AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gael nodded again, and did so truthfully.
“Good,” said Alex. “Take your top off. Slowly, please.”
Gael did, hung her blouse over the bedframe, and stood facing Alex. She thought about covering herself, but instead dropped her arms to her side.
“I’d like you to lift your breasts, please.”
The significance of the request was lost on neither of them. Top surgery leaves scars. A physical reminder of a past better left unacknowledged. An admission of life in a queer body. Some people fetishize queer bodies. Others find them repellant. Dangerous ground, rendering vulnerable anyone who stood on it. Alex was asking for a show of trust. Gael looked into her heart, found only calm, and did as asked.
A long silence followed. Gael didn’t flinch. Alex sat unmoving. Exhaling slowly, she said, “You. Are. Beautiful. Put your hands down, please. Now, I’d like you to take off your skirt and panties.”
Gael marveled at the absence of anxiety, her oldest companion. Where’s the shortness of breath? Why aren’t I deflecting my insecurity with jokes? Unironically and without fear, she was stripping. Gael maintained eye contact with Alex as she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and wriggled them to the floor.
“Since bottom surgery, have you come?”
“By myself,” said Gael.
“I’d like you to show me. That’s all we’re doing tonight. I want to see what makes you feel good. I want to hear it and feel it. I’d like you to sit here between my legs and get yourself off. I’ll hold you, maybe I’ll whisper some encouragement, but I won’t interfere. Is that something you’d like?”
“Yes, please,” whispered Gael.
Over the next hour, the rest of the world faded to silence, then vanished altogether. For perhaps the first time in her life, Gael was completely present. The heat of Alex’s body at her back steadied her. Alex’s breath on her neck heightened each sensation.
When Gael shuddered to a stop, Alex gently bit her earlobe and whispered, “Good girl. Thank you for trusting me. Tell me how your body feels right now.”
Gael did, in fragments and sighs.
Alex said, “I want you to hold onto that. Whenever you feel not good enough, whenever you start beating up on yourself. Know that you deserve to feel this way.”
There were tears. Then there were kisses. In time, there was sleep in the safety of loving arms.
“And you’ll be a good girl for Tia Gael?” Michelle asked her daughter.
“Yes, Momma,” Bella said, burying her face against Michelle’s neck.
“You two are going to have so much fun. Tia Gael has everything planned out, don’t you Tia?”
Gael held up her clipboarded list; Marisol shook her head in mock exasperation.
“I’ve put more fun into this list than any normal human could. Only Super Tia could bring this much fun!” Gael stuck out her chest, mimed a lightning bolt across it, and yelled “Zzbzzssh!”
Bella giggled, trying to imitate her aunt with a “Bzzz!” She wriggled from Michelle’s hip and ran to Gael. “Show me! Show me!” she squealed.
“See right there? That says alpacas. Wanna go visit the alpacas at their farm tomorrow? And,” Gael said, pulling out a tote bag from behind the couch, “since we have two nights of tubby time, I brought this!”
“Duck wars!” Bella grabbed the bag and dumped two dozen plastic duckies onto the floor.
“Duck wars,” Gael agreed. “And you are so gonna lose this time.”
“No, you’re gonna lose!” Bella retorted. “Cuz I’m The Emp’ess of Duckland!”
“We’ll see,” said Gael. “You play with those for a bit, while I talk to Momma and Mami.”
Marisol put her hands on Gael’s cheeks. “You’re so good with her. She’s lucky she has you. So are we. And not just because you’re giving us a getaway weekend.”
Gael put her hand to her heart. “You’re sure you’re OK with Alex staying over tonight?”
“Many hands,” said Marisol. “Besides, you’ve been together a month now. You’re practically esposas.”
