Lucky

by Kris Bryant

  “We won! You did it.”

  Serena and Piper congratulated their opponents and wished the new teams waiting to play good luck. She tried to be casual on her way up to the deck, but the goofy smile on her face was a dead giveaway. She was excited to see Gabrielle.

  “Hey, you.” Gabrielle leaned over the railing and smiled at Serena.

  That smile was still there and Serena couldn’t do anything about it. She put her hand up to shade her eyes from the setting sun. “Hi.”

  “It’s good to see you. And Chloe and Jackie.” Gabrielle nodded at the Jenga game where they were still playing. “Piper said she invited you. Come on up and talk to me. We can talk about anything but work,” Gabrielle said.

  Without hesitation, Serena walked into Gabrielle’s hug. She smelled like jasmine and vanilla and felt soft in Serena’s arms. Although their hug lasted longer than most, Serena didn’t care. They’d had quite the week.

  “So, you don’t want me to go on and on about how much I love the changes you made?” Serena stepped back to look at Gabrielle. She cocked her head to the side and waited.

  “Well, if you are going to say great things and there isn’t anything you want to change, then I say go on.”

  Serena placed her hand on Gabrielle’s forearm. “It’s perfect. I really love it.”

  “After you left, I sent the files to three builders. I’m sure we’ll hear something back by next week.”

  “What happens to you? Will you get the next big project?”

  Gabrielle shrugged. “As of right now, I only have a few projects on my desk.”

  “Do most clients pay you by the hour or by the project?” Serena asked.

  “Hey, I thought we weren’t talking about work unless you were going to compliment me over and over again.”

  “You’re right. Have you eaten?”

  “No. Do you want to go grab a plate and sit down somewhere a little less crowded?”

  Serena nodded and followed Gabrielle into the dining room. The spread ranged from dips to baked goods to cheeseburgers, and different salads. It wasn’t that different from Meredith’s spread a few weeks ago. “Hey, are those the brownies and cookies from our meeting?”

  “Good eye. My assistant likes to overindulge with my credit card. Much to his surprise, I took home the leftovers for the party. I knew I was going to be too busy to pick anything up, so I planned ahead.”

  “Why was your day so busy? I mean, only if you want to answer. It’s not my business,” Serena asked. She busied herself by fixing a plate.

  “My mom needed my help on a project. Did you know they run a nursery?”

  “No. That’s really cool.”

  “They retired early and decided to stay active by running a nursery. I told Rosie that if the Pet Posh Inn went south, I was going to quit designing and help them with the family business,” Gabrielle said.

  “Oh, stop. It’s perfect,” Serena said. She was very aware that they were the only ones in the dining room and that Gabrielle was standing close. “But that does give me an idea. Next spring maybe I can give your parents business, because the Pet Posh Inn is going to need massive curb appeal. Pretty flowers, nice shrubs.”

  “I’m sure they would love it.” Gabrielle turned to face Serena. “What would you like to drink? We’ve got wine, soda, or water.”

  Serena turned and perused the labels. She wasn’t a wine drinker but thought a nice white wine spritzer sounded like it could take the edge off. To say she was nervous with Gabrielle inches away from her was a massive understatement. Her palms were sweaty, her stomach bobbed up and down, and she had no idea how she was going to be able to eat the massive pile of food she’d put on her plate out of sheer nervousness. She watched as Gabrielle poured two wine spritzers.

  “Here’s to new friends and success to both of us.” Gabrielle lifted her glass and clinked it with Serena’s.

  Serena nodded and took a sip, her eyes never leaving Gabrielle’s. She licked her lips when Gabrielle set her glass down, reached for Serena’s, and set it next to hers. Without looking around to see who was in the room, she pulled Gabrielle into her arms and kissed her. It was soft for about two seconds, but a need inside Serena bubbled up and she moved closer to Gabrielle and deepened the kiss. Her tongue skimmed over Gabrielle’s bottom lip and slipped inside. They both moaned as Gabrielle pulled her closer until their bodies were flush against one another.

  “Oh, shit. I’m sorry.”

  Serena broke the kiss and stepped back at the intrusion, but her hands were still on Gabrielle’s waist. She was afraid to lose the connection. It was raw and powerful, and lifted her to a level she never before felt. For the first time in her life, she felt wanted. She felt sexy and desired. “Who was that?”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “No clue. And I don’t care.”

  Serena’s stomach fluttered at the look in Gabrielle’s eyes. She was pretty sure that if they were alone, she’d be pressed up against the wall, her clothes already loose and her hands somewhere on Gabrielle’s skin. She had zero reservations. She wanted Gabrielle. She wanted this woman to take control and make love to her, and it didn’t matter where they were. Here in this dining room, back at her place, even at Gabrielle’s place. Gabrielle slowly walked her back into the kitchen where there was a little bit more privacy.

  “We probably shouldn’t do this here.” Serena’s attempt to defuse their passion was feeble.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Gabrielle brushed her thumb across Serena’s bottom lip.

  Serena shook her head. Her voice was low and cracked at the one word she said. “No.”

  Gabrielle didn’t hesitate. She leaned down and kissed her again. That it was even better than the last kiss seemed impossible, but it made Serena’s knees weak. Gabrielle interlocked their fingers and slid Serena’s hands up over her head. Serena pressed against Gabrielle’s body, desperate to feel her warmth and closeness.

  “Oops. Sorry again.”

  Serena peeked around Gabrielle to see Meagan grabbing a bottle of wine.

  “If I don’t bring this out, they will all come in here and you’ll have a larger audience than one.” She smiled knowingly and slipped out of the kitchen.

  Serena leaned back. “Maybe this isn’t the time or place.”

  “I’m going to say it’s definitely the time, but we need to work on the place.” Gabrielle stepped away from Serena, but kept holding her hands. “Let’s be social for a little bit longer.”

  Serena wasn’t sure what that meant. Would they pick this up later tonight somewhere else? When embarrassment finally seeped in, Serena blushed. Meagan had seen her, seen them, in a very passionate embrace. Something that wasn’t meant for other people to see. She picked up her overloaded plate and wine spritzer and followed Gabrielle out to the deck.

  “There you are.” Chloe waved them over to a table. “Hi, Gabrielle. Nice to see you again.”

  “You, too. Hi, Jackie.”

  “How many games of giant Jenga did you play?”

  Chloe finished the bite of her cheeseburger before answering. “We were top dogs until Piper and Shaylie dethroned us. They make our competitiveness look tame.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Yes, our entire group is full of very, let’s say, ambitious women. We don’t like to lose.”

  “I’m not falling prey to any more pretty faces in this crowd. From here on out, you all are the enemy,” Chloe said. She dipped her cheeseburger in extra ketchup. “What?”

  “Eat like a normal person. We are representing Serena here.” Jackie shook her head at Chloe, who shrugged.

  Rosie and Anne appeared behind Chloe and Jackie. “Hi, I’m Rosie and this is my wife Anne.” Both sat next to Gabrielle after the introductions. “Good to see you again, Serena.”

  “Where are the kids?” Serena asked.

  “We needed adult time,” Rosie said. She ate a chip. “And from what I’ve heard, there have been a few adult moments already.” She bumped her elbow against Gabrie
lle’s.

  Serena blushed and took a sip of her spritzer. She’d kill for a cold water to ice down her steamy memory from just a few short minutes ago. How did everybody already know? She almost jumped when she felt Gabrielle’s hand squeeze her leg. It was a supportive squeeze, not a sexual one, but Gabrielle’s hands on her body took her to a different level.

  “Who made this dip? It’s delicious.” Rosie scooped the rest of the dip on her plate with a pita chip and moaned her pleasure.

  “Serena did,” Chloe said.

  Gabrielle turned to her. “So, you do cook.”

  Serena shook her head. “It took three times to get it right. I can barely follow a recipe.”

  “It’s delicious.”

  As expected, Chloe and Jackie became fast friends with Rosie and Anne. Gabrielle’s friends were more laid back, but Serena figured it was because of the environment. Rosie and Anne knew everyone already. Their conversation attracted two more couples, and eventually their table was the center of attention the rest of the evening. Serena was excited to be a part of something that felt sincere and genuine, but what she really wanted was alone time with Gabrielle. By ten, she was getting antsy. She needed to either go home or figure out what was happening with Gabrielle and stay. She was the kind of girl who never asked or assumed, so she sat there not knowing how to ask for what she wanted.

  Gabrielle leaned over. “Who’s taking care of L.B.?”

  Serena turned to answer. Her lips were only inches away from Gabrielle’s. “Faith.”

  “Is she going to be there all night?”

  “I could ask her to.” Serena looked down at Gabrielle’s mouth and back up to her eyes, which had darkened during their private exchange.

  “Would you like to come over?” Gabrielle’s voice was low and sexy.

  Just the thought of being alone with her was enough to make her want to stand, say her goodbyes, and spend the rest of the night and a good portion of the morning making love to Gabrielle. She wasn’t one to take charge, but this newfound confidence was exciting. She nodded. “Definitely.”

  Gabrielle stood. “Thank you for having us, but we’re going to leave.”

  She reached for Serena’s hand and pulled her up.

  Serena should have been embarrassed, but she didn’t care. Chloe and Jackie had the biggest smiles on their faces, and the squeeze that Piper gave Shaylie didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Have a good night. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Chloe said.

  Serena knew that it was Chloe’s way of telling her to call her immediately after her night with Gabrielle. She hugged Piper and Shaylie and thanked them for the invitation.

  Gabrielle reached for her hand. “Ready?”

  “Definitely.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  When was the last time Gabrielle had a woman at her loft? It was always clean because she was never there, but she was still nervous when she opened the front door. She wanted to play it cool and offer Serena a drink, but she was tired of getting interrupted at the most inopportune moments. Instead she shut the door and pulled Serena to her. They both knew why they were there, but Gabrielle wanted to do the right thing. “Are you okay with this?” She rubbed her thumb across Serena’s bottom lip.

  Serena gently pushed Gabrielle’s hand away from her mouth and kissed her. Gabrielle moaned when she felt the tip of Serena’s tongue stroke her bottom lip and suck the fullness into her mouth. She took that as a yes and pulled her gently to her bedroom. As much as she wanted to rip Serena’s clothes off, Gabrielle didn’t see Serena as that kind of woman. She was going to take her time and appreciate every inch of bare skin. At the foot of the bed, Gabrielle slowly unbuttoned Serena’s shirt and gently peeled it off her shoulders.

  “You’re so beautiful,” she said. Serena’s skin was pale, unblemished, and softer than she imagined. She outlined the black lace that rested along the swell of Serena’s breasts with her fingertip and smiled to herself as chill bumps exploded along Serena’s skin. Serena shivered when Gabrielle’s touch moved to the button on her jeans. She sped up the process by stepping closer and searching for the zipper on the back of Gabrielle’s dress. By the time Gabrielle’s zipper was down, Serena’s jeans were already past her hips. Gabrielle wasn’t wearing a bra or panties, so when she stepped out of her dress, she was completely and confidently naked. She unbraided her hair and stood in front of Serena.

  “You’re the beautiful one,” Serena said. She looked her up and down and smiled again when their eyes met. “I’ve been waiting for this night for a very long time.”

  For the first time ever, Gabrielle didn’t want to rush. She felt beautiful and cherished and finally understood why people took their time during sex. She took a step back as Serena slipped out of her jeans. As much as Gabrielle loved seeing Serena in a matching bra and panty set, she wanted her naked so she could feel Serena’s skin against hers.

  “I have, too.” Gabrielle meant it. She’d wanted to have sex with Serena a long time ago. Not wanting to waste another moment, Gabrielle kissed Serena and pulled her slowly onto the bed with her. Her body was on fire, and judging from the blush that tinted Serena’s alabaster skin, she knew this moment affected her as well. She slid on top of Serena and started a trail of featherlight kisses that started at her neck and ended when her lips brushed the black lace of her bra. “Can I take this off?”

  Serena leaned up with Gabrielle and unhooked it, tossing it off the bed. Gabrielle cupped her breast and ran her tongue across Serena’s already hardened nipple. Serena’s moans encouraged her to suck harder. When she felt Serena’s hands on the back of her head, keeping her in place, she unleashed more of the passion she felt. Serena fell back on the pillow and let Gabrielle take full control of the moment. Gabrielle crawled between her legs until her hips rested against Serena’s. She should have pulled Serena’s panties off first, but the need to be close to her was so great at that exact moment that she didn’t care that a thin strip of material kept their cores from touching. She gently pressed into Serena and kissed her again and again until Serena’s hips pressed back, lifting off the mattress for more friction. Gabrielle rewarded her by pushing harder and moving her hips in a circle.

  “I need these off.” Serena’s voice was almost a growl as she pushed at her panties.

  Gabrielle brushed Serena’s hands away, sat up, and not too gently tugged the soaked panties off. She returned to her position between Serena’s legs.

  Serena hissed under her breath. “Fuck, yes.”

  Gabrielle almost smiled, but in the moment, knew exactly what Serena was feeling. She slipped her hand between their bodies until her fingers found Serena’s soaked slit. She ran her fingers up and down. Within seconds, Serena’s body starting quivering. As much as Gabrielle wanted to give her immediate release, she slowed her movements. She wanted this to last. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t racing against a clock to fuck fast and leave. She wanted to build Serena up and wait until the perfect moment for her orgasm to crest. She moved her hand away and planted kisses on Serena’s neck, over her extremely sensitive collarbone. Serena moaned and tossed her head side to side. Gabrielle kissed over both breasts and stopped right before she reached her slit. She inhaled the wet scent and moaned her appreciation. Even in the dimly lit room, Gabrielle could see how swollen and wet Serena was.

  “Please don’t stop.” Serena’s voice cracked.

  “I’m not stopping. I just want to look at you—all of you—for just a moment.”

  Serena surprised Gabrielle by spreading her legs wider and slipping her hand down to touch herself.

  Gabrielle watched in awe for about five seconds before she ran her tongue over Serena’s fingers until she allowed Gabrielle to take over. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth and greedily licked and sucked every swollen part. Serena cried out when Gabrielle’s tongue flicked across her clit. Gabrielle slipped two fingers deep into Serena’s wet pussy and moaned. Serena was slick and tight, and pulsed around h
er fingers. She wasn’t sure if it was an impending orgasm or Serena’s rapid heartbeat. Either way, it was sexy as hell and made Gabrielle speed up her movements. Serena clawed at Gabrielle’s shoulders, her back, even clutched the sheets as she approached her orgasm.

  “Don’t come yet.” Gabrielle didn’t realize she said it out loud until Serena relaxed her body and whimpered. She didn’t want this to end. Everything about this moment was perfect and would forever be etched in her mind. The sight of Serena unabashedly naked and spread out for her, the sweet tangy taste of her essence, and the way she gave herself so selflessly. Nobody had ever trusted her this much. She felt the sting of tears in the back of her throat and wondered why she was so emotional. This was the time when she shined and took everything that was offered. Something was squeezing her heart. Some unknown force was swirling inside her, making her doubt everything yet feel so safe. What was happening to her?

  Serena touched Gabrielle’s face. “Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?”

  Gabrielle placed a soft kiss on Serena’s thigh. She could feel small tremors but didn’t know if they were coming from her or Serena. She looked up and smiled. “Everything is perfect. It’s actually better than that. I’ve just wanted this for so long that I don’t want it to end.”

  “We have all night. I don’t have to go home until tomorrow. I mean, later today. Much later.”

  Gabrielle watched the quick rise and fall of Serena’s chest and decided Serena was right. They had time. She put her hands on the inside of Serena’s thighs and spread them far apart. She wasn’t gentle, and the appreciative moan told her it was welcomed. She ran her tongue up and down Serena’s slit and slipped two fingers back inside. Instead of building her up like before, she kept her movements steady and fast while her tongue lavished Serena’s sweet, swollen clit. In virtually no time at all, Serena cried out and came hard against Gabrielle’s mouth. Right here, right now was the best moment of Gabrielle’s life. There was never any doubt that she would bring Serena to orgasm, but she wasn’t ready for such a beautiful release.