by Renee Porter
“Okay, seriously. What’s going on with you?”
Charlie crumpled the napkin in her hand and placed it in the trash can next to Ryan’s desk. She breathed in deeply, “Remember that movie I did a while back? The small, dramatic independent film?”
“Yes, the one where you play gay?” Charlie nodded her head and continued.
“Yeah, well, I was nominated for Best Actress.” Ryan coughed as she took her last bite. Charlie immediately placed her hand on her back, concern etched on her face. “Are you okay, honey?” Ryan’s face blushed at the embarrassment and the term of endearment. She nodded as she swallowed her food, breathing deeply.
“As in, the Oscars?” Charlie smiled widely and nodded her head. “Oh my gosh, Charlie, that’s amazing. That’s...wait.” Ryan got up and shuffled through the small closet in her office.
“What are you doing?” Charlie called out.
“You haven’t won one yet, right?” Ryan poked her head out of the closet and Charlie chuckled.
“No, not yet, why?” Ryan walked out with her hands behind her back, grinning.
“You know, when you really want something you need to visualize it, right?” Charlie slowly smiled and raked her eyes up Ryan’s body.
“Right,” she licked her lips as Ryan walked closer.
“And you really want it, right?” Charlie wasn’t sure what exactly Ryan was talking about but she nodded anyway, her eyes darkening in response to the innuendo. Ryan rolled her head back and moaned when she realized how her speech was sounding.
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Ryan removed the item from behind her back and handed it over to Charlie. The brunette woman gasped as she took hold of the golden statue.
“Oh my G g od, Ryan. Do you really keep this in your closet?” Ryan shrugged her shoulders as she watched Charlie eye the plaque on the front. “This was the last year that your dad won. The year that he passed?” Ryan nodded as Charlie read it out loud. “Best Actor, Andrew Stark.”
“Yeah, that was a hard speech to give.” Charlie looked over, recognition widening her eyes.
“I remember that. You accepted it for him. I cried during your speech.” Charlie looked over with sincere eyes. “Actually, if I remember correctly, most of the audience was crying.”
Ryan smiled softly and nodded. “I barely got through it myself. It was still so soon, but I knew that I had to do it for him.”
“I still can’t believe you keep this in your closet.” Ryan laughed as she settled in her chair.
“I have the first one he won in the media room. You know, once you win a couple of them I’m sure they’ll be strewn across your house. In the Tupperware drawer, on the counter in the bathroom, in the refrigerator…” Charlie rolled her eyes as Ryan listed almost every room in the house.
“You sure do have a lot of faith in me,” Charlie said in humor. Ryan’s throat tightened as she stood up straighter in her chair.
“You’re right, I do.” The soft smile that graced her lips was enough for Charlie to lean over and place a light kiss on the woman’s lips.
“Are you free tonight?” Ryan nodded quickly still leaning in from the kiss. “Will you go out with me tonight?” Again Ryan nodded and Charlie smiled. “Will you spend the night with me tonight?” Ryan sucked in a breath as her muscles tightened. Charlie chuckled softly as she placed another light kiss on her lips. “I just wanted to see if I could get you to nod your head again.” Ryan rolled her eyes as she pushed Charlie playfully.
“Tease,” Ryan said.
“Aw, you love it.” Charlie smirked and Ryan wished that she could tell her just how much she really did. Instead though she diverted.
“So where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Will you be ready by seven?” Ryan nodded her head again and Charlie laughed. “Okay good, I’ll be there at seven. And wear something warm.” Charlie placed her hand on Ryan’s cheek and kissed her lips one more time. She stood, handing over the Oscar to the brunette but Ryan shook her head.
“No I meant it. You have to envision this, Charlie. Take it with you. Put it in your purse, carry it everywhere you go.”
“You’re serious?” Charlie’s eyes widened and Ryan smiled.
“As serious as a tooth ache.” Charlie stepped up closer to the brunette and encircled her waist.
“Do you know how adorable you are?” Ryan’s face flushed as she placed a kiss on the corner of Charlie’s mouth.
“No, but I’m glad you think I’m endearing.” Charlie placed her hand on Ryan’s cheek, rubbing her thumb over the soft skin.
“You have no idea.” Ryan swallowed at the look in Charlie’s eyes. It was so soft, so fearless, so loving. Her eyes started to tear at the thought of Charlie possibly loving her but she pushed the feeling to the back of her mind. She took Charlie’s palm as she kissed it and placed it back down next to her.
“You better go before I drag you into the closet and keep you with all my other cool, Hollywood stuff.” Charlie raised her eyebrow, a slow smirk making its appearance.
“I’m trying to get out of the closet, honey. See you at seven.”
Chapter 17
“I’m so hot,” Ryan pulled at her collar as Charlie laughed in the driver seat beside her.
“Well, you are wearing three layers.”
“You said to dress warm.” Charlie glanced over and rolled her eyes with a tease.
“And where did you think I would be taking you? Antarctica?”
“Well, you do know that my favorite animal is a penguin.” Ryan smiled brightly which elicited another laugh from the brunette.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have been more detailed.” Ryan nodded her head once, giving a smug look of approval.
“So where are you taking me?” Ryan looked out over the hill as the smell of the beach breezed coming through the cracked window. She had made this drive many times before and knew that they were in Malibu. Then suddenly her eyes widened as they pulled up to a large gate, the home nestled in the back barely able to be seen. “Oh, Charlie, this is gorgeous.”
Charlie smiled as she opened the gate and drove down the long driveway that lead to her almost, fully renovated beach house. She parked the car and unbuckled the seat belt, eyeing the woman next to her who was still fully enthralled with the outside of the house.
“So do you want to come in?” Ryan looked over quickly and blushed when she realized she was still buckled.
They entered the large, but modest home and Ryan was immediately struck with a sense of relaxation. There were still paint buckets and construction tools laying around but the home was so open and beautiful. Ryan took a deep breath in, the smell of the beach filling her senses.
“This is so beautiful,” Ryan said almost to herself. Charlie nodded and walked her through the home, giving a tour of each room. “What’s around back?” Ryan asked as they ended up back to the front of the house.
“That’s the surprise,” Charlie’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed two wine glasses from her cabinet and a bottle of wine from the newly installed wine cooler. “Come on.” Ryan followed Charlie towards the back door, taking in the setting sun and the view in front of her. The setting was so picturesque that Ryan almost felt like she needed to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“Do you like it?” Ryan gulped down not sure what to say. Charlie had set up an intimate dinner on the small outdoor table. A vase of a dozen lilies adorned the table top and a hammock with two small pillows swung lightly in the cool breeze. What seemed like a hundred lanterns lit with small tea lights dipped down from the overhang above and the waves crashed a mere fifty feet in front of them. Ryan took a deep breath, steadying her nerves and finally looked over at Charlie.
“This is…I have no words for this, Charlie.” Charlie blushed and Ryan couldn’t believe that the woman had gone through all of this trouble just for her.
“Do you want some wine?” Ryan smiled her answer, afraid that she m
ay start tearing up at any attempt to speak. “Dinner will be here soon, I didn’t have time to cook anything so I ordered from a Chinese place down the street. And we can take a walk on the beach later, or if you just want to hang out here that’s fine too.” Charlie sucked in a deep breath and at that moment Ryan realized that she was nervous. Charlotte Baker was nervous and it was because of her. Charlie handed the glass of wine to Ryan. Before she could move away, Ryan grabbed her wrist and pulled Charlie into her. She placed a deep kiss on her lips, the palpable feeling of every emotion that Ryan was feeling being pulled from deep within. Charlie moaned as Ryan traced her tongue over the brunette’s bottom lip, and then she whimpered when Ryan sucked the lip in her mouth, only to release it after a slight nip.
“Thank you, Charlie. This really is beautiful.” Charlie shivered as she released a large breath.
“I just wanted to do something special for you.” She shrugged and Ryan couldn’t help but think how innocent and vulnerable she looked at that moment.
“So you said the beach is private?” Ryan raised her eyebrow and Charlie smiled in kind.
“Yes, do you want to take a walk?”
“Do we have time to take a walk before the food gets here?”
“Sure, but if they come before we get back, I’ll just have the butler serve us.” Charlie took hold of Ryan’s hand as the woman’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t see a butler,” Ryan said as she followed Charlie through the gate that led to the beach.
“That’s because I keep him in the closet along with all of my Oscars.” The women laughed as they slipped off their shoes, the coolness of the sand slipping through their toes.
“I think you’ve been hanging out with me too much. I’m rubbing off on you.” Charlie’s tongue clucked as she smiled at Ryan, an obvious tease just moments away.
“Do I even need to go there?”
Ryan stepped up closer to the brunette, her hand gliding gently down the sweater clad bicep. She finally reached Charlie’s lithe fingers and a slow smile spread across her face, “After what you pulled tonight, you could go anywhere you want.” Ryan watched as the words registered, Charlie’s breaths now coming in rapid puffs. She still wore her smile as she backed away from Charlie, pulling her with her.
The two took their time walking the shoreline, Charlie stopping momentarily to pick up a shell, or a smooth rock. Ryan would tease her by attempting to throw her into the cool water and Charlie would shriek, running away from the shorter woman but always allowing Ryan to catch her when she was far enough away from the threat of the cold.
They made their way back to the house just in time to intercept the delivery man and after dinner and cleaning their plates they retired to the hammock. As Charlie laid her head on Ryan’s chest, her breathing grew deeper and the soft circles being made on her stomach, were slowly coming to a stop.
“Are you falling asleep on me?” Ryan softly whispered as she ran her fingers through the soft brunette hair. She placed a small, chaste kiss on the top of the woman’s head and Charlie let out a breathy laugh.
“I can’t help it, you’re so boring.” Ryan smiled at the jest as Charlie continued her ministrations. Her heart suddenly palpated as the circling fingers changed directions and started to run across the top of her jeans. Her multiple layers were stripped earlier due to the warmer night, and every so often Charlie’s fingers would graze the small expanse of skin peeking through the thin top.
“Your skin is so soft,” Charlie whispered against her chest. Ryan tilted her head down as she swallowed thickly, watching Charlie’s finger languidly glide across the now fully exposed skin. Her chest rose quicker, and she was sure that Charlie could hear her heart beating faster with every pass of her finger. She swallowed a moan as the one finger turned into a flat palm, Charlie’s hand pressing lightly along her full torso.
“Charlie,” the word was just a whisper of a breath as Ryan bowed her back, the arousal of the simple touches sending a shiver down Ryan’s spine and settling in her lower back. Each touch was so electrifying, so arousing and finally Charlie tilted her head up and without any hesitation placed Ryan’s lips on her own. The first pass of their tongues on one another caused that hand to grip Ryan’s side and light scratches down to the top of her jeans ignited the flame even brighter. Their breaths were coming faster, the pulsing between legs growing heavier and when Charlie’s palm hovered over Ryan’s bra clad breast, Charlie backed away. The look in her eyes was almost enough for Ryan to finish. She was so aroused, her wetness uncomfortable against her jeans and when she saw that dark blue passion crash into her, her shore gave way and she turned to sand. Ryan bit her lip at Charlie’s silent question and answered it by placing her hand over Charlie’s and squeezing the palm over her own breast. Her back lifted again as the sensation of the movement made her body come alive and the moan that released from Charlie’s lips was smothered against Ryan’s mouth.
The two rocked together, as best as they could, the hammock swinging with each gentle thrust of hips and limbs. When Ryan reached the hem of Charlie’s shirt, she lifted it upwards, her knuckles gently rubbing over every inch of exposed skin. Ryan licked her lips as Charlie moved more upright, reaching behind her back to unclasp her bra. With a quick movement, she lowered the straps and removed the garment, her eyes steady on the woman in front of her. Ryan felt a new wave crash over her as Charlie leaned in, the brunette’s hands immediately feeling the new terrain of exposed skin. Charlie moaned deeply at the first roll of her nipple between Ryan’s fingers and Ryan moaned in turn when Charlie’s thigh pressed hard into her center.
“Oh G g od,” Ryan groaned in pleasure as skilled lips found their way up Ryan’s neck and attached to her rapidly beating pulse. The hand that was still grasping the brunette’s bra clad breast moved slowly down the length of Ryan’s side and landed on the button of her jeans. Ryan lifted upwards, silently begging to be touched and the button popped open, the zipper following quickly behind. Ryan sat up as she shucked her shirt off and then her bra, not allowing Charlie a moment to look. She was so wet, so turned on and if she wasn’t touched soon she felt like she might explode on her own. As a mouth latched onto the uncovered nipple, Ryan ran her hand through the silken brunette strands pressing Charlie’s head deeper onto her. She felt the tongue flicking and taking long licks and her body yearned to feel that tongue further down. She was so inundated at the feeling of Charlie’s mouth that she hardly registered the fingers teasing over her soaked panties. And when Charlie pressed harder onto her center the sheer pleasure of slight relief involuntarily pushed her hips harder into the hand.
“God, Ry, you’re so wet,” Ryan bit her lips as she dared to look into Charlie’s eyes. The woman lay half naked on top of her. Her lips bruised and deep red from over use. She followed her hand down to where it disappeared into her pants and she groaned when light circles moved to long movements.
“Please, Baby.” Ryan wasn’t beneath begging as the term of endearment caused Charlie to close her eyes and take Ryan’s tongue in her mouth. She felt fingers slide under her underwear and a shot of electricity ran through her as Charlie slid along the full length of her slit. She circled the tight bundle of nerves as experienced fingers drew out a feeling that Ryan had never given to another person. She bit her lips as she climbed higher and higher with every circle.
“Tell me what you want, honey,” Charlie breathed into her ear. Ryan opened her mouth but she wasn’t sure if words came out. They must have though, because as soon as she thought them, Charlie’s fingers entered her, her palm pressing and rubbing against her as fingers hooked inside. The feeling was so unlike anything that she had ever felt. Each thrust with her palm brought her close to what she knew, but the thrust of the curled fingers brought her closer to a feeling cresting inside, deep inside, and it was a new sensation that she had never felt before. And as Charlie took her nipple in her mouth and thrust one more time, Ryan fell over the edge, tightening around those skilled fingers
and moaning Charlie’s name on her lips. The feeling was so strong and the crash was so deep that it took a few minutes for her to come back down to earth.
Charlie laid her head on Ryan’s chest, still breathing deeply as well, her fingers still nestled inside. Ryan adjusted herself and took hold of Charlie’s wrist. Blue eyes met green as Ryan twitched at the sensitivity of Charlie removing her fingers and lightly grazing over sensitive flesh.
“You’re…I…” Ryan had too many words to try and describe how she felt at that moment. Charlie smiled and nuzzled into her neck, kissing and nipping the skin lightly. Ryan drew in a deep breath, her throat tight with emotion. How was it possible to feel so much?
“Are you okay?” Charlie asked her as hips gently rocking against Ryan’s hot thigh. Ryan felt the familiar warmth settling in the pit of her stomach as she felt Charlie’s hips grinding into her leg. With a slight nod of her head, Ryan forgot where they lay and moved over Charlie to top her. The balance of weight shifted in an instant on the hammock and both girls squealed as Charlie landed flat on her back on the concrete, Ryan slightly atop of her.
“Oh that’s so cold!” Ryan started to laugh hard, nuzzling her head into Charlie’s neck. She hiccupped as the woman below her laughed as well, both women unable to control the humor of the situation. Finally containing herself, Ryan looked up and placed a hand through brunette hair.
“Are you okay?” Ryan looked down into blue stained eyes and a slow smile crept on her face. She adjusted herself more on top of Charlie, her jean clad thighs sliding between the brunette’s. She heard Charlie inhale sharply as she pressed her leg down into the crotch of Charlie’s loose jeans.
“Yes it’s a lot warmer now,” Charlie grabbed Ryan’s neck bringing her down and crashing their lips together. The heat of their bodies grew with every nip and lick and finally Ryan broke free.
“Bed?” Ryan asked breathlessly. Charlie nodded as she stood, taking Ryan’s hand and leading her to one of the only rooms that had a small guest bed. As they shed the rest of their barriers and finally felt the ir full warmth of each other’s bodies something profound exploded in every nerve, every cell, and Ryan knew at that moment just how much Charlie had filled her with love. She broke away from the messy kiss, slowing her hips that rolled hard and rough in between Charlie’s legs. And as she slowed and looked into dark eyes she put every proclamation of love in her head to each touch, kiss and slide. Charlie didn’t seem to mind the change of pace as Ryan dipped her head to the lithe neck, her mouth making love to particular points that made Charlie moan and utter simple ‘yes ’s es ’ in the silence of the night. And when her tongue reached the naked flesh she felt fingers grasp onto her hair, lovingly bringing her close. The first taste of Charlie’s pebbled nipple on Ryan’s tongue released a rushed of fluid between rocking legs against Ryan’s torso. She sucked the nipple into her mouth, moving between each breast as her hands slid up strong thighs achingly slow. Ryan kneaded her thumbs upward and finally found the sweet, soft, warm flesh of Charlie’s center. Slow, languid strokes up Charlie’s slit were almost enough for the brunette to come undone, but Ryan wasn’t ready to relinquish the touches just yet. So she stayed away from where Charlie needed her most, making the brunette wetter with every tease around the swollen nub.