Love's Autograph (23 page)

“
It's in the front,” Ria whispered. Ellie clumsily fumbled toward the middle of Ria's breasts and found the front clasp. Ria's breasts broke into the air and Ellie pushed her breasts into Ria's. They both let out a groan.

“
I think I've died and gone to heaven,” Ellie said. “As corny as that sounds.”

“
You're not in heaven yet,” Ria said as she flipped Ellie onto her back. Ria stared down at Ellie as her hair cascaded down around her. Ellie saw some hesitation in Ria's eyes.

“
What's the matter?” Ellie asked.

“
I don't know,” Ria said.

“
You're shaking. You nervous?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah, you have fans, stalkers, groupies,” Ria said. “I just think about how many girls you've had on tour, and I'm nervous I won't measure up. I've had a few.”

“
It hasn’t been that many,” Ellie started.

“
Really?”

“
Let's see seven years touring times about thirty cities per tour,” Ellie pretended to do math in the air with her finger.

“
You're in so much trouble,” Ria said.

“
Though seriously,” Ellie said, “I haven't been with someone since my last ex. It doesn't matter how bad you are in bed, I'm so in love with you that I won't notice.”

“
Oh, I’m amazing in bed, and you will notice,” Ria teased.

“
There’s my confident Ria,” Ellie said. “That's right, there are two rooms you don't get complaints in - the kitchen and the bedroom.” They embraced again and within seconds they were naked.

Ellie nibbled across Ria's collarbone
. Ria's skin was soft and slightly salty. Ellie licked up to Ria's neck and engulfed Ria's mouth with her own.
She is so beautiful.
Ria's hips lifted against Ellie and Ellie slid her leg between Ria's legs in response.
Ellie's leg became wet and warm.

Ellie slowly kissed down Ria's neck to
her breasts. Her mouth hovered over Ria's large brown nipple. Ellie moved her lips as close as she could without touching the nipple. Ellie steadied herself as Ria's breathing quickened. Ellie lightly caressed Ria's nipple with her breath. Ellie edged her lips closer and caressed her nipple. Ria's nipple stiffened.
Ria
arched her back, pushing her breasts towards Ellie. Ellie took Ria's nipple into her mouth, her tongue flicking in light circles. Ria grabbed Ellie's hand and placed it on her other breast. Ellie's finger found another erect nipple. Ria placed her hands on Ellie's shoulders.

Ria pushed her wetness against Ellie's leg. Ellie released Ria's nipple and
used her arms to hold her body above Ria. Ria's eyes were closed and her head was turned to the side. When Ellie stopped moving, Ria opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head to look at her. Ria bit her bottom lip and then smiled up at Ellie. They held each other’s gaze as they caught their breath.

This is beyond intense.

Ellie lowered her lips toward Ria's and then pulled away. She looked back at Ria. Ria stared back. Ellie lowered her lips and again pulled away. Ria sighed loudly and turned Ellie onto her back.

“
I have a feeling this is going to be a very long and wild night,” Ria said.

“
Not long enough,” Ellie laughed.

They caressed, kissed
, and tasted each other until their lips were tired and their bodies ached.

About an hour later
they kissed and caressed again. Every time their eyes met, the intensity rose. Ellie's heart felt as if it would beat out of her chest. Ellie’s head rested in the crook of Ria's arm and her leg and arm relaxed over Ria's torso.

“
Wow,” Ria said. “You can't fake that intensity.”

“
Yeah, I second and third that,” Ellie said. “That was more incredible than in my dreams. You're so amazing.”

“
You were pretty amazing. Can I come to a concert every night?” Ria asked.

“
New York next week. Bring Maggie along,” Ellie said.

“
I can't. I have a job,” Ria said as she sat up, a note of anxiety in her voice. “A career.”

“
Wow, calm down. I know you have a career,” Ellie said. “I was only kidding. Well half-kidding.”

“
This has been incredible,” Ria said.

“
This right here is heaven,” Ellie said. “I'm beyond happy to be here with you. I could write fifty songs right now.”

“
Really?”

“
Yes, I'll be right back,” Ellie motioned to get up and Ria held her tight.

“
EJ Way, you're staying right here,” Ria said as she kissed her hard.

“
You convinced me,” Ellie said. Silence fell between them, and Ellie started to drift off to sleep.

“
You sure?
Are you sure you want me?” Ria asked.

“
From the first night I met you, to a definite yes after tonight,” Ellie answered as she lifted herself to kiss Ria's lips again.

“
I’m scared about getting hurt again,” Ria said.

“
I know, me too,” Ellie said. “It’s okay. You need to trust me. I’m a die-hard romantic. I'll put my heart out there. I have much more to lose anyway.”

“
How do you figure?”

“
You just lose me if things don't work out. I potentially lose you and Maggie.”

Ria kissed Ellie again. They kissed until they fell asleep.

Ellie's new life unfolded quickly before her. She balanced her career and spending time with Ria. She couldn’t stay over at night due to Maggie being there. Ria still was not ready for Maggie to know that they were dating. They saw each other every day. Ellie went to their house and played guitar with Maggie. Sometimes the three of them played board games or watched movies. Ria and Ellie spent several long nights talking on the phone.

Ria asked,
“Would you like me if I was a florist?”

“
A florist? Sure, you would come home smelling nice. Not that you don't already.”

“
What if we had to live in a cardboard box in the city?”

“
Sure, I'd play guitar for tips. We'd be out of there in no time,” Ellie chuckled.

“
What if I had ten kids who were unruly?”

“
Well, I have nine and you have one, so we're there already,” Ellie laughed.

“
What if I cheated on you?” Ria asked.

“
You wouldn't.”

“
What if I did?” Ria asked.

“
We would work through it,” Ellie said.

Ria said,
“So you know, I'd kick your ass. I can't stand cheaters.”

Ellie said,
“Noted.”

“
Do you like scuba diving?” Ria asked.

“
Never tried it, but my stunt double did in a video,” Ellie answered. “I'd try it if you wanted.”

Ria said,
“No, I have no desire to.”

“
Interesting that you chose that question, then,” Ellie laughed. Ria followed with strong laughter.

“
I love your laugh,” Ellie whispered.

“
Would you like me if I had an annoying laugh?” Ria asked.

“
No.”

“
Do you like animals?”

“
Sure,” Ellie said. “Not enough to join the circus.”

Ria said,
“You don't have any pets.”

“
No, I’m away a lot. That wouldn't be fair to the pet. I’ll get one once I settle or live with someone who can take care of the pet while I'm gone,” Ellie said.

“
Favorite color?” Ria asked.

Ellie answered,
“Don't have one.”

“
Favorite food?” Ria asked.

“
Anything you cook,” Ellie said. “I now get where Maggie gets her idea to write all the questions and lists in her notebooks. Or are you reading from one of them?”

“
No, these are all my questions. Here's one that's rated R,” Ria said.

“
Fire away,” Ellie said.

“
Best sex you've ever had,” Ria asked.

Ellie answered,
“That’s easy, you.”

“
Come on,” Ria said. “I can take it. I’m not the jealous type. It has to be Jenny. She's gorgeous.”

“
My final answer's you. Jenny wouldn't even be second place.”

“
Stop it,” Ria said. “You’re so kidding. I can count on one hand the amount of partners I've had.”

“
You. You’re amazing in bed. Your kisses are so addictive. I‘ve never had such a connection with someone. When our eyes connect...”

“
Me, too. I feel that too,” Ria interrupted. “I’ve never felt that.”

“
Me, neither.”

Ria, Ellie, and Maggie kept themselves busy the next few days. Maggie started a scrapbook of Ellie's concerts, features in magazines and important information off the internet. She knew more about
EJ Way than Ellie did. Ellie woke up every morning and couldn’t wait to talk to Ria. She dreaded that the tour was starting soon.

One day Ellie and Dina were sitting at Ellie's house going over details of the tour.

“Where are you?” Dina asked.

Ellie answered,
“I’m here. Why?”

“
You don't seem all here,” Dina said. “Thinking about Ria?”

“
Every other thought,” Ellie said as she grinned.

“
You're so done,” Dina said. “I haven't seen you this head over heels since Darcie, but this somehow seems more intense.”

“
It is. It so is,” Ellie said. “I hate every second that I’m away from her. All I want to do is be with her.”

“
What’s so great about her?” Dina asked.

“
I've never known anybody like her. She's so loving, strong and compassionate,” Ellie said. “She’s so beautiful and so passionate, and when she looks in my eyes...”

“
Okay enough,” Dina said. “She’d better not break your heart. You tell her she'll have to deal with me.”

“
Easy, killer. I didn't know that you cared so much,” Ellie said.

“
I don't. I just don't like picking up the pieces when you fall apart,” Dina said.

Ria and Ellie decided to keep their relationship secret from Maggie. Their plan was to wait three more weeks, and if Maggie met her goals of forty-two chords, a play date, and no episodes, they would go on a first date. On the nights Ellie went to Ria's house, they both could
n’t wait until Maggie went to bed. They put in a movie that they never watched, and, like teenagers, they made out on the couch for hours and hours.

On the We
dnesday, the day before Ellie left for New York City, Ellie got a text from Ria.

Do you need a Roadie, bodyguard, or crew for your NYC show?

Why do you know someone who needs a job?
Ellie answered.

Yes, ME!
Ria said.

Ellie called Ria.

“Are you serious?” Ellie asked.

“
Are you okay with it?” Ria asked.

“
Yeah, but how? What about Maggie?”

“
My sister is coming to stay with her for a few days, and I'm taking vacation from the hospital,” Ria said. There was silence. “Ellie you're okay with this, aren't you?”

“
Yes, but first, you can't be a roadie. You don't like that much physical work. And I'm just wondering how I'm going to have enough energy for you and the tour.”

Ellie made plans for Ria to fly with her band and her entourage to NYC. Ria's cover was to be the makeup artist on her crew. Ria walked onto the plane carrying a makeup case and a
EJ Way crew identification tag around her neck. Ellie even had Ria's name changed on her identification so she was completely undercover.

“
Who's Diana Prince anyway?” Ria asked. Ellie laughed and walked to the back of the plane.
“
How do you get used to this?”

“
What?” Ellie said.

“
All this publicity. All those screaming girls,” Ria said. “I even had one of them give me her number.” Ria held up a piece of paper. Ellie grabbed it, ripped it up and threw it onto the nearby seat.

“
I didn’t get used to it. It got old fast,” Ellie said.