Page 24 of For My Finale

T he day had just started turning into evening when there was a knocking on the door. Blossom, who’d been going through her accounts one more time just in case something had changed overnight, got up to answer with a puzzled frown. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

No questions were answered when she opened the door.

She was greeted by flowers. Not just a bunch of them, but what felt like an entire field full.

So many flowers that the doorway was filled by them.

So many flowers that it was only when she heard a ferocious sneeze from behind them that she realized there was anyone there at all.

“Lilah?” she said incredulously.

“I think I might have allergies,” Lilah’s voice said from behind the flowers.

“I think you might have bankrupted several small countries in the process of buying all these,” Blossom said.

“Um, can I come in?”

“You’ll have to move some flowers,” Blossom said uncertainly. “But yes, of course you can come in.”

Between the two of them they managed to get the immense amounts of flowers through the door, and then, using a combination of a vase, pots and pans and most of Blossom’s mug collection, they got them all into water. One tremendous bouquet went into the bathtub.

“Now,” Blossom said, slightly breathless and covered in pollen and leaves. “What is all this in aid of?”

“An apology,” Lilah said.

“Lilah…”

“I know, I know, but I wanted to do something big. I wanted to make an impression,” said Lilah.

“They’re too much.”

“They’re not enough.”

Up until this point, Blossom had been amused if slightly befuddled. But now Lilah was coming closer, stepping in, and she could see that Lilah wasn’t joking at all. She was deadly serious.

“They’re not enough,” Lilah said again. “Because I wasn’t just a bit of an asshole, I was a total asshole. You’re right, I know that you wouldn’t sell me out. I should have trusted in that, not come in guns blazing and full of accusations.”

“Lilah, it’s fine, I get it.”

“Do you?” Lilah said. “Because I’m not entirely sure you do.

For most of my life, there has been nobody there.

I mean, there have been people, but no one that just…

had my back. No one that wouldn’t sell me out if the price was right, who wouldn’t drop me like I’m hot at the first hint of scandal, who wouldn’t lie to my face if that was what was necessary to get what they wanted.

No one, Blossom. Not one single person.”

Blossom took her hands. “That must have been awful,” was all she could think of to say.

“Yeah, well…” Lilah cleared her throat. “Well, then you just leap to my defense in front of Gloria like that and…” She cleared her throat again. “And I realized that you’re different. Aren’t you?”

“I’d like to think so,” said Blossom.

“You are,” Lilah said softly, stepping in closer, tucking a stray curl behind Blossom’s ear.

“You’re different and I should treat you differently, and I’m so sorry, Blossom.

I do believe in you. I believe in you more than you believe in yourself, I swear.

This won’t happen again. I will put you first, every time, I swear it. ”

Blossom laughed. “Come on now, it’s not that serious.”

“It is to me.”

Blossom was about to say something, but the look in Lilah’s eyes stopped her. Lilah was serious. This was important to her. Blossom put a hand up to Lilah’s cheek. “Okay,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”

She could feel Lilah’s breath on her cheek, could feel the heat of her body.

And then Lilah was stepping in and her lips were soft and warm and Blossom couldn’t help the reaction that her body had.

She couldn’t help arching her hips to meet Lilah’s, couldn’t help the warm snake uncurling in her belly, couldn’t help her breath leaving her lungs as Lilah’s mouth settled onto hers.

She closed her eyes, reaching up so that her arms were around Lilah’s neck, so that she was pulling her in closer. Until Lilah was picking her up, until Blossom’s legs were wrapped around Lilah’s waist, until Lilah was backing her against the wall, still kissing her, breath sweet and fast.

With every ounce of strength that she had, she pulled back. “Hey, what happened to taking it slow?” she breathed.

Lilah’s eyes searched hers. “We can stop.”

“No,” Blossom said, eyes widening in alarm. “We don’t have to stop, just…”

Lilah bit her lip. “Blossom, I think that you might be the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.”

“Me?” Blossom said, her lips twitched into a smile. “What about you?”

Lilah snorted. “I’m the best at everything.”

“Oh, really?” asked Blossom, lowering her legs so that she was standing. “I’m not sure you’re the best at absolutely everything.”

“That’s only because you haven’t experienced me yet.”

The words hung in the air for a second, then slowly, carefully, Blossom took Lilah’s hands. “Well, let’s see if we can change that, shall we?” she said, voice hoarse and husky as she led Lilah toward the stairs.

???

Blossom stood in the middle of the bedroom, the light coming in golden through the window, catching on her dark curls, highlighting them in reds and oranges. And Lilah didn’t think she’d ever wanted someone so much in her life.

With careful, gentle fingers, she began to unbutton Blossom’s blouse, sliding it down over her pale shoulders, exposing her to the air.

Then she flicked the button on Blossom’s jeans, sliding them down over smooth legs until she stepped out of them and was left in only her underwear, black against white skin.

Then Blossom reached up for the hem of Lilah’s t-shirt.

“I wasn’t finished with you,” Lilah said.

“I’m not a toy to play with,” said Blossom firmly. “This is a joint affair.”

And Lilah Paxton, who always got what she wanted, who always took what she wanted, stood still and quiet as Blossom undressed her, warm fingers tickling against warm skin, until they were both naked in the golden light and Lilah could barely look at Blossom she was so beautiful.

“We can stop anytime,” Blossom said, taking Lilah’s hand again.

“Anytime,” Lilah agreed.

Blossom led her toward the bed, gently pushed her until she fell onto it, then lay beside her, skin just touching.

“And… if I never want to stop?” Lilah said, as Blossom’s fingers stroked over the skin of her belly.

Blossom laughed and came in closer. “Then we’ll never stop,” she whispered, the words sending shivers down Lilah’s spine.

“Never?” Lilah said, as Blossom began kissing her neck.

“Never,” Blossom agreed, moving on to Lilah’s right nipple.

“Oh God,” said Lilah.

“Oh God,” agreed Blossom, moving on to Lilah’s left nipple .

Lilah felt a heat that she’d never known growing inside her, felt herself suddenly desperate for Blossom’s touch, desperate to have Blossom closer. She grabbed for Blossom’s hand, moving it down, placing it between her legs.

“Already?” Blossom said, raising her head, mischief twinkling in her eyes.

“I swear to God,” Lilah breathed. “If you don’t touch me right now, I’m going to start taking care of matters myself.”

“We can’t have that,” Blossom said, sliding down Lilah’s body. “We can’t have that at all.”

Lilah closed her eyes, feeling Blossom’s breath on the insides of her thighs, feeling Blossom’s hair tickling at her skin, then finally, inevitably, feeling Blossom’s tongue begin to part her folds.

And it all came upon her in such a rush. Her hands jumped down to tangle in Blossom’s hair, her hips pushed up to meet Blossom’s tongue, her breath started to leap in her chest, and her pulse began to race in her veins, and every thought she’d ever had left her mind.

There was only sensation. Only the scent of Blossom and the touch of Blossom and the feel of Blossom, until Lilah couldn’t breathe at all.

Until every muscle, every atom strained, until something inside her broke and she was shaking and sweating and clinging to Blossom, thighs tight around her head, lost in something so deep, so all-consuming, that she couldn’t find her way back.

“Well,” Blossom said, sliding back up when Lilah had finally stopped shaking.

“Oh no,” said Lilah. “No, you don’t. You’re not making fun of me losing control until we find out how long you can hold out for.”

Blossom laughed. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

Lilah put her hands on Blossom’s waist, marveling at the softness of her. “A little of both,” she growled, flipping Blossom so that she was lying down and then climbing on top of her, straddling her legs. “That depends,” she said .

“On?” asked Blossom, breath already hitching, voice cracking as Lilah’s fingers brushed against her skin, as a thumb found her nipple and rubbed over it.

“On whether you’ve been a good girl or a bad one,” Lilah grinned, hand moving down, parting her own legs so that Blossom could part hers.

“I’m always good.” Blossom was breathless now.

“Are you now?” Lilah smirked, fingers finding wetness so slick that she almost lost her breath again herself.

Blossom bit her lip and Lilah slipped her fingers up and around, touching against Blossom’s center so that she gasped. Blossom tilted her chin up, arched her back as Lilah’s fingers slid inside her again, as Lilah’s thumb pressed against her, as Lilah began to move in and out.

And it was all Lilah could do to hold herself together for as long as it took Blossom to cry out her name over and over as she shivered and let herself go.