Out of Practice

by Carsen Taite

  She recognized Abby’s voice and rushed to hide her surprise. Don’t get too excited. She’s probably on her way to her own table, far, far away from you. Roxanne set her drink down and looked up, barely holding back a gasp at the sight of Abby dressed in a blue and white print maxi wrap skirt and angled crop top that hinted at sculpted abs. Abby was standing less than a foot away, and Roxanne scrambled to catch her breath. “Maybe I tucked the tiny umbrella away for a rainy day.”

  Abby grinned. “I see what you did there.” She pointed at the empty seat. “May I join you?”

  “That was the plan, after all.”

  Abby slid into the chair. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

  “I’m a little surprised you showed up at all.” Roxanne picked up her drink and swallowed deep to buy time. Why did she have to bring up what had happened earlier? Couldn’t she just let things be? Abby was a beautiful, sexy woman. Maybe she hadn’t given her enough credit. For all she knew, Abby showing up late for dinner had nothing to do with the bridal explosion that had happened when they’d arrived.

  “I’m going to be honest with you,” Abby said, placing both hands on the table. “I almost bagged on you.”

  “It was the magazines.”

  “Yes. I mean, not really the magazines, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with so many of them at once unless they were, you know…”

  “A bride?”

  Abby nodded. “Or someone who wanted to be.”

  Roxanne started to say she could think of a dozen other reasons for someone to be toting a bunch of bridal magazines around, like being a wedding blogger for one, but she didn’t want to risk losing her anonymity. Not even if it meant risking Abby’s attention. She didn’t want to lie either, so she scrambled to find a half-truth. “I found them at the airport.” Truth—her sister had handed them to her when she dropped her off at the airport, but Abby’s eyebrows were raised and she felt the need to add some fluff to the story. “A woman left them sitting on a chair when she went to board the plane and I didn’t realize they were bridal magazines until I’d already grabbed them. I figured I’d run into her on the plane and return them or ditch them later, but no such luck.” She stopped talking when she saw the tension in Abby’s face relax. No sense letting a little lie spin into a much bigger one. “Let me guess, you’re not a fan of weddings.”

  “What’s not to be a fan of? There’s cake and dancing and pretty flowers. I mean, I can think of a dozen better things to do, but I don’t hate going to weddings.” Abby paused and grinned. “As long as I’m not the one getting married.”

  “I see.” Roxanne wasn’t sure that was true. She couldn’t remember ever having discussed marriage with a first date, and this was going sideways fast. Abby’s flippant dismissal of marriage spurred a desire to defend the institution, but doing so would doom this date for sure. Thankfully, she was saved by the waiter’s return.

  “Good evening, ladies,” he said. “May I tell you about our specials?”

  Abby nodded eagerly. “Yes, please. I love specials.” She turned to Roxanne, “Don’t you?”

  Roxanne couldn’t help but smile at Abby’s infectious enthusiasm. “Absolutely. The more specials the better.”

  Larry the waiter rattled off a number of seafood dishes, complete with details about the sauces and garnish. Abby stared at him with rapt attention while he talked, but Roxanne was barely listening. Her attention was fully focused on the way the light caught the highlights in Abby’s hair. When Larry finally finished his novel-length descriptions and left them alone, Roxanne put her menu down. “I’m having one of those amazing dishes he listed, but I don’t have a clue which one.”

  “Me too. I adore seafood,” Abby said. “And speaking of weddings, I went to one last year where they had a raw bar before dinner at the reception.” She clutched her hands to her chest. “Swoon.”

  “So you’re a live and let live kind of person when it comes to putting a ring on it?” Roxanne wanted to bite back the words. Why was she so obsessed with this talk of weddings? Perhaps it was because if Abby found out what she did, this flirtatious banter would go nowhere fast. But she didn’t want it to. Did she?

  Abby frowned. “Not a fan of the institution. It’s like a business arrangement with too much emotion attached. Those almost always go south.” She lifted her shoulders. “But hey, if that’s what other people want to do and they’re throwing a great party, that’s cool by me.”

  “I bet you’re one of those people who crashes a wedding to find a date.”

  “I can’t say as I’ve ever actually crashed one, but I can attest that weddings are a great place to meet women.”

  “Better than out-of-the-way resorts?” Roxanne asked, purposefully injecting a flirtatious tone in her voice to match Abby’s.

  Abby raised her glass and tilted it toward her. “I’m not sure about that. Can I get back to you later?”

  Roxanne heard the unmistakable invitation, and it was a tipping point. She was here to work, but what better way to assess the hospitality of the resort for couples than to indulge in some flirtatious fun during her stay? It wasn’t like she had to worry about it turning into something more since Abby was making it abundantly clear she wasn’t interested in anything long-term, which was just fine with her. She raised her own glass. “Here’s to meeting beautiful women in faraway places.”

  Abby clinked her glass to hers and they sealed their toast. Abby’s eyes met hers over the rim of her glass and they were dark and smoldering. Roxanne’s body reacted instantly with a warm surge of heat, and suddenly dinner wasn’t remotely on the list of things she wanted or needed, but something else was. Make that someone. “You know, I got a thorough briefing while you were off in your room taking a nap. They have room service here.”

  “I like room service.”

  “My place or yours?” Roxanne tried not to wince at the corny line, but Abby seemed unfazed.

  “I do have a beautiful view of the ocean.”

  Roxanne resisted adding that every bungalow had the same view. She didn’t want to risk inviting Abby back to her place because she was pretty sure she’d left her laptop open and the wedding magazines were scattered in a pile on the bed. “I’d love to see that view.”

  Abby stood and reached for her hand. “Come on then.”

  Roxanne grasped her hand and followed. She hadn’t had a one-night stand since her freshman year of college, and sex with a stranger hadn’t been remotely part of the plan for this trip, but it seemed all her careful planning was out the window for now. Telling herself this would be the perfect opportunity to check out the resort from a lover’s angle, she followed Abby through the dining room, stopping only to tell the host they’d changed their minds about the dining room for tonight. He gave them a knowing look as they walked away, and Roxanne grinned back at him. Hooking up with Abby was the perfect cover. Oh, and it was certain to be fun too.

  Chapter Three

  Abby led the way along the stone path, clutching Roxanne’s hand. Part of the reason she’d picked this resort was the intimacy and seclusion, but for solitude’s sake, not for a potential rendezvous. She certainly hadn’t planned on meeting someone she’d want to sleep with, let alone on the first day. But Roxanne was next level hot, spurring her to shove away any concern about what might happen tomorrow. It’s just a week. We’ll have some fun and go our separate ways.

  But would they? They’d flown in on the same flight, which probably meant Roxanne lived in Austin or nearby. What if they ran into each other at home, shopping at the Domain or someplace more common like the local H-E-B. She could see it now. “Hey, do you think this tomato looks ripe? Oh wait, didn’t we have sex in sunny paradise for a week?”

  Whoa. Way to get ahead. Let’s have sex tonight and see what happens. No need to worry about the future until it happened.

  When they reached the door, she fumbled for her key and slid it into the lock. She started to turn the knob, but Roxanne touched her wrist.
/>   “Wait.”

  “Wait?” Abby asked. Not the reaction she’d been hoping for.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  It occurred to Abby that they hadn’t defined the “this,” but she knew exactly what Roxanne was talking about. She ran her hand up Roxanne’s arm, gently caressed her neck, and drew her forward. Her lips tasted like berries and she lingered, letting soft touches serve as a prelude for more. “Don’t you?”

  “You are an incredible kisser,” Roxanne murmured against her lips.

  “Is that an answer?”

  “I think it might be.”

  Abby pushed open the door and walked them both inside. She eased her hands around the hem of Roxanne’s blouse, searching for skin. “Something more definitive?”

  Roxanne arched into her touch. “Oh, most definitely.”

  Like a switch went off, slow went out the window. Abby pulled at the fabric between hers and Roxanne’s skin. “Clothes are overrated. Don’t you think?”

  Roxanne pulled away with the teasing grin. “Indeed. How about you lose that top?”

  Abby reached back, untied the halter, and tossed it to the floor, enjoying the sound of Roxanne sucking in a breath.

  “Don’t stop there,” Roxanne said.

  “Oh no,” Abby said. “It’s your turn now.” She motioned to Roxanne’s shirt with a lifting gesture. Roxanne didn’t hesitate, shedding her blouse faster than Abby had, and throwing it in a ball where Abby’s had landed. This time it was Abby who sucked in her breath at the plunging bra. She stepped closer and traced a finger along the edge of the satin. “Red is my favorite color.”

  “Good thing I wasn’t wearing the purple one.”

  “I’m very flexible.”

  Roxanne pressed a hand to Abby’s chest. “And you’re blinded by lust.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  Roxanne leaned close, her lips a whisper away from Abby’s. “Do you want to discuss your favorite colors of lingerie or do you want to get naked with me?”

  Abby answered by capturing Roxanne’s lips between her own, but this time the kiss was fierce instead of soft, with each of them vying for dominance. Roxanne pressed hard with her tongue and Abby groaned at the wave of heat that spread to her core. When they finally broke for air, Abby gasped. “You. You are an amazing kisser.”

  “Takes two,” Roxanne said.

  Abby merely took her hand and led Roxanne to the bedroom. They both kicked off their shoes and scrambled out of the rest of their clothes, and Abby was pleased that Roxanne seemed as excited as she did about forgoing a big lead-in. She pulled a very beautiful, very naked Roxanne into her arms and ran her hands down the smooth skin of her slightly curvy hips. “Lights on or off?”

  “My place has a dimmer switch in the bedroom,” Roxanne said, her lips sliding into a slow smile.

  Without breaking contact, Abby reached behind Roxanne and felt for the switch, returning the smile when the light faded into a low glow. “Nice,” she murmured. She slipped her hand around Roxanne’s waist, reaching lower to cup her ass. “You feel so good.”

  “You have no idea.” Roxanne reached for her other hand and placed it between her legs. “See for yourself.”

  Abby drew a single finger through Roxanne’s slick folds, and the sensation sent a surge of arousal that weakened her knees. She pulled Roxanne closer to steady her balance and pressed her lips to Roxanne’s until they parted to allow her in, and then she used her tongue to mimic the strokes of her finger—a slow, lingering, steady path to climax.

  Roxanne moaned against her mouth, arching closer as if seeking release. Abby broke the kiss long enough to whisper in her ear. “Are you ready to come?”

  She nipped at Roxanne’s neck while she waited for her answer, keeping the rhythm with her fingers, two now, against Roxanne’s clit. She could feel how close Roxanne was to coming, how her body begged for release. As much as she wanted to prolong the ecstasy, she didn’t want to deny her what she so clearly needed. To make the choice easier, she ran her tongue along the crest of Roxanne’s ear as she asked again, “Ready?”

  Roxanne turned and captured her tongue in her mouth, kissing her fiercely before releasing the touch. “Not yet,” she gasped, trailing her fingers up Abby’s thigh until they rested over her very own wet hot center. “Let’s get in bed and take our time.”

  With Roxanne’s hand between her legs, Abby barely registered the words beyond “not yet,” but she knew she was being told to slow things down, and the prospect was both exciting and unfamiliar. Bed. Roxanne had suggested bed, and a vision of her being able to stretch out over Roxanne—or under her—sent a wave of arousal through her body. “Yes, let’s.”

  Roxanne pulled back the covers, slid onto the bed, and invited her in. Abby took a moment to admire Roxanne’s gorgeous body reclining against the crisp white sheets, her blond hair fanned out on the pillows. She knelt between Roxanne’s legs, eager for the electric press of flesh between them, but determined to follow Roxanne’s lead and draw out the tension for as long as possible. She started at her breasts, teasing them to perfect points, before slowly kissing her way down to the inside of Roxanne’s thighs, pausing at the apex to drink in the scent of her before lowering her lips to her hot, wet center. Lost in the heady blur of arousal, Abby had no idea how long she lavished Roxanne with her tongue before she began bucking wildly against her touch.

  “Almost there. Don’t stop,” Roxanne panted, her voice a hoarse whisper.

  Abby answered by drawing a finger along the inside of her thigh while she continued to lick and thrust with her tongue. The featherlight touch was apparently Roxanne’s undoing. Her entire body arched off the bed and Abby could feel the orgasm course through her, but she didn’t break contact even when Roxanne sagged back against the bed, clearly spent.

  Again, she didn’t know how much time had passed before she felt Roxanne’s fingers in her hair, gently tugging her closer. She eased her way up along Roxanne’s side and cradled her in her arms. Roxanne still hadn’t said anything, and she started to worry something was wrong. “Are you okay?”

  Roxanne turned in her arms until they were face-to-face. Her eyes were still dark and smoldering, and she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Okay is not the word I would use. Amazing. Blown away. Those are better words. You are incredible.”

  It wasn’t the first time a woman had told Abby she was good in bed. She took pride at being good at everything she did, and sex had always been just one more thing on the list, but the earnest tone in Roxanne’s words carried more weight than all the compliments that had come before, and she braced against the twinge of discomfort they ushered in.

  * * *

  Roxanne started awake and immediately felt disoriented because she was on the wrong side of the bed, but a quick look around revealed why. Abby appeared to be blissfully asleep, her face buried in her pillow, her sandy brown hair a tangled mess. Every tingling moment of last night’s sex came flooding back, and Roxanne’s libido stirred. She wanted to reach out and caress Abby’s bare shoulder, but the rays of light starting to poke their way through the blinds told her she’d likely stayed too long already. A woman spooked by a bunch of bridal magazines probably wasn’t fond of waking up to the one-night stand. Key word: night, which it was no longer.

  Roxanne eased out of the bed and tiptoed around the room gathering her clothes. Each article she retrieved—her blouse from the floor, her bra from the top of the lamp, her pants from the chair—conjured a vivid memory of the passionate night, and she couldn’t help but smile as she thought about the draft of her article. The generously sized bedrooms in the bungalow are well suited for honeymoon play, providing lots of furniture upon which to toss unnecessary and restrictive garments. Yep, the editor would love that particular insight.

  Fully clothed, she took a moment to cast one last look at Abby in repose, sleeping peacefully. No one would imagine she was the same tiger who’d jumped her last ni
ght, and Roxanne enjoyed knowing that little secret. She blew a kiss in Abby’s direction and slipped out of the bungalow, taking care to be extra quiet. She was about ten feet from Abby’s door when she ran smack into Juanita who seemed to appear out of nowhere dressed in another crisp, neat uniform, emblazoned with the resort’s logo, in sharp contrast to her own wrinkled, day-old attire.

  “Good morning, Señorita Daly, are you on your way to breakfast?”

  The mention of food made her stomach growl, and Roxanne remembered that in the rush to get naked last night, she and Abby had completely forgotten about dinner. She was famished, and the idea of a full-on breakfast buffet almost tempted her to head straight for the dining room. Almost. “In just a few. I need to stop at my bungalow and check a few emails.”

  Juanita waggled a finger and made a tsking sound. “Surely emails can wait until you are no longer in paradise. Rest from work is good for the mind and body both.”

  Shit. She wished she hadn’t made it sound like she was working. “No worries. I just promised I would let my sister know that I made it here and am settling in.” She edged away. “I’ll see you around.” She started off before Juanita could trap her into more conversation, but not before she noticed the knowing look Juanita shot in the direction of Abby’s bungalow. Oh well. She hadn’t done the walk of shame since college, but she’d walk back to her place buck naked every day if the sex with Abby was always this good.

  Once she was safely in her bungalow, she decided calling her sister wasn’t such a bad idea after all even though she’d take some flak for all her assurances she was going to stay offline the entire trip. She snagged a mango from the fridge and put her phone on speaker while she peeled the perfectly ripe fruit. Val answered on the first ring.

  “Either, you hate it there and you’re ready to come home, or something incredible happened. Those are your only two choices, and if it’s not one of those, then hang up and go back to enjoying paradise.”