Jeri spent a sleepless night and only stopped herself from masturbating because she wanted to save her energy for Rain. Antony called early but she couldn't focus on him, her mind fixed on fantasies of touching and being touched by Rain. She finally told Antony she needed to go to the bathroom, said "I love you," and hung up. When seven o'clock rolled around Jeri stared down at the street and dialed Rain's number. Rain's phone rang once before she answered.
"Jeri?"
"Can I come down now?"
"That depends." Rain sounded bored but Jeri detected a smile in her voice.
"On what?"
"Are you drunk?"
"No. So can I come down?"
"I have another question to ask first."
"Fine, ask it." Jeri's arousal started to turn to frustration.
"Are you glad I made us wait?" This time she sounded serious but Jeri detected a teasing note in her voice as well.
"No. I'm not."
"Jeri."
"I'm not. I haven't been this aroused in years."
This time silence came from Rain and Jerilyn thought about Rain's question and her answer. Jerilyn knew she wasn't drunk last night but she did drink more than usual. And waiting had burned away her apprehension. Plus, it may be cliche, but she felt respected. Unfortunately she didn't respect Rain the way she should. She saw the other woman as a sexual object more than she saw her as a person which made her question everything. Jerilyn closed her eyes and rested her head against the cool glass. Thinking about her motivation and attitude made her see herself in a way she didn't like, which made Rain right to wait. "I'm glad."
"Are you ok?" Rain sounded concerned and the subtle teasing vanished.
"Yes. Actually I think this is the best I've been all day." Not completely true, but close enough. "Can I come down now?"
"Sure, come straight in."
Jerilyn disconnected the phone and headed for the door. Instead of running like a racehorse on fire, she took the trip at a sedate pace. She wanted to think but her thoughts were such a mess she couldn't follow a single coherent thought.
When she got to Rain's door she couldn't barge into someone's home even if she had been invited. She decided to follow Rain's invitation but in her own way.
Jerilyn knocked on the door, waited a second or two, then walked in. Like a doctor visiting a patient.
"Hi!" Rain was in her kitchen working at the counter. She smiled at Jerilyn over her shoulder. "I'm starved, I'm making a salad for dinner, do you want some?"
"Please." Jerilyn hadn't eaten, she'd been too agitated. Now that her mind was in a different place she realized how hungry she was. "I'm starved too."
"Why? Have you been too busy to eat?" Rain sliced a cucumber with quick efficient strokes.
"No, but I had something on my mind."
"I bet you did. Here, can you wash this please?" Rain handed her a head of romaine.
"How was your morning?" Jerilyn took the lettuce and washed each leaf. It wasn't from nervousness this time, but the result of watching a documentary on food. Now she had images of germs crawling all over vegetables.
"Busy! I managed to over book myself and gave twice as many massages today as usual. My hands are so tired." Rain pushed the cucumber slices into a large bowl then started on a tomato. "Plus I had to give a card reading to a skeptic. Boy, was that ever fun. Why do people who don't believe in tarot readings pay good money to have their cards read? It makes no sense!"
"People are weird, I guess." Jerilyn handed the lettuce to Rain. She chopped half of it up and put the other half in a towel then set it in her fridge. "At least you had a productive day, all I did was clean my spotless house."
They sat at Rain's small kitchen table and ate in comfortable silence. Wine was conspicuously absent. When they finished, Jerilyn cleared the table. "You made it, so I'll clean up."
"You don't have to do that, but I'll let you." Rain leaned back in the chair and stuck her legs out in front of her. "I have to confess, you had me so turned on last night I gave myself four orgasms. I hold you responsible."
"Glad I could help." Jerilyn finished loading the dishwasher and leaned back against the counter to look at Rain. She wore a white tunic, either an oversized shirt or a small dress, made from heavy cloth. Either way she showed a lot of leg when she stretched them out in front of her. Judging by the way her breasts moved underneath it, Rain didn't put on a bra. Even so, the thick material blocked any outward signs of arousal.
Jeri thought about her own clothing choices. While Rain wore something comfortable and unrestrictive, Jerilyn chose something less comfortable, a red satin spaghetti strapped dress. It was designed for a dinner party or a formal occasion. She didn't bother with a bra either and she knew her nipples showed. She also left her panties off, she wanted as little between her and Rain as possible.
"Lets go to the couch." Rain got up and led the way around the table. Unlike Jerilyn's apartment where a wall separated her kitchen from the living room, Rain's had an open plan. Nothing separated the kitchen from the living room except furniture. Jerilyn sat on the end of the couch, relieved and disappointed when Rain sat on the far end. "What's up?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I talked to you on the phone earlier, you were happy and excited but something changed. I teased you about being drunk then you got serious and now you're distant."