Page 18

EIGHTEEN

Aditi

When morning came, Aditi was too afraid to open her eyes and find out that this was all a beautiful dream. Instead, she kept them firmly closed and snuggled more into the warmth pressing against her back.

There was nothing more comforting than being spooned by Lena who was much taller and gave such all encompassing hugs. It was heaven. Bliss.

And real.

Lena's arms tightened around her and she could feel the other woman pushing her face into her hair.

Lena's breathing was making Aditi acutely aware of herself and the way they fitted together.

One of Lena's hands was resting on her hip and her whole body was noticing just how nice it felt to be pressed together.

"I know you're awake," Lena whispered in her ear.

"No, I'm not," Aditi denied, even warmer now she knew that Lena was cuddling her deliberately. Or rather, hadn't moved out of the cuddle. That knowledge gave her the courage to press herself more into Lena's body, grinning when she could feel the other woman do a sharp intake of air.

It was so easy with someone she knew like the back of her own hand. She arched her back, pressing her bum more into Lena.

"This isn't talking," Lena murmured, her voice already slightly raspy.

"Mhmm," Aditi replied. If she was sensible, she would've rolled away but Lena's hand on her hip was now moving, slightly grazing up and down, getting bolder with every stroke. The teasing touch was doing silly things to Aditi's stomach and she could feel herself getting warmer.

The first sigh escaped her lips, not quite a moan but definitely something that came from deep within. She pushed her leg back until her foot hit Lena's shin and she dragged it up, tracing the length as slowly and sensually as she could.

Lena gripped her hip. "You're inviting trouble, Adi."

Nothing sounded sweeter than Adi coming from Lena’s mouth.

"I love trouble," Aditi breathed back, surprised by how throaty her own voice sounded. She arched even more, pleased when Lena pushed back and buried her face even more in her hair.

The first kiss on Aditi's neck was hesitant, almost shy, but the second wasn't. Lena's lips lingered, her breath hot and ticklish. It was just as good as Aditi remembered it, maybe even better because it was new and tempting and they were playing with fire.

She felt Lena's lips move up her neck, dragging across her skin up to her sensitive earlobe. Shivers ran down her spine and heat followed, sinking right down into her belly where it woke something needy and demanding.

“This feels nice,” Aditi whispered, so very aware that Lena’s fingertips were tracing up and down the valley between her breasts. Her palm grazed against Aditi’s nipple and sparks shot directly to her lower belly. She could feel it right between her legs, making her even more eager.

Lena kissed her more while she let her hands wander, clearly growing more confident with every passing second. It was so frustratingly good but Aditi wanted more. She wanted rid of their clothes and for Lena’s hands to move lower.

Those thoughts disappeared when Lena pushed her leg between Aditi's and hitched it up. She hissed when she felt Lena’s thigh against her, so smooth and strong and perfectly angled.

Aditi needed no more encouragement. She rocked her hips, slowly at first, allowing herself to savour the moment. Lena's breath in her hair, her large hands on her hips, on her arms, on her breasts. Every touch so deliberate and careful, it was magical.

Aditi twisted her head as much as their position allowed and kissed Lena like her life depended on it. She didn't know if this was the end or a new beginning so she wanted to etch this feeling into her mind, soul, and body.

The kiss ended when she could feel the strain on her neck and she took the opportunity to remove her clothes.

She tugged on Lena’s, grateful when there was no resistance and they came off as quickly as her own.

A shiver ran down her spine when Lena pressed herself into her again, the perfect big spoon, and let her hands roamed over Aditi’s body, all free and without any more restraints.

“I can feel how excited you are,” Lena said, the grin in her voice so very obvious.

It was beautiful torture when Lena’s hands finally slid further down, grazing over Aditi's skin, all the way down. She pressed her long fingers in the right spot and Aditi shuddered from the sudden touch. It felt so good to be teased, to be touched, to have Lena’s lips on her neck.

“You smell so good,” Lena murmured into the crook of Aditi's neck.

“You feel so good,” Aditi said in return, moaning with every arch of her back, every roll of her hips. She was getting close already and it hadn't even been very long.

Lena pulled on her arm. “Turn around. Please.”

She sounded as desperate as Aditi felt and she obliged even though she was close. It didn't matter because Lena slid her leg back into place and captured her in a kiss that lit up every sensitive fibre in her body.

It quickly became too much. The building pressure and friction, the touch of Lena's tongue against her own, the heat in her core. She gripped Lena’s arm, desperate to keep it in place as she met the circling fingers with thrusts of her own.

Her whole body was working in sync, chasing after the inevitable release.

Knowing perfectly well what she needed, Lena’s hand slipped between her legs and Aditi cried out when she was touched without the barrier of fabric. It felt so much better, so much more intimate.

“Don't stop,” she moaned.

Lena nipped at her jaw. “Do I ever?’

Aditi managed to look up into Lena’s unguarded eyes, those gorgeous brown eyes that were warm again. She could see her own feelings reflected in them too. Longing, desire, hope. Love.

There was no doubt in her mind that Lena still loved her. It drove her over the edge and she kissed Lena as her orgasm ripped through her, entirely consumed and filled by their connection. It was so overwhelming, so beautiful, it brought a rush of emotions with it that spilled out as tears.

Lena looked horrified. “Are you crying?”

Aditi wiped her cheek. “They’re good tears, I think. I just really, really missed you. This.”

“An orgasm?”

“Waking up in your arms, you doofus.” Aditi smiled through her tears. She loved nothing more than that familiar banter, the kind that only existed between people who knew each other well.

“I missed it too,” Lena admitted softly. “Where did it all go so wrong?”

“I don’t know.” Aditi snuck her arm around Lena. “I think doubt crept in. And I think it was my fault. I didn’t want to leave my friends, my mum. Instead of saying that, I made it about us.”

“Wanting a fated mate bond.”

“Yeah… But then that made you feel like I didn’t love you enough.” A hard lump appeared in the back of Aditi’s throat and she had trouble swallowing it away. She loved Lena so bloody much, it had hurt that suddenly that was in doubt.

Lena hummed. “It certainly felt like that. Like you’d only move for someone who was your fated mate.”

“It wasn’t that. But then you refused to go and that made me wonder if you thought we weren’t going to be fated so then I thought you didn’t love me enough and well…”

“We’ve been over this.”

“We have.” Aditi looked up at Lena, not sure if she was brave enough to ask what was really on her mind. This was such a peaceful moment, she didn’t want to ruin it with reality. Instead, she trailed her fingers along the lines of Lena’s body. This was so much easier than talking.

Lena kissed her forehead. “It’s a crescent moon in two weeks.”

Aditi froze, not sure if she heard it correctly. “What?”

“We could go then.”

“Am I still dreaming? Are you really suggesting we go into the lake to find out if we’re fated mates? Just like that?” Aditi sat up, more bewildered than she’d felt in a long time. She hadn’t been this disoriented since the first morning after their break-up.

“It’s not just like that. It’s been a pretty awful few months and I hated being apart from you.” Lena suddenly got quiet. “Unless this was just a one time thing for you.”

“No!” Aditi didn’t know where to go from here or what was coming next, but she knew this couldn’t be just it. This couldn’t be the end for them.

“Then what?” Lena challenged.

“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“That’s unlike you.”

Aditi pulled the blankets towards herself, not sure why she was covering up. “I’m sorry, this is all a bit sudden. You fought tooth and nail against this.”

“You want to go to the lake,” Lena said simply.

“But you don’t want that.”

“I want to be with you. I’ll do anything so let’s just go.”

“No.” Aditi reached for her shirt, determined to cover up. She didn’t feel warm anymore and this conversation was somehow worse than all their fights.

“No?” Lena let out a sigh. “But this is what you wanted.”

“It was what I wanted, six months ago. I don’t want it as some sort of appeasement.”

“It’s not. I changed my mind. You said that was allowed.”

Aditi let out a frustrated growl. “No. Yes. No!”

“Great.” Lena kicked her side of the blanket away and turned as far away as the bed allowed. She muttered the last bit under her breath but it was definitely loud enough for Aditi to hear. “Should’ve just gone fucking home.”