Page 117 of Whirlwind

Chapter 5

Angel

Angel tightened her arms around Nina's slim form. She didn’t seem to quite be sleeping, but her breaths were slowly evening out and her limbs were heavy and warm. Angel let herself soak in the sensation of their bodies pressed together, an extravagance she’d never allowed herself during their brief, furtive episodes in the past.

All evening, she’d been motivated mostly by lust and excitement, but now she had a chance to breathe Nina in and think about what she wanted.

Stroking Nina’s sweaty skin, all of the intensity from before was still there, but magnified with Nina’s soft breasts pressing against her ribs and her long hair falling over Angel’s chest.

Angel had known, by the time she graduated, that she was a woman. She wondered when Nina had figured it out. Had that been what attracted them to each other? Some formless, covert sense of being kindred spirits?

It was certainly part of it. Nina was gorgeous like this. And it was such a relief not to have to explain anything about her body or worry about what a new partner would think.

It was a lot more than that, though. The chemistry between them was unstoppable, their kinks still perfectly matched. Not that Angel cared one way or another about feet, but watching the response in Nina’s eyes? Using her heels as a tool for domination or having Nina worship literally at her feet? That she couldn’t get enough of.

She’d said that she wasn’t ready for a new relationship, though. She’d come here to take a break. To figure out who she was and what she wanted before diving into something else. She had a new job to figure out, even if it took only half the time of her old one. She needed to decorate her new house and get to know the city.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when a whole new series of images replaced it. Nina’s art on her walls, her new home vibrant with passion that jumped from the canvasses.

Angel knew exactly which room of her big empty house could be Nina’s studio. She could see Nina working in the sunny, open room, completely absorbed, with paint smeared on her fingers and little dots of it on her face.

Nina beside her while they explored little shops and restaurants. They could walk through the city, eating from the food trucks and lingering over street vendors’ tables. Nina would never drag her away or disparage someone else’s work—she’d be just as enthralled.

Nina in the car with her, windows down and music blasting, as they headed out to the wilderness. Angel had only one memory of Chan- Nina outdoors, a weekend hiking trip where she’d made a joke of carrying half of Nina’s pack just to walk beside her. She was sure that Nina would love hiking with her now.

What had it been? Five hours now? Six? She had no reason or right to be thinking about Nina’s colorful mess of clothing thrown over her couch at home. About the marks that she could leave on that pale skin, or the pampering showers they could take together afterward. About which side of the bed Nina would prefer, and what she would want on her nightstand.

She hadn’t expected any of this.

But then, she’d also said that she was coming here to figure out who she was and what she needed. Maybe she’d found it in Nina.

She drew in a deep breath. She should take things slow. Date. Figure out who Nina was now and if they’d work together. Put the picnics in the park before the shared laundry. Unpack her own boxes before adding Nina’s to them.

She tangled her legs around Nina’s, pulling them closer together.

Nina let herself be rearranged, then started stroking her own hand down Angel’s ribs. It sent shivers through her. Nina’s hands were long, with slender fingers that grazed over the fabric of her dress.

Somehow, Angel was still fully clothed, even wearing her shoes on the bed. She didn’t want anything between them now.

Nina spoke at a soft whisper. “Was that good for you?”

“Babe, that was amazing. You were stunning.”

“Did you come?”

Angel chuckled. “So hard. Like I haven’t in years.” Orgasms became more difficult after hormone replacement therapy, and she was still learning to reset her expectations. Sometimes they didn’t even matter. But today, it had been like a tidal wave, ripping through her and dragging her down to some intense and beautiful place she hadn’t thought was even possible.

She could feel Nina’s lips curve into a smile against her neck. “It’s different, isn’t it?”

Angel nodded. “Yes, it’s gentler now, and harder to get there. I imagine it’s the same for you?” She paused for Nina to nod. “When it’s right, though, it’s amazing. And tonight was…” She searched for the word. “Exquisite. You were exquisite.”

She could feel Nina smiling even wider. She hadn’t praised her enough, when they knew each other before. But Nina thrived under every compliment, like a plant reaching for the sun.

Nina kept up that gentle stroking. It didn’t seem like Nina wanted her to leave yet. But was that just post-sex cuddling or an invitation to stay the night? She wanted it to be an invitation to stay every night, but she didn’t want to overstep. They probably both needed time to figure things out on their own, too.

“What do you want to do now?” Angel asked, keeping her voice quiet and easy. She’d purposefully left the question open.

Nina stiffened in her arms.