Threads of the Heart

by Jeannie Levig

  Addison pulled out and thrust in again. She caressed Maggie’s clit with her thumb as she began an easy rhythm.

  Maggie whimpered, her breathing fast and ragged. Occasionally, she tugged at her wrists but relaxed at the first resistance. She squirmed under Addison’s mouth and fingers.

  Addison feasted on Maggie’s breasts. When Maggie’s leg muscles begin to tighten, she quickened her pace.

  Maggie’s body went rigid, and she screamed her release.

  Addison stroked softly as Maggie relaxed. She kissed each nipple fully. She released Maggie’s wrists and looked up into her eyes.

  Maggie was crying.

  “Are you okay?” Addison whispered.

  Maggie slid her arms around Addison and pulled her close. “I didn’t know if I’d ever feel you again. If I’d ever hold you. If I’d ever taste you.”

  Addison winced with guilt. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I know,” Maggie said, pressing her fingertip to Addison’s lips. “And we’re okay. Just let me hold you now. Let me taste you. I want to taste you.”

  Addison’s body surged with desire. She’d missed Maggie’s mouth, her touch, her knowledge. Without another word, she rolled onto her back and pulled Maggie on top of her.

  Maggie began with Addison’s lips, then made her way along every inch of her body—kissing, tasting, suckling—until Addison was on fire. As Maggie neared her burning center, Addison said a silent prayer of Thanksgiving—for love, for forgiveness, for Maggie. She threw her head back and moaned as Maggie’s mouth found her need.

  She was home.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Dusty left Emily’s early and took the surface streets home to avoid the Black Friday traffic. She hoped to slip in, grab some clothes, and slip out before anyone was up and moving.

  She’d spent a couple of days with Emily and Seth and joined Rebecca and Jessica for the Thanksgiving dinner they always gave for anyone with nowhere to go for the holiday. While that wasn’t technically true for Dusty, she felt like that this year. Being at home made her nervous because she was never sure when she’d run into Tess, and ever since Eve told her about JoAnn, Dusty had found it more difficult to deal with her feelings. The icing on the Pop-Tart had been the conversation between Tess and Maggie that Eve overheard about JoAnn possibly coming to Thanksgiving dinner today. Dusty knew she couldn’t get through that. Then the ideal solution had presented itself.

  She turned the corner onto Skycrest Drive and caught a glimpse of dark green as she squinted against the early morning sun. Was it? She stared. It was. Addison’s Explorer sat in its parking space in the driveway. Dusty pulled up beside it and let her Harley idle. What was Addison doing here at seven a.m.? The last time she’d come by was to help Maggie with Pete’s death. Had something else happened? Had something happened to Maggie? Her gut clenched.

  She punched the garage door opener and pulled her motorcycle into her spot. As she yanked off her helmet, she took the front steps two at a time and rushed into the house. It was quiet. “Maggie?” she called. “Addison?”

  No answer.

  She made a quick check of the downstairs, then headed to the second floor. She only scanned the hallway before racing up the flight of steps to the third. “Maggie,” she called again, bursting into the master bedroom, her heart pounding at the possibilities of what could be wrong.

  Maggie sat up in the king-sized bed, holding the sheet to her breasts. With sleepy eyes, she blinked at Dusty. “What’s the matter, darlin’?”

  Beside her, Addison raised up on one elbow.

  They both stared at her.

  Dusty felt her mouth drop open. Addison? In bed with Maggie? She stared back. “Wh—” What was the right question? She looked to Addison. “Are you?” She glanced down and saw a duffle bag beside the door. She looked up again and pointed at Addison then to Maggie. “Are you two…”

  They both grinned and nodded.

  “Yes.” Dusty pounded her fist into the air. “Yes. Yes.” She ran across the room and leapt into the bed.

  Maggie and Addison laughed, each rolling to the side, letting Dusty land between them.

  Dusty flipped onto her back and kicked the mattress. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” She straddled Addison’s thighs and sat up on her. She grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.” She squeezed her tightly then, loosening her hold, began planting kisses all over her face.

  Addison batted at her. “Knock it off.” She choked with laughter.

  Dusty’s cheeks ached from her broad grin. She eased Addison back to arm’s length and looked at her. “Buddy, I’m so glad you’re home.” It was the only thought in her mind.

  Addison smiled. “Me, too.”

  Happiness surged through Dusty, taking control of her once more. She clamped her arms around Addison and began kissing her again.

  Addison fought to get away. “Maggie, help. Get her off me.”

  Maggie laughed. “Oh, no. You’re the one who left. You have to pay the consequences now.”

  Dusty flopped onto the bed between them and exhaled a deep sigh of satisfaction. “This is so great.” She wrapped an arm around each of them and pulled them to her.

  They rested their heads in the hollows of her shoulders and laced their fingers together across her stomach.

  “I’ll second that,” Addison said, relaxing into the new position.

  “I’m so glad you’re home,” Dusty said yet again.

  Maggie chuckled. “I think we’ve made someone very happy,” she said, obviously to Addison.

  Addison released Maggie’s hand and stroked her cheek. “I think we’ve made everyone very happy.”

  The three of them lay still for a long moment, Dusty feeling more contented than she had in a long time. Then she realized where she was. “I oughta probably get out of your bed now, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Addison said. “I’m thinking that’d be a good idea.”

  Dusty started to move, then remembered Maggie’s comment about consequences. She turned to Addison. “Did she make you sing The Super Sorry Song?”

  Addison grinned. “I sang a different kind of Super Sorry Song.” She arched her eyebrow.

  “All right!” Dusty held up her fist.

  Addison bumped it with her own.

  “I am right here,” Maggie scolded them.

  Dusty’s cheeks heated. “Sorry, Maggie Mae.” She scooted down to the end of the bed. She turned to face them once again. She smiled and backed toward the door. “Yes,” she said, punching her fist into the air one last time. She turned to leave.

  “In case you’re thinkin’ about goin’ anywhere today, our Thanksgivin’ dinner’s at five,” Maggie said. “But we’d love to have you with us for the whole day. If you can, that is.”

  Dusty halted, remembering her reason for coming home that morning in the first place. She looked over her shoulder.

  Addison and Maggie had moved to the center of the bed and lay in each other’s arms.

  Dusty would’ve liked nothing more than to spend the day celebrating their reunion and joining in on bringing the household back together as it used to be. It would never truly be as it used to be, though—not for her—because it used to be that she and Tess shared something nice, something maybe a little special, even if it wasn’t everything Dusty wanted it to be. It used to be that Tess wouldn’t have a date today at dinner. It used to be that Dusty wouldn’t have to sit and make conversation with some woman who was probably doing the things to Tess that Dusty loved to do, in addition to sharing things with her that Dusty never could. No, it would never be what it used to be, and Dusty wasn’t ready to face that.

  “Oh, sorry.” She feigned nonchalance. “I’m not gonna be here today.”

  “At all?” Maggie asked, clearly surprised.

  “Where you going to be?” Disappointment was evident in Addison’s eyes.

  A dull ache swelled in Dusty’s chest. “You know, I met this girl.” She averted her
gaze as she lied. “And we’re gonna hang out for a couple of days. I just came home to pick up some clothes.” She felt Maggie and Addison watching her.

  “Okay, luv,” Maggie said, resignation in her voice. “You have a good time. But we’ll be missin’ you.”

  Dusty clenched her teeth. She’d miss them, too. She’d miss sharing everything about this day with them. Could she stand it, though, being there with Tess and her damned date? No, she knew she couldn’t. “Hey, well, I’ll be back. I’ll see you then.” She gave a wave and slipped out the door.

  She packed some clean jeans and several T-shirts along with some bathroom things. She jerked the zipper of her bag closed, angry that she’d miss this special day with everyone, angry at Tess for wanting someone else, but mostly angry at herself for being so stupid. At the bottom of the stairs, she ran into Eve coming in the front door. “Hey,” she said. “How was your family thing?”

  “It was great. I had a good time cooking with my sister-in-law. And Enos actually stayed at the table when the shrimp cocktail was served.”

  Dusty raised an eyebrow in question.

  “He’s afraid of seafood,” Eve said. She eyed Dusty’s bag. “Where are you going?”

  “Uh, I met this girl—”

  Eve rolled her eyes. “You’re such a liar. Where are you really going? You’re just avoiding Tess.”

  Dusty clamped her hand over Eve’s mouth. “Shh.” She pushed her into the hallway behind the kitchen. “I’m not avoiding Tess,” she whispered. “I just don’t want to be here with her and that woman. Rebecca’s brother’s out of town. He said I could stay at his place a few days.” She released Eve. “It’s at the beach,” she added, as though that were the point.

  Eve’s features fell. “You mean you’re not going to be here all day?”

  “I can’t.” Dusty hated admitting it, but at least it was only to Eve. “I can’t watch her with someone else. Not yet.”

  “Dusty.” Eve pouted. “It’s my first holiday with you, with Sammi, with my new family. It won’t be complete without you.”

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s important for you, and…hey. Did you know Addison’s home?”

  Eve’s eyes widened. “She’s home?” She squealed. “You mean she’s actually home as in living here again?”

  Dusty grinned and nodded. “She spent the night.” She was grateful they were on a different subject.

  “Oh, my God, that’s fantastic,” Eve said. “I saw her car outside, but I just thought she came over early to help or something.”

  “Nope, she’s upstairs in bed with Maggie.”

  Eve eased back and looked at Dusty. “How do you know that?”

  “Good morning,” Tess said as she came down the stairs.

  Dusty and Eve dropped into silence.

  “Am I interrupting something?” Tess stepped into the foyer. She wore her red silk robe and carried a book in one hand. Her thick hair hung loose and flowing.

  Dusty wanted to bury her face in it. “No,” she said a little too quickly. “Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving.” She remembered the times her fingers had loosened the tie of that robe and wondered what Tess would be reading with her morning brew of spiced butter rum. Then she realized she wasn’t entitled to those thoughts. Someone else was. Someone named JoAnn.

  “Happy Thanksgiving.” Tess smiled. “How was your day with your boys yesterday?” she asked Eve.

  “It was fine.”

  “Oh. Well, I’m glad.” Tess’s expression was questioning, but she apparently decided to let Eve’s curt answer go without comment. She turned her gaze to Dusty.

  Dusty almost melted under the warmth of those soft brown eyes. It was so much harder to be around Tess now that she’d admitted she’d fallen in love with her. She had to get over this.

  “Do you have a minute?” Tess asked. “There’s something I’d like to speak with you about.” She pulled her lower lip between her teeth.

  Dusty tensed. A minute to hear about the woman you’re seeing who’s better than me? Who gets to be here today instead of me? “No. I don’t.” Her tone held more of a bite than she’d intended, but the fragile skin of the moment between them had been broken. It was too late to take it back.

  Tess hesitated. “Okay. Well, maybe when you get home.”

  “Sure,” Dusty said, feeling guilty for the uncertainty and hurt in Tess’s eyes. Hadn’t she lain with Tess in her arms one night and made a silent vow to never let anything hurt her again? Now, here she was doing it herself. She looked away. “When I get home.”

  To keep from falling to her knees and begging Tess to choose her, Dusty turned and fled.

  *

  Eve brushed past Tess and went up to her room. Annoyed, she tossed her purse onto the seat of her rocking chair and flopped onto her bed. She couldn’t believe Dusty wouldn’t be home today. She’d been so touched when Maggie had said they’d celebrate Thanksgiving on the day after just so Eve and Sammi could be a part of it, and now with Addison home, it would’ve been so perfect. Even Aunt Carolyn was planning to stop by this evening to introduce her new boyfriend. It could’ve been an occasion where all the people who’d been so wonderful to her during her confusion and journey of self-awakening were in the same room with her at the same time, on the very day dedicated to gratitude. She was so grateful to them all, but mostly to Dusty.

  Dusty had been the one to take her to Seth’s birthday party where she saw how unfounded her concerns were about being a mom and a lesbian and where she’d met Sammi. Dusty had put up with her the night of the Halloween party and talked her through her fears about how her first kiss would take place. Most importantly, Dusty had not taken her up on her idiotic request to teach her how to have sex and insisted she go to Sammi herself for that. Eve only hoped the whole incident with the dominatrix and throwing up on Dusty’s boots would never be mentioned—miraculously, it hadn’t been as yet—but she knew she owed Dusty for that as well. Now, Dusty wouldn’t even be present at this first gathering of all the new people who’d become so important to Eve. She wouldn’t be there because of Tess.

  What was wrong with Tess? Dusty was in love with her. Dusty was sweet and funny and patient—as long as one didn’t mind being made fun of a little bit—and she was cute and hot. Was Dusty right? Did Tess want someone smarter? Someone more educated? Dusty was smart. She’d known enough to save Eve from herself, to give her wisdom and sound guidance.

  A light knock drew Eve’s attention.

  “Yes?” she said, still deep in thought.

  The door opened, and Sammi poked her head around it. “Can I come in?”

  Eve smiled. “Of course you can. You don’t have to knock.”

  “I didn’t know. I’ve never been in your bedroom before.” She winked.

  Eve rolled onto her back and raised one knee. Her ankle-length skirt still concealed what lay beneath, but she saw Sammi’s eyes shift. “Get in here and close the door, and I’ll give you a tour.”

  Sammi scooted inside and slipped onto the bed beside Eve. She took her in her arms and kissed her deeply. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered against Eve’s lips.

  “Mmmm.” Eve pressed against her. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  Their first time had been amazing—and so had their second, and third, and fourth, and however many times they’d made love over the past week. After giving herself one night of recovery from the ginormous hangover she’d had following her evening at Vibes, Eve had taken Dusty’s advice. She’d gone to Sammi and simply let it happen. She’d walked in, kissed her, slid her hands beneath Sammi’s sweater, and reveled in Sammi’s moan.

  “What about the tour?” Laughter danced in Sammi’s eyes.

  “You’re on it.” Eve pulled Sammi’s face to hers. “Beneath you is the bed. In front of you is…me.”

  Sammi chuckled and captured Eve’s mouth with hers.

  Eve loved those lips, that tongue. She would always remember the thrill of their first touch to her sensitive flesh
, the first time Sammi had feasted on her need. She’d never felt anything so exquisite, so soft yet demanding at the same time. Sammi’s lovemaking with her mouth, her hands, her body, was all Eve had dreamed it would be. Eve’s doubts of her own knowledge and talents had been baseless, as Dusty had predicted, and what Eve needed to know about Sammi in particular, Sammi had told her, if not with her body’s innate responses, with words themselves.

  It was Eve’s body that responded now.

  Sammy left Eve’s lips and trailed the tip of her tongue along Eve’s jaw in small circles down her neck, into the hollow of her throat. She slid her hand around the back of Eve’s raised knee and coaxed her onto her side. She draped Eve’s leg over her, then ran her fingers along her open thighs through the fabric of the skirt.

  Eve gasped.

  “Can I make love to you here?” Sammi breathed against Eve’s skin. She continued her caress.

  Eve’s breath came faster. “How can I say no when you’re doing that?”

  “Is that a yes?” Sammi moved her mouth lower.

  Eve moaned. It all felt so good. She wanted more. She also wanted to help Maggie, though. “Who answered the door?”

  “What?” Sammi left the vee of Eve’s legs and unbuttoned the top button of Eve’s blouse. “Uh, Tess.”

  Eve twined her fingers into Sammi’s thick hair and brought her mouth to the swell of her breasts. “Did you see Maggie?”

  Sammi undid the next button. “Honey, we could be done in the time it takes to have this conversation.” She dipped her tongue into Eve’s cleavage as she slipped her hand between them to cup Eve’s mound.

  Eve groaned and thrust into her grasp. “Yes.”

  Sammi squeezed, drawing a deep moan from her, then finished with the buttons. She coaxed Eve onto her back again and ran her hand over the bare flesh of her sides and tummy. On her second pass, she gripped Eve’s skirt and pulled it up to her waist.

  Eve yanked the straps of her bra off her shoulders and pulled Sammi’s mouth to a hard, aching nipple.