Playing in Shadow (12 page)

“They’re a great couple.”

“They’re the couple to aspire to,” Scarlet said. “To be taken into their circle of friends is great. I love spending time with them and Monica and the rest of Trent’s extended family.” She leaned forward again. “Though Kayleigh wears me out. That kid is wound tighter than the Energizer Bunny.”

“Trent does seem to be the only one to calm her down.”

“Kayleigh was pretty much an only child for so long because of Juliet being so much older. Now she’s got friends of all ages to play with and she’s in her element.”

“You’d think she was Trent’s sister.”

Scarlet laughed. “Juliet has said the same. When Kayleigh made Juliet take her to get her hair cut short, Juliet knew her sister was growing up. But she has said when Kayleigh wants her first tattoo Trent has to deal with the fallout from her parents!”

“Trent has tattoos?”

“She’s got a gorgeous one dedicated to Juliet on her arm. And some Space Invaders on the other. Do you have any, Bryce?”

“Hell no. I’m not that fond of needles, but the stint in the hospital cured me of that phobia fast.”

“You should get one. They’re great reminders of things that have touched our lives.”

Bryce grimaced and her hand stopped halfway to her face. “I think I have enough reminders.” She lifted her head and saw Scarlet’s eyes full of sympathy and something else.

“All the real heroes get scars when they battle,” she said simply.

“And Harry Potter.”

“Please tell me you didn’t get Kayleigh started on that love of hers?”

“Apparently, my scar is cool.” Bryce couldn’t see it herself, but the acceptance from a stranger was still curiously heartwarming.

Scarlet’s gaze never wavered from Bryce’s face. “It’s more than cool, it’s
you
. You can take your cap off, Bryce. I’d like to see those pretty blue eyes of yours tonight.”

Anything Bryce could have possibly thought to answer with was interrupted by a waiter hovering to hand them their menus and take their drink order. Bryce noticed that Scarlet paid more attention to her than she did to her ordering. The feeling of acceptance from Scarlet stoked that flame inside all the higher. Once the waiter had left, Bryce took her cap off.

*

Trent padded into the bedroom intent on a very early night cuddling with a tired Juliet and maybe a quick go on her PS Vita with Killzone Mercenary once Juliet had fallen asleep. She was surprised to find Juliet spread out on her side, naked, and patting Trent’s side of the bed invitingly. All thoughts of her game disappeared.

“I thought you were tired.” Trent carefully got in beside her. Her hand went to the baby bump, smoothing a path across the tight skin.

“I am, but not that tired. I want you.”

Never one to say no to anything Juliet wanted, Trent eased closer. “How do you want me?” she whispered as she stroked Juliet’s hair back behind an ear.

“Sitting back against the headboard so I can be sat in your lap. Is that okay?”

Trent loved how considerate Juliet always was of her anxiety of being placed on her back in their lovemaking. The terror of that position had eased considerably with Juliet’s patience and love, but Trent appreciated that Juliet still asked. Besides, there was an added bonus now when Juliet took that position. She helped Juliet up to straddle her hips. The weight of Juliet’s stomach rested on Trent’s flat belly, and she sucked in the gasp she always experienced when Juliet was in this position. Unable to stop herself, Trent ran her hands lovingly around the bump, delighting in the heaviness and the heat pressed against herself. For a moment, it felt like she and Juliet shared the baby between them, the roundness of what they had created fused to Trent’s skin too. She loved it; it made her feel closer to the baby and to Juliet.

“Can you feel how much the baby has grown in the last month? My stomach feels huge.” Juliet leaned in more, pressing into Trent’s grasp.

“It’s beautiful.
You’re
beautiful. And you’re also seriously fucking sexy like this. I could spend all day just looking at you and touching you.” Trent leaned forward to kiss Juliet’s lips. “You’re both amazing. I still can’t believe sometimes that you are both mine.”

“All yours, especially for the diaper changes.” Juliet grinned down at her and tugged Trent back for another kiss, rougher this time, growing in urgency. She growled against Trent’s mouth. “But this bump does stop me from just lying properly on you and taking you like I want to.”

Trent shivered at the promise laden words. “We can work around that. We always do.” She reached up to cup Juliet’s face, rubbing her thumbs against cheeks made fuller with pregnancy. “You really are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” She traced a fingertip across Juliet’s smiling lips, lingering to accept the soft kiss given. Trent’s eyes drank in the devoted expression that shone from Juliet’s eyes. Trent had never dared hope to see such a look meant just for her.

“You’re just excited because these got even bigger once my belly did.” Juliet took Trent’s hands and cupped them under her breasts.

Trent grinned. Juliet had never been small in the breast department, and now she was noticeably larger. Mindful of how sensitive and sore Juliet’s breasts could now be, Trent rolled a thumb over a darkened nipple gently. Juliet drew in a shaky breath and Trent stilled, worried she’d caused more pain than pleasure.

“So good,” Juliet crooned, encouraging Trent further in her ministrations.

Trent leaned forward and slowly swirled her tongue over and around the hardening nipple, sucking it into her mouth then releasing it with an audible pop. Juliet bucked in her lap, and her excitement smeared across Trent’s abdomen. Juliet began rocking in place. Trent desperately wanted to guide her hips into a firmer rhythm but was torn between seeking out the source of the wetness or caressing all of Juliet’s body that she could reach.

“You’re teasing me,” Juliet said, holding Trent’s hands together on her chest.

“I can’t touch you enough, you’re so fucking gorgeous.” She squeezed a nipple between her fingertips, watching as it stiffened and reddened. “God, this never grows old.”

“Even though I’m unable to lie on my back for long now?”

Trent pulled Juliet as close as she could to reassure her. “You’ll be flat on your back soon enough after the baby is born,” she whispered wickedly and laughed at Juliet’s huff of indignation. “Besides, this bump has definitely made us more creative.”

“Oh, honey, you had no problems in that area before you got me pregnant.” Juliet shifted again on Trent’s lap, rubbing herself harder against Trent’s belly. “I need you,” she said, lifting up a little so that Trent could slip a hand between their bodies. Trent was greeted by a heated sex that was soaked with Juliet’s desire.

“God, you’re dripping, Jule.” She trailed her fingers across Juliet’s labia, gathering up the moisture and spreading it all around her exposed clit. Trent smiled at Juliet’s moan as she rubbed around the hardened bud and then gathered more moisture from the source. Juliet’s hips jerked at Trent’s questing fingers.

“In me now,” she ordered, grasping at Trent’s shoulders and angling her hips forward.

“In good time,” Trent said, spreading kisses all over Juliet’s breasts. She smiled against Juliet’s heated flesh as Juliet tugged on Trent’s hair impatiently.

“No, now. I need you in me. Your tongue is driving me crazy, and if you don’t move those fingers where I—” She let out a breathy groan when Trent complied, easing two fingers inside her.

“Who knew pregnant ladies could be so demanding?” Trent teased her. She sucked on a nipple harshly, making Juliet squeal. “I love it.” Trent felt Juliet’s walls tighten around her fingers, holding her captive where Juliet needed her the most. Trent’s other hand was against Juliet’s back, holding her steady as Trent began pumping inside. Trent knew how Juliet’s center of balance had changed with the added weight on her front. It was just another excuse to hold her close.

“Can you feel me?” Juliet asked, eyes closed, her head flung back and her long hair cascading down her spine.

Trent could feel everything—the tightening of Juliet’s warm walls; the slick, hot wetness that sucked her fingers in deeper; the sweet scent of Juliet’s arousal surrounding them and flooding Trent’s senses.

Juliet steadied herself by holding on to Trent’s breasts. Much smaller than Juliet’s, they still served their purpose as Juliet tightened her grip. Her fingers chafed across Trent’s nipples and only served to drive Trent to push into Juliet faster, dragging gasps from Juliet’s throat.

“Come on, sweetheart, come for me. Let me have you.”

Juliet’s voice rang out clear as she shouted Trent’s name as she came. Trent felt the sweet release of Juliet’s passion soak her hand. She rubbed Juliet gently through the spasms until Juliet tugged at her wrist and Trent dutifully pulled out. Juliet fell into her arms, and Trent helped her down onto her side so they could snuggle. Trent ran her hand over Juliet’s stomach, painting it with her wetness, signing her name across Juliet’s skin.

“I think we rocked the baby to sleep.” Trent felt for the telltale signs of the baby swimming around and shifting inside. All was quiet. “Sleep tight, Newt.” Trent spoke against Juliet’s belly, laying a kiss there before moving back up to plant a longer, more sensuous kiss on Juliet’s smiling lips.

“Don’t think you can make me come that hard and leave me breathless so that you can call our child that name and think you can get away with it. And you’re lucky I let you use ‘fuck’ still in the bedroom, otherwise you’d be bankrupt and our child would be going to Yale.” She ran her hand down Trent’s chest and pinched her quickly, making Trent gasp at the swift moment of pain.

“Hey!” she grumbled, but Juliet’s hand was already moving on, trailing down Trent’s belly and lower still. Juliet shifted more comfortably into Trent’s side, moving her hand to slip between Trent’s legs. Trent pulled Juliet closer, letting her legs part wider so that Juliet could reach where Trent was ready for her. Juliet traced random patterns over Trent’s clit. Shocks of electricity made Trent writhe under her as Juliet nipped at Trent’s breast while her index finger rubbed harder with each second. Trent’s hold tightened. She knew she didn’t need much to be pushed over the edge. She never did in Juliet’s care. Her hips left the bed as they pumped erratically under Juliet’s handling. Trent loved that Juliet knew how far to go. Trent could do soft and gentle, but sometimes hard and fast was more her want. She muffled a cry in the pillow as she exploded in pleasure. Juliet continued to touch her, helping her ride out the powerful spasms that tore through her. Juliet finally lifted her mouth from Trent’s tortured nipple. Trent groaned aloud at the loss of her warm mouth.

“Fuck, you are so good at that.” Trent sighed, nuzzling into Juliet’s neck and laying a line of kisses along her jaw.

“I miss having you in my mouth,” Juliet grumbled, rubbing at Trent’s belly fretfully.

“You’ll be back on your knees too. I’ll make doubly sure of that.”

Juliet snorted with laughter. “Don’t you mean you’ll sit on my face again without fear of hurting the bump?”

“I don’t want to hurt either of you. And the fact is you’re so much bigger now. I worry about you hurting your back trying to find the perfect position just to get me off.” Trent kissed her lovingly. “You’re not leaving me feeling unloved. You’re still rocking my world.”

“It’s not the same though.”

“No,” Trent said. “But the wild ‘take me anywhere’ sex has only temporarily been put on hold until the baby arrives and we can get back to normal.”

“And what if when the baby is here it’s never normal again?”

Trent couldn’t fail to miss the fear in Juliet’s voice. She hooked a finger under Juliet’s chin and lifted her head so she could meet her eyes. “Then we create a new normal. It wouldn’t pay us to get too set in our ways, would it?” She kissed Juliet’s nose gently. “And when we want loud, boisterous, swinging from the rafters sex, we’ll call on Uncle Elton to come take the little tyke out for bonding time with a suitable male role model.”

“Suitable?” Juliet said, settling comfortably into Trent’s side, her head resting on a breast and her ample belly crowding over Trent’s length.

“I use the term loosely.” Trent ran her hand through Juliet’s hair. “I love you. I will do everything to keep you and this baby happy, I promise.”

“I love you too, Mama Bear.” Juliet hugged Trent to her. She let out a sigh that Trent instantly recognized. She chuckled.

“Your hormones are raging tonight, aren’t they?”

Juliet shifted her head a little to nip at Trent’s skin in admonishment. “They warned us that there might be a period where the horny hormones would take over.” She grabbed Trent’s hand and placed it back on her breast.

Trent smiled then kissed her, teasing Juliet’s lips open with a persistent tongue. “I’m loving this trimester best of all.”

The waiter discreetly placed the bill on the table between Bryce and Scarlet. Scarlet snatched it up.

“Hey, I would like to pay,” Bryce said, but Scarlet playfully held the bill out of her reach.

“I asked you so I get to pay. You can pay next time and I’ll order two desserts.”

Bryce brightened at the thought of another night like they had just shared. She’d barely touched any alcohol, but she was lightheaded from the sheer pleasure it was to be in Scarlet’s company. She was a joy to listen to, and Bryce had been enthralled by her.

“Bryce?”

Bryce’s head whipped around at an all too familiar and very unwelcome voice. Gerri stood just a step away, fixing her jacket to leave. Bryce felt ice water pour through her veins at the sight of her, picture perfect as always.

“You’re looking….” Gerri couldn’t take her eyes from Bryce’s forehead, and a grimace was already slipping onto her lips. She didn’t appear to be able to finish her sentence so Bryce took pity on her.

“I look like shit, but thanks for your concern.”

Gerri bristled at Bryce’s dismissive tone. She turned her attention to Scarlet who was looking at her with great interest. “And you are?”