She wasn't sure how—or when—they got to the bedroom, but she didn't hesitate as she pulled Drew's shirt over her head. The tiny red bikini top, she nearly ripped off, finally exposing Drew's breasts to her greedy eyes. She slowly raised her gaze, meeting Drew's. "I just now realized how many times I envisioned you naked." She smiled, embarrassed by her admission. "I'm afraid I didn't do you justice."

Drew reached out and took her hand, bringing it to her body. She pressed Jay's hand against her breast, a soft moan drifting through the room.

Jay moved closer, both hands covering Drew's breasts before dipping her head, her lips replacing fingers, her tongue swirling against a taut nipple. She was surprised at the softness, surprised at the tiny gasps coming from Drew at her touch. She lifted her head, her mouth moving slowly up Drew's body, loving the taste of her skin, her tongue slipping again into Drew's hot mouth. She lost herself in their kisses, their tongues moving wetly against the other, their hands roving idly against flesh.

Then Drew pulled away, her breathing labored, her eyes dark with desire. "Take this off," she gasped, tugging at Jay's shirt. But Jay's bikini top proved more elusive, and they were soon giggling as it became a twisted mess around her. "My God, does it have a lock or something?" Drew muttered. Jay raised her arms, letting Drew pull it over her head. "Oh, my," she breathed, staring at Jay. "Beautiful."

But Jay stopped her exploration, her hands going to Drew's waist, slipping inside her shorts and urging them down. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand. She wanted to be naked, she wanted to be on the bed, and God, she wanted Drew's weight on top of her. "Hurry."

And Drew did, stripping them both naked in a matter of seconds, then guiding Jay to the bed. But it was Jay's weight which settled over Drew, Jay who pushed Drew's thighs apart with her knee, and Jay whose mouth claimed Drew's breast possessively. Never aggressive in bed, she wasn't sure what came over her, but her need to hold Drew—to kiss her, to touch her, to make love to her—was overwhelming.

She pulled her mouth from Drew's breast, "The words I want you don't seem to express everything I'm feeling right now." She dipped her head again, her tongue raking across a nipple, feeling it harden even more. "But God, I want you."

She felt Drew's thighs move under her, and she burrowed between her legs, her hips moving slowly, grinding against Drew. Drew grasped her waist, holding her close as she opened up for her. Jay could feel the slick wetness against her stomach, could feel the hardness of her own clit as she rocked against Drew. She wanted to be inside her, wanted to feel her wetness against her fingers, and so she slipped her hand between them, never losing the rhythm they'd set.

"God, yes" Drew hissed, arching up to meet her, opening as Jay's fingers thrust into her.

She was so wet, like silk between her fingers, but it wasn't enough... Jay couldn't get nearly close enough. She wanted all of her. She withdrew her fingers, hearing the frustration as Drew groaned at their lack of contact. Jay covered her mouth with her own, then moved lower, her lips closing around a nipple, sucking it hard into her mouth, feeling Drew's hips begin to move again as she suckled her breast.

"Please, Jay," she whimpered, reaching for Jay's hand, trying to move it between her thighs again.

"Yes. But I want you to come in my mouth," she whispered, leaving her breast, her mouth moving wetly across her skin. "I want to taste you. I want my tongue inside you." She raised her head again. "I want to make you come with my mouth." She cupped Drew's hips, urging her legs apart. In the soft glow of the lamp, she saw the glistening wetness that waited for her, felt Drew writhe beneath her.

"Please" Drew whimpered again. "Love me. Please."

Jay's breath caught at that simple word, hearing all it conveyed. At that moment, she realized what Drew was offering her, and what gift she was about to give to Drew. At that moment, she realized how deeply she had fallen in love with her—her body, her mind .. . and her soul.

"Yes. I'm going to love you."

She closed her eyes, accepting the gift, letting her mouth cover Drew, her tongue sliding through her wetness, slipping deep inside her as she held Drew. She moaned, savoring her taste, memorizing the feel of Drew against her mouth. Her tongue snaked out, finding Drew's clit, teasing her before sucking it into her mouth. Drew's hips bucked, pressing hard against her face and she held her tightly, her tongue moving with lightning speed as Drew gasped, her hands tangled in Jay's hair, holding her steady.

She felt Drew's orgasm build, felt Drew swell against her mouth, felt the throbbing ache between Drew's thighs. Drew's short gasps came quickly now, her hips moving wildly against Jay's mouth. Jay held on tight, at the last instant, her lips closing around Drew's clit, sucking it hard as Drew screamed out, her mouth flooded with Drew's wetness as she rocked against her.

"Jesus, that was..." She lay spent, her legs still parted, Jay still nestled between them.

At last, Jay's mouth released her, her tongue moving deliberately now, caressing, her lips moving leisurely as she slid back up her body, pausing at her breasts again.

She finally lifted her head, meeting Drew's eyes. "I love you."


CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Drew moved under the covers, stretching her legs out, trying not to wake Jay. They were still tangled together, much as they'd been all night. She couldn't even begin to count the number of times they'd drifted off to sleep, only to wake, to touch, to make love again.

At midnight, they'd remembered dinner... and the wine. But neither did little more than pick at the food. They couldn't seem to keep their eyes—or their hands—off each other. So, dinner was left largely uneaten, and the wine bottle, which was now empty, sat beside the bed.

"What are you thinking?"

Drew smiled, turning her head. "Not thinking really. Just kinda... remembering."

Jay stretched, her legs moving against Drew's, then rolled to her side, facing Drew. She yawned once, then laughed. "I'm exhausted. I'm sore. And I'm so totally happy right now."

Drew rolled over too, moving her hand lazily under the covers, feeling the smooth skin over Jay's hip. Her hands—and her mouth—had explored every inch of Jay last night, and she wanted to do it all over again.

"I really wish I'd met you years ago," Jay said.

But Drew shook her head. "No. Because years ago, you weren't where you are now. In your relationship, I mean. You wouldn't have given me a second glance."

"I don't believe that's true. Had we met two, three, four, even six years ago, I think I still would have fallen in love with you. I look in your eyes and I... I see something. I can't really explain it. But I ... I feel like I belong, if that makes sense. With Katherine, there was always that edge, that wall, which I never crossed. There was always a barrier, it seemed like."

"Maybe because you felt like you couldn't be you. Or maybe you didn't feel like you were good enough, could measure up to her."

Jay nodded. "Maybe. Or maybe I just could never see her soul, you know. I meant that when I said your eyes were like a book to me. You don't ever try to hide anything from me, do you?"

Drew leaned closer, touching Jay's lips lightly with her own. "Should I?"

"No. I like you open like this." She smiled. "Saves me having to guess what you're thinking."

Drew's hand moved higher, cupping Jay's small breast, feeling her nipple harden beneath her palm. Even now, as sated as they were, she heard the tiny gasp Jay uttered, could feel her heartbeat quicken its pace. She sighed. "Yes, I wish we'd met years ago." Her gaze locked with Jay's. "Because I love you. And it seems like it's been so many wasted years."

"I know."

Drew sighed again, rolling away from Jay and onto her back.

"But it is what it is." And in reality, nothing had really changed. Jay was still not a free woman. And what they'd done last night amounted to little more than an affair. Because in the light of day, they were just friends. Katherine and Jenna would return today and they would continue to play this charade they'd begun weeks and weeks ago.

"Drew?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think—?" But a pounding on the back door stopped her in mid-sentence. They looked at each other. "Oh, God, please say it's not them already."

"Drew? Jay? It's Eleu. Please open the door."

"Thank God," Jay said with relief. "We're not exactly dressed for a confrontation with Katherine and Jenna."

Drew pulled on her shorts but couldn't find the T-shirt they'd discarded last night. She did, however, find Jay's black bikini top, still a twisted mess. She tossed it to her with a smile. "Have you seen my shirt?"

"Drew?" Eleu called again from outside.

"Coming." She opened the closet and pulled out her bag, finding a clean shirt to slip on before opening the door. She greeted Eleu with a smile, not certain whether she should feel embarrassed or not to have Jay in her bed. But then she remembered the romantic dinner Eleu had left for them and decided she would be embarrassed if Jay weren't in her bed. "Good morning."

"Yes, yes. I'm sure it is. But it must come to an end." She looked around Drew and into the room. "Jay?"

"Yes. I'm sure you already know she's here."

Eleu laughed. "I had hoped, yes. But it is time. Katherine called. They are on the first shuttle of the morning. They will be here in time for breakfast."