Dark Horse, page 20
“You’re not,” came her mother’s voice from farther back in the room.
Sadie looked up. Christine was leaning on the doorframe, looking physically weak but mentally determined.
“You are not a violent person. Please, don’t think that you are. That was an exceptional circumstance, and anyone would have done the same thing.”
“I don’t—”
“No,” Christine interrupted gently. “There’s nothing more to say. I understand you’re upset, but don’t you see? The fact that you are means that you aren’t the person you’re scared of being. If you weren’t upset by what you just did, then I’d be worried.” She smiled, and Sadie sighed.
“I guess so,” she said slowly.
“Your mum’s right,” Elsie said, taking the cloth and wetting it again before tenderly wiping it across Sadie’s forehead. “Come on, let’s get up off this floor and go and have a cup of tea.”
After they had made tea and all sat back down around the kitchen table, Elsie placed a gentle hand on Sadie’s arm.
“Sadie, are you physically okay? Did he hurt you?”
Sadie smiled at her grandmother. “I’m fine, Gran,” she replied. “Please, don’t worry. Are you okay?”
Elsie nodded, slowly. “I am. It was a bit scary, I must admit. I-I worried what he would do to you.”
Christine flinched at the words, and Sadie spoke up quickly to reassure her. “Mum, it’s okay. It was more shock rather than actual hurt. I’m more worried about how violent I was, rather than the physical stuff he did to me.” She held up a hand when her mother tried to interrupt. “It’s okay, I get what you said about that. I’ll need a bit of time to work through it, but yeah, I think you’re right. I don’t think I’m naturally that violent, not deep down.” She paused and took a sip of her tea, aware of her hands still trembling as she lifted the cup to her lips. “As for the physical harm, maybe when the adrenaline dies down I might find I’m aching a bit. But, really, it’s all okay. Please, don’t worry.”
Christine smiled, but not convincingly.
“Mum,” Sadie said firmly, after a few moments, “I am so proud of you for standing up to him. And for supporting me. I can’t tell you what that means to me.”
Christine raised her mug and smiled warmly at her daughter. “It was the least I could do. And God, it felt good!”
CHAPTER 18
Well, totally out to my mum now! She took it pretty well, I think. How did your day go? Can’t wait to see you, call/text me as soon as you can. God, I want to kiss you so badly…xx
Sadie sighed happily at the thought of more kisses. Holly’s mouth on hers did the most extraordinary things to her body. She tingled with the anticipation of what was to come. After everything that had happened, her overriding desire when she’d returned to her hotel room was simply to be held. But given how her body was reacting to the thought of Holly’s mouth on hers, making love could definitely be on the schedule too.
She grinned and texted back.
Back at the hotel. Bit of drama today. Want to grab food somewhere? Or just come here & we’ll do pizza again?
The response was instant.
Pizza! Missed you too much to waste time going out. Will be there in 15 xx
Sadie jumped in the shower and took as long as she could, allowing the hot water to pummel her shoulders and back, where her muscles were complaining the most. Her skin was bright pink when she finally switched off the water and reached for a towel, but the heat had helped a little. She threw on a tee shirt and sweatpants just in time for Holly’s quiet knock. The sight of the beautiful woman at the door soothed her in a way that reached deep into her soul. She gently pulled Holly into the room. Before she could speak, Sadie enveloped her in a close hug, wrapping her arms all the way around her, pressing Holly’s body tight against her own. God, she felt good.
Burying her face in Holly’s hair, she breathed in deeply. This is what I needed. Craved.
“You okay?” Holly whispered, her hands tightening on Sadie’s shoulder blades.
“Crazy day,” Sadie murmured into her hair. “I needed this. You.”
Holly emitted a small sound of pleasure that sparked a deep-seated need in Sadie to stay… Just like this, forever.
“Missed you,” Holly said, running her hands up and down the planes of Sadie’s back.
“Mm” was all Sadie could manage—her brain and body were in a fog of desire so powerful it made her shiver. Holly’s body in her arms, her soft breasts pressing into Sadie’s, her firm thigh easing its way between Sadie’s, all had her senses reeling and her mind strangely disorientated.
She pulled back slightly to be able to look at Holly and saw a flushed face with hooded eyes. She wasn’t the only one affected by their greeting. Her gaze dropped to Holly’s lips. She heard Holly’s small growl, and it sent an aching throb through her clit. She crushed Holly’s mouth to hers, kissing her as passionately as she could, meeting Holly’s tongue with her own and groaning loudly from deep in her chest at the contact. Holly’s hands drifted down to cup her ass and pull her closer yet. Their mouths were fused, their soft sounds of desire mingling in the quiet room. Holly pulled away first, gasping for air.
“Wow,” she whispered, smiling.
Sadie nodded and grinned. “Oh, yeah.”
“As much as I want to continue that,” Holly said, tilting her head to one side as she looked at Sadie, “something important happened today, didn’t it? I can see it in your eyes. Will you tell me?”
Sadie nodded. As much as she wanted Holly, she knew she would relax into their evening more easily if she got it all off her chest first. She motioned to the bed and sat on the end of it, waiting for Holly to throw her jacket on the chair and kick off her shoes before she joined her. Holly’s hand instantly reached for Sadie’s, and Sadie looked at their linked fingers for a few moments before she started talking.
“My dad showed up.” She smiled as Holly’s eyes went wide and her mouth opened in shock.
“Oh my God!”
“I know. It was… Well, it was a bit intense for a while.”
She told Holly all about the events earlier that day. Holly’s emotions ranged from anger to shock to compassion and sympathy. A few tears fell from Sadie’s eyes, and Holly’s too, but in retelling the story, Sadie realised the worst of her anger over it all had already dissipated, as well as her abiding fear that she had somehow unleashed a violent side to her personality she hadn’t known about.
“I agree with your mum. You are not a violent person.” Holly’s voice was tender, as were her fingertips as they stroked soothingly across Sadie’s brow. “You’re one of the calmest, gentlest people I’ve ever met. It was just an extraordinary set of circumstances, and it was all about protecting your mother and grandmother. It was actually more an intense expression of love, really.”
Sadie chuckled. “God, that sounds a bit weird, but yeah, I guess it was.”
She shook her head, slowly, still reeling a little from all that had happened and all that she had witnessed.
“I think something may happen with Mum and him,” she said quietly. “I know she said she couldn’t be bothered divorcing him after her diagnosis, but there was something different about her when I left today. Like she’d made up her mind to make some changes. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them moved out of the house.”
“Will she be okay? I mean, she’s got her illness to deal with too, and that would be a big upheaval to deal with at the same time.”
“True. But as much as I want to get involved now and help her, I reckon she needs to do this one on her own. This doesn’t have anything to do with me. I’ll offer, of course, but…”
“It’s like it’s something she feels she needs to wrap up before she dies,” Holly said softly, unwittingly mirroring Sadie’s thoughts.
“Yeah, I think so. Like she never stood up to him before and, somehow, she’ll rest easier if she does it now.” Her voice caught slightly. “Give her some peace, or something like that.”
Holly wrapped her arms around Sadie and squeezed gently. “I love that you talk to me about this stuff. That we share.”
“Me too,” Sadie said, realising just how much she meant it as she said it.
“Shit, what a day.” Holly exhaled loudly. “Are you sure you’re okay? Physically I mean? You said you hit your head, and it sounds like it got very rough between you and him.”
Sadie shrugged. “My arms and shoulders ache, I’ll be honest. But my head’s okay. It wasn’t that much of a bump. I am pretty tired, though. I can’t lie about that.”
Holly shook her head. “I’m not surprised. Jesus. Are you sure you want me here? If you want to rest—”
“No,” Sadie interrupted. “I really want you here. Need you here.” She kissed Holly briefly. “I’m just not sure if…if I have the energy to make love. As much as I want to. And believe me, I really want to.”
Holly grinned. “That’s okay.” Her smile made Sadie shiver, as it seemed to hold a promise of something more. “I can think of ways around that.”
With that, she gently pushed Sadie back on the bed.
“First,” Holly said, reaching for the waistband of Sadie’s sweatpants, “let’s get you out of these clothes.”
Sadie stared. Holly’s entire demeanour had moved from caring to seductive in the blink of an eye, and it was intoxicating. She was powerless to resist and lifted her hips quickly to allow Holly to move the soft pants down her hips and off her legs.
Holly raised her eyebrows as she discovered Sadie was not wearing any underwear.
“Well,” she murmured, “that makes things easier.”
She pushed Sadie’s tee shirt up and motioned for her to raise her torso off the bed so that she could slip it quickly over her head. Sadie lay back, totally nude, and basked in the hot gaze that Holly passed over her from head to toe. Holly’s tongue came out to slowly lick her lips, and Sadie groaned, aching to feel that tongue on her skin. She watched as Holly stood and slowly removed her own tee shirt and jeans, leaving her standing in just her underwear. The bra and G-string were a rich burgundy colour, edged with lace, and so beyond sexy it took Sadie’s breath away.
“You are so gorgeous,” she whispered, reaching out a hand towards her lover. She smiled at the faint blush that crept across Holly’s face and neck. “You are,” she insisted. “I don’t know why you doubt that.”
Holly shook her head. “It just means a lot to hear it from you. You make my heart stop with your beauty.”
She leaned down to gently kiss Sadie’s lips, her eyes, her neck.
“Roll over,” Holly whispered as she lifted her head. “I want to massage your back, ease out some of what your father did to you.”
Sadie’s heart lurched, and she rolled over quickly before her emotions got the better of her. She heard Holly pad into the bathroom and return a minute later.
“It’s only body lotion, rather than oil, but it’ll work.”
Holly planted herself astride Sadie’s hips, her warm thighs tight against Sadie’s cooling skin. Sadie could feel the heat at the apex of Holly’s thighs on her ass, through the silk of her underwear, and her own centre became abundantly wet at the sensation.
Holly’s massage began firmly, definitely therapeutic rather than sensuous, and her strong fingers worked into all the knots that Sadie hadn’t realised she was carrying. Across her neck, her shoulders, and her upper arms, Holly’s hands worked their magic, and it was blissful. Sadie groaned on a number of occasions, and she could hear Holly’s answering chuckle each time.
“Feels so good,” Sadie murmured for at least the fifth time, as Holly kneaded the hollows just above her ass.
“Mmhm” was Holly’s only response, letting her fingers talk for her. Subtly and smoothly, over the next few minutes, she transitioned the massage into something much more like foreplay. Her touch gentled, and her strokes became languorous. Sadie’s body hummed as Holly’s hands brushed lightly over her ass and swept up her sides, skimming the edges of her breasts and drawing a long moan from her throat. Her body was on fire, and everywhere Holly touched simply stoked the heat higher.
“I want you,” Holly whispered, near her ear. “But I want this to be all about you. Please, let me love you,” she said as she pulled firmly at Sadie’s hips to indicate she wanted her to turn over. “Lie back, and let me love you.”
Sadie turned and studied Holly’s face. It was intense, but with an underlying tenderness that made something tremble deep in Sadie’s chest. Holly met Sadie’s gaze, not moving until Sadie acquiesced.
Sadie lay back, her centre aching intensely, and gave in to Holly’s ministrations. Holly gently pushed Sadie’s arms above her head, and the submissive position thrilled her more than she would have imagined. She was normally the one to take charge, to lead, and to control. This was so different, and yet it felt so right to just give in. Holly’s tongue went to work, and Sadie lost the power of thought and speech altogether.
It was exquisite. Tongue strokes and kisses trailed over every inch of her, lingering for long moments on her neck before descending to her breasts. Holly’s hair draped gently on Sadie’s skin as her lips wrapped around a nipple and sucked, sending pulsing throbs to Sadie’s clit. She moaned, her breathing tortured with the anticipation of where Holly’s mouth would go next.
The answer was down.
Down over her abdomen, over her belly, and onto her thighs. Licking softly at the tender skin on the inside of Sadie’s thighs, Holly whispered one word, “Open,” and Sadie thought she might come on the spot. She shamelessly spread her legs wide, giving Holly ample room to nestle between them, and then the erotic torture continued in earnest. Holly’s mouth on her clit and her swollen lips was relentlessly teasing. Dragging the length of Sadie, Holly’s soft tongue never lingered long enough in one spot to push her over the edge, yet all the while increased her arousal almost to breaking point.
“You taste so good,” Holly gasped, breaking contact for a moment. “I want to do this to you for hours.”
“Please…” Sadie replied, and she didn’t know which she was asking for; release, or hours more of this delicious torment.
She felt Holly smile against her, then she cried out as Holly’s tongue entered her. The slow, yet powerful thrusts sent Sadie careening towards orgasm. When Holly gripped her thighs and pushed even deeper, it was the spark that lit the touchpaper. Sadie rocked, her hips arching upwards, as wave after wave of her orgasm swept over and through her body. It seemed to start from everywhere all at once, inside and out, and a long, wrenching sound poured out of her throat as the sensations rippled through her. Holly held on to Sadie throughout, her tongue still buried deep inside her. She withdrew only when Sadie collapsed back down on the bed, panting for breath, her heartbeat pounding through her skin. She reached blindly for Holly, pulling her up the length of her body to lay her on top of her. She kissed Holly, tasting herself on her lover’s lips, and that sent little aftershocks ricocheting through her clit.
Holly’s kisses rapidly turned ardent, her tongue thrusting into Sadie’s mouth in an action almost perfectly reminiscent of its motion between her legs moments before. Holly moved slightly to the side, so that she straddled one of Sadie’s thighs, and Sadie grabbed her ass and pulled her close, knowing what Holly needed.
“Yes…yes… Please.” Holly’s voice was husky as Sadie used her hands on Holly’s silk-clad ass to grind her against her thigh, setting a rhythm that had them both gasping. She could feel Holly’s hot slickness against her skin, her underwear drenched with her arousal. She could feel her tension as she worked herself against the firm muscles of Sadie’s thigh. Holly’s moans increased in volume as she increased the pace of her thrusts. The trembling started, first in Holly’s thighs, spreading to her arms until, with a deep cry, she threw her head back as her climax hit. Her eyes were closed in pleasure, her mouth caught in an erotic grimace, and Sadie watched it play out on her face, entranced by the sight.
CHAPTER 19
“I promise I’ll be discreet, Mum.” Holly kept her voice low, not wanting to disturb the dozing Sadie next to her. She looked adorable—splayed out on her front, her arms thrown across her pillow above her head, the doona barely covering her delectable ass. Holly smiled as Sadie’s nose twitched at something. Cradling her phone under her chin, she reached out a hand to rub a gentle pathway up and down Sadie’s spine to soothe her.
“Okay.” Her mother’s voice was tinged with uncertainty.
“Trust me, Mum, ordinarily I would come home and not put you in this position. I swear. But she’s had a really bad day, and I can’t leave her.” She paused. “I know that’s hard for you to hear.”
Judy sighed. “You seem so grown-up, all of a sudden.”
Holly chuckled softly. “Sorry about that.” She was pleased when her mum laughed gently in response. “No one will know I was here, I promise.” She hesitated. She really wanted to ask, but feared the response. Oh well, here’s goes nothing. “So, the other thing I wanted to run by you is the party tomorrow.”
“Yes?” Her mother’s puzzlement was obvious.
“Well, I was wondering if I could bring Sadie. As my date.”
There was a long silence. “Would you introduce her to everyone as that?”
Holly shut her eyes briefly. She knew this was a big one for her mum. Maybe she should wait, give her more time. “I don’t have to, if that would make you uncomfortable. I know this is very new for you.”
“It is. I-I don’t want to tell you what you can or can’t do but…”
“It’s okay, Mum. I understand. One day, though?”
“Of course, darling. I-I don’t want you to think that I want you to hide this. It’s just—”
“I get it, Mum, it’s okay. You just need more time.”
The sigh her mother exhaled was heavy. “I do. Please bring her to the party, but can she just be a friend, for now? I promise, this isn’t me denying who you are.”
