“Good. And Meredith?”
“I don’t think he’s going to put up with her much longer. Since you’ve rescinded her security clearance, she’s not much use to him.”
“Get to her before he does. Make her understand that You are the only one that can save her now.”
“Yes, ma’am. That’s all from this side for right now.”
“Fine. Thank you for the information. I’ll be in touch.”
“You guys having fun?” Eve asked as she joined them.
Lainey was sitting at the edge of the pool with her feet emerged in the water as the boys splashed around her.
“Are you going to swim with us, Eve?” Darren asked as he swam up to the edge of the pool. “If you come in, Mommy will, too.”
“Well...” Eve took off her sunglasses and began untying the sarong. “Let’s go swimming then.” Striding to the middle of the pool, she dove in gracefully, her long, slender body barely making a splash, not surfacing until she had swum the length of the pool.
“Your turn,” she called to Lainey, who hadn’t taken her eyes off of Eve since she had shed the sarong.
“I can’t dive like that,” Lainey called back when she finally was able to think again.
“Try, Mommy!” Darren squealed.
“Okay, okay. I’ll try.” Lainey stood up, feeling Eve’s eyes on her with every move she made. The muscles in her belly tightened in response. “Are you going to stay there?” she called to Eve.
“Yes. Swim to me, l’amant.”
After her heart stopped hammering, Lainey took a deep breath and dove in. With her eyes closed, she swam underwater towards Eve. Her lungs began to scream as she swam the length of the pool, and she wanted to surface. Just when she thought she couldn’t hold her breath any longer, her hand brushed against Eve’s bare stomach. Lainey emerged from the water, sucking in air. When she opened her eyes she was close enough to Eve to feel their legs touching.
“Hi.” Eve smiled. She wanted to lean in and kiss Lainey, but knew the boys were watching. “Catch your breath yet?”
“How do you do that so effortlessly?” Lainey was practically panting, but not only because of the swim. Behind her, Lainey could hear Kevin and Darren cheering and turned to wave at them. “I need to exercise more.”
“I could help you with that.” Eve ran a finger down Lainey’s back and sent chills coursing through Lainey’s body.
“I bet you could.” Lainey propped her arms on the edge of the pool next to Eve to rest and watched Darren and Kevin play in the shallow end. “What did you call me?”
“Hmm?” Eve’s eyes were closed, her wet hair slicked back off of her face. She was enjoying the sun, the sound of the boys having fun and having Lainey next to her.
“When you said ‘swim to me’ you called me something. It sounded, I don’t know, French. What was it?”
Eve opened one eye and peered at Lainey. “It is French. L’amant. It means lover.”
“Oh.” Lainey blew out a breath. “I like that. Are you fluent in French?”
“Is that one of your three questions?” Eve teased.
Lainey chuckled. “No. Make this one a freebie, please?”
Eve smiled. “Yes. I’m fluent in French and a couple of other languages. It came in handy when I lived there.”
“You never cease to amaze me,” Lainey said quietly.
Eve shrugged a little. “It’s nothing special. I’ve always had a love for language, so I studied. Nothing anyone else couldn’t do.”
Lainey looked over at Eve, who had closed her eyes again. She is so humble. And, so beautiful, Lainey thought. At this moment, Eve looked so at peace, a far cry from how she had looked when she had come out from the kitchen. Lainey wondered what Adam had said to her to upset her. “Do you want to talk about it?” she said now.
“Talk about what?”
“Adam, and what he said that troubled you.” As soon as she said it, Lainey felt the tension seep back into Eve and regretted it.
“Nothing to talk about.” Eve pushed off the side of the pool and dove under before Lainey could say anything.
“Damn it!” Lainey swore and kicked away from the side.
Eve kept her distance from Lainey for the remainder of the afternoon, making sure that they weren’t alone. When she wasn’t swimming with Kevin and Darren, she was floating by herself, or lying out in the sun. Her whole demeanor told Lainey that she didn’t want to talk. After they were done swimming, they played video games, made dinner, and watched a movie.
While the boys got ready for bed, Eve locked herself away in her bedroom. Standing under the hot spray of the shower, she tried to let the tension wash away. She knew that Lainey was only trying to help, but talking about Adam had only made Eve feel guilty and despondent. Seeing Lainey disheartened only made Eve feel worse, but if there was anything she didn’t need right now it was to feel responsible for Lainey’s moods. Granted it was her fault that Lainey was unhappy right now. She had withdrawn when they had all been so close. Almost like a family. But that was the thing, of course. None of this was real. Lainey had her own family, her own husband. What did she think she was doing, making that beautiful woman emotionally dependent on her because of her own needs?
Stepping out of the shower, she began to dry her hair and heard a knock. Wrapping a towel around her and trying to calm her nerves she went to answer it.
“Can I come in?” Lainey said. She was wearing a thin t-shirt and shorts that accentuated her wonderful curves that Eve was so attracted to.
“Are the boys in bed?”
“No. They’re playing video games.” The sight of Eve almost naked made it difficult for her to keep her mind on what she had come to say. Why was it that even now, after they had shared so much, she should be taken by surprise by the electrifying effect this woman had on her. “I just wanted to apologize to you...”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Eve interrupted, going back into the bathroom. She was combing her hair when Lainey stepped in after her.
“I obviously upset you. I never intended to do that.”
“I’m not upset with you, Lainey,” Eve said softly, looking at Lainey in the mirror. “Let’s just forget it, okay?”
Lainey sighed. “Fine. The boys would like to know if you would come and play another video game with them before they go to bed.”
“Sure. Tell them I’ll be right there.”
When Lainey started out the door, Eve grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “I told you I’m horrible outside of the bedroom,” she said by way of her own apology. “I’m just not good at any of this.” She kissed Lainey gently. “Forgive me?” she whispered.
“If you forgive me,” Lainey told her. It had been torture having Eve be so distant towards her. Eve was just beginning to open up to her, but she had pushed too hard.
“Deal.” Eve deepened the kiss before letting Lainey go. “Let me get dressed and I’ll be in to play a couple of games.”
“Can I watch?”
“Me get dressed, or us playing games?” Eve asked her.
“Both.” As usual, talking to Eve made her feel sexy and exciting. Alive.
“Mmm. Yes.” Eve walked out of the bathroom, letting her towel fall to the floor.
“Is this where you get that?”
Eve glanced over her shoulder with a questioning look. “Get what?”
“That perfect no line tan.”
“It’s one of the places,” Eve told her. “One day, I’ll take you to another place without the boys, and I’ll show you exactly how I have no tan lines.”
“I’d love that.” Lainey cupped Eve’s breasts.
“Don’t do that.”
“Why?” Lainey scraped her thumbs over Eve’s nipples and Eve’s back arched in pleasure.
“Because.” She gripped Lainey’s wrists. “I have to play games with your boys before I can play games with you, honey.”
Lainey found it hard to believe that someone like Eve would
actually enjoy sitting with her legs crossed, on the floor and playing with two kids. At the same time, she couldn’t help but remember Eve standing naked before her. She wanted so much to touch Eve, to please her, as Eve had pleasured her.
Eve glanced at Lainey and smiled. She knew what Lainey was thinking, could feel it deep inside her. Tonight, Eve wanted to give herself to Lainey. It has been so incredibly difficult for her to not have Lainey touch her, not to feel Lainey’s hands satisfying her.
Eve tried telling herself that it was because she wanted Lainey to know what it was like to be pleasured, but was she scared as well? She would find out later tonight she hoped.
“Okay, guys,” Eve said finally. “Time to get some sleep.”
“Aww, but we want to play some more!” Darren protested.
Eve looked over at Lainey and winked. “Well, I’ll give you a choice,” she said, pulling both boys to their feet. “All right?”
“Okay!”
Eve waited until both boys were sitting on the bed in front of her. “Ready for your choices? You can keep playing video games until you fall over or go cross eyed. Or...” Eve paused dramatically. “You can go to bed now and get some sleep for our big day tomorrow at Disney.”
“Disney!” They both jumped up off the bed and danced around.
“We’re going to Disney, Mommy!” Darren ran over to Lainey and jumped up in her arms. “Are we going to see Mickey Mouse?”
“I’m sure he’ll be there with everyone else,” Lainey said laughing.
Kevin was still doing his little happy dance, and before he could stop himself, he threw himself into Eve’s arms. Lainey didn’t know which one of them was more surprised, Kevin or Eve, and tried to conceal her grin.
“Um, sorry,” Kevin said bashfully and let go of Eve’s neck, trying to slide back down to the floor.
“It’s okay,” Eve told him quietly and kissed him on his cheek. Kevin turned bright red and bowed his head so that Eve couldn’t see the big grin on his face before he ran to his mom.
Darren saw the kiss and wanted one, too. Wiggling out of his mother’s arms, he ran to Eve.
“Can I have a kiss, too, Eve?” He held his arms up so that Eve could pick him up, and giggled when she tickled him before lifting him up to her.
“Of course you can have a kiss.” Eve pressed her lips to Darren’s cheek and gave him a loud kiss making him giggle more.
“I guess this means that you guys are done playing games and want to go to bed.”
“Yeah! Which Disney are we going to?” Darren was still hanging on to Eve’s neck as she bent down to pull the covers back.
“Disney World, dufus. We’re in Florida,” Kevin said, climbing into the bed.
“I know that, dufus. Which one though?”
“You mean which park?” Eve asked.
“Yeah. Which park are we going to?”
“We can go to all of them if you want. Why don’t we just play it by ear tomorrow and see what happens. All right?”
“Okay.” Darren yawned as Eve as she laid him down in the bed. “You’re the greatest, Eve!”
Eve smiled back and brushed his hair off his forehead. “I think both of you are great.” She tapped Kevin on the nose. “Get some sleep. We’ll wake up early in the morning and have all day to play.”
Lainey came over and tucked both of the boys in bed, kissing each of them. “Goodnight. I love you both. Sweet dreams.”
“‘Nite, Mommy. Love you.” Darren sunk his head into the plush pillow and was almost immediately asleep.
“‘Nite, Mom.” Kevin lifted his hand to Lainey’s cheek. “You have sweet dreams, too. Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
Lainey bent and hugged Kevin. “Thank you, honey,” she whispered in his ear, and kissed his cheek again.
Wanting to give Lainey and the boys a little privacy, Eve waited at the door until Lainey came toward her, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Are you okay?” Eve asked her.
“Yes. I’m fine.” Lainey turned to Eve. “I want to be with you,” she whispered.
“Then be with me,” Eve told her as she led her toward her room.
“I don’t know if I can. They are pretty heavy sleepers, but this is a strange place for them. What if they wake up and they’re scared? They’ll come looking for me.”
Though she was disappointed, Eve smiled at Lainey. “I guess I’ll just have to dream about you then.”
Lainey sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” Eve touched Lainey’s cheek. “I want you, but I understand.” Leaning in, she kissed Lainey gently on the lips, before turning reluctantly toward her own bedroom. “Get some rest, honey. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Eve.” Lainey waited until Eve looked back at her. “I don’t know if I can stay away.”
“If you can’t, my door will be unlocked and I’ll be waiting.”
Leaning against the closed door of her bedroom, Lainey fought the urge to follow Eve. She had to think about her sons.
Eve had told her to get some rest, but Lainey knew that wouldn’t be happening.
Eve lay naked in bed, awake, thinking of Lainey. She had wanted to be with her so much tonight, but she knew that the most important things to Lainey were her boys. Eve would never do anything to jeopardize that relationship. So, she would lie alone and restless and hope that she would make it through tomorrow.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to relax, then began to hum, then sing softly to herself the way she had when she was a little girl and wanted to forget everything. There were those nights when she had hidden deep in the closet with Mr. Snuffles, her stuffed teddy bear and best friend, rocking back and forth, singing to herself to drown out the shouting downstairs. Singing began to unwind Eve’s mind, as she sank deeper into her pillow, unaware that Lainey had come into the room.
In the soft glow of the moonlight, she could see Eve’s arms thrown above her head, her eyes closed. The sheets barely covered her breasts and one leg lay bare on top of the sheets. She had tried to stay away but every time she closed her eyes she would see Eve. Feel her. After making sure the boys were sleeping peacefully, she came to fulfill her own needs.
She wanted to touch Eve, but didn’t want to disturb the peaceful state Eve was in, so she just listened and watched. Lainey told herself that she shouldn’t have been surprised that Eve’s voice was as beautiful as she was. It was sweet and serene and just a little haunting, Lainey thought. Eve shifted slightly and the sheets moved, baring her breasts to Lainey. She had seen Eve naked before, but still went weak at the sight. As much as she didn’t want to disturb Eve, there was no way she could keep her hands off of her now.
Eve was half asleep and thought she was dreaming when she felt Lainey’s hands on her breasts. She moaned softly when Lainey tweaked Eve’s hardened nipple and arched to offer more. When she felt Lainey’s mouth brush hers, Eve opened her eyes. “Lainey?” She whispered, confused. “I thought...”
“I couldn’t stay away.” Lainey stood up straight and stripped away her t-shirt and shorts. When Lainey was naked, Eve tossed the sheets off. When she straddled her, and cupped her breasts, molding them, Eve was amazed. She had always thought of Lainey as shy, unable to make the first move, and now she was discovering how much she was enjoying this new side of Lainey.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she said.
“Yes.” Lainey gasped as Eve pinched and tugged her nipple. “The boys are deep asleep. They must be comfortable here. With you.”
“Good. I’m glad. Now, kiss me.”
Lainey bent down and kissed Eve passionately, feeling the heat of the kiss course through her body. “I can’t stay,” she whispered.
“I know. We’ll make the best of the time we have together.”
“I want to touch you, Eve.”
Eve’s heart pounded inside her chest and she hesitated.
“Don’t you want me to touch you?�
�
“I do. God, Lainey, I do.”
“Do you think I won’t be able to please you?” It suddenly occurred to her that the reason Eve had been reluctant might not have been because she was nervous, but because Lainey was inexperienced at this.
“No! Oh, honey, that’s not it at all. I know you can please me.” Eve sighed softly. “Every time I’ve thought about being with you – since the beginning - there was always one thing I’d wanted to do. To please you. I never expected anything in return. I don’t want you to feel as though you have to give me anything in return. It satisfies me just to be able to give you pleasure.”
“I know I don’t have to, Eve. I want to. I’ve wanted to from the very beginning as well. I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it, but I at least want to try.”
Eve looked into Lainey’s eyes for a moment, not saying a word. “Do what you want to me,” she whispered.
Lainey hesitated, then laughed nervously. “Now that I’m here, I don’t know what to do.”
Stretching her arms above her head, Eve said, “I want you to do what you want to do to me. What you have been dreaming about doing to me. You don’t need my help for that.”
Lainey took a breath and very slowly, very timidly rubbed her hand across Eve’s stomach, feeling her tremble inside.
“It’s okay, take your time,” Eve said in a low voice. “I’m not going anywhere.” She kept her eyes on Lainey’s and saw all of the emotions passing through Lainey. She was scared, excited, shy and so full of want that Eve felt herself wet and ready before Lainey even touched her.
Lainey’s pulse was pounding so hard in her ears that she didn’t know whether it was her body trembling or Eve’s below her. She inched her hand down even further and felt Eve’s soft skin beneath her fingers. Needing more, wanting more, Lainey finally touched Eve, feeling her silky wetness.
Eve arched her back. “Oh, God!” she cried.
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“No!” Eve groaned. “No, you’re not doing anything wrong.”
After only a moment’s pause, Lainey slipped her fingers inside Eve.
“My God!” Eve had never imagined it would feel like this.
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