Page 28

Closing her eyes, she replayed the details of the evening in her mind, shivers running through her whenever she thought of CJ touching her, those soft hands on her skin.

Was this even real? She could barely believe they’d found each other, that after all these years, the woman she’d always dreamed about was here in her house.

Soon CJ came into the bedroom balancing a plate in one hand. She set it down on the bed and whipped a few napkins from her back pocket, then sat on the edge of the bed next to Kenna.

“Oh. Are you… are you not staying the night with me?” Kenna asked, since CJ hadn’t climbed in with her or even taken her boots off.

And as soon as the words had left her mouth, tears stung her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said with a sniff, a bit horrified that she was starting to cry.

“I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m not normally like this, but… ” She had to stop and sniff again.

“Kenna,” CJ said, her voice soft and low. “It’s okay. Do you think maybe you’re dropping a little?”

“Maybe? I don’t know. It’s just… I thought you were going to leave soon, and I just… I just…” She trailed off, shaking her head, unable to finish her sentence.

“What? Why would you think that? I told you I’d come home and stay with you. Did you think I only meant for an hour? I’m not leaving you alone to handle subdrop on your own. And honestly, I’d want to stay even if you weren’t crashing. I was hoping to avoid a crash, but baby, I’m right here.”

She reached out a hand and stroked a tear from Kenna’s cheek, and Kenna turned her face into CJ’s warm palm.

“Okay,” she murmured. “Okay. Thank you.”

CJ lifted her chin with her fingertips. “Kenna? Why so meek with me suddenly? What’s going on?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I… I’m just so glad to see you, and the night was so amazing, and maybe I am dropping. And I don’t want to seem needy or anything—I really hate that—but CJ, I am . I do need you.”

“Aw, babygirl. Come here.”

She moved the cheese platter and pulled Kenna into her arms, and Kenna breathed in that fresh, woodsy scent. CJ’s scent.

“If I’m being honest,” CJ said quietly, “I want you to need me. And that’s not something I’ve ever said to anyone else.”

“It’s not?”

“Nope. Just you. I think it’s always been you, Kenna.

You were the one I was waiting for, even if I didn’t realize it until I saw you again.

I know you’ve always been on my mind all these years.

That everyone I’ve dated I’ve compared to you, even if I wasn’t really aware of it at the time.

And I know it wasn’t fair to them, which is why I’m still single at thirty-six, probably. But they weren’t you.”

Kenna pulled back so she could look into CJ’s face. Her brows were drawn together, and she looked so serious.

“Are you mad at me?” Kenna had to ask.

“What? No, of course not. Why would I be mad?”

“Because I’ve sorta ruined your relationships?”

“Babygirl. How could I be mad at you because I’ve wanted you my entire adult life?

How is that your fault? You didn’t ruin anything.

That fact just ensured I was here and ready for you when you came back into my life.

And it’s a fucking gift. You’re a gift to me.

And all I want to do is take care of you and spoil you senseless. ”

“Really, CJ? Really?”

“Yeah, really. Well, and maybe a few other things that we agreed we aren’t going to do tonight, so I’m not even going to talk about it, or I might tear your cute little nightie off and get us both into trouble.”

Kenna smiled, her body lighting up with need. “Yes, please.”

“Ooh, you’re bad! You know I can’t. We can’t. Not tonight. But when we wake up tomorrow, all bets are off. Well, once I make sure you’re done with subdrop. Then we’ll definitely talk about it.”

“You promise?” Kenna asked, her nipples going hard and her pussy aching with a need so sharp, she wasn’t certain she’d be able to keep up her end of the agreement.

Stupid agreement .

“I promise. Now, I’m getting into bed with you and we’ll eat and cuddle, and then we’ll get some sleep.”

Kenna let out a long sigh. “Okay.”

CJ stood up, kicked her boots off, then stripped down to black boxer briefs and a black sports bra. And god, her body was amazing, all lean muscle and smooth skin. Kenna squeezed her thighs together as CJ climbed into bed next to her.

“Got enough pillows?” CJ asked with a laugh. “Why is it every femme I know has seventeen pillows on their bed?”

“I only have nine,” Kenna protested, then laughed. “Okay, maybe it’s a lot, but I like to be comfy.”

CJ chuckled. “Your bed is very comfy… except for this lump…”

CJ pulled Kenna’s stuffed kitty from under the pillows, and Kenna bit her lip, waiting for CJ to judge her like most of her exes had.

“Oh, that’s just Marie, but um…”

“Marie? From The Aristocats?”

Kenna felt her cheeks heating. “Uh, yes.”

“Well, she’s very cute, but maybe you want to hold her instead of hiding her under the pillows?” CJ asked, pushing the stuffie into Kenna’s arm.

“Oh, I… uh, thank you,” Kenna said, looking away in embarrassment. But CJ hadn’t judged her—she’d simply accepted that Kenna had a stuffie in her bed.

“What is it, babygirl?” CJ asked.

“I guess I was kinda waiting for you to say something negative about her. About Marie.”

“A lot of people have comfort objects. Why would I find that weird?”

“Plenty of other people have.”

“Well, they suck, then.”

Kenna pursed her lips. “Yeah, they do.”

But CJ didn’t. Not in any way.

I just hope this isn’t all too good to be true .

Someday she’d learn to stop doubting anything and everything positive in her life. And she had a feeling CJ would be able to help.

CJ played some music on her phone while they nibbled from the plate she’d brought in: soft Havarti cheese, some sharp cheddar, delicate bits of prosciutto, crackers. CJ hand-fed her the red grapes, and they both laughed as she popped them into Kenna’s mouth.

“You feed me like I’m a baby bird,” Kenna told her with a grin.

“You can be my baby bird. I like that idea. In fact, maybe I’ll always feed you one bite at a time, like this,” CJ teased, popping another grape between Kenna’s lips.

Kenna chewed thoughtfully. “You know, I’m not so sure I’d be opposed to that.”

“Neither would I.” CJ looked thoughtful for a few moments.

“What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

“Of course not. No, baby. I’m just… thinking about taking care of you.

I really like that idea. I’m a service Top, which I already told you, so this kind of thing just fills me up, you know?

And it’s been a really long time since I’ve gotten to do this for anyone outside of the kink club.

Outside of a scene. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to. ”

“Hmm. Maybe you’ve been dating the wrong women?”

“Oh, I definitely have,” CJ agreed.

“Me, too. Because I really like this.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Kenna assured her. “Really, really a lot.”

“Huh. Maybe tomorrow we can talk more about what going kitten for me might mean?”

Kenna’s stomach did a happy little jump, even though she wasn’t completely clear as to what that might entail. But from the little she did know, and from what CJ had mentioned so briefly earlier in the evening, it sounded like it just might be the perfect thing for her.

“I can’t wait to have that talk.”

“Me neither. Okay, time for sleep, Kenna. Let me go put this plate in the fridge. You go wash your hands, and I’ll meet you back here.”

Kenna did as CJ asked, then climbed back into bed. A moment later CJ was there, slipping under the covers next to her. She pulled Kenna closer, and she leaned her head on CJ’s shoulder, breathing her in.

CJ kissed her hair. “God, you smell good. Like strawberries and sunshine.”

Kenna giggled. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. You smell like… happiness.”

“You feel like happiness,” Kenna admitted before snuggling closer.

She loved being so close to CJ. Loved the feel of her skin, the scent of her. The steady cadence of her heart beating beneath her cheek. She wanted to stay awake, to enjoy just being with her. But in moments, her eyes fluttered shut and she slept.