by Lynne Norris
“Good. When I drop you off, I can square the edges off then measure it if that’s okay with you. Today’s not a good day to bring the drywall by, because of the rain.”
“Of course it’s fine.” Emma searched for something else to say feeling suddenly awkward and out of her element. She had no idea what this attraction was between her and Grace. Should she dare pursue it or just let it go? Her plan when she arrived here was to simply spend time alone and put her life back together. There was no plan for a relationship. After Kate, Emma didn’t trust herself or her instincts in the arena of relationships.
Emma’s own upbringing left her with no roadmap for love. Her mother never re-married claiming once was more than enough. She didn’t want someone telling her when or what to do anymore. She’d spent most of her young adult life raising her two daughters, running the household, working from home and attending to a marriage that rotted from the inside out. This was her time and she planned to do exactly as she pleased when she wanted to. “Beholden to no one,” was her mother’s motto.
Apparently, Emma’s relationship with Kate had suffered the same unhappy fate and she hadn’t realized the signs until it was too late. The last thing Emma needed was another complication in her life. Simple, just keep it simple for now, she told herself.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED at Emma’s cabin, Grace pulled a canvas tool bag out of the back of the cab and carried it with her. Emma left her umbrella on the porch and unlocked the front door.
“Come on in.”
Grace followed and shut the door behind her. Rain pelleted the glass and the windows creaked as a gust of wind buffeted the house. “We got in just before they said the storms were coming.”
“Storms?”
“A cold front is pushing through. We might get a thunderstorm or two this afternoon.”
“Where are Sadie and Max?” Emma asked a look of concern coming over her face at imagining them outside and exposed to the weather.
“Don’t worry they’re tucked in nice and warm with Mom and the twins.”
“You make it sound cozy.”
“They’re probably curled up with the twins using them as oversized pillows. So yeah cozy is about right.”
Grace was surprised to see boxes stacked in a corner and to their left a stack of framed paintings rested against a wall. Two chairs and a slipcovered loveseat with striped pillows were pushed to the center of the room. A small round wooden table with two chairs sat in the kitchen. A laptop was open on the table.
“You’ll have to forgive the mess. I’ve been cleaning up and haven’t gotten around to putting much in its place yet,” Emma said from the kitchen. “Have you eaten anything?”
“Earlier. I’m fine. Thanks.” Grace pointed over to the wall. “Is it okay if I start on this?”
“Of course. You sure you don’t want a sandwich? I’m going to make one for myself. I’m starving.”
“I’m good. Go right ahead. I don’t mind.”
GRACE SET THE tool bag down and removed a utility saw. White dust cascaded onto the hardwood floor as she worked to even the edges. It took all but a few minutes to neaten the sides and measure the size of the hole. She scribbled her measurements on a scrap piece of cardboard she fished out of the bottom of her bag. She glanced around the living room noticing the stains on the walls.
“Do you have something I can sweep the dust with?” Grace climbed to her feet after she finished writing down the last measurement. “Oh, what’s this?” she asked when she came face to face with Emma holding a plate in front of her.
“A snack,” Emma replied with an impish smile. “I figured earlier might mean breakfast and knowing you that was well before the sunrise this morning. Am I wrong?”
“Guilty as charged,” Grace said feeling heat on her cheeks as she flushed with embarrassment. “I...need to wash my hands first.”
“Here.” Emma cocked an eyebrow as she lifted the bread and held it out to Grace.
“Oh.” Grace shifted her gaze from Emma’s eyes to the sandwich and carefully leaned in to take a bite, her lip grazing Emma’s thumb as she did.
“What’s on there?” Grace asked after she finished chewing.
“Provolone cheese, avocado and ham.”
“It tastes great,” Grace said.
“I’m glad you like it. Finish it. I made one for each of us.” Emma’s eyes twinkled as she pushed the plate into Grace’s hands and returned to the kitchen to retrieve her sandwich.
Grace shook her head, a smile touching her lips as she followed Emma across the room. She’d seen the look in Emma’s eyes and it got her pulse going. All it took was a look. “Do you have a towel so I can dry my hands?” Grace asked while she washed hers in the sink.
“Right here.” Emma reached into a drawer and pulled one out, handing it across to Grace. “The kitchen’s the only room I finished unpacking.”
After drying her hands, Grace leaned against the counter while she finished eating the sandwich. “I can bring the drywall over tomorrow and install it if that works for you.”
“As long as it’s after one. I should be back from the soup kitchen by then,” Emma replied.
“That’s fine. Did you happen to buy an oil based primer for the walls?” Grace studied Emma’s profile while she pretended to examine the walls. Grace wanted to feel what it was like to run her fingers through Emma’s hair. She imagined tracing the planes of her face down along her neck to where her pulse pumped beneath her skin. She wondered what it would be like to wake up with Emma and see those hazel eyes looking back at her.
“No. Do you think I need one?” Emma asked.
“Probably. Those stains will bleed right through a latex primer.” Grace tilted her head in question at Emma’s amused expression.
“What? Did I get something on me?” Grace spread her arms and looked down at her shirt.
“Not there, here.” Emma moved closer and brushed her thumb over the corner of Grace’s mouth.
“Oh.” Grace watched the playful smile take over Emma’s face as Emma held her thumb up to Grace’s mouth and press softly against her lower lip. Grace felt her touch like an electric impulse through every cell of her body and wondered if Emma knew what affect she was having on her.
“Take it,” Emma whispered and slid an arm around Grace’s waist pulling her close.
The contact was exquisite and she felt Emma’s hips press against hers. Slowly, Grace complied and took Emma’s thumb into her mouth and sucked the offending crumb from the pad of her finger. She could feel the roughness of Emma’s thumb rub against her tongue. Captivated by Emma’s eyes, Grace sucked, swirling her tongue around Emma’s digit, grazing the tip with her teeth as she let go. She pulled away watching Emma’s mouth open and her hazel eyes darken with desire. A wave of heat passed through her and Grace had to look away.
“God, you’re so sexy it isn’t fair,” Emma moaned.
Grace drew in a shuddering breath and asked, “Has anybody ever told you you’re dangerous?”
“Me? No,” Emma murmured pressing full length against Grace.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“Doing what?” Emma tugged Grace’s shirt out of her cargo shorts and brushed her fingers underneath, lightly grazing her fingernails up and down the muscles of Grace’s back. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about kissing you.”
Grace nipped lightly at Emma’s jaw working her way up to the sensitive flesh beneath her ear. She bit down until Emma moaned and then ran her tongue over the same bit of flesh. “There should be a warning label on you.”
“Why?” Emma continued her tortuous exploration. Her fingers grazed the skin over Grace’s stomach. A sharp intake of breath and a quiver of muscles emboldened Emma. She took hold of Grace’s shirt and pulled it over her head brushing against her breasts with her fingertips as she did. She flung the shirt onto a chair.
“May cause dizziness or lightheadedness.” Grace leaned in brushing her tongue over the rim of Emma’s ear
. Grace’s hand splayed over Emma’s neck, her thumb caressing the line of her jaw, feeling Emma’s pulse jump beneath her fingers.
“I love the way you taste,” Grace groaned working her way lower and nipping at the skin beneath Emma’s jaw.
Emma’s breath came in gasps and her hips undulated against Grace’s pelvis. “Oh God.”
Grace took her time exploring. Her tongue lightly teased between Emma’s lips. Emma had to rise up onto her toes to keep up with the playful probing dance that left them both breathless and trembling. Grace pulled away and said, “Don’t operate heavy machinery after taking. You know the warnings they put on medication labels.”
“Stop it.” Emma laughed and cupped Grace’s ass pulling her flush against her. “I want to see you naked.”
“Can we take this into your bedroom? I can’t take much more of this standing up.”
“I thought you would never ask.” Emma grabbed Grace’s hand and led her down the hall. Inside the room Emma pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “Kiss me again. I didn’t get enough of your mouth on me—.”
Grace obliged, silencing her words when she planted her lips on Emma’s. She stroked and sucked Emma’s tongue, pulling her closer when she felt Emma’s hips rock rhythmically against her pelvis. When she pulled back Emma’s eyes were hazy with desire, her throat flushed, her breaths fast and shallow—just how Grace imagined she would look when she was aroused.
Emma ran her palms over the flat of Grace’s chest, tracing a path across her collarbone. “I was telling myself to keep things simple...but you seem to have this supernatural ability to obliterate all logical and rational thought from every single one of my brain cells.”
“I do?” Grace swallowed and tried to reign in her thoughts. They were focused on the thrilling sensation of Emma’s touch. Her fingertips stroked and teased their way up and down Grace’s front. “I can’t think straight with you touching me.”
“Okay.” Emma stopped her stroking and dropped her hands to Grace’s midriff. “Better?” Her thumbs massaged the indentation of Grace’s stomach muscles where they dipped below her shorts.
“No. Not better at all.” Grace squirmed away from the touch that was threatening to disassemble her control.
A smile flitted across Emma’s face. She pressed closer to Grace and slid her hands into back pockets and rubbed her pelvis against her. “How’s this?” It was exhilarating knowing she was having this kind of affect on Grace.
“Ah, Jesus woman,” Grace stepped back and the bed buckled her knees. She sat and Emma climbed onto her, straddling her lap.
Emma clasped a hand behind Grace’s neck and kissed her. “You get me so crazy. I can’t stop touching you.” Emma rocked against her and Grace had to lean back supporting herself with her hands to keep them from falling over. Emma caressed Grace’s neck, her shoulders, skimmed her palms over Grace’s hard nipples straining through a white tank top. She pressed her lips against one breast blowing and heating up one side before she focused her attention on the other nipple.
Grace bit her bottom lip at the contact and moaned. A fire stirred inside her belly and she struggled not to rock her hips against Emma. “You’re killing me here.” Grace could feel the fire between Emma’s legs where she rocked against her.
“I want to make love to you. Will you let me make love to you?”
Grace’s pupils darkened as Emma stood and stripped off the rest of her clothes. “You need to lose those shorts, Moretti. Or would you like me to do the honors?” Emma fingered the button on Grace’s shorts and popped it open. Her fingers lingered against Grace’s skin, teasing as she dipped just below the waistband to the triangle of hair below.
“I think I can manage.” Grace fumbled with the zipper of her shorts, then divested herself of the rest of her clothes.
Almost shy, Grace reached out and stroked her fingers over Emma’s jaw, over the elegant contours of her neck and across sleek muscles to her shoulders.
When she pulled Emma against her, Grace trembled at the exquisite contact of their naked bodies as they held each other. “Are you sure about this?”
“If you don’t put your hands on me soon I’m going to lose my mind,” Emma breathed out.
Grace tugged Emma down onto the bed and lay beside her. She trailed her fingers over Emma’s chest drawing them down between her breasts and over the softness of her abdomen. Her fingers stopped over a scar just above her right hip. She lowered her lips and kissed it before looking back up at Emma. She pressed up onto her arms and kissed Emma’s mouth, enjoying the heat and the taste of her. Grace trailed her lips over her collarbone and breasts while her hand curled around her hip stroking her skin.
“Oh!” Emma trembled and she reached up to cup the back of Grace’s neck desperately wanting more.
Grace kissed her way lower, her hand stroking the soft flesh of Emma’s inner thighs.
“Oh my God if you come any closer to my clit I’m going to explode.” Emma arched her back and twisted away.
“Too much?” Grace stilled her hands and pressed her cheek against Emma’s stomach.
“Too fast. I want to go slow.”
“Sorry.” Grace closed her eyes, listening to the pulse beating beneath her ear, breathing in her scent until Emma settled and she could start again.
“Don’t be. You drive me crazy.” Emma said running her hands through Grace’s hair and caressing the back of her neck. She pulled Grace up and slid a thigh tight between Grace’s legs. “Oh my God you’re so wet,” Emma cried and arched against Grace.
Grace’s control almost shattered as Emma’s skin slid across her hot and swollen flesh. “Oh no. Oh God.” Her arms trembled and her stomach tightened as heat and need swirled up from her center.
“I feel how close you are. Let it go, Grace. I’ve got you,” Emma whispered nuzzling the soft skin of Grace’s neck. She pressed her hands against Grace’s back urging on. “I want you to come.”
“You keep doing that and I will,” Grace gasped unable to stop her hips from rocking against Emma’s thigh.
Emma cupped her hips, guiding her, pushing her higher until Grace cried out in mindless pleasure. Grace buried her face in Emma’s neck letting Emma hold her until the spasms faded.
Grace collapsed onto Emma, her clit still throbbing and twitching from her release. “That’s not how I planned this to go.”
“No?” Emma kneaded the muscles over Grace’s back and hips. She spread her thighs and arched, seeking contact for the urgent need that built inside her. “I want you to make me come.”
With a low growl, Grace’s warm lips descended on Emma’s mouth. Strong hands roamed up her sides and across the flat of her chest, tracing a delicate teasing line down to her belly button. Emma gasped when Grace took a nipple into her mouth alternating between licking and sucking until it was stiff and engorged.
“Tell me what you want,” Grace whispered in her ear. She nipped at her jaw, licked her neck and sucked at her earlobe until Emma squirmed against her.
“I want to feel you everywhere,” Emma begged.
The weight of Grace’s body as she settled herself onto Emma was exquisite. Emma’s eyes closed and her mouth fell open when Grace brushed her breasts over hers. The rhythmic rocking of Grace’s pelvis, the sensation of hot skin against skin was so intense Emma thought she would melt. A jolt of hunger exploded inside her and Emma wrapped her legs around Grace’s hips greedy for more contact.
Emma reached out to stroke Grace’s back, but found her hand captured and her arm stretched over her head. It only served to tilt her breasts up and Grace teased the already sensitive nub with her tongue. Emma ached to touch Grace as she kissed her deeply. She gasped and moaned as Grace’s mouth moved over her throat and down to her belly button. Each bite, each touch leaving a trail of fire driving Emma higher.
Emma couldn’t get enough. She twisted and lifted her hips against the delicious torment. Her thighs trembled and she could feel an incredible pressure
building in her belly.
Grace caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she sat back on her heels and teased Emma with her fingers. “Mmm, I love how you feel.” Grace’s fingers glided over Emma’s swollen lips. Emma cried out, drowning in her intense need. She bucked desperately as the first waves of her orgasm crashed through her. The gentle stroking motion over, around, dipping slowly in and pulling away only to start again drove her wild.
Emma heard herself pleading and begging for more while Grace relentlessly pushed her to the peak and then pulled back holding her on the razor’s edge of losing control. When Emma could bear it no more, Grace left a searing trail of kisses down the center of her abdomen. Warm breath between her thighs and a feather light touch of lips had Emma crying out in mindless pleasure. Grace took her in her mouth sucking gently until Emma was thrashing and twisting in desperate need beneath Grace. Her hips bucked and her breath came in gasps and moans as she crested one peak and was driven higher to yet another. Grace thrust her fingers inside, filling her and driving her into oblivion.
Emma couldn’t remember the last time her body felt this languid and replete. Her mind buzzed with the powerful rush of her orgasm. She opened her eyes to crystal blue orbs studying her. She could still hear thunder rumbling in the distance. It came through the haze as her brain started working again.
Emma could feel Grace on top of her—soft, yet strong, curving against her damp with sweat.
“I don’t think I can move,” Grace said after a moment.
Emma smiled and shifted beneath her to take a deep breath and said, “That was incredible.”
Grace rolled to her side and curled her hand around Emma’s waist. “Mmm.”
Curious, Emma sat up and trailed her fingers over Grace’s thigh where a scar ran down the inside of her thigh. “What happened here?”
Grace lifted her head, a rueful grin touching her lips. “I had to make a hasty retreat out of a pasture.”
“Why?”