The Island Angel

by Alex Slorra

  “Shit.” She remembered seeing a torch in Anna’s junk drawer and felt her way around the table to the sideboard.

  “Abbie! Jessica!” Anna’s frightened voice called.

  In the dark, Jessica raced upstairs and was about to open the door to Anna’s bedroom when a LED light flashed, and a hand snatched at her wrist.

  “Wait. You have to be careful,” Abbie said, then shouted through the bedroom door, “Mum. It’s me and Jessica.”

  “Is anyone else with you?” Anna asked, terror ripping apart the syllables.

  “No, Mum, just us.” Abbie turned to Jessica. “Open the door but be careful. She might have her hammer.”

  “What?” Jessica tried to read Abbie’s face, but she could only see her outline in the diffused light from her phone.

  “She has a hammer under her bed. When she’s scared, she gets it out. She almost hit me with it by mistake.”

  “God.” Jessica opened the door and stepped in. “Anna. It’s me.”

  Standing in the corner beside the bed, Anna’s form was revealed by Abbie’s phone. She was wet from the shower and wrapped in a towel. In her right hand, she held a claw hammer in a defensive position away from her chest.

  Without hesitation, Jessica went to her. She took the hammer from her hand and threw it onto the bed. She wrapped Anna into a hug and held her. “Honey, it’s only a power cut.”

  Jessica could feel the woman’s frantic breathing. “We need to check if he’s here,” Anna muttered.

  “Mum, no one else is here.” Abbie rubbed her arm.

  “You’re safe,” Jessica soothed.

  “I’m…sorry, sorry… Where’s Sarah?”

  “I’m here,” Sarah’s voice came from behind. She also had her phone with her, and its light flashed around the room.

  For a moment, all that could be heard was Anna’s slowing pants. “Sorry, panicked.”

  Jessica released Anna and turned to her friend, “Can you sit with her? I’ll find some candles.”

  “Of course,” Sarah said, before letting out a gasp. “Fucking shitholes. Did you just do that?” Sarah’s phone was shining on Anna’s black and blue thigh.

  Anna shook her head. “Daisy stepped on me. My fault.”

  “God, girl. Sit down for fuck’s sake.”

  “Sarah, your language,” Anna said in a whisper.

  “Mum, it’s okay.” Abbie collected the hammer and shoved it under the bed.

  “Can you help me find the candles, Abbie?” Jessica asked.

  “Yeah.”

  After collecting candlesticks from the lounge, they placed them together on the farmhouse table and lit the candles. “Your mum hasn’t eaten, so I’m going to make something. I guess it’ll have to be a sandwich. Do you want anything?”

  Abbie shook her head.

  “Does your mum get scared a lot?” she asked while grabbing ham, lettuce, tomatoes, and butter from the lifeless interior of the fridge.

  “Not always, just at night. But I’m at school most nights.”

  “Do you know what scares her?” Jessica asked as nonchalantly as she could. However, in the candlelight, she could see Abbie’s frown turn into a scowl and then, to Jessica’s astonishment, her expression shifted to utter sadness and tears broke loose.

  “Oh, honey!” Jessica pulled the girl into a hug.

  “She has nightmares. I don’t know what she’s afraid of. I try to help,” Abbie sobbed.

  “Sweetheart, it’s okay,” Jessica wasn’t sure what else to say. Unable to explain what Anna’s fears were, she wondered if it was some form of post-traumatic stress related to the scars on her chest. Whatever it was, it was clearly taking a toll on her daughter.

  “I just forgot about Daisy… I was video editing with Katy. Mum’s all over the place. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” She sobbed between each word.

  Jessica held her, allowing Abbie to release pent-up emotions, perhaps for the first time. Taking hold of the girl’s shoulders, she leaned back and looked into her puffy, red eyes.

  “Listen, princess. It’s not your fault. It truly isn’t. None of it.”

  Abbie wiped away her tears on the sleeves of her Ariana Grande hoodie.

  “Everything will be all right. I’ll help.” Jessica promised, hoping to hell she could honour the vow. “Okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  The frozen peas were still on the counter, and Jessica handed them to Abbie. “Here, take these to your mum.”

  Abbie looked down at the bag. “You know you need to cook them, right?”

  Jessica laughed, causing Abbie to quirk a smile. “It’s for her leg. I can’t find any ice.”

  “Oh.”

  “And take a candle.”

  Abbie nodded, wiped her eyes again and picked up a candlestick. It created flickering shadows as she travelled down the hall.

  She’s like Florence Nightingale…with a bag of frozen peas. Jessica sighed. There’s so much I need to do here.

  TO THE RIGHT of Anna’s bed, the candle on the chest of drawers emitted a soft orange light, illuminating the room. Anna was propped by three pillows. A bag of thawing peas wrapped in a towel was pressed to her leg. She poked the last corner of the sandwich Jessica had made for her into her mouth. The paralysing fear from earlier had subsided. Jessica had eventually brought her back down to reality with reassuring words and the comfort of her presence. It had taken an hour before she accepted he wasn’t there. Then another hour passed while she considered her behaviour. She felt embarrassed by her reaction to the blackout, especially when it had been in front of everyone.

  She glanced down at Jessica asleep beside her. A flutter of affection caused her to bend down and kiss Jessica’s hair. Jessica’s long, lean body lay stretched out beside her. She wore a pair of striped pyjama shorts and an oversized white T-shirt. Her chestnut hair partly concealed her face. Anna couldn’t resist sweeping some of those strands away from her cheek. Who made you so perfect?

  Jessica’s smile, when she chose to share it, would light up the air around her. Her amazing different coloured eyes were something she could stare into all day. And, God, she can sing. Anna sighed. She definitely had a crush on this woman. It would be hard for any sane person not to want her. She reminded herself she was unhinged. At least that’s what John used to tell her.

  When Jessica had pulled off her shirt earlier that evening, she had expected they would make love. Jessica’s eyes had been so dark and sultry. She’s not like that. She takes nothing and has done so much for us. Who is a sleeping Jessica for? Not for me…

  A tear ran down her cheek as she dared to accept what was right in front of her. She shifted under the crisp white duvet cover, careful not to bump her injured leg, and snuggled against Jessica’s back. A soft murmur came from Jessica when Anna brushed her fingers over the impossibly soft skin of her abdomen. She hadn’t meant to touch her, but Jessica’s T-shirt had shimmied up.

  “I’m going to need you to make love to me soon,” Anna said in her softest whisper, daring her declaration to be heard. She kissed the base of Jessica’s neck and then pressed her cheek against the same spot.

  “Would now be okay?” Jessica whispered and slowly turned her body to face her.

  “I thought…you were asleep.” Anna stammered.

  “It’s hard to sleep beside someone so stunning.” Jessica’s lips were a hair’s breadth away.

  Anna hesitated for a moment. Her heart raced out of control. “Thanks… And, well, yes to your question,” she finally said, almost mouthing the words.

  Jessica kissed the tip Anna’s nose. “You’re sure? Your leg?”

  Her throat had gone dry, and she swallowed. “We can work around it,” she said, forcing the words out. This had to happen. It felt like her life depended on feeding the building sensations between them.

  Jessica reached over and gripped the hem of Anna’s old Michigan Wolverines T-shirt.

  She allowed her top to be tugged over her head. Normally, her r
eaction at this point would be to cover her breasts by crossing her arms. At least, that’s what she’d usually done when John had unrobed her. But here, with Jessica, she felt the opposite—she wanted Jess to see her, touch her.

  When Jessica removed her own top, Anna bit her lip. She was slimmer than she expected. Jessica had an athletic build with small, perfectly round breasts. Anna’s eyes lingered, taking Jessica in. She must truly be the creation of a goddess. She moved close, wanting to feel her skin against her own. As they pressed together, she was amazed at how warm and soft she felt. It was breathtaking to feel Jessica’s body against hers.

  Jessica’s hand travelled upward, along the curve of Anna’s hip, stopping just below her breast, as their lips gently touched. The kiss surprised Anna in its tenderness. She closed her eyes and sank into it, melting as their tongues slipped over each other, releasing a warmth that spread outwards from her centre.

  When Anna opened her eyes, Jess was watching her as if checking to make sure everything was as it should be.

  The candle’s flame flickered as the wick neared its end. Outside the rain pattered without the wild wind from earlier.

  “I want you,” Anna said, admitting her raw needs. “I’ve not said that to anyone before.”

  “I was yours a while ago.” Jessica smiled, her fingers twisting blonde strands.

  “Now you tell me.” She chuckled, shoving Jessica’s shoulder and causing her to topple over onto her back.

  Wary of her bruised thigh, Anna eased on top of her. The tip of her tongue then her lips pressed to Jessica’s neck as she kissed and nibbled her way upwards. When Jessica’s hands cupped her breasts, squeezing them firmly, she moaned.

  Anna sought revenge by finding Jess’s earlobe, sucking on it, before blowing across her ear.

  Under her, Jessica squirmed, “Stop, that tickles,” she pleaded.

  “No wriggling.” She needed to be the one who was in control, another first for her. Her hand moved to touch Jessica’s chin, keeping her head to one side as she used her tongue to flick along Jessica’s ear. She’d never done this to anyone before but had always wanted to.

  “Anna, please, that’s— Stop, you minx!” Jessica whimpered.

  Fingers tightened around Anna’s breasts and her already tight nipples hardened further. “You want me to stop?” Anna huffed over her ear.

  “Maybe. I don’t know… No, I mean…no.” Jessica grunted, trying to twist away from Anna’s kisses and licks. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  Anna released Jessica’s chin. Jess’s hands slipped from her breasts to rest on her hips. “I am?” she asked, seeking out Jessica’s eyes.

  “God, yes,” she said between pants.

  Anna reached down and pulled the duvet over the top of them. “I want to do so much to you…”

  “Like what?”

  “Like this.” Anna kissed a trail along the centre of Jessica’s chest, then travelled over to her right breast, cradling it before taking her nipple into her mouth.

  Jessica moaned in pleasure, causing Anna to dart her fingers over Jessica’s mouth. “You have to be quiet,” Anna whispered, flicking her tongue around the circle of Jessica’s pebbled areola. She took her right nipple into her mouth again while her fingers twisted, then tugged on the left.

  The thrill of pleasing Jessica was intoxicating. It was a new elixir of magical quantities Anna didn’t want to stop consuming. And, for some reason, she wasn’t worried about knowing what to do. It just seemed natural and instinctive. Of course, she knew what she liked, but she wasn’t transposing. She was embracing what felt right.

  “I need you up here,” Jessica begged. Her short fingernails were digging into Anna’s back. Anna kissed her way back up to Jessica’s mouth.

  “What’s wrong?” Anna asked.

  “Ah. Nothing… You’re pushing me to the edge. I need you close when I…”

  Anna eased delicately to one side so she had a thigh bent over Jessica’s legs. “Okay. So when you say the edge…” Her fingertips danced over the tight muscles of Jessica’s abdomen, and she felt it tremble under her touch. “Do you mean this edge?” She pushed her hand under Jessica’s shorts, the tips of her fingers gliding into the soft curls.

  “Anna,” Jessica mewled on an intake of breath. “Yes,” she huffed. “Oh, yes, I mean that.”

  Before Anna could venture further, Jessica twisted onto her side. Her thumbs hooked the waistband of Anna’s pyjama bottoms, and she gently pulled them off, careful not to allow the elasticated hem to put pressure on Anna’s damaged thigh.

  Anna waited with her anticipation surging as Jessica removed her shorts and returned alongside her. Jessica’s hand gripped the crook of Anna’s knee and drew it towards her as Jessica’s thigh slipped between Anna’s legs and pressed firmly against her centre.

  “My God.” Anna gasped. It was the first time she had been completely naked in a bed with another woman. More than that, it was the first time her now rather wet centre was against anyone’s thigh. She couldn’t believe how turned on it made her feel. This was Jess, and she trusted her more than anyone else who had been this close to her. Was that why? Trust? Before logic could take hold, it was wiped out by the musky scent of their mutual excitement.

  “All right?” Jessica rubbed her palm along Anna’s back. “You went quiet. Is your leg hurting?”

  “Finding it hard to think.” There was such tenderness in how Jessica held her. Each touch sent a shiver down her spine. She’d never been this heated, and really, they hadn’t done much at all.

  Desperate to feel Jessica tremble again, Anna walked her fingertips down her chest and then lower. She reached her mound and pressed a finger between her folds.

  Jessica gasped at the contact and stiffened.

  “You like that?” Anna said playfully, finding it hard to keep her own breathing under control with the force of Jessica’s thigh, slick with her own arousal, against her.

  Anna started a motion in small circles between the lips of her sex. Jessica was hot and the sounds her fingers made, combined with Jessica’s moans, were bringing her own sensations to a peak.

  “Don’t stop!” Jessica begged.

  “I won’t.” Anna found Jessica’s eyes. Her pupils were great dark circles in the candlelight.

  Jessica’s hips started to rock, causing her thigh to bump firmly against Anna’s centre. “My God—” Stifling her own voice, for fear she would wake someone, Anna bit down on her lip, shocked by how close she was; she’d been focusing so much on Jessica. The thought they might come together surged her closer to her summit.

  She desperately kissed Jessica, wanting to keep her mouth on hers as she tried to pleasure Jess before her own crescendo, but it was too late. Her body arched, and she bucked. Her tongue twisted around Jessica’s as she rode out the waves, still forcing her fingers to continue their motion.

  “Anna,” Jessica whispered into Anna’s mouth. She trembled against her, as another pulse of release weaved through Anna’s entire body.

  The room went silent apart from the rain outside the open window. Anna allowed her breathing to sync with her lover’s as they slowed together. She kissed her again, but this time a tender lingering kiss, leaving three words stuck in Anna’s mouth. She wanted to say them. They were impatient to be spoken. But she knew they might not be true, even if they felt like they were at this moment.

  The candlelight faded, as the flame exhausted its fuel. Anna was quiet, trying to decide how she felt. It was such a mixture of emotions she had no choice but to cry.

  “What’s wrong?” Jessica asked, her voice laced with concern.

  “Just overwhelmed.”

  Jessica’s arms tightened around her. “Baby, you sure?”

  The words were there again, but she dared not speak them. How could she, when they had only met a week ago? “I’ve never had that together with someone. I mean, at the same time.”

  “That goes for me as well. You’re incredible.”

 
Pushing gently with her fingers, Anna directed Jessica to lie on her back. She stretched out beside her. She needed to think about what had happened between them.

  Her mind raced with the regret that most of her adult life she had lived a lie. She had denied herself the pure ecstasy of such a powerful release and all the sensations she had experienced for the first time. All those things had happened with Jessica in a way that felt perfect, normal, like a real life.

  Her feelings fitted into the weird, emotional Anna. The Anna who said things before she should. Who jumped to conclusions that weren’t real. Who always seemed to have to backtrack miles just to take a step forward. But, with Jessica, it didn’t feel like she was backtracking. It felt like she was journeying to a new world, where she didn’t have to worry about being safe, treading water or simply pleasing others. But could she start again, for a third time?

  Go to sleep with the one who made you come with her to somewhere new. She smiled at this, closed her eyes and drifted off.

  Chapter Fourteen

  THE DISTINCTIVE CACKLING of a magpie woke Jessica. In the early dawn light, she climbed out of bed, needing to use the toilet. A glance at the flashing digital clock told her the power was back on.

  Feeling chilled, she grabbed her T-shirt and yanked it over her head. Glancing out of the window, she could see two magpies hopping back and forth in the front garden. Two for joy? She bid them a good morning, before padding over the pine floorboards to the bathroom.

  When she returned to bed, she sat down on its edge. Asleep on her front, Anna had her arms bent with her hands hidden in her tousled hair. Her bruised thigh was visible in the cool air. She needs that checked out.

  Desperate to snuggle up against her, but not wanting to wake her, Jessica carefully got back under the sheets and pulled the duvet over them. After all the events of yesterday, Anna must be exhausted. Jessica slipped her hand under Anna’s and was surprised when Anna’s fingers curled around hers. She closed her eyes. The calls from the magpies ended abruptly with a flutter of wings.

  JESSICA STIRRED TO the sound of Abbie’s earnest voice from inside the bedroom.