Page 89 of In Her Own Way
“You read my needs so well.” Jessica snuggled closer.
“And you made me feel safe.”
“Safe?”
“I don’t usually disrobe.”
Jessica lifted her head. “Oh, hun. I made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
“This woman is not complaining,” Victoria said with a laugh. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Really.”
“Just use your safe words next time,” Jessica teased. She sat up. “Shower. I need to see this amazing tattoo in better light, and then after a rest, I want round two.”
“Glad to oblige, Ma’am,” Victoria said, tipping an imaginary hat.
The shower was intimate, but they both agreed not to go beyond soaping and rinsing. Jessica oohed and ahhed over Victoria’s woman/raven sleeve tattoo, and Victoria explained that when she got it during her Army days, she knew Ravens represented mystery. She wanted it to represent her deep and mysterious connection to women. That’s why she had the woman holding the raven.
“And ravens are notoriously intelligent,” Jessica added. Just like the woman who bears the tattoo.
Victoria felt her cheeks flame hot.
Jessica said nothing more but simply smiled and held up the wolf tattoo on her wrist.
“Ahh,” Victoria said. “Untamed and independent. I seem to have a bit of a wild woman on my hands, don’t I?”
“Firey Aries, apparently,” Jessica said.
Now fully showered, both in robes, they lay on the living room couch, Jessica said, “I’m not in this for the quick thrill, Victoria. I want you to know that. And I’m not one to try to tame anyone. I mean, we just met.” She sat up. “Last night, in fact. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”
“But we did kind of meet before that,” Victoria said. “Our phone calls, message exchanges, and comments on posts in your group.”
“True,” Jessica said and lay back down. “I like what we did in there.” She pointed to the bedroom. “But I want us to be more than just that with each other.”
“I also love what we did in there,” Victoria said, “and we have so much more to explore in that regard, but you’re right. I want to get to know more about JB the person, the teacher, thelittles’whisperer.”
That made Jessica laugh, which gave Victoria a warm feeling all over. She saw movement and jumped.
“What?” Jessica said, sitting up again.
Victoria blew out a sigh. “There’s a creature.” She pointed. “By the television.”
“Oh, that’s Misty,” Jessica said and then laughed. “Is it too late to ask if you’re allergic to cats?”
“I’m not allergic. We had a cat growing up. A big old orange tomcat.”
Despite her best efforts, Jessica couldn’t get Misty to come over and meet Victoria.
“Give it time,” Victoria said.
“She’s probably just hungry,” Jessica said. “Why don’t you feed her? That way, she can get to know you a little. Trust you.”
“Like you’re beginning to trust me?”
“Like we’re beginning to trust each other,” Jessica said.
“Yes,” Victoria said simply. And it was true.
Misty was tentative at first, but once Victoria stepped away from the food bowl, Misty moved in and ate. Of course, she kept one eye on Victoria, sizing her up.
