Radclyffe - Turn Back Time

"I love what you do to me." Pearce skimmed her mouth over Wynter's. "I need you inside me. Please, Wynter."

Wynter grew dizzy as Pearce's words shot through her like lightning streaking across a hot summer sky. She pushed up on one arm as she slipped her palm between Pearce's thighs, her fingers gliding through shimmering heat and into even hotter depths. She watched Pearce's face as she filled her, saw her eyes glaze as she pushed deeper, watched her jaws tighten down on a groan. She put her mouth lightly against Pearce's ear. "I'm going to make you come now."

"Please." Pearce closed her eyes and arched her back as the first link in the chain of her desire snapped. "Oh yeah."

"You like?" Wynter gasped, rocking along the length of Pearce's thigh as she thrust in time between her legs. "Tell me. Tell me how you feel."

"I..." Pearce gripped Wynter's arm tightly and pressed her lips to the soft skin. "I feel safe." She groaned and threw her head back, searching Wynter's face for understanding. "I feel...oh I'm gonna come..."

"I can tell," Wynter breathed wonderingly, so focused on Pearce's pleasure she forgot her own. "I love you."

I love you. Pearce's mind succumbed as fire erupted in the pit of her stomach and blazed through her, burning away the loneliness and the fear. When she stopped shaking, she slowly became aware of Wynter's arms around her, holding her close, rocking her. Whispering something. "What?" she croaked.

"Sleep now, baby. Go to sleep."

"I don't want to," Pearce muttered, but she could barely move.

"Want to be with you."

"You are." Wynter kissed her forehead. "I'm not letting you go."

Pearce sighed. "Oh yeah?"

"Oh yes." Wynter laughed shakily and brushed the damp hair off Pearce's cheek. "Count on it."

"'Kay." Pearce finally let go and slept.

Wide awake, Wynter held her, content for the moment just to have her near. In the morning, Pearce would be gone. It might be a week, it might be a month, before they were together again. This time, however, she would allow herself to believe there would be a next time.

Because she wanted it, wanted her , more than she could ever remember wanting anything, even her career. And this time, she would not allow time or distance to keep them apart. Absently, she rubbed her cheek against Pearce's hair, luxuriating in her scent. Part sweetness, part dark secrets.

Pearce stirred, and half awake, mumbled, "Sleep."

Wynter smiled. "I will."

Then quite clearly, Pearce said, "I love you."

"I'm so glad."

v Pearce nuzzled the back of Wynter's neck. They were curled around one another, Wynter's back tucked into the curve of Pearce's belly and thighs. Her arm was around Wynter's middle, her palm cupped beneath the soft weight of Wynter's breast. She kissed the warm skin at the edge of Wynter's hairline, running her lips back and forth over the very fine hairs, teasing them with her breath. Wynter murmured and shifted in her sleep. Pearce grinned and very delicately caught Wynter's earlobe between her teeth and tugged.

"Too early," Wynter muttered.

"For what?" Pearce teased.

Wynter reached blindly behind her, cupped her hand between Pearce's thighs, and squeezed. "That."

Pearce's breath whooshed out on a wave of surprise and instant arousal. "Fuck."

"Too early for that too." Wynter moved her hand and pushed her butt back into Pearce's crotch. "Mmm. You're so sexy."

"Now I'm so horny," Pearce complained, dancing her fingers over Wynter's nipple.

"You are so easy." Wynter rolled onto her back and smiled up at Pearce. She tapped her chin with her index finger. "What am I going to do with you?"

Pearce grinned and nipped at Wynter's lower lip. "I can think of about a hundred things, starting with putting your hand back where it just was."

"You'll get spoiled."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No," Wynter replied seriously. "It isn't. I like making you happy."

Pearce kissed her. "You do. Very."

Wynter brushed her fingers through Pearce's hair. "Feeling better?"

"About being stuck out in the middle of nowhere?" Pearce flopped onto her back and settled Wynter against her side. Wynter nestled her head against Pearce's shoulder. "Not really, but I'll go back. I don't have a choice if I want to finish my residency."

"I think you should talk to your father. You're senior enough to complain about a lousy rotation like this. It's not fair at this point."

"I've been thinking about that," Pearce said, watching the shadows on the ceiling fade as light began to filter through the windows. "He's got plans for Dzubrow. I guess he figures once he gets him settled, he'll let me in on his plans for me." Pearce turned her head and looked into Wynter's eyes. "But I've got plans of my own."

"What?" Wynter asked softly, wondering at the fierce intensity in Pearce's face.

"I want to be with you. Whatever it takes."

"I don't understand."

Pearce smiled. "I'm probably getting ahead of you. I don't even know what you want--"

"Tell me what you want." Wynter cupped Pearce's cheek and caressed her mouth with her thumb. Pearce had always lived someone else's dream. As much as Wynter wanted her, she would not let Pearce do the same with her. "If you could have anything, do anything--what would it be?"

Pearce was silent a long time, stroking Wynter's face, her neck, her breasts. She dropped a gentle kiss into the hollow at the base of Wynter's throat. When she looked up, her face was peaceful. "I'd be with you. And Ronnie. I'd teach some, I think, and have a general surgery practice. I'd have a family--and a life."

Wynter's lips parted and she drew in a shaky breath. "I said last night that you're one of the bravest people I've ever met. I was right."

"Why?" Pearce frowned.

"It took me a long time to admit that I couldn't live the life I'd fallen into." Wynter kissed Pearce. "I know how hard it is to be honest about something that means so much. And how scary."

"Not when I'm with you."

"God, I love you."

"I'm kinda still getting used to that."

Wynter laughed. "Okay. We've got time."

"I don't want to be the chairman anywhere. I just never thought about anything else before, because that's what my father wanted me to be."

"He won't be happy about that," Wynter said.

"I know. But he's never really been happy with me anyhow."

Surprisingly, Pearce found she could say it without it hurting quite so much. "The only difference now is that I will be happy."

"Pearce, honey--"

"I know, I'm going too fast," Pearce said hastily. "I'm sorr--"

"No." When Pearce started to draw away, Wynter threw an arm across her chest and pulled her near. "You're not going too fast. I'm crazy about you. I'm a little afraid to think about the future, because I've gotten used to living one day at a time. But I want you to be part of my life."

"Okay," Pearce said. "Okay."

"But you've got to go."

Pearce frowned. "What--"

"Look at the time."

"Fuck."

Wynter rolled on top of her and kissed her one more time, a slow, thorough kiss that promised more. Soon. The next time. Again. "If you can't come here, I'll come there."

"You've got Ronnie. I'll come here."

"I love you."

Pearce smiled. "I love you too."

Wynter sat up. It was time to do what needed to be done. "I'll make you coffee."

"That's okay. I've gotta get out of here. I'll grab a coffee on the way. Once I make rounds, I can shower at the hospital."

"Are you sure? It won't take long."

Pearce slid out of bed, grabbed her jeans, and tugged them on. "I'm okay. I slept like a log. There won't be much traffic. Don't worry."

"Call me when you get there, all right?" Wynter pulled back the covers and started to get up.