Riley let out a deep sigh, basking in the euphoria of their love and connection that knew no boundaries, no limitations, and they both moaned as they sank into a sea of wonderful sensations. She knew Quinn could feel how wet she was, how much she craved her, and when Quinn pushed into her, Riley’s whole body jerked with ecstasy. The delicious pressure and the deep kiss that followed made her delirious with lust. Quinn took her hand and laced their fingers together while her other hand drifted down over Riley’s waist and hips, curling inward.
Quinn’s behind was firm under her fingertips, and Riley felt her muscles tense as she squeezed her flesh. Spreading her legs, she welcomed Quinn’s hand that caressed the inside of her thigh, slowly moving up to find her slick with arousal. Her light touch made her gasp against Quinn’s mouth, and when Quinn built up pressure and ran her fingers through her folds, Riley dug her nails into Quinn’s behind and moaned loudly. Her other hand squeezed Quinn’s, trembling in her grip.
Kissing her fiercely, Quinn entered her, then carefully added another finger, and fucked her slowly and deeply while riding Riley’s leg. She licked her lips, and a moan escaped her as she thrust into her.
“Lift your hips,” Riley whispered and moved her hand in between them to caress Quinn’s wet, swollen center. Her arousal made Riley squirm; nothing was sexier than Quinn’s pleasure. Her beautiful face glistened with a sheen of sweat, her eyes dark and determined, and behind her, the crystals of the ceiling chandelier reflected the late-afternoon sun, causing specks of light to dance over her hair as they found a lazy rhythm together. When Riley circled her clit, Quinn let out a hoarse cry and bucked against her, clenching her jaw.
Hungry to possess all of her, Riley sought her mouth again and relished in their intimacy. Her core tightened, she was floating, and everything apart from them blurred into insignificance. She was close and so was Quinn; she could feel it in her movements that became faster, and she could hear it in her erratic breathing.
“Come with me, baby,” she murmured, grasping Quinn’s hair.
Quinn nodded and her mouth pulled into a smile as she pushed deeper, penetrating her harder and faster until Riley let go and exploded, her muscles jerking tightly around Quinn’s fingers. They tensed, clasping each other, and Riley felt not only her own pleasure but also Quinn’s climax coursing through her veins. She loved this woman more than anything, and lying on the hallway floor with Quinn’s fingers still inside her, she felt happy tears stinging the corners of her eyes. Emotions caught up on her as she processed her family’s visit and the moment she thought she might not live to see another day. She’d been blessed. She had a new life, a new forever love, and a new sense of gratitude for every breath she took and every moment she was alive. This time around, she was going to make it count.
73
QUINN
Quinn’s day had started out uneventfully with her commute to site; a lovely building in the city center of Mystic that her team was converting into three apartments. She’d worked hard all day, then stopped by Lindsey’s place on her way back to Aster House where she’d had a cup of tea and cake with Lindsey and Martin. They seemed so comfortable around each other now, and Quinn was slowly getting used to seeing Martin as her best friend’s partner rather than someone who wanted her gone from the planet.
As always, she was looking forward to coming home to Riley. That was the best part of her day: finally holding her again. Riley hadn’t joined her at Lindsey’s house because she was busy putting together ideas for her bed-and-breakfast with Quinn’s mother, who was keen to be a part of it.
The sun was already low as she crossed the drawbridge, but the August heat was still sweltering this year. That was unusual for Connecticut, but she loved their long nights in the yard on the riverbank. They’d even had fireflies by the swing under the old willow, and a flock of ducks and two swans had made the water’s edge their home, demanding breakfast each morning. There were butterflies, birds, and otters, and they were graced with regular visits from a badger whom they’d named Lindsey because it made a habit of stealing cookies from the pantry when they left the door open.
As she drove through the gates and up the drive, something was different. There was a certain scent in the air that triggered her to look closer, and as she turned her gaze to the lawn, she saw thousands of little purple buds poking through the green. As always, she hadn’t seen it coming.
In the years prior when she’d driven by the house, she’d always stopped by the gates to admire the spectacle, but she wasn’t an outsider anymore. It wouldn’t be more than a few days until the yard would be transformed into a dreamscape.
“Did you see it?” Riley said as she came out to greet her. Quinn got out of her pickup, and Riley flung her arms around her.
“Yeah. It’s started.” Quinn smiled and kissed her softly, then turned to view the beauty that had emerged from the other side of the lawn.
“They’re everywhere and materialized out of nowhere,” Riley continued. “This morning it was still green and when I came out a few hours later, the whole color scheme had changed. And not just a few either. It’s like they all collectively woke each other up.” She shook her head and knelt down to examine the buds. They were purple, pink, and white, but Quinn knew the purple would take over. It had always been that way. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“You haven’t seen anythingyet. Wait a week and you’ll really be blown away.”
“It’s so much more impactful than in the pictures.” Riley took her hand and squeezed it. “It’s already a masterpiece. I feel so lucky to live here.”
“So do I.” Quinn took her in her arms and kissed her forehead. “Do you want to have a drink on the front steps?”
“Yes.” Riley grinned. “I already chilled a couple of beers. I’ll have one with you.” She wiped her forehead. “I was going to make herbal tea, but it’s so warm, I need something cold.” A strand of hair was stuck to her clammy forehead, and Quinn brushed it away. Riley was tanned now, and she had a healthy glow to her cheeks.
“A cold beer sounds perfect,” she said. “Are you okay having alcohol since you have your hospital appointment tomorrow?”
“Yes, it’s fine as long as I don’t have too much.” Riley let go of her and sprinted up the steps into the house. “Stop worrying so much about me. How many times do I have to tell you?” she yelled over her shoulder. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Okay, okay.” Quinn chuckled as she sat on the steps. She would always worry about Riley, but knowing she was now having checkups every few months rather than twice a year made her feel a little better. “Are you nervous?” she asked when Riley came back out and handed her a beer.
“About tomorrow? I feel fine, so no, not really, and besides, the excitement of this manifestation…” Riley gestured to the lawn. “It took my mind off it.” She leaned into Quinn. “You?”
“Of course. It’s been bugging me.” Quinn shrugged and pressed the cold bottle against her neck before she took a sip. “You seemed fine before, and then…” She winced. “Then I almost lost you.”
“You won’t lose me. Hey…” Riley met her eyes and cupped her cheek. “I promise that from now on, I’ll let you know if I feel something’s not right. No matter how much I know you’ll worry about me. I’ll tell you everything.”
“Please. That will make life easier for me.” Quinn wrapped an arm around her and pushed away negative thoughts as she pulled her close. All she wanted was to sit here with Riley and enjoy the miracle of nature unfolding in front of their eyes. It would be a memorable day, and she wanted it to end on a good note. A hopeful note. “How was your session with my mother?”
“It was great. She had so many good ideas—things I would have never thought of myself. We’ll move the big desk from the office into the hallway and use it as a reception desk, as it suits the style of the house, and she suggested turning the office into a communal space for the guests so we won’t have to give up our privacy by letting them use our living room. She also suggested signing deals with local restaurants who can deliver so I won’t have to worry about arranging dinner for them.” Riley paused. “I really want to try this. I think I can make it work with her help. I won’t have to do much myself. Tammy can take care of the changeovers, and your mother can take care of the reception desk part-time, so all that’s left for me to do is cook breakfast and be available when your mom’s not here. Frankly, I can’t wait to start welcoming people to this special place. It should be shared.”
“I love that,” Quinn said. “And Mom knows what she’s talking about. She’s got over forty years of experience and knows the tourist scene in Mystic inside out. Thank you for letting her be a part of this. She really needed something to focus on.”
