Chapter 3

I hadn't set an alarm, so I had no idea what time it was when I next awoke. Checking my phone, I found that it was still early, but late enough to be worth brewing coffee.

While the coffee machine was bubbling, I sauteed mushrooms in olive oil. Half were for my avocado mushroom toast, but the other half were for Jenna. I'd told her I'd be willing to cook her an omelette. It had been a long time since I'd made one, but I could remember how. She'd brought a block of cheese, so I grated some while the eggs were cooking over a few drops of oil.

When the omelette was almost fully cooked, I spread the cheese and mushrooms on the surface, then folded it over, turned off the heat, and put bread in the toaster for me.

Jenna was soundly asleep still, but I was less reluctant to touch her than last time. I stroked her neck while saying her name until she opened her eyes. They were clouded with sleep until they softened as she smiled. "Morning," she croaked.

"I swear, you're the hardest person to wake up," I said, then held her pillows as she sat.

"You have a lot of experience?" she asked. "I thought the girls from the club didn't stay the night."

"Ouch," I said. "You make it sound like there were legion. Honestly, it's a fair point. I don't really have anyone to compare you to. I just know you're hard to wake up."

She sipped her coffee. "Do I smell food?"

"I was just about to bring yours through," I said.

"No need," she rasped, pushing back the covers. Her sleep shirt had ridden up to expose her navel and pale blue panties. "Oops," she said, pulling it down as she slid out of bed. She took my arm for stability as she stood, then released it to follow me unsteadily to the kitchen, bringing her coffee mug.

I slid her omelette onto a plate, then presented it to her with silverware before working on my toast.

"Well, damn," she said. "You really made me carnivore food."

"I said I would," I replied, then sat with my own coffee and breakfast. "I'd be a poor host if I didn't feed you."

"Thanks," she said. "Also, this is good."

"I didn't ask if you like mushrooms," I said. "I might have had to toss it and start over."

"I do," she said.

"Last night, you said you wanted time to talk." I was working on the very last of my breakfast. I ate as Jenna looked down at the remnants of her omelette before replying.

"I did, didn't I? I didn't plan to mention that until today."

I washed the last of the toast down with coffee. "It sounds serious."

"It isn't," she replied, immediately, then added, "Well, it is, but it's nothing bad. I hope. What's the weather like?"

I frowned at the change of topic. "Let me check," I said, taking my plate to the sink, where I could see out of the window. The sky had lightened while we were eating. "It doesn't seem to be raining, but everything's wet. There may be a light drizzle. I'm sure it will be colder than yesterday was."

"I guess that rules out going for a walk," she said.

"I don't mind. I can dress warmly, and I have a spare umbrella if the drizzle is too much."

"Okay. Let's go for a walk around the block. It will be easier if I don't have to... never mind. Can I wash the dishes?"

Shaking my head, I took her plate. "It will only be a second to get them into the dishwasher. Do you want a shower?"

"Maybe when we return. I'll probably want a shower to warm up," she said.

"Okay, you go get dressed. I'll find warm clothes after you're done," I said.

 

After Jenna was ready, I grabbed the top tee shirt on the stack, jeans, socks and a thick sweater. After dressing, I took my boots to the door, then retrieved Jenna's coat and my own from the closet before stepping into my boots and tying them tight.

Outside my apartment, I locked the door, and when we reached the sidewalk, I fell into step beside her, our arms brushing. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

"First, I have a question. After the faire, a few weeks back. Why did you kiss me?"

My heart skipped. It was going to be that conversation. Except I had no idea what that conversation would be. I just knew it was needed, and that it could break my heart. "Because I wanted to," I answered, honestly.

"That's all?" she asked. "Because if that was the case, why haven't you tried to do it again? Did you stop wanting to?"

"No," I said. "But that was when you were... uh, questioning? it seemed. You'd surprised yourself when you realized you'd get a kick out of loosening my shirt. You were having feelings that... that I think weren't a hundred percent straight. If the thought of undressing me was giving you a thrill, the thought of kissing me might spur more feelings."

"Are you saying you think I'm not straight?"

"I don't think most people are entirely straight or entirely gay. I mean, if Chris Evans hopped out of a car right now and asked me to go to the next Marvel premiere with him, I'd have to give it serious consideration. I think you have a little bit of attraction to girls, and the idea of loosening my top, not even taking it off, gave you a rush. So yeah, you might have a little gay in you."

We trudged along the muddy street in silence for several minutes. Then she said, "You're wrong."

The flatness of her tone threatened that potential heartbreak. But Jenna had plenty of self-awareness, and I didn't see her dismissing an idea so starkly unless she'd given it consideration. She wouldn't deny what I thought I'd seen without cause. "Okay..." I said.

"When I went dancing with Chris, I learned something about myself," she said after a moment. "Something I think I've known in my heart for a while. The faire just forced me to consider it."

She took a deep breath, not looking at me. We reached the end of the street and turned the corner before she continued. "I was standing with him, looking out onto the dance floor. Everyone was in their mating plumage, tee shirts and jeans or sparkly tops and microskirts, and I realized there wasn't a single guy there I wanted to make out with. Including Chris. But there were a couple of girls there who gave me the same kind of thrill that I got with your corset thing. One in particular. She had a short top and long, long legs. I pictured myself running my fingers down those legs, and I felt a flash of heat. I suddenly felt the strongest urge to have my lips on hers. And I have never, ever, felt that kind of want for a guy."

"Did you get her name?" I asked.

"Hush. Let me finish my story. And no, I didn't, and I don't want it. You're wrong, because I'm not a little bit gay. I'm a lot gay, and I... I've spent years not knowing that about myself."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah, I am. But I feel very weird about it. All those boyfriends, all those dates... the sex... how could I not know?"

"I don't think it's rare," I said. "Some people take decades and a marriage or two. But it has to be a shock to you."

The drizzle seemed to be getting heavier. A couple, heavily wrapped in coats and scarves, was sharing an umbrella while walking through the small city park. There were no kids in the playground. "Should we head back?" I asked.

"Not yet. Let's keep going around the block," Jenna said. "There's more I need to say."

"Okay," I said. We turned and continued walking. My hair felt damp, while Jenna's glistened.

"Thing is," she said, "I wasn't looking at the girls at the dance club out of idle curiosity." She chuckled, but it sounded forced. "It was for science!"

"That's always my excuse," I said. "You wanted to eat that girl's face for science."

Jenna nudged me. "Hush. You're an ass. Or maybe you are a demon after all." She bit her lip. "You don't try to hide the fact that you like me. I figure you won't make a move because you think I'm straight. That's fair, because I thought so, too. But I like you, too, and I couldn't tell if it's because I'm very close to you as a friend, and a little confused about my feelings, or I'm really attracted to you. I think all these late night visits, these sleepovers, they were all part of the same grand science experiment. Now that I know I'm not as straight as I thought, I know I'm not fooling myself. I like you... I like you in a romantic way."

Trying to control the excitement that surged in my belly, I steadied my breathing. "Isn't science wonderful?" I chuckled. A drop of rain landed beside my nose and ran downward. I blew it away when it reached my lips. "And you brought me out into the cold and wet to tell me you have feelings for me?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but when we're close, and I look at you, I get tongue tied. I say things like you're very interesting, to stop myself from saying I want to eat your face. When you tease me about sleeping nude I want to say holy hell, yes... except I don't think I'd survive the experience. I have trouble enough with your pajamas." She cleared her throat and added, "Do you know how much of your breasts they show from the side?"

That made me grin. I liked the way they felt loose on my body, but if I saw myself in the mirror, it was usually straight on. "That's fair," I said. "My brain almost exploded with your dress at the dinner-not-date," I said.

"I did notice." Jenna still sounded apprehensive, but there may have been a smug tone to those words.

"At least I admit it, unlike Miss..." I raised my voice in pitch, "'Oh, I don't know what's happening to me,' as she unties my top. And stares at my sideboob, apparently."

Jenna slapped my arm. "I knew what was happening. I just didn't want to admit it." Her tone became more serious. "I think I always knew it wasn't just friendship. But I worry. I'm doing science. How can I be sure my feelings are real, and not a result of me 'waking up' and latching onto the first girl I'm close to? The first girl to kiss me? If there's a chance I'll hurt you, maybe you'd be better seeing Cade."

Raindrops were hitting my face sporadically now. "I think it's umbrella time," I said. "We can share, unless it gets worse."

Jenna nodded as I opened my umbrella. We moved closer together as we kept walking. "It's Monday," I said. "Would you be interested in going to Gabby's this evening? See how you feel in a large company of lesbians. Dance with a few of the girls. Some of my friends are likely to be there. I think you'd like them. Maybe it will help you contextualize your feelings when you know how you react to other gay girls."

We walked on in silence for a minute. Rain was pattering constantly on the umbrella now.

"They won't be trying to pressure me into a one night stand with one of them?"

"It isn't like that," I said. "I've never been pressured." Which wasn't quite true. Val had pushed hard until I succumbed. And Ann had been persistent, though I'd always succeeded in turning her down. But both of those were when I was single. Jenna would have me in tow. "I'll be there."

After a moment, she said, "Okay. I think... I think I would like that. Though it's going to be weird being around all of your exes."

"They're not really exes," I said. "I was never in a relationship with any of them."

"They're still women you slept with," she said, acerbically.

"Well, yeah," I admitted. "But they're no more than friends, now."

"What should I wear?" she asked. The apartment was in sight now, so even though the rain had picked up further, we wouldn't need to run.

"Not the blue dress, unless you do want everyone to hit on you. Tee shirt and jeans is fine, a little fancier is okay, too. I'll wear what I was wearing at the restaurant, and I've seen Clare wear her outfit at Gabby's, though usually it's a blouse and jeans."

"Alright. I have to go home anyway, I'll find something."

 

"So, this isn't awkward at all."

Jenna was leaning against a wall, holding the mug of coffee I'd just handed her, while I stood with my own cup. I'd showered before brewing coffee, and my hair was still damp. Jenna had decided to wait until she was home for a shower.

I grinned at her. "Hey, it was your idea to drop all that on me outside."

"What should I have done?"

"Oh, I dunno," I replied, "just kissed me, maybe?"

"While we were both in pajamas?" she countered. "That sounds dangerous. Especially with your..." Her eyes flicked down to my chest momentarily.

"You really like that top," I commented.

Her eyes seemed dark. "Yeah, I do."

"Come back this evening, and I'll wear it again," I said.

"I might just do that," she said.

"Meanwhile, how to unawkward this?" I set my coffee down, then reached for hers.

She took another sip before handing me her mug. "I don't think that's a word."

I set her mug down, then moved to stand before her. "It may not be, but it's a thing that needs to happen." Then I lifted my hands to her cheeks and drew her face close, taking her upper lip between my lips and sucking gently before releasing her.

Jenna's breathing was instantly heavy. Her expression seemed as shocked as it had when I'd kissed her after the faire. "Are you okay?" I whispered.

"Yeah," she said, her voice sounding rough. "Yeah, I am. It's just... shit suddenly got real, didn't it?"

"I think it's been real for a while," I said. "We're just admitting it." Then I took her lip between mine again. This time I drew my tongue along it before releasing it.

Jenna's hands moved from her side to rest on my hips as I returned to playing with her upper lip, just suckling briefly, then moving back. She began to close her mouth around my lower lip, returning the kiss. As delicate as the touch was, I could feel her rapid breath against my face.

Backing away again, I lowered my hands to her shoulders, meeting her eyes, which had become darker and seemed unfocused. She seemed content to let me lead, for now. I parted my lips and moved them back to Jenna's, only closing them slowly around her upper lip as my tongue explored.

When I next approached her, it was with my mouth already slightly open, tracing Jenna's lips with my tongue. After a moment, I felt the tentative probing of her tongue against mine. Parting my lips further, I pressed them to Jenna's, drawing my tongue over hers. She shivered, then lifted her hands to my back, drawing me close as her reserve crumbled. Her tongue met mine again and she moaned into my mouth.

Drawing my tongue back, I felt hers chasing it. I nipped it with my teeth, then pulled back and grinned at her.

"Damn," she breathed. "Kissing a guy was never like this."

"I hope not," I retorted. "Not that I'd know."

She smirked. "Next you're going to tell me you have an orgasm every time you have sex with a girl."

"I won't tell you that," I said. "Not every time. Most times it's two or three." Jenna's mouth fell open. "Sometimes more, I guess, but I've never taken an abacus to bed." I wasn't even sure how to count the one night with Val. Whatever it was she did with her fingers, I didn't know if it would count as one amazingly long climax, two, with the second building right as the first ended, or several in succession. I just knew that she'd kept me coming for minutes.

"More than three? You're serious," Jenna said.

If my relationship with Jenna progressed to that point, I realized, I might be setting her up for disappointment. "Well, that's not really the issue," I said. "I've never not had an orgasm, or given my partner one, which I think is what you wanted to know. In my experience, which I admit is more limited than most Gabby's patrons, it hasn't been a problem." I ran my palms down her arms. "You said once it doesn't usually work out for you."

"Yeah," she said. "Without mechanical help, at least."

"I think you deserve better than that," I said, "whoever you're with." I released her and stepped back. Obviously I wanted that person to be me, but she still had to resolve her feelings. "Shall we take our coffee to the couch and watch more of our show?" I suggested.

"Kiss me again, first," Jenna instructed, so I did.

This time, I found it hard not to let my hands roam. When we separated, it was with a delicious frustration on my part. I might have been able to entice Jenna to go further. The look in her eyes seemed to say that she wanted that. But I didn't want to fuck up what we had by pushing. I smiled at her, then handed her her coffee mug, and we moved to the couch.

Subtitles are no use when you're lip-locked with your friend, and even the English audio track isn't helpful when your only focus is the way her tongue feels against yours. We discovered that we had to pause the show when the need to kiss again overcame us.

We were managing to keep the interruptions down to only two or three per episode, though it became increasingly difficult not to let hands wander into sensitive territory. Jenna had explored my hips, waist, back and neck as much as my hands had travelled hers.

Of course I worried that we were going so slow that Jenna would lose interest, but that didn't seem to be a problem. She hit the pause button on the remote at least as often as I did.

We took a break from the TV in the early afternoon. I made us a snack, then we watched one more episode before turning the TV off. Jenna claimed to be enjoying the series. Maybe we'd try binge-watching Orange in a couple of weeks.

"Do you want to come home with me?" she asked, after announcing she'd need to leave soon. "We could eat on the way to the club, and I can bring you home afterward. I'll bring my work clothes over."

"I'll need to get changed now. I can bring most of my 'armor' with me to get ready at your place," I said.

It took Jenna a moment to remember what she'd referred to as my "armor," then she chuckled. "Okay."

 

"I like that top, too," Jenna said as she drove us to her place. I was wearing the blouse with the low neckline and sheer mesh panel. "Before today I've been trying to hide how much I like looking at you. With or without your armor."

"I've been trying to hide how much I was crushing on you," I said, "but since the painted-on bikini there hasn't seemed much point in trying to hide my reaction to your body. And even if I'd kept my eyes from wandering then, I wouldn't have been able to mask my response to the blue dress."

"I'm glad. I wore it for you, not for Erik."

"I'm sure he appreciated it anyway," I said.

"I was heartbroken that you'd gone out and found a girlfriend," she said. "I guess I can admit that, now."

"I was heartbroken you were getting frisky with Erik," I said.

"I wasn't!" Jenna objected.

"You were in my head," I said. "I don't even know what mental Jenna got up to with him. I've tried to block the entire situation."

She burst out laughing. "Mental Jenna? Did Mental Jenna ever spend time with you?"

"I think that's a secret I'll take to my grave," I replied. "Especially since if I share it, that will probably bring the grave much closer."

"You're probably right," she said. "It's better that I don't know." After a moment she said, "Oh, hey, I hadn't thought about this. Do you have a problem with cats?"

"No?" I frowned. "What kind of problem?"

"Are you allergic to cats?" she asked, "And do you object to me owning cats?"

"Oh, the vegan thing?" I asked. When she nodded, I said, "I keep telling you, I don't want to impose my views on anyone. Cats are wonderful, independent creatures, and I'm not allergic to them. I'd never get another cat unless it was a rescue, but still, what anyone else does isn't up to me."

"Mine are rescues," Jenna said. "They'll probably greet us at the door since they haven't seen me since yesterday."

 

The cats were Poppy, male, and Daisy, female. Poppy was orange, and Daisy was a gray tabby. Jenna had only been planning to get one cat, but the siblings had been curled up together and they crawled over each other to get to her when she saw them at the shelter. Besides, she said, one cat gets lonely. Of course two cats get into more trouble, and they were good at that. They did meet us at the door. Then they took one look at me. Daisy took off running and Poppy turned to give chase.

We heard loud thumping from another room, to which Jenna shrugged.

"Do you want to help me choose an outfit?" Jenna asked.

"Do I get to watch you changing?"

"Hmm, let me think," she replied. "No."

"Hmph. See if I wear those nice black pajamas for you again," I grumped.

"I'm okay with no pajamas," Jenna said.

Jenna led me into her bedroom where she began taking tops out of her closet. Her selection was more varied than mine.

After some time studying the options, Jenna settled on a peach sleeveless top with a zipper front. It wasn't as short as her crop tops, but the zipper was dual-ended, so it could be unzipped up to her navel. The top had lapels and a U neck which could also be unzipped down as far as she chose.

"You know what would look good with that?" I said. "The bell bottoms you're wearing."

Jenna grimaced. "Flares, not bell bottoms." Then she held the top against her and looked in the dresser mirror. "I think you're right." Grabbing my arm for balance, she bent one knee, raising her foot until she could see the bottom of the pants leg. "They're muddy from our walk. I'll toss them in the washer while I shower."

I used the dresser to apply the remainder of my armor while Jenna showered. I was almost done when she emerged, wearing the peach top but with a towel around her waist.

"Very nice," I said, sincerely. "Just..." I moved up to her and unzipped the top zipper another inch.

She gave me a dubious look, then checked her reflection. "Yeah, okay. That works."

After moving her bell bottoms from the washer to the dryer, she returned to the bathroom for hair gel and makeup while I finished up, taking great care to edge the lipstick perfectly.

The cats entered the bathroom and stood together eyeing me suspiciously. "Hey, Jen," I said, "I think the cats are starting to like me."

The moment I said that, Daisy's tail fluffed out and she ran again, chased by her brother. I sighed.

 

There was a Thai restaurant on the way back into town that had a vegan section on the menu, but with a normal range of meat-based foods for Jenna. I'd eaten there before, finding plenty of choices and nothing I didn't like.

"There's something we need to talk about before we get to the club," I said, after swallowing a peanut. "Do I introduce you as my friend or my girlfriend?" I held up a hand before she could reply. "It's not as simple a question as it seems. Since we only acknowledged our feelings a few hours ago, it seems early to say girlfriend, but friend doesn't seem enough. Then, if I call you my girlfriend, you'll have a much easier job avoiding pickup attempts. On the other hand, if I introduce you as my friend, you could experience the club as a single girl. I think you should, even if you have to refuse offers from half of the club."

"Like you do?"

"You could be more polite than I usually am," I said. "You don't need the reputation of being a grump."

She thought about it for quite a while. "If I let you say I'm only a friend, will it upset you if girls flirt with me? You'll know I'm coming home with you."

"It might not be easy to watch, but it's important to me that you understand what options you have." I gave her a direct look. "You should flirt back. I want to be your girlfriend, but what you said earlier is true. I don't want to be your girlfriend only because you've not fully accepted who you are."

"I understand," she said, softly. "I'll keep an open mind at the club."

Reaching over the table, I squeezed her hand briefly.

After we'd eaten in silence for a few minutes, she asked, "How long?" When I gave her a puzzled look, she clarified. "How long have you had a crush on me?"

"Honestly? Since about the day we met, I think," I said. "At first, it felt safe, because you were straight. Then it felt frustrating, because you were straight."

"Is this what went wrong with Cade?" she asked. "Was I getting in the way?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "The entire problem was on my side. I wanted to try to get over it - because you were straight, but she didn't deserve my shit. She really is good people." After a beat, I asked, "How long for you?"

"The faire," she said, promptly. "Though you know I didn't recognize it for what it was. I just liked spending time with you."

"And telling me I'm interesting," I said. "Like the 'interesting times' curse."

She laughed. "You could see it that way. You might not even be wrong."

 

Gabby's parking lot was as full as I'd ever seen it. Jenna found one of the last few parking places. Then we presented our IDs at the door and went inside.

There was a band this week. Country, by the sound of it. Well, that was a change. At least it would be easy to dance to.

My friends Tiff and Emma were sitting with Kayla, with whom I'd made an idiot of myself two years earlier, and her fiancée Anita. "Room for two?" I asked Emma.

They all looked at me in surprise. I had never been the most sociable patron.

"I brought a friend," I said. "She's never visited before."

"Sure, we'd love to have you join us," said Emma.

I sat beside Tiff, while Jenna squeezed into the seat between me and Anita, then I made introductions.

"I love your hair," Jenna said to Kayla. Her hair was longer these days, still curly, and she still had the oil slick coloring she'd adopted a couple of years back. She wore her usual silver-framed glasses and a tight burgundy tee with a typically low neckline. "Though I guess you hear that a lot. Sorry!"

Kayla smiled. Her fiancée spoke before she could. "Don't worry, she never tires of hearing it."

"Is that the fire drink?" I motioned to the golden liquid in Kayla's glass. "I haven't had one in months. What's it called again?"

Kayla scowled. "No, it isn't. Michelle quit and the new guy doesn't know how to make them. This is just ginger and lemon."

"Michelle quit? Why? That's terrible news!"

"She's too busy. She does Mondays at O'Neills now to make weekends easier to schedule."

"More gigs?" I asked. Kayla nodded. "The price of fame, I guess."

Jenna had no context for the conversation, of course, so I explained how our former bartender's band's fortunes seemed to be looking up.

"Oh yeah, and they're playing for the party after our wedding reception," Kayla said.

"Holy hell, how did you manage that?" I asked.

"Michelle went through a dark spell after filing for divorce," she said. "She stayed with Anita and me for a while when her ex tossed her out of her house. We helped her move into her own place, and Anita talked her out of giving up on the process. Seems the whole band is happy with the outcome, so they're playing for free." She grinned. "I can't argue with that."

Jenna leaned toward me and whispered, "Is she the one you got into trouble with?"

"Kayla?" I whispered back. "Yeah. She can come across as a bit arrogant, but she's actually sweet, when you're not trying to manipulate her."

"She's hot," Jenna whispered.

"You've been gay for one point five hours and you can already tell which girls are hot?" I retorted.

"I could do that before! And it's been at least three hours!"

Kayla was giving me a curious look. "I'm warning her of incoming trouble," I said, watching a pair of girls heading in our direction. Jenna looked up, startled. "Not trouble, just... interesting times." I give Jenna a surreptitious wink.

"Hey, you all," said the taller of the two. Her hair was currently chestnut brown, chin length. She had dark brown eyes, which became almost black when aroused, and an intensity which made you want to ignore your reservations and your own boundaries to please her. "You've been here ten minutes and no one has taken the new girl to dance."

"We're here to address the issue," said the shorter girl. She had olive skin, a turned-up nose, and blonde curls. Her amber eyes were fixed on me. "Val is. Since you came in together, I'm here for you, Fi."

"Hi Suse," I said. "Maybe Val should ask my friend Jenna if she wants to dance."

Jenna nodded at me. "I do," she said. Then she turned to Val. Her face was turned away from me, but the pause made me think she was letting her eyes wander. "Mmm, yeah, I definitely do. Hi, Val."

I stood, making it easier for Jenna to push back from the table, and turned to Suse. "I guess I'm all yours, Suse," I said.

She laughed as we walked away. "I hope you know how I wish I could hold you to that."

Taking her hand, I leaned close. "So you drew the short straw?"

She shrugged, but gave me a mischievous grin. "I'm not disappointed to have another chance at you, Fi."

Suse had been less persistent than her friend/partner Val, but I'd rejected her advances several times.

After two-stepping to a couple of the band's songs, I gave Suse a brief but affectionate kiss on the lips, then headed to the bar. Alone, of course, while Jenna was dancing very closely with Val. I picked up a couple of virgin mojitos and made my way back to the table.

Jenna wasn't with Val anymore. She was in a slow dance hold with a girl I didn't recognize.

"She's not just a friend, is she?" The voice was soft, but close by my ear. I felt a touch on my shoulder. Turning, I found Tiff, resting her chin there.

"I don't think there's any point lying to you of all people, is there? No, she's not," I admitted, keeping my voice low, "but we wanted her to experience Gabby's unbuffered."

"Don't worry about anyone making a move on her," Tiff murmured. "She keeps glancing over at you. She's got it bad."

"Thanks, Tiff," I said. "So do I."

When Jenna finally made it back to the table, my fake mojito was almost gone. She took a break, at one point being hit on by another woman I didn't recognize, who didn't even offer a pretense of asking her to dance, wanting just to take her home. Well, I couldn't blame her. Jenna turned her down politely.

After she was spirited away again, I talked with Kayla and Anita about the upcoming wedding, then told them about my job, which was news to all of them, given how long it had been since I was last at Gabby's. Tiff was thrilled with the concept of flinging axes around.

I'd just begun to quiz Emma about how the final year of her master's program was going when Jenna showed up to drag me to the dance floor. After dancing with her head on my shoulder for a few songs, she gave me a fiery kiss right on the dance floor, then led me by the hand back to our table to say goodbye. It was time to go home.

 

Jenna took my hand as we entered my apartment.

"Is there anything we need to talk about?" I asked her, quietly, when we were inside. She turned to face me, but kept hold of my hand.

Shaking her head, she said, "Going to the club was a good idea. Everyone was super nice to me. Val was a little pushy. You warned me that might happen. I told her I was with you. I know that wasn't the plan, but she seemed so eager, and I didn't like being deceptive."

"Don't worry about Val," I said. "I doubt that there's an evening she goes home alone, unless she wants to. How did she take the news?"

"She seemed pleased for me," Jenna replied, "and she backed off. No one else tried to pressure me. But I felt comfortable with the girls flirting with me. I've really no doubt left that I'm attracted to girls. I felt a spark with a few of them. But every time I looked over at you I knew that there was so much more than a spark." She released my hand, then raised her fingers to my cheek as her eyes held mine. "You're not the girl who was handy," Her voice creaked. "You're the girl who I want."

This time, Jenna initiated the kiss, sliding a finger under my chin and lifting my face until she could cover her lips with mine. My breath caught with the sudden inrush of feeling. I slipped my arms around her, holding her close to me as I drew back and smiled at her. "How does it feel to have a girlfriend?" I asked.

"Really good," she admitted, then kissed me again.

When we finally broke for air, I stepped back and grinned at her. "I could be the girl who's handsy," I said, waggling my eyebrows.

Jenna laughed. "I'm hoping so," she said. "I might get a little handsy myself. Especially if you change into your sexy pajamas."

"I'll put the kettle on for tea and do that now," I said. "Is lavender okay?"

"That's what you made for me the first time I came over, isn't it? I'd like that," she said.

After I'd filled and turned on the kettle, Jenna followed me into my bedroom. She collected her sleepshirt, retreating into the bathroom to change, while I quickly stripped and slipped into the pajamas. After folding my clothes, I returned to the kitchen to prepare the tea.

Jenna appeared as I was pouring hot water over the tea bags. She must have tried to brush out her hair gel, because her hair was spiked out in several directions. I grinned.

"Hush, you," she said. "I know, I know, I should have left it alone, but it felt stiff, and I thought it would be sexier if it wasn't glued down. And I didn't want to damp it down, because then I'd look like a wet dog."

"Jen, darling," I said, reaching to take her hands, drawing them away from her hair, "First, you don't need to try to be sexy. You already are. Second, you couldn't look like any kind of dog." I gave her a quick peck on the lips. Surprisingly, her cheeks seemed to redden slightly.

Dropping her hands, I collected the mugs and took them over to the couch. The blanket we'd used the previous night was still draped over the back. I took it, then sat, extending my arm in invitation. When Jenna snuggled against me, I drew the blanket up to our chests and draped my arm around her. The tea would probably be too hot for a few minutes.

She turned her face to mine, and our lips met. Our tongues joined, and our shared passion grew. After a time she turned her body closer into mine. I moved my hand to her waist, squeezing, feeling muscles ripple beneath my fingers.

When we finally separated, I figured the tea would have cooled enough to drink. It was almost ready, so I took Jenna's mug, handing it to her so that she didn't have to move from where she reclined against me. I moved the arm I had wrapped around her shoulders enough to run my fingers through her scarecrow hair. She smiled at the touch.

After drinking most of her tea, she handed me her mug back, then twisted further around to press herself to me. Her hand moved to my waist, and as we kissed again, her fingers slid up my side, coming to rest against the edge of the lacy back of my pajama top. I felt her thumb slide forward as she turned further toward me, until it rested on the very edge of the swell of my breast.

With my free hand, I drew her in, until her chest was pinned against mine. She moaned softly into the kiss.

After several minutes, Jenna's lips left mine. She rested her cheek against mine, panting gently.

"Hey, Jen," I breathed. "It's okay to touch. I can tell that you want to."

Her face drew back a few inches, and she glanced down at my top with wide eyes.

"This is all so new," she whispered.

"I know it must be," I said, "but I promise you, I'd want to feel your fingers as much as you want to touch."

She drew back a few inches. Then, her eyes on the too loose satin below my arm, she moved her fingers from my back, trailing them over the side of my breast.

"My God, I'm doing this," she said.

As her fingers continued to explore, I leaned forward, touching my lips to hers, moving them slowly. She tried to deepen the kiss, but I held back. As a frustrated groan rose in her throat, she grasped my breast and squeezed, trying to urge me on. Instead, I ran my free hand down her side and over her butt, caressing. Then I softly touched my tongue to hers. She made a strangled sound and tried to press herself into me.

Moving away, I lifted her hand from my breast, then took both of her hands in mine. "Come with me," I whispered. When she nodded, I led her out of the living room, turning off the lights, leaving the last of our lavender tea unfinished.

In my bedroom, I folded the blankets back in invitation. Jenna slipped under the covers, her eyes wide as she looked up at me.

"May I leave the light on?" I asked. "I want to be able to see you."

"You like my troll hair?" she asked. Her voice seemed an octave below its normal pitch.

"Mm-hmm," I agreed, as I pulled the covers up.

Rolling partially onto Jenna, I threaded my leg between hers, wrapping my arms around her. Instead of kissing her lips, I pressed my mouth to the side of her neck, kissing along her neck and shoulder as I caressed her. Initially tense, she began to relax against me. I could feel her breathing in the shift of her breasts against mine.

With one hand on her ass, I held her close, pushing my thigh forward between hers. Her lips began to explore my neck, too, and her hands found my waist, slipping under my pajama top. As I slowly rolled my hips, changing the force of my thigh against her, I ran my fingers over her side, brushing against the edge of her breast.

Jenna turned her face to kiss my cheek. When I felt the touch of her lips, I turned too, catching them with mine. Our tongues joined, and I felt her thighs tense against mine. Sliding my body all the way over hers, I caressed her hips, my fingers gently tugging the hem of her sleep shirt higher, until my leg could move more freely between hers.

This time, Jenna broke the kiss. She was panting and her eyes were bright. I lifted a hand to trace my fingers over her scalp. "Troll hair," I whispered.

"Hey, yours is still purple," she croaked.

"Mm, a little," I agreed. I shifted my hips to bring my other leg between hers, prying her thighs apart as my body rested on hers. "I must have some troll blood, too."

Tilting my pelvis, I pressed myself against her. She exhaled with a small whuff, then lifted her face to meet mine. I obliged, and our kiss turned scorching. I felt her hands slide up inside my top until they reached my breasts, which were compacted against hers. She stroked the sides, her fingers lightly digging into the springy flesh as she panted into the kiss. Her hands stayed where they were as I began to rock my hips against her. After a minute or two, I felt her moan softly.

Lifting my face from Jenna's, I grinned at her. "Do you like the way they feel?" When she nodded mutely, I set my hands beside her shoulders and raised myself, giving her space to explore. Her fingers found my nipples, and her eyes widened, pupils deep black as she toyed with them. I'd stopped moving against her.

"They're so hard," she murmured, as she kneaded my nipples, sending electric spikes down to my sex. They weren't the only body parts becoming hard, but I didn't want to be distracted by my own need.

"Could you ever have imagined you'd like fondling a girl's boobs?" I asked.

"Not until that night I went out dancing," she said, thoughtfully, her fingers and thumbs still exploring my firm nipples. "That girl I saw... I could visualize undressing her and touching her everywhere."

Grinning, I said, "you really should have gotten away from Erik for a moment to get her number."

She shook her head forcefully. "I don't think I said this, but she looked a lot like you. If I was going to touch a girl, I wanted it to be the real thing."

"Aww, how sweet," I said.

"And then, when I saw the gap in your pajama top..." she said, "God, I wanted to touch you right there and then."

"May I touch yours?" I asked.

When Jenna nodded wordlessly, I lowered my body back down to hers. Not meeting her lips, I kissed her throat as I moved my hands up her body, over the thin sleep shirt, easing hers away from me as I curled my hands around her breasts. She stroked my back as I squeezed, her breath rasping with renewed arousal.

Sliding down her body, I kissed her chest through the thin shirt, my lips and tongue travelling in a direct line to her breast. She shuddered beneath me as I began to suckle her nipple, one hand cupping her breast, pushing it into my mouth as the other covered her other breast, squeezing increasingly firmly.

Jenna's breathing was becoming ragged as I felt her hips move, pressing herself to my belly. Her hands moved to my head, fingers sliding into my hair as she held me against her breast. I took her nipple between my teeth. She gasped as I tightened them on her, then moved back, stretching her breast, panting when I released it.

Her shirt grew damp around my mouth as I continued to suckle and nip at her. When I switched to the other breast, she moaned. This time, I didn't use my free hand on her other breast. I trailed it down her body, stretching out a finger to run over her panties, finding them wet.

Lubricating my finger against her moist underwear, I moved it around, feeling the shape of her sex beneath the thin fabric.

Easing my finger inside, I moved straight to her firm clit, caressing the slippery surface. She gasped, and her thighs twitched as they tried to grip me.

Circling her clit with my finger, I felt it becoming even harder, her now frequent moans showing the growth of her arousal. She raised her thighs, wrapping her legs around my body to hold me against her.

Her eyes desperate for more, Jenna looked down at me. I wanted to give it to her. Releasing her breast, I slid back up her body, trapping my finger between my sex and hers. Our lips met as I began to rock firmly against her, rubbing her clit with the finger wedged against it.

We could only kiss for a moment, before Jenna had to break away, gasping. "Oh, God," she groaned.

Not slowing my movements, I curved my neck until my lips touched her ear. "I want you to come," I murmured.

Her legs tightened around mine. I nipped at her earlobe, then said again, "Come for me, Jen. I know you want to."

Jenna's arms tightened around me. Her breath rasped between moans, rising in intensity until she cried out. Her hips slammed upward, her legs tight around mine. I felt her belly twitch, her powerful muscles making her squirm beneath me. I slowed the movement of my finger against her clit, but didn't stop touching her until her hips sank back down to the bed.

 

Jenna shuddered as I drew back, then turned her face to look at me, her eyes unreadable until her lips curved in a smile. "Holy shit," she breathed. Her eyes widened as her body twitched with an aftershock, then she chuckled. "You told me I wouldn't need my toy," she said, her tone amused.

"Did you bring it?" I asked. She shook her head. "It's good that you didn't need it, then."

"But you didn't come," she said, her features darkening into a frown.

"Darling, we can enjoy each other for as many times as we have stamina," I said. "I know what you'll be able to do to me. I wanted you to know that I can please you." Then I grinned. "We haven't even taken our clothes off."

She seemed almost surprised, glancing down at my disheveled top. "We weren't wearing much, I guess," she said.

Rising to squat on her hips, I lifted my arms. "Would you like to undress me?"

Her eyes darkened as she smiled. "You know I would," she said, lifting my top over my head. Staring at my revealed breasts in wonder, she reached out to toy with both nipples for a moment. Then I slid off her. "Your turn," I said.

Jenna sat up. Her long shirt was already raised to her belly, so it was an easy matter to slip it over her arms. I folded it in two, then held it as I gazed at the treasures now revealed. Her breasts were full and firm, her nipples pale, wide, and slightly upturned.

"You're beautiful," I said, sincerely, then added, "even with troll hair."

"Says the lovely purple-haired troll," Jenna retorted, smiling.

"Would you like me to warm up your tea?" I asked. "I'd like to take a moment to appreciate your body before we go for another round," I said.

She nodded. Her breath caught, as she murmured, "Another... you were serious about there being more than one time."

"Completely," I said. I slid to the floor, and was about to leave, when I had second thoughts. Picking up our discarded tops, I folded them, set them on the chair, then I slipped off my pajama pants and panties in a single motion, placed them on the other clothing, and turned to face her.

Jenna's face flushed. "Oh, fuck," she breathed, as her eyes took in my fully naked body, the short, dark fuzz of my closely shaven pussy.

"I hope that's a good fuck," I teased.

"It's a very good fuck," she agreed, as I left the room.

I hadn't planned on brewing more tea. I didn't want to take the time, and didn't want the tea too hot for the same reason, so I just dropped the used tea bags from the saucer they'd been sitting on back into our cups, turned the kettle back on, then back off before it was fully boiling. After topping up our cups and plunging the tea bags a few times, I tried my tea, which was adequate, then brought both cups back to the bedroom.

Immediately noticing that a pair of black underwear now topped the pile, I glanced over at Jenna, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. A little nervously, she stood, and as I set the cups down, opened her arms to me.

Her naked body was a work of art. Tall and lean, the definition of her muscles gave her the form of a goddess of old. Beautiful didn't do her justice. Divine was closer to the mark.

Her pussy wasn't as closely shaven as mine, but the hair was a less visible blonde. Darker than the sun-bleached white hair on her head, of course, but still light.

I stepped into her embrace, our bare bodies meeting as we kissed. Then she released me and we climbed back into bed.

After handing Jenna her mug, I said, "I want to say that we don't have to do any more than you're comfortable with. I want us to enjoy each other as much as we can, but we don't have to do it all tonight. We have time."

"I think we do," Jenna agreed. "I want to be with you. I've wanted it for a while. I just wasn't sure it would be possible."

"Right," I agreed, then turned to give her a soft smile.

"You're welcome to come over to my house, too," she said. "If you do, I won't have to rush home to feed the cats."

"Do you think they'll interrupt us making love?" I asked.

Jenna's eyes seemed to widen for a moment at the term, then she shook her head. "I can close the door. We'll hear them charging around and chasing each other into walls, but they'll stay out of the bedroom."

"We'll just have to make more noise than they do," I said.

She chuckled. "I don't think that will be a problem."

Setting my mug down, I reached for hers. "Let me take your cup. I want to feel your body against mine."

"Yes," she said, handing me her mug with a smile.

 

I let Jenna push me back down to the bed. Truth be told, if I wanted to challenge her for position, I'd fail. I was a size 6 lightweight. Maybe not a weakling, but no amazon. Still, I had more experience, and I knew Jenna would let me take charge when needed.

Fitting my leg between hers, I moved until it was wedged firmly against her pussy, as hers was against mine. She lowered her body onto mine. Though she was a little taller, we seemed to fit well together. I said as much. She replied, "We do, don't we?" before kissing me.

Jenna had taken a page from my book, toying with my upper lip rather than giving me an open-mouthed kiss. She knew how to build desire, and did, backing away and frustrating me. I curled my fingers around her breasts, squeezing them. Though she was trying to be frustratingly slow in building the erotic tension between us, she was clearly as aroused as me.

Shoehorning my hands between our breasts, I fitted my fingers and thumbs around her nipples and squeezed, tightening my palms around the tips of her breasts. She gasped at the sensation when I pinched her nipples, the spike in arousal goading her to suck my tongue between her lips and tug on it with her teeth. Then she pried my hands from her breasts and held them at my side as she began to thrust against me, her leg dragging against my pussy.

"Oh, God, Jen," I breathed. "God, you feel so good."

She just smiled and kept sliding her body against mine, as I started to moan.

I was well on the way to release when Jenna stopped moving, then slid down my body to kiss my breasts, suckling the tips, but also drawing her tongue around the base. She released my hands to free her fingers up to knead my breasts, her eyes constantly glancing up to my face to gauge my reactions.

When Jenna started using her teeth to stretch my nipple, she moved one hand down, circling my pussy lips, then pushing slightly inside to circle again and press against me, before hunting for my clit. Her finding it caused my body to squirm in response, delighting Jenna, who used my moans to find the touches that most turned me on.

When I was quivering with need, she moved back up to kiss me, gripping my shoulders to amplify the thrusts of her body against mine.

"Can you come like this?" she whispered.

"Yes," I croaked. "God, yes, I'm almost there."

"Good," she said. "I want to feel you come. No faking!" she added, the tone of her voice making the joke clear. It must have been obvious that I couldn't have faked my response to her .

She didn't permit me to reply, because her mouth was on mine, and she squeezed my shoulders to drive her body into mine. Her firm breasts rolled mine against my chest, and I felt myself approaching the edge.

Groaning into the kiss, I grasped her butt, adding pressure to her thigh. I began to wrap my free leg around hers for additional force, but my orgasm hit me as I tried to lift my thigh. My back arched, and I writhed beneath her.

Jenna didn't release me from the kiss, and I panted hard, our breaths mingling, before she slowly backed away, running her tongue over my lips.

"Oh, fuck, Jen," I breathed. "You're incredible." I chuckled. "Are you... absolutely sure you haven't done this before?"

"You know I haven't," she said. "The feel of your body inspires me, I guess."

"I hope it inspires you for a long time," I confessed. "Kiss me again."

She was tender, but as our tongues met, I felt passion. I was drained, but not completely spent. Before she could react, I'd gripped her hips, then rolled her onto her back. Her eyebrows rose, but she raised no objections as I lowered my hand to cup her pussy.

Squeezing, my palm against her clit, I released her lips and slid down her body, kissing my way down her chest until I could suckle each nipple. She was panting with need when I lifted my head from her breasts and moved down further, kissing her navel.

Jenna let out a soft "Oh," when she realized what I intended. Sliding party off the bed, I pressed my face against her sex, licking and penetrating her pussy lips before touching my tongue to her clit, making her breath catch.

Taking her thighs, I tugged her down the bed until I could get my feet on the floor with my mouth on her clit. Then I lifted each thigh, draping it over my shoulder, and began to work my tongue against her.

Sliding one finger into her, I curled it forward. Jenna exhaled sharply as I rubbed against the wall of her sex, while I drew my tongue slowly around her clit. If I hadn't just climaxed at her touch, the taste of her might have excited me enough to do the job. Her hips moved as her breathing became louder.

When I began pistoning my finger rapidly in and out of her, Jenna began to pant, her hips lifting rhythmically. I withdrew my finger, then carefully pushed two into her. She gasped as I penetrated her, but was soon moaning. I rested my tongue against her clit, letting her own motion causing it to drift around.

"Can I try one more?" I asked, softly.

"What do you mean?" Jenna asked.

"Just tell me if this hurts," I said, drawing my fingers back out. I spat on my fingers for more lubrication, then pressed three into her. Her breath caught. She grunted with pain.

I began to pull back out, but she said, "Wait. It's okay, just take it slow. It's... it's good. The stretching stings, but then it's good."

"Tell me if it's too much," I said, and slowly pushed all the way in. Jenna groaned, and it didn't sound like pain.

After pumping my hand slowly for a while, I increased the pace. Each thrust brought a jerk of Jenna's hips, until I was thrusting faster than she could move. I began to lap at her clit. In moments, she was moaning loudly, her hips pressing her sex into my face. I could feel the tension in her thighs, growing as her hips lifted further off the bed.

Then she yelped and began to writhe on the bed. The muscles of her belly twitched haphazardly as she gasped for breath. I stopped moving my hand, pressing firmly against the wall of her sex as I drew my tongue slowly over her clit.

When she finally relaxed to the bed, I withdrew my fingers and moved back onto the bed to lie beside her until her eyes finally found focus, and her smile at me became broad.

 

When Jenna sounded merely winded, instead of barely able to breathe, I rolled back out of bed to retrieve the blankets that had been a casualty of our lovemaking. I drew them up to her shoulder, then slid beneath them, facing her. "So, have I won?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You said you've never had a partner give you more than one orgasm. I counted two. So I think I won."

"You won," she said.

"We could try for more," I said. "But I think we both need a rest first."

"Trying for more might kill me," said Jenna, sounding exhausted. "Though I'd die happy."

"Are you planning to sleep naked?"

"I have no energy to put my shirt on," she said. "Maybe if I wake up again... but I want to snuggle."

"So do I," I said, and drifted off contentedly with a naked girl lying against my back.