Chapter 4
FOUR
Laurel looked across the table at Dana. “I have a confession to make.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” Dana twirled her fork, wrapping a long noodle around it. She’d nearly finished her dinner, and the color had returned to her cheeks. No doubt, she’d been running on fumes when she arrived at the bar, no matter how diligently she’d tried to hide it.
She was stunning with her hair down. It was a dark blonde, hanging just past her chin, a little messy from her long day, but Laurel had always preferred messy to polished.
Dana’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, and the fairy lights overhead made her shirt sparkle, continually drawing Laurel’s attention to her chest.
“I’ve never done this before,” Laurel said, feeling the faintest flutter of insecurity. Would her confession scare Dana away?
Dana cocked her head, regarding her. “Define ‘this.’”
“Have drinks with a woman…or anything else with a woman.”
Dana’s lips twisted to one side. “I wondered about that. I kept getting a vibe from you, like we were on two separate pages. I’m sorry for suggesting the gay bar. That was my mistake.”
Laurel frowned. “Don’t put words in my mouth.
We aren’t on two separate pages. I took your invitation for what it was because I’m attracted to you.
I didn’t realize I was bisexual until after I was married, but I’ve known for a while now, probably ten years or so.
I’m not here to experiment with you or lead you on. I’m here because I want to be.”
Dana stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay.”
“Is it?” Because Laurel was aware that prejudice could go both ways, that some lesbians didn’t want to be with women who’d had sex with men, not that she knew how Dana identified.
Dana nodded. “I said it is, and I try to always say what I mean. I apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusion. As you know, it’s been a long day.
What you don’t know is that I’ve had a rough go of it with dating recently, so I’m a bit gun-shy.
But I like you, and I’d like to get to know you better. ”
“Good, because I’d like the same thing. In fact…
” Laurel exhaled, allowing her gaze to wander to the two women at the next table before bringing it back to Dana.
She wasn’t ashamed of her lack of experience, but she was certainly aware of it, and it wasn’t something she enjoyed.
Generally, Laurel preferred to be as competent as she was confident.
“Being here with you makes me realize how overdue I am to embrace this side of myself. I feel like I’ve been ignoring part of my identity for too long, letting people make assumptions because I was married to a man, and now…
it feels important that I explore what it’s like with a woman. ”
“I relate to that a little bit.” Dana twirled another ribbon of pasta onto her fork.
“I denied my sexuality most of the way through college and veterinary school, tried to shove myself into the box I thought I belonged in, that my family wanted me to belong in. I dated a lot of men before I finally accepted that I’m not attracted to them. ”
“So you’re…?”
“A lesbian,” Dana confirmed. “I’ve been out for almost twenty years now. And before you start trying to do that math, I’m forty-five.”
“You’ve only got a year on me, then.”
“Is it intimidating, exploring your sexuality for the first time at forty-four?”
“Yes and no.” Laurel picked up her drink and sipped. “Not many things intimidate me.”
Dana’s lips quirked. “There’s that cocky surgeon attitude.”
“Listen, you’re a surgeon too, so I’d say we both have a cocky streak.
” Laurel took another sip. “To fully answer your question, yes, I can see how certain aspects of dating a woman will be intimidating, but also…I don’t give a flying fuck what people think of me.
I’ve never claimed to be straight. If people have made a wrong assumption based on who I was married to, that’s their problem, not mine.
I don’t like feeling out of my element, and I admit that I do feel a little bit that way here in a gay bar with you, but it’s also made me realize just how badly I want to have this experience.
I want to experience passion with a woman. ”
“Then you should.” Dana leaned forward so that her elbows rested on the table, close enough that Laurel caught a whiff of her perfume, something rich and enticing. The lights glinted on Dana’s lips, and Laurel wanted to kiss them.
“Dana…”
Dana sat back, something guarded in her expression now. “You only got divorced a few hours ago. I’m not sure—”
“The papers in my bag are only a few hours old, but we were separated for a full year while he haggled with me over how to allocate our assets. He wanted more than he’s entitled to, and he dragged things out for what felt like forever, but we hadn’t been intimate for a while, even before our separation.
What I’m trying to say is that…emotionally, physically, I’ve been alone for a long time.
I’m ready to explore new things. I’m more than ready. ”
Dana stared at her for several long seconds, seeming to consider that, to consider Laurel. Her eyes were an interesting shade of blue-gray, like a stormy sky, and right now, they were intense in a way that made Laurel want to shift in her seat. She felt restless, warm, aroused.
Finally, Dana nodded. “The bar closes soon. Shall we?”
Laurel slid to her feet, not sure exactly what Dana was proposing, but whatever it was, her answer was yes. They settled their tab and walked outside. The night air was balmy even at this late hour, and the street was uncharacteristically quiet.
Laurel had always loved these hours in the middle of the night when most of the city was asleep. Instinctively, she looked up, noticing a crescent moon hanging overhead like a smile. Her lips curved in response.
Dana stepped closer, raising a hand to brush a lock of hair from Laurel’s face. “May I?”
“Yes.” Laurel’s voice came out hoarse and needy. She swallowed. “Please.”
Dana leaned in, pausing to meet Laurel’s eyes, checking in with her one more time, and Laurel appreciated that. She really did. But her impatience won out, and she closed the remaining inches between them herself, pressing her lips to Dana’s.
“Oh,” she murmured as she registered the softness of Dana’s lips, the smoothness of her cheeks where they brushed Laurel’s. Dana smelled good. She felt good. And she was smiling, perhaps in response to Laurel’s exclamation.
“How do you feel about your sapphic side now?” Dana asked quietly.
“I feel very, very enthusiastic about it.”
“Good.” And then Dana was kissing her again.
This time, her lips pressed more insistently against Laurel’s.
Her hands came to Laurel’s hips, drawing her in as she licked the seam of Laurel’s lips, asking for entrance.
Laurel opened to her, and as Dana’s tongue swept into her mouth, she felt an answering clench deep inside her body.
Because oh yes, this kiss was the answer to everything she’d been yearning for.
She’d pushed it to the back of her mind while she was married, but it had gradually slipped to the forefront during the year they were separated, this need to kiss a woman.
She’d needed it, and now she had it, and… she wanted more.
She wanted it all.
Laurel sank her hands into Dana’s hair, losing herself in the kiss, drowning herself in it.
She never wanted to surface. Dana’s hands were on her ass now, pressing her closer, and her breathless gasp indicated she was enjoying this every bit as much as Laurel.
But there was one thing Laurel wasn’t into—not with a person of any gender—and that was a public display of affection.
She lifted her head. “Hey, Dana?”
“Mm?” Dana blinked at her, pupils dilated, lips glistening, and goddamn she was gorgeous when she was turned on.
“What do you say we take this somewhere more private?”
“I say…my place is only a short walk from here.”
Dana closed the door to her apartment behind them and leaned against it for a moment, watching Laurel as she studied the space.
Dana’s apartment wasn’t anything special, a simple one-bedroom in an older building, but it was comfortable, and she loved it.
While the rest of her life was often complicated and stressful, this space was her sanctuary.
“It’s very nice,” Laurel said, turning to face her. “Where are your cats?”
“Probably under the bed. It’s their favorite hideout.”
Dana didn’t often have one-night stands. She preferred to make real connections with people, but tonight…well, tonight was about making herself feel good and blowing off some much-needed steam. There had been too much pain in her life lately. Tonight was about pleasure.
And equally, tonight was about showing Laurel pleasure. It had been a long time since Dana was someone’s “first,” in any sense of the word. She wanted to show Laurel all the wonders of sapphic sex, to make sure she had an incredible first time with a woman.
Laurel stepped closer, pressing Dana against the door as she kissed her again.
She was forward, despite her inexperience with a woman, and Dana appreciated that.
Frankly, she liked Laurel a lot and hoped this would last more than one night, but even if they parted ways in the morning, she wouldn’t regret tonight.
Her heart was pumping in a way it hadn’t in far too long, flooding her with endorphins, making her feel good. Dana rested a hand on Laurel’s bare thigh, loving the warmth of her skin. Nothing made her feel alive like another woman’s body pressed against hers.
“Touch me,” Laurel said, pressing herself more firmly against Dana. “Please.”
A woman who wasn’t afraid to ask for what she wanted.
Dana appreciated that too, and she was happy to oblige.
She slid her hand up the inside of Laurel’s thigh to the damp lace of her underwear.
She pressed in, loving Laurel’s sharp inhale.
Then Dana hooked her fingers beneath the fabric and pulled it down Laurel’s legs, steadying her as she stepped out of her sheer panties.
Immediately, Dana straightened, sliding her hand beneath Laurel’s dress to her newly bared flesh.
She spun them, pressing Laurel against the door as her thumb found and circled Laurel’s clit.
Laurel’s head fell back against the door with a thump, her eyes closed, mouth hanging slightly open in pleasure.
Dana brought her fingers down to Laurel’s entrance, coating them in her arousal, and fuck, Laurel was soaked. Feeling the evidence of Laurel’s desire made Dana throb. She let her own need fuel her as she brought her wet flingers back to Laurel’s clit, stroking hard and fast.
Laurel’s thighs shook, her hips rocking rhythmically into Dana’s touch, and Dana wondered distantly if she should have at least tried to make it to the bed. She wanted to make this special for Laurel, after all, but Laurel’s features were a tableau of ecstasy. She looked overcome. She looked close.
She looked like she was going to come right here against Dana’s door.
“Wait,” Laurel gasped.
Dana froze, quickly withdrawing her fingers from beneath Laurel’s dress. “Sorry, did—”
“We forgot to have the safe sex conversation.” Laurel was breathing roughly, one hand clenched in the fabric of Dana’s pants as if to keep her close.
“I didn’t forget,” Dana said, although the truth was, she’d been so caught up in touching Laurel, it had slipped her mind, but she would have gotten there when the time came. She never took unnecessary risks when it came to her health. “We just didn’t do anything risky yet.”
“There’s some risk inherent in any sexual contact.”
“Okay,” Dana allowed. That was technically true, although the risk of touching Laurel with her fingers was negligible.
She was somewhat confused at the change of topic, until she met Laurel’s piercing gaze.
Beneath the heat, beneath the bravado, there was the tiniest glimmer of insecurity, and Dana suspected that was the real reason Laurel had pressed the brakes.
She’d finalized her divorce today. It had probably been a while since she’d slept with anyone but her husband, and she’d never been with a woman before.
“I had my annual checkup last month, and everything was negative. I haven’t been with anyone since. ”
“My husband was unfaithful,” Laurel said. “So I had a full panel of testing done when we separated, and that was all negative too.”
“Then it sounds like we’re good to go,” Dana said, tracing her still-wet fingers along the hem of Laurel’s dress. She leaned in so her breath gusted against the shell of Laurel’s ear. “For the record, I’d have brought it up before I put my mouth on you.”
“Oh.” Laurel swallowed with an audible click.
“Now the question is, do you want to come for the first time right here, or in my bed?”
A shiver ran through Laurel’s body. “The first time?”
Dana nodded, slipping her hand beneath Laurel’s skirt. She traced erotic circles on Laurel’s inner thigh, loving the way she trembled beneath Dana’s touch. “That’s the beauty of being with a woman, right? I’ll make sure you come as many times as you need.”
Laurel groaned. “Fuck, that sounds…”
“Yes?” Dana brought her hand slightly higher, still not quite touching Laurel where she needed.
“Yes,” Laurel cried, canting her hips forward. “Right here. Take me right here. Please.”
Dana slid her hand to the juncture of Laurel’s thighs. “That would be my fucking pleasure.”