Love Waits

by Gerri Hill

  “Is that all? It used to seem like an eternity back in high school.”

  Ashleigh laughed as she pushed through the gate and went to the front door. “I do believe we entertained ourselves on the drive out.” She blushed as she recalled exactly how they entertained themselves.

  “Yes. Remember that time when my face got caught in the steering—”

  Ashleigh stopped Gina’s words with a quick hand to her mouth. Yes, she remembered. She had begged Gina, wanting her mouth, not her fingers, at that particular moment. It was a miracle she hadn’t driven them into the ditch. Her jeans and panties were shoved down her thighs, Gina’s head was between her legs, and when Ashleigh’s orgasm hit, she lifted off the seat with such force, she’d pushed Gina’s face into the steering wheel.

  She met Gina’s eyes, both of them remembering. Then, as it had been that night, they broke into laughter. “Oh, my God. I thought we were going to have a wreck,” Ashleigh said as she removed her hand from Gina’s mouth.

  “I had to brake with my hands.”

  “I couldn’t reach the pedals because your head was—” She stopped, the smile disappearing.

  “My head was between your legs,” Gina finished for her.

  “Yes.” Ashleigh’s nerves came back full force. Then she smiled. “Technically, your head was now caught in the steering wheel.”

  She pushed open the front door, about to offer a tour to Gina. When she turned, she knew the tour would have to wait. She’d seen that look in Gina’s eyes hundreds of times before.

  There was no more need for words. They both knew why they were here. She took Gina’s hand, feeling her fingers tighten around her own. She led them down a hallway and into her parents’ room. She felt her nervousness subsiding as desire took its place. She stood still, watching Gina, waiting.

  “Were you angry at me last night?” Gina asked gently.

  “No. If anything, I was angry at myself.”

  “Because you wanted more?”

  “Because I was about to have an orgasm and I was still fully clothed,” she whispered. She moved closer, not hesitating as her mouth found Gina’s. There was no preliminary exploring. They knew each other far too well for that. Ashleigh gave in to her desires, not shy as her hands traveled a familiar path, moving with a confidence she hadn’t displayed in twenty years. Not with a woman, anyway. Just as her hands touched the warm flesh at Gina’s sides, Gina pulled her mouth away, her lips nibbling at Ashleigh’s throat. Ashleigh lifted her head, granting Gina room as she found the sensitive spot behind her ear.

  “God, Gina,” she groaned, her hands finishing their journey under Gina’s shirt. Gina rarely wore a bra and today was no different. Ashleigh’s hands cupped her small breasts, loving the feel of rock-hard nipples cutting into her palms.

  Their mouths met again in a desperate kiss, both moaning as their tongues battled. Then hands fumbled with shirts and shorts, tangling with each other as they tried to shed clothes. They broke apart, both grinning as they hurried to undress. It was a familiar scene, Ashleigh remembered, as neither of them wanted to stop long enough to get naked.

  “Beautiful,” Gina whispered. “Always so beautiful.”

  Ashleigh dropped her bra and reached for Gina again, this time without clothes to block their way. Skin on skin, they moved together, their kisses slower now, exploring, reacquainting themselves to something that was once second nature. And now, like then, their bodies took over, guiding them, leaving no room for thought...or regret.

  Ashleigh hastily pulled the comforter back, needing to lie down, needing to feel Gina’s weight on her. She tugged Gina with her, a rush of memories sending her senses into overload as her legs parted, letting Gina settle between them.

  “Oh, dear God,” she breathed as Gina’s mouth captured a breast, her lips closing tightly over her nipple. Twenty years was too long to go without sexual pleasure and Ashleigh was positive none of the handful of women she’d been with had ever aroused her as much as Gina was doing now. She felt her wetness pooling between her legs and she gripped Gina’s hips, pulling her tight against her. “Don’t go slow,” she murmured. “Not the first time. Don’t go slow,” she begged.

  Gina didn’t. She lifted her hips slightly, her hand finding its way between their heated bodies. “So wet,” she whispered.

  “You always did that to me,” Ashleigh replied as their eyes held. She waited, her breath frozen within her as Gina’s long fingers filled her. “Yes,” she hissed, her eyes closing as her hips rose to meet Gina’s thrust.

  Gina’s pelvis rocked against her own hand, forcing her fingers deeper inside with each push. Ashleigh held tight to Gina’s waist, guiding her, feeling her power, opening herself fully to Gina. Much too soon, she felt her body losing control, felt herself slipping into the joyous bliss of orgasm. She fought against it, not wanting it to end, not yet.

  “Let go,” Gina urged as her hips continued to slam into her.

  “God,” Ashleigh groaned, finally giving in, letting herself fall into ecstasy. She gripped Gina’s waist tightly, holding her fingers inside as wave after wave of pleasure washed through her. When she opened her eyes, she saw a contented look on Gina’s face. “I lied,” she said between uneven breaths. “I haven’t been in a relationship since you.”

  Gina’s face suddenly turned serious. “I haven’t made love to anyone since you,” she said, her voice low.

  Ashleigh understood what she meant, and the look in her eyes told her Gina was telling the truth. Ashleigh reached up, caressing Gina’s cheek softly. “Me either,” she admitted. She pulled Gina’s head down, her lips lightly brushing Gina’s. “I want to make love to you now.” She rolled them over, resting her weight on Gina, her mouth moving across her skin. It was all so familiar—her smell, the taste of her skin, the sound of her quiet moans.

  “No one’s ever made me want like this, Ashleigh. Not in all these years.”

  Ashleigh paused, her mouth inches from Gina’s breast. No, she’d never wanted like this either. Never before and probably never again. They would have their fun, then go their separate ways. She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing those thoughts away. None of that mattered now. Not today. Today they would make love, they would be together, they would experience each other’s pleasure as adults, not teens. So she closed the distance between them, her tongue raking across Gina’s nipple, wetting it before her lips closed around it. Gina always had such sensitive breasts. That hadn’t changed, judging by the delightful moans coming from her. Ashleigh took her time, feasting on Gina’s breasts, ignoring the urging of Gina’s hips as she pressed against her.

  “You know, that don’t go slow works both ways,” Gina panted.

  Ashleigh smiled against her skin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she murmured as her teeth nipped below the swell of Gina’s breast.

  Gina grabbed one of her hands and tried to force it between her legs, but Ashleigh resisted. “No. Not that way,” she whispered as she moved lower. She couldn’t very well tell Gina she had been starving all these years, but right now, she wanted to make love to Gina in the most intimate of ways. As she nibbled along the hollow of Gina’s thigh, she felt Gina’s hands threading through her hair, pushing her down to where she needed her.

  “Ashleigh, please,” Gina begged. “It’s been too long.”

  “I know,” she breathed. Too long. She always knew that something was lacking whenever she’d had sex, and she always attributed it to not being in love with the other woman. That may have been part of it, sure. But what was really lacking was that innate connection between two people, a connection that is so natural and instinctive that there’s no need for words. Not the spoken word. Not when their souls speak for them.

  She raised her head, finding Gina watching her, her eyes dark, filled with desire. No. There was no need for words. She lowered her head, spreading Gina’s thighs, moaning at the sight before her. She no longer wanted to go slow. She buried her face between Gina’s legs, satisfying a thirst s
he once thought unquenchable. She held Gina tight as Gina’s hips lifted off the bed, her mouth closing over her swollen clit, feeling it throb inside her mouth.

  Gina’s words were incoherent, one hand still holding fast to Ashleigh’s head, the other with sheets tangled in her closed fist. Ashleigh parted her even more, taking all Gina had to offer, her lips tugging, sucking, her own hips rocking against the bed as the taste of Gina ignited her desires. When Gina’s hand tightened suddenly in her hair, she used her tongue to send Gina over the edge, loving the deep, satisfied groan Gina made as she held Ashleigh’s mouth hard against her.

  As soon as Gina’s hand went limp, freeing her, Ashleigh slid up, straddling one of Gina’s thighs, pressing her hot center hard against her as she sought her own release. Gina’s muscles tightened, increasing the friction between them. Ashleigh’s breath came in quick gasps as she rode her, her head flung back as she got closer...closer to heaven with each stroke.

  But then—seconds before she climaxed—Gina flipped them over. Before Ashleigh could protest, Gina’s mouth covered her, her tongue stroking her hard and fast.

  “Oh dear...God...Gina.” She screamed out, her orgasm blinding her as Gina sucked the very last tremor from her. It was her turn now to hold Gina’s mouth against her, slowly coming back down to earth, her hips relaxing, finally releasing Gina.

  “I thought I was going to have to kill you there for a minute,” she muttered with uneven breaths.

  Gina didn’t say anything. Instead, her mouth found its way to Ashleigh’s breast, slowly nibbling, her tongue snaking out to tease her nipple. Even though Ashleigh’s body wasn’t that of an insatiable eighteen year old, it still responded to Gina’s touch. How, she didn’t know, as it was still a throbbing mess of nerves from her last orgasm. But she gave in, not wanting to miss a single second of being with Gina.

  “You’re as passionate as I remember,” Gina whispered against her breast.

  “And you’re as skilled,” Ashleigh replied, her hand moving lazily through Gina’s hair as she continued to kiss her breasts.

  Gina paused, leaning up on her elbow, watching Ashleigh. “Why are you single?”

  “I don’t know. I...I used to think it was because I didn’t trust anyone.”

  “Because of me?”

  “Yes. But that was really just an excuse. I’ve had a handful of lovers over the years, but none that got into my heart. And I didn’t want to settle for less,” Ashleigh admitted. Her hand stilled. “What about you?”

  “Honestly? I spent the first ten years running from your ghost. And I’ve spent the last ten years growing up and accepting ...well, accepting the fact that I’ll never find what we had with each other. I don’t think it can be duplicated.”

  Ashleigh nodded. “I know. I’ve tried to find it too.”

  Gina returned to Ashleigh’s breast, her tongue flicking across her nipple, making Ashleigh moan. “You didn’t really pack a picnic lunch, did you?”

  Ashleigh shook her head. “No.” She tugged Gina up, spreading her legs and urging Gina between them. “Can’t you find something else to eat?” she asked wickedly, pulling Gina’s mouth to hers.

  Gina smiled against her lips. “You may be sorry you asked that question.”

  “Never.”

  Gina swam naked in the pool, conscious of Ashleigh’s eyes on her. Ashleigh was leaning on her elbow, watching. Her skin glistened, the late afternoon sun touching skin that was normally hidden by a bikini.

  “You’re still an exhibitionist,” Ashleigh said with a smile.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Gina replied as she flipped over onto her back, her breasts now visible above water as she attempted a backstroke. She heard Ashleigh break into a fit of laughter as she sunk below the surface. She came up gasping for breath, joining Ashleigh in her laughter. “Okay, so I don’t know the backstroke.”

  She slicked her hair away from her face, then rubbed her eyes, clearing the water. Ashleigh had rolled over onto her back and Gina was free to stare. After spending hours in bed—until they were both sated and exhausted—they ventured out to the pool, napping on lounge chairs, neither of them bothering with clothes. It had been a wonderful, albeit unexpected, afternoon. After their goodbye at the hotel, Gina doubted she’d ever see Ashleigh again, much less spend the afternoon in bed with her.

  But now what? Where did they go from here? Obviously the attraction was still there, even after all these years. As teens, they made love on pure instinct, letting their bodies tell them where to touch, how to touch. Now, as adults, that same instinct took over, their bodies reacquainting, their hands now sure and experienced, no longer filled with wonder. No, making love now had none of the ineptness she felt back then. Even though it was so good between them, Gina always wondered if it was good enough for Ashleigh. That insecurity she carried with her was the real cause of their breakup. If she were honest with herself, she would admit that she never really thought Ashleigh was having an affair. But the possibility of one was what drove Gina to end their relationship. Better to deal with a broken heart at nineteen than twenty-five. She shook her head as she realized the absurdity of that rationalization.

  She moved back into deeper water, bouncing on her feet to stay afloat. Again, where did they go from here? Was Ashleigh just interested in an afternoon fling? Would they leave here, one going back to Houston, the other to Corpus? Was it premature for her to think that perhaps Ashleigh might be interested in seeing her again? They were both single, neither of them ever finding that one special person to settle down with. Would Ashleigh be receptive to dating?

  Gina smiled as she sunk under the water, swimming again into the shallow area. Whatever she and Ashleigh made of things, she doubted they would call it dating. Despite being apart for twenty years, they knew each other too well. Sure, they’d changed some. Everyone did. But the fire between them was still there. Gina suspected it would always be there.

  “You actually have the energy to swim?”

  Gina shook the water from her hair, standing in waist-deep water. Ashleigh was unabashedly staring at her breasts and Gina felt her nipples harden. “Come join me.”

  Ashleigh shook her head. “No. You come join me,” she said.

  “I don’t think that lounge chair is big enough.”

  “True.” Her smile was wicked. “I guess I’ll have to join you then.”

  Gina laughed. “Remember that time you almost drowned me?”

  “Me? It was you who wanted to try oral sex in a pool,” Ashleigh reminded her.

  “And I learned that’s nearly impossible.”

  Ashleigh went to the edge of the pool, diving in with barely a splash. She surfaced next to Gina, her hands sliding intimately up her body. “I’ve had a really good day,” she said.

  “Me too. I’m glad you kidnapped me.”

  “I’m starving, you know.”

  Gina laughed. “So am I.”

  But their smiles vanished as Ashleigh pulled her closer, her mouth meeting Gina’s, urging her lips apart. Gina moaned as Ashleigh’s fingers teased her nipples, squeezing them.

  “I always loved your breasts,” she murmured against Gina’s lips.

  Gina stood still as Ashleigh’s mouth moved lower, her tongue raking across her already rock-hard nipples. Now, as always, Ashleigh’s touch chased out all other thoughts. Gina lifted her head to the waning sunlight, her eyes closed as Ashleigh’s hand slipped between her thighs.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Present Day

  Ashleigh sat in her car, staring at her parents’ house, wondering what she was going to tell her mother. The fact that she was a grown woman who didn’t need to explain where or with whom she’d spent the day didn’t occur to her. Of course, knowing Courtney, and the fact that there were no messages on her cell, her mother most likely knew exactly how she’d spent her day.

  “Just so she doesn’t ask questions,” she muttered as she finally got out of her car. She paused, letting o
ne last image of a very naked Gina flash through her mind before pushing those thoughts away. She opened the front door, debating whether she should sneak off to her room or find her mother to let her know she was back. The rumbling in her stomach and the very enticing smells coming from the kitchen made up her mind for her.

  Her mother glanced at her then motioned to the pitcher of cocktails on the counter. “I won. Thank you very much,” she said.

  Ashleigh frowned. “Won what?”

  “Courtney bet me twenty bucks that you wouldn’t show up for dinner.”

  Ashleigh felt a blush color her face. “I’m so happy I was able to entertain you both,” she said as she filled a glass. “I’m starved, by the way.”

  “No doubt. I trust you left the house in one piece?”

  “Oh, good Lord. We went swimming. It’s no big deal.”

  Her mother smiled sweetly. “I suppose you’ll let Faith know about your swim party then?”

  Ashleigh glared at her. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Very much, yes. I assume you did as well.”

  “If I wasn’t so hungry I would leave right now,” Ashleigh threatened.

  “I doubt it. I made the double battered fried chicken just for you. I figured you’d be ravenous.”

  Ashleigh’s mouth watered at the thought. “And garlic mashed potatoes?” she asked weakly.

  “Yes. And homemade dinner rolls.”

  “You’re evil.”

  “Does that mean you’ll stay for dinner?”

  Ashleigh pointed her finger at her mother. “But no questions. I mean it.”

  “But I have a ton of them.”

  “Sorry.”

  “You know I’ll find out from Courtney.”

  “As if I’ll tell her anything, the big blabbermouth.”

  After two helpings of everything—and an extra piece of chicken as she was helping her mother clean up—Ashleigh shut her door and fell down on the bed, groaning as she rubbed her full belly. True to her word, her mother had been full of questions, but Ashleigh deflected them all, refusing to answer even the vaguest ones. She’d never been comfortable discussing her private life with her mother. And for the most part, she never really had a sex life to discuss with her.