Bonded Love

by Renee Roman

  She settled back on the couch and listened as Blaze began to talk.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Blaze studied the growing flames. She hadn’t realized Trinity’s childhood had been so difficult. There’d been nothing in her own childhood to compare it to, and Trinity’s reluctance to rely on a partner became clearer under the circumstances. Her heart was what interested Blaze the most. She glanced at her huddled in a quilt as she leaned against the couch. After settling on the floor next to her, she handed her a fresh cup of coffee.

  “Better?” she asked.

  “Yes. Thank you.” Trinity looked pensive as she sipped. She tossed the quilt aside and got on her knees, then set her mug down. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the last time you kissed me.” Trinity glanced between her mouth and her eyes. “Can I?”

  Blaze didn’t bother to answer, but rather pulled her into her lap. The need she found in Trinity’s eyes stirred her in a million ways. She snaked her hand beneath Trinity’s long, wavy tresses and guided Trinity’s head until their lips met. Softly and subtly, Blaze moved her mouth over Trinity’s, searching for answers she hadn’t dared to ask. Did Trinity want to be with her? Was she willing to take a chance on love? Trinity’s tongue slipped between her lips, making her moan. Heat flared in her lower belly. She didn’t want her physical craving to overcome her mental needs, but she was powerless against her body’s reaction to Trinity’s nearness. She pulled back, breaking contact and breathing hard.

  “I want you,” Blaze said as desire seeped from every pore.

  Trinity shuddered before pressing a hand to her chest, creating distance. “It’s not just physical. I’ve missed you. Talking to you. Laughing with you.” Trinity caressed her face, then held it and pulled her in for a searing kiss. As the heat built between them, moisture pooled in her crotch. Out of breath, Trinity pulled away first this time.

  “Wait here.” Blaze got up, glad for the physical distance. She needed to slow down and take her time. There was no rush, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

  She stoked the fire, then went to the hall closet and gathered a pile of blankets. She spread out a thick layer on the rug not far from the growing flames. At the last minute she added throw pillows from the couch, and she felt Trinity following her movements. When she was done, she held out her hand, hoping Trinity would accept her offer. She was asking for more than what was happening between them tonight. She was asking for tomorrow, too, and all the days to follow, but she didn’t know if Trinity understood how much further Blaze wanted her to go. When Trinity slid her hand into hers, nothing else mattered. She had tonight, and if the accident had taught her anything, it was to take each moment as it came.

  They stood at the edge of the makeshift bed. “I want to make love to you.” The buttons of Trinity’s top were proving more difficult than she’d thought.

  “Let me help you.” Trinity undid each one slowly.

  She pushed the fabric aside, kissing her exposed flesh, taking in the scent of Trinity’s warm skin. Blaze guided the fabric down her arms and thumbed open Trinity’s bra, freeing her breasts. Her nipples were erect, but she resisted the urge to take one into her mouth. She ran her palm against her stomach and inside the edge of her underwear, sliding to the back and grasping her firm cheek.

  “Do you want me naked?” Trinity asked.

  Blaze didn’t trust her voice and nodded. The slow unveiling left her breathless, then she knelt in front of Blaze and removed her clothes. Blaze stood over her, watching the flames reflect on her smooth, flushed skin. Her vision narrowed.

  Trinity stretched out in the middle of the blankets. “Lie down with me.”

  Blaze traced each curve of Trinity’s body before rolling one nipple, then the other, between her fingers and gently tugging. Trinity arched into her touch. She moved her hand lower, brushing along her thighs as she went in for another kiss. The minute their lips met she was lost, letting go of any lingering worry, vowing to enjoy the here and now.

  Trinity pulled away out of breath and her chest heaving. “Touch me,” she whispered against her mouth.

  Wishing she could have lain on top of her, but unsure if she could support her weight for a length of time, she guided Trinity to straddle her hips. “We’re going to have to make do for now.”

  Trinity leaned over and her hair created a veil around them. “I don’t mind.” After a quick kiss, Trinity cupped her breasts and massaged her into a frenzy. Her nipples puckered hard and tight.

  She snaked her hand between them to find Trinity’s center hot and wet, and she pressed two fingers inside, loving the way Trinity’s body responded to her. With every stroke she rubbed her thumb against Trinity’s swollen clit, eliciting a gasp.

  “Yes.” Trinity hissed, moving her hips, taking her deeper. She tightened around her. “Harder.”

  Blaze rolled them until Trinity was on her back, her thigh caught between Blaze’s, and settled into a position that would give her more leverage.

  Trinity’s eyes opened. “But—”

  With her weight evenly distributed, she wasn’t worried. “Shhh, it’s okay. Let me fuck you, baby.” She pulled back and added another finger before entering her again. At first, she went slowly, watching Trinity’s face, seeing the pleasure written there. Blaze moved a little faster, a little deeper, and Trinity’s muscles clamped down, locking her inside as she cried out.

  “Blaze.” She arched up, driving her deeper still, and grabbed her wrist, holding her in place.

  The spasms from Trinity’s orgasm sent her own body to the brink of climax, but she held back. She wanted to enjoy every second as Trinity’s skin flushed a deeper pink and her stomach muscles twitched. Finally, Trinity relaxed and let go of her. Her eyes slowly opened to display a post-orgasm haze.

  Trinity smiled lazily. “What you do to me.”

  Blaze returned the smile. “Good things, I hope.” She leaned down for a kiss, needing intimacy. Needing to know they weren’t done yet.

  “Very good things.” Trinity ran her fingertips over her flexed arm where it rested between her thighs. “Is your arm okay?”

  She wiggled the fingers of her left hand. “This one’s a little tired, but it’s okay.”

  Trinity slapped her. “Not that one.”

  “Just teasing. It’s fine.”

  “Okay, but I have to see for myself.”

  She pushed on her shoulder until she was on her back and Trinity straddled her thigh. She couldn’t help the groan that escaped when her soaked folds slid against Blaze’s muscle. Trinity lifted her scarred arm and gently cradled her elbow in one hand, before she began to kiss the tip of each finger. Watching her swollen lips was driving her crazy. When she seemed satisfied, Trinity placed her hand on the floor and turned her attention to her other one.

  “And how is this one?”

  Blaze wiggled her fingers again, then made a fist. “You tell me.”

  Trinity repeated kissing each tip, then took her index finger into her mouth and sucked, repeating the motion until she’d cleaned all of them. Blaze forgot to breathe.

  “Mmm…not bad, but I need a comparison.”

  As she bent over, Trinity traced her nipples with her tongue before moving farther down her body, placing small kisses along the way. She settled between her thighs and Blaze grabbed a pillow from the pile around her so she could watch.

  “I think I need to start here.” Trinity sucked on the cord of her inner thigh, then ran her tongue along the length. “Or here.” She licked along the junction of her leg and hip, making her squirm. “Or here,” she said just before she slid a finger into her slick opening and licked the length of her.

  “Oh, God.” Despite her best efforts, she wasn’t going to last, and could already feel her orgasm approaching.

  “You don’t like that?” Trinity stopped and pulled out, waiting for her to respond, though by the look on her face, Blaze could tell she knew exactly what she was doing.

  “Yes, but you’
re going to make me come.” She gritted her teeth and hoped she could hold off long enough to enjoy Trinity’s attention.

  Trinity’s eyebrow lifted and a smile played on her lips. “Unless I’ve got it terribly wrong, that’s the point of what we’re doing.” Without breaking eye contact, Trinity slid all the way inside her.

  Blaze’s sex clenched. “Christ, woman, a little pity here.” She took a deep breath, but when she glanced down Trinity was licking her lips, poised at the ready, and looking as though she were ready to eat her alive.

  Flattening her hand on her abdomen, Trinity applied pressure. “You’ve got this, baby. Just enjoy it,” she said, then her tongue outlined Blaze’s swollen folds.

  She fisted the bedding under her while a thousand fireworks went off inside her. As much as she wanted to hold off climaxing, her body craved release, begging for the imminent explosion that would catapult her into the blissful state she remembered from their first encounter. All things considered, Blaze thought she was doing fairly well until Trinity closed her lips around her clit and began to alternately suck and flick at the tip. Lost in the overwhelming pleasure Trinity’s mouth provided, Blaze gave in to the hum building throughout every fiber of her, and when Trinity circled her, she exploded.

  “I’m coming.” Her body convulsed below Trinity’s talented mouth, and Trinity moaned at her release, the contractions gripping her, clamping down around the finger buried inside.

  “So good,” Trinity murmured, licking at her juices.

  After a few intense minutes, Blaze’s body relaxed and she pulled air into her lungs. Her climax had been so strong, she hadn’t been able to breathe. She was about to say something profound when Trinity curled two fingers inside her, rubbing the inner ridge, and sent her skyrocketing into another earth-shattering orgasm. Bucking beneath her, Blaze rode the waves coursing through the length of her body until she finally begged her to stop. Trinity’s touch was like no other. Maybe that was because Blaze had fallen in love with her.

  Trinity moved up her body until their wet centers met. “I love watching you lose control.”

  She couldn’t help laughing and pulled Trinity to her, knowing she didn’t have the strength to move. “Oh, you do, huh?” Blaze kissed her and tasted her own flavor on Trinity’s lips. She pictured Trinity’s folds below her mouth, and she wanted her again. Wanted this night together to last forever. All she had to do was convince Trinity to take a chance on the future, and on her.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Trinity lay snuggled against Blaze’s long, firm body, enjoying the heat emanating from her and the flickering fireplace, adding another level of romance to the setting. She hadn’t had any design on their evening together, but she thoroughly enjoyed not only the sexual part, but the parts that had been missing in her life, like when Blaze held her. Comforted her. Sensed her turmoil. She’d never understood when couples talked about feeling cared for without reservation. Now she did.

  “You okay?” Blaze asked, her hand rubbing soothing strokes over her back.

  “Very.” She looked up into Blaze’s soulful eyes. “You?”

  “Absolutely okay.”

  Blaze traced lazy circles over her back. There was something Blaze was ruminating on. She could tell by the set of her jaw.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “I have a question.”

  Trinity pushed up on her elbow. “What?”

  “The gown you wore to the gala…”

  “Yes?”

  Blaze’s hand moved lower. “Were you wearing anything underneath?”

  She fought not to laugh at the anticipation on Blaze’s face. “Not a stitch.”

  “Damn.” Blaze took possession of her mouth, and Trinity’s passion reawakened.

  * * *

  Trinity dozed lightly before Blaze’s stomach rumbled, then her face colored as she broke away. “I might be hungry after expending all that energy.” Her stomach growled again.

  “A little?” she asked, laughing.

  “Okay, I may be starving. I’ll waste away to nothing soon.”

  She ran her hand over Blaze’s hard abdominal muscles, and they twitched beneath her palm. “I wouldn’t want that to happen. Your body is perfect just like it is.” Trinity kissed where her hand had been, and Blaze moaned.

  “If you keep that up, you’re going to have to endure more rumbling while I take you again.”

  Trinity glanced sideways. “Promise?”

  “Oh yeah, right after I eat.” Blaze rolled away and got up, searching for her discarded clothes and started dressing, minus undergarments.

  She followed her into the kitchen, running her fingers along the high polished wood of the breakfast bar, then she stopped abruptly. Her smile faltered.

  “Hey,” Blaze said, and stepped closer. “What’s wrong?”

  Her cheeks heated. “I should probably wash my hands before I touch anything.”

  Blaze pulled her close. “I don’t mind. I like how we taste.”

  The shiver that traveled through her had nothing to do with the fact she was only wearing her shirt and underwear. Even Blaze’s voice set her body on high alert. Blaze kissed her neck and wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her against her.

  “Even after making love to you over and over, all I can think about is the next time.”

  Trinity loved how she felt in her embrace and wondered how it would feel to be there every day. She pictured a life together, just the two of them, in the house Blaze had built. Blaze nipped at her neck, sending another jolt of electricity coursing through her.

  “Do you want something to eat?” Blaze asked. She stood in front of the open refrigerator and started pulling out packs of deli meat, cheese, and bread. She lifted the cover on a bowl and wrinkled her nose, then scraped the contents in the trash. “That definitely wasn’t fit for human consumption.”

  “What are you offering?” She cocked an eyebrow and giggled when Blaze slumped against the counter and held her hand over her heart.

  “Are you trying to kill me?”

  “Hardly. You’re the sturdy sort. I’m not in the least bit concerned about your stamina.” Trinity opened the bag of chips, fully in the moment for probably the first time in her life.

  Blaze set their plates down and Trinity brought bottles of Perrier to the table. “So,” Blaze said. “I hate to press the issue, but…”

  Trinity looked stricken. “But what?”

  “I’d really like you to spend Thanksgiving with me.”

  Trinity rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to give up on this, are you?”

  She sat back. Maybe she should leave the topic alone. The only problem was, she didn’t want to leave it alone. She wanted Trinity with her, especially since Trinity had no idea what happy holiday gatherings looked like. “No. I can’t. I really want you to go.” Trinity ran a hand over her face, and Blaze thought she was going to be disappointed by her refusal.

  “Fine. I’ll go with you.”

  She’s coming home with me. Even though she hoped she could talk Trinity into the trip, she hadn’t been at all sure she’d be able to.

  “Earth to Blaze.” Trinity waved a hand in front of her face.

  She blinked, then focused. “Sorry. I expected you to turn me down.”

  “Well, if you’d prefer I not…” Trinity said, but the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

  Blaze jumped up and pulled Trinity into her arms for a crushing hug. “Oh my God. I’m so glad you said yes.” Trinity chuckled then struggled in her embrace, and she loosened her hold.

  “If that’s how you show you’re happy, I’m going to have to be careful. You could break a rib.” Trinity rubbed her sides.

  She felt her face heat. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget how strong these big arms are.” Blaze smiled, remembering how Trinity had described them.

  Trinity sat and took a drink. “Tell me what the plan is and when we leave.”

  Her heart soared. Of all the scenarios s
he’d played out in her head, she’d been resigned to feeling disappointment. This was the opposite. This was elation, and Blaze felt like shouting from the rooftops, though that was reserved for declarations of love, and they weren’t there. Yet.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Blaze raced outside, meeting Trinity at her car before she’d even turned off the engine. “Hi,” she said as she pulled Trinity into her arms, remembering to be gentle, then brushing her lips over Trinity’s.

  “I could get used to this kind of a greeting.”

  Her pulse kicked up a notch. “I hope so.” She had to tamp down her enthusiasm. While Trinity was going with her, neither had said the words dating or exclusive, though for her part she didn’t have to. Blaze was already committed.

  Trinity responded by opening her trunk and pulling out a rolling duffel bag. “I have a couple of things in the back seat, then I’ll be ready.”

  Blaze stowed the bag in her Jeep, then went to help Trinity with the rest. “What all have you got here?” she asked as Trinity handed her a couple of bags and a wrapped box with a fancy ribbon.

  Trinity shrugged. “I couldn’t show up without bringing something.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I wanted to. It’s good manners.”

  Trinity’s smile appeared tight, and she wanted to put her at ease. “There’s no reason to be nervous, babe. You’ve already met my folks and Josh. They’re ordinary people.”

  Trinity nodded, then stowed her backpack on the floor and got in. She took a deep breath as though to settle herself.

  “All set?”

  “I’m being silly, aren’t I?” she said, looking across to her.

  She took her hand and rubbed the knuckles against her cheek. “No, you aren’t. I get that you’re nervous. You’re going to be fine.”

  * * *

  Seeing Blaze’s parents again reminded Trinity how wonderful a real family could be. They welcomed her with open arms. Blaze had obviously prepared them for her arrival, and it was apparent they were thrilled Blaze had finally brought someone home to share in their celebration.