Page 53 of The Last to Know

Forgetting to close the curtains the night before, Caz was woken by the stream of glorious sunshine that poured in through the window and rested on her face.

Bleary-eyed, she rolled away from it and into the back of Grace, who had already pulled the duvet up and over her head.

“Make it go away,” she said when Caz pressed up against her.

Yanking the duvet higher, Caz joined her under it and kissed the bare shoulder, reminded instantly of the previous night and how it had ended with Grace half-naked, as she still was now. The skirt had fallen into a material-shaped puddle, and Grace had quickly visited the bathroom before hurrying back and climbing into bed to become a human limpet around Caz.

Not that Caz had minded at all. She’d slept in her underwear, too.

“Do you want to get up or go back to sleep?” Caz asked.

“Tired,” Grace said, her hand shifting to move backwards and land on Caz’s hip. “Go sleep.”

Caz chuckled and tightened her hold on Grace. “Okay.”

They drifted back to sleep for what felt like minutes, but had, in fact, been several hours, when Grace groaned and crunched up.

“Grace?”

“I’m okay, just cramps. They said I might get some as everything settles.”

“Do you need me to do anything?”

“No. If it continues, I’ll take some painkillers. They shouldn’t last more than a few days. The bleeding could stop at any point, too.”

Grace turned to face Caz.

“Morning.”

“Hey…” Grace looked tired and sleepy as her eyes battled to open fully. “What do you want to do today?”

Caz shrugged. “I don’t mind. Happy to stay right here, or I can google for something to explore.”

“Sounds nice, but first…coffee.” She flung the cover to get up but was stopped by Caz holding her tight.

“I’ll make you coffee—you rest.”

Grace smiled, but said, “I’m not an invalid.”

“Until you are one hundred percent again, you’re going to rest and be waited on like a princess.” She reached for her T-shirt that was on the end of the bed and pulled it on. “Which, let’s face it, is like most days anyway,” Caz joked, and wriggled away before Grace could pinch, poke, or tickle her in retribution.

But she wasn’t quick enough and Grace grabbed her shirt, pulling her back towards her, and like lightning, Grace pinned her down and straddled her.

Staring down at Caz, her hair falling around her face, she said, “Do you want to pay now, or later when I’ve thought about your punishment a little longer?”

“Um…can I think about it?” Caz laughed, as fingers dug into her ribs and began to tickle. “Okay… Later?”

Grace eased up on her assault—a big mistake—because Caz took the opportunity to flip her off her body and over, and landed in the exact same position, now straddling Grace.

“Oh, would you look at that?” Caz teased. “Now, what could I possibly do next—”

Grace didn’t hesitate. “Kiss me.”

“That wouldn’t be a punishment, would it?” Caz answered.

Easing up onto her elbows, Grace said, “You haven’t brushed your teeth. I’d say that was punishment enough.”

“Oh, now you’re going to get it, lady.” Caz laughed and began to tickle her. Grace wriggled and pleaded and laughed, and in that moment, Caz wondered if they might be okay again.

“Okay, you win.” Grace laughed as she grabbed Caz’s hands and tried to pry those strong fingers away from her ticklish ribs.

When Caz relented, Grace still held her hands. Lacing their fingers together, she let them fall to the pillow, making Caz hover above her.

“You know, we should have a conversation.”

Caz cocked her head. “Oh, about what, exactly?”

“Sex.”

Still holding her hands and pressing them into the soft pillow, Caz rose up slightly. “I thought we’d talked about that in the car.”

“I mean, we began the discussion…” Grace smiled up at her. “How will we know if we’re even compatible?”

“How do you mean?”

“Well.” Grace tried to sit up, but Caz held her firmly down. “This, for instance…” She stared into Caz’s eyes. “Holding me down, is that something you like doing?”

Caz went to release her but was stopped when Grace gripped harder.

“No, don’t do that.” Grace shook her head. “Answer the question…”

Licking her lips, Caz looked away for a moment. “I like it if you like it.”

“Oh…okay, that wasn’t what…” This time, Grace let go and did sit up, her pretty face frowning. “For reference, I do like it, but…what do you mean you like it if I like it?”

Caz began to fidget, uncomfortable with the question.

“Caroline Iris Madden—”

“Okay, don’t go down the whole full name route…” Caz said, taking a breath and exhaling. “I’m just…I guess I’m pretty simple in bed. I don’t have…I’m not into…what I like is more about mental stimulation and being wanted and then, the basics. I don’t have fantasies—I’m not kinky.”

Grace touched her cheek. “Why is this making you emotional?”

“I don’t know. I just feel…embarrassed, I guess. Women get to know me, and they take my confidence as a sign that I’m into something funky.”

“And you’re not?”

“Not consciously,” she answered. “I think I just go with whatever feels right, you know? Like…I don’t have any set idea on what will turn me on…or off. Sometimes I can be somewhat dominant, but then other times I can be led…but I’m not a switch.”

“A switch?”

“Yeah, so there are tops, bottoms, and switches…I’m a top in that respect.”

Grace frowned. “You’re going to have to explain that for me. You’re not dominant, but you’re a top?”

“Yeah…so, a top does the…penetrating. They don’t want to be on the receiving end of that, whereas a bottom does…and a switch is someone who likes both.”

“So, you’re a top…which is good, because I’d completely be a bottom, then.” Grace smiled at her. “But you can switch between Dom/sub?”

Caz shrugged. “I guess so, yeah. It’s only what I’ve read or heard people talk about.”

Grace thought about it for a moment. “I like these descriptions. They make sense. I think I’m the same. There are times I like to be on top…in the straight sense of the word, literally on top of…well, you know.” She chuckled. “Which leads me to my next question, then…do you use…toys?”

“Yeah, if you—”

“If I want to…” Grace smiled as she finished the sentence. “Do you like it when someone you’re sleeping with wants to?”

“What I like is…seeing, hearing, feeling her enjoying it. That’s what I get off on.”

Grace wriggled closer. “So, you’re all about the senses?”

“I suppose so, yes.” Caz smiled. “I’ve never thought about it like that before…I just thought…” She shrugged. “…thought I was a bit weird.”

“I think you’re special.” Grace smiled at her. “I can’t believe we’ve never talked about this before.”

“Why would we?”

Grace shrugged. “I guess because I tell you everything, but I’ve just realised, the only time I’ve talked about relationships with you, is either when I just met them, or when it was over. We never shared details.”

“Not sure I’d have been much use for het advice.” Caz blushed, and took Grace’s hand. “What about you then? What do you like?”

“Hm, hard to answer when my only experience is with men. I guess with them I liked it,” Grace pressed her lips together before admitting, “…I kind of liked it rough…I liked it when you held my hands down and hovered above me just now. And it made me consider what that would be like if you were inside me.”

“Okay…well, thanks for the heads up…I can definitely make that little fantasy come true.” Caz winked.

“And I can be very…very…noisy about it when you do,” she smirked, “but…” Grace held a finger up, “I also want to experience romance with you…I want you to love me, in every way you want to.”

“Noted.”