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Chapter Twenty-Eight

P hilippa leaned into Alex and kissed her, relaxing into it this time.

She could get used to kissing this woman, she decided.

Alex’s arms were around her waist, and Philippa allowed her hand to travel up Alex’s side to her face.

Her skin was warm and smooth. She knew she wanted more, but she didn’t know how to ask for it.

The sense of wanting more was new to her.

She’d been on the other end of it with Paul, and with men she’d dated in her youth.

She’d always assumed that all women felt slightly uncomfortable about it.

She’d never even considered she might feel that way about someone herself.

But here she was, contemplating bringing her hand downwards to brush Alex’s breast. And at the same time, being terrified to make any kind of move that might scare Alex away. She pulled back slightly.

“Ok?” asked Alex. “I know this isn’t something you’ve done before, and I don’t want you to feel pressured. If you want to stop, or you want me to go, please just say. It will be ok. I promise.”

“I’m absolutely fine,” smiled Philippa. “And honestly, I’m not sure how I would cope if you left right now.”

Alex laughed. “Well, thank goodness for that. Now, for heaven’s sake, please touch me.” And she leaned towards Philippa to kiss her. This time more fiercely.

Philippa didn’t need telling twice, and brought her hand downwards, running her finger along Alex’s cotton shirt collar.

Her neck was inviting, and she broke the contact between their lips to dip her head and kiss under her collar.

Alex leaned her head back and sighed. “Am I doing it right?” asked Philippa, her voice muffled by the material.

“More than right,” said Alex. “You’re a natural.”

“I’m not sure about that,” said Philippa, beginning to unbutton Alex’s shirt without thinking. Once she had dealt with the top three buttons she slipped her hand onto Alex’s chest, grazing the lace at the top of her bra.

“Yes, Phil, that’s right,” said Alex, her voice low.

There was something immediately wonderful to Philippa about eliciting this kind of response from Alex.

This was a woman who always seemed so in control, who had been there and seen it all.

But here was Philippa, inexperienced and nervous, making Alex breathe more and more heavily.

Philippa’s own breath had deepened, and she brought her face back to Alex’s, to kiss her lips again as she moved her hand down further and stroked Alex’s breast. It was Philippa’s turn to sigh, and she could feel herself coming undone.

“How asleep is your daughter?” whispered Alex, her voice urgent.

“That is a very good question,” said Philippa, mindful that the stairs came out directly into the living room where they were sat, snogging like teenagers. “Perhaps I should go and check.”

“Good plan,” said Alex.

“And if she is asleep, I propose you join me upstairs. My room’s at the opposite end of the house to hers. Turn left at the top of the stairs – I’ll text you if it’s ok,” said Philippa.

“I love Boss Philippa,” said Alex, a glint in her eye. “All masterful.”

Philippa blushed, but she was enjoying the other woman teasing her.

She tiptoed up the stairs. With every step she prayed that Dottie was fast asleep so she could close her door.

Her daughter always insisted on falling asleep with it open, as if afraid she might miss something interesting if she let it close.

She was nothing if not on brand, even at bedtime.

Trying to be as stealthy as possible, Philippa poked her head around the doorway.

Dottie was fast asleep, splayed out on her bed, an open book in one hand.

Philippa slowly put out her hand and took the door handle gently.

With infinite care, she pulled the door towards her, making as little sound as possible.

She had come this far, and to wake Dottie at this point would be a tragedy for her sex life.

She knew that for a fact. She allowed the door to close, then paused on the landing, taking a breath.

She’d done it. She silently punched the air, careful not to hit anything and make a sound.

Once in her bedroom, Philippa took out her phone and texted Alex. “All clear. The eagle has landed.”

A few seconds later she heard footsteps on the landing. Alex appeared in the doorway, stifling a giggle. “The eagle has landed?” she whispered.

Philippa put a finger to her lips. “Shhh, close the door. Lock it.”

Alex did as she was told, then turned to walk towards Philippa, who was sitting on the end of her bed.

With each step, Alex undid another of her buttons, shedding her shirt just as she reached Philippa.

“This reminds me of when I used to sneak to my girlfriend’s house when I was in my teens,” said Alex, leaning forward to unbutton Philippa’s top.

“Her parents didn’t approve, so she’d let me in through the back door after they went to sleep, and I’d spend the night, only to have to escape before dawn. ”

“Wow,” said Philippa. “I didn’t do anything even vaguely that exciting or…” she gasped at Alex’s hand on her breast, the sensation from her nipple interrupting the connection between her brain and her voice.

Alex put her other hand onto Philippa’s shoulder and gently pushed her back. “Is this ok?” she asked. Philippa nodded, before grabbing the back of Alex’s neck and pulling her down onto her.

“It’s all ok,” said Philippa, not wanting to delay matters any further. “I want you.”

That was all Alex needed. “You are unbelievably hot,” she said, gazing at Philippa’s chest and midriff. “But I think that we’re both incredibly overdressed right now.”

Philippa smiled. “I agree entirely.”

Alex stood up again, while Philippa stayed where she was, leaning back on her elbows on the bed.

She watched as Alex slowly removed her shirt and bra.

Her hands went to her belt, and Philippa couldn’t bear to simply watch.

She stood to undo Alex’s buckle. She could see Alex’s neck and face flush as she unzipped her jeans.

Alex smiled and slipped Philippa’s shirt off her shoulders. It pooled on the floor, and Philippa wasted no time in undoing her bra and tossing it aside. Alex undid her trousers and Philippa stepped out of them. “I think you should get back on the bed,” said Alex.

“No,” said Philippa. “After you.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “It’s like that, is it?”

Philippa gave a shy grin and nodded. So Alex shrugged and got onto the bed, naked apart from her knickers.

She lay on her back and looked up at Philippa, who climbed on and swiftly straddled Alex.

“You feel so good against my skin,” said Philippa, leaning down to feel her body against Alex’s and kiss her.

Philippa adjusted herself so she had one leg between Alex’s, and Alex groaned.

“You’ve done this before,” said Alex.

“Nope. I’m just following my instincts,” said Philippa, dropping her head to Alex’s chest to kiss her smooth skin.

“Well, may I say that you have superb instincts,” said Alex, breathlessly. “Oh yes, there,” she gasped as Philippa took her nipple into her mouth, licking it first gently, and then sucking it.

Alex pushed Philippa gently away and turned her over onto her back. She lowered herself onto Philippa and smiled. “My turn to be in charge,” she said. She kissed Philippa while allowing her hand to trail slowly down her stomach until it reached the top of her knickers. “And these need to go.”

Philippa didn’t have the wherewithal to answer in words, so she just nodded and raised her hips.

Alex pulled off the knickers and dragged a finger slowly down through Philippa, who thought she might actually die of happiness right there and then.

She couldn’t recall a time when she had been this turned on with someone else in the room.

She brought her hands to Alex’s waist, and pulled down her knickers, too.

“Good point,” said Alex, making quick work of removing them and returning to her place.

Philippa felt an intense closeness to the other woman as they lay skin to skin, nothing to divide them.

She sighed, and for a second thought she might actually cry.

She held back, aware that this would spoil the moment, and before she had another thought, Alex’s fingers had found where Philippa was wettest.

“Yes,” said Philippa. “Yes, more.”

Alex smiled and began to kiss Philippa’s neck as she pushed first one and then two fingers into her.

Philippa stopped trying to make sense and instead gave in to the moment.

She could feel the care Alex was taking, as well as how turned on this was making Alex.

She wanted to touch her, too, but knew her dexterity would fail her at this moment.

“You are just gorgeous to touch,” said Alex, drawing her hand in and out in a steady rhythm, while Philippa’s breath accelerated. She adjusted her hand to move her thumb up and add a sensation that almost caused Philippa to come on the spot.

Philippa tried for a minute to delay the inevitable, but she couldn’t hold on any longer.

She grabbed Alex’s back with both her hands and squeezed as she felt the force of pleasure and passion overtake her.

If there had been no one else in the house, she knew she would have been noisier, but she managed to keep it down.

Once her orgasm had subsided, she held Alex close to her and breathed, wanting to hold onto the moment forever. Part of her wanted to hold onto Alex forever, too, but she knew that was probably just the biological chemicals. The alternative was too scary even to contemplate.

“I enjoyed that,” said Alex, her voice muffled by Philippa’s breasts.

“Oh my word,” said Philippa finally. “So did I.”

“I got that impression,” said Alex, popping up her head to look at Philippa’s face.

“There’s no need to look so smug,” said Philippa with a faux haughty look.

“Really? I mean, it’s been a while since I got a toaster oven,” said Alex.

“A what?” Philippa was confused.

“Google it,” said Alex with a wicked giggle. “But seriously though, you are a beautiful and incredibly sexy woman. I can’t even tell you how turned on I am right now. And that’s not to put you under any pressure to do anything you don’t want to, by the way.”

“Oh, Alex, there are many things I want to do,” said Philippa with a smirk. Then she flipped Alex onto her back and climbed on top of her. “Starting with this.” Slowly, she began to kiss her way down Alex’s body.