by Blythe Stone
“I'm not letting someone else touch you,” Nat said. “Come on baby, take this off.”
Iris got up on her knees, took her bra off and tossed it on the other side of the bed.
“Where do you want me?” Iris asked.
“There,” Nat pointed at the bed. “Just give me one second.”
Iris moved to where Nat indicated and laid down, stretching out, and sighing.
Nat got off the bed to prepare, starting first with the right music before dimming the lights and finding some lotion in her bag.
“Okay sweetie,” Nat said. She straddled Iris's sides with her knees and thighs and warmed some lotion in her hands before beginning to carefully touch her.
“Mmm,” Iris moaned.
The goal was to calm her down and clear her mind. Nat had been pretty good at that lately.
She worked her thumbs into Iris's muscles and used her fingers to push into her skin, not stopping until her own breathing had become loud and a certain level of exhaustion and lust settled over her.
When this happened Nat laid down onto Iris's back and rested against her, content just to breathe.
Iris was in a dreamy state and definitely more relaxed than before.
“Thank you,” Iris mumbled.
“My pleasure,” Nat said, kissing the back of Iris’s shoulder. These blissful moments had been healing them both for hours and days and weeks.
“You're next,” Iris said.
“Mmm, okay,” Nat said. However, she was far too comfortable to move.
“I love you,” Iris said.
“Mmmm, better be careful with that,” Nat said, rolling off of her body and onto her back on the bed by her side.
“Why?”
Iris propped herself up on her elbows and watched Nat.
“I might overflow,” she said, staring up at the ceiling.
“Are you a river?” Iris teased.
She touched Nat's stomach and stroked her skin with small movements.
“Hm.. Not sure,” Nat teased.
“Can you splash me?” Iris asked.
“Probably,” Nat flirted.
“Come here and let me give you a massage,” Iris said.
“Mmm,” Nat hummed, turning into Iris and onto her own stomach.
Iris mimicked how Nat had been sitting on her and reached for the lotion. She put some on her hands and started to rub gentle circles into the back of Nat's neck with her thumbs.
She moved to her back and increased the pressure she was using. Bit-by-bit she made her way down Nat's back and then back up, humming softly as she worked.
Nat moaned in appreciation, easily soothed by Iris’s hands. Iris kept massaging and working Nat's muscles.
“You were tight, babe,” Iris said.
“I know, I’m bad,” Nat sighed. “I never stretch enough.”
“Maybe we should start doing yoga or just stretching together,” Iris said.
She stopped massaging and slid off of Nat's body.
“How do you feel?” Iris asked.
“Better,” Nat said, opening her eyes and gazing at her.
“Good,” Iris said.
She watched Nat and sighed with contentment.
“Me too,” Iris said.
“You are so fucking pretty,” Nat muttered.
“Hmm, so are you,” Iris said and started to pet Nat's hair. “Should we hot tub or just sleep?”
“I dunno baby,” Nat said, stroking her cheek. “How are you?” The stress of it all was still there.
“I'm okay. I like looking at you,” Iris said.
Nat smiled. “I know that feeling,” she dazed.
“You look so serious right now. What are you thinking?” Iris asked.
“I don't want to lose you,” Nat said truthfully.
“You won't,” Iris promised.
Nat leaned in and kissed her, watching her eyes as she pulled back and rested her head again.
“I couldn't walk away from you. I'd give everything up first,” Iris said.
“You’re going to be busy soon,” Nat reminded.
“I only have a contract for one more album. I can do anything I want after that,” Iris pointed out.
“Is it different,” Nat asked. “Are you scared when you tour?”
“I'm not scared. I get perpetually tired and lonely. Then, I get on stage and everything changes. I feel alive and open. Most of the time anyway. If we have a bad show it's different,” Iris said.
“What happens then?” Nat wondered, finding Iris’s hand and playing with it.
“It can be frustrating and less fun. It's still better than press,” Iris said.
“Press should be fun,” Nat said. “Or at the very least, a small inconvenience. Why do you do it if you don’t like it?”
“Because it's part of the game. Sometimes I don't mind it. Talking about music is easier and I like doing interviews with you. You're mesmerising when you're interacting with them. I think it has to be obvious that I'm head over heels for you to everyone watching,” Iris said.
“Mm, I like that,” Nat glowed. “I mean it though, why not take it out of your contract. You don’t have to do that stuff if you don’t like it. It’s your life sweetie.”
“I just need to learn to cope better. Maybe I need therapy or something,” Iris said.
“Baby… I don’t think it’s at all strange to not enjoy the press stuff. It takes a certain type of person to want to run a gauntlet like that and I’m not one of those people who thinks you should have to be into every different part of this job. The press stuff can be repetitive and icky. Just write it out of your contract next time.”
“Maybe I won't have a contract next time,” Iris pointed out.
“You should be able to decide what you like and what you don’t. It’s up to you.”
“I like you. That's what I've decided,” Iris said.
“And I like when you’re not stressed out by crap you shouldn’t have to deal with,” Nat said.
“I promise I won't do anything I don't want to do,” Iris assured her.
“You lie,” Nat smiled, scooting in close to her and attacking her with neck and cheek kisses.
Iris laughed and submitted to the onslaught of kisses.
“No, I'm not,” Iris laughed.
“Lies,” Nat teased.
“Nat, I can't believe you don't believe me,” Iris said.
“It's okay, we'll work around it,” Nat joked.
“Come on, smartass, put your bathing suit on and we can go give the paps something to take pictures of,” Iris said, rolling off the bed to do the same.
Nat watched Iris and stretched in a sexy way just to taunt her.
“Rude,” Iris said.
Nat smiled at her mischievously.
“What are you plotting?” Iris asked.
It was amazing how an hour with Nat could make all the bad things vanish. She was magic for Iris.
“Nothing,” Nat stared. She stretched again and then slowly made her way to her bag to find a suit.
"I don't believe you. You're totally planning on me," Iris said.
“I'm not a planner baby,” Nat lied. She tugged her bikini bottoms on and started to put her hair up, which was only sexy somehow for Iris to see.
"Uh huh, sure. I haven't known you long but I'm fully aware that you are," Iris said.
Nat smirked at her, before turning to find her top and fix it on.
Iris tied her bikini top and went to get her cover-up shirt.
Nat was waiting for her on the foot of the bed, a thin black robe draped around her body.
"Very sexy," Iris commented. She reached down and took Nat's hands to pull her up. Just being this close gave Iris all kinds of feelings, but love was the overriding emotion.
Nat breathed Iris in and enjoyed being close. “Everyone knows you're only into hot chicks,” Nat whispered.
"Good thing you're hot then," Iris teased.
Iris rocked their bodies from side to side in a
little dance. They moved well together and Iris appreciated the way their bodies fit. Their height difference meant she could easily put her head on Nat's shoulder.
“Come on then kitten,” Nat dazed, intoxicated by her. “If we don't go soon I won't be able to keep my lips off your skin.”
"I don't think you will once we're down there anyway," Iris guessed.
Nat blushed and laughed a little. “You’re probably right. It's a waste of time not touching you.”
"You're touching me right now," Iris pointed out.
She backed toward the door, taking Nat with her, but she didn't open it when they got there. She kissed Nat once and then let go so they could leave.
She opened the door and pulled Nat out into the hall and down to the elevator. They waited for the doors to open hand-in-hand and entered that way when they did.
There was one other person going down. It was a younger guy that gave them a long look before turning his head away when Iris caught him.
He took out his phone and not so subtly took their picture, placing the camera in the gap between his crossed arm and his body.
Iris shook her head, laughed once, and nudged Nat to show her what he was doing.
Nat smiled, amused by her. If he wanted a show she’d give it to him. Chase away any doubts about whether or not they were still together. She pulled Iris in and slipped her tongue in her mouth quite generously. It was unmistakable now that the two were a thing.
There was no sound but Iris knew that he was still taking pictures so she turned to push Nat against the back of the elevator. She took the intensity of the kiss up and invaded Nat's mouth, overcoming her despite her recent timidity. It lasted until the doors opened and they had to get out.
The lift sat waiting, doors open.
The guy cleared his throat. Iris quirked an eyebrow, watching his departure before pulling Nat out with her in the direction of the pool.
She squeezed Nat's hand and started to jog to the entrance. Inside the pool area there were a few people scattered around but it was quiet.
Not too bad. Finding some privacy was always their problem. Iris longed for the days they first had with Nat.
Iris took Nat straight to the hot tub and got in. There was a middle aged woman sitting on the other side, wearing sunglasses with her head tipped back.
Iris sank into the water and sighed, which prompted the stranger to sit up and shove her glasses onto her head.
"Oh thank god," the lady said. "I thought you might be my husband coming to bother me."
Iris smiled and offered her hand.
"No ma'am, I'm Iris," she greeted.
"Oh honey, don't call me ma'am. It makes me feel old. I'm Cheryl," she said.
They shook hands and then Nat introduced herself too.
"Don't mind us, we don't want to disturb you," Iris said.
"You couldn't possibly. It's nice to meet you," Cheryl said.
"Nice to meet you too," Iris said.
She was at a loss after that. There wasn't much to say to someone she'd never met. She was here to relax not to socialize. If only they'd sprung for the place with the private spa.
“We should get wine,” Nat whispered.
"Okay," Iris whispered back.
She looked around at the other people who were much more concerned with their own lives than paying attention to her.
Except Cheryl.
"You girls are in one of the movies, right?" Cheryl asked.
Iris took a breath and waited a beat.
"Yes, we are," Iris said.
Cheryl nodded and pushed her sunglasses back up into her hair when they teetered with the motion of her head.
"I'll look out for it. I'm a casting director," she explained.
It was Iris's turn to nod.
“Our first film together,” Nat smiled. “Match made in heaven.”
"I know you," Cheryl said pointing to Nat. "But I'm not familiar with you."
"This is my first film," Iris said.
"Ah, I see," Cheryl replied.
“She is a musician,” Nat said, hugging Iris.
"Ah ha!" Cheryl tapped her palms together. "Yes! I remember now. If I hadn't been running around like a madwoman for the past few days I would have gotten it right off."
"That's okay. It's hardly a big deal," Iris said.
"No, no" Cheryl waved her hand in the air between them. "I know everyone and everything that's being produced in this damn business. I know just who you are now. Maybe if I like your work I'll give your agent a shout. Who is it?"
"Ah, Stan H-"
"Oh, that old asshole yes, I'm familiar," Cheryl interrupted.
"I'm not really looking to do anything else right now," Iris said.
"You say that now, dear. You've only got a certain amount of marketable years till you're over the hill like me. I've had three facelifts and I don't look a day over forty but I assure you… you know I should give you my man's card. He does amazing things with lipo. He could get rid of that little fudge at your hips," she said.
"I'm good, thanks," Iris said.
“You’re perfect actually,” Nat gazed at Iris.
"That's impossible, dear. We all have one or two things we'd like to change but you are young, plenty of time," Cheryl commented.
A phone rang, a jaunty jazz tune the ringtone. It was on one of the modern looking metal tables that lined the pool area.
"Oh, that's me. Excuse me girls but don't leave without getting that card," Cheryl called.
She stepped swiftly from the hot tub, using the stairs and rushed over to the table to grab her phone.
"God, you'd think she was getting a cut," Iris said.
She sighed and clung to Nat, pinching the skin at her waist self-consciously.
“Don't listen to her baby, you're perfect,” Nat whispered.
"You're biased," Iris maintained.
She stopped picking at herself and focused on Nat. It wouldn't do to cause even more worries. She could obsess over what the crazy lady said later. Iris knew she would anyway.
“I'm also right,” Nat said, kissing Iris's cheek. “Not to sound extremely cocky but you're gorgeous enough to land a role opposite a currently hot indie queen. If that doesn't say enough about your beauty I'm not sure much else could.”
"Well, I'm not going to argue with you because there's no use but that was more about already being known," Iris said.
“Bullshit,” Nat said, annoyed by Iris's stubbornness on this issue. “Your hangups are really bad baby. They're gonna keep you from being happy if you don't see them for what they are. I know you've seen my Instagram and been jealous of the other women I've been with but those women honestly feel the exact same way about you when they see us together. They think you're just as gorgeous as you think they are. And they envy you. I can see it in their comments and their eyes. It’s not just a bias thing.”
"Okay," Iris said.
She didn't know what else to put out there. How she felt about herself wasn't a point she thought on. It was what it was and no one had ever said what Nat was saying.
"Can we go back up soon? I don't want that woman to come back over and try to give me anything," Iris said.
“Of course baby. We can take a long bath instead. I'd rather have you alone anyway.”
Nat got up out of the tub and brought Iris with her, sensing the tension in her. It was natural to not want to address complicated personal issues but Iris was even surpassing most when it came to defying sound reason.
Nat knew she was a goddamn sucker when it came to soft crazy girls.
They went back up to the room and Iris opened the door. On the way in she stepped on something and didn’t think much of it until she slipped a little.
“What the hell?” Iris asked.
She bent down and picked up a sheet of paper and opened it. It was typed and in big block font covering most of the page.
“What is it?” Nat asked.
Iris read it out to Nat.
&
nbsp; “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your eve.”
Down below that there was one line.
I WILL LEAD YOU TO THE LIGHT.
“Whaaaaat?” Nat said, voice raising in a sing song tone. “Um. Okay. So, we're moving hotels,” Nat said, pulling Iris back from the door and looking to her left and right for any sign of a creepy human lingering.
“What the fuck?” Iris dropped the page and stepped back. “We should call the cops,” Iris said.
“Um. Yes. Come,” Nat said calmly, leading Iris to the elevator and pressing the button. A big piece of her knew it was better to get far away from the room than it was to rush to make a phone call.
“We… we don’t have clothes,” Iris mumbled.
She couldn’t think, she just followed Nat.
“Fuck clothes,” Nat said. “Well have someone fetch them. Safety first.”
The door opened and they got in. Nat couldn't hit the down button fast enough. When the doors closed she kept her finger on the door close button to rush them to ground.
"Where are we going?" Iris asked.
The elevator was moving but it felt so slow. She watched the floors light up on the display above the door. It was only five floors but it felt like five hundred.
“Front desk first,” Nat said. “They can call the police from there.”
The lobby was pretty busy with people checking in and going in and out. Iris covered her stomach with her arm as they made their way up to the desk.
“Hi,” Nat said, approaching the desk quickly. “We need you to call the police. First to check our room and then to look over the camera footage.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Nat leaned over the console and took the phone from the desk, pressing it to her ear.
“Dial the police,” she said.
Confused, the concierge obliged. “Hi, yes. We’re celebrities staying at the Wingate Hotel and there has been a stalking incident. Is there someone who can come down here for us? Natalia Reyes. Yes, the Wingate on Terrace Place.”
Nat gave the information she knew about. While doing so the concierge whispered to his manager and Nat scanned the room. Holding the mouthpiece she spoke to the confused hotel staff. “We need to see the footage of who approached our room and we need to arrest this person. They’ve issued threats and they might be dangerous.”