C2 2

When Teri woke up the next morning, later than usual, she felt somehow that she didn’t belong. Confused, she looked around her bedroom. It took a few seconds to register that it wasn’t the hotel room in New York, where she had spent the previous week.

This kind of jet setting wasn’t something she was comfortable with. She became disoriented altogether, and had to get used to her own home again.

Or maybe it was because Gina had confused her so much? She thought about it. It had been a while since Teri was interested in a woman, and Gina wasn’t the type of woman Teri normally encountered. A member of the jet set, high society folks who didn’t have to work and could throw their money out the window, for useless things like parties, cars, houses, yachts and what not.

As far as Teri could tell, a normal everyday life was as foreign to Gina as normal interaction between people was to her.

And still, there was something about her.

Teri prepared some tea – really, was there anything else in England? She’d gotten used to it since she lived here. As she sat with her “cuppa,” she remembered how Gina had held her hand and had taken her in her embrace to help Teri overcome her fear.

It didn’t exactly work, but she could’ve easily ignored Teri’s fear or been bothered by it. Instead, she stepped up.

But then . . . Teri grinned ironically . . . the story about her “companion” . Who called their girlfriend that? On the other hand – Gina had said she didn’t have girlfriends, so it was kind of obvious that she’d have to use a different name.

Teri sighed. It would be nice to be in the arms of a woman again for a change, she admitted that freely, and she had loved being in Gina’s arms. But to expect more would be foolish. If she did, she would surely be disappointed.

But Christmas . . . to not be alone on Christmas . . . it would be worth giving up a few principles. And if the disappointment was guaranteed from the start, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Only those who expect too much will be disappointed in the end. If she didn’t expect anything – nothing but good sex, perhaps – she might not get so frustrated and she might be able to enjoy the few days with Gina. And Gina hadn’t promised her more than those few days.

Gina was already looking over at Teri when she approached the fountain. Gina had been sitting on the steps and got up. “I’m glad you came.” She greeted Teri with a smile. “I almost thought you weren’t coming.”

“Yes, I’m sorry, the subway . . .” Teri shrugged her shoulders apologetically. “I take it every day and I still don’t understand it.”

“That’s okay.” Gina’s face showed her happiness at Teri’s arrival. “Are we going to have lunch? Or should we go shopping first?” She looked at Teri.

“Shopping? On my day off? Certainly not.” Teri looked pretty upset.

Gina laughed. “Most women like to go shopping.”

Teri suddenly had a thought. “Oh, I see,” she replied. “Can it be that you think I’d choose things and you’d pay for them?”

“Would that be so bad?” Gina asked. “You could buy things you normally can’t afford. I would like to give you something.”

“Then make me a bookmark or some other crafty thing,” Teri replied annoyed.

“Craft?” Gina looked at her as if she heard that word for the first time.

“You know, handmade gifts are always cherished more than store-bought ones,” Teri explained with a little sneer.

Gina laughed out loud. “Honestly, I’ve never ever met a woman like you!” She shook her head. “Do you read a lot?”

“Yes.” Teri nodded. “Whenever I have the time. Sometimes I don’t have enough time to read everything I am interested in, unfortunately.”

Gina raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know many people who read,” she said. “That people can spend their time that way

. . .”

“They can.” Determined, Teri turned away from the fountain. “So, there’s still lunch. Do you have a favorite dish?”

“I’m staying at the Ritz,” Gina pointed to a street branching off Piccadilly. “It’s right over there. I’m sure we’ll find something we like in their restaurant. Please . . . let me invite you,” Gina said. “At least that. Since I don’t have to shop . . .” She gave her a wry grin.

“Is that the usual agenda?” Teri had to smile. “I mean, when you meet a woman or go on a date with her.”

“Pretty much. Most women expect it. All of them, actually. Except for you.” Again, Gina looked a little surprised.

“I’m sorry for messing up the procedure,” Teri remarked, amused.

“It’s nice, actually,” Gina replied quietly, her eyes searching for Teri’s.

Teri let herself feel open to that idea just for a moment, then she turned to the street. “If it has to be the Ritz, let’s go!”

“You don’t like the lobster?” Gina looked at Teri across their table for two.

“To be honest, lobster isn’t exactly my usual lunch,” Teri explained. “Usually, I have a salad or something like that. I’m not very hungry at lunchtime.”

“You could’ve said something before I ordered.” Gina frowned.

Teri pursed her lips. “You could’ve asked me before you ordered.”

Gina put her fork down and raised her hands. She was at a loss. “Am I doing everything wrong?”

“You’re doing everything the only way you know it,” Teri replied, being quite understanding. “Just like everyone does, I assume. Except for you it’s lobster instead of pizza.”

Gina shook her head and looked at Teri. “I feel like I’m back in school . . . and like I have a lot to learn.”

Teri smiled. “That could be.” She opened the lobster and pulled out a piece of meat. “Delicious,” she said after she tried it. “But of course it is – we’re at the Ritz.”

“I don’t know how much the lobster costs,” Gina said. “They’ll put it on my bill and I never look at bills, but I do expect that it’s worth the money.”

“Then we finally agree on one thing.” Teri took another piece of lobster.

“Is that the only thing?” Gina asked. She studied Teri’s face.

“I don’t know.” Teri leaned back in her chair again. “Our lives are so different. There’s not much we have in common.”

“Do you really think so?” Gina eyed her still.

Teri grimaced a little mockingly. “What you’re hinting at, yes, we do have that in common. I agree. But other than that, there’s not much.”

A noise interrupted their conversation. Some time went by until Gina reacted, and Teri realized it was Gina’s cell phone.

“Sorry.” Gina smiled apologetically before pulling the cell phone out of her pocket and looking at the display. She turned it off without answering the call. “I forgot that it was turned on.”

“Nothing important?” Teri asked.

“No.” Gina now gave her a different smile. “Nothing important. I should have turned it off before we came into the restaurant. Who’d call me, anyway? Besides Princess Caroline of Monaco.” She laughed.

“You know her?” Teri asked.

“In passing.” Gina shook her head. “I know about ten thousand people in passing, from some parties and invites. I can barely remember them all.”

“Well, a member of the Royal Family of Monaco is somebody to remember.” Teri looked at her.

“I don’t know her,” Gina insisted. “We might’ve said hello to each other in passing, that’s all. And I’m not even sure about that.”

“I’m really not familiar with anything about her, beyond her name.” Teri shook her head. “I don’t want you to think I’m interested in gossip columns.”

Gina smiled more broadly, almost tenderly. “I wouldn’t mind at all if you were.”

“If I were interested in them, then I’d have recognized you, right?” Teri asked. “I’m sure you appear in them now and then.”

“Now and then. If someone really famous is standing next to me.” Gina laughed. “But of course it’s meaningless. The paparazzi take photos of anything in front of their camera lenses.”

“That means you don’t think you’re famous?” Teri smiled as well.

“No,” Gina said. “I’m not famous. Only rich.” She looked deep into Teri’s eyes. “Please, let’s talk about something else. I am such a boring subject. I find you much more interesting.”

“You already know all there is to know about me,” Teri said, “and it doesn’t exactly prove your assumption is correct. That’s all there is to say. Just the boring little furniture designer.”

“You have no idea what boring means until you’ve mingled with ‘high society’,” Gina remarked. “It’s quite a lifestyle.” She looked at Teri lovingly. “And it wouldn’t suit you.”

“I guess that was meant as a compliment,” Teri said. “So thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Gina’s eyes searched Teri’s face. “I would love to sleep with you,” she suddenly whispered.

“I already figured that the lobster is an investment,” Teri replied dryly, “something that should be worth it.”

“Oh, no, no.” Gina leaned so far back in her chair that it looked like she wanted to get as much distance as possible from Teri. “That has nothing to do with it. Really. I just like lobster, that’s all.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“That was a no , I suppose.” A strange smile appeared on Gina’s face. “Coming from you it’s something I should be used to by now.”

“It’s better if I pay my own bill, so there’ll be no misunderstanding,” Teri suggested.

“Please don’t,” Gina said. “Just forgive my being so slow in learning. I was never a good student.”

Teri smiled. “I don’t believe you, but it doesn’t matter.” She felt that Gina’s proposal – if that was the proper name for it – brought thoughts to the surface that she hadn’t been able to suppress successfully. Since yesterday. Since she first met Gina.

Sure, tiredness and exhaustion had played a role, and she had slept like a rock . . . for a few short hours without Gina on her mind. Maybe she’d dreamt of her but if so, she didn’t remember.

“So you don’t have any plans for Christmas?” she asked. “I mean, except jetting to Monte Carlo.”

“What plans should I have?” Gina blankly asked in return.

“You didn’t have anything planned with your . . .” Teri cleared her throat, “companion? Or with your family?”

“My family.” Gina laughed. “I don’t know who would match that description.”

“You don’t have family anymore?” Teri asked. “Like me?”

“No, no.” Gina sighed. “I have a biological family. Both my parents are alive – but not only are they divorced from each other, but from everyone else as well. I have a brother and a sister. To be honest, though, it’s not exactly my wish to spend Christmas with them. And it’s not their wish, either.”

“And your –” Teri found the word so irritating that she didn’t even want to say it.

“You mean Claudia.” Gina pursed her lips. “She won’t miss me. As long as she gets her check on time.”

“She’s not waiting for you in Monte Carlo?”

“I suppose she’s already on the yacht. We got invited.”

“Your yacht?” Teri asked.

“No.” Gina seemed to be a little curt. “How about a carriage ride through Hyde Park?” she said abruptly. “If you don’t want to go shopping, and if other possibilities,” she cleared her throat, “are out of the question?”

I wish I could tell you how much I long to be in your arms, Teri thought. She almost felt Gina’s arms around her again, as on the plane. So strong. So protecting. So wonderfully warm and calming. “A carriage ride?” she asked. “I thought you can only do horseback riding there.”

“We will find a carriage,” Gina claimed confidently. “Come on . . .” She got up and waited for Teri to follow her.

I didn’t say yes, yet, Teri thought. At the same time she knew that it didn’t matter to Gina. She just assumed that everyone would agree to her suggestions. Teri sighed. Did she want to discuss that now? No, she didn’t. She wanted to be with Gina.

They didn’t find a carriage but Gina persuaded the people at the riding stable to rent two horses to them and put them in front of an old British taxi. So they rode on bridle paths in this strange looking vehicle, laughing, and stopped to have a picnic in the car while it rained, laughed some more, and one time their faces were so close that they almost kissed.

But Gina seemed to flinch at the last moment. Otherwise, Teri didn’t know what she would have done.

They were headed back to the hotel in a real taxi. “May I take you home?” Gina asked.

“No.” Teri shook her head. “I’m not telling you where I live.”

“I . . . Teri . . .” Sitting next to her, Gina appeared to be holding back so hard that her cheek bones were clearly visible.

“Will you stay in London over Christmas?” Teri asked. “Even if I don’t tell you where I live?”

Gina looked at her. “If I can at least see you,” she answered, “yes.”

“Does your room have a double bed?” Teri looked at Gina with a nearly harmless questioning expression.

“A – what?” Gina stared back at her, stunned.

“Did you reserve the apartment for singles with a twin mattress?” Teri asked with a grin.

“No. No, of course not. I have a suite,” Gina stammered. “And my bed is big enough for an entire family.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Teri said. “But if I’m good enough . . .”

“You?” Gina still seemed stunned.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? You asked me while we were eating lobster.”

“That . . . yes . . . sure.” Gina’s words were chopped. “You want to come to the . . . hotel with me?”

“That was the idea, yes. Under one condition.” Teri gave Gina a serious look. “That we’re going to spend Christmas together.”

The corners of Gina’s mouth raised slowly. “There’s nothing I want more.”

Teri reached for the door of the taxi and opened it. “Then come on.”

They walked through the hotel lobby in an anticipatory silence. At the front desk Gina picked up her key card and the concierge handed her some letters that were in her box. Teri stood near the elevator, watching.

Gina quickly checked the return addresses and put the letters in her purse. She walked up to Teri and smiled at her. “Seventh floor,” she said. “I always like to stay on the top floor.”

“How unexpected,” Teri replied with a smile.

“Am I so easy to figure out?” Gina smiled, too, and they stepped into the elevator.

Teri smiled a little mischievously. “That was just a spontaneous idea.”

“But you said you’re not spontaneous.” Gina looked at her and it seemed that she wanted to stop the elevator. Her eyes glowed.

Teri felt Gina’s glow spreading to her and through her whole body. If Gina had stopped the elevator and started to take her right there, she wouldn’t have resisted. “I’m sure we’ll be there soon,” she whispered, hardly finding her voice.

Gina leaned over to her, searching for her lips, touching them gently with hers. Teri felt that the sexual tension between them was palpable. Gina’s hands were clenched into fists to keep herself from pulling Teri close to her. “Elevators are hell,” she whispered as she let go of Teri’s lips.

As if it wanted to earn back its good reputation, the elevator stopped at that very moment and courteously opened its doors.

Gina and Teri exited and Gina’s quick steps were swallowed by the thick carpets in the hallway. She opened the door to her suite and looked back at Teri, who followed her hesitantly. “Do you have other plans?”

Think about it one more time. Do you really want that? “No.” Teri hurried and walked past Gina into the room.

Gina closed the door behind them.

For a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, neither of them moved. Teri absorbed the suite’s interior, the antique furniture, the colorful, thick carpets, the gold, the sparkling crystal chandelier. An open fireplace with leather club hairs gave the entire room an atmosphere of dignified comfort that one would expect in such a residence.

Teri couldn’t help but calculate the price in her head. It was an occupational hazard.

“You make me very happy.” Gina bent over her from behind, embracing her, blowing a kiss on her neck.

Teri put her head back and sighed deeply. She didn’t have to worry anymore. Gina held her in her arms and if she kept her promise, Teri wouldn’t be alone on Christmas.

Gina’s hands removed her jacket and let it fall on the floor.

Teri felt long held-back desire overtake her and flood her whole body in one big wave of lust. “Don’t!” She panted and disengaged herself from Gina, took a few steps towards the fireplace, and stopped, breathing heavily.

“What’s wrong?” Gina stood there with a blank expression, as if Teri had just struck her.

“I . . . I’m sorry . . . I think . . . I can’t . . .” Teri struggled to keep her composure. What she had felt just then had been so enormous that it scared her out of her wits.

All she wanted . . . a few days of tenderness . . . that’s all she wanted. She knew Gina wasn’t the woman for a lifetime. And normally it would have prevented her from starting something with her. But Christmas . . . she didn’t want to be alone on Christmas. A nice arrangement, she had thought. Just for the holidays. But it wasn’t. Not at all. Perhaps it was for Gina. But definitely not for her.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated with difficulty. “I didn’t want that.”

“What?” Gina removed her jacket and put it on a chair, approaching Teri. “You didn’t want what?”

“I didn’t want . . . you are . . . I have . . .” Teri couldn’t find the words.

“What? What’s the matter?” Gina was very close now as she stood in front of her, but she didn’t touch her. “Don’t you want to tell me?”

I love you, Teri thought, startled. I think I love you. And it can’t be. It just can’t be!

Gina reached out carefully, touching Teri’s cheek. “Sweetheart,” she said quietly. “What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Teri closed her eyes. Gina’s touch and the unexpected nickname created so much closeness between them that she could hardly bear it. She wanted to run away. Far away. “That was a wonderful day,” she whispered.

Gina laughed with surprise. “That’s it? A nice day can rattle you like this?”

It’s not just that , Teri thought. She composed herself. “It didn’t rattle me,” she replied, and her voice sounded much more composed than she actually felt. “I just had a tough week, and having a nice day is a great change.”

“I thought it was a nice day too.” Gina’s voice sounded quiet. “But I thought: the best is still to come.” Her hand wandered from Teri’s cheek to Teri’s lips, her fingers brushing over them lightly. “If you didn’t change your mind . . .”

That is all she wants, Teri thought. If she knew what I’m feeling . . . I, too, shouldn’t want more than that. “I didn’t,” she replied firmly. “It’s probably the place that’s got me confused.”

“You mean the Ritz?” Gina laughed quietly. “I’m sorry. If I’d known, I would’ve let you pick the hotel.”

“It wouldn’t have been as comfortable, though.” Teri smiled at Gina. “Everything’s fine. I’m sure it’s just the after-effects of yesterday’s flight.” One thing is clear , she thought. Without the flight I would’ve never met Gina and I wouldn’t be standing here with her, now.

“Strange after-effects.” Gina studied Teri’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Okay enough.” Teri put her arms around Gina’s neck, pulling her down to her to kiss her.

Gina closed her arms around Teri and pulled her close, kissing her back and letting her hands wander down Teri’s back. “I already braced myself to wait until Christmas,” she whispered. “I’m glad you moved up the date.”