Love Burns

by Adrian J. Smith

  “You did, and you didn’t. You made that very clear.”

  “I was confused.”

  Kimberly nodded. “I think I was, too.”

  Silence took them over, but it was a comfortable silence. Becca enjoyed being in Kimberly’s presence again. With her heart in her throat, she took a risk and leaned over, pressing their mouths together. Kimberly sighed, and Becca closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss and parting her lips. Everything about it felt completely right. It felt good and near perfect.

  They took it slow, which was rare for them. Becca drew in a deep breath and slid her tongue along Kimberly’s, bringing up a hand to cup her cheek and hold her in place. For the first time ever, Becca reveled in the moment without boundaries, without confines, without anxiety.

  The squeal sent Becca trying to pull back, but Kimberly held on to her tightly, ending the kiss slowly and with a grin on her lips. She pecked Becca’s lips once more before she turned to Michael, who had dropped his bag in the middle of the living area and had his hands together, clapping.

  “Mama! Are you and Becca together now?”

  Kimberly sent Becca a shy look. “We might be. How do you feel about that?”

  “It’s about damn time!”

  “Michael!” Kimberly scolded. “Where did you learn to say that?”

  “Umm…Daddy?” He grinned and ran around the table to give Becca another big hug before turning to his mom and giving her a hug. “I’m so happy!”

  Kimberly laughed and patted his butt. “I’m glad you’re happy about it. Your dad is about here, so you’re all packed?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  Kimberly turned to Becca and shrugged. “Bradley has been wanting extra nights with him. It’s sweet but also hard.”

  “I can imagine the house feels empty.”

  With a sidelong look, Kimberly nodded. “Perhaps not as lonely as before.”

  They chatted until Bradley came to pick up Michael. He sent them both curious glances, which Kimberly as well as Becca ignored. Kimberly shut the door and locked it behind them as they left and turned to Becca. “I suppose we should talk a bit more.”

  “Probably, maybe figure out some details,” Becca responded as she trailed a finger over the back of one of the dining room chairs.

  Kimberly let out a low chuckle as she leaned against the door. “Maybe a few details.” She raked her gaze up and down Becca’s body, her chest tightening with hope and desire. “But details can always wait, too.”

  “They can.”

  Their gazes locked. Kimberly’s chest heaved as she stayed rooted to the spot. She wanted Becca to come to her. She wanted this to be the one last test of what their relationship could be. “I called in to work this morning.”

  “Did you now?” Becca took a step toward her, and Kimberly’s heart raced.

  “I did. I figure I can afford a day at home.”

  “So we’re not going anywhere?” Another step.

  “I don’t really want to go anywhere. Do you?”

  Another step. Becca was almost within reach.

  “Not really,” Becca almost whispered, her long legs carrying her one more step. “What should we do then?”

  Kimberly growled low in the back of her throat. “I’m pretty sure we can come up with a few things.”

  “You sure?” Becca asked.

  One more step. If Kimberly wanted, she could reach out and touch Becca’s soft red hair, run her fingers along her arms to her hands. How she wanted to.

  “I mean, I’m not that creative a person,” Becca whispered.

  Kimberly swallowed hard. “Somehow, I don’t believe that.”

  With one last step, Becca was only millimeters away from her. Kimberly gripped the door handle to try to keep from reaching out. She dragged her gaze up Becca’s body, stopping briefly at her breasts, her lips and finally resting on her eyes.

  “I don’t believe that at all,” Kimberly said on a breath.

  Becca planted a hand above Kimberly’s head on the door and leaned in even more, so their lips were only a hairsbreadth apart. “Maybe we’ll have to put that to the test. Is that something you would like to do?”

  Her breath shuddered when she let it out. “I would. I would very much like that. Would you?”

  Becca hummed as if she were contemplating. Kimberly’s heart thudded loudly, and she was sure it was all Becca could hear, but she didn’t care. If it meant Becca knew how much she wanted her, then she’d grovel as much as she could.

  “I think I would.” Becca bowed her lips into a devious smile, and finally she bent her head and captured Kimberly’s in a kiss.

  Drawing in a deep breath, Kimberly gasped at the fire of pleasure coursing through her. This was a different side of Becca than she had ever seen, one she had only glimpsed on occasion, but it was one she was completely in love with—the confidence, the control, the strength. Becca pressed Kimberly hard against the door and cupped her breast firmly.

  “Do you want this?” Becca whispered in Kimberly’s ear.

  Kimberly whimpered.

  “That’s not an answer, Chef.”

  “Yes.” Kimberly’s chest fell as she breathed. Her words came out on a whisper. “Yes, I want this.”

  “What do you want?” Becca’s lips brushed against Kimberly’s neck. “You have to tell me what you want.”

  Kimberly closed her eyes, listening to the confidence in Becca’s voice and the command she held in her tone. She made sure she had complete eye contact with Becca when she spoke next. “I want you…all of you.”

  “You have me.”

  Drawing Becca’s mouth back to hers, Kimberly locked their lips together in a heated kiss. She pulled at the buttons on Becca’s shirt until she could tug it off then skimmed her nails across her chest and breasts. Becca pulled off Kimberly’s shirt and threw it on the ground, immediately pressing their skin together. Becca broke their kiss and pressed her lips to Kimberly’s ear.

  “Tell me what you want.”

  “I want fast. Make me come fast…then we’ll go slow.”

  “Yes,” Becca answered.

  She didn’t hesitate as she shoved her hand down the front of Kimberly’s pants, not waiting as she slid two fingers inside her. Kimberly’s lips parted as she arched against the door in pleasure. This was exactly what she wanted—Becca in full force, all her attention focused.

  “Keep going,” Kimberly whispered. “Don’t stop.”

  Becca complied and moved her fingers and thumb in tandem. Kimberly’s mouth opened as a small noise escaped. Pleasure hit her, bringing her higher and higher as Becca kept her hand moving.

  “Like that?” Becca asked.

  “God, yes.” Kimberly opened her eyes and stared straight into Becca’s blue eyes. “I want you to look at me when I come.”

  “Always,” Becca answered and jerked her wrist harder.

  Kimberly bit her lip, trying to stave off her orgasm so she could stare into those beautiful eyes one minute longer. When Kimberly came, she scrunched her eyes tight and gripped Becca’s hand to slow her motions. Once her breathing calmed, Becca’s lips were on hers again in a long, sweet kiss.

  Coming around, Kimberly smiled. “While I would love to continue this here, you are twenty-eight and I am absolutely not.”

  “Bed?”

  “Yes.”

  Becca removed her hands and licked her fingers carefully as Kimberly grabbed her free hand and led her to her bedroom. The last time they had been in there didn’t hold sweet or good memories, but Kimberly knew this time would be different. Instead of shutting the bedroom door, she left it open. She went to her bed, turned around and beckoned Becca forward with a curl of her finger.

  Becca grinned and pulled her bra off as she walked. When she reached Kimberly, she toyed with the ends of her hair, curling them around her fingers. Kimberly smiled sweetly, the light of the sun floating on Becca’s skin and making it glow, something Kimberly had never seen, since all their trysts had happe
ned at night.

  When Becca bent down to kiss Kimberly again, she kept it brief. Kimberly reached up but hesitated before she touched Becca’s breast. “May I?”

  “Yes, please do. And you know what else you can do?”

  “What’s that?” Kimberly asked, her palm running along Becca’s hardened nipple, mesmerized by the way it moved into a peak.

  Becca licked her lips and whispered in Kimberly’s ear. “Remember that night…in here?”

  “Fondly.”

  “I want to do that again.”

  Chuckling, Kimberly moved back slightly. “Liked it, did you?”

  Becca moaned. “More than you can imagine.”

  “Well, I think that can be arranged.” Kimberly pinched Becca’s nipple. “Strip.”

  Letting out a chuckle, Becca undid the belt on her jeans and slid them off her hips and down to the floor. She toed out of her shoes and flicked the pants behind her with her foot. “Everything?”

  “Well, yes, if you want your wish to be my command. That’s a bit necessary, don’t you think?”

  Grinning, Becca shucked her panties and crawled onto the bed. She sat on her knees, her back to Kimberly. Her curves set Kimberly’s desire into overdrive. She grinned and slipped a hand down Becca’s side from her breast to her hip to the curve of her butt, pinching gently before giving a light smack. After tugging off her own bra and pants, Kimberly crawled onto the bed behind Becca.

  She pressed her front to Becca’s back and rolled her hips into her. “First, I want to take you like this if you’ll have me.”

  “Yes.” Becca leaned backward into Kimberly’s chest, jutting her breasts out and spreading her knees.

  Kimberly kissed gently down her neck and slid her hand to Becca’s belly. She moved her hands, teasing, heating up then soothing. “I have waited months for this.”

  “Me too,” Becca confessed.

  “I can’t deny how much I love it.”

  Becca didn’t answer. When Kimberly turned Becca’s chin to face her, her eyes were closed. Kimberly kissed her gently and waited patiently until she finally looked at her. Kimberly smiled.

  “How much I love you.”

  The smile that bloomed on Becca’s face was all the answer she needed. Slipping her fingers between Becca’s legs, she started a gentle rhythm. Becca moved against Kimberly, and Kimberly held on to her tightly. When Becca came, she brought her to a second orgasm, loving the flush in Becca’s cheeks, the slight part to her dry lips, her fluttering eyelids, her heavy breaths.

  “Once more, Becca. You can do it.”

  The order was all she needed, and Kimberly felt the sweet tug of Becca’s muscles on her fingers. Kimberly kissed her neck again.

  “There you go. Easy now.”

  When Kimberly moved her fingers from Becca’s body and Becca let out a whimper, Kimberly eased her down onto the bed on her hands and her knees. She covered her with gentle touches and kisses.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yes. Do it.”

  Kimberly licked down Becca’s spine. She moved Becca’s hips so her ass was higher in the air. Brushing her hair from her face, she bent to slip her tongue between Becca’s legs, tasting her as gently as she could. Becca let out a yelp of surprise then eased backward into Kimberly even more. Kimberly spread Becca’s cheeks and spun her tongue in circles around her anus.

  Kimberly moved slowly, wanting to draw this out for Becca as long as possible. As soon as Kimberly felt Becca was calmed enough, she moved her forearm under her hips to keep her upright. Using her other hand, she slipped her thumb and fingers between Becca’s legs and once again built a slow pattern.

  Becca rocked back and forth, and Kimberly followed her cues. When Becca’s pace picked up, Kimberly moved faster. Becca arched her back and pushed in closer. Kimberly gave two more swipes and Becca came for a third time.

  This time, she let Becca fall heavily to the mattress, completely spent. Kimberly covered her, using her elbows to prop herself above Becca as she smiled down at her. “I meant what I said.”

  “I know,” Becca breathed out. “I love you, too.”

  Kimberly’s breath rushed from her lungs, relief washing over her. Kimberly closed her eyes as tears threatened to spill, tears of joy. When she opened her eyes again and looked down at Becca, she grinned as widely as she had in years. “You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say that.”

  “Probably about as long as I’ve waited.”

  “Probably.” Kimberly laughed and kissed Becca again. She rolled to her side then curled into Becca’s spent body. “It’s about time.”

  “It is.” Becca kissed Kimberly, twining her fingers through Kimberly’s hair. “Does this mean we’re a thing now?”

  “Is that what kids are calling it these days?” Kimberly chuckled. “I guess it does.”

  “Good, because I think it’s your turn again.”

  Kimberly’s laugh turned to a squeak of pleasure as Becca climbed on top of her. “I guess it is.”

  “Shall we?”

  Nodding, Kimberly put her hands on Becca’s hips. “Let’s do this.”

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  More Than This

  Alexa Milne

  Excerpt

  It had been two years since I’d seen her. Cassandra Forster, there in the flesh, as perfectly turned out as always. Every so often during the meeting, she glanced at me, but gave no indication we’d known each other in the past. Today, she wore a deep purple fitted dress with buttons up the front, a dress that hugged every curve. Shit, those curves. I couldn’t see a line of any sort impacting the smoothness of the fit. The highest of black stiletto heels graced her feet. Her legs were encased, as always, in black. She hated tights, so they were probably hold-ups with those lace panels at the top stretched around her thighs. Wet welled between my legs at the thought of her pale flesh. Her long dark hair, lying straight and loose down her back, shone.

  I shut my notebook. “And that’s everything, I think, unless anyone has anything else to add?” I glanced at everyone, hoping no one would say anything. No one did.

  “Thank you all for coming. I’m sure the merger will be a success. We’ll set up teams for each section within the next week.” People stood, scraping their chairs back to leave the room, chatting as they exited.

  This was my first time in charge of a merger meeting since my promotion to partner in the company. I needed this to go well. The last person I’d expected to appear was Cass, especially in the role of personal assistant to the CEO of one of the companies we represented in the negotiations. Melanie Kneale was renowned for her impatience with subordinates, and I couldn’t see Cass putting up with her style of management for long…unless…

  I pushed the thought away and shuffled my papers, waiting for the room to clear, even though I was desperate to get back to my office, away from her, away from our past. Or at least, I told myself I was. Before I’d had to leave abruptly, I’d begun to think that maybe we could have more than what we’d had, satisfying though it had been, but I had no idea whether she’d felt the same.

  And now, it would be so easy to get lost in her again. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, watching her leave. I grabbed a mug of black coffee and, once back in my office, closed the door then sat in my chair staring out of the window. After a few minutes, I heard a noise behind me. I swiveled. Somehow, I knew it would be her. She closed the door behind her and stood waiting.

  I’m the boss. I’m in charge here. I needed to believe those words. “Hello, Cassandra. Has Ms. Kneale let you off her leash?” Do I sound confident? I need to sound confident. I clutched at the arms of my chair and gazed at her, hoping maintaining eye contact showed strength, but I was drawn to her as always.

  Cass shook out her hair. “I told her I’d be back after lunch, so I have an hour. A whole sixty minutes. It’s good to see you, Ronnie.”

  No one else called me Ronnie. To everyo
ne else, I was Veronica. I sat up in my executive chair, chin held high and back straight. “I’m surprised to see you here and working for Melanie. She has a reputation for chewing up assistants and spitting them out.”

  “She’d certainly never swallow. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her eat anything but those godawful protein shakes full of kale. I’ve never understood a woman who doesn’t like her food. Not like you. Food is too sensual not to experience it all.”

  Automatically, I pulled in my stomach.

  Cassandra crossed the room. Her heels sent her hips swinging. Without any hesitation, she came around to my side of the desk, pushed back my chair and stood in front of me. Inches separated us.

  Say something. Tell her this isn’t appropriate. Tell her to go. The voice screamed in my head. I, of course, ignored it. But I want you to stay. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. I had reasons.

  She picked up my phone. “Hello, Matthew. Could you hold all Ms. Smith’s calls for the next hour? Thank you.” She replaced the receiver. “So, we have sixty minutes. What do you think we should we do with them?”

  “This isn’t appropriate, Cass.” My voice barely managed a whisper. I swallowed, trying to wet my arid mouth then, without thinking, licked my lips. “I have work to do.” Please don’t go.

  “Since when has appropriate mattered to me?” She ran a perfectly manicured nail down my cheek, and I had to fight the urge to lean into her touch. “You’re looking well, Ronnie, but you’ve changed your hair. And you’re doing well, judging by this office.”

  I nodded.

  “Power is such an aphrodisiac, don’t you think?” She took hold of a strand of my hair and twirled it around her finger. So close.

  “Is that why you’re working for Melanie Kneale?” I asked, my voice shaking.

  She stroked my cheek. “Do I detect a smidgeon of jealousy?”

  I waited for her to ask me where I’d been for the last two years, and why I’d left New York so suddenly, but instead she sat on my desk and crossed her long legs.

  “The position suits me for the moment. And as for Melanie, I wouldn’t say no to giving her a little discipline, but she’s far too fond of pegging her secretary over her desk for my taste.”