Denial (28 page)

Amy’s words were cut short when Celeste pressed into her. She groaned heavily when Celeste flicked her nipple back and forth with her tongue. “Oh God.”

Celeste gasped when Amy pushed her thigh into her, rubbing it deliberately against her clit. Groaning, she made her way up and kissed Amy deeply, her tongue thrusting into her mouth. Eventually, the kiss slowed and stopped. Their eyes locked. Breathing each other’s air, Celeste rode Amy’s thigh as she thrust into her.

“Oh God…” Amy arched against Celeste.

Celeste could barely catch her breath. Keeping eye contact, she moved against Amy, sweat formed between them.

“Ohhh.” Amy’s hands tightened painfully in Celeste’s hair.

Overcome by the sensation of feeling Amy’s internal muscles contract, Celeste groaned into Amy’s mouth and told her how much she loved being inside her.

Amy
pulled
on Celeste’s hip, pushing her thigh into her hard. She whispered, “Come with me.”

Celeste’s eyes shuttered down. Amy’s words drove her over the edge. She threw her head back. Their movements frantic, they cried out, bodies arched, they came hard.

Slowly, Celeste kissed Amy’s throat and lips. She kissed her gently, until she calmed.

“I want to touch you,” Amy said. Breathing deeply, she slid Celeste’s hand from inside her. Moving onto her side, she pressed Celeste flat on her back, then quickly buried her fingers deep inside her.

Surprised by the maneuver, Celeste moaned.

Holding her gaze, Amy slowly moved inside Celeste.

Celeste’s eyes widened when Amy slid down her. She moaned when hot, wet lips sucked on her clit.

After a few minutes, Amy kissed Celeste’s thighs gently. Looking up at her, she whispered, “Are you ready?”

Celeste groaned and tried to focus. “Yes…”

“Not yet,” Amy said. “Don’t move your hips until I tell you.”

With difficulty, Celeste stilled her hips.

Amy reached up and cupped Celeste’s breast. “You have the most beautiful breasts,” she said, pulling on a nipple and pinching it.

Celeste moaned and thrust her hips forward.

Amy stopped touching her. “Don’t move until I tell you.”

Celeste’s breath caught. Her muscles trembling inside, she whispered, “I’m not sure how long I can hold on.”

“Not yet,” Amy replied. Thrusting gently, she explored as she kissed her way up to Celeste’s throat.

“Amy, baby… Please,” Celeste whispered with quiet desperation.

“Don’t move,” Amy said, her voice low and charged with sensuality.

Completely surprised by Amy’s actions, Celeste surrendered entirely.

Amy changed pace from slow to fast then back again. She bit Celeste lightly on her stomach, her shoulder, her side; the gentler the thrust, the gentler the bite; the deeper the thrust, the harder the bite. Some were created to leave their mark, but all were deliriously hot, designed to take Celeste to the edge then tear her back.

Celeste tried to hold on, but couldn’t, her voice rose. “Now… I need to come
now
… Please.” Celeste convulsed forward, then shuddered. “Please.”

“Not yet.”
 

“
Please!
” Celeste said, her voice ragged. She reached for her clit.

Amy whispered, “Touch. But don’t move your hips.”

Celeste’s mouth opened and she sucked on her bottom lip as her groin tensed sweetly in gratification.

Amy positioned herself between Celeste’s legs. “I want to watch you,” she said, running her hands slowly up and down Celeste’s inner thighs.

Groaning, Celeste’s eyelids closed.

“Look at me.”

Slowly opening her eyes, Celeste focused on Amy.

“Don’t move your hips,” Amy instructed. “Touch yourself slowly.”

Nodding, Celeste swallowed visibly, then moaned repeatedly as she tried to follow Amy’s instructions. Eventually, unable to stand the intensity, she said, in a strangled voice, “
Now
, Amy!”

Smiling wickedly, Amy slid her fingers deep inside Celeste. “Not so easy, is it?”

Leaning over Celeste, and holding her gaze, Amy thrust inside her.

Blood pounded in Celeste’s ears.

“Tell me what it feels like?”

Celeste tried to focus on Amy but was forced to close her eyes.
Sweet revenge!
Certain she would pass out, Celeste groaned. She couldn’t stand it; she was consumed by a rush of excitement so strong she could barely draw breath.

Amy increased her speed. “Come for me,” she said huskily.

Celeste cried out. She stretched out taut as Amy thrust into her. Within seconds, she released a long, wonderfully slow, strangling guttural cry, as her orgasm swept through her.

Breathing raggedly, it was a few moments before Celeste slowly opened her eyes.

Looking at Celeste hungrily, Amy moved on top of her. Gripping Celeste’s left hand, she pushed it between her own thighs. “Now, Celeste,” she said urgently. “
Now!
”

Amy kissed Celeste passionately. Their teeth gnashed together with the intensity of the kiss.

Celeste ran her fingers over Amy’s clit and stroked it. She groaned when Amy, shuddering, thrust her hips forward and instantly came.

Exhausted, a deep laugh of pleasure escaped Celeste when Amy slumped on top of her. Tenderly, she wrapped her arms around her.

Eventually, Amy slipped off Celeste and moved to her side. Throwing a leg over Celeste’s lean thigh, she muttered as she positioned her head comfortably on Celeste’s breast, “Don’t move.” She yawned. “I want to sleep with you like this.”

Celeste smiled when Amy mumbled sleepily, “You’re insatiable.”

Kissing her head, Celeste responded affectionately, “You too.”

Amy chuckled. “So it seems.”
 

Celeste listened to Amy’s breathing even out. She felt fully awake. More awake than she had ever been. Tonight, everything had shifted for her and she had needed answers. The image of Josh making love to Amy had created a tidal wave of emotions inside her. Cuddling Amy, she touched the light perspiration on her back, and felt a protectiveness that she had never experienced.

Celeste bit her lip pensively, understanding that she wanted more than the physical; she wanted the emotional feedback. She looked down at Amy’s sleeping face and quashed an urge to wake her and ask what she felt about what was happening between them. She wanted her to talk about what it meant to her.

Celeste fought the urge to wake Amy and tell her that she was scared of losing what she didn’t have, that she didn’t want it to end, that the thought of it tore her apart.

Exhaling, Celeste finally acknowledged that she was deeply in love with Amy. Holding Amy tightly, terror swept through her when she realized that she could never have her, not only had Amy made it clear that there was no future for them, but Celeste could never ask for anything more than what they had. Anything more would be impossible, as openly loving Amy would tear her family apart.

Chapter 35

Amy pulled out a weed and, lifting her head, listened. She turned down the radio and waited to hear the doorbell ring again. It was Sunday morning and some months since her trip to New York. Frowning, she looked at her watch. It couldn’t be Josh; he had just left with the boys to watch a baseball game. It couldn’t be Maggie, she and Sean had dropped by about twenty minutes ago to take the dogs to the dog park on Venice Beach. The only person she was expecting was her mother. Irene had arranged to drop off some plant cuttings late in the afternoon, but it wouldn’t have surprised Amy if she decided to come by early.

Thinking she was wrong, Amy turned the radio volume up again and continued to dig knowing that if it was Irene, she would know to come to the backyard.

Picking up again on the faint but definite sound of the doorbell, Amy heaved a sigh of frustration and got up to answer it. Making her way through the kitchen, she headed for the front door.

The doorbell rang again and Amy hurried to answer it. Opening the door, she saw that it was Celeste. Without a word, she turned around and headed back out to the garden.

Returning to her spot, Amy got on her knees to weed.

“Amy, we need to talk.”

Amy stopped digging. “Oh really, Celeste?” she replied, color creeping in her cheeks. “We need to talk about what exactly?”

Celeste moved closer. “We need to talk about last night.”

Amy sat back on her heels. “Okay, let’s talk!” she said. “Who should we talk about first? Let’s see, Laura?” She shook her head. “Oh, that’s right, you’ve dumped her, haven’t you. Maybe we should talk about your
new
girlfriend, Robin? Or maybe your other shag,
me
, your brother’s wife!” She stood up. “God, I don’t know what to admire more, your audacity or your stamina!”

Celeste lifted her hands then dropped them. “She’s not my girlfriend,” she replied, moving to stand in front of Amy.

“Are you sure about that, Celeste?” Amy asked, peeling off her gloves. Scrunching them, she threw them into the refuse bag. “Because, from where I was sitting last night, I could have sworn she was.”

Amy looked at Celeste. She gritted her teeth. It was driving her crazy, the thought of Celeste with someone else.

“Do you have
any
idea the dangerous position I’ve put myself in over the last four months?” Amy said. Her stomach churned as images of Celeste touching Robin Fernandez flashed through her mind. “Celeste, what is wrong with you? We are having a fucking affair, and I’m trying to keep my sanity together by keeping hold of the darkest secret I have ever had. And you come waltzing into the restaurant last night with your bit of fluff and sit with us, and let her drool all over you!” Amy threw up her arms. “What am I supposed think? That it’s a joke? That it’s all a bit of fun to you?” She stared at Celeste, and memories of the previous night flooded in.

†

Last night Amy and Josh had dined out in a newly opened restaurant in South Venice. Josh had arranged for a work colleague and his wife, who were new in town, to dine with them. When they arrived at the restaurant they were seated on a large sofa made of antelope skin. Amy liked the look and feel of it, and mentally positioned it in various rooms in the house. They hadn’t been in the restaurant for more than five minutes before Josh became agitated and decided to call their guests. He was a real stickler for good timekeeping.

While he called, Amy sipped her gin and tonic and perused the menu on her knee.

Josh hung up the phone and slid close to Amy, putting his arm around the back of the sofa and pulling her into him. “They took a wrong turn,” he said. “They’ll be here any minute.” He kissed her lightly. “Have I told you how beautiful you look this evening?”

Amy smiled and nodded. She had bought a new outfit—a tight-fitting, low-cut, cream dress and new shoes, with three-inch heels. She had bought them when she was out shopping with Maggie earlier that week. She had dithered whether or not to buy the dress, as it was more risqué than what she usually wore, but Maggie had encouraged her.

Getting ready, Amy was pleased that she had bought it. Ever since her return from New York, she was increasingly feeling adventurous and the outfit reflected that. When Josh saw her in the dress, it had taken all her powers of persuasion to get him out the door.

Josh murmured, “Do you know how fantastic you look in that dress? I can’t wait to get you home tonight,” he said and kissed her.

“Hi.”

Amy broke the kiss and looked up. The color drained from her face. It was Celeste.

Josh, resting his hand on Amy’s thigh, grinned up at his sister. “Hi Cel,” he replied in surprise. “You got reservations here too?”

Celeste looked at Josh’s hand, then directly at Amy. “Yes,” she answered, eyes ablaze.

Josh looked around. “That’s great,” he replied, trying to catch the eye of the maitre d’. “We’re waiting for another couple but we can easily organize for you to join us. He caught the maître d’s eye and gestured to him. “Who are you with?”

Amy stared at Celeste in shock, unable to believe she was standing over them. She took in a sharp breath when a beautiful, dark-headed woman approached. Standing next to Celeste, she linked her arm through hers.

 
“Robin,” Celeste said, “I would like you to meet my brother, Josh, and his wife, Amy.”

†

“Amy?”

“What?” Amy replied. She picked up her garden tools then looked at Celeste.
“Is she your lover?”

“No,” Celeste replied.

Amy looked at Celeste for a moment, and sounding unconvinced asked, “Maybe not. But you’re not denying that you’ve slept with her?”

Celeste didn’t respond.

Amy angrily tried to push past her, but Celeste grabbed her arms, and held her tight.

Amy looked at her. “When?” She tried to pull away. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to know.”

Celeste held her. She opened her mouth, about to explain when Amy broke in, “Don’t bother answering,” she said angrily. “There’s probably a string of us,” she said accusingly. “How could you, Celeste? For God’s sake, isn’t it complicated enough?”

Celeste shook Amy gently, aware that the pressure of hiding their relationship over the last four months was more than getting to her. “Listen to me. There is nothing going on with her or anyone.” She desperately wanted to tell Amy that her night with Robin was a mistake. “Amy, it was one night. It was a—”

Amy pulled out of her arms and slapped Celeste hard across the face.

Staring at Amy, Celeste moved her jaw back and forth. Unable to believe that in less than twenty-four hours, she had received two of those.

Since the trip to the Keys Robin had telephoned a few times but Celeste had made it abundantly clear she wasn’t interested in pursuing anything other than a friendship.

Robin had originally arranged to spend this weekend with Alex, but Alex had bowed out with a lame excuse leaving Celeste with no choice but to entertain her.

When Robin arrived yesterday morning, Celeste picked her up from her hotel and they spent the day shopping. She had to admit she did enjoy Robin’s company; the air always seemed charged with energy around her, and she had attitude—swinging her hips when she walked as if she had a game plan for every step.

Celeste couldn’t help but admire the woman; she knew exactly who she was and where she was going.

As it turned out, Robin had expensive tastes and throughout the day Celeste watched her swipe her credit card until it was threadbare. More than once, Robin offered to buy her an expensive gift, and regardless of how often she refused, Robin, it seemed, was only ever used to getting her own way. She insisted to such a point that Celeste’s mood darkened and she cut their shopping spree short.

When Celeste dropped Robin off at her hotel, she refused her not-so-subtle advances to join her for a drink in her room. Instead, she arranged to pick her up later that evening.

At the restaurant, during the meal, Josh had asked how they knew each other. Celeste explained that Robin was a friend of Alex and she was playing host, as he was out of town.

To Celeste’s astonishment, Robin let out a deep throaty laugh, and clasping her hand, looked at Josh, then directly at Amy, and almost purred. “Yes,” she said, winking at Amy. “It’s just as well, because, you know the old adage: two’s company and three’s a crowd.”

Not amused, Celeste quickly removed her hand and said coldly, before changing the subject, “I don’t think that applies here.”

From then on, the rest of the evening seemed to unfold like a nightmare. It wasn’t so much what Robin was saying—her innuendos were cleverly disguised—but it was the subtleness of her challenging looks at Amy that caused Celeste concern.

Josh, thankfully, didn’t appear to pick up on anything. For most of the evening he chatted to his colleague and his wife, who were also software engineers, about some new prototype about to be released.

When she could, Celeste cut the evening short.

Once in the car, Robin, to Celeste’s surprise, seemed content to sit quietly.

When they pulled up outside her hotel, Celeste reached over Robin opened the passenger door and quietly said, “Out.”

Robin looked at Celeste intently for a moment before slapping her hard across the face.

Shocked, Celeste put her hand to her face. Looking confused, she asked, “Why?”

“That, my friend, is from your brother, for fucking his wife.”

Celeste rubbed her cheek. “How did you know?”

Robin grimaced. “Well,” she replied. “Let’s say it’s the fact that your little plaything seethed the entire evening?” She half smiled. “And the night we spent together you called me Amy.” She laughed when Celeste’s eyes widened. “Oh don’t worry, your brother, the fool, doesn’t have any idea, yet, that you two are lovesick puppies. But it won’t take him long to figure it out if you don’t show a little more discretion and learn to hide it better.”

Robin leaned across the seat. Bringing her face close to Celeste’s, she whispered, “I really, really like you, Celeste. When you tire of her, give me a call. There is a real spark between us.”

Robin kissed Celeste softly on the mouth then got out of the car.

Moving her jaw, Celeste watched Robin swing her hips for all she was worth.

†

Shaken out of her memory by Amy trying to pull out of her arms, Celeste refused to let her go.

Amy leaned in and nipped Celeste’s bottom lip, hard.

Celeste yelped but kept Amy close. “I was confused and drunk, Amy. It was a mistake.”

“When?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“
When?
” Amy insisted as she tried to pull out of Celeste’s arms.

“Before New York,” Celeste replied, holding Amy tight. “Before we agreed.”

Relief filled Celeste when she felt Amy relax a little.

“She’s Alex’s friend. She would have been with him this weekend had he been here.”

Amy stilled.

“There’s nothing between us.”

“Is that so,” Amy said, eyeing Celeste. “Something tells me that she wouldn’t agree with you on that one.”

“There’s nothing.”

“She wants you.”

“But I don’t want her.”

Amy looked at Celeste. Her eyes closed briefly and she whispered, “Maybe you don’t want her…right now.” She shook head. “Why am I torturing myself?” she said, sounding confused. “It doesn’t matter.”