Page 59 of For My Finale
“Lilah, it’s fine, I get it.”
“Do you?” Lilah said. “Because I’m not entirely sure you do. For most of my life, there has been nobody there. I mean, there have been people, but no one that just… had my back. No one that wouldn’t sell me out if the price was right, who wouldn’t drop me like I’m hot at the first hint of scandal, who wouldn’t lie to my face if that was what was necessary to get what they wanted. No one, Blossom. Not one single person.”
Blossom took her hands. “That must have been awful,” was all she could think of to say.
“Yeah, well…” Lilah cleared her throat. “Well, then you just leap to my defense in front of Gloria like that and…” She cleared her throat again. “And I realized that you’re different. Aren’t you?”
“I’d like to think so,” said Blossom.
“You are,” Lilah said softly, stepping in closer, tucking a stray curl behind Blossom’s ear. “You’re different and I should treat you differently, and I’m so sorry, Blossom. I do believe in you. Ibelieve in you more than you believe in yourself, I swear. This won’t happen again. I will put you first, every time, I swear it.”
Blossom laughed. “Come on now, it’s not that serious.”
“It is to me.”
Blossom was about to say something, but the look in Lilah’s eyes stopped her. Lilah was serious. This was important to her. Blossom put a hand up to Lilah’s cheek. “Okay,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”
She could feel Lilah’s breath on her cheek, could feel the heat of her body. And then Lilah was stepping in and her lips were soft and warm and Blossom couldn’t help the reaction that her body had. She couldn’t help arching her hips to meet Lilah’s, couldn’t help the warm snake uncurling in her belly, couldn’t help her breath leaving her lungs as Lilah’s mouth settled onto hers.
She closed her eyes, reaching up so that her arms were around Lilah’s neck, so that she was pulling her in closer. Until Lilah was picking her up, until Blossom’s legs were wrapped around Lilah’s waist, until Lilah was backing her against the wall, still kissing her, breath sweet and fast.
With every ounce of strength that she had, she pulled back. “Hey, what happened to taking it slow?” she breathed.
Lilah’s eyes searched hers. “We can stop.”
“No,” Blossom said, eyes widening in alarm. “We don’t have to stop, just…”
Lilah bit her lip. “Blossom, I think that you might be the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.”
“Me?” Blossom said, her lips twitched into a smile. “What about you?”
Lilah snorted. “I’m the best at everything.”
“Oh, really?” asked Blossom, lowering her legs so that she was standing. “I’m not sure you’re the best at absolutely everything.”
“That’s only because you haven’t experienced me yet.”
The words hung in the air for a second, then slowly, carefully, Blossom took Lilah’s hands. “Well, let’s see if we can change that, shall we?” she said, voice hoarse and husky as she led Lilahtoward the stairs.
???
Blossom stood in the middle of the bedroom, the light coming in golden through the window, catching on her dark curls, highlighting them in reds and oranges. And Lilah didn’t think she’d ever wanted someone so much in her life.
With careful, gentle fingers, she began to unbutton Blossom’s blouse, sliding it down over her pale shoulders, exposing her to the air. Then she flicked the button on Blossom’s jeans, sliding them down over smooth legs until she stepped out of them and was left in only her underwear, black against white skin.
Then Blossom reached up for the hem of Lilah’s t-shirt.
“I wasn’t finished with you,” Lilah said.
“I’m not a toy to play with,” said Blossom firmly. “This is a joint affair.”
And Lilah Paxton, who always got what she wanted, who always took what she wanted, stood still and quiet as Blossom undressed her, warm fingers tickling against warm skin, until they were both naked in the golden light and Lilah could barely look at Blossom she was so beautiful.
“We can stop anytime,” Blossom said, taking Lilah’s hand again.
“Anytime,” Lilah agreed.
Blossom led her toward the bed, gently pushed her until she fell onto it, then lay beside her, skin just touching.
