Page 57 of Love Is…?

Jayde stared at the side of Tessa’s head. Jayde really,reallyneeded to call off this bet, this challenge, this whatever it was. She also really,reallyneeded to inform her heart that it had no right to be making decisions without consulting her carefully constructed walls.

Tessa leaned back, delivered another pat to Jayde’s thigh, then stood. “I should get going.” She stepped forward before Oliver could lift himself from the chair and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Oliver.”

“Oh! You’re welcome, Tessa sweetie.”

Jayde sprang up. “Let me walk you to your car.”

After another round of goodbyes between Tessa and Oliver, Jayde ended up standing in the dark with Tessa at her little blue Nissan.

“Thank you. Dad was glowing. It’s amazing to see, actually. I worry about his social activity, so you are a breath of fresh air,” Jayde murmured.

Tessa smiled. “No need for thank yous. I like spending time with your dad. We chatted about all sorts of things, and besides, his jokes are epic.”

Jayde laughed, and leaned her shoulder on the car door. “What was tonight’s discussion about?”

“Noradrenaline, dopamine, and phenylethylamine,” Tessa said deadpan.

Jayde blinked and Tessa cracked up, collapsing so that her back was flat against the car. She grabbed Jayde’s hand, lacing their fingers together. They leaned against the car and looked up at the night sky.

“They’re the chemicals that scientists say make up the emotion of love,” Tessa explained. Jayde slowly turned her head to stare at Tessa.

“You’ve studied the chemicals of love?”

“Oh, yes. I take my obsession seriously.” Tessa turned her head to wink at Jayde.

They grinned at each other.

“You look really pretty tonight.”

Tessa looked slightly flummoxed. “I’m barely out of pyjamas.”

Jayde’s mind stuttered at the thought of Tessa not in pyjamas at all. “Well, the one step up from pyjamas look is working for you.” Then she pushed off the car, and stood in front of Tessa. Then, ever so slowly, pressed her palm against the roof of the car next to Tessa’s head. Her gaze held Tessa’s in a gentle caress, her smile soft.

Tessa’s breath shallowed, and she flicked her tongue over her bottom lip. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I want to kiss you.”

Not a single movement. Not one.

Then, “Okay.”

Tessa’s reply was little more than a breath.

Jayde leaned in closer, hovering over Tessa’s lips.

“Please.” With Tessa’s soft plea, Jayde lost all sense of herself and attacked Tessa’s mouth.

Their lips pressed together, their heads changed angles to deepen the kisses, tongues sliding, twisting. Jayde lifted her hand off the car and placed it on Tessa’s hip, while her other hand travelled up Tessa’s torso and grazed her breast, her nipple. Tessa’s whimper was fuel to the fire that was flashing along Jayde’s skin.

Jayde gasped, then groaned in pleasure when Tessa’s hands roamed across her chest and cupped her breasts, thumbsflicking at Jayde’s stiff nipples pushing against her bra and thick rugby shirt.

All the while, Jayde could feel how wet she was. How hard her clit had become. How close she was to pushing her pelvis flush against Tessa’s, knowing she’d feel the heat. Their heat.

Tessa brought her hand up to smooth her fingers on Jayde’s cheek, breaking their kiss. They stared at each other, wide-eyed, panting, small smiles of disbelief on their faces. Tessa ran her fingers through the hair above Jayde’s ear, then gave a quick sort of huff-laugh.

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” Jayde said, her smile lingering.

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