Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
Rosa stepped back, admiring the small fire in the wood burner.
She'd bundled kindling around some balled-up newspaper and sprinkled one of the firelighters over it, before lighting the little pile and adding the logs.
The small fire was blazing just as the door opened again.
The wind howled, snow blasting through the opening along with Billy, swearing loudly as she staggered in under the weight of the basket.
Moving quickly, Rosa crossed the room and pushed the door closed. "Goodness, me, that's bad out there.
The snow was drifting with the wind and piling up against the sides of the house. “We might have to dig our way out if we need more." Billy laughed, but the humour didn't touch her expression.
Logs toppled from the basket as Billy lowered it to the ground. "I got as many as I could. There are still loads out there, but…"
"You can only carry so much."
"Yeah." Billy sighed and stood up, brushing the snow and splinters of wood and bits of dust from herself. Rosa moved in, taking the zipper between her warm fingers. She lowered it, their eyes on each other the entire time.
"Let's get these off and warm you up."
"I want another chance with you," Billy said.
Rosa froze, the zip now halfway down.
"You don't mean that," Rosa said.
"I do." Billy's voice was steady. "I want another chance, Rosa."
Finishing the task, Rosa stepped back, but not far. "We're divorced."
Billy shrugged off the coat and got tangled when she realised she still had her gloves on.
She smiled. "I'm aware of our current marital status.
" Finally, the coat and gloves, and then the hat, were all in a wet pile on the floor.
"And I'm not proposing we get married again, I'm asking that we try and see if we could maybe make things work…
now that we are more emotionally mature and I'm capable of being the person you always deserved me to be. "
"Are you… Did you fall over out there and hit your head?" Rosa chuckled, fidgeting with her fingers.
"You just kissed me…right there." Billy pointed back to the couch. "You kissed me."
"Yes, in the moment. In a moment of…"
"Of?" Billy said, stepping closer. "Desire?" Her head tilted a little when Rosa looked away. "Need…want…because I'm finally saying all the things I should have said before?" She reached out, finger and thumb either side of Rosa's chin, guiding her eyes back to her. "Look at me, Rosa."
Rosa inhaled, her breath stuttering. It was always Billy Fisk, wasn’t it?
"I don't know."
"You do," Billy said, leaning closer. Their lips met once more, gentle pressure, nothing too much, just a reminder as they brushed against one another. "You know…" she whispered. "I want to know you again…all of you." Her lips moved slowly. "Every inch worshipped until you…"
"Until I?" Rosa whispered back.
"Until you want me to stop."
Lips nipped against their counterpart. Rosa's palms flattened against Billy's chest, sliding upward, smoothing the material until they found Billy's neck.
"What if…I don't want you to stop?"
"Then…I won't."
"What if…we break each other again?" Rosa asked, before the sensation of Billy's tongue against her upper lip made her gasp, her knees bending, weakening.
"I won't let us," Billy answered.
Rosa’s mouth surrendered, her tongue a traitor to her as her desire took over and Billy Fisk found her way into her heart once more.
"I want you," Rosa declared. "I…" Her words ceased, her mouth engulfed by the permission granted. She found herself lifted, her legs wrapping around a familiar, and yet new, waist, and carried just a few feet to the couch.
"Tell me again," Billy said as she placed her down and lifted the sweater away from her body, up and over Rosa's head.
"I want you," Rosa repeated as she watched nimble, familiar fingers unbutton her jeans and inch them down her thighs until Rosa kicked them free.
Billy's gaze travelled upward, taking in every inch of exposed skin.
"You're so beautiful, just how I remember." The words came out as a whisper, hands sliding up Rosa's calves, over her knees, pausing at her thighs. "I've thought about this…about you…us…so many times."
Rosa's breath hitched. "Billy…"
"Shh." A kiss pressed to Rosa's knee, then higher. Lips traced a slow and reverent path along her inner thigh. "Let me show you."
Rosa's fingers threaded into dark hair, her own head falling back against the cushion. The mouth on her skin continued its journey, kissing, tasting, remembering. At the edge of Rosa's underwear, there was a pause, eyes looking up.
"Yes?" The voice was rough with want.
"Yes," Rosa breathed.
Fingers hooked into the fabric and pulled it away. Settling between Rosa's legs, hands spread them wider, and then a warm mouth was on her—insistent, knowing.
Rosa gasped, her hips lifting off the couch as Billy's tongue moved with purpose, finding the rhythm she needed, the pressure she craved. Everything was remembered—the way her thighs trembled when she was close, the soft sounds she made when that tongue circled just right.
"Billy…oh, God…" Rosa's fingers tightened, her body arching.
There was no stopping now. Hands gripped her hips, holding her steady as that relentless, tender mouth worked. She could feel herself tightening, her breathing changing.
"Don't stop," Rosa pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please don't stop."
A hum vibrated against her, sending Rosa over the edge. She cried out, her body shuddering, her thighs clamping, as wave after wave crashed through her.
The touch gentled, slowing, easing her down until she was left trembling. Soft kisses pressed to her thighs, her hips, her stomach, before Billy crawled up her body.
Rosa's eyes were glassy, her cheeks flushed. "That was…"
"Just the beginning." Billy's mouth captured hers in a deep kiss.
Rosa could taste herself, and it sent another jolt of desire through her.
"I remember," Billy whispered, breaking the kiss.
Her mouth moved down and she pressed her lips to Rosa's neck, just below her ear—that spot Billy knew would drive Rosa wild.
The reaction was immediate. Hips bucked, Rosa gasped. "Oh..."
Billy smiled against warm skin, teeth grazing the sensitive spot before her tongue soothed it.
Rosa's hands slid under Billy's shirt, pushing it up.
Billy sat up just enough for it to be pulled over her head, then Rosa's hands were on her, cupping her breasts, thumbs brushing over nipples.
Rosa's mouth followed her hands, kissing down Billy’s chest, taking a nipple into her mouth and sucking gently.
"Rosa…please…"
Sliding her hand lower, Rosa unbuttoned Billy's jeans, slipping her hand inside. She found her wet and ready, and groaned at the feel.
"You're so wet."
Rosa hesitated, her confidence wavering for just a moment. Her fingers moved tentatively at first, circling, searching for the rhythm Billy needed.
Billy's hand covered hers, guiding. "It's okay. I've got you."
Their fingers moved together until Rosa found her rhythm, swirling slow circles that had Billy's hips lifting. When she slipped two fingers inside, Billy's sharp intake of breath told her she'd done something right.
"Yes…" Billy's head fell back. "Just like that."
Emboldened, Rosa curled her fingers, her thumb finding Billy's clit. She watched Billy's face, learning her again—the way her breath caught, the flush spreading down her chest, the desperate sounds she couldn't hold back.
"Rosa…I'm close…so close…Rosa…"
Billy came with Rosa's name on her lips, her body trembling, hands clutching at Rosa's shoulders as she rode out the waves.
The world narrowed to just them—foreheads pressed together, breath mingling, arms winding tight. Rosa pulled her hand free only to immediately wrap both arms around Billy's waist.
Limbs tangled. Hearts hammered against each other. Neither could tell where one ended and the other began, wrapped around each other like they might disappear if they let go.
The fire crackled beside them. Outside, the snow continued to fall, silent and relentless, cocooning them in their own world.