by Emily King
“Yes. Yes, it would be a date.”
“No more fling?”
“No more fling.”
Sarah smiled. “Then I’d be delighted.”
“Great,” Amy said with a big smile. “Let me get out of my wetsuit and then get your bike loaded in with my gear and we’ll go.”
Sarah looked again at the form-fitting material covering Amy’s body. “I guess that means you’re not naked under there?”
Amy shook her head. “No, I’ve got a swimsuit on.” She started unzipping her wetsuit.
“I guess you do,” Sarah said as the swimsuit was revealed. She shrugged. “For now, anyway.”
Chapter Ten
Amy couldn’t help fumbling her keys as she unlocked the door to her condo. Sarah had rested her hand on her thigh for a good portion of the drive home, giving it an occasional squeeze or stroke, her hand getting higher and higher, and it had been a lot to handle. Sarah brought out more intense responses in her body than anyone else ever had. And she was such a kind, wonderful person. Amy hadn’t liked hiding things from her, even if it was only during a fling. As enjoyable as the fling had been, she was glad it was over. It was a relief to have Sarah back in her life after almost losing her over misguided secretiveness and it was great to be able to share more of herself with her now and bring her to her home for the first time.
Amy managed to get the door open, the ache Sarah had stoked between her thighs showing no signs of abating. “Come in,” she said, smiling at her and resisting the temptation to lead her straight to the bedroom.
“This is a very nice place, Amy.” Sarah stood in the living room, taking in the high ceiling, hardwood flooring, gas fireplace, tasteful furnishings, and the abundance of natural lighting from the windows. She walked over to the sliding glass doors that led to the balcony and admired the spectacular view of the ocean. “I see why that girlfriend of yours wanted to move in.” She turned back to Amy with a smile.
Amy was still distractingly aroused. In lieu of a reply, she gave her a smile. It must have been a weak smile, because Sarah’s face fell in dismay and she put her hands on her hips. “You look awfully uptight over there. You don’t think I already want to move in do you?”
“No, no, it’s not that.” Amy raised her hands in placation. “I’m glad you like the place. I’m just a little, uh, preoccupied. Your touch on the drive here was rather stimulating.” She shifted on her feet.
The dismay evaporated from Sarah’s face, a corner of her mouth turning up in a knowing smile. “Preoccupied, hmm? Let me see how dire the situation is.” She sauntered over to Amy and brazenly cupped her through the thin layer of her swimsuit.
Amy sucked in a breath.
“Hmm, I do detect a certain amount of swelling in the area.”
Amy chuckled and put her arms around her. “You make it sound serious.”
“Oh, but I can tell that it is serious.” Sarah moved her fingers slightly, and Amy sucked in another breath.
“So serious, in fact, that this swimsuit is going to need to come off soon.” Sarah slipped a finger of her other hand under one of the straps of the swimsuit and gave it a tug before letting it snap back lightly against Amy’s skin.
Amy’s center pulsed. “God, Sarah, do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Sarah’s eyes moved to Amy’s chest, where her nipples had become two hard points pushing against her swimsuit. “I might have some idea,” she said, slowly running her palm over one stiff nipple and then the other.
Amy throbbed against the hand still cupping her. “Please, Sarah,” she breathed, “you’re killing me.”
Sarah chuckled. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” She slid the fabric of Amy’s swimsuit aside and stroked Amy’s wet, swollen length.
“Oh…” Amy moaned.
Sarah smiled and stroked her again. “Is this what you need?”
“Yes,” Amy breathed. “I need you, your fingers, your kisses…” With Sarah continuing to stroke her, it was too hard to think. She leaned her head back, enjoying the sensations from Sarah’s skillful fingers. Soon she felt her warm mouth on her neck, kissing, licking, gently sucking. Sarah paused at the hollow at the base of Amy’s throat, adding a swirl of her tongue.
Amy moaned again. Sarah’s fingers felt so good, her warm kisses felt so good. Feeling her climax start to build, she tightened her hold.
With her teeth Sarah lightly grasped one of Amy’s stiff nipples through the fabric of the swimsuit and teased it.
“Oh…” Amy said, reveling in the pleasure coursing through her breast.
Sarah moved her mouth to the other nipple, lightly grasping and teasing again, while continuing to stroke her with her fingers.
“Oh yes…” Amy said, feeling her orgasm gather.
Sarah stroked her a little harder and a little faster.
“Yes, yes…” Amy said, tensing with pleasure as the orgasm tore through her.
Sarah softened her movements.
Amy slowly blinked her eyes open and gazed at Sarah.
“See?” Sarah smiled. “I didn’t kill you. You’re still alive.”
“Ha, barely,” Amy said, feeling dazed. “I want you, too, but I think I need a moment.”
Sarah laughed lightly, clearly pleased with herself. “It’s okay. I can wait for a little while. You’d probably planned on having a shower when you got home from windsurfing.”
“That’s true, but I’ve got another idea now. Why don’t you join me in the shower and then you won’t have to wait?”
“Mmm, I like that idea.”
Amy grabbed her hand and led her to the shower.
Feeling very sated, Sarah stepped out of Amy’s large, stone-tiled shower. She removed one of the plush bath towels from the rack and dried herself and her hair. Amy had left the shower only moments ago to towel off and find a set of clothes for her to borrow. As Sarah was wrapping herself in the soft towel, Amy appeared in the doorway, dressed in drawstring shorts in sweatshirt material and a T-shirt. She held out a pair of similar shorts and a T-shirt for her.
“Are these okay?”
“Sure, but if they’re your shorts, I think they’re going to be a little snug.”
“I don’t mind.” Amy gave her an easy smile and leaned one shoulder against the doorway, her gaze settling on the curve of her buttocks in the towel.
Sarah laughed. “You’re incorrigible.” She put a hand on Amy’s chest and gently pushed her from the doorway. “Now go, so I can get dressed.”
Amy raised her hands innocently. “All right, I’m going.” She backed from the bathroom into the bedroom. “Feel free to borrow whatever else you need—comb, brush, toiletries…” she called as she left.
Warmed by Amy’s thoughtfulness and the ease of not having to ask to borrow things, Sarah opened drawers until she found a wide-toothed comb. After combing her damp hair back from her face, she dressed and left the bathroom. She was tempted to pause in Amy’s bedroom to learn more about her but didn’t want to violate her trust now that she had finally invited her over. She walked into the kitchen where she was pulling food from the large stainless-steel refrigerator and setting it on the granite countertop.
Amy stopped what she was doing and gave her a smile. “You make my plain T-shirt and sweat shorts look very cute.”
Sarah felt herself blush. It was a simple compliment, but it was nice to hear.
“Very cute, indeed,” Amy said, moving closer. She put her arms around Sarah and gave her a lingering kiss. “I’m already starting to want you again. You have quite an effect on me, Ms.—” Amy tilted her head at Sarah.
“Wagner,” Sarah supplied, trying not to think about how impersonal things had been with the fling that they hadn’t learned each other’s last names until today.
“Wagner,” Amy echoed. She kissed her again and dropped her hands to Sarah’s buttocks.
“And you have quite an effect on me, Ms. Bergen,” Sarah said. Amy’s kisses and the warm grasp of her hands on her buttocks ha
d already made her wet again. “So if I’m to be a good dinner guest tonight, we better stop now.”
Amy chuckled and released her. She surveyed the food that she had been setting on the counter, as if pretending to see it for the first time. “That’s right. I was doing something here before you came into the kitchen to distract me.”
Sarah laughed. “What are you making?”
“Fish tacos. Is that all right?”
“Yum! I love fish tacos.”
“Good, me too.”
“I should mention that I’d never even heard of them until I moved to southern California. Now I can’t get enough.”
“Oh? Where are you from originally?”
“Iowa.”
“And what brought you out here?”
Sarah gestured toward the ocean visible through the window. “All of this beautiful coastline and good weather, for starters. Some of the things that bring everyone here, I imagine. I also wanted to be somewhere where I could more easily be openly gay.”
Amy nodded. “Yeah, that’s important for me, too. Unfortunately, not everyone is tolerant here, either.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sarah said. “But at least so far when I’ve walked with a girlfriend, no one has tried to swerve off the road to run us over.”
“What?” Amy exclaimed. “Someone did that to you?”
“Yeah, when I was in college. Two guys in a truck. They were yelling all sorts of things while they were driving, and so, luckily, we heard them in time to jump out of the way. It was scary, though.”
“I’ll bet.” Amy reached for Sarah, enveloping her in a comforting hug against her solid body.
“Yes, and it could have been worse. Maybe it’s better there now, I don’t know, but I was only too happy to leave as soon as I finished college.”
Amy smoothed her hand over Sarah’s hair and pressed a kiss to her head as Sarah snuggled against her. “I, for one, am glad you chose to make your way to South Coast Beach.”
“I am, too,” Sarah said softly. After allowing herself another a moment to enjoy the embrace, she straightened. “Now, what can I do to help with dinner?”
“Well, let’s see…” Amy described plans for the ingredients that she had set out. They divided up the tasks and worked together to prepare dinner.
“Here, taste this and tell me what you think.” Amy held out a spoonful of the pico de gallo salsa she had just finished making.
Sarah paused in her slicing and cubing of the cantaloupe they were to have for dessert and opened her mouth for the salsa sample. As she chewed, she considered the balance of tastes. “It’s good. Those are flavorful tomatoes. And the right amount of onions. But maybe it needs a little bit more cilantro?”
“I think you’re right about more cilantro. Maybe a bit more salt, too.” She made the adjustments and gave her another taste.
“Mmm, really good now.”
Amy set the bowl of salsa next to the dish of Cotija cheese that she had crumbled and the bowl of cabbage that Sarah had finely shredded. “Let me warm the tortillas and broil the fish, and we’ll be ready to eat.”
“Okay,” Sarah said. She was thoroughly enjoying herself sharing these simple activities with the newly open and personable Amy. Was it really going to be this comfortable and easy to move from the fling to dating? She wanted to think so. She finished cutting the melon into bite-size chunks and put it in the refrigerator to chill.
Amy wrapped the tortillas in foil and put them in the oven. As she began cutting the fish into chunks and arranging it on a broiler pan, a cat meowed.
“Sandy! There you are,” Amy said. She turned to Sarah. “That’s my cat, Sandy. She knows it’s dinner time.” She put the fish in the oven and washed her hands. “I’m afraid that I have a bad habit of supplementing her cat food with treats from the table. I can’t help but think it gets boring to eat just kibble or a can of food each day.”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, it’s hard to resist spoiling pets.” She approached Sandy and held out her hand. “Hi, Sandy.”
Sandy gave her a brief sniff and then butted her hand with her head, asking to be petted. Sarah smiled. She gave Sandy a good petting, and the cat flopped onto the floor, purring.
“This is good for Sandy. She can use a friendly face, I’m sure,” Amy said as she watched. “She’s tired of me giving her the medication. And unfortunately, she’s due for a pill right about now.”
“Poor kitty. Taking pills is no fun.” Sarah knelt and petted her some more. She glanced over at Amy. “I’d still be happy to help you give her a pill if you like.”
“That’s kind of you. You were kind to offer yesterday, too. I wish I had accepted then. I’m sorry for being an ass.”
“It’s okay. You had your reasons,” Sarah said.
“For being an ass?” Amy asked with a laugh.
“Yes,” Sarah said, smiling back.
Amy shook her head. “You make me forget all of those reasons so easily.”
“I’m glad.” Sarah held her gaze for a moment and then resumed petting Sandy. “Sandy seems very relaxed. Do you want to go get a pill for her?”
“Actually, the fish will be done soon,” Amy said, eyeing the oven. “We better wait until after dinner.”
“Why? Giving her a pill will only take a moment.”
“A moment?” Amy sounded surprised. “Not after she spits out the pill a few times and I have to pry her mouth open to put it back in each time before she finally swallows it.”
“Wow, you have been having a tough time.” Sarah shook her head. “I had a cat who had to take a course of medicine once, too, and I got pretty good at giving her pills. Would you like me to try with Sandy?”
“I’d be glad to watch and learn if you’re willing to show me, but I’m afraid that she might try to scratch you.”
Sarah petted Sandy again. “I think I’ll be okay, but you can help me by holding her.”
“Okay.” Amy sounded doubtful, but she got one of Sandy’s pills and handed it to Sarah before joining her on the floor with Sandy. Amy petted Sandy and then moved to hold her for Sarah.
“All right, here goes.” Sarah gently clasped Sandy’s head with her left hand and tilted it back, causing her mouth to open slightly. Holding the pill between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand, she used her middle finger to gently open Sandy’s mouth the rest of the way and then quickly dropped the pill behind the base of her tongue. She released her jaw and gently rubbed her throat to encourage her to swallow the pill while murmuring soothing words to her.
“Wow, I think she swallowed it already.” Amy looked at Sarah with an expression of wonder.
Sarah smiled. “Yes, I think she did.” She petted Sandy once more. “You’re a good kitty, Sandy.” She stood up.
“For this dose, anyway,” Amy said, shaking her head. She released Sandy and stood up, too.
Sandy walked away, giving them a reproachful look over her shoulder for their trickery.
“Thank you for doing that.” Amy gave Sarah a squeeze on the arm. “The whole thing went a lot more smoothly tonight, so I’m sure Sandy appreciates it as much as I do. I’ll be trying your technique tomorrow.”
“Glad to help,” Sarah said.
“Now, I better get our fish out of the oven.” The fish sizzling under the broiler in the oven had filled the condo with hunger-inducing aromas. Amy walked into the kitchen and washed her hands. Putting on oven mitts, she retrieved the broiler pan full of chunks of flaky white fish and the foil packet of tortillas.
“Mmm, looks perfect,” Sarah said. She went over to the sink and washed her hands.
Sandy meowed and approached the kitchen again.
Amy looked at her cat and chuckled. “I’ll tell you what, Sandy. You can have the first piece of fish since you took your pill so nicely tonight.” She flaked a chunk of fish into small pieces and checked for bones before putting the pieces in a dish. The pieces had already cooled enough for Sandy to eat, so she set the dish down next to her bo
wl of kibble. “Here you go.”
Sandy dug in.
“Must be as good as it looks and smells,” Sarah said.
“Yes, so let’s make our tacos.” Amy handed Sarah a plate and gestured to the array of food. “Go ahead.”
“Thanks.” Sarah placed a couple of warm corn tortillas on her plate. Then, she placed a piece of fish in the center of each, topping each with the crisp, finely shredded cabbage, the fresh salsa, and the crumbled Cotija cheese.
Amy followed behind her and assembled a few tacos of her own. “Would you like to eat outside on the balcony?”
“I’d love to.” Sarah walked over to the sliding glass door with her plate.
“Oh, and we need something to drink,” Amy said. She set her plate down. “What would you like? I haven’t even offered you anything yet. What kind of hostess am I?”
Sarah smiled and retraced her steps to stand in front of her. “The kind that gives me a double orgasm in the shower before dinner.” She planted a kiss on her lips.
A slow, self-sure grin appeared on Amy’s face. “Yeah, I guess we’ve been kind of busy.”
“Very,” Sarah said. “To answer your question, I’d like a glass of white wine if you have it. If not, water is fine.” She picked up Amy’s dinner plate with her free hand. “I can take our food outside while you get our drinks.”
A moment later, after Sarah had seated herself at the balcony table in the warm summer evening sun, Amy stepped onto the balcony with two glasses of wine. “I hope you like sauvignon blanc.” She set a glass before each of their plates and joined her at the table.
“I do,” Sarah said. She picked up her glass. “Let’s toast.”
Amy held up her glass. “What would you like to toast?”
“Here’s to a wonderful first date.”
Amy clinked her glass to hers. “I couldn’t agree more.”
They sipped their wine and then began to eat. As Sarah enjoyed the citrus and herbal flavors in the wine, she couldn’t help thinking of the way Justin equated wine with relationships. How would the characteristics of sauvignon blanc fit into the scheme of dating? Whichever way it did, it must be good, because not much was better than having a delicious dinner with an ocean view and a beautiful woman, especially a woman who was turning out to be much more pleasant now that she had let her walls down. Sarah was so glad to be able to ask personal questions now.
