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McKayla's Miracle Ch. 01

By: HLD



Looking back, the first time I saw her, I think I knew we were going to fall in love. 

There's just something about McKayla . . . 

The wicked glint in her eyes when she laughs. The way she tilts her head and smiles knowingly. Her hips sway when she walks. Her eyes seem to bore right through you. When she talks, you are the most important person in the world to her. She's the sexiest person in any room and she knows it.

It took me a while to realise what it was, but I was irrevocably smitten. Maybe it was because I was young and impressionable. Maybe I was in an "experimental" stage of my life. Or maybe McKayla was that person who comes along once in your lifetime and if you don't grab her right then, you'll regret it forever.

I had just moved to the beach after graduating from college. My uncle knew a guy who got me a job working for a buddy of his as the office manager for a warehouse. I didn't know a soul in the town, but I wanted to live anywhere but Po-dunk, USA, and that was the first job opportunity I got.

It was me and forty guys who worked at the local adult beverage distributor. They were a little crude and—shall we say—"unrefined", but they were all basically good guys. Most of the time, they tried not to tell sexist jokes around me and usually didn't burp or fart in my presence, but they didn't always remember. 

Being the new person (and only girl), I was subjected to a lot of good-natured hazing, but pretty soon, I was just one of the guys. It helped that I liked football and could cuss up a bluestreak with the best of them. I also didn't tolerate their bullshit, and I could dish out as much as I could take.

Still, some days, I longed for some female company. The warehouse was next to a strip mall that had a doctor's office, a mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant and the local branch of a large bank in it. It turned out that a teller and a medical technician had the same lunch time as me and after meeting fairly frequently over the lunch buffet, pretty soon we were hanging out together after work.

Allyson was seeing a guy and Bretlynn was single. I had broken up with my boyfriend near the end of my senior year. We had gone out for about two years, but he never exhibited a lot of drive. He seemed to be on the six (or eight) year plan and was content to take all the classes he could as long as his parents were paying. 

He was pretty, but his not having any ambition led to a lot of resentment in me which led to simmering anger which led to poor communication which led to him not being able to keep his dick in his pants. I dumped his sorry ass and never looked back. I wonder now why I put up with his shit for so long.

Anyway, a couple of nights a week Allyson, Bretlynn and I started going out for drinks and hanging out. Sometimes, Allyson's boyfriend would join us; sometimes he had to work late or we had a girl's night out. I dated a couple of guys, but I wanted to be single for a while and enjoy being 22 before I did the spouse and family thing that I thought everyone expected of me.

One night, Allyson brought her friend McKayla with her. She was a couple of years older than the rest of us and was a financial planner at the bank where Allyson worked.

I remember thinking how pretty she was. McKayla went to college on a softball scholarship and was tall, with a firm, muscular build, dark hair and perfect skin. She was the kind of girl that made everyone around her go "Dayum!"

McKayla also had an air of supreme confidence about her. I think that's what attracted me to her. She seemed to know herself. I didn't know what I wanted out of life. I didn't have a plan for tomorrow, much less for 10 years. Hell, I was just happy to have a college diploma and a job that would make my rent, student loan payments and leave me just enough to go out a couple of nights a week. 

The four of us went to a local seafood restaurant for dinner and then downtown to the boardwalk for drinks and dancing. McKayla was nice and friendly. She's the kind of person that doesn't know any strangers. I ended up sitting next to her and we talked all night, mostly about work and other inconsequential stuff. She drew me out immediately.

We stayed out until close to midnight, but since it was a work night, we couldn't stay out too late, so we promised to all go out again.

As Allyson and I were walking back to her car, for some reason I turned over my shoulder to get one last glimpse of McKayla, who waved. I reflexively waved back.

"You know she's a lesbian, right?" Allyson said.

My jaw dropped. I thought she was just friendly.

"I think she likes you," my friend said with a wink, and I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

In hindsight, that certainly explained why some of the things McKayla had said to me earlier might have sounded like a little more than conversation just between friends.

What it didn't explain was why my pulse raced when I saw her smile.

*********************** 

The four of us continued to go out a couple of times a week. After a couple of months, I had settled into my job and felt fairly comfortable around town.

McKayla and I became close friends; I never got the feeling that she was hitting on me, but nor could I ignore the fact that there always seemed to be a sort of tension between us. 

When our eyes would meet, for the briefest second there was just the two of us; the rest of the world faded away. She would smile at me, as if she knew something I didn't. Then I'd blink and look away, embarrassed.

This went on for a month or so until my birthday, which happened to fall on a Saturday night.

I was turning 23 and the girls took me out for an all-night bender. It started at my place when they came to pick me up. One of the advantages of working for a liquor distributor is that there is never a shortage of booze. Somehow, the inventory is always off by a bottle or two and no one ever seems to know where it went . . .

Bretlynn and I were hanging out trying to decide if we wanted to party with our friend Jose or our other friend The Captain when Allyson and McKayla showed up. After some friendly discussion, someone opened the Cuervo and the night began.

Things were fine for the first two hours and then my memory gets blurry. We went to dinner at P.F. Chang's. There was some more liquor involved, followed by dinner and some singing by the servers. Then we went out to the clubs. Allyson, Bretlynn and I got pretty hammered while McKayla took lots of incriminating pictures and babysat us. Someone needed to be our designated driver, after all.

In the midst of the tequila-induced haze, I have one lucid memory of that night.

We were at one of our favourite places. I was humping and grinding on anything that moved. Apparently it made me very popular with the guys there (and a couple of the girls, too).

Allyson had her backside stuck out and was shaking it suggestively towards me. I was making a big show out of smacking her playfully for everyone to see. 

Turning over my shoulder, I saw McKayla dancing near us with an amused smile on her face. I don't know what came over me, but I reached out and pulled her to me.

Before she could react, I stuck my tongue into her mouth. I'm sure it was wonderful for her. Here I was—drunk out of my mind, smelling of smoke and too much perfume, tasting of tequila and God only knows what else—trying to make out with her. 

Very romantic, don't you think?

I remember her eyes getting real big for just a second, then she pulled back and, for the first time I could recall, McKayla appeared to be at a loss for words or what to do.

With a drunken laugh, I turned back to Allyson and we continued to dance, but I remember McKayla standing there for a long moment, as if she was wondering what signal I was sending.

The girls later told me the night ended when the bars closed. I have to take their word for it. The next morning was ugly. I hadn't had a night like that since college. Granted that wasn't too long ago, but still, you'd think that I'd have learned my lesson after the last time. Or two.

I woke up with a splitting headache. You know the kind: It's where you spend the next three hours puking your guts out, all the while saying to yourself (repeat after me), "Dear God, I promise I will never drink that much again . . . if You will only make the throbbing go away and the room stop spinning. Amen."

Thankfully, wherever I had ended up, someone had the good sense to draw the curtains closed and the neighbours were mercifully quiet. That could only mean I was no where near my apartment. After all, the kids on the other side of my bedroom wall were always up at 7 am and raising hell by 7:15. The superintendent liked to mow the lawn early in the morning, and I had (unfortunately) gotten a unit that was near the pool, which on a nice summer day was usually busy and crawling with urchin children from Hell.

Trying not to upset my internal equilibrium, I looked around the room for a clock. It was a little after noon. I moaned and rubbed my temples.

It took me a few minutes until I could bring myself to sit up. I let out a stream of unladylike curses under my breath and willed myself not to throw up on the very nice duvet.

Someone had changed me out of my clothes and into a long nightshirt. Underneath, my panties were on, but my bra was gone. I brushed my hair out of my eyes and then looked around (but not too quickly) to see where I was.

I didn't immediately recognise anything. There was a picture of two people about my uncle's age next to the clock radio. A couple of paintings hung from the walls. A solid oak dresser and nightstand matched the very nice (and probably expensive) headboard.

There were three doors in the room. I stumbled towards one of them and fumbled with the handle. It opened into a hallway. The sunlight coming from an open window hit me and I recoiled back into the bedroom. I tried door number two.

It was the one I was looking for: the bathroom.

I dropped my panties and plopped down on the toilet, as relieved to be off my feet as anything else.

The recent activity only made me feel worse. My head still throbbed.

"Amberle?" I heard a voice call. McKayla. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

Her footsteps came down the hall. I heard the door to the bedroom open and saw McKayla poke her head into the room. She turned and saw me in her bathroom.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and quickly closed the door.

I finished my business and then stood, very slowly. I stumbled out of the bathroom and out into the bright hallway. McKayla was waiting for me. She was all dressed up in a nice pants suit and leaning against the doorframe. 

"How are you feeling?" Her voice was soft, probably knowing that loud noises weren't going to be good for me.

"Like shit," I replied feebly as my eyes adjusted. The taste in my mouth was stale, a mixture of tequila, beer and morning breath.

McKayla only smiled.

She walked me to the kitchen and led me to a table in front of a nice bay window. The bright sunlight stung my eyes, but the view of the water blew me away. Her house was right on the beach. Off the deck was a walkway going over the dunes right on to the sand.

I had never been to her place before. I knew she lived a little ways north and that she lived by herself, but I had no idea her home was this nice. She usually came over to one of our dumpy apartments because Allyson, Bretlynn and I lived closer to the clubs and the action.

For the next several moments, I only stared out her window dumbly. She pushed a bottle of Sprite into my hands which I drank reflexively.

"Feel like something to eat?" she asked. 

I could only nod.

"I've got cereal, toast, bagels and waffles," McKayla said. "Take your pick."

"I'll have a bagel," I mumbled, turning away from the window. 

Her kitchen was spacious and warm. The appliances were shiny and looked as if they had been taken out of the box maybe a month before. I could only imagine how much her place cost; right on the beach, almost brand new and big.

Efficiently, McKayla fixed me a plain bagel with cream cheese, then sat down next to me. I nibbled at the food, not really hungry, but I knew I had to get something into my stomach. I just hoped I could keep it down.

"I didn't do anything stupid last night, did I?" I finally managed to ask.

She smiled slightly. "Not really."

It was then that I remembered my drunken pass at her. I looked away, embarrassed. If she was going to call me on it, that was the time, but she didn't.

"Where are Allyson and Bretlynn?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Allyson is in one of the guest bedrooms," McKayla replied gently. "I took Bretlynn home on the way to mass."

"You go to church?" I asked.

"Every Sunday," she said, very matter-of-factly.

I was taken aback by her reply. I didn't figure being Catholic and a homosexual went together very well, given the papal stance on same-sex relations. What did I know, though? My family wasn't very religious and I had never gone to church regularly.

"Eat up," McKayla said gently and patted my hand. Then she stood. "I'm going to wake up Allyson and then get you girls home."

As she walked away, I wished her touch had lasted a little bit longer.

McKayla got us up and dressed, then took us back to our apartments. There was no throwing up involved. Just a massive headache. I sat in my apartment for the rest of the day, partly hungover, partly confused.

What was it about her that gave me chills just thinking about her? Was it really a sexual kind of arousal? She was certainly a pretty girl. Plus she was smart, funny and kind. However, I had never had any sort of lesbian feelings. I liked guys; that much had always been certain. 

Still, I couldn't deny that there was some sort of attraction between us. And it wasn't just as friends. There was just something about her . . .

The memory of our kiss—however fleeting, however clouded by liquor—was the only thing from the previous night that was crystal clear in my mind. Her lips were so soft. Her touch so gentle. Just the thought of that kiss made me tingle from head to toe. What did it mean?

The next week flew by. We had plans to go out on Saturday night and it was my week to be the DD, which was kind of a relief since I didn't feel like drinking much anyway.

We decided to go out for dinner and then hang out along the boardwalk.

There is a really nice seafood restaurant that's right on the intercoastal and not too far from my apartment. There's a dock around back, and in the early afternoon a boat pulls up and unloads the day's catch. Talk about a fresh meal. 

McKayla came over to my place after work and then we went to pick up Allyson and Bretlynn. There was a palpable tension in the air between us but neither of us wanted to talk about it, or even acknowledge it.

While waiting for our names to be called, Allyson and Bretlynn had a glass (or two) of wine. We sat on the deck watching the sun set and making small talk. The restaurant pager went off and we got up to go inside.

On the way, we passed another group of girls. One of them waved at McKayla.

"Hey," she said shyly.

"Hi," McKayla replied, her usual poise gone, suddenly becoming uncomfortable. She stopped for a second and the rest of us piled up behind her.

"How have you been?" the girl asked. She took a tentative step forward. Familiar.

"Okay. You?"

"Good."

McKayla shifted nervously and flashed the blinking pager in her hand. "Our table just got called. I'll see you around."

"Um . . . okay." It might have been my imagination, but I thought she sounded disappointed. What I knew wasn't my imagination was the twinge of jealousy I felt from the pit of my stomach.

We were seated and were looking over the menu. McKayla looked like she wanted to disappear behind hers.

"Who was that?" Allyson asked casually. When she's drinking, sometimes she says things she might not say otherwise. 

McKayla blushed. "Vicki Damron."

"Didn't you—" Allyson started.

"Yes," McKayla said curtly. She lowered her menu enough to shoot Allyson a stop-talking-now-or-I'm-going-to-smack-you look.

Bretlynn giggled at the other girl's obvious discomfort. I watched McKayla's reaction carefully. She wouldn't make eye contact with me.

The rest of the meal passed uneventfully. Allyson and Bretlynn let the subject drop and moved on to gossip about their friends and other topics. McKayla still wouldn't look at me. Her face was flushed with what I thought was embarrassment and maybe a little bit of shame.

A little while later, we were back in my car and headed downtown. We parked on a public lot and then headed over towards the boardwalk. There were a couple of dives and clubs we frequented there. I didn't feel much like dancing and if I let myself admit it, I really wanted to be rid of Allyson and Bretlynn.

The four of us stopped at a place that had a deck off the back. Allyson went to the bar and brought drinks for the three who were drinking. Our two companions were already pretty loose; McKayla was uncharacteristically quiet.

We talked for a while and then guys started showing up to hit on us. It was a familiar pattern. Allyson and Bretlynn reveled in the attention. McKayla and I politely waved off all but the most persistent ones; those we shot down mercilessly. After a few minutes, the pair disappeared with a couple of guys to the dance area in front of the band.

That left McKayla and I sitting at the table in one corner of the deck. The silence between us was deafening. Neither of us wanted to start the conversation.

McKayla stared off into the distance. A warm sea breeze blew in.

"She wasn't my girlfriend," McKayla said softly. Almost apologetically. I could barely hear her above the music and the chatter. "We just went out a couple of times."

"No chemistry?" I asked. There were butterflies in my stomach.

The other girl shifted uncomfortably. "There was lots of chemistry."

"So what happened?"

There was a long pause. McKayla looked down for just a second, then let out a bitter sigh. "The same thing that happens every time: my head keeps getting stuck up my ass."

I didn't know what to say. I don't know why, but I reached across the table and took her hand. She was trembling. McKayla looked up at me for the first time that night and tried to smile.

Something I had never seen before was in her eyes. Fear.

"Why?" I whispered. 

"I don't know," she said, her frustration evident.

"Afraid of being hurt?"

"I think I'm afraid of being happy."

My hand squeezed hers gently. 

She wiped her eyes. "It seems like every time things start to go my way, something comes along and kicks me right in the ass."

This was the first time she had ever opened up to me like this. Her self-assured persona was gone, wiped away for just a brief moment. I didn't know what to say.

"Listen," she said, taking a deep breath. In an instant, she blinked back her tears and covered up her vulnerability. "I'm sorry for bringing you down like this . . . I'm going to catch a cab home."

McKayla grabbed her purse and started for the stairs at the end of the deck. Impulsively, my hand reached for hers. I pulled so she was facing me.

"Would you like to go out sometime?" The words were out of my mouth before I knew I had said them.

It seemed like forever before she answered. She looked into my eyes and smiled. "How about next Friday?"

"I was thinking tomorrow." My stomach churned. I had just asked another girl out. What the hell was I thinking?

"I'd like that," she said. There was relief in her eyes. "I'll pick you up at five. We'll go some place casual."

"Okay," was all I managed to reply.


McKayla's Miracle Ch. 01



She squeezed my hand, then turned and quickly walked away.

I sat at the table for a long time, staring down the staircase McKayla had just graced with her soft steps. In my mind's eye, all I could see was the provocative sway of her hips, the wave of her hair, and I wondered what I had just gotten myself in to.

*********************** 

The next afternoon, I buzzed about my apartment. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the butterflies in my stomach to settle down. My pulse raced with the first date anticipation that was a combination of delight, nerves, fear and arousal.

My look needed to be just right. I washed and dried my hair. I checked the clock. I got dressed. I put my hair up. I put my make up on. I let my hair down. I checked the clock again. 

I paced around my apartment. I changed my earrings. I put on a different blouse. I put my hair up again. Ten years ago, I had my first date with a guy named Jason Hager and that wasn't half as nerve-wracking as this day.

Finally, I settled on a button-down white blouse over a maroon tank top with a short—but not too short—skirt. She said we were going some place casual, but I hoped I wasn't too casual.

As I stared at the mirror for the millionth time, I heard a knock at the door. The clock read 4:58. That was McKayla: always on time if not a little early.

I spritzed myself with perfume then went to the door. I took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, trying to will the tension and nervousness away. It didn't work.

My heart racing, I opened the door. 

McKayla stood there. Her hair was pulled back, highlighting her delicate features. She smelled of sweet vanilla lotion.

A long moment passed.

"Ready to go?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure," I managed to smile.

"I know a little Italian place just up the road," she said as we walked towards her car.

"That sounds great." I didn't know what to say or do. It was like I was 14 again and she was the captain of the football team while I was the nerdy girl from the back row in geometry class. She was way out of my league and I was in over my head.  

We got in her car, a sporty little BMW convertible. Red, of course. The top was down and the drive to the restaurant was quick.

The hostess seated us at a table tucked away in the back. The lights were low. McKayla's eyes glimmered in the candlelight.

I nervously looked over the menu, but I didn't have much of an appetite. I can't remember what I ordered; I just know I didn't eat much of it.

Another uncomfortable silence fell over us. 

"Why did you ask me out?" McKayla said, not beating around the bush.

I looked around nervously, as if afraid that someone might overhear. On a Sunday night, the place was slow and there was no one around.

"I don't know," I replied. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

That drew an amused chuckle from both of us.

"I'm a heartbreaker, you know," McKayla said suddenly. The usual playfulness was gone from her voice. "Commitment is something I'm not good at. I don't do relationships."

It took me a second to absorb her words. Was she trying to defend herself from me? Or was she warning me?

"And I don't do girls," I said, trying my best to imitate her dry smile. "But you'd better know this: I'm not going to be just another notch on your bedpost."

We both managed a forced laugh. That seemed to break the tension between us. At least for the time being. Really, all it did was put it on the back burner.

The entrees came and we started to talk. Even though we had known each other for several months, being out with her alone was like meeting someone for the very first time. We started with the easy questions.

"How did your parents come up with a name like Amberle?" she asked me at one point.

Easy question. I had fielded this one many times over the years. "My parents were dorks. They named me, my sister and my brother after characters in some books they liked."

"I didn't know you had any siblings."

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I'm the oldest."

"What are their names?" McKayla asked. 

"Brin and Ander."

"Interesting . . ."

"What about you?" I asked. 

"My father wanted to name me Michael if I was a boy, and Mom wouldn't let him name me Michelle. Something about some psycho ex-girlfriend she didn't like," McKayla smiled and took a sip of her wine. "So they were going to name me M-I-C-H-A-E-L-A, but Mom convinced Dad that I needed a special name, so they switched the spelling to make my name 'unique'."

"Didn't you hate that when you were a kid?" I asked, flashing her a knowing smile. "You know, you can never find pencils—"

"Or keychains—"

"Or bicycle license plates—"

"Or shirts—"

"And don't you hate having to spell your name for everyone?"

We laughed together at our shared childhood experience. 

"Speaking of spelling," McKayla said. "There's only one 'e' at the end of your name, right?"

"Yup," I replied. "That's how it's spelled it in the book even though you say it like 'Amber-Lee'. And don't you hate it when people try and shorten your name? Being called 'Amber' always pisses me off."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Don't call me 'Kay' or 'Kayla' or 'Mickey'. Gawd, I hate that," she rolled her eyes, "I used to hate my name, too, though after a while I thought it was cool. It makes me special. And not in the short bus kind of way. It sure beats being just another Tiffany, Catherine or Sally, doesn't it?"

"Exactly," I replied warmly. My mind drifted off for a second. I started to say something else, but stopped.

"What is it?" McKayla asked, looking suddenly concerned.

"Nothing." I said, looking away.

It dawned on her just then. Her eyes got real wide. "You said, 'were'. Are your parents? . . . Oh, my god . . . I'm so sorry."

I smiled reflexively and shrugged. This had become an automatic response for me. "It's okay. You didn't know."

"How?" she started. "No, wait, that's none of my business."

The uncomfortable silence came back.

"Mom was killed in a car accident when I was twelve," I said softly. My eyes were fixed on my glass of wine, but my gaze was distant. "Dad died when I was 17. He was out jogging and had a heart attack."

She took my hands in hers. I looked up and smiled meekly.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," she said apologetically.

"I like my name because my parents liked it." As McKayla had opened up to me the night before, I did the same for her. I shared something private with her, something not even my best friends knew. "It makes me feel like they're still with me, and they always will be, because no one can ever take my name away from me."

My hands withdrew from hers so I could wipe the tears from my eyes.

McKayla paused for a minute, then took my hands again. Her voice was soft. "If it's any consolation, I kind of know how you feel. My real dad was killed in a hunting accident when I was two. I don't remember much about him . . . but I know that he will always love me, just as your parents will always love you."

"Thank you," I managed to whisper. My feelings about my parents were things I had buried years ago. We went to live with my aunt and uncle, but a little part of me felt like I had to grow up quickly for my sister and brother. McKayla didn't know what that felt like, but I did appreciate her reaching out to me.

She raised her wine glass. "To dorky parents and the names they saddled us with."

I tried to smile and our drinks klinked together.

The maudlin moment passed as she changed the subject on me. We spent the rest of the meal making small talk and getting to know each other better. It was so much different without Allyson and Bretlynn there. Her attention was fixed solely on me. We talked about growing up. About our jobs. 

McKayla was an only child. Her mom and stepdad lived a couple of hours away. She liked living at the beach and did very well for herself as a financial planner.

After the meal, we ended up back downtown at the boardwalk. Instead of going into the clubs, we walked together up and down the strip, sometimes stopping in at one of the chincy tourist trap souvenir shops or looking for something to get for dessert. 

We ended up at Coldstone Creamery. I had a "love it"-sized Oreo Overload and McKayla had them make up some concoction of M&Ms, Oreos, Snickers and chocolate chips (in chocolate ice cream, no less).

How she could eat all that and look so . . . so hawt was beyond me. I'd be as big as a house if I ate half as much as she could put away.

The two of us wandered up the boardwalk and came back along the beach, each of us holding our shoes as the warm ocean water washed in over our feet.

Our conversation continued and we got to know each other even better. I lost track of time walking up and down the beach. The lights along the shore are deceptive that way.

I noticed that the shops along the boardwalk were closed and that the traffic in the bars had slowed down. 

"Holy crap!" McKayla checked her watch. She flashed me an embarrassed smile. "It's 10:30. I didn't mean to keep you out so late."

"That's okay. I don't mind." A part of me was sad that our night was ending. "But I do have to get up early for work tomorrow."

"Me, too," McKayla grinned sheepishly.

We stared at each other awkwardly for a moment. It was then that I truly noticed how beautiful she was.

I had always thought she was pretty. There was no denying that. Her body was firm all over, round in just the right places and her angular features gave her an exotic look that made me envious. It dawned on me that she wasn't simply attractive. She was drop-dead gorgeous.

Standing there on the beach, right then in that moment, I was completely blown away by the woman at my side. She was the kind of woman men would fight duels over. I'd have fought for her. And if I was reading her signals right, she was mine for the taking.

I just didn't know what to do next. It really was like being 14 again.

"Come on," she reached out and took my hand. "Let's get you home."

I looked around nervously to see if anyone might be watching us. The fact that I had never held hands with a woman before made me wonder if I had bitten off more than I could chew, but that thought passed out of my head in an instant.

Her touch was electric. All I knew was that I wanted to be close to her. I needed to be close to her. We walked quickly back to her car and rode in silence to my apartment.

She parked right outside my apartment and I led her to my doorstep, still holding hands.

I fumbled for the keys in my purse, finally opening the door.

"Would you, um . . . like to come in?" I asked.

There was a longing look in her eyes. I could tell she almost said, "Yes."

"It's late," she said with a regretful sigh. "We have to be up early tomorrow."

I didn't know what I would have done had she taken me up on the offer, but I looked away, trying to hide my disappointment. 

McKayla squeezed my hands and my eyes went back to hers.

"I had a really good time tonight," she said quietly, a hint of nervousness in her voice. 

"Me, too."

"Am I going to get a second date?" The hopeful look in her eyes must have matched the one in mine.

"Yes," I replied. "But next time, I'm paying."

She smiled awkwardly. 

It was moment of truth time. At least it was for me.

My hands were still in hers. I felt her tug slightly and I tilted my head back. 

I closed my eyes. McKayla's lips were soft and warm. A shiver ran from the top of my head all the way down to my toes.

She nibbled softly on my lips. I wanted to throw my arms around her but I couldn't. My body was paralyzed, frozen by her kiss.

Finally, she pulled back. It took me a second to open my eyes. I drew in a deep breath.

"Wow," I breathed softly, unaware that I had spoken out loud.

McKayla smiled gently. 

"Thank you," she whispered. She let go of my hands and took a step back. "I'll call you tomorrow. We could go out after work or something."

"Sure thing," I replied robotically. Inside, I was torn. A part of me wanted to pull McKayla inside with me and never let her go. But another, possibly more rational, part wanted to put the breaks on whatever it was that I felt and take things a little slower.

"I'll . . . ah . . . see you later." McKayla gave me a look that promised great things for our next outing, then turned and walked back to her car. I watched her, hypnotised by her bouncing pony tail and magnificent backside. 

She got in her car and backed out. I went inside and closed the door. My hands still smelled of her lotion. I could taste her on my lips.

It only took a few seconds to throw my purse down and rush to the back of my apartment. Falling onto the bed, I imagined McKayla laying on top of me, her weight pressing down.

I masturbated violently, fantasising about being with a woman for the very first time. 

My orgasm didn't satisfy me. 

So I did it again. And again. And again, until I finally fell asleep, exhausted.

*********************** 

She called me at work the next morning. We had to postpone our second date; she ended up having a meeting that night. We compared schedules and found that the only time we could go out by ourselves was the next Friday. She was busy with meetings and dinners with clients; I was free most nights but we had also promised to go out with Allyson and Bretlynn some after work.

The four of us girls went out on Wednesday and Thursday. It was awkward. At least it was for me. I tried not to hover too much around McKayla and she avoided staring at me. It was like our date was something to hide.

Of course they knew we had gone out; Allyson told me as much later. They also knew we had gone out as more than "just friends", but neither of them said anything; I think they enjoyed watching McKayla and I sweat as if we had some deep, dark secret.

Each night I went to sleep wondering what I was getting myself in to. Was this infatuation or puppy love? Was I just experimenting? Was I really a lesbian? Or did I just find myself attracted to someone who was irresistible?

The memory of our kiss made me long for the next Friday night. That was the slowest week of my life, but it finally passed.

McKayla was coming over after work. I made reservations at Chez Pierre, a local French cuisine restaurant, and wanted things to be perfect for us. I was still nervous, but not as bad as the weekend before.

She showed up right on time.

"Hungry?" I asked as she stepped into my apartment.

"I'm starved, actually," she said.

After I went to retrieve my purse and keys, I turned to head for the door and found McKayla right behind me.

I jumped slightly. My body tensed as I felt her arms around me. She pulled me close and, before I could react, gave me a deep, passionate kiss.

Slowly, I relaxed as her tongue entered my mouth. Her hands framed my face. 

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. Her kiss was both hard and gentle at the same time. I could feel the desire radiating from her, yet her touch wasn't rough or overpowering like a man's.

McKayla was all woman. She was very feminine but at the same time not girly. 

She pulled back enough to let me breathe, then nibbled softly on my lower lip.

Her hands brushed the hair out of my face. 

"I've been waiting all week for that," she whispered.

"Me, too." My voice was barely audible.

No matter what I told my arms or feet or hands to do, I couldn't move. All I could do was stand there in her arms, trying to remember to breathe.

We gazed into each other's eyes for an eternity. Her big brown orbs were hypnotic and smoldered with lust and passion.

Finally, she let me go. I tried not to let out a disappointed sigh.

I took her hand and led her out to my car.

We made some small talk on the way to the restaurant. She had just landed a couple of new accounts at work and was very excited. I was just happy that my boss hadn't chewed on me the day before when a whole pallet of liquor had turned up missing (no one at work had actually stolen anything—this time—the new inventory system screwed up all on its own).

We were seated at a private corner table. The lights were low and the food was excellent. McKayla ordered a braised chicken and I had the stuffed duck in a white wine sauce. We talked for a while about little things.

"Amberle," she said right after we were done with our salads, her voice nervous. "Are you . . . I mean . . . do I . . . aw, shit, I'm going to fuck this up, too . . ."

"Fuck what up?" I asked after a moment.

She took a deep breath. "Do I have a shot at being more than just a friend?"

I looked into her eyes. "I've been wondering that myself. . . . Listen . . . This is all very new for me . . ."

Her hand reached across the table. I took it.

"I'm not good at relationships," McKayla said quietly. "All the ones I'm in usually end badly."

For a second, I was tempted to say something, but I could see that she was searching for just the right words.

After a false start or two, she began to speak, her voice hushed. "I don't like commitment. I don't like feeling like I'm tied down. Maybe it's because I spent so much time . . . wondering if I was normal . . . worrying about rejection or people not accepting me because of who I am . . . I wish I could explain it."

Very gently, I took her hand in both of mine and gave her a reassuring look. "I'm just the opposite. I fall in love quickly. I like being in relationships. They're safe and secure . . . or at least I like to think they are. Sometimes I put up with someone's shit for too long just because I don't want to be lonely. I've been trying out this single thing, but I'm not sure I really like it."

We were silent for a second. She looked away for a second and chuckled to herself. "We're quite a pair, aren't we?"

I smiled back. My mind flashed back to my last couple of boyfriends. 

"Sometimes, I think I like the idea of being in love more than I like the person I'm with," I whispered. 

"I like the idea of being in love, too . . . I think I'm too chickenshit to do it, though." McKayla gave me a rueful smile. "You know that girl we saw the other night? . . . Vicki . . . She's my usual pattern. We met at a club, hooked up and then went out a few times. Then I started making excuses not to see her."

As her voice trailed off, I felt that little twinge of jealousy in my stomach again. "Why?"

McKayla looked away. "I don't know . . . I think a part of me likes the one night stands . . . I can't get hurt that way."

"I'm not the one night stand type," I said, my voice hardening unconsciously. 

"You've never had a one-night stand?"

I just shook my head. That wasn't quite true, but I wasn't about to tell her that. Not then. 

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Look at me . . . I'm a mess."

"You're a beautiful mess," I said softly.

McKayla shot me an appreciative, yet mischievous, smile. "And you're full of shit."

We both took a quick drink, both to avoid having to say anything and to wet our dry mouths.

"Why did you ask me out?" she asked me for the second time.

"Because you're . . . I don't know," I stammered. "Because it seemed right."

"I don't want to break your heart," McKayla warned.

"You don't want to break my heart or you don't want your own broken?"

I could tell a flippant retort was on her lips, but she stopped. I think the words stung her because they hit a little too close to home.

"McKayla," I began. I waited until she had looked up into my eyes. "I don't know what came over me. A part of me thinks that I've gone off the deep end. I've never been attracted to another woman, but when I look at you . . . all I can think is that I've got to be with you."




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 01



"I want that, too." I could barely hear her. 

Whatever she was going to say next was cut off by the servers bringing our dinner. We waited until everything was on the table and we were alone again.

"You know," she said, "You're the first girl in a long, long time that I've gone out to dinner with before I went to bed with her."

"I told you before," I replied with a sly smile and a slightly teasing tone, "I'm not going to be an easy lay for you, McKayla. You're going to have to work for me."

It was all I could do not to melt at the gaze she shot me just then. It was a good thing I was already sitting down because my knees got weak. I think if we hadn't been in public, she would have thrown all the plates and glasses to the floor, laid my body out on the table and had her way with me. And I don't think I would have stopped her. 

I don't think I could have stopped her.

My pulse had quickened. My breaths came shorter.

"Sweetie," McKayla said finally. "You are so going to be mine."

It wasn't a warning as much as it was a promise.

I smiled inwardly. What she didn't know was that I was already hers.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. I don't remember what else we talked about, but we both managed to get our desires under control. She walked me to my door again.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked her for the second time.

She thought for a minute. "No."

Her response was shocking, to say the least.

"Not tonight," McKayla was clearly torn. I was hurt. Being turned down once was okay. Twice was giving me a complex. She took my hands. "Do you like me?"

"Yes," I replied, disappointment and frustration filling my voice.

"Then you need to decide if this is something you really want."

It was, or at least, I thought it was. Did I? Or was it just lust?

"Believe me," she said. "This is as hard for me as it is for you. If not harder."

I looked her in the eyes and knew she was telling the truth.

"There's nothing in the world I want more than to make love to you. Right. Now. But I want to give it a try."

"Give what a try?"

"Us." Her voice betrayed a hint of fear. "I'm tired of being lonely. I'm tired of hook-ups and break-ups. I can't promise anything . . . and you'll have to be patient . . ."

My hand went to the back of her neck and I pulled her to me. Our lips met. Hungrily.

I finally let her up for air. Our breathing was laboured.

"I'll make you a deal," I said. "You don't do relationships. I don't do girls. Why don't we teach each other something new?"

Her response was to press me back against the door frame as she put her lips on mine. Our tongues dueled eagerly.

"That is the best idea I've heard all night." McKayla gave me one final kiss and then pulled away. She reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. She scribbled her address on the back. "Do you remember how to get to my place? Good. Come over tomorrow. Say . . . three o'clock? Pack a bathing suit and an overnight bag."

Before I could respond, she turned and walked back to her car.

*********************** 

I was restless all night, wondering what the next day held in store for me. When the sun came up, I began going through my closet trying to find just the right outfits. I didn't know what McKayla had planned, so I threw a bunch of clothes into a bag and hoped I hadn't forgotten anything.

Right before I left, I took a shower and resisted the temptation to masturbate.

From what I could recall, McKayla lived about half an hour up the coast, and I left at about two, following the Mapquest directions to her house. I knew I was early, but I didn't want to get lost and be late. I drove by her subdivision with lots of time to spare, so I stopped in at a grocery store and bought a few bottles of wine.

As I pulled in to her driveway, I marveled at how big her house was. She had a good size lot and her house seemed to blend in nicely with the neighbourhood. Although it was only a single level, it seemed to sprawl out with the beach forming a nice backdrop.

I parked in her driveway and as soon as I got out of the car, McKayla came out to greet me. She was wearing a pair of denim shorts and a nice t-shirt. I threw my duffel bag over my shoulder and she carried the wine inside.

"Very nice," she said, putting the wine in a special built-in cooler under her counter. I picked up a zinfandel, a chardonnay, a merlot and one of my favourite dessert wines.

"Let me take your bag," she said, noticing my discomfort. She led me to the back of her house. The steps were very familiar, only this time I wasn't hungover. She set the duffel in a corner of her bedroom, the same bedroom where I had woken up the week before.

I didn't really know what to expect next. A part of me hoped she would take it slow. Deep down, I wasn't really sure that my mind wanted what my body did. At the same time, my desire for McKayla was nearly overpowering.

"Did you have anything in mind for this afternoon?" she asked.

"Not really," I replied. 

"I thought we'd hang out for a while," she said. "We could go down on the beach or just lay out on the deck. There's a hottub if that's your speed. Or we could run over to the outlet mall that's right up the road and do some shopping. . . . I thought that I'd cook you dinner and then we could watch a movie or something."

My heart jumped at the "or something".

In truth, I was relieved that McKayla didn't just push me into bed (although a part of me would have been okay with that, too). "Let's just hang out here."

She seemed to let out a relieved sigh. "Okay. I'll let you change here. My suit's out on the deck."

As she brushed past me, I impulsively reached out and took her hand. She turned her head and our lips met for a brief second. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I started to nibble on her lip, but she pulled back, as if willing herself not to jump me right there.

Then, she turned and quickly left her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

It only took a minute for me to change into my blue bikini. I pulled a t-shirt over it and went back to the kitchen looking for McKayla. 

I drew in a sharp breath.

She was on the deck wearing a two-piece number that showed off her perfect form. Her raven-black hair hung down to the middle of her back. The thin spaghetti straps held up her gravity-defying breasts. I swear there wasn't an ounce of fat on that girl. The tingling started again in my gut.

McKayla turned and saw me through the bay window. Busted! 

I could only blush. She smiled knowingly but didn't say anything.

With nowhere to hide, I walked outside onto the deck. The view of the ocean was amazing. There were a couple of trees in the backyard, but they were arranged so the shoreline was unobstructed. A privacy fence on each side of the lot kept the prying eyes of the neighbours away.

There was a small patch of grass and then the dunes started. A walkway led from the deck on the back of her house through the dunes and let out on the white sandy beach. At the fenceline, a door kept people from wandering in off the shore. A single showerhead let people rinse the salt and sand off before coming in.

The deck itself was large. It was tiered into three levels. Down from where we were standing, an area was carved out that held a grill and a table. Up one tier was the jacuzzi, another table and a covered bar. A handful of lounge chairs were scattered here and there.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked me.

"What have you got?"

"I was thinking of mixing up a couple of margaritas," she replied.

"That sounds great," I said.

"There are towels in the plastic bin behind the bar." McKayla answered my unasked question. "There's also suntan lotion in there, too. I've got some SPF 30, 40 and 45. On the rocks with salt, right?"

I nodded.

She went over to the bar and began mixing drinks. Nothing so crude as simply tequila and a mixer, but she handmade a margarita from scratch. I don't know about you, but in my book, that qualified her as a keeper.

As I sorted through the sunblock, she handed me a glass. I took a long pull. It wasn't too strong or too sour. It was just right.

"Beach or deck?" she asked.

"Deck," I replied.

We sat down on a couple of the lounge chairs. The sun was out but the ocean breeze kept it from being too hot. 

Taking turns, we greased each other up with the suntan lotion. Her hands seemed to linger on my body and when she was done, I was disappointed not to feel her touch. I know I spent more time touching her than was necessary.

For the time being though, we pretended we were just two friends hanging out. The anticipation of the night was never far from my mind, though.

The drinks kept the butterflies under control, at least for me. McKayla seemed a little restless, but we lay out, taking care to turn over regularly.

We talked for the rest of the afternoon. Mostly about inconsequential things. Work. Our friends. Casual things.

Around five, McKayla had me tie the back of her bikini and then sat up. "I'm going inside to clean up and get dinner ready. You can shower in my room if you want or just hang out back here."

Then she leaned over and kissed me. There was hunger in her touch, and all too soon, she went inside, leaving me alone on the deck, my nipples sticking straight up and a tingle between my legs.

I spent the next few minutes trying to bring my heart rate down, then I went inside. McKayla had a couple of pots going and was busy cutting up some chicken.

She had changed into a sundress and smiled as I passed through. I went back to the bedroom and jumped into the shower, quickly washing off the oily lotion. I put on a nice blouse and a skirt and returned to the kitchen.

The smells were already permeating the house and my mouth started to water. I couldn't tell what she was making, but she had some pasta going, a white sauce in another pot and was sautéing up the chicken with some mushrooms.

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked. 

McKayla looked thoughtful for a second. "How about opening up a bottle of wine? I think the chardonnay would go well with this."

It only took her about twenty more minutes to have dinner ready. She prepared the chicken and mushrooms in a white wine sauce and served it over linguini with a light tossed salad on the side. We ate on the back deck, watching the sky turn orange and red as the sun set behind us.

She was a tremendous cook and I tried to eat everything on my plate, but I just couldn't. I think my nerves were getting to me.

We finished dinner and she cleaned up. McKayla wouldn't even let me near the sink to wash my plate off.

A part of me was nervous. I had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner to build up my courage. Was I willing to go through with this?

When she was done putting the dishes away, McKayla led me out on to the deck. The sun had just set. A three-quarter moon hung reflected across the ocean. The sounds of the waves against the shore were soothing.

I knew what was going to happen next.

McKayla and I stood under the moonlight and stared into each other's eyes for a long moment. My heart raced. She took the wine glass from my hand and set it on the rail.

My palms began to sweat. I had to remind myself to breathe.

Her hands caressed my face, her soft skin brushing against my cheeks. 

She pulled me to her. I opened my mouth.

Our kiss wasn't desperate or hard. 

It was soft and sensual. Her lips lingered on mine. I found myself lifted up on my toes trying to match her height.

Once again my body was paralysed as McKayla kissed me again and again. Featherlight kisses. Every part of me began to tingle.

"Is this what you want?" she asked softly.

"Yes," I whispered. 

"How far do you want to go?"

"I'll do anything you want," I replied immediately, desire clouding my judgment. "I just need to be with you."

If I had said that to a guy, I'm pretty sure it would have been off to third base and then a two-minute fuck right then. Instead, McKayla pulled me close to her. Our bodies pressed together.

Her hands ran through my hair. Her skin was so soft. All I could do was fall into her arms.

We held each other for an eternity. I was in heaven. Her touch was firm, but gentle at the same time. Our lips would meet, yet there was no urgency. I explored her neck and ear with soft kisses. 

She moaned and dug her fingernails into my back when I hit one of those sensitive spots just right.

Then, she returned the favour tenfold. My knees went weak as her lips tugged on my earlobes. I pushed my body closer to her as she continued under my ear and down towards my collarbone.

One of her hands brushed my breast. I moaned with anticipation, but she pulled at my collar, exposing my throat. McKayla's lips made my skin crawl. 

She left a trail of wet, sloppy kisses along the crook of my neck. My body burned with desire.

"Let's go inside," McKayla whispered, taking my hand.

I followed her blindly. At that moment, I would have gone with her anywhere.

We ended up in her spacious living room. Falling on to her plush sofa, we held each other. Her kisses were so wonderful, so tender, I believed I would never tire of them. McKayla pressed forward, her weight causing me to lean back.

She was almost on top of me when I pulled away and pushed her so we were both sitting up, facing each other. There was a hesitant look in her eyes. Hesitant and momentarily fearful.

For a moment, the only sounds in the room were our ragged breaths.

"Is this what you want?" I asked softly.

"Yes, Amberle," she replied. My pulse raced even faster as she said my name. "I want this."

"Are you sure? I'm not asking you to commit to spending the rest of your life with me . . . or even a week." My hand lifted her chin so she was looking me squarely in the eyes. "But I . . . I don't want to be just a fling for you."

She smiled gently at me. What appeared to be relief washed over her. 

"I'll try," McKayla promised. "I swear to God I will."

With that, my arms wrapped around her neck and I pulled her close to me. I leaned back, pulling her down with me. I could have lay with her on that couch for hours.

There was no hurry. We explored each other slowly. Deliberately. My hands caressed her body. I felt her breasts against me. Her long hair tickled my face.

She made no move to undress me there. We just kissed and held each other for a long, long time.

"I love your lips, Amberle," McKayla said.

"I love hearing you say my name," I whispered back, pulling her in for another kiss.

"Can I take you to my bed?" she said, sitting up.

All I could do was nod.

She stood and pulled me to my feet and led me to the back of her house. Along the way she flipped out all the lights, but the moonlight was enough to see by. The big bay window in her bedroom was open. The stars reflected off the water into her room.

McKayla sat me down on the edge of her bed then gave me a hungry, lingering kiss. She lit a handful of candles on her dresser and the nightstand. They bathed the room in a soft glow, their vanilla scent filling the air.

I looked once more at my beautiful lover. Her dark hair hung down over her shoulders. Her eyes twinkled in the flickering light.

It only took her a couple of steps until she was standing in front of me. My eyes were level with her breasts. 

Is this really happening? I thought to myself. It was like having an out of body experience.

Her hands gently pushed me back on the bed, then maneuvered me into the center.

I was lying on my back, my skirt riding up past my knees. McKayla lay down next to me.

We kissed again. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered again. Not from nervousness this time, but anticipation.

Our lips were locked together. My eyes were closed. 

McKayla kissed her way over to my ear, leaving a soft trail across my cheek. "I'm going to undress you now."

I nodded.

Her hands caressed my face, then went down my neck. I bit my lip to keep from gasping with pleasure. Very slowly, she began unbuttoning my blouse. Soon the top three buttons were open and she pulled the rest out of my skirt.

My eyes were closed as she tenderly explored me. I thrust my chest forward as I felt her hand around my breast.

Turning, I eagerly brought her mouth to mine. Just as our lips touched, she pinched my nipple.

I cried out.

Her hands opened the rest of the buttons. Every time she touched me, a shiver ran through my body. I looked up and saw her staring down at me, desire and passion in her gaze.

She pushed my blouse and bra straps over my shoulder. Anticipating what she wanted next, I wrapped arms around her neck and lifted myself slightly off the bed. As we kissed, I felt the corners of her mouth turn up in a slight smile.

With an expert touch, her nimble fingers had my bra clasps undone and I found myself topless. My nipples were hard with arousal. Goosebumps covered my skin, and not because I was cold.

I pulled McKayla to me, my bare chest against her dress. My hands reached around her, searching for the zipper at the top of her neck. I had just found it when I felt her strong hands around my wrists.

"Not 'til you're naked." McKayla held my hands and her mouth hungrily enveloped mine. I fell back into the bed, wanting—desiring—right then to feel her soft skin against mine.

McKayla's soft, lingering touch continued for several more minutes. She wasn't in a hurry. A part of me reveled in the attention, in the gentleness of her. My lover knew what she was doing, and she was doing it slow. Partly to savour. Partly to torture.

I wanted her more than anything. Her slow hand stoked the fire within me. 

It didn't help when she withdrew her hand from my breast. I let out a disappointed sigh, feeling lost without her fingertips on me. It quickly became a startled gasp as her mouth descended on my nipple.

She sucked it into her mouth suddenly. I arched my back and cried out. My fingers and toes went numb. I suddenly felt lightheaded.

"Oh, fuck," I whispered. 

Her hand went back to my breast. Her hair brushed my face. I tilted my head back, anticipating her lips against mine.

Instead of the hard, passionate kiss I was expecting, her lips only brushed mine. I whimpered in frustration. I lifted my head, searching for her, wanting to be close to her, but she pulled back.

" 'Fuck' isn't my name, Amberle," she said softly. Teasingly. 

"McKayla," I breathed.

"That's better," she replied and gave me a soft peck. She was doing this on purpose, like throwing gasoline on a bonfire. "What's my name?"

"McKayla!"

"I like the way you say it." She bit my lip. "I think I'm going to like the way you scream it, too."

"McKayla," I moaned, louder.

" 'McKayla' what?"

"McKayla . . . please . . ."

"Please what?"

"McKayla, please fuck me." I really didn't know what to say and those were the first words that came out of my mouth. I didn't really know what girls did with other girls. What I did know was that this woman in my arms was driving me crazy. I had never felt this way before about anyone.

Just having her close to me was enough to put my entire body on edge. I felt like I was going to explode. If only she would just set me off.

Her tongue entered my mouth and entwined with my own. Her hands roamed my body, first back to my chest and then down lower. I moaned again when she put two fingers inside the waistband of my skirt, then she pushed lower, brushing the top of my mound.

I didn't think the desire within me could build any further, but it did. My hips started to grind, trying to get her hand lower still, but she again pulled away.

This time, though, she didn't let me down. Her hand had withdrawn only so she could push my skirt down. I lifted my hips and soon the skirt was halfway down my thighs.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 01



"You look delicious," McKayla said softly in my ear.

Wiggling my hips, I pushed my skirt further down my legs at the same time. When it was past my knees, I kicked it away. All I had on was a pair of black lace panties. 

I felt so exposed right then. But it didn't matter. I was with McKayla. For some reason, I trusted her. I knew in that instant that she wasn't going to use me. So I lay there, almost completely naked, waiting for her to take me.

Her eyes devoured me. The hunger within her was beginning to boil over. Her touch, which had been slow and gentle just a few minutes ago, was harder. More desperate.

I liked that I made her considerable control slip.

We kissed again. Our teeth knocked together. One hand was behind my neck, pulling me to her. The other was inside the band of my panties, pushing them down.

Suddenly, McKayla let up. I opened my eyes, afraid the spell between us was broken.

The passion still smoldered in her eyes, but her expression softened. She looked nervous. "Amberle . . . Are you sure this is what you want?"

Her voice nearly broke. She was talking so softly, I could barely hear her. 

"Now is the wrong time to be asking that." I flashed her a reassuring smile.

"If you don't . . ." Her voice trailed off, as if she didn't want to contemplate all of the bad outcomes that might be in store for us. Her mask of certainly slipped for a fraction of a second, her vulnerability slipping through. Then it was back in place. "If you don't . . . you need to leave right now . . . Otherwise I'm going to rape you. . . ."

In response, I pulled her to me. For just a second it was my turn to be in control. I forced my tongue into her waiting mouth. I kissed her hard. My hands went to the back of her neck. When she tried to pull away, I grabbed a handful of her hair and would not let her up.

All of the desire that was built up inside me, all of the passion, I channeled it into that one kiss. 

It was wet. It was sloppy. It was rough. It was glorious. It seemed to go on forever.

She was tentative at first, but soon gave in. My hands went to the back of her dress. This time, she didn't resist as I pulled the zipper down. Nor did she stop me when my hands popped open the clasp on her bra.

I pushed her back, and reached for the hem of her sundress. We broke our kiss only for a second as I lifted it over her head, then flung it across the room. 

Once again, I pulled her to me. Our bare bodies pressed together for the first time. Our tongues dueled. I never wanted her lips to leave mine again.

Her hands dug at my panties, pushing them down. I did the same to her. 

Laying back on the bed, I pulled her on top of me. Her magnificent breasts were mashed against mine. My hands reached around and cupped her firm, round ass.

My legs were spread and she started to slowly grind her pussy against me. The space between my legs was slick and moist. My sex burned with desire.

Our lips never parted. Her hands were on my face as she continued to kiss me. 

I whimpered in frustration as she rolled to the side. I tried to wrap my legs around her, but she was stronger than me. 

Her kisses were softer now. She worked her way across my cheeks. My hands were on her body. I cupped her breast, getting my first feel of another woman. They were firm, yet coated in soft skin. 

It was her turn to moan as I squeezed them gently. 

McKayla left a wet trail of kisses down my neck to my shoulder. Her hands roamed my body, working their way lower. From my arms to my breasts. From my breasts to my belly. From my belly . . .

I was laying flat on my back. A gasp escaped my lips as she cupped my mound. I spread my legs.

My body shuddered as her fingers brushed the lips of my sex, tentatively at first. Then she made another pass. And another.

Waves of pleasure washed over me. My nipples were rock hard. One of them went into her mouth.

All of the blood in my body seemed to have drained out of my head. The room started to spin. 

With only a fingertip on my button, McKayla began manipulating me in ways no one had ever done before. I bucked my hips against her hand.

She established an easy rhythm that varied just enough to keep me off balance, but she never let up.

"God damn, that feels good," I hissed.

My hands reached for her head. I wanted to kiss her so badly.

Still she continued to rub my pussy. Her hand was surely coated with my juices. 

I grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her to me. As our lips touched, she quickened her pace suddenly and pressed harder. 

"Fuck!" I sobbed. 

Harder. Faster. 

"Wrong!" Her voice was firm, but teasing.

Her lips pressed to mine as my body tensed. 

"McKayla!" I cried out.

I was nearing a crescendo. Her hand was moving faster. I began to hyperventilate. My hips moved in time with her fingers.

"That's better," she said. Her hand was a blur.

"Oh . . . McKayla . . . fuck . . . fuck me," I arched my back and thrashed around on her bed. She had built me up and I was so close!

"Cum for me, Amberle," she said in my ear. "Cum all over me!"

The tingling started in my toes. I had orgasms with guys before. I even had some pretty good, scream-and-wake-the-neighbours orgasms. 

None of them compared to this one. And all she was doing was touching me.

I tried to form the words, but I couldn't. I tried to give her some warning, but I couldn't breathe.

My hands went numb. I started to feel dizzy. 

It was as if all of the sensations in my body were suddenly drawn to McKayla's hand, and then let go all at once.

I cried out. I don't know what I said. I'm sure I shouted and shrieked and moaned. All I knew was that the woman who held me gave me pleasures I could never have dreamt of.

All the while, McKayla held me close to her. Our bodies pressed together. 

As I let loose a primal scream, she never let up. Her hand never stopped moving. 

The orgasm seemed to last forever.

Then the room went black and the last thing I remember was McKayla pulling back and looking into my eyes. In that instant, we connected on some new level. I knew right then that we were going to be more than friends. Even more than lovers.

I knew. It wasn't lust. It wasn't desire. It was "the moment." I knew that McKayla Diane Perry was the one person I was going to love forever and ever and that no one else could ever come close.

Then the darkness consumed me. 

*********************** 

My eyes fluttered open. I must have been out for just a few seconds.

McKayla was leaning over me, a gentle smile on her lips. Her hair hung down, she brushed out of the way and tucked it behind her ear.

She leaned in and kissed me softly.

"Mmmmmmm," she purred. "A fainter . . ."

"Not always," I managed to reply. My entire body was limp. It took a tremendous effort to throw my arms around her neck and pull her close to me.

We lay in each others arms for a long time. I needed to recover my strength. McKayla seemed content just to hold me. Her body was warm. Her touch gentle. Her perfect breasts were mashed against mine.

"Thank you," I whispered in her ear. "You were wonderful."

She bit my ear lobe. The sultry tone of her voice made my skin crawl. "I'm not done yet."

Her lips went to the side of my neck. I turned my head and shuddered as she hit that nerve just right. 

"I want . . ." My voice trailed off as I tried to reach for her, but she pushed my fumbling grasp away. "I want to do you, McKayla."

Under the moonlight, there was a wicked glint in her eye. "You will . . ."

As her voice trailed off, I drew in a sharp breath. Her teeth raked my collarbone. A hand squeezed my breast, pinching my nipple. Her touch was exciting and comforting at the same time.

She knew exactly how I wanted to be touched. She seemed to anticipate what my body needed. 

". . . but not tonight," she slurred, her lips leaving a wet trail down my chest.

McKayla continued to work her way down my body, taking me to new heights of ecstasy. All I could do was hold on. She was fully in control. And I surrendered willingly.

A little while later, amidst the moans and screams, I fainted for the second time that night.

*********************** 

Thanks to Daniellekitten for letting me bounce some ideas off her for this story.

If you enjoyed this piece, please check back for the continuation in chapter 2 and the conclusion in chapter 3. I love hearing from readers, so feel free to send me a comment or drop me an email. 



McKayla's Miracle Ch. 02



This is the second part of the "McKayla's Miracle" series. If you're interested in the story, you should read chapter 1 first. I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to send me a comment or drop me an email. 

*********************** 

I awoke with McKayla spooned up behind me. Her breath was warm against my neck. One arm was draped around me, cupping my breasts.

I lay there for a long time, wondering what I had done the night before. I had taken another woman as my lover. I didn't have anything against lesbians or homosexuals. I only knew a few, and they seemed just the same as anyone else. I liked guys then; I still do today. 

Yet, that first morning I woke up in McKayla's bed, I knew there was no turning back. She had spoiled me.

I could count the number of lovers in my life on two hands. Some were good in bed. Some were not. Yet all of them were ultimately out for one thing: themselves. When a guy has sex, he is pretty much guaranteed an orgasm.

For the girl, it's different. We need to be built up. Slowly. I had a boyfriend in college who was very good in bed. But even then, sometimes he just used me to get off. I truly didn't mind, because our good trysts outnumbered the bad, and he was a pretty good guy. I think we would have been more serious if the Marine Corps Reserve hadn't activated him and sent him overseas.

My ex could be good if he wanted something. He could be bad if he just needed to bust a nut. Right after I moved to the beach, I went out with a guy who was a jackass most of the time but he had a "magic penis." He could do wonders with that thing and he could last for hours. He was my fuck buddy.

But none of them were even close to being in the same league as McKayla.

She did everything right. Even when she was touching or kissing me with just a hint of desperation, she never pawed at me. My breasts weren't speed bumps on the way to my cunt. When she touched me, it wasn't just to get me wet enough to slip it in; she primed me up and sent me over the top. She didn't eat me out thinking that it would automatically entitle her to a blowjob.

No, McKayla spoiled me for all men on that night. As I lay next to her, I knew that she was the one for me. In the soft light, I wondered if I could hold on to her.

The sun had just come up, its rays trying to creep in from behind the drawn curtains. I rolled over on my back. McKayla's head fell on to my shoulder. She looked so content. Her breathing was slow and steady.

My hand brushed the hair out of her face. She purred in her sleep.

I pushed her on to her back and rolled over on to my side. The top sheet fell away, exposing one of her wondrous breasts. I cupped it in my hand. Beneath her soft skin, it was firm.

The nipple hardened when I pinched it. A sleepy gasp escaped her lips. Leaning over, I gave her a good morning kiss. 

She tasted slightly of wine mixed in with a little bit of me.

"Good morning," I whispered.

McKayla smiled dreamily. "Yes, it is."

My hand hadn't left her chest. She bit her lip when I squeezed her breast, a little harder this time.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. We shared a long, sensuous kiss. Our naked bodies pressed together. 

I rolled on top of McKayla, pushing the sheet away and straddling her hips. I felt the soft mound of her pussy brush against mine. That reminded me of the night before and the burning lust I felt between my legs that only the woman beneath me could quench.

We kissed some more, a little longer and a little harder each time.

Her hands roamed by body. I loved the tenderness of her touch. It was gentle and eager at the same time.

I began to kiss my way down her body as she had done to me the night before. I wasn't in any hurry. I wanted to appreciate her beauty. Slowly.

She moaned as I took control. I didn't really know what I was doing. Instead, I just let my hands and mouth roam, doing all the things to her that I liked having done to me.

My lips lingered on her collarbones. She gasped and stuck her chest out for me.

McKayla's nipples showed her excitement. Hungrily, I took her breast in my mouth.

"That feels so good," she gritted her teeth to keep from crying out. 

Her hips started to grind against me in a familiar rhythm. I pressed back against her. We started to grind and hump against one another. It didn't matter that my pussy was empty.

Just having my lover close excited me. The motion started that tingle between my legs. She thrust her chest forward and I suckled on her breast. All the while our hips moved in tandem.

With every nibble McKayla moaned a little louder. When I squeezed her breasts like ripe melons she gasped with a little more enthusiasm.

I had to have her in my mouth. I wanted to know what she tasted like. I needed to give her as much pleasure as she had given me.

McKayla let out a disappointed sigh when I pressed her body flat against her bed. I wedged one of my knees between her legs and pushed them so they were spread wide for me.

I looked down at her neatly trimmed pussy. Her body was splayed out beneath me. My hair hung down and I brushed the tips against her skin.

She closed her eyes and smiled. Planting a series of light kisses down the sensitive sides of her body, I worked my way down, taking care not to rush.

Every inch of her body was sexy and I savoured her, my first sapphic lover. Her skin was so soft.

"Oh, that feels so good," she purred. I bit her gently right above the hip, drawing another, louder, moan and a sharp gasp.

I felt her hands running through my hair. I know she wanted to grab me by the ears and plant my face right in her pussy—that's what I had wanted the night before when our positions were reversed—but she didn't. She was letting me take my time.

My lips left a line of slobbery kisses along her flat belly. I made sure to blow gently on her skin, making the hairs stand up.

"Mmmmmm . . . I like that," McKayla whispered.

I smiled to myself, happy to be pleasing her.

My next move was to kiss the inside of her thighs, right below the hip. That drives me crazy. And not just a little bit. It makes me in-fucking-sane. 

And it had the same effect on McKayla.

She inhaled sharply and thrust her hips forward. Her head was thrown back, her eyes closed.

"Did you like that, too?" I asked, teasingly.

"Fuck, yea." Her voice was trembling.

I inhaled the scent of her pussy. It was sweet and pungent. Her pussy was sopping wet and I was happy to have made her that way. 

Her labia were swollen, the folds of her pussy was a bright pink against her dark, tan skin.

The previous night had been the point of no return for me. I looked up at her one more time. She lay there, looking back at me. 

Her eyes were full of lust and desire. I wanted so desperately to please her. As she had done to me the night before. But not just to bring her physical pleasure. I wanted to make her loneliness go away. I wanted to give her the love and comfort she deserved. 

As I had realised last night, I knew I wanted McKayla to be my love.

Her eyes hooded over as my mouth descended on her pussy. It was slick with anticipation. 

My stomach was a bundle of nervous energy. A month ago, this was something I never would have imagined myself doing. Yet there I was, not only about to go down on another woman for the first time, but feeling eager to do so.

I hoped I wouldn't disappoint her.

One of the things I always hated when guys were giving me oral sex was when they rushed. For them, I think eating a girl out is just some foreplay before getting to the fuck.

So I tried to take it slow. I remembered all of the things I liked and did them on McKayla.

There was lots of tongue involved. She moaned and bucked her hips into my mouth.

When she would draw in her breath I knew I had done something right. When her body tensed, I made sure to file that move away for future use.

Her eyes were closed, her head thrown back. Those perfect breasts fell slightly to the sides. Her nipples were erect, the areolae wrinkled pinches of flesh.

"Oh, yes!" she cried out as my tongue lovingly massaged her swollen clit. My hands were underneath her ass, lifting her slightly off the bed.

I continued to work her over, trying to avoid going to fast, but also trying to build her up to a climax.

"That feels so good, Amberle," she whispered. I felt her hands brushing through my tangled hair. "So . . . fucking . .. good . . ."

My tongue moved faster, brushing over the sensitive nub. Her breaths were coming shorter. 

The rise and fall of her chest was more pronounced.

Her moans were louder. More intense. 

"That's it . . . right . . . right there!" Her head thrashed from side to side. My excitement grew as her grip on my hair became tighter. 

I remembered something McKayla did to me the night before. I took two fingers and entered her. That brought a surprised—but delighted—gasp.

She continued to moan, a little louder each time, as I penetrated her, slowly at first, then in rhythm with my mouth.

"Jesus . . . oh, god," my lover mumbled. "Oh! . . . Yes, right there . . . just . . . like that!"

Inwardly, I smiled to myself, happy that my first experience with a girl was much more satisfying than my first experience with a guy.

McKayla ground her pussy in my face, trying to meet each pass of my tongue with her clit. She arched her back and I knew she was close.

"Fuck . . . fuck . . . fuckfuckfuck," her voice devolved into a stream of unintelligible sounds, each louder and faster than the last.

With one final cry, McKayla threw her head back on her pillows. She released my hair and began pawing around the bed, looking for the first thing she could find and hold on to. She made a sound that was a mixture of lust and desire. Pure, unmitigated bliss.

Her pussy flooded with juices around my fingers. My tongue lapped up all I could for as long as her orgasm went on. It seemed like forever as she continued to cum.

McKayla's moans gradually subsided and I let up on her. Soon, the only sound in the room was her ragged breathing. 

I continued to gently kiss and nibble around her pussy. Softly. Gently. Just to tease her a little bit more. I withdrew my fingers from her velvety folds and tasted my lover. She was sweet and delicious.

With one final kiss to her clit, I crawled up the length of her body. I brushed her hair out of her face and brought her lips to mine.

Our kiss was hungry, yet tender. She wrapped her arms around me and we held each other. I felt her round breasts pressing against mine. Her fingertips ran up and down my back.

Every now and then our lips pressed together. McKayla nuzzled up against my neck, her teeth digging slightly into my skin. I sucked on her earlobe, just hard enough to draw a squeal of delight from my lover.

We must have stayed in bed for an hour, not speaking, just content to be in each other's arms. The sun was well over the horizon and McKayla lifted her head just enough to look at the clock.

With a regret-filled sigh, she sat up, but not before stealing one more kiss from me. Her hair was a glorious mess. I admired her tanned, naked body.

She looked into my eyes, a glimmer of hope and something else on her face. "Are you hungry? Can I make you something for breakfast, or would you like to go out for brunch later?"

"I thought you were breakfast." I took her hand and pulled her back onto the bed with me. After a night of passionate lovemaking, I didn't want her to be out of my reach. I kissed her hard, but she pulled away from me. Frustration welled up from within me.

"I've, um . . . I've got to go to church in a little bit," she said. Clearly, she didn't want to leave me either, and that made me feel a little bit better. At least I wasn't that bad in bed. "Would you like to come with me?"

The look I gave her was one of bewilderment and uncertainty. I had given up going to church when I was in middle school. My folks went some when I was little, but after mom died, dad never went back except on Christmas Eve and Easter. I called myself a Presbyterian, but in truth, sleeping off Saturday night's excitement was more interesting to me than a boring Sunday morning service.

"I didn't bring anything to wear," I uttered the first excuse that came to my mind.

McKayla smiled wistfully, seeing through my bullshit. "God doesn't care about your clothes, silly. You don't have to go; I won't be long."

I felt awkward. On the one hand, I didn't have any real reason not to go. My motivations were purely selfish. I didn't want to be with anyone other than my new lover. I didn't want to be anywhere except next to McKayla in her bed.

She was also Catholic and that presented another set of quandaries. The papal stance on homosexuality was well-known and pretty much non-negotiable. And since we had spent the past day or so doing nothing but having homosexual sex made me not want to be in their building.

Yet at the same time, I knew that going to church was something that was important to McKayla. I also knew she was going with or without me. I took her hand and we stumbled out of the comfortable bed.

We shared a quick shower that was highlighted by some playful flirting, some not-so-playful groping and a little bit of soap. I ruffled through my bag and found a skirt and blouse outfit that was presentable. McKayla was dressed in a yellow sundress that only made her more radiant. Her hair was pulled back. I admired and envied her beauty at the same time.

The service was a typical mass. For me, that meant boring with lots of Latin that I didn't understand. I followed McKayla's lead when she stood, knelt and sat. The service wasn't packed, but it wasn't empty either. I looked around nervously, especially after I inadvertently slipped my hand inside hers at one point during the sermon. 

I withdrew it a second later, afraid that maybe we'd be stoned or cast out as the priest was saying mass. It was an odd experience for me. I was used to showing my affection for my lovers publicly and without shame. Now, I had to watch myself. I chewed on my lip as the full implications hit me.

If what McKayla and I shared was more than a one night fling, if we really had something, could I live my life hiding some secret? What would my family think? Would I lose my job because of this? Could we go out in public and hold hands or kiss and not worry about someone taking a swing at us?

As I looked over at McKayla, who wasn't paying any attention to my silent musings, I realised that my life was at a crossroads. The only question was what I was going to do.

The service ended as I was in the middle of my contemplations. We go up to leave. Several people stopped by to greet McKayla. She introduced me as her "friend".

Is that what I was? Her "friend"? I stood by, trying not to look obviously infatuated with her, but at the same time, not wanting to appear aloof or snobby. I smiled a lot and didn't say much.

The people at her church were warm and friendly. A part of me felt as if each one were scrutinising me, as if they knew and were going to shout it out at any moment. But they said nothing of the sort and soon we were back in her car. The top was down and our hair whipped around in the warm breeze. We held hands.

"Want to go out or get something at home?" she asked.

I just shrugged. I didn't care as long as I was with her.

She drove back to her house and made a full breakfast. Once again, she wouldn't hear of me helping her out. I sat on a barstool at the end of her counter as she talked and cooked.

McKayla set a plate of bacon, eggs, hashed browns and toast down in front of me. "Thanks for going to church with me, Amberle. You didn't have to and I appreciate that."

I began to nibble at my food. There were some things I wanted to ask, but I didn't know if this was the time. I looked up and her eyes were on me. They seemed to bore right through me.

"You're wondering why I go, aren't you?" she said softly.

My reply stuck in my throat. She flashed a knowing smile. 

"I wonder that a lot myself."

"Why the Catholic church?" I blurted out. "Why not one that's more . . ."

My voice trailed off.

"More what?" she asked, an impish grin on her face. "More gay?"


I was relieved that she could at least find something funny in this conversation. "Well . . . yeah."

She shrugged. "I grew up Catholic. It's not something you just give up. They're not so bad . . . despite what you think about the Pope."

I blushed and looked away.

Neither of us spoke for a long while. I searched for the right words. "I just don't know that I could stick around people who condemned me or my lifestyle. How can you go to a church that says that the most basic part of your life is a sin?"

Had I just pushed my luck with McKayla too far?

She had a thoughtful look and smiled reassuringly at me. "We're all sinners. Every one of us. If not for being a homosexual, then for coveting or stealing or whatever. Our lives are filled with sin, and it is only through the Grace of God that we are saved. I am reminded of that Grace every time that I go to church. I guess I could go to a different church, but there is something . . ."

Her gaze grew distant for just a second.

"There's something comforting about the rituals and liturgy of the Catholic Church," she continued. "I've been worshiping that way all my life. Some people think that our services are staid and boring and not very contemporary, but I like its regularity. I like that I know when to stand up, sit down and sing. Sometimes . . . sometimes, I think that predictability is what has kept me sane . . ."

I reached out and touched her hand, wondering how much she was going to open up to me today. I wanted to let her know how much I appreciated the trust she was showing in me.

For a second she was silent, as if lost to a memory. Then she blinked and was back in the present. "I go to that church because they're actually pretty friendly towards gays and lesbians. Oh, not openly, Father can't come out directly in opposition to the Pope, but for the most part, that parish is much more open-minded than mainstream America would like you to believe about Catholics."

"So why does the church so vehemently oppose homosexuals?" I asked. "Not that I want you to speak for Catholics everywhere."

McKayla chuckled. "Why does any church oppose homosexuality?"

I shrugged.

"Because every church is one generation away from extinction," she replied. "If you are a church—Catholic, Methodist, Mormon, Muslim, whatever—what's the best way to make more Catholics, Methodists, Mormons or Muslims? You make more. Churches have always relied on raising young people in the faith to serve as the next generation. Conversion will bring a few new members, but for the most part, the way most churches propagate themselves is—pardon the expression—by breeding more."

"Why does that make gay people a threat to civilization?" I asked.

"It doesn't," McKayla replied. "That's what makes gay people a threat to the church, not civilization. What's the one thing straight people can do that gay people can't?"

"Have babies."

"Exactly," she smiled, seeing that I was catching on. "The Catholic church believes that the sole purpose of sex is to make more babies. That's why they oppose abortion, birth control and homosexuality. All of their arguments revolve around making more Catholic babies to perpetuate the church. In the sixties, there were a handful of 'churches' that advocated celibacy for all their members. They died out . . . literally. Not only did they not make more members, but who wants to go to a church where you have to give up sex?"

We both shared another laugh.

"So why do some Catholics not mind homosexuals?" I asked.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 02



"I guess they feel that the world is already over-populated," McKayla replied with a smirk. "God made us in His image. That includes people who are black, people who are white, people who like dogs and people who don't like sushi. And it includes gays and lesbians. God loves me, despite all my flaws and no matter who I have in my bed."

She squeezed my hand.

"When you hear people say, 'God hates fags' and other shit like that, they're not speaking for God," my lover said, "They're speaking for themselves. They've read His Word and have interpreted it one way, but you can use the Bible to justify just about anything."

"Like what?" I said. Not only was McKayla beautiful, but she was smart, too.

"People have used the Bible to justify slavery, misogyny, you name it. And lately, homophobia." Our breakfast was forgotten. She took my hand and led me to the back of her house, past her bedroom.

In one of the spare rooms, she had set up a small private office. In another, there were stacks and stacks of books. McKayla is a neat person. Think of every anal-retentive accountant stereotype you know and that's her.

But this room was unlike any other in her house. Along one wall, a set of mahogany bookshelves stretched from the floor to the ceiling. The shelves were filled with books of all types, but that wasn't all. On the floor, on tables, in boxes. Books were everywhere. They weren't messy; everything was in an ordered pile, but it seemed to me that she was reading books faster than she could find space on the shelves for them.

She went straight to the desk and picked up a book with a well-worn leather cover and pages that had been read through over and over. McKayla flipped through the first part of the Bible and then handed it to me, pointing to a spot on the page. "Read this. Leviticus, chapter 18, verse 22."

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." My spine shivered as I realised what she was showing me.

I looked up from the page at McKayla, wondering why she would be showing me a verse that seemed to tell me quite clearly that what I had spent the night (and next morning) doing was wrong. 

"There it is, in black and white," my lover said. "God has spoken and given us His word. Homosexuality is wrong."

She smiled, as if to let me in on a secret, and then took the book from my hands. 

"Now read this," she flipped to a couple pages earlier then handed it back to me. "Leviticus, chapter 11, verses 9 and 10."

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat," I wondered where this was going. "And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you."

I stared at the page, letting it sink in. 

"The fishes 'that have not fins and scales in the seas', which ones are those?" she asked me, that glint back in her eyes. "Shrimp, lobster, crab. 'They shall be an abomination unto you'. Just as a man laying with man and a woman laying with woman."

She lip turned up into a mischievous smile. "The Bible tells us lots of things. Some of which we follow and some of which we ignore. We are told quite clearly not to eat pork or some other things, yet we do. Why? Because technology and modern health standards make them okay to eat. So why do some of us hang on to ideas that may also be out of date?"

As she talked, I think that was the moment I fell in love with her. She knew herself. She was so secure in her sexuality, in her person and in her skin, that I felt nothing but envy for her.

"I love listening to people quote Leviticus and tell me that being a lesbian is wrong because when I tell them that after having the shrimp cocktail or lobster bisque or crabcake for dinner, they just committed a sin equivalent to having homosexual sex, they go apeshit," her smile changed from mischievous to straight-out wicked. "The Bible is a guide for us all. It's generally good, but contradicts itself in places and it's dated in other ways. Our calling today is to discern God's Word and how it affects our lives. I believe the Bible was inspired by God, but written by humans. That means it is flawed."

McKayla seemed to know what she was talking about and she drew me in immediately. I felt the conviction of her faith and knew her sincerity. In all my life, I had never devoted much time to thinking about church things; sure I knew a few of the "essential stories", but I hadn't devoted much mental energy to them.

"Choosing to ignore some parts of the Bible doesn't mean we have to throw it all out," she said, gently placing the book back on the desk. "It means we have to discover its larger meaning. For instance, if you listen to the talking heads on TV, you'd believe that the entirety of the Bible is devoted to two causes: opposing abortion and homosexuality. But how many verses of the Bible discuss homosexuality?"

"I couldn't tell you," I said, shaking my head.

"Four." McKayla said, taking my hand and leading me back to her living room. "How many are related to poverty?"

"Couldn't tell you that, either."

"Over two thousand. What should that tell us, as Christians?" McKayla asked.

"Homosexuality shouldn't be high up on our priority list." I let her lead me on.

"Exactly," she said. "I don't believe being a lesbian is wrong. I know God made me this way. It's not a choice. It's not something I would have chosen. But it's who I am. God would not have made me gay if He didn't want me to be that way."

"What does that say about me?" I whispered. "I've never thought of myself as being a lesbian . . . but . . . but I like it . . . at least when I'm with you."

McKayla reached out and took me in her arms. I felt so comfortable in her embrace. So safe.

"It says that I've still got my touch," she whispered in my ear, a gentle teasing tone to her voice. "I'm so hawt I can make straight girls go gay."

We giggled together and her soft lips pressed against mine.

"Does it feel right to you?" McKayla asked, her voice a little more serious.

"Yes," I breathed.

"Then what's to wonder about?" She leaned in to kiss me a little harder this time. "One of the things I believe about Christ's message is that love is never wrong. I don't think it matters whether it's between a man and a woman, two men or two women. The things we do are just acts, but how we treat each other is how God will judge us."

"So we just shared an 'act'?" I asked, my turn to have that teasing tone.

"Several." McKayla winked. Her hand went to the back of my neck. I tilted my head back and opened my mouth. Her tongue intertwined with mine. "And I plan on sharing many more with you later today."

"Mmmmmm," I purred. "That sounds like a plan."

"What do you want to do now?" McKayla asked. "Finish breakfast?"

"Maybe later," I said seductively. "I think you need to pray some more."

"Pray?" she gave me a quizzical look.

"Yes, sweetheart, you're going to pray." Taking her hand, I pulled her toward the bedroom. "Are you ready? Repeat after me . . . Oh, god . . . OH! God . . . Oh, GOD!"

We laughed and fell into each other's arms.

*********************** 

That night, I tried to convince McKayla to call in sick with me the next day, but she had some important meetings. I had to be at work early, too, so I headed home late Sunday. I also needed some time to think.

What was I doing? My feelings for McKayla were becoming stronger. There was definitely an attraction between us, and not just because of the sex. I was intrigued by her intelligence. She was interested in the world. We talked about nearly everything. She was funny. She was kind. The only way she could have been more perfect was if she spent her weekends volunteering at a shelter for homeless kids and donated a kidney to a random stranger.

Yet a little part of me wondered if I was willing to completely change my lifestyle. I felt some of that while at church and out in public with her. I felt like people were staring at us. Judging us. Judging me.

I felt so alone that night. Laying in my bed, without her arms around me, I wished she were there to comfort me. I had never felt that way with anyone before. Even with my ex, for the two years we were together, I don't ever remember wanting him touching me as I slept. And there I was, missing the gentle touch of my female lover.

A part of me wanted to call her, but would that make me come off as being desperate? Or would that scare her off? After all, McKayla was already cautious of relationships; the last thing I wanted to do was smother her. So I lay there alone, counting sheep and wishing my lover was next to me. 

When I finally fell asleep, it was only bundled up under my heavy comforter and surrounded by pillows. They were poor surrogates for my raven-haired beauty with the charming smile and tender touch.

The next day, I had lunch with Allyson and Bretlynn. We met at the Chinese place in the strip mall. I didn't say much. They seemed to be staring at me. 

"Sooooo?" Bretlynn asked, finally breaking the tension. "How was it?"

"Don't you mean, 'How was she'?" Ally snickered.

My face flushed with embarrassment.

The other girl's hand slammed down on the table. "I knew it! McKayla had the exact same look this morning when she came in!"

I looked away, worried that the other people in the restaurant might be staring.

"You mean the I-just-got-some look?" Bretlynn grinned.

"Stop it!" I said with no threat in my voice. The other girls spent the rest of the meal teasing me and trying to get me to blush some more. They succeeded.

Allyson pulled me aside as we were leaving. Her face suddenly turned serious. "Amberle, I don't know what you did to her, but she's got it for you. Bad. She's had that dreamy look in her eyes all morning and this never happens. Not to McKayla. She almost missed her lunch meeting because she was too busy obsessing about you."

My jaw dropped. 

"I've known McKayla for almost two years. She's had more one night stands than the three of us put together. Usually after one of these weekends, she comes in and is as cool as ice. She's a mess today," Allyson paused for a second. She looked me in the eyes. "If you're getting together, I want you to know that no one is happier for you two than me. She deserves so much better than she's had, and she's got so much to offer . . . Hell, you know that."

I tried to say something, but couldn't. It was as if my voice had been stolen.

"Just don't break her heart, Amberle," Allyson said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't think she could handle it."

For a long moment, I just stood there, mute. Bretlynn finished paying her bill and Allyson pulled me out the door with them.

I went back to work but didn't get anything else done that day. Allyson's words echoed over and over in my mind. She could have said the exact same thing to McKayla about me and she would have been just as right.

When my watch read 4:00, I figured that it was 5 o'clock in Nova Scotia, so I made up an excuse and left work early. My boss didn't care; all the reports had been run and in truth, I could have just left and he never would have said anything to me.

As soon as I got back to my apartment, I picked up my phone and called McKayla.

"Hey, baby," she said quietly.

"Are you busy?" I asked.

"Kind of," her voice was soft. I could hear someone talking in the background. They were going on and on about something financial. "I'm in a meeting."

"I was wondering what you were doing for dinner." Was it too soon to see her again? Was I coming off as too eager? I really didn't care though, I just wanted to be with her again. I needed to be with her again.

"I don't have any plans," she said.

"Well," I said seductively. "Why don't you come by my place after work? I think I can find something for you to eat."

"That sounds delicious," McKayla replied, and I could picture the mischievous grin on her face. 

I decided to tease her some more. "And right now, it's happy hour. Two for one until 5:00."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"The apartment will be unlocked." 

She burst through the front door at 4:58.

I was in my bed. Naked.

McKayla stayed over that night and I found out that she didn't ever want to sleep alone again either. 

*********************** 

The next week passed quickly. The only times we were apart was when we were at work. Otherwise, the two of us were out to dinner or home watching TV or in bed. We alternated between her house and my apartment. My place was closer to our jobs but hers was nicer.

I felt comfortable with her. And I think she felt the same way around me. Out in public, I still felt awkward. I couldn't take her hand when walking along the beach or put my arms around her at the mall for fear of attracting all sorts of unwanted attention. On the few occasions when we did so, I discovered that we were either being started at disapprovingly by older people or gawked at by horny young men.

I spent the next Friday night in her bed. We made love all night. It was cool enough to leave the windows open and with the warm ocean breeze and waves crashing on the shore, the atmosphere was perfect for romance.

Waking up in her arms made me realise how lonely I had been for the past few months. I watched her sleep for a long time. She looked so peaceful. So beautiful. That was the morning I vowed to do everything in my power to hold on to her.

We spent a lazy Saturday around her house. After dinner, with the sun setting, we sat on the beach as the clouds streaked with reds and oranges. I leaned back into her arms. This stretch of sand was devoid of tourists; they were further south with the hotels and resorts. Her neighbourhood was gated and the beach fenced off so other people on the beach were few and far between.

Her strong arms were wrapped around me. I turned my head and nuzzled up against her neck. She let out a contented sigh. Her eyes were closed and there was a slight smile on her lips.

"You are a wonderful kisser," she said in my ear.

"So are you," I replied. 

"Can I ask you something?" she said after a long pause.

"Anything, sweetheart."

She didn't say anything for while. I sensed that she was building up to something, so I remained silent. My lips nibbled at her neck and the underside of her jaw.

"Did you . . . um, do you wish . . ." McKayla faltered for a second. "Are you happy with the way things are going . . . you know . . . between us?"

"Yes," I replied quickly, not wanting her insecurities and fear of commitment to take over. "Are you?"

She turned and looked me in the eyes. "Yes . . . more than you can know."

"I was worried that I was going to scare you off," I admitted. "That first day I was with you . . . I knew what I wanted . . . I knew I was right in asking you out."

"I'm glad you did," McKayla said. "I wish I had the guts to make a pass at you months ago."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because you weren't sending me any of the usual signals," she replied. "And you were kind of seeing that guy . . . what's his name? Travis."

I blushed and looked away. My fuck buddy.

"And I didn't . . ." her voice trailed off for a moment. "I didn't want to just have a fling with you. I wanted more than just a one night stand."

"Why?"

"I don't know," she replied. "I think it was because I didn't meet you in a bar. You were more than just a girl I could fuck and then leave the next day."

Inwardly, my stomach flipped, and not in the bad way. McKayla was telling me that she felt the same way I did about "us". My pulse began to race.

McKayla's arms tensed around me, pulling me close to her. She took a deep breath. "I've been praying a lot lately. I've been looking for direction. For purpose . . ."

I kissed her gently on the cheek. Her mask of certainty slipped away. My hands closed over hers and I squeezed her reassuringly. It was good to know that she reciprocated the feelings I had for her. I also wanted to take this woman in my arms and hold on to her. Maybe it was some maternal instinct to protect the people we care about.

Or maybe I was falling in love.

Her lips met mine and I melted into her embrace. The two of us stayed like that for a long time. Neither of us said anything else. We didn't have to.

The moon was out before we got up and went inside.

"I have something for you," McKayla said, letting go of my hand and pushing the sliding glass door open. "I'll be right back."

When she returned, she held a box that was wrapped in elegant silver paper with a big bow. It was a lot heavier than I expected. I looked up at her incredulously. She only smiled.

I slipped the paper off the parcel and opened up the box. Inside was a thick, leather-bound book. There was a faux-lock on the cover, like you might see on a wizard's spellbook in a Lord of the Rings movie. The pages were thick and gilded with gold. The volume had been carefully made up to appear as it had come to life from a fantasy world.

My eyes welled up as I read the words on the cover, The Elfstones of Shannara. 

"Where did you—?" I gasped.

McKayla smiled—that beautiful, haunting smile that made my heart melt—and pulled me close. "There's this thing . . . it's called the internet . . ."

I was laughing and crying at the same time. I pressed my forehead against hers. Our noses brushed together.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"You're welcome," she replied warmly and we kissed again. "Just one thing, though: You just have to promise that you're not going to turn into a giant tree."

Tears began to roll down my cheeks. It had been years since I had read the story, but I knew the gist of it and how my namesake ended up at the end of the book.

"You read it?" I asked. I set the book down on the kitchen table and took McKayla in my arms.

"Of course," my lover replied. That was a silly question; McKayla read anything and everything she could get her hands on. I bet that she got through the entire book in a few days. "It's a good story."

"You know," I wiped the tears from my eyes. I kissed her playfully. "If I do turn into the tree, I'll protect you and the rest of the elves from the demons."

McKayla pressed against me. Her grasp was firm, almost desperate. I tilted my head back as her lips descended on mine. This kiss was hungry and primal. My arms wrapped around her.

"You're doing that anyway, Amberle," her whisper was so soft I almost didn't hear her.

I could hear the blood pounding through my veins. I could feel her heart beating next to mine. Her touch was hot. Her face flush. I looked McKayla in the eyes and saw something there I had never seen before. It was more than lust or desire. It was love.

We stood in the kitchen holding one another for a long time. I never felt rushed around McKayla. I never felt like she was trying to hurry me into bed. I loved that she was just as content to hold my hand as to feel me up. When we were together, we could lay against one another without tickling or groping (not that those didn't have their places, though . . .) and be content just laying next to one another.

"Where did you get the book?" I asked finally.

"There's a store in California that specialises in that sort of thing. One shot collectable type books," she smiled, apparently happy that I liked her gift. "For fantasy geeks."

"It must have cost a fortune," I started. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," McKayla said simply.

"Well, I love it," I told her. The smile I returned to her was a little subdued, a little bitter. "My parents would have liked it, too."

"What were they like?" she asked.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 02



"They were dorks," I didn't mean that in the bad way. "They liked to read almost as much as you do. They used to play dress-up, too, and they'd make us go along. They belonged to a group called SCA: the Society for Creative Anachronism. Ever heard of them?"

"I have," McKayla grinned broadly. "Don't tell me they used to put you in costumes and take you to Renaissance Fairs?"

"They did!"

"Got any pictures?" she asked teasingly.

"Not that I'm going to show you," I retorted playfully.

She leaned in and kissed me again. 

"They loved fantasy books and all that stuff." Talking about my parents brought back a flood of happy memories. "When other kids parents belonged to bowling leagues or had poker games, my folks were making my little brother chainmail armour out of paper clips or playing Dungeons & Dragons with their equally dorky friends."

"It's a wonder you turned out as normal as you did," McKayla said and there was something in her voice that sounded like she was about to burst out laughing.

"Well . . ." I started and my voice dropped. "Dad gave all that up right after Mom died. He was never the same. There's a storage building full of their stuff that used to belong to them out at my uncle's place, but I haven't gone out there in years."

McKayla's hand was under my chin. I lifted my gaze to meet her eyes and tried to smile. "Amberle . . . my little Elven princess . . . you know what?"

I shook my head.

"I used to belong to SCA," she admitted sheepishly. "I haven't gone to any events in a while . . . but if you'd like me to take you to one . . ."

My eyes got real wide. A thousand things to say raced through my mind, but I couldn't process any of them.

"I'll show you pictures if you want." McKayla was grinning from ear to ear. "We're not all that dorky."

"Not now, my lady," I said, trying to remember how my parents used to talk to each other when at these things. We shared a hungry kiss. I felt her hands reach down, cupping my ass. "Thank you for my book. You don't know how much that means to me."

"You're very welcome, my love." My heart leapt when she said that word. "Now do I have to slay a dragon to win your favour?"

"You have it, McKayla," I whispered. "You had it the first day I met you. Now make me yours."

"With pleasure."

*********************** 

The next two months passed in a blur. We settled into a comfortable domestic routine. For someone who said she didn't have much experience in relationships, McKayla was very easy to live with. We spent most weeknights at my place, the weekends at her house.

The sex was great, but our relationship wasn't about that. Around her, I felt free. She was The One. Being out in public with her was still awkward and I started to notice that I became snippy with the guys at work whenever they'd make an off-hand remark about lesbians or homosexuals. 

Even in this day and time, some of the folks I worked with still had old-fashioned, Bible Belt attitudes towards gay people. Except, of course, when it involved some hot girl-on-girl action that inevitably ended up with a guy in the middle. 

To me, the worst part about what some of my co-workers believed wasn't that they believed the things they did, but that they were just parroting back what their preachers or their parents had told them. It seemed more of a knee-jerk reaction to gays than anything that was thought-out or deliberate. So I kept my mouth shut as best I could.

I did my best not to give myself away as being in a lesbian relationship, but I'm sure some of the guys figured it out. I didn't know what my boss would do if he found out; would he fire me? He was a good guy and seemed to have a lot of typical guy attitudes about gays, but I didn't want to chance it.

Allyson and Bretlynn knew for sure, and both of them were nothing but happy for us. The four of us continued to go out on a regular basis and Bretlynn even joked that we were her guy magnets. Allyson told us that her boyfriend wanted to go on a double date with us and then wanted to see us try and seduce her. I mischievously told her that might try that anyway, but he couldn't watch.

In the back of my mind, I didn't want to rush McKayla. She gradually became my best friend in addition to being my lover. She handled everything better than I expected. On a couple of occasions, she warned me that sometimes she pushed those around her away, but I never got that feeling from her.

Life was good until one day, our relationship changed. 

I got back to my apartment before she did. Even though she worked right next door to me, we often drove separately because she had lots of meetings with clients or had to go to the main branch or had some other reason not to carpool. Plus, riding to work together all the time would have been rather obvious.

Sitting on the couch, I tried to figure out the best way to break the news to her. 

A little after 5:00, she came through the door and set her briefcase down on the end table like she usually did.

"What's wrong?" McKayla asked, seeing me there fidgeting.

Nearly in tears, I couldn't bring myself to speak. Then she noticed a couple of boxes on the floor next to me. I had put all of her things in the boxes, figuring that she would leave me.

Her face paled, the blood draining out. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No!" I exclaimed. Breaking up was the last thing I wanted. "No . . . it's not that . . ."

"What is it, sweetie?" she sat down next to me and took my trembling hands.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. "I went to the doctor today. You know where I haven't been feeling well lately . . ."

There was a medical report folded up on my lap. I handed it to her. 

My voice was hoarse with fear. "I'm pregnant."

"What? . . . How? . . . Who?" On her face, I could see a range of emotions. Anger. Disbelief. Betrayal. Hurt.

"Travis," I whispered. "He's the only one it could be."

Her lip curled up and I saw her bite back a stinging reply. Her fingers clenched around the paper. Her knuckles turned white.

"When?" I expected her to explode and call me every name in the book. It was no less than I deserved.

"Right before my birthday," I had done the math and there was only one occasion when I could have gotten knocked up. "We used a condom, but I guess it broke or something."

She got up and started pacing around my living room. I could see the indecision in her eyes as the gears turned in her head.

"Have you told him?" McKayla asked. Her voice was curt, but I expected that. 

I shook my head.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I said quietly. All of this was information overload for me, too. "I missed my period last month. But that's not unusual. When I missed this month, I went out and got one of those home pregnancy tests. It came up positive so I went to the doctor's today. It's too late for the morning after pill. I can either have the baby or get an abortion."

"You can't have an abortion," McKayla said suddenly. Not that it was her decision to make, but I knew that's not something she would not even put into the mix.

"What are you going to do?" I dared to ask, the tears coming to my eyes. I expected her to be pissed off and storm out. That's why I gathered up her things. Our relationship had been going so well, but I couldn't ask her to stay with me. Not like this. 

She didn't reply immediately. She chewed on her lip nervously. All I could do was hope for the best.

"So this didn't happen after our first date?"

"No, sweetheart." That was my one hope to keep our relationship alive. "I swear to you . . . I haven't even spoken to him since you and I went out that first time."

It seemed like an eternity before she moved. McKayla surprised me by turning and heading back into my bedroom. I started to get up off the couch.

"Your stuff is all—" I called, but she was ignoring me.

I heard her throwing some things around. Not angrily, but like she was looking for something. A few minutes later, she came back out. Some of my clothes were stuffed into a duffel bag over her shoulder along with a kit of makeup and some other things.

She dropped the bag on the floor next to the boxes I had packed up.

Then she reached for me. I burst into tears as her embrace enveloped me. All the day's emotions came pouring out. Confusion. Helplessness. Bewilderment.

I thought my life had been going pretty well lately. I had a good job, a steady relationship and new friends in a strange town. But now . . . now things were different. I was going to be a mommy. And I wasn't sure how my girlfriend was going to take the news. 

It seems I need not have worried.

McKayla's arms steadied me as I sobbed. "I'm sorry, baby . . . I'm so sorry . . . I didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know," she whispered over and over in my ear. "It's okay . . . Everything is going to be alright."

Eventually, the crying fit was over. I still struggled for breath, but now that it was done, I began to think a little more clearly. "I can't ask you to . . ."

"To what, Amberle?" she said. "Stay? You can't raise a child on your own right now, honey. You're living month to month as it is . . . and then to take six weeks off? You don't have enough vacation time to cover that. And then you'll have daycare and another mouth to feed."

I knew all this already. I didn't need to be lectured by her. I was not in a good position, financially or otherwise, to be a single mother. I could make it work. Somehow. 

Couldn't I?

"How good is your insurance?" she said, barraging me with questions. "How much does it pay? What's your deductible? When does your lease end?"

"Why are you asking me this?" I cried out and pulled away from her. "I don't know!"

"Because I love you!" she shouted, sounding just as afraid as I was. There were tears in her eyes, too. "I love you, Amberle. And I'm not going to let you get away or kick me out of your life!"

We fell into each other's arms. 

For the past two months, I had waited to hear those words from her. Some days it was all I could do not to shout my love for this woman from a hilltop somewhere, but I thought it would only scare her away. To hear her tell me that she loved me was the final piece. It told me she was truly and completely ready for whatever the future held.

"I love you, too, McKayla," I couldn't keep it in any longer.

Burying my head in her shoulder, I started to cry again, but she grabbed me by the hair and brought my mouth to hers. It was a few minutes before she let me up for air.

"Now come on, honey. Let's go home," McKayla pulled me to my feet and picked up the duffel bag. "We'll cancel your lease and get the rest of your stuff moved later."

"You don't have to do all this," I said. She was taking control and for that I was grateful. The past six hours had left me dazed. How McKayla could have been blindsided and keep a cool head was beyond me.

"You're right," she replied. "I don't have to. But I want to. And the first thing we're going to do is move you and that baby of yours out of this apartment and into a clean house that's away from noisy neighbours and moldy cabinets."

She took my hands in hers. "Amberle, I don't know what to do. I'm faking it right now. But I know that I want you in my life. These past two months . . . this is as happy as I've ever been, and it's all because of you. We'll . . . we'll figure the rest out later. Together."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," McKayla whispered. "As long as you want me, I'm yours. Baby or no baby. I need you."

"I can't ask you to raise my child," I told her.

"I won't," her reply made my blood run cold. For just a second. "I'll raise our child. I've always wanted a baby . . . And I've always wanted that one person in my life who was my soulmate. It looks like now I've got both."

"What about Travis?" I asked, hesitant to even say his name. "What if he wants—"

"Don't tell him," McKayla said sharply. "Not unless you want him to know. That's up to you, though."

In truth, what my lover had told me earlier was true. I couldn't afford to raise this child on my own. My fuck buddy, for all his faults, had a good job and the child support he could pay would help me out immensely. It would only mean being connected with him for the rest of my life.

McKayla must have seen my brain working on this when she spoke. "If it's only about the money, he doesn't need to know. I'll support you if I have to. I make more than enough for both of us."

"That's asking too much of you," I said softly.

She squeezed my hands. "Everything I have is yours, Elven Princess. All you have to do is ask."

"I can't," I muttered. This was overwhelming. The room started to spin. McKayla sat me down on the couch again.

"Here's what we're going to do right now," she said once the dizziness passed. "We're going to my house. I'm going to draw you a nice hot bath and fix you something good to eat. Then we're both going to call off work tomorrow, move some of your stuff and get everything straightened out on my insurance."

"Your insurance?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yes, I'm sure it's better than yours," McKayla replied. It probably was.

"Don't you have to be . . . um, you know?" I stammered.

She smiled, as if to let me in on a secret. "Our company covers same-sex partners."

"But do they cover pre-existing conditions?" My head was swimming. "After all, this baby isn't exactly—"

"I had you added to my insurance last month," she said as my jaw dropped. "I, um . . . didn't want to tell you because I thought it might scare you . . . I've been waiting for the right time . . ."

"McKayla . . ." That was all I could get out before the words failed me.

"I love hearing you say my name." She kissed me tenderly.

"I love saying it," I told her. "And I love you."

"Let's go home," my lover—my soulmate—said. Then she took my hand and led me to my new life.

*********************** 

"I'm going to be late tonight," she said. "I hope that doesn't ruin our plans."

"That's okay," I told her. "We don't have to be anywhere until later. Have you had any dinner?"

"Not yet, but I think they're having something brought in."

"We're going to go ahead and eat then. Call me when you get out."

"Okay, honey. Love you."

"Love you, too," I closed the cellphone and then went to find Bretlynn, Allyson and her beau, Taylor. The three of them were waiting by the host station. I flashed a thumbs-up and then followed them through the crowded restaurant. Bretlynn's new boyfriend joined us a few minutes later from the bar.

This was supposed to be a triple date night out for the six of us, and it would have been the three month anniversary of my first date with McKayla. But I also knew she was trying to land a new account and that was okay. I had bigger plans for the two of us than dinner.

The five of us were seated at the hibachi tables and we were soon enjoying atmosphere and food provided by the Japanese steakhouse. After having our fill of chicken, shrimp, veggies, fried rice and a little bit of sushi, we got up to go, but not before McKayla called. She was just leaving work and was on her way over to meet is. 

I checked my watch. I had more than enough time. Allyson and I went out to her car and I changed. It's a good thing she had tinted windows. Then the other four left and I waited for my lover.

When McKayla pulled up to the curb, I was standing outside Ten Thousand Villages. We were at one of those touristy places just off the beach. There were restaurants, retail shops and some other entertainment venues that made it one big outdoor mall. It was the kind of place out-of-towners liked to go to do a bunch of stuff all at once.

As people walked by, many stopped to stare. The guys gawked. The women shot me ugly looks. I didn't care. I wasn't dressed up for them. A few guys asked if I was busy. I ignored them or told them they couldn't afford me.

She didn't recognise me until I saddled up to the passenger's side. The convertible top and the window were both down.

I bent over and leaned against the door, both to give her a nice view of my pushed-up cleavage and the people behind me a good look at my backside. 

"Hey, there, sugah," I said in my best slutty southern drawl. "Whatcha doin' tonight?"

It seemed that my outfit had taken her breath away. I smiled innocently.

"Lookin' for a good time, sweetie?" It was difficult for me to stay in character and not burst out laughing. 

"Um. . . yeah," McKayla stammered. It took her a second, but she was quick to play along. "Listen . . . I don't have a lot of money and I'm supposed to meet someone."

"That's okay, angel. You're a cute one; we'll work something out." I smacked the gum in my mouth and winked. "And I don't think your friend will mind."

I opened the door and got in. As I put one foot in, my micro-mini rode up enough to show McKayla (and anyone else who looked close enough) that I wasn't wearing any panties.

She stared admiringly at my legs and the breasts that were doing their best to spill out of my spaghetti-strapped halter top. I cuddled up next to her and stuck my tongue in her ear, much to the delight of several young men standing nearby. "Let's go, baby. I've got something special planned for you tonight."

"I can see that," McKayla said, once she found her voice. She put the car in gear. I kissed her, smearing some of my bright red lipstick on to her lips. Then we were off.

Resting my head against her shoulder, I ran my hands up the length of her leg. She was wearing a pink cami under a nice blue pants suit. Her hair was pulled back to keep it from blowing around too much. She had kicked her shoes off and was driving barefoot.

"Did you ever get any dinner?" I asked. "You're going to need lots of energy tonight, love."

"Not really," she made a face. "We had something from Pedro's and you know what that does to me."

I giggled. We certainly didn't want that tonight. "Pull in to Publix. I'll go in and get you something."

"Dressed like that?" McKayla asked incredulously.

"Of course," I replied with a wink. "I'm yours tonight 'sugah'."

She parked in the loading zone at the front of the store. As I got out, I flipped up my skirt to teasingly flash my bare ass. Once inside, the stares I got were at the same time embarrassing and exciting. I hoped I didn't see anyone I knew, but I secretly liked the attention. 

I went back to the small sushi section and picked up a couple packages that had some of McKayla's favourite things in it. It wasn't high-class sushi, but I didn't want her to go all night on an empty stomach and it would do. I also got her a bottle of Diet Pepsi and then went to check out.

After paying, I smiled sweetly at the bagboys who were staring at me and blew a kiss at a random old man who couldn't keep his eyes off my chest. Then I went back outside and got in the car.

She took off, my arm hooked in to hers, so that there was no question about what we were up to for anyone who happened to be watching.

We were headed north, up the US highway that ran parallel to the coast. It was a divided four-lane highway that cleared of traffic after a few minutes. There were a few subdivisions and some stores and houses along the road, but soon we were well past the built-up section of the beach. I didn't tell McKayla where we were going, but just told her to take US 17 and keep going.

Along the way, I opened up the sushi and began feeding it to my love one piece at a time. She made a big deal out of sucking on my fingertips and I was eager to give her the opportunity. I also snuck my hand inside her jacket a few times and flashed her my freshly-shaved pussy a couple of times, too.

"What brought this on?" she asked once she was done eating.





McKayla's Miracle Ch. 02



"It's our anniversary, sweetheart," I replied. "Three months ago tonight was our first date. As I remember, you turned me down. I'm going to make sure that never happens again."

"It won't," she promised.

"Remember that," I told her and squeezed her leg. We had been on the road for close to half an hour and were almost to the next state. I watched for some of the familiar landmarks. "See that gas station up ahead? Turn right just after that and then make the first left.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," I gave her the "trust me" look.

The parking lot was nearly full. There was no sign, just a large, two story building. It appeared to be a very sturdy building, not cheap or flimsy. It had wood siding and looked like it might have been a high-end restaurant. Only it had no windows.

The cars parked outside were mostly luxury sedans, sports cars and high-end SUVs. McKayla's BMW convertible fit in nicely.

As she put the power top and windows up, I sucked on her earlobe. "I'm your hooker tonight, McKayla. I'll do anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Anything," I whispered seductively.

With that, I pulled back and got out of the car. McKayla soon followed, but not before I got into the trunk and retrieved a duffel bag I had hidden there before she left for work that morning.

We went inside, my hand in the crook of her arm. The guys at the door gave us a curious look, but didn't say anything other than a friendly, if professional, greeting.

Just past the foyer, the building was a high-end strip club. It didn't advertise; it didn't have to. The clientele was discreet and rich. No one asked us to pay a cover and we went in to the main lounge. 

With a pole on each end, a stage ran the length of the back wall, the jutted out into the middle of the room with another pole that was presumably the main attraction. There were three girls on stage and a bevy of other girls socialising with the patrons and soliciting lap dances.

No one seemed to be paying much attention to us. In fact, it seemed that everyone in the place was ignoring everyone else, just like Baptists in a liquor store.

We settled down at a table. I checked my watch. It was almost time. A waitress came by and asked if we wanted drinks. McKayla ordered a rum and coke, I declined.

As the girl sauntered off, McKayla turned to me. "What have you got planned?"

"It's amateur night," I replied sweetly. "I'm going to win the thousand bucks. Gotta go."

I kissed her cheek, grabbed my duffel bag and went to the backstage area. The week before, I grilled one of the guys at work about the best strip clubs in the area. Most were dives, but this was one place that he said was the best. Of course, he couldn't afford to come here often, which was fine by me.

There was no smoking, of course (county health board policy), but he said they also had pretty girls and it was clean. Plus the staff was friendly, but firm, and they had a weekly prize on amateur night.

After checking in with the stage manager, I sat down at a dressing station and got ready. I was also sizing up my competition. There were a dozen or so other girls. Most were amateurs in name only. I wasn't going to win, not judging by the way everyone else seemed to have done all this before, but I didn't care. I was only here to impress one person in the entire place.

A guy from the club went over the rules. One song, stay on the stage. Don't touch anyone. Full nudity was okay, but we weren't allowed to stick any part of our body in any other part. No props.

I was going fifth. A few minutes later, I heard the announcer signal the start of the competition. I finished changing and touched up my make up. I didn't speak to any of the other girls except to say hi.

The butterflies in my stomach didn't start until I was on deck, so to speak. I had never done anything like this before. It was both exhilarating and scary at the same time. I took a bunch of deep breaths.

Finally, the girl before me was almost finished. I heard shouting and cheering from the audience. I watched the end of her routine from the side of the stage. She was good.

"Next up, we have a first-time performer," the announcer said, his voice booming over the loud speakers. Deep breath. "Put your hands together for . . . Amber Lee!"

The music started immediately and I bounded out on to the stage. There was some scattered applause. I looked out into the crowd, looking for McKayla. The lights were bright and that helped calm me a little. 

As the base pumped, I gyrated my hips around and struck a couple of seductive poses. I danced around, sticking my ass out and cupping my breasts. I slowly shed my top, revealing the black lace push-up bra that gave me as much cleavage as was humanly possible.

I flipped my skirt up a few times, flashing the white cotton panties I had put on. I knew I only had about three minutes, but I didn't want to toss everything aside in the first 30 seconds and then have to dance around and kill a bunch of time, so I tried to take it slow, but not too slow to be boring.

Besides, I also wanted to tease McKayla who was sitting somewhere out in the audience. The music played on.

I reached behind my back and popped the clasp on my bra. I caught the cups before it came off completely. Prancing around the stage, I flashed my breasts one at a time to the guys in the front row, then turned my back to the audience and tossed the bra aside.

Then I turned around, my hands covering my now bare chest.

I cupped my breasts and pushed them together, then I threw my head back and let them go. That brought a cheer from those watching. 

The adrenaline was running through my veins. I shook my chest for a second, then fell on to my back, all the while making humping motions with my hips. I looked in the general direction of where McKayla was sitting, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but the lights were too bright.

My hands hooked the insides of my panties and I slipped them down over my hips. My legs were together and the skirt was covering me up.

Right next to the stage was a middle-aged guy who was staring at me intently. I winked at him and pushed my panties all the way off, then tossed them into his lap.

I stood and went to the pole in the middle of the stage. Holding myself up, I bent over and stuck my ass out. My face was flush with excitement as I flipped my skirt up, this time exposing my bare ass to the audience.

There was a lewd howl.

With a naughty smile on my lips, I danced around the stage some more, knowing that the song was almost over.

My ending move was to spin around the pole and finish on the floor of the stage, my skirt pulled up, exposing myself to everyone. 

The music stopped and I stood. The audience applauded, some more enthusiastically than others. I blew a kiss in McKayla's general direction, waved to the crowd then went back to the dressing area.

I went to where my stuff was, threw on a t-shirt and got out a bottle of water. The stage manager came up to me. 

"First time, huh?" she said. I nodded. "You were good. Kind of awkward with the pole, but you've got good moves. With a little bit of work, you could make a lot of money."

The assessment was quick, professional and to the point. It wasn't a full on sales pitch, but she was clearly catering to my ego and my need for cash.

"I like that you just didn't strip down and dry fuck for four minutes," she rolled her eyes. "Some girls do that and it drives me nuts. We usually stop the music on them. Listen, you're not going to win tonight, but if you're interested in working here, we can get someone to coach you up."

My face turned a brighter shade of red. I had never considered doing this for a living, but a part of me was flattered that someone from the club noticed.

"Maybe some other time," I replied. "I just wanted to see what it was like."

"Did you like being on stage?"

"Yes," I admitted.

"I knew you did," the woman smiled. "You seemed like you wanted to please the crowd."

Actually, I thought, Just one person in the crowd.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. "Call me if you change your mind. You've got some time to kill for now and then we're going to call you all out and announce the winners."

I went to the edge of the stage and watched the other six girls dance, trying to imagine what I would do if there was ever a next time.

Soon enough, the baker's dozen of us were lined up on stage as the winners were announced. Of course, I didn't place, but that didn't matter. I tried to look around the lights and caught a glimpse of McKayla, sitting alone at a table. The look she gave me made my heart race.

A few minutes later, I was back in my hooker outfit and I made my way though the club. A couple of guys asked if I was busy later. I smiled politely and kept going.

McKayla was standing by the time I got to her. There was a wild look in her eyes. She took me by the arm and we headed immediately for the door.

As soon as we were in the car, she threw her arms around me and kissed me hungrily.

"That was the hottest fucking thing I have ever seen." Her voice was ragged. "If I had a dick, I'd be so hard for you right now."

I kissed her back. "Sweetheart, if you had a dick, I'd take you to Vegas and make you marry me tonight."

"Let's get out of here," she whispered.

"That sounds like a good idea, but don't go home." I said. "Go north on 17 and then out towards the Breakers."

McKayla's eyes got big. The Breakers was an upscale resort not five more minutes away.

"It's almost ten," she said. "Do you think—"

"I've already got us a room, sweetheart," I said with a wink. "Take me there, and don't forget: I'm your whore tonight."

"Hell, yeah, you are," she said, gunning the engine and peeling out of the parking lot. "I'm going to fuck your brains out."

"You're damn right you are."

It's a good thing there weren't any cops out patrolling this stretch of US 17 that night or we would have surely been pulled over for going 40 or so miles over the speed limit.

McKayla pulled up to the valet parking area and we got out. My short skirt and halter-top got me a few curious looks, but when I flashed my room key, the hotel staff jumped right to work and parked the car while we went inside.

The two of us walking arm in arm through the lobby drew some more interested stares from the staff, some disdainful, some interested, but neither of us cared. My desire was nearly over powering.

Once into the elevator, I pressed McKayla up against the wall. She kissed me back. I unbuttoned her jacket and pawed at her breasts. Her hands went to my ass and she pulled me close. I'm sure the security guys were re-playing that tape for months.

The doors opened and we raced to the room. Per my instructions, there was a bottle of chilled champagne next to the bed. The covers were turned down. The curtains were open, giving us a clear view of the ocean. Moonlight reflected off the water.

I grasped at McKayla's clothes. Her pants suit ended up somewhere around the door. Our teeth knocked together. Her kiss was wet and sloppy and delicious. Soon she was standing there in nothing but her underwear. I groped her lovely body, trying to get her fully undressed.

"I want you to fuck me, McKayla," I said, my voice desperate. "Fuck me like a whore."

She pulled back and stared at me longingly for a second. Her eyes flashed with something else for just a moment and then it was gone. Anguish? I couldn't tell in that split second.

"No," she whispered. I blinked in disbelief for just a second. "No, Amberle."

I started to tremble. What had I said? What had I done? Had I pushed my luck too far with her? I thought this would be a fun bit of role-play for us. Apparently not.

"You're not my whore," McKayla said, tremors in her voice. "Never a whore. You're my love."

She took my hand and led me to the bathroom. "Let's get you out of this."

Ever so gently, she began to undress me. The clothes fell away and soon we were both naked. 

McKayla pushed me into the shower and the warm water cascaded over us. It washed away the make-up, the sweat. My hair, which had been teased out, fell. I noticed something different about McKayla as we washed one another.

This wasn't our first shower together. But this one was different. Her touch was lingering. Her hands were always on me, and not just because she was playing with my butt like she usually did. It was like she didn't want to let me go.

I stood there in her arms for a long time. Our skin became wrinkled and still we remained together. I washed her and she washed me. McKayla always liked for me to play with her hair and that night was no exception. I massaged her scalp and pulled her hair as I lathered it up with shampoo.

She was tense, not overly so, probably from a long day. The shower relaxed her and once we were out of excuses to be under the water, we got out and dried off. 

Neither of us bothered to blow-dry our hair. Instead we put it up in towels while patting each other down. I went out into the bedroom, lit a dozen candles and then placed them on the dresser, the nightstands and other spaces around the room.

McKayla came out of the bathroom, her breasts holding up a towel. Her hair was down and mostly dry. She usually wore it straight, but it's naturally curly. I pulled my hair out of the towel and let it fall, patting it a few times to sop up the last of the water.

McKayla came over to me. She pushed me back on to the bed and I pulled her down on top of me. Her skin was so soft.

My fingertips brushed up and down her back, making her purr.

"I love being naked with you, Amberle," McKayla said in her sultry voice.

We were both exposed and vulnerable for each other. Not just without clothes, but there we were, just the two of us. Everything was washed away, both literally and figuratively. I looked up at her, the candlelight flickering in her deep brown eyes.

Her hand cupped my face and we kissed again. Her breasts were pressed against mine. Her nipples were erect.

"I want you to make love to me," I told her. "I want to be yours."

"You already are," she replied, her eyes flashing with something that looked like sadness. "It's just . . ."

Her voice trailed off. I didn't expect her to continue. A couple of times of the past few months, she had seemed like she wanted to tell me something, but she always backed off. I didn't push her. I knew she was afraid of commitment and I knew that this was hard for her. 

Not only was she in a relationship, but she was in a relationship with a girl who was carrying someone else's child. In staying with me, she was committing herself not only to me, but to my child. Each morning when I woke up, I felt blessed to find her still in bed with me.

So this time was nothing new and I only pulled her down to kiss me again.

"I don't ever want to be without you," I said, and I meant every word. McKayla seemed built to hold me. And I had never been more content than when I was with her.

The sad look flashed in her eyes again, but it passed. Her voice was barely a whisper. "I love you."

I tilted my head back as her tongue entered my mouth. I wrapped my legs around her and squeezed. She started to grind against me and my hips moved in time with her. We both moaned with pleasure.

"McKayla," I said softly. "I want you to do something for me. You don't have to if you don't want to . . ."

"Anything for you, my Elven princess," she said, using our most private pet name.

I rolled her over on her back and got up. Nervously, I went over to the suitcase I had brought over earlier in the day. Taking a deep breath, I retrieved something from under a towel.

McKayla's eyes got wide.

"Make love to me," I said simply, holding up the strap-on harness.

"I—," she stammered. "I've never done that before."

My face flushed. "Me, neither."

For a moment, I stood there, wondering if this was too much. One night she had asked if I missed being with men. I told her that I didn't, but there are still some things only a man can give a woman. But then again, as a lover, McKayla had no equal, and I let her know as much every day.

"Okay," she said, standing up.

It took us a few minutes to figure out how all the straps and buckles went. It fit snugly around her hips, the fake cock sticking out obscenely. My mouth began to water at the sight of her standing there. She looked unsure of herself, but I went to her.

My hands cupped her breasts and I nibbled on her collarbone. Her head rolled to the side as I worked my way up her neck.

"Lay down on the bed," I said and she pushed the sheets down. 

McKayla was on her back. Her firm breasts settled slightly to the sides. The look on her face was part torment, part desire.

I straddled her hips, the dildo rubbing up against me. I reached for a tube of KY jelly and greased "her" cock up. I didn't think I would need it, my pussy was so slick, but it a little extra lube never hurt.

Her eyes devoured me. I love it when she gives me that look.

Ever so slowly, I lowered myself on to McKayla. The toy stretched me. We had played with sex toys before—our favourite was Mr. Rabbit—but this was the first time either of us had ever worn a cock before. I wanted to start on top so I could be in control of how much and how fast she entered me. Plus, I wanted her to see everything.

I picked this dildo because it wasn't too long or too thick, and once it was inside me, it felt just right. As if it was made for McKayla and me.

After a few minutes, I bottomed out. She was all the way inside me. I arched my back so she could get a good look. Her hands reached up and cupped my breasts, her fingers briefly pinching my hard nipples.

Leaning forward into her grasp, I gave her the "fuck me" look.

"Do you like that, baby?" she whispered.

"Yes," I said softly.

"Did you want me to do this before?"

"No." Very slowly, I started to grind my hips on her, feeling my pussy stretch to accommodate her girth. "If this is the only time we use it, that would be fine with me."

"Then why do you want me to do this"" she sounded confused. "I thought you might have missed riding guys' cocks."

"My love," I made sure she was looking me in the eyes. "You have spoiled me on men. Forever. When we make love, you're not out for a suck and fuck. You don't use me for my body and you don't roll over and go to sleep after cumming inside me. I will never make love to another man. That much I promise you."

She looked hurt for just a second. "Then why? . . . Why do you want this tonight?"

I placed my hand on my belly. I was only three or so months along and wasn't showing yet. McKayla drew in a deep breath.

"Because this baby is going to be yours," I told her. "The baby I'm carrying inside me needs two parents. In about two months, we're going to find out if this is a boy or a girl. He or she needs more than just me in their life. I want that other person to be you."

McKayla's eyes began to tear up.

"I love you, McKayla," I continued. "I love you more than life itself. And I know you love me. I know this isn't how you pictured your life shaping out. But I also know you wanted children and that you'll make a great mommy."

Her voice broke, but she recovered. "Amberle . . . You know I love you . . ."

My stomach jumped. I steeled myself for the inevitable "but".

"Are you sure you want me?"

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life," I told her and my hand caressed her cheek. She smiled slightly at my touch. "Is that what you want? Do you want this baby?"

"Yes," she breathed. "I've prayed . . . I've prayed for so long that God would find a way to give me a child . . ."

I leaned over and brushed the tears out of my lover's eyes. We kissed, tenderly. She started to cry, and I held her. This was the first time I think I had ever seen her break down completely.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 02



My body pressed against hers. I just wanted to be close to her as the tears flowed. They were tears of joy. Her embrace was firm and loving.

"You can't know how much this means to me," she said in my ear. 

"Then make love to me," I replied and sat back. "Look at me, McKayla. I'm all yours. Body, mind, heart and soul."

Her hands caressed my legs, sending chills up and down my body.

"You are so beautiful." Her voice was soft.

"Are you going to think that after this baby—your baby—comes and makes my tits sag?" I asked, a teasing tone in my voice. "And after stretch marks cover my belly? What about in a few years, when you're still in great shape and people start calling me 'the short dumpy one'?"

"You will always be the most beautiful woman in the world, Amberle," McKayla told me. "No one else even comes close."

"Not even Selma Hayek?"

"No way," McKayla said with a smile.

"Jessica Alba?"

"Let me think about that for a minute . . . No!" It was good to hear the laughter back in her voice.

My hands went to her chest and I squeezed her breasts as if they were ripe melons. "Then make love to me, McKayla. I'm going to ride you and then you're going to fuck me. I want you to make this baby yours."

This time when we kissed, the hunger was back. 

We started slowly. I began to grind my hips against her. She bucked her hips against me, trying to figure out how much she could give me.

It took us a few tries and there were a couple of painful strokes, but soon we fell into an easy rhythm. My toes started to tingle as the cock inside me started hitting the right spots.

I threw my head back. My hands went to my breasts and I cupped them indulgently.

"Do you like watching me ride you?" I asked.

"Yes, I do, baby," she replied.

"I love the way it feels . . . but I want you. Are you ready to fuck me?" My legs were starting to get a little tired from being on top for so long.

"I think so," she said, a little hesitant.

Rolling off her, I lay on my back and spread my legs. My pussy had already been stretched by the dildo and I waited to receive my lover.

Her eyes smoldered with passion. She got up on her knees in front of me, the phallus sticking out like a jib spar on a tall ship. Her hair had fallen over her shoulders.

I pulled her down on top of me and we kissed again. I lifted my hips and reached down between us.

Taking the strap-on in my hand, I guided it to my open slit. Her lips brushed mine. I moaned as she pressed forward, impaling me.

When she was buried all the way inside me, she stopped. Waiting.

Even though I had prepared myself for this over the past week, as I lay underneath McKayla, the impact of what we were doing fully hit me. Symbolically, she was impregnating me. I could tell by the look in her eyes she knew it, too.

She was taking responsibility for a child that wasn't hers. She was telling me that she was willing to be linked to me forever. She was telling me that our love was worth fighting for, through good times, sickness, wealth, poverty and all the other tribulations in life.

Of course, none of this would make a lick of difference in court. It wasn't legally binding. But as I looked up at her, into her eyes, I knew that she was making that promise to me. And that was all that mattered.

I began to move my hips slowly. She was letting me take control of this part. I think she was afraid of hurting me. 

My pussy burned with desire. The dildo was just the right size to brush my g-spot. The juices began to flow.

After a few strokes, McKayla began moving her hips in time with mine. She couldn't feel what it was like to be inside me, but she matched my rhythm.

"Harder," I gasped.

"Like this?"

"Yes, love." My eyes were closed. "Just like that."

Her lips went to my neck and that sensitive spot just behind my ear. I moaned.

I arched my back as she thrust into me. Deeper. Harder. Faster.

My hands reached around and grasped her shapely ass, pulling her into me. In response, she cupped my breasts, which seemed a little extra sensitive. 

Was it the sexual excitement? Or was it my impending motherhood? I didn't care. I just wanted to feel her touch.

She varied her rhythm, trying to get comfortable. Where the first few strokes were tentative, like she didn't want to hurt me, after it was quickly apparent that I was enjoying having her mount me, McKayla began to thrust in harder and faster.

A delighted squeal escaped my lips.

"Oh, yes!" I cried out. "Just like that . . . McKayla . . . That feels so good!"

The tingling had spread from my toes throughout my body. 

Above me, McKayla had propped herself up on her elbow. Her free hand was cupping my breast. 

Her tongue entered my willing mouth.

Harder. Deeper. Faster.

"You're so beautiful," I vaguely heard her whisper. The blood was coursing through my veins. I was beginning to feel lightheaded.

My pussy was slick, and not just from the lube I had put on her.

My hands reached around and I tried to pull her to me.

"No," she said quietly. "I want to see your face when you cum."

Through eyes that were hooded over with pleasure, I saw her angelic face. I saw the love in her eyes.

I gave myself to her. 

Our hips moved in a rhythm that seemed natural. I felt her inside me.

The tingling intensified. And spread. I wrapped my legs around her, absorbing each thrust.

"Oh, god!" My voice was hoarse. "Oh, shit . . . Right there . . ."

Harder.

"Yes, McKayla . . . Fuck me just like that . . ."

Deeper.

"Oh, god . . . Oh, god! . . . I'm about to . . . about to . . . Fuck! . . . McKayla!"

Faster.

My body seemed to explode. The room started to spin. 

She pushed into me and held it. I arched my back. I saw shooting stars even though my eyes were shut.

The orgasm was . . . 

It was overpowering. 

I had never felt anything like that before, and considering how good my lover was in bed, that's really saying something.

My entire body pulsed. I was super-sensitive to her very touch. Our bodies pressed together. I never wanted to let her go.

Before I passed out, my eyes opened just enough to see McKayla's face, tears running down her cheeks and a contented smile on her lips.

*********************** 

"Why are you so nervous?" she asked.

"Gee . . . I don't know," I shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe because I'm about to meet your parents, tell them that we're getting married and then break the news that we're having a baby in five months."

McKayla gave me a reassuring hug. "Relax, Elven Princess, everything will be fine. Your brother and sister took the news well. So did Uncle Bill and Aunt Melanie."

That much was true. All four of my closest living relatives seemed happy (if a little confused) to hear that I was pregnant and in a lesbian relationship at the same time. I think my sister knew what was coming and had prepared my aunt and uncle for the news in advance. Ander was blindsided, but Mom and Dad had raised us all to be open-minded and he was happy for us, too. 

Facing McKayla's parents was a little more daunting. At least it was for me. I didn't know what they'd think of me. Despite my lover's assurances, the butterflies were still working overtime in my stomach.

McKayla had told them that there was someone new in her life and that we had some big news. I had spoken to her father a couple of times when he called the house, but this was the first time we would be meeting in person.

I was worried about them judging me. Was I worthy of their daughter? I had steeled myself for every evil mother scenario I could dream up and the last few nights had been restless for me.

My pregnancy was four months along and things were going well. I was going to the doctor's regularly and once I dropped the news to my boss, they were very accommodating at work to fit doctor's appointments and anything else in to my schedule. That was a welcome relief and the inventory manager had joked to me that since I had gotten pregnant, liquor had stopped "disappearing."

Some of the guys suspected that I was also living with another woman, but no one (including my boss) came out and said anything to me. It seemed that the people I worked with were happy with "don't ask, don't tell" for me.

I tried to straighten up a few things around the house when McKayla told me to stop. I couldn't help but fidget.

"Don't worry," she chided me again. "They're going to love you. And if they don't, they can go to Hell."

I smiled, but I don't think I convinced her that I wasn't nervous.

A few minutes later, I heard a car pull in to the driveway. I took in a deep breath. McKayla winked and gave me one more kiss.

"Stop worrying, love," she whispered.

Then she pulled me out of the chair and led me out through the garage.

Her parents were getting out of their car. Both looked active and fit. McKayla's father—actually, he was her stepfather—was a well-built, handsome man in his early fifties. He had salt and pepper hair and a warm smile. 

They say that you can tell how a woman will look in twenty years by seeing her mother. If that's true, McKayla will never grow old. Her mother was also in her early 50s and looked great for someone for someone who was in their late 30s. She had the same raven-black hair as McKayla and a slim build. Like her husband, she had a wide smile and a friendly demeanor.

The two of them had lines around their eyes which showed they were accustomed to smiling and laughing. McKayla gave each of her parents a hug. "These are my parents, Don and Suzie. Mom, Dad, this is Amberle."

"It's so nice to meet you." Her father gave me a big, warm embrace. Her mother did the same. 

"We've heard so much about you." Suzie said. Then she winked at me. "McKayla must really like you. She never lets us meet any of her girlfriends."

I could only smile nervously. "Can we help you with anything?"

"We'll get it later," her father said. "We want to know all about you."

The pair was easy-going and pleasantly informal. Her mother still had her arm around my shoulder and was quick to engage me in a variety of small talk. She complimented the house and said she liked many of the small things I had done to the place.

In truth, I hadn't changed much around the house, but it seemed she was going out of her way to be nice. If she was trying to put me at ease, she did a pretty good job but I couldn't shake that feeling in the pit of my gut.

We took them out on the back deck. McKayla poured everyone some iced tea. I fidgeted some more. Before they arrived, we had decided to break the news to them early in the visit because I didn't think my nerves could make it through a meal or an afternoon. I really needed a margarita.

The four of us sat around the table under the shade of a giant umbrella.

"We've got some news for you," McKayla said. 

I saw her parents share a half-amused look and a mischievous smile.

"Amberle and I have been together for four months," she continued. I looked over at my lover. She reached over and took my hand. It was trembling. I shook my head. That was her signal to keep going. "We want to get married."

Don was the first to speak. He sounded as if he expected to hear those very words. "That's great, girls. Congratulations!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" her mother said, getting up to give us both hugs. "Are you going to go to one of the states where you can get a civil union or to Canada?" 

"We thought we'd just have a commitment ceremony," McKayla said. "Even if we went to Massachusetts or New Jersey, their civil unions aren't valid here."

"Fair enough," her father said, giving us each another hug. "We could all fly out to Vegas tonight and you girls could tie the knot there."

"We thought about that," McKayla said. "But we have some other news for you, too."

Both Don and Suzie's eyebrows shot up. This was the part I was dreading.

I started to feel lightheaded, and not in the good way this time. McKayla's touch was the only thing that kept me from falling over. 

She looked at me to see if I was okay. I nodded and squeezed her hand.

"Amberle's pregnant," McKayla told them. I looked into her mother's eyes to see her reaction. I expected shock (which was there) and had prepared myself for a judgmental look of revulsion or something similar.

For a second, there was a stunned silence at the table. Then Suzie's smile got even bigger. She reached out and took me in her arms. Instead of barraging us with questions or even saying anything at all, she just held me in her motherly embrace.

"You are going to be a wonderful mommy, Amberle," she whispered in my ear, sensing my unease. "You don't know how happy McKayla has been since she met you. And now you two are going to have a baby . . . Welcome to the family, honey."

She pulled back enough to look me in the eyes. All the worries I had about meeting McKayla's parents and meeting them melted away right then. "Don, I think we need to start picking out our grandparent names."

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Both Don and Suzie were friendly and outgoing; apparently the apple really doesn't fall far from the trees. Suzie made a point of asking how I was doing and passed along some pregnancy advice but not too much. Don offered to fix some things up around the house to get it ready for the baby.

We talked for a while, then McKayla and her mom cooked dinner. Don and I sat on the deck. A warm autumn breeze blew in off the ocean. It was fantasy football season, so we had something to talk about that didn't involve the baby.

"Suzie and I have really noticed a difference in McKayla over this summer," he told me after one of those periodic awkward silences. I looked over my shoulder and saw my love and her mom talking in the kitchen. "The smile is back in her voice. You mean the world to her."

"She's a very special girl," I agreed. "I never thought . . ."

Don smiled with the same knowing smile his daughter shared. "We didn't either. Let me tell you something: McKayla has always been a free spirit. She's gone her own way on just about everything. And she's strong-willed; you know that. But once she told us she was seeing someone, we knew she had changed. And it's all been for the better."

I looked away.

"Whatever you've done to her," he said, "It's been the best thing to happen to her in years."

"Can I ask you something?" I took a deep breath.

"Sure."

"How did you react when she told you . . ." my voice trailed off for a second. "When she told you she was a lesbian?"

Don stared out into the ocean for a long moment. "We were startled. I think both her mom and I knew she wasn't into boys, but we figured it was just a stage. Once she 'came out', though, we knew it was the right thing for her. We just want her to be happy. We don't care who she's with or what she does."

I looked over at him. He seemed lost to a memory of a long time ago. "You know her birth father died when she was very young, right? When I met Suzie, she was struggling to raise her daughter. We got married when McKayla was four and I tried my best to fill in for her dad."

"You did," I told him. "She loves you like any child loves their parent."

"Thank you," Don replied softly. "McKayla went out with a couple of boys in high school, but was never very serious. She never had posters of boy bands in her locker or on her bedroom walls. When she came home from college at Thanksgiving one year and told us she was gay, her mom and I both knew. And that was okay with us."

He took a sip of iced tea. There was sadness in his voice. "It was hardest on her. We tried to be supportive. We let her know that it didn't matter who she was in love with and we would be there for her. But I think it was difficult for her to fit in. That's why she tried so hard to be popular and be liked and to excel at everything she did. It wasn't any pressure from us, we expected her to give her best effort in anything she did, but if she finished dead last at something, we were happy for her."

Don looked at me and took my hand. "Amberle, I think the one thing McKayla is uncomfortable about in regards to her sexuality is not having children with someone she loves. She's always wanted to be a parent and have a child. And now you've made it happen for her."

Earlier in the afternoon, I had settled down enough to tell them the full story about how I had gotten pregnant. They were equally non-judgmental about that, and I think they were both so happy about their impeding grandparenthood that they didn't really care about how I had gotten pregnant.

"If there's anything you need," he said. "Anything at all. Just ask. McKayla doesn't want for money or things. Her mom and I made sure of that when she was younger, and now she makes enough that she can take care of herself. But we have always been there for her, and we'll always be there for you. And let me give you a word of warning: Now that Suzie knows that you two are having a baby, she'll be scouring the neighbourhood for houses that are on the market. She's been wanting a beach house for a while and this might be her excuse to buy one."

He winked at me. "I'll try and talk her out of it, otherwise you'll have her over here every day to see that baby."

We laughed and I knew that everything was going to be alright.

*********************** 

Her parents offered to fly everyone out to the locale of our choice for the wedding, but we decided to wait until after the baby was born. Getting married is every girl's dream; McKayla and I were no exception and we wanted everything to be just right. I did a little bit of planning, but we were mostly getting ready for the baby.

McKayla bought piles of books on babies and pregnancies. She knew more about it than me. I was never much of a recreational reader; McKayla devoured books on any subject and she threw herself into raising our child with wild abandon. 

We fixed up the guest bedroom into a nursery and started nesting. I don't know where the next four months went. One night after dinner, McKayla took me into our home office and shared her finances with me.

Growing up, my family was middle-class but not extravagant by any means. Mom was a nurse and Dad worked for the state in the Comptroller's Office. We never lacked for food or clothing and lived in a comfortable house, but there was always more we could have had.

I got some grants and scholarships and I worked a job (sometimes two) in college. Even with the financial aid I got, I couldn't avoid graduating with some student loan payments and a little bit of credit card debt. Yet, I never felt like I got the short end of the financial stick because I knew that I only had a couple of years to pay off everything I owed and that everything I had, I earned.

McKayla was another story altogether. 

My jaw dropped when she showed me what she was worth. After graduation, McKayla's parents—who were well to do to begin with—had given her a sizeable amount of money to start up her own business. She invested some of the money in stocks and some in real estate. She had flipped a couple of houses and this one was paid off. Plus she did well for herself as a businesswoman.

"I'd be a piss-poor financial planner if I couldn't make myself any money," she told me once. "Clients want the people who tell them what to do with their money to be rich, too."

She wasn't simply wealthy. She was loaded. She had zero debt. A little over a year ago, she had paid almost a half million dollars for her house and in the real estate market at the beach, it had skyrocketed in value since. Her retirement accounts had over a hundred thousand bucks in them already. And she wasn't even 30 yet.

What she showed me that night wasn't just her bank account. She was driven to succeed. I think the money was of secondary importance to her because she never flaunted her wealth to me or any of her friends. She didn't dress in the high-end clothes (although she did have a thing for shoes) and seemed comfortable to be around people who lived from paycheck to paycheck like me, Allyson and Bretlynn. At the same time, she wasn't patronising to other people and treated everyone as if they were wealthier than she was.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 03



This is the conclusion to "McKayla's Miracle". It picks up right where the previous chapter left off, so if you're interested in the story, you should probably read the previous parts. Enjoy! 

*********************** 

I came home early. I was eight months pregnant and wasn't feeling up to a full day's work. I could have quit my job or at least gone on bedrest, but I knew that being around the house all day would drive me batty.

McKayla told me she had a meeting that afternoon and had driven separately. I called her before leaving work, but it rolled into her voice mail. That was no surprise. I left her a message and told her to call me when she got a chance.

As soon as I got home, I immediately knew something was wrong. I parked my new car in the garage and went in to the kitchen. There were a few things missing, nothing like a burglary or anything, but a couple of pictures off the refrigerator and McKayla's favourite coffee mug were gone.

My frown turned to dread when I saw a stack of papers on the kitchen table and a card with my name on it.

I waddled over and picked it up. With a dread-filled sigh, I opened the envelope.

Amberle,

I thought I could do this but I can't. It's not anything you did. It's all me.

The house is yours. Everything I have is for you and the baby. 

You made me happier than I have ever been, but something came up and I can't be with you any longer.

I'm sorry,

McKayla

I sat there for a long time, reading the words over and over. After a few minutes, I flipped through the papers. Sure enough, she had left everything to me. Her name was taken off the house and all our accounts. On the things I needed to sign for, there were instructions to go to a lawyer and they would take care of the rest.

As the shock wore off, it turned to confusion, despair and then finally, anger.

She had made me a promise! What had I done? What the hell was she thinking?

I stormed through the house. Most everything was still where it had been when I left for work in the morning. She took her clothes, some of her jewelry, a few books and her client files, but everything else was in its place.

McKayla wasn't answering her phone. No one picked up at her parents's house.

The tears came. I sobbed and sobbed. I wondered if the past eight months had been a lie. If I had been had.

It may have been the hormones. It may have been the rage. I needed to talk to her. I needed more than a break-up via Hallmark. I needed to slap some sense into McKayla. I needed to hear the words from her mouth telling me that she didn't love me.

Only I didn't know where to go.

I figured the only place she could be was her parents's house. That was about four hours away, but I didn't know where they lived. They had always come to visit us.

After a few minutes of searching, I remembered that we had ordered some books for them at Christmas. I found the shipping address stored in our Amazon.com account, Mapquested directions, got in my car and drove off without even packing anything.

The drive was miserable. I cursed and screamed at other drivers. I whipped myself into a fury. More than once, I had to pull over and cry.

All the while, I could only wonder one thing: Why?

It was dark by the time I got there. Don and Suzie lived in an exclusive suburban neighbourhood. You know the kind: the houses start at three quarters of a million dollars and all look the same. Four thousand square feet, brick façade cookie-cutter homes.

I pulled into the driveway next to McKayla's BMW and got out. The lights were on inside.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I went to the door. I knocked and rang the doorbell and pounded on the frame.

Suzie came down the hallway. When she saw me, there was a puzzled look on her face.

"Amberle, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Where's McKayla?" I demanded, the frustration coming out.

"I don't think this is a good time for you to be here," Suzie said in a firm voice. "I think she's hurt enough."

"She's hurt!?!?!" I nearly exploded. I don't usually cuss at people I love and respect, but my emotions were out of control. "What the fuck are you talking about? McKayla's the one who left me!"

"Amberle—"

"I need to talk to her!" I pleaded. "I need to hear her say she doesn't love me anymore."

"What do you mean?" Suzie had a cross look on her face. "She said you . . ."

As her voice trailed off, the light came on for her. McKayla's mother sighed. A deep, regretful sigh. There was a flash of anger in her eyes, as if she had been deceived, which quickly turned to sorrow. She reached for me and pulled me into a hug.

I burst into tears again. I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed some more.

"She didn't tell you, did she?" Suzie whispered. She stroked my hair, trying to comfort me.

"Tell me what?" I asked, gasping for breath.

"Come in, Amberle. You deserve to know. She's back in one of the guest rooms."

Don came out to see what the noise was all about. I barely saw him through my tear-blurred vision, but he had a shocked look on his face, too. Suzie shook her head, warning him not to say anything.

Suzie led me to their living room. She called for McKayla.

My love was standing in a doorway. Her eyes got wide. Time seemed to stand still. No one moved.

McKayla's eyes welled up with tears and then she was in motion.

She fled down the hallway. I tried to follow her, but she was too quick for me. After all, I was the one who was eight months along, not her. She retreated into one of the bedrooms and slammed the door shut.

"Goddammit, McKayla, open the door!" I shouted, pounding away. "Why? Why did you fucking leave me? You couldn't even break up with me face to face. You left me a goddam card! What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Kicking didn't work. Nor did slamming my shoulder against the door. All of the anger I had built up over the past few hours was channeled into the heavy oak. I screamed and yelled, trying to get some explanation for her abrupt departure.

Fat lot of good it did me.

I finally collapsed on to my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Why?" I wailed. "Why, McKayla . . ."

Spent, all I could do was choke for breath between sobs. I felt Don's strong hands on my shoulders. He pulled me to my feet and led me back to the living room. 

I fell on to the couch with Suzie. Don brought me glass of water while his wife held me in her arms. She was crying, too.

The rage passed. It was replaced by emptiness and silence. I was numb. 

My head was in Suzie's lap. I curled up in the fetal position, still shaking. She stroked my hair and told me everything would be fine.

How can things be fine? I screamed on the inside. I was scared. I was angry. I felt deserted. For the first time in forever, I felt alone.

It took a while, but my breathing became calm. It wasn't regular, but I wasn't short of breath anymore. 

"Amberle deserves to know," Suzie said after a while. "You need to tell her."

"I know, Mom." McKayla's voice seemed small, like a scared little girl. 

Suzie patted me on the shoulder and helped me sit up. She gave me a hug and then got up and left the room.

I looked over at McKayla, nothing but hurt in my eyes.

"Why?" I whispered.

It took her a second. I saw her draw in a deep breath, as if she were steeling her courage. She sat down next to me and took my hands in hers.

"Amberle, I've got a disease," she said softly. "No, it's not AIDS or anything you can get. It's called Huntington's Disease. It's a degenerative neurological condition. Think of all the worst symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, put them together and that's what I've got."

"Is there a cure?"

"No, honey," she shook her head bitterly. "Not yet. I've got some options for therapy, but it's going to kill me. I don't have any symptoms yet, but they're coming. I could live for five years more years or I could live for forty."

"How . . ."

"It's a genetic condition," she said. "I got it from my dad. I knew there was a possibility that I'd have it, but I didn't go and get tested until last month. I came back positive for the gene. I just got the results yesterday."

"But surely that's only a pre-disposition . . . like alcoholism."

"Not with this one," McKayla said, looking away. "If you've got the gene, you're going to develop the disease. It's just a matter of time."

"We can get through this," I told her. I desperately did not want to let the woman that I loved go. Not like this.

"I don't want to put you through Hell, Amberle," she said, putting on a brave face. "Like with Alzheimer's, I'm going to lose my memories and my personality. I'm going to forget you. I'm not going to remember who I am. My body is going to fail me. I'm going to have involuntary muscle spasms like with Parkinson's. People with these diseases don't suffer. It's their loved ones around them who do."

She gave me a heartbroken look.

"I'm not going to be a burden for you," she said quietly.

"Don't I get a say in this?" I asked. "Don't I get a choice? I love you, McKayla. You mean too much to me. We'll work this out. We'll find a way."

"There's no way to make this work."

"Sweetheart," I turned her face so she was looking directly in to my eyes. "What are you always telling me? 'God will provide; we just need to have faith.' We will get through this. Have some faith."

"I can't ask you to give up your life for me."

"I'm not going to give anything up for you," I said sternly. "I'm going to give up everything for us. You wanted us to work. That means we stick together through thick and thin. Good times and bad."

Tears fell out of the corners of her eyes.

"If you don't love me," I said. "I'll walk away. I'll get back in my car and go home. Otherwise you're stuck with me. I promised you a long time ago that I would never leave you and I don't intend on ever breaking that promise. You made the same promise to me, McKayla. And I'm not letting you out of it. I love you too much."

"I know you do," McKayla whispered and she started to cry. "I love you, Amberle. I love you and that's what hurts the worst. I'm going to wake up one day and I'm not going to recognise you. I'm not going to love you. And I'm not even going to realise it."

"We'll worry about that day when it comes."

With that, I took her in my arms and cradled her to me. We sat there on the couch for a long time, the three of us—McKayla, the baby and me—wondering what the future held but knowing we were in it together.

*********************** 

Our baby was born three weeks later. 

We named her Maureen Rene and gave her my last name, Goin. We toyed with the idea of naming her Christa or Talya (the female equivalent of Jesus, meaning "lamb of God") because of her "immaculate" conception to two lesbians, but instead decided to name her Maureen, a derivative of Mary (as in the Virgin), and Rene after my mother. She was healthy and the most beautiful thing either of us had ever seen. I toyed with the idea of quitting my job, but my boss talked me out of it. 

He knew I was involved with another woman, but that didn't matter to him.

"You're a good employee, Amberle," he told me. "You get your work done, the guys in the warehouse like you and I don't have to tell you anything twice. I don't care who you're sleeping with or anything like that. If any of the guys give you any shit about it, let me know and I'll get rid of them."

And that was that. I know a couple of the guys were uncomfortable having a full-blown lesbian working in their office, but that was their problem. 

"Listen, Amberle," my boss said one afternoon. "They liked you before they knew you were a lesbian. Now that they know, a couple of them are questioning whether what their preachers have told them is wrong. After all, you're not a monster who's trying to turn their children gay. Having a face to put on 'the enemy' really puts a crimp in some of these fundy Christians. I think a couple of the guys are also pissed that you won't go out with them now, but a few of the others are thinking about how hot you and your girlfriend are together."

I wished I had told him earlier because it would have saved me a whole lot of stress. He hired an assistant for me and even let me work some from home when I went back.

Why did I go back? 

Part of it was because I needed something to do. I love my daughter but I wanted an identity that was more than just as "Maureen's Mom". I also wanted to give McKayla a chance to be the mommy, too. That had been her dream since she had been little and I wasn't about to take that away from her.

After I recovered and felt up to going back to work, McKayla took her maternity time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act. I don't know if she was entitled to the leave, but her boss gave it to her anyway. She did all the mommy things around the house, and almost never called me wondering what to do with the baby. The only thing she couldn't do was nurse; in every other way, it was as if Maureen was her very own.

We promised one another that the little girl was our daughter, not mine. We knew that one day we'd have to explain to her why she had two mommies, but we'd cross that bridge when we got to it. When I look back now, I realise that the 12 weeks she took off were the happiest I had ever seen her. McKayla worked a little bit with some of her high-profile clients, but most of the time, she just stayed home. She glowed and only grew more beautiful in my eyes.

When the baby was six months old, McKayla and I got married. Not actually married, but it was close enough for us.

Once the baby had settled into a regular sleep schedule, McKayla and I spent the next several months planning the wedding. Let me say this: if you can plan a wedding with another woman and don't want to strangle her by the time it's all over, your relationship is in very good shape.

At dawn on a warm September morning, we stood on the beach behind our house and said our vows as the sun rose. All of our family came in. Brin stood next to me and Uncle Bill gave me away. Allyson was McKayla's maid of honour and Don escorted her to my side.

We both wore elegant wedding dresses that were just short enough that they didn't get wet as the ocean washed over our toes.

Each of us wrote our own vows. We promised to love and cherish each other forever. I think McKayla wanted to get married in the Church, but we knew that would never happen, so we settled for the next best thing: right in the midst of God's glorious creation, just before daybreak, with the sounds of the ocean around us and surrounded by the people who loved us the most.

After saying our vows, exchanging rings and taking some pictures, we went inside and began an all-day party. We had brunch for everyone who got up before dawn and then things got cooking later. Using the baby as an excuse, we had a little bit of time to catch a quick nap (read: post-nuptial nookie) around noon and then went out.

We spent the day with our families; we had an afternoon tea, then Brin and Ander snuck me away before dinner. McKayla and the baby were off with Don and Suzie.

When we arrived at the country club, I saw McKayla holding Maureen in her arms. She was back in her wedding dress because she thought I was putting mine back on. She looked radiant. Her smile stretched from ear to ear. I stared at her for a minute. She hadn't seen me yet. I watched her move around the room, greeting each of our guests. 

My lover . . . my best friend . . . my wife . . . she looked so alive. So animated. So vibrant.

Bretlynn was with McKayla and pointed over towards me. Our eyes met. Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Everyone else in the room faded away and all I could see was my wife and my daughter, the two people I loved more than life itself.

McKayla walked over to me and we stood there for a second. The room fell silent.

In unplanned unison, we each curtsied, holding our skirts out and bowing our heads slightly. McKayla's eyes twinkled. 

I was wearing one of my mother's old SCA outfits. It was a two-piece skirt set that had a double-lacing bodice with elegant silver and black jacquard trim over a long-sleeve white cotton blouse. The skirt had alternate panels of kelly green and royal blue that matched the bodice, and it flared out from the waist.

My brother, sister and I had gone through our parents's things and found the outfit. It must have been one of Mom's favourite outfits because Dad kept several pictures of her in it around the house.

Flowers were woven into my hair, which was pulled back into a tight braid.

McKayla shifted Maureen out of the way and pulled me into her embrace. I put my arms around her and we kissed. It was a long, hard, sloppy kiss. Her tongue entered my mouth and for a moment we were oblivious to everyone else around us, even our daughter. Finally, I pulled away, worried that either our friends would tell us to get a room or I would give in to the temptation to tear her clothes off and take her right there.

"You look stunning, Elven Princess," McKayla said softly. There was an edge to her voice, part amused, part longing. Her hand caressed my cheek. I turned my head so she could get a good look.

On the tips of my ears, under gobs of glue and flesh-coloured make-up were movie-quality latex points. Ander had found them on the internet at some Lord of the Rings costume site. Brin put them on and made sure they looked like they were my real ears.

"As do you, m'lady," I replied gently. I kissed her again, this time for just a moment, but I could taste the hunger on her lips.

I slipped my hand into the crook of her arm and we continued to mingle about the room. 

We sat down for dinner a little bit later and after that, things got crazy. There was a lot of drinking involved (not by me; I was still nursing), some dancing, some karaoke and some more drinking. Allyson and McKayla ended up singing some gawd-awful rendition of "Don't Come Home a Drinkin' With Lovin' On Your Mind" that was fall-on-the-floor hilarious. Allyson was blitzed and my wife was on her way. Suzie wouldn't put Maureen down so we made her the front of the congo line.

Everyone had a good time and that's what we wanted more than anything. For our friends and family, the people we loved most in this world, to be together. The fact that it was to celebrate the commitment McKayla and I were making was just the icing on the cake.

Oh yeah, there was lots of cake, too. We did the bouquet toss and the garter belt thing (twice). And McKayla found out that somewhere along the way, my panties had mysteriously disappeared . . . 

I dragged McKayla out of the banquet room a little after 9:30. Don and Suzie were keeping the baby at our house and I wanted to have my bride on our wedding night before she passed out.

We went back to the Breakers, and this time we had the honeymoon suite. We already had our keys and went straight up to the room. The night bellhops gave us a couple of raised eyebrows, but we didn't care.

Right after Maureen was born, I decided I didn't give a damn what other people thought about McKayla and I. If they didn't like seeing two women in love holding hands, then they can go to Hell. Life is too short to not have the person you love at your side at all times. I wasn't going to worry about how other people looked at us. 

McKayla's disease was going to take her from me. I knew that, and I dreaded thinking about it. I dreaded the talks we had about living wills and institutional care once she got to the point when I could not longer care for her at home. I dreaded thinking about the day when I would have to explain to our daughter why her mommy doesn't remember her name. I dreaded thinking about the day when the most beautiful woman in the world wouldn't know that she was the center of my life.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 03



All I thought about was being in that moment. Being a bride and having a dream wedding. Knowing that the person in my arms would fight for me, would die for me, would love me no matter what.

We held hands and raced down the hall way. 

McKayla was trying to get the magnetic strip key into the slot and I was already trying to get her out of her dress.

We stumbled through the door. McKayla kicked her shoes off into some corner of the room. I groped at her perfect breasts as her strapless wedding dress came unzipped and fell to the floor.

She steered me towards the bed. There were no lights on. Instead the room was filled with candles. Rose petals were on the floor and bed. The sheets were turned down.

Underneath her dress, McKayla wore a white corset with garters holding up a pair of thigh-highs and some white lace panties.

I pulled her to me, my hands under her shapely backside. She started to grind against me. 

Our tongues were dueling. My teeth raked her lips. Her hands groped my swollen breasts.

"Have I told you how much I love you, Elven Princess?" my wife asked.

"Only about a zillion times today," I smiled back.

"Well make that a zillion and one." She kissed me but had made no move to undress me. I think the whole medieval elfmaid thing was turning her on. At least that was the message her nipples sent me.

If I had been wearing panties, they would have been soaked. As it was, my excitement was almost dripping down my legs.

We were standing next to the bed. I tried to maneuver her on to the bed, but she was stronger than me.

Spinning me around, McKayla pushed me face down on the bed and then she pounced on top of me. I felt her hand push my hair to the side and then her lips were on the back of my neck.

Had I been standing up, my knees would have turned to jelly, so it was a good thing I was already down. I half-heartedly tried to roll over, but she kept me pinned down.

Lately, McKayla had become very aggressive in bed. I didn't mind. In fact, I really liked it.

For her, though, I think it was more about control. She knew that there were factors in her life that were beyond her control. Her disease was out of her hands. Our daughter was dictating our lives. And so to be able to feel in control while we were in bed was something I think she needed.

And I was more than happy to give that to her.

McKayla kissed her way across my shoulders and down the sides of my neck. I practically melted into the bed. I turned my head and she bit behind my ear, being careful not to get too close to the faux point.

I moaned out loud.

As she continued to kiss the back of my neck, I craned my head around, so she could get to all the sensitive spots. 

"Damn, that feels good," I whispered.

"You taste good," she replied, and I could tell she was smiling mischievously. "I am going to claim you as my own tonight, Elven Princess."

"I am yours, my lady. I have been yours since the day I first laid my eyes upon you."

With that she flipped me over on my back. Her hands clamped down on my wrists and pressed me back into the bed. 

Our lips met and she violently thrust her tongue into my mouth. I was eager to kiss her back. 

Oh, how I wanted to throw my arms around her!

But she was stronger than me. I pulled against her grasp, but to no avail. She was straddling my hips.

The white corset glowed in the flickering candlelight. Her hair glistened and her eyes sparkled. McKayla kissed me again and again. Her lips brushed mine. Her teeth raked my neck.

"Take me, my love!" I cried out.

She didn't reply. Instead, she pinned both of my hands above my head. Then she threw her legs over my shoulders, so that her covered pussy was above my mouth.

I inhaled her heavenly scent. She started to grind her hips against me. I tried to nibble at her through the panties and I could taste her excitement. Even her panties were sopping wet.

After a moment, she climbed off me and pulled me from the bed. She forced me down on my knees in front of her. I felt her hand on the back of my head, pulling me into her.

"Take them off," she commanded, and I was quick to obey.

Lifting her hips only to let me slide the lace down her thighs, McKayla than pulled me into her freshly shaven pussy. I attacked her with my tongue.

"Fuck, yes," she hissed through clenched teeth. "That's it, Amberle . . . That feels so fucking good, baby!"

Lapping at her pussy, I pressed my tongue into her folds. I could have eaten her out for hours.

She spread her legs wide for me. I put my hands under her ass, lifting her off the bed so I could get a better angle.

A glorious string of obscenities escaped her lips as I made love to her clit with my tongue. I entered her pussy with two fingers at first . . . then three. She let out a loud moan and nearly fell back on to the bed.

I looked up at her and our eyes met. Hers were hooded over with pleasure. 

Those big brown orbs were hypnotic and promised great things later in the night. Her breaths came in short bursts. She bit her lip as I pressed my tongue flat against her swollen clit and then swiped at her forcefully.

"That's it . . . eat that pussy," McKayla moaned. "Fuck . . . fuck . . . fuckfuckfuck . . ."

Her pussy clenched around my fingers. I pressed them further inside her even as my mouth worked her clit over.

McKayla's arms collapsed and she fell back on to the bed. I felt her pussy fill with juices and I sucked them all down.

She came and came and came.

Soon she was a quivering mass on the bed. She was mumbling something, but I couldn't hear her clearly.

I slowly let her down from the climax until my lips were only kissing her labia, which were puffy and red. Then I slowly began kissing my way up her body, until I noticed she was crying.

Taking McKayla in my arms, I held her for a long time. I cradled her to my breast.

"I love you . . . I love you, McKayla," I repeated softly in her ear, over and over.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and pulled me to her. "And I love you, Amberle. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. I don't know where I would be without you."

I looked into her eyes and just held her.

"Thank you for not giving up on me," she whispered.

We kissed again before I spoke. "And thank you for not running out on me and the baby. You're the best mommy I could ever want for my daughter and you're the only person I would ever want to be my bride."

She started to say something, but stopped herself. McKayla choked back more tears before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. As she exhaled, I saw a peaceful look come over her face. She smiled contentedly.

When she opened her eyes, her gaze bored straight into me. I melted into her arms.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Amberle," she said. "And now I'm going to fuck you."

"I am yours, my queen," I said rolling on to my back and pulling McKayla on top of me.

Desire filled her kiss. It took my breath away.

"Are you wet?" she asked.

I nodded. 

"Prove it. Touch yourself."

Pulling my skirt up, I reached down between my legs. My fingers were instantly covered by my excitement. My eyes rolled back into my head as I indulgently fondled my pussy.

When I was covered with juices, I brought my hand to my lover's mouth. She took my two fingers in her mouth and sucked on them slowly, taking just a little at first and then working down, knuckle by knuckle, sampling the taste of my pussy.

She reached between us and pushed my skirt up, so that I was exposed to her from the waist down. My thighs and bald pussy glistened in the soft glow of the candles.

"Fuck me, McKayla," I begged. "Please . . ."

"How do you want me?" she asked, the command slowly creeping back into her voice.

"You can do anything you want to me!" I said. "I just need to have you."

McKayla smiled once again and my heart melted for her. The look in her eye was the one that old me how much she desired me. How much she loved me.

Her fingers went inside the elastic band of her panties. Seductively, she pushed them down past her curvy hips and then kicked them across the room. Still wearing only the corset and her stockings, McKayla moved me into the center of the bed.

I lay on my back and spread my legs in anticipation. McKayla pressed her body against me and we kissed hungrily. She tasted of sweet wine and desire.

Reaching around, I gripped her bare ass in my hands and pulled her to me. Her hips started to grind against me. I bucked against her, meeting her thrusts.

"I love you," she said softly. Desperately.

"Then fuck me," I replied. "I need you McKayla."

She threw her head back, tossing her hair aside. Her big brown eyes shone in the candlelight. "And I need you, Amberle. I need you to love me."

I tried to smile through the tears that came to my eyes. "You are the mother of my baby and the love of my life. I cannot imagine being without you. I love to hold you. I love to kiss you. I love waking up next to you every morning."

"I know," she whispered. "I hate that . . . one day I'm not going—"

"Shhhhhhh." I put my finger over her lips before she could continue. "No, not now. Not on our wedding night."

My hand brushed the tears off her cheeks.

"Make love to me, McKayla. Be mine forever."

In response, she leaned over and kissed me. Gently this time. Her earlier rough playfulness was gone.

Our hands roamed each other's bodies. We undressed each other slowly, as if unwrapping the other.

Once we were both nude, we lay together, kissing each other softly. My hands caressed her soft skin. Her mouth made my spine tingle.

McKayla's hands cupped my swollen breasts. Maureen was still breast feeding and they were tender, but my love knew how to handle them just right.

I tilted my head to the side as McKayla kissed her way over to my neck. Her teeth raked my skin and she bit my ear lobe, being careful not to take the latex covering off.

Gasping, I responded by pulling her to me and kissing the underside of her chin and down to her clavicle. She moaned softly and lifted her chest enough to let me suckle on her breasts.

I took each of her nipples in my mouth and bit on them gently. They were hardened into little points. I pulled on each with my lips and then let them spring back.

McKayla's eyes were closed. As I kissed my way into the valley between her breasts, I wedged one of my knees between hers and forced them apart.

Our legs crossed and we began grinding in a slow, easy rhythm. We had both shaved earlier in the day.

My clit was swollen and slick. I pressed my sex against her. She pressed back against me.

"That feels so good," she purred, her eyes never opening.

Reaching around her neck, I pulled her down and kissed her eagerly. Our hips moved in time.

The pace was slow, but intense. My toes were already beginning to tingle.

She pressed down on me harder. I began to grind faster.

Her breasts were mashed flat against mine. I spread my legs as wide as I could.

When she turned her hips just slightly to the side, a jolt shot through my body. I arched my back and cried out.

"Like that?" she asked.

"Yesssss," I slurred.

I love having her right after she is freshly shaved. Her bare pussy was smooth as a grape and felt so good against me. I could feel the heat radiating from between her legs. 

We were both slick with sweat and excitement.

Faster.

She cupped one of my breasts and squeezed gently.

Harder.

My hands went to her ass and I pulled her into me on each thrust.

The tingling spread. I could hear the blood pounding through my veins. McKayla's heart raced along with mine.

"Fuck me, McKayla," I managed to say.

"Are you going to cum?"

"Yes . . ." My insides were on fire.

"What?"

"YES!" I was so close.

Her eyes were open now. She met my gaze, the intensity of her gaze only fueling the fire within me.

"Say it!"

"I'm going to cum!" my voice was a plaintive wail, caught somewhere between desperation and exhilaration.

"Cum for me, Amberle." Her voice was strained. I could see the veins in her neck.

Our hips were a blur.

"Cum with me," she whispered.

I threw my head back and screamed. There was an explosion of pleasure that started between my legs and spread to the rest of me.

My fingernails dug into her back. She cried out with surprise and pleasure.

The orgasm seemed to go on and on. Waves of bliss wracked my body.

McKayla collapsed on top of me, spent. I kissed her neck the sweet taste of perspiration on her skin.

I held her close, never wanting to be without her touch. We lay together for a long time. My fingers traced circles on her back. Her hands ran up and down my arms, making my skin crawl.

Finally, she rolled over on to her back. I settled into the crook of her arm, my head on her shoulder.

"Promise me you'll love me forever." 

"I promise." 

*********************** 

When McKayla told me about her disease, the conventional wisdom was that she would probably live for at least twenty more years and could possibly live for another fifty. The disease affected people at different rates and there simply wasn't enough research to predict how long we had together.

It turns out we got twelve more years together. And irony of ironies, it wasn't the Huntington's that got her. 

After our wedding, we spent the next year in denial about her disease. We knew the symptoms probably wouldn't appear for several more years, so we lived from day to day, always in the moment.

The first thing we did was go to visit a lawyer. We drew up wills and a custody agreement. We assigned each other medical power of attorney and spent a lot of time, energy and money doing everything we could to become so legally entwined that we may as well have been married. It was important to both of us that the vows we took before God were also binding in an earthly sense. 

If only you straight people knew how easy you have it by just signing a marriage license!

Meanwhile, our daughter grew and grew. She started walking and talking. I stopped breast feeding when Maureen began eating solid foods, and soon she started going to day care a couple of days a week. We settled into a nice domestic routine, made even nicer by the fact that we both knew that we had enough money saved up that we could both retire and live very comfortably if that's what we wanted.

But there was still something we had to come to terms with, and neither of us wanted to think about it. I always felt like I was on eggshells with the subject of McKayla's disease. I never wanted to bring it up, and neither did she.

Finally, one day we went to see her doctors and got the full scoop. We educated ourselves as best we could and sought out the best advice that was available. We joined support groups, mailing lists and discussion boards.

They physical symptoms would come first. They would start slowly, gradual involuntary jerky movements. Then they would become more frequent and spread throughout her body. She would lose weight as her body would constantly be in motion. Ever so slowly, she was going to lose control over her body.

Then her memory would start to fade. First her short-term memory. We would have to write things down. She would tell the same story over and over. Sometimes, I was going to have to give her directions three and four (or more) times. 

And then it would get worse.

Only once did McKayla ever ask if I was sure I knew what I was signing on for. I looked her in the eyes. My voice was firm and direct. 

"My love," I told her. "I will never leave your side. I promised before God and all our witnesses that I was going to love you forever and nothing on this Earth is going to stop me from fulfilling that promise."

The look in her eyes was heartbreaking, but we both knew what we were getting in to after that night I tried to break the door down at her parents's house.

As is often the case when people get out of college, start working and have kids, the next few years flew by for us.

Maureen became the one constant delight in our lives. She may not share a single strand of DNA with McKayla, but she is definitely my wife's daughter.

They walk and talk the same way. Our daughter mimics McKayla's mannerisms. They have the same temperament. And they're both the two smartest people I know.

Like her (other) mother, Maureen is a voracious reader. We buy her books and she blows through them. When she started kindergarten, she was reading at a first grade level. When she started first grade, she was almost to third grade level. Sometimes, she's too smart for her own good, but we don't mind.

I never told Travis about his daughter, and I don't intend to. She has never asked about him, and I hope she never does. Maureen has two mommies and knows we love her more than life itself.

When our daughter was three, McKayla came home one afternoon and told me that she had quit her job. I stared at her in stunned disbelief when she asked me to quit my job, too.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said.

"You don't need to work at the warehouse anymore," McKayla said. "Let's go into business together."

"Doing what?" I asked. "Don't tell me you want to open a bar with a bunch of your friends, because only guys do that and boys are stupid."

"No, silly," she replied with a smirk. "Think about it this way: How much of my commission does the bank take off the top of my accounts?"

I shrugged.

"About twenty percent." She reached into her briefcase and laid a pad down on the table. I looked into the other room where Maureen was playing with one of her little friends from daycare to make sure everything was alright. "What if we got to keep that twenty percent?"

She turned the pad around so I could read the figures at the bottom. My jaw dropped.

"Think of it as a 25% pay increase," she winked. "We can both work from home and be here full time for Maureen."

The only thing I worried about was whether she would be able to keep all her clients. She said she would lose some of the people who wanted to stay with the bank, but her reputation was strong enough that most of them would stay with her, and she was working to pick up a few more.

After a little bit more persuasion, I agreed, went in to work the next day and tendered my resignation. My boss told me he was surprised I stuck around as long as I did and he told me I was welcome back any time. The other guys at the warehouse threw me a big going-away party and McKayla and I started on a new chapter in our lives.

Like everything else, McKayla jumped into the new business feet first. We incorporated ourselves and started working. I knew nothing about financial advising, but I was a pretty good office manager. She handled the accounts, I made sure she knew where everything was.

Our first "clients" were some old friends, Allyson and her new husband J.B. She married into some money and they were very happy together. At our first "business meeting" (a cookout on the back deck), McKayla showed her some of our new custom-printed stationary.

"How do you like our new letterhead?" she asked.

"It's nice," Allyson replied, taking a long pull from her margarita.

"It is, isn't it? My secretary made it up," McKayla said with a wink. She leaned in as if to let our friend in on a secret. "And just between you and me . . . I'm sleeping with her."

They giggled and I rolled my eyes.

Business was good for another couple of years and the time seemed to fly on by. Maureen was an honour student in school. My lover only became more beautiful. We were making money, but that wasn't really important to us. After all, we had enough already, but we were together and doing something we both truly enjoyed.

I took lots of pictures and video of our time together. I think I wanted to make sure that if . . . no, when . . . McKayla started to forget, there would always be reminders of our love for each other and for our daughter.




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 03



She didn't want me to know about them, but I found out McKayla was recording messages for Maureen. She told our daughter how much she loved her and how proud she was of her. My heart broke when I accidentally came up on the DVD she had hidden in Maureen's baby book. I watched two of the files, then couldn't bring myself to see my wife face the fact that she knew she was going to be lost to us one day.

The day after Maureen turned seven, we got the kind of phone call no one should ever have to take.

It was McKayla's doctor. Her memory was fine and there were no traces of the "shakes" as we began calling them. Both of us knew that it was only a matter of time before the symptoms of McKayla's disease would manifest themselves.

There was an uncomfortable gravity in her doctor's voice as he told us he wanted her to come in and run some more tests after finding something "funny" in her blood work.

After a second batch of tests, McKayla came back with colon cancer. The doctor thought they had caught it early and after a round of chemotherapy, she had surgery, and then another round of chemotherapy.

She faced this new challenge just as she had faced every other one in her life: head-on, with a steely determination and me at her side. I think the cancer was harder on me than it was on her. At least that was the impression I got.

We didn't tell Maureen right away, but she figured it out anyway.

"It's okay, Mommy," she told me with the kind of certainty only seven year-olds have. "Jesus will look out for Mom."

So we prayed together. I put on a strong face, but there was no doubt in our daughter's mind that her mother was going to get through this. I guess faith was another thing Maureen got from McKayla, because God knows, she didn't get it from me.

After the second round of chemo, the doctors declared her cancer-free. McKayla had lost a little bit of weight, but otherwise seemed healthy.

We continued on with our lives. After all, what choice did we have?

As we got older, I found myself in church a lot more. Maybe it was because McKayla and I both wanted our daughter to be raised in a Christian environment, but when we first were together, I went because McKayla did. 

Now, when I was in church, I talked to God. Not out loud (only crazy people do that), but I prayed. Sometimes I was angry. Angry because God had given the most wonderful woman in the world a disease He did not provide a cure for. Angry because she had done nothing to deserve it. Angry because He was going to take her from me and our daughter.

Sometimes I was introspective. What was the purpose of faith? Why did He put us on earth? 

And sometimes I was simply thankful. Despite all of the bitching I did, the fact of the matter was that I had found my soulmate, we didn't lack for anything and our daughter was healthy, smart and would one day have the world at her feet.

It's easy to fall into the trap of prayer. I think sometimes we convince ourselves that if we only prayed harder, God will answer them in the way we want. Of course, it doesn't work that way. He only answers prayers in the way He wants.

Many nights, I found myself praying to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer victims, but McKayla only laughed teasingly at me.

"You don't pray to saints," she said one night. "You pray with saints. You ask them to intercede on your behalf with God."

"Do you pray with them?" I asked.

"I don't ask for intercession anymore," she told me.

"Why not?"

"Because God has already provided everything I need," McKayla said, taking me in her arms. "I have a wife and parents who love me. Doctors who know what they're doing. A wonderful daughter and enough money that I don't ever have to worry about providing for my family."

"Don't you wish for a cure?"

"Every day," my wife said, a wistfulness in her voice. Her raven-black hair had some streaks of gray in it and she refused to colour it out. There were some more lines around her eyes, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world. "But I know that God won't wave His hand and make my diseases go away. He has a plan for me. He has a plan for you. He has a plan for Maureen and everyone else. We just don't know what it is. That is why we have faith. We have to trust in His will and that when it is done, it will be for the best."

She smiled sardonically, "Even if it doesn't seem that way at the time."

I continued to pray, with St. Peregrine now, but the miracle I wanted never appeared. Or did it?

Her cancer was gone. Her annual check-ups all came back clean. There was no sign of the Huntington's Disease.

We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and everything seemed to be going our way. Business was booming. Our little start-up company had grown into a successful niche enterprise. We couldn't compete with the larger firms, but that was okay. Our emphasis was on personal service and we excelled. We soon outgrew the small office in the back of the house and set up shop in a new facility right up the road. We hired a staff accountant, a secretary and two associates in addition to McKayla and I.

All the while, our family also blossomed. We traveled a lot and made sure Maureen had every opportunity available to her. For a little girl who could have been spoiled rotten, she was surprisingly grounded. She took nothing for granted, she never acted like she was entitled to anything and somehow found the inner motivation to be better at everything than we expected of her. I'm sure she got that from McKayla.

That night, she went to stay with Nanna and Papaw, leaving my wife and I alone at home. We sat on our favourite spot on the beach. McKayla was behind me on one of the dunes. I leaned back into her arms and we watched the world go by.

"They started," she said softly. "Last week."

I only nodded. Of course I had noticed, but I wanted her to bring it up. Her hands were starting to twitch. Nothing major, and only for short spurts, but the early symptoms of her disease were appearing. 

"What are we going to do?" I asked after a long time.

She took a deep breath. "We're going to fight it. Tooth and nail; I'm not going to let this thing beat me."

Turning my head, I kissed her gently. Her voice was defiant, but her tears betrayed the fear she felt.

We went inside and I took her to our bed. We made love all night until we were exhausted. Then we held one another, knowing that now it was just a matter of time. 

*********************** 

"Moms," Maureen told us one day after school. "You'd better sit down."

"What is it, honey?" McKayla said, joining me and our daughter on the couch. The view out the big bay window was still breathtaking. We had the French doors open letting in a warm ocean breeze. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the soundtrack of our lives.

"I've got something to tell you and I want you to promise me that you won't be angry." 

McKayla looked over at me and shot me the do-you-know-what-this-is-about look. I shrugged.

"I know that you two are always telling me that it's okay to be different and that God loves all kinds of people," Maureen continued, making her voice small and meek. If she sounded grown up, it was because even for eleven, she was much too smart for her own good. She took a deep breath for dramatic effect. "I like a boy. His name is Trevor. We've been eating lunch together."

There was a shocked silence between the three of us.

"Amberle, is this how we raised our daughter?" McKayla's brow furrowed up in mock anger. I nearly burst out laughing. "I thought we taught her better than that."

"But, Mom!" our daughter cried out, her grin from ear to ear. "You said you just wanted me to be happy. Why can't you accept the fact that I like boys?"

"I'm sure it's just a phase," I tried not to giggle, but it didn't work. "She'll out grow it."

"Yeah, but she won't out grow this," McKayla reached across me and pulled Maureen to her, tickling her. The two of them collapsed on to the floor, both laughing for no reason other than sheer joy.

I watched them for a long time, happy that even when we knew that things weren't going to get better, sometimes it's the little moments that are the most precious. If there is one thing that I am thankful for every year on Turkey Day it is the laughter of children. There's just something so innocent about a child who isn't marred by cynicism or pain, doubled over in a fit of exuberance. 

The three of us laughed a lot, sometimes because it was the only thing that didn't hurt.

Soon, we were sitting down for dinner. Maureen said the blessing and then we dug into one of McKayla's favourite meals, chicken and dumplings. Even so, neither my wife nor I ate much; we just picked at our food.

"So what's he like?" I asked between bites.

"He's cute," Maureen replied. "You know that guy you don't like from Channel Eight?"

"Who?" McKayla asked, "The guy with no chin?"

"No, the other one."

"You mean the one who looks like Uncle Ander? Only chunkier?"

"Taller, too. That's the one," Maureen replied. "He's Trevor's dad."

"I hope you didn't tell Trevor I don't like his dad," McKayla said.

"I didn't," our daughter replied. "I told him you didn't like that funky thing he does with his eyebrows when reporting the weather."

The rest of the conversation turned to other things at school. We never tried to be Maureen's friend; we were her parents, after all. But we always communicated, even in the moments when we didn't like each other.

After dinner, McKayla and I told our daughter that we needed to talk about something serious. I think at first she thought we were getting a divorce, which was a pretty rational thought considering that most of her friends either lived with single parents or were stepchildren to someone.

We broke the news to her about McKayla's disease and what we knew. She took it quite well, certainly better than I expected. She asked a lot of smart questions. We all cried. 

Maureen had figured something was up; she had noticed McKayla's hands shaking, but didn't quite know what to make of it. We told her that there was no chance she would get this disease and that it wasn't going to affect us for many more years. 

I was so proud of our daughter for the way she handled herself. She was so mature, a gift from her mother (and I don't mean me). And her faith sustained her. We prayed together that night for God's will to be done, for healing, for comfort, for strength and of course, for world peace.

Life went on for us. We saw doctors for treatments. They put is in contact with some research groups who were experimenting with medications. They told us the best way to stave of her memory loss was to stay mentally active. That meant lots of reading, puzzles and other things McKayla did anyway.

We cut back on our work, and after a couple of months, sold our business to McKayla's associates for a tidy sum, further securing our financial stability.

Now that we no longer had to go in to an office, McKayla and I began volunteering and campaigning for stem cell research, foundations that focused on degenerative neurological conditions and gay rights groups. 

Our families supported us every step of the way. Don and Suzie introduced us to their sizeable network of well-placed friends who had deep pockets and were always quick to write checks for our causes. Ander and Brin, both of whom were married with children of their own, came by to see us often, making sure that Aunt McKayla got lots of time being around the babies she loved so dearly.

Our twelfth wedding anniversary came and then our world changed. Again. 

*********************** 

"Are you wearing your present?" she asked me.

"Of course."

"Prove it."

I spun around and flipped up my skirt. The plug was uncomfortable, yet stimulating at the same time. It was making me wet.

"Let's go eat."

She led me to the car and we took off down the familiar highway. We lived in the same house. Some of the neighbours changed, but for the most part, it was still the same place I had moved in to over a decade earlier. Of course, its value had gone through the roof and if we ever sold the place, I'm sure we could have bought a small South American country.

We went to the same place where we had our first date. It was still owned by the same family and they knew us as frequent visitors.

I looked over the table at my lover. She was the same woman I had fallen in love with all those years ago. McKayla was just as beautiful and still took my breath away.

The two of us talked about the usual stuff married people talk about. Our daughter. What we were doing the next day. Our summer vacation to the Grand Tetons.

"Why did you ask me out?" McKayla said, even though she already knew the answer.

I smiled and took her hands in mine. They were shaking, a little more every day. "Because I was in love with you. Because you are so hot you can make a straight girl go gay."

"I love you, Elven Princess," she whispered. "Don't you ever forget that."

"That is one thing I could never forget, my love," I replied, leaning across the table to kiss her. We still get some stares when we're out in public, but you know what? I don't give a damn.

After dinner, we went home and took a long walk up the beach, our arms around each other. I kissed her and told her to take me to bed.

When we were through the back door, McKayla began peeling my clothes off. I pulled at hers, too, and we left a trail of skirts and bras and blouses and panties all the way to the bedroom.

"I am so going to fuck your brains out tonight," I vowed, pressing my lips against McKayla's. "This goddam thing in my ass has been driving me crazy all night."

"That was the idea." 

She grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled my head back, exposing my throat. Her teeth went to the soft underside of my neck. I shivered with pleasure.

My hands groped her still-magnificent breasts. We lay on the bed, desperately pressing our bodies together. 

Her fingers pinched my nipples. I fingered her clit until she my hand was slick.

"I want you to ride me tonight," McKayla whispered in my ear.

She rolled me over on my back and reached over to the side of the bed. With practiced efficiency, we fit the strap-on around her and McKayla lay back. I didn't need any lube and slid down on to her thick cock.

A satisfied moan escaped my lips. The windows were open but no one around would hear us. Maureen and a friend were spending the night with Nanna and Papaw so we didn't have to worry about being interrupted.

McKayla filled me up. Between the dildo in my pussy and the plug up my ass, I was full.

I sat back, knowing that she liked to see my face when we did this. I arched my back, giving her a nice view of my breasts. 

Between my legs, I felt her thumb rubbing the nub of my clit. My hips began to move slowly, as I stretched to accommodate her girth.

"You are so fucking hot, Amberle," she said softly.

"I'll bet you say that to all the girls," I teased.

"I do," she replied with a slight smirk. "But I you're the only one I want to wake up with."

"Do you remember our first date?" I asked. I slowed my rhythm, just moving my hips a little bit from side to side.

"Like it was yesterday."

"Why didn't you come in when I invited you?"

McKayla closed her eyes for a second. She smiled at the pleasant memory. Her eyes opened and her gaze softened. "I wanted to so badly. . . . You don't know how hard it was to say no . . ."

Her voice trailed off. She took a deep breath.

"I wanted . . . I needed to take it slow with you," her voice was barely audible. "I knew if I jumped into bed with you, I would just use you . . . I'd fuck you and leave you . . . like I had done so many times before. . . and I . . . I felt guilty."

I gave her a quizzical look. "Guilty? For what?"

She wouldn't meet my gaze. She looked ashamed.

"Do you remember your birthday?"

"Yes," I said, not sure where this was going.

"Do you remember what happened between us that night?"

I smiled. We had talked about this before some years ago. She often teased me about that drunken kiss. "I tried to make out with you."

I stopped moving, forgetting about the toys inside me. McKayla chewed on her lip for a moment. "After that."

"What happened?" I searched back through thirteen years of memories to that night that was hazy at best and blank in large spots.

"Amberle," McKayla said, her voice heavy. "I have a confession to make."

Her hands absently caressed my leg. I looked down at her, very curious about anything she might have to say about that night.

"I took advantage of you," she said softly. "You were passed out in my bed . . ."

"And?" I asked, trying to draw the rest of the story out of her.

"When we brought you back here, do you wonder why you were in my bed and not in one of the guest rooms with Allyson or Bretlynn?"

The thought had never really crossed my mind until now.

"I . . . I undressed you," her face flushed. "I felt you up and touched you. I wanted you so badly . . . you just can't know, Amberle. I thought you were too far gone, but I kissed you. You kissed me back and then you tried to feel me up before you passed out again."

Stunned, I could only look down at her.

"I didn't do anything else, but I stayed in bed with you until dawn." Her eyes welled up. "It felt so good to hold you . . . I had wanted you for so long . . . since that first night Allyson brought me along with you guys."

My hand brushed her tears away.

"After I took you home the next morning, I came back here and lay in the bed. I could still smell you on the pillows. I masturbated every night that week, thinking about you . . . and having you in my bed."

She tried to smile. "I'm sorry . . . I should have told you earlier."

I leaned over and kissed her gently. "So in other words, you cheated when you turned me into a lesbian."

"I . . . I guess so."

With an exasperated fake sigh, I shook my head mockingly. "And I thought I was just switching sides because you girls had cookies."

That made McKayla laugh. "I love you, Amberle. I have loved you since the day I first saw you. I was just too scared to let myself fall for you."

"I'm glad you did," I said reassuringly. "You have made me so happy. You are the best mother I could want for my daughter. You are my best friend. And you're the best lover I have ever had. . . . And I'm glad you only said no one other time."

She sighed. "I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Hell, no," I grinned. "Now you can make it up to me by fucking me until I cum all over you."

"That would be my pleasure."

"No," the teasing tone was back in my voice. "It's going to be my pleasure."

We kissed again, our breasts pressing together and I began moving my hips again.

She thrust up into me. After years of practice, we knew how to get each other going. Our rhythm was perfect. 

We moved in unison. I cupped her breasts in my hands and leaned forward so she could suck on my nipples.

I straightened out my legs so I was laying on top of her. I started to grind my clit against the top of the dildo. The plug in my ass shifted ever so slightly every time I moved, only deepening the pleasure I felt.

McKayla's hands were on my ass, pulling me down on top of her. 

Throwing my head back, I let loose a feral scream. My vision was blurred but I saw my wife gazing up at me, love in her eyes.

I kissed her again. Hungrily. 

My hips moved faster. 

She thrust harder.

"Oh, fuck," I cried out. 

Her hand slapped one of my tits.

"Oh, McKayla," I corrected myself.

"I'm about to cum," my voice was barely a whisper. 

"Yes, Amberle," she commanded. "Cum for me."




McKayla's Miracle Ch. 03



Arching my back, I came down on her one more time, then my body seemed to burst with pleasure. I threw my head back, knowing McKayla liked to watch my face when the cum hit me.

My sex pulsed for a long time. The orgasm seemed to go on. 

I continued to move my hips, trying desperately to prolong the bliss, until I finally fell into McKayla's embrace.

The room was still spinning. But as always, McKayla was there to catch me. Her comforting touch surrounded me, and I felt as safe as I always did with her.

Later that night, I made her faint. We drifted off to sleep, not wanting the morning to come. Not wanting to face the hard realities we woke up to every day.

*********************** 

We all stared at the CT scan images: McKayla, me and the doctor.

"It's about the size of a golf ball," he told us. "And based on what we found in your blood work, it's aggressive, too."

McKayla shook her head and let out a deep, bitter sigh. I tried not to break down right there. Things had been going so well lately.

She was taking part in a medical study that was testing not-yet-FDA-approved drugs and the shakes were almost completely gone. Her brain was showing no symptoms of memory loss and otherwise she was in good health. And now this.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur for me. I don't remember half of it. They didn't quite ask, "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?" but it was close to it.

A couple of days after that visit to the oncologist, McKayla had surgery to remove the lump from her pancreas and we prayed for a speedy recovery. She was put on an aggressive chemotherapy and it appeared to be working for a little while. 

But after another month, they found more cancer. This time it had returned to her colon and was spreading. They tried everything: a different mix of chemo, radiation. We contemplated more surgery.

Finally, when her doctors found it in her spinal fluid and said the next stop was her brain, we knew her time was almost up. I pleaded with her to continue with the treatments, but McKayla firmly told me that she didn't want any more. 

"If I go through all that—the surgery, the chemo, the radiation—what's that going to get me?" she asked through teary eyes. "Another month? Two? And for what? Feeling like shit after taking a handful of pills or throwing up for two days after the radiation. No, Amberle, I want to die with dignity. I just want to be comfortable and spend as much time as I can with you and our daughter."

The doctors had done all they could, and she resigned herself to the fact that this would mean her death.

I took her home. She was a shell of her former self. She had lost a lot of weight, and her glorious mane of raven-black hair was just now growing back. She seemed so frail, so weak. So unlike the vibrant woman I was used to seeing.

But her smile never changed. The look in her eyes told me how much she loved me.

For a while, she tried to function around the house, but she quickly got worse. As the cancer spread, so did the terrible pain. Her body was often hunched over and she had to fight to smile, something that used to come so naturally to her.

At first, we gave her drugs to numb her, but they made her sleepy and prone to blackouts. She said she didn't want to spend the last weeks of her life in an opium-like haze, so she had her doctor reduce the dosages. She was lucid, but every movement cut her like a knife. I don't know how she could tolerate it.

We put a hospital bed in our room and soon McKayla was spending more and more time in it, until she became too weak to get up. Four months had passed since they re-discovered her cancer.

Maureen took it well, I think. She kept a blog that we checked regularly. We talked all the time. I think she tried to put on a brave face for McKayla but it was tearing her apart inside. Just like it did to me.

One day, she came to me and said, "I want to do something for Mom."

"Anything," I told her. 

So we spent the next few days meeting with a lawyer and trying to get our case expedited before McKayla died.

I was sitting in my chair next to McKayla when Maureen came in. My wife had the bed elevated, her legs were propped up in the most comfortable position possible. Maureen was holding an envelope.

She sat down on the bed, next to her mom and pulled out a stack of papers. She handed them to McKayla. Her eyes got wide and then teared up when she saw the court order.

"Maureen Rene Goin-Perry," McKayla whispered. After we got married, McKayla and I took each other's last names, but never changed Maureen's name. This she asked to do on her own.

"Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" our daughter said.

"Yes, it does," my wife said softly. "I love you. I always will."

"I know, Mom. I love you, too," Maureen replied, slipping into the bed. I watched the two of them cuddle and had to choke back tears. 

Why would You do this to her? I asked in my mind. Why would You take that little girl's mother away from her? Take me instead!

Of course, God didn't answer. He never does.

McKayla's condition deteriorated over the next few days. Father Stimson came to see us regularly and at McKayla's request, he heard a final confession and administered the last rites.

A couple of nights later, we were sitting up late at night. McKayla had been drifting in and out of consciousness. She looked so frail.

I was reading a book, thinking she was asleep.

"Amberle," her voice was barely more than a whisper. I looked up and saw her brown eyes open. Her lids were heavy, partly from the drugs, partly from exhaustion.

"Yes, my love?"

"I had a dream last night," she said, a slight smile coming to her lips. "It was about our first night together."

Reaching out, I took her hand in mine.

"I love you, Elven Princess," she told me.

All I could do was try to smile. 

"Do you remember that night?" she asked.

"Like it was yesterday."

"Do you remember how it ended?"

"I do."

"You were in my arms. Your head was on my shoulder," her hand squeezed mine weakly. "Your breath felt so good on my skin. Your touch was so soft. I never wanted that night to end."

Tears rolled unchecked down her cheeks. Mine, too.

"You slept so peacefully that night," she continued.

"Only because I was with you, McKayla." I wiped her tears away.

"Will you hold me now?" her voice was strained. 

"Of course," I reclined the bed a little and then slipped in under the sheets. I took her in my arms and cradled her to me.

"I'm glad I'm not going to forget you," McKayla whispered. "That was the worst part for me. Knowing that one day I was going to forget how much I loved you."

I kissed her forehead and pulled her in. "I love you, McKayla."

She put her arm around me. "And I will always love you, Elven Princess. You mean the world to me. You and Maureen. Tell her that every day for me."

"You can tell her in the morning before she goes to school," I said, trying not to let her hear my voice break.

McKayla fell asleep in my arms not too much later. I held her and drifted off myself.

Sometime around three, I got up and went to get a drink of water. When I came back, McKayla's breathing was shallow. I sat down on the edge of the bed and felt her pulse. It was weak.

She took a string of three or four short breaths, then she inhaled sharply.

Her chest rose one final time and then slowly deflated. 

For the first time in months, all of the muscles in her body relaxed. The pain all went away. She had a slight smile. Her eyes were closed. Her head fell to the side.

McKayla looked like she was finally at peace. Unmarred by the diseases and demons which had chased her for all these years, she looked so beautiful. 

I leaned over and kissed her still-warm lips one more time. 

"Good-bye, my love."

*********************** 

"Are you sure you don't need anything else, Amberle?" Suzie asked.

I shook my head. "No, you guys have been wonderful."

The week after McKayla died was one big blank spot in my life with only a couple of memories in between. Maureen said I handled everything well. In truth, there wasn't much I had to do. 

Before she died, my wife had pretty much planned out her memorial service and had made all the arrangements. I think she knew there were so many things that were out of her hands, she wanted to take control of the things she could.

All of our family came in. Most had been in before McKayla died, but everyone came for the funeral. She wanted to be cremated and we did so before the service. She said she didn't want people to see her body as it was after the cancer was through with her. 

The church was packed with the people who loved her: family and friends.

I was grateful for the way the parish reached out to me. Over the years, I found out that even though the official stance of the Roman Catholic Church opposed homosexuality, the congregation we were in did not. They included us as they did anyone else, and the way they supported McKayla and I was not lost on us.

The one thing I remember about the service was that people laughed a lot. Don told a handful of funny stories about McKayla from her childhood. Father Stimson shared a slide show he and McKayla had put together about herself and some of the other people in the audience. The service truly was about celebrating her life, not mourning her death.

Maureen spoke, too. I couldn't believe that for someone who was just shy of thirteen, she could be so wise. And I could see so much of her mother in her. I was so proud of my little girl. She was so strong, so eloquent. I knew that even though McKayla was gone, her spirit lived on in our daughter, whom she had raised to be her own.

Ander and Brin stayed for a couple of days. 

Don and Suzie for a bit longer. The three of us sat at the kitchen table. Maureen had just left for school.

The worst part for me was coming up. The past week had been filled with visitors and people whose shoulders I could lean (and cry) on. There were things for me to do, places to go, stuff to take care of. Now it would just be me and my daughter, alone for the first time.

Her parents had brought some of McKayla's things with them. Things they said we should have. Pictures, old dolls, that sort of stuff.

"I don't think you really know how much you meant to McKayla," Suzie said. 

All I could do was force a smile. People had been saying stuff like that to me for a week.

"No, really, Amberle, you saved her life," she said.

"I wish I could have," I replied blankly. "I wish all this had happened to me, not her. I wish there had been some miracle for her . . ."

Suzie squeezed my hand sympathetically. "There was a miracle."

I looked up at her blankly.

"Did you know that when she was in college, McKayla tried to kill herself once?"

Blinking in surprise, I shook my head.

"She had just 'come out' and I think she was feeling lonely and depressed. Somehow she got her hands on some pills and took a handful. Her RA found her; they pumped her stomach and saved her," Suzie looked over at Don, who had a dark look on his face. "McKayla was miserable for so long. She was looking for acceptance, for love. I think that's why she had so many one-night stands. . . . Yes, we knew. . . . She wanted someone to love her and maybe confused that with sex . . ."

"She was also afraid of relationships because she knew she might have the same disease as her dad," Don said, picking up where his wife left off. "We never told her, but I think she knew this: her dad didn't die in a hunting accident. He went out in the woods and shot himself right after he started getting the first symptoms. He saw how his mother had suffered and didn't want to go through the same thing."

I stared at him in disbelief. McKayla had never told me this.

"Some of his friends found him a little while later and one of them was a deputy sheriff who got the coroner to declare it an accident, not a suicide," he continued. "We told her that she might have the disease but she never wanted to know. I think she avoided commitment because she didn't want to break anyone's heart."

Then why me? I wondered inwardly.

"When you two started seeing each other," Suzie continued. "She was so happy. She told us that you were the best thing that ever happened to her. And she was so excited about the baby . . ."

I smiled unconsciously, remembering those first happy months we had together.

"But she knew there was this cloud hanging over her, something she needed to find out. And so she did. I think she was afraid to tell you about it and thought you'd leave her." Suzie reached out to Don, needing his support. 

"When she came home that night, the night she left you, we prayed," Suzie continued. "That was the only time we ever prayed directly for a miracle. We prayed for healing. We prayed for guidance. We prayed for strength."

"Then why didn't God answer," I shook my head bitterly. "Why didn't He provide?"

Suzie smiled warmly. She understood why I was so angry. She was hurt, too. However, she had something I didn't: faith. 

"God did provide," she said. "God gave you the means to take care of her. You don't want for money. Neither of you had to work unless you wanted to. Sometimes the answers to our prayers are already here. You got her the best medical treatments. The healing we ask for doesn't always take the form of a miraculous recovery; it's the doctors at the hospital or the nurses from Hospice."

"Why would He do this to her?" my voice broke. "Why would He do this to us? Why would He deny her miracle?"

I felt Suzie's arms around me as I sobbed. She pulled me to her and let me cry.

"God gave McKayla a miracle," Suzie said gently. "He sent her you. You loved her. You cared for her. You gave her the child she always wanted. You were at her side in the good times and the bad. You tried to kick her door down because you loved her so much you wouldn't give up on her. I think without you, she would have died a long time ago."

My body convulsed as she held me.

"These last thirteen years were McKayla's miracle," Suzie said. "None of us wanted things to happen this way, but that's not for us to decide. God put each of us on this earth for a reason, and we thank Him every day that He brought you into McKayla's life. You saved our daughter and gave us the granddaughter McKayla couldn't have on her own. You were the answer to her prayers. And to ours."