Britt, her eyes impossibly blue, didn’t step back. She also didn’t close the breath of space between them. Her tongue worried that scar one more time. Did she know how it affected Teddy?
Teddy trailed a finger along Britt’s jaw and down her neck to trace the V of her open collar. She tilted her head, her mouth hovering a nanosecond from devouring Britt’s, then looked over Britt’s shoulder to the door directly across the hall. “And there’s your room.”
Britt closed her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest. Her face was flushed as she dutifully stepped back and turned to cross the hall. The instant Britt slid her card key into the lock and opened the door, Teddy was at her back, pushing her inside as the door closed behind them. Britt spun in surprise, and Teddy used her body to pin her against the wall.
“I like your room number better. Seven’s always been lucky for me.”
Britt raised an eyebrow. “You could have asked to switch.”
Teddy purposely parted her lips, drawing Britt’s attention to her mouth. “I’d rather wrestle for it…naked.”
Britt’s mouth was on hers, that worrisome tongue dueling with hers before Teddy could mount her intended offensive. The last doubt gone, so were their clothes with battle-ready efficiency. Britt’s prosthetic arm and harness, after more than a month of therapy sessions, was little more than another article of clothing to them. Only after Britt ripped the covers back and they tumbled onto the king-sized bed did they pause, breathless and staring into each other’s eyes. Teddy lay on her back, Britt on her side with several pillows tucked under the armpit of her residual limb to free her right hand to explore.
“Are you sure?” Britt asked, her fingertips feathering across Teddy’s cheek, then smoothing across her collarbone and down her arm.
“Yes.”
Britt’s kiss was softer, less desperate, but her hand wasted no time in finding Teddy’s breasts. Britt was so responsive to her signals, lingering when Teddy’s breath hitched at the feel of Britt’s lips and light nips along her neck and shoulders, and sliding her hand downward when Teddy brought one knee up, opening herself in invitation.
Britt’s long finger filled Teddy, her thumb lightly grazing Teddy’s clit, stroking, stroking, stroking. Her teeth gently tugged at Teddy’s nipples that were rock hard and seemed to pulse with every stroke between her legs. Then a second finger stretched her, finding that spot inside that swelled her clit more against Britt’s thumb with each stroke, stroke, stroke. Britt’s mouth was on her throat again, sucking where her pulse pounded, pounded, pounded. And it came so fast. So fast. She cried out and arched upward, bowed taut by the powerful spasm of pleasure that gripped and held her for long seconds. Seconds that seemed like minutes. She collapsed back onto the bed, limp and breathless, her heart pounding like a ceremonial drum.
“You are so incredibly beautiful,” Britt whispered.
Light from the downtown streets filtered in through the window sheers, and the longing in Britt’s eyes triggered an orgasm aftershock that made Teddy jerk and shiver. She drew Britt down onto her, skin to skin, warm breast to breast, and held her head as she kissed her long and deep. She shifted a thigh between Britt’s legs, finding her warm and slick. Teddy broke the kiss, guiding Britt’s head to her shoulder and cradling her there while she spoke.
“You are so strong and so noble. And you carry so much weight on your shoulders. Set all of that aside for tonight, and let me have you. Can you do that?” She rolled them over so Britt was under her. For a long moment, Britt wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Britt, honey?” Had Teddy pushed too hard and ruined their night? Britt’s eyes finally met hers, and she nodded.
“Okay. As long as you don’t tell the army that I gave in so easily to your torture.”
Teddy kissed Britt, pushing her tongue into Britt’s mouth, teasing Britt’s tongue with hers, then withdrew to nip at Britt’s earlobe. “You say torture. I call it worship.”
She took her time kissing her way down, learning Britt’s body. The muscles she’d honed when conditioning for deployment were even more pronounced because of her weight loss since being injured. Most of Britt’s scars were familiar to Teddy. Some that were normally covered by her clothes were not. Teddy paid special attention to Britt’s response when she mouthed Britt’s disfigured left breast. Too sensitive, or no sensation? No scarring, but Teddy’s short nails raked across the muscle bands of Britt’s lower belly and made her hips buck slightly, and her legs opened. Teddy looked up to find Britt watching her.
Britt’s lips were parted, her chest rising and falling, rising and falling in quick breaths. “Your mouth. I want your mouth on me, and your fingers inside.”
Teddy didn’t hesitate. She shouldered between Britt’s long legs and stroked through her sex from entrance to clit. She swirled her tongue around the turgid flesh and sucked at it twice before rolling her tongue, thrusting inside, then flattening her tongue again to lick upward. When she sucked this time, she gently raked her teeth against the hood of Britt’s clit.
“Oh, God. Teddy.” Britt’s legs trembled.
Still sucking, Teddy plunged a finger inside Britt. Stroke, stroke, stroke. Suck, teeth, suck.
“Teddy. Baby. Oh, yeah.” Britt groaned out her words.
Teddy withdrew and went back in with two fingers. Stroke, suck, teeth. Stroke, suck, teeth. Britt’s quick breaths changed to audible pants. Britt needed only a nudge to fall over the edge. Teddy’s heart soared at the beauty and trust and control—all swirling into a ball for her to unleash. She sucked harder, thrust deeper, and raked her nails across Britt’s sensitive belly.
“Fu-u-uck.” Britt arched off the bed and growled out the internal combustion.
Teddy moved upward, still keeping her fingers gloved in Britt’s trembling body. She placed light kisses along Britt’s taut belly, between her breasts where her heart still pounded, then on each nipple and along her neck. She paused to stare into Britt’s glittering eyes before she reverently touched her lips to Britt’s, caressing, parting, tasting, sharing.
They didn’t need words.
* * *
Teddy woke with her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth and her bladder screaming for relief. She half lay on top of Britt, her head pillowed on Britt’s shoulder, her leg entwined with Britt’s. The poor woman’s entire right side must be completely numb. But as comfortable as her body felt nestled along Britt’s warm length, her bladder continued to protest. She carefully extracted herself and made a quick trip to relieve the problem, then slipped back under the covers.
Britt hadn’t moved. Her dark lashes, thick and long, lay against smooth cheeks. Overdue for a trim, her short, dark hair feathered around her ears and down her nape. She was beautiful in an androgynous way. Earlier, Teddy had imagined her as an Amazon warrior, strong and bold, but now she saw an Elven warrior, lithe and faster than light. So intelligent. And secretive.
Tonight was a victory. Teddy had wanted to cheer when Britt invited her to Louisville, for a clear—yet still honorable—seduction. Their attraction was undeniably strong. And they’d grown closer over the weeks. But the occasional kisses, long talks, and evening walks to the hay barn were baby steps in Britt opening up. The big door—why the army refused to release her, which Teddy believed was the root of her nightmares—remained closed.
But tonight had nothing to do with therapy. It had everything to do with Teddy’s desperate need to help a friend she felt was mired in a personal trauma. She’d stopped thinking of Britt as a client weeks ago. She was a friend. One who needed help.
What secret did she carry for the army that tore so at her soul? The very thought woke every protective instinct Teddy possessed.
Britt stirred and started to roll onto her left side. Teddy slid in behind and took her weight easily when the discomfort of her too-recent injuries rocked Britt back. Britt was taller, but Teddy was more sturdily built. She wrapped her arms around Britt and rested her cheek against Britt’s ear. Britt scooted back, tucking the angle
s of her body against Teddy’s curves, then tugged Teddy’s hand up to cup around her small breast. Was she awake? Britt’s sigh, then her slow rhythmic breathing indicated any awareness was only momentary. So, Teddy closed her eyes, reveling in the softness of the breast resting in her hand, the bravery of the heart beating against hers, and the peace she hadn’t felt for a long, long time.
* * *
“Holy mother.” Teddy was sure Britt’s body pinning her against the shower wall was the only reason she was still standing. Her legs felt like those of a newborn colt, weak and wobbly. She wasn’t sure how much of the steam was from the shower, or just from them. Wow.
“Are you…are you religious?” Britt panted out the words, apparently because she was suffering from the same tremors as Teddy. Her fingers were still buried inside Teddy, as deep as Teddy’s fingers were inside Britt.
“No.” Teddy slowly withdrew but couldn’t resist the chance to stroke Britt’s sensitive clit one more time. Britt jerked, pulling out of Teddy. “But if you keep sending me toward the light like that, you’re going to make me a believer.”
Britt shook her head. “That’s bad, so bad.”
“What? You didn’t like my joke?”
They froze when a knock sounded at the door. Then Britt smiled. “I pre-ordered breakfast.”
Teddy pushed her out of the shower. “Then you better dress fast and let them in.”
Britt rubbed a towel over her head as she opened the bathroom and yelled at the door to the hallway. “Hold on a minute, please.”
Teddy held up one of the hotel’s thick terry-cloth robes for Britt to slide into before spinning Britt around and tying the sash herself. “I wouldn’t want this coming loose and giving the bellhop an eyeful.”
Britt grinned. “It might get us extra bacon.”
“Ma’am? Did you order room service?” The disembodied voice leaned toward female but was husky enough to be gender neutral.
They looked at each other.
“Only if she’s really cute and actually has an extra order of bacon on her cart,” Teddy said, shoving Britt out of the bathroom and closing the door so she could dress.
* * *
The hotel’s signature Hot Brown entre was as good as the hype, Teddy decided. She was skeptical when she eyed what appeared to be an open-faced turkey sandwich. For breakfast? Then she tasted it. What was in that sauce? Britt was lucky she ate quickly, or else Teddy would have shamelessly eaten hers too.
The fact they had no luggage didn’t seem to bother the hotel staff. They had each been supplied with a shopping bag that held any toiletries they could possibly need and silk pajamas in the correct size—no doubt provided by Britt when she made the reservation—that they never got around to wearing. The baby-butch bellhop who delivered breakfast was cute enough, but didn’t have an extra bacon order. So, no free peek, though Britt did tip her well for returning before they finished eating with two freshly pressed Oxford shirts—white for Britt and emerald for Teddy.
“I love those bathrobes. I’d stuff one of them in my bag if I didn’t think they’d take you off to jail for the theft.”
“Me?” Britt feigned surprise and pointed to her own chest.
“This is your room.” Teddy also pointed to Britt’s chest in confirmation.
“Oh, right. In that case, maybe you should just get one from the gift shop downstairs.”
“They sell the exact same bathrobes in the gift shop?”
“Yep. I think a lot of guests like them.” Britt shrugged. “Or you could stuff one in your bag. They wouldn’t call the police. They’d just charge the cost to my credit card.”
“Tempting, but I’ll get a new one from the gift shop and charge it to my own card.”
Britt snagged her shopping bag with her prosthetic hook and put her hand on the handle to open the door. “Are you ready?”
Teddy pulled her head down for one last lust-filled kiss. “Now I’m ready.”
Britt blew out a breath. “Okay. I hope my luck stays this good all day.”
When they reached the lobby, Teddy headed for the guest shop while Britt went to check them out and find the valet to bring Teddy’s car around. They agreed to meet out front where they’d wait for the car.
The gift shop wasn’t crowded so early in the morning. She and Britt were naturally early risers, so it was still only eight o’clock, even though they’d taken time for shower sex and a leisurely breakfast. She found her size quickly in the huge rack of robes bearing The Brown Hotel insignia and had her purchase rung up by a chatty older lady. All the hotel staff were genuinely friendly.
She scanned the huge lobby for Britt, just in case she was still checking out, before heading to their agreed rendezvous in front of the hotel. A man with a large suitcase shifted from one line at the front desk to a shorter line, and the very blood in Teddy’s veins froze.
A tall blonde was revealed when the man moved aside. The wide shoulders, shoulder-length hair, and the slim hips cocked to the right were as familiar as if it’d been yesterday, not more than five years ago. The woman wore jeans and a hoodie, but a military duffel lay at her feet, lending further credence to the vision. “Shannon.” Barely more than a breath, hearing her name come from her own lips startled Teddy nonetheless.
Then another person joined the line, tapping the blond woman on the shoulder to ask a question. Teddy held her breath as the vision turned, then deflated. The woman looked nothing like Shannon. And why should she? Shannon was gone. Had been gone for years. She stumbled to one of the many comfortable chairs in the lobby before her legs could collapse. How could she be so easily fooled? Why now?
She’d hadn’t been a nun the entire time since Shannon was killed. She’d dated another widow the first time. They both were lonely and understood each other’s pain. But there was no spark, and the distance between where they each lived and worked was an easy out for them. She’d had other anonymous, unfulfilling flings Teddy purposefully kept light and chose because the other person was unavailable—shipping out to a new base, deploying overseas in a few weeks. None of them mattered because none touched the places inside her that Shannon had.
She and Britt were just having fun. They both knew Britt intended to stay on the farm, and Teddy would likely be reassigned to Washington or North Carolina.
“Teddy? You okay? You’re white as a ghost.”
Teddy looked up into Britt’s eyes, crystal blue pools swirling with worry. Bright sunlight slanted through a part in the curtains of a nearby window and seemed to seek out Britt, encircling her like an anointing beam.
“Are you feeling alright, ma’am?” Their attentive bellhop was breathless from sprinting across the lobby. “From across the lobby, you looked like you were about to pass out.”
Definitely lesbian whether she knew it yet or not. A straight girl would have said “faint” instead of “pass out.” Teddy sighed. “I got a little light-headed.” She pointed to Britt. “I’m probably dehydrated from all the bourbon that woman made me drink last night.”
Britt laughed, her relief palpable. “You’re the one who kept saying ‘one more mint julep, please.’” She took a money clip from her pocket and handed a twenty to the bellhop. Can you get us a Coke and a couple bottles of water from the snack shop and meet us out front, please?”
“Sure. I’ll be just a minute.”
“Thanks. And keep the change.” Britt had to raise her voice because the young woman was already cutting a diagonal swath through the lobby traffic in her determined mission to the snack shop.
Teddy took the hand Britt offered to help her stand, but released it immediately when her legs proved steady again. They were soon on the road. The weather was wonderful, sunny and warm. Britt had put the top down, and Teddy was glad. The roadster was a small, intimate space with the top up. Too small for her, Britt, and the feelings growing between them.
A ball cap and dark sunglasses hid enough of her face for Teddy to steal glances at Britt’s profile as she
drove. Teddy wanted to drive. It was her car, and she felt like she needed to regain some control. But she could hardly insist after attributing her moment of flashback guilt to low blood sugar or dehydration. Still, why did Britt have to look so damn sexy driving Teddy’s car?
That last thought opened the door to a barrage of mental images. Britt naked under the shower spray. Britt’s head thrown back, mouth open in a silent scream as orgasm held her body in a taut arch. Britt hovering over her, voice husky, eyes a soft powder blue and full of affection.
Teddy had always been in love only with Shannon. Her family knew that. Shannon’s family knew that. Their military unit had been like a third family, and they knew it. Hell, Shannon’s casket was barely in the ground before the whole nation knew it.
Even though Shannon was killed several days before the Defense of Marriage Act was struck down, she was the first widow to be granted survivor benefits from a same-sex marriage after a very public lawsuit and campaign. Her military unit had stood strong with her. She and Shannon were good soldiers with exemplary records. More important, Col. Tom Winstead had gone to bat for her. The veterans in their rural community stood by her.
Surrounded by all that support, all those living reminders, Teddy had never been able to grasp the “death do us part” portion of their marriage vows. She’d never considered it. Until now. Until she realized sometime during the night that she wanted Britt’s heart beating next to hers every night. She’d promised to love Shannon above all others…forever. But she was falling deeply in love with Britt.
And that scared her to death.
Chapter Sixteen
“Okay.” Britt wanted to reach for Teddy’s hand. No. She wanted to wrap Teddy in her arms and hold her for several long moments. “You remember that Home from War is going up for auction today, right?”
Teddy didn’t meet her eyes. “Yeah. I hate to miss that, but I’d forgotten I have this conference call. I was thinking it was next week.” She finally looked at Britt. “Good luck. I hope you and E.B. get the price you’re hoping for.”
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