Thank you secretsxywriter for your helpful edits and comments.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, merchandise, companies, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are 18 years or older when in sexual situations.
*****
Recap
Camille - works for international pharma company. Straight. Confident, attractive business woman in her 30's, single, and just broke off a long-term relationship. In Toronto airport waiting to fly to London to hook up again with a new boyfriend.
Eleanor - well known author of lesbian themed fiction. Bisexual. Long honey blond hair usually worn up in a chignon. In her 40's. Just broke off a relationship with a male artist while living in Los Angeles. In Toronto airport waiting to fly to London to meet with her publisher.
The flight they are on is cancelled and rescheduled for the following day. As seat mates, they agree to meet at the airport hotel and have dinner together. They discover that they are attracted to one other, and even though Camille is straight she is open minded to a relationship with a woman and is captivated by Eleanor's elegance, intelligence and beauty.
The two of them spend a memorable evening together making love and decide to skip the flight and spend the next three days sampling the international fare in Toronto during the day and making love all night. On the fourth day they fly to London so that Eleanor can keep her appointment with her publisher. This chapter picks up in their Toronto hotel as they are getting ready to fly to London.
*****
Chapter Three
I woke up first. The drapes in our hotel room weren't drawn together tightly enough, and through the small crack between them, a narrow beam of morning sunlight streamed in, hitting my face. The bright light pulled me away from a pleasant dream and into unfamiliar surroundings. It took me a second to orient myself.
I was naked. Next to me was my new lover, Eleanor. She was naked as well, lying on her left side with her back to me. Her long, honey-blonde hair—usually up in an elegant chignon—was cast lazily behind her in a wonderful, wavy jumble that intermingled with my own hair. She was breathing softly, her chest heaving ever so slightly. I had my arm draped across her just below her arm. My hand lie on her chest, feeling the softness and weight of her right breast while it rested easily and comfortably in my cupped palm. I savored this early morning intimacy. The soft, silky luster of the sheets, and the even softer texture of her skin. I wanted to bottle this moment and keep it next to my heart forever.
I drew her closer to me, our bodies so tight to one another that a fine sheen of sweat formed on her back and clung to my breasts. The heat and humidity of our close proximity soon caused me to pull back, though, and I slid my hand away from her breasts. She stirred but didn't awaken.
I was at a comfortable viewing distance, admiring the gentle curve of her back. The swale above her buttocks. The sensual cleft between her legs. She was as lovely a person as I'd ever been with. I traced my finger from her neck down the middle of her back, coaxing a soft sigh from her.
It felt so strange, yet so right, to be with a woman. I always thought my destiny laid with the world of men. Now? I doubted I would ever venture there again. In fact, I couldn't imagine being with any woman other than Eleanor.
I reflected on my three, blissful, unforgettable days in Toronto. I hadn't really spent much free time here before, and I discovered it had a vibrant, international community. Eleanor and I sampled a swath of different foods during the day and spent each night discovering each other's bodies. Exploring our areas of common interest, which turned out to be many.
Eleanor had confessed that she'd had difficulty maintaining monogamous intimacy before. Her partnership with Nathaniel had been punctuated with a series of affairs and one-night stands. It was all with his knowledge and assent, but still. I told her about my series of failed romances, too. And we commiserated about how difficult it was to sustain anything long-term.
I wasn't sure where our mutual infatuation was going to lead. But since there wasn't any certainty in life, I wanted to play it out and see where I landed. So far, I had fallen head-over-heels in love with an amazing woman. Her elegance, worldliness, and beauty proved to be too powerful an attractant for me to resist.
I wasn't surprised that she had difficulty remaining exclusive to one person as she undoubtedly attracted scores of admirers of both sexes. I had never confronted a wish for an "open" relationship, so I didn't know how I would react if Eleanor asked me for that. I did know, though, that if she vowed that I was her one and only, I would be overjoyed. And I could already see a glimmer of something long-term...possibly even marriage.
Eleanor's alarm went off, and the languid, early-morning intimacy soon became a frenzy of activity while we packed our bags, showered, and headed to the airport. We had rebooked our flight to London, and we sat again next to each other in first class. Before as strangers; now as lovers. It was a delightful flight with Eleanor and I comparing notes on our lives. An announcement for our descent into Heathrow came as a surprise to me. The hours had simply melted away, and I had been swept away by Eleanor's narrative of her life.
We caught a cab into the city, and I stayed with Eleanor in her hotel room at the Savoy. Since I had broken off my relationship with my boyfriend in London, my schedule now revolved around Eleanor's. She reminded me that I had promised to meet some of the folks she worked with—including her new editor—at a bar called Freedom in Soho.
After a quick shower, I chose a cotton blouse, my favorite pair of skinny jeans, and boots. Eleanor opted for a silk blouse, a black pencil skirt, and heels. I was the rough-edged country girl. She was the sleek and sophisticated city woman.
Eleanor was treated like rock-star-royalty from the moment we walked into the bar. The bouncer greeted her with a hug then waved to the bartender to get her attention. The bartender in turn beamed a big smile and waved back when she saw Eleanor. We walked across the main floor and didn't get more than five feet at a time before someone stopped us to chat with Eleanor. Finally, the hostess ushered us downstairs to a private booth where two other women were waiting for us.
Before we reached the rest of our party, Eleanor pulled me aside. "I'm a bit embarrassed by all of the attention. I used to live in London and frequent this bar, so it's just rekindling a lot of old acquaintances."
"Eleanor, you're being too modest. You're a hero to these folks. The books you've written have really struck a chord with the lesbian community. What you're seeing is an outpouring of love and support for your work."
"Do you mind if I introduce you as my girlfriend?"
It was a bit of a shock to hear her say that out loud...and in a public place. I didn't consider myself a lesbian. So having her say it would be public acknowledgement that I was at least bisexual. Also, we'd been together for less than a week. Were we already at the stage where we were defining ourselves as girlfriends?
Eleanor must have seen the hesitation on my part...that her question was making me uneasy. "Honey, don't stress over this. I can introduce you simply as a friend."
"No. I just needed to process what you said. I'd be honored and flattered if you introduced me as your girlfriend. There isn't anyone in the world I'd rather be with right now than you."
She pulled me close to her and kissed me long and hard on the lips. There were at least a half-dozen people watching us. At this point, the suggested introduction was superfluous.
Eleanor was soon surrounded by a gaggle of female admirers. And I was slowly pushed back until I was about ten feet from the group. Now, I was in the role of an eavesdropper, hearing fragments of conversations above the din of the bar.
"Isn't she beautiful?"
" ... girlfriend ... American ..."
" ... did you see them kissing? ... hot ..."
" ... guess she is a lesbian ..."
" ... just a slut ..."
Just when I was about to turn around and head outside for some fresh air, Eleanor grabbed me by the wrist.
"I have some folks you have to meet." She pulled me through the crowd of admirers, and I slid into our booth after her where two other women were already seated. "Camille, this is Nancy Flanagan. She's my new editor. And this is Sarah Talisman, the owner and publisher of New Age Books."
I shook both of their hands. "Pleased to meet you both."
