by Kara Bryn
Louisa shook her fist at Tania. "There's always something with you. Well, if you think I'm stripping off in your kitchen, you've got another think coming."
Tania put her arm around Louisa, leant over and bit gently on her ear lobe. Louisa's eyes rolled in their sockets; that always did it for her.
"I'll make it worth your while," Tania whispered.
With that, she skipped out of the room. Louisa thought for a moment. Maybe it would be fun, for an hour while the washing machine ran, to sit around nude with Tania. It wasn't like Tania didn't see her naked for half the weekends they spent together anyway.
Before she changed her mind, and not wanting to be halfway through undressing when Tania returned, she pulled her top over her head and dropped it onto a chair. She unfastened her bra and put it on her top, then pulled off her socks, unbuttoned her skirt and slid her knickers down before picking up the lot and piling them together on top of the washing machine.
When Tania came back into the room with a basket of clothes under one arm Louisa was sitting naked at the kitchen table, pretending to study the crossword on the back of the newspaper. Her heart was beating hard in her chest and her breathing was short and rapid as she pretended to concentrate.
"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Tania teased Louisa, who ignored her.
Tania looked admiringly at Louisa's slender legs, crossed at the knee, and the delicate, pointed foot at the end of it. She crouched down and opened the washing machine door and threw in her clothes and Louisa's before selecting the coolest wash setting and starting the cycle.
"So, it looks like you're naked for the next couple of hours, huh?" Tania continued to tease, and Louisa continued to ignore her.
Tania stood behind Louisa, who was still pretending she was solving the crossword puzzle. She brushed Louisa's blonde hair away from her neck and then ran her hand around her shoulder and back again, then across her perfect, soft breast onto an equally perfect, hard nipple. She felt Louisa's breath shudder as she cupped her breast. She leant down to Louisa's ear. Louisa was still facing her crossword puzzle, but her eyes were closed. Tania blew lightly in her ear and whispered. "What shall we do now, then?"
Louisa simply sighed in response and Tania ran her other hand across her girlfriend's bare shoulder and down to gently stroke her other breast. Louisa's head rocked back and Tania kissed her neck. She moved her right hand down, sliding it between Louisa's legs, until she felt wonderful soft, moist yielding flesh which she began to rub gently. It had only taken a few seconds and Louisa was starting to pant, but Tania didn't want this to be over so quickly.
They were interrupted by the sound of ringing and Tania's phone buzzed and vibrated across the table. "Rebecca" read the name, and Tania decided it was worth answering, as much to tease Louisa as anything. She heard Louisa exhaled deeply as she took her hands away.
"Hi, Rebecca!" she said.
Rebecca was half of another couple that they were both friends with, and she and Trisha had been together even longer than Tania and Louisa.
"Yeah… yeah… well, you could come around?" Tania said, looking at Louisa. Louisa shook her head frantically.
"Don't you dare," she whispered through clenched teeth.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh… yeah, that works. About twenty minutes? Okay, see you then," Tania spoke into the phone.
"You didn't!" Louisa protested.
"Calm down! Calm down!" Tania laughed. "I said we'd head out to meet them. They suggested the Rose and Crown around the corner. I'm sure the people there will appreciate your outfit." She looked pointedly at Louisa's lithe, naked body.
Louisa poked her tongue out again. "If we're going out then you can lend me that Chanel dress for the evening."
"Not a chance!" Tania almost shouted, "Not to go to the pub! And besides, you borrowed it last time and it's still in your wardrobe, I think."
Louisa mimed an "oops" at her, knowing how endearing Tania found her play acting.
"Kors?"
"Dream on."
"The Nicole Farhi one? I love that one."
"Yeah and, again, you've already borrowed it and not given it back."
"Hmmm… Karen Millen?"
Tania thought for a minute. Louisa would look pretty good in that floral print dress. She was maybe half a size smaller than Tania, but she had more pronounced curves and larger breasts, and somehow many of Tania's dresses just looked better on Louisa.
"I'm not sure I trust you with that one. But there's a nice sundress hanging up there with buttons down the front. You can borrow that. But first," said Tania, picking up a notepad and pencil from a side table and tossed them on the table in front of Louisa. "I need to make sure I get it back. Write exactly as I say."
Louisa gave a laugh. She knew what was coming. It was something that become part of their relationship, to get the other one to write down their promises so they couldn't break them.
Tania continued. "I, Louisa McCarthy, promise…" Louisa started writing as she was told. "… to give the bearer, on demand, one sundress." Louisa finished writing. "And now sign it." Louisa did so, tore off the page and handed it to Tania, who looked at it with some satisfaction.
"Now I can put it with the others," she said, and she theatrically picked up her purse and opened it to put the IOU inside. It already contained half a dozen similar bundles of paper and she unfurled one. "Ooh, I've got one here, that you'll do the shopping any time I ask. Maybe I should call that favour in now, before I give you the dress, eh?"
Louisa scowled at Tania. "Don't you dare," she said, half thinking Tania might call in the promise. "Remember, I've got plenty on you too, you know," she said and started reaching for her own purse.
Tania laughed and held her hands up. "Okay, okay! Let's not start a war. Anyway, you know where my dresses are, unfortunately, so up you go."
Louisa grinned. "And some knickers? And a bra?"
"Do you really think I have a bra that those would fit in?" Tania said, pointing at Louisa's more ample chest. Louisa crossed her arms over her breasts.
"They're not that big! And you've never complained before…"
Tania smiled. "It's not a complaint! But yeah, well, apart from the underwear I have on, everything else is in the machine with your clothes. So: no, you can't have any."
Louisa sighed. This weekend had just been one obstacle after another.
"And what are you wearing?" Louisa asked.
Tania looked down at herself. "I'll just go as I am."
"Jeans and t-shirt?" Louisa questioned. Tania shrugged. "So I turn up in a nice pretty summer dress and, you turn up dressed like a builder. Could we be any more of a stereotype?"
Tania poked her tongue out now. She was the one who bought the designer dresses, but Louisa was certainly the one who looked best in them. It wasn't that Tania didn't look good in them too, but she wasn't about to get dressed up just to go down the pub.
"Just get yourself dressed before I change my mind about lending you something, hey?" Tania told her.
Louisa kicked her legs and bounded out of her chair. Tania took in the sight of that beautiful, naked body as she skipped out of the room. She wished she'd declined the invitation from Rebecca and suggested they stay in for the evening instead.
Tania put on some make-up in the mirror and saw Louisa skipping back into the room in her elegant floral dress. Tania turned around and Louisa did a twirl on the spot.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Tania looked at Louisa and smiled. Her delicate feet and slender legs emerged from beneath the large floral print cotton that flared out from her hips and stopped a couple of inches above the knee. Even without the help of a bra Louisa had plenty of cleavage and the thin straps revealed almost all of her delicate shoulders. Tania wanted to reach out and stroke her bare arms, to trace her fingers along Louisa's collar bone, across her chest, and up and down her neck, and then to undo the buttons that ran all the way down the front of the dress. Whenever Tania saw Louisa in anything w
ith buttons, she just saw an invitation to undo them.
"You look good enough to eat," Tania replied. Louisa gave her a coy look.
"Maybe later, huh? I think I have that promise on a note somewhere," was the teasing reply.
Tania blushed. She remembered when Louisa had made her write that note.
"It's a bit draughty, though," Louisa said and, with that, she lifted the hem of the dress, flashing her privates. Tania laughed.
"Maybe don't do that in the pub, huh? And make sure you sit with your legs crossed," Tania advised.
Louisa looked pensive. Maybe she should have asked for something a bit longer, but even she thought the dress suited her too well to change it now.
"Well, I just need to put my sandals on, and then I'm ready to go. If you bring your purse I won't bother with mine."
"Uh-uh," Tania said, wagging her finger, "You're not getting away with that. You bring yours too."
"Hmph," was the reluctant agreement as Louisa picked up her purse from the shelf and spun around as if in a temper. Tania smiled as the dress flared outwards with her partner's twirl; it was so close to showing so much. She wasn't sure that she'd be able to concentrate knowing that Louisa was without underwear all night.
Louisa put on her strappy sandals, which raised her back up to Tania's height, and Tania completed her casual image with some simple suede shoes. Louisa shook her head. "At least one of us is making an effort," she said.
"At least one of us is wearing underwear," was the retort. Louisa poked her tongue out again and opened the door.
The walk to the Rose and Crown was only a few minutes, but long enough for Louisa to note the draught again.
"You know, it's quite an odd experience. I don't think I've ever been out without knickers before."
Tania laughed. "I should hope not! But, you know, I can't wait to get you home tonight." She put her arm around her partner's waist and then ran her hand down the cotton of the dress. She could feel the soft flesh beneath. Louisa enjoyed the touch. Tania's hand continued down, over the fabric and onto the bare skin of Louisa's thigh, and then it started back up again, sliding the dress with it. Louisa put a hand on Tania's, stopping it in its tracks.
"Uh-uh," she said, "You're going to have to wait for that." Louisa took the wayward hand and put it around her waist.
Rebecca and Trisha were already inside the pub when they arrived. They were sat at a large oval table at one end of the bar. Tania waved as they walked over.
"Tania! Louisa!" Rebecca smiled enthusiastically and then looked them both up and down. "Well, some things never change, do they? You look amazing, Louisa. And you look… like Tania." She rolled her eyes as she looked at Tania in her jeans and t-shirt. They all laughed.
Louisa looked down at herself. "The dress is Tania's. Do you like it?" she asked, knowing the response she'd get.
"It's gorgeous! Give us a twirl!" Rebecca obediently replied.
Louisa's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the suggestion, although Rebecca couldn't understand what was making Louisa look shocked and Tania so amused.
"Yeah, Louisa," Tania said, "Give us a nice fast twirl." Louisa poked her tongue out at Tania: there was no way she was going to be moving quickly without underwear as back-up. She turned around on the spot, but much more slowly than she had in Tania's kitchen.
Rebecca had always had a soft spot for Louisa. Without a doubt, she had the best figure of any of them. It wasn't that Trisha was unattractive, because she was a bit of a stunner herself, but Tania had really landed on her feet.
"Let me get you a drink," Rebecca said, "And let me try to remember… gin and tonic is it, Louisa?" She nodded. "And… bottle of Moretti, Tania?"
"If they have it. Or anything you think's good," Tania replied.
Rebecca smiled. They had similar tastes in beer as well as women. Similarly casual as Tania was, Rebecca was wearing trousers and a blouse and, similarly to Louisa, Trisha was in a light summer dress, although it was slightly longer than the one Louisa was wearing.
Louisa and Tania sat next to Trisha on the curved bench seat.
"So, how's things?" Louisa asked Trisha.
"Great! Great! When was the last time we saw each other?"
"Ooooh, it must have been… Damian's wedding, was it? Back in March?"
"Wow! I'm surprised any of us can remember anything about that!" Rebecca returned with the drinks.
"God, yes!" Trisah said, "But I don't think I'll ever forget Louisa's dancing!" Louisa smiled. "You absolutely tore up the dancefloor that night!"
"Yeah, but unfortunately someone refused to dance with me." Louisa gave Tania a stern look.
"You know I'm not really a dancer! And anyway, I promised I'd dance with you some other time."
"Only because that was the only way to get me to leave you alone!"
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Tania had written a promise to dance on a note, but she hoped Louisa wouldn't cash that one in any time soon. She knew she wasn't a good dancer, which was the main reason she didn't like doing it. She barely danced to music in the privacy of her own home, let alone in front of a group of friends and strangers.
"I never knew you were such an exhibitionist, Louisa," Trisha said, "You had all the guys after you, and then you came over and sat on Tania's lap and I could see them all group together and console each other."
Louisa laughed. "Well, what can I say? I like to dance."
Tania smiled. She had loved to watch Louisa dance too, knowing that all eyes were on her, but that she'd come back to her at the end of the night.
The next hour passed with the friends reminiscing and updating each other on their news. It was Louisa's turn to go to the bar and Tania watched as those long legs strode across the room, her hips swaying, and she noticed both Rebecca and Trisha had half an eye on her at the same time. It gave her a warm glow inside, to see her partner being admired. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed as if Louisa's lack of underwear had injected an extra bounce into her step. Maybe Tania was just paying more attention to the hem of Louisa's dress than usual.
As Louisa returned to the table her head turned at the song that had started playing.
"What is love!" she almost shouted, "I remember dancing to this at the wedding!" And with that she started to step and twist to the music. Tania noticed half a dozen men across the other side of the room take very close interest.
Trisha and Rebecca laughed. "Louisa! You are such an exhibitionist!" Rebecca said.
Louisa looked around her. "You have no idea," she said and then, quickly, she hooked the front of her dress up and Rebecca and Trisha covered their mouths in shock, laughing as they did.
"Oh my god, Louisa! Are you not wearing anything underneath?" Trisha asked in disbelief.
Louisa shook her head as she continued to dance on the spot. "Do you want to check again?" she asked them.
Rebecca shook her head, although she was very tempted to say "yes".
"It's a long story," Tania told Rebecca. It wasn't all that long, but she enjoyed leaving it as a mystery. No-one seemed particularly surprised in any case, and Louisa just kept dancing.
"How about that dance, Tania?" Louisa held her hand out for her partner to take.
"Uh-uh," she said, "It wasn’t going to happen at the wedding and it sure as hell ain't happening here."
Rebecca smirked. "You'll have more luck with some of the guys over there," she said, also noticing the interest Louisa was attracting.
"Let's see about that dance, then," Louisa said and, still dancing, she picked up her purse, opened it, and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She gave it to Tania to read.
"Oh, you cow," Tania said.
"What is it?" Trisha asked.
Tania turned to Trisha to explain. "We do this… thing… I mean, not that we don't trust each other, of course, but we make each other write down promises."
Trisha raised an eyebrow. "And?..."
Tania looked at Louisa who w
as pretending to ignore them all while as she hopped from foot to foot to the music. Tania tried to give Louisa the note back but she just shrugged and gestured for Tania to get up and dance.
Tania looked at the note. "I, Tania Woodrow, promise to give the bearer one dance. Payable on demand."
Trisha put a hand over her mouth and laughed. "It looks like she's got you there," she said.
Louisa grinned and held out her hand again.
"Some other time, huh?" Tania pleaded, but Louisa wasn't backing down.
Tania took the delicate hand offered to her and stood next to Louisa just as "What is love" came to an end.
"Oh, what a shame, the song's finished now," she said and tried to sit back down again. With uncharacteristic strength Louisa held her in place. The next tune started to fade in over the speakers.
"Another one from the wedding!" Louisa said excitedly, "Cher!"
If ever there was a tune that Tania had never planned to dance to, it was Believe by Cher.
Reluctantly, knowing that it would soon be over, Tania started to sway from side to side to the music. Louisa grinned and put her hands on her hips, twisting her back and forth and forcing her to move from the spot she was rooted to.
Tania felt as if she were made of wood, that everyone was watching her move stiffly, slightly out of time to the music. In reality, everyone was just watching Louisa's beautiful, elegant movements, and more than a few were starting to work out that maybe her and Tania were more than just friends.
For what seemed like an age, Tania bounced, stepped and twisted. Rebecca and Trisha started to clap to the music in encouragement. As soon as the song started to fade Tania jumped back to her seat. Her face had turned bright red with embarrassment and she could feel the heat radiating from it.
"I can't believe you did that," she told Louisa, who sat down across her lap with her arms around Tania's neck.
Louisa smirked. "Don't make promises you don't intend to keep," she said teasingly. She wished Tania enjoyed dancing as much as she did. She loved to dance with her partner, no matter how bad Tania thought she was.
