Chapter 10

10

Claudia turned into me, and I woke to soft, sweet sleepy kisses dotting my face. She softly, breathlessly murmured against me. It was only 4 a.m., but my body was very much awake.

"I just want to breathe you in. Take in the way you smell. Listen to how you breathe. And nuzzle you just a tad," Claudia said.

"Oh," I moaned softly, then replied. "I want that."

"Me, too. Just to rest and cuddle against each other. Lots of kisses and snuggles. One on your nose. And cheek. And forehead. And lips." After she said each place, her lips found my skin and peppered me.

"I do like a lot of kisses, and I like them everywhere…"

"Hmm. Like where?" she asked playfully.

I rolled slowly onto my front, moving my hair to one side to show the nape of my neck. "Here."

Her lips moved down to my neck, and she placed a kiss right on the nape of my neck. I turned my cheek, smiling softly. My fingers moved to my shoulder and slipped off a strap. "And here."

She moved to where the strap previously occupied my skin and placed another right on the bareness of my shoulder.

I bit my lip. I could feel the tingle of her kiss against my skin. My fingers moved to the other shoulder and slipped that strap off, too. "Or my left side will be jealous."

"We can't have that, can we?" She laughed and moved to the left side and gave it a nice kiss, as well. Just to keep things fair.

I laughed and shook my head. "We can't have that." My fingers curled into my shirt, trying to pull it down, but it was tangled. "You may need to help me."

Her hands worked it at a different angle and ever so slowly, nice and patiently, helped me pull it down my body, over my chest, dragging over my nipples. I felt them harden against the bed. She pulled my shirt down my stomach to rest at my hips and the bottom of my back until my back was exposed. "I like kisses there, too."

She began to move down, her breath hot on my back, and then she leaned in and placed one kiss and then another, and another, working slowly down my body, placing kisses all over my bare back.

I shivered. My hands took the sheets and bunched them in my palms. Fuck, it could be such a simple thing, but each kiss made my head spin. Her lips followed the bumps of my spine, my soft pale skin, inching lower and lower.

She slowed and took her time, following the shivers as she worked down my back. I took it all in as she moved lower, kissing along my spine, her tongue trailing down.

I felt the line her tongue left, reaching the dimples of my lower back. "I think we have a problem," I whispered, feeling the bunched fabric of my vest and shorts very much in the way.

"Hmmm. I think we may. What do you suggest we do about it?" She said with a small smile. Her face pressed against my lower back.

I squirmed. "Hmmm," I echoed. I slowly raised my hips, my ass rising up just a few inches, a gap between my hips and the bed now. "I think you should maybe take it all off for me."

Her hands moved to my shorts. They hooked in and she slowly wiggled them down. smiled, stopping the movement of the shorts. "Would you like that?"

I felt her pause right on the curve of my ass. I could hear the smile in her voice, and I knew she was teasing me. "Yes, I'd like that. Otherwise, how else are you going to kiss everywhere I need you to?"

Claudia pulled them the rest of the way down and then moved to my shirt. She pushed it up this time and worked it over my head.

"You bring up a good point," she said with a smile as she looked back at me, now completely naked.

And I felt it. Stripped and bare, laid out in front of her. I was all hers to kiss and adore. I turned my head, my eyes looking for hers and when they found them, I smiled.

She returned to my lower back, where she placed more soft kisses, working down. And then she moved to the back of my legs. She started low and kissed up slowly, taking her time and letting her tongue drag as she worked back up them.

I felt the heat between my thighs, and I started to wriggle, my hips moving to grind a little against the bed, wanting—no, needing—pressure. Because each kiss, each lick, made me ache for more until I couldn't take it. Then I slowly spread my legs, my body turning, maneuvering until I was facing her, giving her more places to kiss.

She smiled and looked up at me. Slowly kissing my inner thighs, she inched up to where I needed pressure until she was right above my pussy. Her breath was hot on my clitoris. I could feel her so close before she stopped, looking up at me with a big, knowing smile.

I took slow, deep breaths. I wanted to enjoy her. Enjoy every second. Feeling her kisses move upward and inward, so close. I looked down, watching her between my thighs. She was so perfect. All mine to use and enjoy. "Kiss me," I directed softly.

She leaned in with a soft sigh and found my pussy with her lips. She gave it one kiss, and then another. And then another. Soft contact with her lips was followed by a small flick of her tongue.

"That's it, baby," I murmured. I knew she could hear the gasp on my lips, see me tremble and flush at that first touch. Fuck it felt good. Her lips were so soft, kissing me so gently. It was heavenly, her tongue giving me jolts of pleasure with each flick.

Inspired by my words, her tongue ran along my labia. My gasps. My trembles. And flushes. Her lips continued to kiss me, her tongue running along my pussy, taking it all in as it traced the most intimate part of my body as though trying to memorize every inch of me.

My knees were bent, my feet resting against the bed, my thighs spreading up and wide into a V. I had more control now, and I took it, slowly rocking my hips forward to feed her my pussy, to press against her and grind against her lips, her tongue. I watched her every movement.

Her tongue moved a little more eagerly, hungrily, as I pressed against her and ground against her mouth. Her tongue slowly pushed inside of me and she let out a small moan. Her eyes glanced up at me so she could watch each and every one of my movements.

"Oh," I gasped as her tongue entered me. It felt so good, but my clit demanded her attention again, so I reached out, my hand fisting in her hair. I held her in place as I dragged myself down and pressed firmly forward.

Her tongue left me, dragging her through my folds to my clitoris, and there I took the pressure I desperately needed, thrusting forward as I pulled her to me. "Fuck. Fuck. You're so good. Such a good girl," I moaned, panting.

Her tongue gave me that pressure I wanted. It rolled. It flicked. It gave me everything as I pressed and thrust up against her. I delighted in her face in my pussy. She blew on my clit as she continued to apply pressure, watching the pleasure fill through me, and she tried to chase more of it with every movement she made and every movement I made against her.

"Fuck." I felt the edge coming, her mouth and tongue lavishing my clit with attention, flicks and swills, sucks and kisses. I didn't hold back, I used her, both hands on her, softly cupping her cheeks, adoring her, and then finding the tight grip as I pulled her harder against me. My body writhed.

"Fuck, baby, you are so wet, so covered in me. Fuck."

She let me take it. Her mouth was mine to use to get me where I wanted and needed to be. She gasped a little as I pulled harder, but then relaxed as she felt me cover her face. It felt so good. So right. She took it as she tried to give me whatever she could. But I took what I needed from her. A complete balance of give and take.

I pulled her head back for a second, feeling that space, the cool air against my heat. "Look how fucking wet you make me," I panted. Then I ran my fingers over my pussy, three fingers and palm, so wet and slick. Covered. Then I wiped them over her face, her cheeks, nose, forehead, up through her hair. "Do you want more, baby?"

She looked at me wide-eyed. She watched my fingers run over my pussy and then over her face. It sent a shiver down her spine, and I felt her tremble between my thighs. "Yes, so fucking badly." It was almost a whine that left her lips. "I can't help it. At all. I want more of you."

My hands fell away as I gave a final thrust of my hips so my ass left the bed. Fuck, I was so fucking ready for her. "Then make me come all over you, baby. Be my good girl. I want it all."

She leaned in, pressing her face tight against me, her tongue hungry on my clit, giving me that pressure, licking eagerly. I could tell she intended to make me come all over her.

"I want it all. So fucking bad," she whispered against me as her lips and tongue conveyed what she wanted.

"I'm going to come so hard in your mouth, baby."

"Fuck…" I heard her murmur into my pussy. "Please… please…" She continued to lick intently, and I knew I had her exactly where I needed her.

"You are going to belong to me. Everything you do, for me." I lost it. Lost complete control. I gave in to the overwhelming need to claim her, own her, have her. And I orgasmed hard on her face and in her mouth. I pulled her against me so she couldn't breathe in air, only me.

And when I finally released her and saw her face coated in my pleasure and her big blue eyes wide with their adoration for me, I felt a connection with her so intense I thought nothing could ever break it.

I was awoken a second time at 7 a.m. by an announcement from the Captain. She gave her usual spiel to let everyone know we'd docked, what the weather was like for the day, and how to leave theship if you wanted to disembark. Claudia had a work thing all day today with Sue. She'd managed to pin her down again, so I was flying solo.

As much as I hated the never-ending early wake-up calls, especially after a late night working, the Captain's voice always put me at ease. Her soft but raspy tones were a damn sight better than the heart-racing foghorn noises that phone alarms insist on using.

I jumped out of bed and straight into the shower. I knew if I scrolled through my phone in bed, I'd most likely fall back to sleep and then kick myself for wasting the morning.

I got changed, dried my hair, grabbed my bag, and headed down to the ship's main cafeteria. While it's customary to start your day with a coffee, this morning I opted for a hot chocolate with extra cream. I felt like I needed sugar more than caffeine, and no one made a silkier hot chocolate than Ron, the barista.

I held my cup tightly, shoved a few breakfast snacks in my bag, and made my way to the disembarkment area. This morning I was going it alone, as Urduja was stuck on board working. I could hang out with the other crew who were leaving for the day, but I felt like I was due a day by myself.

I scanned my ID on the way out and trundled down the ramp, careful not to spill my drink—something I'd seen far too many people do—and took a deep breath of sea air. Hull, the city once voted the worst place to live in the UK as well as the worst place to live in the North of England, was an area described in the past as a "sad story."

However, I wasn't going to let any of that influence my day. Beauty is subjective, so I was going in with a positive attitude, especially since I hadn't had the best attitude yesterday. I was determined to be different this morning.

Lucky for me, there were no gray clouds in sight, and the Humber Bridge sparkled to my left. I snapped a few pictures, as I was genuinely taken aback by its presence. Sometimes, things look better in pictures, but other times, like today, things look far better in real life. It wasn't a beautiful bridge by any means, but it was impressive and formidable against the desolate landscape.

I headed off toward the old town to wander around the shops. A majority of the time, I'm only ever window shopping, but I found that looking at clothes, shoes, bags, and knick-knacks helped me unwind more than a spa day ever could. At least when I'm walking the aisles of New Look, strangers aren't rubbing my neck or prodding my back.

After imagining myself in all the outfits I didn't buy, I walked to The Deep. The Deep was listed as one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world, and I won't lie, I was a little bit excited.

Being an adult definitely doesn't mean you should stop exploring the world around us, and once I got inside and started gawking at the beauty of the sharks, turtles, and penguins, I stopped thinking about what others might think about a lone woman in her late 30s walking around an attraction that spends a lot of money advertising to children.

I grabbed a keychain and dolphin plush from the gift shop. The keychain was for me and the dolphin was for Urduja. I was sad in the end that she'd missed the part of Hull. She found the natural world to be far more exciting than anyone I'd ever met, but hopefully, my small gift might make her feel a little better.

Selfishly, it made me feel a little better, anyway.

While the weather was still on my side, I decided to walk around the city as much as I could regardless of how tired I felt.

I meandered around the shopping center, grabbing an extra large coffee with cream, and continued through the cobbled streets along the Marina, finally stopping outside the Minster.

I found a bench to admire the view and refuel with the snacks I'd brought with me. I had a slice of banana bread and a fruit tart. This was me telling myself I was making healthy choices.

It was early afternoon, and I was running out of steam. Maybe days alone weren't a good thing. It was far too easy to talk myself out of walking or activities when I was tired. Sometimes, you need someone with you to keep you in check.

My final few hours were spent in St. Stephen's Center and a few thousand more steps walking the vibrant city streets.

As I headed back to the ship, I felt a warm rush inside, not just from the lowering sun but from the wonderful day I'd had. Perhaps Hull has revamped itself since it collected its large list of terrible accolades, or maybe the judges needed to go to Specsavers because I'd been to some drab places in my time, and Hull was not one of them.

A single beam lit up the stage. The band sat in a semi-circle around the edge. Mist rose, seeping around the shadowed musicians dressed in black, only fingers visible as they softly caressed keys, gliding along the ivory with a slow stroke as the first note rang out and the sensual strum began. "I remember…"

My eyes were closed with sweeping dark lines of make-up brushed over my eyelids. Padding barefoot to the center of the stage, my gown flowing behind me in a fiery red blaze. My lips almost kissed the microphone as I sang softly. My fingers curled slowly around the stand, drawing it close to me, hooking the mic in place, and then my eyes opened wide.

"Yeah, it's you…" I sang from the bottom of my heart, every single word felt as my gaze scanned the crowd until I found her.

The song went smoothly, and I fell back to my very best performances. I was at my peak, even if my star was fading.

A flush spread across my chest as I bit down on my lip, leaning into the microphone one last time as I whispered over the last fading notes of the band. "You. Claudia." And I fade to black.

I had never done that before. Never said a name in a performance. I knew it could ruin the moment for the fans. But I needed that moment with her. I needed her to see that she meant so much to me. She was all I could think about, all I wanted and needed, and no matter what the future held, we would navigate the seas together.

"I want to spend all morning with you," she whispered against my skin as the sun had barely risen across our infinite blue horizon. Starting slow. Quickening, sweat on our skin as we fell into each other, then changing positions, slowing down. We could both orgasm at any moment, but we didn't. We just gave in to each other, letting our bodies decide how deep, how slow."

Each whispered word brought me around. Her hands meandered around my body as her voice grew huskier, laced with sex.

"Giving in to pleasure and what feels good. No rush. Just instinct. Drawing it out until we're drowning in it. Lost. Each other's touch is the only thing that keeps us above water. And even then, I'm drowning in you. Aching for each and every touch. Kisses that just last hours, my lips so hungry for all of you. Limbs aching but not stopping because I need you so much," she whispered.

"I need you too, Claudia," I replied. "Every touch I take shows. Every sound that leaves my lips only to find yours proves it. The way my fingers caress you. The way my tongue dances with yours. The tempo varies the time between changes. But each one is charged with the same primal desire."

It's all giving and taking. Her fingers locked with mine, to pin my hands above my head, control taken, her hips rolled against me, finding that pace that's too much but yet not enough, a perfect balance. All while I gave into my every feelings.

"You look so good pinned like that. Giving in as I take you. You take me, too. It's a flow and an ebb. Hips roll and I give—or is it take? They both flow together on a lazy morning just like our bodies into each other."

It was heavenly. Time didn't matter. As she let go of my wrists, we rolled over to find me on top, riding her, claiming back some of the control, the rhythm, the grind. But then her hands dropped to my hips guiding me, directing me. Sharing the give and take.

"I want that. I want those hours with you," she moaned.

Thrusting her hips up to me as she pulled me down, I felt so sexy. The way my body bounced and shook on top of her. Her hand had to pull me down so she could lean up and give me a kiss. So many kisses.

"I want those hours, too, where nothing else matters except me and you," she whispered against my lips.

My hair fell across her face as I leaned down, my fingers cupping, holding her so softly. She was the most important thing in my universe. Our lips met, kisses that blended with moans and gasps, because we didn't stop giving and taking. We just gave and took more until I didn't know where she ended and I began.

Her hands cupped mine, too, stroking softly as she thrust up, hard, feeling that long, deep grind of our hips together. I was hardly aware of where I was anymore, just lost in her. I didn't care. All I wanted was more of her. To give her more. To take more. I drove my tongue into her mouth to dance with hers as we continued to give and take.

"I want all of you." I moved lower and turned and she followed effortlessly, not even a pause, until I was beneath her again. Only this time, our bodies pressed together perfectly, skin on skin, heat against heat. She could feel every tremble and moan that vibrated against her lips, our hips moving slow and deep. Because I had to feel it all. All of her.

She set a rhythm meant to give me all. "I need to feel all of you, too."

The way our skin felt against each other. It was just so hot. Our lips, the sounds. It was almost too much. I'd lose myself totally if not for her lips to steady me. They helped allow me to lose myself in her instead. Fuck, I wanted her so fucking bad, and every slow deep roll of my hips showed her. That I needed all of her.

How much could I give her in that moment? My fingers loosely locked in her hair, my other hand finding her hand to hold onto so I could fall with her. My head tipped back, I let out a longer deeper moan, but her kisses didn't stop—peppering my chin, neck, and throat until we found each other again. My legs spread and closed around her. Embracing her tight against me, she gave my hand a squeeze, holding onto me as her mouth found mine and took my moans.

"I want to give you everything. I want you to give me everything," she said huskily.

I held on, my grip tight. I gave into the shudders, letting them overwhelm my entire body. I shook beneath her as I whimpered, "It's you. All you." My orgasm, held off for so long, now demanded relief. My heart thundered in my chest as my lips whispered against hers. Everything I'd held back, I let go. I wrapped her up in my arms. My kisses lingered, but my moans took over. My orgasm was long. It came from deep in me, made me feel on fire. I could barely take it. Fuck, but I gave it to her. Over and over. Letting her feel just how much she made me feel for her.

She was right behind me. Her body tensed up, and then I felt that warm wetness flood my sex. A moan and then a groan followed as she held on to me tight. I felt every shake she made for me. We held tight against each other as we climaxed for each other.

It was such a primal need, a basic instinct, but I craved it. Craved to feel her orgasm. The claim she took over my body, it was incredibly intimate, but I wanted to share every intimacy with her, soaring high as if nothing else would ever matter other than her.