by Robyn Nyx
“Of course I will,” she lied. “My agent’s been bugging me for a meeting about a celebrity biography. I’ll busy myself with that and let Time know the story’s on hold for a while. I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“Good.” Ash finished his coffee in another long slurp. “I have to go.” He stood and pulled on his jacket. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks.”
She waited for him to leave before she took her leather satchel and carefully placed it on the table. She opened it, withdrew Gillian’s folder, and turned it to the next person on the list of Therese’s clients, Christine Hinds. Madison tapped the contact number into her phone.
“Hi, this is Christine. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
She had an easy SoCal lilt to her voice that sounded melodic. Under other circumstances, it might’ve appealed to Madison, but all she could think about was the person whose life they’d stolen to continue living their own. A privilege of the rich. She found herself opening her favorites and dialing Elodie. Their non-date date night had been the most fun she’d had and the most relaxed she’d been for a long time. Maybe ever. Elodie had made it clear she was interested in more than friendship but hadn’t pressured her at all. For the life of her, she had no idea why the sexiest woman alive would find her remotely attractive.
Maybe she was tired of skinny, silicone sexy Barbie doll types. And who was she to argue? They could have some fun, Elodie would probably bore of her quickly, and hopefully they’d go back to being friends. Madison was emotionally unavailable, and Elodie was far too sexual to settle with one person. It was possibly the best hookup she could stumble across. Neither of them were relationship material, and Madison had needs that extended beyond the abilities of her bedside battery-operated companions.
“Hey you, I’ve been hoping you’d call.”
Elodie’s voice was low and seductive. Madison’s pussy throbbed in response. Now that she’d made the decision, there was really no point in waiting any longer.
“Really? Why?”
“I like talking to you. Where are you?”
“I’m in my happy place. It’s a coffee-slash-bookshop near the Grand Canal. It’s been here nearly three decades, and they make the most amazing lattes.” She cradled her cell in her neck and took a sip from the oversized mug she needed two hands to pick up.
“Drop me your location and let me try one, then.”
“You should just take my word for it. This is a nice, peaceful place. It wouldn’t do well with the whole Elodie Fontaine hoopla descending on it.”
“I told you, it’s easier now. I can go anywhere I need to go, anytime. Unmolested.”
“What if I molested you?” Madison surprised herself with the line and wished she could drag the words back before they reached Elodie’s ears. The silence from the other end of the phone did nothing to make her wish otherwise.
“How about you grab a skinny chai latte and bring it over to my house?”
Oh my. Elodie’s voice was sexy enough already, but she dropped it a few octaves lower and her intent was obvious. “Is that a good idea?”
“I’ve thought so since I met you, but you’ve been playing hard to get. Don’t change your mind now, baby.”
Madison wondered if Elodie could make her come with just her words.
“I’m leaving right now.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter Eighteen
Elodie was waiting in the doorway as Madison pulled up the long gravel driveway in her CR-V. Yet another thing for Elodie to like about her—her lack of pretension. Madison could easily afford some showy, eye-catching gleam machine, but instead, she preferred to blend into the crowd and go virtually unnoticed. Some of the conversations they’d had indicated Madison’s nagging self-doubt, so perhaps that’s what made her choose such a common car in the pursuit of anonymity. Either way, it made her all the more endearing.
Madison swung the door open and had to use it to climb down to the ground. Her diminutive stature and the height of the SUV sidestep made a simple exit effectively impossible. Elodie would’ve laughed if it weren’t for the unfamiliar apprehension that threatened to pull her heart into her stomach.
Madison walked toward her quickly and with obvious purpose. She didn’t say a word, just folded Elodie in her arms and held her. Elodie felt a wave of what she could only describe as safety sweep over her. She was usually the one doing the holding, however briefly that might be. She couldn’t rightly recall the last time anyone had held her, truly held her, in their arms. Could it be that the last person to hold her that way was her father, before he lost himself in drink following her mother’s betrayal? She hadn’t ever considered that her lack of interest in real intimacy might have come from the issues her parents had. She buried her face into Madison’s neck in an effort to push that intrusive thought away, and she breathed her feminine scent in deeply, finding it both comforting and arousing.
Elodie finally pulled herself out of the embrace. “Hey you.”
“Let’s go inside. You feel cold.”
Elodie was still in the clothes from her morning workout. Instead of getting dressed for her imminent company, she’d spent the last half hour zipping from room to room trying to prepare for Madison’s visit. The touch of Madison’s hand on her bare shoulder made her shiver, and it wasn’t from the cold.
“Can I get you a drink?”
Madison looked at Elodie and smiled. “I’ll take a tea. Where’s your kitchen again?”
Madison kicked off her sneakers to reveal bare feet. Elodie noted her toe rings and instantly thought her feet looked sexy, peering from the baggy bottoms of her well-worn jeans. It gave her an unexpected beach-bum girl kind of style. “This way.”
When they got to the kitchen, Madison took Elodie’s hand and guided her to one of the stools by the kitchen bar. “You take a seat. I’ll make us both tea since I rushed out of the coffee shop without your chai.”
“Are you secretly British?” Elodie made an attempt to take away from the anticipation that hung in the air and accompanied her words with a natural smile, so different from her trademark smile. Even though she couldn’t see herself, she could feel the difference.
Madison laughed. “No, I just hear it’s customary to drink tea in…these kind of circumstances.”
“Oh? And what kind of circumstance is this?” Elodie rose from the chair only for Madison to put her hands on her shoulders and gently press her back down to the seat. She placed her fingers to Elodie’s lips.
“Just for once, let someone else take control.”
Elodie looked away, unable to bear Madison’s strong, blue-eyed scrutiny. Every word that came from her mouth was like she’d opened up Elodie’s head and pulled out her hidden, inner truth. There was literally no hiding place. At least when they were on the phone, she could conceal her body language, her expressions. Although Madison had proved able to divine so much more than her words should ever reveal, even without being face-to-face.
“Fine. The green tea is on the counter next to the coffee machine.” She saw Madison smile when she noticed they had matching Gaggias. Madison muttered something that sounded like a comment about having matching tattoos that Elodie didn’t quite catch. “Sorry, what was that about tattoos?”
“Nothing.” Madison’s response was too quick, as if she was embarrassed she’d said anything.
Elodie rested her feet on the side struts of the breakfast bar chair and sighed loud enough to distract Madison from her tea making.
“Are your legs open wide enough there, cowboy?”
Elodie laughed gently but didn’t move. She’d never adhered to the societal model that prescribed girls should keep their thighs tightly clamped together to maintain a more feminine appearance. She was far more comfortable in clothes that allowed her body to position itself where it damn well liked, and she only made begrudging exceptions when she was necessarily sheathed in an elegant Dior or Versace.
“You
should concentrate on making our tea.” Elodie’s iPad buzzed to signal an incoming message, and she cursed herself for not switching it off.
I’ve been following your girl. Imagine my fucking surprise when she ends up at your place. I’m not watching you two have sex. Txt me when she leaves and I’ll pick her up again. So far, nothing unusual.
Elodie smiled, turned it off, and returned her attention to Madison. She watched her move quietly around the kitchen, finding spoons, mugs, and honey. It felt so normal and natural. She couldn’t stop herself from thinking that she’d like to watch her putter around her kitchen every day and let herself drift into a daydream where she was watching Madison making them dinner. They were talking about Elodie’s day at rehearsals, Madison’s latest feature piece. It seemed idyllic. Perfect, even.
“Hey you, where’d you go?” Madison was standing in front of her, mugs of steaming tea in her delicate hands.
“Who said I went anywhere?” Elodie was genuinely puzzled by Madison’s seemingly intrinsic knowledge of her.
“I could see it in your eyes. Where’d you go?” She set the mugs on the counter and placed her warm hands on Elodie’s upper legs, half on her shorts, half on her naked thighs.
“I was thinking about your story.” She wasn’t about to tell her she was picturing domestic bliss and happily-ever-after.
“Okay.” Her tone of voice sounded like she didn’t believe it, but she accepted her answer anyway. “What about my story?” Madison pulled out a chair and sat down. Elodie missed the feel of her hands instantly.
“I’m worried about you. Ice tells me this Therese Hunt is a big deal in the organ trafficking business and that she’s a bit too fond of wreaking her revenge on people. And the guy you went to see undercover? Ice says he’s disappeared and is presumed dead. She’s on to you, baby. I don’t want to lose you.”
Madison took Elodie’s hand and clasped it between her own. They felt soft and her grip was gentle. Despite her very real concern for Madison’s well-being, Elodie wanted Madison’s hands all over her body. She wanted to be held just as Madison had held her at the door, but she wanted more than anything to be naked against her. She was craving the warmth and solace she instinctively knew she would find in Madison’s arms. The all-enveloping feeling of safety in her presence was infinitely comforting.
“You’re worrying about nothing. I was supposed to be meeting her today, but Ash has warned me off, saying it’s too dangerous. He’s going to check out the rest of the clients when he’s on vacation. I’m leaving it alone until then.”
“I don’t know why, but I think you’re lying to me. I don’t think you’re the kind of person that’ll let anyone tell them to back off from a story.” Elodie felt tears behind her eyes, and her nose buzzed uncomfortably. The thought of losing Madison already hurt more than she cared to contemplate, and they hadn’t even slept together. How can our connection be this strong so soon? Madison stood and wrapped her arms around Elodie. She felt the swell of Madison’s breasts against her face and sensed she was home. She wrapped her arms around Madison’s waist and drew her in even closer. She wanted to burrow beneath her skin, because even being held this close wasn’t close enough.
She pulled away slightly and tentatively kissed the bare skin above Madison’s T-shirt. Madison placed her hand beneath Elodie’s chin and tilted her head so their eyes locked. Elodie was thankful she said nothing. There was no anger or judgment in her eyes. All Elodie could see was understanding and a desire that matched her own.
Madison kissed her, and Elodie was glad to find that she hadn’t romanticized it beyond reality. Madison’s hands slipped over Elodie’s shoulders and traced the naked muscles on her back. Their lips parted, and they simply looked at each other.
“Take me to bed,” Madison whispered.
Elodie stood, took Madison’s hand in hers, and led her to the master bedroom. It seemed to take an impossibly long time, in which Elodie prayed Madison wouldn’t come to her senses and change her mind. For once, Elodie felt something akin to nerves. She’d bedded hundreds of women, and she’d never doubted herself. It’s never been this important before. As she guided Madison through her luxurious mansion, all she could think about was not letting her down or disappointing her. All she wanted was to be good enough. Madison had finally decided to let whatever this was take its course, and now Elodie was plagued with self-doubt. Despite having had sex with countless women, only now did she comprehend that she’d never made love before. Do I even know how? And is this what I want now?
Madison stopped and tugged on Elodie’s arm to spin her around. She took Elodie’s face in her hands and kissed her again, deep and hard.
“I want you, Els, not your reputation.”
Elodie tried to hide her bewilderment. Was this connection so enigmatic that they didn’t need words to communicate? Eager to push such transcendental thoughts to the back of her head, she pushed Madison against the wall and kissed her with an almost vicious desire. Madison responded and twisted her hand in Elodie’s hair. She felt a pure, animalistic drive to consume Madison. Her pulse was pounding and her pussy throbbing. She wanted Madison so badly it was painful. Her body ached for her touch, for the caress of this woman who had appeared in her life and enthralled her so completely.
They stumbled the last few feet to Elodie’s bedroom. She picked her up, and Madison wrapped her legs around Elodie’s waist, their mouths never losing contact with each other. Elodie tried to stop thinking and concentrated on the feel of Madison’s body against hers. She knelt on the bed and gently laid Madison on the cloud-like comforter. She took the hem of Madison’s tee and pulled it over her head before quickly tossing it aside. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the beauty of her breasts. She reached around and uncoupled her silken bra, trailing her fingers along her shoulders and arms as she took the straps down. She bent over and took Madison’s nipple in her mouth, groaning when Madison called out her name. It sounded better than the violin in an Italian symphony orchestra. It exploded in the air and showered Elodie with the passion of a thousand orgasms. Plenty of women had called out her name in the past, but none had made it sound so exquisite, so unequivocally vital, like she needed it to continue breathing.
Madison grasped at Elodie’s tight tank and, in her fervor to remove it, ripped through the flimsy material and exposed Elodie’s breasts.
She laughed and looked a smidge sheepish. “Oops.”
Elodie grinned wickedly and discarded what was left of her tank. “Who knew you were so brutal?”
They fell together again, kissing with ferocity as they tore at each other’s clothes, Elodie was desperate for the feel of Madison’s naked flesh against her own. She pressed her body firmly against Madison’s and took the time to look into the eyes she felt she could both lose and find herself in.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Madison shook her head almost imperceptibly. “Thank you.”
Elodie frowned. “You don’t believe me?” She wondered if Madison doubted the authenticity of her feelings.
“I believe you think I’m beautiful.”
Elodie leaned into her, kissing and nibbling at her neck, trying hard not to tear into her flesh with the ferocious intensity she wanted to. Elodie began to work her way down Madison’s body, reining in her impatient craving to taste her, to drive right through her. She kissed the soft, yielding flesh of her curved stomach, and Elodie reveled in its perfect disparity, both to her own muscle-hardened stomach and the skeletal nothingness of so many of the women she’d slept with.
Elodie peeled off Madison’s jeans and tossed them aside. She caressed the soft give of Madison’s thighs with her lips, her breath dancing lightly on her wet lips as she passed from left to right. Madison reached down and twisted her hand in Elodie’s hair.
“Please. Suck me off.”
Elodie wanted to deny both of them. She wanted to kiss every inch of her skin from the tops of her thighs down to the toe rings on her tiny fe
et. But she couldn’t hold herself back any longer. She yearned to discover how Madison tasted and how she’d respond to Elodie’s tongue. She slipped farther along the bed and parted Madison’s thighs deliberately slowly. She tongued at her wet opening, where she could see the copious pooling of Madison’s juices. Madison moaned loudly and whispered Elodie’s name again. Just as before, it sounded beatific, making each syllable sensual.
Elodie worked two fingers inside her as she clamped her mouth around Madison’s engorged clit. Madison cried out quietly while Elodie licked and sucked. She started gently, but found the harder she sucked, the louder Madison’s cries became, so she happily obliged, all the time keeping a firm rhythm with her fingers. She hadn’t been there long when she felt the natural rise of her hips, when Madison’s hand pressed her face harder to her core. She convulsed beneath her, shouting out to God as she came.
“Fuck me, baby, fuck me hard.”
All self-doubts had faded as they’d hit the bed, as their kisses became as familiar as if they’d been doing it their whole lives. She pulled her mouth from between Madison’s soft, wet lips, got onto her knees, and thrust her fingers deeper and harder.
“Give me more.”
Madison’s demand was throaty and hoarse, and the instruction made Elodie throb yet harder. She guided a third finger inside her slowly before resuming the steady, solid pace Madison was responding to. She grabbed urgently at Madison’s breast, pinching and flicking her hardened nipple. The noises Madison was making were driving Elodie insane. The hungry, desirous look in her eyes and the way her body moved in response to Elodie’s touch excited her like never before. She’d always loved to make women come; she loved the utter abandonment of pretense and the inevitable release of their sexual energy. It made her feel powerful, and she believed a woman was at her most honest as she orgasmed. That was probably why she liked it so much. The constant façade, not just of Hollywood, but also of life, was wiped away in that momentary instant. But the look in Madison’s eyes was on a whole different level. This connection was like an invisible element binding them together. Is this what love feels like?