Delayed Gratification: The Honeymoon Read online

  Inside, Rae sat at the foot of the bed, picking at a plate of food. At Willa’s entrance, she glanced up warily. “Eat something, Will, and then we can talk about what to do next. Figure out a new plan.” She gestured at the various dishes in front of her as though afraid of how Willa might react. “I saved some of everything. The pancakes are still warm, if you hurry.”

  Rae’s solicitude only made her feel worse. Locking the door behind her, Willa held eye contact with her obviously gun-shy wife. “Rae, I’m so sorry. For everything.”

  Rae shook her head, then studied the half-eaten pancake on her plate. “I understand why you’re upset. I really do.”

  “Still, I had no right to lash out at you. I know you tried your best to get us to Detroit—and it wasn’t your fault that my phone’s alarm didn’t wake me. It was mine. Not that anything would have made any difference, ultimately.” Willa took a breath, then confessed, “The Detroit flight got cancelled. They’re all cancelled.”

  Some of the tension drained from Rae’s stiff frame. Presumably, she was relieved to have been right.

  “I’m sorry, babe. I know this isn’t how our honeymoon was supposed to go. You put a lot of time into planning this trip for us, and you have every right to be pissed off that the weather screwed everything up.”

  Pleased that they were talking, and civilly, Willa sat on the edge of the bed and caught Rae’s gaze. “Everything isn’t screwed up. We’re together, like you said. Not only that, but we somehow managed to stumble onto a storybook-perfect inn run by a sweet, tolerant, older couple who’ve welcomed us like we’re family…and therefore helped restore my faith in humanity. At least a little.”

  Relaxing further, Rae allowed a small grin. “I like Paul and Lynn, too.”

  Willa leaned over the plates of food to pull Rae into a tight hug. “Seriously, honey, I apologize for not doing a better job of coping with this setback. I accept that we’re most definitely stuck here for at least a day or two and am finally ready to make the best of the situation.” She kissed Rae’s full, familiar lips, then sat back to observe their veritable breakfast feast. Her stomach growled. When was the last time she’d eaten? “I’m also ready for some food.”

  “Try a strawberry,” Rae said lightly, and popped a halved berry between lips already parted in anticipation. “Please, before I scarf them all.”

  Bright flavor exploded across Willa’s tongue, triggering a fierce craving for more. She snatched another two berries to ensure that Rae wouldn’t really devour the rest. “Back off, lady. We share, remember? Equal portions.”

  With a grin, Rae rolled her eyes and pushed the plate toward Willa. “Don’t worry. I’d rather watch you enjoy them, anyway.” She planted her elbow on her thigh and cradled her chin in her hand. Her eyes darkened. “You’re breathtaking when you smile, Will. It’s nice to see you happy again.”

  Flushing, Willa ate another berry while trying her best to enjoy the scrutiny. “It hasn’t been that long, you know. Our wedding day was the happiest of my life. My cheeks hurt from all the smiling.”

  Rae lit up, eyes going far away in remembrance. “Mine, too. Sincerely. I always thought it sounded like a total cliché when people said that about their weddings, but for me, at least, it’s true. There was something truly magical about the entire day. All thanks to you, obviously. For not only planning every last, impeccable detail, but then marrying me, to boot.”

  Willa tore off a piece of pancake and dipped it into the dish of maple syrup. “Oh yeah, you snagged a real prize.”

  “I did,” Rae said, sincerely. “Last night and this morning notwithstanding.”

  “I love you.” Willa didn’t know what else to say. “And…I’ll be better.”

  “I love you, too.” Rae caught the hand Willa wasn’t using to eat and kissed her fingers. “Shall we start this honeymoon over?”

  “Please.”

  Rae released Willa after another kiss on her knuckles and got off the bed. “I actually ate a little already and feel super grungy from being in the plane and rental car all night. Mind if I go take a quick shower? Afterward, we’ll figure out what to do until we can get on a plane. Maybe Paul and Lynn have some board games we could borrow, or a deck of cards.”

  Willa nodded, noting Rae’s continued hesitation, made obvious by her upright posture and shy demeanor. “Go, shower.” Guilt swept through Willa when she realized exactly how awkward she’d made Rae feel about the loaded topic of how they might spend their delay. Eager to undo the damage she’d caused, Willa called to Rae’s back, “I’ll take a few more bites and join you.”

  Rae shot a placid smile over her shoulder. “No, take your time and enjoy the whole spread. The granola and yogurt is especially yummy. Try some with the berries.” She paused with a hand on the bathroom door. “It’ll be easier to rework our itinerary and come up with a few new travel scenarios on a full stomach.”

  It was clear that Willa’s earlier words were still ringing loudly in Rae’s ears. If you think you’re getting laid today, after this, you’ve got another think coming. Cringing, Willa decided she owed her wife a more specific, explicit apology for her baseless threat to withhold sex during their honeymoon. That said, Rae was correct about one thing: It would be easier—and better—to do that and more on a full stomach. “All right.” She smiled, hopeful that Rae would see the depth of her regret for all she’d said in anger. “I’ll try the granola and yogurt.”

  Rae returned her smile and opened the bathroom door. “See you in a few.”

  Willa watched the door close, then polished off the rest of her pancake, and another, then a few heaping bites of fruit and yogurt and granola on top of that. As she chewed, she listened to the shower turn on and imagined Rae undressing, which sent her scrambling to recall when they’d last had sex, anyway. It wasn’t like it had been months or anything, but now that she’d stopped to search her memory…she realized that it had been far too long. She snickered at a brief flashback from their younger days, when they’d stayed up all night before a mutual friend’s birthday party engaged in their very own sexual Olympics, only to find themselves barely able to walk the next day. That was how their relationship had finally become public knowledge within their small circle of friends, because they had no reasonable story to explain away matching limps and bloodshot eyes.

  None of the passion she’d felt back then had dissipated. Rae still turned her on like crazy. These days, the big challenge was slowing down long enough to remember how much she enjoyed the intimacy she and Rae always found so naturally when they gave each other pleasure. Sex provided a constant, reassuring balm to their already strong bond, drawing them closer together. In that respect, Rae had been right: Carnevale wasn’t even close to the most important part of their honeymoon. Using this rare time together to reconnect was.

  Willa carried her plates to the tray on the cafe table, then stripped off all her clothing. Determined to make her intentions crystal clear, she marched into the bathroom, slid open the door to the relatively small shower, and squeezed into the stall behind Rae. She shimmied until they stood chest to chest, the hot spray beating down on Rae’s head.

  Rae welcomed her with a warm hug, then inched toward the door. “Good timing. I was just about to get out.”

  Willa caught her hand and pulled her back. “Wait. Please.”

  Silently, Rae turned around. Water sluiced down her shoulders and ran between the valley of her generous breasts. Willa realized she was staring and that she still hadn’t apologized, but the sight of her wet, nude wife—coupled with the knowledge that they had nothing in particular to do for the rest of the day—ignited her libido with a sudden ferocity that all but destroyed her usual decorum. Dragging her attention up to Rae’s face took concentrated effort. Willa cleared her throat as soon as she did. Anxiety rumbled in her gut, a most likely irrational fear of rejection.

  “I owe you an apology.” Willa brought Rae’s hand to her chest, holding it between her breasts.

 
Before she could continue, Rae shook her head and kissed Willa’s forehead. “You’ve already apologized. We started over, remember?”

  “Yes, but…” Willa chewed on her lower lip. “I owe you another apology. A big one. What I said earlier, about getting laid…”

  Rae stared down at their chests, which nearly touched, as though embarrassed by the whole topic. “You were pissed off. I get it. Really.”

  “I appreciate you saying so.” Slowly, deliberately, Willa let go of Rae’s hand so she could lower her own to tease the short hairs at the juncture of Rae’s thighs. “But still, I owe you that apology.”

  Rae gave her a look of heartbreakingly self-conscious uncertainty. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “Rae.” Willa edged closer, pushing their bodies together. She eased her fingers between silky lips and glided the pads along Rae’s puffy labia, delighted by every hitch and shudder that interrupted her already-rapid breathing. “I want this. I want you.” Willa swirled around the swollen clit, smiling at the tremor her caress sent through Rae’s legs. “We’re starting over. Right?”

  Rae nodded and subtly rocked against Willa’s touch. “Right.”

  “Which I really, really appreciate, by the way. Because I was thinking, you know…it really has been too long.” No longer in the mood to wait for what she urgently yearned to do, Willa carefully lowered herself onto her knees in front of Rae. Hungry to make amends, and therefore uncharacteristically unconcerned about the idea of kneeling on the floor of a strange shower, Willa stared up at Rae, begging with her eyes. “Sweetheart, please, may I lick you?”

  After a split second of hesitation, Rae carefully set her legs as far apart as the shower would accommodate, then leaned back and braced one foot against the wall. She spread herself open with her fingers, exposing her clit, and tilted her hips toward Willa’s mouth. “If that’s what you really want.”

  “Even more than Venice,” Willa said, and incredibly, it was the truth. The conversation with Lynn, as well as her own period of self-reflection, had put a lot of things into perspective. On this trip, especially, nothing should come before their relationship. Especially not her silly, childish expectations. The vile memory of how she’d gotten their honeymoon off to such a miserable start sharpened her desire for true reconciliation into a vicious, gnawing ache. Willa licked her lips and smiled up at Rae. “Hold onto something, darling. Me, if necessary.”

  The instant Willa’s tongue touched her impressively swollen labia, Rae threaded her fingers through Willa’s shoulder-length hair and held on. “Ooohhhh.”

  Her moan echoed loudly in the small space, and Willa blushed, hoping the sound wouldn’t carry to their hosts. She didn’t dare shush Rae, however. Not at the risk of making her self-conscious again or silencing the agonizingly sensual feedback provided by each little noise. Willa wrapped her left arm around Rae’s right thigh, attempting to offer further support, then reached between her shaking legs to tease her slippery opening.

  “Willa,” Rae groaned, her volume low enough to suggest she was at least trying not to be overheard. “Ohhh, that feels so good.”

  Thrilled by the enthusiasm in Rae’s breathless words, Willa licked all over, focusing mostly on her labia and opening, with occasional detours to trace gentle circles around the distended, perceptibly throbbing clit. The fingers in her hair tightened as she worked, until Rae’s grip became so firm and unyielding it made her eyes water. Gratified by the rough treatment despite knowing it was motivated more by Rae’s need for balance than any real desire to inflict pain, Willa buried her face in the hot, fragrant wetness and let herself be used.

  Catching on at once, Rae hastened the motion of her hips while guiding Willa’s mouth up to her clit with the hand locked in her hair. “Suck me, baby. That’s right, on my clit.”

  Willa started slow, giving the sensitive ridge of flesh a gentle suck. Rae’s balance wavered, her other hand shooting out to brace herself against Willa’s shoulder. Dutifully, Willa didn’t waver from her task, trusting Rae to determine whether she was capable of staying on her feet. Rae readjusted her position, leaning against the shower wall so she could better ride Willa’s fluttering tongue.

  “Now put your finger inside me, just a little,” Rae said, then gasped as soon as Willa complied. “Oh, no!”

  Willa grinned big, not at all alarmed by the familiar cry of despair. Rae had always hated her tendency to climax quickly, especially during oral sex. If it were up to her, their encounters would last for hours and hours on end. Until they were stiff and sore, Willa imagined, like they’d managed to end up after a few memorable occasions during their early twenties. Honestly, it had been years since Willa had even attempted to summon the energy required for such an ambitious sexual marathon, let alone find the time needed for that lengthy an interlude. Today, however, Rae was about to get lucky in the most literal sense. For the first time in far too long, Willa had nothing else to do except make Rae come—again and again, until she begged for mercy.

  And…maybe call the travel-insurance agency. Later.

  Willa pushed away the unwelcome thought to focus on the one thing she could control right now: her wife’s pleasure. She slipped a second finger inside Rae, pushing deep, and increased her suction around the turgid clit between her lips. Batting furiously at the erect nub, she quickened her thrusts while at the same time tightening her grip around Rae’s thigh in anticipation. On cue, Rae threw her head back and cursed as her body went rigid. Muscles contracting, she came hard around Willa’s fingers, in her mouth, all over her face. The heat of the water still raining upon them was nothing compared to the scorching juices that coated Willa’s cheeks, chin, and tongue. Ravenously, she continued to lick and drive her fingers in and out until Rae squeezed her shoulder and rasped, “Dick Cheney!”

  Willa immediately pulled away—and frowned. “I hate our safe word.”

  Breathing hard, Rae sagged against the wall of the shower and exhaled shakily. “Yes, but what better way to stop you cold?”

  “True enough.” After catching Rae’s eye, Willa withdrew the fingers still buried within her, careful not to overstimulate the hypersensitive flesh. “But still. Gross.”

  Rae laughed. She pushed herself upright and offered Willa a hand to help her stand. “Exactly.”

  Once on her feet, Willa slipped her fingers between Rae’s thighs again. In the seconds before Rae whimpered and tried to push her away, Willa detected both surprise and excitement in her gaze. Rae groaned, “Wait, please…give me a few minutes, at least.”

  Smirking, Willa reached over Rae’s shoulder to grab the detachable showerhead. She aimed the spray between Rae’s legs, cautiously stroking her slick thighs and pussy with the most nonsexual touch she could muster. “Just cleaning up my mess.”

  Rae’s breasts bobbled enticingly as her breath caught, and she shuddered. “Are you planning to let me reciprocate?”

  “If that’s what you want.” Willa removed her hand so she could finish rinsing Rae, then pointed the water at herself. Before she could react, Rae’s fingers crawled between her thighs and found the evidence of her arousal. Gasping, Willa said, “In bed, if you don’t mind. You know I can’t come standing up.”

  The corners of Rae’s eyes crinkled as she broke into a beaming smile. “Yeah, I know.” She stroked Willa lightly, then withdrew. “I just wanted to feel my mess. Before you wash it all away.”

  Willa chuckled. “I promise to let you make a brand-new mess in the bedroom.”

  “I’m taking you up on that.”

  As Willa finished washing her own body, Rae squeezed a dollop of shampoo into her hair. Sighing, Willa returned the showerhead to its holder, then looped her arms around Rae’s waist and let her work. “Thank you, baby. That feels nice.”

  “I love washing your hair.” Rae’s mouth quirked. “I remember the first time I ever did it—that weekend we spent at your little apartment right after you moved into it.”

  “Technically, I believe that
was our second date.”

  Rae chuckled. “Hey, I already knew you were the one. Why move slow?”

  “Believe me, I was thrilled you didn’t play hard to get.” Willa tilted her head under the spray to wash off the shampoo.

  “I helped you assemble that brand-new four-poster bed you’d just bought, and then we showered together.” Rae ran her fingers through Willa’s hair, chasing away the soap. “You let me shampoo your hair. My heart was pounding so hard the entire time. I couldn’t stop looking at you.”

  “I noticed.” Willa grinned at the memory of how sexy Rae had made her feel at a time when she’d struggled with a serious lack of confidence and self-esteem. The young woman she’d been then seemed a lifetime removed from who she’d become with Rae by her side. “We pretty much spent the rest of the weekend breaking in my new bed.”

  “And the couch…and kitchen counter…the floor in the hallway…”

  Arousal stirred low in Willa’s belly as she experienced an exquisite rush of nostalgia. “That was a really nice weekend.”

  “Best second date ever.” Rae closed the distance between them, pausing momentarily before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. “On that note, may I take you to bed now?”

  “Yes.” Willa reached around Rae to cut off the flow of water. “For the rest of the day, if you’d like.”

  Visibly excited, Rae opened the stall door. She took a breath and parted her lips, then stopped suddenly, snapping her mouth shut.

  Willa tipped her head in contrition. She didn’t want Rae to feel hesitant about speaking her mind. “What, baby? You can say it.”

  “I…” Rae entangled their fingers. “I don’t want to upset you or make you think I don’t appreciate the itinerary you put together…not to mention all the plans we made.”

  “You won’t.” Willa hoped she could keep her word. “What is it, sweetheart?”

  Rae’s gaze shone with deep emotion, triggering an empathetic response from Willa that instantly blurred her vision. Softly, Rae said, “I was going to say…right now, here with you, this does feel like the perfect honeymoon. Despite everything that’s happened.”