One Way or Another

by A. L. Brooks

  Bethany chuckled, kissed Sarah, and walked over to her allotted workstation.

  Jonathan tasked Sarah with laying the table, and the three of them hummed along to the radio while they worked. When Evelyn appeared, the click of her walking stick on the flagstones announcing her presence, her tut was so loud it was audible above the music.

  “Must we have that racket on, especially on a Sunday morning?”

  “Sorry, dear,” Jonathan said, and immediately switched the station to classical.

  “Oh, Beethoven,” Bethany said, a smile instantly forming on her lips. “Symphony no. 6. Lovely.”

  All sound behind her ceased. She turned to find three pairs of eyes staring at her.

  “You know your classical music,” Evelyn said quietly.

  Bethany blushed. “I…I do. My dad loved it and introduced me to it from an early age.”

  “I am a patron of the Wigmore Hall and regularly attend their lunchtime and evening concerts. Perhaps we could go together for certain performances?” Evelyn said, easing herself into a chair at the kitchen table.

  Bethany stared. “R-really? Oh, Evelyn, that would be fantastic! Thank you. Thank you very much.”

  Evelyn nodded, smiling.

  Bethany caught Sarah’s eye and blushed at the look she found there—it was intense and tender, and she trembled at the power of it. They held each other’s gaze for some moments, and only Jonathan’s gentle clearing of his throat broke them out of it.

  “Well,” he said, his voice a croak, “I think we’re about ready to dish up, if that toast is done?” He took his pan off the heat and tipped the scrambled eggs into a serving dish.

  Bethany blinked and came back to herself. “Um, yes, I have four slices ready at least.”

  “That will get us started,” Evelyn said. “If we wait any longer this will be lunch, not breakfast.”

  By the time they finished eating, Bethany’s emotions were so high she knew she was in danger of crying. The interactions between Sarah, Jonathan, and Evelyn were a joy to watch—the love they all had for each other was clear to see. Equally, the tenderness with which both Jonathan and Evelyn—despite her sometimes gruff nature—questioned Bethany about herself and her life really touched her.

  They retired to the garden for coffee after their meal. It was blissful outside—the warm sun bathed the courtyard in bright, golden light; sparrows flitted across the tops of the walls, chirping loudly and the wood pigeons perched in the treetops nearby cooed their repetitive call.

  “This garden is amazing, Evelyn,” Bethany observed.

  “Thank you. It is my pride and joy. Well, after Sarah, of course.”

  Sarah blushed and her eyes glistened. “Thank you,” she said, her hand shaking as she placed her coffee cup back down on the table in front of her.

  “I am very happy to see you so happy,” Evelyn said. She reached out a hand and Sarah took it.

  Bethany could see the emotion on both their faces and sighed as Jonathan surreptitiously handed her a tissue.

  “You too?” she said to him as she turned to nod her thanks.

  “Always, whenever these two iron defences open up,” he whispered, gesturing at Sarah and Evelyn, who were now simply holding hands and looking anywhere but at each other. “Gets me every time.”

  Bethany nodded. “I’m so glad she has Evelyn. And you.”

  “You care about her a great deal, don’t you?”

  She flushed. “I do. I know it’s early and probably too soon but we just…connect, and we have done—more or less,” she said, with a wry smile, “since I first plucked up the courage to call her and meet with her.”

  “She never did tell us where you two met.”

  She flushed all the way down to her chest. “Let’s save that for another time.”

  Jonathan made to protest and she glared at him.

  “Whoa,” he said, holding his hands up. “Okay, Miss Feisty, I will withdraw. But I won’t forget this is unanswered, madam.”

  He wagged a finger, and Bethany grinned.

  She and Sarah left after coffee, but only after Evelyn had insisted on giving Bethany a slow tour of her beloved garden.

  They took a cab back to Sarah’s, having already agreed that Bethany would spend the night there before heading home in the morning when Sarah had to get up for work.

  “Did you enjoy yourself?” Sarah asked as the cab pulled away after dropping them at the kerb outside her flat.

  “Oh, Sarah, I had an amazing time! They are both so lovely, and watching you with them was really touching.”

  Sarah smiled. “Well, they love you, just like you said they would.”

  “And you seemed to be totally okay with how things went, yes?”

  “I was! I still can’t quite believe it, but yeah, nothing about that freaked me out. Amazing.”

  “Good. Because soon I’d like you to meet my mum, okay?”

  Sarah whipped her head round. “Really?” she squeaked.

  Bethany laughed. “Yes, really.” She kissed Sarah. “You can do it. I know you can.”

  Sarah’s smile was almost a grimace, and Bethany chuckled as she pulled her into a one-armed hug.

  Sarah swivelled in her chair and gazed out of the window. There was no help for it, she just couldn’t concentrate on her work today. Somehow she couldn’t get the enormous grin off her face, nor could she shove away the images of Bethany that insisted on parading at the front of her mind’s eye all the live long day. Bethany as she smiled. Bethany naked beneath her. Even better—Bethany above her, tying Sarah to the bed and commanding her to give Bethany everything she wanted…

  She shook her head. This was nowhere she’d ever imagined she’d be, but now she was here, she couldn’t imagine never having it. Bethany had literally turned her life upside down and it was the most fantastic thing that had ever happened to her.

  As if conjured up by Sarah’s thoughts, her mobile rang, and Bethany’s name displayed on the caller ID.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” Sarah said upon answering, thankful that Roy was not in today and she could talk freely at her desk.

  “Hi, how’s your morning going?”

  “I haven’t got a thing done. For some reason, I can’t seem to concentrate.”

  Bethany chuckled softly, filling Sarah with warmth. “I know what you mean. I’m supposed to be baking some bread to freeze for the Cornwall trip next week and I’ve got nowhere with that.”

  “It feels good, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, it really does.”

  They were silent for a moment, then Bethany continued, “So, I sort of had this idea. And if it’s too soon, it’s okay, okay?”

  “Uh-huh…” Sarah wondered what was coming next, but she had a pretty good idea.

  “So, as you know, I’m off to Cornwall on Sunday morning, and I wondered if you might like to come to dinner at mine on Saturday night, and…meet my mum?”

  Sarah swallowed, and although her heart rate picked up, she answered, “I think that’s a great idea,” and was proud when her voice only held the barest hint of a croak.

  “Really?” Bethany sounded shocked.

  “Yes,” Sarah said, laughing, “really. If you can survive my two, I’m sure I can handle your mother.”

  “Well, that’s…that’s great!”

  Realisation dawned. “You didn’t think I’d agree, did you?”

  Bethany chuckled. “Er, no, actually.”

  Sarah laughed louder. “Brilliant, I’ve outwitted you for once. I am chair dancing right now.”

  “Okay, okay, enjoy your little victory. I’m sure I can think of a way to pay you back.” Bethany’s voice had dropped that octave that made it husky, and sexy, and promised things that would make her scream with pleasure.

  Sarah shivered and her eyes lost focus. “Oh, God, th
e minute you say stuff like that I become jelly.”

  “Hm, I do like to make you tremble, that’s true.”

  “I am so not getting any work done now.”

  Bethany sighed. “Me neither. I may have just outfoxed myself.”

  Sarah sniggered. “Serves you right. So, are we still on for Covent Garden tonight? I will try very hard to get away by seven.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll have a mooch in the shops along Long Acre and you just text me when you’re on your way.”

  “Deal. I…I can’t wait to see you again.” There were so many firsts for Sarah with Bethany, and every time she hit one, like saying those words just now, a thrill of excitement, not fear, ran through her.

  “Me too,” Bethany whispered. “Bye.”

  Sarah put her phone down on her desk and leaned back in her chair. She was buzzing. Being with Bethany was the best drug ever. Now she got what all the fuss was about, why Jonathan had lamented all these years over Sarah denying herself the chance for love.

  Love?

  She trembled. Yes, she supposed that was where she was heading.

  Wow. Who’d have thought?

  Her phone buzzed with a text message and she smiled as she read Jonathan’s words.

  I have the night off on Thursday. Drinks when you finish work? I might even go so far as to buy you dinner. Need to hear all the latest with your big romance :)

  She replied with a ‘yes’ in capital letters and put the phone back down on her desk. She really ought to get some work done now…

  But someone whistling nearby caught her attention and she turned in her chair. It was Scott, and suddenly she knew how she could get the two men in her life to finally meet.

  Well, this is new territory for you, Sarah Connolly—from one-night stands to matchmaker. She nearly laughed out loud.

  “Hey, Scott!” she called before he could disappear.

  He turned, grinned, and walked her way. “Hey, you. Tell me, are we still floating on cloud nine?”

  Sarah laughed. “I think I’m at level thirty-two by now.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, rub it in why don’t you.”

  “So,” she continued, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her nervousness. “I was wondering if you were free on Thursday night? I’m going out for drinks with a friend and wondered if you’d like to join us.”

  He tilted his head. “A friend? This wouldn’t happen to be your one and only gay friend, would it?”

  Damn, he’s good.

  She raised her hands. “Okay, okay, you got me. But please, trust me on this. Jonathan is someone I have known for years and I love him to pieces. He’s steady, romantic, very caring, and handsome. Not rich, but you can’t have it all.” When Scott took a half step back she stood and clasped her hands together. “Please, Scott, I’m doing this because I genuinely think you two have a lot in common. Just one drink, that’s all I’m asking.”

  He looked away for a moment, then exhaled a long breath before raising his gaze to meet hers.

  “All right. One drink.” He shook his head. “Don’t make me regret this, Connolly,” he said, wagging a finger in her face.

  “You won’t,” she said, smiling from ear to ear. “Trust me.”

  Chapter 19

  “How did you get Jonathan to agree to that?” Bethany asked as she took the glass of wine Sarah handed her. “I thought he was against another work setup?”

  Sarah grinned. “I cheated. I got Evelyn involved. You know what she’s like—persistent is her middle name. She outwitted all of the arguments he had against it and he capitulated in record time. You know what, it’s never occurred to me before now, but she would have made a great lawyer.”

  “I bet! So, have you heard from him since they went off to dinner together? Do you know if it went well?”

  “Well, given how coy he was acting when I called earlier today, I’d say yes.”

  “Coy? Wouldn’t he be shouting from the rooftops?”

  Sarah shook her head. “No, when Jonathan is really keen on someone, he goes all shy, as if he doesn’t want to jinx it somehow. I have very high hopes for him and Scott.”

  “Oh,” Bethany said, her voice catching. “That’s lovely. I don’t like him being alone.”

  “Me neither. And neither does Evelyn.” She chuckled. “God, watching her go to work on him about this was just awesome.”

  Bethany laughed and leaned across the sofa to kiss Sarah, who hummed with pleasure.

  “So, my beautiful girlfriend…” Bethany gasped every time Sarah used that word, and she suspected she did it purely to elicit exactly that response. “We have a Friday night to ourselves. What, I wonder, are we going to do with it?”

  Her wicked grin sent Bethany’s temperature soaring. They hadn’t seen each other since Monday due to various clashing commitments, and Bethany had been on fire all day at the thought of having a long Friday night into Saturday morning with her lover. Especially with a week apart coming up.

  One thought in particular had set her blood sizzling. Sarah had asked her that first night they were together if using a dildo was something she’d want to try, and Bethany had shied away, too nervous of getting it wrong. She’d thought it would take some time to build up the confidence for it, but now, feeling Sarah’s warm body snuggled against hers and remembering how hot Sarah had looked spread-eagled below her last weekend fired up her libido from nought to sixty in 1.5 seconds. The idea of pushing Sarah’s legs apart again, then slipping inside her wearing a dildo, and fucking her slowly yet deeply, had Bethany’s heart rate increasing and her breathing ragged.

  “You okay?” Sarah murmured, looking concerned.

  “Yes,” Bethany breathed. She wanted to ask but didn’t know how.

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. I…”

  It was time for more of that dominance and boldness to come through. She set down her wine glass, her heart pounding and her clit throbbing. She took a deep breath and settled mentally into her role before taking Sarah’s glass from her hand and placing it on the table next to her own. In a swift move that had Sarah gasping, she straddled Sarah’s lap and brought their mouths close.

  “Tonight I want to fuck you,” she said, her voice clear and firm. “I want to strap on, pin you beneath me, and fuck you.”

  Sarah’s long groan made Bethany’s skin erupt in goose bumps.

  “You’d like that, I take it?”

  “Oh, fuck…yes…” Sarah hissed, her eyes wide and locked on Bethany’s. “You…” She swallowed. “Please, Bethany, I want that so much.”

  Sarah’s cheeks were pink, her breathing already ragged, and Bethany didn’t want to wait another minute. Shimmying backwards, she stood and grabbed Sarah’s hand, pulling her up to stand alongside her.

  “Go to the bedroom. Strip and lay on the bed. Legs wide open.” Her voice was husky with the desire that wrapped every inch of her body. Her pussy ached.

  Sarah blinked, then moved. Bethany watched her walk—the sway of her hips, the tightness of her backside—and shivered.

  Oh, yes.

  She followed Sarah and watched from the doorway as Sarah obeyed her commands. As Sarah’s naked body was revealed, inch by inch, Bethany’s mouth became drier and drier. What a glorious sight that was.

  Sarah lay on the bed and her gaze met Bethany’s just as she spread her legs. Her pussy was already wet, that much was obvious even from across the room, and it took all of Bethany’s strength not to sprint over. Instead she strolled, and smiled as Sarah whimpered in anticipation.

  Her skin was prickling as she opened the top drawer of the bedside table. Once again Sarah’s impressive collection of toys stared up at her. Focusing on the dildos, she let her fingers play over them as she tried to choose. They were all silicone, by the feel of them, and of various lengths, thicknesses, and
colours. Knowing she was still a tad nervous about the act, she settled for a purple one that was about six inches long and only just over an inch wide at the base. Nothing too dramatic, but hopefully enough to satisfy.

  Next she pulled a bottle of lube, a condom, and the harness out of the bottom drawer. This was the bit that had her most worried—how the heck did she put it on?

  “Right,” Bethany said, with more confidence than she felt. “I’ll just be a minute.” She walked as nonchalantly as she could towards the bathroom, giving Sarah a smile she hoped was seductive as she passed by.

  Ensconced in the bathroom, she hastily removed her clothes and held up the harness once more.

  Okay, so that has to be the front with the hole for the dildo itself. Four straps. Four? Oh, wait, yes. Okay, got it!

  Quickly, she pushed the two straps that she’d figured out must go round her backside into their D-rings and tightened them. Then she did the same with the other two straps and stepped into the shape they made.

  Okay, this works. Thank God.

  She pushed the dildo through the hole that now sat snug against her trimmed pubic hair, and flushed with arousal as she manoeuvred it into place; looking down at herself with a dildo jutting out from her body, all she could think about was pushing it inside Sarah and fucking her.

  And then she looked up, and her reflection in the large mirror nearly took her breath away. Look at you, Bethany Keane. You look good. More than good.

  Sucking in a deep breath and willing her heart to slow just a little, she pulled open the bathroom door. Sarah was still on her back but her head was turned towards the bathroom, and her expression robbed Bethany of breath. Sarah looked ready, and willing, as if she would do anything Bethany asked of her right now. The sense of responsibility and power that gave Bethany was almost enough to bring her to her knees.

  “You…” Sarah croaked, then cleared her throat and started again. “You look so fucking hot right now, Bethany.”

  Bethany nodded slowly and, drawing up straight, her body now flush with confidence at the effect she was having on Sarah, she pointed to the condom. “Roll that on for me.”