Molly offered a small salute.
The area around the bandstand was overflowing with people when Molly arrived. The band onstage played a cover of “Neon Moon” and the vibe was laid back fun. Just what she was in the mood for. The dance floor was packed, but Molly was able to spot Jordan off to the side, sitting on the grass with the more mellow festival goers, taking in the music, the ambiance, the evening.
“I hate to interrupt, but is this seat taken?”
Jordan glanced up and smiled. The lights from the dance floor caught her eyes and the pleasant tug showed up right on time in the center of Molly’s stomach. “Well, I was waiting for this charming and attractive small business owner, but I guess you’ll do.”
“You’re so good to me.”
Jordan handed her a beer. “Look at that. I really am.”
She took a seat in the grass next to Jordan, and for the next few minutes they listened to the music as Molly enjoyed the chance to get off her feet for a little bit. It wasn’t long before out of the corner of her eye she noticed Jordan studying her. “What?” she asked, self-conscious. “Is there flour on my face again?” She swiped at her cheek.
“Nope.”
Molly glanced down at her hands then back at Jordan. “Then what?”
“I just can’t seem to stop looking at you.”
“Oh,” she said quietly. She looked back at Jordan and smiled. The gaze they held seemed to communicate so much. Jordan’s eyes were soft, kind, and through that stare Molly understood fully that she was safe. Jordan knew what she’d been through because she’d gone through it herself. Whatever it was she was afraid of, that kept her from letting go, slowly evaporated in the span of that exchange.
It was just Jordan, whom she’d known most of her life, looking back at her. There was nothing to fear, and the realization was like a cool glass of water on a thirsty day. She was all of a sudden energized and eager to live life. “Come to the fun house with me?”
Jordan looked at her dubiously. “The fun house?”
“Mhmm. I don’t do rides, as you know, but the funhouse has always been my favorite. It’s a different one this year so I don’t know the maze yet. We can figure it out together.”
“Well, if you insist. But will there be clowns? I hate clowns.”
“I’ll protect you.”
Molly paid for their tickets and led the way through the psychedelic red and white door. Once inside, it was pretty hard to see and crazy loud rock music filled the space. A flash of light lit the small room every five seconds or so and they used the brief illumination to find their way to a long hallway. “Careful. The floor in here is sloped.”
“Sloped up or down? Whoa.” Jordan said, stumbling.
“Up and down. Here take my hand.” She reached just behind her and found Jordan’s hand and held tight. They laughed as they made their way down the uneven path together, and Molly found herself on an adrenaline high from the combination of fun and the overt sexual tension that just holding Jordan’s hand was apparently able to elicit.
The second section of the funhouse was a rather complicated maze of mirrors. “Get ready,” Jordan offered. “I’m kind of a maze prodigy.” They maneuvered corners and squeezed through tight spots that forced them close together. But as is typical when dealing with a maze, every few minutes, Molly found herself stopped short up against Jordan’s warm body. As time went on, she started to anticipate it, hope for it. Long for it.
A rapid succession of inappropriate thoughts moved through her mind and she couldn’t say it bothered her. Her libido was clearly alive and well and trained alertly on Jordan and the incredibly sexy black top that dipped just low enough in front. The faded jeans she wore looked like they were made for her near perfect body.
They heard loud voices from up front as a group of kids entered the fun house. Jordan held a finger to her lips to indicate silence and gestured with her head for Molly to follow her into the darkened room that shot off the pathway at the end of the maze. Stealth was the name of the game and it was fun. Molly wasted no time and joined Jordan in the dim room, the only illumination a black light that caused the white tic-tac-toe marks on the wall to glow subtly.
Once they were inside and alone, Jordan gently pushed her up against the wall. “I thought we could steal a moment,” she murmured. “Want to steal a moment?”
Molly met her gaze. “Is that what this is called?”
“Something like that.” The sexy sound of Jordan’s voice coupled with the way she was holding her let loose another tidal wave of sensation that Molly felt all over. It was the worst kind of physical torture, yet completely welcome at the same time. She was drowning in need after the sly touches, rubs, and bumps of the last few minutes in the fun house. She leaned in to capture Jordan’s lips with her own, only to have her pull away at the very last second.
“Not yet,” Jordan whispered.
“No?”
“No. I just want to hold you right here for a minute, because this feels really good.” As she spoke, her hands drifted slowly down Molly’s waist, over the curve of her hips and around behind her until Jordan’s hands slid down and across her ass, pulling her in slowly, tightly. Molly’s mind went completely blank, but oh, God her body didn’t. It was alert and thrumming. She took in air and realized that she wouldn’t be able to take much more of the intense aching. “God, Jordan,” she murmured.
Warm lips covered hers, silencing her. And it was perfection, that feeling. She kissed Jordan back with a wild abandon that she didn’t know she was capable of. She accepted everything Jordan gave, but wanted more still. Jordan melded her more firmly against the wall, holding her tightly as their tongues danced and hands moved. But it wasn’t long before Molly reversed their positions, needing that give and take, the push and pull. She reached her hand up and around Jordan’s neck, then into her hair, loosening it from the clip entirely. But her knees were melting and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take. She knew she was rocking into Jordan and losing the last bit of control—
“Whoa. Check out this one, Justin. Tic-tac-toe time in here.” As the trio of preteen boys entered the room, Molly took a step back, though her eyes held fast to Jordan’s. It was quiet except for the distant sounds of music and the shallow breaths they took as they stared at each other. Molly took a moment to right herself, find her proverbial footing again. Because in all honesty, she was having trouble remembering her own name after the last few minutes.
Jordan took her hand and leaned in next to her ear. “Let’s get out of here.”
They maneuvered the rest of the funhouse clumsily, their limbs no longer as agile. They made fun of themselves as they went, bumping into mirrors and occasionally each other until they finally spilled out into the crisp night air, laughing as they always seemed to laugh when they were together.
Jordan smiled at Molly as their laughter subsided. “So it turns out I like funhouses.”
“So that’s all it takes?” Molly said, inclining her head in the direction of the funhouse.
“I’d hardly minimize the experience.”
Molly sobered and held Jordan’s eyes. “No. I wouldn’t either.”
Silence hung between them. Apparently, neither one of them seemed sure where to go. It was a tangled web they were weaving, but Molly just couldn’t seem to stop herself. In actuality, she wasn’t sure she wanted to, so she ignored the voice of reason in the back of her head.
Jordan took the initiative. “Do you want to—”
“There you are,” Louise said, semi out of breath. She’d appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Molly’s hand. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you. There’s someone who wants to talk to you. ”
“Can it wait, Louise? We were just—”
“No, it can’t. It can’t! You’ll want to meet this guy. Trust me.” Louise tugged on her arm more forcefully and Molly looked to Jordan in apology.