by Laura Conway
The dark-haired realtor asked them if they had any other questions. Carley had never spoken up before, but she remembered that there was a problem with the AC units on a property that Andrea had bought a few months before Carley had met her.
“When was the last time the AC units were cleaned?” Carley asked him in Spanish.
“This time last year. The majority are about eight to ten years old,” he answered.
Carley could see Andrea’s eyebrows arch as she asked the question. She wasn’t sure what that meant, but Carley wasn’t sorry that she’d asked. They both shook hands with the agent, thanking him for showing them around and left the gated complex to where Andrea’s driver was parked alongside the road, outside the main entrance.
Once she was back in the car, Carley took a drink of water from the bottle she kept inside the door. Today had been a long day. It hadn’t been particularly stressful, but it was always hard to get back to work after being away for the weekend.
That wasn’t exactly your average weekend...
Carley glanced over at Andrea as she asked the driver to take them home. Her dark hair was straight today, falling across her shoulders. She was wearing white skinny jeans and a red sleeveless blouse, and Carley didn’t know how she was going to do this for another four months.
That was what had made today so difficult, trying to stay professional after the weekend they’d just had together. Carley wanted to reach for her hand, to kiss her, but she’d already decided that she was going to keep their work lives and their personal lives separate. She’d also decided that she wasn’t going to stay on after her six-month contract was finished. She couldn’t. She didn’t even know how she was going to get through this week, never mind another four months and into the future.
Carley wanted to see what they had, and if they were going to have a chance, they had to draw a line. Andrea’s top priority was work, and Carley imagined that if being with her jeopardized her business, it would be over. Carley wasn’t going to be a distraction. She wanted to be an asset. They did work well together, but Carley would rather be with Andrea without the pressures of business.
Carley knew she was probably getting ahead of herself. Who knew where they’d be when her contract was up in four months? Whatever was going on between them could have fizzled out long before then.
“I think I’m going to go for a swim when we get back,” Andrea said as she slid her phone into her black leather handbag. “Do you want to join me?”
Carley met Andrea’s eyes, shades of forest green catching in the sunlight. “I’d love to...” Carley looked away, taking in the shimmering ocean on her right. She couldn’t remember Andrea ever switching off before nine or ten o’clock at night. They’d be home in an hour, and it would only be six o’clock.
Maybe she’s struggling just as much as I am...
Carley remembered the last time she saw Andrea in her black bikini. It wasn’t long after she started working for her, and even then, Carley couldn’t keep her eyes off her. At least she didn’t have to worry about that now. She could look at Andrea all she wanted.
Carley knew she was still on a high from the weekend in Nerja, but she wished she knew where she stood. She didn’t feel like she could call Andrea her girlfriend. That felt like a serious jump, but the chemistry they had was more than just a casual fling. She didn’t know if they were going to pick up where they left off. Yesterday, she’d fallen into bed with Andrea for a second day in a row, and she had no intention of it being their last time together.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Andrea’s back brushed up against the edge of the pool as she watched Carley ease herself into the water one step at a time. Andrea distracted herself by tying her hair up in a messy bun. She didn’t trust herself not to stare at Carley, and she took her time twisting her hair and pulling it through the elastic band until it was out of the way.
Carley glided through the water, using the breast stroke to get across the pool to where Andrea was.
“So, what did you think of the deal in Benalmadena?” Carley asked her as she treaded water.
“I wish I could have bought the building in Estepona, but... This isn’t a bad option. It’s early days. There’s still plenty of research to do, and I’m not jumping into things. If this complex isn’t suitable, I’m happy to wait another few weeks or months for the right deal to come along.”
Andrea had been surprised when Carley had asked about the AC units, but she was glad that she had. It would have come up eventually, but it was good to have the information right away. She’d been burned in the past with another building where she had to replace almost every single AC unit.
“It was in a great location,” Carley said as she drifted a little closer to where Andrea was still leaning against the wall of the pool.
“It was...”
Andrea knew that if she didn’t ask Carley soon what had been on her mind all day, she wouldn’t. Kissing Carley right now would be the easier option, but she needed to bring this up.
“Are you happy to keep working together?” Andrea asked, and she wasn’t even sure what she wanted the answer to be.
“You mean now that we’re sort of involved?”
Andrea nodded, her heart beating a little faster now.
“I’m happy to finish the contract and take it from there. I’m not sure this would work long term though,” Carley said with a hint of a smile on her lips. “Today easily felt like the longest day I’ve had since I started working for you, and I know it wasn’t. It was because I was trying to stay professional when all I wanted to do was kiss you or tell you how beautiful you looked.”
Andrea’s breath hitched as she said those words, and they both moved towards each other at the same time. Andrea’s lips parted against hers as Carley guided them back to the edge of the pool, kissing her deeply with one hand resting on her neck while the other kept her afloat, moving through the water until Andrea’s body was pressed against the wall, giving them some support.
Andrea’s tongue found Carley’s, darting and gliding across hers as she moaned into the kiss. It had been less than twelve hours since the last time they’d kissed, but it might as well have been days.
She knew she wasn’t the only one feeling this. Carley matched her intensity, her hand sliding down her neck, between her breasts, and across her hip until it was on her ass, groping her underneath the water.
Carley’s hand squeezed her ass cheek through her black bikini, pulling her into her body, rubbing Andrea’s sex against Carley’s thigh under the water. Andrea groaned at the contact, rolling her hips to heighten the sensation.
With Carley’s body against hers, her hard nipples pressing into Andrea, she didn’t know how much longer she’d last. Carley already knew exactly what she needed. She knew she didn’t even need to use her fingers. Her thigh would be enough.
Carley’s hands roamed across her body, cupping her breasts, toying with her nipples as Andrea grinded her sex against her leg, holding onto her ass to keep her close, adding to the pressure.
“Carley,” Andrea breathed as she kissed her neck. “I think I’m-”
Carley’s lips covered hers as Andrea came. She trembled as the orgasm rippled through her body, and she clung to Carley as she closed her eyes, letting the waves of pleasure wash over her.
“Fuck. That was fast,” Andrea said as she took a deep breath.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Carley said, her lips on Andrea’s once more.
Andrea sighed as their tongues danced, her body tingling underneath the water. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Carley let her bikini top fall to the floor and tugged at the hair tie that held her hair in a bun. She pushed her bikini bottoms down her legs, watching Andrea do the same.
“You’re not topping me today,” Andrea said, her voice husky.
“Oh really?”
Andrea nodded as Carley crossed the room to where she was standing beside her bed.
> Carley opened her mouth to challenge her, but all that came out was a yelp as Andrea pushed her onto the bed, covering Carley’s body with her own. Andrea’s hand went straight to her sex, cupping her as she kissed Carley, her tongue finding hers, deepening the kiss.
Carley could feel Andrea’s hand, her fingers so close to being inside her. She broke the kiss, gazing up at Andrea, cupping her cheek. “I need you.”
“Like this?” Andrea asked, her fingers filling her with a slow, deep stroke.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Faster...”
Andrea didn’t tease her. She listened, moving her fingers faster, gradually picking up the pace, her palm slapping against her clit with each stroke.
Carley kissed her as her hands roamed across her body. She raked her short fingernails across Andrea’s back, her hands sliding over her hips as she reached up to cup her breasts, rolling her hard nipples between her fingers causing Andrea to break their kiss. She moaned as she continued to thrust her fingers in and out, and Carley knew her orgasm was close.
Carley met Andrea’s eyes, seeing her own desire reflected back in them. “I’m so close-”
Andrea’s lips trailed wet kisses across her clavicle and up her neck, nibbling at her ear lobe as she moved her fingers faster and faster.
“Andrea,” Carley groaned, clinging to her arm as her back arched into Andrea’s body. “Fuucckkk.” Carley’s eyes slammed shut, fireworks exploding against her eyelids as she came.
Carley tried to catch her breath as Andrea slowly withdrew her fingers, but instead of joining her, she slid further down the bed, getting comfortable between her legs. Carley lifted her head off the sheets as Andrea’s tongue slid through her folds.
“Oh God,” Carley gasped. Andrea’s tongue swirled around her clit, and she reached up to knead her breast, tweaking her nipple between her fingers. “Fucking hell.”
Carley’s body was on fire as Andrea’s tongue flickered over her, bringing her closer and closer to the edge. She slid her hand through Andrea’s dark hair, holding her there, right where she needed her. Her body stiffened as she came, her hips lifting to meet Andrea’s tongue.
Andrea’s fingers dug into her thighs as her tongue circled her, and Carley felt like she might lose consciousness as a second orgasm rocked through her. Her fingers fell away from Andrea’s hair as she tried to remember to breathe.
“Okay,” Carley said, reaching for Andrea. “Maybe letting you top me wasn’t such a bad idea,” she murmured as Andrea’s lips covered hers in a lazy kiss.
“I can’t believe I let you get away with being on top more times than not,” Andrea said as she rolled onto her back. “I usually like being in control.”
“Maybe I do too,” Carley answered feeling her lips tug into a smile.
“What will we do about that?”
The look in Andrea’s eyes re-energized her, and she climbed on top of her, trailing kisses down her body. “I guess we’ll both just have to learn how to give up that control,” Carley said as she dipped her head and ran her tongue over Andrea’s shaved folds. “But I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Andrea managed to return to their booth without spilling the two drinks she was carrying. She was starting to regret coming to a nightclub that didn’t have a VIP section, but that wasn’t the norm in gay clubs. She was lucky that they got this table at all, and they weren’t standing up, leaning against the bar all night.
“Thanks,” Carley said when Andrea handed her a bottle of beer, her blond hair in loose waves flowing across her shoulders.
Andrea slid into the seat across from her. She brought her tumbler to her lips, the whiskey burning her throat on its way down. The club was packed, but it was a Friday night. They’d had a productive day in London, with back-to-back meetings all afternoon, and Andrea was glad to have a drink in her hand and just relax.
The last time they’d been in London had been so different from this trip. They’d had separate rooms at the hotel, and there hadn’t been any time to enjoy the city, so Andrea made a point of having dinner at one of her favorite restaurants, hoping that Carley would enjoy it as much as she always did, and going to see a show afterward.
Andrea couldn’t believe that she’d met Carley three months ago. In some ways it seemed like just a few weeks ago, but in other ways, she felt like she’d known her for years. They’d fallen into an easy routine. During the day it was business, but Andrea surprised herself by ending most days no later than six or seven o’clock. She’d always worked every minute of every day, right up until she went to sleep, but that was before she had Carley to distract her.
Carley was a distraction, but Andrea liked to think she was a healthy one. She still worked hard, but her days were more structured, and she let herself relax in the evenings and on the weekends when she was with Carley. Andrea wished they hadn’t come to a gay club tonight though. That had been Carley’s idea, and Andrea had run into three of her exes already.
“Andrea,” a tall, blond woman said as she slid into the booth beside her, and Andrea narrowed her eyes slightly as she tried to remember her name.
“Nina,” she said a second later, recovering quickly. “How are you?”
“I’m well. How are you? I haven’t seen you around in a while,” she said, tracing her fingertips along Andrea’s arm.
Andrea dodged her touch by tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She cleared her throat. “Nina, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend. This is Carley. Carley, this is Nina.”
Nina barely looked at Carley. As quick as she’d sat down beside Andrea, she was gone again.
“Wow,” Carley said as she took a drink. “She was charming.”
Andrea could feel her cheeks darkening. She may not have been great at relationships, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t had some fun along the way. In Marbella, she was more discreet, but for some reason, when she was in London, she always felt like she could let loose. It was catching up with her now though.
A few minutes later, a dark-haired woman asked her to dance, and Andrea knew that she’d spent the night with her a few years ago when she was here on a business trip, but she couldn’t remember her name. Andrea politely declined. Carley’s drink was almost gone, and Andrea wouldn’t mind going to the bar again to avoid another embarrassing encounter.
“Will I get another round?” Andrea asked, already sliding out of the booth.
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Do you want to go?”
“I don’t mind.”
Andrea met Carley’s eyes. The music was loud, and it was hard to tell if she was angry, or if she was just raising her voice to be heard.
“Let’s go,” Andrea said, offering her hand to Carley as she stood up. With Carley’s hand in hers, they wove their way through the crowded club until they were out on the street, a light mist falling from the dark sky.
Andrea flagged down a black cab and held the door open for Carley. She tousled her hair as she closed the door and gave the driver the address to their hotel.
Andrea thought they’d had a nice evening together, but the last two hours they’d spent in that club might have ruined it. She couldn’t tell if Carley was bothered by all the attention that Andrea received, but that was all in the past, and hopefully Carley could understand that if she was with someone, she was with them. Andrea wasn’t interested in having an affair, and she didn’t consider herself to be a womanizer.
She found Carley’s hand, interlacing their fingers. They were flying back to Malaga early tomorrow morning, and unless Carley brought it up, Andrea had no intention of talking about her exes. They were in her past, and right now, she was very much focused on the present.
Chapter Forty
Carley reread the text she’d just received from her best friend from high school, Megan. She was going to be in Seville next weekend, and she wanted to catch up. They hadn’t seen each since they graduated ten years ago. Megan had gone to college
in San Diego and ended up staying there.
Carley looked up from her phone and asked a passing waitress for another beer. Andrea was having dinner with a client a few streets away, but Carley knew she had time for at least one more beer.
Normally, she wouldn’t drink during the day, but this was Andrea’s last meeting. Carley’s day was already finished. She flicked through her calendar to see what Andrea’s schedule was like for next weekend, and it actually wasn’t that full. Andrea had Saturday morning blocked off to spend some time with her father at her house. She was having both of her parents for dinner that night, so she wouldn’t have any problems getting away on Saturday.
Carley moved on to Sunday and saw a lunch meeting with a local realtor, but Carley didn’t need to be there for that either, so she couldn’t see why she wouldn’t be able to go see Megan. It would take her at least four hours to get there though. She’d need to take a bus into Malaga and get a train from there.
It was worth the effort though. It’d be nice to see Megan again. She had no idea if they would be able to pick up where they left off. They might be too different now, and maybe too much time had passed. She couldn’t believe that it had been ten years already. It really didn’t feel like that long since she’d left high school and moved out of her house.
“Gracias,” Carley said when the waitress came back with another pint of beer. She’d brought her camera with her today, adding to her growing collection of photos of Marbella. She felt like she’d covered just about every inch of it at this stage.
As she took a drink, her phone rang. It was Andrea. “Hola.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m out of that meeting. Do you want to go out or stay in tonight?”