Best Lesbian Romance 2010

by Radclyffe

  “Yes I do.” I released the clasp on her bra. “But I’m afraid we’ll pop it.” She giggled as I turned us around and lowered her to the couch. I added my shirt to the heap and settled above her with my leg between hers. The sensation of her naked breasts pressed hard against my own caused a flood of wetness in my boxers. I ground my knee into her denim-clad crotch as I nipped, licked, and kissed my way down to her rosy nipples. I relished every sigh and squeal of delight, and dismissed every wiggle and grunt urging me to go faster. If it were up to Gwen, sex would never last longer than ten minutes.

  Finally leaving the sweetly scented junction of her neck and shoulder, I continued my descent. She was grinding more urgently now, and I could feel her hot center through my jeans as I took her nipple into my mouth. Alternating between sharp nips and soothing licks, I worked Gwen into a frenzied, frustrated state. It wasn’t long before her arm shot between us and made quick work of the buttons and zippers on both pairs of jeans. I had to laugh: same old Gwen. “Has it been a while?”

  “Please Jai, I need you.”

  I had waited so long to hear those words. A wave of joy thrilled through my insides and left me momentarily stunned as I looked down into her eyes. “God, I missed you.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She wiggled a little. “Pants, Jai…”

  She didn’t have to tell me twice—okay, three times. Our remaining garments joined the growing pile of laundry on the floor. Being left-handed, I moved to take off my wedding ring so I wouldn’t scratch her. I watched her eyes follow the jewelry to the coffee table.

  Back in position above her, I kissed the woman who was still legally my wife and nearly swooned when I felt her wetness on my thigh. As my hand snaked down her satiny skin, Gwen’s fingers were already between my lips, working my wetness around. “Mmm, baby you feel so good,” she cooed into my ear.

  From below, Gwen’s first two fingers slipped inside and she set a deliberate and measured pace, drawing her fingers nearly all the way out before gliding back into the depths of me. Her thumb kept a constant rhythm on my clit, while urgent, tender little kisses showered my face. The dizzying emotional intensity of this reconnection of our flesh soon set me off balance and turned my arms to mush. I landed face-first in the couch cushion. When Gwen curled her fingers to hit the spot that would send me over the edge, I was suddenly grateful for the sound barrier a face full of couch provided. I held as still as possible as nerve endings deep in my belly began to fire in quick succession, unraveling wave after wave of pleasure. I came hard, riding her hand, smelling the shampoo scent of her hair, feeling her other five fingers clutching my back. I was embarrassed that I came so quickly. “I tried to last baby, I really did.”

  Gwen wrapped her arms around me and smiled. “Some things never change.”

  When my heart rate and breathing returned to a normal pace, I began once again the meandering tour of her form with my lips and hands. She bucked her hips and a low growl rose in her throat. She was frustrated.

  “Shh…” I kissed around her navel. Despite my best efforts, the understanding that as soon as Gwen was satisfied, I would be just as alone but twice as depressed began to crush my libido. If this was it, I certainly wasn’t willing to rush.

  I lowered my face to her slightly fuzzy pussy. As I brushed my lips over, around, and through this little swatch of hair, I deeply inhaled her earthy scent. It was that exact moment I realized that she hadn’t planned this at all. If Gwen had even suspected that she might get laid, she would have shaved. She was both meticulous and predictable. I ran my hand over her knee and, sure enough, encountered soft stubble. I laughed out loud.

  Gwen was mortified. “Oh, god, I’m so furry…”

  I popped up, kissed a blushing cheek and immediately my desire was rekindled. “No, honey, you’re perfect.” Without further ado, I slid down her torso and got cozy between her legs.

  I tucked my arms under her knees, reached for her hands, and buried my mouth within her folds. Gwen squeezed my fingers so hard it almost hurt. Deeply inhaling her familiar scent, I luxuriated in the perfect softness of these hidden places. I ran my tongue up one side of her engorged clit and down the other, while periodically suckling the hard nub between my lips. Gwen tilted her hips to encourage deeper penetration with my probing tongue. Listening to her pant and moan and call my name nearly sent me over the edge again.

  “Baby, please.” She released my hands. “I need you inside.”

  I scooped her ass into my hands, swung her around, and knelt on the floor in front of her. Unceremoniously, I threw her legs over my shoulders and plunged my fingers into her core. My other hand wrapped around her thigh to keep her close to my face. I licked and pumped furiously, while she raked her nails up my back. Gwen breathlessly implored, “Please don’t stop, please…” My shoulder burned as I rode the waves of her orgasm and struggled to hold on. A flood of warmth spilled down my arm and Gwen squeezed her legs shut around my ears.

  I withdrew my fingers, lowered her feet to the floor, and kissed her stubbly knees. As I did so, she sloppily stroked my head and rubbed my ears. “I missed you too, you know.”

  I pulled the throw off the back of the couch and wrapped us both in it. As Gwen collected herself in my arms, I couldn’t refrain from pointing out the obvious. At the risk of ruining that perfect moment, I said it. “You know, although I can’t prove anything, what we just did could technically be considered a breach of our separation agreement.” I kissed her shoulder. “And that envelope you’ve been avoiding all night…”

  Laughing softly, Gwen fished my wedding ring off the table and slid it onto my sticky finger. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”

  THE LAST DANCE

  Dalia Craig

  Summer 1958

  She was the most exquisite creature I’d ever seen, gorgeous and incredibly sexy, and she stole my heart in the blink of an eye. From the instant my gaze fell upon her delicate face framed by a sleek cap of auburn hair, and swept past long lashes to drown in her dark amethyst blue eyes, I couldn’t stop watching her, or longing to capture those candy-frosted lips in a drugging kiss.

  I retreated to a quiet corner with my drink to wait for a chance to introduce myself and to watch her move gracefully around the ballroom chatting and laughing with the guests attending Joy and Adam’s first anniversary party. Although she looked outwardly relaxed, I nevertheless detected a hint of wariness in her eyes and a reluctance to stay still for any length of time. I soon arrived at the conclusion that she planned her constant movements specifically to avoid contact with a particular young man who appeared equally determined to shadow her every move.

  The ever-moving crowd momentarily obscured my line of vision. When it parted and I could see again, my angel was missing. Devastated by her sudden disappearance, I threaded my way through the guests to the area where I’d last seen her. Having checked the man’s position, and satisfied myself that he hadn’t left the room, I used what I assumed was her escape route, the open French windows hidden behind long brocade curtains.

  Faced with a choice of directions, I followed the gravel path that wound its way between intricate topiary and neatly manicured lawns, toward an ornamental lake where I discovered my instinct had been right. She sat, with her back against a square plinth that supported a large urn, halfway down a flight of wide steps. Below us, the water shimmered like thousands of dark sapphires in the light from the full moon.

  She glanced up at the sound of my approach and my heart went out to her when I saw the dampness of tears staining her cheeks. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, to soothe away all her troubles, if only I knew what they were, but I didn’t. How could I, when I didn’t even know her name let alone her darkest secrets?

  “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to disturb you.” I began to retreat.

  “Don’t go.” She managed a weak smile and patted the stone beside her in invitation. “I could do with some company and right now I have no desire to return to the house.”

&n
bsp; I had to agree with her. As Joy’s oldest friend and former bridesmaid, I’d felt unable to refuse the invitation, but I’d regretted my decision from the moment that I discovered Joy and Adam were determined to play matchmaker.

  Why did happily married people feel it necessary to interfere in the lives of others?

  I’d soon managed to escape the clutches of the man they’d invited as my partner, who’d read into his role far more than I was prepared to allow.

  Was my angel suffering the same unwanted attention? If so, I’d be more than happy to offer her my protection in return for spending a little time in her company.

  “Thank you.” I sat down next to her, picking up a hint of her delightful floral perfume as I did so. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Dan—Danielle Shawcross.”

  She took my hand, her delicate fingers curling around mine. “Helena Parkes. I’m Adam’s cousin. I recognize you though, from the wedding photos.” Her gaze swept over my formal dress and jacket, a concession to the occasion since normally I never wore anything but tailored pantsuits, and she gave a soft laugh. “I must admit you look more at home in proper clothes than in that horrid flouncy thing Joy forced you to wear.”

  Without warning, she leant across and brushed her lips across mine. My heart raced out of control. I exhaled a long shaky breath: I wanted more than that brief contact. Helena’s eyes glittered with amusement as though she read my discomfit. “I’m so glad I moved to Paris just in time to miss all the fun.”

  “Paris… What an exciting life you must lead there,” I teased her gently. How I envied her the freedom to travel—a luxury I couldn’t afford on the meager salary paid to junior reporters by our local newspaper. One day, very soon, I vowed, I’d have both the money and qualifications to allow me to work as a freelance writer and journalist. Then I’d have the world at my feet but for the present, I was stuck in this small, narrow-minded town. “I’d love to visit Europe someday.” I sighed, thinking not only of Paris, but Rome, Florence, Venice and all the other places that would be on my must see list when I finally realized my dream.

  “Yes, I do… You should come soon, I can promise you that you’d have a great time.” Her bell-like laughter rang out. “I can hardly wait for Monday, when I can board the plane and leave this dull place behind forever. In Paris I can be who I want, without any constraints, unlike here, and nobody raises an eyebrow if I kiss another woman.”

  Her casual tone didn’t fool me for a minute. Helena betrayed both her youth and naivete by trying to shock me, only she’d picked the wrong person. I didn’t shock easily, and kissing other women came naturally to me along with many other activities. I’d happily demonstrate all the ways I wanted to make love to her if she gave me the opportunity. Although I doubted that she would, or that she’d really know what to do if the situation arose. I sighed deeply, picturing Helena naked, reclining on a white satin quilt, ready and waiting for me to teach her everything I knew about love between women. I imagined us making love until, sated from multiple orgasms, we slipped into a deep sleep, then waking to morning sunlight and starting all over again.

  Hell! What was I thinking? We were just strangers, thrown together at a party neither of us had wanted to attend. After tonight we would go our separate ways and probably never meet again.

  The sounds of music and laughter drifted through the night air, mingling with the gentle swish of water from the nearby fountain.

  “Would you like a drink?” Helena produced a champagne bottle from somewhere behind her. “Although I’ve only got one glass… I wasn’t expecting company, maybe we could share?”

  “Yes, I’d love some.” I smiled, while cursing myself for not having had the foresight to bring something with me. “Or, if you like, I could run back to the house and fetch another glass and maybe some food?”

  “Please don’t go.” Helena placed one hand on my arm, her fingers pressing into my flesh as if she was terrified of being alone. “I’m happy to share if you are, and I’m not hungry.”

  Neither was I, for food, but Helena was a different matter. If given the chance I’d happily feast upon her delectable body all night.

  “Allow me.” I took the bottle of Veuve Clicquot from her, popped the cork and carefully poured the white froth into the waiting flute. A vision of Helena climaxing onto my tongue sent goose bumps racing up my neck and my pussy clenched with need. I put the bottle down on the step beside me and dug my fingernails into my palms to stop myself from reaching for her there and then.

  We shared the whole bottle sip by sip, and then Helena produced another bottle from the same hiding place and by the time we’d finished the second one both of us were in very high spirits.

  The unmistakable strains of “Unchained Melody,” my favorite song since I’d first heard it sung by Gene Vincent a couple of years earlier, reached my ears. The plaintive notes of the orchestra seemed to linger on the breeze, and the lyrics played in my head calling me to take Helena into my arms. Needing no better excuse to make it happen, I stood and held out my hand. “Will you dance with me?”

  “Yes.” She moved easily into my arms, her body and mine fitted against each other like two halves of a shell. “I love this song,” she murmured dreamily. Her hot breath fanned my neck as we swayed to the hauntingly evocative music barely moving from the spot. Several changes of music later, my hands dropped down to cup her ass and ease her into my body.

  Helena reacted positively by grinding her pelvis against mine and I smothered her gasp of pleasure with my lips. She tasted so sweet, like a mixture of honey and champagne.

  The pounding beat of my pulse drowned out all other sound. I wanted Helena more than I’d ever wanted anybody in my whole life.

  Could I?

  Would she?

  If I didn’t try I would never know, and I only had tonight and tomorrow. Come Monday she’d be gone, out of my life and my arms forever.

  I deepened the kiss, my tongue delving into her mouth.

  She kissed me back, using her tongue to good effect, proving that I’d misjudged her level of experience by a mile.

  “I want you so much,” Helena murmured against my lips.

  I didn’t need a second invitation.

  We went back to my place, since she was staying here with Joy and Adam and there was no chance of us sneaking up to her room undiscovered.

  What should have been a ten-minute walk across the park took us much longer as every few paces we stopped to kiss and hold each other. We’d hardly got inside my door before Helena grabbed me and thrust me hard against the wall. Her lips devoured mine and her hands tore at my clothes in her effort to get me naked in record time.

  “Not here.” I grabbed for her hands before I could disgrace myself and take her right there on the hall floor, and then led the way through to the bedroom.

  Once there she carried on where she left off. When my dress fell to the floor, I didn’t care that she’d ripped it to shreds; I just needed her to touch me, to kiss me and make love to me until she drove all this crazy emotional tension from my system and allowed me to think rationally.

  Helena soon dispensed with my bra and panties then turned around to let me unfasten what seemed like a hundred tiny pearl buttons down the back of her full-skirted cocktail dress. I slipped it off her shoulders and the embroidered silk whispered down into a silvery pool around her feet. I took her hand as she stepped out of it, then I picked it up and draped it carefully across the back of a chair, before removing her delicate underwear.

  Jeez, my mouth watered with desire. I wanted to touch and taste every inch of her body. I ran my hands over her luscious curves, lingering awhile to savor her beautiful breasts.

  She tried to hook her leg around me but we overbalanced and fell back onto the bed with Helena on top. She trailed hot breathless kisses down my throat, skimmed along my collarbone then traveled lower until she reached my breasts. Her mouth closed over my nipple and I nearly shot into orbit. She circled the sensitive tip a couple
of times with her tongue then grazed it with her teeth before giving the other breast the same treatment.

  When she tried to kiss her way farther down my body, I called a halt. I rolled her under me, straddled her hips, and sat back on my heels. I trailed my fingers over her silky skin, trying to imprint every inch of her body in my memory yet avoiding the one place I longed to explore.

  “Dan! Please …I can’t wait I’m…” Her voice cracked as she bucked wildly against me, her fingers crept to her clit in desperate search for relief. “No,” I scolded, taking both her hands in mine, pushing them up above her head, and folding her fingers around the brass head rail.

  “Open your eyes and look at me.” I wanted to make her mine, to pleasure her so that she would remember our first time for the rest of her life.

  I returned to my voyage of exploration, touching, kissing and sucking, until I reached my destination, her clit. Helena’s lips parted in a breathless gasp of pleasure, and her clit grew into a hard glistening jewel before my eyes. I slipped one finger into her wetness. She was so ready for me; her ragged panting urged me on. I inserted a second finger then slid both of them slowly back and forth.

  “Yes!” she cried out, her hips coming off the bed to meet my hand. “Fuck me, baby, I need to come.”

  “It’ll be my pleasure.” I grinned and began to move inside her, plunging deep then almost withdrawing, my thumb catching her clit with each inward thrust. Her muscles contracted around my fingers pulling them farther into her pulsating depths. I plunged faster, deeper, harder, until her control shattered.

  She looked incredibly beautiful when she came, her lips parted and her eyes deep pools of sensuous desire. I massaged her clit with my thumb, my fingers still pumping deep inside her, prolonging her climax until she stopped gyrating.

  I leant forward to kiss her sweet lips; they parted allowing me the freedom of her mouth. I kissed her softly, teasing her with my tongue, willing her to feel the strength of my desire. Her body moved under me, our breasts brushed together, and red-hot arrows speared my core. I sat back again, running my hands down her still trembling body. Helena responded with a contented sigh.