AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘So, maybe a little hand-holding at the table. Some flirty touching.’ Holly flitted her free hand over Jen’s thigh, her fingers dancing over her skin like butterfly wings.Jesus fucking Christ.It took all Jen had not to inhale sharply. Her core was well and truly awake, vying for the driving seat in her brain.
If Holly could play this game, so could she. Jen reached over, gliding her hand up Holly’s thigh, settling not far from the hem of her shorts. She gave a gentle squeeze.
Their eyes locked. Holly’s eyes darted to Jen’s lips before returning to her gaze. ‘Do you kiss on a first date?’
‘Me personally?’
‘Uh-huh.’
Jen held Holly’s stare for a beat, certain she saw the same smoking embers as she was surely supplying. The fire hadn't quite started, but there was something hanging between them, like they were both fighting to keep it under wraps. Jen certainly was. If she let go, there would be no stopping the blaze.
She couldn’t risk overstepping the mark, though. Not yet.
‘I don’t believe in sex before marriage,’ Jen said, trying really hard to keep a straight face. But the wobble of her cheeks betrayed her.
Holly considered if it was a joke for a half-second too long.
‘I’m kidding,’ Jen offered. ‘Perhaps.’
‘No skin off my nose,’ Holly quipped. She circled her thumb over Jen’s palm, and it was a miracle Jen didn’t melt into a puddle and slide right off the sofa. Holly sat back, breaking the contact, and Jen instantly missed her touch. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long before it was rekindled. Holly tapped the knee of her good leg. ‘Straighten this out.’
Jen had no clue where this was going, but she couldn’t wait to find out. Holly popped her shoes off, and after a quick twist, she was nestled between Jen’s legs, back to chest. They couldn’t have fitted together better if they were puzzle pieces.
‘Date two,’ Holly instructed. Was it Jen’s imagination, or was she sounding a little breathless? ‘You’ve invited me around to watch a film.’
‘Very forward of me. Obviously hoping I get lucky.’
‘I should think so, especially after all that flirting I did when we went out for drinks.’
Holly’s just in character. Holly’s just in character.
Jen’s heart threatened to pick up pace. It had been a long time, that’s all it was. Yes, Holly was attractive. And yes, Holly was great company. Okay, Jen now had a habit of reaching for her phone every morning and texting Holly as soon as she woke up, but hey, where was the harm in having a new friend? Didn’t mean she’d fallen head over heels for her.
Holly took Jen by the wrist and positioned her arm across her chest, settling in, pressing against Jen’s boobs. She gave Jen’s wrist a squeeze. Okay. This was Jen’s kryptonite. She was made to be a big spoon.
Fuck.
It had been a lifetime since she held someone like this and she was surprised to discover how much she’d missed it, whether this moment was real or not. Yes, she and Chloe were often in each other’s personal space, but not like this. This was the kind of intimacy only afforded to partners. Memories of being cuddled up on the couch watching films with Alison rushed back. Was she conscious of being lonely, now she was devoted to being single? Not so much. But did she miss these special moments when it was just you and the person you loved, sharing space, feeling their heartbeat, relishing the gentle rise and fall of their chest? Abso-fucking-lutely.
She’d completely blocked out how good it felt, and now her body and brain had been served such a stark reminder it was hard not to want more.
‘I think we’re nailing this,’ Jen said, her voice almost a purr.
‘Definitely better than earlier.’
Holly smelled amazing. You could tell she’d put in some effort with the bikes, but she was still fresh, outdoorsy, and the scent of her citrusy perfume lingered.
‘Maybe we should have actually put a movie on,’ Jen said, leaning her head on Holly’s shoulder.
‘I thought we were missing something.’
And yet Holly didn’t move.
An hour or so like this wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Jen edged forward, a hand on Holly’s hip, keeping her in place as she worked her other arm free. Not that it felt like she was going anywhere; if anything, she was pressing harder into Jen.
She clicked the TV on, not really caring what the channel was, and repositioned her arm. A swell of desire swirled in her belly when Holly brought her hands up and regripped her forearm.
There couldn’t possibly be a universe in which Holly wasn’t revelling in this as much as Jen was. If she wasn’t, someone get this woman an Oscar, quick.
