Callie sank back against the wall, her gasp turning into a moan that made her own body tighten in anticipatory response. Rebecca straightened for another deep, feverish kiss, running her fingers over the hem of Callie’s slip, and beneath.
“You’re impatient.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited,” Rebecca said, meaning more than this evening or the present moment. Most of the time, she hadn’t even known what she’d been waiting for. Callie’s laugh filled with delight and breathless desire. Rebecca could relate. She could barely stand up herself any longer.
“You paid for this room with the big bed, so I have to ask. Is that a fantasy of yours?” Callie whispered. “Up against the wall like this?” She shivered, but her body felt hot and welcoming to Rebecca’s fingers as she pressed them deeper inside.
“It is now,” she said.
The world closed in, her attention completely focused on Callie, holding her up when her knees buckled at the height of pleasure. Holding her close until their breathing slowly returned to normal.
“Wow,” Callie said, her voice a warm, saturated tone. “You’re still dressed.”
“Give me a second.” Rebecca reached behind to undo the knot of her halter-top, the fabric falling away. “Better?”
Callie’s gaze would have been answer enough, but she added, “Perfect,” anyway. “I liked that fantasy,” she said before tugging Rebecca toward the bed with her.
“I could tell you did…but there’s more. I’ve been thinking a lot about tonight.” Her face heated. It wasn’t all that often that they were together like this, with no risk that anyone could call or knock on the door at any moment. She loved their shared intimacy, every time, but there was a new awareness that Rebecca had found only recently.
“Let’s just…relax for a moment?” She quickly removed the last piece of clothing, and on the bed, Callie lay in her embrace.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love this,” Callie said, “but this is more than a romantic getaway. Tell me.”
These thoughts were on her mind while Rebecca wrote the letter, but there was no way she could have put them on paper. She’d never felt this happy and free, and for a long time, she hadn’t imagined it possible. “I thought we needed a timeout…after everything,” she began then shook her head with a nervous chuckle. “I hope I’m not getting your hopes up too high. I didn’t bring handcuffs or anything like that.”
Callie regarded her with a hint of amusement. “Don’t worry. You are fulfilling every hope I had.” Her tone was soft and affectionate.
The first time they’d made love was still vivid in Rebecca’s mind. On top of all the doubts she’d carried with her at that time, she had feared she somehow wasn’t enough, didn’t know enough to please Callie and make her stay. She’d felt clumsy, overwhelmed by her own want and what it meant. Now, those worries vanished into thin air. She knew what she could do to Callie, the reality of it often seeming too good to be true.
“I try. I think I’ve become pretty good at it too.”
They laughed together before the mood took another shift, with slow touches and kisses becoming more urgent.
* * * *
Attraction came easily. It made Callie feel a little less guilty when Rebecca made that life-altering decision to be with her instead of catering to everyone else’s expectations. Then, they’d had to learn to live together, in a way that neither Rebecca’s marriage nor Callie’s disastrous relationship with Nicole could have prepared them for.
Even under the constant pressure of their environment, they had made it this far. The thought filled Callie with a gratitude that brought her close to tears, but Rebecca didn’t need words…she had written the letter, after all.
There were still some delicate subjects. David would always be a presence in their lives, but Callie no longer felt threatened. All this was not just the result of an overnight stay in an expensive hotel or the amazing sex it included. They had worked hard to get there.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, emotion getting the better of her within a heartbeat. “I should have told you all about what Nicole said right away and not tried to run off like some crazy person.”
“It’s okay,” Rebecca said softly. “We cleared all that up.”
“I don’t want anything to stand between us. It’s probably not a good moment, but Dina told me she knew about David and Susan…before we met.”
“Callie.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. Come on, look at me,” Rebecca urged. Reluctantly, Callie did.
“It might not be the perfect moment. You’re right about that, because I don’t want to think about anything but you right now. It’s all right though. I would have been mad…and probably devastated, if I’d found out at the time, but it’s okay. I can hardly judge. It’s not a race of who found out first it wasn’t working so well anymore. How is Dina?”
“She’s doing okay.” Callie smiled self-consciously. “I didn’t mean to be so dramatic. This is all amazing. I just wish we wouldn’t have to rush home, tomorrow.”
“Well…we don’t,” Rebecca said, leaning back into the pillow with a pleased smile. “I talked to Roz yesterday, and we thought this would be a good time to cut back brunch to once a month. She can’t afford more than part-time help just yet, Betty is busy planning the next big party…and you know what we have on the agenda.”
“Oh, yes.” Her affirmation might have been a little too enthusiastic, judging from Rebecca’s speculative smile.
“Besides, did you see that shower? I wouldn’t want to rush the time we can spend in there.”
“I didn’t see much of it, since we’ve been pretty busy,” Callie teased, snuggling into Rebecca’s arms. “I’m not complaining.”
“I didn’t think so.”
All banter aside, Callie felt a calm settling over her that she’d never reached in reality. She might even be able to walk that shortcut through the woods without being drawn into the memory. Nicole’s hurtful words were fading, having lost much of their sting. Callie was happy in the present moment, but she looked forward to their everyday life too, when Maggie would be back with them…home.
I don’t think I ever told you in so many words, or maybe you could tell, but the day you were going to see Beth, I got so scared. Somehow, that was worse than when everything I had believed in for twenty years was falling apart, and I knew I could never go back.
I don’t want to go back, ever.
I realized that I got it all wrong, thinking that home had to be a house, or a church, and it wasn’t that I was so unhappy before, I just wasn’t me.
Thank you for seeing me and helping me understand. Home is where you are.
I love you.
Rebecca.
“I love you too,” Callie whispered, and Rebecca seemed to understand what she was referring to perfectly.
* * * *
The young man from room service who brought the luxurious breakfast was as cheery as the rest of his colleagues, and like them, he didn’t seem to mind or care that two women occupied this room, which was part of the romantic getaway deal.
The shower was spacious enough to fit two people comfortably, and they barely made it out on time to get decent and answer the door.
Rebecca’s hands trembled when she picked up the coffee cup, the sensory memories of the recent moments lingering. The cool, smooth feel of the shower stall under her palms, contrasted with the warm water cascading over her body. Callie, surrounding her, inside her…her breathing quickened at the thought.
She had meant every word she’d written in the letter, and Rebecca could tell they rang true for Callie as well. How could she have ever settled for less? Then again, how could she have known there was so much more, someone perfect for her out there?
It wasn’t just about sex, but Rebecca was willing to concede it was part of it.
“I love that smile on your face,” Callie said before she licked her fingers. French toast with choc
olate—the breakfast was as decadent as the rest of their getaway. “It tells me I did something right.”
“No need to be modest about it.”
Callie leaned back in her chair, looking pleased with herself. “I never even asked you about your meeting yesterday. How did that go?”
“Well, I guess Betty’s friend didn’t buy into Andy’s stories after all. Which reminds me…no, I don’t want to think about that now.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” Rebecca quickly said. “Nothing we have to worry about, anyway. Eric, Andy’s husband, left me a message yesterday. I haven’t listened to it. Chances are he’ll tell me to stay away from his wife, which I’ll gladly do. I might change my number. I have no idea how she got it in the first place.”
“Father Reynolds probably had it in his records, from when you had the contract with the church.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to see him for a while either.” Rebecca reached for a croissant from the bread basket. “You want to hear something crazy? You know I had this idea about the family I wanted—a full house where everyone would always be happy and…warm. I loved going to church, because it gave me a sense of peace, but in a way, I felt like I was paying off a debt. I didn’t mind as long as everything went according to plan, but I realize that’s not the point at all. In the end, it hurts my ego a bit that Reynolds came to the conclusion first that our points of view don’t go together, but so be it. I can find peace and God in another church, and I don’t think God loves me any less for it.”
Callie listened, giving Rebecca her full attention, but she didn’t interrupt.
“You don’t have to come every time either. I know it’s not the same for you.”
“I love spending that time with you,” Callie finally said, “and it gives me peace too, if maybe in a different way. I think Father Reynolds will preach to a very small group of people for some time to come. Maybe that’ll make him reconsider, eventually.”
Truth be told, Rebecca didn’t have high hopes for that, but his choices were none of her concern anymore. She’d never been so certain about her own.
* * * *
They spent the rest of the weekend with more mundane tasks, like laundry and cleaning the porch, as the rain had finally stopped. Rebecca worked on Eve’s project, and Callie went back to her manuscript.
Rebecca looked forward to having Maggie back home. In the past, whenever she had spent time with her grandmother, Maggie had acted somewhat defiant and difficult. Now that all the issues were out in the open, and David had a new woman by his side, hopefully Maggie’s attitude would change.
Reverend Amber Cole was as passionate about her congregation as Father Langdon had been—a relief to forget about the conflict in Autumn Leaves for a while.
She was surprised to see Betty at the service, but they didn’t have a chance to talk.
Back at home, Rebecca found two more messages from Eric. With a feeling between dread and frustration, she realized she might have to call him back after all. She decided to take care of that after David brought Maggie home. Rebecca was in no hurry to hear any more insults. She felt fairly confident that she could weather any storm that was coming their way, not that she needed another one.
* * * *
Callie saved her document and turned off the computer when the sounds of a car and the doorbell vaguely registered with her. She hoped Asha would be satisfied with the white wedding she had created for Vanessa and Sabine. They had come a long way too. She chuckled to herself, getting up to join Rebecca. She stopped cold in the hallway when Rebecca opened the door to an irate man instead of David and Maggie.
“What have you done to my wife?” he yelled. “Where is she?” He got so far into her personal space that Callie was afraid he was going to hit her, his threatening posture making the space feel claustrophobic. Run. She didn’t go with the first, visceral impulse.
“That’s enough,” she said, her tone every bit as firm as she wanted it to be. “Get out of my house, now!”
“It’s okay, Callie. I’ll handle it.” Rebecca sounded shaken though, and grateful for the support.
“If you could stop screaming in my face and tell me what’s going on?”
He raised his hand, making Callie flinch, but he wiped it across his own face in an angry gesture.
“Andy has been missing since Friday night. You want to tell me you have nothing to do with this, when she’s been talking about you all the damn time?”
Callie recalled the scene in the grocery store earlier this week—Andy’s hasty flight. She knew it wasn’t her fault or Rebecca’s, but she hoped Andy hadn’t done anything ill-advised, if some realizations had come crashing down on her. She stepped closer to Rebecca, placing her hand on the small of her back.
“We haven’t heard anything from Andy in days, and frankly, after all she’s done, we don’t care to. I hope she’s okay, but please, leave us out of it. Did you call the police?”
Just like Father Reynolds, Andy’s husband didn’t think she was worth his attention. He ignored the direct question and seethed at Rebecca, instead: “You condemned her.”
“Now, don’t you think that’s a little exaggerated?” Neither of them had heard David coming in, Dina, and an anxious-looking Maggie behind him.
“That’s an understatement,” Callie added. “You’re scaring Maggie, and neither of us appreciates that, believe me. You don’t want to talk to me, you don’t have to.” She could have just as well talked to a wall.
“You’re sick. You have no soul! You—” That was meant for Rebecca too, but it was David who spoke up, probably sensing that Rebecca was speechless with the insult thrown at her.
“I believe she made herself clear, Eric.”
“Good-bye,” Callie said.
Eric cast a furious glance at David, from whom he had obviously expected some support. Then, he walked out, slamming the door behind him and leaving everyone speechless for long, anxious moments.
“Hey, Maggie.” Callie hugged her for a greeting, and the girl held on tightly in return. Much to his credit, David didn’t bat an eye. In fact, he seemed just as shocked, confronted with the regular bigotry of nice people. “I hope you had a great weekend. Don’t let it be spoiled by grown-ups who don’t behave that way.”
“It’s okay,” Maggie whispered, and Callie gave her an encouraging smile before she straightened.
She had some sympathy for Eric, fearing for his wife, but there was no excuse for his behavior—or Andy’s, for that matter.
“We’ll be okay,” Rebecca said firmly, linking her fingers with Callie’s. “I hope the same goes for Andy, which I would have told him if he’d let me get a word in. That’s all I have to offer him.”
“That’s something he should be grateful for, after everything. Now that we’ve got that covered…we had a great weekend. How was yours?”
“Pretty good too.” Rebecca’s tone gave nothing away, but her smile made Callie blush hotly.
They would have to talk about this. Andy’s mysterious disappearance, what it meant for them—if anything—and that bit of irrational guilt she was sure Rebecca felt too.
One more matter to deal with, before Italy, before Callie could hope to approach the subject that had teased her mind since Vanessa and Sabine had said, “I do”.
About the Author:
Contemporary lesbian fiction with high drama and happy endings…
Barbara Winkes, a psychologist/trauma counselor, left her native Germany to live with her wife in Québec City. Her debut novel Autumn Leaves and the following releases, Winter Storm and Spring Fever, tell the love story between two women in a small town, where neighbors take an interest in the life of others. Eternal Press also published her standalone thriller “Secrets”.
Barbara is currently working on the fourth part of the series.
Find out more on her blog, Word Affair:
http://www.barbarawinkes.blogspot.ca
Other Books by Barbara Winkes
:
Autumn Leaves
Winter Storm
Secrets
Coming soon:
The Interpretation of Love and the Truth
Amber Alert
Open Spaces
Also from Eternal Press:
Winter Storm
by Barbara Winkes
eBook ISBN: 9781615728749
Print ISBN: 9781615728756
Lesbian Romance
Novel of 55,773 words
For Callie and Rebecca, finding each other was the easy part.
In the follow-up to Autumn Leaves, Rebecca and Callie have made a commitment to their relationship. New challenges arise as Rebecca continues to find her identity. Callie is confronted with an ex she would have preferred to avoid. Nicole wants to be back together with her, and she uses all her manipulative skills to achieve that goal.
With a new minister in town and an unexpected threat, Rebecca and Callie will face even bigger trials. How much can their new-found love take?
Also from Eternal Press:
Stephanie
by Noelle Douglas-Brown
eBook ISBN: 9781615728602
Print ISBN: 9781615728619
Erotica GBLT
Super Plus-Novel of 126,063 words
Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in 1971, as told by a beautiful bisexual woman about her rise to stardom.
What would you do? You are a young woman that has been seduced by a supermodel, whose lesbian skills have rocked your world. At almost the same time, the man of your dreams manages to convince you that his love for you is genuine, and a passionate relationship with him begins.
The supermodel has depression/anxiety problems and needs you. The dreamboat man is an incredibly talented musician who wants to form a duo with you. You are a pianist wanting to make the big time. You love them both and…
Visit Eternal Press online at:
Official Website:
http://www.eternalpress.biz
Blog:
http://www.eternalpress.biz/blog/
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