20. Paula

Paula

D eena was looking at me like I was crazy, her normally expressionless face the picture of confusion. And maybe a little bit of hope.

"Are you messing with me right now?" she finally asked.

The question was so ridiculous I couldn't help but laugh. Sliding off the wicker couch, I dropped to my knees in front of her, placing my hands on Deena's bare thighs. Her skin was distractingly soft.

"I fell in love with you in Paris, Deena. And I hope someday you'll love me too. I know I messed up behaving the way I did, but I promise if you give me another chance, I'll work every single day for the rest of your life to make you happy."

Deena studied me for a long moment before saying, "I won't love you someday."

The pain that hit me at her words was so intense I couldn't help my gasp.

"I love you already."

"What?" I asked.

"It's completely illogical that we should both be experiencing love so quickly. This isn't some fairy tale we're living in, but…," she paused, and her eyes met mine, "I can't deny the way I feel about you. I've had a crush on you since the first day I met you, even if you didn't like me, and then my feelings deepened in Paris."

"I didn't think you liked me when we first met," I reminded her.

"Well, regardless, I guess we like each other okay now. But we need to be able to talk Paula, not make assumptions and run off in a snit whenever things feel uncomfortable, or you don't get your way."

"I promise I will never do that again," I said solemnly. "I'll talk so much you'll be tired of me talking."

"I'm already tired of you talking," she said, but her lips quirked up in a smile. "I'd rather kiss."

She leaned back in her chair and patted her lap. "Get up here."

I hopped to my feet and set my knees down on either side of her body on the chair. The wicker creaked ominously, making my eyes widen.

"The chair can handle way more weight than the two of us," Deena said confidently.

I did not want to know how she knew that.

Placing my hands on her shoulders for balance, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against hers. Just like when we were in Paris, the instant we touched my body seemed to light up with excitement. I'd never felt this way with anyone else. I couldn't believe that I'd come so close to throwing it all away. I'd had a lot of time to think on the long trip from California and one thing was clear: I needed to do some growing up if I was going to have a grown up relationship.

Pressing the tip of my tongue along the seam of her lips, I deepened the kiss. Deena snaked one hand between us, cupping my breast and giving it a firm squeeze that sent a jolt straight down to my clit.

Suddenly I was desperate for her. The four days we'd been apart were way too long. I never wanted to be apart from her again. If I played my cards right, I could make that happen. But first, I needed to be sure that we were on the same page, so I pulled my head back and broke the kiss.

"What's the matter?" Deena asked, opening her eyes.

"We're dating now, right? Like you're gonna be my girlfriend?"

Her brow crinkled slightly.

"Were you here for the conversation we had five minutes ago?" she asked. "You said you loved me, I said I loved you, you asked for another chance, mentioned forever, then we started kissing. I mean, I thought it was pretty clear."

I smiled. "Okay so you're my girlfriend now. And I'm yours. Like if we meet people that's how we'll introduce each other."

"Are you going to pass me a note in study hall too?" Deena asked. "Yes, if it's that important for you that we put labels on things, you're my girlfriend and I'm yours. Can we get to the make-up sex now?"

She leaned forward, tunneling her fingers in my hair to hold my head where she wanted it, kissing me until we were both breathless. Her lips slid from my mouth down my jaw, then she nibbled her way down my neck.

I wiggled against her thighs, trying to get some friction where I needed it most. Meanwhile Deena relieved me of my shirt and unclasped my bra.

"Wow, you're good at that," I teased.

"I like to give any tasks my full attention," she said seriously as she leaned down to take one of my nipples into her mouth.

I cried out in pleasure, humping her leg shamelessly as she drew on my nipple. With great effort, I leaned back.

"Now what?" Deena asked with a frown. "Did you want to give me a friendship bracelet that says ‘girlfriend' before we continue?"

She sounded disgruntled, which made me laugh.

"I want to do something first," I said, sliding off her lap and back onto my knees. I pulled off her shorts, and then her panties, and moved my body between her thighs.

"I like where this is going," she said in that robotic tone that used to annoy me.

"Take off your shirt and you'll like it even more," I ordered.

Deena pulled off the rest of her clothing and when she was completely naked in the chair I gave her a quick kiss before dropping my head to suckle her breast. I loved her breasts. They were perfectly round and slightly plump, her dark pink nipples jutting out proudly.

As I sucked on her nipple I slid my hand down to her apex, moving my finger back and forth between her lower lips. She was already slippery with arousal, so I gathered up some moisture and inserted a finger into her opening. She cried out at the intrusion.

When I began thrusting in and out, Deena's hips rocked, meeting me with each stroke. With a flick of my wrist I turned my hand so I could stroke her clitoris with my thumb.

"Oh!" She only said one word, but it was full of feeling.

I picked up my pace, fucking her with my finger while using my thumb to tease her clit. My other hand clamped around her hip, limiting her movements enough that I could delay her orgasm just a little bit.

When my mouth moved to her other breast I bit down hard and then she was flying, huge gasping breaths leaving her body as she rode my hand. Deena threw her head back against the chair, her mouth open but no sound coming out, and I felt like the fucking queen of the world as I helped her ride the waves of pleasure.

When she collapsed on the chair, I removed my finger, cleaning it off with my mouth. Deena made a squeaking noise as she watched me. Then I climbed back onto her lap, my leg between hers, and ground against her thigh until I got my own release. With Deena squeezing my sensitive breasts, it didn't take long.

As we reclined in the chair catching our breath I said, "Make-up sex is pretty awesome."

"Yeah, we'll have to fight again sometime," Deena teased.

After a few minutes she spoke again. "How is this going to work? I don't have a contract with the team anymore, and we live in different states."

I leaned up to give her a hard, claiming kiss.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out. The most important thing is that whatever we do, we do it together."