Irresistible Impulse (3 page)

Latisha’s thighs stiffened as her need stretched to the breaking point. Her breath caught when Tania’s fingers slipped beneath the elastic of her panties to stroke the tiny kernel of flesh. The climax that had shimmered in the distance suddenly crashed over her, and Latisha came in a delicious rush of warmth. Contractions pulsed through her, her nipples tightened, her lips tingled. Prickles raced to the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet.

She burrowed her face against Tania’s neck, breathing in her floral scent. “Ohh…”

As she came back to earth, Latisha felt Tania’s soft lips pressed to her moist hairline. Then she was aware of being wedged inelegantly next to the sink, the counter cold underneath her ass, her skirt bunched almost to her waist. What was she doing? What had she done?

Then she remembered Danni and went cold. She couldn’t go down this road again. “No.”

“No?” Tania drew back in surprise.

“This is not…no.” She shook her head, pushed herself off the counter, and righted her skirt. She straightened the rest of her clothing, trying to avoid looking at her guilty reflection in the mirror. Trying not to see the hurt in Tania’s face. “I have to go. I have to get back to my cousin. I’m sorry.” She edged past Tania and almost bumped into a woman coming through the door.

****

What the hell just happened?

Tania felt dizzy with bewilderment.
I know she was feeling me. What did I do wrong?

Finding Tisha in tears, Tania had given in to the impulse to kiss her and make it better. Had she pressured Latisha into something she hadn’t wanted?
But she told me yes. And I know she enjoyed it.
So there had to be another reason why Tisha had suddenly freaked out. Why had she been crying?

Flooded with self-doubt, Tania knew only one thing. She had to find Latisha and make sure she was all right.

They almost collided in the lobby, as Tania headed toward the Van Buren Room and Latisha hurried out of it.

“Amira’s not there.” Tisha’s expression was taut with worry. “The coordinator said she left in a hurry.”

“Maybe she took a bathroom break—”

“She left at least twenty minutes ago. She wouldn’t have taken that long.”

“Could she have gone home?”

Latisha huffed in frustration. “She would have told me.”

“Well, try calling her.”

Latisha gave Tania a do-you-think-I’m-stupid look. “I’ve tried, and there’s no answer. I have no idea where she is. I don’t know what I was thinking, leaving her alone. I never should have let you talk me into—”

“Wait a minute.” Tania’s eyes bulged as her head filled with steam. She took Latisha’s arm and practically marched her behind a stout pillar where they wouldn’t be seen. “You just hold on. First of all, I didn’t talk you into anything. I invited you for a drink and you agreed. Secondly, your cousin is not a child. She’s a grown woman. If she chose to leave that BS dating thing, that’s on her. Not you, and certainly not me.”

Latisha glanced away, her face turning dark with embarrassment. When Tania calmed a bit, she spoke again, her voice softer. “Let’s not even pretend we don’t know what this is about. If I came on too strong before, I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Latisha’s gaze flitted around the lobby, landing everywhere but Tania. “But it was a mistake.”

Tisha’s refusal to look her in the face told Tania everything she needed to know.
You’re lying
, she wanted to say. Instead, she took a deep steadying breath. It wasn’t her job to force anyone to confront her sexuality. “All right. But let’s just get one thing straight, so to speak. You kissed me back.”

She might even have reminded Tisha how she’d encouraged Tania to touch her. But Latisha looked so unhappy that Tania didn’t have the heart to embarrass her more.

Latisha, still avoiding Tania’s gaze, refused to answer.

Tania released a deep sigh of sadness. “You know it’s true.” She gripped the handle of her purse so tightly, her fingers went numb. “But I guess there’s nothing more to say.”

“No.”

Damn it. Tania ground her teeth and turned away. With anyone else she’d have blown up, lost her shit for sure. But she just couldn’t bring herself to do that with Tisha.

She should be angry. Anger would have protected her from the sickening sense of disappointment and loss flooding her. Now what? Head home and spend the rest of the night feeling sorry for herself?

No. What she really wanted was to head back to the lounge and have two or three more cocktails. But since she had to drive, that was not going to happen. Unless the bar offered virgin mai tais.

****

Latisha’s chest throbbed with guilt while her mind whirled with confusion. She’d lied. She
had
kissed Tania back, had wanted Tania to touch her. Had even encouraged it. But she couldn’t admit it, not even to herself when confronted.

Tania was the first woman who’d touched her sexually since she and Danni broke up. Oh, she hadn’t been celibate all this time. She’d dated men, gone to bed with some of them, and it had been…nice. Nothing more. With Tania, it had been fireworks, skyrockets, waves crashing on the shore, every movie cliché and then some. It had been amazing. Her body was still feeling the aftershocks.

Not only had she hurt Tania, but worse, she’d blamed her for Amira’s sudden disappearance. Amira
was
grown. Tania told the truth about that, too.

She couldn’t bear to think of the pain on Tania’s face when they’d parted, so instead she focused on locating Amira. One thing at a time. Once she found her cousin, there would be plenty of time for guilt and regret. She’d had a second chance today and played the fool. There’d be no third chance.

She hurried through the lobby out the front door. Maybe Amira had gone to her car? She held her coat closed as a cold gust of wind tried to rip it from her—a perfect example of upstate New York weather on the first day of Spring.

A young man in a down parka approached her. “Do you have your ticket, miss?”

She turned toward him. “No. Actually, I was wondering if—”

“Latisha.” Amira emerged from behind a stone column, a plastic thermos cup cradled in her hands.

“What happened to you?” Latisha’s voice was shriller than she intended as a spark of anger flashed through her. “I was looking everywhere.”

“I’m sorry.” But Amira didn’t look sorry in the least. She looked loopy, her lips curved in a dreamy smile.

“What are you drinking?” Latisha demanded.

Amira blinked. “Hot chocolate.” She directed a tender glance at the young parking valet. “Carlos shared it with me.”

Carlos flushed and smiled back, looking pretty loopy himself. Latisha realized she was in the presence of love at first sight.

She turned back to her cousin. “What made you come out here?”

Amira grimaced. “That muscle bound dude inside. He came to my table and at first he seemed all right, but then he started talking about all the,” her voice sank to a whisper, “
positions
he’d like to get me in. He was really gross.”

Righteous anger blazed through Latisha. “You should have reported him.”

“I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, so I just ran out here. Carlos saw how upset I was. He’s such a gentleman.” She sent another loving look his way. “He calmed me down, and we started talking. He shared his cocoa with me.”

Oh God, the girl’s gone.
Well, she could do a lot worse than the kind-hearted Carlos.

The valet was speaking to another customer when Amira pulled her aside.

“He’s a full time college student,” she confided. “He works here nights and weekends to help pay for school. He’s cute, don’t you think?” Amira’s round face glowed with happiness. “He asked for my number and said he’d call.”

So Amira had found her prince after all. So what if he wore a valet’s uniform instead of a golden crown?

She smiled and patted Amira’s arm. “If I head home now, will you be all right here with Carlos?”

Amira nodded. “I’m going to stay and finish my cocoa. He said he’ll see me to my car.”

Latisha headed down the walk toward the parking garage, trying to feel happy for her cousin.
Well, at least one of us got lucky.

She frowned.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You got lucky, too, but you had to mess it up.

****

Tania’s non-alcoholic cocktail did nothing to improve her mood. Her emotions were a stew of anger and disappointment as she stalked into the parking garage to get her car.

I know she wanted me. I’m not crazy.

She didn’t go around putting the moves on women who were strictly dickly. So why was Latisha gas-lighting her?

Maybe she’s like that gay guy at the speed-dating. She just can’t face who she really is.

Shit. Tania’s anger dissolved into sadness. What a loss for both of them.

If she hadn’t been lost in her thoughts, she’d have seen the guy approach. She looked up and there he was, right in front of her. A kid, really, barely out of his teens, skinny and pimple-faced with a huge Adam’s apple that bobbed jerkily up and down.

“Uh, excuse me, miss.” Even his voice sounded young, thin and reedy. “Do you know the time?”

She glanced at her wrist. “Yeah, it’s—” Even as she spoke she knew she was in trouble. Her skin prickled with dread. What kind of idiot walks by herself at night in a fucking parking garage?

The kid lunged for her purse, and Tania clung to it, first from instinct and then out of pure rage.

****

No third chance.
Latisha hugged her coat close and shivered in the cold wind as she hurried toward the parking garage.

Her steps slowed. Wait a minute. She knew Tania’s full name. Knew she worked at the public library. There was no reason she couldn’t go there, on neutral turf, and at least apologize face-to-face.

Her heart fluttered in her throat as she pictured Tania’s face, her mischievous smile.

And that’s all you want, Latisha, to offer an apology? Girl, please.

Of course not. She wanted more than Tania’s forgiveness. Wanted…

She stepped into the enclosure lined with cars. It was well-lit enough for her to glimpse the red hair of the tall woman several yards ahead of her. Latisha opened her mouth to call Tania’s name when a man darted out of nowhere. Latisha couldn’t hear what he said, but a moment later, he grabbed Tania’s purse.

She didn’t let it go. Latisha stood open-mouthed in shock as Tania scuffled with the mugger, screaming every curse word Latisha had ever heard and a few new ones. The mugger’s eyes bugged as he tangled with the banshee over her purse.

Latisha unfroze and raced toward them, screaming “Stop!”

A voice whirled in her memory.
That would make a good weapon.

Her chest burned as she reached them, as she swung her shoulder bag and smacked the man square in the head. The bag exploded and the mugger went down like a sack of dirty laundry.

“Son of a bitch!” Tania tried to kick him, but Latisha snatched her back.

“Are you crazy? Run!”

The mugger must have thought she was yelling at him. He staggered to his feet and stumbled off.

Latisha held Tania’s arm to keep her from chasing him. “He’s getting away,” the redhead yowled.

“Have you lost your mind?” Latisha grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “Why did you fight him? He could have hurt you!”

“He’s just a scrawny little bastard. I could’ve kicked his ass—”

“He could have had a gun. He could have—” Latisha grabbed Tania and kissed her, hard at first, out of fear and anger, then more gently as warmth spread through her.

Last time, Tania had made the first move, but this time, Latisha needed to take the upper hand. She had to show Tania how sorry she was. Had to prove to her that she was in it for real.

Now, without guilt or fear, she savored Tania’s lips. They were pillowy, fruity and sweet, still tasting of mai tai. Their lips opened simultaneously, their tongues gliding together. The easy warmth Latisha felt instantly ignited to a wildfire. Her breasts grew so full and achy that the only way to soothe them was to press them to Tania’s. Her pussy wept with need.

She broke away, not to reject Tania but to catch her breath. The kiss left her woozy. “Are you all right?”

Tania looked pretty unsteady herself. “I’m fine. I—” She glanced around at the contents of Latisha’s purse scattered everywhere. The bag itself sagged on the garage floor like a fallen prizefighter. “All your stuff. Let me help.”

Silently they gathered what they could. Latisha slid the purse strap up her shoulder as Tania handed her the paperback book. “You saved me.”

Latisha’s mouth quirked. “No. You were going to kick his ass, remember?” Her smile faded as she remembered what she needed to say. “Tania. What happened before? I’m sorry.”

Tania’s russet brows flew up her forehead, then lowered ominously. “Sorry about what happened? Or—”

“Sorry that I hurt you.” But it wasn’t enough. “That I lied about it being a mistake. That I lied to both of us.”

Tania’s features softened and warmth filled her cinnamon-colored eyes. “I’m glad you’re not lying anymore.”

Latisha flushed. “I found Amira, by the way. She’s head over heels for a parking attendant named Carlos.”

“Good for her.” Tania grinned. “Then I’m not the only one who fell in love today.”

“Love?” Latisha’s heart gave a bump.

“Who’d have thought? And I didn’t even want to be here tonight. So now that you don’t have to worry about your cousin, how about you follow me back to my place? We can have a little wine, you can ask me some more questions…anything you want.” She smiled. “I promise I won’t hold anything back.”

Latisha’s lips curved. “And we’ll just see where things go?”

“Well, I told you I like to be spontaneous.”

Latisha’s entire body tingled at the treats promised in Tania’s smile. “Spontaneity is starting to sound very good to me.”