“If you’re asking if I believe in fate, I’m not sure, but I can’t argue with it either.” She shrugged. “Maybe we were meant to talk months ago, but it never felt right. There were plenty of opportunities.”
“Just because we never talked, didn’t mean we never communicated.”
“That’s true.” Leah squeezed her hand. “If you’re asking me if now is the right time for us, then I would have to say yes. It is…it feels right.”
“It does.” Briley smiled and tightened her hold on Leah’s hand. It did feel right and that wasn’t anything she wanted to argue with.
It didn’t take them long to make a circuit around the park and make their way back to the truck. Briley grabbed a blanket out of her truck and laid it across the bed. After climbing up, and helping Leah up, they both lay back, looking up at the faint sprinkling of stars, smiling when Leah lay close to her and intertwined their fingers. If she moved her head just a smidge she could kiss her, but right now, the moment was perfect the way it was.
Briley was content to lay in silence, but after a few minutes, Leah lifted her free hand, pointed out several constellations, and told stories about each one. “When Evan was three, he took an interest in the stars and I learned everything I could about them. It was an experience for both of us. He loved it and I loved seeing his face light up. I could have made stuff up, but that felt like cheating. Madison never showed an interest.”
“I would like to spend more time with him, if that’s okay? I would with Madison as well, but she doesn’t live here.”
“Of course. Just to be clear, I’ve talked to both Evan and Madison about us and they’re both on board. I believe Madison’s words were, ‘way to go, Mom.’”
“Smart girl. They’re really okay with us being together?”
“They are.”
Her kids’ acceptance lifted a weight off Briley’s shoulders. “That’s good news.”
“Madison wants to meet you before making up her mind completely, but she trusts my judgment and I have a feeling you’ll both get along just fine.” Leah raised their hands and kissed Briley’s knuckles. “I can’t promise I won’t mess up, but maybe you can give me a nudge if I’m heading off course or I do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.”
“I can do that, if you do the same for me. I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Me either.”
Briley turned back to the sky, lifted their clasped hands, and brought them to her chest and cradled Leah’s between hers. She lay quiet as Leah continued to speak about the stars and point out different things before they both lapsed into a comfortable silence. Briley was content just to lay next to her, when a kid screaming broke the moment. A quick glance at her watch showed almost two hours had passed.
“I guess it’s time to go?”
“How about another date tomorrow night?”
Leah rose up and pulled Briley up with her. As soon as their feet hit the ground, Leah brought Briley down for a kiss that quickly became heated. “Yes.”
“Yes.” Briley knew she had a goofy grin on her face but couldn’t help it. “Awesome.”
“I’m dating a child.”
“What? Where?”
Leah shook her head, then folded the blanket, before pushing it into Briley’s chest. “Let’s go home. I have some work to catch up on and you need to have dinner with your sister. Just because we’re dating doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t spend time with her.” Leah straightened Briley’s collar. “I’m all yours tomorrow night.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Impress me, Briley.”
Briley brought her right forearm across her chest. “Challenge accepted.”
Leah cupped Briley’s cheek. “As it should be.”
Briley reached up and squeezed her hand. “You have no idea what you unleashed when you decided to give us a chance.”
Leah tilted her head and that signature grin broke out. “It’s fun finding out, though.”
“We have all the time in the world.” Briley wrapped her free hand around Leah’s waist, pulled her closer, and rubbed their noses together. “You haven’t seen anything yet, tiny.”
“I can’t wait.”
Briley pulled back, and opened Leah’s door for her. “Onward home.” Dinner with Kat tonight, then another date tomorrow night. Game on.
Chapter Twenty-two
Briley wiped the sweat off her brow, pocketed the rag, then pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her emotions had been from one end of the spectrum to the other trying to decide where to take Leah on their date. It eventually hit her that they didn’t have to go anywhere in order to have a memorable night. They just needed to be with each other. Instead of overthinking it, she dialed Leah’s number.
“Darling.”
Chills raced up and down her spine at Leah’s soft voice. “I’ll be over at your house at six-thirty. We’re staying in.”
“Oh.”
The surprise in Leah’s voice set her heart racing, but she pushed on. “Yes and no need to dress up. Casual. Super comfortable.”
“Our ideas of comfortable could be completely different.”
“Well, I was going to wear sweatpants and a tank top.”
Leah chuckled. “Will do.”
“Don’t freak out, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“I’ll take your word for it and I’m not freaked. Quite the contrary, I’m looking forward to what you’ve come up with.”
“I promise it won’t disappoint, but if it does, I’m giving you permission to say I told you so later.”
“How considerate of you.”
“I have my moments.” Briley looked up when someone in the side yard called her name. “I have to cut this short. I’m being summoned.”
“Don’t keep them waiting. I’ll see you tonight.”
“No keeping me away.” The grin stayed plastered on her face for the rest of the workday, and even when she walked in the front door of her house. Kat looked up from the couch, where papers surrounded her, but didn’t say anything.
Ever since Kat had mentioned the tiny house business, she’d been working non-stop on setting up the new business venture. It was good to see her motivated again.
Briley took her time in the shower and once out, dried off, then stared at her dresser. Without looking, she grabbed a bra and a pair of boyshorts out and slipped them on. Next, a pair of gray sweatpants, white tank top, Christmas socks, and a pair of sneakers. No makeup and she kept her hair down. Yep, super casual was the phrase that came to mind when she looked in the mirror.
Fancy dinners had their place, but eight times out of ten, it would just be them relaxing at home. There was no time to change her mind now. A quick glance at the clock told her she had less than fifteen minutes to be at Leah’s.
In the living room, she opened the cabinet beside the TV and pulled out Rack-O, Sorry, and a deck of cards. She stacked them on the coffee table, ignoring Kat’s pointed stare from where she sat on the couch, eating a cookie.
Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she shook her hands out, then made a beeline back to the cabinet and pulled out the first season of Golden Girls. With all her treasures in hand, she walked into the kitchen with Kat right behind her.
She laid her things on the table, took a basket out of the pantry, and put everything in it, along with a few cookies and brownies, then took a pint of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer. Satisfied with what she’d chosen, she picked up the basket, turned on her heel, and approached the door.
“Have fun,” Kat called.
“I will.” She bounded down the steps, took a deep breath, walked down the sidewalk, headed toward Leah’s front door, and knocked. A few moments later, a smiling Leah opened it, dressed similar in a pair of cut off blue sweatpants and a black t-shirt.
“Don’t just stand there.” Once they were both inside, Leah dragged Briley to the couch, where they both sat down. “What have you got?”
Briley took a
deep breath. “I can do fancy, but fancy isn’t needed all the time. I want us to be comfortable with each other. Have fun. Do stupid shit. Just enjoy our time together.”
“I want that, too.”
“So, we’ve got three games.” She held up the dvd. “The Golden Girls and dessert.”
“Which we should put in the freezer.”
“Nope.”
Leah looked from the ice cream to Briley. “No?”
“Dessert first.”
“Now that,” Leah said, pulling Briley up, “is something I can get behind.” Once in the kitchen, she grabbed two bowls and spoons. “What did you have in mind for dinner?”
“It’s already been ordered and should be here by eight at the latest.”
“Well then. Since this is your show, why don’t you fix our dessert and I’ll put the first dvd in.”
As Leah walked by her, Briley pulled on her arm and gathered Leah into her arms. “You look quite fetching, tiny.”
Leah feigned shock. “These old things.” Her shock turned into a sexy leer, and Briley leaned down to kiss it away, but Leah turned her head at the last moment, so Briley kissed her cheek. “Time for that later.”
“For the record, your ass looks fantastic in them.”
“We’ve already established you’re an ass girl, darling.”
“Only yours.” While Leah got the dvd ready, Briley dished up some ice cream and crumbled the chocolate chip cookies and brownies into it. Simple, but tasty. Leah was waiting for her in the living room, but she had pushed the coffee table out from in front of the couch and laid a blanket on the floor, where she already sat.
“I figured why not have a floor picnic while we were at it.”
“No reason not to.” Briley handed the bowls over, then plopped down beside her, grabbed the remote for the fireplace, and flicked it on low. The days may have been hot, but the night tended to run cooler. “Why not set the mood even more?”
“No reason not to,” Leah repeated Briley’s words, handed Briley her bowl back, then started the first episode.
Forty-five minutes later, their desserts were gone, and Leah was wrapped in Briley’s arms, enjoying the show. “I’m probably Sophia, and even though Kat isn’t a slut, she would be Blanche.”
“Who am I?” Leah held tightly to Briley’s arms.
“A combination of Blanche and Dorothy.”
“You think?”
“Yes.” Briley opened her mouth to say something when the doorbell rang. “That would be dinner.” She reluctantly untangled herself from Leah, opened the door, then accepted their food. She carefully deposited everything on the coffee table, then grabbed two plates and silverware from the kitchen. Even from her spot in the kitchen, she could see Leah grab a piece of fried okra and put it in her mouth.
Instead of the normal take-out food, Briley had opted for good old southern cooking and no one did it better than Grandma Esther. With her bounty in tow, she sat back down and handed Leah her plate and the silverware. “The food’s okay?”
“I didn’t even realize they delivered. Evan and I have been a few times.”
“They deliver two days a week.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
As the third episode played, they piled their plates with fried okra, collard greens, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a piece of cornbread. Dinner was a silent affair, but Briley enjoyed the fact that Leah savored the food just as much as she did. Two episodes later, the food was put away, the dishes washed, and they were just starting their first game of Rack-O.
Briley won the first game. “My grandma always enjoyed playing games with Kat and me when we would stay with her. This was our go-to game. It was hard after Grandpa died, but having us there helped some. We stayed with her as much as we could, or she would allow.”
“My family was big on playing games growing up, also. I did the same with Madison and Evan. Evan and I still have game night a couple of times a month. I know he’s getting older, but I love it that he still wants to spend time with me.”
“You bet.” Briley couldn’t keep her eyes off Leah, even though it cost her the second game. The night was progressing just as she had predicted. It was rewarding when an idea came together.
Two hours later, the games were put away, the coffee table moved back, and they were snuggled together on the couch. Briley paused the show when Leah’s cell phone started ringing.
“It’s Evan.”
“Take your time.” Briley stretched out on the couch and closed her eyes. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she kept her eyes closed at the feather light touch that ghosted across her cheek and down her neck and didn’t protest when her glasses were taken off.
She kept still even as the touch continued. After a moment of exploration, the touch stopped and Briley opened her eyes to see Leah sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. A pleased smile on her lips, hair lightly damp. A quick glance at the clock told her it was eleven forty-five. She hadn’t intended to fall asleep. “You know, a girl could get used to waking up like this.” Briley stretched, then intertwined her fingers with Leah’s and enjoyed the sensation of Leah’s thumb brushing over the back of her hand.
Leah wore a knowing smile as she tilted her head. “You don’t say.” She squeezed Briley’s hand.
With a racing heart, Briley rose, pulled her hand back, and placed both of her hands on Leah’s cheeks. Before Leah could even blink, Briley closed the gap between them, and her heart pounded as their lips met. At the first touch of Leah’s lips, Briley knew there was no coming back from this. Before things could get out of control, Briley pulled away, but kept her hands in place, running her thumbs along Leah’s jaw. “You always taste so good.”
Leah gulped audibly.
Briley smiled. “I wanted to do that as soon as I walked in the door.”
“I know.” Leah grasped one of Briley’s hands and kissed the palm. “You’re not exactly a hard one to read.”
“Oh, really?” The smirk on Briley’s face vanished when Leah stood, took a step forward, and climbed on the couch, straddling Briley’s lap. Briley tugged on Leah’s waist and brought them flush together, locking her hands behind Leah’s back. “Don’t start something we can’t finish, tiny.” This felt right. She was ready, but this had to be Leah’s choice.
Leah sat back with her hands around Briley’s neck. “Is that a challenge? Because, I love a good challenge.” She leaned forward and whispered in Briley’s ear. “I want you, Briley. Do you want me?” She licked the shell of Briley’s ear, then nipped it. Leah’s grin when she pulled back was almost Briley’s undoing.
Briley fought the urge to throw her on the couch and ravish her. This was their first time and she wanted it to be special. This was Leah, after all, and she deserved only the best. “Yes,” she said, before lunging forward and capturing Leah’s lips. The kiss was sloppy, and hurried, but perfect on so many levels. Briley tilted her head, slid her hand up Leah’s back, and cradled her neck, as she deepened the kiss, pouring every pent-up emotion she’d built up over the last two months into it. When breathing became an issue, she backed off, and trailed open-mouthed kisses down Leah’s jaw, then nibbled her neck, noting which spots along the way made Leah gasp for future reference.
Leah tightened her arms around Briley’s neck. “God, don’t you dare stop.”
Briley growled deep in her chest and stood. Leah’s feet hit the floor but she still clung to Briley and kissed her again. Briley grabbed Leah by the waist and lifted her up, her hands finding purchase on Leah’s ass, and forcing Leah to wrap her legs around Briley’s waist. She nibbled on Leah’s ear and started fumbling toward the bedroom. Briley’s heart pounded when Leah latched onto her neck and started sucking, causing Briley to fall backward into the wall. “Oh, sweet Jesus.”
“Bed now.” Leah nibbled Briley’s ear.
Briley pushed off from the wall, entered the bedroom, and laid Leah on the bed. Leah giggled and moved to get
comfortable. Briley grinned, then lifted her tank top over her head in an easy motion and threw it on the floor, along with her bra, before crawling onto the bed and hovering above Leah’s body. Her arms settled on either side of Leah’s shoulders and Briley moaned as Leah traced her eyes along Briley’s chest, then she forced her eyes up to meet Briley’s.
“Are you sure abo—?” Before Briley could even get the words out, Leah pulled her down and kissed her, trailing her tongue along Briley’s lips. Briley moaned and pressed forward. Leah shifted underneath, sliding her thigh between Briley’s legs, making Briley shiver even as Leah ran her fingers along her chest. “Christ,” she moaned when Leah hit a sensitive spot.
Pulling back, Leah stared into Briley’s eyes as her fingers started at Briley’s cheek, traced along her jaw, down her neck, along her shoulder, skimmed over her nipple, then moved along her side and settled on her hip. “Darling, we are going to have so much fun.”
Briley’s chest heaved and she got a wicked grin on her face. “You’re a tad overdressed, aren’t you?” Briley hissed when Leah ran her hands inside of Briley’s sweatpants and cupped her ass.
Leah’s lips quirked. “Then you should do something about that.”
First, Briley grabbed the hem of Leah’s shirt and lifted it over her head, then tugged on her shorts and threw them to the side, along with her own sweatpants and boyshorts. She lay down beside Leah, and traced circles on her stomach before latching her lips onto Leah’s neck and kissing her way down her chest.
“Don’t play games with me, darling. We both want this and we’re both ready. Make love to me, Briley.”
Briley felt as if her heart skipped a beat. Anything. She would do anything Leah wanted. With a tender smile, she settled her weight on top of Leah, then proceeded to do just that.
Chapter Twenty-three
With a groan, Briley rolled over in bed, covering her head with the blanket when it dawned on her what had transpired the night before. Instead of screaming, she pounded her fists on the bed and held back a squeal. It was then she realized she was alone in bed. Waking up with Leah in her arms would have been ideal but she wasn’t about to complain. It had been both exhilarating and terrifying getting to hold Leah and be that close with her. The orgasms didn’t hurt either.
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