Page 51 of Breadwinner
“It makes us feel important,” Nell joked with her. “Something about building family legacy gets our rocks off.”
That earned her a flash of Sarah’s brilliant smile as they stepped inside. “You would know. You are, after all, one of my more interesting acquaintances.”
Nell froze as Sarah’s hand brushed lightly against her arm as she passed through the open door. But it wasn’t her own voice in her head registering her reaction to the touch. No, it was Nate’s question from earlier, asking if she was ready for whatever this was with Sarah. She still didn’t know.
Nell was up early the following morning, already busy in the kitchen as she moved between the sink and the fridge.
There was something about Thanksgiving that still made her feel like a little kid, that excited feeling of being surrounded by people you love. She had always enjoyed it—the family time and the rituals that never changed because they were cemented in tradition.
The kitchen was already warm, the air scented with fresh rosemary and the smell of browned butter. At some point over the last hour, she had pulled her dark hair in a loose braid to keep it back and out of her face. She wore her most chaotic apron: navy with gold embroidered lettering that read “KISS THE COOK” in obnoxiously large script, a gift from Nate. It was gaudy and over-the-top, yet perfect in every way.
She had already prepped two sides and was halfway through chopping carrots with the kind of focus usually reserved for high-stakes negotiations when a voice pulled her attention.
“You’re up early. I thought you weren’t a morning person?” Sarah said, her voice scratchy with sleep, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“I am when there are festivities to attend to,” Nell corrected, glancing up and smiling at Sarah, who was still in sleep-rumpled pajamas, her hair piled in a messy bun, clearly having just woken up herself.
“Coffee? One sugar and a splash of almond milk?”
“Yes, please,” Sarah said graciously as she crossed the room to join Nell, leaning one hip against the counter. “So, exactly how many people are coming for Thanksgiving? It looks like there is enough food here for a small army.”
Nell turned, smiling as she slid a mug of fresh coffee across the counter toward Sarah, their fingers brushing briefly. She quickly retracted her hand. The sudden movement caused a look of curiosity from Sarah.
“It’s just the three of us—you, me, and Nate.”
She continued to meticulously chop vegetables, all too aware that Sarah’s gaze was still firmly fixed on her, watching her.
She felt Sarah’s presence grow closer, her body slightly behind her now. The sensation put her nerves on high alert as Sarah’s voice floated softly to her over her shoulder. “You’re kind of cute when you’re being so precise.”
Nell faltered, her knife pausing mid-chop.That look, Nate had said.Haven’t seen you like this since Stephanie.
She shook the thought away, refocusing on the carrots in front of her, wanting desperately to regain some control over this moment.
“Flattery this early, Sarah? Have you forgotten the rules?”
“How could I forget the rules for this weekend when you haven’t given them to me yet?” Sarah’s response was quick, her breath hot against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Nell knew exactly what Sarah was doing. She was pushing the boundaries to see how far Nell would let her go.
If Sarah wanted to play, Nell would be happy to oblige.
“So your solution to the absence of explicitly stated rules was to create your own?” The words left her lips in a low, intentional purr as she set her knife down and spun on the spot.
Purposeful hands found Sarah’s hips, guiding her backward, pushing her up against the opposite counter. Palms rested on either side of her, curling around the counter’s edge. She tookpleasure in the look of surprise painted across Sarah’s refined features. Even leaning against the counter, Sarah was taller than her. The proximity of their bodies forced her gaze up to meet Sarah’s as her sly smile spread.
“This is what you were after, wasn’t it?” Nell asked slowly, grazing her lips over the delicate skin just below Sarah’s left ear.
Sarah shuddered at the contact, exactly as Nell knew she would. The confirmation made her smile even more.
“You want me so badly right now,” she hissed.
Sarah reached forward to place her hands on Nell’s hips, but Nell stopped her. “Remember, Sarah. Touch only whereIput you.”
She took each of Sarah’s hands in hers, marveling at the smoothness of her skin before placing them one by one to grip the edge of the counter.
Desire burned behind heavily lidded hazel eyes. “I remember,” Sarah whispered.
“So you do remember the rules, then.” She let her fingers graze Sarah’s abdomen, dipping under the hem of her pajama top, enjoying how she quickly inhaled when her fingers came to rest on her hip. “And still you broke them. You wanted to test them to see how I’d react, yes?”
Sarah nodded quickly.