Coffee and Conclusions

by Emma Sterner-Radley

  Licking her lips nervously, Erin nodded and looked down at Alberto, who was still trying to catch his butterfly. Isabella was still watching her. It made her uneasy.

  “The only way we can get you comfortable with him, I think, is to let you handle him.” Isabella bit her lower lip, clearly deep in thought. “It’s about time to change his diaper. By the smell, I’d say there is nothing too horrible in there, but it is probably wet. Come with me to change him.” Isabella reached out a hand to stroke her cheek. “Don’t look so horrified, preciosa, it won’t be that bad. And if it is, you can always leave again. I’ll do everything. You just have to watch and have a chat with him, keep him entertained. I promise it’ll be all right.”

  Unable to argue, Erin followed Isabella, who picked up her son and carried him off to the bathroom. The changing table held an assortment of diapers and creams. Erin looked at them carefully, trying to figure out what they all were, in case Isabella asked for one of them.

  Isabella caught her staring at the label of one and smiled. “You look like you are trying to read the print off it.”

  “Just trying to figure out what does what, in case you need one of ’em fast.”

  “I appreciate that, but they’re not surgical tools, and this isn’t an operating theatre. I can reach all the creams, so there’s no need for you to worry. Just stand here with me, and make silly faces at him if he grumbles.”

  Erin stood slightly behind Isabella so that she could hold onto her. With her arms around Isabella’s waist and her head on Isabella’s shoulder, the whole ordeal seemed a lot cozier and less worrisome.

  Alberto seemed fine too, as Isabella took off his onesie and Erin took the time to smile at the fact that it was made to look like a little three-piece suit. She hadn’t noticed that earlier. Out of his clothes, Alberto seemed even happier and reached up his chubby little legs trying to grab his feet. Isabella mumbled something in Spanish to him, and he cooed back, seemingly glad for her attention.

  Erin nestled her head into the crook of Isabella’s neck and was jostled a little when Isabella moved to take Alberto’s diaper off.

  “Oh, sorry. Should I move?”

  “No, preciosa. Not if it helps you. I certainly don’t mind having you close.”

  Erin chuckled, comfort seeping in as soon as they were flirting. “Good. I love being close to you. And I can still make funny faces at lil’ man if you need me too.”

  “Glad to hear it. Although he doesn’t seem to need any distraction right now. He seems to think it’s funny watching you hide behind me.”

  Erin gasped. “I’m not hiding, I’m cuddling. It’s not the same thing.” She looked at Alberto, who was grinning toothlessly at her. The smile looked friendly and happy, and her heart soared as she looked at his adorable face. “He’s damn cute like this, all happy to be in his birthday suit.”

  “Yes. The fact that he’s getting all the attention and hasn’t had any stomach trouble all day helps a lot too,” Isabella said and tickled Alberto’s round little belly.

  He wriggled, and Erin laughed. “You’re right, babe. This isn’t bad at all.”

  Isabella turned her head and gave Erin a quick kiss on the lips. “I’m glad you feel that way. Trust me when I say that everything would be worse if there was something more unfortunate in that diaper.”

  “Ew.” Erin playfully slapped Isabella’s side. “Don’t be silly. Look at him. He’s all clean and cute. He doesn’t do gross poos.”

  Isabella gave a mirthless laugh. “Oh, you’d be surprised. Although, they say it will get worse when he starts eating solids.”

  “Hey, I’m warming to the kid here. Don’t put me off.”

  “Fine. I’m sorry,” Isabella said with a laugh. She reached for a clean diaper just as her phone rang. She looked out into the room behind them to where the phone was but then shook her head. “We’ll let it ring. They can call back.” Isabella started to unwrap the diaper. The phone kept ringing, and Erin saw Isabella look out into the room again.

  Erin looked at the happy baby and felt quite brave suddenly. “Why don’t you go get it?”

  “You sure that’s okay?”

  “Yeah. Why not? He can’t fall off of this table because of the raised edges, and he seems to be in a great mood. Go answer it. I’ll scream to high heavens if he turns green or tries to stab me with a tube of cream.”

  Isabella gave her another peck on the lips and smoothly wriggled out of her arms. “Okay. I’ll answer it and get rid of them quickly. I’m putting the diaper over him here, I’d leave it there if I was you. I’ll be right back, preciosa.”

  “Yeah, sure. Hurry, before they hang up!”

  With Isabella out of the room and on her way to the phone, Erin moved closer to Alberto. “Hey, lil’ man. You okay? Mommy will be back soon.”

  He cooed happily at her and grabbed the diaper that his mother had laid over his lower regions. He started to pull the diaper up so he could look at it. Seeing no harm in him investigating it a little, Erin let him. After all, it was keeping him entertained.

  She stopped him from gumming it to make sure none of it came off in his mouth but otherwise, they were both happy with the way things were. Until the moment he was babbling nonsense at her, waving the diaper around, and Erin felt a stream of warm pee hit her torso.

  “Oh, crap,” she screamed and backed away quickly.

  Isabella said something on the phone, then hung up, and came running over. “What happened? Are you both okay?”

  “He frickin’ peed on me, Isabella!”

  Isabella put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Erin,” she whispered. “That’s why I told you to keep the diaper on him.”

  “Well, you should’ve explained more!”

  It was clear that Isabella was trying to be sympathetic and not to break into laughter. It was also clear that she was losing the battle.

  A piteous whine escaped Erin at the sight of her own wet shirt. “You promised me this would be all right. This is totally not all right.”

  Isabella’s laughter greeted her, along with an apology that was barely audible through the giggling. But it didn’t take long before Erin was laughing with her.

  On the table, Alberto simply said, “Hoo,” and waved the diaper triumphantly.

  Fifteen minutes later, Alberto was changed and dressed, Isabella had called her father back to explain what had happened, and Erin was still in the shower, soaping and resoaping her chest with lavender-scented soap.

  She heard Isabella knock on the bathroom door. “Erin? Do you want to borrow a clean shirt from me? That way you can keep whatever change of clothes you brought for tomorrow?”

  Thinking about it, Erin slowly turned the shower off to answer.

  “Uh, yeah, please. Can I borrow a bra too? To wear tonight and tomorrow. Mine got soaked, and I didn’t bring a spare.”

  There was a moment of silence before Isabella carefully said, “Are you sure you need one? I mean, I understand why you need one tomorrow, but I’m washing your clothes now. They should be dry by tomorrow, so you can wear your own for the travel home.”

  Erin smirked. “So you think I should be braless tonight, huh?”

  “Well, I don’t see why you would need a bra for these few hours.”

  Her grin grew bigger. It was only five. There was plenty of evening left to require a bra.

  “Well, if you’re cleaning my clothes, then I don’t need to borrow a shirt either. I can just wear my second outfit tonight and my newly cleaned shirt tomorrow?”

  Silence. Then Isabella grumbled, “I’m not going to stand here talking through the door like some jailer in a prison. We will discuss it when you come out.”

  You mean when I come out and I’m topless and in your bedroom? Yeah, I think that is why you wanted me to borrow your clothes. Erin grinned, happy at the thought.

 
Suddenly, she wished she hadn’t teased Isabella. She should’ve just played along and stood topless in front of Isabella’s clothes, slowly picking out a garment and enjoying Isabella’s glances. Then she realized how nice it’d be to wear Isabella’s clothes. They’d smell like her. Or, at least, like her pricey fabric softener. Most importantly, the shirt would be Isabella’s.

  “Actually, Isabella…I’d like to borrow a shirt,” Erin called toward the door.

  There was no reply, and Erin wondered if Isabella had left or if she was ignoring her. She hurried up and dried herself off with a thick, mauve towel that matched the bath mat and the shower curtain. She smiled and mused that Isabella was the most adult person that she’d ever met.

  She considered stealing some lotion to soften up for tonight’s romantic action, but realized that Isabella’s soap was so moisturizing that she didn’t need it. She put on her panties, socks, and red jeans and then stepped out of the plush little bathroom.

  Isabella had been sitting on the sofa, playing with Alberto, lifting him up in the air and making him squeal. She stopped, baby in midair, and stared at Erin’s naked chest.

  Erin smiled shyly and resisted the urge to shimmy and show off her assets…and make herself feel a little less self-conscious.

  “Could I borrow a shirt after all? You know, um, just in case my shirt doesn’t dry for tomorrow?”

  “O-of course,” Isabella stuttered. She averted her eyes, cradled Alberto in her arms, and walked into the bedroom to fetch a top, leaving Erin alone in the room, cold after her hot shower.

  She crossed her arms over her naked chest and considered asking for a bra as well before deciding against it, pretty sure that Isabella wore at least one size bigger than she did. She let her mind wander and was surprised to realize that she didn’t feel too worked up about what had happened. Yes, something had gone wrong. Yes, it might have been avoided if she’d listened to Isabella’s advice about keeping the diaper in place. However, Alberto was fine. Sure, Erin had gotten sprayed, but she was clean now, and what really mattered was that Alberto was okay. In fact, he’d come out of their little adventure smiling and cheerful. He hadn’t even complained when Isabella put his diaper and clothes on.

  Had he been older, Erin would’ve wondered if Alberto had done it on purpose to mess with her, but he was just a baby. He’d been lovely and sweet while she was getting ready for her shower, oblivious to anything wrong. Erin took comfort in that.

  Isabella returned with a black, long-sleeved T-shirt, and Erin realized that she had missed her chance to play the bare-breasted temptress and make Isabella watch as she chose a top from her wardrobe. She rolled her eyes at her lack of suaveness before accepting the shirt. She stopped herself just as she was about to put it on.

  “Damn, I forgot to get my deodorant from my bag.”

  “Use mine, it’s closer. It’s on the top shelf there,” Isabella pointed to the bathroom cabinet visible through the open door, still averting her gaze from Erin’s bare chest.

  The deodorant was right next to a small glass bottle with foreign text beneath a black dress. Erin opened it and sniffed the pink contents. Isabella’s perfume. A pleasant shiver went down her spine. She put the bottle back and focused on why she was in there. It felt strangely intimate using Isabella’s deodorant. She could get used to this, being so close to Isabella and covering herself in Isabella’s things. She gave the deodorant a moment to sink in, then pulled on the shirt.

  When she returned, Isabella had put Alberto in his baby bouncer and was busy taste-testing the food she’d obviously started cooking while Erin was in the shower.

  “I hope you like chicken enchiladas. I prepared them this morning and just finished them in the oven. I think we spoke about enchiladas once, and you said you liked them?”

  “I don’t like them. I frickin’ love them,” Erin said with a huge grin.

  Isabella gave her a pleased smile and gestured toward the table. “Excellent. Would you set the table?”

  “Sure. Does lil’ man need a plate?” Erin asked jokingly.

  “Not unless you’ll be changing his diapers and staying up with him when his stomach turns into a war zone,” Isabella deadpanned.

  “Fine, let him stick to milk, and I’ll eat all the enchiladas.”

  Erin got two plates out of the cabinet Isabella had opened for her, while smiling like a fool. I could get used to this.

  The wine looked dark in the candlelit room. Erin swirled it around her glass, watching it turn from dark-red to black, depending on where the light from the candles hit it.

  She was sitting on the sofa, still digesting the large quantity of food she’d eaten, an hour after dinner. The enchiladas had been amazing, and while she didn’t know what was in Isabella’s salad dressing, she did know that it turned a humble salad into a little bowl of heaven.

  Isabella was in the tiny room that served as Alberto’s nursery, putting him down for the night. And Erin missed her. Ten feet away and she actually missed her. She’s only been gone ten minutes. What’s wrong with you?

  She swirled her wine one last time, then swallowed it all in a dangerously big gulp. After that, she needed a steadying breath. With dinner over and Alberto asleep…well, the next step was pretty obvious.

  She was looking forward to touching Isabella more than she could say, but she was scared too, frightened that she’d make Isabella feel unsafe or uncomfortable. She knew that if it hadn’t been for that worry, she’d have probably made a move earlier. God knew, she wanted Isabella enough. She burned so damn hot for her, she could power a nuclear reactor.

  If only Isabella would make the first move. Erin rested her head back on the sofa and looked up at the ceiling. Just thinking about making love to her made her heart race. In the good way. But the thought of getting it wrong and ruining Isabella’s first time with a woman—her first sexual interaction in months—made Erin’s heart race in a very, very bad way.

  When Isabella came out and quietly closed the door behind her, she padded silently across the room, graceful and beautiful as ever. She sat next to Erin. They were perfectly still for a long moment; neither of them spoke, nor moved a muscle.

  “I think all that wine has gone to my head. I feel kinda warm,” Erin said to break the silence.

  Isabella looked at her strangely. “It was nonalcoholic wine. That’s why I had some too. Remember?”

  Erin scratched her forehead, avoiding eye contact. “Oh right, yeah. Sorry. It must be something else, then.”

  Isabella edged a little closer. “Yes. I think I’m feeling that something else too.”

  She put two fingers under Erin’s chin and tilted her face toward her. She leaned in and slowly let their lips connect.

  Erin’s breath stopped. She tried not to panic. It was happening. Right now. They were kissing, and surely there was only one place this could lead. Erin gently broke off the kiss. “Isabella. Won’t we wake Alberto if we…” The master bedroom was right next to his little room.

  “Make love?” Isabella shook her head gently, barely moving away from Erin’s lips. “As long as his stomach doesn’t bother him, he sleeps quite soundly these days. Besides, I can think of a number of ways to muffle that wonderful mouth of yours.”

  She kissed her again. This time, Erin didn’t stop to worry about anything. After all, if Isabella’s mouth could feel this heavenly, what was the point to thinking about anything else?

  Chapter 19

  Connecting

  Isabella stood on trembling legs. Everything felt slightly surreal, and she worried about sensory overload. She’d never been as aware of the combination of lust and love as she was right now. It was a strange sensation, feeling like an insecure teenager overcome with affection and a grown woman who knew what her body wanted at the same time.

  When Erin stood up and took her hand, it felt comforting, steadying. She knew that
, any second, Erin would ask if she was okay and if she was sure. Erin would reiterate—for the fifteenth time—that they didn’t have to do this. Isabella clasped her hand tightly, and before Erin could open her mouth to speak, walked them toward her bedroom. Erin followed silently and closed the door behind them.

  They stood facing each other in the darkness. Only the moonlight pouring in the window allowed them to see one another.

  Erin still looked worried, and Isabella wished she could put on her usual mask of confidence to convince Erin that she was fine. She was perfectly fine, and she wanted this more than anything. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous.

  She could handle hostile corporate takeovers, heated political debates, and even Judith Martinez. This, however, was something new. She’d never felt like this about anything or anyone. Overwhelming passion, laced with such worry about getting it wrong. And the fear that she would shake her head and realize it had all been a dream.

  To keep Erin from talking—Isabella couldn’t talk any more now, she needed action—she began to undress. Soon her cashmere cardigan and her dress lay in a pool around her expensive heels. She stepped out of the shoes, as well, and stood in front of Erin in only a black bra, panties, and stockings.

  It worked like a charm. Erin sucked in a loud breath and moved forward. She reached out a hand and almost touched Isabella, who closed her eyes, nearly begging for that touch. The heat of Erin’s hand was amazing, as it trailed just above the skin from her neck, down over her shoulder, and rested over her right breast. When she felt the hand hover over her breast, Isabella worried about milk leakage but pushed the thought out of her mind. Whatever was going to happen would happen. All she could do was relax and focus on being in the moment. She’d never get this night back, and she was determined to enjoy and memorize every second.