Thirteen Hours (15 page)

“Yes,” Dana said without hesitation. She wiggled the pad of her thumb on Laurel’s anus, and inhaled sharply when the very tip was drawn inside. Desire surged through her veins, and she increased the speed and power of her thrusting fingers, fucking Laurel’s pussy as hard as she dared.

Laurel’s hand was a blur between her legs. “Fuck, yeah.”

“You like it hard,” Dana said. Not a question, a statement.

“Oh, yeah, Dana, oh, yeah.” Laurel’s sweet voice was choked with joyous release.

Her entire body tensed, and for a moment, the only movement was Dana’s hand pounding between her legs and her own fingers rubbing desperate circles on her clit. Her pussy spasmed around Dana’s fingers, releasing a hot gush of wetness that trickled down Dana’s wrist. She made a noise that set off an answering spasm between Dana’s thighs.

Dana marveled at the way she could feel Laurel tighten and convulse as her orgasm hit. She felt like her hand was in the middle of some miracle, some powerful force of nature. With her eyes clamped shut, she tried to memorize every last detail of the hot, pulsing, wet pleasure she had caused.

“Stop, I can’t take any more,” Laurel pleaded, looking back over her shoulder.

Dana had already slowed to a gentle pumping, and now withdrew carefully. In silent reverence, she pressed her wet hand to the swollen flesh between Laurel’s legs and crawled up to lie beside her.

“Are you okay?” she mumbled against the sweat-slicked skin of Laurel’s shoulder.

Laurel nodded. Her cheeks were flushed and damp tendrils of dark hair stuck to her forehead. “Recovering,” she croaked. “You’re a rare find, you know that?”

Dana grinned. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve got a natural gift. I think I’ve just snagged myself an excellent lover before anyone else discovered that fact. Including you.”

Although Dana couldn’t detect anything but sincerity in the words, her earlier confidence seemed to be melting under the intensity of Laurel’s gaze. Staring into eyes full of tender emotion, she felt incredibly lucky but equally uncertain. It didn’t seem possible that Laurel was just being nice, but she checked in anyway. “It was really okay? After the whole kissing fiasco, I started to think—”

“You analyze too much.” Laurel clucked her tongue. “It was more than okay, and you know it.”

“That was so much more than I ever imagined it would be.”

“Me, too.” Laurel leaned forward and gave Dana a slow kiss.

“You’re exquisite. I’m keeping you.”

Dana had to restrain herself from beating on her chest. She couldn’t stop the wide grin that captured her mouth, though, or the pride she knew was shining in her eyes. “Remember, I’m going to need plenty more practice.”

Laurel laughed. “We’ve unleashed a monster, haven’t we?”

“I think so.” Dana drew her into a warm embrace. “That was so much fun.”

“Worth the risk?” Laurel’s expression was serious.

“Oh, yeah. And then some.”

“I agree.” Laurel yawned all of a sudden.

“Nap time?” Dana asked, stroking her fingertips over Laurel’s bare back. Though she didn’t want to stop touching her for even a moment, she said, “We should put some clothes on. I refuse to let Rocky surprise us with a rescue while I’m lying naked on the elevator floor.”

“Good call.” Laurel disentangled herself and sat up on the blanket.

“I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to sleep in here, but I’d hate to snore right through this elevator taking us down to the lobby.”

Dana frowned as they both put on their bras and Laurel’s perfect breasts disappeared from view. Laurel snatched up Dana’s panties from on top of her backpack, twirling the cotton garment around on her finger with a playful smile.

Dana grimaced. “I can’t put those back on. They’re soaking wet.”

Laurel picked up her g-string from the floor. “Mine, too. I’ll just put them in here.” She stuffed both pairs of underwear inside her backpack.

Winking at Dana, she added, “Maybe I’ll keep yours as a souvenir.”

Dana snorted in embarrassed pleasure as she buttoned her blouse.

“Only if you’ll give me visitation rights. That is my favorite pair, after all.” Especially now.

“Of course. Whenever you want.”

Dana stood so she could pull her pants back on. “What I really want is a shower.” Her stomach growled, signaling another need. “And breakfast.”

“I hear you.” After fastening her own jeans, Laurel took a step toward Dana. “First a hug and that nap we were talking about. That’s if I can stop myself from looking at you for more than a minute.”

Dana didn’t hesitate to step into Laurel’s arms. She loved the feel of Laurel’s heart thumping against her own. “You know, I feel really happy right now.”

Laurel beamed. “So do I.”

Dana tried hard to wipe the goofy grin off her face. “Rocky’s going to take about five seconds to guess exactly what happened in here, you know.”

“Rocky’s the security guard, right?” At Dana’s nod, Laurel shrugged. “There’s nothing we can do. This elevator smells like sex.”

“And I’ll be smiling like an idiot when the doors open.”

“Not a usual thing for you?” Laurel asked innocently.

“Oh, no. You seem to inspire it in me.”

Laurel snuggled up against Dana’s body. “Lucky me.”

“Lucky me,” Dana countered.

They shook out the blanket and lay down on it, nuzzling close, face to face. Watching Laurel’s sleepy blue eyes get heavier and feeling her breathing slow down, Dana felt that swell of pride again.
Damn, I knocked her out.

Laurel pressed her face into Dana’s breast. “See you when we wake up.”

“Yes, see you soon,” Dana said quietly.

She didn’t know if Laurel heard her or if she was already asleep.

All she heard was a little snorting noise and a soft sigh. Silky chestnut hair brushed her chin and she tightened her hold, trying to make Laurel as comfortable as possible. Staring down at her, she thought,
I really, really like this woman.

H
OUR
T
HIRTEEN
—7:00 A.M.

D
ana drifted in and out of consciousness for quite some time before awakening fully. She couldn’t say she felt refreshed, and she knew she hadn’t slept for long on the hard floor. The discomfort and the unfamiliar warmth of Laurel in her arms conspired to end her nap not long after it began. Laurel’s head rested heavily on her chest, her arm still thrown over Dana’s waist. Her breasts pressed into Dana’s side, triggering a flash of memory of their lovemaking.

Dana craned so she could deposit a soft kiss on top of Laurel’s head. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of her shampoo mingled with sweat.

“Can’t sleep?” Laurel mumbled.

Dana jerked a little at the sound of her voice, startled that she was awake. She gave her a gentle hug. “No, sorry if I woke you.”

Laurel lifted her head from Dana’s breast, blinking up at her with tired eyes. “You didn’t,” she said. “Sorry I just passed out on you like that. That took a lot out of me.”

“We’ll be rescued soon.” Dana glanced at her wristwatch. It was seven. Rocky was no doubt on his way in to work. “Even if this was a comfortable bed, I don’t know if I could have slept. I think I’m still a little excited.”

Laurel eased into a tender grin. “About making love?”

“About everything. I can’t stop thinking. And I’m not used to being so close to someone else. I just want to touch you all the time.”

Laurel stroked Dana’s cheek with the back of her hand, leaning closer to give her a brief kiss. “I understand.”

“Do you? Is that how you feel, too?” Dana covered Laurel’s delicate ear with her hand. She was so soft.

“I do,” Laurel said. “I’m excited, too.”

“I can’t believe we’ve only been in here for twelve hours,” Dana whispered. “I feel like a completely different person.”

“You’re the same person. Just…braver.”

“No, I’m different.” Dana moved forward, taking Laurel’s lips in a slightly longer, deeper kiss. She wanted to stay in that kiss forever.

Laurel felt like a miracle, turning her life upside down overnight.

Already the idea of going back to her old habits made her feel sick to her stomach. “I’m better for having met you.”

Laurel initiated yet another kiss, and this one lasted for a couple of minutes. She ended it with a contented groan, leaning back to smile at Dana. “So, what are your plans for after we get out of here?”

“This morning?”
I hoped they would include you.
Uncertain, she hedged. “What are yours?”

Laurel looked down at Dana’s chest. “Think you’ll be working on that proposal of yours?”

“What proposal?”

Instantly, Laurel’s tension eased and she released a hearty laugh.

She looked up at Dana with sparkling eyes. “Damn, that ‘important proposal; sure got downgraded fast.”

“Oh, yeah,
that
proposal.” At this point, the work she had been doing when Laurel burst into her office the night before was meaningless.

Or at the very least, it wasn’t on her agenda for the rest of the day. She grinned at Laurel. “The proposal can definitely wait.”

“Changing our priorities, are we?” Laurel’s face shone with quiet pleasure.

Dana gave her a serious nod. “I think something just became more important than project management.”

Laurel’s smile rendered every moment Dana had ever lived before that one deficient, because they hadn’t included that look of pure joy on the face of a lover. Stunned, she took Laurel’s hand and was almost afraid to let go. Fear cast doubt on all she was feeling. Somehow it didn’t seem possible that they could abandon this magical bubble suspended between floors that would soon hum with everyday normality, and not leave everything behind. Her eyes met Laurel’s, seeking something other than the passion and tenderness she saw.

“You’re not feeling overwhelmed?” Laurel asked.

Dana shook her head, reluctant to spoil the mood with her concerns.

Perhaps she was just a natural born pessimist. As the morning closed in on them, with all it would bring, she started thinking like the project manager she was. How would this work? They were two very different people. Laurel was outgoing and warm and worked as a dancer in men’s clubs. Was that something Dana could cope with if they began a relationship? It was one thing to be nonjudgmental about how strangers made their living, but a girlfriend? Dana had to be honest with herself.

The idea made her very uncomfortable.

Laurel touched her arm. “Are you?”

“Overwhelmed? Yes, a little, but in the best way possible,” Dana said. “It was high time I took a good, hard look at my priorities.”

That was the truth. Whatever happened when they left this haven, she would never feel the same way about her life.

Laurel gave her a serious nod. “And sex is more important than proposals on that reorganized list.”

Dana chuckled. “Well, sex
is
more important than proposals. But spending time with you is more important than sex.”

“Great answer.”

“Thanks, I figured that sort of answer was a surefire way to get laid again before too long.”

Laurel laughed out loud, delivering a playful smack to Dana’s arm.

“You shit.” When her laughter died down, she said, “For the record, you don’t need any clever answers to get laid again. Bring those hands, that tongue, and your beautiful body, and you’ll have to fight me off whenever you want.”

Dana tightened her arms around Laurel. The promises came so easily while they were sitting here in the extended afterglow of their lovemaking. She wondered how they would stand up to the harsh light of day. “So about this morning, did you have something in mind?”

Laurel nodded. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in joining me for the breakfast and shower you were talking about earlier.”

Like she even had to ask. “Of course I would,” she answered.

Laurel beamed. “Cool. Which do you want to do first?”

Dana wrinkled her nose, answering without hesitation. “Shower.”

“You, me, a shower… I can’t guarantee that we’ll make it to breakfast.”

Dana’s stomach growled. She laid one hand over her belly, acutely feeling her lack of nutrition over the past twenty-four hours. “Oh, we’ll get breakfast. One way or the other.” She leaned forward and nipped at Laurel’s bottom lip. “Even if I have to eat it off your naked body.”

Laurel snickered. “Now there’s an idea.”

“I’m full of them.” She flashed Laurel a less-than-modest smile.

“You’re full of
something
.” The genuine affection in Laurel’s eyes sent a rush of warmth through Dana’s belly. “And on that subject”—Laurel stroked her abdomen gingerly—”I
have
to pee.”

In a Pavlovian response to the mere suggestion, Dana felt an answering ache low in her belly. “Uh-oh.”

“You, too?”

“Of course.” Dana curled her body into an uncomfortable ball.

“Why did you have to remind me?”

“Misery loves company.” Laurel turned on her side again, mirroring Dana’s position. “I’m dehydrated. You must be feeling it, too.”

Dana’s mouth transformed into an arid desert at Laurel’s observation. She smacked her lips together, attempting to swallow. My God, how long was it since she’d had something to drink? And after all that fluid she’d lost earlier with Laurel. Her throat felt exceedingly rough.

“Stop,” she begged. “Let me just float in this blissfully ignorant postcoital euphoria a little longer.”

“Sorry.” Laurel suppressed her mirth, wincing and crossing both arms over her stomach. “Oh, God, don’t make me laugh. Please.”

“You’re loopy,” Dana commented, admiring the lean body that convulsed with laughter. “Is this how you get when you’re overtired?”

Laurel wiped at her watery eyes with the back of her hands. “A combination of exhaustion and deep sexual satisfaction.”

“It’s darling,” Dana said. “Goofball.”

Bright light clicked on overheard, causing Dana to squint and blink in surprise.

Laurel sat up, staring at the ceiling with red-rimmed eyes. “Oh my God, is the electricity back on?”

Dana looked at the display above the elevator door, at the rows of buttons to the side. “I don’t know.”