They sat across from one another in silence. Both trying to come to terms with what had just happened. This is not how they thought the night would end. Not even close.
Mariah had just poured her heart and soul out to Tessa as they shared a table on the patio at Crimson Lights.
“Do you think about that kiss? Because I do…”
Of course, Tessa thought about that kiss. It was perfect. The most mind-blowing kiss she had ever shared with another person. She only thought about it every minute of every day… twice a minute when Mariah was in the room with her. It was quite distracting, really… but she couldn’t give in. If Mariah knew the truth…
“You don’t really know me… and you can’t…”
But Mariah… that beautiful, stubborn redhead had continued to push. “That’s ridiculous! You thought you couldn’t tell anyone about Crystal but then you did and now she’s safe. So, whatever it is, you have to know that you can tell me!”
It was going so well up until that point. Tessa had remained strong… but goddamnit Mariah was convincing. For the first time in her life Tessa believed that maybe… maybe something could be real. That this could be true… but then she went and opened her damn mouth. She told Mariah everything… it just came out… and now that it was out there, hanging between them in the stillness, Tessa worried that she had really fucked it all up this time.
Mariah sat in shock. Did Tessa really just…?
“You’re scamming my brother?”
Tessa flinched a little cause… well, when you put it like that… “I mean… a little?”
The redhead shook her head, “A little? How do you con someone a little?”
“Well… It wasn’t some elaborate scam… it was more of a vague idea? Get with the right crowd, meet some rich people, maybe come out ahead a little? But then I met Noah and he… well…”
Mariah laughed a little. “He’s an easy mark.”
Tessa looked down sheepishly. “Yeah…”
Maybe it was the way she smiled a little or the way she tilted her head just enough to look at her from the corner of her eyes… but goddamn she looked sexy as hell. Mariah knew she should be furious. This woman had been scamming her brother for months, but for some reason it made her heart feel a little lighter. Tessa didn’t love Noah. She had nothing to gain from telling Mariah the truth and had everything to lose. As a former con artist herself, she knew what this meant for Tessa.
The musician took a deep breath, “Look, I know you probably hate me now…”
“I could never hate you.” Mariah quickly interrupted. She reached out across the table and placed her hand over Tessa’s.
The dark-haired woman smiled. “Really?” She turned her hand over and laced her fingers with Mariah’s.
“So… just to clarify. You’re not into Noah?” She smiled as she looked down at their joined hands.
Tessa couldn’t suppress the laugh as she shook her head. “No.”
Mariah’s eyes sparkled in the low light as her thumb caressed the other woman’s hand. “And me?”
The musician bit her lip, looking up to meet the redhead’s eyes. “Very into you.”
“And the scam?”
Tessa’s smile grew. “Over the second you told me you still think about our kiss.”
She had a decision to make. Walk away and preserve her relationship with her brother. Or jump into the deep end with Tessa and… maybe drown. The woman had a dark side that Mariah was drawn to. From the moment they met, this mysterious woman had captivated her. If she were being honest with herself, it spoke to a long-buried part of herself. One wild child to another. And in truth, she craved more.
Her decision was made the moment Tessa told her that their kiss had meant something to her too.
Fucking hell, this was going to be messy. But she didn’t care. As long as she had Tessa by her side, nothing else mattered.
She quickly stood, Tessa following just a second after. Mariah pulled the woman into a tight embrace as she stared into her eyes. “Be with me.”
Tessa grinned as she looked down at the redhead in her arms. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Mariah laughed quietly, glancing at the taller woman’s lips. “Such a smart ass.”
“I think you might like that about me.”
Mariah shook her head and bit her bottom lip. “You have no idea.”
“What about your family?” Tessa’s brow furrowed. The last thing she wanted was to come between Mariah and her family.
The redhead shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”
“And if you can’t?”
Mariah paused. Letting the thought sink in. She loved her family but she wasn’t about to lose her chance at happiness. “Fuck it.”
Tessa shook her head in disbelief. “Mariah… I know what it means to you. To have a family…”
“Yeah. It means a lot. But so do you.” The shorter woman took a deep breath as she tightened her hold on the dark-haired musician in her arms. “I know this isn’t going to be easy but… I also don’t really care.”
She tilted her head to the side, studying the redhead’s reaction. “And the fact that I was conning your brother?”
Mariah smirked despite herself. “Kinda hot.”
“You can’t be serious.” Laughter bubbled up from her throat. That was not the reaction she had been expecting.
“What can I say? I like the whole, bad girl image.”
The taller woman licked her lips, a sculpted brow lifting in question. “Is that right?”
“Mmhmm…” Mariah bit her lip as she leaned back, her eyes roaming over the musician’s body. “…doesn’t hurt that you look sexy as hell in leather.”
Tessa couldn’t stop the light hearted laugh that broke free. “I knew it. You only want me for my body.”
“How do you figure?”
Tessa grinned as she ran her hands down the redhead’s back. “I saw you checking me out at the gym… admiring my form my ass.”
“Well, I was admiring your form… and your ass.”
Tessa barked with laughter, swaying from side to side with the redhead in her arms. “You’re terrible.”
“You love it.”
“I do. I really do.”
Mariah sighed happily. “What do we do now?”
Tessa let out a deep breath, releasing all the pent-up stress and anxiety she had been holding on to. “Well… I break up with Noah. You break up with Devon. Then we can…”
“Fuck that. I’ll text Devon right now.” Mariah pulled out of their shared embrace and fished her phone out of her back pocket.
Tessa quickly reached out, placing her hand on the redhead’s arm. “You can’t break up with him over text!”
“And why not? He’ll be thrilled. Then he can crawl back to Hilary.” The redhead unlocked her phone, a small smirk gracing her lips.
Tessa shook her head in disbelief. “Devon’s an idiot. He had you but still pined after Hilary? Complete idiot.”
“Yeah, well… I’m not really interested in what he wants anyway.” Her smile grew as she glanced up at the taller woman.
The musician grinned, taking a measured step closer to the redhead. “Oh, no?”
“Nope.” Mariah reached out a hand, placing it firmly on the other woman’s hip. “Much more interested in what you want.”
Tessa’s eyes softened as she gazed down at the redhead. “All I want is you.”
“You have me.” Mariah leaned closer, getting lost in the other woman’s green eyes. She pulled back, just before their lips connected. “Just as soon as you break up with my brother.”
The musician quickly reached into her own pocket, pulling out her cellphone as well. “Consider it done.”
She couldn’t hide the amused grin or joyful laughter. “Text? Seriously? Weren’t you just scolding me for the same thing?”
Tessa shrugged as she finished typing out her message. “I mean, if it gets me to you faster...”
Both messages sent, they fell back into the others arms.
“Would you look at that? We’re both single.”
The redhead leaned closer, her hands finding purchase on the taller woman’s hips once more. “So, we are… whatever shall we do?”
Tessa pressed her body closer to the shorter woman, bringing her arms up to rest on her shoulders. “I say we get a hotel, deal with the fall out tomorrow.”
“I love the way you think.” Mariah leaned in closer, their lips almost touching.
The musician groaned quietly. “Hmmm, you’re really going to like what I’m thinking when we get to the hotel.”
“Is that right?”
She nodded slightly; eyes hooded with desire. “Yes ma’am. I have… all kinds of ideas.”
“What are we waiting for?”
Tessa grinned, stepping out of Mariah’s embrace only to be stopped by a hand on her wrist, pulling her back in.
Mariah quickly shifted her hands to the taller woman’s waist, sliding them around to the small of her back, pulling her in closer. She licked her lips in anticipation as she continued to stare at the red lips of the woman she loved.
Tessa’s breathing hitched as she saw the look of desire burning in Mariah’s eyes. No words were needed as the pair leaned in, lips pressing together in a passionate kiss.
This was definitely the start of something wonderful.