by Archer, Kiki
“And this moment?”
“In this moment I’m living the dream.” She leaned forward and kissed Connie gently, moving their bodies towards the bed. “I need to show you what I feel, Connie.”
Connie breathed softly. “I feel it already.”
“Do you feel this?” she asked, lowering Connie onto the bed, delicately kissing her neck. “Whenever our skin touches I shiver.”
Connie tilted her head further back, exposing her skin to the lips. “I feel it.”
“Whenever we start I want more.”
Connie gasped as Maria’s teeth grazed up towards the base of her head. “I feel it.”
“Whenever there’s more I can’t stop it.” Maria forced Connie’s shoulder’s down onto the covers, kissing her mouth with a depth of raw intensity.
“Don’t stop,” moaned Connie, pulling Maria’s body over her own. “Take me,” she said. “Take all of me.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Connie stirred as the soft light of a sunbeam glowed through the gap in the curtains, waking her naturally for the first time in over three years. She yawned, stretching her arms up, suddenly realising where she was. Turning slowly to the other side of the bed she found Maria sound asleep on the pillow with her silky brown locks cascading around her shoulders, shining in a sunbeam all of their own. Connie smiled with completion. Last night had been everything. All her doubts and inhibitions put to rest.
Pulling back the covers, she crept out of bed and padded quietly to the bathroom. The cheeks she saw reflected in the mirror were glowing with fulfilment and the hair was more than just messy, it was sex messy; stylishly sex messy. She left it as it was, remembering the moment of sheer ecstasy when Maria had tightened her grip at the base of her skull, pulling her hair as she came in her arms, legs wrapped around waists and breasts pushed together. She shuddered. She’d made Maria come. Not once, but twice, and every inch of her being had experienced it with her, the pleasure of giving the gift almost as fulfilling as receiving it in return.
Connie rinsed her face, dried it and cleaned her teeth before creeping back into bed. She curled herself into a ball and lay on her side, watching the specks of dust caused by her movement as they danced in the sunbeam. She smiled to herself. Life was good. Life was really good. Not only was she happy, she was complete; that missing element of all her previous interactions suddenly present with Maria. It wasn’t simply the fact she was a woman, more possibly the fact that she was the woman she was. Captivating, kind, generous, compelling. The type of woman you wanted to want you. The type of woman you hoped to spend time with; to get to know. Connie paused her thought, feeling soft fingers finding their way around her waist. She smiled at the sunbeam. The type of woman you had to have touch you.
Connie closed her eyes, aware that Maria had moved closer; she could feel the knees fit into her body shape and the breasts push tight into her back. The fingers were moving now, slowly trailing the skin of her stomach with small circles that were edging upwards along the side of her body. Connie kept her eyes closed. What a lovely way this would have been to wake up had the sunbeam not already done its job. She lifted her arm slightly, resting her cheek on her hand, exposing her breast in the process and giving the fingers a clear path for their journey, signalling to Maria that she was awake and aware, encouraging this early morning contact.
Maria understood the movement, teasing her fingers down the side of the breast, stopping short of where she was needed the most.
Connie moaned and arched her back, wanting to be touched, wanting to be taken, wanting the fingers to continue their path. Maria circled slowly, careful not to move from the soft skin. Connie moaned again, pushing herself back into Maria’s body, needing the touch on her chest.
“You’re going to come,” whispered Maria, her lips against the back of Connie’s head, “and I’m going to take it so slowly, so softly, that you’ll be begging for more.” She let her little finger brush the hard nipple, causing Connie to gasp her arousal. “You’ll want me tugging and squeezing, but I’m taking my time.”
“I need it harder,” urged Connie, spasming in pleasure as the fingers dared touch her once more.
“I know you do, but you’re waiting,” Maria whispered, moving her thumb in a circular motion.
“Please,” moaned Connie, “take me, pull me.” She gasped. “Be firm.”
Maria held the nipple between her first finger and thumb, gently drawing it out. “Not yet,” she said with a smile, moving her mouth to the base of Connie’s throat, biting gently on the skin of her neck.
“Ahhh,” Connie cried out, desperate for the roughness, moving her hand to Maria’s bottom and pulling it closer to hers.
Maria released the nipple and took hold of the hand, lifting it back up above Connie’s head and locking it in position with the other. “Stay,” she whispered, trailing her fingers back down to their target.
Connie could feel her arousal throbbing between her legs. Maria’s touch was so gentle, yet perfectly planned to elicit the desired response, her nerve endings were screaming with need.
“I want you to want me,” said Maria, moving her other hand down Connie’s spine, as she continued the tease of her fingers.
“I want you,” said Connie, arching her bottom into Maria’s curves, encouraging the path of the contact.
Maria moved her hand lower, using her thumb to stroke the soft skin of Connie’s bottom, her other fingers working the nipple. “Really want me.”
Connie inhaled, pushing her chest forward and her bottom out. “I really want you.”
“How?” asked Maria, increasing the pressure, using her other hand to move lower and part Connie’s thighs.
“Inside me. I need you inside me.”
Maria whispered softly. “You’ll take it. From behind.”
The words, combined with the increased assault of the fingers brought Connie close to the edge. She threw her head sideways, finding Maria’s mouth and kissing her deeply, their tongues devouring each other’s as Maria’s hands held her firmly in place.
Maria moaned. “This feeling… this need…” she brought her fingers into position, ready to force them in, “…this is what sex is about.”
Connie cried out in ecstasy as she was entered from behind, Maria pushing up against her wall, trapped by the tightness of her closed legs.
Maria took her time with her movements. “You’re perfect,” she whispered, “and you’re going to be pleasured, over and over again.”
****
The door to the top-floor apartment flew open, causing Connie and Maria to fall into Ryan’s outstretched arms.
“Get your hands off each other!” he wailed, whooping in glee at the vision in front of him. “You’ve got sex hair, Connie!” He stepped back and yelped. “And Maria, you just look thoroughly fucked!”
“Hello Ryan,” said Connie, dancing herself into the modern living space.
“Ryan,” said Maria with a shy smile.
“I’ve never seen you looking so dishevelled, it’s utterly wonderful.” He slammed the door behind them and spun around. “But it should not have taken me ten texts to convince you to come over. I can’t remember the last time I cooked you lunch, Connie, and I know you’ve been busy doing whatever it is you ladies have been doing, but everyone needs to eat.” He led them into the lounge, pointing at the sofa and nest of tables that held two bowls of nuts and a beer glass of breadsticks.
“Is this it?” asked Connie, laughing at the pitiful offering.
“No!” He sat down and nodded. “I’ve got some grapes for afters.”
“Oh Ryan.”
“What? We never get to gossip properly when the kids are around. Indulge me. I need to know everything.”
Connie smiled, sitting on the Union Jack sofa and encouraging Maria to cuddle in closely. “We had a wonderful date yesterday. Rock climbing, followed by massage and food.”
“What sort of massage? What sort of food. I need details! It took
so much strength not to message you, I hope you realise that, Connie dearest.”
“The massage was beautiful and we ate at The Holly.”
“The Holly?! Oh good god who did you see?”
“Bobby Davro.”
“You didn’t?”
Connie nodded. “I did.”
“Oh Maria, you don’t realise the light you’re bringing into our lives. Twenty years we’ve known each other and things have never been so good.”
Maria laughed. “I bet you two were the same at primary school, weren’t you? Gossiping over the play kitchen and racing around in the cosy coupes.”
Ryan jumped up. “No need to imagine it. I’ve got it all here.”
“Ryan, no,” said Connie, watching as he pulled the large photo album from the bookcase.
“Ryan, yes,” said Maria, laughing and patting the arm of the sofa, signalling for him to squeeze down next to them.
Flicking past the first few pages he tapped on one of the pictures. “Here we go. Connie aged five.”
“Oh bless,” said Maria leaning in closer and studying the photo. “Your hair looks darker there.”
“I dye it.”
“You do not!” Maria looked up in disbelief. “I thought you were a natural blonde?”
“You didn’t discover the truth yesterday?” asked Ryan, raising his eyebrows at the pair of them. “Scratch that, I forgot you lesbians finally got with the programme and started to shave.” He banged Maria’s arm. “Can you remember the days when lesbians showed their status with underarm hair?”
“I thought it was thumb rings? But seriously, Connie, I can’t believe you’re not blonde!”
“It’s sort of a dirty blonde.”
Ryan tutted. “No it’s not, it’s mousy brown.”
Maria continued. “But Noah’s hair’s so fair.”
“My mum’s blonde. Stop looking at my roots!”
“Sorry.” She turned back to the album. “Come on then, Ryan, where are you?”
Ryan flicked right back to the front, needing no further encouragement. “Born bald, dying bald, but I did have hair once.” He cooed at the pictures of himself new born and swaddled in a blue blanket, before turning the page and pointing his finger. “I’d just learnt to sit up.”
Connie laughed. “You were so chubby!”
“I was not.”
“You were.” She flicked further into the album. “Here. Your school trousers were always flapping around in the wind because your waist was so high.”
Maria edged herself off the sofa. “Sorry, Ryan, could I use your bathroom?”
“Sure, it’s at the end of the hall.” He turned over the page and wailed. “Oh, darling, can you remember this? Our first nativity play. You hated that I got to be the archangel Gabriel.”
“Only because I was a donkey.” She paused as Maria walked from the room, waiting for an extra second before grabbing Ryan’s thigh and shaking it with force, letting out a wide-mouthed silent scream.
“That good?” asked Ryan, with a laugh.
“Shush!” She giggled. “It was mind-blowing and so intense and moving and—”
“Moving?”
“Yes! And deep and totally totally fulfilling.”
“I think the word for you right now is spent.”
“Oh no, I could do it all over again.” She smiled. “And then again, and again, and again.”
“Did you…” He whistled.
“Come?” Connie threw her head back onto the sofa and yelled. “God yes!”
Ryan laughed. “What happened to being quiet?”
“I can’t keep it in. I’m so happy, Ryan. I just want to shout it from the rooftops.”
“Did she…” He whistled again.
Connie smiled with pride. “She did.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“How do you know?”
“I felt it. And I shouldn’t have worried about her comment,” she lowered her voice, “when she said she wanted me inside her.” The smile was back. “Because she made me feel exactly the same way.”
“And she satisfied you?”
“Completely.”
“With what?”
Connie fanned her face. “Her fingers, her tongue, her mouth, her lips.”
“She got all that up there?”
“Oh stop it!”
Their giggles were cut short by Maria’s reappearance in the doorway. “Maddalena’s just messaged. I’m sorry I’ve got to dash off.”
Connie stood up. “Oh no, is everything okay?”
“Fine, but I really do need to go.”
“Is Alice okay? I’ll come with you.”
“No, you stay. She’s fine. Enjoy lunch.” She tried to smile at the bowls of nibbles. “Thanks, Ryan. Right, I’ll get going.” She stepped towards Connie, hugging her awkwardly. “Bye.”
Connie looked at her carefully. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just think she’s missing me.” She waved at Ryan. “Right, thank you. Sorry to cut this short.”
“Give me a call to let me know she’s okay,” said Connie, taking hold of Maria’s hand and slowing her exit. “And don’t worry, we can be open with Ryan.”
Maria nodded. “I know and will do.” She kissed her quickly. “Bye.”
Ryan waited for the door to close before lifting his shoulders and pulling a face. “Something I said?”
“No, she must be worried about Alice. You know what it’s like when you get a text that even slightly hints at a problem.”
“So it’s not that she faked it with you, heard us talking about it and suddenly felt guilty?”
Connie jumped down next to him, elbowing him roughly. “Trust me she enjoyed it, and I think I may have found a new talent.”
“Ha. What? Lesbian sex? I’ve been waiting twenty odd years for this day. Right. Start to finish. Moment by moment. You’re debriefing it all.”
Connie took a deep breath and smiled. “Where on earth should I begin?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
The submissions process had been complex and not quite the five minute job Connie had been expecting. Who knew a novel had to have a synopsis? Wasn’t that going to spoil the ending for the reader at the agency? Condensing the whole book into 500 words meant no intrigue, no suspense, no character development. Of course they wouldn’t message her back asking to read the whole thing; they already knew the ending so there’d be no point. She sighed. Her cover letter wasn’t her saving grace either. The submissions page had suggested she include all previous writing experience and noteworthy literary accomplishments, which left her with a rather sparse introductory paragraph. She couldn’t sugar the pill. She had no experience; and the idea that she had a long list of literary accomplishments was just laughable. Connie paused, thinking carefully, suddenly remembering that certificate in Year Ten. Wasn’t that for English? She scrunched up her eyes and tapped on her teeth, before shaking her head at herself. No, that was for poster design. How to handle a bully. It was good, and a hard fought contest, but probably not one the agency would be all that interested in.
The final requirement on the complex list of instructions was to attach the first three chapters of the novel. Connie saved the document entitled 1-3, even though she felt the end of the book was much better than the start, and linked it to her email, pressing send before she had time to change her mind. She watched as the submission disappeared, nodding to herself as it went. No amount of padding would make her book more saleable. People would either like Bonnie or they wouldn’t, and Maria had been right, it was exciting to set her free and see where the wind might take her. She looked at her outbox; Bonnie probably wouldn’t get any further than the agent’s trash folder, but still, it was something.
Closing down her computer and shutting the cupboard door, Connie glanced around the lounge, looking for a further distraction. Everywhere was tidy. There was no washing to start, no ironing to do, even Noah’s pyjamas, toothbrush a
nd flannel were laid out ready for his return. Cursing herself she lifted her phone and typed out another message.
Hey, still no reply about Alice. I hope everything’s okay. Not sure if you’re getting my texts? Missed you this afternoon, but I’ve used the time wisely (after my huge gossip with Ryan) to send my book out to an agent. Thanks for the suggestion…you never know, I may become the next E.L. James.
Connie watched as the message registered as delivered. She waited for a moment hoping the grey typing cloud would appear, and was dismayed when it didn’t. Maria was usually so good at replying. Something must have happened to Alice.
****
Maria tucked her daughter into bed, kissing her cheek and dimming the pink light further. “Night night, precious.”
“She be sleeping already,” whispered Maddalena, shuffling out of the room in front of Maria. “Holiday with me be good for her. You let Aunt Maddalena look after her more often. She sleep good in my house. She not need all these disco lights and mobiles.”
Maria pulled her phone from her back pocket. “She’s always been a great sleeper.”
“No, she really sleep well when I be in charge.” Maddalena crossed the landing and reached for the bannister, starting her slow descent of the stairs. “We do this next weekend too? I have her then bring her back Sunday?” She paused. “What you be staring at? Why you look so, so…” She studied her niece. “…sulky?”
Maria laughed. “I don’t look sulky.”
“That bad woman be texting you?”
“Louise? No. I think she got the message when you swung your broom and brushed her out of the shop.”
“Who message you then?”
“Connie. Come on, I’m making you supper.”
“No. I go. You make things good with bella Connie.”
“They are good.”
“Your face not be good.”
“It’s fine, everything’s great. She’s being funny actually. You enjoyed the Fifty Shades of Grey books, didn’t you?”