Chapter 1
Widowhood had been a tough nut to crack for Elizabeth. Slinging herself back into the world of dating and meeting new people had taken a persistent effort. Nevertheless, she found herself bobbing up and down like a buoy in the tumultuous waters of life, barely managing to keep her head above water. Her husband's passing had left a void she'd hoped wouldn't last forever, but the months crept by, and the two years following his death felt like an eternity.
She found herself constantly busy, trying to provide for her two teenage daughters who needed their mother as much as ever. It didn't matter that one was already off to college she required a solid financial basis to get a good education. And with her youngest struggling against acting out in school. It was during one of her late-night sessions crunching the numbers of her expenses, that she'd arrived at the solution to her financial woes: rent out the finished basement.
Her husband Avery had intended to make the basement into his man cave and so he sunk a lot of money in to making it in essence a mini apartment of its own. Thus, she put out an ad seeking a tenant, and she waited. A parade of characters walked through her door, but none struck the right chord until Jessica. Jessica was an unconventional young woman with pale skin, contrasting radiantly against her black hair and purple lipstick.
She was respectfully dressed, and the girl was a store manager, so she was responsible. She was not attending college at the movement, but she claimed to be saving up for business school. She wasn't exactly who Elizabeth was looking for, but while she sat in the kitchen, something about her was quickly warming up to the girl. Elizabeth remembered what it was like to be young and ambitious, and she couldn't help but feel a kinship to Jessica.
Jessica's charms didn't escape Elizabeth either. The young woman had an infectious laugh that seemed to stir something inside her, and her eyes held an intensity that made Elizabeth feel alive again. She was embarrassed at her initial impulse, but as the days wore on and Jessica moved in, the bond between them tightened. The young men and women helping her move in were also respectful and kindly denied her offers to buy them food as a thank you.
Jessica even offered to cook a meal for her land lady as a thank you. Elizabeth accepted immediately, opening her home to the young woman with a generosity she rarely found in the world anymore. Over dinner, they engaged in easy conversation, about their lives, their dreams, and their aspirations. Elizabeth found herself revealing more to Jessica than she had to anyone in a long time, and Jessica listened attentively, her eyes never leaving Elizabeth's face.
After dinner Elizabeth began to clean the dishes, and Jessica instinctively joined her at the sink. The young woman's hands brushed against hers and she looked up, surprised to find herself staring into Jessica's eyes. She was overcome not only by the intensity in her eyes but an intoxicating scent coming from her. It was a fragrance that Elizabeth couldn't put her finger on, earthy and mysterious, like nothing she had ever smelled before.
The moment hung there, both suspended in time, unsure of how to react. Jessica's hand lingered on Elizabeth's, the warmth spreading from her fingertips and up her arm. It stirred something deep inside Elizabeth that she had almost forgotten about in the past two years. Eventually, Jessica pulled away, breaking the spell between them. She gave Elizabeth a sheepish smile and apologized for the intrusion.
"I didn't really mention this, but I wake up early every morning and exercise to start my day." Offers Jessica with a chaste smile. "You can feel free to join me if you want a better way to start your day instead of an entire pot of coffee." Jessica said, trying to lighten the mood and put an end to the lingering tension.
"You know, I'd actually love that." Elizabeth responded, a glint of excitement in her eyes as she spoke.
*****
The next morning, Elizabeth found herself in Jessica's makeshift living room slash gym tucked away in the basement. Jessica had transformed half of the room into a proper exercise space with a yoga mat, black and violet weights, and a pair of blue balance balls. The air was surprisingly thick with a heady scent that seemed to relax her immediately. Her curvy body was clad in a rarely used pink and purple athletic suit.
With a side glance at Jessica, Elizabeth noticed how toned she looked in her all-black gym clothes, which only added to Elizabeth's nervousness. She had been out of the workout game for a while now and felt intimidated standing next to this young woman who looked like she belonged on the cover of a fitness magazine. What shocked her after a few moments was seeing that this girl had both of her nipples pierced. Jessica smiled warmly at her, noticing the apprehension on Elizabeth's face.
"Let's start with some light stretches to loosen our muscles. Baby steps, after all." She giggled, putting Elizabeth at ease immediately, while turning on a stereo and playing a high energy song that wouldn't be out of place in a club.
As the music started, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building up in her as she followed Jessica's guidance through a series of warm-up stretches. Throughout the exercises, Elizabeth could sense a tension growing between them, a connection that seemed to transcend the simple pleasure of having a workout partner. Their eyes lingered on each other, their bodies brushing together at moments when they moved in sync. It was a feeling Elizabeth had only experienced with Avery, that deep sense of understanding, of shared thoughts and desires.
But how could she be having this feeling with Jessica, a girl half her age? She was the same age as her youngest daughter, after all. But, still, she couldn't deny the spark, the inexplicable desire to know more about this young woman, and to indulge in the attraction she felt for her. The workout session went on, the tension between them growing stronger with each passing moment.
Jessica guided Elizabeth through a series of yoga poses, their bodies moving in perfect harmony, each inch of skin touching sparking a powerful sensation that went straight to Elizabeth's core. Elizabeth pushed every salacious thought out of her mind. It must all be in her head after all. She allowed herself to finish the work out and then she would just respectfully decline to join her in the future.
Instead, when they finished and Jessica offered to be her partner any time, she wanted to build up a sweat, Elizabeth simply agreed with a smile. In the days that followed, they grew closer. Jessica was quick to share her secrets with Elizabeth and vice versa. They still exercised every morning together, but the atmosphere had evolved into something more flirtatious.
Jessica's alt-goth style often revealed a bit of skin through ripped jeans or a lacy top. Elizabeth found herself watching for glimpses of black lace and the shimmer of metal studs. The young woman's perfume would surround her whenever they got close. It filled Elizabeth's nostrils with the strange, pungent scent of jasmine and vanilla, mixed with a hint of musk.
It was alluring and strangely intimate. Elizabeth would find herself inhaling deeply, secretly searching for more traces of Jessica's otherworldly aura. She knew she shouldn't be feeling this way. It was wrong, she knew it was. And yet, the draw to the young woman was more potent than any she'd faced before.
