Patsy woke the next morning in a similar state as the morning before, feeling safe and warm and overwhelmingly cozy under the soft duvet. She took a deep breath before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and blinking them open, blinded for a moment by the white light filtering into the room. Patsy rolled over to see an empty space next to her, the duvet pulled aside and Patsy saw that the door to the bedroom left open a crack.
Patsy fell back and head hit her pillow, a little disappointed that Delia wasn't there. Her hand reached out to brush against the unoccupied spot and she could still feel her warmth. She must have just gotten up. In Delia's absence, Patsy allowed herself to discreetly smell the pillow she had slept on and she smiled slightly, her heart beating faster in her chest at the memory of what had transpired the night before.
She had kissed Delia… and Delia kissed her back. The memory had Patsy smiling and bringing her fingers to her lips. She felt herself swooning at the thought of Delia holding her on the sofa until the two couldn't stay awake any longer. It was so sweet and the most loving Patsy had felt from another person in such a long, long time. She remembered they tiredly got themselves up and changed into their pyjamas before coming to bed, and Delia held Patsy some more until the two fell asleep.
The sound of the bedroom door creaking had Patsy opening her eyes, and she sat up from her spot on the bed as she watched Delia slowly back into the room, the brunette turning to reveal herself holding two steaming cups of tea.
Delia smiled at Patsy, 'Hey, don't get up,' she said as she walked over to place the two mugs of tea on the bedside table, 'I want to get in a few early morning cuddles before we get up for the day.'
Patsy smiled, feeling her ears turn red as she watched Delia bite her lip before crawling back into bed with her. Cuddles? She liked cuddles now! Especially if they were anything like what they had been doing last night. Patsy thought it would be a pretty great way to start her morning.
For a brief moment, Patsy wondered if, in these past few days, she had been the one to hold Delia. It occurred to her that she indeed, had not, and she wondered curiously what that would feel like.
With a strength she didn't know she possessed, Patsy scooped Delia up in her arms and turned the woman so that she was suddenly on her back with her head in Patsy's lap, Delia looking back at her with an excited giggle.
'Someone's got some energy this morning,' Delia laughed.
Patsy shifted slightly so she could cradle Delia's head in the crook of her elbow. She merely smiled down at the brunette sweetly, feeling her heart flutter pleasantly in her chest at the sight of those dimples again. Patsy's hand reached up and the tips of her fingers gently brushed Delia's fringe out of her eyes, grazed over her eyebrow and down her cheek. Delia closed her eyes and looked as if she was going to start purring at any second, her body turning slightly towards Patsy's, wanting to be closer.
Patsy couldn't help but look down at her endearingly as she continued stroking her hair, tucking loose strands behind her ear as she bent down to sweety kiss her forehead.
Even though Patsy could feel Delia's warmth and weight in her arms, smell her sweet scent, taste her on her lips, Patsy still found herself hard pressed to believe that this was really happening. That so much had transpired between the two of them in the short amount of time they had been together. Had they really only met two weeks ago? Had Patsy really been so mean to this sweet girl upon first meeting her? Been so horrible to her? Made her cry? The image of Delia's red, tear soaked face staring back at her as Patsy lay stunned in the snow only a few days prior flashed to the forefront of her memory and Patsy's heart sank. She felt so guilty. So remorseful, for how she behaved. And what's changed? Just the night before she lost her temper. Shoved her. Threw a chair, for God's sake. What if she had hurt Delia? And who is to say she wouldn't do something stupid like that again? She wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything bad happened to Delia by her hands, more harm than she's already done.
Patsy took a deep breath recalling the incident from the night before. Yet again, Delia forgave her. Again she showed Patsy a kindness that Patsy couldn't even show herself.
She didn't deserve someone as kind as Delia. She didn't deserve anyone.
'What's the matter, sweetheart?' Delia asked, her voice concerned as she sensed a change in Patsy's demeanor.
Patsy remained quiet for several moments, unable to articulate how she was feeling. She said the only thing she could think of.
'I'm sorry,' Patsy said softly.
'What for?'
'For just… I hate myself for being so horrible to you,' Patsy sighed and began to lean back, to distance herself.
Delia reached up and halted Patsy's movement, the palm of her hand resting on the redheads cheek.
'Patsy, I meant it when I said I forgive you,' Delia said soft, yet stern.
Again, Patsy thought to herself that she didn't deserve Delia.
The brunette must have sensed what she was feeling and untangled herself from Patsy's arms, sitting up and moving to face Patsy. The redhead watched with wide eyes as Delia straddled her and sat in her lap, her arms draping over Patsy's shoulders while Patsy instinctually wrapped her arms around her hips to hold her steady. For a second, Patsy marveled at just how well Delia seemed to fit in her arms.
'Pats, sweetie,' Delia pleaded, placing a soft kiss at the corner of Patsy's mouth, 'Stay here with me, cariad,' she said softly against Patsy's lips, 'right here in this moment,' she whispered before kissing Patsy again softly, her fingers running through Patsy's red hair.
Patsy kissed her again and felt as if she were going to melt into the bed. As Delia's lips pressed against hers, Patsy's grip on her tightened, and she could feel Delia sigh against her as her hands wandered over her back and hips.
'Pats, sweet girl,' Delia sighed as she grazed her lips against Patsy's eyebrow, 'I like you very much, you know,' she whispered, her mouth finding the shell of Patsy's ear and kissing her there, sending a shiver down Patsy's spine. The older woman couldn't help but close her eyes and tilt her head sideways as she felt Delia's soft lips trail down her neck, leaving more soft kisses in her wake.
'I like how you're holding me, Pats,' she said softly, 'Do you like holding me like this?'
Patsy could only silently nod.
'Do you like when I kiss you, cariad? When I touch you like this?' she asked, her arms wrapping around Patsy's head tighter, cradling her, as she placed sweet kisses on her eyelids and the bridge of her nose.
Patsy smiled and hummed affirmatively, her own arms hugging Delia tight against her.
A thought occurred to Patsy, and she blinked her eyes open, looking at Delia curiously.
'What does that mean?' she asked. Delia raised an eyebrow.
'What? Cariad?' Delia asked, smiling.
Patsy nodded.
Delia leaned forward and hugged Patsy, placing a soft kiss on her temple, 'It's Welsh. It means sweetie, or sweetheart,' Delia sighed and ran her fingers through Patsy's hair, gently kissing her ear, 'I only use it for people who are very special to me.'
'You do?' Patsy asked, feeling her heartbeat quicken.
Delia leaned back, looking at Patsy through half lidded eyes as she nodded and gave an affirming hum.
'I do,' she said softly, her hand coming to cradle Patsy's face while her thumb stroked her cheek.
Patsy closed her eyes, leaning into Delia's hand. There was something she found comforting about Delia touching her just then. The intimacy of it all. She turned her brain off for just a moment as her mouth placed sweet kisses on her palm, along the length of her thumb, her teeth nibbling on the pad of that thumb before she placed a fat kiss there.
Patsy opened her eyes slightly to see Delia looking back down at her, her cheeks pink, her eyes dark.
'Lay down, pretty girl,' Delia whispered, and Patsy, feeling like putty in her arms as it was, gladly followed instructions. Delia followed her and she pressed her body flush against Patsy's, her fingers combing through Patsy's hair as she pressed her body hard against Patsy's, their lips pressed together in a deep kiss.
'You are so beautiful, sweet girl,' she sighed as she pulled away, and Patsy couldn't help but arch into her as she kissed her again.
Beautiful. Sweet girl. Pretty girl. These were phrases that Patsy had never heard before that were used to describe her. Coming from Delia, the phrases made her feel those things; beautiful, sweet, pretty. Definitely pretty. They made Patsy just want to give in, to close her eyes and let Delia do whatever she wanted to her.
'Your touches are so sweet, your kisses...' Delia trailed off, sighing in Patsys ear, her tongue pressing against a spot on her neck that had her squirming underneath the smaller woman, 'oh, how I love your kisses, cariad.'
Patsy sighed, arching her body into Delia's, her hands precariously lifting Delia's jumper to feel the soft skin of her back.
But, there it was, that word again. Cariad. Sweetheart. She was calling her sweetheart. Patsy faltered slightly, feeling rather bashful that she had not reciprocated, however…
'I don't…' Patsy started, using all her strength to try and think coherently again, 'I don't have a word for you,' she finished.
'A word?' Delia asked, sounding as breathless as Patsy felt.
'I mean…,' Patsy faltered, 'I've never… I don't think I've ever been someone's sweetheart. Not like this. Not for a long time.'
Delia leaned forward and kissed Patsy's eyebrow, the redhead closing her eyes and sighing at her touch.
'No jealous ex-girlfriends lurking around in your life for me to worry about then?'
Patsy smirked, 'No, definitely not.'
'Lucky me,' Delia kissed Patsy sweetly on the lips and pulled away with a smile, 'Pats, what do you think of when you think of me?'
Patsy raised an eyebrow at her.
'I mean, what do you feel comes to you naturally? And it's alright if you want to call me sweetheart, too. Or just Deels,' Delia smiled, 'I really like when you call me Deels.'
What did Patsy think of Delia? What did she feel when she looked at her? What words came to her when she held her and kissed her and thought of all the nice things the woman had ever done for her? Had made her feel?
Patsy took a deep breath through her nose, her arms once more wrapping around Delia's body as she rolled them over, laying Delia down on her back, on top of the fluffy duvet and pillows. With her arms securely around the smaller woman, Patsy settled on top of her, their legs entangling. Delia sighed delightfully at their new position, biting her lip to keep herself from giggling.
'Some words that come to mind when I think of you,' Patsy started softly as she kissed Delia's ear.
'Beautiful,' she said, closing her eyes as the tip of her nose grazed along the length of Delia's neck. Patsy took a moment before continuing, softly breathing in the smell of Delia's hair and skin. Patsy really did like the way she smelled first thing in the morning.
'Passionate,' she said, thinking of their emotional moments the night before. Her tongue found the dip in Delia's neck, licking her there gently. Delia gasped in reply and Patsy smiled.
'Loving,' Patsy continued, her mouth feathering kisses back up her neck. She thought of how Delia had treated her the last two days, her kindness, her stubbornness. There was no one else in Patsy's life quite like Delia. No one that was beginning to mean as much. Delia was so special to Patsy. It made her think that the next word was entirely appropriate as she held her wrapped in her arms.
'Precious,' she said softly as she placed gentle kisses on Delia's cheeks and eyelids, causing Delia to giggle.
'Darling,' she whispered in her ear, her mouth gently tugging on Delia's earlobe.
'Oh,' Delia said, and Patsy pulled back slightly, opening her eyes to see Delia looking back at her, her cheeks flush and lips parted.
'Darling,' Delia repeated, 'I like that.'
Patsy leaned down and kissed the shell of Delia's ear, the woman in her arms sighing at her touch, 'You like that?' Patsy asked.
Delia could only hum in response, nodding slightly as Patsy continued to nuzzle along her neck.
'I like it, too,' Patsy said softly, 'Darling,' she kissed her ear, 'My Darling.'
'Hmm, that's right,' Delia sighed as she smiled lazily, 'I'm yours, cariad,' she kissed Patsy on the lips, 'all yours.'
Patsy reciprocated her kiss in kind, opening her mouth and moaning when she felt Delia's strong thigh press against her in a way that had her gasping. She couldn't believe this was happening. Delia felt so right in her arms, so good pressed against her. It had been so long and Patsy didn't think it had ever felt this sensual, this right, as if it was meant to be. She wanted nothing more than to lose herself right then and there and just keep going, explore Delia's body with her hands and mouth, make love to her, make her come, give her all the pleasure Patsy knew she deserved and wanted.
As the two women were caught up in the moment, Delia's fingers found their way under Patsy's jumper, the cool digits lightly grazing over a myriad of raised scars that here hashed over her hips, and the sensation immediately made Patsy's pulse pound in her ears and break out into a cold sweat. Patsy pulled away, her heart sinking, waves of anxiety washed over her and any desire she may have felt vanished in an instant.
She remembered suddenly that she was ugly. She was riddled with scars and other marks that Delia would see and recoil at if she saw them. Would think they were disgusting. Would think Patsy was disgusting. Grotesque. Repulsive.
Beautiful. Pretty. Sweet. What was she thinking? Patsy was incapable of being any of these things.
Patsy slowly pulled away and disentangled herself from Delia's body, the brunette blinking her eyes open, looking as if she were coming out of a daze.
'Pats?' She asked, 'what… everything alright?'
Patsy sat up and sat crossed legged, willing herself to keep her distance and think up some excuse. She saw the two mugs of tea sitting on the bedside table and reached for them.
'Um, tea's getting cold…' she said feebly as she handed one mug to Delia, the poor woman sitting up and still looking as if she needed a cold shower to come back into the moment.
'Tea?' Delia breathed, looking down at the outstretched steaming mug as Patsy merely looked down in her lap. She couldn't bare to look Delia in the eye at the moment.
Patsy felt Delia gingerly grasp the mug with both hands and she let go, her hands coming to hold her mug in her lap.
'Hey, cariad,' Delia said softly, her head dipping slightly to catch Patsy's eyes, 'what is it?'
Patsy couldn't articulate what she was feeling. She shut her eyes tight and turned her head away, her heart pounding in her chest as a waves of anxiety washed over her. She hated that she ruined this moment. She didn't want to say that anything was wrong. She didn't want to feel like this. She didn't want to talk about it and make things awkward. Why did Delia like her? What on earth did Delia see in her?
'Pats…' Delia started gently, 'what happened?' She tentatively reached out for Patsys hand, and though Patsy's instinct was to pull away, Delia's gentle and kind tone stilled her, allowed for her to let Delia touch her without that anxious feeling.
Delia waited patiently for Patsy to respond, her thumb gently stroking her wrist.
'Where did your mind go just then, sweetheart?' Delia asked softly.
Patsy sighed, 'I just… you, um…' she closed her eyes, frustrated at herself. She felt like she was fucking this up.
'Take your time Pats,' Delia said.
Patsy took a deep breath, 'When you… when you touched my hip. You touched my scars and um… it just… I don't…,' Patsy took her free hand and raked her fingers through her hair, holding her head in her hand, her elbow on her knee. Maybe if she wasn't looking at Delia it would be easier to just spit it out.
'Delia, I hate my scars. I hate my body. I'm still… I-I like when you touch me. I like when you kiss me. It's just, when you touched me ithere/i… it just reminded me of how ugly I am.'
Patsy took another deep breath, hating herself. She raked her fingers through her hair again and opened her eyes, focusing on the tea in her lap.
'This is… this is what I was talking about. You shouldn't… you should… when we get back to London just go out with other people, alright? You don't want to deal with this. Go and be with someone with less hang ups. Someone easier.'
Patsy watched as Delia's hand left her wrist and grasped the mug of tea in her hands, placing it back on the bedside table before grasping Patsy by the wrists. Patsy looked up to see Delia pulling her towards her, forcing her to her knees and then suddenly she was laying back down on top of Delia, their bodies becoming entangled once more as they settled against one another, their arms wrapping around each other once more and holding each other tight.
'Patsy, you really need to get out of this habit of telling me what to do,' Delia said, her tone a little teasing, 'because it's usually the exact opposite of what I want.'
Patsy shyly buried her head in the crook of Delia's neck, allowing herself to sink into her as she felt Delia's arms wrap tight around her body.
'Cariad, what am I going to do with you, hmm?' She said, kissing Patsy's temple, 'what can I do to convince you that you're beautiful? That you're the most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on?'
Patsy tisked, hiding her face in Delia's hair. She could feel a blush spread across her cheeks.
'I mean it Pats,' Delia said softly, and Patsy could hear the smile in her voice, 'I have to admit, I didn't see it at first. It took me some time, because I didn't like you when we first met.'
'I'm sorry,' Patsy said automatically, knowing just how mean she was to Delia and how much she regretted it.
'Shh,' Delia cooed, running her fingers through Patsy's hair before lightly kissing her ear, 'Patsy I have to tell you something,' she said.
'Hmm?' Patsy asked, her head still shyly tucked into Delias neck.
'It was a few days ago, when we were on the road, at the rest stop in York. You showed me the picture of George, remember?'
Patsy nodded with an affirmative hum.
'Well… that was the first time I saw you smile. Like, a real, genuine, heartfelt smile,' Delia sighed happily, 'I'll never forget it, Pats.'
Patsy raised an eyebrow at Delia.
'I couldn't breathe, when I saw you like that. I was quite taken back by how beautiful you are.'
'No,' Patsy smiled shyly.
'It's true!' Delia implored, 'I just thought, iWow/i,' she breathed, 'I had never seen anyone so pretty. I was surprised I was able to even speak coherently afterwards because I just thought you were iso/i beautiful. It was the first time I think that I had a chance to sit across from you and look at you. iReally/i look at you. It was then that I noticed that you had such… ipretty/i blue eyes, and when you have your hair pulled back you have these sweet little wisps that fall around your ears and your neck,' she emphasized her words by running her fingertips over the shell of Patsy's ear, and lightly down her neck, 'and how I've been thinking of kissing that neck ever since,' she sighed, 'and this ear,' she said, placing a sweet kiss against Patsy's ear, 'and these eyebrows, and nose, and these soft, beautiful lips,' she took her thumb and gently ran it over Patsy's bottom lip.
Blushing, Patsy couldn't help but look up at her as she shyly kissed her thumb, and Delia looked back at her hungrily, her breathing deep.
'And, Pats,' Delia continued after blinking and taking a deep breath, 'I've seen your scars, remember?'
Patsy nodded shyly.
'Well… They surprised me, but they didn't change how I feel about your appearance. How I feel about how beautiful I think you are. And, I don't know if you've noticed, but I can't keep my hands off you,' Delia breathed.
'I have noticed that, yes,' Patsy smiled, feeling better. She felt relieved that Delia was able to be so patient with her.
'Ah, see, there it is,' Delia said sweetly, her finger gently stroking Patsys cheek, 'there's that smile that leaves me weak in the knees.'
Patsy's face grew hot, and she shyly tucked her bottom lip into her mouth as Delia giggled.
'No, don't hide it from me, I want to see you,' she said, her own smile growing wide, showing off those dimples that Patsy had come to love. She knew a thing or two about someone's smile making them feel like they would fall to their knees.
Patsy licked her lips before she leaned down and kissed Delia, sweet and slow as she felt Delia's hands gently rub her back over her jumper.
'I mean it in all the ways Pats,' Delia breathed, her eyes growing heavy between kisses, 'don't hide from me, alright? I think you're beautiful,' she trailed off as Patsy kissed her again, 'so, iso/i beautiful.'
Patsy closed her eyes and silenced Delia with a kiss. Not that she couldn't go on hearing sweet words from such a sweet woman, but she couldn't contain it anymore. She needed to kiss her, to connect with her. Patsy needed to touch her in a way that conveyed her feelings, to let Delia know that she desired her, that she wanted to touch her in a way that she only had the privilege of.
Patsy sighed, feeling her body seemingly sink into Delia's again as she opened her mouth and traced her tongue along Delia's upper lip, her heart fluttering hearing Delia whimper, feeling her body arch into hers.
'How,' Delia whispered as Patsy moved along to kiss her neck, 'How are you so good at this?'
Patsy ignored her question and captured her lips with hers again, opening her mouth and pressing her tongue against Delia's, pulling at her bottom lip, kissing her, over and over again. She had the woman under her squirming, wanting more. The way she had Delia whimpering, pawing at her, desiring her… it made Patsy feel wanted, feel confident, and definitely turned on.
She had kissed the woman back into a subdued state, Delia looking as if she were in a daze, an albeit happy one, but in a daze nonetheless. Patsy wondered amused if she was going to drift back off to sleep. She couldn't help but smile down at her, still rather marveling that a kiss from her had such an effect.
'Deels,' Patsy said quietly, placing her head in her hand while the other gently tucked away stray hairs behind Delia's ear.
'Hmm?' Delia hummed, licking her lips. It seemed she was coming to after the loss of contact.
'I want to tell you something,' Patsy said, and she watched as Delia blinked her eyes open.
'What's that?' she asked.
Patsy looked down shyly, biting her lip as she picked at a loose thread on Delia's jumper.
'Pats,' Delia whispered, 'Tell me.'
'Last week… when you stayed late and fell asleep in my office…' Patsy trailed off. Her heart was fluttering so fast suddenly, it made her breath catch in her throat at the memory.
Delia smiled, 'What about it?'
'I…' Patsy trailed off, blushing profusely at the memory. Why was she having such a hard time getting this out? Especially after Delia had said all those wonderful things about her.
Patsy hid her face in her hands, feeling the hot blush crawl up her neck to the top of her ears, 'I'm obviously terrible at talking about my feelings no matter what they are,' she mumbled into her hands.
'Are these good feelings then?' Delia asked, and even though Patsy had her eyes closed, she could hear the smile in her voice.
Still hiding, Patsy nodded.
'Oh my god, Pats, you're so cute I can't stand it,' Delia said, pulling Patsy's hands away from her face. Patsy gasped when Delia forced her to flip over. Patsy suddenly found her hands pinned above her head with Delia straddling her, leaning over her with an amused look.
'What is it cariad?' She whispered against Patsy's lips.
Patsy tilted her head to meet her for a kiss, Delia pulled away.
'Uh uh,' she said, making sure she was just out of reach, 'tell me.'
Patsy's head fell against the soft duvet again and she sighed, her eyes taking in the woman above her, her playful eyes, that mischievous smirk, those cute dimples. Patsy's gaze landed on Delia's messy fringe and her eyes followed her hair, trailing over the tendrils that hung loose from her braid.
'Tell me and I'll take off my top,' Delia said playfully.
'Your hair!' Patsy blurted out, feeling her eyebrows raise and her eyes widen.
Delia laughed, 'My hair?'
Patsy was very distracted all of a sudden. Why was she talking about Delia's hair when she was so pleasantly reminded that Delia probably wasn't wearing a bra underneath her jumper at the moment.
'So me working late nights and my hair are connected… how?' Delia asked, her smile growing wide. Patsy could tell Delia was rather pleased with herself for how flustered she was making her.
'You… that night. I remember you took your hair down and fixed it back up again and… and that was when… that's when I first thought to myself that you were pretty,' Patsy paused in thought as she took in Delia's expression, 'I suppose that was imy/i 'wow' moment. When you let your hair down. It was… I was taken back by how pretty I thought you were. Haven't been able to look at you the same way since.'
Delia sighed, looking down at Patsy in mock disappointment, a small smirk on her face.
'Patsy, what's your middle name?'
Patsy blinked. She was having difficulty remember anything at the moment.
'Um, Elizabeth,' she stuttered.
'Patience Um Elizabeth Mount!' Delia shouted, grabbing two fistfuls of Patsy's jumper, 'you've gone a whole week having a crush on me and you didn't tell me?! How dare you!'
Patsy laughed, 'Oh, right like that would have gone over well!'
Delia looked up in thought for a split second before responding, 'Eh, fair point, but I probably would have come round and we could have been having some sweet cuddles and kisses much sooner.'
Patsy giggled as Delia finally leaned down and kissed her.
'So you like when I have my hair down, hmm?' Delia asked, smiling.
Patsy nodded, her smile growing wide as Delia sat up and undid her braid, ran her fingers through her hair and fluffed her long locks out around her shoulders.
'Better?' she asked.
'Yes,' Patsy said happily, feeling her heart flutter at the sight, 'though it would be even better if…' her hands surreptitiously tugged at the hem of Delia's jumper.
'Oh, I see,' Delia said with a smile, her hands grasping Patsy's wrists and pinning them above her head again, 'You need propositions to spit out whatever it is that's on your mind.'
'They certainly help,' Patsy said, her eyes following the curtain of hair that draped over Delia's shoulder. The sight made it difficult for Patsy to think coherently, 'especially when they're as enticing as what you promised.'
'I didn't promise cariad,' Delia said softly.
'Oh, so just a tease?' Patsy pouted.
Delia gasped and sat up straight, 'I did no such thing! Besides, I said I would take my top off and I will.'
Patsy looked at Delia expectantly, the woman on top of her smiling.
'I just didn't say when.'
Patsy gave an exaggerated sigh and squirmed underneath Delia, the woman giggling at Patsy's frustration.
'You've gotten my hopes up and everything,' Patsy whined.
Delia laughed, and then Patsy noticed a change in her expression. Delia bit her lip, and she looked back down at Patsy, her eyes growing dark as they glanced over Patsy's body, her fists gripping her jumper before letting go.
'Well,' she said softly, leaning back down over Patsy's body, pressing herself flush against her, 'If you can be a good girl and wait patiently, I'll do what I said I would,' she kissed Patsy, 'I'll do more than that too. Much more,' she finished with a whisper.
'Hmm,' Patsy hummed as Delia kissed her again, finding herself breathless when Delia trailed off, leaving Patsy to her imagination.
'Can you be a good girl for me?' Delia whispered when she pulled away.
Patsy had no idea what that entailed, but she found herself nodding. She would pretty much agree to anything Delia wanted in this moment.
Delia smiled, gently stroking Patsy's hair and she leaned down for another sweet kiss.
A low rumbling cut into the middle of their kiss, and the two women pulled away giggling slightly.
'Was that you or me?' Delia asked.
'I have no idea,' Patsy breathed, her mind still on Delia's lips pressed against hers.
'Ah, well,' she sighed, sitting up, 'regardless, it sounds like it's time for breakfast.'
Patsy sat up with her and wrapped her arms around Delia once more, 'I'm sure breakfast can wait long enough for one more kiss?'
Delia smiled and obliged, kissing Patsy sweetly one last time before the two disentangled themselves and got out of bed to start the day, the tea on the bedside table long forgotten and cold.
hr
After a hearty breakfast, Patsy and Delia were able to part from each other long enough for Patsy to dress and work outside most of the day, clearing the long driveway of snow now that it had stopped falling from the sky. She enjoyed the time alone to think, the simple repetitive task of scooping up snow and tossing it aside clearing her mind while it worked her muscles.
About halfway through Patsy paused for a break, shuffling through her pockets for her cigarettes and lighter. She was dismayed to see that she was down to three and hoped she would be able to get by the next few days without any once she was through with these. As she smoked, she looked back out onto the snow covered road, untouched and still about knee high. It was Sunday so she figured no plow would come through that day, but she wondered if, out here, one would come through at all? Not that she wasn't enjoying this little impromptu getaway, especially as it's turned into the rather surprising romance that it has.
Patsy smiled at the thought, blushing slightly when she recalled Delia's words. Good girl. What was a good girl anyway? What did Delia mean by it? And why did the phrase turn her on so much? Patsy recalled her reaction to it and wondered why she felt like she was regressing when Delia said it, like she felt smaller, younger than she was. And she enjoyed it. She was surprised at how she felt as if she was able to just let go under Delia's touch. Hell, her gaze, even.
The way Delia looked at her, too. It sometimes made Patsy's breath catch in her throat. Delia had called her beautiful. Pretty. She had spent so much of her life thinking she wasn't. Thinking she was ugly because of these bloody awful scars, because she was gay. There was always something wrong with her, and yet…
Patsy took a deep breath, smoking her cigarette as she closed her eyes tight. She could feel her heartbeat thump in her chest, her mind racing between thoughts of her body and of Delia. She hated her body and Delia said she was beautiful. She hurt herself as Delia wanted to heal her. Patsy couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe there was someone like Delia out there. Couldn't believe…
No. Don't give into it, Patsy thought. Believe her when she says you're beautiful. Believe her. Listen to her. She likes you. She likes you. She wants you…
Thoughts of what transpired that morning happily flashed through Patsy's mind. Their cuddling, their kisses. The way Delia felt when she was on top of her. The thought made Patsy feel warm and she couldn't help but smile remembering how Delia looked as she straddled her. Patsy thought she rather liked looking at Delia from that angle. Especially with her hair down. Delia's eyes, too. She loved her eyes. She loved how sultry they looked after their kissing, how full of desire.
Pats blushed, wondering how much longer they were going to last. How much longer it would take before something gave and they had sex. Did Delia even want to have sex? Did Patsy? Was she even ready for that?
Patsy stood dumbfounded wondering when the last time she had sex was. She certainly hadn't been naked in front of another person for several years, that's for sure. At some point in her youth she was able to ignore how she felt about her scars and have sex with whomever she had been with, but the way she felt about her scars had only grown worse with time. So much in fact that she couldn't remember the last time she had been completely naked in front of another person. Couldn't remember the last time she let someone touch her. Matter of fact, Patsy hadn't really pursued anything with anyone because she was tired of the strange looks. Tired of explaining the scars. It always made her emotional, made her think of how they got there and then she wouldn't bloody feel like fucking after all that. So she just stopped.
Patsy wondered what sex would be like with Delia, the woman being the only person Patsy could think of that she had really bared all to. Delia had seen her body and heard her story. She had seen all sides of Patsy, from the darkest parts of her to the brightest. And she was still here. She still wanted Patsy.
Delia wanted her.
Patsy closed her eyes as that thought sank in.
Delia was remarkable. Patsy would be a fool to push her away again. To deny her.
With that thought, Patsy decided then and there. That settled it. If Delia was ready for sex then so was she. She would let Delia take the lead on that matter when it came to it.
Hmm. Sex with Delia.
Patsy smiled at the thought. She wondered what Delia even liked. Had she even had sex before? She was still rather young, so it could be a possibility that she hadn't. Though, she certainly didn't act like a naive virgin. Delia seemed very confident. So sure of herself, so sensual. Yeah, Delia knew what she was doing, Patsy thought. She knew how to drive Patsy crazy, that was for sure. Turn her on. Holding her close and whispering things in her ear. Good girl. Good girl. Patsy thought she could stand to have that whispered to her over and over again. What did one have to do to earn such an endearment?
Patsy puffed away on her cigarette, still lost in thought, so much that she didn't even hear the sound of footsteps crunching in the snow growing closer and closer.
'There go those eyebrows again.'
Patsy jumped, gasping so deep she nearly swallowed her cigarette. She looked beside her and saw Delia standing there, fully dressed for the outdoors with her hands in her pockets.
Patsy watched as Delia narrowed her eyes playfully and giggled at her reaction.
'Patsy, would you even tell me what you were thinking about so animatedly if I asked?'
Patsy composed herself and flicked her cigarette away somewhere in the snow.
'I assure you it's nothing you need to be concerned with,' Patsy lied, feeling her face grow hot.
'I do hope you'll tell me what's going on in that head of yours someday. By the looks of it it's very entertaining.'
Patsy merely smirked, blushing bashfully She wondered just how transparent she was being. Bloody eyebrows giving everything away.
'What's up?' Patsy asked.
Delia rocked on her heels with a sly smirk.
'You've come out here to work without wearing your mittens,' she said, turning her nose up disapprovingly.
Patsy blinked. She had forgotten all about those.
'Oh, sorry, it slipped my mind,' she shrugged.
Delia did not seem particularly pleased with that response.
'I specifically said last night that you were not to come outside and work until I had finished knitting your mittens.'
Patsy merely looked back at Delia, studying her. She wasn't sure what Delia was getting at.
'You've broken a rule, so now I have to punish you.'
'Punish me?' Patsy asked with a laugh, as though the concept was absurd.
She noticed a glint in Delia's eye. Was she teasing her? Playing a game? Whatever it was, Patsy thought it best she play along, given the stern look Delia was giving her. She wiped the smirk off her face before responding to Delia.
'And what is my punishment?' she asked, not able to understand why the suspense of this little game was getting her excited.
Delia smiled, bringing her finger to her lip in thought as she began to walk a circle around Patsy, looking her down and up.
'I don't know,' she mused, 'A few things come to mind. I could put you to bed without supper. Maybe take you over my knee and give you a spanking.'
Patsy's eyes widened, and she couldn't help the subtle smile that spread across her face at Delia's blunt suggestion.
'Oh no,' Delia said, regarding Patsy's expression, 'your reaction tells me that you would like that a bit too much, wouldn't you?'
Patsy let out a noise that was supposed to be something in the affirmative, but she found herself incapable of forming words when the thought of Delia smacking her bum was in the forefront of her mind. Would she like it? If her reaction the day prior to Delia's playful spank was any indication, Patsy knew she would probably like it very much.
'Wouldn't be much of a punishment if you liked it, would it?'
Patsy found her voice finally, 'Um, no, I suppose it wouldn't.'
Delia stopped her pacing, coming to stand in front of Patsy with her hands on her hips, her head tilted to the side slightly as she regarded the taller woman.
'You've really hurt my feelings, Pats,' she said, pouting.
The smile left Patsy's face, and she felt a pang of hurt in her chest.
'I spent all that time last night knitting you these nice and cozy mittens and you went ahead and forgot all about them.'
Patsy felt so guilty all of a sudden. Delia was right. She had been thoughtful and spent time making something for Patsy. Who else in Patsy's life would have gone to the trouble?
'Are you to forget about all the nice things I do for you?' Delia asked, batting her lashes slightly.
Patsy still stood there, rather unsure of what to do or say. All she knew that she felt sad, upset with herself that she had disappointed Delia. She had to try and make it right.
'You're right, Delia,' Patsy said, slowly, 'I was so very thoughtless. I'm sorry.'
Delia remained silent, looking back up at Patsy, waiting for her to continue.
Again, Patsy simply looked at Delia, her mind completely blank of what else he could possibly say to remedy the situation.
'Is that all?' Delia asked, 'I know how hard it is for you to admit when you're wrong, Pats, but surely you can do better than that.'
Admit she was wrong?
It finally clicked with Patsy that this was her punishment. Delia was certainly right about that. Typically Patsy hated admitting when she was wrong, especially at work. She was usually so stubborn that she would rather seethe for days or avoid the topic altogether rather than admit she was wrong about something.
With Delia though, she was able to push her stubbornness aside and do what she wanted to make things right. To apologize and really mean it.
Patsy kneeled in front of Delia, the brunette looking down on her now with an amused expression.
'You're right, Delia,' Patsy said looking up, her eyes locked on Delia's, 'You did something so thoughtful for me, spent so much time making these mittens for me, and like an ungrateful cad I forgot all about them and came out into the cold without them. I didn't obey your orders, I didn't wait for you to finish, and now my hands are so cold and your feelings are hurt. I'm so sorry, my darling, can you ever find it within yourself to forgive me?'
Delia smiled down at Patsy, looking rather pleased. The thought had Patsy's heart thumping in her chest. She resisted the urge to smile.
'Put your hands up, cariad,' Delia said, and Patsy obeyed.
Delia extracted the pair of cream colored mittens she had made the night before and put them over Patsy's pink hands, making sure they were on snug. She took a step back to admire her handiwork. Or so Patsy thought.
'You know, I think I like seeing you on your knees,' Delia said.
Patsy blushed. She knew Delia wasn't teasing her. She knew she wasn't trying to be mean, and Patsy took no offense. She wondered why, though. Typically being in a position like this, why, a normal person would find it demeaning. But Patsy wasn't normal, was she? Why did this excite her?
Why did she feel empowered?
'You may stand,' Delia said.
Patsy got to her feet, the two keeping eye contact as she rose.
'Have you learned your lesson?' Delia asked with the tone of a stern headmistress.
'I have,' Patsy looked down at Delia endearingly, lightly brushing her cheek with her newly mittened hand, 'I'll never take your knitting for granted ever again,' Patsy said with a small smile.
Delia happily bounced on her feet before she cupped Patsys face in her hands and sweetly kissed her on the lips. Patsy couldn't help but smile, thinking she looked so cute.
'Thank you cariad,' she said as she stepped back.
Delia licked her lips and played with the fringe of Patsy's scarf.
'Are you almost done?' She asked, her eyes glancing towards the shovel sticking out of the snow.
Patsy nodded, 'I think the beginning of the road is where those trees are,' she nodded over her shoulder, 'I shouldn't be too much longer now. Maybe another half hour.'
'Alright,' Delia said, 'I'll have a little treat waiting for you when you finish.'
'Oh?' Patsy's eyes widened as she felt the tips of her ears turn red.
'Mmhmm,' Delia said, standing on her toes once more and giving Patsy a lingering kiss.
She pulled away, looking back at Patsy trough half lidded eyes.
'Don't keep me waiting too long,' she said softly.
'I won't,' Patsy replied, her voice matching the sultry tone of Delia's.
'Good girl,' Delia winked before turning on her heel and making her way back towards the house.
Patsy watched her go, breathless.
She blinked, the feeling of being called a good girl had her wanting to melt into a puddle and run a marathon at the same time. She had done something that made Delia happy. That pleased her. She found it a relief, rather. All the things she was thinking beforehand that were causing her stress, it was all forgotten for those moments when Delia was playing her game. She only needed to focus on one thing, and that was Delia. Listening to her. Following her orders. And for it she was rewarded. She was a good girl. She was Delias good girl. It was something that she had earned. It was something that she knew she wanted to keep earning.
Patsy pulled the string on her hood to try and keep the chill from her ears and neck before she turned and picked up the shovel, getting back to work with a newfound energy. With that special treat Delia had mentioned now on her mind, she was able to finish shoveling the driveway in half the time she said she would.
hr
Patsy had finished up just as the sky was turning dark, and she began walking up the long driveway noticing the sky taking on the pink and purple hue of the sunset. When Patsy returned to the house, she hung up the shovel in the shed and brought in with her some dry firewood. What she loved most about walking into the house in this particular moment was that Delia had the entire cabin smelling wonderfully, baking fresh bread and what she thought smelled like curry simmering on the stove. The cooking made the house warm and Patsy could feel her ears and cheeks and fingers sting pleasantly as they warmed up. Patsy recalled a moment from the night before, Delia saying that if this is what a relationship is like with her then it's what she wanted. Patsy couldn't help but share her sentiments just then, thinking she wouldn't mind walking in to a warm flat, smelling of freshly baked goods and hot and hearty meals from Delia.
Patsy shook her head, feeling silly all of a sudden.
Two weeks. It's been two weeks, she reminded herself.
She placed the logs in the empty basket next to the fireplace and began to remove her coat.
'Oh, cariad,' Patsy heard Delia say. She looked up to see Delia simply dressed in her beige jumper and jeans, walking towards her with a mug and spoon in her hand.
'Let's trade,' she said, handing Patsy the mug while she helped her remove her coat, folding it over her arm.
Patsy looked down at the mug in her hands, it was hot to the touch, 'What's this?'
'Brownie mug,' Delia said, 'would have made something like this earlier, but you neglected to tell me there was cocoa in the pantry.'
'But you found it anyway,' Patsy smirked.
'Always do,' Delia smiled, reaching her hand behind Patsy's neck and gently pulling her down for a kiss, 'Thank you for doing all that work out there today, sweetheart,' she said softly, her hand trailing over Patsy's cool cheek, resting there, warming her skin.
Patsy leaned into her touch, finding her rather intoxicating.
'Dinner won't be ready for a bit, so I've gone and made you a nice hot bath to warm you up.'
'You have?' Patsy asked, rather surprised.
'Of course,' Delia said, taking Patsy by the hand and leading her towards the small bathroom, 'there's even a cuppa waiting for you in there. Thought you'd enjoy it with your brownie.'
Delia tossed Patsy's coat on the recliner as they walked by, turning towards the taller woman before she retired her to her bath.
'I threw one of my favorite bath bombs in there for you. It's chamomile. Always calms me down. Thought it would be good for your anxiety, you know. Keep your mind on happy things,' she finished with a smile.
'You brought a bath bomb with you when you didn't even know if our hotel had a bath?' Patsy asked with a smirk.
'So? I thought I was going to have a rather stressful weekend with you. I was going to have myself a bath even if I had to sneak away to another hotel.'
Patsy slumped her shoulder against the wall. Not because she was reminded of how terrible her behaviour had been, but because Delia had left her hair down long. Patsy thought she looked so pretty, that she needed help standing.
'It still feels so weird that you're doing such nice things for me,' Patsy sighed.
Delia wrapped her arms around Patsy and pulled her in for a tight embrace.
'That's why I'm doing them,' she said against Patsy's neck before kissing her there, 'I want you to get used to it.'
Delia pulled away smiling, her finger tracing over Patsy's cheek and lips. Patsy couldn't help but kiss the pad of her finger.
'Well, go on then,' Delia said, letting out a shaky sigh, 'Don't want the water to get cold.'
Patsy took a deep breath as she watched her walk away, wondering just how to got to be so lucky.