CHAP 8
The Lie Revealed.

As Kate pulled into the parking lot of the massage parlor, she took her time to look around for Sheri's car. Not seeing it, she shrugged and left her own to enter the building. The idea that Sheri would hide her car fueled a little bit of anger in Kate. She was apprehensive about this whole setup to begin with and here Sheri was playing some twisted game. Kate was beginning to feel used and that was one place she promised she would never again put herself.

The same secretary was behind the counter and only looked up from a new romance book to say 'room 3 and put your card in the slot behind the door'. Kate had completely forgotten to change the checked contents back to her own choices. Regardless she boldly put the card into the slot and thought if she wants to play, I'll play.

Changing out of her clothes and into the silk robe Kate left the tie open and walked over to hop onto the bed. She lay on her stomach and sheltered her head in the cradle of her arms as she watched the door.

Sheri came in with the same elaborate getup. She paused to grab the card from the back of the door and glance at both sides. Walking over to the candle area she pressed the play button on the CD player as she quickly and quietly lit some candles and turned off the harsher lamplight. The soothing reflective lights did their work as Kate turned her head to press it into the hole on the bed. She put her arms back down by her sides and felt warm hands carefully guide the robe lower. Again the silk was left only to cover her buttocks. Kate shivered as anticipation swept through her. The light strains of music grew as Sheri began to hum along while spreading warm oil over Kate's back.

Kate relaxed as Sheri smoothed the aches and caressed her muscles. Thoroughly enjoying her ministrations, Kate smiled with pleasure. The hands roamed down and began a massage over Kate's legs. Bending each knee upward she stretched and pulled to eradicate the tension as she slid her oiled palms across Kate's flesh. Finishing all too quickly Sheri proceeded to massage Kate's feet with her thumbs and palms. Kate arched her toes appreciatively.

Sheri's hands slid upward over ankles, calves, and thighs to pause and then remove the robe. Kate felt her stomach tense as the air brushed her naked cheeks.

Sheri rubbed her hands with oil and caressed each buttock with strength and firmness. Kate tried hard to suppress the excitement growing inside. She drew in a sharp breath and held it as she felt Sheri trace a single line down her back following her spine to follow over the curve of her right cheek.

Without realizing it Kate felt a pulling sensation on her arm as Sheri gently guided the reclined woman to roll onto her back. With the clarity of lightning striking, Kate realized BAF meant back and front. How naive can I be? Trying to remain calm and not panic, she slowly rolled over and kept her eyes closed from any incidental contact with that of her masseuse.

Her body went on high alert, a sensual arousal fluttered inside her at the freedom of being naked and on view for another's gaze. She battled the power of the attraction she knew was growing by leaps and bounds for Sheri. Sometimes her battle was 'for', other times 'against'. Right now she was battling for control and her nipples betrayed her by hardening in excitement.

Silence entered the room as the CD took that moment to search for its next song. Kate refused to look up at Sheri as nervousness engulfed her.

Sheri stood looking down at Kate and forgot to breathe. Her eyes swept over the beautiful body laid out before her as she began to tremble with desire. Her gaze swept the entire length of Kate's body noticing the full breasts, slender waist, full hips, gentle curves, blonde curling pubic hair at the apex of her legs, and the strong leg muscles that flexed as Kate tensed in the silence. Sheri's lungs screamed for air as she realized she was holding her breath.

Sheri's eyes found the path she would eventually cover with her hands. She started at the slender neckline. She paid homage to the body she had uncovered. Her oiled hands slid over soft skin as she massaged and stroked the sleek muscles of Kate's shoulders and arms. Fingers traced the collarbones as Sheri moved down to rub over the pectoral muscles above the breasts. Kate's breathing increased slightly. Her chest rose and fell. Sheri added more oil to Kate's stomach and spread the oil upward as she covered her breasts. She felt Kate still as her hands cupped each breast. A gasp escaped Kate's lips as she felt Sheri graze her thumbs over each nipple. The hands receded as Sheri smoothed the oil off to the sides and massaged the ribcage and side muscles too. She eyed the full breasts and lighter aureoles and noted their hardness. She wanted to lean down and suck one into her mouth. She glanced at Kate's face and saw a tiny frown and clenched jaw. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing was rapid. Sheri felt her own arousal grow as her hands caressed Kate's skin. She couldn't resist as she swept upward one more time and cupped their bounty back into her hands, her thumbs once again flicking over the tips. Kate arched and both women began to sweat. With light touches but a firm pressure, she massaged back down the rib cage as she continued downward toward the blonde patch of pubic hair. Sheri's hands ran inward to the juncture of Kate's legs and lightly rubbed the inner region of her upper thighs. Kate swallowed rapidly as she experienced the same touch over and over. Her legs widened in invitation as she reveled in the sensations shooting through her body. Sheri could smell the heated excitement. She wanted to take Kate over that point and allow her to feel the release.

In that one moment, Sheri realized just what she was doing. She gasped. Her hands stopped touching Kate's skin and she stepped back from the bed. How could I be so stupid? She doesn't know who I am. Oh God!

Sheri lifted her hand to cover her mouth before she started apologizing. I was making love to her and she doesn't even know it's me. I'm so sorry Kate.

Sheri backed away from the bed and bumped into the door behind her. Blue eyes met green as Kate looked over at her. The glazed look of arousal in Kate's eyes triggered a feeling of self-incrimination in Sheri. I know better than to go this far. What the hell would Kate think about this if she knew it was me touching her? Oh God, I wish she knew it was me!

Sheri scrambled out of the room the door behind her flying wide. She rushed down the hall to a changing room.

"Sheri?" Kate yelled at the retreating figure. She didn't stop. The door swung shut once more. Kate fell back onto the bed with a slight whimper. She mentally went through her repertoire of curse words then rejected the idea of bringing herself through to climax. Hating the way her frustration level had risen, Kate admitted to herself she had loved every minute getting there. She truly didn't want the feelings to disappear. It had been forever since she had shared such intimacy with another. Her body trembled on the edge as she rode out the sensations.

After ten minutes of deep breathing and calm thoughts of snow and ice, Kate raised herself into a sitting position. She dressed slowly and left the building to sit in her car. What the hell was going on? Sheri had gotten her into this and created this huge pretense, but why? Was this a game? Kate felt herself blush with embarrassment. Wow! She really got to me in there! How could I have let her under my defenses so easily? Why do people insist on playing games with me?

Kate looked up from her daze and realized she had been sitting there for quite some time. It was almost seven p.m. Kate remember Sheri had made plans to meet for dinner at nine. Kate clenched her jaw and wondered if she could have her stuff packed and be gone before Sheri got home. She blinked back the tears she wanted to release and wondered if it would have been any different if Sheri had just asked her out on a date? Kate tried to think of a motel she could stay at for the night as she turned on the ignition and started the drive back home. A lone tear did escape as Kate realized it wasn't really her home anyway. She was just a renter.

Sheri sat near her locker trembling with the after effects of arousal. She remembered rubbing her thumbs across Kate's hard nipples. Her jaw clenched as she heard Kate's gasp. Sheri realized she had lost control the moment she had committed to making Kate have an orgasm. Sheri had wanted to see it. She had wanted to be the one Kate cried out to.

As her hands had shaped down the slender waistline and over the rounded hips she had visualized Kate's arching reaction to her hands as she brought the woman higher and higher.

The minute Sheri realized what she was doing she froze. She realized Kate wasn't seeing her. Kate didn't even know it was her. Kate thought it was someone named Susan. I don't want Kate that way. I want to hear Kate cry out my name when she comes. Sheri held her head in her hands as she tried to calm down.

As she was leaving the room, she thought she had heard her name called. She passed it off as a yearning. Taking deep breaths she tried to regain some control over her nerves. Her skin was flushed and rivulets of sweat ran between her breasts. Ripping off the mask she threw it across the room. It hit the wall and slid to the floor. Sheri ran her fingers over her head to pull the wig off. It followed the mask.

Moving to the locker she opened it in a daze. Seeing her own reflection in the mirror inside the door she noticed the paleness of her skin and the dampness of her hair. She brushed her hair back as she thought of Kate.

What did Kate think of as she was lying there? She was so responsive and almost eager. She acted like a teenager about to be devirginized. She was excited and vulnerable. Sheri remembered Thomas and the lump Kate had given him. She certainly wasn't very vulnerable then. Did she have thoughts of me? Did she want me there? The brush stopped as Sheri's face grew frightened with a stray thought. She remembered the call of her name as she left. Was it real? Did Kate know it was me? Oh My God!

Things fell into perspective as Sheri realized Kate had known it was she all along. My God. What have I just done? What does Kate think of me? What did Kate think I was doing? What is Kate doing right now?

With this thought Sheri dropped the brush and grabbed a jumpsuit. Dressing quickly she rushed back down the hall to find the room empty.

"Shit!" She ran to the front reception area.

"Carla? Did you see that blonde leave?" She asked the romance book reader.

"Yea! She didn't look too happy. Anything wrong, Sheri?" But she spoke to Sheri's retreating back going down the hallway.

Sheri exited the building and jumped into her car. Peeling out of the lot from behind the building, she drove back to the condo and barely noticed the guard's wave as she pulled through the entrance. She pulled up to the house, parked the car on the street and jumped out to run inside. She yelled Kate's name as she entered the front door. Silence greeted her voice. Sheri looked at the kitchen clock as she bounded up the stairs two at a time. Six-thirty. That was plenty of time for her to get here. Where was she?

"Shit!" Sheri exclaimed in total helplessness.

Sheri burst into Kate's room causing the curtains to flutter wildly over the far window. She wasn't there. Sheri checked the dresser drawers to make sure her clothes were still there. Nothing was out of place. Kate's bed was neatly made and the dresser was carefully covered with decorative perfume bottles and a silver handled comb and brush set.

Sheri glanced out of the bedroom to the living area. Switching lights on as she crossed the room, she opened her own bedroom door. Nothing was different from when she had left this morning. The rumpled sheets grazed her bed lightly covered with clothes at the foot.

Sheri went back into the living room and quickly crossed to the back door of the deck. The romantic bottle lights strung around the roof flickered softly with the breeze as Sheri crossed to look down at the French champagne decanter resting on the table she had prepared. Two place settings were arranged with China and crystal glasses, separated only by the bouquet of roses Sheri had purchased. Where the hell is she? Sheri looked down at her watch and cursed again. It was now seven p.m. Her stomach clenched in fear.

Just then she heard a car pull into the drive from around the side of the house. The garage door opened and closed behind it. Sheri sighed with relief. Entering the house, she practically jumped the flight of stairs and almost knocked Kate over coming into the kitchen. Kate let out a short yelp of fear and punched forward trying to stop when she realized who it was. Sheri saw the punch coming and tried to avoid it at the last moment. Turning sideways she took the brunt of the punch in her left side near her rib cage. Groaning to a sudden pain she attempted to grab the shelf to keep standing. She fell to one knee as her breath was stolen from her lungs.

"Oh crap, Sheri! What the hell are you trying to do. Scare the hell out of me? I'm sorry!" Kate said quickly as she bent to help Sheri get into a nearby chair.

Sheri swallowed quickly trying to regain her breath as she clutched her side in agony. Kate quickly applied a wet cloth to her forehead and rubbed her back to relax her. Sheri watched as the bright spots dancing before her eyes slowly receded. The heavy beating sound of her heartbeat slowed to a small throbbing drum beat in her ears. Sheri felt the room come back to a horizontal plane as she slowly turned to look for Kate.

Kate sat in the chair beside her waiting with a frown on her face.

"I…" Sheri tried to speak, drawing in air and gasping as she clutched her side tightly at the pain. She tried to take shallow breaths as she attempted to speak.

"I know I deserve this. But, why are you frowning over it?" Her breath released in a hiss as she felt the drums in her head begin to pick up a faster tempo.

Kate sat looking at Sheri, unblinking, and then she turned away. Sheri reached out to grab her hand resting on the table and almost gagged at the sharp pain rising from her chest.

Kate turned at the touch and watched Sheri's face pale. Sheri struggled with her thoughts.

"I…didn't…mean…to…hurt…you…Kate." Sheri gritted out through her clenched jaw. If nothing else she was going to say what she needed to say. "I wanted…to share…with you. I wanted you…to…love…me." Kate jerked her hand out of Sheri's and stood. Brushing her bangs off her face, she looked out of the small kitchen window and crossed her arms defensively.

Sheri grabbed the table edge and started to stand. Gasping, she sat back down and blinked the sudden tears of pain and rejection away. Clutching her ribs tightly she coughed. As she regained her breath she looked back at Kate's tense figure and frowned.

"Don't tense up now. I just got you relaxed." Sheri managed to say before her own pain registered at a higher degree than before. She bit her lip to hold in a low moan.

Kate spun around at her words her lips trembling.

"Why did you walk out on me, Sheri? Why did you pretend to be someone else? Why did you seduce me and then leave? Kate said on a broken sob. Her tears dangling from wet eyelashes.

"Shit!" Sheri gritted her teeth and, gathering her strength, she pulled on the table to struggle into a standing position. Clutching her ribs with a death grip, she held herself up leaning on the table edge.

"Look at me Kate!" Kate lifted her bowed head and met Sheri's bold gaze.

"I was trying to give you an opportunity to release your demons. I know you have some. And I wanted you to give them to me. I can take them away from you, Kate. It wasn't supposed to be this mixed up. I didn't think you would recognize me and I wasn't expecting to fall in love."

Sheri said this last statement with a small step forward. Losing her grasp on the table, she began to fall forward. Kate quickly saw her stumbling and stepped over to catch her. Sheri found herself clutching Kate's shoulders with a weak grip and no breath. She struggled to draw in each molecule of air, and the spots were back dancing in her vision.

"Sheri? Are you OK?" Kate asked softly as she tried to guide the taller woman back to a chair. Sheri slid downward and lay on the kitchen floor, her blue eyes looking up blankly as she panted to breath. She coughed and gagged until Kate helped her sit up, cradling Sheri in her arms. Kate retrieved the damp towel and put iton the back of Sheri's neck.

"Sheri?" Kate questioned frantically.

Sheri felt a moment of relief as her lung filled with air again. She drew in a precious breath and reached up to still the towel hand.

"Sorry. I'm not used to losing a lung before dinner!" Her comedic attempt was stated with a pitiful expression of pain.

"I'm sorry for hitting you." Kate brushed away a teardrop from her eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was at the parlor. We could have saved ourselves a lot of grief."

Kate looked down at Sheri and frowned nodding her agreement.

"Kate? Please tell me you have some sort of feelings for me. I don't want to make any more mistakes or have any pretense. I'm crazy about you. I've never been so desperately…" Sheri paused to find the perfect word, "in need, want, desire, craving another human being than I have for you. You make me feel…"

She was cut off by the touch of Kate's fingertips against her lips. Kate had a smile on her face and bent down to kiss Sheri's eyes, nose, and finally to hover over her lips.

"I think I'm in love with a lady who can't take a punch," Kate whispered before grazing her lips across Sheri's. Sheri reached up to wind her fingers into Kate's hair and attempt to press closer to deepen the kiss. Kate returned the kiss, but when she slid her hands across Sheri's ribs, Sheri jerked and broke the kiss with a sharp inhalation and profuse coughing.

They both groaned as Sheri lifted her shirt to reveal a new and swelling bruise over her ribs.

Continued...