Despite the lively conversation and laughter of the afternoon, Evelyn felt the connection with Jos throughout. She was always conscious of where in the room Jos was, who she was talking to. Often, she looked in Jos’s direction to find Jos looking back at her. On several occasions they found quiet moments, just to stand close, and there was more than one stolen kiss in the hallway. Every moment of contact, every exchanged glance felt special.
As darkness descended outside, Clara and Courtney took their leave first. Evelyn wondered what the rest of their Christmas would be like, once they reached their clearly happy home, alone. Dorothy, Florence, and Vernon all departed at the same time, since they would be walking to their homes in the same direction.
“Enjoy the rest of Christmas,” Dorothy said, leaning in to plant a brief kiss on Evelyn’s cheek. “I’m quite sure Jos will keep you entertained. I’m almost envious.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Dorothy,” Jos put in. “And enjoy the rest of the evening yourself.” Evelyn saw the smile they exchanged and wondered what there had been in the past between the two women. There was still a lot she did not understand about the group of friends she found herself part of, but she looked forward to learning more of those mysteries, of counting these people as her community for a long time to come.
“Thank you, Dorothy. Hopefully I’ll see you soon. Perhaps at the Orchid.”
“Perhaps, I suppose it’s rather dependent on Lilian.”
“I should hope patronising my establishment is not entirely dependent on Lilian Grainger,” Vernon said. “That would be terribly bad for business.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Vernon. We’ll still come to see you.” Dorothy patted him on the shoulder. “We’d miss you terribly if we didn’t. Now, come along, you can escort two ladies home.”
“How gentlemanly of me to offer,” Vernon replied. “Thank you, Joselyn dear, for a lovely Christmas. I will see you soon. You too, Evie. Delightful to get to know you today.”
Evelyn smiled, for once seeing Vernon without his contrived facade. “You too, Vernon. See you soon. Nice to meet you too, Florence.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” Florence replied. “It’s smashing of you all to be so welcoming. Dorothy said you were all nice people and I wasn’t to be shy.”
“Oh, we’re not all nice, my dear,” Vernon said. “Some of us are quite the opposite, if you ask nicely.”
“Vernon, go home.” Jos glared at him. “And Florence, just ignore him.” Vernon pretended to look wounded.
“I intend to, don’t worry,” Florence replied.
Evelyn smiled at her. It was interesting to see this little group through her eyes for a moment. To Florence, the outsider, Evelyn was part of the group of friends—she already knew Vernon’s sense of humour, she was in a relationship with Jos. Suddenly, she did not feel so new and awkward. She was already part of something.
Once Vernon, Dorothy, and Florence had left the flat, Jos returned up the stairs. Evelyn was still standing, waiting for her to return. Jos came straight to her and took her hands. For a long moment, they simply gazed at each other.
“It’s been wonderful spending the day with you, Evie,” Jos said softly, as if unsure how her words would be received.
“It’s been one of the best days of my life,” Evelyn said, without exaggeration. Jos looked moved. Simultaneously, they stepped closer into an embrace that became a long kiss. Evelyn had wanted to kiss Jos like this all day and now she did not want to stop.
The kiss broke but still they stood close together, foreheads touching. The gramophone was still playing the last record Jos had put on. A moderately paced jazz piece, led by a clarinet, filled the room. Evelyn had not heard it before, but she liked it. Jos appeared to notice the music in the same instant, suddenly moving to take Evelyn in a dance hold and beginning to sway with her. Evelyn laughed, enjoying the feeling of Jos’s hips moving against her body, their hands twined, Jos’s grip on her waist. Jos smiled widely, twirling Evelyn around, then pulling her closer. There could have been nothing better in that moment than dancing with Jos, laughing with Jos, being one with Jos.
As the strains of the music faded, they were still again. Jos’s hand cradled Evelyn’s cheek. This time her kiss had more intent and Evelyn’s body caught fire in response.
The evening was filled with more kisses. It was filled with Evelyn exploring Jos’s body, Jos’s reactions to her touch, her own sensual power. And it was filled with Jos showing her just what her own body could do, how she could feel. Jos could be a tease, keeping her balancing on the edge for a long time before sending her into heights of ecstasy she’d never dreamed of. Inspired to confidence by Jos’s response to her, Evelyn discovered the pleasure she could induce with her own fingers and mouth, by allowing Jos’s gaze to fall upon her, by her own experience of their mutual arousal. Jos’s body was beautiful and complex and she was hungry for every inch of it.
As midnight approached, they had moved from the settee and the floor of Jos’s sitting room and into her bed. Sensual caresses had become an intimate embrace, passionate kisses become more affectionate and playful. Now Jos’s hands explored her body again, and again Evelyn’s senses woke to her touch, craved her contact.
Jos put her mouth close to Evelyn’s ear, her breath an additional caress. “Evie, I want to be inside you, to feel your heat all around me. I want you to know how it feels…”
Evelyn understood immediately and found her body aching for what Jos described. In response she took Jos’s hand and pushed it between her thighs. “I trust you,” she breathed. Jos’s fingers teased for a moment, then slid inside Evelyn’s body. Evelyn felt the slight stretch of the unfamiliar sensation and then the flood of pleasure that followed as Jos
