Loading...I consider myself to be a cheerful and easy going person by nature, but my god some days just defy anyone’s ability to stay jovial.
My default setting is happy unless something happens to piss me off, and some days it all just seems to come at once!
Sarah, now she’s a different matter. Her default setting is slightly grumpy unless something happens to make her cheerful, but when she’s happy she’s an absolute scream. Unfortunately I wasn’t making her happy any more so grumpy was becoming her norm, thus my day from hell started with her calling me at 6.30am to cancel our date for that night.
I wasn’t overly happy about it as she didn’t seem to have a reason and our visit to this particular restaurant had been arranged for weeks. We ended up having a huge row; the outcome of which is that she is no longer my girlfriend. I can’t honestly say I was too upset about us breaking up as it wasn’t really going anywhere but it’s a lousy way to start the day nevertheless.
When I left the house for work I found my car had been blocked into it’s parking space by some inconsiderate prick who I guess was visiting one of the neighbours houses, but despite knocking on several doors I couldn’t find the owner of the offending vehicle.
Still being fairly stoical I headed back inside, changed clothes and got my trusty Honda 600cc out of the garage and rode to work, getting caught in an incredible downpour on the way.
Now I was starting to get pissed off because when I left the house in a hurry due to the car issue, I grabbed my old leather biker jacket that isn’t as waterproof as it used to be anymore so I turned up at work soggy and uncomfortable.
I got to my desk and logged into my PC to find an urgent email from my manager demanding that we have a meeting in fifteen minutes. Now this was strange in itself, as my manager and I get on really well so usually she’d pop her head around my door to ask for a meeting, or would just come and sit in my office to discuss whatever she needed to see me about.
Fifteen minutes later I strolled into her office with a coffee for the both of us, to find 4 other people sat in her office looking bewildered. Now I’m starting to forget about how damp and dishevelled I am and am starting to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach; not helped by the appalling cheap instant coffee that the company supplies.
To cut a long story short — there are going to be cuts due to financial constraints and the chances are the 5 of us are all going to be made redundant and we will find out formally in a few days.
OK, so far the day has been fairly lousy and I feel justified that my normally calm and friendly manner has degraded into something closer to miserably crabby.
I managed to last the day at work and left the office, thanking any god that would listen that it was Friday, and walked to the car park while struggling into my still uncomfortably damp leather jacket, just in time to see some stupid jackass reverse their car out of a parking space straight into the side of my bike, knocking it off it’s stand and onto the tarmac.
Now I was really pissed off. My bike isn’t new, isn’t worth loads of money but it’s my toy. I look after it, clean it and service it regularly so that it runs like a dream and is unfailingly reliable and now some arsehole has just carelessly sent it crashing into the road.
I ran over, waving my crash helmet and shouting at the offending car driver as they pulled over into a parking bay and as they opened the door the volume of the music was so loud it stopped me dead in my tracks.
‘For fuck’s sake why don’t you look where you’re fucking going? You’ve just knocked my bike over you stupid bitch!’ I shouted, trying to compete with the car stereo.
‘Sorry, I had no idea it was there! Let me help you pick it up and give you my details.’
‘Can you turn that bloody noise down too?’ I shouted at her, pointing at her car as if my wagging finger alone would be enough to scare the music into abating.
‘Oh sorry, hang on’ and she turned into the car and hit the off button on the stereo.
She walked around the bike and grabbed the saddle as I grabbed the handlebars and she started to lift before I was ready, succeeding only in grazing the bike across the tarmac.
‘Hold it!’ I shouted angrily ‘It’s heavy, so on 3. 1…2…3’ and this time I lifted but she didn’t! Aaargghhh how bloody difficult could this be?
I was about to shove her out of the way and do it myself when I saw she was looking at me strangely.
‘Now?’ she said looking confused
‘Now’ I repeated and we lifted the bike together until it was upright and back on it’s stand again.
I took a very long look at the bike to assess the damage as she looked on, biting her nails and looking terrified. She looked so worried I actually started to feel a little sorry for her, especially as I had flown at her like some crazed dervish.
Amazingly there was very little damage thanks to the tank guards. A broken indicator and a couple of fairly superficial scratches to the tank, none of which was going to be tough to get fixed.
‘Listen, I don’t know how much your insurance excess is but it’ll probably be cheaper for you to just pay for the repairs and that way you won’t lose any no-claims bonus or get a premium increase next year.’
I turned to face her waiting for an answer but she just stood there looking at me expectantly.
‘So, which way do you want to do it?’ I prompted
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, looking at me strangely
‘As I said — the damage is minor so it’ll probably be easier and cheaper for you just to pay for the repairs rather than involve the insurance.’
‘Oh ok. In that case please get a quote to get the work done and I’ll just pay for it, but I’ll let you have my insurance details anyway just in case you find some damage later on that you can’t see now.’
I stood there looking at her as she walked over to her car and started rummaging around in her handbag on the passenger seat. There was something strange about this woman but I couldn’t put my finger on it. She seemed to look at me with a weird intensity sometimes while being oddly aloof and distant at others.
She returned with a business card and was writing a mobile number on the back.
‘Sorry, I must have the insurance details at home. This is my business card, I work just over there’ and she waved her hand at the building opposite my own workplace ‘If you text me later I’ll get back to you with the details.’
‘Ok’ I sighed ‘I’ll call you later.’
‘No!’ and she grabbed my hand ‘text me please?’ she said in a calmer manner, a pleading look in her eyes.
I was starting to get really irate now. I’d had the day from hell and now this silly cow was dictating how I should contact her to get the insurance details for an accident SHE was responsible for.
‘Why?’ I demanded forcefully
‘Huh?’
Why? Why do I have to text you when it’d be so much easier to call you?’
‘Easier for you maybe’ she said in a mousy voice while staring at me in that piercing way again.
‘I’m sorry but this was your accident, why shouldn’t it be easier for me?’
‘You don’t understand’ she said as she blushed deeply ‘I’m deaf.’
‘Well I’m sorry but being deaf doesn’t excuse lousy driving or absolve you from blame!’ I ranted at her, my anger at the day in general boiling up and spilling over.
‘No — but it makes it very difficult to use the phone.’ And she smiled at me in such an innocent and disarming way that I instantly felt floored by my stupidity.
‘Oh crap’ I muttered as I stared at my feet, feeling like a complete prick. Now I understood why we didn’t lift the bike together, why she ignored me speaking to her as I examined the damage.
‘Why the hell didn’t you say something before?’ I muttered, trying to stay angry at her but failing miserably.
I was surprised to feel her fingers under my chin as she lifted my head gently and turned my face toward her.
‘I need to see your lips to be able to see what you’re saying’ she said softly and in that instant, something changed fundamentally. I don’t know if it was the gentle touch of her hand or the softness of her voice but I stopped thinking of her as the silly cow who had hit my beloved bike and actually saw her as a woman for the first time. And she was really very pleasant on the eyes.
‘Listen, I’m really, really sorry for coming across as such a bitch, I’m just having the most horrendous day.’ I said whilst staring at her eyes as they in turn studied my lips.
‘Well, I’m really sorry I hit your bike and made it even worse. If it’s any consolation I’m not exactly having a fun day either. I just got turned down for a promotion that I know damn well would’ve been mine if I could hear but I have no way of proving it.’
‘Ah shit, I’m really sorry to hear that. At least you still have a job; I just found out that I’m probably going to be made redundant.’
‘Yeah, I guess it could be worse.’ She sighed in a resigned way ‘At least it’s Friday so we can get drunk and drown our sorrows. You should make your boyfriend take you out somewhere special tonight to cheer you up.’
‘Actually I broke up with my girlfriend this morning — that was the start of my bad day.’
‘Girlfriend? You’re gay?’
‘Yup. Fully paid up member of the lesbian fraternity since I was about 16 years old.’
‘Jeez, I’m really sorry.’
‘What, that I’m gay?’ I responded getting miffed again.
‘No silly! That you split up with your girlfriend!’ and then she laughed and it sounded like sparkling water trickling over the babbling brook of my senses. Her laugh instantly lightened my mood and I found myself grinning at her inanely.
‘So who are you going home to? Girlfriend, boyfriend, goldfish? Who’s the significant other in your life.’
‘I have a cat called Jasper. We make a good pair because he’s also deaf — either that or he just ignores me!’
‘You mind me saying something?’ she shook her head so I carried on ‘How come you speak so clearly? I’ve met deaf people before and no matter how well they speak there’s always a difference, the tone is muted or something; oh hell I don’t know how to explain it.’ And I started to get embarrassed and wished I’d kept my mouth shut.
She touched my elbow in a reassuring way, making me look up at her again.
‘It’s ok, I understand. I wasn’t always deaf. I lost my hearing due to meningitis about 6 years ago so my speech patterns were already established. I can also hear myself a little bit which helps. I do have very slight hearing but it’s so minimal it doesn’t really help on a day to day basis, but if I have music loud enough the slight sound and the feeling of the bass lets me experience it if not really hear it. I can lip read pretty well though and have excellent eyesight which means I can eavesdrop on conversations from quite a distance.’ And she smiled that smile again; innocence mixed with a hint of mischievousness
‘Listen, I don’t mean to seem forward……………….’ Oh for god sake — had I really just started a sentence in a conversation with a deaf person with the word “listen?”
‘It’s ok’ she said, her hand on my elbow again ‘carry on.’
‘I was wondering, since we’ve both had shitty days, how do you feel about joining me for a meal and drinks this evening? I know I could do with a good night out to get today out of my system and I already have a table booked that’s going to go to waste otherwise.’
‘Are you asking me out?’ That smile again, oh be still my hammering heart!
‘No, yes, I mean … I just thought we could hang out and cheer each other up, I wasn’t actually asking you…, well I suppose I….’ I was blushing furiously now and would’ve been perfectly happy if the ground had swallowed me up in that instant.
‘Yes.’
‘What?’
‘I said yes, silly. So where do you want to meet?’
It turned out that we only lived about 3 miles apart, so I gave her my address and mobile number and we agreed that she would come to me and we would get a taxi into town from my place and I’d pick her up to retrieve her car the next day.
It wasn’t until she’d driven away and I was starting my bike that I realised that we hadn’t even exchanged names!
I plucked the card she had given me from my jeans pocket and turned it over to read the printed side
“Jessica Bailey, Laboratory Manager”
Such a pretty name; all the way home I was wondering what she preferred to be called. Jess? Jessie? Jessica? I guess I’d find out in a hour or so!
Having ridden home and stowed my bike in the garage I ran into the house and practically threw myself under the shower whilst trying to decide on what to wear.
I then mentally slapped myself for getting so ahead of myself. I still didn’t know if she was even into women, so lets not start assuming this was a date. We’re just two women trying to lighten the load after a bad day, that’s all.
Even so — the day was definitely looking up.
I dressed in what I would have worn had I been going out with Sarah; a pair of figure hugging black Levi jeans, a white tailored shirt and a pair of black low heeled ankle boots, all of which would be topped with a black leather jacket that was a bit worn but was my favourite.
I then spent a few minutes rushing around tidying up and putting things away and had just finished when I heard the doorbell chime.
I opened the door to a vision of loveliness that took my breath away. Jessica was standing there dressed simply in blue jeans and a red cotton jumper but she looked stunning. Her long dark, curly hair framed her face in a way that made her blue eyes sparkle and she had that wonderful smile on her face again.
It had only been just over an hour since we’d last seen each other but I’d either forgotten or somehow just hadn’t registered how gorgeous she was; now I was stood on my doorstep gawking like a teenager in the midst of a first crush.
‘You going to invite me in or just stand there staring at me?’ as she looked herself up and down as if trying to locate the source of my fascination.
‘Sorry, come on in and I’ll call a taxi. Do you want a drink while we wait?’ I turned & looked expectantly, waiting for an answer until I realised I’d done it again. I had turned away from her after I invited her in so she had no idea of what I’d said after that. The look on my face gave me away too, so I couldn’t even pretend I hadn’t said anything and it made me feel even more foolish than I already did for staring at her.
‘Sorry’ I muttered sheepishly ‘I forgot again. Would you like a drink while we wait?’
‘I’ll take a beer if you have one? I’m glad to see you’re dressed in jeans, I didn’t know where we were going so I didn’t know what to wear.’
‘You look lovely’ I said, making sure to look directly at her ‘although I have a feeling you’d look good in anything you wear.’ And with that I deliberately turned away to hide the blush that was creeping up my face.
I called a taxi and grabbed a couple of ice cold bottles of Becks from the fridge, our fingers touching lightly as I passed the bottle, sending little tingles through my system.
‘Thanks urrmmm…..’ and she laughed shyly ‘You know you haven’t actually told me your name!’
‘Chris’ I said as I formally extended my hand to shake hers ‘and I know you’re Jessica; I have your card.’
‘Well it was nice to bump into you Chris’ she grinned as she shook my hand gently, her soft fingers clasped in my own ‘and talking of bumping into things you’d better take this’ and she handed me a sheet of paper that had her insurance details on it.
A short taxi ride later and we were sat in one of my favourite restaurants. It wasn’t fancy by any means but if you wanted a good rack of bbq ribs, or a steak that would melt in your mouth then it was perfect. In fact the food was so good that you generally needed to book 3 weeks in advance to stand any chance of getting a table.
As we were handed our menus Jessica took one quick glance and looked at me with an expression of pure horror.
‘I guess I should’ve mentioned that I’m vegetarian right?’
My heart sank. I don’t think they even knew the meaning of the word in this place and I really didn’t want to have to go somewhere else.
I resigned myself to giving our table back and heading out to another restaurant when I heard that tinkling laughter again and looked up. Jessica was trying so hard to keep a straight face but was failing miserably.
‘Oh you little cow! You really had me going then.’
‘I know — you should’ve seen the look on your face!’ and she dissolved into fits of giggles, which I couldn’t help but join in with.
The mood was then set for the evening. We had come out to relax and unwind and that’s exactly what we were going to do.
We ordered a sharing plate with spicy bbq ribs, chicken wings and sliced bloody ribeye steak accompanied by onion rings, corn on the cob and coleslaw, which we proceeded to demolish whilst sinking several more bottles of ice cold beer.
There was no shortage of conversation and a lot of laughter but despite all of the subjects we covered, including work, holidays, houses and sport, I still had absolutely no idea about Jessica’s sexuality. She didn’t once mention a partner of either sex and I didn’t want to be quite so blatant as to ask her outright, but I couldn’t deny to myself that I was desperately hoping she was gay, or at least bi.
Eventually it was time to leave the restaurant and I reluctantly asked for the bill, not wanting the evening to be over.
When the waitress brought it over Jessica snatched it up before I could get my hands on it, insisting that she pay.
‘Hey, who died and made you the boss?’ I remonstrated, trying to grab it from her hand.
‘We both had shitty days today and I made yours a whole lot worse when I hit your bike. You then made mine a whole lot better by inviting me out and stopping me staying in and getting drunk on my own tonight, so I insist on paying as an apology and a thank you. If you’re good I’ll let you pay next time.’
‘Oh, so there’s going to be a next time is there?’ I asked sarcastically with a cocked eyebrow, although secretly I was mentally punching the air and shouting “YES”!
We were both quiet on the taxi ride home to my place. I know I was wondering if I could persuade her to come in for a nightcap but I had no idea what thoughts were keeping Jessica quiet.
Eventually the car stopped and if I was going to find out it had to be now.
‘Urm, it’s still not very late. I was wondering if you fancied coming in for a quick drink?’
‘I know you just said something but I don’t know what. It’s dark in the car and I can’t see your lips.’
Ah — no wonder Jessica didn’t try to make conversation on the drive back. This was going to take some getting used to, so I improvised and mimed a drinking motion while nodding my head toward the house.
‘As long as you’re offering alcohol and not coffee I’m in.’ and she climbed out of the car as I paid the driver, that inane grin on my face again.
I kicked my shoes off as I walked in the front door and headed for the fridge, calling over my shoulder asking is she’d like beer, wine or something stronger.
I was surprised to find myself being spun around by my arm, coming to a stop with Jessica standing right in front of me, looking into my eyes.
She put her hands on each side of my face to hold it still and for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me; instead she kept looking into my eyes as she spoke.
‘I know it takes some adjusting to but I need to be able to see you when you talk. What do I have to do to make you look at me? Am I going to have to hold onto your face like this all the time to keep you looking in my direction?’
Well if ever there was a loaded question! I would happily look at her for hours on end and was tempted to say just that, but that’s not what she meant. Was it?
‘I’m sorry Jess, I keep forgetting but I promise I’ll try harder. Having said that you’re welcome to keep hold of my face.’ I said with a soft smile.
‘At least you’re trying.’ And the tinge of sadness in her voice was unmistakable.
‘So do I gather that someone else didn’t try?’ Her eyes closed and she sighed deeply before replying ‘yeah. I was engaged to a guy when I lost my hearing. He stuck it out for about 9 months but things just weren’t the same after I left hospital and he broke it off. He said it had nothing to do with my deafness but I didn’t believe him, especially since he hadn’t really wanted to make love in all of that time and we’d had such a good sex life before.’
How could you NOT want to make love to this woman for 9 months? Her hands were still on my face and her thumbs were gently caressing my cheeks. The temptation to lean in and kiss her was almost overpowering but I didn’t want to ruin the evening so I reeled myself back in and asked her what she wanted to drink instead.
I was in turmoil inside. It felt like her caresses were flirting with me and yet she’d just told me she’d been engaged to a man; the mixed signals weren’t helping me work her out one little bit and unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with a finely tuned gaydar!
Pulling reluctantly away from her hands I poured us both a brandy and we sat in the living room. We were both on the sofa but turned toward each other so that we could talk, our knees touching slightly if one of us moved.
We talked long into the night and occasionally her hand would land on my leg or arm as she emphasised a point, or to make me keep my face turned in her direction and every little touch seared itself into my consciousness like a hot brand.
Jessica seemed oblivious to the effect she was having on me but at times it was all I could do to concentrate on what she was saying and restrain myself from launching myself at her.
Having left the sofa to visit the bathroom, I returned to find Jessica sound asleep. She had slumped down into the cushions and I knew she was going to wake stiff and sore if I left her like that, so I tried to wake her.
Stupidly, I spent a couple of minutes crouched down next to her calling her name softly before I realised just what an idiot I was being, so I gently rocked her shoulder in an attempt to wake her.
She didn’t wake but she did slip further down onto the sofa seat, so I lifted her legs so that she was stretched out, fetched a spare duvet and tucked her in tenderly. I then left a note on the coffee table telling her where everything important was in the house and inviting her to help herself if she awoke before me.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world to kiss her forehead gently before I turned off most of the lights and headed into my own room where I lay for a long time just contemplating the woman who was currently sleeping soundly on my sofa.
Eventually sleep wrapped me in it’s embrace and I slept soundly until I was woken by the sounds of Saturday morning life that were drifting in through my bedroom windows. I stretched languorously and rolled onto my back, glancing at the bedside clock and thinking how wonderful it was that despite being 9.30 am, as it was the weekend I could lounge in bed for as long as I liked.
My foggy morning brain registered the fact that I was sleeping in a tee shirt, rather than naked. I then sat bolt upright in bed as memories of the night before filtered through the sleep and I remembered that I had a guest. I was dying to know if she was still there so I jumped out of bed, used the bathroom, wrapped myself in a bathrobe and crept gingerly downstairs and into the lounge.
I wasn’t actually sure if I wanted her to still be there or not. I had no doubt that I found this woman attractive, both mentally and physically, however I still had no idea whether she considered me as anything other than a friend. Either way, I did know that I’d like to keep her in my life on whatever terms she would allow, so I crept over to the sofa and peered over the back.
I noticed that there was now a pile of clothes next to the sofa where she must have taken them off some time during the night and I heard a little sigh escape from my lips, knowing she was still here and was undressed.
The duvet was heaped up in such a way that it was impossible to see her at all, so I walked around the sofa and listened for any small noises, trying to tell if she was awake. Hearing nothing I bent close to where her head had been last night and started to pull the duvet down slowly, my heart beating just that little bit faster as I moved the covers as slowly and gently as I could.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when all of a sudden I heard ‘Trying to sneak a peak huh?’ followed by that tinkling laughter I was coming to like so much.
I looked up to find that her head was now exposed at the other end of the sofa and she was peering at me over the top of the duvet, a mischievous smile playing across her sleep rumpled face.
‘Jesus Jess, you scared the crap out of me!’
‘Well that serves you right for trying to take advantage of me when I was asleep!’
‘I wasn’t! I was just trying to wake ……’ but I left the sentence hanging as I realised she was just teasing me again. ‘Humph! Not my fault you migrated to the other end of the sofa during the night. So — do you like tea or coffee in the morning?’
‘Tea please; strong with 1 sugar’ she called after me as I headed into the kitchen, shaking my head in mock annoyance.
How had this woman learned how to push my buttons so effectively in just a few hours? I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I put the kettle on; I had a feeling that life would never be dull when Jess was around.
I turned around to find her standing right behind me and was somewhat surprised when she wrapped me in her arms and hugged me tightly, placing a little kiss on my cheek.
‘Thanks for a great night last night and for making me comfortable on your sofa; I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.’
‘That’s ok Jess. For future reference there’s a spare bedroom upstairs that’s more comfortable than the sofa though.’
‘Future reference huh? So are we going to do this again?’
‘Absolutely!’ I stated firmly ‘It’s my turn to pay next time remember, so we have to do it at least once more so I can get even.’
We’d spent a comfortable hour drinking tea and chatting about nothing in particular when she sighed, saying she really ought to go home and feed Jasper.
She seemed quite reluctant to go and after she’d left, having hugged me and kissed my cheek again, I thought I understood why. Despite living comfortably on my own for some years, my house now felt curiously empty and I knew that she was also going home to an empty house, apart from Jasper that is. Maybe I should get a cat now I no longer had Sarah to fill my time?
I rattled around in the house doing the usual chores but by 1pm I was finished and bored. I kept picking up my phone to text Jessica but I really had nothing to say and I didn’t want to come across as pushy, so I kept putting it down again without sending the message.
I decided to go out for a ride to amuse myself, so I spent an hour riding around a few different bike shops, getting my indicator replaced and getting quotes to get the tank resprayed but by 2.30 pm I was home again and bored.
I kept glancing at my phone just in case I’d missed a text from her but there was nothing. I had the rest of the afternoon to fill and then the evening to contend with and the thought of just sitting here on my own was depressing me.
Finally I realised I had a valid reason to contact Jess, so I sent her a text telling her how much my bike was going to cost and asking if she wanted to pay or go through the insurance. I then added that I was bored and hoped she was having a more exciting day than I was.
I was thrilled when she texted straight back saying she’d pay for the damage herself, that she was also bored, so why didn’t she come over and follow me to the repair shop to drop my bike off now.
Result!
She didn’t waste any time and 15 minutes later there was a knock at my door. Jess stepped in as I opened it and we automatically hugged and kissed like old friends before I grabbed my crash helmet and jacket to head of to the bike shop.
Now — I do a lot of my best thinking when I’m encased in a crash helmet and riding my bike. I don’t know why but I find it conducive to de-cluttering the brain and therefore allowing for ideas and decisions to formulate more easily.
On the 20 minute ride to the bike shop my mind was a whir. Jessica was very casual and informally friendly with me, but that didn’t mean anything did it?
She seemed reluctant to leave this morning but surely that was just because we got on well and she was going home to an empty house?
Surely the little touches and caresses was just the way she was with all of her friends right?
So basically I came to the decision that I was just hoping that she was attracted to me because I was definitely attracted to her; I was therefore blowing ordinary gestures out of all proportion and assigning significance to them where it wasn’t justified.
Once I’d gotten that straight in my head I felt better. No, not better but more balanced somehow.
It only took a few minutes to book my bike into the repair shop and then we were back in Jess’s car and heading back to my place — or so I thought until Jess took an unexpected turn at a junction and started driving us in the opposite direction to my house.
I started to say something but instantly recognised that it was pointless as Jess couldn’t hear me. We stopped at a junction and I touched her arm lightly, making her turn toward me as I started to ask where we were going.
‘Sorry Chris, I need to concentrate on the road so I’m afraid I can’t talk to you.’ She said with a grin like a Cheshire cat.
I tried twice more to get her attention when we were stationary but she studiously ignored me, focusing all of her attention on the road and pretending she had no idea I was trying to speak to her.
Ok, so I was being kidnapped and taken on a magical mystery tour but who the hell was I to complain. I had nothing better to do and if you’re going to get kidnapped it may as well be by someone as sexy as Jess! I couldn’t help but smile, this woman had an incredible sense of fun and she already knew me well enough to know she would get away with whatever she had planned.
We soon pulled into a retail park and I groaned inwardly. Shopping was not something I considered fun and I was dreading being dragged around shop after shop for the remainder of the afternoon.
Jess looked over at me as she parked, laughing heartily as she saw the look of distaste on my face.
‘Don’t worry Hon, I just need to grab some cat food. You can wait in the car if you want to.’
Relieved, I jumped out of the car and walked across the car park with her. I could hear a commotion going on behind me and turned to see an argument going on a little way away. I was just about to turn back when I saw a car screech out of a parking space and come hurtling toward me. In the same instant I knew that Jess was in the car’s path and that she wouldn’t hear it coming!
I turned quickly and ran at Jess shouting in a futile manner. In 5 paces I had caught up with her, performed a clumsy rugby tackle around her middle and thrown her onto the pavement.
She went down like a sack of potatoes having had no forewarning and I heard the air leave her lungs in a whoosh as she hit the floor, but it was quickly drowned out by the sound of contorting metal.
I climbed off her and she looked up at me as if I was mad until she noticed the car that had wrapped itself around the lamppost a few feet away.
People were running to the car to see if the driver was ok but personally I didn’t care. I did care about the beautiful woman on the ground with the terrified expression on her face who was struggling to get some air back into her lungs.
I crouched down next to her and hugged her head against my chest and rubbed her back until her gasps became even breaths again, then I lifted her head to look into her face before asking if she was ok.
‘What the hell happened?’ she asked quietly
‘I’m not sure. There was an argument then the car just came speeding towards us. I’m sorry I hurt you.’
‘Hurt me? By the look of that car you’ve just saved my life!’ and the shock of what could have happened suddenly hit her and she burst into tears, hugging me for all she was worth.
I don’t know who called the police but they were there within a few minutes. The policeman who took our statements was a nice, kindly man but he had a very strong regional accent which made it harder for Jess to lip read. We did ok though with me repeating everything he said to Jess.
A paramedic took a quick look at her and pronounced her ok but warned her she was going to be pretty stiff and sore soon and to take it easy.
After the formalities were over I left her sat in her car while I went and bought her cat food but by the time I came back she was crying again, getting out of the car as I approached and hugging me fiercely.
‘Hey it’s ok’ as I stroked her hair and tried to reassure her. She pulled away from me and grabbed my face as she had the night before, her eyes boring into me as her thumbs caressed my cheeks.
‘I know you were talking, I could feel the vibration.’
‘Come on let’s get you home, do you want me to drive?’ and she handed me her keys, got into the passenger seat and gave me directions.
The journey was made in silence as I couldn’t look at her but her car was an automatic, leaving my left hand mostly free to hold hers and it felt as natural as could be.
By the time we reached her house she had started to stiffen up and was starting to bruise from the force of hitting the ground. I sat her in the living room, fed Jasper who was winding himself around her legs in anticipation and went into her bathroom, where I ran her a bath with scented bubbles that I found on a shelf.
Back in the living room Jess was sat where I’d left her, still in her jacket, with Jasper purring loudly as he pummelled her lap. I crouched down in front of her and smiled, noticing the slightly wild look in her eyes. She was obviously in shock and I was starting to wish I had more knowledge of what to do in this type of situation.
‘Hey, how you doing?’ I asked, making sure to look right at her.
‘I’m ok although I can’t help think about what might have happened if you hadn’t been there and knocked me out of the way. I had no idea that car was coming, it would have ploughed straight into me.’
‘I was there though and it didn’t. You have some scrapes and bruises but you’ll be fine. Come and have a bath and soothe your muscles.’ And I lifted Jasper from her lap and took her hand, leading her into the bathroom that was now filled with scented steam.
Walking into the bathroom she realised that I’d already run the bath for her and turned to look at me with slightly misty eyes ‘You’re so wonderfully caring’
I smiled, took her coat from her and turned to leave the bathroom but she grabbed my arm ‘You’re not leaving are you?’
‘No Hon, I’m just going to hang your coat up, I’ll be right outside if you need me. Besides — you kidnapped me so I don’t have my car here!’
‘Oh yeah, so I did’ and the hint of a smile played across her lips. Not the wonderful smile I knew she was capable of but just seeing her look slightly happier lifted my spirits.
I left her to undress and get into the bath while I hung her coat and started rummaging through her kitchen cupboards to distract myself from the fact that she was naked just down the hall.
I noticed a similarity to my own cupboards in that they were full of easy to cook food for one person.
I may have had Sarah in my life until yesterday (was it really only yesterday?) but we had never lived together and rarely ate a home cooked meal at my house.
The fridge was fairly well stocked but nothing in there leant itself to my limited cooking skills so I came to the conclusion that we’d be ordering a takeaway.
I gave Jess 30 minutes to soak in the tub and soothe her aching muscles before quietly listening at the door in an attempt to tell if she was out of the bath yet or not but I could only hear the unmistakeable sound of quiet crying.
I opened the bathroom door slowly, trying to give her as much advance warning of my entry as possible, before peaking my head around the door. Jess looked up at me, her body hidden by the bubbles, a small smile emerging through her tears.
‘Hi, I would have knocked…’ I said by way of explanation for my uninvited interruption. ‘Do you need anything?’
‘Yeah. I’d really like another one of those hugs you’re so good at.’
Now this gave me pause for thought. Should I say she could have as many hugs as she wanted once she’d got out of the bath and was dressed or should I just bite the bullet and go hug the naked woman in the bath who set my pulse racing and just hope to god that my body didn’t betray me?
The decision was made for me when Jess’s arms emerged from the bubbles and opened wide in invitation. I’m only human and who was I to deny the wish of a traumatised woman — I’d just have to cope!
Kneeling down by the side of the bath Jess wrapped her arms around my neck as I wrapped mine around her back. She lifted herself out of the bath slightly as we hugged and I was very, very aware that her wet, naked breasts were now pinned against my chest and that my hands were stroking the soft skin on her bare back.
I was still managing to cope until one of her hands made it’s way to the back of my neck and started to caress gently.
I knew I couldn’t speak to Jess in this position, she wouldn’t hear me. I desperately wanted to pull away slightly so I could look into her face but I knew that doing so would leave her breasts exposed to my gaze and that I would come undone and lose my self control if that happened, so I was stuck. Wonderfully, amazingly, fabulously stuck.
I was just starting to get lost in the sensations of the hug; a hug that could have lasted for 3 minutes or 3 hours, I had no sense of time, when I could hear gentle crying noises again.
I started to pull back so I could say something reassuring but Jess tightened her hold on my neck and held me in place.
‘I may not be able to hear you but I know you can hear me.’ She breathed into my ear, sending shivers across my entire nervous system that came to rest in one very specific place. ‘You like me don’t you?’ I hugged her a little bit tighter and nodded gently
‘You like me in a way that’s not just friendly don’t you?’ I paused slightly but I nodded again.
‘I’ve never been with a woman before; never even considered it as a possibility before, but I can’t deny that I feel differently about you to how I’ve felt about other women in the past. I can’t help thinking about what would have happened if the car had hit you as you tried to help me. If I’d lost you just as I found you, and the thought is devastating.
I need to be sure of what I’m feeling and I don’t want to lead you on. I need to know that my emotions are real and it’s not just because you’re being so sweet to me and that you saved my life. Will you give me some time to work this out in my own head?’
This time I did manage to pull back slightly and to my credit my eyes never travelled lower than the sparkling eyes that were staring intently into mine. I cradled the sides of her face gently, as she had done to me before, and kissed her very gently and briefly on the lips before answering ‘As long as you need babe.’
I left the bathroom promptly after that conversation before I gave in to the urge to jump into the bath with her, and embarrassingly I was still doing a little happy dance around her kitchen when she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towelling robe. Thank god she couldn’t hear me singing ‘I think she likes me, I think she likes me’ over and over as I danced!
I swallowed my embarrassment and sat her on the sofa, noticing the slight wince of pain caused by the hip that had hit the floor.
Looking straight into her gorgeous blue eyes I admonished her to be a good patient and to let me look after her, which prompted a little chuckle and she held her hands up in mock surrender.
Returning to the kitchen just as the microwave went ping, I doctored the hot chocolate I had made with a generous dash of rum that I found in her cupboards and took the two steaming mugs back into the living room.
‘Jesus Chris, how much booze did you put in this? I’ll be in no fit state to drive you home if I drink this!’
‘Well, I know this may be presumptuous but I thought you may need some company tonight. In which case I could sleep on your sofa this time if you like? If not I’ll just get a cab home, no biggie.’
‘But it’s Saturday evening, you must have plans?’
‘Nope. Young, free and single remember?’ I said with a grin
‘Oh now I understand. Your girlfriend dumped you so you thought you’d get the straight girl drunk on hot chocolate to see where it gets you huh?’
I snapped my head around quickly, fully prepared to defend my actions and state my innocence, until I saw the mirth on Jess’s face — damn, she’d done it again!
‘Actually I’d love for you to stay with me; you’re right — I don’t feel much like being alone tonight. Thanks Chris, you really are one in a million.’
We spent the evening sat together on her sofa watching TV and eating pizza. We talked a lot but there were also lots of comfortable silences. It amazed me how we would laugh at funny things on TV at the same time, despite the fact the Jess had to read the subtitles but when I commented on it she laughed at me.
‘I only read the titles when the character isn’t facing the camera silly!’
‘Oh yeah, sorry. I will get used to it I promise.’
She was just about to rib me some more, I could tell by the look on her face but just then I was startled by a red flashing light in the corner of the room.
‘What the hell is that?’
‘Doorbell’ she answered with a smile ‘Would you mind going for me?’ and she pulled the robe tighter around herself.
Opening the door I was met by one of the most impossibly handsome men I had ever encountered in my life (hey — I’m gay, not blind!). He looked startled and then confused when I opened the door and started to speak while waving his hands around.
‘Oh. I was looking for Jessica.’
‘If you’re signing then don’t do it on my behalf, I can hear. She’s in the living room, go on through.’
Shutting the door I followed him in, a tinge of jealousy creeping over me as I watched him bend to kiss her hello and saw the way she embraced him. I assumed for whatever reason that this must either be the ex boyfriend or someone intent on becoming the new boyfriend and was therefore prepared to dislike him on the spot, despite his good looks.
I stood there for a moment feeling like a 3rd wheel until Jess looked around to find me, waving me back to my place on the sofa.
‘Chris, this is my brother David. David, this is my extremely good friend Chris, who just happens to have saved my life today.’
David snorted ‘What — she save you from buying an ugly pair of shoes or something?’
‘No David, she literally saved my life. She put herself in extreme danger to throw me out of the way of a speeding car that was coming from behind me.’
‘Holy crap! You ok Sis?’
‘Yes I’m fine thanks to Chris and don’t you go breathing a word of this to Mum or she’ll worry herself sick every time I leave the house!
Anyway, what are you doing here on a Saturday night?’
‘I’ve come to ask a favour. I don’t get paid until next week and I’ve met this really nice girl and I want to take her out. Can I borrow some cash until Friday?’
Jessica rummaged through her handbag and dug her purse out, looking wistfully at the contents.
‘I’d happily lend you some money except I don’t have any cash; I’m guessing that £10 won’t be enough?’
‘Not unless I take her to McDonalds.’ Sulked David
I don’t know what came over me then. I don’t usually lend money to my friends, let alone strangers but I dug into my jeans pockets and came out with £30. I think I just wanted rid of him so I could be alone with Jess again.
‘Will this be enough?’
He looked at me in amazement, then back to his sister, then back at me again.
‘Chris, you don’t have to lend him money, you don’t even know him.’
‘Is he good for it?’
‘Absolutely, this is a regular occurrence and he always pays up on time.’
‘Well, any brother of yours is a friend of mine.’ And I shoved the notes into David’s hand.
David was still looking at me in amazement. ‘Okaaaaay, you save my sisters life and then you lend her brother money. Are you some kind of Samaritan or something?’
Jess swatted his arm ‘No, she’s a bloody angel, now get your handsome arse out of my door and let us go back to watching TV.’
David stood, hugged Jess and then turned and hugged me too. ‘I really appreciate it.’ He said earnestly ‘I don’t just mean the cash, I mean what you did for Jessica. We nearly lost her once before and I couldn’t bare that pain again.’ And the look of earnest sincerity touched me somewhere deep down inside.
Before he walked out into the hallway he started waving his hands around again until Jess started laughing and told him to clear off.
‘What was that all about?’
‘I think he likes you, he asked if you were single.’
‘Did you tell him I was gay?’
‘No, but I told him you were spoken for.’ And she looked away quickly before I had a chance to respond.
I so wanted to jump on her and kiss her until she fainted but I knew I had to play this slowly and by Jess’s rules. Not just for her benefit but for mine too. The last thing I wanted was to jump into a relationship and then have my heart broken because she came to realise that her emotions were actually just gratitude.
Instead, I took the blanket that was over the back of the sofa and placed it tenderly over Jess as we settled back in to watch the TV, surprised when she lifted the edge of the blanket and motioned for me to move closer so I could share it with her. Such a simple gesture and yet it made my heart sing. I think that was the moment I realised that I was falling in love with her.
The shock of the day had taken it’s toll on both of us and by 10.30 I could see Jess’s eyes being to droop, so I touched her cheek gently to get her attention.
‘You need to go to bed Jess, you’re knackered and I’m not feeling too lively myself.’ My arm and knee on the right side were both actually starting to get really painful where I’d also hit the ground, but I didn’t want to worry Jess.
‘You’re my guest so you take the bed, I’m fine here on the sofa.’
‘Not a chance Hon, now get your arse into that bedroom or else!’
‘Or else what?’ oh that smile again; I’m sure she had no idea of the effect that smile had on me.
‘Or else I’ll get a taxi home, so go on — be a good patient and get some sleep.’ And I stood and gently pulled her up off the sofa and into a standing position.
‘I do have a king sized bed, I’m sure we could share?’ and she looked into my eyes with what seemed to be a mixture of trepidation and anticipation on her face, until she blushed slightly and turned away toward her bedroom as I gently shook my head.
As she was reaching into a cupboard to get me some bedding I put my arms around her from behind and held her close, pulling her back into me and holding her tightly. I turned us slightly so that we were facing a mirror, my face peeking over her shoulder so she could see what I was saying.
‘You remember the conversation we had earlier in the bathroom?’
‘Of course’ she whispered, looking slightly embarrassed.
‘That’s why I can’t share your bed Babe. I do like you. A lot and in ways that are far from platonic and I would never be able to sleep lying next to you and not being able to hold you.’
She became bolder then and looked directly into my eyes as she spoke. ‘but what if I wanted you to hold me?’
‘You said yourself that you need to get your emotions straight. There’s no hurry Jess; I’m not going anywhere. Tomorrow is new day and we have all the time in the world.’ And with that I kissed her cheek, picked up the duvet and scarpered back to the sofa before I changed my mind.
I lay on the sofa for a while wondering if I’d been too selfish. Surely I could keep myself in check and manage to just hold her couldn’t I? I had however seen the look in her eyes; it was almost as if she was daring me to push it further and I refused to start something now that she later regretted. No — if something happened between us then it wouldn’t be because of confused emotions and it would be at her instigation, when the time was right.
I awoke first the next morning, dressed and made tea. I took a mug into Jess’s bedroom and placed it carefully on the bedside table making as little noise as possible so I didn’t wake her. It was only as I was turning to go that I felt a tug on my jeans waistband pulling me back and saw a tousled head and beautiful blue eyes emerge from the duvet.
‘There’s no need to tiptoe quietly around me doofus — I’m deaf! Thanks for the tea, I could get used to this; where’s yours?’
‘In the kitchen.’
‘Well go and get it then. Surely we can drink tea on the same bed without getting into trouble?’
The tone of her voice was strange and I couldn’t work out if it was because she’d just woken up, she was trying to be funny or if something was really bothering her; either way I went and got my tea and sat on the edge of the bed facing her.
‘So how are you feeling this morning?’
‘Like shit. I hurt all over and I didn’t sleep well so I’m tired and grumpy.’
‘Nightmares about yesterday?’ I asked, concerned at the anxious look on her face.
‘Yes and no. Chris, can I be totally honest with you?’
‘Of course! What’s up Jess, talk to me.’
‘I did a lot of thinking before I went to sleep last night and when I dreamed I dreamed of you. Some of those dreams were….., well they were….oh shit there’s no way to say this that isn’t embarrassing!’ her blush was gorgeous and I knew exactly what she wanted to say — was it cruel of me to want to hear it from her lips? I took her hand and caressed it gently, waiting for her to continue.
‘Chris I had some pretty raunchy dreams last night and they all included you. I have never in my life had dreams about another woman like that!’
‘Are you worried about having these dreams?’ I asked, praying to god that the answer was no.
‘No I’m not worried about the dreams but I am worried about the implications. Chris, I think I was wrong last night. I don’t need time to know what I want — I want you, but this has never even crossed my mind before and I don’t know how to deal with it.
I have to deal with enough prejudice every day as it is because of my deafness, I don’t know if I can cope with adding another reason for people to look at me differently!’ and with that she burst out crying in huge wracking sobs that broke my heart.
I moved up the bed and held her close, stroking her back once more through the thin tee shirt she had slept in as she sobbed into my shoulder.
There were things I wanted to say but it was pointless unless she could see my face, so I held her close until she ran out of tears and turned her face to mine. Drying her tears with gentle caresses of my thumbs I held her face in my hands once more, looking into her eye’s as she studied my lips, waiting for me to impart some kind of wisdom that would make everything ok.
‘Jess, I don’t apologise for being gay and you shouldn’t apologise for being deaf. Neither of these things define us as beings, they are mere facets of who we are as people. Being gay; being deaf doesn’t change our personalities, doesn’t stop us being good, caring, honest people. This may not be what you want to hear but I tend to take the approach that if someone doesn’t like me, for whatever reason, then that’s their problem & their loss. We can’t all like everyone after all. Having said that, I don’t deliberately shove it in people’s faces and get all militant about it either — in fact, I rarely ever think about it at all because I don’t see it as important.’
Jess looked up from my lips and into my eyes. Her own baby blues were shimmering with unshed tears and I didn’t know if what I’d said had helped or made things worse.
‘I think I need to be more like you; I worry too much about how people see me and what they think. It’s one of the reasons I don’t wear a hearing aid –it would help me a little bit but some people see them and instantly assume that because you struggle to hear that you’re stupid as well. You must think I’m ridiculous for being so weak?’
‘I don’t think you’re ridiculous or weak; we all do our best to deal with the crap that life throws at us in our own ways. I don’t think I’d deal with deafness nearly as well as you have, but who knows until it happens?
I do know that you’re a fun, caring, loving woman who just happens to be beautiful, sexy and sassy as hell! As for you being deaf — a minor inconvenience, that’s all.’
‘Chris, I think I’d like to make love with you.’ Jess saw the agonised look on my face and misunderstood my reluctance. ‘Fine, if you don’t want me then….’ her expression turned angry and her hands left my face but I caught her wrists held them firmly in front of my chest, stopping her turning away from me.
‘Jess stop!’ I shouted, although I knew the volume was irrelevant ‘you have no idea how much I would love to climb into that bed with you right now and make love with you. You don’t know how long I laid awake last night thinking about you, wanting you, but I have to go home soon.’ I released her wrists now I had her attention and placed my hands on her shoulders instead, my right hand slipping up to caress her neck as I spoke.
‘I’m taking my Mum for lunch today for her birthday and I need to go home and change, so why don’t you get your gorgeous arse out of that bed and into some clothes and come with me?’
Jess looked at me like I was bonkers.
‘Your Mum’s going to be dead pleased if you turn up with a deaf stranger to gate crash her birthday!’
‘My Mum will enjoy meeting you because you’re important to me. You don’t even have to tell her you’re deaf if you don’t want to but she’ll probably notice and she won’t care. She was a nurse for 30 years — she’s seen it all babe.
Please will you come with me?’ and I slid off the bed and knelt in an obvious begging position, as I employed my best puppy eyes to good advantage until she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. God it was good to hear her laugh after the heaviness of the morning so far.
Eventually she agreed and I hauled her out of bed and shoved her into the bathroom; as I was walking back to the living room she called after me.
‘Chris?’ poking her head around the bathroom door.
‘What’s up?’
‘You’re very honest aren’t you?’
‘I’m not a saint, but generally, yes. Why do you ask?’
‘Do you really think I’m beautiful?’
‘Oh Jess, you have no idea do you?’
‘Huh?’
‘One of the things I love about you is that you have absolutely no idea how gorgeous you are.’ And with that I turned the corner to cut the conversation off before I lost my resolve and joined her in the bathroom.
Lunch was a huge success. My Mum and I are very alike and as predicted she thought Jess was lovely. We’d been in the restaurant for all of 30 minutes before Mum came right out and asked Jess how she’d lost her hearing and remarking as I had how good her speech was, although Mum also instantly understood that she probably hadn’t lost her hearing until adulthood.
I thought Jess might be embarrassed but she wasn’t at all; Mum has a straight way of talking that leaves you in no doubt that she’s genuinely interested and she doesn’t do pity.
When Jess left us alone briefly to visit the bathroom my mum grabbed my hand and grinned at me.
‘She’s really quite lovely, how long have you two been seeing each other? If I wasn’t straight I might go after her myself!’
‘Mum!’ I squealed ‘behave yourself! We’re not seeing each other, well not yet anyway. We only met on Friday and it’s complicated, she’s never had a relationship with a woman before.’
‘Oh Darling don’t let that worry you, everyone does everything for the first time at some point and the way she looks at you…. well it’s obvious that she likes you.’
‘I hope so Mum, I really like her and I think I might be falling in love with her.’
‘Darling there’s no “might” about it, I know you well enough to know that you’re absolutely smitten already! I have a feeling everything will be ok, so don’t worry.’
‘What’s going to be ok? Is something wrong?’ asked Jess as she returned to the table ‘sorry, I know it’s wrong to eavesdrop from a distance but I can’t help it.’ Smirked Jess as she tucked her legs back under the table, deliberately touching our knees together as she did so.
‘Mum was just saying how lovely you are and that we should be a couple.’ I beamed at her hoping to make her blush and get my own back for the number of times she’d pulled pranks on me.
‘Oh goody, I’m looking forward to it! Shall we order dessert.’ Was the only answer I got as she turned studiously to her menu, leaving me sitting there with my mouth open and my tongue hanging out. Damn — she’d got one over on my again!
We’d taken my car to lunch and after we got back, Jess reluctantly said she needed to go home, feed Jasper and get some things ready for work the next day. It was agreed that we’d meet for lunch the next day and Jess reluctantly headed toward the door as I trailed after her, desperately wanting to beg her to stay.
We hugged each other tightly as she was leaving and Jess kissed my cheek once more, letting her lips linger much longer than before and making me feel elated and sad at the same time. I pulled her to me and kissed her softly on the lips, eliciting a small sigh from Jess.
As she pulled away from me and walked to her car I could feel a tear trickle down my face. I knew I would see her tomorrow and I knew that one day soon we would attempt a relationship but “one day” just seemed too damned far away right now.
Having grumped around the flat all evening I went to bed early and attempted to read a book but I couldn’t concentrate. This was screwed. I had decided to let Jess make the first move, which she’d done that morning when I couldn’t act on it due to previous plans — did I now have to wait for her to make the next move? Maybe she thought it was my turn? Maybe she thought she’d acted too rashly this morning and was now glad we hadn’t made love? Of fuck! Who knew?
Eventually I jumped out of bed and dressed quickly in some jogging pants and an old sweatshirt, grabbed my car keys and headed out of the door.
The traffic was light at 10pm on a Sunday night and in under 10 minutes I was stood outside the front door of her totally dark house, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Eventually I took a deep breath, and pressed the doorbell but after waiting a couple of minutes with no answer I was starting to turn away when the door opened.
‘Chris!’ Jess squealed excitedly, banishing any fears in my mind ‘What are you d……’ her sentence was cut short as I pushed her back into her darkened hall, kicked the door shut behind me and claimed her lips with mine.
I was firm but gentle and after just a few seconds Jess’s surprise was gone and she started to respond, her arms wrapped themselves around me, pulling me tighter into her.
My hands were on her face, in her hair, stroking her neck as my tongue ventured forth and her mouth opened willingly to me, her own tongue meeting mine in a gentle dance until suddenly Jess pulled away and hit the light switch, bathing us in the stark white light of her hallway.
I instantly saw her dilated pupils and noticed how her chest was heaving as she stared at me with a look at sent shivers down my spine.
‘That was a hell of a greeting’ her voice husky in a way that made my toes curl.
‘It gets better’
Jess grabbed my hand and all but dragged me through her flat and into her bedroom. Turning on a small lamp next to the bed she turned to me and placed her lips gently, almost tentatively on mine until I responded and her confidence came back, allowing her to deepen the kiss. My hands were on her arse, pulling her into me as I caressed her backside though her pyjama bottoms and a thrill shot through me as I heard and felt her moan into my mouth.
I stepped back and slowly raised my fingers to her pyjama top buttons, cursing the way my hands were shaking as I tried to pry them open. Suddenly Jess grasped my wrists, stopping me and I looked into her face, bewildered and disappointed. I needn’t have worried though — she removed my hands from her buttons and just lifted the top over her head, tossing it casually across the room as she stood there topless in front of me.
Once again I was stood with my mouth gaping open as I drank in the sight of her with my eyes. Her breasts weren’t huge but they were flawless, with dark nipples that were standing proud and just begging to be suckled but before I could even touch them I felt Jess’s hands on the bottom of my sweatshirt as she tugged it upwards, sending that too across the room.
We stood there gazing at each other, neither one of us saying a word. I stepped toward her and kissed her once more, the feel of our breasts rubbing against each other sending shock waves directly to my pussy. I ran my hands over Jess’s back once more and slipped them under the waistband of her pyjamas, caressing her buttocks as she pressed herself into me and shuddered as she kissed me fiercely, her hands tracing the outlines of the muscles on my back and shoulders and making me shiver deliciously.
This time it was Jess that pulled away, her hands instantly grasping the waistband of her bottoms and whisking them off and away across the room before she grabbed my jogging bottoms, yanked them down and tugged them over my feet.
I have to say that I had expected to be the aggressor in this encounter, I had expected Jess to want me to take the lead but as ever she was surprising me.
‘No knickers huh?’ she laughed as she sashayed toward me ‘guess you weren’t planning on just chatting tonight then huh?’
I tried to respond, tried to find something witty or amusing to say but my tongue was tied as I stared at the naked woman in front of me, my eyes drawn to the bruises that were now showing through in full technicolour.
Jess laughed again, instantly understanding my situation despite not being able to comprehend the string of incoherent and disjointed syllables that fell out of my mouth.
‘Hmmmm is this all I have to do to stop you talking? I just have to take my clothes off?’ and she walked around me as I stood still, watching her form as she circled me. ‘you know I’ve never given the female body much consideration before, but it’s quite lovely. You’re quite lovely.’ And she let her fingers trail down my back to the curve of my arse, and then dragged her fingers around my middle as she moved, setting me on fire with her touch.
I turned to face her and took her hands in mine as I stared into her eyes. The feel of her hands on my naked skin, the way her eye’s had scorched a path across my body had awakened me from my stupor.
‘Are your neighbours also deaf?’ I asked as I guided her gently backward toward the bottom of the bed.
‘No, why would you ask that?’ she questioned, looking confused.
‘Because I’m going to make to scream so loudly they might wish that they were.’ And I pushed her gently until she fell back on the bed, her legs slightly parted, visible moisture on the closely cropped hair of her pussy clear evidence of her arousal.
I saw her chest start to heave again and got the impression that much as she liked to be in charge, she also liked someone else to take control at times, so that’s exactly what I did.
She scooted up the bed until her head was on the pillows and I crawled up after her, feeling predatory in my actions. When my naked body was directly above hers, my legs between her thighs, I lowered myself down and kissed her passionately as the full length of our bodies touched for the first time.
Jess gasped at the sensation and clasped her ankles behind my back, pulling me tightly down onto her as my nipples raked over hers. I pulled back from the kiss and moved my lips to the side of her face and down around her neck, chuckling as the goose bumps rose on her arms and she moaned gently.
I was resting my weight on my hands in this position so I let my lips and tongue do the exploring, my fingers could catch up later.
I kissed across the top of her chest and down around her breasts, feeling her body arch up toward my mouth, desperately trying to get her nipples into my mouth. Of course I had to relent, I too wanted to take those generous morsels into my mouth, so I dragged the flat of my tongue across first one and then the other and as Jess squirmed beneath me I sucked a nipple deep into my mouth and bit down lightly.
‘Oh god Chris, you’re too good at that.’ She groaned as I switched sides and claimed the other nipple, ravishing it with my tongue while suckling like a starving kitten.
I could have stayed there for much longer but the involuntary jogging of Jess’s hips told me that she wanted more, so I kissed my way down, planting gentle kisses on her bruises, brushing my lips across her ribs and stomach, tickling her hip bones with my tongue as the scent of her arousal insinuated itself into my consciousness and pulled me lower still.
I looked up at Jess from between her legs to find her staring down at me with a look that contained so much lust it took my breathe away.
‘Ready?’ I asked, although I already knew the answer.
‘Oh god yes Chris, yes please!’
With my eyes still locked on hers I pushed her thighs back toward her body until she was as open to me as she could be, her glistening lips swollen in her arousal as I gently ran my tongue from the bottom of her slit up to her engorged clit.
Her deep guttural moan was music to my ears and I repeated this process several times, watching the pleasure play across her face until her eyes closed and her head fell back into the pillows.
With her legs over my shoulders I placed one hand above her mound and pulled back, exposing her clit fully to my gaze as I slipped a couple of fingers from the other hand into her hot and eager pussy; my tongue lapping gently at her clit.
Jess’s hips were rising and falling rhythmically with the action of my fingers but when I took her clit between my lips and sucked her hips shot into the air and stayed there awaiting the orgasm she felt sure was coming but I wasn’t done with her yet.
I let go of her clit but continued to finger her gently as I kissed her thighs and licked the juices up from her lips, Jess’s moaning now had a distinctly frustrated edge to it as she mourned the loss of the climax she had been so close to.
Once again I licked in long strokes, flicking her clit on every pass, my tempo increasing slightly with every lick and thrust of my fingers until once again her hips were rising and falling of their own volition.
I sensed that I wasn’t going to be able to tease her for long so I curled my fingers into her special spot as I pumped them in and out and grasped her clit between my lips once more, flicking it with my tongue as I sucked firmly.
If it hadn’t been for my hand on her tummy I think she would have tossed me off the bed she was writhing so much; her whole back was now arched off the bed as her legs shook and her body stiffened.
There were noises coming from her mouth but I had no idea if they were words or not until I heard ‘Oh shit, oh shit, yes, yes, yes, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssss!!!!!!!’
I was right — her neighbours must have heard her from the other side of the road!
I gently removed my fingers and released her clit, caressing her silky thighs as I lapped at her lips, making sure I didn’t miss a drop of the nectar that had spilled forth so copiously in her ecstasy.
As Jess’s hips returned to the bed I was mesmerised by the erratic rise and fall of her chest and the look of pure bliss on her face. I thought she was beautiful before but in rapture she was positively angelic.
Kissing my way back up her body I stopped and lavished attention on her nipples again. They were hard as bullets in her arousal and as I licked and nibbled and sucked on those gorgeous treats Jess started to utter small moans again, so I lowered my body until our pussies were mashed together and as I moved her sharp intake of breath and the way her nails dug into my back told me all I needed to know.
I rocked against her gently until her feet locked behind my back once more, urging me on as she drove her pussy up against mine.
I could feel the juices from my own over excited pussy mingling with hers and making us slick and slippery as I thrust myself against her again and again, my own climax imminent but I was determined that we would share this one together.
One of Jess’s hands left my back and grasped the hair at the back of my neck, her eyes shot open and she stared straight into mine and in that moment I knew I could let go. We ground against each other furiously in one final effort, both crying out into the night as our simultaneous release tore through our bodies and left us spent and gasping for oxygen.
I collapsed onto the bed next to Jess and held her close in my arms as we came down, kissing her face, neck and lips as her ragged breathing finally returned to normal.
She looked into my eyes and I thought she was going to say something but she just looked at me as if searching my face for something, small tears shimmering in her bright blue eyes.
‘What’s the matter Jess?’ as I stared back into that lovely face.
‘Nothing’s the matter, that was wonderful, truly, truly wonderful, I’ve never come like that before in my life. I want to make you feel that good.’ A small yawn belying her exhaustion.
‘Oh don’t worry babe, I feel good enough right now and there’s plenty of time for you to do as you please with me.’ I smiled, stroking her cheek tenderly. ‘but not tonight. Tonight was about you and your first time with a woman.’
‘You’re not going home are you?’ she asked, looking slightly panic stricken.
‘Not a chance. Last night I wouldn’t hold you, tonight you won’t shake me off even if you try.’
We turned out the light and snuggled under the covers, Jess resting her head on my shoulder with her arm over my stomach. Suddenly she sat back up and switched the light back on.
‘I haven’t even touched you yet!’ and she looked quite indignant about it. ‘I’m laying here with my head on your chest and I haven’t even touched your breasts let alone sucked on them.’
‘They’ll still be there tomorrow babe, and so will I.’
‘Chris?’
‘Yes Jess’
‘Will it always feel that good?’
‘Oh no babe, it’s going to get a whole lot better than that!’
Jess kissed me then with such passion and tenderness that I felt like it was warming my very soul from the inside out. Then she turned the light back out and snuggled back into my side, her head on my chest and was asleep almost instantly.
As I lay there stroking Jess’s hair I contemplated all that had happened in the last few days and how far we had travelled. I knew there may be some difficult times ahead for Jess and her new found sexuality but I also knew that as long as we tackled them together, all would be right in our world, and with that comforting thought in my head I joined her in sleep.