Composing Love

by Ronni Meyrick

  Billy’s eyes dipped to the soft, moist lips a few inches from hers, and she moaned. “It wouldn’t just be my passion for the music that you saw!” She tightened her hold on Elizabeth and spun her around so her back was against her chest. Her hands tightened on her hips. She rubbed her pelvis against the two beautiful orbs of Elizabeth’s backside. An inadvertent moan escaped her throat as she felt the tightness of the muscles.

  Firework by Katy Perry was next to play. Her hands slid upwards and rested against Elizabeth’s stomach. Billy gasped when she felt Elizabeth’s hands on her thighs, the short, blunt, nails scratching against the denim. Lost in a haze of lust, she wasn’t entirely sure how Elizabeth’s hands ended up on her shoulders, and she got a shock as her head was pulled forward. She buried her nose into the nape of her neck, happy to lose herself once more.

  Again, the overwhelming scent of patchouli filled her nostrils when she ran her cheek over the soft curve. She bit her lips as her eyes locked on the enticing slope that joined Elizabeth’s neck and shoulders. With a groan of frustration, she took what was in front of her and kissed a trail from her shoulder, up her neck, and to her ear, where she nibbled on her lobe. “You’re gorgeous, Elizabeth.”

  The music slowed, and John Legend’s exquisite voice sounded. Elizabeth spun back around, pulled her closer, and hooked her hands back onto her hips. “Please, Billy, I’d like for you to call me Beth. Everyone else addresses me as Elizabeth or Lizzie. But I’d like something different for you. Besides, the few times I’ve heard you say it, I’ve gone a little weak in the knees.”

  Her only reply was a nod. She pulled Elizabeth closer. Her thoughts were completely lost in the lyrics and harmonious notes of a grand piano as another of her favourite songs played: All of Me. It was romance personified to her; it brought tears to her eyes.

  Neither of them spoke a word as they moved around the floor entangled in each other’s arms. There wasn’t a millimetre of space between them. The aroma from Elizabeth’s coconut shampoo overrode the smell of her perfume when she laid her head on Billy’s chest. Their hands were entwined and held against the top of her left breast. Leaning down, she kissed the top of Elizabeth’s hand as her other hand slid down lower to rest on the top her hips.

  When the song finished, Billy kissed the side of her neck and released her hold but kept a tight grip on her hand. She led them back to their seats. One of the stools had been taken, so she helped Elizabeth into the vacant one and stood behind her. Elizabeth’s naked back called to her. Unable to resist, she stroked the soft, creamy planes with her hands before settling them around her waist.

  A red hue covered Elizabeth’s face and she fanned it with her hand. “Damn… I think it’s my blood pressure we need to be concerned about now. It just went through the roof.” She sipped from the glass the barman placed before her, and Billy recognised it as the drink she had walked away from.

  Billy held her hand out to him. “Thank you for that. I’m normally careful about my drinks when I’m out, but my mind was on something else tonight.”

  “You’re welcome, and can I say you looked beautiful out there together? I’ve seen a lot of couples dancing over the years, but none that have a connection like yours. If what you were both feeling could be harnessed into electricity, you’d have generated enough to light the whole ship for the rest of the night.” He turned away as a customer called to him.

  “Wow. That was unexpected. I know I felt it, and I hope you did too. But for someone else to comment on it…” Elizabeth put her drink down. “Come here.” She swung around on her stool and grabbed hold of Billy’s t-shirt. She pulled her in between her legs and nestled into her, and then rose up so her lips were next to her ear. “I can believe it. The things you do to me, Billy Christian… I lose myself when I’m in your arms. You do realise you drive me crazy, don’t you? Every time you touch me, it’s like a fire passes through me.” Her hands slid down and into the backside pockets of Billy’s jeans.

  “Oh, Beth, you do the exact same to me.” She kissed her cheek then passed Elizabeth her drink.

  Their gazes held for what seemed like an eternity. It was only when they heard the bartender clear his throat that they broke away.

  The heat inside the club was now too much. Billy finished her now-cool lemonade with one long gulp. “I needed that…Perhaps I can stand in the middle of the floor while he hoses me down with water.” She rubbed her face and sniggered. “I’d know exactly how Claret feels when I give him a bath then.” She peered down at the quickly diminishing gin and tonic in Elizabeth’s hand. “Do you want to stay in here all night? I heard there’s an Irish pub on board that’s running karaoke tonight. Would you like to see what’s going on down there? I thought it might be fun to go and see who is murdering what songs.”

  “You’re evil…but so am I. Let’s go!”

  Chapter Sixteen

  They wandered hand-in-hand into the pub. The atmosphere was a lot different. It was brightly-lit. Old brewery and metal ale signs covered the cream walls. Upbeat, foot-tapping Irish music played in the background. All the tables were full of smiling faces and raucous laughter filled the air.

  A stage sat at the far end of the room. On it were the screen and microphones awaiting the first people to sacrifice themselves in the name of entertainment. A dance floor was in front of it.

  Awesome! At least we can dance together again. I loved the feeling of Elizabeth against me.

  “Come on.” Elizabeth pulled on her hand as a couple basically feeling each other up staggered past them. “I think they came from the bar. If we’re lucky, we can nab their seats.”

  A single solid oak stool with a two-inch padded upholstered cushion was what they found. Billy insisted Elizabeth take it. It’ll give me a chance to stand behind her and hold her again.

  She resisted the urge to bend down and lace her fingers together and hold them out for Elizabeth to step into when she shuffled up onto the stall. She saw another side to the opera singer she’d been crushing on: her face was radiant and animated as she peered around the room.

  “I’m going to love this! It’s so different from the last place…it’s almost homey.” Elizabeth spun on her stool and waved to the bartender. She ordered them both a pint of Guinness. “When in Rome! You can’t come to an Irish pub and not have a pint of their most famous ale.”

  While they waited for the drinks, Elizabeth took a thick folder from a stand in front of them and flipped the cover open. Billy peered over her shoulder and gasped at the variety of songs available.

  “I think I know what I’m going to sing first.” Elizabeth reached for a slip of paper and a pen and scribbled the number of the song and her alias.

  Billy wrapped her arms around her shoulders and laid a hand on hers to stop her from writing. “Do you think this is a good idea, Beth? If you get up there and start belting out a number like nobody else in here can, your secret identity will be shattered and so will your privacy. We have the threat Emma made hanging over us. I know you already said screw it to her bullshit, but this is more about you being able to enjoy yourself with anonymity.”

  “I don’t only sing classical stuff, you know.” She kissed a soft line around Billy’s wrist. “Thank you for your concern, but I doubt anyone will guess who I am from a couple of songs. My karaoke voice is different from my professional one, anyway. Just you wait and see.” She pushed the song lists across the rich red mahogany bar-top. “Don’t think you’re not singing. I heard that voice last night. It was spectacular.”

  Billy’s mouth turned dry, almost like she’d eaten a tonne of sand. It was difficult to swallow. When she was able to speak, her voice came out high-pitched. “I don’t think so… I’m not comfortable singing in public.”

  “Please? I promise to sing first, and I’m sure a lot of other people will be getting involved. You’ve nothing to be ashamed of and nobody cares what they sound like at karaoke. All these people are out to have a good time.”

  Billy shook h
er hands out in front of them and sagged against her back. “Okay, I may have to have some Dutch courage to get me up there, and it’ll take some psyching up. But you’ve got a deal.”

  Elizabeth slid off the stall and took her piece of paper up to the woman running the event.

  Billy placed a hand over her heart. It beat erratically in her chest when Elizabeth smiled at her as she took a seat on the stool again. “I suppose you’re going to be cocky and full of yourself when you nail that song?” she teased. She held her hand out and pulled Elizabeth to her.

  “If I ace it…” She bit her lip and glanced up. Her hands slid up over Billy’s chest, curled behind her neck, she pulled her head down and put her lips close to her ear. “Perhaps, you’ll reward me with a kiss?” She kissed the soft skin below it and left a trail down the curve of her neck, toward her clavicle.

  “I think that could be arranged.” Unable to resist any longer, she bent forward. Her hand rose and curled at the back of Elizabeth’s neck as their lips touched for the first time. It was a brief three second peck, but the suppleness of the soft, plump skin beneath hers was enough to make her head spin.

  When they pulled away from each other, Elizabeth stayed still. Her eyes were closed and her lips parted, ready for more. Billy caressed her lips with her thumb and ran her fingertips down her cheek.

  “Wow, that was… Damn, Billy. A girl could easily get addicted to sweet little kisses like that.” She reached for her glass of the dark stout and took a sip. “However, don’t think that’s going to count as my reward. I’m talking about a real, full-out, passionate, knee-trembling, kiss.”

  Any reply was cut off by the event organiser striding onto the stage and speaking loudly into the microphone. The whole pub erupted into cheers as she pulled the first name from the hat and called the person to the stage. “Okay, everyone, we’re starting the night out with something nice and slow. As you know, it’s the luck of the draw, so you’ll just have to wait for something a little faster.”

  Static feedback from the microphone made Billy wince. She tilted her head to the side and rubbed her ringing ears.

  “Sorry, there’ll be a short delay.”

  If she wants a proper kiss, I’ll have to make sure it’s something she’ll never forget. The setting is important. She motioned to the bartender for a phone. Elizabeth’s attention was riveted on what was happening on the stage, so she shouldn’t hear what Billy was saying.

  A perfect plan was forming in her head, but a few things needed to be put into place. With a quick call to the main reception desk, everything was ready, and all she’d need to do was pick something up on their way to the romantic place she had in mind.

  A rugged man with the build of a rugby player stood at the side of the stage with a microphone in his hand. Victim number one! I bet he does a cover of Purple Rain or a ballad by Meatloaf.

  A couple of minutes later the first few bars of the song played and proved how wrong she could be. Adele’s Make You Feel My Love started and the first note to leave his lips was perfect.

  She suddenly found herself being yanked away from the bar and towards the dance floor once again. Elizabeth winked over her shoulder at her when she stopped on the outskirts and held her arms out.

  God, I’m a sucker for that smile. She moved toward her and held her closer as they circled the floor to the awesome cover the man was belting out. Elizabeth’s cheek rubbed against the top of her left breast as she snuggled closer.

  “I love dancing with you. Your arms make me feel safe, protected, like nobody could ever penetrate the shell you create around us.”

  The people and room around them disappeared as Billy focused fully on her. There was nobody else who could hold her attention like Elizabeth. The song faded in her mind. She moved to the beat of her heart. I want to taste those lips again. She lowered her head. About to reach her goal, she anticipated soft skin and a hint of Guinness, but a tap on her shoulder stopped her, and her hold on Elizabeth eased.

  “Ahem. May I cut in?”

  The familiar voice made her tense. She straightened to her full height and loomed over Emma. “I don’t think so!”

  Elizabeth moved back to once again be encircled in Billy’s arms. “Leave us alone.”

  “Now, that’s not nice.” She sniggered and stepped closer to them. “Don’t forget my letter. I’m sorry, but you really have no other option.”

  That’s it! “Listen, psycho, take a hint and get lost!” Billy took a step away from Elizabeth. She instantly missed her warmth, but there was no way she was going to let Emma get away with taunting them. Her hands clenched into fists at her side. “Leave Beth alone.” She planted a palm on Emma’s chest and pushed her back a step.

  A soft hand on her fist stopped her.

  “Let me, honey. I appreciate you defending me, but I don’t think you punching her will solve anything. I can handle her.” She put her body in between Billy and Emma. “Okay, Emma, we need to get one thing straight. I don’t take kindly to be threatened or blackmailed. As for your veiled threat, I couldn’t give a fuck what you do. But please keep in mind that the police chief in New York and the District Attorney there are great friends of mine, and if a single word about me is released, I’ll have you arrested for blackmail and threatening behaviour…and anything else I can think of to add a few years to your sentence.”

  “So, you’re really together?” Emma stepped back and dug in her pocket for her phone.

  Billy’s hand shot out and held onto the top of the phone with a vice-like grip. She looked at Elizabeth and decided to let her answer. If it was down to her, she’d declare to the whole ship that they were dating. That’s what this is, a date, and I think we’re both heading in the same direction and want more…so yes, we’re dating!

  Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Billy. She pulled her head down and kissed her again on the lips. This time they lingered longer than before.

  Billy lost herself and pulled her hard into her body. She felt Elizabeth’s tongue caress her lips, and she nearly gave in and allowed her entry, but remembered herself and the promise she’d made to make their first kiss memorable and pulled away, softening the abruptness with a few extra softer kisses.

  “We are. So please, Emma, leave us alone.”

  “But aren’t you in separate rooms? Surely you haven’t fallen already. I know lesbians like to move fast, but that’s a new world record.”

  “That’s none of your damn business! We were associates before the cruise and have grown closer over time. It might appear weird, but my girlfriend is a little traditional. Unlike…some people.” Elizabeth’s gaze roamed from Emma’s feet back up to her face. “She doesn’t want a quick roll in the sack and that’s something I cherish.” She grinned up at Billy and tugged her arms tighter around her body. “Now do yourself a favour and leave. If you persist in harassing us, I’ll inform security and you’ll be kicked off in Lisbon.”

  The threat seemed to work as Emma turned and stalked off like a child who’d been reprimanded by their head teacher.

  Wow, she called me her girlfriend! Was that to get Emma away from us, or was she serious? Okay, it’s too soon, but I would be prouder than a peacock in full plume to be that to her. She resisted the urge to do a happy dance on the spot.

  “I hope that works.” Elizabeth led Billy back to the bar. As she was about to shimmy back onto her perch, her name was called. “Here we go… Don’t forget my reward!”

  Billy took the empty seat and relaxed back against the bar. Why did I agree to sing? Her gaze roamed over Elizabeth’s body. The way her legs and backside looked encased in leather made her heart pound. Oh yeah, that’s why.

  She watched, amazed, as Elizabeth brought the house down with a playful rendition of Rhianna’s Only Girl in the World. Strutting across the stage, she played to the crowd as they swarmed the dance floor. She shot a few saucy winks Billy’s way. Each time, Billy laughed and gave her a thumbs-up.

  Shit! I need to come up with some
thing this good.

  Elizabeth jumped down from the stage and jogged back to Billy. When she reached her, she nearly rugby-tackled her to the floor in her excitement. “So…what did you think?”

  “You take my breath away. That was amazing!” She reached for the song folder as an idea came to her. “I want to sing two songs. Do you think they’ll let me do them both at the same time so I only have to make the walk of shame once?” She shielded her piece of paper from Elizabeth, like she was sitting an important exam and wanted to protect her answers from a cheat, while she wrote down the song numbers.

  She placed a brief kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek as she stood and strode over to the event organiser and asked her if her request was possible. When she got back to the bar, she was beaming. “The karaoke gods are smiling on me tonight! I’m not going into the hat and have a couple of songs before she’s going to call my name. That gives me enough time to neck a double scotch for some courage.” She held her hand up and ordered them more drinks. The bartender grinned when she ordered her own. “Trust me, buddy, if I were able to order more I would.”

  Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. She pushed her onto the stool then walked behind her and squeezed her shoulders. “Imagine we’re an orchestra, and that your baton is your voice. You’ll be fine.” She cringed as a seriously dodgy off-key note warbled through the speakers. “Damn, I thought Carlo was with us for a second.”

  Billy threw her head back and roared with maniacal laughter. She stopped when her drink appeared next to her hand. Her eyebrow rose when she saw the amount in the tumbler.

  The bartender winked and patted her on the back. “I thought you might like a triple.”

  “Remind me to leave you a big tip; you’re definitely a lifesaver.”

  She sipped from the glass. The rich, tea-coloured liquor warmed her from the stomach up. Halfway through her drink, she heard her name from the speakers. “Here goes nothing.” She stood, took a deep breath, and knocked the rest of her drink back in one. “Wish me luck. Can you get me another of those ready for when I get back, please?”