Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Hannah hung up the phone after chatting with her best friend, Brandee, about watching Brandee’s son, Chris, Friday night so Brandee and her boyfriend, Luc, could go to the haunted hayride.
Since Hannah lived a state away from her family and had only been back once since she’d left Chad with her car and a hundred dollars her grandma had given her for her birthday, Brandee and Chris were basically her Marley Creek family.
She’d do anything for them and was always happy to watch Chris.
Now that he was in kindergarten, she wondered if he was still into Bluey or if he’d moved on to some other new little boy obsession.
She got up off her couch and walked around the bookcase that divided the bedroom area from the rest of the apartment.
Her favorite pajamas were sitting freshly washed on top of her dresser.
She picked them up and quickly changed. Sure, it was only a little after eight p.m., but nothing was better than being home on a crisp fall night, wearing soft flannel pajamas and curling up with a book.
She cracked open her library book and within a few minutes; she was immersed in the cozy mystery she was reading.
Hannah preferred reading cozy mysteries because there were so many that had magical elements, and most importantly, the bad guy always got what was coming to him.
Unlike real life. She sighed as Chad popped up unbidden in her mind.
He hadn’t gotten what was coming to him.
In fact, when she’d been home for Christmas last year and made the mistake of stopping at her parents’ house, she’d been treated to a drunk tirade from both her parents about how she’d treated Chad badly.
As if. They knew enough about what Chad had done to her over the years, and they still chose to believe him over their own daughter.
He flattered them and paid for their drinks at the bar, and that was all it took to buy their souls.
Smoky jumped up onto the bed and tried to climb onto her book. “Do you need some attention?”
Meow.
Hannah sat up and switched her book to her other hand.
Smoky nestled himself against her. She began stroking his soft fur as she read her book.
Just as she was getting to the part where the amateur sleuth was going to confront the killer, which Hannah thought was a dreadful idea, her phone chimed with a text notification.
Since her phone was on the bed next to her, she couldn’t help but look at the text.
It was from Kate. Hannah felt her face heat.
She had hoped all day she might hear from Kate, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up, and she’d also wondered if there was some lesbian code for when to contact someone after an amazing night together.
That didn’t matter now. She unlocked her phone to read the whole text.
Kate was wondering what she was up to. Not a damn thing, she started to text, then deleted it and said she was at home reading a book.
Kate
Women who read are so sexy.
Hannah covered her mouth. Kate was making her blush all over.
Hannah
Thank you. You’re pretty hot yourself. Do you read?
Kate
Do you need a bedtime story?
Hannah
Yes please.
Kate
Come over and I’ll give you a very climactic bedtime story.
Hannah rubbed her legs together, trying to quell the throbbing that was starting in her core.
She fumbled her phone in her eagerness to reply.
Take a breath. She inhaled and thought about the delicious raspy quality of Kate’s voice.
Hannah could probably get off if Kate actually read her an adult bedtime story.
Hannah
On my way.
She rushed to the bathroom, took a five-minute shower to freshen up and brushed her teeth.
After liberally applying her favorite lotion and imagining it was Kate’s hands on her body instead of her own, she picked out an emerald green satin bra and panty set she’d bought on a whim one day.
As she put on the demi cut push-up bra, she squared her shoulders, feeling more confident in her sexuality than probably anytime in her life.
Looking over at her deck of tarot cards on her dresser, she thought about doing a quick one-card reading just to ask where things were headed with Kate.
But then her phone pinged. Kate had sent a picture of herself pants less on her bed with a book in her hand. Hannah’s mouth was dry. She grabbed her purse and left Smoky to his own devices.
In less than ten minutes, Hannah was parking at the back of Pupcakes and Clawssaints.
She sent Kate an “I’m here” text, and Kate responded, letting her know the back door was propped open.
Hannah paused before heading inside just to thank whatever goddesses there were for the turn her life had taken since last week.
The sky was clear, and the waxing gibbous moon shone down.
The smell of a bonfire was in the air. She shivered with delight and walked into the building.
Hannah walked up the stairs and saw that the door to Kate’s apartment was cracked open.
She pushed open the door and toed off her Converse.
A slow song was playing, and Hannah recognized it as one of Eliza Fitzsimmons’s latest releases.
The only lights in the room were a strand of twinkling lights over the sliding door to the balcony and tea lights burning on all the surfaces of Kate’s living room. They smelled like pumpkin and apple.
Many people might not have found the scent to be a turn on, but Hannah loved all things fall, and it just made her want to roll around with Kate on a blanket in front of a fireplace.
And then, like magic, Kate walked out of her bedroom with a fuzzy blanket wrapped around her.
Hannah’s heart was pounding in her ears as Kate put her arms around Hannah and she saw that Kate was naked.
Hannah’s brain short-circuited as Kate kissed her hard on the mouth.
She opened her mouth slightly and welcomed Kate in.
Hannah filled with aching pleasure as Kate let the blanket fall to the floor and tugged Hannah’s shirt over her head.
Needing to get to the same place as Kate, Hannah unzipped and shimmied out of her jeans.
She kicked them to the side, and Kate pinned her to the wall, bracketing Hannah between her arms. Kate licked Hannah’s bottom lip and then started kissing her clavicle and then Kate pressed her lips against the tops of Hannah’s breasts, which were peeking out of her green bra.
Hannah moaned as her sensitive swollen buds were so close to Kate’s lips.
Unable to stand the ache a moment longer, Hannah unsnapped the front of her bra.
Kate moaned and took Hannah’s nipple in her mouth.
A shock of pleasure spread through her. She ran her hand through Kate’s short hair, almost wishing there was more for her to twist her hand through.
“God, your mouth. I–I–” Kate slid her hand into Hannah’s panties and slowly started rubbing her erect nub.
Hannah dissolved into incoherent moans and sighs as Kate used her hand to get Hannah off.
“Holy shit,” Hannah said when she was able to speak again. Kate winked at her and slowly licked her fingers.
“I’m so glad you came over.” Kate picked up the fuzzy blanket off the floor and wrapped Hannah in it. “You had goosebumps.”
Hannah swallowed hard, “I don’t think they were because I’m cold.”
Kate laughed and pulled Hannah into her bedroom. “My turn?” Hannah asked as she lay on the bed.
“I’m not done with you yet,” Kate promised.
***
A sliver of moonlight crossed the bed Hannah and Kate were lying on. Hannah was again blissed out after an evening with Kate. She turned onto her side facing Kate. “Is it always going to be like this?” she asked.
Kate stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Hannah trailed her hand down Kate’s flat stomach, noticing the slight outlines of her abs. She licked her lips, wanting to trace them with her tongue and straddle Kate. She moved her hand to cup Kate, and Kate placed her hand on Hannah’s. “I want to give you as much as you give me,” Hannah said.
“We’re good.” Kate said, moving Hannah’s hand away from her. “Do you want a midnight snack?”
Hannah bit her lip. She was unsure exactly what was going on with her and Kate.
It seemed like Kate was only interested in something very casual.
Then again, they’d only hung out twice. Maybe she was expecting too much too soon.
Kate pulled on a pair of boy shorts and a crop top that fell off one of her shoulders.
Warmth pooled low in Hannah’s abdomen. Good Lord, this woman was hot.
And at that moment, Hannah didn’t care where they were going as long as she could keep seeing Kate.