"Henna?" I asked, my voice huskier than usual.
"Yes," she said, stroking her fingertips over my arm as I followed the design closer to her center.
"Did you do it?" I bit my lip as I employed her tactic of talking and caressing at the same time.
"Raven did it at Beltane." Her chest rose and fell quicker as I moved over her hip to the markings below her belly button. A surge of unexpected jealousy rushed me. Raven was this close to her the same day that I was? My brows narrowed as I tried to control my emotions.
"Why did you let her?" I asked, circling her navel before heading downward.
"You weren't there," her pitch lifted on her final word. I wanted to press her with questions about it but thought better of it as I took in her form. She grinded her hips faintly against me as I continued the slow torture. Ever present in my mind was the thought that I'd never touched a woman like this before. I didn't want to mess everything up so I decided to use it to my advantage.
"Did she crouch between your trembling thighs while she painted you?" I paused, an inch from her clit.
"Yes." She almost whimpered. Her fingers twitched and I imagined she wanted to grab my hand to force me on her. I got the sense that Mae wasn't used to being played with, since she was the one always doing the playing.
"You wouldn't let her touch you though, huh? The cone leaving cold trails on your skin in places you wanted warmed," I continued to taunt. Mae's eyes, wide as she watched me, told me that I'd surprised her with the divulging. I'd observed Mae long enough to know how she worked. "Why?"
"I want you to touch me," she croaked, her breathing quickening still.
"I know you do," I said, my heart pounding in my chest as my arousal grew endlessly. "And I will."
She seemed relieved when her posture relaxed slightly, though I wasn't satisfied yet. If she wanted me so bad, why did she turn to Raven? I saw Raven flirting with that girl. Mae knew just as I had that Raven would struggle being so close to her that way. I could play with words any day, but could I play with Mae as effectively?
"Ella," Mae said when I didn't continue. "Touch me."
"I will," I promised, tracing every single swirl and curve of the henna. "Did she touch you?"
"Please,” she whimpered.
I pressed my thumb to her clit, circling slowly. “She did, didn’t she?”
“I didn’t want her.” Mae's breath was hard and hot.
“She wanted you.” I knew it all along, and my stomach wrenched with the thought of them together. "Did she?" I pressed, reversing the trail to cover the patterns that coated her inner thigh.
Mae dropped forward, clutching my shoulders, and brought our mouths together before mumbling against them, “I only ever wanted you.”
"Good," I whispered and finally, gave in.
I caressed her hardened clit as she rocked against me. A soft moan escaped her when she got what she wanted. I hadn't a clue what I was doing so I mimicked the movements she'd done to me. Around her nub and back again had her quaking. A series of flicks brought her hands to her hair as she leaned up again. She tilted her hips back some, exposing more of herself to my affections. I reached between us, stroking her deeply, and continuing the delicate assault on her clit.
Mae was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and her breasts swayed with her movement. Without warning, she gripped my wrist and scooted forward until two of my fingers dipped inside her hot, slippery folds. She moaned deeply, satisfied it seemed with the way I worked her. She glistened and the deep rich scent of her arousal, coupled with soothing patchouli, set alight a swarm of new desires. I licked my lips as I ached to taste her. Mae bucked against me while I rubbed her clit side to side at the same time that I moved in her. Her breath caught in her throat and she tossed her head back. Moans wracked her body and she clenched my fingers. She cried out then dropped down over me again, her hips continuing to move as she rode the waves of her orgasm, eventually calming above me. She panted when I withdrew from her, though I cupped her heat in my palm. She reached between us, mimicking the gesture a bit more roughly than I expected. I gasped when she gripped me then rested her forehead against mine.
Silence fell around us in quiet understanding.
Chapter Seven
Early morning sun beat down on my face, rousing me from a slumber so deep that it took forever to open my eyes. What day was it? What time? I glanced at the alarm clock that told me I had work in an hour.
"Shit," I muttered as Mae's arms wrapped around me from beneath the blankets.
"Cancel class," she said, her voice deep and groggy.
"I can't. I've never—"
"All the more reason to." She dragged her fingertips over my stomach, setting me on fire again with a simple gesture.
"Hand me the tablet there." I nodded toward the computer on the nightstand beside her.
She rolled over, grabbed it, then handed it to me. The blankets fell around her middle and I had a difficult time drawing my gaze away from her breasts.
"Thanks."
"Anything to get you to stay." Mae brushed my hair from my shoulder as I sat up, placing the tablet in my lap.
The internal war returned to battle inside me. Last night, everything seemed right where it should be with Mae. I had confidence and enjoyed every moment. This morning, just the thought of work, of anything outside the two of us, had me questioning myself again.
I logged into the college's system and cancelled all my classes for the day. Pressure met my eyes as I fought the uprising of emotion. Mae sat beside me, watching me tap through the prompts. Her hand fell to my back then wrapped around my shoulders when I set the tablet aside. I leaned into her and she pulled me into a hug.
"Talk to me," she implored.
"I'm sorry," I said, brushing away tears brought by overwhelming confusion.
"Talk to me without apologizing for things you can't help." Mae guided me to lie down with her, pulling the blankets over us. We rolled on our sides to face each other. Mae held my hands in hers, kissing my knuckles. I smiled a bit as she soothed me.
"This is new, that's all." I met her gaze and she nodded.
"I know. But let me tell you, last night didn't feel new. You didn't feel new at all." A rosy tinge hit her cheeks, bringing her freckles out a bit more.
"It didn't feel all that new either."
"Was it really the first time you…with a woman?"
"Yeah. It was the first time for a lot of things," I admitted.
"What do you mean?" Her tawny brows furrowed. "Wait a minute, you're not a virgin—"
"Mae! That's ridiculous. Of course not." I laughed through my words and she joined me in it.
"I was gonna say…"
"Stop it."
"C'mon, that would've been awesome." She grinned, continuing to tease me. "What was the first then?"
"Nothing, I was kidding," I flat out lied and Mae gave me a shove. "Hey."
"Tell me."
"Nope."
"I want to know."
"I don't care," I said, sniggering now at her mini-tantrum.
"Ella!" She squeaked, grabbing my wrists and rolling herself on top of me. Her warm body melted against mine.
"You can't always get everything you want, Meadow Breeze." I let her pin me to the bed as fire burned between my legs. I loved her on top of me and yet, had no idea why.
"What's your middle name so I can call you it when you're being a jerk?" Mae thrust my arms into the pillows and I grinned.
"I don't have one, sorry."
"Do too."
"Nope. But Ella isn't my given name, it's chosen. So wrap your brain around that one for a minute," I said, snickering under my breath.
She opened her mouth to retort then paused for a second. She released me, sat up, then tilted her head. "Wait… no one's ever gone down on you before?"
"I didn't say that." But I bet the color of my hot cheeks sure did.
"Really?" Mae gawked. I nodded
. A satisfied smile spread across her lips. "Good."
"Did you hook up with Raven?" I blurted out, against my better judgment, after I caught sight of the henna again.
"Does it matter?" She watched me, a somber glaze dimmed her usually bright eyes.
"To me it does."
"Why?"
"I don't know." I shrugged, glancing over her shoulder then back to her.
"We hooked up a few years ago. It wasn't anything but that."
"And on Beltane? Why did you let her…?" I traced my finger over the markings on her thigh.
"To tease me a little. She tried to do more but I stopped her," she said, drawing circles around my nipples.
"Why'd you stop her?" I bit my lip as her affection quelled some of my worries.
"I hadn't given up on you yet."
"I'm glad. Can I ask you something?" I said as she laced her fingers with mine.
"Sure."
"Did you always know?"
"That I'd fall for you? The minute I walked through the shop curtain and saw you standing there," she said, toying with my fingernails.
"No, not that." Again, heat rose to my face. Had anyone ever managed to make me blush like this before? "I mean, that you liked girls."
"Yeah, I've always known. At twelve when all the other girls I knew fawned after boys, I wondered what their boobs would feel like instead of my own." She released my hands to cup my breasts. "I liked theirs a lot better."
"I'm too old for an identity crisis." I sighed, resigning to opening up my true feelings to her.
"Old? What are you, thirty? C'mon."
"I don't know how to do this," I admitted.
"Ella, there's only one thing that's uniquely different about this." She leaned down, her mouth an inch from mine.
"What?" I reached up, tangling my fingers in her hair.
"I don't have a penis," she said. I cracked up as she placed a trail of kisses along my neck. "But I promise you, it won't matter one bit."
***
Around noon, Mae and I emerged from the bedroom. She wore nothing but her white blouse, tied loosely and hanging heavily around her thighs. I slipped on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top.
"I like your hair down like that," Mae said on our way to the kitchen.
"Untamed?" I smirked. "Are you hungry?" I asked her as Monkey nearly tripped me. "Shit, sorry. I forgot to feed her."
"She hates you now. Yes, I'm starving." Mae perched herself at the island counter beside where I fed Monkey. The cat crunched eagerly on her food.
"I can make an omelet and bacon if you like." I pulled open the fridge to gaze inside. "Toast and orange juice. Or sandwiches."
"Omelet is good, kitten," she said as she stroked Monkey while she ate. I glanced at her, noting the sudden nickname I gained. I set everything out on the counter and Mae broke away from the cat to grab dishes from the cabinets.
"Cheese? Ham?"
"Both." She grinned and swatted my rear as she stole the bag of bread from me. "I'll make toast."
In the midst of cracking egg number four, a knock sounded at the door. Monkey ignored it this time.
"Expecting someone?" Mae asked.
"No. My usual unannounced visitor is already here." I smiled at her and she gave my hair a tug before I broke away from her. "Keep an eye on the bacon."
"Yes, Mistress."
"Very funny."
I released the chain and pulled the door open to see Delia standing there. Worry laced her expression as she gripped her mobile in her hands. She bounded inside the moment the door swung wide enough.
"Ella! I thought you were dead or something. Cancelling all your classes? Why didn't you answer my calls?" She tossed her arms around me dramatically. I returned her embrace.
"I'm fine, Delia—"
"After the way we left off yesterday, I didn't know what to think."
"Really, I'm fine," I said, as she released me, though still held onto my arms. A clatter sounded from the kitchen.
"You're not alone?" Delia's eyes brightened. "I knew that call was from a—"
"Ella?" Mae came around the corner and paused when she saw me with Delia.
"Um… Delia, this is Mae. She…" The sight of Mae wearing only a shirt stopped my introduction in its tracks. Mae's narrowed brow told me she wasn't all that happy. Her expression changed the moment Delia dropped her grip on me. "Delia and I work together at the college," I added, a heap of pressure behind my words.
"Nice to meet you," Mae said, stepping toward us. Her hand fell to the small of my back as Delia's forehead wrinkled when she lifted her brows. She looked between us, pointed at Mae, stared at me, then tapped her lip.
"Really?" she whispered her question, her gaze locked with mine.
Mae's fingers pressed in on my back, a gesture meant to soothe and affirm it seemed. I hadn't had much time to process this myself before Delia showed up. I crossed my arms over my middle as ripples of insecurity radiated through me. After an uncomfortable few seconds, I held my breath and nodded, deciding I would deal with the fallout regardless.
"Yeah," I said.
"For how long?" Delia's gaze seemed frozen together with mine.
"Not long. A few days."
Mae beamed beside me, reaching around my hip to lace her fingers with mine.
"Days? Have you…" Delia shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. "Are you… I mean, have you always been?"
"No. Can we…can we talk about this tomorrow, Delia? I um…" Mae moved behind me, wrapping her arms around my middle while resting her chin on my shoulder. The gesture, I knew, was more for Delia than me.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course." Delia waved her hand in front of her. "Call me later."
"I will," I said, taking a deep breath as Mae released me. I walked Delia to the door while Mae sauntered back to the kitchen. Delia stepped into the hall and I gnawed on my bottom lip.
"Really?" she repeated in hushed tones.
"Yeah." I laughed a bit.
"I never would've thought…"
"Me either…"
***
"Come here," Mae called from the living room as I exited the bedroom the next morning, pulling my wet hair into a ponytail.
"No please has found its way into your summons?" I commented as I made my way over to her. Mae perched on the sofa, dressed in her usual airy attire.
"Nope." She held her hands to me and I took them before I sat beside her.
"I'll remember that. What's going on?" I asked when she leaned in and kissed me.
"You're my favorite," she broke the kiss to proclaim.
"I know," I said, the sight of her twinkling eyes had me smiling. "You're worried about something."
"Come to the shop after work today?" she queried, her tone lifting in the end as if she intended to implore me then changed her mind at the last minute to ask instead.
"Sure. I can. Do you want me to drive you back?"
"Liz is going to pick me up."
"What's the worry then?" I asked, stroking her palm with my thumb.
"Nothing. I'm being stupid," she said, kissing me softly once more. "You have to go."
"I know." I stood, heading toward the door. "Make sure Monkey doesn't run out when you leave."
"I will." She watched me, a wry smile playing on her lips as I tossed my bag over my shoulder.
"Mae?" I glanced at her over my shoulder, the doorknob cold in my hand.
"Yes, kitten?"
"You're my favorite, too."
Worry left her eyes and she smiled.
It hadn't occurred to me that another person could integrate themselves so fully into my consciousness that my every thought revolved around them. On the drive to work, Mae remained with me in my thoughts.
Delia waited for me in the faculty parking lot, my usual space empty beside hers on yet another quiet Friday morning.
"Why didn't you tell me?" was the first thing out of her mouth the moment my boots hit the pavement.
"What's to tell
?" I tucked a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.
"Ella, you're sleeping with a woman. That's pretty significant considering you were straight a week ago." Delia's words hissed as she failed miserably at whisper-shouting.
"Can you keep it down? Not everyone needs to know my business." My voice echoed as we climbed the stairs together.
"What's it like? Is it different? Is the sex better? I heard it's better."
"Don't make this any weirder than it already is."
"C'mon." She nudged me with her elbow.
"Stop it."
"C'mon." She groaned.
"Fine. It's better, okay? A lot better. Everyone should sleep with women. The world would be a lot more sexually satisfied if everyone slept with women. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes." She howled, linking her elbow with mine as she walked me to my classroom. "Now details. Where'd you meet?"
"I already told you that. She owns that shop in Salem."
"Really? You met her doing research? Who pursued who?"
"You've reached your question quota for the day. Obviously, it wasn't me pursuing her. I barely know what I'm doing as it is."
"I bet you're good at it." She grinned, releasing me beside the desk.
"Good at what?"
"Lesbian sex."
"Why do you say that?" I lifted a brow at her.
"I have no idea. I was trying to get around asking another question since you'll shove me off."
"You're too much." I smirked as I unpacked a stack of handouts from my briefcase.
"You love me anyway." She waved me off.
"Yeah, I do. I'm sorry that I worried you," I said, leaning back against the desk as I normally do, facing the empty chairs.
"I'm just glad you're okay." Delia glanced toward the back door when it opened. "I better take my leave then. See you, Ella."
"See you."
***
The only thing I had to hold on to after leaving class was the impending summer. Three whole months to gather my thoughts if I chose. At times, I envied Delia's travels, but couldn't really envision myself flouncing around the world. What would this summer hold for me? Would this...whatever it was with Mae, outlast it?
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