Toni lifted the brandy container up and poured two fingers of bandy into the glasses.   She turned and looked over her shoulder at Michele sitting on the couch.  It had taken her weeks of careful wooing to get Michele to agree to come back to the apartment after a night of dancing.  Tonight would be the night, Toni thought to herself.  She knew that the passionate swaying on the dance floor told her more than any words that Michele had uttered. 

Toni recalled during the last dance of the night, she had reached down and placed her hands against Michele's hips, pressing their abdomens together as they swayed to the music.  Toni leaned down and kissed Michele softly behind the ear as she rubbed her chest against Michele’s. 

Michele reached up and circled her arms around Toni's neck, holding tight as she gave in to Toni’s kisses.   Michele’s body became hot as passion ran throughout her limbs.  She had no expectations that being held and kissed by another woman would feel this good.

Michele wondered what Toni would say if she were to reach out drawing their faces closer together to kiss her on the lips. 

Before Michele had a chance to act on her thoughts, the music ended and Toni stepped back. Toni led a dazed and bewildered Michele back to their table. 

Toni looked at Michele and asked, "Would you like to go home to your apartment for a nightcap?" 

Michele simply stared into her beautiful brown eyes and whispered, "Yes." 

Toni held the chair out as Michele stood.  Together they walked out, asking for a taxi to take them uptown to Michele’s apartment. 

Now here they were...Together in a room without an interruption; nothing to stop them from exploring this new feeling they had growing for each other. 

Toni handed Michele her drink and sat down beside her.  

"I had fun tonight." Michele said shyly. 

"I love dancing with you. You fit just right in my arms." Toni sipped her drink. 

Michele smiled as she put her glass down on the dark coffee table. "I think in your arms is a perfect place to be.” 

Toni scooted closer as she placed her glass down next to Michele.  She eased her fingers under Michele's much smaller palm. "Do you know what happens to me when we dance?" 

"I can only imagine it is the same thing that happens to my body." Michele moved her hand intertwining her fingers with Toni's. 

Toni stared into Michele eyes before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. 

Michele, never having been kissed by another woman, closed her eyes and let the sensations run through her. 

Toni’s lips pressed more firmly against Michele's mouth while she pulled their bodies tighter together.  She could feel Michele’s full breasts pressed against her own heaving chest.  Toni’s lips opened as she pressed her tongue against Michele’s mouth, seeking entry in order to deepen their kiss.   

Michele felt the persistent probing against her mouth and the dazzling sexual sensation of Toni’s warm wet lips pressing against hers.  Parting her lips, she hesitantly touched the tongue pressing into her mouth.  Michele could hear Toni murmur, “So good…so fucking good” as Toni’s tongue dipped and licked deeper into her mouth.   

Michele reached out wrapping her hands around Toni’s waist as Toni pressed harder against her, lowering her down onto the couch.  Michele’s legs dangled over the edge of the couch where she was pinned beneath Toni. 

Toni could sense the sexual change in Michele as her chest began to tremble and her breath became uneven.  Michele’s nipples grew rigid as they dug into Toni’s heaving chest.  Toni could feel her own center engorging as she sank against the vee between Michele’s legs.  Rocking slowly against Michele’s crotch, Toni continued kissing her while spreading her hands on either side of Michele’s head, holding her still.  She crushed her lips firmly against Michele’s in a hot, deep kiss. 

No woman had ever kissed Michele this way and it clearly astounded her.  She lost control over her body as it flushed hotter and throbbed with desire.  Her tongue thrust tentatively against Toni’s and was reward with a distinct moan from her.  Michele could feel Toni’s body beginning to quake against hers as Toni reared upward away from her mouth.  Their pelvis’s surged tightly together as Toni rocked stronger against her pelvis. 

Michele gasped, “Oooooooh, jeezus,” as her aching crevice began to clench and burn from the rocking motions.   

Toni moved her hands lower and fondled Michele’s turgid glands as she slowly opened her blouse.  She unsnapped the front fasteners, watching as Michele’s velvety flesh spilled outward against her hands.  Toni lifted a breast in each hand as she pulled and kneaded Michele’s nipples before dipping her head and encircling one within her mouth.   

Michele’s upper body jackknifed as a tug on her nipple set her body aflame. Tossing her head side to side, Michele lifted and placed her hands behind Toni’s head, pulling her closer.  Michele’s sodden center quivered and quaked as Toni continued to buck hard, rubbing solidly against her core.  Michele lifted her legs, wrapping them tightly around Toni’s hips as Toni increased the pressure of her stokes.   Michele could only hold on while she rode the crest to an impending orgasm. 

Toni moved one hand lower and slipped her fingers between Michele’s and her own pubes.  She twisted her fingers around until she could press firmly against the aching, wet nub protruding from Michele’s spasming nether region.  Toni massaged her fingers up and down, then back and forth over Michele’s clit as she drove her higher to a hammering climax. 

Michele threw back her head and let the waves of exploding sensations cascade her entire being.  She held her breath as the torrid heat rushed from her body to soak Toni’s still moving fingers.  Finally, Toni stopped, pressing her fingertips solidly against Michele’s still throbbing nub as she leaned in kissing and sucking her lips. 

Michele let her arms fall to her sides as her body collapsed in the aftermath of the torrent of escalating eruptions.  Her eyes closed as she drifted into a complaisant level of sleep.  Toni quietly lifted herself from Michele’s body.  She stood looking down at Michele with a secretive smile on her lips.  Leaning down she lifted Michele’s legs and laid them gently on the couch.  She flipped a cover from the back of the couch across her body as she continued to sleep.  Walking quietly to the desk, Toni quickly wrote a note for Michele asking her to be at the club tomorrow night by seven.   She left it on the coffee table where it would be seen as soon as Michele awakened.  Looking one more time at Michele’s flushed afterglow, Toni turned and quietly left the apartment. 

*** 

The next evening Toni sat at a table with three of her friends.  She was expecting Michele in half an hour but had unfinished business to clear with her friends first.  Toni ordered a round of drinks.  In the meantime, Michele left directly from work headed toward the club.  She was anxious to see Toni, to understand what last night meant and to let Toni know just what she thought of her.  Never had her emotions been so involved or lying so close to the surface.  Toni made her feel desirable, wanted, not just an object for sex. 

As she entered the club, Michele walked to the counter and checked her rain jacket.  She pocketed the ticket.  Michele stood at the entry to the main room looking around until she spotted Toni at a table with several other women.  Her heart began to race as she looked at the back of her new found lover.  Michele smiled gently as she thought of the seething desire that had sprung between them last night.  With Toni on her mind, she headed across the room toward them.  As she drew closer, she could hear Toni talking.  Michele paused a few feet behind Toni as she listened intently to the conversation. 

“What a quickie!  I barely touched her before she spasmed in my hand.  She was so hot I could probably have looked at her and she would have cum.” Toni exclaimed in a bragging tone of voice. 

“Toni, don’t tell us more, please.  Don’t do this to her.”  Riley, one of the women at the table stated. 

“Hell, Sarah bet me that I couldn’t take anyone she picked out.  How is she supposed to know I won if I don’t tell her?”  Toni grumbled to the others seated at the table. 

Michele gasped but never moved. She was stunned; her world was falling out from under her as she listened to Toni’s words. 

“It has taken me weeks to woo Michele into my arms and finally I got what I wanted.  She let me touch her ‘virgin’ body…me, a woman.”  Toni bragged aloud.  “Michele didn’t know what to do to please me but I made sure I pleased her.” 

That was it!  Michele heard all she wanted to hear.  She was embarrassed.  No, she was livid as she listened to her tribute to love being torn down around her ears.  She had finally taken that yawning leap to trust someone with the gift of her body and it had been a contest.  How humiliating to know that is all that it was.  Infuriated, Michele moved closer, as Toni lifted her drink to take a sip.   

“You should have seen Michele, quivering in my arms, arching into my touch as I drove her over the edge,” Toni continued. 

“Stop!  Please don’t tell us anything else,” Riley begged.  A movement behind Toni caught Riley’s attention, forcing her eyes to look up.   

OH…my…God!  Riley thought to herself as she recognized Michele.  In fact, Riley had been watching Michele for some time over the past few weeks and wished that she had known of a way to step in between her and Toni without ruining her friendship with Toni.  Now, it may be too late for all of them. 

Michele spun to a stop beside Toni’s chair.  Toni looked up as she coughed over the swallow she had just taken.  Michele reached out and slapped Toni hard across the face as tears welled up in her eyes and overflowed down her face. 

“HOW COULD YOU?  WAS I NOTHING BUT A CHEAP FUCK TO YOU?”  Michele demanded as she slapped her again.   

Toni sat there with her mouth fallen open as she realized Michele had heard every word she had said. 

“GOD…I HATE YOU!”  Michele said as she turned and ran from the club. 

Riley rose to follow her.  No one stopped Riley as they all sat, silently ashamed of what had just transpired.  It was done in jest and never meant to hurt anyone, or so they thought.  Maybe though, that was the problem.  Not one of them thought what their actions would have done to their intended victim. 

Riley rushed toward the front of the club.  As she passed the coat check counter, the woman behind the desk called out.   

“You going after that woman that just ran out of here?” 

“Yes, if I can catch her,” Riley replied. 

“Can you give her this jacket?  She forgot it in her rush to leave.” 

Riley reached out and caught the jacket tossed her way as she left the club.  She was in time to see Michele climbing into a cab.  She sprinted over to the cab and quickly followed her inside. 

“GET OUT. This is MY cab and I don’t want you in here.  Go back to that lying two-faced bitch.”  Michele hissed between the sobs shuddering through her body. 

Riley was persistent.  “Let me at least see you home.  You can’t do this alone.” 

“Just leave me the fuck alone.”  Michele pleaded as hurt slammed through her body. 

“Did you give the driver your address?”  Riley continued undaunted by Michele’s protests. 

“No…” Michele finally replied in a desolate voice.  “311, Apartment D, Main Street.”  

“Did you get that driver?” Riley asked as she leaned toward the cabbie. 

“Yes ma’am.  I’ll have you ladies there in no time.” 

“Thank you,” Riley replied as she leaned back on the seat.   

Michele had scrunched as far away on the opposite side of the seat as she could.  Riley could see the tremors running hard through her body as the shock of the evening overcame her.  She moved toward her, lifting her jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. 

“I don’t blame you for being angry.  I am myself,” Riley replied.  “I am so sorry.  I didn’t know she and Sarah had this bet going or I would have tried to stop it long ago.” 

“I can’t believe I let her lead me on this way.  God, what kind of judge of character am I?  Was I so needy for love, I didn’t see she was using me?”   

Riley could hear the self-doubt in Michele’s voice.  She didn’t say as word as she let Michele talk out her emotions.  Soon the only sounds in the cab were the sobs of humiliation and hurt coming from Michele.  Riley reached out to draw her close but Michele shook her off and huddled even tighter against the door.  Minutes later the cab drew to a stop before Michele’s building.  Riley opened the door and got out, turning back to help Michele from the cab.  Michele pulled away, not letting Riley touch her.  Riley followed Michele to her apartment.  She watched as Michele opened the door. 

“Michele, do you want me to stay for awhile?” Riley asked in a subdued low pitched voice. 

“No.  I want to be alone.  I need to work through this.  Riley, how could she do this to me?” 

“Michele, I don’t know.  I can’t begin to think what is in her mind.  I am so sorry.”  Riley reached out and gently placed her hand on Michele’s shoulder. 

“I know.  I know.  Only she holds the answers and I will be damned if I ask her.”  With a deep sigh, Michele stepped inside her apartment.  Riley watched as she flipped on the light.   

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to stay for a little while?” 

“No, I just want to be left alone.  Please go.”  Michele turned to close the door. 

“May I call you tomorrow to see how you are doing?” 

“NO!  Please don’t.  I can’t handle anything else right now.” 

“Okay, I understand.  I’ll see you around.”   

Michele closed the door with a final click.  Riley stood for a few seconds more before slowly turning around to go back to the cab.  Returning to the club, she wondered what she would say to Toni.  She also wondered how she would be able to approach Michele after the terrible hurt inflicted upon her by Toni.  Would Michele be willing to trust another woman again?  Would Michele let her get closer?  So many unanswered questions that would simply have to wait until a future time.  Nothing could be settled or answered easily.   

Trust once broken is hard to gain back.  Riley knew it would be an arduous road to travel.  As she watched traffic pass along side the taxi, Riley wondered if she would ever get to pursue getting to know Michele better after the way Toni treated her.  Riley sighed deeply as she realized there was no control over fate and time.  It would work either in her favor or against her, Riley mused as she decided to give Michele time to overcome the deep hurt inflicted upon her.  So many questions and so few answers.  Riley hoped one day she would be able to give Michele what she deserved, passion without restriction that could possibly grow into a deep abiding fondness for each other.  Patience and time were all Riley had at this moment, and she knew it would be worth in the end.  Riley resolved in her mind to wait until the time was right and then she would follow up on her interest in Michele.

The End