Chapter 20
The glamping tent glowed like a lantern, fairy lights strung along the canvas ceiling casting a warm, flickering haze over the plush bed.
I’d thought about what sex with Eliza would be like. I’d seen the swell of her breasts beneath her clothes, and I’d imagined what it might be like to suck her nipple into my mouth, then suck everywhere else on her body.
But now we were inside the tent, with Eliza in front of me, every rational thought I’d ever had was quietly showing itself the exit.
She was my business partner. My former crush, and my former nemesis.
The person I’d sworn I could never let my guard down with: a promise that was currently crumbling faster than my resolve.
Here I was, guard not just lowered but apparently setting itself on fire while I watched.
Before I could form a coherent thought, she pushed me down on the faux fur throw on top of the bed, then ever-so-slowly undid my shirt buttons one by one, looking up to make sure I was paying attention.
(What else would I be doing?) Then she took my hand in hers, and moved it inside her top, until I found her breast.
She smiled, fixed me with a stare that held me in place, then grabbed me round the neck and sucked my mouth so hard, she almost inhaled me.
Hot Eliza was a different beast to the calm, manicured, reasoned version that I encountered daily. Between the sheets, Eliza was masc. Which made me want to punch the air, but I didn’t, because my fingers were too busy holding Eliza’s breast. It was the perfect handful.
“Fuck, you’re sexy,” she whispered in my ear, all husk and no finesse. That, along with the weight of her thigh on top of mine, made me melt. I went to unbuckle my belt, but she grabbed my hand, then licked my ear lobe.
“No need to rush,” she said, going against everything her recent actions had shown me. Her breath was still hot in my ear. “Why don’t you let me do it?”
She reached down, pulled the leather of my belt, and simultaneously sucked my bottom lip into her mouth.
I closed my eyes as my mind swam. Eliza had surprised me from the moment we started working together. It looked like she wasn’t about to stop any time soon. I’d known Eliza forever, but in this moment, she was a sexy stranger, someone I’d just met. Which only made this that bit sweeter. Forbidden.
She pressed her hand to my arse, gluing me to her.
Then she shimmied down my jeans, and I didn’t utter a word in protest. Every part of me was a mess as Eliza’s fingertips skated across my bum cheeks, dipping in the middle to let me know what was to come.
When she slipped inside my white knickers, and touched me right at my core, I gasped.
“Just a little taster,” she whispered.
I wasn’t sure I was ready, but I had to be.
Then she slid down my body, kissing me hungrily.
She peeled back my bra, exposing all my skin, flushed under the tent’s golden light.
When her tongue found my breasts, then my nipples, my mind blanked and a slow, sensual buzz began in my head, before working its way down my body and ending in my cunt.
I spread my legs wider to show what I wanted, and felt the upturn of Eliza’s lips as she snagged my nipple between her teeth. Pleasure and pain rattled through me like a pinball.
I groaned, and Eliza grinned. “I know what you want, but I’m going to make you wait a little longer.”
I groaned again. “Tease.”
She snagged my gaze, then licked her lips. “I’m a pro at it.”
Her tongue was a blur all over my skin as she worked me up into a frenzy. Then her fingers slid down my body, and finally arrived where I needed them most. She slipped two fingers inside my pants, nudging the cotton aside.
I spread my legs wider: I was practically begging.
I didn’t care. I wanted Eliza inside me. But she wouldn’t comply, instead slipping around my clit, causing small explosions all over my body. My heart thudded so hard in my chest, I was surprised the whole festival didn’t feel the tremors. Perhaps they could.
Outside, someone laughed, and I smelt woodfire.
“I thought we did well not fucking in New York,” Eliza told me, sliding two fingers around me.
I closed my eyes as my own internal firepit caught alight, a warmth rumbling through me. When Eliza’s fingertips slipped inside, I gasped, and so did she.
“You’re so wet,” Eliza whispered, her voice brittle as she trailed kisses down my neck, nipping at my pulse point.
My hands trembled as I fisted the cotton sheets, but she didn’t pull away.
This was surrender, raw and real. If I’d been scared about opening up and being vulnerable with her, this was one surefire way to break the dam.
We’d been friends, rivals, sworn enemies, always circling, always clashing. But tonight, after days of tension, we were crossing the line. There was no coming back. From the look in Eliza’s eyes, she knew that, too. She curled her fingers inside me, then dropped down until her breath was over me.
I sent up a prayer to the goddess of love as Eliza’s tongue began a slalom course over my clit and her fingers slid slowly in and out.
I crushed my head into the plush pillows as the fire inside truly took hold.
Outside, the leaves rustled in the wind; inside, Eliza picked up a rhythm, checking in with me that it was okay, before she took over completely, ramping up the intensity until I teetered on the edge.
Then she was on top of me, her mouth rough against mine, her fingers a blur of activity as she took me over the top, before opening my parachute for a safe landing.
As I came, the wind chimes outside applauded. I stared up into Eliza’s deep-blue eyes and marvelled at this woman who was somebody completely different in the bedroom. She was wild. Untamed. Which suited the setting, and oddly, suited her in the sheets.
Now I’d sampled a hint of it, I only wanted more.
The only problem was, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to articulate that, because I could never imagine speaking again. This was me now. Mute, but happy.
Eliza seemed to understand what I was feeling through the medium of eyelash flickers. She kissed both my cheeks with a tenderness that made my insides ache, then she gathered me into her arms as if I was the most precious cargo in the whole world.
Being cared for in this way was my weak spot, because my parents had never done it, and neither had any partner. Nobody had ever figured it out before. It had to be Eliza who made the connection on the first night.
A flash of uncertainty passed through me, as I remembered who I was with and where I was. But I brushed it aside. I didn’t want to spoil this moment.
“That was incredible. You’re incredible.” She stared at me like she was snapping the moment for later. “I know we said nothing could happen, but after we kissed, it felt inevitable, didn’t it?” Her gaze didn’t falter.
I could hardly breathe. “It feels like I’ve finally come up for air after a month underwater.”
So many times in the past few years I wanted to throttle Eliza. Had it all been because I secretly wanted to jump her, as Amina said? Perhaps. But now, looking into her beautiful face, I had to trust her.
An orgasm aftershock rattled through me and I shivered, closed my eyes, then climbed on top of Eliza, still high on the sex sugar rush.
“Now I’ve got my breath back, how about I make you breathless?” I said.
Eliza grinned wide. “I really want your mouth on me. After kissing you, I’ve thought about that all week.”
I pulled her top off, then straddled her. “I’ll see what I can do.”