My affair with Kate continued off and on after our wet and delicious first time. She had other lovers – girls more her own age – but she always came back to me, sometimes just to chat, sometimes for intimacy. I had other lovers, too – women mostly, though the occasional man as well – but I always saved room for her, the first woman I had tasted.
So it was no surprise when she rang my bell at nine o'clock on a Saturday morning, catching me before I'd dressed for the day – barefoot, in jeans and a tee shirt, thrown on to sit on the deck in my garden reading the morning paper with a first pot of coffee.
"Can I come in, Jan?" she asked, and I knew when she said it that something was wrong. There was something halting in her voice, and her eyes met mine for only a second.
"Of course you can, dear. You know you're always welcome here. Go straight out to the garden while I get you a coffee cup."
Kate's head lay on her arms on my deck table when I returned but she lifted it wearily when returned with a mug, her full lips down at the corners her eyes liquid and sad. She watched quietly as I poured a full measure of coffee for her, sat up to take a long sip, sighed as she leaned back in her chair.
"Tell me about it, Kate," I said. "Something's not right. Is it Susan?"
Kate nodded miserably. "She's leaving me. For some
guy
."
I felt her loss acutely but knew there was nothing either of us could do about it. "But you knew she was bi, didn't you? I mean she told you that, right?"
She nodded again. "But I thought, you know, thought she might be the one."
Poor Kate. But I knew that feeling sorry for herself would not help her. Gently I took her hand in mine. "Come and look at my roses."
She was as limp as wilted lettuce but she stood and walked hand in hand with me into the garden. I led her to the fence where a stand of Buff Beauties climbed in the morning light, their apricot blossoms glistening with dew, their sweet fragrance enveloping us as we stood shoulder to shoulder.
"Do you see these, Kate?"
She reached out to cup a blossom in her free hand. "They're lovely, Jan."
"They are, aren't they? And you know what? The beauty they have, they have in themselves, and not because of what anyone thinks about them. Just like you."
Kate squeezed my hand, released it, and slid her arm around me, resting her head on my shoulder. "You always say the right thing, Jan," she said, and turned to hug and kiss me softly.
It was a gentle buss but the touch of her lips to mine was enough to stiffen my nipples beneath the loose cotton tee shirt I was wearing, a movement that was not lost on her as my breasts pressed lightly against hers. Her tongue ex-plored my lips briefly before she pulled away. "It's different with you. I feel, you know, wanted and, like,
good
."
I felt myself smiling wickedly. "You know I can make you feel a lot better if it will help."
"Yes." Kate kissed me again, harder this time. "That would help. But I'm such a mess, I didn't sleep, I didn't even shower this – ."
"Never mind, Katie." Her hair
was
uncombed, her clothes wrinkled, her eyes puffy – but, as usual, she looked terrific! Her hips canted provocatively where she stood, and her full breasts strained against her shirt. I took her hand again and led her up the stairs to my bedroom. My bed was still unmade and yesterday's clothes were draped over a chair but neither of paid them any mind.
"Remember our first time here?" I said.
Kate nodded slowly. "You were so beautiful."
"And you were, too. And now I'm going to remind you of that. And next you're going to have a long nap. And then when your head is clear, we'll talk."