by Ronica Black
Marv rounded the corner and into the light. Madison felt Grace pull away quickly.
“I’m sorry, ladies,” he said, looking at the ground. “I came to find Maddy, and well, I thought she just went out for supper or something. I’ll show myself out.”
Madison hurried to him. “I didn’t know you were coming,” she whispered.
“I didn’t either. I just got in the truck and came.”
“Where the hell are you parked?”
“Out behind the barn. I brought in some extra Bermuda hay from my place.”
Madison shook her head as she walked with him to the door.
“I’m so sorry, Marv. Stay, please stay. We can have wine and talk.”
“Darlin’, you got all the company you need.” He grinned. “Go on back in there.”
But she could tell he wasn’t truly happy, and she knew why. Grace was Jake’s guardian. Nothing more needed to be said. He seemed to read her thoughts as he stared into her eyes.
“Be careful,” he said snuggling his cowboy hat on tight. “Night, Maddy.”
She watched him go and then slowly closed the door.
Behind her, she heard Grace rustling. When she turned she found her slipping on her heels.
“Where are you going?” Madison asked, her stomach doing flips.
“I think I better go, don’t you?”
“Why? Because of Marv?”
“Yes.”
“He went home.”
“Is he as embarrassed as I am?”
“He’ll shake it off.”
“Will he?” She didn’t seem convinced.
“Yes.”
“Because I don’t think I can. I don’t think I can shake any of this off.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…my feelings. This. Us. It’s intense and we have Jake to consider and—”
Madison leaned back against the door, defeated. “No. Please no. Don’t go. It took me days, hours, minutes, a crazy number of insane seconds to admit my feelings for you. I finally admit it, let myself feel it, and you’re going to go?”
“Madison, you know I’m right. What about Jake?”
“Yes, Jake. You are right. He comes first. But he won’t always be under my care.”
“He’ll always be under mine.”
“Yes.”
“So here we are.”
Madison moved from the door and reached back to open it.
“Do you think I want to go, Madison?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re wrong. I want more than anything to stay.”
“You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You just said you can’t.”
But Grace moved closer. And closer. Until she was a breath away. “I don’t want to go,” she said as she leaned in and kissed her. “I so don’t want to go.”
“Then don’t go.” Madison kissed her back, and it deepened with Grace tugging on her head and darting with her tongue.
“I won’t.” Another deep kiss. “I can’t.” Another one. “Oh God, I just need to feel you. Madison, please.” Grace kissed her so hard Madison’s head spun. Her lips tingled pleasurably as they pulled apart. “Just touch me,” she said. “Feel me.” Wildly, she inched up her skirt, took Madison’s hand, and forced it down into her lace panties. “Feel me,” she purred as her eyes began to roll back.
“Oh Jesus,” Madison whispered, feeling at once her hot, slick folds. “Oh Jes—” But Grace cut her off with another powerful kiss. She moaned into Madison’s mouth as Madison’s hand worked her, gliding up and down over her clit. “This is why I don’t want to go. This is how you make me feel. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel the same? All wet and slick? For me?”
“Ye-es.”
“Mmm. I’m gonna come. Oh God, I’m gonna come. No. Wait.” She stilled Madison’s hand and then unbuttoned Madison’ s blazer. “I want to touch you,” she said, her pupils widening as she stared at her white lace bra and slipped the blazer off her. “You’re incredible,” she whispered, stroking her abdomen up to her chest, causing Madison to quiver. “So powerful and strong.”
“I want to take you,” Madison said, wanting nothing more than to pick her up and carry her off to ravish her.
“You could too, couldn’t you?” She continued touching her abdomen and then her arms. “You could completely have your way with me.”
“Yes.”
“And you would like that?”
“Oh, yes.”
Grace shuddered and her eyes glistened. “I’d like that too. But first, let me touch you.” She unbuttoned her jeans and slid her hand down the front. Madison hissed as Grace found her already soaking wet.
“Yees,” Grace purred.
Madison slipped her hand back inside Grace’s panties. They stroked each other and kissed and moaned.
“God, you feel good,” Grace said, sucking on her neck and then attaching to her breast through her bra.
“Ah,” Madison called out. “Mmm, Grace.”
“Yes?”
Grace stopped. “Don’t come.”
“I’m close.”
“Me too. Wait. Wa—”
And then she kissed her hard on the mouth and they stroked wildly, milking each other for the impending orgasm they were about to share.
“Now,” Grace said and kissed her again and they both blew into bliss, tongues slipping and sliding along with their hands. Madison lost herself and cried out, having to pull Grace’s head away to do so.
“Yes,” Grace said again and again, watching her first with wild but then with heavy-lidded eyes. “Yes.”
The sweet warmth in Madison’s center pulsed against Grace’s slender fingers as they rested. Madison could feel Grace’s flesh pounding beneath hers. Touching her was better than she ever could’ve imagined. Feeling her next to her, on her, inhaling her scent, it was all far better than what heaven must be. And looking into her eyes, now, after they’d both climaxed was like looking into warm, liquid gold.
“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Madison whispered.
Grace blinked. “Madison,” she said. “You are. Right at this moment.” She touched her face. “Look at you.”
But Grace’s touch felt like fire itself, and the feel of her breath on her face fueled Madison all the more. Swiftly, she removed their hands and swept Grace off her feet. She carried her to the couch and set her down.
Grace smiled at her. “What do you have in mind, Madness?” she laughed softly. “I like that little nickname.”
“You should. It means I’m crazy.”
“Crazy about me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I love it.”
Madison laughed and leaned in to kiss her. It grew quickly and became hungry and fierce. Madison eased her back on the cushions when she tried to come forward. Then she pushed up her dress and spread her legs.
“Stay,” she said when Grace tried to lift up. She pressed her down with one hand and lifted a leg over her shoulder with the other.
“My God, you’re strong,” Grace said, still trying to move.
“Yes, so don’t try to move.”
Grace laughed. “I can’t help it. I’m turned on. I want to watch you.”
“You can see just fine. She knelt and rubbed her face in her panties. She heard Grace inhale sharply.
“Mmm, so good,” she said, sneaking out her tongue to rim the edges. She moved her face, tugging the panties to the side with her teeth. Grace’s fingers came and held them to the side for her. It only turned Madison on more and she plunged her tongue into her flesh and licked her hard and heavy, up and down.
“Oh, fuck!” Grace cried out. “Oh God, Jesus, fuck.”
Madison gave her more. And more. And then she took her clit and sucked as Grace spread her legs wider.
“Madison!” she cried. “Oh God, Madison.”
Madison moved her head from side to side, taking her in
further. She took more of her flesh in and sucked her off, using her tongue to stroke as she did so. Grace continued to cry out. Louder and louder. Her leg tightened on Madison’s shoulder. Her body writhed. And she tasted and felt so damn good Madison never wanted to let her go. She wanted to die right there between her legs, making her—
Grace came then, spastic and loud and rough and crazy. Nearly tearing Madison’s hair from her head with wild fingers. She pushed and bucked and slithered like a snake. Madison held on, so turned on she came against the seam in her jeans.
“Madison,” she gasped, coming down. “Madison.”
Madison held firm and then released the pressure slowly, licking her softly until she was pulling away. Her own face was hot and tingling, as was her crotch. She collapsed onto Grace’s leg and nibbled her thigh while relishing her scent and taste.
She was about to suggest they go into the bedroom when Grace’s phone rang.
“Oh shit.”
Grace fumbled for her purse, which had been deposited on the couch earlier. Madison eased off her and saw her face contort with worry. “It’s home.” She flipped open the phone. “Hello?”
She still sounded breathless and she yanked her dress down as if whoever was calling could see. She even crossed her legs.
“Really? That’s great.” She smiled. “Okay.” She stood. “When? Oh, I don’t know. Now? Well, I don’t know, Jake.” She fingered her forehead. “I’ll see. Uh-huh. Okay. Bye.” She closed the phone and looked over at Madison, who still kneeled on the floor.
“You have to go,” Madison said.
“I don’t have to.”
“But you should.”
Grace chewed her lower lip. “I can call back and tell him I’ll be a while.”
“No, don’t.”
“My friend May will understand. And Jake—Jake’s just excited about a movie she brought over.”
Madison stood. “You should go. He needs you.”
“He’s watching a movie, Madison.” She moved toward her, touched her face. “He’ll be fine.”
“No, he needs you. Now more than ever. It’s times like this when he really wants your attention.”
Grace pulled away. “What are you saying? You’d rather me go watch a movie than be with you?”
“If it means spending time with Jake, then yes.”
“Jake.” She dropped her hand dramatically. “So I’m not doing right by Jake. We’re back to that.”
“I never said you weren’t doing right. But he does need attention.”
“He gets plenty of attention.”
“He needs it from you.”
Grace gathered her purse, obviously upset. “I guess I better go, then.”
“Grace, wait. Don’t leave mad.”
“I won’t, then. I’ll just leave.”
Her face had that pinched look to it. The one she usually wore when at the ranch. And just like night and day, the sun had risen and the old Grace was back. Stubborn, angry, temperamental. Madison wondered if it was possible to penetrate that barricade or if it was something that just had to dissipate on its own.
“Grace,” Madison called out to her as she stumbled barefoot to her car. “Grace, wait. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I’m not a fit parent, this I already know. I don’t need you rubbing it in with your calm suggestions.” Grace opened her car door and tossed her purse and shoes inside. “Do you know that I rarely take time for myself? That all I do is work and worry about Jake? Tonight…this…was special. It meant something. I felt something.”
“So did I.” But she stopped when Grace shook her head.
“I don’t know if you did or not. But I can’t worry about that. You brought the perspective back to me, and now I need to go home.” She climbed inside and started the car. Madison saw her wipe away a tear as she put the car in reverse.
The dust behind her tires looked pink from her taillights as she sped away. And Madison was left whispering in the darkness.
“Grace.”
*
The next morning brought nothing but gray light. Gone was the usual pale blue, the breaking of a new beautiful day. All that remained was a dingy dawn, a leftover stain from the night before. Madison sat festering in it as it seeped through the windows, an empty wine tumbler dangling in her hand and an old jazz record playing again and again. She’d tried to drink the night away, to drink Grace and her hot mouth away, but it hadn’t worked. It had only soaked the memories, made them sweeter, made them replay and resaturate.
And Billie Holiday hadn’t helped either. Crooning like only she could, talking about things that seemed to emulate every nerve ending in Madison’s body. Making her yearn, burn, cry out, and tear up.
Should she call?
Should she not?
Should she forget her?
How in the hell could she?
And more wine had come, splashing into her tumbler, asking her how in the hell it had happened in the first place. A question she could not answer. A snake that had hidden in plain sight with wild, beautiful colors had somehow reached up and bit her. A wild, beautiful creature in plain sight. Right there in front of her. Warning her of its danger but seducing her with its colors.
Grace is not a snake.
Not in the literal sense. But she was beautiful, and she had snuck up on Madison and knocked her for a loop. And her bite, it felt deadly. Like if she didn’t get the antidote soon she would indeed die.
“I need to call.” She rose, convincing herself it was to check on Grace. But she stopped with cell phone in hand, debating. It was five a.m. on Sunday morning. Grace would be asleep. She would’ve long forgotten their encounter. Madison had already looked the fool in trying to encourage her in what do. She’d offended her and stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong. Yes, she’d done enough damage.
She closed off the bottle of wine and replaced it in the cooler. Sleep called from the bedroom, and she purposely left the stereo on. Let Billie play. Let Billie sing. Let Billie soothe.
But it was another voice that came to her as she fell asleep. It was Grace, and she was calling out her name.
Chapter Fifteen
“Grace, it’s been over a week. You need to talk to her,” May said, sliding in next to her at the conference table in one of their larger rooms. “And you need to eat.” She slid a salad in front of her, but Grace pushed it away, not in the mood for rabbit food.
“I don’t know what to say, and I eat plenty.”
“You say, hey, I’m sorry. I really like you and I want to jump your bones again. How hard is that?”
“I can’t say that.”
“Which part?”
“Any of it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I already ruined everything just by starting something. I have too much to do. I have Jake, I have work.” She’d avoided Madison for days, even sending Janine to get Jake. True, most of those days she was in court, but still.
“You have fear,” May continued for her. She opened the salad, along with her own, and squirted on the packaged dressing.
“It’s not fear. It’s practicality. She told me to go be with Jake.”
“So she’s not selfish, so what? She probably felt like an ass knowing you had to choose. She sounds like a stand-up gal to me.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“No, of course not. I date gorillas, right? The harder of the species? I don’t have a clue what it’s like to be torn between a man and his kid.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“I know. You’re just crabby. You’ve been getting no sleep and you look like hell.”
“It’s this case.” Grace took a fork and picked at the salad. The conference room was quiet and sparse save for their notes and binders strewn about the long table. “I’ve never worked one I didn’t feel good about.”
“Don’t tell me it’s because he’s guilty. We helped at least four guilty ones get off. You know it as well as I do.
It’s the game we play.”
“It is because he’s guilty.”
May sighed. “Grace. Don’t do this to yourself. This is our job. It’s just a job.” She grew concerned. “Why am I telling you this? You know this stuff. You usually say it to all the newbies. It’s just a job.”
“But it’s not just a job. Not anymore.” She grabbed a binder and flipped through it. “Look at this. Look at his priors. Four of them. Four!”
“So? He was young, and on the latest the arresting officer is questionable.”
“No, you don’t get it. If we get him off, he’ll just do it again. Or maybe even something worse.”
“We can’t worry about that. We are just here to defend them to the best of our ability.”
“No, May. I have to worry about that. I can’t help it.”
May sat back and pushed her salad away. “What’s come over you?”
Grace sighed and rested her forehead in her hand. “I don’t know.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, I don’t think I am.”
“Is it Madison?”
“No. She has nothing to do with this.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know. I just know that when I’m up late working on this case, I no longer feel right about it. I don’t want to excuse this man’s behavior again. I don’t want to enable him to keep ruining others’ lives. And he may escalate, May. The next house he breaks into or the next woman he steals from, he may use a weapon. He tried to use force on that arresting officer.”
“That’s bunk. The officer roughed him up. It was self-defense. We have the video to prove it.”
“You sound like an attorney!”
“Because I am.”
“Can you talk to me as just May? As just an average, everyday citizen?”
“Fine. Okay.”
“What about the peeping Tom? Our last guy?”
“Ugh, him.”
“Yeah, what if he escalates like the prosecution said he might? To assault or even rape or murder? He’d already broken into a woman’s home. And I don’t care who he was. Doctor or Joe Schmoe. He has issues!”
“What if? Grace, we can’t control the world.”
“No, but we can help it. That man needed help. He didn’t need to walk out of court scot-free to go do it again.”