Out Of Love Part 20

"Remember, you promised not to make fun."

"After hauling my a.s.s up all those stairs, I probably won't have breath to speak."

Judith started up the steps of her brownstone. "These don't count because they're outside."

"Yippee."

She was glad to see the hallway had been swept this morning and cleared of debris. The super, who lived in the building next door, was better than most. Though slow to fix things inside the apartments, he usually kept the common areas clean and in good repair, and cracked down on nuisance tenants. On this street, one couldn't ask for much more than that.

"Nice floor," Carmen said, eyeing the worn black-and-white tile of the stairs. "Some of the older buildings in Chicago are like this."

"Do you have a house?" They reached the second floor.

"No, a condo next to Lincoln Park. It's by the lake."

"In that case, you aren't allowed to make fun of my view, either," Judith said as she reached the third floor. "Only two more to go."

Carmen waved her on. "You run on ahead. Get the oxygen ready."

By the time they reached the fifth floor, Carmen was feigning exhaustion, but Judith guessed it was all for show, because she wasn't even out of breath. "You're a faker."

"I was hoping I'd get you to carry me. Then I could just drape 138 my arms around your neck and look all dreamy and helpless."

"You don't strike me as the helpless type."

"I'm not really. But you know how much I like elevators," she said, leaning forward in search of a kiss.

Judith let her purse fall to the floor and wrapped her arms around Carmen's neck as she was pressed against the door to her apartment. Not caring that any of her three neighbors on the floor might suddenly open their door, she luxuriated in the familiar sensation of Carmen's mouth on hers. The woman could kiss.

"I think I'm going to regret us not getting here sooner,"

Carmen murmured, nipping gently at her earlobe.

Judith felt the same surge of desire, especially since their bodies were in contact from their heads to their knees. "I might not let you leave."

"Will you at least let me use your bathroom?"

Judith sighed. "Are you always this romantic?"

"Just when my bladder's full."

She spun in Carmen's arms and put her key in the lock.

Unable to bend down because of the arms that still surrounded her, she kicked her purse into the apartment as she opened the door. "Yes, I know it's small, but it's perfect for one."

She was proud of her home, especially the creative ways she maximized her s.p.a.ce with the loft and built-in cabinets. But Carmen would probably be shocked to imagine anyone living in such a small place, and dubious about her claims that she actually was quite comfortable.

Inside the kitchen, Carmen was immediately drawn to the corner window, where a table for two was flush with the win-dowsill.

"Is this the view you were talking about?"

"One of them." A courtyard garden was visible in the back.

"The woman on the first floor tends that. She just put the flowers out last week."

139.

"It's nice."

"It's right outside her window. She started it a few years ago to keep people from dumping their junk out there. Now we all look forward to it every spring."

Carmen looked around the tidy room, clearly impressed. "Do you mind?" she asked, grasping the handle of the narrow pantry door.

"Help yourself. That's for food and groceries. I also have some s.p.a.ce under the sink." She gestured to the cabinet and counter, only three feet in length. "Dishes are up here. Pots and pans are down below."

"It's everything you need. Do you cook a lot?"

"Nothing elaborate. I just don't have the counter s.p.a.ce to pull it off."

"So no romantic dinners for two?"

"I didn't say that." But she could have. Only one of the women she had dated since moving into this apartment had ever visited here.

Carmen walked through the doorway into the other room.

"You have an upstairs?"

"Just a loft. I keep my clothes up there, and a few boxes of things I don't use much." She waited nervously as Carmen inspected the room, taking in all the details of her home.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way . . ." Carmen stuck her head into the tiny bathroom and turned back around to face her. "This reminds me of those guys who come in and organize your closets. But you've done it for your whole apartment."

"Everyone in New York does this."

"I bet you pack a suitcase like a pro."

"Technically, I am a pro."

Carmen smirked and disappeared into the bathroom. "I can reach everything in here from where I'm sitting," she shouted from behind the closed door.

"I'm a strong believer in efficiency."

140.

A few moments later, Carmen emerged and walked over to the futon. "I take it this is your little love nest."

"Yeah, I'm surprised there was no one in it already when we got here."

"It's the stairs."

"Do you want something to drink?"

"I just got rid of something to drink. I need to look at my poor little foot again." She sat down and pulled off her shoe and nylon sock. "Just as I thought. You abused me making me walk so far."

"I can fix it."

"You'll kiss it?"

"I'll put a Band-Aid on it."

"That'll have to do."

Judith found a bandage in the bathroom cabinet and presented it.

"You said you'd do it. I can't bear to look."

"You're a big baby." She knelt down and touched her lips gently to the blistered toes before wrapping the bandage around it.

"See? That wasn't so hard." Carmen grasped her hand and tugged her onto the futon beside her. "I have a great idea. Why don't you demonstrate your superior packing skills by coming to visit me in Chicago next weekend?"

Judith was stunned by the invitation. Even though their weekend had been fun, she never expected to be more to Carmen than someone to spend time with when her work brought her to New York, even if that developed into intimate time. "I can't."

"You can't pack? You can't visit me?"

"I can't come next weekend. It's Victor's birthday."

"Oh. Then it will have to be the weekend after that. But I suppose I should look at my schedule before I just throw out open invitations. I'd hate to have you show up and me be in Tokyo." She opened her cell phone and accessed its calendar 141 function. "No, I'm home."

Judith still couldn't believe Carmen was inviting her to Chicago as casually as she had for dinner and a Broadway show.

"You will come, though . . . won't you?"

"If you want me to."

"Of course I do." Her voice was surprisingly serious, but then she smiled. "I'd invite myself back to New York, but I'd feel guilty for leaving the princess with the dog sitting service again.

That's another reason you have to come. Once you meet Prissy, you'll know how I got to be this way."

"What way is that?"

"Nuts."

"I can't believe you're blaming your personality disorder on a poor animal that isn't here to defend itself."

"Be sure to bring shoes you don't like because she'll chew them up."

All Judith had to do was find someone to cover for her at work, and make arrangements to see Victor when she got back.

"I'll look for a cheap ticket. Friday after next?"

"Yeah, through Sunday night. Think you can stand me that long?"

Judith swore she heard uncertainty in Carmen's voice. It amazed her to think such a beautiful, accomplished woman was insecure about anything, but she had glimpsed that in Carmen several times. "I'm sure I'll manage."

"Good." Carmen leaned forward for a peck on the lips and looked again at her watch. "I have about five minutes before I need to get a cab back to my hotel. Can we kiss that long?"

Judith fell into Carmen's embrace, meeting her lips for a long, slow kiss. Finally they broke and she leaned back nearly breathless. "The hardest thing about kissing you is stopping."

"No, the hardest thing is to stop at kissing," Carmen said. "It would be easier to let go of your lips if I could move on to something else."

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She told herself not to ask, but the words came out anyway.

"What would you do next?"

Carmen lunged for her again, this time crushing her with a kiss as her palm wandered up to cover Judith's breast. "I'd kiss it all . . . every inch."

Judith blew out a frustrated breath and shook her head to clear it. "I swear, my whole body reacts to every word you say."

"Does your body want to come to Chicago?"

Carmen's other hand was now ma.s.saging her a.s.s, and all she could think was that she wanted to come in New York.

"Definitely."

"I promise you a trip to remember."

"I have no doubt." She met Carmen in another fervent kiss, gasping as cool fingers snaked beneath her sweater and bra to find her nipple, which hardened instantly. "Are you sure you have to fly out tonight?"

"Believe me, I would never leave this if I didn't have to."

Judith hissed as she sucked cold air between her teeth. She clutched Carmen's forearm and pulled it out of her shirt. "You have to stop, Carmen. I won't let you leave if you don't stop now."

"I know." She rested her forehead on Judith's shoulder. "But I'm going to think about that nipple for two whole weeks . . .

Judith's pointy nipple."

She looked down at what Carmen was seeing. Indeed, her nipple strained against her sweater. "Let's . . . forget about my nipple for the moment . . . if we can. It's a little after four. If you're going to miss your plane, tell me now."

"I can't."

"Then we should go. Let's walk out to Eighth Avenue and I'll get you a cab."

"And you promise to come see me in two weeks."

"I will." It was the only way she could let Carmen walk out of her apartment.

143.