Southern Comfort (9781622863747) Read online

  The two laughed as their train approached. The car was mostly empty. The couple sat next to each other. Willow noticed the time on her cell phone. They had four more hours before she had to get Katrina to the airport. She didn’t want to waste another minute.

  Willow pressed her lips against Katrina’s neck. Katrina laughed as she attempted to question what Willow was doing in the subway. Willow rubbed her hand on Katrina’s thigh, slowly moving farther in until reaching her inner thigh. Katrina turned her head to Willow. Their eyes locked. In that moment nothing mattered.

  Their lips locked. Each wanted nothing more than to savor the taste of each other. Katrina’s fingers gripped the back of Willow’s head through her curls. She aggressively pulled Willow’s face as close as she could get it. They kissed, breathing love and passion into each other.

  The couple only broke the embrace once the train arrived at their stop. They rushed to the flat they shared. As soon as Katrina got the door open it was on. With one quick pull Katrina ripped Willow’s dress into two pieces. Willow didn’t care about the shattered fabric; she wanted Katrina more than she had ever wanted anything in life. Katrina circled her tongue around Willow’s hard, light brown nipples. Katrina cupped Willow’s ass, pulling her as close as she could. They walked slowly until making it into the bedroom.

  Willow watched as Katrina took her clothes off. Katrina’s ripped, sexy body caused the stiffness of Willow’s nipples to ache from anticipation of what was to come. She didn’t want to wait for her to take her clothes off; every moment was time she was missing touching her, caressing her, tasting her.

  “Tree, take me. Please, I need you,” Willow whimpered.

  Katrina obliged pulling her foot out of her jeans. She towered over Willow, pulling Willow’s legs toward her. Heat pulsated between Willow’s legs; her whole body trembled. Katrina’s touch electrified every inch of Willow’s body. Each touch only intensified until Willow’s body felt like it was going to explode.

  Katrina dove in, pressing her lips against Willow’s swollen clit. Her tongue parted Willow, tasting the salty and sweetness of the woman who was once just a stranger in a coffee house. It was her favorite taste and she didn’t know if she would ever taste her again. Katrina wanted to savor Willow; she wanted Willow to remain in her taste buds for those nights she wouldn’t be able to have her again.

  Willow bit her lip and placed her hand over her eyes. Katrina was putting a hurting on her in the most pleasurable way ever. The mix of tongue, lips, and the vibrating of Katrina’s tongue felt better than any sexual contraption ever could.

  “I need to be inside you,” Katrina whispered.

  Willow’s eyes tightened closed as Katrina’s fingers entered her. If she bit her lip any harder she would break skin. Katrina quickly found her G-spot, already completely familiar with all the inner workings of Willow’s softest places. Flashes of their relationship played like a film in her head. Willow could hear the bell from the coffee house door ringing in her head.

  They didn’t close their eyes. Both stared at each other as stroke after stroke brought them closer to the pleasurable death. Willow had never felt so good. Her heat and wetness covered Katrina’s hand. Katrina wanted to go as deep as she could, touching all the inner pleasure points Willow’s body would allow. Katrina knew it might be the end, but she didn’t want Willow to think it. She wanted Willow to feel her for the rest of her life.

  Willow’s body tensed as the erotic death was creeping upon her. She stared deeply into the eyes of the woman who had stolen her heart in just a month. Hitting her spots her body began to tremble until trembles turned into jerks. She exploded as Katrina held inside, exploding with her love. The river flowing from between Willow’s thighs matched the river of tears flowing down her face. Willow jumped out of the bed and ran into her bathroom.

  “Willow!” Katrina jumped up but Willow closed the door before she could make it to her.

  Willow didn’t want Katrina to see her cry. She hated what was happening. She wanted to curse everything that was taking Katrina away from her.

  “Just give me a moment.” Willow forced herself to sound as normal as possible.

  Katrina knew that Willow was crying. She knew that Willow was crazy about her, and she was crazy about Katrina. Katrina didn’t know what was keeping her together. Maybe it was Saura and the fact that she had just gone through the same thing. She couldn’t believe she allowed herself to get into another impossible situation.

  Willow fixed her face as much as she could before coming out of the bathroom. Katrina was sitting on the side of the bed. Willow forced a smile as she crawled back into the bed.

  “I am sorry, Willow.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “For causing you this pain. I know how it feels to watch someone leave you. I hate that I have put you in this position.”

  Willow wrapped her arms around Katrina’s back. “Katrina, don’t feel like that. We are both adults who just had an amazing time together. I will never forget this month and I hope you won’t either. But in the end I am happy to just have been able to spend this time with you. It’s something I needed, we both needed.”

  Katrina turned her face toward Willow. She put her hand on Willow’s right cheek. There was something so special about her; she was genuine. It was refreshing. Time was gone, it was time to say goodbye, yet neither wanted to pull away from each other.

  Chapter 9

  “You have everything?”

  The couple stood at the United Airlines check-in at Heathrow Airport. Katrina held Willow’s hand while they waited for a kiosk to open up.

  “Yeah, I do. Hey I locked Devon’s number in your phone in case you need it. I will call you when I get home.”

  An open kiosk opened and Katrina punched in her info and scanned her passport. Willow watched as Katrina grabbed her boarding pass.

  “I guess this is it then.” Willow smiled. She didn’t know how she was able to smile but she managed one.

  “Yeah, I guess so. No tears, my weeping Willow.” Katrina caressed Willow’s cheek.

  “No tears,” Willow said as she felt the tears forming in her eyes.

  Katrina pulled Willow close planting a long kiss against her forehead. “Talk to you later,” Katrina said as she walked off. She didn’t want to turn around. She knew if she turned around she might not leave.

  Willow watched the woman she was crazy about disappear into the crowd. It was over as quickly as it started. She didn’t feel like taking the Tube home so she grabbed a black cab. Suddenly everything reminded her of Katrina. She smiled as she passed different things that they went to, remembering the fun they had.

  Willow arrived back at her home to find Piper trying on a dress that she was in the process of making.

  “Okay, first off this dress has to belong to me. And second off, how you holding up, honey?”

  Willow sat on her couch, Piper joined her.

  “I can’t believe it’s over. Hell I can’t believe it happened to begin with.” Willow sighed.

  Piper put her hand on Willow’s thigh. “The good thing is that now you know.” Piper smiled.

  “I know what? That life isn’t fair?”

  “No, that the real thing is out there; you just have be open to it.”

  Willow turned her face toward her friend. “But what if I just let the one get on a plane to America?”

  The two sat in silence pondering the question. Piper suddenly jumped up. “Okay, I have one question: why didn’t you go to America with her?”

  Willow shrugged her shoulders. She had thought about that question a million times. Katrina never asked her to come to the States even though they had joked about her coming and visiting Graceland. In the end a wild European vacation was one thing, but Willow packing up and heading to America just seemed farfetched for some reason.

  “Well I do have a career to think about, and she has a restaurant about to open.”

  “Um, I’m sorry but is your sewing machi
ne attached to the floor?”

  “What?” Willow looked at her friend who was looking at herself in the full-length mirror.

  “I’m just saying, you work from home, you can sketch and create clothes anywhere.”

  Willow knew Piper was right. “She didn’t ask me to come. If she wanted me in America she would have asked just like she asked me to travel with her.”

  “I guess.” Piper pulled the half-finished dress off and threw her little dress over her head. “Anywho, I gotta get out of here so I can go to work. Let’s hang later.”

  Willow nodded her head. She got up and locked the door behind her. She thought about Piper’s questions. Maybe she should have offered to come. Did she miss the chance to be with the woman she couldn’t stop thinking about? Willow shook her head trying to shake the thoughts out as well. She knew wondering would drive her crazy. She picked up the dress that Piper had tried on. At least she could throw herself into her work; that was something that could take her mind off of Katrina, at least for a little bit.

  Chapter 10

  Katrina slept the majority of her flight. She had the layover from hell in Chicago when her flight was delayed due to late flight attendants. She couldn’t jump out of her seat fast enough when the pilot announced they could get up to get off the plane.

  The Memphis International Airport left much to be desired after being in Heathrow. There weren’t stores all over the place, just a few places to eat and a Hudson newsstand. Katrina never noticed how bare the walls were in the Memphis airport. In the end it didn’t matter. She was happy to be home.

  Devon pulled into the airport baggage claim and pickup area. She answered her phone as it started to ring.

  “Are you there yet?” Teri’s voice echoed through the speakers in Devon’s car.

  “Pulling up now, I’ll call you when I see he . . . Ahhhh!”

  Devon screamed when two hands hit her driver’s side window. Standing there was Katrina with a big, goofy smile on her face.

  “This bitch right here!” Devon cursed, something she tried not to do too often.

  “What happened?” Teri questioned.

  “I’m going to kill Katrina.” Devon opened her door. “I fucking hate you now.”

  Devon got out of the car and hugged Katrina who couldn’t stop laughing. Devon playfully punched Katrina on her arm. Katrina put her stuff in the back seat and ran to the passenger side as the airport officer blew his whistle alerting them that they needed to move.

  “What the hell is happening over there?” Teri’s voice echoed through the car again.

  “Hey, Teri. I scared the shit out of Devon,” Katrina said still laughing.

  “Ha ha ha, so funny.” Devon threw her middle finger at Katrina.

  “What’s up homie, welcome home,” Teri said.

  “Thanks, I’m just ready to get home and get some rest.”

  “Not too much rest; we have work to do,” Devon added.

  Katrina told them about her final days in London on the drive home. She found herself talking mostly about Willow and the amazing things she showed her in London.

  “So, Tree, why didn’t you invite her to come to Memphis with you?”

  Katrina shrugged her shoulders. She thought about that the majority of the plane ride. “I thought about it, but seriously we just spent time in some of the most amazing places in the world. How can we go from Rome to Memphis?”

  “Hey there is nothing wrong with Memphis. People come from all over the world to come here,” Teri said. She was always quick to take up for the city that she loved.

  “Yeah, Tree, and just because it’s not new to you doesn’t mean she wouldn’t be interested in it. And the main thing is that she would be here with you.”

  “I just . . . I don’t know. I guess I found myself falling for this girl I just met. Maybe it was meant to be just an amazing fling, not something long term.”

  Everyone was quiet for a moment. Katrina thought about Willow. She wondered what she was doing in that moment. Katrina wanted to call her but she hesitated. Maybe there was something to the way Saura broke up with her. Maybe the best thing is just to let go.

  Devon pulled up to Katrina’s house. The two walked into the dark house. Katrina turned her lights on. Suddenly she was back into her reality: she was home and there was no Saura and no Willow.

  “Take a breather, and get your ass to the restaurant. I can’t wait to show you all that I have done.” Devon smiled.

  The friends hugged before Devon walked out. Katrina locked the door behind her. She pulled her large suitcase into her bedroom and threw it on the bed. She opened it to find a box sitting on top of her clothes. She sat on the side of the bed and opened the box. Inside was a digital picture frame. She turned it on to see photos of her and Willow’s experiences flashing on the screen. She smiled; she didn’t know when Willow had time to make it, but it was the best souvenir she had.

  Katrina opened her computer and clicked on the Skype application. She pressed talk on Willow’s name.

  Willow almost jumped out of her skin when she heard her Skype ringing from her phone. She jumped up and down when she saw Katrina’s face appearing on the screen. Willow calmed herself down before she pressed talk.

  “Hey, you,” Willow casually responded.

  “When did you have time to make this frame, sneaky woman?” Katrina smiled. She realized she was super excited to see Willow’s face.

  “When you were sleeping one night. Do you like it?”

  “I love it,” Katrina said as she admired the frame.

  All her reason went out the window as she stared at Willow’s beautiful face.

  “Hey I’m opening my restaurant in two weeks. I want you to come to Memphis and be here when it opens.”

  “Are you sure? I know that is a really big night for you,” Willow said trying to keep her cool.

  Katrina knew it was crazy but she didn’t care. There was something special growing between her and Willow and she wanted to explore it further. If Willow was willing to come to Memphis, why not have her there?

  “So do you want to come?”

  Willow pressed her lips together tightly. She rubbed her fingers against her chin. “I don’t know. Are you willing to take me to Graceland?”

  “Good Lord.” Katrina rolled her eyes. She had lived in Memphis her whole life and never had a desire to go to Elvis’s home. “Yes, I will take you to Graceland.”

  “Well in that case let me look at tickets.” Willow blew Katrina a kiss before they hung up from each other.

  Katrina and Willow both couldn’t wait until they were in each other’s arms again.

  Katrina was still floating on cloud nine when she arrived at her restaurant. Her mouth dropped when she saw the new signs on the front of the building. Devon was waiting for her at the door. Katrina pulled in the spot with a sign saying RESERVED FOR KATRINA LIVINGSTON.

  “Dee, I am already in love,” Katrina said as she got out of her car.

  Katrina walked to the door. She couldn’t help but notice how quickly Devon had changed clothes. She traded the yoga pants and tank she picked her up in for a pair of pinstriped pants and a button-down shirt. Both outfits hugged her athletically toned body perfectly. Katrina knew Devon hadn’t worked out that day as her hair was freshly flat ironed, something that she didn’t do too often anymore since making the transition to being natural.

  “Well wait ’til you see the inside.” Devon smiled as she unlocked the front door.

  The two walked in the building. Devon turned on the lights and watched as Katrina’s mouth dropped open. The last time Katrina was in the building they were still fixing the structure; now the place was completely decked out. Devon began pointing out various design elements.

  “So we decided that the concrete floors were rather perfect so we stained them instead of covering it with hardwood. So you have this deep brown texture but wait until the lights hit it at night, gorgeous.”

  Katrina didn’t know if
she was more in awe of the restaurant or Devon’s eye for detail. It was much more than she ever expected. The large space was open and spacious but had an intimate feel with the large panel booth seating. The tables were the perfect color of blue giving a bit of color to the mostly earth-toned building. The main focus was the large aquarium filled with blue water and exotic fish. In the front was a stage with all the equipment needed for any band to have a great set.

  “Devon, I fucking love it. Everything is more than I ever expected. How did you get all of this in budget?”

  “I have my ways.” Devon smiled. “You know, called in a few favors here and there; seems many places were very interested in being involved with the new up-and-coming restaurant.”

  Katrina wrapped her arms around Devon. She hugged her friend who had gone over and above for her. Devon excelled at anything she put her mind to.

  “You really should do this shit full time; it’s amazing.” Katrina continued to admire her building.

  “Maybe. I really enjoyed helping. Oh I hired an amazing manager to get the staff together. You are going to love him. So awesomely gay but he really knows his shit. Not to mention he can dress his ass off.”

  “Cool. So let me see my kitchen.”

  The women walked into the large kitchen. Katrina felt tears forming as she stood in the state-of-the-art kitchen. The most important part to her was the kitchen, and it was more than she ever expected.

  “I have one surprise for you.” Devon was smiling from ear to ear. She walked over to a wall that had a large sheet covering it. “I know the one thing you always wanted was a place to make your perfect pizzas. Well this was my special gift to you.”

  Devon pulled the sheet down. In the middle of the wall was a custom-made wood burning brick oven. Katrina’s eyes swelled with tears. She turned around and wiped her eyes.

  “Tree, don’t cry.” Devon ran up to her friend who was unable to speak at the moment.

  Katrina couldn’t control her emotions. Everything was better than she expected. As happy as she was, she couldn’t help but feel fearful. Feeling as if she was going to faint, she took a seat on a stool in the kitchen.