Chapter 19

JJ watched the retreating form of Cory: she hadn’t envisioned the evening ending this way but she needed to know that Cory had thought carefully about this. She’d been through enough shit with Tina, had given her heart away and it had been used and abused and returned shattered and beyond repair, or so she’d thought. She knew her feelings for Cory went deeper than any others she’d ever had, and she truly believed she’d come home; found her pearl in a sea of oysters but could she risk it all again? Tina had been convinced she was gay and then she’d gone off with a guy, but JJ also knew what she saw in Cory’s eyes was true friendship and hopefully love.

She’d known from that first email, from the many emails. It seemed bizarre and if someone else had told her she’d fall in love over the Internet she’d have laughed in their face but it was true, love at first sight was possible and now she was facing her past and her future. She paid the bill and headed towards the tiny bar, a few beers would mellow her out and Cory was sure to return.

JJ pulled up a stool at the bar, she didn’t fancy sitting all alone. The bar tender was a cute red head. JJ managed to catch her eye and received an acknowledging smile.

“Hey there,” drawled the bar tender in a distinct American accent.

“Hey yourself, nice to meet a fellow American.” JJ replied.

“It’s good to meet someone who knows the difference between an American and a Canadian. I feel like getting a sticker pinned to my chest and then maybe people will notice!”

JJ raised an eyebrow, looked amusingly at the woman’s rather buxom chest and grinned, “Oh they’d notice all right!” This gained her a lighthearted slap on the wrist.

“Why ma’am you say the sweetest thing.” The bar tender mimicked in her best Dolly Parton accent, “What can I offer you today?” She wiggled her eyebrows back in return, she liked the tall woman’s sense of humour; in fact she just liked the look of the woman period.

JJ blushed, “I’ll have a beer and one for yourself.” She offered her hand to the woman, “My name’s JJ Matthews and you would be?”

“Sandra Masters, but everyone calls me Sandy.” They shook hands. “Would that be a half or a pint of beer?”

“Can I have a bottle?” JJ asked pointing to the glass refrigerators at the back of the bar.

“Sorry my bad, I assumed you meant you wanted bitter as most British people call bitter beer. I should’ve known. How about a Bud?”

“Sure,” replied JJ. The heat from the open fire was beginning to have its affect on JJ and she peeled off her sweater.

Sandy placed the chilled bottle in front of JJ and sipped a glass of coke. “Thanks for the drink, I’ll have something a little stronger later, house rules no drinking on the job. So do you play ice hockey or are you just a fan of the game?”

JJ looked a little surprised, “Both, how did you know I like hockey? Is it written on my face?”

“More like your chest. Nice t shirt.”

JJ slapped her forehead, “I’d forgotten I had this on!” Her t-shirt was white with the slogan ‘Give Blood. Play Ice Hockey’. She went on to explain, “I needed a white shirt to go under my top, this was the only clean one left! As for hockey I love it; I played in college, I got a scholarship. Without that my parents would never have been able to afford it. Right now I play for a local team, we have a lot of fun and it keeps me out of trouble, I think.”

Sandy signaled to a passing waiter, “Hey Mike I’m gonna take my break now, can you cover for me?” She turned her attention back to JJ. “Don’t mind if I spend it talking to you do you? It’s not often I get chance to talk about my favourite sport. So how long have you played? How did you get into the sport?”

JJ looked round the room. There was still no sign of Cory, and she hoped she hadn’t scared the girl off. Her hands were sweaty from nerves; she’d never spoken from her heart like she had earlier. She wasn’t usually one for heart to hearts and now she found herself desperate to have one, desperate to know whether she had a chance with Cory. She needed a distraction and Sandy seemed genuinely interested in the topic, she wasn’t using it as a pick up line. JJ relaxed a little and sucked on the cold drink in front of her.

“I’ve been playing for what seems like forever. I remember as a kid watching TV when the Boston Bruins, my hometown team, were on. My poor father, I would ask him question after question after question. He probably never got to see a full game. He was patient and explained everything to me. I started playing street hockey with the kids in the neighborhood. I had always wanted to play but there weren’t any teams for girls. One day my father was reading the paper and there was an ad in it to start a local team for girls. He didn’t have to ask me twice. That was when I was like 10 or so and the rest they say is history. So where in our land of the free do you come from?”

Sandy smiled, “Way out west, I’m from Colorado, the Avalanche is my team.”

“Oh I know of the Avalanche, they went and stole Ray Bourque.”

“Hey he came willingly we didn’t have to steal him!”

“I was just kidding, well about the stolen part anyway. He was my favourite player and I wasn’t the only one who was crushed when he left but really who can blame the guy, twenty years in the league and not one championship. With the way the current management is running the team it will be at least another twenty before they do.

“What position do you play?”

“I play defense just like Ray Bourque.”

“I am a huge fan of the game but having lived here for the past two years I haven’t seen too much on the TV. I am very much out of the loop on all the American sports.”

JJ finished her beer and asked Sandy for another. She didn’t normally drink much but her throat kept going dry and her body was racked with nerves.

Sandy went to pour a drink for another guest and JJ looked around to see if Cory had changed her mind.

“So how long you here for? You on your own?”

JJ turned back to the bar disappointed that Cory hadn’t returned. ‘Give the girl a break this is an important decision. Chill!’ “I’m sorry what did you say?”

“I asked how long you’re here for? You look all alone and I’m not usually this forward but if you’re stuck for things to do I’m free later tonight.”

JJ smiled, “I’m here until Saturday morning and thanks for the offer but I’m not alone, my friend Cory went back to our room for a while.” She’d dropped in the 'our' part of the conversation intentionally in the hope Sandy would pick up on it.

“Oh well it was worth a try, you just looked like someone who likes to have fun. So is your friend American?”

“No Cory’s English, we met online a few months ago. We met last Sunday for the first time and we get on well. She’s showing me more of the sights of London tomorrow.”

The bar was very quiet, and the girls spent the next hour getting to know one another. They ended up talking about life, and a heated discussion about how the professional athletes in America were very overpaid. Neither noticed the diminutive blonde watching from the doorway, neither of them noticed her watching the slight touch of hands on arms and raucous laughter and neither of them noticed as the obviously upset woman slipped quietly away, tears streaming down her eyes.

As Sandy’s shift drew to an end she glanced around. “Your friend hasn’t arrived yet, are you sure I can’t interest you in a tour of the local area?”

“No I think I ought to go and look for her,” JJ was a little disappointed that Cory hadn’t shown, she’d wanted to go and look for her but she’d promised to give Cory the space she obviously needed.

“You okay? You look like you’ve lost something valuable?”

JJ thought about that comment. Had she? Had she lost Cory forever? Had she pushed her too hard? “I think I may have, thanks for a great conversation and showing me true American hospitality it was nice to see a friendly face. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night before I leave.”

Sandy shook JJ’s hand and then held onto it, “I hope you and your friend sort out your differences, your eyes light up when you talk about her you know.”

JJ blushed, “That obvious, huh?”

“That obvious, my friend!” The smaller of the two leaned in and kissed JJ on the cheek. “My loss, all the good lookers are taken!”

JJ wandered dejectedly down the corridor, she had no idea whether Cory would still be up; she pushed the door to their room open, she'd only had a couple of beers but her head felt giddy and her heart was pounding. She'd found Sandy very entertaining and quite pretty but she didn't fancy her, much to Sandy's disappointment. There was only one woman for JJ and she was tucked up in their bed.

JJ stared at Cory, she was on her side huddled into a tight ball, she had no idea what possessed her but she was suddenly on the bed, or to be precise on top of Cory.

Cory woke with a jolt, her heart was racing and there was a large body holding her down. She panicked and tried to kick out.

“Hey, hey it’s me calm down.”

“For Christ’s sake JJ you scared the living daylights out of me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t think you were asleep I thought you were pretending.”

Cory licked her lips and tried to shake the sleep from her eyes and mouth. “Well I can assure you I was asleep; I wasn’t expecting you back tonight.”

JJ sat up, slightly off Cory and looked into her eyes; they were half closed but she noticed the puffiness around them. “Hold on. What do you mean? I was waiting for you all night in the bar, you never showed up.”

Cory mumbled something against JJ’s neck.

“You’re going to have to speak up love.”

“I did turn up but you seemed otherwise engaged with the bar staff.”

JJ pulled Cory closer to her and shook her head, “Cory, Cory, Cory what am I going to do with you? I was talking to Sandy about Ice Hockey, America and the wrongs of the World. She’s a bartender and American; all bartenders listen to the woes of their patrons. She listened well and kept me entertained while I waited for you.”

Cory suddenly felt embarrassed she’d taken two and two and made five. She tried to hide under the covers, but was prevented by JJ’s body lying flat on top of hers. Their eyes were mere centimetres away, their breath mingling, Cory stared into cool ice blue eyes; she’d never seen eyes so cold.

“You thought I was hitting on Sandy? Do you really think I’m that shallow? Express my innermost feelings and then go and try to bed another.” She went to move off Cory.

Cory wrapped her arms round the body, knowing that if JJ really wanted to leave she could but hoping the gesture would keep her there. “I’m sorry, I guess my insecurities showed themselves. I’m so sorry, I'm way too sensitive sometimes, I never truly believe in my own self worth, I think my time with Sam has done damage to my ego and the thought of someone actually wanting me seems wrong. I went to the bar and I didn’t know what to do. I jumped to conclusions, she kept touching your arm and you were laughing and joking. She was flirting with you.”

“That’s just it babe, she was flirting with me, I wasn’t returning the gesture.” She moved her hand up to wipe away a tear that had begun to trickle down Cory’s face. She put her head in the crook of Cory’s neck, feeling safe, secure. “I was worried about you. I thought I’d scared you off.” She breathed in and the scent of Cory made her nuzzle the soft skin below her lips. She couldn’t help herself; she kissed the tender skin, moving in a slow trail.

Cory couldn’t suppress the moan. She placed her hands on either side of JJ’s head and lifted it gently, and as their eyes met, both showed how full of desire for the other they were. “In answer to your question, I need you,” she kissed JJ’s chin. “In answer to your question, I want you,” she kissed both cheeks, “and in answer to your question, I love you JJ.” She gently pulled JJ’s head towards her; she half expected to feel resistance but instead soft lips met soft lips and a tingling sensation shot through her body.

The kiss was tentative at first, neither willing to stop or go further, both just savouring the moment. JJ moved her hands to the back of Cory’s head and pulled her even closer, running her tongue along Cory’s bottom lip, gently probing for entry. Cory opened her mouth and the kiss deepened, each tasting and taking it in turns to suck on tongues, explore mouths and run their tongues over teeth.

JJ was the first to pull away; she continued to nibble on Cory’s lips but was looking straight into emerald eyes, asking an unspoken question. Cory nodded.

“Are you sure?” JJ croaked, her voice thick with desire.

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Has anyone told you, you talk too much!” She winked at JJ and pulled her down for another kiss.

They slid onto their sides; mouths never leaving the other. Small kisses turned into deeper, longer ones, and after she had explored every available area on JJ’s face, Cory began to move down JJ’s neck, eliciting moans of pleasure out of JJ. Cory was a little nervous, she’d made love to a woman before but it had been eight years, she just hoped she remembered. Her head kept rationalizing: just go with your instincts, listen to her body and if in doubt ask. She pressed gently on JJ’s body and moved her so she was lying on her back. She straddled the tall woman and gazed down at the beauty beneath her.

Her hands seemed to know where to go. She needed to feel flesh, and her hands wandered down JJ’s body and stopped at the edge of JJ’s t-shirt. Slowly she inched her hands under and began to retrace the path she’d just taken. Her eyes never left the deep blue orbs that shone with desire back at her. JJ’s body felt so warm, and she paused as she reached JJ’s bra; as if reading minds JJ lifted her body slightly off the bed and allowed Cory access to the bra clasp which she unclipped in a second.

“I thought you were a novice Williams? Have you been holding out on me?”

Cory looked up as she winked at her friend, a stupid grin covering her face. “I like to surprise you once in a while.” Cory mumbled as she continued her assault on JJ’s breasts. Her hands began to move over the soft fleshy mounds; JJ was definitely 100% pure woman and Cory found herself rubbing and rolling the nipples between her thumb and fingers. JJ moaned encouraging Cory to pull and squeeze harder. She lifted JJ’s t-shirt up and lowered her mouth onto a succulent looking left breast. She sucked slowly, listening to JJ’s breath catching and groans of pleasure being expressed. She sucked harder and licked around the now dimpled surface marveling at how her touch affected JJ.

She moved her attention onto the right breast, never losing contact with JJ and rolling the left nipple between her thumb and finger, pulling gently she could feel JJ’s heart pound even harder. She sucked the right nipple into her mouth and then bit gently on it. This seemed to arouse JJ even more and she felt herself turning.

JJ’s body was burning up, the fire she felt between her legs was increasing and she needed to free herself of the clothes she was wearing. She desperately wanted skin on skin. Expertly she flipped Cory onto her back again and then pulled her up into a sitting position; she knelt in front of her and began to pull Cory’s nightshirt over her head. Her mouth went dry when she saw how truly beautiful Cory was. Her breasts were pert and the nipples were pink and very erect. She bent to suckle on one of them, tasting Cory, nipping and nibbling until she felt and tasted a tiny amount of fluid; it was intoxicating. She moved onto the other breast and slowly pushed Cory back down on the bed. As she nuzzled and tasted she felt Cory lift her t-shirt up over her body. She lifted her head slightly so Cory could slip the shirt over it; her bra followed close behind.

They lay there skin to skin, kissing and tasting each other. Hands began to wander lower, each taking it in turns to love the other. JJ began to unbutton her jeans and Cory helped her slip them off. Her undies and socks followed these; then JJ turned her attention to Cory’s underwear. She slid her body down Cory’s and, taking the edge of the pants in her mouth, she edged them down her partner’s body. As her head passed the tiny blonde curls she smelt Cory’s arousal. She paused and buried her head in them, smelling and kissing.

She continued her journey down Cory’s legs, teasing the young woman just as Cory had teased her. As she reached the tips of Cory’s toes she took the pants off and waved them at Cory. “Do you know how many dreams I've had of this moment?”

Cory shook her head. “No, but why don’t you reenact them!” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as she spoke.

JJ laughed. “Now there’s an offer I’ll never refuse!” She began her journey back up Cory’s legs, placing soft kisses on each leg and pausing to tickle the back of Cory’s knees. As she reached the strong muscular thighs, she stroked each one causing Cory to slightly open her legs and give JJ more soft, tender skin to caress. The insides of Cory’s legs were silky smooth and, as JJ kissed her way up, she could taste some of Cory’s wetness that had dripped there.

“Baby you're so wet and you taste so good.” JJ made licking motions and looked up to where Cory was gripping the bed sheet.

“Well you’re the one doing it to me. You make me so wet. I’ve never been this turned on. JJ please touch me there, kiss me there, do anything there before I explode,” gasped Cory.

Not needing any more encouragement, JJ lowered her head and looking at the glistening invitation, she moved even lower and took her first proper taste of Cory. It was like nectar, sweet with a hint of salt. She smelt so good. JJ licked all round the area and then placed her tongue inside Cory. This caused Cory to push her hips up and a huge groan escaped the blonde’s lips.

“That feels wonderful J, god I think I’m going to explode.” She gripped the sheets harder.

JJ alternated between licking in and out of Cory and moving her tongue over the very swollen clit of her partner. She positioned her fingers to take over from her tongue inside, and concentrated her tongue on the area around the clit and on it. She could feel Cory getting closer, her moans were regular and she was swollen.

”Yes JJ, yes oh god, oh god, I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming!” As she cried this, her body jolted and her orgasm coursed through her. JJ continued to lick until she felt the pressure of Cory’s legs against her head. Taking this as a signal to stop, she climbed slowly up her partner’s body, kissing a trail until she reached Cory’s lips. She kissed her gently and looked into green eyes dilated with passion.

“You okay?” she asked kissing Cory slowly, never breaking the eye contact.

“Hmmph,” Cory managed to mumble, “I’ll be fine once I find my brain. I think it just vacated my head. Now I know what people are talking about when they say it can blow your head off! To use my favourite American saying, that was awesome. Thank you.” She held JJ tightly to her, she’d never felt anything like it before and it was beginning to overwhelm her. She wanted to return the feelings to make JJ feel as good as she did.

She moved her hands slowly down the brunette’s back, turning her head and kissing JJ, tasting her own arousal on JJ’s lips. She deepened the kiss and moved her hands round the front of JJ’s body. She traced the muscles of her stomach and kept moving lower until she felt the slightly coarser curls; there she paused, then ran her exploring fingers through them. She continued down until she felt the wet on the edge. She dipped her fingers in it and then slowly raised her index finger back up and tasted the dark woman.

She moved her hand down again and this time she brought it up to JJ’s lips. JJ sucked slowly on the finger, delighting in this shared experience and staring straight into Cory’s hooded eyes. She mouthed an ‘I love you’ to Cory.

Cory moved her hand back down and moved her fingers through the wet, gliding over JJ’s skin and finding the opening of her partner. She slipped her middle finger in and then slowly took it out. She replaced it with two and felt JJ move slightly to accommodate them. She moved in and out, each time increasing the pressure and tempo. This seemed to have a significant effect on JJ as her breathing became irregular and she seemed to be gasping for breath. Cory managed to maneuver her hand so she could place pressure on JJ’s clit and she moved with JJ, continuing to kiss and whisper her love to JJ. She could feel JJ was close: the flesh around her fingers was tightening and she held JJ tight as the orgasm pulsed through her. She left her fingers inside and felt the pulses until they lessened, and then she slowly removed her hand and moved her leg up to replace her arm against JJ.

“I love you JJ,” Cory whispered.

“I love you too.” They looked into each other’s eyes and kissed, the mood alternated from tender kisses and caresses to powerful touches and passion. They each took it in turn to pleasure the other again, following each other’s hands.

Hours later they lay in each other’s arms, legs tangled together. Every now and again one would slowly kiss the other and then squeeze tightly; they never stopped caressing each other.

“You okay?” JJ murmured lazily in Cory’s ear, her body exhausted but her mind racing.

“I’m fine for the millionth time of answering,” Cory nibbled JJ’s mouth. “I had a fantastic time or couldn’t you tell?”

JJ raised an eyebrow and grinned wickedly “Well at first I wasn’t sure if the screams were from pain but from the way you grasped my hair and pleaded for god I assumed you’d found religion.”

Cory blushed crimson and hid her head under the covers.

“Hey no hiding! I’m sorry, I was teasing. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

Cory lifted her head. “After what we just did together I have no idea why I’m embarrassed, I guess old habits die hard. I’m not used to talking about it. It was wonderful J.”

“I like it when you call me that.” JJ kissed Cory’s fingers, then looked up startled when she heard a sniff come from Cory’s direction. She lifted herself up onto her elbow and looked into the glistening eyes of her lover. “Hey babe what’s wrong? I didn’t hurt you?”

Furiously shaking her head, Cory muttered, “No, no.… it was beautiful, you’re beautiful, I guess this whole thing has just overwhelmed me.” Tears ran down Cory’s cheeks and JJ held on to her new lover, whispering soothing words until the blonde stopped crying and they both fell sound asleep.

The ring of a phone filled the quiet, sunlit room, JJ opened a bleary eye her mind beginning to take in her surroundings. She nudged the still sleeping woman beside her, “Hey Cory, sweetheart wake up it sounds like your cell phone.”

“Huh?” came the muffled voice of her sleeping companion.

“Your cell was ringing, didn’t you hear it? I wouldn’t have woken you but with your grandfather being so ill, well maybe you should get it could be important someone ringing this early.” JJ sat up ready to move to Cory should the news turn out to be the worst. Cory stumbled over to her rucksack looking for the mobile.

“I must have left it on last night, how come you can never find the things when you need them.” She rummaged around in her bag and found the tiny mobile, she looked at the display. “I’d take back the early bit J, it’s just past 10am, we must have needed the sleep.”

“Or worn each other out!” JJ wiggled her eyebrows as she said it, enjoying the smile that greeted her. “So who called?”

“Hold on, I’m just checking the voice mail.”

JJ knew the call wasn’t an urgent one when she saw her lovers face relax visibly. She relaxed back onto the pillows and admired the naked body in front of her. She’d had an awesome time last night and in the early hours, they’d both explored each other thoroughly and she’d found herself experiencing feelings and emotions she had never felt before, she just enjoyed and loved everything about he woman.

“It was Ange, she wanted to know how the week had gone with you. She asked me to call her back, do you mind?” Cory climbed back onto the bed.

JJ pulled Cory close to her, smelling the scent of sex on Cory, “Sure give her a call but I think you’re forgetting something first.”

“Oh I am, am I? Would you care to enlighten me? I seem to be very forgetful!” Cory snuggled closer to JJ.

“Well,” JJ lowered her lips to Cory’s mouth, “if I must give you a clue or two.” She tenderly took Cory’s bottom lip into her mouth and began a slow, sensual kiss as she felt Cory begin to return the kiss with more passion she broke it off. “You have a call to make young lady!”

“But….you are such a tease, wind me up and then drop me like an old boot!” Cory feigned a hurt expression but smiled up at JJ, “Good morning, I wish I could wake up to that kiss every morning.”

“Good morning to you too and the feeling is mutual and as much as I would love to devour that sexy body of yours, my bladder is about to burst and that could be very messy for both of us so make the call and when I return we can pick up where we left off.” She gave Cory another taster of what was to come before she leapt off the bed.

Cory flopped back onto the pillows and watched the retreating very naked form of her new lover. She liked that and then she remembered their circumstances and her mood shifted significantly. She now had some serious thinking to do about her future and the thought that the next day JJ would be 3000 miles away scared the shit out of her. She shook her head and decided to see what Ange had wanted.

She hit the call back number on the mobile and waited for the connection, seconds later she heard the familiar accent of her best friend. “Hey Ange it’s me.”

“Did I wake you up? You sound sleepy? I figured you were up as your home line was busy so I called the mobile, I know Sam uses the land line for business.” Ange babbled on apologising.

“No worries Ange, yes the phone woke me but that was a good thing or we’d have slept forever. I’m not at home today I took JJ to see London yesterday and we stayed at a hotel. The walk round the city yesterday must have worn us both out.” She didn’t feel a phone call was the right time to tell her friend about the previous evenings revelations and definitely not the time to discuss her new improved sex life.

“I didn’t realise JJ was still here. So how has the week gone? Is she as nice as you thought?”

Cory looked up as Ange spoke, a smile forming on her face as she saw JJ make her way back towards the bed, “She’s everything I hoped for and more.” She winked at JJ and moved forward so the brunette could slip in behind her, she squeaked when JJ placed her cold hands round her middle.

“You okay Cory?” Ange asked.

“Fine sorry just felt a slight chill. Where were we? Oh yes JJ is great, we’ve had a good week except Granddad has taken a turn for the worst and it’s touch and go.” She felt JJ’s grip round her tighten as she continued to tell her friend about her granddad.

JJ listened to Cory, she noted the sadness in her voice and wanted to reassure the blonde she was there. She loved holding the blonde, feeling her close and the thought of leaving the next day filled her with sadness. Millions of thoughts had been going through her head whilst she’d been in the bathroom. She wasn’t sure what the future held for both of them and she knew it was going to be a rocky road ahead but she hoped against hope that they’d walk the road together. She was aroused from her thoughts by Cory nudging her.

“Hey Ange wants to know if we want to meet up with her and Dave today. It’s only an hour on the train for them and she needs to change some birthday presents so she can kill two birds with one stone.” JJ nodded she wanted to meet Cory’s oldest friend but she was also filled with fear that Ange wouldn’t like her.

“Ange, JJ’s up for it so how about we meet for lunch in Covent Garden? I should be able to find my way there. Err does Dave know about my feelings for JJ?” Cory smiled weakly at JJ as she saw the surprised look on JJ’s face.

“No you told me in confidence plus I didn’t want to put him in an awkward position with Sam as I wasn’t sure if anything was going to develop and whether you’d changed your mind. Some things are better left unsaid. Anyway this is your mobile and it’s expensive so I’ll catch up on the gossip later, how about 1pm?”

“Excellent I’ll text you when we get there or if we get lost.”

“Okay I’ll make sure I keep the phone on, see you soon Cory.”

Cory switched the call off and placed the phone on the bedside table, “So Miss Tall Dark and Deadly we have about 40 minutes before we need to head out so how do you fancy a shower? I’m all in to conserving water.”

JJ didn’t need to reply verbally she pulled Cory down on to the bed and decided to show her actions could speak louder than words.

Part 20

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