THE DARE (G!P Freenbecky)

Chapter 32

Dinner at Danielle's was a lively affair. Freen found herself enjoying the evening immensely.

Danielle had a brief cocktail hour, then moved them all into her enormous formal dining room, lit with masses of stunning candles, where they feasted on standing rib roast with all the requisite side dishes and some very fine wines.

Then, after they'd had a chance to sit and relax for a bit, she herded them all into her large family room, where Freen could see several card tables, along with two or three board games set up, ready to play.

"And the television is here for Baco," Danielle said. She seemed practically willing to give her pig the remote. And for a moment Freen wondered if her pet was that smart.

Armed with dessert plates filled with bûche de Noël cake and both spicy gingerbread people and star-shaped sugar cookies, and carrying small glasses of amazingly rich homemade eggnog, all the guests took their places.

Baco stretched out in front of the wide-screen television to watch the Dr. Seuss cartoon, 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.' Freen had found Pepe the minute she'd entered the house, and now the tiny skunk lay on top of the immense pig, much like he had at the hotel.

Lafitte held court on his portable perch in the far corner of the family room. His new favorite expression to shriek was, "Look Daddy, teacher says that every time bell rings, an angel gets his wings!" But thankfully, he didn't do it more than once an hour.

And of course, Fluffy stayed in her lap.

Freen liked to play cards, so she sat down at one of the tables and was soon in the midst of a rousing game of hearts. She and Danielle were neck to neck, each having won two games, when she glanced up and saw Becky and her grandfather in the family room doorway, and her spirits lifted even more.

This was a present she hadn't counted on.

Becky was wearing a cranberry-red sweater along with a long, plaid skirt that hit about mid-calf on those gorgeous legs, and dark brown leather boots. And to Freen's eyes, she looked absolutely wonderful.

Becky caught her eye immediately and smiled such a tentative smile that Freen couldn't resist grinning back. And Freen glanced at Danielle, wondering if she'd set this whole thing up.....but the woman was busily studying the cards she currently held.

"I don't know about this hand," Danielle murmured.

Instinct told Freen she'd set this up for them.

"Thanks," Freen whispered. "I owe you one."

"Whatever are you talking about?"

"You know."

"Ah well, they say the Christmas holidays should be all about romance!" She picked another card, then called, "Get over here, Phillip, and play cards with us! You, too, Becky!"

The Devereuxes professed they wanted to turn their attention to the Grinch and his antics, so within minutes the four of them were seated at the table, and Danielle, Phillip, Freen, and Becky began a new game.

"You have to watch that one," Danielle said, indicating Freen with a nod of her perfectly coifed head. "She doesn't cheat, but she's a formidable player!"

"I can imagine," Becky said, as Fluffy tried to teethe in the bottom of the cards she held. Of course, she'd insisted on having the puppy sit in her lap as soon as she'd sat down.

Freen looked at Fluffy with new respect. True, she probably wouldn't amount of much as a watchdog, but if she enchanted Becky and therefore helped them to spend more time together, then Fluffy was another in a long line of inducements Freen could use to her advantage.

Three games later, Danielle asked Freen if "You and Becky could bring Phillip and me each another glass of eggnog. You young people have more energy."

Nothing like being a little obvious. But Freen was so happy, she didn't even care. And even though Becky had insisted she wanted to be able to set the pace sexually, Freen didn't think Becky would mind a kiss. She seemed willing enough to go with her, as she handed Fluffy to Danielle.

To hell with being a woman with mystery; Freen wanted her.

And a kiss, even a couple of kisses, would be an effective way of setting that in motion.

They'd barely entered the dining room where the large table had been sat up with all the desserts and the sparkling crystal punch bowl filled with eggnog when Freen pulled her the rest of the way inside and up against her.

Cupping her face in her hands, Freen lowered her lips to hers and kissed her.

It was as if she'd been starving for her since that night in her den.

And if the way Becky was kissing her back was any indication, becky was just as hungry.

Freen broke the kiss and glanced around the dining room, exasperated. Too open, not enough privacy for the way she wanted to kiss her. Freen couldn't really risk anyone coming into the dining room and seeing her practically all over Becky, even though both of them were enjoying it very much, thank you.

"There's a pantry," Becky whispered, and Freen smiled.

"I like your mind."
.
.
.
Danielle was no fool. She knew what she'd set in motion, and she had all her bases covered. With a discreet nod of her head, she indicated to her butler that he should bring them two more glasses of eggnog. Then set got up from the table and plucked down a huge, hardback book from one of the many bookshelves lining the family room walls.

"Phillip," she said. "I have a problem with one of my rosebushes, and I wondered if you could take a look at this gardening manual and give me a hand with it. I really need your opinion on this matter. I don't want to lose this particular plant."

She could almost see the moment when all thoughts of his granddaughter or the remaining card game flew out of his head. She and Phillip were both passionate gardeners, especially when it came to their beloved roses.

"Show me what the problem is," He said.
.
.
.
Becky led Freen into the darkened kitchen, past a huge butcher-block table and to the far back, where she opened a door and stepped inside, dragging Freen with her.

The moment she shut the door behind them, a soft light came on from up above, illuminating shelves filled with cans and boxes of various foodstuffs.

"I like this," Freen whispered. "I can see you."

And then no words were necessary as Freen pulled her into her arms and kissed her.

Now that they were alone, Freen threaded her fingers through her hair and gave her mouth the attention she'd wanted to lavish on it earlier. One kiss blended into the next, and as Freen's hands moved down her body, shaping her waist and then sneaking beneath the bottom of her red sweater, Freen thought for sure Becky would try to stop her.

Instead, Becky's hands were busily moving beneath Freen's dark blue sweater, then unbuttoning the shirt beneath, until Freen felt her palms flat against her breasts. Freen broke their kiss, her breath hissing into her mouth at the sensual contact.

What this woman did to her was beyond relief. Having her breast touched had never been a big deal before.

But having Becky touch her—

They stood face to face, foreheads touching, breathing hard. Becky stepped away from her and linked her fingers with hers as she started to lead her toward a small table, oak, with a marble top, directly behind a freestanding shelf filled with food. The table was sheltered and out of sight of the main entrance and just large enough for—

"Here?" Freen whispered. She had to be sure.

Becky nodded.

_________________________________________

A/N: what do you think will happen in the next chapter? 😏. Guys don't forget to watch the loyal pin!
Vote? Comment? Follow? See yaaa <3