Acquainted With the Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

stretched luxuriously and said, “God Bless the Fourth of July. I just love these three-day weekends.”
    Alex looked at her over the top of her own book. “Do you? I get antsy away from work too long.”
    “Well, there’s a surprise. I swear, if it weren’t for my cooking, you’d never come home from work at all.”
    Alex set her book, open, on the back of the sofa. “Yeah, I only come home for your meatloaf.”
    CJ managed a pout. “Oh, darn. I thought it was the irresistible allure of my sexual charms. And by the way, I’ve been thinking about spicing up my meatloaf recipe. Maybe chile peppers?”
    Alex said, “I don’t think you should touch the ancient family meatloaf recipe.”
    “Your opinion is duly noted. So what time is the Ryan family picnic on Monday? Noon?”
    “Yes,” Alex answered.
    “Nicole reserved one of the shelters, right?”
    “My sister, the woman who puts brushing her teeth in her daily planner? Yes, dear, she reserved the picnic shelter.”
    “Have I mentioned recently how happy I am that you finally got that cast off your wrist?”
    “Why, yes, you did mention it. And you also remarked on how pleased you were that the physical therapy on my shoulder was successfully completed.”
    “I did, didn’t I?” CJ said, trying to look innocent while pressing her bare foot along Alex’s calf.
    “I just wish we’d found whoever ran me off the damn road,” Alex said unhappily.
    “Could you maybe not go into that again?” CJ stretched once more, and brushed one foot up the inner seam of Alex’s shorts. It sent a pleasant little thrill of pleasure directly up Alex’s leg.
    “Why don’t you want to discuss the case?” she teased.
    “Because I’m trying to seduce you.”
    “Right here on the couch?”
    CJ gave her a look of pure heat. Alex sat up a little and murmured, “Come here.”
    CJ got onto her hands and knees and slowly crawled down the long sofa toward Alex, the expression on her face far from innocent. Alex felt her heart beat faster. When CJ got to her, Alex said, “Sorry it’s been a while.”
    CJ looked into her eyes. She murmured, “Don’t apologize, Irish. Just make it up to me.”
    Her tone was lighthearted, but Alex suddenly wanted nothing more than to do just that. She began caressing CJ through her T-shirt. CJ leaned into the touch, then reached down to take the shirt off.
    “Nope,” Alex said, and leaned forward to nuzzle her breasts through the fabric.
    CJ made a little hissing noise as Alex used her teeth, biting lightly at her lover’s nipples, still protected by both shirt and bra. Alex put her hands up under the shirt, stroking CJ’s belly and continuing to work her mouth until she had CJ moaning loudly.
    Alex pulled at the waistband of CJ’s shorts, pulling shorts and underwear down and off without moving her mouth away from CJ’s breasts. CJ went to her knees over Alex, her arms propping her over Alex’s body.
    Alex stroked up from CJ’s knees, across her naked thighs and down. CJ moaned again and began to push her hips into Alex.
    “So impatient,” Alex whispered.
    “Honey, please.”
    Alex continued her touching until CJ was grinding against her in need. Then Alex found her wetness and caressed her, lightly at first, then with more and more determination.
    CJ dropped her head on Alex’s shoulder, breathing hard into her neck. “God, Alex, touch me.”
    Alex stroked her firmly, knowing exactly where and how to move for CJ until she felt the pulsing climax against her hand.
    CJ pressed her damp forehead to Alex’s, and Alex shifted up to kiss her for the first time, CJ breathing into her mouth.
    It filled her with joy to know just what CJ needed and to give it to her. After a moment, CJ lifted her head and Alex saw the flush across her throat, the darkly-dilated irises crowding out the deep green of her eyes.
    “You’re not finished,” Alex said, a statement rather than a question.
    “More,” was all CJ said.
    “My favorite word,”