[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed

by Mary D. Brooks

  She slowly backed away of the bathroom and went into her darkroom, but couldn’t find her camera. She went into the bedroom and found it there. She made her way back to the bathroom and put the camera to her eye to focus. Zoe looked so much at peace, a tiny smile playing on her lips, which Eva wanted to get a few photos before she gave in to her desires.

  “How many photographs of a pregnant woman do you need?”

  “As many as you would allow me to take. You look so beautiful.” Eva left the camera on the chair and knelt on the side of the tub. “Zoe…”

  “I’m not ready to get out yet.”

  “I don’t want you to,” Eva whispered. “I want to join you.”

  “You do?”

  “I do,” Eva replied. She wasn’t sure if Zoe was ready to forgive her. Zoe didn’t even bother to move or open her eyes. “Can I?”

  “Why?”

  “When have I ever needed a reason to take a bath with you?”

  “I didn’t think you wanted to be with me now, so I don’t see a reason why you would want to now,” Zoe replied quietly.

  Eva felt like she had been slapped. Zoe’s words hurt her, but she knew where they were coming from. She created Zoe’s uncertainty and deserved everything she was getting. She didn’t deserve to have Zoe forgive her readily.

  “It’s not true, Zo. It really isn’t. I’m sorry I’ve been stupid. I’ve been stupid and foolish.” Eva fell to her knees and leaned over the rim. She kissed Zoe tenderly on the lips. Even though the kiss was not reciprocated, Zoe did not back away, which was a good sign. “I’m so sorry. There’s a good reason I’ve been behaving like an ass.”

  “There is never a good reason. There is never a good reason to make me feel the way you made me feel,” Zoe replied and still did not meet her gaze. “Not for us.”

  “Please, can you hear me out? I love you more than anything in the world. You know that.”

  “I did know that, but your actions speak louder than your words.”

  “I’ve been behaving like an ass. I know I have and it’s not your fault, it’s nothing you’ve done or how you look or anything like that. It’s all my fault and I’m sorry.”

  Zoe opened her eyes and turned her head to meet Eva’s gaze. “Do you still love me?”

  “YES! I love you more than ever. I’m telling you the truth. I’ve never lied to you and I’m not lying now.” Eva knew Zoe was angry and hurt and she needed to get past Zoe’s disappointment in her. Eva did not want to question Zoe’s love for her, but she had to find out regardless. She mentally took a deep breath before she voiced the question. “Do you still love me?” Her voice wavered.

  Zoe’s irritated glare softened as she reached out and cupped Eva’s cheek. “This hurt me more because I love you so much. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t care that you didn’t want to be with me. I’ve cried so much thinking you didn’t love me anymore that I couldn’t stand it any longer and had to go to Tessa. I was embarrassed and humiliated to admit to your aunt that we were not being intimate.”

  Eva felt her throat constrict as she held onto the rim of the tub with both hands. She didn’t want to break down and cry. “I’m sorry,” she said after a long silence.

  “I know you are, but I have to know why you didn’t want to be with me. Does the idea of making love to me while I’m pregnant repulse you?”

  “NO! It does the opposite. I’m telling you the truth,” Eva pleaded as she took Zoe’s hand. “I’m not repulsed. You don’t understand. I think you are more gorgeous than ever,” Eva explained as she leaned over the tub. “I’ve been having a really hard time trying to keep you at arm’s length.”

  “You what? Why, in God’s name, would you do that?”

  “Um…Zo, it’s um...stupid, stupid, stupid.” Eva slapped herself on the side of her head. Her hand was stopped when Zoe reached out and held it.

  “Don’t do that. You’ve had enough knocks, and this is the last thing I want to see you do to yourself. You said you still find me attractive. Is that really true?”

  “I’ve never lied to you, you know that. Never. I am so attracted to you I have been going crazy trying not to touch you. I’m driving myself insane, and I didn’t stop to think what it was doing to you,” Eva quietly admitted. “I hurt you, I’m sorry I hurt you but, Zoe, I never intended to hurt you. I know you felt humiliated by going to Tessa and I let you down. You are the sexiest woman alive and you will always be. Even if we live to be a hundred, I will still think so.”

  Zoe’s eyebrow rose and she sat up in the bath. “You do? Even with me looking like a puffer fish?”

  “You are much more gorgeous than a puffer fish. I do, I will, and that will never change.”

  “I want to believe you, Evy. I do. I know what you are saying is true, but I can’t get the image of you from the other night out of my mind. You flinched when I wanted to touch you. I kissed you and I saw you grimace. You grimaced when I kissed you. That hurt me,” Zoe revealed. Eva’s head fell forward, her dark hair falling over her eyes. “The last time you flinched when I touched you was on the ship when we were coming here. Then you had a good reason because you were in pain, but why did you do that now?”

  “I was trying not to turn around. That was my stupid, inept attempt to try and control my desires. I wasn’t very good at it. I wasn’t flinching because I don’t want your touch. It took all of my willpower not to make love to you.”

  “Why go to all that trouble of putting yourself in that position?”

  “I thought if we made love while you are pregnant, then I might induce the labor and our babies would come early.”

  “Pardon?”

  “The book told me that—”

  “Stop.” Zoe sat up straight in the water and glared at Eva. “Are you telling me you haven’t made love to me because a book told you not to?”

  “Yes.”

  “What book? What did that fucking book say?”

  “‘Husbands, this time in your wife’s pregnancy, you will need to be extra careful with her and not cause her any undue excitement or worry. Try not to excite your expectant wife as this can induce labor,’” Eva recited the passage from memory and hung her head, knowing she had hurt Zoe a great deal and not wanting to meet her outraged gaze.

  “Look at me, Eva.”

  Eva hesitated and felt so dumb that she almost slapped herself again. She expected Zoe to be angry and she was right. She lifted her eyes and saw Zoe glaring at her. Zoe’s green eyes blazed as she gripped the sides of the tub and looked outraged at Eva’s confession. Eva wasn’t sure how Zoe kept any sort of control and did not start screaming at her. She had every right to do so. Eva was surprised it was taking so long for Zoe to say something and was starting to get worried.

  “You cannot be serious. You are telling me that some rubbish book told you to stop loving me and” Zoe stopped, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled and appeared to be trying to settle her anger before she continued, “and you actually LISTENED to it? You went against everything you wanted to do?” She looked at Eva expectantly. “Are you serious? We didn’t make love because of a book?”

  Eva nodded. “I didn’t want to hurt you or our babies.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake!” Zoe exploded. She shook her head in disbelief. “You are an intelligent woman and we have a doctor and two nurses in the family. Why the hell didn’t you ask Stella?”

  “I was embarrassed and I don’t want to talk to Stella about you and me that way.”

  Zoe closed her eyes for a moment. Eva watched her as she opened her green eyes, which glistened with unshed tears. “I thought that you weren’t in love with me anymore and that you didn’t find me attractive.”

  “Someone will have to rip out my heart for that to happen, love,” Eva replied earnestly. “You are more beautiful than ever. Not touching you is making me crazy.”

  “Eva, after all that we have been through, I thought now that you are healed, you didn’t want me anymore.”

  “P
lease forgive me, Zoe. I’m sorry.”

  Zoe shook her head, which made Eva unsure of what that meant. Did she forgive her, or was she saying she didn’t accept her apology? Zoe just sat there, her tears running down her cheeks. Eva took the chance and hoped her hand wasn’t going to get slapped away. She reached out to wipe Zoe’s tears with her fingers. She cupped Zoe’s cheek with her hand and leaned in to tenderly kiss her on the lips.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  Zoe sniffed and nodded. “I will always forgive you,” she said. “Promise me you will never do this again.”

  Eva placed her hand over her heart and said, “I promise. I give you my word.” She leaned over the rim of the tub, cupped Zoe’s face and kissed her.

  “Can you please stop talking now and get naked?”

  “Are you sure?” Eva quickly rose to her feet and for a moment considered taking off her clothes post haste.

  “Oh, I’m sure,” Zoe replied.

  For the first time since Eva had entered the bathroom, Zoe’s broad smile reached her eyes and Eva felt an enormous relief. She wanted to cry but held back as she felt the heavy weight that had settled on her chest lift.

  “Why are you still dressed?”

  Eva didn’t reply but unbuttoned her shirt slowly while Zoe caught on and leaned over the rim of the tub watching her. Eva unzipped her skirt and let it drop.

  “We really have to get you to stop wearing those stockings. They take too long to remove,” Zoe ran a commentary while Eva took quite some time removing her hose from each long leg with the occasional glance at Zoe, who was smiling at her. She stood in front of her in just her bra, panties, and a beaming smile.

  “You are a tease, but can I suggest to you that now is not the time for foreplay?”

  Eva didn’t say a word. She removed her bra, tossing it over her shoulder. She lowered her panties while Zoe followed her every move. Zoe nodded quickly, and stared at Eva’s lean body for a long time. Then she smiled and let out a content sigh. Eva stole a quick kiss before she put one foot into the bath. “Scoot forward.”

  Zoe made room for Eva in the tub. The water was still warm. “Oh, this is very nice,” Eva mumbled. Zoe was nestled between her legs, reclining on her chest. Her hands rested on her thighs and Eva’s arms went around her belly.

  “Make love to me, Evy,” Zoe entreated as Eva enjoyed the feel of Zoe’s naked skin next to hers. “I can’t believe that stupid book said that and you believed it.”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “Stop apologizing. Enough with the apologies.”

  “I’ve never had a pregnant wife before.”

  “Don’t ever stop touching me or making love to me.” Zoe looked up into Eva’s face. “I don’t want to ever feel this way again. All those nights thinking you were not in love with me anymore and you were lying next to me… It’s lonely, and not having you—”

  “Shh, I will always love you,” Eva replied as she nuzzled Zoe’s neck. ”I promise I won’t ever stop. I’m an idiot.”

  “Stop talking…oh…” Zoe stopped midsentence when Eva nibbled her ear and let her hands roam her body.

  Zoe tilted her head to one side while Eva used her lips and her tongue to weave a sensual path of pleasure along her neck.

  A small whimper escaped from between Zoe’s lips and she reached up to entangle her fingers in Eva’s soft dark hair. “Mmm, that feels so good,” she murmured.

  “You’re right, love, it does,” Eva whispered against the silky skin. She leaned back, her hands sliding up to Zoe’s shoulders to pull her body back against her reclining figure. The warm water surrounding them, the feel of Zoe in her arms… Eva closed her eyes at the pleasure that ran through her body in response to the sensations.

  “I love you. I will always love you,” she whispered, and felt Zoe’s muscles twitch in anticipation of her touch. “So nice,” she said with a hoarse whisper, her warm breath against Zoe’s ear.

  ’Goose flesh surfaced along Zoe’s skin, even the parts of her that were covered with the warm water.

  “Oh, yes.” Eva sighed. She suddenly felt the same passionate desire rise within her own body. Spreading her legs wider, she stretched her arms out to run her hands along the tops of Zoe’s thighs, pressing gently outward, until Zoe’s pose mimicked hers. She ran her hands back up the same smooth skin, this time on the inside of Zoe’s thighs. Zoe released another tiny whimper, which turned into a full voiced groan as Eva continued to let her hands slide up further, stopping to let the palms of both hands cover two perfect breasts.

  Eva could feel the hard points of flesh pressing into her palms, and was nearly undone by the electric jolt that clenched hard at her abdomen, running down to her center. Her breathing was becoming ragged now as she watched Zoe bring her own hands up and cover hers. Zoe pressed the hands against her chest, reveling in the sparks of pleasure the action caused.

  Eva groaned, and Zoe turned her head to look at her, reached up, and let her fingertips stroke Eva’s face. Zoe ran her index finger along Eva’s soft lips, and trailed down across a proud chin, stopping to tease the small indentation in Eva’s chin. Zoe smiled, a lazy seductive smile, almost as if she were enjoying a private moment.

  Eva graced Zoe with a tender, lopsided smile and placed a gentle kiss on those sweet lips. Opening her mouth slightly, she ran the tip of her tongue along the edge of Zoe’s upper lip before capturing her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss. Her mouth swallowed up Zoe’s moans when Zoe reacted, not only to the kiss, but to Eva’s hands, which continually teased her body. They continued this way for a long while, Eva’s hands seemingly everywhere at once.

  Eva felt their kisses become more insisting, more passionate. She snaked one arm around Zoe’s waist, gently pulling her back until she could feel Zoe’s backside pressing tightly against the dark curls between her legs. The intensity of the kisses grew, Eva’s tongue exploring the sweetness of her lover’s mouth. When at last they pulled apart, they were each flushed and breathing in short gasps.

  “Let’s go to bed,” Zoe murmured.

  Eva responded by pulling the plug with her toe, which got Zoe giggling as the water drained away. She stole a quick kiss and got out of the bathtub, then picked up a towel.

  She left it on the rim of the tub, braced her leg against the tub, and helped Zoe up. She wrapped the towel around Zoe and looked down at her. They walked back into the bedroom arm in arm.

  CHAPTER 51

  “Are you alright?” Zoe asked as she hiked herself up on her elbow in alarm. Eva lay on her back, her damp hair plastered to her face, and her eyes closed.

  “Ugh!” Eva rubbed her temple.

  “Do you have a headache?”

  Eva nodded, but didn’t say anything. Zoe reached over and picked up Eva’s hand. “Well, let’s test if what that book said about pain relief and pressure points actually works.” She placed her fingers at the base of Eva’s right thumb and gently rubbed for a few minutes.

  “How does that feel?”

  “Uh…good,” Eva managed to say, which made Zoe smile.

  “Look at me.” Zoe tipped Eva’s face towards her. Eva opened her eyes and smiled. “Wow, I love that color just after we make love.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “What just happened? I’ve never seen you have that reaction before.”

  “Oh, God.” Eva wiped her face with her hand.

  “Are you going to say more than two words?” Zoe teased. She let her hand rest of Eva’s stomach. “We need to talk about what just happened.”

  Zoe smiled down at Eva’s complete loss of any coherent thought. She waited for Eva to get control of herself, which was taking a long time.

  “Uh, Zoe, oh, God…that was intense.”

  “Ah, a sentence!” Zoe leaned down and kissed Eva on the lips. “What was that?”

  “Uh…I don’t know. I’ve never had an orgasm that strong before…”

  “I actually thought you were going to pass out.”

  “I d
idn’t?” Eva asked with a surprised look on her face. “I thought my head was going to explode. I’ve never had such an intense reaction before.”

  “And you got a headache.”

  “Yes, it was not just behind my eyes as it usually is. It was all over.”

  “Is it gone now?”

  “Yes. Whatever you did with that pressure point, it worked.”

  “I should remember that,” Zoe replied. She sat up and brought the blanket around her and Eva, who also managed to sit up. Zoe reached for Eva’s cigarettes, which were on her bedside table. She lit one and gave it to Eva. She noticed Eva’s hand shook when she took the cigarette. “I think we need to speak to Tessa about this.”

  “No.” Eva replied hoarsely and shook her head. She took a drag of her cigarette. “I’m not speaking to Tessa about us and our love life again. I’m not.”

  “It’s alright; you don’t have to. I think I’ve done that enough for the both of us.”

  “I think I know what happened.”

  “What?”

  “This is the first time we have made love after Mama Saint removed the block…um...I think it has something to do with that.”

  “Huh? I don’t understand.”

  Eva took a deep breath and waited a moment. “When we are making love... I don’t know how to explain it. You can feel my desire, can’t you?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “I can feel yours, and it’s strong, and that’s normal, right?”

  “Right,” Zoe agreed. She wasn’t sure where Eva was going, but it intrigued her.

  “My desire for you is pretty strong…”

  “Especially since you have been trying not to make love to me, which I think is pretty stupid, but let’s sort this out before we get to that.”

  “I’m sorry, Zo—”

  “Please don’t apologize again. We will discuss it but you have to stop saying sorry. I forgive you. Now I want to figure out why you almost passed out.”

  Eva nodded. She had another drag of the cigarette. “I think it has to do with my gift.”