Friday morning
A shrill sound jerked Therese from a dreamless sleep. Cursing, she searched for her phone on the nightstand. She answered it just before it switched to voicemail.
“Good morning, sunshine!” Dannie’s voice sounded way too cheerful. Therese groaned.
“Not now, Dannie.”
“Not up yet? Do you know what time it is, even in Uuuutaaah.”
“Oh, shut up, loser.”
Dannie laughed, undeterred by his friend’s cranky reply.
“Ah, let me guess… Madame is not alone!”
In spite of her initial grumpy reaction, Therese now smiled into the phone.
“Indeed, so will you please hang up?”
He whistled admiringly, but gave in to her plea.
“OK, but call me later, you lucky dog.”
Therese switched off the phone and gently laid it down again, trying not to wake the woman lying next to her. In her sleep Carol looked younger, untroubled, vulnerable. With her finger Therese carefully traced the fine lines that circled her eyes. Like this, without makeup and her ever elegant clothes, Carol was even more beautiful to her.
They had not left the gala together. Carol and Harge were expected at a late supper with the Governor and his wife, so Therese was taken back to the guesthouse by Jeannette. Once inside, she had cleared the small apartment and changed the sheets of the bed. After that she had exchanged her suit for a t-shirt and tight jeans. Then there was nothing else to do but wait.
It was way past midnight when Therese, by then convinced Carol would not come to her after all, heard a soft knock on the door. She had left the door ajar and when Carol entered Therese had crossed the room in only a few strides, taking the blond woman, now dressed in a simple white shirt and chinos, in her arms.
“Thank God, you’re here. I was so afraid you had changed your mind.”
Holding her close, Carol rested her chin on Therese’s hair.
“I’m so sorry. It was impossible to get away earlier.”
It had taken all her self-control to sit through the supper, to be, even now, the charming wife of the young and ambitious senator-to-be. She could sense Harge’s unease, but he too had managed to stick to his part.
Afterwards, sitting in the back seat of the Governor’s car that would bring them home, they had both been quiet. It was only when they neared the house that Harge had put his hand on her arm, saying,
“Carol, we need to talk.”
She had touched his hand briefly, as if to comfort him.
“I know. But please, not now. Not tonight.”
He nodded, knowing she would speak with him when she was ready for it.
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Therese caressed Carol’s forehead and then sifted with her fingers through her lustrous, blond curls. How was it possible that Carol was with her, here in this bed? They had only known each other for a short time. How could they be so sure about this? Therese was still astounded by the force of their feelings and the intensity of their lovemaking, of which her body now bore the visible marks.
Their initial embrace had seamlessly turned into a deep and passionate kiss that had sent shockwaves through their bodies. Therese had slowly undressed Carol, then leading her to the bedroom, where the bedside lamp cast a soft light on the white sheets. Sitting on the bed, she drew Carol down, astride her. Trembling, Carol rested her head on Therese’s shoulder, clinging to her in anticipation of her hand that slowly made its way from her breasts to her inner thighs, finding the wetness there, enveloping her fingers. Carol gasped when Therese entered her, her body eagerly responding to the swift thrusts that soon carried her to the edge … and over it.
Therese lowered Carol to the bed, an arm around her shoulder, gently putting a pillow under her head. Carol’s hand closed around Therese’s wrist when she started to withdraw her fingers that were still inside her.
“No, please stay.”
With her other hand she pulled Therese’s face to her to look into the emerald eyes that were filled with desire.
“I’ve wanted you to do this to me ever since we first kissed.”
Therese smiled, teasingly moving her hand, making Carol gasp again.
“Is that so, Mrs. Aird? Would you like me to do it again?”
Carol closed her eyes.
“God, yes.”
And Therese had humoured her, firmly taking possession of her writhing body by stroking and kissing it until her mouth joined her hand and found and tasted the essence that was Carol.
Afterwards they lay in each other’s arms, savouring this newfound intimacy, until Carol noticed that Therese was still in her jeans and t-shirt. Rolling her over onto her back, she pressed Therese into the mattress and straddled her legs. Therese held her breath, mesmerized by the almost luminescent beauty of the woman who had given herself to her so willingly.
“You are so beautiful.”
Carol smiled, a shy smile. She brought her hand to Therese’s eyes, covering them.
”Only for you.”
With her other hand Carol reached for the waistband of Therese’s jeans, slipping under it. Therese felt Carol’s hand move slowly in the tight space between the soft flesh of her belly and the fabric of her jeans and underwear. She moaned, her hips rising, desperately wanting Carol to touch her.
“Carol, please…”
Carol stopped, gently stroking soft tufts of hair.
“Mm. What did you say?”
Therese grunted.
“Take me. Please take me.”
“By all means, Miss Belivet.”
Slowly entering her, Carol chuckled, determined to make Therese want her, and her alone.
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In her sleep, Carol stirred and shifted, her naked back now turned to Therese. With her hand, Therese traced the marks she had left on Carol’s shoulders. Carol had been a tender lover, eager and thoughtful, at times a tease. This unexpected playfulness had enchanted Therese, making her aware of yet another side of this complex woman.
She was acutely aware of the fact that she would have to go back to New York tomorrow, leaving Carol and whatever existed between them behind. Where would they go from here? How did she fit into Carol’s life? Could Carol be a part of hers? What did Carol want, now that they had shared this night, finally giving in to the strong physical attraction that had consumed them from the moment their eyes had met in the airport terminal?
She sighed, knowing they would have to talk later that day. But for now she wanted to savour this moment and the comfort of her saturated body, the softness of the sheets that smelled of their lovemaking, the sunlight that fell on the hair of her beautiful lover, setting it on fire. Yawning, she shifted her body, putting her arm around Carol, pulling her close and hiding her nose in the soft hairs in her neck. For now, Therese just wanted to be happy.