Love Burns Bright

by Radclyffe

  “A little bit, yeah. She had great breasts…” Melanie let her story trail off as her hands wandered, cupping Ruby’s swollen breasts as she spoke. She loved feeling the weight of them, loved how they’d become more sensitive. Ruby complained about it sometimes, on days when even wearing a bra made her uncomfortable, but she didn’t complain about it in bed, when Melanie sucked on her nipples until she writhed and moaned.

  Melanie felt herself grow wet at the thought. It had only been four days since she’d been with Ruby, but that was long enough for her to ache with missing her. She let her thumbs brush over Ruby’s nipples until they hardened under her touch. The combination of water and arousal made her nipples crinkle as they swelled into hard nubs.

  Ruby caught her bottom lip between her teeth, another habit that Melanie adored. It was a surefire sign that Melanie’s advances were welcome, that Ruby was in the mood to enjoy herself.

  “Telling her about you wasn’t the only rule I broke.” Melanie sat forward on her knees to lean further over the bath. With Ruby in such a rare mood, she decided to embellish her story. “I touched her far more than I should have. She was so responsive—almost as much as you. I couldn’t help myself.”

  “What did you do?” Ruby’s eyes closed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

  “Besides touch her breasts?” Melanie made another teasing sweep of her thumbs. “I bit her on the neck, like this…” Melanie brought her mouth to Ruby’s neck, savoring the scent of her mixed with the lavender of the bath. She licked the moisture from Ruby’s skin before pressing down with her teeth, just hard enough to reach the edge of pain and then easing off, teasing at the marks her teeth had left with her tongue. Ruby’s head fell to the side, allowing her free access. She took advantage of the offer, nibbling at the length of Ruby’s neck, working her way up to Ruby’s ear.

  Taking the lobe into her mouth, she sucked, worrying it with her teeth. Hearing Ruby’s intake of breath, she worked her way up to nibble on the shell of her ear. Ruby’s hands came up to meet Melanie’s, her skin already getting waterlogged.

  “You’re pruning up. Let’s get you out of here.” Melanie pulled away and was met with a whimper of protest. Once Ruby was standing safely on the bath mat, Melanie wrapped the towel around her, rubbing it vigorously and eliciting a girlish giggle. Her hair was pinned loosely on top of her head, so they didn’t need to worry about drying it. All the better—they could go straight to bed.

  Ruby was sleepy-snuggly, one of Melanie’s favorite Ruby moods. Ruby allowed Melanie to help her to the bed without a single word of protest and even lay back on the bed still naked. With her recent self-consciousness, Ruby seldom stayed naked longer than absolutely necessary, and Melanie missed looking at her.

  Ruby’s permanently tanned skin had a pinkish hue from soaking in the hot water, and she was soft and moist to the touch, partly from her ridiculously good genes and partly from the bath oil she’d used. Sensing that Ruby was in the mood to be touched, Melanie grabbed the bottle of lotion from the nightstand and squirted a pump into her hand. She settled on the bed and pulled one of Ruby’s feet into her lap. Ruby sighed, stretching out like a kitten in the sun.

  Melanie worked the foot between her hands, giving each toe her undivided attention before digging her thumbs into the arch of Ruby’s foot, making her squirm. Ruby made it known when it was time for her other foot to receive the same treatment by pulling the first foot away and sliding the other into Melanie’s lap. With a smile, Melanie went through the same routine with the other foot. Ruby’s feet were almost perfectly smooth—she was spending less time on her feet these days and at Melanie’s urging she’d accepted a bit of pampering, even submitting to a pedicure.

  “You’re not naked enough,” Ruby complained, wiggling her feet and then shoving Melanie off the bed.

  Throwing a playful glare in Ruby’s direction, Melanie began to strip out of her clothes as Ruby watched from her place on the bed. Melanie didn’t make a show of it. Ruby liked to tease her, and considering what she did for a living she might have been more of an exhibitionist at home, but that wasn’t who she was. Putting on a show was work—when she was being herself, things like dressing and undressing were simply utilitarian.

  Still, with Ruby’s eyes on her she slowed her pace as she removed her bra and then her panties, sliding them down her thighs at a deliberate pace. She felt different like this, more exposed and vulnerable under Ruby’s gaze than she did in front of a room full of strangers. But they didn’t really see her, not the way Ruby did. And she didn’t care what those strangers thought of her—it was Ruby whose opinion mattered.

  She finished undressing, leaving her clothes in a pile on the floor, and crawled back into the bed, starting at the foot and working her way up. She moved carefully, trying not to jostle Ruby or put too much weight on her body. As soon as she could reach, Ruby grabbed her by the arms and pulled her into a careful embrace, tugging until she was close enough to kiss.

  Aside from their quick greeting, this was their first kiss in days and Melanie savored it: the soft press of Ruby’s lips, the glide of her tongue, the taste of her. Finally, she was home. But she wanted to do more than just kiss. Ruby was being so receptive Melanie had every intention of taking advantage. The more Ruby’s belly swelled, the less often she felt sexy, and Melanie’s assurances that she was as beautiful and appealing as ever fell on deaf ears.

  With Ruby still breathless from their kisses, Melanie slid lower, licking and sucking at Ruby’s neck again. Ruby tilted her head back, submitting to Melanie’s attentions as Melanie took her time, savoring the taste of Ruby’s skin, the soft texture against her lips. She reveled in the way Ruby shifted restlessly, her breath growing shallow.

  Taking advantage of her distraction, Melanie slid a hand between their bodies, balancing most of her weight precariously on one arm, and found Ruby already slick and wet, her body easily accepting the press of Melanie’s fingers. Ruby shifted, spreading her legs further.

  Sliding lower still, Melanie worked her way down Ruby’s body, kissing all the soft, tender places she found on the way. Her belly button, once tucked neatly away, now pushed outward, and Melanie placed a quick, teasing kiss there. As Melanie explored, Ruby pressed down on her shoulders, guiding her to where she wanted her to be. Ruby had a tendency to get impatient, but Melanie didn’t mind, she liked a girl who knew what she wanted.

  That was one of the first things that had attracted her to Ruby all those years ago. Even as a barista she’d had a take-charge attitude, and her coworkers instinctively listened to her. Ruby’d also gotten tired of waiting for Melanie to make a move and had asked her out after yet another day of flirting. Melanie loved that she never knew quite what to expect from her.

  But what she liked most of all was the way Ruby took charge in the bedroom. Melanie liked knowing that she was giving her partner exactly what she wanted, and Ruby’s self-assurance made it easy for Melanie to learn her body, to learn what she liked.

  When she finally reached the crux of Ruby’s thighs, Melanie buried her face in the dark curls she found there, where the smell of Ruby clung and lingered. Finally, finally, she was able to lose herself in the taste of Ruby filling her mouth.

  She let all the voices in her mind fall silent and gave herself over to sensation. The way Ruby’s inner walls felt contracting around her fingers, the way her body shifted and her hips arched forward. Ruby’s hands tangled up in her hair, pulling and directing her just exactly how she wanted.

  Melanie let herself be used. She slid her free hand between her own legs and rode her fingers to the pace of Ruby’s thrusting hips. Her attention was torn between Ruby’s pleasure and her own. Ruby grabbed at her again, tugging and pulling until Melanie crawled back up Ruby’s body, meeting her in a deep, desperate kiss, letting Ruby lick her own taste out of Melanie’s mouth.

  Ruby’s hair had escaped from its fastenings and spilled across the pillow as she’d turned her head side to side. She looked like
something out of a romantic painting, the spill of her hair a symbol of her debauched state. As much as Melanie loved to lick and suck at Ruby until she came, nothing was better than being face-to-face. She loved to watch Ruby’s reactions flit across her face as she touched her, the way she’d bite her lip or squeeze her eyes closed when Melanie did something she really enjoyed.

  Best of all was being face-to-face when Ruby had an orgasm. Melanie never got tired of watching as Ruby’s mouth fell open, her eyes widened in surprise, her head tilted back as far as her neck would allow. She got a front-row seat for that show now, as all of the muscles in Ruby’s body tensed up and a barely audible moan escaped from her bite-swollen lips.

  Melanie kept stroking her until Ruby pushed her hand away and then relaxed beside her on the bed. Her own arousal nearly forgotten, Melanie was ready to fall asleep at Ruby’s side, simply grateful to be sharing a bed again.

  But Ruby had other ideas. She turned on her side to face Melanie, head propped up on one bent arm, her other hand free to explore. Melanie’s skin was still sensitive and Ruby’s touch gave her chills, her nipples peaking at the slightest touch.

  “You know, I don’t think I’d have as much restraint as Whiskey,” Ruby said in a contemplative voice as she stroked Melanie’s body.

  “Oh?” Melanie wondered where this was going.

  “Faced with a gorgeous girl who had the hots for me? I bet I’d cross all sorts of lines,” Ruby continued, pinching Melanie’s nipple and making her gasp.

  “What would you do?”

  “I’d touch her,” Ruby said, pinching Melanie’s other nipple.

  “And tease her,” she continued, cupping Melanie’s breast and testing the weight in her hand. “And maybe, if she was wearing a skirt, I’d do this…” Ruby slid her hand between Melanie’s legs.

  Early in the relationship Ruby mourned Melanie’s lack of pubic hair—a necessity for her job—but she’d eventually come around to the benefits of smooth-shaven skin. As her hand slid unobstructed across Melanie’s moist flesh, she was very glad of it.

  “I think it would be fun, see how much I could get away with before she stopped me, or before someone noticed.

  “Do you think I could make a girl come in one of the private booths without anyone noticing?” Melanie’s head flooded with images of Ruby scantily clad and gyrating on someone’s lap. She parted her legs further as Ruby spoke, granting her easier access. Melanie’s body was strung tight, but Ruby wasn’t using enough pressure to bring her release. Melanie moaned, Ruby was teasing her beyond endurance. “Please,” Melanie whispered.

  “Please what, baby?” Ruby teased her with feather-light strokes to her clit.

  “More.” Melanie grabbed Ruby’s wrist and tried to apply more pressure where she needed it. But Ruby quickly shifted in her grip, bringing Melanie’s hand above her head, then bringing her other hand up too.

  “Hold still,” Ruby instructed, and Melanie did as she was told. Seemingly satisfied that Melanie was going to obey, Ruby resumed her torment. She slid her fingers deep inside, crooking them up until Melanie gasped and arched into the touch, then pulling out again. She thrust in and out several more times before returning her attention to Melanie’s clit, making Melanie whimper.

  “I suppose if I was going to try it, the girl would have to be very obedient,” Ruby continued, as though she’d never been interrupted. “She’d have to hold still and be quiet…do you think you could do that for me?” Melanie hurried to nod her assent. “Good girl.” Ruby pinched Melanie’s clit between two fingers—testing her—but Melanie didn’t cry out.

  Ruby leaned close to Melanie, close enough to whisper in her ear, “I’d get very close, so close my lips brushed her ear, and tell her all the naughty things I’d do if we had more privacy, if we were somewhere that I could make her scream.”

  Melanie’s body tensed, straining toward Ruby’s hand.

  “I’d need to make her promise that she could come quietly. Do you think you can do that? Come without making a sound?” As Ruby spoke, she finally touched Melanie with more force, pushing her over the edge with just a few strokes.

  Melanie opened her mouth in a silent scream, her back arching off the bed. Her orgasm lasted longer than any she could remember. Ruby ran her fingers through the flood of wetness between Melanie’s legs, touching her until she pressed her legs together and rolled on her side to face Ruby.

  Ruby was looking at her, eyes bright and smiling widely. “You don’t have to be so careful with me, you know. I’ll tell you what I need.”

  Melanie smiled too. She needn’t have worried so much. Ruby was the same take-charge girl she’d always been.

  WOMEN AND SONG

  Rowan Elizabeth

  Hand me the orange juice, would you?”

  “Did you do the math on the vodka?” she asks.

  “Yes,” I tell her. The pitcher of Sex on the Beach is coming together nicely. “All we need is forty ice cubes.”

  “Seriously? Are you really going to count them?” Julia looks sideways at me and grins. An ice cube could melt in that grin. Her bright blue eyes tease me.

  “Maybe.” I grab my wooden spoon and swat her on the ass before I set to mixing the juicy concoction.

  Spring has hit full force and we need something fruity and fun to replace our heavy red wine of the winter. I pour a mug of my favorite summer drink and offer it to the lips of my lover. “Drink.”

  “Why me first?”

  “Because this is my witch’s brew and you’re my subject.”

  “Your lab rat?”

  “Maybe.”

  She takes a sip.

  She takes another.

  It’s no small task to get Julia to succumb to a tropical whim, but she walks with her mug back to her guitar sheet music.

  She makes me smile.

  I reach into the kitchen cabinet for a large plastic tumbler and fill it. I want to sit by the sun of the open window and draw. Having inspiration finally hit after several dry months, I’m happy to find my art coming back to me. Julia sits at the dining table with stacks of guitar magazines and sheet music. Her passion is the music that melts my bones.

  I reach for a charcoal pencil and start to play with my paper. I recall a woman’s face from a three-minute porn clip we’d watched that morning. Dark hair with long braids. She was the suppler of the two women. She whirled under the stronger woman’s ministrations. Two minutes into the video I begged Julia to touch me as the softer woman was being touched.

  “Quickly. Before breakfast.”

  Julia rolled me onto my back and looked at me as her right hand skimmed down my round belly. She gently pushed my legs apart and strummed her long guitar fingers, over my swelling mound, pushing her middle finger against my clit.

  I hummed against Julia’s neck. My eyes screwed shut against the intensity of her fingers and my hips rose. Julia worked a second finger between my lips and clipped my clit between them. I knew I would come quickly if I pressed it. Instead, I melted back into the cotton sheets to linger.

  Julia eliminated my plans by sliding her fingers into my pussy and reached for my hot spot. My back arched and I ground my crotch against her hand. I spread my lower lips with my left fingers and began to stroke myself, to Julia’s delight. I felt the orgasm swimming in my belly, swirling and curling to the rhythmic pressure.

  We created an orgasm of color and light, streaming from my pussy.

  “Baby?”

  “Baby?”

  I blink hard into the sun and turn to Julia. “Yes?”

  “You’re not drawing.”

  “You’re not playing,” I counter.

  “Maybe I should.”

  “Maybe you should.” I smile a warm smile toward my lover.

  I press my pencil into the curves of the girl’s braids as Julia arranges her microphone and grabs her guitar. Julia uses her thick voice and a Blind Melon song to fill the space. A melancholy song filled with pain and hope. I ask her to sing it again
for me. The song fills the drawn girl’s eyes with light and emotion.

  I’m warm in my art, music and drink. I slip upstairs to put on a tank top in the growing heat. I pull my shirt over my head and free my breasts from my bra. I look down my body at my heavy breasts and full belly. Long legs and painted toes take me to the floor. How she loves this body to pieces amazes me. But she does, and I actually feel sexy with her.

  Back downstairs, it’s the intro to Sheryl Crow’s “Steve McQueen.” Her music pages stick together and I watch her fight with the paper.

  “Fuck.”

  I giggle behind her and Julia flips me the bird behind her back. It makes me giggle harder.

  We laugh a lot, Julia and I.

  She starts the song over after a few minutes of fiddling around. Sheryl’s words flow with the inspired strumming of the guitar.

  I’m so inspired by her. I sit down and slide my tank over my head. Julia’s back is to me as she sings and strums. I pick up my charcoal and shade the girl’s jawline.

  She sings a touch of Melissa and I wipe my charcoal fingers on my breasts. I blend and blot as she hums through a Band Perry song. “You Lie” dances in my head as I add bangs to my girl’s forehead. My hands are covered with black dust just as Julia’s are covered with calluses. The very idea of the roughness of those hands on my skin sends a shudder through me.

  As I take a drink of my brew, I watch her. Her simple beauty takes my breath away each time her long blond hair sways with her body. She’s so into her music that her eyes are shut tight, like when she comes. I swallow hard with the thought.

  After she finishes “Me and Bobby McGee,” she reaches for her mug of beach drink.

  “You know, babe,” Julia says, “this is some tasty stuff.” She crosses the living room and leans down to kiss me.

  Without thinking, I cup her face in my dusty black hand. I shut my eyes and feel her lips and tongue. The kiss that began as a simple act of affection becomes more so quickly.

  “When did you take off your top?” Julia asks against my neck as she kisses her way to my ear.