Chapter 20 #3
All three littles clamped their lips shut and folded their arms across their chests as if refusing to give out top secret classified information.
Victoria looked over at the three Mommy Dommes, Miss Shasti, Miss Marta, and Miss Lydia.
Each one shook her head as if to indicate she had no idea what the littles were up to.
Jessica stepped out from behind the cross and into the light.
She took a few steps toward Victoria. Victoria spotted the green carnation attached to her dress.
Jessica took off her mask. Both of Victoria’s hands went to the top of her head in disbelief.
She took a few steps toward Jessica. Jessica placed one hand over her heart.
Victoria stopped walking and did the same.
Together, they each patted their heart three times, paused, and patted them three times again.
Victoria took off running, three littles trailing not far behind.
“Is it you?” Victoria said, stopping just short of Jessica without touching her. “JB?”
Jessica nodded. “Yes, it’s me, Daddy Cheese.”
Victoria burst out crying. Her hands covered her face as the tears flowed. Jessica wrapped her arms around the crying woman, and soon, strong arms were holding her as well. Three more sets of arms embraced them as the littles joined in the hug.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Victoria said, leaning back so she could look at Jessica. “You’re fucking beautiful.”
The littles made shocked noises at the curse word, but neither Jessica nor Victoria paid them any mind.
“You’re gorgeous, too, Victoria.”
“Denton Heights?” Victoria asked. “You live here?”
“Yes, I teach at the private school here.”
“Miss Tilda,” Madison said.
“What, honey?” Jessica asked.
“Miss Tilda is pulling strings from heaven,” Madison said.
“Could be,” Shanice said, getting Pammy’s approval as well.
“She was a mother figure to me,” Victoria said, fresh tears starting. “I’ll fill you in later.” She turned to Madison and said, “Did you know JB here was the one I ‘had feels’ for?”
“Miss Jessica?” Madison said. “No, but I knew she had feels for you when she asked us to help in her secret covert operation making the carnations.”
“Oh, wait,” Shanice said and handed Madison and Pammy a carnation of their own. “Part two of the covert operation. It went well, so now we can wear carnations, too.”
As they busied themselves attaching the carnations to their clothing, Victoria took that moment to ask, “Jessica? That’s your name?”
“Yes. I assume Victoria truly is yours?”
“Yes.” Victoria’s smile lit up her entire body. “Hey, let me hold your hand while I say this next thing.”
Jessica’s smile overtook her own body as she slid her hand into Victoria’s.
“Hey, look,” Victoria said. “Now we’re holding hands.”
“Good one, Daddy Vic,” Madison said and then barked a couple of times. Oh, yes, littles were fun and silly creatures.
Jessica held on tightly to Victoria’s hand as the littles led them back to the main group, who had apparently witnessed the entire thing.
Rowena got right up in Victoria’s face and said sternly. “You are so fucking stubborn, Vic. This is the woman we were trying to set you up with.” She pointed to Jessica and then sighed the most exasperated sigh Jessica had ever heard.
Rowena then turned her gaze to Jessica. “And this,” she gestured to Victoria, “is the person we wanted you to meet.” Rowena didn’t wait for either of them to reply but turned to Miss Shasti and Bernadette and said, “We can take the win, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Yes, yes, absolutely,” Miss Shasti said. “We knew before they did.”
“Perfect match,” Bernadette added and winked at Jessica.
“I guess they got it right this time,” Victoria said to Jessica.
Jessica simply nodded and cuddled closer to Victoria’s arm.
“Jessica, this is Brian Tillman,” Victoria said in introduction. “He and I drove down here together from Indianapolis.”
Brian bowed slightly, so gentlemanly, and said, “This was quite the surprise. This one has been mooning over you since, I don’t know, forever. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Thank you,” Jessica said. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” She looked up at Victoria. “To be honest, I’ve been doing a bit of mooning myself.”
They all laughed, and Jessica realized that she had misgendered Brian in her thoughts earlier.
She’d have to ask Victoria about it later.
Or she could ask Brian himself. Victoria mentioned Indianapolis.
Is that where she had been living and working?
Is that where her cousin’s storage place was? Only two hours away?
Jessica and Victoria sat down at the table without letting go of each other’s hands. They kept grinning at each other while Miss Rikki and Master Seamus gave their opening address. Victoria rubbed the back of Jessica’s hand every now and then as if trying to make sure she was real.
Victoria whispered, “I can’t wait until we’re alone.”
Jessica’s eyebrows rose up.
“To talk, silly,” Victoria whispered back. “And maybe…cuddle.”
Jessica nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Taking it slow,” Victoria said.
Jessica nodded again. She was glad Victoria wasn’t rushing in too quickly.
“Your hazel eyes are mesmerizing me,” Victoria said. Her gaze intensified, so much so that Jessica had to look away. Her cheeks were flaming hot.
The emcees finished their humorous opening speech, laid out the rules and guidelines for the evening, and then the DJ put on music to get the event going.
“Now what? Victoria asked.
“We dance,” Jessica said.
Joined by three very enthusiastic littles, Brian, and several of Miss Jaleesa’s submissives, they piled onto the dance floor.
Kari tapped her arm and made a ‘way to go’ face at her.
Jessica just smiled back. It was a fast tune, so they moved as the music made them.
Victoria’s movements were very sexy but in a subtle way.
The woman was genderfluidly gorgeous. Her hair was boyishly long, flipped over to one side.
Her hips were slim, and her arms were muscular and strong. Was it getting hot in there or what?
Jessica felt Victoria’s gaze all over her body as well.
She felt good in the flattering dress and pushed her self-doubt back behind her jubilance.
A slower song came on. Victoria put her arms out in question.
Jessica melded into them and was grateful that Victoria hadn’t simply assumed Jessica would want full body contact. But, oh, yes, she did.
“You fit perfectly in my arms, JB,” Victoria said.
“Yes, I do.” Jessica nestled her head against Victoria’s shoulder. “I’d like to stay here in your arms for a while if I can.”
“You can.” After a moment, Victoria pulled her head back and said, “I know we’re taking it slow, but…” She used the thumb of one hand to brush each one of Jessica’s eyebrows. The hand then caressed Jessica’s cheek. “I’m so glad I found you.” She leaned closer.
Jessica closed the distance. Their lips met. The kiss was slow and tentative at first. Sensuous. It heated up quickly, and Jessica started feeling a deep need. She heard catcalls in the background and remembered where she was. She broke off the kiss and shyly buried her face in Victoria’s chest.
“I know. I know,” Victoria said.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Jessica said as they swayed to the music. “I wasn’t expecting—I mean, I figured it would be a while before we met. And I didn’t know where you lived, if it would be a multi-day trip for you from Miami or something.”
Victoria smiled. “I was going to call you later tonight and tell you how much I missed you and how much I wished you had been here with me.”
“Same,” Jessica said and then grinned. “Will you?”
“Will I what?”
“Kiss me again?”
“Mmm,” Victoria moaned in answer and obliged.
Deep dark arousal coursed through Jessica’s body. She wanted to grab Victoria’s hand, swoop her home, and make love. She moaned in frustration.
“I’m with you on that one,” Victoria said. “But we need at least a second date before going further. Maybe even a third or more.”
Jessica’s eyes grew wide. She didn’t think her body would let her wait much longer. She reached up and clamped Victoria’s lips closed. “Shut up. Just dance.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Victoria mumbled between clamped lips.
They danced to a couple more songs, had some food, and then sat at the table, holding hands, while their friends danced.
Victoria shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re here. I mean, you’ve been here in Denton Heights this whole time. You know, I actually saw you once before but had no clue it was you.”
“What? How?”
“Rowena sent me a video of Shanice’s prosthetics reveal party, and I saw this pretty woman standing next to Madison. I wondered who she was.”
“What did you come up with?”
Victoria chuckled. “I figured you were one of Shanice’s colleagues from her job or something.”
Jessica’s grin threatened to overtake her face. “You thought I was pretty?” Funny how she’d gotten stuck on that part.
“Don’t ever doubt that,” Victoria said staring soulfully into Jessica’s eyes. Jessica melted. “You’re very attractive.” Her expression changed to a serious one. One eyebrow raised. “Is that understood? You will never question that again, right?”
“I will not, Ma’am,” Jessica said. But now she was a puddle on the floor. That dominance she’d been craving. There it was.
“Good.” A smile crept up Victoria’s face. She bopped Jessica on the nose and then said, “Hey, tonight, how did you know it was me? Have you known who I was this whole time?”
Jessica shook her head. “I had no idea Denton Heights was the town you were referring to. When you and Brian came in with Rowena’s group, Madison yelled, ‘Daddy Vic.’ I was in shock, too. But you look like your profile picture.”
“That’s an old picture.”
“Same great hair.” Jessica reached up and tousled Victoria’s hair. “And, Vic, for what it’s worth, Bernadette seems happy and healthy.”
“I think so, too,” Victoria said. “So you know what that means, don’t you?”
“What?”
“I now have the green light to drive all the way to JB’s hometown and ask her out on a date.”
Jessica laughed. “You absolutely do have the green light.”
“Rowena says they’ve started the tradition of meeting at the coffee shop the day after masquerade balls. They have pizza and ice cream. Would you, JB, like to accompany me to this post-ball gathering?”
“Like on a date?”
“Yes. Would it be our second date?”
“It would,” Jessica said. “And yes, I would love to go.”
A cheer from the dance floor caught their attention.
Shanice was now standing, and in Miss Marta’s arms as they slow danced.
Miss Marta was crying so much that it looked like Shanice was consoling her.
Victoria pulled a clean handkerchief from her pants pocket and handed it to Jessica to wipe her tears.
“This is fantastic,” Jessica said.
“They are so perfect for each other,” Victoria said. “And before you go confessing everything, Shanice told me that you and Miss Marta used to be play partners and that you’re in their soul patrol. Something like that.”
“When did she tell you all that? You’re not mad?”
“Of course, I’m not mad. Marta’s a good person.
Like Bernadette told me, we all have life experiences that help us evolve.
You and Marta had yours. And now you and I get to have ours.
” She leaned down and kissed Jessica firmly.
“And to answer your question, Shanice blurted out the whole thing when Madison escorted you to the restroom before dinner.”
“All in the name of community service,” Jessica said with a chuckle.
A little while later they watched Miss Shasti and Minjung’s rope suspension. They watched that together while holding hands. The tie and suspension had been amazing, inspiring even. Jessica wondered if Victoria liked to tie. She wondered a lot of things but refused to get ahead of herself.
Too soon, way too soon, the party came to an end. Victoria gallantly walked Jessica to her car, kissed her silly through the open driver’s window, and then made Jessica promise to call once she got home safely.
Lying in bed, Misty by her side, Jessica looked up at the ceiling and said, “Was that real?” Her phone lit up. It was a text from Victoria, and then another, and a third.
Victoria: I’m lying in this bed thinking about you, JB. I’m still in shock. I wish you were here with me. Or I was there with you, cuddling, holding you. You’re safe with me. You know some of my worst moments, and I hope you’ll allow me to show you some of my best.
Victoria: I’m thinking that after we socialize at the coffee shop for a respectable amount of time, we go somewhere to be by ourselves. We could go hiking, for a drive, or… something. I just want you all to myself tomorrow. Think about it.
Victoria: I miss you already.
Jessica turned to Misty and said, “It’s real. I hope you like her as much as I do.” She answered the texts one by one, and then they spent the next half hour texting back and forth before Victoria ended the exchange, saying they both needed sleep so they’d have good energy the next day.
“Good energy for what, Daddy Cheese?” Jessica asked the ceiling because, as far as she was concerned, two dates were more than enough for the relationship to move to the next phase.