by Aurora Rey
“Genius. Pure genius.” Alex stood and carried their empty plates to the sink. She loaded the few dishes she’d made into the dishwasher, wiped the counters and dried her hands. “Okay, I know what we’re going to do. I’m going to go home and get ready. I’ll be back in under an hour. You should dress as warm as you can, including boots and at least two pairs of socks.”
Lia narrowed her eyes. “What are we doing?”
“You said you put yourself in my hands. Don’t you trust me?”
“The last time I did that, I got a concussion.”
Alex cringed, but recovered quickly. “It will be fun, I promise, and safe. And we’ll have all afternoon to warm ourselves.”
“Well, when you put it that way.”
“That’s the spirit. Mind if I return these later?” Alex gestured to the clothes she’d pilfered.
“Not at all.”
“Great. I’ll see you in a little bit. Come on, Murph.” Murphy hopped up from the blanket Lia had for him near the heat vent, tail wagging. Alex slipped on her coat and shoes and gave Lia a quick kiss before heading out the door.
Lia headed upstairs to shower. She allowed her mind to wander to the night before. She’d been so upset when she ruined dinner, but Alex had a way of making it seem like a comical distraction. She’d still managed to pull off her little performance, and if the way Alex made love to her was any indication, it wasn’t half bad. Alex had a way of making her feel brave, adventurous; she hadn’t felt either of those things in a long time.
As instructed, she dressed in layers, putting on a pair of leggings under her jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt and sweater, two pairs of thick socks. She pulled out the puffy ski jacket Dani insisted on buying her for a weekend trip to Vermont, along with a hat and mittens. Just when she thought she might have to step outside to prevent herself from overheating, there was a knock on the door.
Alex looked ridiculously sexy in jeans and hiking boots, a black cap, and dark green North Face jacket. Even with the burst of cool air from the outside, Lia found herself flushed. “Well, hello.”
“Hello, yourself. Ready?”
“Are you still not telling me where we’re going?”
“It’s a surprise. It isn’t far, so you’ll know soon enough.”
Lia pulled the door closed behind her. As they walked to Alex’s truck, she noticed a furry face in the back seat. Murphy was wearing a coat of his own. It was dark blue with a wooly collar and reminded Lia of a horse blanket. “Is Murphy joining us?”
“He is. We’re doing one of his favorite activities, so it seemed mean to leave him at home.”
As far as Lia knew, Murphy’s favorite activities were sleeping, eating, and chasing sticks. “I see.”
“Have a little faith.”
Alex drove them up Shank Painter Road to Route 6, but only stayed on it for about half a mile. She turned left onto Race Point Road which, as far as Lia knew, led only to the tiny airport and the beach. They passed the airport entrance and the small, unmanned booth at the driveway to the beach parking lot. There wasn’t another car there.
Lia had ventured to the beach on the harbor side of town a few times since her arrival. It was beautiful and serene, the water a disarmingly dark shade of blue. She’d given it up, though, once the snow started to accumulate. “Isn’t it a bit snowy for a walk on the beach?”
“Patience, grasshopper.” Alex put the car in park and walked around to the back. Lia couldn’t see what she was doing, so she opened her door and climbed out to join her. Alex was holding a pair of metal frames with rubber-looking mesh and straps.
“Are those snowshoes?”
“Yes, ma’am, they are.”
Lia experienced a wave of excitement laced with trepidation. “I’ve never gone snowshoeing before.”
“It’s as easy as walking.”
“That’s what they said about cross-country skiing.” She thought back to her awkward and exhausting attempts to slog along the trail in Vermont.
“Ah, but it’s actually true about snowshoeing. Just step into these and I’ll tighten them for you.”
Lia did as she was told and Alex bent down, turning a knob that tightened the contraption around her boot. She stood in place, staring at her feet, while Alex walked back to the back of the vehicle. She looked up as Alex pulled out a second pair. “You own two pairs of snowshoes?”
“Well, technically, they are on long-term loan. Meg and Rob bought them, used them once, then realized they don’t like being out in the wilderness. I promised to give them back if they ever want to try again.”
“Ah.” Lia thought about Alex’s sister and her husband. It didn’t surprise her in the least that the urbanites were not keen on outdoor winter recreation. The image of them stomping through the snow made her smile.
Alex closed the hatch then opened the back door so Murphy could hop down. While he pranced around, she strapped the second pair to her own feet. “If you hate it, we can stop anytime. You just have to tell me.”
Lia smiled because it was clear that Alex meant it. She felt her nervousness melt away. She was adventurous, after all. “Let’s do it.”
Alex was right. With only a slight adjustment in her gait, Lia was able to walk up the path that led over the dune and down to the beach. Snow coated the slats of the wooden fence and gathered in drifts where dead sea grass blew in the breeze. When they crested the small hill, Lia saw the beach and ocean spread as far as the eye could see. There wasn’t another person in sight. “Wow.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Once they were down the path, Alex came up alongside and took her hand.
“It’s beautiful.”
Alex grinned. “So are you.”
“I’ve got nothing on this.”
Alex wasn’t so sure. Lia’s cheeks were pink and her eyes bright. It reminded her of the first morning Lia walked into her shop, the first moment Alex found herself drawn to her. “There’s no trail, so we can walk as far as you’re comfortable and then turn back. Sound good?”
Murphy bounded along next to them, running ahead, then circling back. Even without any sticks to chase, it was clear he was having a good time. The snow was a good six inches deep where they walked, covering the shells and seaweed that usually littered the beach. The waves crashed along the shoreline. The water seemed to be heavier, to move slower, than in the summer. There was a jagged line of ice that marked high tide.
As they walked, Lia realized what felt so different. In addition to no tourists, there were no gulls or terns circling and screeching overhead. The only sound was that of the ocean.
“I could become addicted to living by the sea,” Lia said.
“I know I have. Even without the luxury of living right on the water, knowing it’s close by, and having access to it anytime, is something I don’t think I could ever give up.”
Lia tried not to think about the spring, when her lease would be up and she’d have to leave both the ocean and Alex. Like she’d told herself so many times in the last few months, it was the moment that mattered. She’d deal with the future when the future came.
After about half an hour, they decided to head back, more from the cold than fatigue. In the car, Alex cranked the heat, although it wasn’t likely to accomplish much on the short drive to town. “Come home with me? I’ll light a fire and make you soup.”
Lia smiled. “I don’t think I could resist that even if I wanted to.”
Back at Alex’s, they began the process of peeling off their layers of clothing. “Do you want to shower before we eat?”
Lia nodded. “Yes, please. Will you join me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Alex stepped into the tub and cranked the hot water. Lia followed and Alex shifted so Lia could stand under the spray. Watching the water sluice over Lia’s skin made Alex’s fingers itch to touch her. To give them something to do, she picked up the shampoo and squirted a generous amount into her palm. “Turn around.”
Lia
did as she was told and Alex worked the shampoo into her hair, massaging her scalp and causing Lia to groan with pleasure. Alex swallowed the lump in her throat and guided Lia under the spray to rinse. She repeated the process with conditioner, then moved on to body wash. She turned Lia back to face her. When Lia blinked her eyes open and fixed her with a sultry stare, Alex gave in to the desire that had been building inside her. She ran her hands up Lia’s sides and over the swell of her breasts. Lia’s nipples hardened at the touch and a small moan escaped her lips.
Alex closed the short distance between them and found Lia’s lips. Lia’s skin was slippery with soap and it slid erotically over Alex’s. When their nipples brushed, Lia bit down lightly on Alex’s shoulder and tested the limits of Alex’s self-control. Alex allowed her fingers to trail lower, over Lia’s abdomen and into the triangle of dark hair at the top of her thighs.
Lia shifted slightly, giving Alex both access and an invitation. Alex dipped her fingers lower and found Lia already slick with arousal. “Oh, God.”
Lia let out a shaky laugh. “It’s you. You do this to me.”
Alex was pretty confident in her abilities as a lover, but there was something about Lia’s reaction to her that was different. It was so powerful, so instant; Alex found it intoxicating. “I love that.”
Alex teased her with long, slow strokes. Lia braced a hand against the shower wall. The hot water continued to course over her and Alex bent to take one of her nipples into her mouth. Alex sucked and tugged in sync with the thrust of her hand, creating a rhythm that she knew would push Lia closer to the edge.
Lia was pressing against her with increasing urgency. When she shifted again, Alex took advantage of the improved access, easing two fingers inside her. The slow strokes became forceful thrusts and Lia bucked against her. Alex used her thumb to press against Lia’s throbbing clit and immediately felt her entire body tense.
Lia quaked for a long time and she feared they both might tumble over. Eventually, her body stilled and Alex gently pulled her hand away. Lia looked at her, but her eyes seemed unfocused.
“How do you do that?” Lia was clearly out of breath, which made Alex smile.
“It’s you,” she said, turning Lia’s words back on her. “You do this to me.”
“Oh, I have a few things I’d like to do to you.”
She was about to make a smart-mouth retort when Lia grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. Lia took her hands and placed each of them on the wall above her head. Alex could feel Lia’s breath on her ear as she said, “Don’t move.”
Lia dragged her nails down Alex’s back and over her ass. She continued to knead the taut muscles with her left hand while her right reached around front. Alex inched her feet further apart, opening herself for Lia’s touch. She was hard and throbbing when Lia’s fingers found her. Unused to the position, Alex pressed back, craving the feel of Lia’s body against her.
What she felt, however, was Lia’s left hand, sliding between her legs from behind. The next thing she knew, Lia was inside her. Surprise quickly gave way to white-hot desire. The feel of Lia’s fingers sliding in and out, slightly curved to stroke her in just the right spot, made her groan. Lia continued to move along either side of her clit with her other hand, sliding up and down in time with each thrust. The pressure built quickly. As much as Alex wanted to prolong the feeling, she was powerless to hold back.
Lia could feel Alex constricting, convulsing around her. She pressed the pads of her fingers against the small, ridged spot, using all of her strength to hold them there as Alex bucked against her, screamed her name. Feeling the way Alex shuddered against her was almost more powerful than her own orgasm. When Alex went lax, Lia eased her hands away, keeping an arm around her waist for support.
She planted a kiss between Alex’s shoulder blades. “Let’s get out of here before one of us drowns.”
“Mmm hmm.”
Lia smiled and reached around to turn off the water. She stepped out of the shower, handing Alex a towel from the hook on the back of the door. As they dried off, Lia said, “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.”
Alex stopped drying her hair and looked at her. “Had sex in the shower or been such a top?”
Lia bit her bottom lip. “Both?”
“Well, feel free to give into either of those urges anytime.”
Lia flushed. She was going to have to push out of her comfort zone more often, especially if the result was anything like this. In the bedroom, Alex offered her a pair of flannel pants and a sweatshirt. Lia accepted gratefully and pulled them on. “Okay, now I’m starving.”
“Ditto. I can cook something more substantial than soup, but it will take longer.”
“No, soup is good. What I’d really love is a grilled cheese with it.”
“I’m sorry…Are you seven?”
“I’m sorry. Are you knocking grilled cheese sandwiches?”
“Not at all. I would just never think to eat one.”
“I don’t know if I should be offended or feel sorry for you. You start a fire. I’ll make sandwiches and we’ll see who still thinks they’re kiddie food.”
They headed to the kitchen and Lia went to root around in the refrigerator. She wasn’t disappointed. She pulled out ingredients, along with a container of soup from the café. Twenty minutes later, they sat on the couch with Alex’s roasted red pepper soup and Lia’s brie and pear on grilled sourdough.
“I didn’t realize you were counting this as grilled cheese,” Alex said between bites.
“It’s grilled and it’s cheese, isn’t it?”
“Who can argue with that logic?”
They finished their meal, then found a rom-com marathon on television. At one point, she fell asleep; when she woke, Alex was dozing. It was, in her mind, the perfect afternoon. When the fire began to fade, Alex added logs. Lia opened a bottle of wine. They had a simple pasta dinner, invited Murphy to join them on the couch. Flopped on his back between them, with his legs in the air, he snored like an old man and took up far more than his third.
That night, curled up under the blankets with Alex’s arm slung around her waist, Lia imagined what it would be like to fall asleep like this every night. The thought made her heart beat just a little bit faster. Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea after all.
Chapter Thirty
Lia sat on the sofa, folding laundry and singing along to the Rent soundtrack. When her phone ringtone cut into the middle of “The Tango: Maureen,” she did a solo tango across the room to where her phone sat on the counter. She looked at the screen and her heart sank. Dani was calling. Lia feared it was bad news about her father.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Lia.” Dani’s voice was upbeat and it caught her off guard.
“Hi.”
“It’s me.”
“I know. What’s up?”
“Not much. I didn’t hear back from you so I wasn’t sure if you got my text the other day. I thought I’d give you a call instead.”
Lia suddenly remembered the text she got from Dani on Valentine’s Day, along with the fact that she’d put it out of her mind and never responded. “Is everything okay?”
“Things are great. You?”
“Your dad?”
“His doctor hasn’t cleared him to go back to work yet, but he’s chomping at the bit. He says he’s feeling better than ever.”
“Oh. That’s great. I’m so glad to hear it.”
“Of course, he’s downplaying the whole thing, which I suppose means he’s back to normal. How are you? What are you up to today?”
“Umm, laundry.”
Dani laughed. She had one of those low, sexy laughs that reminded Lia of a femme fatale in an old movie. “Can I confess something? Since you’ve been gone, I’ve resorted to sending the laundry out. All of it. I’m so helpless.”
Lia couldn’t help but laugh a little. She’d done most of the laundry, but she figured it was because her job allowed her to be home more of th
e day. “I think it’s more that you can’t be bothered than you aren’t capable.”
“Perhaps.” Dani’s tone seemed almost flirtatious. “I liked the way you did it, though, like you were taking care of me. It just isn’t the same.”
It was 11:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. There was no reason Dani wouldn’t be at work. Lia tried to picture her at her desk in her corner office. It didn’t make sense. Dani didn’t call her in the middle of the day when they were together. She certainly didn’t call for idle chatter or, Lia realized uncomfortably, flirtation.
“Dani, why are you calling me?”
“I didn’t realize I had to invent an excuse every time I wanted to talk to you.”
Lia couldn’t tell if Dani was hurt or being defensive. She didn’t want to be antagonistic, but she felt weird about where the conversation was going. “It’s not about having an excuse. It’s about me trying to figure out why, after all these months, you’ve decided to be in touch. What do you want?”
“I was trying to give you space.”
“Space?” Lia thought about the pictures she saw on Facebook. New Year’s Eve had been just the tip of the iceberg. Once Lia started clicking around, it was clear that Dani had been spending her time with a variety of women: at parties, on ski slopes, even on a beach somewhere. “I really don’t think that’s how I would classify the end of our relationship.”
“Lia, I made some mistakes. I know that. I respected that you needed to leave so that you could work through it. I still care about you.”
Lia’s mind was turning. Was Dani feeling guilty all of a sudden? Was she after something? It simply didn’t make sense. “I…I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine.”
“I’m glad. Look, I didn’t mean to interrupt your day. I have a meeting I have to get to anyway. Take care of yourself, okay?”
“You too.”
“Thanks, baby. Bye.”
Baby? Lia looked at her phone for a long while after the call ended. If she didn’t know better, Lia would swear that Dani was trying to get her back. It was impossible, though. Even if Dani had decided Lia was worth fighting for, she wouldn’t have waited four months to do something about it. Maybe her latest flavor of the month hadn’t ended well. Maybe her father’s heart attack had made her sentimental.