I say nothing.
Back at the cabin, Astrid carefully inventories her memory cards, copying the data from them onto her computer before putting them away in a locked box. She has a lot of them. She doesn’t overwrite any of them on a trip, she tells me, preferring to use new ones each day just in case there’s a data loss at some point. She has Wi-Fi here in the cabin, and she uploads to the cloud each night—she’s doing that now—but you can never be too safe.
Another point she has in common with her cousin.
I think again about telling her how I was reckless at the start of my Twitter campaign. How I almost got caught, and Marcus figured it out before anyone else did. How he helped me.
Why hasn’t she asked me about that again?
She probably knows all about his tech secrets.
She probably has secrets of her own, and they’re none of my business. And maybe Marcus told her about me, anyway.
I make us a quick, cold dinner with the last of our groceries. “Do you want your food there?”
She looks up from her computer and gives me an absentminded smile. “I’m almost done. You go ahead and I’ll eat in a minute or two.”
Or twenty. I’ve come to learn that she has no sense of time when she’s buried in her work.
I read a bit as I munch on my sandwich, then make a coffee, because we don’t need to go to bed early tonight. My pulse picks up.
She’s still buried in her work, though. I can’t interrupt her now. She didn’t take that many pictures today, but they weren’t planned out, and I’ve learned those take longer for her to sort through than the ones she’s taken as part of a plan. I don’t want to know how long it will take her to pore over them, and selfishly, I hope she won’t want to do that all night long.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I finally say, and she nods without looking up.
But when I step out of the bathroom, wrapped in an oversized towel, her computer is neatly stowed away and she’s nowhere to be found.
I close my bedroom door and lean against it on the inside.
I should get dressed.
What does one wear to seduce a lesbian who thinks you’re straight, because you had a boyfriend two weeks ago?
Don’t hit on your boss, says the angel on one shoulder.
She’s not really your boss, says the angel on my other shoulder.
I refuse to consider that the devil is the voice of reason. Definitely two angels, both with valid points.
I’m going with Angel B.
I go with a t-shirt and shorts, skipping anything underneath, because if I’m lucky…I’ll get lucky. And if I’m not, I’ll have to awkwardly go to bed alone, and I might as well already be in comfortable stuff to sleep in.
As I’m tugging the t-shirt on, I hear her enter the bathroom beside me. The shower turns on. Is she this hyper-aware of my every move through this small space?
I stretch out on the bed and listen to the steady hum of the water. When it turns off, my pulse jacks up. I listen for more movement, but that’s all I can catch.
After an agonizing stretch of silence I finally leap off the bed and pace to the door.
When I open it, she’s right there on the other side, her hand raised as if she were about to knock.
“Hot tub?” she asks.
More anticipation? More longing? She’s a breath away from me, and suddenly anticipation isn’t nearly enough. “Is that what you want?”
Her eyes flare bright, and her lips part, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Because I was thinking…” I glance at her mouth, the back to her face. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a ridiculously long time.”
“We met two weeks ago.”
“My point exactly.” I give her a shaky smile. “Ages.”
I lift my hand, and she leans forward as I trace my index finger over the curved ridge of her upper lip, that perfect, snarky cupid’s bow.
“Brianne,” she breathes, and I shake my head.
“Please don’t tell me no.”
“This is a bad idea.”
“Is it?” I lift my finger, and she catches my wrist in her hand.
Her pupils dilate and she lets out a helpless whimper before she pulls my finger back to her mouth. She kisses it, the barest of touches, before releasing me to continue my exploration of her face.
I trail my touch along her jaw, under her ear, until my palm curves around the back of her neck. She closes her eyes as I squeeze there, and her lips part.
What does she taste like? That question bangs like a drum beat in my head, in my breasts, and lower. I close my eyes too, as I lean in.
Anticipation.
An almost kiss.
And then she closes the gap, she takes over, driving her hands into my hair. We hold each other fiercely and I suck in a breath. It’s her breath, really, because her mouth is on mine, and it’s anticipation no more.
This kiss is better than I ever imagined. It’s fiery and intense, a clash of restraint and desire. Her tongue slides against the space between my teeth, and I meet it with my own. We push and taste and swallow each other, parrying back and forth as hunger takes over. More, yes, this, now. My thoughts are chaotic and primal as she presses me against the wall in a mad rush of lips and tongues and the nip of teeth.
When she pulls back, breathless, her eyes are glassy. I’m sure I look the same. I release my grip on her neck and stroke her cheeky softly. “That was...Oh. My. God. You’re really good at that.”
She grins, and it’s like her laugh. A gorgeous and rare gift. Less rare, though, as we spend more time together.
It’s only been a few days. Truth. But sometimes things happen quickly. Life can dump you sideways in a single moment. Sometimes that’s terrifying in a bad way, and sometimes, as scary as it is, you might know deep down that the potential is amazing.
“Kiss me again,” I urge, tugging at her shirt.
She shakes her head, and pain slices through me. Don’t say no, don’t say no— “What am I going to do with you?” she murmurs instead.
“I have some ideas,” I admit.
Her eyes go wide and she leans in, her mouth closing over my bottom lip. She sucks it into her mouth, and I swear it’s hardwired to my clit, because oh my God that feels good.
“Please, Astrid…”
“You’re killing me.”
“The feeling is mutual, I promise you.” I twist around, sliding my fingers through hers so I can tug her toward my bed.
She groans behind me. “Why did Marcus send you to me? I’m failing at whatever test this is.”
I give her a wicked look over my shoulder. “I think he thought I could learn a few things.”
“I guarantee you he didn’t mean this.” She grabs me from behind, her hands sliding under my shirt, and just like that, the temperature in the room spikes hard.
Nobody’s touch has ever inflamed me like this. I spin around, reaching for her shirt as she pushes me onto the bed.
“We shouldn’t get carried away,” she says as she presses my hands over my head.
“Of course.” I hook my legs around hers and haul her down on top of me. “Kiss me again before I scream.”
Her mouth covers mine with a happy hum, and I close my eyes again, sinking into the sensation. Her tongue is magic as it coaxes mine to play.
Kissing Kaden was never like this.
That has to be the last thought you have of your ex, Angel B says. Excellent advice, angel. I strain against her hands, still pinning my wrists to the bed, and she releases me.
I twist our bodies so we tumble to the side. I want to touch her and see her and be touched and seen, all at the same time.
“When you said we should get carried away,” I murmur into the soft crook of her neck. “Were you thinking… only one orgasm each? Two?”
“I was thinking a goodnight kiss before I tucked you into bed and went back to my own room.” She slides her hand into my hair. “But that seems stupid after your idea.�
��
I laugh and lean into her as I sneak my hand up her shirt again. “Touch me, Astrid. Please. I want you to. I want you so much…”
She presses her forehead against mine, her face blurry it’s so close. But her next question, a single word, is crystal clear. “Why?”
I swallow hard. “Because…because…I don’t know. Because I can’t help this crazy feeling inside that I need to know what you taste like.”
“Oh, honey.”
“I’ve done this before,” I whisper. “Well, not this. But when I was young, I fooled around with a friend. And I liked it. I’m not confused.”
“You don’t feel confused,” she murmurs, leaning in to kiss me. “I just don’t want this to be messy in the morning.”
“It won’t be.” My entire body shakes with relief as I take her hand and slide it, inch by inch, down my body, until her fingertips meet my bare thigh. “When I was a summer camp counselor, there were always hook-ups at the end of the summer. That’s what this is. Just the end of the gig, blowing-off-steam kind of thing. Because you’re gorgeous, Astrid. And I really want to have sex with you.”
I hold her hand against my skin as she searches my face, and my obvious lust must have won out, because she leans in and kisses me again. We both gasp as her fingers change direction, moving up an inch to worry the edge of the thin fabric.
My skin feels hot and tight under her touch, and I spread my legs farther apart, encouraging her fingers to dip over the taut tendon at the top of my thigh onto the softer pad of flesh on the inside curve.
“That feels so good,” I whisper, the words catching in my throat. I want to memorize the cool press of her fingertips at the juncture of my hip and leg. Four magical points connecting us. Six, if I count my legs around hers, and yeah, I do. I’ll count everything she gives me.
I press my palm against her cheek, and she turns to kiss it. “Mmm. I like that, too. Do it again.”
She grins against my hand, then parts her lips and traces a half circle on my palm with the tip of her tongue. I groan and wiggle my hips at her, reminding her of what I want more than anything.
“You want me to touch you?” Her words scorch me from the inside out.
“Please,” I whisper. I dart my gaze back and forth between her face and her right hand as it slides under the edge of my shorts. The look on her face when she realizes that I’m not wearing any underwear is a gift in itself. Her eyes get really wide, like she’s just found a stash of Halloween candy. Or a twenty-dollar bill in a pocket after doing laundry, although that maybe doesn’t excite her in the same way it does me.
Her fingers glide over my sensitive pussy, first over my swollen lips, then just inside, where she finds me wet and slick and eager for more touching. I squirm and spread my legs.
“You’re so wet,” she breathes. “You feel amazing. Do you like fingers inside?”
“I love fingers. Anywhere you want to put them.” And I mean that. I’m going to be shameless with her. She could do anything to me.
“More than one?”
“All of them if you want. Is it too soon to beg?” I’m panting, and my pelvis seemed to have a mind of its own, trying to make firmer contact with her hand.
“Oh sweetie, I think I’m the one who’s going to be reduced to begging soon. Can I take your shorts off?”
Together we push the fabric down my legs. I kick the scrap to the floor as she rolls me onto my back. She hovers over me for a moment, then surges, pressing me back against the pillows, and her mouth is on my neck, her thigh between my legs and her hands are everywhere, cupping my breasts, squeezing my hips, and then again between my legs.
Sure, confident fingers. One, then two, thrusting into me and stretching me wide at the same time. Oh, holy hell.
“Yes,” I breathe. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Fuck me. Fuck. Me.”
She groans into my neck as she grinds against my thigh. “That’s the plan. You’re so pretty. And so tight.”
I bit my lip and nodded, whimpering. “You need to be…naked, too.”
She curls her fingers inside, finding a point that makes me see stars, and I arch my back, pressing my clit into the palm of her hand. “Soon. First I want you to squeeze me tight.” She rocks against me and lowers her voice. “I want to feel your pussy come hard for me, okay?”
Okay? How could that not be okay? I ride her hand as she fucks another finger into me, three fingers stretching me wide now, and her thumb finds my clit.
That pushes me the final step toward ecstasy. I suck in a breath and squeeze my thighs hard around her hand, holding it deep inside me as pleasure consumes me in a dark, gorgeous drape of pure feeling.
As I ease out of the fog, I realize I’ve wrapped my arms around her neck, holding her face to my neck. I laugh, hesitantly at first, then with abandon.
“Oh my god.” I ease my grip. “Wow.”
She tilts her head up, eyes bright, and I think I’m definitely going to die of happiness as she lifts her fingers to her mouth and sucks the taste of me off them.
Unconsciously, I lick my lips, too. As her eyes drift to my mouth, I trace my hands lightly up her torso. She shivers as I caress the side curve of her breasts and again when my fingers trail on her neck. Lifting my head enough to make contact, I bump my nose against hers, then brush our lips together.
It’s not like our earlier kisses. It’s tentative, sweet, and unbearably hot. Well, that’s the same. Fuck, I’ve been kissing completely the wrong way my entire life. It could have been like this?
And oh god, but she tastes like me. It’s new and exciting and almost foreign on her lips, on her skin under my nose. Being pushed into my mouth with her tongue. That makes me wet and achy all over again, and I’ve already gotten my orgasm.
Now it’s her turn.
12
Astrid
I can think of all the right things to say as Brianne starts to strip me out of my clothes.
You don’t need to, or That was just as much for me as it was for you.
Lies. Damn lies.
I want her mouth on me. I want her naked body pressed against mine, her thigh against my cunt. I want to come on her skin, her hands, her tongue.
I want this woman more than is logical or maybe even possible for how short a time we’ve known each other, but I want her all the same.
I’m desperate for her to own me, body and soul.
In the morning, we’ll be able to put this lust in proper perspective. Now is not the time, as she tugs my sweatpants down my legs and bites her lip when she sees my bright red panties, to worry about the details of what this is beyond the obvious—which is that it is amazing.
“I’m good with whatever you want,” I whisper, tugging my t-shirt up my torso with just the tip of my index finger. But if you want to suck on my nipples, I’m so fucking game for that. It’s a leading invitation, really, and she follows my fingertip like a very good girl.
Her head burrows up under my shirt, and my head rolls back as her mouth closes over first one tight peak, then the other.
“Softer? Harder?”
“Yes.” I groan my pleasure as she swipes around one nipple with her tongue and tugs at the other with her fingers. “All the yes. More of that. Switch.”
“You’re yummy,” she says, laughter in her voice. “I wondered if you’d taste like lemons.”
I grin. “Do I?”
“Nope. You taste even better.” Her head pops out from under my shirt. “You taste like Astrid.”
I stare at her happy, beaming face, and something inside me snaps into place. Slowly I grin back, then I tug my shirt over my head. Be gone, clothes. You’re just in the way.
We both get all the way naked and then she climbs on top of me again. We fit together just so, and it’s been a while, maybe but I think she has done this before, because her legs slide through mine until our mounds bump into each other, and I writhe like I’ve been struck with a live wire.
“Mmm,” she says, the satisfied soun
d deep in her throat. “You like that?”
I look up at her through hooded eyes. “I love that. You could get me off just like that, grinding against me with your swollen little pussy. If you aren’t too sore.”
She shakes her head, her lips parted and her gaze glassy. “Not sore at all. I could come again, maybe.”
“God, yes.” I haul her onto me, and we kiss as she rubs herself off between my legs. I plant one heel against the bed and shift until my clit is rubbing between her pussy lips, and her slick wetness is right against mine. Fuck, fuck, fuck, yes.
My hands drift to her ass, then up her waist, and finally settle on the impossible softness of her breasts. I lift my head, and she arches her back, giving me the right angle to pull her flesh into my mouth.
The soft cry she let out as I suck sends me into the abyss, and as my body sails into the first spasms of my orgasm, she pushes me back, pinning me down as I held her before. She grinds against me, chasing her own climax. Take it, I want to tell her. Ride me all night long.
She doesn’t need all night, though. A few circles of her hips and she’s done, collapsing on top of me in the most welcome weight ever.
I kiss her neck and tangle my fingers in the strands of her hair.
And here I thought maybe we might sit next to each other in the hot tub so I could fantasize about her breasts yet again.
This was a much better idea.
13
Brianne
I feel Astrid roll out of bed before me when the coffee maker hisses to life the next morning. I’m honestly surprised she spent the whole night in my bed, so I give her a few minutes head start. I’m not sure how this is going to go. What is she thinking?
You could ask her.
I could. I will.
I roll over and pull the blanket over my head and give myself a few minutes to enjoy the delicious ache between my legs, first.
When I pull on my t-shirt and shorts and make my way to the kitchen, I find her in her usual spot next to the coffee maker.
“Good morning,” she says softly as I reach past her for a coffee cup.
Rogue Affair Page 9
