Ice (25 page)

Like all women, Maggie had erogenous zones, but her list had grown under the ministrations of Alex’s mouth, tongue and hands. It seemed to her that Alex had uncovered several more in only the past week, and lost in the feel of sensual rubdown, when Alex urged her backward, Maggie willingly rested her hands on the mattress behind her.

With Maggie arched above her, Alex had the best of all worlds. Her hands covered Maggie’s breasts, her fingers pinching and pulling at her taut nipples, while within a mere inch or two, feminine pleats of pink, glistening with want, lay waiting to be tasted.

Entranced by Alex’s hands, it wasn’t until Maggie felt warm breath between her legs that her eyes flew open wide. Filling her lungs with air, they emptied just as quickly when she felt Alex’s tongue lap against her sex. Instincts told Maggie to move forward, and forward she moved, brazenly offering herself to Alex to do with what she wanted, and Alex did just that.

Running her tongue from Maggie’s center to her clit and back again, Alex was almost nonchalant in her approach. Wanting to delay the inevitable for as long as possible, she casually licked the folds, wiggling and darting her tongue into every crevice. Suckling on engorged flesh, she nuzzled and burrowed her face into Maggie’s most secret places, feasting on the delights of the woman she loved.

As Alex plundered, Maggie undulated above her. Matching the ebb and flow of Alex’s mouth with that of her hips, Maggie rocked against Alex’s tongue, and with each probe, Maggie moaned a breathy, “Yes.”

Things primitive and feral had invaded Maggie’s soul, and her body moved like a wave, rising and falling in sheer abandon as Alex took her to nirvana. As Alex had predicted, Maggie gave instructions when Alex moved too quickly past a spot needing attention, and reaching down, Maggie guided her back. “There…I need you there,” she said in a whisper. “Oh, sweetheart…please go…please go deeper.”

With one final pinch of nipples, distended and hard, Alex brought her fingers to Maggie’s lower lips and spread them wide. Exposing her center, dripping with want, Alex flicked her tongue at the opening, and Maggie promptly lost control.

Pushing herself off the mattress, Maggie sat up for barely a second before she leaned forward and grabbed the iron rail of the bed. Grinding her sex against Alex’s tongue, her legs began to tremble as her orgasm started to build. “I want you inside, Alex…please…please…oh, God, now.”

Maggie had expected fingers, twin probes that would take her to ecstasy, but when she felt Alex’s tongue push into her, she almost came on the spot. “Oh, my God,” she screamed, grabbing Alex by the hair to keep her in place. “Oh, you’re…you’re…amazing.”

Gluttonous in her assault, Alex moved her tongue in and out, and then circled the opening before starting again. Maggie’s gyrations grew more uninhibited as Alex pushed her tongue as far as she could. Knowing that Maggie needed it deeper, Alex replaced her tongue with two fingers, and Maggie’s groans of pleasure grew louder.

Thrusting into Maggie, Alex buried her fingers to the hilt and then began stroking Maggie with fervor, twisting her fingers with every plunge she made. Over and over, Alex pushed into her and Maggie matched Alex’s tempo, raising and lowering her body, and taking all that Alex could give until her legs began to quiver. Feeling the trembling, Alex slowed her fingers for only a moment, the pause giving her time to uncover Maggie’s clit, and as she sank her fingers again, she flicked her tongue over the swollen button, and seconds later, the room was filled with the sound of Maggie’s orgasm.

Jean Campbell glanced at the clock on the wall again. Letting out a sigh, she heard the coffeemaker finally go quiet, and pouring herself a cup of the steaming brew, she walked to the kitchen table. She had barely slumped into a chair when she heard the front door open. Going to investigate, she let out a breath of relief seeing that her husband had finally returned.

“How was your walk?” she asked, watching as he removed his jacket. “I was starting to worry. It’s been a few hours.”

“Sorry. I lost track of time.”

“Apparently.”    

“I just needed some time to think,” Douglas said quietly, walking to the kitchen.

“Coffee is made, but if you prefer tea, I’ll make you some.”

“No, coffee’s fine. Thanks,” he said, grabbing the pot and quickly filling a mug. Wrapping his hands around the ceramic to warm them, he sat at the table and looked up at his wife. “Where’s Maggie?”

“Alex called. She went over to see her.”

“So much for worrying about me.”

“It was my idea. I thought it would give us some time to talk.”

“Oh.”

“So, do you want to talk?”

“What’s there to talk about?” Douglas said, running his fingers through his hair. “My daughter
thinks
she’s in love with a woman. I’ve never tried to run her life, so until she comes to her senses, I’ve just got to stand by and watch her make a total fool of herself!”

Sitting down next to her husband, Jean reached across and took his hand. “Douglas, she’s in love with Alex. This isn’t some…some experiment. It’s the real thing.”

“Oh, you’re daft!” he blurted. “And how in the hell would you know that anyway?”

Amused by her husband’s incredulous expression, Jean said, “Because when Maggie says Alex’s name, she gets a certain look in her eye. It’s the same one that, over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing in her father’s eyes.”

“Jean—”

“Let me finish, Douglas,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I know that you love me, but the look I see in Maggie’s eyes when she talks about Alex is the same look you get…when you talk about her mother.”

Instantly, Doug’s head snapped up, his green eyes staring back at his wife in shock as the color drained from his face. “Jean—”

“It’s all right, darling,” she said, offering her husband a soft smile. “Like I said, I’ve had years to get used to it.”

“I do love you, Jean,” he whispered, holding her hand tightly. “You’ve got to know that.”

“I do, but I’m not the love of your life.”

“And you think this…this
woman
is Maggie’s?”

“I know she is,” Jean said. “Doug, surely you noticed how jovial Maggie was at the airport. She almost died up in that cabin, yet she steps off a plane as if she just came back from her honeymoon. She’s walking on air, and that smile that she wears was put there by a woman. A woman named Alex Blake. All you need to do is see her eyes when she talks about Alex, and you’ll know I’m right.”

“She’s only ever dated men,” Douglas said flatly. “Why did she keep this a secret?”

“I don’t think she did, at least not consciously.”

“I know that your views have always been open about things like this, but this is my daughter we’re talking about. I’m just worried that…that…damn it, Jean, the world can be a cruel place at times.”

“I agree, so I don’t think that parents should add to the cruelty, do you?”

His eyes filled with tears, and he nodded his head. Leaning back in his chair, he finished what remained of his coffee and then looked at his wife. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“It’ll take some time getting used to.”

“I would think so.”

“So what now?”

“Well, I think that you and I should go out and get some take-away, and then go over to Alex’s flat and get to know her.”

“What!”

“Doug, it took a great deal of courage for Maggie to tell us about this, and I think we should take the next step.”

“That’s one hell of a step, don’t you think?” he grumbled, all the while knowing that his wife was smarter than him in so many ways.

“Not if we take it together.”

***

They had dozed, then showered, then dozed again, and the afternoon was lost to love and dreams. Sandy had visited once or twice, scampering up for attention as her pups slept soundly in the pen, and both women had cooed at her kisses and giggled at her insistence to receive more scratches behind the ears.

Returning from the kitchen with two bottles of water, Alex slid between the sheets and handed one to Maggie. “So let me get this straight. You got rid of Glenn
and
told your father about us?”

Quickly taking a gulp from the bottle, Maggie placed it on the nightstand and rolled on top of Alex. “If there’s one thing you need to learn about me, sweetheart, it’s that when I make up my mind to do something, I do it.”

“Yeah,” Alex said, leering at Maggie’s breasts pressed against her own. “I seem to remember a night not too long ago when you did exactly the same thing.”

A sexy chuckle slipped from Maggie’s lips as she shifted a bit, and when her leg made it between Alex’s, Alex said, “You’d best be careful, darling, or you’re going to start something, that I’m going to finish…again.”

Smiling, Maggie rolled to the side. “Better?”

“Not exactly, but it’ll do for now,” Alex said. Thinking for a moment, she asked, “Do you think there’s a need for us to have two flats?”

Maggie’s eyes opened wide. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“I’d actually like to ask you to marry me, but I realize that may be a bit presumptuous. So, I thought that living together might be a less scary proposition.”

“Are you serious?”

“About shacking up or getting married?”

“Both.”

“Yes.”

Sitting up, Maggie stared back at Alex. “Now who’s moving fast?”

“Me,” Alex said with a grin. “Look, I know that there is a plethora of lesbian jokes out there about bringing a moving van on the first date, but this isn’t a joke. This is real. This is how I feel and what I want. You’re not the only one that fell in love three years ago – remember? But if you want to wait, that’s fine. I understand.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Okay?”

“Do you want children?”

Laughing out loud, Alex said, “I can’t tell you how many jokes there are about
that
subject in the lesbian journals of comedy.”

“I’m serious. I want to know,” Maggie said cautiously.

Hearing a hint of worry in Maggie’s tone, Alex sat up. Studying her face, Alex reached over and held Maggie’s hand. “Yes, I do…as long as they’re yours.”

Maggie’s face lit up, and leaning over, their lips met in a slow, tender kiss. “Ask me again,” Maggie said as she pulled away.

“Ask you about moving in…or getting married?”

“Actually, it doesn’t matter.”

“No?”

“The answer will be yes to both.”

Smiling wide, Alex leaned back against the pillow, gazing at the woman she loved. The sheet had dropped enough that Maggie’s chest was exposed, and Alex unconsciously licked her lips at the sight of nipples in desperate need of a nibble.

“You’re incorrigible,” Maggie said, covering her chest with the sheet.

“No, I’m not. I'm horny, and in case you’re wondering, I so want to have you again like I had you earlier.”

Maggie’s mouth dropped open and laughing, Alex said, “What? I’m just being honest.”

“Yes, and your honesty can be quite unnerving at times. I just need to get used to you speaking your mind.”

“Does it bother you?”

“No, it’s just…it’s just…I need to get dressed,” Maggie said, fighting the urge to give Alex what she wanted.

After placing a quick kiss on Alex’s lips and successfully avoiding her wandering hands, Maggie jumped out of bed. Grabbing Alex’s knickers from the floor, she tossed them into her outstretched hands, and then proceeded to gather her own clothes from around the room.

Paying no attention to Alex, Maggie stepped into her knickers and took her bra from the chair. Pulling the straps over her shoulders, she looked up to see that Alex was now wearing knickers, but absolutely nothing else. Stretched across the sheets, her arms folded behind her head, Alex seemed quite comfortable in ogling Maggie as she got dressed. Their eyes met for a moment, and Maggie instantly blushed. Alex didn’t need to say a word; the intensity of her glare said it all.

Noticing Maggie’s heated cheeks, Alex asked, “Am I embarrassing you?”

“Yes…I mean no,” Maggie stuttered, fumbling with the clasp. “I just keep thinking that by the time I get this thing on,
you’ll
be taking it off.”

Laughing, Alex swung her legs off the bed and strode over to Maggie. Spinning her around, Alex fastened the clasp. “The thought had crossed my mind,” she admitted as she spun Maggie back around. “But I could use some food, and I really need to take Sandy for a walk.”

Giving Maggie a quick peck on the cheek, Alex grabbed her clothes and got dressed, looking up to see that Maggie was now leering in her direction.

“Hey, when I get back, what say you and I go out and get something to eat?” Alex asked, pulling on her boots.

“Sounds like a plan.”

Trying her best not to step on the tiny terrier dancing around her ankles, Alex walked out of the room, and a few seconds later, Maggie chuckled, hearing the non-stop yapping coming from the front room. “Demanding like your mother, I see,” Maggie said to herself, zipping up her jeans.

Tidying the bedroom, she checked on the pups and then made her way to the kitchen to find something to quiet her growling stomach. Opening the fridge, she snorted at its emptiness. Unless she wanted dog food or a beer, she was out of luck. Opening a few cabinets, she continued to come up empty, and when she heard the doorbell ring, she smiled. Believing that Alex had forgotten her key, Maggie padded to the door. Deciding to pay back Alex for earlier, Maggie yanked the door open as fast as she could, and her jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Dad! Jean! What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

“Well, your father and I were getting a bit hungry, so we picked up some Chinese take-away,” Jean said, glancing at her husband to see if he wanted to join in the conversation. Seeing that his eyes were focused solely on the floor, Jean continued, “And we thought what better time to invite ourselves over to meet Alex than now. I hope you don’t mind.”

“What? How—”

“You left her address on the paper in the kitchen,” Jean explained. “Can we come in?”