Rewriting the Ending

by H P Tune

  Mia groaned. Shit.

  CHAPTER 16

  Mia stood at the door, bewildered. She had caught a glimpse of Juliet’s expression as she closed the door, and Juliet’s eyes were wide, and she shook her head slightly, though it didn’t seem directed at Mia. She had been calm but definitely retreating from the situation—at a rate of absolute knots. Mia’s knuckles rested against the door frame.

  Even after she rapped on the door, Mia heard no sounds at all from within the room. “Can I come in?” she asked, trying to keep her voice at a gentle, respectful tone. She leant in close to the door, opening it when she got no response. The sight of Juliet sitting on the edge of the bed, head bowed, provoked in Mia an involuntary sigh.

  She hadn’t even reached Juliet’s side before she heard the murmured, apologetic “I know. If it helps, I know.”

  “Know what? There’s nothing to know.” Mia sat next to her, the mattress dipping with her weight. Juliet’s hip tapped against hers.

  “No, I know what it is that I’m doing,” Juliet said. “And I’m trying not to. This is me trying not to do what I do—what I always do.”

  “Right.” Mia tried to give herself time to think of her next words. “I haven’t known you very long. Can you catch me up? What is it you do, exactly?”

  “Expect the worst.”

  “You know you’re overreacting, right? It was a phone message. I don’t have any control over who leaves me messages.” All the muscles in her face tightened and she tugged repeatedly at her right ear. It seemed to Mia as if all that they had shared had had no impact on Juliet at all, as if they really were still strangers in an airport who meant nothing to each other. How could she act like this? They had shared so much in their short two months.

  “But he still did,” Juliet said in a monotone.

  Mia exhaled noisily, unable to keep a distinct edge of irritation from her voice. “You’re actually being completely irrational. It was a fucking phone message.”

  Juliet nodded, but it still didn’t make any sense to Mia. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been clear with Juliet about who she was and who she had been. She had an ex-husband, and she had always been honest about the fact that she had no contact with him.

  “I’m sorry,” Juliet murmured, shoulders hunched and her hand pressed to her side. In any other moment, Mia would probably have asked if she was in pain, but her fury was growing.

  “You realise you just walked out? We were about to go to bed, and you just walked out of my room like a… Like a freakin’ teenager.”

  “Yep,” Juliet agreed. “I know, okay?”

  “Can we just go back to bed?”

  Juliet hesitated, and Mia yanked herself up into standing.

  “Oh, come on.” She paced the floor a few steps, to the door and back, hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Just give me a second, okay? I know what I’m doing, and if you stop jumping down my throat for a minute, I’ll sort my shit out.”

  “All this from a phone call, Juliet? What the hell is wrong with you? I won’t even phone him back if that’s what you want, okay? I don’t care. I don’t want anything to do with him or anyone from my old life. My family has made that easy for me, at least. Whatever it takes for you to not do…” Mia said, gesturing a hand between them, “whatever this is.”

  Juliet shook her head. “I can’t ask you not to phone him back, and I don’t want to. It could be important.”

  “Then what do you want?” Mia asked, the volume of her voice rising.

  “I just need you to be a bit patient.” Juliet groaned as she raked her fingers through her hair.

  “And I can be, you know,” Mia said with a grimace. “But what I can’t be is this person that stands by while you get up and walk out for no reason. How about you stop and talk? Form words and tell me what you’re freaking out about before you just walk out of my room without a word. All I wanted was to snuggle in bed with you tonight.” Her voice softened. “I kind of hope I still can.”

  Juliet patted the bed next to her, and after a moment of hesitation, Mia sat, letting Juliet take her limp hand and entwine their fingers.

  “You scare me, you know.” Mia could hear how careful, how tentative Juliet’s voice was, even with just those few words. “’Cause I have all these feelings for you. That scares the crap out of me. I was determined not to do this again.”

  “Is it a good scared? Because I need to know that you’re in. I’m in love with you, Juliet, and I really need to know that you’re in.”

  Juliet nodded, but then she closed her eyes for a long time. Mia sat there next to her, trying to stop her mind from making assumptions.

  “I’m in,” Juliet whispered. “But I’m not perfect. I’m not anywhere near that.”

  “I don’t need perfect. I just need you with me in bed tonight.”

  Juliet nodded slowly.

  “I’m not so scary, okay, Juliet? I’m really not.”

  “You should call him back.” Juliets eyes were glazed with tears. “It’s not what I’m stressing over, and you can always talk to whoever you want to. I would never expect you not to.”

  The idea of talking to him made Mia nervous. Her last conversations with Stephen had been full of accusations and derogatory names. “I don’t want to talk to him. I’m not even remotely interested in talking to that asshole. But realistically, it could be something to do with the house or something— I don’t know—paperwork I didn’t get. Or maybe it’s about someone we know. I don’t really have any idea.”

  “The house?”

  “Yeah, this house. I got this property in the divorce and an apartment in LA. He kept the businesses. He did have to pay me out a reasonable amount still, not that he cared. It all settled a few months ago, though, and it was through lawyers. But he always tried to speak to me outside of them. I don’t know what he wants.”

  Juliet shrugged. “I’m sorry.” She pressed her forehead into Mia’s shoulder. “I’m trying not to be a crazy person.”

  I don’t do quiet, you need to know that. The passive aggressive, silent treatment sends me insane, stresses me out.”

  “Okay.”

  “Did I tell you that it was Stephen who told my parents about the women? Daniela confirmed it, but he revealed it. That’s mostly why I’ve been cut off. It’s not like they were happy about the divorce, but they would have come round eventually. I guess he was trying to get back at me or something. Ironic, given that it was him and not me who was cheating throughout our marriage.”

  Juliet raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Guess it was bad for his ego.”

  Mia scoffed. “Yeah, men do wear their ego in their pants.”

  Laughing, Juliet rubbed at her eyes. “I wouldn’t know.”

  “You’ve never been with a guy? Even when you were younger?”

  Juliet shook her head. “Nope.”

  “Not that it matters. I was just curious.” Mia squeezed Juliet’s hand in her lap. “Now, can we go to bed?”

  Nodding, Juliet stretched her neck. “I have a massive headache.”

  “Really? I know a good cure for a headache,” Mia said, bending her voice into a sultry flirtation.

  Juliet deadpanned. “Paracetamol?”

  Mia grinned. “Yeah, that too.” Standing, Mia led Juliet back to her room.

  * * *

  It wasn’t particularly late in the morning, but Juliet was wide awake. She was turned on her side, head just on the edge of her pillow. In the stillness, she could feel Mia’s breath on the back of her neck and legs curled around her backside. Considering how long it had been since either of them had been in bed with another person, they had slept soundly and comfortably together. Juliet could hardly wait until her ribs were completely healed and Mia would be able to rest her hands on her waist.

  The oversized T-shirt she wore to bed was gathered around her stomach, a gap between the elastic of her panties, low over her hips. Mia’s stomach was pressing almost imperceptibly against the
small of her back with each breath.

  Juliet closed her eyes, a feeble attempt at willing sleep to return. She was distracted, though, by the conversation she knew she needed to have with Mia at some point. The warmth of Mia’s body kept drawing her back from her perpetually analytical headspace. Mia’s hand lay motionless over her breast—thumb and forefinger against the bare skin above the low neckline of her T-shirt. Her little finger was just below Juliet’s shirt-covered nipple, and a deeper breath would be all the movement it would take for Mia’s fingertip to brush the oh-so-sensitive tip. With the slightest focus, Juliet felt arousal tightening her nipple and tugging at the pit of her abdomen. She sighed quietly.

  She wanted Mia—physically. Desperately.

  Juliet wanted to explore every possible inch of Mia’s body, to slowly remove her clothing and kiss the exposed skin. She wanted to find the random places—like the inside of her thigh or the small of her back—that would make Mia squirm and demand more. Though she had experienced only hints of Mia’s sexual appetite, she imagined her to be vocal and tactile and perhaps a little assertive. If she wanted Juliet’s fingers deeper inside of her, Juliet bet she wouldn’t hesitate to ask. Maybe she would just take her by the wrist and demand it.

  They were adults, and they were consenting. Did it really matter if they hadn’t talked everything through? Juliet was tired of thinking and processing. For once, she just wanted to do what felt right. She had made a mistake the previous night, but things hadn’t fallen apart. Mia had still snuggled in bed with her despite her moment of crazy, and that was new for her. It was complicated, but she was trying to move with it and not against it. She was trying to grow and be brave.

  And she so wanted to know what it was like to have Mia’s fingers inside of her and her mouth devouring her breasts. She wanted to know if Mia liked being touched lightly or firmly, if she wanted to be licked or sucked, and whether she preferred to be on top or on the bottom.

  She swallowed, and Mia murmured in her sleep behind her, as she tightened her arms and then relaxed them again. Mia pressed her hips into Juliet’s back, rolling them slightly.

  The neurons under Juliet’s skin were firing, each touch that grazed her body sending little messages of growing heat to her centre. She closed her eyes and smiled to herself; clearly it had been a while. She paused a moment, calculating in her head: It had been months since she had had even a sporadic one-night-stand. And with the assault and the trip back to the States, she couldn’t even recall the last time she had slipped a hand between her legs and brought about her own release.

  No wonder she was a little eager.

  Sliding an open hand along the mattress, Juliet splayed it over her hip and across her body, slowly moving over the curve of her thigh until she could rest it on Mia’s. She ran her thumb tenderly back and forth along Mia’s thigh, and it seemed to provoke Mia to press tighter against her. She felt a soft squeeze at her breast, and she stifled an exhalation.

  For almost ten minutes, she stroked Mia’s skin, working her hand until the tips of her fingers edged underneath Mia’s panties, earning the first touch of her perfectly firm and rounded buttock. A delectable moan drifted to her ear and she felt wet lips on her neck. “Mmm, morning.” That sleep-filled voice of Mia’s—barely managing itself into a husky whisper—Juliet wanted to devour it.

  “Hi,” she said, not stilling her fingers. “Did I wake you?” Teasing amusement played at the edges of her words.

  “Mmm-hmm,” Mia said. When she nodded, her nose brushed back and forth over Juliet’s shoulder. “But you can wake me like this anytime you like.”

  “Really?” Juliet’s hand crept further beneath the material.

  “Really,” Mia said, moving her fingers in a back-and-forth motion over Juliet’s breast.

  “It’s your fault I’m awake,” Juliet said after a few moments, her breathing becoming slightly heavier. “You were feeling me up in your sleep.”

  Mia laughed, chest wobbling at Juliet’s back. “Whoops.”

  “And then you wouldn’t wake up, and I had all this time to think about where else I wanted that hand.”

  “Mmm.” That hum was pure seduction. Mia’s fingers started roaming Juliet’s breast with more intent, lightly scratching at her nipple beneath the shirt material. She lifted her arm and focussed on the other breast. “Well then, I like this thinking you were doing.”

  Softly moaning, Juliet shifted her weight and edged her hips back to press even closer to Mia; there was swelling between her legs, and she noticed her labia felt damp. The thought alone elicited another half sigh. “You brush you fingers by me in your sleep, and I’m more than ready to go,” she said with a rueful air. “Pathetic, really.”

  “Nah-ah, and I’ll tell you one day just as proof.”

  She traced Mia’s hand over her chest, as Mia’s fingers focussed on her tightened nipple. “Tell me what?” Juliet asked slowly, and her voice was lower than usual.

  Mia sucked lightly on Juliet’s ear. She ran the length with the tip of her tongue before nibbling at the lobe. Its small earring felt cool where it was drawn into her mouth. “Noooo,” Mia whispered, and her hot breath elicited a shiver.

  “Please?” She ran her hand awkwardly up the front of Mia’s thigh.

  “Hmmm,” Mia tugged Juliet’s shirt up and slipped her hand underneath. She used her fingernails to lightly tease over the now-accessible nipples. “I’ll just say that I’ve done my own thinking about the places where I would like your hands.”

  Juliet responded with an initial soft laugh that merged into a lengthy groan. “That’s hot,” she said, and her index finger padded down Mia’s underwear until Mia dropped one leg back allowing access. She pulsated against the nylon material between her legs, lace waistband under her wrist. “I’m hoping here was one of those places.”

  “Absolutely. Absolutely there. No question about that.”

  They both continued to tease. Juliet’s complete focus was between Mia’s legs, but she deliberately remained outside of the thin material. Juliet could feel the sporadic tensing under the base of her palm, accompanied by the occasional sharp groan escaping Mia’s mouth. Juliet’s own arousal grew as Mia’s underwear gradually became wet and Mia’s hips jolted.

  Similarly, Mia paid careful attention to Juliet’s breasts, at times rolling the nipples between her fingers and squeezing them and at other times flattening her palm and making large circles with her hand. She pooled some saliva and dipped her thumb in her mouth, returning to wet Mia’s taut nipples and slide hastily back and forth. Juliet was squeezing her thighs together, managing to gain some pressure against her throbbing clitoris.

  “Juliet,” Mia said, and Juliet could hear her continue to pant. “I don’t want to hurt your ribs.”

  “My ribs,” Juliet said flatly, “are not where I want you to touch me.”

  Dragging her hand from underneath Juliet’s shirt, Mia’s hand slipped down Juliet’s body and over her hip, pausing to press Juliet’s hand against her centre for a moment. Rocking her hips and mumbling a few expletives before sliding her underwear down her thighs, not bothering to kick them off, instead pushing Juliet’s fingers back into place.

  “Ohhhh,” she muttered as Juliet slipped a long middle finger into her folds. “Fuck yes.”

  Mia’s entire hand gripped Juliet’s breast, and Juliet gasped.

  A few seconds passed before Mia snaked her hand over Juliet’s hip and down her leg, sliding back up between her thighs as Juliet tilted more onto her back. Juliet hoped the immediate groan from Mia was as a result of finding Juliet’s fingers on top of her panties. “You mentioned hot,” Mia said. “Well, that is hot.”

  Too aroused to blush or hastily remove her hand, Juliet continued to work on Mia with the other, lightly pressing and rolling Mia’s clit between her fingers.

  “Just so you know,” Mia said, “I had planned to be all slow and sensual.”

  Juliet shook her head. “That can be next, but right now, I
just want to fucking come.”

  It was enough to inspire a quick movement from Mia, and she slipped her hand beneath the waistband of Juliet’s cotton panties. Her finger entered Juliet briefly, just slipping inside of her a few times before moving to where Juliet knew she would quickly and easily climax. “You’re so wet,” Mia whispered, barely audible in Juliet’s ear.

  Juliet tipped her head back. “And so are you.”

  “And very close,” Mia said.

  Juliet covered Mia’s hand and wrist with her palm, which at the moment, rested at her curls. “Fuck, Mia,” she gasped and felt Mia shiver against her body.

  “Say it again,” Mia demanded.

  Juliet turned toward her, mouth open, which earned her Mia’s hasty, hot breath against her temple. “God.” Juliet’s voice caught. “Fuck, Mia.” Her voice fell a register deeper. Her words slowed, as her desire nearly completely hijacked her ability to articulate. A protracted moan met her ear. Both their fingers were flying without care or coordination as they edged each other closer and closer to climax.

  “Fuck, Mia.” Juliet dug her fingernails into Mia’s wrist, and Mia stroked her three more times before stilling her hand, cupping her but not moving anymore.

  At the sudden change, Juliet paused too. Mia drifted one finger up the length of her before pausing yet again.

  “Make me come,” Juliet said, moving her free hand up to toy with her own breast, while Mia’s fingers still intermittently played with her other breast.

  Mia dragged her finger painfully slowly along Juliet’s slit again—two circles around her clitoris before stilling. “I will, I definitely will.” There was a catch in her voice as Juliet mirrored Mia’s fingers’ actions.

  “I really, really need to,” Juliet said, her face contorting slightly as Mia repeatedly tapped the pad of her finger against her for a few long seconds. She was so close. The small of her back arched as she strived to gain more pressure; unfiltered moans and mutterings escaped her throat constricted with anticipation. “Please.” Juliet drew out the word, and she felt Mia’s hips jolt back.