’d be great at it. Private practice is definitely the right move for you.”
Wonderful. Just tell the whole world. She and Marcie had been adversaries on a case almost two years ago and Lauren had been surprised when Marcie approached her at a legal seminar in Los Angeles. She’d spent the entire evening talking to her about a prominent attorney who was ready to retire and was looking for someone to take over her practice. The woman represented women and children in their county and was highly respected in the legal community. Lauren had considered the possibility, but she wasn’t anywhere near making a decision to change. She loved working at Bradley & Taylor.
“I haven’t really given it much thought, Marcie,” she said.
“Well, I told her you’d give her a call.”
Lauren sighed. She hadn’t agreed to anything, but Marcie was a steamroller once she got an idea in her head. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
After a few more minutes of polite conversation she excused herself and returned to the patio where Elliott was waiting with a fresh drink in her hand. “Sorry about that. She caught me off guard.”
“She was quite a hurricane, wasn’t she?” Elliott handed her a fresh drink, and Lauren was relieved to see amusement in her eyes, not the irritation she’d expected. “Who is she? An ex, perhaps?” Elliott finished the question with raised eyebrows.
“No!” Lauren responded vigorously. She didn’t want Elliott to think that she would be attracted to someone as tactless as Marcie. “No, not at all. She represented an employee who sued Bradley & Taylor for wrongful termination.” Lauren lifted her chin proudly. “She lost.”
“Good girl.” Elliott allowed her eyes to drift to Lauren’s lips, and her heart skipped a beat when Lauren ran her tongue over them. She lowered her head to kiss Lauren again. “I’d like to—”
For the second time that evening, they were interrupted. This time it was a law school classmate, and after introductions and several minutes of catch-up, the woman left.
“You were saying?” Lauren prompted, ready to kill the next person who dared intrude on them. She read the sexual tension in Elliott’s body language and it thrilled her to know she was the cause.
Elliott took her arm and led her into the vegetation surrounding the patio, where they were hidden from view. “You’re very popular tonight, Counselor.”
“I didn’t set out to be popular.” Lauren stopped just a few inches in front of Elliott.
“What did you set out to do?”
“Seduce you.”
“It’s working.”
Elliott’s eyes darkened more than Lauren thought possible, and the air surrounding them cracked with electricity. Their ragged breathing formed a faint mist between them. She let out a growling moan of pleasure as Elliott’s lips found hers in a kiss that rapidly became hot and demanding. Lauren molded her body into Elliott’s and stood on her toes to get closer to the tantalizing mouth. She had been kissed many times but never like this. She was being devoured but was also expected to be an active participant. Her heart beat so hard in her chest she expected to see bruises in the morning. Her mind was completely blank, but her body was full of the millions of nerve endings that came alive in Elliot
t’s arms.
After several minutes, Elliott broke away, fighting her natural urge to take Lauren right then and there. It would not be the first time in her life that lust overruled caution, resulting in ruined clothing, hers or the other woman’s and sometimes both. But she wanted it to be different with Lauren; she didn’t want a quick fuck, she wanted all night.
“That was nice,” Lauren said weakly. Nice, hell, that was breathtaking!
“Yes, it was.”
“Can we do it again?” Lauren was not sure she would survive another kiss like that but would die a happy woman if not. She wanted to be kissed again and again by this woman and float away in desire like she had never known. And she wanted it now.
“Definitely.” Elliott kissed Lauren’s nose, her eyes, her jaw, and quickly returned to her lips. Simultaneously she shifted and inserted her thigh between Lauren’s. Her hands were equally busy, and Lauren gasped as Elliott cupped her breast. Elliott received the message loud and clear and began a journey of kisses to the top button of the daring vest.
Lauren pressed her throbbing clitoris against Elliott’s leg and released a long sigh signaling her pleasure. God, that feels good. Placing a hand on Elliott’s shoulder, she pushed slightly. “I think we should take this somewhere a little more private.”
Elliott raised her eyes. “Are attorneys always so levelheaded?”
“Actually, yes. They teach you that in law school, you know.”
Elliott laughed and reluctantly lowered her hand from the breast that fit so perfectly in her palm. “They must. My attorney is equally levelheaded.”
“I hope you don’t kiss her like you just kissed me.”
“He’s not my type.”
“What is your type?”
Elliott hesitated a moment. “A woman who is confident, bold, warm, charming, witty, intelligent with smoldering sensuality, and eyes the color of the summer sky.”
“Anyone like that around here?” Lauren teased. She was not sure if she was fishing for a compliment or if she simply enjoyed hearing about Elliott’s attraction to her. Either way, it made her heady.
“Yes. Particularly the smoldering sensuality part.” Elliott’s body was playing the familiar song of desire, but there were several new verses emerging, and she didn’t know the words to them. There was tenderness for the woman in her arms, a tenderness that belied explanation. She wanted Lauren to be happy. She wanted her to have everything she needed. She wanted to keep her safe. After what felt like an eternity, she asked, “Are you ready?” There was definitely a double meaning in her question.
“Yes.”
Lauren was shocked at how a simple three-letter word would forever change her life. She had struggled on and off with her growing attraction to women, not knowing if she was ready to make a commitment to lesbianism. She had ruled out bisexuality. She was not interested in men, even when she tried very hard to be committed to one, and most importantly didn’t think it was safe. Crossing the line into another lifestyle, especially a controversial one, was not something she took lightly. The decision might impact her career, her friends might desert her, and her family might disown her. Deep down she felt sure her family would respect her decision, but she could not be so sure of what might happen in the other areas of her life. The only thing she was completely certain about was that she wanted to make love with Elliott Foster.
They made their way to Elliott’s car and somehow drove to Lauren’s home with their libidos in check. As they pulled up outside, Lauren took a calming breath. “Would you like a nightcap?” Jesus, what a stupid question.
Elliott turned in her seat to face her directly. The twinkle in her eyes defused some tension. “I’d be more interested in breakfast.”
“How do you like your eggs?”
They abandoned the car and just made it inside the spacious foyer before they fell into each other’s arms. Elliott didn’t waste any time. She pulled Lauren close and kissed her directly on the mouth, her excitement rising again. She couldn’t drive fast enough, getting here, anticipating what was to come. Now here she was, holding the woman she desired, knowing how much she was desired in return. Thrilled by that certainty, Elliott slipped her hands under the lapels of Lauren’s suit jacket, her palms lightly brushing already hard nipples. Lauren removed the jacket and tossed it on the chair beside her, enabling Elliott to explore the expanse of skin that had tormented her all evening. This time when she kissed her way down Lauren’s neck to the top of the vest there was no reason to stop.
She trailed kisses back and forth from Lauren’s lips to the flesh she exposed with each button she unfastened on the silk vest. When all the buttons were undone, she nibbled her way back to Lauren’s mouth and captured it in a kiss. She moved her hands inside the vest and gently cupped the warm, full breasts that swelled in her hands. God, she feels good. Lauren’s rapid breathing was echoed in the rise and fall of her breasts in her hands. Spurred on by her silent encouragement, Elliott used her lips and tongue to trace the path mapped by her hands.
“Oh, God,” Lauren moaned as Elliott’s mouth closed over her nipple.
She stumbled a few steps backward, using the wall for stability. She wasn’t sure if she was clinging to Elliott out of necessity or desire. Either way it really didn’t matter. This was the first time she’d experienced desire this intense, and it didn’t frighten her. Her body was on fire and Elliott’s lips and tongue were stoking the flame even higher. The sensations were almost overwhelming, and she shivered thinking about what was to come. This was as close as she had ever been with a woman, and she needed the reassurance of Elliott’s kiss.
As if Elliott sensed her need, she placed a final soft kiss on an eager nipple, then shifted her attention to Lauren’s mouth. Somehow Lauren found the strength to remove Elliott’s jacket. She dropped it to the floor and was trying to unbutton Elliott’s shirt when both quivering hands were gently grasped.
Elliott looked into eyes brimming with uncertainty. “Your hands are shaking,” she commented gently.
“I’m nervous,” Lauren confessed.
Blue eyes bored into her soul. “I’m nervous too.”
For some reason Elliott found that statement to be surprisingly true. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this way in the arms of a woman. She knew passion, desire, anticipation, and occasionally boredom, but never nervousness. It was as though this was her first time again, and she didn’t want to disappoint her lover. She bent to kiss Lauren again.
“But you’ve done this before.”
Elliott’s mouth stopped a fraction of an inch from lips that were open and inviting and held the promise of so much more. “What did you say?”
Lauren was taken aback, not immediately realizing what she had said. Once she did, she hesitated, knowing that this was a defining moment. Her mind raced, but in her aroused state, she couldn’t think clearly. Eyes lowered, she whispered, “I said you’ve obviously done this before.”
“Does that mean you haven’t?” Elliott wasn’t certain she wanted to hear the answer. She could feel the heat draining from her body.
“Not exactly.” Lauren sensed Elliott’s withdrawal and tried not to panic.
“Exactly what is not exactly?” Elliott held her breath. Please don’t tell me this.
“Exactly…no.” Lauren spoke so quietly that she wasn’t even sure if she had spoken at all. With crashing disappointment, she knew that she had and it was too late to take the words back.
Elliott dropped Lauren’s hands and carefully pulled the vest closed, leaving it unbuttoned. She clenched her hands into tight fists. She knew that if she reached for the buttons, her hands would end up back inside, on the hot inviting flesh, and her lips would certainly follow.
“I need to go,” she said curtly, looking for her jacket.
Lauren’s body reacted to the sudden chill in the air and the coolness where Elliott’s hands had once been. She reached out and touched Elliott’s arm. “Elliott, wait.”
“Were you going to tell me?” Elliott’s frustration came out in anger. Lauren’s touch on her arm sent searing heat through her body and in a fraction of a second, she visualized those hands all over her. She picked up her jacket, using it as an excuse to step away from the contact.
“I did tell you,” Lauren pleaded. Even to her own ears, her reply sounded evasive. Whatever hope she had of making love with this woman was rapidly evaporating.
“But were you going to tell me?” Elliott felt blindsided by the entire conversation.
“I don’t know,” Lauren answered honestly. She had thought about whether she needed to tell Elliott since the moment she realized she wanted to sleep with her, but in her typical fashion, she had methodically listed the pros and cons like she was preparing an argument before the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, she was unable to come to a definitive conclusion. She’d simply hoped that it would never come to this, or that somehow the perfect night together would miraculously materialize, precluding any need for awkward disclosures.
“You don’t know?” Elliott was shaken by her answer. “Don’t you think I should have known about this?” She paced around the room running her hands through her hair. Her surprise had turned from anger to confusion and back to anger.
“Would that have changed anything?” Lauren asked, already knowing the answer.
Elliott stopped pacing. “What kind of question is that? Of course it would have.” She put her hands on her hips defiantly. “I think it’s pretty obvious that it changed everything.”
Lauren didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
“I’m not a lab rat for you to experiment with, Lauren,” Elliott said curtly. She didn’t know if she was more upset that Lauren had never been with a woman or that she could have so misjudged her companion’s experience.
Lauren cringed. “That’s not what I’m doing.” She was desperate to get her point across. And just what is my point? That I wanted you to be my first? She’d really like to hear that now.
