Taryn lost herself in the sensation of Cassie’s soft lips on hers, and gravity seemed to become guidance rather than a rule, with her feet lifting off the ground in euphoric joy. She tugged Cassie hard against her, forgetting her recent injuries, and when their bodies slammed together, she groaned in pain.
Cassie pulled away slightly and laid her hand gently on Taryn’s chest. “Easy, tiger,” she whispered. “Let’s go somewhere you can just lay down and relax while I have my wicked way with you.”
Taryn grinned. Andi had given permission for Taryn to follow her heart. She thought about the research she’d been doing into Doctors Without Borders and how it might work for them both. But there was Cassie’s mom, Rachel, the hospital, her new work at the free clinic… But she didn’t want to think about that right now. “I have a feeling we could get a room in this hotel. I know the owner quite well.”
“Indeed.” Cassie ran her finger over Taryn’s lips. “And she does seem to be rooting for us.”
“Let’s go.” Taryn led Cassie out of the meeting room and headed for Bernice’s office. Hopefully reserving a room wouldn’t take long, because all she wanted to do was jump into bed and let Cassie make love to her until her bruised body could take no more.
And when those hours had passed, they could spend the rest of the day figuring out their future.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Nice touch to give us the same suite we first had sex in,” Cassie said as she led Taryn inside.
“Is that what we’re going to be doing now—just sex?” Taryn closed the door behind them, then slipped her arms around Cassie’s waist.
“No.” Cassie walked backward, drawing Taryn with her. “I’m going to make love to you. Slowly.” She pushed open the bedroom door with her heel. “Veryslowly.” Cassie stopped a few feet before the bed. “I’m going to take my time undressing you, so I can fully take in every inch of your godlike physique.”
Taryn laughed lightly. “Or we could get real naked real quick.” She glanced away, almost shy. “I’m not sure I can take this level of adoration.”
“You’ll have to get used to it.” Cassie unsnapped the top stud on Taryn’s denim shirt and kissed her collarbone. She leaned back and popped the next two, then ran her hands across Taryn’s chest and murmured her appreciation. She opened the last few down to the large buckle of Taryn’s belt and pulled her shirt out of her jeans.
Cassie bent slightly to press delicate kisses around Taryn’s stitches, careful not to apply too much pressure near her bruised skin. “You’re going to have some scars, I think,” she said as she ran her fingers around the waist of Taryn’s jeans.
“Scars are free tattoos with a good back story,” Taryn whispered and ran her fingers through Cassie’s hair.
Cassie extricated herself from Taryn’s grip and moved around to her back. She pulled Taryn’s shirt slowly over her shoulders, kissing her well-developed traps and rear delts. She traced her nail across the tree at the top of Taryn’s full back tattoo. “You never did tell me who this woman is and why you’ve immortalized her on your back.” Cassie held no judgment for it; people did crazy things when they were young or in love or in foreign countries, and the art was truly beautiful work.
“You never asked.”
Cassie raked her nails along Taryn’s biceps and forearms as she dragged her shirt further up, revealing the full extent of the tree, the stunning long-haired woman, and the geometric designs surrounding her. She pulled Taryn’s top off completely and tossed it on the bed. “It didn’t seem my place to ask about it before. But now that you’re mine, I’m asking.”
“There’s nothing to be jealous of,” Taryn said, her voice husky. “She’s Gaia, the creator and protector of the earth, brought forth from nothingness and chaos.”
“Mm, that seems fitting.” Cassie followed the fine lines of a complex symbol with a single nail, enjoying the response of Taryn’s shivering body beneath her fingertips. “You’ve brought me back from a black hole and certain chaos. What about the symmetrical shapes?”
“Sacred geometry. It’s all about the flow of energy and changing negative to positive thoughts… Your touch is making my knees weak.”
Cassie pressed her body to Taryn’s naked back and gestured toward the chair by the desk. “Straddle that. There’s no way I’m rushing this. You’ve let me have you twice before, and both times, I was so desperate to get my hands on you that I rushed right in. And I have to be careful with you while you’re recovering.” She ran her fingers in the hard ridge between Taryn’s abs. “I’m savoring every second and every inch.”
Taryn grabbed the chair and sat astride the seat. “Tease.”
Cassie sank to her knees behind Taryn and ran her tongue from the base of Taryn’s spine to her neck. “You won’t call me that when you’re in my mouth, coming for me.”
Taryn muttered something Cassie didn’t catch and grasped the top of the chair hard enough for Cassie to see her knuckles turn white.
“This is so beautiful.” Cassie used her tongue, nails, and fingers to follow every line and curve of Taryn’s back and the intricate tattoo. Taryn shuddered and murmured beneath her touch, and Cassie grew wet with the anticipation of making love to her. She rocked back on her butt. “Turn around.”
Without a word, Taryn did as Cassie asked her.
“There is something incredibly hot about a butch woman like you, half naked like that.” She let out an appreciative sigh. “Men get to parade around shirtless all the time, but women don’t. But when you’ve got a body like yours, all muscle and perfect breasts… my god.” She swallowed hard and bit her bottom lip. “You really are something.” What she wouldn’t give to wrap a strap-on around Taryn’s hips and ride her until she was too sore to take any more.
“What are you thinking?” Taryn grinned. “Because from the way you’re looking at me, it must be dirty.”
Cassie arched her eyebrow, still taken with the mental image of Taryn’s hands on her waist, pulling her in deeper and deeper, while she pushed harder and harder. She revealed her thoughts unashamedly and smiled.
“We’ve got enough time to do that on as many chairs as you want to sacrifice. We can make that our first joint purchase.”
