Page 145 of The Ampersand Effect

She started down the stairs, but the moment she rounded the corner into the kitchen, she was stopped in her tracks.

Tobin’s eyes were wide—pupils blown, the whites of her eyes visible.

She wasstaring.

And in that instant, Grier realized Tobin hadn’t been able to see what she was wearing from her position on the landing.

Tobin took in the entirety of Grier. Grier felt Tobin’s eyes follow her bare legs to the hem of her favorite zippy, where it barely concealed the curve of her ass—and the apex of her thighs—then up to the swell of her breasts, threatening to spill through the half- zipped neckline.

A flush bloomed across her chest with the heat of Tobin’s stare, and a warmth spread through her body, settling low and unmistakable between her legs.

She could feel her pulse there now. Aching.

Grier toyed with the zipper pull, locking eyes with Tobin as she did. She watched Tobin swallow hard. A coy smile tugged at her lips. She bit her lower lip, knowing the movement would draw Tobin’s gaze back to her face.

Slowly, deliberately, she began to ease the zipper down—teasing, tempting.

“Do you want me to take it off?”

Tobin swallowed again—this time Grierheardit.

She continued to slowly lower the zipper, enjoying the way Tobin’s eyes tracked her movement… until she saw the slightest shake of Tobin’s head.

She cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at her, “No?” She teased.

Tobin cleared her throat. “I like seeing you in my clothes—inthat, particularly.”

Grier hummed her approval and resumed her entrance into the kitchen. She hadn’t intended for the zippy to be anything beyond coverage in case Harrow was home—but she could use this to her advantage.

She could lean into it.

She leaned over the counter and reached for a piece of cubed peach Tobin had diced. She knew it had the desired effect when she heard Tobin hiss in front of her.

Cool air lapped at her exposed nipples from the movement— Tobin had seenexactlywhat Grier had intended her to see.

She pushed herself off the counter and rounded it, coming up behind Tobin, who had resumed dicing the peaches with noticeably ragged breaths.

Grier smiled. Tobin was fighting for composure—and losing. “Tobin…”

She slid her arms around Tobin’s hips, dragging her palms along the curves of her ass before sliding them forward, then down along the fronts of her thighs—pressing her body flush against Tobin’s back.

Her voice dropped, sultry and warm at Tobin’s ear: “Do you want to feed me—or eat me?”

Tobin spun, pressing her ass against the counter. Her face was stoic, but Grier could see the tension in her jaw—the fight to suppress the smile threatening to break her composure.

Tobin lifted a piece of peach to her mouth, but instead of eating it, Grier watched as she traced the curve of her lips with the fruit. Her tongue darted out to catch a rogue droplet of juice.

Grier swallowed hard.

Tobin noticed. A rueful smile spread across her glistening lips. “Do I have to choose?” Tobin asked lasciviously.

She placed the peach between her teeth and leaning in, pressing it gently to Grier’s mouth. Grier felt the cool, soft wetness of the fruit brush against her lips, Tobin’s sweetened breath warm behind it.

Tobin’s lips pressed lightly into the fruit, squeezing juice into Grier’s mouth. A heavy droplet escaped, trickling down her chin and throat, settling in the dip of her exposed clavicle.

Grier sucked the piece of peach into her mouth and moaned when Tobin’s tongue followed, gently pressing against her own before retreating—only to bite at her lower lip. Grier closed her eyes, allowing the sensations to take over. She swallowed the peach and gasped, “We’re going to need to shower.”

Tobin’s mouth skimmed along the edge of her chin, her hot tongue lapping at the trail of nectar left behind. When she felt Tobin pause at the edge of her collarbone and lave at the skin, Grier hummed in pleasure, threading her fingers into Tobin’s hair. Grier held her there, anchoring her while Tobin’s tongue continued to stroke at her exposed skin.