“It wasn’t exactly fun for me getting hit on by her while we were on our first date.” Keira laughed back.
“Do we sound like that?” Lena asked Summer.
Keira turned to see that Lena was leaning her head on Summer’s shoulder. Summer had her arm around her. Lena was also pointing between her and Emma with an accusing finger.
“I hope not, but probably,” Summer replied and smiled at Emma. “You guys look good.”
“We feel good too,” Emma offered and placed a hand in Keira’s lap, matching Lena’s posture and placing her head on Keira’s shoulder.
Keira felt immediate relief, relaxation, and a small amount of desire. Emma’s hand was close to where it had been only hours earlier. She’d missed it ever since. She’d spent most of her day meeting with two clients, planning their upcoming events, but if she’d been asked about any of those details, she’d have none because she was replaying her night and morning with Emma over and over again.
The silence of their shared morning hadn’t been planned, but when she woke and saw Emma lying there naked, remembering what they’d done the night before and how she’d already woken up once on top of her after their rounds of lovemaking, she just didn’t have words to say. Even the words Emma had used to substitute for wow hadn’t been enough in her mind to describe what they’d shared, so she’d chosen none. Then, Emma said nothing and it turned into a near silent morning. She’d never done anything like that with anyone, girlfriend or not.
“So, how’s the business going? When I worked with you for the convention, you were with another company, right?” Summer asked.
“That was my last job with them, actually. I’d technically already given my resignation and started my own company, but they asked me to stay on and work it before I left. Then, the business became my full focus,” Keira replied. “I had a couple of hiccups along the way, but I’m hanging in there. Things are looking up.”
“Yeah?” Emma lifted her head and asked.
“Yeah.”
She’d said that last part for the benefit of Emma’s friends. She didn’t realize that Emma might actually ask about it. They’d been sitting there at the bar for a couple of hours now, talking about everything from Lena’s mom and their upcoming wedding to Summer’s brother who was about to travel to South America for two weeks. Summer wondered if he’d actually return. They talked mostly about Emma and how she was liking her new job and getting settled into the city, though.
“Sorry to hear about the school thing. Charlie filled me in before we left.” Summer took a drink of Lena’s wine.
“School thing?” Keira asked.
“I was going to teach a class at a community college here,” Emma supplied. “They canceled on me.”
“That sucks,” Summer said. “What are you going to do now?”
“Nothing this semester; it’s too late. But they said they want me next semester. I should be okay.”
Keira wasn’t sure exactly what was going on. This was the first she’d heard of it, or if Emma had mentioned, she’d apparently blocked it out, likely because she was staring at Emma and thinking about getting her naked.
“Are you going to be okay?” Lena questioned and stole her glass back from Summer with a sideways glare and wink.
“Yeah, I’ll be okay,” Emma responded and finished her drink. “Honestly though, I am exhausted, and it’s getting late.”
“We should probably go too. We’ve got an early flight tomorrow,” Summer offered. “I’ll go take care of the check.” She went to stand.
“Oh, it’s taken care of,” Keira stated.
“It is?” Emma glanced her way.
“Yeah, I got it,” Keira answered.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Lena said. “We wanted to treat you guys.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Keira offered back.
Emma leaned into her and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Keira told her.
Summer stood alongside Lena who helped her with her jacket. Emma and Keira followed, and the foursome headed toward the door.
“I’m glad I got to see you guys while you were here,” Emma announced once they were outside the bar.
“We’ve got the car. Do you guys want a ride back to your place?” Summer asked while she called for the car on her app. “Or Keira’s place? Or both?”
“Oh, I guess we didn’t talk about that, did we? Where we’re staying tonight?” Keira looked to Emma for guidance. “Or do you want to be–”
“We can go to your place tonight, if you want. You’ve been at mine a lot and it kind of sucks,” Emma reminded. “We can stop by mine and grab some stuff for me and go.”
“Cool. Where do you live?” Summer asked, and Keira answered. “That’s actually on our way out. We can all hop in, go to Emma’s, and then drop you both off before we go home.”
“You guys don’t have to do that,” Emma commented.
“Don’t argue with her about this car thing,” Lena insisted. “I tried about ten times and never got anywhere.”
“Yeah, and she sleeps with me. You can imagine if I don’t give into her…” Summer let herself trail off.
“That’s enough, babe,” Lena discouraged with a smile and wrapped both arms around Summer’s waist, pulling her back into her body.
Keira thought about doing the same with Emma, but as she was about make her move, a black SUV pulled up. Summer turned her head and nodded. Now, that was service. Keira had never had a car arrive that quickly for her before. This must be how the other half lived. They climbed in, Emma next to Keira in the middle with Lena and Summer in the backseat. The drive to Emma’s place was short. Emma told Keira to wait in the car because it would be faster if she didn’t have the distraction upstairs. That left Keira to sit in the car with Lena and Summer and their anonymous driver who sat patiently, toying with his phone.
“So, you and Emma… It’s serious?” Lena asked.
She’d been expecting that, but for some reason, she’d expected it from Summer. Keira turned around to face them and noticed Lena’s head on Summer’s shoulder.
“It is, yeah. I like her a lot.”
“Emma’s kind of been through some stuff in the relationship department,” Lena continued.
“I know. She told me.”
“We just don’t want to see her get hurt. Summer can tell you how that ended up last time, after Eli.”
“Actually, I’d prefer not to mention that ever again,” Summer shared.
“Right,” Keira remarked. “I don’t know how to convince you guys, but my intentions with Miss Emma Colton are pure. I’m crazy about her. It hasn’t been long, but there’s something in her that makes me go crazy when she’s not around, and a different kind of crazy when she is around. I hadn’t planned on falling for anyone. Then she showed up, and I literally almost ran into her.”
“Falling for?” Summer asked and lifted her head. “Yeah?”
“I know I kind of threw myself at you back then. I hope you don’t think I’m like that all the time. Because I’m not, I promise. I liked you. You were always so nice to me. I liked working with you and thought you were interesting. I had no idea you had a girlfriend. She paused. “My best friend and business partner passed away after that, and I started seeing life differently.”
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry,” Lena’s said.
“I didn’t tell you that because–” She stopped herself. “I just wanted you to know that I changed after that. I started taking the idea of a relationship a lot more seriously. And, honestly, I’ve been pretty alone since. Then I met Emma, and she made me feel like I could have someone.”
“And she’s your someone?” Lena asked.
Keira lowered her head and smiled just as the car door opened.
“She is, yeah,” she revealed as a duffel bag was tossed onto the seat beside her and Emma climbed in.
CHAPTER 24
Emma was lying on her back with her legs spread wide; her eyes
were tightly shut. She was reveling in the tingling her entire body was experiencing as Keira lay between her legs, bringing her down from orgasm with her tongue. Emma had been exhausted. She hadn’t lied to Summer and Lena. She’d planned on having a late dinner with Keira, after only having a couple of appetizers at drinks, and then falling asleep. But Keira had other ideas.
Kevin, it turned out, had stayed at his girlfriend’s place again, which meant they were alone. After Keira made them a couple of sandwiches, she’d pushed the plates now filled with ham and cheese and barbecue potato chips aside and took Emma next to the counter. Emma hadn’t been prepared for that, but she had no problem with kitchen sex. She had no problem with sex in any room of any house with Keira as her partner. Keira hadn’t allowed her to reciprocate though, saying they needed to eat and get some sleep. Emma had argued and attempted to kiss her way down Keira’s still half-clothed body, but Keira had resisted her charms. They’d eaten and readied themselves for sleep. Just as Emma rolled onto her stomach, Keira started kissing her back, claiming she just planned on doing that and that alone. But once her hand slid between Emma’s legs where she only found her panties, Keira hadn’t been able to stop. Emma’s orgasm led to Keira’s orgasm. And when Emma felt like they were done for the night, Keira slid between her legs and took her into her mouth.
“You are insatiable,” Emma finally muttered with her hand pressed against her forehead, as if to check to see that she was still all there. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had so many in a day in my life.”
Keira slid on top of her and stared down at her with a knowing smirk.
“Well, I am happy to help.” She kissed Emma.
“It’s one in the morning,” Emma reminded when Keira kissed her throat, moving from her collarbone to below her earlobe.
“I’m aware,” Keira stated, and Emma could feel the smile on her face even though she couldn’t see it.
“I have to work tomorrow, and so do you.”
“My first client meeting isn’t until ten.” She sucked Emma’s earlobe into her mouth. “And you can be a little late tomorrow, right?”
“I can?” Emma laughed.
“Sure, you can. You’re a Director, aren’t you?” Keira’s lips moved to the other side of Emma’s neck by way of her jawline.
“I’m a Director whose boss works right down the hall and might notice if I’m late.”
“Bring her coffee from Philz,” Keira suggested. “She’ll forgive you.” She kissed up to Emma’s other earlobe. “You tell her the line was really long and you sleep in with me tomorrow morning,” she whispered.
“Have you done this before, Miss Worthy?” Emma asked and placed her arms around Keira’s shoulders.
“I have, actually,” Keira admitted and lifted herself up to stare down at Emma.
“After a night like this?” Emma wanted to know and didn’t want to know at the same time.
“No.” Keira laughed and rolled off of Emma, lying beside her. “After a night or two of staying up late drinking and hanging out with friends, mostly Michelle.” She turned her head to face Emma. “It only works once or twice though, so you should make sure if you’re going to use the trick, it’s worth it.”
Emma rolled on top of her, holding herself above her.
“Oh, it’s worth it.” She leaned down and captured Keira’s lips.
◆◆◆
“Hey, Key,” Kevin greeted when he entered the apartment.
“Hey, Kev. I didn’t think you’d be home this morning.” Keira was eating a bowl of cereal while Emma took a shower.
“I planned on going straight to work, but I ran out of pants over at Tracy’s.”
“You seem to be wearing pants now, thank God,” she joked and took a bite.
“Funny. I don’t think showing up in sweatpants to work is ideal. Emma’s here?” he asked, deducing that fact likely after noticing the shower was running.
“Yeah, she stayed over last night.”
“You two are getting serious, huh?” he asked and sat down next to her.
“Yes, so don’t screw it up for me,” she teased.
Kevin reached for and took her spoon. He took a bite of her cereal and sat down next to her at the table.
“I won’t. Actually, while I have you here, I need to talk to you about something. You’re not going to like it.”
“What’s up?” She took her spoon back and dropped it into her bowl.
“I am a bad friend, and I’m sorry,” he said.
“You’re an amazing friend. What are you talking about?”
“I have to move out. There. I said it.” He exhaled a deep breath he’d apparently been holding in.
“What?”
Keira could feel her face go white. She could feel it. She also felt her jaw drop and her hands grow immediately clammy.
“I know. I’m so sorry, Key. I know you need me here to help out with rent, but I’ll help you find another roommate if I can, or another place if that’s what you want.”
“Why?”
“I got a promotion,” he revealed. “It’s in Sacramento. It’s an amazing opportunity for me. Tracy has family there.”
“She’s moving with you?”
“Not right away. She’s just up for considering it down the road,” he shared.
“When?”
“I have to be in Sacramento at the end of the month, but I can pay rent here until the end of the lease or until you find someone to take it over.”
“That’s only two months. We have two months left. I thought we were going to sign again.” She stared down at her now soggy and forgotten cereal.
“I know, but I had no idea the promotion was coming. The woman in Sacramento resigned last week, and they tapped me to take her place. I found out yesterday. Tracy and I talked about it last night. We both agree it’s a good move for me and for us.”
“I understand.”
“You do?”
The shower turned off, and she knew that Emma would be coming out of the bathroom soon. She didn’t want Emma to hear this conversation.
“I do, Kev. I just have to figure some stuff out financially,” she replied.
“I can help for a few months, like I said. I know I dropped this on you. I would never leave you with the whole lease.”
“I appreciate that.”
“We can talk more later,” he said when he realized Keira’s eyes continued to monitor the closed bathroom door.
Keira’s day had started off so well. She and Emma had woken up together and made love. It was an exhausted round where neither of them took any clothing off their bodies but reached inside because they knew it would be hours until they could touch each other like that again. She’d given Emma the first shower while she made them both coffee and grabbed a quick bowl of cereal, leaving one poured for Emma save the milk, which she could eat while Keira showered. All the sudden though, things were vastly different. Kevin was moving out in a month. She’d have to find somewhere else to live after that. She couldn’t afford this apartment on her own. She couldn’t afford it with another roommate that just paid their share. Kevin always paid more than his share, and for that, she would be eternally grateful. Emma emerged from the bathroom just as Kevin entered his bedroom to change for work.
“Did I hear you talking to someone?” she asked while buttoning her work shirt and walking toward the table.
“Kevin’s here. He forgot work clothes. He’s changing.”
“The shower’s free and belongs to you.” She kissed Keira on the forehead and took the seat next to her, pouring milk into her bowl without worry, and Keira didn’t want her good spirits to change because of something Keira still needed to work out for herself.
“Thanks.” Keira pushed her cereal toward the middle of the table and stood.
The shower didn’t feel cleansing at all. Usually, she turned off her mind in the shower to reset for the new day. Today though, all she could think about was the fact that she needed to start looking
for another apartment.
“Hey, Kevin told me to say goodbye for him. Oh, and I got his permission to wash these.” Emma stood behind the counter, cleaning their cereal bowls. “He also said you guys could talk tonight. Everything okay?”
Keira moved to stand next to her and said, “Everything’s fine. Just roommate stuff.”
“I should probably be going now. It’s going to take me longer to get into the city from here.” Emma placed the last bowl onto the drying rack and wiped her hands with a dishcloth.
“Right. It’s a lot closer when we’re at your apartment,” Keira commented.
As she watched Emma place the rag down on the counter after folding it neatly and pressing it into place, she considered what it might be like to do this with her every morning. They’d wake up, shower, eat breakfast and get ready for work. They’d kiss each other goodbye as they went about their days. They’d return home and have dinner, make love and watch their favorite shows or just be together in the same space. She smiled at the thought.
“What?” Emma asked.
“Nothing. What?”
“You’re looking at me weird,” Emma argued.
“No, I’m not. I’m just looking at you,” she defended.
“Fine. I’ll let it go.” Emma squinted at her and leaned in for a sweet kiss. “I have to go. Should I wait for you though?”
“No, you have further to go than I do. Go ahead. Call me later?”
“Of course.” Emma kissed her again, gathered her belongings, and waved with a smile as she left the apartment.
◆◆◆
“She approached you?” Keira asked her client as she sat across from them in their restaurant.
The restaurant was opening a third location, and Keira had been hired to manage the grand opening affair. It was really a soft opening that they invited their investors and close friends and family to, but enlisted Keira to handle the bulk of the planning outside of the food, obviously.
“She did. She’s a friend of the principal investors, so I can’t do anything about it,” her client, one of the partners in the restaurant, told her. “I am sorry, Keira.”
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