Lynn moved up Jackie's body to take her nipple in her mouth and bite down gently on it.
"Right there," Jackie said. "Yeah." Her hips met every stroke until she was bucking wildly against Lynn's hand.
Lynn rolled off her and lightly ran her hands through Jackie's hair as she lay down beside her.
"That was amazing," Jackie said, her breath still ragged.
"Much better than being downstairs."
"So much better..."
Chapter 15
Jackie threw her suitcase on the bed and left it to be unpacked later. What a weekend that had been. She was still replaying the events in her mind wondering if it had really happened. She wasn't feeling particularly guilty which made her feel like shit.
She'd have to spend the day thinking about what they did this past weekend, what she could tell Emily they did anyway when she got home tonight anyway.
She brought her laptop into the living room and opened it up. There was a knock at the door before she could even check her emails.
Jackie looked through the peep hole. It was Lynn.
"Still not using your key?" she joked, letting Lynn pass her.
"Nope."
"Have you talked to Emily yet?" Jackie asked.
"No she's still at work," Lynn said, leaning against the back of the couch. "That's why I'm here actually. Do you want to join me for dinner?"
"Sure," Jackie said. "Where are you taking me?"
"Is that Italian around the corner okay? I have a business proposition for you."
"Oh yeah?" Jackie asked, grabbing her keys and following her out the door.
After a short wait, they were seated at a table in the middle of the room of the crowded restaurant. They decided to share a bottle of wine between them.
"So what kind of a business proposition are we talking about?" Jackie asked.
"I'm serious about becoming an instructor but I'd like to do it right."
"That’s great news, Lynn. What can I do to help?"
"I'll need a website, professional photographs, business cards... I want to be involved in social media."
"I can handle most of those things. I know a guy that runs a web design business. He could probably design some business cards for you too," Jackie said.
"Are you up for it? I know you've been rearranging your work schedule," Lynn said, taking a sip of wine.
"I'd like to do it," Jackie said with a smile. "I think it's great that you're going to give it a shot."
"Well, I have no idea how it's going to go but I might as well have everything in place."
Their waiter returned to take their order and top up their wine.
"I've wanted to ask you something for a while now," Lynn started. "I hope it's not too intrusive..."
"What is it?"
"Why are you a player?"
"It's just easier that way," Jackie said, taking a drink.
"But you weren't always?"
"No."
"So what changed your mind?"
"A bad breakup," Jackie said simply.
"What happened?"
"She... she wouldn't leave her husband," Jackie said, avoiding eye contact.
"I'm sorry if I'm crossing a line here..."
"No, it's okay. I was young and naive. I just thought she would... eventually, but it just didn't happen."
"I'm sorry."
"So that's my story. I haven't been in a real relationship since then and that was almost twelve years ago," Jackie said quietly.
"I won't hold out hope then," Lynn said softly.
"Of a relationship? With me?"
Lynn nodded.
"But you're with Emily..."
Lynn sighed. "It's nothing compared to being with you."
"If you were single... I don't think I could walk away from a relationship with you," Jackie said, meeting her blue eyes.
"Really?"
Jackie reached across the table to find her hand. "Yes. I don't even know how it happened."
"That first night at the bar."
"Why are things so complicated sometimes?" Jackie asked.
"We'll figure something out."
Jackie reached for her glass and wondered if Emily viewed her relationship with Lynn as serious, something that was going to last. She couldn't? Could she? She was a workaholic who never made any time for Lynn.
Jackie tried not to think too far ahead. Things would work themselves out.
Chapter 16
A few days later Jackie and Lynn were in northern New Jersey to take some photos for Lynn's website and flyers.
Jackie couldn't stop thinking about what both of them had said at dinner the other night even though they both had went their separate ways afterwards. Was Lynn serious enough to call things off with Emily?
Jackie adjusted her shutter speed so that she could get a crisp picture of Lynn while she was teeing off.
"Should I keep going?" Lynn asked, bending over to place another golf ball from the bucket onto the tee.
"Yeah," Jackie said, bringing the camera back up to her face. "Just a few more should do it."
They'd been to the practice putting greens so Jackie could get some shots of Lynn crouched over the ball, studying the green. She got some great photos of Lynn chipping too, the sand flying up but not blocking the view of her face.
"That should do it," Jackie said.
"Thanks," Lynn said, handing her the driver. "Do you want to take a few swings? You've been watching me all day."
"Sure," Jackie said, taking the club and picking up a ball out of the bucket.
"So they turned out okay?"
"Yeah. I think we have enough for today. We can give them to Luke and see what he thinks we need for the website," Jackie said. She drove the ball off the tee and bent down to get another. "I'm sure he'll want you to have a few photos of you teaching someone but I'll talk to him tonight and see what he thinks."
Lynn watched Jackie take another shot. "You know with a few tweaks to your game, you could be really good."
"Oh yeah?" Jackie asked, hitting another ball. She stopped and turned to face her. "Then maybe I should be your first student. No offense, but even though you’re a great player... You're going to need to practice the teaching part."
"I know," Lynn said, taking off her glove. "It's something I'm nervous about."
"Let's do it. I'll be your guinea pig," she said with a smile.
Lynn smiled back. "Thank you… Is everything okay with you and Emily?"
Jackie nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I don't like lying to her but..."
"I'm not going to tell her what happened," Lynn said. "That's what we agreed on in Florida. Whatever happens, happens. No consequences."
"Agreed."
"Should we head back?" Lynn asked as Jackie handed her the driver back.
"Sure."
Chapter 17
Jackie turned her key in the door, her ears still buzzing. She should really stop taking heavy metal gigs or get a better pair of ear plugs.
She left her camera bag on the bed in her room and took out the memory card so she could load the images onto her laptop. Jackie paused on her way out when she noticed the light on in Emily's room. She hadn't seen her for a couple of days.
Jackie knocked lightly on the door. "Hey, Em? You busy?"
"No, come in," she said through the door.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jackie asked, noticing the scrunched up tissues thrown around the room and beside Emily who was sitting in the middle of her bed surrounded by work.
Emily took a pair of keys out of her pocket and held them out to Jackie. "Can you give these back to Lynn? They're the keys to her place."
"What happened?" Jackie asked, sitting down on the bed beside her.
Emily sighed and gathered the papers and folders she was working on into one pile and put them on the floor.
"It's all my fault really. She didn't say it but I know I work long hours and that I wasn't there for her."
"She broke up with you?"
Jackie asked, gently rubbing her back.
"This evening."
Jackie wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm okay," Emily said. "I know what it looks like but I'm okay. I guess I'm just pissed off that I let work take over my life."
"Look, you'll find someone who is as ambitious and as driven as you. It's okay that work is important to you," Jackie said, going back to rubbing her back.
"I know it was only a couple of months and we weren't that serious but I still feel like shit," Emily said, running a hand through her coal black hair. "For me and for her. I was an asshole. I can't even remember when the last time I saw her was... you know, before she came over today."
"It's okay, Em. How was she?"
"She was worried about me. I think she was probably a little bit disappointed that we didn't really have a chance to explore things between us but I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong."
"Can you take a night off from this?" Jackie asked, pointing to the files piled up on her desk.
"Yeah."
"Whatever you want to do, just say it," Jackie said, standing up.
"Chinese and Netflix."
"God, you're a cheap date," Jackie said, reaching for her hand. "Come on."
Chapter 18
Jackie hadn’t called Lynn since she found Emily in her room last week and Lynn hadn’t called her either.
Jackie wasn’t sure what to think. Surely she broke up with Emily to see where things would go between them without feeling guilty about it.
She’d been doing gigs for the last three nights in a row and she was looking forward to a night off in front of the television for Sunday night football, beer and probably a pizza.
Jackie got changed into her favorite pair of grey sweatpants and a Jets shirt and tied her hair up in a messy bun. Just as she was about to order a pizza, there was a knock at her door. Jackie left her phone on the couch and went to answer it.
“Hey,” Jackie said, surprised to see Lynn standing there in jeans and a black sweater. “Come in.”
“How are you?”
“Good,” Jackie said, walking over to the kitchen counter to grab the keys that Emily had given her. “Emily wanted me to get these back to you,” she said, handing her the keys.
“How is she?”
“She’s okay,” Jackie said. “She blames herself, with work and everything, but there’s no way she suspects that anything happened between us.”
“She’s not here?” Lynn asked.
“No, another late night I’m sure,” Jackie said.
Before Jackie could ask her anything else, Lynn was moving towards her. “Good,” she breathed, and cupped Jackie’s cheek, her lips crashing into Jackie’s.
Jackie let out a low moan, surprised by her aggression. She kissed her back, her lips parting to allow Lynn’s tongue more access.
Lynn’s hands moved to grope Jackie’s breasts through her t shirt. Jackie could feel her nipples hardening at her touch.
Jackie lifted Lynn’s sweater over her head and unclasped her black lace bra. Jackie’s tongue flicked over each nipple as she unbuttoned Lynn’s jeans and slid them down her hips.
Jackie met Lynn’s sea blue eyes, full of desire, and led her into the bedroom and closed the door. She removed her own clothes and pushed Lynn up against the door, her thigh spreading Lynn’s legs further apart.
“These have to go,” Jackie said, taking off Lynn’s black panties.
“Yours too,” Lynn said, pushing Jackie’s off.
Jackie stood back for a second. “You are so beautiful,” she said, before finding her lips again. Lynn’s tongue met hers and when Jackie slid her hand down to Lynn’s sex she knew it would be dripping wet.
Jackie’s fingers slipped inside Lynn and kept a steady rhythm as her lips continued to kiss her soft lips.
Lynn’s fingers moved down to Jackie’s lips and she pushed two fingers inside, matching Jackie’s pace.
“I’m waiting for you,” Lynn moaned into her ear, her hips moving faster.
Jackie kissed her neck, gently biting her. “I’m coming,” she said, her breath ragged.
Their hips pushed into each other’s hands, riding the wave, grinding into one another as their orgasms rocked through them.
Jackie kissed Lynn passionately. “Unforgettable,” Jackie whispered. “That’s the only word to describe you and how crazy you’ve drove me these last few months.”
Epilogue
2 Months Later
Emily had text Jackie earlier today to let her know that she would be cooking dinner for them at their apartment at seven. Jackie was surprised. Not only did Emily work late most nights, she never cooked – even on the weekends.
Jackie turned her key in the door of their apartment and was hit with the smell of garlic and some kind of seafood.
“Hey, Em,” she said, leaving her camera bag on the couch. “Dinner smells great.” Jackie walked into the kitchen. “So what’s the special occasion?”
Emily took off her oven glove and left it on the counter. “Two things,” she said, taking a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator. “We won our case!”
“Congrats!!” Jackie gave Emily a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. “And the second piece of good news?”
“I don’t know if it’s good news,” Emily said. “Here, have some wine,” she said, pouring her a glass of white wine. “It’s important, though, and I want to tell you before you hear it from someone else.”
Jackie’s heart sped up. She’d been wanting to tell Emily about Lynn for weeks but she just couldn’t find the right time. This was it. She wasn’t going to get a better chance. “Okay,” she said softly.
“I’m seeing someone that you know,” Emily said simply.
“Me too,” Jackie said.
“Really?”
“Yeah. You go first,” Jackie said, taking a sip of wine.
“I’m dating Zoey.”
“Yeah?”
Emily nodded. “She came to me for advice… One thing led to another…”
“That’s great, Em.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, of course,” Jackie said. “I’m happy for you.”
“So what’s going on with you? Do you mean you’re dating someone I know or that you, like… slept with my boss?”
“I’m actually dating someone,” Jackie said.
“You?”
“Uh huh.”
“Who is it?!” Emily asked.
“Lynn,” Jackie said in almost a whisper.
“Lynn?”
“Yeah. Look, I’m sorry Emily. It just happened.”
“It’s fine,” Emily said with a small smile. “Surprising. Not that there’s anything wrong with her. I just mean it’s surprising that you’re dating someone, properly. It’s serious then?”
“Yeah. I hope it doesn’t change things between us,” Jackie said, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans.
“I won’t lie. It’ll be weird at first but I love you Jackie. You’re my best friend. We’ll figure it out.”
Jackie hugged her. “Thank you for not freaking out.”
Emily reached for her glass. “To our new relationships.”
Jackie lifted hers. “To our new relationships and our future.”
“Cheers!”
Claire Decker Bundle Page 12