36 comments/ 73771 views/ 150 favorites A Really Bad Day By: LiveCat I consider myself to be a cheerful and easy going person by nature, but my god some days just defy anyone's ability to stay jovial. My default setting is happy unless something happens to piss me off, and some days it all just seems to come at once! Sarah, now she's a different matter. Her default setting is slightly grumpy unless something happens to make her cheerful, but when she's happy she's an absolute scream. Unfortunately I wasn't making her happy any more so grumpy was becoming her norm, thus my day from hell started with her calling me at 6.30am to cancel our date for that night. I wasn't overly happy about it as she didn't seem to have a reason and our visit to this particular restaurant had been arranged for weeks. We ended up having a huge row; the outcome of which is that she is no longer my girlfriend. I can't honestly say I was too upset about us breaking up as it wasn't really going anywhere but it's a lousy way to start the day nevertheless. When I left the house for work I found my car had been blocked into it's parking space by some inconsiderate prick who I guess was visiting one of the neighbours houses, but despite knocking on several doors I couldn't find the owner of the offending vehicle. Still being fairly stoical I headed back inside, changed clothes and got my trusty Honda 600cc out of the garage and rode to work, getting caught in an incredible downpour on the way. Now I was starting to get pissed off because when I left the house in a hurry due to the car issue, I grabbed my old leather biker jacket that isn't as waterproof as it used to be anymore so I turned up at work soggy and uncomfortable. I got to my desk and logged into my PC to find an urgent email from my manager demanding that we have a meeting in fifteen minutes. Now this was strange in itself, as my manager and I get on really well so usually she'd pop her head around my door to ask for a meeting, or would just come and sit in my office to discuss whatever she needed to see me about. Fifteen minutes later I strolled into her office with a coffee for the both of us, to find 4 other people sat in her office looking bewildered. Now I'm starting to forget about how damp and dishevelled I am and am starting to get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach; not helped by the appalling cheap instant coffee that the company supplies. To cut a long story short -- there are going to be cuts due to financial constraints and the chances are the 5 of us are all going to be made redundant and we will find out formally in a few days. OK, so far the day has been fairly lousy and I feel justified that my normally calm and friendly manner has degraded into something closer to miserably crabby. I managed to last the day at work and left the office, thanking any god that would listen that it was Friday, and walked to the car park while struggling into my still uncomfortably damp leather jacket, just in time to see some stupid jackass reverse their car out of a parking space straight into the side of my bike, knocking it off it's stand and onto the tarmac. Now I was really pissed off. My bike isn't new, isn't worth loads of money but it's my toy. I look after it, clean it and service it regularly so that it runs like a dream and is unfailingly reliable and now some arsehole has just carelessly sent it crashing into the road. I ran over, waving my crash helmet and shouting at the offending car driver as they pulled over into a parking bay and as they opened the door the volume of the music was so loud it stopped me dead in my tracks. 'For fuck's sake why don't you look where you're fucking going? You've just knocked my bike over you stupid bitch!' I shouted, trying to compete with the car stereo. 'Sorry, I had no idea it was there! Let me help you pick it up and give you my details.' 'Can you turn that bloody noise down too?' I shouted at her, pointing at her car as if my wagging finger alone would be enough to scare the music into abating. 'Oh sorry, hang on' and she turned into the car and hit the off button on the stereo. She walked around the bike and grabbed the saddle as I grabbed the handlebars and she started to lift before I was ready, succeeding only in grazing the bike across the tarmac. 'Hold it!' I shouted angrily 'It's heavy, so on 3. 1...2...3' and this time I lifted but she didn't! Aaargghhh how bloody difficult could this be? I was about to shove her out of the way and do it myself when I saw she was looking at me strangely. 'Now?' she said looking confused 'Now' I repeated and we lifted the bike together until it was upright and back on it's stand again. I took a very long look at the bike to assess the damage as she looked on, biting her nails and looking terrified. She looked so worried I actually started to feel a little sorry for her, especially as I had flown at her like some crazed dervish. Amazingly there was very little damage thanks to the tank guards. A broken indicator and a couple of fairly superficial scratches to the tank, none of which was going to be tough to get fixed. 'Listen, I don't know how much your insurance excess is but it'll probably be cheaper for you to just pay for the repairs and that way you won't lose any no-claims bonus or get a premium increase next year.' I turned to face her waiting for an answer but she just stood there looking at me expectantly. 'So, which way do you want to do it?' I prompted 'What do you mean?' she asked, looking at me strangely 'As I said -- the damage is minor so it'll probably be easier and cheaper for you just to pay for the repairs rather than involve the insurance.' 'Oh ok. In that case please get a quote to get the work done and I'll just pay for it, but I'll let you have my insurance details anyway just in case you find some damage later on that you can't see now.' I stood there looking at her as she walked over to her car and started rummaging around in her handbag on the passenger seat. There was something strange about this woman but I couldn't put my finger on it. She seemed to look at me with a weird intensity sometimes while being oddly aloof and distant at others. She returned with a business card and was writing a mobile number on the back. 'Sorry, I must have the insurance details at home. This is my business card, I work just over there' and she waved her hand at the building opposite my own workplace 'If you text me later I'll get back to you with the details.' 'Ok' I sighed 'I'll call you later.' 'No!' and she grabbed my hand 'text me please?' she said in a calmer manner, a pleading look in her eyes. I was starting to get really irate now. I'd had the day from hell and now this silly cow was dictating how I should contact her to get the insurance details for an accident SHE was responsible for. 'Why?' I demanded forcefully 'Huh?' Why? Why do I have to text you when it'd be so much easier to call you?' 'Easier for you maybe' she said in a mousy voice while staring at me in that piercing way again. 'I'm sorry but this was your accident, why shouldn't it be easier for me?' 'You don't understand' she said as she blushed deeply 'I'm deaf.' 'Well I'm sorry but being deaf doesn't excuse lousy driving or absolve you from blame!' I ranted at her, my anger at the day in general boiling up and spilling over. 'No -- but it makes it very difficult to use the phone.' And she smiled at me in such an innocent and disarming way that I instantly felt floored by my stupidity. 'Oh crap' I muttered as I stared at my feet, feeling like a complete prick. Now I understood why we didn't lift the bike together, why she ignored me speaking to her as I examined the damage. 'Why the hell didn't you say something before?' I muttered, trying to stay angry at her but failing miserably. I was surprised to feel her fingers under my chin as she lifted my head gently and turned my face toward her. 'I need to see your lips to be able to see what you're saying' she said softly and in that instant, something changed fundamentally. I don't know if it was the gentle touch of her hand or the softness of her voice but I stopped thinking of her as the silly cow who had hit my beloved bike and actually saw her as a woman for the first time. And she was really very pleasant on the eyes. 'Listen, I'm really, really sorry for coming across as such a bitch, I'm just having the most horrendous day.' I said whilst staring at her eyes as they in turn studied my lips. 'Well, I'm really sorry I hit your bike and made it even worse. If it's any consolation I'm not exactly having a fun day either. I just got turned down for a promotion that I know damn well would've been mine if I could hear but I have no way of proving it.' 'Ah shit, I'm really sorry to hear that. At least you still have a job; I just found out that I'm probably going to be made redundant.' 'Yeah, I guess it could be worse.' She sighed in a resigned way 'At least it's Friday so we can get drunk and drown our sorrows. You should make your boyfriend take you out somewhere special tonight to cheer you up.' 'Actually I broke up with my girlfriend this morning -- that was the start of my bad day.' 'Girlfriend? You're gay?' 'Yup. Fully paid up member of the lesbian fraternity since I was about 16 years old.' 'Jeez, I'm really sorry.' 'What, that I'm gay?' I responded getting miffed again. 'No silly! That you split up with your girlfriend!' and then she laughed and it sounded like sparkling water trickling over the babbling brook of my senses. Her laugh instantly lightened my mood and I found myself grinning at her inanely. 'So who are you going home to? Girlfriend, boyfriend, goldfish? Who's the significant other in your life.' 'I have a cat called Jasper. We make a good pair because he's also deaf -- either that or he just ignores me!' 'You mind me saying something?' she shook her head so I carried on 'How come you speak so clearly? I've met deaf people before and no matter how well they speak there's always a difference, the tone is muted or something; oh hell I don't know how to explain it.' And I started to get embarrassed and wished I'd kept my mouth shut. She touched my elbow in a reassuring way, making me look up at her again. 'It's ok, I understand. I wasn't always deaf. I lost my hearing due to meningitis about 6 years ago so my speech patterns were already established. I can also hear myself a little bit which helps. I do have very slight hearing but it's so minimal it doesn't really help on a day to day basis, but if I have music loud enough the slight sound and the feeling of the bass lets me experience it if not really hear it. I can lip read pretty well though and have excellent eyesight which means I can eavesdrop on conversations from quite a distance.' And she smiled that smile again; innocence mixed with a hint of mischievousness 'Listen, I don't mean to seem forward...................' Oh for god sake -- had I really just started a sentence in a conversation with a deaf person with the word "listen?" 'It's ok' she said, her hand on my elbow again 'carry on.' 'I was wondering, since we've both had shitty days, how do you feel about joining me for a meal and drinks this evening? I know I could do with a good night out to get today out of my system and I already have a table booked that's going to go to waste otherwise.' 'Are you asking me out?' That smile again, oh be still my hammering heart! 'No, yes, I mean ... I just thought we could hang out and cheer each other up, I wasn't actually asking you..., well I suppose I....' I was blushing furiously now and would've been perfectly happy if the ground had swallowed me up in that instant. 'Yes.' 'What?' 'I said yes, silly. So where do you want to meet?' It turned out that we only lived about 3 miles apart, so I gave her my address and mobile number and we agreed that she would come to me and we would get a taxi into town from my place and I'd pick her up to retrieve her car the next day. It wasn't until she'd driven away and I was starting my bike that I realised that we hadn't even exchanged names! I plucked the card she had given me from my jeans pocket and turned it over to read the printed side "Jessica Bailey, Laboratory Manager" Such a pretty name; all the way home I was wondering what she preferred to be called. Jess? Jessie? Jessica? I guess I'd find out in a hour or so! Having ridden home and stowed my bike in the garage I ran into the house and practically threw myself under the shower whilst trying to decide on what to wear. I then mentally slapped myself for getting so ahead of myself. I still didn't know if she was even into women, so lets not start assuming this was a date. We're just two women trying to lighten the load after a bad day, that's all. Even so -- the day was definitely looking up. I dressed in what I would have worn had I been going out with Sarah; a pair of figure hugging black Levi jeans, a white tailored shirt and a pair of black low heeled ankle boots, all of which would be topped with a black leather jacket that was a bit worn but was my favourite. I then spent a few minutes rushing around tidying up and putting things away and had just finished when I heard the doorbell chime. I opened the door to a vision of loveliness that took my breath away. Jessica was standing there dressed simply in blue jeans and a red cotton jumper but she looked stunning. Her long dark, curly hair framed her face in a way that made her blue eyes sparkle and she had that wonderful smile on her face again. It had only been just over an hour since we'd last seen each other but I'd either forgotten or somehow just hadn't registered how gorgeous she was; now I was stood on my doorstep gawking like a teenager in the midst of a first crush. 'You going to invite me in or just stand there staring at me?' as she looked herself up and down as if trying to locate the source of my fascination. 'Sorry, come on in and I'll call a taxi. Do you want a drink while we wait?' I turned & looked expectantly, waiting for an answer until I realised I'd done it again. I had turned away from her after I invited her in so she had no idea of what I'd said after that. The look on my face gave me away too, so I couldn't even pretend I hadn't said anything and it made me feel even more foolish than I already did for staring at her. 'Sorry' I muttered sheepishly 'I forgot again. Would you like a drink while we wait?' 'I'll take a beer if you have one? I'm glad to see you're dressed in jeans, I didn't know where we were going so I didn't know what to wear.' 'You look lovely' I said, making sure to look directly at her 'although I have a feeling you'd look good in anything you wear.' And with that I deliberately turned away to hide the blush that was creeping up my face. I called a taxi and grabbed a couple of ice cold bottles of Becks from the fridge, our fingers touching lightly as I passed the bottle, sending little tingles through my system. 'Thanks urrmmm.....' and she laughed shyly 'You know you haven't actually told me your name!' 'Chris' I said as I formally extended my hand to shake hers 'and I know you're Jessica; I have your card.' 'Well it was nice to bump into you Chris' she grinned as she shook my hand gently, her soft fingers clasped in my own 'and talking of bumping into things you'd better take this' and she handed me a sheet of paper that had her insurance details on it. A short taxi ride later and we were sat in one of my favourite restaurants. It wasn't fancy by any means but if you wanted a good rack of bbq ribs, or a steak that would melt in your mouth then it was perfect. In fact the food was so good that you generally needed to book 3 weeks in advance to stand any chance of getting a table. As we were handed our menus Jessica took one quick glance and looked at me with an expression of pure horror. 'I guess I should've mentioned that I'm vegetarian right?' My heart sank. I don't think they even knew the meaning of the word in this place and I really didn't want to have to go somewhere else. I resigned myself to giving our table back and heading out to another restaurant when I heard that tinkling laughter again and looked up. Jessica was trying so hard to keep a straight face but was failing miserably. 'Oh you little cow! You really had me going then.' 'I know -- you should've seen the look on your face!' and she dissolved into fits of giggles, which I couldn't help but join in with. The mood was then set for the evening. We had come out to relax and unwind and that's exactly what we were going to do. We ordered a sharing plate with spicy bbq ribs, chicken wings and sliced bloody ribeye steak accompanied by onion rings, corn on the cob and coleslaw, which we proceeded to demolish whilst sinking several more bottles of ice cold beer. There was no shortage of conversation and a lot of laughter but despite all of the subjects we covered, including work, holidays, houses and sport, I still had absolutely no idea about Jessica's sexuality. She didn't once mention a partner of either sex and I didn't want to be quite so blatant as to ask her outright, but I couldn't deny to myself that I was desperately hoping she was gay, or at least bi. Eventually it was time to leave the restaurant and I reluctantly asked for the bill, not wanting the evening to be over. When the waitress brought it over Jessica snatched it up before I could get my hands on it, insisting that she pay. 'Hey, who died and made you the boss?' I remonstrated, trying to grab it from her hand. 'We both had shitty days today and I made yours a whole lot worse when I hit your bike. You then made mine a whole lot better by inviting me out and stopping me staying in and getting drunk on my own tonight, so I insist on paying as an apology and a thank you. If you're good I'll let you pay next time.' 'Oh, so there's going to be a next time is there?' I asked sarcastically with a cocked eyebrow, although secretly I was mentally punching the air and shouting "YES"! We were both quiet on the taxi ride home to my place. I know I was wondering if I could persuade her to come in for a nightcap but I had no idea what thoughts were keeping Jessica quiet. Eventually the car stopped and if I was going to find out it had to be now. 'Urm, it's still not very late. I was wondering if you fancied coming in for a quick drink?' 'I know you just said something but I don't know what. It's dark in the car and I can't see your lips.' Ah -- no wonder Jessica didn't try to make conversation on the drive back. This was going to take some getting used to, so I improvised and mimed a drinking motion while nodding my head toward the house. 'As long as you're offering alcohol and not coffee I'm in.' and she climbed out of the car as I paid the driver, that inane grin on my face again. I kicked my shoes off as I walked in the front door and headed for the fridge, calling over my shoulder asking is she'd like beer, wine or something stronger. I was surprised to find myself being spun around by my arm, coming to a stop with Jessica standing right in front of me, looking into my eyes. She put her hands on each side of my face to hold it still and for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me; instead she kept looking into my eyes as she spoke. 'I know it takes some adjusting to but I need to be able to see you when you talk. What do I have to do to make you look at me? Am I going to have to hold onto your face like this all the time to keep you looking in my direction?' Well if ever there was a loaded question! I would happily look at her for hours on end and was tempted to say just that, but that's not what she meant. Was it? A Really Bad Day Ch. 02 I wasn't going to write a second chapter of this story, however I had so many lovely comments and emails requesting more that I couldn't refuse. If you haven't read the first chapter of this story already then I would recommend it, as it provides much in the way of context and scene setting. I hope you enjoy. Cat xx I woke the next morning to find that neither of us had moved an inch during the night. My beautiful Jess was still snuggled into my side, with her head on my shoulder and her arm across my tummy, pinning me possessively to her bed. I gently eased myself out from under her and headed to the bathroom, the huge smile on my face belying the mixed emotions that were running through my head. Yes, I was as happy as could be that Jess had welcomed me so wonderfully when I'd turned up unexpectedly last night but I had to admit to feeling more than a little scared. I knew that I was falling, maybe had already fallen, really hard for her. I knew that if I lost her now it would hurt like hell, but I also knew that Jess wasn't a lesbian – at least she wasn't before last night. Would she wake this morning with regret or would we now move forward into a fully fledged relationship? I knew she'd been scared of how other people would perceive her and I knew she was worried about bringing more prejudice into her life but I felt sure we could deal with it together if she'd let me help. The question was – would she give it a go? I was roused from my reverie when I heard 'Chris?' called out in a worried tone and I instinctively called back to let her know I was in the bathroom, scolding myself for forgetting once again that she couldn't hear me. Walking swiftly back into the bedroom I saw Jess propped up against the pillows with a slight frown on her face, but the second she saw me the smile that made my heart melt was instantly plastered back onto her face. 'Morning Gorgeous' I said, as soon as I knew she could see my face, although I also noticed that her eyes didn't stay on my lips for long but were descending to my breasts and pussy shamelessly. 'Morning Lover' came the reply that instantly calmed most of my fears. I slipped back into bed to have my lips claimed instantly in a kiss that was so hot I thought my blood would boil. Yep, that got rid of any lingering doubts! Just as I was surrendering fully to the sensations of her tongue gently probing my mouth Jess pulled away and cupped my face in her hands in a gesture that was now so familiar and heart-warming. 'No regrets?' she asked, confusing me intensely 'Why on earth would I have regrets? Surely I should be asking you that!' 'Because you've just saddled yourself with a deaf woman, silly.' 'I'm sorry Jess but I don't understand; why would that cause me regrets? What has you being deaf got to do with anything? I was worried that you might wake up today wishing you hadn't saddled yourself with a woman!' She grinned at me then before replying, as her hands drifted down from my face and casually caressed my neck and shoulder. 'No Chris. I regretted waking up alone but I was fine as soon as I saw your clothes and knew you were still here.' Her hand was now working it's way lightly up and down my arm, the touch so light as to be barely noticeable but notice I did, my nipples springing to attention as her hand glanced across the side of my breast. 'Especially since you said that today I could explore your body. In fact I seem to remember that your exact words were that I "could do as I pleased with you"; I'm just trying to decide where to start.' I knew that I was putty in her hands as her words soothed my soul while igniting fires in my body. I also knew that it was Monday morning and that we had to go to work but as her lips once again sought mine and her fingers brushed my nipple, all coherent thoughts of a world outside of this room were quickly wiped from my mind. Jess had never been with a woman before but she wasn't about to let that be a problem. She was a woman, she knew how she liked to be touched and damn me, it seemed that she knew how I liked to be touched too. I moaned into our kiss as I felt her tweak my nipple between her thumb and forefinger, pulling it gently as it hardened further to her touch. 'Hmmm, I like that I can make you moan.' 'How did you know?' I asked in honest bewilderment 'I feel the vibrations. I wonder how much I could make you moan if I did this?' and she lowered her head until she could run her tongue across my nipple before taking it into her mouth, my much louder and prolonged moan answering her question nicely. Laying me back onto the bed she leaned over me and lavished attention on my breasts for a blissful eternity as if fascinated with them, as I sighed and mewled under her. I felt instantly bereft as her hand left one nipple and the other exited her mouth with an audible 'pop' but as I looked into Jess's eyes and saw the unbridled lust they contained I had to remind myself to breathe. She started to kiss along my ribcage, peppering me with small kisses, interspersed with lightly sucking on my skin and she was driving me insane with desire. I loved what she was doing but I was so turned on I had to refrain from pushing her down to where I wanted her the most. If this was her first time pleasing a woman then god help me when she'd had more practice! As she kissed her way down my body I lifted my arms over my head in pure abandonment only to find that Jess stopped what she was doing altogether. I opened my eyes to find her staring at my right arm, then she jumped up off the bed and circled it, scrutinising my body as she moved, finally coming to a stop next to my right knee. I followed her eyes to see what had caught her attention, quickly noticing the large bruises that were starting to appear, similar to Jess's from our incident on Saturday. I'd been so focused on Jess that I'd practically forgotten about them but Jess suddenly looked so sad it was heartbreaking. 'Why didn't you say anything Chris? You looked after me so tenderly and all the time you were hurt too!' 'I'm fine, I didn't see the point.' 'You didn't see the point?' she was angry now and I couldn't work out what I'd done wrong. Her mood had changed so abruptly that I was struggling to keep up, let alone understand. 'You know what, for the last 6 years people have been treating me with kid gloves. Trying to save me from anything painful, trying to shelter me; well I'm fucking sick of it! I thought you were different Chris, I thought you saw me as ME, not some poor deaf woman that needed to be protected!' and with that she stormed off into the bathroom, slamming the door after her. I started to shout after her until I realised just how futile that was, so I jumped out of bed and followed her to the bathroom, listening at the door in an attempt to gauge what she was doing. Soon enough I heard the toilet flush and then I heard her blowing her nose. I tried the door and found that it was wasn't locked, so I opened it gently and peered around the door to find Jess sitting on the edge of the bath crying, but she looked furious. 'Go away!' she shouted as she saw me, and then she turned her head so that she couldn't see my reply. I wasn't standing for this; she'd got me all wrong and she was damn well going to let me respond whether she liked it or not, so I strode into the bathroom and plonked myself down on the bathmat at her feet, grabbing her arms to ensure that she couldn't storm away again. 'Now you pay attention miss high and bloody mighty! I didn't tell you because you were hurt much worse than me and you were also in shock. I was much more worried about you than I was about me, in fact I didn't even really notice that I was hurt until quite late Saturday evening just before going to sleep. If you remember rightly there wasn't exactly much time to discuss it on Sunday morning, then we went to lunch with my Mum and the next time I saw you we were rolling around on your bed naked. It's not my fault that my bruises didn't start to come out properly until well after yours, otherwise you'd have seen them last night! And as for protecting you because you're deaf – get over yourself woman, your lack of hearing had nothing to do with it – although yes, I do try to protect those I love and I refuse to apologise for it!' Jess had stopped trying to pull away from my grasp now so I loosened my grip, leaving her sitting on the edge of the bath as I stood and started to walk out of the bathroom. 'Chris?' 'What?' I snapped back as I turned to face her again. I was beginning to learn that having a row with a deaf woman was far more logistically complex than usual. 'I'm sorry. I'm just sick of people trying to cosset me like I'm some fragile flower and I assumed you'd done the same. I should've known better and I had no right to be angry with you, I really am sorry.' The anger had left her now and she seemed totally deflated as she sat there, her shoulders hunched as she stared at the floor. I touched my fingers under her chin to lift her face and kissed her gently on the lips, hoping that my eyes would tell her everything that she needed to know. 'It's ok Jess. I can't comment on how people have treated you in the past but I'm not one of those people. I've only known you as deaf and I don't know what I have to do to convince you that it really isn't an issue for me.' 'I have a pretty big chip on my shoulder don't I' and she smiled at me but there was no humour in it. 'Chris, you said that you try to protect the people you love?' It had slipped out without me even realising it and there was no point in backtracking now, especially as it was blatantly true. 'Yes Jess. I said it and I mean it, don't we all do that?' 'So.... you love me?' 'Yes Jess, I'm rather afraid that I do.' She stood then and I wrapped her in my arms and held her close until she pulled away slightly to look at me. 'Have we just had our first argument?' 'Yeah, I guess we have.' I smiled back at her 'You know what happens now don't you?' I looked at her blankly and shrugged. 'Now we have to have great make-up sex!' The smile was real and full this time and I allowed her to take my hand and lead me back to her bed. Jess had been about to taste her first (and only if I had anything to do with it) woman and she was insistent that she carry on exactly where she'd left off, making me lay on the bed so she could make herself comfortable between my thighs, which she kissed and caressed as she worked her way toward my pussy. She planted small feather light kisses above my mound, and then down until her mouth was poised directly above me clit, at which point she extended her tongue slowly and took a gently swipe. My hips jerked at the contact causing her to grin up at me. She obviously liked that fact that I was at her mercy and susceptible to her every touch and I thought she was going to tease me but I was wrong. The next thing I knew her rigid tongue had speared my very core and she was fucking me with her tongue like a pro, nudging my clit with her nose as she did so. I tried to stop her, to get her to slow down, to allow me to breath – but no. She hung onto my hips as they shot off the bed and devoured me, licking and sucking me into submission, my climax coming hard and surprisingly fast. She would have carried on but I managed to persuade her back up the bed and into my arms so that I could kiss her, tasting my myself on her mouth. 'Wow Jess – you're a natural at that you know.' I smiled 'I liked it. It made me feel, I don't know....powerful I think. Knowing that I had so much control over you in that moment; more so than with a man I think. Now I want more.' She started back down the bed but I stopped her and flipped her over – this time I was getting to play as well and I quickly manoeuvred us into a sixty nine position where we stayed for the next 20 minutes, licking sucking and fucking each other with tongues, mouths and fingers as we came repeatedly until exhausted. Eventually we dragged ourselves out of bed and into the shower and Jess got herself ready for work. I then drove her to my house where I got changed before driving us both into work. Pulling into a parking space I turned off the ignition and turned to speak to Jess, who startled me by leaning into me and kissing me deeply. I hadn't expected any form of public displays of affection, especially not in front of her workplace but I was coming to learn to expect the unexpected where Jess was concerned. Walking toward my workplace I saw my manager Michelle beckoning me from her office, so I went straight into see her when I entered the building. 'Hey Chris, you want the good news or the bad news?' I parked myself in a chair and asked her to hit me with the bad news first. 'Well – the bad news is that you won't be getting any redundancy money.' The smile on her face told me to hang on before I retaliated 'The good news is that you're keeping your job; in fact we all are!' She went on to explain that over the weekend the company had won some pretty substantial orders at a trade fair, so for the time being we were all safe. 'However, I'm now going to have to fire your arse for walking into work 3 hours late with a fucking smile as wide as the English Channel – just what in the world have you been up to this weekend and does it have anything to do with the woman that's just climbed out of your car? I couldn't help noticing that it wasn't Sarah.' Fortunately I knew she was joking about sacking me, like I said we get on pretty well so I filled her in on how Sarah and I had broken up, how Jess and I met and glossed over the rest, I knew she'd fill the blanks in for herself. 'Jesus girl, you don't waste any time do you! Well, I've decided to have a little celebration on Friday night since we all still have jobs; will you be coming and shall I expect Jessica on your arm? 'I'll be there. I hope Jess will be with me but I'll have to ask her, I'll let you know later in the week.' Even though I started work late the day seemed to pass interminably slowly, mainly because I kept gazing out of my office window at the building opposite, wondering if Jess was also thinking about me. We fell into a routine for the rest of the week with me mainly staying at Jess's so as not to neglect her cat Jasper, travelling into work together and spending a big proportion of our spare time in bed. Jess may well have been new to lesbian love but my god she was an insatiable and avid student, often leaving me exhausted but always very happy. She was keen to join me at Michelle's party and so on Friday night we went home separately to get ready and I was to pick her up in a taxi later. I was dressed in my usual attire of Jeans, boots, shirt and jacket – I knew it would be a casual affair and had passed this information onto Jess. I was therefore stunned when she opened the door dressed in a black cocktail dress that accentuated every curve; glimpses of her long legs visible through the thigh-high slit up the side and her back exposed. Her beautiful curly brown hair had been piled up onto her head in a way that left her neck bare and her cleavage was making a daring bid for freedom. Once again I was stood gawking like a teenager. I had seen this beautiful woman naked, had explored every inch of her body with my hands, lips and tongue, but somehow seeing her dressed (or almost dressed) like this sent the most amazing shivers down my spine and my throat was instantly parched. 'You're dribbling Chris!' she laughed, as I stood there awestruck. 'You have no idea how badly and where from!' I croaked as I kissed her cheek and took her arm, steering her toward the waiting taxi. 'I did tell you this would be a pretty casual party right?' 'Yes, but it's been ages since I had the chance to dress up and as this is the first time I get to meet your friends I wanted to make you proud of me, besides – I thought you'd like it?' 'Like it? I love it! I'm just not sure I'm going to be able to keep my hands off you!' When Michelle's husband opened their front door Jess was standing slightly behind me. I moved to the side to introduce her and I thought he was going to graze his tongue as it scraped the tarmac. I was greeted perfunctorily and instantly swept aside as he took Jess's arm and guided her into the kitchen, with me following behind chuckling. Michelle and Bob had been happily married for 15 years and he was no threat. It was nice to see Jess enjoying the attention but I knew she was slightly worried about her deafness in a crowd of hearing people, so I hurried along behind to make sure she was ok. I caught up with them at the kitchen island just as Bob was asking her what she'd like to drink and I knew she hadn't seen him speak and therefore wouldn't answer, so I stepped up beside her and wrapped my arm around her waist, wresting her back from Bob. 'You trying to steal my woman?' I said with mock annoyance 'I'll have a beer thanks, what are you having Jess?' I was starting to see how this was going to be a problem in a crowd of people. I'd made my own assumptions before I realised Jess was deaf and had made more than a few errors since knowing. I didn't want people to assume Jess was ignoring them and I knew she found it difficult to follow a fast flowing conversation involving several people, but equally I knew she didn't want to announce her deafness. I was just trying to work out the best way to handle the situation when it sorted itself out in a very surprising way. Michelle glided up behind Jess saying 'Well, you must be the lovely Jess that's had Chris sighing and daydreaming at her desk for the past week." Now that's not the sort of comment that's easily ignored once heard, so when Michelle didn't get an answer she assumed Jess was shy, walked round in front of her and said 'I'm sorry – I didn't mean to embarrass you.' Jess looked at me, looked back at Michelle, then back at me. I had just opened my mouth to repeat what Michelle had said when I saw a look of determination cross Jess's face. She placed a single finger against my lips to stop me speaking, took a deep breathe and turned to Michelle saying 'Oh I'm very sorry, did you say something? I'm deaf so I don't know people are speaking to me unless I can see their lips.' Michele, bless her heart, took this completely in her stride. 'Oh I'm sorry honey, Chris didn't tell me. I was just saying that you must be Jessica and that you've had Chris a little distracted and tired for the last few days. I have to say she has impeccable taste – you look amazing!' Said with a very pronounced and theatrical wink which made Jess blush in the most endearing way, totally removing all uneasiness she may have felt about having to announce her lack of hearing. The next 3 hours flew by and were loads of fun. Michelle must have discretely informed all of the other guests and although a couple of people seemed to shy away from talking to Jess, most people just made extra effort to look directly at her, accepting her gentle touch to bring their face back into position if they looked away mid-sentence. There were so many admiring glances, from both the men in the room and many of my straight women colleagues that Jess was often the centre of attention, however she regularly sought me out and attached herself to my arm possessively, happy to let the whole group know she was spoken for and by me. I of course was feeling very proud and happy and more than a little smug, after all she was absolutely gorgeous, smart, funny and best of all – she was coming home with me! I was dancing with some colleagues when I looked over and saw Jess looking a bit down and pensive, so I walked over and joined her, asking what was wrong as I tugged her down onto a sofa next to me. A Really Bad Day Ch. 02 'Oh nothing really, I'm just being silly.' 'Don't give me that woman, talk to me.' 'I was just a bit jealous really, of you dancing with those girls.' 'Jealous? Of them? Jess they're all married or spoken for and straight. Besides, I'm here with the most gorgeous woman in the room and you're worried I might go off with someone else?' I was incredulous that Jess would even think such a thing and it must have shown on my face. 'Oh no – I didn't mean jealous like that and I wasn't thinking you'd cheat on me, honest Chris. It's just that I want to be able to dance with you but I can't, not here anyway, the music would have to be loud enough to deafen everyone else.' And she smiled at me but I could see the sadness in her eyes; could see another reason for her to be down on herself because of her deafness. 'Right then, come on lets go' I said as I jumped up off the sofa, tugging Jess up with me. 'But it's still early.' 'We're not going home, we're just leaving here.' And with that I sought Michelle out and said our goodbyes and called a taxi. Jess kept quizzing me about where we were going but I wouldn't tell her and she kept looking at me quizzically during the taxi ride, but fortunately it wasn't light enough in the car for conversation. When we pulled up outside of a night club she turned to me and beamed that glorious smile at me. 'You said you wanted to dance with me, so I thought the music would be loud enough here?' 'Oh Chris, you didn't have to do this!' 'No I didn't have to, but I wanted to. If you want to dance then lets dance!' I was absolutely determined that Jess wasn't going to descend into a funk because of something she couldn't do due to her lack of hearing and it seemed I'd hit the jackpot with this idea. Fortunately the pubs hadn't kicked out yet so there wasn't much of a queue and as soon as we entered the main room I could feel the vibrations through my chest, so I was pretty sure this would be good enough for Jess but I wasn't taking any chances. After a brief stop at the bar I dragged her as close to the DJ as we could get where there was a massive stack of speakers from floor to ceiling. You could feel the vibrations through the floor and as soon as we put our drinks down on a table Jess was swaying in time with the music, her slinky black dress sliding over her curves as she moved, drawing attention from all around us. I moved closer to her in a deliberate move to show she was taken. I'm not the jealous type but I didn't want Jess to have to fend off unwanted advances when she may not be able to understand what people were saying, so I wrapped my arms possessively around her waist from behind, loving the feel of her in my embrace as she pressed back against me. Now if I'm being honest I'm not a huge fan of dancing or nightclubs but Jess was in heaven and her enthusiasm was infectious. I relinquished my hold after we'd made the point but I don't think there was a single second in the next two hours when we weren't touching in some way and Jess's sensuous movements in that dress were beginning to drive me to distraction. I pulled Jess into me and looked into her eyes as she wound her arms around my neck, glad that I didn't have to shout over the music to be understood. 'I want you.' Her answer was a deep and passionate kiss, followed by her grabbing my hand and leading me toward the exit. As we stood in the queue at the taxi rank Jess hugged me tightly and kissed me in a way that made me blush in public; seems she wanted me too and as her kiss deepened and her hand slid inside the back of my shirt I could feel my body responding as my nipples hardened and my panties got soaked. 'Thank you so, so much Chris, that was totally awesome, I've had the best night! Your friends were wonderful and I haven't danced like that in years, you really are too good to me you know' and she kissed me once more. I was pulled out of our lustful clinch by a man saying something, so I looked up over Jess's shoulder. 'Are you getting in this taxi or not? If not, I'll have it – for god's sake get a room!' but he was smiling as he said it and the bulge in his jeans displayed just how much he'd liked the show. 'Sorry' I stammered, blushing wildly and I turned Jess toward the waiting taxi. She stopped dead in her tracks as she turned and went rigid. The man who had spoken did the same. They just stared at each other until Jess finally said something. 'Long time no see Phil.' 'Jessica? Is that really you? Were you just kissing that woman? What the fuck?' 'Like you care.' And she tugged me into the waiting car. The journey home was made in silence apart from the constant beeping coming from Jess's handbag. Someone was sending her a lot of texts and it wasn't me. I knew her ex boyfriend was called Phil so it didn't take a genius to deduce who was now texting her every couple of minutes. Jess was aware of the messages coming in, I could see her flinch every time her handbag vibrated but she just sat there as still as a board until we got to her place and Jess headed straight for the booze cupboard and poured herself a large measure of brandy, which she downed in one gulp before pouring another for each of us. I'm not usually stuck for words, in fact some would say that I should shut up a bit more often but right now I couldn't think of a damn word to say that didn't sound ridiculous, so I plumped for the obvious to try and start the conversation. 'So that was Phil then?' 'I don't want to talk about him.' 'Are you at least going to read his texts?' 'No.' 'Oh come on Jess, this isn't going to go away by ignoring it. Seeing him has had a pretty profound effect on your mood, at least talk to me.' Jess stood and stalked off to the kitchen for more brandy and returned to sit in the armchair opposite rather than on the sofa next to me. We were only a few feet apart but somehow the distance felt like a yawning chasm that I was unable to cross. I had never seen Jess like this before. I'd seen her profoundly happy and sad, I'd witnessed confusion and shock, I'd seen her sob her heart out and scream in ecstasy, but I'd never seen the blank look that she had in her eyes right now. She seemed to have withdrawn into her own little world and barely noticed I was there, I could almost hear the mental shutters coming down around her, closing me out as effectively as a physical wall had been placed between us . 'How about we just call it a night, maybe things will be easier to deal with after a good nights sleep?' She looked at me with what appeared to be a mixture of fear, sadness and confusion before finally putting her glass down and standing up. The earlier passion was gone now and I couldn't help but worry when rather than snuggling up into my side, or pushing her arse back into me as we spooned, Jess sought the farthest reaches of the bed and lay with her back to me, almost as if I wasn't there. Sleep didn't come easily to either of us but eventually I dropped off into a troubled slumber from which I awoke feeling groggy and tired. I rolled over to find that Jess's side of the bed was empty and cold so I got up, dressed and headed into the kitchen to find Jess sat at the counter staring into a cup of tepid tea. I walked up and put my arms around her, startled at the way her body stiffened at my touch, wondering just what was going on in Jess's head to cause such a severe reaction. 'Hey Jess, you want to talk about it?' and I tried to kiss her lightly on the lips but she turned her head away, leaving me hanging. 'Come on Jess, you have to speak to me.' I pleaded. 'I'm sorry Chris, I was right the first time. I should have taken this slower, I don't think I can do this.' 'Are you still in love with Phil?' I asked, dreading the answer as the question left my lips. 'No. I don't know. That's the first time I've seen him since he left me.' 'Have you read his texts?' 'Um yeah. Seems he wants me back, wants to give it another go.' 'You have to be kidding me? He dumps you, doesn't even speak to you in years and then gets turned on by seeing you kiss another woman and suddenly wants you back?' I was fuming now. Fuming at the audacity of the wanker of an ex boyfriend who abandoned her and fuming at Jess who was obviously considering the idea. 'Chris, you have to understand, my world crashed when he left me, I fell apart.' 'So what – now you want to give him another chance to hurt you all over again? What about us?' 'I think you should leave now.' And with that Jess walked into the bedroom and shut the door firmly behind her. I walked the 3 miles home, thinking the exercise would be good for me, would help me clear my head. It didn't, the only thing it did was get me odd looks from people I passed who must have wondered why I was stumbling along like a drunk woman, sobbing and muttering to myself. I got home, crawled into bed and stayed there for the rest of the day, leaving the bedroom only for more tissues and a bottle of whiskey, which I used to good advantage by drinking myself back into an alcohol induced sleep. I awoke on Saturday deeply depressed and with a hangover to make matters worse. I kept looking at my phone in the hope that I'd missed a text from Jess but the screen was blank. Eventually I took the plunge and sent her a message simply asking if she was ok but I didn't get a response. I wavered between a deep sense of loss and regret, to feeling dangerously angry. How dare this woman play with me like that. How dare she pick me up and throw me away like a toy that's gone out of favour. Just who did she think she was, using me for a bit of fun and then breaking my heart when she couldn't be bothered anymore? The answer was always clear though – no matter what she'd done or how she'd treated me, I loved her. And I'd lost her. And it hurt. On Sunday lunchtime I was sat in a restaurant with my Mum, trying to behave as if I wasn't falling apart inside. I thought I was doing pretty well until she reached across the table and took my hand, saying 'trouble in paradise Darling?' and so I told her. I told her everything significant that Jess and I had done over the last week and how it had all gone horribly wrong, and you know what? She laughed! 'Oh Darling, she just needs a little bit more time. Since when were you such a quitter anyway? I've seen you fight much harder for less important things, so why are you just giving up on the woman you love without even trying?' 'Mum I don't know what to do, for the first time in my life I feel truly out of my depth. I don't want to harass her but I can't stand the thought of her going back to him after the way he treated her.' 'Chris I've seen the way she looks at you. I've seen the way you look at each other and it speak louder than words ever could. She's just had a big shock and is obviously a bit confused; you have to remember that you knew you were gay from an early age – this is all new to Jessica. You just have to be there for her when she comes calling, which she will you mark my words, but give her space to make her own decisions in the mean time. Just make sure that sure that she knows you love her.' I love my Mum – a lot. Much as I wanted to scream and shout and rail against the world I knew that she was right – she always is. I would make sure that Jess knew I was there for her and then I would just let her be for a while. If she came back to me then all well and good and I would make it as easy for her as possible; if not – well I would cross that bridge when I came to it. When I got home I logged on to my laptop and sent her a short email that just said 'Hey Jess, I hope you're ok? Thinking of you and am here if you need me. Love Chris xxx' Then I ordered a huge bouquet of flowers to be delivered the next day with a simple message that said 'Just because....Chris xx' I felt calmer now somehow after my talk with Mum and much as the prospect of losing Jess wasn't a happy one, I knew that she would come back to me if she wanted to and if she didn't, then we just weren't meant to be together. The following week was full of late nights at work getting everything set up for the orders we'd recently won, which was a bonus for me as it kept me busy and kept my mind occupied. By the time I got home in the evening I was so shattered that I literally fell into bed as soon as I'd eaten. I didn't stop thinking about Jess, or stop checking my phone and email every few minutes but at least I wasn't pining too badly. I hadn't seen Jess's car in the car park for the whole week, but I knew she worked from home sometimes so I wasn't too worried. By Friday evening I was so worn out I got in from work and showered, falling onto the sofa as I waited for a takeaway to be delivered. It was now almost a full week and I hadn't heard from Jess at all and now that the business of the working week was gone my mind was beginning to torture me again. I was on the verge of sending her a text when I was pleased to hear the doorbell chime, so I grabbed my purse and headed for the door to collect my takeaway. 'Oh Hi!' I said, surprised to find Jess's brother David stood on my doorstep. 'Can I come in? I really need to speak to you about Jess and I need to return this.' I stood back from the door and he walked past me, handing the money I'd lent him to me as he came in. 'How did you know where I lived?' 'Sorry, your contact details were on Jess's fridge; I copied them when she wasn't looking.' He was standing in the middle of the living room, looking distinctly uncomfortable and shuffling from foot to foot. 'Jess doesn't know you're here does she?' This sudden realisation made my heart sink for some reason. 'No but I need to speak to you. Chris, Jess is in a hell of a mess. She won't go to work, she hardly even bothers to get dressed, she won't eat – I don't know what to do. If I tell our parents they'll just make things worse by fussing over her and suffocating her but I can't leave her like this.' I thought the poor man was about to cry but he managed to hold it together just about. I knew that he and Jess were close but I had no idea how much he knew about our relationship and it wasn't my place to tell him. 'David, do you understand why Jess has gone into this funk?' 'Yeah, some of it. That arsehole of an ex-boyfriend has been pestering her again, trying to get her to take him back but she'd be a fool to go there again. Chris, she really needs you. I've never known her as happy as she has been with you and I know you think she's screwed you over but she hasn't; not really. She hasn't seen Phil or even spoken to him to the best of my knowledge, please don't abandon her.' 'Abandon her!' I spluttered 'David I don't know what she's told you...' but he cut me off. 'She hasn't told me anything but I saw you two together and every time I've checked in on Jess over the past week all she could talk about was you and how she'd let you down, how she didn't deserve you. Add that to the gargantuan vase full of flowers you sent and it wasn't tough to work out.' He looked at my shyly now as if he was still trying to come to terms with his sister having a gay relationship but was trying to tell me it was ok. He went on to explain what happened when Jess contracted meningitis, how it had been misdiagnosed as flu originally so by the time she was treated it was almost too late. She had been on death's door and was lucky to have only lost her hearing as her temperature had been so high the doctors had feared brain damage. Learning to adjust to life without hearing had been a huge struggle for her and many of her old friends had drifted away; not able to make the effort that was required in the early days. She had felt isolated and alone for so long but with the help and support of her family and Phil had started to come out the other side. The depression had been replaced with mild optimism only to be dashed again when Phil walked out on her. It had knocked her back to square one and she had to rebuild her confidence all over again. 'Chris, it's taken her years to feel worthwhile again and she became my old sister again for a while when she met you. Now she's back there again and I can't stand it – please go and speak to her.' 'I've sent her flowers, I've sent her texts and emails – she hasn't answered a single one David, how the hell am I supposed to force her to talk to me? If she's worried about what the world will think then I'm part of her problem, not part of the solution.' 'You're wrong Chris. She loves you and she needs you, I wouldn't be here otherwise. Please take this and go and see her; don't let her own stubbornness break her again, she won't ask for help but that doesn't mean she doesn't need it.' And he handed me a key to Jess's flat. 'Tell her I know and that I wholeheartedly approve of you two, it might help. You saved her life once before and I have no right to ask, but I need you to do it again.' And with that he kissed my cheek and left me alone, sitting in my living room bewildered. Once again I was distracted by the doorbell and without conscious thought I paid for the takeaway, placed it in my car and headed toward to Jess's flat. I wasn't surprised when she didn't answer the door so I nervously turned the key in the lock and let myself in. As I slowly opened the door to the living room I heard 'Go away David!' called from inside but I kept pushing the door open until she could see me from where she was laying on the sofa. I was shocked by her appearance. She looked pale, gaunt and thin and her usually gorgeous curly brown hair was greasy and limp on her head. Her eyes registered surprise at seeing me but she made no effort to move or speak so I walked straight to the kitchen and placed the Chinese food in the microwave to warm and then started a bath running. Returning with plates of hot food I pushed her legs off the sofa and made her sit up. She still hadn't spoken to me but she wasn't pushing me away either, so I took this as a good sign. I placed a plate of food in front of her and told her that if she didn't eat I would spoon feed her, which actually elicited a small smile and had the desired effect of making her start to eat. She picked at it at first but soon her hunger won over and she polished off the rest of the plate quickly. I stacked the dishes in the sink and returned to drag her off the sofa. Once she was standing I gave her a quick hug, which again wasn't returned but she didn't push me away either. I then took her to the bathroom and told her to have a soak and clean up and then we were going to talk; at which point I returned to the sofa and tried to work out just what the hell I was going to say! I was startled to feel a hand on my shoulder. I was so deep in thought that Jess had got out of the bath without me noticing. 'Do you want a drink Chris?' They were the first words she'd spoken since my arrival. 'Yeah, I could do with one – do you want me to get them?' Jess shook her head and headed to the kitchen. She looked more like the woman I knew now that she was clean and tidy but her movements still looked laboured and her shoulders were hunched. When she returned with cold beers I was pleasantly surprised when she sat at the other end of the sofa I was on rather than across the room. 'Why are you here Chris?' 'Because I was worried about you.' 'Because David made you come over you mean?' and she nodded toward the key on the coffee table. 'He did come to see me yes, but I was still worried about you.' There was so much I wanted to say but again I was stuck for words. 'You look like you could do with a friend.' And I smiled at her, hoping she'd allow me to be that friend. 'I pushed you away because I hated hurting you, don't blame me if I do it again, it'll be your own fault for coming back.' A Really Bad Day Ch. 02 'Do you want me to leave Jess?' 'No' and with that small word I knew I had hope and that there was something worth fighting for. She seemed reluctant to talk at first, so I told her everything that David had told me and it seemed to help her, knowing she didn't have to describe those times to me herself, knowing that I knew how dark her life had been and therefore understood to some degree why she was so depressed now and eventually she started to open up. 'Chris I was so happy. I'd just had the most wonderful night ever, I was in the arms of someone who made me feel so safe and secure and cherished and then in that one moment when I turned and saw him I was back in a time when I felt worthless. I didn't feel as if I had a right to the happiness I felt. When I looked at Phil I felt the love I once had for him but I also hated him. When I read his messages, pleading with me to take him back, I thought 'maybe it's what I deserve. Then I won't have to tell my family that not only have I disappointed them by being deaf but that I've also fallen in love with a woman. I know this probably doesn't make sense, it's hard to explain.' 'Jess I'm sure your parents don't feel you've let them down by being deaf – it's not like it's your fault and it doesn't change who you are. You know that David knows about us don't you? He said you hadn't told him but that he worked it out for himself. He also said that he not only approves but that he'll help smooth the waters with your parents.' 'Really? David's a sweetie, we've always looked after each other.' 'So have you spoken to Phil?' I was dreading the answer but actually Jess starting laughing and it was music to my ears. 'I sent him a text yesterday telling him that he's a worthless piece of shit who ruined my life once and that he wasn't getting the chance to do it again. He hasn't sent me another message since.' I was scared to ask my next question but it had to be done. 'So where does that leave us?' 'I don't know Chris. I thought I'd blown it when I sent you away; it didn't occur to me that you'd still want me. I certainly didn't think you'd turn up at my door and take care of me again, thank you.' 'Jess I told you I love you, that doesn't just go away. Of course I still want you but I don't want to pressurise you into anything especially if you're not ready. I also need to know that it's what you want, because I'll fight tooth and nail to help you and keep you Jess but only if it's what you want too.' We talked long into the evening and by the time I stood up to leave, we were actually holding hands. 'Do you have to go?' 'Yes and No. I have no reason to be at home but I don't think I should stay here either. Call me when you wake up?' And with that I kissed her cheek and let myself out. I woke early the next morning after the best nights sleep I'd had all week. I still didn't know how things would work out between Jess and me but at least the lines of communication were back open and we'd made a start. I was just laying there thinking about getting up when the phone rang, so I rolled over and picked it up 'Hello?' for a while there was silence on the other end, so having said hello a couple more times I was just about to put the phone down when I heard Jess voice. 'Hi Chris, you asked me to phone you when I woke up, so I'm phoning you. I hope you're there and can hear me, or at least that I let it ring long enough for your machine to pick up. I know this is silly but it kind of works for me – I can say what I need to say with no interruptions.' And she chuckled in a way that made me believe she was feeling a whole lot better about things. 'I did a lot of thinking last night after you left and I realised that I've been wallowing in self pity for too long. I've used my deafness as something to blame whenever my life wasn't quite right, yes it has played it's part but it's time I took control of my life and started living again. I missed you so much last week and I was beating myself up for shoving you away. I deleted your texts and emails without reading them because I couldn't allow myself to believe you still cared for me after the way I treated you. The flowers are by my bed and they're still beautiful, thanks to David who put them in water. And then you turned up at my door and just came in and took care of me as if nothing had happened. If you can look past the way I behaved, then I ought to show some courage and take control of my life. I love you Chris and if you'll take me back then I want to try again. I hope to god you can hear this because I love you more than I can say in words and if you open your front door I'll show you how much.' And with that she rang off. I was up and out of bed like lightening, running for the front door while grabbing a robe on the way and wiping the tears from my eyes. I opened the front door to find Jess standing there looking nervous and biting her nails the way she had when we first met because of an accident. She was wearing a curiously long and heavy coat for such a mild morning but as she rushed in through the door and into my arms I understood why as the coat fell open to reveal absolutely nothing but smooth, glorious skin underneath. Her lips found mine in a crushing kiss as my hands travelled her back under the coat and I was lost in a sea of emotion as Jess's kiss completely overwhelmed me. I pulled back to look into her face and she saw the questions in my eyes. 'Chris I love you. I was scared and confused and depressed and I didn't think I deserved you. Between you and David you've shown me otherwise. I can't thank you enough for not running away and for coming back and caring for me when I needed you most. David is currently on his way to my parents house. I'm still scared but I'm not confused anymore so he's gone to break the news that I'm in love with you, so expect my phone to start beeping any time soon with frantic texts from them. Now for gods sake make love to me before I burst!' Now that's not a demand that's easy to turn down, so with a grin on my face I pulled Jess upstairs into my bedroom and back into my still warm bed, my robe and Jess's coat getting lost somewhere along the way. We landed on the bed naked and hungry for each other, our lips and hands trying to make up for the trauma of the last week as we both sought to give each other as much pleasure as possible. Eventually we settled onto our sides facing each other, legs entwined and fingers buried in each other's pussies, kissing deeply as we drove each other inexorably toward orgasm, screaming into each other's mouths as we fell together into the abyss. No sooner had we got our breath back when I rolled on top of Jess, kissing and licking her nipples until they were almost painfully hard. I had missed her taste and I fully intended to make up for it. I kissed my way down her body until I was nestled between her thighs and then an idea came to me and I sat up and asked 'How much do you trust me Jess?' 'With my life, except that now you've asked the question I know you're up to something!' I removed a soft silk scarf from a drawer and returned to the head of the bed, showing it to Jess as I approached. 'I want to blindfold you. If I do that then you won't be able to see or hear what's going on and you'll be totally focused on what you feel. May I?' Without a word Jess reached out and took the scarf from my hands, tying it tightly to cover her own eyes before laying her head back on the pillow. I reached under the bed for my box of toys and removed a large, soft feather. Caressing her with it from her shoulders all the way down to her feet and back up again, finally teasing her nipples with gossamer touches that raised goose bumps. I then sucked her tender and sensitive nipples into my mouth one at a time, toying with them with my tongue as I sucked and loving the way Jess's chest was heaving as she became more and more aroused. I kissed down her body slowly and attentively, alternating butterfly kisses with slight nips that made her moan in anticipation the lower I got. The stimulation was having the desired effect and Jess's nectar was clearly visible on her lips as I blew cool air over her slickness, making her squirm and moan. I lay down between her thighs and lifted her hips slightly so that I could run my tongue from the base of her spine, across her arsehole and up the length of her slit to her clit in one long lick. Jess was groaning now and muttering incoherent words, her hands grasping the covers tightly as she allowed the sensations to flow through her as I repeated my actions again and again. I placed her legs over my shoulders and buried my face in her mound, delighting in the scent of arousal as Jess became more and more turned on. I plunged my tongue into her as far as it would go and swirled it around, licking her inside as I massaged her swollen clit with my thumb, Jess's hips now dancing to their own rhythm, her breathing turning to gasps as she neared the edge and letting out a loud groan as I backed off slightly and withdrew my tongue. I planted small kisses around her slick lips as she desperately tried to get my face back where she wanted it and she was surprised when she felt the cold tip of a vibrator against the entrance to her hot pussy. Slowly and gently I pushed until the whole toy had disappeared inside her slippery pussy, Jess grunting in an animalistic way as it filled her. I fucked her gently but firmly while licking her clit until I knew she wasn't going to last much longer, at which point I hit the switch on the toy sending waves of vibrations into the equation that had her hips leaping toward the ceiling. She was shouting my name and swearing as the waves of please tore through her body, her hips bucking and thrashing as she allowed herself to be totally taken over by pleasure, the ferocity of her climax fuelling my own as I came with her, moaning my release into her throbbing clit. And then – nothing! Her hips sunk back to the bed, the noises stopped and her body went slack. I withdrew the vibrator and scurried up the bed to remove the blindfold. Now, I've never had someone literally pass out on me before and to start with I didn't know whether to be concerned or pleased with myself. Her face looked peaceful with a little smile on her lips and her breathing was even and regular, so I contented myself that she was ok and settled on feeling smug. Pulling the duvet up over us both I snuggled down to watch Jess sleep, knowing that the rest would do me good; I knew that as soon as Jess woke up I would need all of the energy I could muster. A Really Bad Day 'I'm sorry Jess, I keep forgetting but I promise I'll try harder. Having said that you're welcome to keep hold of my face.' I said with a soft smile. 'At least you're trying.' And the tinge of sadness in her voice was unmistakable. 'So do I gather that someone else didn't try?' Her eyes closed and she sighed deeply before replying 'yeah. I was engaged to a guy when I lost my hearing. He stuck it out for about 9 months but things just weren't the same after I left hospital and he broke it off. He said it had nothing to do with my deafness but I didn't believe him, especially since he hadn't really wanted to make love in all of that time and we'd had such a good sex life before.' How could you NOT want to make love to this woman for 9 months? Her hands were still on my face and her thumbs were gently caressing my cheeks. The temptation to lean in and kiss her was almost overpowering but I didn't want to ruin the evening so I reeled myself back in and asked her what she wanted to drink instead. I was in turmoil inside. It felt like her caresses were flirting with me and yet she'd just told me she'd been engaged to a man; the mixed signals weren't helping me work her out one little bit and unfortunately I wasn't blessed with a finely tuned gaydar! Pulling reluctantly away from her hands I poured us both a brandy and we sat in the living room. We were both on the sofa but turned toward each other so that we could talk, our knees touching slightly if one of us moved. We talked long into the night and occasionally her hand would land on my leg or arm as she emphasised a point, or to make me keep my face turned in her direction and every little touch seared itself into my consciousness like a hot brand. Jessica seemed oblivious to the effect she was having on me but at times it was all I could do to concentrate on what she was saying and restrain myself from launching myself at her. Having left the sofa to visit the bathroom, I returned to find Jessica sound asleep. She had slumped down into the cushions and I knew she was going to wake stiff and sore if I left her like that, so I tried to wake her. Stupidly, I spent a couple of minutes crouched down next to her calling her name softly before I realised just what an idiot I was being, so I gently rocked her shoulder in an attempt to wake her. She didn't wake but she did slip further down onto the sofa seat, so I lifted her legs so that she was stretched out, fetched a spare duvet and tucked her in tenderly. I then left a note on the coffee table telling her where everything important was in the house and inviting her to help herself if she awoke before me. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to kiss her forehead gently before I turned off most of the lights and headed into my own room where I lay for a long time just contemplating the woman who was currently sleeping soundly on my sofa. Eventually sleep wrapped me in it's embrace and I slept soundly until I was woken by the sounds of Saturday morning life that were drifting in through my bedroom windows. I stretched languorously and rolled onto my back, glancing at the bedside clock and thinking how wonderful it was that despite being 9.30 am, as it was the weekend I could lounge in bed for as long as I liked. My foggy morning brain registered the fact that I was sleeping in a tee shirt, rather than naked. I then sat bolt upright in bed as memories of the night before filtered through the sleep and I remembered that I had a guest. I was dying to know if she was still there so I jumped out of bed, used the bathroom, wrapped myself in a bathrobe and crept gingerly downstairs and into the lounge. I wasn't actually sure if I wanted her to still be there or not. I had no doubt that I found this woman attractive, both mentally and physically, however I still had no idea whether she considered me as anything other than a friend. Either way, I did know that I'd like to keep her in my life on whatever terms she would allow, so I crept over to the sofa and peered over the back. I noticed that there was now a pile of clothes next to the sofa where she must have taken them off some time during the night and I heard a little sigh escape from my lips, knowing she was still here and was undressed. The duvet was heaped up in such a way that it was impossible to see her at all, so I walked around the sofa and listened for any small noises, trying to tell if she was awake. Hearing nothing I bent close to where her head had been last night and started to pull the duvet down slowly, my heart beating just that little bit faster as I moved the covers as slowly and gently as I could. I nearly jumped out of my skin when all of a sudden I heard 'Trying to sneak a peak huh?' followed by that tinkling laughter I was coming to like so much. I looked up to find that her head was now exposed at the other end of the sofa and she was peering at me over the top of the duvet, a mischievous smile playing across her sleep rumpled face. 'Jesus Jess, you scared the crap out of me!' 'Well that serves you right for trying to take advantage of me when I was asleep!' 'I wasn't! I was just trying to wake ......' but I left the sentence hanging as I realised she was just teasing me again. 'Humph! Not my fault you migrated to the other end of the sofa during the night. So -- do you like tea or coffee in the morning?' 'Tea please; strong with 1 sugar' she called after me as I headed into the kitchen, shaking my head in mock annoyance. How had this woman learned how to push my buttons so effectively in just a few hours? I couldn't help smiling to myself as I put the kettle on; I had a feeling that life would never be dull when Jess was around. I turned around to find her standing right behind me and was somewhat surprised when she wrapped me in her arms and hugged me tightly, placing a little kiss on my cheek. 'Thanks for a great night last night and for making me comfortable on your sofa; I'm sorry I fell asleep on you.' 'That's ok Jess. For future reference there's a spare bedroom upstairs that's more comfortable than the sofa though.' 'Future reference huh? So are we going to do this again?' 'Absolutely!' I stated firmly 'It's my turn to pay next time remember, so we have to do it at least once more so I can get even.' We'd spent a comfortable hour drinking tea and chatting about nothing in particular when she sighed, saying she really ought to go home and feed Jasper. She seemed quite reluctant to go and after she'd left, having hugged me and kissed my cheek again, I thought I understood why. Despite living comfortably on my own for some years, my house now felt curiously empty and I knew that she was also going home to an empty house, apart from Jasper that is. Maybe I should get a cat now I no longer had Sarah to fill my time? I rattled around in the house doing the usual chores but by 1pm I was finished and bored. I kept picking up my phone to text Jessica but I really had nothing to say and I didn't want to come across as pushy, so I kept putting it down again without sending the message. I decided to go out for a ride to amuse myself, so I spent an hour riding around a few different bike shops, getting my indicator replaced and getting quotes to get the tank resprayed but by 2.30 pm I was home again and bored. I kept glancing at my phone just in case I'd missed a text from her but there was nothing. I had the rest of the afternoon to fill and then the evening to contend with and the thought of just sitting here on my own was depressing me. Finally I realised I had a valid reason to contact Jess, so I sent her a text telling her how much my bike was going to cost and asking if she wanted to pay or go through the insurance. I then added that I was bored and hoped she was having a more exciting day than I was. I was thrilled when she texted straight back saying she'd pay for the damage herself, that she was also bored, so why didn't she come over and follow me to the repair shop to drop my bike off now. Result! She didn't waste any time and 15 minutes later there was a knock at my door. Jess stepped in as I opened it and we automatically hugged and kissed like old friends before I grabbed my crash helmet and jacket to head of to the bike shop. Now -- I do a lot of my best thinking when I'm encased in a crash helmet and riding my bike. I don't know why but I find it conducive to de-cluttering the brain and therefore allowing for ideas and decisions to formulate more easily. On the 20 minute ride to the bike shop my mind was a whir. Jessica was very casual and informally friendly with me, but that didn't mean anything did it? She seemed reluctant to leave this morning but surely that was just because we got on well and she was going home to an empty house? Surely the little touches and caresses was just the way she was with all of her friends right? So basically I came to the decision that I was just hoping that she was attracted to me because I was definitely attracted to her; I was therefore blowing ordinary gestures out of all proportion and assigning significance to them where it wasn't justified. Once I'd gotten that straight in my head I felt better. No, not better but more balanced somehow. It only took a few minutes to book my bike into the repair shop and then we were back in Jess's car and heading back to my place -- or so I thought until Jess took an unexpected turn at a junction and started driving us in the opposite direction to my house. I started to say something but instantly recognised that it was pointless as Jess couldn't hear me. We stopped at a junction and I touched her arm lightly, making her turn toward me as I started to ask where we were going. 'Sorry Chris, I need to concentrate on the road so I'm afraid I can't talk to you.' She said with a grin like a Cheshire cat. I tried twice more to get her attention when we were stationary but she studiously ignored me, focusing all of her attention on the road and pretending she had no idea I was trying to speak to her. Ok, so I was being kidnapped and taken on a magical mystery tour but who the hell was I to complain. I had nothing better to do and if you're going to get kidnapped it may as well be by someone as sexy as Jess! I couldn't help but smile, this woman had an incredible sense of fun and she already knew me well enough to know she would get away with whatever she had planned. We soon pulled into a retail park and I groaned inwardly. Shopping was not something I considered fun and I was dreading being dragged around shop after shop for the remainder of the afternoon. Jess looked over at me as she parked, laughing heartily as she saw the look of distaste on my face. 'Don't worry Hon, I just need to grab some cat food. You can wait in the car if you want to.' Relieved, I jumped out of the car and walked across the car park with her. I could hear a commotion going on behind me and turned to see an argument going on a little way away. I was just about to turn back when I saw a car screech out of a parking space and come hurtling toward me. In the same instant I knew that Jess was in the car's path and that she wouldn't hear it coming! I turned quickly and ran at Jess shouting in a futile manner. In 5 paces I had caught up with her, performed a clumsy rugby tackle around her middle and thrown her onto the pavement. She went down like a sack of potatoes having had no forewarning and I heard the air leave her lungs in a whoosh as she hit the floor, but it was quickly drowned out by the sound of contorting metal. I climbed off her and she looked up at me as if I was mad until she noticed the car that had wrapped itself around the lamppost a few feet away. People were running to the car to see if the driver was ok but personally I didn't care. I did care about the beautiful woman on the ground with the terrified expression on her face who was struggling to get some air back into her lungs. I crouched down next to her and hugged her head against my chest and rubbed her back until her gasps became even breaths again, then I lifted her head to look into her face before asking if she was ok. 'What the hell happened?' she asked quietly 'I'm not sure. There was an argument then the car just came speeding towards us. I'm sorry I hurt you.' 'Hurt me? By the look of that car you've just saved my life!' and the shock of what could have happened suddenly hit her and she burst into tears, hugging me for all she was worth. I don't know who called the police but they were there within a few minutes. The policeman who took our statements was a nice, kindly man but he had a very strong regional accent which made it harder for Jess to lip read. We did ok though with me repeating everything he said to Jess. A paramedic took a quick look at her and pronounced her ok but warned her she was going to be pretty stiff and sore soon and to take it easy. After the formalities were over I left her sat in her car while I went and bought her cat food but by the time I came back she was crying again, getting out of the car as I approached and hugging me fiercely. 'Hey it's ok' as I stroked her hair and tried to reassure her. She pulled away from me and grabbed my face as she had the night before, her eyes boring into me as her thumbs caressed my cheeks. 'I know you were talking, I could feel the vibration.' 'Come on let's get you home, do you want me to drive?' and she handed me her keys, got into the passenger seat and gave me directions. The journey was made in silence as I couldn't look at her but her car was an automatic, leaving my left hand mostly free to hold hers and it felt as natural as could be. By the time we reached her house she had started to stiffen up and was starting to bruise from the force of hitting the ground. I sat her in the living room, fed Jasper who was winding himself around her legs in anticipation and went into her bathroom, where I ran her a bath with scented bubbles that I found on a shelf. Back in the living room Jess was sat where I'd left her, still in her jacket, with Jasper purring loudly as he pummelled her lap. I crouched down in front of her and smiled, noticing the slightly wild look in her eyes. She was obviously in shock and I was starting to wish I had more knowledge of what to do in this type of situation. 'Hey, how you doing?' I asked, making sure to look right at her. 'I'm ok although I can't help think about what might have happened if you hadn't been there and knocked me out of the way. I had no idea that car was coming, it would have ploughed straight into me.' 'I was there though and it didn't. You have some scrapes and bruises but you'll be fine. Come and have a bath and soothe your muscles.' And I lifted Jasper from her lap and took her hand, leading her into the bathroom that was now filled with scented steam. Walking into the bathroom she realised that I'd already run the bath for her and turned to look at me with slightly misty eyes 'You're so wonderfully caring' I smiled, took her coat from her and turned to leave the bathroom but she grabbed my arm 'You're not leaving are you?' 'No Hon, I'm just going to hang your coat up, I'll be right outside if you need me. Besides -- you kidnapped me so I don't have my car here!' 'Oh yeah, so I did' and the hint of a smile played across her lips. Not the wonderful smile I knew she was capable of but just seeing her look slightly happier lifted my spirits. I left her to undress and get into the bath while I hung her coat and started rummaging through her kitchen cupboards to distract myself from the fact that she was naked just down the hall. I noticed a similarity to my own cupboards in that they were full of easy to cook food for one person. I may have had Sarah in my life until yesterday (was it really only yesterday?) but we had never lived together and rarely ate a home cooked meal at my house. The fridge was fairly well stocked but nothing in there leant itself to my limited cooking skills so I came to the conclusion that we'd be ordering a takeaway. I gave Jess 30 minutes to soak in the tub and soothe her aching muscles before quietly listening at the door in an attempt to tell if she was out of the bath yet or not but I could only hear the unmistakeable sound of quiet crying. I opened the bathroom door slowly, trying to give her as much advance warning of my entry as possible, before peaking my head around the door. Jess looked up at me, her body hidden by the bubbles, a small smile emerging through her tears. 'Hi, I would have knocked...' I said by way of explanation for my uninvited interruption. 'Do you need anything?' 'Yeah. I'd really like another one of those hugs you're so good at.' Now this gave me pause for thought. Should I say she could have as many hugs as she wanted once she'd got out of the bath and was dressed or should I just bite the bullet and go hug the naked woman in the bath who set my pulse racing and just hope to god that my body didn't betray me? The decision was made for me when Jess's arms emerged from the bubbles and opened wide in invitation. I'm only human and who was I to deny the wish of a traumatised woman -- I'd just have to cope! Kneeling down by the side of the bath Jess wrapped her arms around my neck as I wrapped mine around her back. She lifted herself out of the bath slightly as we hugged and I was very, very aware that her wet, naked breasts were now pinned against my chest and that my hands were stroking the soft skin on her bare back. I was still managing to cope until one of her hands made it's way to the back of my neck and started to caress gently. I knew I couldn't speak to Jess in this position, she wouldn't hear me. I desperately wanted to pull away slightly so I could look into her face but I knew that doing so would leave her breasts exposed to my gaze and that I would come undone and lose my self control if that happened, so I was stuck. Wonderfully, amazingly, fabulously stuck. I was just starting to get lost in the sensations of the hug; a hug that could have lasted for 3 minutes or 3 hours, I had no sense of time, when I could hear gentle crying noises again. I started to pull back so I could say something reassuring but Jess tightened her hold on my neck and held me in place. 'I may not be able to hear you but I know you can hear me.' She breathed into my ear, sending shivers across my entire nervous system that came to rest in one very specific place. 'You like me don't you?' I hugged her a little bit tighter and nodded gently 'You like me in a way that's not just friendly don't you?' I paused slightly but I nodded again. 'I've never been with a woman before; never even considered it as a possibility before, but I can't deny that I feel differently about you to how I've felt about other women in the past. I can't help thinking about what would have happened if the car had hit you as you tried to help me. If I'd lost you just as I found you, and the thought is devastating. I need to be sure of what I'm feeling and I don't want to lead you on. I need to know that my emotions are real and it's not just because you're being so sweet to me and that you saved my life. Will you give me some time to work this out in my own head?' This time I did manage to pull back slightly and to my credit my eyes never travelled lower than the sparkling eyes that were staring intently into mine. I cradled the sides of her face gently, as she had done to me before, and kissed her very gently and briefly on the lips before answering 'As long as you need babe.' I left the bathroom promptly after that conversation before I gave in to the urge to jump into the bath with her, and embarrassingly I was still doing a little happy dance around her kitchen when she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towelling robe. Thank god she couldn't hear me singing 'I think she likes me, I think she likes me' over and over as I danced! A Really Bad Day I swallowed my embarrassment and sat her on the sofa, noticing the slight wince of pain caused by the hip that had hit the floor. Looking straight into her gorgeous blue eyes I admonished her to be a good patient and to let me look after her, which prompted a little chuckle and she held her hands up in mock surrender. Returning to the kitchen just as the microwave went ping, I doctored the hot chocolate I had made with a generous dash of rum that I found in her cupboards and took the two steaming mugs back into the living room. 'Jesus Chris, how much booze did you put in this? I'll be in no fit state to drive you home if I drink this!' 'Well, I know this may be presumptuous but I thought you may need some company tonight. In which case I could sleep on your sofa this time if you like? If not I'll just get a cab home, no biggie.' 'But it's Saturday evening, you must have plans?' 'Nope. Young, free and single remember?' I said with a grin 'Oh now I understand. Your girlfriend dumped you so you thought you'd get the straight girl drunk on hot chocolate to see where it gets you huh?' I snapped my head around quickly, fully prepared to defend my actions and state my innocence, until I saw the mirth on Jess's face -- damn, she'd done it again! 'Actually I'd love for you to stay with me; you're right -- I don't feel much like being alone tonight. Thanks Chris, you really are one in a million.' We spent the evening sat together on her sofa watching TV and eating pizza. We talked a lot but there were also lots of comfortable silences. It amazed me how we would laugh at funny things on TV at the same time, despite the fact the Jess had to read the subtitles but when I commented on it she laughed at me. 'I only read the titles when the character isn't facing the camera silly!' 'Oh yeah, sorry. I will get used to it I promise.' She was just about to rib me some more, I could tell by the look on her face but just then I was startled by a red flashing light in the corner of the room. 'What the hell is that?' 'Doorbell' she answered with a smile 'Would you mind going for me?' and she pulled the robe tighter around herself. Opening the door I was met by one of the most impossibly handsome men I had ever encountered in my life (hey -- I'm gay, not blind!). He looked startled and then confused when I opened the door and started to speak while waving his hands around. 'Oh. I was looking for Jessica.' 'If you're signing then don't do it on my behalf, I can hear. She's in the living room, go on through.' Shutting the door I followed him in, a tinge of jealousy creeping over me as I watched him bend to kiss her hello and saw the way she embraced him. I assumed for whatever reason that this must either be the ex boyfriend or someone intent on becoming the new boyfriend and was therefore prepared to dislike him on the spot, despite his good looks. I stood there for a moment feeling like a 3rd wheel until Jess looked around to find me, waving me back to my place on the sofa. 'Chris, this is my brother David. David, this is my extremely good friend Chris, who just happens to have saved my life today.' David snorted 'What -- she save you from buying an ugly pair of shoes or something?' 'No David, she literally saved my life. She put herself in extreme danger to throw me out of the way of a speeding car that was coming from behind me.' 'Holy crap! You ok Sis?' 'Yes I'm fine thanks to Chris and don't you go breathing a word of this to Mum or she'll worry herself sick every time I leave the house! Anyway, what are you doing here on a Saturday night?' 'I've come to ask a favour. I don't get paid until next week and I've met this really nice girl and I want to take her out. Can I borrow some cash until Friday?' Jessica rummaged through her handbag and dug her purse out, looking wistfully at the contents. 'I'd happily lend you some money except I don't have any cash; I'm guessing that £10 won't be enough?' 'Not unless I take her to McDonalds.' Sulked David I don't know what came over me then. I don't usually lend money to my friends, let alone strangers but I dug into my jeans pockets and came out with £30. I think I just wanted rid of him so I could be alone with Jess again. 'Will this be enough?' He looked at me in amazement, then back to his sister, then back at me again. 'Chris, you don't have to lend him money, you don't even know him.' 'Is he good for it?' 'Absolutely, this is a regular occurrence and he always pays up on time.' 'Well, any brother of yours is a friend of mine.' And I shoved the notes into David's hand. David was still looking at me in amazement. 'Okaaaaay, you save my sisters life and then you lend her brother money. Are you some kind of Samaritan or something?' Jess swatted his arm 'No, she's a bloody angel, now get your handsome arse out of my door and let us go back to watching TV.' David stood, hugged Jess and then turned and hugged me too. 'I really appreciate it.' He said earnestly 'I don't just mean the cash, I mean what you did for Jessica. We nearly lost her once before and I couldn't bare that pain again.' And the look of earnest sincerity touched me somewhere deep down inside. Before he walked out into the hallway he started waving his hands around again until Jess started laughing and told him to clear off. 'What was that all about?' 'I think he likes you, he asked if you were single.' 'Did you tell him I was gay?' 'No, but I told him you were spoken for.' And she looked away quickly before I had a chance to respond. I so wanted to jump on her and kiss her until she fainted but I knew I had to play this slowly and by Jess's rules. Not just for her benefit but for mine too. The last thing I wanted was to jump into a relationship and then have my heart broken because she came to realise that her emotions were actually just gratitude. Instead, I took the blanket that was over the back of the sofa and placed it tenderly over Jess as we settled back in to watch the TV, surprised when she lifted the edge of the blanket and motioned for me to move closer so I could share it with her. Such a simple gesture and yet it made my heart sing. I think that was the moment I realised that I was falling in love with her. The shock of the day had taken it's toll on both of us and by 10.30 I could see Jess's eyes being to droop, so I touched her cheek gently to get her attention. 'You need to go to bed Jess, you're knackered and I'm not feeling too lively myself.' My arm and knee on the right side were both actually starting to get really painful where I'd also hit the ground, but I didn't want to worry Jess. 'You're my guest so you take the bed, I'm fine here on the sofa.' 'Not a chance Hon, now get your arse into that bedroom or else!' 'Or else what?' oh that smile again; I'm sure she had no idea of the effect that smile had on me. 'Or else I'll get a taxi home, so go on -- be a good patient and get some sleep.' And I stood and gently pulled her up off the sofa and into a standing position. 'I do have a king sized bed, I'm sure we could share?' and she looked into my eyes with what seemed to be a mixture of trepidation and anticipation on her face, until she blushed slightly and turned away toward her bedroom as I gently shook my head. As she was reaching into a cupboard to get me some bedding I put my arms around her from behind and held her close, pulling her back into me and holding her tightly. I turned us slightly so that we were facing a mirror, my face peeking over her shoulder so she could see what I was saying. 'You remember the conversation we had earlier in the bathroom?' 'Of course' she whispered, looking slightly embarrassed. 'That's why I can't share your bed Babe. I do like you. A lot and in ways that are far from platonic and I would never be able to sleep lying next to you and not being able to hold you.' She became bolder then and looked directly into my eyes as she spoke. 'but what if I wanted you to hold me?' 'You said yourself that you need to get your emotions straight. There's no hurry Jess; I'm not going anywhere. Tomorrow is new day and we have all the time in the world.' And with that I kissed her cheek, picked up the duvet and scarpered back to the sofa before I changed my mind. I lay on the sofa for a while wondering if I'd been too selfish. Surely I could keep myself in check and manage to just hold her couldn't I? I had however seen the look in her eyes; it was almost as if she was daring me to push it further and I refused to start something now that she later regretted. No -- if something happened between us then it wouldn't be because of confused emotions and it would be at her instigation, when the time was right. I awoke first the next morning, dressed and made tea. I took a mug into Jess's bedroom and placed it carefully on the bedside table making as little noise as possible so I didn't wake her. It was only as I was turning to go that I felt a tug on my jeans waistband pulling me back and saw a tousled head and beautiful blue eyes emerge from the duvet. 'There's no need to tiptoe quietly around me doofus -- I'm deaf! Thanks for the tea, I could get used to this; where's yours?' 'In the kitchen.' 'Well go and get it then. Surely we can drink tea on the same bed without getting into trouble?' The tone of her voice was strange and I couldn't work out if it was because she'd just woken up, she was trying to be funny or if something was really bothering her; either way I went and got my tea and sat on the edge of the bed facing her. 'So how are you feeling this morning?' 'Like shit. I hurt all over and I didn't sleep well so I'm tired and grumpy.' 'Nightmares about yesterday?' I asked, concerned at the anxious look on her face. 'Yes and no. Chris, can I be totally honest with you?' 'Of course! What's up Jess, talk to me.' 'I did a lot of thinking before I went to sleep last night and when I dreamed I dreamed of you. Some of those dreams were....., well they were....oh shit there's no way to say this that isn't embarrassing!' her blush was gorgeous and I knew exactly what she wanted to say -- was it cruel of me to want to hear it from her lips? I took her hand and caressed it gently, waiting for her to continue. 'Chris I had some pretty raunchy dreams last night and they all included you. I have never in my life had dreams about another woman like that!' 'Are you worried about having these dreams?' I asked, praying to god that the answer was no. 'No I'm not worried about the dreams but I am worried about the implications. Chris, I think I was wrong last night. I don't need time to know what I want -- I want you, but this has never even crossed my mind before and I don't know how to deal with it. I have to deal with enough prejudice every day as it is because of my deafness, I don't know if I can cope with adding another reason for people to look at me differently!' and with that she burst out crying in huge wracking sobs that broke my heart. I moved up the bed and held her close, stroking her back once more through the thin tee shirt she had slept in as she sobbed into my shoulder. There were things I wanted to say but it was pointless unless she could see my face, so I held her close until she ran out of tears and turned her face to mine. Drying her tears with gentle caresses of my thumbs I held her face in my hands once more, looking into her eye's as she studied my lips, waiting for me to impart some kind of wisdom that would make everything ok. 'Jess, I don't apologise for being gay and you shouldn't apologise for being deaf. Neither of these things define us as beings, they are mere facets of who we are as people. Being gay; being deaf doesn't change our personalities, doesn't stop us being good, caring, honest people. This may not be what you want to hear but I tend to take the approach that if someone doesn't like me, for whatever reason, then that's their problem & their loss. We can't all like everyone after all. Having said that, I don't deliberately shove it in people's faces and get all militant about it either -- in fact, I rarely ever think about it at all because I don't see it as important.' Jess looked up from my lips and into my eyes. Her own baby blues were shimmering with unshed tears and I didn't know if what I'd said had helped or made things worse. 'I think I need to be more like you; I worry too much about how people see me and what they think. It's one of the reasons I don't wear a hearing aid --it would help me a little bit but some people see them and instantly assume that because you struggle to hear that you're stupid as well. You must think I'm ridiculous for being so weak?' 'I don't think you're ridiculous or weak; we all do our best to deal with the crap that life throws at us in our own ways. I don't think I'd deal with deafness nearly as well as you have, but who knows until it happens? I do know that you're a fun, caring, loving woman who just happens to be beautiful, sexy and sassy as hell! As for you being deaf -- a minor inconvenience, that's all.' 'Chris, I think I'd like to make love with you.' Jess saw the agonised look on my face and misunderstood my reluctance. 'Fine, if you don't want me then....' her expression turned angry and her hands left my face but I caught her wrists held them firmly in front of my chest, stopping her turning away from me. 'Jess stop!' I shouted, although I knew the volume was irrelevant 'you have no idea how much I would love to climb into that bed with you right now and make love with you. You don't know how long I laid awake last night thinking about you, wanting you, but I have to go home soon.' I released her wrists now I had her attention and placed my hands on her shoulders instead, my right hand slipping up to caress her neck as I spoke. 'I'm taking my Mum for lunch today for her birthday and I need to go home and change, so why don't you get your gorgeous arse out of that bed and into some clothes and come with me?' Jess looked at me like I was bonkers. 'Your Mum's going to be dead pleased if you turn up with a deaf stranger to gate crash her birthday!' 'My Mum will enjoy meeting you because you're important to me. You don't even have to tell her you're deaf if you don't want to but she'll probably notice and she won't care. She was a nurse for 30 years -- she's seen it all babe. Please will you come with me?' and I slid off the bed and knelt in an obvious begging position, as I employed my best puppy eyes to good advantage until she couldn't help but laugh out loud. God it was good to hear her laugh after the heaviness of the morning so far. Eventually she agreed and I hauled her out of bed and shoved her into the bathroom; as I was walking back to the living room she called after me. 'Chris?' poking her head around the bathroom door. 'What's up?' 'You're very honest aren't you?' 'I'm not a saint, but generally, yes. Why do you ask?' 'Do you really think I'm beautiful?' 'Oh Jess, you have no idea do you?' 'Huh?' 'One of the things I love about you is that you have absolutely no idea how gorgeous you are.' And with that I turned the corner to cut the conversation off before I lost my resolve and joined her in the bathroom. Lunch was a huge success. My Mum and I are very alike and as predicted she thought Jess was lovely. We'd been in the restaurant for all of 30 minutes before Mum came right out and asked Jess how she'd lost her hearing and remarking as I had how good her speech was, although Mum also instantly understood that she probably hadn't lost her hearing until adulthood. I thought Jess might be embarrassed but she wasn't at all; Mum has a straight way of talking that leaves you in no doubt that she's genuinely interested and she doesn't do pity. When Jess left us alone briefly to visit the bathroom my mum grabbed my hand and grinned at me. 'She's really quite lovely, how long have you two been seeing each other? If I wasn't straight I might go after her myself!' 'Mum!' I squealed 'behave yourself! We're not seeing each other, well not yet anyway. We only met on Friday and it's complicated, she's never had a relationship with a woman before.' 'Oh Darling don't let that worry you, everyone does everything for the first time at some point and the way she looks at you.... well it's obvious that she likes you.' 'I hope so Mum, I really like her and I think I might be falling in love with her.' 'Darling there's no "might" about it, I know you well enough to know that you're absolutely smitten already! I have a feeling everything will be ok, so don't worry.' 'What's going to be ok? Is something wrong?' asked Jess as she returned to the table 'sorry, I know it's wrong to eavesdrop from a distance but I can't help it.' Smirked Jess as she tucked her legs back under the table, deliberately touching our knees together as she did so. 'Mum was just saying how lovely you are and that we should be a couple.' I beamed at her hoping to make her blush and get my own back for the number of times she'd pulled pranks on me. 'Oh goody, I'm looking forward to it! Shall we order dessert.' Was the only answer I got as she turned studiously to her menu, leaving me sitting there with my mouth open and my tongue hanging out. Damn -- she'd got one over on my again! We'd taken my car to lunch and after we got back, Jess reluctantly said she needed to go home, feed Jasper and get some things ready for work the next day. It was agreed that we'd meet for lunch the next day and Jess reluctantly headed toward the door as I trailed after her, desperately wanting to beg her to stay. We hugged each other tightly as she was leaving and Jess kissed my cheek once more, letting her lips linger much longer than before and making me feel elated and sad at the same time. I pulled her to me and kissed her softly on the lips, eliciting a small sigh from Jess. As she pulled away from me and walked to her car I could feel a tear trickle down my face. I knew I would see her tomorrow and I knew that one day soon we would attempt a relationship but "one day" just seemed too damned far away right now. Having grumped around the flat all evening I went to bed early and attempted to read a book but I couldn't concentrate. This was screwed. I had decided to let Jess make the first move, which she'd done that morning when I couldn't act on it due to previous plans -- did I now have to wait for her to make the next move? Maybe she thought it was my turn? Maybe she thought she'd acted too rashly this morning and was now glad we hadn't made love? Of fuck! Who knew? Eventually I jumped out of bed and dressed quickly in some jogging pants and an old sweatshirt, grabbed my car keys and headed out of the door. The traffic was light at 10pm on a Sunday night and in under 10 minutes I was stood outside the front door of her totally dark house, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Eventually I took a deep breath, and pressed the doorbell but after waiting a couple of minutes with no answer I was starting to turn away when the door opened. 'Chris!' Jess squealed excitedly, banishing any fears in my mind 'What are you d......' her sentence was cut short as I pushed her back into her darkened hall, kicked the door shut behind me and claimed her lips with mine. I was firm but gentle and after just a few seconds Jess's surprise was gone and she started to respond, her arms wrapped themselves around me, pulling me tighter into her. My hands were on her face, in her hair, stroking her neck as my tongue ventured forth and her mouth opened willingly to me, her own tongue meeting mine in a gentle dance until suddenly Jess pulled away and hit the light switch, bathing us in the stark white light of her hallway. A Really Bad Day I instantly saw her dilated pupils and noticed how her chest was heaving as she stared at me with a look at sent shivers down my spine. 'That was a hell of a greeting' her voice husky in a way that made my toes curl. 'It gets better' Jess grabbed my hand and all but dragged me through her flat and into her bedroom. Turning on a small lamp next to the bed she turned to me and placed her lips gently, almost tentatively on mine until I responded and her confidence came back, allowing her to deepen the kiss. My hands were on her arse, pulling her into me as I caressed her backside though her pyjama bottoms and a thrill shot through me as I heard and felt her moan into my mouth. I stepped back and slowly raised my fingers to her pyjama top buttons, cursing the way my hands were shaking as I tried to pry them open. Suddenly Jess grasped my wrists, stopping me and I looked into her face, bewildered and disappointed. I needn't have worried though -- she removed my hands from her buttons and just lifted the top over her head, tossing it casually across the room as she stood there topless in front of me. Once again I was stood with my mouth gaping open as I drank in the sight of her with my eyes. Her breasts weren't huge but they were flawless, with dark nipples that were standing proud and just begging to be suckled but before I could even touch them I felt Jess's hands on the bottom of my sweatshirt as she tugged it upwards, sending that too across the room. We stood there gazing at each other, neither one of us saying a word. I stepped toward her and kissed her once more, the feel of our breasts rubbing against each other sending shock waves directly to my pussy. I ran my hands over Jess's back once more and slipped them under the waistband of her pyjamas, caressing her buttocks as she pressed herself into me and shuddered as she kissed me fiercely, her hands tracing the outlines of the muscles on my back and shoulders and making me shiver deliciously. This time it was Jess that pulled away, her hands instantly grasping the waistband of her bottoms and whisking them off and away across the room before she grabbed my jogging bottoms, yanked them down and tugged them over my feet. I have to say that I had expected to be the aggressor in this encounter, I had expected Jess to want me to take the lead but as ever she was surprising me. 'No knickers huh?' she laughed as she sashayed toward me 'guess you weren't planning on just chatting tonight then huh?' I tried to respond, tried to find something witty or amusing to say but my tongue was tied as I stared at the naked woman in front of me, my eyes drawn to the bruises that were now showing through in full technicolour. Jess laughed again, instantly understanding my situation despite not being able to comprehend the string of incoherent and disjointed syllables that fell out of my mouth. 'Hmmmm is this all I have to do to stop you talking? I just have to take my clothes off?' and she walked around me as I stood still, watching her form as she circled me. 'you know I've never given the female body much consideration before, but it's quite lovely. You're quite lovely.' And she let her fingers trail down my back to the curve of my arse, and then dragged her fingers around my middle as she moved, setting me on fire with her touch. I turned to face her and took her hands in mine as I stared into her eyes. The feel of her hands on my naked skin, the way her eye's had scorched a path across my body had awakened me from my stupor. 'Are your neighbours also deaf?' I asked as I guided her gently backward toward the bottom of the bed. 'No, why would you ask that?' she questioned, looking confused. 'Because I'm going to make to scream so loudly they might wish that they were.' And I pushed her gently until she fell back on the bed, her legs slightly parted, visible moisture on the closely cropped hair of her pussy clear evidence of her arousal. I saw her chest start to heave again and got the impression that much as she liked to be in charge, she also liked someone else to take control at times, so that's exactly what I did. She scooted up the bed until her head was on the pillows and I crawled up after her, feeling predatory in my actions. When my naked body was directly above hers, my legs between her thighs, I lowered myself down and kissed her passionately as the full length of our bodies touched for the first time. Jess gasped at the sensation and clasped her ankles behind my back, pulling me tightly down onto her as my nipples raked over hers. I pulled back from the kiss and moved my lips to the side of her face and down around her neck, chuckling as the goose bumps rose on her arms and she moaned gently. I was resting my weight on my hands in this position so I let my lips and tongue do the exploring, my fingers could catch up later. I kissed across the top of her chest and down around her breasts, feeling her body arch up toward my mouth, desperately trying to get her nipples into my mouth. Of course I had to relent, I too wanted to take those generous morsels into my mouth, so I dragged the flat of my tongue across first one and then the other and as Jess squirmed beneath me I sucked a nipple deep into my mouth and bit down lightly. 'Oh god Chris, you're too good at that.' She groaned as I switched sides and claimed the other nipple, ravishing it with my tongue while suckling like a starving kitten. I could have stayed there for much longer but the involuntary jogging of Jess's hips told me that she wanted more, so I kissed my way down, planting gentle kisses on her bruises, brushing my lips across her ribs and stomach, tickling her hip bones with my tongue as the scent of her arousal insinuated itself into my consciousness and pulled me lower still. I looked up at Jess from between her legs to find her staring down at me with a look that contained so much lust it took my breathe away. 'Ready?' I asked, although I already knew the answer. 'Oh god yes Chris, yes please!' With my eyes still locked on hers I pushed her thighs back toward her body until she was as open to me as she could be, her glistening lips swollen in her arousal as I gently ran my tongue from the bottom of her slit up to her engorged clit. Her deep guttural moan was music to my ears and I repeated this process several times, watching the pleasure play across her face until her eyes closed and her head fell back into the pillows. With her legs over my shoulders I placed one hand above her mound and pulled back, exposing her clit fully to my gaze as I slipped a couple of fingers from the other hand into her hot and eager pussy; my tongue lapping gently at her clit. Jess's hips were rising and falling rhythmically with the action of my fingers but when I took her clit between my lips and sucked her hips shot into the air and stayed there awaiting the orgasm she felt sure was coming but I wasn't done with her yet. I let go of her clit but continued to finger her gently as I kissed her thighs and licked the juices up from her lips, Jess's moaning now had a distinctly frustrated edge to it as she mourned the loss of the climax she had been so close to. Once again I licked in long strokes, flicking her clit on every pass, my tempo increasing slightly with every lick and thrust of my fingers until once again her hips were rising and falling of their own volition. I sensed that I wasn't going to be able to tease her for long so I curled my fingers into her special spot as I pumped them in and out and grasped her clit between my lips once more, flicking it with my tongue as I sucked firmly. If it hadn't been for my hand on her tummy I think she would have tossed me off the bed she was writhing so much; her whole back was now arched off the bed as her legs shook and her body stiffened. There were noises coming from her mouth but I had no idea if they were words or not until I heard 'Oh shit, oh shit, yes, yes, yes, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssss!!!!!!!' I was right -- her neighbours must have heard her from the other side of the road! I gently removed my fingers and released her clit, caressing her silky thighs as I lapped at her lips, making sure I didn't miss a drop of the nectar that had spilled forth so copiously in her ecstasy. As Jess's hips returned to the bed I was mesmerised by the erratic rise and fall of her chest and the look of pure bliss on her face. I thought she was beautiful before but in rapture she was positively angelic. Kissing my way back up her body I stopped and lavished attention on her nipples again. They were hard as bullets in her arousal and as I licked and nibbled and sucked on those gorgeous treats Jess started to utter small moans again, so I lowered my body until our pussies were mashed together and as I moved her sharp intake of breath and the way her nails dug into my back told me all I needed to know. I rocked against her gently until her feet locked behind my back once more, urging me on as she drove her pussy up against mine. I could feel the juices from my own over excited pussy mingling with hers and making us slick and slippery as I thrust myself against her again and again, my own climax imminent but I was determined that we would share this one together. One of Jess's hands left my back and grasped the hair at the back of my neck, her eyes shot open and she stared straight into mine and in that moment I knew I could let go. We ground against each other furiously in one final effort, both crying out into the night as our simultaneous release tore through our bodies and left us spent and gasping for oxygen. I collapsed onto the bed next to Jess and held her close in my arms as we came down, kissing her face, neck and lips as her ragged breathing finally returned to normal. She looked into my eyes and I thought she was going to say something but she just looked at me as if searching my face for something, small tears shimmering in her bright blue eyes. 'What's the matter Jess?' as I stared back into that lovely face. 'Nothing's the matter, that was wonderful, truly, truly wonderful, I've never come like that before in my life. I want to make you feel that good.' A small yawn belying her exhaustion. 'Oh don't worry babe, I feel good enough right now and there's plenty of time for you to do as you please with me.' I smiled, stroking her cheek tenderly. 'but not tonight. Tonight was about you and your first time with a woman.' 'You're not going home are you?' she asked, looking slightly panic stricken. 'Not a chance. Last night I wouldn't hold you, tonight you won't shake me off even if you try.' We turned out the light and snuggled under the covers, Jess resting her head on my shoulder with her arm over my stomach. Suddenly she sat back up and switched the light back on. 'I haven't even touched you yet!' and she looked quite indignant about it. 'I'm laying here with my head on your chest and I haven't even touched your breasts let alone sucked on them.' 'They'll still be there tomorrow babe, and so will I.' 'Chris?' 'Yes Jess' 'Will it always feel that good?' 'Oh no babe, it's going to get a whole lot better than that!' Jess kissed me then with such passion and tenderness that I felt like it was warming my very soul from the inside out. Then she turned the light back out and snuggled back into my side, her head on my chest and was asleep almost instantly. As I lay there stroking Jess's hair I contemplated all that had happened in the last few days and how far we had travelled. I knew there may be some difficult times ahead for Jess and her new found sexuality but I also knew that as long as we tackled them together, all would be right in our world, and with that comforting thought in my head I joined her in sleep.