Page 34 of Beneath Her Hands
“I just, I needed to see you, to talk to you,” Rosalind finally managed to say.
“Is everything alright? Is it your father?” Jane asked.
“No, I just—” Rosalind started, but the words stuck in her throat again. She looked at Jane, her brilliant green eyes unlined for once but still just as beautiful. Rosalind noticed the silky robe she had tied around her long frame, the soft ivory complementing her skin tone. Rosalind’s eyes traveled down Jane’s body, lingering on the soft curve of her hips, her long legs, and heat crept through Rosalind’s veins. She reached out and touched Jane’s face, aware that she was dripping all over the entryway. Jane’s skin was so warm against her cold, damp fingers. She tried to speak again, but nothing came out. What had her so paralyzed? “Oh, damnit,” she finally managed to say then pressed her lips against Jane’s. Jane’s hands flew to Rosalind’s face and she kissed her back with fervor. Rosalind slipped her tongue through Jane’s teeth and swirled it around Jane’s and heat built in her stomach like a furnace. The feeling was there, it was real, and it was so much deeper than a physical attraction, so why couldn’t she just say it out loud? She kissed Jane harder, pulling her against her wet body, feeling the water soaking through the slight robe. Rosalind ran her fingersthrough Jane’s silky hair, pulling it easily from the clip that had been holding it on the top of Jane’s head. She moved her kisses from Jane’s lips and across her jaw, leaning in and nipping softly at Jane’s neck, and Jane arched into her.
Finally, Rosalind pulled back and looked at her, her robe was wet and clinging to Jane’s skin, her nipples poking through the silky fabric. Rosalind could see every line of her body where the robe was darkened by the rain, and heat pooled between her legs. Her eyes roved up and down Jane’s body and a deep hunger pulled at her. She wanted to be closer, she wanted to be inside of her.
“Jane, I think I’m falling in love with you,” Rosalind finally said, though the words came out strangled.
“Don’t say that unless you mean it, Rosalind,” Jane warned, her eyes growing dark. “I can’t do this back-and-forth nonsense anymore.”
“I mean it, Jane, I do,” Rosalind said and kissed her again. Jane responded in kind, and they kissed deeper, harder, their hands roaming over each other. Their chilled skin finding warmth in their contact.
“Bathroom,” Jane said breathlessly as Rosalind kissed her neck again. “You’re making a mess.”
Rosalind chuckled but allowed Jane to lead her to the bathroom. She turned to pull Jane close again, but Jane pulled back. Rosalind furrowed her brows.
“I’m serious, Rosalind, don’t say this unless you mean it—you don’t get to tell me later that it was all a mistake. I can’t take that again,” Jane warned, her eyes bright with anticipation.
“I don’t know what the future holds, Jane,” Rosalind said, dropping her eyes. She started to pull her wet clothes from her body. “But I know how I feel, I can’t deny it, and I needed to tell you.”
“I love you, Rosalind,” Jane said, and started helping Jane with the sopping clothes, depositing each item into the bathtub and grabbing a towel for her. “But I can’t just sit here and wait for you to decide if loving me is enough.”
Rosalind’s skin pebbled in the cool air as she toweled herself off. She wrapped the towel around her and looked at Jane, whose brow was creased with worry.
“It’s enough, Jane, it’s more than I could have ever hoped for. I’m falling for you, and I want to be with you. I don’t know how we will make it work, but I know we can,” Rosalind said softly. Jane’s eyes lit up with excitement and she kissed Rosalind again. Rosalind could feel Jane’s damp robe against her skin and heat poured through her.
16
Jane
Rosalind’s lips and fingertips were cold from the rain, but they still sent peals of fire through Jane’s body. Everywhere Rosalind touched raised in gooseflesh and sent her spiraling into a wave of desire. Jane was still terrified that once this was through Rosalind would try again to claim it was all a mistake, all a misunderstanding, all just the resonant emotional upheaval from her family’s situation and nothing else. Jane knew she couldn’t handle that, but she put it out of her mind—for now she would just enjoy the moment. She dropped her wet robe onto the ground and pulled herself deeper into Rosalind’s embrace.
She led Rosalind back into her bedroom, both naked and shivering, and they climbed beneath the covers. Rosalind continued her bombardment of kisses, tracing her lips across Jane’s jaw, her neck, her collar. Jane relaxed into the touch, allowing Rosalind to explore her body with her fingers and her lips. The blankets around them were soft and inviting, warming them from the cold rain. Thunder sounded overhead and Jane’seyes popped open for a moment, but she quickly surrendered again.
Rosalind’s lips moved down Jane’s chest, and Rosalind cupped one of her breasts in her hand, massaging gently while she pulled the other nipple into her mouth, gently grazing her teeth against it. Jane sucked in a sharp breath and arched her back into Rosalind’s touch as the blankets around them became warmer, almost hot.
The path of kisses left little patches of heat as Rosalind trailed down her stomach to her hips. Rosalind pushed open Jane’s legs, where heat and desire poured from her as she anticipated Rosalind’s next touch. Jane arched against her as Rosalind settled between Jane’s legs, kissing lower and lower until they closed around Jane’s clit. Jane gasped as Rosalind slipped a finger inside her, then another, while her tongue swirled in lazy circles around Jane’s clit.
Jane groaned, throwing her head back in ecstasy, and Rosalind redoubled her efforts, moving her hands and tongue more quickly, pumping and thrusting Jane into higher and higher states of passion. As Jane lingered on the edge of release, Rosalind pulled back and reached into the nightstand. Jane’s excitement grew with anticipation. Rosalind pulled out the shaft they’d used before and expertly clipped the straps around her hips. Rosalind lowered herself down, pressing the shaft slowly into Jane’s opening, the stretch causing Jane to cry out in pleasure.
Rosalind laid her full weight down on top of Jane, rolling her hips to massage the shaft deeper inside of her, moaning at the friction it gave her. She kissed Jane’s lips deeply, swirling her tongue around Jane’s while she thrust the shaft inside her. Jane’s moans were captured in Rosalind’s lips as their bodies pressed against each other, rolling and writhing as one. Jane could feel Rosalind tensing on top of her, and the knowledgethat she was close to orgasm sent her over the edge. Jane rolled her head back and cried out in pleasure as her muscles clamped down over the shaft and waves of euphoria washed over her. As soon as Jane released, she could feel Rosalind wracked with the same waves of orgasm. Rosalind continued to thrust into Jane as their orgasms climbed higher, washing over them as thoroughly as the rain pounding overhead.
As Rosalind began to slow, Jane felt a deep sensation of relaxation settle into her bones. This was right, this was real. There was no denying it at this point, no matter how hard Rosalind might try. Finally, their movements slowed, and stilled, Rosalind breathing heavily as she rested on top of Jane, covering her with warmth. Jane never wanted to leave; she didn’t want this night to end.
Thunder rumbled over them again, and Rosalind rolled to her side, unhooking the shaft from her waist. She let it fall to the floor as she pulled Jane close, and Jane snuggled deep into the embrace. Neither of them spoke; it was almost as though they both knew that words would end the perfect moment between them. Jane closed her eyes and relaxed against Rosalind’s body, pressing her face deep into the curve of Rosalind’s neck. She had almost drifted off to sleep when Rosalind finally stirred against her.
“Jane, I’m scared,” Rosalind whispered into the darkness.
“Of what?” Jane asked, trying to pull her closer.
“Of the future, of us,” Rosalind said, her voice seemed to catch in her throat.
“What is it that you’re afraid of?” Jane asked, her lips brushing softly against Rosalind’s shoulder.
“That this won’t last, and that I won’t be able to handle losing it,” Rosalind said.
“That’s ridiculous,” Jane whispered.
