AN: Happy Pride Month! I wanted to upload on the first to kick things off, but mental stuff got in the way. I also had the idea that I could upload more frequently this month to celebrate. Plus, I currently have a lot of chapters backed up, and I want my summer arc to be uploaded during the actual summer. So we'll see how well that goes.
Chapter Fifty Five- Skin
On Saturday, it rained, creating the perfect excuse to stay inside. So we did.
Ronnie's apartment smelled vaguely of Louis's weed, and I was glad that he wasn't currently around to smoke up the place. When I asked Ronnie about her roommate's boyfriend, who he was currently staying with, she explained that he lived almost an hour out of town. He'd be transferring from a community college to here next year, ultimately taking Ronnie's empty spot in the apartment.
That was why Louis spent entire weekends gone. He didn't like making the trip there and back in one day.
"What's going to happen to your room once you leave?" I asked sleepily, resting on the larger woman's chest as she laid stretched out on the sofa. I was playing with the curls of newly-dyed vibrant blue hair. The faded red was gone as of yesterday. I quite liked this color. It reflected her bright and eye-catching personality.
"They'll paint a basic color over all of my coats, then turn the room itself into a workspace. Louis can't really fit all his sculpture supplies in his room, and it's been spilling into the main space for months now. The apartment will definitely be more organized when that stuff is moved around."
I could faintly detect the pattering of rain against the kitchen windows. The overcast sky left a gray dimness to the indoor space, the weather seeming to creep inside through the raindrop-streaked panes.
Ronnie and I hadn't really discussed what would happen after graduation, if we were even still together at that point. There was a chance she'd stay in town. Yet, I also knew there was a large possibility that she'd leave as soon as a suitable job was available. I supposed we'd face the accompanying issues if, and when, they ever arose.
"Everything okay, sunshine?" I asked after an unusually long bout of silence.
"Yeah" she answered after a beat, shifting underneath me slightly. I placed a hand beside her, on the sofa's surface, pushing my body up. I moved to straddle her waist, then brushed my hair back.
She watched my every movement with heavy-lidded eyes, seemingly lulled by the downpour. I liked how her gaze remained focused on me. Among the many other things I'd learned while dating Ronnie, I realized how much I loved the attention. I practically basked in it.
"You could continue staring" I prompted playfully, high on rising adrenaline. This was when I'd make my move. "Or you could do something."
She raised an inquiring brow. "I feel like you're suggesting something, but my naïve mind has no idea what your intentions are."
I snorted in laughter. The complete opposite of sexy. "Oh, I bet" I replied smoothly, trying to maintain some semblance of an adult air. Then I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. "Would a drink help clear things up for you?" I asked.
"Nope" she suddenly said in a simple tone, and proceeded to pull me down by the front of my shirt. I gasped sharply before my breath was cut off completely. Ronnie kissed me deeply from the start, breath hot and arms circling around me. Fuck. I forgot she's an expert at this, I thought.
Soon enough, I felt her familiar tongue against my lips, and I unintentionally groaned at her swift expertise. She was already working my loose shirt up my back, hands grazing further along my skin.
I pulled away momentarily, panting to regain my breath as I slid the shirt over my head entirely. "Wow, you really came prepared" Ronnie casually commented, eyes fixated on my lacy bra.
"Oh shut up" I said weakly, still lacking enough oxygen.
"I wasn't complaining." Then the older woman frowned, and I grew somewhat suspicious of what she must be planning. "Hm. How do I pull you down now that your shirt's gone?" She pondered mockingly. I huffed one final time and rolled my eyes at her dramatics.
"Just do what you're going to do already" I instructed in a false tone of exasperation. To be honest, I liked her light-hearted words. It made the entire situation feel less intimidating.
In a quick succession of movements, Ronnie first laid her leg on mine, then grabbed my hips firmly. With a short heave, she yanked me down onto the cushions, then flipped over to hover above me. "Impressed?" She asked with a dumb smirk.
"I guess" I replied, despite my pounding heart.
"Tough crowd" she said with a shrug. As she leaned back down to kiss me again, I held a hand up to stop her, palm resting against her chest. I signaled to her own shirt with my eyes. "What, are you shy being less clothed or something?" She inquired, not quite as jokingly as before.
"Sort of?" I answered, a bit sheepishly.
A moment later, she was reaching down to the hem of her tank, swiftly pulling the garment up and over her head. "Nothing fancy for me, huh?" I commented upon seeing her standard black bra.
"I don't need that lacy shit. My body is the work of art" Ronnie stated, managing to maintain a completely serious expression.
"Oh my God" I said in a high tone, beginning to cackle just a second later. "Holy fuck." Laughs continued to wrack my body, and I attempted to cover my mouth with an equally shaky hand. "Do you use that line on all the girls?"
"No. It is great though, right?" She was grinning along now. I shook my head, laugh devolving into giggles.
"And people wonder why you can't keep girlfriends" I joked.
"C'mon, you're still here."
"After hearing that, I don't know" I continued to mock. I tried to even my breathing out again, a few tears slipping from the corners of my eyes. Ronnie's gaze had shifted to focus on the rain, only a slightly amused expression on her face. "I'm kidding, sunshine" I assured with one final hiccup of a laugh.
Once her eyes were back to me, I smiled softly up at her. "Thank you for the humor. Really. I know you can tell I'm nervous, and trust me, I don't want to be… But, thanks. You're making this very easy."
Ronnie sighed, though not in a tired manner. It was more content, rather than anything else. I watched her chest rise and fall with her steady breaths, and couldn't resist raising my hand to rest against her left breast. I could feel her heartbeat.
"You're really warm" I muttered, eyes fluttering back up to look at her. A second later, she dipped in to kiss my cheek. Then ran her lips along my jaw, moving slowly down to my neck. Her kisses were light and gentle. There was no hurry to her movements.
I inhaled a shuddering breath as she reached my chest. Her fingers were rubbing along my stomach, mouth sucking lightly on the top of my right breast. Feeling overwhelmingly comforted by her presence, her compassion, and gentle touches, I whispered a lingering thought. "I think I love you."
She paused, and I immediately stiffened. I hadn't meant to say that. I hadn't intended to disrupt this moment. Everything was going so well and yet I had to be so impulsive, as always-
My reprimanding thoughts were interrupted, however, by Ronnie's lips suddenly against mine. I was shocked for a moment, but took no longer to wrap my arms around her shoulders. I wanted to be closer. I needed to feel her skin.
I nearly breathed her in, completely encased in her heat and growing drunk from her kisses. She broke away. I kept my eyes closed. "Really?" She muttered hopefully from a mere inch away. My heart was beating so quickly. This must be it. This must be that wonderful feeling everyone talks about.
"Y-yes" I answered breathily.
Seemingly satisfied with my reply, Ronnie planted a quick, lingering kiss on my lips. She snuck her right hand beneath me, reaching her destination at the clasp of my bra. "Is this okay?" She questioned. I nodded, lips parted and nerves on fire.
She deftly unclasped it, and I let her untangle me from the constricting item. "Fuck" she said simply. If I didn't already enjoy her stares of adoration, I might be embarrassed at this one. I didn't mind, though.
It wasn't long before the rest of our clothing followed. Ronnie kept the process slow, even excruciatingly slow at some parts. And she was always considerate. Despite her obvious hunger, she handled me with care. There wasn't a single point where I was uncomfortable.
As we continued to get lost in each other, with limbs entwined, all I felt was heat, pleasure, and an undeniable love.
AN: Comment if you'd like. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than usual.
