Page 24 of The Relationship Mechanic

Still, as the sky darkened and the movie screen lit up, she shifted over until they were nearly thigh to thigh. Vini didn’t make any acknowledgment of the dwindling space, her eyes glued straight ahead as previews danced across the screen. When everything but the popcorn had been eaten, and the trays discarded on the dashboard, Jessica found herself pressed tight with Vini heating a line down her side. They shared the single tub of popcorn, and though Jessica’s attention was mostly on the screen, it shifted each time she felt their fingers brush with only the slippery butter between them.

This feels like a date.The thought was unexpected, but really it shouldn’t have been. By anyone else’s standards, this would have been a date. They were at a movie, Vini had bought dinner, and though they hadn’t held hands or kissed, there was definitely a feeling ofsomethingin the air. If Jessica were looking for that kind of thing, this would have been perfect. But she wasn’t. This was just Vini being nice and showing her around. She probably had heard that Ava and Grace were planning to spend the night together and decided to be nice and invite Jessica out so she wouldn’t be lonely. It was a sweet gesture and one that even Jessica could appreciate.

“So what did you think?” Vini asked. They were close, closer than Jessica remembered. Vini’s face was cloaked in darkness with only the light from the end credits illuminating her. Her eyes were wide and her lips so easily within reach. All Jessica had to do was lean forward a few inches and they would be kissing. Her lips tingled at just the thought of it, and she knew they needed to go somewhere fast before she kissed Vini in clear view of anyone. She didn’t doubt that there were probably people from Peach Blossom here, so that would be the opposite of keeping things under wraps.

Jessica licked her lips and tried to ignore the heat that flared in her when she saw Vini’s gaze follow that motion. “It was great. I wish I had known about these sooner.” Her enthusiasm wasn’t fake. The whole concept was amazing, especially with the food that they had gotten. There was no way she would be able to go to a regular movie theater with its lackluster dining fare ever again. “My parents would have loved it too. They always complain that going to the movies these days is so annoying because of people texting or talking. Relaxing in the car is the way to go.”

Vini’s smile was dazzling even in the dark. “Yeah? You should bring them out here sometime. You could even get in touch with the city and see if they would put on one of your mom’s old movies.”

Jessica cackled. “She would absolutely die if I did that. Other than during premieres, Mom rarely watches anything she’s been in. She says it weirds her out.”

“I can see how it would,” Vini replied. They sat quietly for a moment, gazes still caught and the air between them growing heavier with tension. It wasn’t too late, but Jessica wasn’t hungry. They had gotten another bucket of popcorn after the first one ran out, so she was really and truly stuffed. Going to get coffee was probably out as well. It was the weekend, but she doubted there would be too many places still open at this time of night. It was a drawback of small towns.

“I should get you home,” Vini said, breaking the quiet they had fallen into. She looked away before scooting over to her side of the car. Jessica frowned as disappointment swept through her. She knew Vini was probably right, but she wasn’t ready to end the night just yet. Not without at least acknowledging the tension that had steadily grown each time their fingers tangled or their eyes met.

“Or, if you don’t think anyone will miss you, we could go back to mine?”

Vini paused, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, and Jessica gave her time. She didn’t want to be pushy. If Vini wanted to go home, that was totally fine. They would probably see one another sometime later that week as it was. But time was steadily ticking away, heralding Jessica’s departure from the town, and as much as she looked forward to making her way back to a larger city, she couldn’t deny that something inside of her was saddened by it. Peach Blossom truly had been wonderful so far, and as much shit as Jessica talked when it came to small towns, she couldn’t have chosen a better one.

“If you need to get home, that’s oka—”

“Yeah,” Vini cut her off. She started the car, and Jessica tried to keep the smile from falling from her face. “I mean, yeah, let’s go back to yours.”

Vini was smiling again, but this time there was something heavy there that called to Jessica. It was the same look that Vini had been giving her lately when they were alone, away from prying eyes. It was a look that had Jessica wanting to find a dark room to pull her into so they could fall together with no cares. It made her stomach clench and her pussy tighten. It was want, pure and simple.

Jessica smirked before reaching for her seat belt. “Well, I’m ready when you are.”

Thirteen

The night had been a success. Vini was going to go ahead and call it. That didn’t mean it was over. Not by a long shot. She hadn’t invited Jessica out for any reason other than wanting to show her some of the great things that small-town living had available. Okay, that wasn’t totally true. She was hoping that Jessica would be at least slightly impressed. Even Vini knew that drive-in movies were mostly a thing of the past. Peach Blossom was just lucky enough to have one not too far from it. Vini had many fond memories of visiting as a kid, back when things hadn’t been so hard or so upside-down. Coming back with someone she was sort of, maybe seeing was a whole new experience.

Sitting in the darkened truck with only a tub of popcorn between them had been a test in patience. Jessica didn’t seem to feel it as she munched away on the sweet, salty kernels that always made Vini’s mouth water when she caught a whiff of them, but Vini had been more than a little aware of the tension rising between them. There had been a few looks shared between them and a lot of accidental finger brushes when they reached for the same kernel. If not for the reminder of the crowd of people around them, Vini would never have made it past the damn previews. As it was, when Jessica suggested taking things back to her suite at the bed and breakfast, it had taken everything in Vini to respond casually instead of immediately throwing the car into Drive and leaving a trail of spitting gravel in their wake.

Now though, she was almost nervous as she followed Jessica down the familiar hallway to her room. The air was quiet with only the occasional sound drifting in from outside the windows. No one had been up front to greet them, which wasn’t unusual but was helpful for keeping the knowledge of Jessica and her relationship on a need-to-know basis. When the door snicked shut behind her, Vini took a deep breath before turning to face Jessica.

The light was soft, making her tawny skin glow. Jessica’s eyes were half-lidded, giving her a sultry look that had Vini swallowing hard. How this woman had fallen into her lap was anyone’s guess. Vini still pinched herself on the daily to make sure she wasn’t perpetually walking around in a dream.

“Did you want—”

“Trust me when I sayI want,” Jessica interrupted. Vini’s cheeks heated, and she kicked herself at her own internal responses to Jessica. She was grown, damn it. She shouldn’t still be responding like it was her first crush. Deciding to take charge before her nerves got the best of her, Vini covered the scant few inches that had been between them. When she reached for Jessica, there was no resistance.

They fell together, mouths already parted to allow entry. Jessica kissed like a storm, her touch laying claim until Vini’s mouth tingled. Somehow her hands had found purchase on Jessica’s hips, tightening and releasing with each hit of arousal. Vini’s tongue slid forward, tangling with Jessica’s as she pressed and until there was nowhere left to go and Jessica’s back hit the closed door. It was thrilling to have her so close, and Vini wanted to take advantage of every moment.

“You are so fucking beautiful.” She hadn’t meant to sound so breathless, but it was the truth. Jessica was almost hard to look at. Sometimes Vini found herself without words when she caught sight of Jessica, her head thrown back in laughter. Reaching up, Vini cupped Jessica’s cheeks between her palms, enjoying their warmth. She brushed a thumb over Jessica’s kiss-swollen lips. They were lush and pillow-soft. It was damn near impossible to do anything but lean back in for more kisses.

Hands roamed and groans passed back and forth between their lips. Vini groaned when Jessica’s hands gripped her shirt but took a step back to free herself from it. That triggered something, and before she could pause to think, they both moved frantically, stripping their clothes before falling back against the door together.

Skin-to-skin was exactly where Vini wanted to be, and she moaned when their nipples brushed, hard with arousal and standing up in twin peaks. She kissed a fiery trail down Jessica’s neck, savoring each burst of salty flavor on her tongue. Hands cupped the back of her head, not guiding but simply holding steady, and Vini smiled. She continued her path, placing sucking kisses in the valley between Jessica’s breasts before sliding over and covering one nipple with her lips. She tongued the dips and ridges around, loving the texture and flavor that was uniquely Jessica. The groans that rained from above her spurred her on, and she sucked lightly before switching to treat its twin with the same fervor.

“Jesus, Vini,” Jessica panted out. Her back arched up pushing into Vini’s touches until Vini wasn’t sure if she was even still touching the door. “So good, baby.”

Vini shivered at the pet name before starting downward again. She had a destination, and her mouth watered just thinking about it. When she reached the dark curly hairs that framed Jessica’s cunt, she paused and took a deep breath. Food had nothing on the distinct flavor that could only be found in one place. She gripped under one of Jessica’s legs and guided it up to her shoulder so she could have more space to work.

“Shouldn’t we move to the bed?” Jessica huffed out. She went with Vini’s motions resting the back of her knee on Vini’s shoulder. “I don’t want to fall on you.”

“I would consider it a well-deserved death,” Vini replied, eyes zeroing in on the lips she wanted to kiss next. They were plump and inviting, and she gladly went to them. The heat of them on her tongue was almost as good as the taste. Almost.

Jessica’s loud moan almost made Vini rethink them being against the door. It was thick but probably not thick enough to muffle all the noises if someone walked by. The thought of that shouldn’t have been as thrilling as it was, and yet it had Vini pressing harder and faster, plunging her tongue between those heated lips as she chased the source of Jessica. She wanted to hear more of that siren song.

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