"What do you mean, run?"
"I've run to or from things so many times. I admit it's a rare feeling, and I'm a little afraid, but it feels so good to be where I want to be."
"And where is that?" Annelie asked gently.
Carolyn tipped her head back, looking into the ice blue eyes. "Here, in your arms, in your life." Unable to resist, she took Annelie's hand and raised it to her lips, placing a soft kiss on the fingertips.
Annelie's eyes darkened, her lips parting as she inhaled deeply. "Carolyn," she murmured and slid her fingers along Carolyn's cheek, moving up into her hair.
Closing her eyes, Carolyn felt satin-smooth lips brush her forehead, dip down to kiss her eyelids, then follow her nose, only to bypass her lips. Annelie nuzzled her cheeks, kissing her way down Carolyn's neck and making her sigh when pleasure rippled down her spine.
"Oh, God…don't tease," Carolyn breathed. "Kiss me." She opened her eyes enough to see the desire in Annelie's before her lover claimed her mouth.
Carolyn's eyes fluttered shut again when she parted her lips, allowing Annelie access. Tongues met, played, and tasted the softness, their passion overwhelming. Carolyn drew Annelie closer and felt strong hands move over her back and pull her silk blouse loose from her slacks. With slow caresses Annelie stroked up and down underneath her clothes. Wanting to experience the same, Carolyn slid her arms down along Annelie's back.
As she suddenly remembered how Annelie had avoided her touch in Orlando, Carolyn stopped and held her breath. Feeling utterly clumsy, she withdrew, ending the kiss.
Annelie didn't let go completely, but gave Carolyn some space. "You okay?"
"Yes."
Annelie scrutinized her. "Really? I can see there's something."
Carolyn swallowed hard and tried to smile, failing miserably. "I'm sorry, I…I want to touch you, but I was afraid you'd pull back, like before." Her heart pounded in her chest, as she waited to see how Annelie would react. To her surprise, Annelie rose from the couch, still holding her hands.
"Come with me. It's getting chilly out here. No, no, leave the coffee—it can wait till tomorrow."
Silently, Annelie circled Carolyn's shoulders with her arm and guided her toward the bedroom. The room was lit by two small bedside lamps, which cast a soft glow on the walls. Stopping at the foot of the bed, Annelie turned toward Carolyn and held her gently at half an arm's length.
"I wasn't about to pull back, not this time. We agreed to take things slow, as slow as it takes to still feel comfortable, but you can still touch me any way you want."
Her mouth suddenly dry, Carolyn tried to moisten her lips with the tip of her tongue. "I feel clumsy."
"You're not." Annelie pulled Carolyn's arms around her waist. "Here. Hold me." She buried both her hands in Carolyn's hair.
Carolyn rubbed her cheek against Annelie's shoulder, again inhaling the faint scent of her citrus soap. Her hands slipped under the T-shirt, and she spread her fingers wide, trying to feel as much of Annelie's smooth skin as possible. Stroking up and down along her back, she reveled in how exquisite Annelie felt. Carolyn moved her hands up farther, finding the clasp to Annelie's bra. Her fingers lingered there, carefully examining it.
"You can unhook it, if you want," Annelie whispered, gently pulling Carolyn's head back, kissing her lips.
Carolyn gave a muted gasp but managed to undo the white lace bra. With no obstacle in the way, she slid her hands up and down the satiny skin. "You feel wonderful," she murmured. "Simply wonderful."
Annelie let go of Carolyn for a moment and pulled her own T-shirt over her head, taking her bra along with it.
All Carolyn could do was look. Annelie's full breasts were pale compared to the rest of her slightly tanned body, with plump, pink nipples, now pebbled and, she hoped, eager to be touched. Carolyn lifted her gaze, looking up at Annelie, who stood there half naked, with her hair tousled, trusting her.
"Annie…" She raised her hands, cupping Annelie's shoulders, pulling her closer and kissing her right collarbone. "I'm not sure this qualifies as taking it slow, but I'm certainly not uncomfortable." Turning her head sideways, she nuzzled the curve of the soft breast.
"Me either." Annelie's voice was husky. "Mmm."
With reverence, Carolyn lowered her hands and cautiously cupped the full breasts, tingling as she touched Annelie in this intimate way. The hard nipples pushed against her palms, making her want to explore precisely how rigid they could become. Her own breasts ached to be touched, but she focused on Annelie, absorbed with the feel of her body.
As she moved her hands in slow circles, the puckered skin tightened even more. "Am I doing this right?" Carolyn was breathless and a trembling smile formed on her lips. "Do you like it like this?" Her fingers tweaked the nipples in a way she herself liked.
Annelie swayed and held on tighter to Carolyn's shoulders. "Yes, yes…please, I need to…sit down."
"Here, let's get undressed first," Carolyn suggested, suddenly feeling self-confident. She unbuttoned her own blouse and pulled it off and was reaching for the clasp of her bra between her breasts when Annelie's hands stopped her.
"Let me." Annelie unhooked Carolyn's black satin bra, her eyes locked on the skin she was revealing. She reached down and undid Carolyn's slacks, pushing them down slender hips.
Standing before Annelie, Carolyn felt her heart overflow with emotions. Fast-growing tenderness rose within her, along with the arousal stirring deep inside. She trembled, unable to take her eyes off the enticing curves before her.
Annelie undressed until she too was wearing only sheer white panties. "Are we going too fast?" she whispered.
"I think we are," Carolyn allowed, her voice throatier than usual. "I just don't know how to slow down or stop. I can't even remember why I should…"
She pulled Annelie into a firm embrace, their bodies meshing together as she claimed the other woman's mouth, parting her lips to kiss her feverishly. When she felt Annelie's tongue enter her mouth, caressing hers over and over, she nudged her toward the bed, and they both tumbled onto it, inadvertently breaking the kiss. Reaching for Annelie once more, she held her close while she let her lips trace her lover's jawline, down her long neck toward her breasts.
Closing her mouth over Annelie's taut nipple for the first time and hearing her name whimpered in response was something Carolyn knew she would never forget. The taste and texture of the pebbled skin, combined with the trembling hands laced in her hair, made her forget any insecurities. She hooked one leg across Annelie's legs, holding her tight, while she cupped her lover's breasts, alternating between them.
"Carolyn, please…oh…" Annelie gasped. "You're driving me crazy. Please come here." She pulled Carolyn up against her, hugging her and placing kisses on her forehead. "Shh…now we're moving too fast."
"Don't you want me?" Carolyn murmured huskily, her heart hammering in her chest.
"I want you more than I can say," Annelie vowed. "I could ravage you all night and it still wouldn't be enough, but I don't want to rush things." She leaned over Carolyn and kissed her lips gently. "I want us to do this slow, and right."
"But it feels so right." Carolyn blushed but kept her promise to level with Annelie on everything. "I'm on fire. I want you so much."
A faint smile appeared on Annelie's lips. "And I want you. Your touch, your body…everything about you." She reached down and cupped Carolyn's left breast, gently flicking her thumb over the nipple, which was as hard as her own. "I could go into detail about what I want to do with you and for how long…" She slowly licked her lips.