Chapter Fourteen

THEY HELD HANDS as they walked across the gravel parking lot, the soft crunch of the crushed stone under their feet loud in Veronica’s ears. Her hand was sweaty in Millie’s large palm. Millie urged her up the stairs, her fingers resting on the curve of Veronica’s ass as she followed close behind her. She reached around her and unlocked the door to her apartment. They pushed through the open door together and clung to each other as they toed off their shoes, scrabbling at each other’s clothes. Veronica ripped Millie’s T-shirt over her head. She smoothed her palms across the broad expanse of her chest down over her firm curves, cupped her breasts, and thumbed her nipples. So beautiful. So strong.

Millie groaned into her touch. “Let me, let me.” She tugged Veronica’s belt open before she unbuttoned her jeans.

Veronica’s breath stuttered. “Yes, yes.”

Millie’s warm fingers skipped and skidded over Veronica’s stiff clit before she pushed inside.

Millie’s hands traveled over Veronica’s body as she fingered her. She used her body and turned them in the small space. She pulled her hand free before she dropped to her knees. She looked up at Veronica, and the devotion reflected in her eyes split Veronica’s heart wide open. This. This is right. She loves me. She laid her hand on Millie’s cheek, and Millie turned her face and kissed her palm reverently. Veronica leaned against the door and shoved at her jeans, pushing them to her ankles. Millie grabbed the waistband of Veronica’s briefs and yanked them down. Her warm breath tickled Veronica’s thigh before she leaned in and flicked her tongue over Veronica’s clit.

Her legs trapped by her pants, Veronica was held in place by Millie’s strong hands resting on her thighs. Millie’s hot wet tongue dipped and slipped over her slick folds.

“That’s so good.” Veronica groaned as Millie lapped at her. She dug her fingers into Millie’s soft brush cut to steady herself against the riot of pleasure filling her. Millie used a finger to gently tease the hood back and touched the tip of her tongue to the hot bundle of nerves there, once, twice so soft, so sweetly. Veronica pulled Millie’s mouth tight against her as she bucked and screamed her release.

“Mmm. You taste like every good thing in the world. I can’t get enough of you.” Millie’s voice was soft as she spoke in between small kisses and touches of her tongue, causing a sharp series of aftershocks to crash through Veronica. She stood and cupped Veronica’s face and kissed her. Her tongue traced the line of Veronica’s lips. Her face and mouth were wet with evidence of Veronica’s pleasure.

The taste of herself on Millie’s lips sent a fresh rush of desire coursing through Veronica. She struggled against the jeans around her legs. The sensation of being bound ramped up her need. Millie leaned back and stared into Veronica’s face as she lowered her hand to trace her way through the tight curls between Veronica’s thighs.

Veronica gasped, her body clenching around Millie as she entered her. Sweeping two fingers over the spot that made her buck and arch for more. Veronica struggled and pulled one leg free of her jeans. She lifted it and wrapped it around Millie’s hips, urging her closer. She studied Millie’s heavy-lidded expression. Dark desire filled her eyes.

Veronica shifted her hips to pull her deeper. “More.” A command not a plea, and Millie kept her gaze fixed on Veronica’s face as she pulled back and pushed a third finger inside. The sting and burn made Veronica groan as Millie’s broad palm rubbed Veronica’s clit as she rocked against her. Eyes locked on Veronica’s face, Millie slowed her thrusts, drawing out Veronica’s pleasure.

Rippling waves of delight spread through her, so much and yet not enough. Need whipped through her body, her nipples ached, and deep moans rattled her chest. Her body tightened around Millie’s fingers. Millie stilled and eased a fourth finger in, and Veronica panted around the new sensation. Millie gentled her strokes and Veronica cried out, the slow deep soft thrusts making her desperate for more. She hissed and shuddered as deeper waves of bliss spread out from her core.

Veronica clutched at Millie’s shoulders, her nails digging into her silky skin as Millie edged her, giving her enough but not enough. Sweat rolled down Veronica’s face and stung her eyes. She relished the sweet torture and clung to Millie. Veronica slowed her breathing and let the sensations fill her, taking her down until she was desperate to go over and needed more.

“Fuck me.” Veronica dug her nails in harder, drawing a sharp yip from Millie. “Now.”

“Wrap both legs around me.” Millie dipped her hips and Veronica raised her other leg. She braced her shoulders against the door. Millie’s mouth curved into a feral smile. “Hold on.”

Millie set her legs and wrapped her arm around Veronica’s hips. Her fingers digging into the soft flesh of Veronica’s ass, she lowered her head and mouthed the curve of Veronica’s neck as she sped up her strokes, thrusting hard and fast and deep. Veronica’s keening wail filled the narrow hallway and she came, digging her short nails so deep she was sure she had drawn blood. Her pleasure crested, one wave building on the next until it pulled her under and there was nothing but Millie’s broad body and the sensations between her legs.

She clung to her and kissed her temple, her cheek, her eyelids, anywhere and everywhere her mouth could reach. Millie slowed her movements, easing her down, and Veronica gasped as another gentle orgasm rippled through her when Millie slipped her fingers free and pressed gently on Veronica’s clit with her thumb. She gripped Veronica’s ass with both hands and lifted her. The press of the soft skin of her stomach was soothing against Veronica’s swollen flesh. She rested her head on Millie’s shoulder. Millie turned them and strode down the hallway to her bedroom. She lowered Veronica to the bed.

Millie smiled down at her. “You look good in my bed.” Her usual cocky grin was back in place. “Stay right there.”

Boneless, Veronica nodded her willingness to comply, unable to form words.

Millie returned with two glasses of water. Veronica pushed up on her elbows and then sat up to take one of the glasses. “Thanks.” She swallowed, the cool water soothing against her throat. “My throat’s a little sore.”

Millie smirked. “You screamed a bit.”

“A bit? I’m glad we were here instead of my room. I’d have frightened the horses.”

Millie’s booming laugh echoed off the wall of the bedroom. “Aye, you would have.” Her expression became serious. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Veronica placed her glass on the side table. “Not at all.” She raked her gaze over Millie’s shirtless body. “You still have your pants on. Unacceptable.”

Millie stood and set her glass aside. She grasped the top button of her jeans and tugged. It popped open. Veronica swallowed hard against the burning need to possess Millie.

“You want me?” Millie lowered the zipper one notch at a time until it was halfway down and stopped.

Veronica fixed her with a level gaze. “Do it. Now. Get naked and get in this bed.”

Millie shucked her jeans and jumped onto the bed. “Or what? You going to punish me?” She lifted Veronica’s hand and kissed the palm before trailing kisses up her wrist and to her elbow until she was at the apex of her shoulder and neck.

Veronica brought her hand up and wrapped her fingers around Millie’s throat lightly. She pushed on Millie’s chest with her other hand. Millie lay back on the bed, panting, her pupils blown wide.

“Yes.” Veronica straddled Millie, keeping one hand in place around her neck. “Spread your legs. Open yourself to me.”

Millie’s tongue slid over her lower lip as she spread her legs wide and used her hands to expose her clit. Veronica lifted her body and glanced between her legs. The sight of Millie’s hands between her legs, obeying Veronica, made her clit throb.

Veronica shifted until her body made contact with Millie’s center, clit to clit. The glorious sensation of the slick slide drew a deep growl from Millie. “Move your hands.”

Millie complied and fisted her hands in the sheets. Her eyes were closed, her face suffused with pleasure, and her pulse rapid beneath Veronica’s fingertips. Trust, she trusts me. Wants me. Loves me. She rolled her hips, caught up in their intimate dance, their flesh as one. “Look at me.”

Millie opened her eyes and met Veronica’s gaze.

“You want to come for me?”

“Yes, please, Ceannard, please.”

Veronica flexed her fingers, tightening her grip on Millie’s throat. “You want to be mine?”

Millie lifted her chin, signaling her desire, her voice thick. “Only yours, Ceannard.”

Veronica leaned down and kissed her. She rotated her hips, bringing Millie off, swallowing her shouts as she came. Mine. She wants to be mine.

 

“HEY, THIS CAME for you.” Robin held out a thick cream-colored envelope. Veronica tugged off her gloves and wiped her hand on her jeans before she took the letter from Robin. It was addressed in flowing copperplate script. She flipped it over and read her parents’ return address on the back. Veronica fought the rising sense of dread that settled in the pit of her stomach.

Robin flopped on the office couch. “So, who’s getting married?”

“My sister. Damn it.” Veronica tossed the envelope on her desk blotter. “I knew this was coming. She sent me a ‘save the date’ card, six months ago, but with the job and everything I forgot all about it.”

“Is the guy a douche?” Robin’s lips thinned.

“He’s not a douche, but damn, I don’t know what I’m going to do. My parents and my sister expect me at this thing.”

“So, what’s the problem? You go. It’s your sister’s wedding. You don’t blow something like this off. You said your family is cool with you. What’s your problem?”

“My family is fine, but the whole rest of the damn family will be there. Most of them haven’t talked to me since I got out. They stare right through me. Fuck. And my aunt will be there. My aunt is the worst. Right after I got out, I went to my little cousin’s baptism, and my aunt made a huge scene on the sidewalk outside the church. Said my being there was an affront to God because I was a drug dealer. Which I never was. Her own kids smoke weed. My cousins could light up in front of her, and she’d deny it.” Veronica scrubbed her hands over her face. “What am I going to do?”

Robin rested her chin on her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You go, you don’t talk to them. Take somebody with you.” Her eyes shone with glee. “Take Millie. Oh, that’s so romantic, going as a couple to a wedding. It’s the perfect solution. Millie’s charming, and they’ll be so busy staring at her and trying to figure out what’s up with you two, you won’t have to worry about anybody being jerks.”

Veronica glared at Robin. “I don’t want them treating Millie like some sort of sideshow attraction. I wouldn’t do that to Millie. This guy my sister’s marrying, he’s not a douche but his family will be there, and they’re total assholes. They’ll never be okay with me.” She sat heavily on the couch and leaned back on the cushion and studied the ceiling. “I am well and truly fucked. If I don’t go, I’ll break my sister’s heart, and my parents will be pissed as hell.”

Robin reached over and rested her hand on Veronica’s knee. “My friend, you can’t miss your sister’s wedding. You only get one family. Don’t break her heart.” Robin’s mouth turned down. “My family hasn’t talked to me in years. I don’t exist to them and haven’t since I was fifteen.”

Veronica started at Robin’s words. “But you want to visit them, you told me you wanted to visit them.”

“I want to visit my chosen family. I want to visit the friends who are more family than my birth family. Don’t let one bitch keep you from having a family. Your parents and your sister love you. They stood by you. They believed you when no one else did. Fuck your aunt. Fuck his family. You go and be with your family. That’s what’s important.” Robin’s eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Veronica sighed. “I know I should. But I’m not sure it’s the right thing.” She stared at the envelope on the desk.

Robin stood up and stretched. She reached down and offered her hand to Veronica. “Come on.”

Veronica stood and clasped Robin’s hand. “Where’re we going?”

“Whenever I have a problem, I go to the number one problem solver.”

Veronica quirked her mouth. “And who is that?”

“Mistress Lucia is the smartest woman I’ve ever met. She’ll know what to do. She’ll help you. Mostly she helps you figure out what you already know.” Robin held onto Veronica’s hand and led her out of the office.

 

VERONICA AND ROBIN stood outside the dark wood six-paneled door leading to Mistress Lucia’s office. Robin squeezed Veronica’s hand. “I’m going to leave you here. Talk with her, she’ll help you figure this out.” She knocked on the door and left Veronica in the hall.

Mistress Lucia opened the door, tilted her head at Veronica, and raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

Veronica lost herself in the tall elegance of Mistress Lucia, captivated by her blue-green eyes. “I’m…Robin thought you could, I have a…” She struggled to organize her thoughts.

“Why don’t you come in, and we’ll talk about it. No need to stand in the hall.” Mistress Lucia turned, and Veronica followed her into the office, mesmerized by her cool presence and grace. The walls were covered in large floral photographic prints, a sharp contrast to the dark wood paneling and the large mahogany desk occupying one corner of the room.

Mistress Lucia sat on a Victorian-style fainting couch covered in dark-blue velvet. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

Aware of her dusty jeans and barn clothing, Veronica brushed off the seat of her pants before she sat in the chair that matched the couch. She knotted her fingers together in her lap. “My sister’s getting married.”

Mistress Lucia raised an eyebrow. “And you’d like some time off? I don’t see why there would be a problem. Were you afraid to ask Mistress Martha? I’ll speak to her if you are.”

“No. It’s not that.” Veronica unknotted her fingers and tucked her hands under her thighs to keep them from shaking.

Mistress Lucia shifted her position on the couch as she raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I’m understanding your problem.”

Veronica took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “My extended family will be there and my sister’s future husband’s family. And, and…they don’t, well, none of them speak to me since I got out of prison. I don’t want my aunt to be an ass and cause all kinds of problems. I don’t want to ruin my sister’s wedding.”

“I know what it is to be unwanted and an unexpected guest, but your sister invited you and your family want you to be there, yes?”

Veronica slumped in her chair. “They do. They do expect me to be there.”

“But you’re worried your presence will be a distraction?”

“Yes. I went to my cousin’s baptism, and my aunt raised a stink about it. She was awful. My mother and father stood by me, but I knew they were embarrassed. And the worst part was it took away from my cousin’s special day.”

“Understandable.” Mistress Lucia got up from the couch and walked to the window and stared out at the grounds. Her hands were clasped behind her back. “How many sisters do you have, Veronica?”

“Just the one.”

“And you love your sister? She’s been kind to you. She visited you when you were in prison. Did she shun you or stay away because people might not approve of you? Was she worried at all about what other people would think or say to her? Was she ashamed she had a sister who was in prison?”

“No.” Veronica shifted in her chair.

“And your parents, did they walk away from you, worried about what other people would think or say? Or did they stand by you?”

“They all stood by me. They came to visit. They believed me when no one else did.”

Mistress Lucia turned around and skewered Veronica with her gaze. “And you really have to ask me what you should do?”

Veronica flushed and began to sweat under Mistress Lucia’s examination.

She sat on the couch and extended her arm along the back as she studied Veronica’s face. Her eyes and her expression softened. “You have your answer, Veronica. You said yourself they didn’t give up on you. Why would you give up on them?”

Veronica scrubbed her face with her hands. “Robin said you were good at this.”

Mistress Lucia tilted her head and studied Veronica. “Are you planning on going alone to the wedding?”

Sweat trickled down the back of Veronica’s neck. “I haven’t thought about it. I might ask Millie if she’d go with me.”

“Are you concerned about that too?” Mistress Lucia’s sharp gaze was back.

“I’ve never brought anyone like her home.”

“Like her? You mean a woman?”

“Oh no, they know I’m queer.”

“So, what do you mean ‘like her’?” Mistress Lucia’s eyes were hard and cold.

“I’ve never brought home a butch woman. And I’ve never dated a white woman ever.”

Mistress Lucia pressed her lips together in a firm line. “Do you think it would be a problem with your family?”

Veronica frowned. “I don’t think so, but I don’t know. No one in my family’s ever dated anyone white, that I know of.”

“My father is white.”

Veronica’s chest tightened and she shifted in her chair. “Was it hard? Growing up?”

“Yes. His family hated my mother and me for the color of our skin. And my mother’s family hated my father for not standing up to his family. I understand your fears. Have you talked to them about Millie?”

“No. Not yet.” Veronica quirked her mouth.

“You need to.” Mistress Lucia’s voice was kind. “I know this is hard for you, and you’ve had a lot of things not go your way in the past. You need to trust the love your family has already shown for you. If they were going to abandon you, they would’ve abandoned you the second you were led out of the courtroom in shackles, but they stood by you. Do you think they’d abandon you over a choice in partner? They’ve shown you how they feel about you. Trust them. Listen to your heart, Veronica.”