Lauren and I had become fast friends at work soon after she started in HR. Most of my work unit being male, I found having another woman to chat with over coffee and lunch was a nice break from the routine. If nothing else, we weren't limited to the usual work- or sport-centric discussions that otherwise dominated with my male counterparts; although I suspect if I wasn't part of the group, their talks might taken on another element which in this day and age are totally muted in the workplace with a woman around.
Anyway, besides being female, Lauren and I were close in age; me being 28 and her 26, with similar tastes in fashion, entertainment as well as societal values. Our daily chats became more open between us as our work groups splintered into the male and female fractions; not that either group intentional excluded the other, the pairings naturally occurred as the men were freer to discuss sports without feeling they were ignoring us and we could likewise focus on the gossip of the day involving celebrities and the reality-based programing that appealed to us. The two groups taking separate tables rather than conduct simultaneous conversations at one.
After one particularly brutal day of work, I had a disagreement with one of my coworkers that left me quite upset. Lauren helped calm me down and suggested we take a walk off the premises to get away for a few minutes. The walk did the trick and I was able to see things a little more clearer; and became a routine for us whenever either one of us felt pressured, or if it was just a nice day.
The walks also permitted us to discover another shared interest, that being we both were bisexual. This discovery occurred over time as we gradually let down the work/personal life barrier; after all, she was in human resources and sexual orientation was a taboo topic at any time. But being outside the office, strolling and chatting more as friends than coworkers, we both soon noticed the other glancing at passing men, and women. Comments about the men were guarded at first, I was married so it wasn't until I started to note a particularly attractive, well-built, or just plain sensuous man, that Lauren began to share the ones catching her attention. With women, we were typically catty in our critique of their clothing, make-up or style, with the occasional approving comment.
Needless to say, I was withholding my real thoughts and using the disparagement as an excuse to ogle. In retrospect, its clear now that whenever either of us had found someone's blouse totally unflattering or dated, skirt too wrinkled or slutty, makeup too severe or heavy, we were really admiring the tits, ass or beauty of the woman. And we got very good at tearing other women apart.
There was also one person whom I regularly sneaked peeks at and secretly admired, well OK, lusted; that person being Lauren.
One afternoon in late summer, when clothing was at its skimpiest, two women, arm-in-arm, strolled towards us. While both of us noticed them, I don't think either of them registered us as we passed by; and it wasn't until long after we passed each other, that it dawned on me that neither Lauren nor myself had commented one way or the other on them. Perhaps it was their clear ease in being a couple combined with their physical beauty that silenced us, I'm not sure about Lauren but I know I was lost in wondering what sex with one, or both, of them would be like. We walked along quietly to the end of the block before she or I spoke.
"Would you like to get a drink?"
"You know, that's a wonderful idea."
At the next corner we found ourselves inside a lounge attached to a downtown hotel. Something about this place had drawn me towards it and Lauren agreed as soon as I pointed it out. Sipping from a glass of cool, white wine, I turned to Lauren and gazed at her as she absently looked slightly ahead. I watched her for a moment, until she noticed, and with a slight flush appearing on her features, she gave me a small smile. With the upturn of her lips, I couldn't help but break into a smile; a smile that transformed into a short laugh.
"Well, I hope they're not trashing us too badly."
The ice broken, Lauren chuckled and smiled wider, "What was it about them...I don't ever recall being struck speechless like that. Especially since nothing was said...hell, I don't think they even saw us!"
"They seemed so confident, sure. Not to mention they were both gorgeous."
"I wish I could be so daring."
Lauren's comment caught me by surprise and I looked for signs in her expression to try to ascertain what exactly she meant by that. Surprised as well by her stare back at me, no doubt trying to read my face for my own reaction. Lauren's eyes sparkled as she smiled again, almost challenging me to ask her what she might dare, but before I could do so, she continued, "The blonde's blouse was so sheer, and going braless, it really called attention to her nipple piercing." And as I watched, her hand lifted up and lightly passed over her left breast, as if Lauren was contemplating what it would feel like in her own nipple.
Now it was my turn to blush, "Oh, I didn't even notice. I was just so taken by the fact they were obviously lovers, and couldn't care less who noticed. Their bearing was just so...intoxicating."
"Have you ever?"
Lauren's question left hanging in the air before me, her eyes locked on mine, so without looking away, I lift my drink to my lips; but instead of drinking, I keep the glass a hair from my lips and, just barely visible, let the tip of my tongue touch the rim.
"You mean, been with a woman?" My question answered by a nod of her head, then mine. "You?"
Neither of us blinking, sensing a turning point in our relationship, I wait for Lauren's reply; mine having been casual and slight enough to later claim to not have been an answer at all but rather a question to her question if the risk I took by affirming was a mistake.
Lauren leans just the slightly bit forward, "I've dated some."