“Was there someone that you wanted to introduce to them?”
“Not really,” Madison said with a sigh. “I’ve been single for the last... Six years,” she said after a pause. “Wow. Anyway... I never really got serious with anyone. A few relationships over the years... But nothing that ever lasted more than a few months. The last one was a little over a year...”
“My dating history is pretty much the same. A few brief relationships, but nothing too serious... Until now,” Kacey said, bracing herself. She didn’t really know if Madison was on the same page or not. If this was really a sex thing, now was the perfect time for Madison to tell her that.
“Really?” Madison asked, reaching for her hand and covering it with her own.
Kacey nodded. “I know it’s early days... And we had a rocky start,” she said softly, daring herself to meet Madison’s eyes. She didn’t know how she was going to handle this rejection, but she clenched her jaw, waiting for Madison to say something.
“I mean this in the nicest possible way...” Kacey held her breath as she hung on Madison’s every word. “I never could have imagined this happening... I’ve seen other lecturers get involved with their students, but I never thought that would be me, and I certainly didn’t think I’d end up falling for you like I have,” Madison said, a smile tugging at her lips. “But I have... So, I guess we just need to figure out how we’re going to do this. I know you’re not a student of mine anymore, but you were, and there is, what? Fifteen years between us?”
“Fourteen and a half,” Kacey said, relief washing over her as Madison’s words sunk in.
Madison laughed, sinking back into the cushions. “Because that’s so much better.”
“I’m trying,” Kacey said, smiling at her. “And for the record, I’m crazy about you Madison, and even though I never thought this was something that could happen, I’m so grateful that is has... Everyone’s noticed how happy I am. My mother even said something when I showed up for my shift today, and I tried to put it down to my run, but she could tell it was more than that.”
“Did you tell her about me?”
“Kind of... I told her I was seeing someone, and I didn’t intend to tell her, but she overheard me asking Sherri to cover your table for me. She wanted to know why I wasn’t taking it, and I said that I was going out with you.”
“What’d she say?”
Kacey laughed. “She was shocked, and I joked with her, that she thought you were out of my league... But I think she was a little taken aback by the fact that you weren’t my age. She’ll be fine with it when she gets to know you. That’s also how I found out it was your birthday. She said there was a request for a dessert with candles...”
“I should have mentioned it. I’m sorry,” Madison said, taking another drink. “Ashley has spent most of the last year threatening to throw me a party, but I couldn’t. I don’t like having that much attention on me.”
“Yet you lecture in front of hundreds of students...”
“That’s different. It’s my job.”
Kacey nodded, noticing that familiar pang of jealousy when Madison mentioned Ashley’s name. She still couldn’t believe that Madison was with Ashley when they first met.
“Okay,” Kacey said with a smile. “I’m just glad that you were planning on calling it quits with Ashley... When she told me you were her girlfriend, my stomach dropped. I had no right to be jealous, but I was.”
Madison brought her tumbler to her lips. “We were always going to be better off as friends, and I can safely say we’re back to normal now. It didn’t take long either.”
“That’s good. I like Ashley. She’s always been there for my mother, and I think a lot of the restaurant’s success is down to her. Most restaurants can’t hold onto a chef for as long as we’ve had her. How did you two meet?”
“Online dating. The first date was a disaster, and then we became friends.”
“And dated again?”
“Uh... Yeah. Like I said at the wedding, we were both in a bad place... It shouldn’t have happened.”
Kacey nodded. Madison seemed to have tensed up ever since they started to talk about Ashley, and Kacey took the hint, steering their conversation in another direction.
Chapter 36
Madison took another drink, knowing she was getting through her rum a little too fast. How had they ended up talking about Ashley? She hated lying to Kacey, but it was a little too late to backtrack now, especially when they were getting to know each other. She couldn’t just put it out there that she’d been lying to her from the moment they met about Ashley, and it was so ridiculous. Madison could kill her for putting her in this position.
“So, I feel bad about just getting you a bottle of rum,” Kacey said with a hint of a smile. “But as we’re both admitting, we hardly know each other. I’d like to get you something a little more meaningful than a bottle of booze, but I might need some time to figure it out.”
“You don’t have to get me anything else... It’s the thought that counts,” Madison said, topping up both of their glasses. “Why don’t you stay tonight?”
Kacey’s eyebrows rose. “Are you suggesting that I might be able to give you something that would make up for not having a real birthday present later...?”
“I know you don’t need any more time to figure out what I like,” Madison said, unable to hide her smile.
“I’d be happy to, but... Later.”
Madison didn’t hide her disappointment.
“This is exactly how we ended up in this situation,” Kacey said, hitting her arm lightly. “We never talk, because we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“Okay. I agree. Ask me something else.”
“Did you always want to teach?”
“No. I thought I’d be a psychologist full time, but I took on some... Intense clients in the beginning,” she said after a second, trying to figure out the best way to describe them. “And it drained me... I stumbled into lecturing through a friend. I thought it would only be a temporary job, but I’m still doing it fifteen years later, and I love it now.”
“Do you still take on patients?”
Madison nodded. “Just a few, and I volunteer at a local women’s shelter.”
“Wow.”
“I do a bit more work there in the summer, when I have the time.”
“I had no idea,” Kacey said, taking a drink.
Madison traced the rim of her tumbler with her finger, not sure where this conversation would go. Kacey was right. They did hardly know each other.
“Have you thought any more about what you’re going to do?” Madison asked, swirling what was left in her glass, the melting ice clinking off the glass.
“No. I think I’m just going to take it as it comes. I like helping my mom at the restaurant, but I don’t want to commit to anything there, and I don’t want to go back to school. Not now anyway. Maybe in the future. So... I guess, I’ll just keep going as I am for now. I have an idea for an online business that I might experiment with.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’s an idea for software, so I need to talk to someone who can help me out. I don’t even know if it would work. It’s just an idea in my head right now. I don’t know how practical it is.”
Madison waited for her to continue, bringing her glass to her lips.
“It might even be something you could help me with,” Kacey said, meeting her eyes. “I just found the communication between students and lecturers difficult in the last four years. Email seems like the best way to communicate, but it takes time for you to answer each question you get individually. I might need to know something as soon as possible and not be able to wait two days for a lecturer to respond. I was thinking of something like a forum, but with a bit more flexibility... With a chat feature. I don’t know. I’m still bouncing ideas around. I just thought it could be something that could be used in any academic setting. Something secure. Not a social media platform.”
“Y
ou could be on to something there. That’s something we dread... Our inbox filling up, because it does take time to answer each person individually, and a lot of times students have very similar questions.”
“It might be my little side project... and if it doesn’t cost too much to set up, I could sell a license for it to colleges for x amount a year.”
“And sell when you’ve been running the business for a few years.”
“That would be great,” Kacey said with a smile, bringing her tumbler to her lips. “This rum is actually really nice. I must thank Trent for helping me pick it out.”
“It is good, and I’m drinking it a little too fast. I’m already tipsy...”
“Your birthday’s nearly over,” Kacey said, glancing down at her watch. “Ten more minutes until midnight.”
“I’d prefer if my birthday present was given to me on my birthday,” Madison said nonchalantly, waiting for Kacey’s reaction.
Kacey took one more drink before she reached for Madison’s tumbler and put both of them down on the coffee table and climbed on top of Madison, swinging her leg over her.
Madison swallowed as she tilted her head back to meet Kacey’s eyes, her breasts nearly in her face. Kacey swept her blond hair across one shoulder as she leaned in, brushing her lips across Madison’s, teasing her as she pulled away before Madison could respond.
“I thought we were on the clock,” Madison said, her voice low.
“Oh, we are,” Kacey said as she peeled her tank top off, tossing it to the side. “This won’t take long,” she said, unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the floor.
Madison’s eyes fell to her full breasts, her hands covering them. She massaged the soft skin, brushing her thumb across her nipple, bringing it to life. Kacey’s fingertips tilted her chin up as she leaned in for a kiss, her lips parting against Madison’s in a slow, sensual kiss.
Kacey broke the kiss, pushing herself off the couch. “I think you should take those off,” Kacey said, standing in front of her, pointing to her top and black skinny jeans.
Kacey took a drink while Madison got undressed, and then she unbuttoned her shorts, stepping out of them, waiting for Madison to finish getting undressed. Madison left her panties on, taking a step towards Kacey, but Kacey held her hand up, pushing her gently back onto the couch.
“I’m in charge tonight,” Kacey said, kneeling down in front of her and kissing her way up Madison’s thighs until she reached her black panties. She ran her tongue along the lacy edge of the fabric, working her way back towards the center, finding her clit and sucking on it through her panties.
Madison groaned, her hand sliding into her blond hair. She knew she was wet, and this was driving her crazy. “I hope you’re keeping your promise.” Kacey’s eyes met hers. “You promised it wouldn’t take long,” Madison said, throwing her head back when Kacey ignored her and applied even more pressure with her tongue, teasing her clit through her panties.
“It won’t,” Kacey finally said, grabbing a hold of her panties, tugging them down her legs and tossing them to the side. She ran her tongue through her folds, her tongue rubbing against Madison’s clit, but it was gone again, and Madison’s hips lifted off the couch, needing more than that.
Kacey’s tongue returned, swirling around her clit, taking it in her mouth and sucking while she spread Madison’s legs a little wider apart, making room for her hand. She slid two fingers inside of her. Madison couldn’t believe how close she was already.
Kacey added another finger and thrust them inside her, bottoming out. She slowly withdrew them and repeated the motion while her tongue continued to flicker across her swollen bundle of nerves.
“Faster,” Madison begged. This slow and steady pace was driving her crazy. Kacey’s fingers sped up, but not by much. Her stokes were still long and controlled. “Please,” Madison whimpered, one hand lost in Kacey’s hand, the other gripping onto the throw pillow beside her.
Kacey’s hand covered her breast, tweaking her nipple between her fingertips, rolling the hardened bud while her tongue circled her clit, and her fingers still moved in a steady rhythm. Madison felt like she was going to explode. If only Kacey would move her fingers a little faster.
“Babe,” Madison pleaded. “Please. I need you... Faster. Please.”
After a few seconds, Kacey was still ignoring her, going at her own pace, but out of nowhere she started pounding her fingers in and out, moving faster and faster as her tongue disappeared from her clit replaced by the heel of Kacey’s hand, slapping up against her with every stroke.
“Oh my God,” Madison cried, her hips bucking against Kacey’s hand. The sudden change in tempo had been enough to send her over the edge. She grabbed onto Kacey’s arm as she came, digging her fingers into her skin while her hips rocked back against Kacey’s hand.
Madison reached for Kacey, cupping her neck, pulling her down on top of her as she rode out the last wave of her orgasm. She found Kacey’s lips, their tongues meeting in a seductive dance.
“That was insane,” Madison said with a sigh.
Kacey didn’t remove her fingers. She had one leg thrown over Madison’s thigh, her breasts in Madison’s face. “I hope you had a good birthday,” Kacey said, glancing at the clock behind her. It was five minutes past midnight.
“You have no idea,” Madison said, kissing her again, her hot tongue gliding against hers. She broke the kiss when Kacey’s fingers slowly started moving, her strokes long and slow. Madison moaned into her mouth, her hand on her neck, keeping her close as she continued to move her fingers in and out.
“You’re so wet,” Kacey whispered between kisses. “I want to make you come so hard.”
Madison groaned as Kacey said those words, kissing her harder, her hand on Kacey’s breast. She brought it to her lips, her tongue circling her hard nipple. Her other hand was on Kacey’s ass, giving her a light slap.
“I want you to come with me,” Madison said, her hand leaving Kacey’s breast and slipping between her legs and into her panties.
Madison knew she was close, but it wouldn’t take long for Kacey to get there either. She was dripping wet, and Madison easily slid three fingers inside of her, setting a steady pace, her palm grazing her clit with each stroke.
“Oh,” Kacey moaned, her breath hot on Madison’s ear. She buried her face in Madison’s neck, lightly kissing her, moving from her neck to her earlobe and across her jaw until their lips met in a heated kiss. “I’m going to come Madison.”
“Harder,” Madison said, knowing how close she was. Kacey listened, her fingers moving with more intensity. “I’m coming,” Madison groaned, and just as she said those words, Kacey’s cried out, her body stiffening for a second before her hips rocked back against Madison’s hand.
Madison kissed her as she came, both of their hips rolling, and Madison could feel her juices on her fingers. She pulled away, needing to catch her breath, and she met Kacey’s lust filled eyes.
“That was incredible,” Kacey breathed, carefully removing her fingers while Madison did the same.
“You are so fucking sexy,” Madison practically growled as she wrapped her arms around her.
“Let’s go to bed,” Kacey said, smiling as she leaned in to kiss her.
“Lead the way.”
Chapter 37
Kacey stretched her arms over her head as she slowly woke up, blinking away the tiredness and pushing herself into a sitting position as she realized that the space beside her was empty. She reached for her phone. 10:38AM. She rarely slept in that late but considering all that they got up to last night, she cut herself some slack.
The smell of eggs and toast got Kacey out of bed and into the clothes that she’d worn to Madison’s apartment last night. She went into the bathroom, washing her face and finding a mint in her bag that would have to do instead of a toothbrush. She padded across the cool wooden floors and into the kitchen where Madison was turning off the stove and reaching up to get two plates from the cabinet.
“Morning,” Kacey said, coming up behind her and wrapping her arms around her waist, kissing her softly on the neck. Madison’s hair was tied back, and when she turned in her arms, it was the first time she’d seen it pulled back, away from her face.
“Morning,” Madison echoed. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” Kacey leaned in to kiss her softly, cupping her neck as she parted her lips against Madison’s.
Madison smiled as she pulled away. “Let’s eat.”
Kacey went over to the toaster and piled the toast onto a plate while Madison dished out the eggs. They ate at the breakfast bar, and Kacey couldn’t believe the difference in how she felt between now and yesterday evening. Even though they hadn’t spoken for as long as Kacey would have liked last night, they’d stayed up until almost four in the morning, talking about just about anything, their bodies intertwined.
This was the first time since she’d kissed Madison that night on the beach that she was starting to feel hopeful about the future. She no longer worried about what Madison wanted or if what they had was limited to a physical relationship, and Kacey had to pinch herself.
She was a college graduate with endless options in front of her, and now she had a girlfriend she couldn’t have even dreamed up. Life was good right now, and Kacey was going to do everything she could to keep it that way. She’d had her share of hardships, and Kacey was starting to think that she might be over the worst of them.
“Do you have any plans for the fourth?” Kacey asked when they were finished eating.
“No. I don’t think so. Ashley said something about a barbecue on the beach.”
“That’s exactly what I was going to tell you about. The bar next to The Beach House has a beach party every year. There’s a great view of the fireworks. Do you want to go?”
“Sure,” Madison said with a smile. “I’d love to. I went to Miami last year, but I’d much rather be here with you.”
“I can’t wait to see you in a bikini...”
Forbidden Love Page 12