Chapter 1
"That....oh Carol, that feels.....that'll leave.....a very......nasty mark in the morning." Therese was panting and gasping for air as Carol's lips continued to suck hard on the side of the younger woman's neck just below the jawline.
In the next few moments, Carol brought her to yet another climax and they collapsed onto the king sized bed, their limbs tangled together.
They lay facing each other feeling nothing but completeness.
FIVE MONTHS AGO
"I'll have to inform Mrs. Hensdale. I don't remember what the lease agreement stipulates but I'll let her know first thing tomorrow," said Therese without making eye contact with Carol.
"Therese, you do know you don't have to worry about paying for any penalty due to the breach of contract. I'll take care of it."
Therese gave a quick nod and headed for the door.
"I'll walk you out but you'll call me the moment you get home? I mean it's late...I just need to know you're safe," said Carol, her voice slightly quivering with uncertainty.
"Of course."
Surprisingly they didn't have to wait in the cold for too long when a taxi slowly turned into the corner of Madison. Carol stepped out onto the street and hailed it over.
She reluctantly gave Therese a hug and ushered the younger woman into the cab.
As the vehicle gradually disappeared from her sight, her heart felt as empty as the streets of New York at that time of the night, and she was left to wonder if this hollow feeling was going to be the norm every time she had to part with Therese. But she knew, deep within her, she knew Therese was worth it. Worth the agony. Worth the wait. Worth treading into the unknown for.
In the backseat of the cab, Therese felt relieved after all the tension that had built up since the afternoon meeting with Carol at the Ritz Tower. For it was now clear to her, all that she had endured, and all the answers she had been trying to put together all those months ago. All those months of sleepless nights, of tears during the most inopportune times, of not eating properly, of not doing anything right, were all worth it. Because Carol was worth it.