Sarah waited patiently for Emory to return, very much enjoying the warm, comfortable sweatshirt that smelled exactly like Emory did. Hugging it to her, she was already plotting a way to keep it. When Emory did return, she took a moment to light a few votive candles and place them at different spots throughout the room. Their warm, gentle glow gave the space a very romantic look and feel that Sarah simply could not let go to waste.
“Come sit with me. Let’s watch the fire.” She reached out and took Emory’s hand, pulling her gently onto the floor and scooting herself in front, so she could rest her back against Emory’s chest. Emory’s arms wrapped around her snuggly from behind and she sighed with contentment. They sat in silence, watching the fire’s unpredictable dance and listening to the sound of the rain pelt the shingles. Sarah couldn’t imagine anywhere she’d rather be. “How’s Walter?”
“Amazingly enough, sound asleep. I think he’s just happy not to be out in this. You should see him. He’s doing his Super Dog pose. Sleeping on his back with all four paws in the air. It’s impressive.”
“He has so much personality. It’s a nice thing you did, taking him in. So I guess you’re going to keep him?”
“If no one comes forward to claim him. I took a photo and had my assistant post it on a few lost dog websites as well as the homeowner’s association page. I never thought I’d be a dog owner.”
“You’re more of a softy than you let on, you know.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“I would never. It’s kind of nice though. Seeing you branch out a bit. You’re hanging out with kids, adopting dogs, watching mindless movies.” Her tone slid into sincerity then. “One day, I hope you paint again.”
They watched the fire.
“Sarah, I need to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
Emory felt noticeable tension creep into Sarah’s body, prompting her to rub back and forth with her hands across her forearms in reassurance.
“Everything you just said is true. My life has been noticeably different since you’ve been a part of it, and it’s wonderful in a way I never could have imagined. What I need to tell you is that the more we’re together, the more I feel for you, and I don’t really see that pattern ending anytime soon, if ever, if we’re being perfectly honest. That’s a little overwhelming when I think about it. I look at you and Grace and I can see my possible future. And that’s a little overwhelming too.” She paused, as if looking for that best way to ask for what she needed to. These things didn’t come easy to her. “So, please, if you don’t see this as a very real possibility in your life, I need you to tell me.”
She finally loosened her arms and Sarah turned around in them. “Thank you for telling me that. Like you, I don’t take these kinds of things lightly. I think there are some things to work out between us still. I don’t know the people in your world and you don’t know the people in mine, but what I’ve found in you is so surprisingly good that I want to find a way to bring those worlds together. It may not happen overnight, but I do think it can happen.” She reached out and gently stroked Emory’s cheek, breaking into an adorable smile. “Let me amend that, I want it to happen and will do everything I can to make sure it does.”
It took a moment for the words to reach Emory’s heart, but when they did she heard a roaring in her ears that could not be attributed to the storm outside but to the soaring within her.
Sarah kissed her then, good and kissed her, moving in until she was straddling Emory’s lap where she continued to kiss her with slow and sexy determination. For several minutes, they did nothing but kiss while powerful gusts of wind rocked the darkened windows and the movement of the fire cast large shadows on the wall next to them.
Emory was amazed at how well they fit, as if their sole purpose on earth was to kiss each other. In one regard, that would have been enough and just fine with her, but in another she felt a fire within that more than rivaled the one just feet away. While loving the closeness of Sarah in her lap, she had to order her adventurous hands to obey and stay settled on Sarah’s waist. But she was craving more, and in just a few more moments, she wasn’t sure she would be in full control. Left with no choice, she pulled her mouth away from Sarah and somehow found her voice. It was higher than usual, but still there. “Scrabble?”
Sarah’s eyes, now dark with desire, met hers questioningly. “Is that what you want?”
Emory answered honestly. “No.”
“Me neither,” she whispered. She stroked Emory’s hair. “You may have to show me a few things.”
“Sarah, we can wait. I want you to—”
Emory’s answer was a kiss, a searing kiss that communicated everything she needed to know. She dipped her hands, now free and determined, beneath the sweatshirt Sarah wore and moved up the expanse of her back. She pulled her lips away and kissed up the column of Sarah’s neck, earning a soft moan of pleasure. Feeling herself moving entirely too fast but unable to help herself, Emory grasped at the hem of Sarah’s sweatshirt and pulled it quickly over Sarah’s head. The red bra that had so mercilessly tortured her earlier greeted her now, and she kissed all around its expanse. Sarah tossed her head back and squeezed Emory’s shoulders tightly in response. Emory traced the outline of the bra with her tongue, and scraped her fingernails on the material in its center.
Sarah was dying, absolutely dying. Her heart thudded in her chest as if she’d run a mile. The sensations flying through her body were entirely new and unexpected. The insistence of her arousal made itself known as her body ached and her hips automatically began to move against Emory’s stomach. She’d never considered her breasts sensitive before, but with skilled attention, Emory was eliciting a tidal wave of response without even fully undressing her. Sarah was staggered and she was in need.
As if reading her thoughts, Emory reached behind and unclasped Sarah’s bra, freeing her breasts and catching first one nipple and then the other in her mouth. “My God,” she murmured. At Sarah’s intake of breath, she raised her head, meeting her eyes. “Okay?”
Sarah nodded, moving her hands into Emory’s hair, pulling her back in, encouraging her, needing her not to stop.
In response, Emory aggressively surged forward from where they sat, carrying Sarah with her, and laid her down gently on the large flokati rug in front of the fireplace. As the rain pelted and splashed, she tenderly removed Sarah’s jeans, then looped her thumbs through the outside band of the red bikini underwear, the only thing left in her way. Sarah sat up and clasped her wrists.
“Wait a sec. Please.”
Emory sat back on her heels obediently and swallowed.
“I need to do this first.” Sarah reached out and slowly unbuttoned Emory’s short sleeve white shirt and removed it, moving on to each new piece of clothing. Emory began to help.
When she was finally devoid of all her clothes, Sarah sat back and marveled at Emory’s body. It was more beautiful than even she had imagined, and her mouth went dry at the exquisite site. She wrapped her arms around Emory’s neck and her gaze settled easily on her gentle, beautiful mouth. As she leaned in to capture it, she felt Emory’s bare skin on hers for the first time and her pulse accelerated at the wondrous sensation. And so she kissed Emory, and kissed her, and kissed her, almost undone as she felt Emory’s heart beating rapidly against her own. Emory pressed her forehead to hers and said her name in a jagged whisper. Sarah’d never felt more aroused or more wanted in her whole life. She was overcome with physical yearning, throbbing to the point of desperation. “Now,” she breathed, laying herself back down onto the rug, tugging Emory with her gently.