Clothes came off without delay, and as Dex took in the gorgeouswoman before her she wanted to take her time and explore every inch of her. Butwhen Emma pushed her onto the bed and trailed her tongue up Dex’s neck to meether mouth and kissed her with such urgency and power, it was clear who was incontrol tonight. Emma pulled back and heaved out a breath as she stared. Dexwas mesmerized by shimmering silvery-blue eyes, heavy with desire, staring downat her. She was immediately ready for this woman and bit back the surge ofarousal threatening to consume her.
“You’re so beautiful,” Emma whispered as she ran her fingertipsacross the swell of Dex’s breast to her stomach and back again, grazing hernipple with her palm. Dex’s breathing increased and her heart pounded wildly.She thought she might explode right then. Emma seemed to notice, and sheimmediately moved her hips between Dex’s legs and pressed up against her. Dexlet out a gasp at the contact and wrapped her legs around Emma’s, urging hercloser. The friction was delicious, and just when Dex was on the verge ofspiraling into pure pleasure, Emma slowed and kissed her so deeply Dex thoughtshe would implode. She reached to touch Emma, to feel her wetness, but Emmabroke the kiss and stayed just out of reach before she slid down Dex’s body.She slowly ran her fingers across Dex’s thighs and around to the backs of herknees before she kissed the soft skin of her lower belly. Dex quivered at thecontact, and Emma glanced up and smiled before she trailed her tongue farther,parting her folds and sending Dex spiraling upward again.
“Oh my God, yes.”
With that, Emma pushed her fingers inside, and Dex couldn’t helpthe cry that ripped from her throat as she sailed over the edge into a surgingorgasm. Emma had watched her throughout the whole thing, and Dex had thoroughlyenjoyed taking in Emma’s heated desire as she came. When her muscles relaxedand the spasms began to slow, Emma slid her fingers free, moved up next to Dex,and kissed her softly.
“I like having you for dinner.” Emma slapped her hand to hermouth. “Oh my God, I’m getting really bad about saying what’s on my mind.”
Dex laughed and pulled one side of her mouth up into a grin. Sheliked flustered Emma, who was extremely beautiful. “You are.” She kissed hersoftly. “But I like it too.” Dex enjoyed Emma’s warmth as she nestled on hershoulder, her hand across Dex’s stomach and their legs entangled. Hersatisfaction and contentment were revealing. She’d been keeping her heartlocked down for so long, she hadn’t realized how good it felt to let someonein—someone other than Grace. What she had, right here, with Emma was so muchbetter.
* * *
Dex settled into the seat across from Juni in their now-usualbooth at Crushed Beans. Josh had already delivered their coffees before she’darrived: a vanilla latte that included a special heart design in the foam forJuni and a mocha with a reindeer, which resembled a dog, for Dex.
“Wow. You certainly are glowing for this time of year.” Junireached across the table and felt her forehead. “You’re not sick, are you?”
“Lovesick maybe.” She pulled her lips into a grin.
Juni’s eyes widened. “Spill.”
“I’ve spent every night this week with someone. Her name’s Emma.”
“Every morning too?”
She nodded. “I’m telling you, Juni. It’s like we’re made for eachother. I’ve never been with anyone who’s so aggressive, yet so sweet andgentle.”
Juni leaned forward and whispered, “Wow. Every night.You really like her.”
“Like her? I think I’m falling in love with her.” Dex grinned asshe raised her cup to her lips and slurped down a sip of warmth.
Juni clapped her hands like a little kid. “Oh my God. It’s finallyhappened.” She took Dex’s hands and squeezed them. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Stop. It’s not like I just lost my virginity.”
The grin on Juni’s face was ridiculous. “No, but your heart ismoving forward, and that makes me really happy.”
Dex sighed. “I think so.” Every bit of what Juni had said wasabsolutely true. Her heart knew it too.
“Have you told Grace about her yet? Or how you feel?” Juni took adrink of her latte and licked the foam mustache it left from her lips.
“Yeah. She came over yesterday while Emma was shopping with hermother.”
“And?”
“And she freaked out a little when I told her things weredifferent now.”
Juni flopped back into the booth cushion. “Fuck her.”
“Don’t act like that. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”
The table rattled when she popped forward again. “She’s freakingmarried.” Juni’s voice squealed, and they got a couple of stares from a few ofthe other people at tables surrounding them.
“That’s what I told her.” She spun the knife on the table in frontof her.
Juni slapped her palm to it, sending it flying to the floor. “Shewants the best of both worlds, and you have to tell her she can’t have it.”
“I’m working on that. It’s just not easy.” Dex smiled at thepeople at the table next to her as she picked up the knife and set it on anapkin near the corner of the table. “You know how long she’s been in my life.”
“I do, and I know how she treats you.” Juni flopped against thebooth cushion again.
“Stop.” The booth was going to fall apart if Juni kept that up.“Can we move off the Grace subject for now? I was having such a great day.”
The muscle in Juni’s cheek jerked as she swung her gaze from Dexand stared at the ceiling. “Okay. Tell me more about Emma,” she said, returningher attention to Dex.
“She got her marketing degree at Northwestern and works inadvertising at the same firm as Brent.”
“With Brent? Really? That’s quite a coincidence.”
“No coincidence. Brent thought Emma and I might get along, so heset it up. We met at their housewarming party.”
“Wow, that must be chafing Grace’s—”
“We’re not talking about Grace anymore, right?”
“Right.” Juni crossed her arms
