Chapter Thirty

“Did you leave out the carrots? And the cookies?” Brianna held Thalia’s hand as they climbed the stairs. Lucy padded along behind them.

“Your mom put the carrots on the front steps, and the cookies are on the dining room table.”

Brianna stopped outside her room. “You know it’s all pretend, right?” She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Mama takes bites of the carrots and Grammy eats the cookies. But they like it when I pretend.”

“We’ll keep it our secret.” Thalia pushed open the door to Brianna’s room. “Now, what’s your routine?”

Brianna lined her stuffed animals up along the side of the bed by size. “After I go to the bathroom, I brush my teeth, I count my stuffies, then you read to me and Lucy. And then I go to sleep.”

“What book would you like me to read?”

Brianna passed Thalia a worn copy of Nikki Grimes’s Under the Christmas Tree. “We read this at Christmas.”

“Have you brushed your teeth, Brianna?” Amari leaned against the doorjamb.

“Not yet.” Brianna placed a tiny plush hedgehog at the end of the row of stuffies. She turned to Thalia. “I’ll be right back.”

Amari stepped into the room to let Brianna pass.

Thalia held the book out. “She said you always read this on Christmas Eve.”

“We do. It was a shower gift from Roberta.” Amari took the book from her hands.

“I’m ready.” Brianna climbed into her bed and touched each stuffie before patting the mattress. Lucy bounded onto the bed and lay next to her. She pointed to the rocking chair. “Ms. Thalia, you sit there.”

Thalia sat in the large wood rocker near the bed.

Amari sat on the end of the bed and opened the book.

Thalia listened as she read. Amari’s rich voice brought the poems to life, and Thalia was as caught up as Brianna.

Amari finished reading. She stood and placed the book on Brianna’s nightstand. “Hugs?”

“Hugs.”

Amari bent down and touched her brow to Brianna’s forehead.

“Good night, Ms. Thalia.”

“Good night, Brianna.”

“Ms. Thalia?”

“Yes?” Thalia stood up and stretched.

“Hugs?” Brianna patted Lucy’s shoulder.

Thalia leaned down and pressed her forehead to Brianna’s brow. “Hugs.”

★

Amari flipped the lock on her bedroom door. Thalia turned at the sound. “Something on your mind?”

“I want to see my gift.”

Thalia pulled her turtleneck over her head and tossed it on to the bed. She smoothed her palms over her red lace bra before she popped the button on her jeans. She shimmied out of her pants. Thalia placed her hands on her hips. “Your gift? I thought these were for me.”

Amari crossed the room and stopped in front of Thalia. “You are a vision. And your name was on the box, but this was for me.”

Thalia smoothed her hands over Amari’s shirt. Amari’s nipples hardened under her touch. “Did you open your gift?”

“Oh yes.” She rested one hand on Thalia’s hip. Amari caught Thalia’s hand and guided it between her legs. “You want to play with it?”

Thalia kissed Amari, caught her lip between her teeth, and nipped lightly before she soothed the spot with her tongue. Amari tugged her hips, closing the distance between them.

Thalia opened Amari’s belt buckle and slid her belt free. She tossed it aside. “Show me.” She backed away and sat on the end of the bed.

Amari pulled her shirt free from her jeans and unbuttoned the top three buttons and tugged it over her head. Her nipples peaked against the rib knit of her tank top in the chill of the bedroom.

Thalia leaned back on her elbow. She slid her fingers under the waistband of her panties. “Nice.” She pulled her hand free and licked her fingertips. “Hurry up, babe, my motor’s running.”

Amari popped the buttons on the fly of her jeans open. She worked them down over the bulge of the rampant toy between her legs. After working her jeans down, she palmed the toy protruding from the boy short harness. Thalia’s gaze slid over her skin, setting her ablaze. “Very nice.” She crooked her finger at Amari. “Come here.”

Amari approached the bed. Thalia wrapped her hand around the shaft and jacked it. The base rubbed against Amari’s clit. “What do you want to do with this? You want to fuck me? Want me to suck it?” Thalia slid her tongue over the head, leaving a glistening trail over the toy. She thumbed the vibrating ring at the base of the toy on, the buzz a backdrop to Amari’s panting.

Amari groaned at Thalia’s words. “Both.”

Thalia moved her hand up the shaft and jacked slowly while she took the head into her mouth. Amari grabbed onto Thalia’s shoulders to steady herself. The combination of the vibration and Thalia’s strokes sent waves of pleasure coursing through Amari’s body. She closed her eyes and focused on the sensations, dug her fingers into Thalia’s shoulders, and shuddered through a bone-rattling orgasm.

Thalia pulled the toy from her mouth. She scooted up the bed, yanked her panties to the side. “Fuck me.”

Amari crawled up the bed and, in one stroke, slid home. Thalia wrapped her legs around Amari’s hips. Amari sank into Thalia’s soft curves and rolled her hips, fucking her with long, slow strokes. Thalia arched into her, falling into a rhythm. Pupils blown wide, lips parted, Thalia held Amari’s gaze. “With me. Come with me.”

Amari thrust deep as she focused on Thalia’s eyes. “I’m close.” She panted.

“Now. Babe, now.” Thalia shook and trembled beneath her. Her orgasm detonated Amari’s own. They rocked together, riding out their pleasure. They slowed their motions, easing each other down. Thalia reached between them and switched off the vibrating ring.

Amari kissed Thalia slow and deep, taking her time. Thalia groaned into Amari’s mouth as she pulled free of her body. Amari broke their kiss. “I think this my new favorite thing.

Thali smoothed her hands over Amari’s shoulders. “Mmm. Mine too. I think I left my body.”

Amari settled next to her on the bed. Thalia turned to her side and snuggled under Amari’s arm. Amari carded her fingers through Thalia’s curls. “You tired?”

“No. What did you have in mind?” Thalia tweaked Amari’s nipple.

Amari hissed. “Seeing how you look in that bra over me.”

Thalia slipped her panties off before she rolled on top of Amari. She reached between her legs, wrapped her fingers around the shaft, and rose up on her knees. With one hand planted in the middle of Amari’s chest, she lowered herself until she was flush against Amari. “That is so good.”

Amari thumbed the vibrating ring on. The steady vibration was a dull throb against her clit.

“Even better.” Thalia rose up and lowered herself again, driving the base against Amari’s clit. Her breasts bounced in a mesmerizing rhythm as she rose and fell.

“I’m not going to last long,” Amari panted. She opened the clasp on Thalia’s bra and filled her hands with her breasts. Lifting her head, she sucked a nipple into her mouth. Grasping the other nipple between her finger and thumb, she squeezed hard.

“Me either if you do that.” Thalia groaned as she lowered herself fully and rotated her hips, grinding herself against Amari.

Amari sucked hard, taking Thalia’s nipple deep as she rolled the other between her fingers.

Thalia’s mouth opened. She dug her fingers into Amari’s chest as she trembled through her orgasm, mouth open in a silent scream.

A slow wave of pleasure rolled over Amari and drew her under. Releasing Thalia’s nipple, she turned her head and muffled her shouts with the pillow.

Thalia lifted free of Amari and rolled to her side. She glanced at the clock next to the bed before she clasped Amari’s hand with both hands and pulled it between her breasts. “Merry Christmas, love.”

Amari turned to face her. “Merry Christmas.”