“Yes… That night, when we were watching the Aurora Borealis… I had no idea that place existed. It was romantic… taking me up there… asking me that question… And that night I was supposed to meet you there again. We were going to watch the sunset…”
“Maybe I was a bit of a romantic,” Anna said with a lopsided smile.
“Why don’t we sit outside now? Watch the sun set over the lake?”
“I’d love to.”
They went outside and sat down on the porch swing. Anna sank back into the cushions and took a sip of wine.
“So, what made you decide to teach?” Lara asked. “I thought you had your heart set on journalism.”
“I did… That’s what I went to UCLA for, but I ended up transferring to Penn to study teaching. I was volunteering with high school students and I don’t know… Something just clicked. I realized that’s what I was supposed to be doing.”
“So, you graduated from Penn?”
“Yeah but I went back to California and had a few random jobs. I loved the weather, the lifestyle… Then the teaching job came up here… This isn’t exactly how I imagined things going when I left. It’s going to be strange working with some of my old teachers, but I know I’m not the first person who came back to work at their old school.”
“You’ll be fine. They’re a good group, especially the English teachers,” Lara said with a smile.
“Oh, I know,” she said with a soft laugh. “One in particular.” Anna brought her glass to her lips and turned slightly to face Lara. “Seriously though… I’ve had a lot of time to think about what happened… I just want to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
“Now that I’m going to be in your position… I can’t believe the risks we took… I could have ruined your career… your life. I mean, I knew those things at the time but… I should have-”
“Anna, there was nothing either of us could have done. We were like magnets,” Lara said, meeting her eyes. “There was something there and there was no denying it. We tried… We just couldn’t stay away from each other.”
Anna held her gaze, surprised by the way she described their time together.
That’s how she would have thought about those months, but she expected Lara to maybe regret it.
“We really couldn’t,” she echoed.
Anna looked away and focused her attention on the sunset. She took another drink, watching the sky turn an even darker shade of red.
“Do you think we still have a chance?” Lara asked, breaking the silence.
Anna took a deep breath as she turned to meet her eyes. “I don’t know… I’ve spent the last seven years trying to forget about you, hating you even… wondering how you could have disappeared like that. Now that I know why…” Anna sighed. “I get it… but I don’t know that we can just pick up where we left off.”
“Of course,” she said as she took a sip of wine. “I was just curious…”
“I’ve never stopped thinking about you… But I feel like I finally have my life together and if I fall for you again… I don’t think I could handle it if it all falls apart.”
Lara nodded and took another drink as she looked out across the lake.
“Were you expecting things to go differently?” Anna asked.
“I guess I thought that if our paths ever crossed again that it would be… I don’t know… inevitable.”
“Maybe it is… I’m just more cautious now... Guarded even…”
“Rightfully so,” Lara said softly.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s true,” Lara said, meeting her eyes. “I should have gotten in contact with you and explained the situation. I wouldn’t have expected you to understand but you had a right to know.”
“It happened the way it happened,” Anna said, reaching for her hand, lightly running her fingertips across Lara’s palm. “And if we’re supposed to be together… We will.”
Lara laughed softly beside her.
“What?” Anna asked, pulling her hand away and staring at her like she’d lost her mind.
“I can’t believe you still have that outlook on life… After everything that’s happened. I know I wouldn’t.”
“I can’t help it. That’s just the way I see things.”
“I’m not making fun of you,” Lara said, meeting her blue eyes. “I’m a little jealous.”
“Don’t be,” Anna said, holding her gaze. “I can’t believe you’re not spoken for. I was preparing myself… I thought you’d either still be married to Jake or remarried… to another woman maybe.”
“I focused on school and the shelter… I dated a few people… more women than men. One woman was lovely… Perfect even but she could tell… She knew I was thinking about someone else,” Lara said, her voice trailing off at the end.
Anna watched her stand up and she thought she saw Lara blinking back tears.
“Can I top you up?” Lara asked.
“Sure.” Anna handed her the empty glass that she’d been holding. “Thanks.”
Anna took a deep breath when she was alone and wiped her sweaty palms down the front of her jeans.
Why am I fighting this? Closing myself off isn’t going to make me happy. She’s clearly hurting too…
Seven years later.
That had to mean something.
She’s not exactly moving on either… Maybe we should just go for it.
“Here you go,” Lara said, handing her the newly filled wine glass. She flicked a switch by the doorway and a light came on behind them.
“Thanks.” Anna watched the sun finally sink behind the tree tops as Lara sat down next to her. “Don’t let me have anymore,” she said seriously as she glanced over at Lara.
“Two glasses of wine on your last night of freedom?”
“I need to be able to drive home tonight. I have so much work to do tomorrow I can’t even think about it,” Anna said, taking a sip of wine.
“Stay here. The guest room is finally a guest room. For a while there it was my walk-in closet.”
“Thanks, but I really shouldn’t.”
“Well it’s there if you want to stay.”
“Thank you,” Anna said, still wondering if she should just let tonight go however it was going to go.
If she stayed… there was only one way it was going to go.
“Did you come out to your parents?” Lara asked a few seconds later.
“Yeah. I told them when I came back one weekend during my first year at college. They took it surprisingly well… Don’t worry. I never told them about you.”
“I wasn’t worried. I trust you… I’m glad that they were okay with it.”
Anna nodded. “I was expecting the worst even though I had no reason to… just in case, I guess. They’ve never met anyone I dated now that I think about it. By the time they asked about her, we’d already broken up…”
“I know what you mean. My friends are getting worried about me… And I always end up being the third wheel now.”
“The one thing that kept me going those first few months out in California was the idea that maybe we just weren’t meant to be together,” Anna said as she turned her body to face Lara. “But now… Now I’m starting to wonder.”
“It’s always been so easy with you… And being with you here tonight… It’s like no time has passed.”
“I know. It’s surreal,” Anna said, taking another drink.
Anna could feel her willpower dissipating.
It would be so easy to spend the night with Lara but what would that mean?
Would we start dating? Would it just be casual?
Anna took another sip of wine.
When have things ever been casual with us?
“Can I get you anything else?” Lara asked, taking Anna away from her thoughts. “I’m going to top this up,” she said as she stood up with her glass.
“I better not.”
Anna watched her go inside as she brought her glass to
her lips.
I should really go. The longer I stay… The less likely it is that I’ll go home.
Anna finished off her drink and left the glass on the ground beside her.
When Lara came back, Anna stood up before she sat down.
“I think I’m going to go,” Anna said as she met Lara’s green eyes. “Lots to do tomorrow...”
“Okay. I should probably be sensible too and call it a night after this one.”
Lara left her glass on the little pine table beside the porch swing and Anna smiled weakly at her.
Anna hoped this goodbye wouldn’t be too awkward. She didn’t know whether to pull her into a hug or just say ‘goodnight.’
Anna struggled to maintain eye contact and not glance down at Lara’s lips.
Just as Anna was about to put her arm around her and give her a hug, Lara’s hand was resting on her neck, pulling her into a heart stopping kiss.
Anna was caught off guard, but her eyes fluttered shut and she gave in to the kiss, parting her lips against Lara’s.
Anna’s hand moved to the back of Lara’s head, her fingertips lost in Lara’s chestnut hair as she deepened the kiss.
Their tongues met, and Anna felt the ground beneath her tilt. Her free hand latched onto to Lara’s waist to help keep herself upright.
Anna’s mind was racing with reasons why she should pull away, but she couldn’t. Her lips fit perfectly against Lara’s, just as they had seven years ago.
Anna moaned softly as Lara’s tongue danced with her own, sending a chill through her body.
Lara broke the kiss with both of them breathing heavily.
“I believe you once told me not to ask if it was okay to kiss you,” Lara said softly as she pulled away to meet Anna’s eyes.
Anna couldn’t help the smile that spread up to her blue eyes. “I have a vague memory of saying that.” Anna took a step back and breathed in, her heart racing.
“Are you still going?” Lara asked.
Anna sighed softly. “Yes.”
“I hope I didn’t cross a line…”
“No… I’d been thinking about it,” Anna said, her eyes flickering down to Lara’s lips again. “And I think you might be right.”
“About what?”
“Us… Being inevitable… Anyway, I better go.”
Lara nodded. “Thanks for coming tonight. It was good to catch up before school starts.”
“Yeah… I had fun tonight. This was nice… I was afraid things would be awkward between us.”
“I know… Me too,” Lara said, lightly running her hand down Anna’s arm before she hugged her. “I’ll see you Tuesday morning.”
Anna wrapped her arms around her, inhaling the musky scent of her perfume which had changed over the years but still somehow reminded her of Lara.
As Anna slowly pulled away, her eyes caught Lara’s and she saw the desire that burned in them.
With her arms still loosely around Lara, Anna dipped her head, her lips hovering above Lara’s for a moment before she closed the gap between them, pressing her lips against Lara’s again.
Anna’s lips parted against Lara’s and before she knew it, they were right back where they’d been a few minutes ago with hands roaming and hearts racing.
Anna had only intended on giving her a quick kiss goodnight, but it quickly escalated, and Lara had backed her up against the side of the house with her hands on Anna’s hips as she deepened the kiss.
Anna gave in, pulling Lara into her as their lips met in a passionate kiss.
“Are you still leaving?” Lara asked as she broke the kiss a few seconds later.
“No… You’ve convinced me to stay,” Anna said with a smirk. “Not that I needed much convincing.”
“You’re the one who started it,” Lara reminded her. “But I will take the credit.”
Lara reached for her hand, their fingers interlacing, and led them inside.
Anna followed her down the hall and into the master bedroom.
Anna pulled Lara into her, her hand moving to Lara’s neck as Anna parted her lips against Lara’s.
Anna gently started backing them up towards the bed and she could feel Lara’s lips moving into a smile.
“No way,” Lara said with a laugh.
“What?” Anna asked, pulling away.
“You were always somehow in control back then. It’s my turn now.”
Before Anna could react, Lara had backed them up against the closed door.
Lara lifted Anna’s top over her head, letting it fall to the floor as Lara’s lips crashed into hers again.
Anna’s eyes fluttered closed as their tongues met and Anna felt a surge of electricity run through her body.
Lara unbuttoned Anna’s jeans and helped her step out of them, breaking their kiss for just a few seconds.
Anna’s hands moved under her top, but Lara covered her hands with her own and pushed them away.
Lara pinned her hands above her head and against the door with her left hand while her right massaged Anna’s clit through her black lace panties.
Anna moaned softly into Lara’s mouth as their tongues swirled around each other in a slow, intimate dance.
Anna tilted her head back as Lara’s lips left hers and lightly trailed kisses down her neck and chest.
Lara released her hands so that she could unhook Anna’s bra and slide it off her shoulders, all the while her right hand continued to tease Anna.
Now that Anna’s hands were free, they moved through Lara’s hair and down to the nape of her neck, pulling her in for a searing kiss.
Anna could feel herself getting wetter by the second. She needed Lara inside her.
Lara’s hand covered Anna’s breast, rolling her nipple in between her fingertips.
“Please,” Anna groaned between kisses. “I need you.”
Lara pulled away to meet her eyes. “Not yet.”
Lara’s lips covered hers again before she could object. She felt Lara tug her panties off her hips, pushing them down her legs.
Anna kicked them to the side, hoping that Lara would finally give her the release she needed.
Lara’s hand returned to Anna’s sex, running her fingers through her folds. Anna’s hips pushed against them, craving her touch.
Anna whimpered as Lara’s fingertips rested lightly on her clit again, drawing slow circles.
“Lara, please,” Anna practically begged. “I want you inside of me.”
Lara didn’t say anything and led her by the hand over to the bed.
Lara sat down with her back against the headboard and eased Anna on top of her so that Anna could straddle her waist.
Lara was still fully dressed and the feeling of Lara’s jeans against her sex was causing Anna’s clit to pulsate.
Lara’s hand cupped Anna’s neck, bringing her lips down to hers as Lara’s fingers ran through Anna’s wet folds, finding her clit again.
She continued to massage her sensitive bud and Anna didn’t know how much more teasing she could take.
Anna lowered her body so that she could kiss Lara properly, her tongue searching out Lara’s.
Lara’s fingers moved through her folds and plunged two fingers deep inside her without any warning.
Anna groaned as she broke their kiss, raking a hand through Lara’s hair as her hips moved to the rhythm of Lara’s thrusts.
Lara added a third finger as Anna’s hands clutched the headboard for support.
“Yeah. Right there,” Anna moaned. She dipped her head to find Lara’s lips again as her orgasm grew closer. “Faster,” she panted between kisses.
“Like that?” Lara breathed, her fingers picking up the pace.
Before Anna could respond, her walls tightened around Lara’s fingers and a wave of pleasure rose through her body.
Her hips bucked against Lara’s hand and she wrapped her arms around Lara as she rode out her orgasm.
Lara pushed Anna’s blond hair away from her face as she caught her breath.
“That was worth the wait,” Anna breathed as she rolled off Lara. “How are you still dressed?” Anna asked, her eyes moving over Lara.
“You weren’t in control for once,” she answered as she pushed herself off the bed and removed her clothes.
Anna watched her strip down to her black bra and panties and then Anna pulled Lara down on top of her.
Lara’s lips met hers as Anna reached up to slip her hand under the elastic of Lara’s panties.
Anna moaned into her mouth as her fingers easily slid through her wet folds. She moved her fingers up to Lara's clit, gently massaging her there while Lara’s lips met her own.
Anna’s tongue wrestled with Lara’s while she reached around and unhooked Lara’s bra, pushing it off her shoulders and tossing it to the side.
Anna felt herself growing wet again as Lara’s breasts pressed against her own.
She slid two fingers inside of Lara, her palm rubbing against Lara’s clit with each stroke.
Anna started slow, her fingers bottoming out with each hard thrust. She added a third finger and she could feel Lara’s walls immediately tighten around her fingers.
Anna wrapped her free arm around her back as Lara’s hips moved in rhythm with Anna’s hand.
Lara moaned into her mouth, her tongue finding Anna’s before she pulled away, burying her face in Anna’s neck.
Lara groaned as her body stiffened and then shook as her orgasm pulsed through her body.
Anna held her hand against Lara as she rode out the last waves of pleasure, savoring the feeling of having Lara in her arms again.
Lara ran a hand through her hair, pushing it away from her face as she rolled off Anna a few seconds later.
“I think that was the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had,” Lara said as she turned to meet Anna’s eyes.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to get any work done tomorrow,” Anna said with a smile as she straddled Lara’s waist, her hand moving to Lara’s sex again.
Anna leaned in to find Lara’s lips again, brushing away a lock of hair from Lara’s green eyes.
Definitely not.
Epilogue
Anna watched the leaves gently falling to the ground, some of them gracefully landing in the water at the edge of the lake.
Forbidden Love Page 25