Page 20 of Always Another Sunset

“Is this too much?” she asked, and JC could not shake her head fast enough.

The kissing and everything Bella did was definitely not too much. “No,” she answered. “It’s not that. Trust me. I want more. Just…” JC nodded at the sleeping form of the dog in one of the cushioned beds they bought for her.

Bella sighed but stayed in place with her arms around JCs neck. “I know,” she said. “I was thinking that too. If she wakes up and we are busy…” Bella’s face blushed red. “Oh no, I didn’t mean that as it sounded.” She laughed, sounding a little self-conscious. “Well, kind of I did.”

Slowly, the woman started to move from JC’s lap, but JC held her tight and kissed her lips. “I like how that sounded and I want you too,” she murmured. “My whole body is on fire.” She hesitated, feeling not entirely sure how honest she should be with Bella. Coming on too strong might be a mistake.Although she did straddle my lap without much prompting,she thought.And I’m pretty sure she’s as turned on as I am.She swallowed and forged ahead. “Bella, every part of me wants to pick you up and take you to my bedroom. I’ve wanted it for a long time, but I always wanted you to be ready.”

A tender look mixed with the desire in Bella’s eyes. “Thank you for that,” she said, touching JC’s cheek. “But tonight, I am ready, I promise.”

Whatever arousal JC felt before tripled at Bella’s confession, but it didn’t solve their dilemma. “And Roxie?” she asked, for a fleeting second considering laying Bella back on the couch and making love to her there, but that scenario wasn’t what she wanted. The first time they came together needed to be special, and she wanted to take her time pleasing the woman she cared so much about.And having Roxie right there would feel a little awkward too,she thought.I don’t see a way around this.She sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I feel the same way,” Bella said, sliding off her lap enough to rest her head on JC’s shoulder. JC felt the moment cooling as the passion turned to cuddling, and she felt a moment of frustration but then set it aside. Considering their history, another night of wanting Bella wouldn’t be unusual. They took on the responsibility of Roxie and leaving her alone the first night in a strange house wouldn’t be fair.And now I finally know Bella feels the same,she thought with a small smile.Everything will happen between us, and then we may break the bed.Sitting together, snuggled on the couch but not talking, JC watched Roxie rest. The night wasn’t red hot monkey sex like she hoped, and her body craved, but the moment was still special. As if the animal could sense they looked at her, Roxie half-opened her eyes.

For a second, she didn’t react, but then she thumped the floor a couple of times with her tail. “Did you see that?” JC asked, feeling a tenderness in her chest that wasn’t related to how turned on Bella made her.

“Yes,” Bella answered, lifting her head from JC’s shoulder. “Hey there, Roxie. How are you?” Sighing, the dog closed her eyes, and JC saw Bella frown. “Do you think we should try to get her to drink some water or something?”

JC considered the question for a moment. “No,” she said. “Sleep is probably the best for her right now. Let her body heal.” JC’s stomach growled, and with her other senses calming, she realized they pretty much hadn’t eaten all day. “Are you hungry?”

“That’s a loaded question,” Bella said with a laugh. “But yes, starving.”

“Then let me see what I can rustle up,” JC said, but when she started to get up, Bella laid a hand on JC’s chest.

“Let’s do pizza delivery if that’s okay,” she said. “You’ve done more than enough, and trust me, letting me try to cook something, especially on the spot, would be a mistake.”

Resting against the cushions again, JC smiled. “I can go for that,” she said. “And maybe a movie?”

Bella returned her smile. “I would love it,” she said, and as JC reached for her phone to call in an order, she let out a slow breath of contentment. Maybe they didn’t get to sleep together tonight, but there would be other nights, and Bella was worth the wait.

20

The words flowed. Bella wrote on her work in progress for the next three days with a freshness she hadn’t felt in years. Everything came together perfectly in her mind, and she almost couldn’t type fast enough. Roxie rested in her fluffy bed on the floor beside the table where Bella worked. Although the dog was asleep pretty much all the time, Bella found comfort in having her around. Even though they were still getting to know her, she and JC agreed that Roxie was a gentle soul.

Because she was so well behaved and trained to let people know when she needed to go outside to do her business, it seemed impossible there wasn’t someone looking for her. Although Roxie didn’t have a microchip to reveal an owner, that didn’t stop JC and Bella from posting flyers about her in the neighborhood where they found Roxie. After taking a picture of Roxie’s sweet black and white face, JC used her printer at work to make flyers that they stapled on posts and tacked to bulletin boards everywhere. There was no way to know how far Roxie traveled before they found her, so they also posted on the local lost and found pets pages on the internet. So far, no one had called JC’s cell phone number. She was beginning to think something had happened to Roxie’s previous owners, or perhaps they had moved off the island.

Before starting a new chapter on her laptop, Bella glanced at the time. JC had sent a text half an hour before that she was caught in traffic, and Bella hoped she wasn’t stuck. Pursing her lips, she tried to decide what to do next. “Hmmm,” she murmured, and Roxie raised her head. Noticing, Bella smiled. “What do you think, Roxie? Should I make an attempt at fixing all of us dinner?” It wasn’t that she minded putting something together for them, but the kitchen still felt unfamiliar. Plus, they hadn’t been shopping so she didn’t know what ingredients were available. Roxie raised her eyebrows but otherwise didn’t comment. With a laugh, Bella leaned closer to run a hand over the dog’s head. “Well, I can at least figure out something for you.”

As she stood, there was a knock at the front door.Did JC call ahead and order takeout?she wondered as she walked to the entranceway.That would be just like her since she is stuck.Smiling at the idea, she opened the door. Instead of a delivery person, a pretty blonde woman stood on the walkup. “Oh,” the woman said, clearly surprised to see Bella. “I’m sorry. I was looking for JC.” The familiar way the stranger said JC’s name made it clear she knew the woman, and Bella wasn’t sure what to make of it. It seemed bizarre to be instantly jealous, but she couldn’t help it.

Bella shook her head at her silliness and forced a smile. “She’s not here,” she said. “Can I take a message for her?” The woman tilted her head, looking Bella up and down. There didn’t seem to be any malice in it but simply curiosity.

She smiled in return. “I can call her cell,” she said. “I was hoping to surprise her, is all.”

“I see,” was all Bella could think to say. Her feeling of jealousy only seemed to be getting stronger, and it made no sense. Bella didn’t like her reaction, especially since the stranger came across as nice enough. “Well, she’s stuck in traffic but should be home soon if you want to wait here for her.”

Raising an eyebrow, the woman clearly ran the scenario through her mind. “I don’t think I will,” she said. “But thank you.”

She turned to go, but Bella took a step closer. “Can I at least give her a name? To let her know you came by?”

“Chris,” she said. “I’m actually JC’s ex-business partner.”

Her ex?Bella thought, her mind working to connect the dots. “I see,” she heard herself say again, aware she was probably coming across as awkward. Still, it didn’t take her long to realize ex-business partner equaled ex-girlfriend. Before she could say more, she felt something beside her leg and looked to see Roxie standing with her in the doorway. Although the dog wasn’t doing anything aggressive, something about her stance came across as protective to Bella. It warmed Bella’s heart.

The stranger’s eyes landed on Roxie, and she shook her head. “And a dog too,” she murmured, though it wasn’t a question.

“This is Roxie,” Bella said, not bothering to explain that the dog wasn’t really theirs. In fact, she liked the idea Roxie was theirs.

Chris started back down the walkup. “Hi, Roxie,” she said. “Nice to meet you both.” She gave a little wave and headed toward a car parked along the street. Bella couldn’t help feeling glad to see her go.

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