Addison’s mouth went slack as she stared at Joanna, but her momentary annoyance was no match for Joanna’s laughter. True and pure, it was frivolity at its best and Addison’s heart smiled. She reached over and pulled Joanna toward her, and a second before their lips met, she whispered, “Now...where were we?”

Chapter Thirty-Four

When Evelyn hired the staff for The Oaks, for the most part, her requirements matched those of other house managers except for one detail. Along with professionalism, respect, propriety, and privacy, those who worked at The Oaks could not carry with them a hint of homophobia or bias. So, while Fiona was surprised by what she had just seen, as she descended the stairs, she couldn’t help but titter at the shocked look on Addison’s face. It did her heart good to know the woman wasn’t as icy as her eyes.

With Chauncey dancing around in urgency when they reached the foyer, Fiona opened the door and allowed the pup to visit the front lawns for a short while before she headed to the kitchen with Chauncey at her heels. Priorities being what they were, Master Chauncey received his breakfast before Fiona began preparing another tray to take upstairs; however, this time she prepared it with two in mind. Loading it with coffee, toast, and assorted nibbles, she carried it upstairs and set it on the floor outside Joanna’s room. Knocking lightly on the door, Fiona hurried back to the kitchen carrying with her a smile that would last for hours.

***

Their morning and afternoon were filled with toast and jam and sex and sleep, although not necessarily in that order. They expressed their feelings in murmurs and sighs, and caresses starting as tender, ended in an urgency that took their breath away.

Guided by the love she felt, there was no hesitancy in Joanna’s kisses or uncertainty in her touch, and in the warmth of her embrace, Addison discovered the difference between having sex and making love. She had always used sex as a means to an end, a pleasurable exercise resulting in a peaceful night’s sleep alone in her bed, but now Addison found herself fighting exhaustion for one more taste of Joanna’s luscious lips or one more touch of skin creamier than anything imaginable.

Sated, they would doze, spooned in the center of a queen size bed, oblivious to the beautiful day just outside the window, but when their eyes fluttered open, so did their hearts, and they started again.

Dressed only in a wrinkled white shirt, Addison came out of the bathroom and crept to the bed. Leaning over, she placed a light kiss on Joanna’s lips and smiled when she heard Joanna’s sleepy purr. “Time to wake up,” Addison whispered.

Joanna grinned as she opened her eyes, but with only one button fastened on Addison’s shirt, Joanna’s grin quickly changed to a leer. “Nice view.”