Chapter Twenty-Two

JULIA TRACED LAZY circles over Nüwa’s skin. “I love touching you.”

Nüwa rested her hand on Julia’s shoulder. “I’m spoiling you. Your next Mistress will wonder what the hell kind of training you had.”

Julia flattened her palm against the gentle curve of Nüwa’s belly. “Who says there will be a next one?” She pushed herself to sitting. “Why do you assume that?”

Nüwa rubbed Julia’s arm. Her eyes were dark, her brow furrowed. “There are many reasons to think why this wonderful moment in time might evaporate. I’m not trying to spoil the mood but assuming I’m your forever person…” Nüwa’s gaze left Julia’s face as she folded her hands together. Her withdrawal palpable.

“Look at me, please.” Julia touched Nüwa’s chin.

Nüwa lifted her gaze to Julia’s face.

Julia pulled her hands apart and laced their fingers together. “Whatever happens between us, I will always treasure this time with you. And I want to believe we have a future together. I’m not naive. I know there will be challenges, but I’m able to be myself with you more than anyone I’ve ever been with.”

Nüwa lifted her hand and brushed the hair back from Julia’s face. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I may never be able to be out in the world as I was. I don’t want you tied to someone who can’t be with you, or for you to be tied down. You have a bright, bright future ahead of you as an artist. Don’t waste your talents building things for people who don’t appreciate your gifts.”

“You were fine at the opening, until he showed up.” Julia held Nüwa’s gaze.

Nüwa’s eyes glittered. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me you believed me.”

“I saw him, and even if I hadn’t, I would have believed you.”

Nüwa lifted her arm. “Come here.”

Julia settled against Nüwa’s shoulder. Nüwa wrapped her arms around Julia and held tight. “Whatever happens between us, I will always cherish this moment, and you.”

 

AFTER TWO WEEKS of waking up with Julia, even if it was an ungodly hour, Nüwa was calmer than she had been in years. Their days settled into a routine. After Julia left for work, Nüwa would start her day with exercising, then work at the piano, nap after lunch followed by a trip to the maze with her book. Late afternoon was for preparing dinner and making plans for what delicious things she would do to Julia once she arrived home. Home.

Nüwa sipped her coffee as she stared unseeing out of the window. Could they make a home together? Her maze walks had been going well. No panic attacks. And she had even been playing around with composing, something she had always wanted to do, but had put off as she pursued performing. Now she had time. For so many things.

Julia had completed her work on the terrace wall last week. Nüwa keenly missed their banter and conversations while Julia repaired the wall. The afternoon promised more rain, and Julia had been firm in her resolve to getting as much done on repairing the plaza of the maze before the bad weather made it impossible.

A sliver of guilt wormed its way under Nüwa’s skin. She really shouldn’t interrupt Julia—the weather was already wreaking havoc on her schedule—but when would they have this kind of opportunity again? This morning, Nüwa would indulge herself. Indulge them both.

Nüwa placed her coffee cup on the counter and crossed the apartment. She yanked open the bedside cabinet. After their first night together, she had moved most of the contents of her toy box to the nightstand.

The vision of a scene rose in her mind as she studied her options. Nüwa tossed her boy short harness and favorite dildo into a canvas tote bag, along with a small bottle of lube. After closing the cabinet, Nüwa inspected the contents of the nightstand drawer, trailing her fingers over the silver nipple clips with delicate silver chain before she added them to the bag.

After brushing her teeth, Nüwa checked herself in the mirror before she left the bathroom. She selected her favorite pale-blue peignoir. Once she had tied it closed, she eyed her favorite red pumps. The ground was soggy, the rain turning it into a giant sponge. How to get across the lawn without breaking an ankle? Nüwa added a small towel to the tote bag before she hooked her pumps over her fingers. Barefoot would have to do until she reached the cobblestones.

Nüwa exited the door leading to the yard. Humid air surrounded her; the grass was dewy. She picked her way across the lawn and paused at the entrance to the maze. Her feet were wet. The stones were warm under her feet. Nüwa dried her feet before stepping into her pumps. Making her way carefully over the worn slick cobbles, Nüwa followed the path to the heart of the maze.

Nüwa entered the center court. Julia was bent over an open section of the cobbles using the tip of a spade to pry up the broken stones, her face a mask of concentration.

“Good morning,” Nüwa called as she crossed to Julia.

Julia set the shovel aside, leaning it against the bench. She wiped her hands on her pants. “Look at you. Good morning, yourself.”

Nüwa spun in a slow circle. The filmy material of the gown floated around her. “You like it?”

“You are a vision.” Julia crossed to her. She lifted Nüwa’s hand to her mouth and kissed the back of it. “Mistress.” She held Nüwa’s gaze as she sank to her knees.

Nüwa touched the top of Julia’s head. “I didn’t get to say goodbye properly this morning.”

“No, Mistress?” The corner of Julia’s mouth lifted as a sly grin spread across her face.

“No.” Nüwa pulled her hand free from Julia’s grip. “Stand for me.”

Julia rose and stood in front of Nüwa.

“Hands on your head.”

Julia lifted her hands, knotted them together, and rested them on her head. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as Nüwa gripped the bottom of Julia’s T-shirt. She lifted it, teased her fingers over the warm skin of her belly. Nüwa studied Julia’s eyes as she circled her fingers lower. Julia gasped when she slipped a finger under the waistband of her shorts. Flattening her palms, Nüwa rested her hands on Julia’s hips, stroked her thumbs over her curves. Nüwa shifted, turned them so that Julia’s legs were backed up to the wall surrounding the pond. Nüwa stepped back. “Strip.”

Julia blinked. A visible shiver shook her body as she unbuttoned her pants. “Yes, Mistress.”

Nüwa crossed her arms. She kept her Mistress mask firmly in place as Julia revealed the toned and muscular curvy body Nüwa had come to think of as hers. Was she? Would Julia commit? Did Nüwa want her to?

Julia folded her clothes and set them atop the low wall around the pond. Nüwa crossed the cobbles. Julia’s hands were trembling at her side. Her nipples stood out from her full breasts. Nüwa cupped a breast, thumbed the nipple, all the while watching Julia’s face.

The subtle flare of heat in Julia’s eyes and the quickening of her breath ignited Nüwa’s desire. Nüwa squeezed Julia’s hand once before she released her. “Turn around and brace your hands on the wall of the pond.”

Julia obeyed. “Like this, Mistress?” Her arms flexed where she supported herself.

“Exactly like that. Eyes closed.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Nüwa stepped away from Julia and placed the bag on the bench. After slipping her robe and gown off, she pulled on the harness and added the toy. Her nipples hardened and her clit ached. The thrill of being naked with Julia in the open, even though there was no chance of being discovered, ramped up her need. Nüwa closed the distance between them. She leaned over Julia. In the still water of the pond, their faces were reflected. Nüwa rubbed her hands over Julia’s back, smoothing her palms over the hard tense muscles. “Mm, I love the way you look like this. Like you’re waiting for something.”

Nüwa wrapped her arms around Julia, clasped both breasts, rolled the nipples between her fingers. Julia groaned.

“No. Open your eyes, keep them open. I want to watch you.” Nüwa tugged sharply.

Julia’s eyes opened wide, locked onto Nüwa’s gaze reflected in the pond. “Yes, Mistress. Sorry, Mistress.”

“No need to apologize.” Nüwa kept one hand on Julia’s breast, lowered the other, slipped between the wet heat between Julia’s thick thighs. “Spread your legs.”

Julia shifted her feet, opening herself to Nüwa.

Slick heat and the delicious scent of desire rose around them. Nüwa stroked her fingers over Julia’s fat clit. “So hard for me. What were you thinking about before I arrived?” Nüwa held her gaze as she fluttered her fingers over Julia’s clit.

Julia’s eyes dilated with pleasure as she met Nüwa’s gaze. “Last night.”

Nüwa sighed with pleasure as more liquid heat coated her fingers. “What part? Tell me.”

Julia flushed, her skin a dark pink from her collarbones to her hairline. Nüwa wanted to press her lips to her hot skin.

“You fucking me, Mistress.” Julia’s words faded out on a groan as Nüwa jacked her clit.

“You liked that.”

“So much, Mistress.”

Nüwa shifted her hips, brought the toy she had strapped to press against Julia.

Julia tensed under her. “Oh, Mistress.” Her breathy words flowed over Nüwa like silk.

“I brought lube. I don’t think we need it. Do you?” Nüwa thrust her fingers inside the flowing well of desire between Julia’s legs.

“No, Mistress.” Julia trembled under her hands.

Nüwa used her other hand to tease the toy between Julia’s legs, watching the play of desire over her face, reflected in the water. Nüwa eased the tip of the shaft between Julia’s slick labia. Julia’s eyes flashed with heat. She shifted her hips back, seeking more.

“Be still.” Nüwa tugged Julia’s clit.

Julia stilled under her. Nüwa pushed forward, taking her time, jacking Julia’s clit slowly as she entered her inch by wicked inch.

“More. Oh, please Mistress. All of it. More, please.” Julia’s frenzied voice echoed off the water.

Nüwa stopped. “No.” She paused her forward progress, slowed her attentions to Julia’s clit. “Who is in charge of your pleasure?”

“You are, Mistress,” Julia ground out, her face a mask of pleasure and misery.

“Who do you belong to?” Fear clawed at Nüwa as she waited for Julia’s response.

Julia’s eyes sharpened as she pierced Nüwa’s heart with her gaze. “You. Only you, Mistress.”

“All of you? Body, heart, and soul?”

“All of it, Mistress. Let me be yours, please.” Julia never looked away from Nüwa’s face. Her pupils blown wide, the hazel color of her eyes was a bare rim around the dark pools in the center.

Nüwa pressed forward, filling Julia all at once, and jacked her clit. “Come for me.”

Julia’s mouth opened wide. She howled and shook as she came for Nüwa, eyes wide as she gave Nüwa everything she had to give.

Nüwa released her clit, latched both hands on Julia’s hips and fucked her, clit rubbing against the base of the toy with each stroke. She held Julia’s gaze in the pond reflection. “Come as you wish,” Nüwa ground out as she shattered, her hips jerking as she came. Julia cried out. Their gazes met. Their pledge sealed with their gifts of pleasure to each other. Nüwa bowed over Julia’s back, kissed her neck, then her mouth as Julia turned her head.

Nüwa lost herself in Julia’s soft groans and kisses. She eased free of Julia’s body and sat on top of her folded clothes. “Come here.”

Julia released her grip on the wall, eyed the toy. “On top of you, Mistress?”

“Yes. Now.” Nüwa grabbed Julia’s arm and tugged, unable to tolerate the distance between them.

Julia moved closer, lifted her leg, and straddled Nüwa. She clasped the shaft in one hand and lowered herself slowly. The pressure and visual of the toy slowly disappearing as Julia sank down on it threatened Nüwa’s control. Panting, she wrapped her arms around Julia. Julia’s legs circled her waist, her heels pressing against Nüwa’s back.

Nüwa pistoned her hips and caught Julia’s nipple in her mouth. She sucked hard, raking her teeth over the tip.

“May I ride you, Mistress, please?”

Nüwa released Julia’s nipple, controlled her breathing, focused on Julia’s expression, and stilled her movements. “Yes.”

Julia rose and lowered herself, rocked her hips as she rode Nüwa. Julia bent her head, licked and sucked Nüwa’s nipples as she did. Nüwa’s pleasure twined and spun out between them. Their mutual groans and low growls of delight were loud in the quiet of the maze. A sensation of her broken and scattered bits and pieces coming together even as she shattered under Julia’s attention settled over Nüwa. Home. She was home.