Heart Trouble

by Jae

  A moment later, the bra fell to the floor too.

  Wow. Laleh swallowed heavily. She had imagined this moment many times, but clearly, her imagination sucked. Hope’s breasts were perfect—smaller than Laleh’s, so they would fit exactly into Laleh’s hands. Her body burned with the desire to make the thought a reality. Mirroring Hope’s movements, she took off her own T-shirt and then reached for the clasp of her bra.

  “Wait,” Hope said, her voice hoarse. “Let me.” She reached around her with one hand. Her features tensed as she fumbled with the clasp. “Smooth,” she muttered as if to herself. “Very smooth.”

  The little bit of nerves made Laleh smile. It was good to know that she wasn’t the only one with butterflies. Not that their connection left any doubt about it. Her own hesitation melted away with every second.

  Finally, the hooks slipped from the loops, and the bra straps slid down Laleh’s arms. Completely topless, she stood next to the bed. With anyone else, she would have crossed her arms over her bare chest, but the awe she felt from Hope made hiding unnecessary.

  Simultaneously, they kicked off their shoes and socks and inched the zippers of their jeans down. Laleh’s gaze tracked the path of Hope’s pants as they slid down her legs, followed by her panties. So beautiful.

  She didn’t look away as Hope turned down the covers on the bed, the muscles in her butt flexing as she bent.

  God. Laleh had never felt so frantic with desire. She wanted to touch every new body part that was revealed to her gaze.

  Hope turned, fire in her eyes as if she could sense her thoughts.

  Well, she probably could. Instead of being ashamed, Laleh found it liberating because she knew Hope felt the same.

  Not wanting any barriers between them, she reached for her panties, but again Hope took over. She hooked her fingers into the elastic waistband and looked at her with a silent question in her eyes.

  There was no hesitation on her part, and that amazed not only Hope, but her too. She nodded and let Hope pull the panties down her legs. Completely naked, she crawled onto the bed and stared up at Hope. The sheets felt cool against her overheated skin, and every inch of her prickled with anticipation.

  Hope didn’t make her wait. Never breaking eye contact, she blanketed Laleh’s body with her own while supporting herself on her elbows.

  As their bodies came into contact all along their lengths, Laleh’s breathing picked up. The heat and softness of Hope’s skin and her enticing scent made her groan. She felt so close to Hope—and not just physically.

  Her arms framing Laleh’s face, Hope looked down at her. Her pupils were larger than Laleh had ever seen them.

  Laleh reached up and tucked an errant strand of hair behind Hope’s ear. She was so overwhelmed with love for her that her chest felt close to bursting, and she felt her feelings returned with the same strength, even though Hope hadn’t been able to say it yet. This was real, no matter how it had started. She slid her arms around Hope, enjoying the glide of her fingertips over the smooth skin of her back, and then pulled her down.

  Heat shot down her spine as their mouths met in a deep kiss.

  Moaning, she trailed her palms along the curve of Hope’s bare back until she clutched the ass she had admired a minute ago.

  Hope tore her lips away, buried her face against Laleh’s neck, and let out a long groan.

  Immediately, Laleh wanted to hear that noise again, but before she could do anything about it, Hope started nibbling her earlobe.

  Shivers raced through Laleh’s body. Now she was the one groaning as Hope raked her teeth down her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut. She tilted her head back, giving her more access. Again.

  As if hearing the silent command, Hope scraped her teeth over that spot behind her ear that made her bones liquefy. With her fingertips, she caressed Laleh’s sensitive sides.

  Paths of fire danced along Laleh’s skin. She opened her eyes.

  Hope looked from where she was touching Laleh up to her face. Keeping eye contact, she stroked the underside of Laleh’s breast with the backs of her fingers.

  The heat of her touch felt as if it could soak through her skin right to her heart.

  Gently, Hope cradled the entire breast in her hand, just holding it for a moment.

  Yes! Laleh arched her back into the touch.

  Much too soon, Hope took her hand away. But before Laleh could protest, she leaned down and kissed the top of Laleh’s breast.

  Fine tremors rushed through Laleh as Hope placed openmouthed kisses all over her chest, going in circles around her nipple until finally touching it with her lips.

  A breathy sigh escaped Laleh. Her nipple instantly hardened.

  Hope looked up. “This is incredible. I can feel everything you’re feeling.”

  Laleh could only nod. Emotions bounced back and forth between them, intensifying each other, until she was half crazed with desire.

  “Incredible,” Hope repeated in a whisper before bending her head again.

  Laleh had expected another kiss, but this time, Hope licked a loving circle around one areola and then blew across it.

  The sensation of cool air on her damp, overheated skin sparked a shiver through Laleh’s body. The muscles in her abdomen went taut.

  Hope grinned against her skin and then flicked her tongue across the nipple.

  “Oh!” Purely on instinct, Laleh weaved her fingers through Hope’s hair and pulled her closer. “Again.” This time, she dared to voice her needs. “Please.”

  “As you wish.” Hope teased her nipple with her tongue. “Or I could do this.” She took it into her mouth and sucked gently.

  The breath drained from her lungs. A bolt of searing-hot desire shot between her legs. She arched up, seeking more contact and finding Hope’s thigh that pressed between hers.

  Hope seemed to make it her mission to reduce Laleh to a quivering bundle of need. She suckled, every now and then pausing to flick her tongue across the nipple or circle the areola in broad strokes. “God, you’re so sensitive,” she murmured. “I think I can make you come just like this.”

  “I—think—so—too,” Laleh gasped out. Already, the pressure began to build deep within her. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, Hope’s mouth went to her other breast.

  Electric sparks ran along Laleh’s skin. Her entire body felt like one big knot of nerve endings. Sensing Hope’s arousal inflamed her own even more, and that in turn sent Hope to new heights. Laleh’s hips arched, and the pressure of Hope’s thigh nearly sent her spiraling out of control.

  No! Not yet. Before this was over, she wanted to touch Hope and make her just as crazy. She tightened her fingers in Hope’s hair and pulled her up.

  Hope slid upward in bed, her thigh dragging across Laleh’s clit.

  Moaning helplessly, Laleh pressed her lips to Hope’s and kissed her deeply.

  Hope let out a deep groan, and Laleh had no words to describe how hot it was to know that they were sharing every sensation, every emotion.

  She shoved against Hope’s shoulders with both hands until she got the hint and rolled to the side. Laleh directed her onto her back and then stared down at her, not sure where to start because there was so much she wanted to do to Hope. Finally, she started by putting her lips on the exposed column of her throat and tasting the salty skin. Delicious. She nipped and sucked on Hope’s neck, not caring if she marked her—wanting to mark her.

  Hope shuddered beneath her, and Laleh felt the jolt of desire that shot straight to her core. God, it was almost as if Hope was touching her, not the other way around.

  “Laleh,” Hope groaned out.

  She lifted her head and looked into Hope’s passion-filled eyes. Never had she felt such a connection. It went far beyond their link, as if their hearts and souls were bonded, not just their minds. She touched her fingertips to Hope’s flushed cheek.

  Neither of them smiled. What they were feeling was too intense for that.

  Laleh enjoyed th
e slide of skin against skin as she moved down a little.

  Hope began breathing hard before Laleh’s lips even found her breast.

  She licked the nipple once, as Hope had done to her, and then paused, fascinated by the change in texture as it hardened. Immediately, she went back for more…more of Hope’s taste and especially more of the little sounds she made as Laleh caressed her nipple with her lips and tongue. God, this was incredible. Her insecurities about not knowing how to please Hope vanished. Their connection provided her with instant feedback, letting her know how much Hope enjoyed this.

  Every touch sent little jolts through Hope and, by extension, through Laleh.

  Hope rocked against her, their thighs entwined, Hope’s wetness dampening Laleh’s leg.

  Laleh’s head spun.

  “If you…God…keep that up…” Hope’s lips parted in an audible gasp, and her eyes glazed over.

  “I know.” Laleh could sense how close Hope already was. “And I will.” For a second, she was amazed at her own confidence. She’d never acted like this in bed. But then again, no other experience had ever been like this.

  Hope let out a growl and rolled them over. “No, you won’t. My turn again.” Before Laleh could take back control, Hope dipped her head and ran the tip of her tongue from her cleavage to her navel.

  Laleh’s body quivered. She sensed what Hope wanted. “I…you…”

  “Yes,” Hope said and glanced up Laleh’s body. “Is that okay?”

  Laleh nodded shakily, not sure if her vocal cords would work.

  Hope kissed her belly and then rested her cheek against it for a moment. She caressed Laleh’s legs with her hands.

  God, Laleh had never realized that the outsides of her legs were so sensitive.

  Hope pressed a soft kiss to the edge of the curly hair at the juncture of Laleh’s thighs before lifting her head to look at her.

  The heat in Hope’s gaze and coming through their link seemed to set Laleh on fire.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Hope whispered. She nestled her body between Laleh’s thighs. Her nostrils flared as she lowered her head.

  Laleh’s breath caught. She clutched the sheets with both hands. “Hope…”

  Humming a soft reply, Hope kissed a path up her inner thighs and nudged them farther apart as her touches wandered higher.

  Laleh spread her legs wider.

  Hope’s tousled locks tickled the insides of her thighs, and then she kissed her—right between her legs.

  Oh God. Bolts of desire zigzagged through Laleh’s body. She sucked in a breath and began to pant.

  Hope put one hand on her hip and stroked the sensitive skin at the bend of her leg. She started slowly, with long, soft strokes of her tongue. After a while, she switched to short flicks, and Laleh’s hazed brain realized she was trying to find out what kind of touch she liked.

  Anything. Everything. She tried to breathe normally, but she couldn’t control it any more than she could stop her hips from arching up against Hope’s mouth.

  Hope’s breathing was ragged too; puffs of air washed over Laleh’s wetness and ratcheted up her arousal another notch. The flat of Hope’s tongue swept over Laleh’s swollen clit once more before she captured it in her mouth and started to gently suck.

  Guttural sounds escaped Laleh. She reached down, threaded her fingers through Hope’s hair, and pulled her closer.

  Hope gave an answering moan, her pleasure keeping pace with Laleh’s. Both of her hands slid beneath Laleh and took hold of her ass.

  Close. She was so close already. They both were. She rolled her hips against Hope, needing her closer, needing…more. But before she could gasp out the words, Hope slid one hand out from beneath her and eased inside her with two fingers.

  A long groan drained from Laleh, ending in Hope’s name. She arched into Hope’s hand and drove her deeper. “Good. Oh God. So good.”

  Hope started to move in a perfect rhythm, her thumb replacing her mouth and rubbing Laleh’s clit.

  Laleh’s vision blurred as the tension between her legs gathered. She tried to hold back and prolong the experience, but that only made the sensations stronger. Her moans and gasps were nearly constant now, and she didn’t try to suppress them, sensing how much Hope enjoyed hearing them.

  Tiny tremors started, and she felt them run through Hope too, as if she were an extension of Laleh’s body. “Come up here! Quick.”

  Hope slid up in bed, which changed the angle of her fingers and hit a spot inside of Laleh that made her gasp.

  She clutched Hope against her with one arm and slid the other hand between them. Just feeling how wet Hope was nearly made her come. Her touch was probably uncoordinated from desire and inexperience, but it didn’t matter. Their groans mingled, and their shared passion washed over them.

  Laleh’s eyes rolled back in her head and then fluttered closed. The world melted away, and she fell into their connection.

  As if from very far away, she heard Hope cry out, and she felt her orgasm as if it were her own. Wave after wave of pleasure, her own and Hope’s, pulsed through her. She might have passed out.

  When her brain started working again and she could focus her eyes, she was cradled in Hope’s arms, her head settled on one damp shoulder. Faint tremors still ran through her.

  Dazed, they stared at each other.

  Laleh swallowed against her dry throat.

  “That was incredible,” Hope rasped. “You are incredible. I’ve never felt anything close to that. Even if you hadn’t touched me, I would have come along with you.”

  Laleh couldn’t wait to find out if Hope really could come without being touched, but for now, she was spent. Her muscles felt like overcooked spaghetti as she lifted up a little, hovering over Hope, and traced the smile on her lips with one fingertip. “I guess my friend Jill was right.”

  * * *

  “Right about what?” Hope asked, trying to catch her breath.

  Laleh looked down to where she was tracing invisible patterns on Hope’s chest, causing goose bumps to spread along her skin. “Um, she said the sex would be mind-blowing.”

  “Oh yeah. It was.” Hope certainly wasn’t a stranger to good sex, but this…being with Laleh had been so much more than that. She had to smile as a blush rose up Laleh’s neck and colored her cheeks. God, I love this woman. Thinking it didn’t feel so scary anymore. Apparently, making love had swept away not only Laleh’s insecurities. For the first time in her adult life, Hope trusted someone not to abandon her. Her love for Laleh filled her so completely that she thought she might burst if she didn’t tell her. But when she opened her mouth, she still struggled to get the words out. “I… I…”

  “What is it?” Laleh leaned over her with a concerned expression.

  “I…” Hope squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again and looked directly into Laleh’s. “I love you.”

  Laleh’s mouth formed a startled O.

  Hope extended her Laleh-feelers to see what emotion lay beneath the surprise.

  Nothing. Not even a hint of happiness drifted through their link. She had thought Laleh would be glad to hear that her feelings were returned, even though their lovemaking couldn’t have left any doubt about it. Did she think Hope had only said it because she had been overwhelmed by endorphins right after her orgasm?

  A lump in her throat, she stared at Laleh, who was beaming now.

  Laleh let out a little squeal and kissed her mouth, her cheeks, both of her eyes, and then her lips again before throwing her arms around Hope and hugging her tightly. “I know I said there’s no rush and you didn’t need to say it,” she whispered against Hope’s neck. “I mean, I felt it when we made love. Even before that. But now that you said it, I realize how much I needed to hear it anyway.”

  Despite her words and the obvious display of happiness, Hope couldn’t feel a thing from her.

  After a moment, Laleh seemed to realize that Hope was just lying there, stiff as a board. She lifted herself up on one elbo
w and searched Hope’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Can’t you sense it?”

  Laleh’s gaze went inward. Her eyes widened. “I…I don’t feel anything from you.”

  “Me neither.”

  They stared at each other.

  Hope pinched her own thigh. Ouch. She rubbed the spot and then looked at Laleh. “Did you feel that?”

  Laleh’s cheeks had gone pale. She shook her head. “I can’t feel you. Not even a little bit.” Her voice was edged with panic. “Can you…ask me something medical?”

  Hope’s mind was buzzing, so it took her a minute to think of something. “How do you treat conjunctivitis?”

  “Um, what’s that?”

  “Pinkeye,” Hope murmured with a sinking feeling.

  Laleh shook her head. “I don’t have the slightest clue.”

  Hope tried to remember all the ingredients for fesenjan. Pomegranate, walnuts…uh… Damn, she couldn’t remember. “Our connection…” She swallowed heavily. “I think it’s gone.”

  Tears shone in Laleh’s eyes.

  A few months ago, Hope would have danced around the room, happy to finally be rid of the unwanted link, but now it felt as if she had lost an important part of herself. Seeing the tears in Laleh’s eyes without feeling her pain… It felt weird. Wrong.

  But as quickly as they had come, Laleh’s tears stopped. Instead, a smile spread over her face, quickly growing, until she was beaming from one ear to the other.

  What the hell…? How could Laleh be happy about this?

  “I love you,” Laleh whispered.

  Hope took her hand, and this time she could say it with only a short moment of hesitation. “I love you too, but that doesn’t—”

  “No. Don’t you understand?”

  She shook her head, which was spinning. “I feel like I don’t understand anything anymore.”

  “I love you,” Laleh repeated, as if that would explain. “The link is gone, and I still love you. These are my feelings, not just a reflection of what you feel for me.”

  Hope stared for a second. Then it hit her. She loves me. She really does. Now she found herself beaming too. While she had taken a leap of faith by opening her heart and trusting Laleh not to abandon her, that nagging worry had remained in the back of her mind. “Oh, wow. You love me. These are really our feelings. Ours. Nothing can take this from us.”