Chapter Twenty-Three

Morgan opened the door to the apartment. “Hello?”

“In the living room.”

Morgan placed her lunchbox on the counter and hung up her jacket before she took off her boots.

Rudy shuffled into the kitchen and snuffled at her pants leg. She kneeled and rubbed his ears. He leaned into her touch. “What did you two do all day?”

“He slept.”

Morgan looked up. Eun’s hair was up in a high ponytail. She wore dark-framed secretary glasses and one of Morgan’s work shirts draped her frame. “Laundry day?”

A half smile tugged the corner of Eun’s mouth. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Morgan stood and went to the sink. She washed her hands and dried them before turning back to Eun. She held Eun’s gaze as she walked across the room. “I like this look.”

In two strides Morgan crossed the room. She slid her hands beneath the shirt and rested her hands on Eun’s hips. Morgan rubbed her thumbs over her hip bones. Want crashed through her as she skated her hands over Eun’s silky bare skin under her fingers. She brushed her lips over her mouth.

Eun took her glasses off and placed them on the counter before she looped her fingers into Morgan’s belt loops and pulled her closer. She opened her mouth and teased Morgan’s lips with her tongue. Morgan moved her hands down and cupped Eun’s ass as she deepened the kiss. Eun pressed closer to Morgan and opened to her, their tongues teasing each other.

Morgan slid her hands up and unbuttoned the shirt before she pushed the shirt open and exposed Eun’s nipples. Moving her hands up, she circled the stiff tips with the pads of her thumbs. The scent of Eun’s excitement rose between them and Morgan’s mouth watered. She turned them and backed Eun up against the kitchen counter.

She broke the kiss and leaned down to swipe her tongue over Eun’s nipple. Eun cupped the back of her head and held Morgan’s face to her breast.

Morgan trailed a finger up Eun’s thigh and pushed slowly into the heat between her legs. “So wet. Have you been like this all day?”

“Only since I put your shirt on.” Eun gasped when Morgan teased a finger over her swollen flesh. Morgan grasped Eun’s hips and lifted her on to the counter. Eun inhaled sharply when Morgan pushed her knees apart. She leaned back on her hands and spread her legs wider.

Morgan stepped between Eun’s legs and lowered her mouth. She breathed in the scent of Eun as she gripped her thighs. She licked a slow line over her and stopped to push inside and taste the sweetness hidden within.

Eun clutched at her shoulders. “Don’t make me wait. Please. I need this. You.”

Morgan covered her with her mouth and circled her thick clit with her tongue.

Eun arched and pushed against her. “Oh. There. Yes. Take it.”

Morgan kept her rhythm as she teased two fingers inside. Eun’s legs stiffened, and she dug her nails into Morgan’s shirt as she came, her hips thrusting up to press against Morgan’s mouth. The sweet taste of Eun washed over Morgan’s tongue and wet her chin. Her sharp gasp as she came ratcheted up Morgan’s want. Impatient to have more of Eun, Morgan stood and kissed her, devouring her mouth as she tugged her hips closer to the edge of the counter. Eun shifted forward and wrapped her legs around Morgan’s waist and her arms around her shoulders. She kissed her neck before she teased her tongue over the shell of Morgan’s ear. “Take me to bed.”

Morgan held her close and strode down the hall to her bedroom. She pushed through the door and lay Eun on her bed.

Eun shrugged out of the shirt before she scooted up the bed. She spread her legs wide and feathered her fingers over her clit. “Why are you still dressed?”

Morgan yanked her shirt free from her pants and ripped it open, the metal snaps unfastening all at once.

Eun breathed out. “I love that sound.”

Morgan grinned at her and unfastened her belt. The metal clinked and jingled.

Eun closed her eyes and inhaled. “You are killing me. Please hurry.”

Morgan shucked her pants and launched herself toward the bed. She settled over Eun and pressed their flesh together. Hard nipples pressing, the slick slide of her clit over Eun’s wide thigh made her groan.

Eun pressed Morgan’s head against her neck and reached between them. Her fingers brushed over Morgan’s stiff clit. “You need something?”

“Everything.” Morgan closed her eyes against the sweet pleasure of Eun touching her as she moved her hand lower and fingered her. “Fuck me. I want you inside me.”

Eun thrust sharply and curled her fingers, her palm pressed against Morgan’s clit as she stroked her fingers in and out. Morgan shifted her legs, opening herself as Eun rolled them so she was over Morgan.

Morgan clasped her ponytail and tugged. Eun lifted her chin and exposed her throat. Morgan kissed the smooth column. Eun groaned and thrust deeper. Morgan gasped and lost her focus as Eun took her up and over. Her body clenched around Eun’s thrusting fingers and pleasure spun out from her center. Morgan shouted Eun’s name as she came hard, her shoulders lifting from the bed.

Eun slowed her strokes and kissed Morgan, swallowing her cries. Morgan broke their kiss and stared into Eun’s dark eyes. Eun pressed deeper and added a finger. The sting and burn gave way to pleasure and Morgan arched her hips to meet Eun’s deep slow strokes. A fire built in her belly and her vision narrowed. Nothing existed except the intense pleasure between her legs and the breathtaking intensity of Eun’s focus.

Eun pressed her wet flesh to Morgan’s thigh. “Can you come with me?” She rode Morgan’s thigh.

Morgan flexed her leg and rocked into Eun. “I don’t know.” She panted.

“How about now?” Eun swept her thumb over Morgan’s clit.

“Yes. Oh, damn.”

“Eyes open. See me. Let me see you.”

Eun sped up her thrusts. “Now, Morgan, now. Give it to me. Give me everything.” Eun’s eyes widened as she cried out. Morgan’s orgasm exploded, detonating from deep in her belly, her body and mind surrendering to Eun. And she saw. All of it. All the unsaid things between them. Nothing existed except for Eun’s dark-brown eyes and the love Morgan saw reflected in their inky depths.

*

Eun smoothed her palm over Morgan’s bicep and curled into Morgan’s body, pressing against her back. “Do you think Rudy will be cleared to go to the shop in two weeks?”

Morgan reached up and clasped Eun’s hand, pulling it to her chest. “He should be.” She rolled to her back and peered into Eun’s face. “When do you want to go back? I could ask my mom to come stay with him if you need to go sooner.”

Eun rested her head on her palm. “I don’t have a schedule, Morgan. My time is my own now.”

She flattened her palm over Morgan’s chest. “You said before you wouldn’t mind if I stayed with you for a bit. Until I have a place of my own. Is that offer still on the table?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Morgan’s mouth drew down.

“I don’t know. I didn’t want to assume. And I can afford an apartment of my own.”

“I know you can. But I like having you here. Rudy likes having you here.” Morgan cupped the back of Eun’s head and kissed her gently. “It would give you time to find a place you love instead of taking the first available apartment.” She kissed Eun again, gently, before she met her eyes. “And if you decided to move back to Chicago”—Morgan lowered her gaze—“you wouldn’t be bound to a lease or anything.”

Eun lifted Morgan’s chin and rubbed her thumb over her lower lip. “It’s a generous offer.” She held Morgan’s gaze. “I don’t know what the future will bring, but for now I want to be here with you.”

A smile tugged the corner of Morgan’s mouth. “You want me to go back with you? Between my truck and your car, it’d save you renting a U-Haul.”

Eun groaned. “So cliché, and you would do that? You could take time off?”

“Sure, I can. And it’s only until you find a place.” She rolled over until she was above Eun, her expression serious. “I mean it, Eun. I want what’s best for you. If you’re with me five months or fifty years, I want you to make decisions based on what you want, not because you think it’s the right thing or you owe someone.”

Eun hugged Morgan close and leaned her forehead against her brow. “Thank you.” She swallowed around the dry ache in her throat. “I love you, Morgan.”

Morgan relaxed against her and snuggled close. “I’m glad you said it first. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you I love you since you saved Rudy and me at the dog park.” She kissed the side of Eun’s neck.

Eun squeezed Morgan tighter. “This is a new thing for me, Morgan. I’ve not had a relationship in a long time. I might screw up. A lot.”

Morgan kissed her neck again. “You might. But you’re good at communicating. We’re adults. And we both might screw up a lot, but as long as we keep talking, we can work it out.”

Eun rubbed the back of Morgan’s neck. “Can you see the clock?”

“Why? Do you have an appointment?”

“Very funny. I wanted to see if we still had time to order from Mai’s.”

Morgan rose up and kissed Eun, her tongue skating over her lower lip before she took the kiss deeper. Eun groaned and shifted her hands to Morgan’s ass. She broke the kiss, panting. “Never mind. What I want is not on the menu at Mai’s.” She rolled her over, slid down her body, and gorged herself on the sweet feast between Morgan’s legs.

*

“What’d you get?” Morgan placed her stack of books on the library table.

Eun handed a thick book to Morgan. “Celeste Quon’s Stone Gate. Have you read it?”

“No, but Neil has been after me to read it for years.”

“Did you see the movie? I was afraid to watch it, worried they’d ruined it. But it was good.” Eun drew her fingertips over the edge of the binding. “I read my first copy so many times it fell apart.”

Morgan pulled her library card from her wallet and checked their books out. “Want to pick up tacos on the way home?”

Eun lifted the stack of books from the counter. “You read my mind.”

*

Rudy yipped sharply when they opened the door to the apartment.

“I’m sorry, bud, we weren’t gone that long.” Morgan held up the bag of tacos. “And we brought treats.” Rudy huffed and sat down with his back to them.

Eun covered her mouth to hide her smile. “He’s dissing you.”

Morgan placed the bag of food on the table. “Come on, Rudy.”

Rudy snuffed loudly and walked into the living room. “He’s totally dissing me.”

Eun opened the refrigerator. “What do you want to drink?”

“Some sparkling water would be great.”

Lured by the smell of tacos, Rudy returned. Morgan tore a tortilla into pieces and placed it in his bowl.

After dinner they settled on the couch. Eun rested her head against Morgan’s thigh and propped her book on her chest. Morgan carded her fingers through Eun’s hair as she read, pausing only to turn the page of her book. Eun closed the book and rested it on her chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a reading date with anyone.”

Morgan peered down at her. “Why not?”

Eun flushed. “I’ve mostly read for work the last fifteen years. I used to read for pleasure all the time.” She snorted. “The women I’ve been with weren’t interested in reading. So, thank you.”

“For what?”

“Encouraging me to be myself.”

Morgan shrugged. “I want you to enjoy yourself and be happy. To do the things you want to do.”

Eun reached up and pulled Morgan into a soft kiss. “Want me to read the sexy bits to you?”

“There’s sexy bits?”

“Over the top sexy bits.”

Morgan placed a bookmark in her book and set it aside. “Read on.”

*

Morgan pulled her truck into the parking lot behind her apartment. She gathered her lunch box and jacket before she climbed down from the truck. A bit of glass crunched under her boot. She glanced at Eun’s car. The driver side window was shattered. She peered into the car. The glove box hung open and its contents were scattered over the seats. Morgan pulled her phone from her jacket and called Eun. She laid her lunchbox and jacket on the hood of the truck. By the fifth ring her palm was sweating. She scrubbed her hand against her pants to dry it.

A panting Eun answered the phone. “Sorry, I was in the shower.”

“Have you been home all afternoon?”

“What kind of question is that? And yes, other than when I took Rudy out.”

“It looks like someone beat your car with a bat.”

“The fuck?”

“I’ll call the police.”

“I’ll be right down.”

Morgan walked around the car taking photos with her phone. The trunk was closed but not latched. She kneeled down and looked under the car. Nothing seemed out of place. A bit of paper fluttered out of the car window. Morgan snagged it out of the air. The gravel crunched behind her and she turned in the direction of the sound. Eun rounded the corner of the car.

“Is it a receipt?” Eun gestured to the scrap of paper.

Morgan stood and smoothed it out. “A dry-cleaning ticket.”

Eun frowned. “Where’s it from?”

Morgan gestured at the car. “I’m guessing it fell out of the pocket of whoever busted your car up.” She squinted at the numbered receipt. “This is from Sam’s.”

Eun raised an eyebrow. “You can tell from the number?”

Morgan shrugged. “We only have one dry cleaner in town.”

“It’s a generic receipt. It could’ve come from anywhere.”

Morgan nodded. “Yeah, but Sam’s done our uniform shirts forever. I would recognize his handwriting anywhere.”

A police car arrived. “Hey, Morgan. What you got?”

“Hey, Martin. This is Eun Park. And that’s her car.” Morgan tucked the dry-cleaning receipt into her pocket.

“Ma’am.” He pulled a notebook from his pocket and pointed his pen at the car. “Is the vehicle registered to you?”

“Yes.”

“Have you assessed the damage?”

“We left it as it was.”

After inspecting the car with them, Martin took their statements and gave Eun the information she would need for her insurance claim.

After Martin left, Eun kicked her toe against the tire of her car. “Do you think this was to intimidate me or to punish me?”

Morgan frowned. “Who would want to intimidate you?”

“Good point. I’m not working any cases where folks might want to scare me off. So, who wants to punish me?”

“I don’t think they were trying to punish you. They didn’t do any damage other than breaking the window, and I think they only broke it to get into your car. They tossed the car and the trunk like they were looking for something. If they wanted to punish you, they would have fucked with the engine.” She pulled the dry-cleaning receipt from her pocket. “I think we need to go see Sam.”

Eun raised her eyebrow. “You’re a detective now? Shouldn’t we call your sister?”

Morgan huffed a breath. “The police won’t follow up on this. It’s not a priority. Nothing was stolen. They’ll treat it as a simple case of vandalism.”

Eun wrapped her arms around herself. “I need a jacket.”

Morgan opened her truck and pulled an empty canvas grocery bag from the back. “I’ll get everything out of the car.” She glanced at the sky. “I don’t think it’s supposed to rain. Grab a couple of trash bags from under the sink.” Morgan held up a roll of duct tape. “We can use them to tarp the window.”

Eun nodded, her brows furrowed. “I’ll be down in a few.”