Magnetic (23 page)

Layne chewed her lip and stared out the window. “She has no life plan. Not interested in buying a house, not concerned about her career. I mean, what kind of retirement plan does a bartender have? And she rides a motorcycle. That’s her mode of transportation.”

“She’s so not like Olivia,” Jenny said and raised a brow. “Did
she
make you feel content?”

Layne rolled her eyes. “I’m being materialistic again.”

“No, you’re not. You know what? No one wants to be in a relationship with a bum. Have you ever heard anyone say, my idea of the ideal mate is someone who can’t hold a job, lays on the couch all day eating potato chips, and trashes the house while I’m out trying to make enough money to pay the bills and keep Fritos in the pantry?”

“Stacy’s not a bum,” Layne said with her brow furrowed. “She has a job, and she’s looking for her own place. And when I got back from Seattle, she had cooked for me and delivered it to the house. You ought to see what she’s done in my yard.”

Jenny rubbed her hands together as the server began filling the table with food, and Layne glared at her, realizing what Jenny had done. When the server walked away, Layne said, “I get it. Stacy and I have two different definitions of success.”

“I’m fucking brilliant. No one thinks I pay attention unless there’s food involved.” Jenny pushed the whipped cream aside and poured syrup over her pancakes. “Did you notice that I didn’t put anything into my coffee?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“This is why.” Jenny scooped the whipped cream up with a spoon and stirred it into her cup. “Cream and sugar in one shot, and it makes the coffee so much smoother.”

“That’s brilliant, Einstein.”

“Yes, it is. I’m fucking brilliant. So listen to me when I say, stop trying to fit Stacy into your mold and let her be who she is. Because hearing you talk tells me she’s worth the effort. I don’t care if she’s a rodeo clown and rides a tricycle. As long as she makes you happy, that’s all that really matters.”

“You make a good point,” Layne said as she cut into her pancakes. But in her mind, it just wasn’t that simple.

“Now let’s talk about Ronnie. Molly is convinced that she’s still torn up over Stacy. I think part of her is. She did like Stacy after all, but more than that, I think it’s her pride that’s truly wounded. She’s already been on two dates, but here’s the clincher. It was with the same woman, and they haven’t slept together. Maybe all of this has taught her a lesson. So well-intentioned as my beloved is, don’t let her scare you away from Stacy.” Jenny pointed a finger at Layne. “That’s the word with the bark on it because I’m fucking brilliant…and I also told
Mol
I was going to tell you all of this. Not the word and bark part. We’ll keep that between us because I’m also fucking henpecked.”

Chapter 25

Stacy stood on the porch grinning from ear to ear with a backpack slung over her shoulder when Layne opened the door. She pulled her sunglasses off her eyes, sweeping over Layne from head to toe. “You look…delicious.”

Layne opened the door wide and stepped back to let Stacy in. “Funny, I was thinking the same about you. I didn’t cook anything. I was thinking about taking you out.”

Stacy closed the door and kissed Layne on the mouth. “I was just thinking about taking you but not to dinner.”

Layne moaned as Stacy kissed the side of her neck. “Suddenly, I’m not so hungry anymore.”

“You will be later.” Stacy smiled and took Layne by the hand. Layne felt her pulse quicken and parts of her body come alive as she followed.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Oh, you’ll see.” Stacy tossed the bag on the bed and turned to Layne. “I like this shirt,” she said as she began to unbutton it.

Layne went for Stacy’s belt. “I like these jeans, they show off your butt.”

Stacy playfully swatted her hands away. “I call the shots today.” She slid the shirt off of Layne’s shoulders and breathed in deeply as she regarded the midnight blue bra. “Very sexy.” She lowered her head and kissed Layne’s chest as she unclasped the bra and let it fall to the floor. “What kind of toys do you enjoy?” Stacy asked as she unfastened Layne’s shorts.

Layne’s blood pressure spiked as she looked at the bag on her bed. She kicked at her shorts as they landed around her ankles. Stacy knelt and slid her underwear down. Layne sighed as Stacy kissed the tops of her thighs. “I think I’m going to enjoy anything you have in mind.”

“Good answer.” Stacy stood and pushed Layne onto the bed. Layne reached for her, but Stacy pushed her hands away. “I want you to lay right here and wonder what I’m about to do to you. Close your eyes and think about that, and don’t open them until I tell you to.”

Layne smiled as she closed her eyes. “And if I don’t obey?”

“Oh, we’ll both be very sorry,” Stacy said against the skin of Layne’s stomach before she kissed her there. “You know I can be a stickler for the rules.”

Layne kept her eyes closed and heard the click of the bathroom door as it shut. So many possibilities raced through her mind. She didn’t have to touch herself to know that she’d already grown incredibly wet. Stacy turned her on like no other. She constantly intrigued her, challenged her to relax in ways she never considered. Layne jumped when she felt Stacy’s hands slip beneath her knees, so deep in thought she never heard her come out of the bathroom. Stacy pulled her to the edge of the bed, and Layne inhaled sharply when she felt Stacy’s mouth on her.

Stacy took her time teasing Layne with every stroke of her tongue. She enjoyed the feel of Layne’s legs over her shoulders and the way Layne would dig her heels lightly into her back, urging her to prolong the contact that would send Layne over the edge. Layne began to thrust her hips more urgently, and Stacy stopped the sweet torture. She smiled at the small groan of frustration that Layne released when she pulled away completely.

Stacy walked around the bed and put her hands beneath Layne’s shoulders. “Keep your eyes closed. I want you right here,” she said as she tugged Layne across the bed. She watched the rapid rise and fall of Layne’s chest as she climbed onto the bed between Layne’s legs. She balanced the weight of her upper body on one hand while with the other she slipped the tip of the dildo through Layne’s wetness. “Is this okay?”

Layne gasped as she pushed against her opening. “Yes.” She squeezed Stacy’s bicep as she wrapped her legs around Stacy’s waist.

Stacy thrust slowly, feeling more of the dildo slip into Layne. She repositioned, settling her weight onto her elbows as her hips did the work. “Open your eyes.” Layne bit her lip and gazed up at her. “I want to be able to kiss and hold you while I make you come.”

Layne smiled slightly. “I love it.” She gasped again as Stacy began to thrust deeper.

Stacy put her mouth against Layne’s ear. “I can feel the resistance, and I can feel how it slips deeper into you on each stroke.” Layne responded by digging her fingers into Stacy’s back. Stacy groaned when she felt every inch of the dildo slide into Layne. She continued to thrust slow and steady as Layne got used to it, allowing Layne’s hips to dictate the pace. Stacy kissed her, slipping her tongue deep into Layne’s mouth. Layne panted into the kiss as her hips began to move faster.

“Fu…fuck…fuck me, Stacy,” Layne rasped out against her lips.

The request shot through Stacy like a lightning bolt. The muscles in her stomach contracted forcefully; her hips responded, pushing hard and fast. Layne quickly came unraveled, begging her to stop and not to in the same breath. Stacy rolled, pulling Layne on top of her. The dildo slipped out, and both of them struggled to get it quickly back in place. Layne shuddered as she sat up. She pinched Stacy’s nipples, making her thrust harder.

Stacy hooked her legs around Layne’s and said, “Come to me,” between quick breaths. When Layne lay down on her, she gripped her shoulders, forcing Layne down while she pushed deeper. She felt Layne stiffen and heard two quick gasps against her ear. Layne held the rigid stance for what seemed like minutes, then inhaled loudly before releasing a broken cry. Stacy felt her own orgasm tear through her and released a shuddering groan as she held tightly to Layne.

“I’m going to have to start working out,” Layne said later when she caught her breath but still lay limply on Stacy.

Stacy grinned. “You just did. I’m more than happy to be your personal trainer.”

Layne sat up and ran her hands over Stacy’s sweating stomach. “Is this how you made all these muscles?”

“No, those exercises aren’t nearly as enjoyable.” Stacy thrust her hips infinitesimally, gauging Layne’s reaction. She felt arousal begin to stir quickly as she watched Layne’s eyelids flutter. Layne grazed her nipples with the backs of her fingertips. “You make me want to do this all night.”

Layne’s eyes were full of desire. “What do you get out of this?” She pushed down a little firmer.

“The base hits the perfect spot,” Stacy said with a grin, “and I haven’t even turned on the bullets yet.”

One of Layne’s brows shot up. “Bullets?”

“Sit back a little bit.” Stacy reached down and pushed the button on the top of two small vibrators. She pushed into Layne with a smile.

“Ah…those bullets.” Layne swiveled her hips. “How well do you feel them?”

Stacy groaned and closed her eyes. “Oh…very well.”

*******

Stacy took a sip of her wine and looked up at the night sky. “I love that you have a very private backyard.” The evening breeze cooled her heated skin as they sat out on the deck wearing nothing more than towels wrapped around their waists.

Layne took the last bite of her half a turkey sandwich that they’d split between them. She chewed slowly and sighed, after which she took Stacy’s glass and sipped from it. “Stay with me tonight.”

“You’re not exhausted?”

“Very, and I’d like to spend the rest of the evening curled up with you.”

Stacy smiled. “I’d like that very much.” Layne kissed her hand before pressing that glass back into it. “Do you have a lawn service?”

Layne yawned as she looked out over the yard. “It needs to be cut, doesn’t it?” She frowned at the weeds that had sprung up seemingly overnight. “I decided to do it myself and bought a mower, but I’ve been busy since I returned home.” She winked at Stacy.

“I’m off tomorrow. I’d be happy to do it. Your azaleas need to be pruned since they’ve bloomed out, probably wouldn’t take me two hours tops.”

“I won’t ask you to do my lawn.”

“You didn’t. I love manual labor. I love to work hard and feel like I’ve really accomplished something at the end of the day. This would be a real treat for me.” Stacy lowered her voice as she regarded Layne, “Don’t deny me.”

It struck Layne at that moment that she really couldn’t deny Stacy anything if it made her happy. “You amaze me.”

Stacy grinned. “How so?”

“You’re just so different. I like it.” Layne looked away. “I’m going to miss you when I have to leave Friday.”

“Good, that means you’ll be thinking of me because I know I’m going to be thinking of you constantly.”

The words washed over Layne like velvet. She wanted to let go and give into the feelings that welled up inside of her, but a small voice in the back of her mind declared it was way too soon. “I don’t even have your phone number.”

“You seem like a nice enough girl, I suppose I could trust you with it,” Stacy said with a smile.

Layne winked. “I’m not that nice. You should know that by now.”

“Downright naughty,” Stacy said with a nod. “I have no complaints.”

Chapter 26

Stacy killed the engine to the mower and wiped sweat from her face as she admired her handiwork. She’d offered to prune the azaleas without asking if Layne had anything to trim them with. When she’d opened the free-standing garage that morning, she was disappointed to find only the mower and a gas can. With the grass cut, everything looked so overgrown in comparison.