The Dreamers (12 page)

They were naked. They pressed against each other and felt the rhythm of their breathing. It grew faster and faster as their kisses deepened. Jennifer held onto Arianwen. She didn’t ever want to let her go. Arianwen pressed her to the bed, bringing her hand up to stroke her face. Jennifer arched against her. Arianwen’s warmth gave her such pleasure.

Arianwen’s hand slid down Jennifer’s body, cupping her shoulder, her breast, her waist, her hip, then sliding inside Jennifer’s body. Jennifer welcomed the penetration, trusting that hand absolutely.

Arianwen’s fingers moved slowly, pressing Jennifer’s insides with a firm but gentle hand. They continued to kiss, sharing their ragged breathing. Jennifer needed more. She needed more of Arianwen’s whole self.

They rolled over and Arianwen pressed up into Jennifer with as much eagerness as Jennifer had shown. Jennifer watched Arianwen’s face as she let her pleasure
be fully expressed.

Jennifer kissed her way down Arianwen’s body, feeling the tremors in her muscles as she did so. She felt thrills go through her at the knowledge that she was giving Arianwen the pleasure she deserved, pleasure she’d never had bestowed upon her in her life. Blodwyn hadn’t deserved Arianwen. Jennifer was glad she had her instead, if only for a little while.

Jennifer let Arianwen feel the heat of her tongue against her clit, slow and gentle at first, then faster, causing Arianwen to gasp and pant out loud at the sensations. Jennifer reached out and held Arianwen’s hand as she came. Arianwen gripped it hard and Jennifer had the sense that Arianwen didn’t ever want to let go either. But they must. The time would come soon. They both knew it.

Arianwen grasped her shoulders and tugged her up. Jennifer let herself
be tugged. Arianwen lay her down beside her and kissed her, then brought her close and wrapped her legs around her. Jennifer could feel the heat of their cunts close together. Jennifer put one leg over Arianwen’s and they were scissored together. They both watched each other’s faces as they began to move together. Jennifer wanted to commit this moment to memory forever. If she could remember, she wouldn’t have to let Arianwen go. She could keep a part of her forever, deep within herself. She could give Arianwen company and love for her whole lifetime.

Jennifer felt jerks of pleasure go through her as Arianwen’s heat rubbed against hers. She wanted to come but Arianwen wasn’t yet close enough. She wanted them to come together.

‘Arianwen,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve got you. Let go.’

Arianwen squeezed her eyes shut for just a few seconds. Jennifer felt their thighs begin to tremble around each other.

Arianwen opened her eyes and they watched each other, then came, shouting their pleasure so that it echoed through the cottage. It didn’t matter. There was no one there to hear them.

Jennifer sagged with exhaustion, wrapping her arms around Arianwen and nuzzling into her. Arianwen returned the embrace and they lay still, holding each other close and sharing kisses.

This was contentment. This was happiness. This was all both of them deserved.

But
it wasn’t going to last. They both knew that.

Just a little longer. Just a few more days, hours, minutes of this embrace.

 
Jennifer’s body is warm and they lie together, skin against skin. Arianwen holds her tight and lets her hair tickle her face. A breeze drifted through the open window, across their naked bodies.

She reaches her hand up and cups Jennifer’s cheek,
stroking the soft skin there. She should have had this before. She comes from the wrong time, has been denied hundreds of moments like these.

The gentle rhythm of Jennifer’s breathing soothes her. She has fallen asleep and Arianwen
is left to listen to the easy in out of her breathing.

Her worries melt away, for now, and she allows herself to close her eyes
and relax into the warmth of Jennifer’s body.

This is happiness.

Jennifer woke slowly and found herself surrounded by warmth. She turned her head and saw Arianwen lying beside her, asleep. Her face was smooth and calm in sleep. Jennifer wished she could be like that forever.

She reached out and touched Arianwen’s face. She ran a finger down her cheek and caressed her warm skin. She brushed her finger over Arianwen’s lips and felt the wet
ness there and the tickle of her steady breath on Jennifer’s skin.

Arianwen’s eyes fluttered open. Jennifer sighed. She knew the peace couldn’t last. She could feel what was coming.

Arianwen turned to her and graced her with a smile. ‘You look beautiful,’ she whispered.

Jennifer laughed, patting at her tangled hair. ‘Like this?’

Arianwen caught her hand and looked at her intensely. ‘Yes.’

Jennifer blushed and smiled. Silence fell and they held each other. Jennifer pressed her face into Arianwen’s neck and breathed in her scent.

‘This can’t last,’ she murmured.

Arianwen kissed her brow. ‘I know.’ She pressed her hand to Jennifer’s hair. ‘Please, not yet.’

Jennifer tightened her arms around Arianwen and kept her face close to hers. ‘I love you,’ she whispered.

Arianwen’s breath hitched and she turned to Jennifer. ‘How can you love me?’ she whispered. ‘I’m not even real.’

‘You
are
real. You are.’ She gripped Arianwen’s face firmly. ‘You’re real and I love you.’

Arianwen smiled. It was a broad smile, which overtook her face and made her eyes shine. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. She nuzzled into Jennifer, holding her in return. ‘I love you too.’

Jennifer sighed contentedly and closed her eyes. Wrapped in each other’s embrace, they sank into a peaceful sleep.

Seren hadn’t had a reply from Jennifer to her latest email. It had been a few days, which was unusual. Usually, Jennifer replied quickly and eagerly to Seren’s emails. Seren was worried. Jennifer had seemed so sad the last time she’d been in touch.

She took some time off work. She had no commitments. She could just take off. She could drive down and stay with her Aunty Dilys who lived half an hour away. She was a bit dull but always keen to see her.

Yes, she
’d go and check out Cilfachglas. She’d like to see the exhibition anyway and maybe she would meet Jennifer while she was there.

Arianwen wakes slowly and turns her face to Jennifer, still in her arms. She is beautiful, she thinks.

I could stay here forever, watching Jennifer grow old.

Endless time has
passed her in each other’s arms and she could stay, she could be with Jennifer for always.

She watches Jennifer’s face, relaxed in sleep. Her cheeks
are flushed and her eyelids flutter as she dreams. She has so much life. If Arianwen stays, Jennifer cannot live.

But
she wants to stay. How can she leave Jennifer alone? How can she abandon the only woman who ever loved her?

Seren
dragged herself off the rickety old bus and looked around. It had actually taken her less time to get through London and to Cardiff Central than it had to get from Cardiff to this tiny little village. She had thought that bloody bus would never stop bumping along.

She didn’t know Je
nnifer’s address and it would be a little weird to go knocking on doors for her. Still she would go to the exhibition and ask around a little.

She followed
the signs to the village centre, then it doesn’t take her long to find the little gallery Jennifer told her about. It cost only a few quid to get in but Seren gave a little extra since it was only a small gallery. In London, they would have charged twice the price.

On the door to the exhibition, there was a little poster about Jennifer. It had her photograph and a little bit of information about her.

Jennifer Davies, a photographer and painter, has had five exhibitions in London. She is interested in people, past and present, and their lives. This is a study of Cilfachglas and includes many of our local people. Jennifer was not born in Wales but has Welsh ancestry and has returned to her homeland this year.

Seren studied the photograph. Jennifer looked nice.
Her short dark hair brushed across her eyelids and she smiled at the camera. Yet there was a sadness in her dark eyes.

There were a few people dotted around looking at the photographs. There was a small girl bouncing around, loudly spotting many people she knew
in the photos. There was no sign of Jennifer in the gallery.