Chapter Sixteen

Sunlight outlined the edge of the curtains when Dale woke. Mai’s arm was draped over her waist and her body curled around Dale, the big spoon to Dale’s little spoon. A pleasant ache between her legs, a souvenir of their night together, made her shift back to feel Mai’s soft curls against her ass.

Not wanting to leave the comfort of Mai’s body but unable to ignore her bladder’s incessant nagging any longer, she lifted Mai’s arm and exited the bed. Tiny bits of wax clung to her skin and flaked off as she hustled to the bathroom. She grimaced, already plotting how to get the sheets to the washer without leaving a waxy trail, hard evidence of her kink.

After she relived herself, she brushed her teeth. The beginnings of a bruise showed on her thigh, and she inhaled sharply as her body responded to the memory of Mai’s mouth on her skin and between her thighs. Lucky Yvonne. Guilt swept over her. And sadness. No future for them other than heartache for Dale. Wrapped in her faded blue terry cloth robe she walked back to the bed.

Mai was awake, a neutral expression on her face. Her jet-black hair stuck up at odd angles.

Dale ached to climb back into bed and rake her fingers through her adorable bed head.

Mai reclined against the pillows with the sheet pulled tightly across her breasts. “Hey.” Mai scrubbed a hand over her face.

The easy time they’d had the night before had evaporated with the daylight. Tension swirled between them, the reality of the line they had crossed choking off Dale’s words. She grieved their fledgling relationship as if it had been years. Because for Dale it had been years since she had been so smitten. Even with Molly she had held back. Mai was different, so very different. And so very unavailable.

Mai’s reticence and lack of enthusiasm grated on Dale. She flushed and raised her hand in acknowledgment of Mai’s greeting. “Morning.” She swept her hair back with her hand. “About last night…” Dale didn’t know what to say that would not open a wider chasm between them. She shifted her gaze to the wall over Mai’s head, avoiding her eyes.

Mai slid out from under the covers and bent to gather her clothes. “It’s cool. I’ll slip out before Seth wakes up.” She kept her back to Dale as she dressed. The chill between them swept over Dale and she clutched the robe tighter around her.

“I’m sorry, Mai. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I don’t… I mean I do—but not with people who are—I’m sorry.”

Mai straightened. “What? People who are what?” Her lips curled in a snarl.

“Keep your voice down. You’ll wake Seth.” Dale hugged her arms around herself and shivered. “People who aren’t single. Remember Yvonne? You talk about her all the time. You're even building an apartment to be everything she needs.”

“What the hell has my sister got to do with us?” Mai yanked her shirt on, and a button flew across the room and pinged against the wall. “Fuck.” She tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling.

“Your sister?” Dale shook her head, sure she had heard incorrectly. “Yvonne is your sister?”

“Yvonne’s two years younger than me. Ida went to school with her. She graduated with Yvonne.”

Dale rested her hand on her hip. “I was married with two babies by the time my sister graduated. Forgive me if I didn’t memorize the graduation roster.”

Mai studied Dale from under her furrowed brows. “You thought I was cheating on a partner? That fits if you were looking for something casual.” She pursed her lips and exhaled loudly. “Can’t say I like it you thought I was a cheater. I may be a lot of things, Dale Miller, but I have never been unfaithful to anyone I was committed to.”

Dale pressed her lips together. “I’m not in the market for a relationship. And I’ve not had the best track record.”

Mai buttoned her shirt. “Whatever. Don’t stress. We both wanted what happened to happen. You got what you wanted. So did I.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Where do we go from here?”

Dale perched on the end of the bed. “I don’t know.”

Mai snatched her shoes off the floor and hooked them over her finger. She lifted her chin and skewered Dale with her glare. “Well, you know where to find me when you figure it out.” The snick of the lock settling into place echoed in the harsh silence between them.

Dale flopped back on the bed and covered her face with both hands. Not attached. Single. Oh fuck. Single. And a client. Fuck me.

*

Water splashed against the metal of the electric kettle as Mai filled the pot. She flipped the switch to turn it on. After adding coffee grounds to the French press, she leaned against the kitchen counter as she waited for the water to heat. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. When she thumbed it on, Yvonne’s name flashed across the screen and Mai tapped ignore before she stuffed the phone back in her pocket. She looked down the hall toward Dale’s bedroom door. What was I thinking? Her profile makes it clear she’s not interested in long term. And thinking I was a cheater. Like it would make a difference? All she wants is sex—what does she care? Unless she does?

Mai rubbed the back of her neck. The pot clicked off and she poured the boiling water over the coffee grounds. After setting the timer, she took two mugs from the cabinet. The glowering unicorn flashing a rude gesture mug, the one she usually filled for Dale, mocked her and she replaced it. She rubbed her chest and the ache that had settled there.

The timer sounded. She pressed the strainer down and then poured herself a cup of coffee. The hinges on the front door squeaked when she opened it. Sunshine peeked over the hedge and lit one end of the porch. Mai sat in the sunbeam, ready to chase away the chill of an awkward morning after.

The high hedge grew on three sides of the porch, screening it off from the other houses. On Sunday morning it was a private oasis. Even the birds were subdued. Placing her feet on the top rail, Mai tilted back in her chair and called her sister.

Yvonne answered on the second ring. “What’s up?”

Mai frowned. “You called me.”

Yvonne laughed. “I did but usually when you blow off my Sunday calls you are entertaining. Who is the lucky lady and why aren’t you still in bed?”

Mai sighed. “Dale. And it was a one-time thing.”

“Dale as in the contractor Dale?” Yvonne sucked in a breath. “Ida’s older sister Dale?”

“Yep.” Mai sipped her coffee. “And before you start, I know it was a bad idea.”

Yvonne snorted. “Isn’t she straight? Divorced, has kids?”

“Not so straight. I don’t know how she identifies. She was on that stupid app you talked me into using.”

“Hold up. You met her through Hit Me Up? I thought you quit that?”

“Nah. Well. For a bit. And we didn’t meet that way. I was trying to ditch my snooze fest of a date and Dale acted like we were together.”

“She must be some actress. How the hell did you end up in bed?”

“Long story, and I don’t kiss and tell.” Mai gulped another mouthful of her coffee, savoring the mellow tones of the light roast.

“What are you going to do?”

“As far as I can tell she wants to pretend like it never happened. Her profile said she wanted casual.”

“Jiĕjie, you like her. I hear it in your voice. And acting like something never happened is not casual, it’s fucked up.”

Mai placed her empty coffee cup on the porch rail. “I know. She thought you were my girlfriend. Thought I was cheating on you.”

“She thought that? Oh hell, when I get there, I’m going to poke her with my cane.”

“We cleared it up. But now”—Mai wiped her sweaty palm on her jeans—“I don’t know what to do.”

“You need me to come there and kick her ass?”

Mai laughed. “Nah. She’s not bad. Just afraid. She’s been with some real winners. The last one took her for a bundle. She almost lost her business.”

“Be careful. I hear love in your voice.”

Mai rubbed the back of her neck, trying to soothe the stubborn tightness there. “I’m not in love.”

“Yet. And don’t fall in love. She’ll break your heart.”

Too late. “I won’t. So why did you call me?”

“The settlement came through.”

“For real?”

“Yep. Don’t worry about the renovation costs. Or really any costs going forward. We’re loaded.”

Mai blinked. I don’t have a reason to crash here. Or teach Noah.

“You there?”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Me either but it’s true. We should have the first payment next week. I’m going to buy my ticket. What airport is closer—Columbus or Cleveland?”

“It’s almost equal. Find the best deal.”

Yvonne snorted. “When you say that all I can hear is Mom’s voice.”

“That’s good business.” Mai mimicked her mother’s favorite phrase in her lilting accent.

“I’m hanging up. I’ll text you my itinerary. Love you.”

“Love you.” Mai thumbed off the phone. She snagged her coffee cup and tilted it up, catching the last few bitter drops on her tongue. The crispness of the morning settled in her bones. Bread. A good day to make some bread. Kneading dough was the perfect meditative activity when she wanted to puzzle out anything. And today Dale Miller was the enigma she wanted to sort out.

Mai turned her empty cup in her hands and studied the pattern of branches on the evergreen unseeing, her mind filled with images of Dale and their night together. The way Dale had stepped up and pretended to be with Mai, and then the dock. Mai had been shocked by her willingness to get naked on the dock but the convenience of the blanket in the back of the truck seemed like not a coincidence. What if the woman she had a date with had been more to her taste? Was I just a willing substitute? Someone to get her off? Mai huffed out her breath.

Her own date had been a desperate attempt to rid herself of her attraction to Dale. And now. Now it was worse. Now she had a taste and wanted more. And it was not going to happen. Yvonne was right. She was leaning over the edge of falling down the rabbit hole of being in love with Dale. After placing her empty cup on the table, she closed her eyes and slouched down in the chair.

The Sunday smell of laundry detergent wafted on the breeze, reminding Mai she needed to do a load of wash. She chewed the inside of her cheek. Sexy Sunday. Laundry. Bread baking. Reading. Anything to keep my mind off her. Who would have thought she was such a wild thing? Maybe I should look for a room to rent. Some distance might be a good thing. I could set up a more formal thing with Noah.

A twinge of sorrow tweaked her heart. Noah was the kid she’d never known she wanted. Not her kid, not even close, but the closest thing she was going to have in this lifetime. Mai braced her arms on her knees and rested her chin in her hands. Not going to fix it sitting here feeling sorry for myself.

*

Mai startled with the squeak of the door hinges. Dale held up the French press. “Thought you might want a refill.”

Mai’s cautious expression pricked Dale’s conscience. “I owe you an apology.”

Mai looked down at her hands. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. Look at me”—Dale placed the coffee press on the table—“please.”

Mai looked up and Dale cupped the back of her neck and kissed her gently. Mai moaned and opened to her kiss, and she gripped the collar of Dale’s robe, holding her in place.

Dale broke their kiss and leaned her brow against Mai’s forehead. “I should’ve known you weren’t a cheater. You’ve been nothing but honest with me. I’m sorry I said what I did.”

Mai rested her hand on Dale’s arm. “I might have overreacted.”

“No. Don’t do that. Your feelings are valid, Mai. Don’t discount them.”

Dale kissed her again, a long slow kiss. Mai’s tiny noises of need rocketed through Dale. She carded her fingers through Mai’s silky hair before she closed her fingers and gripped a handful. Dale tugged her head back and nuzzled her neck, dropping kisses along her throat. “As nice as it is on the porch this morning, I’d like to take this discussion indoors.” She pulled back to search Mai’s eyes. “If you want.”

Mai held Dale’s gaze. “I want.” She leaned forward and pulled Dale into a deep kiss. “Lead the way, Ms. Miller.”

Dale tugged Mai up from her chair and gathered her into her arms and kissed her. Mai relaxed into her embrace. Dale broke their kiss and trailed kisses along her neck. Mai swept her hands up and cupped Dale’s breasts. Dale’s body responded, her nipples tightened, rubbed against the rough fabric of the robe. “I need to shower and get the rest of this wax off. Join me?” She spoke against the shell of Mai’s ear.

“Depends.”

Dale held Mai by her shoulders and peered into her face. “On what? We’ve a fifty-gallon tank if you’re worried about enough hot water.”

Mai traced her lower lip with her tongue. “Not worried about the water. I want to set some boundaries. You know, make sure we’re both on the same page.”

Dale swallowed hard as she remembered the shattering orgasms she’d had with Mai’s mouth on her. “I… Yes? What do you want?”

“Will you let me wash your back?” Mai pulled Dale’s robe open, stopping short of exposing her nipples. She walked her fingers along the deep valley between her breasts.

“Yes,” husked Dale as a surge of wetness coated her bare thighs.

Mai lifted her hand and rubbed the back of her knuckles over Dale’s throat. “And do anything else I might want to do to you in the shower?”

Dale shivered at the sensual threat in Mai’s voice.

“Let’s go.” She laced their fingers together and drew Mai along behind her.

*

They crept into the house hand in hand.

Mai glanced up at the door to the basement stairs. “How long do you think we have before he’s up?”

Dale pulled her along the hallway. “Not long. Hurry.” She pushed the door to her room open and dragged Mai inside. She spun Mai around and pressed her up against the door. Lacing their fingers together, she lifted Mai’s arms over her head and pinned them against the door. The backs of her hands pressed against the cool wood while her body burst into flames everywhere Dale’s body pressed against her. With a teasing bump, Dale ground against her hips.

Mai shuddered and gasped. “I thought you wanted to shower.” Dale ground against her again and Mai shuddered.

Dale trailed a line of kisses along Mai’s throat and then nipped the delicate skin under her ear. “Couldn’t help myself. I want to be inside you.”

She cuffed Mai’s hands in one of her own and slid the other down her body. She thumbed open the top button of Mai’s pants and shoved past her briefs. And then her fingers were skating over Mai’s slick hard clit. Mai spread her legs as far as the pants would let her and angled her hips.

Dale groaned as they slid home, two fingers deep, and rocked into Mai. “I love how hot and wet you are.” She curled her fingers and stroked the spot that made Mai’s knees weak and her hips rock, seeking more. She braced herself against the door while Dale took her time fucking her.

Her head resting against the curve of Dale’s neck, she panted as waves of pleasure spiraled out from her core. Dale shifted the angle of her thrust. The heel of her hand ground against Mai’s clit and she spilled over Dale’s hand, biting the collar of Dale’s robe to keep from crying out.

Dale released her hand and kissed her. Mai drew her close, wrapping both arms around her. “Shower. Now.”

“Shower.” Dale stepped back and dropped her robe. She turned and looked over her shoulder at Mai, raking her gaze over her body. “Coming?” she called softly as she sauntered into the bathroom.

Mai shucked her clothes off and trotted after her.

The drum of the shower on the tiles was loud in the small space. Dale took two towels from the shelves over the toilet and placed them on the countertop.

“You’re glorious.” Mai gathered Dale’s heavy breasts in her hands and bent her head to lick each nipple in turn.

Dale arched into Mai’s mouth and dug her short nails into her shoulders as she clung to her. “Mmm, that’s good.”

Mai let Dale’s nipple pop from her mouth. She pulled the shower door back before she stepped into the bathtub. “This tub is huge.”

“Perks of being a contractor. I salvaged it from a remodel I did. The homeowner didn’t want it.”

Mai moved under the hot spray to give Dale space. The door scraped along the track as Dale pushed it closed, sealing them off.

“Stand here.” Mai pointed to the front of the shower. “Turn around.” Mai soaped her hands. Water dripped and flowed over the sensuous curves of Dale’s body. Mai spread her hands out and swept them over her shoulders. The sandalwood scent of the soap surrounded them, and Mai wrapped her arms around Dale. She held a breast in each hand and Dale’s nipples hardened under her touch, pressing into her palms.

Mai bent her knees and rubbed her body up and down Dale’s back and ass, the slide of the soap delicious with their full body contact. Dale gasped and braced her hands against the shower tiles. Mai thumbed her nipples and then plucked at them. A deep groan reverberated off the shower walls and Dale tilted her head back.

“Shh.” Mai licked a trail along Dale’s neck as she ground against her ass. “I thought you said you could be quiet.” She rinsed the soap from her hands in the warm spray. She cupped Dale and squeezed. Dale bucked into her hand. Mai spread her fingers, index and ring on either side of Dale’s clit and her middle finger brushed over Dale’s thick clit. She stroked languidly. Dale body tensed and she moaned. “What are you doing to me? It feels so good. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”

“Never.” Mai tweaked Dale’s nipple as she jacked her clit.

Dale panted. “I…I…Oh.” She clamped her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream as she came. Mai banded an arm around her waist and supported her as she shuddered through her orgasm.

She relaxed, leaned back into Mai’s arms, and reached back to cup her face. Mai leaned her cheek against Dale’s face and closed her eyes against the spray.

They stayed like that, a moment, and a lifetime, as the water washed away the awkwardness of their morning.

Dale turned and locked her arms around Mai’s waist. “Bed? Or do you have other plans for today?”

Desire, heady and rich, swirled in the depths of Dale’s eyes. And something else. Something Mai wasn’t ready to believe. Affection. Tenderness.

“I didn’t have any plans for the day.”

Dale reached behind her and shut the shower off. Mai shoved the door back, and steam billowed around them. After grabbing a towel and passing it to Dale, she stepped out of the tub and picked up her towel and dried herself. She leaned in and kissed Dale. “But I think we might need a bit of breakfast first. Aren’t you hungry?”

“Yes. But not for food.” Dale’s half smile made Mai’s stomach flutter.

Dale tossed her towel to the floor and kneeled on it. With both hands she yanked Mai’s towel aside and threw it on the counter. She slid her hands up the back of Mai’s thighs and pulled her close. Her mouth settled over Mai and she licked a slow line from her labia to her clit before she took her in her mouth and sucked. Her lips pursed, her wet hair hung in limp strands, and her breasts swayed as she worked Mai’s clit.

Jolts of pleasure shot through her and Mai held tight to Dale’s shoulders as she took her hard and fast. She curled over her and came with a stifled cry. Dale swiped her tongue over her clit and Mai shuddered through the aftershocks. Dale rose and wrapped Mai in her towel.

Mai’s hands trembled as she cozied herself in her towel. “Breakfast. And then bed.”