Peeling her eyes from Sierra, Kara craned her neck over her shoulder at Ronni. “Just some bonding time,” she said with a half-shrug. Her grin grew ten-fold when Sierra placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
“You’re just full of surprises,” Sierra whispered low and husky into Kara’s ear. A flurry of satisfaction swelled within when Kara shivered in her arms and buried her face in the crook of her neck.
“I was hustled,” Ronni huffed. Her piercing blue eyes narrowed. Instead of basking in the power of her intimidation, she received a laugh in return, which only increased her grumpiness.
Kara’s hand fell to her chest in feigned innocence. “What? You didn’t know that everything in life could be solved with mathematical equations?”
A foreign feeling swelled in Sierra’s chest as she puffed with pride. “See Ron? Like I said, quite surprising.” She pulled Kara in and roughly peppered her neck with soft kisses that had her squirming in delight.
“Yuck to the power of ten.” Ronni made a gagging sound as she plodded toward the door. She swiped her keys from the counter and then turned around. “I’m going to get your beer and we can settle up the rest after.”
As Kara nodded, Sierra wondered what else the bet had entailed.
“You two got fifteen minutes to get all that sucking face out of your system. I want all G rated when I get back. Got it?” She glared as she pointed, first at Kara, and then at Sierra. With a shake of her head, she was off, leaving the couple alone.
“Okay, mom’s gone.” Sierra waggled her brows. “We can make out on the sofa until she gets back.” Sierra dragged Kara toward the couch and fell back, bringing Kara down on top of her with a surprised yelp.
Boisterous laughter ensued, until they locked eyes. Then Sierra got lost—lost in the sea of green and the feel of warm lips and soft skin that created a high no ride could match. If kissing Kara felt this unbelievable, how would it feel when she finally got to experience all of her?
Kara’s index finger traced the outline of Sierra’s face, then trailed along her neck, down to her collarbone, and across her sternum ever so slowly as her lips ghosted over Sierra’s. Kara smiled into their kiss as the body beneath her shuddered in pleasure. “Mmm, I like this,” she mumbled against Sierra’s lips.
Sierra wholeheartedly agreed, but there was something more she was dying to explore. Her fingers deftly slipped under the edge of Kara’s shirt, teasing smooth skin that heated under her touch. Kara’s breath caught, her lips frozen as a moan escaped. “And I very much like this,” Sierra said. A seductive grin began to curl at the corners of her mouth, but was denied by a determined tongue demanding entry.
Her ability to rouse Kara’s libido was an ego boost to say the least, but nothing she would ever flaunt. Sierra enjoyed her power, but wasn’t blind to the fact that Kara had just as much influence over her. The slightest touch had her willing to do anything Kara asked.
The silence of the room gave way to soft whimpers and moans as teeth clashed and tongues dueled until desire gave way to a need for oxygen, though it did nothing to dampen the roaming hands that had worked their way up to massage firm breasts. No, that disruption came in the form of a knock on the door that signaled their time was up.
“I’m going to count to three and then I’m coming in,” Ronni yelled through the door.
A groan of disappointment emanated from both women as their activities slowed to a halt.
“Damn, time flies when you’re making out with the sexiest doctor on the planet,” Sierra complained between heavy breaths.
“One.”
“Or the sexiest downhiller on the planet,” Kara returned the compliment. A lopsided smile appeared and she pressed her forehead to Sierra’s. “Mom’s home, so I guess we better behave…for now.”
In that moment of silence, Sierra took the opportunity to memorize the finer details of Kara’s face. The light splatter of freckles across her cheek bones. The tiny mole that sat above her left upper lip. The fine lines around her eyes that crinkled when she smiled. A cute little button nose. No makeup. Only real, honest beauty.
Sierra slowly inhaled the sweet coconut scent that always accompanied Kara’s presence. Her eyes fluttered shut as she grumbled, “I guess.”
“Two.”
A laugh rolled through Kara’s body. The vibration reached Sierra’s core, making it that much harder to relinquish their positions. She didn’t want to let go, so she stalled. Sierra opened her eyes and met Kara’s, whose greens were darker than usual, but every bit as soothing. “Did I mention how happy I am to see you?”
“No. I don’t believe you did.” Kara’s lips pushed out into an adorable pout that had Sierra grinning from ear to ear.
“My apologies.” Sierra tipped her chin up to peck Kara on the lips. “I’m so happy to see you.” That was the truth. She had been thinking of Kara all day, but didn’t want to come on too strong, especially since it had been a work day. If she knew anything about the woman in her arms, it was how serious she was about her work.
“I’m happy to see you too.”
Those six little words sent Sierra’s stomach into a wonderful cascade of flips and flops—the same exhilarating feeling that came with dropping off a ledge and nailing the perfect landing.
“Okay, ladies…”
“That was an extremely generous three count.” After one last, quick kiss, Kara unraveled her limbs from Sierra’s.
“Yeah, I’ll have to thank her later.”
Not wanting to bear Ronni’s ridicule for disobeying, they were quick to part and situate themselves on the sofa.
“Three!”
By the time the front door creaked open, Sierra and Kara were sitting innocently side by side, each with their hands folded in their own laps like good little children. If it hadn’t been for the mussed hair, swollen lips, and disheveled shirts, no one would have ever known what they’d been up to only seconds ago.
Ronni craned her head inside with a hand over her eyes. “I hope you guys are decent. I’m uncovering my eyes now.”
“Get in here, you goob,” Sierra said with a laugh.
Ronni shut the door behind her. There was a six pack in one hand and a box of Cliff Bars in the other. “Good to know you guys can follow directions.” She strode with confidence across the room, stopping in front of Kara and setting her beer on the table. She met Kara’s amused grin with a thin smile. “I’m sorry about my behavior the other day. I promise to lay off and let you two navigate your lover’s hell on your own,” she stated dryly, then scrunched up her face, turned on a dime, and walked to the fridge, tossing the box onto the island on the way past. “But I won’t forget you hustled me,” she called out with her head in the fridge.
“Noted,” Kara said, unable to stop smiling. She reached down, pulled out two of the chilled beers and handed one to Sierra.
It took a moment, but Sierra’s brain finally registered the meaning of the apology and a slow smirk worked its way up. If there was anything Ronni hated more than losing, it was apologizing, and Kara had nailed both. Leaning into Kara’s ear, Sierra whispered, “You really must’ve hustled her.”
Kara tipped her head to meet Sierra’s eyes. A look of apprehension crossed her face, seemingly uncertain of the intent behind the words.
“She never apologizes. She had to have thought she’d win if she bet an apology.” It was a simple statement of fact, to which Kara just shrugged. “That’s sexy as hell,” Sierra’s voice dropped an octave.
Kara’s eyes fell to Sierra lips as she moistened her own, then replied just as seductively, “Also noted.” She cleared her throat and looked back at Ronni, who was leaning on the countertop eating out of a nondescript container and staring at the two of them with rapt attention.
Sierra’s arm wrapped around Kara’s waist as Kara addressed their spectator. “Thank you, Ronni. I accept your apology. And I love the way you protect the people you care about. Can we call a truce?” She held out a beer as a peace offering.
Ronni set the container down, pulled a bottle opener from a nearby drawer, then made her way over. “I’m going to have to keep an eye on you. Watch out, Sierra, she’s a sly one,” Ronni said with narrowed eyes and a teasing smirk as she accepted the beer. She popped the top and then handed the bottle opener to Kara.
“Thank you.” Kara reached down for a bottle of her own, popped it open, and then did the same to Sierra’s before taking a large swig of her beer. “Ahh, the sweet taste of victory,” she said after swallowing down the smooth, malty goodness with a toothy smile.
Ronni chuckled and kicked back in the recliner across the room. “Yuck it up. That’s the first and last time you beat me.”
“Tell you what, why don’t you order a pizza, whatever you want, my treat?” Kara proposed.
If the brightening of Ronni’s smile was any indication, the suggestion had proven popular. “You sure know the way to a girl’s heart.”
Sierra could only watch with wonder at how easily Kara had broken through her best friend’s defenses, proving yet again that Dr. Kara Davies was unlike any other woman she had ever met.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Axel, I need a beer please,” Sierra said as she flopped onto a bar stool. She had gotten to Taco’d before the evening crowd arrived as, once again, her plans with Kara had been postponed due to work. They had been dating for a month and a half now and in the beginning it was wonderful, but not long after it seemed as if Kara had begun to hide from her. And when they did get to spend time together, it felt like she was holding back—a contradiction to the boldness Kara had displayed earlier.
When asked directly, Kara would either brush it off as nothing or say that she wanted to go slow. Patience was not one of Sierra’s strong suits, but dammit if she wasn’t trying her best. All she wanted was a return of the easiness that had once existed between them.
The other thing eating away at Sierra was the undying carnal desire that had yet to be fulfilled. She wanted Kara in the worst way. There had been plenty of heavy make-out sessions—although even those had dwindled as of late—which did nothing but add to her frustration. Each time they had reached the cusp of crossing the line, Kara pulled back. It was torturous and exhausting and Sierra truly thought she might spontaneously combust if she was left hanging one more time.
Sierra could only figure it had to do with Kara wanting to protect herself, but the three-sixty from the heavy flirting and make outs of their first few weeks left her fearing it might be something else. Had she not been good enough?
“All alone again?”
Sierra bristled at the sound of Harley’s voice. It was the second time she’d run into her after Kara had “rescheduled” one of their dates. Though they did frequent the same places around town, it almost felt as though Harley was stalking her—which made no sense after the way they had left things.
“Yeah, she has a big project at work to finish,” Sierra replied, trying not to sound as dejected as she felt.
“Funny how the two of you were inseparable when it was all about the research, but now that you signed that contract, it’s all ‘Sierra, table for one.’”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Harley gave a shrug and cozied up beside her. “Just an observation. All I’m saying is no one offers help for free, especially where professional athletes are concerned.”
“So…what, Harley? She only wanted me for money, for advertising? You don’t think it’s possible for someone like her to be interested in me for me?" The question disgusted her and she shook her head vehemently in disbelief, even though she had been plagued with her own doubts mere seconds ago.
“Well, you are hot, so there’s that…” The dangerous look in Sierra’s eyes gave Harley pause, but she raised a finger to emphasize another point and continued, “But what I meant was, you’re from different worlds. What could you two possibly have in common? She’s all business and you’re all party.”
This conversation was getting better and better. “Oh, so now I can’t be taken seriously, because…what? I want success on my own terms? So what if I like to have some fun. I can be professional. I can be serious. Like right now, I’m seriously tired of your shit!”
“Dammit! Why are you always like this?” Harley’s hands flew up, her frustration evident.
“Like what, Harley?” There was bite in Sierra’s words as she stared her former lover down. She really wanted to hear the answer to this question.
Harley softened slightly, her head shaking side to side as a broken laugh tumbled out. “Like you. You never listen to reason. I’ve seen you two together. You’re vibrant. You love excitement. She’s stiff. Her idea of a fun night is reading a textbook. If you think you can change to keep her happy, it’ll ruin you.”
Sierra relaxed her stance. She didn’t believe that one bit. Yes, they were different, but she had seen the other side of Kara and she wouldn’t change a thing. In fact, she rather enjoyed being the only one privy to Kara’s other side. Well, Ronni had also gotten a glimpse, but not the passionate side. Besides, Kara’s stability and strict regimen had already been a good influence on her.
“You don’t know anything about her or what she’s like. And you don’t know much about me. You and I,” Sierra motioned between the two of them, “we fucked, Harley. That was it. We didn’t do much talking.”
“Whose fault was that? I wanted to get to know you. I wanted more, but all you wanted was sex. Why are you trying for more with her? Because she can help your career?”
Sierra’s right hand balled into a fist. Harley had crossed a line. “You better watch yourself, Harley. And maybe if you weren’t always busy trying to tell me what to do, things would’ve been different. So, thank you for trying to look out for me, but I don’t want or need your help.”
“Yeah sure, Sierra. That’s why you always come running back to me when things go bad.”
“Not anymore.” Sierra meant it too. That cycle was over and if Harley wasn’t careful, their friendship would be over as well. “If you ever want me to call you my friend again, then I suggest you leave now.”
Harley did as she was asked without argument, leaving Sierra alone to her thoughts. There were so many thoughts. And feelings. And questions. Where was her beer? She needed one…or ten, if she was going to sort it all out.
Conveniently arriving with a frosty beer, the old barkeep offered up a soft smile as he slid the mug in front of Sierra. “Here you go, one chocolate stout.” Axel studied the perplexed look on her face. “Everything all right?”
She shook her head and chugged half of her beer. What could she say? She had no idea what was wrong. She did know Harley had raised a few points that had wedged themselves in her craw and were now rubbing her raw like an old worn out pair of riding shorts, but despite Harley’s perception of Kara’s intentions, Sierra had never felt pressured or manipulated. In fact, Kara had even offered to remove herself from working with Sierra after their misunderstanding.
She honestly didn’t think the contract was part of the problem. Still, it was enough to feed her insecurities. She had plenty of those when it came to relationships. Maybe Kara was still hung up on Jamie or she had already met someone new. That was doubtful though, the woman hardly ever left work. Was Kara already tired of her? What else could it be?
Her brows scrunched and her forehead creased as her eyes squinted, as if the forced expression would help her figure out what had gone wrong so soon into their new relationship. Folding her arms and resting them on top of the bar, her head tipped to the side and her mouth pulled to the right in contemplation. “Axel, you’ve been married forever. Are relationships hard? What I mean is…is it supposed to be hard if it’s the one you’re meant to be with?” The question fell out without much thought, but as she pondered what she had asked, she was actually impressed. It had been a good question.
“Ah, I see.” He patted her on the arm and tossed the towel over his shoulder. “All re
lationships are hard at some point. Even the best ones sometimes require a little give and take. The most important thing is communication.”
Finishing off her first beer quickly, Sierra’s brow rose in question. “I thought love was the most important thing?”
Axel laughed and passed her a second round. “Indeed, love is important, but not all love can weather the storm. You must be able to talk to one another honestly. That means communicating and understanding each person’s needs, wants, and desires. Not just in life, but in regards to the relationship.”
“Hmm.” She nodded in understanding. “That makes sense. Thanks.” There was so much to this relationship stuff. Maybe she needed some books, or better yet, a how-to video.
“Glad to be of help. For what it’s worth, Sierra, you and Kara do have a connection. I hope it works out for you both.”
Hearing the sincerity in his words and finding a ray of light in his advice, her doom and gloom faded. She would have to have a sit down with Kara to talk it all out. They’d both had issues in the past and they were both strong, independent, ambitious women who were hesitant to put themselves out there, but Sierra vowed to keep Kara from settling into that old familiar pattern with her. For that matter, she was determined to break her own patterns as well.
Time to break the cycle.
***
Sifting through the neatly stacked pages on her desk, Kara’s hand stilled when it found its intended mark. Her eyes skimmed the black typeset and a smile took shape. With two weeks left in the research trials, all her hard work was coming to fruition and one of her life goals was on the precipice of realization. Kara held in her hand undeniable proof that the work chiropractors performed did in fact result in quantifiable improvement in athletic performance.
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