Page 24 of All She Wants

Erin kissed the inside of her knee.

The tenderness of it nearly undid her before Erin moved any closer. Another kiss landed higher on her thigh, followed by the slow glide of Erin’s lips over skin already trembling beneath them.

“Yes. Please,” Claire whispered.

Erin answered by lowering her mouth.

The first stroke of her tongue pulled a sharp cry from Claire. Erin held her thighs and drew her tongue over her again, slower this time, learning exactly where the pressure made Claire’s body lift toward her.

Claire slid one hand behind Erin’s head and held her close. Nothing she had imagined came close to the sight of Erin’s face between her legs, intent on giving her exactly what she had asked for.

Erin’s tongue circled her clit and then pressed flat against it. Claire’s head fell back against the marble. Her legs tightened over Erin’s shoulders.

“Oh, God.”

Erin kept the pace Claire needed. Her lips closed around Claire’s clit, and she sucked gently, maintaining the rhythm that already had Claire trembling beneath her.

The pleasure rose too quickly for Claire to contain it. Her fingers tightened in Erin’s hair. The edge of the island pressed into the backs of her thighs as her hips lifted toward Erin’s mouth.

“Erin, I’m going to—”

Erin held her closer.

Claire came against her mouth. Her hips lifted, and she cried out as the orgasm took her. Erin held her securely and slowed her tongue as each tremor passed.

Only when Claire’s legs relaxed did Erin press one final kiss to her inner thigh. She guided Claire’s legs from her shoulders until her knees bent over the edge of the island and her feet hung above the floor. Claire pushed herself upright. Erin remained between her parted knees, her hands gliding slowly over Claire’s thighs while Claire caught her breath.

Claire drew her closer and kissed her slowly. One hand cradled Erin’s face while the other circled her waist. When she finally lifted her head, Erin remained close enough that their foreheads touched.

“Stay tonight?” Claire asked.

Erin’s hands slid around her waist. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

Claire kissed her again.

Behind them, the oven continued its quiet work. Dinner could wait another minute.

Chapter Nine

The oven timer cut through the kitchen just as Erin drew Claire close for another kiss. Claire had pulled her jeans back on, but her sweater was still bunched at her waist. A flush still lingered high on Claire’s throat, and Erin liked knowing she had put it there.

Claire reached for the oven mitts. Her hair fell loosely over one shoulder, still mussed from lying back on the island. Erin could still taste her and remember the way her thighs had trembled against her shoulders. She wanted to lift her onto the island and begin all over again.

Claire opened the oven, and Erin stepped away before the sight of her bending toward it halted dinner entirely. She carried the green beans from the counter to the stove, added butter to the pan, and turned on the burner. Once the butter had melted, she tossed the beans through it and shook the pan. Butter slid across the surface and pooled around the edges. She added a pinch of salt, tasted one, and added another pinch.

“Those smell incredible,” Claire said from the oven, sliding the tenderloin onto the cutting board.

“It’s my father’s recipe. Butter, garlic, lemon zest at the end. He’d kill me if I told you the rest. I was so happy to see you had a fresh lemon here.”

“Your secret is safe. I have plans for you after dinner, and they require you alive.”

Erin laughed and squeezed lemon over the beans, then used a fine grater to sprinkle zest on top. Claire carved the tenderloin in neat, even slices.

They carried dinner to a small, round table near the kitchen window. Claire lit the candles she’d moved there earlier. Outside, snow lay heavy on the pines beneath a deep violet-blue sky.

Erin sat down and studied the plate Claire had arranged. The tenderloin formed a perfect fan beside roasted potatoes browned at every edge and bright green beans glistening from the pan. Claire poured wine for both of them and sat across from her.

“This is an amazing meal.” Erin cut into the tenderloin. The center was perfectly pink beneath the seasoned crust, and the knife passed through it without effort. She took a bite and closed her eyes.