“Hey, you two. Everything okay? It’s nothing but harmless thunder,” Toni said, slowly pulling herself up into a sitting position on the couch. She paused closing her eyes.
Abby frowned and moved toward Toni. If she guessed right, the woman was having a dizzy spell. “We are fine, but what are you doing?”
“Bathroom break.”
“Well, then wait for me to help you stand up at least,” Abby said holding out a hand as Toni opened her eyes. Again, a look passed between them, and when Toni took her hand, a warmth filled her. Standing, Toni let herself be pulled closer to Abby. The heat grew, and even though a wave of nervousness washed over her, Abby fought it down and did not step back. Instead, she looked into Toni’s face and saw seriousness was back in her eyes. Abby wanted to kiss her. The urge was intense.
As if reading her mind, Toni moved her face closer. “I want to kiss you,” she whispered. Abby felt the warmth of her lips as she spoke and not hesitating any longer, realizing she waited decades for that, took the woman's mouth. Toni moaned in response and slid her arms around Abby to pull her in tight. Their bodies melded together, and Abby was on fire. Slipping her hands along Toni’s arms and then around her neck, she took the kiss deeper, their tongues touching, making Abby burn with heat. Finally, everything was right. Perhaps not everywhere in her life, but between the two of them, the kiss was perfect. Not until a crack of thunder in the distance echoed across the sky did they break apart.
“Bathroom,” Toni whispered. “While you open some wine? This will be a great storm to watch.”
After closing the doors to the patio, Abby poured two full glasses of a new, red blend, while keeping an eye of the darkening sky through the windows. Regardless of the weather, she could not keep her thoughts from playing over the magical kiss she just shared with Toni. Or what other things they may possibly share later. Abby was incredibly aroused at just the idea of having her childhood friend, her possible lover, touch her. Years passed since her wreck of a marriage involved anything resembling intimacy. Abby didn't realize how much she missed the connection between two people wholly attracted to each other. And she was definitely into Toni.
On cue, the woman came slowly from the hall. “Want to try outside until the rain comes?” Toni asked. Abby paused, the familiar concerns around staying safe crossing her mind. No, she was not going to miss a chance to watch the storm with Toni. She picked up the two glasses.
“Let’s do it,” she agreed feeling proud of her courage. “It will be fun.”
Toni nodded, grimaced at the pain in her head, and then laughed. “I need to stop doing that.”
Abby smiled, loving the sound of Toni’s laugh. There seemed to be nothing she was not drawn to with her. “Do you need help getting to the chairs?” she asked. “I can run the wine over and then come back to lend a hand.”
“I think I can manage if we go slow,” she answered as a smile crossed her face. “I’m feeling better by the minute.”
With her hands full, Abby could do nothing to hide the warmth rising inside her, which she knew was making her cheeks turn pink. “I’m so glad to hear that,” she murmured, a little surprised at the huskiness of her own voice. Suddenly, Abby was not so sure she wanted to go out into the storm. Maybe the time had arrived at last for her to face Toni and tell her what she wanted to so long ago. Like in their hidden cave when she was thirteen and before the world changed so much for her. For a second, the sadness of the years which filled the rest of her childhood threatened to spoil the moment. Especially when she thought of how Toni never kept her promise, and they had not stayed best friends forever. In fact, after they rushed back from the beach that last day of August, she never heard from Toni again. Not until the chance encounter on the beach.
Closing her eyes to ward off the once familiar pain and disappointment, Abby didn’t hear Toni move closer. Only when the woman was taking the wine glasses from her hands did she realize Toni was right beside her. “Abby,” she said, her voice gentle. “Let’s not—”
Her statement was interrupted by another crack of thunder so hard, and so close it shook the house. Suddenly, the lights flickered and then went out. The only remaining light was an eerie white glow from the outside where the sun made its last stand against the thunderclouds. Struggling to cope with the swirl of emotions, memories, and fears, Abby started to shake. Covering her face with her hands, she was sure a full anxiety attack was about to descend upon her when a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her. “You're okay, Abby. I'm right here, and I won't let anything bad happen to you,” came Toni's reassuring voice. So familiar. Exactly as she had when they were teenagers, and Abby was holding back from anything new and even slightly daring. Toni had a way of making things seem less scary.
Suddenly, it was as if she was thirteen again, and a sob escaped as she leaned into Toni. “But that's not true,” she murmured against Toni's shoulder. “You didn't keep your promise. We didn't stay best friends.” She felt the woman stiffen at the statement, but she stayed silent. “No letters. Nothing.”
“Abby—”
“No. Don’t,” Abby responded as she pulled away wishing the lights would come back on. She hated the dark. Wrapping her arms around her body, she willed herself to keep calm. She would not break down in front of Toni. After her outburst, she was embarrassed enough for being mad at her for something silly promised decades before. “I’m going to find some candles.”
“Please let me explain,” Toni whispered, but Abby continued to feel her way to the kitchen where she remembered a candle and lighter were on the counter.
Finding them, she lit the wick and instantly felt better. “It’s fine,” she replied before looking at Toni and seeing nothing but sadness in the flickering golden glow on the woman’s face.
“I wanted to send you letters,” Toni continued. “But my mother intercepted my first one. In it, my words were… passionate.” Abby felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe there really was a reason. Toni sighed. “Do you remember how religious my family was? Catholic? Well, I’m sure you can imagine the response.”
Abby nodded slowly imagining how the situation would have played out. “What did your parents do?”
“Their answer for my “repulsive thinking” was to send me to a Catholic boarding school,” she answered. “The nuns kept an especially close eye on me.”
“And no letters,” Abby said feeling as if a huge weight, only at that moment she realized she carried since she was a teenager, was lifted. Toni's rejection. It wasn’t real. A clap of thunder rolled through the sky as if to underscore her realization.
As the sound of rain falling started to patter against the side of the windows, she felt Toni move closer again. “No letters. In or out,” she said softly. “But when I was able to send some, they came back undeliverable. You moved, and I couldn't find you.” That was true. Abby had indeed moved.
“My brother and I went to live with my grandparents,” she said stopping to swallow down some of the pain from the memories. “My parents... my parents were killed in a car accident not long after we left the beach house that summer.”
Without a word, Toni pulled her close. “And I wasn't there for you,” she said, and Abby let herself melt into the woman's hold. Toni nuzzled her face into Abby's long hair. “I'm so sorry. It won't happen again.”
An ache of happiness filled Abby's chest, and suddenly she wanted Toni to kiss her again. Like earlier. Like she wished they had that summer day. Tilting her face up to look into Toni's, their eyes met, and all the emotion she felt was in those blue eyes. “Kiss me,” she said, and Toni didn't hesitate. Their lips met, and the electricity between them sparked. A warmth radiated through her, and a sudden need to have more of that woman made her take Toni's face in her hands. In response, Toni took the kiss deeper. When their tongues touched, Abby gasped from the wanting building in her. This was Toni. Her Toni. So many years later than she imagined, but here at last.
Breaking the kiss, Toni rested her forehead agains
t Abby’s. “I want you,” she murmured. “Can you ever forgive me for letting you down back then?”
“Oh, Toni,” Abby said, a hint of tears threatening through the passion burning inside her. “I already have.” She heard Toni exhale slowly, no doubt unsure how Abby would answer.
“Thank you,” Toni said, emotion thick in her voice as she took Abby's hand and led them toward one of the couches. The confident woman Abby remembered was back, and desire smoldered inside her as they moved across the room. But when Toni pushed her gently down against the cushions, her passion roared into a flame. In the distance, she heard thunder again, but then could focus on nothing but Toni’s hands on her. They were moving up her body, slipping under her blouse, setting her skin on fire when her fingertips grazed her bare flesh. “Is this okay?” Toni asked.
“God, you have no idea,” was her answer and to show her how good it felt, Abby unfastened her buttons and let her blouse fall open. Encouraged, Toni leaned in to kiss the bare skin between her breasts. Arching her back, Abby felt her nipples throb at the thought she was going to finally make love with her long-ago crush. Then, a thought came to her, and she put her hands on Toni's shoulders. “Wait,” she said. “What about your head? Are you dizzy?”
Toni chuckled from between her breasts. “I am, but not from any head injury. Now, take off this damn bra and let me kiss you.”
Giggling, Abby reached behind her back and quickly complied. Before she could pull the garment free, Toni was already at her nipple, sucking it into her hot mouth. With a moan, Abby ran her hands into the woman’s short hair and pulled her closer. “That feels amazing,” she gasped as Toni’s teeth grazed the sensitive tip before she switched to the other and sucked even harder. The sensation was so incredible, Abby felt it tug at a place between her legs. When Toni’s mouth trailed down her body to follow it, she squirmed. They were moving so fast, yet she did not want to slow down either. It was so long since anyone touched her like that, wanted her like that. Still, when she felt Toni’s fingers on the top button of her capris, she reached to take the woman’s hands in hers.
Toni stopped and looked up to meet Abby’s eyes. They twinkled in the candlelight. “Do you trust me?” she asked, her voice muted by the rain and wind raging outside. The answer was simple. She did and realized she wanted nothing more than for that wonderful, sexy woman to taste her.
“Yes,” she answered, her voice thick with want. Without another word, Toni slipped her hands inside the waistband of Abby’s pants and tugged. Wiggling to help the fabric slide over her hips, and as Toni pulled them free, Abby could not believe what she was doing. All that kept Toni from her nakedness was a thin pair of simple panties. Undaunted, her lover pulled the damp fabric down and slid a finger through Abby’s swollen lips.
“Jesus, you are so wet,” Toni gasped.
Abby smiled. “You make me this way.” In response, Toni dipped her head and let her tongue follow the same path, parting her open, sliding over her sensitive clit. “Jesus,” Abby said, feeling her hips buck involuntarily, as if her body knew what it needed even if she was still feeling shy.
“Is that okay?” Toni asked, but trailed her tongue along Abby again before she could answer.
As her breath hitched, it was all she could do to breathe out a “yes” before Toni continued, her breath hot and her mouth hungry. Suddenly, Toni was pulling the panties off her before sliding her body between Abby's legs. If she wanted to stop, that was the time, yet she realized she didn't. Her body ached for release already, and that wonderful, sexy woman was who she needed to make her explode. Toni did not disappoint. With nothing to slow her progress, she used her mouth to tickle and tease Abby while she squirmed beneath her. Moaning with pleasure from all the sensations spiraling through her, she wasn't sure how much longer she could take it, and then Toni slowly sucked Abby's clit, and it was too much.
The orgasm rocking her, Abby cried out while her body shook, and Toni continued to please her until the last wave faded. Not having come like that for a very long time, perhaps never quite so quickly, Abby hummed with pleasure. She took Toni’s face in her hands and lifted until they were eye to eye. Kissing her gently, but seductively, Abby relished the feel of the woman’s mouth. She wanted more of it.
“Take me to the bedroom,” she whispered against Toni's lips. Just then, another roll of thunder cracked overhead, and the rain pounded harder. Usually, Abby would have felt the familiar anxiety threaten to attack, but not that time. At that moment, she was in the arms of her new lover and dearest friend.
Abby felt the cool, wet sand under her feet as she let Toni lead her. Her hands covered her eyes so she couldn’t see the path, but Abby didn’t worry. Her best friend’s hands were on her shoulders to guide them along. For two weeks, they spent nearly every moment together. In a way, it was like they were teenagers again. Inseparable. Walking the beach and looking for souvenirs during the day, sometimes sharing stories, sometimes merely enjoying the quiet. Staying up late into the night talking about wants and desires. Only the lovemaking was new, and Abby didn't mind a bit. They were still learning each other's bodies, and she relished every moment.
Today started a little different, though. Toni had disappeared down the beach right after coffee, with Sally on her heels, and been gone for almost two hours. When she returned, she looked quite pleased with herself, and Abby's curiosity was even more piqued. “What have you two been up to?” she asked, and Toni simply smiled.
“You'll have to wait until tonight to find out,” was her answer. Even though they stayed busy working on an elaborate jigsaw puzzle, napping, and making love, Abby could not get the idea of the surprise out of her mind.
Finally, unable to take it, she pulled Toni into her arms. “When are you going to tell me?” she insisted.
Toni kissed her on the nose. “I’m not,” she answered with a laugh.
Abby furrowed her brow. “But I thought—”
Then, Toni kissed her on the mouth. Starting off tenderly, it quickly turned much more heated. Abby forgot about everything but the feel of the kiss for a moment, but then pulled back. “Nice try,” she said. “But I want details.”
“Then, Sally and I will show you,” Toni said and with that, led her out of the house and then down the beach. It didn't take long for Abby to realize where they were headed. The tide was out, and the walk was taking them far from the beach house. Her heart beat faster at the idea Toni was leading her to their secret hideaway. Abby never considered going to the cave when she had first arrived, and neither had mentioned it. Still, when they drew close, Toni surprised her by insisting she cover her eyes.
“But…” she started only to have Toni shake her head.
“Do you trust me?” she asked, and Abby slipped her arms around Toni’s shoulders.
“More than anyone,” was her answer, and they kissed for a moment before Toni pulled away and lifted Abby's hands to her eyes.
“Cover them,” she insisted, and so there they were, Abby standing in the middle of the cool space and wondering what was about to happen. Toni turned her ever so slightly. “Okay. You can look.”
Opening her eyes, Abby blinked to let her eyes adjust to the dim light. As they focused, her breath caught. On the wall, freshly cut into the sandstone over the long-ago washed away original, was a carving. It was exactly as it once had been. Feeling Toni come up behind her and slip her arms around her waist, tears of happiness welled up in Abby’s eyes as she looked at the surprise. A heart, with their initials and below it, the words she remembered so well. Best Friends Forever.
About KC Luck
Bestselling author KC Luck published her first indie f/f novel– a scf-fi romance titled Rescue Her Heart – in May 2018. Since then, she has written seven additional books (which include The Darkness Trilogy and The Lesbian Billionaires Club series) and multiple short stories across many genres. KC is active in the f/f community and is a member of the GLCS board of directors.
To receive updates on
KC Luck’s books, please consider subscribing to her mailing list via http://eepurl.com/dx_iEf. Also, KC Luck is always thrilled to hear from readers at [email protected]
www.kc-luck.com
Order Up!
Cara Malone
Chapter 1
Zoe
“Order up!”
Zoe Cruz had heard that baritone bark at least a hundred times already this summer, and it was only her second week at Cape Burger. She lifted her head over the hood of the vintage Mustang she was delivering food to, nodding at her boss, Vinny. He was in his mid-fifties and he sweat through his Cape Burger polo by nine a.m. every day, but he ran the drive-in like a well-oiled machine. As soon as he got Zoe’s confirmation – a silent nod – he went back to manning the grill and she directed her attention back to the Mustang.
“Anything else I can getcha?” she asked with a sweet little smile, popping one foot back so it rested on the toe stop of her roller skate. The tourists and summer residents of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, came here for the sea views, the shopping, and – of course – a little kitsch… so a sweet smile never hurt Zoe’s tips.
“Nope, I think this’ll do it,” the man in the Mustang said, inspecting the contents of his to-go bag. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
He pressed a five-dollar bill into Zoe’s palm and she thanked him, then did a little half-moon turn on her skates to head back to the grill. Stuffing the five into her apron, she thought, Harvard, here I come. That tip might not buy her textbooks, but it would keep her in ramen noodles for a couple of weeks once the fall semester started up.
Summer Loving Page 10