“Wonderful, Addie. You’re wonderful.” Toni arched, pressing Addie’s fingers deeper inside her in the process. “Faster… there’s a good girl. Just… like… that.”
She was gorgeous; a thin sheen of sweat seemed like it outlined the ridiculous taut stomach and small but firm breasts. Toni’s hips were moving as she rode Addie’s hand, and when Toni fell apart under Addie’s touch, Addie felt a rush of power like nothing she had ever experienced.
I did that.
She looked down at the satiated look on Toni’s face for just a moment as she slid her fingers out of Toni’s grasping, pulsing warmth.For a moment, she left her other hand where it was, pressed against Toni’s clit.
The relaxed, open expression on Toni’s face was the same expression she’d had briefly when lecturing sometimes, as if everything was right in her world. Not hungry or cautious, not tense or reserved. Open, raw, and completely stunning because of it.
Then Toni looked like she was starting to rebuild a wall. She shifted so Addie was no longer touching her and nudged Addie’s knees apart. “Would you like me to touch you or put my mouth—”
“Touch,” Addie said quickly. The thought of theother thingwas daunting still. “Touch this time. I’m not ready for… Maybe if we do this again and—”
“That’s okay,” Toni interrupted as she pushed Addie gently, so she was half kneeling. “There aren’t rules.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you,” Addie confessed.
“You aren’t. Not at all. Can you stay like this?” Toni asked, staring up at her. “Rise up a little more and part these lovely legs for me?”
Addie adjusted, feeling a little self-conscious about squatting on the bed in front of Toni.
Then Toni sat up and asked, “Can I take this off, love?”
“If you want…,” Addie started, but then Toni was kissing her. Her hands were under Addie’s shirt, and the thin fabric felt like an obstacle.
Addie tugged her blouse off, and in doing so realized that they were chest to chest. Her brain blanked out slightly at the fact that she had never been bare-chested against another woman.
“Up,” Toni ordered. Her hair was mussed, and her lips were kiss-swollen, and Addie was sure she’d never seen anyone more lovely. “On your knees, love.”
When Addie moved onto her knees instead of sitting back on her haunches, her breasts were in Toni’s face. By the time Toni had her mouth on Addie’s breasts and her hand between Addie’s thighs, Addie realized why Toni wanted her in this position.
Addie trembled from head to toe from the combined feel of Toni’s mouth on her nipples and her hand between Addie’s thighs.Her body was already wet and ready, and unlike the night in the garden, Addie was fairly sure this wouldn’t last very long at all. She pushed back her disappointment and within moments, Addie was clutching at Toni and holding on to her for support as her orgasm rolled over her. The noises she made were feral-sounding, and even as she felt herself shudder, she stillwanted.
But a few minutes later, Toni slid out of bed. “Do you need water or anything?”
Addie watched Toni seemingly reassemble her walls, as if she had to shift into a more reserved version of herself and create distance now. Toni Darbyshire was clearly not at ease with vulnerability, even now after she’d fallen apart under Addie’s hands and driven Addie to a shaking mess, even as the room smelled of sweat and sex.
Toni pulled a sheet up over Addie. “It’s chilly in here. I can adjust the temp.…”
That won’t do.If Toni was uncomfortable, she was going to come up with a reason to send Addie away.I want to be here, with her, in all the ways I can.
Addie flopped back on the bed, staring at Toni as she returned. “Sooooo… you wrote a book after we met. And there’s a sequel soon?”
Toni glanced at her and smiled in what looked like relief as they resumed chatting as they had been all night. “In theory.The Widow’s Curseis what I’m working on between lesson-planning and grading and promo for the first one. I wrote the first book before I met you actually. I sent it to Em that night, and I decided that if it sold, I’d name the protagonist after you.”
“Not going to lie, I squealed when I saw it.” Addie stretched and stared up at Toni, whose mask of indifference slipped as she watched Addie’s bare leg emerge from the sheets. “It felt like that night meant something to you, too.”
Toni nodded. It wasn’t much of an admission, but it wasn’t a refutation either. The truth was that Addie was very used to being the person who wore every emotion on her sleeve, but she wanted topoint out that she noticed, that she already knew she wasn’t alone in feeling things.
Life was short, so why waste time on hiding?
Instead of replying, Toni walked over to the hotel minibar and uncovered a highball glass. “Drink or…?”
“Water first.” Addie sat up and patted the bed. “Am I allowed a drink now that I’m already here inyourbed?”
Addie accepted the glass of water Toni held out.
“Cheeky thing. Yes, but hydrate first.” Toni leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on Addie’s mouth.
