“Delicious,” she said at the question in Charlie’s eyes.
Charlie’s expression, which had been closed off for most of the evening, was completely unguarded now. She looked happy, and she was glowing with a post-sex bliss that Olive felt proud to have produced.
“I admit, I did not anticipate my night ending this way,” Charlie said, as if she was admitting a secret.
“Being fucked to utter oblivion was not on your list?” Olive teased.
“No, definitely not,” she murmured.
Now that Olive was no longer distracted by the need to make Charlie come, her eyes roamed over her body. She was clearly athletic, which explained the bone-crushing thighs Olive adored, but she knew asking Charlie about it may close her off again. She didn’t want to ruin the mood in the room, no longer sensual, but content.
“So…” Olive finally started. “Do you want to repeat this sometime?”
Charlie turned towards her, smile falling off her face. Was that an even worse question?
“I can’t,” she said, sounding absolutely miserable about it.
“Why not? We’re two consenting adults.” Olive wasn’t in the habit of trying to argue someone into being with her, but she felt vulnerable from the unexpected rejection. Charlie had clearly enjoyed herself, and Olive knew she definitely did, so what would be the issue?
“It’s my work. I can’t afford a distraction,” Charlie finally said.
“Ah.” Olive did not know what else to say. Perhaps she should’ve taken it as a compliment, a sign that the experience would be as unforgettable to Charlie as it was already becoming to her.
They laid in silence for a few more minutes before Olive finally stood, looking back down at Charlie. Her expression was guarded again, and Olive couldn’t read it.
“Well, I’m going to shower. Would you care to join me? Just cleaning only, promise.”
To Olive’s surprise, Charlie nodded and followed her to the bathroom. Olive noted that she had left the strap-on the counter on top of a towel. She was so considerate, and Olive already felt a slight pang that she would not get to experience this again.
In the shower, they silently worked each other clean, and Olive got to lavish Charlie’s body with all the gentleness she could not provide in the heat of the moment. This was sometimes Olive’s favourite part of intimacy—making sure her partner understood how important they were to her with each soft touch, each caress.
When they had finally cleaned themselves off, Olive couldn’t resist and kissed Charlie again. It was a tender kiss, and Charlie returned it. Eventually, Olive had to turn the shower off. Standing in there making out would only hurt more later.
Olive stepped out of the shower and handed Charlie a clean body towel. They silently dried themselves off, and Olive eventually put a towel over her hair.
“The hair dryer is underneath the sink if you want it. I’ll give you a pair of my underwear,” Olive offered. She knew by Charlie’s lack of eye contact that the woman was brainstorming ways to leave, and she wanted to beat her to the chase.
Charlie could not see how much this was affecting Olive. She wouldn’t, Olive wouldn’t let her.
“Thank you,” Charlie said. She smiled, but it was clearly fake, and Olive could not return it.
Olive left the bathroom and went back to her suitcase, quicklyfinding a nightgown and slipping it on. She rummaged around for her most unsexy pair of panties, hoping she at least had one to give Charlie. Olive found it, and also scooped up Charlie’s clothes that were strewn around the apartment. Before she could talk herself out of it, Olive wrote her name and phone number on a hotel notepad and placed the paper in Charlie’s jean pocket.
She could not leave it like this, she did not want to. The best Olive could do was put the ball in Charlie’s court, and allow her to figure out what she wanted. She knocked on the bathroom door and silently handed Charlie her clothes.
Olive faked a yawn. “I’m going to sleep, you can let yourself out when you’re done.”
“Thank you,” Charlie said. At the lack of response she added, “for everything.”
Olive nodded and walked away to the bed. Olive curled up under the sheets, hoping that when she woke up, this would all be a distant dream that she would remember only fondly.
CHAPTER
SIX
CHARLIE
Charlie was so fucked.So fucked, and not in the pleasant way she was fucked last night.
