Page 95 of Beautiful Dreamer

A pause. “Maybe also a little bit for the Saturday cornhole tournaments?”She smiled.

“Purely bonus.” They stared at each other. “Elizabeth, I’ve neverbeen more me than when I’m with you.”

“What now?” Elizabeth asked.

That was the big question, wasn’t it? “I don’t want to rush you,or push you, and maybe that’s what I did tonight with that stupid story idea.”

Elizabeth shook her head. Devyn couldn’t tell if those were tears.She was too far away. “It wasn’t a stupid idea. It was a wonderful story.”

“But you left.”

“Because I’m scared, and when I felt myself crumbling and wantingso badly to put my arms around you and not let go, I panicked.” She noddedseveral times and then tilted her head to the side. She looked so verybeautiful standing there beneath Devyn’s window in the moonlight. “But I thinkyou’re scared, too. I could tell when you told your story.”

“I am. This is a big leap I’ve made. Leaving everything I knowbehind me. It’s the right decision, but it’s still terrifying.”

“It’s not just the move, Devyn. I’m not standing here because ofthe little gestures either. Though those have been very nice.”

“Then why?”

“There’s a difference in you, and I kept waiting for it to fadeaway, but I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”

“That’s because I’m not.” Devyn smiled. “Let’s just say I realizenow what’s important. You helped me do that.”

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen youfully before. Until now. I saw a glimpse here, another there. But lately, it’slike you’ve stepped out of the shadows, and you’re standing in front of me. Ican see all of you.” Devyn nodded but didn’t interrupt. “So here we are. We’reboth scared. The thing is, I was thinking that maybe we could be scaredtogether.”

Devyn steadied herself. “We could. You don’t know how much I’dlike that.” She laughed through the thick emotion. “Why are you still so faraway? I’m coming down.”

She took the stairs two at a time and opened her door to findElizabeth standing there with a watery smile. Scout calmly walked inside insearch of a comfy place to sleep.

“Come here,” Devyn said, taking a step back and tugging Elizabethinto the darkened entryway of her home. Elizabeth didn’t hesitate, allowingherself to be tugged. They stood there face-to-face, understanding theimportance of this moment. In a span of five minutes, they’d become an us, andthe world would be forever changed for the wonderful.

Elizabeth reached out and touched Devyn’s cheek. “I’ve missed you.And I don’t know what you’re wearing, but you look amazing.” She blew out aslow breath.

Devyn smiled and glanced down at her pink striped pajama pants andthe pink camisole that she’d always filled out nicely, happy now that she’dworn it. “First of all, I’d say I’ve missed you, too, but it would be such anunderstatement. Second, you could always take it off me if you wanted.”

Elizabeth kissed her slowly on the mouth, then her cheek, and thenmoved until her lips were next to Devyn’s ear. “Oh, I want,” she whispered,sending a shiver through Devyn she’d likely never forget. She kissed her neckslowly as they stood there in the faintly lit room, pulling an unexpected moanfrom Devyn’s lips. She shrugged out of her jacket, and when the moonlightcrisscrossed her features, Devyn saw the determined desire in her eyes. Sheloved Elizabeth on a mission. They came back together more aggressively, Devyncatching Elizabeth’s face in her hands as she approached and pulling her in.Their lips and tongues did battle as the temperature climbed, their heatundeniable, as always. Elizabeth pulled her mouth from Devyn’s, her gazedropping. She pulled down the front of Devyn’s tank top, exposing her breasts,which spilled out, no longer restrained. With a murmur of appreciation, shedipped her head and aggressively took a nipple into her mouth, holding Devyn inplace at the waist. She entwined her fingers in Elizabeth’s hair, craving more,and now at the mercy of the pulsing ache between her legs.

“Take me to bed,” she said, breathless.

Elizabeth nodded, settling on her mouth once again.

They made love that night slowly, memorizing each other, notbecause they had to this time, but because they wanted to. Eye contact was plentiful,and each touch felt like an important promise. Once they lay satisfied, spent,and tangled up in each other, Devyn allowed the full brunt of her happiness toland. “There’s a house on Sunset Hill, the street on the east side of town, notfar from the water.”

Elizabeth propped her head up in her palm and looked down atDevyn. “There is, huh? Are you the listing agent?”

“No, but I could see us living there.”

Elizabeth’s lips parted as she took in the information. A smileformed. “We can’t buy a house yet. Are you crazy?”

“I will accept theyetpart of your answer. Honestly, it would be perfect for us down the line. I’mgoing to keep my eye on it.” Elizabeth’s eyes went playfully wide. “When we’reready, of course,” Devyn amended, reaching up and touching a silky strand ofElizabeth’s hair. “I want you to fall asleep in my arms tonight. I’ve beendreaming of you there.”

Elizabeth slid down and rested her head on Devyn’s shoulder. Shetraced a circle around Devyn’s nipple, causing her to tense. “I’d like thatvery much, and I think we should do just that.”

“Good.”

“But I don’t think you’re ready for sleep.”

“I actually think I could sleep pretty hard, now that all is rightwith the world again. Do you want to go to the café for breakfast tomorrow? Sayyes.”

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