Cause and Affection

by Sheryl Wright

  And she did. As they began their downward spiral through the short vortex, she forced her eyes open, sucking in a lungful of the cool desert night air. She had stopped screaming, and the grin stretching across her face said everything.

  When they pulled back onto the platform, she practically leaped from the car, her legs still shaking; she reached out to grab Kara’s hand. A little too loud but excited beyond control, she said, “You! Oh my God! That was amazing! Come on!” She pulled Kara along with the exiting riders. Once clear of the coaster, she found a break in the crowd. “Kara Wexler! You… you…”

  Kara pulled her face down, offering a stunning kiss of appreciation. “You did it! I am so proud and didn’t I say you’d have fun?”

  “Fun… You wild woman,” she said, adding another excited and fiery kiss. “Kara if you care anything about me, you will take me back to the hotel and your bed right this minute!”

  Kara grinned but didn’t say a word. My momma didn’t raise no fool! Then took Madeleine’s hand and led her back through the Stratosphere and straight to the cab stand. In the short ride back to the hotel, Madeleine was so aroused, she swung herself over to straddle Kara’s lap. With her hands holding her face she delivered a kiss so scorching Kara felt she would self-combust. It was overwhelming, her newfound confidence, her unbridled desire, and Kara adored every second. She melted into Madeleine, buoyed by her enthusiasm, craving her excitement and more than willing to let her have her way.

  The driver cleared his throat. “Uh, that’ll be fourteen bucks.”

  Kara shoved two twenties into his hand as Madeleine pulled her from the cab and rushed her through the casino. In the elevator they stood side-by-side, still holding hands and grinning as a gaggle of women from the dental hygienists convention giggled and shared stories from their evening playing the slots. A few feet from entering the suite, Kara slowed cautioning, “Shit! Joanne and Zack might be here. Will that be okay?” Madeleine gave her nonverbal approval, delivering another fire-breathing kiss. “Okay!” she said, as her key card opened the lock. She pushed open the door to find the suite all quiet. “Jo and Zack must have gone to that late show after all.”

  Not caring, Madeleine tugged her along to her room. “Good. That means less time wasted on pleasantries and more time for pleasantries between us!”

  “Pleasantries?” she questioned with a grin as she followed her. Madeleine was holding both her hands, walking backward into the bedroom. Kara had just enough time to close the door before she found herself on the bed with Madeleine on top of her. “Oh…”

  “I know. I can’t believe how perfectly we fit.”

  Kara didn’t have a chance to respond before Madeleine deepened their kiss, her legs scissoring with hers. She managed to get her hands on those perfect small and extremely sensitive breasts and the accompanying moan was all the encouragement she needed. She rolled Madeleine. She took no time with seduction, undressing her, worshiping her every inch. There was no time for any of it. Madeleine wanted her and now. She pulled away just enough to remove her shirt and sports bra.

  Madeleine grabbed and unbuckled Kara’s belt, hauling down her pants. Yes, Madeleine was in a hurry. She grinned at the she-monster she had unleashed. Last night Madeleine had been shy. Tonight she was a tiger who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t going to waste time getting it. “Kara if you don’t devour me right this minute I think I might die.”

  Taking her time and teasing each inch of her way, Kara slowly pulled Madeleine’s pants down her long legs. “Did I mention you have the most amazing legs?”

  “Let me guess,” Madeleine gasped, now naked, “you’re a leg woman?”

  Kara took her time kissing and nipping her way back to her lips before lowering herself down to lay her body against the whole length of her, breast to breast, thigh to thigh. “Actually,” she murmured, her lips making a circuitous route to those perfect little breasts, “I’m a brain woman first. But…you Madeleine…are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.”

  Her hips pulsing, Madeleine pleaded, “Kara honey if you don’t touch me soon…”

  “I want to be inside you.”

  “Yes!” she screamed.

  Kara slid her fingers inside. It felt so perfect, so natural, and the woman—damn the woman was hot and…so wet. Last night’s hesitation was gone; she was alight with passion. Usually content to play the top, Kara was highly aroused herself and struggled to focus on her. Her hips pulsed harder now, the action stirring Kara as much as her touch delivered. As if instinctively understanding or at least wanting to share, but not wanting Kara to sever her connection, she began to mirror her actions. “Honey please, let me touch you too.”

  Kara, more than willing to comply provided just enough room for her to slide her hand between them. At first, she seemed tentative, as tentative as she’d been last night. Renewing her determination, she rocked, arching and begging, “Come with me, honey.”

  She was overwhelmed by Madeleine’s hunger for her and her own response. No other lover had devoured her like this; nor had there ever been a woman so intoxicating, alluring, and downright perfect in her life much less her arms or her bed. She screamed out her orgasm, taking the moment for all it was worth.

  If she were to spend the rest of her life right here, with this woman, she would never miss a thing. As the satin sheen of sweat cooled on them both, she asked, playfully, “How is it you could be so perfect?”

  Madeleine raised her head. She was used to hollow tributes from guys happy to say anything to get her in bed but this was unexpected from Kara.

  Sensing something wrong, Kara stopped. Her face close to Madeleine, she said softly, “You must hear it a lot. It’s no less true for me. Madeleine, you are brilliant, funny, just as smart as Samantha. I’m in awe. Whether you honed your people skill in business or were born with it, you have a gift… What I would give to see what you see. I have to hire a polling firm or order product testing done. You just get people. And I…I worship it as a skill. Then,” she added, moving to Madeleine’s side, their legs intertwined and bellies pressed tight together, “there are your looks. I guess it’s something you hear a lot from folks not so interested in your brain?”

  Madeleine nodded, finally trusting her voice. “I swear, in this town it’s all people see. I don’t want to be just a pair of legs and too small tits.”

  Kara brushed the hair from Madeleine’s face. “I see it all the time in my job too. They divide up women’s bodies like cuts of meat and then wonder why I reject those ad proposals. Madeleine, to me you are a whole being; mind, body, spirit, and all beautiful, and in case you don’t know it, I rarely use that word. Truly, I never thought I’d find myself in the arms of a woman like you. Dougie would accuse you of knowing how to speak Kara, which you Madeleine, with your Bad Ass Red Brass hair, your long, lovely legs, and sweet, perfect breasts, quick wit and amazing insight are beautiful to me.”

  She was quiet, intent on Kara’s face. Finally she said, “So you think my breasts are small?” When Kara started to laugh, she rolled her over and pinned her down. “You are in so much trouble!”

  “Oh yeah?” Kara grin was instantly replaced by Madeleine’s lips. The passion had returned and fired through her from head to toe. Last night had been about going slow, getting to know one another and pleasing each other. Tonight was about pure, unadorned passion. “I think they’re perfect. You’re perfect.”

  “Oh yeah,” Madeleine teased, adding her own thoughts. “I love how strong your arms are and how gentle you are with me. God, I want to feel you all over me.”

  Kara took that as an invitation, rolling on top of her and delivering another fire-breathing kiss. From there it was easy to worship that long lean neck all the way to her shoulders and along her sharp long collarbone. When she took her nipple in her mouth, Madeleine’s hips bucked up in excitement. It was pretty clear her past lovers had skipped this part, assuming size somehow influenced response. They couldn’t be more wrong, and Kara w
asn’t going to waste the chance to let her really feel something, really let go.

  “Perfect?” Madeleine asked, snuggling down so they could face one another. “I’m anything but perfect.”

  “You are to me Madeleine, never Maddie. You are to me.”

  * * *

  The stroll through the shopping concourse at Caesar’s Palace was nerve-wracking for Madeleine. She worried she might run into someone, either a performer she had worked with or worse, an old boyfriend. She knew Franco was nearby as a lookout for just that reason. She also knew that most people who actually lived or worked in Vegas wouldn’t be caught dead here among all the tourists unless, like her, they were showing a visitor around. It wasn’t the worry of people seeing them and thinking they were together. She was past that and wandered casually with Kara’s hand in hers. It was just the outside chance that someone would recognize her and blow her cover. She was so close to delivering Kara to her board meeting and delivering on her contractual obligations, she was determined not to ruin it all now, although it would be a relief to bring this charade to an end.

  All morning she had been telling herself to think of this as a simple performance. She was contracted to play a lesbian. She was a consummate professional and could handle any role and prided herself on her work. As long as she told herself that, she didn’t have to think about the woman holding her hand. She didn’t have to think about the night they had just shared. She didn’t have to think about what it all meant to be with her, to make love with her…

  Last night had been like no other. It wasn’t that Kara was an outstanding lover; it was herself too, and Kara had said as much. They had made love and talked and made more perfect and passionate love. It was surreal and unlike anything she had experienced. Kara too had said she’d never had the kind of night they’d shared. What did it mean? It was so hard to figure out. How could she feel this way? How could Kara? After her long talk with Joanne yesterday morning, she knew Kara had no idea this was all fictional. And it’s all it can ever be. Still, she struggled to stay in character and follow the script. She was supposed to take Kara shopping, not the other way around.

  They had wandered through the shops, first on the casino level and later in the concourse. They had strolled, looking, talking, and basically kibitzing like any two lovers would. When they reached Cartier’s Kara dragged her in, and at first she thought this would be her chance to buy her a gift as scripted. Except Kara was here to pick up her watch. She had dropped off her precious Santos-Cartier for cleaning and wanted to collect it before the board meeting. Apologizing, she explained, “It’s my lucky charm. My grandmother gave it to me when I turned eighteen, and I’ve always felt it gave me luck, or maybe a little of her strength.”

  “I can’t imagine you needing either.”

  She smiled. “And let’s hope it stays that way.”

  When the petite sales rep returned to the counter, she had Kara’s watch in an open box along with several other things. She set out the red boxes, explaining, “We have both the Trinity and the Amulette de Cartier in stock.” Opening the red boxes, she placed them in order before beginning her sales pitch which Kara cut off.

  “Let us have a quick look, please.”

  As the sales rep walked away, Madeleine remarked, “I didn’t take you for the bracelet type.”

  “It’s not for me. Tell me what you think of these?”

  Not sure where this was going, she picked up the sapphire amulette. “This is beautiful, but it wouldn’t work for Joanne. If it’s for Samantha, it would be perfect.”

  “Really?” she asked, smiling, “I don’t know anything about buying jewelry. Is there something that says, Samantha, yes, Joanne, no?” At the sight of Madeleine’s lopsided grin, she pleaded with sincerity, “No really, I need your help. Please?”

  Madeleine shook her head. “Let me guess. You’ve always taken Jo or Samantha when you wanted to pick out a gift for a girlfriend?”

  “I’ve never bought a girl jewelry.”

  More than a little surprised, she eyed Kara, assuming she was bullshitting her, then she remembered: she doesn’t even know this isn’t real. In an effort to be helpful she picked up the amulette. It was a thin gold bracelet with a sapphire cut into a circle with a pie shape cutout and a diamond in the center. “Your sister is a classic autumn. Samantha on the other hand is pure spring.” At Kara’s blank look she explained, “Your sister’s skin is like yours. You tan well and look good in darker earthy tones. If you’re set on the amulette, order one with a garnet, or if you can afford it, a ruby. It would really suit her. For your sister-in-law, the sapphire would be perfect. I would categorize her a spring or maybe even a winter. The light wash of the blue would stand out perfectly on her light skin.”

  “What about the other one?” Kara asked indicating the Trinity de Cartier bracelets.

  Madeleine sighed. “I have a hard time with it. I mean it looks lovely, but the cordage is just a little too urban chic for me. I mean, I can’t see either Sam or Jo wearing it. It just screams soccer mom trying too hard to be cool.”

  Kara nodded her understanding. “I knew you could translate for me. We do use seasonal colors in our campaigns, but I’ve never applied it to buying a woman a gift. Tell me, I’m curious, what season am I and what season are you?”

  “You I would put more in the summer range. You’re much like your sister but more vibrant somehow—I’m not explaining myself very well.” This she said in response to Kara’s grin.

  “I don’t have a child-man for a partner and two rambunctious kids at home. And, for some reason, Joanne thinks she has to dress like she’s in her sixties. Even my mom failed to loosen her up.”

  “So you thought you’d get her some jewelry to help?”

  “To say my thanks to her and Samantha for their support these last few years. What do you think, the sapphire for Samantha? Now, what about Jo? Can I buy the same bracelet for her?”

  “Well, if it’s a different stone I think it’s okay. Especially since they’re both thank-you gifts. Now let me see…” She looked carefully through the other boxes, finally pulling two forward. “With your sister you want less color. I would suggest the onyx with the diamond or the mother-of-pearl. Both are pretty, and the mother-of-pearl with the diamond is very classy looking. I think it will suit her since she craves the mature look.”

  “Holy smoke, you pegged her perfectly. I told you I knew you were a natural at this people stuff. God, I wish you lived in Toronto. How I long to talk to someone who gets all this. Some days… Okay, tell me which one you would pick for you.” At Madeleine’s raised eyebrows she smiled. “Come on. Think of it as part of my tutoring. Go on. I’ve picked what I would get, but I want you to tell me what your choice would be and why.”

  Madeleine stalled, not sure what to do. She knew if she picked out a bracelet, or anything for that matter, Kara would buy it for her. That wasn’t how this was scripted. She was supposed to buy a gift for her. She still wasn’t sure how she was going to make that happen—then realized letting Kara do this would give her an opening to do the same. She looked over the assorted bracelets, not finding anything she could press on Kara. The woman liked things simple and usually just wore a watch. Taking Kara’s from the box, she stalled for time as she strapped it back on Kara’s wrist. “I can’t choose. I want to see what you’ve learned.”

  “Hmm, let’s see.” She reached across the boxes, grabbing the one still unopened. “Here it is,” she said quietly, holding it out for Madeleine.

  She was afraid to touch it, to even look at it, but Kara was right. It was exactly the perfect match and the only one she would have chosen. “Why this one?” she asked, eyeing the green stone she couldn’t name and the large center diamond.

  Oblivious to the shoppers passing outside and the Cartier clerk standing nearby, Kara wrapped her arms around her waist, tilting her head up for a kiss. Without hesitation, Madeleine leaned in, feeling the desire to embrace and be embraced. The kiss while
almost innocent, lingered on her lips. Finally, she sighed out the faintest moan of complete pleasure.

  “It matches your eyes. The moment I saw it I knew I wanted to get it for you.” She removed the bracelet from the red Cartier box, wrapping it around Madeleine’s wrist and affixing the clasp. “It’s a perfect fit.”

  “Kara I can’t.” The look she received bordered on sheer heartbreak. “I mean… It’s just… I wanted to get you something too. Will you let me?”

  Kara seemed more than surprised by that, maybe even confused. “You wanted to get me something? Even before this?”

  “Yes, of course, honey. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “I… It’s just. Well, no one ever wanted to. At least they never have.”

  “Oh honey.” Madeleine pulled her back in for another hug, completely forgetting where they were or what this really was. For a moment all time stood still, and it was just her and Kara. She was like no one she had ever met or even imagined. Patient, kind, generous, and never truly loved. How could any woman not fall head over heels with her? Beckoning to the clerk, she asked to see some other styles.

  “Actually, I already know what I want,” Kara told her, smiling.

  “You do?” That took her by surprise. Maybe she did know what was going on. She’d just said she’d never received jewelry from a woman; now she had expectations? What the…

  Kara handed the clerk her credit card before explaining, “I saw something the other day. I wasn’t sure I should get it but if you really want to get me something, I would really, really love this.”

  Madeleine nodded, accepting the gift bag with the empty Cartier box inside while Kara signed for her purchase. While they were chatting, she surreptitiously turned over the tag from one of the other bracelets still on the counter. She almost choked to see the simple thin chain bracelet was almost three grand.

  “Ready?” Kara asked, reaching for her hand. “We have just enough time to visit the place they sell Indian Motorcycle stuff before I have to head back for my meeting.”