Part 9 (1/2)
”Looks like it.”
Something wasn't adding up. This sheltered young woman was about to be married, yet she had ventured all alone into a brothel just to find an ex-outlaw? ”You don't sound very sure.”
”I'm not. But it's the right thing to do.”
”Says who?”
Zee's question got her an exasperated look. ”Says everyone. He's the son of one of Contention's wealthiest families. His connections will be invaluable to Blue.”
”Seems to me, there's something missing from this picture. Do you love him?”
Confused green eyes darted toward her then away again. ”I . . .
What is love?”
62.
”Ask me something easy, why don't you?” Zee relaxed back onto the bed and clasped her hands behind her head. This time Christie's a.s.sessing gaze remained on her longer.
”Have you kissed him yet?”
”Back to that subject?” Christie blushed. ”You seem obsessed with it.”
Zee chuckled. ”And why not?” she said. ”Since it's so pleasurable.”
”Is it?”
”I find it so. Don't you?”
Christie grimaced. ”No,” she admitted. She gave Zee a wistful glance. ”I thought, when you kissed someone, it was supposed to feel wonderful. But when Fred kisses me . . .” She trailed off.
”Perhaps you ain't doing it right.”
”What do you mean?”
Zee tossed a mental coin. All right, here goes. ”Only one way to find out. You need another kiss to compare it to.”
Christie gave her a look. ”And just who's going to kiss me?”
”Thought I might give it a shot.”
”You?” Christie licked her lips.
”Yeah.”
The last time they had touched on the subject of Zee kissing women, Christie had fled. This time, if Zee was reading her right, the idea seemed to intrigue her. Perhaps it was the real reason Christie was here, though she might not be conscious of it. Encouraged, Zee unclasped her hands and sat up.
”When whatsisnameFred?” She received a nod. ”When he kisses you, does he take you in his arms like this?” She pulled a startled Christie onto her lap, ready to release her at once should she request it. She didn't.
”No.”
Green eyes blinked at her from only inches away and the pulse point in the delicate neck was visibly pounding. Zee's own pulse was doing much the same.
”And does he hold you like this?” She eased Christie back and slipped an arm round her, making sure she was fully supported.
”Uh . . . no.” Christie's breath was warm against her cheek. Still she made no protest.
”Then does he tease you, just a little? Like this?” Zee started placing
63.
b.u.t.terfly kisses on Christie's neck, on her jaw, her earlobeshe pushed the fair hair out of the waythe corner of her mouth.
”N . . . uh.” Christie's breathing had gone ragged and she was trembling.
”No, he don't, or no, you want me to stop?” Zee was enjoying herself and hoped it wasn't the latter.
”He . . . he doesn't.”
Well, well!
”Then does he kiss you, like this?” She pressed her mouth to Christie's. At first Christie's lips felt cold and unyielding, then they warmed, became pliant, and, as Zee ran the tip of her tongue along first the lower lip, then the upper, they parted. She darted her tongue inside, tasting and touching teeth and sensitive skin.
Christie groaned. Zee pulled back at once. ”Are you all right?”
No reply.
”Christie?”
”I'm . . . it's . . .” Christie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and gave Zee a tremulous smile. ”Sorry. I just wasn't expecting it to be so,” she searched for the word, ”intense.”
Zee felt almost giddy with relief. ”Ah.” She pretended nonchalance. ”So. Does Fred kiss you like that?”
”He doesn't even come close.”