Sonya glanced at the women coming out of the underground station. That one with the cropped black leather jacket looked good. Sonya moved her head so she could keep her eye on this one. She liked the way the jacket stopped above the woman's belt. It was not studded but broad and decorated by a regular pattern of metal rings punched through the leather. The indigo jeans she wore below were tight and really showed off her sleek legs that disappeared into smooth black leather boots below her knees. Her hair was dark and cut short. As she had found herself doing a lot recently, Sonya found herself wondering if the woman was a lesbian. Then the woman turned, suddenly looking in Sonya's direction and Sonya felt a sudden jolt of excitement as she realised it was Marianne. Marianne smiled, Sonya thought a little shyly, as she walked towards her.
Sonya wondered how many dates with woman Marianne had been on, then again, she had not been backward at coming forward either in the hospital or arranging this date. As the two women closed, Sonya realised that actually she was enjoying a little coyness from a woman. After Carole, who certainly seemed to know precisely what she wanted, Sonya realised she was coming to understand that she did not really want to be led by a woman but to encounter and explore things on equal terms with her partner. Marianne certainly seem to be offering more that kind of relationship. Relationship? This was the first date, well, real date, but maybe the fact that such thoughts popped into her mind when she was looking at Marianne signalled something important.
"Hello, have you been waiting long?"
"No, not long at all." Sonya said finding herself looping her arm around Marianne's back. "Christ, you look stunning."
Marianne blushed and Sonya wanted to kiss her there and then.
"I went to have my hair done, I was a bit hesitant, but I thought, well if I am out and about dating, why not be proud about it?"
"It's great, I love it." Sonya said realising it was true.
Sonya softly ran her fingers over the tightly cropped back part of Marianne's hair and smiled as she gave a pleasurable shiver. Sonya found it uncontrollable as her head closed in on Marianne's and their lips brushed. This was not what she had intended at all, but it felt good, so good. Beneath her fingers Sonya felt Marianne relaxing; her body yielding to this, not struggling; not even staying rigid.
Sonya broke. "Sorry, sorry, that was a bit much. It was just …"
"No, I liked …"
Now Marianne sent out a hand to clasp Sonya's side and with gentle pressure directed her back in. Her lips was so smooth beneath Sonya's that Sonya felt light-headed.
"… it. I liked it a lot."
Marianne finished her sentence a little breathless. Sonya had no recollection of kissing a woman in public and she knew even in London people would often look askance at same-sex couples snogging, but for now she had not a thought of caring, she was just savouring this, with Marianne, in a bubble of their own.
"It's a bit in reverse. It's like a goodnight kiss at the start." Sonya gabbled.
"Only if you don't know the person and you and I have had coffee together; I've already seen you naked, twice." Marianne said smiling broadly.
"Well, on that score, I've certainly been making efforts to catch up." Sonya said as pleasurable memories of the encounter in the shower returned.
"Well, I'm always happy for you to come over and scrub my back; my front even." Marianne whispered in Sonya's ear, her breath so delightfully warm and tingling as she spoke.
"Naughty." Sonya replied, now laughing.
The laughter came from the excitement she was getting from this. In the past she had never really understood what people meant about 'clicking' with someone, but now she knew that was what she was witnessing. The sensation swept away all the barriers and the stages and whisked you to being in that sphere with the other person with doubts and hesitation on the outside.
"Come on, let's get on this date and talk about what's to follow when we've had something to drink, and I want to dance, to shake off the week.
Marianne planted another quick kiss on Sonya's lips. "Good on you."
"Oh, of course, and to celebrate, because …"
"Because what?"
"Because I'm with you." Sonya found herself admitting.
Marianne took Sonya's hand and they began heading to the club. Sonya felt a real buzz to be walking here with a woman who was rapidly becoming her girlfriend. She knew there would be challenges and difficulties, but for the moment she felt unbeatable.
The night had been stunning, she had barely let go of Marianne, they had cavorted and cuddled, clasped and kissed on the dance floor as if they were the only ones there. Well, not quite that, because the warm bodies of women around them, having a good time themselves, had created an atmosphere that had simply added to what they were feeling. Sonya could not remember when she had felt so happy. For some reason, though, she knew it was not the case, she felt that she had been denying herself pleasures that had actually been in reach. Maybe it was the accident; maybe it was meeting Marianne. Whatever it was, Sonya felt she had stepped through a door into somewhere much brighter, somewhere exciting and full of potential.
Though dawn was appearing as they came through Sonya's door it was clear neither of them was tired. In fact, they were both clearly fired up and Sonya began to feel a tingle as her body realised that it was most likely to get some sex and with Marianne, the one it ached to be connecting with. Though it was Sonya's flat, Marianne took the lead, moving them into the lounge. She stopped and turned and pulled Sonya close to her. Marianne's kisses were hungry, but Sonya responded in kind gradually spreading from the mouth until she was on Marianne's neck and nuzzling towards the top of her breasts. There was a warm, earthy scent about Marianne's skin brought on by a night on the dance floor, but to Sonya it was the richest scent, the scent of a woman, the scent of one she realised she was rapidly coming to love.
Marianne lifted Sonya's chin and again locked her mouth against her partner's. Her tongue snaked into Sonya's open mouth, toying and teasing. Her arms were wrapped around Sonya pulling her tight into her. Sonya felt as if they could fuse together. She realised that her body's sensations had been hovering, mildly aroused all night long and now with this passion they were rising quickly to respond. For a moment Sonya felt that this could not be real, that it had to be some kind of fantasy, but the insistent pressure and the action of Marianne's tongue told her it was real and she should accept it for all that it was.
"The bedroom." Sonya said quietly.
Marianne nodded and, holding Sonya's hand once more, led into the bedroom. She shed her jacket and began pulling off her top and bra. Sonya hurried to catch up and in moments it became a free-for-all with the two women quickly shedding their clothes until, naked, they stood, panting a little, with their breasts just touching. Sonya gazed deep into Marianne's eyes then at her face as if seeking to burn its features into her mind. She felt Marianne's gentle breath on her as she did. Marianne stood as passively then reached out to wrap her hand around the top of Sonya's bum. That was nice, it made Sonya shiver a little. Then they closed to kiss again. Their naked skin, their aroused breasts pressed firm against each other felt so wonderful. They fell, squirming against each other, on to the bed and with a few bursts of energy shifted themselves to lying properly. Sonya was looking forward to waking up with Marianne, but for now there was action to do. Her mouth closed around one of Marianne's nipples then her tongue trailed down her body to the edge of her pubic hair. Then she gave one long stroke over the lips of Marianne's pussy making her gasp with the feeling.
"Lie there." Marianne suddenly ordered.
She guided Sonya so she was on her back, with her head on the pillow, then grasping her ankles tugged her a little way down the long bed. Sonya wondered what Marianne planned but was happy to go along with it. Then Marianne sprung on to the bed and straddled Sonya with her head towards the foot of the bed. Sonya simpered as she realised Marianne's tongue was heading to her own wet pussy. Slowly Marianne's pussy came above her face. Sonya grabbed a spare pillow to raise her head further and then her tongue was out and she was there lapping at her lover's lips and teasing the clitoris. She sealed between Marianne's thighs, in a place she realised she had once never expected to be but was now more than pleased to find herself in. She shuddered and quivered as Marianne went to work on her own sex with her soft but firm and persistent tongue. The actuality of what was happening, how close she was to Marianne shook her mind but it was nothing on the pleasure being inflicted upon her by a lover who was not going to give up.
Then Marianne grunted, her leg jerked back against the headboard. Sonya convulsed herself as she realised she had brought Marianne to orgasm. She did not stop her licking; the taste of her girlfriend's juices seeming so delicious to her. She was tasting this woman, this woman who wanted her, who wanted to please her, to pleasure her. Then climax came to Sonya, running the length of her body bouncing between her head and her clitoris throwing her against the confines of Marianne's body, imprisoned in this place of ecstasy. Then Marianne came again and tumbled sideways, grunting her pleasure as she could do nothing to stop the sensations crashing through her body and mind. Her fingers grasped for Sonya, rubbing and nipping her clitoris firing more signals to her brain. As she was swept away again by another orgasm, Sonya wondered if this would end, she wanted this forever.
Finally though, both women were spent. Slowly they manoeuvred, lying for some moments on the top of the duvet before Sonya lifted it and slipped below. She held up the cover and guided the weary Marianne in. They lay with their faces in close proximity saying nothing, just snatching the occasional kiss. Then Sonya gently rolled her partner over and wrapped herself around her from behind loving the warmth of the body she contained within her embrace and this way they fell asleep.
Jane put down the phone. It had been Carole: they were going to meet up at a wine bar up in Highgate for a brunch. There were some friends of hers that she was keen for Jane to meet, two men and a woman. Jane thought that she had been less than successful when her friend, Rachel, had met Carole, but guessed that was a fact of life and it should not hold her back from meeting Carole's friends who she was sure knew that she was a lesbian. She started walking to the bedroom to get dressed when the telephone rang again. She hoped it was not Carole cancelling.
"Hi, Jane?"
It was Rachel. For an instant Jane felt apprehensive, not keen for another fight or more misunderstanding.
"Rachel, good to hear from you, how are you doing?" Jane decided to start with an upbeat tone.
"Jane, or should I call you Jay now. I'm just ringing to say I'm sorry about when I came over last time. It was all a bit of a surprise and I reacted badly. I must have made you feel crap. I can understand it's a bit of a challenge and you know, I should have been there for you. Carole gave me a call in the week, she said not to tell you, but I think she felt a bit guilty about setting me off. Talking to her, well, I began to feel very differently about it all. When I spoke to her, it was as if some kind of light of understanding came into my head. One in ten women is a lesbian so there were good odds that one of the women I knew would be. Look, come to the wedding, you can be matron-of-honour, we're going to get a tuxedo for you. Carole told me you're into sharp suits at work and that I'm to think early Annie Lennox. I didn't know who she meant but Mum told me, so that's all cool, we're getting it from the place where we're hiring Rupert's suit. And please bring your girlfriend. Carole said she's not going to be around by that time next year …"
"No, she's not one to be tied down." Jane said, a little stunned, but glad to be able to get a word in edgeways to Rachel's rambling.
"But she said that you were bound to have someone on the horizon."
"Possibly. It's all early days. Things with Carole are fun and I'm learning a lot from her, but she's not for settling down quite yet."
"Well come down for a fitting and we can discuss it all. If you're with someone when the wedding comes bring them, if not, well, then just come, there may be some other ladies who pique your interest." Rachel tittered. "I know I must have been a bore. It was all my fault, all my gushing about Rupert that held you back from telling me, I understand that now. Rupert has no problem, he says that it'll just be like an episode of 'Friends'. Do you forgive me?"
"Of course, Rachel, there's nothing to forgive. I gave as good as I got on the day."
"I am pleased. Well, I've got to go now. I just felt I had to ring and tell you, it's all good with me."
"Thank you." Jane felt genuinely touched.
"And send my regards to Carole, tell her I'm glad she called, I see things in a whole different light since she rang. Bye."
"Bye."
Jane wondered about Carole's intervention, but guessed she was experienced and well-travelled enough to know about such occurrences as this and clearly had a good way in tackling them. She hoped Carole would feel better with Rachel's shift in attitude too and that it would shake off any sense of blame she felt for triggering the whole incident. She was not to blame, if it was anyone's fault it was Rachel's for turning up unexpectedly and getting so upset about what she found. It all seemed resolved now and Jane realised things had been settled more smoothly than they were for many women coming out to their friends.
"So, where is she?" Jake asked, but not seriously.
"She's coming, she just texted from the tube station." Carole explained.
"You're looking pretty pleased with yourself Carole." Tom noted.
"I think you know why that is." Carole said, sipping more wine.
"Well, I did have faith in you. I trust you enjoyed the game."
"Of course, it was different this time."
"But you'd do it again." Della prompted.
"Certainly."
"Don't try and poach our team member." Jake chided.
"No, I wouldn't dare. I must say carrying out this project I realised how much effort you guys go to. We didn't get it right first time …" Della explained.
"Don't tell them that." Carole jabbed Della playfully.
"No, Carole, one cannot learn if you do not first admit your mistakes."
"But we soon got back on track and I think you're going to be highly impressed." Carole said proudly.
"In the meantime, though, we thought you might be interested in our little side project." Della nodded to two younger women in the corner. "Especially the one on the left, now known as Sonya."
Della raised her hand and in an instant each of the concubivores received an image in their mind's eye of Steph as she had been.
"Sorry, I hope that did not startle you too much, but that was what we started with. There were particular reasons why we lighted on this one, but I think she is a real mistresspiece now."
Jake and Tom looked over the tattooed lesbian woman kissing her girlfriend quietly. They looked like they had dropped in here on the way back from a night of clubbing. It did not need a concubivore's abilities to see they were very much in love. Though the Sonya seemed a world away from the middle-aged woman she had been weeks ago, both of them could detect Della's skill in crafting a fully-functioning, sexually- active, partnered lesbian whilst retaining the spirit of the woman she had been.
"If you can pull that off, then we need you on our team." Tom said with admiration.
"Well, you can thank Carole for the software development, I just re-engineered the hardware and, I can tell you, it certainly gets hard." Della chuckled mischievously.
"And now, if I'm not mistaken, the woman you knew as Jane Portland, though these days she tends to think of herself more as Jay, my girlfriend for now."
"Jay, over here."
Jay walked over to the four. She was low-key today in a soft tight zipped fleece top, nice pale jeans, her favourite belt and smooth flat boots. She stooped to kiss Carole before sitting down beside her.
"This is Jay Portland, my partner." Carole said.
Jay grinned broadly and stretched out her hand to shake that of the two men.
"Jake and Tom."
"Hello."
"Hi."
"And this is Della, who I've been working with a bit recently, a bit of an artistic project. Don't worry about Della, she's one of us." Carole said in mock seriousness.
"Hello, Jay, it's great to meet you. Carole's talked a lot about you. She's been a real winner in catching you." She said, glancing across at the two men who chuckled and nodded.
"Indeed, you look wonderful." Tom noted.
"Thank you. Well, Carole has been great, really showing me the ropes."
"Come, we'll order. Carole says you work in publishing, what kind of things?" Jake asked.
"Well …"
Jay smiled and Carole felt pleased that she seemed so relaxed. Soon they were all discussing the food, the weather, the area, the state of London, clothes, France, Hungary, painting and a whole host of things that saw them still in the wine bar for dinner.
Jay wondered what part of the USA Carole was in now or if she had headed somewhere else. Things had been good with Carole but it had been clear she was not a woman who would stay. Jay was grateful for all that she taught her and she knew that she was a far more competent lesbian lover than she had been just a few months ago. Jay was now keen to apply those special skills to a woman she believed she could build a lasting relationship with.
As two young women ran passed her looking for the boarding gate for Goa, Jay noted they held hands, despite their urgency. They looked a few years younger than herself, one with flame-red hair touched with bright highlights, the other with auburn hair, both wearing styles, Jay was sure, that shouted lesbian. Seeing such a scene, Jay felt hungry for a girlfriend, a lover, and not just anyone, she had come to realise, but one woman in particular. Today could be the beginning of the best time of her life or the worst disappointment since she had come to recognise her true sexuality.
Jay looked up at the indicator board for the thousandth time. The aeroplane had touched down on time but there was no guarantee that Tori was on it. She was supposed to be, Jay, knew, but there had been no confirmation. Once again Jay's mind ran over all the things that could go wrong. She constantly expected Tori would have found some beautiful Chinese lover in Shanghai or even, if she had not, she would simply remember Jay as the stupid woman who had lied to her at the Logans' dinner party. Jay wondered if it had been right to dress exactly as she had that night. Some aspects of the evening were a little vague in her mind, but she did remember being in the black vinyl jeans Tori had so liked and these half-black, half-white boots. Jay was a little hesitant about the flowers too: purple roses seemed suitable and they did look beautiful, but she worried that it would be too much for Tori: 'oh yes, you've spent thirteen hours on the flight, but I want us to dive into a romance'.
Jay sensed Tori's arrival before she emerged around the corner of the exit. She was stunning, dressed in an ankle length silk brocade coat that looked like a beautiful mass of autumn leaves. Below she what looked like a thick silk camisole in a dusty blue shade that complemented the darker grey moleskin trousers she wore, nicely baggy for comfort on the flight. Her eye seemed to catch Jay's lunge forward and she automatically began moving towards her as if the thing had been planned in advance.
"Hello." Tori said softly, giving a smile that made Jay weak. "I've never been collected from an airport by anyone. I'm guessing the company didn't send you."
Jay shook her head. "Hello." She said shyly. "Erm, well, I'm a lot clearer in my mind about so many things now. I behaved so badly before."
It was Tori's turn to shake her head. "No, don't apologise. It was all a bit intense and you wouldn't be the first woman to have to take time to get her head round things."
Tori looked as if she was on the verge of tears. Jay put an arm round her and guided her towards a seat.
"But it's so special that you came to me in your own time. Now I know it's what you want too." Tori said.
"Yes. It took me time to realise who I really am and what I need."
Tori looked at Jay directly in the face and lent forward to give a brief kiss on her lips. Jay smiled back and stroked away a hair from Tori's face and left her hand for an instant resting on her cheek. Then she lent forward and kissed Tori, letting her lips linger and slowly paddle against Tori's. They broke and gazed at each other some more before their lips came together again and Jay felt the electric sensation as the tip of Tori's tongue touched her own.
"That is so nice, so good." Tori said. "I would fly to Shanghai and back again for one of your kisses."
"Well, you can have them right here." Jay said giving Tori another.
They sat for a moment studying each other's features.
"These are for you." Jay said at length handing over the roses and needed no words from Tori to see how she liked them.
"They are beautiful. I can't believe all this, I must have fallen asleep somewhere over Russia and this is a dream. You in those so sexy trousers, for starters."
"No, I've seen many things I've had trouble believing in the past few months, but this is real, no joke, there'll be laughs, but no joke."
"Agreed. You don't know how special you make me feel."
"By saying that you tell me I was so right in my decision. Come, I'm cooking dinner. You need to unwind and relax. I'm sure you'd like some foot massage, a back rub. It's all part of the service."
"Oh is it? Well, this is good. Lead on. I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I can find something for you in return." Tori gave a mischievous smile.
"Well, if you're not busy tomorrow night, it's a full Moon and I know Hampstead Heath isn't far from your flat and I had this dream about you and me on the heath in the moonlight."
"Did you now? You'll have to tell me more."
Jay lent forward and whispered some of the highlights in Tori's ear.
"Well, I'm certainly not averse to that. Lead on."
Jay took the handle of Tori's case while her girlfriend grasped her flowers. Their other hands clasped each other's as they headed to the exit.