Page 60 of Only One Bed: Anthology Vol. 1
Bree snickered. “Are you blushing?”
When Ness looked up, Bree was covered. Thank God. But the corner of her mouth was pulled up. “We should wrap things up here and then head back into town.”
Bree stepped out of the tub. “I thought we were allowed to stay. It’s why I took a dip.”
“We are, but it turns out there’s only one bedroom.” Ness sighed, the wind picking up and blowing her hair across her face. Luckily, it blocked the view of Bree’s muscular thighs. “The B&B back in town would be better. I left something there, anyway.”
“Whatever you say.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter to me where I sleep. I’m not fussy.” She squeezed the water out of her hair. “Let me get dressed and warm back up some, and then we can head out. There’s gotta be a hair dryer somewhere in there.”
* * *
The wind was howlingwhen they stepped back outside an hour later, bags over their shoulders. Ness just blinked. This had to be some sort of cosmic joke, right?
“Did you not even bother to check the weather?” Bree asked from beside her.
“You could have.” She snapped her head to her. “I don’t always have to think of everything.”
Bree let out a laugh. “Well, there is no way in hell we’ll get the car down the mountain in this. Visibility is only going to get shittier.” She shrugged. “We’re stuck for the night—if not longer.”
Reality sank in for Ness. This cabin only had one bedroom, and that meant … only one bed. And by the sound of it, Bree didn’t seem bothered at all with that scenario. Everything rolled off her with such ease. That had always made her so damn attractive and so irritating. Relaxed was not an emotional state Ness was good at. There was always a mix of envy and appreciation for Bree’s personality prickling at her.
She looked away from her colleague, her fingers busying themselves on her necklace. Back and forth, she dragged the pendant. No no no no. This couldn’t happen. She couldn’t trust herself in such a romantic setting with Bree. What if she leaned in to kiss her without thinking? What if she accidentally rolled over in the middle of the night, and they woke up … spooning? That would be mortifying.Ugh.
Her head spun. Her heart raced. This was sonot ideal. It was a nightmare. Her palms started to feel clammy despite the cold, dry air. Things were not supposed to turn out this way. She really didn’t want to be placed in a situation that tested her. She wasn’t even sure she had sound judgment in relationships anymore.
“But aren’t you a survivalist or something, too?” Desperate wasn’t an apt enough word for how much she wanted to leave. “We’ll be fine with you driving.” My God, this woman was going to give her a panic attack.
“Are you honestly suggesting we risk our lives just to escape a perfectly cozy and free cabin?” Incredulity hung from Bree’s every feature. “Rule one of survivalism: don’t put yourself in unnecessary conditions.”
Wind kicked up again, pushing Ness toward Bree. Even through the growing blizzard whipping around them like a snow globe, Ness caught something melt in Bree’s cocky expression. Her pulse spiked again. What was it just now that Bree saw that made her soften? Was she looking too longingly at her? Oh God.Did she know?Am I being that obvious?Her thoughts weren’t giving her a moment’s rest, flying from one worry to the next.
“Let’s get you back inside,” Bree added. “I’ll make a fire.”
Moments later, Ness sat on a chaise lounge, watching as Bree stacked firewood and stoked the kindling so they’d be more comfy. Warmth unfurled in Ness’s belly at that. When was the last time someone had taken care of her? After Anthony, the only way she’d been able to survive was to bury herself in her work. Achievement became her life’s blood. It had also given her tunnel vision and no room for anything else.
But, she’d discovered, it all felt empty without someone to share it with. She wanted to come home to someone, to talk about their day, laugh, and make dinner together. To cuddle on the sofa and end up making out like teenagers who couldn’t keep their hands off each other. If she ever let herself relax for long, the yearning for companionship gnawed at her. It’s why she couldn’t trust herself here with Bree. The skin hunger was overwhelming sometimes. Staying busy at least numbed the pain.
She glanced around the room to distract herself. The couch looked about as comfortable as an episode ofMad Men. Buyers and patrons ate up mid-century modern, but no one truly wanted to sleep on it. Ness thought about her plush sectional, loaded with pillows, back at home and groaned.
“I’m making the fire as fast as I can, woman,” Bree retorted.
“No, sorry. That wasn’t about you.” She sighed. “Just thinking about things back home.” Her racing thoughts had become much quieter inside, away from the growing storm. They were still there but without the urgent panic attached. She hoped Bree wouldn’t think less of her for witnessing the façade crack a little.
Bree shoved some lit kindling under the logs and watched as the fire slowly began to spread before turning her attention to Ness. “Look, I’m sorry about teasing you earlier.” Bree tilted her head to the side, looking every bit the adorable puppy. If adorable puppies were also devastatingly gorgeous and could kill a man with their thighs alone.
Ness shivered with arousal at the thought of Bree’s thighs.I bet they feel amazing. She’d seen what Bree could do. The way she wrapped those legs around the neck of someone twice her size and twirled his body to the ground like a rag doll. She’d owned him, making him tap out. Ness had to slip between the sheets and handle herself after the first day they’d met at the ring. Bree’s biceps had gleamed with sweat as she’d pushed some fallen hair off her equally drenched brow and beamed at Ness with the most gorgeous smile she’d ever seen.
The woman was a femme’s wet dream come to life. Hiring her had probably been a mistake since Ness had been unable to think of anyone else since then. She longed to run her nails down those muscular legs, kissing her way back up before her face disappeared between them. Her mouth watered. Bree looked like a woman who should be worshipped, and Ness craved the honor.
“It just seems like cutting loose would be good for you, ya know,” Bree continued, completely unaware of where Ness’s mind was. “When was the last time you had fun?Reallyhad fun.”
Bree’s tone was challenging, but soft. It wasn’t a question meant to provoke her but guide her. And yet anxiety bubbled up, nonetheless.
Ness chewed her lip, her stomach twisting a little. “Why does it matter so much to you?” Was she a fixer? Or was she actually interested in Ness’s well-being? Thoughts swirled as she tried to find some sort of stability among them. And did that mean as a friend or more? Dating women was always so confusing, and she loathed getting her hopes up. What if she made a move and looked like a fool because Bree wasn’t interested? She’d been there before. Been ridiculed when she’d hit on a straight woman by accident and was met with laughter and derision. The woman had made her feel like some sort of creep simply because she’d asked her out.
Her fingers twitched for something to fidget with, finding rest on her pendant once more. She rubbed the silver circle between her fingers. She bought this necklace to remind herself how strong she was. Touching it felt like the north star realigning her to what she wanted out of life.
“I hate seeing a beautiful woman waste away with workaholism and sadness. So, sue me.” Bree chuckled, then grabbed a throw and placed it over Ness’s lap. Her expression brightening as something caught her eye. “Ooh, is that a wet bar?”
