by Radclyffe
“I’m a surgeon, Beau,” Ali said. “My world is a lot more black and white than a lot of people’s. I don’t see that you had any choice at all in what happened. I don’t know your sister, but if she’s anything like you, I’m sure she’s strong-willed and clearheaded, and she made the decision to do what she did for her own reasons. No one could have foreseen what happened. It’s tragic, but no one’s fault. I bet that doesn’t help you at all, and if I were a psychiatrist I’d probably be saying something entirely different and a lot more helpful.”
“Actually, I’ve seen a couple of psychiatrists. Obviously, their approach wasn’t all that effective.”
Ali traced her fingertip along the edge of Beau’s strong jaw. “Maybe the timing was bad. Maybe you should think about it again.”
“Maybe. Yeah.” Beau tapped the steering wheel lightly. “So, do you want to come to dinner and meet my sister?”
“Yes, I really do.”
Beau came around the car and met Ali on the sidewalk. She looped her arm around Ali’s waist and led her up to the small porch. Stopping by the leaded-glass paned front door, she gripped Ali’s shoulders lightly in both hands and kissed her.
“Thank you,” Beau said.
Ali traced the sweeping arch of Beau’s cheekbone with her fingertips. “Thank you for telling me.”
“It’s really lousy first-date conversation,” Beau said with a shake of her head.
“I think we’re past that already. We might have to count this as date number three or four.”
“That’s sneaky.” Beau drew Ali closer. When Ali wrapped her arms around Beau’s waist, she fit perfectly against Beau’s body. They were nearly the same height, and this close, the slightest turn of either’s head and they would be kissing. Beau fought not to move. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hot to get me into bed.”
Ali grazed Beau’s neck with her teeth. “Hot does not describe it.”
“You do know you’re killing me, right?” Beau said gruffly.
“Good. I’d hate to be the only one suffering.”
“Maybe we should skip—”
The front door opened and Beau’s sister stepped to the threshold. “Honestly, I wouldn’t break this up except dinner’s ready, and I’m a little bit worried you’re going to freeze out here.” She held out her hand to Ali. “Hi. I’m Jilly. We met briefly at the hospital.”
“I remember,” Ali said, taking Jilly’s hand. When she started to move away from Beau, Beau’s arm tightened around her waist. She decided she liked the possessive gesture and wondered at herself. She’d never had a woman behave that way toward her before. “Ali Torveau. It’s good to meet you.”
“Yes, you too.”
Jilly’s gaze went to Beau, and Ali read love in her eyes. For just an instant, she wondered if she’d ever looked at Sammy with such total acceptance, and feared that she hadn’t. She’d always been so busy trying to act as a buffer between her parents’ oppressive rigidity and Sammy’s wild exuberance, she’d rarely taken the time to let Sammy know how amazing and beautiful she was. She doubted she’d ever stop regretting not having the chance to say so many things she’d wanted to say. Beau’s fingers, warm and strong, clasped the back of her neck and squeezed gently, drawing Ali from the past. Ali leaned against Beau’s side and shamelessly luxuriated in her strength.
“Come in,” Jilly said. “We’re eating in the kitchen. Nothing formal.”
“I appreciate you adding a guest at such late notice.” Ali followed Jilly into the small foyer. After Beau helped her off with her coat, she stepped into the living room and was instantly at ease. This was a home that was lived in—warmly and comfortably furnished. “Something smells wonderful.”
Jilly gave her a pleased smile. “I can’t claim all that much credit. There’s not much you can do to ruin a roast chicken and vegetables. Bobby is already upstairs asleep, so it will just be the three of us.”
“I came right from work,” Ali said. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to pick up any wine.”
“Oh good, a wine drinker,” Jilly said, leading the way to the kitchen. “Beau is such a heathen, I can’t get her to drink anything except beer.”
Beau groaned. “You’re not going to spend the whole night exposing my faults, are you?”
“I just might.” Jilly smiled mischievously. “I so rarely have the opportunity. If you brought women ho—”
“So, I’m starving,” Beau said hastily. She pulled out a chair at the table for Ali. “Relax. I’ll get the wine. I do know how to open the bottle. Is red okay?”
“Red would be great.” Ali brushed Beau’s arm as she sat down. Since she had decided to throw caution to the winds and enjoy an affair for the first time in her life, she might as well surrender to Beau’s charm. And after all, she couldn’t seem to resist her. “Absolutely perfect.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ali enjoyed Beau and Jilly’s playful sparring during the meal. The sisters displayed the automatic connection siblings seemed to share without conscious effort, but Ali discerned friendship and mutual respect too. She was surprised at how different the two were. Jilly exuded steadiness and calm. Beau was all restless energy and excitement. Although both women were intelligent and attractive, Jilly was the type of woman she had always dated and imagined herself being with, when she imagined a relationship at all. But it was Beau she couldn’t stop looking at, couldn’t stop wanting to touch. All through dinner Beau’s thigh pressed lightly against hers and when Beau, seemingly completely unconsciously, reached down and squeezed her leg, a responding tremor shot straight to her core.
By the time the meal was finished she was a mass of seething hormones.
“Beau,” Jilly said, rising from the table. “Would you mind collecting the trash and taking it out front to the curb while I clear up in here? Tomorrow’s trash day.”
“Now?” Beau gave Jilly a pathetic look that made Ali smile.
“Would you rather rinse dishes and load the dishwasher?”
“I’ll take trash over dishes any day.” Beau circled Ali’s shoulders and leaned near. “Don’t let her put you to work. I’ll be right back.”
Beau’s lips were so close to her neck, her breath so warm, Ali shivered. She curled her fingers over Beau’s thigh and rubbed her leg. “Go do your chores. I’ll be fine.”
“See you in a minute.” Beau kissed a spot below Ali’s ear and laughed when Ali’s breath caught sharply.
“God, you’re bad,” Ali murmured.
“Good bad, though,” Beau whispered, nuzzling Ali’s neck. “Tell me to stop if you don’t like it.”
“Stop,” Ali said, her face warming as she glanced toward Jilly, who graciously pretended to ignore them. “Go away. I’m not going to encourage your already inflated ego.”
She knew she didn’t sound convincing and when Beau laughed again, she couldn’t help but smile. Beau was just so damn…sexy. Ali waited until Beau bagged the kitchen trash and took it outside, then carried her plate over to the sink. “Is there something you wanted to ask me?”
Jilly chuckled. “That obvious, huh?”
“I recognized the ploy, having used similar ones myself. I doubt Beau noticed.”
“Don’t worry,” Jilly said. “I just wanted a chance to tell you I’m really glad you came to dinner.”
“So am I. And?”
“And I know I’m Beau’s sister, but she really is very special. I hope you don’t mind me saying that.”
“I don’t.” Ali smiled and slid her plate into the dishwasher, then held out her hand for another one. Jilly began passing her the dinnerware. “I agree with you.”
“She’s never brought anyone home before,” Jilly remarked.
Ali paused, then resumed arranging the dishes in the rack. “She’s something out of the ordinary for me too.”
“I haven’t seen her cry since she was a teenager. She looked like she’d been crying when she came in tonight.”
“You
didn’t let on you knew.” Ali closed the dishwasher and focused on Jilly. “That was nice of you. She would have been embarrassed.”
“Most people can’t read her that easily.”
“Oh, there’s nothing easy about her,” Ali said, “but about this—I see tough guys like her every day. I know what it costs her to constantly maintain that kind of invulnerability. I missed it with her at first, but not now. She’s far more sensitive than she wants anyone to know.”
“Is she all right?”
“She’s very strong. But I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.”
Jilly sighed. “I’m being overprotective, aren’t I? Nosy too.”
“Believe me, I don’t mind. I had…” Ali thought about all the boyfriends she’d interrogated and the lectures she’d given Sammy. These gentle questions were mild in comparison. “If she were my sister, I’d be concerned too, and probably thinking all the same things you are.”
“Well, thank you for indulging me.” Jilly glanced toward the back door. “I’d be a lot more worried about whatever’s bothering her if I hadn’t seen her with you tonight. I’ve never seen her look so happy.”
“Jilly,” Ali said carefully, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest, “I wouldn’t want you to think that we were headed toward anything serious. This is sort of our first date.”
“Oh, I understand.” Jilly gave Ali a long, steady look. “It’s funny, how disorderly life can be sometimes. You’re having your first date, and she’s already told you things she’s never told anyone.”
Ali couldn’t argue with that. She’d told Beau about Sammy, when it had taken her years to tell Wynter. She’d said and done things and wanted things from Beau she’d never allowed herself to say or do or want before. They’d already broken whatever relationship rules might exist.
“Disorderly is a very good word for it.”
The back door swung open and Beau came in, stamping her feet. Her auburn hair glittered with what looked like liquid diamonds. “You won’t believe it. It’s snowing out there. It’s really coming down.”
Ali automatically reached down and checked her pager. “I’m on backup call tonight. This kind of weather always means more traffic accidents.”
“I should take you home,” Beau said. “If you might get called later, you should probably try to get some sleep.”
“I can get the trolley,” Ali said. “Then you won’t have to dri—”
“No,” Beau said.
“Absolutely not,” Jilly echoed.
“Okay,” Ali said, holding her hands up in surrender. “Jilly, thanks again so much for dinner.”
“Anytime. Come back soon.”
Beau slid her arm around Ali’s waist. “Good idea.”
“How can I resist you both?” Ali said with a laugh.
Outside on the porch, Ali took in the street. At least an inch of snow already covered the sidewalks and parked cars. The air was hazy with large fat snowflakes falling in dense sheets.
“This is amazing,” Ali exclaimed.
“When was the last time you saw this in November?” Beau kept her arm around Ali’s waist as they walked down the steps and stopped on the sidewalk. She was captivated by the snowflakes clinging to Ali’s lashes and dusting her dark hair. “You’re so beautiful you make my heart stop.”
Ali’s lips parted in surprise. “You say the most incredible things. If they’re well-practiced lines, you need to stop. If they’re not, you still need to stop.”
Beau grinned and touched her tongue to a snowflake caught on the edge of Ali’s lip. Then she pressed closer and kissed her. Ali’s arms lifted to her shoulders and suddenly there was no space between them at all. Ali’s tongue slid into her mouth and she groaned.
“God, Beau,” Ali murmured, finally pulling away. “I feel like I’m addicted to you.”
Beau slanted her mouth down Ali’s throat and kissed the hollow between her collarbones. The storm, the night, the world coalesced into a single moment, a solitary sensation. Ali. Ali was everything and everywhere and all she could feel. “The addiction is contagious.”
Ali threaded her fingers through Beau’s hair. “I think you’d better take me home.”
“I think you’re right.” Beau fumbled her keys out of her jacket, still holding Ali against her. The contact was too sweet to give up. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. God, you feel good.”
“The car,” Ali gasped when Beau kissed her neck again.
Still exploring Ali’s throat with her mouth, Beau edged them over to the car, reached down by feel, and worked her key into the lock. She opened the door and with her mouth against Ali’s ear, whispered, “You’re in charge.”
“I doubt that,” Ali said shakily, backing out of Beau’s embrace. She dropped into the car and closed her eyes.
Beau got into the other side, started the engine, and carefully pulled out. Ali stared straight ahead, her hands fisted on her thighs.
“Are you all right?” Beau asked.
“As long as you don’t touch me, I will be.”
“Don’t know if I can do that.”
“Try. Because I can’t promise not to accost you while you’re driving.”
“What if I like being accosted?”
“You’re asking for trouble, then.” Ali leaned over, pressed her hand between Beau’s legs, and squeezed. “Because I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.”
Beau stiffened, her ass lifting from the seat. “Oh yeah. So damn good.”
“I want to have sex with you,” Ali muttered, “but not while you’re driving in a snowstorm.”
“Then move your hand,” Beau said, her jaw tight. “I’m so close I can’t stop you, and this isn’t where I want to come with you the first time either.”
Ali dragged her hand away and flopped back in her seat. “Somehow I didn’t think you’d be the one to put the brakes on. Sorry.”
Beau shot her an incredulous grin. “Uh—you don’t need to apologize for making me so hot I want to cry.”
“I’ve never been a tease, and I feel like that’s all I do with you. Usually when I’m making—”
“I don’t think I want to hear about you with other women,” Beau said.
Ali smiled, inordinately pleased at Beau’s possessive growl. Another atypical reaction. “Well, it’s not my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
“Please,” Beau whispered, “torture me all you want.”
Ali shuddered with a vicious twist of desire, but kept herself in her seat and her hands in her lap until Beau pulled into a space near her house. “Will you come in?”
Beau turned in her seat and brushed Ali’s cheek. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why is that?” Ali knew she wasn’t misreading the desire in Beau’s eyes.
“I promised this wouldn’t be about sex, remember?”
“Beau,” Ali said, “you’re not the one pushing for sex. I am. As to the promise, I’m not holding you—”
“I know. But I’ve done casual more times—”
“Ah, I think I can safely say I don’t want to hear the details.”
Beau grinned. “You’re different. I want to do this differently.”
Ali almost asked, What are we doing, Beau? but she held back. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. Outside her window, snow continued to fall heavily. “If you’re going to go, you should. The roads will get worse fast in this.”
“Okay.” Beau caressed the back of Ali’s neck. “Are you mad?”
“God, no. Of course not. I want you.” She leaned over and kissed Beau. “But I can wait. Maybe not graciously…”
Beau laughed. “I must be nuts for saying no. Hell—I am nuts.”
“I like nuts,” Ali murmured against Beau’s mouth. “Call me when you get home. Just so I know you’re okay?”
“Before or after I finish what you started?” Beau whispered.
Ali closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Beau’s, tryi
ng to gather enough breath to answer. “Surprise me.”
*
Beau waited until Ali unlocked her front door and disappeared inside before pulling away from the curb. At a little after ten on Thanksgiving Eve, the streets were nearly deserted. She circled Ali’s block and headed toward the South Street Bridge into West Philadelphia. Thick snow covered the roads and a curtain of the stuff muted the red light up ahead to a hazy pink glow.
She smiled to herself, remembering the tender snowy kiss that quickly escalated into an all-out grope session in the front seat of her car. She loved the way Ali played with her, the aggressive way she touched her. So different than the way most women were with her, content to signal their desire with softly murmured instructions or the subtle guidance of her hand to the places they wanted pleasured. Ali’s kisses equaled hers in fervor, her touch was just as demanding, and unlike others, Ali took pleasure in caressing her. Hell, whenever they got started, Ali was all over her. Beau cupped a hand between her legs and squeezed, enjoying the building pressure in her already tense and throbbing sex. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d told Ali she was close to coming in the front seat of her car. If she worked at it a little bit she might still be able to, but she’d rather finish herself off stretched out on her bed, her eyes closed, remembering the fierce expression in Ali’s eyes when they kissed and imagining Ali’s tongue in her mouth, Ali’s fingers teasing her.
“Fuck,” Beau whispered when her clitoris jumped. Quickly, she shifted her hand back to the wheel. She hadn’t been this hair-triggered since she used to make out with Suzy Gleason junior year in high school in Suzy’s rec room after basketball practice. Suzy used to think it was funny to push her hand down Beau’s pants while they were kissing and play with her until she made Beau come. She was just a kid and had zero control and could hardly last a minute once Suzy started in on her clit. She’d whine and try to warn Suzy to stop, but Suzy would just laugh and boom, she’d pop. Suzy Gleason. She ended up marrying some guy she met freshman year in college. Moved to Utah or Idaho or someplace like that.