They burst into brief laughter, which quickly ended when Grace placed her warm lips on Tember’s nipple. Tember let out the loudest moan yet, arching her back so high that she thought she would snap in half. Grace sucked, licked, and kissed Tember’s nipple while holding the other breast in her warm smooth hand. Her finger and thumb then found that breast’s nipple. Tember’s hips thrust into Grace’s leg. She felt a surge of desire fill her body. A deep moan grew from the back of her throat and filled the tent.
“Wait! Stop!” Tember said.
“What? You seemed to be enjoying this,” Grace said as she continued to suck harder on Tember’s breast.
Tember pushed Grace’s shoulders away from her and said, “If you don’t stop right now, you’ll render me useless to reciprocate.”
Grace fell on top of her sleeping bag. “Reciprocate away.”
As soon as Grace had stopped kissing her, Tember regretted it. Tember turned to face Grace’s half-naked body. The instant she saw Grace’s eyes on her, she froze. She looked at Grace’s breasts and felt her own breasts ache. She tried to remember what Grace had just done to her and decided to replicate it.
Unlike Grace, Tember wasted no time and placed her lips on Grace’s nipple.
“Oh, my Tember!” Grace responded.
“Your Tember?” Tember teased.
Grace slapped Tember’s arm. Tember moved her tongue around Grace’s areola and then flicked Grace’s nipple up and down, left and right. She did this fast at first and then alternated between slow and fast. Grace’s moaning and the pushing of her pelvis against Tember’s leg encouraged Tember.
Filled with the knowledge of Grace’s enjoyment, Tember decided to continue with her ministrations of the body parts Grace had explored on her. She only felt comfortable shadowing Grace’s moves. She was not sure how to touch, kiss, and caress Grace’s body.
Then Grace said, “See how wet I am.”
Grace guided Tember’s hand beneath her shorts and underwear. Grace slid out her hand, and Tember’s fingers were left alone in the hair and moisture between Grace’s legs. It did not feel that much different than Tember’s own, except Grace was much wetter than Tember had ever made herself.
When Tember pushed herself against Grace, she had felt a flood of her own juices. Tember had no idea how to touch Grace to get the desired effect. She had always fumbled with masturbation and seemed to have a basic idea about how to satisfy herself. She decided to move toward the moisture and spread the moisture to Grace’s labia and clitoris.
Grace’s hips moved back and forth to the rhythm of Tember’s fingers on her clitoris. Tember gently moved her fingers back and forth from Grace’s clitoris to the saturated labia. Grace groaned. Tember leaned down and kissed Grace’s neck. It tasted salty. Tember realized Grace had started to sweat. Grace let out a deep whine, and Tember noticed she had stopped moving her fingers. Tember made a note that making love required multi-tasking. Tember started to move her fingers to Grace’s clitoris and lightly began rubbing it.
Grace opened her eyes, and Tember read pure desire in them.
Tember lowered her lips to Grace’s ear and whispered, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Umm,” Grace answered between breaths, “from where I am, you’re doing great.”
“Really?”
“Do you not feel how wet I am?” Grace asked. “Gosh, what’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like you can get me pregnant.”
Tember laughed. “True.”
Tember kissed Grace’s lips and then trailed kisses down to Grace’s breasts as she continued to caress her clitoris. Grace moaned again, pulling Tember tightly to her. She pushed her wetness against Tember’s hand. Tember felt dizzy. She had never felt so clueless and unsure of herself. She continued to move her tongue on Grace’s hard nipple and placed her other hand on Grace’s other breast.
Grace moaned and started to move her hips back and forth harder and faster against Tember’s hand. Tember dipped her fingers into Grace’s wetness and found more had accumulated. Grace slowed her hips and then suddenly fell still.
Tember stopped everything. Her fingers curled in Grace’s wet hairs, her lips wrapped around her nipple, and her hand cupping her other breast. Grace had stopped breathing for a few seconds and then began breathing slowly, but she still lay still. Tember did not dare move. She wondered if she had done something wrong.
Tember felt as though she was playing red light, green light with the neighborhood kids. She was frozen.
“Wow, get up here and kiss me,” Grace ordered.
Tember slowly slid out her hand from Grace’s underwear. She lay on her side with her lips close to Grace’s. Grace looked into Tember’s eyes, and Tember covered Grace’s lips with her own. Grace’s lips were dry. Tember wondered if all of Grace’s liquid was now concentrated between her legs.
“That...was freaking amazing,” Grace finally said.
“Yeah?”
“Yes. And...” Grace started as she licked her lips and then gave a quick peck to Tember’s lips. “I’ve decided we have way too many clothes on.”
Grace ran her hands down Tember’s torso and found her shorts and underwear. Grace roughly pushed Tember on her back and pulled her shorts and underwear down her legs and off. Grace then lay on her back and pulled off her own. Then she rolled on top of Tember. The two lay still with their naked bodies against each other.
“Uhh, this feels so good. You feel so good,” Tember said.
“Yes.” Grace kissed Tember and slid her hand between Tember’s legs. “Oh wow. You’re soaking wet.”
“Sorry.”
Grace whispered, “No sorry, I consider this a compliment.”
Grace moved her lips to Tember’s stomach. Grace moved her fingers just how Tember had done to her. Tember decided that was a good sign that Grace was copying her movements. To her that meant that Grace liked what she had felt. When Grace touched Tember’s clitoris, Tember did not know what to do with her body. She wiggled from one side of the tent to the other, grabbing Grace’s sleeping bag and hugging it into her face. She tried to sit up and then fell back down.
Grace giggled, stopped moving her fingers, and placed her torso on top of Tember’s.
“What are you laughing about?” Tember asked with heavy breath.
“You’re all over the tent. You’re going to have this tent falling on top of us.” Grace laughed.
“You’re the one making me crazy,” Tember said.
“I guess I’ll have to stay up here to hold you down,” Gracie whispered.
Tember placed her hands on Grace’s back. “Oh no, not that. Your naked body on me? What a punishment.”
“Oh yeah?” Grace asked.
Grace slid her fingers into Tember’s wetness again and caressed Tember’s labia. She was encouraged as Tember’s legs opened wider. She followed Tember’s lead and moved her fingers to Tember’s clitoris. Tember’s body reacted to each slight touch by Grace. Tember pulled Grace tightly against her and pushed her hips into Grace’s hand.
Grace pushed her leg in between Tember’s legs, trapping her own hand in Tember’s wetness. Tember increased the intensity of her grinding and moaned. Tember slowly pushed herself off the sleeping bag and brought Grace with her. Grace felt Tember’s hand slip off her back and between Grace’s legs. Tember’s fingers circled the source of Grace’s wetness and Grace did the same. Grace and Tember plunged inside one another at the same time. Grace swore there was a surge of energy flowing through her body as Tember’s fingers slid inside of her.
They moaned and held each other tightly. Their bodies found a rhythm and pushed into each other. Their fingers slid in and out of each other slowly and then increased in speed. Tember found Grace’s mouth and they kissed. They opened their eyes and shared a smile. Their grinding slowed, and Tember fell back onto her sleeping bag. They slid their saturated fingers out, and Grace fell on her back next to Tember.
For a moment the only sound was their heavy brea
thing.
“Wow,” Grace broke the silence. “Wow.”
“Well said,” Tember answered as she found Grace’s hand in the dark.
“Um, this is what I was having a hard time telling you,” Grace said.
“Huh?”
Grace answered, “When I was covering my face earlier and refusing to talk.”
“Oh yeah, completely forgot about that. Sorry, I was distracted.”
“It’s okay. I was trying to say that I was hoping we could have sex. That’s why I brought you here. I mean I would’ve been okay if we didn’t. We could’ve just slept, but I–” Grace said.
“It’s okay. I mean more than okay. I think that I’ll have a hard time ever ‘just sleeping next to you’ in the future. I think we have to have sex at least daily,” Tember said.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I mean you’ve completely ruined me. You corrupted me. I’m addicted. Yes, I think I’m a lesbian,” Tember said.
“Good, because I feel the same.” Grace slid her body back on top of Tember.
“And let me just say, you have the sexiest body I could ever imagine,” Tember said as she ran her hands down Grace’s torso.
Grace laughed. “Come on. You’ve only seen and touched one girl’s naked body.”
“Yes, but I’ve seen a lot. From gyms to magazines to the Internet, and your body is amazing. It feels amazing and tastes amazing–”
“Okay, okay.”
Tember laughed. “I bet if I turned a light on you, you’d be blushing.”
“Maybe. This coming from Miss Nervous,” Grace said.
“I love you and wanted it to feel good and do it right,” Tember said.
“You love me?” Grace asked as she fell to her side and propped on an elbow.
Tember brushed the hair out of Grace’s face and then looked into her eyes. “Yes. Yes, I think I do. As much as I can discern what love is. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“Wow,” Grace said as silence took over.
“I don’t have to love you if it freaks you out. You don’t have to be there too. I don’t expect you to love me back,” Tember rambled.
Grace sat up and felt around on the floor with her hand, and Tember saw her putting on a shirt.
“I have to go pee,” Grace said.
Grace unzipped the tent and exited. Tember felt the cold air flow into the tent and realized how much she and Grace had heated up the interior. Tember fumbled around the tent, searching for a shirt but came up with nothing. She slid into her sleeping bag and waited for Grace to return.
Tember’s chest felt tight, and she choked back tears. Grace did not love her back. Tember reminded herself that Grace and she agreed they would take it one day at a time. Tember’s heart had already driven her head to thinking of every day with Grace.
“Tember,” Grace whispered.
Tember sat up. “What?”
“Come here,” Grace whispered.
“Umm I’m naked,” Tember answered.
“So, there’s nobody around. Get out here.”
Tember unzipped her sleeping bag, wrapped it around her body, and stepped out of the tent. The sand was cool on her feet. Grace stood by the water’s edge, and Tember studied the sight of Grace in her shirt, and only in her shirt. The shirt barely covered Grace’s butt. Her long naked legs stretched down to the sand. Even in this light, Tember could tell Grace’s hair was in disarray, but Tember did not care.
Somehow, she knew that she would never care what Grace wore, how her hair looked, or if she smelled bad. Somehow she knew that she could handle any of Grace’s oddities. She would go anywhere and do anything with Grace. She loved her, but Grace did not love her back. At least she didn’t yet. Tember reminded herself that it had only been a few days.
Grace turned around and waved Tember over to her. Tember walked behind Grace, opened her sleeping bag, covered Grace with the bag, and pulled their bodies close. She felt Grace’s bare bottom and legs against her.
Grace pointed to the sky and to the water. “Look how beautiful.”
The stars shone brightly. There were more stars than Tember had ever seen, and they reflected off the water. Tall, dark silhouettes of pine trees surrounded them.
Tember took a deep breath, pulled Grace closer to her, and said, “No matter what happens with us, this is the best night of my life, and I will remember this moment forever.”
Grace nodded.
“I know I said I love you and if that ruined things–” Tember started.
Grace turned to face her, wrapped her arms around Tember’s torso, and whispered, “Shh.” She kissed Tember. “I’m sorry I freaked a little. I guess, okay, I know that it freaked me out that you—someone who is a loner and someone who is amazing—loves me.”
“I–” Tember started and Grace kissed her lightly.
“I was not done. And...I love you too. I’m so in love with you. I’m so in love that I’ve thought about not going to college and that’s crazy and can’t happen. But how can I go there when you’re here, and I don’t know…”
Tember said, “Well, someone told me that sometimes not making a decision is making a decision.”
“Who said that? And what does that even mean?” Grace laughed.
Tember laughed. “I probably read it and I don’t know. I think it means that I’m freezing my nipples off, and we should go back inside the warm tent.”
“Okay.” Grace laughed.
They returned to the tent and climbed back into their sleeping bags. They turned on their sides and faced each other.
“Tonight was great,” Tember said.
“Yes.”
Tember asked, “Are you always full of these surprises? How did you find this place?”
“Yes, I’m full of surprises, and it’s a long story, but I met the woman who owns this island and the canoe we used. She’s a spitfire. I’ll tell you tomorrow. I think I need to sleep.”
“Okay, good night, Grace.”
“Good night, Tember.”
19
“Hello, sleepy heads. Rise and shine!” a voice called from outside the tent.
Tember looked at Grace, who was crawled up in her sleeping bag. Tember peered out through the tent screen as her eyes adjusted to the bright light. She saw a tall, slender woman who looked to be in her 80s. She held a paddle and stood on a raft. Tember looked around the interior of her tent, grabbed her shorts and Grace’s shirt, and quickly pulled them on. She unzipped the tent and stepped out. The urge to pee hit her as soon as she stood.
The old woman stepped from the raft, and with the handle of the paddle, she grabbed a basket from the raft. Her long gray hair was braided down her back. She wore a white short-sleeve linen shirt and black linen pants. Her barefoot toes were gnarled, and each toe seemed to point its own independent way.
“Hey, girly,” the woman greeted Tember. “You sleep okay?”
“Yes,” Tember said. “Oh, is this your island?”
“Why, yes! Isn’t it lovely?” she asked.
“Yes, I love it. This is the first time I’m seeing it in daylight, but it’s wonderful,” Tember said. “Thanks for letting us stay here.”
Tember heard Grace stirring around in the tent and guessed she was rummaging for clothes.
“Hi, Wendy,” Grace called from inside the tent.
“Good morning, Grace!” Wendy called and waved to the tent.
Grace stepped out, and Tember felt herself smile at the sight of her. Grace wore her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she also wore Tember’s green shirt. Tember loved seeing Grace in her shirt and wondered if that was why athletes gave their jacket or jerseys to their girlfriends.
“What time is it?” Grace asked.
“It’s seven,” Wendy stated as she place the basket on the log near the fire pit. “I figured you two lovebirds would be hungry and thirsty!” Wendy returned to the raft and grabbed a container full of orange liquid. “Orange juice.”
Tember was busy try
ing to understand the conversation. She felt amazed that Wendy had just called them lovebirds and said it so casually.
Grace walked to Tember, gave her a kiss on the lips, and said, “Good morning, my love.”
“Morning,” Tember said and smiled.
“I have to go pee. Excuse me, Wendy. And, Wendy, this is my girlfriend, Tember. Tember, this is Wendy. She owns the island,” Grace said as she waddled into the woods.
“Come have some muffins and orange juice,” Wendy said as she pointed to the fire pit area.
Tember followed Wendy and sat down on a stump opposite her. Wendy opened the towel in the basket, revealing huge blueberry and chocolate chip muffins. Tember had read about people who carried baked goods in baskets, but she had never seen it done in real life. Wendy held up the basket to Tember, and she graciously grabbed a blueberry muffin.
“Thanks,” Tember said. “And thanks again for letting us stay here.”
“Yes, yes,” Wendy said as she watched Tember take a bite of the muffin.
“Mmm, still warm.”
“Just baked them,” Wendy said. “You love her?”
“What?” Tember coughed, feeling the muffin lodge halfway down her throat.
“Do you love Grace?” Wendy asked.
“You a relative or something?” Tember asked.
Wendy placed the basket on the sand and put her hands on her hips. “It’s a simple question, Tember.”
“Yes, I do,” Tember said. “I love her very much. Sorry, but I didn’t expect you to ask such a question. You have to admit it’s kind of forward.”
“I’m like that. I don’t beat around the tree,” Wendy said.
“I see that.” Tember chuckled.
Grace returned from the woods and asked, “You guys getting along?”
“Yes, we are dear,” Wendy said. “Have a muffin.”
“Excuse me,” Tember said. She stood and walked into the woods to relieve her bladder.
She returned to find Wendy and Grace laughing. Grace was drinking from the orange juice container. Tember walked back to them. She loved watching Grace do anything. She felt as though she could sit and watch her all day.
“What’s so funny?” Tember asked.
Hope & a Canoe Page 11
