15. Boundaries #3
Nadine said nothing, simply opened her mouth to receive Zaire’s fingers. “More,” she said, once she’d licked her digits clean. And Zaire obliged. Nadine didn’t know who or what she’d become. But she knew she’d never be the same again.
With their bodies slick with perspiration, Nadine and Zaire settled onto the bed, pillows nestled around their heads like white clouds.
“That was…incredible.” Nadine sighed as she lay her head on her shoulder. She inhaled the scent of Zaire, now cotton candy mixed with the saltiness of their sex. The last time had been rushed, in a frenzy, to just get each other off. But this time, it was something else.
“It was.” Zaire kissed the top of Nadine’s wild curls. Her fingers gently circled Nadine’s deep brown areolas, making her shudder. “You should pierce your tits,” she said as she playfully pinched Nadine’s still hard nipples. “You’d look amazing with some gold hoops. Maybe a barbell like mine?”
Nadine moaned. “Hmm…I’ve breastfed two kids with these. And they hang to my knees, I don’t think so.”
“Stop,” Zaire sucked her teeth. “They are still juicy as fuck. I could suck ‘em 24/7 if you let me.”
Nadine looked up at Zaire with a frown. “I hope you don’t think this is all I want from you. Sex, that is.”
“Well, I mean, someone has to pick EJ up from swimming,” Zaire joked.
“I’m serious.” Nadine raised up, looking into Zaire’s eyes. “This isn’t just about sex.”
“So what you trying to do? Date me?” The way Zaire said it was laced with incredulousness.
Nadine nibbled at the corners of her lips. “I mean, I guess. Why not?”
Zaire sighed. “Listen, you don’t have to do all of that. I know you said you and Eddie have an understanding. I’m cool with that. Besides, I don’t really date. We can just do our thing.”
“Yeah, but I am not trying to reduce us to just the physical,” Nadine insisted. “Why are you hesitant? Didn’t you say it was fate that you ended up here?”
Zaire stopped her stroking. “Listen, I’m ok being your fun, fling on the side. I’m not trying to get hurt again.”
Understanding slowly registered with Nadine. “Would this have anything to do with your last situation? Something about getting caught up?”
Zaire nodded. “Yeah. Something like that. Not trying to uproot my life again for heartache.”
“I’m sorry.” Nadine lay her head back on Zaire’s chest. She didn’t say anything for a while. She simply listened to her heart beat.
Zaire’s fingers circled Nadine’s cheek softly. “What are you sorry for, Cookie? There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“I don’t want this situation with me and Eddie to cause you heartache,” Nadine sighed. “We have rules in place. And I am hoping these rules will prevent all of that.”
“Oh yeah, what rules?”
Nadine tried to explain what she and Eddie had discussed the night before. “But like I said, you working here. It makes it difficult.”
“Breaking rules already, huh, Cookie?” Zaire smirked.
“I know,” snorted Nadine. “You’re amazing. Having you around with EJ these past weeks, I don’t know what I’d do. Having you near is a win for me too.”
Zaire chuckled dryly. “I bet it is.”
Nadine lifted up. She grabbed Zaire by the back of her head, kissing her slowly.
Softly. “Stop downplaying this. All I want to do is have you near. I want to make sure you’re good.
With you near, I know you are.” Nadine was surprised at her candor, but she felt like Zaire deserved an honest, unfiltered answer.
“Nadine,” Zaire breathed. “You don’t have to.”
“I will. If you let me...”
Zaire stared up at Nadine, her fingers caressing the folds at her waist. “I can’t say no to you. I’m already addicted. I told you, I don’t give a fuck how messy this is.”
“Good, because I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. So, our date…”
“Our date?” Zaire laughed. “I didn’t say yes. Plus, I’ll have to check my schedule at Club Titanium.”
Nadine rolled her eyes. “I mean, can’t you take off one night?”
“Yeah, but one night helps pay my tuition…my rent…my car note…”
“Z, I got you.”
Zaire narrowed her eyes. “Nadine…I can’t let you do that. And I damn sure don’t want you to think this thing between us is me trying to come up.”
“You aren’t letting me do anything,” Nadine declared.
Honestly, Nadine had more money than the law should allow, and she rarely spent it.
“And I don’t think that. I told you. I want to make sure you’re good.
” Nadine didn’t know why, but she felt compelled to do whatever this girl wanted her to.
To please her. To treat her as sweet and softly as she felt.
She leaned down and kissed her again. “Ok. Let’s get up.
Chef is about to arrive, and I can ask him to fix an early lunch before you pick up EJ. ”
“Wait,” Zaire held Nadine by her wrist. “What about Eddie?”
Nadine sighed. Fuck. “I’ll tell him. I promise.” She slipped her tongue back over Zaire’s lips until they parted, and she kissed her again, tweaking a nipple simultaneously, which made her moan.
“Well, we can skip lunch,” breathed Zaire, her hands moving down Nadine’s stomach.
“You sure?”
“I’d rather eat your fine ass, Cookie.”
Nadine smiled against her lips. “Open up, baby.”
Yeah. She’d tell Eddie.
Eventually.