Chapter 20
JJ and Cory sprinted from the taxi towards the train on the station platform; they had ended up taking two joint showers, one for pleasure and then one very functional and quick shower. They reached the train as the whistle sounded; out of breath they sank into empty seats and giggled like a pair of schoolgirls. They found it hard not to keep touching each other, legs brushed against legs finally JJ couldn’t stand it and she slipped her arm round Cory’s shoulders. “Is this okay with you?” she whispered.
“Yep feels wonderful.”
“You don’t feel uncomfortable about it? I mean people staring.”
Cory moved her hand up and grasped JJ’s hand that was draped over her shoulder. “If they’ve got nothing better to do than stare at us then let them stare. It’s not like I’m going to see them again.”
The train rumbled along the track and Cory and JJ settled for the fifteen-minute journey into the city, JJ had been thinking about something since the phone call with Ange, she decided now was a good time to mention it. “Hey Cory this morning when you were on the phone you said something to Ange well not that I was listening or anything, but… well it was kind of hard not to over hear anyway…”
“J spit it out!” Cory smiled up at JJ.
“Well on the phone you asked Ange if she’d mentioned us to Dave but technically there wasn’t any ‘us’ until last night so I was curious what you meant by it, that’s if you want to tell me I mean I know things between you and Ange are private and I well I’m..”
“Babbling, you’re babbling and it’s very endearing,” Cory loved the way JJ blushed, her cheeks dimpled and her eyelashes dropped over those gorgeous eyes. “I talked to Ange last weekend about my relationship with Deb – I needed to finally tell her the truth and well I told her how I felt about you, it’s weird but I feel like I’ve known you forever and in our emails it just felt right and so I told Ange I thought I’d fallen in love with you needless to say she thought I was crazy.”
“So are you?” JJ smirked at Cory.
“Am I crazy? Yep absolutely crazy in love with you and dreading tomorrow.” Cory dropped her head, every time she thought of JJ leaving she felt cold and alone. JJ’s arm around her shoulder tightened and she squeezed on the hand held tightly in hers.
JJ didn’t want to think about tomorrow either, she wanted to enjoy her last day with Cory, she had no idea when they’d meet again and what Cory planned to do with the rest of her life, “How about we strike up a deal, we won’t mention anything about tomorrow until we get back to the hotel room and then I promise we’ll grab a bottle of wine and make it an early night and then we can talk. Let’s just enjoy today, please?”
Cory nodded, “You have a deal, no more thinking about the airport, Sam, Sarah or our future until later. Hey we’re here come on let’s go and fight through the crowds.”
They jostled their way towards the timetable for the Covent Garden tube having negotiated The Underground the day before they were soon heading towards their destination.
It was cold out, the winter sun was trying its best to warm things up but the biting wind made Cory shiver, she moved closer to JJ and linked arms with her. They’d arrived earlier than planned and had decided to check out some places to eat in Leicester Square and now they were trying to find the correct way back to Covent Garden.
“J, I have no idea where I’m going, I know we’re close the map says so, I’m going to have to text Ange and ask her to call us.” Cory fiddled in her rucksack and found the tiny phone, she pressed the buttons sending a quick message to Ange’s mobile, a few moments later and she heard the tell tale beep of a return message, she glanced at it and giggled. “She said stay where we are they’ll come and fetch us.” JJ nodded and stared at the fairground ride so out of place in the middle of the square. It was a fast turning ride, which zoomed through the air; Cory was tugging her towards it.
“Come on J I think we’ve got time to take a ride.” She turned to see JJ shaking her head.
“Nope you’re on your own there babe.” JJ was usually the first to try out rides at the fair but fast spinning ones made her motion sick.
“Not scared are you?” Cory moved closer to her friend, “I’ll keep you safe, hey you can even hold my hand.”
“No I’m not scared, I love fast rides, roller coasters are my favourite but I can’t do spinning rides, I’m sorry Cor you must think I’m a wuss. I got knocked out during a hockey game a few years ago and since then too much turning makes me feel sick, the doctor said I may have damaged something inside one of my ears in the brawl and so I avoid these rides.” JJ shrugged her shoulders in defeat and then she felt Cory’s hand link with hers, she looked down and saw the brightest smile and twinkle in the green eyes. As they leaned towards each other lost in their own world, which consisted of just the two of them, they were nudged out of it by a loud coughing noise behind them.
Cory blinked and turned around, standing behind them were Ange and Dave neither quite sure what to say, “Hey guys thanks for finding us I have a lousy sense of direction.” She unlinked her fingers with JJ and moved to kiss both Ange and Dave.
“Cory since when do you need to explain that to us, you’ve displayed it many times remember when we got lost going to Wales that time?” Cory blushed, she remembered that journey only too well a two hour journey had turned into a five hour nightmare as she’d been map reading and hadn’t noticed they’d taken the wrong exit until it was too late and they’d been heading to North Wales instead of South.
“Ange and Dave I’d like you to meet my very good friend JJ Matthews, JJ meet Ange and Dave and don’t listen to a word he says I am an angel in real life!”
JJ moved forward and shook their hands and then leaned over to whisper in Cory’s ear, “I know you’re an angel babe and after last night and this morning you’re my fallen angel but I love you!” She wiggled her eyebrows at Cory and turned a dazzling smile back to Cory’s friends. “I’ve heard a lot about you guys it’s good to finally meet you.”
Cory shook her head and smiled, the woman in front of her was incorrigible and she loved it, “Hey fancy a ride anyone?”
Ange looked at Dave and shook her head, “No Cory they make me feel sick but Dave would love to go with you and it’ll give me a chance to get better acquainted with JJ.”
Cory stood still, was she ready to leave JJ in the hands of her friend especially as Ange had a wicked gleam in her eyes plus Ange loved fairground rides and didn’t usually pass up an opportunity. She shook a finger at Ange, “Just behave or I’ll have your guts for garters okay!”
“Yeah you and whose army! Go on or Dave will be riding solo.”
Cory turned and followed Dave to one side of the ride, the seats were icy cold and she had to shuffle a few times to stop numbness settling in. Their seat harnesses were lowered and checked by the guy running the ride and then they waited a few minutes for the ride to fill.
“Hey Dave is Ange okay? I know I only saw her last week but she seems different.”
“She’s fine, a little stressed out from work as they’re due another OFSTED inspection but other than that she’s good. No Sam with you?”
Cory kept her head down, she hated lying but she also didn’t want to put Dave in an awkward position, “No he was busy with work and golf plus he offered to stop by and visit granddad. JJ flies out tomorrow so we decided to check out the capital.”
“She seems a nice girl and quite a beauty I bet the boys are falling over themselves to date her I know I would if I was single.”
Cory smiled at Dave, “Yep she’s quite a catch.” She was saved from saying anything else by the start of the ride.
The two onlookers watched as the ride spun higher and higher, since their partners had gone neither woman had said anything and JJ was beginning to feel antsy, wracking her brain for something to say she came out with the lamest conversation starter but it beat saying nothing. “So you went to college with Cory?”
Ange smiled, “You feeling as awkward as I am?”
JJ laughed, “That obvious huh?”
“Feels a bit surreal to me, yes I met Cory 10 years ago at college. We’ve been best friends ever since I thought I knew everything about her until last week.” Ange turned her brown eyes up to meet cool ice chips staring back at her. “But no matter what I love Cory and I want what’s best for her and she’s going to need her friends in the coming months.”
JJ nodded she wasn’t sure where this conversation was leading or what the subtext was in the last statement. There didn’t seem to be any animosity in Ange’s eyes and her stance seemed friendly enough, “I’ll be there for her.” She hadn’t known what else to say.
“I’m counting on that JJ she cares for you and what I saw in her eyes when we arrived I have never seen in Cory’s eyes, I can’t explain it but they were shining and she looked content just don’t hurt her or you’ll have me to deal with.”
JJ had to stop herself from laughing out loud, she couldn’t believe she was having this chat in the middle of a crowded place and with a woman she’d only just met. Plus Ange was the same height as Cory so she wasn’t sure what Ange meant by the ‘you’ll have me to deal with’ comment but it was nice to know Cory had such a loyal friend. She decided to play along and smiled sheepishly back at Ange, “Okay Auntie Ange, I promise to play nice with Cory and not hurt her.” She winked down at the frowning woman. “I’m sorry the idiot comes out of me when I’m nervous and I turn to jokes. I care for Cory too and I promise I will never ever intentionally hurt her.”
This seemed to make Ange settle and they both turned back to watch the ride, “Hey it seems to be going on forever, those two are going to be green around the gills when they come off.” Ange looked up at JJ and noticed she was watching the guy in the control box he seemed to be shouting at another guy near the engine.
“I think there’s a problem with the machine.” They both watched unable to do anything to help their respective partners, the machine was going quite fast and looping over and over turning it’s passengers upside down on a regular interval. JJ’s heart was in her mouth, she kept glancing between the ride and the control cubicle, she could see the guys using a monkey wrench on one of the controls, she crossed her fingers and prayed they’d sort the problem out. She tuned back to the ride and counted the seconds in her head as the ride spun from side to side turning the passengers over every time it reached the top. After another minute had passed, the ride seemed to be slowing down, the loops weren’t so regular and the ride didn’t appear to be going so high, she turned her attention back to the controller he was smiling and patting his friend on the back.
After what seemed like an eternity the ride came to a stop and the harnesses were released, Cory felt up to move the neck brace but her hands were frozen and her face felt burnt from the cold wind, she turned her head to look at Dave he looked just as cold, he gave her a weak smile.
“Remind me never to go anywhere with you Williams you’re a walking disaster area!”
“Hey this had nothing to do with me! But we did get value for money.” She grinned they were always going on about the ‘Cory Effect’ at college wherever there was trouble or an accident waiting to happen Cory had always been near. They made their way down the ramp, taking small steady steps as their bodies became used to the ground again and they stumbled onto the ground in front of the waiting girls.
JJ grabbed for Cory and pulled her into a hug, checking Cory over she hugged her again and again, “I was so worried and helpless, god I was scared for you.” She kissed Cory’s frozen cheeks and looked into her eyes. “You okay?”
Cory nodded, overwhelmed by JJ’s concern and still feeling very disorientated, she’d been scared shitless on the ride when she’d realised it wasn’t stopping, and the creaks and groans of the metal as it was forced to turn and spin faster than it was supposed to.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Ange hugging Dave but she also caught Dave’s eyes and saw his obvious confusion at JJ’s reaction and the fact she was wrapped in her arms. Oh boy she needed a chat with them and soon.
After checking that they both had their body parts and that they were warmer Ange suggested food, this caused JJ to laugh out loud when Cory announced she was starving.
“What are you laughing at?” Cory asked.
“You’ve just spent 10 minutes spinning out of control and now you’re hungry, most people would be sick to the stomach and all you can think of is filling yours! You are definitely an eating machine.” She winked at Cory as she said this.
“Yep but I’m your eating machine.”
“And never forget it.” JJ linked hands with Cory as they followed Ange and Dave back to Covent Garden and Pizza Hut.
The foursome headed into the crowded Pizza Hut, JJ and Cory appeared to be permanently glued to each other and both Ange and Dave noticed this. As they queued up for a table, Dave leaned over and whispered in his wife’s ear, “I think you have some explaining to do missus.” He nodded towards Cory, who was giggling at something JJ had said and was holding her arm tightly.
Ange looked on and then turned to Dave, “It’s up to Cory to explain Dave but I have a feeling she will. Do you think we should tell her our news?”
Dave grinned like a Cheshire cat and nodded, he knew Ange was struggling over split loyalties and he didn’t want to put her in an impossible situation. “Yeah babe I think we should and I do understand, she’s your best friend and all. I won’t say another word on the matter but if what I think is happening is, then I’m in the best position to offer her advice on how to talk to Sam, my ex left me for a woman too babe.”
Ange leant over and kissed him on the cheek, “I love you and thanks babe I’ll let her know.”
“Oi you love birds quit the soppy stuff, the waitress won’t seat us with you two mooning over each other.” Cory said in her best Eastend London accent. This earned her a light slap from Ange.
JJ watched the goings on bemused, she’d known the two cultures were different but being able to see how Cory interacted with her friends and watch the other patrons in the restaurant she began to wish that her time in the UK wasn’t over so soon.
Five more minutes of queuing and finally there seemed to be a table free. A blonde haired waitress collected four menus and headed towards them. “I’m sorry for the wait, half term madness I think every family in London wants to do the special lunch deal.” She guided the four to a table in the corner.
“No problem,” said Dave, “It’s one of the reasons we chose to eat here. All I can eat for a fiver seems like a good challenge. What do you reckon JJ?”
“Hey I’m up for anything.” Responded JJ pleased that Dave had included her in his mild flirting with the waitress, she flashed a winning smile at the tall blonde girl.
Cory watched the exchange and nudged her grinning partner in the side, “Calm down tiger you’ll send her blood pressure through the ceiling.” She turned to the waitress, “Excuse these two grinning hyenas and count me in I’m starving.” Cory had decided it was time to break the eye contact between JJ and the waitress before the green monster took hold of her.
“Tell us something we didn’t already know.” Piped up JJ, and she turned her charm and smile on Cory.
They ordered drinks and the meal deal, the waitress disappeared and returned seconds later with four plates. She pointed towards the serving trolleys near the entrance and explained it was self-service.
Dave stood up and grabbed a plate, “Well I’d say ladies before gentlemen but my stomach thinks my throat’s been cut so I’m off to grab a plateful, anyone game?”
JJ stood up, “I’ll chaperone you to the serving hatches, can’t have you using your charm on too many of the waitresses.” She grinned and linked arms with Dave touching Cory’s shoulder as she went by.
As they left, Ange pulled her chair nearer to Cory’s, “It’s nice to see those two getting on so well.”
Cory sensed the shift in conversation and muttered, “Let the interrogation begin.”
“So you said she was gorgeous, you didn’t mention she was that gorgeous.” Ange smiled she wanted to relax Cory and make her open up in her own time.
“She is isn’t she? She has a lovely personality too.” Her eyes followed JJ’s figure as she chatted to Dave.
“Well my friend I have to say I’ve never seen you look more settled and you’ve been with your fair share of people. So am I to assume from your body language that you and Miss Gorgeous have done the deed?”
Cory blushed, ducking her head and refusing to look Ange in the eye, she mumbled, “That’s it Ange cut straight to the chase.”
“Hey my window of opportunity is here and I think I have five minutes before she gets back. So dish the dirt Williams. How was it?”
“Wonderful, marvelous, awesome…no other words can describe it Ange. I’ve never felt like this before. The way she touched me, the way my body reacted….” Cory stopped as her friend’s hand clasped over her mouth, “harrumph!”
“Okay, okay TMI!” Ange released Cory’s mouth after she’d tried to stick her tongue through her fingers. “You are gross at times!”
“TMI? We talking in code now?” Cory looked blankly at Ange.
“Too Much Information.”
“Hey you asked,” then Cory dropped her head and took a deep slug of her beer, “so Ange what do I do now? The woman I’m madly in love with gets on a plane tomorrow and then I have to go back to my husband.” Cory thumped her head into her hands.
“How does JJ feel?” Ange rubbed Cory’s forearm whilst keeping her eyes on the pair gathering food ahead of her.
Cory lifted her heads and turned towards Ange, “She feels the same Ange, and she loves me.”
Ange nodded, “Well there’s your answer, follow your heart.”
Cory sighed if only it was that simple, “Well besides my husband, her girlfriend and my homophobic job and family, oh and the 3000 miles of ocean and two different continents that separate us, no problem, Ange it’s not like she lives in the next town and I can see her every day.”
“Well when you put it like that I guess there are few mole hills to climb.”
“Bloody mountains more like.” Cory snorted. Ange leaned over for a hug and Cory wiped an errant tear from her eye.
“So she told you then? Ace news isn’t it?”
Cory looked up blankly; Dave was hovering over the table. JJ seated herself at the table and they both watched Ange shake her head, “Good one big mouth, want to open it again to change feet.” Ange smiled at Cory. “So is it time for us to get food?”
“Hold on there what news? Have you heard about Australia? Did the visa come through?”
Ange shook her head and picked up her handbag, she rifled through it and pulled out a piece of white paper. She passed it over to Cory. Cory looked at it and then realised there was something on the other side, she turned the white paper over and stared at the black and white photo. It was an ultra scan of a tiny baby. It was Ange and Dave’s tiny baby. She blinked, and then looked up, “Congratulations, bloody hell I’m going to be an aunt. I’m shocked you never mentioned you were trying.” She kissed Ange and then Dave.
“Well we had decided to try after the wedding, but with the visa to Australia going through I didn’t want to be pregnant over there so I came off the pill and usually it can take a while, we wanted to wait for the scan before we told anyone that way we were past the first three months. The baby’s due in July in fact we may have to postpone the wedding or push it up to maybe April.”
JJ joined in the congratulations, “So Ange is it a boy or girl?”
“We didn’t ask, we want it to be a surprise so long as it is healthy we’ll be happy.” Dave answered holding his wife’s hand and grinning.
“So Aunty Cory, are you ready for food now?” Ange asked, Cory nodded and she headed off bouncing with joy after the expectant mother.
They all enjoyed the food and conversation was plentiful. Cory was pleased to see JJ and Dave getting along and she talked baby talk with Ange. When it was time to leave the two couples headed for the door.
“Thanks for lunch Ange, it was good to meet up with you and thanks for the friendship it means everything.” Cory pulled Ange into a hug, “and you look after my little friend in there.”
“I will and you look after yourself. I’m only a phone call away, say hello to the family and Cory remember, follow your dreams.”
“I will,” she kissed Ange’s cheek and then turned to Dave. “Well congratulations dad to be, at least we know you’re not shooting blanks. She grinned at Dave, “ I’m sorry I couldn’t resist I know a low blow. “Then she giggled even more.
“You’re always the clown but I love you.” He hugged her tight and then whispered in her ear, “She’s a keeper Cor don’t throw her away out of some sort of loyalty to Sam. Remember I’ve been in the same situation as Sam and I know he’d rather know and help you through this, I didn’t react very well when my ex told me but that’s because she’d lied and cheated for so long, don’t make the same mistake. It’s taken Jayne and I three years to get to a place where we can discuss things and in a way I am grateful she left as I found Ange and have never ever been happier.”
“Thanks Dave, Ange will fill you in on the details but I guess it’s pretty obvious how I feel about her if you’ve worked it out. I know this is hard for you being in the middle and I appreciate the advice, you’re definitely right about one thing: she’s a keeper and I intend to do everything I can to be with her.” She hugged her friend and then took JJ’s hand as they waved the pair off.
They stood for a moment outside the restaurant, then Cory turned to her friend, “Well it’s about 3.30 – we could stay and shop or head back to the hotel. What do you fancy?”
JJ raised an eyebrow, ran hers eyes up and down Cory’s torso and grinned, “Now let me think about this, what do I fancy? Well she’s 5 feet 5inches, blonde, green eyed and cute as a button and I love her, that’s what I fancy and I’d like to see her naked in my hotel room!”
Cory blushed under the passion-filled gaze that was directed right at her, “Well I just happen to know someone who fits the description and I’m pretty sure she’s free for tonight.”
“Lead the way home babe.” They held hands as they threaded their way through the bustling London streets.
They’d made it back in record time narrowly missing the rush hour commuter traffic, as they walked towards their room JJ turned Cory and swept her into her arms planting a huge kiss on shocked lips. “I’ve missed you so much,” she gasped as she broke the kiss. “You’ve been with me the whole day and I’ve missed actually being with you, smelling you and tasting you.”
Cory pulled the brunette down to return the kiss, “I’ve missed this too J, so much. Thanks for meeting my friends, it meant a lot to me.”
They entered the room, JJ switched the lights on and Cory placed the plastic bag she’d been carrying on the side of the bed. JJ looked at the bag, “Hey you’ve had that since I went to the bathroom near Oxford Street, what’s in it?”
Cory tapped her nose, “All will be revealed later. Well I’m hoping all will be revealed!” She wiggled her eyebrows and walked towards her prey, “I have plenty of plans for you tonight and as it might be a while for me to do a repeat performance I aim on satisfying many needs and fantasies.” She advanced on JJ who simply stood there staring at the diminutive blonde suddenly getting larger and larger. She’d never seen this side of Cory this feral side and she liked what she saw.
“Promises, promises! How do you intend to get this satisfaction?” she raised an eyebrow adding a questioning look to the loaded question.
“Well I intend to take those clothes off you as you’re looking very over dressed for my party. Then I think a shower might be in order.” As she spoke she began to raise the sweatshirt over JJ’s torso, nibbling at the flesh as it rose, showing a nicely developed six pack. “After the shower I might show you my purchases.” She nodded towards the small plastic bag. “Talking of which it took you a long time in the toilets. What were you doing? I never meant to visit any shops but it caught my eye and you were nowhere to be seen. Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah, there was a huge line of women. I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait that long to take a pee. Either there needs to be more toilets put in or it was just I caught the rush hour. So where were we ma’am?” She joined in with Cory and soon both women were kissing passionately, neither of them wanting to rush events, both knowing that this was their last night together. Slowly they inched their way towards the bathroom. JJ turned the shower on and then continued in her quest to taste every part of Cory’s face. She put out her arm to feel the water and, judging that it was body temperature, she carefully lifted Cory into the tub and joined her.
Cory pulled her lover towards her and both of their heads hit the water. As the water poured over their faces they continued the tasting session, each one taking it in turns to nibble and suck tongues and lips, neither wanting to break the contact. Finally as the water got too much Cory slowly drew back, positioning her head away from the flow of the water and stared into deep blue orbs, “I never thought kissing someone could be so erotic and so fulfilling, I could kiss you forever and never get tired of it.”
JJ wiped the water from her face and smiled. “I know exactly what you mean, we seem to fit together.” She reached over Cory’s shoulder and grabbed the soap and washcloth, lathering the soap she began to rub the foam gently over Cory’s shoulders and back.
“Mmm that feels great, what a way to wash the city grime from me.” Cory groaned in pleasure as JJ hit a particularly sore spot. “Uggh I think I got knocked about on that ride today. I have to say babe I was pretty scared.”
JJ continued the soap massage, increasing the pressure slightly when she felt the knots under her fingers, “You weren’t the only one honey, I was ready to jump in the control room myself and sort the problem out. I thought for one second I’d lost you just when I’d found you.”
Cory stopped JJ’s hand, “JJ no matter what happens you’re never going to lose me. I won’t pretend we haven’t got a mountain to climb but we’ll get to the top, together okay?”
“Okay, a conversation for later I think, now where was I?” She turned Cory to face her and dropped the washcloth, “this part of the body requires special attention and no extra equipment!” She rubbed the soap over Cory’s pert nipples and then followed the trail with her hands, gently kneading and squeezing, watching the rise and fall of Cory’s chest as she tried to control her breathing. She continued the motion, increasing the pressure until she heard the moans escape Cory’s lips.
She picked up the soap and trailed it down the blonde’s firm stomach; lowering herself to her knees she kissed the soapy lather, washing it away with help from the shower. She slipped her tongue into the tiny hole and moved her tongue in a tickling motion, lifting her head she stared into emerald gems, “you’d look awesome with a belly ring babe.”
Cory shuddered, “Umm nope, I’m way too squeamish but don’t let me stop you fantasizing.”
JJ lowered herself down on her haunches, inhaling the scent of Cory’s arousal and feeling how it was driving her insane. She dipped her head lower and parted the blonde curls allowing her to see Cory’s obvious arousal. The blonde was so swollen it sent a jolt straight to JJ’s core. Her legs were shaking and she sensed a shiver going through Cory’s body. She licked and tasted her lover, devouring the soft flesh, probing deeper and deeper with her fingers taking her partner further and further over the edge. It wasn’t long before she felt the shudder and spasms against her fingers and pulled Cory closer to her, breathing in deeply, trying to savour the smell just in case she never got the chance ever again. She felt hands on her shoulder beckon her and as she got to her feet, she was greeted to the widest smile and she kissed the lips.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be my seduction Miss Matthews?”
JJ nodded, “But I never heard you complain or try to stop me taking over!” JJ returned the grin. The blonde’s happiness was infectious.
“No complaints babe, I don’t think I’m ever going to have any complaints in that department. Thank god for hotel rooms and the endless hot water! I think you’ve earned your treat now and I’m about pruned but you’re not going to be neglected.”
“Babe it makes me happy and content to pleasure you, but as I get a treat: lead the way.”
Cory climbed out of the shower, steadying herself as her legs gave way slightly still recovering from her orgasm.