by Radclyffe
Reilly extricated herself from the throng and worked her way through the enthusiastic crowd to the sidelines were Liz waited. When she wiped her face on her sleeve, she left behind a streak of sweat and dust.
“Congratulations!” Liz called, hurrying toward her.
Reilly held out both hands to stop her. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m filthy. It was that slide into home that did it.”
Liz frowned and touched Reilly’s jaw with one finger. “You’ve got a scrape here too. That needs to be cleaned up.”
“If you can wait to eat,” Reilly said, “I’ll go home and shower and then maybe we can have dinner?”
“Why don’t you come over to my place? We’ll get your face taken care of, and then you can jump in the shower while I cook us something for dinner.”
“I don’t think you should cook,” Reilly said firmly. “It’s Sunday night and you’ve had two late nights in a row. You should relax.”
“All right,” Liz said softly, surprised all over again by Reilly’s care. She’d gotten used to a solitary existence, even when she and Julia had still been a couple. Their schedules were so different they rarely ate together, went to bed together, or got up at the same time. “Then come to my apartment now. I’ll order Thai delivery from the car. By the time you’re done with a shower, dinner will be ready.”
Reilly grinned. “You’ve got a deal. I’ll follow you.”
Twenty minutes later, Liz waited in the lobby while Reilly parked. Then she buzzed her in and they rode the elevator up to her condo.
“Hopefully you won’t have any unexpected visitors,” Reilly commented as Liz slid her key into the lock.
“She’s not going to be here,” Liz said.
“Even if she is,” Reilly said, “I’m not leaving.”
“Good, because I don’t want you to.” Liz held the door for Reilly, then gestured for her to follow. “The guest bathroom is down here. I’ll leave a T-shirt and sweatpants in the adjoining bedroom. When you’re ready, call me and I’ll put some antiseptic on those cuts.”
“Thanks,” Reilly said.
Liz hesitated when they reach the bathroom. They hadn’t touched since they’d left the softball field, and she very much wanted to touch her. Remembering the way she’d felt last night, and how difficult it had been to stop touching her, she resisted. Awkwardly, she backed away. “Well, the food should be here any second. Call me. When you’re done.”
“Okay.”
As soon as Reilly shut the door, Liz had the overwhelming urge to join her in the shower. To keep her mind off how good Reilly looked in gym shorts and a tight T-shirt, and how much better she’d look without them, she hurried into the living room to clear the coffee table and wait for the food delivery.
She didn’t have long to wait. When one of the regular delivery guys buzzed the apartment, she told him to come up and met him at the door.
“Thanks, Kenny,” she said, handing him two twenties. “Keep the change.”
Juggling the bags, she pushed the door closed with her foot and turned toward the kitchen. When she saw Reilly standing at the end of the hall in nothing but a bath towel, she almost dropped the food.
“There weren’t any clothes in the bedroom,” Reilly said apologetically.
Reilly’s hair was damp, and the towel didn’t cover much of her. While her arms and legs were muscular, her upper chest appeared surprisingly pale and soft. The slight swell of breasts beneath the towel started an ache in the pit of Liz’s stomach. Liz’s throat was dry and she had to swallow several times before she could speak. “I forgot to put them out.”
“Here,” Reilly said, closing the distance between them. “Let me take those bags.”
Liz backed up until her back hit the door. “I’ve got them.”
Reilly stopped, frowning. “What’s the matter?”
“You. You’re the matter.”
“What have I done?” Reilly asked, panic streaking across her features.
“Either you really don’t know how sexy you are, or you’re a terrible tease.”
“Oh.” Reilly looked down. The towel gaped at the bottom, revealing a lot of thigh and almost quite a bit more. “Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Liz murmured. “I’m enjoying the view.”
“Uh, clothes?”
“Let me put the food in the kitchen, and I’ll meet you in the guest room.”
Reilly nodded and disappeared down the hall. Liz took a shaky breath and carried the food into the kitchen. After collecting a T-shirt and sweatpants from her bedroom, she continued to the guest room.
“Here you go.” Liz stepped into the room and held out the clothes.
Reilly stood by the side of the bed, still wearing the towel. She extended one arm. “Thanks.”
“I’m going to put these down on the floor and leave now.” Liz set the bundle down.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Liz said quickly. “But if I come within two feet of you, I’m going to forget every single reason I have for not going to bed with you.” She laughed unsteadily. “God, you’re so gorgeous.”
Reilly grinned. “Could you remind me again what the reasons are?”
“My life isn’t exactly my own these days, Reilly,” Liz said gently. “I wish I could be like Candace, and enjoy a woman for a few hours or a few days, and know that we both would come away satisfied.”
“Is that what you want? Easy sex, no strings attached?”
Liz knew she should say yes. There was nothing wrong with it. It was the smartest course of action right now. And why not have pleasant, wild, wonderful sex with someone she enjoyed, rather than a stranger. She wanted Reilly. She knew Reilly wanted her. She could see it in her eyes. She felt it in the way Reilly had kissed her the night before. Why did it have to be anything more than that?
“Yes.”
Reilly skirted around the clothes on the floor and stopped in front of Liz. She loosened the towel and let it fall. Liz backed up and her back hit a door yet again. She glanced down between them, then quickly averted her gaze. Reilly’s naked body was sculpted and firm. Strong and quintessentially female.
“Easy sex, no strings. That’s a place to start.” Reilly braced her arms on the door on either side of Liz’s shoulders and slowly leaned against her. She kissed Liz’s throat, then her mouth.
Reilly’s skin was cool and damp against Liz’s bare thighs. Her mouth was soft, her tongue warm and silky. Liz ran her hands over Reilly’s back, feeling the muscles ripple beneath her fingertips. Breathless, Liz murmured in surprise when Reilly dropped to her knees. Startled to realize her legs were shaking, Liz steadied herself with a hand on Reilly’s shoulder and watched Reilly tug her blouse from her shorts. She was no stranger to sex, even though it had been awhile, but everything she felt, everything Reilly did, seemed new.
“Oh,” Liz breathed when Reilly kissed her stomach. She could see now the swelling below her navel that had never been there before. Reilly framed the area with her hands and kissed her above the spot where the fetus grew. The caress was reverent and tender. Liz sensed her clitoris lengthen and throb, and she moaned quietly.
“Are you all right?” Reilly glanced up as she eased Liz’s shorts and panties down.
“Yes, but my legs are a little untrustworthy.”
“I’ve got you.” Reilly smiled. “Lift your foot. Now the other.”
Liz complied and Reilly guided her free of her clothing.
And just like that, she was half nude. Liz thought fleetingly that she should probably be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. The way Reilly looked at her, the way she touched her, made her feel so wanted. More than that, it made her feel beautiful and desirable and right now, she wanted to give Reilly anything she needed.
“Tell me if you want me to stop,” Reilly whispered.
“Oh, no. No, no.” Liz drew strands of Reilly’s hair through her fingers and closed her eyes slowly as Reilly’s warm breath surrounded her. The first glanc
ing caress of Reilly’s tongue sent a shiver through her. The glide of Reilly’s lips, gentle and hot, made the muscles on the insides of her thighs quiver and jump. When Reilly sucked, she felt the storm rise within, a gathering force too strong and swift to be denied for very long. “Reilly, stop. Stop please.”
Immediately, Reilly rose and pulled Liz close. “What is it? Does something hurt?”
Liz clung to her, struggling for words. “I’m going to come. Any second, and I want you to be holding me when I do.”
“Let’s lie down,” Reilly said, her arm around Liz’s waist. She guided her to the bed and unbuttoned her blouse. She removed it, and Liz’s bra, and stretched out on the bed, bringing Liz with her. Then, as they faced each other, their bodies touching, she eased her arm behind Liz’s shoulders and held her. Then, she reached down to slip her fingers between Liz’s thighs.
“Oh,” Liz gasped, arching into Reilly’s embrace. “That’s…you’re…wonderful.”
Reilly dipped her head, catching a blood-flushed nipple in her mouth. She sucked rhythmically, in time with her long, firm strokes over Liz’s heated flesh. When Liz cried out, her body trembling, Reilly held her breath to absorb every note of pleasure, to memorize every tremor of release. Her own body felt wound so tight she feared she might shatter.
Liz covered Reilly’s hand, stilling her motion but keeping Reilly’s fingers pressed tightly to her slowly pulsing flesh. She felt so vulnerable, so open and unprotected, that she needed Reilly’s touch to ensure that she wasn’t adrift, alone and unanchored in some endless star-filled sky.
“Don’t go,” Liz whispered.
“No,” Reilly answered, kissing her forehead, and her mouth. “I won’t.” Reilly fumbled beside them, found the edge of the comforter, and pulled it over them. “Are you all right?”
Liz burrowed her face in the curve of Reilly’s neck. “I’m not sure. I’ve never had an orgasm like that.”
Reilly held her more tightly. She had been so afraid of hurting her, and she had tried to be gentle. She was sick with worry that she’d done something wrong. “Are you having cramps? Pain of any kind?”
“What?” Fuzzy-headed, Liz pulled away and searched Reilly’s face, instantly seeing the anxiety in her eyes. “Oh no. Baby, no.” She kissed Reilly, hard and deep, sliding one thigh between Reilly’s legs. Reilly let herself be pushed onto her back and Liz rolled on top of her. Liz framed Reilly’s face and ran her thumbs over Reilly’s cheekbones, smoothing away the frown lines. “I feel incredible. Amazing. I feel like I came with my soul, not just my body.”
“Are you sure?”
“God yes. I’m fine. Fabulous.” Liz slid off to one side and propped her chin in her hand. Lazily, she trailed her fingers over Reilly’s stomach, smiling with satisfaction at Reilly’s sharp intake of breath and the tightening of her abdominal muscles. “I haven’t had a lot of orgasms lately, but I remember exactly how they feel.” She leaned over and kissed Reilly, inching her fingers lower, stopping just at the top of the delta between her thighs. “And this one was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
“Maybe,” Reilly said, her voice husky, “it’s different because…you’re pregnant.”
“Maybe. And maybe not.” Liz delicately licked Reilly’s nipple and laughed as Reilly’s body quivered like a bowstring. “You like that?”
“Yes.”
“What else do you like?”
“I like it when you’re on top of me.”
“Mmm,” Liz murmured. “I like that too.” She circled her fingertips against the base of Reilly’s clitoris. Reilly moaned. “You like this too?”
“Very much.”
Liz nestled into the curve of Reilly’s body and settled her cheek against Reilly’s chest. “I want to listen to your heartbeat while you come.”
Reilly caressed Liz’s back. “You can have anything you want.”
Somewhere deep in her consciousness, Liz knew this was true. Reilly would give her whatever she asked for, and take as little or as much as she offered. Reilly had given her the one thing she’d never had with Julia—complete and utter honesty. Liz didn’t know if that frightened her or exhilarated her. But right at this moment, the only thing she wanted was to give Reilly the pleasure that Reilly had given her. She wanted to be as close to Reilly as she could be, with no doubts or fears or uncertain tomorrows between them. She wanted this perfect moment, and she believed that she deserved it. That Reilly deserved it. The morning would be time enough for questions and reason and rationalization. Right now, the truth existed for her only in the pure, unselfish beat of Reilly’s heart.
“I want to give you what you gave me,” Liz whispered, slipping inside her. “Let me please you.”
Eyes closed, Reilly stroked Liz’s hair and opened herself to Liz’s passion. And when she could hold no more, she spilled over, crying out Liz’s name.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Liz opened her eyes in the dark quiet bedroom and tried to identify the sound that had awakened her. Reilly spooned behind her, her arm around Liz’s waist. Liz covered Reilly’s hand where it rested against her lower abdomen, liking the possessive way Reilly held her. Then she stiffened as she heard a strange tapping again, as if someone were trying to get in the window. However, considering her apartment was quite a few stories above street level, the only possible visitor would be Spiderman.
“What’s wrong? Reilly mumbled, kissing the back of Liz’s shoulder.
“There’s something…thumping.”
“Beeper.” With a sigh, Reilly rolled away and stumbled from the bed toward the bathroom. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Liz said, sitting up. “God, it’s three thirty in the morning. Who would call now?”
“I’m backup.” Reilly located her beeper on the shelf above the sink and checked the readout, although she didn’t have to. There would be only one place trying to reach her at this hour. “Can I use your phone? I left my cell in my glove compartment.”
“Of course.” Liz snapped on the bedside lamp and blinked against the glare. Then she stared. Reilly was naked. And gorgeous. Liz’s body went to full alert.
Reilly sat down next to her and punched in numbers. A moment later, she said, “This is Dr. Danvers. The trauma unit is looking for me.”
Liz stroked Reilly’s back and listened to the one-sided conversation while Reilly asked terse questions. She still couldn’t quite believe that she had woken up in Reilly’s arms. Or that she’d fallen asleep holding her. When she realized Reilly was about to leave, she wanted to wrap her arms around her and keep her there forever. She feared the morning. She feared the rational light of day. She feared that Reilly would be sorry. She wondered why she wasn’t, and worried if she should be.
Reilly hung up the phone, lifted the sheets, and slid underneath. She pulled Liz into her arms and kissed her. “When I was a brand new resident, the first night my chief resident left me alone on call he said two things to me. The first was, ‘Call me if you need anything.’ The second was the mantra, ‘Remember, to call for help is a sign of weakness.’”
“Did you ever call for help?” Liz brushed the hair back from Reilly’s forehead and fit her leg between Reilly’s. Reilly’s hips lifted as if to welcome her, and her pulse soared.
“Damn right I did. Pride has no place when lives are at stake.” Reilly kissed Liz again. “Or love.”
Liz caught her breath. Her skin was on fire and her body was melting. “Do you have to go?”
“One of my partners just informed me that patients are stacking up like cordwood. They just opened a second OR room for me.”
“Are you all right? Tired?”
Reilly grinned. “I feel great.” She nuzzled Liz’s neck. “If I didn’t have two open tibias and a shattered shoulder to deal with, I’d show you just how not tired I am.” She groaned softly. “God, you feel so good.”
“What I said earlier,” Liz said, “about casual and no strings?”
Reilly grew still. “
Yes?”
“I said what I thought I should be feeling. It wasn’t really what I wanted to say.”
“What did you want to say?”
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve never felt so safe with anyone before. I’ve never felt as wanted. I’ve never been this excited by anyone’s touch.”
“From the day we met,” Reilly said, “I haven’t been able to think of anything except you.”
“I think I might already be past casual, and I’m a little afraid of what that means.”
Reilly caressed Liz’s cheek. “What are you afraid of?”
Liz marveled at how easy Reilly made it for her to voice her uncertainties. She trusted Reilly not only to listen, but to tell her the truth. Even if the truth would shatter the dreams she was just daring to imagine. “I’m afraid you’ll change your mind about seeing me—that maybe you won’t want me when I’m a lot more pregnant than I am now.”
“Why do you think that?” Reilly asked gently.
“You said you didn’t want children with Annie, and you were in a relationship…in love with her. We’re nowhere near that stage and—”
“Liz,” Reilly whispered, “you’re not Annie.”
“We need to talk about her,” Liz said.
“I know. I—” Reilly cursed under her breath when her beeper went off again.
“It’s okay. Answer it.”
“That’s the OR telling me they’re bringing the patient up. I’ll call them from the car. I have to go. I’m sorry.”
“No. Go. We’ll talk later.”
Reilly jumped from bed and pulled on the sweatpants and T-shirt Liz had offered her earlier. “I’ve got a full load in the OR tomorrow, and tomorrow night is Sean’s black belt test. I’ll be going right to the dojang from the hospital. Then Tuesday night I’m on first call.” She ran her hand through her hair in frustration. “I’ll call you the minute I have a chance. We’ll talk. I promise.”
“I understand. I’m swamped at work too.” Liz got out of bed and found her blouse in the jumble of clothes on the floor. Trying to sound casual, she said, “Don’t worry if you can’t call. How about Friday night? Maybe dinner?”