Chapter Twenty-eight

TAYLOR STOOD OUTSIDE the huge house, looking up at the windows and trying hard to steady the hammering of her heart.

The house was beautiful. And enormous. Taylor guessed it contained at least five apartments, maybe more. It was an elegant light blue with white trim. The open porch was supported by large, round pillars that Taylor walked between to get to the ornate glass and wood front door, positioned directly in the center. She read the list of names near the doorbells and found the obviously new " Larson" next to number four. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Taylor pushed the button, then raked her fingers through her loose hair, hoping she looked all right.

" Taylor? " the voice crackled over the intercom.

" Uh huh."

" Come on up. Number four."

A buzzer sounded, and Taylor pulled the front door open.

The foyer was as beautiful as the outside of the house. Done in dark wood and burgundy carpeting, it looked very rich, very classy. Taylor walked forward to the large, wide stairwell where the shining banister reflected the evening sunlight back at her in a shimmering burst. She looked up. At the top of the stairs, Melanie peered over the railing, a smile on her face. Taylor smiled back, feeling her whole world slip into place.

" Hi, " she called as she climbed.

" Hey, you."

Taylor didn't remember actually reaching the top of the stairs. She suddenly found herself wrapped in Melanie's arms, holding so tightly to her, she thought she might crush the smaller woman's ribs. She smiled into gold-tinted locks as she felt the embrace returned with equal tenacity.

" God, I missed you." She didn't realize she'd said it out loud until Melanie responded to her.

" I missed you, too." She pulled away, clasping Taylor's hand in her own. " Come on in. Are you hungry? I thought we could order a pizza."

" Pizza sounds great, " Taylor agreed, immensely enjoying the fact that she was being led by the hand.

" Good, 'cause it's on its way."

Melanie's apartment was small and sparsely furnished, but had great potential. The door opened into a small hallway with a huge closet. Straight ahead was a little half-kitchen lining the left wall. It contained all the essentials: refrigerator, sink and stove, plus a microwave mounted under the oak-colored cabinets. Several boxes were stacked on the counter, a testament to the fact that Melanie hadn't gotten around to unpacking her kitchen stuff.

A small kitchen table with two chairs was placed opposite the kitchen wall. Directly to its right was a large, cozy-looking, cream and blue striped couch, the pillows giving the appearance of much use. The couch provided a break between the living room and kitchen, since there was no wall separating the two. There was a simple coffee table in front of it, but that was all the furniture in the small living room. In the opposite corner, between the two windows that spilled sunlight into the small space sat a top-of-the-line television and VCR. No table or stand was in sight, and the electronics were stacked on the bare hardwood. No pictures graced the walls. No houseplants stretched toward the plentiful rays of sun. No knick-knacks of any kind were visible.

Melanie carefully watched Taylor's face as she surveyed the apartment. " Kind of sparse, huh? "

" Well, um..." Taylor didn't want to insult her in any way, but she was right. " Yeah, actually. It's a beautiful place, though. I'm just surprised."

" You are? Why? "

" Because this apartment doesn't represent the Melanie that I know, " she said simply, shrugging her shoulders. " I suppose it could just be because you haven't finished unpacking."

Melanie scratched her forehead. " Actually, other than the kitchen, I am done unpacking."

They looked at each other for a long minute before breaking into laughter. " Jesus, Melanie. We'd better get you to the house wares section of Wal-Mart or something. It still echoes in here, for crying out loud. You need...stuff."

Their bout of laughter eased their moods tremendously, and they fell into the comfortable, easy bantering that they had missed so much during their time apart. The pizza arrived, and Melanie felt more at home sitting in her nearly empty apartment with Taylor on her living room floor than she ever remembered feeling at any other time in her life.

Taylor took a large bite of her pizza, scrutinizing the living room as she sat cross-legged on the floor, using the coffee table to hold her plate. " You know, we could find a couple of colorful prints to put on this wall and that one." She pointed at the largest bare spaces on the white walls. " They'd brighten things up a lot. And plants. You need plants. Look at all the sun in here. It's great. We've got to get you some plants."

Melanie just watched her, loving the apparently growing enthusiasm as she rattled off ideas and suggestions. The dark eyes crackled with excitement and one side of her mouth curved up into a half-smile.

" Does that mean that you'd want to be around to help me decorate? " Melanie finally asked softly.

Taylor stopped in mid-chew and looked at the older woman thoughtfully. " Of course, I'd want to. Haven't I made that painfully clear by now? " She softened any sting the words may have carried with a playful grin.

" Even after my cowardly display last week? "

Taylor set down her pizza, stood, and moved around the coffee table to sit next to Melanie on the couch. She wet her lips with her tongue while searching for the best way to put her thoughts and feelings into words that wouldn't terrify the woman sitting beside her.

" Melanie, " she began slowly, " I have never enjoyed anybody's company like I enjoy yours. These last few weeks have been amazing to me. I know we haven't known each other very long, but you've become a part of me so quickly, it's a little scary."

Melanie chuckled at that, nodding in agreement. " I know what you mean."

Taylor took that as the positive comment it was meant to be and plunged onward. " I didn't know what to do when you left without talking to me. I was worried about you. And I was hurt. You didn't feel safe enough to talk to me about what you were going through. I mean, I know that we really don't know each other all that well, and maybe it's silly of me to expect you to feel comfortable enough to completely open up to me. I'm aware of that, but it doesn't change the fact that it bothered me when you didn't let me help you."

Melanie grasped Taylor's hand. " I know. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

Taylor grimaced at the overused line, gently withdrawing her fingers. " You could have talked to me, you know."

" I don't think I could have talked to anybody at that point."

" You could have tried, " Taylor pointed out softly. " We made love, for Christ's sake. I think I deserved some sort of explanation."

Melanie studied her fingernails, feeling small. " You're right. I could have. I should have." She had hurt Taylor more deeply than she had realized. It was apparent from the tone of her voice. She swallowed, taking a deep breath and deciding it was now or never.

Taylor deserved the truth. " I was just so scared by what was happening. Samantha and your dad and you and me...it was so much, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I still don't. I'm not trying to offer excuses. Please don't think I am. What I did was...well, it was a shitty thing to do. I know that. I've never run from anything in my life, but this has floored me. It's just...I just...I've never felt this way before, and I didn't know what to do about it."

Taylor felt the first glimmerings of real hope. " You've never felt what way? " she pressed gently. Melanie half-smiled, half-grimaced and looked away, swallowing hard. Taylor gently cupped her chin, returning the blue-eyed gaze back to her own face.

" What way, Melanie? "

" The way I feel when I'm with you, " Melanie whispered. " In love."

Taylor had to consciously force her butt to stay put on the couch. Her body was itching to jump up and do a little dance around the room. She smiled widely. " You love me? "

Melanie slapped her arm, trying to allay the heaviness of the subject, unable to believe she had actually admitted her feelings to Taylor and the world hadn't come crashing down around her. " Well, duh. You think I jump in the sack with just anybody? "

" I hope not."

" Well, I don't."

" Good. Melanie? "

" Hmm? "

" I love you, too."

They were quiet for several long minutes, absorbing the words recently spoken, each enjoying the company of the other. Taylor put her arm around Melanie's shoulders, and they sat back on the couch, basking in one another's presence.

" Now what? " Taylor asked, finally breaking the comfort of the silence.

" I'm not sure, " Melanie replied. " I'm still dealing with all of this, trying to make some sense of it. It's not every day you fall in love with another woman, you know."

Taylor grinned. " Speak for yourself." That got her a slap. " Hey. I'm kidding."

" I know." Melanie smiled back. " It just takes a little...absorbing." She was quiet for several minutes, then spoke in a very small, childlike voice. " Do you think we could...you know...date? See what happens? "

Date? Hell, I want to marry you, Taylor thought. " I think we could give it a shot, " she said instead. " See what happens."

Taylor's answer seemed to come as a big relief to Melanie, and her body visibly relaxed against Taylor's. " Did you think I'd actually say no? " Taylor inquired, surprised.

" You had every right to. I haven't exactly made this easy for you. I've been pretty selfish. I thought that may have turned you off."

Taylor grinned devilishly, nuzzling Melanie's neck. " There is nothing about you that could possibly turn me off."

" Hey, " Melanie squealed as the nuzzling turned to nibbling. " Now that sounds like a challenge."

" You're dealing with some pretty big stuff. I can understand that." She grinned. " I don't have to like it, but I understand it."

" It's big stuff. It's definitely big stuff."

" Are you...okay? With things, I mean? " Taylor treaded lightly on the subject.

Melanie thought for a long moment before she answered. " I think I will be. It definitely makes it easier having you nearby." She rolled her blue eyes. " I realized that once I got back to Chicago."

" You were scared. I know."

Melanie studied Taylor's face. " How did I get you? " she asked quietly.

Taylor shifted to look in the redhead's eyes. In them, and much to her surprise, she saw love, trust, and utter passion. They were the only invitation she needed. She leaned in gently and pressed her lips to Melanie's, savoring the sweet softness of them. They kissed slowly and deeply, drinking from one another as if their very existence depended upon it. Melanie finally extracted herself from Taylor's mouth long enough to wrap her arms around the younger woman and squeeze her tightly, unable to believe they were actually together again, that Taylor still wanted to be a part of her life after everything that had happened. At that very moment in time, and for reasons she couldn't explain, Melanie knew that Taylor was the person with whom she was meant to be. More than that, she accepted it, finally able to push away all the doubts and stumbling blocks hindering the path to the future. She knew that with Taylor by her side, she could deal with anything life could throw her way.

She pulled back to look penetratingly into the depths of the dark, loving eyes before her. They stayed that way for what seemed like eternity, no words spoken. Melanie poured every ounce of love she could muster into that gaze, willing Taylor to see it, to feel it.

" This won't be easy, you know, you and I being together, " Melanie told her. " I can be very difficult. Pigheaded, even." She half-grinned at the last statement.

Taylor held her gaze steadily and confidently. " It will be hard at first, but we'll manage. I can handle you." The dark eyes sparkled in challenge.

" Oh, you think so? "

" Oh, I know so."

Melanie stood from the couch and held out her hand. " Let's find out if you're right, shall we? "

Her voice was low and seductive. Taylor felt the tingle of excitement course through her system as she slipped her own hand softly into Melanie's and allowed her love to lead her around the corner and into the bedroom, which was surprisingly roomy for the size of the rest of the apartment. Unlike the living area, the bedroom was completely furnished and decorated in shades of burgundy and rosy pinks. Curtains were hung and matched the bedspread, as well as the round area rug that peeked out from under the queen-size bed. Half a dozen pillows were strewn about the bed, and an aromatic candle burned on each of the night-stands that stood guard on either side of the bed, scenting the air with a soft vanilla. The overall atmosphere was warm and romantic. Taylor looked at Melanie, her eyebrows raised in question.

Melanie smiled, blushing slightly, her confident demeanor wavering just a bit. " I was hoping we might end up in here, and I wanted it to be perfect, so I did a little shopping."

" You did this for me? "

Melanie nodded.

" It's beautiful, Melanie."

" So are you."

" What if things hadn't worked out? What if we didn't end up in here? "

" I'm afraid I might have been calling the fire department by this point."

They both laughed, feeling the final remnants of the previous tensions leave the room completely, leaving only the two of them and their new found world. Their lips met again, more insistent this time, impatient and demanding. Melanie backed Taylor up to the bed, forcing her to sit on it as the backs of her knees touched the soft, flowered fabric. Melanie perched herself in Taylor's lap, a knee on either side of the dark-haired woman's hips, and surprised herself with her own confidence and aggression by taking control of the situation. Taylor allowed her to keep it, sensing it was something she needed.

Being loved by a woman had been an altogether amazing departure from Melanie's usual existence. She had decided that right away. In the same vein, loving a woman was intensely erotic, and a totally new experience for her. She made every effort to take her time, enjoying the new sensations, reveling in them. Once they had removed their clothing and Taylor lay stretched out beneath her, she made a slow, sensual exploration of the gloriously female body she wanted so badly to know.

Although she expected it this time, Melanie was still astounded by the softness of Taylor's skin. That was the biggest physical difference between this lover and the few male ones she'd had in the past. It was like sliding her hands over velvet. She ran her fingertips over Taylor's arm, her shoulder, the side of her neck, her throat, and down the center of her torso to her belly, causing goose bumps to erupt in her wake. She watched and listened, fascinated by the effect she was having. Taylor's breathing quickened at certain times, caught at others. Melanie smiled at this, then replaced her fingers with her lips and tongue, kissing and nibbling along the same path. Taylor's skin was slightly salty, a little sweet, and silky against Melanie's tongue. There was something distinctly Taylor about the taste, and she decided right away that she liked it immensely.

The heavier Taylor's breathing got, and the more she writhed under Melanie, the bolder Melanie became. It wasn't long before she ventured to an ample breast with both her fingers and her mouth. Her fingers discovered that the side of Taylor's breast had the softest skin yet. She swirled her tongue around the cocoa brown nipple several times, watching with rapt attention as it stiffened before her eyes, the flesh around it pebbling as it contracted. She flicked the tip of her tongue over it, then smiled in surprise as Taylor gasped. She felt the dark-haired woman's hand clutching the back of her neck, trying hard to keep from pressing her forward.

Excited by the effect she was having on Taylor, she closed her mouth over the protruding nipple and sucked gently.

Both women groaned at the same time, Taylor arching subtly into Melanie, no longer holding back, pressing Melanie's head tightly to her own chest. She could tell by the sounds and shifting of Taylor's body exactly how each movement of Melanie's mouth was making her feel. She pulled firmly from the nipple and felt Taylor's hips push up into her own. She found such control intensely arousing, and warmth flooded her center as she sucked again, a little harder, this time eliciting a soft whimper from the body beneath her. She was surprised to find her actions strangely comforting as well as stimulating. Something about the suckling of a woman's breast, especially this woman's breast, made her feel safe. Strange, but true.

Melanie took her time in her explorations, shifting to the other breast only after she was sure she had given sufficient attention to the first one. Taylor knew this was Melanie's first time with a woman, and therefore let her find her own way around, trying hard not to direct her in any way. Melanie was surprisingly adept, expectedly gentle, and amazingly arousing in her unabashed exploration.

Taylor had a very difficult time keeping herself from taking control. She wanted to flip the smaller woman onto her back and ravish her repeatedly until the only word she could muster was Taylor's name. Instead, she held herself in check, allowing Melanie to keep the lead, repeatedly surprised by how well the redhead seemed to know her and how readily she responded to Melanie's touch.

Melanie was in heaven. Having Taylor in her bed, beneath her fingers and mouth, was a fantasy in itself. She could sense that Taylor was making a conscious effort to give her the time she needed, and it warmed her heart. She was also aware of the effect she was having. Taylor's hips were moving—subtly, as if Taylor didn't want to scare her—and Melanie could feel the brunette's wetness against her thigh. The idea that she was the cause of it aroused her even more, and she felt her own center moisten as a trickle snaked down her leg. She finally, almost regrettably, moved her lips from the breasts and down the smooth, velvety skin of the younger woman's stomach. Taylor's abs flinched, and Melanie smiled as she dipped her tongue playfully into Taylor's bellybutton.

Melanie gently spread Taylor's thighs, inhaling the unfamiliar yet comforting scent that surrounded her. The folds were glistened with proof of Taylor's arousal, and Melanie settled herself between the brunette's legs, gently stroking her inner thighs with feather-light touches of her fingertips. She smiled when she felt the slight quivering of the muscles. She glanced up and met dark eyes watching her. They were filled with such love and devotion that Melanie felt her throat constrict with emotion. Taylor reached down to brush her fingers through the gold-touched red strands, and the two women held one another's gaze for a long, meaningful moment.

" I love you, " Taylor whispered.

The simple honesty of the words warmed Melanie from the inside out, and she smiled widely.

Turning her attention back to the subject before her, she was amazed to find that she felt no anxiety whatsoever. She wasn't frightened. She wasn't even nervous. She wanted nothing more than to please this woman she loved, this woman who loved her better than anybody in her life ever had.

She brought a finger to the wet and swollen flesh in front of her, and stroked it gently. Her eyes snapped up when Taylor gasped, then she smiled, thinking what a rush it was to be able to make a woman feel that way. She repeated the move, loving the silky texture of Taylor's skin. Taylor gasped again, her fingers tangling in Melanie's hair. Melanie touched her finger to her own tongue, tasting the essence of this beautiful creature. She was salty and sweet at the same time, with a tang of something...she couldn't narrow it down, but giggled to herself at the realization that Taylor tasted absolutely nothing like tuna.

Rather than the expected gasp, Taylor moaned from deep in her throat at the first touch of Melanie's tongue on her, pushing herself up into the redhead's mouth, waves coursing down her legs, rendering them utterly useless. Melanie explored gently, memorizing every little curve and dip and what kind of effect it had on Taylor when each was stroked or licked or sucked on. She filed it all away, as she decided for certain that she wanted to perform this very act as often as she possibly could. Feeling Taylor gently writhing beneath her, whispering her name, grasping her hair, was incredibly exhilarating. The taste of her, the sounds of her, the feel of her, all combined to create an astoundingly erotic potion, drug-like in its intensity. Melanie had never felt such a sexual rush in her life, and she soaked it in as she stroked and tasted and teased Taylor until the brunette thought she'd explode. Only after her quiet begging, did Melanie release her, pushing her to the top, holding her there, teetering, before giving her one, final nudge to send her over into pure, loving bliss.

" I think I like you this way the best, " Melanie commented as she stretched up to give Taylor a peck on the nose.

" Wha—what way? " Taylor asked, trying to steady her breathing. She'd never experienced such a powerful climax, and she felt weak, ecstatic, sated, and exhausted all at once.

" Naked, breathless, and underneath me, " Melanie answered. She closed her lips around a swollen nipple, causing Taylor's whole body to jerk.

" Uh oh, " Taylor said, grinning. " I think I've created a monster."

" Nah. I was already a monster. You've created a nympho."

" Oh no, " Taylor protested weakly, purposely allowing no emotion into her voice. " Not a nympho. How awful for me, to have a girlfriend who's a nympho. My life sucks."

" Funny girl, " Melanie said with a smile as she settled herself alongside Taylor's lean body, tucking her head onto the brunette's shoulder. I just made love to a woman, she thought. Then she smiled, correcting herself. I just made love to the woman I'm in love with.

" I can't feel my legs, " Taylor whispered in amusement.

" I think I'll take that as a compliment."

" It is, but...I want to...just give me a minute, okay? " Taylor had never been one for one-sided lovemaking, and she didn't want Melanie to think she had no intention of returning the favor, but the surprising intensity of her orgasm had left her feeling as though her body was made of Jello, and she struggled to lend voice to her thoughts.

Melanie silenced her by laying a finger over her lips. " Shh. Don't worry. We have plenty of time to explore each other. Besides, I owed you, remember? " She felt Taylor's body move beneath her as the brunette chuckled. " Just relax, okay? "

" Yes, ma'am."

Taylor tightened her arms around Melanie and took a slow, deep breath, simply absorbing the other woman's presence. Melanie closed her eyes in contentment when she felt Taylor's breathing even into sleep. That's a good sign, she congratulated herself. She watched the sleeping woman for several long minutes, memorizing each angle of her face, mapping each freckle and mole on her perfectly creamy skin, tracing her dark eyebrows with a fingertip. Try as she might, she couldn't remember any other time in her life when she had felt so at home.

" I love you, " she whispered as she reached down to pull a light blanket up around their entwined bodies. She snuggled closer to the warm body next to her and allowed sleep to claim her as well.