“What’s that supposed to mean? Did she take you out? Did you stay in? I want details.”
“Okay, but I’m going to need coffee first.”
“Sure. It’s my treat. Consider it a late birthday present.”
A waiter came over and took their orders. Mel declined Jess’s offer of a mimosa. She’d done enough drinking on her birthday to last the whole month.
Mel recounted the events of the night to Jess, skipping over the more explicit part of the evening. Their meals arrived just as Mel was finishing up. “And the next morning, we stayed in bed talking and watching the sun come up.”
Jess said nothing. She had a strange look on her face.
“What? What is it?”
“Well, that all sounds extremely romantic. Are things still ‘just physical’ between you two?”
“Yes,” Mel said. “We agreed from the start that this wasn’t going to be a relationship. Neither of us wants that.”
“Are you sure? How do you know that Vanessa doesn’t want something more? S
he really seems to care about you. Hell, even the way she looked at you when she came to pick you up the other day seemed like a lot more than just physical attraction.”
“I doubt it. We have become a lot closer, but she’s still so guarded all the time. Especially when it comes to anything personal.” Mel wrapped her hands around her coffee cup. “Whenever we get together, it’s always at Vanessa’s room in The Lounge, or somewhere else. I’ve never been to her place. I don’t even know where she lives. And she rarely tells me about anything that’s going on in her life.” Mel recalled those phone calls that Vanessa frequently received that would leave her unsettled.
“You could always, I don’t know, talk to her about this stuff,” Jess said.
Mel shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t want to make something out of nothing.”
“If you say so.”
Mel attacked her French toast, ignoring Jess’s skeptical looks. She hadn’t told Jess what really made her feel like Vanessa was holding her at arm’s length. When it came to the two of them, Vanessa refused to show the slightest hint of vulnerability. Given the nature of their relationship, it was expected to some extent. And Mel didn’t want that to change. She liked being submissive. She liked giving Vanessa all the power. Mel liked belonging to her.
But she wanted something of Vanessa in exchange. She wanted real intimacy. Sure, Vanessa would lavish Mel with affection after a scene. But Mel wanted to touch Vanessa in the heat of things, to feel Vanessa’s body react under her fingertips. Mel wanted to hold Vanessa in the height of her own pleasure, at the moment of her release. And Vanessa’s release, if only she would permit it. She hadn’t since that night at The Lounge that started all this.
Mel put Vanessa out of her mind. “How are things with Brett?”
“We broke up,” Jess replied. “I’m seeing Brendon now. We have a date tonight.”
“Brendon? The boring guy? Didn’t you two break up?”
“Yeah, but we got back together again. He showed up at my place with roses and I just couldn’t…” Jess looked off into the distance, a faraway look in her eyes. “I think I’m in love with him.”
“That’s great, Jess,” Mel said. For once, Jess sounded like she actually meant it.
Jess smiled. “Plus, he’s not as boring as I thought he was. Turns out he was hiding his kinky side.”
Mel shook her head. “I’m glad you’ve found someone.”
“Thanks.” She was grinning from ear to ear.
Halfway through brunch, they were interrupted by the chime of Mel’s phone. She glanced down at it on the table next to her. It was a message from Vanessa. Mel had been waiting to hear from her all morning.
“Let me guess.” Jess said. “Vanessa?”
“Yeah. I’ll look at it later.” Mel silenced her phone. She didn’t want to be rude.
“I knew it. You always get this goofy smile when she messages or calls you. Which seems to be a lot these days.”
“It’s only because she’s been away on business again.”