Something or Everything

by Lily St Michael

  “How did you know?” Maddie pulled her head back to meet Julia’s gaze.

  “We already know how to move together.” Julia smiled. “And we do it so well, don’t we?”

  Maddie laughed lightly. “Yes, we do.”

  Maddie inhaled deeply and glanced around her, realizing that the looks they were getting had smiles attached and she relaxed. Maddie pulled Julia closer as they danced together, their bodies moving together easily and pressing deliciously. Even being in a very public setting did little to ease Maddie’s desire for Julia and she rubbed her hand up and down the length of Julia’s bare neck.

  The music changed to something with a decidedly Latin beat and Maddie felt a little more in her element. Maddie’s brother, Enzo, hated to dance so whenever there was a family wedding, she and Maria would hit the dance floor and Maria loved to dance to Latin music.

  “Will you let me lead for this one?” Maddie asked.

  Julia nodded. “Just be gentle.”

  “That’s not what you usually say,” Maddie whispered into her ear and Julia laughed, the deep and raspy sound of it making Maddie shiver.

  Maddie moved her hips a bit more and quickened her step. To her surprise, Julia laughed as she followed her movements easily and Maddie stepped back, keeping their hands attached before she pulled Julia back in. They clung to each other as Maddie moved her entire body to the music, but she kept her steps uncomplicated so Julia could easily follow her and she did. Maddie laughed as they danced, feeling as happy and as free as she could ever remember feeling, with Julia in her arms.

  ◆◆◆

  Maddie woke, warm and satiated and reached a hand out, smiling when she felt Julia sleeping beside her. Maddie opened her eyes and saw Julia cradling a pillow, only partially covered by the sheet, a tantalizing glimpse of her hip and the side of her breast visible. Her skin looked soft and pale in the morning light and Maddie sighed at the beautiful sight.

  The previous night seemed like a dream to Maddie, dancing with Julia, laughing with her and Steven over drinks and then bringing Julia home with her. Maddie thought about how beautiful Julia had looked in her gorgeous dress and how she had looked even more beautiful out of it. They had made love slowly and passionately with Julia professing her love for Maddie until they had curled up together and slept.

  Maddie shivered at the memory and then inhaled sharply when she realized that she could have lost this, this woman, this feeling of love and acceptance, this happiness that was unlike anything she had ever known. Her eyes filled with tears and spilled onto her cheeks. She was feeling a combination of joy over being with Julia, and regret over how much they had hurt each other getting here.

  Maddie vowed to do everything in her power to hang onto this woman and this feeling, to live the life she had always wanted. She wiped her face with the corner of the sheet and sniffled, trying to pull herself together when Julia’s eyes slowly opened, the crystal blue color beautiful in the morning light.

  “Good morning,” Maddie whispered.

  Julia reached for Maddie, caressing her face. “Hey, baby, what’s wrong?”

  Maddie smiled, overwhelmed by the obvious concern, as well as Julia’s sexy, raspy voice and she shivered slightly at her strong and ever-present physical attraction to Julia.

  “Nothing, Jule, I promise. I just love you so damn much and I love waking up with you.”

  Julia smiled at that and pulled Maddie in, embracing her with her entire body, the way that Maddie loved, with her arms and her legs, rocking her slightly as she placed kisses over her face and neck and shoulder. “I love waking up with you, more than I can say.”

  Maddie kissed her back, lightly on the lips. “Don’t move.”

  Maddie untangled herself and strolled out of her bedroom naked, down the hall and into her kitchen, pouring a mug from the coffee maker. She added Julia’s preferred amounts of cream and sweetener and brought it back into the bedroom. Julia was sitting up against the headboard smiling.

  “I could get used to this,” Julia said in a raspy whisper as Maddie handed her the mug. “No one’s ever brought me coffee in bed.”

  Maddie ran her gaze over Julia’s naked form, enjoying the view and the effect her gaze seemed to be having on Julia, her nipples hardening as she squirmed slightly. “I could get used to this,” Maddie said as she stared at Julia. “Waking up to you naked and looking so beautiful.” She took the mug from Julia and sipped from it before handing it back.

  Julia took a generous sip of coffee and then placed the mug on the bedside table. “C’mere,” she whispered.

  Maddie climbed back into the bed, moving up to straddle Julia as Julia guided her closer, taking Maddie’s nearest nipple into her mouth, sucking gently as Maddie responded with a soft moan and her hips rolling gently into Julia. Julia slowed her oral caress and stopped, resting her forehead against Maddie’s chest.

  “I can’t believe how much I want you, baby, especially after last night. Is it okay that I want you all the time?”

  Maddie inhaled a surprised breath at Julia’s question. “It’s more than okay. I want you all the time, too.”

  “You want me now?” Julia’s voice was quiet and tentative.

  Maddie brought one of Julia’s hands to her center and Julia gasped as Maddie jerked at the contact. Maddie could feel how incredibly wet she was as Julia’s fingers gently explored. Maddie brought her lips close to Julia’s ear.

  “I love you,” Maddie whispered. “I want you. Fuck me.”

  Maddie grabbed the headboard and moaned loudly as Julia gave her exactly what she had asked for.

  Chapter 19

  Julia smiled as Maddie held her hand firmly as she led her into the somewhat busy neighborhood restaurant. She expected Maddie to release her hand at any moment, especially when several patrons turned to stare as they strolled in, but she held on tightly. Julia saw someone she assumed was Maria waving from a booth in the back as they made their way through the gauntlet of closely arranged tables. Several members of a group involved in a lively discussion at one table smiled and nodded at Maddie and she smiled and nodded back.

  “Olá, Layna,” someone called from another nearby table and Maddie turned, smiling and waving at an acquaintance with her free hand. It was obvious that Maddie was well known in this place.

  Maria was already sliding out of the booth to kiss Maddie on each cheek in the European manner before hugging her closely, talking softly to her in a combination of English and Portuguese. Maddie nodded and smiled as she pulled away and turned.

  “Julia, this is my sister-in-law, Maria. Maria, this is Julia.”

  Julia smiled at Maria as she reached a hand out, but Maria pulled her in to kiss her on both cheeks. “The famous Julia,” she said as she ran her sharp eyes over every inch of Julia, taking her in.

  Julia raised her eyebrows. Maddie had told her that Maria supported their relationship, but Julia also knew that Maria was probably a little wary of her, as was Vivienne, of this new and sudden change in her life. Julia knew that Maria was concerned because of Julia’s potential to hurt Maddie, but Julia would not back down from Maria or from anyone else for that matter. Julia wanted Maddie and she would do anything to keep her.

  “The famous Maria,” Julia returned easily with an intentional bit of snark in her tone.

  Maria smiled at that and Maddie laughed, pushing Julia into the booth and sliding in beside her. Julia took a moment to look around the crowded restaurant.

  “You two come in here a lot?” Julia asked.

  Maddie smiled. “Can you tell? A lot of the customers are from the same island in the Azores our parents are from, or go to the same church or went to school with us. It’s the old neighborhood, for both Maria and me.”

  Julia nodded, suddenly facing the stark realization that Maddie had a life here, a full and rich life of family, friends and a neighborhood that Julia was not a part of, and that Maddie would be reluctant to leave. The insight gave Julia pause and she tried to push bac
k the kernel of worry that settled in her gut.

  After they ordered breakfast, Maria sat back and looked at Julia. “How was Layna’s work thing last night?”

  “It was fun, more than fun actually.” Julia looked at Maddie and smiled. “I had a great time.”

  “What are you two going to do today?” Maria asked.

  Julia shrugged. “It’s up to Maddie. I don’t care what we do as long as I’m with her.”

  Maria snorted. “That’s because you don’t know what she does on Saturdays instead of going shopping with me.”

  “I could probably guess,” Julia said.

  “You think so?” Maddie asked with a smile and a bit of a challenge in her voice.

  “An art museum?” Julia asked. “An obscure foreign film or curling up with a good book? Maybe a Buddhist class or yoga? Am I close?”

  Maddie blushed as she smiled widely at Julia. “You are close. So…you’d come with me to meditation class…or to an art gallery?”

  “Either or both, if you like,” Julia said.

  Maria laughed. “You better hang onto this one, Layna, I won’t even do that shit with you.”

  Julia heard Maddie’s delighted laughter and turned to look at her. Her eyes were warm and her dimples were out and Julia thought that she would do almost anything to keep seeing Maddie look this happy.

  Meditation at the small Buddhist Center that Maddie frequented was more enjoyable than Julia would have guessed. It was a guided meditation so Julia just followed along while sitting beside Maddie on a padded mat. She spent a good amount of her meditation time looking at Maddie, who looked serene and beautiful with her eyes closed. Looking at Maddie made Julia feel warm and centered so she assumed that it would count as meditation. When Maddie finally opened her eyes and saw Julia, she smiled as widely as Julia had ever seen her smile and that was more than worth it.

  The art gallery was more Julia’s speed and she wandered the space with Maddie, getting distracted by a section of black and white photographs while Maddie perused a series of small watercolors of the ocean nearby. Julia walked over and noticed the painting that Maddie was staring at, an ocean scene that reminded Julia of home.

  “You like this one?” Julia asked.

  “Yes,” Maddie said nodding. “It makes me feel calm and happy.”

  Julia nodded. “Yes, I can see why. I like it, too.”

  Julia made a note of the artist and title before Maddie reached her hand out, taking Julia’s arm and pulling her close. Every positive gesture from Maddie settled Julia’s heart a bit more, but she knew that a relationship involving any kind of distance would not be easy. Julia realized that the more time she spent with Maddie, the more she wanted to be with her. She looked at Maddie and smiled, leaning in to kiss her but she suddenly stopped and pulled away, not wanting to make Maddie uncomfortable. She saw the surprise on Maddie’s face.

  “What was that?” Maddie asked.

  Julia shook her head. “I don’t know how comfortable you are with PDA’s, especially…well, from me and especially here, so close to home.”

  Maddie’s eyes searched her face for a moment. “If you want to kiss me, kiss me,” she whispered.

  Julia leaned in and brushed her lips across Maddie’s once and then again before pressing gently for a few seconds while Maddie returned the kiss, pursing her lips to move against Julia’s.

  When Julia pulled away, Maddie blinked her eyes open and smiled. “I don’t care where we are, Julia, I can’t hide the way I feel about you…and I won’t.”

  Julia was nearly overcome with a combination of joy and relief. “God, Maddie, I love you.” Julia pulled her close. “Is Gabe working today?”

  Maddie nodded. “Yeah, until six o’clock.”

  Julia licked her lips. “Can we go back to your place for a while?”

  “Of course we can.” Maddie looked at her closely. “Are you okay?”

  Julia nodded. “I just need to be alone with you.”

  Maddie smiled. “Let’s go.”

  ◆◆◆

  Julia panted heavily, sprawled on her stomach with Maddie draped across her back. She felt Maddie rub her leg and kiss her ass cheek and she smiled, having no idea how Maddie had ended up in that position across her body. Julia was hot, sweaty and breathless, and as sexually satisfied as she could ever remember being. She also realized that she’d had a really nice day with Maddie, getting to know her a little better, becoming friends with her. Julia mulled this over for a few moments, comparing this to her failed relationships with men. She and Maddie had been becoming friends since their very first meeting, and had become lovers, as well. Her sex-addled brain could come to no conclusion other than she was continuing to fall more deeply in love with Maddie.

  Julia sighed deeply, realizing that she would dread having to leave Maddie the next morning. She missed her daughters certainly, but she would miss Maddie terribly after spending such a lovely time with her. Each good-bye and subsequent separation was becoming increasingly more difficult, but things were still a little fragile between them and she did not want to verbalize these feelings and make Maddie feel pressured in any way.

  Julia felt Maddie’s finger run along the crease between the bottom of her ass and the top of her thigh, and she inhaled deeply as her nipples tightened beneath her and she felt the warmth of fresh arousal gush between her legs. She did not have the energy to move quite yet, but her body was already alert and wanting Maddie again. Maddie kissed her ass wetly and Julia shuddered.

  Maddie slowly moved off her and rolled over to lie beside Julia, pulling a loose pillow under her head to look at her. Julia could not help but reach over with a soft hand and tugged gently on Maddie’s pubic hair. Maddie closed her eyes and bucked her hips toward her.

  Julia smiled. “Something you want, beautiful?”

  “Can you even move?” Maddie asked with a smile, her eyes still closed.

  Julia could move and she did, sliding over Maddie and gently spreading Maddie’s thighs open, making Maddie’s eyes pop open. Julia slid down and lowered her head near Maddie’s center, making her buck lightly in anticipation. Julia ran the flat of her tongue up through her warm folds, holding Maddie’s hips down firmly as Maddie’s eyes once again closed. Julia lifted her head and waited until Maddie opened her eyes and looked down at her, meeting her gaze. Julia slowly licked Maddie’s essence from her lips.

  “I love you,” Julia managed to whisper.

  Julia watched Maddie swallow. “God, Jule, I love you.”

  Julia smiled as Maddie reached up over her head, gripping the edge of the mattress and digging her heels into the sheet as Julia’s tongue licked every fold, every bit of impossibly soft, wet skin. Julia patiently and meticulously worshipped her with her mouth, savoring every scent, taste and sound attached to the experience. Julia never slowed or faltered in her attention, slowly building her arousal until Maddie was moaning and bucking. Julia pulled her closer, loving her until she was close to orgasm, and then loving her a little harder.

  It was loud and violent and beautiful and Maddie screamed as she peaked, one hand clinging to Julia’s head and the other pulling the sheet from the mattress. Julia held her closely and tenderly, absorbing the moment, the beauty, and the emotion as Maddie shuddered beneath her. Julia realized that she would do anything for this woman and anything to keep her.

  “It’s going to kill me to let you go home tomorrow,” Maddie whispered.

  “I know,” Julia whispered back. “It’s going to kill me to leave.”

  They both moved and shifted so that they could embrace and they intertwined themselves together, as closely as possible. Julia willed herself not to cry, but she felt Maddie stifle a sob against her shoulder and she let her own tears come. She pulled at a corner of the sheet to dry her eyes and they pulled apart to look at each other.

  “No matter how hard this gets, I’m not going to let you go,” Julia said.

  Maddie smiled through her tears before she placed a firm
kiss to Julia’s mouth. “Do you promise?”

  Julia nodded. “Cross my heart.”

  “Okay, so, maybe we should agree, right here and now, that there will be no letting go of each other.”

  “Agreed,” Julia said. She wiped tears from Maddie’s face. “Okay, enough of that. Let’s make dinner plans. Should we go out? What does Gabe like?”

  “He can spend another night at Enzo and Maria’s.”

  Julia shook her head. “No. We’re here, let’s do something with him.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Of course not. Do you mind having Viv and Norie around?”

  Maddie smiled. “No, not at all.” Maddie kissed her softly. “I love you.”

  Julia sighed, her heart feeling as though it was slowly settling into place. “I love that you tell me that all the time.” Julia pulled her close and held on for dear life.

  The knock on the door while they were dressing seemed to startle Maddie and she hurriedly finished buttoning her oversized shirt as she walked toward the front of the apartment. Julia simply smiled as she followed behind at a leisurely pace. She saw Maddie shaking her head at a young man standing in the hallway with a package wrapped in brown paper.

  “I didn’t buy anything at the gallery,” Maddie was saying.

  “I did,” Julia said.

  “Oh, sorry.” Maddie took the package. “Well then, thank you.”

  The young man left and Maddie turned to Julia. “I didn’t realize you bought something.” Maddie held the package to Julia. “Here.”

  Julia shook her head. “It’s for you.”

  Maddie looked at the package in her hands. “For me? You bought me something?” Julia nodded. “When?”

  “I didn’t actually go to the ladies’ room,” Julia said quietly. Maddie looked stunned, staring at the object in her hand so Julia moved closer. “You can unwrap it.”

  Maddie looked at Julia and smiled. “You didn’t have to…why did you…no one has ever…”

  Maddie slowly moved to the sofa and sat down, pulling the string on the package and beginning to gently pull the brown paper and bubble wrap away. Julia sat beside her to watch, the look of wonder on Maddie’s face as she slowly revealed the painting she had admired earlier filling Julia with a quiet joy.