billy – thanks!

Tara stretched out her limbs as she roused from slumber, blearily turning her face towards the sunlight beaming in through the blinds.

She smiled at the warmth and closed her eyes again, whilst scooting closer to Willow. Sunday mornings were the only real time they both indulged in sleeping in and made no rush to get out of bed.

Her arm wrapped around Willow's waist and she pulled herself closer so they were spooning.

Willow had been waking up too and her face broke out in a big smile when she felt them nestling up.

"Hey baby," she greeted with some morning husk.

"Hey baby," Tara returned sleepily, through a deep inhalation of breath, "Sun is out…"

"I can feel it…" Willow replied, turning her head so the stream hit her eyelids, "I bet it's a scorcher out there. My face is so hot."

Tara's hand slipped under Willow's top and started drawing concentric circles on her stomach.

"It's not the only thing…"

Her fingers dipped under the waistband of Willow's pyjama bottoms and brushed against the fine hairs of her mound.

Willow's breath hitched and she felt herself 'waking up'. Her hips squirmed and pressed back so her butt rutted into Tara.

Tara recognised a sleepy come-on when she felt it and pressed her palm right into Willow's belly. Her hand slid down onto Willow's hip, pulling the fabric down just over her hipbone. Willow sighed happily and Tara capitalised on it.

She ducked under the blanket and kissed the exposed skin; slowly turning Willow onto her back and trailing her lips towards her girlfriend's bellybutton. Willow moaned like Tara wanted her to and continued on her path.

She pushed Willow's top up until it bunched under her breasts, and Willow took it the rest of the way off. Tara pressed kisses along Willow's abs, which were really starting to become defined from exercise. Tara dragged her lips against the muscles, enjoying their jump under her tongue. She followed their outline and returned to Willow's bellybutton to dip her tongue in.

Willow's neck gently arched into the pillows and her hardened abdomen twisted beneath Tara's touch. She ached between her legs with Tara's mouth so close but was too filled with the Sunday morning lazies to make the effort to get her down there.

Instead, she enjoyed the gentle caresses with a relaxed smile on her face and closed eyelids to focus intently on the stimulus below the covers.

The tip of Tara's tongue did one last jaunt along the middle of Willow's abs, and her mouth continued the journey upward instead of dipping back down. The top of her head popped out from under the blanket as she reached Willow's breasts; kissing her nipples and gently giving the occasional nip.

Willow's body jerked and Tara eyed her with a grin. Tara pressed a lingering kiss to the hollow of Willow's throat and then nuzzled into her neck and swirled her tongue around. Willow tilted her head so Tara would pay attention to that sensitive spot under her ear. She shuddered as Tara did just that.

Eventually Willow felt she'd been lazy enough and turned her head back to Tara. She put a finger under Tara's chin, lifting it up so their lips met. Tara's hand rose to Willow's face, touching her jaw softly. She then tucked some hair behind Willow's ear and her fingers twirled the ends of Willow's hair, following the curve of her ear.

Her hand gently fell away and her fingertips pressed into Willow's shoulder, past her arm and to her sides.

She tugged at the pyjama bottoms she'd loosened earlier and pushed them down to Willow's knees. Willow bunched and kicked them the rest of the way, then with her legs free she rolled over and trapped Tara to pull off her sleep shorts. Tara bent her knees up for Willow to yank, whilst she pulled her own tank top over her head.

When all clothing was in various puddles on the floor, Tara had her lips on Willow's thighs and was dragging her tongue along the arousal spilled there. She delicately touched the tip of her tongue against Willow's swollen lips and delighted in the twitching it produced. She parted them with a slow, long lick before taking her tongue back into her mouth and audibly swallowing.

Willow covered her face with her hands but they were pulled away moments later and Tara was above her again, kissing her, still with that unmistakable tang on her lips. Willow closed her arms around Tara's back and sat right up; taking handfuls of Tara's skin and returning the kiss passionately.

During a brief break to take in a breath, Willow threw her leg over and straddled Tara. Her eyes dropped to Tara's breasts and their gentle heave as she breathed, then up to her effortlessly sexy bedhead and relaxed, folded arms underneath.

She had casually alluring look in her eye that said 'come get me', and Willow fully intended to.

Willow put her hands above the elbows of each of Tara's bent arms and caressed upwardly to her wrists. She held them there firmly, pinning them.

Tara moved her hands from under to above her head so Willow could have the control and pull at her all she wanted. She batted her eyelashes and felt Willow's grasp on her tighten as her eyes clouded with arousal.

Tara felt a pang between her legs under the intense gaze and her thighs began to clamp together, but Willow swooped in there first and pressed her thigh against Tara's heat.

Tara's neck arched into the pillows and Willow took advantage, scraping her teeth delicately against Tara's throat. Tara's hips rolled upwards against Willow's thigh as soft sounds of pleasure bounced off the walls.

She angled her hips to get more direct friction on her clit, which Willow helped accommodate as best she could. Tara's fingers splayed out, the pads brushing against the headboard and gently scraping it as her fingers curled back to their original position.

Willow felt the stretch of Tara's wrists under her hands and released them, sliding her hands up to link their fingers instead. She squeezed their palms together as she kissed down to Tara's breasts, then brushed her palms down Tara's arms and over her chest as her lips descended.

Tara let her arms fall down by her side, giving her muscles a break from being held over her head. They had barely rested a second before Willow surprised her by dropping straight down between her legs and kissing her clit, causing startled, frantic clutching at the sheet.

"Oh, mmmm…Willow…"

Willow loved her name verbalised in that low, raspy tone. She went in for it, tonguing Tara's folds to hear it even more. Her hands palmed Tara's outer thighs, allowing them to still clamp around her ears as Tara's body strained under her touch.

Tara's eyes were closed and her lips quirked up in a smile as the build-up of pleasure bubbled in her abdomen. She giggled as Willow's fingertips tickled her thighs.

"Come back up here. I miss you."

Willow crawled back up to hover over Tara. She dragged a finger around her mouth to wipe it, then traced Tara's lips with the same finger.

"I'm not doing a good enough job if you're able to say that so coherently."

"I'm more concerned about connecting," Tara replied, catching Willow's finger between her teeth and releasing it, "Connecting and coupling and…coming."

She pulled Willow's hips down to hers and held them locked there as she rolled Willow onto her back.

"Those are good 'c' words," Willow replied as her eyes glanced downwards, "Almost as good as cu–"

"Careful," Tara interjected, very slowly lowering the rest of herself so their bodies touched at each point.

Willow smirked and motioned Tara to her with a curl of her finger. Tara closed the gap and pressed her lips to Willow, slowly savouring her for a moment before pushing through with her tongue.

Willow's hands splayed over Tara's cheeks as she gently pulled her face in, bringing them as close as they could be. They moved at a leisurely pace; kissing unhurriedly and exchanging soft, brushing caresses.

"You're so soft," Willow whispered as one hand followed the curve of Tara's rear, "You always feel softer. And so…ohhhh…"

Her bottom lip trembled as Tara's thigh gently slid between her legs and offered some friction to her quivering clit. She spread her legs to get a smoother glide as her teeth dug into her lower lip.

She took the pleasure given until she heard Tara's little moans in her ears get needy. There was no demanding but she wanted the sweetness that was their back and forth, so turned them both on their sides. She nipped and pecked at Tara's lips, then pulled her close by the hip and sunk her fingers between Tara's legs.

Tara angled her knee so Willow had better access and bent her head down to close her mouth around Willow's nipples. Her hand weaved its way to Willow's thighs and inwards until they were mirroring each other's motions; fingers encircling each other's clits.

Willow ducked her head to kiss Tara, pulling at her lips hungrily. Their wrists crossed as they moved lower, and there was a mutual moan into each other's mouths as their fingers slid inside.

Their heads ducked around as they interspersed kisses with quick breaths and giggles. Their hands worked inside each other, touching and twirling and twisting in various ways to drive each other crazy.

"Do that more," Willow panted against Tara's lips, "Oh, baby…"

Tara's neck tilted back and Willow began to leave messy kisses on her throat. She nipped at Tara's collarbone, which elicited a sharp groan.

Tara's hips sped up and Willow's matched quickly until they were both grinding desperately and exchanging needy moans.

"I'm so close," Tara whispered, her tongue poking out into Willow's ear.

"Oh, me too," Willow replied, barely able to contain the fire erupting in her belly, "Tara, please…"

Tara put her chin over Willow's shoulder and brought them as close together as physically possible for the final push. Their hands and legs tangled together as they reached deeply inside each other and curled their fingers for maximum pleasure.

Tara felt the swell in her abdomen burst and her whole body tensed as the accompanying pleasure travelled through her. She took a long moment to herself, but quickly got back to tending to Willow, rotating her thumb up to rub her clit. Willow took just seconds to collapse into her, shakily gasping for breath and spasming around Tara.

The sheet was strewn around their feet and both hands were still nestled between each other's legs as their chests heaved together.

"Mmm," Willow smiled lazily into Tara's neck, "Good morning all 'round…"

Tara caught Willow's legs between hers and moved her head to Willow's chest, ear over her heart.

She clung to Willow and pressed a soft kiss against her skin.

"It's never enough. I just want to be closer."

Willow chuckled.

"Somebody got a big hit of oxytocin."

Tara nuzzled where she was, her hair brushing against Willow's chest.

"Maybe I just think you're wonderful."

Willow smiled at the tickle and dropped her head to inhale softly from the top of Tara's head.

Tara could feel the shifting sun's rays on her back and bouncing off her buttocks. She stayed still so as not to disturb its warmth until the call of nature became too much of an ache to bear.

She carefully extracted herself and wandered naked into the bathroom. When she was finished, she gave her face a quick wash and brushed her teeth for freshness. When she got back to the bedroom, Willow had coiled herself around a pillow and was snoring softly into it.

She went over and pulled the blanket gently over her girlfriend and kissed her temple, before going off to shower and dress, quietly.

She forwent her usual morning strong coffee for a relaxing cup of raspberry tea and sat with her feet up, flicking through the trashy magazine she treated herself too occasionally for some escapism.

She came across a recipe and decided she would try it for lunch, so quickly scanned the fridge for ingredients and made a little list for what she needed. She pocked that, then headed out to the fire escape where her small planter box had some herbs growing.

She tore some basil leaves and lifted them up to her nose.

The aromatic scent filled her nostrils and gave her that fresh, summery feeling. She plucked a whole bunch of it and climbed back in through the window. Willow had gotten up and was making coffee in the kitchen, redressed in the pyjamas she'd thrown off.

Tara gave her a sidelong hug as she approached and kissed the back of Willow's head.

"Hello sugarplum."

"That's a new one," Willow replied sleepily, "And so festive…for summer."

Tara paused with her lips on Willow's head, then brought her mouth to the top of Willow's ear to whisper.

"You tasted so sweet this morning."

Willow's cheeks turned red and she cleared her throat.

"So, um, what were you doing out there?"

"Collecting some herbs," Tara answered, twirling the leaves under Willow's nose before turning to the opposite counter to chop.

"You're growing herbs on the fire escape?" Willow asked, confused.

"Saves us money," Tara replied as she got down her pestle and mortar.

Willow peered over Tara's shoulder at the little bowls of chopped garlic and toasted pine nuts she already had prepared.

"What are you making?"

Tara placed the garlic in the bowl and sprinkled some salt over it before beginning to pound.

"Some fresh pesto. I'm going to make some pesto chicken flatbread tarts for lunch."

"Um, that sounds yummy," Willow replied eagerly, "You've done all the cooking this weekend."

Tara smiled over.

"You've had a meal on the table for me when I get home every day this week."

"Not 'pesto chicken flatbread tarts'," Willow replied, stirring sugar into her coffee, "Nachos…grilled cheese and canned tomato soup…"

"You made that delicious pasta bake and those jacket potatoes with the tuna," Tara replied affectionately, "Don't knock yourself."

Willow closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around Tara's waist from behind. She rested her chin on Tara's shoulder and kissed her ear.

"I love you."

Tara reached behind and patted Willow's head.

"I love you too."

Willow clung to Tara for a few moments until her pop-tarts popped out of the toaster and she took them out, flipping between hands when the pastry burned her. She started to walk out to the couch, but Tara called out without even looking over.

"Crumbs."

Willow doubled back, grabbed a plate and ate them over it while she booted up her laptop to do her morning news and social media check. After a while, she noticed Tara gathering her things up in her tote bag that she took shopping.

"Where are you off to?"

"I need to go to the market," Tara replied, popping her sunglasses over her eyes, "I want some sweet sun blushed tomatoes and some chilli peppers for the marinade I'm making for the chicken."

Willow was salivating at the thought of what Tara was going to produce. She set her laptop aside and stood up.

"Can I come?"

Tara's eyebrow rose just over the frame of her sunglasses.

"You never want to come to the market with me. You said you can get it in cheaper in Trader Joe's and with air conditioning."

"I feel like spending some time with you," Willow replied, smiling softly, "If I won't cramp your style."

"Who's got the oxytocin hit now?" Tara replied with a grin, then patted Willow's butt, "Get dressed. I'll hang on."

Willow scurried into the bedroom and picked out a yellow t-shirt with turquoise capris. She tied up the laces on her converse and found her own sunglasses, then joined Tara again. They held hands and smiled at each other, then walked downstairs and out of their building.

It was a hot summer's day and Willow was glad she'd popped her sunglasses on before exiting. The rays bounced off the lenses but her head still felt their full impact and her forehead began sweating almost instantly.

"Damn…it's hot."

"Missing that air conditioning yet?" Tara asked with a grin.

"Well this isn't my favourite kind of hot and sweaty…" Willow quipped back, "But you're still here, so it's all good."

"You work your charm so well," Tara replied, linking their fingers to secure their hands.

"You're not too bad at it yourself," Willow said, very glad for her sunglasses' second function of hiding her eyes while she took a sneaky peek down Tara's top.

The farmer's market was just around the corner and a frequent haunt of Tara's. She went every weekend to stock up on fruit for them and always picked up something new and exotic, like a variety of hot pepper or an Asian vegetable she hadn't tried before.

Very occasionally she'd bought them a nice cheese, which she thought Willow would like after telling her she enjoyed it in Europe, but apparently it stunk up the fridge and put her off.

The first stall they encountered was filled with both planted and packs of seeds of herbs. Tara lifted a bunch of greens to her nose and treated it much the same way she had the basil earlier.

"Fresh arugula. I love how it smells."

She felt Willow's nose hit against the back of her neck.

"I love how you smell," Willow whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

Tara blushed and hid her face by rooting in her tote to find her wallet. She pulled out the buck and change to hand to the vendor, then tucked her arugula away safely.

"Behave," she whispered back to Willow, then handed Willow five dollars as if it was her allowance, "Here, have a look around and go buy yourself something while I get what I need."

"Okay!" Willow agreed cheerily, having had her eye on something, "Meet you back here in a few?"

Tara nodded and they shared a brief peck before going in opposite directions. Tara was a much more composed shopper than Willow, who always went a little crazy with the 'buy one get one frees' and other offers – she'd often overspend their weekly budget, but amass enough food to keep them going for two, so it evened out.

Tara has internally freaked out the first time, worried Willow was beyond understanding of their new, modest finances and budget, but knew her girlfriend didn't need the knock in confidence, so she'd let it play out – and it had all fallen into place.

She enjoyed the array of colours as she passed; of fruit, vegetables and flowers and as she passed an artisan bread stall, she was momentarily transported back to Paris by the smell.

She made the unusual stop there and an even more unusual buy, detouring off her list, to buy some of their flatbread instead of making her own. She definitely considered it a luxury treat, but it was worth it. It was still warm as they wrapped it up in parchment paper and handed it over to her and Tara hurried to get the rest of her list so she could start cooking with it straight away.

Willow was already leaning against a lamppost with her arms full, but straightened up with a big smile when she saw Tara approaching.

"You know I can't resist big, juicy melons!" she said, struggling to fit her arms around the large watermelon in her hands, "What did you get?"

"What I needed, some great flatbread and this," Tara replied, showing Willow a small jar, "A homemade tomato chutney. It will go amazing with our lunch and cheese and crackers if we want a snack."

Willow nose scrunched up.

"Cheese?"

Tara resisted rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses.

"I didn't buy any," she said, falling into step with Willow back towards their apartment, "You can use the cracker barrel you have at home."

"Hey, don't mock the 'barrel," Willow retorted, "I started buying the fancy aged reserve one just for you. I experimented in Europe but I'm an American girl through and through and American girls like their American cheese!"

She started juggling the watermelon, so Tara took the other end of it and they walked at an angle home. When they got there, Willow started to cut and deseed the watermelon into slices and Tara began preparing the chicken.

"How come you're doing a marinade and pesto?" Willow asked as she carefully sliced the rind, "Isn't that double downing on the sauces?"

"The marinade is mostly for tenderising and heat from the chili," Tara replied, rubbing the mixture into some scored chicken breasts, "The pesto is flavour."

"Ah, makes sense," Willow replied with a bob of her head, "I hate deseeding these things but they're so yummy."

"Mmm, and so refreshing on a hot day," Tara agreed, "That thing will do us until the end of the week. It's a monster."

"Frankenmelon," Willow replied, giggling, "Live and be happy and make others so with your delicious taste!"

She gently scraped at the seeds, humming happily to herself.

"You make me happy," she continued, smiling.

Tara turned her head to return the sentiment, but instead saw Willow hugging the half of the fruit she hadn't cut up yet.

"Sweet watermelon."

Tara shook her head and turned back to her food, laying out her flatbreads to go in the oven to crisp up. She got her chicken chargrilling on a skillet and prepared a salad to lie underneath it.

She noticed Willow munching on the melon as she sliced it and gently slapped her hand.

"Stop filling up," she said, then pointed to the silverware drawer, "Will you set the table?"

"Sure!" Willow replied eagerly, "I'll make it all fancy with napkins and everything."

Tara had to smile as Willow jumped around getting things to set the table with, with that adorable bounce she had in her step. She kissed Willow's cheek and received a nuzzle back.

As Willow laid out the silverware, Tara took the flatbreads from the oven and smeared the bottom with the tomato chutney, then layered with arugula, red onion, the sun blushed tomatoes and the chicken on top, leaving it all as an open sandwich.

She sprinkled some grated cheese over them, which melted into the chicken, then cracked some black pepper over it all. She picked up the plates to bring them over, but Willow was un-setting the table.

"What are you doing?"

"Better idea!" Willow replied, rolling two sets of silverware into napkins, "Fire escape lunch!"

"You're coming over to my way of thinking," Tara replied with a grin, "Sounds good to me."

Willow tucked the napkins under her arm and fetched two cool bottles of iced tea from the fridge.

"You were right, it's nice to sit out there. It's like our own little cage to observe the Bostonian way of life."

She led them out and sat cross-legged in the corner, while Tara sat opposite. They settled plates and drinks and Willow immediately folded her flatbread in half and took a big bite. Tara smiled, admiring her.

"You sure know how to get your mouth around something."

Willow blushed, hiding a smile.

"So I'm told," she replied, licking the corner of her mouth, "This is really delicious. You were right about that tomato chutney. I bet you could make stuff like that."

"Maybe," Tara replied with a shrug, then reached over to wipe Willow's cheek with her thumb, "You're messy but I love you."

Willow wiped at her face with her napkin.

"I love you, Tare-bear."

She put her sandwich down and picked up the fork to eat with instead. She watched Tara eat, relaxed, and smiled.

She thought back to their first weekend lazing in bed together; those they'd woken up early to watch the sunrise; those they'd rolled out of bed for cartoons and applesauce and now; enjoying their day off together in the summer sun with delicious food they'd made in their own home.

She imagined what the future weekends might look like; their own yard, travel, hobbies, babies. She knew she didn't care what they entailed, as long as Tara was the common denominator.

She scooted in a little closer to Tara so she could take her hand while they ate.

"And I adore Sundays with my mesmerising missus."

Tara squeezed Willow's hand in hers.

"And your mesmerising missus adores Sundays with you."