by Ronica Black
“You better stop or—”
“Or what?” Maggie pressed her thigh firmer into her. She loved the look on her face as it transformed from determination to sheer ecstasy.
“Oh, God.”
“I want you to come,” Maggie said. “First all over my leg and then all over my face.”
“Oh, God, Maggie. I’m going to come. I’m going to come.”
“Come, Ellie. Come for me.”
Ellie closed her eyes and moved quicker, harder. Maggie laced their fingers together and supported her as she moved. Ellie pushed herself upright and the blanket fell. The firelight illuminated her skin and breathed warm breath upon her puckering nipples.
“You are so beautiful, Ellie.”
“No, you are. You are the reason I’m coming.” She opened her eyes and stared into her and then exploded with orgasm. She tensed and shattered and tensed and shattered. Maggie watched in amazement, pushing back with her hands, fingers having gone numb from Ellie’s tight grip.
“Maggie,” she let out as she began to slow. “Maggie.”
“I’m right here.”
“I need you,” she said. She stilled and collapsed atop her. “I need you in my life.” Her heart pounded against Maggie’s chest, and Maggie held her gently. She wasn’t sure what to say to her in response to her confession. Did she mean it? Or was it the orgasm doing the talking for her?
Maggie felt so good she decided it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Ellie and the moment they were in right now.
Ellie lay limp upon her, her back cool with sweat. Maggie held her and listened to her breathing slow along with her heart rate. When she moved, she did so languidly and with a crooked smile. Her eyes dazzled in a dreamlike state. She looked absolutely spent. Absolutely beautiful.
“I feel so alive right now. So alive and so damn good.” She kissed Maggie gently. “I would say I feel near perfect, but there’s one thing missing.”
“What’s that?” Maggie wanted to give her everything. She wanted that look to remain on her forever.
She pushed herself upright and straddled Maggie’s thigh. “You.”
“Me?”
“I need to feel you, taste you.” She lifted Maggie’s sweater and removed it quickly from over her head. Her gaze took in Maggie’s bra as her hands gently caressed her abdomen. “I want to see your breasts, take them in my mouth.” She traced feather-like kisses along her bare skin. When she reached her bra, she pushed it over her breasts and lifted it over her head.
Maggie lay very still, her own breasts puckering in the cool air. Ellie was taking her in. Devouring her with her eyes.
“My God, Maggie,” she said. Then she knelt and lightly kissed her breasts, careful to circle the nipples. She breathed delicately upon them, causing Maggie to tense. Ellie seemed to enjoy the reaction. “Tell me what you want.”
Maggie struggled for breath, for words. “I want you.”
“What do you want me to do to you?”
She stopped and looked at her, her hair lightly tickling Maggie’s aching skin.
“Tell me, Maggie.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
“Where?”
Maggie touched her nipple and Ellie grinned. She took her firm flesh in her mouth and swirled her tongue around it. Maggie let out a small cry and laced her hands in her hair.
“Like this?” Ellie asked as she continued.
“Mmm. More.”
“More what?”
Maggie tugged on her head, causing her to pause and look up at her.
“Tell me, Maggie. I want to hear you say it.” She blew on her wet nipple and flicked it with her tongue.
Maggie had never voiced her needs before. She’d never had a lover who cared enough to ask.
“Don’t be afraid.” Again, she blew on her and teased with her tongue. The sensation shot to Maggie’s center and curled her toes.
“Suck me,” Maggie said, nearly hoarse with desire.
Ellie laughed wickedly. “Oh, that was worth the wait. I want to hear you say that again and again.” She held her eyes while she lowered and took her in her mouth. She sucked her long and hard, and Maggie dug her nails into her back and came up off the blankets.
“Ellie,” she said.
Ellie moaned into her and then moved to the other breast where she did the same. She held the abandoned nipple firm between her fingers, causing Maggie to cry out.
“Feel good?” she asked as she tugged gently with her teeth.
“Ye-yes.” Maggie could hardly speak. All rational thought had deserted her, and every single nerve ending was now between her thighs and pulsing.
Ellie moved lower, pinching her nipples one last time before her hands found the button on her jeans. Maggie lifted her hips as Ellie unbuttoned and then tugged the jeans down and off. She grinned at her matching black underwear and pulled that off as well.
“This is what heaven looks like,” she said, sitting on her knees between Maggie’s legs. “So fucking beautiful.” She ran her fingertips up and down her legs. “Maggie, you are all woman. And now you are all mine.”
She urged her legs farther apart and lowered herself to kiss her thighs. Maggie trembled, unable not to. Ellie moved carefully, deliberately so. She traced her tongue up and down and stopped only to breathe upon Maggie’s aching center.
“Are you nice and wet, Maggie?” She kissed her lightly, and Maggie jerked with anticipation. Gently, she opened her up and explored with her fingers. “Ah, yes. Very wet.” She slid inside her, and Maggie nearly sat up at the fiery pleasure that shot up through her.
“Ellie,” she let out.
“Yes, Maggie. Tell me. Does it feel good?”
“Yes.”
“You want more?”
“Yes.”
Ellie pushed farther up inside, and Maggie couldn’t help but rock her hips. “Ellie,” she said again. “Ellie, fuck me.”
“Mmm, I’ll do better than that.”
She flattened herself on her blankets and buried her mouth in Maggie’s center, taking her swollen clit inside and sucking as she fucked her with her fingers.
Maggie cried out in pure pleasure. She arched her back and gripped the blankets in her hands. She pulsed into Ellie, unable to stop herself. She spoke her name again and again, lost in a world of pleasure. It was a tunnel pulling her in, holding her tightly, inescapable. It wanted her to remain, to move in farther and farther, until she was so far in, it swallowed her whole.
“Ellie!” She strained as she felt the tunnel closing in around her. “Oh God, Ellie!” She exploded from the inside out, shattering into the firelight like a million pieces of glass. She watched as the pieces shot up to the ceiling, glowing orange and yellow from the fire. When they slowly fell, like feathers drifting to the floor, she let her body and mind go completely.
She closed her eyes, and the pieces kissed her skin like tiny flecks of snow.
“Ellie,” she said. “Ellie.”
They rested in silence, just breathing. The fire crackled and warmed them like a tease. Maggie ran her hands through Ellie’s hair, and when she opened her eyes, the room seemed larger and objects looked clearer. Colors popped. Details sharpened.
“I feel really good,” she said.
Ellie moaned. “Yes, you do.”
“No, I mean I really feel good.”
“You ain’t felt nothin’ yet,” Ellie said.
“I can’t imagine more,” Maggie breathed. “It’s been so long.”
“No?”
“Give me a few seconds to recover.”
“I’ll start counting.”
Maggie laughed and pulled her to her. They kissed long and soft, and it was difficult for Maggie to imagine ever having to let her go. She pushed the thought away and held her tighter, kissed her deeper. For now, she was in her arms and that was all that mattered.
Chapter Fourteen
Ellie awoke slowly, dreaming once again that she was in the snow and freezing. The cold seep
ed through her skin and into her bones. She shivered uncontrollably and tried desperately to scream for help. She sat up with a start, panting and desperate to take in her surroundings. She was in a large room, and to her left was a large stone fireplace.
“Maggie.” She remembered and turned to find her slumbering next to her, curled up on her side. Ellie smiled but then hugged herself from the chill. The fire was out, and she was freezing under the blanket.
“Maggie.” She said her name softly and shook her gently. Maggie stirred and moaned.
“Maggie, I’m freezing.”
“Wha?”
Ellie smiled at her as she opened her eyes. “Come on, let’s go get in the bed.” Ellie kissed her quickly and then stood. She reached down for Maggie’s hand.
Maggie sat up and took it, easing herself into a stand. She returned the smile, and Ellie swore she had never seen anything more beautiful. Her eyes sparkled and her thick wavy hair was tussled and adorable.
“God, I want you right now,” Ellie said, squeezing her firm ass.
Maggie pulled her in for a deep kiss. It stirred Ellie as if it was the first kiss all over again. They’d spent hours making love the night before, but her body still hungered.
Ellie groaned. “Hurry or I’ll have you on the couch.”
Maggie laughed. “It’s too cold.”
“Too bad.”
They raced through the kitchen and down the hallway. Ellie beat her, though she knew Maggie let her. She ran to the bed, where she jumped in and snuggled under the flannel covers.
“Hurry, the bed’s cold.”
But Maggie headed for the fireplace. Ellie watched her build an enormous fire, taking in her gorgeous body in all its strength and beauty.
“You’re like a statue,” Ellie said. “Like a goddess.”
Maggie turned shyly, jabbing at the fire with a poker.
Ellie laughed, moved by her humbleness. “My God, if you really knew how good-looking you were, the world would be in big trouble.”
Maggie flushed and returned the poker. “Stop.”
“I won’t stop.”
“Please.” She crawled onto the bed and kissed her.
“Mmm, I’ll consider it for another kiss.”
Maggie grinned, an inch away from her mouth. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Maggie kissed her again, this time longer and harder. Ellie eased back into the bed, letting Maggie take control. Maggie maneuvered beneath the covers and slid atop her. They were once again skin on skin, and Ellie groaned in sheer satisfaction. She gripped her back and arched her neck as Maggie devoured her skin, nibbling and licking along her neck and shoulder.
“You taste so good,” Maggie said. “Your scent, it’s driving me wild.”
“My pheromones?” Ellie laughed and then her breath hitched in desire as Maggie nibbled again behind her ear.
“Yes. If I could bottle it...this right here....” She gently bit the side of her neck. “I’d die happy.”
Ellie sighed and kissed her neck in return, nibbling at her sensitive skin. Maggie responded by pressing her thigh between Ellie’s legs and rocking. Ellie moved with her, loving the slick feel of Maggie upon her thigh.
“Come with me,” Ellie said.
Maggie moved faster and kissed her deeper. Ellie felt her muscles move beneath her fingers. She dug in her nails as they both crested.
“Ellie,” Maggie panted, her eyes full of heat and passion. “I’m coming.”
Ellie held her face. “Yes, baby, come.” And Maggie spilled over, her body jolting with orgasm. Ellie went a second later, staring deeply into her eyes.
“So—beautiful,” she said as her voice gave way to cries of pleasure.
Maggie rocked her long and hard, milking the orgasm for both of them. When she finally stilled, she went limp and fell atop Ellie with a racing heart. Ellie held her tightly, never wanting to let go. She loved the way she felt, so strong and warm. So soft but so hard. She closed her eyes and thought of tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.
A hot tear slipped down her cheek, and her breath shook in her tightening chest.
Maggie rolled to lay next to her on her side. She touched her jaw with the back of her fingers. “What is it?” she asked.
Ellie kept her eyes closed. She couldn’t bear to look at her for fear of completely breaking down.
“I have to go back.” Just saying the words aloud tore her insides like a knife slicing from her stomach to her esophagus.
She felt Maggie’s fingers leave her face. They moved to her hand where they squeezed.
“I know.”
“What are we going to do?” Ellie couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her. Not now. Not ever. She’d just found her.
Maggie was silent, and Ellie shook with fresh sobs.
“Oh God, I don’t want to go back.”
Maggie drew her into her arms. She stroked her hair from her face.
“It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”
“Maggie, I don’t want to leave you.”
“I know. I don’t want you to go either.”
“Really?” Ellie opened her eyes.
“Really.” Maggie smiled.
“I thought for sure you would be relieved after all the trouble I’ve caused.”
“I think I needed a little trouble in my life.” She leaned in and kissed her gently.
Ellie melted into her, wishing she could simply get lost in her. “You make me feel so good. So safe.”
Maggie watched her closely, running her thumb across her lips. “You make me feel alive again.”
Ellie smiled. “I’m glad.”
“Do you have to leave right away?”
Ellie kissed her fingertips. “They’ll find me. They’re probably panicking by now.”
“What will they do?”
“Come and get me.”
“Really? Even if you tell them no?”
“I can’t tell them no. I’m under contract. A lot of people depend on me. If I don’t work, no one works.”
Maggie sighed.
“I wanted to get away for a few days. Just a few. I needed an escape. A temporary checking out of sorts. But I always knew I’d have to go back.”
“When can you take a break?”
“Not for weeks.”
“And then what? You sign another contract and do this all over again? You’re miserable, Ellie.”
Ellie looked away, Maggie’s eyes too seeking, too seeing. “I don’t know what to do.”
“What would you do if you had things your way? Would you still do the show?”
Ellie stared at the ceiling. Maggie’s question was a good one. One she’d thought about a lot lately. But what she wanted seemed so impossible, so out of reach she hadn’t dared ever spoken the dream aloud.
“Ellie?”
Ellie turned to look at her. Maggie looked so concerned, so serious with thought. Ellie knew she could tell her.
“I would leave the show.” She closed her eyes as she thought. “I would buy a place away from everything. Someplace like here. I’d live there with my wife and do a film a year if I was lucky. The rest of it… my manager, etc. I’d leave them all behind.”
Maggie touched her chest and lightly kissed her shoulder. “Sounds nice.”
“It does doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
They were both silent for a moment. Then Maggie spoke. “Why don’t you do it?”
“Are you kidding?”
But Maggie looked serious. “No.”
Ellie sat up. “I can’t, Maggie.”
Maggie propped herself up on an elbow. “Why not?”
“Because I have an image, a brand. I worked hard for that. Not to mention the show. It’s number one. I’m the highest paid actress on television. People would say I’m crazy to leave.”
“You’re worried about other people,” Maggie said. “I can understand that.” She held her hand again. “I have spent the last eight y
ears of my life worried about other people.”
Ellie felt herself relax a little at the soft words. She squeezed Maggie’s hand.
“But I think we both need to change that.”
Ellie blinked. “But, Maggie—”
“We’re both unhappy, Ellie. We’re letting other people and what they might think run our lives. I don’t know about you, but I feel good today. The best I have ever felt. And that’s all because of you. Because you came into my life. Whether I liked it or not, you came in and you woke me up from this sad, deep sleep. I don’t want to go back to sleep, Ellie. I want to stay awake. And to do that, I have to stop worrying about other people and live my life how I want to. I think it’s time for you to do the same.”
“It’s just not that simple,” Ellie said. “I have too much responsibility.”
“Your first responsibility is to yourself, Ellie. Don’t forget that.”
Ellie looked at their entwined hands. “Come with me.”
Maggie didn’t speak for a long moment. “Ellie, I can’t be your secret.”
“It wouldn’t be like that. I—”
“I’d have my own place nearby, right? And you would come when you could. We’d go to the same parties, same events, but we wouldn’t be together. We’d have stolen glances, secret moments. But there would never be enough time. Never.”
Ellie felt her mouth drop open. “How do you know?”
“Because I have a friend who was with a celebrity. It was hell on him. And ultimately, it didn’t work.”
Ellie wasn’t sure what to say. Is that really how it would be? She didn’t want to put Maggie through that. She deserved better.
“But I want you,” she said. “I want to see you.”
“Come here,” Maggie said.
Ellie slid in next to her, more tears running down her face.
“I want to see you right now,” Maggie said, wiping away the tears. “Let’s just think about right now, okay?”
Ellie cried into her shoulder and allowed herself to be enveloped in her strong arms. Maggie rolled atop her and kissed her sweetly. So warm, so soft. It left Ellie breathless.
“Maggie, I want you,” Ellie said.
“I want you, too.” Maggie kissed her again, deeper. She was gentle, soft. Her hands drifted down to Ellie’s wrists. She entwined their fingers and brought Ellie’s arms above her head. Maggie held her there and ran her tongue along Ellie’s lips.