Authors Note:
This story is a work of fiction and depicts a sexual relationship between two consenting adult women. If this offends you, read no further.
I would like to thank everyone who read the previous parts and waited so patiently for this one. Please feel free to continue posting and emailing your thoughts.
Thank you D. for proof-reading.
XxXx
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My right thumb scratched back and forth in a small line on the black polyurethane of the steering wheel as I sat in the darkened parking lot. My heel tapped against the floor and the nail of my left index finger was jammed between my teeth as I stared out of the windscreen at Renee's silver fiesta. My pulse had been racing since I pulled into the lot over twenty minutes ago. My mind was in confused chaos, teeming with memories and emotions that I didn't know what to do with. Since leaving New York, I had considered every possible path that seeing her again would take. The bad paths made my stomach sink and the good paths froze me in fear.
"Oh, for goodness' sake Lia. Grow a pair!" I scolded myself as I reached for my car keys and pulled them from the ignition. Removing my seatbelt, I kicked the door open and my leg strained as I lifted myself from the seat. I tried to shake some feeling back into my legs as I closed my door and headed for the trunk. The cool air filled my lungs as I retrieved my bags, breathing deep to try and slow the sprinting scenes in my mind. A bag slung over each shoulder and one in my left hand, I closed the trunk and turned to face the stairs. Knowing that I
wanted
to see her made me wish the weight of my luggage would cause the ground to break open and suck me in.
Whatever happens, happens.
I tried to comfort myself and inhaled a large dose of courage.
Holding the keys in my palm, I turned the key ring between my thumb and index finger. The cheap gold paint blared the 2G symbols. My eyes sank to the floor as I focused on steadying my breathing once more. I noticed a light flickering on the grey carpet, extending from the gap underneath the door. I could see her sitting on the sofa in my mind, legs resting on the coffee table and a glass of lemon water in her hand. Her golden hair flowing in soft waves around her shoulders and her eyes fixed to the stick figures in bright coloured dresses marching back and forth over a narrow platform. I fought the smile emerging from the right corner of my mouth. I looked at my watch, 9:20 PM, and said a silent prayer that she had already gone to bed and merely left the TV on. Quietly sliding the key into the lock, I slowly turned it and let out a final sigh. The door creaked as it swung open.
"Hey." The sweet resonance of her chipper tone greeted me with a casualness I wasn't expecting.
"Hi." I answered with a meek smile. Renee was sitting sideways on the sofa facing in my direction, knees pulled up to her chest and her back leaning against the arm of the sofa. The familiar melody of a soda commercial played from the television. I closed the door behind me and swallowed hard.
"How was New York?" She asked, reaching for the remote and turning down the volume. I put my bags on the ground to take off my coat and boots.
"Yeah, it was good. Uh, educational." I hung my coat on the hooks near the door and nudged my shoes against the wall. "How was your summer?"
"Enlightening." The vague response was uncharacteristic and somewhat unnerving.
"Yeah?"
"Yes." She said bluntly and lowered her knees until she was sitting cross-legged and looking at me. I picked up my bags and steadied them on my shoulders. I offered a smile and began to walk towards my bedroom.
"Amelia," I froze. "Can we talk? Please." Renee's voice was soft and genuine. I turned slowly towards her, her glowing eyes pleaded with me as she twisted her fingers in her palm.
"Could we do it later?" I tried to match her genuine tone and hoped she would take it at face value. "The drive was insane. I'm just... really tired." I tilted my head slightly, giving a drained smile and anxiously waited for her response. She began to slowly nod and inhaled deeply.
"Okay."
Relief washed through me. "Thanks," I smiled in earnest. "Good night."
"Night." She offered bluntly and turned up the television again. My heart contracted violently inside my chest as though it had been struck with the full force of a furious champion boxer. My head spun. I turned away from her and clenched my eyes shut as tightly as I could, reaching for my bags and searching for the smallest piece of clarity. My fingers fumbled about the handles.
I began to walk towards my bedroom, my mind a blur of confusion. Finally hidden behind the security of my bedroom door, I dropped the heavy bags from my shoulders and slumped against the closed door. I kept my eyes closed as relief rolled through my nerves like a wave of warm water. I massaged the stiff muscles in my neck, the smell of the stale air in my room beginning to fill my senses. Suddenly aware of the extent of the darkness behind my eyelids, I reached to my left and felt the wall for the light switch. As the room was illuminated I was reminded that I hadn't tidied it before leaving for New York. The silver curtains were still closed and the bed unmade. Clothes I had decided not to take lay in piles strewn across the floor and the edge of the bed. The framed black and white prints on the walls brought a welcomed sense of familiarity and comfort. A comfort which was short lived after a small splash of green at the top of my bed caught my attention. I still hadn't been able to remove the scarf.
My breath caught in my throat and a pang of arousal sparked in me. My fingers began to twitch and I lunged for the bag with my shower supplies in it. I swung the heavy case forward and lay it flat on the floor. I hastily unzipped the black polyester and rummaged through the dirty laundry to find the body wash and toothpaste. I rushed to the closet, which was left ajar, and pulled a clean towel and a change of clothes. As I turned to head toward the door the small splash of green satin seemed to freeze me in my step and seize my gaze. It seemed to laugh cruelly as it tormented me with vivid memories. So vivid I could feel the weight of Renee's legs on my forearms and her scent on my lips. My ears rushed with the low sounds of lust-dripping moans and her warped voice whispering "Please!" over and over again. My body blazed at the memory of her juices flowing over my tongue and down my throat. A violent shiver broke my spiralling trance and wrenched my gaze from the scarf.
I charged toward the concealed window at the opposite end of the room and yanked the curtains open. I hurled the windows open and flung my head into the clean air, desperate to rid my senses of the lucid and paralysing remnants of the encounter. My fingers ached from the grip they held on the windowsill and I tried to take long deep breaths. "Okay." I muttered to myself once the apparitions tormenting my mind and body had dissipated.
Shit!
I thought as I looked out at the thousands of lights scattered through the moonlit streets and roof tops of the city. In the distance, voices were yelling and whistles rang through the air from the university's football field. I shook some sense back into my head and pulled myself back into the room. I chose to leave the window open and headed for the door. Slowly pulling the door open, I peered through the slight gap and saw that Renee wasn't on the sofa. I quietly opened the door enough to squeeze through and slip across the hall into the bathroom.
I wasn't sure how long I spent in the shower. I stood under the torrents of warm water that cascaded over my skin and rinsed away the panic that trickled through my pores at so many moments during the day. I smoothed my hair over my head as the water spattered against my forehead and flowed over my eyelids, cloaking and carrying away the disobedient tears which crept from my eyes. My hands shook and my emotions shivered as my new past and present reality soaked into me. Resting my palms against the cold tiles, I rolled my head forward and the water moved my hair down the side of my face. I stood like that until my eyes had no more tears to give. After washing my fatigued body I turned the water off and noted that the apartment was quite. I sighed in relief realising that it meant Renee had probably gone to bed. I wrapped my towel around my body and carted my clean clothes into my room where I collapsed onto my bed and faded into sleep.
Morning arrived in what seemed like no time at all, the alarm clock screeched its monotonous call and I awoke feeling as though I hadn't slept at all. I reached out to silence the contraption and glared at the bold red numbers telling me it was 07:00 AM. I rolled onto my back and fixed my eyes on the only smudge on the otherwise pristine white ceiling. I noticed the apartment was still quiet, as usual, and my mind ran through the list of things I needed to do which included buying a new textbook for the semester. I grimaced at the thought of the unbearable queue there was bound to be. Realising it would be beneficial to get there earlier and remembering that I wanted to drop off my laundry at the dry cleaners, I dragged myself up and reached for a pair of jeans and whichever clean shirt was closest the bed.
After gathering all my laundry into a bag, I pulled a brush through my hair and headed for the bedroom door. Renee's door was still closed as I left my room, setting the laundry bag down outside the bathroom. I stood brushing my teeth in front of the mirror and sighed as I looked at the dark rings under my eyes. My attention was pulled by the corner of one of Renee's pink shirts sticking out of the laundry hamper by the tub. I finished up and pulled the hamper bag from its woven bamboo basket.
"Hey." Renee's voice startled me as I left the bathroom and I mumbled a curse word in fright.
