by Jae
A smile curved Miri’s lips. “Isn’t that the point of having sex? For your partner to take you over the edge?”
“Not that edge. I’m talking about my feelings for her. I think if we made love, it would make me fall for her all the way.”
“Ah.” Miri gave her a knowing look. “So that’s why you stopped her. You were afraid of falling.”
Anja wanted to deny it. When she and Susanne had kissed on the couch and she had ended up deliciously trapped beneath Susanne’s body, she hadn’t consciously thought about it. But deep down, she knew it had probably influenced her decision to stop.
“You know what I think?” Miri said. “That look on your face when I got here? That wasn’t the after-sex glow.”
“Of course it wasn’t. Didn’t we just establish that Susanne and I didn’t have sex?”
Miri waved her away. “Now that I think about it, maybe it was more the goofy I’m-so-in-love glow.”
“No, I’m not… I…”
“I think it doesn’t really matter whether you have sex with her or not, Anja. You’ll fall for her even without mind-blowing orgasms. If you haven’t already.”
Anja sank against the back of the couch and stared at the wall, which blurred before her eyes. Something quivered deep inside of her. God, Miri was right. Her feelings for Susanne had grown with every day they spent together, and even abstaining from sex wouldn’t change the fact that she was falling in love with her. “Shit.”
Miri laughed and patted her knee. “Hey, look on the bright side. After Easter, you and I can keep each other company on the long drives or the flights to Berlin and back, and Franzi and Susanne can travel together too.”
“Assuming Susanne wants a long-distance relationship with me.”
“Why wouldn’t she? You’re great.”
The genuine compliment and the unshakable conviction in Miri’s voice sent a faint smile to Anja’s face. “Thanks.”
“So Indian food and Netflix now?” Miri rustled the bag of food she’d put down on the end of the couch. “Maybe the sex scenes in Orange Is the New Black will give you some pointers for your sadly nonexistent sex life.”
Anja took the bag from her. “For that remark, you’re not getting any samosas.”
Chapter 18
“Hey, you bought more furniture, Sis.” Franzi stepped into the dining room, hand in hand with Miriam. “I thought you didn’t want to do that because you’d only have to sell it again. Does that mean—?”
“It means I didn’t want my guests to have to eat from the floor or crouched over the coffee table,” Susanne said before her sister could finish the sentence. She didn’t want to get Anja’s hopes up, making her think she’d be staying.
“And this guest for one is certainly grateful.” With a groan, Miriam eased herself down on one of the two folding chairs Susanne had borrowed from Anja. “God, I’m so sore.”
Susanne covered her ears with her hands. “No details, please,” she and Anja said in unison.
Miriam snorted. “I wish. Get your minds out of the gutter, you two. I’m sore from spending all afternoon on the ropes course.”
While she and Franzi rested their sore limbs, Susanne and Anja worked together to get the food on the table. They sidestepped each other in the small kitchen area as if it were a choreography they had rehearsed all day, never getting in each other’s way. It had been the same when they had prepared the meal together, Susanne taking care of the potato salad while Anja made zucchini balls.
Susanne stole a quick kiss as she handed Anja the glasses and then another one after dinner, when they put the dishes in the dishwasher.
When they walked into the living room after cleaning up the kitchen, Miriam was leaning sideways on the couch so she could whisper into Franzi’s ear. Whatever she said made both of them blush, and they exchanged a kiss before Miriam let herself sink against the back of the couch.
Susanne placed tortilla chips and guacamole on the coffee table. “You’re moving a lot better now. Looks like you found a miracle cure for your sore muscles.”
“What can I say? Your sister is one talented doctor.” Miriam winked. She took a chip, dipped it into the guacamole, and then fed it to Franzi.
Susanne huffed. “She’s a dentist.”
“Must be why she can do amazing things with her mouth and her teeth.”
“TMI, TMI.” Susanne lowered herself into the two-person inflatable lounger next to Anja. Buying it didn’t count as furniture shopping, so she wasn’t sending out mixed signals, right?
Warmth suffused Susanne’s side as Anja immediately leaned in to her shoulder. She slung one arm around Anja. Buying the lounger had definitely been a good idea since it forced them to cuddle up.
Anja looked at Franzi. “I forgot to ask earlier because I got distracted by your crazy story about the kid with the braces. How was the ropes course?”
Franzi hastily swallowed a mouthful of tortilla chip. “Amazing! They had rope swings, suspension bridges, zip lines, and an obstacle that had you slide from one tree to the next on a surfboard. We had a blast. You should try it sometime.”
“Anja is afraid of heights, remember?” Susanne took her hand.
Anja stroked her thumb along the side of Susanne’s index finger as if thanking her for protecting her.
A tingle swept up Susanne’s arm and through the rest of her body. She stared down at her hand in disbelief. Wow. If this innocent little touch had that effect on her, she would probably spontaneously combust the first time Anja touched her more intimately.
“There was a guy ahead of us who said he was afraid of heights too, but he did great,” Franzi said.
Anja hesitated. “If they have a kiddie course or something like that, I would consider trying it.”
“You would?” Susanne searched her face. She didn’t want Anja to feel pressured into it just because Miriam and Franzi had done it.
“Mm-hmm. If you go with me.”
Susanne nearly suggested doing it in the summer, when being in the cool, shadowy forest would be a nice change of pace from the heat, but she bit her tongue before the suggestion could slip out. By the time summer came, she would be long gone from Freiburg. “Sure. We could do that sometime if you really want to.”
“Why not? I mean, there’s no shame in climbing back down if I really can’t do it, as long as I try first, right?”
Susanne knew she was talking about the ropes course, but the words fit their relationship too. “Right. No shame in it at all.”
Franzi launched into an enthusiastic recap of every obstacle on the tree-top ropes course, but Susanne missed half of the descriptions because she was too distracted by the slow caress of Anja’s thumb across her finger.
Not too much later, Miriam let out an exaggerated yawn. “Oh gosh, sorry. I’m really beat.”
Franzi got up immediately. “Yeah, me too. Must be all that fresh air. I think we should drag our tired asses home.”
“Now?” Susanne glanced at her watch. It was a quarter to nine. They had barely touched the tortilla chips and the guacamole Anja had made.
“Sorry,” her sister said, already on the way to the door. “I’ll see you for brunch tomorrow before I drive back.”
Quick hugs and they were out the door.
Anja and Susanne stayed behind and traded gazes.
“I think we’ve just been ditched for sex,” Anja said with a grin.
“No doubt. But I have to admit they are kind of cute together.” She studied Anja. “Are you tired too? I mean, tired for real. I know we’ve been working our asses off all week to get things ready for the website launch. I could drive you home if you want to make it an early night.”
Anja’s gaze darted away, then back to Susanne’s eyes. “Could I…stay over?”
Susanne smiled. Truth be told, she had secretly hoped Anja would consider another sleepover. “Sure. That would be great, actually. And we already proved that we can keep our hands off each other…for the most part.” S
he chuckled.
Anja didn’t laugh. The look on her face was intense. “Who said I want us to keep our hands off each other?”
“You, um…” Susanne had to swallow against her suddenly dry mouth before she could continue. “You want to…?”
“Make love to you.”
There was not even a hint of doubt in her tone, so Susanne didn’t ask if she was sure.
“Unless you’re too tired.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ll never be too tired to make love to you, even when I’m ninety.” She bit her lip. Damn. That sounded like the promise of forever that she’d been trying to avoid.
But luckily, Anja didn’t seem to notice. She took Susanne’s hand and led her to the bedroom as if it were her apartment, not Susanne’s.
God, this newfound confidence was kind of hot, especially when Anja gently pressed her down on the bed. She put her knee on the bed between Susanne’s legs, and a groan escaped Susanne, as she could already imagine what that slender thigh would feel like pressed against her more intimately.
About to follow her down on the bed, Anja paused. “Oh, I forgot. What about your blister?”
“It’s nearly healed. Besides, it’s on my left hand.”
“So you only said you were out of commission so I wouldn’t feel bad on Wednesday?”
Susanne shrugged. “Yeah, well…mostly.”
“You are so sweet. Sweet and hot.” Anja’s gaze raked over her. “Have I told you how much I love seeing you in jeans?”
“How about seeing me out of them?”
“Let’s find out.” Anja knelt between Susanne’s spread legs and reached for the button on her jeans. Despite her confident tone and actions, her fingers trembled.
Susanne gently covered them with her own. “You okay?”
Anja dug her teeth into her bottom lip and nodded. “It’s just… It’s been a while.”
Susanne smiled softly. “Want me to remind you?” She dipped one finger beneath the waistband of Anja’s jeans and caressed the smooth skin of her lower belly.
Anja sucked in a breath, and the muscles of her belly quivered beneath Susanne’s hand. “God, yes.”
Susanne wasn’t sure if it was an answer to her question or a reaction to her touch. It probably didn’t matter. She wanted to feel more of Anja. Now. She withdrew her hand, sat up, and maneuvered both of them back so that she sat on the edge of the bed and Anja stood between her spread legs. After glancing up at Anja’s face, she opened the button on Anja’s pants and slid down the zipper. To her surprise, she fumbled a little. Her hands were clumsy from nervousness and excitement. That hadn’t happened to her in…forever.
Anja seemed to sense it; she helped push her jeans down over her hips and kicked them off, then reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. It wasn’t a well-practiced striptease, but there was still something so inherently sexy about the movements that it made Susanne’s breath catch.
Susanne was barely aware of the top dropping to the floor since her gaze was focused on Anja, who stood before her in just a burgundy bra and matching panties. “Oh wow.” Susanne drank in her creamy skin, the delicate arc of her ribs, and the swell of her breasts peeking out from the lace edge of the bra. Eager to feel that soft-looking skin against her own, she all but ripped her own sweater and tank top over her head and wrestled out of her jeans.
The cool air in the bedroom brushed over her skin and made her nipples tighten.
Her gaze was on Anja again, and Susanne couldn’t understand how she’d ever thought she wasn’t classically beautiful. She was stunning.
“You are the stunning one.” Anja stared at Susanne as if she’d just been shown an especially beautiful fountain pen.
Only then did Susanne realize that she’d spoken out loud.
“Nuh-uh. You are.” Before Anja could open her mouth to argue, Susanne drew her down on top of her and then rolled them until they were both on their sides, facing each other. She cupped Anja’s face in her hands and kissed her long and deep and slow. God, she had never before felt anything so good as Anja’s body against her own.
At the skin-on-skin contact, Anja moaned into her mouth and clutched her back with both hands.
Susanne kissed her until her senses were reeling. She slid down the straps of that sexy bra and placed a kiss on each smooth shoulder before slipping her hands around her to unhook it. The cups fell away, baring Anja to Susanne’s heated gaze.
“Stunning,” she repeated as she took in every centimeter of Anja’s body until she reached her panties. “I think you should take these off too.”
“You too,” Anja answered breathlessly. “I want to see you.”
They stripped off their remaining clothes almost in sync with each other, then sank back onto the bed, with Susanne on top this time. God, she didn’t know where to begin. She wanted to touch her everywhere all at once. She trailed her hands up her arms, across her collarbones, along the top of her breasts.
Anja’s skin felt so wonderful beneath her fingertips that she lost herself in sensual pleasure for a minute or two, until Anja let out a low, thick hum and pulled her down into another kiss.
Susanne eagerly returned the kiss and finally ended it with a tiny nip of Anja’s bottom lip. Then she kissed her way down her neck. At the curve where Anja’s neck joined her shoulder, she paused and breathed her in.
Her senses were on overload—her intoxicating scent, the silkiness of Anja’s skin against her own, and the sound of her elevated breathing.
She nuzzled the spot where Anja’s heart beat furiously at the base of her neck, matching the thudding of her own heart, then continued her path down. When she reached the indent of her collarbone, she dipped her tongue into it and tasted Anja’s slightly salty skin. “Mmm, you taste good.”
Anja slid her hands restlessly up and down Susanne’s back, causing shivers to rush through her body. “And you feel good.”
“So do you.” Susanne moved down in the bed and cradled one of Anja’s breasts in her palm. Her breasts were a perfect handful and so incredibly soft that Susanne gave in to the urge to rub her cheek against them.
Anja’s hands came up, and she threaded her fingers through her hair. “Susanne, please.”
At the pleading note in her voice, Susanne closed her mouth over one nipple. It instantly hardened against her lips, and she teased it, first with her tongue, then, carefully, with her teeth.
Anja’s head tilted back, and a low moan rose from deep in her throat.
It resonated through Susanne’s body, driving her crazy. She wanted more of those little sounds. More of Anja.
When she sucked on her nipple, Anja bucked beneath her and tightened her grip on Susanne’s hair, urging her on.
Not that Susanne needed any encouragement. She trailed a string of kisses from one breast to the other and circled Anja’s nipple with her tongue, every now and then playfully flicking it.
“God, this is torture,” Anja breathed.
Susanne slid back up a little and caressed Anja’s flushed cheek with her thumb. “Want me to stop?” she asked, more teasing than anything.
“No! I want…” Anja raked her bottom lip with her teeth. “You. I want you.”
“Where?” Susanne asked, her voice husky. “Where do you want me?” Hearing Anja say it would be so hot.
But instead, Anja flushed and reached out.
Susanne held her breath, expecting her to take her hand and guide it to where she wanted her to touch. That would be even hotter than hearing her say it.
In a move that was strangely shy and bold all at the same time, Anja slid her hand between them and gently cupped Susanne between her thighs, where she was already wet with need.
A jolt of raw desire blazed through her, and her hips instinctively arched to meet Anja’s touch. She choked back a curse and struggled for control.
“There,” Anja murmured, her eyes hooded. She left her palm where it was, cradling Susanne intimately. “I want you there.
”
Susanne gritted her teeth. “Then you’d better take your hand away, or I won’t be able to move a muscle in about thirty seconds.”
“Really?” Anja moved her fingers experimentally.
Susanne sucked in a breath, her mind already hazy with pleasure, nearly unable to think or form words. “Yes, really.”
“Thirty seconds?” Anja repeated, her tone half teasing, half full of wonder.
Susanne shifted into her touch without conscious thought. “Twenty-five.”
Anja’s pupils were so wide her brown eyes nearly looked black. “Let’s see if we can make it fifteen when I do this.” She stroked the pad of her finger across Susanne’s clit.
“Oh God!” Susanne’s eyes slammed shut, and bright points of pleasure flared behind her lids. She closed her fingers around Anja’s wrist, caught between needing to draw her hand away and wanting to press it more firmly against herself. She forced her heavy eyes open. “Not this time, Anja. I don’t want just fifteen seconds. I want—” Forever. She pushed the sappy thought away. “I want to savor this. Savor every centimeter of you. Make you feel me everywhere.”
Anja groaned. “Yes. I want that too. And we will take our time—later. But first, I want to see you lose control.” She swirled her fingers through Susanne’s wetness again.
A shudder of need rippled through Susanne, and she let out a long groan, her breathing ragged. “I will if you keep this up. Oh hell. I didn’t think you’d be so…so…God!”
Anja stopped moving her fingers and looked into her eyes. “Is it okay?”
“Okay?” Susanne let out a shaky laugh. “It’s hot as…” Then Anja moved her fingers again, and she lost her train of thought.
“Good.” Anja urged her to roll over, and to her own surprise, Susanne eagerly settled on her back with Anja on top.
“Thank you,” Anja breathed against her lips, as if sensing that Susanne normally wasn’t so at ease handing over control. She held herself up on one elbow and planted openmouthed kisses on every bit of skin she could reach.
Each touch, each kiss sent tremors of pleasure through Susanne. She clutched Anja’s back as Anja lightly sucked on her neck and then paused to nibble on her shoulder. “God, you have amazing shoulders. Did anyone ever tell you that?”