Chapter 8

8

K risten's legs should be wobbling. They weren't. Her gait was steady as she followed behind Cin. The house in front of her looked like something out of a suburban dream, with its two-story structure, white picket fence, and twinkling holiday lights adorning the eaves. It was picturesque, like a scene from a Christmas card, the quintessentially all-American facade.

The walkway of Cin's house was neatly shoveled. As they reached the front door, Cin glanced back at her with a quizzical smile. "I didn't think you'd say yes."

Kristen swallowed, but she didn't answer. She hadn't expected herself to say yes either. But the single word had easily slipped past her lips. It was the last word she'd spoken to Kristen since leaving the restaurant, on the drive over, and now standing in front of her door.

Kristen turned the key. The sound unlocked something inside of Kristen. Once again, that single word whispered through her mind: yes . She followed Cin obediently, stepping into a foyer that immediately shattered her expectations. The contrast between the exterior and interior was startling.

The first thing Kristen noticed was the art. Bold, risqué paintings adorned the walls, each piece provocative and full of life. The walls were painted in vibrant hues—deep reds, electric blues, sunny yellows—each room a burst of color that stimulated the senses. It was a feast for the eyes, every corner offering something new and unexpected.

The furniture was lush and inviting. Plush cushions and chaise lounges were scattered throughout the living room, creating an atmosphere of relaxed opulence. Kristen noticed a particularly inviting chaise lounge by the window, its rich velvet fabric catching the light from a nearby lamp.

Cin closed the door behind them, the soft click bringing Kristen back to the present. Still, Kristen felt no desire to turn and bolt. The yes thrummed through her body as Cin led her farther into the house.

Kristen marveled at the attention to detail in every nook and cranny. The kitchen was a cheerful yellow with colorful tiles and vintage appliances that gave it a retro feel. The dining room, painted a deep, rich red, had a large wooden table surrounded by mismatched chairs, each one a piece of art in itself.

They moved into the living room, where a large, cozy fireplace sat. In moments, Cin had it crackling to life. The warm glow of embers added an intimate coziness to the space. Kristen felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and welcome, as if she were being enveloped in a hug.

"Make yourself at home. Can I get you something to drink?"

Kristen nodded, still taking in her surroundings.

As Cin disappeared into the kitchen, Kristen wandered over to the fireplace, her fingers brushing against the mantel adorned with eclectic trinkets and holiday decorations. There was a family photo, but only of Cin and Noel. The sight of her boss should've shaken that yes from Kristen's body. Instead, she gave the picture her back.

When Cin returned with two glasses of wine, she handed one to Kristen and gestured for her to sit. Kristen sank into the plush cushions, the warmth of the fire and the rich aroma of the wine creating a perfect moment of comfort and connection.

"To toe-curling orgasms," Cin said, raising her glass.

"Yes," Kristen said, clinking her glass against Cin's.

After the second sip, Cin took the glass from her. "I don't want you impaired. I want your complete consent. I want you to feel everything I'm about to do to you."

"Yes."

It seemed the only word Kristen knew any longer.

Cin crowded Kristen. She didn't need to be told to spread her thighs. The moment Cin's fingers touched her flesh, Kristen felt an electric thrill.

She'd known friends who’d experimented in school. But she'd never considered it. Had any of her girlfriends ever asked her to? She didn't think so. Would she have said yes? If Cin had asked, definitely.

Did that make her a lesbian? Bisexual? Confused? Kristen didn't know. All she knew was that she wanted everything Cin was doing to her. In fact, she wanted more.

Cin thought she was going to be the one to fall and get hurt in this… whatever was happening between them. She was wrong. Kristen was already a puddle on the ground, and she had no idea how to put herself back together.

"I'm going to take care of you."

Kristen's pulse quickened at Cin's words. She wanted nothing more than to give in to Cin's care, to let her guard down and be vulnerable.

Cin knelt before Kristen, gazing up at her with tender eyes. She wasn't doing anything except resting her hand on her knees and looking at her. But it was enough to make Kristen's heart do somersaults.

"You're safe with me."

Kristen believed it. In Cin's presence, she felt anchored, sheltered from the storms of life. Kristen leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Cin's. She'd never let her guard down so completely with someone. But she didn't feel the need to have a single wall up or hide behind any barrier. She trusted Cin with every part of her.

Cin’s lips finally brushed against hers. The kiss was gentle, a delicate press of lips that sent a ripple through Kristen's body. It wasn’t rushed or forceful, but slow and sweet, like a question waiting for an answer. Kristen's hands instinctively reached for Cin, her fingers brushing against the warmth of her skin.

She had been kissed before—by men who moved too fast, who took without asking—but this was different. This was unlike anything she'd ever known. The way Cin kissed her made her feel cherished, like she was the only person in the world. The softness of Cin's lips against hers, the way their mouths fit together so naturally—it was as if Kristen had never truly been kissed until this moment.

Electricity spread through her chest, filling every empty space. Cin pulled back just slightly, their foreheads nearly touching. Kristen opened her eyes, dazed and breathless. It felt like a secret had passed between them, something only they could understand.

Cin's hands slid down to the buttons of Kristen's blouse, her gaze holding Kristen's. "May I?"

Kristen swallowed hard, arousal stirring low in her belly at Cin's request. She gave a small nod. "Yes."

With slow, deliberate movements, Cin began unbuttoning Kristen's blouse. "Just breathe, darling. I've got you."

A delicious shiver ran down Kristen's spine at the endearment. Cin eased the blouse off Kristen's shoulders, dropping soft kisses along her collarbone.

"You. Are. Exquisite." Each word was punctuated, like it was its own sentence.

Cin trailed a finger along the edge of Kristen's bra. Kristen squirmed, needing more but unsure how to ask. She didn't have to. Cin unhooked the bra with nimble fingers, baring her breasts.

Kristen flushed under the intensity of Cin's gaze. No one had ever looked at her with such reverence. Cin cupped one breast, thumb gliding over the nipple.

A gasp tore out of Kristen's throat. Her back arched into the touch. The warmth in her belly ignited into an inferno, and she surged forward. Cin claimed her lips again in a searing kiss. Her breasts were caught in Cin's palms as she kneaded them just right. No pinching her nipples. Cin paid attention to every part of her mounds.

Kristen let out a cry of protest when Cin let go of her breasts. The cry died on her lips as Cin eased her onto the cushions. Cin's hands pushed her knees open as she settled herself between them. Kristen trembled in anticipation, every nerve ending attuned to Cin's movements.

With agonizing slowness, Cin hooked her fingers under the waistband of Kristen's panties and dragged them down her legs. Kristen lifted her hips to help. Then kicked the scrap of lace aside.

Now fully bare under Cin's heated gaze, Kristen had never felt so exposed yet cherished. Cin looked at her as though she were a goddess deserving of worship. Kristen flushed at her own thoughts but couldn't deny the truth in them.

She arched into Cin's touch with a quiet moan. Cin's hands slid around to cup Kristen's back, holding her steady as she lavished attention on her neck and shoulders.

Kristen tangled her hands in Cin's hair, silently urging her on. Cin seemed content to take her time, learning every curve and hollow of Kristen's body.

Not that Kristen was complaining. She was greedy. She craved more. She was desperate to lose herself in Cin's skillful touch.

As if sensing Kristen's need, Cin slid lower, trailing kisses down to the swell of Kristen's breasts. She paused there, her warm breath teasing Kristen's nipple.

Kristen whimpered, "Yes."

Cin took Kristen's nipple in her mouth, rolling her tongue over the sensitive bud. Kristen jerked, a strangled cry escaping her lips. She was already wound tight, and Cin's ministrations threatened to undo her completely.

Cin gentled her movements, gliding her hands down Kristen's sides in a soothing caress. Kristen relaxed into the sensation, losing herself in the push and pull of Cin's mouth and the warmth blossoming inside her. Cin released Kristen's nipple with a soft pop, shifting lower. She nuzzled Kristen's stomach, peppering light kisses over her skin.

Kristen didn't remember how her dress left her. As she lay bare before Cin, heat flooded her cheeks under the intensity of Cin's gaze. But there was no judgment in Cin's eyes, only reverence and desire. Kristen relaxed into the cushions, comforted by the tenderness in Cin's expression.

She leaned down to press a kiss on Kristen's inner thigh, sending a jolt of heat straight to Kristen's core. "You've got some balls, darling."

It took Kristen a moment to realize that Cin was referring to her Benwa balls, which lay nestled deep in her core.

"We're going to leave those in while we play."

Kristen whimpered, squirming under Cin's teasing touch. When Cin's mouth found her center, velvet soft and impossibly warm, Kristen swore she heard the balls inside her hum a vibrating tune.

Pleasure ignited under Cin's skillful tongue, building and spreading like wildfire. Kristen cried out, her fingers twisting in Cin's hair to hold her close.

Cin's hands slid under Kristen's hips, angling her to deepen the intimate kiss. She lavished Kristen with attention, her tongue stroking and teasing until Kristen was trembling on the edge of bliss.

And then she went over. It wasn't a crash. Because there was no hard landing.

Her muscles clenched around the balls. Her clit pulsed under Cin's tongue. The sensations kept going and going, receding some but not entirely as Kristen came with a sob. Cin held her close, easing Kristen through the aftershocks rippling through her.

The pleasure was so good that it hurt.