Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlotte woke with a smile on her face, because last night? Well, it might have been the best night of her life. She hadn’t known how wonderful sex between two women could be. Hell, until last month, she hadn’t even known she was attracted to women.
And now here she was, in love with a woman, wrapped up in her arms with a pleasant soreness between her thighs from a night well spent. But then she heard it again, the high-pitched whine that had awakened her.
“I’m coming, Ember,” Marin mumbled sleepily from behind her.
“That’s what she said . . .” Charlotte teased.
Marin’s arm, which rested on Charlotte’s stomach, tightened. “Damn right, it is.”
“I’ll take her out. You stay right here, looking beautiful.” Charlotte sat up, leaning over to give Marin a quick kiss before she slid out of bed.
Ember whined again, and it sounded fairly urgent.
Charlotte rushed around to find her clothes, which were discarded all over the floor.
That showed how distracted she’d been last night, because she never let her clothes touch a hotel room floor.
Yuck. She’d toss these in the dirty pile as soon as she took the puppy out.
She yanked on her shirt, buttoned her jeans, and slipped her feet into sneakers, then opened the crate.
The black puppy barreled into her arms, licking her face as she squirmed to get free.
Charlotte stood with her and hurried toward the door, looking around for Ember’s collar and leash as she went.
She found them on the table by the door with both their purses.
Two purses. Because Charlotte was dating a woman. Charlotte was in love with a woman. She grinned as she fastened Ember’s collar and opened the door. She hadn’t even known before last night, but it was true. She was in love, so much in love.
The cold air outside was a rude interruption to her warm, happy introspection, but luckily Ember didn’t mess around. She took care of business and scampered right back to the door. Charlotte followed her in, shutting the door behind them.
Marin was just coming out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but an oversize blue T-shirt.
Charlotte opened her mouth to say something but promptly forgot whatever it was as she got lost staring at Marin’s bare legs.
She didn’t even notice the scar running down Marin’s right thigh until Marin’s hand shifted to cover it.
“You know that’s not what I was staring at, right?” Charlotte asked.
“I . . . wasn’t sure.”
Charlotte stepped closer, sliding a hand beneath the T-shirt to cup Marin’s bare ass. “I was admiring your legs because they’re sexy as hell, and seeing you nearly naked is really turning me on.”
“Oh,” Marin said somewhat bashfully.
“I’ll tell you as many times as it takes. Your scars are part of you, and since I think all of you is beautiful, that means I find your scars beautiful too.”
“I really love you.” Marin leaned in for another kiss. Her mouth was minty from toothpaste, while Charlotte still had morning breath.
“Love you, too, but let me go freshen up, okay?”
“Mm-hmm. I’ll take this one.” Marin reached for the leash Charlotte had completely forgotten she was holding.
Charlotte went into the bathroom. When she reemerged a few minutes later, she was wearing only her T-shirt, having left the rest of her dirty clothes behind. She found Marin in bed with Ember curled up against her chest. “Mind if I join this snugglefest?”
Marin held the sheet up, inviting her in. “We insist that you do.”
Charlotte slid into bed, giggling as the puppy started energetically licking her face. “Love you too, Ember, but I was actually hoping to kiss your mom instead.”
Marin laughed softly. “She’s kind of a mood killer, but this is our morning routine after she goes out for the first time.”
“It seems like an awfully nice way to start the day.” Charlotte leaned around Ember to place a quick kiss on Marin’s lips. “I didn’t expect any of this, but I’m so glad I tagged along on your trip.”
“I’m glad too.” Marin kissed her again, one hand coming to rest on Charlotte’s hip.
“We did pretty well last night, considering it was both of our first times with a woman,” Charlotte said.
“I’d say we did better than ‘pretty well.’” Marin winked, her expression heating.
“Yeah, we did.” Charlotte found her hand beneath the covers and squeezed.
“I was kind of fumbling my way through it, but you seemed to actually know what you were doing, which means when we get back to Vermont, I need you to introduce me to sapphic romance novels because they sound hot and seem to give some very good pointers for the newbies like me.”
“I would be thrilled to do that.”
They dozed in bed together with Ember cuddled between them until it was time for Marin to get ready for breakfast with her sister. Charlotte felt the mood shift as they got out of bed. It was as if a weight had settled over Marin’s shoulders, and Charlotte wasn’t sure how to ease it for her.
First, they stepped into a shower together, where Charlotte got her first real look at Marin’s naked body in the light.
There were a lot of scars, but Charlotte appreciated them all.
Standing here now, kissing Marin under a cascade of hot water, hands between each other’s thighs as they indulged in some quick shower sex, Charlotte couldn’t believe how close she’d come to losing her, that she’d spent two years thinking she had lost her.
It made this moment even more meaningful. Charlotte came first, gasping beneath the spray as Marin’s fingers took her over the edge, but Marin followed moments later, hips bucking into Charlotte’s hand as she found her own release.
“Love this.” Charlotte stroked a hand through Marin’s wet hair as she caught her breath.
Marin smiled, water droplets glistening in her eyelashes. “Love how much we’ve both been using that word. Can’t wait to go home and use it even more.”
“So much more. In the meantime, I’ll be here with Ember, waiting for you. Whatever happens with Nancy, you’ll have us here to hug and kiss you afterward.”
Marin drew her in so that Charlotte’s forehead rested against hers. “I appreciate that more than you could know.”
“I know why you’re here.” Nancy settled across from Marin at the table. Her husband, Rick, sat beside her, sipping his coffee and looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
That made two of them. Marin’s stomach sank. “You do?”
“Yes.” Nancy gave her a disapproving look.
At sixty-five, eighteen years Marin’s senior, Nancy had little in common with her.
Marin didn’t even have any memories of them growing up together since Nancy had already been away at college when she was born.
Nancy brushed back a strand of short silver hair.
“Fran called last week. I don’t know why you asked her to keep secrets from me, but it was shortsighted of you since she and I are close. ”
The way she said it emphasized the fact that she and Marin were not close.
“I didn’t ask her to keep secrets. I just asked her to give me the chance to tell you myself.
” Marin fiddled with her coffee cup. Nancy had invited her for breakfast, but so far, coffee was the only thing she’d served, and without food as a buffer, it was making Marin’s stomach sour.
“Well, you could have saved yourself a trip because I’ve already heard your news, and it wouldn’t have been worth a visit even if I hadn’t. I don’t need you to rub your lifestyle in my face.” Nancy’s expression was pinched. “Some things are better kept quiet.”
“I just wanted to be honest with you about who I am, who I’ve always been.”
“You don’t look like a lesbian.” Nancy sniffed, giving Marin a pointed once-over. “I suppose this is why you divorced Andrew?”
“Yes, it is.” Marin had prepared for this reaction, and yet, it hurt more than she’d expected.
She’d come out a handful of times now, and until this moment, she’d received only support in response.
This was the first time someone had rejected her to her face, and it felt like being kicked in the gut.
Nancy tsked. “What a way to repay that poor man after he dropped everything to care for you after your accident.”
“It had nothing to do with that. We weren’t in love. Getting divorced was for the best, for both of us.” Marin hated the defensiveness in her tone.
“What happened to your vows, hmm? For better or for worse? Marriages take work.” Nancy took Rick’s hand as if to emphasize her point. Rick remained fascinated with his coffee.
“We did work at it,” Marin said, “but sometimes it’s better to part ways. I’m happier now, so much happier. I thought that might matter to you.”
“I would have preferred if you kept your private business private.”
Marin stood, leaving behind her half-finished coffee. “I’m sorry for wasting your time. If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”
Nancy picked up her coffee and sipped, her expression as sour as Marin’s stomach.
“I’ll walk you out.” Rick got to his feet, speaking for the first time.
“Thank you.”
“Sorry about that,” he said once they’d left the kitchen. “I think her feelings were hurt that you told Fran first.”
“I think she’d have reacted badly either way, but thank you.” Marin had always liked Rick. Too bad he didn’t have more influence over his wife.
“You might be right. I’m still sorry, and I’ll do what I can to help bring her around. For what it’s worth, I hope you find the happiness you’re looking for.” He rested a hand on her shoulder.
Marin forced a smile. Nancy’s words had cut deeply, but his kindness was appreciated. Marin left the house feeling deflated, tired, and sad. Fifteen minutes later, she pulled up in front of the cottage to find Charlotte on the front porch, tossing a ball with Ember.
Charlotte stood, watching as Marin parked and got out of the car. “How did it go?” she asked, but her pinched brow suggested she’d already read the answer on Marin’s face.