by April Worth
Jean smiled. Jo pulled out bowls and plates. She watched the tall woman’s back move as she reached.
“So what happened? If you want to talk about it?” Jean tilted her head compassionately, running her short nails over the bench top.
Jo sighed, ladling out rice. She loaded her own plate with steamed vegetables. “Someone went through a stop sign, took out a mother and two little kids. Youngest one died in hospital after they cut them out. Other two dead at the scene.” She braced her hands on the bench, hunching a little.
Jean ran her hand over Jo’s back, rubbing her shoulder. “That’s horrible.”
“Yes. It was a mess.”
They stood in silence for a moment. Jean was silently glad she didn’t see things like that in her line of work. The worst she’d ever come across were the remains of a client’s cat. Fluffy’s stiff form on the side of the road was hardly the stuff of nightmares. Not like that.
Jean felt her leg being tugged, she looked down to see extended arms and little blue eyes. Jo looked at her wearily, but didn’t protest.
The brunette picked the toddler up, sitting her on the edge of the counter as her shirt was gripped by little hands. The blonde girl looked over at the food curiously. The older woman tweaked her cheek. Annabelle seemed to have taken to her as a new playmate, Jean didn’t mind.
***
Joanne hadn’t said much for the remainder for the evening, she sat beside Jean on the sofa, her arm running along it’s back. Her older lover held her hand in an act of quiet comfort. Jo seemed restless. The day’s trauma weighing heavily on her mind, there had been counselling offered but she’d refused. To her it was part of the job, not the first and not the last she’d see that upset her.
Jean felt the tall woman’s weight shift against her, Jo moved to lay flat with her blonde head in Jean’s lap. Silently watching the screen. Tanned fingertips ran through her silky hair. Annabelle had been laid down to sleep earlier, her energy running out for the evening too.
A murmur against her denim covered thigh. “I hate hospitals.”
The brunette rubbed her back. “Me too. Why?”
Jo crossed her arms against herself. “I went with that little girl in the ambulance today. Was critical, no time. She was unconscious for most of it, but she came to when we got to the E.R.”
She sighed softly, continuing. “Someone went to talk to her father, he should have been the one with her when she died. Not me.”
“Oh Jo..sweetheart.” Jean reached over her, hugging her against her lap.
The policewoman closed her eyes, exhaling. “Accidents like that always remind me of my Dad.”
Jean hadn’t released her, still hugging her, rubbing soothing circles. “I’m here Jo. Anything you need.”
“I know. Thank you.”
The blonde went to move and Jean let her go. Jo sat up, resting her head against Jean’s neck. The blonde extended a lean wrist, a glance at her watch, a little past eleven thirty.
“You’re staying tonight right? I don’t want you driving home.” Grey eyes flitted over her.
Jean ran her fingertips over Jo’s cheek in a slow caress. “Of course. Brought a change of clothes with me. I’m here as long as you want me.”
“Good.” The blonde yawned softly.
They made their way down the carpeted hall, Jo lingered behind her, locking up and turning off lights. Jean opened the door to Jo’s bedroom. She’d never slept here before, Jo preferred to stay with her. Likely because the house held too many memories.
The walls were the colour of spun cotton, with a suede feature colour behind the bed, a deep almost burgundy red. The bed itself was a modern construction, black straight metal and square lines. A tan coloured quilt accented with white trim, puffy looking pillows. Various knick knacks around the room. This area seemed the most reflective of the tall woman’s personality, likely where she spent most of her time. The house seemed only to be a place to sleep and feed her child more or less. Not a home.
Jo padded softly into the room, closing the door behind her. She had checked on her daughter down the hall.
The policewoman slipped out of her t-shirt, a white bra underneath. “Would you like first shower?”
Jean shook her head. “No, you first, I’ll wait my turn.”
“OK.” Jo pressed a little kiss to her lips before turning and walking into the en suite bathroom. Through the door as it closed Jean could see dark grey tiles and white towels, a white vanity and vitamins on the shelf. The door closed with a soft snick, followed by the sound of water running.
The gardener sat down on the edge of the bed, tugging off her shoes. She placed them neatly to the side. A photograph of a younger Jo caught her eye on the bedside table. An adolescent blonde girl standing beside an older man and woman. Jo looked so much like her mother, the same straight blonde hair and angular cheekbones, already tall for her age. Her father looked more like the jovial sort. Short brown hair and lips pulled into a kind grin, a slightly podgy belly and glasses.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound from the bathroom. Her brows creased as she listened. She could barely hear it, Jean stood up, her instincts yelling at her to investigate.
Soft huffed sounds of sobbing as she opened the door. The shower was in the corner, a clear glass screen with a vertical chrome handle. Jo had her back to her, quivering as her hand raked through her hair. Jean noticed she did that as a sign of stress sometimes. Water running down her long form and onto the tiled recess. The glass mostly fogged from the steam.
As she was about to knock on the glass the blonde turned to her, startled a moment at seeing her suddenly there. Jean mouthed a question, asking if she was all right. Jo nodded, and after a moment, made a beckoning movement with her hand.
The company shirt came off first, followed by her bra. Jo stood in the shower, one arm braced against the wall, washing her face. The jeans slipped off next, followed by her underwear. The brunette pulled open the shower door and stood behind her. The water misting over her as it fell from the showerhead.
Jo turned, standing aside and letting her under the stream. The water blasted her short hair back onto her face, pressing the dark chocolate pixie flat against her scalp. Jean felt an arm reach around her, grabbing the shower wash bottle. A sudden waft of mandarin and sandalwood as large hands smoothed the gel over her back, massaging it into her neck and shoulders. For a moment she was lost in the touch, before turning around. She reached up, stroking Jo’s face. The blonde looked tired and upset. She had retreated to the shower to cry, not knowing Jean would hear.
The caress became a slow kiss. If it were possible, Jo looked even lovelier glossy and wet, her mane slick from the water. Jean hugged her gently, still worried, soft kisses over her ear and cheek.
She washed Joanne’s hair carefully, running her fingertips through it to separate the strands. Suds pooling down her arm. A gentle kiss at the nape of Jo’s neck. The blonde’s head tipped to give her access. The soapy liquid running down along her spine, sliding over her curvy behind and long legs. Jean’s breasts brushed against her as she moved. Her movements were stopped as Joanne turned, wrapping her long arms around her in a hug with a sigh. Resting her head on the column between Jean’s neck and shoulder. Staying still like that a moment while the world spun around her. Jean squeezed her back, a kiss over her ear. Their skin warm and flushed from the heat.
She held the door open for her taller lover. The blonde stepped over the recess, a quick swipe to push the hair off her face. The texture of the fluffy towel rubbed over her body took her by surprise. Jean was drying her off with a look of concentration. It made a blonde brow raise. She wasn’t used to this kind of attention. She took the towel from Jean to rub down her own long hair, it could become untamed with the water. She watched Jean towel herself off. Dabbing the water off between her firm breasts and flat stomach. Bending as the towel wicked the water from her legs, running the cloth over her olive skin in long straight lines. It had bee
n enough to distract her from her thoughts. She had to smile when the chocolate hair mussed into a spiky turret. Jean just smiled a rakish grin, with a roll of her eyes and scruffed it with her hand back to it’s usual choppy appearance.
They lay under the cool sheets, the scent of Jo’s perfume lingering on them from when she’d last slept. Jean rested her head on the bare shoulder nearby. They both decided pyjamas were pointless. Her companion had relaxed, at least enough to sleep, Jean moved to her side against Jo’s warm ribs, leaning over to kiss her good night. She quickly found a hand threading through her hair, the other sliding down her back. Soft lips parting, and a tongue seeking entry. They kissed for what felt like hours, a press of warm skin as they held each other.
A last little kiss on Jo’s neck and the blonde yawned softly. She drifted off with Jean’s even breaths against her back.
***
The grating sound of screeching wheels and busting glass. The artificial hiss of monitors and regulators. Blood sticky all over the road. Jo looked down at her hands. Thick scuffed gloves and long sleeves. She saw her footsteps draw closer to the mangled wreck. They were calling to her, yelling for her to come quickly, fire fighters tugging against the folded metal. Painful squeals from inside the car, followed by sobs and crying. Her long legs took her there just as a little hand slapped up bloodied against the cracked glass. She recoiled, the blue eyes of her daughter looking back, her hair matted, clothing torn, laying broken on the twisted back seat. Jo yelped, smashing on the glass, throwing her weight against the mangled door. Her hands were bare now, cut open by the shards but she didn’t care. Frantic to get to her, fingers hopelessly scratching steel, screaming at them to help her, help her!
Then hands were tugging at her, pulling her away, wrapped around her ribs. She fought out of their grip, teeth gritted, wrestling against the confinement. The sound seemed to rise up out of the road.
“..Jo?”
“Jo honey, wake up?”
She became foggily aware of where she was, arms moving, body thrashing. A last wrench and was free, sitting bolt upright, ragged breaths and wild eyes. It was still dark.
“Jo. You’re all right. You were having a nightmare. It’s OK. It’s OK..” The sleepy voice was soothing by her side.
The blonde was still trembling when Jean wrapped her arms around her. Jo cupped her own face in her hands.
“Annabelle?” Asked the policewoman groggily.
Jean rested her chin on her shoulder, yawning softly. “She’s probably still asleep.”
Jo swung her legs over the side and stood, leaving the embrace, finding her dressing gown in the closet and pulling it around herself. She opened the bedroom door and headed down the hall.
A minute later the tall woman returned to bed, slipping in under the quilt with a relieved exhale.
Jean’s voice beside her ear in the dark. “Still where you left her?”
Jo sighed softly. “Yes. She’s fine.” She had watched Annabelle sleep, crouching by her bed as the child dreamt. A light stroke of her soft hair before turning off the orange mushroom night light. She just needed to see her, to know she was all right.
“Good. And what about you?” Jean’s voice a murmur of concern.
“I will be.” She cupped Jean’s face in her hand and kissed her lightly on the lips. A tanned arm wound around her waist. For a moment Joanne just lay there looking at her. Her companion’s shape barely visible.
Jean reached out to touch her silky shoulder, her eyes already feeling heavy. “Sure you’re OK?”
“I am. I’m just..thank you, for being here with me. I’ve always found it easier alone, but with you...”
Her hand slid down Jo’s long arm. “Nothing to be afraid of.”
The grey eyes regarded her, a flicker of vulnerability passing over her face in the half light. “No. I suppose not.” Jo moved in the sheets, pressing her lips against her lover’s, feeling Jean’s breathing hitch under her hand. The gardener looked up at her from her back, having found herself covered in warm silky blonde. The policewoman stroked her cheek with a fingertip, before kissing her again. Her lover’s hands travelling over her chest, her shoulders. Sliding off the satiny garment in a short tug of war as their lips locked. A sudden weight of Jo’s breasts, the warmth of her bare stomach. Tanned hands meandered down, a palm resting on the smooth curve of Jo’s buttock.
Jean’s hips shifted beneath hers. Joanne ran her hand along a toned thigh, sliding up and over her lover’s well formed calf. Naked, the brunette’s soft curves and well proportioned body looked far more feminine.
Hushed whispered sounds of their lips meeting, Jo’s breathing soft over her lover’s face. With the faintest contrast of light and shade, Jean could see a ghost of a smile. She traced the contentment with a single fingertip.
“Feeling better?”
A nod in the darkness, Joanne’s voice smoky with sleeplessness. “I’m getting there.” Her lips trailed an answer of lazy kisses along her older lover’s neck. Jean fit so well in her arms. Usually, she found herself being held, taken care of. The older woman’s personality favoured it that way.
Joanne smiled, Jean’s quiet sighs making her feel fearless. Soft broken murmurs suspended in the dark. Jo’s lips trailed lower, the sheet creasing, moving over her back. Tender presses over the olive skin of her companion’s chest. Light catching, tracing the rounded curve of a chin. Her hand stroking Jean’s thigh, her stomach, her hip.
Once the wall in Jo’s mind had crumbled, she found herself exploring. Her greatest obstacle hadn’t been Jean’s breasts, or feminine curves. Instead, that scared little voice inside had almost stopped her from finding something beautiful. From knowing, from feeling. Nights awake worried and confused. But right now, feeling Jean gasp against her throat as her touch became more intimate, was wonderful. Jo watched her between kisses, still pleasantly surprised that her attentions were well received.
She had imagined that her initial efforts were clumsy and self conscious. If they were her lover had never let on. After they first made love, Jo had woken early as the sun rose. Nestled comfortably in the older woman’s arms. She had found herself looking up into her companion’s dark eyes. Their lips brushing in a delicate caress, no words were needed. A willing student, Jean left her trembling and lulled by the quiet space between rapture and sleep. It felt right to do the same thing for her.
The murmurs and moans against her lips were coming quicker. They shared a breath as her lover arched, her breath catching, reaching for her.
The morning light was beginning to seep through the curtains, bathing Jean in a softened afterglow. She looked almost ethereal, tangled in Jo’s sheets, the pillows under her head. The blonde was taken aback by the look she was given, a tenderness in her companion’s eyes. A clear and honest affection, a selfless desire for her happiness. The older woman reached up, cupping her face, pulling her down into a chaste kiss. Long and lingering as Jean’s fingertips threaded through her hair, ending in rubbing her back with slow easy touches. Joanne pulled away, still looking at her, eyes narrowed in contemplation.
Her long frame unwound itself from her lover’s smaller body. Jo lay on her back, deep in thought. Soon she saw two hooded orbs above her, a cheeky grin, a waggle of her lover’s eyebrows, teeth capturing her bottom lip amidst a sensuous kiss.
Kisses down her long body, a segue here and there, tanned fingertips easing her thighs apart. Then her lover’s tongue was on her, smooth heat over her sensitive flesh. No time for her to feel self conscious, for her to feel vulnerable. Joanne could only gasp in surprise. A long velvety lick made her shiver. She was completely exposed to her lover’s gaze. Calloused hands sliding along her inner thighs. The heat of her breath. A gentle squeeze of her soft skin.
Jo groaned, her fingers slipping into Jean’s silky hair. A subtle scent of mandarin and sandalwood.
Vibration of a voice against her. “I adore the sounds you make..” Punctuating the panted statement with kisses over her hea
ted skin.
A groan as Jean’s fingertips slid inside her. Alternating sensation, Jo lost control of her breathing. Reservations forgotten as she gasped hotly in time with her lover’s movements.
She climaxed with her lover’s lips against her, her body arched and trembling. The brunette peppered her skin with kisses as she crawled back up. Gathering the blonde into her arms. The older woman nuzzled the back of her neck and smiled. Quick breaths as Jo’s body calmed.
“Jean?” The words were there. Right there.
“Yes?” A kiss below her ear as an arm slid around her.
She felt sleepy, an odd sort of contentment. “Mm..nothing, sweet dreams.”
Chapter 32
Jean meandered her way through the front yard toward her car, she unlocked it with a soft peep, opening the door and reaching onto the floor. Joanne was organising her daughter’s breakfast inside, so Jean took the opportunity to grab her things. She’d been prepared this time, bringing with her a change of clothes. A soft yawn against her hand as she walked out to the verge, bending to pick up the poorly aimed morning paper.
Standing, she brushed stray lawn clippings from its sticky plastic wrapper. Another soft yawn as she heard a cautious greeting from over the fence.
“Good morning Jean.”
For a second she stood perfectly still. Fuck.
She turned her head, it was too late. Kerry was giving her a curious look from behind the waist high fence. Jean supposed that was reasonable, she did have messy bed hair and was wearing an old shirt of Joanne’s. At least she’d worn pants.
“Kerry. Hi. Uh..how are things?” She asked quietly as she made her way over, dandelions bending between her toes.
Jo’s neighbour was looking her up and down, blushing. Kerry turned, trying to focus on her task at hand, watering her new garden. She cleared her throat. “Pretty good Jean. So..you’re here early?”