When we stood, Dax extended her hand to Willa. "How was work, baby?"
"Busy, but good," answered Willa, all smiles as she looked down at Dax's outstretched hand. She took it, and I glanced to Mira, offering her the same gesture.
Her cheeks flushed, but she accepted it, and we laced our fingers together on our way to see the sights.
The four of us spent the afternoon meeting the farm animals, and meandering through the fields. On top of the lavender, Dax had a huge pumpkin patch where a man named Esteban escorted people in and out to purchase pumpkins. The horses, goats, and miniature pigs warmed my heart and it made me feel like a kid again. Pepper followed us everywhere, weaving in and out around us occasionally when we wandered too far from each other. The goats hovered behind us like a little pack following their leader. Wherever Dax went, so did the goats, especially the older ones. The little goats seemed to meander around both her and Willa in equal intervals.
After a barbeque dinner by the firepit, and sharing about our careers, Willa nudged Dax with her elbow. "Why don't you show Billie the range before it gets dark?"
Dax pursed her lips as if contemplating it before looking at me. "Wanna shoot stuff?"
"Sure." I laughed, and lifted a brow at Mira. "You wanna shoot stuff?"
"No way." She lifted both hands in the air, chuckling. "That's all you."
"Okay." I grinned as I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Don't tell Willa all my secrets."
"I won't." Mira gave my hand a kiss before Dax and I headed off toward the range.
As we faded away from them, I heard Willa ask, "A theoretical physicist, huh. Tell me about your time as a nuclear physicist because you know I was going to ask."
"Just don't ask me about Chernobyl. I'll share my thesis with you instead." Mira grinned at her and their playful attitudes comforted me.
Dax and I walked in silence across the endless lawn, the buckles on her boots clinking every now and then.
"You really have a beautiful home, Dax. And a beautiful girlfriend," I said, ending the quiet.
"She's my everything." Dax's gaze remained on the ground in front of us, her hands tucked in the back pockets of her jeans.
"I can tell. You're glowing, even though you're quiet."
"I love her," she said, glancing at me. "She fought for me. Didn't give up on me."
"Well, you're worth fighting for. Even if you don't think so."
She glanced at me before opening the gate to the outdoor range. To my surprise, she had a dozen targets set up, plus a tower of hay with different targets, and a block of wood with cans. She locked up behind me, and my boots clunked on the shells that she seemed to collect all over the ground.
"You're in love with Mira," she commented, pulling her sidearm from its holster.
"Duh…"
"You gonna shoot?" She gestured to the gun at my hip.
"I only brought a few clips," I said, taking up a stance beside her.
"Your service weapon?"
"Yeah."
She showed me her weapon, and I released mine. "Same. I've got plenty," she said, pulling out ear protection from the locked box beside the hay bales. We both adorned the gear, and stood beside each other while firing off a few rounds. In about eight seconds, it became a competition. She shot first, and I attempted to beat her score.
Our blasts echoed around us, and we unloaded at least three clips. For the most part, we remained within a point of each other until she nodded to the tall hay bale.
"Flags up top. Whoever hits one wins. One shot only."
"You've had practice. Not fair." I huffed at her and she laughed. "Go first."
"Guests first."
"No way. Don't pull that card. Get going." I pointed at the targets then folded my arms.
Dax's laughter echoed in the open space. We adjusted our ear protection, and I watched as she steadied herself, taking time to aim her weapon. Her steady breathing and dead-focused concentration unnerved me some. When she fired her round, one of the little wooden flagpoles burst, sending the red flag swaying to the ground.
I gulped as I took my aim at the remaining blue flag. My posture mirrored hers and I attempted to track the fabric fluttering in the breeze. When comfort in my posture, and confidence in my aim soared, I squeezed the trigger.
The pole didn't snap, but the flapping blue flag now had a hole right through the center.
"Jesus, Olsen. Nice." Dax clapped me on the shoulder when I lowered my weapon. "I've never done that before."
"Well, kudos, because I was aiming at the stick." I pulled the headgear off and handed it to her. "So, who won?"
"Hard call. Making a hole in the center of a blowing flag is pretty impressive to say the least." She holstered her weapon and tucked away the ear protection. "Still a tie then."
I laughed at her, then hopped up to sit on a bale of hay. "You just don't want to lose."
"Nope." She climbed up a stack higher and sat across from me. "I don't."
"I appreciate you having us out here, Dax. I mean it."
"I know. You always say what you mean," she said, resting her elbows on her knees. "I'm glad you came out."
"If I say something about…way back when, will it upset you?" I cringed while watching her, worrying about her answer.
"Maybe. But I can handle it," she said, toying with a colorful bracelet on her wrist. "I know what you're going to say anyway."
"Well, let me say it and then tell me if it's what you thought."
"Okay…"
"It's always bothered me that I listened to him." I took a deep breath before continuing. "You were out of touch for awhile, not answering me which isn't totally unusual. So, I texted him to ask if he heard from you and he told me the two of you made up and went on a vacation together. And your phone wasn't working down in Cabo. I shouldn't have believed him."
"He told you that?" Her expression fell, and her forehead wrinkled with concern.
"Yeah. I mean, I didn't know how bad things were until after…about what he was doing…I shouldn't have believed him. I'm sorry that I did." I confessed the feelings I'd harbored for years. "I'm sorry I didn't show up banging down your door."
"Eventually you showed up…" She gripped the bracelet between her fingers, running her thumb over the stones. "You were the first person I saw."
"I know, Dax. You're so strong. You never stopped fighting. No matter what. I admired that in you."
"I'm not w—" She stopped herself, glancing over her shoulder in the direction where we left Willa and Mira. "I had things to fight for that I didn't even know about until now."
"Yeah. You did." I reached over and gripped her fidgeting hand. "So now tell me why you ignored me for the past near-decade."
She chuckled, then said, "Because I didn't feel like I deserved your friendship. And you also reminded me of everything. And because I thought you didn't come looking for me. I didn't know he texted you…"
"Until just now?" My brow furrowed and she nodded. "I'm sorry, Dax."
"It's over with now," she said. "Tell me about Mira. A physicist, Olsen? Sheesh."
I laughed, leaning back on my elbows. "Oh yeah. And she's amazing."
"I'll say. She acts normal. I never would expect she had an I.Q. higher than our combined one."
"Tell me about it." I smiled while thinking about Mira. "I've sat through a bunch of her classes. She's a great teacher, too."
"Why'd you sit through physics classes, weirdo?" Dax scowled and I laughed at her.
"Don't call me names, jerkface. I sat through physics classes because the teacher was hot. Not too hard to figure out."
"Fair. Was she really straight before you?"
"Yeah. And lonely. And plays soccer like a badass. The thing about Mira is when you first meet her, you never expect her to be anything that she is."
"And you're smitten."
"Of course…" I sighed softly, crossing my feet at the ankles. "Eve has been really shitty to me about it. I know it's because sh
e's worried about me falling for a straight girl, but…"
"Eve can be pretty shitty at times."
"Yeah. Sometimes she means well, it just comes out wrong. It makes me not trust her."
"You trust me. And I say terrible shit."
"Yeah, but you don't mean it. You're a sappy ass shithead under it all," I teased and it made her smirk. "I bet you send Willa flowers all the time. And buy her lingerie."
She said nothing so I knew I hit the nail on the head.
"Thought so." I grinned and nudged her foot with mine.
"You're wrong. I send her lingerie and buy her flowers."
I laughed at her and flopped back against the hay. "Dork."
"So, what are you going to do about Mira? Do you think she's committed? I know it's hard dating someone who is so newly gay, so to speak…"
"I'm going to love her. And hope it's enough." I shrugged, folding my hands on my stomach. "What else can I do?"
"You and your hope," she said, a wry smile curving her mouth. "So much of it."
"What else have we got, Dax? Without hope for something better or more, I would still be stuck in Montana, spending my youth at conversion camps and forcibly married to a man. I always knew there was something more. There always is. And don't say you don't have hope because look at you." I gestured around us. "This beautiful place with an amazing girlfriend."
"I didn't have hope. Willa gave it to me." She let out a soft breath. "Maybe you've rubbed off on me more than I thought over the years."
"Maybe. Are we going to be two-sided friends again? Because I would really like that…more talks like this."
"Yeah, Beej." She let the bracelet relax on her wrist again. "Are you guys gonna stay over? The pool house is set up for you."
"I think so. I'll check with Mira when we get back."
"Tomorrow we can go into town. The Seafood Festival is this weekend and harvest events," she said, a hint of enjoyment in her voice.
"That sounds fun. I'm in if our women are."
"Beej," she said, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees to get closer to me. "Don't give up on Mira. Don't listen to what people tell you. When I first met Willa, I didn't think I was good enough for her. She deserved the world and I was a mess. She never gave up on me, and I appreciated that and still do every day. So, don't give up on Mira."
"Thank you for saying that." I met her gaze and she held it. The sincerity of her expression and her words settled some of my fear. "I won't give up on her."
"Good. Let's go make s'mores." Dax hopped from the hay and waved for me to follow.
"You take this country outdoors life very seriously if we're making s'mores." I hurried after her, grinning the whole time.
"S'mores is code for whiskey."
"I'm there." I laughed and she gave my shoulder a shove. "Also, I want s'mores with my whiskey."
She let out a dramatic sigh. "Done."
***
"Did you have fun today?" I asked Mira while turning down the bed. Dax's pool house smelled of cedar and fresh paint. Willa's decorating coupled with Dax's innovative style made the single room guest house a cozy, rustically comfortable space. All of that together with the flickering fire, and the reflection of the inground pool right outside the window, the place made me want to stay there forever.
"I really did," she answered, tugging her sweater down over her hips after changing out of her swimsuit. "Your friends are lovely, and the heated pool made everything even better."
"Oh yeah." I laughed as I headed over to her when she leaned against the island counter of the kitchenette. Again, she wrung her hands together and I placed mine on top of hers. "What's making you anxious, baby?"
"Not anxious in a bad way." She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and smiled.
I chuckled as I slid my arms around her middle, pulling her into a hug. She draped her arms over my shoulders after and toyed with my damp hair.
"Can I tell you something?" she asked, tilting her head as she did so.
"Anything."
"Today, walking around town with you. Doing normal things like talking, eating, and shopping. I really really enjoyed that." She rested her forehead against mine and I swayed with her. "I felt so…at ease."
"You seemed it. We weren't living in the closet today, Mira. Today, we were just us. No soccer teammates to worry about coming out to, or students, or colleagues, or family. Here, we're just us."
"Yes. It felt just like that." She drew in a soft breath. "Dax and I talked about what it means to be bisexual. I wasn't thinking like that when we got here. I was thinking that I had to be gay to be with you. Or a lesbian or whatever. Instead, I can just be…me, but with you."
"I was hoping so. I never met anyone as comfortable with their sexuality as Dax. I mean, I know plenty of lesbians who are, but she's the only person I know who identifies as bi. For her, both men and women are equally appealing for various reasons. She loves Willa and chooses to be with her. It doesn't erase who she is," I told her, rubbing my hands up and down her back.
"I really do like your friends. They've made me feel really welcome."
"To be fair, Willa and I just met. So, they make me feel the same way. Angelina, even though she's my closest friend, doesn't understand things sometimes and I'm hesitant with her. Eve, well, she's hot and cold. Ciara is okay, but Eve takes the lead when they're around. I always feel a little like an outsider with them. Eve and Angelina have been best friends for forever. Here." I gestured around us. "I don't feel that way. Dax never made me feel like that. And I understand why she pushed me away."
"Me too. What happened to her was horrible." Mira's ruby lips turned into a small frown.
"I know. She's strong. And brave. And I admire her."
"She's a gentle soul. Like you." Mira kissed my nose and I smiled. "A caretaker, even though she tries to hide it. You don't as much."
"Hard to." I leaned into her when she embraced me and kissed her neck sweetly. "Thank you for trusting me and coming out here."
"You've made it very easy to trust you," she said, leaning back as she cupped my face in her hands. "Full disclosure. I love hearing about how you've had a crush on me all this time. It makes me giggle like a schoolgirl."
I laughed as I held onto her arms. "I see how it is. Making fun of the vulnerable lonely lesbian who was hot for teacher."
A grin curved her lips and she nodded. "Teacher is hot for you, too." She leaned in to capture me in a heated kiss that nearly brought me to my toes.
I urged her with me, until the back of my knees hit the loveseat, then tugged her into my lap as I sat. The movement ended our kiss and she tensed while I guided her to straddle my thighs, her belly pressing mine. I smiled up at her, stroking my knuckle around her navel.
"New position?" I asked.
"Yes." Her cheeks burned bright red and I chuckled softly, rubbing my hands up and down her back. She tucked her hands between us, as if keeping her sweater from exposing her lower half. Her bare thighs burned hot against mine.
"Are you being shy with me?" I couldn't keep the smile from my face while I reached up to caress her cheeks with my thumbs.
"A little." She laughed softly, and my gesture only served to deepen her blush. "I've never sat like this. Especially without panties."
"That's the beauty of it, baby. And you can't even squeeze your arousal away," I said, tracing her lips after with my thumb.
"No one has ever made me feel as good as you do, Billie. I'm not used to…" She paused, as if searching for the word. Her fingers drew circles on my forearms while a pensive expression cooled her features. Goosebumps coated my flesh and I shivered at her enticing touch.
"Lust? Desire?" I offered the suggestions. Right away, her brows lifted.
"Yes." She breathed out the word. "Exactly that." A shiver coursed through her when I dropped my hands to caress her thighs, inching toward her core. "When you do that…"
"Touch you?"
"When you touch me softly…an
d take your time." She rested her forehead against mine and I urged her shirt over her head while moving my hands up her body. Her arms lifted and she snaked out of it, leaving her naked in my lap.
"I will always…" I leaned in to place soft kisses along her chest and clavicle. "Always take my time with you." Her nipples hardened under my affection and soft gasps left her lips as her fingers tangled in my hair.
Gentle licks and nips followed, as I trailed my way toward her breasts. Her legs clenched mine as her habit attempted to dim her arousal, but my body acted as a barrier. Every inch of me burned with desire and want, craving closeness with her as if making up for lost time. I captured her lips with mine, and her body arched the moment I gripped her breasts. Mira's body burned above me, and the heat radiating from her core told me I was on the right path.
I took my time with her nipples, and explored her mouth before slinking down to caress her thighs in long, firm strokes. She moaned against my lips, and I ran my knuckles over her saturated core. Every bit of her slipped against me, her clit firm with arousal.
She ended the kiss to gasp, and again, her thighs tightened around me as she panted. I smiled while I doted on her, kissing her cheeks, lips, and chin while stroking her in soft circles. She gazed between us, as if astonished by the movement while she held onto my shoulders. Soft sounds escaped her, and her legs trembled as her body seemed to race toward release. My stomach ached and pressure built at the apex of my thighs as my excitement grew.
Mira's hips rolled a few times against my palm while I worked her, and I picked up the speed of revolutions around her clit while she rocked against my palm. A squeak left her lips and her fingers dug into my shoulders. With her mouth close to my ear, she breathed out my name as I reached around and grabbed a handful of her firm rear to support her movement.
Strangled cries burst from her and she tossed her head back, her hips bucking a few times as she came against me. I held on to her so she didn't fall, and kept up my movements all through her orgasm. Mira's face contorted with unrefined abandon as she allowed herself to swim in the pleasure. Her legs quaked, body arched, and my continued firm, quick strokes brought forth a second, immediate explosion that nearly made her scream. She grabbed on to me, her mouth against my neck as she bucked her hips, urging my fingertips to poke her entrance.
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