Chapter 5
Angel
Angel tightened her arms around Nina's slim form. She didn’t seem to quite be sleeping, but her breaths were slowly evening out and her limbs were heavy and warm. Angel let herself soak in the sensation of their bodies pressed together, an extravagance she’d never allowed herself during their brief, furtive episodes in the past.
All evening, she’d been motivated mostly by lust and excitement, but now she had a chance to breathe Nina in and think about what she wanted.
Stroking Nina’s sweaty skin, all of the intensity from before was still there, but magnified with Nina’s soft breasts pressing against her ribs and her long hair falling over Angel’s chest.
Angel had known, by the time she graduated, that she was a woman. She wondered when Nina had figured it out. Had that been what attracted them to each other? Some formless, covert sense of being kindred spirits?
It was certainly part of it. Nina was gorgeous like this. And it was such a relief not to have to explain anything about her body or worry about what a new partner would think.
It was a lot more than that, though. The chemistry between them was unstoppable, their kinks still perfectly matched. Not that Angel cared one way or another about feet, but watching the response in Nina’s eyes? Using her heels as a tool for domination or having Nina worship literally at her feet? That she couldn’t get enough of.
She’d said that she wasn’t ready for a new relationship, though. She’d come here to take a break. To figure out who she was and what she wanted before diving into something else. She had a new job to figure out, even if it took only half the time of her old one. She needed to decorate her new house and get to know the city.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when a whole new series of images replaced it. Nina’s art on her walls, her new home vibrant with passion that jumped from the canvasses.
Angel knew exactly which room of her big empty house could be Nina’s studio. She could see Nina working in the sunny, open room, completely absorbed, with paint smeared on her fingers and little dots of it on her face.
Nina beside her while they explored little shops and restaurants. They could walk through the city, eating from the food trucks and lingering over street vendors’ tables. Nina would never drag her away or disparage someone else’s work—she’d be just as enthralled.
Nina in the car with her, windows down and music blasting, as they headed out to the wilderness. Angel had only one memory of Chan- Nina outdoors, a weekend hiking trip where she’d made a joke of carrying half of Nina’s pack just to walk beside her. She was sure that Nina would love hiking with her now.
What had it been? Five hours now? Six? She had no reason or right to be thinking about Nina’s colorful mess of clothing thrown over her couch at home. About the marks that she could leave on that pale skin, or the pampering showers they could take together afterward. About which side of the bed Nina would prefer, and what she would want on her nightstand.
She hadn’t expected any of this.
But then, she’d also said that she was coming here to figure out who she was and what she needed. Maybe she’d found it in Nina.
She drew in a deep breath. She should take things slow. Date. Figure out who Nina was now and if they’d work together. Put the picnics in the park before the shared laundry. Unpack her own boxes before adding Nina’s to them.
She tangled her legs around Nina’s, pulling them closer together.
Nina let herself be rearranged, then started stroking her own hand down Angel’s ribs. It sent shivers through her. Nina’s hands were long, with slender fingers that grazed over the fabric of her dress.
Somehow, Angel was still fully clothed, even wearing her shoes on the bed. She didn’t want anything between them now.
Nina spoke at a soft whisper. “Was that good for you?”
“Babe, that was amazing. You were stunning.”
“Did you come?”
Angel chuckled. “So hard. Like I haven’t in years.” Orgasms became more difficult after hormone replacement therapy, and she was still learning to reset her expectations. Sometimes they didn’t even matter. But today, it had been like a tidal wave, ripping through her and dragging her down to some intense and beautiful place she hadn’t thought was even possible.
She could feel Nina’s lips curve into a smile against her neck. “It’s different, isn’t it?”
Angel nodded. “Yes, it’s gentler now, and harder to get there. I imagine it’s the same for you?” She paused for Nina to nod. “When it’s right, though, it’s amazing. And tonight was…” She searched for the word. “Exquisite. You were exquisite.”
She could feel Nina smiling even wider. She hadn’t praised her enough, when they knew each other before. But Nina thrived under every compliment, like a plant reaching for the sun.
Nina kept up that gentle stroking. It didn’t seem like Nina wanted her to leave yet. But was that just post-sex cuddling or an invitation to stay the night? She wanted it to be an invitation to stay every night, but she didn’t want to overstep. They probably both needed time to figure things out on their own, too.
“What do you want to do now?” Angel asked, keeping her voice quiet and easy. She’d purposefully left the question open.
Nina stiffened in her arms.
“Shhh… there’s no wrong answer. Just tell me what you want right now.”
Nina propped herself up on her elbow so they could see each other. She was still a magnificent submissive, but she was confident, too, not the timid child she had been before. Angel liked that.
Nina looked her over carefully while she spoke. “I’d… like for you to stay the night.”
“I can do that,” Angel agreed easily. “I need to find a wrap for my hair, though. It’s already going to be a disaster just from laying on your pillow.”
“Really?”
“Girl, it takes hours to get these curls. And maintenance every day. You would not want to see me without it.”
“Huh,” Nina pondered. “I didn’t know.” Nina’s hair was beautifully disarrayed, but Angel knew it would only require a quick brushing to fix it. If only hers were so easy.
“I think I have a scarf in my purse, though. I can go look.” She was fairly certain this was the purse she’d had with her the day she moved out of her NYC apartment. There should be a head wrap inside, and maybe something else she’d just remembered. She’d have to go investigate.
“If you don’t, I’m sure I can find something.” Nina’s eyes traveled around her room. Angel was certain there would be a scarf around somewhere, but finding it would be a chore.
“I never thought you’d be the messy type.” She said it lightly, hoping it wouldn’t come off as an insult. She just wanted to know more.
“Because I followed regulations in school? I think it just made me want to rebel,” she laughed.
“No, because of how much you hated the clutter in the art studio. You said the supplies and things were too loud for you to hear what you were trying to paint.”
“You remembered that?” Nina sounded incredulous.
“I remembered everything.” Angel pulled her down for a kiss, gratified by how easily she followed the gentle command. She could have kissed her forever, but she needed to know something first.
“So, did you get better at handling the chaos? Or do you have another studio somewhere?”
Nina shook her head. “I… no. Too expensive.”
Angel couldn’t figure out how. “Didn’t you get your trust fund?” She wouldn’t have been surprised if her father found some way to screw her over, though that shouldn’t have been possible.
“I did, but by that time… I just wanted to do things on my own. And surgery was… not cheap.”
No kidding. Even with insurance covering some of the major surgeries, anything that was considered “cosmetic” was always out of pocket. It was actually astounding that Nina had managed it at all. But then, she’d always known that Nin
a was strong.
“I’m proud of you, baby girl,” she said, hoping that she wasn’t crossing a line. There was no other word for the fierce pride that she felt, though, for Nina standing up for herself and making her own life. If only she’d been there with her for more of it.
It was clear what the casualty was, though. Or at least the one casualty that she could see so far. There were probably more, but one that she could do something about. “So, you’re not painting anymore.” It was supposed to be a question, but it came out more like a statement.
“No. I’ve been busy. I work nights at Whirlwind and part time in the afternoons as an administrative assistant. It’s long hours.”
Angel wanted to step in and fix it. She wanted to fix everything. To take this powerful, confident woman and give her a place to rest. She wanted to be the foundation on which Nina could build her passions. Was committing to that now too soon? It didn’t feel that way. If anything, she felt like she was a decade too late.
Nina dropped her arm and nestled back into her shoulder.
“You should sleep.” It had to be past midnight now, and it had been a tumultuous day for both of them.”
Nina signed.
Angel couldn’t tell if it was a sound of contentment or disappointment. “Something else you want?” There was a long pause. Which meant she needed to press a bit harder. “Remember, I won’t judge. Whatever you want, I want to hear it.”
The first time Nina answered, face muffled against her side, she couldn’t make it out. She thought the last word was toes, though.
Angel smiled. “You have to be a little louder, sweetheart. Especially when you’re asking for some kinky, dirty thing that you need.”
Nina turned her head, and Angel wished she could see her blush. “It’s um, not dirty. Or maybe it is? I just… can I suck on your toes?”
Angel’s heart seemed like it would burst. There were so many sides of kink that she could explore with Nina. And it was such a sweet request.
“Of course. Let me go find a scarf. And wash my feet. Then we can do whatever you want.”
“You, um, don’t have to wash them. If you don’t want to.”
God, she was filthy and amazing.
“Do you mind if I do? I don’t want you getting sick.” No, it probably didn’t make sense, but Angel probably had her own feet things to get over. She’d have to get over them fast, though.
Nina shrugged. She rolled her off and gave her another short kiss. Nina got up to use the restroom, and she heard the water turn on. That gave Angel a moment to dig through her purse.
She found the wrap that she thought she’d seen. But more importantly… there. It was one of the last things she’d packed from the New York apartment, a glint of metal hiding behind the radiator that she’d seen at the last minute and tossed in her bag to think about later.
Her class ring.
She didn’t even realize that it had made it to New York. She couldn’t remember wearing it. It wasn’t a style she would ever have chosen now, not to mention that she couldn’t think of anyone who wore their class rings after graduation.
She slid the metal around the tip of her finger, exploring the smooth inner ring and the rougher engraving and stones along the top.
She had it now. And she’d just told Nina what it meant to her. It was almost like the universe was trying to tell her something.
Was it too cheesy to give it to Nina now? Too nostalgic? Too possessive?
It felt like the perfect ending to their little role pay.
It felt like the beginning of something new.
It felt like the collar that she wanted to place around Nina’s neck. Or the promise of a different kind of ring that she could slide onto her finger one day.
Angel took off the thin chain she was wearing and slid it through the ring. Then she tucked it back inside her purse. She could hang onto it. She didn’t have to decide now.
Nina padded back into the room, wearing a soft pink robe and looking freshly scrubbed but still sleepy-sexy in a way that made Angel feel even more possessive.
Angel took her own turn in the tiny, disorganized bathroom, taking a quick rinse in the shower, with special care to her feet, and then wrapping up in one of Nina’s towels. She tied up her hair, and returned to find Nina sprawled out in the bed.
She was completely naked. Angel’s breath caught in her throat.
She wanted to touch everywhere. She wanted to kiss every freckle on those long, pale limbs. She wanted to suck and nip at those round, perfect breasts. She wanted to explore that neat thatch of hair and taste the tantalizing folds that they hid.
But that wasn’t what Nina had asked for. And giving Nina what she’d asked for so sweetly was as much a part of her domination as the earlier scene had been.
Angel looked around for a place to hang her towel and finally slung it over the closet door. Avoiding Nina’s mess ruined her suave entrance, but she wasn’t trying to make a show of anything right now. Nina was watching her anyway, desire in her eyes.
She crawled onto the bed, dropping a few kisses over Nina’s form, then arranged herself onto her back. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Take what you need.”
“Thank you,” Nina said. Her tone reflected that same gentle submission that Angel had in mind. Their roles hadn’t changed, and Nina still acted under Angel’s direction. Now, though, she was giving Nina permission to explore.
Nina planted soft kisses on Angel’s shoulder, the delicate little licks setting her aflame. Nina lingered at her breasts, sucking at her nipples and circling with her tongue. It was all Angel could do not to grip the back of her head and keep her there.
She knew Nina wouldn’t complain. She would even revel in it.
But this wasn’t about Angel right now.
Nina’s mouth and graceful, questing hands slid down further, leaving blazing trails over Angel’s belly and down her thighs.
Nina hummed as she worked her way down, pleasure evident in her voice. But when she reached Angel’s ankles, she moaned.
God, that was hot.
Angel grabbed a couple more pillows and shoved them behind her head. She needed to see Nina kissing along the bridge of her foot like it was some kind of treasure. She didn’t want to miss a second of Nina’s little pink mouth descending on her big toe, eyes closed in ecstasy like she’d been granted some heavenly reward.
And the sensation… It was like getting her cock sucked. Maybe better. The way that Nina tongued around the base of her toe, gliding her tongue over the webbing and suckling at the top made that same pleasure pool in her belly. She had no idea that she had so many nerve endings there, and Nina knew how to find every one.
Nina moved to the smaller toes beside it, lapping at the tops like a kitten and exploring all of the spaces between. Her rapid breath fell over the saliva-slicked skin, warming and cooling it in alternating moments.
Angel had worried that this would tickle, but Nina kneaded into the sole of her foot with strong knuckles, drawing groans from Angel’s chest as she released the tight muscles. This was a massage and a seduction all at once.
And the look in Nina’s face… It was like she was making love to the digits.
This was worship.
The sight and the sensation were building and Angel found her arousal mounting. Could she get off like this? She was almost certain that Nina could. They both groaned together when Nina pressed deeply into the ball of her foot with her thumb while her tongue danced over the skin above.
It looked simple, but it was clear that Nina had some serious skills.
Angel could have watched Nina like this all night. But that was the problem. She wasn’t sure if she only had one night.
She wanted to touch.
“Come up here, baby.” This gentle adoration required sweet words and tender control, not the rough dominance of before.
Nina sat up obediently, though she gave Angel’s toes a final, regretful glance.
Angel changed her plans. If
she only had one night, she wanted to make Nina’s dreams come true.
“No, sweetheart. You can keep going. Just come up here a bit.”
Nina beamed up at her, like she’d received some kind of reward.
Angel shuffled around the bed, sitting up and rearranging the pillows behind her. There had to be some way to make this work. She leaned back against the headboard, both legs half bent with one knee pressed to the mattress. “Come.”
Nina draped herself over Angel’s lap, all soft curves and dark hair, with her knees curled under her. She kissed down Angel’s knee, then followed the path to her ankle and took up sucking against the arch of her foot. It was just on the edge between a tickle and a massage, but seeing Nina’s satisfaction made it into a bold seduction.
Angel tangled her fingers in Nina’s hair, pulling it out of the way so that she could see her face. She stroked her back, getting to know the knobs of her spine, the muscles that bunched and curled under her smooth skin. She traced lower, long admiring strokes from Nina’s shoulders to her knees and back up again.
When Nina moaned, she started exploring her inner thighs, dancing closer to the hot flesh in between but not quite touching it.
Nina whimpered, pushing back into her hand.
She let her fingers drift up a little higher, skating over that soft patch of hair. “Spread your knees,” she murmured.
Nina shifted around and complied, sprawling on the bed with one knee hitched up like some decadent work of art. She moved her mouth to Angel’s big toe and… God, it was like getting her cock sucked, this intimate and unavoidable rhythm of desire.
Angel traced over her ass again, those long legs, the tender skin of her inner thighs, while Nina trembled beneath her.
With two fingers, she found Nina’s mound and gently parted her outer lips. Nina’s inner folds were delicate and warm, already dripping with moisture.
Angel felt… honored, perhaps, to be able to touch her there. To caress such perfection. To hold that trust.
She explored the slick dampness, teasing and circling until her fingertips were wet before seeking Nina’s clit. It was soft and hidden, a smooth bud nestled at the top of her lips. Nina’s whole body shuddered.
Whirlwind Page 29