by Ronica Black
“Avery,” Maria said, unsure how to respond. She’d thought of it too. In fact, she’d thought of little else while lying in her bed late into the night. “I can’t be your lover. I can’t do that. I’m not built that way.”
“What way?”
“Sex with no attachment. No matter how hot it might be. I can’t help but—feel for you.”
Avery stared into her eyes. “I don’t want just sex, Maria. I want you. All of you.”
Maria inhaled a shaky breath. “Oh God, Avery, I don’t know. I’m still reeling from the case, from what happened—”
“And who you think I am?”
Maria fell silent.
“I’m not that person. I’m—”
“I know who you are. The way you care about your nieces and Nadine. Somehow I know.”
Avery smiled. “Yes, that’s who I am. Who I want to be. I’m not going to hide anymore.”
Maria smiled in return. “That sounds nice.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Can I kiss you, Maria?”
Maria nodded softly. “Yes, please.”
Avery leaned down and captured her lips with her own. The heat between them galvanized and turned into fire as they kissed and captured and tugged and explored. Maria stood as tall as she could and clung to Avery, letting her cane fall to the floor.
“Avery,” she said between kisses.
“Yes.”
“I can no longer stand.”
Avery lifted her and carried her down the hall. “Where’s the bedroom?”
“You’re getting warmer. At the end on your left.”
Avery carried her into the master bedroom and placed her on the bed. She knelt to kiss her again, but Maria stopped her.
“Wait,” Maria said. “I want to see you. Undress you.”
Avery straightened and looked into her eyes.
“Yes, like that. Look at me while you undress.”
Avery slid her hands to the hem of her blouse and lifted it slowly over her head. Maria took in her white lace bra and the lean muscles of her torso. A tiny freckle sat just above her navel, and Maria had the urge to kiss it.
“Your slacks,” Maria said, her voice low and raspy with desire.
Avery followed her lead and unbuttoned her slacks. She lowered them to her feet and stepped out of them carefully. She stood before her in matching bra and panties, breathing as if she were running a marathon.
“You’re exquisite,” Maria managed. “As if you were sculpted.” She reached out and ran her fingertips up and down her sides. Avery shivered and her eyes flashed.
“I don’t think I can keep going this slow,” Avery said.
Maria ran her eyes down her body. “Why? Are you as wet as I am?”
Avery answered by leaning in and pressing her hungry mouth to Maria’s. She plunged in with her hot tongue and eased her back onto the bed. Maria held her fast and wrapped her legs around her, needing to feel the pressure of her against her aching flesh.
“Oh yes, Avery. Yes. Take me. Take me now.”
Maria arched herself, offering her neck for feeding. Avery latched on and bit and nibbled her way down. When she reached the fabric of her shirt, Avery simply tore it away. When her mouth covered her bra, Avery quickly shoved it up and over her head.
“Suck them,” Maria said, offering her aching nipples. “Suck them hard.” Avery took a nipple in her mouth and sucked so hard Maria nearly came in her pants. She arched off the bed and tangled her hands in Avery’s hair as she moved from one hard nipple to the other, groaning like an animal as she did so. Maria scratched her back and managed to unhook her bra. When it was free, she tugged her upward and took Avery’s nipple in her mouth and sucked in most of her taut breast.
Avery rocked into her, eyes clenched. Maria’s mouth smacked as she released and captured the other breast. Both of them found each other’s hot centers and rubbed, milking one another for the ultimate contact of flesh on flesh.
“I’m going to come,” Avery said, still rocking.
Maria stopped her movement and released her breast. “No, not yet. Take off your panties.”
Avery stood hurriedly and stripped off her panties. Then she did the same to Maria, yanking off her pants and panties together. “Am I being too rough?”
“No. God no. Honestly, I don’t even care. I want you that badly.”
Avery crawled back on top of her and met her mouth for a long, deep kiss. Bare, muscled thighs found bare, aching flesh, and they moved against one another, teasing, promising.
“I’m going to taste you now,” Avery said. “I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I,” Maria said. “Turn and bring yourself to me.”
Avery paused, looked into her eyes, and then turned and backed herself to Maria’s face. When she felt her warm hands lead her hips to her, she lowered herself to Maria’s glistening flesh and fed.
Maria called out and squeezed her tight. She eased her back to her mouth and captured her swollen red tip in her mouth and sucked. Avery cried out and refastened to her, and they fed off one another, taking and giving and taking and giving. They swirled and sucked and bobbed and teased, both of them until they were moaning and crying into one another ready to crest and explode.
“I’m coming,” Avery said, shoving her hips back faster and harder.
“Mm, come, baby. Come with me.” Maria sucked her wet flesh and thrust her own hips into Avery’s mouth, ready to come herself.
They peeked and exploded together, both of them taking in as much flesh as they could. They gave until they could no longer move or breathe. Both moaning and contracting, muscles out of control.
“Oh, God,” Maria finally breathed. “Fucking hell.”
Avery detached and crawled from her, turning to rest with Maria in her arms. “I want more,” Avery said. “I can’t get enough of you.”
Maria laughed. She felt so free and warm, like she was tingling from head to toe, the stiffness in her leg long forgotten. “I’m not sure how much I can take. My body is still twitching.”
Avery ran the tip of her finger along Maria’s lips. “When it comes to you, I think I’m insatiable.”
Maria turned into her. “Really? I think I can get on board with that.”
“You think so?”
“Mm-hm. I, uh, haven’t really had very much in the way of orgasms in a long while. I don’t like doing it myself.”
“You’re kidding?”
Maria shook her head. “Nope.”
“God, I could die just imagining you trying.” She shifted a little and parted Maria’s legs. “Did you use your fingers?” She toyed with the curl of dark hair framing her flesh, ever so lightly touching it. Maria shivered and clung to her.
“Uh-huh. And the showerhead.”
“The showerhead? Oh, that will be fun.” She kissed her, softly, slowly, and lowered her fingers to either side of her moist clit, causing it to swell once again. She stroked as she kissed her, long and slow and painfully delicate.
“You’re still so wet. I want to taste it. Taste it all. Think you can handle that?” She moved her fingers lower still and found her slickness, bringing it up to rub her clit. Over and across and around and around, until Maria was helplessly bucking in a rhythm with her.
“Avery,” she said. “You make me crazy. Oh God. Yes, God.”
“Yes, love, say my name. You have no idea what it does to me to hear you say my name.”
“Avery, Avery!” Just as she was about to come, Avery positioned herself between her legs, inserted two fingers, and fucked her while she fed off her engorged clit. Maria screamed into the twilight, hips raised, fingers knotted in Avery’s hair. She came and she came and she came. And just when she thought it might end, Avery stopped, slid her pinky into Maria’s ass and fucked her some more, long and deep and slow.
Maria let out a low growl of approval and clenched the bedclothes. “Oh fuck,” she managed. “Jesus, yes, Avery.”
“You like tha
t?” She fucked her harder, faster. “You’re so beautifully tight. I can’t get enough. God, Maria, when you come, say my name, say it like—say it like you love me.”
Maria looked into her eyes and burst into oblivion. All reality completely left her, and from a distance, she heard herself crying out for Avery, crying out and begging her for more, more, more. She tore at the bed covers, thrashed from side to side, and bucked like a madwoman. Avery was fucking her to heaven and above, so deep inside, pushing and pulling, so good, so insanely fucking good it was like a dream. The best dream she’d ever had with the blond goddess between her legs, giving her every imaginable pleasure with one hand. It was magical; Avery was magical. And when she stilled, her heart still thudded and her breath came in wild spurts. Her hands hurt to open and stretch.
“Maria, Maria?” Avery was gently calling to her. Gently removing herself from her.
Maria met her gaze. “Mm?”
“Are you okay?”
She closed Maria’s legs and pulled a stray sheet up over her body. She rested next to her on her elbow.
“I think I just died and came back to earth.” Maria turned into her and nestled against her. “You blew me away.”
Avery brushed her hair with her fingers. “I want to do so much more.”
Maria laughed. “I want you to too. But we have all the time in the world now.”
Avery kissed her. “And I don’t want to waste a minute of it.”
“We won’t.” Maria kissed her back. “I promise.”
Chapter Thirty-two
When Maria entered Avery’s penthouse, she found her standing at the large windows, her beautiful body in silhouette just as it had been the first time she’d met her. Only now instead of holding a cigarette, she was holding a glass of water and looking out at the world as if she were lost in its beauty.
“I want a photo of you, just like that,” Maria said.
Avery startled, turned, and then smiled. “Nadine let you in?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Damn, I was hoping to hear you. I wanted a quick make out session in the hallway.” She grinned and walked toward her in loose cream slacks and a cream and black patterned vest that hugged her upper body like a second skin. Maria wanted to devour her on the spot.
“You look yummy,” Maria said as Avery kissed her, oh so softly, and with a tantalizing hit of her cologne. “Smell yummy too.”
Avery groaned and leaned in to nibble her neck. “So, do you, Ms. Diaz.” She slapped her ass. “You all set?”
Maria nodded. “Horace is at my mother’s, house is all locked up, and my luggage is all downstairs.”
“Wonderful.” Avery kissed her again. “I’m so glad you’re coming.”
“Mm, me too.” Maria kissed her back. Just then, a door banged, and Avery’s nieces came tearing into the living room.
“Maria’s here!” They threw themselves against her, and Maria nearly toppled.
“Hi, guys.” She hugged them in return, thrilled that they liked her so much. And when she looked at the warm smile on Avery’s face, her heart warmed. “Are you excited to go?”
They screeched and bounced up and down. “Yeah!”
“Yeah!”
Avery tousled their hair. “Go get your pillows and blankets for the plane.” The girls took off to their bedroom.
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to go to Disney World than I am right at this moment,” Maria said. “Their excitement is infectious.”
Avery tugged her in for an amorous embrace. “You, my dear, are what’s got me so excited. You’re infectious.” She inhaled her neck and nibbled her jaw, causing Maria’s skin to come alive.
“Please tell me we have our own room,” Maria said, kissing Avery’s jaw in return. She was already so wet she could hardly stand.
“Oh, we have a whole suite with adjoining rooms with Nadine and the girls. Once they turn in, we’ll have all the privacy we want.”
“Mm, yes, that sounds very promising.”
Avery pulled back and stared into her. “Thanks for understanding that I needed to do this with the girls.”
Maria touched her face. “I completely understand.”
“I promise to sweep you off your feet as soon as you’re available again. Paris, the Caribbean, you name it.”
“Avery, I’m fine. And you already sweep me off my feet.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Literally.”
Avery swept her up into her arms. “Like this?”
Maria playfully pounded on her shoulder. “Yes! Now put me down.” She did so and Maria squeezed her hand. “Thank you for understanding my limitations.”
Avery smiled. “I’ve got everything all set at the resort. If you need a scooter, you’ve got it. If you need anything, it will be there. I’ll make damn sure.”
“I’m all right for now, but those wild nights with you—phew.”
Avery laughed. “Well, we can go slow and gentle. Painfully slow if you want.”
Maria shivered. “Dear God, what you do me.” They kissed.
The girls ran back into the room, arms full of blankets and pillows. Nadine followed with her purse slung over her shoulder. She already had on a straw hat and sunscreen, Maria could smell it.
“Okay, off to the plane!” Avery shooed everyone out the door and then looked back for Maria.
“Ready?”
“Avery Ashland,” Maria said, taking her hand, “I’ve never been more ready.”
THE END
About the Author
Ronica Black lives in the desert southwest with her menagerie of animals and her menagerie of art. When she’s not writing, she’s still creating, whether that be drawing, painting, or woodworking. She loves long walks into the sunset, rescuing animals, anything pertaining to art, and spending time with those she loves. When she can, she enjoys returning to her roots in North Carolina, where she can sit on the front porch with her family, catch up on all the gossip, and enjoy a nice cold Cheerwine.
Ronica is a two-time Golden Literary Society winner and a three-time finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards.
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