by B L Miller
Part 14
"Grab pickles while you're down there, will ya?" Crystal asked, looking over
the neatly written shopping list.
"Spears or slices?" Laura asked.
"Spears and make sure they're dill," the blonde replied without looking up
from the list. "Last time you got me that other kind. I don't like them."
"Is that why you haven't touched that jar? You could have told me." Laura
picked up the correct jar and put it carefully into the shopping cart.
"You went to the trouble to buy them for me," Crystal said. "I figured
they'd get eaten up eventually."
"We could have brought them over to Mom's with us tonight," Laura said.
"I'm sure she'd find a use for them."
"Don't forget we have to stop someplace and pick up a new frame for your picture
since you put my GED in that one." Crystal threw a bag of chocolate chip cookies into
the basket. "Hey, let's not forget to pick up a tin of those butter cookies."
"Just one? I can eat that myself," Laura joked. "We'll pick up a couple
of them. Oh, pick up two bags of marshmallows, would you? I want to make a batch of those
treats to send to Bobby."
"Sure, I saw them down this way." Crystal moved to the far end of the aisle,
spotting the bags on the bottom shelf. An older woman, debating on which bag of hard candy
to buy, stood in her way. "Excuse me."
The older woman turned, their eyes meeting. Shock still, Crystal swallowed hard against
a dry throat. "It can't be," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Years
had taken their toll, Crystal noticed. Lines and wrinkles marred what once was a beautiful
face, blonde hair was now silvery gray and the glasses were thicker but there was no
mistake in the eyes which looked back at her with at first confusion, then recognition.
"C-Crystal?" the woman asked carefully.
"Crystal? Did you find the marshmallows?" Laura asked as she came upon them.
"I um…yeah." She pointed at the bags on the bottom shelf, never taking
her eyes off the woman before her. Unsure what to say after so many years, Crystal stood
there dumbly staring.
"I can't believe it's really you," the woman said in awe, reaching her hand
toward Crystal's face.
"Um…yeah," Crystal mumbled, taking a step back out of reach and closer
to Laura.
"You're really alive," the woman continued, putting a shaky hand into her
purse and retrieving a handkerchief.
"Crystal?" Laura asked, no doubt concerned by the pale pallor of the blonde's
face.
"Laura, this is…" Crystal paused over the words. "Margaret
Sheridan. She's…my mother."
At the word, Margaret Sheridan gave a half sob and moved around her shopping cart to
pull Crystal into an embrace. "I can't believe it," she sobbed. "My little
girl is alive. My Crystal is safe."
Crystal pulled free and moved next to Laura, taking the writer's hand in hers and
feeling reassured at the gentle squeeze. "Did you ever hear from Patty?"
"There's so much to tell you," Margaret said, tears still rolling down her
cheeks. "You turned out so beautiful. I always knew you would."
Crystal did not protest when Laura wrapped a protective arm around her. "What
about Patty?" the young woman insisted.
Margaret gave a sad smile. "She came back home less than six months after you
left. We tried so hard to find you."
"Six…Where can I find her? Does she have a phone number? Where's she
living?" The questions came quickly out of Crystal's mouth and she tightened her grip
on the back of Laura's shirt.
"Patricia lives with me," her mother said. "So do Jessica and Thomas,
your niece and nephew." She reached into her purse and fumbled around. "I have
pictures."
Crystal felt light headed and very closed in. "I need to get out of here,"
she said in a low voice. Laura pressed the keys into her hand.
"I'll meet you at the car," the writer promised. She cast a quick look at
Crystal's mother before releasing her hold on the younger woman. "I'll find out for
you."
Crystal took a long look at her mother, seeing only love and concern in eyes so much
like her own. Unsure what to say or even if her voice would allow her to speak, Crystal
turned and headed for the nearest exit, not stopping until she had reached the Jeep and
was safely locked inside. Rolling the window down halfway, she lit a cigarette, surprised
at how much her hands were shaking. Patty's alive, she thought as she watched the
tip of the cigarette burn. She's alive and I have a niece and nephew. I wonder how old
they are. Patty lives with Mom? How can that be? She'd never live in the same house as Dad
again, I know she wouldn't. Did Mom throw him out? Did the bastard finally die? Those
and dozens of other questions raced through her mind as the minutes passed. She was
surprised at the gentle tap on the passenger window signaling Laura's arrival. Crystal
unlocked the door, holding the keys out presumably so her roommate could open the back of
the Jeep to put the groceries in but once the door was opened, Laura reached in and pulled
her into a hug.
"I know this has got to be hard for you," the writer said softly.
Crystal could only nod her head, grateful for the comforting arms around her.
Trembling, she tightened her hold around Laura's neck and closed her eyes. Her breaths
were coming in irregular gulps, the lump in her throat feeling larger with each second.
She parted her lips to speak but no words would come out, only unintelligible croaks. She
was not sure how Laura understood what she needed but for long minutes they stayed that
way, Crystal stretched across the front seat while the writer stood with the driver's door
open, her upper body leaning inside.
"Let's get you home," Laura said in a soft voice. Crystal took several
haggard breaths before nodding and pulling back from the much needed embrace. She reached
up to wipe her eyes but Laura was quicker, the writer's thumbs gently brushing the
moisture away. "Of all days to come shopping with me, hmm?" Laura said.
"Fate's a bitch," Crystal muttered, surprised when she felt the writer's
fingertip brush her lower lip before pulling away.
"Sometimes it is," Laura agreed. Crystal took the offered handkerchief and
wiped her eyes while the groceries were loaded, feeling far more composed by the time
Laura climbed into the driver's seat and put the keys in the ignition.
"I still can't believe it," Crystal said, crumpling the damp handkerchief in
her fist. "My mother…I saw my mother." Belatedly she realized they were out
of the parking lot and heading for the highway. "And at the supermarket. Does she
live near here?"
Laura glanced at the torn scrap of paper with the all important phone number on it.
"She's got a five two seven exchange. That doesn't start until after the railroad
tracks on the other side of town so she doesn't live around here. Maybe something brought
her out this way and she decided to do her shopping at the same time. Wild coincidence,
hmm?"
"Yeah," Crystal answered absently while lighting a cigarette. "There's a
big trailer park over there. She might be living there." Taking a long drag, she
raised her eyes and stared at the passing traffic. "She's smaller than I
remember."
"Probably because you're taller," Laura said.
"And Patty lives with her. She came home." Crystal took a deep breath to keep
the tears at bay. "I miss her so much."
"I know you do, hon," Laura said with a gentle pat on Crystal's leg.
"And in just a couple of hours you'll be able to talk to her."
***
Crystal looked at her watch, frowning at how slow the time was passing. "I need a
cigarette," she announced, heading for the sliding glass door.
Laura rose from her chair and intercepted the nervous woman. "You just had a
cigarette ten minutes ago," she reminded. "Maybe you should give Jenny a
call."
"Naw," Crystal said, taking comfort in the gentle hand resting on her
shoulder. "She's probably either with someone or on her way home right now. I
wouldn't be able to catch her."
"Then sit down and try to relax," the writer insisted.
Reluctantly, Crystal allowed herself to be led to the table. "Maybe I should call
now. Patty might be home early."
"You have almost half an hour yet," Laura said, standing behind Crystal and
resting her hands on the younger woman's shoulders. "I know what will make you
relax."
Crystal's eyes fluttered shut as she felt strong fingers begin kneading her neck and
shoulder muscles. The kitchen was silent except for the occasional moans when Laura's
fingers hit tight muscles. Eleven years of questions raced around in Crystal's mind, all
vying to be the first one asked when the time came to make the call. Laura was right,
Crystal thought to herself when the gentle beep of her watch alerted her to the time. The
gentle massage did relax her, helping to make the minutes pass far quicker than if she had
continued to pace about the kitchen.
"You ready?" Laura asked, taking a step back and removing her hands having
noticed the time as well.
"I think so," Crystal said nervously. "Damn, I wish I had a drink."
"I'm sure you do," Laura replied, handing over the cordless phone. "But
you can handle this without it. I know you can. I have faith in you."
Crystal snorted and toyed with the phone. "I'm glad someone does." Taking a
deep breath, she tapped in the number written on the torn scrap of paper. "It's
ringing." Laura said nothing but the comforting hand she resting on Crystal's
shoulder spoke volumes.
"Hello?"
"Patty?"
"Crystal? My god, is it really you?"
"I never thought I'd ever see you again," Crystal said, gripping the phone
tighter. "I can't believe I'm really talking to you." She turned her mouth from
the phone to address Laura. "It's really her."
"There's so much to talk about," Patty said, drawing Crystal back to
the miraculous meeting on the phone. "Where did you go when you ran away? I tried
to find you for years."
"I tried to find you too," Crystal replied, smiling at Laura when a
tissue box was set before her on the table. "There's so much for us to talk
about."
"Well now that we've found each other we have all the time in the world. I have
so much to tell you."
"Let's start at the beginning," Crystal said, leaning her elbows on the table
and visibly relaxing. "All right, so you got out on the bus…" Despite her
attention being given to her long lost sister, Crystal was nonetheless fully aware of
Laura leaving the room. A quick glance into the living room showed channels rapidly
flicking before the writer settled on a football game. The next two hours were more
emotionally draining than her most intense therapy sessions, an emotional roller coaster
as the two sisters learned of each other's life since their tragic separation.
***
Laura looked up as she heard the phone being set on its base. Crystal's red rimmed eyes
were puffy, a crumpled up tissue wiping the fresh tears that had fallen from them.
"Come here," the writer said softly, shutting off the television and shifting
sideways on the couch. When Crystal sat down, Laura moved closer, putting her left arm
around the younger woman's shoulders and pulling her close. "How are you
feeling?" She felt Crystal shrug before answering.
"I dunno," Crystal said. "So much happened just after I left. If I had
stuck around, things would have been so different."
"You can't go back and change things," Laura said, her fingers gently
stroking Crystal's upper arm.
"My father had a heart attack about two months after I left," Crystal said,
leaning her head against Laura's upper chest. "And Patty came home four months after
that. If I had just stuck around for six more months I wouldn't have had to run away at
all."
Laura took a deep breath, thinking of what she knew of Crystal's life as a runaway.
"She came home pregnant," the woman in her arms continued. "Patty could
have really used me then and I wasn't there. Mom stopped drinking and found a job. Patty
says Mom's so different from when we were kids. She watches Jessica and Thomas when
Patty's at work." Crystal shook her head. "I can't believe it. Mom stopped
drinking, Patty came home, I have a niece and nephew and I've missed it all!"
"Hon, you couldn't have known what was going on," Laura said. "You said
your folks didn't have a telephone back then."
"I just never thought Patty would come home much less that the bastard would die
so soon," Crystal said. "I should have toughed it out. I should have been
stronger."
"Hey." Cupping Crystal's chin with her fingers, Laura looked into sad eyes.
"You can't beat yourself up for what you should or shouldn't have done a lifetime
ago. You had no way of knowing what would happen. You did what you had to do to get away
from that monster. When the people that are supposed to protect you are the ones hurting
you, what else could you have done?"
"But…"
"No buts," Laura said firmly, relaxing her hold on Crystal's chin and letting
her fingertips trace the throat before withdrawing. "You had to get away from your
father." She waited for the reluctant nod before continuing. "The important
thing now is that you have Patty back. When are you going to visit her?"
"Saturday," Crystal said, resting her head against Laura's willing shoulder.
"It's easier for me to go see her than it is for her to pack the kids up in the car
and make the trip out here." She paused for a moment before asking "Are you
going to come with me to meet her?"
Laura, who had been momentarily distracted by the scent of golden hair beneath her
nose, tilted her head to look at her companion. "Do you want me to?"
Crystal nodded. "Yeah."
"If you want me there," Laura said quietly, "I'll be there."
Without thought, she let her fingers gently brush back and forth over the younger woman's
shoulder, a gentle smile crossing her lips. "It should be interesting introducing
me."
Crystal smiled back. "I'll just tell them you're a lesbian mystery writer and we
live together. I'm sure that'll go over well."
"You have a wicked streak in you, hon," Laura said. "You'll make them
think we're lovers."
To her surprise, Crystal merely shrugged nonchalantly. "So what?" the blonde
said. "Patty wouldn't care, I'm sure of it." She sat up and looked at Laura.
"Would it bother you?" she asked in all seriousness. "If people thought we
were lovers?"
Laura took a deep breath, hoping the feelings she usually kept so guarded weren't
evident on her face. "No, it wouldn't bother me at all. You're a beautiful woman and
beneath that tough act you like to show everyone else, I know inside you're a loving and
caring person. Any woman would be lucky to have that chance with you. Beside, half our
friends think we're lovers anyway."
"More than half, I bet," Crystal said, relaxing against Laura's body again.
"Of course I suppose the fact we do things like this…" she gestured at
their intimate position. "…doesn't help."
"Yes but we don't hold each other like this in front of other people," the
writer pointed out. "They don't see this side of our relationship."
"I dunno," Crystal said quietly, her eyes focused on the dark television.
"I guess it's just because we live together."
"Must be," Laura said, knowing in her heart that it was not the truth.
"Then again maybe they see something we don't."
Laura's first thought was to deny it, to fight the reality within Crystal's words but
her heart refused to let her. Nodding reluctantly, the writer dared to dive into the
dangerous waters. "Maybe," she said in a voice so low that at first she was not
sure Crystal had even heard her but when the young woman shifted, sitting up to look deep
into Laura's eyes, the writer knew her words had carried.
"Laura?"
Laura heard the unspoken questions, the fear and perhaps even anticipation in Crystal's
voice. Feeling her own heart pounding within her chest, she brought her right hand up to
rest against Crystal's cheek. "Sometimes I see you hurting and all I want to do is
hold you in my arms and never let go." Leaning forward slightly, she kept her eyes
locked with Crystal's. "Other times you're so self-destructive that I want to just
shake some sense into you but I have to hold back and just hope that you'll come to me
when you're ready." Laura drew her hand back, the fingertips barely grazing Crystal's
lower lip. "But most of all I'm just happy to be part of your life as long as you let
me because behind those thorns I'm certain there's a rose just waiting to bloom and be
loved." Feeling somewhat confident that she would not be rebuked, Laura closed the
remaining distance and felt the softness of Crystal's lips against hers. It was a brief,
fleeting kiss but to Laura, it was perfect. "You affect me," she whispered as
she pulled back, her lips tingling from the abbreviated contact.
Crystal lowered her head, looking down at her hands. "When I first moved in here,
I was sure it wouldn't work out. What the hell does a drunk stripper who didn't even
graduate high school have in common with a lesbian writer with a degree?" She looked
up at Laura. "Not to mention you're the ultimate neat freak."
"And you're the proverbial Oscar Madison," Laura said softly, answering
Crystal's smile with one of her own.
"And I'm a slob," Crystal agreed. "But somehow we managed to work it
out." She lowered her head again. "I don't know when it happened. It sure as
hell isn't something I'd ever think about with anyone else. At first I thought it was
because I hung around with just you and your friends but it doesn't rub off like a
contagious disease." She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I stopped thinking of
you as a lesbian and started thinking of you as a friend…then as something more than
a friend." Tilting her head up, she looked at Laura's mouth, seemingly unable to make
eye contact. "You…you affect me too."
"So where do we go from here?" Laura asked, using her fingers to lift
Crystal's head up.
"I don't know," Crystal admitted wearily. "I feel like I'm on overload
with everything that's happened today."
"I bet you are," Laura said, using her arms to pull the younger woman against
her. "Relax. It's not something you have to decide right this minute." Unable to
resist, she bent her head and placed a soft kiss on the top of the blonde hair.
"Nothing has to change. When the time is right, you'll know it."
"Until when?" Crystal asked, her voice muffled against Laura's chest.
"What if you get tired of waiting or someone better comes along? What if I can't get
over the stuff in my past enough to be able to…" She let the sentence go
unfinished.
"You worry too much, you know that?" Laura said in mock exasperation as she
hugged the woman in her arms. She understood the unspoken implication and deep inside, the
writer's heart burned with renewed anger at the man who had caused so much pain to the
younger woman. "I told you, when the time is right, you'll know it. And for the
record," she added in a lower voice. "I'm not looking." She felt Crystal's
arms tighten around her. "And I'm not going anywhere."
"Anyone tell you you're a sweet talker?" Crystal asked, awkwardly sitting up.
"I spend a great deal of time trying to paint a picture with words," Laura
said, reluctantly releasing the embrace as Crystal put some space between them. "I'm
just trying to make sure you understand how I feel." Deciding not to push it, Laura
changed the subject. "Now, tell me more about Patty and your niece and nephew. I'm
sure you know everything about them right down to their hair color." Laura settled
back to listen to Crystal talk, though the words failed to sink in as the writer's mind
traveled back to replay the evening's revelations…and what they meant to the future.
The air was cool, enough to make Crystal forego her usual t-shirt and don a sweatshirt
to go with her sweatpants before stepping onto the balcony for a late night cigarette. Her
thoughts were racing far too much to think of sleep, despite being tired. Wisps of smoke
rose in the air while she quietly listened to the faraway hooting of the owl and even more
distant sounds of the traffic on the highway. For a brief moment, part of her wanted to be
on that highway, driving as far away from the whirlwind of her life as she could. She knew
for a certainty now that Laura wanted to be her lover and while it relieved Crystal on one
level to know her own interest was returned, it scared her as well. Writing in her journal
for two hours after retiring to her room had been of some help, allowing her to organize
her thoughts and express some of her fears but it wasn't enough. Flicking ash into the
night wind, Crystal sighed and thought about what tomorrow would bring.
"Can't sleep?" Laura asked before opening the sliding door and stepping onto
the balcony.
"Just a lot on my mind," Crystal answered. "You know, with seeing Patty
Saturday and all." Her lips curled into a small smile. "Not to mention what
happened downstairs earlier."
"Do you want to talk about it?" the writer asked, pulling out a chair and
sitting down.
Crystal took another drag of her cigarette before answering the question with one of
her own. "Do you?"
"I think we should since neither of us is getting any sleep," Laura said.
"You know I really wish I had a drink right now," Crystal said.
"Everything is just swirling around in my head and part of me wants to just run from
it all." She gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. "Figures when things are
going good I'd be looking for a way to screw it all up." She tamped the cigarette out
in the ashtray while trying to organize her thoughts. Realizing it was a futile effort,
she turned her chair to face Laura and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"I don't know what the hell you see in me," she said, looking down at nothing.
"That's because you're not looking through my eyes," Laura said softly, her
fingers reaching out to touch Crystal's arm.
"I wish I did," she admitted. "I wish I saw whatever it is you see.
Laura? Earlier, when we were on the couch?" Goosebumps rose on her arm and Crystal
knew it had nothing to do with the night wind. "When you…when
we…kissed?" Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look up and ask the
question that had worried her all night. "Did you…like it?"
"I did like it," Laura said earnestly. "You couldn't tell?"
"I thought so but, I mean…it's not like I'm the first woman you've
kissed." She lowered her head again. "I guess I just wasn't sure." She
paused. "You didn't say." She felt Laura's hand leave hers and gentle but
insistent fingers pushing her chin up.
"Crystal…" Laura took a deep breath. "I liked it. Very much
so."
Reaching between her legs and gripping the edge of the chair, Crystal scooted closer,
the material of her sweatpants brushing against Laura's knee. "Can I tell you
something?" she asked shyly.
"Anything."
"I…" She stopped, her insecurities taking over for the moment. The words
she wanted to say just would not come. Reaching out, she took Laura's hand in hers and was
pleased to feel a reassuring squeeze. "I…" she tried again. "Earlier,
when I got up and told you I was going to go to bed?"
"Yes?"
"Well…" She felt Laura's thumb move over her wrist and before she knew
it, her hands were the ones being held. "I was hoping that you'd…well…you
know…like a kiss goodnight?"
"I thought about it," Laura admitted, her thumb moving in lazy circles over
sensitive palms and doing the most distracting things to Crystal. "I wanted to but
after you pulled away I thought that maybe I'd pushed it too much. I didn't want to scare
you. I wasn't sure you liked it."
"I liked it," Crystal said softly. "It was…" She shook her
head, unable to describe all that the tender kiss had stirred in her. There was fear
certainly, but not the fear of being hurt as of the unknown. Gentle, not demanding or even
requesting, just offering a tactile expression of the most amazing of feelings and while
almost overwhelming in its intensity, Crystal felt the loss keenly when it ended.
"I'm not as good with words as you are, but if…" She looked into Laura's
eyes, seeing what the night shadows could not hide. "If you wanted to do it
again…I'd let you." While not able to take the first step herself, she trusted
Laura enough to allow the older woman to do so.
"I'd like to," Laura said softly. "Very much."
Crystal tried to think, to burn into her memory the sensations as Laura leaned forward
and closed the remaining space between them but there was no thought once their lips
touched, only feeling. It was not just one kiss but many little ones and she did as much
searching out with her mouth as Laura. She did not resist when gentle hands pulled her
closer, ignoring the hard edge of Laura's chair against her knee. Nothing mattered to
Crystal but the whirlpool she was sinking willingly into. The world narrowed to just
herself and Laura, arms wrapped around each other. Needing more, Crystal moved from her
chair and pressed her body against Laura, the thin layer of silk allowing her to feel the
heat of the skin beneath. Crystal felt desire rising within her, her body longing for more
than just an endless series of kisses. When she dared to part her lips and let the tip of
her tongue touch Laura's lower lip, she was delighted to hear a soft moan. Then she felt
Laura respond, the kiss deepening into something far more intense, more erotic, and more
loving than anything she had felt before. Laura's tongue gently explored her mouth,
drawing soft moans from Crystal as she surrendered to the feelings swirling through her.
Sinking her fingers into the dark hair, she did some exploring of her own, using the tip
of her tongue to gently trace the edges of Laura's teeth, to feel sensations stronger than
any she had known before. When the kiss finally ended, Crystal found herself mostly on
Laura's lap and was grateful for the arms holding her tight as she was certain she would
sink to the deck if those warm, gentle arms were to let go. She felt the rapid rise and
fall of Laura's chest despite struggling to get her own breathing slowed down. When she
spoke, it was with halting breaths. "Now that…was…a kiss."
Laura laughed and pulled her closer. "I'm glad you liked it."
Crystal smiled against the warm chest and inhaled deeply. "I did. I've
never…been kissed like that before." The hoot owl cried out from his perch.
"Boy, he's pretty loud tonight, isn't he?"
"Maybe he's looking for his mate," Laura offered. She tried to shift. "I
guess these chairs weren't really made for two."
"Maybe," Crystal said, referring to the owl, though deep inside it sounded
more like a cry of loneliness. Reluctantly she extricated herself from the tangle of arms
and legs they had become and moved back to her own chair, though she made sure to keep it
close enough that she was able to maintain some closeness, letting her bare feet brush
against Laura's slippers. Reaching for her cigarettes, she lit one and took several drags
before speaking again. "So now what?" she asked softly, half afraid of the
possible answers.
"That depends on you," Laura answered. Crystal realized it was a calculated
response, leaving everything, including when to take the next step, in her hands.
"What if I'm not sure?"
"Then I think the best thing is for you to wait until you are sure," Laura
said, pressing her finger to Crystal's lips to silence her protest. "I told you
there's no rush. I'm not going anywhere." Leaning forward, Laura replaced her finger
with her lips. "Now put that thing out and get some sleep," she said when she
pulled back and stood up. "I'll probably see if I can get some writing done. Always
fighting those deadlines, you know."
Crystal put the cigarette out and rose as well, turning until they were face to face.
"Why don't I believe you?" she asked. "You weren't writing earlier. I would
have heard you typing."
"You can hear me in your room?"
"If both of us have the glass doors open, yeah." They were standing so close
that it seemed only natural for Crystal to put her arms loosely around Laura's waist.
"I listen to you sometimes." Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the
shoulder covered by silky material. "Your chair squeaks a little, you know," she
whispered as if revealing some great secret. "I can tell when you're rereading what
you've written or if you're just taking a break. I can tell when you're on a tear writing
like crazy and when it seems like you're struggling just to get a sentence written. But
tonight, you weren't working on your story at all."
"Know what was I doing?" Laura asked, mimicking Crystal's position with her
arms, pulling her closer. "I was lying in bed listening to you moving around
and…" She took a deep breath before continuing. "I was worried about you.
You're usually not that restless."
"I had a lot on my mind," Crystal said. "I guess you did too."
"Not a lot," the writer corrected. "Just one thing." That was all
she had to say. Crystal understood and wondered which of them was more surprised when she
leaned forward and initiated the kiss. Certainly Laura had been startled by her brazen
move but to the older woman's credit, she recovered quickly and soon it was Crystal who
found herself overwhelmed by a more experienced and insistent mouth. She felt the hard
edge of the table pressed against the back of her thighs but Crystal ignored it,
concentrating more on what was going on with her front. Where previous life experiences
had been hard and unyielding, Laura's body was soft, accommodating, molding against her
own. A mouth that gave as well as took, hands that roamed but did not conquer, touching
her neck, tilting her head back, making her feel desired and reveled at the same time.
"Oh." Gasping, she barely had time to register that Laura's mouth had left
hers before she felt the electric sensation of those lips caressing her throat.
"…so much," was all she could understand mumbled against her skin. Her
own fingers found themselves buried in the dark hair, holding Laura close. She felt
Laura's hand make a slow path down her side, stopping at the gap where her sweatshirt had
ridden up slightly. There the fingers stopped, rubbing the exposed skin gently but making
no attempt to go further. When she reached for Laura's shoulders, the lips that were
burning over her skin stopped and she felt the loss of the warm weight against her upper
body. "Crystal…"
Crystal did not need experience with women to understand the timbre of Laura's voice.
The meaning was clear. Anticipation, desire and even the jitters coursed through her.
Nights of wondering what it would be like were about to be answered. Only now realizing
she was sitting on the table, Crystal stood up and moved into Laura's waiting arms. Taking
a deep breath, she reached down and entwined their fingers. "Yes," she
whispered, searching out Laura's lips again. She began backing up, trusting that Laura
would not let her bump into any of the furniture or walls. There was a pause as Laura
reached out and Crystal heard the sound of the screen door sliding open, then it was a
careful step backward over the threshold and into the immaculately kept bedroom.
There were no dirty clothes to trip over and within seconds Crystal felt the softness
of the bed against the back of her legs. There she caught her breath as Laura stepped back
and turned on the low wattage lamp next to the bed. After being out in the darkness of
night for so long, Crystal had to blink for several seconds before the light no longer
seemed so bright.
"Hey…" Crystal's vision was filled with the most tender of looks from
Laura. "I want this to be right," the writer whispered. "You tell me if you
need to stop, all right?"
Crystal nodded, then felt a shudder run through her when Laura's hands cupped her
cheeks. She allowed herself to be pulled into the kiss, letting her own hands move over
the blue silk top to feel the warmth permeating through from Laura's shoulders. For
unknown minutes they stood there next to the bed, kissing and holding each other but not
making any attempts to further things along. Suspecting that it was she who had to take
the next step, Crystal lazily ended the kiss and took a step back, locking her eyes with
Laura's. "I'm scared," she admitted quietly, reaching down and hooking her
fingers under the edge of the sweatshirt. "You'd think it wouldn't matter to
me," she said, giving a short laugh. "After all, look at what I was doing six
months ago."
"I know," Laura said, stepping forward and running her hands up and down
Crystal's shoulders reassuringly. "But that was then and this is now. This isn't some
stage with dozens of people looking at you. It's just you and me making love. We'll take
it slow, and we won't do anything you're uncomfortable with, all right?"
Taking a deep breath, Crystal nodded and nervously pulled her sweatshirt up, closing
her eyes as the gray material passed over her head. Letting the shirt drop to the floor,
she moved forward, feeling the silky softness of Laura's top against her breasts as their
lips met. She gasped when Laura's hands slid across her bare back, the feather light touch
causing a powerful reaction in her body. "That feels good," she murmured.
"Not as good as it does to me," Laura answered in an equally low tone, her
lips nipping Crystal's ear. Twin points jabbed against the blue silk, giving proof to the
writer's words.
Crystal reached between them, her fingers closing around the top button of Laura's
pajama top. "So I see," she said, releasing the first button. Before she
realized it, she had all the buttons undone, the blue silk hanging open and showing the
thinnest glimpse of bared flesh. She reached up to push it off Laura's shoulders but the
hands that had been wreaking havoc with her senses moved to intercept her. "I'll get
it," Laura said, shrugging her shoulders, sliding the top off and catching it with
her left hand. Crystal released her hold and stepped back, watching Laura fold not only
the blue top but her sweatshirt as well. When the writer bent over to set them on the
trunk, Crystal came up from behind and ran her fingers lightly in small circles up and
down Laura's back.
"Are you nervous?" she asked, making the circles larger and using both hands
now.
"Probably just as much as you are," Laura said, still making no attempt to
move, except to press harder into Crystal's roaming fingers.
"I'm glad it's not just me," Crystal said, moving forward and wrapping her
arms around the writer's waist. Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips to Laura's back,
feeling the muscle covered bones against her breasts, silk covered hips against her belly.
Wrapping her arms around Laura's waist, Crystal splayed her hands out, her thumbs coming
dangerously close to the firm swells.
Laura inhaled sharply and straightened up. "No, it's not just you, trust me,"
she said, turning in Crystal's arms until they were face to face.
Crystal tightened her hold, enjoying the feel for the first time of soft breasts
pressing against her own. As they kissed, the hands had been gently stroking Crystal's
shoulders were now moving purposefully up and down her arms. "Do you trust me,
Crystal?" the warm voice whispered in her ear.
"Yes," she answered. It took only a slight nudge for her to understand
Laura's intent and recline against the bed, her lower legs dangling off the side. The
comforter against her back might as well have been made of burlap when compared to the
warm softness of Laura's body nestling her from the front.
"Hmm," Laura sighed between kisses. "I wish I could stay like this
forever." Crystal gave a moan of agreement, her eyelids shuttering closed when she
felt moist lips kissing a trail down her breastbone. Her body arched of its own volition,
pressing her right breast against Laura's approaching mouth. "Easy," Laura said
softly. "We have all the time in the world."
"Easy for you to say," she grumbled, threading her finger through Laura's
dark hair. She was surprised when Laura propped herself up and stole a quick kiss.
"No it's not," the writer said. "I've wanted this for so
long…" The roving lips found Crystal's right ear. "I'm going to show you
just how much," she said before closing her mouth over the rosy nipple, already taut
with anticipation.
The swirling tongue found its mark with pleasurable accuracy, drawing sounds Crystal
thought herself incapable of making. Whether they were comprehensible or not, Laura seemed
to understand them, moving from one breast to the other and back, lavishing more loving
attention. Lifting her right leg, Crystal planted her heel on the edge of the bed and
pressed upward, her need burning strong and demanding relief. Laura's hands and mouth
moved down, the gentle fingers hooking around the elastic waistband of the sweatpants.
"Yes," she sighed, lifting her hips in answer to the question in Laura's
hesitation. Goosebumps formed on the newly revealed flesh, but whether it was from the
feeling of Laura's fingers on her skin or the cool air on her overheated skin, Crystal
could not be sure. All she knew was that it never, absolutely never felt as good as this.
She watched tolerantly as Laura folded the sweatpants before setting them with the tops.
"Come here," she whispered, needing to feel Laura's body against hers. Seeking
those wonderful lips, Crystal used her strength to roll their bodies over so not only was
she on top but they were diagonal on the bed. Their position gave Laura limited access to
anything other than Crystal's back but the writer wasted no time in exploring what she
could. "That feels good," Crystal said, rocking gently against the hands rubbing
her buttocks.
"Good," Laura said, giving a gentle squeeze. "All I want is for you to
feel good." She started to reach lower but was stopped.
"Wait." Crystal sat up, resting her hands on Laura's upper chest. "I
just," she began, taking in the sight of the body she was straddling. Swallowing
heavily, she slowly brought her hands down, the tips of her fingers moving over the tops
of Laura's breasts, stopping just shy of the dark erect nipples. "You're
beautiful," she whispered. "I don't…" Her voice cracked and she had to
start again. "I don't know what you like."
"You're doing fine," Laura reassured her, taking one of Crystal's hands and
kissing the palm. Their eyes locked, Crystal allowed her hand to be guided back to the
breast, Laura's warm hand pressing hers against the soft flesh. Nervously Crystal closed
her fingers, feeling the stiff peak being tenderly squeezed between them. Laura moaned and
pressed her head back. "Yes, Crystal," she sighed. "That's nice."
Crystal did the same with her other hand and received another sound of pleasure from
Laura's lips. Her actions also caused the hips beneath her to rise, pressing her intimate
center against Laura's soft belly. Crystal could feel her own wetness and was certain that
last little rise made the writer aware of it as well. Laura's hands, which had been
running restlessly up and down her back now wrapped around her, holding her as their
positions were reversed, Crystal now lying on her back and looking up at the woman about
to make love to her.
"Laura," she whispered, touching the thighs covered in blue silk. The heat
against her lower abdomen confirmed Laura's rising desire. "Please…take these
off." Like a voyeur, Crystal found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the
sight as Laura stood and pushed the blue silk off her hips. Unlike the hair on Laura's
head, which tended to have little in the way of body, the dark triangle was made of small
tight curls, the ones near the folds glistening with telltale moisture. The pajama bottoms
joined the other clothes on the trunk then Crystal enjoyed the feel of Laura's warmth
against her, her body tingling at the renewed contact. She felt the wetness pressing
against her thigh as their lips met, knew her own was making its mark against Laura's skin
as their bodies moved against each other.
Crystal's breath caught when Laura shifted to the side, lips closing around her nipple
while a roaming hand moved over her hip, circling closer and closer to her own golden
curls. Crystal's senses were on overload trying to handle all the different sensations at
once. The soft, gentle mouth moving over her breasts, the warm body pressed against her
own, the fingers begging her to surrender with the promise of the ultimate of rewards.
Taking a leap of faith in both herself and in Laura, Crystal parted her thighs further,
granting the writer full access. And then it was there, that magical moment when one lone
digit moved between her slick folds and rasped across her bundle of nerves. "Ungh, oh
Laura!" she cried, jerking her hips to repeat the motion. At one point Crystal had
wondered if she would even be able to achieve orgasm with another woman, now she worried
that should would all too soon. It had been so long since she had allowed another person
to touch her and never before had it been so gentle, so tender and caressing. Laura seemed
to know just how to touch her and for how long, never staying in one place too long before
moving on, the slippery fingers quickly learning all of Crystal's secrets. The gasps were
now steady, mixed with throaty cries that only vaguely resembled Laura's name as the
tsunami grew within her. Grabbing Laura's shoulder tightly, Crystal held on as the wave
grew larger and larger, her thighs trembling helplessly. She cried out when the wave
finally crashed through, washing away all sense as she clung desperately to the anchor in
her storm. Laura's soft voice filled her ear, whispering nonsense words meant to comfort
as the writer's thigh replaced her fingers against Crystal's center. Smaller tremors
rippled through her as she sought the safety and comfort of Laura's arms.
"Are you okay?" Laura asked in a low voice after a moment, giving Crystal
time to get her breathing back to something close to normal.
Crystal nodded, kissing the skin so close to her lips. "I can't
believe…" Shaking her head, she gave a nervous laugh. "I'm usually not loud
like that."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Laura said, tilting Crystal's head up long
enough to kiss the embarrassment away. "I loved hearing you calling out my
name." Her hand moved down Crystal's side. "I'd love to hear it again," she
said, lightly gripping the outer thigh.
Crystal smiled and stilled the roaming hand. "I don't know if I could take that
again. Besides," she said, gently nudging Laura onto her back. "Don't you want
me to…well, you know…take care of you?" She bent down and kissed the soft
hollow of Laura's throat. "I want to," she whispered, kissing her way down.
Closing her eyes, she felt as much as heard the sharp intake of breath as she kissed her
way along the rising swell. There was some nervousness but Crystal ignored it, encouraged
by the feel of Laura's hands on the back of her head. Listening to the hums of pleasure
coming from Laura's lips, she concentrated her tongue along the pebbly flesh, tasting
another woman's breast for the first time. Crystal bit a little too hard once in her
enthusiasm but quickly learned the limits and soon was enjoying the sound of her name
being repeated over and over in the most husky trill from Laura's mouth. She needed to
touch everywhere, to bring Laura to that pinnacle that she herself had been at only
minutes earlier, to learn the beautiful body beneath hers.
And learn Crystal did. From the ticklish spot below the left rib to the fine dusting of
hairs below the navel that formed goosebumps when she ran her tongue along them, she
learned it all. Laura's secrets were revealed to her in unfolding layers as she drew the
writer higher and higher. She learned the right amount of pressure to use, the rhythm
needed to meet her lover's body's demands. She felt awed by the emotional power of feeling
Laura's intimate muscles clenching around her fingers, of feeling the tremors rippling
through her lover. They made love again, sharing soft words and tender touches before
falling asleep in each other's arms. There were no nightmares for Crystal, the warm body
next to her protected her from the demons of sleep as the knights of old protected the
fair maidens. In Laura's arms, there was no danger, only the safety and comfort that came
from being loved.
************
Continued in Part 15
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Crystal's Heart © 1999-2001 B L Miller. Do not reproduce
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