Waltzing on the Danube

by Miranda MacLeod

  Their chests rose and fell rapidly, bursts of hot breath scorching bare skin as they devoured one another. The tips of Jeanie’s fingers snaked beneath the towel that covered Eleanor’s head. It dislodged and fell to the ground as she twisted the damp locks with her hands. The thin fabric of her robe slipped from her shoulder and down her arm, momentarily exposing her bra-clad torso to the breeze before it was mostly covered by Eleanor’s searching lips. A shiver coursed through her at the searing touch, and at the same moment she felt the press of icy metal behind her as her back made contact with the balcony’s railing. The contrast of heat and cold nearly made her come apart. “Oh, Elle!” she gasped.

  Eleanor's senses returned at the sound of her name being wrung from Jeanie’s trembling lips. Her heart throbbed like a kettle drum. With some surprise she realized that she was standing in nothing but a robe, with a half naked woman pressed against her face, in full view of the entire world. It was not a situation she could ever recall having found herself in before, and her brain froze, momentarily uncertain what to do.

  “What’s wrong?” Jeanie’s voice rumbled in her chest and made Eleanor’s mouth, which was still attached the base of her throat, vibrate.

  Eleanor straightened up, self-consciously shifting Jeanie’s robe back into place on her shoulders while avoiding eye contact. “I got a little carried away.”

  “Funny. I thought we were just getting started.” The huskiness in Jeanie’s voice made Eleanor venture a shy glance at her face, and the desire she saw there sent a tremor through her core. Jeanie reached for the edges of her robe to pull her close again, but Eleanor lightly swatted her hands.

  “Jeanie, we’re in public.” Eleanor’s face burned hot and red.

  “This?” Jeanie’s laugh was as crisp and clear as the evening air. “This isn't public. It’s a completely private balcony, Elle. No one can see.”

  Eleanor felt her resolve waver as Jeanie wrapped her arms around her and nuzzled the sensitive spot just behind her ear. “What about people along the river bank?”

  Jeanie’s soft laughter tickled against her neck and made her knees go weak. “What people? There’s no one but us, Elle. And even if someone happened to be looking from shore, they’d need binoculars.” Jeanie let the robe slide down from her shoulders, exposing the pink whisper of lace that contained the swell of her breasts. “And if they thought to bring binoculars, well, don’t you think their preparation deserves to be rewarded?”

  Eleanor shivered as she ran her finger down one thin strap of Jeanie’s bra, her defenses melting. “I guess I am a fan of people being prepared.” She moaned as she felt Jeanie’s tongue touch her lips, luxuriating in the tender caresses for a moment longer before gently pulling herself away. “Jeanie, what are we doing?” Her nerves twitched alarmingly.

  “That seemed obvious.” Jeanie gave a sultry pout that shifted to a sly smile. “I know it’s been a while Elle, but exactly how long has it been?”

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant, are we just getting caught up in all of this…spontaneity?” She pronounced the last word with a hiss of distaste.

  “Spontaneity?” Jeanie laughed. “We've dragged this out a week! This is me at the height of patience, following every rule. And don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. You knew the conditions, same as me. Find one way we could've met in real life—and you did!”

  “Fine. The off chance that we could’ve run into each other during a tennis match might have fulfilled the bargain, but is it enough? It doesn’t change the fact that we’re opposites in every way. I read a study recently, and statistically speaking, most relationships—”

  “A study? Have you ever considered that it’s okay to do things without reading a study first and gathering up the stats? Elle, I know you love your numbers, but let’s not over analyze this, okay? We only have one week left, and there are better things we could be studying.”

  Eleanor’s breath hitched as one of Jeanie’s long legs, bare beneath her robe, caressed her own. “And after the week?”

  “Can we just leave it undefined?”

  Eleanor shook her head no, though the truth was, she was seconds away from agreeing to anything that would lead to more of Jeanie’s skin touching her own.

  “Okay. How about no strings attached, and the possibility of renegotiating terms at the end?”

  “For an insane plan, you make it sound surprisingly reasonable.”

  “I was doing my best to impersonate you. So, you agree?” Jeanie grinned as Eleanor nodded. She gently tugged at Eleanor’s reluctant hand and led her to the middle of the balcony, then took her in her arms and slowly started to spin.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Teaching you to waltz.”

  “Jeanie.” There was a warning edge to Eleanor’s voice. “We only have an hour to get down to the captain’s dinner. It’s going to take longer than that to teach me to dance.”

  “Fine, dancing can wait. I wouldn't want to pressure you into something you're not comfortable with.” Jeanie’s lips puckered as she thought. “I have a much better idea.” She walked Eleanor backward until her legs bumped against one of the bistro chairs.

  Eleanor’s heart raced as she felt a tug at her robe, and she held her breath as it fell open, leaving her fully exposed. “You figure stripping in full view of the entire Wachau Valley will put me at ease?”

  “Where's that rebel I've heard so much about? Anyway, like I told you before, no one can see.” Jeanie eased the robe off her completely and draped it over the metal chair, then pressed lightly on Eleanor’s shoulders until her bare bottom came in contact with the covered seat. “Sit down here.”

  Eleanor's chest rose and fell rapidly as her breathing changed to nervous gasps.

  “Elle, are you okay?” Jeanie's seductively playful smile vanished, instantly replaced with concern. She looked searchingly at Eleanor. “You’re not starting to panic are you? I'll stop!”

  “No!” Eleanor forced her breath to steady and shook her head vehemently against the idea of stopping. “No, I’m all right. The nerves are just the regular kind.” Every inch of her naked body burned with arousal in the cool breeze. Stopping was no longer an option.

  “If you’re sure.” Jeanie hesitated, then tossed a cushion from the other chair to the ground and sank slowly to a kneeling position between Eleanor’s bare thighs. Her floral robe gaped open, affording Eleanor a clear view of her bra and panties as she moved. Then Jeanie leaned forward, pressing her silky skin against the length of Eleanor's body, the top of her head reaching just below Eleanor’s chin.

  Eleanor’s pulse raced as Jeanie tickled the hollow of her throat with butterfly kisses. She grasped the sides of the chair with both hands as Jeanie’s lips made a path further down, moaning as she felt the weight of her breasts lifted with soft hands, velvet lips suckling one hardened bud as the pad of a thumb traced circles around the other. Her stomach muscles contracted as she felt the gentle nip of teeth on her nipple before those teasing lips continued their downward glide.

  She felt a nudge beneath each knee urging her legs upward, and she shifted so that her feet rested on the balcony rail. It reminded her of the first time she’d sat in this space, alone and defiantly determined to stay that way for the duration of the cruise. She stifled a laugh. If she’d been told a week ago that she’d be sitting in this spot, naked and exposed to the world while the sexiest woman she’d ever met traced a line from her navel to the crease of her thigh with her tongue…Eleanor’s muscles contracted again, the balls of her feet pressing into the rail. She never would’ve believed it, until Jeanie Brooks came along.

  This was the effect Jeanie had on her. What they were doing on this balcony could tick off the checklist of Eleanor's greatest fears: intimacy, exposure, a real and immediate possibility for public humiliation. There was every reason in the world to have a panic attack on the spot, but she wasn’t afraid. Not even a trace of nervousness remained. She was aware of nothing else but the u
nquenchable desire for this to never end.

  Eleanor arched her back and moaned with pleasure as Jeanie’s mouth covered the sensitive mound of flesh between her thighs, her tongue parting the folds with practiced perfection. If anyone stood on the river banks with binoculars trained on them right now, Eleanor fervently hoped they enjoyed their view. There was no worry so great that it could make her move a single inch. An entire village could fill the banks of the Danube to watch, and Eleanor wouldn’t care. She was too far gone, lost in the exquisiteness of Jeanie’s touch, to notice anything else.

  As the overwhelming sensations reached a climax like she'd never experienced before, Eleanor cried out and didn't care if the whole ship could hear. She shook from head to toe, feeling more relaxed and satisfied than she could ever remember. It was nearly dark, the golden intensity of the sunset replaced by the faintest pink glow at the edge of the blackened sky. Jeanie rose from the cushion and straddled Eleanor's knees, leaning forward to nestle her head in the crook of Eleanor’s neck. Eleanor held her tightly, stroking her fingers up and down the robe that still clung to Jeanie’s back.

  “We’d better get ready for dinner,” Jeanie whispered against her ear.

  Eleanor frowned, confused. She’d entirely forgotten about dinner, or the need to arrive early if they wanted to be seated at the captain’s table. Lounging naked with Jeanie on her lap, it was possible she’d forgotten how to move. “Now? But, that's really not fair to you.” She slid her hands beneath the loose robe and massaged her fingers along Jeanie’s hips.

  Jeanie sucked in her breath at the touch. “It’s okay. I know you don’t like being late.”

  “True.” Eleanor explored Jeanie’s rounded buttocks, her fingers searching and teasing. “But we don’t really have to get there so early.”

  Jeanie arched her back. Her breasts pressed into Eleanor’s chest. A mewling sound escaped her throat as Eleanor shifted her hands. “Elle, I have a confession. This could take longer than you think.”

  Eleanor looked at her quizzically while her hands continued their explorations beneath the lacy wisp of Jeanie's panties undeterred. “What do you mean?”

  “Remember that embarrassing thing I wouldn't tell you the other night? Well, this is it. I almost never manage to…you know.”

  “Never?” Eleanor's fingers slid with purpose through the wetness between Jeanie's legs, seeking just the right spot.

  “Not never, but it takes me forever. If it even happens at—oh, mercy!” Jeanie screamed as her fingers clenched against Eleanor’s shoulders.

  Eleanor jumped, her hands flying away from Jeanie’s body in alarm. “Oh, God. Jeanie, I’m sorry.” Her heart raced as she caught sight of Jeanie’s widened eyes and pinched face.

  “Why are you sorry?” Jeanie panted. Her irises had gone dark as the night sky. “Never mind that! Why did you stop?”

  “You screamed.” Eleanor frowned. “I was afraid it hurt.”

  “Just now? Uh, no.” Jeanie dissolved into laughter. “Surprised is all. I was just trying to explain my humiliating affliction to you and…I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever had that happen so fast in my life!”

  “Oh!” Eleanor’s anxiety faded as she realized what Jeanie was trying to say. “You mean, that worked?”

  “Uh, yeah. You could say that. What did you do?”

  “Well, I just…I read a study that you're forty percent more likely to have an orgasm if you combine pressure on the—” The rest of Eleanor’s explanation was muffled as Jeanie covered her mouth with a kiss.

  “You know what?” Jeanie kissed her again. “As long as you can do it again, I don't need an explanation.” She smiled slyly. “Was there anything else in that study?”

  “Possibly.” Eleanor failed to hold back a smirk as her arms encircled Jeanie’s waist. She desired nothing else but to pick up right where they'd left off. “But what about dinner?”

  “Does this fancy place of yours come with room service?”

  “There's a personal concierge on call twenty-four hours a day. But I thought sitting at the captain’s table was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

  The muscles in Jeanie’s face twitched as she considered. “So is this.” She shifted her body and stood, then led Eleanor by the hand back through the French doors and into the privacy of the suite. “I’m pretty sure if I have to regret something from this trip, I’d rather it be missing out on the captain’s table.” Their lips met and lingered, then Jeanie pulled away. “You call room service. I’ll be right back.”

  Eleanor frowned. “Where are you going?”

  “Just need to get a…bag. From my room.”

  “A bag? What, are you planning to move in? Geez, I mean I know we have certain stereotypes to live up to, but—”

  “No, I'm not moving in!” Jeanie’s cheeks flushed pink. “I'm not getting my suitcase. It's a different bag.” She raised her eyebrows meaningfully. “I’m almost positive I mentioned it to you when we first met.”

  Eleanor swallowed roughly, recalling their very first conversation. “Oh. That bag.” The mysterious contents of that bag had spiced up her dreams all week. She felt a thrill of anticipation as Jeanie cinched her floral robe around her and disappeared down the hall. “Hurry back!” she called, and the jingle of Jeanie’s laugh echoed back, making her heart skip a beat.

  Chapter 20

  “Morning, sleepy head!” Eleanor's sing-song voice was unexpectedly chipper in the pre-coffee dawn.

  Jeanie groaned and stretched her arms and legs, luxuriating in the spaciousness of Eleanor's bed. She felt the mattress dip as Eleanor sat beside her. Cracking one eye to half-staff, she saw that she was already fully dressed, and was waving a stack of white envelopes like a fan in one hand. “What are those?” she mumbled as she yawned.

  “Tickets, VIP passes. Whatever Miriam needed to add to use up my credit. Basically, anything you want to see in Vienna, it's in here somewhere.”

  Jeanie grabbed Eleanor's tunic in her fist and gave it a pull until they were close enough for their lips to meet. “What if all I want to see is you? Preferably without so many clothes.” They kissed deeply, tingles running along Jeanie's spine as she felt the covers around her shift as Eleanor's hands ventured underneath the sheets to caress her naked skin. “I didn't expect you to be up and dressed already,” she said with a pout.

  “It's a good thing for you that I am. We've got a full schedule ahead of us today! You said you were dying to see Vienna.”

  “You're right. The fact that we're in Vienna and not some less interesting town is the only thing that could coax me out of bed today.” Jeanie began to move the covers back.

  “Wait! Take this first.” Eleanor held out her robe and Jeanie took it from her hand and slid it on under the covers. “Just a precaution. No matter how much we say we want to go touring, if you start parading around the room the way you are now, it'll never happen. So, where do you think we should go first?”

  “Can we start with the Kunsthistorisches? That's the biggest of the art museums, and their Italian Renaissance collection is superb. There's a painting by Caravaggio on display there that I wrote a paper on in college. I can't believe I'm finally going to see it in person!”

  “Oh, is that where the famous Klimt painting is, too? I love that painting!”

  “You mean The Kiss? No, that's at the Belvedere.” Jeanie hesitated. “It wasn't on my list, but we could go there, too, I guess. If we have the time.”

  “How can that not be on your list? It's famous! In fact, it's probably the only painting I know.”

  Jeanie shrugged. “Twentieth century art is a little outside my main interests. Plus, well, honestly...it's hard for me to respect a painting that every college freshman has a poster of in their dorm room.”

  “That hardly seems…okay, wait. Actually, I did have that one hanging in my dorm.”

  “Exactly. Everybody does. What can I say? I'm an art snob. Klimt's okay, but I'm much more interested in seeing David with the He
ad of Goliath.”

  “And would that be a severed head?” Eleanor's mouth puckered in distaste.

  Jeanie laughed. “There's a reason people don't hang copies of my favorite art above their sofas. But I'll make you a deal. We can either walk the half hour out of our way to see that one Klimt, or we can come back here tonight and do our own version.” Jeanie responded to Eleanor's puzzled expression with a sly grin. “That's where you picture the painting in your head while we make out on the balcony. Clothing optional.”

  “I think I like that version of The Kiss much better than the one I had in my dorm room.”

  “I thought you might say that. Hey, what time is it? I should take a shower if we have a few minutes. Someone distracted me from it last night.”

  Eleanor grinned wickedly as she fished her phone out of her pocket to check, her smile dissolving into a frown as she looked at the screen. “Damn it.”

  “What's wrong?”

  “There's an urgent email from my boss.” Eleanor stifled a frustrated scream. “Seems that our Vienna client is having some sort of crisis and needs to set up a meeting right away. And since I'm here...”

  Jeanie's shoulders slumped. “He wants you to do it?”

  “I'm so sorry.” Eleanor looked crestfallen.

  Jeanie wrapped her arms around Eleanor's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “It's okay. You go to your meeting, I'll spend the day at the museum. It'll take forever for me to see everything on my list, anyway. You'd probably get bored.”

  “Oh, that reminds me! I found an app where you can enter all the exhibits you want to see and it'll plot the most efficient route for you through the museum.”

  Jeanie chuckled and squeezed her tighter. “Of course you did.”