Page 107 of No Holds Barred

“I…” Angelica trailed off, her gaze dropping down to the floor between them before she looked back up and met Lyric’s eyes. “Will you get Hope for me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lyric nodded. “Anything else?”

“That’ll be it.”

“Your replacement iPad is set to arrive tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Lyric.” Angelica’s shoulders were still tense, and her heart still raced. She took another moment to look at Lyric before shutting the door.

Angelica walked to the bed and immediately started dragging her clothes off, needing to rid herself of everything that was pressing down on her. She stripped her jacket, her blouse, her skirt. She turned off the microphone pack and put it on the desk. She took off her earrings and her necklaces. She curled her fingers around the edge of the desk and just breathed.

Naked and untethered to the world around her, Angelica let the fear she’d avoided for so long rush through her in an instant. Tears built in her eyes, spilling over and down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure she could do this any longer. She wasn’t sure?—

The knock was precise.

“It’s me,” Hope said though the door.

“Come in.” Angelica sniffled, wiping her nose and clearing her cheeks as she listened for the tell-tale sign of the click from the lock and the door opening.

“Lyric said…” Hope trailed off, her eyes locking on Angelica’s body and trailing down it and back up. “What happened?”

Angelica shook her head, unable to find words. They were the last thing that she wanted. “Just fuck me.”

“What?” Hope breathed out that word.

“I don’t want to think right now.” Angelica wetted her lips, looking directly at Hope. “I want you to fuck me.”

Hope slid the keycard onto the top of the desk as she moved to stand inches away from Angelica. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Angelica tensed, brushing her fingers down the front of Hope’s chef’s coat. Then she slowly started to undo the snaps, pulling them apart. “I don’t want to think.” She pushed the coat off Hope’s shoulders and let it drop to the ground. “I just want to feel.”

Taking Hope’s hand, Angelica pressed Hope’s fingers between her legs and held them there. Moving forward, she gripped the back of Hope’s neck and pressed their mouths together in a brutal kiss. Angelica parted her lips, nippingHope’s before she dove back in. She pulled Hope against her as she sat on the edge of the desk and parted her legs.

It took Hope longer than Angelica wanted, but she finally started to move her fingers, to ply Angelica’s body with touches and caresses. Angelica hummed and leaned back as Hope plunged two fingers inside her. Her mind spun, the conversations of the day and the week vying for her attention. But with the touch, with Hope’s breath and kisses on her skin, Hope’s tongue against her nipple, Angelica could focus on just this.

She gasped, Hope teasing her nipple into a point as she brushed her thumb across Angelica’s clit. Angelica put her hands behind her, watching everything that Hope did, the way her fingers moved, the way her face pressed against Angelica’s skin with each kiss, the concern that still filled her gaze, mixed with arousal and understanding.

Angelica listened to the sound of her breath, to the way it increased and intensified. She closed her eyes, feeling the sensations roll through her body as her muscles reacted exactly like they were supposed to. Hope’s mouth against her clit sent fire racing through her body. Groaning, Angelica dug her fingers into Hope’s hair, tightening her grasp as Hope’s fingers and mouth worked her higher and higher.

“I love you,” Angelica whispered, those tears she’d fought so hard against crashing down her cheeks again. “I love you.”

Hope didn’t move. Angelica wasn’t even sure if she heard the words. But ringing hit her ears just before the orgasm slammed into her body. She cried out loudly. Hope kissed her way back up Angelica’s body, cradling her. Hands brushed up and down Angelica’s back, kisses pressed into her hair.

Angelica shuddered. She wrapped her arms around Hope’s back and just held on tightly, eyes clenched and heart still racing. She had no idea how long they stayed there, wrapped ineach other, the lingering tendrils of pleasure already faded into the background, because it wasn’t pleasure Angelica had been seeking.

It was comfort.

Familiarity.

Trust knowing that Hope could do this for her, and trust that Angelica would allow it.

“Let’s get you to bed,” Hope murmured finally, again kissing Angelica’s head.

“Stay.” The single word left Angelica’s lips before she could stop it, and she knew she would never take it back. “Stay tonight, please.”

“Of course.” Hope tilted Angelica’s chin up and kissed her sweetly. “Anything you need. I’m here.”

Closing her eyes, Angelica nodded. When she opened them again, she was consumed by the crystalline colors of Hope’s gaze, the concern and love reflecting back at her.