"Which bed would you like? Monte asked as they entered the room.
"That one if that's okay." Lena said motioning to the one the farthest away from the hotel door. "I don't like being near the door."
Monte put her purse and luggage on the nearest bed. Lena walked past her and did the same. Lena turned around looking for a chest of drawers. "There is only one dresser." Monte said before she could. "You take the top two since you're taller." They both unpacked and organized their belongings bumping into each other several times. "I'm sorry" she said. She's going to think I did that on purpose. Monte didn't say anything.
"Do you mind if I shower?" Monte asked. "I'll be quick, I'm just not feeling very well."
"No, I don't mind. Are you okay?"
"I think I'll feel better after I shower." She said as she headed toward the bathroom.
Lena heard her start the shower. She sat on her bed for a minute then realized she hadn't talked to Stef. She pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed Stef's cell. No answer. She tried again with no answer. She dialed the house phone. "Hey Moma!" It was Jesus. "Hey baby. Whatcha up to?" "I had practice today. It's been a long day." He said. "Is Mom around?" There was a pause and the phone sounded like it was in the pocket of a wind breaker. "Hey love! How was your flight?" "It was delayed, we just got to the hotel." Lena wasn't sure if she should tell Stef about the single room. "We need teach our son phone etiquette." She added. "Well love, he's not used to talking on the phone. We're old remember? They text. We talk." Stef said laughing. "Hey babe, I tried to call your cell. Will you please keep it on you while I'm away?" "What do you mean? It's right here in my pocket-Oh. Yes and I'll turn the ringer on also." Lena could hear her fumbling. "It's all set." "Okay, thank you. I'm going to let you go, it's been a long day. I'm going to shower and then lay down. I love you." "I love you too, I'll talk to you tomorrow." They said their good byes and hung up.
Lena lightly knocked on the bathroom door."Monte?" No reply. "Monte? Are you okay?" She said a little louder. "I'm fine. I'm almost done." "Would you like me to go get some water for you?" "Yes please, thank you Lena."
Lena grabbed her wallet out of her purse, put the hotel key in her pocket and told Monte she would be right back. She headed out the door and took the elevator down to the lobby. "Where's the vending machine?" She asked the man at the front desk. "There is one around the corner and one on every floor. Lena went back up to her floor and walked past her room. The vending machine was at the end of the hall in a nook. She bought four waters.
The shower was still going when she got back. She knocked again. "I'm back." The shower cut off. She heard Monte pull the curtain. Lena was putting two of the waters in the fridge when Monte walked out of the bathroom in a towel dripping wet. She hadn't dried off. She sat on the bed. "Monte?"
"I'm okay, I just got too hot." Lena handed her a bottle of water. After a few sips of water the younger woman seemed to be doing better. "Thank you."
"Just let me know if I can do anything for you." Lena said worried. "Will you be okay while I shower?" Monte blushed. "You take care of everyone Lena, I'll be okay." She wasn't sure how to reply so she didn't. She grabbed her pajamas and walked into the bathroom. She pinned her hair up before she got into the shower to rinse the day away. She didn't take long; the bathroom was still very steamy from Monte's shower. No wonder she got too hot. She dried herself off and quickly got dressed.
Monte was asleep in her towel, still holding the water bottle when she came out of the bathroom. Lena smiled as she gently took the bottle out of her hand. She pulled the top cover from her bed and covered Monte with it. She then got into her own bed, under the second blanket. She lay on her side and watched the brunette sleep.
She had slept on her side facing Monte all night. When she opened her eyes she saw that the other girl had been watching her sleep. "How are you feeling?" She said, readjusting her pillow so she could see Monte better. "I'm feeling much better. Thank you for taking care of me. Did you sleep well?"
"I slept okay, not the best night's sleep, but not the worst." Lena said.
Monte sat up tucking her towel around her. "I'm going to go get coffee. Would you like a cup? Or maybe tea if they have it?"
"Coffee would be great." She smiled.
Monte rolled out of bed and squatted to grab clothes from her drawer. She turned away from Lena and got dressed. Lena watched as she pulled her panties up under her towel. Once they were on she tossed her towel on her bed. Still facing away from her with Lena still watching. Monte had a beautiful body. She was a little muscular but soft. She pulled on some loose fitting pants and a tee shirt. "I'll be right back."
"I really want to get out of this building." Monte said as she pushed the button for the elevator. Their conference was being held in their hotel, on the bottom floor. They had attended the meetings all day, the fundraiser campaign provided a catered lunch but both the women thought it was terrible. After five more hours of lecture they left. "Let's go out and get dinner." Lena suggested as the elevator door opened.
They called a cab from their hotel room and were soon on their way. "Anywhere is good." Monte said to the cab driver as they got down town. "We'll walk from here."
Compared to California the out of state evening air was crisp for them both. The wind blew gently as they walked down the side walk passing small locally owned stores. "Is there any kind of food you don't like?" Monte asked. "I like just about anything as long as it's not junk food." Lena replied as they crossed the street. They walked for a while, passing a few nice looking restaurants. Both of the women needed to stretch their legs. After about twenty minutes they retraced their path. They agreed on a little restaurant that looked like it had a piano bar type atmosphere. Low key and quiet.
"You're hard to read." Monte said. Lena looked up from her menu. "You're not the first to say so." She smiled. "Are you enjoying your time away?" Monte asked. "I've got a lot on my mind." Lena replied not looking up. They were sitting side by side at the bar. Monte still had her head turned watching Lena as she aimlessly scanned the menu. "What's on your mind?" She asked. "Everything." Lena sighed. Monte waved the bartender over and asked for two glasses of red wine. "Well you're going to drink, and you're going to relax. You can talk to me if you want but I won't push you to Lena." Monte said as she put her hand on Lena's leg. Lena could hear concern in the brunette's voice. "Thank you."
Monte kept her hand on Lena's leg absentmindedly rubbing her thumb slowly back and forth in a reassuring way. This comforted Lena, she reached down and put her hand in Montes. They lightly held hands, resting in Lena's lap.
"This elevator is taking forever. I think it's climbing the stairs to come get us." Lena whispered loudly to Monte in the lobby of their hotel. "Isn't it? It is?"
"I think you've had too much to drink." Monte whispered loudly to Lena.
"I think you've had too much to drink." Lena said pushing Monte's shoulder.
"I have and I think this elevator is taking too long." Monte said pushing the button again.
"I was thinking the same thing." The curly haired woman replied just as the door opened. They both walked in. Doors closed. After a minute Lena asked why they weren't moving. "It's broken" Monte said putting her hands on her knees as she bent to look at the buttons. "I think it's moving." Lena said. "You're swaying so it's moving."
"No. It's broken." Monte said still looking at all the buttons. "Let me see." Lena bent down beside Monte to look.
The doors opened. "Hello." Monte said to the man who walked into the elevator. "12th floor." He said flatly. The girls looked at each other and laughed. Lena pushed the button for the 12th floor. They both leaned against the wall as they rode upwards. The doors opened and the man got out. "It's not broken." Lena whispered. The doors closed and the elevator went up. The doors opened and a couple walked in. Back down they went. They were now back at the lobby. Monte finally pushed the right button for their floor.
"Do you have the key?" One said to the other at the same time. They simultaneously looked through their purses. After a while Monte dumped her purse out on the floor. "Found it." She said standing to open the door. "It's not working."
"Let me see." Lena said leaning in close to look. "That's your credit card love." They both laughed. Lena squatted down with the brunette to dig through her belongings. "I found it again. It's real." Monte said standing. She got the door open. They both scooted Monte's purse belongings into the room far enough to get the door to shut without pushing them back out into the hall. They both laughed.
"If I stayed on that elevator another minute I would had been sick." Lena said tossing her purse onto her bed and watching as it fell onto the floor.
Monte had her head in the mini bar. She pulled everything out and tossed them on Lena's bed. "What would you like ma'm?"
"I'll take your prettiest bottle." Lena said in a serious voice. They both laughed.
Lena woke up with a splitting headache. Monte was asleep with her head on Lena's chest. Her arm was under Monte's shoulder. Why am I holding her? She looked down. They both had their clothes on from the night before. She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. We just fell asleep. She felt the younger woman's hand move on her stomach. "You awake?" Lena whispered into Monte's hair as she rested her cheek against Monte's head. "No." Came the reply.
Monte turned her head to look up at Lena. "Good morning." She whispered as she kissed Lena's jaw line. She put her hand to the darker woman's face, Lena looked down into the younger woman's eyes. Monte stole a kiss. Lena reluctantly kissed back. Her body wanted it, but her mind kept screaming no. Monte's hand wandered up from Lena's stomach to her chest. In one swift move the younger woman rolled over and was now on top of her. She trailed kisses from her jaw line down to her neck. "I want you." Monte seductively whispered into Lena's ear, sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine. It was all happening fast. The brunette had positioned herself so her leg rubbed against Lena. Leaving her body to take over, she closed her eyes as Monte shifted again between her legs "I want you." She whispered in her ear again. Lena let out a moan that was quickly caught by Monte's lips in frantic passion. As the kiss deepened Monte fumbled with the button of Lena's dress pants then unzipped the zipper.
Reality hit Lena with such a force that she pushed Monte off of her. "I can't do this." she said panting. "I'm sorry, I just can't." She said looking over to Monte. Monte looked shattered.
Lena didn't call Stef on her way to the air port. Her mind was racing. What am I going to say? How do I explain this to Stef? What did I do? What happens now? "What now?" She whispered out loud.