by L. T. Marie
“Honestly, I couldn’t think that far ahead,” Jay said. She laced her fingers through Coal’s. “Do you know how very beautiful you are?”
“I know how beautiful you make me feel,” Coal said. She glanced beyond Jay, avoiding her gaze for the first time that night.
The evening was turning out to be more than she could have ever hoped for. She’d planned on keeping things between them simple. Maybe even partake in some mindless hot sex. But the more she learned about Jay, the more Jay had come to mean to her. If she didn’t put the brakes on all these emotions she was warring with, she wouldn’t be strong enough to stop what was happening between them.
“Hey, I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.” Jay gave Coal’s hand a shake.
“You didn’t. I guess I’m not used to compliments.”
Jay gave her an incredulous look. “You can’t be serious. You are the hottest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Jay, you’ve really got to stop.”
Jay leaned forward and brushed a kiss across Coal’s lips. Coal’s heart began to pound loudly in her chest, and she was certain Jay could hear it. “That’s not stopping,” Coal said breathlessly.
“I know, but I’m not going to apologize.”
“Oh, baby,” Coal whispered. “I’m so glad because I don’t want you to. I guess I’m also a little afraid about what’s happening between us. I have a lot going on in my life, and you’ve come to mean so much to me so fast.”
Jay brought Coal’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “Nothing has to happen tonight. In fact, I’m enjoying this dating stuff. Not that I haven’t thought about getting naked with you, because that would be a lie. But it’s giving me a chance to hone my skills.”
“You amaze me. The flowers. Holding the door open for me. This restaurant. That sizzling ‘I want you’ look in your eyes all night. You hone those skills of yours any more and I’m going to have to beat the women off of you.”
“You would do that?”
Jay received a playful punch in the shoulder and a deadly look. “Try me.”
Jay stood and extended a hand to Coal. Pulling Coal into her arms, she said, “You have nothing to worry about. I crave only these lips and this beautiful body.” When she slanted her head for a kiss, the question hung heavily between them.
“Yes,” Coal whispered.
Coal replayed the night’s events as they traveled the road that would end at her front door. They made small talk until Jay pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. An eternity seemed to tick by in the silence as they held one another’s hand, neither one making the move to break the connection. They had both agreed that slowing things down would be for the best, but the last thing Coal wanted to do was say good night, at least not until she knew when she’d get the chance to see Jay again.
“Jay, do you ride?”
“Excuse me?” Jay choked, coughing into her hand.
“Horses.” Coal smirked, shaking her head. “Do you ride horses?”
“I’m no expert, but I can hold my own. Why?”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday and I usually take Dax for an early ride on a trail not far from here. Would you like to join me?”
Jay unbuckled her seat belt and swiveled to face Coal. She ran her finger along Coal’s jaw. “A ride sounds perfect.”
Maybe it was the double entendre. Maybe it was because Coal couldn’t stand being on the opposite side of that predatory gaze all evening and not do anything about it any longer. Or maybe it was because she simply wanted Jay. Wanted her mind, body, and soul. Whatever the reason, it was cause enough to propel her into Jay’s lap and wrap her arms around her neck.
The kiss wasn’t gentle nor was it meant to be. Too much passion and need had built up for far too long. As their tongues dueled for dominance, Coal realized she couldn’t get close enough. She couldn’t touch her enough. Finally remembering that they both agreed to wait, she broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against Jay’s.
“Wow,” Jay said.
“Wow? I’m straddling your lap ready to rip my clothes off for you, and that’s all you can come up with?”
Jay ran her hands up Coal’s sides making her shudder. “You’re going to rip your clothes off?”
“I planned on doing more than that.”
Coal ran her hand down her own body as Jay followed her every move. She hissed when her fingertips brushed over her nipples and slowly worked their way down her abdomen. Coal was nearly gasping by the time she reached her thigh, a combination of her own touch and Jay’s feral gaze pushing her so close to an edge she was dangerously close to not being able to step back from. With her hand resting between them, she cupped Jay between her legs and squeezed. Jay’s head fell back against the truck window and her ass lifted off the seat. Heat radiated against Coal’s palm. She pressed her fingers more firmly against the tight denim, feeling Jay’s need swell against her fingertips. Jay’s eyes grew hazy. Coal licked her lips, reveling in this new power. When Jay closed her eyes and shuddered, taking things slow was the last thing on Coal’s mind.
“Coal, stop,” Jay said hoarsely. “Please. I can’t fight you. Just a little more and…”
“Seriously?” Coal stilled her hand. “You’d go over that easy?”
“Easy?” Jay looked at Coal as if she’d lost her mind. “Baby, you’re in my lap grinding against me. Your hands are on me. You smell and taste amazing. Jesus, I’m only human.”
Jay removed Coal’s hand and placed it over her heart as Coal leaned forward and nuzzled her neck. “I guess you’re right. But I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“And I’m so glad. But we said slow, remember?”
“I remember. But since you’re all fired up, maybe I could watch—”
“No!” Jay said a little stronger. “The first time we make love, I want it to be special. I want you naked in my arms while I watch you succumb to my touch. To show you how you make me feel. I want you to experience what our connection means to me.”
Coal trembled and rested her forehead against Jay’s. “I’m so hot for you, your voice could bring me over.”
“We’ll have to try that sometime.”
When Jay ran her tongue over the sensitive ridges of Coal’s ear, Coal had to push her away. Her restraint was paper thin, especially after the last few hours of teasing. One more brush of Jay’s lips over her flesh and that paper would disintegrate. “Okay, enough! It’s time to go before I change my mind. See you at nine tomorrow?”
“Perfect.”
As Coal kissed Jay and stepped from the truck, she realized that everything between them was perfect. Too perfect. Maybe that’s what worried her the most.
Chapter Fourteen
Jay pulled into a parking stall, and spotted Coal in the process of unloading two horses from a long white trailer that was attached to a green Ford Super Duty truck. Coal had already tied one of the horses to a post and was in the process of adjusting Dax’s saddle when Jay wrapped her arms around her waist from behind.
“Good morning,” Jay said. She nuzzled Coal’s neck as Coal tilted her head back against Jay’s shoulder to give her full access.
“Good start. I see you found the park without any problems.”
“I could find you in a whiteout in the middle of a snow storm.” Jay tickled Coal’s ear with her tongue, making her laugh.
“Is that so?” Coal pivoted in Jay’s arms and wrapped her arms around Jay’s neck. “How about you give me a proper hello?”
After a brief but thorough kiss, Coal pulled out of Jay’s arms and moved to the chestnut mare tied next to Dax. She placed one hand right above the animal’s nose and handed the reins to Jay. “This is Oak. She’s really sweet and will follow your every command.”
“That’s good to know.” Jay scratched underneath Oak’s chin. I wonder if her owner is that compliant.
Coal must have sensed Jay’s thoughts because she knocked the reins out of Jay’s hands and slipped back into her waiting arms. “A
nd yes, so will her trainer if the treat is worth it.” Coal’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
Jay smiled at Coal, taking a moment to study her classic beauty. Coal’s thick golden hair sparkled as it hung in a ponytail held in place by her black Stetson. Her high cheekbones became accentuated when she smiled that genuine smile that pulled at Jay’s heartstrings. To say she’d missed her since they’d parted last night would have been an understatement. All it took was one brush of Coal’s tongue against hers, and every cell in her body reignited. She slipped her hands underneath Coal’s T-shirt and placed them on her lower back, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath soft cotton. Coal palmed Jay’s ass and squeezed, the pressure sending a quick rush of blood into the second heartbeat thumping wildly between her legs. “You’re killing me. You know that, right?”
“Good,” Coal said. She shoved her away playfully. “Because I hate suffering alone.”
Suffering. What a perfect word to describe how not being able to touch Coal made her feel. When she was with Coal, she constantly had to fight for self-control, and all this teasing was asking for trouble. Teasing was another new experience for her. She’d never taken the time to tease and slowly draw out another woman’s desire. Sex had always been about enjoying the moment. At no time did she ever try to engage any of her sexual conquests on a more personal level when that moment was over. And if need be, she could go for hours before detonating from another’s touch. But why then did the mere brush of Coal’s fingers along her flesh make her restraint slip like sand through her fingers?
Coal unhooked Dax’s reins and mounted him effortlessly as Jay climbed into Oak’s saddle and spent a moment getting used to the feel of the stocky thoroughbred between her legs. She adjusted uncomfortably in her seat, not appreciating the heavy leather rubbing against her still swollen body parts.
“We’re going to take the horse trail up to the right,” Coal said and pointed to a narrow dirt path that disappeared around a bend a few hundred yards away. “Follow me until the path widens. If you want to take the lead after that you can.”
“I’d rather follow if you don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very,” Jay murmured. She tilted her head to admire the way Coal’s butt molded to the saddle and didn’t care in the least that Coal had caught her.
“You need to stop,” Coal said, her tone a warning. “Or we’re not going to make it up the trail.”
They moved slowly along the rocky path, stopping frequently to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature alive in all its wonder. What remained of the spring rains had created mini waterfalls that trickled down rocks and disappeared into the ravine below. Birds chirped atop trees, squirrels ran about, and once, they were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a fox chasing some animal off into the distance.
“Don’t tell me. You collect twigs as a hobby,” Jay said when Coal stopped to admire a large pile of sticks next to a Manzanita bush.
“Funny. I see we can add comedian to your list of charms. But no. That pile of twigs belongs to the home of a very large wood rat.”
“What in the world is a wood rat?” And is it going to come out of there and pay me a visit?
“Don’t worry. It’ll stay in there if it is in there.”
“I hope so. But just in case, where else would it be?” Jay surveyed the ground by her horse’s feet, hoping that this giant rat wouldn’t appear out of nowhere and scare the crap out of her and her horse. Coal began to laugh hysterically. “What’s so funny?”
“You. You’re adorable.”
“Stop that!”
“And even cuter when you blush. But you can relax. A large wood rat would be about the size of a hamster. They’re kind of like pack rats and prefer stuff to collect that shines, like bottle caps. In a lot of ways, they inadvertently help keep the trails clean.”
Jay began to feel a little foolish. “So this is you toying with me.”
“You started it with your twig comment.”
“Truce, then. So is there anything else I should know about this monster?”
“Actually, they’re quite interesting. The shelter they build is so durable they say it can last up to forty years. Maybe you construction types could learn something from them.”
Jay moved her horse beside Coal’s and leaned close. “Glad to see I’m not the only comedian. Any other fascinating traits I should know about you?”
“Too many to count.” Coal ran her tongue seductively along her bottom lip. “And I’m looking forward to experiencing all of them with you.”
“Any place,” Jay whispered, her gaze locked on Coal’s lips. “Any time.”
They continued their ascent as Coal explained in detail about the many flowers that were local favorites such as the purple Chinese houses and the buttercups that were starting to overtake the surrounding fields. The tall yellow flowers made for nice camouflage as they finally reached the summit. Coal instructed Jay to tie the horses to a nearby tree while she placed a blanket down and unloaded a few goodies from the satchel attached to her saddle.
Jay soon joined Coal underneath a huge eucalyptus tree that provided them with ample shade and even more privacy from hikers and riders alike. Coal was kneeling on the blanket unloading a couple of sandwiches and a bottle of wine when Jay knelt behind her and wrapped her arms around Coal’s waist.
“Wow, you thought of everything,” Jay said.
Coal groaned as Jay nuzzled her neck. “I love your lips.”
Coal smelled of tropical islands and sunshine, so edible and so damn delicious. “What are you wearing today? It smells fruity.”
“I hoped you would like it.”
“I like it a little too much. It makes me want to eat the rest of you.”
“It’s a coconut and mango lotion I picked up the last time I was in Hawaii. Guess I’ll have to wear it more often.”
“Like I need any more reasons to want to jump your bones.”
Coal turned and pushed Jay backward onto the blanket to straddle her hips. She pinned Jay’s wrists to both sides of her head, locking her thighs against Jay’s torso. “Your lips against my skin are driving me out of my mind.”
“Says the person grinding their hips into my—” Jay’s words were smothered by a kiss, and soon she became lost in all that was Coal. She felt her everywhere. Coal’s fingertips gliding down her bare arms. Coal’s lips warm and soft against her own. She groaned. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take. This slow crap is killing me. I want to get naked with you. So bad.”
“I like that.”
Coal trailed kisses along Jay’s throat, the motion mimicking her hips as she rode up and down on Jay’s abs. When Coal’s thighs tightened and heat radiated from her core, Jay’s control snapped. For the first time since they’d met, she didn’t care that they could be making a mistake by moving too fast. She needed Coal—now.
“We need to go,” Jay said and sat up with Coal still in her lap. She moved to a standing position, taking Coal with her and began to gather their things.
“Jay, is everything okay?”
“No, it’s not. I thought I could do this, but I can’t.” As soon as she’d said the words, a look of hurt and confusion crossed over Coal’s face. Jay moved to her and quickly gathered her back into her arms. “What I’m saying is that I can’t wait anymore. It’s time to get naked. What do you say?”
Coal’s expression turned heated. “Yes. I want that too.”
Chapter Fifteen
The apartment door barely had time to shut behind them before Jay had Coal pinned to the back of it. They kissed fiercely, hurriedly. She couldn’t touch Coal enough. She couldn’t get close enough. And all these damn clothes had to go.
“I want your skin against mine.” Jay growled and tugged at Coal’s earlobe with her teeth.
“I want that too. Hurry.”
The ride over to her apartment had felt like an eternity. After they’d dropped off the horses, Coal relayed that she wanted to see
Jay’s place so without questioning why, they climbed into Jay’s truck and made the short drive in near silence. The sexual tension was in the red zone by the time she pulled into her parking stall and turned to find Coal looking as though she were ready to pounce. By the time they reached her front door, Jay’s hands had been shaking so badly she’d had a hard time unlocking the deadbolt. Her intention had been to take things slow. She wanted to experience every inch of Coal’s body, first with her hands and then with her mouth. But with every piece of clothing that Coal peeled off her body, the idea of slow was becoming a distant memory.
“I want to get all this dust off of me,” Coal said. “Where’s the shower?”
Jay slipped her shirt up and over her head and grabbed Coal’s hand. “Come with me.”
“That’s the plan.”
Jay impatiently yanked on the faucet and swiveled around. With her hand on her fly, she began to unbutton her pants but froze halfway through the process. She didn’t want to miss a second of Coal’s seductive striptease as the last remaining articles of clothing slipped to the floor. She guided Coal into the shower, admiring her body as she would a fine work of art. “You’re so damn hot.”
“Coming from the person who looks as though they’ve been etched out of granite. I’ve never seen this much muscle on one person’s body in my life.” Coal ran her hands up Jay’s sides and over her taut abdomen. Jay shivered but was far from cold.
“Turn around,” Jay said. She reached for the shampoo and poured a quarter-sized amount into her palm. She massaged the soap into Coal’s scalp, enjoying the sounds of pleasure as she worked her hair into a thick lather. She massaged the base of her neck and slowly rubbed her temples in small soft circles. After helping Coal rinse her hair, she picked up the liquid soap and a loofah and began to massage Coal’s back in long, languid strokes. She worked her way across Coal’s shoulder blades and down her spine, making sure to stop and pay extra attention to Coal’s firm, muscled ass. She knelt to work her way down Coal’s legs before turning her around, focusing on the golden triangle of hair dripping with moisture. She placed one of her palms a fraction below Coal’s breasts and held her firmly against the glass enclosure. She stared up at her, ignoring the beads of water dripping down her face. “I can’t wait to taste you.”