Page 45 of No One's Like You
"That's fine. Tell her when you think it's appropriate."
Ruby checks the time.
"I should go shower. It's my turn to open the bar today, and if I don't get moving, I'll be late."
"I'll come with you," Ellie says, standing up. "To the shower and to the bar," she adds with a playful smile.
Ruby and Ellie arrive at the bar fifteen minutes late for the first time since they've owned it. It's Ellie's fault—as soon as they stepped into the shower, she couldn't resist and wanted to repeat what happened the night before. Ruby devoured her intimacy with a hunger she had kept tightly bound deep inside until her partner came twice. Obviously, Ellie wanted to return the favor and fucked her with her fingers while licking her nipples.
Now they're at the bar and seem like two teenagers unable to keep their hands still, especially Ellie. Every time they cross paths, Ellie leaves a caress on Ruby's arm, or puts a hand on her lower back, or gives her a kiss on the neck when they're in the storage room.
Ruby watches her from behind the bar while Ellie cleans a couple of tables with an enormous smile that she hasn't been able to erase all morning.
Chapter 28
Two weeks later
"Jerome, I've lost almost two pounds," Ruby says with exaggerated drama, pinching her stomach between her fingers.
Ellie remains as red as she's been for the past five minutes and covers her face in embarrassment. Today the three friends have met up as usual, except this time the two women appear as the couple they are—or as they call it, the beginning of their moment—and Jerome is fascinated by the story, especially the part where Ellie is an insatiable sex machine who's leaving Ruby practically skin and bones.
"I never pegged you as one of those, Ellie," Jerome comments, barely containing his laughter.
Ellie hides behind her hands again. Normally, she wouldn't mind discussing this topic. She's never been particularly descriptive in front of Ruby, and if she previously found it awkward, she now understands that she didn't want her best friend—now her girlfriend—to know the details of her sex life. This time she's prepared to takewhatever comes her way because Ruby isn't lying when she says Ellie pursues her like a beast in heat. She can't stop touching her and inventing a thousand ways to come. She likes the name for a show or podcast. She laughs at her own joke.
"You have no idea what it's like to sleep with this girl," Ellie finally interjects, laughing at Jerome's horrified expression.
"And I never will. Thank you," the hairdresser concludes, delicately sipping his blueberry juice through a straw.
Ruby gets caught for a few seconds in Ellie Trahan's hypnotic gaze until she stretches her arm to caress her leg and feels a twinge that makes her wince. Muscle soreness is the name she can give to the body pain she's had for a week, because what started as a night of passion turned into long sessions of wild sex. She's never been with a woman who can last so long, who can come so many times, and who asks for more without any shyness. Though she complains, she's really joking; each and every moment she's experiencing with Ellie is a dream come true and the perfect reward for so many years of waiting.
"It's been a very interesting discovery," says Ellie, who now doesn't mind sharing how much fun she's been having. "Did you know you don't need one of those to enjoy yourself?" Ellie points at Jerome's crotch.
Obviously, Jerome shakes his head. He's gay, hello? An eggplant is his favorite form of life. He doesn't understand lesbians.
"Well," Ruby clears her throat and Ellie's skin changes color again, "I dare say you're a true fan of phallic-shaped toys."
Jerome snaps the fingers of his right hand, points accusingly at Ellie, and moves his shoulders like a man with true style.
"You can't deny it," the hairdresser sings.
Ellie raises both hands asking her audience for calm.
"I won't deny they're fun and add excitement to sex, but if I had to choose, I'd pick this goddess's mouth and fingers."
Ellie makes a gesture with her lips. Ruby bursts into laughter. Jerome mimics gagging.
"Seriously though," the man says and pushes away his empty drink, "I'm so glad this happened. I'm sure you two will do great together, girls. I'm happy for you."
Both women reach out to squeeze Jerome's arm. He, more than anyone, has witnessed their lives, how Ruby fell more and more in love with her best friend, and how Ellie wore a blindfold too tight around her head, preventing her from truly seeing that what she felt for Ruby was more than friendship.
"I feel like we've wasted so much time," Ellie says, now intertwining her fingers with Ruby's. "So we'll have to make up for it."
If her facial expression hadn't been like that of a hungry wolf, Ruby would have taken the phrase as one of those romantic ones that make your heart melt. But seriously, Ellie is an expert student who wants to know every detailabout the art of lovemaking between two women, and Ruby can already give her an A+ and graduate her with honors. Though setting aside the rumpled sheets, in these two weeks they've gotten to know each other in a very different way, and neither of them expected that. They thought they already knew everything about each other, and in a way, they do, but regarding Ruby in love without restraints, Ellie couldn't be more fascinated. They've talked extensively about every feeling they experience; they've discovered that, besides sleeping very close together, Ellie seeks her lips in the middle of the night before turning over and lying face down. Or how good it feels to walk hand in hand with Ruby through New Orleans City Park. Cooking in their underwear at Ellie's house or their first girls' Wednesday as more than friends, with laughter in between, but above all, with many kisses and knowing smiles.
"What did Adele think?" asks Jerome, who knows he's missing information.
Ellie stretches her neck and lets out an amused laugh while shaking her head.
