Sexual Content: This story depicts a loving relationship between two consenting, adult women and contains scenes of intimacy. The subtext has clearly processed into main text and might be unsuitable for really young ones or sensitive adults. I'd say PG13.
Setting: The story is set in modern day West-Virginia.
Special Thanks: Also a major thanks to Sandy for beta reading my story and encouraging me.
Comments/Feedback: This is my first attempt at writing fan-fiction. English is my second language so please don't get too upset if I left any mistakes in it. I really, *really*, would appreciate feedback so if you have a minute to spare please let me know what you think. You can reach me at: tiggerclaws99@hotmail.com
I can not promise regular updates, but I will do what I can.
Chapter 5
Sam hopped around her bedroom, one leg in a pair of gray slacks, trying to maneuver her other leg in as well. Her otherwise tidy apartment was littered with clothes - on the bed, on chairs, simply everywhere. She wriggled her arms out of the chartreuse turtleneck that, although it went nicely with her pants, would be too conservative. A moment later it soared through the room to join the ever-growing piles on the floor. She had randomly pulled clothes out of the closet and tried them on. But none of them seemed fit for the occasion.
If only she had asked Kieran where she planned on taking her for dinner. Now, she had to guess what clothes would be suitable for their date. She faced the antique mirror with a sigh, as she scrutinized the loose-fitting pants. Those, of course, wouldn't do either. What she wanted was something a little more revealing, but, just as importantly, not too daring. Then there was the fear of showing up completely overdressed - or worse yet - underdressed.
Sam quickly discarded the gray pants. As she looked up, the display of her alarm flashed its distressing message at her, time and time again - 20 minutes left, 19 minutes left. Momentarily the small red digits transfixed Sam, her mind rapidly spinning out of control. Less than 20 minutes and all she had managed so far was a quick shower. Briskly she tore herself away, rummaging through the closet once more. Somewhere on the now almost bare shelves could be the perfect outfit, the only outfit, Sam would settle for.
Frantically she grasped for everything within reach; bras, bikinis, thermal underwear, a pair of pink polka dot shorts, a discolored blouse that missed a button, several sweaters that had not quite survived an accidental high temperature adventure in the washer, and then - nothing. Sam dragged the palms of her hands over her face, trying to maintain her calm. Buying something new was impossible, given the short time frame. Calling Mandy would provide her with no more than an offer of clothes in the wrong size, and undoubtedly a flood of questions, she was not yet ready to answer. Exasperated Sam turned around and dropped to her knees, plowing through the clothes she had been quick to dismiss earlier.
***
Kieran had nearly run down the road that led her back to her condo. Her step was light and for a split second she feared she would take to the sky. Even Elena had never made her feel like this. Elena It had been a long time since she had thought of her first love. And come to think about it, Sam resembled the spunky freshman Elena had been in quite a few ways. Not so much in looks, but in manner all the more. She too had loved horses, although she had never been able to persuade Kieran to come anywhere near the stables. Her banter was as cheerful, her heart as compassionate, but at the same time open to anyone who would buy her a beer. Kieran clearly remembered the countless nights she lay awake in their king-size bed, counting the minutes, waiting for her lover to come home. Elena's little escapades, as she liked to call them, hurt Kieran more than she was willing to admit, but she found herself unable to let go. It was Elena who ended it one night, or disappeared more like it. That too, however, was not entirely the truth, for two days later she had spotted her down the liquor isle of the local supermarket, her arms wrapped loosely around the shoulders of a balding man with a beer belly. Kieran had felt sick to her stomach and stumbled backwards out of the supermarket, knocking things over as she went, unable to take her eyes off the scene in front of her.
That was nearly 5 years ago. Lovers had come and gone, but not once had she been unfaithful to any of them. On the other hand, she had not given any of them her heart either. The pain of Elena's betrayal kept her from allowing anyone close enough to win her heart. But now the wonderful feeling in her tummy started to take over her mind, leaving no room for the fleeting image of Elena.
Entering her condo, Kieran went straight into the bathroom and let hot water fill the tub. She sat down on the edge, bopping her head to an imaginary tune and tested the temperature of the water. It would have felt like a sizzling spa to anyone else, but Kieran merely uttered a contented sigh and let herself glide into the water. She slumped back against the backrest and let the water soothe her sore muscles. As the water made her skin tingle, an image of Sam briefly teased her imagination, for it was an image of Sam stroking her breasts.
With a jolt Kieran emerged from the water. Forcing her labored breathing back under control, she tried to bring the image back. It was already too late, but the look of pure lust in Sam's eyes, a look she herself had never seen, lingered on the back of her brain a moment longer. They had been in the woods and Sam had worn this tight fitting sports bra. Kieran could sense her already hot cheeks turn a bright shade of crimson. All of a sudden, the water in the tub felt warmer than she could bear.
As she emerged from the bath she strolled over to her worn dresser and dug up a pair of tight jeans along with a white shirt that accentuated her figure in the subtlest of ways. Selecting an appropriate set of underwear was a more difficult procedure for her. Not that there was any chance of Sam seeing her bra anytime soon, but Kieran was a woman of methodical precision when it came to underwear. "Underwear is the window to the soul," she'd like to say. To her, it was more than a bedroom incentive; it was a statement, an accurate gauge of a woman's personality. A smile came over her face when her eyes settled on a plain coral set that signaled both passion and strength.
It took Kieran all of two minutes to dress herself in the clothes she had assembled. She glanced over at the mirror to confirm that her bra did not show through the white shirt that she had tucked in her jeans, but the bra was light and fit well enough not to give itself away. Anxiously she double-checked her watch. Kieran shook her head and wondered why they had thought anyone could possibly need that much time to get ready.
***
Sam had barely managed to finish her make-up when she first heard the sound of a car making its way over the little sandy pathway that led to her front door. She did not need to look at her watch to know that it was Kieran. The only other people that could come around at this hour were her parents and they wouldn't be caught dead venturing anywhere near the modest 2-bedroom apartment. It had been two years since Sam had come to live in the small college town, but still they believed it was a phase she was going through. They always made sure to tell her that it would only be a matter of time before she would return to immerse herself in the lives of the nouveau riche of the Pinewood Country Club. Sam, however, could care less about the so-called "intelligent" conversation going on at her mother's Club. She was a fashionable woman, but held no interest in haughty talks about expensive designer clothes, or sneering comments about hairdos gone wrong. No, Sam much more valued the few conversations she had had with Kieran.
Just thinking about opening the door for Kieran made Sam's heart leap to her throat. She could feel the muscles in her stomach churn in anticipation. Never before had she experienced a feeling as earth shattering as the excitement that threatened to tear down her façade of composure. She grabbed hold of the doorpost to steady her nerves and for a moment laid her head to rest against the cold varnished wood. The image she saw before her in the mirror betrayed no sign of her inner turmoil. She narrowed her glance as she spotted a few unruly hairs that had escaped the otherwise flawless mass. They stood at odd angles, having broken off at some point in time. They were always there, and normally she would not have given it a second thought, but now she went over the possibility of getting a pair of scissors and trimming them down. It would solve her problem tonight, she mused, but it would only be a matter of weeks before the short spiky hairs would show.
The sound of a car door slamming shut awoke her from her reverie. The dilemma of unruly hairs all but forgotten she dashed back into the bedroom and hurriedly snatched a small flacon of Les Belles de Ricci off her nightstand. It was her all-time favorite, with its zesty, yet mellifluous scent. That it was originally marketed for girls half her age did not discourage her.
Promptly, the ding-dong of the doorbell called out to her. Wildly splashing perfume on her wrists she made for the door, while her eyes hunted for a place where she could toss the small bottle, but not before clumsily applying another generous amount behind her ears.
***
Kieran breathed out a sigh of relief as she heard Sam bustle to the door. Despite her desperate attempts to stall, she had left for Westover about 20 minutes early. She had thought about heading directly to Sam, but had thought the better of it, instead veering over to Westover City Park. The Indian summer had the large park buzzing with activity; in the far corner a group of children had set up a baseball field, closer to the central pond families had come together for a picnic and the lanes were swamped by young couples taking advantage of the sunny 65 degree weather. If it had been any other day Kieran would likely have wandered around to look for a silent corner where she could sit and study outside, but today all she had been able to manage was a brisk trip around the pond. Not that she was late - Sam would not expect her for another 5 minutes, but she had been unable to wait any longer.
Unconsciously, she smoothed her already perfect shirt and ran her hand through the long raven locks flowing around her shoulders. Flowers, she should have gotten some flowers. Kieran winced almost imperceptibly. A man should bring his date flowers. Not that she felt like a man at all, but it was her that was picking up Sam, who undoubtedly was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. It even occurred to her that the least she could have done was apply a dab of mascara. So many things she could have done, but did not do, that now made her feel insecure. She was about to refine her seamless locks for the third time when she heard the latch being undone inside.
Smiling, Sam swung open the door and Kieran was greeted by an intense scent of bergamot, peach and honey, tipped off by a base tone of sandalwood. The air was, quite literally, loaded with feminine sensuality and sweetness.
***
"Kieran, hi," Sam finally managed to say. Kieran looked every bit as attractive as she had imagined, and then some. Sam's cheeks took on a light shade of pink when the prominent scent of her perfume hit her nostrils. She was fully aware that putting on perfume at the last minute had not been a good idea. Not that it would not wear off in a minute and all things considered it was more of a pleasure than a nuisance, but she could not be sure on what end of the scale Kieran would rate her little accident.
"Zeus, I - I'm sorry about the perfume. I had a little-" Sam's face took on an even deeper shade of pink, "accident. But look at you. I never thought I would see you wear your hair loose. I love it. And it's not just your hair, but all of you. I mean- WOW. I always thought you were attractive, but now …"
She swallowed uneasily and took a sudden interest in the ants hurrying over the sand in carefully ordered troops. She wished for once she would have just shut up before making a fool of herself. Not that she had not meant what she said, but some things were better left unsaid, at least for now. Although it occurred to her that Kieran must have experienced similar ramblings many times before.
"Oh, can't we just start over again? I don't normally ramble on like this. Or maybe I do talk more than the average person, but ..." Sam let her voice trail off, afraid that once she got going, she would not be able to stop the flow of words pouring incessantly from her lips.
Kieran chuckled throatily. "Well, that's a good thing. You know me, I am not a woman of many words and someone has to do the talking."
Sam let her mind wander back to the times she had spent with Kieran. It was true; the woman did not speak for long stretches at a time. What she said was often only the bare necessities, but Sam had soon learned that once she helped Kieran over that initial barrier of unease, a whole new side of Kieran's character came forth. A woman with a quick wit and an unrivaled passion for everything she embarked upon. The gentle spirit that housed behind the tough exterior often amazed Sam, but she also remembered very clearly the day she had seen those striking blue eyes turn to ice. It had taken her by surprise, but she had made sure not to let Kieran on to the momentary chill that coursed through her blood. She knew there would come a time when Kieran would be ready to share the demons of her past and then she would be there to listen. Just as she knew that that time would not be tonight. Tonight would be just for the two of them.
Sam watched Kieran move back and forth on her heels, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans. A slack smile tugged at the corners of Kieran's mouth, but other than that she seemed to ooze confidence. Sam cocked her head trying to decide what the other woman was up to, when out of the blue it hit her.
Instantly, she lunged herself onto the other woman. Ever since that night in the rain she had dreamt of holding Kieran in her arms. She had not dared to hope that Kieran would foster the same wishes, although when she was rational she knew very well that there was more to their friendship than platonic amity.
Kieran's arms had almost instantaneously come up around her back and she felt the older woman pull her closer. They clung to each other for dear life, surrounded by nothing but 3 foot tall bushes, to shield them from sight, yet never before, had she felt as safe. She nuzzled her face against Kieran's neck and realized she was wearing a light musky fragrance. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes and savored both the protective arms wrapped around her as well as Kieran's cologne.
***
Kieran could not remember how long ago it had been since she had last experienced happiness - not the transitory surrogate that came from drinking, or from a girls' night out, but sincere happiness; the kind of happiness found in the eyes of a child, the same kind she experienced at that very moment.
It would have been perfect to hold Sam forever. It was something any woman would have done - any woman, but Kieran. Although she reveled in the intimacy of the moment, sharing a hug was not as simple as an embrace; rather it was an intricate game of give and take. It meant laying your affection all out in the open, plain for all to see. An uncommon gift for even the most trusted of friends. Display of affection would have been her downfall once. Still she could not help but wonder if perhaps it was just her.
Like it was yesterday she remembered the look in her grandmother's eyes the day her lanky teenage body had gone rigid in her grandmother's embrace. Silently, they had stood side by side on the large veranda of the grand Californian vineyard that had once been theirs.
-"What's the matter, love?" grandma had gently inquired. Kieran had not said anything. How could she have said she felt … embarrassed? It was not something she could explain. Grandma had taken a long look at Kieran and dabbed a lonely tear from the corner of her eye.
"I understand," grandma finally spoke, "you are a big girl now, Kieran. Just promise me one thing."
Grandma closed her eyes as if she were revisiting an old memory, trying to paste the wisdom of years into one single sentence. When she opened her eyes again, it startled Kieran to see how fragile and tired the old woman looked and she took hold of grandma's hands. Grandma smiled. Finally, she said, "Do not close the door on what's closest to the heart, and never, never, settle." Kieran had squeezed her grandma's hands tightly.
-"Thank you." She had been given a gift, but she did not know what. Now, it was too late to ask.
A sense of loss came over Kieran when she broke away from the warmth of the hug, yet at the same time she felt relief. She took another step back and flinched inwardly at the painful confusion apparent in Sam's eyes. It did not exactly take a rocket scientist to figure out who had caused those emerald eyes to cloud over.
Kieran did not know what to do, anymore than she knew what to say, so she did the unexpected, surprising herself more so than Sam, she reached out and took hold of Sam's hands, like she had done with her grandma so many years before. How could she explain to this beautiful woman that holding her caused her great stress? How could she explain who she was and, forever, would be? Not some mush ball, who lived off feather light touches and sunlight kisses, but a lone ranger with a surreptitious past. A difference of night and day from the woman Sam deserved.
"I really like you."
Of all the things she could have said, she gave voice to the one that was hardest to bear. It was what Elena had told her. It was what she had told Elena. And now that she had told Sam that she cared, she had set the first step on the long and windy road to heartbreak. Heartbreak, she would be the cause of. She had to break it off before - "I really like you too."
Kieran could not help the broad grin that spread over her face. Now, there was no turning back anymore; she was falling, and she was falling fast. The sight of Sam coyly biting her bottom lip was enough to make her wonder what it would feel like to feel those lips dancing with hers. She was well aware that if Sam would give her as much as the smallest hint, she would yield, eagerly, and captivate those soft lips with her own. She looked away - away from their temptation, only to find her heart pick up a beat as she let her eyes roam over Sam's body. Coming up to meet her eyes, she said softly, "You look really gorgeous tonight. I knew you were attractive, but nothing had prepared me for this."
-"Thank you, I'm glad you like it." Sam smiled.
Kieran laughed inwardly. Like it? More like love it. No matter how hard she tried, she could not keep her eyes off Sam. Now, she understood why they had agreed to meet at 6 PM, for the sleek teal dress that Sam had decided on, skillfully accentuated the greenness of her already irresistible eyes. Her fiery hair was secured into an orderly chignon at the back of her head. The dress itself looked like it had been tailored especially for her; its off the shoulder neckline emphasizing the delicate neck and collarbones, but what Kieran loved most about it was the narrow waistline, although she could not see it very well, because of the big fuzzy sweater that Sam had tied around her waist. Kieran tore her eyes loose from the dress and grinned at Sam. "What do you say we go get us some dinner?"
-"Sounds good to me. I'm starving." Kieran had a hard time imagining the small woman eating more than half a potato, but wisely held her silence as they walked towards the car.
-"Say, did I ever tell you that story about that girl who found a rat head in her burger? Or wait, that is probably not a good one if you don't want to lose your appetite, but don't worry, I have plenty of other stories. I am actually thinking of writing a novel about this mighty warrior called Sarah- Whaat?
Okay, so maybe I won't call her Sarah, but listen, you're going to love this. So, one day she goes to this village …"