to the moon & to saturn | cate blanchett

chapter 19

Elle emerged from between Cate's legs, proud of herself for eliciting one final deep seductive moan from the woman before she finished. She crawled up to Cate's face, kissing her naked body as she went: hips, stomach, breasts, collarbone, and neck. When she reached her final destination, she planted a kiss on the woman's lips.

"Again?" she murmured against Cate's lips.

"Darling, you're hardly giving me a chance to collect myself," chuckled Cate breezily.

Elle held herself up over Cate's body, pulling back from her lips to gaze into her eyes. Their breasts brushed together. Deep black invaded crystal blue, as Cate's pupils were dilated. Elle studied Cate's eyes, mouth, and every distinguishable feature on her face until she was unable to hold herself up any longer. She flopped down next to Cate, reaching her hand down to meet hers to intertwine their fingers together.

This was how they had started every morning since Elle recovered fully from her surgery: waking up in bed together, memorizing each other's bodies, and laying in a comfortable silence before beginning the day's work.

With Cate's store opening only a week away, and her inevitable return to Australia, Elle quit her waitressing job to spend as much time as possible with the woman before summer's end. It was an agreed upon rule that they were not to discuss Australia until after Elle's birthday on the 22nd — Cate tried to bring it up once, but Elle dismissed her.

She didn't want to be on a separate continent from her girlfriend. She wanted to stay right here, in her bed, squeezing Cate's hand, surrounded by the natural aroma of her being.

Intoxicated by her scent.

Breathless at her indescribable beauty in the natural morning glow of the sun.

Safe in the comfort and warmth of her arms.

"Elle, dear," breathed Cate, turning on her side to face the younger girl. "It's time for work."

"No," groaned Elle.

"Yes," said Cate softly. She reached out to trace the outline of Elle's lips with her finger. Elle kissed Cate's finger once the tracing was through.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Darling, we can't have this same conversation every morning," said Cate huskily.

It was Elle's turn to roll on her side to face Cate. While doing so, she swung one of her legs over Cate's lower body.

"Yes, we can," she said, grinning.

Cate put a hand on Elle's waist and pushed the girl, successfully detangling their legs. She sat on the edge of the bed and stretched while Elle admired the muscle in her defined back. A pair of arms slipped around her neck as Elle crawled over to her, pressing kisses into the back of her head and down her shoulder.

"I need to shower," said Cate, leaning back into Elle's touch.

"Let me join you," whispered Elle into Cate's ear.

The older woman obliged.

Both freshly clean and dressed, the two women walked out into the main area of the apartment, where they found Dylan sitting on the couch with her laptop.

Elle donned her classic pair of denim overalls over a black tank top and Cate wore a light pink suit that matched her faded pink hair.

"You look like a lollipop," said Dylan to the all pink woman.

Cate stumbled, swirling around to face Dylan. She spun so fast that her wet hair splashed droplets at Elle, who stood beside her.

Seeing the disgruntled look on Cate's face, Dylan threw her hands up in surrender. "Woah. It was meant to be a compliment."