“I’m sorry,” Kit said. “Was it too much? I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“You made the right assumption.” Thea was breathing hard. “I just don’t want to share your incredible ass with my neighbors, so get it inside. Now.”
Kit must have been as eager as she was because she jumped to her feet and scooped up the food in record time. As soon as they were inside, Thea pulled Kit to her. Kit dropped the food and slipped her hands under Thea’s shirt.
Thea let Kit explore. When she ran her hands over Thea’s breasts, it felt like all pleasure signals fired at once and quite a few headed south. She didn’t remember ever being so wet.
“Bedroom please.” Thea pointed in the direction of her room.
“Lead the way.”
Thea looked at Kit’s belt buckle. Not a tool belt but working for me just fine.
Kit saw her looking. Thea could see the desire in her eyes. Thea grabbed the buckle and tugged. Kit followed her down the hall. In front of the bed, Thea turned Kit by the buckle and gave her a gentle push. Kit landed on her back and Thea quickly straddled her.
“You always seem to end up here.” Kit rested her hands on Thea’s hips.
“I like what you do to me when I’m here,” Thea said.
Kit sat up, holding Thea to her, and kissed her deeply. She broke the kiss long enough to slip off her shirt and unclasp her bra. Kit’s mouth was on her immediately, sucking in her nipple, hard, just like Thea liked. Thea dug her fingers into Kit’s shoulders.
Kit flipped their position and was on top of Thea before she realized what had happened. Kit settled her weight on her and Thea moaned. Kit felt so good pressed between her legs. She yanked Kit’s shirt off and her bra along with it.
“Why do you still have pants on?” Thea yanked on Kit’s belt buckle. “Why do I still have pants on?”
“I can take care of that.”
Thea shivered when the cool air hit her naked skin. She didn’t shiver long. Kit covered her again and pressed her thigh to Thea’s center. She wanted more but Kit pulled back. She grabbed Kit’s ass and tried to pull her closer. Kit smiled down at her.
“Impatient.”
“You haven’t done anything yet. Wipe that grin off your face,” Thea said.
Kit took Thea’s nipple in her mouth and she arched off the bed. Kit didn’t let her get used to the sensation before moving down her body. Her mouth was on Thea’s clit, bringing her close to the edge and then it was gone.
Thea arched again, looking for Kit’s mouth. She needed more.
“Less teasing Kit, more fucking.”
Kit hesitated only a moment before taking Thea’s clit fully in her mouth and slipping two fingers inside her.
“Fuck, yes.” She held Kit’s head in place and bucked her hips in rhythm with Kit’s fingers. She felt her orgasm building but tried to hold it off. She wanted Kit’s mouth on her and her inside a little longer. Finally, she gave in and let the orgasm crest over her. “Now you deserve that goofy grin.”
Kit pulled out and leaned over her.
“Is that right? Maybe I should try again, just to be sure?”
Thea kissed her and could taste herself on Kit’s lips.
“We have a lifetime for practice. Right now, you need to get on your back. I have plans for you.”
“I love my woman with a plan.” Kit rolled onto her back and pulled Thea on top of her.
“I love you.” Thea kissed her softly. “Thank you for coming home.”
Epilogue—One year later
Kit checked the burgers on her grill, and Josh looked at her from his grill next to her.
“You sure you don’t want to be out there? Someone else can do the grilling,” Josh said.
“Nowhere I’d rather be.” Kit pressed the burger and let it sizzle.
Josh gave her a look. He pointed down the library steps, partway across the park. “We both know that’s not true.”
Kit’s heart leapt when she caught sight of Thea. Nothing could make Kit’s heart race like one look at her. She acknowledged Josh’s point. The party was supposed to be on the library property, but it had spilled well into the park. Frankie had wanted a BBQ for her high school graduation. Of course, the whole neighborhood turned up. It was Frankie, after all.
Kit looked back to Thea. Daisy was walking with her toward the group of musicians, and it looked like Daisy was Thea’s very own, extra-large, security detail.
“Ms. Marsden, your burgers appear to be aflame.”
Kit looked down at her grill. Thea had completely distracted her. It was a good thing she didn’t stop by the job sites. Kit would be dangerous with power tools if Thea were nearby.
“Walter, for God’s sake, call me Kit.”
Walter considered her for longer than Kit found comfortable.
“Did you stop by for something?”
“Only to thank you for throwing this party for Frankie,” Walter said.
“You don’t have to thank me for that.” Kit stared him down. She wanted to make her point clear. “I love her too.”
“I know you do.” Walter shifted from foot to foot. “And it’s obvious how much you love Thea. I guess the true purpose for my visit is to say, welcome to the family…Kit.”
Walter walked away before Kit could gather herself enough to respond.
“That felt like a moment,” Josh said. “Did I just witness a moment?”
“You have no idea.” Why did someone using her name feel so good?
Kit was so caught off guard by Walter finally addressing her like a normal person she didn’t see Thea approach. It wasn’t until she wrapped her arms around her from behind that she was even aware she was there.
“Hi, sexy.” Thea nuzzled into Kit’s neck. “We know how to throw a party. Any chance you can sneak away from this grill?”
Kit handed her spatula to Josh and threw off her grill apron. “All yours.”
“You sure are.” Thea pulled her away from the grill and down the library steps. “Come dance with me.”
Kit wasn’t at all sure about the dancing part, but she’d go wherever Thea led.
They passed the Zookeeper and Parrot Master as they made their way through the crowd. It had been declared a holiday, and no business was being conducted in the park today, although there was a prominent table staffed with Star Recovery volunteers should anyone feel like making a change in their life. The same went for the family dinners Frankie had instigated. On community nights, everyone was welcome, and Parrot Master and the Zookeeper took the night off of work. It worked beautifully. It wasn’t perfect, but it was headway, and that was something.
They both patted her on the shoulder and gave Thea and Kit a genuine hello. Frankie ran over and hugged both of them tightly. She was taking a gap year and working at Star Recovery and the library to get some more experience with the type of clients she eventually wanted to help as a lawyer. Next year she was off to college.
When they got close to the music, Thea slipped into Kit’s arms. Kit’s dancing skills consisted solely of swaying slowly with Thea in her arms, but Thea didn’t seem to mind.
“Are you having a good time?” Thea pressed closer.
“I’m with you. That’s all I ever need,” Kit said. “But there’s one thing I’m curious about. You told me once I’m not a Batman. Did you ever decide who I am?”
Thea put her hand on Kit’s cheek while they danced. It was enough to raise Kit’s blood pressure, but not enough to scandalize the crowd.
“No,” Thea said. “I realized I don’t need a masked superhero. I have you. And you are all I ever need, now and forever. Move in with me. I want to wake up with you every morning.”
“Wherever you are is home. That’s where I want to be. And I’ll be sure the tool belt is the first thing I pack.”
Kit saw Thea blush and laughed. “I feel like I should send Carrie flowers for letting slip I should bring that home with me each night.”
“Speaking of Carrie, she and Josh s
eem awfully cozy.” Thea looked over her shoulder in the direction of the grill.
Kit leaned in so she could whisper in Thea’s ear. “Turns out, he has a tool belt too.”
“You and Josh are nothing but trouble.” Thea shook her head and laughed. “It’s a good thing I love you. And your tool belt.”
“I’ll get a bigger, fancier one once I finish my general contractor licensing requirements and Josh and I start building the business together.”
“Is that true?” Thea licked her lips. It didn’t look voluntary.
“No. But I’ll take you shopping and you can pick out any one you want.”
“I’ve already got everything I want,” Thea said.
Kit pulled Thea closer. This woman, this place, was where she was meant to be. It took her a while to find her way, but now she was finally at peace. She’d never imagined happiness like this, love like this. Kit looked around at the party, her friends, her family, blood and found, and Thea, the woman she loved. She sighed happily. For the first time, she felt like she truly understood the definition of serenity.
About the Author
Jesse Thoma wishes that Swiss Army Knife were an official job title because she would use it.
Jesse grew up in Northern California but headed east for college. She never looked back, although her baseball allegiance is still loyally with the San Francisco Giants. She has lived in New England long enough to leave extra time in the morning to scrape snow off the car and use the letter “r” inappropriately.
Jesse is blissfully married and is happiest when she is spending time with her family or working on her next novel.
Serenity is Jesse’s fifth novel. Seneca Falls was a Finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in romance. Data Capture was a Finalist for a Golden Crown Literary Society “Goldie” Award.
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A Love that Leads to Home by Ronica Black. For Carla Sims and Janice Carpenter, home isn’t about location, it’s where your heart is. (978-1-63555-675-9)
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