Smooth Sailing

by Susan X Meagher

  “You don’t have to do that. Go right ahead and shoot.”

  Kaatje did, her entire demeanor shifting from the half-smirk she often wore to pure concentration. She didn’t speak, focusing fully on her subject and her camera. Laurie noted that she fussed with the complicated-looking controls, but she never stopped shooting, managing to get off at least fifty shots before the smirk was back and she said, “Light’s gone. Now we’re going to have to think of something else to do.”

  “There’s still a lot of light.”

  “Yeah, but the good stuff’s gone. It only lasts for a minute or two. What’s the English word? Effervescent?”

  “Evanescent, I think. You mean fleeting, right?”

  “That’s good enough. And much easier to spell. Fleeting.”

  “I had to pull that one out of thin air. I’m sure I’ve never used it.”

  “I don’t want to stress your brain any more.” She tucked the camera into the folds of the blanket. “I don’t like to let condensation build up on it.”

  “You know what else is evanescent?”

  Kaatje shook her head.

  “Our time together. I’m going to have to fly to St. Thomas tomorrow, and I don’t want to regret anything.”

  Kaatje kissed her gently, lingering for just a moment. “Like what?”

  “Like not having sex. I’d look back on this with regret if we didn’t.”

  Kaatje smiled brightly, the setting sun coloring her features a burnished gold. “I’d regret it, too.” She leaned in and kissed Laurie with a renewed vigor that raised goose bumps on Laurie’s arms and legs in seconds.

  “Wow,” Laurie murmured, smiling contentedly. “This is gonna be great.”

  *

  Kaatje broke the mood one more time, getting up to put her camera away. But she brought a pillow, which lifted Laurie’s head just enough to make the vague ache in her neck vanish. “I’m certain you’ve done this before,” she teased again.

  “I’ve done a lot of things more than once. But I appreciate each time.” Her dark blue eyes looked sincere and totally earnest. Laurie had to kiss them, placing delicate caresses on each salty lid.

  “Now comes the hard part. Getting our clothes off.” They bumped and pushed and tumbled over each other as they tried to undress. Finally, Kaatje said, “We’d better go one at a time. We’ll kill each other the other way.”

  This was almost like being at the gym. Just two women taking off their clothes. No big deal. They each shimmied out of their clothes in a very unromantic, workmanlike way. But Laurie forgot all about how they got there when she wrapped her arms around Kaatje and clutched her warm body against her own. The air had cooled them, rendering parts of her skin chilly. But Kaatje’s breasts and belly were warm as toast, delighting Laurie’s body in a way that was completely new and exciting. “Ooh, you feel fantastic.”

  “You do too. Your body’s just what I love about women. Soft, smooth curves.” She ran her warm hands all over Laurie’s skin, a completely satisfied smile on her face. “I’m almost dizzy.”

  “I’ve let myself go. I weigh a lot more…” She was cut off by Kaatje’s fingers pressed against her lips.

  “Let me enjoy your body. It’s fantastic.”

  Damn, this was scary! Her breasts were bigger than they should have been and she had some extra flab on her belly. Her thighs weren’t in such great shape either, but she hadn’t expected anyone to be looking at them this closely.

  Feeling unattractive made it hard to let a stranger touch her this intimately. But seeing the pleasure on Kaatje’s face made things easier. Still, it was too frightening to merely lie there. She distracted herself by touching Kaatje simultaneously, gingerly feeling across her back, her shoulders, her ass. It was like sailing uncharted waters, but she got her sea legs faster than she would have predicted. She explored Kaatje carefully, letting the feel of skin transfix her. It was soft and smooth, yet stretched tightly across those long, firm muscles—a unique and tantalizing experience. There was something completely compelling about it and she got bolder with her roaming, probing the muscles deeply with her fingers while she kissed and accepted kisses in unceasing succession.

  The sun had fully set when Laurie looked up at the still blue sky. Eyes bright with desire, Kaatje hovered over her. “Tell me what you like.”

  Flustered, Laurie just looked at her for a few seconds. Is this an interview? I don’t know the right answer! I’ll probably screw it up if I guess. Why can’t she just do what lesbians are supposed to do? “Uhm, I like… everything.” Was that a dumb enough answer?

  Kaatje kissed her firmly, then pulled away. “Let me know if you think of anything. Meanwhile…” She scooted down her body, stopping to tenderly suckle her breasts, which were soon heaving with desire.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful,” Laurie moaned. “Gently. Just like that.” Had anyone ever touched her so tenderly? Finally someone who knew her breasts had nerves. She put her hands into Kaatje’s hair, sliding through it as Kaatje continued to caress her. “That’s so nice. I’d never get tired of this.”

  “Neither would I,” Kaatje promised, her mouth filled with pink, flushed skin.

  They stroked one another for a long while, until Laurie was squirming under Kaatje’s touches and kisses. Kaatje looked up at her as she moved down, settling between her legs. “My favorite part,” she said, her grin almost a leer.

  Laurie felt herself grow tense again and she consciously tried to relax her muscles. But Kaatje was very gentle with her, slowly exploring every part; touching her thighs, then her lips with a single finger. After a few minutes of slow, determined caresses, Laurie let her legs drift open, but she was almost shocked by the first soft kiss Kaatje placed right on her skin. There was something shockingly intimate about it and she tightened up again.

  It took a while, but Kaatje’s feather-light kisses and gentle touches eventually allowed her to relax into the experience. She felt her hips start to lead her body into Kaatje. The sensations intensified, starting at her feet and traveling up her body to lodge in her clit. Kaatje’s dark head never lifted. Laurie stared at the long strands of her hair and caressed and smoothed them as Kaatje made her body sing.

  Laurie felt her legs rise involuntarily, until her feet were planted on Kaatje’s broad shoulders. Laurie could feel with her whole body how much Kaatje was enjoying her—how much pleasure she was giving by receiving pleasure—and it made her head spin. They barely knew each other, but they were making love. There was no doubt in her mind. They were making love.

  As that thought hit her, Kaatje slipped one of her fingers into Laurie, making her squirm and thrust against her. Kaatje immediately added another, then another, filling Laurie tightly. That pushed her over. She started to spasm against those fingers, shivering against the incessantly divine feel of Kaatje’s tongue against her pussy. All at once she couldn’t take another second. She pushed at her shoulders, while simultaneously trying to pull her into her body. She knew she was fighting against what she most desired, but she was too overstimulated and needed a few moments to let her body recover.

  Kaatje met her eyes, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Can I do that again? Now?”

  “Really?” Didn’t Kaatje know she’d climaxed? Was it rude to tell her?

  “Yeah. Right now. Can I?”

  “Uhm…” Kaatje had to know she’d had an orgasm, but she clearly wanted to keep going. Colin used to get so excited watching her climax that he’d be inside, thrusting away before she could catch her breath. But Kaatje clearly didn’t operate that way. Laurie swallowed her suspicions and nodded before Kaatje could change her mind. “I’d love it.” Having a lover focus on her this completely was beyond fantastic. But Kaatje must’ve been unique. If lesbians were generally this good at sex, there wouldn’t be a heterosexual woman left.

  This time Kaatje was even more methodical. She was gentler and slower, too. She’d obviously paid rapt attention in the past few minutes, learning how to please Lau
rie’s body. In just moments she’d learned things that Laurie didn’t know about herself, which was more than a little hard to admit. But she never would have guessed how fingers stroking just inside her opening made her want to squirm right off the boat. And when Kaatje added an achingly gentle kiss on her sensitized flesh—there were no words for how delicious it felt. And how did Kaatje know to devilishly tease with her clit, stilling those knowing fingers until Laurie almost lost her mind and demanded to be fucked. Then Kaatje pumped into her, using her powerful forearm to push and relax, push and relax until Laurie grabbed at her shoulders and pulled her in, mewing out another sweet orgasm. Still, Kaatje wasn’t sated. Kaatje! And she wasn’t being touched anywhere! Immediately, she nuzzled gently but tenaciously until another orgasm rolled over Laurie’s body. This one wasn’t as thunderous. It was more a wave of pleasure that pulsed through her, enveloping her in sweet sensation.

  Finally, Laurie couldn’t bear another caress, no matter how delightful. She grasped at Kaatje’s shoulders. “Come hold me.”

  Smiling a very satisfied grin, Kaatje climbed up and tightly held her now-chilled body. “You’re freezing.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m fine.”

  Nonetheless, Kaatje gathered up as much of the blanket as she could and draped it over both of them.

  “That was remarkable. Fantastic. Wonderful. Add some other adjectives that I’m too drained to think of.”

  “I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. That will make me happy.”

  “Be happy. Be very happy.” Laurie kissed her again, then cuddled into her embrace, their bodies warming each other by contact.

  “Is there a better way to end a great day?”

  “No. I’m certain of that. If there were…well, people would be doing that other thing to excess.”

  “Don’t let two years go by again. It’s not good for you. We need touch.”

  “We need good touch. Touch from hands like these.” She held Kaatje’s hand up, kissed it gently and looked at it in the swiftly darkening sky. “Just like these.”

  *

  They lay there in the dark night, watching the sky as a few stars first appeared. “This is what life’s all about,” Kaatje said softly. “Being close to someone you like, giving each other pleasure, and enjoying our beautiful universe.”

  Laurie didn’t respond verbally. She started to let her mind take that statement in, but thoughts of Osaka started to destroy her serenity. This was crazy! The last thing she should be thinking of was work. Kaatje was right. Every sane person knew that people meant more than jobs. And as soon as the park was open she was going to concentrate on having more fun. Today had taught her something precious. She had to take time out for herself. Luxor couldn’t own one hundred percent of her heart and her mind. She had to keep something in reserve to share with other beings not of the genus Ursus.

  She burrowed into Kaatje’s embrace, nuzzled into her neck and kissed her skin. It was time to reciprocate. Inexperience was no excuse. Her hand tentatively started to roam, stopping at a small, firm breast to cup and hold it. Kaatje kissed her several times, each time holding the caress a little longer, like she was encouraging her.

  Laurie continued to explore, touching Kaatje with a light hand. She brushed her fingers across her arms, her chest, her belly and thighs; trying to get a feel for Kaatje’s responsiveness. Kaatje’s chest was exposed and Laurie bent her head to take a nipple into her mouth, rolling it around with her tongue. She made a few small sounds as she continued to focus on the breast, finally lifting her head to see how she was doing. “Is this okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s great.” Kaatje wrapped her arm around Laurie and hugged her. “Do you…” She used the dim light of the cabin to look into her eyes. “Do you want me to tell you what I like?”

  “Yes,” Laurie said while Kaatje was still enunciating the last word.

  “I’d love to feel your tongue on me, but I’m too salty for that to be fun for you. You’ve really got me excited, so we can keep it simple.” She took Laurie’s hand, then reached for her index and middle fingers, placing them on her clit. She smiled, letting out a soft groan when Laurie’s fingers settled against her. Then she moved them, guiding them as though they were her own. Laurie was up on one elbow, carefully watching Kaatje’s face as she touched her. Occasionally, Kaatje would lean forward and catch a kiss, which Laurie tenderly gave. “Your fingers feel fantastic,” Kaatje murmured. “Nice and soft and gentle.”

  “I think I know what you like,” Laurie said. “Can I explore a little?”

  “Yeah. That’d be great.” Kaatje opened her legs wider and laced her hands behind her head, staring up at the sky while Laurie stroked her just the way she’d been shown. “I’m very happy,” Kaatje said after a while. “This is perfect.”

  “I like this,” Laurie murmured, kissing Kaatje’s neck and the hollow of her throat. “I like touching you.”

  “Can you…?” Kaatje took Laurie’s hand and guided her to slide inside. “Yeah, that’s the way.” She took over stroking herself while Laurie carefully watched Kaatje’s face for every reaction. “A little slower…yeah…perfect. I’m close,” Kaatje whispered. “Really close.”

  Laurie leaned over and kissed her, probing her mouth as she probed her pussy; trying to discover every spot that could give Kaatje pleasure. Kaatje’s fingers sped up, moving over her clit like a blur, but Laurie kept stroking her slowly, just the way Kaatje had guided her.

  “Slower,” she whispered, her body as taut as a wire. “Nice and slow.” Then she started to jerk and shiver, moaning softly as she began to relax and release some of the tension that had built up in her body. Laurie’s fingers were still inside, her gaze trained on Kaatje’s face as her body pulsed gently around her fingers. Finally, Kaatje grasped her hand and withdrew it, placing it on her chest where Laurie could feel her rapidly beating heart.

  Kaatje put her arms around Laurie’s neck and pulled her into a long, luxurious kiss. “Did you like your first time?” The question was nonchalant, and Laurie took a moment to let it register.

  “Oh, God, was it that obvious?” She buried her head in the crook of Kaatje’s neck.

  “No, not at all.” Kaatje cupped her cheek and forced her to raise her head. “I’m really happy that you chose me to be your first.”

  Smiling, Laurie said, “I think you chose me. I never would have had the nerve to kiss you.” She kissed her quickly, glad she could do it without reserve. “When did you know?”

  “It wasn’t any one thing. It was the sum of a bunch of little clues. I’m glad I wasn’t wrong,” she said, chuckling. “Can you imagine how insulting that would have been if you’d had sex with women hundreds of times?” She laughed harder, the sound carrying across the dark, calm water.

  “How did you know?” Laurie asked again. “Tell me. I must have seemed like I didn’t have a clue.”

  “No, not true. You seemed like someone who knew how to make love. Just not in this variety. Like when I asked you what you liked. You acted like no one had ever asked you that before.” She smiled impishly. “That sounds like someone who’s only been with men.”

  Laurie gently slapped her cheek. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Most men don’t ask for a lot of guidance. They know what they want and they try to get it. Then, if they’re good guys, they’ll do their best to please you. But they’re not all good guys.”

  “Neither are women. Good women, I mean. But most of us know you have to give and take. I’ve never been with a woman who didn’t try her best to give me an orgasm.”

  “Some didn’t succeed?” Laurie looked at her expectantly.

  “More than a couple.” She took Laurie’s hand and kissed it again. “You’re very talented. I think you should try this again.”

  “Okay,” Laurie said gamely, putting her hand down to reach for Kaatje again.

  Laughing, Kaatje pulled her hand away. “I meant with another woman.”

  “Oh.” Laurie sat up and gaz
ed at her, concerned. “Don’t you want me to touch you any more?”

  “I’d love for you to do that. But first, I need to eat. Aren’t you hungry?”

  “I’m starving. I assumed you ate only once a day.”

  “Let’s go to the cabin and polish off the remains of our lunch.” She picked up the tray she’d brought out earlier. “Soggy bread won’t satisfy me.”

  *

  They moved along the dark deck, Kaatje quickly and Laurie slowly and carefully. Kaatje was standing on the lower level, holding her hand out to steady Laurie when she jumped down. Without warning, a pressure settled around Laurie’s sternum and she wanted to jump into the dark water and swim to shore. Seeing Kaatje standing there looking at her was suddenly too…intimate. Moving from the gorgeous open seas into the interior of the boat somehow broke the spell and she didn’t want to go.

  “Are you okay?”

  She managed to nod, but that was it. Seconds passed, then she got out, “Bathroom?”

  “Stomach upset?”

  “No. Fine. Just need the bathroom.”

  “You go in and I’ll pick up our stuff.”

  Laurie slipped past her, almost lunged into the bathroom, and locked the door before dropping weak-kneed onto the toilet. She was stark naked and had just had sex…lesbian sex…with a complete stranger. Add in the fact that she’d missed her boat, and it made for a day more dramatic and traumatic than she’d ever had. Of all of the terms ever used to describe her, “madcap” had never made the list. But today had been madcap.

  She sat there for a few minutes, head in her hands. It was too much to process. Too many things were flying around to even start to organize and assess them. Maybe tomorrow, safely back on the cruise ship, there would be time to sift through this crazy day and make some sense of it. As for now, Kaatje was in the galley and it was time to go out there and act like a spur-of-the-moment kinda woman. There was no need to admit that missing the boat was weighing much heavier on her mind than having sex was.