Page 28 of Beneath Her Hands
“At least I can be honest with myself,” Jane said and lifted her chin. “You just try to lie your way out of it all. If you hide behind your half-truths then you never really have to take any risk,” Jane said. “I know that it will be awful when I lose the people I love, that’s assuming I don’t go first from some random disease that comes through this hospital, but I can’t imagine how empty my life would be without it. Grief, loss, it’s all part of loving someone.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Rosalind asked.
“No, I don’t think you do. I think you have the capacity to love unconditionally; I can see that in your work. You always fight to save the person in front of you, no matter who they are, and that takes love, but you’re too scared to actually open yourself to be loved in return,” Jane said.
“That’s ridiculous,” Rosalind scoffed.
“Maybe you’re right,” Jane said, feeling deflated and exhausted. “We would never work.”
“Now you finally admit it,” Rosalind said and rolled her eyes.
“Because you would never allow it,” Jane shot back.
“What does that mean?”
“You’re over here talking about ‘coaching’ me through whatever, but you would need someone to hold you hand justto convince you that a relationship would be worth it. Everyone else might think you’re some hero, but I see you for what you really are. Running scared,” Jane gasped as soon as the words left her mouth. Rosalind’s eyes widened and she took a step toward Jane, but Jane held her ground lifting her chin in the air. She refused to take it back. She may have her own issues and fears, but she wasn’t going to let this one slide. “As soon as you can, you’re going to run away again; everyone knows it, they just dress it up like some calling instead of what it really is.”
“You have no idea what I’ve been through,” Rosalind growled, coming closer. Jane’s heart pounded, but she refused to back away. “You have no idea what I’ve seen. While you’ve been here curating the perfect cocktail and filling out paperwork, I’ve seen what humanity is really capable of, what atrocitiesweare willing to commit against each other. So yeah, the thought of becoming attached is frightening, but only because I’ve seen the worst of it. I’ve seen what happens to people when they’re starving, when they’re fighting for their lives. I’ve lived it!”
“Is that your excuse?” Jane snapped, and Rosalind’s face tightened with rage.
“Do you honestly think I’d be able to just sit here in my comfy home with all my luxuriousthingswhile I know what is happening out there?” Rosalind’s voice broke. “Maybe it’s arrogant, maybe even pedantic, but I don’t see how anyone can just sit around and do nothing. So you’re right, I run from one place to the next, not because I’m afraid to, but because I have to.” Tears began to stream down Rosalind’s face. “I would lose my mind living in comfort like that.”
“Do you think you’re somehow less deserving of it?” Jane asked, her voice softening. “Don’t get me wrong; we all deserve to live in peace and comfort, and the reality is that many places don’t have that privilege, but that doesn’t mean you can’t either,” Jane said and quickly realized how weak the argument was. “Butthat doesn’t matter. I would never, Rosalind,nevertry to stop you from going out there and trying to do some good. I would never want you to stay behind like that. Rosalind, get a clue—I want to come with you!”
“What?” Rosalind looked as though she’d been slapped.
“You’re right, Rosalind, of course you are, I’ve let my responsibilities here hold me back, but after meeting you, now more than ever I want to go, I want to be out there. I want to do something that makes a real difference in people's lives,” Jane said, her voice becoming thick. “Don’t get me wrong; I know I do a lot of good here, too, but if I left there would just be another doctor to take my place. I am arrogant enough to say that they probably wouldn’t be as good as me, but with Doctor Mars in charge they probably would learn to be. Rosalind, I’m ready to take that leap, and I—” Jane froze as she realized what she was saying. “I would love to do that with you.” Jane closed her mouth and fought to keep her hands from trembling. She couldn’t believe she’d just said all that. Hell, ten minutes ago she didn’t even know it.
Rosalind took another step toward her and Jane lowered her chin to look into Rosalind’s dark eyes. “Jane, if I said no?—”
“I’d go anyway,” Jane said, and she meant it. Suddenly Rosalind’s lips were pressed against hers and her heart felt like it would explode.
13
Rosalind
Jane’s lips were hot and full against Rosalind’s, who was almost as shocked at the kiss as Jane. She pushed Jane against the door, kissing her harder and deeper, the passion igniting something in her that she’d never felt before. The emotion threatened to swallow her completely, and she couldn’t get close enough, couldn’t touch her enough. Her clothes were restrictive, she needed Jane to be closer, needed to touch every inch of her beautiful skin.
Jane reacted to her with fervor, shoving Rosalind’s lab coat from her shoulders and letting it drop to the floor. She pushed against Rosalind who held her fast against the door. Rosalind pushed Jane’s coat from her shoulders and started to unbutton her silky blouse. The buttons kept slipping from her fingers and, growing frustrated with the distance between them, she grabbed and ripped the buttons free, exposing Jane’s chest and abdomen. With deft fingers, Rosalind reached behind her and unclasped her bra, reaching her hands underneath the soft fabric to caress the curve of her small breasts. Rosalind’s lipsmoved down Jane’s neck as she pinched at her nipples. Jane’s gasps sent lances of pleasure through Rosalind’s body, heat building in her core to the point of pain. She pushed Jane’s blouse from her shoulders and the bra fell to the floor. Rosalind reached down to Jane’s waist, and her hands slipped to the bottom of her skirt, lifting it to her hips and slinging one of Jane’s legs around her waist. Rosalind kissed down her chest, swirling her tongue around one of Jane’s nipples, and Jane threw her head back against the door with a moan.
Rosalind’s hand traveled up the back of Jane’s thigh, cupping her perfect ass as her long leg pulled her closer. Jane pulled Rosalind’s shirt over her head and unclasped her bra. Rosalind pulled back enough to let it fall to the floor but closed the distance with a fevered rush. Jane’s warm skin pressed against her own, and there was nothing that could pull her away. She needed to be closer, she needed to be inside her, to feel Jane’s body so completely wrapped around her that she was no longer a separate being. Rosalind’s fingers slipped across Jane’s hot pussy, and painful tension filled her own core. She pushed Jane’s panties to the side and slid a finger inside her; Jane’s gasp of pleasure sending spikes of desire through her. Kissing her chest and then her abdomen, Rosalind dropped to her knees and hooked Jane’s leg over her shoulder. Rosalind kissed the inside of each thigh as Jane trembled beneath her touch. Jane’s fingers dug into her hair as she threw her head back against the door and gasped.
Rosalind ran her tongue across, tasting her wet arousal and making small languid circles around her clitoris. Jane moaned, the muscles in her abdomen taut. Rosalind slipped two fingers inside of her, continuing her small circles and pumping slowly, drawing out Jane’s pleasure. Rosalind added a third finger and started pumping harder. Jane’s gasps told her that she was trying to keep quiet, but Rosalind didn’t want that; she wantedJane to scream out, to let the hospital—the world—know that Rosalind was responsible for her pleasure.
Rosalind pumped her fingers faster, the swirling motion of her tongue becoming quicker flicking motions as Jane’s muscles became hard with tension. She could feel the walls of Jane’s core tighten around her fingers and she curled them just slightly, and Jane cried out. Rosalind’s core almost burst with the sound, but she kept her rhythm, pumping and licking and sucking until Jane’s walls tightened around her and she let out a cry as the orgasm washed over her. Jane’s leg started to tremble, and Rosalind let her other leg fall to the ground as she stood up and kissed Jane again. Sliding her tongue over Jane’s teeth and letting her taste herself on Rosalind’s lips.
With a fury, Jane unbuttoned Rosalind’s trousers and they pooled around her feet. Rosalind kicked off her shoes and melted into the moment. When Jane pushed her toward the couch, she allowed herself to be moved. Jane shoved her down onto the couch and pulled Rosalind’s panties down around her hips, slipping them over her feet and throwing them onto the floor. Rosalind was already so close, it would only take the slightest of touches to send her over the edge. Jane took both Rosalind’s knees in her hands and pushed them open, spreading her wide before her. Jane climbed on top of Rosalind, taking one of her nipples into her mouth and scraping her teeth gently across it. Rosalind threw her head back and moaned in pleasure, arching her hips, trying to get the friction she needed.
Jane slid a hand down Rosalind’s abdomen and flicked a finger across Rosalind’s swollen clit. Rosalind jerked in pleasure at the touch, her own crest already approaching. Jane slid two fingers inside Rosalind, using her thumb to expertly caress her clit, holding her just on the edge of climax. Jane slowly pumped her fingers and Rosalind cried out, begging for release, but Jane held her close, slowly increasing the speed of herfingers and curling them against Rosalind’s G Spot. Jane kissed down Rosalind’s abdomen and the inside of both of her thighs, then placed her lips over Rosalind’s clit, sending her over the edge. Jane pumped her fingers and swirled her tongue around Rosalind’s clit as wave after wave of orgasm washed over her, sending her spiraling through pleasure and something deeper, heavier, more primal.
Rosalind pulled Jane up onto the couch with her, wrapping her arms around her and bringing her close. Jane rested her head on Rosalind’s shoulder as they both caught their breath, the heat of their passion slowing to a simmering burn that rested just below the surface. Something settled between them, clicking into place. Rosalind would never be able to put this feeling into words, but it was there and heavy and all encompassing. It was something that she needed as much as she needed food and oxygen. It was terrifying.
“Jane, I…” Rosalind began, but the words died in her throat.
“Don’t,” Jane said without lifting her head.
“Don’t what?” Rosalind asked.
