Lynn looked down at her feet, wondering who the anonymous person was. She hoped it was Jessie, but she didn’t have that kind of money, especially with a young daughter and no husband. She ran her hand through her hair and willed the damn thing to end soon. She just wanted to get off the stage and disappear.
“Eight hundred, going once, going twice,” Sarah paused. “Sold, for eight hundred dollars.”
That was all Lynn needed to hear. She turned quickly and left the stage, practically running to Sarah’s office, where she knew Karen would be waiting.
“All right, tell me who the hell this anonymous bidder was,” she said before she closed the door behind her.
“I don’t know.” Karen sat back in the chair and refused to look away. “I just know she wanted to remain anonymous.”
“So how are we going to set up this date?”
“We already have. You’re supposed to meet her here at seven o’clock tomorrow night.” Karen slid a piece of paper across the desk and shrugged when Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Though Lynn had been hoping it would be Jessie, she didn’t recognize the handwriting. “I am never doing this again.” She took a seat and dropped her head back. The door opened and Jessie walked in with Lynn’s parents, Charlie, and a woman Lynn had never met before. Charlie introduced her as his new girlfriend.
“Congrats, big sister. You went for way more than any of those other women.” Charlie gave her a playful punch in the arm as she stood to face them. “I had no idea my sister was so popular with the ladies.”
“Who won you?” Jessie asked.
“I was hoping it was you.”
“I was the anonymous bidder, but I only authorized Sarah to go as high as seven hundred. I have no idea who jumped in after that.”
“Sarah never indicated it was someone new.” Lynn looked at Karen.
“I figured it was easier to let Sarah think it was the same bidder, rather than try to explain we had another woman who wanted to stay behind the scenes.” Karen looked at everyone in the office, then returned her attention to Lynn. “It wasn’t like I had a lot of time to explain to her what was going on. I only said the anonymous bidder put in a higher bid.”
“But you know who it is.” Jessie took a step toward Karen. “You’ll tell me, right?”
“I can’t reveal that information. That’s the whole point of being anonymous.” Karen crossed her arms over her chest and glared at them all, almost as though daring them to push her. Her eyes settled on Lynn last. “Lynn will find out who it is tomorrow night at seven.”
“I’m going home.” Lynn turned to Jessie. “Did you drive here?”
“Yes. I told Sarah I’d help her out here for a while though. I don’t know when I’ll be there. You have a key, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you later.” She pushed her way past everyone, refusing to look anyone in the eye. As soon as the date was over the following evening, she’d concentrate on making things move forward between her and Jessie.
Chapter Seventeen
Lynn stood before Jessie for one final inspection before she headed to the bar to meet her date. It was all so ridiculous. She had no desire to be going out on a date, especially when Jessie would be sitting at home by herself. Lynn didn’t care what she looked like because she wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She struggled to keep her hands to herself when Jessie tried to straighten her collar.
“You really need to hold still.”
“I’m sorry.” Lynn took a deep breath, but when Jessie’s fingers brushed her collarbone, she took both of Jessie’s hands. “Why can’t I cancel this and just stay here with you? We could order a pizza and rent a movie or something.”
“That’s tempting, but you have an obligation to fulfill.” Jessie shook her head and pulled her hands out of Lynn’s grasp as she took a step back. “And based on the way you’re looking at me right now, I’m pretty sure pizza and a movie isn’t the only thing on your mind.”
“You’ve got that right.”
Jessie placed one hand firmly on Lynn’s chest, right above her breasts. Her eyes focused on Lynn’s lips, and Lynn closed her eyes momentarily against the rush of arousal. She could see the desire that mirrored her own and couldn’t stop her swift intake of breath. Jessie smiled, obviously satisfied with her reaction.
When Lynn tried to kiss her, Jessie pulled away with a wisp of a smile. “You have a date to go on, stud.”
“Jess,” Lynn said, hating that she sounded like a whiny kid. She sat down on the couch and, elbows on her knees, she held her head in her hands. She was shaking so much she wasn’t sure she could stand on her own again. This was torture, plain and simple. She finally looked up when Jessie didn’t respond. She was standing a few feet away, watching her. “Doesn’t this bother you?”
“Of course it does, but I’m the one who encouraged you to do it in the first place, so I have only myself to blame.” She placed a hand under Lynn’s chin and turned her head, forcing Lynn to look at her. “But if you sleep with this woman tonight, I’ll never forgive you.”
“I swear to you, nothing will happen. I’ll meet her and have a drink or two, then tell her I’m not feeling well. I can be back here by eight.”
Lynn was sure her disappointment was obvious when Jessie laughed and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
“I’ll be here when you get back, Lynn. Don’t cut the date short because of me. If you do that, she might expect you to go out with her again.”
“Shit, I didn’t think of that.” Lynn shoved a hand through her hair and sighed. “All right, but I will be back early. When dinner’s over, that’s it.”
Deciding then that she wanted to hurry up and go so she could get the whole thing over with, she stood, pulled Jessie to her feet and kissed her quickly, then grabbed her keys and walked out the door. The entire evening was going to be pure hell.
*
“That was your mystery date,” Sarah said as she hung up the phone and faced Lynn. “She’s running a little late, but she’ll be here before eight.”
“Do you have any idea how close I am to canceling this and leaving?” Lynn looked at her watch for the millionth time since taking a seat at the end of the bar to wait. It was almost seven thirty, for God’s sake. She could have been sitting on the couch wearing sweatpants with Jessie by her side instead of waiting for a woman she didn’t even want to see so she could take her out to a dinner she didn’t want. “Do you know who she is?”
“Nope, Karen wouldn’t tell me.” Sarah shrugged in a way that indicated she knew damn well who it was, but didn’t intend to tell Lynn.
Lynn rested her head in her hands. “You people are trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
“What was that, sweetie? It’s kind of loud in here tonight.”
“Nothing. Give me another drink. Maybe the evening will go by quicker if I’m drunk.”
*
Jessie walked into the bar at ten minutes to eight and immediately spotted Lynn, sitting with her back to the doors. Jessie grinned, knowing Lynn had chosen to sit that way on purpose so she wouldn’t have to see her date walk in.
“Is this seat taken?”
Lynn turned to look at her, and Jessie somehow managed not to laugh at the surprise on Lynn’s face. Her body heated noticeably when Lynn’s eyes moved slowly down the length of her in order to take her all in. Jessie was glad she’d decided to wear the slinky black dress. She’d have to wear it more often if it meant Lynn would look at her that way.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your date for the evening.”
“But I thought…I mean, you said…”
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” Jessie said as she took a seat. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
“I’ve never been flustered. These past couple of weeks I’ve felt a lot of things I never have.”
“Something to drink?” Sarah asked.
“How did this happen, and why didn’t you tell me?” Lynn asked
, completely ignoring Sarah.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. And as far as how it happened—maybe you should talk to your parents about that.” Jessie couldn’t take her eyes off Lynn. She wanted to skip dinner and go straight home so they could do what they should have done a long time ago. Jessie wasn’t sure she could wait much longer. Being in Lynn’s presence seemed to put her in a constant state of arousal.
“My parents? My father actually had something to do with this? He paid so you could win me at an auction?”
“Okay, I’ll check back with you two later.” Sarah walked away, whistling.
“He cares about you, Lynn. They knew how badly I wanted this, and they helped me out. After the auction, when you asked me, I honestly didn’t know.” Jessie placed a hand over Lynn’s, which was resting on the bar. “I cried when they told me. It was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“Well, it seems they love you almost as much as I do.” Lynn stared into Jessie’s eyes for a moment, and Jessie had to look away when it became too intense because she was certain she would dissolve into a puddle. “I know we’re both dressed up and ready to party, but can we go back to your place and have that pizza and watch a movie? I really don’t feel like going out right now.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Are you really interested in this movie?” Jessie’s head had been in Lynn’s lap, but she sat up and ran a finger along Lynn’s jaw as she spoke. She grinned when Lynn closed her eyes and shuddered.
“I’m not even sure I know what’s happening.”
“In the movie?” Jessie raised one eyebrow when Lynn opened her eyes.
“Yes, in the movie, you smartass.” Lynn leaned forward to kiss Jessie. “I’m fully aware of what’s happening between us.”
Jessie shifted slightly so she was facing Lynn, took her hands, and pulled Lynn on top of her. Jessie closed her eyes and lifted her hips as she let out a contented sigh.
When Lynn’s mouth covered hers, Jessie parted her lips to allow Lynn’s tongue room to explore. Her hands on Lynn’s butt, she urged her closer, grinding her pelvis into her. Lynn pulled back slightly and rested her forehead against Jessie’s.
“Are you sure about this?” Lynn asked when Jessie opened her eyes.
“Lynn, I really like where this is going.” Jessie brought her hands up the curve of Lynn’s ass and continued up her back. “Please, don’t stop.”
The way her jeans were pressing against her was driving Jessie crazy. She wanted to be naked in Lynn’s arms, and she wanted—needed—it to be soon.
“If I do something you don’t like, I want you to tell me, all right?”
“I need you to touch me, Lynn.” Jessie knew she sounded desperate, but she didn’t care. She needed to feel Lynn’s body, and she didn’t want to wait any longer. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Lynn got to her feet without a word and held a hand out to Jessie to help her up. Jessie stepped into her arms and pressed her lips to the hollow of Lynn’s throat, causing Lynn’s head to fall back and eliciting a groan.
“My knees may give out if we don’t get upstairs soon,” Lynn murmured. She took hold of Jessie’s hand and led her to the master bedroom.
Lynn stopped right inside the door and Jessie pulled her into an embrace, grasping the bottom of the sweatshirt Lynn had put on when they’d returned from the bar. Lynn tried to unbutton Jessie’s shirt, but her hands were shaking, and she couldn’t seem to get the buttons through the holes. Jessie stilled her hands and brought them to her lips.
“Rip it off. I need to feel you against me now, Lynn.” Jessie had never been the aggressor when it came to sex, but she wanted Lynn so badly she couldn’t control her desires. She watched in wonder as Lynn’s pupils dilated, and when Lynn ripped open her shirt, she walked Lynn backward to the bed, pushing her down onto the mattress when the backs of her knees touched it.
“You are so beautiful.” Jessie stared at Lynn and let her shirt fall to the floor, then reached behind her back to undo her bra. Lynn quickly removed her own bra and tossed it on the floor as Jessie hastily shed her pants and underwear. Lynn was propped up on her elbows, her feet on the floor, when Jessie straddled her, leaving the evidence of her desire on Lynn’s sweatpants. Lynn sat up and placed a hand firmly in the middle of Jessie’s back, urging her closer so she could take a nipple into her mouth. Jessie put her arms around Lynn’s neck, holding Lynn’s head tight against her breast as her own head fell back. “God, yes.”
Jessie was so aroused she was almost in pain. She forced her hips to stop moving because she was certain she would come any second. That wasn’t how she wanted her first time with a woman—with Lynn—to be. She pulled away and looked into Lynn’s eyes, both of them breathing heavily.
“Take your pants off.” She rolled off Lynn and onto her side. Lynn made quick work of the clothes she still had on, and then she was lying next to Jessie, their naked bodies pressed tight together. “You feel so damn good.”
Jessie ran her hand down Lynn’s abdomen, but she stopped, suddenly nervous, when the muscles tightened under her fingers and Lynn moaned. Jessie pulled her hand away.
“Jess, what’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid I might disappoint you.” Jessie looked away. Where had the lump in her throat come from? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was definitely the worst possible time to develop performance anxiety.
“Ah, God, you could never disappoint me, Jess.” She touched Jessie’s cheek, gently turning her head back so she could look into her eyes. “I love you, Jessie, and that’s all that matters.”
“I’ve never done this before,” Jessie said, as if Lynn wasn’t already aware of her inexperience. She had to force herself to not look away again. “What if I can’t…satisfy you?”
“Then we’ll have a lot of fun practicing until you get it right. You may not believe it, but that isn’t what this is about for me. This is about sharing something intimate with you. You can’t even begin to imagine how I feel about you—how I’ve always felt about you, for as long as I can remember.”
“How do you always seem to know exactly the right things to say?” Jessie asked. Lynn smiled and shrugged. Jessie tried to kiss her, but Lynn pulled back, obviously not finished.
“I’m not worried about what happens—or even what doesn’t happen—in this bed here tonight.”
Lynn threaded her fingers through Jessie’s hair and pulled her close before kissing her passionately. Lynn pushed Jessie onto her back and propped herself up on one elbow so she could look at her face.
“Physical satisfaction, if it doesn’t happen tonight,” Lynn said quietly, her fingertips skimming across Jessie’s midsection, “will certainly come in time. I have absolutely no doubt.”
Jessie closed her eyes and enjoyed the way Lynn was touching her. She wasn’t entirely convinced Lynn meant what she was saying or if she was only trying to help her relax. Either way, her words were having a rather profound effect.
“What if we spend the next twenty years together and I still haven’t managed to get the hang of this?” Jessie waited for Lynn to look at her and tried not to melt under Lynn’s smoldering look. A gasp escaped her as Lynn’s wandering fingers moved down below her belly button. Her heart stuttered as the words she’d spoken took hold. It was presumptuous of her to think Lynn would be viewing this in terms of years, not days. She held her breath while she waited for Lynn to respond.
Lynn was silent as she appeared to consider the question, and her eyes moved down to where her fingers stopped their exploration. She shook her head after a moment and removed her hand before looking at Jessie’s face again.
“No,” she finally said. Jessie would have taken her seriously if not for the grin Lynn was obviously trying to hide. “I think if it took any more than ten years, I’d probably have to kick you to the curb.”
“Then I guess I’d better keep practicing until I get it right.” Jessie r
elaxed slightly with their banter, pure arousal quickly replacing her tension. “If that’s okay with you.”
“That is definitely okay with me, as long as I’m the one you’ll be practicing with.” Jessie turned onto her side to face Lynn, whose hand moved slowly from Jessie’s shoulder down toward her hip.
“I don’t want to practice with anyone but you.” Jessie marveled at the way her skin tingled under Lynn’s touch. She wanted Lynn more than she’d ever thought it possible to want anyone. Lynn’s hand moved lightly across Jessie’s hip as their lips touched, and she was gone. She lost herself in the passion and allowed her instincts to take over. She moaned softly when Lynn’s tongue caressed her bottom lip, and Lynn groaned in pleasure when Jessie rolled onto her back, pulling Lynn over on top of her.
Jessie slowly felt her way up Lynn’s torso and Lynn kissed her neck before moving down to her shoulders. Jessie let her head drop back and closed her eyes. Her entire body hummed as Lynn’s tongue gently caressed a nipple.
Lynn’s hand moved down Jessie’s leg, then slowly back up the inside of her thigh, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. Jessie let her legs fall open and moaned in pleasure when Lynn’s fingers found the swollen, aching flesh between her legs.“Ah, Jessie,” Lynn murmured when she encountered the liquid heat. Jessie moaned in pleasure and her hips lifted slightly. Lynn’s fingers slid easily through the wet folds and entered her slowly. Lynn moved back up to look into Jessie’s eyes. “You’re so incredibly wet for me.”
“Yes,” Jessie said on a breath. She struggled to keep her eyes open. “It’s all for you, Lynn. All I have to do is think about you.”
“This is your last chance to change your mind.” Jessie simply stared at her in disbelief. “Once I start, I won’t want to stop.”
The anxiety Jessie had felt before had completely dissipated, and she had never been more relaxed or in control of what she was doing. It seemed to be the most natural thing in the world. It was right. In her heart, she knew that.
True Confessions Page 11
