Delphine excused herself just after dinner that evening. Siobhan had prepared a succulent beef roast with carrots and parsnips, the delicate aroma of which filled the house with savory promise. The appetizing tang effectively stirred in Delphine a deep craving that momentarily supplanted the other desires that had driven her to distraction all afternoon. Directly upon the completion of their circuit around the property, Paul and Cosima rode out to find the lost cattle. Uncertain about the length of her absence, Cosima kissed Delphine goodbye in front of both her mother and brother before lighting into Darwin's saddle, turning her horse and heading off. Her boldness both surprised and delighted Delphine.
Since the moment her lips had reluctantly left Cosima's, the tightness behind her navel and the tension that ran the length of her sex demanded Delphine's almost constant attention. Unbidden, her visual cortex intensified the ache, providing particularly provocative images that transported the intensely curious woman back in time, positioning her once again on top of her paramour, admiring the swell and rise of her perfectly round breasts.
She had tried, fruitlessly, to ignore the sensation. She volunteered to take Alison into town to purchase some new footwear. The woman, who had been so reserved upon their first meeting, conversed freely about the events of the previous night. Delphine attempted to allow her new friend's account of how Donnie, freshly showered and smelling of aftershave, had brought a thermos of coffee for them to share while they sat vigil over the new life to displace her own tempestuous recollections of her night with Cosima. She politely inquired about the details of Claude's first few hours, even as her mind conjured sensations, the memories of which made Delphine weak.
In the end, it seemed there wasn't much involved in tending to a healthy newborn calf, aside from making sure he was warm and feeding him every couple of hours, and Delphine found she heard much more about Donnie than she did about Claude. She smiled wistfully and empathetically at the obvious connection the two shared and wondered if this would be a summer of many new beginnings for Siobhan Sadler's children.
She remembered Cosima' s words, if you'll let me, as they pulled back up to the ranch house. She scanned the corrals looking for the smaller woman, knowing that she would let Cosima do anything she desired as long as it meant they could be near one another, but Cosima was no where to be seen. Darwin's stall sat disappointingly empty when she went to seek Cosima in the barn.
Having failed to cool the heat raging in her body through social means, Delphine endeavored to be academically productive, escaping to her room and closing her door. An iron-framed bed, not unlike Cosima's, took up the bulk of the space; her suitcase was still atop the bedspread. It was clearly a guestroom, sparsely appointed. The bed sat closer to the right wall taking up almost its entire length and just far enough removed to make space for a one foot square night side table, whose surface was dominated by a plain wooden lamp with a brown cardboard shade; the only window in the room sat just left of the bed and took up most of the wall. A chest of drawers was centered on the left wall, and a small, coarsely upholstered armchair, which she hadn't actually noticed until she closed the door, had been placed in the only remaining corner of the room. The space felt cozy, but not cramped.
Settling into the small chair, Delphine perused her research notes and attempted to mark up a draft of her thesis, which she had hoped might lead to her first published article once she arrived in Berkeley, but the nature of her work was too visceral. Sex traits of the human organism, even anomalous ones, were suggestive enough that Delphine found herself endlessly shifting her posture in futile pursuit of respite. Whether she crossed her legs, or tucked one underneath her body, or slung one over the arm of the chair itself, her center continued to crawl with sensation, culminating in undulating waves of want for Cosima.
She set her papers aside and busied herself with unpacking, a chore that had been neglected in the chaos of her first evening and night spent at the Double S. Activity, though not nearly so agonizing as stillness, simply diffused her arousal. She hung what needed to be hung, folded what needed to be folded, and spent extra time arranging her undergarments in the smallest of the bureau drawers. As she did so she could not help but marvel at how great a barrier such thin fabric might be to particular pleasures; she remembered the certainty with which she had grabbed Cosima's hand and the fire that had compelled her to do so. Her mind and body maintained their collective focus on the sensations inspired by the fair woman she had come to desire.
She crossed to the window and scanned the horizon, straining her eyes for any sign of movement, any hint of Cosima's familiar form in the distance, and when she saw none, she felt a tension in her heart that made her longing bittersweet.
"Should we be worried?" she asked Donnie and Siobhan as they enjoyed their evening meal.
"Oh goodness, no." Siobhan comforted her. "These three know these hills like they know their own names. They know where to camp if it comes to it; and Paul slung their bedrolls on when he saddled the horses. They'll be just fine, dear. Don't you worry."
"Oh, I'm not worried," Delphine lied a little, cutting her roasted vegetables into ever smaller pieces. "I just… I am not accustomed to all of the realities of ranching it would seem."
Siobhan smiled knowingly back at Delphine and added, "She's coming back, Delphine, and remember, good things come to those who wait." She punctuated her remark with a wink and Delphine blushed in spite of herself.
She knew as she ascended the stairs that she would wait as long as possible, but the ache she had held at bay for so long was already growing again, and Delphine was prepared to take control of the situation if need be. Her mind had already proved its willingness to push her toward ecstasy.
One way or another she would have Cosima tonight.
It occurred to her that she hadn't bathed since before arriving at the ranch and, though she told herself it was in the interest of killing time when truly her motives were plain, she grabbed her toiletries and headed down the hallway. As she waited for the water to come to temperature, she surveyed her nude form in the mirror above the sink. She had never been critical of her body and it wasn't insecurity that motivated her now. Rather she simply wondered how another woman, whose body was essentially no different than her own could excite such passion. She examined her skin, her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, her abdomen, her hips, her buttocks, her legs and even her hands, studying them closely, running her own fingers across her flesh. Her own body seemed so ordinary to her; but Cosima also had a neck, shoulders, breasts, an abdomen, hips, buttocks, legs and hands, and when Delphine thought of that body, her own responded instantly. Her nipples tightened into firm buds, heat rose into her cheeks, and her sex began to swell. She wondered if Cosima felt these things for her; was she so deeply desired that minutes seemed like hours and separation like punishment? Was Cosima, wherever she was, wishing they were together?
She stepped into the stream of water, letting the warmth relax some of the tension away, but also allowing her mind to ease into her fantasies as well. She luxuriated in the steam and her own thoughts much longer than she probably should have, but since she and Siobhan were the only ones in the house, she thought she might not be considered rude for doing so. When she padded back to her room wearing her grey button down pajamas with clam digger bottoms she was quite touched to find that Siobhan had left a small tray on her bed with a cup of coffee, a spoon and small pitcher of cream.
"I remembered you didn't take sugar." came the familiar voice from behind her.
Delphine's heart raced and her smile exploded as she turned to find not Siobhan, but Cosima seated in the corner chair of her tiny bedroom.
"Cosima!" she exclaimed, too loudly as she threw herself in the woman's direction, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hands, squeezing them tight. "I did not think you would be back tonight," she confessed as she stared into hazel eyes. "Siobhan thought you might be out all night."
Cosima brought Delphine's right hand up to her mouth and kissed the backs of her fingers. "When there is so much reason to be home? No way."
"Did you find the cows?" Delphine asked, amused that she would ever utter such a sentence, and consequently acutely aware of how very different her life had gotten in a few short days.
"We did." confirmed the smaller woman, "and I think they knew they were in trouble." Cosima winked. "The second they saw us they started heading home." A roguish grin played at the corners of her mouth as she asked, "How do you like your room?"
"It's very comfortable, " Delphine answered, simply and sincerely.
"You don't think it is a little small?" Cosima probed, her eyebrows raised inquisitively. Delphine began to suspect this was not simply small talk.
"I suppose it is…" she let her words trail of, leaving the door open for Cosima, who walked right through it.
"Because, you know, it's much roomier down the hall and if you'd like," Cosima dropped all pretense and looked into Delphine's eyes, "you could stay with me tonight."
Slowly they closed the gap between their expectant mouths and melted into a tender kiss. Delphine still marveled at the softness of it. It was so different than kissing a man. Phillip's kiss at its most gentle felt barbaric compared to this. She lost herself in the feel of Cosima's mouth, allowing the tip of her tongue to flick lightly at its edges. There was so much she wanted in that moment that she lacked the words to express it. She needed to show, not to tell and so the only words she offered in response were, "Yes, Cosima."
The smaller woman's eyes stayed closed for a moment after Delphine broke their kiss. When she opened them she smiled at Delphine warmly and said, "Good." She stood up then and helped Delphine to her feet. "Why don't you take your coffee down the hall. I do not smell good and I want to take a shower." She kissed Delphine lightly once again and said, as she turned to leave, "See you soon."
Delphine, whose face burned in anticipation, tucked her bottom lip under her teeth. "Ciao." The word floated softly toward Cosima, "don't make me wait too long, ma chérie. I have been," she struggled to find a descriptor that wasn't too forward, "…missing you all day."
It was Cosima's turn now to blush. "K." she answered, and then turned to leave.
Delphine sat by the light of a single table lamp; she rocked gently in Cosima's chair stirring cream, which had long since been incorporated, into the cup of coffee. She considered texture and temperature. The smooth, translucent white mug, non-descript, ubiquitous — she had sipped warm beverages out of hundreds like it in restaurants, cafes and dining halls— allowed the heat of the coffee to transfer almost entirely to her finger tips, the rigid molecular structure of glassware absorbing none of the energy the warm liquid cast off in all directions. She was not inclined to drink the coffee, but enjoyed the aroma as she sat waiting, and Cosima, true to her word, did not make her wait long.
"Howdy ma'am."
Delphine looked to the doorway. Cosima leaned against it, dressed only in a black tank top, her white cotton underwear and a cowboy hat; she winked in the blonde's direction and stepped into the room. Delphine's breath caught in her throat for a moment; there was nothing pretentious in how Cosima looked. Playful, certainly, but she had come to Delphine in complete honesty, having made no attempt to augment her allure. She had no need to; in Delphine's eyes she was already perfect, exuding an effortless and intoxicating sexuality.
"Hi," Delphine rose from the rocker and set the coffee aside on Cosima's chest of drawers. Amused, she sauntered over to where Cosima stood, grabbing her by the wrist and leading her toward bed. Cosima kicked the door closed as she happily followed, laughing appreciatively when Delphine removed her hat and tossed it to the corner. With voracious eyes, the taller woman looked Cosima up and down and then observed, "I feel a little over dressed."
Cosima wrapped her arms around Delphine's neck and pulled their lips together. She felt her own waist similarly encircled, their bodies drawn into closer contact. Delphine deepened their kiss, pressing her tongue forward, meeting Cosima's and sliding against it. Cosima inhaled deeply, moving her arms to run down the length of Delphine's sides, finding her hips and turning the taller woman to the edge of the mattress. Placing a hand gently into the center of Delphine's chest, Cosima pressed her backwards until she sat, then climbed onto the bed placing one knee on either side of Delphine. She whispered reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll take care of that when it's time."
The other woman's eyes were dark with desire, and she brought her hands up to cradle Cosima's face. "S'il te plait, Cosima. I've been thinking about you all day."
"God, Delphine," Cosima moaned; she grabbed her wrists and gently laid her back onto the bed, pinning her arms to the side, "you are incredible." She threaded their fingers together and brought their hands next to Delphine's head, holding them fast and then hungrily kissing the woman beneath her. She felt a savage breath fill the abdomen of the woman beneath her. Delphine groaned as she craned her head to the side, exhaling steadily and fully, offering Cosima access to her neck.
"Kiss me." she insisted, and Cosima brought her lips to the pulsing in Delphine's throat, opening her mouth and sucking on the sensitive flesh there. She ran her tongue upward and kissed the small patch of delicate skin directly behind Delphine's earlobe before taking it into her mouth and sucking. She bit down gently and Delphine's body exploded with desire. Teeming with want, she inhaled sharply through clenched teeth and drew her hand out of Cosima's. She tangled her fingers in her lover's russet locks, gathering a handful into a loose fist, and coaxing her head back. Cosima looked down into Delphine's eyes and recognized the same desperate longing that she knew must be present in her own.
"Undress me now." Delphine urged, "I want to feel your hands on my body."
More than once, Cosima had felt the impulse to check on Delphine, to make certain that she was comfortable, that she wanted this, that she was ready, but the urgency and directness of Delphine's words inspired Cosima to be bold, to trust not only her lover's cues, but her own desires and impulses as well. She leaned onto her left arm while her right hand came to work on the buttons of Delphine's structured cotton top. The last button released, allowing the fabric to fall open and exposing the creamy flesh of Delphine's stomach and breasts to the cool night air. "Mon Dieu, Cosima." she moaned, "Touch me please."
Cosima stood up a positioned her body between Delphine's legs. She reached under her body for the waistband of her pajama bottoms. Delphine lifted her hips and allowed Cosima to remove them leaving her clad in her underwear alone.
Cosima admired her form for a brief moment; the lamplight from the room cast shadows along her neck and ribs that accentuate the lines of her lithe form. "You are so beautiful," Cosima remarked, and then held out her hands, which Delphine took, allowing herself to be pulled back up to a sitting position. Cosima brought Delphine's arms around her neck.
"Hold on." she whispered, and when she was certain Delphine had secured a grip, she reached down to Delphine's knees, hooking a hand under each and then inching them down the backs of her thighs. Cosima bent her knees slightly; Delphine understood the cue and wrapped her legs around Cosima's waist, allowing the brunette to lift her up off the mattress, supporting and then moving them both together. With Delphine in her arms, Cosima crawled back onto the bed and deftly repositioned them so that when Delphine lay back again her head rested on the cool soft pillows at the top of the bed.
Cosima, kneeling widely with each of Delphine's legs slung over her own , leaned forward until their lips almost touched, "This is a much better arrangement for what I want to do with you." she whispered softly.
Delphine matched her tone, "and what is it that you want to do, Cosima?"
With out hesitation, the other woman answered, "I want to make love with you."
Before Delphine could even react, Cosima drew her frame upright and removed her tank top, exposing her breasts for Delphine, who instantly reached out to touch them, but she could not quite reach. Cosima leaned forward allowing Delphine to cup each one in her hands. She moaned as Delphine ran thumbs over already tightened nipples causing them somehow to become even more rigid. Cosima's eyes closed; she exhaled audibly through her mouth in response to this attention and slid her torso forward further so that Delphine could use her mouth on the sensitive flesh that she had coaxed into such exquisite sensation.
"Please." she sighed. And Delphine was more than happy to oblige. Completely caught up in the feeling of Delphine's gentle mouth and probing tongue, Cosima dropped her hips, bring their centers close together. They each moaned as they recognized a heat that was not of their own body.
"Mon dieu," Delphine whispered, rocking her hips toward Cosima's warmth instinctively. Although she had spent hours, days even, pointedly considering, not only Cosima's gender, but the potential of sex with a woman, neither Delphine's mind nor her body were prepared for the intensity with which she wanted to feel that heat directly. She had not expected a woman's arousal to be so obvious as a man's, and she paused for a millisecond to take stock of her perceptions. Phillip's arousal had always felt like a command, but Cosima's was an invitation. She broke her attention from Cosima's chest and slid her hands down her back instead, letting her fingertips slip under the waistband of Cosima's panties and then over firm, round flesh; Cosima immediately responded, divesting herself of the thin, damp fabric. Delphine removed her own panties at the same time, tossing them over the side of the bed.
"Take me, Cosima," Delphine begged, reaching out with her legs and pulling Cosima's sex back into contact with her own.
"I still can't believe you are real," Cosima confessed, and then nestled their hips back together, leaning forward to kiss the desperate woman once again. "Tell me what you want, Delphine." Cosima commanded.
"I want you." Delphine replied, covering Cosima's mouth hungrily with her own and then moving Cosima's hand between their bodies to cover her swollen and ready sex. Cosima groaned at the obvious need Delphine had for her attention, and it made her feel confident. She quelled the passion of their kiss, so that Delphine might focus on the interaction between hand and body. Cosima pushed her hand down along the swollen outside of Delphine's body; when she reversed direction, drawing her hand up slowly, she allowed her middle finger to press, just barely, into the warm, wet union between Delphine's thighs. Both women moaned at the contact, Delphine rolling her hips again obviously wanting more. Cosima repeated this motion, entering Delphine more fully this time and dragging her finger, now slick with heat, up to circle the swollen bud at the top of Delphine's sex. Delphine's body moved under Cosima, who dipped her hand down again, wetting another finger and adding it to the rhythm she had set against Delphine's want.
"Cosima." Delphine whispered next to the other woman's ear. "Please do not stop." She hooked her feet around the inside of Cosima's calves and rocked against her hand. Having been so desperate for this moment for so many hours, Delphine was not surprise to find herself close to climax. She moved her mouth to Cosima's, allowing her tongue to create a kiss that echoed the motion moving her rapidly closer to orgasm, and, despite her very urgent need to feel Cosima's heat with her own fingers, she allowed her body to break first, so that she might focus her energy completely on Cosima's pleasure next.
Cosima kept her fingers pressed gently over Delphine's throbbing sex until she felt the contractions calm in both intensity and frequency, allowing the recently sated woman's body relax into the bed beneath them.
Delphine's eyes stayed closed for a moment; an idiosyncratic crease split her brow. Cosima was uncertain what to think of the look until Delphine chuckled slightly, smiled, and opened her eyes. "That was incredible, mon amour. Thank you."
"You're okay, yeah?" Cosima asked, scanning Delphine's countenance for any sign of distress.
Delphine captured the hand with which Cosima had brought her to orgasm, studying her fingers; she could feel and smell the remnants of her own arousal on Cosima's fingertips. Pausing thoughtfully, when she moved again she brought each to her lips and kissed them. "I am ok, absolument, Cosima."
"Good." Cosima smiled and placed her own lips to Delphine's.
"But," Delphine continued.
"But?" Cosima inquired.
"But I want to feel incroyable." Delphine continued, rubbing her hands firmly across Cosima's shoulders, and then rolling them over so she was once again on top of the enchanting woman who had given her such pleasure, "and I am afraid that that will not happen until I can taste you, chérie."
Cosima's brain pitched and her blood rushed between her legs, intensifying the sympathetic ache that Delphine's climax had inspired. "Oh my god," she moaned, "Delphine, you don't have …" but Delphine laid and gentle finger over her lips to stay her objection. Cosima stared into Delphine's earnest eyes; the gaze that met her own was so sincere that she realized she could not censor any impulse this incredible woman wanted to indulge. Instead, Cosima closed her eyes and spread her legs as she reveled in the feeling of soft lips and curls moving in a delicate trail down her torso and edging ever closer to her desire.