by Vicky Jones
"Is this where they–" she began, her voice cracking with anger.
Shona swallowed hard and nodded, the shame of her treatment still burning deep within her.
"I wish I could take away what they did to you," Chloe said as she ran her fingertips over the scars, her anger subsiding with each butterfly kiss she then planted on each one. She lay Shona down backward on the bed and kneeled in front of her to untie her laces. Pulling them off with a heave, she threw her boots, then her socks out of her way and walked her fingers up the inside of Shona's thighs. Biting her lip, Shona waited for Chloe to touch her where she was aching to feel her the most.
Downstairs, the front desk clerk dialed a number without even needing to look it up in his Rolodex.
"It's me, Peter from the Fortua Hotel? Sir, you are never going to believe who has just walked into my lobby. No, she didn't give me the name of her companion. Description? Well, blonde hair…Sir? Hello?"
Peter replaced the handset, frowning as his line went dead.
Chloe lingered over Shona's pants buttons for a moment to ensure she was comfortable, then slowly picked them open, one by one. Shona's heart was beating out of her chest with excitement as she tried to control her breathing, but the throbbing between her legs was almost too much to bear. Gazing up, not wanting to take her eyes off her, Chloe wrapped her fingers around Shona's waistband and deftly slid her pants down over her slender legs, leaving her lying on the bed wearing just her underwear.
Smiling, she lightly planted kisses up the insides of Shona's thighs, but as she almost reached the top, she felt her flinch. Looking closely, Chloe saw more scars.
"They did it here too?" Horrified, she lifted her head up, her heart breaking with the thought of the intimate places Shona had been hurt.
Nodding, Shona instinctively tried to close her legs.
"If you want me to stop, I'll stop," Chloe said. Sensing her anxiety, she climbed back up Shona's body and lay next to her, stroking her hair.
"No, I don't want you to stop. I just don't know how to deal with what's happenin' in my body right now–" she buried her face into Chloe's neck.
"Is it a bad feeling?" Chloe asked, terrified of the answer.
"No. What you’re doing…feels…it feels incredible," Shona replied, wiping the stray tear that had rolled onto her cheek.
"It's OK, I'm not going to rush you," Chloe reassured her as she waited a few moments for Shona's nervous heartbeat to calm. As it did so, Shona placed soft kisses on Chloe's mouth to let her know she was OK. Reading the sign intuitively, she crawled back down Shona's body to the end of the bed and stood up. Without taking her eyes off her, she removed her pumps and began unbuttoning her silk blouse, enjoying the thrill of holding Shona's undivided attention, finally having her entirely to herself after months of her dashing away all the time. Leaning back on her elbows, Shona was completely transfixed by the slow reveal of Chloe's breathtaking body as her blouse glided down over her smooth shoulders and onto the carpet. Chloe threaded her thin black belt nimbly through her fingers and inched the zip on her pencil skirt down. Gazing at Shona, she peeled her skirt agonizingly slowly over her hips and stood in front of her wearing nothing but her precious necklace and lace underwear.
"Is this OK?" Chloe bit her lip anxiously as she remembered what Shona had been forced to look at during her vile treatment. But there was not a flicker of doubt on Shona’s mesmerized face.
"Come here," she breathed, feeling only the torture of not having Chloe in her arms right that second.
Chloe stepped forward and straddled Shona who held her carefully around her hips, mindful to avoid the dark bruises and fingernail dents still haunting her milky-white skin. Sitting up straight to be at eye level with her perfectly shaped breasts, Shona kissed them softly as she reached behind and unclipped Chloe's bra clasp, her fingers shaking with adrenaline as she freed her from the straps. Chloe arched her back at her soft touch, feeling the tingling sensations start to build between her legs. Shona gasped as she saw Chloe's breasts for the first time, her hands nervously exploring them as if they’d been sculpted from the finest marble.
"You are…the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" Shona murmured as Chloe gently pushed her back down onto the bed. Closing her eyes, she moaned as she felt Chloe’s lips brush over her neck and around her earlobe, then onto her collarbone, eventually moving lower and lower down to her chest.
"Is this OK?" she asked quietly, kissing the goosepimpled skin around her ribs and down over her hip bones.
"Uh huh." Shona’s fists clenched around the crisp bedsheets as her head dropped back at the touch of Chloe's soft lips on her delicate skin. Trailing the tip of her tongue down lower and lower until it was nearly at the place Shona craved to feel it, Chloe savored every moment of the wait. Shona applied the lightest of pressure with her shaking hand on the back of Chloe's head, stroking the nape of her neck with her thumb, which just spurred Chloe on more as she breathed hot breath onto Shona's shivering skin.
"Oh God, Chloe, please don't stop," she groaned.
Unable to resist a moment longer, Chloe reached down and slid Shona's underwear off, impatiently throwing the cotton hindrance to the floor. She parted her quivering legs and kissed up inside them, higher and higher until she found the spot that Shona had been aching for her to reach.
"Oh…my…" She writhed on the bed as Chloe held on to her. The sensations rippled through her like wildfire as she fought to keep her eyes open, but the sheer pleasure of what Chloe was doing with her expert tongue was making it impossible for her not to clamp her eyes shut in ecstasy. Running her fingers through Chloe’s silky soft brown hair, she held her head exactly where she wanted it. Needing no encouragement, Chloe sped up the movements of her tongue until Shona could take no more.
"Oh God…Oh my God…" she panted.
Suddenly, a massive wave crashed over her, exhilarating every nerve ending in her body, like electricity coursing through her. She cried out as Chloe's unrelenting tongue moved faster and faster until she felt the orgasm completely pass through Shona's convulsing body. Chloe lifted her head, then kissed her way back up to Shona's trembling face.
"Are you OK?"
"That was the most incredible feeling of my life," she said, looking deep into Chloe's eyes. Reaching up to dry Shona's tears with her own shaking fingers, Chloe cuddled up next to her, cradling her in her arms as both their racing heartbeats returned to their now-familiar calmness.
After hearing the description from Peter, Larry Bruce slammed the receiver down with a crash. He let out a strangled roar, then swiped his arm over the surface of his desk, sending his work files and papers flying in all directions, his whiskey glass shattering into a million pieces against his office wall.
Sinking back into his chair, he knew what to do. He picked up the phone and dialed.
"It's Bruce. Find Kyle. Find him NOW!"
"I don't know what happened there." Shona looked embarrassed by her tears as she lay in Chloe's arms, both of them now tucked underneath the warm blankets of their luxurious bed.
"I love you, Shona," Chloe said, scooping her face up in her hands.
"I love you too."
Shona began stroking the thin layer of skin around Chloe's bruised hip bone. Before long, her confidence began to grow as she watched her bite her lip with every circle of her fingertip. With one fluid movement, Shona slid her hand underneath the waistband of Chloe's underwear, edging the lace down over her thighs, then she lay on her side next to her. Hanging her right arm down over Chloe's navel, she draped her left arm above Chloe's head, interlocking their fingers. As Shona kissed her neck hungrily, Chloe's lips parted, her eyes closing as her arousal was building again. Shona explored lower and lower with her right hand until her fingertips were resting just between her thighs. But Chloe's body flinched, her legs twitching from the still-raw tenderness she felt down there since Kyle's brutal assault.
Shona stopped instantly.
"Because of him?"
she asked.
Chloe, feeling her own shame now, buried her face into Shona's neck, confirming the answer.
Shona held her unconditionally. Time wasn't in the slightest bit important.
"I wish I could take back what he did to you," she murmured in her ear. She felt Chloe nuzzle in deeper, her damp eyes moistening Shona's skin.
After a few minutes of feeling their hearts beat in unison, Chloe lifted her head out of Shona's neck and looked deep into her understanding eyes. Without a single doubt in her mind, she reached down to place her hand on top of Shona's, moving it back between her legs, not taking her eyes off her for a second.
"I trust you," she whimpered as she slowly placed Shona's fingers inside of her, feeling them slip in effortlessly.
In slow motion, their bodies rocked together in perfect rhythm, with Shona reassuring her every single moment by a kiss on her neck. Chloe's panting became more urgent, her heels digging into the bed as she writhed with pleasure. She closed her eyes and looked away, biting down hard on the back of her hand as Shona found her spot perfectly.
"Please look at me," Shona whispered as she locked the fingers on her left hand around Chloe’s again, tighter this time as her right hand continued carefully working inside of her. Chloe’s memory of how rough Kyle had been that night ebbed away with every second of Shona's sure touch. She’d taken the time to make sure Chloe was fully prepared for her and now, as Shona held her close to her body the whole way through, Chloe was finally ready to let go completely.
"Oh my…Oh, Shona!" Arching her back, she lifted Shona almost entirely off the bed with her, her toes tangling up in the sheets, calling out her name as her orgasm raged through her body. Shona slowed down her movements inside of her, kissing Chloe's forehead as she guided her back down to earth. Their heavy breaths returned to normal, followed by a few precious moments of calm.
"Shhhh…I'm here, I'm here…Shhh, it's OK," Shona whispered in Chloe’s ear, wiping her stray tears away with her left hand. Waiting patiently until she was ready, Shona removed her fingers from inside of Chloe, letting her control the movement in her own time. They lay there in each other's arms, savoring every delicious second of what had just happened.
"Can I ask you something?" Chloe began as she stroked Shona's arm.
"Sure," she kissed Chloe's forehead and nuzzled into her.
"When did you first know? That you loved me?"
"When you first walked out on that damn balcony, I knew I was in trouble," she replied lazily, her eyes half-closed.
"Really?"
"Yeah, why? When did you?" Shona opened her eyes.
"That first day I saw you, rushing away. I knew right then I had to get to know you! I can't explain why, I just did. You can't help who you fall for, can you? It's just who we are. Then when you made it so damn difficult to keep up with you—"
Shona laughed as Chloe gently tickled her.
"I just wanted to know you more. I can't believe you didn't see that!" Chloe said, a little hurt.
"I'm sorry, I was just so scared after what happened last time, and what with the treatment I had an' all. I couldn't understand what was going on in my body. But I knew I loved you. I just never thought you'd feel the same." Shona's voice cracked with emotion.
"Well, I do, so now what? What happens now?"
"I just want to lie here with you tonight," Shona replied, a more serious tone in her soft, sleepy voice.
Shona's head was snuggled deep in her soft pillow when she felt a gentle kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes a crack to see Chloe ready to leave.
"Whass'up, where'y’goin', it'sss late," she slurred, her body ravaged with exhaustion.
"Baby, I gotta go. I gotta get home before my parents notice I'm not there." She stroked Shona's messy hair. "D'you want me to wait for you to get dressed so that I can take you home?"
"No, I don't want you to be late and get in any more trouble. Plus, I just wan' enjoy this room a bit longer! I never slept so good! This is the most luxury I ever had in my whole life!" she added, a contented grin on her face.
"I'll see you later, OK? I'll need a little time in the morning to go to the bank again, but then we're gone. Meet me at 10 tomorrow break time; people won't notice you going to the parking lot. Then we get in the car and drive, OK? I love you."
"I love you too. Don't worry, I'll leave here to get to work in plenty of time, boss," Shona added cheekily.
Chloe smiled, grabbed her bag and put her hand on the door handle.
"Chloe–"
"Yeah?" she replied, fondly rolling her eyes at Shona starfishing across the huge king-sized bed.
"That was the greatest night of my life. I just wanted you to know that," Shona drawled as she drifted back off to sleep.
"Mine too," she replied softly, closing the door quietly behind her.
Chapter 80
Chloe drummed her fingers on her office desk, the clock on her wall seemingly ticking down the minutes painfully slowly. It was 9:27 and a half exactly when she rushed through her office door, her handbag stuffed with the rest of the savings she’d withdrawn from the bank on her way in. The trunk of her car was packed with her suitcase and the few possessions she was taking with her. Now, it was just a case of waiting until the break time buzzer sounded and they could slip away unnoticed.
At 9:30, Chloe sighed, looking for a way to pass the next thirty minutes as quickly as possible. As if on cue, a knock on her door roused her back to reality.
"Hi Chloe, sorry to jump on you as soon as you walk in, but can you sign this order form, please?" Ron Black popped his balding head around her door.
"Of course, Ron. How's that lovely wife of yours doing?" Chloe asked politely as she took out her pen to sign the form.
"She's doin' OK, Chloe, thanks for asking. Well, I'll let you get on now, thanks again!"
9:35 a.m. came and went. The wait was excruciating.
"Chloe, we have an emergency meeting, Larry's office, now. Some investors have just dropped in on us!"
Chloe's face filled with horror as she looked at the time. It was 9:45 a.m., and she had just finished tidying her desk for the last time.
"Sorry, but I can't–"
"What do you have to do that's more important than meeting with the people who ensure we get paid?" Kyle asked coldly.
"OK. I can spare ten minutes, then I have things to do," she replied, trying to control the adrenaline rushing through her as she looked again at the clock.
After time dragging so torturously when she was in her office, it now seemed to race by, five minutes disappearing as if they were seconds.
"So, what do you think, Chloe? You agree?" one of the investors probed.
"Um, can you explain again, please?" she said, shaking her head out of distraction. Kyle and Bruce quietly fumed.
"Honey, were you listening?" Kyle tapped his pen on the desk.
"Of course. Go ahead, I agree. I gotta go, sorry."
Chloe made her apologies to the investors and rushed out of the office, leaving them–and Bruce and Kyle–dumbfounded as to why she had left the meeting not even a quarter of the way through.
9:55 a.m.
Chloe ran down the balcony steps, her heart beating the samba against her chest. Barely able to control her excitement, she searched for Shona, checking all her usual work areas.
But there was no sign of her anywhere.
Bumping into Ron again in the canteen, she smiled, her heart in her mouth.
"Ron, do you know where Shona's working today?"
"She should be out in the fields today, finally on the machinery detail she's been yearnin' for. Jeffrey Ellis insisted on it after all her hard work around here." Ron grinned.
Chloe thanked him and darted out into the fields, spotting some tractors and trucks in the distance being tended to by the chief mechanic, Ray Brown.
"Ray!" Chloe called out breathlessly after running the thirty yards over to him. "Where's Shona?" she asked, trying to sound professi
onal.
"If I knew, I'd tell you, ma'am," Ray said gruffly, not looking up from his clipboard.
"I'm sorry?" she stared at him, panic starting to rear its ugly head in the pit of her stomach.
"I ain't seen her, and I've got work backed up. The first time she gets put on machinery, and she lets us down! If you see her, Miss Chloe, can you kick her in the backside from me?" Ray barked orders to some guys in the distance.
"Wait, sorry, WHAT? Shona isn't here?" Her world began to spin.
"Yep, she ain't turned up to work this morning. I checked with the office, nothing! Looks like–" Ray trailed off as Chloe raced towards the front desk.
"You OK, Miss Chloe?" asked one of the clerks.
"Yeah…Um." Frantically, she rifled through the punch cards, finally finding Shona's. That morning's column hadn't been punched, and Chloe's worst fears began to manifest themselves.
"Mary, have you heard why Shona Jackson's not in?" Chloe drummed her fingernails on the counter.
"Nothing, and that ain't like her. Mr. Ellis ain't gon' be happy." Mary tutted as she adjusted her horn-rimmed cat-eye glasses.
Chloe searched everywhere, hoping Shona had arrived so late that she'd got straight down to work and not bothered to punch in, thinking there was no point. There was one person who must've seen her at some point that morning. She looked over at Elbie running an oily rag over a piece of truck engine.
Just as she was about to run over to him, a voice called her name. She turned to see Randy standing behind her looking as if he hadn't slept a wink, his clothes disheveled, his face shrouded by dark, bumpy stubble, his eyes red and raw.
"Randy, what is it? I ain't got time to–"
