Fool for Love (High Rise) (9 page)

A storm raged inside Maddie’s bones, a hot wind beating against her flesh. She squeezed Alex shoulder, hard, her nails digging into her skin as the storm breezed over her, only to return with more force, as Alex exposed her clit to the air again and licked her into complete oblivion.
 

Maddie came with Alex's face pressed into her, her nails no doubt leaving their mark on her shoulder. Good, she thought. She’s mine now. That’s my territory marked.

Pushing Alex gently away from her too sensitive clit, Maddie couldn’t suppress a grin. When meeting someone you really connected with, there was always a chance the love-making would lack. That the chemistry would not translate into the bedroom. Not in this case. She wanted to purr with delight. Not just because she’d just had a massive orgasm, but because of the new beginning it represented. And because, for once, she didn’t have to smooth the wrinkles out of her skirt and go back to work.

ALEX

Alex woke with a start. A loud buzz broke the silence in the room. Pale sunlight slanted under the blinds. An arm was slung over her middle.

“Morning,” Maddie whispered from behind her, her lips on Alex's shoulder blade. “I’ll take care of that.” Alex heard a slap and the beeping stopped. She turned on her other side and faced Maddie.

“I’m a fitness professional who’s trained to work all the muscles in the human body, but I think last night may have activated a few underused ones.”

They’d barely gotten any sleep, going for round after round of discovering each other’s body as the hours ticked away. Alex searched for the alarm clock on Maddie’s side of the bed. Six-thirty. She heaved a sigh of relief as she didn’t have a class until lunch.

“Are you saying you’re unfit to work?” Maddie’s smile was a glorious sight to behold in the early light of dawn. She even looked good waking up. Alex suspected the fucked-all-night-glow might have something to do with that as well.

“At this moment? Yes. But I can sleep for at least four more hours. You?”

“God, you’re mean before your morning coffee.” Maddie snuggled up a little closer. Alex wrapped her arms around her and kissed her on the head.

“I’ll make it up to you tonight.” Alex felt Maddie’s lips curl into a smile against her chest.

“How about right now?” Maddie looked up and found her eyes.

“Won’t you get fired if you’re as much as ten minutes late?”

“I’m pretty high up.” Maddie’s lips already hummed across Alex's chest. “And anyway, I think I should call in sick.”

Alex grinned. “What terrible affliction might you be suffering from?”

“Let’s see.” Maddie sighed. “Definitely inexplicable heart palpitations. And worst of all, a terminally wet pussy.”

Alex succumbed to a fit of giggles. “That does sound bad. Do you need me to examine you?”

Maddie nodded. “I don’t think you have much choice.” Maddie shuffled her body upwards until she was at eye-height with Alex. “But all jokes aside, last night was spectacular.”

“I have a strong tendency to agree.”

“Is there anything I can do to sway that tendency into a definite agreement?” Maddie’s teeth grazed the flesh above Alex's nipple while her hand darted off between her legs.

“One is free to try.” Alex grabbed Maddie’s head and pulled it towards her face. She slipped her tongue into Maddie’s mouth, as Maddie slid a finger into Alex's pussy. Just like that. Without warning. Alex gasped, breaking their kiss.

“Is this working in my favour?” Maddie pinned her eyes on Alex.

“Fuck yeah.” Alex, past the shock of Maddie’s sudden, but not unwelcome intrusion, found the damp heat between Maddie’s thighs. Maddie didn’t need any coaxing to spread them. She felt silky and wet, ready to be fucked. Again.

Alex inserted a finger into Maddie’s pussy and they found a matching rhythm. Alex went in as Maddie slicked out, over and over again, all the while staring into each other’s eyes. Maddie’s long fingers burrowed deep, demanding more pleasure from Alex—and she thought she’d given up everything she had last night, screaming into darkness.

Alex knew then that she’d made the right decision. It wasn’t serious yet, but it had the right hint of earnestness. She saw it in Maddie’s eyes as she thundered towards orgasm. This was no ordinary fuck.

“Oh, baby,” Maddie whispered and Alex felt the walls of her pussy clench around her fingers.
Baby.
It was enough to send her over the edge. Alex responded to Maddie’s orgasm by coming herself, hard and fast, on Maddie’s fingers.

* * *

After a shower and leaving a note to Maddie’s helper that, whatever she did that day, it had to include changing the sheets, they had an early brunch in The Bean. Maddie had effectively called her assistant and told her she was not well.

“That fake sick note will not do for my class tonight. I hope you realise that.” Alex slurped from her mochaccino, which seemed to taste better today, just like the bite of egg sandwich she’d just had. “You can’t be complacent at your age.”

“I realise we’re both raging lesbians, but we’ve only just had our first night of pleasure. We can’t be inseparable just yet.”

Alex leaned over the table, chuckling. “Just don’t expect me to give you any leeway because you’re fucking me.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Maddie’s mouth. “Good god, that language of yours. I may need to speak with your mother.”

Alex realised she might never win any future arguments with Maddie. She looked her over and acquiesced with open palms, exhausted from not enough sleep and the prospect of teaching three strenuous classes later.

“And I may need a full body massage tonight.”

Maddie reached for her hand and grabbed it, rubbing her thumb across Alex's knuckles. The gesture ignited a shiver to dance up Alex's spine.
 

“I don’t want to influence you with my appalling behaviour, but is there any way you can take tomorrow off work? And if it can bribe you in any way, yes I will bring you breakfast in bed.”

“I do have about a dozen favours I can call in.” Alex squeezed Maddie’s hand. “The real question is whether you’ll let me enjoy my well-deserved rest.”

Maddie brought Alex's hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “What a silly question. Of course not.”

MADDIE

“I was seriously contemplating leaving before you came along.” Maddie and Alex sat opposite each other in Maddie’s sofa, their bare legs stretched out in front of them, touching. Maddie had needed two glasses of wine before she could say it, but she thought it significant enough to make the effort—and to get tipsy for.

They’d spent the day in bed, luxuriating in the unquenchable thirst of early passion. It was Saturday and Alex had called in her favours at work, resulting in hours of uninterrupted pleasure. They’d barely spoken, only tearing their lips away from each other to attend to acute hunger or engage in silly banter. Alex was good at banter. Alex was good at many things involving her lips and tongue.

“You either love or hate this town, I guess. But it’s different for me because I was born here.”

“I was really starting to hate it. And all the mistakes I’ve made in it.” Maddie buried her eyes in her glass, not usually this shy.

“I think it’s important to get out at regular intervals. Breathe in some fresh air on a beach. Get away from the crowds.” Alex pursed her lips together before she continued. “So, I’m your reason to stay?”

“I…” Maddie hesitated, wondering if she was saying too much too soon. “This is the first time since moving here that I…” What was she trying to say, anyway? “You know… met someone like you.”

“Someone who knows how to dramatically storm out of a restaurant, you mean? And is not afraid to judge people by their profession?” Alex contracted her impressive thigh muscles and shuffled closer.

“We can’t all be perfect.” It was so easy to deflect things with a silly quip. Maddie corrected herself. She had some more things to say. Before sliding towards Alex, she put her glass on the coffee table. They weaved their legs over each other and Maddie wrapped her arms around Alex's half-naked neck—tank top, no bra. “I’ve done some things in my life you may not agree with. Treated lovers badly. Abandoned someone in Melbourne I really cared for. But, as I’ve grown older, I’ve become much more serious about love and relationships and I started to realise this city isn’t made for it.”

Alex snaked her hands up Maddie’s back, squeezing gently. “No one I know is a saint. Nor am I. I believe in certain things, but I’ve learnt that the best things in life tend to happen when you step away from your most rigid principles. When you let go a little.” Alex drew Maddie closer, until her lips grazed her ear. “I count what is happening between us among those things.”

“I guess I’ll stay for a while then.” Maddie found Alex's earlobe and gently sank her teeth into the soft flesh.

“That’d be nice.” Alex ran her tongue over Maddie’s neck. “Nat and I are very happy with our upstairs neighbour.”

“If you play your cards right, you’re looking at spending a considerable amount of time on the floor above you.” Maddie’s fingers kneaded Alex's shoulders. She couldn’t get enough of her shoulders.

“Do you propose I sleep my way to the top?” The back of Alex's fingers skated along the side of Maddie’s breasts.

“Heaven’s no. I’m not the kind to ever suggest such a thing.” She noticed a scratch under the strap of Alex's tank top, no doubt left by her nails. She traced a finger over it. “But if you must… please stick to this floor.”

“I think Isabella might have other interests than me.”

“Excellent observation skills.” Maddie felt her nipples go hard as Alex's hands hovered in their vicinity. “Something’s definitely going on with her. Something Orange-related.”

“Maybe we can help.” Alex dropped her hands down and slipped them under Maddie’s t-shirt.

“I thought Nat would never go for someone like Isabella.” Maddie slipped the strap of Alex's tank top off her shoulders and dug her fingers into her muscles there.

“Nat is aimlessly fucking her life away. She’s not really interested in any of these girls she brings home. She got hurt badly a couple of years ago.” Alex's hands arrived at Maddie’s breasts, causing her to take a sharp breath of air. “I think Isabella might be just what Nathalie Orange needs. But she’ll need a lot of discreet cajoling to ever come to that conclusion on her own.”

“We have time.” Maddie gasped as Alex's hands cupped her breasts and her palms rolled over her nipples. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“You seem to be more of a fan of coming, anyway.” Alex dark eyes were on her as she moved her fingers over Maddie’s nipples.

“That was a really lousy joke.” Maddie tugged at Alex's tank top and started to pull it over her head. “One deserving of proper punishment.”

Alex sat in front of her, bare-chested, dark-skinned nipples pointing straight ahead. “What did you have in mind?”

Maddie had to swallow before she could speak again. “For starters, you can’t put that top back on until I say so.”

“That’s not punishment, that’s taking advantage.” Alex tweaked her nipple roughly. Maddie caught the yelp in her throat before it escaped. She yanked Alex's hands from under her t-shirt and held them together by the wrist.

“Don’t you speculate about my definition of punishment.” Alex's glance shifted from surprised to excited in a split second. Maddie pulled her arms above her head and pressed down until Alex lay on her back. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Maddie rose to her knees and straddled Alex. She knew that look in someone’s eyes. That look of total capitulation. She pinned Alex’s arms above her head before she leaned down and planted the softest of kisses on her lover’s lips. Alex didn’t resist.

ALEX

“Oh my god. Who are you and what have you done to my flatmate?” As expected, Nat was being all dramatic about it. Alex had barely set foot in the flat since her date with Maddie last Thursday. It was late Sunday afternoon, dusk already settling into darkness outside. “Is that you, Alessandra?” Nat squinted into Alex's direction. “Oh, and if you’re going straight back up, tell your girlfriend the ceilings in this building are ridiculously thin for the exorbitant amount of rent we pay.”

“Imagine the things she must have heard coming from your room for the past two years then.” Alex took the chair opposite Nat’s computer.

“Ouch. It fights back.” Nat leaned back in her chair, the illuminated screen of her laptop lighting up her face. “You are positively glowing, Pizza. Hallelujah.” She pumped her fists into the air, punching nothing.

“What are you doing tonight?” Alex cut straight to the chase.

“Being a literary genius, as I do every Sunday night. Why does the seriously over-fucked lady want to know?”

Alex rolled her eyes at Nat. Maybe this plan she and Maddie had hatched was the worst one in the history of set-ups. It definitely looked like it from the outside. Come to think of it, from the inside as well.

“Maddie is inviting you and Isabella to dinner. And I’ll be there as well, of course.” Alex tried to keep her voice casual. She was bad at this sort of thing. Something always gave her away. An unfamiliar inflection in her voice. Or that twitch in her lip.

“You’ve barely been shagging a few days and are already playing house. How revoltingly lesbian and domesticated.” Nat slapped down the lid of her computer. The room now solely lit by a small reading lamp on the floor—not its correct place, but Alex had long given up on adhering to the right spot of things in the flat. “Good for you. But I’m sorry, I can’t make it tonight. It’s a little too short notice.”

Nothing was ever too short notice for Nat—especially if it involved a girl in her early twenties and the prospect of sex. “Oh really? What pressing matter is keeping you from a home-cooked meal with friends?”

“Work. I can see the end looming. Just a few more hours and my first draft is done.”

“Fair enough, but you’ve got to eat, right?”

“Not today.” Alex noticed how Nat deflated, her voice almost breaking. “I’ll have a liquid dinner tonight.” Just like that, Nat went from mouthy brat to broken girl. She drummed her fingers on the table, as if mustering up the courage to say something but not quite getting there. “I’m very happy for you. I honestly am. But I don’t have it in me to look young love in the face tonight.” Alex noticed how Nat swallowed hard before continuing, how she hesitated to say the next words. “Today’s the day, you know. My drunkest day of the year.”