Chapter Thirteen. “I was getting ready to ground you,” Alder said when Beth returned to the Coop

“I was getting ready to ground you,” Alder said when Beth returned to the Coop. She was relaxing on the couch, leafing through a thick hardback novel.

Beth laughed and plopped down on the carpet in front of Alder. “It’s only ten thirty, and you said I could stay out on a school night if I got my homework done.”

“And did you?”

“Not really. I spent the entire afternoon doing nothing more than sitting and thinking.”

Alder nodded. “Amazing how far such simple measures can get you.”

Beth thought about her trip to Mary’s place. They’d talked for over two hours. And Mary was right; Beth did think about things while others did them. Even as Mary had said that, Beth had wanted to push her down on the couch and rip her shirt off. But all she ended up doing was leaving.

“Alder, do you ever just say to hell with it and do something crazy?”

“Like when you packed your bag and just drove the hell out of L.A.?”

“Yes, like that. But have you ever been even crazier?”

“I imagine I’ve had my share of impulsiveness.”

“Doesn’t it seem… a little socially unacceptable?”

“Why should you worry what others think?”

“Because we live in a society where we’re judged by their opinions.”

“Hogwash.” While Beth was absorbing that rather heavy stream of consciousness, Alder expounded on her theme. “Sometimes we spend so much time worrying about what others want that we forget to ask ourselves what we want. And then you just go do it, and pay no penance for it.”

Beth smiled. “Regrets be damned?”

Alder high-fived her, repeating, “Regrets be damned!”

Beth got up and stretched. “Thanks for the talk… again.”

“Thank you. I love having my brain exercised.”

Beth got up.

“Where are you going, young lady?” Alder asked.

“To do what I want to do.”

She headed for the front door, but not before hearing Alder’s endearing boom of a laugh. “Good girl. Just don’t get arrested.”

 

Beth heard Mary yell, “Just a minute,” and then the door was unlocked.

Glancing at her watch, Beth realized it was just before eleven. She sucked in a breath as the door opened. Mary wore nothing but a large white bath towel. Her cleavage peeked out over the top as she clutched the fabric to her.

“Hello again,” she said.

They stood facing each other in the entryway. Beth wished she’d given a little more thought to what she was going to say.

“I wasn’t ready to leave before.”

“Well, that’s good.” Mary smiled. “Because I was starting to take it personally.”

“You were?”

“No.” Mary reached for her, pulling her inside.

Her warm palm melted softly into Beth’s wrist. She reached around to close the door, causing the towel to loosen slightly over her full breasts. They stood facing each other, perilously close.

Beth had second thoughts. “It’s late. Maybe this isn’t—”

“I was just getting into the shower,” Mary said, smoothly sweeping Beth’s sudden anxiety aside. “Care to wait? I’ll be right out.”

Beth nodded mutely, searching for the words that would tell Mary what she wanted. Before she could think of any, Mary was sauntering down the hall.

“Make yourself at home,” she called. “I won’t be long.”

Mary ran shampoo through her hair and rinsed as quickly as she could. Since Gwen, she hadn’t felt the need for anything more than uncomplicated pleasures and simple distractions. She was always good to the women she spent time with, but she could never relax into them and feel deep passion. It was safer to keep the encounters light, even during sex. She’d once been called a butterfly by a woman she’d seen for a few weeks, and it hadn’t been a compliment. Butterflies, the woman had told her, alight without much obligation and just fly away at the lightest disturbance.

Truth be known, she was right. Not since Gwen had Mary even entertained the idea anything serious; she just wouldn’t let her heart go there. But from the moment she’d seen Beth sitting on the Coop’s back porch, she was transformed somehow. It was like she’d awoken from a long, dark dream full of unfulfilled cravings and loneliness. Later, when she spent time with Beth at the party, she knew in her heart that she was a distinctly exceptional woman. She was excited that Beth had returned and aware of the significance of that decision.

No one could replace what she’d had with Gwen, but for the first time in years, Mary felt hopeful. The change made her exultant, as did the sensations of deep desire. But could she let herself go with those feelings?

 

Beth’s wobbly legs found the big green couch again and she sat on the edge, her elbows resting on her knees. She fought off an urge to escape while Mary was in the shower. She felt jumpy. What are you doing here, Beth Standish?

Only an hour ago, she’d left after rambling on about this and that, wanting Mary more than she could ever admit. Then she’d made this big statement to Alder and headed straight back here. She looked down the hall toward Mary’s room and listened to the soft spurting of the shower. What she pictured on the other side of the bathroom door make her light-headed. Was she crazy?

“Yes, I am,” she said, rising to walk down the hall.

Visions of what Mary had done to her between the Victorian houses deluged her brain. Mary had literally taken her. It was hot and spontaneous but only half complete. She passed Mary’s down comforter–covered bed, heading for the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar, steam rolling out like fog off the coast. She inhaled the scents of shampoo and soap. The glass door to Mary’s shower was tinted slightly, with a grouping of shells etched into the glass. Hands over her head, breasts full and swelling, Mary was rinsing her hair. When she opened her eyes, a smile blazed brightly across her face.

Without any words, Beth stepped in and her mouth quickly found Mary’s. The kiss was fervent and impassioned, punctuated by moans. Hot water poured over them, soaking Beth’s clothes. Mary’s body was slick with soap, every smooth muscle inviting Beth’s touch. She pushed against her as determinedly as Mary pushed back. Their tongues danced as Beth quickly found Mary’s breasts, squeezing softly. She lowered her mouth to suck one nipple with just enough pressure to induce excited cries from Mary.

Her hands landed on Beth’s shoulders, gripping strongly. She pushed her hips into Beth, grinding in circles. Beth reached behind her and turned off the water. With an arm firmly around Mary’s waist, she led her to the bed and lowered them both down, herself on top.

Mary’s eyes were wild. Neither of them spoke at first, engrossed in a rapt kiss. When Mary reached up to pull Beth’s soaking shirt off, Beth clutched her wrists and pinned them to the bed. Mary moaned deeply. There was no mistaking that Beth was exciting her.

Returning to her breasts, Beth alternated between the two as Mary gulped, “Yes.”

She let go of Mary’s wrists to cup each breast, lightly pinching the nipple that wasn’t in her mouth. Mary writhed, running her hands through Beth’s thick, wet hair. Beth sucked harder on a nipple and Mary gasped, “This is incredible.”

Beads of water rolled off Beth’s face and onto Mary’s chest as the air from the open window raised goose bumps over the both of them. Mary shifted and Beth’s mouth came off her breast. An attempt to roll Beth over was thwarted as Beth leveraged her body over Mary’s.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?”

Mary almost pleaded. “I want you under me.”

“I wanted a few things the other night, but you kept me pinned to the wall, remember? It’s my turn.”

Mary groaned a luscious groan and closed her eyes as Beth ravished kisses down her body. Her cheek grazed Mary’s soft, curly pubic hair and she inhaled electrifying, womanly freshness. Parting Mary’s thighs, she moved between them. As she looked up she noticed Mary watching her, smiling.

“Now, is this a date?” Mary taunted playfully.

Beth laughed. “Let’s call it a gathering of two.”

She lowered her mouth onto Mary, closing her eyes in complete pleasure as her tongue found unbelievably provocative, swollen lips. She found just the right movement. Mary seemed to love slow, languid circles. Her hips matched Beth’s motion, passionate murmurings rolled from her mouth.

“Yes. Just like that. Please don’t stop, Beth. Don’t stop.”

Sliding a hand under and up around Mary’s thigh, Beth massaged the soft, silky flesh of her stomach. Shifting her position slightly, she spread the moist, responsive lips to gain better access to Mary’s clit, which was already enlarged and distended. Beth moved her tongue deftly over and around the swollen shaft, causing shudders through Mary’s body.

“Oh, God,” Mary moaned, making Beth swirl inside.

The feeling of a woman in her mouth, juices flowing down her chin, was such a high Beth wished it could last days. Mary squirmed and Beth knew all too well that the sudden tenseness inside, the clutching at Beth’s hair, the increase in ragged breathing, signaled that she was approaching orgasm. Rather than increasing her tempo, Beth slowed down.

For a moment, Mary stopped breathing. Then, from the back of her throat, she moaned, “What are you doing?”

“Making this last.”

Mary raised her head again to stare down at her. “You’re torturing me.”

“What a way to go.”

Mary dropped her head back against the pillow with a thud. Smiling, Beth began a series of waves that brought Mary deliriously close to climax, then eased back down. Each surge was shorter than the last and each moan louder than the one before. Riding each swell as she brought Mary closer and closer, Beth knew she had total control.

“I know what insanity feels like.” Mary’s voice came in gulps as her hands frantically searched for something to hold on to.

Just as she balled her fists into the comforter, Beth eased two fingers inside her. When she finally allowed Mary to climax, she came in wave upon wave of shattering orgasm. It lasted an exquisite eternity as she bucked on Beth’s mouth, crying out Beth’s name. Strange pulling sensations moved across Beth’s back and shoulders, but she was too engrossed in Mary’s center to think about their origin. Mary’s moans turned into screams as she released every last passionate fragment of her being. Beth rode with her, an arm wrapped around her thigh, keeping her from shooting through the headboard. She stayed inside her, feeling the throbbing squeeze of her muscles as Mary kept bucking against her.

The room became silent except for Mary’s ragged breathing. “Come here.” She groped for Beth.

Beth moved up until her face was snuggled against Mary’s neck.

“My legs are paralyzed,” Mary groaned.

Beth chuckled. “So I take it a quick ten K run is out?”

Mary pushed her playfully and then wrapped her arms around her. She rubbed Beth’s back, making her wince.

“What…?” Mary reached around to inspect and found long, red scratch marks running from her ass to her shoulders. “Oh, God. Beth, I’m so sorry.” Her hand went to her mouth. “I’m not known for leaving marks.”

“Don’t worry. I guess I deserved it.”

“I’ll go get some aloe vera.” Mary hopped off the bed, and as she tried to walk, her legs wobbled. “You kicked my ass.”

Beth surprised herself by answering, “And don’t you forget it,”

Mary laughed and returned with the gel, straddling Beth’s ass. “Don’t you forget this. ”

Beth’s eyes rolled into the back of her head as she felt Mary’s other set of lips brush against her ass, distended from stimulation, dripping with wetness.

“I won’t, I won’t.” Beth groveled. The next thing she felt was Mary’s hands on her back, cool and slick from the aloe vera gel. She took a deep breath.

“This should help,” Mary said. “And no revealing tank tops for a few days. I don’t want Alder coming after me with a blunt knife.”

“Somehow I doubt that she would. It’s pretty hard to defend someone who has a shit-eating grin on her face.”

Mary continued to rub. “Beth, I don’t want this to sound clichéd, but you were incredible.”

Beth rolled over so that Mary now straddled her stomach. “It was great.”

Mary bent to her and they kissed slowly, dreamily.