“It’s not a big deal.” That’s what the newspaper is for.
The image slowly comes to life, the contrast between the bright sky and the dark sweater Jade wore that day crisp and clear.
“How long does it stay in this?” she asks.
“Almost done.” After a minute, I tell her to use the tongs to lift the photograph and let it drip for a few seconds before doing the same with the stop bath. After ten seconds in there, it’s on to the fixer for another minute.
“That’s it?” she asks, smoothing her hands down her jeans as she smiles down at the photo beneath the liquid.
“You don’t sound impressed.”
She throws a look over her shoulder that I can’t quite read. “Should I be?”
Hell yes, she should. This takes time and practice and trial and error and heaps of patience. Maybe I should’ve walked her through how to create a test strip and change the contrast.
The timer lets out a cheerful ding.
“Now what?” she asks.
“Now we wash.” I use the tongs to slide the photo into the final tray beneath the hose connected to the bathroom sink through a hole in the wall.
“How long till it’s done?”
“Ten minutes should be enough time.” Then we’ll hang it up and wait for it to dry like the rest of these photos.
Jade reaches over me and types ten minutes into the timer. Her hypnotic eyes find mine. “In case we get distracted,” she says.
I really like how this woman thinks. I step forward from behind her and place my hands on either side of the table, caging her in and trying to ignore how perfect her ass feels against my swelling dick as I gather her hair aside to expose the column of her neck. “I’ve been distracted all night,” I confess, running my nose down the warm, smooth skin of her neck that tastes like the vanilla icing on the cookies I’m obsessed with from the store.
She leans back, her head landing on my shoulder. “Me too.”
The way her breathing hitches makes me want to do terrible, sinful things to this woman. Instead, I make do with kissing right below her ear, where her perfume clings.
“This is a really bad idea,” Jade breathes.
“The worst.” My finger slips beneath the neck of her sweater to trace her collarbone. “You like bad ideas, Jade?” I know I sure do.
She’s bathed in a dull-red glow, like even the room itself is warning us to stop, but stopping is the last thing on my mind. I need to know that Jade feels the same. That she understands what this means for both of us.
“Hayley warned me not to touch you.” And yet here I am, touching her anyway. “Said she’d disown me if I do.” Even if we only steal this one night together, the consequences may follow us into tomorrow. I’m willing to risk it, but is she? I don’t want Jade to lose her best friend over me, but I also know I’m not strong enough to walk away on my own.
“Tell me you want me to touch you anyway,” I continue, my breaths turning shallow.
Get lost or get lost in each other.
The choice is hers.
Jade bites her bottom lip as her fingertips trace the word “love” inked on my hand. I tell myself it’s a coincidence; that my hand is right there by her thigh, so of course she’s going to reach for it, but my heart still stutters when she lifts my fingers to her lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles. “I don’t want to hurt Hayley, but this…tonight…is about you and me. No one else.” Her eyes tilt up to meet mine, and her smile knocks the breath out of my lungs.
She lowers my hand between her thighs, and it is game fucking on.
My heart thunders against my ribs, ready to burst from my chest. I run my tongue along the sensitive skin where her neck meets her shoulder while working my thumb along the seam of her jeans, searching for—
She gasps and presses her ass into me.
Searching forthat.
My other hand finds her breast, and the word “more” tattooed there has never been as accurate because that’s what I’m desperate for:More.
