6 comments/ 22418 views/ 35 favorites Soul on the Rocks By: erotichajj Kelli had been pleasantly surprised to hear Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Still... You Turn Me On" on WZWE during the drive home. She was still humming it as she undressed for her bath. On her way to start the tub she gave herself the usual once-over in the full-length mirror, checking for the inevitable signs of advancing age. There were none. Kelli Adams looked as stunning at forty-two as she had at twenty-two. "Blessed by Mother Nature, forgotten by Father Time," was the phrase her friend Mashelle had coined. Crystalline blue eyes highlighted a face as flawless as a teenager's. Wavy auburn hair tumbled below her shoulders. Her breasts, youthfully firm C-cups, suited her figure perfectly. Her delicate waist flared into slim hips. Sculpted rear end. Legs that went on forever. A semi-sheer black satin bra and matching high-cut briefs reflected her innate fashion sense, utilitarian yet provocative, subtly erotic. Not bad for an old bird, she decided. But her heart wasn't in it today. Kelli took off her bra and tossed it on the bed. She knew she needed to start the tub if she didn't want to stand around half-naked while it filled but the bubble bath that she had dreamed of since lunchtime no longer seemed important. In fact nothing, except the special-needs children she worked with and loved with all her heart, really seemed important anymore. She glanced at her image again and shut her eyes. Why am I so empty, she asked herself, even though she knew the answer. She still missed Amanda terribly. -- Kelli took her Pepsi and her change, dropped a dollar on the bar and started away. "Thanks, missy," the bartender said. Missy? Kelli mused. He's ten years younger than me. And I'll just bet... She pivoted quickly and watched the bartender's eyes dart upward. She smiled at him as his face reddened. "Gotcha," she said. He certainly was, Kelli thought as she made her way through the crowd. The hole had claimed another victim. She was nearly to the balcony staircase when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find a short-haired brunette with an awe-stricken expression on her face. "Where did you get your t-shirt? I adore it," the face gushed. The t-shirt in question was Kelli's Soul on the Rocks "Rockin' America '93 Tour" shirt. "I bought it here..." Kelli tried to finish but the brunette interrupted. "They're selling them here? Where? I have to have one." She sounded desperate. Kelli shrugged. "Not likely." "But you said..." "I bought it at an SOTR show here in ninety-three," Kelli explained. The brunette's eyes widened. The puzzled look on her face was almost comical; she couldn't make sense of what Kelli had said, the math simply didn't work. "Come on," she said. "How old were you then? Five, maybe?" There was no sarcasm in her tone, only wonder. Her chestnut eyes scanned Kelli carefully, head to toe. Kelli offered a smile. "Twenty-two. Junior in college." The brunette's assessment didn't bother her; it wasn't the usual male ogling that she put up with daily. "And thank you." "No way," the brunette said with finality. She looked into Kelli's eyes. "You're pulling my leg. I mean... pardon me for saying so but you look so... young..." Kelli dressed with understated taste for her everyday world but for concerts she let her daring side show. Tonight the SOTR tee stretched sinfully over breasts cradled in a nude shelf bra. A small gold peace sign dangled at her navel. Vintage orange-tab Levi's fit her like body paint; the G-string she wore under them ensured no panty lines. The silver-dollar sized hole over the right back pocket had already given the bartender something to think about at bedtime. Sandals with beaded thongs displayed a fresh pedicure with nails gleaming in soft pink. A thin gold band adorned the second toe of her right foot. Her hair, shining in the soft lighting of the lobby, spilled in waves down her back. Rock and roll, indeed. "... I would kill for a figure like yours," Attractive Brunette concluded. "Look who's talking," said Kelli, smiling shyly. "You're plenty hot yourself, kiddo." Did I just say that? The young lady was undoubtedly hot, a petite, suntanned bundle of curves; still, Kelli's compliments to women usually contained vanilla words like nice, or pretty, or fine. Oh well. "Hey, I'd better find a seat. Are you with anyone?" "Nope. I'm from out of town. I didn't hear about this until yesterday. The concierge at my hotel found me a ticket." "Want to sit together? I'm solo too." Just like that, Kelli's offer popped out, and it startled her. This isn't like you. You don't even know her. "Sure." The brunette accepted the invitation with a grateful smile and Kelli, still uneasy but doing her best not to show it, led the way to the lower balcony. They got lucky and found a pair of vacant seats at the extreme left of the stage. "What's your name?" Kelli asked as they sat down. "Amanda Clarke. And thanks for the invite." "You're welcome, Amanda. Kelli Adams, at your service." She seems harmless enough, Kelli reassured herself. No big deal. They chatted until the house lights dimmed and the crowd cheered as Soul on the Rocks took the stage. "Here we go!" Amanda shouted. "Thanks again, Kelli." And they spent the next two hours having the time of their lives. Soul on the Rocks had aged like a fine wine; after twenty-five-plus years of well-publicized rock and roll lifestyle the group still played with tight drive and precision; Darian Muse's gruff baritone was as strong as ever. By the time the show was at its halfway point Amanda was singing along with Darian in a surprisingly melodic voice. Before she knew it, Kelli was chiming in on choruses and harmonies. And during the encore they stood with the rest of the crowd with their arms around each other's waist, swaying to the music and belting out "My Rockin' Angel," the hit that had broken SOTR in 1990, laughing and hugging and high-fiving at the end of it while the audience roared its appreciation for the band. They left the club together. They were among the last ones out and by the time they hit the street the cab stands and bus stop were teeming with concert-goers waiting for rides. Kelli had decided not to drive tonight herself; downtown traffic after a show was usually way too crazy so she had taken a taxi. "Look at this mess," Kelli sighed, surveying the scene. "I'll never get home. I came in a cab." "Bummer." Amanda thought for a second and turned to Kelli. "Hey, I'm staying at the TravelSuites around the corner. Come on over for a minute while this clears out." "Really, I shouldn't..." Kelli dreaded the wait but didn't want to impose. And I still don't know her that well, she reasoned. "Come on. I don't bite," Amanda said. Kelli giggled in surrender and they walked the short block to the hotel, chattering like schoolgirls. Half an hour of spirited conversation in Amanda's suite made Kelli feel as if she'd found a kindred spirit, a long-lost sister. Kelli learned that Amanda was a behavioral therapist who was in town to attend a symposium at UC. She was well-read and had an offbeat sense of humor. Her knowledge of rock music was encyclopedic. And she was a gorgeous young woman in her own right. Twenty-seven years old. Five-two, nicely put together. Cute face. Chestnut eyes that anyone could easily lose themselves in. Amanda had offered a drink from the wet bar but they both had settled for bottled water instead. By the time Kelli finished hers she figured she'd better find her way home; she was figuring out how to say thanks and goodnight gracefully when Amanda spoke. "Can I ask you something, Kelli?" "Fire away." "You say you're forty years old." "Forty-one," Kelli corrected. "Well, I can't imagine what you looked like in your twenties because you're the sexiest woman I've ever seen. I mean that. You're deadly." Amanda's eyes shone with admiration. "So why ..." she paused to choose her words carefully, "... I mean guys would don armor and fight to the death for you. You could arouse a eunuch. But you were alone tonight." Kelli was uneasy at the personal turn in the conversation but answered honestly. "The kids I work with are my life. I spend a lot of my free time with them, and their parents too. I do some volunteer work. I read a lot. I work out. Community theater. Not a lot of time for a social life. My own fault, I guess." Kelli got up to leave. "Amanda, hey, thanks for everything but I really need to get going..." "One last question. Please." "Okay." Kelli's unease settled somewhat when she saw the crestfallen, apologetic expression on Amanda's face. Amanda drew a deep breath. She locked her eyes into Kelli's. "Have you ever made love with a woman?" she asked. "I'm not a lesbian." "I didn't think so." "So why ask?" "I just had to know," Amanda said, "and before you go I have to tell you one more thing. Remember when I introduced myself tonight? I'd been watching you. From the moment I saw you in that t-shirt I wanted to meet you. And when I met you I wanted you, Kelli. More than I've wanted anyone or anything in a long time. I was so excited when you asked me to sit with you." "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea..." Kelli's voice was strident. "No, it's my fault," Amanda interrupted. "But when they played 'My Rockin' Angel' and our arms were around each other and we were singing I hoped... no, that's the wrong word, I dreamed that... we would..." Amanda couldn't finish but no more needed to be said. Kelli stared at Amanda, her brain percolating. Sex with a woman? The thought had never entered her head before tonight but it was certainly there now, and it's exciting me, she could feel her nipples tingling, hardening under her t-shirt and why did I wear this shelf bra? "You can go now, Kelli. I'm done. And I'm so sorry... " Amanda's voice cracked. She hung her head and started to cry. You're pretty hot yourself, kiddo. I actually said that. You were returning a compliment, came an answer, that's all. I invited her to sit with me. Kindness to a stranger. Nothing more. Maybe I wanted this to happen, Kelli admitted. If so, there'd never be a better chance, or a more desirable partner. She's a beautiful woman. She's a beautiful person. No one will know. But she couldn't do it. She started for the door. A glance at Amanda stopped her in her tracks. Kelli looked down and gasped. Never mind "rock-hard-and-poking-at," her nipples were two-carat diamonds, straining against the tight cotton tee, her areolae were easily visible as well, and Amanda had stopped her sobbing to marvel at them with a look of awe and lust that Kelli had never seen in any man's eyes. And yes, dear reader, they do ache pleasantly, Kelli thought, oh my God, I'm going insane. She closed her eyes and remembered Amanda shouting "Here we go!" when SOTR came on stage. She shivered as her juices trickled into the pouch of her G-string. Yes. Here we go. Kelli dabbed the tears from Amanda's cheeks. Kissing her felt so right and natural. She raised her arms as Amanda's hands slipped under her shirt. They undressed each other carefully, in breathless admiration, until only their undergarments remained. Amanda took Kelli's trembling hand and led her toward the bedroom. "Kelli," Amanda whispered. "Hmmm?" "I've never made love with a woman either." -- Kelli snapped back to reality and tried to catch her breath. She was, to coin a phrase, a hot mess. Her legs felt unsteady. Her nipples ached. Her panties were damp; she knew she'd been fingering herself through the black satin. Her clit was begging for attention. What in the world was I doing, she wondered. She shook the remnants of Amanda out of her head. "Whatever it was, I must have been enjoying it," she admitted to the mirror. She'd had sex only twice since that night with Amanda, both times with men that she'd enjoyed nights with before. But the sex had been listless, unsatisfying; she remembered feeling as she'd just been going through the motions. Maybe I need to finish this, she reasoned, I'm halfway there anyway, so why not? Maybe it would chase away some of the emptiness that she'd been feeling. Maybe she'd be happy for a while. She decided that the bath could wait. Kelli pulled her briefs down and stepped out of them. She lay on the bed, savoring the feel of cool sheets against her skin, and let her thoughts wander. She cupped her breasts and drew lazy circles around her nipples with one hand, the other traced the shallow valley from her breastbone to her navel with a fingernail, slowly, down and back again. Yes, I definitely need this, she mused. Kelli exhaled as she drew her feet back toward the pillow and opened her legs into a comfortable V, stroking her inner thighs, ruffling her pubic hair, teasing her clit. When she finally slipped a finger into her pussy she closed her eyes and Amanda was with her again. And she remembered... -- Her lips are soooo soft. Amanda's tongue was fluttering a playful invitation in her mouth and those lips were clinging to Kelli's like dew, turning her inside-out, I can't get enough of them, she thought, I'm melting into the bed, and she wanted the feeling to last forever. If this is what it's like, count me in. And when those lips began kissing and nibbling her nipples Kelli felt as if she was being worshipped; when Amanda found a particularly sweet spot she would linger there, instinctively, before gliding on to titillate the next inch of her skin in that same leisurely way. Kelli had never experienced such thrilling sensations during foreplay; she was dripping like an overripe peach by the time Amanda peeled off her G-string. "Oooh, that looks scrumptious," Amanda cooed. Kelli shuddered as Amanda eased a finger into her pussy. "But you've been lying to me, Kelli Adams." "Huh?" Kelli gasped. The finger slid out slowly. Amanda tasted it. "You're really an eighteen year old virgin." Amanda stroked Kelli's clit with a finger on each side, nudging the hood back and forth, alternately exposing and hiding the glans and flicking her tongue at it with the speed and fatal accuracy of an irate puff adder. Quick, light flicks graduated to a maddening swirl that produced sensations so lovely and intense that Kelli was soon begging Amanda to finish her. She shut her eyes and grabbed the headboard, moaning as her pleasure intensified; her toes curled reflexively into Amanda's ass as she braced for the explosion that she knew was only seconds away. But it never came. "Don't stop, Amanda, not now, please," Kelli whimpered, but Amanda was already halfway up the bed. "Why did you stop? I was so close." "I know. Your cute little tootsies were buried in my bum." "But why..." "Because," Amanda began as she nestled in face-to-face next to Kelli, "I don't want this to end yet. Do you? What's your hurry?" "You don't want me to come?" Kelli assumed that the game plan was for her to reciprocate once she'd gotten off, and hopefully both of them would go home happy. "I don't understand." "Of course I want you to. And you will. Kelli," Amanda continued, "if all you want is an orgasm I can give you one in a few minutes. And that's fine. But you deserve so much more." More? Kelli wondered, how much more could there be? "How did you feel just before I stopped?" Amanda asked. Kelli had to think. "I... I felt like I was floating... or... liquefying, maybe. Helpless. Full beyond capacity." And I loved it, she realized, I didn't really want it to end. "Did you enjoy that feeling?" "It was wonderful." "Gooood." Amanda's voice came in a slow, smoky whisper left Kelli spellbound. "Because I want to give you that feeling again and again, as much of it as you can stand, as many times as you can stand it, for as long as you can stand it. And every time I want to take you just a little closer to the edge of insanity, and keep you there just a little longer, until you feel as if you're going to die from it. And when you have your orgasms, my true and only goddess," and here Amanda paused to kiss that special spot on Kelli's neck again before breathing the rest of her words directly into her ear, "when at last it is time for you to have them I swear, on all that I hold dear, that you will have them endlessly; you will have orgasms without number, my beautiful, beautiful Kelli Adams. And every single one of them will be filled with sensation that you cannot possibly imagine, even in your wildest fantasies. Mere mortals experience but a fraction of the wonder that their bodies might afford them but you are not of them; you are a goddess, Kelli Adams, and the sole purpose of my existence is to pleasure you. Trust in me, O goddess. Let me worship you." Kelli trembled as Amanda's promise echoed in her brain; she could feel her heartbeat quicken as Amanda resumed her position between her thighs. A wet French kiss to her clit arched Kelli's back sharply and elicited a deep, satisfied groan. She saw Amanda's eyes twinkling over her belly. "Mmmm, Kelli Adams," she purred. "My goddess. My rockin' angel. Relax and enjoy, m'love." Kelli tried to answer but could only gasp as Amanda's fingers plunged into her pussy. -- Kelli moaned and shivered as she rubbed the base of her clit with a wet finger, trying to hold on to the delicious, teetering-at-the-brink feeling as long as she could. How many times now? Three, four? She didn't know, all Kelli really knew at this point was that Adams Airlines, Flight One, was now on its final approach, please return your seats to their upright position, and the pleasure was going to consume her whether she wanted it to or not.. I think you're ready now, goddess, Amanda whispered. Kelli clicked the vibe on and inched it in. She cried for Amanda as the first wave tore through her. -- Kelli had never been particularly vocal in bed and she abhorred profanity but at this point she was no longer in control of herself. She was soaked; the smell of sex singed her nostrils, so strong she could almost taste it. Amanda's fingers were buried in her pussy, pressing a firm, measured rhythm into her G-spot; her cunt was making that squishing, sucking sex noise, the sheets were drenched and she was coming again, sweating and shaking and moaning a soliloquy that would do a porn star proud. "Yes... oh, fuck yes, Amanda, don't stop! Ahhhh... fuuuck..." Kelli had been uncomfortable at first but Amanda had reassured her. "Trust me, goddess, you're going to love it," she had promised, and she'd been right; the gotta-go-now feeling had given way to a swelling sensation that was amazing, an instantaneous flood of pleasure that had saturated her head to toe and quickly intensified. Her orgasms had felt like volcanic eruptions; they had left her disabled, quivering and breathless, and at the end of them Amanda had massaged some sort of liquid into her thighs. "What was that?" Kelli had asked. And Amanda had snuggled close, face-to face next to her, kissed her and giggled. Kelli had gaped at her, her face and breasts were glistening and she was smiling from ear to ear. "You're... you're wet, Amanda." Soul on the Rocks: The Reunion After a little soul-searching, I've come to the conclusion that erotica is not my forte. I can't even write a decent kiss. Still, I decided to finish Soul on the Rocks, for those of you who wanted to know how things turned out for Kelli and Amanda. And, I admit, I wanted to know, too. Thanks, and so long, erotichajj ***** Ping. "Hi, folks, this is Captain Ramirez speaking, we're now flying over the Mississippi River at an altitude of thirty-four thousand feet. We'll be landing in Cincinnati in approximately fifty-five minutes..." The restroom door clicked shut and Amanda made her way up the aisle. One hour, she thought, and then what? Sex, certainly. Kelli had promised her that much without being the least bit graphic; her sweet, suggestive tone of voice alone had been enough to raise Amanda's body temp a few degrees. "I had aftershocks for days. I owe you, beautiful," Kelli had said. "And I always repay my debts." Remembering Kelli's promise had nearly made Amanda miss the airport exit this morning. It had sent her scurrying to the ladies' room, half an hour before boarding call, for a few minutes of much-needed relief. The diaphanous blue boyshorts she'd bought to wear for Kelli had ended up neatly folded and stowed in her handbag. I'll put them back on when I have control of myself, she'd decided. And she had, just moments ago, despite the fact that control was still very much an issue. What will she say when I tell her I love her? Amanda settled into her seat, dug out her iPod and scrolled down the playlist. She found the song she wanted to hear, set it up to repeat and put in her earbuds. Sex, and then what, she wondered. Was that all Kelli wanted, or was there more? Do I tell her about Eric? She should know, shouldn't she? I will, if things turn out. I know she can handle it. I just hope I can. Christine McVie started singing "Over My Head," and the coiled spring of excitement and anxiety that she'd fought for most of the past week tightened in her stomach again. Amanda closed her eyes and Kelli was there, kneeling before her, lust gleaming in her ice-blue eyes. I always repay my debts, beautiful, Kelli whispered. Amanda fidgeted in her seat as Kelli breathed warm promises into those pretty blue boyshorts. I am not going back to that restroom again, she decided. Wet or dry, they'll have to do. - Amanda's head swiveled left and right, frantically scanning the seating area, then the concourse beyond. No Kelli. Where is she? I'll... I'll have her paged... "Can I help you, miss?" A light tap on the shoulder accompanied the female voice, pleasant and professional. Amanda turned toward the voice. "Yes, I..." She dropped her carry-on tote. "Kelli!" she squealed as Kelli gathered her into her arms and spun her around until her legs were flying out nearly parallel to the floor and she started to get dizzy. Damn, she's strong, Amanda thought, I hope she doesn't let go. Kelli set Amanda down carefully and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Welcome back, beautiful." "Kelli Adams, you booger," Amanda giggled. "You had me worried." "Did you really think I'd miss this?" Kelli said. Amanda shook her head and watched as a single tear trickled down Kelli's cheek. "Thank you, Amanda. Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me," Kelli said. "Well, thanks for having me." Kelli smiled. "You look fantastic," she said. "Love the new hairdo." "And you haven't changed a bit." Amanda's eyes swept over Kelli's slim, shapely figure, still as flawless and nubile as a twenty-year old's, clad in a clingy white silk cami top and knee-length pencil skirt that virtually defined casual elegance; it made her feel a bit frumpy in her faded jeans and sweatshirt. "I'm so jealous. What's your secret?" "Clean living," Kelli deadpanned, and they both laughed. "Come on, let's get your stuff and get out of here." Kelli threw the tote over her shoulder, grabbed Amanda's hand and gave it an impatient tug. "Baggage claim's this way." And off they went, chattering like magpies. "You must have gotten up early," Kelli said. "Four o'clock," Amanda answered proudly. "Believe me, I'm not used to that. I'm a slug." "You're such an adorable little slug, though," Kelli offered. "Why, thank you," Amanda giggled. "But seriously. I needed to finish packing, I took a shower. It's almost an hour's drive to the airport, too." I even allowed myself fifteen minutes to jill in a public restroom, just in case... "So, how was the flight?" "Way too long," Amanda answered. "I thought the plane would never land." "Tell me about it." Kelli's hoarse, shaky whisper stopped Amanda in her tracks. "I was here at quarter after eight, waiting for you," she said, eyes sparkling with tears. "And praying..." she added, dropping the tote to take Amanda into her arms. "Oh, beautiful," Amanda cried, wrapping her arms around Kelli in a desperate embrace. "I've had ten months to get over it, to get over you," Kelli sniffled. "But I haven't. I can't. And I don't want to. I love you, Amanda." "I love you, Kelli," Amanda sobbed in reply. She closed her eyes as Kelli's lips pressed softly into hers and they abandoned themselves to a deep, loving kiss, neither of them caring if anyone was watching or what they might be thinking. And the sight of the two of them, two beautiful women in each other's arms, kissing and crying tears of joy, unabashedly proclaiming their love in the middle of the concourse, did indeed draw the attention of an elderly couple creaking by, twenty feet away. "Herman, just look at them," hissed the lady quietly, nudging her husband with an elbow as they passed, "that's obscene." "I see 'em," he croaked. "Goddamn dykes, swappin' spit in public." The wait at baggage claim seemed like an eternity. At last Amanda saw her suitcase pop through the black rubber flaps at the far end of the conveyor. "Here it comes," she said, turning to Kelli. "Well, it better get here soon, lover," Kelli murmured into her ear. The soft brush of those lips against her neck, the smell of her hair, the barely-contained excitement in her voice, sent a delightful shiver up Amanda's spine. "We have a lot of catching up to do." - The rule was simple and unspoken: Anything goes, but no sex. That would come later, after dinner. So Amanda did her best to slice the bacon into proper lardons while Kelli treated herself to choice morsels of her neck and earlobes. Kelli nearly fumbled the sauté pan when Amanda snuck up behind her to give her tits a good, healthy squeeze. Kelli returned the favor a few minutes later, slipping her hands under Amanda's sweatshirt to tickle her belly while she was reaching for the bay leaves. Kelli knelt down to find a clove of garlic and ended up kissing every inch of Amanda's sandaled feet, both of them, from her red-tipped toes all the way up to her ankles. She never did find the garlic, knowing full well that it was still on the cutting board. Amanda hiked Kelli's skirt up over her panties to give her a playful slap on the ass as she bent to open the oven door. And a wedgie when she closed it. Both of them drank more wine than they were used to, because they took turns tasting it from each other's mouth after every stage of the prep. All things considered, it was a wonder that the boeuf Bourguignon had made it into the oven at all. They'd done their level best to drive each other crazy, reveling in the slow, mad escalation of sexual tension, seeking relief in occasional kisses that only made matters worse. Neither of them even realized that they were hungry, at least not in any way related to food, until the exquisite aroma filling the kitchen convinced them to call a truce. And their dinner turned out magnificently. They spent a leisurely hour praising each other's culinary skills while they enjoyed it and another forty minutes in conversation, catching up on the more mundane details of their lives while they made eyes at each other across the table. After they cleared the dishes and stored the leftovers they adjourned to the living room, each with a last half-glass of the Burgundy that had gone into the dish, to finish digesting while they discussed more important matters. Kelli plopped down in her favorite easy chair; Amanda sprawled comfortably across the loveseat that faced it. "So, tell me." Kelli took a sip of her wine. Her eyes flashed over the glass at Amanda. "Tell you what, exactly?" "About the night of the concert. Your version. From the beginning." "Well, let's see. I came to town for a symposium. I heard that Soul on the Rocks was playing at a club a block away from my hotel, and I just love SOTR, so I had to go. And I met this stunning old broad named Kelli Adams..." "Come on," Kelli chided, stifling a giggle. "I'm only forty-two." "I still don't believe that," Amanda said, then shrugged. "You were there, beautiful. What else do you need to know?" Kelli paused to collect her thoughts. "Why did you approach me?" she finally asked. "Have you looked in a mirror lately? You're sexy as hell. Why not?" "Because you told me you'd always been straight, too. And there were plenty of good-looking guys there who would have let you pull their eye teeth yourself to spend the night with you." "Well, what about you?" Amanda countered. "None of those guys would have turned you away either." "Maybe not. I don't know. I had no interest in finding out, either." Kelli took another sip. "I gave you all kinds of excuses when you asked me why I was alone. I told you I was too busy for a social life. Devoted to the kids I teach. Counselling their parents, helping them cope. Volunteering. Blah, blah, blah. Which is all true, as far as that goes. But I'd always managed time for a social life before. The whole truth is that I didn't want to be with anybody." "Dressed like you were? You could have fooled me." "That's the way I dress for a concert. Always have. It's my vice, I guess. Or maybe my alter ego." Kelli grinned sheepishly. "Hey, even us old broads need a little positive reinforcement now and then." "Well, you got plenty of it. I saw the little scenario at the bar, incidentally. I don't know who was staring at you harder, him or me." Kelli chuckled at the memory of the red-faced bartender she'd caught leering at her ass, then she shifted uneasily in her chair. "I was alone because I was tired, Amanda. Tired of dating. Tired of one-night stands, not that I had a lot of them. Tired of looking for Mister Right, and never finding him. And most of all I was... afraid, I guess, of not being able to connect with any of the guys I'd been seeing. I thought maybe something was wrong with me." Amanda said nothing but the understanding look in her eyes told Kelli to go on. "I dated some really nice men, too," Kelli said. "Kind, loving, attractive men who would do anything for me..." "Who wouldn't?" Amanda said. Kelli returned Amanda's smile before continuing. "And I tried. I tried to return their affection. I tried to convince myself that I had feelings for them. I had sex with a few of them, and it was okay. But I never got that feeling, that special, swept-off-your-feet, head-over-heels feeling they say you should have when you're really in love. I wondered if I ever would." Amanda's heart skipped a beat as Kelli's eyes locked into hers. "Then I spent a night with you." "I didn't think you'd go through with it." "I almost didn't. You can't imagine what was going through my mind. I mean, there I was in a hotel room with a woman that I'd only known for a few hours, she's an absolute fox, and she's asking me to go to bed with her," Kelli said. "I'm scared to death, getting wetter by the minute, and I end up wanting her so badly that I can't talk myself out of it, despite my proper Christian upbringing..." Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Dad was an ordained minister. He passed away when I was thirteen," Kelli explained. "Heart attack, his second one." "I'm sorry," Amanda said. "Yeah, that would definitely make you stop and think, wouldn't it?" "It did." Amanda smiled. "Well, I'm glad you decided to stick around." "Me too," Kelli sighed, "because you blew me away. Rocked my world. Choose your own tired cliché. The most incredible sex ever, orgasms so powerful they almost hurt, but every one made me want another, and you kept them coming. I felt like a lab rat being tortured with pleasure in some fantastic sexual experiment, and I loved it, Kelli wanted to say, but didn't. "You're welcome." Hope you can handle a few more, Amanda thought. "But that wasn't all. You know, the next morning, while I was in the shower and you were packing, it hit me all at once and I started to cry." "Why?" "Well, I was relieved, because I realized that there wasn't a thing wrong with me emotionally, I wasn't... frigid, or anything." "Amen, sister!" Amanda shouted, wide-eyed, and they shared a hearty laugh. "But mostly because I didn't want you to leave, and it wasn't just because of the sex, either. I'd finally met that certain someone who'd made me feel all those things I was supposed to feel, only I never dreamed that it would be a Miss Right, not a mister." Kelli paused to drain her glass. "It took a little time to get past that. About a minute, in fact. When your cab pulled away from the hotel I remember saying to myself, 'If only she were a man.'" "Hmmm." "And then I asked myself why I would want to change a single thing about you. I'd spent the last twenty years trying to find the right man. End of discussion. I was in love." "I wish you'd called me," Amanda said. "I'd have been back on the next flight." "I know that now. And I'm sorry. I should have called you at some point. But I couldn't deal with the possibility that I might have been just a one-night stand for you. I was afraid that you didn't feel the same way I did." Amanda nodded. "I know the feeling. I hung up three times before I finally let my call go through." They sat in silence for a moment. "Well, that was a neat trick, Miss Behavioral Therapist," Kelli said. Amanda gave her a quizzical look. "I ask you a question, and end up spilling my guts. So, let's get back to your story," Kelli said. "And I'll rephrase the question. Why did you come on to a woman?" It's time, Amanda thought. She smiled and stood up. "I used to tell myself that it was this," she answered, crossing her arms at the bottom of her Iowa State sweatshirt. She watched Kelli's jaw drop as she drew it slowly up and off, teasing her like a stripper tantalizing a patron at a nightclub before twirling it over her head and tossing it to the floor. "What do you think?" Kelli gaped at Amanda. Oh, sweet Jesus, look at her... Amanda was wearing her shirt, the Soul on the Rocks '93 Tour t-shirt she'd worn to the concert. She'd cried like a baby when she'd given it to Amanda as a token of appreciation for the most intensely pleasurable night of sex she'd ever experienced. And now the sight of it, clinging to Amanda's curves, was enough to start a low, insistent thrumming in her pussy. "You seduced me with it, remember?" Amanda pulled her shoulders back to accentuate the swell of her firm D-cups; her nipples were tight little nubs, poking into the tan cotton. "From fifty feet away, across a crowded lobby, the sight of you in this shirt made me drip. And, for the record," she added, cupping her breasts with a wicked grin, "I still think it looks better on you." Game over, Kelli thought, I'm done, bedroom's right down the hall... "What's the matter, gorgeous? Cat got your tongue?" Amanda teased. ... we'll strip on the way to save time. "You... you wore it..." Kelli finally stammered, then lapsed into silence again, devouring Amanda with her eyes as desire welled up inside her. I thought I looked good in it, Kelli said to herself, but I can't touch that, she's irresistible... "Of course I did, you silly goose," Amanda replied, hips swaying as she sashayed toward Kelli's chair. "I remembered to wash it, too." She settled herself into Kelli's lap and stretched out sideways across the chair, calves dangling over one padded armrest, back propped at a comfortable angle against the other. "I put it on for the first time this morning." She laced her fingers behind her head, offering herself to Kelli. "I've been saving it for you," she whispered. "I'll never wear it for anyone else." "You'd better not," Kelli replied as she fought to control herself, "because you'd give a man a stroke if he saw you in it. Or maybe," she added, tweaking Amanda's nipple, rolling it softly between her thumb and forefinger through the thin cloth, "maybe one of those nasty four-hour erections that they warn you about in the commercials." Settle down, girl, she's not going anywhere... Amanda giggled, more at Kelli's blank, starry-eyed expression than at the wisecrack. "But it wasn't. Not really," she said. "Huh? What wasn't?" Kelli asked in a sappy, befuddled voice. "Wasn't... what?" "It wasn't the shirt that turned me on, Kelli. It was you." Amanda slipped her arms around Kelli's neck. "Just you. I'd have fallen for you if you'd been wearing a burlap sack and combat boots." So let's go already. And on that happy thought Amanda puckered up, closing her eyes as Kelli's lips approached. Time to show her who's driving this bus, Kelli mused. She sucked at Amanda's lower lip just long enough to feel her respond, then pulled back, smiling at the confusion in Amanda's eyes when they finally opened. "Let's watch Chef!" Kelli chirped. Let's have sex, Amanda groaned to herself, then resigned herself to her fate. - "You still have a VCR?" Amanda asked. "Yep. I've got a lot of old stuff on tape that I can't find on DVD. And besides," Kelli explained, "it's kind of neat, it's like a low-tech nostalgia trip." Amanda watched as Kelli loaded the tape and found the remote. She walked back to the overstuffed brown suede sofa, kicked off her shoes, lay down on her side and patted a cushion. "C'mere, you." Amanda stepped out of her sandals and snuggled in, her back against Kelli, facing the TV. "I think you'll like this," Kelli said, brushing Amanda's hair aside to kiss the nape of her neck. "Mmmm, I already do," Amanda purred, looking up. Kelli giggled. "I was talking about the show, you big doofus," she said as she started the tape. And for the next hour or so they howled at the antics and acerbic wit of Chef Gareth Blackstock, as portrayed by Lenny Henry. Particularly hilarious scenes were replayed at Amanda's request; she thought that Chef! was the funniest thing she'd ever seen. Now Gareth was berating the kitchen staff again but neither of them was laughing; the sound had been muted some time ago. Amanda was on her back, jeans bunched at her knees, exhaling in quiet, excited gasps, staring at the ceiling and shivering with anticipation as Kelli's tongue worked a little more of her boyshorts into her damp, tingling slit. "I've been waiting for this, lover," Kelli cooed contentedly. "Every night, for almost a year now, I've dreamed of eating this beautiful pussy. Because you wouldn't let me do it then, remember?" Amanda could barely remember her own name but she knew how she'd immersed herself in pleasuring Kelli and ignored her pleas to reciprocate. Soul on the Rocks: The Reunion "So, all those nights I wondered," Kelli continued in a low whisper, pressing a finger at the top of Amanda's cleft to rub slow, teasing circles around her clit through the lacy panel, "what it looked like, how it would smell, how it would taste." She pulled the material aside, just enough to expose a puffy outer lip, and gave it a wet, luxurious lick that made Amanda moan. "And, at last, I'm going to find out." Finally. Amanda raised her hips off the sofa and Kelli's hands were there, gliding smoothly up the backs of her thighs and into her panties, cupping her ass. "I'm going to drown myself in your pussy," Kelli whispered, hooking a finger into the crotch of her panties. "Yes," Amanda gasped, arching higher as Kelli's tongue curled beneath the waistband into her pubic hair. "I'm going to eat it until you scream," Kelli whispered. Then, without missing a beat, she rose to her knees, pulled Amanda's jeans to her waist, fastened the button, and zipped them up. Amanda was still panting and shivering when Kelli, grinning mischievously, stretched out on top of her. "After we take a short music break," Kelli said. Payback's a bitch, beautiful, Amanda promised herself, and don't you forget it. - "You know what I want to hear," Amanda said. She, as Kelli's guest, had first choice of song to kick off "Retro Rock Revue." "I've got a pretty good idea," Kelli replied. She padded over to the CD shelf, pulled out Homemade Boogie Stew, the first studio release by Soul on the Rocks, and held it up for Amanda. "This one?" A smile spread over Amanda's face. "That's the one." Kelli put the CD in, closed the tray and resumed her seat on the sofa next to Amanda. She skipped to track six and pressed play, turning the volume down to allow for conversation when the opening bass riff of "My Rockin' Angel" rumbled through the speakers. "Remember when they played this at the show? The encore? And we stood up with everybody else and started singing it?" Amanda asked. "Sure do." This is our song suddenly came to mind, it really is, and the thought excited Kelli. Amanda batted her lashes. "And then you put your arm around me." Kelli feigned surprise. "Why, by golly I did, didn't I?" "Yes, you did. And I was stunned. Like you said, we barely knew each other. People were watching us. And even though I could see that you were having a good time I still thought you seemed a little uptight, a little reserved." "I was," Kelli admitted. "More than a little." "So, when you put your arm around me, well, that was my moment," Amanda said, softly and earnestly, fixing her eyes into Kelli's. "My very own special, head-over-heels moment. I couldn't believe how excited I was, how good it felt, to have your arm around me. Such an innocent, spur-of the-moment thing, I know, but it just melted me." Amanda smiled as she took Kelli's hand. "You asked me why I approached you," she continued. "And I told you." Sort of, anyway, she reminded herself. "So... why'd you do it?" Why, indeed. Kelli had asked herself the same question a hundred times, never finding a satisfactory answer. She'd wondered why the moment it happened, seemingly of its own accord. She'd asked herself again that same evening in Amanda's suite as she fought her fears and reached the decision that had eventually changed both of their lives. And countless times since, late at night in the darkness of her bedroom. I don't know was an answer she'd settled for time and again, just one of those things was another. It was spontaneous, no big deal. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. I put my arm around her, so what? Let it go. But she couldn't. Why? Now Kelli saw the answer, the true answer, shining like a beacon in Amanda's deep chestnut eyes. And the truth shall set you free, she thought, trembling as she remembered her father, the Reverend Elson Josiah Adams, and the Sunday sermons he had based on that Biblical passage, his favorite from the Book of John. The truth shall set you free. She took Amanda's waist in her arm, just as she had at the concert, and kissed her lips as softly, as tenderly as anyone could. "Because I wanted to," she said, and the tears came. - Interlude "Retro Rock Revue"—the playlist: "My Rockin' Angel," Soul On The Rocks (Amanda) "Shambala," Three Dog Night (Kelli) "Part Of The Plan," Dan Fogelberg (A) "Embryonic Journey," Jefferson Airplane (K) "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," Richard Thompson (A) "Bent Out Of Shape," The Replacements (K) "Dakota," Stereophonics (A) "Moonchild," Rory Gallagher (K) "Over My Head," Fleetwood Mac (A) "Thank You," Led Zeppelin (K) "Natural Born Bugie," Humble Pie (A) "Still... You Turn Me On," Emerson, Lake and Palmer (K) - The final notes of "Still... You Turn Me On" had faded out several minutes ago but Amanda and Kelli were still dancing, in a way. The last stitch of clothing remaining on either of them was the Soul on the Rocks t-shirt; everything else was randomly scattered around the room. Kelli was standing behind Amanda, caressing her belly and whispering naughty tidbits in her ear as she decided its fate. "I'm not sure if I want to take it off you or not. You look so hot in it," Kelli said, burrowing into Amanda's hair, sinking her lips into her neck. "I could've raped you in the living room, you know..." "Impossible. I'm a consenting adult," Amanda sighed at the light, almost tickly feel of Kelli's hands making their way up her abs, tugging the shirt higher, baring her rib cage, cupping her breasts. But I won't be in my right mind much longer if she keeps this up... "Feel that?" Amanda drew a quick, surprised breath as Kelli's pussy, unmistakably wet, rubbed a slow, sensual cadence into the upper slope of her ass cheek. "Hmmm? Feel how wet I am?" Amanda could, easily. And she loved it; the slippery, intimate feel of Kelli's warm, wet sex gliding over her ass felt simply wicked. "I'm a mess," Kelli said, rubbing and tweaking Amanda's nipples through the cloth. "I don't know if I'll make it to the bedroom now." A slow hand slid back down Amanda's belly and paused at the top of her landing strip. "What's a girl to do? Help me decide," Kelli whispered, slipping both hands under the t-shirt and her tongue between Amanda's parted lips. Amanda flicked soft encouragement and Kelli tilted her head and leaned in. Amanda opened wider to let Kelli's tongue trace her mouth, then Kelli's lips brushed against hers and she plunged her hands into Kelli's hair, pulling her closer. "I want it," Amanda growled as Kelli's hands skimmed over her breasts, "and I want it now." "Earn it," Kelli said sweetly. "I will," Amanda replied, feathering her lips into Kelli's, sucking them gently, coaxing them open and sliding her tongue in and out, darting and teasing, drawing Kelli's lips in until they were engulfing hers, then breaking the kiss just as Kelli's tongue drove deep and the grip on her breasts tightened. "Well?" Amanda asked with a smirk. The why-did-you-do-that look in Kelli's eyes spoke volumes. Payback's a bitch, beautiful. Told you so. "Oh, you're good. So good, in fact," Kelli whispered hoarsely, pausing just long enough to hear the sudden, ragged gasp of pleasure as she sank two fingers into Amanda's tight folds, "that I'm going to fuck you right here and now, baby girl." Amanda trembled as Kelli's arm locked securely beneath her breasts; then she felt Kelli's pussy slip-sliding against her ass again. She closed her eyes and began to rock , riding Kelli's fingers, forcing them deeper inside her, giving them an occasional salacious squeeze. "Bring it on, beautiful." She reached back to skim Kelli's ass with her fingernails. "Don't be shy." "Oh, I'm going to," Kelli threatened playfully, sliding her fingers in to the palm as her hips propelled Amanda forward, then out to the first knuckle as they swayed back together. "All you can handle, and then some." "Well, I hope so. I didn't come all the way from Ames, Iowa just for boeuf Bourguignon, so do it... oh, no," Amanda whimpered as Kelli's fingers suddenly withdrew. "Why, you impudent little brat," Kelli said, contenting herself with tracing Amanda's damp inner lips with a fingertip. "Just for that, I'm going to make you wait for it. In fact, I might not do it at all." Amanda desperately wanted those fingers back inside her. "Please," she begged, "please, Kelli." "Well, now, that's better." Kelli relaxed her hold under Amanda's breastbone and slipped two fingers back into her pussy, stroking gently until she began rocking again, then resumed her own slow grind, slathering Amanda's cheek with her juices. "Much better," she said in a reassuring yet authoritative voice. "Now, are you going to be a good girl for me? Hmmm?" What's this, Amanda said to herself, it can't be. Not Kelli. Can't be... "Answer me, Amanda," Kelli intoned, adding a firm pinch to the nipple for emphasis. How serious is she? Let's find out! "I'll behave, Miss Adams, I promise," Amanda said in the voice of a chastised schoolgirl, shivering with giddy excitement when Kelli's breathing quickened. I'm all in, beautiful, she thought triumphantly, now show me what you've got. "Oh, that's my girl," Kelli purred into Amanda's ear, tightening her hold around her. "And here's what you get when you're a good girl." Amanda's knees nearly buckled when Kelli slid a third finger into her cunt, then bunched them together to fuck her with slow, maddeningly precise strokes. "Do you like that, Amanda?" Do I like it? The idea that even a smidgen of domme lurked beneath that ultra-femme exterior, combined with the new and naughty sensation of juices on her cheek and hip while Kelli's fingers worked her pussy into a pulsating lather, was too delicious to be true. "Oh, fuck, it's wonderful. Thank you, Miss Adams." Kelli's fingers came to an abrupt halt and pulled out. "What did you say?" she demanded. "I, I..." Amanda stammered. "You mind your tongue, young lady." Amanda nearly exploded when she felt the sharp, stinging crack on her ass. "Owww! I'm sorry, please, Miss Adams..." Please, Amanda wanted to say but didn't dare, do it again, please... "Are you, Amanda?" Kelli gasped. "Really and truly sorry?" Even though Amanda couldn't see Kelli's face she could sense the excitement in her quavering voice. She could feel it in those insanely hard, thick nipples boring into her shoulders, in the warm, wet patch of flesh that felt like it was glued to her ass, in the sinewy strength of the arm clutching her rib cage. "I'm not sure if I believe you." Smack! "Aaaghh! Yes! I'm sorry, Miss Adams. Please," Amanda searched for the magic words, "please let me come. I'll be good." "Oh, I'll see to that myself." Kelli started grinding again, more urgently now; Amanda could feel herself leaking as Kelli eased two fingers back inside her, coating them thoroughly before pulling them out. "And don't make me tell you again." "I won't, I'm sorry... oh... ohhh, Miss Adams," Amanda gasped as Kelli started teasing her clit with soft, circular strokes, "that feels so good..." "Does it now?" Kelli's fingers slowed, parting to squeeze Amanda's clit gently from the sides, nudging it back and forth, releasing it, squeezing again. "How about this? Do you like this, baby girl?" The insane tingling in her clit kept Amanda from answering; she felt as though Kelli was coaxing every ounce of pleasure in her body into that one tiny spot. She instinctively reached between her legs, only to have Kelli shove her hand away roughly. "Don't you dare, missy," Kelli hissed. Smack! "Oww! Miss Adams, I beg of you..." Another one of those and it's not gonna matter... "I have had enough of your nonsense," Kelli replied in short, hard gasps, clutching her even more tightly, sweating now as her wet snatch bored into Amanda's ass. "You will come when I want you to. Do you understand?" Amanda feverishly nodded agreement, moaning as Kelli dipped into her pussy to wet her fingers again. Her thumb drew Amanda's hood back; then a quick, light flutter of fingertip over her pearl, just one, and Amanda was suddenly at the brink, shivering and moaning, begging to come. "I... I can't take it anymore, please..." "You don't deserve it," Kelli snarled and fluttered again, "you nasty little girl..." "Please, Miss Adams... oh, fuck," Amanda gasped, forgetting her promise as Kelli's fingers thrust back into her dripping snatch. "... but I can't stand your whining anymore." "Yessss!" Amanda cried as Kelli's thumb nestled securely against her clit, holding it captive and rubbing it hard until the first throbbing wave burst inside her, then Kelli's hips drove even harder into her ass, repeatedly pushing Amanda's clit into her thumb and inducing a series of shocks so sharp and exquisitely intense that Amanda felt them sizzling deep into her thighs; they might have brought her to her knees had Kelli's arm not been holding her upright. "I'm coming, baby," Kelli shrieked, "I'm coming too..." One last, numbing burst of pleasure bent Amanda double as Kelli screamed again. She felt Kelli's body jerk violently against hers, then her wet release ran in freshets down Amanda's ass and thigh and it was over; Kelli suddenly went limp, holding Amanda tightly with both arms as she collapsed into her back. A full minute passed before either of them could find enough wind to speak. "Amanda," Kelli finally panted. "Baby, are you okay?" Amanda straightened up, turning to face Kelli. "I'm fine... I think... oh my God," she gasped through a wide, contented smile. "You're just full of surprises, Miss Adams." Kelli was still trying to catch her breath too. She looked apologetic, almost frightened. "I don't know what came over me, I just lost it..." Amanda silenced her with a finger to the lips. "You sure did, beautiful," she said, slipping her arms around Kelli's neck. "So did I. And I hope we never find it." She leaned in to flick Kelli's nipple with her tongue, looking up as she did. "Think you can make it to the bedroom now?" Amanda asked. Kelli smiled and nodded. "This old broad's not done yet. You?" "Age before beauty." Amanda's arm made a wide sweep. "Lead on, Miss Adams." - Amanda's eyes snapped open and she realized that it was still early. The faint glow of dawn in the bedroom was just enough for her to make out the tranquil smile on Kelli's face; she was still soundly, blissfully asleep. She didn't usually remember her dreams but the doozy she'd just come out of was still playing in her head. She and Kelli were in a sumptuously appointed bedroom. Kelli lit candles, dozens of them; it seemed as if the room was filled with them, thin white tapers in ornate gold holders. Kelli lit them all and then undressed her, ever so slowly, kissing her from head to toe as she did, before taking her hand and leading her to the bed. Then she made love to Amanda, body and soul, giving her everything she wanted and more, holding nothing back, while Eric's disembodied spirit watched them from above. The fragment she remembered most vividly was Eric's face, beaming with approval at the sight of Kelli loving her as joyously and wholeheartedly as he himself had. Then his image faded, and her orgasms began. I will tell her, Amanda assured herself, and the sooner the better. She tried not to disturb Kelli as she snuggled a little closer, seeking her warmth. Moments later she, too, was asleep. - "Amanda," Kelli said in a cheery, musical voice, gently shaking and nudging the formless lump under the bedspread. "Time to get up." "Ummf?" "You'll be late for school," Kelli teased, giggling and poking until Amanda's head finally turtled out of the covers. "Rise and shine, sleepy head." "What time is it?" Amanda asked, squinting through one bleary eye. Then they both widened into sharp focus at the sight of Kelli standing at the side of the bed, wearing nothing but a wispy yellow G-string and a dazzling smile. "Quarter after ten." Amanda couldn't take her eyes off Kelli. "Wow," she sighed. "Where's the clam shell, Venus?" Perhaps it was the way the natural waves in Kelli's hair caught and reflected the mid-morning sun. Maybe it was the sexy, confident aura she projected; she seemed oblivious to the fact that the drapes were wide open at both windows. Or the way her magnificent body, supple and strong, seemed to glow in the sunlight. Whatever the reason, Amanda couldn't remember a sight more strikingly beautiful. "I've got something much nicer than a clam shell," Kelli said, turning her back and bending at the waist. A saucy little bump-and-grind opened Amanda's eyes even wider. Kelli smiled over her shoulder at Amanda. "Wanna see it?" I already do, Amanda thought, eyeing the thin triangle of silk that tapered from the waistband into the top of Kelli's cleft, and yes it is. I just woke up after seven hours of nonstop sex and a truly weird dream, and I already want that ass, and every spectacular thing attached to it. She watched Kelli's seductive sway all the way to the wing chair tucked in the corner. My ass bounces when I try to walk like that. Hers doesn't even jiggle fetchingly. It's not fair. I probably look like whipped shit. She looks like she's just had a thousand hours of beauty sleep that she didn't need in the first place. Then a smell cut through Amanda's thoughts, a wonderful smell that had nothing to do with Kelli, the smell of... coffee? "Ta da." Kelli spun around, holding a large silver tray. "Hope you're hungry." "Food!" Amanda squealed, coming halfway out of the covers to prop her bare back against the headboard. Kelli laid the tray in her lap, planted a kiss on her forehead, scooted around to the other side of the bed and climbed in next to her. Breakfast in bed, Amanda thought as she took inventory, will wonders never cease? Her mouth was already watering at the sight of the enormous western omelet, fat and fluffy, probably large enough to feed four people. Home fries with a twist, perfectly caramelized strands of finely-sliced onion. Whole wheat toast, buttered, peach preserves on the side. Two small glass bowls of fresh strawberries halved lengthwise, both topped with a huge dollop of crème fraîche. And two steaming mugs of what Amanda figured was Kelli's favorite, Jamaican Blue Mountain. One of the mugs, obviously Kelli's, bore her name in green script. I LOVE YOU! was emblazoned on the other, bold black letters inside a red heart. "Oh, Kelli..." Amanda wiped away a tear and turned her head, closing her eyes as Kelli's waiting lips melted into hers. She opened wider to accommodate Kelli's tongue, then sealed her lips around it, thrilling to the rough-yet-velvety texture of it tickling her palate as she drew it in, as much of it as she could. "A girl could get used to this," Amanda sniffled as they broke. She watched as Kelli took a generous gob of crème fraîche on her fingertips. "Well, you'd better. Because I'm a firm believer in a good breakfast," Kelli explained, painting the crème onto Amanda's breast in a circular, swirling pattern, working from outside in and delicately scraping the last of it onto an already erect nipple, gazing lovingly into her eyes all the while. "It's the most important meal of the day, you know." Soul on the Rocks: The Reunion Amanda plucked out a strawberry as Kelli's tongue and lips eagerly cleaned away the mess on her breast. Yeah, she decided, a girl could definitely get used to this. "I love you, beautiful," she sighed as Kelli's lips reluctantly released her nipple to accept the berry from her fingers. "Yum," Kelli whispered. Then Amanda set the tray carefully on the nightstand and watched that radiant smile disappear beneath the sheets. - "So what happens now? When do we tell our families, our friends?" Kelli asked between bites of toast. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the phrase coming out, and all that it connoted; besides, she didn't feel like she was really in anything, except love. "I've already started to," Amanda replied, "sort of." Kelli's face went blank. "What?" "I stopped in to see Mom and Dad the night before I came. I told them I was in love. They were ecstatic." Amanda let out a deep sigh. "Then I told them that I was in love with a woman. I told them all about you, and what a sweet and special person you are." "What did they say?" Kelli asked. She waited nervously for an answer, fearing the worst as tears came to Amanda's eyes. "They," Amanda gulped, then burst into a smile as her tears flowed freely, "they want to meet you. They want to meet you, Kelli. God, I was so scared..." I'll bet you were, kiddo, Kelli thought as she reached for Amanda. "But they were still ecstatic," Amanda continued. "I couldn't believe it." "Didn't they ask... why?" "Why a woman, you mean?" Kelli nodded. "I'm not sure they would have anyway, but the fact that I was happy seemed to be all that mattered to them. I did tell them not to be too disappointed if it didn't work out because I wasn't sure how you felt. And that was why I was going to Cincinnati; I had to find out." "So, when do I get to meet them?" Kelli asked. "I haven't really thought about it yet. I mean, I know you're busy. Whenever you can get away, I guess," Amanda answered with a shrug. "Hopefully this summer." "How's tomorrow sound?" "Tomorrow? Kelli, I..." "I'd like to fly back with you if you want me to." "Well, sure, I'd love it," Amanda said. "But you can't, school's still in session..." Kelli smiled. "Just watch me, beautiful." She grabbed the phone from its cradle on the nightstand and dialed a number from memory. "Just watch me... okay, it's ringing," she said. "Hello, Jack? Kelli Adams. Jack, I need... oh, it's nice to hear your voice again, too. Hey, I know this is short notice... well, thank you, Jack, that's so sweet... listen, I need to ask a favor..." Kelli said goodbye two minutes later. "Jack Duerra, district superintendent of schools," she explained. "And?" "And I've got a week," Kelli said triumphantly. "Starting tomorrow." Amanda breathed a happy sigh and shook her head. "You're something else, Kelli Adams." Kelli shrugged. "Just a fool in love. Guess we'd better call MidCon and book another seat." "Guess so. You know something?" Amanda said as Kelli picked up the phone, "I think part of the reason my folks are so happy is that I've finally found someone after Eric." Eric? Kelli dropped the phone on the bed. "I'll need some help with this..." Amanda's voice cracked and she started to cry. "Honey, what's wrong?" Kelli asked, reaching for Amanda's hand. "Amanda?" "I'll be okay," Amanda sniffled. "As long as you're here, I'll be okay." She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand as Kelli put an arm around her. "Remember talking last night about that special feeling of being in love?" "Yes." "I had it once before I met you. His name was Eric. We... were engaged..." Amanda started sobbing softly again as Kelli tried to comfort her. "You don't have to put yourself through this, whatever it is," Kelli said. "Yes, I do. Please." Closure, Kelli thought instinctively. She gave Amanda a reassuring hug and held her tight, aware that she was getting misty-eyed, too. She felt, as much as heard, Amanda sobbing her story into her shoulder. "He was on his motorcycle. On his way over to pick me up. We were going to ride to the Effigy Mounds in Harper's Ferry, spend the day hiking the trails. And some guy ran a stop sign three blocks from my house..." "Oh, baby." Drunk? Kelli wondered, and that's a dumb question, too. Drunk, sober, what does it matter? It doesn't. "He was still conscious when I got to the hospital, but he couldn't move, he couldn't talk. All he could do was squeeze my hand. I was practically hysterical, but I tried to stay calm, to reassure him. I told him he'd be all right, and that I'd be there with him, I'd wait for him to get better. And when I told him... that I loved him, he squeezed my hand. And when he let go..." Amanda couldn't finish, but she didn't have to; Kelli knew the rest. Kelli held her close, waiting for her to get herself together. "I'm so sorry. How long ago?" she finally asked. "Almost three years now." Amanda was no longer crying; she raised her head and stared blankly into Kelli's eyes. "I... I thought you should know..." "I didn't have to..." "Yes, you did. Think about it." Kelli did, and immediately realized that Amanda was right; if they were going to be together, they needed to share all the important things about each other now, rather than later. No secrets. Nothing rattling in the closet. She also realized that Eric was a part of Amanda, he always would be, and Amanda needed to know that she could accept that fact. "Guess we'd better book that flight," Kelli said, gently stroking Amanda's hair. "Beautiful?" "Hmmm?" "Thank you so much. For everything." Amanda managed a smile. "I love you. As a matter of fact," she added, caressing Kelli's cheeks, "I could just kiss you right now." And she did. - "Mmmm. Kelli, that was heavenly. Thank you," Amanda purred. She whispered another kiss into that special place behind Kelli's ear that she'd discovered last year and never forgotten. Paid in full and then some, Amanda sighed to herself, as if she ever owed me anything. Almost as heavenly, she decided, was the simple yet intimate feel of Kelli's body nestled against hers, floating away together as they basked in the afterglow of yet another delicious hour of lovemaking. "Keep that up and you'll get some more," Kelli murmured. "Promise?" Amanda promptly sank a few wet-and-sloppies into Kelli's sweet spot, sucking madly. "You nympho," Kelli cried, rolling Amanda onto her back and lying on top of her, "you're driving me crazy!" "That's the idea," Amanda replied, and they both laughed. Then Amanda started sniffing at the air like a bloodhound. "Beautiful, is it just me, or do we reek of hot, sweaty sex?" "We got the funk, all right," Kelli agreed, and they both cackled hysterically. "Let's take a shower," Amanda said. "Together." "Yea, verily." Another burst of giggles. "And so we shall, after I ask you a favor." "Anything you want, beautiful, just name it." Randy thoughts of the soapy, steamy fun that awaited them was getting Amanda worked up all over again. Maybe I really am a nympho, she decided, but she hasn't let up either, so hey, keep it coming... Overcoming playful resistance with a few well-placed kisses, Kelli extricated herself from Amanda's arms, went to the closet and brought back a shopping bag. "Mashelle picked it out for us," Kelli said. "Here." Amanda sat up, opened the bag and unwrapped the parcel inside, gasping in surprise when she saw what it contained. "Who's Mashelle?" Amanda asked absently. Her eyes remained glued to the strap-on she held in her hands, seven inches of not-too-thick, veiny purple silicone protruding from an oh-so-feminine-looking lavender harness. Why, there's even a little bow above His Majesty. How cute is that, she thought, Kelli Adams, you naughty thing... "My best friend. I've known her since junior high." Kelli took a seat next to Amanda on the edge of the bed. "She came out, oh, six or seven years ago. She and her partner are the only ones I've told about us." And I told her what I wanted and she hooked me up. "I've opened up to her about a lot of things. I've asked her a lot of questions." Amanda fixed Kelli with a steady gaze. "And?" Anything else, she wondered. Kelli smiled. Those expressive brown eyes were so easy to read, once you spent a day or two in them. "No. Mashelle only has eyes for Janita. And, in case you were wondering," she said, leaning over to blow a puff of warm breath over a semi-erect nipple, "I only have eyes for you." I feel like she's reading my mind, Amanda said to herself, and damned if it's not turning me on even more... "I've never done this before, so I want you to take it slow and easy, beautiful. Okay?" Kelli said. Well, okay, Amanda mused, a tinge of confusion now coloring her arousal, but this thing isn't huge, I hope you've had more than this before, it's a toy but the principle's the same... "Sure," she answered, barely interrupting her train of thought, ...you put it on and fuck, right? Now, how in the world do you put it on? And I thought we were going to shower... Kelli read her eyes again and slowly shook her head. And Amanda knew. She can't be serious. Amanda's brain kicked into overdrive, spewing out shards of thought. Anal sex? No way. She held her breath, trembling as Kelli pressed her lips to her ear. Where did this idea come from? "Yes, Amanda," Kelli whispered, kissing her earlobe. "That's what I want. And don't worry, I'll help you on with it when the time comes. We'll do it in the shower..." "Kelli..." No fucking way this is happening, I never dreamed... "... slow and easy. But first, I'll need some help from those magic fingers of yours to get me ready for it. There's lube in the top drawer." Kelli fixed Amanda in her steady, ice-blue gaze. "Gloves, too. Can you do this? If not, I understand. And it's perfectly all right." "Are you sure?" "Yes." Amanda could barely hear herself think as she opened the nightstand drawer. The box of gloves, size small, she noted, my size, was unopened. The lube was there too, in a clear bottle. And she could see that the bottle wasn't full, that someone had already used some of it, and it wasn't us, was it? "Call it practice." Amanda's head snapped around. "Call it homework," Kelli said. "But I've only done it twice. With my fingers, nothing else. I wanted to get used to the feeling." My good lord, why is she telling me this? What is she saying? "But only if you want to. It's up to you, beautiful. We'll start with one finger, slow and easy. When I'm ready for another, we'll do it with two." Kelli's voice was quiet, hypnotic. Amanda shut her eyes and tried to breathe normally, then she felt Kelli's hand settle over hers. "One of yours, and one of mine. Together," Kelli said solemnly, tightening her grip on Amanda's trembling hand, "and such will be our bond." "Ohh," Amanda gasped softly, shivering as Kelli traced her areola with a fingertip. What the hell is she up to? "We'll do it together, Amanda, you and I, slow and easy, for as long as it takes for you to get to know me, and I will be your guide. And when I'm ready for you to take me, when I'm ready for you to own me," Kelli whispered, "then I'll help you put it on. Will you do this for me?" Amanda opened her eyes now, wide brown saucers centered in fields of white. Her breasts rose and fell with each labored breath. Her face was a portrait of rapt and anguished attention. Or so she hoped. Shaking like a leaf's a nice touch, too. Wait for it, Amanda thought gleefully, wait until she begs for it. "I'll get down on my knees and worship it if you want me to. If you'll do this for me. And then we'll take our shower. A long, hot, cleansing shower while you stake your claim to my soul, inch by glorious inch, ever so slow and easy." Kelli's eyes blazed blue fire. "Will you do this for me, Amanda?" she asked. "Sounds like a plan," Amanda replied with a shrug, then started to laugh as Kelli's jaw dropped. "You... you... party-pooper, how did you know?" Kelli jumped on top of Amanda, pinning her to the bed, and started to tickle her belly and sides mercilessly. "Tell me, or I'll tickle you to death." "Never!" Amanda cried, giggling and squirming to no avail. "No, oh no, Kelli, please not there, nooooo..." "Tell me or else," Kelli demanded, digging into another likely spot just under Amanda's ribs. It had the desired effect. "I'll tell! Aaagh! I'll tell! Stop! I give up..." "I thought I had you," Kelli said, faking one last poke to Amanda's ribs. "For a minute there, you did," Amanda admitted. "As they say back home, you couldn't have pulled a needle out of my ass with a tractor." Oops... "So how did you know?" "I saw that evil twinkle in your eyes," Amanda said. "You can't hide it, you know." Kelli took a deep breath, then got up and closed the drapes. Why close them now, they've been open all day long, Amanda asked herself. "So, will you do it?" Kelli asked calmly. Anything you want, beautiful, just name it. I said that just five minutes ago. And I meant every word. Amanda searched Kelli's eyes again. There was no trace of a twinkle now. She was serious. "Yes. But... why the..." "Because I was too stupid to just come out and ask. I'm sorry." Amanda smiled as she shook her head. "No, Kelli. You were too nervous to come out and ask. Right?" "Yeah," Kelli nodded, feeling like she was going to blush or cry or both. "But it worked." Amanda took two of the four pillows against the headboard and stacked them in the center of the bed. "If you're still up for it, that is. I'd do anything for you, you know." Kelli nodded. "I love you, Amanda." Those blue eyes were twinkling again. "I love you so much. And I trust you every bit as much as I love you." She straddled the pillows, facing away, and stretched out, face down, head and torso flat on the bed, hips comfortably elevated and supported. "I'll tell you exactly what to do if you're not sure," she said. Then she giggled. "What's that about?" Amanda asked nervously. "Just thought of something." "What's that?" "The look on your face this morning. You've always had a thing for my ass, baby girl. You and that bartender." And she's still making jokes, trying to calm me down now, Amanda thought, she wants anal sex for the first time in her life and she's trying to get ME to relax? "But he's not getting any of this." Kelli looked back and winked, patting a cheek. Amanda could feel her heart pounding in her chest. I know what I like but what about her? Should I tell her now? Would it help? "Don't worry," Kelli said, and the serene smile on her face put Amanda's fears to rest. "You'll do just fine." "You know something, beautiful? You're right." You make love to her, that's what you do. This is her moment. She doesn't need to worry about anything but herself. Amanda found a comfortable seated position between Kelli's legs. "I do have a thing for your ass." And you're not going to ask any questions either, she thought, she'll tell you what she wants you to know when she's good and ready. "It's..." She undid the side ties of the G-string and tugged the yellow silk between Kelli's legs. I'm in good hands, Kelli said to herself, taking in deep, even breaths. "... it's exquisite," Amanda continued, caressing up and down, slowly and lightly with her palms, "it's sculpted." It's like she's memorizing me, Kelli thought, feeling as though she could drift off to sleep if not for the arousal that was taking over her mind and body. Barely aware that she was doing it, she spread her lips and started working the pillows with a subtle, flowing motion of her hips. Her arousal intensified when Amanda slipped a finger into her pussy while painting lube into her cleft with her other hand. Her hips writhed feverishly, grinding her aching clit into the smooth satin, shaking and moaning, when Amanda feathered her cheeks a bit farther apart. "I'm coming," she gasped quietly, exploding into the pillows as Amanda's tongue, soft, wet velvet, drifted into her valley. Amanda started a back rub as soon as Kelli settled down. "Damn, beautiful. Bet you're relaxed now," she said. "And how," Kelli sighed. "I'm ready for anything. Just let me rest for a minute." "Take your time," Amanda said, pressing her fingertips into Kelli's lower back, gently probing into both sides of her spine, slowly working her way upward. "Just let me know." "If we don't do it now I'll probably fall asleep," Kelli said. "I'll take a rain check on the massage, though." "Whenever you want it," Amanda promised No gloves, Amanda decided, but I'll be careful. She doused her index finger with lube, then swirled a dab of it around Kelli's star until it glistened. "Oh, baby, I love that," Kelli said. Amanda remembered how much she'd liked it when Eric had done the same for her so she repeated the motion, pressing the tiniest bit more firmly, edging toward the center, moving clockwise this time. And did it again and again, pausing only to apply more lube to her fingertip, until Kelli looked up and nodded. Amanda focused on Kelli's face as she eased her fingertip in and waited. Tight. It's so tight. No other word can describe it. "You all right, beautiful?" "Go for it," Kelli said. She's so calm, so self-assured. How does she do it? Then she felt Kelli bearing down and she pushed, gently, until almost half of her finger was inside. "How's that?" "Ummm," Kelli sighed, a noise halfway between a purr and a groan. Amanda started to move her finger with a subtle side-to-side sweep, barely brushing each side. Slow and easy, she said to herself. She stopped when she felt Kelli clamp around her finger, and waited. When Kelli relaxed she began again, working her finger gently up and down this time. Squeeze. Stop. Release. Small circles began a third cycle. "Unhhh." A sudden, hard contraction brought Amanda's finger to a dead stop. "Kelli?" Amanda held her breath and waited. "Perfect," Kelli exhaled as she relaxed. "Amanda, you're an absolute doll." Her eyes fluttered shut. "Do that again," she sighed. "Please. And this time, don't stop until I ask you to." - "Stop... ohmigod," Kelli moaned, a moan of pleasure so faint that Amanda had to strain to hear it over the steady hiss of warm water from the showerhead pulsing against her back. She's tense. Amanda trembled as she massaged a few more drops of body wash into Kelli's taut, trembling belly. And so am I. But I'll be fine. Focus on her. Keep her aroused and relaxed. "Mmmm, nice abs," she purred. "Been working out for me, haven't you?" She rimmed Kelli's navel with a soapy finger before her hands started upward. Corny, I know, but whatever works... Kelli turned her head slowly, peering at Amanda around a fall of wet brown hair. Her eyes were half-closed, her mouth half-open, sucking in gulps of air. "Amanda," she exhaled in jagged breaths after every word, "this... is... fucking... amazing." "Know what else is amazing?" Amanda's hands slithered over Kelli's breasts. "These." She rubbed the tips of Kelli's hard nipples with the insides of her wrists. "These are amazing," she whispered, sinking her fingertips into Kelli's firm, slick mounds, letting them slip off and grabbing them again, kneading hard as her lips kissed and nibbled their way up her neck, "you're amazing, everything about you is amazing, you're my hero, you're Wonder Woman, you're just full of surprises, Miss Adams, and I love you." Soul on the Rocks "That, goddess, was your G-spot," Amanda had explained. "And you squirted. Congratulations." The wet, sticky feel of Amanda's breasts against hers as they kissed had made Kelli almost giddy. Then she'd remembered her manners. I guess it's my turn. I hope I can do it. I owe her. And she'd tried to roll Amanda onto her back. Amanda had had other ideas. She'd straddled Kelli and held her shoulders to the mattress, smiling like a cat that had just devoured a cage full of canaries. "I'm not finished with you yet, goddess," she'd whispered. "Not even close." "What about you, Amanda? Don't you want..." "I'm having the time of my life, thank you very much," Amanda had answered. "And you will, too. Let's do it again." And they had, more times than Kelli could count. Orgasms without number, Kelli remembered now as Amanda's tongue curled around her clit and she started to tingle and twitch, I can't take many more. Amanda's slow, methodical strokes reminded Kelli of the vagina of an extraordinarily tight and well-trained geisha servicing her master's penis, reverently and precisely. The rocking of her hips turned to frantic thrusts when Amanda slid two fingers back into her drenched pussy. "Oh God... oh fuuuck..." Kelli screamed as Amanda's fingers dug into her G-spot at the exact millisecond of her clitoral orgasm; her back arched off the bed and her thighs clamped onto Amanda's head as violent spasms ripped through her, one after another, bursts of electricity so powerfully charged that she swooned. Amanda was holding her when she came to. "Kelli? I was starting to worry..." Amanda's face was a mixture of concern and awe. "Are you okay?" "Oh, Amanda..." Kelli smiled as if she had achieved Nirvana. Her remaining strength went into a deep, loving kiss that put Amanda's fears to rest. Ten minutes later they were both asleep, still in each other's arms. Kelli woke up the next morning at quarter after nine, just an hour and a half before Amanda had to leave for the airport. Good thing, too, Amanda had forgotten to set an alarm or ask for a wake-up call. Kelli showered first; she emerged fifteen minutes later, nude, drying her hair with a towel to allow Amanda more time under the hot water. She dressed after fetching her clothes, and Amanda's as well, from the living area. When Amanda came out of the bathroom Kelli was sitting in the chair, sipping a cup of the coffee that she had prepared in the kitchenette while Amanda showered. She offered a cup to Amanda, cream and sugar. "I was thinking about how I could repay you for last night. I realize that I can't, it's impossible. I wish I could. Thank you just isn't enough. I... I've never ... I can't describe the sensations... and you said you've never been with a woman before." Kelli's voice trailed off. "Never," Amanda said. "Scout's honor. Pretty good for a couple of newbies, huh? And no thanks necessary. I wasn't kidding when I said I loved it every bit as much as you did. Maybe more. You're one fantastic woman, Kelli Adams." "Then where did you learn to..." Amanda knew what Kelli was going to ask. "That's a long story. A story for another time." They sipped coffee for a minute; then Amanda did a double-take. Kelli was wearing the white tank top that she'd worn last night. "Kelli..." "I'll never be the same, Amanda," Kelli blurted. Her eyes were tearing up. "I'll never forget you, or last night. And I want you to remember me." She handed Amanda the "Rockin' America '93 Tour" shirt, folded into a neat retail-style square with the tour dates showing on top. "Just make sure to wash it before you wear it, okay?" Kelli came to her feet, sobbing unashamedly now, as was Amanda, and they held each other for as long as they could. When it was time for Amanda to leave they exchanged phone numbers, promised to stay in touch, and kissed goodbye. -- The land line was ringing but Kelli was in no position to answer it. She was luxuriating in the bubble bath that she had promised herself earlier. Candles at the foot of the tub enclosure provided a soothing blueberry scent; the shelf spanning it held her silenced iPhone and a rare treat, a glass of white wine. An ice bucket containing the bottle sat next to the tub within easy reach, just in case. Kelli felt so good that she thought she might spend the entire weekend right here, up to her neck in warm water. I'm alive again. Thank you, Amanda. Her feet kicked up bubbles. Amanda had given her a priceless gift. Why had she waited so long to open it? After the fifth ring the answering machine kicked on. "Hello," Kelli heard herself say, "you've reached 555-1407. Please leave your name and a short message and I'll return your call as soon as possible. Thanks." Kelli jerked upright when she heard the voice. "Hey, Kelli, it's Amanda. I'm flying into Cincinnati next Saturday and I was wondering if you could pick me up at the airport. MidCon Air, flight two-oh-seven, ETA ten-ten a.m. Call me back. I left a message on your cell, too." A pause. "Dying to see you again, goddess. Bye." Water sloshed over the tile as Kelli grabbed for her cell. -- Amanda had no business to tend to in Cincinnati, she simply wanted to see Kelli again. On Saturday evening they ate themselves well past full of the excellent boeuf Bourguignon that they had collaborated to create, finishing off the bottle of Burgundy employed in the dish in the process and talking for two hours at the dinner table before curling up on the sofa together to laugh themselves silly watching episodes of Chef! that Kelli had videotaped years ago. And they played "Retro Rock Revue," a game Kelli created on the spur of the moment. They took turns selecting a song from Kelli's CD collection, playing it, then critiquing it for a maximum of five minutes. Amanda's first pick had, naturally enough, been "My Rockin' Angel," by Soul on the Rocks. "Hopelessly clichéd," Kelli giggled. "Sappy as a sugar maple," Amanda retorted, and they both broke up. Amanda's last song was "Natural Born Bugie," by Humble Pie, her paean to Kelli; by the time it had ended Kelli had been swallowed whole and digested by Amanda's dreamy eyes. "Take that," Amanda whispered triumphantly. There was no critique session. "Oh, it's on, now, beautiful," Kelli replied, fairly beaming. She considered the Doors' "Twentieth Century Fox" and "Rock And Roll Woman" by Buffalo Springfield but decided she wanted something more atmospheric and sensual. Something unusual. Seconds later, the perfect song popped into her head. Kelli put the CD in and cued the track but didn't start it. Instead, she returned to the sofa and extended her hand. "Would the lady care to dance?" Kelli asked. She hit PLAY. Amanda's face lit up. Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Still... You Turn Me On" had always been one of her favorite tunes. Amanda was wearing Kelli's SOTR tour shirt to honor the occasion. Kelli thought it looked so much hotter on Amanda than it ever had on her and told her so, while her fingers stole beneath it in the manner of a cat-burglar gaining entrance to a palatial estate and she murmured delightfully risqué promises to Amanda of wonders yet to come. And then there was love, two epic days of it, during the course of which Kelli more than repaid Amanda for her thoughtfulness.