A Taste of Sin by Fiona Zedde Page A

Only the ever-present light prevented it from being a cave.
    In the kitchen, she leaned back against the counter to watch Victoria move around the small, light-filled room.
    “I don’t imagine that you invite many strangers here.”
    Victoria smiled and looked up from checking the dampness of the soil in her new roses. On the stove, a saucepan simmered on a low gas flame. “I don’t. But you’re not a stranger. You’re Derrick’s sister.” She put the roses aside and rinsed off her hands. “I feel like I’ve been hearing about you for as long as he and I have been friends.”
    “Should I be scared?”
    “Only if you want to be. It would be interesting to see if all the things he said were true.”
    Jesus! Not this shit again . “That boy doesn’t know me half as well as he thinks.”
    “Let’s hope that you’re right.” She turned to Dez. “Do you mind helping me set up for dinner?”
    “Not at all.”
    Victoria opened a cupboard and pointed to a neat row of glassware. “Bring those glasses, will you?”
    Dez grabbed two and followed her. They passed through a narrow hallway—also lined with books and flowers—to get to a dining room glowing with light. A very modern chandelier hung from the ceiling, like fat amber teardrops of varying lengths, suspended a few feet above the round dining table set for five.
    “Are you expecting more company?” Dez asked as she set the two glasses down neatly to the right of matching dinner plates.
    “Yes. A few girlfriends of mine will be joining us.” She slid her a guileless look from beneath her lashes. “Do you mind?”
    “If I did it would be irrelevant, wouldn’t it?” Dez made sure to follow up that comment with a smile.
    “True.” She smiled again as if Dez had just passed a test.
    “They’ll be here in half an hour.”
    Dez went to get more glasses. Never one to bullshit around the park, she asked Victoria the burning question as soon as she came back into the dining room. “So why the other women? I thought it would just be you and me.”
    “No reason, really. I just thought it would be nice to have some women over for a homemade dinner. Since you’re Derrick’s sister, I hope you and I can be friends.”
    “I don’t want to be friends with you, Victoria. I think you know that.”
    Victoria’s neck colored in the most charming way. Dez wanted to kiss it, to press her against the cabinet and explore under that teasing floral skirt. But she kept her distance. She leaned back against the cupboard and watched her reach up to a high shelf, showing off the gorgeous curve of belly and breast and throat.
    “Then what do you want?”
    “Look at me.” She waited until the other woman faced her. “I don’t play games. At least not without the immediate promise of pleasure.” She couldn’t resist. “I want you. If you don’t feel the same I can leave. It’s that simple. You don’t have to bring bodyguards to shield yourself against me. I’ve never taken anything that wasn’t freely given.” She took a breath, watching the soft body next to hers. “So tell me, what is this going to be?”
    Victoria laughed nervously. “You are direct, aren’t you?”
    “I try to be. Given how I lead my life, it’s the best route.” She noticed Victoria’s movements, the loosening motion of her shoulders as if she were trying to force herself to relax. “You are a dyke, aren’t you?”
    This time she smiled, a genuine thing that took Dez’s breath away. “I do partner with women, yes.”
    “What, you don’t like that word?”
    “Not especially, but it’s not something I’m hung up on either.”
    “Hm. But back to the matter at hand.”
    Victoria cleared her throat. “I do find you attractive.” Her glance limned briefly over Dez, her splayed legs in loose black jeans and the tight black shirt that stretched across her breasts like bait. “But I’m also being careful. You’re my best friend’s sister. Things could get messy.”
    “If