Page 56 of Sparks Like Ours

Elle looked skyward. “I’ve never once thought of you that way. Whydo you think so?”

“Because when I ran into you earlier, I noticed that I lit up likesome goofy puppy. I don’t do that. I’m solid.”

“So solid,” Elle said seriously. “Never one to feel anything atall. Dead inside.”

Gia stared at her. “I think you’re trying to make a point.”

“I am.” Elle smiled. “You’re human, you know. I like that you’rehappy when you see me. If you weren’t, what’s the point?”

“Are we dating?” Gia flat out asked. Had to. “Or just foolingaround?”

Elle pursed her lips. “I think I’d go with dating.”

“Except we’ve never been on a date.”

“This is kind of a date. A private one.”

And that was about all she could take. Gia pulled Elle’s face downand kissed her languidly, losing herself in the warmth of Elle’s mouth. Shekissed as well as she surfed. Before she knew it, they were lying on the bedmaking out. She pushed her tongue into Elle’s mouth and pulled a moan. Handswere now in the mix. Hers. In Elle’s hair. At the hem of Elle’s sweatshirt, theback of her thighs. God, she loved her body.

Elle came up breathless, her blue eyes dark. “It could getmoreprivate, youknow,” she said quietly. At her own words, her cheeks colored and she glancedaway, seeming embarrassed. That was a new one.

“What’s all that about? Come back,” Gia said gently.

“I’ve never been that into sex,” Elle said.

Gia raised an eyebrow.

“But I think about it a lot now. Too much.”

“Is there a too much?” Gia asked, trying to keep the mood lightfor Elle’s benefit.

“I’m beginning to wonder.” She looked down at Gia. “This is allnew for me.”

“I know.” A pause. “Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

“You and me, together. In bed. What that would be like. How much Iwant to find out.”

The words alone had Gia affected all over and acutely aware ofElle’s body pressed to hers. She shifted uncomfortably. She longed to touchElle, to be touched. The need, ignited by their kissing and accelerated withElle’s declaration, was near-painful throbbing. “I don’t want to rush you. Likeyou said, this is new. Maybe we take our time. Go slow.” Gia hated herself forsaying those words. Her body had been betrayed by the damn high ground.

Elle sighed. “I knew you were going to say that.” A kiss.

“Am I wrong?”

“No.” Another kiss. “I hate that you’re right, but you probablyare. But we can still fool around.”

Gia smiled against Elle’s lips and pulled her hips in closer. Oneof Elle’s thighs pushed between Gia’s legs, leaving her moaning at the pressureand tiny hits of gratification that came with it. They were like a couple ofteenagers, groping and making out on that bed. Five minutes of kissing laterand Elle pushed up Gia’s T-shirt, taking them firmly to second base.

“Don’t chastise me,” Elle said breathlessly, staring down at Gia’sblack bra in rapture. Her fingers traced the tops of Gia’s breasts and followedthe line of cleavage that dipped into her bra. “Just for a minute.”

Gia didn’t argue. In fact, she couldn’t speak. Elle lightly ranher fingers across the front of Gia’s bra, moving lightly over the portion offabric that covered her nipples. Gia’s eyes fluttered closed and her hipsrolled. She swallowed, and a sharp surge of arousal slammed hot and hard rightbetween her legs. The throbbing was out of control. “I can’t take any more ofthat,” she said, pushing herself into a sitting position and taking Elle rightalong with her. Her T-shirt fell back into place, and their new arrangement hadElle straddling her lap with a proud look on her face.

“You have amazing breasts,” Elle told her. “I know that withouteven seeing them fully. I can’t wait until I do.”

Gia laughed ruefully, her arms wrapped fully around Elle’s waist.“You’re gonna kill me, you know that?”

“Not before I get to enjoy you.” Elle tucked a strand of hairbehind Gia’s ear. “But you have my word. No more of that…for tonight.” Sheclimbed off Gia’s lap and lay back on the bed. “I don’t know about you, but I’mexhausted. We could just relax.”

Gia sighed, not entirely trusting that invitation but feeling theweight of the day herself. She joined Elle and laid her head down on the pillowas her adrenaline slowly subsided and her heart rate returned to normal.

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