Page 101 of Paradigm

Arlowe moved toward Eline, who took a few steps back, and they kept moving until they were both in the bedroom. Eline reached for the hem of her sweater, but Arlowe put her own hands on top of Eline’s.

“No, let me. Please.”

“Okay,” Eline said softly.

Arlowe swallowed and, in some ways, felt twenty-two again as she lifted Eline’s sweater over her head, revealing a T‑shirt beneath. She moved her hand back down to lift it up and over Eline’s head, too, and left her girlfriend in only her bra.

“I should… I’m still in my socks.”

Eline went to bend over, but Arlowe held her in place. She could tell that Eline was nervous, so she leaned in and kissed her gently while she reached around Eline’s back for her bra clasp, which she undid. She didn’t pull out of the kiss but moved her body back just a bit and lowered the bra away from Eline’s body, dropping it to the floor right after, letting it join the sweater and shirt. Then, she moved back in, pressing their bodies together, and earned a moan from Eline.

“I missed you so much,” Eline said, her lips against Arlowe’s.

“I know, baby. I missed you, too.”

She reached for the button on Eline’s jeans, undid it, and lowered the zipper next, knowing in that moment that she’d never be with another woman like this again. She’d only ever take off Eline’s clothes like this, be pressed up against her like this, and touch her like this. She lowered herself down Eline’s body until she was on her knees in front of the woman whom she wanted to worship, and she pulled the jeans down Eline’s legs, letting her kick them off the rest of the way. Then, she helped Eline out of the cute blue socks that she’d been so worried about a minute ago and looked up at her, taking a deep breath before she looked down again and was met with white cotton bikinis.

She took Eline’s hips in her hands next and placed her lips to her stomach, kissing the heated flesh with little pecks, and other times, with an open mouth. Eline gasped, and Arlowe moved her hands to the hem of the underwear that she wanted off. She pulled down until they were around Eline’s ankles and let her take care of the rest as she stood back up and moved them both to the bed.

“Lie down, beautiful,” she said.

Eline looked almost transfixed as she first sat on the bed, but she moved back until her head hit the pillow, and Arlowe stared at her, wondering if she looked just as transfixed because Eline was beautiful. Soft skin, curves and plains, and a little mole just to the right of her belly button that Arlowe remembered kissing nearly every night when they’d been together the first time. She climbed on top of Eline as Eline spread her legs, letting her settle her hips between them, and they continued to stare.

“Sorry, I think I just need a minute,” she said, shaking her head. “This is…”

“Important?”

“I was going to say big, but yes, that, too.”

Eline wrapped her arms around Arlowe’s neck and said, “Press yourself into me, Arlowe. I need to feel you.”

Arlowe lowered her hips until their centers were aligned, and she let out a breath. Eline seemed to catch it with her open mouth as she gasped.

“You’re perfect,” Eline said.

“Perfect fit?”

“That too,” Eline replied with a smile.

She brought Arlowe down to her and kissed her a little harder this time, but Arlowe didn’t want them to rush. She wanted to savor every moment of this fresh start that they’d earned. That memo hadn’t exactly reached her hips, though, and as they kissed, they began to rock into Eline, who spread her legs even farther apart.

“Can we go slow?” she asked.

“Yes,” Eline whispered.

Arlowe rubbed her nose against Eline’s and gave her a little smile, too, before she began placing kisses to Eline’s jaw, kissed down Eline’s neck, and then licked the skin there before she sucked on Eline’s earlobe, feeling soft hands roam over her back.

“I want to kiss you everywhere,” she whispered into Eline’s ear before she moved her lips to her collarbone and placed open-mouthed kisses there.

“I might not be able to wait that long,” Eline replied.

“Oh, I have faith in you,” she teased, nuzzling her nose against Eline’s nipple. “Are these still just as sensitive?”

“Yes,” Eline confirmed.

“Good,” she said and sucked the bud between her lips.

“Oh!”