by Janet Albert
"Really good and happier than ever, too. Let's see, what else--very relieved and just a little satisfied." Jamie ran a single finger in a line down Miranda's cheek until it came to rest at the corner of her mouth. "Most of all, I feel very much in love with you." Then she used the same finger to gently touch Miranda's lips. "I love your soft, soft lips," she said just before she kissed her.
"Is that all you're feeling?" Miranda asked as soon as the kiss ended. "Because I'm feeling something else again."
Jamie grinned and kissed her, more thoroughly this time. Her hand found its way to Miranda's breast. "I love your breasts." Jamie's lips brushed against Miranda's as she whispered softly to her. "And every other part of you."
"Touch me, Jamie. I need you to, so much." Miranda's breathing had become ragged and her half-closed eyes were locked on Jamie's.
"You don't have to ask me twice," Jamie said. She moved a hand between them and stroked the length of Miranda's clitoris, paying specific attention to the spot she'd already learned was the most sensitive. "This time, I want to look at you while you come."
Miranda kept her eyes on Jamie's and groaned, her hips jerking involuntarily as Jamie touched her. She moved her own hand over the smooth skin of Jamie's lower abdomen, dipped her fingers in the warm wetness and slid along the side of Jamie's clitoris. "You're so wet... you feel so good."
"I woke up wet from dreaming about you." Jamie's eyes became unfocused and her breath caught in her throat as Miranda's fingers worked their magic. "Please make me come." As Jamie said these words, she entered Miranda and held her fingers deep inside.
Miranda cried out as Jamie entered and she in turn entered Jamie. As Jamie moved inside her and rubbed against her, she did the same to Jamie. For a while, they were a mass of pulsating, driving desire until Jamie gasped out loud, her body on the brink of orgasm.
Jamie cried out first. She took in a sharp deep breath and held it, her face a contorted mask, her muscles contracted, her body shaking violently.
Miranda followed close behind her, crying out as they both fell into orgasm, an orgasm so intense, so all-consuming, it seemed to come from both of them and yet belong to neither one. It took some time before either could speak or move.
About ten minutes later, Miranda glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table. "I suppose we should get up sometime today."
"Do we have to?" Jamie groaned and buried her head between two pillows. "I don't want to leave you or this bed. I want to stay here for the rest of my life." She peeked out from beneath the top pillow with one eye. "Say we don't ever have to leave."
"Ever?" Miranda raised her eyebrows.
"Ever. This is the only place I want to be." Jamie buried her face again.
"Me too, but we can't stay here forever." Miranda lifted one edge of the pillow and peered in at Jamie. "I hate to be the bearer of logic and reason at such a time, but sooner or later, my nosy sister would be over here banging on the door. Eventually, I'd lose my job, your gym would go under, we'd go broke, and then we'd be out living on the street." Miranda pretended to be serious but the corners of her mouth lifted just enough to give her away. "That's not a good way to start a relationship."
"That's a horrible thought, but at least we'd be together."
"Well, there is that, but..."
"You're way too sensible."
"I know, that's what my sister says about me all the time." Miranda plucked the pillow from Jamie's head and tossed it on the floor. "Come on, rise and shine. I'll make coffee and fix us something to eat." She got out of bed and stood at the side. "Aren't you hungry at all? We haven't eaten for hours and hours."
"I'm starving, but not for food," Jamie turned onto her back, uncovered and naked, her hands linked behind her head. "I'd rather stay right here and feast upon your naked body." She winked. "Coffee sounds good, though."
Miranda felt her body grow warm with desire. "You are so incredibly sexy. I can't stop looking at you and looking at you makes me want you all over again and I do want you, so much. You have no idea how much." Miranda bent down and kissed her. "We'll get back to this later."
"Is that a promise?"
"You bet, baby. We're merely taking a break solely for the purpose of sustenance and hygiene. You don't have to run home any time soon, do you?"
Jamie shook her head. "What do you have in mind?"
"I'd love it if you'd spend the day with me. Can you do that?"
Jamie nodded.
"Good, excellent." Miranda beamed. It was hard to remember a time when she'd ever felt this happy and the look on Jamie's face told her that Jamie shared her joy. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to hop in the shower. I won't be long."
"Go ahead." Jamie turned over on her stomach and moaned. "Don't hurry on my account. I'll just stay here in bed until you're done."
Fifteen minutes later, Miranda came out of the bathroom in a soft robe that came to her mid-thigh. From the closet, she got another robe and threw it on the foot of the bed.
"It's your turn. Here's one of my robes, if you want it, and I put a clean set of towels out for you. You should find everything you need in there. I'll be in the kitchen getting the coffee ready. Come down when you're done."
"Uh huh."
"MMM. IT SURE smells good in here," Jamie said when she walked into the kitchen, looking clean and refreshed. "What is it about the smell of bacon and coffee?"
"I don't know. It's heavenly, isn't it?" Miranda smiled. "You got here just in time. Are you awake enough to eat?" Miranda took a sip of coffee.
"I will be as soon as I have some of that coffee."
"Pour yourself a cup. I put the big mugs out. Everything's on the counter."
Miranda dished up the food and carried their plates out to the dining room. "What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked Jamie once they were both seated.
"I have to get up early and go to the gym. This coming week is going to be the greatest of my life and one of the busiest. All my dreams have come true--my gym's going to open and I've made love with you." Jamie's grin spread from ear to ear. "I'm so fucking happy, I don't know what to do with myself."
"I'm happy too, more than I can say." Miranda reached over and took Jamie's hand. "I've never been anyone's dream before." She brought Jamie's hand to her lips.
"Well, you're mine. You're everything I've ever dreamed of."
"I'm going to have a problem this week. How am I going to stop smiling?"
"Don't, it looks good on you. So does the color in your cheeks. It makes you look even prettier than you already are." Jamie released Miranda's hand and took a sip of her coffee. "This is so good."
"I love really good coffee."
"You obviously know how to make it, too." Jamie took another swallow. "I keep forgetting to tell you, we're having a grand opening party at the gym next Saturday, in the evening. It would mean a lot to me if you'd come. Please, say you will."
"Of course I will. I wouldn't miss it for the world, but here's the bad news. You're not the only one with a busy week. I have to attend a medical conference in Boston for a few days. I'm leaving tomorrow evening and I won't be back until Thursday evening. Then I'm working on Friday and I'm on call Friday night, so I won't be able to see you until your party on Saturday. I'm so sorry. Bad timing, huh?"
"I'll say." Jamie frowned. "I guess I'll have to survive."
"We'll both have to survive somehow and we'll have to make do with talking on the phone. Believe me, it won't be easy for me, either. Would you mind if I bring my sister to the opening and maybe her husband, Tommy, if he wants to join us? She told me she wants to get to know you better."
"She wants to know me?" Jamie asked.
"That's what she told me."
"That's really nice. Bring them with you. I'd love to see them again and I'd like to get to know your sister, too."
"Please forgive Valerie if she gives you the third degree. She can be annoyingly nosy but she's a great person with a good heart. She just wants to see me happy
."
"She does, huh? Well then, we'll have something very important in common because there's nothing I want more in this world than to make you happy."
"You're very sweet." Miranda reached for Jamie's hand again and kissed it. "I've got another problem along with the smiling thing. I can't stop touching you."
"Good, because I don't want you to," Jamie replied, rubbing the smooth surface of Miranda's hand with her thumb. "I assume your sister knows you're a lesbian?"
"She's known almost as long as I've known. I told her how much I wanted you when I was over there for dinner last Sunday."
"You told her you wanted me? Before yesterday?"
"I did," Miranda answered. "Right after I stayed with you the weekend you were sick. Of course, she doesn't know about this--about us being together. She'll be so pleased." Miranda laughed softly. "Is it okay if I tell her we're lovers?"
"You want to tell her I'm your lover?" Jamie's eyes shimmered.
"Yes, Jamie, I do. Is that okay with you?"
Jamie only nodded, a single tear trickling down each cheek.
"You're so sweet." Miranda got up and stood next to Jamie's chair. She kissed the tears from Jamie's cheeks and when she glanced down at her, she caught a glimpse of a bare thigh where the bottom of Jamie's robe had split. "God, look at you. You don't know what you do to me."
"Yes I do. I'm aching for you again just because this robe smells like you and because I know it's been on your body."
"I ached from wanting you all week and now I have to wait another whole week before I can see you again. I'm going to go crazy." Miranda bent to kiss her.
"Well, we can't have you going crazy, now, can we?" Jamie pulled Miranda onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her. They kissed eagerly, their mouths open, their tongues probing each other's mouths.
"Are you naked under that robe?" Miranda asked when they came up for air. She slid her fingers under the lapel of the robe and pulled it toward her so she could peek inside. Jamie's breasts heaved with each labored breath, pushing her taut, flushed nipples against the front of the robe. Slipping her hand in, Miranda caressed one of Jamie's breasts.
"Yes, I'm naked. Aren't you?" Jamie lowered her eyes. Miranda's robe had separated at the bottom, inviting Jamie's hand to reach for the exposed skin of her thighs.
"Yes," Miranda whispered as Jamie's hand crept higher and higher. Unconsciously, she parted her legs to allow Jamie access to her. With one arm around Jamie's shoulder, she reached with the other to untie Jamie's robe and then she parted it to expose her body.
Jamie moaned. "Jesus, Miranda, you know what I want."
Miranda brought her hand to Jamie's lower abdomen and moved down inch by inch until the tips of her fingers touched the dark triangle of damp hair between Jamie's legs. Knowing it would drive Jamie wild, she stopped and held her hand still.
Jamie squirmed, shifting her position. "Please, Miranda."
"What do you want, baby? I want you to tell me," Miranda whispered, pushing her hand down a fraction of an inch at a time until she reached the wetness she knew she'd find there, waiting for her, just for her.
"I want you here." Jamie placed her hand over Miranda's and guided her, pressing their hands hard between her legs. "I want you to touch me." When Miranda's fingers grazed her clitoris at last, Jamie gasped and moved her hand between Miranda's legs, sliding her fingers into the soft wetness. "I can't. I want..."
"What do you want? Tell me, my sweet Jamie. I love it when you tell me." Miranda's eyes closed and her head fell back as Jamie's fingers found her clitoris.
Jamie managed to tell Miranda what she wanted in little bursts squeezed out between jagged breaths. "I want to be inside you. I want to feel your heart beat...on my fingers... and I want to feel you...hold me inside...when you come."
"What do you want me to do to you?" Miranda whispered in Jamie's ear as she entered her.
"Anything, everything. Just make love to me."
"Let's go back upstairs."
Chapter Twenty-Six
"THIS LOOKS LIKE the place," Valerie said, looking up.
"What makes you think so, Val, the sign that says Jamie's gym?"
"Watch yourself, Tommy." Valerie smacked him in his upper arm.
"Okay you two, knock it off and let's go in," Miranda said as she hurried them through the front door of the building. "This way," she said, pointing down the hallway to the right. The second they arrived at the elevator, she jabbed repeatedly at the up button.
"Hey, don't break it. What's your hurry?" Valerie asked.
"I'm just anxious to see Jamie, that's all. I missed her." Miranda glared at her sister as they stepped inside the elevator and again, she brutalized the button for the correct floor.
"Uh-oh." Valerie elbowed Tommy in the ribs. "I think somebody we know has the hots for somebody. She can't wait to see her."
"Will you stop hitting me? And you'd better hold that tongue of yours, Val," Tommy said as they stepped off the elevator. "She's not amused."
"I'll thank you both not to refer to me as if I don't have a name," Miranda said, opening the door to the gym. "Or like I'm not even standing right here."
Tommy whistled when they entered the gym. "Wow, this is great."
"Look at this, Miranda," Valerie said. "Isn't this place nice?"
"It's more than nice. It's spectacular. I'm glad to see a lot of people came."
"The buffet's got to be over there where all those people are hanging around," Tommy said. "Come on flower girl, let's go get some champagne and check out the food."
"We had dinner not too long ago, Tommy," Valerie reminded him.
"I know, but I'm still hungry."
"You're always hungry." Valerie shook her head. "Okay, you go ahead and see what they have. Miranda and I need to find Jamie and give her these flowers before they wilt. We'll catch up with you later."
After Tommy scurried off in search of free food, Valerie grabbed Miranda by the arm. "Honestly, all that man does is eat."
"He has a healthy appetite, all right. Look at him, he can't wait to get over there."
"I know, believe me, I know." Valerie tugged at her sister's arm. "So, let's you and I go find Jamie. Have you seen her yet?"
"No, but she's got to be around here somewhere." Miranda searched the room as they strolled around and finally, she caught a glimpse of Jamie in the center of a small group of women. At first, her heart filled with joy until one of the women stepped aside and gave her an unobstructed view. Her joy was short-lived. Jamie stood close to Lilly, the same girl she'd taken to Eve's party and she had her arm draped across Lilly's shoulders. Miranda thrust a stiff arm out in front of Valerie's chest and stopped walking the instant she saw Jamie lean in and whisper in Lilly's ear. "Hold on a minute. There she is, over there." Miranda pointed in the general direction.
"Yeah, I see her. Who's she with?"
"That's the girl she brought to Eve's party."
"Uh-oh. They look pretty chummy."
Miranda winced as a painful stab of jealousy ripped a hole in her heart. Would she always have to worry about what Jamie was up to or who she was with? Could Jamie be satisfied being with one woman, the same woman, for any length of time? Why am I even thinking about whether she'll be faithful to me? She hasn't made me any promises.
"Hey you," Valerie tugged on Miranda's sleeve.
"What? So sorry. I was thinking about something."
"Miranda, look at her. She's stunning. Check out the way she's dressed. What is that, a woman's tuxedo? It looks like one but it has more feminine lines and it fits her like it was custom tailored. I swear if I wasn't straight, I'd be attracted to her myself."
"Thanks, Val. That's just what I need to hear. You and God knows how many other women--lesbian or otherwise. Just the sight of her is enough to..."
"To what?" Valerie smiled.
"You know what I mean." Miranda fanned her face and took several deep breaths.
"Look at you. She makes you all ho
t and bothered, doesn't she?"
"Okay, you don't have to point out every single obvious thing, do you?"
"Someone has to." Valerie made a face. "So, if you feel that way about her, then why are we standing way over here staring at her from a distance? Let's go over there and say hello to Ms. Heartthrob."
"I hope she doesn't turn out to be Ms. Heartbreaker. Why don't you lead the way?" Miranda nudged her sister forward. Here I come, Jamie, ready or not.
They were almost there when Jamie lifted her arm from Lilly's shoulders and turned her head. Her eyes burned into Miranda's, her cheeks flushed and her mouth formed itself into a melting smile.
"God, look at the way she looks at you," Valerie murmured under her breath. "We might have to call the fire department."
Miranda grabbed her sister's sleeve and yanked it. "Beehaave." Then, laughing under her breath, she glanced up and met Jamie's eyes head on. In their smoldering depths they held a cache of lover's secrets meant only for her. Again, her joy knew no bounds as she returned Jamie's melting smile with one of her own.
"That woman's crazy about you," Valerie said.
"I know." Miranda's internal temperature soared to a new level, her desire for Jamie so acute she could barely contain it. From the looks of it, Jamie felt the same way because her fiery gaze made the fabric of Miranda's bra feel abrasive against her nipples. She felt a familiar tightening below and the wetness that was already seeping into her underwear.
"Hi, I'm so happy you made it." Jamie secured Miranda's hand in hers and pulled her close once they stood side by side. "I was beginning to worry that you might not come."
"I'm sorry. Tommy got tied up at work and we promised we'd wait for him." Miranda felt herself blush and she couldn't stop grinning. She knew she must look like a lovesick teenager, but she was beyond caring. "Your gym is fantastic."
"You think so? I can't believe it's actually open."
With her fingers entwined in Jamie's, Miranda turned and faced her sister. "Jamie, you remember meeting my sister, Valerie, at Eve's party, don't you?"