The Last Place You Look, page 15
“Manual labor will do that to a body.”
“I like it. I like it very much.”
“I like you very much.” Taylor had straddled one of Julia’s legs, which Julia now lifted and pressed against her. The friction was enough to push Taylor close to the edge. “But if you don’t stop doing that with your thigh, I’m not going to have the chance to show you.”
Julia lifted her hips, grinding into Taylor with excruciating precision. “Maybe I’m willing to take my chances.”
Although tempted, Taylor shifted away. “You might be, but I’m not.”
She straddled Julia’s thighs and wrapped her fingers around Julia’s wrists, pinning them lightly over her head. Julia pushed back but it felt more like testing Taylor’s hold on her than wanting to escape. The look in her eyes echoed that sentiment and she smiled. “I like that very much, too.”
The comment, hinting at so much more beneath the surface, made Taylor ache in the best possible way. “Good.”
She took her time exploring Julia’s body, tasting and testing the textures of it. Julia squirmed. Was the torture she inflicted unconscious or intentional? She nudged Julia’s legs farther apart and settled herself between them.
“Please touch me. I need to feel you.” Julia’s voice was hoarse. The plea turned Taylor’s insides molten.
She grazed her fingers over Julia, expecting to find her aroused. But Julia was so much more, hotter and wetter and softer than even her most explicit fantasies. Julia arched against her, and Taylor’s intentions to take her time, to go slow, vanished in a haze of needing to be inside her.
She eased one finger into Julia, but quickly added a second. Julia let out a sound that was half sigh, half moan. Taylor skimmed her free hand over Julia’s abdomen, then slid her thumb over Julia’s clit.
Julia’s body clamped around her, her hips moved in time with Taylor’s hand. It was hypnotic and made her feel powerful. Julia let out an expletive and her whole body convulsed. It happened so quickly, and without warning, but there was no mistaking the release.
Taylor waited for her to still before pressing a kiss to the inside of her thigh. “You are so beautiful.” She kissed the other thigh. “And I hope you don’t think I’m done with you.”
Julia let out a ragged laugh, but she didn’t argue. Taylor resumed fucking her, slowly at first, and without any other stimulation. Julia followed her lead, moving against her with perfect rhythm. Taylor increased the speed and intensity of her thrusts, her own arousal building as she pushed Julia harder, higher.
She felt the second orgasm coming, Julia’s body tensing and quivering before tumbling over. Heat poured from her. The way Julia said her name was almost enough to make her come.
“Holy fuck.”
Taylor chuckled at Julia’s comment, delivered with almost panting breaths. “I’m going to assume you mean that in a good way.”
Julia lifted her head, then let it fall. “So good. So so good.”
“Yeah.” Taylor shifted so her body was once again pressed against the length of Julia’s. As turned on as she was, it felt so incredible to hold her, she wasn’t in any hurry to do anything else.
Julia, however, seemed to have other ideas. She rolled to her side and propped herself on one elbow. “I mean, I expected it to be, but seriously. That was off the charts.”
Taylor couldn’t help but grin at the assertion. She thought so, too, but didn’t want to lay it on too thick. “You’re amazing.”
“I haven’t even done anything yet.”
She let her gaze skim down Julia’s body and back up. “Oh, you’ve done plenty.”
“Just you wait.” Without further commentary, Julia wiggled her way down the bed in a way that managed to be both adorable and erotic. She settled herself between Taylor’s thighs. “I have to say, I’ve been thinking about this a lot.”
“Really?” The idea of Julia having sex fantasies about her was something she’d never considered.
“Ever since that kiss in the back of your truck.” She kissed the insides of Taylor’s thighs.
“Yeah, well for the record, I’ve been thinking about it longer.”
Julia lifted her head, looked right into Taylor’s eyes. “How long, exactly?”
Taylor let her head fall back into the pillow. “I’d rather not say.”
“Come on. Tell me.”
Taylor shook her head.
Julia pressed her tongue into Taylor and, for a second, Taylor thought she might come right then and there. But then Julia’s mouth was gone. “Tell me. I’m not above torturing you.”
Oh, God. Were they really having this conversation now? “What if I promise to tell you after?”
“Hmm.” Julia tapped a finger against her thigh. “I guess you’ve proved yourself to be a trustworthy sort.”
“I have.” Should she tell Julia they’d already crossed the line into torture?
“Okay, then.”
Without another word Julia’s mouth—her soft, hot, perfect mouth—wrapped around Taylor’s throbbing clit. She groaned before she could stop herself, but this time, Julia didn’t pull away. No, she stayed right where she was, only her tongue started making these lazy circles that drove Taylor the very best kind of crazy.
She’d thought so much about how this would go, how it would feel. She managed to decide it was even better than she’d imagined before her brain stopped formulating thoughts altogether. It was all sensation, like every cell, every fiber of her being was tuned to the same station and her whole body was surround sound.
Julia brought her to the edge and backed off. Once, twice, three times. The line between pleasure and pain blurred as her body strained for release. But before she could say anything, before she could beg, Julia took her to the precipice and over.
The orgasm was like free fall, weightless and exhilarating. But instead of picking up speed, she slowed. There was no crash at the bottom. Instead, she drifted. Aftershocks rippled through her, each one a small quake of pleasure.
She wanted to speak, to say something nice or sensual or funny, but there were no words. At least none she could trust herself with, none that wouldn’t send Julia running. Julia didn’t seem to mind the quiet. She rested her head on Taylor’s thigh and seemed perfectly content.
Chapter Seventeen
Julia didn’t want to leave the cocoon of Taylor’s arms. Or her bed. Apparently, that’s what happened when sex was off the charts amazing.
Without intending to draw comparisons, she couldn’t help but think about how not off the charts her recent experiences had proved. From wanting to sneak out on Bianca to not even making it to bed with PJ or Amber or any of the others. The difference was so stark it made her chuckle.
Taylor, who’d once again taken on the role of big spoon, nuzzled her neck. “What’s so funny?”
Julia wiggled slightly, relishing the feel of Taylor’s body against hers. So much better naked. “Nothing.”
The nuzzling became a nip just below her ear. The sensation, a perfect mix of pleasure and pain, sent a shiver down Julia’s spine. “Tell me.”
“I may have been comparing you to all the other people I’ve gone out with since coming home.”
Taylor went still behind her. “And?”
“And I realized it wasn’t even a fair comparison.”
“Oh.” Taylor relaxed.
Julia rolled so they were facing one another. She put her hand on Taylor’s cheek. “Don’t tell me you were honestly worried.”
She shifted a shoulder. “Not worried, exactly.”
The hint of something not entirely confident melted Julia’s heart. “You are amazing. Last night was amazing. Like, contender for the best sex of my life amazing.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to say that.”
Where was this shyness coming from all of a sudden? “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
“All right, then.”
She seemed convinced, but Julia wanted to drive home the point. Also, being naked in bed with Taylor had her all turned on again. She rolled on top of Taylor, straddling her thighs. “Maybe I should show you.”
Whatever emotion had been in Taylor’s eyes switched to desire. Taylor’s hands came to her hips and guided them as she moved. “That might be a good idea.”
Julia leaned forward. She kissed Taylor’s jaw, then her neck. Up to her earlobe, over to her mouth. By the time Taylor’s tongue tangled with hers, they were writhing around on the bed and Julia thought she might die if Taylor didn’t take her.
Fortunately, Taylor didn’t leave her hanging.
After, they showered together and Julia pulled on her clothes from the night before. “I have half a mind to call in sick.”
“Don’t do that. I’ll see you again soon.”
Julia pouted. “How soon?”
“Tonight?”
Her pout became a grin. “I like the way you think.”
“We’ll be responsible adults, and then it’ll feel like we earned a relaxing night.”
Why did that sound beyond perfect? “Can we hang out here again if I promise to make dinner?”
“You don’t have to make dinner to come over, you know.”
“I do know. But I’d like to make you dinner.”
“Then, yes. That sounds fantastic.” Taylor wrapped her arms around Julia. She honestly couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do.
“We don’t need to discuss this now, but I’ve been thinking.”
A knot formed in the pit of Taylor’s stomach and she took a step back. If Julia was going to give her the we need to just be fuck buddies talk, she wasn’t sure she could take it. Not after last night. “About?”
“My house. I want to update it, make it more mine. I think it would be good for the house, but also make it not creepy to have you spend the night there sometime. Would you be willing to consult on some ideas and maybe help me a little?”
The request was so far from what Taylor expected, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Do you think it’s a stupid idea or stupid to think I can do it myself?”
“Neither. It think it’s a great idea and I’d love to help.”
Julia narrowed her eyes. “Then why did you laugh?”
“I thought you were going to say something else. Sorry. Not funny.”
“Good, because I may have already started a list.”
She probably shouldn’t feel so relieved about something she shouldn’t have been worrying about in the first place, but it was what it was. “I love lists.”
“Why does that not surprise me?”
Taylor shrugged. “I’m a what you see is what you get kind of woman.”
Julia quirked a brow. “I really like what I see.”
The look on Julia’s face was half playful, half take me back to bed. Knowing how close she was to doing just that, Taylor gave her a pat on the rear end. “Go to work before I decide calling in sick is a good idea.”
She tipped her head. “Only if you promise to do that again later, too.”
Teasing or not, Taylor’s body tightened at the idea. “I think that could be arranged.”
“Good.” Julia kissed her, the kind of kiss designed to stir her up and leave her aching for more. Then she trailed a finger from Taylor’s throat down to the waistband of her boxers.
“Uh-huh.” She’d have used words, but she couldn’t remember any in the moment.
Julia’s smile gave way to a frown. “Wait.”
“What?”
“You picked me up. I don’t have a car.”
Oh. Right. For a second, she’d been worried it was something bad. Why was she so convinced it was going to be something bad? “Sorry, I forgot. You have a way of addling my brain. I’ll bring you home.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, I’m not going to let you walk, silly. Let me grab pants.” She started upstairs.
Julia smirked. “You don’t want to ride around town in your underwear?”
Taylor called down. “I’m going to go with no.”
The ride to Julia’s and back took all of twenty minutes. Taylor went to the kitchen to make a plan for the day. Waylon, waiting patiently for his breakfast, looked at her with mild curiosity. “I know. We never have girls stay over. It’s good though, right?” His tail thumped lazily. Taylor nodded. “Exactly.”
She put down his breakfast and made coffee, pouring it in a travel mug she could take with her to the shop. It shouldn’t be possible for her to be all stirred up again, but she was. She checked the time. Less than twelve hours until she saw Julia again. Considering how many years she’d waited for last night, she could certainly wait that long.
In the meantime, she had work to do. “How about we get to it?”
Waylon probably didn’t understand half of what Taylor said to him, but he knew work meant the barn. He stretched and yawned himself this way and that, then loped over to the back door. On the short walk to her workshop, she considered her options. The day was perfect—sunny, but cool. She had a batch of logs she’d been wanting to run through the sawmill.
She explained her plan to Waylon, who, to his credit, looked at her as though he knew exactly what she was saying. He followed her around to the back of the barn and settled himself in the shade of a maple tree while she got to work. “It’s a pretty good gig you have there,” she said before donning her safety glasses and earplugs.
Two hours later, her arms ached, but she had a beautiful stack of live edge boards that would become coat racks and floating shelves. She decided to call it quits and moved inside to do some staining. She had a flirty exchange with Julia about ingredients she kept in her kitchen, or perhaps more accurately, didn’t keep in her kitchen.
That played out as she went back and forth with Chris about assembling a set of large bookcases and a delivery to Skaneateles. When he asked about Julia, she told him about spending the night together. That led to a barrage of questions and her telling him he’d have to wait to get the story in person.
He pulled into her driveway twenty minutes later.
“You are worse than an old lady at the beauty salon.”
He looked at her quizzically. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
She laughed in spite of herself. “I do love you.”
“As you should. Now give me the scoop. Jack insists.”
“You already told him?”
“Uh, he’d kill me if I didn’t.”
His nosiness didn’t bother her. Partly because it came from a place of love. And maybe because she’d started to allow herself, just a tiny bit, to imagine a future with Julia. Yes, it was premature, but a month ago, she would have said the same thing about the idea of them sleeping together.
“Well?”
She cleared her throat. He cared, but it didn’t mean he needed to know every detail. “It was good.”
Chris’s shoulders dropped and he gave her a look of exasperation. “Seriously?”
“We weren’t even scheduled to go out, but she had her first real photo shoot yesterday and it went well, and I offered to take her to dinner to celebrate.”
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.” He nodded.
“We took a ride to Gianna’s and then came back here.”
“Your idea or hers?”
“It was mutual.” She had a flash of the look in Julia’s eyes when she asked about rules.
“I know you’re not going to give me any of the sex details and, don’t tell Jack I said so, but I’m cool with that. How did you leave things?”
Taylor lifted a shoulder. “She’s coming over after work and cooking dinner.”
“No shit.”
“Come on. It’s not that big a deal.”
“It is when she’s been playing the field and you’re in love with her.”
“I’m not in love with her.” Dangerously close at this point, but not all the way. Not yet.
“Are you two exclusive?”
“We haven’t discussed it.” She knew better than to make that sort of demand at this point, even if the thought of Julia with someone else made her queasy.
“How long can you handle that?”
If part of her resented his asking, the rest of her knew he had a point. “I don’t know. I’d rather not think about it.”
“That’s fair. I mean, you’ve only had sex once.”
She smirked. “Twice, technically. Well, three times if you count the middle of the night and this morning.”
Chris reached over and punched her in the arm. “Look at you.”
Taylor closed her eyes for a second. “It was fantastic, I’m not going to lie.”
He gave her an encouraging smile. “I really hope it works out.”
She did, too.
* * *
“You had sex last night.”
Julia looked down at her clothes, like maybe she’d somehow given herself away with her outfit. “What?”
“You. Had. Sex.”
“How do you know?” The question was pretty much an admission, but she couldn’t take it back now.
“I’m your big sister. I know you.”
She laughed because it was true, even now. “Okay. Yes. I had sex.”
“It was with Taylor, wasn’t it?”
Julia closed her eyes for a second. “Yes.”
“I knew it.” She set down the clipboard she’d been marking inventory on. “I know I said you should be single for a while, but if you aren’t going to listen to me, I don’t think you can do better than Taylor.”
Caroline’s voice held no judgment. Maybe she really had mellowed, or maybe Julia had imagined more than was there in the first place. “I think you’re right.”
“You’re not going to break her heart, are you?”
Julia frowned. Why would Caroline ask that? “I’m not really the heartbreaker type.”
Caroline pointed at her. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Caroline came around behind the bar and put her hands on Julia’s shoulders. Julia braced herself for whatever lecture she was about to get. “Erica did a number on you. I get it. But you are smart and beautiful and a total catch. Taylor is sweet and probably half in love with you already.”
