The Beginning, page 11
part #0.50 of Off Screen Series
Addison smiled broadly.
“Now, that is the perfect pathway to seduction,” Emma surmised. “You are too much,” she said, gazing fondly at the woman across from her.
“Well, come on!” Addison said. “We’re all dressed up. Let’s get this show on the road.”
“What show might that be?” Emma asked.
“Hey, I paid good money for that trivia game! What are you, chicken?” Addison teased.
Emma stared at Addison lovingly until she lost all hope of controlling her emotions and began to cry.
“Why are you crying?” Addison began to panic.
Emma rose from her seat and sat down in Addison’s lap.
“Em? Hey, it’s supposed to make you happy.”
Emma laughed. “I am happy, you fool.”
Addison was confused.
Emma laughed again and then kissed Addison tenderly. She wondered when kissing Addison would become a familiar task. She had memorized the landscape of Addison’s body, committed it to memory over and over again. It amazed her that no matter how many times she kissed Addison, no matter how many times they made love, she always discovered something new.
“On second thought,” Addison said. “Maybe we should just skip the whole trivia portion of the evening and”
“Oh no, you don’t,” Emma stalled her lover’s thoughts. “I intend to enjoy every present I got tonight.”
“You do?” Addison asked.
“Yes, I do,” Emma replied. “So, trivia and junk food.”
Addison nodded, suddenly feeling a touch of disappointment that Emma did not want to continue what they had just started.
Emma immediately recognized the expression in Addison’s eyes. It touched her, and it delighted her. She breathed in Addison’s ear. “The sooner I beat you at trivia, the sooner I get to unwrap my last present,” she said.
Addison swallowed hard when she felt Emma’s tongue slide over her neck and behind her ear. “Now, go make that popcorn so we can get this show on the road, as you put it.”
Addison pulled away slightly and narrowed her gaze at Emma.
Emma raised her brow.
Addison huffed playfully and pushed Emma off of her lap gently. She grabbed the popcorn and headed inside.
Emma called out to her a just as she was about to walk through the sliding glass door, and Addison turned abruptly. “By the way,” Emma said as she grasped the pendant that rested just above her cleavage. “Just so we are clear?” she continued.
Addison listened tentatively.
“I love you, Addison,” Emma said seriously.
Addison stood completely still for a moment and then offered Emma an understanding smile before heading off to complete her appointed task.
Emma closed her eyes again and breathed in the night air. The afternoon’s events suddenly seemed a distant memory—a distant memory of far less importance than what the rest of her evening was sure to hold. Forever. The gravity of Emma’s realization rested in her heart. Somehow Emma understood that this was a promise of exactly that—forever.
***
Emma sat for a moment taking in the scene that Addison had set for them and attempted to process it all. She felt her heart swell, and touched the pendant hanging around her neck again. Addison was the most thoughtful person that Emma had ever known. She gave freely. She loved openly. Emma made her way to her feet and blew out the candles. She picked up the game and retrieved the box of trivia cards, grabbed hold of the box of her favorite candy, and smiled. “Turnabout is fair play,” she said with a smile, and began making her way to where she was sure to find Addison. She stopped inside the doorway and silently watched Addison as she moved about the kitchen. She shook her head with wonderment. She’s mine. The sense of gratefulness and awe that flowed through Emma in waves made her close her eyes for a second. When Emma opened them, Addison had just started to pull a large bowl down from one of the cabinets. The popping of the corn in the microwave was slowing by the second. Emma stepped behind the writer and pressed up against her back. She set the box of cards on the counter and placed her right hand on Addison’s hip to steady them both. She snuggled into Addison’s neck and kissed it lightly.
“What are you doing?” Addison asked shakily.
Emma nestled closer and breathed heavily. “I missed you,” she said. She pulled away slightly and popped a Junior Mint into her mouth, before pressing back up against Addison. “These taste almost as good as you do,” she whispered.
The heat of Emma’s breasts pressing into her seared Addison’s back with heat—the heat that came with desire. “I thought you wanted to play trivia?” Addison barely managed.
“Who said I don’t want to play with you?” Emma replied seductively.
Addison sucked in a breath.
“I never said where we weren’t going to play,” Emma continued. She dropped the mints onto the counter beside the trivia cards and wrapped her arms around Addison’s waist, pulling Addison against her tightly. She smiled when she felt Addison tremble. “You were so confident about winning. I thought perhaps I should set some ground rules of my own.”
Addison could not respond. Emma’s hands were massaging her hips and leisurely making their way upward in small circular patterns.
“So?” Emma asked. “Still think you want to play with me?”
Addison barely managed to nod.
Emma beamed. Addison was already gone. “Okay, here are the rules,” Emma whispered into Addison’s ear. Her hand traveled to the opening of Addison’s blouse and slipped inside, finding the silky fabric of Addison’s bra and running across it softly. She felt Addison’s sharp intake of breath and repeated the same motion. “Every right answer—I keep going. Every wrong answer—I stop.”
Addison swallowed hard against the intense dryness in her throat. “Maybe we should move this into the bedroom,” Addison croaked as Emma pinched her nipple lightly.
“Why?” Emma asked. “I don’t recall you having an aversion to working with me in the kitchen,” she reminded her lover. “Now, be quiet until I ask you a question.”
Addison shuddered slightly.
Emma stopped touching Addison and opened the box on the counter, retrieving a card before placing a sensual kiss behind Addison’s ear. “Ready?” She felt Addison nod against her. “Let’s start with an easy one. What is the state setting for the film Fargo?”
“North Dakota,” Addison answered confidently but quietly.
“Very good,” Emma praised her lover and returned her hand to the opening in Addison’s blouse, releasing one more button. She leaned over Addison deliberately to retrieve another card with her left hand while her right continued to faintly caress Addison’s breasts through her bra. “Next question,” she said. “Ready?”
Addison nodded.
“What is John Nash's health issue in A Beautiful Mind?” she asked.
Addison took a deep breath. Her nipples were already aching and screaming for Emma to increase her attention. “Schizophrenia,” she answered quickly.
“Excellent,” Emma said. She slipped her right hand inside Addison’s bra and pulled gently at Addison’s nipple.
Addison sighed. “Next question,” Addison demanded.
Emma tried not to laugh. “Uh-uh, Addison. No talking unless you are answering. That’s one of the rules.” She heard Addison groan in protest and smirked. Emma grabbed another card and prepared to ask the next question. “In which country is Saving Private Ryan predominantly set?” Emma could hear Addison’s breathing picking up. She squeezed Addison’s nipple a little harder and felt a surge of desire travel through them both.
“France,” Addison answered.
Emma smiled. She was enjoying this game as much as Addison. This was not a common event in their intimate life together. While they had indulged in impromptu lovemaking in every room of the house, it tended to be gentle and reciprocal. This dynamic was different. Emma was aware that Addison was hesitant to engage in anything she thought Emma might perceive as dominating. Emma attributed the hesitancy for play to Addison’s gentleness. She also suspected that Addison had fantasies she had yet to share.. She’d read a few of the stories that Addison published under the name Lee Moss. Addison was many things. One of them, Emma had come to realize, was shy. Not reserved, but cautious. She suspected that someone had hurt Addison deeply in the past. It was important to Emma that Addison understand and be secure in the fact that no matter how playful they became in the bedroom, for Emma, intimacy would always be an expression of the love and affection she held for Addison.
She continued the game posing a stream of easy questions and choosing a difficult one every so often. It would frustrate Addison just enough that Emma could be certain that it tuned on Addison all the more. She continued that way until her hand managed to drift inside Addison’s pants.
“Philip Seymour Hoffman won the Best Actor Academy Award for his 2005 portrayal of which American writer?” Emma posed the question. She allowed her fingers to barely brush over the softness that covered her intended destination.
Addison fought to swallow and answered breathily. “Truman Capote.”
Emma rewarded the answer by stroking Addison gently. “Jesus, you are so wet,” she moaned in Addison’s ear. She lost her senses for a moment and enjoyed touching Addison. “God, you feel so good,” she said.
Addison closed her eyes and leaned into Emma for support.
Emma forced herself to take another card. She was beginning to struggle with her resolve. The way Addison’s body was moving against her was making her crazy. She wanted to see Addison. She wanted to taste Addison and she wanted to feel Addison inside of her. She took a deep breath and continued. “What was the first black and white motion picture to be nominated for an Academy Award after The Last Picture Show in 1971?”
Emma’s fingers were driving Addison to the brink of insanity. Addison heard the question. She was trying to form words when she felt Emma slip two fingers inside of her. “Oh God!” Addison cried out.
Emma’s heart thudded in her chest so hard it almost hurt. She loved touching Addison, and she loved hearing Addison when Addison began to reach the point of no return. She was certain that Addison was close now.
“No. Oh God! is not the answer. I believe that was a George Burns film.” Emma chuckled slightly. “Is that your final answer?” she asked sweetly. She kept the steady pace of her thrusts in and out of her lover, her thumb paying equal attention to the small, tender spot that was becoming more rigid by the second under her touch.
Addison tried to organize her thoughts. “No. No. Can you repeat that question?” she begged.
“Umm—One free pass, Addy. Concentrate,” Emma said seriously. She could feel Addison’s muscles tightening around her fingers, and she slowed her rhythm slightly.
Addison nodded her understanding through a slight groan of protest.
“The question was—what was the first black and white motion picture to be nominated for an Academy Award after The Last Picture Show in 1971?” Emma repeated the question, and then resumed the pace of her fingers.
“Uhhh. The Artist,” Addison choked on her answer. She was close to losing control, pushing Emma back against the far counter, lifting Emma’s dress and taking her. At the same time, she did not want Emma to stop this game she had created. Feeling Emma behind her was one of the most erotic things she had ever experienced. She was desperate for Emma to take her completely. Emma’s fingers withdrew slowly, and all motion stopped. Addison felt her muscles clench in protest.
“No, Addy. The answer was Good Night and Good Luck.”
“Fuck me,” Addison whined.
Emma had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She wanted to respond with a smart retort, but she stopped herself. The answer her lover had missed, Good Night and Good Luck, coupled with Addison’s “fuck me” was priceless. Reality was, Addison’s need was as palpable as the fluttering Emma could feel deep in her stomach that traveled to all parts south. She decided that it was in both their best interest to speed up the game a bit.
“Okay. What type of animal was Lassie?” Emma asked
“Dog!” Addison answered quickly.
Emma’s fingers found Addison again. This time she stroked up and down a few times, delighting in the softness and the evidence of Addison’s arousal. She slipped a finger inside her lover, and immediately Addison cried out. Emma forgot the game completely, dropped the card in her hand to the floor and held Addison close as Addison’s body began to tremble violently.
“Don’t stop,” Addison begged.
Emma had no intention of stopping. She moved her finger in a circular motion inside Addison that mirrored the path her thumb was taking just outside.
Addison cried out for her. “Emma! Oh God!”
Emma held Addison securely as Addison’s release thundered through her body.
“Em,” Addison’s voice dropped to a whisper.
Emma kissed Addison’s neck tenderly. She was overcome with both desire and emotion as she finally turned Addison in her arms. She stroked Addison’s cheek. “I win,” Emma said softly.
Addison’s confusion was evident.
Emma smiled. “You. I have you,” she explained.
Addison kissed Emma tenderly and rested her head on Emma’s shoulder until her breathing returned to normal. “Yes, you do,” Addison agreed softly.
“But right now, do you think I could finish this evening by having you in your bed?” Addison asked playfully. “I think I need to lie down.”
Emma smiled. “No.”
“No?” Addison asked cautiously.
“Right. No.”
“Em—”
Emma kissed Addison’s lips softly and then pulled back. She touched her pendant and looked deeply into Addison’s eyes. “First of all, you already have me,” Emma said.
“I meant—”
Emma placed two fingers on Addison’s lips to quiet her. “You already have me, Addy, but I would love you to take me to our bed and make love to me,” she said before leaning in and kissing Addison.
“Em—”
“Addy, I don’t want you to think of this as my house or my bed. I don’t. I think of this place as home, and when I think of home the first thing I think of is you.”
Addison nodded. Emma’s voice crackled with emotion, and Addison had no doubt of the sincerity in the statement. “Then, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to take you into our bedroom and make love to you slowly.”
“What? No trivia questions for me?” Emma joked.
“As tempting as that is, and believe me it is tempting,” Addison replied.
Emma arched an eyebrow at her lover.
“I have a different game in mind.”
“Is that so?” Emma asked.
“It is,” Addison said assuredly.
Emma grinned. “Well then, lead on Ms. Blake.”
Addison held out her hand. “Oh wait!” She stopped and grabbed the Junior Mints off of the counter.
“What are those for?” Emma inquired curiously. “Do you have some perverted game of Candy Land in mind or something?” she teased Addison.
Addison stopped and wagged a finger at Emma. “Oh no, you said that these tasted almost as sweet as me. I just need the source to test the theory.”
Emma started laughing and wrapped her arms around Addison’s neck. “You are nuts.”
“Probably. We can test that theory too. I saw some cashews up in the—”
Addison’s musing was ended by Emma’s passionate kiss. “Take me to bed, Addy. Now.”
Addison smiled. “As you wish, Emma. As you wish.”
Chapter Nine
“So?” Tamara implored Addison.
“What?”
“What do you mean, what? What are you going to wear to the Emmys?”
Addison shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong? You’ve had plenty of time to think about this. Come on, Addy! It’s only a week away! What’s Emma wearing?” Tamara asked.
Addison beamed. “Blue. I haven’t seen her in it. All I know is that more than one designer wanted her to wear something they created.”
“Yeah, who wouldn’t?” Tamara commented.
“Do you have a crush on my girlfriend?” Addison teased.
“Funny, Addy. No, but I’m not blind either,” she admitted. “You are one lucky lesbian.”
Addison laughed. “I am, huh?”
“Yeah, you really are—Bitch.”
“Aw, Tam, your Emma is out there. You just haven’t collided with her yet,” Addison said.
“Um. Maybe,” Tamara replied. “This is not about me! Stop changing the subject. You always do that,” Tamara scolded her friend. “We need to find you something that will make Emma Bronson go weak in the knees when she sees you.”
Addison shook her head.
“What about a really sexy woman’s suit? White and tight. That’s—”
“I don’t think so,” Addison said quietly.
“Why not? You look hot like that,” Tamara said.
Addison looked at Tamara with stunned disbelief.
“Well, you do! Come on, Addy. You are an extremely attractive woman.”
“Thanks—I think. No, Tam. I need to find a dress.”
“Okay. Just curious—why? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen you in a gown, and you look amazing, but you hate dresses.”
Addison sighed. “Look, I don’t want to raise any fervor. It’s a big deal—me accompanying Emma. People are bound to start asking questions and—”
“Who gives a shit?” Tamara chimed.
“People do give a shit, Tam. We’ve been over this.”
“Yeah, well, fuck them.”
Addison chuckled uncomfortably. “No thanks,” she joked. “I just don’t want to add fuel to the sparks that are bound to ignite.”
Tamara shook her head and shrugged. There was no point in trying to push Addison on this issue. Tamara loved Emma. She loved Emma and Addison as a couple. She hated the way Emma’s life sometimes affected Addison. Lately, she had been finding it increasingly difficult not to smack Emma in the back of the head and blast Addison for her willingness to live in a closet that she had sworn never to endure again. Addison was right; people were inevitably going to start speculating. She wished that her friends could find the courage to just lay the truth on the line. She sighed and looped her arm around Addison’s. Right now, she needed to support her best friend. Addison was nervous about accompanying Emma—excited, but nervous.
