“Then I’d love to hear it.”
“Hang on.” She got up and retrieved her jacket, pulling a CD case out of the inside pocket. “I will tell you,” she said as she moved to the stereo, “the lyrics are kind of , um, intense.”
“How so?” Alex wondered if she was seeing things, or if Teren was truly blushing as she put the CD into the player.
“Well, they’re kind of, um, uh —” She stopped. “Just listen, okay? You’ll see what I mean.”
Alex smiled and nodded. Teren pushed the play button and moved back to the couch, picking up her wine glass as she went.
The soft strains of a violin, accompanied by a strummed guitar floated out of her speakers. Alex looked up from her wine glass to find Teren’s eyes on her.
We are long lived butterflies —
always striving towards inner beauty,
inner peace, when daily struggles,
the stresses of life; its routine,
weigh heavily on us; wear us down.
We are chameleons —
changing, sometimes minute by minute …
Alex laughed softly. “That is so unlike you — yet it describes you.”
Teren smiled. “The song is called ‘Changelings.’ The group is really new, and young — Ann said they’re oldest member is like twenty-four or something.”
“What’s the name of the group?”
“Stone Krummholz.”
We are puppets —
manipulated by the strings …
“I like them.”
“Me, too.”
We are actors on the stage of life —
our lives out there for anyone to see,
but only on the outside.
They never see behind the masks.
No, they never see behind the masks…….
Alex nodded, looking down at her glass again. “Have you ever let anyone see behind your mask, Teren?”
Teren nodded. “Yes. But only once.” She waited for Alex’s look of inquiry, then smiled. “Only you, Alex.”
Teren leaned forward and kissed her gently, softly, barely brushing her lips to Alex’s. They stayed that way, quietly sharing soft kisses until the song faded.
Teren pulled back, taking their wine glasses and setting them aside on the coffee table. Teren let her hand caress the side of Alex’s face, sliding down her neck, to her shoulder, and then her arm. Gently she stroked her friend’s skin above her wrist, then took her hand and pulled. Alex moved closer, willingly.
The song changed, this time a solid drum providing the slow but steady rythm. Each beat seemed in time with Alex’s heart, as she felt Teren’s hands on her back, her lips sliding along Alex’s jawline.
I want all of you; I cannot get enough.
Each kiss is more intense as
your touch goes deep, sending me into
a whirlwind of sensation …
As Teren’s lips touched her throat, and hands caressed her shoulders, Alex dug her fingers into her friends back. Quickly, she reached to pull Teren’s shirt from the back of her jeans.
The passion we share makes me weep
hot, helpless tears of joy …
Teren let her hands wander down Alex’s back, as she moved her lips back to her lover’s mouth. Alex moaned as Teren’s fingers slid beneath her sweater, holding her firmly. As Alex reached under Teren’s shirt, she pulled back to see the blue eyes.
Those amazing eyes, so cold and forbidding
when shuttered against the world,
are clear, warm and wide open to me …
Alex reached for the buttons of Teren’s shirt, only to find her hands caught and restrained in a firm and loving grasp.
You lift me up, holding me gently,
touching deep places
with an almost painful intensity …
“No, Alex, relax. We’re not on a schedule, here. There’s just us. No train, no one chasing us, and no one we have to go meet.” She kissed her and pulled back. “Let’s just take our time, okay?”
Alex saw the desire in Teren’s eyes, a soft passion that aroused her more than anything ever had.
Now your touch is firm, commanding.
I know your need; it matches mine.
What we share is white hot, intoxicating …
It also frightened her, and she had to swallow as once again Teren leaned in to kiss her. She pushed against her, working her way into Teren’s mouth, but her dark lover simply pulled away, and moved her lips to the area behind Alex’s ear. Her hands —
Your hands are everywhere,
your lips capture mine and your kisses are deep …
slid up Alex’s back once again, as her tongue gently traced the sensitve skin of her neck.
our bodies tangled, our heart beating as one.
I want more of you, I cannot get enough.
Alex moaned softly, aching to feel more of Teren. She reached again for the buttons, but Teren stopped her once more, looking softly into her eyes.
She could see the need in the younger woman’s eyes, and knew that if she didn’t cool things just a bit, they’d never make it to the bedroom. And she really wanted that.
She knew that up until then she’d been mostly passive in their sexual encounters. Alex had begun most of them, and taken control more often than not. They had been more than a way to relieve tension, but none of them would be called ‘making love.’
Which was what Teren wanted to do tonight.
She smiled and reached for the wine glass, offering it to Alex, who took a healthy swallow from it. Teren did the same, keeping her eyes locked on the green ones that flickered in the glow from the floor lamp.
“Are you alright?”
Alex nodded, not trusting her voice. She licked her lips, and reached up to stroke Teren’s cheek.
They kissed again, slowly. This time when Alex requested entance, Teren allowed it, staying with the kiss until Alex was pushing her back against the arm of the sofa. Then she gently disengaged, wrapping her arms around the blonde woman and holding her.
“I think it’s time we moved this, don’t you?”
Alex chuckled. “Yes, please.”
She stood, offering Teren her hand. Leaving the music on, they walked to the bedroom, hand in hand. Alex stopped at the doorway and reached back to turn off the light in the living room. Teren found the small light by the bed and turned it on, only to illuminate one orange and white cat, curled comfortably around himself in the middle of the bed.
Only to illuminate one orange and white cat curled comfortable around himself in the middle of the bed.
“Okay, Cat, move.”
He didn’t even look at her.
“I said move. Shoo, even.” She motioned with her hand. He opened his eyes and for a moment, she thought he’d raised an eyebrow at her.
“Come on, get. Outta here, go on.” Teren reached down and pushed him that time. Appleby raised his head and looked at her indignantly.
Alex laughed. “Shall I come save you, Ter?”
“No, but you might wanna move him before I do something nasty and cruel.” She tried to sound tough, but it wasn’t possible as she stared down an opponent that wasn’t even a foot tall.
“Okay, buddy.” Alex picked Appleby up and moved him out to the living room, placing him on the couch. He looked annoyed at her, and she smiled, rubbing his chin and throat. After a moment he began to purr. She smiled at him. “Now, you just be a good boy and stay out here, okay? Otherwise, Mommy might let Teren turn you into cat sausage for breakfast tomorrow. ‘Kay?”
He sighed, and blinked at her.
“Yeah, I don’t believe me either.” She stood, moving back to the bedroom, closing the door till only an inch of light spilled from the bedroom to the living room.
She find Teren stretched out on the bed, leaning against the headboard, with one leg out in front of her and the other bent at the knee.
“You look comfy.”
“Yep.”
Alex walked over to her, and Teren turned, putting her feet back on the floor. Alex moved to stand between her legs, and then bent to kiss her.
They stayed like that for several minutes, with Alex’s hands on Teren’s shoulders, and Teren’s hands curled around Alex’s waist. Time and time again, their mouths separated, only to come back together, balancing on a fine edge between hunger and control.