Romancing the Gorgon, page 19
She ate Lettie’s pussy as though she was starving, reaching up to grasp one of her breasts, her other hand still holding Lettie tightly. And all Lettie could do was grasp the wood of the vanity as her world narrowed to a pinprick, just the space between her legs where Chandler’s tongue ran.
Her whole body turned tight like wound coils and then, just as suddenly, she released with a scream, nearly collapsing as her legs shook and her muscles contracted. When she finished shaking, Chandler stood, pulling Lettie with her.
“Open your eyes,” Chandler said.
Lettie hadn’t realized she had closed them, but she did. In the mirror her cheeks were flushed, and Chandler was beautiful, even with wild morning hair and heavy-lidded eyes. Lettie turned in her arms and kissed her fiercely, pressing their naked bodies together. “You are mine,” she said.
“Yes, I am. Forever.”
When they finally made their way out of the bedroom, Oak was waiting for them in the dining room with Daphne. Lettie wasn’t sure when the two of them had become friends, but they were both laughing when she got there.
“They wanted to see, too,” Daphne said, standing up and brushing crumbs off her dress. She always looked right in winter, like she belonged, an ice princess from another time. Before Lettie had ever met a fae she’d imagined them like Daphne’s family, lithe and long-haired. She’d still only met a handful, and sometimes that’s still how she pictured them in her mind.
“We’ll need a groundskeeper,” Lettie said. She knew Oak had a green thumb; she’d seen their family gardens. “Know anyone interested?”
Oak smiled, lighting up their face. “Are you offering me a job? I never thought I’d see the day.”
“You’ve thought of this day?” Lettie wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Oh, I’ve dreamed of Chandler becoming a productive member of society for my whole life,” they teased.
“Are you sure the two of you don’t want to get a first look at your hard work alone?” Daphne asked. “Oak and I could get brunch, meet you after.”
“It’s hardly just our hard work,” Lettie said, moving closer to Chandler. “And we want you there.”
“Then we’re happy to oblige,” Daphne said, leading the way.
The four of them headed towards the cabins, moving closer to each other as the freezing wind whipped around them. The leaves had given up the fight and the last stragglers littered the ground, crunching under their feet.
“What do you think he’s going to do next?” Chandler asked, voicing the question that had plagued Lettie.
What did Alvin have planned? Was he really going to move into Lilac Lake and build a hotel? But while the question rattled around in her brain, the fear behind it was miniscule.
“Who cares. We’ll figure it out,” Lettie said. She was done being afraid of him, done worrying what he would do. Whatever happened, staying up all night thinking about it wouldn’t change anything. And she was proud of the Stone and Sorcery. She believed in its ability to withstand whatever came next.
And she also believed in the town, that it was more than a tourist trap. Lilac Lake was her home and now it was Chandler’s too. Their roots went deep into the soil, and Lettie planned to flourish in it, build something strong.
The lake sparkled like diamonds in the winter sun, small waves kicking up along the rocky shore.
The four of them paused as the cabins came into view, each of them freshly painted a gorgeous green that matched the lake behind them. Their walkways were a sharp contrast against the brown grass, beautiful, patterned marble that had yet to be walked on.
“You need to get a photographer out here,” Daphne said. “You’ll be booked in minutes. This looks amazing.”
Lettie could picture it, the firepit that sat in the middle burning, people laughing and drinking beers, children splashing in the water. She reached down and threaded her fingers through Chandler’s.
“We did it,” Chandler whispered, nuzzling against her neck briefly.
“We really did,” Lettie said. She walked up the pathway to the nearest cabin and pushed open the door.
Chandler flipped on the light, and Lettie’s heart swelled. Inside the cabin was a symphony of beautiful, soft colors, inviting couches, and soft chairs.
The others followed her in, and Daphne ran her fingers around the mantle. Lorne had intricately carved the wood with swirling shapes and Lilac petals. He’d custom-built coffee tables for each cabin with burned wood and legs that matched the mantle.
It was warm and inviting yet refined. She wished their grandmothers could see it. They’d always talked about redoing the cabins, and she knew they’d be proud. She hoped they’d be proud of her and Chandler for so many other things too.
“We should go get some beer. Spend the night here,” Daphne said, turning in a slow circle as she took in all the details of the cabin. “A little sleepover.”
Chandler wrapped her arms around Lettie’s waist and rested her head on her shoulder. “That would be perfect.”
-TWO MONTHS
LATER-
LETTIE’S PHONE DINGED on the side table, but she didn’t need to look to know it was Amelia. She’d been messaging her pretty much nonstop for the last week. The festival was still months away and so far, almost nothing had gone wrong, but that hadn’t stopped her from worrying.
Lettie left the message unread and unanswered. She had other things on her mind. She looked herself over in the mirror. The curls in her hair were holding up, and her make-up wasn’t smudged. She smoothed the lines of her dress one last time and nodded at her reflection, satisfied with the result.
The bedroom door clicked open, and Lettie turned. Chandler looked gorgeous. Her dark curls were loose around her face, her eyeliner sharp, and her green eyes bright. She had on a pair of skintight leather pants and a low-cut blouse that made Lettie reconsider leaving for their date as she eyed the soft curve of her breasts.
Lettie walked across the room and ran her hands down Chandler’s sides, dragging her thumbs across her hip bones, and Chandler pulled her close.
“You look delicious.”
Chandler’s magic was still a dark, twisting thing, but it warmed Lettie, and her own magic responded, green tendrils dancing around them. No longer did fear lace her power, it was hers, an extension of her will, her desire.
Lettie kissed Chandler slowly, only pulling back to drag her teeth along Chandler’s bottom lip. They had a date tonight, something they tried to do every week, but would probably have to miss as the seasons changed and the Lodge increased its occupancy.
This week they were leaving Lilac Lake, driving a few towns over to an Italian restaurant Lettie had always wanted to try but had never been to.
Chandler’s fingers moved from Lettie’s hips to the bottom of her dress. She pushed up the fabric and ran her hands along Lettie’s thighs. “I love you, beautiful.”
“I love you, too,” Lettie murmured against the smooth skin of her neck as she planted kisses along Chandler’s throat.
And she did. Though it had taken her longer than Chandler to fully fall, she’d known the path she was on from the first moment she’d seen her at Hillchamp’s office. Though love took more trust than lust Chandler had earned it with each passing day; a growing faith that built on itself.
“We should go,” Lettie said, because if they stayed, she was going to drag Chandler to the bed and not leave for a very long time.
“Okay, okay. Fine.” Chandler stepped away, letting her hands linger for a moment longer, then took Lettie’s hand in her own.
Outside of their apartments, the Lodge was starting to come alive as winter made its first concessions to spring. They’d had the rooms painted, the floor refinished, and updated the furniture. Once she had updated the pictures on their website, they’d been almost fully booked by the end of the day.
As for Alvin, he was around. She saw him sometimes, scowling in town square, or typing away on his phone over a cup of coffee. But so far, she hadn’t heard anything about him buying land. She was sure something would happen eventually, but she brushed it off. Right now, she and Chandler were happy, still learning about each other, finding all the ways they had changed over the last eleven years.
Chandler held the door for her and then re-intertwined their fingers. “Do you really think Oak is going to run for mayor?” she asked, heading for her car.
Lettie shrugged. “I hope so. This town could use a little shaking up.”
Daphne and Oak's story is coming soon. Sign up for my newsletter at www.tallierose.com to stay updated.
More books by Tallie Rose:
Sapphic Vampire Retellings
Hecate's Hollow
Calla Falling
Briar Constance Series
As Played by Gods
An Echo of Gods
Sympathy for the Gods (Coming soon)
Sea and Flame Series
Sea and Flame
Scale and Smoke
Tallie Rose, Romancing the Gorgon
