~ I Want To Be Where You Are ~
by thatgirlmct
These characters are my original creation and if the thought of two consenting female adults engaging in sex offends you or is illegal where you live stop here.
Content warning: Some chapters may have rape/violence scenes that are depicted.
I appreciate all constructive feedback and can be emailed at thatgirlmct@yahoo.com
Part 2
The red Jeep Cherokee pulled up into the restaurant's parking stall. The lights outside were a tangerine color with strobbing red lights flashing across causing a cranberry shade to be reflected unto the restaurants walls. The restaurant they decided to hang out at was the Grill; it was the only bar around and was attached to the best steakhouse in town. The weekday crowd was piling in through the doors and from the car it looked like a full house.
Teresa was glad that they had made reservations even though, on a Tuesday it wouldn't normally be crowded.
Teresa turned off the car CD player that was blasting out the latest Korn CD. Teresa couldn't believed that she agreed to go out with her assistant. The Judge said to go and have fun and enjoy herself because youth is fleeting. The words seemed so true when she agreed to go out. The last time that the ebony haired beauty had a night of fun she had to agree was before Kale had left for Iraq.
Teresa got out of the Jeep as Debra reapplied some lipstick as she looked into the vehicles rear view mirror.
"It's going to be alright, A few drinks and you'll unwind a bit. I promise." Debra let her know seeing the tense look on the young woman's face.
Teresa glanced back and forth to her dress and to Debra's short skirt. The length of the skirt would of made her blush if she ever wore something like that. The thought of wearing something that revealing though intrigued Teresa. She noticed that the other women walking into the restaurant were wearing even less than Debra and she felt a little overdressed wearing the knee length autumn shade dress. Feeling a little like a librarian the ebony-haired beauty, whose hair was tied in the back with a ribbon let her hair loose.
A button or two let free from the clasp wouldn't do any harm so the top three were let loose on the dress. Teresa looked at herself in the driver's side mirror and noticed a little lipstick and eye liner might help bring a nicer reflection from her face whether it was how she felt or not.
Debra and the Judge wanted her to have fun and she was definitely going to put her best foot forward. That was something that always had been a part of her character. She always cared more about others needs before thinking about her own. Now taking care of K.K. by herself had left her very focused on keeping a clean, safe home but life past being K.K. 's mom was never in the job title in this stage of her life she thought to herself.
"Come on let's start to get a buzz on. I need it after the day I had. And you never told me what happened with you and the Judge?" Debra quizzed her as she put her arm through Teresa's arm and dragged her towards the restaurant.
Teresa didn't want to bring up the conversation she had with her Father-in-law earlier in the day. She didn't enjoy bumping heads with him but her plans were already in motion whether he liked it or not. The commentary on it during dinner was not what Teresa was looking forward to doing this evening.
The hostess in the restaurant informed them that there would be a slight delay in getting their table, even though they had a reservation. She directed them to the bar as they waited for a seat to be available The hostess told them she would announce it over the intercom when the time came. Debra decided that this wasn't going to faze her so she went towards the bar bringing Teresa along.
Her boss was a little hesitant at hanging at the bar, but Debra informed her that there might be pretzels and chips there too. Teresa was starving since she missed breakfast and lunch, thinking she was going to have it with the Judge and instead spent it going over the renovation plans with Mr. Cantor.
The bar was as crowded as the restaurant, and the patronage was young professionals in their twenties and thirties. The patrons seemed to be enjoying the darken walls of the room, standing back to back with their drinks in their hands listening to the fast pace music blaring from the sound system. The bodies in the room were so close Teresa thought to herself that if one of the young professional's moved their hand up with a drink, it would end up in the lap of another bar patron.
The spot they picked out was just made available when a couple left. Teresa looked across the bar counter and saw only empty bowls on top of it. Her stomach was doing a summersault and she was craving something to eat. Teresa looked around the room and saw a man with a bloody Mary and a celery piece sticking out of the glass, she knew then what she wanted to order.
The bartender put a bowl of pretzels in front of them both . Teresa noticed that Debra had a martini and a couple of olives placed on the side. She grabbed them scooping them up into her hand before Debra could put up a protest about her eating her olives.
"Well we better get our table soon. I'd like to enjoy an olive too with the next drink." Debra hinted making Teresa a little embarrassed.
Half an hour had passed when Teresa checked her watch and wondered when they would get their table. A female voice spoke with a raspy tone from behind calling out Debra's name. The blonde was distracted at the moment watching the bartender mix her latest drink making sure he used the right amount of vermouth.
Debra glanced up and saw her newest friend in town. The cute redhead stood almost the same height as her with green eyes also. The young woman was someone she met at the check out line at Johnny's market. She had told her about not buying any meat from them, because of some health code issues. The cute redhead had also included some information for her that anything else was okay to buy there though.
"Liz." Debra reached to hug her including Teresa in the embrace.
Liz noticed someone else in the hug and was waiting for an introduction and when it did not come she just introduced herself to her companion. The fact that her breast was in the strangers back still didn't make them on familiar terms.
"I usually introduce myself to a lady before shoving my breast into her face. I'm Liz" Liz said to Teresa moving a hand in front of her to shake it.
The introduction made Teresa blush and she didn't know if it was the fact that breast were touching her back or the statement about women and her breast. It wasn't never an issue between Teresa and Debra, she had known that she liked girls and it was one of the reasons she agreed to keep her as her assistant. Maybe secretly hoping her assistant could give her insight into her feelings that she had for her best friend from high school but no other women since.
"Did you eat yet?" Liz inquired.
"Not yet. We are waiting for a table." Debra said flirting a little bit.
"I got a table already why don't you come join me; I mean us." Liz stated with a big smile at Debra.
The look on Debra's face showed the disappointment she felt in hearing she was here with someone else. Liz noticed it and corrected her in letting her know it was an old friend only joining them and that she would love spending some time with Liz and her good looking friend.
"I just need to get her at the other side of the bar. Come with me." Liz said as she led them to the other side of the bar.
The woman that Liz was leading them to was a tall, lanky, brown-haired woman. She was wearing a baggy brown Levi jacket that was two sizes bigger than what would fit her.
Teresa looked at this gorgeous androgynous creature from behind and was enticed to see what other features would embrace her upon looking at this woman.
"Kat. Look what I found in the fishing hole." Liz stated meaning the two girls.
The brown-haired woman turned around and Teresa had to remind herself to breath. Time stayed still while the two women looked at each other. Teresa never saw a woman who looked more handsome and beautiful at the same time. The way that the dim lights gave a halo effect to Kat's head made Teresa have thoughts that were anything but pure.
Liz made the introduction to each of the girls to the others. Kat just looked at Teresa and never said a word.
"They're joining us for dinner." Liz let Kat know. It was stated as a fact and not as a question and Kat knew when to leave Liz alone when she was on the hunt.
The four young women sat at the table with Liz and Debra carrying the whole conversation themselves. Kat and Teresa could do nothing but take quick glances of the other when they thought no one was looking.
Liz looked across at her friend and saw a little glimmer in her eyes when she looked towards the ebony-haired beauty.
"Let me tell you a story about my friend here." Liz said as she poked at Kat's ribs. "And then you can decide if she is worth getting to know." All the women gave Liz their full attention when she mentioned a story.
"I don't think they want to hear any stories about me and my boring life." Kat moved her hand over Liz's mouth.
Liz moved her hand away. "So we went fishing in her uncle's boat without permission. A few years back and we were out on the lake for a few hours but we couldn't catch anything."
"You actually touched those squishy, slimy things like worms out there with no where to wash your hands." Debra asked as her face became squished up.
"That day we used minnows and bigger fish as bait and cut them up on a small cutting board and put them on the hook." Kat demonstrated the movement of using bait. She secretly was laughing at how uncomfortable Debra was with the description. Teresa of course was not fazed by the description of the bait or the using of it.
"So we're out there for a few hours and Kat gets this idea to light up a joint. And she is taking hits off of it, and I told her to put it out." Liz started laughing at her own story before she told it and Kat joined in the revelry. "Well I'm sitting across from her nagging her and all she does is blow smoke in my face."
"You needed to loosen up a little." Kat added as she took a sip of her drunk.
"Whatever. So, I look over her shoulder and I see the game warden's boat coming our way. I panicked and grabbed the joint out of her hand and threw it down on the floor of the boat." Liz added.
"Anybody else would of put it over the side." Kat snidely commented.
Liz continued with the story. "It would of just floated. Well anyway, the game warden doesn't even come up to us; he just tips his hat and keeps on going by. During the time we were distracted by the game warden, the before mention joint was making a pretty good sized hole in the bottom of the boat."
Kat buries her face in folded arms hiding her face. Teresa just looks at her and she sees that little girl she use to play hide and seek with. The vitality and spunk obviously never left Kat she reminded herself. Laughter from around the table brought Teresa back from her day dreaming.
"She hit it with my shoe I have in my bag, never mind that it is high heels I took off from the night before. She stomps out the joint and it finally goes out. I'm looking around to make sure if the game warden or anybody else is coming up." Liz puts her hands up and flags them in front of everyone to let them know to come closer.
Kat always hated the melodramatics of Liz's storytelling it always seemed far fetched whatever tale she spun even if she was there.
"We are looking through the lunch box to see what her uncle packed. It was made for him and his friends, but we figured we took the boat and a few sandwiches wouldn't make a difference." Liz looks at Teresa as if to get absolution. "And I notice there is water around my shoe. I look down thinking that maybe a soda burst, maybe even Kat didn't take care of something before we left." Liz nudges Kat again. "The boat had a hole in the bottom and was filling up fast. The heel of the shoe must of put a hole in that old boat. The thing was nothing but a bunch of sticks glued together,"
Teresa got involved when she heard that Kat might have been in danger that day.
"What did you guys do?" Teresa asked.
"We used the bucket and our hands to scoop up the water. We knew that the boat was going to sink soon so Kat rowed while I scooped up the water." Liz looked around the table and when she saw that she had their full attention she continued. "We got a few feet away from the shore when the boat completely sinks and we're paddling away with the boat and us on equal level in the water with each other."
"The game warden comes by in his boat and picked us up and while we're sitting on a bench trying to stay dry under some blankets. "He asks us did we at least save the weed, because he wanted a hit off of it. So, when we get to the car we hooked him up with a bag for half price." Kat included.
The whole table started to laugh so loud that the other diners looked at the table with the four women. Teresa realized at that moment Kat hadn't changed since high school one bit. Sure there were the deep lines near her eyes and a slight smile that hid a lot of deep scars that didn't show on the surface but it was the girl who still could make her heart skip a beat or use to.
The nights slow developing progression without a word spoken between her and Kat, and feeling very uncomfortable with Debra and Liz all over each other. Teresa ordered a red wine bottle that she poured into a glass and in swift consistent gulps finished it off by herself.
Kat had noticed that Teresa had quite of few drinks tonight, but knew that it wasn't her place to say anything. She definitely wasn't her keeper but each time she got the urge to comfort and advice her friend she heard a little voice in back of her head. It kept telling her that she would need to get her own life in order before she could tell someone else how to live.
The restaurant was almost empty with only a few customers at other tables. Kat had left the table by then to take a phone call and Liz got up after a few more minutes later to look for her leaving the two friends a chance to talk.
"Do you mind if I get a ride with Liz?" Debra anxiously asked.
Teresa not wanting to be alone with Kat, but also not wanting to keep two people apart who obviously liked each other. Teresa agreed that she should go with Liz and she would be fine staying behind at the restaurant.
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A few minutes later Kat came back to the table. "You look like you could use a hot cup of coffee." Kat sat down on the other side of the table across from her and raised her hand up with two fingers extended towards the waitresses.
"I'll be fine here by myself. If you have somewhere else you have to be; go ahead." Teresa said half heartedly almost convincing herself she meant it.
"You mean the call?" Kat moved a little closer to sit on Teresa's side of the table." I was talking to my Uncle and you came up in the conversation."
Teresa blushed and hoped that her nervousness didn't show through as Kat placed her hand on top of Teresa's wrapping her fingers into her own hand. Kat could feel Teresa moving away from her, but the shiver from the young woman's body gave away her true feelings. At least Kat hoped, she could feel what the woman sitting next to her never said in words before.
"Don't go. I've missed you." Kat said with the most tenderness of pleas ever heard.
All the why's and how's didn't seem to matter right now only the sincere request of an friend to move away from the past and deal with the here and now.
The two women sat next to each other mere inches away but never touching again after Kat released Teresa's hand. Teresa missed the warmth of Kat next to her. The mere flesh on flesh contact; however, brief left her inner thigh tingling and wetness dripping down her legs.
The coffee was strong and quickly helped Teresa sober up a little. Teresa tallied up the bill and paid for it and she said her goodbyes. The brown haired woman wasn't done talking to her friend just yet and offered to take her home. Teresa not sure where her feelings would lead her to decline a ride with Kat.
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Outside the restaurant the air was crisp and windy and the traffic in the parking lot was now almost non-existent. Teresa reached into her purse and moved a brush, a lipstick and her cell phone around but no keys appeared to be in the purse with them. She pulled at the door handle hoping that the tug at the handle would jar the door open. After several fruitless attempts, Teresa ceases tinkering with the door.
A burgundy Honda Civic pulls up behind her and the windows roll down. Teresa is pleased to see the driver of the car.
"Everything okay?" Kat inquired.
"I can't get into my car."
"Where are your keys?" Kat got out of the car.
"If I knew where they were. I wouldn't be still out here in the cold." Teresa shouted out.
Kat smiled a little hearing the pouting in Teresa's voice.
"Let me see if I can get you in. Just hold on a bit." Kat took off the jacket she was wearing and draped it over Teresa's shoulders. Rubbing both sides to create some heat for her.
The touch on her shoulder by Kat made Teresa feel warm all over and in a different way. Teresa would have to find time to think about all the new emotions that were going through her mind in the last few days. Outside in the cold, damp air was not the place to analyze or profess hidden feelings Teresa reminded herself.
Kat tinkered with the Jeeps door, but couldn't get it to open.
"I'm going to get something to open this up." Kat informed her as she walked to her car.
"You going to jimmy the lock? Why did you wait so long to get your tools out?" Teresa wondered out loud.
"I don't carry that type of stuff in my car anymore." Kat answered back agitated. A button on her key chain opened up her trunk. As she dug through it, papers and tools came flying out from the back during her frantic search. "I'll be right back." Kat let her know as she placed everything back into the trunk.
A search from inside the restaurant allowed her to retrieve a coat hanger from the jacket check-in closet. Kat moved the hanger in between the window taking a few sweeping glances at a still tipsy Teresa leaning against her Honda.
A loud crackling noise burst from the sky. Kat had forgotten that the weatherman had said there was going to be a chance of drizzle. She thought as usual he was wrong and she didn't bring an umbrella. Raindrops fell on her face like buckets and drenched the two instantly,
"Drizzle my ass." Kat mumbled to herself.
Teresa tried to find shelter under the restaurants umbrella front as the doors were already closed and locked. Kat tried unsuccessfully to get the car door opened and was completely soaked and feeling like a piece of toast soaking in a glass of water. And a little agitated she put the hanger on the ground.
Kat walked up to Teresa under the umbrella and shooked out her hair. Completely soaking a slow drying Teresa from head to toe.
"Now you want that ride?" Kat asked through shivering blue lips.
Teresa looked to the ground and saw the hanger. "I really don't want the Judge to see me this way soaked and without my car." Teresa fell over into Kat's body with the alcohol still not making her think or stand straight.
"I don't know about you but I don't want to wait for a tow truck. Ken is the only one in town working this week since his entire crew got the flu. I'll take you home and I can bring your Jeep up before dawn so that way he won't even know." Kat reassured her with comforting eyes.
"I forgot how small this town was?" Teresa sighed. Part of her wanted to wait in the pouring rain and the other half wanted her to be taken right there in the back of Kat's Honda.
The drive was very similar to their meal conversation it was non-existent. Kat tried to start up topics to engage Teresa into a conversation. First about the weather and how the weatherman is never right. Staying completely from politics Kat brought up the only other thing she had a passion for.
"So you think that the A's are going to get at least a wild card spot this year?" Kat attempted to prime a conversation out of her.
"I don't feel good." Teresa gasped out as she rolled down the window and leaned back.
"I live just a couple blocks from here. You can get some dry clothes, a couple cups of coffee in you and you'll be as good as new." Kat placed her right hand on Teresa's brow and stroked it as she hummed a melody.
The Honda pulled up into the apartments no loading zone situated in front of Kat's home door. Teresa was asleep and Kat not wanting to wake her grabbed the sleeping dark haired beauty into her arms. The nights that had been filled with visions of her carrying Teresa into the bedroom and making love to her had been many. The last time they saw each other was another rainy night so many years ago in that gray dreary place.
Teresa stirred in her sleep as they went up the stairs and into the dark apartment. Kat laid her on the couch trying hard not to wake her while she went to the closet to find Teresa and her something warm to wear. Kat undressed in the closet and put on some dry clothes for herself. Kat found a pair of sweat pants along with a tank top that accented the sculpted muscles on her arms.
A cotton t-shirt, sweat pants and a sweater for Teresa were pulled out. The thought of undressing Teresa had played out in so many different ways in Kat's mind but not like this.
Standing Teresa up, the soaked dress came off with no problem and the arms going into the sweater went without a hitch, but when it came time to put the sweat pants on it was like being in Wrestlemania. Arms and legs went flying on both sides wildly in the air and the pants ended up on the other side of the room. Kat moved away and was getting up to retrieve them when two strong soft arms pulled her back down and drew her in close to her face.
"I love you." Teresa gushed.
"Well I love you too." Kat said wishing it was in the same way she felt.
"No. I mean I really love, love you." Teresa stated and then began to giggle with a school girl laugh.
The two of them looked at each other and when the silence was too much for her to bear any longer. Teresa bent over to Kat's face and placed a kiss on the left side of Kat's mouth missing the target and landed on the outside of her lip. Kat moved her mouth closer to the ebony- haired beauty's mouth and as the lips stood only a inch away Teresa lurched over and heaved a dry cough. The complexion on Teresa's face turned to a cranberry-orange shade. The just mopped floor in Kat's apartment was soon covered with the night's meal, a bottle of red wine and a half a dozen sorted drinks.
Cleaning Teresa up and the floor Kat knew that she needed to get Teresa to rest. "I'm going to put you to bed, before you fall down." Kat said as she picked up Teresa into her arm.
"Yes, please take me to bed. I'm yours." Teresa excitingly exclaimed. Her arms extended out to bring Kat closer with a bear like grasp.
The scent of the raindrops mixed with Teresa's shampoo wrap circles around Kat's mind and drown her in ecstasy. Seeing the now sleeping Teresa in her arms she knew the gentlemen thing to do was to place Teresa into the bed alone. Each step climbing the stairs made Kat realize the burning sensation emanating from between her legs would have to find somewhere else to ease its aching.
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The morning brought a fresh breeze and all the things dirty were made clean again with the new day. Kat decided to get up from the couch and get some pastries for the night guest that was still asleep in her uncle's room. The bake shop run only took fifteen minutes before Kat got back to the apartment.
Upstairs Teresa slept soundly under the covers that she never noticed the figure sneaking through the door. The blonde female figure removed a tank top and slinked out of her blue jeans not wearing any underwear.
Noticing that her sleeping companion never steered during the entrance. The woman she desired, had slept on only one side of the bed leaving the other side empty crying for occupancy of another warm body. Pulling the covers back she moved towards the sleeping woman.
Kat remembered Teresa loved eggs sunny side up and orange juice, she was hoping to make this a special morning. She did something she never attempted to do in her twenty odd years Kat picked up a pan and cooked. The bacon sizzled in the pan as Kat removed a couple of plates out of the cabinet.
The loud shout from a woman yelling at the top of her lungs and then followed by another woman yelling back came from the top of the stairs. Kat recognized the first voice belonging to Teresa, but it didn't register in her head who the other woman was until she got to the top of the stairs.
Kat walked into the room and saw an angry disheveled Teresa shouting at a very naked Kim hiding behind the door. Kat couldn't remember a time that she had ever seen Kim not in control and naked.
"What the hell is going on?" Kat asked directing it to Kim.
"I was checking to see if you needed a ride to work." Kim said nonchalantly while putting on her bra.
Teresa got up out of bed and quickly fell back down. Her head felt like a Mack truck had ran through it.
"How did I get here?" Teresa asked as she rubbed clock wise circles into her temples with her fingers.
Kat went into the bathroom and came back with a glass of water and a couple aspirin.
"You weren't feeling to hot. So, I brought you here to sleep it off." Kat informed her as she gave her the aspirin. Noticing a feeling of discomfort in her eyes. "I slept on the couch downstairs."
The two so wrapped up in their conversation didn't noticed Kim getting dress and walking out. Kat grabbed her arm.
"How did you get in?" Kat whispered in her ear. Kim pulled out a key from her coat pocket.
"Why didn't you tell me you were seeing someone?" Kim said with a jealous tone.
"She's not….." Kat started saying as she looked over to Teresa. "None of your business. Don't come over unless I invite you and don't use my key again either." Kat shoved the blonde out the door.
Kat walked back into the room and saw Teresa dressing and dialing numbers on her cell phone.
"I'm sorry if she scared you. She isn't anyone I'm sleeping with." Kat didn't know why but she felt the need to inform Teresa this. But what she really wanted to say was she hadn't slept with anyone for a year. Knowing that she would only want Teresa and everyone else since had fallen short of her expectations.
Teresa turned her back to Kat as she put her bra on. "Who you or who you don't sleep with is not a concern of mine. Now if you will give me a moment I would like to see how my daughter is doing. Her Mom was gone all night doing God only knows what."
Kat left Teresa alone to talk on the phone. Twenty minutes went by before Teresa came down the stairs. She couldn't even look at Kat's face as she went through the living room and towards the door.
"I put you in some clean clothes and laid you down in my uncle's bed. End of story." Kat shouted out from the couch as she watched Teresa leave.
Teresa paused a moment at the door and breathed a combination sigh of relief and disappointment as she walked out the door. Leaving and knowing that more than just a door separated the two women.
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Debra reached for the ringing cell phone wishing she had put it on vibrate last night. She glanced over to Liz's naked body still glistening from their activity the night before
The person on the other side of the phone was the last person she wanted to talk to today or ever.
The Judge stood in his office not able to find enough distractions of work to keep his mind off of his daughter-in-law and her whereabouts last night. The nanny said that she never came in to check up on the baby and the maid had informed him that her bed wasn't slept in.
"Where is Teresa?" The Judge snapped out.
Debra knew she had to think fast. Thinking she would feel him out to see what the next response should be before she was forthcoming.
"Didn't she call you and let you know we went out last night, right? " Debra stated hoping he would give her something to work with.
"She didn't come last night." The Judge said with unusual concern.
Debra sensed the concern didn't come from a loving place but was full of venom..
Remembering the glances and the heat emanating from her friend's friend and his daughter-in-law she knew what angle to go.
"You wanted me to find out what her acquaintance with that Cantor girl was and if there is anything there to worry about." Debra started using the smoke screen to save both her and Teresa's hide.
"Well is there anything to worry about?" The Judge waited for a response grinding his teeth together.
Debra paused a minute. "No. There isn't. We talked all night about Kale and her love for him and that Cantor girl never once came up in anyway than a high school acquaintance. We had a few too many and we slept it off at a friend of mine's house but I will send her home as soon as she wakes up."
The Judge accepted her information the past data she had given him on other assignments was invaluable. He knew she was one of the few, who knew to never to cross or lie to him.
Debra hung up the phone not knowing if she had a job when she got back to the mansion or even a life worth living if she didn't get a hold of Teresa before the Judge did.
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The Jeep was slowly pulled up into the back of the tow truck as Kat looked on. The first thing she did after Teresa left her apartment was to get Ken to tow the Jeep back to the mansion.
A tall, muscular, blond man showing early signs of baldness maneuvered the vehicle to attach it to the back of his truck. Ken went to the same high school with both Kat and Teresa and knew how important it was keeping the Judge in the dark about Teresa out last night drinking and going home with Kat.
"Maybe we can get together later Tess, me and you . We can go get beer, pizza and catch up." Ken said as he maneuvered a switch in the front seat of the tow truck.
"I doubt it. Tess was never a beer girl and I don't know about the pizza either. She is a Grant Hill girl now." Kat hated to tell him that the past was how Teresa seemed to want all her friends.
"I know if we get some pork rinds and Coke at the pipe she'd hang out with us like old times." Ken grinned. "She even took a Corona out the chest the last time we were there. She gulp it down in a few swigs."
"No way." Kat couldn't believe she didn't know her sweet Tess as good as she thought she did. Last night showed it and maybe its been in long time in the working, where Tess stop being this girl in her fantasy and a real woman. One that makes bad choices just like the rest of us.
Leaning on a parking stall pole Kat pulled out a cigarette from a pack striking her match on the cover. As the flaming match cupped in between her hand moved to ignite the cigarette.
A brush of wind flew past her and blew the match out. Her eyes focused on a girl on a skateboard spinning in a turn that had caused her match to blow out.
The girl was only fourteen it appeared with brown hair streaked with pink highlights. The caked on makeup she wore would of made a working girl downtown think she was Miss America . The jeans were torn at the butt and split down the leg on one side with a pin holding it together. Kat wondered if she used to dress like that and if she did she needed to apologize to her Uncle.
"You got another one?"
"What?"
"Smoke…… You got an extra one?" The teenager asked again.
Kat looked around and noticed there was no one else around. She tapped the bottom of the pack pushing a lone cigarette standing up from the rest moving the pack in front of the girls face. The girl grabbed the cigarette then moved to get another. She glanced up at Kat and saw no protest and proceeded to take the second one. Kat lit another match and the girl grabbed the match along with Kat's hand and lit her cigarette.
"Thanks." The young girl grinned rolling the cigarette between her fingers and sliding her tongue slowly over her upper lip.
Kat realized in a instant that the girl was flirting with her and started to blush. With Kat's boyish good looks she could pass for eighteen, but this kid flirting with her made her feel uncomfortable.
"Take the pack." Kat dropped the pack down into the girls hand.
"Great…. I need matches."
"I got another pack of matches in my back pocket." Kat turned her body a little to reach into her back pocket.
"Don't bother." The teenage girl said moving behind Kat as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the matches.
Kat was glad to give the girl anything she needed just so she would walk away and she could return her attention back to getting the Jeep to the mansion.
Ken had a order form set up on his clipboard with a pen in his other hand. "Is Teresa going to pay me with a credit card or cash?" Ken asked writing on the clipboard.
Kat walked up to him and the Jeep. "I want to take care of it now and you can just drop off the Jeep. If you could, put the keys by the windshield when you bring it to her house.
Kat reached to her back pocket to pull out her wallet. The hand moving in the pants found nothing and thinking maybe she put it the other side moved her hand to the other pocket. Her two attempts to retrieve her wallet were unsuccessful and she spun around looking down at the ground below her and where she had been at before.
The memory of having the wallet bulging into her butt as she leaned on the pole. The thought went across immediately to the last time she knew for sure the wallet was in her possession and the teenage girl was there with her asking for a smoke.
Kat looked down across the parking lot and saw no one else there except herself and Ken.
"I'll be right back." Kat let Ken know before beginning her search and destroy mission for the pink-hair streaked girl.
Walking towards the main street she saw a donut shop and nail shop as the only places open at this hour. The gate to the nail shop was still on it. So, Kat went first to the donut place. The clerk remembered getting a glazed donut for a girl fitting the description Kat gave leaving just five minutes before.
Kat ran down the alley that was next to the nail shop and donut stand. Scrunch up behind a dumpster Kat found the girl finishing off her donut and a Coke.
"Give me back my wallet."
The girl stood up startled by Kat.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The teenage girl backed up.
"I know you took the wallet. Give it back and I'll forget about the donut."
"Stay back you crazy bitch. I said I don't know anything about a wallet. And if you come any closer I'll mace you." The teenage girl pulled out a small spray bottle from her pockets.
"I'm saying it one more time. Give it back or I'm kicking your ass."
Kat moved closer to the girl reaching for her arm. The young girl lifted the spray container and sprayed Kat in the eye. The brunette crumbled to the ground, rubbing her hands over her eyes trying to relieve the burning sensation. The teenager seeing that Kat was no longer a threat stepped over her body and ran down the alley.
"Mouth wash? You sprayed my eyes with a fucking mouth freshener." Kat shouted out to the girl. The sensation moved to just a numbing feeling and her sight came back a little fuzzy as she saw the girl running away.
The trash bin and the alley walls blended together in her fuzzy haze but the clicking sound of the girl's boots led Kat towards her direction.
Increasing her stride Kat stood only inches away and taking a true leap of faith lunged towards the girl. Luckily, the aim was correct as Kat and the girl fell onto the ground. Kat pulled at the teenager's legs pulling her even closer to her, the few minutes since the spray had allowed her eyes to see figures and shapes now.
"I'm telling you this one more time you little shit. I get my wallet and if anything more than five bucks is missing? Your teeth are going to be on the ground right along side of you now."
The teenager saw the pure animalistic aura emanating from Kat and there was no doubt that her face was going to be worked over by this woman holding her down.
"Okay. Okay." The girl moved the wallet out of her blouse wedge in between her bra.
Kat rummaging through the contents of the wallet saw that the girl only took a few bucks out and spent it. The knowledge that she had what she wanted Kat remembered the frightened girl still underneath her.
Standing up and holding on to the teenager she looked over the girl and confirming that no bruising occurred during their scuffle she released her hold on her.
"How old are you?" The girl looked at her like a deer stuck in headlights. "Why aren't you in school?"
"Why aren't you at work?"
"A wise ass, huh?" Kat saw bits of herself in the girl. "What part of town do you live at?"
The girl wouldn't say anything to her. Kat knew that even though she should get this girl to her parents or school. She had a full day ahead with getting the Jeep back and helping her Uncle on a new project.
"Tell me where you live and I can drop you off." Kat saw the look of mistrust in the girl's eyes she had given many times in her past. "I won't tell your parents anything I just want to make sure you get home okay, end of story."
"I took your money and now you want to give me a ride. Yeah, right."
"I said it. I'm done. I wanted to get you home just in case you're sore or you're …..." Kat scolded herself for showing a weak spot in herself of caring for someone else even if that person did steal her wallet.
"I am home so don't sweat it." The teenager emphasizing the alley in her statement.
"What's your name?" Kat couldn't get the girl to say anything. Glancing over to her skateboard she saw the name "Sam" on the front spray painted. "Is it Sam?" Still the girl stayed quiet.
Kat felt a knot pull at her stomach and she was lost for words to say. Through every thing that Kat had done in her past no matter what she always had prison or her uncle's to call home. The thought of prison didn't make her pity her life because she had spent almost as much time there as she did on her Uncle's couch.
"Mouth freshener?" Kat asked again about the spray can.
"I got to have something when I'm out here at night by myself.
"I know programs if you want a place to shower or eat." Kat saw a kindred spirit and knew charity wasn't something she would accept. Stealing a wallet was better than begging and Kat understood that. She smiled at the teenager and went back to Ken and the Jeep.
The teenager watched as Kat left her in the alley not saying anything else about the wallet or sending her to a shelter. The girl thought maybe the woman wasn't such an ass as she thought. Grabbing her skateboard off the ground the girl saw a twenty dollar bill laying next to the skateboard quickly putting it in her blouse pocket and walked out of the alley.
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A couple hours later the Judge sent for Kim and Jack to the mansion.
The mansion was empty with few of the staff working. The ones on duty beside Kim and Jack could be counted on one hand. As the two walked through the home into the office of the Judge they thought of how uninviting the whole building was regardless of how many people lived in it.
Judge Archer sat in his leather chair as if it was a throne and he lord over all that resided in Elwood. The stacked shelves of books in the library always gave the impression that a wise man could occupy it's room. Whatever fool thought that books meant or equaled a man with intelligence needed to reevaluate the expression, Kim thought to herself
Judge Archer lacked vision and hope long ago, Kim and a few others who were privy to the real man knew him. He was scared of what others would do so he crushed them, and he was afraid of change, and he destroyed them ironically with their own dreams and visions.
Kim allowed herself to be sucked into his world, for he controlled the decision of her being released early on her time served. Working for him in his home was part of her probation. She was just like the others, he owned her body and soul.
Kim's nights were filled with the nightmares of the patients she allowed to die on her night shifts and they haunted her night after night. She hoped that selling her damnation to this devil would be a debt paid that would allow those souls to rest.
Unfortunately, the need for an ex-nurse in a small town with a record was never needed except in emergencies where records, nor questions were asked. Kim being a maid in this big grand home cut in her soul, that she felt as if she carried most of the weight of the roof on her shoulders.
She didn't want to be his cleanup woman. She had assisted doctors and saved lives-took lives. Would the fact that a few misdeeds would forever seal her fate to this place.
"What will you have, Kim?" The Judge asked pouring drinks for him and Jack.
"Nothing."
The part of the week that caused the strain of whatever character that still lay in her to cringe was Thursday. That was the day the Judge would announce the events coming up in the mansion. Today he informed his staff that he wanted a private moment between Kim and a acquaintance of his arranged. He never picked his mark for financial gain, he had more than enough to live on. The money was evenly splint between herself, Jack and Kat, she felt it was more to keep his hands clean than out of generosity. The ones that were chosen were those that would vote against an issue he wanted passed or as the current victim, who had something on him that would destroy his chance of being senator.
"When will Kat be joining us?" The Judge inquired growing irritated and tired of her disobedience.
"She has another appointment to take care of." Jack remembering a voice mail that said to stall the old man.
"Her Uncle got a new contract." Kim added.
The Judge sensed there was more, but decided to move to a new topic. "I have a reporter, who has a few stories he wants to release next week, that I don't want the public to see. He'll be at the mansion for a party Sunday. We will handle it the same way we always do."
Kim wondered why he made it sound like a team effort. She was the one who had to bat her eyelashes, laugh at stupid jokes, bend over at the appropriate times.
The last time she had to entertain should have been it. Kat and her had it planned out that they would of ran off with all the money. Kim could see in Kat's eyes that she hated that the short blonde gave her herself to the men and was used by them, even Jack.
She made especially sure to draw a bath for Kim the first time, after the night was over and the man left, she said it was to wash the filth away. The bath water was filled with scented oils to bring the scent of fresh cut roses to encircle the bathroom. The lights were dim and music from a lone cellist played on a CD. A innocent romantic would of thought she was being seduced and romanced, but all Kim thought was her sexy friend wanted to play and have fun with no questions asked the next day. Kat made her feel like gold in the inside when all she saw in the mirror was tarnish. Kat never wanted anything from her not sex, not even money.
Whenever they were together Kat would touch her and make her forget the pain. Kat caressed her shoulders and massaged her neck taking weeks of stress from her body and no touch was done to arouse sensuality.
Through the weekly baths Kim realized that her erogenous zone was mere inches from her earlobe. And as each touch took over her and the heat could not be controlled anymore she released a hiss from her lips that sounded primal, Kim turned around allowing Kat to take in the firm shape breast and hard nipples dripping with beaded soap suds. Kim placed her mouth on Kat's lower lip. Welcoming the new feelings Kat nibbled on her ears down to her neck.
Kat knew how to bring her to the edge, where she lost all control. The desire would burn so deep inside of Kim's inner thigh that she would want to touch Kat to express what she felt, but the young beauty would pull away. The dark-haired woman told her it was because she cared for her and no orgasm could touch her so deeply as taking care of her could. She didn't want to use her like the men did, touching Kim was sensual in touch but never sexual in intent by Kat until she knew she was ready.
Kim didn't know it then but that was the day she lost her heart to the lanky loner, but earlier this morning she was rebuffed by someone she never met before. The Kat in the apartment wasn't the one that made her feel safe.
The young girl in her bed seemed familiar and she knew that she had to be the reason that Kat acted differently towards her. No one gave her so much before and the fear of losing her tore into her heart.
The Judge and Jack talked but their words were mere echoes in her mind as it clouded over her anger of being replaced by the black haired, brown eyed girl who…… no it couldn't be ,not Archer's daughter-in-law? The last word came out as a whisper from her lips.
"Huh?" Judge Archer looked towards Kim noticing she was distressed but she just brushed his inquires to the side in due time she thought in due time.
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Teresa thought this was the perfect outing for her and K.K. a stroll around the neighborhood ending at the new house she just leased. The house was full of activity from the workmen working on it. One half of the house was being stuccoed while the other half was having a new roof put on. Teresa knew now when Mr. Cantor said he would get things done he meant it. Yesterday was when they went over the plans and she gave him the keys to the house.
"Excuse me" A young man announced carrying a 4x4 board as he walked towards the garage.
Teresa moved the stroller out of his way and onto the lawn. The sound of saws cutting wood caught her attention and she saw Mr. Cantor talking to a young boy. As she got closer the young man removed his hard hat and the bunched up hair in the hat came down. She realized at that moment he was talking to Kat. Teresa not ready to make sense of what her feelings were turned around towards the house. She hoped Kat didn't notice her amid the crowd of workmen.
"Teresa." Mr. Cantor shouted out to her to get her attention.
Teresa turned around and saw him approaching leaving Kat stationed as if she was made of stone at the same spot. Mr. Cantor noticed that his niece wasn't following him and he gestured to her to follow him.
Mr. Cantor gave Teresa the biggest hug and kiss on her cheeks. She felt as if she was embraced by a bear; a big, cute cuddly bear that smelled like pretzels and beer.
"And who do we have here?" Mr. Cantor directed to the little figure bundled up in the stroller.
"This is my daughter K.K." Teresa proudly replied back.
"She is as beautiful as her Mother." Mr. Cantor told her as he hugged her again. "I can't believe that you have a child. I still think of you as little and wearing braces."
Kat came up behind them but still a few feet away and stared at the young child in the stroller. She couldn't get over the fact that this little person was living and breathing proof that someone else beside herself loved Teresa too.
Teresa noticed the strange way that Kat looked at her daughter and assumed that it was with contempt and hate of her, the Mother, just being placed onto the child.
"Come see the love of my life." Teresa said as she grabbed Kat's arm and brought her towards the baby."
Kat smiled at the baby and the fears that Teresa had of hatred towards her were washed away with the look of pureness and joy."
"My Uncle's right you do have a beautiful daughter. What is her name?" Kat wondered.
"K.K." Teresa answered hoping they could change the subject.
"Is that short for anything or is it a nickname?" Mr. Cantor gave a huge grin and elbowed his niece.
Kat gave her Uncle the strangest look. She thought that the old guy finally had all the years of drinking and carousing catch up to him and left him a nut.
Teresa gritted her teeth together and smiled towards Kat and her Uncle. She regretted in telling him during their tour about his niece and her special place in her heart.
"She has her father's name and someone else I hold dear." Teresa blurted out.
Kat moved closer and placed the baby's little hand into to her own. The nearness of something so pure had never came this close to Kat in her entire life. The few years out of prison had not allowed her to enjoy life nor to embrace it. The mere hope of having anything this wonderful in her own life seemed like a cruel and empty taunt, that had been placed before her. The woman she loved and a child that if life was as her uncle told her as little girl; if you wish it you can have it. Was her uncle a foolish romantic or just a naïve fool who wanted to entertain a child Kat wondered to herself.
"With her name I'm sure she is going to be feisty." Mr. Cantor added noticing his niece in deep thought.
Teresa couldn't take the teasing hints that Mr. Cantor was dropping and felt maybe it wouldn't end as terrible as she thought.
"Ms. Cantor…. Kat" Teresa cleared her throat. Seeing she had her friends complete attention. She picked up her baby and put her in Kat's arms.
"I'm not use to holding something this precious. Are you sure about it? Kat asked with uncertainty. Teresa held back of the baby's head as extra support to help Kat get comfortable holding the young child.
"You're doing fine." Teresa saw the view of what she had always wanted in her dreams standing right in front of her. "Kat. I'd like you to meet….."
Teresa didn't get a chance to finish her sentence when a loud banging noise followed by a pile of dust encircled them.
"What the hell happened?" Mr. Cantor shouted.
"What the hell happened?" Kat said at the same time in chorus with her uncle.
Teresa in the commotion had reached for her daughter but saw that Kat had her on the ground and was covering the baby with her body. She bent down and rubbed her daughter's brow and Kat's right after. She needed to know that they were both okay.
The crew men came over to inform the Cantors that no one was hurt. One of the new guys had dropped a pallet of shingles off the roof and down on the ground. No one was on that side of the house luckily. Mr. Cantor left and went to see if any damage was done to the house.
Kat saw the fear in Teresa's face and placed the infant back into Teresa's arms while she held Teresa close to her chest.
"She's alright. I can't do a lot of things right. But protecting someone so precious is definitely on my can do list." Kat hoped this would calm Teresa.
The young mother checked over her child's body moving around the blanket and confirmed that she wasn't cut or hurt in anyway.
"Look everything is in the right place and she has all her fingers." Kat picked up the infant's two little hands. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Uh! Oh!" Kat stated with a deadpan face.
Teresa looked into Kat's eyes with pure fear. Kat couldn't keep up the charade for more than a few seconds before she fell over laughing.
"She has ten beautiful fingers and toes. There was nothing to worry about." Kat assured her.
Teresa hit Kat in the shoulder not with malice but in a playful way. Kat brought Teresa and K.K. closer into her arms and held on tight. Teresa had the strangest feeling in her stomach and it had nothing to do with her drinking last night. Standing in front of the house with Kat and her daughter felt right. That was the only way Teresa could put words to what she was feeling.
"Ms. Cantor." Teresa fanned away any remaining dust from their presence. Kat looked at her with the formality in her address. "Kat. I would like you to meet my daughter ….. Katherine Kale."
Kat felt the earth move away from underneath her feet and she thought the ground would swallow her whole. The words took a moment to register in her mind. Kat removed her arms from Teresa and started to walk away.
"What is wrong Kat? I thought you would be happy." Teresa shouted out to her retreating friend's backside.
The announcement made Kat fill up with mixed emotions. She was happy her friend remembered their friendship even with all that time that had past between them . And it made her sad for what might have been if she could have made Teresa love her.
Kat walked back towards Teresa and held on to her like she would never let go, but she had to. "I have a lot of work to do. You have a beautiful baby." Kat held back tears and walked back towards the house.
Teresa tried to wrap herself up into the task of getting the house together. From the time of going over the blue prints with the workmen to the color of tile for the kitchen, but she couldn't stop glancing towards Kat.
The stone face of Kat never gave away that she was also desiring something she couldn't have. The years in prison had taught her that things that you desire or want can only be taken away from you. The hard conditioning on her heart had laid calluses so deep nothing would ever soften it.
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Kat noticed the constant looks Teresa gave her. The one thing out of all that had happened in the past ten years was that Kat wanted her friend back.
Kat found her walking around the interior with K.K. showing her what each room was going to look like.
"I could get the inside done faster if you helped." Kat informed her.
Teresa looked at her with complete amazement.
"Some things you can do yourself in the house to get it ready. Like the door frame sealing and some other things." Kat noticed the look of confusion on Teresa's face. "I have some extra work clothes you can put on in the car I'll be right back."
A few minutes later Kat returned with the clothes.
The overalls fitted a little too loosely to Teresa's frame, but she put a few rolled up handcuffs in the sleeves and in the pants legs and was ready to start the work day with Kat as her instructor.
"I don't know about this." Teresa hesitantly stated.
"The girls will appreciate getting in sooner, and besides the things I'll have you working on will help you out on keeping the house in top shape without paying an arm and a leg." Kat hope she got through to Kat.
Teresa nodded her head in agreement with Kat knowing that she was completely correct in explaining the need for a backup for repairs should be done by herself.
"We'll start with sealing and weather proofing the doors and windows." Kat pulled out a utility knife placing it gently into Teresa's hand.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Teresa asked awkwardly holding the knife between two fingers.
"I want you to cut this piece right where I have my fingers marking it." Kat answered noticing that Teresa wasn't comfortable cutting near her finger. "Come here." Kat moved Teresa in front of her embracing her right hand into her own.
The left hand still marked the cut location. Lifting their hands together Kat slowly cut through the backer rod piece after the first incision went through. Kat lifted their hands again to the second cut. Kat could feel the hesitation from Teresa and her pulling away from her. "With trust comes control." Kat whispered into Teresa's ear.
Teresa hearing these few words relaxed her hands and allowed Kat to guide her hand down into the cut.
"The caulking is very important. Here is the caulking gun." Kat handed the metal-plastic piece to Teresa.
Teresa glanced at it turning the tool back and forth between her hands trying to figure out how she was going to use it. The trigger was the only thing she was familiar with. She knew that part would make the white liquid come out.
Kat removed the caulk and gun from her hands and guided her to the floor. "Put the caulk on one side." Kat instructed her as she guided her hand to place the foamy piece over the hole in the wall.
Both women not wanting to let this closeness end. So, Kat grabbed a molding piece along with a hammer and nails and began guiding Teresa's hand pounding the nail into the wall. With each swing of the hammer Kat could hear her heart skip a beat.
The whimpering sighs of little K.K. were the only thing that could snap both women out of their mutual intoxication of each other.
"Lunch time. She has a internal clock and she never misses a meal." Teresa informed her, sad that the moment that past between them might not occur again.
"After feeding her we can go over some other things." Kat anxiously announced.
Kat sat in the corner as Teresa fed the baby and she couldn't get her mind off of how good it felt to have Teresa that close to her. The fact that this woman had been gone out of her life for almost a decade didn't matter, it was as if time stood still and was waiting for their two souls to remerge together.
Kat stood on a medium height length ladder and placed fixtures on the newly set lights. The turn of the century glass covers were enchanting and would add a elegant touch to the living rooms décor.
Kat led Teresa to the same ladder she was on and moved it to another light. Teresa at first was hesitant about stepping onto the metal ladder, but with confident pleads from Kat, Teresa gave in. By the third light fixture Teresa had forgotten that Kat was on the bottom of the steps holding the frame steady. Extending herself a little to much after realizing it wasn't close enough to the light she caused the ladder to wobble. She tried to brace herself to steady the ladder but the weight of leaning forward could not be controlled only by Kat's holding the base still.
Teresa's body fell over and she closed her eyes awaiting the thump and bruises that would accompany the fall. The soft plush feel of velvety arms drew her in and cradled her in it's embrace. Brown eyes enveloped around her own and caressed her with a secure hold.
"Are you all right?" Kat asked.
Thoughts of Antonio flashed before her eyes and brown loving eyes were replaced by cold steel blue ones. Buckets of sweat dripped from Teresa's brow.
A concerned Kat embraced the shaking frail body enveloped in her embrace at the base of the ladder. "I caught you,. You're safe now."
Teresa so lost in the torment that had reaped apart her life so many years ago couldn't even be reached by the one whose love always gave her strength before.
"Honey tell me what is wrong." Kat pleaded.
Teresa's body pulled away and cringed from the touch of Kat's on her skin. The rejection of her friend made her realize that there could never be a "us" in their future.
Kat placed Teresa on the couch searching through the cabinets she found a cold compress and placed it on Teresa's forehead.
Brown eyes were the first thing that Teresa saw after returning from her dark place.
The look of confusion from Kat did not escape her.
"I'm glad you are calmer now. It wasn't that high of a fall to warrant such a fright." Kat teased hoping to lighten up the situation.
Teresa felt bad about scaring her friend, but couldn't reveal that the slightest touch could trigger her memory back to when she was a girl and to her cousin. The repulsion she felt wasn't for Kat, who she desired but a man who took everything even her soul from her. Kale was the only one she had shared her past with and he had been patient and never took liberties from her allowing her to decide when and if they would touch.
Teresa looked to her side to see if K.K. was stirring and realized that the infant still slept after her lunch feeding. "I think I had enough of a lesson for today, don't you think?"
Debra walked into the living room finding Kat hovering over her boss.
"Sorry if we're interrupting something." Debra said as she backed up taking Liz by the arm and retreating to the front door.
"Debra? Come in." Teresa moaned out.
The situation between the four women was very awkward and none of them dared to open their mouth for fear of saying the wrong thing for their own selfish reasons.
"I like it. This place is big." Liz gushed amazed at all the work already done to the house.
"I'll give you the fifty cent tour if you like ladies." Kat said towards Liz and Debra.
The two young women walked into the living room with Kat and saw the sleeping baby in the stroller. Kat engulfed in showing her friend the work she did on the house didn't noticed that her tour was being derailed by fifteen pounds of cuteness. Liz gushed at the baby and made the most immature sounds that could come from a grown woman's mouth.
Kat always wondered what would make an otherwise sane person turn into a babbling idiot whenever a baby was in the room. She herself refused to succumb to the wiles of this vixen, but the more time she spent with her she saw she was falling almost as hard for her, as for her Mother.
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Debra informed Teresa that she came to the house to get some forms signed allowing Kat and Liz to tour the house.
"You going to tell me or do I feel in the blanks on my own." Liz ever the one to take the edge off a situation announced.
"Feel in what blanks?"
"Oh. I'm here alone with a hot babe practically laying on top of her when my best friend in the whole wide world interrupts. I might be mad but I can't resist Liz's dimples." Liz giggles as she pushes her index finger around her dimple.
"Now I know you drunk more than apple cider last night in your mug."
"I am perfectly sober, but you my dear are head-certifiably over heals in love." Liz enjoying goading Kat exclaimed.
"I'm not in love."
"Okay, lust then, but at least your alive. It's good to have you back."
"I don't know what I am doing. I dealt with all these feelings before and locked them up and said never again." Kat covered her face leaning on the wall as she fell slowly to the ground. "She's the one I told you that had my heart and ran off with it."
"That's Tess?" Liz remembered hearing many nights about the girl she thought was only a mirage in the other woman's mind.
"Last night she told me she loved me and today she cringes from my touch. How hot and cold can one person be?" .
"Tess was a girl that worshipped the ground you walked on. Teresa Archer is daughter-in-law to Judge Archer and she has lunches that cost more than any outfit in your closet." Liz placed her hand on Kat's wrist.
"I've tried hard to move on. How can I claim something I don't own. Someone has my heart, she is sitting in the living room and she never gave it back to me."
"Move very carefully around this. If, the Judge ever had a thought that you had an interest in his daughter-in-law you wouldn't have five seconds of life to breath." Liz reminded her of the wrath of the Judge towards his enemies.
"To him she is just a brooding mare. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to put her in his own bed." Kat wishing that thought never came to her.
"He would have to have a second of non-malicious thoughts, to go through his mind to get it up long enough. And besides the act of taking his son's widow into his bed would cause too much of a scandal with elections coming up."
"She doesn't even know how I feel about her."
"She has to know. I saw you looking at her last night and today like she was the last crumb on the table. She has to know."
"Not the way she was brought up. She barely understood when I told her I was into girls. I had to explain I didn't want them as good friends. And sleepovers you should of seen her blush."
"Well she is all grown up now. With baby in tow to prove it." Liz wanted to give some hope to Kat, but most of the signs went that her dream girl was straight and no matter how gorgeous Kat was she would never make her change.
Kat cursed herself for longing for something she could never have, but she couldn't help the desire coursing through her veins. Kat could not stop wanting, than she could stopped breathing.
Kat went on to tell Liz about turning away Teresa when it seemed she caused the younger girl such pain. Teresa's life revolved around visits and it was destroying her inside.
Teresa's Mother told her to let her go and let her live and she did, but after realizing she couldn't go on without her she had to let her know her true feelings.
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Elwood 1998
Teresa had been looking all over the back seat of Kat's car for her sunglasses she left behind yesterday but after thirty minutes she was conditioned to giving up on the search.
"Check the glove compartment I think I put it there this morning when I got in the car." Kat informed her.
Sliding her body over the passenger side head first she moved her body up to the front of the car. Her legs grazed the right arm of her friend causing Kat to swerve a little. Sitting securely in the front seat Teresa searched the glove compartment. Teresa saw her sunglasses but the object that caught her eye the most lay underneath the glasses. The steel pearl handle and sleek design took her breath away.
"Did you find them?" Kat asked looking over at her passenger she saw that she had discovered her personal package in the compartment also. "I'll take that." Kat removed the gun from Teresa's hand and placed it in her lap.
"Where did you get that from?"
"My Uncle. Don't worry it's not loaded." Kat gave her a reassuring smile to calm her friend.
The parking lot was almost empty when they pulled up into the Home Depot plaza. "I
I'll be right back." Kat said as she went towards the front entrance.
The store was a little busy which was good allowing her to get her merchandise without worrying about fending off a helpful employee with no distractions to occupy them. Kat headed to the plumbing department and grabbed a few items and headed to the home improvement aisle. A few select bags could garner ten to twenty- five dollars each when they were returned to the store.
The scam was the newest one that Kat got involved in with her friend Kenny and his brother Don. She would steal a few select items like fixtures, piping, hinges and have the two brothers say that they were done doing home improvements on their parent's house and didn't need it no more. The clerks after a few bleeps from the cash register and the crew would have three hundred dollars in their pockets.
The weekend tally was averaging close to a thousand but split three ways. It wasn't much at least not enough for Kat to move out of Elwood and take Teresa with her.
Kat knew she would have to figure out something else beside this to make more money. The car with Teresa sitting in the passenger side made her smile as she walked through the stores front doors. The hand reaching for her didn't come into her view until the hand forcibly moved her arm closer to the other persons side.
"Where do you think your going? The man asked her.
Looking towards the voice Kat was relieved to see a familiar face. "Eat shit pit face." Kat snapped after realizing it was her best friend's cousin, Antonio playing rent a cop at his weekend job.
"I asked you a question? Antonio pulled harder on her arm.
"What does it look like? I was shopping."
"I don't see any bags."
"I didn't see anything that my Uncle asked me to get." Kat hoped he would at least let go of his grip after this statement but he didn't.
"Big store like this and you couldn't find what you were looking for. Hard to believe." Antonio turned Kat around and roamed through her pockets.
"If you wanted to feel me up. Didn't think you want to do it here in front of the store giving a show?
"You did say you went shopping right?" Antonio pulled out a bag from her coat inner liner pocket.
"Yeah."
"Shopping usually involves money exchanging hands in a store." Antonio said sarcastically. " I'm going to need you come with me." The two of them went behind the store.
Teresa saw from her seat Antonio reaching for Kat's arm. The conversation couldn't be heard from the distance they were at but the body language couldn't be mistaken. The two were in a heated argument and Antonio needed to always pick on someone.
The chance to harass new victims is why he took this summer job. The days he worked the plaza the neighborhood kids knew not to go even if they were just hanging out. The scuffle between the two alarmed her especially when her cousin dragged Kat into the rear of the store. The fear of Antonio was out weighed by the concern for Kat's safety.
Teresa followed them to the back of the store and the view she saw paralyzed her. Antonio had pinned Kat to the wall and was feeling her up. The anger built up in her and spilled over as her eyes met Kat's and they both had an air of terror and anger between them.
"Kat." Teresa screamed out her friends name and startled Antonio.
Kenny and his brother sat in the car two stores down from Home Depot. The Saturday refund scam was getting a little hot, but both brothers needed the money, especially if they wanted to keep drinking the weekends away at the pipe. All Kenny wanted to do was get drunk, laid and drunk again all summer. Kenny looked at his watch and noticed that Kat was running a little behind. The tall brunette would come out in twenty minutes whenever she was in a store. She said any longer time in there and she would get busted. The concern blanketed the brother's eyes when the thought of Kat caught crossed their minds simultaneously.
A loud thunderous sound came from the rear of the store. Recognizing that it might be gun fire Kenny foolishly went to see what had happened knowing that Kat and Teresa were close by and wanted to make sure they were safe.
Peeling through the crowd that was already building up Kenny saw Kat and Teresa holding each other. He was glad to see they were safe as he was walked closer to the pair of friends. His eyes glanced down and saw a crumbled up Antonio laying face down on the ground.
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Norco 1999
Kat blew out a sigh of relief as she had hoped to clear her head.
"You can do this Cantor." Kat had been giving herself a pep talk for most of the morning. The few months away from Teresa were taking their toll on her heart and the cold prison walls seemed closer to suffocating her than she could take anymore.
Straight to the point was the first choice but what if Teresa didn't feel that way for her. A million reasons raced through the brunette's mind of Teresa turning her down and asking why not. The only reply she could think of was that she had been there when her Dad died, anything she needed she had it. And even though all she had to offer was her heart, hopefully that was enough.
Kat used every favor owed to be the first on the phone to talk to Teresa. As the phone rang every millisecond felt like a hundred times longer than it actually was. Her palms drenched with sweat and she felt as if the receiver would fall out of her grip and onto the floor. Her heartbeat pounded into her mind; it was definitely now or never.
"Mrs. Baroques? Hello are you still there? Kat heard no response since the person on the other side of the line answered and she announced who she was.
"Yes. Kat." Mrs. Enid Baroques answered hesitantly.
"I need to speak to Teresa. Is she home?"
"No. I……" Enid didn't think it was important to inform Kat of her daughter's running away over two weeks before. "She is out for awhile."
"When she comes in tell her I need to talk to her." Kat pleaded.
"Remember our agreement?" Enid reminded her.
"I want her to know I'm here and I'm thinking of her."
"If she wants to talk to you she will get in touch with you." Enid hurriedly replied hoping to end the conversation.
"Only you and my Uncle know I'm here. I need to talk to her. Promise you will tell her." Kat pleaded again.
"Have you forgotten what you put her through.. Are you that selfish? To break her heart again." Enid announced in a rage.
"I did everything for her and none of it was done to break her heart. Anything I do is for her."
"You put that knife in that girl's side for my daughter?" Enid said disgusted with the whole affair.
"There is a lot more going on than what you know. Mrs. Baroques please tell her….." Kat heard the other side of the phone go dead.
Kat's legs collapsed from beneath her and she crumbled into a jelly roll with nothing in the world left to give her hope or feeling. She vowed on that day she would never let another person destroy her or possess her heart.
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"Cute."
"You've seen K.K. lots of times, but thanks." Teresa smiled at Debra.
"I meant cute in a few more feet. The tall brunette in the other room."
"I guess she is alright." Teresa glanced around Debra to look at Kat across the house.
The documents soon lost their interest for Teresa. Debra knew that without the signatures that the house wouldn't see daylight so to speak for months. "The inspector will be by later to check up on the progress of the repairs. And donators want a walk through sometime this week. I need to know if you want a brown refrigerator or a white one….you said you liked the brown one?"
"Yeah. I like the brown one. I could drown in them." Teresa never taking her eyes off of Kat during the conversation. Drowning in the brown eyes of the carpenter.
Debra smiled to herself seeing the way Teresa took in the form of Kat. "I can see that….brown it is."
"I have a delivery of furniture today that I need sent to a storage place."
"Done. I got two spots set up today and all I need is the phone number to the furniture place and I can send it there." Debra wanted to finish the discussion about the house and move on to the fact of the Judge's interest in the two close friends.
"I'm going to get K.K. and take her out to the park before going home."
"Teresa can I ask you what is going on with you and your Father-in-law?
"What do you mean?" Teresa looked at her but Debra's face gave away nothing.
"He seems concerned for how you keep your time and activities."
"He is not a big fan of the Shoshanna center. He'd rather I was into garden parties and being the gracious, beautiful hostess for all his parties at the mansion."
"I have to admit you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The night of your party; a roomful of men and I couldn't take our eyes off of you." Debra stated flirting like she always did whenever the two were alone..
Teresa blushed at the statement from her friend. "Behave your self Deb or I will tell Liz."
"I'm seeing someone. I'm not dead." Debra flirted further but realizing she was loosing focus on what she needed to know she stopped her flirting. "What does the old man got against the place? Did you steal the property from him or pull the wrong permits?"
"I don't know if it's the house or the girls in Elwood. He wants to think this is a perfect world and all the people in town are happy and living comfortably. His sense of reality is ten bedrooms, five bath and a driveway filled with Mercedes and BMW's. The tarnish of a not so perfect life so close to him won't look good when he runs for office." Teresa hoped that was the reason why he was against it.
"Who knew a house full of fifteen year old girls could make the old man quake in his shoes." Debra liked the thought of that.
"He has did work with the type of girls that are going to be here."
"Maybe he doesn't want the competition of doing good. Two Archer's stamping out poverty. You make a better poster child. He probably thinks you will be on the ballot next election against him." Debra pondered that statement wondering if it could be true.
"He has done some wonderful things. No one else in town would of hired the workers that have less than perfect backgrounds as their house staff. And he did so much to get Kat out of prison and others I don't know how he couldn't see I just want to emulate him."
"Don't think everything is as it seems." Debra stopped herself realizing she said too much.
"What seems? Teresa wondered what could Debra be hinting at but the blonde would not divulge.
Sensing the raven haired beauty wasn't content with her statement being left out there without any further information. "My Mom always said you got to scrape the surface to see what is underneath. ." Still the statement wasn't making itself clear. "Stick to your ethics and no matter what happens you will get so much done. The true Archer philanthropist is standing in front of me and I am glad to be a part of the start of a great program. I wish when I was younger someone had took me under their wings."
I didn't know you were in trouble when you were younger."
Debra didn't want this part of her life brought up, she was one of Judge Archer's 'special release angels' as he liked to call them. The job she held now was part of the probation. When her probation time came up she said goodbye to her P.O. and worked full time for the Judge even though he couldn't put her back in jail. The money was addictive and she didn't do anything more than keep her eyes and ears open.
"Nothing more than what these girls are into. I grew out of it, but some of these girls are going to need someone like you telling them that it doesn't matter their families don't want them or they think they have no worth." Debra felt empty everyday of her life and she was glad someone as wonderful as Teresa would be there for young girls at a crossroads in their lives too.
"I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through a hard time when you were younger." Teresa pulled her friend into an embrace. Debra was glad to call her a friend and not just her employer.
"Everything happens for a reason." Debra said as she pulled away from Teresa.
.
"That's funny Kat says that too. When we were kids she always would bring up that no matter what happened it was what was meant to be. For every bad thing I said happened she would give something wonderful that was the result." Teresa looked again towards the brunette's way. "Can I tell you something?"
The blonde was a little surprised with the statement but gave a warm smile realizing she was going to be taken into the raven-haired girls confidence. "Sure."
"I had some bad things happen to me when I was a teenager and the only thing that made me get through it was that girl over there." The biggest smile came across Teresa's face that her friend ever seen.
"I knew it. I saw the way you were looking at her. What is going on?"
"I don't know. When you told me you were a lesbian; I told you about having feelings about a friend when I was in high school." Teresa lowered her voice into a whisper so that only Debra heard her.
"Let's go outside for awhile we can stay close to the door in case K.K. wakes up." Debra guided her outside.
"I take it that Kat over there is the girl that made you think maybe you might be into girls?"
"I wasn't into girls…women. Just Kat. I haven't thought of any one else since her." Tears flowed downed the raven-haired cheek.
"Did she do something to you last night?" Teresa shook her head in response. Then what? Do you love her? Is that why your crying?
"I loved her more than anyone in my whole life before K.K." Teresa crossed her arms squeezing tighter as if to reaffirm herself to what she was doing.
"How far did it go with you two? Did you two sleep together last night?" Debra perked up hoping there was something she could bring back to the Judge.
"No. I don't think so. I was drinking still after you left and the car wouldn't open up. I was soaked and she looked so hot…."
"I can agree with you on that." Debra admitting.
"Stop being bad."
"I'm sorry. I want to hear the rest."
"Yeah. She looked hot. And dripping with water off her chiseled arms and that tight shirt left little to the imagination." Teresa noticed Debra's eyes were giving away that she was visualizing the brunette for herself. The carnal glint in her friends made her a little jealous. "So, I agreed to let her drive me home but we didn't end up at the mansion, she took me to her place."
"You slut."
"It wasn't like that. We talked a little and I couldn't keep all these feelings coming over me. And I threw myself at her."
"I figured something like that had happened, because you seemed a little close when we came in." Debra noticed her friend tightening the grip of her arms clasped together.
"This morning I yelled at her for taking advantage of me, but in reality I threw my self at her. And the thing that hurt me was that she said nothing happened between us. She treated me with respect."
"And your mad at her, because you wanted her to take advantage of you and use you? Am I hearing right?" Debra tried to console her friend with words, but it seemed to do little to comfort her.
"Yeah. No. I wanted her to desire me. Since I was thirteen I have wanted nothing more than to have her close to me like we were last night and if she doesn't want me. How can I look into her eyes? "
"That is not a problem. You have a hot woman in there who wants you. If you could look past all the rejection in the past and insecurities you would see she wants you. Go in that living room and ravish her" Debra saw hesitation from her friend. "What else is holding you back?"
Teresa wished she could confide in Debra about the years of tortures by Antonio and that even the touch of Kat would make her want to throw up. The combined feelings of arousal and nausea circled around her when she was next to the woman of her dreams.
"No there is nothing else." Teresa lied.
"So, go in there before I do. Liz or no Liz I will take advantage."
Teresa's feet wouldn't cooperate with her mind. The will was intense but the coordination of mind and body would not work with her.
Debra looked back and noticed that she wasn't with her grabbed Teresa by the arms and dragged her towards the house. At the doorstep Teresa replanted her feet on the ground and Debra felt like she was dragging dead weight. The last tug on Teresa's body by Debra made her fall back into the house siding. Debra fell onto her butt and looked up seeing Teresa was still in the same spot she left her at. The laughter out of her friends mouth bruised more than the sore spot on her butt.
"That is so mess up." Debra snapped at her as she clumsily stood up.
"Here let me help you."
"It's the least you should do seeing that its your fault I fell down." Debra said trying to sound serious.
"How is it my fault?"
"If you weren't so heavy when I was moving towards the house I wouldn't of fell down."
Hearing this made Teresa decide that since her blonde friend was already mad she couldn't get anymore on her bad side. So, she dared do something she wouldn't usually do and released the hold on the blonde allowing her to fall back down on the ground. The fall this time made Debra fall back closer to the house as her hand moved down to protect her butt better on this contact with the ground she felt something brush by her arm.
"Be careful!" Teresa shouted as she went to the fallen blonde and instead of extending her hand out she reached for a piece of paper laying next to her.
"What's up with you today. Now a piece of paper is more important than my ass"
"If this paper isn't up here attached to the house when the inspector comes he can pull the permits and close it down. I have to get new ones, the workers can't fix the roof or the renovations to the rooms. I'll be paying for work that can't get finished and the girls will have no place to move into." Teresa reattached the paper.
Teresa grab the door and opened it up thinking about the carpenter. Ironically on the CD player in the Kitchen was the song that played at the same time she knew she was in love with the tall brunette; at thirteen. Etta James 'At Last' brought back so many memories.
I found a dream that I could speak to.
Going into the house Teresa saw Kat holding K.K. in an embrace. .
Kat was startled to see the raven-haired woman looking at her. "She woke up and I picked her up."
I found a dream I could call my own.
I found a thrill to press my cheek to.
A thrill I never known.
And yeah. you smiled and the spell was cast.
Teresa lost herself in watching her two favorite women in such a close proximity of each other.
"She just went to sleep." Kat looked at Teresa with wonderment at the small being cradled in her arms.
"Thank you Kat." Teresa helped the brunette put the sleeping baby into the stroller. "I'm going to go now. But would you like to walk us home? I would like the company."
"Are you sure?" Kat still was leery of pushing Teresa after her detachment from her earlier.
"Yeah." Teresa put her hand around Kat's.
Debra watched as the two would be lovers walked out of the house. Not seeing a sign of her other half the blonde waited until Kat and Teresa were down the street. The inspection list held great interest for the blonde reading all the items that needed to be done and seeing in fine print that removal of this paper off the property would cause all renovations to stop. The guilt rushed through her heart but her mind reminded her of her job and the Judge the paper went effortless into her handbag as the lovely vision of Liz came into her view.
"Babe." Debra gave her lover the deepest kiss the two women ever shared causing Liz to shake in her stance.
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Teresa and Kat walked in silence back to the mansion, but both wrestled with their feelings for the other and what that would mean for the future for them. Even though, neither of them knew it they wanted the same thing.
An older woman in her fifties with graying dark hair walked out of the front door of the mansion. The nanny seeing her charge with her Mother approached them to take K.K. into the home. Kat noticed the strong look over the nanny gave her and she felt uncomfortable being scrutinized by the older woman.
"Well I have to go back to the house." Kat said as she bent down and placed two fingers across her lips and moved them to touch K.K. 's cheek
Teresa not ready to end the time with the tall brunette grabbed her arm. "Stay." Teresa whispered to Kat. "Take the baby and let her play for a while." Directing it towards the Nanny.
The nanny rolled the baby towards the house leaving the two women alone together in a thick air of tension between them.
"You have my undivided attention for the next twenty minutes So, what do you want to do?"
Teresa rolled her eyes as the thoughts ran through her mind that made her blush. Kat couldn't take the awkwardness between them moving her arm around the raven haired woman but Teresa stepped back. "I want to show you something." Teresa nodded her head.
The sight of the miniature house in front of her took her breath away. "I just finished it. I was hoping you would like it." Kat asked.
"It's beautiful and you even have little rose bushes around it." Teresa got misty eyed looking at the small version of the place that Kat first took her heart.
"You have to see the inside." Kat led her into the little house. The height of the ceiling affected the brunette the most as she stood inside stooped over. "The sink even works." Kat showed her as the running water rolled between her fingers. The feeling of the warm water and the closeness of Teresa made her wonder how the inner folds of her friend would feel like. The fantasy took her to another place, but a hand on top of hers brought her back to reality. Teresa turned off the water and smiled at her.
"This is too much for K.K. she is only a few months old." Teresa looked around over whelmed by the detail of the small structure.
"She is going to get bigger and the time will come up faster than you know. What kid wouldn't want their own private place."
"Did her Grandfather ask for all this?"
"He told me to build something suitable for an Archer. I just took creative liberty in the designs. I thought about what you would want around this age and figured Mother like daughter. She can have tea parties with her dolls and put makeup on them or whatever you girly girls do."
" If we were kids again I suppose you would make this into a tree house if it was for you or a pirate ship with me as the damsel distress you would save."
"Always my lady." Kat kneeled before Teresa and grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.
The contact made Teresa nervous but at the same time warm all over. Teresa moved down to the ground to be closer to Kat. "Close your eyes." Kat looked at her in confusion. "Trust me." The closeness of their bodies allowed Teresa to hear the affect she was having on Kat's breathing.
Kat closed her eyes as Teresa moved her hand to touch her cheek moving it down to the brunette's neck. Watching the power she had over the bigger woman gave her confidence that she never had before. "Do you like this?" Kat nodded her head as a moan came from her mouth. "Move your hands behind your back." The brunette complied.
Teresa kissed the left closed eyelid moving her lips down to the bridge of the woman she loved nose. The pouting lips waiting to be touched caught her attention and she answered its beckoning. The kiss was at first was a peck and non-sensual, chaste and cautious, but hunger soon took over and her lips devoured the lips slowly. Teresa forced her way into Kat's mouth guiding it through to reach Kat's tongue and their tongues did a dance.
The raven-haired beauty reached for the shirt of the brunette as she devoured her lips. Nervous fingers pulled on the garment and clumsily pulled at the buttons, irritated at the turn of events frustration soon turned into aggression. Teresa tore the shirt as buttons flew across the room. The heavy breathing of the brunette tore at the core between her legs. The torn shirt allowed creamy breast to be exposed taking the hardening nipple into her mouth she teased it with her tongue as it grew harder.
Kat groaned out into Teresa's ear, never had anyone taken her so completely. The brunette was never sure or safe before to allow a lover to touch her and give pleasure. Kat knew that she could not deny the raven-haired beauty anything. The need to touch the love of her life consumed her, but every move to bring her hands from behind her back was rebuffed.
Fantasies since she was thirteen were coming true as Teresa devoured the brunette. Kissing the nipple for several minutes she didn't want the other side to feel neglected and moved her attention to it. Lacking experience in what to do Teresa just let her heart direct her in pleasing Kat. A tarp on the child size couch caught her eye and reached up to lay it down on the ground. The contact between her tongue and Kat's nipple never was broken in the movement. Gently leaning the brunette back she looked into brown eyes that had loved her for years.
"Are you okay?" Kat asked as Teresa nodded her head.
The aggressiveness of the young woman shocked and excited Kat, but fear of this only being a dream Kat allowed the younger woman to drive this train anyway she wanted and she was its willing passenger.
Teresa slowly removed her blouse off sending Kat into a frenzy. Teresa stood up and turned her back to Kat bending over and slowly letting her jeans fall down to her ankles allowing a clear view of her rear to be seen. Kicking the pants across the room Teresa turned around with a grin on her face like a cat that devoured a canary. Reveling in the delight on Kat's face she straddled her lover again.
Grinding her hips onto Kat's thigh drove the young woman to the edge, but not wanting this to end and wanting to please her lover first she slowed down. Redirecting her interest back to Kat's neck licking her entire body downward. The legs of her lover opened as she slid slowly down her body. Teresa took in the essence of her lover and she laid by Kat's thigh gracing it with delicate kisses.
"Get up here I want to look into your eyes." Kat groaned.
Teresa moved her center onto Kat's thigh and grinded it as the two bodies moved in synchronicity of the heat building between them.
Kat feeling Teresa so close to her folds made her shiver inside. The brunette had to give the same attention back to the woman she loved. Moving one arm from above her head she slid it down the raven-haired beauties back. The sudden touch brought back flashbacks of Antonio taking her innocence. The hand that reached to her lower back was done out of love but all Teresa saw was an arm laying across her mouth as he held her down as he entered her over and over again as salt tears stained his elbow.
"What's wrong?" Kat asked feeling Teresa jumping off of her and huddling in a corner balled up rocking back and forth. Kat tried to comfort her but was rebuffed. Concerned that she couldn't get the younger woman to trust her she called Liz on her cell phone and asked if she could bring Debra with her.
"It's going to be alright I got Debra to be with you. God Tess I'm sorry I hurt you. I would never mean to hurt you." Kat cried into her ripped shirt sleeve wiping the tears away.
Several minutes went by as Kat tried to get Teresa to allow her to hold her or at least to get dressed without any success. Debra and Liz arrived after Kat's call, Liz stayed outside with Kat as Debra went into the little house and found Teresa balled up. At first Teresa backed up more but realizing it was her friend she fell into her shoulder sobbing on it.
"I'll take her to Liz's place tell the nanny that Mrs. Archer is working late and will see her daughter in the evening." Debra said to Kat as she led a distraught Teresa out of the house.
"What the hell did you do Kat?" Liz snapped at her friend before she turned to join her girlfriend and her friend.
Kat didn't know what to say to Liz and walked away leaving the three women.
Continued...