Chapter Twenty-Nine

EARLY THE NEXT morning, the phone jangled them out of a deep sleep. Because she assumed it was the hospital, Ridley quickly sat on the edge of the bed and answered it before it rang a second time. " Hello? Yes, this is Mrs. Kelsen's daughter." Ridley listened for a minute. " Uh-huh. That's good. Should I come in now? " Ridley listened for another minute or so. " Okay, no problem. I'll be in later. Thank you for calling." Ridley hung up.

Dana turned in bed and placed a hand on Ridley's lower back. " Was that the hospital? What did they say? Is everything okay? " she asked during a yawn.

" She's doing great, " Ridley said without turning around.

" How are you doing this morning? " Dana slid her hand under Ridley's tee shirt and rubbed her bare skin. " Do we need to go to the hospital right away? Is she asking for you? "

Ridley got in bed and rolled toward Dana. " That's a lot of questions." She held Dana's face and traced her lips with her thumb before she kissed her. " As far as how I'm doing, I think I'm back among the living. They told me it would be better if I waited until all the doctors made rounds and the nurses got her bathed and no, she's not asking for me."

" I guess we've got some time to ourselves." Dana lifted Ridley's shirt and cupped one of her breasts in her hand. " I feel good and rested, don't you? "

" I think I've recovered sufficiently." Ridley pulled her shirt over her head and threw it on the floor. Then she wiggled out of her panties and threw them aside. " I want to make love to you, " she said as she helped Dana out of her tee shirt and panties. " I thought I'd never touch you again." Ridley kissed Dana until they were both struggling to breathe and then bent to kiss her breasts. With her hand she caressed Dana's entire body and when she reached between her legs, she gently parted them. " I need to touch you."

" Yes. I want you to... please." Dana's hips searched for Ridley's hand.

Ridley groaned as she felt how wet Dana was. She held her close as she made love to her and watched Dana's face change, her eyes close and her breathing become erratic. She stayed with her as she stiffened and cried out and then she held her close when it had passed. She knew she would never leave Dana. Life without her in it was unthinkable and unbearable. " I'm so glad you came back to me."

" I never left you, not really."

Ridley separated from Dana enough to meet her eyes. They were dark as the night and filled with a desire that poured into her and made her want to stay in bed with Dana forever and never stop touching her. " Pinch me and tell me this isn't a dream."

" If this is a dream, I never want to wake up." With her arms around Ridley's chest, Dana rolled them over so her body ended up on top of Ridley's. She straddled Ridley's firm thigh and wedged her own thigh between Ridley's legs.

Ridley opened her legs wider as Dana began to slide against her. She ached for relief from all the emotions of the last few days, all the pain and all the longing. They moaned together and moved together and fit together perfectly and before long, they cried out their release together.

" You're a wonderful lover, " Dana said as she rested in Ridley's arms. " I never thought it could be like this. It's like you live inside me, inside my soul. We're amazing."

" You're amazing and I love you more than you'll ever know. We haven't known each other that long, but I feel like you're my soul mate. I've known it from the start." Ridley spoke through a haze of desire. She kissed Dana's eyes, her cheeks and mouth and then she laid a trail of kisses down the length of her body leaving no part of her un-kissed. When she reached the place she'd hungered for the most, she lifted her eyes. " I've missed doing this the most. I want to do this to you again and again and..."

" Oh, God, " Dana cried as Ridley covered her with her mouth.

A COUPLE OF hours later, in spite of wanting to make love with Dana for the rest of the day and then some, Ridley climbed out of bed. " We'll have to continue this later. I hate to leave this bed and you, but we should get to the hospital. I'm anxious to see my mother and make sure she's okay. I'm going to hop in the shower. Want to join me? "

" If I join you, can I trust you? " Dana teased.

" Hell no." Ridley took Dana's hand and dragged her into the bathroom. " We're not in that much of a hurry and I'm not that strong."

After a long shower, they went into the bedroom to get dressed. Ridley reached into one of the dresser drawers and held out another pair of panties for Dana. " Here, you can wear these. Unless..."

" Unless what? " Dana's eyes twinkled.

" Unless you'd rather not wear any underwear at all? I'd find it terribly sexy knowing you didn't have any on."

" You don't say? Then I won't wear any panties." Dana threw the panties on the bed behind her and winked as she pulled her jeans on over her naked body. " I do have to wear a bra, though. I'm too self-conscious about going around in public without one."

" All right, if you insist, although, it would be a whole lot sexier to think of you without a bra or panties." Ridley pretended to pout as she pulled on her panties and jeans and then put on her bra. " I have to say I'm disappointed."

" You're not being fair. You're wearing underwear, " Dana said.

" I'm visiting my mother. I have to be decent."

" Oh? And I don't? "

" No. Besides, she told me never to leave the house without clean underwear on case I have an accident and end up in the hospital and we are going to the hospital, aren't we? " Ridley grabbed Dana and hugged her playfully. " Are you hungry? "

" I'm always hungry for you, but if you mean for food, yes."

" I don't feel like making breakfast or doing dishes or trying to find my way around my mother's kitchen. Why don't we stop at my favorite diner on the way to the hospital? They have an interesting menu and they make the best home fries. I feel like I haven't eaten for days and I desperately need a good cup of coffee."

" So why are we poking around? Hurry up."