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“As in, do I have experience with women?”
Kate nodded.
“None,” Hollis said softly. She didn’t hesitate telling Kate the truth. Part of her was embarrassed. Part of her was relieved, because saying it out loud meant that if things progressed with Kate tonight, and it was a massive ‘if,’ then at least Kate would be aware, and she could temper her expectations accordingly.
Although, a part of Hollis wondered if she was in bed with another woman, would she actually be naturally good at it, because for once she could just act without filtering her thoughts or calculating every move, trying to do the expected thing. She would be acting on impulse, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her.
“When was the last time you kissed another woman?” Kate asked, her voice gentle, without judgement.
This time Hollis had to look away, certain she was blushing. That question was harder to answer. The fact that she’d never once been in a position where she felt like she could act on her attraction to another woman was astonishing.
Hollis had imagined what it would be like, how soft another woman’s lips might be, how electric the chemistry could be, but they had always been fantasies. Not once had she ever been kissed by a woman.
“I’m sorry if?—”
Hollis shook her head. “No. No it’s fine. It’s just kind of hitting me how far off track my life has gotten. To answer your question,” Hollis said with a sigh, “Never.” She forced herself to look at Kate, to gauge her reaction, sure that she was going to scare this woman off with such an admission, although that would probably be for the best. Hollis almost didn’t even want to know how old Kate was. Early thirties at best? Late twenties at worst? Was she really going to let her first experience with another woman be with someone at least fifteen years younger than her? It was madness.
“Hey,” Kate said, reaching out over the short space between them and placing her hand over Hollis’s, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. I’m not going to try and pretend that I can relate, but the fact that you’re here, that you came to something like this on your own,” Kate said, her eyes surveying the dozens of women by the bar and the pool, “Is amazing. I know I’d never be able to do that. And I think you should give yourself some credit for that. For taking a chance.”
Hollis glanced down at Kate’s hand over hers, trying to ignore the way that simple touch set off a tingling sensation that chased up her bare arm. She took a drink to distract herself and finished what was left of her wine. She left the empty glass on the table beside the couch, Kate’s hand still over hers. “Thank you for saying that. But I think I might have used up all of that bravery on coming here,” she said with a hint of a smile.
Kate shifted her hand, and Hollis was sure that she was about to withdraw it completely, but she casually turned Hollis’s over. Kate’s fingers lingered, tracing a lazy pattern over her palm before delicately sliding her hand over Hollis’s, interlacing their fingers.
Hollis felt that smooth move everywhere, and in that moment she realized that she might have entirely underestimated what it would be like to be with another woman. These simple touches were awakening feelings inside her, igniting synapses that had long been dormant.
Kate lifted her head to meet Hollis’s eyes. “I don’t think you’ve used it all up,” she said softly.
“No?” Hollis searched Kate’s eyes. She knew she wasn’t drunk, but she felt so light, so drawn to Kate, almost intoxicatingly so, that Hollis was questioning her judgement. She’d already regretted so much in her life. Was she really going to put a stop to whatever this was just because Kate was so much younger than her?
“I think,” Kate started, bringing her free hand up to Hollis’s face to brush a lock of hair behind her ear, her fingers grazing Hollis’s cheek before she let her hand fall, “That if you wanted to, you could seduce any woman you wanted.”
Hollis smiled, the nervous energy running through her ebbed and flowed as this conversation continued. One minute, Hollis was tempted to find an excuse to leave, to offer to go get them drinks, and the next, she was hanging on Kate’s every word. “You think so?”
“I know it,” Kate said, her lips sliding into an easy smile.
“What if I wanted to seduce you?” Hollis asked, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she had a chance to catch them. Her heart pounded in her chest, her words hanging in the air between them.
“Then I’d say that you’re doing a pretty good job,” Kate said, her voice low as her gaze dropped to Hollis’s lips before returning to her eyes.
Hollis swallowed. Isn’t this why she’d put herself on the waitlist for this weekend? She searched Kate’s eyes as leaned in, closing the space between them, until she let her eyes flutter shut, her hand resting on Kate’s bare thigh. A tiny whimper escaped Kate’s lips at the contact, sending a wave of desire through Hollis, giving her the confidence to brush her lips over Kate’s.
A shiver chased up Hollis’s spine. Kate’s lips were so soft, and when Kate’s warm hand came up to her cheek, Hollis tilted her head to give her greater access, parting her lips. Hollis’s hand inched higher, her fingers brushing the cuff of Kate’s shorts as they deepened the kiss, Kate’s skin warm and smooth beneath her fingertips.
Kate’s hand slid out of Hollis’s, landing on her neck while Hollis’s hand left Kate’s thigh, moving over her hip instead as the space between them disappeared.
Hollis lost herself in Kate, in her addictive lips, in her sweet perfume. The sound of the music faded into the background, and all Hollis could hear was Kate’s soft moan as she pressed her body into Hollis’s. And when Kate’s tongue skimmed over hers? Hollis knew that if nothing else happened this weekend, she was already going home a changed woman. Whatever doubts she had about filing for divorce and having to start over were gone. This was worth it. This was so worth it.
Hollis kissed Kate back with a greater intensity, aware that they were still out in public but thankfully tucked away from most of the guests’ view, but it was hard to think about anything other than Kate’s lips on hers. Hollis was dizzy with desire, with want, and no matter how sensible she wanted to be, it felt like spending the rest of the night with Kate was inevitable.
3
Kate weaved her way through the crowd of women gathered around the pool and beside the DJ’s booth, trying to get to Lexi who was waiting at the bar.
“Hey,” Kate said with a smile, tapping her on the shoulder.
“Hi.” The two of them were grinning like complete idiots. “You just can’t stay away from older women, can you?” Lexi teased
Kate shook her head, still smiling. “Apparently not. How’s your night going?”
