Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Emma woke to bright sunlight spilling over the curve of Vanessa’s hip and the bare skin of her shoulder.
She lay on her front with her head turned towards Emma, her hair splayed out in loose waves.
Her breathing was slow, her lips parted just slightly, one arm tucked under her pillow.
God, she looked peaceful and stunningly beautiful.
For the first time in weeks, Emma hadn’t woken up with that weight of dread pressing down on her. No heaviness, no restless urgency, just this…her wife, the weekend, and the knowledge that yesterday had gone better than she could have dreamed.
She rolled onto her side and drifted her fingers up Vanessa’s spine slowly, tracing the dip down to her waist. Vanessa murmured but didn’t wake. Emma leaned in and pressed her lips to her shoulder, lingering as she smiled against her skin and whispered, “Morning, beautiful.”
Vanessa’s eyes blinked open slowly, then narrowed on Emma with that sleepy smile that always made her stomach flip. “Mm, what time is it?”
“Still early,” Emma said as she shifted closer, her hand smoothing over the warm skin of Vanessa’s hip. “And we have nothing to do today. No plans. Just us.”
Vanessa’s smile deepened. “That sounds perfect.”
Emma lowered a kiss to the curve of her neck and dragged her lips over Vanessa’s skin. “It’s meant to be.”
Vanessa turned onto her back and stretched. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I’m in the best mood,” Emma admitted as she straddled Vanessa slowly. “My attention has been elsewhere, but yesterday gave me my marriage back. So, I’m going to remind you how much I love you.”
Vanessa’s eyes softened at that, as she slid her hands up Emma’s thighs. “That’s very romantic.”
“Mm,” Emma hummed and leaned down to kiss Vanessa.
It didn’t take long before it deepened, but Emma knew morning was Vanessa’s favourite time to get a little handsy.
The kiss shifted into that familiar hunger they had for one another, and as Emma put her full weight on Vanessa, her wife let out a low, throaty moan.
That rush of heat built low in Emma’s belly, and she pulled back just enough to murmur, “You’re mine all day. ”
Vanessa arched an eyebrow as a slow grin tugged at her lips. “All day? You think you can keep up with me?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
As Emma dipped her head and kissed Vanessa again, she felt those soft, warm palms wander up under her T-shirt, around her sides, and graze her back.
Emma broke the kiss long enough to strip her T-shirt off over her head, tossing it aside without a second thought.
She’d missed mornings like this. Mornings when nothing else mattered, and it was just the two of them, incredibly focused on one another.
Mornings when the world faded away and all that remained were Vanessa’s deep blue eyes.
Vanessa’s gaze swept over her, slow and teasing, as though she had all the time in the world to lie back and look. “God, I’ve missed seeing you like this,” Vanessa whispered as her fingers trailed down Emma’s sides.
“You see me every day.”
“Not like this,” Vanessa said, the hunger in her tone making Emma’s pulse kick up a notch. “This is how I enjoy seeing you most.”
Emma pressed her lips to the base of Vanessa’s throat, down to her collarbone, and lavished every inch of skin she could reach from the position she was in. God, she’d never not want to feel this woman beneath her.
Vanessa’s breath quickened, her hand tangling in Emma’s hair as she shifted under her. “Emma…”
Emma’s hands were already working their way down to the waistband of Vanessa’s shorts. She pushed at them, and Vanessa lifted her hips. Emma stripped her bare and sat back for a moment to admire her wife sprawled beneath her, flushed and gorgeous, her eyes darkening by the second.
She bent again, kissing her way down Vanessa’s stomach, nipping lightly at her hip before moving between her thighs. Vanessa spread for her instantly, and the sight made Emma’s breath catch.
She didn’t tease; she didn’t need to. The teasing would come later, throughout the day, whenever Emma felt like it, because she’d meant what she’d said.
Vanessa was hers all day long. She pressed her mouth to Vanessa’s pussy, moaning softly at the taste of her.
Vanessa gasped, her hand fisting in the sheets as her hips rocked up to meet Emma’s mouth.
Emma licked and sucked, her tongue working in steady, deliberate strokes, one hand gripping Vanessa’s thigh while the other slid up, only for her to drag her nails down Vanessa’s stomach.
“God, Emma…” Vanessa’s voice was rough as her legs trembled slightly. Emma worked her faster, drawing circles with her tongue, then dipping lower before coming back up to flick against her clit until Vanessa’s breath was coming in sharp, broken gasps. “D-don’t stop. Fuck!”
Emma smiled against her, pushing her towards the edge until Vanessa’s back arched, her hips pressed up, and a sharp cry spilled from her lips as she came.
There was something incredibly fulfilling about Vanessa shuddering beneath her.
Emma didn’t slow until the last tremor ran through her, and then she guided herself back up Vanessa’s body and kissed her.
“Nothing in this world will ever top you coming for me first thing in the morning.”
A lazy smile spread on Vanessa’s lips at that. “I still find it hard to remember a time when you didn’t make me come first thing in the morning. The last few weeks aside, anyway.” Vanessa pulled Emma down and kissed her with a fierce urgency. “God, I need to taste you, baby.”
Emma moaned as she ground down against Vanessa’s thigh. “I need you to taste me.”
Vanessa rolled them and pinned Emma to the bed, her hand already sliding down between them. Emma gasped when Vanessa’s fingers found her aching clit, stroking her slowly at first, then a little faster, drawing wetness from her with every pass.
Emma’s legs fell open, her hips arching up against Vanessa’s hand. “O-oh, fuck. M-more.”
“More? You’re sure?”
Emma took her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded.
Vanessa brought her lips to Emma’s ear, eased two fingers inside her, and whispered, “I love feeling you around me.” She bit down against Emma’s neck, soothing the sting with the flat of her tongue, her fingers finding the perfect rhythm that would have Emma coming in moments.
Emma’s hands clutched at her shoulders, her nails digging in as her orgasm built fast. “I’m…God, Vanessa—”
“Come for me,” Vanessa whispered against her skin.
Emma’s body obeyed instantly, pleasure crashing through her so hard she cried out, her legs tightening around Vanessa’s wrist as she shook. “B-babe, fuck!”
Vanessa kept stroking her, drawing out the aftershocks.
“God, I’ve missed our mornings together like this.
” She curled around Emma as she brought her hand up and slipped her fingers into Emma’s mouth.
“They’re my favourite part of any day.” And then she pulled the cover over them and tangled herself around Emma in any way she could.
“I like seeing you with a smile on your face.”
“I like having something to smile about.”
Vanessa sat up on one elbow and peered down at Emma, her eyes soft. “I’m sorry you haven’t found a reason to smile lately. I wish I could have found a reason even at your lowest.”
Emma winced. She hadn’t meant to sound as though she’d been entirely miserable lately. That hadn’t been true at all. “No, babe. You’ve been everything I needed. Even though I haven’t shown it lately, waking up beside you every morning gives me a reason to smile…and that’s all I’ll ever need.”
“I love you. Whatever version I have of you from day to day, I love all of you, Emma.”
Emma craned her neck and kissed Vanessa. “I’m supposed to be the one doing the wooing today. Not you.”
Vanessa laughed, and it drove Emma wild. It always would.
“I did warn you. You’re all mine today.”
Vanessa’s eyes held that mischievous glint as she gazed back at Emma. “Then we’d better pace ourselves.”
Emma snorted. “No chance. Where’s the fun in that?”
Vanessa stood barefoot in the kitchen, leaning back against the counter while the kettle rumbled to life. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, catching on the half-empty mugs and plates from the lazy breakfast they’d shared hours ago.
It had been an hour since Emma had left her sprawled across the bed, flushed and panting, but Vanessa could still feel her everywhere. On her skin, in the ache low in her belly, in the way her legs still felt satisfyingly heavy.
She smiled to herself as she reached for the tea bags, aware that Emma had just walked into the kitchen. She didn’t need to look up to know her wife was close by. Emma’s presence had a weight and a warmth, even before she’d announced herself.
“Hungry?” Vanessa asked as she turned to face her wife.
Emma leaned in, her hands braced on the counter on either side of Vanessa’s hips. “Not for food.”
Vanessa smirked. “You said I was yours all day, but I thought that included feeding me.”
“I am feeding you,” Emma murmured as she brushed her lips against Vanessa’s jaw. “Just not in the way you’re thinking.”
Vanessa’s breath caught as Emma’s hands slid around her waist, tugging her gently away from the counter. “Emma…”
“Mm?”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Today I am.” Emma’s mouth was on Vanessa’s before she could respond, a deep, demanding kiss that stole the air from Vanessa’s lungs.
Her hands roamed up Vanessa’s back, over her ribs, and down to the curve of her hips.
The kettle clicked off, but neither of them moved to pour the water.
The tea they’d insisted they needed could wait.
Emma’s fingers found the hem of Vanessa’s loose T-shirt, and as she tugged it up until her palms met bare skin, Vanessa arched into her touch and kissed her harder. “You’re overdressed,” Emma murmured, pulling back just enough to whip the T-shirt over her head. “That’s better.”