by Harper Bliss
Naomi’s lips landed on Eileen’s. The forcefulness of the kiss took Eileen momentarily by surprise, before Eileen met her passion and kicked it up several notches.
“That was… so very honest.” Naomi’s hand cradled the back of Eileen’s head. “Truth be told, I’m completely taken aback by your words.”
“In a good or bad way?” Eileen peered into Naomi’s dark eyes, searching for a sign, even the smallest, that excited and terrified Eileen.
“I never would have guessed this side of you.”
Confused, Eileen asked. “Which side is that?”
“Your vulnerable side.”
Eileen playfully groaned. “Julia told me chicks dig it when a woman shows that side.”
“Are you following her advice?” Naomi’s voice was soft.
Eileen slowly turned her head to the left and then right. “It’s you. I want you to know me. And it scares the crap out of me.”
“Because?”
“Because I don’t know if I want you to know things about me as a way of pushing you away or to be closer to you.”
“Knowing you, perhaps it’s both. But you aren’t the only stubborn person involved.” Her pupils nearly tripled in size. “You can try pushing me away, but I know right now, I want to be with you.” Naomi pulled Eileen against her. “I need to be close to you. Inside you.”
Eileen took Naomi’s hand. “Follow me.”
On the far side of the house, about twenty yards away, was a small outbuilding. “My grandfather built this so he could have privacy from his wife and seven children. Unfortunately, my dad keeps it locked, but on this side, we’re out of sight from all prying eyes.”
“Do you think he and your grandm—”
Eileen placed a finger over Naomi’s lips. “Please, it’s weird enough with everyone inside.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.
“We don’t have to—”
Eileen pressed her mouth to Naomi’s, kissing her hard.
Naomi clutched each side of Eileen’s face, pulling her more into the moment, their tongues hungry for each other.
The passion between the two rapidly increased, Naomi’s hands reaching under Eileen’s clothing, her fingers digging into the flesh.
Eileen, with one swift movement of her shoulder, jerked her coat off, no longer needing protection from the chill in the air.
Naomi’s hand was on Eileen’s belt.
“Here, let me help,” Eileen placed her left hand onto Naomi’s.
“I’ve got it. You don’t have to hide anything from me. Not ever.”
“I’m not useless, either.”
“Never said you were and I’ve never thought that.” Naomi pinned Eileen with a sensual look. “Sometimes it’s okay to let me take the wheel, so to speak.” Naomi unzipped Eileen’s dress slacks before slipping her hand into Eileen’s panties.
Eileen let out a gasp when Naomi slipped a finger inside.
“I love how wet I make you,” Naomi whispered into Eileen’s ear.
“Oh, I’m sure you love it—”
Naomi plunged in deeper, causing Eileen to toss her head back against the siding of the building, snapping her eyes shut. Another finger had been added inside her. A whip of cold alerted Eileen her slacks and panties had been shoved down around her ankles. “What are you…?”
Naomi was on her knees, using their coats as a cushion of sorts, her tongue teasing Eileen’s clit, stifling her question.
The intensity of Naomi’s fingers and tongue was matched only by Eileen’s ragged breathing.
“Oh, Jesus,” Eileen said, when Naomi pushed in deep, thrusting as she circled Eileen’s clit with her tongue. “Je-sus!”
Naomi didn’t let up.
Eileen looked down at the gorgeous woman on her knees, fucking her. She hadn’t been the type for sex out in the open, thinking it dirty, somehow. But seeing Naomi here, feeling the incredible sensation of the orgasm bubbling inside, the moon overhead, the crisp winter air, and the smell of wood fireplaces—nothing about this was dirty. It was beautiful, under the stars, just the two of them in the moment. She’d never experienced anything like this with anyone.
And then it hit her.
Eileen’s body spasmed and she reached for the back of Naomi’s head. “Oh, God, don’t stop,” she whispered, pinching her eyes shut.
Naomi didn’t.
The spasms intensified, Naomi going in as deep as she could, holding it there until Eileen was spent.
When Eileen’s legs faltered some, Naomi rose, propping up Eileen as the final gasp of orgasm worked its way through her body.
“That was amazing,” Eileen breathed heavily.
Naomi circled her arms around Eileen’s neck. “It was. Are you cold?”
Eileen shook her head. “Not yet. Don’t move.”
A rustling sound around the corner ruined the moment and Naomi hastily yanked up Eileen’s panties and slacks. When Eileen was decent, they stared into each other’s eyes, silently laughing.
There was a click of a lighter.
The two of them skirted the corner of the building looking as if they were simply returning from a casual stroll.
“Smelly Ellie, what are you doing out here?” Phil puffed on a pipe, releasing a plume of smoke.
“Cooling off,” Eileen said with honesty.
Naomi chomped down on her bottom lip.
“It was getting toasty inside.” Phil tugged on one side of his tartan bow tie, undoing it.
“Are you coming back in before you leave?” Eileen asked Phil.
“In a bit.” He held his pipe aloft. “I’ll be sure to say goodbye before I head out. Who knows when I’ll see you again.”
“Christmas, I’m assuming. But, please do say goodbye.”
Eileen and Naomi, once again walking shoulder to shoulder, headed back to the house, taking the longer route around back, giving them more privacy.
Chapter Twenty
Naomi glanced at Eileen from the corner of her eye. To call today intense would be an understatement, and it was all down to the woman who was holding her hand. It was strange enough that she was walking underneath the moonlight on the Callahan estate, but what she’d just done to Eileen behind that outbuilding took the prize. Some of the tension really needed to be relieved. Naomi squeezed Eileen’s hand, who turned to smile at her.
“Just so you know, what we just did is not something I’ve ever done before.”
“Hm,” Eileen hummed. “Not according to my recollection.” She squeezed Naomi’s hand back.
“You know what I mean.”
“And here I was thinking you went down on women in the great outdoors all the time,” Eileen joked.
“I wouldn’t exactly call your parents’ back yard the great outdoors.” Naomi pressed herself a little closer to Eileen. It was cold and the heat they’d generated between them earlier was starting to wear off.
Eileen chuckled and stopped in her tracks. She turned around. “If you stand with your back to the house, and pretend it’s not there, this view is pretty impressive.”
“Well, I guess this is your inheritance we’re talking about,” Naomi said.
“It’s really hard to get a serious word out of you, isn’t it?”
Naomi curved her arm around Eileen’s waist and nestled herself quickly in Eileen’s embrace.
“I just really prefer to look on the bright side of life. But I’m not deflecting, if that’s what you’re thinking. And yes, it is beautiful here. It was a privilege to, you know, do what I did just then, out here.”
“You’re so full of life,” Eileen said. “One of the reasons I can’t stay away from you. It’s almost contagious.”
“Almost?” Naomi asked, but Eileen didn’t say anything. Silence grew between them and they stared ahead, Naomi’s gaze fixed on the lake.
“I had completely forgotten that I used to babysit your brother,” Eileen said. “It must have been hard that you never knew him, yet his death must have impacted your lif
e a great deal.”
Naomi shrugged. “I guess.” She inhaled deeply. “For as long as I can remember my mom has been calling me her miracle baby.”
“That’s a lot to live up to.”
“It comes pretty naturally to me to always want to paint a smile on Mom’s face, although it isn’t always easy to do. Losing a child is not something she will ever get over, I realized that pretty quickly, but she has always been a great mother to me.”
“Is that why you volunteer at the hospital on top of working there full-time?” Eileen asked.
Naomi nodded, although they were both staring ahead. “If I can give one kid a single spark of joy, it’s worth spending my time with them.”
“There aren’t many people like you, you know. With such zest for life,” Eileen said. “I think I’m becoming addicted to being around your infectious energy.”
A smile grew on Naomi’s lips. “My infectious energy will always be here for you.”
“Have you never thought about leaving Derby? Spreading some of your joy beyond this town’s borders?”
Naomi shook her head. “No. I know in my heart that my place is here. I’m happy here.”
“Because of your family? Your mother was pretty clear about how she’d feel if you left town.”
“My family is a big part of that, but I’ve never believed in running away. This is my home. I have roots here. And now I even have an in with the Callahan clan.” She pivoted to face Eileen.
“I’ve been all over the world, but I’ve never met anyone like you.” Eileen smiled. “I had to come home to find you.”
“Another perfect example of the great things Derby has to offer.” Naomi scanned Eileen’s face. “I remember you saying you didn’t like the Mona Lisa because of her smile, and you may not like hearing this, but you have a real… Mona Lisa smile. I see happiness at first, but then it morphs into… indifference.”
“Indifference?” Eileen said. “No way.”
“What looks like indifference, but is actually a whole lot of life. And pain. And fear even.”
Eileen laughed. “Is this how you sweet-talk all the ladies after having sex with them?”
“I don’t have a set-in-stone formula.” Naomi kept her gaze on Eileen. “And you accuse me of deflecting, while you are a true champion at it.”
Eileen rubbed her hands together. “It’s getting cold out here, don’t you think? Shall we head back inside?”
“Sure.” Naomi tipped forward and kissed Eileen on the lips. She’d been working toward a question—a burning question that hummed in the back of her mind at all times when she was with Eileen—but the right time to ask it never seemed to present itself. Maybe because the right time for it hadn’t come yet.
As they headed back toward the house there was no doubt in Naomi’s mind that she wanted Eileen to stay much longer than she had planned—and that she’d need to ask that particular question soon. Time, after all, was quickly running out on them.
“Your place or mine?” Eileen asked after they’d gotten into the taxi.
Naomi had offered to drive her own car because spending all that time outside had sobered her up considerably, but neither Eileen nor her mom would hear of it.
“Mine?” Naomi offered. “No offense, but your place doesn’t really brim with Christmas spirit.”
Eileen gave the taxi driver the address.
“I can only imagine your offense at my admission that I wasn’t even going to put up a tree,” Eileen said. She put her hand on Naomi’s knee. “My place is only a short-term rental. Plus, it would be kind of hard to decorate with one arm.”
“Well, erm, I happen to know someone who has a real knack for decorating Christmas trees.” She covered Eileen’s hand with hers.
“Let me guess…” Eileen pretended to think long and hard. “A fellow volunteer at the hospital?” She gave Naomi a big smirk.
“Honestly, it would be my pleasure to get you a tree,” Naomi said.
“Why go through the hassle if I can just go over to yours and enjoy your tree? Your apartment is a million times cozier than mine. I love spending time there.”
Naomi only allowed herself to enjoy the flutter in her belly for a brief instant. She had an opening to inquire about Eileen’s plans. “Until when have you rented your apartment?” she asked, unable to hide the nerves in her voice.
“Early January,” Eileen said. “My boss is expecting me back in London after the new year.”
“Will you be able to work then?”
“I fulfilled my assignment for The Derby Gazette to everyone’s satisfaction, I believe,” Eileen said.
“You did have assistance with that.” Naomi didn’t want to press the matter further. She was hoping Eileen would reach the real topic of conversation Naomi wanted to broach, on her own. Surely, the thought must have crossed her mind. How could it not have?
A silence fell in the cab. Naomi looked out of the window, at the empty streets of her town. Maybe what Eileen had asked her earlier, when they’d stood gazing over the lake, had been her way of instigating this very conversation. What if she’d really wanted to ask if Naomi would leave Derby for her?
“Hey.” Eileen turned over her hand on Naomi’s knee and laced their fingers together. “Please don’t think that meeting you hasn’t made me think about some things. It really has. I’m just not ready to discuss them yet. I think neither one of us is prepared to lay our cards on the table.”
The car turned into Naomi’s street, pre-empting her from saying something snarky about Eileen loving and leaving her. They paid for the taxi and hurried inside Naomi’s building.
Once inside Naomi’s apartment, Eileen immediately pulled her close. “I may take you up on your offer of getting me a tree. But first, I’ll need to see yours.” She glanced over Naomi’s shoulder. “Where are you going to put it?”
“I’ll have to shuffle some things around as this is nothing like the Callahan mansion.” If they weren’t going to have a serious talk about their future—and now that Naomi put it in those terms, it did sound a bit silly—she might as well get swept up in the Christmas spirit.
“I’ll be moving that plant into my bedroom so I have room for a tree.”
“When were you planning on putting it up?”
“I would have done it this weekend, but I was a bit busy, not to mention completely and utterly distracted by some green-eyed beauty.”
Eileen batted her lashes. “I plead guilty and… I’d very much like to distract you again.” She kissed Naomi just underneath the earlobe.
At least Naomi wouldn’t be spending Christmas without a plus-one. She’d been preparing for it, and had signed up for some extra volunteering shifts at the hospital—it was always hard to find the volunteers needed when Christmas came around.
This year, she and Eileen could volunteer and celebrate together. She remembered Jane’s antics last year, when she’d accused Naomi of spending more time at the hospital than with her girlfriend. Somehow, she didn’t think Eileen would even dream of saying something like that. They might not have talked about certain things yet, but Eileen already knew what was most important in Naomi’s life.
“I’m losing focus already,” Naomi whispered in Eileen’s ear, as she succumbed to the onslaught of kisses Eileen peppered her with.
Chapter Twenty-One
“It’s not fair that I have to rush off this morning.” Naomi wrapped her arms around Eileen’s neck.
“Picking up an extra shift on a Sunday. That’s dedication there. Are you sure you don’t want me to call you a cab?” Eileen glanced at Naomi’s running pants, red Nike long sleeve top, gloves, and headband. “I was the one who encouraged you to have wine during dinner.”
“It’ll do me some good to run. I’m still in training for the Boston marathon. Although, someone has been distracting me lately.”
“Distractions can be dangerous,” Eileen teased.
“Or wicked fun. If things aren’t too crazy at work, I’l
l stop by for lunch. That is, if you’ll be home.”
“It happens I don’t have anything planned, so please do stop by if you can.” Eileen smiled.
“I’d better leave now or I won’t leave at all.” She kissed Eileen on the lips before heading toward the door.
“Have a good day.” Eileen almost added sweetheart, much to her shock.
Eileen waited ten minutes before leaving Naomi’s apartment to walk home, not wanting to risk calling for a cab. They’d already rolled the dice the previous night, but a handful of the other party attendees resorted to sharing rides or cabs to get home safely. Surely, they’d outwitted Derby’s gossips. And if they hadn’t, what did it matter? Naomi’s mom knew. As did Julia. Eileen’s dad wouldn’t give a shit.
Trudy Callahan was the issue. At forty-nine, Eileen just couldn’t give two hoots about gaining her mom’s acceptance. No siree. She was not going to let her mom get to her. Not anymore.
Along the way, several homes had fires blazing, the smell of burning wood permeating the crisp December air. Eileen sucked in a deep breath, the cold awakening all of her senses. Even her arm didn’t feel quite as heavy this morning. She joggled the shoulder up and down to further loosen the contracted muscles.