Chapter Three

Over the next week, Maggie and Lauren explored not only the town and the area surrounding it, but each other. Maggie had spent several nights at the cabin and they had both found it difficult not to take their physical relationship to the next level.

They had spent the evening in each other’s arms, talking about the day. Lauren listened as Maggie recalled the first time she drove into Warwick. Her eyes focused on the woman’s lips before moving down to fix on the peaked nipples. She moved closer to Maggie and began running her fingers up and down her arm. It wasn’t long before eyes locked and, as was the case over the last several days, a primal message passed between them. This time, though, there would be no denying what both women felt, needed, wanted.

Desire was in control as Lauren’s hand moved from Maggie’s arm to begin a slow exploration of her body. It wasn’t long before lips captured lips in fervent kisses. Maggie’s insistent tongue parted willing lips and began its exploration of Lauren’s mouth. Greedily Lauren sucked in Maggie’s tongue, delighting in the sensations that were filling her body.

Maggie’s body was on fire and allowed her body to melt into Lauren’s.

Hands groped as both women tried to free flesh from its confines.

Maggie’s experienced hands tugged gently but insistently at the shirt tucked securely in Lauren’s jeans. She could feel the woman tense. Nimble fingers slid under the waistband of the jeans as the shirt came free. Maggie sighed as she encountered warm, soft flesh. Her hands trailed lightly over the slight swelling of Lauren’s abdomen, and she smiled into the lips she held with hers.

Lauren’s body arched as Maggie’s soft touch continued the exploration.

Maggie’s fingers moved gently higher, feeling the generous swell of the breasts captive in the gauzy bra. The touching was tantalizing Maggie, and she trembled in anticipation.

Lauren, enthralled by the incredible feelings that enveloped her as Maggie’s mouth trailed delicate wet kisses along her jaw line gasped. With exquisite gentleness, small kisses found her neck, causing her to moan in appreciation. She slipped her hands under Maggie’s shirt. As she felt the smooth, muscled flesh sliding beneath her fingers, the sensation of touching Maggie’s skin sent shivers through her body. She lost herself in feelings that seemed unexpectedly familiar.

Maggie’s sure fingers moved around and unclasped the bra, which, along with the shirt, was quickly disposed of.

Lauren moaned as wonderfully warm hands caressed her breasts.

At that moment, nothing could have dissuaded Maggie as she slowly caressed the nipples and smooth breasts. Her tongue teased the tip of a waiting nipple as her lips encircled and captured the delightful morsel. She slowly sucked the nub in deeper and deeper, causing Lauren to arch toward her mouth as her hands held Maggie’s head captive. The need inside Maggie was growing beyond her control. After moving her head slightly, she gazed into glazed hazel eyes. “Lauren, would you make love with me?”

Lauren’s mind vied with her senses and heart to determine the answer. She knew that she was powerless to do anything but make love with Maggie—it was a strange sensation but one that felt right. As she stared into Maggie’s eyes, Lauren knew she was lost, if only she would let herself be lost. Her need for the woman was building with every second and fulfillment was what she wanted. “Yes. Oh please, Maggie, yes.” Her voice sounded strange to her ears, but the words conveyed her desire.

Maggie gently picked Lauren up, carried her into the bedroom, and laid her on the bed. Her eyes never left the smaller woman as they devoured every inch of her. “You are so beautiful.” Her passion surged as her eyes feasted on the large, pale breasts. Maggie’s mouth hovered close to Lauren’s, teasing her lips with her tongue. Warm wet lips captured her tongue and pulled it deep into Lauren’s mouth.

Lauren’s fingers rested on the edge of the Maggie’s open shirt before sliding it aside. Her breath caught as she stared at the puckered aureoles. The nipples looked ready and willing. Lauren pulled Maggie down a little so her lips could place feather light kisses on the tempting breasts. As she trailed from one to the other, she could feel Maggie arch into her mouth. The sensual explosion made Lauren ache for satisfaction. Her lips captured the closest nipple, and Lauren was satisfied, for the moment, by the breath that Maggie sucked in.

Maggie was dying an exquisite death. Her nipples pulsed with the need to have Lauren’s mouth on them. Eyes half-closed with desire, Maggie watched as the smaller woman sucked on her breasts, then she covered Lauren’s breasts with her hands and gently squeezed. She massaged and stroked them teasingly, avoiding the nipples until she heard a moan. The next few moments were a frenzy of shared passion and pleasuring, until Maggie needed to feel more flesh next to hers. Her fingers unzipped jeans and tugged them down, quickly casting them aside. Slowly, she guided the panties down as Lauren looked at her, silently pleading.

Lauren was trembling with desire. Finally, long tapering fingers tangled in soft dark curls as they lightly touched her inner thighs. Burning with desire, Lauren wanted to feel those delightful fingers deep inside of her. Lips claimed hers again in a kiss of insatiable passion.

Maggie mustered what little control she had left and offered Lauren the chance to retreat, if she wanted. “You want this, don’t you, Lauren?”

“I want you, Maggie.”

Maggie placed a tender kiss on the side of Lauren’s mouth and gently glided one finger along the velvety smooth recess between the curls.

Raw passion and desire swamped Lauren as she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the moment. Her hips were moving, slowly building a tempo in time with the finger that was making small circles around her center. Long slow strokes combined with the circles and sent Lauren to greater heights. She sucked in a deep breath as she felt Maggie’s lips trail along her abdomen and down to the apex between her legs.

Maggie felt the tremors in Lauren’s body and knew that it wouldn’t be long before she reached her release. She slid two fingers deep inside and began to move them in rhythm with Lauren’s movements. Her lips moved to capture Lauren’s center, sucking the engorged tip as gyrating hips rocked in time. Maggie’s fingers built up a rhythm to match the movement and Lauren moaned in ecstasy. As she felt Lauren begin to tighten around her fingers, she knew the orgasm was close, very close. Maggie increased the tempo of her fingers and tongue, and brought Lauren to a powerful climax.

Maggie marveled at her responsiveness as she kissed Lauren’s clit reverently before making her way up toward her mouth. They shared a kiss tinged with the taste of the smaller woman. Her fingers remained inside until the spasms ceased and Lauren settled against her with a satisfied sigh. Maggie cradled her in her arms and kissed her gently. This feels like nothing I have ever known. “Are you okay?” Maggie asked quietly. She watched the glazed expression leave Lauren’s face and a wide smile take its place.

Lauren turned slightly so she could make eye contact. “Mmm, oh yes, much more than okay. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“I didn’t know it could be like that, Maggie. No one has ever made me feel… It was amazing, utterly amazing.”

“Mmm, I think you’re the amazing one, Lauren.” Maggie smiled as she looked into the warm gaze of the woman. Although her heart was singing, her feelings of tenderness for Lauren confused her. Her rule had always been to love ’em and leave ’em, but what she was feeling for Lauren was different from those one-night stands.

Lauren’s hand began to wander over Maggie’s sweat slick abdomen as she delighted in her feelings. Over the years, she had dated many women, kissed her fair share and did some heavy petting, but never took the final step of making love. Her fantasies about what that would be like exceeded all her imaginings. She focused on the texture of the skin beneath her fingertips, wanting and needing to make Maggie feel all the sensations she had just experienced. Lauren rose up, situated herself on top of Maggie’s larger frame, and smiled seductively. Slow deliberate small kisses worked down her neck and nipped at the skin.

Maggie moaned at her lover’s advances.

The early morning sun crept into the room through the opening in the curtains, setting the stage for the dust motes to dance. Maggie awoke with a start, unsure of where she was. As she gazed at the woman next to her, a smile of pure delight crossed her face. Never in all her liaisons had making love been so intense and gratifying. She quietly slipped out of bed and shivered as the cool morning air hit her. She headed for the bathroom and a hot shower picking up her clothes along the way. Then she would make a fire and some coffee. I wonder if Lauren likes breakfast in bed. Maggie smiled. Damn, I feel good.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, waking Lauren from a tantalizing dream of…Maggie? Coffee? Who’s making coffee? A satisfied smile crossed her face as she recalled the beautiful woman who had ravished her late into the night.

Just at that moment, Maggie came through the door with a tray. “Hey, sleepyhead, you think you might like some breakfast?”

“You must have been reading my mind. It smells wonderful. I can’t wait to sample it.”

“Wait until you taste my cooking. You may want to reconsider eating it.”

“Not to worry, I have a cast iron stomach.”

Maggie bent over and gently kissed Lauren. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Mmm. Better than I have in years. It’s all thanks to you. So, let’s see what you made us for breakfast.”

Maggie’s eyes twinkled as she grinned. “I was going to make you for breakfast, but…I thought you might need real food first.”

Lauren smiled and winked at Maggie. “I’ll have you for dessert, then.”

Both women laughed as they shared cooking horror stories over breakfast in bed. Lauren found it necessary to lick some jelly off Maggie’s lips, and that led to making love.

Maggie contemplated her day ahead as she watched Lauren who had dozed off. She was to meet with her partners at the café in town before they addressed the Warwick town council to discuss the plans for renovating and rejuvenating the town.

When the firm received the proposal for development, Maggie was in California putting the final additions on a project there. Once home, she received the preliminary reports and keys for the bungalow in Warwick so she could do her standard scouting of the area. Her first impression of the town remained, especially after spending several days with Lauren getting to know the area. The same question kept coming to mind. Why Warwick? From what she observed, the town simply did not meet any of the typical criteria for development. The population was not large enough to sustain the type of changes they would make. Then there was the biggest problem: all the roads leading into the town were two lane highways. Before they could even begin thinking about development, road improvements were needed. That in itself was a major undertaking. She hoped to understand more about the site selection when she met her partners for breakfast.

Slowly and silently, she edged out of bed. Just as her feet hit the floor, a hand grasped her wrist and a sleepy voice pleaded, “Don’t go.”

“Aw, baby, you know I have to go to work. I can’t be late today.”

“Please, Maggie, I need you.”

Maggie had no choice. She slid back next to the warm, naked body waiting for her. Her reward was a tender kiss that rapidly turned passionate.

As their tongues danced, Lauren rolled over and slipped her thigh between Maggie’s legs as the warm, wet smoothness began to grind against her. Soon both their bodies were moving as one. Heat and intensity grew with each movement. Moans of pleasure accompanied the touches of hands that roamed over familiar bodies. Maggie’s tongue retreated as Lauren’s searched for it. How she loved kissing that way. It was like being lost in a cavern and trying to find a lost treasure.

It wasn’t long before Maggie’s lips captured Lauren’s tongue and sucked it deep into her mouth before their tongues met again.

Lauren’s lips engulfed a waiting, peaked nipple as her teeth gently bit and pulled up.

Maggie’s fingers slid between Lauren’s thighs and began to stroke the velvet wetness that awaited her.

The insistent ringing of the phone drew both women out of their fever pitched passion. “Lauren, I thought you turned that off.”

“Maggie, I’m a doctor. I can’t just turn my phone off. I have several patients that I asked my associate to call me about if there was a problem. That’s the hazard of experimental medicine—you never know when a discovery will happen, good or bad. I’ll only be a moment, promise.”

“Mind if I keep reminding you that I’m here?” Maggie began sucking on a tempting nipple as Lauren answered the phone.

“Doctor Walker.”

Maggie felt Lauren go stiff and she heard the coolness in the voice of her lover.

“Mother, what do you want? … No, I can’t have lunch with you. There must be something important you want if you are asking me to lunch. … You know, Mother, if I had taken this tone with you once in a while fifteen years ago, maybe I wouldn’t be little more than your puppet now. … Just tell me what you want. I have things to do. … Stop badgering me about the store, it’s mine to do with as I please and is really none of your business. … I will use any tone I want, Mother. For your information, I plan to keep the store. How do you like that? … Forbid me? You don’t have that kind of power anymore, Mother. Goodbye.”

Lauren slammed the phone down before grabbing Maggie and giving her a savage kiss. She worked her way down to the neck, where she bit and sucked with such force she could taste the blood. She would mark Maggie for all to see that she belonged to her and her alone. Keep away, she’s mine. It wasn’t until Maggie had her by the shoulders and shoved her away that she heard the words.

“Lauren, I said stop it.”

“I know you want this, Maggie. Why are you pushing me away?”

“I don’t want this, Lauren.”

“Yeah, right.” She moved in on the tantalizing lips again.

“Lauren, no!”

For a moment, Lauren was confused. Is Maggie turning her down? Are we over already?

“Lauren, I don’t want to have sex with you. I can get that anywhere. I only want to make love with you. Do you understand that? Taking your anger at your mother out on me isn’t fair, Lauren. It isn’t right.”

The tears welled and then overflowed. “Oh, Maggie. I am so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. Please forgive me? I’m so ashamed.” Lauren, sobbing uncontrollably, buried her head in the pillow.

Maggie wrapped her arms gently around Lauren and held her close. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Tear filled eyes looked at Maggie. “No, what I did was completely unforgivable. I am so sorry, Maggie.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

“Where do I begin? My mother wasn’t always so controlling and nasty. We actually had many good times together. We both loved Uncle Max, and I spent summers in Warwick helping him out at the store. Then one summer, it seemed that everything changed, including my mother, and we never came back here. She started telling me what to wear, which friends I should have, who to date, and tried to run my life completely. I defied her by going to medical school instead of law school. But she did forgive me when I graduated top of my class and obtained a residency at Johns Hopkins. What I don’t understand is why she is so insistent on my selling the store. She really loved the place at one time.”

“I don’t know the answers, but I do know that together we can work anything out. Why don’t we put this to rest for a little while and we can talk about it later on.” She tugged Lauren closer. “What do you say?”

“Maggie Sullivan, do you know how much I adore you? Thank you for understanding. I’m so sorry.” She hung her head.

“Hey,” Maggie lifted Lauren’s chin. “It’s over, let’s get past it.” She smiled fondly. “I will always try to be there for you, no matter what. You can count on that.”

Lauren gave Maggie a soft kiss. “And I’ll always be there for you.” She pulled back slightly before gently caressing the beautiful face before her. “I’m falling in love with you.”

Maggie took Lauren’s hand in hers. “I know the feeling and it scares me.”

“Me too.” Lauren’s eyes focused on the bedside clock. “Oh my, God. Maggie, look at the time. Isn’t your meeting at nine? It’s eight fifteen now. If you hurry, you can just make it.”

Maggie scrambled out of bed and headed for the shower as Lauren set out her clothes and started the coffee. Lauren smiled as she opened the bathroom door. I need a shower too.