But that was before the kiss.
And now, all Sarah could think about was the kiss.
She kicked off her heels and walked barefoot through the apartment. She and Billy had lived in a large house in the Key Haven area, not far from the hotel. It had been a lovely home but without Billy, she’d felt lonely. So six months ago, she’d rented a cute two-bedroom apartment in the heart of Key West, in the old Gato Cigar Factory, which now house several apartments.
Usually, she loved the place but today, it’s quiet felt almost oppressive.
That damn kiss.
It had been so brief. Barely a second. But Sarah couldn’t stop replaying it. The softness of Lizzie’s mouth. The little gasp she’d made when their lips touched.
She hadn’t kissed a woman in years. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like, that power that only happened with women. The way her whole body responded differently.
She closed her eyes. In her mind, the kiss lasted longer. Lizzie’s hands in her hair instead of on her waist. Sarah backingher against a wall somewhere private, somewhere without cameras and drunk college kids cheering. Kissing her properly, deeply, until they were both breathless.
Her hand drifted down her stomach, under the waistband of her slacks.
She was already wet. Had been since the moment Lizzie pulled her onto the dance floor. Maybe before that, if she was being honest with herself.
Sarah touched herself slowly at first, her hand sliding under the waistband of her slacks.
She imagined Lizzie’s mouth on her neck, kissing down to her collarbone. Those freckled shoulders bare under Sarah’s hands, warm skin that smelled like sunscreen and vanilla. The dress Lizzie had been wearing at the party, how easy it would be to slide the straps down.
Her fingers moved in slow circles. She let herself sink into the fantasy, building it piece by piece. Lizzie in her bed instead of at the party. No crowd, no cameras, just the two of them in the dark. Sarah kissing her properly this time, deeply, tasting her. Lizzie responding with that eager energy she brought to everything, pulling Sarah closer.
Sarah’s breathing quickened. Her free hand moved to her breast, squeezing through the fabric of her blouse. In her mind, it was Lizzie’s hand. Lizzie touching her, exploring, learning what Sarah liked. Those sparkling eyes watching Sarah’s reactions, that quick intelligence focused entirely on giving pleasure.
She imagined pushing Lizzie back against the pillows. Kissing down her throat, her sternum, lower. Lizzie’s hands inSarah’s hair, gripping tight. The little sounds she might make when Sarah’s mouth found her breast, when Sarah’s tongue circled her nipple.
Sarah’s fingers moved faster now, her hips rocking slightly against her own hand. She could picture it so clearly. The taste of Lizzie’s skin. The way her body would arch when Sarah moved lower still, kissing down her stomach, spreading her thighs.
The fantasy shifted. Now Lizzie was the one on top, straddling Sarah’s hips. Auburn hair falling around them like a curtain. Lizzie grinding down, both of them still clothed but desperate for friction. Sarah’s hands on Lizzie’s hips, guiding the movement, watching her face as she got close.
Sarah added pressure, her fingers finding the rhythm that always worked. She imagined Lizzie naked now, that tight body on display. Imagined using her tongue the way she really wanted to, tasting Lizzie properly, making her come undone. The sounds Lizzie would make. The way she’d say Sarah’s name in that breathless voice people got when they were right on the edge.
Her own breath was coming in short gasps now. The fantasy played out in vivid detail. Lizzie beneath her, thighs spread, Sarah’s face between her legs. Lizzie’s hands fisted in the sheets, her back arching, saying “please” and “don’t stop” and “Sarah” over and over.
Sarah’s fingers worked faster, circling her clit in tight, urgent movements. She was close, so close. In her mind, Lizzie was saying her name, begging, right there with her.
The orgasm hit hard and sudden, rolling through her in waves. Sarah bit her lip to stay quiet even though she was alone, her hips lifting off the couch as pleasure pulsed through herbody. She rode it out, her fingers still moving, drawing out every last sensation until she was oversensitive and trembling.
Afterward, she sat there for a long moment, her hand still between her legs, her heart pounding. Her blouse was rumpled, her slacks twisted. She felt flushed and satisfied and immediately disgusted with herself.
What was she doing? Lizzie was Sarah’s employee.
She stood abruptly, sorting her clothes out and grabbed her purse. She needed to get out of this apartment before she did something even more stupid. A walk would clear her head. Fresh air.
She walked down to Duval Street which was packed with tourists. No wonder.
It always was on Saturday nights during spring break. The bars were all open, music spilling out onto the sidewalk. Someone was playing guitar on a corner, his case open for tips.
She passed one of the larger bars, popular with tourists and locals alike. The bass from inside rattled the windows.
Sarah kept walking. She wasn’t ready to go into any of these places. She just needed to move, to burn off the restless energy still humming under her skin.
A block ahead, the door to Larry’s Bar opened and a group of people spilled out, laughing. Sarah barely registered them until she saw the auburn hair. It wasn’t confined in a ponytail anymore. Instead, it hung open, midway down to her back.
Lizzie.
