by Dena Blake
She heard Izzy take in a deep breath as she felt her fingers brush slowly across her hip. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her touch before speaking.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” Izzy kissed her on the head.
Mel couldn’t resist brushing her thumb across her nipple before sliding it back down to her stomach. Izzy shuddered and let out a soft moan, sending a jolt straight to Mel’s mid-section.
“Don’t you have to go to work today?”
“No. Tony said he and Gio could handle it. I’m all yours until Angie’s birthday party later. You want to do something?”
“Like?”
“The beach?”
Mel grimaced. Their last time at the beach had started well but had ended with Dana between them.
“I got this invite to a private wine tasting. We could check it out and then hit the party afterward.”
“Wine tasting?” She lifted her head and slid her a sexy grin. “Trying to get me liquored up so you can have your way with me?”
“I don’t have to take you wine tasting to do that.” Izzy flipped her over onto her back and brushed her lips gently at first, then more urgently as Mel responded.
Mel’s head was spinning again. Izzy’s hand slid up her side. Heaving chests and rapid breaths ran together as Izzy’s smoldering eyes penetrated her. She didn’t have to do anything but kiss her like that again to have her way with her. Mel would gladly spend the whole day in bed exploring each other.
Izzy pulled her lips into a sideways grin, and Mel’s stomach fluttered. “Besides, whenever this happens between us there will be absolutely no liquor involved. I want you to remember everything I do to you.”
Mel felt the smoldering-hot palm on her breast and let out a soft moan.
“Okay. Wine tasting. Later.” Mel looped her hand behind Izzy’s neck and pulled her down. The kiss was long, slow, and tender. It stoked the fire in Mel’s belly. She could easily stay right here in bed with Izzy forever.
Chapter Twenty-two
Dana watched the two of them as they toured the winery. She stayed with the back of the group, making sure not to get close enough to be noticed. She wasn’t thrilled Izzy had brought her new fling with her. Izzy stopped to examine one of the barrels more closely while Mel continued with the group. Dana thought she had her moment to talk to her, but then Mel came back to join Izzy at the barrel.
She had to stop herself from screaming when Mel slipped her arm around Izzy’s waist. She’s my girlfriend, bitch!
They stayed together for the rest of the tour until they reached the tasting room, and Mel left Izzy at the counter to go to the bathroom.
She moved in behind Izzy. “Hey, baby. I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Izzy’s eyes grew wide as she swung around. “What? Are you stalking me now?”
“Hardly. The owner’s a friend of mine.”
Izzy glanced over her shoulder in the direction Mel had gone.
“After we spent the night together, I didn’t think you’d bring her here.”
“Listen, Dana. No matter how many times you say that, I still don’t remember any of it.” Izzy slid her wineglass back onto the counter. “If you had to get me drunk to get me into bed, doesn’t that tell you something?”
“Let’s not fight. I just wanted to let you know the boys haven’t stopped talking about you since we saw you at the beach.”
She smiled. “It seems like they’ve grown a mile since I’ve seen them.”
“Tracy told me you asked her if you could come by and see them.”
“Yeah. I was thinking about going by sometime before I go in to work. Then I could catch them before their nap.”
“I’m sure they’d love to see their Aunt Izzy.”
“I miss those little guys.”
“I know. I’m sorry about that. I really didn’t mean to keep them away from you.”
“I’d better catch up with Mel.”
Glancing over Izzy’s shoulder, she saw Mel on her way back from the bathroom. She slipped her arms around her waist and pressed her lips to her mouth.
Planting both her hands on Dana’s chest, Izzy broke away. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Whoops.” She gave her a sly grin. “Here comes your friend now.” Mission accomplished.
Izzy spun around, and Mel took off out of the building. “Mel, wait,” Izzy shouted, following her.
Dana grabbed her by the arm and swung her back around.
“Damn it, Dana. Let go.” She pulled her arm free. “Don’t you get it? You aren’t important to me anymore. She’s the most important person in my life now. I’m in love with her.” Oh my God, I’m in love with her. She rushed outside and spotted Mel running across the grounds to the parking lot. She’d already made it to the car by the time Izzy caught up with her. She tried to pull the driver’s door open, but Izzy threw her body against it, pushing it closed.
“If you’ve still got feelings—”
“That was all her. I swear.” Standing behind her clasping Mel’s shoulders, Izzy buried her head in the curls of her dark hair.
Mel didn’t turn to face her. “I can’t compete with her.” She shook her head. “I won’t.”
“Please, Mel. After all the crap we’ve been through these past few months, you have to know you’re the only one.” When she turned, Izzy took her face in her hands and focused on her eyes. “I meant every word I said to you.” She pressed her lips to Mel’s and felt the urgency—no, the anguish in her kiss. Izzy couldn’t believe how much it hurt. “Come on. Let’s get out of here,” she said, pulling away slightly. “I’ll drive.” She took the keys from Mel’s hand as she led her around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her.
After they pulled out of the parking lot, Izzy glanced over at Mel. “I didn’t know she was going to be there.”
Mel sniffed back a tear. “What happened between you two?”
“That’s not important.”
“I need to know why she keeps coming back.”
“You really want to know?”
Mel nodded.
Izzy blew out a breath. “I caught her with my sous chef.” She cringed at the thought of what she, herself, might have possibly done with Dana during her drunken blackout.
Mel watched her closely.
“I caught them in my own kitchen.” She shook her head. “She was my friend, and she was fucking my girlfriend. Right in my own kitchen.”
Mel didn’t speak.
“It wasn’t all her fault. The relationship I had with Dana wasn’t healthy.” Izzy couldn’t believe the relief she felt. The pain that used to stab her in the heart whenever she thought about it was gone.
“Izzy,” she said softly. “Six years is a lot to throw away. If you think there’s any chance of being happy with her—”
“Fuck.” She jerked the car to the side of the road, slammed on the brakes, and threw it into park. “I don’t want her.” She stared into Mel’s wide eyes and didn’t break contact.
“I believe you.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I said I believe you.” Mel placed a hand on each side of her face and gave her a soft kiss. “Take me home.”
Izzy brushed her lips again, then laced her fingers with Mel’s and rested them on her thigh before she pulled the car back onto the road.
Mel turned up the radio and watched Izzy as she drove. She sang along with the music as though all was right in her world. God, Izzy was beautiful. By the time they pulled into the driveway, Mel knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be part of Izzy’s life—forever, and she didn’t want to wait a minute longer.
Izzy met Mel at the front of the car and took her hand. “Are we okay?” She nodded, and Izzy led her into the house. “I’m a little hungry. You want something to eat?” Izzy asked, dropping the keys on the table just inside the door before heading for the kitchen.
Mel stopped. Holding on tight to her
hand, she yanked her back and closed the distance between them. She stepped forward and pressed her lips to Izzy’s in an urgent kiss. She pulled back and gazed into Izzy’s eyes. They were deep blue now, heavy with arousal. She kissed her again, softly at first, then deepening the kiss as Izzy put her hands around her waist and pulled her closer.
She pulled Izzy toward the bedroom. Izzy tugged her back, slipped her fingers under Mel’s shirt, and slid it over her head. She stood in a daze, her eyes hooded with desire.
Mel let out an anxious chuckle. “I’m not that great.” No one had ever looked at her like that before.
Izzy blew out a short breath. “Yes, you are. You’re more beautiful than I ever imagined.”
Maintaining eye contact, she backed farther into the bedroom, tugging Izzy along with her. When they reached the edge of the bed, Izzy leaned close, taking Mel’s bottom lip between hers as her hands roamed up her sides. She crossed the underwire of her bra and continued to her breast, stroking a thumb across the taut nipple underneath.
Mel reacted with an unexpected jolt, and she let a soft moan escape her lips. “Take it off,” she demanded in a low growl. She wanted to feel skin to skin now.
Izzy obliged, sliding her hand across the small plane of her back until she found the hooks. With one quick pinch, the bra was undone, and Mel let it slip from her shoulders. Izzy pulled her own shirt over her head and didn’t wait for Mel to unhook her bra.
Pressing her mouth to Mel’s stomach, she took in a deep breath. With short, tender kisses, she slowly worked a hot pathway to the soft skin of her breast, flicking the hard nipple with her tongue before taking it into her mouth. Mel let out a gasp, and Izzy worked her tongue against the stiff peak faster.
“Oh, God, Izzy. Do you know what you’re doing to me?” she said, thrusting her fingers into Izzy’s hair, pulling her closer.
Izzy unfastened the button of Mel’s capris, and with one good tug, the zipper came down. She slipped her thumbs inside the top of the fabric and pushed them down across her hips, revealing black silk panties. Mel moved closer as she stepped out of them. Izzy looped her fingers under the band of the panties and slowly lowered them, torturing Mel’s thighs with the soft, warm touch of fingertips along the way. Underneath was a neatly trimmed, small, brown triangle. She nipped at the skin between Mel’s hip and belly button. Mel quivered, Izzy glanced up at her, shot her a steamy smile, and did it again.
Mel pushed her back onto the bed and worked the button of Izzy’s jeans. After letting her yank both the jeans and panties off, Izzy scooted up to the top of the bed and waited. A rush of heat flooded Mel as she took in the perfect body lying in front of her.
As Mel trailed her tongue around the soft, black patch of hair to the inside of her thigh, the slight touch made Izzy shudder. She slipped her tongue between the hot wet folds and sucked Izzy into her mouth before dipping her tongue inside. Mel reveled in the way the sensation made Izzy’s stomach quiver and brought her tongue back up to the folds as her fingers made their way inside. Izzy let out a low moan, and her body jerked. Lifting her hips, she pressed hard against Mel as the orgasm tore through her. Mel placed a hand on her belly and felt her body quake over and over again until her hips dropped to the bed.
The smell of sex filled the room.
Mel tucked herself into the crook of Izzy’s shoulder. She was in heaven. She couldn’t get enough of her—how she felt, how she smelled, how she tasted. “I love you, Izzy.” There it was, out in the open. All her cards were on the table now. Mel had never felt so vulnerable.
“You love me?” Izzy’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Yeah. I do.” Mel curled her lips into a soft smile. “I think I have ever since that night you spilled pasta on me.” She remembered the adorable, innocent remorse in Izzy’s eyes when she’d realized what had happened.
“A little spilled pasta was all it took? If I’d known that, I would’ve done it so much sooner.” Izzy trailed kisses down Mel’s neck to the top of her collarbone. “I love this spot right here.” She moved down to her breast. “And this spot.” She took a nipple into her mouth momentarily before she trailed down to her belly button and swirled her tongue inside. “And this spot.” Mel growled as the fire in her body began to heat again. Izzy crawled back up Mel’s body. “But I think I love the spot that talks to me the most.” She kissed her tenderly on the mouth. “I love all of you, Mel.”
Mel’s eyes began to well; she wasn’t expecting that. It made her melt into a big puddle of emotion.
“No tears, baby. Just love.” Izzy kissed the tears away, then rolled to her side and pulled Mel in closely. Mel smiled and snuggled into the crook of her shoulder.
The phone rang. Izzy ignored it, letting the machine kick on. Tony’s voice rang through the speaker. “Where the hell are you? Angie’s party started an hour ago.”
“Oh shit. I forgot all about that.”
Mel traced a finger across Izzy’s belly. “It’s Angie’s birthday. You should go.”
“I’d rather stay here.” Izzy cupped Mel’s chin in her hand and pulled her into another long lingering kiss. “But we should probably make an appearance.”
“We?”
“Yep. Get dressed, baby. I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight.”
“Afraid I’ll run off?”
“Something like that.”
Mel took her mouth again, enjoying this feeling she’d missed for so long.
*
The bar was already packed when they arrived. Izzy took Mel by the hand and kept her close as she weaved through the crowd toward Angie and her friends. Getting through the mass of people was a challenge. The place was so jam-packed they could barely squeeze between the night crawlers, most of whom had passed feeling good hours ago and were well on their way to being totally sloshed.
Angie squealed and threw her arms around her sister when she saw her. “You made it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Izzy said into her ear. “I brought Mel. I hope you don’t mind.”
Angie backed up and lifted a brow before she pushed past Izzy and pulled Mel into a hug. Then she shouted at her friends to make room on the couch for them. The music level was earsplitting. Izzy couldn’t hear a word she’d said, but Angie’s friends had gotten the message. They parted slightly and Angie motioned for them to sit. They squeezed into the small space between the twenty-somethings, sitting a step up from the main bar and dance floor, which provided a great view of the whole place. Dougie came by and said hi before pulling Angie out to the dance floor.
They sat for a while, thigh to thigh, glancing coyly at each other occasionally while chatting with Angie’s friends as they rotated out of the seats next to them. A familiar song came on, and Izzy grabbed Mel’s hand, pulling her onto the crowded dance floor. The area was flooded with people. Bodies floated between them, nobody dancing with anyone in particular. Izzy could feel the bass thumping in her chest. Even though she’d done it herself when she was younger, Izzy didn’t know how they partied like this Thursday through Saturday of every week.
As the song ended, Mel leaned near and whispered in Izzy’s ear, “I need to visit the ladies’ room.” Izzy followed her. On the way, Mel stopped at the end of the bar, where Angie was standing with Tony. “I’m okay. Why don’t you stay here and visit with your sister?” Izzy gave her a nod and tapped Angie on the shoulder.
Angie spun around and threw her arm around her back. “Look at you.” Angie laughed. “Dancing and laughing. I haven’t seen you have this much fun in a long time.”
“What? Can’t a girl let loose and have a good time once in a while?”
“Sure, but you…” Angie’s eyes flew wide. “You haven’t done that since you broke up with Dana.”
“That’s not true.”
Tony chimed in. “Yes, it is.”
Izzy caught Mel’s gaze and smiled as she came back from the ladies’ room.
Angie’s voice rose. “You’re in love with her.”
&n
bsp; A smile crept across Izzy’s face. “Sure feels like it.”
Mel let her hand drift down Izzy’s back as she eased in next to her and pushed her chin out toward the center of the room, where a few people were doing more embracing than dancing. “Do you want to try a slow one?”
Desire rumbled low in Izzy’s belly. It had been only a few hours since she’d held Mel close, and she desperately wanted to do it again. “I do. I wasn’t sure you wanted to.” She glanced around the room at the crowd that had somehow thickened.
“I’d like nothing better.” Mel took Izzy’s hand and led her to a low-lit corner of the dance floor. “It’ll give us a chance to talk without the crowd.”
Izzy chuckled. “You mean the spectators?”
“I didn’t realize Angie had so many friends.”
“More than I ever had. I think they’re curious about you.”
“Just about me?” Mel raised a brow.
“About us.”
Mel brushed her cheek as she moved close to Izzy’s ear and whispered, “I’m curious about us too.”
Izzy couldn’t stop the moan from escaping her lips when Mel pressed her palm to the plane of her back and pulled her close, removing all space between them. “Curiosity is a good thing.” She let herself melt into Mel, giving her total control for the moment.
Mel slid her fingers into Izzy’s hair, leaned back, and gave her a wicked look. “Have we been here long enough?”
A sizzling shot of arousal swept through Izzy, who took her hand and led her out the door. Before she knew what hit her, Mel had her shoved up against the building with her mouth fused to hers. Izzy’s knees buckled. This was unbelievable. She’d never thought this sweet little lady could take control like this, and that Izzy would let her do it.
“Take me home,” Mel whispered breathlessly into her ear. “I want to taste you again.”
*
The sun’s rays sprayed through the window across the bed as Izzy lay drowsily, warmed by the beautiful body draped across her. They’d made love for hours again last night, until they’d collapsed into one another’s arms and drifted off to sleep. She breathed in the woman whose arms and legs were comfortably sprawled across her. Izzy had always wondered why some women were so grateful after sex. Now she knew. She’d had plenty of good sex before, but sex with Mel was epic, mind-blowingly phenomenal. She hadn’t felt anything so intense with anyone ever before. Not even Dana, and she’d truly thought she was in love with her. After the last few days, she knew it wasn’t so. She’d never realized before how easily passion could ignite when you were in love. And she couldn’t believe this smart, sexy woman was here with her.