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"Babbbbby!" Barbara sing-songed through the front door as she tucked a bouquet of roses behind her back.
Melissa's head popped up from behind the wall on the stairs; Barbara could see her bare shoulders, the hint of a black lace bra strap peaking out distracting her to the point where she almost didn’t hear her respond, "I'll be ready soon! Wanna come up and keep me company?"
"You're gonna make us late." Barbara responded as she pulled her thoughts back from the brink of someplace that could make them very, very late. She set down her bag, kicked her boots off, and padded up the stairs to her love. "Our reservation is in 30 minutes, and it's a 30 minute drive."
"Beauty takes time." Melissa mused as she lined her upper lip in a deep red, Barbara's favorite shade on her.
"Wait," Barbara rested a hand on her shoulder, shivering from the coolness of the bare skin; she urged her to turn, "I don't wanna mess it up when it's done, give me a little something now."
"I thought we were gonna be late." Melissa chuckled at the extra delay before she stood on her tip toes and pressed their lips together. The sensation of a sweet hum from Barbara made Melissa's body buzz, and she thought to herself that it was miraculous that she still wanted Barbara so much. She eyed the awkward angle of Barbara's arm behind her back and asked, "Whaddya got back there?"
Barbara shrugged, "A valentine for my valentine."
Melissa held stepped back and tilted her head, "And who'll you pick this year?."
Barbara pushed her shoulder slightly and laughed, "I don't know it was a tough choice, but I think i'll have to go with the same woman that's held the title 10 years running." She handed Melissa the half-dozen roses and a card that contained a corny dirty joke, something like 'All I want to Do this Valentine's day is you.' and she signed it, Let's eat out, then eat in! You're Valentine Always, Barbara.
15 years she would have turned her nose up at this and couldn't have fathomed writing a note like that, but now she watched with glee as Melissa snorted with laughter and blushed slightly. "Oh we could get take out and start now." She joked about the indiscretion inside, but looked at Barbara like this small gesture was equivalent to hanging the moon.
"You don't get your gift til later." Melissa went back to applying her lip liner, but paused before adding lipstick to say, "and it ain't just me, don't worry!"
"You could be, you're the greatest gift everyday." Barbara said with a little too much sincerity for the daylight.
"Corny." Melissa responded, throwing her a small eye roll in the mirror. But when she turned, she grabbed and squeezed Barbara's hand in appreciation.
She jumped slightly when her response was a slap on the ass, and a, "Can't you ever be sincere?"
"How long have you known me?" Melissa questioned her, walking into the closet and slipping into a little red dress that she'd bought for their first valentine's day, and had driven Barbara crazy for over a decade. Always paired with tasteful heels that made her almost as tall as Barbara, the combination made Barbara, impossibly, more wet than usual every year.
"Long enough to know that you're capable of it." Barbara pointed out, referring to those moments where Melissa is bare faced, and her extensions are out of her thinning hair and she is propped up on her elbow, staring down at Barbara, illuminated by the warm light of their table side touch-lamp.
Melissa, all dressed up, all made up, suddenly felt naked in the door frame of their closet, exposed for what she actually is around Barbara Howard -- a soft, loving, sincere mess. "You're right." Melissa wrapped her arms around Barbara's neck and hung on her just slightly, before she spoke softly, "Can you believe it's ten years? And still, I feel like you're my greatest gift too, everyday?."
Barbara nodded, and her brown eyes softened at her request for sincerity being fulfilled. She turned her head to press a kiss to Melissa's inner forearm, "I love you."
"I love you." Melissa looked into her eyes for a few extra seconds. "I wanna kiss you again."
"Well, I want that too, but we cannot afford to lose the time." Barbara kissed the corner of her mouth before she moved a hand to the small of her back and urged her forward, "C'mon woman, you're wasting precious seconds."
"You don't even have shoes on!" Melissa argued.
"Yes, but i've got my purse together." Barbara argued back knowing it'd take Melissa at least 5 more minutes to get out the door. When Melissa realized that was true she moved as quickly as safety would allow and began to scurry about the ground level of their home, gathering the right sunglasses and water bottles and antacids. When she finally took a second to fully appreciate Barbara's look.
Where Melissa always wore the same thing for Barbara's benefit, Barbara wore something different. This year choosing a black suit, but with a black satin and lace undershirt -- featuring a pluuuunging neckline and heels that made her ass look divine in a combination that made Melissa's mouth go dry. She stood obliviously on her phone and barked, "Melissa Ann Cata-"
"I'm here angel," Melissa whispered into her ear.
And Barbara jumped at the surprise before she ducked her head in embarrassment, "Sorry." She said as she held Melissa's coat up, helping into one arm then the other. She then held the door open breezed a hand across Melissa's back again before passing her to open up the drivers door for her.
At dinner, using the reservations Barbara made, Melissa ordered for them, she drove home after Barbara had one too many gin and tonics, she escorted Barbara into bed, helping her take off everything but her tank top and panties before she scurried into the closet.
Barbara put on a mix CD of Quiet Storm hits, and Roberta Flack's Feel Like Makin' Love began to fill the room as Melissa appeared in a new red lace babydoll lingerie set with matching panties that obscured Barbara's view in a deliciously suggestive way. She held a rose from her bouquet between her teeth, a box of Barbara's favorite chocolate from her favorite store uptown, and an envelope. Melissa was trying her hardest to not laugh as she sashayed her hips with slight exaggeration towards the bed. "Dessert or gifts first?" She said, as she set both down and took the rose delicately in her hand, ripping the petals off slowly and tossing them onto the bed.
"Can I have you first?" Barbara asked, crawling over to Melissa and running a hand up her side beneath the loose lace.
Melissa shook her head and smirked, "Absolutely not."
"Can I have both at once then?" Barbara asked. "You could feed me while I open."
Melissa laughed and nodded, marveling at the Barbara ability had to hold so much Joy at once. She threw the rose stem in the direction of their bathroom and crawled slowly up the bed, pushing Barbara back onto the pillows, straddling her hips as she opened the box. She took Barbara favorite between two fingers and slowly brought it to her lips, "Open up for me baby," she whispered.
Barbara's bottom lip touched Melissa's thumb as she took a bite and she moaned. She nodded at the taste and when she swallowed she looked up at Melissa, put her hand on her thigh and felt the soft skin, "Nothing could make this better."
"Mmmmm," Melissa shrugged and ground down onto Barbara slightly, "I think what's in the envelope might." Melissa was always impatient when giving gifts, often she spoiled them before she could give them just because she was so excited to give.
But Barbara was slower, she took her time. She began to sing along to Anita Baker, "You're so strong, but tender too. You're my angel,"
Melissa closed her eyes and leaned her head back, knowing better than to interrupt Barbara when she got into this slow groove. She just took in the sensation of Barbara's hand on her thigh, the warmth of her body between her legs. She leaned back in and reached for another chocolate, "There is not much difference between you and this chocolate, ya know? Both so smooth, so decadent, so so chocolatey," Melissa kissed Barbara's jaw and whispered in her ear as she brought the chocolate to Barbara's lips, "But I think you're sweeter."
Barbara took the chocolate into her mouth and sat up, kissing Melissa with the remnants melting between their tongues, moans mixing together. "Who's corny now?" Barbara said, but her eyes held tears of tenderness that proved she was only kidding.
Melissa pressed her thumb to Barbara's lips as an ask to suck the slight bit of melted chocolate there off. She did, and pulled back with a small kiss to the pad of the digit. She settled back into the pillows, and finally ran a finger under the seal of the envelope. "Is it a puppy?"
Melissa scowled slightly and patted Barbara's hip in jest. Barbara wanted a dog very very badly, but Melissa did not. It was the main point of contention, and Melissa knew it was only a matter of time before she would give in, but for now, she held out. She began to fidget while Barbara took her time reading the meaningful card full of praise and thankfulness, one of the really sappy ones that Barbara always cried at. The envelope inside the card was the actual gift and she was growing impossibly more impatient as the seconds ticked by. My Angel flung from space, happy Valentine's day. Yours Every Second of every Day, Melissa , she always drew the A out into a heart for Barbara. She'd made Barbara watch Carol (2015) over their holiday break, and the woman had felt absolutely taken with the quote. Melissa had called her angel since the beginning of them, so she'd stolen it, sue her.
The smaller envelope Barbara opened very slowly, laughing lightly as Melissa sighed in frustration. "My nana opens things faster 'an this!"
"It's open, it's open, keep your panties on!" Barbara retorted, pulling out two plane tickets and two printed piece of paper. "What's this?" Barbara said as she read, "Baby, we cannot afford this."
"I've been saving this whole time, secret savings account. Apparently, a little here and there for 10 years adds up." Melissa gave Barbara an adage that was often lobbed at her when she suggested a third day of take out a week.
Barbara stared up at her and waited for further explanation, "We're flying to Miami, cruising to Jamaica, all inclusive, all paid for,5 nights 6 days, we leave tomorrow. I packed for you, that's why I was late getting ready."
"No wonder you wouldn't commit to any plans for the break." Barbara smiled as big as she could.
"I was afraid you'd caught on." Melissa covered her face and laughed, "I was starting to lose it today when you brought up the lottery class again!"
"I thought it was just your cycle." Barbara shrugged with a shrug. "But,"
Melissa leaned down and rested her head on Barbara's shoulder because she knew she was going to get sappy and she wanted to allow herself the space to experience it without thinking of how she looked.
"with all sincerity, baby, my sweet Melissa, I have never felt more loved. This i incredible. The fact that you got this far without tipping me off, going to the care of packing for me," she fought the urge to say she'd need to check the bag before they left. "I love you very, very much. You take such good care of me."
Melissa sniffled and closed her eyes at the sensation of feeling validated before she kissed Barbara's chest and whispered back that she loved her, "My angel, you deserve it and so much more."
Barbara tapped her up for a kiss and she showed Melissa her appreciation all night long, whispering "Happy valentine's day." just as Melissa fell asleep. She set the alarm for three hours before their morning flight, and thought about how wonderfully they worked together being able to plan and execute together, intuitively knowing their roles. She felt cared for without being smothered, she felt she could run their ship without judgement. Perfect, a match made in heaven.