chapter 40

After everyone hadleft, Izzy said, “When this is over, I’m going to sleep for a month.”

“We can sleep if you want to,” Lillian said.

“Later.” Izzy gave her Blue’s signature wink. She held out her hand and led Lillian toward the stairs and to her bedroom.

“I don’t want to presume.” Lillian took a step toward Izzy.

“Do you think I took you up here to see my plant?” Izzy gestured to a mile of viny houseplant curled around the room.

Lillian ran her hand up the back of Izzy’s neck, took a fistful of hair, and kissed her hard. They were standing in the middle of the room with nowhere to lean. Lillian held Izzy firmly around the waist as she bit Izzy’s lip, then gently kissed the same place. Izzy trembled in her arms and moaned. Izzy clung to her neck, and Lillian held her up. Maybe all her training was for this moment.

“Do you like toys?” Lillian should have asked earlier, but she’d hesitated. Now though, the thought of running a vibrator over Izzy’s vulva or moving a dildo inside her felt irresistible.

“Did you bring something in your purse?” Izzy gasped theatrically.

“I thought you might have something,” Lillian said.

“A few.”

“Do you have a harness?” Lillian asked.

“Well, yeah.” Izzy caught her breath long enough to say it like Lillian had questioned her credentials. “Would you like me to strap on? I’d love to.”

“That would be lovely… but… also… do you like to be the… recipient?” Lillian asked. “It’s okay if it’s a no.”

“I… um…” Was the surprise in Izzy’s face a yes or a no? “Just when I’ve been with women and we used a strap-on… Blue Lenox is a top. That’s what they wanted.”

“What did you want?” Lillian softened her grip around Izzy’s waist and trailed a light kiss up her neck.

“I like to wear a strap-on, but… I did always think… it’d be fun if a woman would do that for me.… strap on… if she wanted to… give me that gift.”

Lillian ran her teeth along Izzy’s ear, burying her face in the sweet smell of Izzy’s hair.

“Nothing would get me off like strapping on for you.”

“Please,” Izzy said quietly. She led her to the closet, where an array of sex toys were organized in clear plastic shoeboxes. It was so Izzy: practical and sexy.

The tension that filled the air burst, and Lillian giggled. She touched one of the boxes.

“You’re so organized.” She wrapped her arms around Izzy and squeezed her.

“Hey!” Izzy protested, pretending to push Lillian away but only pulling her closer. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for a woman like you. I don’t want to be digging around in some unlabeled box.”

Their laughter, mingling in the air, turned Lillian on like a touch.

“I like this one.” Izzy tapped one of the boxes.

Lillian looked at Izzy’s collection and selected what she needed.

“I’ll just wash this real quick.” Izzy held up the dildo. “I haven’t used this on anyone but myself.”

“Not an unattractive picture.”

Back in the bedroom, they undressed and lay down on Izzy’s velvet comforter. The room was the perfect temperature. They kissed for a long time. Lillian straddled Izzy and rubbed her thigh between Izzy’s legs. Then with the speed and grace of an entrechat, she glided down the bed and ran her tongue down Izzy’s inner thigh in one slow stroke. Izzy lifted her hips. Lillian breathed in her scent. Like roses after they had bloomed out, musky and clean.

Lillian guided Izzy’s thighs open so she could see her labia shining in the soft light. Her small clit. Her downy hair. Lillian explored Izzy’s opening for a long time, licking the uneven ridges of her aroused flesh, lazily dipping her tongue into Izzy’s body.

“Tell me when you want me to strap on,” Lillian said between kisses.

Izzy sighed magnificently. “Now would be a good time.”

Lillian exhaled a soft breath against Izzy’s delicate wetness.

“Okay, sweetheart,” Lillian whispered softly.

Izzy groaned when Lillian got out of bed, and Lillian felt the same loss. She moved quickly, stepping into the harness. She mounted Izzy, bracing herself over her. With one hand she stroked Izzy’s cheek.

“Like this?” Lillian pressed the tip lightly against Izzy’s opening.

“It’s very nice of you to be… gentle. Very. Thoughtful. Lillian.” Izzy grabbed Lillian’s hips, pulling her down hard.

It was awkward. The dildo missed her opening. Lillian reached between their bodies and guided the dildo, then lowered her weight onto Izzy. Izzy clung to her. Lillian controlled her thrusts, to match the rhythm of Izzy’s need, not her own. She used only a fraction of her strength. It took willpower, but she was strong enough to hurt Izzy if she wasn’t careful. Lillian focused on every muscle in her own body so she could make it just right for Izzy, enough and never too much. This dance was more important than any stage. She searched Izzy’s face. Izzy met her gaze, her eyes stormy with urgency and a breathtaking vulnerability. And affection. It almost looked like love.

Eventually, Izzy clasped Lillian’s back and pleaded, “Now I want to feel your skin.”

Lillian knew what Izzy meant. Penetration was fun, but the dildo wasn’t touching Izzy’s clit.

“Can I pull out?” Lillian whispered.

Izzy nodded.

Lillian wriggled out of the harness as fast as she could, then settled her leg between Izzy’s, rubbing up and down until Izzy moaned, “Like that.” This time when Izzy came, it wasn’t a wild spasm. She came with a long, slow, happy sigh, her body going limp beneath Lillian.

“That was amazing,” Izzy said. “How are you so good at that?”

“Of course I’m good. I’m a dancer.”

When Izzy had rested, she rolled Lillian over.

“Now tell me how I can ruin you for all others.”