I raised a brow and laughed. “That was dirty talk?”
“A prelude…maybe.” Rae pressed her lips together, trying not to smile too much. “To be honest, I’m not that good at it. The dirty talking, not the eating out. I’m wonderful at that part.”
I snorted. “You’re being modest.”
She shook her head. “Hardly.”
I blinked, surprised at how uncertainty made her voice lower. Rae didn’t meet my questioning gaze. Her fingers played with the hem of my shirt, rubbing the fabric between her thumb and index finger. The back of her knuckles grazed my belly. I swallowed at the whispered touch. She mindlessly fiddled with the buttons on my top.
“I always thought I could be…good at it,” I teased in a whisper.
Rae’s quiet laugh barely left her mouth. “Yeah?”
“Just haven’t had a lot of practice.”
“Want to do it on me?”
“I don’t know…feels weird.”
“It always will until you try.”
I offered a half-shrug in agreement. I’d expected Rae would lead this charge. For the woman who charmed hundreds into reverent silence to quiet me. But she barely met my gaze. Her fingers were shaking a little.
“Are you hesitant because you work for me?” I asked, half-teasing.
She smiled, finally looking up at me. “I’d like to think we work together.”
“Be serious,” I pleaded. I could hear my heart in my ears. Leaning into her felt right, but I didn’t have enough courage to close the remaining gap. So, Rae took up that mantle. Her mouth was on mine again. I parted my lips, tasting her sweetness. My knees gave way this time. I fellback onto the bed with her on top of me. Her hands sank into my hair; warm fingertips pressed against my roots. She massaged the hair at my temples, coaxing moans from me. Her mouth swallowed each one, as starving and willing as I was.
“I am,” she promised when she let me breathe for a second. “We’re a team. We work together out there and now…in here. You do realize I would never judge you during any of this? For not being with a woman? Not having a ton of experience? None of those things matter. I just need to know that you’re into me and want us, and that’s enough.”
Rae pulled back for a second to read my expression. To confirm we were on the same page. I nodded, breathless at the soft look in her eyes as she peered down at me. One of her knees was between my legs, so when she readjusted, slight pressure was applied to my clit. I could barely feel it through the thick pair of jeans, but that made it more delicious. The slight gasp that fell from my lips was dramatic. But it seemed to entertain Rae.
“Do you want me to show you how to have a little fun?” she whispered against my lips. “And then you can practice on me?”
Her voice was low and teasing. Rae’s fingers had stopped trembling, but her heart matched the heavy drum of mine. Her hands slipped underneath my shirt; her thumbs traced my waistband.
My clit pulsed with the need for stimulus. I nodded, so wanting that I could barely string a thought together.
“All you have to do is breathe.” Rae kissed below my ear. “Let me know how you like to be touched. And I’ll take care of you. We’ll get lost together.”
I shuddered when her mouth parted on my neck. Herteeth graze my skin, a gentle bite before a comforting lick. She continued down my body, her hair flooding over her shoulders and into her face as she covered my collarbone in bites and kisses. I fumbled with the buttons on my shirt. I needed this heavy cotton off my skin and replaced with her soft mouth yesterday.
I hadn’t resisted Rae like I thought I could. Like I’d hoped. And that didn’t matter. None of those silly wants mattered.
“I never thought…” I trailed off when I realized I was speaking out loud.
Rae wasn’t in the business of letting things slide. But she helped me out of my shirt, tank top, and jeans before asking, “Never thought what?”
Rae straddled me. I was just in my bra and underwear now, the old, dingy black things, the last piece of clothing standing between her and me. I almost covered my chest under her gaze. Not because of how she looked, but how my gut churned from the exposure.
My skin was a strange piece of work. A collection of acne scars on my chest and eczema on my arms. I was shades of brown and black. Slightly embarrassed about not having figured out how to take care of the blemishes. I’d been in long sleeves and sweaters until now. Fall and winter were my favorite seasons because of the coverage. Now, I felt like a liar. Like maybe I should have warned her.
“That you’d kiss me like this,” I murmured, because why not. Why not expose all the rest? This was as good a time as any. Better she knew now than never. I didn’t like the idea of living in a world of her never knowing me. Never seeing all of me. “Want me like this.”
Rae’s forehead wrinkled. She leaned forward, fingersplaying with the ends of my locs. “And why wouldn’t I want you like this?”
“Because you could have anyone.”
