Waiting for You

by Elle Spencer

  “It’s real life,” Lindsay said. “And you nailed it. If anyone told straight people that they weren’t allowed to post pics of them kissing each other, they’d riot in the streets. But two men posting an engagement pic or a wedding kiss? Well, that deserves a snide comment or two…hundred.”

  “Poor Mrs. Stokely and Millie. I bet it was hard.”

  Lindsay could tell Ren was trying to hold back her emotions. She leaned across the table and patted her hand. “Hey. Maybe we should go visit her again. I’m sure she’d really love that.”

  Ren’s expression brightened. “We should. And I’ll even wear better jeans.”

  “So it’s a date?” Lindsay found herself warming up to the idea of spending more time with Ren. Well, she had already been plenty warm. Maybe she could stop overthinking it and just enjoy their time together. It would be short-lived anyway. She might as well make the most of it.

  “I don’t know, is it?” Ren asked in a serious tone. She started twirling her coaster. “I guess I should ask if you date women.”

  “Are you asking if I’m bisexual? Because maybe you should’ve asked that question before you almost kissed me the other night. You know, right before you bailed?”

  Ren demurred. “Not gonna let that go, huh?”

  Lindsay kept a teasing tone in her voice. If they were going to build a friendship, something like that should be put on the table so they both knew where they stood. “In answer to your question, I’ve never been with a woman, but I’m bi. I’ve always been attracted to women. Just never had the chance to date one before Ben, and then, well, Brooke happened.”

  Ren rested her chin in her hand again and stared long enough that she had to look away.

  Lindsay felt a blush work its way up her chest. “Why are you staring?”

  “I’m just wondering what would’ve happened if I hadn’t bailed.”

  Lindsay dropped her gaze for a moment. Butterflies filled her stomach. She looked at Ren again, and before she could stop herself, she asked, “What did you want to happen?”

  Ren let her eyes do the talking. They wandered down to Lindsay’s chest and lingered. “If you really want to know, I’ll show you.”

  “Sorry for the delay, ladies.” Their server set their plates on the table. “Anything else I can get you?”

  Ren grinned. “No, I think we’ve got it from here.” She picked up her spoon and spun some spaghetti on her fork. “I’m so hungry, it could be Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, and I wouldn’t care.”

  The light comment sent a wave of relief through Lindsay. They could both move on without her having to respond in kind to that very sexy statement, even though the answer was yes, please. She picked up her fork and said, “I probably shouldn’t tell you this because it’s embarrassing, but Brooke pretty much grew up on SpaghettiOs, tuna sandwiches, and Kraft macaroni and cheese.”

  “So did most of America. And hey, she’s lucky she got the good mac and cheese.”

  “Oh, I raised a mac and cheese snob,” Lindsay said. “It’s Kraft or nothing.”

  “Smart kid.”

  “I’m not sure it ever got a reaction quite like your pasta just did.” She laughed at the speed with which they were eating. “You realize we’re stuffing our faces right now, right?”

  “This is how hardworking women eat.” Ren gave her a wink and crammed half a meatball in her mouth.

  * * *

  Ren felt giddy. Lindsay Hall was everything she didn’t know she was looking for. Smart, thoughtful, with a depth of character she found fascinating but also a lighter side she got to see when they’d unexpectedly played coffee shop together.

  And then there were the physical aspects she couldn’t keep her mind off of. The way she tucked her hair behind her ears when she felt nervous or shy. How one eyebrow arched a little bit more than the other, making her look as if she was questioning everything you said. Her soulful eyes and her high cheekbones always had some pink to them.

  Lindsay never talked over her. She chose her words carefully and sometimes used as few as possible. That was a nice change from her ex, who insisted on rehashing everything until Ren was too tired to argue anymore and just gave up.

  So many positives, except one. Lindsay lived in Salt Creek.

  As they exited the restaurant, Lindsay patted her tummy. “I’m so full.”

  “Too full for ice cream?” She spotted a little place across the street. “I doubt they have merlotsicles, but maybe a dipped cone or something?”

  “I’m never too full for ice cream,” Lindsay said with a tone Ren took to mean, “Is anyone ever too full for ice cream?” She took Ren’s arm. “Let’s walk.”

  Ren bent her arm in hopes Lindsay would keep her hand there. “I want to clarify something.”

  “You’ve never eaten Beefaroni in your whole life?”

  Ren laughed. “Only once at a friend’s house. Little eight-year-old me wasn’t that impressed.”

  “I bet little eight-year-old you was adorable.”

  “Ah. Well, my parents might dispute that statement. I was a handful.” They stopped at the crosswalk.

  “My parents divorced while I was still in high school,” Lindsay said.

  “Are they in Salt Creek?”

  “No. My dad moved to California, and my mom took off not long after I found out I was pregnant.”

  Ren was taken aback. “She abandoned you?”

  “At that point, I was pregnant and engaged to Ben, so she probably considered me an adult. I was a month out of high school. Not exactly grown-up, but I think she was just biding her time until I graduated. She wanted to go and live her life the same way my dad had. And when I got pregnant, I think she panicked because she didn’t want to get saddled with another kid.”

  “And where is she now?”

  “Right now, I honestly don’t know. She’ll show up for a few days and talk about her latest boyfriend and play with Brooke, and then she disappears again.” Lindsay shrugged.

  “And Ben’s parents?”

  “They’ve been amazing grandparents. I’m no longer their favorite person since I divorced their son, not that I ever was. But Brooke is their entire world, and that’s all that matters. They helped us out a lot when we were young, and I’ll always love them for that.”

  Ren noticed her shiver. “Are you cold?”

  She rubbed her arms as if to warm them up. “I should’ve worn a warmer sweater.”

  Ren didn’t want her to be cold, but she felt ecstatic that she had a reason to move in closer. She took over the arm-rubbing for a few seconds and opened her leather jacket and wrapped it around Lindsay too. It didn’t go very far, but that didn’t matter. Their bodies were touching. Their cheeks were touching. And Lindsay’s arms were wrapped around her waist. “We can’t eat ice cream out here,” Ren said. “Let’s go inside.”

  Lindsay didn’t move. She snuggled in closer and said, “Do you always think of others first?”

  “Just my date. Everyone else can freeze to death.” She kept one arm wrapped around Lindsay’s shoulders and led her inside.

  She didn’t react to being called Ren’s date. They ordered a brownie sundae to share. They both hummed their approval on the first bite.

  “About that thing I wanted to clarify,” Ren said.

  “Oh, right.” Lindsay put up a finger. “Hold on.” She took another big spoonful, expertly distributing ice cream, brownie, and hot fudge in equal portions on her spoon. She closed her eyes and seemed to be lost in a state of ice cream nirvana. “Mmm. This may be the brownie sundae against which all other brownie sundaes will henceforth be judged.” She put her spoon down. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Ren laughed. “You’re kind of adorable when you have chocolate on your chin.”

  She grabbed a napkin. “First the ravioli with the not stopping for air and now the ice cream. You’re going to think I have no table manners.”

  “Does it matter what I think?”

  She went still. “Of course it do
es.”

  “Why?”

  “All the normal reasons.”

  “I don’t know, you seem to live life on your own terms,” Ren said. “Do you really care what anyone thinks of you?”

  She seemed stumped. Her eyes searched Ren’s. “You’re not just anyone.”

  Ren smiled. She liked that answer. “The thing I wanted to clarify: it’s that kiss that almost happened. I wanted to make sure you knew that I didn’t bail because I’d changed my mind. I could’ve asked Corey to wait for me inside. I just figured it probably wasn’t the best timing. I also thought that if something did happen between us, I wouldn’t want us to be interrupted. Would you?”

  Again with the searching eyes. God, she was sexy when she got that intense look in her eyes. Ren reached across the table and let their fingertips touch. It didn’t matter that they barely knew each other. Ren wanted her, and with Deb out of town, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

  “No, I wouldn’t,” Lindsay said.

  Ren leaned in closer and ran her fingers under the sleeve of Lindsay’s sweater and caressed her wrist. “See, the thing is, you fascinate me, Lindsay. You make my heart beat a little faster. You know?”

  She nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

  Ren felt goose bumps raise up on her skin. “So you feel it too? This thing between us?”

  “I’ve always…”

  “What? Say what you’re thinking.”

  “What I meant to say is…” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what I meant to say.”

  Ren took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Sorry if I’m being too direct. I’m very attracted to you, and I thought you should know that I think you’re beautiful and sexy and so desirable, I can’t believe I didn’t kiss you when I had the chance.”

  Lindsay held her gaze for a moment and said, “It’s not too late. Wanna go somewhere?”

  * * *

  The short ride to the hotel was a quiet one. Lindsay hardly took her eyes off Ren while she drove. Whether or not she was doing the right thing didn’t seem to matter anymore. Whether or not she came out of it unscathed was no longer a worry. Ren had come into her life for a reason. And maybe that reason wasn’t so they could have sex, but who was to say it wasn’t?

  Of course it wasn’t, but Lindsay was all in. And by all in, she meant she’d say everything she was thinking except the past life stuff, because she knew Patty was right. But everything else, she’d say it.

  Ren parked the car and unbuckled her seat belt. Lindsay did the same and said, “I’m not even nervous.” She turned and looked out the side window at the Fairfield Inn, aka the place she’d have sex with a woman for the first time. The first time she’d have sex with Ren. She turned back and in a bold, intimate way, ran her thumb over Ren’s bottom lip. “This is going to be good, isn’t it?”

  Ren took Lindsay’s hand and kissed it. “You have no idea.”

  * * *

  Lindsay couldn’t catch her breath. Ren had her up against the wall and was devouring her neck, causing shocks of electricity to crash through her body. “Oh my God,” she whispered through bated breaths. “Your lips. Your tongue. Your—”

  Ren worked her way to her cheek. “Where do you want my tongue?”

  She gently kissed Lindsay’s cheek until she answered, “Everywhere.”

  Ren kissed her with a force that made her knees almost buckle. The passion she could stir with just her lips was astounding. She broke away from the kiss and pressed her entire body against Lindsay. She had one hand in her hair and the other gripping her waist.

  She caressed Lindsay’s ear with her tongue and whispered, “Are you as wet as I am?”

  They still had their clothes on, but Lindsay could feel the moisture building between her legs. She moaned. “Let’s just say it won’t take much.”

  “Is that usually the case?”

  “Oh God, no.”

  Ren pulled back and met her gaze. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

  Lindsay leaned back and rested her head against the wall in hopes Ren would devour her neck again. “Can you talk while you kiss? I need those lips on my body.”

  When she had sensual dreams about Roo, Lindsay imagined her lips would feel this soft against her skin, her tongue this warm, her touch this tender. Ren gripped her hips while she took her time, kissing every inch of her neck. Her tongue dipped lower, following the line of Lindsay’s collarbone, and she moaned her approval.

  Ren took her time. Lindsay loved that. She wanted this feeling to last forever. She also wanted to grab Ren’s hand and push it into her panties. Her body and mind were at war with each other. Go slow. No, fuck me now. Take your time. Take me now.

  Ren held her close and worked on loosening the buttons on her cardigan. Lindsay wondered if those long slender fingers would soon be inside her. Or would she use her left hand? Either way, the anticipation was killing her.

  Ren pushed her cardigan off and let it fall to the floor. “I’ve undressed you in my head already.”

  Their eyes met, and time slowed. She took Ren’s hand and put their palms together, then intertwined their fingers. If they stopped right now, it would be enough. She’d experienced more all-consuming bliss in the last few minutes than she ever had in her marriage. Say it. Say everything. “I’m so happy to have this moment with you.”

  “You make it sound like that’s all we have. A moment.”

  “Isn’t it? You’re going to Paris.”

  Ren brought their joined hands to her lips. “What if we make every moment we have together something we’ll never forget.”

  “There’s zero chance I’ll ever forget you.”

  Ren smiled. “I feel the same way.”

  Lindsay ran her finger along Ren’s hairline and tucked a stray piece behind her ear. “Now that we have that cleared up, why don’t you undress me for real?”

  * * *

  Lindsay responded to every flick of Ren’s fingers. It was such a turn-on to hear her groans of pleasure, feel her fingernails digging into Ren’s shoulders. The vibration of Lindsay’s lips on her ear as she whispered profanities mixed with approval, the scent of her glistening skin and the sweat on her brow…all of it was making Ren crazy.

  They were on their knees facing each other, a deliberate decision on Ren’s part. It was hot and sexy and so intimate being eye to eye.

  Ren’s fingers were deep inside her, pushing and flicking. When she thought Lindsay might have had enough, she moved faster and deeper. The moan her actions elicited delighted her no end.

  As much as she wanted to stay where she was, it was time for more. Ren carefully pulled out and, with a featherlight touch, made small circles around Lindsay’s swollen clit. God, she looked beautiful like this, panting for air, hair damp with sweat, eyes partly closed. “You’re gorgeous,” she whispered. “Stay right here.”

  Ren got behind her. She wrapped her arm around her waist and whispered, “I’ve got you.”

  Lindsay relaxed against her and covered Ren’s hand with her own. “I know you do. I trust you.”

  Ren wrapped both arms around her and dipped her right hand lower into her wet folds. Lindsay whimpered at the touch. “Oh God, yes,” she whispered. She took Ren’s other hand and guided it to her breast.

  Ren wanted Lindsay’s orgasm to build slowly, so she kept her touch light at first, just circling her clit instead of putting direct pressure on it. “How does that feel?”

  Lindsay nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  Was she speechless? Ren smiled at the thought and applied a little more pressure. Lindsay arched her back and bucked harder. “Don’t stop,” she demanded. “Don’t stop.”

  Ren lightly sank her teeth into Lindsay’s shoulder and let her tongue circle her skin with the same rhythm that her finger circled her clit. Lindsay’s back arched. She reached behind and grabbed Ren’s hair. “Fuck,” she whispered. “Fuck, I’m coming. Oh God. Oh!” Her whole body tensed in Ren’s arms. She fell forward onto her hands and knees and sa
id, “Oh my fucking God.”

  Ren had to agree with the sentiment, considering her new view. She ran her hands over Lindsay’s backside and gripped her hips. God, how good it would feel to take her like this. “You’re so sexy, Lindsay. I wish you could see yourself.”

  “I want you inside me,” Lindsay said.

  “Again?”

  “God, yes. Fuck me again.”

  Ren ran the back of her index finger between Lindsey’s legs. Since she was already so wet, she didn’t need to ease her way in. She drove two fingers in, and Lindsay’s response was a loud, “Yes! Oh God, yes!”

  So Lindsay liked it hard. This was very valuable information. Ren positioned herself with one hand on Lindsay’s shoulder and added a third finger. Lindsay responded to every thrust with a moan or a word of encouragement. Ren bent over and sank her teeth into Lindsay’s ass and sucked until she left a mark. She sensed Lindsay was losing her strength, so she slowed down. “Had enough?”

  “I’ll never get enough of you, but yeah.” She dropped onto her stomach, looking rather sated.

  Ren wanted to lie on top of her, but she was still catching her breath. She snuggled in next to her and threw a leg over her ass, then moved the damp hair from her face. Lindsay’s eyes were wide open and searching. Ren caressed her hair and ran her fingernails over her backside. Lindsay continued to stare. Ren leaned in and kissed her forehead and her cheek. “You okay?”

  “I’m the best I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

  Ren grinned. “That good, huh?”

  Lindsay got up on her elbows and leaned in for a kiss. “I think you should pay the seventy-eight dollars I owe to the potty mouth jar.”

  Ren laughed. “You don’t even know how much I’d pay to hear you scream fuck again.”

  “Lots of dollars?”

  Ren ran her fingers into Lindsay’s hair and pulled her in for a kiss. “So many.”