by Alessia Brio
After the typical questions of how long we were staying, if we were bringing any food or plants and two stamps on each passport, we were done and headed for the door. The moist heat that was the Caribbean reached out to envelope us as we left the air-conditioned interior. Jina's frantic scramble for her sunglasses had me grinning mischievously. I had planned ahead and had mine pushed back in my hair. I just had to pull them down, which I did after I blissfully enjoyed the warm sunshine on my face for a few moments.
Hearing the flick of Jina's lighter behind me, I turned, still grinning, in time to see her exhale the first breath of smoke. A jolt of desire shot down my spine to curl in my lower stomach. I might not smoke, but for some reason I loved watching her do it. Jina's lips pursed as she blew out a stream of gray smoke. I couldn't watch her mouth without wanting to kiss it. Jina's pale pink lips wrapped around the cigarette with a breathy sigh of contentment and then a flick of her fingers to knock off the ash. I couldn't see her eyes through the dark sunglasses, but I knew they were half lidded in pleasure; after all it had been at least eight hours since she had been able to smoke. Jina's head tilted back as she exhaled. I let my eyes wander along the graceful column of her neck, lost in the pale flesh that was so sensitive to my mouth.
Jina turned towards me, breaking my spell, and asked with a mischievous grin, "What now, love?"
It dawned on me then that she had been teasing me. She had exaggerated everything on purpose, knowing what the effect would be. Smiling sweetly and already planning my revenge, I nodded towards the taxis lined up along the curb. The first driver in line, who had been leaning against the side of his cab, stood up and waved us over. Greeting us with a grin and an island-accented, "Welcome to St. Thomas, ladies," he took our bags to put in the trunk as Jina opened the door with overstated civility. Looking Jina's gorgeous frame up and down, I took the bait and 'accidentally' brushed against her body as I slid past her into the car. Taking a last drag, she flicked away her cigarette and slid in next to me.
The driver got in and turned to ask us, "Where to?"
"The St. John ferry docks, please," I replied.
As we sped away from the airport, Jina's left hand curled around my knee and slid to rest halfway up my inner thigh, just brushing the hem of my skirt. My head rested on her shoulder and my right hand rested in her lap, entwined with hers. We trundled our way though Charlotte Amalie, winding through the narrow streets. My eyes were open, glancing out the window once and a while, but I kept my head on her shoulder. Jina, on the other hand, was staring out the windows rather like an owl.
"We can come back tomorrow, Jina," I said laughing after watching her for a while. She blinked and looked down at me smiling. "Do you like it?" I asked, feeling the ridiculous urge to start crying again.
"It's beautiful, baby," she said, kissing the top of my head. I sighed happily and blinked back my tears, watching the brick buildings with straw roofs and tropical blue and white houses pass by.
* * * *
On the ferry ride to St. John, we were both rather quiet. The stress of the trip was catching up with me while Jina was caught up in her first time in the Islands. The Jeep Wrangler was at the docks where my parents left it for us, and I pulled the keys out of my bag, grinning a bit. "Sure you don't want to drive, babe?" Her only answer was a glare. "Not my fault you can't drive stick," I said, sticking my tongue out.
"Oh, I can drive stick, baby, just not that kind," she replied smoothly. "Besides, I might just have to learn anyway, with the way you drive." I smiled and shook my head at the surliness, proof that she was closer to normal again, the bitch. We tossed our luggage in the back seat and climbed in. We headed away from the docks and started weaving up and around the hills that make St. John. We stopped on our way through Cruz Bay to grab groceries and by the time we were half way up the mountain Jina got used to the hairpin sharp turns and the forty-five degree tilt of the road. It was evident by the way her grip on the Jeep relaxed a little bit.
Pulling into the driveway, I turned off the engine and hopped out, my feet crunching in the gravel of the walkway. I walked around, reached in the back for the suitcases and felt you come up behind me. I swiveled to the side to avoid Jina's hands and turned, grinning at her. "Babe, I don't know about you, but I want to get our stuff inside before that nice little rain cloud heads this way."
That made her scurry a bit; we always joked that she would melt in the rain. In truth it was to cover a fear of storms, but I knew this was just the daily little afternoon shower. Grabbing one of the suitcases, I rolled it down the path to the front door. I dug around in my purse for the house key. Looking up, I caught Jina's glance and raised an eyebrow at her amused look. "Oh nothing," she said, "just wondering if there is anything you can't conjure out of that bag."
"I'm sure, babe; for instance, an umbrella isn't popping out anytime soon." I said it with a grin, sticking my tongue out at her as I found the key. I unlocked the door and we made trips in, taking the suitcases to the master bedroom and the groceries into the kitchen, until the Jeep was emptied. I pointed Jina around the house quickly and then grabbed a towel and jumped in the shower to wash the smell of airplanes off my skin. Jina headed out to the porch for a smoke. I was still lingering in the hot water that was pouring over me when I heard the bathroom door open and saw her walk in. I shut off the water. It was a precious resource and I knew that if you got in there with me it would be running for a long time. Grabbing my towel again, I wrapped it around my body and stepped out, kissing Jina softly on my way back to the bedroom.
I dried off and wrapped the towel around my long hair to dry a bit. I unzipped a suitcase, only to realize it was Jina's when I saw all the black clothes in it. I reached for the other and opened it, rifling through my clothes until I found the white cotton tank dress I wanted. I pulled it on, careful not to bump the towel turban on top of my head.
I smoothed the cotton down my sides and figured it would work, since I was pretty sure we weren't going anywhere tonight. Sorting through my stuff some more, I found my bag of toiletries and pulled out my brush. I flipped my head over and let the towel unravel, rubbing my hair dry as the towel fell out. Brushing out the tangles and knots, I left it loose, flowing down my back the way Jina liked it, and headed out to the garden to smell the flowers and see the view.
This was almost home to me too, I thought, so beautiful and calm. Lost to the world of time, I got caught up in my thoughts of Jina, of us; of our failed pregnancies and the doctor's reassurances that it would happen when the time was right. I felt the winds change suddenly and glanced up at the sky. She was right, I thought, shaking myself from my sadness, it was time for a break and if I could get Jina on a plane, I could get her out in the rain too. I heard the shower turn off and grinned, thinking that at least she was already wet. Going back to watching the clouds slowly roll in, I felt her behind me. I turned to see Jina on the veranda, nervously motioning for me to come inside with one hand as the other held up the towel she had wrapped around her body.
Catching Jina's gaze with mine, I slid the spaghetti straps down my arms and let the thin sundress slide down, leaving my body naked to her eyes. Pulled between her fear of storms and the offer of my body, Jina took a small hesitant step forward. I reached out for her as the second and then third steps brought her a bit closer. I grabbed her hand and tugged her over on the soft grass. Cupping Jina's face softly in my hands, I kissed her, brushing my lips gently over hers. Letting her hold onto the towel for the moment, I ran the fingers of my right hand from her cheek down her neck until I hit the top edge of the towel, which was tucked securely between Jina's breasts.
I let my left hand drop from her face as I began to trace the line between the towel and Jina's skin. Circling around her, I placed a kiss on her neck and then on her shoulder. Trailing my fingertips along Jina's smooth skin, I followed the towel until her upper arm covered it. I lightened my touch so that only my fingernails teased over Jina's arm, and I kissed her shoulder again, pivo
ting to walk behind her.
I followed the line of the towel across Jina's back, placing soft kisses above the trail of my fingers; loving the smoothness of her skin under my touch. Making my way back to Jina's front, I tucked a finger into the fold of the towel that was holding it up. Yanking hard I pulled it loose before she could protest and let it fall to the ground. I tipped my head up to kiss her as the first gentle raindrops fell from the heavens. Jina's body tensed. Come on baby, I thought; I'm sick of watching the rain on my own. I ran my right hand up to the back of Jina's neck to pull her mouth against mine, nipping her bottom lip with my teeth to get her attention off the rain and on me.
Jina's mouth fell open against mine, partially out of habit and partially out of surprise. My tongue slid into that mouth to tease as my hand slid up to tangle in her hair. Jina's tongue awoke under mine as the warm rain began to fall down on us. I traced the fingers of my left hand down her spine until I reached the upper curve of her ass. I flattened my hand to push Jina's body against mine. Her arms wrapped around my waist as she took control of our kiss and our tongues danced from her mouth to mine.
Pulling back, I traced gentle kisses down her neck, pausing to lick the hollow above Jina's clavicle. I kissed her upper chest, finding each raindrop that had hit her and sucking it off, hearing the low purr of a moan in response.
"Lay down with me, love?" I pleaded, hoping she would. I looked at her, catching her eyes as if to read me as she so often did, and she nodded slowly. I kissed her again, harder this time, out of joy and rising lust. I caught her hand in mine and pulled her down to lay on the towel in front of me. She was so beautiful, stretched out, her hair loose and her body calling to me.
I straddled Jina's body, leaning down on my hands to kiss her again, my hair falling around our faces as our lips and tongues spoke in a wordless language of love and need. I kissed my way back to her chest, caressing her left breast with my hand as my mouth traced little kisses around her right nipple. Sighing happily, I let the warm air blow over her breast, teasing her before I stuck out my tongue to lightly flick back and forth over the nipple. I engulfed her breast in my mouth, running my tongue in circles around the hardened nub before sucking on it. Pulling back, I bit lightly as my right hand pinched her left nipple.
I kissed my way across, switching breasts now to lightly lick at her left nipple until Jina's fingers tangle in my hair, trying to pull my mouth down fully. Drawing her into my mouth, I suckled until whispered chains of curses involuntarily escaped her mouth. I nibbled gently as my hands caressed the smooth skin of her sides, running over her stomach; dipping lower each time.
My mouth followed quickly as I knelt between Jina's legs, kissing and licking my way down her body, fluttering kisses around Jina's belly button as my hands run down over her hips. Lightly, I dragged my nails down her inner thighs to her knees before I ran them firmly back up Jina's rain-wet legs, spreading them open for me. I licked up the raindrops that were collecting on her splayed thighs as my hair, now wet again, dragged across her skin. Spreading Jina's lips with my fingers, I found her swollen clit and slowly dragged my tongue flat over it. She arched up to me. "Yesssss," escaped her mouth in one long drawn out syllable.
I delighted in her wetness as it covered my tongue, slicker and sweeter than the rain. I searched for more. I traced over Jina's inner lips before circling the tip of my tongue around her entrance. Feeling the vibration of Jina's moan more than actually hearing it, I let my tongue slide into her warm, wet pussy.
Jina's hips rocked up towards my mouth, pushing my tongue further and making the tip of my nose brush against her clit. I curled my tongue slightly, weaving it from side-to-side, feeling her inner muscles flutter in reaction. I got lost in finding more of her flavor. It was more addicting every time I tasted her. Jina's fingers curled into my hair, tugging sharply. I ignored the tugging towards Jina's clit and began to thrust my tongue in and out of her. Jina's thighs tensed around me as I reached one hand around to rub her clit with my thumb. Feeling her hips start to jog, I matched the rhythm of my tongue thrusts to meet her pussy each time she pushed toward me.
Increasing the pressure of my thumb, I ran it in quick circles over her clit. I felt myself get wetter as each moan that escaped Jina's lips sent shivers down my spine. Her inner muscles started clenching at my tongue and her fingers tensed, pulling me hard against her pussy. Sticking my tongue out as far as possible, I shoved it into her and pushed hard on her clit.
Jina's hips hung in midair under me as my name broke from her lips, "Fuck, Leigh!" I felt a burst of pleasure as her pussy squeezed my tongue, her hips falling back to the towel as her body shook. I loved the look of pleasure that came across Jina's face as her fingers relaxed to brush through my hair.
I pulled my tongue back to lick my lips, tasting her. I looked up to catch Jina's eyes staring down at me. Grinning deviously, I leaned on my left side to bring my right hand between her legs and thrust two fingers into her wet pussy. Jina's hips jerked up as her head fell back with a moan. Still smiling, I placed soft kisses over the top of Jina's mound and curved my fingers up to gently stroke over her g-spot. Lightly moving my fingers in and out of her, I kissed my way between Jina's lips, stopping as soon as I had kissed my way to her clit. I placed an open mouthed kiss over Jina's clit, swirling my tongue around it in an imitation of a french kiss. Her moan shot straight down my spine, making my own clit throb as it screamed for attention and release. I pulled my mouth up to flick my tongue back and forth over her clit, her hips jerking slightly at each pass of my tongue. "Tell me what you want," I whispered, looking up to see Jina's eyes half lidded in pleasure.
"Fuck me hard," she moaned, her voice rough with arousal. I moaned at the shiver Jina's response gave me, inadvertently vibrating my tongue against her sensitive clit, making her gasp again. I quickened the movement of my fingers in and out, fucking her harder. Sucking Jina's clit into my mouth I ran my tongue over it in hard fast circles. "So close," she whimpered.
I pulled back my fingers, hearing Jina's moan of frustration, before flattening my tongue hard against her clit, tucking another finger against the other two, and roughly shoving all three into her. Beneath me, Jina's whole body arched as she voiced a short scream. I thrust my fingers into her ruthlessly, pressing my tongue in hard circles over Jina's clit. Once, twice, a third time; she came with a high-pitched moan. Jina's pussy spasmed around my fingers as I held them deep inside her, pressing against her g-spot while her body shook as waves of pleasure rolled over her.
Letting her relax, I withdrew my fingers and licked them off. She curled a finger at me, calling my name softly. I crawled up Jina's body to kiss her gently, her flavor on my lips. She wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. We looked up at the sky as the gentle shower stopped and the sun broke through the clouds, warm and bright. "Nouveau Soleil, my love," I whispered, "New Sun."
* * * *
Epilogue: We boarded the plane to go home; this time she carried the bags as I held a hand over my lower stomach, as if to protect the little one already there. Too many mood swings and sick mornings had made Jina suspicious of the last lab results. Ever since she had made me take an at-home test a few days ago, we had both been on cloud nine. Elisa smiled at us and we both grinned back; tanned, much happier and more relaxed than we were on the way down. The relaxed would last for only a few months of pre-birth bliss. Then Halie was born with Jina's volume of voice, my craving for attention and a love of rainstorms she shared with both her mothers.
~ ~ ~ ~
Katrina
© Wicked Eve
Such beautiful people,
my brothers and sisters.
I cannot kiss their faces,
nor fathom loss
from so small a space
in the corner of my room.
How dare I cry from here—
tears drawn by distant image.
I should hold their hands,
weep in the middle of nothing.
~ ~
~ ~
Heather's Baptism
© Justanne Farrow
Heather walked slowly but determinedly towards the entrance to the site. Heart thumping, stomach churning, she had no idea what had made her even think of coming to the local folk festival. But now that she was here, she was determined to go on.
A woman in her early forties, Heather stood around five foot six. Her body wasn't slim any more, but she wasn't overweight. The flesh was generous around her bust and hips; her hair shoulder length auburn, lightly shot through with silver streaks, which glinted when the sun caught them. She wore no make up, had not for many years, and was dressed conservatively in white pants, a loose white short-sleeved shirt and sandals. It was a very warm summer day; if she summoned the courage to stay, she wanted to be comfortable.
As Heather passed through the gates, handing in her ticket, looking in surprise at the admission stamp that was pressed against her hand, no-one would have guessed the way her heart was pounding, how nervous she really was. Many years of practice had perfected her outward appearance of a woman totally confident, totally in control of herself and her emotions. Outwardly calm, those who had been allowed close enough to see, had been surprised and a little daunted by the fire they had seen burning behind her green eyes; and the fear.
Moving slowly, carefully around, Heather's eyes darted back and forth taking in all the sights and sounds. Men and women—not all of them young—in colourful clothes, bright, gay, noisy, happy faces, enjoying the sunshine, the warmth, the music, the atmosphere. She moved to the edges of the area, making herself inconspicuous in her usual way. It also allowed her to watch and observe much more without being seen to stare.