Missed Connections (40 page)

Vi straightened and ran a hand through her hair. Squinting, she tried to see what Cassidy apparently did when she looked at her—not just a scrawny girl in oversized black frames and skinny jeans, but someone attractive, someone desirable.

She guessed she had pretty eyes; people had complimented her on the length of her lashes, even without the use of mascara. But Cassidy's eyes were prettier, perfectly made up and smoldering with a heat that she didn't feel the need to hide from the world.

Vi didn't know the first thing about eyeliner or nail polish, but she tried to look nice. She felt more comfortable in T-shirts and jeans than dresses and heels, but that didn't mean she didn't put effort into her appearance. It was just that people like Greg, or her other guy friends, didn't notice unless a girl was in a tight dress and heavy makeup. No one had ever really appreciated the effort she put in before, but Cassidy seemed to like her just as she was.

"Ready to go, Tulip?"

Vi jumped at the sound of Cassidy's voice, whirling to meet her gaze. "Tulip?"

Cassidy grinned. "Yeah. Because I can't stop thinking about your
two lips
."

"Oh my god," Vi groaned. "That was terrible. Genuinely the worst thing I've ever heard."

"Don't jump the gun. I've barely started."

Cassidy was dressed casually in street clothes—jeans and a strappy tank top that showed off her slim dancer's figure to great effect. She looked even better than she had in the skimpy costume she wore all night:  easily sexy instead of over-the-top. Vi figured Cassidy probably looked amazing in whatever she wore.

But apparently she was also a terrible, punning nerd. Vi liked it.

"Puns are the lowest form of humor," she pointed out.

"That's vile propaganda spread by people who don't appreciate word play."

"Okay, okay." Vi held up her hands in mock-surrender, suddenly feeling much less nervous. Cassidy was beautiful and talented, but apparently she was also fun.

In the nearly empty room, the bartender and servers were gathering forgotten glasses and wiping down tables, while the DJ packed up his equipment. "Should we," Vi's voice squeaked and she paused, clearing her throat. "Should we get going?"

Cassidy grinned brightly. "Absolutely."

Cassidy kept her distance as they made their way out to the curb, waving goodbye to the bartenders and some of the other dancers lingering in the club, and exchanging a few words with the bouncer at the door. Trailing after her, Vi watched the way Cassidy seemed to light up the room; she couldn't believe she was the one going home with this beautiful woman.

Cabs lined up at the curb, curving around the block as they waited for people to come stumbling out of the clubs. Cassidy slung her bag into the first vehicle before climbing in, offering Vi a tantalizing view of her raised backside, jeans pulled tight across her subtle curves. After a dazed moment Vi remembered that she was supposed to get in too, and hurried after her.

Cassidy gave her address to the driver as Vi settled at her side. She wanted to slide over, closer, but she didn't know if that would be okay. Maybe Cassidy would think it was stupid, straddling the awkward hump in the middle of the backseat just to be close to her. Vi frowned and decided not to risk it, settling against the far window.  She tried to look casual, but suddenly it was as if she couldn't remember what to do with her limbs; she shifted awkwardly, attempting to rest her arm against the window of the vehicle only to have it slip off, jarring her. Blushing, she quickly folded her hands in her lap, but then just as quickly released them. Did that look stupid? She didn't even know anymore. 

"You okay?" Cassidy asked quietly, and in a long elegant slide she was suddenly at Vi's side, a foot draped to each side of the hump as if it was the most natural thing in the world. 

"I'm fine."

In reality, Vi's heart was racing, and Cassidy's proximity didn't help. Vi swore she could
feel
the electricity crackling between them, feel the warmth of Cassidy's body just a few inches away. Every hair on her arm stood on end as she imagined scooting over that last little bit and pressing her skin against Cassidy's. 

Every place their bodies nearly touched absorbed Vi's focus, and she was beyond grateful that Cassidy didn't seem to require her to make conversation. She was pretty sure she didn't even know what words were at the moment, not when a slight shift in her position would bring their bodies into alignment, the lengths of their legs pressed together, their feet tangled. If she just moved ever so slightly…

"We're here," Cassidy said. 

"Oh." Vi looked up, surprised. The cab was stopped on a quiet-looking residential street, and Cassidy was fumbling with her purse.

"Oh," she said again, hand moving to grasp for her wallet. "Let me."

"It's fine." Cassidy waved off the suggestion, leaning forward to hand the driver a bill. "You can get the next one."

Vi grinned. Cassidy said the 'next one' as if it was already certain. As if tonight had gone well enough already that there was no question they'd see each other again.

Trying to contain her elation, Vi stumbled out of the cab, tripping over her own feet. Behind her, Cassidy slid out with all the elegance with which she danced, putting Vi's shuffling attempt at coordination to shame. Vi flushed, smoothing her T-shirt down with clammy palms.

Her embarrassment was forgotten in the next moment, as Cassidy flashed her a wide smile and reached out to grasp her hand.

That simple touch, just the press of palms, made Vi's heart kick into high gear, a steady thump in her chest. Cassidy's fingers tangled with hers, pulling her along, and Vi couldn't stop the dopey grin that broke out over her face. 

They were holding hands in public.

Sure, the street was dark and deserted, but their clasped hands felt like a declaration of some kind—one that Vi was starting to realize was long overdue. 

Cassidy didn't let go of her even as she fumbled with her keys, pushing the door open and tugging Vi inside. They climbed the stairs side by side, shoulders brushing in the narrow space. Another door, another set of keys, and they were finally inside, alone together in Cassidy's apartment.

Curious as she was, Vi couldn't bear to tear her eyes away from Cassidy long enough to look around. 

"So… this is it," Cassidy said with a sweep of the hand. "Living room, kitchen, bathroom's back there. And that's… well, that's the bedroom." She gestured to a door to their left, color rising in her cheeks. 

"Right," Vi said, voice catching in her throat.

"We don't… I mean, if you're… " Cassidy said, a sweet look of concern on her face.  "We can just talk, if you want."

Vi definitely enjoyed talking to Cassidy, joking with her and teasing, but right now she wanted more than words. 

Stepping close, she raised a hand to the back of Cassidy's neck, stroking over the soft hair at her nape. "We can talk later."

It took all the confidence she had to bridge the distance between them, capturing Cassidy's lips with her own, but it was more than worth it just to hear the soft sound Cassidy made at the touch. Her hands came up to clutch at Vi's shoulders as she tilted her head, slanting her mouth to lick at the juncture of Vi's lips.

The kiss was gentle and sweet, the opposite of the heady, frantic one they had shared in the bathroom, but no less arousing. Cassidy's tongue snaked into her mouth in a wet glide that made Vi weak at the knees. She wrapped an arm around Cassidy's slim waist, pulling her close and marveling at the way their bodies fit together. Cassidy's small, soft breasts aligned with her own, the complete opposite of the hard press of a man's chest. Vi reveled in the sensation, the feel of Cassidy's tiny waist as she held her close, the soft brush of her silky hair against Vi's face.

It was completely different from any kiss she had had before, and it was exactly what she had wanted. 

"Mmm." Cassidy brushed their lips together. "Maybe we should… " She snuck in to peck at Vi's lips again then giggled, "get more than three feet through the door?"

Vi felt a blush heat her face and reluctantly let go, allowing Cassidy to take a step back.

"There's the, um, couch. Or we could… " Cassidy bit her lip coyly as she nodded towards the bedroom door. Vi allowed her eyes to trail over the Ikea couch tucked into the corner of the shadowy living room, but she knew what she wanted, and she knew how she wanted this night to end.

"Let's go to bed," she said, surprised at the husky sound of her own voice.

Cassidy's eyes lit up and she grabbed both of Vi's hands, drawing Vi after her until her back hit the closed door.

"It's not that clean," she said apologetically, reaching behind her to fumble with the knob. "I didn't really plan on having anyone over."

"It's fine," Vi said, but her heart leapt. Cassidy had already told her that she didn't do this often, but she was still thrilled to hear that Cassidy hadn't planned on meeting any other girls this weekend and bringing them home in Vi's place.

Pushing the door open, Cassidy switched on the light and kicked some clothes out of her way as she led Vi inside. 

"Sorry, I'm such a slob," she laughed, letting go of Vi's hand long enough to sweep the pile of clothes into her open closet. 

Vi's own room was a minefield of rejected outfits, so she was in no place to judge. And, as Cassidy bent over to gather some shoes off the floor, Vi found she really didn't care about the state of the room at all.

Her hand reached out to caress the curve of Cassidy's ass before she could think better of it, and she definitely didn't regret it as Cassidy shot her a mischievous look over her shoulder.

"Hmm," she said, straightening up. She turned in Vi's hold and arched her back, pressing the swell of her ass more firmly into Vi's touch. 

Vi had to squeeze her eyes closed at the sensation, focusing in on that point of contact, palming at the firm flesh like she had been dying to do all night. Cassidy's ass was magnificent, practically a work of art, and she had been salivating over its smooth curves all night. The scrap of fabric Cassidy had worn had ridden up as she moved, exposing more and more of her creamy, pale skin. Vi had spent the whole night fantasizing about touching it,
biting
it, and now she was finally getting the chance. 

Even through tight denim Cassidy felt fantastic, and the thought of getting to peel those jeans down and caress bare skin made Vi's head spin.

Cassidy leaned in, nipping teasingly at Vi's lip before kissing her properly, slipping her tongue in right away, leaning close to mold their bodies together. Vi sighed into the contact. God, she wanted everything, and right away. 

With that thought in mind she raised a hand, laying it gently over the swell of Cassidy's breast. She pressed into the touch and Vi squeezed, flicking her thumb over the soft peak of Cassidy's nipple, just palpable through the cotton of her tank and bra. 

"Ohh." The exhalation gusted warmly against Vi's lips, a burst of heat between them. Cassidy reached down tug at the hem of her own thin tank and Vi pulled back, the loss of Cassidy's lips balanced by the promise of more. The soft cotton skimmed up smoothly over Cassidy's head, revealing a black lace bra. The dark material against Cassidy's pale skin sent a wave of heat flooding through Vi. It looked even better than the cropped top Cassidy had worn at the club, and Vi raised her hands again, needing to touch. 

Cassidy's head tipped back as Vi massaged her flesh, teasing her nipples through the thin fabric. The more they hardened, the more Vi wanted.

After a long moment Cassidy reached out, tangling her slim fingers in the fabric of Vi's shirt. "You too?" She asked, tugging gently. 

Vi was normally self-conscious about her body; years of feeling inadequate in high school locker rooms, as the other girls bloomed while her body stayed basically the same, had left her reluctant to strip down. But the heat in the Cassidy's eyes assured her that she wanted to see Vi as much as Vi had wanted to see her. So she nodded, dropping her hands to allow Cassidy to sweep the shirt up over her head. 

She wore a simple white cotton bra, sturdy and serviceable, and nothing like the sexy lace that Cassidy wore. But Cassidy didn't seem to mind, licking her lips as she stared at the swells of Vi's breasts.

"You're so beautiful," she whispered.

"Me?" Vi shook her head, fighting the urge to cross her arms over her stomach. She was skinny, but Cassidy was toned to perfection. "Look at you."

Cassidy laughed, crowding close, fearlessly raising a hand to cup the weight of one of Vi's breasts in her hand. "You've got to learn to take a compliment, Poppy." She ran a manicured nail over the visible peak of Vi's nipple, and any arguments Vi might have had went right out of her head.

"Ohh," she said. Cassidy pushed closer, guiding Vi back until her legs hit the bed. She sat down hard, blinking up. "Oh," she repeated. Cassidy towered over her, sleek and perfect, and Vi leaned in without a thought, pressing an open-mouthed kiss against the firm flesh of Cassidy's stomach, the muscles hard and tight beneath her lips. Cassidy might have complained about having no curves, but the sinuous lines of her dancer's muscles were more than enough for Vi.

She could feel every breath Cassidy took as she pressed her face to her abdomen, letting herself revel in the soft skin and girlish scent of her. The way Cassidy's breathing quickened as she dragged her lips downward relaxed Vi more than anything Cassidy could say to her—she could literally feel how much Cassidy wanted this.

And it just made Vi want more—more of Cassidy's want, more of Cassidy's need. She mouthed the skin in front of her, nipping a line along the firm muscles to the dark ink that stained Cassidy's hip. The tip of the tattoo teasingly peeked out of Cassidy's tight jeans, and Vi licked it, tracing her tongue along its lines. Cassidy's breath caught above her and Vi smiled against her skin. She wanted to lick Cassidy all over, to taste every inch of her skin.

"Vi," Cassidy sighed, the teasing flower names forgotten as she trembled under Vi's touch. Her fingers skated through Vi's hair, pressing in against her scalp. "Let me just…" She fumbled at the button of her jeans and Vi leaned back, watching with rapt eyes as Cassidy eased the denim over slim hips, revealing a bright pink thong. Vi groaned at the sight; there was a little black bow right in the middle and she leaned in to nip at it with her lips.