A Shot at Love

by T. B. Markinson

  Josie sucked the finger into her mouth, causing Harriet to close her eyes for several ticks, before she continued her exploration. Josie studied Harriet as she scrupulously exposed Josie’s body. Harriet’s heart raced, and the warmth below intensified.

  Taking in a fortifying breath, the next button bared the top of Josie’s taut stomach. And the following one, Josie’s tiny belly button. At last, Harriet cracked open the remaining one and eased the left side of the shirt over Josie’s shoulder. Harriet placed a kiss on the fully exposed collarbone. Then she eased the rest of the shirt off Josie’s torso, letting the shirt flutter to the floor. Goose bumps sprang to life on Josie’s skin.

  “Are you cold?” Harriet asked, skimming a finger across the waistline of Josie’s jeans.

  “No,” Josie whispered in the tiniest voice as if not wanting to destroy the moment with sound. She beckoned Harriet with a crooked finger, demanding Harriet kiss her. Harriet inched closer, savoring Josie’s breath on her lips. Even though they’d kissed before this moment, it still seemed like the stakes had raised for Harriet, as if the next few seconds would make or break the moment. Not that Harriet was big on pressure. Who was she kidding? Harriet lived and died by high pressure moments. It was like she couldn’t succeed unless pushing herself to the brink.

  “What are you waiting for?” Josie asked.

  “I’m slightly nervous,” Harriet confessed.

  “Does it help you to know I am, too?”

  “It does. Like I’m not alone.”

  “You aren’t, Harry. Not by a long shot.”

  The space between their mouths was less than an inch. Harriet smiled, which Josie reciprocated. The amount of promise in the air between them practically sizzled.

  “Still nervous?” Josie whispered.

  “I think I’ve been searching for you all my life.”

  Josie cupped each side of Harriet’s face. “What took you so long?”

  Harriet laughed. “I guess I wasn’t ready.”

  “Are you now?”

  “Yes.”

  Their mouths found each other, skipping the soft phase and sliding right into the wanting to fuck stage. Harriet deepened the kiss even more, eliciting an ecstatic moan from Josie. Harriet gently shoved Josie onto the bed before climbing on top of her. Josie tugged on Harriet’s shirt, indicating it had to go. Harriet obliged, and when their bodies pressed together, a jolt of electricity pinged every single nerve ending in Harriet’s body.

  Harriet’s fingers found their way under Josie and unhooked her bra. Josie’s ample breasts were punctuated by delicate pink nipples. Harriet’s thumb circled one nipple, hardening it as they kissed again.

  Harriet moved down to tease the other nipple with her tongue. Josie clamped her hand to the back of Harriet’s head, running her fingers through Harriet’s short hair. Josie’s attention to Harriet’s head was a huge turn-on. Harriet bit down harder on Josie’s nipple. Josie’s back bowed, while Harriet’s hand traveled down toward Josie’s stomach.

  Josie hoisted her lower body and attempted to remove her jeans, but Harriet prevented Josie from following through.

  “Please, let me finish undressing you.”

  Josie grinned. “By all means, have your way with me.”

  “I plan to.” Harriet undid the top of Josie’s jeans, lowering the zipper ever so slowly, not wanting to rush but also waiting with bated breath to see if Josie’s knickers matched the bra. “I wondered if it was a set or not,” Harriet said, as the black polka dots appeared on the silk knickers.

  “It’s important to always match.”

  “Always?” Harriet’s hitched breath showed her excitement. Harriet’s fingers walked over the silk, soaking in Josie’s warmth. Harriet eased the jeans off, leaving the knickers for a moment.

  Josie quirked one eyebrow as if asking why.

  “They’re sexy as hell; it’s almost a shame to take them off, although…” Harriet pressed a finger to inspect how wet Josie was. “I think you’re more than ready for me.”

  “I am. So, so, so ready.”

  Harriet eased the silky fabric down Josie’s legs, taking note of the shimmer on her inner thighs. “I can’t wait to taste you.”

  “Nothing’s stopping you now.”

  “Very true. However…” Harriet arched one eyebrow. “Not sure it’s time to dive in. Is that how an American would phrase it?”

  “You want a language lesson now? You’re killing me.” Josie’s grin testified she wasn’t too put out.

  Harriet kissed her way down the inside of Josie’s left leg, boosted her foot, and nibbled on each toe. Then Harriet’s hand ran up and down Josie’s other leg, the calf muscle tight.

  “Your legs are so smooth.”

  “Don’t forget the other toes,” Josie practically begged.

  “I would never play favorites.” Harriet sucked on the remaining ones.

  “Oh, God, that feels amazing.”

  Harriet’s mouth began the trek up Josie’s right leg, stopping before reaching Josie’s Holy Grail. Her musky smell filled Harriet’s senses, making Harriet take several deep breaths, unable to get her fill.

  Josie’s hips moved as if doing their best to guide Harriet to where she should be. Where Harriet longed to be as close as possible to Josie.

  Harriet couldn’t stop the grin from forming on her face as her fingers separated Josie’s lips, allowing Harriet to insert a finger inside. Slowly, giving Josie time to welcome Harriet with a don’t stop exhalation.

  Harriet added a finger as she repositioned to kiss Josie again. Josie’s insides constricted around Harriet’s fingers. Easing the fingers in and out, the two of them kissed, Josie’s fingers digging into Harriet’s back.

  “I want you,” Josie whispered.

  Harriet knew exactly what she meant. She gave Josie one final kiss on the lips, and then her tongue made its way southward, while Harriet’s fingers still eased in and out of Josie.

  Harriet bypassed Josie’s nipples this time, knowing Josie’s urgency was growing by the second. Not to mention Harriet was dying for that first taste.

  Past the belly button.

  Her teeth raked Josie’s pubic hair.

  Harriet plunged in deep at the same moment her tongue lightly flicked Josie’s clit, releasing an oh God moan, her mouth needed more of Josie.

  “You feel so good,” Josie purred, fisting Harriet’s hair.

  Harriet increased the speed of diving in and out of Josie, unable to keep things going slow. Not after delaying the undressing and full-body exploration. Harriet needed to fuck Josie. Right then and there. Harriet’s tongue concentrated on Josie’s nerves, enjoying the increase in Josie’s frantic gyrations and moans. Not to mention Josie was getting wetter with each flick of the tongue and the movement of Harriet’s hand. Josie’s lower half jounced about, making it difficult for Harriet to keep her mouth where it needed to be, although Harriet wasn’t complaining. No amount of work would stop her from getting Josie to that point where everything went black before the orgasmic meteor shower.

  Josie made a whimpering sound and writhed on the bed. God, Harriet loved the way Josie moved. Her sounds. All of it was quickly becoming addictive.

  Josie’s heavy breathing accelerated, and Harriet guessed Josie was close to reaching climax, which was confirmed when Josie’s upper body bolted off the bed and she clasped her hands around Harriet’s head, as if saying, Whatever you do, don’t stop.

  Harriet’s fingers hammered in deep, curling upward. Josie’s nails scored Harriet’s scalp.

  Josie’s legs started to tremble, the quake moving into a full-body spasm. Harriet held her fingers in the spot she assumed was triggering the spasm, and her tongue circled Josie’s clit with determination. Soon, Josie’s body vibrated, as the orgasm progressed to mind-blowing levels, causing Josie to utter, “Jesus fucking Christ, this feels amazing!” Josie had such a grip on Harriet’s head, and for a few moments, Harriet couldn’t breathe at all.

  Another wave
seemed to burst through Josie’s body, forcing her to tense every muscle, until she collapsed onto the bed. Harriet repositioned on top of Josie, both breathing heavily as they recovered together, neither woman moving for quite a spell.

  “Tell me again why you took so long to find me,” Josie said.

  “I’m a fool.” Harriet spoke into the crook of Josie’s neck.

  “You don’t fuck like a fool.”

  Harriet laughed. “I really don’t know how to respond to that.”

  Josie pulled Harriet’s face to hers.

  In one swift motion, Josie rolled Harriet onto her back, hovering over her. “You have way too many articles of clothing on.” Without another word, Josie stripped Harriet of her jeans and knickers.

  Harriet beckoned Josie for another kiss. “I could kiss you for an eternity.”

  Josie responded with fervor, suggesting she was in the same boat.

  Harriet tensed briefly as Josie’s fingers parted the lips below and worked their way inside.

  “Pretty sure I won’t ever get my fill of fucking you.” Josie worked her fingers in deeper. “Or should I say shagging?”

  Harriet whispered, “Choose whichever word you like, but please don’t stop.”

  “I never want to let you down.” Josie’s tongue teased Harriet’s earlobe, getting an excited moan from Harriet. Josie seemed to take notice and licked the inside of Harriet’s ear, causing even more excitement. Even Harriet’s toes curled.

  Josie’s tongue moved down Harriet’s body, seeming to find spots that had never been brought to life, each lick and nip bringing forth a flood of emotions.

  When Josie arrived at Harriet’s bud, sucking it into her mouth, Harriet nearly launched off the bed up to the ceiling, catlike. As Josie circled the clit, Harriet edged closer to bliss, unable to sense how deep Josie’s fingers were, but wanting her to go even deeper.

  Josie did.

  “This feels so fucking fantastic.”

  Josie’s gaze landed on Harriet’s, the sparkle in the green flecks coming more alive as she gorged on Harriet. Unable to keep her eyes open, Harriet shut them to fully experience the stars exploding in her mind.

  When the lights faded and Harriet’s breathing returned to somewhat normal speed, she pulled Josie into her arms.

  “I’m thinking never having a redheaded girlfriend has been a big oversight,” Harriet joked.

  Josie pinched her side. “I know you have sex brain, but that’s not something any woman wants to hear.”

  “All women? Or just redheads?”

  “You’re cruising for a bruising. But just to clarify, no woman wants to hear how the woman they just made love to wishes they’d slept with lots more people.”

  “Not just any people. Redheads.”

  Josie hovered over Harriet. “What’s about to happen is all your fault.”

  Harriet slanted her head. “Your smile isn’t all that terrifying. Maybe you should work on your threatening technique.”

  “Maybe my plan is to lull you into a false sense of security.”

  “Now you have my full attention.”

  “It only took a threat to get it. Who says women are difficult creatures?”

  “Every person on the planet who has met one.”

  Josie’s hip rubbed against Harriet’s pussy.

  “Is this the torture part?”

  “You have another comment you want to voice?” Josie tried to appear stern.

  “Say it ain’t so, because this is terrible. Absolutely horrendous. I may not survive.”

  “Something tells me you’re being sarcastic. I didn’t think Brits did sarcasm.”

  “Are you kidding? We invented it. You Americans have so much to learn in the snide area.”

  “Is that right?”

  Josie tweaked Harriet’s left nipple. “Am I a fast learner?”

  “I don’t know. Are you?” Harriet goaded Josie.

  Josie ground her hip even more into Harriet.

  “It’s amazing you guys won the Revolutionary War given—”

  Josie sucked Harriet’s nipple completely into her mouth. She released. “You were saying?”

  “Don’t stop. Like it… much.”

  “Given your inability to speak in full sentences, I seemed to have found your weakness. One of them at least.” Josie worked on the nipple more, practically bringing Harriet to the brink. “Oh my, you really love nipple play.”

  “Doesn’t everyone?”

  “Some have sensitive ones that don’t allow for too much.”

  Harriet quirked her brow.

  Josie hurried to say, “So I’ve heard. Before today, I was as pure as the driven snow. Even had a chastity belt.”

  “I don’t remember taking that off earlier.”

  “I broke free all on my own before coming over.”

  “I love a woman with a mind of her own.”

  Josie grinned. “That’s good news for me. I don’t like being told what to think. If you really want to start a fight, tell me what I’m thinking. Or interpret my thoughts and feelings. That goes over so well. Not.”

  Harriet tapped the side of her head. “Taking notes.”

  “Do I need to write it down for you? You are getting up there in years.”

  “Did you really just—?” Harriet didn’t complete the thought but flipped Josie onto her back. “Let me show you how much energy I have left.”

  “That was much easier than I thought.”

  “Shut up, and let me fuck you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  A streak of sunlight landed on Josie’s face, and a warm body pressed up against her. Josie wiggled farther into Harry’s body, loving how she felt in this moment. It wasn’t solely the results of making love the previous night. Josie enjoyed the comfort of having Harry next to her, knowing she wanted more than sex. She craved so much more. Human touch. Snuggling on the couch, watching television. Reading the Sunday paper in bed. Going for long walks. Cooking dinners together. Growing old together. How was this happening now? When nothing else in Josie’s life made sense?

  Josie rolled onto her side carefully so as not to disturb the slumbering blonde. She stared into Harry’s peaceful face and took in all the different directions of Harry’s hair. So fucking adorable.

  Wait, what did Josie’s look like? She ran a hand over her head to assess the damage.

  “Did I wake you?” Harry asked in a sleep-filled voice.

  “I’ll never complain about waking next to you. Besides, I think I’m the one who woke you.” Josie pulled Harry’s hand up to her lips for a kiss.

  “I’m glad we got past the never say what’s on my mind phase.”

  “Me too. Is this the time to say I love tea in bed?”

  Harry started to lift the bedcovers.

  Josie laughed. “I was kidding. Mostly. I don’t want you to leave the bed quite yet.”

  “Oh, really?” The tiredness gave way to excitement.

  “You can’t possibly have energy for that, can you?”

  “Is this the time I confess I’m a morning person?”

  Josie buried her face into the plush pillow. “How am I in bed with a morning person?”

  “You seduced me last night.”

  Josie rolled over and faced Harry. “Wait? I seduced you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Says the woman who was pointing out the North Star and talking about how not to lose one’s way.”

  “That was my seduction plan?” Harry asked in a confused voice. “I don’t think any woman has ever said my nerdy side worked that way. Usually, they stare at me as if wishing I’d just shut up.”

  “It was romantic!”

  Harry beamed. “It was?”

  “Very much so.” Josie planted her hand on Harry’s cheek.

  “If I remember correctly, I pointed out the North Star. You were the one who said you wanted Ida to witness our kiss in case you needed her help to find your way back to me. That was romantic.” Harry presse
d the tip of Josie’s nose.

  Josie propped up her head, staring at Harry. “Can we agree that we’re romantic together?”

  “It’s a difficult concept for me to understand.”

  Josie draped an arm over Harry’s stomach, needing skin-on-skin contact, which was somewhat confusing since Josie wasn’t the cuddling type. Or hadn’t been until this moment. “Why?”

  “I don’t think anyone has ever said I was romantic or contributed to romantic notions.” Harry gave a half shrug.

  “We’ve already established I’m not a fan of your ex-wife, but are all of your exes like her?”

  “In what sense?”

  “Negative Nellies.”

  “How does their calling out my behavior classify them that way?” Harry questioned without contempt in her tone or body language.

  “Does that mean you agree with their assessment that you’re not romantic?”

  “I wasn’t with others. I’m realizing that.” Harry patted Josie’s hand.

  “No ifs, ands, or buts?”

  Harry shook her head. “I’m a practical person.”

  “And romance, or love for that matter, isn’t practical?”

  Harry squinted one eye, seeming to mull over the question or a tactful way of answering. “I… I may need time to figure out an answer.”

  “Take as much time as you need.”

  “What do you think?”

  “If love is practical?” Josie laughed. “Not by a long shot. People seem to lose their fucking minds when love enters the equation.”

  “You’re smiling about that.”

  “It’s the best kind of mental derangement. Everything seems possible. Colors are more vibrant. Annoying people don’t seem too annoying. Food tastes better, but you hardly ever notice you’re hungry. Things that usually make your temper flair just make you laugh. Even family isn’t so annoying.”

  “Are you saying when I don’t find Camilla obnoxious, it means I’ve fallen head over heels?”

  Josie regarded Harry. “Have you not been in love before?”

  “I haven’t experienced any of the signs you listed.”

  “And you got married?” Josie attempted to sound nonjudgmental, but she couldn’t understand why anyone would marry unless they thought the person was the one. Like what her parents had. What Josie wanted but feared she’d never fully achieve.