Without waiting, Chris opened the door and got out. She knew Ash would follow. They both wanted this immediately. Chris glanced over her shoulder as she opened the front door. Ash was right there. Flutters flew through her chest with anticipation and excitement. She needed this more than she cared to fully admit.

  Snagging Ash’s hand, Chris tugged Ash to her and pushed Ash against the door while she flipped the locks in place. Their mouths met in a feverish kiss. Chris sucked in a breath, her fingers finding their way back to Ash’s neck and holding on while her other hand slid down the side of Ash’s body, finally getting the full feel of her curves.

  “You’re gorgeous,” Chris said before diving back in for another kiss.

  Ash whined, her nails digging into Chris’ back as she pulled Chris closer. Chris rocked her hips against Ash’s body, having to tilt her chin up while they continued to kiss. Sinking into this feeling was exactly what she’d needed, the perfect distraction, the best kind actually. Andry used to distract her like this when they’d first started dating all those years ago. Chris pulled Ash’s lower lip into her mouth and sucked.

  Grinning, Ash dug her fingers under Chris’ shirt and pulled it upward. This woman was fire. Chris had thought she was timid at first, but nothing about this exchange was hesitant. Chris kissed her fully again and moved to pull her shirt over her head, dropping it to the floor. While Chris knew she had good tits, that was about it. The rest of her body left a whole lot to be desired from her rectangular shape and narrow hips to her aging face and broad shoulders. Ash rested her shoulders against the door and ran her fingers smoothly across Chris’ shoulders, her collar bone, and down between her breasts before bursting into a broad smile.

  “I knew you were stunning under all of this.”

  “This?” Chris asked.

  Ash leaned forward and deftly flicked the clasp of Chris’ bra to unhook it. Both her hands covered Chris’ breasts in an instant, massaging gently as she looked right into Chris’ eyes. This was sexy as hell. Chris shook her head slowly and let out one chuckle before she reached for Ash’s pants and pulled at her belt and the button.

  Chris had her hand sliding down the front of Ash’s pants in a second. “Please let me touch you.”

  “Oh my god, yes.” Ash spread her legs, her shoulders once again resting on the door. “Touch me.”

  Nuzzling her nose into Ash’s neck, Chris found her warm and waiting. She wasn’t quite soaking wet yet, but they had time for that. Chris started with a soft tease against Ash’s clit, just a slow circle with the pads of her fingers. “So good.”

  Ash moaned, rocking her hips into Chris’ fingers. “Why do you seem so familiar?”

  Chris nearly faltered in her touch. But she managed to keep her pace. Moving away slightly, she looked up into Ash’s face. Ash had her eyes closed, her lips slightly parted. Chris had thought the same thing, but she’d brushed it aside as nothing more than her brain being weird after years of drinking, but maybe there was more to it than this.

  “Kismet?” Chris answered, not quite sure what else to say. Ash did seem familiar, but she couldn’t place from where or what. And it wasn’t like Chris had a wild life outside of school and her daughter.

  “Yeah, that sounds about right.” Ash’s words were a breath of a whisper. “Keep that up and I’m going to come already.”

  Chris laughed. “Did you think I’d only get you off once tonight?”

  “Fuck me,” Ash muttered.

  “Plan to,” Chris responded, increasing the pressure of her fingers.

  Ash’s breath caught in her throat. She wrapped her arms around Chris’ back and held her close. Chris moved her fingers lower, testing now to see if she could figure out where Ash was, and sure enough, wet heat pooled between Ash’s legs. Chris slid her fingers through Ash’s slit, gathering the moisture and moving right back to her clit.

  “Fuck yes,” Ash said, louder this time.

  That had been exactly what they’d needed. Lubrication. Chris stopped the circles and instead started a back-and-forth pattern that sent shudders through Ash. She loved being able to see Ash’s reactions to everything she was doing. She nipped at Ash’s neck, biting slightly but not enough to leave a mark since they hadn’t talked about that yet.

  Ash tilted her head to the side, as if asking for more, so Chris did it again and again. Chris pushed Ash’s shirt up over her breasts and pressed wet kisses to the soft skin she revealed. If she’d had her head on straight, she would have stripped Ash down first before she’d started this, but she’d had one goal in mind—give Ash as much pleasure as possible—and she certainly wasn’t going to give in on that one. Not ever.

  “Faster,” Ash groaned the word.

  Chris dipped back down for more moisture and picked up speed as commanded. She was willing to do anything Ash wanted her to do.

  “Bite me.”

  Swirling her tongue against Ash’s pillowy skin, Chris then sucked. She scraped her teeth. Teasing, she waited to bite, wanting to drag this out even longer, but it seemed as if Ash was looking for something specific that night.

  “Bite me,” Ash ground out, her jaw clenched.

  Doing as she was told, Chris bit into the tender flesh at the top of Ash’s breast. She sucked, knowing there would be a mark left on her skin. That thought sent a thrill through her. One night of happiness that would be a vivid memory for days. Chris bit again, harder this time, as it seemed to spur Ash on.

  “God yes.” Ash’s voice was getting louder.

  If they weren’t careful, Chris’ neighbors would make snarky comments in the morning. They were nosey old biddies. Still, Chris couldn’t bring herself to care, not tonight, not with Ash hot against her fingers, rutting into her hand.

  Ash clenched hard against Chris’ back, her entire body jerking with a start. A smile lit up her face, her eyes still clenched, and her head thrown back against the door. Her cry of pleasure careened through the living room and was pure satisfaction to Chris. She had done something right for once, and while it was an easy thing, it was still something.

  Without warning, Ash cupped Chris’ cheeks and kissed her deeply. She straightened up and pushed Chris backward. Chris’ butt hit her couch, and Ash knocked her over the arm of it. She gripped wildly at the back cushion to catch herself so she didn’t fall, staring up into Ash’s clouded eyes. Ash moved toward the door and hit the light switch, making it so Chris could see her full face.

  “Your turn,” Ash cooed. “Pull your pants down.”

  Chris hummed, but she righted her feet on the correct side of the couch and undid the button and zipper on her jeans, shimmying them and her underwear down to her knees. Ash knelt before her, sliding her palms up and down her thighs. Chris bent down kissing Ash fully.

  “Mouth?” Ash asked.

  “Yes.” Chris pecked her lips again.

  Ash pulled Chris’ Chucks off and tossed them behind her, then pulled her pants all the way off. She stared, eyes wide, hands smoothly moving, but Ash stayed still for the most part. Chris’ heart rate ramped up, a deep understanding of what Ash was looking at. Her ugly body. Her weirdly shaped chicken legs and definitely unshaved legs—because she hadn’t expected this when she’d gone out tonight.

  “Gorgeous,” Ash whispered, breaking Chris’ train of thought.

  “What?” Chris barked.

  “I said you’re gorgeous.”

  Chris snorted lightly, but Ash didn’t hear her. She was already pressing kisses against the tops of Chris’ thighs and toward her knees, then back up again. Chris clenched her jaw as she waited for Ash’s mouth to be right where she wanted it.

  Ash didn’t hold back. Chris’ toes pressed into the floor as she lifted her hips up to meet Ash’s intense licking and sucking. Chris bit back a moan and scrunched her nose. She was so much closer than she’d originally thought. All that teasing in the car, getting Ash off so quickly, Chris was ready for this.

  “You taste so good,” Ash murmured before diving back in.

  “Yeah,” was all Chris could manage to say, but she had no idea why she was saying it. She was at a complete loss for coherent words, something that was actually quite hard to achieve for her. Her fingers dug into the fabric on the back couch cushion, her nails hurt from how tightly she held onto it.

  Ash dug her arms up under Chris’ thighs, curling her hands around to hold on tightly and direct the movement. Chris loved that Ash was taking control now because while Chris liked giving all the attention, she wasn’t sure that she could focus enough to do anything right now.

  In an instant, it was like Ash was everywhere, surrounding Chris. Her mouth, fingers, scent. Everything was about this woman with her face buried between Chris’ legs. Chris reached down and gripped the top of Ash’s head as she crashed through her orgasm hard. The hardest one she’d had in years. She gasped for breath, her stomach heaving as she tried to breathe through the pleasure that consumed every inch of her body and washed all thoughts from her mind.

  Ash pressed wet kisses to her legs, her stomach, her breasts, pulling Chris’ nipples between her lips and teasing with the tip of her tongue. If Chris hadn’t just had the best orgasm she’d experienced in the last decade, she’d be able to pay more attention to it. Instead, her mind swirled as she tried to focus on anything happening.

  “Want another one?” Ash asked, her high-pitched tone over-curious.

  “I want that every day for the rest of my life.” Chris laughed, the sound rolling through her freely. She was so relaxed, so carefree and purely herself in a way that she hadn’t allowed in so long. She couldn’t even remember the last time. Ash nipped just above Chris’ hip, emitting a squeak from her.

  “One night of happiness.”

  “Yeah, one night.” Chris pushed up, moving into a sitting position, and the loudest queef left her, the air pushing through her swollen folds with a tickle. She looked directly into Ash’s surprised gaze and burst out laughing. The joy emulated through her, filling all the gaps that had been left in the wake of her alcoholism, her divorce, her fuck ups. It was pure, simple, and perfect.

  She landed on her back, the laughs rolling through her until tears streamed out of the corner of her eyes. Ash chuckled right along with her, climbing onto the couch with Chris. Ash’s elbows pressed into the cushion on either side of Chris’ head as Ash stared down at her, her lips parted as the rumbles of joy moved through her too.

  “Holy crap.” Chris laughed again. “I love laughing during sex.”

  “Me too.” Ash bent down and kissed Chris loudly. “I’m so glad we managed to do that.”

  “Yes.” Chris threaded her fingers through Ash’s deep brown hair and pulled her in for another kiss. This one lingered. “Laughing feels so good.”

  “Happiness,” Ash whispered.

  “Yeah, happiness.” Chris flittered her fingers over Ash’s lips. “We’re not done, are we?”

  “I hope not.”

  “Good.” Chris pulled at Ash’s shirt and then her bra. “Do I have you all night?”

  “If you want. Sleeping alone in my house is unappealing.”

  “Then stay here.” Chris looked up at Ash, the seriousness of Ash’s comment burrowing deep within her heart. There was an undertone to the words that Chris was missing. Then again, they were only there for one night, which meant she shouldn’t be diving too deeply into what could be considered relationship territory.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. It gives me more time to have my way with you.”

  “I wish I had your stamina.” Ash laughed as she laid down fully on top of Chris, finally skin to skin.

  “Oh, that feels good.”

  “It sure does.” Ash kissed Chris’ cheek, then her forehead, then she moved toward Chris’ ear, pulling her lobe between her teeth. “I would love you to make me come again.”

  “I plan on it. The night is still young.” Even if she wasn’t. Chris could stand to lose one night of sleep for this. Because one night was all she deserved, and she’d take it. “Take your pants off and sit on me.”

  “With pleasure.”

  Chapter Four

  “Thanks for the night of happiness.” Ash winked as she leaned over the center console bright and early Saturday morning. She pressed her mouth to Chris’ in one last lingering moment of joy before she pulled away. Ash only had an hour, if she was lucky, before her family showed up, and she should probably get a shower to wash off the night and wake up more with a double dose of caffeine. Chris had kept her up until the wee hours of the morning.

  “Same.” Chris smiled, her cheeks flushing. It was adorable, and Ash couldn’t resist as she leaned in for one last kiss. This time she lingered, dashing her tongue out as if doing that would keep the memory of last night alive for years to come. If this was the only time she was going to have that intimate touch, then she was going to take what was offered.

  Jumping out of Chris’ SUV, Ash nearly skipped up the front sidewalk to her house. When she got to her front door and had it unlocked, Ash glanced over her shoulder to find Chris still parked in front of the house, the window down as she watched. Ash waved before stepping inside. With the door shut, she leaned against it like she had the night before, her hand over her heart and a smile on her face.

  That had been one of the riskiest things she had ever done. But it was absolutely worth it. She could still feel Chris’ fingers inside her. And when Ash closed her eyes, Chris’ tongue swiped at her again. Her cheeks reddened as her body was ready to go another round, but she’d known she had to get back to the real world. One night of happiness was all they had promised each other.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  Ash jumped. Her heart was in her throat, the color and heat draining from her face. “Char!”

  Char laughed, but she still looked a little gray at the gills. “Did you fuck her?”

  “Damnit, Char!” Ash looked around the disaster of a house, making sure they were alone.

  Char waved her hand. “I’m the only one here.”

  “I’m surprised you’re even up this early.”

  “You know me and drinking. Late to bed and early up. Drove over here to get a start on finding your coffee.” Char held out a mug. “Thought you might need it.”

  “I already regret giving you the spare key,” Ash mumbled as she walked by her sister and toward the kitchen. Thankfully, Char had made enough coffee to last Ash half the morning. She was going to need more before lunch that was for sure.

  “You’ll love it, trust me.”

  “Sure I will.” Rolling her eyes, Ash poured herself a mug.

  “You’re wearing the same clothes you were yesterday, your hair is a mess, you have that just-fucked look, and the car still isn’t back. So…give me the deets.”

  Ash snorted. “Not happening.”

  “But your first time since Mari?”

  That stopped Ash in her tracks. She had been doing so good that morning, well really since she’d stepped foot into Chris’ place. But to have Char shove it in her face that she’d willingly had sex with a woman who wasn’t her wife? Yeah, that stung a whole lot more than she expected. Ash closed in on herself, focusing on the coffee in her mug and the sinking feeling of regret and guilt that ate away the lining of her stomach.

  “Oh Ash, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “It’s nothing. Have you talked to Dad?”

  “About what?”

  “My car.”

  “Oh!” Char shook her head. “Nope. Mom texted and said they’d be around with breakfast at nine.”

  “Breakfast?” Ash got hopeful. She had no food in her kitchen yet. Her parents had taken the girls on a wild excursion yesterday to explore the town, leaving Char and Ash to do the dirty work, which they hadn’t really accomplished without supervision, like usual.

  “McDonalds, I think.”

  “Perfect.” It wasn’t exactly what Ash wanted. She was tired of fast food after driving a U-Haul across half the country, but since she wasn’t buying and it was coming to her, she’d eat whatever they brought. “What are we working on today?”

  “You’re avoiding,” Char teased.

  “Damn straight I am.” Ash walked away from her sister and into the bathroom. Shower first, and then she could get started on putting her house together.

  She had just stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her chest when she heard the front door slam shut. Well, her whole family was here now. At least she knew Char could keep a secret because her parents finding out she had a one-night stand wasn’t something that she wanted to get out. She dried herself off and got dressed immediately.

  The noise was unmistakable. Avonlee and Rhubie screamed bloody murder at each other as they came into the house, and Ash’s spine was straight with tension in an instant. Avonlee had been antagonizing Rhubie every moment she had the opportunity to. Ash swung out of her bedroom and glared at Avonlee.

  “What?” Avonlee snarked.

  “Don’t you what me!” Ash pointed at her. “I’m sick of the attitude. Enough.”

  Avonlee rolled her eyes, but she did stop. Begrudgingly. Ash straightened her back and put her hands on her hips, surveying her daughter. In two years, they had made very little progress in moving forward on what was coming between them. In fact, it was probably getting worse, and Ash was out of ideas on how to fix it or even work on it.

  Therapy had failed. Patience had been a blunder. Ash was at a complete loss.

  Rhubie ran up, wrapping her arms around Ash’s waist and holding on tightly. Ash combed her fingers through her daughter’s hair and bent down to give her a kiss on the head. “How was your sleepover at Pop and Gram’s?”

  Rhubie whined instead of answering. Ash had expected as much. She glanced up at her parents. “Do you want to help Avonlee set up her room?”

  She hoped Avonlee would be nicer with them instead of her, since they always seemed to butt heads lately. In some ways they were way too much alike, and Ash missed seeing Mari in her oldest daughter as each passing month went by. Would they even remember her when they were grown up?