For the Love of Cake (27 page)

“I want to see you.” Maya risked speaking, hoping she wouldn’t break whatever spell allowed her to behold this vision. Shannon’s bra was a simple beige number with a front clasp that Maya’s fingers already itched to undo.

“Maya,” Shannon said, but she didn’t seem to know what she wanted to say after that. She just stared at Maya, her eyes soft yet a bit wary.

“Please.” Maya trailed her fingers up the pale skin of Shannon’s stomach. She flicked the bra clasp between them, deftly releasing it.

“I suppose you’ve done that a few times before.” Shannon’s voice vibrated with nervous laughter.

Maya said the first thing that came to her mind. “Never once that mattered more than now.”

“Another line?” Disappointment colored Shannon’s tone.

“Not at all.” As she eased Shannon’s bra off, she couldn’t tear her eyes from the ivory swells of her breasts or their dusky tips. She cupped one breast and brushed a thumb over her nipple, feeling the texture change as it tightened immediately.

Shannon’s sharp intake of breath lifted her breasts. Maya wanted nothing more than to lay her down and have her way with her. And from the way Shannon trembled under her touch, she was certain she could. Instead of the expected surge of power at that knowledge, she felt humbled. She’d just emotionally opened herself more than she had with anyone. Ever. And in this moment, if Maya indicated it was what she needed, Shannon would set aside all the reasons they shouldn’t be here together and give herself to Maya. Something in her eyes told Maya it wouldn’t be just a physical surrender.

Maya dropped to her knees and rested her forehead against Shannon’s stomach, pouring the trust she felt into the submissive bend of her head. Shannon cupped one hand around the back of Maya’s head, threaded the fingers of her other hand into the longer hair on top, and held her close. Maya wrapped her arms around Shannon, resting her own hands against her bare lower back. She pressed her cheek to Shannon’s stomach.

They stayed that way for several long seconds while Maya warred with conflicting desires. Talking about the baby had flayed open old wounds, and she desperately wanted to alleviate that pain. But being with Shannon wasn’t a carefree hookup. Maybe it could have been in the beginning, when she was just flirting with the cute competitor, but they’d long passed that point.

When she’d sufficiently bolstered her control, Maya opened the fly of Shannon’s jeans and eased them over her hips. Shannon braced her hands on Maya’s shoulders as she stepped out of them. She grasped Shannon’s hips, hooked one finger in the waistband of her panties, and raised an eyebrow.

“Panties on or off?”

Shannon covered her hands. “If you’re thinking sleep,
on
is probably the safer choice.”

“And if I’m not?” Maya squeezed her hips and pulled her closer. She pressed her lips to Shannon’s stomach. She tilted her head back and met Shannon’s eyes. She could tell they were in the same place—both wanting each other but still feeling like they should fight it.

“Then I don’t need to put this on.” Shannon held up the T-shirt. She pulled it over her head and paused with it pooled around her neck. “Hugh would—”

“Oh, God, okay. Please don’t talk about Hugh right now.” She stood, still holding Shannon’s hips. “We’ve already crossed several lines, here. What’s a few more?” She searched Shannon’s face for signs of weakness, and, though it was there, she decided against exploiting it. She sighed. “All right, put the damn shirt on.”

Shannon shoved her arms into it and let it fall to her waist. She turned to pull back the bed linens, and Maya caught a peek of her panties under her shirt hem.

Maya groaned. “How is it possible you’re even sexier in a T-shirt and panties?”

Shannon laughed. “I’m sexier with my breasts covered? Wow, you really know how to make a girl melt.”

“Yeah, well, you know, I’ve got lots of practice at that,” Maya said as she climbed in bed beside Shannon. She settled against the pillow and folded her hands behind her head.

“So I hear.” Shannon’s voice sounded strange. Much of the intimacy from a moment ago had drained away, making her words sound empty and slightly cynical.

“You can’t believe everything you hear.” She turned on her side and rose on one elbow.

“How do I decide what stuff to believe, then?”

Maya tilted her head, trying to decide how serious Shannon was. “Well, you should believe everything I say and nothing you hear from reporters.” Maya grinned.

Shannon didn’t smile. “What about others?”

“Who?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

When Shannon didn’t meet her eyes, Maya touched her chin and lifted her head. “Someone’s been running their mouth. And you’ve been trying to decide if anything I’ve told you is true.” At Shannon’s look of surprise, Maya nodded. “This isn’t my first time on this ride, Shannon. You don’t think you can trust me because someone else is whispering in your ear.”

“Can I? Trust you?”

“Of course.” Maya sighed. “I just told you the most personal thing I could tell anyone.”

“Which, if you have your way, is going to come out in several weeks—”

She shook her head. “I can’t make you believe any of what I’m about to say. I’ve never denied that I deserve some of my reputation. I’ve dated plenty of men and women. I’ve gotten caught up in my own hype at times. But I never lied to any of them about what we had. I never pretended they meant more than they did. And in the past year, since the miscarriage, I haven’t gotten close to anyone—despite what the tabloids like to report.”

“Maya, you don’t have to—”

“I want to.” She stroked a lock of hair off Shannon’s forehead. “I don’t know what this is between us. But I meant what I said earlier. Every moment I spend with you somehow means more than with anyone before. And no matter how many times I tell myself I should, I can’t seem to ignore that fact.”

C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN

Shannon woke to a warm body pressed against her back, an arm around her, and the gentle caress of fingers tracing over her stomach. Her bare stomach. Her T-shirt had worked its way up around her ribs. She lay still for a moment, prolonging the surreal and amazing sensation of being in bed with Maya.

“Good morning,” Maya said, kissing her shoulder.

She rolled to her back. Maya’s hair was flat on one side and stood up at odd angles on the other. Without makeup, she looked even younger.

“Hey.” She touched Maya’s cheek.
God, she’s beautiful.
Maya bent and gave her a lingering kiss. When she began to pull back, Shannon grasped a handful of her T-shirt and pulled her in for one more. Then she lifted the covers and made a show of looking under them. “It hardly seems fair that you have so many clothes on.”

Maya raised the sheet and looked for herself. “If I was going to keep the promise I made to myself, I needed more than just your panties as a barrier between us.”

Shannon smiled and gave an exaggerated sigh. “You see, that’s the problem. You’re always trying to put barriers between us.”

Maya laughed. “You’re right. It’s all my fault.” She moved over Shannon, settled her lower body against her.

Shannon sucked in a breath at the feel of Maya’s strong thighs against hers. She grabbed Maya’s hips, getting hold of the waistband of her boxers as well. Maya pressed into her. Shannon groaned. “Keep that up, and even these won’t be enough of a barrier.” She tugged at the waistband.

“I don’t know if I can stop.” Maya closed her eyes briefly, but when she opened them, Shannon didn’t see any more control. “You’ve been telling me no. And I’ve been fighting this.” The corner of her mouth lifted in a half smile. “That was hard enough while you were telling me no, even when your eyes said yes.”

Shannon laughed. “My eyes were saying no such thing.”

“Oh, yes, they were. But I don’t know if I can keep fighting my natural urges if you’re just going to climb into bed with me.”

“Your natural urges?” Shannon raised her eyebrows. Perhaps she should show Maya what some of her urges were. She wrapped her legs around Maya’s hips, then raised her head and bit Maya’s lower lip.

“Shannon,” Maya moaned.

“What?” She’d been toying with Maya just as she believed Maya was with her. But now—was she willing to let this go further? Her body said yes, and it was quickly overtaking any other part of her.

“Have some mercy.”

“Are you begging?”

“Yes,” Maya said without hesitation. The sexy little growl in Maya’s voice and the openness in her eyes made Shannon’s decision for her. Whatever else she might believe was or wasn’t between them, in this moment, Maya didn’t hold anything back, and Shannon was determined to do the same.

“Wow. I can’t believe I’m in bed with
the
Maya Vaughn and she’s begging.” She tightened her legs around Maya in case she took her teasing the wrong way.

Maya’s eyes narrowed, but the rest of her face was relaxed and showed no sign of anger. “Will I be reading about this in the tabloids tomorrow?”

“Possibly. So if you want the story to be flattering, you’d better do something to impress me.”

“No pressure, though, huh?”

“None,” Shannon said, meeting Maya’s eyes and making sure she knew she was serious now.

Maya sat back on her heels between Shannon’s legs and pulled her T-shirt over her head. Shannon immediately reached for her, running her fingertips over her stomach and tracing the dips between her defined muscles.

“You are beautiful,” Shannon whispered.

When Maya bent to kiss her, Shannon swept her hands up and palmed her breasts. She rubbed her thumb over one nipple, pleased when Maya moaned into her mouth. She caught her other nipple between her thumb and forefinger and applied a bit more pressure. Maya deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue against Shannon’s.

Maya undressed her deliberately, paying attention to each inch of newly bared skin and driving her crazy with her mouth and hands. Shannon fought to get her hands on Maya as well, but Maya maintained control.

All of the reasons she’d been fighting this seemed to melt away under Maya’s sure caresses. Maybe the reasons were still there, maybe they weren’t, but they could certainly be dealt with another time. Right now, the only thing she seemed able to concentrate on was the swirl of pleasure rising within her.

Maya moved over her, supporting her weight on her magnificently carved arms, and met her eyes. She didn’t say anything but, in a moment of silence, asked permission. Shannon granted it—all of it—for everything. She stroked her hands over Maya’s shoulders and around to her back, then pulled Maya down on top of her.

“I want to feel all of you.”

“You have all of me,” Maya whispered in her ear, the warm feather of her breath against Shannon’s skin adding a delicacy to the words.

“Oh, you are
really
good at this,” Shannon moaned when Maya slid two fingers inside her. Pleasure weakened her legs, sending a tingle all the way to the tips of her toes.

Again, Maya sought her gaze. Shannon thought she read an insistence on the integrity of her words, but Maya didn’t say anything. She moved slowly, as if mapping out Shannon’s responses against each movement. And as Shannon’s need grew and she began to frantically grasp at Maya’s back, Maya responded with increasing speed and pressure.

Shannon closed her eyes and threw her head back against the pillow, submitting completely to Maya. Her body surged toward a peak, tightening against Maya’s fingers, and she ground against her, seeking a little more pressure—just enough. With her one remaining fleeting thought, she wished she could hold onto this moment—this feeling. But, proving it was stronger, her body let go, sending waves of bliss through her. She arched into it, her heart beating out of control and her own cries rasping in her ears.

She pulled Maya to her, holding her tight, enjoying the pressure against her still-sensitized skin. Maya pressed her lips to Shannon’s cheek, then her neck, and found her lips for a slow, thorough kiss. By the time she eased back, Shannon’s recovering body had started to clamor for a different kind of satisfaction.

She rolled Maya to her back and began her own exploration. She covered her body with her own, slipping her thigh between Maya’s. Right away, even through Maya’s boxers, she felt heat and wetness against her thigh and rubbed her leg higher.

“Ah, slow down,” Maya said as she moaned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know you were probably expecting more self-control from me. But it’s been a very long—ah, God, Shannon.” Her last words were a warning as Shannon slipped her hand between her thigh and Maya’s center. “It’s been—I haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”

“Do I want to know what a long time without sex is for you?”

Maya closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. “Since I found out I was pregnant. Over a year.”

“Oh, wow. I—I’m sorry.”

“No, please don’t make this moment about apologies. Just slow down a little and let me really enjoy it.”

Shannon nodded. She lifted herself away carefully, breaking contact with her. But before Maya could protest, she began trailing kisses along her torso, against skin that twitched in response. She covered one nipple with her mouth, teasing it but never applying enough pressure to bring Maya back to the edge. She paid close attention to Maya’s reactions, giving a little, then easing up when Maya tensed or arched against her.

She held back, letting Maya set the pace. And it was only when Maya grabbed her wrist and guided her hand that she finally slipped her fingers between her soft folds. Her own moan melded with Maya’s. She hadn’t even imagined touching Maya could feel this good. Maya was as responsive and in control from the bottom as she’d been from the top, and Shannon enjoyed letting her set the pace as she pumped against her hand, quickly driving herself to orgasm.

“So much for slow.” Maya’s soft chuckle sounded breathy.

*

“Mmm, well, that was definitely impressive.” With their naked bodies still entwined, Shannon couldn’t keep the satisfaction out of her voice. “Maybe I won’t sell my story after all. I think I’ll keep you to myself for a little while longer.”