“Oh God,” Natalie said, and took a moment before moving against Ana faster this time, and with purpose. Just when Ana thought she would explode, Natalie withdrew contact altogether, leaving Ana blinking up at her in a silent plea.
Natalie cupped her face with one hand and crawled down her body. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The explosive sensations of Natalie’s open-mouthed kiss on her center had her clenching the sheets in her fists and squirming beneath the potent touch of Natalie’s tongue as it snaked up and around her most sensitive spot. Once. Twice. Three times. Ana couldn’t think straight. Four times. She was totally undone. Five times and she cried out as her body erupted and the orgasm shot through her hard and fast and wonderful. She rode it out as Natalie held her in place. She kissed her way slowly and gently up Ana’s body until they were face-to-face.
“Can we do that again?” Natalie asked. “Please?”
“I think a little recovery time might be called for.”
“One more time,” Natalie said playfully, reaching between Ana’s legs and beginning to play.
Ana gasped, still overly sensitive, and caught Natalie’s wrist. “Recovery time is called that for a reason.” But she couldn’t help but laugh at Natalie’s tenacity.
“You’re killing my dreams.”
“I know, and it’s awful. You know what’s not awful?”
“What?” Natalie asked, and kissed just above her collarbone.
“What you just did to me. Because that was, in fact, the opposite of awful. Mind-shattering, even.”
“So, again?”
Ana laughed. “Nope. But I have an idea of a few other things we could try.” Without another word, Ana maneuvered herself around her injured arm and with her good hand reached between Natalie’s legs and slid purposefully into wet warmth and reveled at the feel of it, pushing in farther, then out again. God.
Natalie closed her eyes and swore quietly, instinctively pushing against Ana’s hand for more. They lay facing each other on the bed, which offered Ana the delicious opportunity to watch Natalie’s reaction as she touched, played, and maneuvered her way to delivering to Natalie the pleasure she’d just received herself.
“You’re so ready,” Ana whispered, sliding her fingers in and then out again.
Natalie covered her eyes as her hips moved faster.
“I want to see you.”
Natalie moved her hand and met Ana’s eyes, her lips parted, her breath coming in quick pants. Ana had never been so captivated. “What do you need?” Ana asked her, already knowing the answer. The teasing motion of her thumb had gone on long enough.
“Touch me and I’m gone.” Natalie swallowed. “That’s all I need.”
Ana pushed into her one last time and pressed her thumb firmly to Natalie’s most sensitive spot, pulling a desperate sound that turned to a tantalizing cry of release from her. She watched as Natalie tossed her head back and went still before bucking wildly against Ana’s hand. Ana traced back and forth again and again. She would never tire of the sight of pleasure as it washed over Natalie, beautiful and vulnerable beneath her touch.
“Look at me,” Ana said, easing herself on top.
Natalie blinked, clearing her focus, and stared up at Ana. “Hi,” she said quietly. Sexy to adorable, in the course of sixty seconds. What was this girl doing to her?
“I don’t ever want to be apart from you again,” Ana whispered.
“Me neither,” Natalie said. She reached up and touched Ana’s hair. “Please don’t leave me.”
The request was so simple, yet so poignant, that Ana felt the large lump in her throat in response. She sat up in bed, working on how to explain what was in her heart.
Natalie followed her. “Hey, are you okay? I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Ana looked at Natalie and shook her head. “You didn’t. When I think about the last two months, one thing is startlingly clear. Nothing I did following the accident, no progress, accomplishment, or decision would have ever felt complete unless you were right there with me. You were the only path back to myself.”
Natalie’s eyes glistened. “I was the path?”
Ana nodded. “The whole time. And this next part I’ve never said to anyone, so it’s kind of a big deal.”
Natalie threaded her fingers through Ana’s and listened patiently.
Ana kissed the back of her hand and met her gaze. “I love you, Natalie.” The unguarded smile that appeared on Natalie’s face filled every crack in Ana’s heart and she was whole again. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we were meant to come into each other’s lives and frustrate the hell out of each other so that we could fall slowly and desperately in love. Obstacles be damned.”
Natalie laughed through the tears in her eyes. “I love you, too. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel this way. When you ended things, you took my heart with you. I’m so glad you brought it back.” Ana kissed Natalie because there was no way not to, and when she did, her own heart sighed, mended once and for all.
They were in love.
And there was nothing better.
“Again,” Natalie murmured through the kiss.
Ana smiled against her mouth. “Definitely again.”
As she lay there an hour later with Natalie drifting off in her arms, Ana knew that she was right where she was supposed to be. The future loomed in front of them, scary and exciting and full of all sorts of amazing possibility. She couldn’t help but wish for a glimpse of a year down the road. One thing was certain, however. When she and Natalie were together, there was nothing they couldn’t do. The woman in her arms had shown her another way to live, had opened her up to the wider world, and Ana was ready to tackle it.
“I love you,” she whispered, careful not to wake Natalie, but wanting to say those three words to her every day, every minute, every second of the rest of their lives, and never miss another chance. She placed a soft kiss on Natalie’s head and snuggled into her. With a deep sigh, she drifted off, happy and relaxed and at long last, whole.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Natalie stood in the wings and watched as the curtain came down on First Position’s opening-night performance. Her heart nearly exploded with pride at what they had accomplished in just over twelve months. The downtown theatre that the company called home was on the smallish side, with roughly four hundred seats, but to her delight, every last one of them was filled. As the applause crescendoed, Natalie took her spot onstage alongside Ana, who played Juliet in this modern retelling of the Prokofiev classic—in this version, featuring two women. Following her bow, Natalie took Helen’s hand on one side and Ana’s hand on the other, and the company bowed together. The audience wasn’t through with them, though. Natalie couldn’t remember a longer lasting ovation, and she looked out over the sea of faces, soaking it in, spotting friends and family clapping and smiling for their newest achievement.
This was a night Natalie would never forget. She stole a glance at Ana, who smiled back at her and subtly mouthed the words I love you. She’d never seen Ana as happy as she’d been in the weeks leading up to First Position’s debut. While it seemed they worked night and day at rehearsal, interspersed with business meeting upon business meeting, the work had never been more fulfilling.
They changed quickly from costumes to party attire in the small dressing room they shared one floor above the stage. As they prepared to leave, Natalie took a moment to really drink Ana in.
“You’re a knockout,” she told her. Ana had selected a modest red cocktail dress with a slight dip in the front. That tiny glimpse of cleavage would be Natalie’s undoing by the end of the party, a position she’d been in before.
“Are you sure?” Ana asked. “I feel a little, I don’t know…noticeable in the red dress. Red stands out.”
“I have news for you.” Natalie stole a kiss. “You stand out in any room you walk into. You’re statuesque and beautiful. It’s your lot in life. You’re also a fancy arti
stic director now, so it’s your job to stand out and look important.”
“Okay, note to self: Stand out. Look important. And what’s your job?” Ana asked, amusement now sparkling in her eyes.
“To wear a slinky black dress and be your brooding sidekick.”
“You don’t brood.”
“I know, but I can work on it.” She hiked her chin toward Ana’s arm. “How’s the wing?”
“It aches a bit, but that’s to be expected. Once the show’s in me a bit more, it should stretch and accommodate better.”
“Okay, but communicate with me.”
Ana softened. “I love communicating with you. And doing other things with you.”
“You cannot flirt with me while wearing a red dress I can’t take off you. There shall be no more flirting until later tonight.”
“I can’t promise.”
Natalie shook her head. “Ready to do this thing?”
Ana took her hand. “Never been more ready.”
Having declined Klaus’s offer to secure Sardi’s for the opening night gathering, they had instead selected a spacious and industrial Italian restaurant not far from the downtown theatre. As they entered the room where their guests mingled, a round of applause erupted. On one hand, the celebration reminded Natalie of those days when she performed with her friends in LA, and the raucous parties that led into the morning hours. But in fact, this gathering also felt inherently different. While she loved the former Never-Never Land version of herself for what she had and had not known, she recognized all the growing up she’d done in the meantime. This party felt like a culmination of those changes.
They spent the next two hours working the room, greeting their guests, thanking their investors, and hugging friends and family.
“The show was spellbinding,” Adrienne told them, as she hugged first Ana and then Natalie. “The melding of styles up there was so seamless, I found myself lost in the story.”
“Thank you,” Natalie said, genuinely moved that Adrienne saw value in their work. “A lot of Ana with a little bit of me tossed in.”
“More than a little,” Ana corrected.
Jenna sipped from a glass of bubbly. While she’d not been able to see the show due to an Elevation performance of her own, she’d raced over to the party right after. “And how’s the teaching going? I’ve told several people they should look you up.”
“You don’t know how much I appreciate that,” Ana said. “We have classes three times a week. I teach the majority, but our friend Helen has recently picked up two classes as well. The space is amazing, and we’re getting it for a steal.”
“We’re already using the classes as a feeder school for First Position,” Natalie added.
“Oh, hang on a minute,” Adrienne said, and signaled to someone behind them. “I want to introduce you to my cousin, Jessica.”
“That’s right,” Ana said. “From the advertising world. I was counting on you to make this introduction. We’re in desperate need of professional assistance.”
Adrienne grinned knowingly. “You’re about to have your pick of agencies.” Natalie turned as a striking brunette headed their way, holding hands with an equally attractive blonde. “Ana, Natalie, allow me to introduce you to Jessica Lennox and Brooklyn Campbell, both advertising extraordinaires.”
“Oh, you work together?” Natalie asked, offering her hand.
“You’d think. But no,” Brooklyn said. “This one works for the enemy.”
“Correction,” Jessica said, smiling at Brooklyn sweetly. “This one does.”
Adrienne raised a hand in way of explanation. “These two are married and adorable, but own rival advertising agencies.”
Jessica jumped in. “Before you feel awkward about the competition between us, we took a look at the dance company and what you might be looking for. I think Brooklyn and her partners at Savvy might be the best match.”
“Which I’m thrilled about,” Brooklyn said. “Because you guys are kick-ass.” This girl was fun and bubbly and Natalie already liked her. “I saw the show tonight, and ideas are already floating around in my head. I’ll let you enjoy the party, but maybe we can meet next week along with one of my business partners, Mallory, and discuss some options.”
Ana looked just as excited by the concept as Natalie was. “That sounds perfect. I’ll look forward to your call.”
“And if you don’t get what you need from Savvy,” Jessica said, “Adrienne knows where to find me.” She then sent a playful look to Brooklyn, who gasped at the quip. “We’re gonna get out of your way, but thank you for having us, and have a fantastic night.”
“Your show rocks,” Brooklyn said over her shoulder as they walked away. “Let’s be friends.”
“You’re on,” Natalie called after them.
“They’re fun.”
“They are,” Jenna said. “We’ll all get together sometime.”
Ana pointed to Jenna. “Yes. Make it happen.”
“We will. It’s a promise. Now go play with your other guests,” Adrienne said. “We don’t want to get in trouble for monopolizing the important people. Plus, we’re seeing you next week, right, for dinner?”
“That’s the plan. You’re gonna love the new place. Tall ceilings to make me happy, and not too far from Shake Shack. Priorities,” Natalie said and hooked a thumb at Ana.
Jenna laughed. “We can’t wait to see it.”
“Proud of you,” Adrienne said, pulling Ana in to a final hug. “And FYI, I see your father sighing expectantly at the front of the room.”
“Thank you, and we’re on it,” Ana told her.
Klaus Mikhelson was doing that pretend annoyed thing he so often did. Natalie now found it rather endearing, as she did him. His larger-than-life persona just took a little getting used to was all. Over the past year, he’d visited several times and seemed to have developed an appreciation for Natalie, despite what he sometimes seemed to project.
“This dancing you do tonight is not true ballet,” he told them after their initial greeting, punctuating the statement with a long pause and a pointed Russian stare. “But I like it.”
Ana smiled. “The second show of the season is entirely classical, Papa. No worries.”
“What? Do I look worried? I’m not worried. That is just my Russian face.”
Natalie pointed at him. “Ana makes the same one.”
He laughed loudly. “I’ve seen it, too!”
“Thank you for being here, Papa. It means a lot to me.”
“I would not miss the big opening of my fifteen percent. My fifteen percent did me proud.” Ana beamed at him, and Natalie remembered how very important his opinion was to her. “I have to go now, though. I’m going to try the romance with the woman over there who sat next to me.”
Natalie followed his gaze to Louise from SAB. “Oh wow, really?” she asked him.
He looked at them knowingly. “She has hot pants for me.”
Ana covered her ears. “You’re my father. You can’t say that to me. Don’t make me start reciting the alphabet.”
“Go get her, Klaus. Go do the romance,” Natalie said. With one quick and determined nod, he was off.
Ninety minutes later, and the little soirée had come to a quiet close. Natalie took a moment to let it all wash over her. The show was a hit, the party was a hit, and now she got to head home with the woman she loved. She thanked the universe for bringing her to this day, this spot, alongside Ana. As they headed out into the night air, hand in hand, she paused on the sidewalk. Ana had taken her hair down from the clip she’d worn it in earlier. The high heels were tucked away in her bag and the little bit of added color she’d applied to her lips had long since faded. But standing there under the night sky as she was now, she had never been more beautiful.
“What?” Ana asked, self-conscious.
“I’m memorizing you. Memorizing this.”
Ana relaxed into a grin. “And why is that?”
“Because it’s a mome
nt. A real moment.”
Ana was kissing her then, and Natalie melted against her, lost in the heat and softness of her touch. A shimmering perfect moment indeed.
The first in a lifetime of perfect moments to come.
About the Author
Melissa Brayden (melissabrayden.com) is a multi-award-winning author of seven novels published with Bold Strokes Books. She is hard at work on her eighth and loving the writer’s life in San Antonio, Texas.
Melissa is married and working really hard at remembering to do the dishes. For personal enjoyment, she spends time with her Jack Russell terriers and checks out the NYC theater scene several times a year. She considers herself a reluctant patron of the treadmill, but enjoys hitting a tennis ball around in nice weather. Coffee is her very best friend.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
A Class Act by Tammy Hayes. Buttoned-up college professor Dr. Margaret Parks doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into when she agrees to one date with her student Rory Morgan, who is fifteen years her junior. (978-1-62639-701-9)
Bitter Root by Laydin Michaels. Small town chef Adi Bergeron is hiding something, and Griffith McNaulty is going to find out what it is even if it gets her killed. (978-1-62639-656-2)
Capturing Forever by Erin Dutton. When family pulls Jacqueline and Casey back together, will the lessons learned in eight years apart be enough to mend the mistakes of the past? (978-1-62639-631-9)
Deception by VK Powell. DEA Agent Colby Vincent and Attorney Adena Weber are embroiled in a drug investigation involving homeless veterans and an attraction that could destroy them both. (978-1-62639-596-1)
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