Up on the Roof

by A. L. Brooks

  Once again she lost herself in softness, and heat, and pure unadulterated pleasure. When Lena’s lips parted a few moments later, Megan carefully let her tongue play across Lena’s, and the action elicited a groan from each of them. They kissed more deeply, Lena’s book falling to the floor moments before she reached up to wind her fingers into Megan’s ponytail, pulling Megan that little bit closer.

  After a couple of minutes, Megan’s back began to protest at the position she was holding, and she pulled away reluctantly.

  “That was…exactly what I wanted,” she said, staring into Lena’s eyes. “Kissing you is amazing.”

  Lena smiled shyly. “Thank you. I quite like it too.”

  Then she chuckled as Megan arched one eyebrow and said, “‘Quite like’. Really. Gee, now I feel special.” Megan kept her tone light and teasing, hoping Lena would understand her humour.

  To her delight, Lena waggled her hand back and forth and said, “Well, you know, I can’t have you getting big-headed about these things.”

  Megan roared with laughter.

  Chapter 23

  Saturday was possibly the slowest day Megan had ever experienced in her entire life. Her mind was nowhere near her job; instead it was focused on a beautiful woman back in Clapham whom Megan was going to be spending at least four hours with later that day.

  After their scorching kiss and flirty fun on Thursday evening, they’d settled in for pasta, and Megan had held her promised call with her mum. She hadn’t mentioned the turn of events with Lena, feeling the need to keep it close to her chest for now. When she’d returned to the living room, Lena was practically asleep on the sofa, so they’d shared a brief kiss goodnight and gone their separate ways.

  Friday they’d not seen each other at all—Megan was on a late shift, and by the time she got back Lena had left her a sweet note to say she’d had to go to bed early.

  I really wanted to stay up and see you, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Sorry!

  The words had been followed by a smiley face and a small line of neat crosses to represent kisses. Megan had beamed the whole way to bed.

  Now, she had one more client appointment to get through before her day could end, and it was all she could do not to sprint the poor woman through all her exercises. Finally, with the last stretch out completed, she bade her good-bye and practically ran to the changing room to grab her gear.

  She got home around four thirty. Lena was nowhere to be seen as she opened the door, but the flat was sparkling clean and held the aroma of something freshly baked. Was that possible? Megan dumped her bags near the door and strode across to the kitchen area. Oh my God, it was. Laid out on a cooling rack were roughly two dozen sinfully tempting chocolate chip cookies. It would be rude to take one, wouldn’t it? Without asking? She glanced around.

  “Lena?” she called. Silence. Just when she thought she was alone in the flat and was reaching for a cookie—

  “Yes?” Lena appeared from her bedroom, her hair looking a little wild, her hands rubbing her eyes. “Sorry,” she said through a yawn, “I was having a nap.” She stopped and stared at Megan, her gaze drifting down to the tray of cookies and back up to Megan’s face. Lena grinned. “What do you think you’re doing, Ms Palmer?”

  Megan chuckled and backed slowly away from the cookie tray. She held up her hands. “Come on, you can’t blame a woman for trying. They smell soooo good, Lena.”

  Lena laughed, and Megan revelled in the sound of it for a moment. Knowing that she could laugh like that, and because of something they were sharing, still caused her wonder. Who would have thought that grumpy woman she’d met back in September would be standing here now in her kitchen, laughing over Megan’s attempt to steal a freshly baked cookie? She shook her head.

  “What?” Lena asked, tilting her head.

  Instead of answering, Megan walked around the counter to where Lena stood, bent her head, and dropped the softest of kisses on Lena’s lips.

  Lena stared at her as she straightened up afterwards. “W-what was that for?”

  Megan shrugged. “Just…because. Because I’m happy. Because what’s happening between us, now, after everything that went before, is making me happy.”

  Lena let out a soft “oh”, and before Megan could draw breath, Lena’s hands were on the lapels of her jacket, pulling her down roughly where Lena’s lips seared hers with a hard kiss.

  “Whoa,” Megan mumbled as Lena released her. “That was…” She trailed off, having no idea what to say. Lena was continuing to surprise her in the most incredible ways. For a brief moment, she wondered if she could handle it, the rollercoaster that was Lena. Then she cast all doubt aside as Lena smiled up at her, her eyes shining. Yeah, she could handle it.

  “The cookies,” Lena said, “are for later. For the cinema.”

  “Really?”

  Lena nodded, then shuffled on the spot. She raised her eyes to the ceiling for a moment, then looked back at Megan. “I have this thing about cinema food. I-I think it’s all a big rip-off and not very good anyway. So I always make a treat to take instead. And, you know, extras for the next day.”

  Megan’s heart lurched. Could this woman be any more surprising, and adorable, all in one go?

  “You’re amazing,” she breathed, and leaned down for another scorching kiss. Lena’s arms snaked around her neck, and Megan placed her own hands on Lena’s hips, gently pulling her in but careful not to take things too far. Lena wanted time, and Megan would respect that.

  When they came up for air a few minutes later, they were both breathing heavily and smiling.

  “So, er, I need to get showered and changed,” Megan said, her voice croaky. “How much time do I have?”

  Lena cleared her own throat, her brown eyes blinking rapidly; Megan secretly delighted in the effect she could have on this woman she once thought of as uptight and icy.

  “The film starts at six, and it probably only takes about ten minutes to walk there, doesn’t it?” Megan nodded. “Okay, so plenty of time for both of us to use the bathroom and get ready.”

  “Great.”

  “Are you sure you’re still okay about my film choice?” Lena’s teeth immediately worried at her bottom lip after she’d asked the question, and Megan used every ounce of strength she had not to pull Lena back into her arms.

  While Hidden Figures would probably not have made Megan’s top ten must-see movies of the year—NASA, maths, seriously?—Lena had been so excited to see it, Megan couldn’t say no.

  “Definitely. I’m really curious to see what it’s like.”

  “Okay.” Lena smiled shyly. “Well, you go and get ready and I’ll have a cup of tea.”

  Megan grinned. “Of course you will,” she said, and Lena laughed.

  As the last preview finished, the lights dimmed and the screen widened. Lena settled back into her seat and risked a glance sideways. Megan’s attention seemed riveted on the screen; her hands were loose in her lap and her whole posture said “relaxed”.

  Which was more than Lena could say about herself. Her reasons for being far from relaxed were twofold: one, she’d chosen a film she was sure was out of Megan’s normal watching arena, if her DVD collection was anything to go by, and Lena was worried Megan was simply being polite when she said she was looking forward to it. And two, Lena really, really wanted to hold Megan’s hand while they watched but had no idea how Megan felt about public displays of affection.

  That she was even considering holding Megan’s hand in public was testament to the journey she had undertaken since Christmas. It seemed every minute more she spent with Megan, the more she gained in confidence in herself. Megan had a way of making Lena feel special, no matter what they were doing. She listened to what Lena had to say. She didn’t scoff at any of Lena’s habits or routines. She kissed Lena like she really meant it.

  Lena shivered at that last t
hought. Honestly, kissing Megan was spectacular. Lena’s first kiss with a woman had not been that good, but it had at least told her she was finally kissing the right gender. She’d enjoyed kissing Chris in the early part of their relationship, but then Chris’s kisses had become almost too hard, too bruising, too demanding.

  Kissing Megan was just how she’d always imagined kissing a woman would be, both for the physical aspects of it, as well as all the extra emotional elements the kisses engendered. Feelings stirred deep in Lena’s soul when Megan’s lips were on hers. Never mind what feelings those lips elicited in certain areas of Lena’s anatomy…

  Lost in her reverie, she nearly gasped aloud as Megan’s left hand gently clasped Lena’s right and entwined their figures. Lena whipped her head round to meet Megan’s gaze as the opening credits rolled on the screen before them.

  “Is this okay?” Megan whispered, raising their joined hands slightly.

  “Perfect,” Lena whispered back, her heart swelling.

  “Oh my God,” Megan gushed as they left the cinema a couple of hours later. “That film was incredible!”

  “Wasn’t it? Wow,” Lena breathed.

  Their hands were still clasped tightly together, and Lena didn’t want to mention it to Megan in case she pulled away. It had been a wonderful evening so far—holding hands throughout the movie, occasionally looking at each other at key moments in the story, and both wiping at their eyes at a couple of the more emotional scenes it contained. Lena felt like she was walking on air as they strolled back up Clapham High Street to the Mexican restaurant she had booked for a quick supper after the film.

  “Thanks so much for suggesting it. You were right, it wasn’t what I would normally have tagged to go and see, but wow, it was awesome.”

  “I am so glad you enjoyed it,” Lena said, smiling widely.

  Megan nodded. “I really did. But now,” she said with a grin, “I have to confess, I’m starving!”

  Lena laughed. “Me too!”

  Their table wasn’t quite ready when they arrived, which the old Lena would have thrown a small fit over, but the new version of herself rolled her shoulders, accepted the apologies from the waitress, and gently pulled Megan over to the side of the entrance so that they could wait away from the door. The waitress handed them menus to peruse while they waited, so by the time their table was ready they could order straight away.

  “You okay if I have a beer?” Megan asked.

  “Of course,” Lena said. “Please don’t ever think you can’t drink around me. I really don’t mind.”

  “Thank you.” Megan smiled. “I wasn’t sure if you not drinking meant you had an aversion to alcohol or something.”

  Lena shook her head. “No, purely upbringing. I know a lot of young British Indians who drink, but even after I left home I didn’t feel the need to experiment in the same way a lot of my peers did.”

  “Such a contrast,” Megan said, leaning back in her chair. “I’ve been drinking since I was fourteen. And my dad gave me my first drink.”

  Lena’s mouth opened in a shocked “O”. Megan shrugged.

  “Hey, in south London, in a working-class suburb, that’s usual. And it seems to go one of two ways. Either starting that early sends you down a very bad path or, if you’re brought up by my parents, you understand that it’s only for social occasions, and standing around on a corner with your mates drinking cheap lager from Tesco’s late on a Saturday night really isn’t what it’s about at all.”

  Lena wondered if she should ask, then plunged ahead anyway. “And now? I mean, you have a lot of parties, and…”

  Megan smiled. “I do, but actually I only have a couple of beers at those, maybe some tequila shots if I’m feeling particularly in the mood. I actually prefer being the host, looking after my guests, making sure everyone’s got what they need. I’ve only had two hangovers this past year.” She smirked. “Mind you, they were big ones.”

  “You didn’t mind me asking?”

  “Not at all. This is what dates are about, isn’t it? Getting to know each other, ask all the important questions.”

  Lena frowned. Did she dare admit it? She took a deep breath. “Well, actually, these two dates with you are the first proper dates I’ve been on.”

  Megan stopped her beer bottle on its way to her mouth. “What?”

  The blush heated Lena’s cheeks. “Well, I did go on a date, of sorts, with Chris. We met at an accounting seminar, but…” Oh dear, now she’d started she really couldn’t back out. “Um, well, I went home with her that night, and then… Well, then we were seeing each other and very soon after she moved into the flat with me.”

  Megan’s shocked face softened, and she reached a hand across the table. “No wonder you want to take things slow this time,” she said gently.

  Lena nodded, not trusting her voice right now. Megan had just said the most perfect thing—rather than express shock at Lena being…easy, she’d offered understanding and support. Lena had thought Megan was special before now, but now she knew it.

  “So,” Megan said, drawing the word out, “you tired?”

  They were standing in the living room, having arrived home a couple of minutes before. The flat was warm, the night was still relatively early, before ten, and Megan didn’t want to say goodnight. The date had been spectacularly good. From the movie, holding hands, eating some great food, and getting to know each other more—all of it had added up to leave Megan glowing from the inside out.

  Lena gazed up at Megan, her eyes looking an even deeper shade of brown in the soft light of the lamps that they’d switched on around the room after peeling off all their outerwear. She blinked slowly a couple of times, and Megan was mesmerised by her long eyelashes as they closed and opened. Lena’s eyes were Megan’s Kryptonite; if she stared too long into them, the entire world disappeared.

  “I-I don’t mind staying up a little longer,” Lena said quietly. “M-maybe I’ll make some tea.”

  She turned quickly and moved away towards the kitchen. Megan was tempted to follow her, but the nervous energy emanating from Lena made her walk in the other direction, to the sofa. She sat down, leaving plenty of room for Lena to sit and keep her distance, if that was what she needed. Megan hadn’t meant anything too…forward by asking her question, but she had the distinct impression Lena thought she did. She waited patiently on the sofa until Lena eventually returned, a mug of what smelled like camomile tea in her hand, which she carefully placed on the coffee table before sitting down pretty much as far from Megan as she could and still actually be on the sofa together.

  Megan held back a smile, then said softly, “I didn’t mean anything by it, you know.”

  Lena looked at her, wide-eyed.

  “I just didn’t want the evening to end,” Megan continued, reaching out a hand and placing it on the empty sofa space between them. “I told you before, I am happy to take things slow, and I meant it.”

  Lena looked down at Megan’s hand, then back up at Megan’s face. She inhaled deeply, then shuffled nearer to Megan and took her hand.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You’re being incredibly patient with me. I appreciate it.”

  Megan shrugged and smiled. “I happen to think you’re worth it.”

  Lena’s blush wasn’t surprising, but her lunge across the sofa was. When her lips landed on Megan’s, full of warmth and lush softness, Megan moaned deep in her throat and slowly wrapped her arms around Lena’s shoulders to pull her closer. Their position was awkward, side-on to each other, but they coped admirably. Lena’s full curves snuggled up to Megan’s body and moulded themselves into her.

  When Lena’s tongue pushed tentatively into Megan’s mouth, she opened up, hungrily, greedily, and they sank into the kiss as if their lives depended on it. Lena’s hands clutched at Megan’s shirt where it was tucked into her jeans, her fingers gently kneading a
nd sending delicious thrills through the whole lower half of Megan’s body. Megan ran one hand slowly up and down Lena’s back as the other drifted into Lena’s hair and wrapped thick strands of it between her fingers. Lena groaned and Megan repeated the action, all the while letting her tongue stroke at Lena’s. It was tempting to try to devour Lena, but she held back, keeping the kisses passionate yet still tender.

  Lena pulled her mouth away from Megan’s but only so that she could then plant a line of open-mouthed kisses all along Megan’s jaw and down her neck. The collar of Megan’s shirt impeded her slightly; she used her nose to push it away, and the wet warmth of her mouth on Megan’s skin sent shivers to all the good places on Megan’s body. She arched her neck, giving Lena better access, and Lena chuckled against her skin.

  “Good?” she whispered.

  “Oh…yeah.”

  Lena continued, swapping sides and this time moving upwards to nip and lick under Megan’s ear.

  Alarm bells of the sweetest kind started clamouring in Megan’s body. She eased herself away from Lena, who looked up at her, confused.

  “Ah, sorry, but…um, if we’re to take things slow, that’s an area you really need to stay away from for now.”

  Lena’s frown transformed into a slow smile. “Okay,” she murmured. “Noted.” Then she returned her mouth to Megan’s lips and they were off again into the world of incredible kissing.

  When they came back to Earth, some fifteen minutes later, Megan’s chest was heaving for breath and Lena’s hair was in wild disarray around her shoulders. She looked stunning, and holy crap, so sexy, and Megan willed herself to pull back, to let go of Lena’s body, and to shuffle back a little.