Kaelee rolled to her feet and shoved her jeans and briefs off. She’d already lost her shirt, bra, and shoes, so she now walked across the room bare-ass naked so she could put her clothes all in one spot. She piled her clothes all together on the desk, and then she tucked her shoes under the desk. When she looked back, Marie had her head propped up in her hand, watching Kaelee.
“I want to ask about the tattoo,” Marie said, obviously having read the words that lined Kaelee’s spine.
“You can ask me questions, or you can touch me,” Kaelee said. “I can’t offer you both. Which do you want more?”
“You’re cruel, aren’t you?” Marie said.
“Sometimes,” Kaelee admitted.
“I’m not asking for your hand. I just want to know more about you.”
After a moment, Kaelee relented just a little. “It says, ‘I am no bird; and no net ensnares me. I am free.’”
Kaelee waited for the obvious reactions people had, remarks on tattoos and attempts to connect, but Marie’s was unexpected.
“Paraphrase ofJane Eyre.” There was no doubt in Marie’s voice. That was new in hookups. Apparently, Marie was a bit of a book lover.
“Yes.” Kaelee eyed her with increased interest. “No one usually gets that.”
“Majored in English.”
“History,” Kaelee offered with a shrug. “I liked the idea of not being ensnared. Untrapped. Uncaged.”
“What thinking womandoesn’tlike freedom?” Marie said with a laugh. “Maybe not always the same way. I almost got married once. It didn’t feel like a cage, though.”
“To a woman?”
Marie rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”
“Not totally obvious. I was engaged to a man.” Kaelee flinched internally at the thought. Kyle was an asshole. Older, interested in Daddy’s money, and she was just the obstacle he was told to conquer in order for him to access it.
“I find that unexpected.” Marie’s expression was carefully shuttered.
“It wasn’t my idea.” Kaelee shrugged. “I’m free now, though. My family arranged the engagement, and I was expected to go along with it like a pawn. Somehow they werestunnedthat I was actually not interested in him or any man.” Kaelee laughed, thinking back to her parents’ reactions. Sure, she had different clothes and hair when she lived in North Carolina, but how had they not noticed? Kids at school had. Her family neversawher, though. Being different was so far outside their conception that they couldn’t even imagine it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thinking about this is a mood killer,” Kaelee said lightly. “I have a work obligation tomorrow anyhow, and you seem sated. Maybe I should go.”
“Where do you w—”
“No,” Kaelee cut her off. “You’re easy to talk to, Marie, but I don’tdothis part. I am not here to make a friend or date. I came here to fuck. Just that. You got what you wanted, so maybe I ought to head out. I’m not expecting you to get me off. Lots of women don’t, and I’m fine with that.”
“Whoa. What Iwantincludes having my hands on you.” Marie sat up. “Let me apologize, Lee. I simply find people interesting, and you’re…” She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “You’re gorgeous, mysterious, and I’m a little languid after you… took such great care of me.”
“I don’t want to share life stories,” Kaelee stressed. “Sex? I’ll stay. Chatting? I’m out.”
“Stay a bit. Let me make it up to you. I won’t ask any questionsabout anything but how you want me to touch you.” Marie was practically purring. “Let me make you feel good. Please?”
Kaelee nodded, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay if they were going to uncover old wounds.
Then Marie pulled back the sheet and invited her into the bed. Kaelee was horny as hell; getting a woman off left her on the edge of orgasm every time, and tonight, she wanted to feel Marie’s body against her own when she came. The problem with hookups was that Kaelee wasn’t able to have enough trust to be on the receiving side of anything other than basics, and often not even that, but there was still something wonderful about letting another person’s hands drive her to orgasm when Kaelee could manage to surrender enough control.
“What do you want, Lee?”
Typically, Kaelee lied a little, but for a change she said the truth: “Slow and soft until I can’t resist. Make me wait for it, or I won’t get off.”
“Hands? Toys? I have one in—”
