The Bucket List, page 45
“Jordan?” Noeul questioned.
Breathing hard, Jordan tried to answer. “What?”
“Get in this car and get me somewhere I can rip that shirt off you. Now.”
Jordan stood up so quickly, she hit her head on the roof of the car. She nearly knocked herself down, running around the front of the vehicle to stumble into the driver seat. The keys fell onto the floor, as she fumbled to get them into the ignition. Her hands trembled with need as she searched for the keys.
Noeul’s laugh filled the interior, and Jordan couldn’t help joining in with her. When she looked at the woman beside her, the smile she saw was so wide, it reminded her of a child being allowed to stomp in a storm puddle. Pure joy was all she could see, and she wanted more of it. The key found its way into the ignition, and they were off to give in to the growing desire forty-eight hours apart had created.
Fifteen minutes later, they drove up to the house, and Jordan pulled Noeul from the car and up the stairs. Bandit danced around them at the threshold. Jordan sent him outside and pinned Noeul against the door, attacking her mouth with need and passion. Her tongue was met stroke for stroke, and she felt Noeul fumble with the buttons on her shirt. Impatience sent the small pieces of plastic bouncing off the hardwood floor, as Noeul ripped fabric away from sensitive breasts. Warm lips covered Jordan’s nipple, nearly dropping her to her knees.
Jordan scooped Noeul up in her arms, carried her to the bedroom, and laid her on the soft comforter. “Trust me, I want you so much. I prefer it to be in my bed and not there in my kitchen. Well, at least not the first time.” She covered Noeul’s body with her own and drove her knee between the smaller woman’s legs, eliciting a deep groan. She kissed down Noeul’s slender neck until her lips met fabric. She pulled Noeul up and stripped the shirt over her head, throwing it to the floor, as she moved in to taste the skin now exposed.
Their heated kisses were interrupted only long enough to remove some piece of meddlesome clothing. Noeul’s hands were pulling off the rest of the opened shirt that still hung on broad shoulders and started on the buttons of Jordan’s jeans. “God, I missed you. I’m so sorry.”
“Shh, don’t talk.”
Jordan kicked off the final leg of her jeans and pulled on the hem of Noeul’s pants legs, stripping them off until a pile of denim lay on the floor. She could smell Noeul’s arousal and buried her face at the apex of the thighs below her. Jordan wanted to taste her, feel her, drink her in. Noeul’s hips were bucking under her touch, and she took advantage of the rise and fall to pull off the red lace bikinis that covered her final destination. When she’d removed the last piece of fabric, she sat up long enough to let her eyes consume the beautiful body that lay across her bed. She watched Noeul’s chest rise and fall in deep gasps. Hands reached for her, pulling her up, until once again her body covered the woman she loved. Yes, I do. I love her with everything I am. Jordan shuddered with the arousal coursing through her body.
Noeul’s tongue snaked up her neck and swirled around the curve of her ear. The sensation of Noeul sucking that earlobe into her mouth sent Jordan into overdrive, and she shifted her mouth until she met the warm, soft lips with intensity born of passion and desperate need. Tongues danced in and out, and hands searched for purchase.
Jordan felt blunt nails scrape over her shoulders and down her back, as their naked bodies slid along sweat-dampened skin. Jordan felt a searing heat around her breast, down her side, and across her back. The phoenix on her skin was being consumed by fire and reborn in the touch of the one woman for whom her desire could never be quenched.
Jordan could wait no longer and pushed herself down the bed until her shoulders nestled between the shapely legs that automatically draped themselves over her back. “I have missed you so much.” She wrapped her arms around Noeul’s hips and slid her tongue along the entire length of her center in one swift movement. She drank in the heated silk that met her tongue, lapping until she could no longer hold back. She drove her tongue deep inside, as cries of pleasure were pulled from her lover.
“Oh shit, Jordan. Don’t you dare stop. Please don’t stop! I’m so close!”
Spurred on by the request, Jordan shifted and brought a hand to Noeul’s center. She drove two, and eventually three fingers, deep inside Noeul. She could barely hold on, as passion soared and Noeul bucked against her mouth and hand. Fevered groans fueled Jordan on, as she pumped her fingers deeper and pulled Noeul’s clit into her mouth. Fingers wound into her hair and held her close, refusing to allow even a fraction of distance between them.
Come on baby, let go. Jordan felt the spasms start, as Noeul arched off the bed and heels dug into Jordan’s back, and she curled her fingers up. A guttural cry pierced the room, and Noeul climaxed in Jordan’s mouth. She continued to softly suck and lick, until shaky hands reached for her and draggedher up. Their mouths met again. Soft kisses and tender touches followed. The rest of the world was completely forgotten outside the bedroom walls.
Noeul whispered into her mouth as she held her close. “I love you, Jordan. I need you.”
Jordan worked to bring her own breathing under control, as she rolled over and drew Noeul into her arms. The need to shelter her lover, to protect and care for her, was the most powerful rush Jordan had ever felt. She nestled Noeul into the crook of her neck. She held her close and felt aftershocks rock through the small body she held.
Jordan felt Noeul calm in her arms. Beads of sweat were rolling down her own temple from the exertion. The peace in the moment was not lost on her. For the first time in many years, Jordan felt complete and knew she was loved.
She felt Noeul trace her collarbone in small, soft, gentle touches and marveled at the simple pleasure of holding this woman.
“Jordan?”
“Hum?”
“I’m sorry for not saying it before.”
Fingertips pressed on Jordan’s lips, preventing a response. She kissed them, remaining silent to allow Noeul to exorcise her demons, uninterrupted. The room was cool. A soft breeze from the ceiling fan floated across her heated skin. Noeul’s touch made her shiver slightly. The late afternoon started casting shadows on the walls, while she lay there soaking up her lover’s touch, waiting to hear what was in Noeul’s heart.
Jordan turned her head and kissed a fevered brow, still warm from the passion they’d shared. If Noeul never said another word, Jordan would be happy knowing that Noeul had admitted her feelings. That’s truly all I need right now. I’m in love and she loves me too.
***
Noeul’s pulse rate was finally calming down, and the pounding heartbeat in her ears was fading. The way Jordan had taken her was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Her need for Jordan was growing again. She forced herself to push pause, because there were things she wanted to say. Things I need to say.
She placed her fingers on Jordan’s lips, knowing that Jordan would likely protest her next words, regardless of their accuracy.
“I was an ass, a scared ass, but an ass nonetheless. I was terrified of letting you in, because I was afraid of caring too much, then losing you. I was also worried about this huge age gap between us.”
Jordan struggled under her finger, so Noeul placed her whole hand across her mouth.
“Shh. Now I mean it. Let me finish.” Noeul chuckled when Jordan stuck her tongue out and poked it between her fingers. “God, you are so bad.” She felt Jordan shake her head at the comment.
“When I got to the hospital, Max reminded me that age is only a number, that he and Sam have the same age separation as you and I do. He reminded me that, in the years we could have, it would be up to us to make quality win over quantity. When you left to come back here to Ithaca, I felt more alone than I ever have, even after Aggie died. I’d grown used to being by myself. Without any warning, you waltzed in and turned my life upside down. And just as quickly, you were gone. In less than a month, you’d woven yourself into my life in a way I didn’t think was possible. I looked around and saw memories we made everywhere. The final straw was finding your faded Cornell T-shirt by our bed. I realized that I missed not just you. I truly missed who I am with you.”
Noeul leaned up and kissed Jordan’s throat. “I snapped at Miranda so fiercely, she actually left and took Kyo with her. Right after that, Aggie spoke to me again and said something similar to what Max said after I got here. She reminded me that it’s the dash in between that matters.
Noeul saw Jordan’s eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. “Aggie’s grannie had a saying. The gist of which, is that what’s important is the dash in between. Do you understand now?”
Jordan shook her head.
Noeul traced Jordan’s cheekbone with her fingertips. “I didn’t think I could love again. I didn’t even want to try, because I was afraid of the pain a loss like that could cause. Jordan, Aggie’s death nearly destroyed me. The key in that statement is nearly. I didn’t die. Aggie did. I’ve been going through life without really living, until you trekked across the country to hunt me down. The minute we met up, I started living again, making the dash in between count. You did that, my love. You showed me it was possible. Miranda and Kelly told me I was making decisions for you without giving you a chance to speak up for yourself.”
Jordan enthusiastically shook her head and held up her hand.
Noeul rolled her eyes. “In a minute, still my turn.” She tapped Jordan’s lips and kissed them gently before covering them again with her hand. “My friends reminded me that until you came, I wasn’t living, only existing. They also said you’d proven yourself already in your search for me. I know there are forces at work beyond our understanding. I think Aggie brought us together from wherever she is. Somehow, she’s gone to extraordinary measures to make sure you could find me, when I couldn’t even find myself. It’s a gift that would be a sin to waste. I almost took it for granted, and I won’t ever do that again, if you’ll have me. I love you, Jordan Armstrong, and however we must make it work, I want to be with you. I’m afraid of what will happen at the end of your sabbatical, but I’m all in. I have to trust that we can work it out together. So, with all that being said without your interruption, I want you to know that I love you and that won’t change.”
Jordan’s smile under her hand was contagious, and she finally released her lips only to capture them again with a kiss. She felt Jordan melt into her and reached to touch her.
Jordan spoke softly, as she settled Noeul on top of her. “Can I tell you some things now?”
Noeul shook her head affirmatively.
“When I started this journey, I was looking for one thing, a way to make something grow where nothing could. A way to feed the world. I traveled near and far, following things I couldn’t always understand. I had to have faith there was a reason. I have no doubt there are powers beyond our understanding that want us together. As you said, someone wants us to spend the dash in between, fulfilling a new bucket list. A list with memories we make together. We will work it out together. I strongly believe we can solve the problem I started with. The bigger issue, on a personal level, was that I wasn’t letting anyone in either. Until you, I’d put my eyes to a microscope and stopped looking at the world outside of that very small field.”
Jordan kissed her softly, and Noeul felt her heart start to beat harder.
“So, Professor Scott, what do we do about all this?”
Noeul smiled. She shifted so she could run a finger down Jordan’s chin, across her chest, and down her chiseled abs. When her hand brushed the soft curls at the base of Jordan’s belly, she looked at her tenderly.
“I say, we do a little more research and add a few things to our own list. Are you up to the challenge, Professor Armstrong?” Noeul dipped her finger into Jordan’s wet folds, drawing a gasp from her.
Noeul laughed, as Jordan tried unsuccessfully to talk while her clit was teased.
“I see a few checkmarks we can make right now. Sign me up for a lifetime commitment.” Jordan kissed her and covered her hand, sliding it farther down into her own center, until Noeul’s fingers found their way inside.
“I see a lifetime of research on that subject, Professor Armstrong.”
Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
JORDAN STOOD AT DAVA’S side, as soft music played. They looked down the aisle and out over Jordan’s Pond, where Sarah had popped the question. Down near the water’s edge, Sarah stood at the archway looking anxious. Her eyes were glued to their approach, as she stood fidgeting in the slate-gray, Armani tuxedo with a monochromatic shirt.
Jordan smoothed her hands down her own tux jacket and bent to pull both her sister’s hands in hers. “You ready?”
“I still can’t believe it.” A tear threatened to spill down Dava’s cheek.
Jordan reached into her pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief that had been her father’s. She dabbed under Dava’s eye for her. “Hey now, you’ll ruin that beautiful makeup you aren’t wearing.” She smiled at her sister.
Dava chuckled. “Never been a fan, you know?”
“You’ve never needed it. You’re beautiful exactly as you are. Ovelay ouyay ittlelay istersay.”
Dava, unusually stoic, answered in English. “Love you too, big sister.”
Jordan moved behind her sister to push her down the aisle. “I’m so proud of you. How about we get you down to Sarah before she passes out?”
“Well, big sister, it’s like when you were my buddy during our Challenger League days on the baseball diamond. I trust you to get me up to the plate. Let’s roll, JJ. I’ve got a home run to hit with that beautiful woman in the rainbow tie.”
“You ready to dance down that aisle?” Jordan joked.
Dava’s mischievous grin said it all. “If we end up ass over tea kettle, I’m blaming you. Let’s roll, Sherlock.”
Jordan popped Dava up on two wheels, bent over, and kissed her cheek. “Batter up, Watson!”
The wedding march Dava and Sarah had chosen was as unorthodox as the couple themselves. Jordan turned on her heel to the recognizable riff of Lady Gaga’s, “Born This Way”, spinning them around on the hard surface they’d temporarily erected for the occasion. She pushed Dava a few feet, pulled her backward, then tipped her up again, while she spun them the opposite direction. They danced the entire way down the aisle to a clapping Sarah, whose beaming smile rivaled the sun.
Jordan stopped at the end of the aisle and leaned down to kiss Dava one more time. She squeezed Sarah’s arm before moving to stand on her sister’s left. Sarah knelt at Dava’s side. Jordan looked back at her lover and winked. Sitting beside Noeul in the front row, her mother held the hand of Colonel Margo Bishop. Noeul shook her head, stifling a giggle with her hand while winking back.
The ceremony was full of laughter and several emotional moments. When the couple had exchanged vows and rings, their minister and friend pronounced them bound in holy matrimony. Jordan watched as they shared a sweet kiss, before Sarah danced Dava back up the aisle to the reception area.
Margo wheeled herself out into the aisle and pulled Dalia into her lap to roll her up the walkway. Jordan smiled at her mother, who wrapped her arms around Margo’s neck and kissed the colonel’s cheek. Jordan offered her arm to the love of her life, and she and Noeul danced to meet the rest of the family in front of the smiling and clapping guests.
Later in the evening, as the reception was winding down, Jordan held Noeul in her arms as they swayed to the music. Noeul was tucked into her chest as they worked their way across the parquet floor.
Jordan sighed. “I can’t believe my baby sister is married.”
Noeul looked up at her. “She was a beautiful bride.”
“That she was. They both were. Did you see the smile on Mom’s face when Margo pulled her into her lap?”
“I did. Don’t be surprised if we’re doing this again not too long from now.”
Jordan spun them slowly. “Could be. I’d be happy to walk her down the aisle. I’m getting pretty good at it.”
“You think so, huh?”
“What? You didn’t like our style today?”
Noeul cupped her cheek. “I like your style every day, and I really like you in a tux.” Noeul smoothed her hands down Jordan’s lapels.
Jordan kissed her forehead and nuzzled her neck. “So, are we ready to go to Kenya for our crop trial?”
Noeul hummed appreciatively. “The bags and equipment are all packed.”
“Including the Nutella?”
“Yes, my love, we barely take a walk around the block without a jumbo-size jar in a backpack."
Jordan ran her hands through untethered, long, black hair that cascaded down the back of Noeul’s stunning, green dress that so closely matched her eyes. “Sam and Max have all our contact information?”
Noeul kissed her. “I made sure of it.”
Jordan thought about what they were about to embark on. They’d been perfecting their grafts and found they were getting consistent results. They had collaborated with the Kenyan government. Moiben was known for wheat production, so she and Noeul felt it would be a good place to start with some trials. Locals would help them plant and cultivate the test crop. “I’m looking forward to the time there with you. Leo is watching over Topside, and Deena is watching the trials at Cornell.”
Noeul unbuttoned Jordan’s jacket and snaked her left arm inside. “You know, I had a dream once, where I saw a rider on a black horse that got off and walked through a field, brushing her hand along the grain heads and pulling at the plant bases. When we went over there a few months ago, I watched you do exactly what I’d seen in my dream. There are days I still can’t believe how we came to be.”
Jordan held her close and kissed her. “I’d do it all again to find you. That whole journey to you, my rooted dragon, taught me a very important lesson.”
“What’s that?” Noeul nuzzled her face against Jordan’s chest.
“That a bucket list has to be more than things you dream of doing. If you never take the journey and put checkmarks by the items, there are no memories made. It’s just a list.”
