Saturday morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains. Lisa rolled over and reached out for Judy. Her hand found only empty sheets. As ever her lover was up and about. Lisa wished she'd stay in bed awhile. Sometimes the early morning cuddles were the best. She rolled over and winced as the bruises on her buttocks reminded her of how extreme last night had been. She smiled to herself, she'd passed the test, she was now officially Judy's. Reaching to her throat she fingered the collar that was still there. Last night, while they were undressing, Lisa had spent some time in front of the mirror. She loved the feel of it; she loved the look of it against her neck. White was so much more feminine than the dark brown or black of Christine and Sally's collars. Wearing it made her feel like a little girl, Judy's little girl. Drowsy and still half asleep she was just rolling over for five more minutes when Judy appeared at the door with a breakfast tray.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. How are you today? How's that pretty little bottom of yours?" Accepting a cup of coffee and a plate of toast Lisa scooted over to make room for Judy to get in beside her. Over breakfast they discussed plans for the day, shops they needed to visit, places they needed to go.
"Enough chat. It's time for action." Judy wiped away the last few toast crumbs with a serviette and got out of bed. "Come on, it's shower time. Let me get that collar and chain off you."
"Judy?"
"Yes, pet."
"Can I keep the chain?" Lisa played with the medallion that hung from her waist.
"If you want. Here's the key."
"No, I don't mean like that. I'd like to keep it on me, always."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I've thought it through. I can tuck the end in my knickers when we're not playing. Nobody but you and I would know. Please, I really want to."
"I'd be delighted if you kept it." Judy got back onto the bed and kissed Lisa, long and hard. "You're my very special girl. I love you lots and lots and I'm honoured that you want to wear my chain. Thank you. But we had better remove that collar. Much as I think you look sweet with it on, it would raise a few eyebrows around town."
Judy gave Lisa one last kiss and unlocked the collar. She took it to her dressing table and put it away. The key to the padlock that held Lisa's chain glinted in her hand. She was just about to put it in her jewellery box when a thought struck her. If Lisa was keeping the chain then the key should stay with her. She threaded it onto her key ring. It looked a bit out of place beside her house keys but that was fine. It was her half of the bargain and she'd carry it always. As she got up from the dressing table she noticed Lisa still under the covers.
"Come on, lazy bones! Up and at em! If you don't hurry you'll be showering alone." Lisa couldn't ignore a threat like that so she jumped out of bed and followed Judy into the en suite.
A week or so later Lisa and Judy were spending the evening in front of the television when the phone went. Judy answered it but soon passed it over to Lisa.
"Hello ... Hi! Babes! Wow! How are you? ... Yes, I got the job and I'm settled here in Bristol ... When? Next weekend? Hang on a min. I'll just check." Lisa turned to Judy.
"It's Abebi, a friend of mine from college. She's visiting Bristol next weekend, can she come and stay? Please?"
"Of course, it will be nice to meet some of your friends for a change. We can put her in the spare room."
"Babes, it's fine. I'll give you the address." Lisa finalised arrangements and put the phone down. "Wow! I haven't seen Babes since we graduated. She's living in Cambridge now doing post-graduate work. She always was a bit of a swot. I'm really looking forward to seeing her."
"Abebi, that's an interesting name. Where does she get it from?"
"Oh her family is from Ghana. They emigrated here in the sixties. I just call her Babes."
"So I gathered. Lisa?" Judy was suddenly serious, "how much do you want her to know? About us I mean. I realise she's your friend and all, but coming out isn't always easy. If you want to keep our relationship quiet I'll understand. I can be a landlady for the weekend."
Lisa was dumbstruck. She hadn't thought of that. On the one hand she had never kept any secrets from Babes, they'd been close all through three years of college. It would also be almost a betrayal of Judy, to deny their love, to hide it away. On the other hand she wasn't sure what Babes would think. Sure, she was pretty open-minded but this was major. Lisa was racked by indecision.
"Can we just play it by ear? I mean, I really don't know. I'm not sure what I want to do."
"Of course we can. Come here." Lisa came over and, led by Judy, snuggled down on her lap. "Coming out is a big step, even to your closest friends. I do understand, after all, I've been there myself."
Lisa rested her head on Judy's shoulder as Judy stroked her hair. This felt so right, so natural, so easy that it would be wrong to deny it, but what if Abebi didn't understand? What if it ruined their friendship? What if... What if...
"We'll have to make the bed up in your old room as well. That way all the options are open." As ever Judy was being practical. Lisa thought about sleeping alone again. She'd got used to having Judy's body next to hers, to having kisses and cuddles on tap. When a recent business trip had kept Judy away for the night the bed had felt empty and lonely. Still, she'd have to take it one day at a time.
Abebi was due to arrive on Saturday morning. The night before Judy and Lisa had gone to Charlotte's and Lisa, having lost the 'lottery', had received twelve strokes of the cane from Sally, who had won. However, she was used to getting up on Saturday morning with marks from the night before and thought nothing of it. Similarly tucking the medallion in her panties was becoming second nature to her, an everyday part of getting dressed. After all she only let it hang when Judy demanded it.
Around eleven a taxi pulled up outside and Abebi got out. Judy watched from the study window as Lisa, who had been waiting and watching, rushed down the drive to meet her. Abebi was tall and slim with dark ebony skin. She was wearing a short skirt and a tight tee shirt that showed off her figure. It was Judy's turn to feel a stab of jealousy. What would Lisa want with an old bat like her when she had such beautiful friends of her own age? She went out into the hall to greet her guest.
Over a light lunch the three women chatted together, or at least Lisa and Abebi did. Judy could hardly get a word in edgeways and felt left out as the two girls discussed plans for the afternoon.
"Come on, Lisa, a big town like this must have plenty of good arcades. I need a new top. Let's shop till we drop."
Judy offered to drive them into town but declined to come with them. "Two's company," she said ruefully. "You pair go and shop. I've got plenty to do on my own."
Lisa had forgotten how much fun it was shopping with Babes. Shoes, skirts, dresses, tops, everything was considered and usually discarded. Eventually Abebi found a top she liked, but on the way to the changing room grabbed a dress off the racks.
"Come on, Lisa, try this on. It will look great on you."
The two of them crammed into the cubicle. As Abebi peeled off her tee shirt Lisa was reminded just how beautiful her breasts were. Not large, but high and firm. Too soon Abebi pulled the new top over her head.
"What do you think? Not bad, eh?"
"You look great, but practically anything looks good on you."
