A couple of hours later, our little group headed out the door. The club was still open, but we’d had it and a couple of people—Gina’s sister, Annie, for one—had definitely had more than enough to drink. I stood outside, glad for the chance to breathe without bumping into someone as we said our goodbyes.

Gina came over while I stood on the sidewalk and took a deep breath of cool air. “I’m so glad you came, Iris. It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

I smiled. “I know, and I’m sorry. There’s a big story that’s been taking all my time. I barely have time to eat or sleep.”

“But you will be at the wedding, right?”

“Absolutely. And thank you again for not having a wedding party and making me wear some hideous dress.”

Gina laughed. “I swore after my cousin’s wedding that I’d never do that to anyone else. No one should have to wear that shade of green outside of a hospital. Besides, we’re having a small wedding and I want everyone to be comfortable.”

“I wish more brides were like you.”

“I do try.” She pulled me in for a hug and looked concerned when she stepped back. “Are you okay? I saw you dancing with Lia and then after you guys looked pretty, um, close. I just don’t want you to get hurt,” she added. “I’m not butting in, you know that.”

“I know.” I patted her shoulder. “It’s not like that. We’re just going to hang out for a bit and catch up.” And have sex hot enough to set fire to the mattress, but Gina didn’t need to hear that. “Thanks for worrying, though, Mom.”

Gina shook her head although she was smiling. “You just be careful, okay? I love Lia to death but it doesn’t mean I’m blind to how she can be.”

“She’s just herself, that’s all.”

“All right. Take care, Iris.” Gina gave me another hug. “Thanks again for coming. I better get a cab and get Annie home before she falls over.”

I returned the hug and promised to be in touch more often, then turned to look for Lia. My heart sped up and my stomach churned a bit when I didn’t see her and I scolded myself for it. I was a big girl; if Lia had changed her mind or stood me up, I’d manage just fine.

I spotted her a few feet down the sidewalk, chatting with Annie and another woman. I wanted to walk over and see if she was still coming to my place, but I didn’t want to seem anxious or needy. Since I needed a cab whether she came with me or not, I turned around to scan the street for one. Within a minute a yellow taxi headed towards the crowd and slowed down. I stepped towards the curb and raised my hand to flag it down.

“Leaving without me?” Lia stood with one hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.

“You were talking and I didn’t want to interrupt.” I opened the door and gestured her to go in first. “I needed the cab anyway.”

Lia got in the back seat; I got a good view of her ass as her dress rode up. She didn’t even try to hide it as she all but crawled over to the far side. When I got in, she gave me a look that confirmed it had been for my benefit.

I gave the driver my address and settled back in the seat, trying to calm down. Having Lia so close made that difficult and it got no easier when I felt her hand on my thigh. I whipped my head around but she just smiled at me as her hand traveled a little higher. I glanced at the cabbie but he was too busy yelling at his dispatcher.

I bit my lip as the driver took a right turn and Lia took advantage to nudge her hand between my legs. Not being an exhibitionist but not wanting to stop her, I held my purse in my lap and kept my skirt from rising any more. Lia grinned as she kept running her fingers over my thigh, getting closer to my pussy all the time.

I tried to smother a nervous laugh but wasn’t successful and couldn’t help but grin myself.

The cab pulled up outside my building just in time; any longer and we would have been candidates for an HBO late show. I paid and tipped the cabbie and went in the building. The elevator ride was torture, both because it was slow and because some guy from another floor got on, preventing Lia and me from doing anything.

When we arrived at my floor I almost pushed the guy aside in my haste to get out. I managed to contain myself and only gave him a glare that he didn’t even notice. Lia covered her mouth to hide a smile, knowing how annoyed I was. She reached over and took my hand and gave it a squeeze.

I hurried to my apartment with Lia right behind me. Once inside, I turned around to shoot the deadbolt and found myself up against the door. Lia ran her hands over my arms, from shoulder to fingers and back again. I closed my eyes and laid my cheek against the cool metal.

“That was hot, in the club.” Her voice was a sultry whisper in my ear. I gasped when her tongue flicked out to touch my ear lobe.

I felt her breath on the back of my neck. I was taller than she was, but Lia’s high heels put her in the perfect position to graze her teeth over my shoulder and the nape of my neck.

I shuddered.

“I’m glad you came to the party tonight,” she said. “I was hoping to see you.”

“I didn’t know you were coming.” I swallowed in a dry throat as her hands crept under my dress.

“I didn’t know I was either until you did that in the hallway.” Lia sucked on the crook of my neck and my knees went weak. “Then I was extremely glad I showed up.”

Her hands came around my waist and splayed over my stomach. I didn’t know what I wanted her to do next; my whole body burned for her touch.

“I would have done this at the club, but we didn’t really have time.” Lia’s hands went up and squeezed my breasts.

I groaned and leaned my head against the door as she kneaded my tits and teased my nipples. I sighed in disappointment when she withdrew her hands, then I heard the rasp of the zipper and my dress slithered down my body to puddle at my feet. A strapless dress meant I hadn’t worn a bra, so I stood there in just my heels and underwear.

“You are gorgeous.” Lia ran her tongue up my spine, making me cry out and turn around.

I took her face in my hands and captured her lips. My tongue plunged into her mouth. Lia growled in response and grabbed at my breasts again, pulling at my nipples this time before sliding one hand beneath the black panties I had on.

I tore my lips from hers long enough to say, “Get your clothes off,” then kissed her again.

Her response was to push two fingers into my pussy, angling her hand so that she rubbed my clit every time she thrust inside. I found the zipper on her dress and forced it down, then pushed her dress off. Like me, she’d gone braless. I realized she must have made another trip to the restroom after our tryst in the hallway, because her thong was gone. She was naked but for a gold necklace and her black heels.

“Satisfied?” she asked, nipping at my bottom lip.

“Not yet, but I think I will be.”

She gave a low laugh and pushed her fingers deeper inside. I sucked in a breath and walked her back to the sofa and tumbled her onto it. We lay there for a few moments, necking like teenagers in the backseat of a car. Lia pumped her fingers in and out of me and I met every thrust. My blood simmered as I felt everything build.

“Sit up.” Lia withdrew her hand from my pussy and pushed at my shoulders.

Breathing hard, I rose off her and moved to sit while she slipped off the couch. She knelt in front of me and reached up to snag my panties. Her eyes met mine and never left as she pulled them down. I lifted my hips to help and then my feet, one at a time, as she slipped the lacy thing off. She spread my legs and got between them.

“Feel good?” she asked.

“God, yes.”

“Want me to do this?” Lia ran her tongue through my pussy, parting the lips and flicking over my clit.

“Yes, do that.”

She did it again, then set about both satisfying and torturing me in equal measure. While she licked and sucked at my clitoris, she shoved two fingers inside me and curled them slightly, looking for my G-spot. I didn’t know if I had one or not but it felt so damn good.

Lia knew how to get me close and take me back; she also knew that too much of that resulted in nothing for me. I hoped she remembered.

I tried to relax but she wouldn’t let me. Her tongue slid over and in me and I groaned as my orgasm neared and retreated. Since her hands were busy I plucked at my nipples myself, pulling and twisting them while she rubbed her tongue over my clit.

“Lia. Please.” I hated to beg, but suddenly I was afraid it might not happen. That would just piss me off.

“You never could wait, could you?”

Before I could reply, she put her lips around my clit and sucked hard. I bucked my hips, choking back a scream. She wouldn’t let me go and I made myself breathe. At last the wave broke and I fell back on the couch, limp.

Lia kissed her way up my body. I jumped when she gave each nipple a quick suck. We stayed tangled on the couch for a while, until I was almost asleep.

I shook her shoulder. “Hey, let’s get up. I think I’d like a shower and the bed is a lot more comfortable than the couch.”

She gave me a curious look and I realized what I’d said. I’d just assumed she’d stay the night, yet I hadn’t even asked. Maybe she couldn’t. Maybe—and I didn’t like this thought—she had someone to get back to.

I cleared my throat. “I mean, if you want to stay. It’s all right if you don’t.”

She chuckled. “You think I really want to go out and grab a cab at this hour?”

“I didn’t know if you needed to get back to your place.”

“Nothing there that can’t wait until later.” She waved her hand in a dismissal and sat up. “Look, Iris. Let’s just get all this stuff on the table. I’m not seeing anyone. I wouldn’t have hooked up with you in the club if I was.”

I believed her. Whatever problems we’d had, cheating wasn’t one of them. “I know, I just didn’t want to assume anything.”

“I’m also not saying I’m looking to get back together.”

“Me either.”

“Good. Let’s grab that shower.”