xiv. feels like home

Sharon has learned three things tonight.

1) Andrea's mouth is a gift - one that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.

2) Andrea is unnaturally gorgeous when she's worn out.

3) And Sharon really, really enjoys having sex with Andrea.

Sharon falls down on the bed beside her lover, her feet at the head of the bed, her head next to Andrea's still-trembling thighs. She drags her tongue over her wet lips and around her mouth, one of her hands clutching her chest as her heart races. She's burning up, skin sticky and sweaty, and her lungs are desperately trying to keep up with her need for air. Andrea's hand brushes over the outside of one of her bent legs, and Sharon responds with a long hum. Her own hand goes to rest on Andrea's abdomen, the heated flesh damp with perspiration, rising and falling with her inhalations and exhalations.

"Oh my god," Andrea breathes out after several long moments filled with nothing but the sound of their breaths evening out. There's wonderment in her voice, and Sharon's eyes crinkle at the sound of it.

Sharon's laugh is raspy and low, and her lips form a lazy smirk. "I know!"

"That was…" Andrea trails off with a low groan, her hand squeezing Sharon's calf. She's been unable to get out full thoughts for a while now, and Sharon's feeling quite proud of herself for that.

Sharon turns her head and presses her mouth to Andrea's thigh, her lover's skin salty on her lips. "Mmhmm," she mumbles in agreement, and then gently bites the woman's thigh. She hears her gasp in response, and it sends a small rush to Sharon's brain.

They're quiet again, and Sharon lets her eyes fall shut so she can savour it. The air is hot and full of the smell of them; she breathes in slowly and then releases the breath with a content sigh. She wants the moment to continue as long as it can. She feels wonderfully relaxed laying with Andrea like this, not saying anything, just running her fingers up and down the blonde's side while Andrea's fingers draw lines and shapes on her legs. It's comfortable in a way that is familiar, that is perfect; she feels herself smiling as she thinks about how easy they fall into this peaceful place together.

Her smile only grows when Andrea murmurs an 'I love you', her voice raspy and low. Sharon cannot find the proper words to explain why, why even the things she hears from Andrea every day fill her with so much joy right now - but they do. She's filled with so much happiness that she's not sure she can contain it. It's usually something she does without thought, but she's finding it difficult keeping it all in. Every time their lips had connected, their fingers had laced together, their bodies had folded into the other's, a new rope of light tangled itself into the mass of brightness seeming to be ready to burst free from her chest. It's not exactly a new experience for her. Andrea often inspires such strong emotions, does or says things that makes Sharon deliriously happy. But it's stronger, more powerful, and it makes Sharon feel so very alive.

Sharon looks down to the head of the bed, moving her legs to the side so she can get a better view of Andrea. The blonde sits up a bit, lifting up on an elbow so she's looking back down at Sharon. Her skin has a beautiful glow to it, the soft light coming from the lamp dancing across her face and playing in her blue eyes. How many nights has she spent just looking at Andrea like this - tracing the curves of her face with her eyes, following every laugh line, memorizing each turn and dip? In this moment all she can think about is how much more she wants of that, how many more days, months…years she wants to spend doing the simplest of things with the other woman.

Sharon wears her heart on her sleeve with Andrea, allows her thoughts to openly play out in her eyes, on her face. After years of strengthening herself for self-preservation, wearing masks of indifference so she wasn't vulnerable, and learning to bury her emotions deep inside, it's freeing being able to let it all show. She smiles more often with Andrea, laughs more, lets Andrea see when she's upset or hurt. Sharon had spent years building sturdy walls around herself, but she has carved out windows for Andrea to peek through, and now doors so she can walk in and see what Sharon only feels comfortable letting a small group of people witness. It all boils down to her knowing she can trust Andrea with all of her, knowing that Andrea wants nothing more than to make Sharon feel loved.

"What?" Andrea asks, her brow lifting with her intrigue. She rakes her fingers through her tousled hair a few times, not taking her eyes off of Sharon.

Sharon shakes her head, giving the blonde's stomach a gentle pat with her hand. There's nothing left for her to say that she hasn't said multiple times through the night already. Instead of voicing the thoughts that float around in her head, she pushes herself up and turns around in the bed so her head is beside Andrea's. She leans in, the steady stream of air leaving Andrea's mouth tickling her lips, and lets her forehead press to Andrea's. Just before her eyes shut, she can see lips slowly forming one of those beautiful smiles that Sharon adores, and her heart swells.

It's funny how much things can change in such a short amount of time, Sharon thinks. Neither of them had been looking for a relationship in the start of the year - neither of them had had any interest in dating at all, in fact. Sharon had been more than happy to continue life as she had been, her focus on her career and her children, despite Emily and Ricky no longer needing her as much as they did when they were kids. But after getting to know Andrea better, and gaining the woman as a friend, having her naturally find a place in Sharon's life had been an unexpected delight. Having that friendship blossom into this beautiful, loving relationship they now have, where she has someone in her life who is supportive and good for her, is everything she hadn't known she wanted before it started happening.

Andrea brushes her fingers slowly across Sharon's neck, and Sharon hums, leaning in to close the minimal space between their mouths. She presses a soft kiss to Andrea's lips, an answer to her caress, a silent confession of adoration. Sharon lingers, enjoying the texture of familiar lips, relishing in the sweetness that is all hers when she can feel Andrea's mouth curl into a smile. She puts her arm around Andrea and parts her lips, releasing a low sigh of contentment, happiness. Andrea threads her fingers through Sharon's hair then and turns into her, draping a leg across Sharon's hip and pulling their bodies close to each other. They breathe out at the same time, limbs tangling, bodies connecting, lips lovingly coming together once more to whisper their love for one melts into the kiss, into Andrea, her mind momentarily shutting down as she lets the waves of pleasure wash over her.

...

The steady rhythm of Andrea's heart comforted Sharon in the middle of the night when she was unable to sleep. It thumped in the woman's chest and below Sharon's head, like a quiet drum beat. Sharon's tired eyes are shut, and her body is curled into the side of Andrea's, the constant reminder of the blonde playing against her ear. She wraps her arm tighter around the sleeping woman, her hand sliding underneath the tank top Andrea had slipped on earlier after cleaning up in the bathroom. The cotton is soft, but the skin beneath it is smoother, warm against Sharon's splayed hand. She yawns with her mouth closed and then huffs out quietly against Andrea's chest through her nose, her head burrowing deeper into the comfortable space next to Andrea's breasts.

After they both took a turn in the bathroom, they had dressed and got back into the bed. Andrea had fallen asleep almost immediately, even after denying she was sleepy when Sharon curled up beside her and said they needed to get some rest. Sharon had watched her for a while, cradling her head in her hand and listening to the sound of the blonde's breaths as they slipped through her lips. It was on the top of her list of things she enjoyed, looking at Andrea, and she took every opportunity she could to do it.

It takes a while for her to feel like she might actually be able to fall asleep. She's not certain why her mind chooses this night to refuse to fully shut down, but it has. The rest of her was ready for hours upon hours of sleep; her body felt the same way it did after going for an extra-long run, tired and a little sore from overuse.

In Andrea's sleep, the woman tightens her arm around Sharon's midsection. Sharon's heart flutters lightly in her chest; small things like that, Andrea pulling her closer even when she's unconscious, are part of the reasons why she loves falling asleep in the woman's arms so much. Sharon had enjoyed it from the very first time, back before they were dating and they were out on the chaise. It's better now, though, she thinks as she moves her head so she can press her mouth to Andrea's cheek. She holds her lips there for a few seconds, just beside the blonde's lips, giving her the kiss she wouldn't have been able to give her back then. Her heart soars when she thinks about how many more kisses she'll be able to give Andrea, how much more time she can spend returning the love she feels so grateful to receive from the other woman. She is so very thankful to have Andrea in her life, and beyond happy that she is lucky enough to express her love for Andrea without holding back.

Sharon rests her head back down, pressing a small kiss to Andrea's chest before she closes her eyes. Instead of fighting her thoughts like she has been doing, she lets her mind run free. With the even beats of Andrea's heart, the soft sounds of her breaths, and the memories they have created together playing in Sharon's mind, Sharon soon finds herself finally drifting off. She wraps her arm tighter around Andrea and breathes in softly, the corner of her lips quirking just a little.

This is her home, right here in Andrea's arms.

The end