Page 97 of Beyond Her Manner
“God, you’re hot.”
That sounded positive. Hearing Viola say those words, with a tone that sounded like pure desperation, sent a shot of desire sweeping through her. Her fixed gaze made Gillian’s legs weaken, and she leaned back to steady herself against the worktop. Viola took a step closer, her eyes hungry, as if they were devouring every inch of her — or they were about to.
“So hot.”
“Am I?” Gillian looked down, unsure that was true.
“You have a beautiful body, Gillian,” Viola assured her.
“For a fifty-five-year-old? Oh, wait, fifty-six-year-old. Today is my birthday.”
Viola smirked. “Seriously? The first day of the year. Always ahead of everybody else.”
“It appears that way.” Gillian shrugged as a smug grin fell over her face.
“Well then, happy birthday, and you have a beautiful body, full stop. It’s made even more beautiful by what’s inside.”
She felt Viola press her right hand to her chest. She knew Viola was indicating her heart, but part of Gillian wanted her hand on her breast. As quickly as the thought came, Viola’s hand was there, causing Gillian to inhale a sharp breath.
“Is this okay?” Viola asked, giving a reassuring smile.
Gillian could only nod, exhaling slowly to calm herself. Finding her voice, she said, “It’s been a long time since anyone has touched me, let alone like that.” Her voice was nothing more than a breathy whisper, thick with vulnerability and yearning.
“It’s okay. We can go at your pace. It’s been a long time for me too.”
Gillian nodded again, excitement and fear sitting on her surface. Viola’s wandering fingertips did nothing to help as they stroked the exposed skin of her chest. She knew her low-cut, black dress was revealing; its plunging neckline exposed enough to draw an interested eye. She felt the light, teasing pressure of Viola’s thumb sliding lower, slipping under the delicate silk of her bra. The feel of it brushing against her nipple sent a surge of tingles through her and set her heart racing.
“Mmm.” Gillian closed her eyes, feeling light-headed from her touch.
Viola suddenly closed the gap between them, pressing their bodies firmly together, causing a gasp to escape Gillian’s lips as arousal flooded her.
The teasing thumb slid back out of her dress, and Viola’s whole hand grasped her breast, squeezing hard. An unexpected swirl of pleasure and pain shot through Gillian as Viola clamped an erect nipple between her fingers. As her head arched back in pleasure, Viola’s mouth leapt upon her exposed neck, light kisses becoming firm and eager.
Unsure what to do with her hands, she placed them around Viola’s waist, where they instinctively slid down to her backside. Her fingers explored the shape of her, caressing and kneading with a hunger to match the kisses being placed on her neck.
“Should we take this upstairs?” Gillian asked, noticing how giddy everything was making her and how much she wanted to be lying down for this level of intimacy.
“Are you sure you want to take this further?” Viola asked, placing kisses on Gillian’s chest. “There’s still time to turn back if you aren’t ready.”
She could hold nothing back from the woman who had stolen her heart and held it captive, leaving her utterly vulnerable. “There is no time; no time I want to be without you. I want you to ravish me.”
Viola’s eyes shimmered. “That I can do.”
Taking Viola’s hand with a faintly nervous smile, Gillian led her upstairs to the small landing. There were only two doors, one for the bedroom and one for the bathroom, and there was a time it would have embarrassed her for Viola to see it. Now she didn’t care; even with a manor full of doors, she knew the number of them didn’t matter.
She squeezed Viola’s hand, checking she was real, and received a squeeze back. Her tiredness had completely left her, replaced by adrenaline and love for Viola. As she led the way through to the bedroom, the wooden floorboards creaked under their feet.
“It will soon warm up,” she said, closing the door behind them and switching on an electric heater.
“We can warm each other up,” Viola replied.
Gillian flashed her a nervous smile even as her stomach tingled with anticipation.
“We don’t have to do anything,” Viola said gently as if reading Gillian. “We could get under the duvet and cuddle and see how it feels. Take it slowly.”
Appreciating the gesture, Gillian reached for Viola and pulled her into her. It would be easier to say what she needed to impart without looking at her. “I’ve never… you know… with a woman.”
Viola pulled back. “Not even with Hen?”
