Page 9

“I was being hyperbolic,” Zann chuckled. “Seriously, Lyds, who the fuck uses an actual alarm clock anymore?”

Lydia’s stomach fluttered as Zann began lightly caressing her forearm, clearly content to linger in this moment of easy intimacy, and she hummed as she kissed the swell of the breast that’d been her pillow these last few hours. “Do you really think we’d have heard the alarm on my phone that is in the other room with the rest of our clothes?”

“I mean, considering the volume you had that thing set at—” Zann’s hand left her arm for a moment so she could gesture pointedly at the now-silent alarm clock. “I wouldn’t rule it out?”

Lydia propped her chin on Zann’s chest so she could look at her. “And yet, we clearly did, because I set that monstrosity to go off fifteen minutes after the one on my phone.”

Zann muttered something unintelligible under her breath as she resumed her easy caress. “I seriously can’t remember the last time I used an alarm clock…”

“Yes, well, you’ll find I’m generally obsessively prepared for every eventuality, so…”

“Oh?” Laughter coated Zann’s voice. “Am I one of those eventualities?”

Lydia pressed up onto her forearm so she could gaze down at Zann. Christ, she really is stunning. She stared, transfixed by the slow, devastatingly sexy smile that bowed Zann’s lips as she reached up to tenderly tuck her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know about prepared, but I daresay you were an eventuality the moment you made it a point to drag Aspen across the balcony to come introduce yourself.”

“I had to do it,” Zann whispered, her eyes darkening as her gaze swept over Lydia’s face. “I saw you sitting with Eve, and I just…” She crooked her fingers behind the hinge of Lydia’s jaw. “I had to know you.”

A hitched moan caught in Lydia’s throat as she let the pressure of Zann’s touch guide their lips together. The kiss was slow and easy, the definition of languid indulgence, and she smiled into the kiss when she resisted Zann’s attempt to flip their position.

“You had your fun last night,” Lydia murmured as she rolled on top of Zann. She rocked forward to drag her nipples over Zann’s chest, and her smiled widened at the pleased gasp that spilled from Zann’s lips. “It’s my turn.”

“Oh?” Zann cocked a brow as she cupped Lydia’s breasts and squeezed. “And what if I want to have you anyway?”

Lydia hissed as Zann’s thumbs flicked at her piercings with devastating precision, sending bolts of pleasure straight to her clit. “That’s cheating.”

“Is it?” Zann asked, the faux innocent in her voice belied by her growing smirk as she did it again. “Do you like this?”

“Shit, so much,” Lydia laughed, pressing herself into Zann’s hands as she surged forward to recapture her lips in a searing kiss. Her clit throbbed with every little tweak and tug of Zann’s fingers on her nipples, and she groaned as she moved to straddle her thigh.

“Mm, excellent idea,” Zann murmured as their hips began rocking together. She punctuated that assessment with a firm twist of her fingers. “You feel so good, Lyds.”

Lydia moaned as she bore down, painting a wet, sticky stripe of arousal across Zann’s thigh. “You—” Lydia began, and then swore loudly when she was interrupted by the alarm clock blaring back to life.

“Fucking snooze bar,” Zann swore as she pulled her left hand from Lydia’s chest to swat at the noise.

Like before, her first two swings missed wildly, and Lydia gritted her teeth as she shifted atop Zann to turn the blasted thing off herself. She glared at the offending black box and its glowing red numbers that told her they absolutely did not have time to finish what they’d started, and groaned as she tumbled off of Zann to stare up at the ceiling as she admitted the truth they’d been trying to ignore. “We need to get up.”

“No, we don’t,” Zann whined piteously.

“We do,” she insisted gently as she rolled onto her side to kiss Zann’s shoulder. “For as much as I want to finish this—and, believe me, I do—we need to be down at the restaurant for brunch in forty-five minutes, and we don’t have time…”

“I know. I hate it, but I know.” Zann blew out a rough breath and turned to look at her with a thoroughly charming, hopeful expression. “Can we pick this up again later?”

Lydia nodded and kissed Zann sweetly. “You bet your ass we will.” She patted Zann’s stomach and groaned as she sat up. “Now, come on, sexy. I’ll walk you out.”

“Right, well…” Zann turned around after stepping onto the small porch that was shielded by a mix of shrubbery and trees, creating an intimate little hollow at the entrance to the cottage. Even though she’d just spent a good five minutes pinning a gloriously nude Lydia to the inside of the front door, kissing her like she’d die if she stopped, she still found herself struck utterly breathless as she drank her in.

“Well…” Lydia echoed, her dark eyes crinkling with her smile and dancing with amusement. She folded her left arm against the edge of the door and leaned against it, looking casually, breathtakingly gorgeous in her confidence.

Zann drew in a slow breath and licked her lips as her gaze dipped to appreciate Lydia’s long, lean legs, trim hips, soft belly, and full, fucking perfect tits. Dear. Lord. She’d known more than her fair share of attractive women over the years, but Lydia Alexander was, by far, the most thoroughly captivating woman she’d ever met.

Lydia laughed. “Well…” she prompted again.

“I…” Zann dragged her eyes higher. She blushed at the utterly pleased, far too knowing smile that bowed Lydia’s lips, and cleared her throat as she gestured somewhat lamely at Lydia’s body. “Y’know, this isn’t making me want to leave.”

Lydia arched a brow, her smile widening as she leaned to rest her head against her hand on the door. “Maybe,” she purred, her voice layered with smoke and promises, “I’m just trying to make sure you want to come back.”

“Jesus, Lyds,” Zann groaned and, despite the clock hanging over their heads, surged forward to pull Lydia into her arms. Her stomach swooped at the feeling of Lydia’s warm, smooth skin beneath her hands, and her head positively spun at the way Lydia laughed, delighted, and looped her arms around her neck as she rose to meet her. She nuzzled Lydia’s lips as she caressed the supple curve of her ass, and fluttered her tongue over the seam of her lips as she grabbed two handfuls and crushed their hips together.