by Erin Dutton
“Are you trying to Mr. Miyagi me?” Maggie moved to the other side. She braced one hand on the surface, and with the other, she mirrored Ally’s motion with her own sandpaper.
“Maybe. Let me know if it works.” Ally chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s just nice to talk to someone who gets that reference.”
“You’ve been dating that young?”
Ally lowered her head and looked away, obviously pretending to focus on a stubborn rough spot in the wood. “The last woman I went out with was twenty-five.”
“I’m not sure if I’m impressed or repulsed.”
“She was mature for mid-twenties.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m sure you were dating her for her maturity.”
Ally laughed.
“The ex you lived with, she wasn’t younger, right? You said she had a teenager?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re okay dating an older woman, then?” She’d meant to tease. But as she said it, she realized her comment brought up more questions. Were they dating? She didn’t need to have another conversation where they couldn’t define what they were. So, she amped up the flirtation to distract from any seriousness. “Just slightly older, that is.”
Ally raised her brows, a smile twitching at the corner of her lips. Maggie eased back to Ally’s side of the console, intent on kissing that little grin right off her mouth. “Do you mean a mature woman who could teach me a thing or two? You know, in the bedroom.”
“I’ll assume you’re talking about me and not your ex, or some other mature woman. Also, I’ll pretend mature is a compliment and not just you calling me old.” She trailed her hand across Ally’s shoulder and up the side of her neck. Ally tilted her head, and Maggie walked her fingers into the edge of Ally’s hairline, just behind her ear.
“That feels amazing.” Ally made a sound of contentment as Maggie sifted her fingers through the back of her hair. “I like your hands on me.”
Maggie’s kiss lingered just shy of letting it turn passionate. Ally didn’t deepen it. Maggie didn’t know where she found the self-control, but Ally had consistently let her lead. “Someday soon, I’m going to reward you for all of this patience you’ve been showing me.”
“Anything worth having is worth waiting for,” Ally murmured with her lips pressed to Maggie’s jaw.
“So, no pressure to make sure it’s worth it, though?”
“None. I already know I’ll wait for you as long as I need to.” Ally’s eyes locked on her and held. Her voice still carried a teasing note, but her gaze said she was serious.
Did Ally want to change their self-imposed rules as much as she did?
“Ally—”
“Would you like to stay here tonight?”
Maggie hesitated. Given her last thought, she should say no. She couldn’t let this thing between them get any more emotional. Maybe the invitation to spend the night was strictly physical.
Maggie wanted Ally, but getting intimate still made her nervous. What if she freaked out again? She hoped she’d only had an issue with Ally’s hand tightening around her wrist, but what if there was more to it than that? She didn’t want Ally to think she was leading her on, then pulling back after winding her up.
“Nothing has to happen that you’re not ready for. I realize I sort of sprung this on you. But I had an idea about something that might make you more comfortable—physically, and I figured we could test it out.”
“You had an idea?”
Ally nodded. “But if you aren’t ready, we could try another night. When you’ve had time to bring a few overnight things with you.”
Ally’s willingness to let Maggie set the pace gave her a shot of confidence. Surely she could believe in their relationship as much as Ally did.
“Do you have an extra toothbrush?”
Ally grinned. “I do.”
* * *
“Are you going to tell me about your plan?” Maggie asked during one of the many slightly awkward silences during dinner.
Ally had grilled turkey burgers and an assortment of vegetables. She poured them each a glass of wine and put on some soft music. She stopped short of lighting candles, not wanting dinner to feel too much like a seduction scene.
She smiled and covered Maggie’s hand. “If you really want the details, I’ll tell you so you won’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.” Maggie turned her hand over to lace her fingers together with Ally’s, and as if on cue, her fingers trembled against Ally’s. “Okay, maybe a little nervous. Should I do something to prepare? I didn’t come here today expecting—um, intimacy. So—I haven’t done any of those things we women do to prepare to have sex but don’t talk about because it’s not so sexy.”
Ally raised her brows. “You haven’t shaved your legs.”
“Among other things. But yes, let’s focus on that one.”
Ally sat against the back of her chair, adopting a serious expression. She acted like she was giving Maggie’s confession careful consideration. “Are we talking weeks or months?”
“Oh, God, no. A day—eh, maybe two.”
Ally’s lips twitched, and then she gave Maggie a full grin, enjoying the flush that crept up her neck. “I think I can work with that. Besides, for tonight, no sex.”
“None?” Maggie shoved both of her hands under the edge of the table, and judging from her fidgety motion, Ally could practically picture her wringing them together.
“It’s completely off the table.”
“For real? Or are you just saying that to make me take it as a challenge to get you to give in?”
“Would that work?” Ally rolled her empty wineglass between her hands, trying to appear relaxed about this whole conversation. If she could put out calming energy, maybe Maggie would absorb some of it.
“Maybe. You know it’s not that I don’t want to sleep with you, right?”
“Good. Because it’s very important to me that you do want to sleep with me.” She saw Maggie’s confusion at her choice of words and hoped it would all be clear to her in a little while. She set her glass down, then filled it with the nearly empty bottle on the table between them. “I’d really like for you to trust me. And to keep open communication and tell me if anything pushes you too far. And, most important, to relax.”
Maggie drew an exaggerated breath, then let it out slowly. “I can try.”
After dinner, they settled on the sofa and watched a cheesy ’90s rom-com that Ally had seen at least a half dozen times. She didn’t think she’d be able to focus with Maggie sitting on the cushion directly next to hers but soon found herself caught up in the love story on-screen. She registered the warmth of Maggie’s thigh pressed against hers and forced herself to think of the warmth, soothing like a fireplace on a cold winter night, as opposed to the knowledge that it was Maggie’s thigh just under those jeans.
She stretched her arm along the back of the sofa and rested her fingers against Maggie’s opposite shoulder. Maggie cuddled against her, resting her hand on Ally’s knee, and she wondered if maybe Maggie had decided to test her resolve. No sex. She’d made the rule, and she would stick by it in order to make sure that Maggie was totally comfortable with the progress between them physically. She pressed her own thighs together and repeated the words in her head. No sex.
* * *
“If, at any point, you’re uncomfortable, just say the word.” Ally had turned off the television and now took Maggie’s hand.
Maggie stared into Ally’s eyes, seeing her concern and caring, and she nodded.
Ally led her to the bedroom and pulled back the covers. “You get comfortable. Help yourself to some comfy clothes if you want them. You’ll find a new toothbrush in the cabinet under the sink. I’ll be back.” Ally grabbed some clothes out of a drawer, leaving it open slightly for Maggie, and left the room.
Maggie brushed her teeth and washed her face. She selected a T-shirt from the same drawer and replaced her own shirt a
nd bra. She shoved her shorts down and stepped out of them. Wearing only her underwear and Ally’s shirt, she crawled into bed and pulled the sheet and comforter over her. Ally’s plush bed enveloped her, and the softest sheets Maggie had ever felt caressed her bare legs.
After she heard a light knock, the bedroom door clicked open.
“All good?” Ally eased into the room wearing a T-shirt similar to Maggie’s, along with a pair of capri-length pajama pants.
“Yes.” Maggie flipped the corner of the comforter back in invitation.
Ally crossed the room and got in next to Maggie. But instead of reaching for her, Ally turned away and scooted back against Maggie, so that Maggie was spooning her.
Confused, Maggie rested her hand on Ally’s hip, over the comforter. This was Ally’s big plan? To get in bed and ignore her? Except she hadn’t. She’d pressed back, touching her as passively as she could, giving the power of their embrace to Maggie. Maggie doubted the position came naturally for Ally, certain she was usually the big spoon. But she’d sacrificed her comfort for Maggie’s.
Maggie pushed her hand under the covers and slid it around Ally, snuggling closer. Ally covered Maggie’s hand with hers, lightly, not holding her there—just touching. Maggie nuzzled her cheek against Ally’s hair and pressed her chest against Ally’s back.
“Next time we should do this without these T-shirts between us,” she whispered.
Ally chuckled. “Just don’t get used to being the big spoon. That isn’t going to be an every-time thing.”
“I figured.” She splayed her fingers against Ally’s stomach and enjoyed the twitch of muscles under the smooth skin. “Thank you. This is perfect.” She kissed Ally’s jaw and closed her eyes.
Chapter Fifteen
Ally woke up slower than usual. She typically snapped awake in the morning as if someone had flipped on a light switch on her brain—from sleeping to aware in mere seconds. But that morning, she drifted into consciousness like she was being pulled reluctantly from a beautiful dream. At some point during the night, she and Maggie had shifted, and now she lay on her back with Maggie’s head on her chest and her arm across her stomach. She didn’t even know people slept like that in real life. She never had. She’d always rolled away from her partner during the night.
But last night, she’d wanted to make sure Maggie knew she was close, while also giving her the control between them. Maybe a part of her had tried to continue that reassurance, even in sleep. She rolled her eyes. Now she was playing amateur psychologist with herself. She shouldn’t be overthinking this. She should just enjoy the fact that Maggie was lying here, in her arms, at peace. Her arm tightened involuntarily against Maggie’s back, and Maggie stirred.
“Good morning,” Ally murmured, not wanting to disturb the peace of the morning. “Should I assume since you didn’t sneak out in the night that you were okay with everything?”
Maggie placed her hand on Ally’s chest, just under her collarbone, then rested her chin on the back of her hand. “I guess so. I don’t seem to want to move from this spot.”
Maggie brought her leg up to lie across Ally’s, and Ally moved her hand under the covers to touch her knee. As she rolled to her side, facing Maggie, she ran her palm up Maggie’s leg.
“Whoa. You don’t have pajama bottoms on.” She paused with her hand high on the outside of Maggie’s thigh—almost her hip.
“I don’t.”
“If you tell me you haven’t been wearing underwear all night, I might cry.”
“Of course I’m wearing underwear. What kind of woman do you think I am?”
“See. Now I don’t know if that’s better. Because I can’t think about anything but whether they’re cotton or lace. Or maybe satin?”
Maggie winked. “Why don’t you find out?”
“Lord, save me,” Ally murmured as she pressed her face into Maggie’s neck. She kissed Maggie just below her ear as she inched her fingers up until they encountered fabric—lace-edged cotton, to be specific.
Maggie snuck her hands under Ally’s T-shirt. “You’re very warm.”
“And getting hotter by the second.” Suddenly, her pajamas and the added weight of the covers were too much for her. She kicked off the comforter, then fumbled with the sheet when it twisted around her leg, eventually freeing herself.
“You’re the one who said no sex.”
“I said no sex last night. I made no such promises about this morning.”
“Ah.” Maggie’s fingers danced up her stomach and caressed the underside of her breast. “I like your idea of a loophole.”
Ally’s nipples tightened and tugged a spot between her thighs. “Maggie,” she rested her hand over Maggie’s on the outside of her shirt, “we’re nearing a point where I’m going to be very uncomfortable if we don’t stop.”
“I have some idea of how you feel.” Maggie moved her hand again, sliding it up between Ally’s breasts. “However, I’d very much like to feel more of you.”
“Maggie,” Ally moaned.
“It’s okay, Ally.”
“I don’t want to push you.” Her stomach flipped with arousal, but something else, too. Worry that Maggie might feel pressure. And something darker, which she couldn’t put into words aloud, that Maggie might flash on a memory of Carey at an inopportune moment. That thought had her withdrawing physically from Maggie. She started to release her and turn away, but Maggie held on.
“Hey, you’re not pushing. If anything, I’m pulling.” Maggie rolled onto her back, dragging Ally with her, until Ally hovered over her.
“What I said about stopping—”
“I know.”
“I need to say it. I need to know you hear me.” She waited for Maggie’s nod. “If at any point you want to call a halt to this, that is entirely your prerogative.”
Maggie cradled Ally’s face in her hands and held her gaze. “Hey, I want this. And I’m right here. With you. If any part of that changes, I’ll let you know.”
Ally’s apprehension melted under the heat of Maggie’s kiss. Feeling Maggie’s hands slide against her skin brushed away her fears.
“More. I need access to more of you.” Maggie tugged at the hem of her shirt.
Ally eased away and pulled off her shirt. Then, at the intense look of desire in Maggie’s eyes, she also stripped off her pants, leaving herself completely naked, before bringing their bodies flush again.
“Wait.” Maggie planted a hand in the center of Ally’s chest. “You were going commando under there all night?”
“Sure.” Ally grinned. “I never wear underwear to bed. You gotta let stuff breathe.”
Maggie trailed her hand down to Ally’s hip and squeezed. “That is so good to know. I’m going to need a bunch more sleepovers.”
“We’re not done with this one yet.”
“No. But I have a good idea how I hope it’s going to end.”
Ally kissed Maggie’s neck. “We’re going to get there. Let’s not rush.”
“Okay. But let’s be clear. You’re going to get me there first.” The teasing in Maggie’s voice didn’t obscure her permissive tone.
“Oh, yes, ma’am.” Ally pushed up Maggie’s shirt, dropping kisses across her stomach as she went.
Maggie’s hands in her hair encouraged her higher, until her lips brushed the underside of Maggie’s breast. Maggie sat up and took off her shirt. As she lay back down, Ally cupped her hand around the swell of that one breast and brushed her thumb against her puckering nipple. She bent and lathed her tongue against it, feeling it tighten even further. Maggie sighed and arched her back.
“Beautiful,” Ally whispered as she stroked her hands around Maggie’s back, hugging her close.
Her head swam with the feel of Maggie’s skin and the soft sounds of pleasure she made as Ally caressed and kissed her. She forced herself to be patient, though her body clamored for more—now. More of Maggie flush against her. More of Maggie’s hands and mouth on her own skin.
She focus
ed on Maggie and her reactions to each touch as she stroked down her stomach and over her hip, dragging her underwear over her thighs and off. Maggie encouraged her with whispered words and light touches against her shoulder and her neck.
“Touch me.” Maggie’s demanding tone erased Ally’s desire to go slow.
Sliding up, she kissed Maggie deeply as she traced a path up the inside of Maggie’s thigh to her center. Her small moan echoed Maggie’s sound of satisfaction as her fingers slipped into Maggie’s wet folds.
“Oh, God, yes,” Maggie breathed.
Ally echoed the sentiment in her head. She found Maggie’s clit and teased. She watched Maggie’s face as she curled her finger and slid inside. Maggie grabbed the back of Ally’s arm, pulling her deeper.
Emboldened by Maggie’s hand on her arm, and the feel of Maggie squeezing around her, Ally withdrew, then pushed back in. Maggie tilted her head back and whispered pleas for “more.” Ally added another finger, and Maggie’s answering groan left her feeling empowered, yet more humbled than she ever had. Bracing herself with one hand, she buried her face in Maggie’s neck and thrust, letting Maggie’s hips moving against her set the pace.
When Maggie tensed, Ally’s heart kicked with fear, but she resisted the urge to stop and check in. If everything was good, she didn’t want to pull Maggie out of the buildup. So, trusting Maggie to tell her if something was wrong, she continued stroking in and out. Maggie grasped at her shoulder, then gripped the back of her neck. She cried out as her hips jerked against Ally’s hand.
Need throbbed through Ally, and she wanted to reach between her own legs and topple over the edge with Maggie. But she kept her focus on drawing out Maggie’s release, reveling in each tremor that vibrated between them. As Maggie’s orgasm ebbed, Ally lay on her side and drew Maggie close, holding her but careful not to restrain her from moving away if she wanted to.
“That was—very nice.” Maggie burrowed into her embrace.
“I strive for amazing, but I’ll settle for nice.”
