by Ronica Black
Jude loved the smell of her skin and her moist hair at the base of her neck. She was about to close her eyes and feast when she saw a dark red mark. Her blood froze and she pulled away. The mark was unmistakable. It had been made by a mouth. A hungry mouth. Someone else’s mouth.
“No,” she let out, stumbling backward. Mary cried out in surprise as Jude’s hand left her flesh. Jude fumbled against the two barstools behind her, crashing onto her backside.
“What? Oh my God, what?” Mary hopped off the back of the couch and hurried toward her. “Jude? What is it? What’s wrong?”
Jude scrambled to her feet and pushed her hands away. She clenched her eyes as the shock gave way and the unbearable pain set in. It hurt like nothing had before, and she thought she might fall to the floor and pass out.
“Jude!” Mary sounded frantic and Jude continued to push her away. She opened her eyes, but she couldn’t look at her. She couldn’t withstand her beauty and scent and see the mark destroying it all.
Jude hurried toward the door as Mary realized why she was so upset. “Oh my God. Oh my God,” she said softly and rushed toward her, trying to wedge herself between Jude and the door. “Jude. Jude, please listen. It was nothing. Nothing! It was just—oh God, fuck—I don’t know, a woman at work. She came on to me and we—it didn’t last long and it was just one time.”
Jude could barely speak and she kept her eyes trained on the door.
“That mark is more than a kiss.” Jude winced as she imagined another inhaling Mary’s skin, sucking on it, tasting it.
“It was a one-time thing. I don’t have any feelings for her. Jude, please.”
“I cannot bear to look at you,” she whispered.
Mary held her face and gently turned it. “Jude, look at me. Look into my eyes. I want you.”
But another scenario was more likely. Mary had gotten a taste for sex, for women, and she was experimenting, trying out new things and other women. It explained her new attitude and confidence. It made sense, and Jude could hardly blame her.
But she couldn’t be a part of that. Her swelling heart and uncontrollable feelings wouldn’t allow it.
“I have to go,” Jude said.
“No.” Mary’s expression went from one of fear and concern to one of confusion. “Why do I get in trouble for making out with someone for two minutes while you’re fucking a different woman every night?”
“You are mistaken.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Two a night?”
“It isn’t like that.” Not anymore.
“Because it doesn’t exactly make sense.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.” Who would? Jude’s life may have been simple with a bit of a well controlled wild side, but to others it must seem completely risqué and irresponsible. And now, with the way it was all changing inside her, she really couldn’t expect Mary to understand.
“Good, because I don’t.”
All she’d done was try to prevent this madness.
“Let me go. Let me go before—” But the rising emotion finally overtook her and she collapsed against the door and sobbed. The pain was horrible and all-consuming and she hated that she was doing it in front of Mary and it just made the tears come all the heavier.
Mary tried to turn her, to soothe her, but Jude refused to move from the door, keeping her forehead firmly pressed to it. She didn’t like the noises she was making or the pinched look her face must have had. She couldn’t control her breathing or the trembling of her body. Yet she didn’t have the strength to pull the door open and flee.
“Jude, Jude, come here.” Mary was trying to turn her again, but Jude refused, pounding the door with her fist.
“I’m sorry, Jude. I didn’t know you wanted me. I didn’t know anything. I thought you just wanted sex.”
“Just—” Jude tried. “Just leave me alone.”
“I don’t want to. You’re crying, for God’s sake. Just let me hold you.”
“No. I cannot. Please, just for a few moments. I need to be alone.”
She felt Mary’s hand fall from her back and heard her walk away. Jude tried to take big breaths and calm down, but she wasn’t quite ready yet. Her body had more emotion to purge. The tears felt like fiery bindings squeezing her lungs, and it hurt like hell to let them out. But she knew she couldn’t keep them in any longer. They had been hatched and there was no way to keep them contained.
She pounded the door again as the feelings rushed out. Fear. Loss of control. Vulnerability. Betrayal. And then more came. All the things she feared exposing herself to. Tenderness. Meaning. Love. Trust. Touching.
“Jude?” Mary was back and calling to her softly. “You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know that it’s always been you that I wanted.”
Jude wiped her eyes and turned. She drew a deep breath and leaned against the door for support. Mary looked frightened and worried and compassionate.
“The only reason why I dressed up like I did and seduced you like that was so that you would want to see me. Even though I wanted you and I wanted so much more than sex, I was willing to give up the rest just so you would continue touching me. And I had hoped that someday you would let me touch you too.”
Jude still couldn’t speak, but Mary’s words, just like the mere sight of her, touched her deep inside. Mary had put her mock turtleneck back on and she was standing there wringing her hands, worrying herself crazy over a woman she hardly knew, but she obviously cared very much about.
Most people would give anything for such a woman. But Jude had fought it and run from her, while still taking Mary’s body to satisfy her own selfish need to feel her and consume her.
“I’m sorry,” Jude finally said and her lungs ceased burning and the fog in her mind cleared.
“Don’t be. Everyone cries.”
“I’m sorry for crying, yes. But mostly I’m sorry for the way I have treated you.”
“You were honest with me. That’s more than most. And you never asked to get involved, that was all me.” She came closer. “I’m not worried about that though. I’m more curious about why this upset you so much.” She lightly touched her neck where the mark was hidden beneath her shirt.
“Is it not obvious?”
“Is it because you—”
“Because I am selfish.” This time Jude took a step toward Mary. “It is just me being selfish, just like I always am.”
“How so?”
Jude whispered, the words so powerful that if she said them any louder they would’ve knocked her over. “I want you, Mary. For myself. I don’t like to think about you with another. I cannot bear to think about it.”
“You can’t?”
“No.”
“But you still want freedom for yourself?”
“No.” Jude rushed toward her. “Mary, I only want you. I have tried with others and no one—there is only you.” She touched Mary’s face. “Knowing this, accepting this. It has nearly killed me.”
Mary stared deeply into her eyes and swallowed. “Me too.”
Jude smiled, so moved by her. She trembled. “And I’m so afraid.”
“I know,” Mary said softly, holding Jude’s hands to her face. “I know.”
“I haven’t—there hasn’t been anyone in a long time. Years.”
“Someone hurt you.”
Jude shook her head. “It is stupid. Old wounds.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
Jude kissed her softly. “You cannot possibly promise that, Mary.”
“I can.”
“No, but it doesn’t matter.”
Mary kissed her fingertips. “What does matter?”
“This. Right here, right now.” She kissed her and they melded together, capturing and holding and tasting. “And you. Only you.” Jude held her closer, tighter, running her hands up and down her back, searching for bare skin. When she found it she groaned and lifted the shirt off her once again.
�
��You’re better than any fantasy I have ever had,” Jude said as she gently kissed her shoulders, thumbing away the straps of her bra. “I have been a fool to deny it.”
Mary sighed with awakening pleasure. “Jude,” she said and then clung to her with her arms and eager mouth.
Jude lifted her and hurried down the hall, stopping against the wall a few times along the way to gain her balance and devour Mary further.
“In here,” Mary said breathlessly, pointing.
Jude carried her to the bed and set her down. Then she latched on to her neck and bit softly. “Mary.”
Mary’s nails dug into her skin and Jude arched into her, trying to ease her onto her back. But Mary resisted, wanting instead to undress Jude. She did so by starting at the base of her blouse, unbuttoning it slowly all the way up. Her mouth followed her hands as they slid along opening the edges, revealing a toned path of tingling skin. Jude sighed as Mary’s lips welcomed her, kissing her torso as they traveled all the way up. When they reached Jude’s mouth, they teased, a long pink tongue darting out at her lips.
Mary laughed just like she had the night Jude had seduced her, and it sent a bolt of desire right up her spine. Mary felt her react and she halted after tugging on Jude’s lower lip. “Is this okay?” she asked. “Me being aggressive?”
Jude made a noise of approval and squeezed her tightly. “God, yes. You never have to ask.”
Mary grinned. “So my sexy persona didn’t scare you away any?”
“Nein.” She hugged her tighter and Mary laughed. “You are sexy all the time.”
“In that case…” Mary pushed away and walked to the side of the bed where she turned back the covers and lit the two candles on her nightstand. Then as Jude watched, she stripped completely and curled her finger at her, beckoning.
Jude walked up to her, her mouth already watering at the way the candlelight was dancing on Mary’s skin. She bent to kiss her again, but Mary stopped her with a gentle finger. “Wait.”
Mary’s eyes were large and soulful and they took Jude in and held her. Safely, warmly. Her hands dropped to undress Jude, starting with her bra and finishing with her slacks and shoes. She motioned at the bed. “Lie down.”
A few nerves fluttered and Jude hesitated.
“Please. Before I make you.”
Jude laughed softly. “Okay.” The sheets felt cool against her back, but she warmed up quickly as Mary slid in next to her and wrapped her in her arms.
“I bet you’re wondering what it is I plan on doing to you.”
“You would be correct.”
“Mm. Should I tell you? How about I just show you?” Jude watched Mary’s hand as it trailed up and down the center of her abdomen, just like her mouth had when she’d unbuttoned her shirt.
Jude’s body responded at once and she lifted up into her, unable to remain still.
“Feel good?” Mary asked, whispering in her ear.
“Yes.”
“Good. Because that’s what this is all about. I want to make you feel as good as I do when you touch me.”
Jude licked her lips as her heart raced. She wanted it. She so badly wanted it. But could she really relax and take it?
“It will be okay,” Mary said, kissing her ear, her jaw, her lips. “Here.” She took Jude’s hands and placed them on her bare breasts so Jude was holding herself. Then she propped herself up on one arm and placed her hand on Jude’s. Lightly, delicately, she touched Jude’s skin through the gaps of her fingers.
“If at any time you want me to stop, you need to say so. No other word will do.”
Jude laughed. “I won’t need to.”
“Ah, my darling Jude, you cannot possibly know such a thing.”
Jude reached up and stroked her hair. It was dancing and shimmering. She was so beautiful and so full of life. “I want you, Mary. All of you. That means knowing you.”
Mary kissed her hand. “Quit it. Any more talk like that and I’ll lose my patience and eat you alive.”
“In that case…”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Mary straddled her and shrieked when Jude tried to tickle her. “Quit it!” But she was laughing so hard she could hardly protest.
After battling for a few seconds, she was finally able to pin Jude’s hands above her head. “There.” She was breathless and flushed and Jude was so turned on she could feel herself throbbing. “Now where was I?”
“You were just about to eat me alive.”
“Oh no. Not so fast.” She released her hands and brought them back down to where they were before. “I touch you only where you touch you.”
Jude tried to speak.
“No, don’t argue.” She repeated the touch from before, touching her skin between the gaps of her fingers. “Like that. And if you want more, or a different spot, just move your hand.”
Jude immediately moved her hands and framed her nipples, causing Mary to laugh.
“You move fast, Professor Jaeger.” She skimmed her fingers across her taut nipples and Jude hissed with pleasure.
“I like it when you call me that,” she said.
“I like it too.”
She bent and licked Jude’s fingers, beginning with the tops and then lowering to rim the insides. Jude had done the same to her when she’d touched herself at Conquest. The sensation was breathtaking. And when she reached her nipples, Jude came up off the bed and kissed her madly. Mary cried out and pinched her nipples. Jude clawed at her back, pushing her tongue into her again and again.
Mary tore herself away and panted.
But Jude didn’t wait for her to speak. “Touch me,” she said. “Now.”
She leaned back and took hold of Mary’s hands. She led them all over her upper body and down to where Mary was straddling her.
“Are you sure?”
This was the moment Jude had been thinking about for weeks. And now that it was here, there was no denying the way she felt. It was what her body wanted, what her mind wanted, what her heart wanted. She looked into Mary’s eyes and nodded. “I feel like I’m going to die if you don’t.”
Mary stared so passionately at her Jude thought she might burst into flames. And then she whispered, “Baby,” and lowered herself, pressing Jude open with firm palms to her inner thighs. She breathed on her heavily and then attached her mouth and tongued her through her panties.
Jude shouted and lifted herself, tangling her hands in Mary’s hair. “Oh, fuck, Mary,” she said watching her and going insane. “Fuck, it feels so good.”
Mary tugged harder and then flattened her tongue and licked her, sneaking her tongue into the sides to tease her bare flesh. Jude called out and held her tighter, then lay back to push herself up into her.
“Hurry, Mary. Hurry. I’m afraid I might hurt you.” Her fingers were already painfully tight and her body was so alive and rigid with want there was no telling what her strength might bring.
Mary stopped and hurriedly helped tear her panties off. She looked hungry and driven, thirsty for Jude’s flesh. She held her gaze for a long moment before dipping her head and taking in all of her.
“Ahhhh fuuuck meee.” Jude’s eyes rolled and closed. The pleasure was so great it was almost unbearable, and she thought for sure she would die right there with Mary sucking her off. “Fuuuck.” It was all she could say, and when Mary stroked her with her slick tongue while she held her tightly in her mouth, Jude almost cried in sheer ecstasy. Words were gone and her brain was molten pleasure. All she could do was pump herself into her and squeeze her hands in Mary’s hair. And it got better and better and Mary moaned into her and Jude went insane with need.
“Hurry. Oh, please.”
But Mary released her and looked up at her with dancing eyes. Then she focused on Jude’s flesh and snaked out her tongue to rim her clitoris. She circled it over and over and Jude whimpered, helpless.
“Mary,” she cried.
“Yes.”
“Please.”
“Like this?” She licked at her
slowly. Full tongue pressing over her for a miniscule second.
“Mm.”
She quickened her rhythm and pressed harder.
“Yes!”
Then she stopped and took her clit in her mouth with wet, puckered lips. She sucked hard and then released her to lick. She continued the pattern until Jude couldn’t control herself anymore.
“Mary, please, now!”
“Please what, baby? Tell me.”
“More,” she said. “Oh God, more. Mary, please, more. And don’t stop. Ah, fuck, don’t stop.”
Mary reattached to her with a pleasurable moan, taking her in to suck and lick at the same time.
Jude tugged on her hair, ensuring she couldn’t back away, and she pumped harder, faster, and clung to Mary like she was clinging to life. And then her climax crushed her back into the bed, tightening all her muscles for several blissfully long seconds, tearing through her body like an erotic virus set loose within her blood. She loved it, oh dear God, how she loved it, and when it finally blew away like a quick breath of air to a candle, she opened her eyes and focused on Mary who was lying between her legs with the most beautiful look she’d ever seen on a woman.
“Hi,” she said and grinned.
Jude waved, her voice tight. “Hi.”
“I suddenly feel shy.”
Jude laughed. “Shy? Come here.”
Mary crawled up and laid next to her and Jude covered them both with the sheet and then snuggled into her, wrapping her in her arms.
“What are you thinking?”
“That was…” Mary started. “Jude, if anybody could experience what I just experienced, they’d be lined up out the door at Conquest twenty-four seven.”
Jude chuckled and bit her shoulder playfully. “That’s how it is for me when I see you climax. I don’t know how you got this far in life without a slew of lovers.”
“I don’t want a slew of lovers. I don’t think I ever would’ve wanted that.”
Jude brushed a hair from her cheek.
“And I don’t want them lined out the door at Conquest.”