Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
I take it from her. There’s a big R-A in frosting on the top. Ruth-Ann. There’s no question that she made this earlier today thinking of me. It’s not an afterthought or a “I just happen to have leftover cake” and claiming it’s for me. Everything she did today, she did because of me.
I’ve never felt more…loved. More seen.
“You didn’t have to do this for me,” I comment, still touched by the sight of the small cake. I don’t even care if the lettering is slightly wobbly. I want to take the entire thing home and keep it forever.
Simone leans against the counter, watching me. “I know, but I wanted to show you how much I care.”
“About my birthday?”
She laughs, tossing that long ponytail of hers. “No. About you, silly.”
Oh.
She pulls the cake from my grasp, and I let her take it. I watch as she sets it aside, and to my surprise, she leans in and kisses me.
It’s a light, quick kiss on the lips, but I’m so stunned that I just stand there like a statue. Okay, I’d been expecting more hand-holding and hoping for more, but for some reason, my brain doesn’t seem to realize that she’s kissing me. She likes me.
Simone pulls back, and a mortified expression crosses her face. “Oh my god. I’m sorry. Did I…did I read you wrong? I just thought you were interested—”
Wait, wait. “I’m interested,” I squawk. “I promise I’m interested. I’m just…surprised.”
She tilts her head, watching me. “Still? I thought I was making myself obvious.”
I lick my lips—oh god, they taste like her—and hesitate. Do I get involved, knowing that I can’t ever tell her the truth of who I am? Of what I am? Does it really matter? If I turn away now, I’m going to lose her. I know that as sure as I know how to breathe. I can’t explain to her and she won’t understand.
More than that, I don’t want to turn away. Just because I’m a clone, that doesn’t mean I can’t have happiness. Surely I can find out a way to balance everything. Surely I’m not doomed to be alone. Ruthie found love, but he’s also a clone. Ruth, my other sister, is currently being cosseted by her big mesakkah husband. She’ll be protected by his name and his wallet.
But no one can protect Simone, or me. We have the most risk of all.
I stare at her, full of yearning and indecision. A look of hurt flickers across her face, and that’s all it takes. I don’t want to be the one who hurts her. I want to be the one she depends on when the universe tries to bring her down.
“Can we kiss again?” A knot of emotion in my throat makes the words difficult. I hold a hand out to her, trembling.
“You don’t have to be scared of anything,” Simone whispers, cupping my face. “It’s just me here. You know I won’t hurt you.”
She leans in, her fingers gentle on my skin, and then her mouth brushes mine again. It’s soft. Sweet. Perfect. It unlocks a deep, needy hunger in me. I cling to her, pulling her close and deepening the kiss. Our tongues brush. Simone gasps.
And I am fucking loving this.
It’s like something inside me has torn free. I kiss her hungrily, my mouth slanting over hers, not letting her up for anything. It doesn’t matter that I’m shorter than her and have to stand on my tiptoes as I wind my arms around her neck and shoulders. It doesn’t matter that I’m not the most experienced kisser and my enthusiasm is greater than my finesse. She makes soft sounds of pleasure with each kiss, whimpering when we pause, and it tells me that I can keep going.
I pull her closer, burying my face against her neck when we part again, and she jolts against me. In the next moment she groans, holding me tight as I suck on the slim column of her throat. I kiss every inch of bare skin I can find, nipping at her ear before kissing her jaw and then back down her neck. I want to devour her whole, taste all of her. I have vague memories of other kisses in the past, both male and female, but they don’t compare to how I feel when my lips touch Simone’s. It’s like she’s the spark that turns my body into an inferno.
I kiss down her throat again, to her delicate collarbone, and this elicits a laugh from Simone. She squirms against me as my hands roam over her. “God. I swear I brought you here for cake, not to make out.”
“Should I stop?” I ask, then trace her collar with my tongue.
“Absolutely the fuck not.” She slips a hand down to my butt and squeezes one cheek.