Page 26

The most beautiful and astonishing thing Nicola had ever witnessed. The sound of Geeta's cry alone reduced her to atoms. That most personal and private of reactions shocked her, because this was Geeta who despaired of her, was enraged by her, but came at her touch. Geeta’s warmth still softened her fingertips, Nicola’s hand resting inside her.

She’d never recover from Geeta clinging to her in desperation at how hard she came. All of it resonated as deep and true, a sound and touch and sensation she recognised, as real and honest as her own.

“Oh,” trembled from her lips.

She melted a thousand times.

Brazen, she’d stripped in front of her, but when Geeta slipped off her clothes, she’d turned weak and collapsed to her knees. Overcome at the sight of the sumptuous curve of generous hips, the soft undulation of her tummy and beautiful brown skin. Drawn to large teardrop breasts that she craved against her cheek, the mauve perfection of her nipple turning firm and warm beneath her tongue. Tasting the subtle, natural salts and oils, distinctive to each human being, and Geeta’s instantly addictive.

She groaned. All of it shocked with intense forbidden eroticism, and Nicola’s body had moved compelled against any inhibition. Kissing, caressing, seducing. Listening to Geeta’s breathing, that edged higher and faster, driving Nicola’s touch as if Geeta controlled her hand.

Nicola tried to speak, but it came out as another quiet moan.

“Turn over,” Geeta whispered.

She opened her eyes, lids heavy, to find Geeta’s satiated face dozy and dark eyed. Obediently, she rolled on her back, trembling and brimming with arousal.

"Are you OK to touch me?” she said, lips clumsy and slurring.

Geeta leant over, her breast silkily cushioning hers.

The sweep of Nicola's pale body trembled against Geeta’s golden curves, and twitched, longing for attention, while she desperately tried to sound reasoned.

“Are you too tired?” she added.

Something seemed to switch in Geeta, and she murmured, “Oh I am very OK to touch you.” And the look she gave had Nicola almost undone before she even started.

Geeta smiled, with both admiration and pleasure, as if drinking in Nicola's shaking body. Like she’d dine on her, rather than simply return a favour. A finger trailed down Nicola’s stomach, and she let out the most ridiculous moan. She'd never let anyone else hear something like that, but she had no choice here. When Geeta touched, her control relinquished.

“Soft,” Geeta gasped, and her head lolled, seduced again.

The finger trailed lower and encouraged Nicola to open her legs, to a gasp from them both as it slipped lower.

“Wet,” Geeta whispered.

The way Geeta looked at her. The way she touched her. With a compulsive care and addicted longing. She didn’t know if how Geeta caressed or gazed seduced her more.

Then it was like a tidal wave over her whole body, because Geeta circled her clit, and Nicola closed her eyes and groaned loud and long.

Breathing hard, she opened her eyes again, and Geeta stared at her, incredulous and delighted.

“I wondered if I needed to ask, but I think I’ve found you,” she whispered.

Nicola opened her mouth to say yes, but the harsh gasp that escaped said more.

Just this simple touch. Just Geeta gazing into her eyes, with their quick breaths mingling. The intense sensation of the most deft of strokes on her clit. Circling in small, firm motions, building and building, deeper and deeper. Like a mountain of intensity grew inside her.

The moan started at the back of her throat, and she couldn’t stop it, even though the sensation still built, as if it pushed at her from within. And Geeta held her tight as she exploded, and everything was dark and stars.

Body without boundaries. Nothing but light and the sound of rasping breaths. In the quiet of the little death of Nicola Albright, she realised she’d never be the same again.

Not just pretty. Not just practice. Curiosity not satisfied, but instead soaring insatiable. Way beyond the real thing. Overpowering lust had burned her body and now craved harder than ever before. How had she thought it would be anything less.

She turned her head slowly to Geeta, knowing her eyes were wide and astonished. She found the same expression on Geeta’s face.

“I do not have words,” Geeta whispered. “I have no words.” And she leant down and kissed her, gentle and tender, while Nicola lay struck down by their coming together.

***

Slowly, they seemed to come to, waking up again. Nicola propped herself up on her elbow, to gaze at Geeta who lay alongside.

She swallowed to clear her throat to speak, but a grin kept spreading on her face. It was as if they sobered up and found themselves in bed with each other.

“Well that was...” Geeta grinned too.

So many things.

“A surprise?” Nicola offered.

“An incredible surprise.”

They both quietly laughed.

“I feel a bit embarrassed now,” Geeta said, still with a beautiful smile. “I’m not sure what to do.”

Nicola shrugged.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Geeta asked.

And they laughed again.

How wonderful was that sound from Geeta. Another new one for Nicola. Content, elated, satisfied. She never heard it like that before. Nicola didn’t want the spell to break yet, and she stroked the waves of Geeta’s soft hair behind an ear and leant forwards and kissed her again.

“Are you OK?” Geeta asked quietly, when she lay back.

She nodded. “I don’t know what to say, but nothing about that is bad.”

Nicola shouldn’t say more though, not when Geeta’s laugh worked magic on her.

“I think I know what you mean,” Geeta said. “I haven’t the words yet.”

And neither did Nicola. It kept sinking in. The encounter had blown her apart, and she was forming again, over and over, and more clear with every definition.

“Can I say I liked this, though?” Nicola asked.

That was understated enough.

A wave of concern touched Geeta's eyes. “Yes, you can.” And she cupped her cheek. “And I did too. Very much. More than I can express right now.”

And that hit her in the chest.

“Is this a big deal for you?” Geeta asked. “Sleeping with a woman?”

It stirred things. Regrets. Mistakes. Feelings. Always with the feelings.

“Yes and no,” Nicola replied.

Not in the way Geeta meant perhaps. There was nothing she regretted here. No doubts about her sexuality. “I loved everything we did.”

And Geeta kissed her delicately. “I’m glad.”

They both propped themselves up higher, pulling the duvet around their chests, waking properly into themselves again – Nicola Albright and Geeta Sachdeva, naked in bed, and a little self-conscious.

“What do we do now?” Geeta asked, her smile both gentle and amused. “What are we doing Nicola Albright KC?”

The fun and challenge in Geeta’s tone revitalised Nicola.

“Well,” Nicola considered, “we seem to be making a terrible mess of being friends.”

Geeta chuckled, irresistible post-coital mellowness mixing with their usual banter.

“And we are some kind of complicated,” Nicola added.

“That is true,” Geeta agreed. “So, what are we doing?”

Multiple things for Nicola. Looking at Geeta right now was complex and fluid and terrible and wonderful. Still blown apart and waiting to reform, her boundaries were undefined and insubstantial. But all of her was drawn to Geeta who lay beside her naked, hand propping up cheek, and irresistible.

Nicola wanted to reach out and trace along the shape of her eyebrows, over her high cheeks, along the line of her nose, the slight rise of its line distinctive and compelling. Trail her finger along her lips, full, and achingly beautiful. Cup her cheek and kiss her and kiss her and kiss her.

Black velvety eyebrows lifted with concern.

“Exploring?” Nicola offered quickly. “Having fun?” she added, anticipating what Geeta needed to hear.

Nicola knew where Geeta stood – recently divorced, finding her feet and herself again, and stretching into new experiences. And her heart, never so present as this, ached.

“Are you enjoying this?” Nicola asked.

“Yes, I am,” Geeta murmured.

“What’s the time, by the way?”

“Oh god,” Geeta said, rolling away to check a bedside clock. “Gone two o’clock.” She rolled back and sighed. “I have to work in a handful of hours.”

“OK,” Nicola said. “Then,” she leant forward and kissed her. “I will let you get some sleep. But...” she kissed her again. Tenderly. Dreamily. “Who knows, perhaps we’ll bump into each other sometime.”

Geeta grinned. “And what if that happens? What should we do?”

“Hmmm,” Nicola pondered, thinking all kinds of things. “See how this settles. Then we’ll make something up?”

“OK,” Geeta said.

Geeta was content. That’s all she could ask for.

“Maybe,” Nicola added playfully, “you could read your book for inspiration?”

“Maybe.” Geeta laughed.

“But also...” Her heart thudded and a frisson of fear shot inside. “We can just have a cup of tea, if you want.”

Geeta took in what she said, nodding, still dazed by their night together.

“I’d like that.”

“Good.”

Nicola sat up and pulled back the duvet. Then her eyes trespassed down the bed, and she licked her lips.

Geeta gave her a look that both welcomed the attention and chastised her, before giving her the once up and down too.

Nicola smiled and tugged on her dress while Geeta threw on a T-shirt and shorts.

“You don’t have to get up.”

“I want to,” Geeta said simply.

They padded down the stairs and Geeta took her to the door, and they kissed, not on the cheek, to say goodbye.

“Good night,” Nicola said.

“Sleep tight.”

Geeta smiled at her with dozy satisfaction and fondness. And Nicola had to make herself walk away.