Page 32

Chapter 32

McCoy

What was that about?

Coy stared at the front door Sawyer had disappeared through moments ago, dread creeping over her. They’d had a good time, hadn’t they? Sawyer had acted like she’d been enjoying herself, and she hadn’t completely freaked out when Coy brought up her love of kink. What changed? Had she come on too strong?

“Hell,” Coy brought her hands up to rest on her head. It wasn’t like she was going to walk Sawyer to her door and expect a nightcap. Sure, she was sexually frustrated, but nothing she couldn’t take care of at home once they’d said their good nights.

“I did everything right.”

Something else must have caused Sawyer’s hasty departure. Coy had to know. It didn’t feel right to just leave regardless of whether she’d see Sawyer in the morning. She had to know the older woman was alright.

Bree met Coy at the door, smiling sadly. She pulled Coy into her arms. “I’d hoped all that pacing outside would lead you in here.”

“She ran into the house. Away from me,” Coy said, hating how confused she sounded. Would there ever come a time when she wasn’t constantly stumbling blindfolded in Sawyer’s presence? What would it take for Sawyer to let her walls down enough to let Coy in? Snippets of detail here and there wasn’t anything to go on, and Sawyer hated talking about herself.

“I know. Maman told me she needed to be alone. But I bet she wouldn’t turn you away if you tried,” Bree suggested, her brown eyes alight now with possibility.

Coy chuckled dryly. She pulled away from Bree, slipping off her Nikes. “She might skewer me to the door instead.”

Bree giggled. “Somehow, I doubt that. Her bedroom is the first one to the right.”

“Thanks, Bree.” Coy shot her an appreciative smile before making her way to the second floor. She found Sawyer sitting on her bed, holding the cards Coy had given her and stripped down to just her bra and bikini-style underwear. Pajamas were tossed on the made bed, and Sawyer’s earlier clothes had been strewn across the bedroom floor on the way to an opened, walk-in closet. They were still discovering each other, but Coy knew for a fact Sawyer disliked messes.

“Hi,” Coy murmured, clicking the door shut silently behind her.

“I told Bree I wanted to be alone,” Sawyer said, her voice low and husky.

Coy couldn’t help but stare for a moment, marveling over Sawyer’s slender frame and inviting warm skin. The collar bones that had nearly driven Coy with lust earlier were just a starting point to her wandering gaze. She swallowed, dragging her gaze from Sawyer’s breasts. “Don’t blame her. I needed to see if you were alright. After, with me.” Coy moved to the bed, wringing her hands together, watching as Sawyer clutched the cards closer to her chest. “Did I do something wrong?”

Sawyer shook her head, strands of black hair tumbling off her shoulders to frame her face. “No. McCoy, I don’t … I can’t talk about …” She cleared her throat, but the tears in her voice were unmistakable. “You were exceptional.”

Coy’s mouth quirked up. Reaching out, she tucked Sawyer’s hair behind her ear. “Really? Second date exceptional?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Sawyer muttered. Her eyelashes were damp, and she wouldn’t look at Coy.

“Sawyer,” Coy said, her voice soft. Her hand went to Sawyer’s other cheek, cupping her jaw and slowly turning the other woman’s face toward her. Her makeup had been washed off, so Coy got the unfiltered version of Sawyer’s beauty. Brushing the rest of Sawyer’s hair aside, Coy closed the small gap between them and pressed a kiss to her lips. Then kissed the corner of her mouth and her jaw. Sawyer clutched her arm, her nails digging into the skin as she let McCoy’s lips caress her scarred cheek.

“McCoy, please. It’s ugly,” Sawyer choked out, but she didn’t push her away.

“It’s beautiful,” Coy corrected and nuzzled her nose against the scar’s uneven ridges. She wet her lips, laying sweet kisses over Sawyer’s cheek again. “Is the skin sensitive here?”

“Sometimes,” came Sawyer’s raw response. Then, “I’ve never let anyone besides Bree touch it.”

“Not Olivier?”

“Especially not him.” There was so much pain in those few words that Coy pulled back just as a tear slipped out. “Not that he would have. He said just looking at it made him sick.”

Are you shitting me right now? Goddess, if Coy could only travel back in time, find Olivier, and kick his ass, she’d already be leaping through the portal.

“Not to speak ill of the dead, but I think I hate that guy.” Coy kissed Sawyer’s tears away. She shivered, so Coy reached behind them for the nightshirt Sawyer had waiting. “Here, let me help with this.”

“I’m not some damsel, McCoy,” Sawyer griped, shoving the cards she’d been reading into her nightstand. She went to grab the shirt, but McCoy placed her hand on hers.

“I know that. Believe me, I know that,” she said, giving Sawyer a soft smile. “Let me do this for the same reason I gave you a massage and tried to cook you breakfast. You’re important to me, Sawyer. Needing or wanting someone doesn’t make you weak, sweetheart.”

“I never said it did.” The retort had lost some of its bite from before, and Coy’s heart swelled as Sawyer allowed her to pull the shirt carefully over her head. Then she added under her breath, “It’s just ridiculous. I can do this myself.”

“But it’s more romantic since I’m sitting so close. We were having a moment,” Coy reasoned, her grin widening. She stood up, undoing her dress shirt and shorts, letting them fall to her feet. Then thought better of it, picking them back up as well as Sawyer’s discarded clothes. She draped everything over the chair by Sawyer’s walk-in closet.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Sawyer eyed Coy warily, who was wearing just her sports bra and boxers.

“I don’t know if you’ve realized, but my love language is through touch,” Coy murmured, crawling into bed with Sawyer. “And I really, really, just wanna hold you tonight. Or you hold me, Sawyer. I don’t care. But your vibe is off, and the last thing I wanna do is go home and doubt if you’re feeling anything like what I’m feeling.”

“And you think touching me will help absolve you of that?” Sawyer looked skeptical, but she didn’t shoot Coy’s idea down. That was good. Sawyer might not realize it, but Coy was pretty sure physical touch was her love language as well. She just didn’t know how to ask for it.

“I do, and don’t worry,” Coy said and felt herself relax when Sawyer got under the covers as well. “We’re still going at your pace. You’re the boss. Tonight is all about the snuggle.”

“You’re impossible.” Sawyer rolled her eyes, but Coy thought she saw a slight smile as she turned off the lamp. “I’m too old to snuggle.”

“Never,” Coy said, reaching through the semi-darkness to pull Sawyer closer. She tucked Sawyer as close as possible, back to chest, and Sawyer’s ass pressed snugly against Coy’s hot core. Burying her face in the crook of Sawyer’s neck, she inhaled her deeply. Her stomach flip-flopped, and she whispered, “Just like you’re not too old to be my girlfriend.”

Sawyer was quiet for the longest time. Her body was still tense, so Coy knew she hadn’t fallen asleep. Her obvious reluctance to speak or sleep had Coy doubting her plan. She’d basically told Sawyer she was sleeping over, but surely Sawyer would have kicked her out if she didn’t secretly wish for that as well?

Coy was dozing off when Sawyer whispered, “I’ve only been with Olivier.”

Her eyes snapped open. It took a moment for Sawyer’s words to register, but then Coy mumbled, “Oh. Well, that’s okay. We'll learn together what the other likes.” Her arms tightened around Sawyer. “I swear I’ll never pressure you. Your pace, remember?”

Sawyer held Coy’s arm draped across her midsection, giving it a light squeeze. “My pace.”