Nobody seeing Jan Kilmer in passing would guess that she was a nerd. Her tall, athletic body moved with confident grace and her Nordic features were striking by any standard. Still it was a fact that inside this physically attractive package the inquisitive mind of a true academic was buzzing.
Jan tapped a final period to the last sentence of page 216 and sat back from the keyboard. She had reached the finish line of a two year long marathon. The early research had been enjoyable and the note taking a not unpleasant nightly habit. It was the final three months of precise writing that had been challenging. Jan had decided to work at home, not at the university, because there would be fewer distractions. She'd also forbidden any interruptions from Gail, her live in lover, at least during writing hours. She got rid of the TV and Wi-Fi to her computer. The lack of internet meant she could work only from her notes. Limiting herself to source attributions already compiled along with constant parsing and paring had still demanded 216 pages.
"Dominance in human relationships: Evolving challenges to the established culture." Jan felt it was a solid dissertation. Not brilliantly illuminating but it did shine a light into a few dark corners. Because of social circumstance, sexual politics, racial and genetic differences the assertion of dominance in human relationships is more complex than in the lesser animal world. Jan believed that very little was new under the sun but she reasoned that her doctoral thesis would still prove thought provoking.
Immediately behind the rush of relief and satisfaction was the wish to share the moment with Gail. To Jan's tall and blond presence, Gail was a dark beauty, a lively, petite gypsy of a woman who was serious only when forced to be. Jan threw open the door of the study and shouted into the house, "It's over Gail! It is fucking done, done, and DONE!"
Her words were still echoing when Gail came flying into her arms from the living room. Between kisses and laughter she voiced her delight.
"Thank the gods! My beautiful Jan is free at last. You have no idea how much the city of Boston and I have missed you."
"Don't exaggerate. It's not like I was off on safari."
"Hah. Breakfast together and only occasional love making for three months. Meanwhile you've been spending six hours a day behind that locked door with your mistress."
"I had to concentrate to finish it. If a thesis can be a mistress believe me she was more pain than pleasure. Want to read it?"
"Not a word. I'd rather rub my eyes with poison ivy. Let's forget it ever came between us."
"Deal. We can dust off the dancing shoes and get out."
"YEAH!" enthused Gail, "Wine me, dine me and dance me around Beantown, Baby."
They made a night of it. Dinner at the Bella Luna on Amory Street, drinks and dancing at Club Café on Columbus Ave. As a couple they were openly loving but neither of them matched any cartoon lesbian stereotype. Still their choice of Club Café spoke for them and a very mannish lady had tried to put the pull on Gail, while a cute little lipstick type had sought to park herself in Jan's lap. They had laughed about this in the cab home and all the way into the bedroom. It really had been too long since they had shared each other completely.
"Let's shower together and climb in bed all clean and damp." Jan said.
"Let's stay dirty and make our own damp."
"But the club was so sweaty..." Jan's protest died as Gail pushed her down to the bed.
"Just stay put here like you are. I'll be right back with a surprise." Gail slid into the bathroom before Jan could argue further. As she waited, Jan replayed their night out. The cute little girl who had plunked into her lap had indeed been a sexy number but not nearly as hot as her sweet Gail. All such thoughts vanished as her very own girl came slinking out of the bathroom.
Gail stood hipshot at the foot of the bed wearing a sly 'come fuck me' smile. She wore a saucy outfit that had obviously been acquired for the occasion. A sleek black silk camisole above matching French cut lace knickers, the whole bit blatantly balanced atop a pair of black patent five inch heels.
"You like?"