Winter's Spell, page 23
“Do you think Mo would like to try some of these?” asked Tessa as they got into the car, and she placed the box with leftovers onto the back seat. Roxy let the engine idle for a few minutes as the car warmed up. Her old truck did not like the winter cold, but Roxy was in no position to buy a new one. Besides, she loved the beat-up old thing, even if it did take nearly ten minutes for the heat to kick in.
“Oh no,” said Roxy. “Not nearly fishy enough. I mean…she’s not really into sweets,” she amended, realizing that she’d almost given away Mo’s secret. She’d need to be more careful.
Tessa laughed out loud with a hoot. “Oh, that Mo. She’s one of a kind, huh?”
Roxy bristled at that. “She’s unique.” The words came out with a touch of defensiveness she couldn’t help coming into her voice.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it as an insult.” Tessa sounded genuinely apologetic. She put a hand on Roxy’s knee, and Roxy felt her entire body light up with electric desire. She put her own hand atop Tessa’s and gave her a squeeze.
They were on the road back to Ptown now, as the final part of their winter date was on the way home.
They didn’t have far to drive, and soon Roxy was turning off the main road down a side street. Finally, they parked, and Tessa looked around.
“Ice skating?” Her voice was full of wonder, once she saw the sign down the street from their parking spot. They were in one of the many small towns sprinkled up and down the Cape, so picturesque Roxy could hardly believe it. It was even more adorable than the town where they’d had their tea, and the rink looked like something right out of a postcard for New England.
They rented skates from the warming hut, and soon they were both toddling around on the ice with varying levels of ability. It was a small rink, but they had it nearly to themselves, the low temperatures keeping many at home.
After a few minutes, Roxy felt quite at ease on the ice. She’d done a fair amount of pickup ice hockey with her brothers growing up, and muscle memory did wonders for things like ice skating. She hadn’t been ice skating in several years, but it all came back to her quickly.
Tessa was much more wobbly, and after a few minutes, Roxy circled back to keep her company.
“It’s been so long since I ice skated.” Tessa grabbed onto Roxy’s hands for dear life as Roxy skated backward in front of her. She smiled up at Roxy, and Roxy felt her heart melt a little.
“When was the last time?”
“Gosh, I have no idea. At least ten years ago. Maybe more. I think it was in high school.”
“Anything coming back yet?”
“Not yet,” said Tessa, though Roxy could tell already that in the ten minutes they’d been on the ice, Tessa was already much steadier on her feet.
“You’re doing great.” Roxy released one of Tessa’s hands and turned around to skate next to her. She took in their surroundings—the kids laughing and screaming on the rink, a few other couples equally wrapped up in one another, the tall pine trees on the north edge of the pond, the sun peeking out occasionally from behind the clouds, dazzling her eyes with its wintertime brightness. It really was a picture-perfect moment, and she gave Tessa’s hand a quick squeeze.
“I feel like I’m holding you back, though.” Tessa gave her hand a squeeze back.
“Never. I’m exactly where I want to be. I hope you’re having a good time.”
“The best.” Tessa smiled up at her before promptly starting to lose her balance and grabbing onto Roxy.
Roxy felt herself losing her balance for a moment with Tessa’s weight on her, but her feet reacted quickly, and she managed to catch them both before falling. She pulled Tessa close into a hug.
“You okay?”
“Uh-huh,” said Tessa, and they kissed.
In that moment, with the kiss on her lips, Roxy felt she was on cloud nine. She felt her mouth melting into Tessa’s, deepening the kiss and tightening her arms around her, holding her as close as possible in spite of all their layers of winter wear. That flame of desire deep inside her roared up, and she wanted nothing more than to peel off all their clothes as quickly as possible and feel their skin on skin—
Roxy forgot where she was for a moment, and she felt the two of them starting to move across the ice.
Roxy pulled away and caught her balance. “Whew, that was a close one.”
She looked at Tessa and saw desire blazing in her eyes as well. “Maybe we should get off the ice and somewhere warmer.” She glanced over to where some teenagers were goofing off and howling with raucous laughter. “And maybe more private?” she added, with a raised eyebrow that made her intentions clear.
“You read my mind,” said Roxy, surprised at how husky her own voice sounded. It was time, she thought, to stop taking it slow.
Chapter Twenty-two—Tessa
Tessa’s heart was beating so hard with anticipation, she hardly noticed the landscape passing by them as Roxy sped back to Provincetown as quickly as she dared. The one distinct advantage of being on Cape Cod in the winter was that they had the roads to themselves and could drive along Route 6 with hardly any traffic on the roads.
There was a tension between them in the car—a good tension. Roxy turned on the radio and they listened in silence, hands intertwined on Tessa’s thigh. It was so strange to feel so hot under her clothes and yet, her face and hands and feet were freezing. Love in the wintertime was complicated.
“What’re you smiling at?” said Roxy, taking her eyes off the road for a glance at Tessa.
“Just wondering how I’m going to undress you when I can’t feel my fingers.”
Roxy squeezed her hand. “Oh, that’s no problem,” she assured her.
“Oh?”
“You’ve got a shower, right?”
* * *
Tessa’s hands shook with cold and desire as she unlocked the door to the apartment and let them inside. They kicked off their shoes and hats, gloves, coats, and scarves on the floor and couches before Tessa grabbed Roxy’s hand and pulled her into the bedroom.
Roxy tore off her flannel, revealing a black underlayer that made Tessa feel even more turned on, if that was possible. She could feel herself getting wet in the car and now, it felt like a waterfall between her legs. She was desperate to feel Roxy’s hands there, touching her, caressing her most tender folds, but she was also on the verge of shivering. Her hands were like ice.
Clumsily, she helped pull the long-sleeve under layer off Roxy, revealing a cotton undershirt.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Tessa with a laugh that mixed with an involuntary groan of frustration.
“It’s cold out there, sweetheart.” Roxy peeled the sweater and turtleneck off Tessa before pausing to admire Tessa’s bra.
She’d worn it on purpose, hoping, wishing she would be able to show it off today. It was black lace with a low v-cut and mesh and lace across her nipples, which were visible through the mesh.
“Damn,” said Roxy, her voice low and full of desire. “That’s gorgeous. But…I’m still gonna take it off.” There was sauciness in her voice that made Tessa shiver with pleasure—or was that the cold air of the room? She could hardly tell.
“Do it.” She put her arms around Roxy’s neck and nibbled the skin there as she felt Roxy’s bare arms encircle her nearly naked torso. Roxy unhooked the back of the bra and then, her hands, which were, miraculously, completely warm, unlike her own, traced along her back and arms gently, almost lazily, to pull the straps off her. She felt Roxy’s hands cup her breasts and she kissed Roxy’s neck harder, sucking, nibbling, not caring if there was a mark there the next day.
Roxy shifted and moved so that her lips found Tessa’s, her tongue found hers, and Tessa’s entire body lit up with pure sensation. Roxy continued massaging her breasts and now, occasionally, pinched and twisted her nipples until they stood erect and hard. Tessa groaned into Roxy’s mouth. She wanted more. She pushed her body against Roxy’s, twisting her hips against hers, and tangling her hands in Roxy’s curls.
Roxy pushed her away gently and pulled off her undershirt, revealing small, tight breasts and large pink nipples that Tessa moved to put her mouth on, but Roxy shook her head.
“Hold on there, baby,” she said quietly before unzipping her winter pants and kicking them off, along with her socks, then hooking her thumbs into the band of Tessa’s fleece-lined pants and slowly pulling them down her legs. Tessa lifted her feet, marveling at the sensation of having someone undress her; it felt like ages since she’d been undressed. The cool air of the room hit her legs, and she felt goose bumps rise even as her body also felt hot, glowing like an ember with desire.
“Let’s get wet,” said Roxy with a smile that could only be described as dirty—in the best possible way. Tessa felt a gush of wetness at those words, and she felt like she could hardly move her legs, they were so heavy with desire. Roxy took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the water warm up. It only took a moment, but it felt like agony to wait as Tessa’s entire body trembled with need.
Finally, the water was warm and Roxy slipped two fingers into Tessa’s underwear, cupping her buttocks and kissing her again deeply before sliding the lacy thong off her and then taking off her own boy shorts. Tessa wanted to drop to her knees right there and worship at the altar of dark brown, nearly black curls between Roxy’s legs, but her cold hands and feet finally won out and she let Roxy lead her into the shower.
The hot water sluiced over the two of them. Their bodies were now flush against one another, naked and wet, one body not two. Roxy held her tight as her mouth melted with hers, their tongues entwined, desire and need racing through Tessa’s veins.
She slid a hand between Roxy’s legs and felt the wetness—that other wetness—and she rubbed and caressed, feeling Roxy’s body stiffen next to her and hearing her gasp into her mouth before moving her hand aside and putting her own between Tessa’s legs.
Now it was Tessa’s turn to sigh and groan with desire. Roxy’s fingers slid between the many folds of tender flesh, finding her center and teasing her there before sliding the finger up to her clit and circling it over and over until Tessa’s breath grew ragged and her hips began grinding rhythmically against Roxy’s hand.
“Mmm, you like that,” murmured Roxy, bending her head to suck on Tessa’s neck before stopping what she was doing and using both hands to cup and squeeze her buttocks, fingers ever so close to her sex, and yet not quite touching it in an agony of pleasure.
“You tease.” Tessa was enjoying the sensation of being teased even as her body cried out for satisfaction.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Roxy’s voice was low and tender and yet also full of passion.
“Is that a threat or a promise?” Tessa’s voice was barely above a whisper. Her entire being was focused on the sensations both surrounding her clit and elsewhere, deep inside of her, where something was slowly clenching, curling up, building with want.
Roxy responded by massaging Tessa’s breasts again and rolling her nipples in her fingers so they stood erect, even as Tessa’s body was now heated through from the shower. She was no longer cold from being outdoors, but the hot water still felt delicious. She pushed her body against Roxy’s yet again, begging wordlessly for her hands to return to that sweet spot below.
Roxy cupped her sex, again, fingers sliding inside her, in and out, over and over again in an inexorable rhythm, occasionally sliding them all the way out and encircling her clit several times, sometimes pressing it gently with her thumb, before entering her again and again and again until Tessa could feel something shift inside her.
Her breath was ragged, and she was moaning and sighing, inarticulate, in the very throes of desire, the deep coiling sensation within her wound up to a fever pitch until finally, Roxy slid her fingers deep into Tessa and touched her clit with her thumb; the multiple sensations overwhelmed Tessa and she felt her hips bucking and the orgasm cresting within her, sending spasms of pleasure through her body. She was grateful for Roxy’s steady strength, helping her stay upright as everything else seemed to be falling around her. Tessa saw stars and fireworks as her body continued to orgasm for longer than she thought possible, and she felt Roxy continue to pump her, her body clenching around those fingers, until she finally had to put a hand on Roxy’s chest to signal she was spent.
Roxy pulled her into a hug, and she laid her head on Roxy’s chest as the water continued to pour over them, though now it was somewhat cooler. Even so, the water felt good on Tessa as she caught her breath. Roxy leaned against the side of the shower stall and Tessa leaned on her, feeling deliciously spent and yet, at the same time, desperate to make Roxy feel the same sensations that were now coursing inside her.
The water in the shower cooled off noticeably.
“Time to get out,” said Roxy. “Brr!”
“Mmm,” murmured Tessa through her haze of pleasure, forcing herself to turn off the shower and reach for the towels.
Getting out of the shower and toweling off took much longer than necessary, of course, because Tessa couldn’t help falling into a long, blissful kiss, or else caressing Roxy’s arms, or stopping to admire her seriously fit bottom.
“Like the view?” Roxy smiled as she caught Tessa staring.
“Oh yeah,” said Tessa quietly. “Bedroom. Now.”
Roxy raised an eyebrow but followed directions obediently. Still naked and mostly dry, they climbed into the luxurious king-size bed. Tessa found herself under Roxy and, with just a little bit of nudging, managed to get Roxy to flip onto her back—just where she wanted her. She climbed on top of her and began grinding her very wet pussy into Roxy.
“Oh my. What a dirty girl you are.”
“The dirtiest,” said Tessa, her eyelids low, her gaze still full of liquid desire. She pushed herself back between Roxy’s splayed out legs and gently touched Roxy, trailing her fingers lazily between her legs, all the way to her buttocks and then back up, ever so lightly, up to her clit, which was already stiff, an erect nub of pulsing heat. “I see,” she said, her voice low and husky. “You’re all ready.”
Roxy moaned with desire rather than answer her, and Tessa, thus encouraged, lowered her head and began to stroke across the length of Roxy’s sex with her tongue in long, slow, luxurious licks, tasting the salty sweet liquor of desire, before focusing on the clit, flicking it, playing with it, sucking on it, and then circling it. She could feel Roxy’s body stiffening around her, feeling her arch rather than seeing it, and she couldn’t resist slipping a finger deep inside her as she continued to suck her erect clit.
It didn’t take long for Roxy to come, and it was a quieter kind of climax than Tessa’s loud, unrestrained cries. Still, she felt Roxy’s muscles clenching around her fingers, still inside her, and felt the bucking of her hips, and a deep sense of satisfaction filled Tessa. She noticed with pleasure that she had grown wetter again, her body responding to Roxy’s, and she felt a deep sense of connection between them. Her college freshman crush felt long gone; this was something else, something both more tender and more passionate. She wanted to know everything about Roxy, know her to her very cells and mitochondria, but she also wanted to simply be with her and hold her close, their breath and skin as one.
She pushed herself up so her body was next to Roxy’s, her head next to hers on the pillow, and she traced a finger along Roxy’s torso, now glowing with sweat and heat. Roxy was breathing hard, but she turned to face Tessa, and they lay like that, simply taking each other in, tracing invisible lines of desire across each other’s bodies.
Tessa didn’t want this afternoon to end. Or was it evening? She realized, with a start, that it was already getting dark outside, which meant it must be after four. Or maybe even five? Was it possible that the whole day had flown by in Roxy’s company?
Roxy noticed the elapsed time as well as her gaze fell on the bedside clock. Her head lifted off the pillow as she looked more carefully at the time on the display, and her eyes grew large with surprise.
“Is that the right time? Is it really after five?”
Tessa got up and found her phone. “Yes. That’s the right time. Crazy, huh?”
“Oh my gosh,” said Roxy, jumping up with a look of guilt and concern. “Mo’s been alone in the apartment all day, and we’re all out of fish. I mean food. I told her I’d be back by three.”
“She’s a grown person,” said Tessa reasonably. “If she wants to eat, I’m sure she can go get something—right?”
Roxy rubbed her face with her hands before gathering up her scattered clothes. “You don’t understand, she can’t be left alone like that for a whole day,” said Roxy, clearly distracted and rushed. Tessa felt her heart sinking. She thought for sure Roxy would stay for dinner and spend the night. Suddenly, she felt like crying.
Roxy paused and looked over at her, recognition painting itself across her face, and her expression softened. She was only wearing one shoe, her socks, and pants, but she stopped what she was doing and limped over to Tessa, folding her into her arms with a soft squeeze. Tessa felt the dread rising up in her recede as Roxy’s strong arms encircled her with steady, gentle pressure.
“I’m coming right back,” said Roxy. “Don’t you think for one minute that this is a one-night stand or something. I don’t want to leave, I just have to. I’m sorry.” She paused and sighed. “Mo is my responsibility, and let’s face it, she is pretty clueless. Please don’t feel bad. I promise I will be right back. I just need an hour to check on her, make sure she’s okay and has something to eat.”
“Okay,” said Tessa quietly. Wrapped in Roxy’s solid embrace, it was easier to hear those words, even if they were not at all what she wanted to hear. She tried and almost succeeded in keeping the sob out of her voice.
