It felt strange to wake up in Maggie's arms. Hell, it felt strange to wake up in anyone's arms. The last six months' worth of mornings had found me either on the couch, the floor, or -- for almost a week -- in the backyard with a chain around my neck. It was disorienting to feel flesh on my flesh and not to flinch.
She smiled and rubbed at her eyes, "Good morning, sunshine."
Something about her voice was inviting, so instead of bolting like my guts warned me, I snuggled a little closer. I forced a bit of smile and answered, "That's something I've never been called." Her fingers brushed back my thick black hair and slid down my shoulder, the stark whiteness of her skin disappearing under the sheets.
I felt her breasts touch mine and her dark blue eyes softened. "I supposed that's right," she said. Tiny crows' feet appeared when her smile faded. "But I happen to think you're beautiful in the morning." Her fingers slid around my hip to the small of my back so that the heel of her hand pulled me a bit closer.
"Actually, I think you're beautiful all the time."
My face burned with shame. I knew I wasn't beautiful. Even my husband had quit saying that shortly after our wedding day. My hands, clasped between my knees, suddenly felt like they were made of clay. Looking away, I slid one hand up between us and then under the big pillow I was resting on. The back of my hand slid over her nipple and I felt it swell suddenly at my touch. She smiled again, and slid a bit closer.
"Would you be offended if I kissed you, Louise?" she asked very softly. My thighs shivered as my eyes met hers. One of her nipples rubbed across one of mine, and it tightened so quickly that I felt my lips part. I was breathless, my heart racing until I could hear the blood rushing through my ears.
She moved her mouth to mine slowly, tenderly. Every muscle in my body tightened when her lips barely whispered against mine. Her perfume filled my head with the scent of lilacs as the tip of her tongue dabbed against the inner edge of my upper lip. "Relax, Louise," she whispered, "It's only a kiss."