Chapter 9
The sun radiating into the room from the large windows began to warm her body. She began to stretch and bend with her eyes still closed as her body began to awaken. The sun mixed with the warmth and the comfort of both the bed and the woman next to her made her feel as though it was a brand new day. She rolled over and saw the mass of brown curls and the memories of yesterday came flooding back.
Sherri was still sleeping and Teri couldn't believe that she was actually there. She reached out and wrapped one of the soft coils around her finger. Sherri began to stir and she turned to face Teri. "I kept waking up. I didn't know if I should leave or not since-" "Don't you dare," Teri searched her beautiful brown eyes then gently smiled. "What"? Teri lightly shook her head before whispering, "I think that I see an angel". Sherri smiled and reached for Teri's hand under the blankets.
"I think after last night I ran out of tears," Sherri said. "Who are you telling?" Sherri sat up a bit more serious, cris-crossing her legs and still facing Teri. "What happened yesterday?" Teri pulled the covers over her head. "I don't want to talk about it. Please, just not right now," Teri said, knowing how persistent she can be. Sherri decided to drop it for the time being. Plus there were other topics at hand. She tried to pull the blanket from over Teri's head but she had a death grip. "Teri, let go," Sherri laughed. "No. I'm safe from all serious conversation under here".
Sherri got off of the bed and crossed her arms, "Fine". Teri popped her head out, thinking that she had upset her. She looked down at her bare legs. "I see that you still refuse to use pants". She gazed at her smooth golden skin and just imagined touching her. Or even simply laying against her bare skin. Just then Sherri lunged at the bed and snatched the blanket off. "There nowhere to hide now". "Sherri give it back! It's cold". Teri laughed at Sherri's playfulness; a side of her that she absolutely adored and missed. "Nope it's mine now". Sherri gathered the blanket into a ball and ran to the door. "Oh no you don't" Teri jumped up to stop her and began to tickle her sides before she could get the door completely open. "Ahh! No that's cheating!" She threw the blanket over Teri and jumped on the bed. She began to jump up and down like a child as she threw all of the pillows at Teri. "Ah! Oh no! Aerial attack!" Once she ran out of pillows, Teri ran to Sherri and resumed her tickle attack. She was so weak from laughing that she just collapsed onto the bed and Teri just sat there laughing, still lightly tickling her. When she stopped Sherri just laid there trying to get her nerves under control. "Teri?" "Yeah?" "You're in love with me". Teri paused, "I'm aware". She sat up, "I'm in love with you too". Teri let out a breath that she wasn't aware that she was holding, a large part of her was worried that Sherri didn't feel the same about her. "Yeah?" Sherri nodded her head, "And I'm scared of where this may go and of what may happen. What are people going to say? Because technically, I'm still married. I can take the criticism but I don't want that to be the basis of who we are. Then there's the possibility of this going terribly wrong. The show just got picked up. What if we mess that all up?" Teri turned to be completely facing her. "I understand, love. I thought about all of those things too. But we have to look towards the positive outcomes instead. And it's not like we have to go tell the whole world. I'm ok with keeping whatever we are a secret for now. "Yeah?" Sherri asked with sympathetic eyes. "Of course. And heaven forbid this does end in flames, then we can just make everyone choose sides! Cierra and Maia would coordinate the whole thing. They've already taken control of our lives anyway". They both burst out laughing. "No I don't like that plan". Sherri continued to laugh and Teri just smiled, so pleased with the moment.
"You're so beautiful," Teri said suddenly causing Sherri to pause. She slightly winced as she turned her face away as if to catch herself then she quickly smiled. "What? I'm nothing compared to my Teri Polo. You're a knock out." Teri caught what she was hiding but decided against pushing it at the moment.
"Well your Teri Polo is going to make you breakfast". "You? Breakfast? Not left overs?" Sherri scoffed in mock surprise. "Yes! I can make breakfast"! "Like what exactly"? "Like way more than you, Miss Toast and Nutella," Teri got up kicking the blankets and pillows out of the way, "Come help". Sherri followed her down the hall. "Hey there's nothing wrong with Nutella and toast. It's a specialty that comes with being in a single marriage". "Well it's time for new beginning my dear. What would you like to eat?" Sherri hopped on the island as Teri began to gather items from the fridge. "Do we still have those cinnamon rolls?" Sherri exclaimed. "Yeah I think so". "Oh and turkey bacon. I can sort of make eggs. Do we have potatoes? Let's make home fries!" Teri turned around with arms full of contents. "Whoa love, baby steps remember. We don't want to burn the house down." Truth be told Sherri was just excited to be with Teri. Teri dropped what she was carrying next to where Sherri was sitting and stood in front of her with her hands softly caressing her legs. "Besides, where do you plan on putting all of this food?"
The whole time Sherri watched Teri. Though there were a few things that they had to talk about, things in that moment seemed perfect. She got to wake up scantily clad next to her love again. And they were making food all alone. Before she knew it Teri was standing between her legs rubbing her thighs and she couldn't take it any longer. But Teri already knew what was coming next. She felt it building up in the air and she saw it in Sherri's eyes. Before she could be pulled in she stepped back far enough to lean on the counter edge behind her. "We can't kiss each other". She felt the dry lump form in her throat. She felt both rejected and confused. "W-why? We kiss on set all of the time". "No. Stef and Lena kiss each other all of the time. You and I on the other hand…we haven't kissed, had sex, or even seen the other naked. Though I'm pretty sure you saw my playboy spread," Teri tried to make light of the situation but it wasn't working. "Anyways, I'm already madly in love with you without having experienced any of those things. Your eyes, your soul, your smile, your personality, they are all what caused me to fall in love. So for me, as Teri, to kiss you, Sherri Saum, person who has been seen as a married woman in the public eye for 10+ years, isn't a good idea. Because God only knows how I will feel then".
"Teri, when we stopped talking to each other I spoke with a lawyer. Even though I thought that I couldn't have you, I knew that I couldn't be with him and that I didn't want to be with anyone else." Sherri choked a little on her last words and began to cry. "He keeps contacting me now. He isn't just going to just leave willingly. I really don't want to have to drag you through this. But I'm really afraid". Sherri dropped her head in her hands and Teri rushed back over to her, brushing her hair back trying to wield her to look up at her. "I'm here my sweet love. I'm going to be here for every part of the way. I promise you that. Do you hear me?"
Though it pained Teri to see her so frightened and sad, she loved how open and vulnerable Sherri has become with her. Just thinking about how closed off and aloof she was when they first met and how she is now, it was sort of beautiful. But she hates when she is sad. Teri grabbed Sherri's hands in hers and when she lifted her face her red apologetic eyes and tear streaked face was enough to break her heart. "Please stop crying" Teri leaned up and kissed her forehead. Her warm skin against her lips was intriguing and made her linger close to her face. "Stop crying," she kissed the bridge of her nose. She slowly kissed both cheeks as the saltiness of her tears found refuge on her lips. Sherri stopped crying and Teri noticed the rise and fall of her chest as Sherri's breathing increased. Teri let go of her hands and lightly grabbed her sides. She rubbed her thumbs against her as she looked up into her waiting brown eyes. They both anticipated what they both knew was coming next. Sherri places her hands on her shoulders and leaned in close to the point where she could almost feel Teri's lips on hers. She whispered, "Please, don't stop". Teri slightly nodded and whispered back, "I wasn't planning on it".
With that she finally closed the gap and kissed her. The sounds of their lips smacking together and being pulled apart was like music to their ears. But Sherri needed a little more. She pried Teri's mouth open and their tongues danced with each other. Teri reached under Sherri's shirt and pulled her closer to the edge of the island and Sherri wrapped her legs securely around her. Teri quickly realized that not only was Sherri not wearing pants but she wasn't wearing a bra either. After a second of hesitation she reached up and grabbed each breast; roughly kneading them and pinching each nipple. Sherri involuntarily moaned. Turned on and slightly embarrassed she smiled and chuckled into Teri's lips.
Teri smiled back, "You are so damn adorable". Sherri paused before going in to kiss Teri back in reply. But this time Teri wasn't going to just let it go. "Why do you keep doing that?" Sherri just shrugged her shoulders. "Don't you see how amazingly beautiful you are?" "Yes I do. But sometimes it's hard to believe that other people do. Between Nick and the industry it's hard. Either I'm too tall, my hair is too curly or too poufy. Or I'm too dark for some roles and too light for others. Then I got too old to model. Nick told me the only reason I got the job that I have now was so they could meet certain quotas". "Sherri, that's not true. It's not even close to true". "Isn't it?!"
Teri reached up and placed her hand in her curls. "When you were gone I dreamed about playing in these curls again. Every time I see you I just have the urge to nuzzle them. Your hair doesn't define who you are, you are not your hair, but your hair is a beautiful part of you. And honestly I don't know and can't imagine what it's like to be a woman of color in Hollywood, but Peter and Bradley love you. I remember after our chemistry read when I was taken aback, they did nothing but praise you. I can say from watching you that you are an amazing actress". Sherri was smiling ear to ear at Teri's kind words and efforts. She leaned in to kiss her but Teri stopped her. "Oh I'm not done yet Ms. Saum".
Teri had a devious look in her eye that sent sparks through Sherri. "So about this beautiful melanin that people seem to have a problem with. I love the skin that you are in. In fact Teri leaned in and licked then sucked the crook of her neck while rubbing up and down her thighs. Sherri melted forward so she could rest her head on Teri's shoulder trying to muffle her moans. Teri has never been with a woman before but she was naturally learning what Sherri likes. "Come on Sher, you don't have to hide from me. If you want to make noise then do so". Teri nipped her ear before licking her way back down to her collarbone. She knew that Sherri was shy but she wanted her to be little more open, at least with her. So when she felt her shake her head no she knew what to do. "Your skin is so smooth and soft and beautiful. My hands just can't get enough". She continued the attack on her neck and ran her hands up her thighs. Sherri's breathing continued to pick up to the point where she began to softly whimper. "Come on love. Let me know how you are feeling". Growing impatient Teri quickly pushed her hand in her panties and slid her finger through her wetness. She glided her finger around her clit and Sherri's body jumped and she let out the longest moan. "That's right love". Feeling a little over heated, Sherri pulled her shirt quickly over her head before she could second guess it. Teri wore a wide smile as she was exposed to her breasts. She put one in her mouth and began to flick and play with her little pearl with her tongue. Sherri had no choice but to tilt her head back and take what Teri was giving her. Teri slide her finger down and shoved her longest finger inside of her. Sherri yelled out in surprise and almost jumped back off of the island but Teri was there to keep her in place. Teri began to pick up speed as Sherri was panting and moaning out of control. Right when Sherri was on the brink, without warning, Teri stopped everything. Sherri looked in disbelief as she tried to steading her breathing. Teri smiled and kissed her full on the lips.
"I'm hungry", she said as she moved the stool back in place to where she was just standing. "Ok. I guess we can start cooking", Sherri grabbed her shirt confused and hurt by the abrupt ending. Teri took the shirt out of her hands and threw it on the floor. "You know? I also really like that you are tall. I can't stop touching your legs. I'm not sure if you ever noticed but I used to always find a reason or opportunity to put my hands on them". As she ran her hands up and down her legs, Sherri began to get chills again. She couldn't tell if it was from Teri's touch or from her lack of clothes. Just the she felt Teri grab her ankles and before she knew it her feet were spread on the edge of the island and Teri was seated in the stool kissing and sucking her way down her inner thighs. Sherri just leaned back, still in disbelief that this was all happening. She felt like she was still dreaming.
The closer she got to her core the warmer she became. Right before she dove in, Teri looked up to Sherri's eyes as if asking for permission. Sherri's eye began to well with Teri, she never had any partner care this much, and she just smiled and nodded her head. Teri lovingly kissed the inside of her knee and gently slid her lace panties off, leaving Sherri completely naked and exposed. Teri thought that she would be nervous to have sex with a woman, but she was more ready than ever to take her love. "Are you ready?" Teri asked one last time. Sherri was just so overcome with emotion. She just laid back and reached her right hand out to Teri who held onto it with her left before moving closer. Teri sucked on each lip as Sherri sighed each time. She her left thumb in circles on top of her hand, trying to make sure she was as comfortable as possible. Teri licked from the base up, slightly separating her lips. She felt Sherri shutter and allow a moan to escape. This encouraged her to go in for the kill. She used her other hand to separated her folds and broadly licked from her hole all of the way up to her clit, where she latched on and began to suck and tease. Sherri's back arched as she began to cry out in pleasure. Teri took two fingers this time and began to pump as fast as she could. Sherri was twisting and moaning all over the place. She was floating well about cloud 9 at this point. Teri kept up the speed when she felt the grip on her hand tighten and knew that Sherri wasn't too far now. Teri curled her fingers up and Sherri's whole body spasm as she screamed a whole rainbow and curse words. "Shit! Baby don't stop/ please!" Teri did as she was told. She replaced her fingers with her tongue and began to twist and turn her sensitive nub as finally release, screaming out in pure ecstasy. Teri was right there to catch every drop.
Once her orgasm subsided, Sherri was left lying there panting. Teri rubbed her knees wielding her to sit up. When she did her face was flushed and her smile was big yet shy. Now that she was coming off of her high she was fully aware of her nakedness. Teri pulled her off of the island and onto her lap, putting both of Sherri's legs to one side and held her close so Sherri could rest her head on her shoulder. "Are you still doing ok my love?" "I'm more than ok. No one has ever made me feel like that before. No one has ever even made love to me like that before". Teri stroked her hair, "I'm glad. Plus I enjoyed hearing you call me baby and especially that dirty mouth of yours. Very rare side of you". They both burst out laughing. Sherri couldn't believe the things that came out of her mouth. But in all fairness it had been a while since her body received any TLC. "Can we make breakfast now? Though you were extremely filling. I'm still craving some cinnamon rolls". Sherri slapped her arm playful but got up to get her shirt. Quite honestly, after that morning, she was starving.