“I didn’t mean it like that.” Zoe locked the car and hooked her arm through Marcy’s. “But you have to understand that I’m afraid of going anywhere with you. Even if we started dating, you wouldn’t stay committed; that’s not how you work. You’re always focused on the next conquest, the next challenge, and I don’t want to get hurt.”
“What if I’m sick of challenges?” Marcy asked. “What if I’m bored of the meaningless encounters? I’m falling for you, Zoe. Do you have any idea how scary it is for me to admit that?” Zoe didn’t look her in the eyes, and Marcy felt frustrated. Why was it so hard to get through to her? “What would it take for me to prove to you that I’m serious, that I want to change?”
At that, Zoe did look up. “I… I don’t know,” she stammered. “I don’t know. I don’t want to get burned twice.” She rubbed her temple. “Oh, God, this is a bad idea. Maybe I should just go home.”
“Please don’t. Just tell me what you want from me.” Marcy’s voice went up a notch, like she was begging now. It was strange to hear herself like that, but she didn’t care as she desperately wanted Zoe to stay. “I promise I’ll be respectful.”
“Hmm…” Zoe’s grip tightened around her arm and the pressure shot through Marcy’s body like a lightning bolt.
“It’s just a drink,” she said.
“It’s never just a drink with you.” Zoe hesitated as they came up to Marcy’s caravan. She stared at it as if it was the Devil’s den, then let out a long sigh. “Okay, fuck it. Get me that beer, woman. I’m thirsty.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Zoe’s demeanour changed, and she suddenly seemed determined, as if she’d only then decided she didn’t care about anything anymore. “Yes, I’m throwing caution to the wind, let’s have a drink. And don’t feel like you have to walk on eggshells around me, I’m a big girl now.”
“Okay. One cold beer coming up.” Marcy opened the gate and gestured to the recliner. “Take a seat, I cleaned it especially for you, it’s waiting to throw you on your back again” she joked. “I’ll be right back.” Heading inside and into the kitchen, Marcy let out the breath she’d been holding. Sure, she wanted to kiss Zoe again. In fact, she wanted to do a whole lot more than that. But she mainly just craved her company and that was new to her.
40
“Fuck it,” Zoe said again, this time to herself.I’m here now and I’m sick of fighting it.She glanced at the recliner, then took a seat on one of the benches instead. It wasn’t as comfortable, but she wanted to sit next to Marcy. She wanted to be close to her.
Marcy came out with two cold bottles and glanced at the bench as if this was a test.
“Come here,” Zoe said, patting the space next to her, and the way Marcy stared at her would have been funny if there wasn’t so much tension in the air.
Marcy sat and turned to her as she handed her the beer. “Cheers.”
“Cheers to a successful fundraising.” Zoe clinked her bottle against Marcy’s and smiled. “What are you looking at?” she asked as Marcy’s eyes flicked to the top of her head.
“There’s another butterfly flapping in your hair.” Marcy leaned in to study it and Zoe wasn’t sure if she was genuinely interested in the butterfly or that she just wanted to be near her. She could feel the heat radiating off her skin and longed to feel that clammy skin against hers. The butterfly flapped around Zoe’s head for a while, tickling her ear, until it flew off. “I get why they’re drawn to you.” She pulled a lock of hair behind Zoe’s ear and as she drew her hand back, it brushed against her cheek. It could have been an accident, but Zoe knew it wasn’t.
“Don’t be fooled; it’s just the acacia,” she said. The silence that followed was loaded, but it didn’t make her uncomfortable. Tonight, Zoe decided, she was going to give into her desires, no matter how disappointing the outcome. No matter how much it would hurt her. Her libido was through the roof, Marcy was here and willing, and it had been a long nine months since she’d last had sex. She draped her arm over the bench’s back rest and turned to her, hoping she’d make a move.
“Again, thank you so much for today.” Marcy shot her that dimpled smile that always made her feel gooey, and it was then that she lost the battle.
Zoe took a long sip from her beer and leaned in closer. “I suggest you stop thanking me and kiss me instead,” she said matter-of-factly, her eyes meeting Marcy’s deep blue depths. Her heart was racing a million beats per minute, but she ignored it.
Marcy looked startled, her eyes going dark within seconds. “What?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Did I just imagine it or did you say—”
“You heard me. I said, stop thanking me and kiss me instead.” Zoe ran a hand through Marcy’s hair. It was soft and smooth, and she took a hold of it and pulled her closer. She wasn’t normally this assertive, but the past weeks had got the better of her, and she was unable to hold back any longer. “I want you,” she whispered, knowing she’d regret it in the morning but not caring any longer. The energy between them was palpable, and they were both breathing fast, craving each other.
Marcy didn’t give in straight away, her mind clearly churning with what-ifs. Her gaze lowered to Zoe’s mouth, then to her eyes before she cupped her face and pulled her towards her. “Come here.”
Zoe rode on the euphoric wave and it was wild. She let Marcy lead and closed her eyes as their lips met in an explosive kiss. Unlike their first kiss, she’d been anticipating this one, and the rush it caused made her instantly wet and desperate for more. She reciprocated, parting her lips to let Marcy in, and the exchange was needy, bordering on rough after withholding for so long. Nails scratched, hair was fisted, limbs were squeezed, hard and unapologetically and moans rang through the air. The touch of her lips, her tongue, the way she held her tight… She shifted on the bench and straddled Marcy. “Take me,” she begged.
Marcy pulled away for a moment and shot her a bewildered look. “But you said—”
“Forget what I said.” Zoe moved a hand between Marcy’s thighs, causing her to buck underneath her. “Let’s just do what we feel like, right here, right now. We’ll deal with the consequences later.” Marcy’s hot breath was on her face, her expression delirious with desire, and to Zoe’s surprise, Marcy stood up and lifted her in the process.
“Okay, but not out here, there’s no privacy. How does the bedroom sound?” she asked, smiling against Zoe’s mouth. Without waiting for an answer, she carried her inside and dropped her on the bed. Then, she just stood there, staring at her. “Zoe… Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Zoe looked up at Marcy and shot her a cheeky smile. She knew it was true, but again, she didn’t care. Tonight, was all about her body, and she was going to enjoy this no matter what. Slowly, she started undressing as Marcy watched from the end of the bed. Her shorts first, then her vest top until she was only left in her favourite black lingerie set. Thinking back to this morning when she got dressed, she knew this would happen all along.
“Jesus...” Marcy’s eyes were rooted to her body as she got on the bed and crawled towards her. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”
“Again, I bet you say that to—”
