by Kim Pritekel
* * *
Denny opened her eyes, disoriented. Mild light poured into the room in slanted bars from the louvers on the windows. She felt another presence with her, immediately knowing who it was. Turning her head to the side, she saw Rachel sleeping next to her, on her side and facing the brunette. Denny turned to her own side, feeling the blonde’s gentle, even breathing on her face. She studied her face, the smooth skin, gently arched brows relaxed. Dark blonde lashes caught some of the light that managed to come in. Denny’s gaze fell to Rachel’s mouth, the lips curled into the slightest smile. She had wondered if maybe she’d put that smile there. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t hope.
Bringing a hand up, Denny lightly traced Rachel’s brow, fingers running along the side of the blonde’s face, barely brushing the blonde strands that rested there. Suddenly green eyes were looking into her own, searching, visually exploring. Denny met her gaze, fingers brushing along Rachel’s jaw until she finally cupped the blonde’s cheek.
Rachel was getting lost in the blue of Denny’s eyes, her pulse about to burst out of her veins. She needed to be touched so badly, needed for Denny to touch her so badly. She could only pray this wasn’t a dream.
Denny wanted to tell Rachel everything that she felt, everything that she’d been feeling since the moment she’d laid eyes on her as she’d passed her in First Class. She wanted to tell her she loved her, needed her, wanted her. Her throat was so dry, not allowing anything to pass, not allowing her to utter a sound. Staring into the blonde’s beautiful gaze, she thought that perhaps she saw everything she wanted to say reflected back at her.
Rachel scooted closer, Denny’s body heat nearly burning her. She needed contact so desperately. She pushed Denny to her back, settling her body atop hers and resting her head on the brunette’s upper chest. Denny’s eyes squeezed shut as she wrapped her arms around the author, holding her close. She could feel hot breath almost burning her through the thin material of her shirt. She could feel the softness of Rachel’s breasts against her, the wonder of the bare skin of her arms and legs against her own. She could smell her hair, smell her skin, and smell… her arousal?
Rachel thought a hug was what she wanted, but as she felt Denny against her, her mind began to cloud, breath catch. Opening her eyes, she saw the inviting skin of Denny’s neck before her eyes. She heard a soft sigh as she placed a soft kiss at the juncture where neck met shoulder. Liking the subtle reaction, she decided to do it again. Again, Denny sighed, her arms tightening around Rachel’s neck, the hand that had been cupping the back of her head releasing it, fingers running through the strands instead.
Denny could feel her heart picking up, Rachel’s lips moving up her neck in a slow trail, the barest hint of a tongue at her earlobe. The brunette guided Rachel to her, needing so desperately to feel her mouth.
Rachel whimpered softly into the kiss, the softness of Denny’s lips, the feel of a warm hand moving down her tank top-clad back, coming dangerously close to the hem. She pushed herself up slightly so their bodies were a better fit, both gasping at the feel of breast against breast, only two thin layers of clothing separating them. Denny teased Rachel with her tongue, the blonde sighing as she responded, a hand coming up to caress the skin of Denny’s face and the side of her neck. Denny, for her part, slid her hand up under the tank top, feeling the heat radiating from the skin of the blonde’s back. She luxuriated in the smoothness of the expanse of skin, running her fingers up the length of her spine, feeling the delicate bones and muscles in her shoulder blades as Rachel adjusted herself, pushing herself up to her forearms so she could have better leverage as the kiss deepened.
Denny accepted Rachel’s tongue, her other hand joining that under the blonde’s shirt, both hands running down her sides, Rachel sighing into her mouth as they ran along the sides of her breasts. Never in her life had Denny wanted to make love to someone so badly. She felt like her very life depended on being with Rachel, sharing that part of herself with her, showing her how she felt.
Rachel raised herself slightly, a silent invitation, which Denny gladly accepted. The blonde broke the kiss, eyes closed as she rested her forehead against Denny’s shoulder as gentle hands cupped her breasts, fingers squeezing, palms rubbing across her erect nipples.
“Oh, Denny,” she gasped, finding the brunette’s mouth again. She gladly went as Denny pushed her to her back, rolling on top of her. Wrapping her arms around the brunette’s neck, Rachel pulled her close, parting her legs when she felt an insistent leg press against them. They both moaned as Denny’s thigh made contact with the saturated panties that covered Rachel’s need.
Denny left Rachel’s mouth, lips and tongue exploring her neck, teeth tugging playfully at the neckline of the tank top. Rachel ran her fingers through the soft, thick hair at he back of Denny’s head, her head rolling to the side as she allowed herself to absorb all the sensations. Suddenly a very hot mouth enclosed over her cotton-covered breast. She cried out softly, arching her back as Denny flicked at her nipple, then tugged playfully before leaving it. The sudden loss made her groan, the cool, rain-scented morning air cool against the wet spot made on the shirt.
Denny reached down, lifting the tank top as her hand ran up Rachel’s side, kissing all the newly exposed skin. Rachel helped her remove the shirt, baring the gorgeous breasts Denny remembered so well.
“Gorgeous,” she whispered before taking the other nipple into her mouth, batting at it with her tongue.
Rachel couldn’t stay still, her body alive and on fire. She pressed her hips up into Denny, who’s thigh was still pressing against her. She tried to fin purchase against her, but the brunette removed her leg. Concentrating on Rachel’s breasts with her mouth, Denny ran her hand back down over the blonde’s stomach, feeling the satiny material of her panties. Rachel’s legs parted in invitation, Denny reaching her hand down to cup her through the almost non-existent material of her soaked panties.
“Oh, god, Denny. Oh yes, touch me,” Rachel almost panted, crying out when Denny used a single finger to run along her sex, stroking her engorged clit.
Denny couldn’t believe how ready Rachel was for her. She left the most perfect breasts she’d ever seen, loathe to do so, but she knew her attention was needed further south. Getting to her knees, she looked down at the woman who had stolen her heart so long ago, marveling at how beautiful she was, how perfect she was, and how amazingly in love with her the brunette still was. Rachel met her gaze, seeing the love in her eyes. She sat up, cupping Denny’s cheek. Rachel’s kiss was so soft, so gentle, so filled with what neither of them had been able to say, it almost made Denny cry. She lifted her arms as she felt her tee shirt raised, the garment tossed to the floor. She closed her eyes, head falling back as Rachel pulled back, taking in what was revealed to her.
Rachel thought she would have been shy or embarrassed, never making love with a woman, nor touching one as intimately as she longed to touch Denny. Her eyes were hungry for the brunette’s body, mouth watering to taste her, to touch her. She cupped Denny’s breasts, feeling their weight and unbelievable softness. They felt wonderful.
Denny was taken over by the need to taste the blonde. Her eyes opened, and the look in them made Rachel gasp. Gently pushed back to the bed, Rachel lay down, lifting her hips as Denny tugged her panties down over her legs. Freed, she opened her legs once again in invitation, not sure what Denny would do. It didn’t matter, as long as she touched her.
The brunette pushed her own panties down, kicking them off onto the floor, not caring where they landed. She slid down the bed, nudging Rachel’s legs further apart with her shoulders so she fit better between them. Rachel’s head fell back, a long breath escaping her lungs as realization of what Denny was about to do entered into her sensual haze. Never had anyone’s mouth been on her before, and at the first touch of Denny’s tongue swiping through her sex, Rachel released a long, guttural groan. She was lost in a world of pleasure as Denny feasted, the blonde’s hands pressing on
a dark head, eyes closing and breathing becoming ragged and harsh.
Denny hummed, the feel and taste of Rachel against her mouth was wonderful. She wrapped her arms around the blonde’s hips as she strengthened her strokes, entering her with her tongue. She heard Rachel cry out, so continued until she replaced her tongue with two fingers, moving her mouth up to Rachel’s clit, suckling her.
Rachel was on sensation overload, her entire body becoming taut as her orgasm began, Denny sensing she was close, so increasing her attention. Finally the author cried out, burying her fingers into Denny’s hair, pressing her down into her. The waves of pleasure crashed over her, seemingly endless. Finally Rachel’s body fell back to the bed, limp, little whimpers escaping her throat as she tried to calm down. Denny climbed back up her body, lavishing the flesh she found with kisses and small licks until she was cradling the blonde against her, whispering soft words to her and caressing the side of her face.
Rachel’s eyes opened, and looking into Denny’s, seeing her need, the blonde felt a second wind take her over. She pushed Denny to her back, claiming the brunette’s mouth in her own. Denny was surprised by the sudden aggression, but welcomed it. She felt a tentative hand on her breast and arched up into the touch, her body begging to be released. Rachel left her mouth and began to explore her neck and upper chest, tracing her collarbones with her tongue.
“Oh, baby,” Denny gasped, her nipple tugged between two fingers. “Oh, yes.”
Rachel wanted to taste and feel every part of this wonderful woman’s body, a woman who had made her feel, both physically and emotionally, when no one had ever been able to do that before. She wanted so badly to return the favor and tell Denny what words couldn’t express.
The feel of Denny’s skin was incredible, softer and more wonderful than Rachel ever fantasized it would be. She used her mouth and hands to explore, making the brunette shiver when she ran her nails over the inside of one thigh. The heat that was pouring from Denny was incredible, and it drew the blonde in, her hand feeling the slick insides of her thighs.
Denny gasped, not expecting to feel Rachel’s fingers flitting dangerously close to her sex. Her clit jumped in anticipation. “Please touch me, Rachel. Oh, god, I need you to touch me.”
Rachel was surprised by the desperate plea in the brunette’s voice. She kissed her, slow and sensual, seducing her all over again, even as her fingers began to trail through the dark patch of hair, which was saturated by Denny’s need. Her fingers pushed passed the swollen lips of Denny’s sex, suddenly engulfed in a liquid inferno.
“Ohh,” she breathed, feeling her own arousal rise once again. “God, you’re so wet, Denny. Feels so good.”
Denny couldn’t respond to the words that had been whispered against her mouth, her legs spreading and hips beginning to move with the rhythm Rachel set. She reached down, guiding the blonde inside her, both moaning at the sensation. Denny grabbed the back of Rachel’s head, holding their mouths together as Rachel thrust into her. Soon the brunette was breathing too hard to kiss, but Rachel stayed with her, their panting mingling as Denny neared her release. She cried out with a gasp, thighs closing in around Rachel’s hand.
Rachel felt a sense of wonder and awe flow through her as she watched Denny’s face as she climaxed, eyes squeezed tightly shut, mouth open in an almost pleasure/pain grimace, every muscle in her body straining. She peppered kisses all along her face and neck, brushing damp hair away from her face.
“You are so unbelievably beautiful,” she whispered, kissing her softly on the lips. Denny returned the kiss as best she could, her entire being seeming to have seeped out with her pleasure. She had just enough strength left to pull Rachel to her, cradling her head against her shoulder. Rachel wrapped an arm over the brunette’s middle, her thigh nestling between Denny’s. She needed to be as close as possible. “I love you, Denny. I really wanted to tell you that in LA. I just didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?” the brunette asked, fingers playing with soft, blonde hair.
“How you felt. If what you felt on the island was real.”
“Yes, it was very real. I wanted to tell you the same thing. I felt like so much of me was missing when I watched you get into the plane and fly out of my life.” Denny met Rachel’s gaze as the blonde propped her head up on a hand. She traced the brunette’s facial features with a finger.
“It tore me apart. I’ve been so lost.” Blonde brows drew as she remembered.
“I love you, Rachel. Always have.”
The author smiled, feeling like her entire world had clicked into place. “We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”
“Yeah. We do.” Denny leaned up, placing a soft kiss on waiting lips. “I can’t lose you again, Rachel,” she said, shaking her head. “I denied myself for too long out of some sense of guilt. When I got back to Hannah,” she sighed, marveling at how amazingly right it felt to be in Rachel’s bed. “it was wrong. From the very start, it was wrong. She tried, and I know I hurt her, but I knew that it just wasn’t her anymore. I fell in love with you on that island, but I tried to deny that, knew I had to move on with my life. The funny thing is,” she chuckled ruefully, “it had moved on without me.”
“I’m sorry, Denny,” Rachel whispered, seeing old hurts still reflected in those blue eyes.
“Don’t be. It’s over. It’s all over. I’m right where I want to be.”
“Do you? Want to be here? With me?”
Denny smiled, reaching up to cup Rachel’s face, nodding slightly. “Very much so. You’re the part of me I left on that island. I finally feel whole again.”
Rachel blew out a small cry, taking Denny into an almost painful hug. “I need you, Denny. God, I need you.”
“I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
* * *
The tree was decorated, the lights lit. The rain had finally stopped, though it was still cold. The house smelled of turkey and freshly baked bread. Laughter filled the living room, gifts opened by the fire.
Rachel sat against the corner of the couch, where the back and arm met, Denny tucked between her legs. The author had an arm wrapped lightly over her stomach. They watched as Rachel’s nephews opened their gifts from their aunts, Rachel and Denny. The blonde rested her chin against the top of Denny’s head, contentment making her spine tingle. Never had she knew happiness and love like she did that Christmas, her two sisters and their families deciding to go to their house this year. Reenie had flown in two days ago to share in the joyous holiday spirit. Life was good.
They’d decided to move into Denny’s house in Hermiston, saving Rachel’s Seaside home for weekend getaways. Denny still managed the bookstore, loving every moment of it. Rachel had even held a book signing there. Denny’s raise that year reflected the owner’s gratitude.
* * *
Tracy was laughing as her new boyfriend, Taylor, was trying to keep up with Luke’s sign language lesson. The man’s hands waved less than gracefully as he tired to mimic the boy, Pam chuckling in the corner, where she was waiting on the pies to finish baking.
It had been a crazy year, but the veterinarian had never had such a productive one. Her house was decorated just perfect, and she was finally situated in a small animal clinic just outside their small town. She even had her eye on a man who’s Great Dane was a patient of hers. She watched her grandson grow more every single day, and often wondered just what drug she’d been on, not wanting to be part of that. And knowing the true, pure acceptance and love of her daughter was a greater Christmas gift than the snowblower outside with the red bow wrapped around it. She knew Tracy had no ideas she’d seen it, but she had, and was forever appreciative for the chance she’d gotten, the second chance she’d gotten. She’d never blow it again.
* * *
The kids had made out good, new clothes and stereos and them crazy little MP3 players that Michael would never understand. Good thing for the helpful lady at the store or he’d still be standing there, trying to figure
out just what in hell Conrad had been going on and on about.
He stood back, a smile of pride on his face as he watched his three kids, and Alan’s new wife, all comparing what they’d gotten, trying to swap maybe a little less desirable gifts with the others. It was a good thing, a real, real good thing. Michael Dupree was a happy man. There was only one thing missing.
The big Texan glanced up out the window into the clear, Texas sky. He saw a star wink at him, and could swear he heard the laughter of his Melissa.
* * *
Dean never thought he’d see the day that he and Will would leave the city, but they had, and it was a wonderful move. Warwick was a wonderful place, and Keller and Garrison had been more than helpful in leading them toward good real estate, and giving them an instant social circle. The gals and the attorney got along famously, just as Will knew they would.
He sat across from Parker, watching as the seventeen year old kicked his butt at a friendly game of chess. She was smart, and oozed a certain charm that made Dean want to lay down his queen to her. They’d all just come back in from a brutal snowball fight, and the attorney was still trying to unthaw. He watched as Will walked toward him, mischief in his eyes.
Holding up a small sprig of mistletoe over is head, Will leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Dean’s lips.
“Merry Christmas, baby,” he whispered. Dean smiled.
“Merry Christmas.”
* * *
Milan was such a wonderful place, and Mia would never forget her trip there for Christmas. She was surrounded by every family member she’d ever heard about, plus some! They just seemed to come out of the woodwork to spend the holiday with their American family.