No way could she orgasm to thoughts of Jen and expect to calmly spend the next day with her. She shouldn’t have riled herself up like this. The moment called for release or a cold shower, but she couldn’t manage either. She flipped the setting back to its normal spray and rinsed.
As she toweled off, she barely dried between her legs, needing time to come down from the stimulation. In her tank top and shorts, she headed to the kitchenette for a glass of water. And ice. Lots of ice.
Light from the outdoor fixtures came through the glass doors of the lanai, allowing her to see. She twisted an ice-cube tray above a glass and filled it with water. She took a healthy drink and walked to the lanai. Sliding aside the door, Kade stepped out and set down the beverage.
Waves crashed over the sand in a melody that settled her mind and relaxed her body.
For some reason, she wasn’t startled when she heard the stool being dragged directly behind her. Nor was she surprised by the touch of warm hands on her upper arms or the legs enveloping her and pressing against her thighs. Fingers softly caressed her neck, her clavicle, her shoulders. They wove into her damp hair and came out again, slowly sliding over her chin and throat. Kade arched into each touch, reveling in the attention of this woman.
Soft lips followed a similar path, lightly brushing her skin and affecting the rhythm of her breathing, more erratic now. When that warm mouth closed over her earlobe, Kade whimpered. Oh, God. She should have let herself come because she might very well do so if Jen continued her maddening, gentle exploration.
But the hands didn’t stray farther south, and soon they were brushing Kade’s hair off her shoulders. “I wanted to say good night,” Jen said quietly, planting feather-light kisses along Kade’s neck.
“You…did,” Kade managed to say.
“Not the way I wanted to.”
“How…” Jen’s lips along her skin diminished Kade’s capacity for speech. Kade heard her own exhale. “How did you want to?”
Without taking her hands off Kade, Jen slid off the stool and pushed it away with her foot. She turned Kade around to face her. “Like this,” Jen said. As if looking for something, she searched every inch of Kade’s face. Fingers followed her gaze, tracing Kade’s eyebrows, cheeks, nose, and chin. “Beautiful,” she said as lips supplanted fingers, kissing each area with equal devotion. When she arrived at Kade’s mouth, she gazed into Kade’s eyes and smiled, a magnificent, radiant thing that breathed life into the farthest depths of Kade’s soul. Jen stopped a razor’s edge away, giving Kade the final say.
But Kade had no choice. She was completely, helplessly, deliciously owned by Jen, and all she could do was surrender to her desire. Kade touched her lips to Jen’s. It was a whisper of connection, the faint touch of a downy feather. She increased the pressure, nearly fainting with pleasure as Jen parted Kade’s lips with her tongue, seeking entrance. Wet warmth cascaded into Kade’s mouth, making her borderline delirious.
Kade gave herself over to the kiss entirely, reveling in the softness, the taste, the puzzle and its answer—all things Jen. She couldn’t have imagined a more perfect moment, a more perfect kiss, a more perfect woman. She was at once grounded and exalted, confused yet absolutely clear. She wanted this, and for the first time in ages, she indulged in the experience.
Jen eased out of the kiss, and they took a minute to descend from the exquisite heights to which they’d climbed. “Good night,” she murmured as she slowly stepped away, not letting go of Kade’s hand until she could grasp it no more.
Far better than good, Kade thought. Sublime.
Chapter Three
Beyond tired from the time-zone change and the flight, Kade didn’t bother to set the alarm early enough to sneak in a trip to the gym. She dragged a brush through her hair and opted for another ponytail, lest Jen think small animals took up residence there in the night. The bathroom mirror was being particularly unkind this morning, and Kade considered putting on some makeup before going in search of coffee. But chances were good she and Jen would be hitting the pool or beach today, where all hell would break loose in the looks department anyway.
Upon entering the kitchen, Kade spied the coffee machine and brewed a cup. She noticed Jen on the lanai and joined her.
Jen’s hair was also in a ponytail, but of course she was fresh-faced and welcoming, whereas Kade wasn’t usually welcoming of anything before two cups of java. A bowl of fresh fruit, a pitcher of orange juice, a mug of coffee, and The Wall Street Journal surrounded Jen at the outdoor table, which overlooked the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
“Good morning,” Jen said brightly.
“Morning.” Kade plunked herself into a chair. “Let me guess. Morning person?”
“Not especially. Every day I wake up is a good day, considering the alternative.”
This comment got Kade’s attention. She edged forward in her seat and grabbed Jen’s arm. “Jen, you’re not…sick, are you?”
Jen offered an amused smile. “Overindulging in tragic romance novels again, honey?”
“I worry about you. Too much perk. It’s unhealthy.” Kade popped a grape into her mouth and grabbed a section of the paper. “Aside from that, you’re fantasy material right now. Coffee, OJ, fruit, the Journal.” She pointed under the table to Jen’s crossed legs. “Killer legs.” She jutted her chin in Jen’s direction. “Toned arms. Amazing smile. Arresting blue eyes. Maybe I’m the one who was sick and this is heaven.”
Jen set the paper down. “You know, for someone who claims to be uptight about schedules and timetables, you’re pretty relaxed and awesome in the morning.”
Kade grinned. “That’s because I’m not myself today.”
“No? Then who are you? Because I like her.”
Kade chewed another grape and gave the question some thought. “It’s you. Well, you and this unplanned day. Something about the combination is liberating.” Suddenly the buoyant feeling she’d been experiencing in Jen’s company flagged at the notion this was all temporary. “At the stroke of midnight, I’ll be a rat again.” Though the idea saddened her, Kade understood its truth.
“Don’t you have other friends who bring out this side of you?”
No sense denying it. Kade had known as soon as she first caught Jen smiling at her in the rental-car line that she was Cassie all over again. Worse. She and Cassie had loved each other like sisters, whereas Jen, in an alternate universe, could have been so much more.
Kade looked directly at Jen so there was no mistaking it. “I did, and it didn’t really work out for her.” She needed to move Fantasy Woman back onto the reality plane. “I can do this for a day, Jen. I can’t hurt you…no one can get hurt in one day, especially if we have a plan and stick to it. So if you’re still up for it, let’s come up with an itinerary. If not, you’re welcome to use the suite—”
Jen covered Kade’s hand with hers. “I’m up for it.”
* * *
Sightseeing wasn’t in the cards since some of the island’s best experiences, such as the Road to Hana and the Haleakala Crater, were long drives away. They settled on finishing breakfast at the hotel, stopping at a swimwear shop, taking the short drive to D.T. Fleming Beach Park, eating a light lunch at a taco stand, lazing by the pool in the afternoon, and sharing an early dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.
Kade was definitely a stickler about arrival and departure times, and meticulously adhered to the schedule they established. But she was fine creating whole blocks of time for a broad purpose, such as “pool” or “beach.” Much to Jen’s amusement, Kade showed Jen the calendar on her phone, quickly scrolling through the next thirty days, multicolored blocks filling morning, noon, and night. Then she made a face when she hit five weeks out and the schedule was empty except for the odd event. “All that white space. Hate that,” she’d said, making Jen laugh.
When Jen parked in front of the beachwear boutique and saw the outfits in the window display, she said, “We may need more time here.”
Kade fro
wned and swiped at her phone. “You get twenty minutes. We’re not spending this beautiful day indoors, trying on outfits. Whatever you buy will look fabulous on you.”
“When’s the last time you went swimsuit shopping?”
Kade’s eyes swung skyward as if to give some thought to the question. Seconds passed with no response.
“A while, then,” Jen surmised.
“Years.”
“And did you just grab something and go?”
“I did what any twenty-something American woman would do. Tried on a bikini, immediately moved to one-pieces, littered the fitting room with rejects, settled on something in slimming black, scored a fantastic cover-up, and successfully declined all subsequent pool-party invitations.”
Jen laughed. “Okay. Points for honesty. Here’s my thinking. First, we agree that sunscreen is our friend and pasty-white means healthy. Second, no snickering at the other’s farmer tan. Third, we rip this off like a Band-Aid. I’ll choose four swimsuits for you, and vice versa. We decide from those.”
“Bikinis or one-pieces?”
Jen considered this issue, knowing she’d prefer Kade in a bikini but allowing for comfort. “Two each.”
Kade offered her hand, which Jen shook. “Deal.”
But all that planning flew out the window as soon as Jen saw Kade hesitantly step out from behind the fitting curtain, wearing the jade bikini Jen had selected for her. Jen’s pulse beat faster, and she couldn’t focus on whatever she’d pulled from a rack. Without taking her eyes from Kade, she managed to hang the item back in place before striding over to her, corralling her into the tiny fitting area, and feeling haphazardly behind her to pull the curtain closed around them. There was barely standing room for two people, but all Jen noticed was her desperation to touch Kade.
Kade’s startled, confused face was mere inches away, but Jen dropped her gaze. The green material barely covered Kade’s cleavage, and her chest rose and fell with each increasingly ragged breath. They both watched Jen reach up to caress Kade’s breast, her thumb gliding across the bra to Kade’s nipple, which strained against the material. Kade’s head snapped up as her mouth parted in a gasp that Jen swallowed in a searing kiss. It wasn’t gentle or sweet or teasing. Kade’s lips parted as Jen sought entrance with her tongue, yielding to Jen’s overpowering need to own her in that moment.
Jen broke the kiss, fighting for breath, stumbling for control. Her behavior shocked her. To the questions evident in Kade’s surprised hazel eyes, all Jen could say was, “This one.” Jen blindly felt behind her, flicked open the curtain, stepped out of the fitting room, and snapped it closed. She darted out the door and took a number of calming breaths, trying to come down from her arousal, trying to regain herself. Her actions were completely antithetical to her usually grounded self, and she didn’t know what to make of them.
Jen sat on the curb in front of an empty parking space, hands in her lap. She didn’t want to apologize, but she’d do whatever it took to ensure Kade didn’t change her mind about spending the day together. If it meant having her hands tied behind her back to prevent further misbehavior, she’d do it. (Though as soon as she thought about who might do the tying, she realized it was not the best choice of images.) Minutes later, she heard footsteps and, in her peripheral vision, noticed Kade sit next to her, plastic shopping bag in tow. Jen steeled herself with a deep breath before daring to look over at Kade, whose eyes focused on the parking lot, hidden behind sunglasses.
“Well, bathing-suit shopping will never be the same,” Kade said before sliding her eyes to Jen. “How was your day?”
Jen chewed on Kade’s comments before bursting with laughter.
Kade pointed to the convenience store next door. “If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to grab some sunscreen. I trust you’ll find something.”
Once they concluded their shopping, Kade navigated them to the beach park, known more for boogie-boarding and body-surfing, but which was close and clean, offering lifeguards and shade. They changed in the public restrooms before heading onto the sand to scope out a spot, where they laid out their mats and towels.
Jen found the view nearly as breathtaking as the woman next to her.
As they applied sunscreen, Kade said, “You know, in the movies, whenever the star-crossed lovers reach the beach scene, they’re never glistening with sweat. I’m drenched, and we just got here.” She scooched to the edge of her mat and presented her back to Jen, along with the bottle of lotion. “And with that lead-in, I’m sure you can’t wait to do me.”
Jen poured some into her hand before bending to Kade’s ear. “Slip of the tongue?”
“I thought that was earlier,” Kade said, her voice lower than usual as she gathered her hair in her hands and held it off her shoulder.
The sexy tone catapulted Jen’s attraction ever higher. Jen warmed the lotion between her hands and laid her right palm on Kade’s back, a touch below the bra line. She moved down to the bikini bottoms, then up to where she’d started. She slid her thumb under the bikini top.
“The uncovered parts, darling,” Kade said good-naturedly, though Jen noticed a small hitch in her breath.
Jen moved her hand along Kade’s side, then slowly forward, until she spread her palm across Kade’s stomach. She shifted to her knees while she inched her thumb below the center of Kade’s top. Mouth at Kade’s ear, she softly asked, “Did you get this…area?”
“I…did, thank you,” Kade said breathily.
“Good, because I want to make sure I do you right. Darling.” The endearment was so foreign, her words and actions so atypical, she froze. What was she thinking? She was on a public beach, for God’s sake, not making some soft-porno film. The woman beneath her touch was someone to be respected, someone she did respect. Why did she lose her ability to reason whenever Kade was near? Twice today, she’d reacted to Kade’s proximity like a cat in heat, and she wasn’t proud of herself.
She removed her hand and scooted back several inches. She rubbed sunscreen across Kade’s back and shoulders, covering the area with wide, clumsy swaths, eager to finish the job. Tossing the bottle onto Kade’s mat before dropping onto her back, she slid her sunglasses into her hair and hid her face in the crook of her arm.
The sand next to her gave way a little as Kade sidled up to her, giving Jen a tiny shove to move over to share the mat. “Hey,” Kade said.
Jen lifted her arm, offered Kade an apologetic look, and mumbled, “Hey,” before ducking back into hiding. Kade pushed against her again, silently asking for Jen’s attention. Jen rose onto her elbows and donned her sunglasses. “I’m not like this, you know. This…lust-filled letch who can’t keep her hands to herself. I’m so sorry.” Jen dropped onto her back and gazed at Kade. She traced her fingers over Kade’s cheek. “You’re just so beautiful. I’m defenseless against you.”
Kade brushed her lips across Jen’s fingers. “Then I’m in good company.”
“Don’t be nice to me.”
Kade shifted onto her back and rested her head on Jen’s stomach. She took Jen’s closest hand and entwined it with hers. “Few people accuse me of being nice.”
Jen played with strands of Kade’s hair with her other hand. “Why is that? You’re lovely.”
“Male-dominated industry. Over-compensation. Inflexibility. Set in my ways. You name it.”
Jen chuckled. “You sound like a seventy-year-old, not a…how old are you?”
“Thirty-two.”
“Not a thirty-two-year-old.”
“You?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Whippersnapper.”
Minutes passed in relative quiet. Small waves lapped at the shore, children shouted in the distance, beachgoers lazed in the sun. Jen was content. She felt like she was away at camp, with spending money and no chaperones. Her grandmother was in good hands, Jeremy had everything under control at work, and she’d stumbled upon a woman who was quickly becoming important to her.
Continuing to gent
ly play with Kade’s hair, Jen said softly, “Kade?”
“Hmm.”
“I’m glad you took the day off.”
“Mmm. Me too.”
The hum of a helicopter grew steadily closer, invading the peacefulness with its noise, then faded into the distance.
“Kade?”
“Hmm.”
“You’re going to drown in the sweat that’s pooling on my stomach from your hot head if you don’t get off me.”
Kade’s laughter rippled against her. “Hot-headed. A much more apt accusation.”
* * *
Over dinner, they broached the subject of family. Jen’s parents were on the East Coast taking care of Jen’s maternal grandparents, leaving Jen as the primary caretaker of her paternal grandmother. Jen didn’t mind, since she was close to her grandma Edna, but with Edna’s worsening dementia and Jen in a demanding job, she often found herself pulled in competing directions. Those very issues had inspired her to build her company. “No work talk, I know, but finding qualified, affordable caretakers is difficult. And on short notice? Practically impossible. My company’s going to change that.” She sliced another piece of their shared apple turnover, making sure to add ice cream and a berry to the forkful before holding it out to Kade.
“Many of the best technologies we have today were created by an entrepreneur who personally experienced an unsatisfactory product or service and decided to make a better one.” Kade took a bite and moaned. Dessert had never sounded so lovely to Jen’s ears, nor had she ever wanted so few bites herself. Delighting in Kade’s pleasure was proving to be her favorite way yet to end a meal—no small feat for an admitted sweet tooth.
“Is that what you’ve done?” Jen asked, proud of herself for being able to keep track of the conversation, since she was mostly focused on Kade’s delectable mouth.
“Ah-ah-ah. No work talk. You’ll have plenty of it at the networking event tonight.”
“What about you? Are you close with your parents? Any siblings?”
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