Chapter Twenty-five

Annie woke and immediately knew where she was. The posh digs, the softest sheets in the world draped around her, and the unbelievable quiet. She looked at her phone. “Holy shit!” She’d been asleep for eleven hours. Slipping from the warm bed, she padded over to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Bristol was probably downstairs pacing, wondering if she was still alive or had split in the middle of the night. When she saw the stack of fresh clothing on the counter, she knew Bristol had checked on her. The bathroom had everything she needed. New makeup, hair products, face lotions, and the fluffiest towels Annie had ever wrapped herself in. She slipped into shorts, a T-shirt, and a hoodie. When she made her way downstairs, Bristol was on the couch reading a book. She stood when Annie walked in.

“I’m so sorry I slept that long.” Annie covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. You needed the sleep. I only woke up an hour ago. How are you?”

“I feel amazing. That bed is so comfortable.”

“Are you hungry?” Bristol asked.

Annie nodded. “I could cook for us this time.”

“Or I could order takeout if you want to sit and chat for a bit.”

“Chat. Okay. That sounds nice,” Annie said. She fell on the couch next to Bristol and took her hand. It gave her comfort to have a physical connection, even if she hadn’t sorted through the reasons why.

“Tell me about a day in the life of Annie Foster.”

Annie pursed her lips and shrugged. “It’s pretty normal. I get up about nine and work on jingles if I have a project. If I don’t, then I work on songs. I perform Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sundays at The Night Owl.”

Coffee & Chords on Wednesdays, right?”

“Yes. It’s so much fun. There’s so much talent in Denver.”

“Lizzy found you at the hospital, of all places.”

“Why was she there?” Annie asked.

“For hydration therapy. Sometimes she gets dehydrated on the road. We aren’t the best eaters or drinkers,” Bristol said.

Annie noticed that Bristol looked away when she spoke about it, so she gingerly changed the topic. “Let’s see. I sing songs for the kids in the cancer ward. It’s so rewarding. They have so much fun on music days.”

“I’m sure they love it,” Bristol said.

Annie nodded. “And most of my evenings are spent at The Night Owl, even when I’m not performing.”

“What do you do for yourself?”

“I play my music.”

“When was the last time you dated anybody long-term?”

“Maybe a year ago? You?”

Bristol threw her head back and laughed. “It’s been years.”

“So, do you ever hook up with groupies? I mean, I know that sounds so stereotypical rock star.”

Bristol thought for a moment. “No groupies. I want someone who’s into me, not my fame. That’s my problem. I never know who’s in it for me or just who I am.”

“Why can’t it be both? You are a pop star, and you’re also a softie with a big heart. Why can’t people find the balance?”

“I can’t answer that question. I want to, but I can’t.”

Annie moved closer. “So, wait. You haven’t had sex on this tour at all?”

The blush that crept up Bristol’s neck was adorable. “Have you had sex on this tour?” Bristol asked.

Annie laughed. “Only with myself, and only in the privacy of a hotel room.”

Bristol stood and fanned her T-shirt out in front of her. “How about we order dinner?” She led Annie to the kitchen. “We can share a bottle of wine beforehand. What are you hungry for?”

It was the perfect opening for Annie. She could have said what she wanted for dinner, and they could’ve perused online menus of local restaurants, but Annie was tired of this polite game they were playing. She walked over to Bristol and took her hands. “I’m hungry for you.”

Bristol’s mouth dropped open a tiny bit. And maybe it wasn’t fair of her to take control, but when Bristol’s breathing became heavier, Annie slid her hands from Bristol’s shoulders up to her face and held it gently in front of hers.

“Don’t be afraid.” She moved her hand and put it right above Bristol’s heart. “I’m here for you. For what’s inside your heart. Not for what you can do for me. I know you think there’s no future for us. Even though you’re wrong and I want more, I can’t walk away from the possibility of showing you how amazing you are. Give me this.”

Bristol closed her eyes at Annie’s words, and just when Annie thought she’d overstepped, Bristol pulled her close and kissed her soundly. It was the kind of kiss that made Annie forget where she was or how long they’d been kissing, and wonder why she was still upright. There was no learning curve with them. Bristol knew exactly how to kiss Annie, and if kissing made her knees weak, what would having sex do? Annie almost came from the feeling of Bristol pressing her hips into her soft core. Her knees buckled as a rush of excitement exploded in her.

Bristol lifted her so she was sitting on the marble kitchen isle and stood between Annie’s knees. When Annie felt Bristol’s hands move underneath her shorts, she whimpered and scooted her hips closer to Bristol’s hand. She wanted Bristol inside her. She wanted to feel her fingers pressing her into an orgasm, but the angle was wrong. She broke from their kissing frenzy.

“Can we go to your room?”

“I’m so sorry.” Bristol blushed and moved just enough for Annie to slide off the counter and down the length of her. Her hand was back under Annie’s shorts, teasing her. Her mouth was hot on her neck. Annie clutched Bristol’s shoulders and moaned her impatience. Bristol grabbed Annie’s hand and led her to the bedroom. Annie ripped off the hoodie and stood in front of Bristol wet and panting, wearing tiny cotton shorts and a tank top. Bristol sat on the edge of the bed, and Annie straddled her. She rolled her hips, wanting friction from any part of Bristol.

“Are you sure about this?” Bristol asked.

Annie barely heard her. “What? Yes. I’m a thousand percent sure. I’ve wanted this since the first time we were onstage together.” She moaned when she felt Bristol’s fingers move closer to her throbbing pussy. She hadn’t been wearing any panties last night, and even though she felt sexy wearing her little black dress and heels, something about wearing Bristol’s clothes and getting her shorts wet from wanting her so much made this moment even sexier.

Bristol stopped kissing Annie to look at her when she slipped two fingers inside. They both moaned at the intimacy. Annie threw her arms around Bristol’s shoulders and leaned her forehead against Bristol’s.

“Yes,” she whispered against Bristol’s cheek. She’d never known how tender and vulnerable Bristol was until this moment. She kissed Bristol again. She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth and slipped her tongue inside her mouth. Her hips started moving against Bristol’s hand. She wanted more, but was she taking too much too soon? Was her greed a turnoff? Annie didn’t know if they would have more than this one night, and she didn’t want to miss a single moment but didn’t want to come off too strong. She wanted no regrets in the morning when life returned to normal and they went their separate ways.

“We have to get these off you.” Bristol flipped Annie so she was on her back. She wasn’t gentle when she pulled off the shorts. A thrill shook Annie from the inside out, and she quickly removed her tank top. Bristol knelt above her, looked at her, then back into her eyes. “You’re perfect. Absolute perfection.”

It was as though the clock had stopped and they were cocooned in this perfect moment. Bristol slowed everything. She kissed Annie softly on her mouth and made a trail of wet kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, and settled on one of her erect nipples. The pulsating pleasure Annie felt with every tug of Bristol’s mouth was almost unbearable. She grabbed Bristol’s clothes, desperate to feel her warm flesh against hers. It wasn’t fair that she was the only naked one in the room. Bristol got the hint and slid off the bed to strip.

Annie swallowed hard. Bristol was both hard and soft and the most beautiful woman Annie had ever seen. She pulled Bristol back between her legs and closed her eyes when Bristol kissed her way down to the apex of her thighs. Annie spread herself when she felt Bristol’s hot breath on the soft, sensitive skin above her clit. When Bristol’s lips pressed against her wet slit, Annie moaned over and over. She couldn’t speak. The euphoric feeling of Bristol’s mouth on her pussy was too much. She let the pressure build, and instead of focusing on slowing it down, she let it take over and explode. Bristol continued to lick and suck until Annie’s legs shook and she had to pull away. Annie curled up and hid her face in the crook of Bristol’s arm while she caught her breath. She didn’t know what to say after that explosive orgasm. Was she supposed to thank her?

Bristol pulled Annie closer into her arms. “Why are you hiding? Is it too bright in here for you?” Bristol asked.

Annie shook her head and looked at Bristol. “No. I like the light because I get to see every part of you this way.”

Bristol smiled and placed a small kiss on Annie’s lips. Annie wanted more. She sucked on Bristol’s bottom lip and slipped her hand between them to cup Bristol’s full breast. Bristol’s sharp intake only intensified Annie’s need to have more. She ran her thumb over Bristol’s erect nipple, wishing she could slide down and swirl her tongue over its hardness.

As if reading her mind, Bristol leaned up on her knees and elbows and gave Annie the space she craved. She wasted no time moving down Bristol’s body. Bristol moaned the lower Annie kissed, and when her head was between Bristol’s knees, she grabbed her hips and brought Bristol’s swollen pussy down onto her mouth. The pure sexiness of the moment almost made Annie cry. Bristol’s vulnerability and trust made her heart soar.

An unfamiliar, intense feeling burst inside as Annie held Bristol’s hips until she was at the right height for Annie to taste her. Bristol was warm and wet against Annie’s mouth. She swirled her tongue around Bristol’s swollen clit, gauging the right pressure from her sharp intakes of breath and loud moans. Bristol shook and shuddered when Annie slipped one finger inside. It was a difficult angle, but Annie needed to be inside her. She moaned at Bristol’s smooth, slick walls and how she tightened around Annie’s finger. The slow pump of her hips informed Annie to keep the pressure the same. She could tell Bristol was close. Her entire being vibrated with pleasure. This first orgasm was pure lust. It was figuring out the fastest way to give Bristol immediate pleasure. The next one would be slow after Annie touched every single part of Bristol’s beautiful body. She was going to take her time making love to her. Annie braced her free hand against Bristol’s hip as the orgasm worked its way through her. Bristol slowly rolled over and dropped to the mattress. Annie was immediately beside her, holding her until her shakes subsided. She couldn’t tell if the speeding heartbeat she felt against her chest was hers or Bristol’s.

“I…I don’t know what to say.” Bristol’s voice cracked.

Annie was speechless. She couldn’t describe what had just happened with words. She and Bristol were so in tune with one another that they completely skipped over the fumbling part of first-time lovers. Annie ran her fingers through Bristol’s hair. “You don’t have to say anything.”

“Bristol? Honey, are you home? Where are you?”

With almost no time to spare, Bristol pulled the covers up over them right before Vanessa sailed through the bedroom door in search of her daughter.

“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry,” Vanessa said before bolting back out of the room.

Bristol groaned and pulled the covers completely over her head. “That did not just happen.”

Annie was embarrassed but also had to laugh. She leaned over Bristol. “At least she didn’t walk in five minutes ago.”

Bristol groaned even harder. “Why is my mother here?”

Annie pressed her lips against her shoulder. “She’s probably just making sure you made it home okay.”

“Well, now she knows I’m home and not alone.”

“We’re all adults here. Come on. Let’s get up and say hi. The sooner she knows you’re okay, the sooner she’ll leave us alone,” Annie said.

“Fine.”

Neither one moved. “I’m going to need something else to wear. I mean, the tank and hoodie are fine, but the shorts are…well, I’m just going to need something else,” Annie said.

Bristol turned so she could look at Annie. “I’ll get you another pair.” She leaned up and placed a hard, fast kiss on Annie’s lips. “You’re right. The sooner we greet her, the sooner she’ll leave.” She stood and reached for Annie. “Let’s find you something to wear for the next fifteen minutes.”

Annie smiled at Bristol’s enthusiasm. Tomorrow would be a different story, but they had at least twelve hours ahead to remind them that it was okay to take chances and the future was never set in stone.