Rachel stopped and when her eyes fixed on the ones staring right back at her, they instantly began to darken and glaze over. The desire yet again was transparent. She moved forward until she was within inches of Jess and lowered her gaze to full red lips that were slightly parted. She desperately wanted to touch them with her own. She heard herself croak as she closed the distance between them further. “Jess, I’m going to kiss you.” Cupping her hand gently around Jess’s head, she guided her down to meet her waiting lips. She pressed softly, then teased and stroked the mouth she had claimed, tentatively sliding the tip of her tongue inside.
Jess moaned. Her head was spinning and her legs were in danger of buckling. She placed her hands on Rachel’s hips to try and steady herself, but she wanted more. Rachel’s breasts were pushing against her as hands slid over her shoulders. Her arms went around Rachel’s waist pulling her closer. She felt nipples harden. She moved a hand down to Rachel’s buttocks and pulled her tight to her center that was throbbing with uncontrollable need. She would have taken Rachel there and then, if it was not for her head betraying her. She dragged her lips away from the ones providing the intoxicating pleasure and tried to focus her gaze on Rachel’s and was met with pure need and wanting. Pushing Rachel away she grasped both shoulders and held her at arm’s length, heaving ragged breaths. “I can’t do this Rachel, I’m sorry, I just can’t.”
Rachel tried to move forward, but Jess was too strong. “Why not? Please.”
The pleading eyes almost undid what little resolve Jess had mustered. “I’ll only hurt you and I don’t want to do that. Please just believe me that I can’t.” Jess swallowed hard as her senses returned.
“Well isn’t this just dandy,” a voice said behind her. She looked at Rachel who was also attempting to compose herself.
Jess shook her head and clutched at her chest that was pounding way too fast, and then turned to Alison. “What did you say?”
“Maybe I was wrong about you not having someone else. But it seems to me it’s not what you want,” Alison said triumphantly before looking straight at Rachel. “She never pushed me away. You obviously don’t have what it takes.” A wicked smile crossed her face.
Rachel was too stunned to respond.
Jess took two steps toward Alison, grabbed her by the arm and started pushing her up the path. “Right, that’s it.” Rage was flooding her senses. “Rachel has more to offer than you ever did. She has more decency flowing through her veins than both of us put together. Now, I want you out of that lodge and off these premises before the end of the day.”
Alison turned around and confidently said, “There’s no need to get upset. I’m going today anyway.” She looked back at Rachel and said to Jess, “I know why you pushed her away. No one throws away the chance if a beautiful woman thrusts themselves upon them, unless they have feelings for someone else.” A smug, seedy grin lifted her lips.
“For heaven’s sake, Alison, what is the matter with you? I don’t find you the least bit attractive, or appealing. In fact, I’m finding it hard to fathom what I saw in you in the first place.” She threw her hands up with exasperation. “Why don’t you just go and visit a gay bar? You’ll find plenty of willing women there.”
Alison looked shocked at the idea. “I don’t need to pick women up in bars.” She looked at Rachel then back at Jess. “Is that what you’ve been doing all these years?”
Jess glared at her. “It beats screwing up other people’s lives. Maybe you should try it.” They looked coldly at each other for a moment before Jess sighed. “Oh, goodbye Alison, I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Alison gave a defeated smile and dropped her head slightly. “Goodbye Jess, I won’t bother you again.” She turned and headed slowly up the hill.
Half smiling, Rachel raised her eyebrows and said, “Well you were right. You said a kiss would make her go away.”
Jess slowly grinned. “I did, didn’t I?”
They both began to laugh.
Chapter Seventeen
Jess quietly lounged on the oversized and overstuffed sofa in the middle of the observation room. She watched through the picture window as two young fox cubs tumbled over one another. Their mother was cautiously stretched out close by, keeping her eye on them.
The last week had gone in a flash. There had been no time to dwell on the feeling of unbridled pleasure she’d experienced from the kiss. Nor the drama that had gone with it that morning.
Uncle Jack had been through a difficult period after, according to Tom, probably trying to do too much around the estate. Although her uncle wasn’t having any of that. Emergency jobs appeared on a daily basis, and she had seriously considered employing some help. As soon as she did, she knew the work would tail off and her uncle wouldn’t like her hanging about the house, watching his every move.
She hadn’t seen Rachel for a couple of days. This was her second trip away, attending an exhibition. It actually suited her fine that Rachel was staying out of her way and that she would be gone soon, returning to the States in just under two weeks. The only problem was that she missed her company.
Looking over at the door Jess jumped out of her seat. “Rachel!”
She smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“What are you doing here?” As her heart raced she tried to give off an air of calm. “I didn’t realize you were back.”
Rachel wandered over to the window. “I scared your cubs. I don’t suppose they’ll be back?”
Jess stood by her side. “Afraid not and I think it was me that actually frightened them off.” Her heart was not slowing and the smell of Rachel’s shampoo was doing nothing to help. She turned to look at her as Rachel said, “Marie asked me to come and get you. They’re having tea in the conservatory.”
Rachel relaxed once they were sat down and engaged in conversation with Marie and Jack. Her feelings of wanting rushed back when she saw Jess relaxed on the sofa. They had laughed the kiss off but the few times they’d spoken since, the tension was undeniable. Rachel had been grateful to be able to avoid Jess. She was struggling with both her feelings and Jess’s mixed ones.
“I believe you haven’t been well Jack?” Rachel watched as Marie and Jess exchanged a smile and realized why when Jack answered.
“Who told you that?”
“Julie. I picked up a few things on my way up.”
“I’m fine. A lot of fuss about nothing. I’ll have to have words with that Tom.”
“Oh, don’t be silly you old fool, you can’t stop people worrying.”
Jess grinned in Rachel’s direction at Marie’s words and then added, “Tom said he overdid it.”
Jack snapped. “Don’t you start.”
Jess laughed. “I’m not going to. Rachel was only making an inquiry.”
***
Rachel inserted the key and pushed open the door to Lomond Lodge, indicating for Jess to go first. “That was so wonderful, to see so many badgers in one night and so close. Thank you for letting me go with you.” The big brown eyes were wide and excited, and Jess grinned to herself yet again. She was initially upset with her uncle for telling Rachel about her badger watch and then more or less insisting she take Rachel along. Time alone with Rachel was something she wanted to avoid. Why? she thought. She’d enjoyed every minute of it. The tension of the last week had dissolved quickly with time spent together. She’d also found that she’d missed her badger watches these last few years by not being around in the summer, and it was good to have someone to share it with.
Their patience had been rewarded with the sighting of a large boar and an hour’s entertainment by a group of cubs. The night had been still, so they had placed themselves at the bottom of the hill that housed the set. Unable to smell Rachel’s familiar scent or even soap, she was disappointed yet pleased she had been taken seriously about how important it was, “Not to smell human.” Mesmerized by Rachel’s eyes and how they expressed her wonderment, Jess couldn’t help being excited by what she had grown to take a little for granted.
Rachel hung up their coats. “There’s wine in the lounge. I’ll be there in a minute. I want to take the covers off the food.”
She smiled as she took a glass from Jess. “Thank you again.” She paused. “It was good to spend that time with you. I’ve missed it.” Turning to place her wine on the table, she added jovially, “You always know how to show a girl a good time. I’m hungry, are you coming?”
Jess followed. “You don’t have that long before you go home do you?” She instantly felt a rush of sadness at her words and knew exactly how long it was.
Six days
. “Are you still coming back? With the book signing being November.” Her heart began to race as she waited on the answer.
“I’m not entirely sure yet. But I’m very much hoping to. Scott’s sorting out my schedule.” Jack had asked Rachel the same question yesterday. She really didn’t want to think about leaving, even though she was looking forward to her sister’s wedding.
Jess was disappointed in the reply. Was Rachel having second thoughts? She wasn’t quite sure.
“I’ve grown very fond of Jack and I…” Rachel looked at Jess. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know he’s hoping you’ll be back at some point.” She wanted to add that she hoped she would be too.
They chatted away more easily once settled back in the lounge, occasionally wandering out for more food. The evening passed with both women relaxing just as they had done through most of the summer.
Jess eased herself back into the chair and listened intently to the melodious voice recalling some of the funnier moments of her sister’s first and very short marriage when she was sixteen. They had eloped due to the fact their mother didn’t like the boy, and it had been annulled on “unconsummated” grounds. Little did their mother know her sister had lost her virginity to him more than a year earlier. The marriage had never been mentioned in front of their mother again.
She watched as Rachel gestured with her hands and tossed her head back as she laughed. She then dreamily scanned every contour of her face and neck. Slowly her eyes drifted lower, reaching a cleavage that just hinted at what was below. Her mind was slowly beginning to betray her as she took in the soft mounds and then the slight swell of her belly and hips. She had a womanly shape, a total contrast to the skinny young women and the butches her own age, who hung out in the bar. She sighed contentedly.
She is beautiful. So, so, beautiful.
Rachel continued to talk as she watched the unguarded attention Jess was showing her. The eyes had traced a lazy trail around and down the length of her body and it had unashamedly responded. That unmistakable look she had seen so often caused a wave of heat to wash over her, which instantly resulted in a moist, fluttering sensation at the top of her thighs that cried out for attention.
The eyes suddenly met hers and the red-hot piercing look she received could have melted her, if such a thing was possible. Suddenly, the intensity of the moment was over as Jess slowly blinked twice, shook her head, and rose. For some reason Rachel imagined she would be silently taken by the hand and led to her bedroom.
“I think I’d better go.”
It took Rachel what seemed like minutes to register what she had heard. “Go. No.” She scrambled up out of her seat and moved to within inches of Jess. Taking her hands, she softly said, “No. Please don’t go. Stay. Stay with me tonight.” Her heart began to thump wildly as she waited.
Blood was gushing like a torrent through Jess’s head, crashing against the sides. Her eyes saw only silver flashes of light and the legs that usually carried her had definitely turned to jelly. She had to gain some sort of control and fast, but both her mind and body were playing the traitor. Through the haze she then heard the words. “Please come to bed with me, Jess?”
Rachel closed the gap completely, putting a hand to the back of Jess’s head and then looked at her. Jess let out a ragged deep breath. Her head spun. “No. No I can’t, I don’t want to hurt you.”
Rachel dropped her hand and took both of Jess’s in both of hers. “You won’t hurt me.”
Jess desperately tried to focus and gain at least some measure of control. “You don’t understand, I will. Please don’t ask me again. I don’t think I could help myself.”
Rachel was way beyond reasoning. She had to know what it would be like to have that desire lavished on her body. “Please, Jess, I want you to touch me. I need you to touch me, please.”
Jess could feel her resolve withering fast, her mind and body now in a fierce battle. “It would only lead to pain, I really should go.”
Jess made a feeble move to turn away, but Rachel looked her in the eyes. “I want you, Jess. I want you to want me. I can’t stand it any longer, the way you look at me. Please stay.”
Jess couldn’t think about anything but wanting this woman. With her body on fire and every nerve ignited, she lowered her head, put an arm around Rachel’s waist and pulled her firmly against her. The feel of Rachel sent her spiraling over the edge.
Their lips met. Jess couldn’t get close enough; her hands were pressing and roaming over Rachel’s back and buttocks. Her shirt was being pulled and then she felt a hand on her skin. Jess groaned.
Finally, Rachel pulled away, panting and gasping for breath. “The bedroom,” she said and grasped a hand that followed without protest.
As Rachel reached the bed she went for the shirt again. She gasped at the unveiling. “Oh Jess, you’re as magnificent as I’d imagined.” She cupped a breast and pulled Jess down for another heated kiss.
It was Jess who pulled away this time, and caressed her face. Strangely Rachel felt relaxed, even loved by the look she was receiving from that gaze that penetrated so deeply. Jess smiled and slowly leaned down to capture her mouth again. The kiss was gentle, languid and sensuous. Rachel was lost, she could only feel, not think. It was pure ecstasy. A tongue requested entry and she welcomed it with soft teasing strokes. Slowly her clothes were peeled from her body, the soft lips and agile tongue never left her.
Guiding Rachel back on the bed, Jess gloried in the body beneath her. “You are so beautiful. You can’t imagine how glorious you are.”