Chapter Eleven

“Is this better?” Amari adjusted the microphone stand.

Mel Rider stepped near the stand. “Test. Test one two.” Mel’s voice boomed over the speakers in the lecture hall. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” Mel placed the book she would read from on the table at the rear of the stage. Her brows drew down as she scanned the rows of chairs arranged in a semicircle around the stage. “Do you usually have a good turnout? Last week, I read to ten people in Ann Arbor.”

“It varies. Overall, we’ve had solid numbers for this series. We had about fifty show up for Dana Lane, and about the same for Rudi Sims. We had standing room only for Alison Bechdel.”

“That’s good. Where’s the washroom?”

“Down the hall, on the right.”

After Mel left, Amari stepped down from the stage and walked to the back of the room to survey the set up. A group of students arrived and selected seats in the front of the hall. Giddy expressions on their faces, they bumped fists as they sat down in the front row. A few clutched copies of Mel’s new book in their hands. Sally waved at Amari as she entered the room.

Amari crossed she room to her. “Nice to see you here. Is Yvonne coming? I have some space set aside at the front for mobility scooters and wheelchairs.”

“No. She had some work she had to catch up on. This is fine.” Sally moved along the last row of chairs, sat, and placed her purse on the chair next to hers. She pulled a new copy of Mel’s book from her bag. “I’ll be first in line to get this signed.”

Amari nodded. “Good plan.” She gestured at the room as more audience members filtered in and the rows of chairs filled up. Amari glanced at her wall clock. “We’ll start on time if I can find my speaker.”

She moved to the door. “If you would take your seats, please. We’re going to begin in a few minutes.” Amari stepped around a knot of students in the doorway. She peered out of the door in the direction of the washroom.

Mel stood at the end of the hallway talking with a woman. Their laughter drifted toward Amari and a ripple of annoyance spread through her. Just what she didn’t need, a groupie detaining her speaker. She strode down the hall toward Mel.

“There you are,” Amari called to Mel.

Mel turned her head toward Amari. “Sorry. I was chatting with this lovely woman who rescued me.” She stepped aside to reveal Thalia dressed in a tight black pencil skirt and matching rib-knit sweater.

Amari blinked and tried to smooth her reaction to Thalia’s perfect curves on display. The subtle shift in Thalia’s demeanor let her know she had failed.

Thalia held up her hand palm out and wiggled her fingers at Amari.

Mel touched Thalia’s arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask your name.”

“Thalia Makris.”

Mel inclined her head toward Thalia. “The lock on the bathroom door jammed. Thalia rescued me.” She caught Thalia’s hand, raised it to her lips, and pressed a kiss over her knuckles. “I must bid you adieu, milady of the Multitool. I have a reading to do.” She lingered, holding on to Thalia’s hand. “Perhaps we might see each other after my reading? I’d love to talk with you more.”

“Perhaps.” Thalia raised her eyebrow as she pulled her hand free of Mel’s grasp. “I should go. I have a friend holding a seat for me.”

“Would you like to meet for—”

Amari jammed her hands into her pockets. “Mel, we need to get going. Nice to see you again, Ms. Makris.” Amari spoke over Mel, not wanting to hear her invitation to Thalia, nor Thalia’s response.

Thalia threw a quick knife-edged smile at Amari. “The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Foster.” The ice in Thalia’s voice cut Amari’s soul as much as she knew she deserved it. Thalia spun on her heel and walked away from them, her head high, her pumps clicking on the marble floor.

Mel shifted her gaze between Amari and Thalia. “I see you know each other. Did I step in something? Sorry if I did.”

“No. I mean yes, we know each other. No, there’s nothing between us.”

Mel raised an eyebrow. “Right.”

“There isn’t.”

“But you want there to be.” Mel pinned Amari in place with her gaze.

Amari rubbed her brow. “I do. “

A mischievous glow lit Mel’s eyes. “I love good old-fashioned drama. Leave it to me.”

★

Ohana’s was crowded, and they packed into a family-size booth. Sally, Mel, Amari, and Thalia, along with some folks from the English department whose names Thalia had forgotten in the mad rush of introductions as they left Mel’s talk. Amari sat thigh to thigh with Thalia, as arranged by Mel.

So obvious in her determination to have Thalia and Amari sit together, Mel had bodily moved a graduate student who had tried valiantly to sit next to Thalia. After the waitress took their orders, Mel led a boisterous conversation at the table. Distracted by Amari’s presence, Thalia blindly perused the dessert menu and tuned out their literary discussion.

Amari brushed Thalia’s shoulder with her own and whispered, “It’s lovely to see you again.”

“Is it?” Thalia tilted her chin at Amari.

“I always seem to be apologizing to you,” Amari murmured.

“What the hell happened last night?” Under cover of the table, Thalia rested her hand on Amari’s thigh. “Are you always this erratic?”

“No. Normally I’m quite calm.” Amari covered Thalia’s hand with her own. “I seem to leave my senses every time I’m with you.”

Amari’s touch, combined with her nearness, melted Thalia’s resolve. “I need you to explain to me what happened at the end of our scene.”

“I will. I want to. But not here.” Amari rubbed the back of Thalia’s hand with her thumb. “Too many people.”

Thalia huffed out a breath, her skin tingling from Amari’s touch. “I guess that means I’m going to have to go out with you to hear your explanation.” Taking advantage of the cover of the tablecloth, Thalia drew Amari’s hand to her lap. She pressed the back of Amari’s hand against the junction of her thighs. Thalia traced her fingernails over the strip of skin below the cuff of Amari’s shirt. “Is Sunday still on the table?”

Amari slid her tongue over her lower lip. “If you’re still interested. Dinner?”

“Coffee. And then we’ll see.” Thalia studied Amari’s eyes, enjoying the way they darkened. Amari’s pupils widened as Thalia teased fingertips over the contours of her palm. “What time works for you?”

“Eleven. I take Brianna to the park on Sunday mornings, and then we have breakfast with my mom.”

“You go to the park every Sunday?” Thalia shifted in the booth. She pressed her breast against Amari’s arm. A flare of desire flashed across Amari’s face before she smoothed her expression.

“Yes. Unless one of us is sick.” Amari pressed the back of her hand more firmly against Thalia. “What do you do on Sundays?”

Thalia separated her thighs as much as her tight skirt would allow, savoring the muted pressure on her clit. “Reading. Unless I’m on call. Then more often than not I’m working.”

“What do you like to read?” Amari surreptitiously rocked her hand against Thalia.

Need pulsed through Thalia. She inclined her head toward Mel. “Fantasy, fantasy romance, most often, which you might have guessed, some sci-fi, nonfiction, biography, just about anything, really, if it catches my eye.”

Amari pursed her lips and shot Mel a hard look.

“Don’t do that.” Thalia stilled Amari’s hand with both of hers. “Jealousy is not becoming.”

“Who said I’m jealous?” Amari faced Thalia, her mouth a breath away.

Thalia dragged her gaze from Amari’s delectable mouth to her eyes. She stared into their golden-brown depths. “You are. And you have nothing to be jealous of.” Thalia leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the soft skin under Amari’s ear. “You want to walk me to my car? I’m done with the Mel sideshow.” Thalia released Amari’s hand.

“I have to take Mel back to the Red Squirrel.” Amari lifted her chin in Mel’s direction. “But I’d be happy to escort you to your car.”

Thalia pulled a ten-dollar bill from her purse. “This should cover my drink.”

Amari waved her off. “It’s on the department. Mel invited you as her plus one.”

Thalia lifted her eyebrow. “Did you ask Mel to invite me?”

“No. She came up with it herself.”

At the mention of her name, Mel lifted her martini glass and raised it in a toast toward both of them. She added a saucy wink before she turned to the obviously infatuated graduate student on her left.

Thalia scooted out of the booth and turned to Amari. “Shall we?”

★

Amari followed Thalia to her truck. “You sure you’re okay to drive home?”

Thalia opened her clutch. “Yes. I only had one glass of wine before dinner.” She withdrew her keys and pressed the key fob for the truck. The door lock clicked open. Thalia opened the large door. She rested one foot on the running board, turned, and tossed her handbag onto the seat.

Amari shifted her gaze to Thalia’s curvy form. Her skirt pulled tight across her ass.

Thalia turned to her, lifted her hand, and crooked her finger. “Come here.”

Amari stepped close and rested her hands on Thalia’s waist. “You want something?”

“You.” Thalia pressed her mouth to Amari’s lips. She nibbled Amari’s lower lip, nipped hard once before she teased her tongue over the spot. Amari opened to her, relaxing into her kiss.

Thalia took over, lips hard, mouth demanding, tongue playing over Amari’s teeth. She slid her hands under Amari’s suit coat. Her nails raked Amari’s back through her linen shirt. A hum vibrated against Amari’s mouth as Thalia groaned. She wrapped her hands in Amari’s belt and tugged her close, arching into her body.

Amari rocked against Thalia’s hips as her tongue teased and tickled her mouth. Thalia’s kisses, so reminiscent of the attention she had paid to Amari’s clit, kindled a fire low in her belly as she grew wet and hard. Blocked by the large truck door, under the cover of darkness, Amari had no fear of anyone seeing them.

She traced the edge of Thalia’s sweater with her fingers and then slid her hand under the knit material. Wet and wanting, she cupped Thalia’s breast under the thin sweater. The full weight in her hand, encased in warm lace, rocketed her desire. Amari nuzzled Thalia’s neck to stifle her groan as Thalia’s nipple pebbled under her palm. She kissed her way along the taut skin of Thalia’s jaw. “You are so exquisite.” Amari kissed Thalia’s neck as she gave over to the fierce need that rose up in her.

Thalia arched and pushed her hips into Amari as she cupped her through her pants. Amari’s hips rocked forward as she chased the sensation of Thalia’s touch. Thalia lowered the zipper of Amari’s pants and scratched her nails over Amari’s briefs. With two fingers she eased aside the elastic of her underwear before she brushed her fingers over Amari’s stiff clit.

“So wet for me. So thick.” Thalia’s slick fingers swept over Amari. “If it weren’t for that streetlight, I’d go to my knees right here and suck you off.”

The image of Thalia on her knees triggered another flood of wetness. Thalia hummed her delight. “You like that idea. I do too. Another time.”

Amari’s rough breathing echoed in the space between the truck door and the cab. She thrust wildly, fucking herself on Thalia’s hand as her climax gathered in her hips. Pressure and ache built in her body. Thalia bared her teeth as she relentlessly jerked Amari off.

“Give it to me,” Thalia whispered. “Come for me. I want to feel you. Come in my hand.”

A surge of pleasure shot through her body. Unable to stop, Amari pressed her face against Thalia’s shoulder to muffle her deep groans as she came. She clung to Thalia through the aftershocks as Thalia slowed her touches, bringing her down easy.

“Amari? You still here? Do I need to find a ride back to the Red Squirrel?” Mel’s voice boomed out over the parking lot.

Amari jerked away from Thalia with a groan and a whimper.

Thalia pulled her hand away, rested her head on Amari’s shoulder, and sighed. “You’re needed.”

“I’m sorry—”

Thalia lifted her head before she placed her fingers over Amari’s mouth. “No. Don’t. No more ‘I’m sorry’s.’ Go on. You gave me what I wanted.” She looped her arms around Amari’s neck and kissed her breathless.

Amari panted as she zipped up her trousers. “I’ll be right there, Mel.” She backed away from Thalia, holding her gaze until the last minute.