“Everything okay, dear?”
Joanna looked up and realized that Marcia was standing there at their table, and she was staring at her.
“I’m sorry?”
“She just asked if your food tasted okay.” Macon was clearly trying to hold back a smile, then nodded at Joanna in silent understanding that she knew what she’d been thinking about.
“Oh, yes. Everything’s great.” Joanna smiled and nodded at Marcia, lowering her reddened cheeks to the food she’d barely touched.
“Verde, you must tell me about your travels,” Marcia requested.
“She’s called me that since she found out my last name was Greene,” Macon told Joanna. “Where should I start?” she asked the woman who was clearly interested in hearing Macon’s stories.
“The beginning, of course,” Marcia encouraged.
Macon gave Joanna an apologetic look, but Joanna merely smiled back and started eating while Macon regaled the old woman with her tales.
CHAPTER 17
Greene hadn’t expected Joanna to magically appear in Boston just for her, but the woman was always surprising her these days. She also hadn’t expected Marcia to want to talk her ear off while they were trying to enjoy their meal and catch up. As she pulled Joanna’s bag down the street toward her hotel, she knew they hadn’t finished their conversation at dinner. Now, they were walking in silence the few blocks, because it was a nice night and neither wanted to call for a car. Joanna’s arm was slung through her own. And while her head wasn’t on Greene’s shoulder all the time, because she was glancing around at the buildings and sights of the city, every now and then, she’d place it there temporarily, and Greene smiled each time.
“Greene, oh–” Gail was about fifteen feet in front of them and had a look on her face that Greene couldn’t quite make out due to the darkness and the distance.
“Hey, Gail,” Greene replied, and they continued to move in the direction of the hotel she could now see at the end of the block.
“Oh, Gail!” Joanna lifted her head, acknowledging. “Gail?” She turned that head to Greene and gave her a look that said she had no idea Gail was attractive.
Macon knew Joanna’s faces and expressions well enough by now. She’d figured out the main ones fairly early in their friendship. Her nose would crinkle when she was telling a lie or about to tell a lie. Her left eyebrow rose a little higher than the other when she was intrigued and really listening. Her smile didn’t always reach her eyes. Greene had noticed that expression commonly when they were in a lesbian bar and women tried to pick her up or buy her a drink. She’d politely decline with that smile and, sometimes, a handshake before returning to Greene and their friends. She had a nervous tell where she’d run her finger or a couple of them over her right eyebrow once, and then again, a few moments later, if the feeling hadn’t righted itself. She knew many of Joanna’s expressions already, and that included the one that was making Greene laugh right now.
“Gail, this is Joanna. Joanna is glaring at me because she thinks you’re pretty,” she said as they made their way toward Gail.
“Macon!” Joanna poked her in the ribs, causing Greene to laugh more.
“What? I know that look,” she returned.
“Joanna, it’s so nice to meet you.” Gail practically launched at Joanna, forcing them to disconnect.
“You too.” Joanna hugged her back.
“Okay, she’s mine,” Greene said and playfully pulled Gail apart from her. “What are you up to tonight?”
“Well, not bothering you two.” Gail wiggled her eyebrows and pointed with two fingers at them. “Did I know she was coming? I feel like that was something I should have known so I could get your room set up or something and tell the hotel to have champagne or wine brought up for you.”
“I didn’t know she was coming.”
“I surprised her.”
“How romantic.” Gail smiled at them both. “It was so dark there for a moment, I thought Greene had picked some woman up after the show. That didn’t seem right to me because she talks about you non-stop.”
“Hey!” Greene said in mock-defense.
“Hey, what? I wasn’t going to let you take some random back to your room when you had this one waiting for you at home.” She pointed at Joanna. “She’s gorgeous, by the way.” She turned her attention to Joanna. “You’re gorgeous. If you ever change your mind about–”
“And we’re going inside,” Greene interrupted her with a laugh and took Joanna’s hand again. “Good night, Gail.”
“Have fun, you two. Will I see you for breakfast tomorrow? Oh, probably not, huh? Room service?” She started to walk past them. “It was nice meeting you. I assume I’ll see you both at some point tomorrow.”
Gail walked in the direction they’d just come from after squeezing Greene’s shoulder and giving her a smile.
“So, that was Gail?” Joanna asked.
“That was Gail. She’s probably on her way to pick someone up. She does that a lot.”
“And you don’t, right?”
“No, Jo,” she replied. She placed her hand on Joanna’s cheek. “I’m still at number nine. I’m kind of hoping I’ll end at ten.” She leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Joanna’s lips, not wanting to do much more than that in public.
She pulled back to see that Joanna’s concerned expression had vanished. It had been replaced with a look of surprise and the large, expressive eyes and lifted eyebrows that went along with it. She didn’t say anything in response. She just took Greene’s violin case off her shoulder and placed it over her own while taking Greene’s hand. They walked side by side toward the hotel and then into the lobby while Greene realized that she was letting someone else hold her violin. She hated letting anyone hold her violin, only allowing it in rare and necessary circumstances. She had no problem trusting Jo to carry it for her, knowing she’d protect it and keep it safe. She could only hope she’d do the same with her heart.
◆◆◆
“So, first thing,” Macon stated the moment she opened the door to her hotel room.
“Yeah?”
Joanna followed her inside, still carrying Macon’s violin case, while Macon rolled her small suitcase over and leaned it against the wall. The room was a nice one. Macon had been provided with a suite. She had a small sofa and a chair with a table in a living room, along with a large flat screen mounted to a wall, and a full kitchen off to the left with a refrigerator, a stove, and even a dishwasher. Everything was shiny and clean. And there was even a welcome note on the refrigerator to the hotel’s VIP guests, which Macon obviously was. Macon stood a few feet away from her, with two pieces of paper held out.
“We should order our breakfast now. We have to hang these from the doors before 5 a.m., and it’s already 11 p.m. I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on waking up before five tomorrow, nor do I want to have to worry about this later.”
“Oh, sure.” Joanna was a little thrown off by this. When Macon had said first thing, she’d thought they’d throw their stuff down and run at each other a moment later. But Macon, apparently, had tomorrow’s menu in mind instead. “You can order for me. You know what I like.” She held out the violin case. “Where do you want this?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Macon placed the order forms on the coffee table and headed to her.
The woman took the violin case, entered what Joanna assumed was the bedroom, and emerged a few moments later, while Joanna moved to sit on the sofa. She’d been traveling all day. From the airport, she went straight to the performance, leaving her suitcase for the checkroom to hang onto so she wouldn’t have to worry about it during the performance itself. After that, she went to dinner with Macon in a busy restaurant. It was now after eleven, and despite that only being after eight Pacific time, Joanna was exhausted and needed to sit.
“So, whatever you’re getting is fine,” she added when Macon returned to the room and stood just inside the arched doorway to the bedroom, taking in Jo
anna’s new position.
“Eggs and bacon?”
“Sure.”
“Wheat toast instead of white, coffee, and orange juice?” Macon moved to sit down next to her.
“You know me well.” Joanna lifted both shoulders and offered what she could only assume was a tired smile.
Macon smiled, but she didn’t look back at her as she completed both their forms and provided her name and room number atop each. She stood and walked to the door, opened it enough to hang the forms, hung them up, and closed it behind her. Then, she stood there and stared at Joanna from about fifteen feet away. Somehow, it felt even further away than when she’d been halfway around the world.
“Are you tired?” Macon asked and leaned against the wallpapered wall.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Do you want anything from the minibar? A drink? A snack or something? I think there’s rum. I know there’s a Coke.” Macon started talking faster and walked toward the minibar, which was stocked under the TV.
“Hey, Macon?”
“Yeah?” She opened the tiny refrigerator that was lined with overpriced alcohol, other drinks, and snacks.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
Macon closed the fridge and stood. She turned around to face Joanna but didn’t move toward her.
“That obvious?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You can just tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’t know.” Macon wrapped her arms around herself. “I guess I’m afraid to touch you.”
“What?” Joanna stood. “You’re afraid to touch me?”
“Not like that.” Macon released her arms. “I’m afraid that if I touch you, I won’t want to stop. And now that we’re in this room alone, and there’s a bed – a really nice bed – I don’t want to push you if you’re not ready for something.”
“So, you’re afraid if you kiss me – and I mean really kiss me, not like outside there – that you won’t want to stop?”
“No, I know I won’t want to stop,” she corrected. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to. If I go too fast, I might freak you out or make you feel pressured. I don’t want that.”
“Babe, come on. It’s me.” Joanna moved around the table and toward Macon, instantly noticing that Macon wrapped her arms around her body again. “You won’t push me too far, Make. You know me too well for that.”
She reached out to Macon and placed her hands on Macon’s arms, pulling them gently apart and then placing them at Macon’s sides before placing her own hands on the woman’s hips. Macon looked remarkable in that dress. It was soft and thin. Joanna could feel the woman’s toned muscles and her hip bones jutting out just slightly. She rubbed her thumbs over them and watched Macon’s eyes close as she took another step into her.
“Maybe we can just sleep tonight,” Macon suggested.
“Is that what you need?”
“I think so.” She opened her eyes. “And no, it’s not; at all.” Her green orbs were dark and hungry.
Joanna knew exactly what she meant. She felt the same way. It was the right decision for them to just sleep tonight. If not because of how tired she was, because it would be nice to just hold one another in a new way after being apart for so long. She also knew just by the simple touch of her hands to Macon’s hips that she wanted more. All it would take was Macon making the first move. Joanna wasn’t sure she had it in her to make that move herself. She’d already placed her hands on Macon’s hips and was running her thumbs there, indicating she was clearly thinking about more than just sleep. Macon’s stare was telling: she wanted it, too. They both wanted more than just sleep tonight.
“Can I maybe go take a shower, change, and get ready for bed?” she asked after a moment of staring into Macon’s dark green eyes.
“Yeah.” Macon swallowed and took a step back. “I’ll go in after you. I’ll change out here.”
“Okay.”
Joanna returned to the living room and wheeled her suitcase into the bedroom. Macon sat on the end of the bed, watching as she pulled out the items she’d need for her shower along with the shirt and pants she’d be sleeping in. Joanna felt Macon’s eyes on her as she moved to start the shower and then returned to the bedroom to zip up her suitcase and place it against the wall.
“The shower is nice; it has good pressure,” Macon stated after several moments of silence. “Just watch it: it gets pretty hot.”
“Thanks.” Joanna stood in front of her and stared down at the unsure eyes. “Will you do me a favor?”
“Sure.” She seemed hopeful for a second there.
“Will you unzip me? I can probably do it, but–”
“Yes.” Macon nodded and stood. “I can do that.”
Joanna chuckled softly at her and turned around, showing Macon her back. The zipper of the dress was on the side, but it was easier to access from the back. Macon seemed to need a moment. Then, one hand moved to the zipper while the other one was placed on Joanna’s hip, seemingly there to steady herself. She pulled down on the zipper slowly until it was all the way down. Her still hand slid up Joanna’s other side and then back down while her other hand moved to the strap of the dress. She slid it down over Joanna’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Joanna whispered.
“Will you…”
Joanna turned around to see her staring at where her hands were currently on Joanna’s body, as if she needed to see them to believe they were there. Joanna wondered if that was actually true. Macon’s hands were on her hips now. She was running them up and down, not going too far in either direction.
“Turn around,” Joanna directed, knowing Macon needed the same kind of assistance.
Macon released her hips and turned around in place, allowing Joanna to see the long gold zipper on the back of Macon’s dress. Joanna’s hand shook slightly as she lifted it to the zipper and pulled it down. She could see the clasp of Macon’s bra beneath, as well as the expanse of olive skin on her back. The zipper ended at the small of her back. Joanna stilled her hand there for a moment. She swallowed and worked up the courage to then move her hands up to the wide black straps on Macon’s shoulders, sliding them down the woman’s arms as she did. Macon gave her arms a quick shake. The dress fell to the floor, revealing the black bra and matching underwear beneath. Joanna found herself swallowing once more when Macon turned around, inches from her.
“You should probably take that shower now,” Macon suggested in a whisper after she took in Joanna’s stare.
Joanna’s eyes moved to Macon’s. Then, they lowered to her lips as Macon licked them. They lowered to her long neck, her breasts, and her stomach. Joanna ventured them lower only for an instant, trying not to focus too much on the thin fabric that separated the rest of Macon’s most private parts from her view. She met her eyes again and slid the straps of her own dress off her body, letting it intermingle with Macon’s on the floor.
“Just so it’s fair,” she said and walked into the bathroom.
She closed the door quickly behind her and leaned back against it. Her breathing was fast and shallow. She knew she’d never wanted anyone more than she wanted Macon. Her panties were more than soaked. She was grateful she’d brought in a new pair to change into after the shower. She dropped them and her bra to the floor and climbed inside the steaming shower, allowing the water to coat her skin.
She cleaned herself quickly, finding it difficult to stand because of a pounding in her chest that was somehow connected to the one between her legs. She then gave herself an extra five minutes to get her brain and body together, climbed out, and toweled off. She changed and brushed her teeth. She blew out a breath as she exited the bathroom. She found Macon sitting on the bed, changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that she’d seen many times before.
“Hi,” Macon greeted sweetly.
“Hi,” she greeted back. “It’s all yours.” She motioned to the bathroom.
&nbs
p; “Thanks.” Macon stood quickly and rushed into the room.
Joanna only chuckled more at this woman’s nervousness on her account. She couldn’t understand it. Macon had been with women before. This should be more awkward for Joanna, because she was Macon: she was gorgeous, smart, funny, talented, and sexy as hell. Joanna couldn’t figure why she was so nervous around her all of a sudden. A few minutes later, Macon emerged and found Joanna in the same position she’d been in on the bed moments earlier.
“All good?” Joanna asked.
Macon’s foot was tapping rapidly on the carpet; she was biting the side of her mouth in nervous contemplation.
“No,” the woman said and moved quickly to the bed where she straddled Joanna as she’d done on the sofa in her apartment nearly two months ago.
Her lips moved to Joanna’s. Joanna was captured by this woman in every way. Macon’s lips were hungry. Her tongue was moving against Joanna’s. Joanna’s hands were holding Macon’s back to pull her closer against herself. Macon’s hands were buried in her hair. Joanna was regretting the decision not to dry it. It would be easier for Macon to run her hand through the strands if they were dry. But after that thought, all other thoughts escaped her. Macon was pressing for her to lie back. Macon fell on top of her. Macon’s skin was hot. She lifted her head to look down at Joanna.
“And now?” Joanna asked her with a smile.
“Good,” Macon replied. “Can I?” she asked before moving her mouth to Joanna’s neck.
“Yes,” Joanna agreed easily as hot lips kissed and sucked at her skin, and then teeth nipped at her earlobe.
Joanna’s legs were still hanging off the end of the bed as she gripped Macon’s hips to try to make sure she didn’t fall off. Macon pressed further into her body. Joanna felt Macon’s center press into her stomach. Even though Macon had on shorts and a t-shirt, that was bunching up due to their movement, she could feel how wet Macon was.
“Are you okay?” Macon checked as she moved her hand under Joanna’s shirt.
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