Page 108 of Touch of Class

Twenty-Three

“I’m ravenous,” Daphne said, her body draped half over Gillian’s exquisite form.

“Again?” Gillian sounded part incredulous, part pleased with herself. “We just finished round three.”

Daphne laughed. “I meant for food this time. You gave me quite a workout. I need sustenance.”

“Ah, well that I did, but it’s only fair. You’ve kept me from the gym two mornings this week. I don’t think I’ve missed my morning run more than once in a week for years.”

Now it was Daphne’s turn to feel smug. “Someone must be pretty special to shake such an ingrained routine.”

Gillian rolled her onto her back and stared down at her. “Someone is.”

She melted into the mattress under the sheer heat of this woman and may’ve succumbed to her all over again if not for her stomach growling loudly.

Gillian smiled and eased off her. “Skipping the gym might be one thing, but apparently skipping breakfast is another.”

“Care to stick around? I have decaf Earl Grey and some truly mediocre English muffins.”

“That’s truly unappetizing, and yet I don’t feel any impulse to leave, so if it’s not the culinary offerings, it must be the company inspiring me to throw caution to the wind or at least delay my morning routine.”

Daphne’s heart swelled. Gillian’s perfection annoyed her less and less every time it reared up again, and she’d had several instances in the last few hours alone to inoculate her. As she brushed her teeth, she replayed several scenes from the last eight or so hours. When she stripped the tablecloth from the dining room table, she was unable to see anything but Gillian’s flawless body laid out like a buffet. When she collected her pajamas, she felt a shiver run up her spine at the memory of Gillian whispering in her ear while she took her from behind. When she delivered a fluffy towel for Gillian to use after her shower, Daphne remembered the way Gillian had wrapped her up and held her close after she’d shared her most awful insecurities.

The woman was a ceaseless wonder. She couldn’t remember now why she’d tried to deny it. Daphne had spent so much time thinking Gillian had everyone snowed when, in reality, she’d been the one intent on missing the obvious.

“I feel semi-functional again.” Gillian strode into the kitchen wearing her sweats from the night before topped off with a Syracuse hoodie that was too big for Daphne, but still stretched a little short at the midriff. She was glorious even in something that didn’t quite suit her, because when it came down to it, everything seemed to suit her. “When do you have to be in the office?”

“Not until ten. It’s my morning to take Izzy to school, but Hugh texted he can take care of it.”

“Have I mentioned that I really like Hugh?”

“Of course you do.” Daphne snorted softly, but the comment pleased her. “He’s the gay male version of you.”

“Huh.” Gillian seemed to ponder the idea. “He is a sharp dresser with ample talent in the kitchen, and great taste in scotch.”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “And you’re both so modest.”

“He also has great taste in women … which is surprising to find out we have the same type in that department.”

Daphne laughed. “Awkward, but I’ll have to concede a bit, because I was pretty upset with him for inviting you over here last night, only for you to prove him right about what I needed again.”

“I do believe I contributed more in the meeting-of-needs department than he did.”

“Oh, good Lord, is this what you’re like in the morning all the time, or just when you got laid the night before? I’m not sure I can handle cocky you outside of the bedroom.”

“You handled cocky me in the dining room last night,” Gillian said, then caught herself. “Nope, I heard it that time. Too much. I opened my mouth and Robin came out.”

“I like it,” Daphne admitted, a little surprised. She enjoyed all the new sides she’d seen of Gillian lately and looked forward to unearthing more. The thought struck her. They hadn’t talked about ‘more.’ They’d talked about their pasts, their fears, their desires, but nothing close to plans for the future. She decided to start small. “What about your day? When do you have to head to work?”

“By nine. It’ll be a long day. I moved a couple of clients around for the snow day. I also have a meeting with Lauren and Jess after hours.”

“Wow.” Daphne pulled a few English muffins from a bag and sliced them in half. “Here I was thinking I was the only woman you met after hours.”

“You’re my favorite woman to meet with after hours. You are pleasure. Lauren and Jess are business, or at least they’d like to be.”

She popped breakfast into the toaster oven. “How so?”

“They’ve contacted me about the prospect of facilitating a sport psychology component to their fencing academy program.”