by Julie Cannon
“How do you like your morning coffee?”
Chapter Twenty-three
We strolled down the street more casually than I wanted to. I’d have run the distance in record time if Lowe had given any indication she wanted to. We walked a block, turned left, and half a block later entered the lobby of a small, boutique hotel.
I reached into my bag to pull out my wallet as we approached the registration desk, but Lowe put her hand on my arm. Words weren’t necessary. I didn’t have much money in my account, but I would have mortgaged my future to be alone and naked with her.
Lowe’s hand shook as she scribbled her name on the register. She wasn’t as calm as she appeared to be, which thrilled me. Jesus, Faith, stop philosophizing and just go with it, I told myself right before Lowe turned toward me, a bright-green key card in her hand. Talk about a beacon of what was to come.
Lowe kept her hand on the small of my back as we walked across the small lobby. It was a nice touch. A connection, rather than possession.
The elevator crawled to the third floor, and I grew more nervous as each second passed. I had no reason to be; I’d done this hundreds of times. Okay, maybe not exactly this, and I have no idea how many times I’d had sex, but it was nerve-racking being with a new person, and even more so with Lowe.
The first time is usually a little awkward and clumsy, arms and legs bumping into each other. Elbows connecting with teeth, hair in the wrong places, feet getting stuck in pants. Am I too loud or not vocal enough, too fast or too slow? One finger or two? Three or more? Ouch. What if I come too fast or not fast enough? What if I can’t come at all? Do I fake it or try something new? The stress involved with having sex is so astronomical, sometimes I’m surprised anyone does it at all.
The elevator doors opened, and my mind continued to ramble as we walked down the hall. The click of the lock on the door echoed in the empty hall. Or was it just in my head?
Lowe held the door open for me to enter first, her actions more than mere politeness. She was giving me a chance to change my mind. I had no doubt I could please Lowe, make her quiver with desire, lose herself in sensation. How did I know this? Because I’d seen the desire in her eyes, the way she flushed when I looked at her, the way her hand shook a few moments ago. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. I didn’t hesitate to cross the threshold.
***
How I didn’t grab Faith and pull her into one of the many alleys we passed is beyond me. I had never wanted someone as bad as I wanted Faith. It wasn’t just her physical beauty but what was inside that made me crazy for her. And when she’d said she needed my mouth on her, my vision had blurred, and my head spun.
There’s just something sexy about a woman taking ownership of what she wants and needs. When she takes off her own clothes because she wants to be touched. When she calls for the check because she wants to be naked and alone with you. The way she enters the room knowing full well what’s going to happen once we close and lock the door. Somehow, I kept my composure and managed to act like an adult and check us in and get this far.
When the door closed behind me, I was uncharacteristically unsure what to do next. Did we strip or take each other’s clothes off? Did we sit and make small talk? Order some wine? Chastely pull the covers back and climb in?
I didn’t need to worry, because Faith turned and pushed me against the door, her kisses impatient. Momentarily stunned, I quickly gathered my wits and kissed her back. Actually, I did more than kiss her. I tugged her shirt up and slid my hands over her warm, smooth back. Faith moved closer and melted against me.
Our bodies fit together like they were made specifically for each other. Two women making love was the most erotic thing I can ever imagine. Curves molded into valleys, hard met soft, and knowing where to touch was a sixth sense.
Faith’s mouth was hot, her hands insistent, her body tense. Our tongues fought for control while our hands tangled in straps and spandex. Finally, our suits lay on the floor, and she groaned when I touched her.
Faith pressed her knee between my legs, and it was my turn to sigh in pleasure. I ground my crotch into the hard thigh, and my head started to spin. I felt fabulous, like I was slipping from reality into perfect pleasure. Stars blinked in front of me, and I knew I was going to come. I wanted to wait, to feel Faith’s fingers on me, in me, but my overwhelming desire refused to listen. My orgasm roared in my ears and rolled over me like a thundercloud exploding overhead. I pulled Faith closer. I wanted to be in her, and lights flashed, drums pounded as my climax took me to another place, another realm that was perfect yet frightening.
I was floating back to reality, and when my head hit the pillow, I knew this was no dream. Faith’s body warmed me, the heat comforting and exhilarating. Lips replaced hands, fingers searched, explored, and took ownership. Faith demanded my body, and I readily, eagerly complied. Warm breath on cool wetness did nothing to quench the burning desire at my center. Faith knew just what to do, and her lips and tongue brought me to orgasm once again. I stifled a scream, my breathing rapid. Within the earthly confines of the bed, I soared.
I thought I was dreaming and prayed I wouldn’t wake up. Faith was hovering above me gazing at me, her eyes filled with desire. The heat of her body on top of mine radiated through me. My hands held her hair back from her face, and I could easily pull her lips to mine. But I didn’t. This was no dream. This was her show, she was in charge, and I was more than willing to give her free rein, for now.
She started at the base of my ear, covering my jaw with light kisses. Her breasts pressed against mine, her nipples hard. I don’t know what had led up to us being here, and I didn’t care. All I wanted was for her to not stop the magical things she was doing to me.
Her lips roamed over my neck and I tilted my head back, so she could go wherever she wanted. She shifted, and I had a moment of panic when I thought she was leaving but calmed when she simply moved lower.
Faith’s hot, wet mouth circled first one breast, then the other, tormenting me. I wanted her lips on my nipple, sucking and nipping almost to the point of making me come. Faith either read my mind or I begged, because that was exactly what she did next.
I tried to be still but gave up. What was the point? I was enjoying everything she was doing to me, so why not let her know? If I did, she wouldn’t stop. At least I hoped so.
I arched up when she sucked hard on my left nipple, and I think I called her name. My knees came up, and I felt her warm, wet center against my thigh. Faith moaned with the contact. Cool air hit my wet nipples as Faith moved lower.
“Jesus, that feels good.” I fought not to squirm as Faith kissed and caressed my stomach. The disparity in our heights made no difference as she moved even lower, her shoulders separating my legs. I let my knees fall open, giving her complete access to all of me. This wasn’t the time to be shy, which I’m not. It was time to feel and experience all Faith was willing to give. And she knew exactly what to do.
She kissed that soft spot where my lips meet my inner thigh, then ran her tongue over the path of her kisses. She explored me with soft, trembling fingers and eyes filled with hunger.
I was in agony and ecstasy at the same time. I didn’t want her to stop, but I needed her to touch me, kiss me, lick me. My hips rose instinctively anytime her mouth got close. Finally, she granted my wish, my desire, my need, and she swiped her tongue over my clit.
She had me so wound up I had to clench my jaw and ball my fists not to come. I needed release, my body begging for it, but I knew Faith wasn’t done, and I wanted this to go on forever. Stroke after agonizing stroke, Faith expertly took me higher and higher until I was dizzy with need. I moved toward a bright light in the distance until it exploded in front of me. I cried out, my hips bucking in orgasm. I grabbed Faith’s head and ground my clit into her. My climax was so powerful, I felt like I was coming out of my skin. Out of control, I rode wave after wave of pleasure until I lay spent and breathless on the sheet.
Gasping to breathe,
I felt Faith straddle my leg and rock against me. Her clit was hard and her breasts within reach. I raised up and pulled a tight nipple into my mouth. Faith moaned again and pushed harder against me.
She tangled her fingers in my hair as she held my mouth against her breast. Her pace quickened, and mine mirrored hers. The idea of a woman pleasuring herself makes me crazy, and in an instant, I was ready to come again.
Faith rode my leg like it was the last orgasm of her life, and I let her. She called my name several times and begged me not to stop. I had no problem giving her exactly what she needed.
***
The ringing of a cell phone woke me. It was still dark, and I rolled over to reach for it, thinking it was one of my managers. I bumped against a warm body and immediately remembered where I was and who was answering the phone beside me.
“Hello.”
Faith’s voice was just above a whisper. I looked over her shoulder to the digital clock on the table. Less than an hour since she fell asleep in my arms. A little more than twelve hours since we closed the hotel room door behind us. Between then and now we’d made love at least a dozen times, with countless orgasms between us. God, I loved being a woman and making love with a woman. Orgasms could be endless. We’d ordered room service somewhere around eight last night, and now it was almost six. I snuggled behind her.
“No. I’m not on till nine.”
I heard a male voice on the other end of the conversation but couldn’t make out what he was saying. It wasn’t any of my business anyway.
“No, François. I can’t. “
Faith listened, her body stiffening and tense.
“I made plans.”
Did those plans include this?
“I’m sorry, François. It’s really none of your business with whom or where. I’ll be at work at nine like the schedule shows.”
Someone on the Escape was obviously hassling Faith. I wanted to take the phone from her and tell this jerk to leave her alone.
“You can’t do that, François.” Faith sat up, the covers spilling off her and pooling on the bed around her waist. The bathroom light was on, casting a soft warm glow into the predawn room.
“If you changed the schedule after I left the ship and didn’t notify me, you can’t expect me to know that.”
Faith’s voice was angry, a tone I’d never heard before.
“Don’t do it, François. No, I’m not threatening you. I’m trying to save you from embarrassment if this goes to the area supervisor or Captain Waverly.”
More talking was coming from Faith’s caller, the voice raised and abrupt. Faith, though not happy, remained calm and professional.
“No, François, it’s not that I won’t. I can’t. Even if I could, I’m at least an hour away.”
I sat up, pulling the pillows against the headboard behind my back. I tugged the sheet up over my breasts, not because I was suddenly shy, but because the room was cool. Sometime during the evening we’d turned the thermostat down, our bodies hot with passion.
“Yes, François. That’s my final answer. I’ll see you at nine. Good-bye.”
Faith punched the red button on her phone and let her head drop, her shoulders slumping.
“I take it everything is not okay?” No shit, Sherlock, I thought. That’s pretty obvious. It took several moments before Faith replied.
“No, but it will be.”
“Anything I can do?”
Faith looked over her shoulder at me. Her hair was mussed, fatigue in her eyes. She had that just-fucked look about her, and, feeling like a cad, I wanted to do it again.
“Or did I already do it?” I asked, addressing the elephant in the room. Faith continued to study me. I wished I could read her mind.
“No, nothing you can do, and you didn’t do anything,” she said, sounding defeated. She got out of bed and headed toward the bathroom.
I heard the water run for a few minutes before the door opened and she walked toward me. I was surprised she was still naked. I had expected her to have on one of the white, fluffy robes hanging behind the door.
Faith stopped at the foot of the bed. She was beautiful, exquisite, standing in front of me completely comfortable. I kept my eyes on hers, even though I wanted to pull her back into bed. This wasn’t the time.
“I take that back,” she said, her voice strong. “You did do something.”
My heart leapt into my throat. Yep, here it comes. The rebuke, the chastisement, the blame.
“You made me feel wonderful. You did exactly what I asked you to.” She blushed a becoming shade of pink. “And more than a few things I didn’t. I have,” she looked at the clock, “two hours and twenty-five minutes until I have to be back. And I want you to do it to me all over again.”
Who was I to say no?
Chapter Twenty-four
I didn’t want to think about what was going to happen when we got back on the ship. No one could know that Lowe and I had spent the night together, certainly not yesterday afternoon and this morning until thirty minutes ago, exploring everything two people could do to each other. I’m sure we left a few things out but…
“Would you like to stop for some breakfast?” Lowe asked.
We were getting close to the ship, passing several cafés and small bistros.
I wasn’t hungry, my stomach in knots about what was sure to be a confrontation with François. Pulling myself together was the first on my to-do list, followed by putting on my game face for work. If François pushed his position that I was AWOL for my early a.m. shift, I’d request the supervisor pull the e-records of the schedule changes. I’m all for personal accountability, but I’d checked the schedule right before I disembarked. It was no different than it had been for the past three days. I had an impeccable record, and his power play was not going to blemish it. I wasn’t ready to think where my dalliance with Lowe fit in. What is it they say, no blood, no foul? It’s not against the law if you don’t get caught? That was just an excuse for bad behavior, and I’d have to deal with the consequences when they came up.
“No,” I said, probably too sharply. “I have to get back.” Seeing my way out of an awkward situation, I said, “But you go ahead. I have to check in and get ready for work.”
I picked up my pace and tried hard not to run to the gangplank of the Escape. I knew Lowe must be confused at my complete one-eighty-degree turn-about. For the past eighteen hours I’d been on her, under her, and inside her. Now I was practically pretending those hours didn’t exist and we were again almost strangers. How fucked up was that?
I waved my badge across the reader at the base of the walkway. Not only did I receive a green light indicating I was authorized to board, but I also had to deal with the knowing look of Raul, who was on duty at that station.
“Don’t say it,” I said, putting my hand up.
“I don’t have to. That red mark on your neck says it all.”
My legs froze, and I wrapped both hands around my neck. Holy Christ. If I had a hickey, François would blow a French gasket.
Raul burst out laughing. “Busted,” he said, almost doubling over, he was laughing so hard.
“You bastard,” I said, more relieved than angry. He was my ship BFF after all.
“François is looking for you.” He’d stopped laughing and was suddenly serious.
“I know. I need a shower before I deal with him.” I’d had one before we left the hotel, but Lowe had joined me, and we’d used every drop of hot water. I needed to wash away any residual traces of the woman who had taken control of my body and my mind. No. That wasn’t right. I’d willingly given her my body, and my mind was lost on my own.
“Well, he’s prowling around the deck, so I suggest you take the back stairs.”
“Thanks. I owe you.” I kissed him on his scratchy cheek.
“The only thing you owe me is the complete details over a bottle of beer.”
“It’ll take at least a case,” I said over my shoulder, and Raul’s whistle follow
ed me to the stairs.
***
What in the hell just happened, I thought as Faith left me standing alone in the middle of the sidewalk. After the most mind-blowing, sexually satisfying night of my life, I’d been…what…cast off like a one-night stand?
I could handle that if that’s what it was, but I certainly thought it was more than that. I thought Faith had believed so as well. Obviously, she was in some kind of hot water with that François guy on the phone. Maybe she didn’t want him seeing us together, which might aggravate the situation even more. I’d have to ask her about it later, but my gut told me I might have a hard time even finding her.
My stomach growled, and I took Faith up on her suggestion that I have breakfast. We didn’t depart until two this afternoon, so I had plenty of time to sit and enjoy the warm sunshine.
A very attractive waitress took my order and winked at me before moving on to the next table. Did every woman in this country get an email to hit on me? Not that I minded, but where were they on my last trip?
For the next hour I drank several cups of coffee and nibbled on my breakfast. It was tasty, but every time I thought of Faith, which was practically the entire time, my stomach tingled. And when images of her as we made love flashed in my brain, I completely lost my appetite for food.
Faith had been insatiable. Actually, we both were, our coupling fast, almost furious, then slow and languid. We laughed, giggled like schoolgirls, whispered each other’s names, and begged for release. We talked about everything and nothing and, most of the time, didn’t say anything at all, our bodies speaking for us.
One particular time Faith had straddled me, her warm, wet center pressed against my stomach. Slowly she rocked against me, her eyes closed. I reached for her, but she brushed my hands away, using her own to tweak her nipples. Clearly I was to be an observer. Her head dropped back, exposing her long neck, her long hair caressing my thighs like a feather.
