Page 19 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

Thirteen

E xhausted.

Dani had been more than a little of that when she had pulled out of the parking lot at work.

She probably should have headed home and apologized to Zoey for missing this week’s book club, but after pulling a couple double shifts, she was in desperate need of that familiar energizing smile to brighten her day.

It explained why she had booked it to Zoey’s place, but it didn’t explain why when she opened her eyes, she was seeing the world horizontally.

The living room was familiar with the wall of books that still made her eyes widen in awe every time she saw them, but the angle was definitely not.

“Are you okay?”

The pillow underneath her head shifted, and with a start, Dani realized she wasn’t lying on a pillow at all.

Her head was resting on one of Zoey’s thighs and when she looked up, she saw Zoey holding a book.

Dani had been in this exact position a few times, but with her being used as a pillow by Jordan or, when they were much younger, her sisters.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had been the one resting like this, enjoying the closeness and sense of comfort this position brought.

It was novel in a way that had Dani wishing she hadn’t been caught awake.

How strange it was that she felt so comfortable with someone she had only known for a few months.

Dani looked around, surprised when she realized the reason the room was so quiet was because she and Zoey were the only ones left. She lifted her arm and looked at her watch, noting the time.

“Book club is over?” she asked, her voice still rough from sleep. She shifted, turning over to take the strain off her neck as she looked up at Zoey. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Zoey shook her head with a smile that looked so soft and touchable that Dani’s fingers twitched with the need to reach out. “It’s totally fine. We all saw you were sleepy. And besides, your little snores were adorable. They added character to the discussion.”

Dani widened her eyes. “I didn’t snore, did I?”

Zoey shrugged. “Just a few little quiet ones.” When she made a soft noise pretending to snore, Dani huffed out a soft laugh.

“That does not sound like me.”

“Oh?” Zoey asked as she closed her book and sat it down on the couch beside her. “So, your snores are much louder?”

“If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll find out.

” Dani didn’t realize what she said until the words were out there, but she found she didn’t want to take them back.

They had been flirting more, dancing around subjects to music only they could hear.

Dani had worries she would be rusty in this, but she’d found it easy to fall into heated words with her.

Zoey, whose shyness only seemed to be a front for her masterful way with words.

Sometimes, Dani just sat back and marveled at how she weaved them like magic in the air.

“Didn’t I tell you; I was born on a lucky day!

” Zoey said, her smile morphing to a smirk that had Dani wide-awake.

They hadn’t gone beyond kissing and occasionally holding hands, but Dani would be lying if she said she wasn’t itching for more.

She had talked more with Ava and Vini, wanting to make sure she wasn’t seeing signs that weren’t actually there.

A few times, they had chastised her for thinking things were so remarkably different than dating men.

If you want to kiss her, just say so. If she likes you as much as it seems she does, I doubt she’d say no.

It had been good advice, and Dani had done her best to take it to heart.

When it came to the idea of taking things further, Dani was surprised to find she was more eagerly excited than apprehensive.

She’d tried doing some research when everyone was out of the house, but was annoyed to find how unrealistic a lot of it looked.

She’d damn near pulled a muscle just watching some of the videos that popped up during her search, and figured the production of it all was the same on both sides of the house, straight and lesbian.

She’d just do what she always did, wing it or ask questions.

“Are you trying to let me know you’re hoping to get lucky?

” Dani didn’t look away as Zoey seemed to think about her question.

She knew it hadn’t been long since they started seeing each other and they were taking things slowly, but damn if Dani didn’t want to speed some things up.

Those damn cardigans, as cute as they were, hid the fact that Zoey had body for days.

Her legs were shapely, leading up to hips that made Dani want to reach out and grab them.

And her waist called to Dani. She hadn’t even been concerned about liking Zoey sexually once she realized that every time previous wasn’t just a look of admiration.

Being self-aware was doing wonders for reshaping Dani’s world view.

“Always,” Zoey breathed out. As if realizing what she said, she blinked quickly and backtracked. “But I mean, we don’t have to do anything of course. I know this is newer for you.”

They’d briefly talked about Dani’s lack of experience with women a couple nights ago when kissing had led to Zoey under Dani on this very couch.

She had wanted to go further, but had been struck silent by no idea how to get there.

When she’d explained to Zoey, she’d expected some jokes or maybe, at worst, for her to say thanks but no thanks.

But instead, Zoey had backed off and asked questions.

That had blown Dani’s mind, and nearly blown her resolve to go slow.

Who knew that asking sexual questions could have led to being so turned on that she needed to leave before she broke her resolve.

Now though, Dani was feeling good. She wasn’t worried about putting on a show. She just wanted to make Zoey feel even half as good as she made her feel. Before she could lose her nerve, Dani reached up and brushed her fingers over Zoey’s cheek.

“I know we don’t have to,” she replied, voice going softer as she looked into Zoey’s eyes. “But what if I want to?”

Zoey reached up and cupped the back of Dani’s hand, and nuzzled into her palm. Behind her glasses, her dark brown eyes went molten, and Dani marveled at the switch. This Zoey was a siren drawing her in with ease.

“Then I want to.”

Zoey had barely gotten her words out before Dani had pulled her lips down to meet.

The kiss was unlike the ones they’d traded before.

Those had been almost exploratory as if they were both feeling each other out.

This one was all consuming. Zoey’s lips moved against hers with a hunger only matched by Dani’s own.

The position wasn’t the most comfortable, but Dani didn’t move.

She didn’t want to break the molten spell they’d fallen prey to.

Zoey’s hand squeezed hers before another cupped the back of Dani’s neck, propping her head up and taking the strain off her neck.

It was that consideration that had Dani groaning into their kiss.

It was the catalyst that finally had her shifting up and over until she straddled Zoey’s lap, giving her more freedom to kiss harder and deeper.

This hunger in her was new and she delighted in how readily it was accepted and channeled back.

Nothing about this was light or dainty. This was an all-consuming need to imprint herself onto Zoey’s very soul.

Dani felt needy, like a thirst she hadn’t been aware of was finally being fulfilled.

“If it’s too much,” she panted out when they briefly broke apart for air. “Tell me to stop and I will.”

Zoey shook her head before gripping the back of her locs and reeling her in again. “Don’t stop.”

Dani’s smile was buried between their lips as they kissed again.

She could feel the hard edge of Zoey’s book scraping against her knee, but even that wasn’t enough to move her to stop.

Her hands roamed, brushing over and down Zoey’s back, only stopping when the cushions of the couch blocked her path.

Zoey’s hands gripped at Dani’s thighs hard enough that she wondered if she might catch glimpses of finger-shaped bruises later.

The thought of having something physical on her skin to remember this by was another layer of herself being unlocked and she filed it away to come back to later.

“Maybe we should move to your bed,” Dani whispered before placing sucking kisses down Zoey’s chin. She tilted her head back with a soft whine.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. “I don’t want to push you for too much if you aren’t ready.”

Dani chuckled, enjoying the way it made Zoey shiver. She couldn’t help but keep going to one spot on Zoey’s neck that smelled divine.

“Does it feel like I’m not ready?”

“No, but…” Zoey trailed off as she sucked in a sharp breath. Dani soothed the bit of skin she had just nibbled with a flick of her tongue. “Fuck. You taste perfect.”

“Jesus,” Zoey wheezed out. “How didn’t you know you liked women?”

Dani shook her head before darting her tongue out to brush over the shell of her ear. “I was busy. And maybe I was waiting for you.”

Zoey’s hands shot out, gripping her cheeks before crushing their lips back together. When they came up for air again, Zoey’s eyes were half-lidded and full of heat. “You can’t just say shit like that to me.”

She groaned before gripping Zoey’s waist.

“Do that again.”

“What?” Zoey asked, nose scrunching when she frowned in clear confusion.

“Curse. Say shit again,” Dani said. “Something about you being so sweet and cursing gets me going.”

Zoey’s eyes widened before she narrowed them again and smirked. “I’m not as sweet as you think.”

“Fuck. Okay. Bedroom,” Dani said, throwing her hands off so she could move to stand. “I need you naked when you say things like that to me.”

Zoey quickly moved to follow but reached out to grab Dani’s arm again, pressing her against the wall and diving in for more kisses.

They moved in stops and starts, trading places against the walls.

At one point, they nearly tripped over each other’s feet and when both of them broke down into giggles, Dani couldn’t help but marvel at how easy it all was.

She wanted Zoey with a fervor that surprised even her, but even more than that, she was having fun.

It wasn’t that sex hadn’t been fun before, but there had always been an undercurrent of her needing to perform.

She felt none of that here. She wanted to touch and explore the similarities and the differences between their bodies.

Right when they crossed the threshold of Zoey’s room, a shrill sound broke out. Zoey frowned but Dani groaned in annoyance and rested her head back on the doorframe. She knew that ringtone. Nothing good ever came from it blaring out from her phone.

“Damn it,” she said before lifting her head and looking at Zoey. “I need to answer that. It’s Jordan’s dad and he rarely calls me when it’s Jordan’s time with him.”

She didn’t look upset as Dani leaned forward, giving her a soft peck in apology. “It’s okay. Go ahead and grab your phone. I’ll wait for you in here, okay?”

Dani nodded with a grateful smile. “Perfect. I’ll only be a minute.”

Separating from Zoey took everything in her and if not for the fact that Jordan was with his dad, she would’ve ignored the phone completely. Dani walked back into the living room. She quickly found her purse and grabbed her phone, answering it before the ringing stopped.

“What, Jacob?”

“Mom?”

Dani stood straighter when she heard Jordan’s voice. “Jordan? Why are you calling from your dad’s phone? Is everything alright?” She heard him sniffle before he spoke again.

“No. Can you come get me?”

Dani nodded though she knew he couldn’t see her. She hurried back to the bedroom. “Yes, of course I can come get you. I’ll be there in just a bit, okay?” She saw Zoey look up at her. “Tell your dad I’m on my way, okay?”

“Okay. I will.”

Dani looked down at the phone after Jordan hung up. “I’m so sorry, Zoey. That was Jordan and he sounds upset.”

She shook her head. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay. Let me help you find your things.”

Dani tried not to let her anxiety show as she found her keys and put on her shoes.

She was worried. Rarely did Jordan call her to pick him up early from his dad’s.

They had a set schedule that only had a few deviations when necessary.

That he called sounding this upset was enough to have her not bothering to lace up her shoes.

When she gathered everything, she turned to Zoey with an apologetic expression. “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to get you turned on, only to leave you with blue balls and dip.”

Zoey smiled and shook her head. “First of all, blue balls aren’t a thing. And second, you’re a mom. I understand that Jordan comes first. It’s totally okay.”

Her words loosened something in Dani’s chest, and she pulled Zoey in, kissing her softly. “Thank you.”

Zoey’s smile was soft as she nodded. “Go. Make sure Jordan’s okay and I’ll talk to you later.”

Dani nodded turning away before she was tempted to apologize again.