“I could get addicted to that taste.” Rory kissed her way across each of Gemma’s shoulders before moving back to her nipples.
“Not yet.” Gemma lifted Rory’s head and kissed her gently. “I’m too sensitive, just hold me. Please.”
Another piece of the puzzle snapped into place in Rory’s heart. She loved a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to vocalise it. Everything about Gemma was perfect and right. She settled on her back and drew Gemma into her arms.
Gemma flung a leg over Rory’s and pressed her centre into Rory’s hip.
Suddenly, Rory was very aware that she was still wearing her boxers and sports bra. That wasn’t right. She wanted to feel Gemma’s body fully against hers. An almost overwhelming need to be completely naked with Gemma washed over her. She wanted to open herself fully to her,but something still held her back. Fear prickled in her chest as she bit her lip and gazed at the unremarkable white ceiling of Gemma’s bedroom.
Darcy popped into Rory’s brain, and she hated that her ex was intruding on her thoughts. At the end of their relationship, Rory had hated being naked with her. Darcy always praised her as a woman and made a big deal of how pretty she was. When she’d started to cover up more as she hated who she saw in the mirror, Darcy had pouted and then argued. Rory didn’t want that with Gemma. She didn’t want to sabotage what they had with her insecurities, but also, she wasn’t ready to expose herself.
“Hey.” Gemma’s voice was gentle in Rory’s ear. The wisps of breath tickled her neck. “You went very far away for a moment. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Rory replied automatically, hating the stiffness in her voice.
“I enjoyed that very much, you know.” Gemma snuggled into Rory’s neck and Rory tightened her arms around her. Shit, Gemma needed more than this. She needed a partner who would be open with her. She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard.
“I have a small confession.” Gemma traced patterns on Rory’s stomach with her finger as she spoke. Every movement seemed to leave a trail of fire behind. Rory gulped as she realised she wanted that hand to go lower. She wanted Gemma’s fingers between her legs. Her brain caught up with Gemma’s words.
“What confession?”
“Yesterday, when we were at your house and I said I had my period?” Gemma’s voice was small, and Rory strained to hear it.
“Yeah, it’s okay, we both get them, and they’re going to get in the way at some point.”
“I know, just…” Gemma’s voice trailed off. Rory turned her head to the side and looked at Gemma.
“Please tell me.” She used the same tone and phrasing she had used countless times in the boardroom to get people to talk. She hoped Gemma could be honest with her.
“I didn’t really have my period. I mean, I did, but I stopped the day before. I just…”
Rory kissed the tip of her nose to stop her rambling.
“Please just tell me.” Rory tightened her arms, hoping to convey to Gemma that it was all right. That she could tell Rory anything. Her heart clenched at the thought that Gemma might not be attracted to her, but her brain instantly dismissed that notion. What they had just shared proved that Gemma was fine with Rory in bed. She waited patiently for Gemma to speak again.
“I didn’t know where to touch you, you know, what you’d like in bed. I’ve read that some masc women don’t like their breasts touched or penetration or…” Gemma huffed a piece of hair out of her face.
“I don’t know either.” The confession whooshed out of Rory before she could think about what she was saying. It was only when the words hung between them that she realised what she had said.
She reached a hand out to tug the duvet back up their bodies. Despite the sun climbing higher in the sky outside, and the temperature rising, she needed that cover, that protection. Once it was in place, she pulled Gemma tighter into her arms and held her for a few moments as she tried to collect her thoughts.
“I think I want you to touch me.” Her voice was small,but the confession was huge. As soon as she said it, the truth of her words slammed through her.
“I’ve thought of you touching my breasts and I didn’t hate it.” She tried to smile but realised tears were pooling in her eyes. She took a shuddering breath and wiped her tears away.
“I don’t mind you saying no, Rory.” Gemma’s voice was more serious than Rory had ever heard it, but her words were confusing.
“What?” She shifted again to look into Gemma’s lovely brown eyes.
“If we try something and you don’t like it. You can always say no. I won’t be offended.” Gemma’s voice was low and gentle. Rory stroked a hand up and down Gemma’s back, smiling when Gemma shivered with desire as she grazed her ribcage.
“And if I like it?”
“Then we do more of it.”
23
GEMMA
