Page 80 of Balancing Act
Jamie’s lips curved into a smirk, clearly picking up on the pivot but not pushing it. “Yeah?” she asked, her voice teasing as she leaned in closer, her breath warm against Beth’s skin. “Anything specific?”
Beth let out a soft laugh, grateful for the change in direction. “Many, many specific things come to mind,” she murmured, her fingers brushing lightly over Jamie, tracing the lines of one of her tattoos.
Jamie’s smirk deepened, her eyes darkening slightly as her fingers grazed over Beth’s waist, pulling her closer. “Care to elaborate?”
Her body was already responding to the promise in Jamie’s voice. But before she could say anything, Beth caught sight of the window behind Jamie, the sound of freezing rain still rattling against the glass reminding her.
“The storm came earlier than expected. I don’t think you’re going anywhere just yet,” Beth said, in between soft kisses as she pushed Jamie’s soft curls away from her face.
Jamie’s eyes sparkled with playful mischief. “Was that your plan all along? Tire me out so you could trap me in this cozy little cocoon?”
Beth cupped Jamie’s cheek as she looked into her eyes. “Maybe. Why? Is it working?”
“You tell me,” Jamie hummed, her lips grazing the corner of Beth’s mouth.
After what felt like hours wrapped up in a tangle of sheets, they finally made it to the shower together. Warm water cascaded over them as Beth lathered soap across Jamie’s slick skin, savoring how their bodies fit perfectly between suds and stolen kisses. They lingered under the warm spray of water, hands freely exploring and mapping the landscape of the other’s body. She wanted as much of Jamie as she could have right now, because after Jamie left, she wasn’t sure when she’d get her like this again.
Stepping out of the shower, Beth grabbed two towels and handed one to Jamie as she let her eyes linger, drinking her in. She watched as water droplets traced the curves of Jamie’s defined musculature, rolling down in mesmerizing paths before disappearing as Jamie dried herself. The sight was captivating, each movement so natural yet effortlessly sensual. Beth could hardly breathe.
When her gaze finally lifted, she met Jamie’s eyes, that familiar cocky grin tugging at Jamie’s lips—the same grin that had caught her attention that very first night they met.
Her body hummed with the feeling of being with Jamie.
“I can’t believe I get to call you my girl—” The words escaped before Beth could stop them.
Shit! SHIT!
That was not what she had meant to say at all. Almost letting the word girlfriend slip unprompted like that? She hadn’t meant to say it, hadn’t meant to push.Shit.
Jamie’s grin widened, teasing. “Your what?”
“Fine,” Beth muttered, hanging her towel on the hook more forcefully than intended. She turned back toward Jamie, tryingto ignore the panicked thudding in her chest. “I was going to say girlfriend.” Her voice wavered. “But I realize we haven’t had that conversation yet.”
The silence that followed felt suffocating. God, this was not how she wanted to have this conversation. Why couldn’t she just keep her thoughts inside her head? Her stomach twisted as she waited for a response, each second dragging out. She was preparing herself for the worst. For Jamie to end things right here and now.
When Jamie didn’t say anything immediately, Beth’s chest tightened even more. Her mind spun with a thousand scenarios, none of them good. She braved another glance at Jamie, who had been watching her the whole time.
“Do you want to have that conversation?” Jamie asked calmly.
Beth searched the reflection of her eyes in the mirror, trying to decipher the correct answer. Honestly, yes. She did want to have that conversation. But she didn’t want to push Jamie, especially after she’d expressed a desire to take things slowly. But she wished she knew what Jamie meant by slowly.
Jamie stepped behind Beth, slipping her arms around her middle and pulling Beth back against her as she stood on her tiptoes to rest her chin on her shoulder. She leaned back into her touch, sinking into the safety of Jamie’s arms.
“Okay,” she said slowly, turning so she was looking at Jamie rather than her reflection. “I’d like to have that conversation. How about over coffee? I’ll put a pot on?”
Jamie nodded and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Great. I’ll be a few more minutes.” Jamie gestured to her wet hair. “Curly hair is a little high maintenance.”
Beth dressed quietly, the soft cotton of her sweater brushing against her skin as she padded toward the kitchen. Freezing rain continued to tap against the windows, steady and rhythmic, likea constant whisper from the storm. Outside, the rain turned everything to glass, shimmering and delicate. But inside, there was only warmth.
The coffee maker gurgled and sputtered, and a few moments later, the smell of coffee wafted through the kitchen. As she pulled down two mugs, one for her and one for Jamie, she couldn’t help but think about how much she liked that feeling. She glanced up at Jamie’s footsteps on the stairs in time to catch her make a little hop from the last stair.
“Coffee?” Beth slid a steaming mug across the counter. She grinned, noticing that Jamie had snagged one of her favorite oversized T-shirts to wear. Jamie could steal all of her T-shirts for all she cared.
“God, yes,” Jamie said, taking the mug from Beth and wandering over to the window, peering out at the storm. “Man, it’s nasty out. I guess I really am stuck here till it passes. Oh, darn.” She flashed a grin over her shoulder, her playful tone putting Beth at ease.
Jamie settled into the seat across from her, and Beth’s pulse quickened. She searched Jamie’s face for any signs of discomfort or hesitation, but where she expected to see some, she saw calmness and ease instead. Jamie took a slow sip from her mug, eyes meeting Beth’s over the mug’s rim.
“So,” Jamie started, setting her cup down with a soft thud. “Girlfriend, huh?”