Never Letting Go

by Graham, Suzanne

  “Hey! My everyday clothes are nice,” Ree defended herself as they left the ballroom and headed for the parking garage.

  “You always look good. It’s just tonight you look exceptional.” Leila snapped her mouth shut. Normally, a comment like that about her friend wouldn’t faze her, but after that amazing kiss, she was afraid of how her words could be interpreted.

  “You look exceptional too,” Ree volleyed back without any apparent undercurrent in her words, and Leila breathed another sigh of relief.

  Evidently, they were both willing to move past their lip-lock in the ladies’ room and get back to their normal, conventional friendship. And that’s when Leila knew she was really in trouble, because a hollow ache took up residence in her chest when she realized she’d never kiss Ree again. She’d never feel the exhilarating rush from Ree’s curves pressed against her or the heady sensation of exploring Ree’s enticing mouth.

  Lost in her thoughts, she stumbled on the pavement, and Ree caught her forearm.

  “Are you okay?” her friend asked, pulling Leila to a stop.

  “Sure. I’m just ready to be out of these heels too,” she lied. Well, sort of lied. She was ready to get out of more than just her heels with Ree.

  She groaned inwardly. Apparently, ending her lusty thoughts about her best friend wasn’t going to be easy.

  * * * *

  God, the last thing Ree wanted was to have Leila in her car tonight. The little sport coupe put them much too close together when she really needed some distance for cooling off.

  To keep her mind otherwise occupied, she delivered a running commentary on their coworkers’ dates and significant others during the short ride over to her apartment. When she pulled into her spot in the underground parking garage, she drew in her first deep breath since getting into the car. Leila’s floral scent surrounded her, and she bolted from the vehicle.

  “Come on up while I search for that book. I’m pretty sure I remember where I put it, but I don’t want you waiting for me alone down here in case it takes me a few minutes to find it,” she blathered, locking the car with her remote.

  Leila sent her a curious look, but didn’t say anything.

  In the elevator, Ree kept her eyes glued to the red digital numbers marking their progress up to the ninth floor. Leila stood quietly at her side, just close enough that their arms brushed. The electricity coursing through Ree’s body could have powered her building during a blackout, but Leila had made it clear she wasn’t interested.

  At the door to her apartment, Ree fumbled with her key in the lock as she felt Leila’s warm presence behind her. Finally, she got the door open and stepped back to let Leila in.

  Ree followed, closing the door behind her. She nearly ran into Leila when she stopped abruptly and turned around to face Ree.

  Without a word, Leila cupped Ree’s cheek in her palm, just as she had earlier that evening in the ladies’ room. Knowing she was going to get hurt, Ree should have stepped back out of Leila’s reach, but she didn’t—she couldn’t. She needed this kiss. She needed whatever Leila was willing to give her. She’d deal with the heartache of letting Leila go later. For now, she was living in this moment.

  Leila backed Ree up to the door and took charge of the kiss. Her satiny lips pressed against Ree’s mouth, and her tongue teased Ree’s lips apart. She delved deeply, driving Ree to tug Leila’s body closer. More…more…more were the only thoughts rushing through Ree’s head.

  She wanted more. More kisses, more touches, more penetration. Oh God, she wanted to get inside Leila’s skin—to feel surrounded by her heat and silky softness.

  Leila withdrew her tongue, but Ree refused to let the kiss end. She continued sucking and gently nipping Leila’s lower lip as she backed her friend across the room to the sofa. With her arms firmly around Leila’s waist, she lay down and pulled Leila over her on the couch. Leila’s weight felt delicious over the length of Ree’s body, as did her full breasts cushioned against Ree’s chest.

  Leila caught herself with her hands on either side of Ree’s head. Her eyes widened as she looked down at Ree. “What are we doing?” Her voice rose on each syllable.

  Ree’s chest tightened as did her hold around Leila’s waist. She wouldn’t let go this time without a confrontation. “We’re doing exactly what we both want.” She silently dared Leila to deny this feeling they shared.

  “But we’re not gay,” she whispered the last word.

  Ree studied Leila’s face. Was her friend prejudiced or just inexperienced? “You mean because we’ve only dated men?”

  Leila nodded, and a stray hair fell across her cheek.

  Ree tucked it behind her ear. “If you’ve only dated men, how do you know you don’t like women?”

  “I’ve never felt like this about a woman before,” Leila continued, still whispering.

  “Neither have I,” Ree admitted, pleased that Leila seemed open to this experience. Then she took her confession further. “I love you, Leila, and I want to make love to you.”

  Leila’s body shivered over Ree. “I want to too, but…”

  Ree’s brain buzzed with Leila’s admission, and she was glad she was lying down. “But what, sweetie?” She stroked Leila’s cheek.

  Leila’s gaze darted away. “I’m afraid I don’t know how.”

  Her girl looked so tender and unsure, Ree’s heart smarted. “No fears. If it feels good, we’ll know we’re doing it right.”

  Leila giggled. “I bet it’d feel good to get out of these uncomfortable gowns.”

  “Now that sounds like a good place to start.” Ree grinned as she and Leila stood from the couch. “I bet it’d also feel good to slide naked between my sheets.”

  Leila’s lips twitched into her signature wicked smile. “I bet I can beat you there.” She dashed for the bedroom before she finished her sentence.

  “Cheater!” Ree shouted, laughing as she raced after her purple-gowned best friend.

  * * * *

  Leila unzipped her dress on the way to Ree’s room. She was afraid if she paused, she’d back out. There was no way she could do that to Ree. She’d never seen her friend so happy as when Ree had spoken of her feelings for Leila.

  Leila didn’t know if her own feelings were love, but for tonight, she was willing to explore them with Ree.

  She dropped her gown in a puddle of aubergine on the floor and jumped between Ree’s sheets, still clad in her strapless bra and matching black lace panties.

  Ree entered the room and stood next to the bed. She held Leila’s attention as she slowly undid the deep v-necked halter-top of the blue dress, revealing her naked breasts. They were full and round with hard, rosy nipples.

  Leila got to her knees on the bed and reached out to touch. Holding the warm, soft weight in her palms wasn’t enough. She leaned forward and sucked one breast into her mouth while caressing the other with her hand.

  Ree moaned and arched towards Leila as she dropped her dress to the floor, revealing a hot pink thong. Then she pressed her hands against Leila’s shoulders. “Lie down. I want to love you.”

  Reluctantly, Leila let go and settled back on the pillows that smelled like Ree’s fruity shampoo. She turned her head and inhaled deeply.

  Ree leaned over Leila and began with light, feathery kisses down her jaw and neck, then to her chest. Instead of taking off Leila’s bra, Ree kissed along the lace trim then sucked through the silk. Leila arched off the bed, wanting Ree’s hot mouth on her bare nipples, but Ree continued down Leila’s stomach to the top edge of her panties. There again, she didn’t remove the fabric, but rather, she trailed kisses over the silk, blowing hot air against Leila’s clit, driving Leila wild.

  She spread her legs around Ree’s shoulders, opening herself to these exciting and nerve-racking feelings. She’d never felt this wild and on edge with any man. Her passion was building to a height she’d never reached before. Yet beneath her pleasure lurked questions she couldn’t ignore. If this became more than an experimen
t, if they became a couple, how would that go over at work and with their families?

  Ree slipped a finger under the elastic of Leila’s panties, and Leila cried out as Ree found her clit. Worries about the outside world fled.

  “Oh, Leila. You’re so wet and hot. I want to taste you.” Ree seemed to be asking for permission.

  “Yes,” she whispered and helped Ree slide off her panties. She only had a moment of feeling nervous about being so exposed before Ree placed her mouth at Leila’s wet center.

  Her desire swelled as Ree’s long, slow licks skimmed along her tight bud of nerves. When Ree slipped her fingers inside Leila, she shouted with her sudden climax. Muscles clenched and her breath caught in her throat as she rode the crest of the rush. She balled the sheets in her fists, fighting to hold onto this high for as long as possible. Too soon, the ride ended.

  Her breath came back in pants as she relaxed. She reached out for Ree and drew her up to kiss her. Tasting her own essence on Ree’s lips, she was overcome with the need to give Ree the same pleasure.

  Pushing against Ree’s shoulders, she urged Ree to roll on to her back. Then she mimicked Ree’s earlier kisses down her neck and chest.

  Ree grabbed Leila’s upper arms. “You don’t have to.”

  Leila looked up to meet Ree’s eyes. “I want to. Will you let me?”

  Ree nodded and wiggled out of her pink thong.

  Leila took a moment to admire the beautiful, pale skin laid out before her like a buffet, until a plaintive moan from Ree broke Leila’s concentration.

  “You’re torturing me,” Ree groaned.

  Leila grinned. “Waiting for my touch?” She blew a soft breath over Ree’s taut nipple.

  “Yesss,” Ree hissed.

  Leila was torturing herself as well. She couldn’t wait another second to taste Ree, even though she worried about whether or not she’d like it. She slid down the length of Ree’s body, trailing wet kisses along the way. Once between Ree’s thighs, Leila inhaled Ree’s intensely feminine scent, feeling heady as her own need soared again.

  She swiped her tongue across Ree’s clit, and her friend gasped. Encouraged, Leila licked again before sucking the nub into her mouth, swirling her tongue under and over. Ree’s dew tasted a little salty with a slight sweetness—something to appreciate—and Leila’s anxiety that she wouldn’t enjoy pleasuring her friend evaporated.

  Ree mewed and cried out with her growing excitement, prodding Leila to continue. She explored Ree’s wetness with her fingers, marveling at the heat and sleekness of Ree’s sensitive folds. Slowly, she circled Ree’s opening without penetrating.

  Ree tossed her head back on the pillow. “Oh, God, please,” she begged.

  Leila grinned, enjoying the power to make her friend want her, knowing she could make Ree feel so good. She relented and slipped one finger, then two, into Ree’s tight, velvety center. She was rewarded with a satisfied groan from Ree.

  Leila licked and sucked at Ree’s clit as she pumped her hand. Ree’s muscles contracted around Leila’s fingers.

  “Oh, God. Feels. So. Good,” Ree gasped.

  Leila glanced up in time to watch Ree’s face as her orgasm rocked through her. With her eyes squeezed closed, Ree let out a shout. “Hell, yesss!”

  As Ree came down from her high, Leila slowed her strokes then carefully removed her fingers, giving Ree’s clit one last brush with her thumb. She smoothed her hands over Ree’s thighs and hips as her muscles gradually relaxed.

  When she’d returned to herself, Ree pulled Leila up next to her on the pillow. They snuggled together in a tangle of arms and legs softly caressing each other’s backs.

  Leila lay entwined with Ree, feeling thoroughly loved. Being with a man had always felt good, but this was something more—something bigger, deeper, all encompassing. Something she didn’t want to lose just because she was worried about what would happen once they left the sanctuary of this apartment.

  “Ree?” she whispered.

  “Yeah,” Ree mumbled, sounding close to falling asleep.

  Leila turned her head so she could see Ree’s beautiful face. “I love you too.”

  Ree’s eyes popped open as her arms tightened around Leila. “I won’t let you go now that you’ve confessed.”

  “Good. I don’t ever want you to let me go.” She held Ree closer. “Because I’m never letting you go either.”

  About the Author

  Suzanne Graham has always been an avid reader and diary writer. After inheriting boxes of romance books from her aunt, she decided to try putting her own stories on paper. Suzanne met her husband, a fellow American, as an exchange student at the University of Warwick in England. They are proud parents of three boys. In her spare time, you can usually find Suzanne on the living room couch reading romance.

  Suzanne loves to talk to her readers and can be found at http://www.suzannegraham.blogspot.com.

  Also Available from

  Resplendence Publishing

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