THE MORNING SUN WOKE Liz. Her bedside clock read eight-thirty, and she wondered how she had slept so late. Before she went to the toilet, she peeked around to Monty’s bed. She was still asleep. Wonder when she went to her bed? She thought Monty had fallen asleep next to her, but realized it was she who fell asleep next to Monty. Liz was sore. Not from her hike, and not from holding the shiplap or wall studs. She smiled and lightly pressed between her legs to verify the soft tissue bruises.
After making coffee, Liz sat for a moment in the quiet, wondering what Monty would do when she finished the new room project. Liz had assumed Monty would be off to find work elsewhere, but Monty had no tools of her own. She had no other place to live. Has she even thought of those details?
Liz decided to wake her. Monty had left the door open, which she didn’t usually do. Unsure if that was an invitation or an oversight, Liz opted for invitation. She wouldn’t be able to slide into the inflatable twin mattress without jostling Monty about. Liz put her hand on Monty’s shoulder and asked softly at Monty’s ear, “May I join you?” Monty pulled at her as if to say yes. Liz slid in with her back against Monty’s front, and Monty wrapped both arms around her, hugging her closely. The rhythm of Monty’s breathing indicated she was dozing in and out of consciousness.
Liz turned in Monty’s arms and faced her. “I could get used to this.” Liz whispered, as she gently squeezed Monty’s biceps. She wasn’t sure if Monty was awake.
“You can’t,” Monty whispered back. “I have to pee. Then I have to paint.”
Liz pretended to cry with soft whimpers.
Monty abruptly flipped her onto her back. They both bounced back and forth. Monty laughed out loud. She relaxed her body onto Liz enough to make her arch. Monty leaned her face down and softly pressed her lips into a luscious kiss. “You feel so good. Warm. Soft…I really need to get up.”
Monty bolted out of the bed. She leaned and kissed Liz again.
“I think you could lure me back, but don’t,” Monty said softly.
Liz thought a cold shower might be in her near future.
* * * *
Monty spent most of the day priming all the walls and the ceiling. She would have to let it dry for several hours before applying another coat. She showered, dressed in her nice clothes, put on her coat, and went out to the swing for a while.
She stood in the afternoon sun’s beam and stretched, then reached in the storage bench and pulled out a moving blanket. Folded double, the thick blanket made a nice pad on the porch floor. After smoothing the wrinkles, she stretched out like a cat, soaking in the warmth.
* * * *
Liz had been watching from one of the chairs inside. It wasn’t long before it seemed Monty was sleeping. I’m falling hard for this one. Monty was funny, sweet, beautiful, and clever. Anyone who could read Tolstoy wasn’t all bad. Monty didn’t just read, she actually gleaned meaning from the dialogue that fit real life situations. Liz felt Monty’s use of the quote about respect and love had not been off target.
After a few minutes, Monty sat and held her knees to her chest. Liz was caught watching her, when Monty glanced toward the window. Liz pressed two fingers to her lips and kissed them. She gave Monty a little smile, then closed her eyes with her fingers still held to her lips. When Liz opened her eyes, she saw Monty had dropped her head with a smile. Her fair skin was unable to hide the blush rising on her cheeks. She looked away, rocking slowly, with her chin on her knee.
Liz melted inside. “This one.” She wasn’t sure if she said it aloud or to herself. What am I going to do? I can hardly function right now. She forced herself to begin supper preparations, but she kept making mistakes and absentmindedly putting things in the wrong places. Eventually, she prepared light hors d’oeuvres and poured wine, mainly because she had burned the quiche.
Monty came inside and took her coat off.
“Wow. You dressed up for dinner,” Liz said. “You look nice.”
“What burned?” Monty asked. “And thank you.”
“You…I…I’m addled. I lost my concentration,” Liz tried to explain. “Let’s just eat, okay?”
They sat at the island, snacking. Mostly, they were both drinking wine.
“I’m not used to wine yet,” Monty admitted. “I feel pretty tipsy.”
Liz nodded and took a slug from her glass. Why am I drinking so much? Liz wondered if Monty thought the same.
“The living room’s looking good, Monty,” Liz said. “You’ve done a really nice job in there. The whole thing. You know?”
“I am pretty proud of it, really. I had to paint today. I decided if I didn’t shower and put on something nice, I’d probably go right on painting. I think I have a lot of nervous energy right now. Too much. I think I’m...” Monty trailed off.
“Don’t be frightened,” Liz said softly. “I say that, but I think that’s why I burned the quiche. I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. And maybe not ever. Not like this.”
“Never. Not ever. Nothing like this…ever.” Monty was trembling.
Liz rose from the barstool and turned to pull Monty into her arms. Her hand guided Monty’s face, and she leaned in to kiss her. Monty responded. She slid one arm around Liz’s shoulder and another around her waist. She pulled Liz and stood. In a close embrace, their lips touched softly. Liz could feel that Monty was still trembling.
“Come with me. Let’s just take it slowly,” Liz whispered in Monty’s ear and led her to bed.
“I…um…I don’t feel in control. It scares me.”
Liz positioned herself between Monty’s legs and felt her shudder. Monty sighed into Liz’s mouth. Shudders and sighs continued, as Liz softly brushed her lips across Monty’s ear.
“What feels good to you?” Liz asked softly.
“You. All of you.” Monty was softly rocking with Liz. “Let me feel you. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
“I will,” Liz whispered in Monty’s ear. “Trust me.” As they kissed again, Liz repeated softly into Monty’s mouth, “Trust me.” Liz buried her face into Monty’s neck, breathing softly and letting her lips caress soft skin. Monty continued arching her hips rhythmically to find her, sighing audibly with Liz’s teasing. Liz lowered her head into Monty’s cleavage, and strong hands clasped across her back. Liz shifted her lips to Monty’s breast and teased her nipple with her tongue. The quaking in Monty’s body came with a low moan. Liz slid back to Monty’s mouth and kissed her deeply. Monty continued writhing.
“I want to feel you,” Liz whispered. She reached to find Monty’s zipper, and Monty let her unbutton and unzip. Monty pulled at Liz’s jeans, but Liz brought those eager hands to her own breasts, then guided them around her neck.
“Hold me.” Liz slipped her hand inside Monty’s pants and lightly stroked through her boy shorts.
Monty tried to curl her hips to find more pressure from Liz. Monty’s response had Liz on the verge of ecstasy, and she met Monty’s thrusts.
“May I undress myself and undress you?” Liz pleaded.
Monty nodded, continuing to meet whatever part of Liz was touching her.
Liz pushed open Monty’s shirt and slid it off, then pulled the tank top over her head. As she dropped her mouth back to a tender breast, Monty whimpered. Liz slid her hands into Monty’s jeans and pulled them down her hips. Liz loved looking at Monty in her shorts, but she pulled them down anyway.
“Watch me, don’t close your eyes,” Liz whispered and kissed her again.
Liz slid her own jeans and panties off first. She pressed against Monty’s naked softness.
Monty sighed, closing her eyes.
“Stay with me. I want you to watch me,” Liz said.
Monty obeyed.
Liz slid her blouse off as she rocked against Monty. She guided Monty’s hands to help her pull off her bra, and then put Monty’s hands back on her breasts as she continued to rock against her. Liz suspended herself on top of Monty, teasing her. She let Monty pull her down and made sure Monty could feel every part of her body.
Monty moaned again and her rocking grew faster.
“You may want to slow down. I want you to come,” Liz whispered into Monty’s ear.
Monty did not slow herself. Liz had to pull herself off a little to see where Monty was in the process. When Monty whimpered and tried to connect them again, Liz pressed herself against Monty to bathe in the increasing intensity. Liz was on the verge of climax but was trying to stay present and savor Monty’s response.
Monty called out softly and began shuddering in soft, jerking motions.
Liz could no longer control her movements. She pulled Monty’s knees apart and pressed her sex on to Monty. Both Monty and Liz were now at climax. Liz allowed herself to enjoy Monty’s soft, warm, wetness as her own pulsing subsided. Monty pulled her legs down, and Liz breathed into Monty’s ear.
“God, you feel good.” Monty shuddered as she pulled Liz closer. She continued to rock against Liz. “Don’t stop yet…please,” Monty said.
Liz slid back to Monty’s breast and lightly sucked as she circled her tongue around the nipple. Monty’s breathing was in short gasps and moans. Liz dropped her mouth between Monty’s legs. Monty lightly pressed Liz’s head and moved her hips to meet Liz’s mouth. Liz’s tongue softly teased, moving back and forth with Monty’s movements. Monty groaned and Liz could feel her pulsing. They held one another, as Monty’s spasms continued. Monty guided Liz’s mouth to her own, and Liz tasted the saltiness of tears. She put her hand to Monty’s cheek. Monty was crying, but softly.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know. I think so. I didn’t know it could feel like this.” Monty was sobbing. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why—”
“Shh,” Liz kissed Monty again. “It’s okay. Really okay. It’s a release.”
“You feel like…like I don’t know what,” Monty said softly, then she chuckled. “That makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Liz said. “Now kiss me, please,” she whispered, nibbling Monty’s ear softly.
“You have to stop that,” Monty trembled and whispered into Liz’s mouth. They kissed again, deeply.
Liz moaned into Monty’s mouth.
“You don’t have to stop that,” Liz whispered. Liz rocked softly against Monty again. “Don’t stop that.”