Chapter 18
always better the second day
Jess’s chest swelled with a deep sigh, and she rolled over to study Callie. “So much of you, of us,” she said quietly. “Your words and how you…are.”
She trailed her fingertips along Callie’s arm, rising across her bicep, then dipping into the inside of her elbow. Not as a tickle, more of a tour of softness and strength, “I see you through a new lens now, no, not a lens..a window. And the light is coming from your side.”
Callie tried to speak, but her throat closed around the words, and her eyes prickled. Jess kissed her before she could fall apart. Softly, sweetly, a press of lips that asked for nothing but offered everything.
Then Jess began to move.
She didn’t lunge for pleasure. She searched for it. Sampling with quiet strokes, enjoying Callie’s body. Her hands ran over Callie’s ribs, her thighs, and the soft, flat dip of her stomach. But Jess was listening as well, and as her mouth reached Callie’s breast, she gasped, her back arched into Jess’s wet caress. But Jess didn’t linger. She moved lower and slowed way down, dragging her fingers to Callie’s inner thighs and spreading her gently. Jess could feel the heat, could feel Callie’s legs trembling.
The first brush, the back of Jess’s knuckle, was maddening. Featherlight and a definite tease.
“Gaah,” Callie let out a broken laugh, “Jess…don’t…don’t play with me.”
“I’m not playing,” Jess said, “I’m listening.”
Her fingers moved with precision, circling just long enough for Callie to stutter a groan, and then Jess backed off. Once, then twice, a little bit longer.
By the third time, Callie was panting, eyes glassy, her body pulsing with denied release.
“You’re evil,” Callie muttered, straining, her hips rising to find Jess, “…Medieval. I swear to God, Jess. I’m on the rack, and you’re stretching me out, every fucking nerve. Mmmmm.”
Jess poised two fingers and slid them down firmly over the velvet surface of Callie’s lips. Her touch and Callie’s sharp intake of breath answered one of Jess’s unasked questions. She slowly rubbed her fingers in a gentle circle and found Callie’s earlobe. After a nibble and a flick of her tongue, she rose over Callie, never losing her rhythm, “I have a question.”
Already unable to focus, Callie seemed startled to see Jess’s face above hers. Her closed eyes widened, then returned to a hooded gaze, “Anything…” Callie moaned.
Jess’s teasing mood was briefly interrupted, caught by the unspeakable beauty of Callie’s soft-lit expression. Her lips parted, tongue brushing against her teeth as if asking Jess to hurry up, but she couldn’t get the words out. A drawn-out moan would have to suffice.
“You like direct friction,” Jess whispered, pressing harder, ensuring there was pressure where it needed to be. “Because you’re soaked,” Jess said, parting her gently, swirling her fingertips, and holding still.
Callie gasped, then whimpered.
“Show me what you need, or I’ll keep guessing.”
Jess felt Callie’s arm snake under her, then her hand clamp across her back. Callie pulled Jess to her chest and flexed, almost taking Jess’s breath away for an entirely different reason, “Yes,” she groaned as her hips rose off the bed. “Use your fingers. Just…fuck me, Jess.”
Nothing epic or flowery. No riddles. Just consent and wildfire truth.
Jess slid in, slow but sure, watching Callie’s face the entire time, two fingers easily pushing into that slick heat, and Callie bucked so hard it sent Jess forward, their mouths colliding in a gasping, half-laughing kiss that turned filthy in an instant.
Callie gripped Jess like she was falling, one arm around Jess’s shoulders, the other hand clawing at Jess’s back, fingers dragging down with delicious, helpless intent. Her leg wrapped around Jess’s waist, pulling her in as if trying to fuse them at the center.
“Oh,” Callie cried out, “Don’t stop…don’t….mmmMmm.”
Jess didn’t stop. She thrust hard, hand braced against the mattress for leverage, her rhythm changing, listening for Callie’s sounds, the sharp, high-pitched whines she couldn’t hold in. The heat in the room had surrounded them both.
Slick with a glaze of sweat and glowing, the sheets, a twisted battlefield, and Jess realized something in the mess of it.
Callie was strong. Not just in spirit but in body. Every buck of her hips, the squeeze of her thighs, and the desperate grinding against Jess’s fingers were forceful. It took everything Jess had to stay locked in place, which only turned her on more.
She fought against Callie’s grip to roll against Callie’s flexing thigh, “Trying to throw me off, Babe?”
Jess’s little word choice was only more encouragement. Callie’s face pushed into Jess’s chest, “Trying to survive….you’re…fuck, you’re unfair. Go,” she gasped, “I’m right there.”
Callie’s hips sped up, and Jess curled her fingers just right and pushed with her palm.
Seconds later, Callie arched, her head went into the pillow, eyes squeezed shut, mouth open in a silent scream, then, “I’m…gonna…Jessemay.”
Her whole body tensed, then snapped, her back bowing off the bed, taking Jess with her. Legs in a vise-like grip, Callie shuddered against Jess’s body.
Jess didn’t slow. Not until the aftershocks rolled through, and Callie, still clinging, started to shake with laughter between deep gasps, and the room was back to the quiet music.
“That was….” Callie tried, still panting, “spiritual warfare. I’m…filing a complaint.”
Jess, her chest still heaving, snorted, “Filed. Denied.” She pulled her fingers free with aching care and rolled onto her back, trying to find her breath, sweat cooling her body like early-morning dew.
Callie flopped beside her, destroyed, hair matted to her forehead. Her hand found Jess’s on instinct and laced their fingers. Callie giggled, “They feel pruney cuz I’m a sopping mess.”
Jess grinned, “I’m not worried; you just haven’t gone into my bathroom yet.”
Callie’s brow furrowed, “Yeah? More candles? Do we get to play slip and slide in the tub?”
Jess laughed, fully expecting a comment like that, “I think that would be fun. Yes, there are more candles. I have a nice assortment of towels…massage oil, and snacks.” Jess craned her neck to look at the clock on her nightstand, “And it’s only 7:30.”
Callie’s eyes went wide, and she sputtered, laughing, then settling into a flurry of bouncing eyebrows, “Meaning we can do it again?”
“Mmm,” Jess grinned, “I certainly hope so.” She saw Callie’s head nodding like she was hesitating to say something, and smirked, “Let me guess, you’re hungry?”
Callie guffawed, startled, but her libido was still humming, “For you? Always. You have no idea.”
“Think I caught a glimpse,” Jess smiled. But then she leaned forward, lips puckering, “Kiss me.” Callie was thrilled to comply, “I will never refuse you. For anything.”
Jess’s expression changed. The kiss was soft but short, and Jess pulled back, “This isn’t just about sex,” she said quietly. “Not really. Not anymore.”
Callie held still. So much had happened in such a short time. She knew that months of longing and frustration had just evaporated. But she felt Jess’s fingertips run the length of her arm, a wave of goosebumps chasing her touch. It seemed rich, electric, and grounding.
Callie didn’t question Jess. She waited.
“This…us…” Jess continued, “It’s what happens when two souls finally stop pretending they’re separate. It’s messy and holy.” Her hand clamped onto Callie’s arm, “so much aching fun. I’m starting to think it’s the only kind of magic that was ever real.”
Callie blinked, just blinked, “Jess…”
But Jess held up her hand, dead serious, “And, also, I may have stayed up late last night to make your favorite mac and cheese, emphasis on last night.” She rolled off the bed with all the confidence of a woman who had just wrecked another human being and strutted to the door, buck-naked and unapologetic.
“Wait…what?” Callie blinked.
“Two souls, one destiny,” Jess called over her shoulder, “and a metric ton of cheddar. Bring a fork, my horny blond goddess, or stay hungry.”
“Last night,” Callie gasped and started scrambling, “it’s always better the second day. Oh my God, you’re amazing.”