Release the Stars

by Harper Bliss

  Charlie sank her teeth into her bottom lip and regarded Ava. “I want you to take them off.”

  They stood in a quiet, heavily charged stand-off for a split second, then Ava acquiesced. She let her bra drop to the floor. Charlie’s sanity dropped with it, and all she wanted was to tear her own clothes to shreds that very second if it would get her any closer to pressing her naked body against Ava’s.

  “Very well, Charlie.” Ava took a step closer. “But remember, you asked for this.”

  Ava brought her hands to Charlie’s side and lifted up her tank top at a painfully slow pace. Charlie suppressed a groan.

  Charlie stretched out her arms and, Ava being taller than her, she slid the shirt over her head easily. Next, she trailed one hand down Charlie’s chest, all the way to the button of her jeans, and flipped it open.

  “Jesus,” Charlie moaned. Ava’s hands on her, touching her like that, were about to make her spontaneously self-combust.

  Ava cocked her head as if to say “You asked for this.” Charlie let her get on with it without interfering. Ava brought her hand back up Charlie’s torso, drew a circle around her belly button, then dragged a finger upward and traced the edges of Charlie’s bra.

  The expanse of Charlie’s skin broke out in goose bumps, and her pussy lips throbbed beneath her jeans. Ava dipped a finger inside Charlie’s bra and nearly brushed against her nipple.

  Ava trailed her fingers along the length of her belly again and this time, she slid open Charlie’s zipper. “Why don’t you get out of these jeans.” She took a step back, revealing her naked chest. Charlie’s mouth dropped open and she forgot what she was supposed to be doing.

  “Jeans only,” Ava warned. “It’s how you wanted it.” She shrugged in an exaggerated fashion.

  Charlie wobbled and almost fell over trying to heel off her shoes and get her pants off her legs in the same movement. Then she stood in front of Ava in just her underwear. Instinctively, and perhaps also because Ava had been bare chested for a while now, Charlie’s hands traveled behind her back.

  Ava clicked her tongue and wiggled a finger. Charlie dropped her hands to her side.

  “Now.” Ava stepped closer again. “I will finish undressing you, Charlie. But I will take my sweet time. After all, you made me wait for this long enough.”

  All the pent-up lust Charlie hadn’t been able to release—because she hadn’t even allowed herself a quick masturbation session to blur some of the images of Ava in her mind—overpowered her senses. Her chest rose and fell in rapid swells as her breath picked up speed. Her panties were drenched, and seeing Ava stretch an arm toward them wasn’t helping.

  As she had done with the edge of her bra cup earlier, Ava traced a finger along the waistband of Charlie’s panties.

  “Nice undies, Charlie,” she said, a tad of mockery in her voice. “Did you wear them especially because you were being auctioned off?”

  Charlie couldn’t reply—her brain had stopped functioning as soon as Ava’s finger touched the skin of her belly. Ava maneuvered her hand between Charlie’s legs and, with the lightest of touches, swept it along the soaked panel of Charlie’s panties.

  Charlie couldn’t stifle the moan coming all the way from the bottom of her heart. “Oh God, Ava, please.” If Ava kept this up, she’d come way too soon. Her exasperation didn’t stop Ava. She located Charlie’s clit and drew a circle around it.

  Charlie huffed out a burst of air through her nose, trying to steel herself. “Please,” she pleaded. “You don’t understand.”

  “I don’t understand what, Charlie?” Ava kept trailing loose, wide circles around Charlie’s clit, her finger only separated from Charlie by a flimsy piece of soaked-through fabric. “What teasing feels like?” She nipped at Charlie’s ear.

  “If… you don’t… stop…” was all Charlie managed to say. Tension built and built in her muscles. This was not how she wanted it. It wasn’t a suitable climax for the night they’d shared so far.

  Then, thankfully, Ava’s hand retreated. She slipped her fingers in the waistband at the side and tugged Charlie’s panties down. The rush of air on her puffed-up lips calmed Charlie down, but only a fraction. Clearly, her biggest task for the rest of the night would be keeping herself from reaching orgasm too soon.

  “We need to take the pressure off you, Charlie.” There was a hint of impatience in Ava’s voice now. Seemingly fed up with slowly teasing Charlie, she undid the clasp of her bra, and threw it on the floor. “Sit on the bed.”

  Of all the things Charlie might have imagined in an unguarded moment, she’d never expected Ava to be this bossy. Charlie was the one with experience; she should be the one calling the shots. But she was too overwhelmed, too amped up, and just too damn horny to assert any dominance over Ava. All she managed was a quick defiant stare into Ava’s eyes before she sat as commanded.

  Ava stood before her with a wide grin on her face. “Let me show you once and for all, Charlie Cross, that a percentage is just a silly number.” Ava kneeled before Charlie and kissed her thigh. Then, gently, she pushed Charlie’s legs apart.

  Charlie leaned back on her hands, and cool air rushed over her tortured sex. She looked down at Ava’s mass of raven-black hair and admired the way it fanned out along her upper thighs. Ava’s breath rushed over her pussy, making the air between her legs grow hotter

  Charlie’s skin flushed, her flesh over-heated, and her clit was ready to explode into a mind-numbing orgasm. She thought she might come just from having Ava lower her head between her legs. Then she stopped thinking altogether because Ava planted a kiss on her inner thigh, coaxing a low, breathy groan from Charlie.

  As though Ava knew that waiting any longer was futile, her next kiss landed just below Charlie’s clit. The next one followed even quicker and soon Ava was raining down soft kisses between her legs. Before long, Ava’s tongue joined the action, and the moment it slid in the direction of her clit, Charlie was lost.

  It only took a few flicks before Charlie brought one hand to Ava’s hair and buried her fingers in the glossy, lush mane, while a climax shuddered through her and a guttural cry escaped her mouth. When Charlie’s muscles relaxed, she let herself fall onto the bed and a tear slid out of the corner of her eye.

  Ava hopped onto the bed and draped her warm body over Charlie’s shivering flesh.

  Charlie pulled Ava as close as she could, wanting to disappear in her for a moment.

  “Jesus Christ,” she muttered. “That was a long time coming.”

  Ava pushed herself up and looked down at Charlie. With the back of her hand, she stroked Charlie’s cheek and brushed away the tear.

  Everything that had held Charlie back from actually doing this dissolved when the tension finally drained from her body. She felt freer than she had in a year. Released from a curse she’d cast on herself. Now that her most urgent needs had been met, Charlie was ready to play her part.

  “My turn,” Charlie said, lightly tracing a fingertip over the skin of Ava’s back. “Let’s see how long you last.”

  Ava narrowed her eyes. “I’m not saying it’s a contest, but if it were, you never stood a chance, Charlie dear.”

  That did it. Charlie pushed herself up from the mattress and toppled Ava off her. In no time, she had Ava on her back and she straddled her slender waist. Charlie grabbed Ava’s wrists and pinned them above her head. “Time to wipe that triumphant grin off your lips,” she said, although uttering these words had nothing to do with how she really felt inside. Beneath her skin, desire, infatuation, and the events of the night blended into a heady mix of pure ecstasy. Charlie was about to slip her fingers inside Ava. The woman she’d walked away from. The woman who had come after her, fought for her, and showed her that Charlie had better take her seriously.

  Charlie released Ava’s wrists and smiled down at her, staring into her eyes. Ava’s lips parted in a grin, baring a perfect row of the whitest teeth. When she smiled like that, her cheeks creased and created the most adorable dim
ples.

  She flanked Ava, barely touching her. It was high time to acquaint herself with the more intimate parts of Ava’s gorgeous body.

  Charlie let her fingers skate along Ava’s belly, meandering upward, to the delicious curve of her breast. Despite just having experienced a freeing orgasm, arousal pulsed in her clit at the first contact with Ava’s breast. She circled her fingers around Ava’s dusky nipple, stiffening it into a delicious peak.

  When Charlie looked at Ava’s face, all smugness had drained from it and she lay with her eyes half-shut and her lips parted. Gently, Charlie took Ava’s nipple between her fingertips and squeezed, luring a moan from Ava’s lips. Ava dug her nails in Charlie’s back. Charlie tightened her grip slightly, proud to wear any mark Ava left on her.

  Charlie repeated the process on Ava’s other nipple, bringing it to a hard knot under her touch. When she moved her hand lower, she brought her lips to Ava’s nipple and sucked it into her mouth. Charlie’s clit joined the pulsing party between her legs. If she had her way the bed wouldn’t see a lot of sleeping that night.

  “Oh, Charlie,” Ava moaned. She threaded her fingers into Charlie’s hair. Charlie released Ava’s nipple and met her gaze. Ava said, “This is no time to exact revenge for me teasing you earlier. I’ve been waiting, too, remember?” Ava’s voice was shot through with breathy lust.

  Instead of teasing Ava the way Ava had done to her so cruelly earlier, Charlie slipped her hand inside Ava’s panties, meeting nothing but wetness. Ava released Charlie’s hair and grabbed Charlie’s hand, guiding her farther into her panties.

  Charlie lowered her mouth onto Ava’s nipple again and nibbled on it with her teeth, while her hand explored Ava’s wetness. She needed to see, though. She needed to see Ava’s soaked pussy lips.

  Charlie let Ava’s breast slip from her mouth, slid her hand out of her panties, and pushed herself up. She tugged Ava’s panties down her long legs and, finally, looked. She had a sudden, overwhelming urge to start licking and lose herself in Ava’s pussy. But Charlie wanted something else even more. She wanted to gaze into her eyes and fuck her with her fingers until she came.

  Charlie repositioned herself by Ava’s side and couldn’t resist taking those tiny, dark nipples in her mouth again. While she did, she slid a fingertip between Ava’s slick folds, then up to circle her clit.

  “Fuck me, Charlie,” Ava demanded. She really was bossy. And apparently only had patience to tease others.

  Just from skating along her lips a few times, Charlie’s fingers were entirely coated in Ava’s juices. Charlie couldn’t wait any longer either. She wanted to do this as much as Ava wanted her to do it to her. Charlie’s fingers drifted to Ava’s entrance and, ever so slowly, Charlie slid two fingers into Ava’s pussy. She forced herself to take her time, to allow each moment to form solidly in her memory.

  Ava gasped for air. The hand resting loosely on Charlie’s back stiffened, nails digging into Charlie’s flesh.

  Charlie reveled in the sensation of her fingers being enveloped by Ava’s inner heat. Ava thrust her hips against Charlie’s hand, demanding more, and her desire pooled in Charlie’s palm.

  “Aaah,” Ava moaned. “Oh, Charlie. Oh, Charlie.” She repeated the words like a mantra, as though she needed to hear herself say them to tip over that edge.

  Charlie focused all her attention on Ava, and drank in the changing expression on her face, the way her eyelids fluttered, and her lips contracted into a pout, her head thrown back into the pillow—but the pulse in her own pussy was impossible to ignore completely. Heat traveled beneath Charlie’s skin as her fingers explored and stroked Ava deeply.

  Then, Ava’s body jerked a couple of times, and she curled her fingers around Charlie’s wrist.

  “Oh, fuck.” Ava exhaled a deep breath.

  Charlie eased her fingers out of Ava, kissing her softly on the mouth. Ava’s lips stretched into a wide smile that was also reflected in her eyes.

  “That was not a bad start,” Ava said, folding an arm around Charlie’s neck.

  Charlie fell onto her back next to Ava, whose arm rested in the hollow between her neck and the pillow. “When I woke up this morning, this was the last place I expected to be after the auction.” For all Charlie knew, she might even have successfully avoided Ava for the rest of her days in LA.

  “I take it you’ll be staying tonight?” Ava joked.

  “If it were up to me, I’d never leave this bed again.”

  “Are you saying you want me to handcuff you to it?” Ava pushed herself up and stared down at Charlie.

  “I did notice a bit of bossy streak. We’ll have to do something about that.” A warm glow expanded in Charlie’s chest.

  Ava leaned over and pecked Charlie on the cheek. “We’ll see,” she said without an ounce of sincerity in her tone.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  When Charlie opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the ocean. Frothy waves crashed onto the shore. She squinted to locate the exact spot on the beach where Ava had pulled her close and kissed her the first time.

  She rolled onto her back. Ava was still asleep, lying on her side, the sheets thrown off, chest exposed. The tranquility on her face stood in sharp contrast to the expressions Charlie had witnessed throughout the night. They hadn’t slept much, and as she stretched, Charlie discovered delicious aches in her body she hadn’t experienced for more than a year, perhaps longer.

  She lay staring at Ava a while longer. She wanted to stay in Ava’s house forever, without having to face the outside world.

  “Hey.” Ava opened her eyes and looked straight at Charlie.

  Instantly, the warm glow invaded Charlie’s body again. “Morning.” Charlie planted a kiss on Ava’s forehead.

  “That’s it?” Ava asked. “How stingy.”

  “Hey, you should be glad I’m still here.”

  “This from the woman who wanted me to chain her to my bed last night.”

  “I said no such—” Charlie realized too late that Ava was teasing her.

  Ava let out a giggle, then asked, “What time is it?”

  “I have no idea.” Ava’s bedroom smelled of sex. “I also have no idea where my phone is. I’m inclined to not give a shit.” Charlie had nothing planned for the day.

  Ava lay in silence for a few minutes, then brought her hands to her head. “Sandra must have lost her mind by now. I need to check my messages at some point today, I’m afraid.”

  “Maybe later,” Charlie said, and kissed Ava on the forehead again. “Let’s take a shower first.”

  “There’s an idea. See, I knew you had some brilliance in you.” Ava curved her arms around Charlie’s neck and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

  * * *

  After a shower that lasted much longer than any Charlie had ever taken before, they sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. Ava stared at her phone. She hadn’t turned it on yet.

  “Perhaps I did lose my mind a little last night.” She reached for her coffee cup and sipped. “All your fault, by the way.”

  “Why don’t I switch mine on first? Assess the damage, to take that first edge off.” Charlie toyed with her phone.

  “Sure.” Ava pricked a piece of mango onto her fork.

  Charlie pressed the on button and waited for her phone to come alive. As soon as the screen lit up, an avalanche of messages rolled in.

  “Most are from my teammates,” she assured Ava. “A few dozen are from Nick, of course.” She scrolled through and didn’t see anything too unexpected. “No links to TMZ yet.” She shot Ava an encouraging smile.

  “Okay. Here we go.” The messages on Charlie’s phone were nothing compared to the buzzing and beeping of Ava’s when she switched it on. She put it next to her coffee mug and, for two full minutes, stared at it as though she was willing it to stop violating her peace of mind. “Sandra only left me fifteen messages. Oh, and Eric called, of course. About fifty other missed calls. And I know better than to open any social media accounts righ
t now.” Ava pushed her phone away and looked at Charlie. “It is Sunday.”

  Charlie gave a light chuckle. “True. But maybe give Sandra a call. Let her know that everything will be all right.”

  “I can tell her that all I want, she’s not going to believe me. I mean, I pay her not to believe me, really.”

  “Realistically, what’s the worst that can happen?” Charlie asked. “It’s not as if you went on a date with Elisa Fox or anyone like that. It’s just me.”

  “Just you.” Ava sat musing, then locked her gaze on Charlie’s. “If I call Sandra, she’ll want to come over. Our day will be ruined.”

  “You have to tell her something. For all she knows, I cast a spell on you and kidnapped you or something.”

  This brought a small smile to Ava’s face. A smile that was quickly erased by the buzzing sound of the intercom. “Speak of the devil. I bet that’s Sandra.” Ava slid off her stool and headed toward the security screen mounted on the wall near the fridge. She pressed a button and a Mustang Charlie recognized from when she’d come to dinner appeared on the screen. It wasn’t Sandra. It was Eric.

  “Oh, Christ.” Ava sounded as though her eyes were about to roll out of her head. “This is just perfect.” She inhaled deeply, widening her stance on the floor—perhaps for extra support. “What?” she said rudely into the intercom.

  “Can I come in?” Eric’s voice came through the speaker.

  “Why?” Ava’s voice was full of impatience, making Charlie wonder what had actually happened between them.

  “Why?” Eric repeated. “Because I’m your friend, and we work together, and we need to talk.”

  Ava sighed deeply. “Fine. But no lectures, please.” She pressed a few buttons before turning around. “I’d best put some more clothes on.”

  “Do you want me to go?” Charlie asked, not excited to witness any of this.

  “No, absolutely not.” Ava walked toward her. “We have nothing to be ashamed of. If Eric wants to come in here and display his testosterone levels a bit, that’s his business. I know exactly what he’s going to say, because he has said it to me several times already.” Ava planted a kiss on Charlie’s forehead. “Could you please let him in while I at least put on a pair of pants?”