Chapter 19
19
V anessa’s heart stilled. The steam rose between them as she searched Kate’s face, trying to decipher the meaning behind that loaded statement. The warmth of Kate’s breath mingled with her own, and Vanessa’s fingers tightened on Kate’s waist beneath the bubbling water.
“What do you mean?”
Kate’s eyes widened, a flash of panic crossing her features as she put some space between them, reaching behind her for her glass. “Forget I said anything.”
But Vanessa couldn’t forget. The words echoed in her mind, matching the thundering of her pulse. She recognized that tone, that look. Her hand found Kate’s arm under the water, holding her in place before she could retreat further.
“Kate.” Vanessa waited until those blue eyes met hers again. “Tell me.”
The jets hummed around them. In the distance, a twig snapped, the photographer shifting position, no doubt capturing this moment of charged silence. But for once, Vanessa didn’t care about the audience. Her focus remained on Kate’s face, watching emotions play across it like light on water.
Kate swallowed hard. “This isn’t fair to you.” Her voice cracked. “Any of it.”
“Not fair to me?” A dry laugh escaped her lips. “Kate, if anyone’s getting the raw end of this deal, it’s you. You’ve just come out to the entire world, and you can’t even ask a woman out.”
Kate’s eyes dropped to the water’s surface. “The woman I’d want to ask out wouldn’t be interested anyway.” She took a long drink.
The words hit Vanessa like a physical blow. Her chest constricted as she pictured Kate with someone else. Another young actress maybe. The thought shouldn’t hurt this much, but it did. She drew in a steadying breath, forcing her voice to remain even.
“You never know.” Vanessa tried to keep her voice casual. “Not until you ask.”
Vanessa watched as Kate turned to put her glass down behind her. The movement drew Vanessa’s attention to the droplets trailing down Kate’s shoulder.
“But I’m not sure that I can live with the rejection or the embarrassment,” Kate said with a sigh.
The vulnerability in Kate’s voice tugged at something deep in Vanessa’s chest. “Is she out?”
Kate nodded.
“Single?” Vanessa’s throat tightened around the word.
“Yes.”
An uncomfortable weight settled in Vanessa’s stomach. She tried to push away the sharp edge of jealousy that cut through her thoughts.
“Is it anyone I know?” Vanessa’s heart clenched as she waited for Kate’s response, trying to keep her voice level.
Kate’s chest rose with a deep breath, and Vanessa found herself tracking the movement, mesmerized by the way the water beaded on Kate’s skin.
“Just the most talented, beautiful woman in Hollywood,” Kate said with a sad smile.
Vanessa had to look away. Her jaw clenched as she pictured this mystery woman.
“She’s entirely out of my league,” Kate continued, her voice dropping lower, “but when she kisses me... I can’t think of anything else.”
Vanessa’s mind stumbled, then raced backward.
Kate wasn’t talking about someone else.
Kate was talking about her.
The realization crashed through her defenses, scattering all her carefully constructed reasons for keeping her distance.
She tried to form words, but her throat closed around them. Her pulse thundered in her ears as two weeks of denial crumbled. She’d pushed Kate away, convinced herself it was better, safer, when all along, Kate had been feeling the same impossible pull.
The jealousy that had been twisting in her gut morphed into something else entirely, a mix of disbelief, hope, and a yearning so intense it made her dizzy.
She searched Kate’s face, looking for any sign that she’d misunderstood. But there was only raw honesty in those blue eyes, a vulnerability that made Vanessa want to pull her close and never let go.
“Kate...” Vanessa’s voice came out as a whisper, barely audible over the hum of the jets.
Then Kate’s expression shifted, panic rising in her eyes. “This is why I didn’t want to say anything?—”
Without a second thought, Vanessa leaned forward and captured Kate’s lips in a hard, desperate kiss. The shock of it made Kate gasp, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, her hands found their way to Vanessa’s shoulders, holding on as if she were drowning.
The kiss consumed her. Vanessa’s hands moved to Kate’s waist, pulling her closer. She angled her head, her lips moving against Kate’s with a fierce desperation that felt entirely new. Never had a kiss affected her so completely, clouded her mind, and obliterated every rational thought.
As amazing as their previous kisses had been, this one was different. It was real.
The kiss deepened as she leaned back, pulling Kate with her until she straddled Vanessa’s lap. The movement brought their bodies into full contact, and Vanessa groaned at the sensation. Her hands moved to Kate’s hips, guiding her closer. All the pent-up longing she had tried to ignore for weeks poured out in this kiss, and she couldn’t get enough.
Her heart pounded in her chest as their mouths moved together. Vanessa’s hands slid up Kate’s back, her thumbs finding the dips of Kate’s spine, the slick fabric of her bikini the only barrier between them.
Breaking the kiss, she trailed her lips along Kate’s jaw, tasting the salt of her skin. Kate’s head fell back, baring her neck, and Vanessa took advantage, placing open-mouthed kisses along the smooth skin, her hands sliding down to grasp Kate’s hips once more, before sliding lower, her fingers splayed over Kate’s bikini-clad ass.
Her skin was on fire, every nerve ending alive and pulsating. It had been years since she’d felt anything like this, needed to touch and be touched with such urgency. It scared her, this loss of control, but at the same time, it was exhilarating.
When their lips met again, their kisses grew slower, more exploratory, as if they had all the time in the world. Vanessa let her hands roam, gliding over Kate’s sides, memorizing the feel of her, wanting to etch this moment into her memory.
Vanessa’s hands slid up the firm curve of Kate’s sides, her thumbs brushing the soft underside of Kate’s breasts. Kate moaned, a soft, breathy sound that went straight to Vanessa’s core, making her ache. She wanted to hear that sound again. Her hands wandered down to the ties of Kate’s bikini top, her fingers grazing the bare skin of her lower back. Her thumbs hovered over the knots, wanting, but not daring to untie them. Not yet.
Kate’s breath hitched as Vanessa’s thumbs brushed the knots, and she pulled back, her eyes searching Vanessa’s face. Vanessa couldn’t read the expression in those blue eyes.
“What is it?” Vanessa asked. And then a thought occurred to Vanessa. If Kate wasn’t out, maybe she’s never slept with someone? “Is this…” Vanessa took a breath. “Have you…?”
A tiny smile curved Kate’s lips. “Yes, I have.” Kate tucked a strand of hair behind Vanessa’s ear. “I had a friends with benefits situation with my best friend back home for years. She’d come visit me here.” Kate pressed her lips together. “I trusted her with my secret. But it was never a real thing. And she met someone about two years ago so…”
“I didn’t want to assume.” Vanessa’s thumbs brushed along Kate’s hips beneath the water.
Kate’s fingers traced along Vanessa’s jawline, the touch sending shivers through her.
“Can you really think of nothing else when I kiss you?” Vanessa asked as she gave Kate a small smile and raised an eyebrow in silent invitation.
Kate’s response was immediate. Her hands slid down to Vanessa’s neck, pulling her closer. Their lips met again, Kate’s mouth moving with a feverish hunger that matched Vanessa’s own.
Their bodies pressed together as they kissed, Kate’s breasts soft and full against Vanessa’s own, their thighs sliding together. Kate made a small noise in the back of her throat, a sound of pure need that sent a surge of desire right to Vanessa’s core. She rocked her hips forward involuntarily, seeking more friction, wanting to feel Kate everywhere.
Pulling back slightly, Kate’s lips brushed Vanessa’s jaw as she spoke. “I’ve tried not to think about this, about you. But I can’t stop.”
Kate captured Vanessa’s lips again, and Vanessa moaned, her hands tightening on Kate’s curves.
“The photographer’s still out there,” Vanessa whispered as she pulled back a few moments later. She traced Kate’s bottom lip with her thumb, their eyes still locked. “We should go inside.”
It wasn’t a question, but Kate nodded anyway. Slowly, they rose from the jacuzzi, wrapping towels around themselves as they went inside.