Read Online Letting Go by Ann O'Leary - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ann O'Leary
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Gay & Lesbian, Genre Fiction, Lesbian, Lgbt, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Fiction
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Kate. She pressed the button releasing the security door. She then opened her apartment door, waiting for Kate to come up the stairs.
66
Laura felt a tug at her heart when Kate appeared the doorway. Her hair was braided, and Laura thought it looked gorgeous like that. Her skin was radiant, and there was a determined fire in her eyes that made Laura feel nervous, yet also made her want to sweep Kate into her arms and kiss her.
Kate looked at her and Laura felt conscious of her state of near undress. She tightened the belt on her silk robe. Laura drew her eyes away from Kate’s intense gaze and headed toward the kitchen.
“Would you like a coffee?” she called over her shoulder, trying to hide her nervousness.
“Yes, please.” Kate closed the door and followed her in. Laura was rapidly thinking of what to say as she set about filling the espresso machine and placing cups on the dividing bench, when Kate suddenly blurted out, “Who was the woman at the bar?”
Laura nearly dropped the sugar bowl. She realized instantly that Kate had been at Sisters and seen Kelly. “You were at the bar? Why didn’t you come and say hello?” This was, of course, an unfair question. Laura would have nearly died if Kate had done that.
“You looked pretty busy to me,” Kate said bitterly. “You told me that there wasn’t anyone in your life at the moment, and you wanted to keep it that way. Was she just a friend?”
Laura was naturally honest and in any case, she had too much regard for Kate to lie. “No, Kate, Kelly is more than a friend. But I’m not actually involved with her—not emotionally anyway. You know the sort of thing.”
But Kate clearly didn’t know. “What do you mean?” she asked.
Laura looked at Kate’s open, innocent expression. For 67
the first time, her purely sexual liaison with Kelly seemed a bit tacky. She felt oddly ashamed to have to explain it.
“Look, Kelly and I are physically attracted to each other, that’s all. Neither of us wants a relationship at the moment; we don’t have those kinds of feelings for each other. It’s very casual, no strings…you know.”
Kate gaped at her as if she couldn’t believe that Laura would rather sleep with a woman she didn’t care for than with her. She was silent for a few minutes, struggling, no doubt, with images of Laura and that woman together. Laura had prepared the coffee and had everything on a tray on the bench to take into the living room. She squeezed past Kate, who was blocking the opening between the kitchen and the living room.
Kate had been studying the floor and when she looked up, her eyes were filled with tears. Laura couldn’t bear it. Instinctively, she put her arms round Kate and held her close.
“I’m so sorry, Kate,” she whispered. “Why can’t it be me?” Kate’s voice was thick with emotion.
Laura closed her eyes. Oh God, help me, she prayed silently. “Because you’re too special, Kate,” she replied inadequately. “I couldn’t be that way with you.”
Kate’s arms were around her tightly, her face resting on Laura’s shoulder. “It’s because you think I’m a child. You think I’m not mature enough for you.”
Laura was acutely aware of the strength, the softness and the desirability of the woman in her arms, and she said emphatically, “I think you’re way too young for me, but I certainly don’t think you’re a child.”
Suddenly Kate kissed her. It was an urgent kiss, and Laura’s mind went blank. All she was aware of was an 68
overwhelming, utterly irresistible desire. She was falling helplessly out of control. Her heart was pounding, and the ache in her body was almost painful. Her compassion for Kate had taken her across the line, past the point of no return. Her arms tightened around Kate, and she returned the kiss deeply and passionately. Minutes passed, then Laura gently drew herself away from Kate’s hungry mouth. She looked at Kate for a moment, and without a word, she took her
66
Laura felt a tug at her heart when Kate appeared the doorway. Her hair was braided, and Laura thought it looked gorgeous like that. Her skin was radiant, and there was a determined fire in her eyes that made Laura feel nervous, yet also made her want to sweep Kate into her arms and kiss her.
Kate looked at her and Laura felt conscious of her state of near undress. She tightened the belt on her silk robe. Laura drew her eyes away from Kate’s intense gaze and headed toward the kitchen.
“Would you like a coffee?” she called over her shoulder, trying to hide her nervousness.
“Yes, please.” Kate closed the door and followed her in. Laura was rapidly thinking of what to say as she set about filling the espresso machine and placing cups on the dividing bench, when Kate suddenly blurted out, “Who was the woman at the bar?”
Laura nearly dropped the sugar bowl. She realized instantly that Kate had been at Sisters and seen Kelly. “You were at the bar? Why didn’t you come and say hello?” This was, of course, an unfair question. Laura would have nearly died if Kate had done that.
“You looked pretty busy to me,” Kate said bitterly. “You told me that there wasn’t anyone in your life at the moment, and you wanted to keep it that way. Was she just a friend?”
Laura was naturally honest and in any case, she had too much regard for Kate to lie. “No, Kate, Kelly is more than a friend. But I’m not actually involved with her—not emotionally anyway. You know the sort of thing.”
But Kate clearly didn’t know. “What do you mean?” she asked.
Laura looked at Kate’s open, innocent expression. For 67
the first time, her purely sexual liaison with Kelly seemed a bit tacky. She felt oddly ashamed to have to explain it.
“Look, Kelly and I are physically attracted to each other, that’s all. Neither of us wants a relationship at the moment; we don’t have those kinds of feelings for each other. It’s very casual, no strings…you know.”
Kate gaped at her as if she couldn’t believe that Laura would rather sleep with a woman she didn’t care for than with her. She was silent for a few minutes, struggling, no doubt, with images of Laura and that woman together. Laura had prepared the coffee and had everything on a tray on the bench to take into the living room. She squeezed past Kate, who was blocking the opening between the kitchen and the living room.
Kate had been studying the floor and when she looked up, her eyes were filled with tears. Laura couldn’t bear it. Instinctively, she put her arms round Kate and held her close.
“I’m so sorry, Kate,” she whispered. “Why can’t it be me?” Kate’s voice was thick with emotion.
Laura closed her eyes. Oh God, help me, she prayed silently. “Because you’re too special, Kate,” she replied inadequately. “I couldn’t be that way with you.”
Kate’s arms were around her tightly, her face resting on Laura’s shoulder. “It’s because you think I’m a child. You think I’m not mature enough for you.”
Laura was acutely aware of the strength, the softness and the desirability of the woman in her arms, and she said emphatically, “I think you’re way too young for me, but I certainly don’t think you’re a child.”
Suddenly Kate kissed her. It was an urgent kiss, and Laura’s mind went blank. All she was aware of was an 68
overwhelming, utterly irresistible desire. She was falling helplessly out of control. Her heart was pounding, and the ache in her body was almost painful. Her compassion for Kate had taken her across the line, past the point of no return. Her arms tightened around Kate, and she returned the kiss deeply and passionately. Minutes passed, then Laura gently drew herself away from Kate’s hungry mouth. She looked at Kate for a moment, and without a word, she took her
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