Little Black Dress Read online

  Giselle tilted her head and her features softened. Jamie’s glance traveled to her mouth and she wondered how those plump lips would feel on her own. “What happened then?”

  “It didn’t go much further beyond kissing and touching but she turned a switch on in me. She made me feel alive. She made me feel normal.”

  “Are you attracted to women, Jamie?”

  “I’m attracted to you.”

  “What about that man I saw you kiss him in the bar that night I was supposed to meet you.”

  “You were there? I didn’t know.” She searched Giselle’s face.

  “I was and I saw him kiss you.” Giselle furrowed her brow and pain reflected in her eyes.

  Jamie laid her palm over Giselle’s hand. “That’s right. He kissed me. He showed up at the bar and asked me out. I won’t lie, I was flattered. Before now, men never paid much attention to me. I’d never had someone pursue me. But I was honest with him. I told him I was falling for my best friend. What you saw was a friendly good-bye kiss.”

  Giselle laced her fingers with Jamie’s. “I made a terrible mistake jumping to conclusions. I should’ve come to you that night instead of leaving the bar. It hurt me to see you with him.”

  “I didn’t know what to think and then I received this dress and your note.” The fingers of her free hand caressed the fabric along her thigh. “I love this dress.”

  “May I see it on you?” She pulled Jamie’s hand up.

  Jamie stood, releasing her hand, and twirled in the dress. The soft fabric danced around her thighs as she spun.

  “It’s beautiful on you. Just like I knew it would be.” Giselle intertwined the fingers of both of her hands with Jamie’s and pulled her close so that their legs touched.

  Jamie bent down, placing her hands on either side of Giselle’s chair, caging her in.

  Giselle cupped Jamie’s face in her hand, her thumb lightly brushing over Jamie’s bottom lip. “I’ve waited so long to kiss you.”

  Jamie glanced at the candlelit tables filled with people talking quietly. The darkness provided a veil of privacy, but not much. She didn’t care. Her legs wobbled and she dragged her chair closer to Giselle and sat on the edge. “Show me what a real kiss feels like,” Jamie whispered. She’d made a transformation over the past month, both physically and emotionally. She was ready to let the old Jamie go, spread her wings and allow the person she was becoming to soar free. Starting with this first kiss. Parting her lips, she closed her eyes. Warmth whispered across her mouth as Giselle’s lips touched hers. Jamie sighed, her eyes fluttering open as Giselle pulled away.

  Giselle slipped a few Euros from her purse, stood and held her hand to Jamie, capturing her palm, warmth spreading from her fingers. They walked through the quiet streets of Rome in relative silence, their arms around each other’s waists. Every soft caress at Jamie’s side sent shivers through her body, stoking the fire building in her core. Jamie collected her suitcase after they entered the lobby.

  “Will you be requiring a room, mademoiselle?”

  “Non, Mademoiselle Scotts will be staying with me.”

  Giselle touched Jamie lightly on the back and guided her toward the elevator. Giselle pulled her close and stroked Jamie’s hair after the elevator’s door slid shut. “Are you sure about this?”

  “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

  They kissed and whispered to each other until the doors opened to a small hallway. Entering Giselle’s room, Jamie rolled her bag to a stop at the foot of the bed. Her stomach flipped in excitement and fear as she turned to Giselle. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Giselle chuckled softly. “You don’t need to know. We’ll take it slow. How about a bath?”

  Jamie relaxed her shoulders. “I’d love one,” she said, letting out a deep breath as Giselle disappeared into the bathroom. A squeak of metal knobs produced a rush of water.

  “Jamie?”

  Giselle’s call broke Jamie’s focus from the cozy bed. She stashed her suitcase under the bed and walked to the bathroom where Giselle held two glass bottles. “Lavender or mint?”

  “Definitely lavender. It reminds me of you.”

  Giselle smiled. “Good choice.” She pulled open the stopper and poured a small amount of the scented oil into the bathtub.

  “Look at that tub!” Jamie approached the footed cast iron bath, dipped her fingers through the surface of the water and moaned. “It feels wonderful.”

  Giselle crouched at her feet and grasped the hem of the dress. She slowly lifted the material from her body and over her head. Her fingers caressed Jamie’s skin as she shed her undergarments and heels. Raking her hands through Jamie’s hair, she gathered her tresses and tied them in a loose bun at the top of her head before helping her into the deep tub. “Lie back.” Giselle pulled a washcloth from the shelf and dipped it into the oil-scented water.

  Jamie laid her arms on the edges of the tub and eased back until the back of her head rested comfortably.

  “Good girl,” Giselle whispered. “I’m going to place this cloth over your eyes. It’s what I do when I want to relax. Take deep breaths and let your mind wander.”

  Jamie nodded as the material settled over her eyes. Warm water lapped over her breasts as she inhaled sweet lavender.

  “Let your muscles relax and loosen.”

  “I might sink and drown myself,” Jamie snorted.

  “I wouldn’t let that happen.”

  Jamie could picture the smile on her friend’s face.

  “I’m going to light some candles and join you. Okay?”

  “That’d be perfect.” Soft footfalls padded out of the bathroom and a series of match strikes sounded above the soft swoosh of water as Jamie dragged her fingers over the water’s surface. Giselle hummed as she reentered the bathroom. Jamie reached for the cloth covering her eyes.

  “Don’t remove it yet. Hold the cloth and sit up.”

  She nodded and leaned forward as Giselle stepped in and lowered her body into the water.

  “Good, now lean back.”

  Jamie nestled against Giselle’s chest as fingertips ran up and down her arms.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Safe, secure, at home.” Jamie chuckled.

  “What’s funny about that?”

  “That I can feel at home in a strange city so far away from home.”

  “Home doesn’t have to be a physical place. Think about it. Home is a place where you feel comfortable.” Giselle’s hands rested at Jamie’s shoulders, her thumbs pressing tight circles along the muscles of her upper back.

  Jamie groaned. “Oh, God that feels good. This bathtub is my new home.”

  They laughed and sat in comfortable silence. Jamie dipped her hands under the water’s surface and traced her fingertips up and down Giselle’s taut thighs.

  “Have you ever made love before, Jamie?”

  Her name from Giselle’s lips caressed her ears. “No,” she whispered. “You’re my first.”

  ***

  Giselle’s heart swelled. Her first. Ever since she received the call from Murielle about Jamie’s plans to find her in Rome, she was cautious. She’d loved just one other woman before, but those feelings paled in comparison to what she felt for the woman lying over her. She was hesitant to open her heart again, especially without confirmation from Jamie. Her first. Those two words unleashed a flood of emotions she kept locked deep inside.

  “I’m honored to be your first,” Giselle whispered back, sinking deeper into the water, pulling Jamie with her. Her eyes washed over her lover’s body. Breasts, much fuller than her own, begged to be touched. Her beaded nipples kissed the water’s surface. Giselle licked her lips in anticipation of tasting each hardened peak. Her gaze moved to the curve of her belly and rounded hips. Whereas Giselle had an athletic build from years of competitive swimming, Jamie was curvier. She couldn’t wait to explore every bend and curve, to unlock her fantasies, to find her ticklish spots, to locate the e
xact place to make her moan and writhe under her touch. Her eyes roamed beyond her belly to the thatch of hair at the apex of her thighs. Giselle removed all traces of hair on her own sex but was pleased with the knowledge that Jamie didn’t do the same. She licked her lips, and her heart beat a tattoo in anticipation of exploring Jamie’s patch of dark curls. There was plenty of time to unlock the magic of Jamie. Hopefully a lifetime.

  Giselle ran her hands down Jamie’s arms again and moved to her waist, the pads of her fingertips traveling over her ribcage and circling her soft globes. She smiled as Jamie shuddered over her. Warmth filled her sex from Jamie’s responsiveness. Her hands trailed up her chest and neck, cupping her cheeks. “Turn around, my love,” she whispered as she pulled the cloth from Jamie’s eyes.

  Jamie rolled over in her arms, facing Giselle, her eyelashes forming a series of dark triangles from the moisture of the cloth. Meeting her stare, every nerve ending in Giselle’s body stood at attention as Jamie’s eyes flicked down to her mouth. She lowered her lips to Giselle’s, kissing her tentatively before deepening their kiss. Her tongue darted out, caressing Giselle’s lips.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist.” Giselle sat up, taking Jamie with her. Her fingers trailed along her backbone, causing Jamie to arch her back, jutting her creamy breasts outward. Her hands searched lower, finding her plump ass. She grabbed both cheeks in her hands, bringing Jamie’s breasts closer to her mouth. Jamie squeezed her legs tighter around her waist, her breath shallow and fast and Giselle captured a rosy nipple with her lips, laving circles with her tongue. Her hands found the twin, and, coaxed by Jamie’s moans, she rolled the hardened peak between her finger and thumb. Releasing Jamie’s breast with a soft pop, she captured her lips again. Jamie raked her fingers through Giselle’s hair as she slid her sex along her belly, spreading her legs further. Oh yes, so responsive. Water lapped at the edge of the tub, sending waves over the side.

  “Let’s move to the bedroom before we flood the hotel, ma chère.”

  Jamie nodded and slowly stood over Giselle. Stepping from the tub, she grabbed a towel from the shelf and held a hand out for Giselle who stepped out behind her. With a hooded gaze, Jamie unfolded the towel and wrapped it under Giselle's arms. Giselle hooked her index finger under Jamie's chin, lifting her face to hers. "I want you to know I fell in love with you that night in the studio." Her forehead touched Jamie’s as she removed the towel from around her torso and wrapped it around Jamie.

  Jamie grinned. "I fell in love with you that night too. You were flitting around the studio, finding clothes for me. You were so confident and caring. I wanted to be just like you. I wanted to be with you."

  Giselle’s fingers trailed from Jamie’s shoulders, lightly up her neck and cupped either side of her face before trailing back down her arms to lace her fingers within her own. With a small tug of her hand, she led Jamie out of the bathroom.

  ****

  Soft candlelight welcomed Jamie into the bedroom. Her body warmed at the care Giselle took in preparing the room while she was in the bath. Giselle guided her to one side of the bed; it was complete with a sea of fluffy pillows. Pulling the elastic band securing her hair, she released Jamie’s her long tresses across her shoulders and removed the towel from around her chest.

  "You don't know how I've dreamt about your dark hair draped across my pillows." Giselle ran her fingers through Jamie’s hair, pulling gently on any knots that had formed while her hair was tied.

  Jamie laid on the side of the bed and pulled Giselle over her to the other side. Facing each other, the women alternated kisses and soft caresses. Giselle's fingers dusted low over Jamie's belly, stoking the embers burning in her core. Bucking her hips, she called her lover's name.

  "Patience," Giselle purred and pinned her shoulders to the mattress as she climbed over Jamie’s body. Giselle's blonde tresses tickled her breasts and belly as she trailed kisses along her heated skin. Moving lower, she rested between Jamie’s legs and feathered light kisses along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Her sex swelled in anticipation. "Giselle..." she pleaded, as her hips bucked off the mattress.

  Giselle pressed her legs down firmly causing Jamie to pick up her head up, meeting Giselle's gaze. "Lift up on your elbows. I want to watch you come for me for the first time."

  Jamie swallowed hard. She was so close already, she was afraid one touch from Giselle would put her over the edge. Hitching up on her elbows, her eyes locked on Giselle, who sat up on her knees.

  "Spread your legs apart for me."

  Jamie flexed her knees, drawing them out to the side. Giselle bent over so that her ass was in the air. Jamie moaned at the vision of her lover’s perfect ass and her multicolored tattoo.

  Giselle parted Jamie’s folds and flicked her outer lips with the tip of her tongue. "You're just as delicious as I'd imagined." Her tongue ran up and down her slit, drawing juices and moans from Jamie. Their eye contact never broke as Giselle circled her clit, coming close, but never making contact. She sucked in a breath as Giselle’s finger entered her channel, slowly circling her inner walls. "Oh God, I want to come, but don't want it to end," she bit out, trying to control the orgasm begging to be unleashed.

  "This is just the beginning. Let go and come for me." Two fingers found her sweet spot as her lips captured Jamie’s clit. Her other hand pinned Jamie's leg to the sheets.

  She tried to keep her eyes open but her climax came on too strong. Jamie threw her head back as stars exploded under her eyelids. She wasn't even sure what language she spoke as words mixed with moans came from her mouth. Giselle didn't release her until she coaxed every last spasm from Jamie's core. Jamie flopped down onto the pillows, her hair plastered to her cheeks and forehead from the coating of sweat covering her face. Her breath was raspy and deep as Giselle climbed over her body and kissed her lips. Tasting her own arousal, warmth flooded Jamie's sex again. She flipped Giselle onto her back and ground against her leg.

  "I told you it was just the beginning," she said between kisses.

  "It’s your turn. Turn over."

  Giselle raised her eyebrows.

  "I want to check out your tattoo. I saw it peeking out of your dress that first night and was too shy to ask about it. I wouldn’t peg you as someone with a tattoo. Tell me about it.”

  Giselle rolled over. "I had it done as a symbol when I moved to Paris. It was a new start and even though I wanted to be successful in the fashion industry, I didn’t want to lose sight of the fact that I wanted to find love.”

  Jamie traced the intricate vine and colorful flower pattern. “The vines spell a word. I didn’t notice it at first. It says ‘love’, right?"

  “Si, cara mia.”

  Jamie swatted her ass. “On your knees.”

  Giselle laughed. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” She hitched up on her knees.

  Jamie moved to the foot of the bed and knelt between Giselle’s legs. Gathering her hair into a ponytail, she pulled lightly, causing Giselle to arch her back and thrust her ass further in the air. She whisked the ponytail over Giselle’s shoulder leaving her lithe back exposed. Running her fingers over her spine, Jamie nudged Giselle’s knees apart and tentatively explored her pussy with her fingers. Giselle moaned as Jamie traced her fingertips up and down her slit before sinking a finger deep within her channel. Licking her lips, she peppered one of Giselle’s ass cheeks with light kisses while rubbing the other with her palm. Her tongue moved to the seam as her hand gently coaxed her cheeks apart, revealing Giselle's puckered hole. The tip of her tongue traveled slowly downward. Giselle swore softly into the pillow as Jamie drew wet circles.

  Giselle moaned in protest as Jamie removed her finger from her sex, replacing her tongue with the coated digit. Forcing Giselle's knees further apart, Jamie’s finger pushed beyond the ring of muscle.

  “Sit up on your knees,” Jamie whispered. Giselle complied and reached over her shoulder to stroke Jamie’s hair and whisper her name. Jamie cupped her heavin
g breast before feathering her fingertips down her belly, finding her clit.

  “Yes. Jamie. Please. Don’t stop,” Giselle panted between moans.

  Jamie increased the pressure on her clit as her finger worked her ass, sending Giselle over the edge of her climax. She slowed her movements, coaxing the last of Giselle’s spasms from her body, before collapsing into the sea of fluffy pillows.

  “That was incredible,” Giselle gasped.

  Giselle held her in her arms, lightly stroking her hair. “Thank you for finding me.”

  Jamie, resting her head on Giselle’s shoulder, turned her head up meeting Giselle’s gaze. “We found each other.”

  They spent the evening talking and discovering each other until the morning sun peeked through the wooden slats covering the window.

  Epilogue

  Jamie burst through the familiar wooden door, startling the woman behind the desk. “Sorry, Murielle! Is Giselle here?” Her news was too important to relay to Giselle over the phone.

  “Oui, oui, in the back, mademoiselle,” Murielle said, dramatically holding a hand to her chest. “Americans,” the old woman said under her breath.

  Jamie practically skipped down the hall finding Giselle hard at work with classical music wafting in the background. She knew Giselle was having a productive day since she was playing her music so loud. Since joining forces with the Italian design house, Giselle worked long hours and traveled from Rome to Paris frequently. Jamie moved to the iPod plugged into speakers in the corner of the room and shut it off, causing Giselle to look up from her work. Her heart leapt with the anticipation of delivering her news.