Bonnie blinked. "You're seeing someone else?"
"No!" Chahna looked shocked. Then she sighed. "Sorry. I can see why you would think that, after what I said. I should have phrased it better."
"Maybe you should start over." The younger woman suggested. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then rested her chin on her knees.
"That sounds like a good idea." Chahna played with the sheet for a moment as she composed her thoughts. "I am not seeing anyone else. I do not ... date. As you know, I am only open about my sexuality when I travel overseas." She waited for Bonnie's answering nod, then continued. "Even then, I am careful to not get involved with the women I meet ... I spend a couple of days getting to know someone, go to bed with them once or twice, and then never see them again."
"Never?" Bonnie raised her eyebrows.
The Indian woman gave a rueful smile. "I seem to have broken several of my own rules, when it comes to you." She frowned, plucking at the bed sheet once more. "I like you a lot, Bonnie. We would not still be in contact if I did not. If we lived in the same country... and if I was ready to be in a relationship... then you would be everything I would want in a girlfriend. But the fact of it is that neither of these things are true. I do care about you ... as a friend. And as a friend, I have to be honest with you."
"Okay." Bonnie nodded slowly. She was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"As things are, we can only have this -" Chahna gestured at the hotel room. "- a couple of nights together, once or twice a year. I ... I need more than that. Physically, I mean."
"Have ... have you been with anyone else since November?"
Chahna shook her head. "No. This is my first trip out of India, since then. But I will be in London for a week in March, and ..."
"And you'll probably spend the night with a woman." The thought made Bonnie's stomach clench.
"Yes. I am sorry. I probably should have said all this before inviting you here. But telling you over email seemed wrong." Chahna sighed, then looked up to meet the younger woman's eyes. "I will ... understand ... if you do not wish to see me any more."
Bonnie did not answer immediately. She took a deep breath as she tried to sort through what she was feeling. It's not fair to be angry. Chahna had never hidden her lifestyle. And it was only natural that she would want more than Bonnie could give her. Just like I want more than she can give me.
The brunette turned that last thought over in her mind, considering it. I do want more. Just not in the same sense that Chahna means. Finally, she spoke. "A year ago, I would have been willing to accept it. But I've come through a lot in the last few months ... I'm ready for more than being just one of your lovers. I need to be more."
"You are more."
"I know you've opened yourself up to me more than the others. Staying in contact, meeting here ..." Bonnie reached out and took the older woman's hands in her own. "... but I need more in my life than a friend with occasional benefits."
"So this is the end for our ..." Chahna searched for the right word, then gave up with a small shrug. "Our relationship?"
"I still want to be your friend." The younger woman spoke quietly. "I like you. I like your company. I want us to stay in touch. But after this weekend, I don't think we should be lovers, anymore. I think I'm ready to have an actual girlfriend –" Never thought I'd say that out loud. "- and you can't be that for me."
"No." Chahna admitted, eyes downcast. "I cannot." The Indian woman started to pull away, then paused when Bonnie gently squeezed her hands to stop her. "What is it?"
"I said we couldn't be lovers after this weekend." Bonnie repeated her earlier statement, her voice husky.
"Oh." Chahna looked surprised. Then a warm smile curled the edges of her lips. "So you are mine for another forty-eight hours?"
"You have it the wrong way around." Bonnie released Chahna's hands and pushed her backwards, then slid forward to straddle the older woman's body. She leaned forward until their breasts touched, and gently nipped at Chahna's lower lip. "For the next forty-eight hours, you're mine."
Although they still had nearly two more days together, Bonnie explored Chahna's body like it was the last time she would ever touch it. Her hands and lips charted every curve and hollow of the older woman's body, building a map of extra inch of skin ... especially those which brought a gasp or moan to Chahna's lips.
Halfway through the process, Chahna reached for her. But Bonnie gently pushed the dusky hands aside. "Mine." She reminded her partner, locking eyes with the flush-cheeked woman, and waiting until she saw the answering nod.
"As long as I get a turn, later?" Chahna's voice was throaty.
"Of course." Bonnie nipped gently at the inside of the older woman's thigh, smiling when Chahna's hips gave an involuntary jerk at the touch. "If you have the energy."
Only when she'd explored every inch of the Indian woman's sleek form did Bonnie change her slow and languorous approach. Time to go from a simmer to a boil. She claimed Chahna's entire body; caressing and kissing every one of the 'gasp or moan' points she'd so thoroughly mapped. Within minutes, the older woman was sweat-slicked, body twitching with need. A need Bonnie had no intention of denying.
She drove Chahna swiftly to the edge; smiling against the older woman's sex as she heard the incoherent patois of Hindi and English that signaled Chahna's impending climax. The Indian woman's thighs clenched around Bonnie's ears as she granted Chahna that climax, which muffled the words but not their meaning.
In the past, once she'd given Chahna her pleasure, Bonnie had slid up the older woman's body to cuddle and kiss. This time, she stayed exactly where she was, lips and tongue still moving on Chahna's core. The change of strategy brought a low, guttural moan from the Indian woman; then a half-muffled shout as Bonnie added her fingers to the ministrations of her mouth.
Second, third and fourth climaxes ripped through Chahna's body, the Indian woman writhing and thrashing as she surrendered to Bonnie's onslaught. Only when the younger brunette made as if to start on a fifth ascent did Chahna reach down and gently press on her shoulders.
"Enough, baby. I can't take any more."
Bonnie reluctantly pulled away, then crawled up Chahna's body until they were face to face. She savored the older woman's flushed cheeks, darkened eyes and sweaty hairline. "You look like you had a good time."
Chahna gave a throaty chuckle, then reached up with one hand to gently caress Bonnie's cheek. "You are golden and glowing. Like a goddess." Her lips curled into a wry smile. "Kali, perhaps."
"The goddess of death?" Bonnie raised her eyebrows. "Not a comparison I expected."
"The French do call an orgasm 'the little death'." Chahna tilted her head up to brush her lips against Bonnie's. "So you are definitely my little Kali."
"I guess I can live with that." The younger woman smiled.
Chahna smiled in return, but then it faded into a small frown of dismay. "Is it alright if we take a break before I return your many favors? I am exhausted."
"Honestly, I need a break, too." Bonnie lay down beside the older woman, then drew Chahna to her, letting their foreheads touch and their legs entwine. "I'm sure the people next door will be glad of a break in the action, too."
Chahna blushed, her dusky skin turning even darker. Then a spark of amusement appeared in her eyes. "On the plus side, you won't have to introduce yourself to anyone in the hotel, this weekend."
"I won't?" Bonnie raised her eyebrows once more. "Why, are you planning to keep me chained to the bed?"
Chahna laughed. "I think it is more likely you that would chain me." She shook her head. "But no. That is not what I meant. You will not have to introduce yourself, because I am sure we just made everyone well aware of your name."
Bonnie's eyes blinked open. Chahna, eyes closed and breathing softly, still lay in her arms. I guess we fell asleep.
Trying not to disturb the other woman, Bonnie extricated herself from the tangle and arms and legs ... and other, even more enticing body parts. She took a moment to savor Chahna's sleek form. The soft brown skin was mottled in a few places by the marks of their earlier passion. Nowhere that would be visible in a skirt suit, though. Bonnie had kept that much self-control.
She twisted, turning her attention to the clock beside the bed.
"What time is it?" A sleep-groggy voice asked.
"Eleven-oh-eight." Bonnie turned back to Chahna. The Indian woman sat up, knuckling at her eyes and stifling a yawn. She had pronounced bed hair. Of course, Bonnie probably did too. "I guess I wore you out."
"You fell asleep first." Chahna protested mildly, leaning forward to brush their lips together. "I decided not want to wake you, and I dozed off." She stretched, which was very distracting, then rubbed her fingers on her belly. "I need to eat. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, though not just for food." Bonnie enjoyed the smile her comment provoked. "But we should probably refuel first. I guess at this time of night our only option is room service?"
"This is Las Vegas." Chahna reminded her.
"Oh, yeah." The younger woman felt a flush of embarrassment. "I guess we have lots of options then."
Chahna shrugged. "We do. But honestly ... room service sounds perfect. We'd both need a shower before we could go out, for a start." She walked naked across the room and picked up the hotel's information book, flipping through until she found the room service menu.
"Do they do omelet?" Bonnie lay back on the bed and enjoyed the view.
"They do. Swiss cheese and mushroom. Want to split one?"
"Get two. You're going to need to energy."
"How do I look?" Chahna smoothed down her jacket. She was wearing a fitted, charcoal-grey skirt suit over a white shirt. Black heels and stockings accentuated her long legs.
"Too good to let walk out the door." Bonnie languorously stretched her still-naked body, enjoying the hungry look that immediately came to Chahna's eyes.
"I could be wearing a sack and you'd think that."
"True." Bonnie acknowledged. "You look great. Like a successful businesswoman who got a lot more than four hours sleep last night."
"Four including the hour we dozed before ordering room service." Chahna groaned. "And now I have to listen to a two hour presentation on marketing. I am not sure I can stay awake."
"It's the last day of the convention." Bonnie grinned. "Half the people are probably hung over, if they even turn up. Just try not to drool or snore, and no-one will care if you're awake or not."
"It's easy for you to laugh." Chahna stalked over to the bed and gave Bonnie's stomach a gentle poke. "You're going to hang up the 'Do Not Disturb' sign and go straight back to bed."
"Damn right I am." Bonnie caught the hand that poked her and gently pressed a kiss to the offending fingers. "And when I wake up, you'll be here in bed with me. Half-naked."
Chahna looked intrigued. "Only half?"
"Yeah." Bonnie ran her fingers up Chahna's leg. "Keep the stockings on."
When Bonnie awoke, it was to find Chahna stretched out alongside her. The Indian woman had fulfilled her request; a consideration for which Bonnie amply demonstrated her appreciation.
Afterward, they lay pressed against each other, Chahna's stocking-clad leg thrown over Bonnie's hip.
"What are you thinking about?" The Indian woman asked softly.
"How did you know I was thinking?"
"You had a little crease, here." Chahna lightly brushed her hand over the top of Bonnie's nose. "That means you are plotting something."
Bonnie gave a slightly guilty grin. "Plotting? Me?" She paused, then shrugged. "I was just thinking about what we're going to do with the rest of our time together."
"Already?" Chahna smiled and caressed the top of her thigh. "I thought you would still be sated from the last time."
"I won't be, if you keep touching me there." Bonnie warned, with a soft laugh. "... but as much as I enjoy ... that ... it's the only thing we've really ever done together."
Chahna looked uncertain. "There is something else you would rather do?"
"I ... I'd like us to go on a date."
Author's Note: Believe it or not, Bonnie hasn't lost her mind. But exactly what she's thinking will have to wait until next chapter :)