Chapter Twenty-Six

“No. Not this time. Get in this bed.” Thalia patted the mattress.

Amari placed the pillow on the bed and slid under the covers. She turned on her side and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Okay.”

Thalia edged closer. “What is going on with you? Tell me.” She cupped Amari’s cheek and drew her thumb over her lower lip.

Amari closed her eyes. “I shouldn’t have left you at Glidden House. I shouldn’t have left you that night, and I never want to leave you again.”

“Look at me.”

Amari opened her eyes.

“I was awake when you left Glidden House. I didn’t start a conversation or say goodbye either. And as for the last time we were in this room, we should have talked more before we moved to the bedroom.”

Amari held Thalia’s gaze. “I didn’t expect to feel this way, didn’t want to feel this way ever again. Rebecca’s death almost killed me. I couldn’t imagine surviving that pain again. But being with you makes me want more. I’m scared out of my mind.”

Thalia slipped her hand behind Amari’s head and drew her down to her breast. “It scares me too. I love you, Amari. I’ve been in love with you for a while.”

Amari’s warm breath tickled her skin. “Since when?”

“Since Roberta’s reading. At least that’s when it started. Even after you bailed on me, my stupid stubborn heart refused to give up on you. Although my brain intervened enough to salvage my dignity.”

“I’m not sure I deserve you.”

“It’s not about deserving. The heart wants what it wants. And I want to be with you. And your kid. And your mom. I want to be part of your life now, and in the future. As more than a friend.”

Wetness tickled Thalia’s chest. She touched her hand to Amari’s cheek and wiped the dampness away. “No. No tears now. You’re here. We’re here. We’re alive and safe, and damn it we’re in love. No tears, babe, no tears.”

Amari lifted her head and pressed a gentle kiss on the corner of Thalia’s mouth. “More than friends?”

Thalia traced her fingers over Amari’s cheek. “Way more.” Her other hand cupped Amari through the thin sleep shorts and squeezed.

Amari held Thalia’s gaze as she opened her legs wide. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want to fuck. To forget my name. To forget every screwed-up thing that happened today. I want you to make me come so hard nothing exists but this moment between us.”

“You’re sure?”

“Very.” Thalia slipped her fingers under the waistband of the shorts, into the wet heat between Amari’s legs. “This. I want this.” Thalia dipped into the slick welcome. “You. I want you to come in my hand.” She gathered the slick and painted Amari’s soft folds with her fingertips. “I love how wet you get.” With two fingers Thalia jacked Amari’s fat clit. “Give it to me, Amari. Give me what’s mine.” She thrust her fingers inside, curled them up, rubbed her sweet spot, pressing hard.

Amari gasped and leaned into Thalia’s strokes and came with a full-body shudder, filling Thalia’s palm.

Thalia closed her eyes and savored the gush of liquid satisfaction that coated her hand. “That’s it, babe. I want all of it.” She lightened her strokes and coaxed a cry from Amari as she bucked her hips into Thalia’s hand. Amari’s groan as she came again rattled her chest. Tears pricked Thalia’s eyes as Amari came undone under her touch.

Thalia slowed her movements, easing Amari down. She stilled, cupped her, and squeezed gently before she pulled her hand free of Amari’s shorts. Amari caught her wrist, pulled her hand to her mouth. She flicked her tongue over her fingers and then sucked Thalia’s fingers deep into her mouth and bathed them with her tongue.

Amari drew Thalia’s finger from her mouth. Thalia panted as Amari kissed the side of her neck. Amari trailed delicate kisses down to her collarbone while she unbuttoned Thalia’s pajama top.

She scooted away from Amari, rolled to her side, pulled the bedside table over, and snatched a small bottle of lube out. Thalia held it out to Amari. Their gazes locked. “All of you. I want all of you.”

Amari lifted her head, her brow knit. “What if I hurt you?”

Thalia dug her nails into Amari’s shoulder. “You won’t.”

Amari placed the lube on the sheets next to her before she rested her palm on Thalia’s chest and flicked her thumb over Thalia’s nipple, fanning the flames of want in Thalia’s belly. Amari licked her nipple gently before she sucked the stiff tip deep. Her teeth grazed Thalia’s nipple, sending sparks of pleasure through Thalia’s body straight to her clit.

Already primed from fucking Amari, Thalia’s clit ached for attention. Thighs slick with want, desperate for Amari’s mouth, Thalia shoved at the waistband of her pajamas, wiggling her hips to shed them. Amari yanked them clear of her legs as she continued to lave Thalia’s nipple with her tongue. She spread her legs wide, moved her hand to the top of Amari’s head, and urged her lower. “Lick me.”

★

Amari closed her mouth over Thalia’s clit. She breathed in the sweet scent of Thalia’s skin as she savored the salt honey on her tongue. Using her palms, she spread Thalia wide, exposed her glistening clit and labia. Dipping her head, she painted Thalia’s clit with her tongue. Teasing the hood back, she licked the tip. Thalia arched her hips, pushing herself into Amari’s mouth.

Amari swirled her tongue over her clit, sucking lightly. Her chin grew wetter as Thalia thrashed under her. Using her arms, she pinned her in place as she twitched her tongue over her wet folds before she thrust her tongue deep.

Thalia cried out, digging her nails into Amari’s scalp as she fucked her with her tongue. “That’s it, babe. Fuck me. I want to come in your mouth.”

Driven by Thalia’s words, her own desire rising again, Amari worked her tongue in and out. The sweet taste of Thalia coated her tongue. Shifting to her side, Amari grabbed the lube from the top of the bed and coated her fingers.

“I don’t know if you’ll need that.” Thalia panted.

Amari drew her slicked fingers over Thalia’s labia, wetting them before she pressed two fingers inside her.

“More,” Thalia groaned.

Amari added a finger. Thalia’s wet heat squeezed hard around her fingers. Amari pursed her lips over Thalia’s clit and sucked in time to her thrusts.

Thalia rocked her hips, grabbed Amari’s head with both hands, and fucked her face. Amari buried her fingers deep, matching Thalia’s thrusts.

“Harder. More. Fuck me,” Thalia shouted as she ground herself against Amari’s lips and tongue.

Amari added a finger and stroked deep. Stretching her fingers wide as she fucked Thalia, each time working more of her hand inside.

The bed squeaked and the headboard banged against the wall with their motion. “More. All of you. All of you. All of you,” Thalia chanted as her grip on Amari’s head tightened. “Now. Now.”

Thalia bloomed, opened to her, welcoming Amari, drawing her deeper. With a slight twist of her wrist, Amari tucked her thumb and pushed until she was wrist deep.

Thalia’s scream echoed off the wall of the bedroom as she came. Hot, liquid pleasure surged into Amari’s mouth and dripped over her wrist. She swallowed and licked, while she rocked her fist gently. Thalia arched off the bed, cried out again, softer this time. She collapsed onto the bed.

Amari reached up, caught Thalia’s hand in hers, and knotted their fingers together. Thalia’s deep groan filled the room as Amari eased her hand from her body.

“Come up here.” Thalia tugged Amari’s hand.

Amari wiped her hand on her T-shirt and kissed her way up Thalia’s body.

Thalia looped her hands around Amari’s neck and kissed her gently. Their gazes locked for a long moment before she drew Amari down and settled her head against the soft swell of her breast.

“Are you okay?” Amari rested her hand on Thalia’s stomach.

“Yes. Marvelously well fucked and content.” Thalia reached down and drew the covers up over them. “You?”

“Same.” The truth of the word filled Amari’s heart. The steady beat of Thalia’s heart lulled her to sleep.