Chapter 34 When the Margaritas Are Not As Spicy As What Comes After
When the Margaritas Are Not As Spicy As What Comes After
A restaurant that promised the finest steak in Colorado above ten thousand feet drew them in. Heidi asked for a quiet table, and they were shown to a booth away from the main traffic area. They both ordered spicy margaritas.
Heidi held up her glass in a toast. “To Serena. Who did the right thing in the end, even if she didn’t mean to.” The glow of financial security warmed her as much as the margarita.
Morgan clinked glasses. “To all those good folk who never change their passcodes.”
Heidi licked the salt from her glass and took a sip, watching, fascinated, as Morgan did the same.
Her tongue, swiping so delicately around the rim of her glass, was doing strange things to her body.
She took another mouthful of her margarita and stared at the tip of Morgan’s tongue as she lapped salt.
The memory from the morning surfaced, of Morgan’s tongue and how it had flicked Heidi’s nipple, then stroked between her legs.
Morgan’s eyes darkened. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Almost certainly,” Heidi whispered.
“You’re spicy and salty and a little bit sweet too. Just like this drink.”
Morgan seemed too far away, at the other side of the booth, a table between them. Heidi wanted to run a hand up her thigh, touch her intimately. Not something to do in a steakhouse surrounded by other people. Maybe we can leave. Maybe I’m not so hungry after all.
The server appeared back. “Are you ready to order?”
They ordered a Caprese salad to share for an appetizer and then both ordered the rib-eye steak. Medium-rare for Morgan, very rare for Heidi, with fries and mixed vegetables. Mushroom sauce for Morgan, pepper for Heidi.
Heidi passed the wine list to Morgan. “You pick. You know your wines. Something full-bodied and red for me.”
Morgan ordered a Spanish red from the Rioja region. “Although I should have picked an Aussie wine in your honor.”
“Spanish is great.” Heidi leaned across the table and took Morgan’s hand.
“Thank you for being there for me today. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that if you weren’t by my side.
And you found the cell phone. You looked out for me.
If you weren’t there, I think I’d have politely asked Serena to return my money then slunk out in shame when she laughed at me. ”
“You wouldn’t.” Morgan’s thumb slid over the back of Heidi’s hand. “You’re stronger than that.”
“Still. You made it easier.”
The server brought the wine, and Morgan tasted and approved. He poured two glasses and left.
“Mission accomplished. We have tonight all for ourselves. Tomorrow, we head back to our normal life.” Heidi sighed. “I wish we could take another day, but I have to work.”
“Maybe we could take a couple of days away another time. Maybe go to Breckenridge. It’s a ski town—very different from here.”
“Get you to try those black runs?”
“I’m too nervous on the blacks.”
“Somehow,” Heidi said softly, “I don’t believe that. It seems that there’s little that scares you.”
“I wish. There’s lots I can’t do because I’m too nervous. Not just skiing. I hide behind a veneer. It’s how I was raised. There are things I can’t say.”
“Tell me one. I won’t judge you.” Heidi searched Morgan’s face.
Her mouth opened, and she linked her hands together hard enough that her knuckles whitened. “I…”
Heidi waited. When Morgan closed her mouth and looked away, she touched the back of her hand. “You don’t have to say anything. True friends will understand your reasons for remaining silent.”
“Is that you?” Morgan whispered.
“Yes. I think I’m a loyal friend.” Another pass of her thumb over the back of Morgan’s hand. “And I’m your friend.”
Morgan looked down, and, one by one, she unlinked her fingers. “I’m glad. Heidi, there’s something—”
“Here you are, ladies. One Caprese salad, two plates.” The server set the salad in the middle of the table and an empty plate in front of them. He picked up the wine and topped up their glasses. “Enjoy.”
Morgan took a sip of the wine. “This is excellent.” Her voice was back to its normal crisp delivery.
They ate the salad slowly, savoring the aged balsamic, the creamy buffalo mozzarella. When the server had cleared their plates, Heidi leaned forward again.
“You were interrupted. You were about to tell me something.”
Morgan’s eyes hooded. “Nothing important. Just thinking we could ski at Copper Mountain when we stay at Breckenridge.”
That was so not what Morgan had been going to say. “Maybe. I’ve always wanted to try snowboarding. It looks like a total blast.”
“Prepare to fall down endlessly at first. But you’re right; it’s lots of fun. I’m only a green run boarder.”
“That’s perfect, then. We can go together. Right now, going anywhere with you seems like the perfect way to do things.”
The server returned and set down their steaks.
They were silent as they ate their meals. The steak was softer than Heidi was used to, less intense in flavor, but it was the best steak she’d had since leaving Australia.
Morgan pushed aside her plate. The remains of potato and a small piece of steak were left. “I’m full. I’m going to sit here and sip this wine and watch you try to finish your meal.”
“You don’t think I can do it? Watch and learn.”
It was a struggle, but Heidi finished the steak. They sat for a few more minutes, sipping the wine, then refused dessert when the server came to collect the plates.
“This was an incredible meal,” Heidi said.
“I hope you still think so when the bill comes.”
Right on cue, the server set down the tab. Heidi looked at it and whistled. “I still think it, but I know why I don’t eat like this every day.”
It was snowing again when they left. They stood in the entrance securing beanies, scarves, and gloves before walking back to their motel hand in hand. They passed the end of Serena’s street.
“Want to see if there’s a light on? If Lacey’s car is still there?” Morgan asked.
“Not at all. Serena is officially gone from my life. She is an ex-ex-girlfriend. Out of sight, out of mind.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
They passed the Silver Dollar Saloon and were soon back at their motel. Once inside the door, heater on, outerwear hanging up to dry, they turned to each other.
It had been a most satisfying day, but Heidi was sure the best part was yet to come. She stepped toward Morgan and took her hands, running her thumbs over the backs. “I’m glad you were with me today. I’m even happier you’re here with me now.”
“Why’s that in particular?” Morgan tilted her head.
“Because I know what we’ll do next.” She brushed Morgan’s cheek with the back of her fingers. “Will you kiss me?”
“Kiss the woman of the hour? Try and stop me.” Morgan closed the gap between them and slanted her lips over Heidi’s.
Heidi gasped, even as the beating wings in her chest took flight, and she pressed her body to Morgan’s, desperate to feel her.
And then there were no words. There were only kisses, soft and slow, hands that pushed their way under clothing to glide over skin. A palm that cupped a breast, fingers that circled a nipple. Mouths that kissed and ran hot, seeking lips over newly bared skin.
Heidi cupped Morgan’s breasts, running her tongue over her nipples in turn.
Impatiently, she shed her remaining clothes and tugged at Morgan’s until she did the same.
Then she pushed Morgan onto the bed, parting her thighs as wide as she could, running her fingers along her lips, stroking and circling her clit.
Then, when Morgan’s breathy gasps became more demanding, Heidi fucked her slowly with two, then three fingers until she came in spasms.
And Morgan went down on Heidi, lying between her legs, teasing her with fingers and tongue until she squirmed and begged, then licking her in quick flicks until she came in great, gulping waves of pleasure.
When the loving was over, they lay entwined in each other’s arms on the wide bed.
“I wish we could watch the snow falling,” Heidi said.
“You’d have everyone who walked past watching us.” Morgan stroked a hand over Heidi’s hair. “Wait until we get home.”
Heidi rose up on one elbow so she could see Morgan’s face. “Will we continue this at home? Or is this a moment-out-of-time sort of thing?”
“I hope we can continue. But carefully. We do live together after all. It’s not like either of us has anywhere to run if it gets too much.”
Heidi lay back down. “I understand.” And she did. But already the images of her and Morgan together in Morgan’s bed, of lovemaking, of being together, doing more together, filled her head.
She hoped it wasn’t just a dream.