Page 99 of Love Is…?

“Well, don’t let me keep you from your rendezvous with tiny pastries. Say hello to Tilde next time you are in contact.”

Finally, with a small plate of delicacies, Jayde weaved her way back to Tessa, who smiled at the collection.

“Excellent work. I wondered if you’d become lost,” she said, plucking up a teaspoon and a shot glass of Belgian chocolate mousse with a caramel brittle shard. Jayde cocked her head, and Tessa grinned. “Dessert can be eaten first, wouldn’t you say?”

Jayde held her breath. Tessa’s flirting was doing all sorts of delightful things to her stomach, her pelvis, her sex.

“Tessa…”

“Hm? Oh… Would you like to taste?”

Jayde swam in the dark, midnight waters of Tessa’s eyes, as she, very deliberately, settled the plate on a nearby bar table, and brought her mouth to the chocolate-laden teaspoon that Tessa was holding out. Her lips closed over it and she savoured the delicate flavours on her tongue. Everything about Tessa’s expression indicated how desperately she needed to whisk Jayde away and bring her to multiple orgasms. Jayde swallowed, her entire being heating with desire. Tessa flicked her tongue over her lips.

“God, you’re sexy,” she whispered, then placed the glass next to the plate and grabbed Jayde’s hand. “Come with me.”

Tessa led Jayde across the dance floor, then, after moving aside one of the long white drapes, turned into a small anteroom that offered a clear view over the intimate private garden which, later, would offer secluded alcoves for guest photographs. Again, more fairy lights followed the limbs of the small trees, giving the impression of a faraway land. Tessa closed the door behind her, instantly shutting out the sounds of the party, then they stoodholding hands, and Jayde’s gaze trailed languidly down Tessa’s body.

“We’re not about to get sexy at Abby and Sam’s wedding,” Jayde drawled.

Tessa laughed. “No, but I really want to kiss you properly and I’d rather do that in private.”

They came together. Hands holding sides of heads. Thumbs smoothing cheekbones. Tongues touching, then exploring. Jayde trembled. So much pleasure. Finally Tessa, her breathing laboured, pulled away to nuzzle into Jayde’s neck.

“You are very, very good at kissing.”

Jayde huffed a laugh, then slid her hands down Tessa’s back to cup her bum cheeks, and pulled Tessa’s pelvis flush with hers. The soft, breathy, “Oh,” nearly made her spontaneously combust. She moved her lips to Tessa’s ear. “Weare very, very good at kissing. I like kissing you. A lot.”

“A lot?”

“A lot.” Jayde brought her lips back to prove just how much.

“Oh, shit. Sorry!”

Tessa and Jayde instantly broke apart, and turned to find Grace in the doorway, clutching the handle, an apologetic expression on her face.

“I was looking for Rica, Cath’s… You know what? Doesn’t matter.” She backed out of the room, pulling the door closed, then the door reopened, and Grace poked her head around.

“This, by the way?” she said, circling her finger at Tessa and Jayde. “Very awesome.” Then slammed the door as if punctuating her approval.

Tessa stared at Jayde, then both fell into laughter.

“Seal of approval, apparently,” Jayde said.

“Oh, she worked it out in the second week.” Tessa gave a wry smile.

Jayde raised an eyebrow. “What exactly did she work out?”

Tessa blushed. “Oh, you know. That I…”

Jayde quickly pulled their bodies together again, and Tessa gave another soft sigh. “That you what, Tess?”

Tessa gasped as Jayde rolled her pelvis against Tessa’s. “That I had a thing for you,” she whispered.

“All the way back then, hey?” Jayde chuckled, even as her eyes burned hot. “Hmm. Just as well I had a thing for you as well.”

Tessa let out a slow breath. “We weren’t pretending all the way back then, either,” she said huskily.

The flirting, the give and take, the fun, the sharing. If she wasn’t careful, Jayde could see herself falling in love with Tessa. Careful? What if shewasbeing careful? What if she was on the way to giving her carefully protected heart to Tessa, knowing that Tessa would take care of it? What if?

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