Page 46 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

“Shut up,” replied Nisha, with a giggle, before covering Chrissie’s mouth with her own.

Chrissie moaned, enjoying the sensation of being pressed against the wall. She felt Nisha’s hands explore her waist, her hips, her breasts. She kissed back harder. “It’s going to be murder waking up early in the morning,” she said, breathless.

“I don’t care,” said Nisha, pulling Chrissie’s top off and undoing her bra with one hand.

“Skills,” Chrissie observed, genuinely impressed. It was a three-clasp bra, and usually took her a couple of attempts to undo.

“Thank you,” said Nisha, before bending her lead to kiss Chrissie’s breasts, causing her to moan even more.

Meanwhile Chrissie was busy tugging Nisha’s hoodie and sweatshirt over her head and throwing it on the floor. Sheenjoyed the feel of Nisha’s bra pressed against her naked torso. She lowered her hands and squeezed Nisha’s bum.

“You are so much sexier than I remember,” said Nisha, “and I always thought you were sexy back then.” She gasped as Chrissie pushed her hands down into her jogging bottoms and pants, cupping her bottom.

Nisha pulled back slightly to undo Chrissie’s jeans. There was something pleasing about the sound of the zip as she pulled it down. Chrissie smiled and pulled Nisha back to her for a long, deep kiss.

Nisha used both hands to loosen Chrissie’s jeans, before plunging one hand into her knickers, feeling for herself how turned on her partner was. “Oh God,” said Chrissie, feeling the ease with which Nisha’s fingers slid into her. For a moment she thought her legs would buckle, and it took all her concentration to stand firm.

Nisha brought her head to Chrissie’s neck and gently kissed her tender skin there, while Chrissie threw her head back, biting her lip to keep from calling out. “Yes,” she whispered as Nisha curled her fingers at just the right angle. She grabbed Nisha’s waist and pulled her nearer, filled with a need to feel so close it was like the other woman was part of her. “Don’t stop,” she begged under her breath.

“I will never stop,” said Nisha. “Never,” and at that moment Chrissie had what she thought was the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced. She ignored her shaking legs and how hard she was biting her lip, as all her nerve-endings seemed to align in one perfect moment of pleasure.

Seconds later she stood, still pinned to the wall by Nisha, limp and breathing hard. “Wow,” she said.

“You look like you need a lie down,” said Nisha with a snigger.

Chrissie laughed. “I do. But I am absolutely not in need of sleep right now. I have plans for you.”

“I should damn well hope so,” Nisha replied. She smiled, and took Chrissie’s hands, leading her to the bed.

“How did we get here?” asked Chrissie, looking at the bed, their surroundings.

“Well, that orgasm was even better than it looked,” said Nisha.

“No, stupid,” said Chrissie. “I mean, all those years ago. Can you imagine telling those girls that twenty years later we’d be here, like this?”

“No, I really can’t,” said Nisha. “For a start, I think I would have been too scared to think about what the future held. That was my problem back then. Perhaps always my problem. I think Jake felt a bit like that when I left London – like I couldn’t face a different kind of future there.” Nisha stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Sorry, you don’t want to hear about my ex, and definitely not here, in this moment.”

“It’s ok,” Chrissie told her. “We’ve all got a past. I mean, you know about mine. None of us are perfect. Far from it.”

“Very true,” said Nisha. “Like now, for example, you still have your jeans and knickers on.”

“And you’re still wearing your bra and joggers,” laughed Chrissie.

“Well I think this can be easily resolved, no costly therapy required.”

Chapter Forty-Two

In a bid not to make it all too obvious, Chrissie sat next to Philippa on the coach home.

“How are things with your husband?” asked Chrissie, remembering how pale and quiet Dottie’s mum had been the previous day. She was a little better today, but still seemed to have lost something.

“Oh, well, just the same, really. He’s currently winging his way back home,” said Philippa, fiddling with her phone. She seemed unusually distracted.

“Are you worried about money?” asked Chrissie, keen to know why Philippa seemed so out of sorts.

“Oh no, nothing like that. We’re lucky in that respect. I guess it’s just that I’ve got used to my life being like this. Just me and Dottie and work. Yes, it’s been lonely, but it’s going to be quite a shift to have Paul back home again. It’s been years since we lived together full time,” Philippa said.

“Maybe he’ll get another job quickly,” Chrissie pointed out, hoping the thought might help.

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