Page 41 of Beneath Her Hands
Jane’s eyes held hers, searching. “Rosalind. Why were you so determined? Why does it matter so much to you?” The question hung between them, fragile and electric.
Rosalind hesitated only a heartbeat, her brows furrowed at Jane as though she should have long since known the answer to that question. Then, with the quiet courage of someone who has faced death and refused to let it win, she spoke. “Because I love you,” she said.
Silence stretched. Jane’s eyes widened, then softened. “Good,” Jane whispered, a faint smile curving her lips. “Because I love you too.”
“I can’t imagine a world without you, Jane.” Rosalind said, her voice cracking.
“Are you going back to the military?” Jane asked, and the tension in the room increased to the point that you could cut it with a knife. They had carefully avoided any discussion of the future in these last couple of weeks, only focusing on Jane’s recovery and settling Rosalind’s mother into her new life, but the time had come, and they had to make some decisions.
“No,” Rosalind answered. Jane’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“No? I thought that was the plan?”
“I thought so, too, but I’ve served my time,” Rosalind said with a far-away look in her eyes. “I don’t have anything left to offer to the military.”
“You can’t mean that,” Jane said and tilted her head quizzically.
“I do,” Rosalind said with a wave of her hand. “I thought I wanted to go back, but I think that was because it was all I knew.”
“What changed your mind?” Jane asked
“Everything,” Rosalind answered. “Being here, my mother, you. I’m not ready to give it all up, but I am definitely ready to slow down. Jane, I love you, and I want to be with you.”
“Please don’t give up this part of your life for me,” Jane whispered, her throat was tight. This was exactly what they had been afraid of, that one or the other would have to givesomething up and that would only lead to resentment down the line.
“I’m not,” Rosalind said quickly. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I think I have something that will make us both happy.”
“Really…” Jane’s expression was less than encouraging.
“Yes, I think so,” Rosalind said with a smirk. “I’m tired tonight, but I’ll bring it to you soon, we can see if it is what we both want. I have another four months left on my contract here anyway.”
Jane wanted to argue, but she was tired. All the pain and therapy was exhausting, despite the progress she’d made. “Fine, tomorrow,” Jane said and closed her eyes. She felt Rosalind’s lips brush against hers and warmth spread through her chest.
Weeks passed, eventually Jane was able to go home, though with the caveat that Rosalind stay with her for the foreseeable future. Jane pretended to be offended, but she was actually giddy at the thought. Not to mention, Rosalind’s family’s house had been bought and she needed a place to stay anyway. Jane’s recovery had gone well but getting up the stairs to her apartment was still a slow, deliberate process.
Once they made it inside, Rosalind’s eyes darkened. “I finally have you alone,” she said her voice husky.
A smile broke out on Jane’s face, the tension between them had become intense these last few days as Jane had finally become more independent and mobile. Without hesitation, Jane led Rosalind into the bedroom. Rosalind took Jane’s face into her hands and kissed her deeply. The heat, the passion, the desire that had been buried while Jane stayed at the hospital simmered to the surface. Rosalind traced her lips with each kiss, moving down her jaw and onto her neck. Jane rolled her head back and allowed herself to enjoy each touch, each graze of Rosalind’s lips and fingertips.
Slowly, Rosalind pushed Jane’s cardigan from her shoulders. Then she slowly unbuttoned Jane’s blouse. Jane relaxed, allowing Rosalind to take the lead, relishing each soft caress. Her blouse dropped to the floor, and Rosalind buried her face in Jane’s neck, kissing her across her collarbones. She deftly unhooked Jane’s bra and let it slip from her arms, her small breasts falling free of the constricting fabric. Rosalind kissed her lips again, slowly guiding her backwards until they reached the bed. She gently pushed Jane against the edge, laying her down softly. Heat seared through Jane at each touch, at each hint. She wanted to grab Rosalind and kiss her with fire and heat, but her body wasn’t going to let her. Against her inclination, she allowed Rosalind to kiss down her chest and her stomach. Jane’s breath caught as Rosalind traced the lines of her abdomen, parts of which were still hidden beneath scars from the surgery.
Rosalind pulled Jane’s pants down and pushed them to the floor, followed by her panties. Jane shivered in the cool air, completely naked in front of the woman she loved.
“I feel like this is a bit unfair,” Jane teased as Rosalind traced her fingers across Jane’s thighs.
“How’s that?” Rosalind asked, her eyes devouring every curve of Jane’s body.
“Because I’m naked, and you’re not,” Jane said with a slight giggle.
Rosalind’s mouth broke into a grin. She stood up at the side of the bed and started to remove her own clothes, dramatically moving in serpentine motions while Jane watched and but her lips. Rosalind was so beautiful, and Jane would never get enough of her firm rippling muscles, the scars marking a difficult life. Once Rosalind was as naked as Jane, she settled onto the bed with her. Fire flooded through Jane’s veins as Rosalind’s skin pressed against her own, and Rosalind’s hand traced small circles down her stomach. Rosalind’s fingers randown Jane’s thighs, pressing gently against the inside of her knees so that Jane’s legs opened, revealing herself to Rosalind’s hungry eyes.
Rosalind’s fingers slid across Jane’s pussy, wet and hot with desire. She flicked gently at her clitoris. Her breath caught as Rosalind began massaging small circles around Jane’s clit and she threw her head back and moaned in pleasure. Rosalind slid first one finger, then two inside Jane, pumping slowly and deliberately, curling them against Jane’s walls and sending her deeper into ecstasy. Pleasure flooded through her in ways she’d never felt, punctuated by slips of pain from her injuries. Rosalind’s lips followed her hands, and soon she was licking small circles around Jane’s clit while she pumped her fingers slowly and deftly.
When the orgasm washed over her it was different from anything she had ever felt. It built with a slow intensity that burned her from the inside, climbing higher and higher until it peaked and held there, leaving Jane standing on the edge of a precipice that she would never recover from if she fell. Rosalind moaned slightly against her, the vibration sending her over the edge, and she fell into a sea of pleasure and passion. The emotions ran deeper than anything she’d ever known. All that mattered was this—this person touching her, feeling her caressing her from the inside. Everything else faded away except for this moment, this deep unending climax that filled her every pore.
As the waves slowly subsided, exhaustion began to claw at Jane’s consciousness. She tried desperately to stay awake, to spend as much time as possible with this amazing, beautiful woman, this love of her life, but she knew that her body wasn’t going to let her.
“Go to sleep, my love,” Rosalind said, stroking her hair. She kissed her gently and Jane could taste herself on Rosalind’s lips. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I love you.”
