by K C Luck
“No.”
Encouraged to keep going, I slip my hands under the hem of her top, unable to keep from sliding my fingers along the skin of her sides. The heat makes my hands tremble from wanting her. When she gasps at my touch, it only fuels my passion, and when I reach her breasts, I am unable to keep from caressing them. Expecting something more practical, when I touch her lacey bra I close my eyes and try to still my desire. Perhaps she always wears an erotic bra, but a part of me knows this time she wears it for me. As if somehow knowing we would end up just like this. Our chemistry too hard to resist.
“You are so sexy,” I murmur using my thumb to press her nipple through the lace. Her response is to press forward into me, and a throb runs through my body. I don’t know how much longer I will be able to restrain myself.
She lifts her arms over her head. “Please, keep going.” I obey and pull the shirt free. “Now, my bra,” she says, and I pause.
“If I do, I’m not sure I can stop myself,” I whisper.
She closes her eyes. “Yes, you can. You must. Please unhook me, and then, if you would, can you start the bathwater for me? Hot.”
Disappointment washes over me, but she is right, of course. I knew it from the start, but still, the arousal I see in her body gives me hope. “I will,” I say and undo the clasp before stepping away. I avert my eyes, not daring to see her naked and walk to the bathroom.
Thankfully, the inn has hot water, and I fill the tub quickly. At the last moment, I grab a towel to offer Lila since there is no robe. Standing at the door to the bedroom, I don't look at her and hold it out. “I thought you might want this,” I say and after a moment, feel her take it from me. She doesn't say a word, but before I can drop my hand, she takes hold of it. Unsure, I still don't look at her and let my hand be guided to the bare breast I crave. The feel of her makes me tremble. “You are killing me,” is all I can say.
“Look at me, Jael.” I do, and she is stripped down to nothing. Only her wrist brace remains, and I suck in a breath. She is exquisite. “Come wash my back,” she whispers.
Nothing on this earth could make me refuse. I step back into the small space of the bathroom and watch her test the water before stepping into the heat. Gradually, she lowers herself, and I realize it might be the most erotic thing I ever watched. As she lies back and closes her eyes, she sighs with contentment.
“Hot enough?” I murmur, and she nods.
“I changed my mind,” she says opening her eyes to look at me. “I want to wash your back instead. Would you like that?”
Now I am not sure what to think but survey the tub. It's old. White enameled and claw-footed, but luckily deep. Swallowing hard, I nod. “I would like that very much.”
She splashes at the water in front of her. “Then join me.” No fool, I quickly undress and start to slip into the water at the opposite end of the tub. “Wait,” she says. “Sit here. Between my legs. So, I can reach your back.” She widens them bending her knees to make space. A flood of desire washes over me. The sight of her, clearly wanting me, makes me throb, and I know if she touches more than my back, I'm likely to come.
Turning, I settle in the water, my hips grazing her thighs. A hum of pleasure comes from Lila, and I feel her trail her fingertips along my shoulders. “Your body is perfection. Like a sculpture.” She is not the first woman to appreciate my physique, but for some reason, hers pleases me more. As if I can give it to her as a gift.
“Thank you.”
Again, an appreciative hum. “Mmmmm.” She pulls me by the shoulder. “Rest against me.” I lean back, trying to relax, but the instant her nipples touch the hot skin of my back, I freeze.
“Lila…”
She pulls again, and I don't resist this time, instead easing back to rest my head on her shoulder. Her arms come around me, dribbling hot water across my chest, and she holds me in place. As arousing as the sensation is, I am captured in a moment of tenderness. I am entirely vulnerable at this moment, and as if recognizing it, too, Lila kisses my temple. “You do something to me,” she whispers in my ear. “Something I haven’t felt in a long time.”
Taking her hand in mine, I want to tell her so many things. How I know about her lost love and that I am not her, and never could be. That I will never hurt her or leave her. Instead, I stay silent. Somehow, this is not the time to explore the deeper feelings between us, and instead, I slowly roll over, holding myself up with my arms, so we are face to face. The muscles of my stomach press between her legs, and our lips are an inch apart. Biting her lip, I see her watching my mouth. “And this?” I ask as I gently press my bodyweight down against her. Even through the hot water, I feel the fire from her core against me. Her clit. Her swollen lips.
She squirms as if trying to relieve the exquisite sensation, but I do not relent. Instead, I thrust, just a little, but enough to make her gasp. “God, what are you doing to me?” she asks, still staring at my mouth. The craving to kiss her is intense, but I wait. Once I succumb to her mouth, I will not be able to control what happens next. Flexing my muscles in my back and hips, I press into her again, harder. A little cry of excitement comes from her, and I move my mouth closer until I feel her breath coming faster on my lips. So close to a kiss, but not yet.
“I’m going to make you come this way,” I finally answer. “Slowly. In the heat of this water, and my body against yours.”
“Yes,” she murmurs and licks her lips, as if also not ready to initiate the kiss we both seem to know will tear away all restraint. “I want that.” She runs her uninjured hand up into my long hair, the tips wet from the water, and holds on. I thrust again, and this time she lifts her hips to meet me. Now it is my turn to moan as I feel how much she wants me. I move again, and after a moment, we find a rhythm. Slowly, while the water laps around us, the tension builds. Lila opens her mouth, and I feel her pulling my head toward hers. We are already so close, our lips brush.
“Wait,” I say. “Not yet.” She moans with frustration, pulling at me, thrusting up to match my push. I feel her body shake and know any second she will come. The feel of my hard abs rubbing her clit is too much. She is trapped under me, unable to stop what is about to happen. All it will take is a kiss.
“I need to feel you,” she whispers. “Please kiss me.” These are the words I waited for, and I take her mouth with my own in a heated rush. Already her lips are open, inviting my tongue, wanting to be conquered. Her hand in my hair pulls me in tighter, and I move my hips against her quicker and harder. Somewhere far in the distance, I hear water splashing over the side of the tub. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is this kiss and the woman under me starting to climax. She lets out a scream of release into my mouth, where I still kiss her, not letting her break free until the waves of her orgasm trail away. After a moment, I feel her relax.
Lifting my head, hers lolls to the side with contentment. The water is starting to cool, and although I am far from finished with her, I sit back on my knees to look at her body through the shimmer of the water. So beautiful. So sexy. I will never get enough of her. “Take me to bed,” she murmurs. “There will be no one sleeping on the floor tonight.”
16
Less than twenty-four hours later, I stand at attention outside the entrance to an exclusive private railcar. The four of us are being whisked out of France, and I am finally able to catch my breath. Outsmarting the paparazzi was only mildly successful, as before the sun was even up, Lila’s phone was ringing. The timing of the urgent call could not have been worse. After the bathtub, I made the most of the tiny bed to hold Lila. A quick doze in each other’s arms, and then I woke her ever so gently with my kisses. Particularly those as I wordlessly slid down her body with every expectation of using my tongue help her start her day with an orgasm. As I kissed the inside of her thigh and she began to murmur her pleasure, her phone interrupted with the all too familiar tone. The billionaires. “I swear if that is Madison…” I growled as I stood wearing nothing, and moving quickly in the cold room.
“Your nipples are hard, darling,” Lila said with a smile, and I laughed. Indeed, they were as I scooped up the phone from among her things and handed it over. “Hello?” she said and then paled. Frowning, I went to sit at the edge of the bed beside her, but said nothing, waiting. Finally, she disconnected and dropped the phone on the sheet beside her.
Touching her forearm, I looked into her worried face. “What is it?”
She sighed. “That was Zena,” she said. “The club is calling a meeting. Immediately.” This did not bode well. If they somehow knew about our relationship… but could they? I shook my head. Of course, they could. The club somehow seems to know everything.
“When?”
“We will need to be ready within the hour if we are to make the rendezvous. Would you go tell Madison and Claire?”
Quickly donning my ski pants and a T-shirt, I did as she asked. Their room was directly across from ours, and as I neared the heavy door, I detected the sound of a woman crying out. Rather loudly. For a moment, my heart leaped into my throat, thinking one of them was in danger until I realized the sounds were from passion, not pain. With a grin, I knocked loudly on the door. Turnabout is fair play as I owed Madison an interruption.
“What the fuck?” I heard through the door. “This better be important.”
I chuckled almost evilly and knocked again. After a moment, the door was ripped open, and a red-faced Madison glared at me. “Zena called a meeting. Be ready in an hour,” I said before she could bark a word. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Madison narrowed her eyes. “Somehow, I don't believe you.”
“See you downstairs,” I responded and then went into my own room without looking back. Since then, the time has raced past. Before the car arrived, word spread through the village who was staying at the inn. Cameras flashed, and people called out to Lila as I hustled the four of us into our transportation. Racing away, I was pleased to see no cars followed. The fresh snow from the night before seemed to discourage the usual photographers on scooters and motorcycles.
Once we were out of the rugged peaks, our trip became even more frantic as a helicopter waited to race us miles over stunning landscapes to a train station. There we barely had time to catch our breath before being escorted to private railcars on the next express train. Only now do I have a moment to reflect on the events. Anything could be about to happen, although it seems most likely I am going to be relieved of my post. The shame of dishonoring my position makes my cheeks burn, yet if confronted, I will not lie. Lila is an amazing woman, and if my undeniable attraction to her is my downfall, so be it. I am enough of a romantic to believe that somehow things will work out in the end. Hopefully, Madison will support Lila, although I think it may all depend on Zena and her influence.
As if I have conjured her with my thinking, Zena appears in the hallway. When she sees me standing at the end of the corridor, clearly guarding the entrance to the adjoining railcar, she pauses. “These cars are secure, Captain,” she says. “I arranged for them myself and have guards at the ready where necessary. No need to stand at attention.”
I relax a little but still keep a formal air. This is no time to get sloppy. “Thank you,” I say. “I was not sure of the situation, so decided to be overly cautious.”
“Perhaps you should have been more cautious before now,” Zena says, her dark eyes boring into mine. I do not look away. I have made questionable choices but will own up to them. This is not the time for making excuses.
“Perhaps,” I respond but otherwise let the moment linger. We stare at each other, and finally, Zena nods.
“I’ve arranged a uniform for you, as well as clothing for the others. The rest of your things will be sent from the resort and available at the next stop.”
This news is a relief. We are still in our ski clothing. “Thank you.”
“Go change. Then return here to resume this post. I’ve decided you are right. With the meeting about to take place behind this door, we cannot be too cautious.” As I turn to go, she holds up a hand. “We are not done discussing your part in this and your behavior.” A cold lump forms in my stomach, but I nod.
“I understand.”
“Do you?” Zena murmurs. “I will find you after the meeting. Be prepared to explain yourself, Captain.”
Snapping back to attention, I salute. “I am prepared, ma’am.” I feel Zena’s eyes on my face. Finally, with a shake of her head, she turns to go.
“We will see. Now go change into your uniform,” she says and then is past me into the railcar.
I do as instructed finding Lila in the hall already changed and lovely. As she looks at me, the desire to kiss her is strong, but I refrain. We are in enough trouble without someone seeing us being intimate. “Are you all right?” she asks, and I nod.
“For now. And you?”
She shakes her head but doesn't lower her eyes. “This is probably the end of my membership with the club.” Putting a hand on my cheek, I see the hint of tears in her eyes, but otherwise, there is nothing but resolve. “I won't apologize. You are…” She pauses as if considering the right word. “You are special to me.”
I cover her hand with mine, my heart beating faster at her statement, but not sure what to say. Our eyes hold until she takes her hand from mine and looks away. “Go change, Jael,” she says. “I need to join the others.”
Changing into my uniform, after years of practice, takes only minutes. I quickly return to the railcar's entrance and wait. It is not long before a sandy-blonde haired woman arrives. Her swagger and cheeky smile clue me in to who she might be, but I maintain my stance. “Well, aren’t you a badass, all ramrod straight and looking ready for battle,” she says in an Australian accent. “Suppose you want the super-secret password?” At this, I frown. Zena did not mention a password. Seeing my confusion, the woman laughs. “I’m messing with you,” she continues and holds out her hand to shake. “They call me Chloe...” She leans in and whispers, “…the Australian billionaire.”
Before I say I don’t care who she says she is, I will not let her in without confirmation, Madison comes down the hall. Another woman is with her. “The wiseass is with us,” she says clapping a hand on Chloe’s shoulder and then turning to the other with her. “And this is Kris. You spoke with her on the phone earlier.” Kris nods, and quickly breaks eye contact. Somehow, I know she would much rather be surrounded by her computers than standing in the hall with us.
“A pleasure to meet all of you,” I respond as I stand aside to allow them to pass. “Lila, Zena, and others in your group are already inside.”
“Best not keep them waiting,” Madison says pushing the panel to open the door. A look over her shoulder as the three of them go in reveals a diverse group of nine additional women around a long boardroom table. I wonder if this is all the group’s members as the door closes. With so many cultures represented, it would seem a challenge to decide on anything easily. Yet, seeing Zena at the head of the table makes me think she will not allow a stalemate.
Before long, I hear angry voices growing louder through the door confirming my suspicions. They do not see eye to eye. In a heavy Russian accent resonating at a timbre that penetrates the door easier than the others, I hear the word 'disband,' and my heart sinks at the idea. Indeed, the threat of their identities being detected is a considerable risk. Too many countries still exist where being a lesbian is frowned on, if not illegal. I cannot help but think about what would happen to Zena if word leaked. Perhaps disbanding the group, even if temporarily, while things are resolved with the Georgia DeLane threat, might be the best answer after all.
After a few more hours, the door to the railcar opens, and Madison storms out. “This is bullshit,” she tosses over her shoulder before she walks away. As I watch her go, the door closes behind us, yet I feel someone else come up beside me and look to see Lila followed her out. Her face is calm, no longer tight with worry.
Relief washes over me. She doesn't look like a woman who
has been given bad news. “Are we okay?” I ask her softly.
She smiles and takes my arm. “At the moment. The club had other priorities.”
As much as I hate knowing the club is in trouble over other affairs, I am happy. Lila is okay, at least for now. “But Madison? Clearly she is not happy with the meeting’s outcome.”
Lila sighs. “No. And I don't blame her, but it's the best strategy.” Rather than comment, I wait to see if she will continue. After a beat, she does. “The club decided to lure Georgia out and confront her head-on. Help the police capture her.”
“I see,” I say with a nod. “And this involves Madison? And presumably Claire?”
“Yes. Most definitely. The bait is to be their wedding.”
I raise my eyebrows. “They are getting married?” I ask, surprised. They clearly love each other, but this seems so out of character for Madison.
“They are now.”
17
We are almost to Lila’s private railcar when a porter comes along the corridor to hand me a slip of paper. Seeing it, my stomach tightens. I don’t need to guess who the author is and what the message probably says. A quick glance to see Zena's handwriting confirms my fears. I have been summoned. Although she let me off the hook briefly in the hallway earlier, there was no doubt she would eventually want to revisit my behavior. Apparently, now is the time, and as I put the paper into my pocket, Lila is watching me. “Is that from Zena?” she asks. I nod, and her face falls a bit at the news. She knows as well as I do that the outcome of the meeting could be anything including my exile and the end of our affair. For a moment, I think she's going to say something, perhaps even that she's not ready to lose me. I realize in a moment that is how I feel about her. That losing her is the last thing I want. In the end, Lila stays silent.