Page 58 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls
Skye’s vision burrowed deeper. Where on Celene would be the warmest? The hottest?
“Permission to touch you?”
It took Skye a minute to realize she hadn’t imagined Celene asking that with a rasp unheard until now. When she caught on, she whispered, “Yes.”
“Thalia asked me an interesting question yesterday.” Celene’s words flowed with the slopes of her fingertips tracing Skye’s leg. From the ankle to the knee, down to the thigh, where they stalled on her shorts hem. “She hinted at intimacy. I realized we hadn’t discussed if sex is a part of our fake backstory.”
They’d crossed an invisible line by now. Skye let herself squirm. “Do you adhere to a timeline, like you sleep with someone after three dates?”
Celene’s eyes held nothing but dares, a test to explore whatever this chemistry meant. “I sleep with someone when I want to.”
“Oh. Fair,” Skye mumbled, studying Celene’s necklace, its jasper charm, the swell of her breasts beneath her blouse. “Is this a reality check discussion?”
“Not for me.” Celene upgraded to whole-hand caressing. Despite Boob Mountain, anyone passing by would stumble upon Skye being fondled.
A little scandalous. Skye reveled in it, letting her eyes grow heavy. Letting her breath get shallow. “Our illusion’s too good?”
“For our first time’s cover story,” Celene diverted, thumping Skye with her thigh, “do you imagine it slow and sensual in bed or like we couldn’t control ourselves and I fucked you in your office?”
Skye’s fists ached from their clenching. Had she ever heard Celene use the wordfucklike that before? She’d gone molten, embarrassingly so—any sudden movement and her shorts might press against her at a critical point. “You’d do me? Not the other way around?”
“Naturally. I’d make you come against that candy wrapper wall.”
“Dragonfruit,” she all but begged. She chanted the word four times until Celene said it back. Swallowing hard, Skye had to bring in some clarity. “What are we doing?”
Celene blinked rapidly, a bit more about herself. “You’re single, I’m single. We’re consenting adults...” Wincing, she paused and tried again, hands off of Skye like she couldn’t speak and touch at the same time. “Skye, I’m able to shut myself down. To not look romance in the eye for as long as I want. I haven’t slept with anyone since my ex.” Releasing a long breath, she said, “But I fucking adore being in a couple. I love pampering someone. Making each other laugh. Relaxing in bed, discussing our day. I miss having a woman moaning underneath me.”
A butterfly fluttered past, and Skye wouldn’t even glance to identify its species. She needed Celene to continue. So badly.
“We’re old friends. The attraction is mutual.” Celene danced two fingers along a hammock fold, directly staring with those bold, dark eyes. “Fake girlfriends can have sex, to fulfill our needs. Are there rules against that?”
“We—we...” Skye hated herself for this diversion; she would’ve let Celene touch beneath her shorts moments earlier. In broad daylight. That scared her. “We haven’t even kissed.”
Some teasing took place of the arousal in Celene’s gaze. Lip curled, she asked, “Aw, Skye. Is that what you want?”
Skye couldn’t get an answer out. Not when a white Pathfinder pulled into the driveway, rolling to a stop behind Celene’s car. If the intrusion hadn’t extinguished the moment, the passenger lowering her window to yell, “Celene, we brought your nieces!” sure did.
The undisguised frustration on Celene’s face soon melted when two little girls’ voices trailed right after with, “Aunt Celene! Hiiiii!”
A tan dude with Superman-coifed hair slammed the driver’s door. He took a stance with his arms crossed, checking out thehouse with a hint of authority. The daughters already scaled the yard in wide, screamish sprints, the single bows in their dark hair bouncing at each bound.“You’ve done a damn good job so far, Celene. When are they replacing the deck?”
“They’re starting tomorrow,” Celene answered more as a question. “Why are you here? No warning?”
“It’s a surprise,” the passenger woman cheered, then she blushed when she noticed Skye untangling herself from Celene on the hammock. “Oh, shit. We’re interrupting.”
Celene masked nothing, her voice taut and unamused. “Yes, you are. I deserve a heads-up like anyone would.”
“Dad gave us the go-ahead,” the guy defended, though weakly. “My mistake.”
Of muscular build and stature not much taller than the woman waving awkwardly, he traipsed New Balances towards Skye, holding out a hand. “Donovan Vale. I’m Celene’s little brother.”
Skye already gathered from their informality and the jet-black hair, though Skye appreciated the greeting. She accepted the handshake, taking note of his similarly hooded eyes. “I see the resemblance. I’m Skye.”
The woman shook Skye’s hand, too, her brunette ponytail wagging in shame. “And I’m Briana. Celene’s very apologetic sister-in-law. We should’ve called.”
“That’s where we agree.” Welcome unwarm, Celene accepted a hug from Briana before fitting her fingers through Skye’s. “Skye might remember you, Don. She used to visit all the time.”
Donovan only sort of acknowledged that because he and his wife found interest in their handholding. “Uh, did I miss something?”
