Page 38 of With Stars in Her Eyes

Thea

I flipped through to the chapter before the scene I knew would drive Courtney wild.

It was my favorite scene in the book not just because of the hot sex in the next chapter but because of the tender moments too.

The chapter before upped the drama and tension with big revelations, and it seemed like all hope was lost. But then there were sweet declarations of love in a surreptitiously delivered letter before things really began to heat up.

I’ve learned I was a sucker for the love letter trope.

After a quick sip of coffee from my thermos I began to read.

Courtney smiled through the first entire chapter, and it was the same smile she had on her face when I read A Wrinkle in Time during the snowstorm. I had never liked reading aloud in front of anyone before, but I loved seeing Courtney enjoy it.

It wasn’t until the next chapter that Courtney’s expression shifted. Her eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly, and even in the low light I could see a dark flush coloring her cheeks.

“‘Caroline dismissed the servants from the drawing room after they delivered the tea tray. The men would likely remain smoking and drinking for hours in the dining room. If she was going to speak to Elinor it would have to be now. If Elinor’s elder brother’s intentions held, they would both set out for Paris in the morning.

“‘Years would likely pass before they would return to London. Elinor’s copper curls glowed in the firelight behind her. Caroline risked the smallest glance at her as she poured two cups of tea. Every scrape of the spoon over the porcelain made Caroline ache to touch Elinor again.’”

“How do Regency romances make spoon scraping so horny?” Courtney shook her head.

“Shush,” I said. “And yes, it’s fairly impressive.”

I read to the part where Elinor was gripping the bottom of Caroline’s gown and searching for the flesh beneath. Courtney’s posture was rigid. As Elinor’s fingers slid beneath the lace to find their way to something soft, warm, and aching beneath it, I stopped reading and closed the book.

“Hmm… I should double-check my settings. Just to be safe. Now seems like a good time.” I closed the book.

“Thea Quinn. I’m going to need you to read the rest of that chapter right the fuck now.” Desperation infused Courtney’s voice.

“Hmm…”

“ Hmm? ”

“I don’t know. It’s looking like you might be losing control, and I wouldn’t want to ruin a potentially flawlessly executed star trails photo. Hmm…”

“Stop hmm -ing and let me see if Caroline makes Elinor come.”

“Oh, she does.”

“Spoilers.” Courtney shut her eyes.

“I’m having some trouble of my own though.” I leaned forward. There was just enough red light for Courtney to see my cleavage.

Her gaze dipped downward just as I hoped it would. “Really? W-What’s the trouble?”

“I only brought one pair of underwear, and they’re getting to be a little… uncomfortable.”

“Fuck, Thea. You’re playing really dirty right now.”

“How is this dirty?” I slid onto my back in the hatchback trunk of the car. The space was surprisingly spacious now that all my camera equipment was out of it.

“How long has the photo been so far?”

“Oh… An hour and twenty-five minutes.”

“Fuck it.” Courtney jumped off the ground and ran. She turned out the red light I had been using to read, which meant it was so dark no one else could see us. Her fingers probed in the darkness to find the zipper of my pants. “Can I?”

“I need you to immediately.” I pulled her into a kiss.

Courtney’s fingers toyed with the button on my pants. “How comfortable do you feel with—”

“I have a blanket back here for when I doze off between shots, and so I’m going to need my pants off and you on top of me with your fingers real deep in my pussy ASAP, baby.”

Courtney found the blanket and spread it over the back. It was spacious with the seats folded down. I kicked off my pants and lay back. Courtney kissed down my body, lifting the bottom of my shirt.

She slid one hand under my bra to palm my breast while exploring lower and lower with her mouth. I was so bare and open and ready.

“Talk to me.” Courtney’s voice was crushed velvet again.

“What?” My response was a gasp on my lips. Talk? I could barely breathe. I had waited so long for this.

“What does Caroline do?” Courtney’s tongue lapped against my center as her fingers opened me farther.

“She— fuck. ” I tore Courtney’s beanie off her head and tangled my fingers in her short hair as she teased me with barely an inch of a finger. “She does… she does that .”

“You are so wet. Dripping onto the blanket. When you read the book the first time did you wish I was with you?”

“God, yes.”

“Wish I was there to fuck you with my mouth?”

“Yes.” I could barely get the words out as Courtney sucked. I couldn’t exactly see her, but I lifted onto my elbows wishing I could see her face as her tongue made me moan and shake and become desperate for more.

“Can I fuck you with my fingers too?”

“Anything. Everything. All of it.” I whimpered as one finger slipped inside me and my body arched into every bit of pressure, taking it deeper. Every small thrust asking for more.

“Are you sure you’re ready? Don’t want to read a bit more?”

“I’m going to die if you don’t make me come right now.”

Courtney slipped another finger inside. Careful as before, but less gentle. She knew what I wanted. My body clenched around her as she worked my clit with her lips and tongue. My legs pushed together around her, but Courtney kept her rhythm steady.

My hand reached down the front of Courtney’s shirt, finding her nipple and flicking it. The vibration of Courtney’s moan against me sent tingling pressure through my entire body.

Courtney slid one hand beneath my ass, changing the angle just enough that she found some magic place inside me.

Whatever sound came out of me must have been louder than I expected.

“You’re close.”

“I’m so close. Please…”

“Hmmm…” Courtney’s tiny sucks sent shockwaves through my limbs. “I think I could make you scream, but given where we are, do you think you can be quiet enough, Thea?”

“Yes.”

I gasped again as Courtney’s tongue explored someplace else.

“Oh shit.” I found Courtney’s beanie still on one hand and put it over my mouth because I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back. “I just—” I bucked upward, and a scream tore out of me as Courtney pushed me over the edge into a place where I had no idea where I even was anymore.

When my body stilled, I pulled her up to face me and kissed her.

I tried to think, but my brain had temporarily displayed one of those DNS server error messages over where all my thoughts should be. My lips pressed to hers, and I wrapped my legs around her.

My body couldn’t be close enough, and I wanted her clothes off , but before I could do anything to make that happen, red-and-blue flashing lights appeared in the window glass.

Courtney rolled off me. “Well, shit.”