This is the first time I've written a collaborative story. Thank you to AlohaSheila who helped hone and perfect it. Yes, of course she is Sheila in our story. If there is any interest in it we will work on part two.
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It was Tuesday morning and I had decided to go to my favourite cafe for a coffee and a slice of their delicious carrot cake. I'd taken my laptop with me in the hopes that the change of scene would help me get closer to completing my current book. My fiancΓ©e, Jodie, was out of town, away giving one of her seminars again. She'd left the previous morning and wouldn't be back until later that evening. Sitting alone in my home office would have just highlighted how much I was missing her, and just added to the guilt about not finishing the last section of the book I was writing...
I was sitting there, looking at three lines, each a variation of the same sentence. Over and over, I tried to phrase and rephrase it so that it felt right and worked well as part of the conclusion to the surrounding story.
The line in question was either going to be:
"I shuddered as she took my nipple into her mouth."
"As she took my nipple into her mouth a surge flooded through me."
Or "I was suddenly aware of a flood of lust running through me as she took my nipple into her mouth."
An odd thing to be worrying about, I know, but I really needed to complete this section to my satisfaction and have it ready for submission to my Agent, Karen, as quickly as possible. I sat there, staring at all three sentences on my screen, trying to make sure I picked one that I felt worked best with the mood I had struggled to create.
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The reason for my feeling of urgency was fuelled by events earlier that morning. I'd just showered and was slipping into my grey silk dressing gown when I heard my mobile ringing in the kitchen. Hoping it was Jodie, I hurried through and my heart sank when I saw that the caller ID said 'Karen.' Not that I don't love my Agent to bits, I really do, but I knew what she was calling about and didn't want to talk to her about my rapidly approaching deadline - again. But I knew I couldn't keep putting this off for too much longer.
I swiped to answer.
"Karen! How are things?"
I heard a sigh on the other end, "You haven't finished it have you?"
I swallowed. She always makes me feel a little like a naughty schoolgirl.
"I'm close babe. Really close. End of the week."
I heard another sigh. I was disappointing her again.
"Anna, darling." she slowly began," It's been going to be the third month of 'end of the week'. I've got the publishers phoning me every day. I'm trying to keep them off your back. You do know that, don't you? But I've been promising them a completed manuscript of 'Olivia' for so long now. I just can't keep them at bay forever.
"Look, you know they loved those three chapters and the synopsis. They're being incredibly patient, but babe I really need you to do this for me."
I felt guilty. I always feel guilty when I have to be reminded of deadlines to be met. When I started writing I thought it would all be cheese and wine parties and I would have all the time in the world. It's really not that easy.
"I know Karen. I know. I'm sorry. It's just that Jodie's away and..."
"Well that's perfect then isn't it?" she interrupted, "It stops you from being distracted." I could almost see the small smile on her lips as she spoke, "Be honest Anna. How much is left?"
I thought about lying, but decided that if I was honest I might be able to buy more time.
"It's really just the last chapter. I keep getting stuck when I go back over the rest of the book. I keep wanting to change little details, and that means..."
She interrupted me again. "Anna, we've been over this. Stop tweaking. Finish the last chapter. They have editors for all that kind of thing."
The thought of someone touching my own words made me feel physically sick. They are me, my thoughts, my ideas. They are intimate. Personal.
"I just don't want them to butcher it, Karen..."
"I know. They won't. You will have ultimate editorial control. I promise. Just, please, write the last chapter and send it to me. How many more words do you think?"
"About eight thousand or so," I said. This was pretty much true, I knew exactly where the story was heading and how long it would take to get there. The problem was that the last chapter was going to be the most emotionally heart rending to write, which was why I was sort of scared of it.
"Anna, I know you can write eight thousand words in less than a day. Please honey. For me? And you? Once it's done and sent out you will feel so much better. When you send it to me, I'm coming down there and I'm taking you and Jodie out for a big celebration dinner. Anything and anywhere you want."
I swallowed and did something I thought I might regret. I made a promise.
"Okay. I promise. I'll write it today and proof it tomorrow morning. You'll have it by lunchtime."
"Pinkie promise?"
Karen is American, hence the odd way to get me to commit.
"Pinkie promise."
"Okay. I'll call tomorrow at two if I haven't got it."
"Great. Thanks Karen. Love you to bits, you know that."
I heard a rueful chuckle, "You sometimes have an odd way of showing it, babe. Okay, bye until tomorrow. And say 'Hi' to Jodie for me when you see her."
"I will. Thanks again babe."
With that I cut the call and put the phone back down on the counter.
'Right,' I thought to myself, 'Get on with it Anna.'
I went through to our bedroom, removed my dressing gown, hanging it on the hook at the back of the door, and now naked, opened the wardrobe to find something to wear. I decided on my V-neck, grey shift blouse. It has dark pink and green flower embroidery down the front and is a little translucent with half length sleeves. I love it because it's comfortable and slightly revealing, without showing too much. I picked out my plaid skirt which is blocks of blue, red and a grey that matches the top.. It's cut just above mid-thigh, which Jodie says she prefers on me, usually saying something like, "Gotta show your pins, Posh. One of your best features."
Posh is short for 'Posh Bird,' her pet nickname for me. Mine for her is 'Cockney Sparrow' because of her slight London accent.
I smiled at the thought of her as I gathered the clothing and placing the clothes on the bed, I went to my underwear drawer and picked out a matching bra and pantie set in a dark grey that I knew would work perfectly under the blouse.
I had to write my last chapter, which was going to have an erotic culmination for Olivia, so I took a moment to sit on the edge of the bed, closed my eyes and walked through the main scene in my head. As I did this I felt familiar stirrings between my legs. I lay back and let my hand wander down my body, picturing the scene in my head and lightly stroked my clit, which was already quite proudly pushing against its hood.
As my excitement grew I started pressing and rubbing harder and I could feel my orgasm building. I sped up and felt the surge start in my pussy, the warmth spreading from there until suddenly I was cumming, that wonderful feeling of release and lightheadedness whirling around me. I moaned out loud as it ran through me. I love little quickies like that and I knew it would set me up properly for the writing to come.
Once I was rested, I dressed, fixed my hair and makeup, grabbed my laptop and shoulder bag and headed down to the coffee shop.