Chapter Twenty-Two

MILLIE’S HEARTY LAUGH and her cousin Walter’s high-pitched giggle greeted her when she got back to the table. They had their jackets off, their ties were loose, and their sleeves were rolled up. Their heads almost touched as they talked.

“Hey, babe,” Veronica called over the music.

Millie tilted her head, an easy smile on her lips, and raked her gaze over Veronica. “I was about to come looking for you. Walter requested some songs for us.”

Veronica rolled her eyes at her cousin. “Walter, what did you do?”

Walter tipped his chair back on two legs and slung his arm around Millie. “Making sure you treat your woman right.”

The familiar strains of Etta James’s “Sunday Kind of Love” blared through the speakers. Millie rose from her chair, grabbed Veronica’s hand, and led her out to the dance floor. Couples crowded the floor, swaying against one another.

Millie leaned close. “Do you want to lead, Ceannard?” Her breath tickled Veronica’s ear.

Veronica slipped her arm around Millie’s waist and held her hand as Millie rested her hand on Veronica’s shoulder. This. This wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have her. I would have missed the love of my life. They swayed to the music, Millie following Veronica smoothly around the floor as they danced. Veronica held Millie’s gaze. Love. She loves me. Loves me for all I am. Veronica clutched Millie to her and kissed her hard, ignoring the catcalls and whistles from the cousins’ table.

The song switched to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” Millie slipped out of her arms and Walter joined them. Veronica laughed as the two of them danced and lip-synced the song perfectly. Veronica joined them, never taking her eyes from Millie’s face.

 

THEY PUSHED THROUGH the door to Veronica’s room. Millie tossed the bedraggled bouquet she had wrested from the bridesmaid scrum onto Veronica’s desk. Veronica kicked the door closed as she flipped the switch and lit the bedside lamp. They tumbled onto the bed. Veronica tugged Millie’s shirt loose from her trousers and smoothed her hands over the skin of her low back before she raked it with her short nails.

Millie mouthed her neck while unbuttoning her shirt. Veronica lifted her chin and moaned.

“Ssh, Ceannard, they’ll hear you.”

Shirts and jackets were tossed aside, belts clinked as they were unbuckled, shoes thudded on the floor, and then they were naked. Millie pressed a thigh between Veronica’s legs as she kissed her. Her lips slow and gentle, she resisted Veronica’s attempt to speed up their tryst.

“Slow, Ceannard, that’s what you always tell me.” Millie wrapped her fingers around Veronica’s wrists and pushed her arms over her head before she gathered both wrists in one hand. She kissed Veronica’s neck and then her mouth as she held her in place. Millie pulled back and pressed tiny kisses along Veronica’s jaw. “Lie back, Ceannard, and let me. Please.”

Veronica knotted her hands together, and Millie kissed her way down her body. She stopped to trace her tongue over her hipbone and then lower to the crease of her thighs and then her mouth was on Veronica. Hot, wet, and wicked, Millie’s tongue traced a path from her clit to her slick center. Veronica gasped as Millie thrust her tongue deep and then up to circle her clit, lazily. Gentle pressure and then a single thick finger curled inside to rub her sweet spot. Veronica lifted her hips, seeking more. “Oh don’t. Don’t tease. Please, Millie.”

Millie hummed against her, the vibrations sending a new wave of want through Veronica. “Please, Millie. More.” She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her loud groans.

Millie slipped her finger out and then slid two back in. She licked leisurely, timing it with her strokes, and Veronica panted and rolled her hips into Millie’s mouth, chasing the sensations she craved. Millie gripped her hips and held her still, taking her time.

“Oh. I’m so close. Please don’t stop.” Veronica whispered. “Please.”

Millie held her there, on the edge of coming, until Veronica was delirious with pleasure. Chest heaving, she gripped Millie’s head and held her in place as she ground out her pleasure. Millie licked and sucked until Veronica pushed her away, too sensitive to continue.

Millie collapsed next to her on the bed. “You’re not so good at following directions.” She flicked Veronica’s nipple, and Veronica arched up off the bed and shuddered through an aftershock.

Millie kissed the side of her neck and snuggled close.

Veronica groaned. “Give me a minute. I need to catch my breath.”

Millie took Veronica’s hand and placed it between her legs. Her thighs were slick and her clit hard under Veronica’s fingers. “Won’t take much, Ceannard.”

Veronica jacked Millie’s clit once, twice, and then Millie was clutching her arm as she came without a sound.

Veronica rolled on top of Millie and plunged her fingers deep. Millie wrapped her legs around Veronica and opened herself as Veronica fucked her. “Give it to me, babe, give me everything.”

“Take it, Ceannard, take all of it.” Millie whispered as she cupped the back of Veronica’s neck and stared into her eyes and came again.

 

VERONICA SWIGGED THE last of her coffee. “I’m sorry we can’t stay longer, Mom.”

Millie carried their suitcases through the kitchen and out of the front door to the car.

“Me too.” Her mother pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “You keep us posted on how things are going. And if we need to reserve the hall for next year.” Her mother tipped her head toward the door. “She suits you, Veronica, more than Dee ever did.”

“She does, doesn’t she?” Veronica turned to watch Millie as she loaded their bags into the car. “Thanks, Mom, for everything.”

Her mom hugged her hard and stepped back.

Millie came back through the door to the kitchen. She took Veronica’s mother’s hand in both of hers. “Thank you for your hospitality, Cora. And the tips.” She winked at Veronica’s mom.

Veronica glanced from her mom’s face to Millie’s. “What tips?”

Millie smirked and let go of Veronica’s mother’s hands. Her mom patted Veronica’s arm. “You need to go now, Ronnie. You’ll miss your flight.”

She caught her mother’s wink at Millie as she mimed holding a telephone and silently mouthed, “Call me.” Veronica huffed out a breath to hide her smile.