Free Summer's End by Harper Bliss Page A

it meant to me.”
    “I do.” Emily nodded and chewed the inside of her lip.
    “You’re beautiful and kind and so very thoughtful.” Marianne cupped Emily’s chin with her hands.
    “Oh yeah?” Emily’s eyes sparkled. “And you’re bloody hot.” She bent down and found Marianne’s ear. “And I want you so much.”

    EMILY

    Maybe Emily gave the impression that she knew what she was doing, but she didn’t have a clue. Her entire body was buzzing, her heart drumming with desire and her blood pulsing with lust. And she really needed Marianne to take charge, but didn’t know if she was in the right state of mind to do so.
    She’d had the fantasy often, and even indulged in it while lying next to Marianne in her bed last night. A sensual initiation by someone who knew exactly what they were doing. She was twenty-four, formerly engaged and hardly a virgin, but when it came to this, when it came to sleeping with another woman, she might as well have been.
    “God, I want you too,” Marianne whispered back and Emily felt her body grow rigid underneath hers for an instant. It was only Marianne tensing her muscles so she could topple Emily off of her and take place on top of her.
    “You’ve come here and you’ve turned my world upside down.” Marianne looked down at her, her face still blotched from last night’s tears, her hair a mess from sleeping, and Emily felt exactly the same way.
    If this was going to be her first time with a woman—and it was—then what could be better than this? It was unexpected, yes, but was she supposed to have planned for it then? And all those thoughts, as meaningful and deep as they were, they dissolved instantly when Marianne traced a line with her fingertip over Emily’s nipple.
    “I’ll try to go slow.” Marianne’s voice had grown husky while her fingers drew circles around Emily’s nipple. “But it won’t be easy.” With that, she pinched Emily’s nipple between her thumb and index finger, causing Emily’s breath to stop in her lungs.  
    Do whatever you want to me, Emily wanted to say, but the words stayed lodged behind the lump in her throat. With eager fingers, she pulled at Marianne’s sleep-crumpled blouse. She wanted it off of her. She wanted skin on skin and fingers on her naked breasts and, more than anything, inside of her.
    The blouse was tight and Marianne helped her hoist it over her head. Emily had seen her in a bikini, but it was hardly the same as the white lace bra she was wearing now and she couldn’t help but wonder if Marianne had dressed to impress—and if wearing an actual bra for once was part of that plan. Emily fumbled with the lock and held her breath until Marianne’s breasts sprang free. Emily had seen naked breasts before, but never like this.
    Her eyes locked with Marianne’s. She noticed what Emily seeing her naked from the waist up did to her. Emily saw the years of pent-up everything—lust, life, love—flash in the dark of Marianne’s eyes. It erupted in the blush on her cheek bones, in the sudden drops of sweat on her forehead, and the raggedness of her breath.
    “Take me,” Emily said. “Don’t go slow on my account. Please.”
    It seemed as if Marianne had lost the power of speech altogether. As if the time had come for her body to work through it now, to chase away the demons of the past. She tore at Emily’s t-shirt and bra, yanking them over her head, causing the entire expanse of Emily’s skin to break out in goosebumps.  
    Marianne’s lips captured her left nipple, gently licking it first, before sucking it into her mouth and taking it between her teeth. Emily buried her hands in Marianne’s hair, digging her nails deep into her scalp, spurring her on.  
    Maybe Emily had always known—because how could she not?—but if she didn’t, she knew now. Because this was, no doubt, what it was always supposed to have felt like. Fire and abandon. Heat and passion. Desire and emotion crashing together the way their