Page 64 of Suncatcher

She skimmed her hands over the fabric of Pearl’s back, wishing she could touch her smooth, speckled skin again. As if hearing Driz’s thoughts, Pearl sat back enough to shimmy off her coat, tugging impatiently at her scarf and popping buttons on her waistcoat and shirt. Driz barely caught sight of her before Pearl kissed her again, unhooking Driz’s suspenders.

When Driz tried to help, Pearl batted her hands away, so Driz settled for holding Pearl’s hips steady. Her thumbs brushed against the hot skin of Pearl’s waist, and Pearl shivered. So Driz skimmed her hands up, first thinking to warm her, but getting distracted by the sensation.

When Pearl cupped Driz’s breasts and squeezed, Driz thought she might burn up.

“I want you,” Pearl murmured, sliding her mouth to Driz’s ear and fingers into Driz’s hair. “Touch me.”

Driz accepted the invitation, letting her hands wander. Every part of Pearl fit wonderfully in her palms. Driz could feel the pulse of Pearl’s heart, beating as fast as her own.

This night didn’t feel possible. The sky spun, out of control. Driz needed everything to slow down so she could savor it. And she couldn’t stand for it to ever stop.

When Pearl pushed her back, Driz went. She would give and be anything Pearl wanted. Her wings bunched beneath her, and she adjusted in discomfort until Pearl pulled away.

“Let’s not do this on the ground,” Pearl said as she stood, unbuckling her holsters and toeing off her boots.

Driz climbed unsteadily to her feet. “Where?” she asked, but she barely managed the word as Pearl bent, stripping off the last bit of clothing, leaving her fully bare.

A dark bruise marked her knee from the end of their game two nights ago. A scar slashed up her other leg and an old white one bisected her hip, a raised crater with fracturing lines running away from it. The newest one on her upper arm—the one Driz had witnessed the first night they met—was still pink amidst the smattering of enchanting freckles that spangled her entire form.

Pearl was magnificent.

She backed up until she hit the smooth trunk of the dead tree, leaning back to brace into it. With a slow smile, she shifted, parting her legs. Her scent filled the night, and Driz’s attention fixed on the lush triangle of curls.

Pearl extended a hand in invitation. “Here.”

Nothing could have stopped Driz from accepting. When Pearl pressed on the dip of Driz’s spine, Driz eagerly leaned in, trapping Pearl’s body against the tree. The slide of their bare thighs together made Driz’s mind trip over itself.

Tiny pebbles had broken out over Pearl’s skin, exposed to the chill of the air. Driz covered more of Pearl with herself, her wings draping around them and the trunk to shield her from a faint breeze. Grinning, Pearl kissed her hard.

Pearl tasted of bitter smoke and burning drink and metal. Driz liked it better than pie.

Fisting Driz’s mane, Pearl shimmied higher and straddled one of her thighs, rocking against her. Driz could feel Pearl’s arousal. They were the same in that way too. It marked Driz’s skin where they touched, igniting a wonderful and wild desire in her. She needed that scent everywhere.

She bent her head, running her nose over Pearl’s throat and behind her ear, into her hair, inhaling. Pearl gripped Driz’s hip, urging Driz to move with her. Driz tensed her thigh, trying to meet Pearl.

“Is this right?” Driz whispered.

Pearl’s teeth glinted, her eyes heavy as she nodded. “Perfect.”

And Pearl slid her hand between Driz’s legs.

The first brush of her fingers sent a jolt of sensation through Driz’s whole being. Driz had explored her own body, but this was a world apart from when she’d tried touching herself. Because this was Pearl touching her.

She rested her forehead to Pearl’s, gazing down to watch. To assure herself this was happening. At this point, Driz wasn’t certain if she cared if it was real or not, so long as it didn’t end. But she was already starting to tremble.

With only a few quick strokes of Pearl’s fingers, Driz broke. Pleasure rushed through her like a downpour of rain, strikes of lightning crackling and rumbling with the aftershocks of thunder.

She heard the tree groan and Pearl let out a breathless laugh, which stuttered into a moan. Pearl’s hips rocked harder, her movements quickening and breaking free from the rhythm into something more desperate as her slickness covered Driz’s skin. Whatever Pearl sought, Driz would give it to her. Anything. Everything.

Pearl’s teeth latched on to Driz’s neck. The sound it tugged from Driz’s throat was one she didn’t even recognize. She craved Pearl’s bite. She needed it.

Pearl clamped around Driz’s thigh as she convulsed, cry muffled against skin, her breath hot on the tender patch she’d just made. Driz tightened her hold as Pearl shook, and finally relaxed.

They stayed pressed together for a while, catching their breath. Driz nuzzled Pearl’s shoulder, tasting the salt on her skin and running her fingers through Pearl’s hair. Driz had never been so close to someone. She was full. She had been going through life as a trickling stream and Pearl was the rain that overflowed her banks.

Pearl sighed and shifted. Instead of letting her go, Driz hoisted her higher, and Pearl wrapped her arms and legs around her like when they flew. Driz’s wings ached with the repressed need to take her into the sky right now. To mate. To claim. To give.

She tasted every bit of skin she could reach, from the place beneath Pearl’s jaw to her elbows to the swells of her breasts. Humming, Pearl arched into her, and Driz took that as a request she meant to fulfill. She tentatively licked over the peak of one breast and Pearl’s fingers tightened on the back of her head.