by Maggie Brown
“We got talking and lost track of the time. She wanted…um…a bit of financial advice.”
“Why are you so flustered?” Jessie asked, staring at her.
“I’m not flustered,” Winter said, taking a bite of her steak.
Jessie’s eyes narrowed. “Is there something going on I don’t know about? Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Winter quashed down a desire to flee. Things were getting so muddled. It was a long time since she’d seen her friend this annoyed. “No, we’re not.”
“Hang on. What do you mean we’re? I was referring to you.”
Winter’s mind went into crisis mode. At some stage soon, Jessie would have to be told the truth. But here was not the time or place. The nerves in her stomach twitched as she fumbled for a reply.
Then respite came from an unexpected quarter.
Gussie bore down on them with Cain in tow. Winter pursed her lips. Meddling woman. But then conceded if nothing else, she’d have to give her top marks for persistency.
Everyone rose awkwardly to their feet when they hovered at the table and made no move to sit down. Gussie homed in on Pandora, who was swaying from one foot to the other like a gazelle ready for flight.
“Cain wants to meet you, Pandora,” Gussie said, brushing a piece of lint off his sleeve.
Winter cringed. Could her aunt be any more obvious?
Pandora nodded at him. “Hi, Cain.”
“Pandora’s a singer,” said Gussie, and added with a hint of censor, “at a nightclub.”
Winter frowned at that unnecessary information. For pity sake, as if he hadn’t been told who she was.
“Really,” he said, slipping his gaze over her appreciatively. “Perhaps we could sing a duet?”
Winter swayed back on her heels. Pleaseee!
But to her surprise, Pandora eyed him thoughtfully and nodded. “Sounds like fun. What do you sing?”
“I’m in a rock band now, but I used to do the pub circuit. I know most of the popular ones.”
“Pity we haven’t any music,” mused Pandora. “Maybe we can rig up something from an iPod.”
“Better still…my guitar’s in the car. What do you say?” he asked hopefully, suddenly appearing boyish, less assured, and for the first time, genuinely enthusiastic.
“I’m game.” Pandora looked across at Winter, her eyes telling her she wanted this. “Would you like us to?”
She nodded, realising it was Pandora’s way of gaining her family’s acceptance. “That would be fantastic.” Then catching the frown settling on Gussie’s forehead, she said disarmingly, “Thanks, Aunt. How fortunate you brought Cain to the party. It’ll be such wonderful entertainment for everyone.”
Gussie spluttered, but to her credit, didn’t argue as Cain dashed off to his car. As they carried their chairs closer to the patio, everyone was talking at once.
“Winter, there you are,” called out her mother, who had appeared as soon as the rearranging began. “What’s happening?”
“Pandora and Cain are going to sing,” she said with a proud smile. “You’ll just love her, Mum. She’s really great.”
“Ah. I am glad you’ve found someone to put the sparkle back into your eyes. It is obvious now who that is.”
Winter’s eyebrows twitched but she didn’t deny it. Couldn’t. She was mad about her. She nudged her mother with her elbow with a sly grin. “Aunt Gussie isn’t too pleased she’s singing.”
“For an intelligent woman, she can be remarkably tunnel visioned.”
“She is at that. Later though, she’ll probably take the credit for the entertainment, seeing she brought Cain,” replied Winter with a touch of narkiness. “Ah…here he comes back. You’d better find a seat. The pool crowd are coming over.”
After her mother went off to get a chair, Winter retreated under the trees to view the show in private. After Cain strummed out the first chords on his guitar, Pandora slowly raised her hands and began to sing a modern rendition of “Happy birthday.” Her voice carried easily over the crowd, the noise gradually tapering off until there was silence. When Cain joined in with a vibrant baritone, they sat hushed, as mesmerized as she was. Hidden in the shadows, Winter watched with raw emotion.
After the song ended with a string of wistful chords, the audience burst into spirited applause. Winter smiled as she took in the performers’ body language: clearly the two of them were having fun. Their voices harmonised perfectly as if they had sung together for years. She was forced to revise her opinion of Cain—he was definitely professional when it came to his music. And had a great voice.
After two more songs she rejoined her table of friends, though would have liked to remain listening by herself. It seemed more intimate that way. The duo sang one song after another, and it wasn’t until one in the morning that they announced the next was their last. At the end of the finale, her mother appeared at her side. “That was incredible. She’s a very talented woman.”
“Yes, she is,” Winter replied.
“They certainly look good together,” remarked Joyce. “Gussie must think so by the way she’s fussing around.”
Winter glared over at her aunt but refrained from commenting. Instead, she pointed to the people milling around the pathway to the street. “I’d better get over there…everyone’s ready to leave. Any other night the oldies would have gone by now, which is the best indication how popular the concert was. I’ll catch up with you later, Mum.”
When the guests had said their goodbyes, she headed over to Pandora, who had managed to extricate herself from Winter’s starstruck cousins. She was preparing to leave with Jessie, who had her arm loosely around her waist. Winter ignored the stab of jealousy, pleased when Pandora moved forward to hug her. She took a second to breathe in the familiar scent, relishing the embrace. “Thank you for the wonderful show. It was fabulous. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I can think of a way,” Pandora whispered in her ear, and Winter nearly jumped when she felt the tip of her tongue flick across her earlobe.
She gave Pandora a furtive dig in the ribs as she pulled slowly out of the hug. “Do you want me to call you a cab?”
“I already have,” Jessie piped in. “Great party, girlfriend.”
“We’ll be off as well, Winter, thanks for the delightful night,” said Fay. “We’re giving Veronica a lift home.”
Veronica’s soft touch on her arm brought Winter to attention. “If you’re not busy next Saturday, would you like to come to the opening of an art exhibition at the new Patrice gallery.”
Taken aback, Winter couldn’t think of a single excuse. “Umm…that would be nice,” she murmured, resisting the temptation to glance at Pandora.
“Good. I’ll see you there at seven.”
And then they were all gone, leaving Winter alone with her thoughts.
Chapter Twenty-four
Pandora gave a last discerning glance around the apartment before answering the doorbell. Even though she had bought flowers to brighten the room, it still looked sterile. The small dining table and vinyl lounge had been cheap and looked it. She wished now she’d at least gone to some trouble with the paintings, instead of the two generic landscape prints she’d picked up at Kmart. It wasn’t that she didn’t care, but the budget for an undercover assignment was modest. She’d never minded—it wasn’t a good idea to become attached to temporary accommodation, and the clean-up crew donated the furniture to charity once an agent moved on.
When she opened the door, all thoughts of the inadequacy of her home disappeared. Winter painted an alluring picture. In low faded jeans and a pink scalloped blouse that hugged her breasts, she looked sexy as hell. Without hesitation, Pandora wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her in tightly.
Winter immediately relaxed into her, her cheek brushing against her ear. Then she took Pandora’s face in her hands and kissed her sweetly. When they broke apart, she murmured, “Hi.”
After stealing another kiss, Pandora took her hand. “Hey you
rself. Let’s go inside.” She shuffled from one foot to the other as she watched Winter peruse her home. “I didn’t go to much trouble with the interior design,” she said self-consciously.
Winter looked back at her with a quizzical expression. “It’s a cute apartment, but I get the impression it’s not intended to be permanent.”
“No. One day I’ll have to go.”
“Have to go? That sounds like you have no choice.” Winter chewed her lip as she studied her profile. “I think it’s time you told me something about yourself. We’re hardly just casual friends anymore.”
Pandora took a deep breath. Winter was within her rights to ask and it was unfair not to share something of herself. “No, we’re not. Would you like a glass of wine or a beer before I order the Thai takeaway?” She flashed a sheepish smile. “Cooking isn’t one of my fortes.”
“Ah, so you do have some weaknesses?”
Pandora quirked an eyebrow. “Really? You think I don’t?”
Winter’s eyes darkened, a naked look of want unmistakeable in their depths. “I was beginning to think you were superwoman.”
“Is that right,” Pandora said, feeling a flush of pleasure that morphed quickly into desire. She reached for Winter, anxious now to reestablish the connection. “Come here.”
As soon as she pressed against her, Pandora’s libido spiked. She swung Winter around until her back was against the wall and began to work the blouse out from under the waistband of her jeans.
“I want you so much,” Winter murmured in her ear, then nuzzled her mouth into hers.
Amid kisses, Pandora managed to pull off the top, and after quickly unfastening the bra, tossed it aside as well. At the sight of the perky stiff nipples, wetness lodged between her thighs. Wow, they were gorgeous. She bent her head to take one into her mouth. With a groan, Winter grasped behind her neck, cradling her head as she suckled.
Pandora raised her eyes to hers. “Come into the bedroom. I want to do this properly.”
“Mmmm. Hurry. I want you so badly.”
Without another word, she led Winter through, shedding her clothes as she went. By the time they reached the bed, she was down to her thong and Winter’s jeans and knickers were on the floor. When she reached down to slide off the thong, Winter grasped her wrist. “Let me, Pan.”
Ever so slowly, she eased it over her hips, sensuously sliding her fingers across her skin as she guided the fabric down over Pandora’s feet. Then she sank to her knees, grasped her hips and kissed her mound. Her heart racing, Pandora’s stomach flip-flopped when Winter pushed her legs further apart and kissed up and down her inner thighs then moved agonizingly slowly to her folds. She played there for a while, nibbling, sucking, and tickling with her fingertips until Pandora whimpered. “Please, babe. I need you. Please.”
When Winter finally snaked in her tongue and licked with long delicious sweeps, Pandora sighed ecstatically. With her tongue still stroking steadily, Winter edged her backwards until the back of her legs hit the end of the bed. She pushed her gently onto it. Thighs spreadeagled, Pandora could only clutch the quilt with both hands as the clever tongue and mouth worked their magic, ravishing her sex until she shattered into a wrenching climax.
“Fuckkkkk, Winter,” she wailed, arching upward as the waves of bliss crashed through her. When the last ripple ebbed away, she flopped back glistening with sweat and completely spent.
A satisfied smile on her face, Winter rose to her feet, slid onto the bed and brushed back the wet strands from her face. “I loved how you called out my name.”
“That was incredible,” Pandora panted out. They rocked together quietly for a few moments, content. After a last squeeze, she crawled up the bed to the pillow. “Come up here, you. It’s my turn to make you scream out my name,” she said, gesturing with a hooked finger.
Winter wriggled up until their hips and breasts were pressed together, their legs entwined. She nibbled her way up Pandora’s neck until she captured her mouth. Fire spread through Pandora’s belly. She flipped Winter under her and began to rub her body over hers in a constant rhythm. When Winter grabbed her ass and began to massage, she grazed her teeth over the nipples, nibbling, teasing.
As whimpers echoed in her ears, something foreign rose up in Pandora. Her pent-up feelings exploded. She didn’t want to be soft and gentle. She wanted to claim her. They stared at each other, Winter’s expression radiated both need and insecurity. Instinctively, she knew that Winter desperately wanted Pandora to take her. To possess her. This wasn’t just about sex for Winter, this was about cutting the shackles of the past. A renewal. She wondered fleetingly what her sex life had been like with Christine, but all thoughts vanished in the maelstrom of passion.
“Hold on, babe,” she whispered. “I’m going to make you come like you never have before. It’s going to be a wild ride.”
She reached up to tangle her fingers in Winter’s hair, testing the strands with little tugs before she brought her lips to hers in a crushing kiss. Insistently, she explored every crevice of her mouth with her tongue. When she moved down to her breasts, Winter pressed her chest against her hungry lips. After sucking each nipple until they were hard and swollen, she moved downwards, nipping the tender flesh of her abdomen.
Marking.
Desire was an electric current, sharp and vibrant, making her more alive than she had ever felt. She entered her with two fingers and began a steady, slow stroke. Winter grasped her by the shoulders, pumping in time with the thrusts. She begged for more. Pandora went harder, deeper, intoxicated by her scent. Winter dug in her fingers, urging her on. She hovered on the edge, her body slick with perspiration as she strained for release. Pandora vibrated her thumb hard against her clit, lightly nipping her breast as she drove her to orgasm. Winter’s body stiffened as the pressure continued. Then the dam burst. With a shudder her muscles contracted and she screamed out, “Oh, my, God…Pandora.”
When the waves finally abated, she collapsed back onto the bed.
But once she had settled down from her high, with a teary sniffle she pressed her face into the soft flesh of Pandora’s throat.
Concerned, Pandora cuddled her in closer. “Did I hurt you, babe?”
“Hurt me? Don’t be silly. I’ve never felt so loved in all my life,” Winter said with an odd choking sob.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I…I never imagined it could be so good.”
Pandora nuzzled her face into Winter’s hair and held her firmly. “You never came like that with her?”
“No. It’s…it’s always been hard for me to climax during sex.”
Pandora propped herself up on an elbow to study her face. “So your love life wasn’t really good with Christine?”
Winter turned her head to silently look out the window for a moment. When she turned, she curved a hand around her throat as if to physically control the tremor in her voice. “No, it was an unequal relationship. She liked me to pleasure her, but only occasionally would she reciprocate.” She audibly swallowed. “Damn it, this is really embarrassing. I shouldn’t be telling—”
“Shush,” Pandora interrupted softly. “It needs to be said so you can move on. She was a selfish lover. That wasn’t your fault.”
“Maybe it was in a way,” Winter said, turning back to face her squarely. “I realized we weren’t suited in bed. I was never the aggressive lover she wanted. But I let it ride.”
“I take it then you didn’t spend a lot of quality time together when you were dating?”
“When we met, I was wrapped up in my career and moving up the corporate ladder, while she was equally as busy establishing herself at the TV station. We saw each other a couple of times a week, but our dates were mostly parties and dinners with important people. She was a very sociable person.”
“I get the picture. So you let things slide, thinking things would get better?”
“Yes. She was a demanding lover and impatient with my needs. To my shame, it was easi
er to fake an orgasm than to beg for more,” Winter said, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“Why on earth did you ask her to move in with you?”
“You have to understand what my life was like in my early twenties. I was quiet, studious, and lacked confidence when it came to sex. I mostly ended up being the third wheel around Jessie…all the girls loved her. I had casual dates, but no one special. When I graduated, I left the bar scene to concentrate on my career. A few years later, I met Christine at a party thrown by one of my clients. I was bowled over by her. She was bright, attractive, a sought-after TV personality. Really interesting to be with.”
“Was she a considerate lover in the beginning?”
“Not really. We were always partying late in the night. Mostly too tired for anything but a quickie when we got to bed. But I was happy…she opened up a new world for me. I was starstruck. I thought when we lived together and had more time, that things would get better in bed. But they didn’t,” Winter said, her voice thick with misery. “My performance anxiety got worse, so I retreated more into my work. She probably had a string of lovers I didn’t know about.”
For a moment Pandora felt a surge of outrage but managed to keep her voice quiet as she said, “Listen to me, babe. We all make wrong choices but believe me when I say you’re a hell-of-a-sexy woman. And you can’t tell me you faked that orgasm.”
“God, no. I even felt it in my bones,” Winter exclaimed, then added with a shy smile, “I never wanted her like I want you. Not even close.”
“Come here,” said Pandora huskily, tracing the soft contours of her body. She cradled her breast as she pressed her lips down the side of her neck, then moved upwards to catch her bottom lip with her exploring tongue. As Winter opened her mouth to admit the teasing tongue, she idly swirled fingertips over Pandora’s abdomen. Without any urgency this time, they stroked and kissed each other as they absorbed the essence of their mutual attraction. Their bodies shivered with arousal and sweat coated their skin.
Finally, Pandora felt the warning twitches of Winter’s impending climax. She entered her with firm thrusts, riding her thigh as she pumped. Almost incoherent, Winter sobbed out her name as she went over the edge. Pandora climaxed immediately with long exquisite waves that rolled and rolled through her pelvis.