Ember Flowers

by April Worth

  With a tilt of her head, she nodded, grabbing her own pillow, pulling it closer. Her other hand sliding around Jean’s waist. Bare legs brushed, before resting together. She pulled the older woman against herself. Jean’s curves against Jo’s hip.

  Jean relaxed against her. It was a nice feeling, pondered the policewoman, to be trusted so, to know that her comforts were appreciated. It must have been difficult for Jean too, the older woman had likely wanted to be alone on that balcony. She had interrupted. Too bad, she thought. Warm breaths on the back of Jean’s neck, it wasn’t long before they were both claimed by sleep.

  Chapter 22

  Jo awoke to a quiet room and an empty bed. Her grey eyes narrowed as they adjusted to the morning light coming through the open balcony door. With a soft grunt she rolled over, her hand searching for her phone on the bedside table.

  It had just gone five a.m., her body slowly returned to consciousness. She looked at the time, and the display on her phone. Four texts. Owen wanting to know where she was, wanting to talk. An annoyed groan, she would reply later, in her own time. A missed call too at three a.m., thankfully her phone had been muted.

  Long fingertips tidied her blonde mane that had mussed in her sleep. Jo looked around the room. No sign of Jean, but there was a post it on her bedside that she’d missed. The policewoman reached out, untacking it from the lamp and reading it in the room’s dim light.

  Joanne a.k.a Blanket Thief,

  Went to get us breakfast, won’t be long.

  x J.P

  Jo’s blonde brow arched. She was surprised Jean had been able to get dressed and organised around her without her waking. She must have really been out of it. Usually a restless sleeper, Jo had woken once during the night. Vaguely aware of her surroundings, the arm around her waist had been strangely comforting. They had both rolled over during the night, Jean’s soft even breaths beside her ear as she went back to sleep.

  Their talk last week had laid a lot of her concerns to rest, brief as it was. They had agreed that it was obvious that they shared a mutual attraction. As long as things were comfortable, they would continue to spend time together. No plans and no strings. Jean was easy to talk to, seemed to understand where a lot of her insecurities were coming from.

  A soft click of the door and peep of the card key going in drew her attention to the hall. A cardboard tray and brown paper bags, carried in the arms of the brunette as she shuffled the items around. Wearing the white crew neck tee that she’d slept in and her cargos from yesterday.

  “Morning.”

  Jo looked up at her. “Good morning. I got your note.”

  The gardener sat on the edge of the bed by her feet, nodding. The sheet still draped over Jo until mid way up her chest.

  “Thought you might be hungry, your stomach was growling.” Jean winked at her, handing her a hot takeaway cardboard cup.

  “How long were you awake?”

  The brunette handed her a paper bag with a description scribbled ‘ham and salad bagel’. “Since about four. Think it was just sleeping somewhere different. You seemed OK though?”

  Jo nodded, looking into the bag. Grey eyes looked up. “You were watching me sleep?”

  “Only for a little while, you were kinda adorable, I couldn’t help it.”

  The blonde groaned softly, her cheeks turning a soft rose. She quickly changed the subject, watching Jean sip her coffee. “Traffic?”

  “Non existent. I walked, bakery around the corner was opening already. I convinced them how badly you required breakfast and they let me in.” Her cheeky smirk was back.

  As if on cue, Jo’s stomach gurgled softly. Jean smiled around her cup. “Definitely adorable.”

  “I’ve never been described as adorable before Jean, probably better not to start.”

  She broke her muffin apart in her hands. “Oh? And how do people usually describe you?”

  Jo frowned, talking after chewing her bagel. “Depends on who you ask.”

  Jean looked at her listening. Jo sighed. “My mother calls me distant, my colleagues would probably say that I work hard but that I’m difficult to get to know. Owen..well.. Lately he’s been calling me ‘cold’ and ‘unreasonable’.” She shook her head, thinking.

  The older woman nodded. “You might be hard to get to know, but the rest..you’re never cold Jo.”

  The blonde sighed, finishing off her breakfast. “I like my own space, don’t like to rely on anyone. Sometimes people take that the wrong way.”

  Jean’s tanned hand stroked her calf through the sheet. “I can see that. But you can also be sweet, and kind and brave. I’m glad you’re letting me get to know you.”

  She smiled shyly at the unexpected compliment. “Thanks. I like getting to know you too. You’ve been a great friend when I’ve needed one.”

  Jean reached out, tucking a strand of blonde behind Jo’s ear. There was a sweetness, a reverence to the touch that charmed her. It had been a long time since someone looked at her like that. It didn’t seem to matter than the adoring eyes belonged to a woman.

  “Jean?”

  “Mmhm?”

  Jo patted the vacant side of the bed beside her. “Come here.”

  The older woman smiled, putting down her coffee and skirting the side of the bed. She sat down on the vacant side, her back to Jo, and started unlacing her boots. She felt the shift on the mattress behind her, then the warmth of hands on her shoulders. She gasped softly as Jo pressed kisses along her neck, her breath catching when her ear lobe was caught in neat white teeth.

  It was difficult to retain control of her thoughts, with the soft pink tongue and teeth on her ear and neck, but somehow she managed to pull off her socks and boots with lightening speed.

  She turned where she was, Jo cupped her cheek, a short glance before engaging her in a heated kiss. Her arm unconsciously sliding around the policewoman’s bare lower back. Ever so often grey eyes would open, watching her between kisses. The fair fingertips on Jean’s tanned cheek had moved, trailing down her neck, down over the collar of the crew neck tee, resting above her breast. Jean wondered if Jo could feel her pulse, pounding fast under her hand.

  A last soft kiss on her lips. Jo ran her fingertips over the white cotton, she bit her lip, looking up at the hazelnut eyes. “Take this off.”

  Tapered brows rose, but Jean complied. She lifted her arms, painted nails skimmed her stomach, taking hold of the hem of the shirt and lifting it up and over Jean’s head. Ruffling her hair. The garment deposited at the foot of the bed.

  Warm palms were flat against her olive belly, Jo’s eyes flitted over her, Jean’s lean stomach trim from working outdoors, her breasts covered by a simple black bra. Nails trailed, touching the dip of her navel, skimming over her stomach, back up to arrive on her shoulder.

  Jean smiled at her gently, her voice thick in her throat. “I’ve been trying all morning not to look at you lying there..sleeping next to you..”

  Jo kissed her again. “I know.”

  Jean brushed her fingertips over the sensitive skin of Jo’s stomach, smiling when she saw her shiver. “I don’t want to rush you.”

  “I know. You’re very..old fashioned. It’s sweet.”

  The brunette nipped her lip softly. “Don’t take that as disinterest. I’m very..interested. I just want you to trust me, that’s all.” She glanced at Jo’s darkened grey eyes. The blonde nodded, she moved back, allowing Jean to move off the edge of the bed and into the softer middle. The bed had been ample as the brochure advertised.

  Her long arms pushed Jean onto her back, until she was reclined over the pillows. Jo propped herself on her elbow, one long thigh tangling with Jean’s covered legs. Her fingertips drew little circles over the rise of the brunette’s cleavage, skimming over her bra and tracing the waistband of her pants.

  She noticed a small scar on Jean’s throat. Running her fingertip over it, she felt the older woman shiver.

  Jo leant closer to examine it. “What is this from?”


  She spoke through a held breath. “Hazard of the job, shrapnel flicked up when I was using a mower. Lucky it didn’t kill me.”

  Jo nodded, placing a whispered kiss on the sensitive spot. She saw the flutter of the pulse on the olive neck and smiled. “No hickeys Jo, I would never hear the end of it.” The older woman joked.

  The blonde ran a fingertip along Jean’s bare collarbone and saw her companion shudder. “So you would prefer that I avoided your neck huh?”

  Jean’s head suddenly felt like it was full of wood. “Uh..I didn’t say that..”

  Grey eyes looked up at her deviously. She moved lower down the brunette’s tanned body. A kiss over the well of her navel. The older woman gasped softly in surprise.

  Jo kissed along little freckles on Jean’s belly, feeling the tanned hands slip into her hair. Soft groans of approval as she moved her way up. Jo studied the olive skin, the lean stomach, fingertips tracing, comparing.

  Eventually kissing along the wire of Jean’s bra. The hands in her hair guided her upward. Soon she was draped on top of the smaller woman, locked in a passionate exchange. Their bare bellies pressed together. Brown eyes studied her, the tanned hands slid down her back. Stroking little touches over her skin, along her spine.

  Jo looked down at her, Jean smiled back. A thumb brushed across Jo’s angular cheekbone.

  When Jo started nibbling her neck, Jean’s head fell back against the pillow with a soft moan. Her hands travelled over Jo’s shoulders, finger nails trailing down to the clasp on Jo’s back. The blonde head lifted to look at her.

  “May I?” Fingertips stroked little circles over the fabric.

  The policewoman looked down at her, Jean smiled at her gently. Jo raised herself up, reaching around her back. The clasp released with a soft snick. Tanned hands slid the straps down her new lover’s shoulders, finally sliding off the garment from her chest.

  Dark eyes flitted from her breasts to her eyes, Jean’s breath caught in her throat, she shook her head. “Beautiful. Perfect.” Jo smiled, the look on Jean’s was admonished admiration, captivated by her.

  Olive hands rested on Jo’s belly. The flawless skin, perfect tear drops and small pink nipples begging to be touched.

  Jean let out a held breath. This was really happening. The blonde gave her a kiss of permission, feeling her companion’s hands wanting to edge up.

  The fingertips moved first, along with sliding palms. Gentle hands moving up from her belly trailing little lines of fire over her exposed skin. By the time the warm hands cupped her Jo was breathless. With a soft squeeze and brushing thumbs the nipples pebbled instantly between tanned fingers. Jo cursed softly at the rush of sensation. She hadn’t imagined it would feel this good.

  A mutual groan, Jo’s head falling forward, her face obscured by a curtain of draping blonde bed hair. Jean continued to knead and graze the heated flesh, flushed with her touch.

  Eventually she reached up, brushing that hair back from the policewoman’s face in a tender act of affection. Her fingertips traced the angular jawline, finishing on the soft swollen lips.

  Wanting more, Jean’s hands slid down to Jo’s hips, sitting up and twisting with the movement. Jo seemed happy enough to be lain on her back, her hands already reaching to touch. Jean looked down at her. The grey eyes lidded, parted lips and soft breaths.

  Jo rested her hands on Jean’s breasts, palming and squeezing through the fabric, her own arousal surprised her, her voice husky, roughened. “Off.”

  The brunette reached around and unclipped herself, tugging off the garment to join the rest on the messy bed sheets. Jo reached up, tentatively at first. Trailing long fingertips down through her companion’s cleavage. She was dark where Jo was light. Firm orbs with nut brown nipples. Jean gave her new lover time. After a pause, perhaps drawing up her courage, Jo ran her fingertips over Jean’s breast. The skin prickled to the touch. The brunette smiled down at her, taking her hand and kissing it.

  Upon release of her hand, the long fingertips trailed down Jean’s tensing belly, arriving at the brass button on her fly. Jean reached down to unbutton it, and her hands were brushed away. With a movement of deft fingertips, the button unfastened, the zipper coming down in a jagged burr.

  Jo tugged at the pants, pulling the waistband down over her companion’s hips with a look of concentration. Jean grinned. “Slow down tiger, just give me a second.” The policewoman gave her a pouting petulant look. Definitely adorable. Jean thought to herself.

  After a few awkward movements, she lay there in her underwear, as bare as Jo, though not quite as nervous. She wanted this, and Jo certainly seemed to have a sparkle in her eye, her breaths quick and hot. The contact of skin on skin made them both gasp. Bellies and breasts brushing together, warm bare legs tangled up in the sheet.

  Jean bit down lightly on her lover’s ear lobe, before trailing kisses down over her neck, her hand moving to cup the nearby breast. The lingering taste of Jo’s perfume on her tongue. Jo’s nails raking down through her hair, across her ribs, over her back. Lost in all the sensations coursing through her body.

  The older woman smiled against her lover’s breast, softly tonguing the underside. A quick look up at her lover’s face, Jo’s head was tilted back, her breaths coming out in soft whimpers and huffed gasps.

  Tongue and teeth flicked and grazed the taut nipple, then drew it lightly into her mouth. A breathy moan from above her on the bed. The pressure of the fingertips against her scalp increased. Jean moved across, trailing kisses. Giving the other side the same treatment. She wanted to enjoy every moment, but felt the blonde’s increasing desires urging her on.

  The older woman smiled, feeling Jo’s hips twitch against her thigh. Her fingertips grazed the blonde’s ribs, trailing down to stroke the satiny bands of skin across her navel. The little mewls and murmurs coming from the blonde were driving her crazy. It was intoxicating, Jean felt a pulse of heat hit her groin. She slowly moved lower down the bed, kissing Jo’s stomach, admiring the little dip in her navel, the smooth silky texture of her skin. Jo was beautiful, she could do this all day, the little hitches in her younger lover’s breath making her wet.

  “Dammit.” It came out in an annoyed huff, panted out through white teeth.

  Jean looked up from her waist, fingertips trailing over the hem of Jo’s panties. “Something wrong?” She lowered her head again, kissing Jo’s navel. Running her nails over it.

  Her breaths were erratic. “Ugh..Jean..It’s almost six thirty..”

  “Already?”

  “Y-Yes. I’ll be late.”

  The brunette blew out an annoyed breath. Laying her head on Jo’s groin. After a moment, she pulled herself up, crawling up to kiss her lips.

  Jo looked up at the flushed skin above her, dark eyes intensified with desire, blinking slowly with soft lashes. Her hand reached up to cup Jean’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I am..Is that OK? We should go soon.” Her grey eyes were apologetic, fingertips stroking her face.

  Jean conceded defeat, looking down at Jo, her creamy skin contrasting the dark pillow. Another surge of arousal hitting her when’s Jo’s fingertips trailed down her back. It was almost a struggle to speak. “Yes..yes..it’s fine. We should get ready.”

  A last soft kiss as she tried to temper her lust. Reluctantly, she unwound herself from Jo’s warm form. Laying on her back in the middle of the bed. Exhaling loudly. Her lover got up, quickly picking up her clothes and darting into the bathroom.

  Jean smiled, blowing out a held breath, her hand trying to tidy the hair that Jo had been gripping. Her whole body was aching for relief. She had thoughts of joining Jo in the shower. The blonde was taking another one. Jean chuckled. It was probably ice cold. If she went in there, Jo definitely wouldn’t get to work on time.

  After ten minutes, Jo re emerged from the bathroom. Looking impeccable, makeup highlighting her pretty features, hair tied back in her usual golden tail. Walking through the room in only her undergarments. Jean was lacing up her boots,
smiling at her from the bed with a wolfish grin.

  Joanne gathered up her uniform, looking around in the kitchenette for the iron. The blonde cast Jean a look, her grey eyes flitting over still partly dishevelled hair. It was hard for her not to smile too, she remembered what they’d been doing and blushed. Composing herself, her brow arched, her hands on her hips. “Going to grin at me like that all morning?”

  Jean winked, returning the banter. “Maybe. Going to turn up at the station in your underpants?”

  Jo rolled her eyes. “No. I have to iron this, I need to look respectable.”

  The brunette got up, walking toward her, Jo eyed her warily between planes of the iron across her pale blue shirt. Soft hisses as the hot plate slid over each crease.

  “You’ll look better than respectable, you always do.”

  The Officer’s smile brightened her eyes “Thanks.”

  Jean reached over to stroke her face, running her thumb over Jo’s angular cheekbone. “You realise next time I see you, I’m going to feel the need to tear off your clothes?”

  Long fingertips flicked off the iron, she threw on her shirt, buttoning up from the bottom. Jean stood in front of her, moving her hands and closing each clasp herself with a soft little pop.

  Jo watched her hands. “Oh really?”

  Her look was still heated, her mouth pulled into a sultry grin. “Most definitely.”

  “I was actually thinking of getting lunch sometime?”

  Jean straightened her new lover’s collar, smirking. “Yes, you might need something to keep your strength up..”

  The policewoman huffed softly, cocking her head. “No, I have Tuesday off, I was thinking you could join Annabelle and I?”

  The brunette rested her hands on Jo’s hips, she smiled. “I’d like that. I really would.”

  Jo finished getting dressed. Jean had to busy herself with checking they had everything, lest she feel the need to undress the blonde again. A few more kisses and they were picking up to leave. A new bond forming between them. The door closing with a click and a peep of the card.