Page 9 of Pomegranate Kiss

Cam ran her palms along Lex’s curves, slimmer than her own but toned with muscle. Everything about her was sexy as sin, and when she wasn’t busy lying to herself, she’d fantasized about what tattoos hid beneath Lex’s clothes. She tasted sweet and dark, and Cam twined her arms around Lex’s neck, sinking into each kiss. Lex teased with playful nips followed by deeper kisses, the stroke of her tongue sending a thrill up Cam’s spine.

Lex tapped the side of Cam’s neck, and she pulled away. “I only came for a kiss tonight,” she murmured. “I’m planning on drawing this out until you can’t deny your attraction to me anymore.”

Their lips were a breath apart, and Cam bit back a growl of frustration. She’d be spending a lot of time with her vibrator in the near future. She smoothed her hair, trying to regain some composure after the kiss spun her head like too many glasses of wine.

Lex didn’t make a motion to storm out the way she’d stormed in, and Cam’s brows drew together. Instead, the woman slung an arm around her shoulders, that damned grin sparking her eyes.

“So, what are you watching? Anything good?” Lex asked before she took several steps past her to enter the living room. In seconds, the woman plopped onto her couch in front of the TV and looked expectantly at her. Cam had never felt more like she’d been spat out by a hurricane.

“What are you, a puppy?” Cam asked, shaking her head. A grin lifted her lips—she couldn’t help it. Somehow, the night didn’t seem so aching any longer, and Lex’s loud, vibrant presence filled in all the cracks and spaces.

“A little, yeah,” she responded with a goofy grin that Cam had never seen on the woman’s face before, something a little softer around the edges. Cam sank into the couch beside her, their legs touching but nothing more as she reached for the remote.

“Hope you likeFirefly, because that’s a dealbreaker for me,” Cam mentioned as she turned on the episode.

“Big damn heroes,” Lex shot back as she kicked off her boots, making herself at home like she’d been here for years and not minutes. “Let’s watch some Browncoats.”

Cam settled back in her couch, feeling the buzz of Lex’s nearness. Awareness sparked across her skin even as they watched the show together. One kiss should’ve stamped out the flames threatening to devour her, but instead, she blazed hotter. Whatever this weird arrangement of theirs was, she’d bask in these feelings while they lasted. Because when the morning came, the feelings of shame would descend again, the slurs her father used, the way her mother’s lips pinched tight at the sight of same sex couples in public.

No, this wasn’t any sort of dream to latch onto.

Chapter Five

Lex fucking hated shopping. But as the maid of honor, she needed to do the whole trying on dresses bullshit with the wedding party. The one thing that reeled her in right now was the promise of seeing Cam again after their kiss. Anticipation thrummed through her veins because she planned on having a little more fun with her today.

The woman had no idea what was coming for her.

She strode up to Magnolia Boutique, casting a stray glance at her slim band tee, threadbare jeans, and mud-splattered Doc Martens. The delicate hand-painted sign out front, the cream and ivory monstrosities displayed in the shop window, and all the pristine, pristine white made Lex purse her lips. This was a first. But Danny’s priorities were in the same place as hers, so hopefully she wouldn’t be asked to have too involved of an opinion.

She fidgeted with her septum ring before striding up the steps to go join the circus.

“Lex, we’re over here,” Nellie called once she stepped in. Her baby sister was a shock of blonde amidst a sea of Dukas dark hair at any family gathering. Her gentle features had deepened as she grew into one hell of a beautiful woman with blue eyes that radiated the sweetness inside. If only she hadn’t married a homophobic asshole.

Mom poked around at the dresses, dipping her fingers into the creases and checking the trains. Her mother looked up, and her dark eyes brightened with warmth she shared between all her children. Lex swallowed, hard. She hated that she’d ever caused this woman distress.

“Danny already start trying on dresses?” Lex asked, taking strides across the polished pine floor. She wasn’t late on principle, but Lex tended to show up like the mail—consistent, though delivery times might vary. She wrapped her arms around her mother and hugged tight, breathing in the scent of spice and home.

“She picked a few she liked and was ready to bolt, but Nellie and I are making her stay and give others a fair try.” Mom gave her a knowing look. “It’s no wonder you and Danny get along so well.”

When they separated, Lex’s nose wrinkled on instinct. This place was bright and airy with wide windows, sunbeams spilling inside, and paste pale décor everywhere. Lex hated it. Give her a sweaty club or a murky, underground bar any day of the week.

Cam slipped out from behind a behemoth of a ballgown on a stand. The other night when all her features had been softened from the lack of makeup, there had been something beautifully raw about her, like dipping a needle into fresh ink. Today, she’d showed up with her war paint on. Her kohl eyeliner made her eyes pop, and her crimson lips tantalized. The moment their eyes locked, a flush of awareness rolled through Lex’s body, making her come alive.

“We’re in charge of picking out our own dresses,” Cam commented, slinking over. Her long maroon skirt trailed along the floor, offsetting her cream blouse. “Danny’s only rules are pastels and each of our colors has to be different.”

Lex snorted. All she could think of were the parade of jewel-toned girls she’d left to devour Mitch at the bar. He’d sent her a follow-up text the next morning with a thumbs up, so the mission had been a success.

“Ugh, here’s dress number three,” Danny said, stepping out from the changing stalls along the other side of the room. She took small steps approaching because the dress was on a mission to devour her. The attendants flocked to Danny with the swiftness of experience and tugged her bustle back into place before helping her up to the platform. Danny glanced to the mountains of tulle beneath her and frowned. Abigail Peterson, her mom, waited in the wings to help.

“You look as uncomfortable in that thing as I am here,” Lex drawled, dragging Danny’s attention her way.

A grin broke onto Danny’s face, her eyes crinkling with a genuine smile. “You’re as bad in this place as Adrian is at Notes.”

Lex let out a bark of a laugh in response. God, she loved her future sister-in-law. Her own love life might be a never-ending cycle of self-flagellation, but Danny and Adrian made her hope, even for a second.

“So, this dress is a no,” Danny said, floofing it at the edges and watching it fall with a withering glance. “Why is this torturous practice one we do willingly?”

Cam shook her head, her lips pursed. “Because women’s sizing is a nightmare and it takes a while to find something that fits.”

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