The Night Off
Page 14
Her orgasm subsided only after the waitress left them alone again. Emily brought her hands to her burning cheeks and fought to regain her composure. “Was it obvious?”
Nat withdrew her hand, readjusting Emily’s panties and then the hem of her skirt. Eyes sparkling, she glanced around the restaurant before bringing her fingers to her mouth and sucking them clean. “Would it embarrass you if I said yes?”
“A little.”
“And would you regret having let me do it?”
Emily didn’t even have to think about that one. “No.” She took another sip of wine, then picked up her salad fork with a shaking hand. “That was definitely an experience I’ll never forget.”
“Me either.” Nat stabbed a bite of her own salad, chewing with an appreciative murmur. “And to think, our evening has just started.”
Emily watched Nat enjoy her food, once again surprised by the depth of the emotion such a simple act provoked. Even after their perfect weekend, their chemistry continued to sizzle—and only seemed to intensify the more time they spent together. With a woman who looked like Nat, physical attraction was a given. What shocked her was how far beyond sex her desire went. She could easily imagine late-night movie marathons, more trips to the grocery store, and rainy days cuddling in bed. She could even imagine confiding in Nat when she had a hard day with Colleen or simply needed her spirits lifted.
Emily chewed another mouthful of salad, trying not to spin out over the implications of her thoughts. Clearly her feelings for Nat were so much more than casual. Neither of them had admitted that yet, but she supposed it didn’t really matter whether they articulated the obvious or not. It was what it was. Closing her eyes briefly, she tried to contend with the rush of panic elicited by her acceptance of cold, hard reality.
Against her better judgment, she was falling for Nat Swayne.
“Are you okay?” Nat put a hand on Emily’s wrist, wrenching her back into the moment. “If I crossed a line just now, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wait to touch you again, and from our phone calls, I got the impression that public sex might turn you on. But if I made you uncomfortable…” Throat tense, Nat looked like she might be sick. “I would never want to do that.”
Emily shook her head. “Unicorn, remember?” Seeing the confusion in Nat’s eyes, she clarified. “I know our safe word, Nat. If you ever do anything I don’t like, I promise I’ll use it.”
Nat held her gaze, then nodded, apparently satisfied. “Is something else wrong?”
She liked Nat too much not to be honest with her. Praying she wasn’t about to make a fool of herself, she said, “I’m a little shaken by how strongly I feel about you.”
Nat seemed to stop breathing. Hope lit up her eyes, making Emily feel as though someone had just grabbed her heart and squeezed. “Me too,” Nat said, then hesitated. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“I don’t know yet.” Emily had always assumed that developing feelings for a woman would divert her from her focus. It would set her up for potential heartbreak. But so far, getting to know Nat had only yielded positive results. She was happy, sexually satisfied, and optimistic in a way that felt both foreign and wonderful. She’d also taken an important step toward a closer relationship with Colleen. “So I came out to my sister Sunday night.”
Nat blinked in surprise. “Wow. She didn’t know?”
“She obviously suspected, but I’d never confirmed it. There’s never been a reason to talk to her about my romantic life. I haven’t had one.” Her rationale seemed a little ridiculous when she tried to explain it now. Not for the first time since Sunday night, she rejoiced that her days of hiding such a fundamental part of herself from Colleen were over. “For a long time I just felt like…well, she’s a kid. I’m not going to talk to her about who I’m attracted to. Once she was old enough to understand, I’d kind of sworn off dating anyway, so…” She managed an embarrassed shrug. “Well, it seemed easier not to talk about what I didn’t have.”
“What changed your mind?” Nat took a bite of her salad, affecting a casualness Emily suspected she didn’t really feel. Like she was hopeful for an answer she wasn’t sure she would get. “Did you tell her we spent the weekend together?”
“No. She did ask me why I was walking funny,” she slapped Nat lightly on the arm when she released an amused snort, “but I couldn’t tell her I was sore from hot marathon sex. That would be…ugh.” Emily shuddered. “No, the conversation sort of led to a natural opportunity to come out, but instead of doing my normal avoidance thing, I just…took it.”
“Congratulations.” Nat pushed her salad plate aside and put her hand on Emily’s knee. The innocent contact warmed her from the inside. “That must feel amazing.”
“It does.” With effort, Emily took one last bite of salad before setting down her fork. Chewing gave her a moment to regain her poise. “It’s strange, raising your sibling. I might as well be her mother, but she sees me as just her big sister. Yes, I raised her, but now that she’s eighteen, she’s eager to transition our relationship to one of peers. And I’m…still getting used to that idea.” She covered Nat’s hand with her own. “Colleen was obviously thrilled that I confided in her. She likes to tease me—about everything, really—but she was cool about it. We had a very nice evening together afterward. It made me feel closer to her—and her to me, I hope.”
“That’s wonderful, Emily. Really.”
“Thanks.” Emily fought back the tears that threatened to gather at the gratitude that flooded her body. “Even though I didn’t tell her about you, it’s because of meeting you that I said anything at all. Last weekend…changed me.” Afraid to say too much, she slowed down and considered her next words carefully. “I’ve always sacrificed my own happiness for Colleen’s. Or at least for what I think will make her happy. Our ‘date’ was the first time I’d ever done something just for me. Friday night alone would have changed me, in a way. But spending the whole weekend with you? Well, I can’t go back to the person I was before. I’m different now. You know?”
Nat gave her a bashful grin, then stared down at the tablecloth. “Yeah, I know.” She seemed pleased by Emily’s words, but hesitant to share her own feelings. Scared, even. “So am I.”
Nat’s reticence made her eager to further lower her own defenses. Exhaling, she admitted, “It is a good thing. Scary, but good.”
“For me, too.” Nat touched Emily’s knee, then turned her hand over so they could entangle their fingers. “Does that mean I can look forward to another date after tonight?”
There didn’t seem to be much point in pretending anymore. “Of course.”
Pure joy flashed over Nat’s face. “Excellent.”
Swept away by how good it felt to make Nat happy simply by acknowledging their very real connection, Emily couldn’t help musing out loud. “Colleen says she’s worried that I’ll be a lonely, sexless recluse after she goes away to college. Maybe I should tell her about you. Assuming you don’t get tired of me after a couple of dates.”
“That hardly seems possible.” Nat moved her free hand to Emily’s face, drawing her closer for a soft kiss. “The more I know you, the better I like you.”
Emily kept her face close to Nat’s, reluctant to pull away from their easy intimacy. “How in the world have you managed to stay single all these years?”
Nat chuckled. “A combination of having an unappealing job and not meeting a girl like you, I guess.”
“I don’t mind your job,” Emily murmured. Perhaps she would feel differently within a long-term relationship, but for now, the knowledge that Nat was so good that women paid for it only served as an aphrodisiac. Maybe that made her strange—but it was true. “Not as long as you save your best work for me.”
Their food arrived before Nat could answer. Emily held Nat’s gaze as their waitress arranged the plates on the table, not wavering even when the waitress left with the cheerful instruction to enjoy their meal. Neither of them moved to start eating.
Overwhelmed by the urgency of her declaration, Emily caressed her hand. “I’m not asking for promises.”
“I’m making one, anyway.” Nat’s voice was resolute. “You are the only woman I think about when I’m alone.”
Emily blushed, almost embarrassed by how fantastic that made her feel. “And when was the last time you thought about me while you were alone?”
“This morning in the shower.” Nat moved closer, whispering in her ear. “I jacked off thinking about how wet your pussy gets when I suck on it. How good you taste. And how beautifully red my hand makes your bottom when I take you over my knee to spank you.”
By the time Nat was done speaking, Emily could barely breathe. She just wanted to go back to Nat’s place and fuck. She didn’t care at all about the expensive, delicious-smelling food in front of them. She felt absolutely no need to go through the motions of a normal date. It had been only three days since she’d been in bed with Nat—and maybe only fifteen minutes since Nat last made her come—but Emily needed her so intensely her whole body ached.
Emily pulled back, arching an eyebrow. “How hungry are you, really?”
“For dinner?” Nat’s eyes flashed. At Emily’s nod, she said, “When the waitress comes back I’ll ask her to box up our meals. Why don’t we eat a few bites to tide us over while we wait?”
Emily knew that she had wanted to impress her with a gourmet dinner, so she was pleased that Nat so easily accepted having her plans derailed. She definitely intended to make it up to her once they got back to Nat’s apartment. “Thank you.”
Nat snorted. “Are you kidding? This is the best date ever.”
Chapter Fourteen
They made it back to Nat’s apartment less than an hour later. Nat dragged Emily into the kitchen by the hand, tossed their leftovers into the fridge, then scooped Emily into her arms and initiated a passionate kiss. Her single-minded focus was on getting Emily naked and into bed as quickly as possible. She stumbled across the living room, hands grasping at delicious curves as they continued to make out, then kicked open her bedroom door. As soon as her knees bumped against the mattress, she dumped Emily in the center of the bed and crawled on top of her without interrupting their frantic kisses.
She sat up just long enough to discard her vest and direct Emily’s questing hands to the buttons on her shirt, frustrated by all the damn clothing between them. Then she returned to Emily’s mouth with a growl of satisfaction. Emily’s delicate fingers fumbled open Nat’s shirt buttons, moving swiftly from her waist up over her breasts. Eager to feel bare skin against her own, Nat gathered Emily’s top in her hands, ready to tug it off the next time they broke for air.
Emily succumbed to the need to breathe first. Gasping, she yanked Nat’s shirt off her shoulders, then raised her arms as Nat stripped off her top. They came back together in a clash of teeth and tongues, Nat bare from the waist up and Emily clad in a silky green bra. This kiss lasted a long time and ended only when Nat grabbed Emily’s bra cups and yanked downward, then attacked her bare breasts with hungry, sucking kisses.
Emily dug her fingers into Nat’s scalp, groaning. “Take off my skirt.”
Nat complied without moving from the nipple she was licking, wrestling blindly with the fastening at Emily’s hip for an embarrassingly long time. Emily dissolved into giggles just as she managed to unzip the damn thing. Determined to make this their last interruption, Nat yanked Emily’s skirt and panties down her legs. She tossed them onto the floor, but when she went to move back on top, Emily pressed a hand against her chest.
“Not until you lose those pants.”
Turned on by Emily’s commanding tone, Nat stood and thumbed open the button at her waist. “Bossy.”
“I want to feel your skin on mine.”
Nat stripped off her pants, enjoying the way Emily’s gaze tracked her progress. Normally, the more demanding her partner, the slower she went. But holding back was impossible when she wanted Emily so goddamn badly. As soon as her boxer briefs hit the floor, she scrambled back onto the mattress and pressed Emily’s thighs apart with her hands.
“Nat…” Emily’s plea turned into a throaty whimper at the first touch of Nat’s tongue against her labia. Her hands found Nat’s face, caressing her tenderly. “Please.”
Taking that as encouragement, Nat sampled the juices trickling from Emily’s opening. She was soaking wet—probably had been all evening. Her light flavor was at once familiar and long-lost, and she lapped it with enthusiasm.
“Wait.” Emily closed her thighs on Nat’s head. “Please, come up here and kiss me.”
Nat surged upward, capturing Emily’s mouth in a deep kiss that she returned with equal fervor. Positioning herself over Emily’s body, she entangled their legs so she could rub her swollen clit against Emily’s warm thigh. Instantly they fell into a natural rhythm, rocking against each other in pursuit of mutual pleasure.
Beep.
The noise registered on the edge of Nat’s consciousness but didn’t distract her from trailing wet kisses down Emily’s throat to the impossibly soft space between her breasts. Only when Emily froze beneath her did she realize what she’d heard was Emily’s phone—and that Emily was most likely trying to decide whether to check it.
Lifting her head, Nat mustered her best mature, understanding smile. “Do you need to get that?”
“I—” An internal struggle played out over Emily’s face, then she sighed in resignation. “Yeah, I probably should.”
Nat rolled off. She understood. Emily wasn’t living the life of an average twenty-five-year-old woman. She had a dependent at home—a teenager, for God’s sake—who obviously demanded her attention. Even, Nat mused, when it was inconvenient. She suppressed a sigh as she watched Emily dig through the purse she’d dropped beside the bed, looking for her phone.
When she found it, Emily navigated through the menu in silence, no doubt pulling up her text messages. Avoiding the urge to glance at the display, Nat studied the tension in Emily’s body as she read something onscreen. At first she betrayed no reaction. After what felt like forever, she bit her lip, met Nat’s eyes, then typed a brief message in reply. Locking her phone, Emily tossed it over the side of the bed.
“Is everything okay?” Nat asked. Though it appeared that Emily hadn’t been called away, her heart thumped as she waited for their idyllic moment to end. “Do you have to go?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Emily took a deep breath. “Apparently she and her friend Kaysi had an argument. Colleen was supposed to stay at Kaysi’s place tonight, but she’s home now. And wondering where I am.”
“What did you say?” Nat’s stomach churned slightly in anticipation of her answer. She hated being Emily’s dirty little secret, but understood why she didn’t feel she should tell Colleen yet. If lying was what it took to get Emily to stay a little longer, she could handle that. For now.
“That I’m working late. She’ll believe it.”
“So you’re sure you don’t need to go?” Hopeful that their evening hadn’t gotten cut off before it really began, Nat stroked her palm up and down the length of Emily’s inner thigh. “Because I do understand, if you need to.”
“No, I can stay for a while. If you want me.”
“I want you desperately.” Nat rolled Emily onto her back and returned to her position on top before she could change her mind. “Now where were we?” She pressed her thigh against Emily’s pussy, then groaned when Emily mimicked her action. “Oh, yeah. Right here.”
Emily lifted her head, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Let’s see if we can come just like this.”
Beep.
Hesitant to proceed, Nat waited to see if Emily would react to the incoming text notification. Without missing a beat, Emily rocked her hips and rubbed her slick pussy all over Nat’s thigh. Nat moaned happily. If Emily felt comfortab
le ignoring Colleen’s messages, she didn’t intend to argue.
Beep.
Emily screwed her eyes shut, shaking her head in obvious frustration. “No. She’s eighteen years old. She’s going to college in two months. She can take care of herself for a few hours.”
It sounded like Emily was trying to convince herself. With an iron will, Nat stilled her body once again. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Emily took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She seemed conflicted, but resolute. “She isn’t a little kid anymore, and I texted her that I’ll be home soon. She’ll just have to deal with it.” Emily put her hands on Nat’s lower back, pulling her close. “I can’t leave you yet.”
Nat saw Emily cringe slightly at her own words, so she kissed her again to silence her inner critic. That Emily wanted to be here with her so badly meant more than Nat could explain. Even if they hadn’t put any labels on their relationship tonight, she no longer worried that her feelings were one-sided. Emily wanted her, too.
Desperate to feel Emily come, Nat slid her thigh against her pussy, quickly resuming her rhythm. Within moments their mouths came together and their bodies fell back into perfect synchronicity in the silent pursuit of mutual release. The sensation of Emily’s supple body beneath hers was so divine that Nat dreaded having to stop for any reason. She hoped she wouldn’t have to.
Beep.
This time, Emily didn’t react at all.
*
Emily slipped her key into her apartment door a little before midnight, only to discover it already unlocked. Frowning at Colleen’s lack of concern for her safety, Emily opened the door and stepped inside. Colleen was asleep on the couch in front of a blaring television—no surprise there. What shocked Emily into stillness were the three empty bottles of beer on the coffee table, one of them tipped onto its side.