It took Erin a few seconds to respond, but then she was opening her mouth, and Penelope waited for the words to fall from her lips. "Oh, Penelope, I want to say yes. I just might a little more convincing. Why would you want me?"
"All right, then, story time. Last night, on the dance floor, I could feel you watching me, following my every move, and even before I knew who was beneath that mask, I knew that I wanted to kiss you and find out more about those burning glances of yours. You turned my head from the moment I looked at you last night, and I knew that there was no turning back. I would pursue you to the ends of the Earth, if that was what it took to carve out a space for me in your life." She gave Erin a lazy smile before capturing her lips in another soft kiss.
"So, is this the time when I ask you to talk dirty to me?"
The teasing lilt in Erin's voice startled Penelope, and she cocked her head to one side as she stared at the woman. "You are forever going to keep me on my toes, aren't you?"
"Maybe, but would you want it any other way?"
Penelope shook her head before letting her face relax into a sultry look. "So, are we settled, then? Am I to be your girlfriend?"
Erin bit the corner of her lip before shaking her head. A wounded look that Penelope couldn't quite rein in flitted across her face, and the older woman sighed before kissing her passionately. "I was going to say that I don't like the term girlfriend, Penny. It's too young for us. Partner, lover, paramour, beloved, those are more the words I might use to describe this relationship."
Slowly, Penelope released the breath she had been holding as she nodded. "I like those." Erin giggled a little before scrambling off Penelope's lap and standing. "You giggle?"
"I do. Especially when in the presence of one as charming as you. Now, am I going to be left standing here, or are you going to join me?"
Penelope hastily got to her feet, wrapping an arm around Erin's waist and pulling her close. "All you ever had to do was ask, Erin. What are we going to do now? Have lunch? I mean, I haven't really eaten yet today, and my stomach is rumbling…"
The naked desire in Erin's eyes caused her mouth to dry out and she licked her lips absently as she continued to stare at the woman. "I was planning on eating, but it's not exactly food that I want to consume."
A strangled noise slipped from her mouth as she nodded. "You will undo me, Erin, if you keep looking at me like that. How am I ever supposed to work with you, when the slightest glance can leave me squirming with anticipation?"
"Then you'll just have to work on your self-control, won't you?"
The sultry purr in Erin's voice sent a shudder through her body as she nodded and then the older woman was leading her upstairs and into a most perfect bedroom. It was full of dark, warm, wood, which lent a majestic, stately, air to the room. And when Erin stalked over to the bed, Penelope could almost picture her as Queen Elizabeth I, so regal was her bearing. "Erin," she whispered as she took a hesitant step forward, suddenly feeling out of place.
"Come, join me on the bed. I need to stop putting aside my desire. I need to welcome you into my home with open arms. I choose you, and for once in my life, I choose happiness and fulfillment, despite everything in my rational brain telling me to run as fast as I can. But I need you to promise me one thing, Penny."
"And what's that, Erin?"
"If you ever want to leave, if you ever feel like this is getting to be too much, please, tell me. I don't want to hold onto you and wound you in the process."
"And if I never want to leave?"
"Then God will have surely blessed me." Penelope gave her a radiant smile as she took a seat on the bed, letting her head come to rest on Erin's soft shoulder. "I really was so certain that you were going to reject me this morning, when you saw the lines that time has given me. And then you showed up on my doorstep, and still, I sent you away."
"I've learned to be persistent. You don't get what you want in life by being passive." Turning slightly, Penelope brought one hand up to cup Erin's head, her fingers burying in the soft, thick, hair on her head as she turned her face so that she could capture her lips in a passionate kiss. She bit Erin's lower lip as she released the kiss, and the low growl that tumbled from the older woman's lips was enough to set every nerve in her body on fire. "Sometimes, it pays to be a little aggressive."
"How very true," Erin remarked as she suddenly pushed Penelope back onto the bed and straddled her body, staring down at her. "And if I didn't love this dress so much, I would be asking for permission to tear it off your body."
"Seriously, Erin, are you doing your level best to get me off without touching me? Because I am already wet with anticipation."
"Good." Erin gave her a wicked little grin as she reached around to her side and pulled the zipper down. It didn't take long for Erin to finish that task, and then her nimble fingers were tugging the strapless bra below her breasts and Penelope gave up all hopes of rational thought for the time to come. "Is that too tight, my darling Rose Bride?"
"A little, but it's a good pain," she gasped out as Erin's thumb grazed against her sensitive nipples in turn. "Oh, Erin, please."
"All in good time, Penelope. Now, arch up a little so that I can unfasten this. I want our little afternoon delight to be pleasurable for you." She did as told, and sighed out as Erin buried her face in her breasts, her tongue lapping at the suddenly too sensitized skin. Knowing that she could be free here, to make as much noise as she wanted, allowed Penelope to release the sharp cry that came to her lips as Erin drew one stiffened peak of a nipple into her mouth, and she buried her fingers once more in Erin's hair, holding her close.
It was as if everything in her life at that moment was coalescing into a white hot burning light, and she gave herself over to her desire, letting the orgasm wash over her, even as she bucked her hips up against Erin's body in order to get closer to her. "Oh, Erin," she cried out as she let her body drop back down onto the mattress, staring up into her lover's face. "You are amazing."
"And that wasn't even everything I wanted to do with you." Erin glanced up at her, giving her that same, wicked, grin, and Penelope nodded, knowing that they were so not over loving that afternoon. "You look exhausted, though. Come on, I'm ten years your senior, I cannot have worn you out already."
"Worry tends to exhaust me. And I was so worried that you were going to tell me that I was living in a fantasy." Penelope caressed Erin's cheek before snaking her arms around the woman's body and pulling her down atop her, wanting to feel their bodies pressed together. "Now, if you want to give me a moment to recuperate, you could do a little striptease for me."
"And you say that I'm going to be the death of you, dearest. I think that we're both going to keep each other on our toes. And I am going to love our time together."
"From your lips to God's ears, Erin." Penelope pressed a quick kiss to Erin's lips before pushing her away. "Please strip, for me?"
"Yes, Penny," Erin answered as she stood and began to play with the buttons on her blouse. Penelope found that she couldn't tear her eyes away her the entire time, and there was a small part of her that felt like she would never get accustomed to Erin's burning glances, that her head would always turn to look for her, until the end of time.
"So, this is what it feels like to fall in love all at once," she murmured, wondering if Erin had heard her words. The small, secretive, smile told Penelope that she had, and that she might agree, and that made the moment all the sweeter. "Mine, yes?"
"Yes." They shared a tender look of love and Penelope smiled as Erin stripped, baring herself to Penelope. And though she tried, she fell asleep before her lover was fully naked. But she knew she was safe and loved as she felt Erin's arms wrap around her stomach before she fully drifted off to sleep.