Smiling, Shizuma took the Etoile's hand and led her up the stairs.

"This is one of my favorite rooms ", she said, opening a door. Amane followed, curiously viewing the comfortably furnished room, with a large canopy bed, a cozy sofa and a fireplace. It featured a huge window, offering an unobscured view of the beach and the ocean.

"Wow!" Amane stood and stared in awe. "It's absolutely gorgeous!"

The storm in which the girls had left the school had reached the summer home a little while ago. Now, black clouds raced across the sky, the wind drove the rain hard against the window and the ocean was tossing around frothy waves angrily. Lightning flashed every few minutes, bathing the scene in creepy, purple-blueish hues.

"I could just stand here and watch this all night", Amane said quietly.

Standing behind the Etoile, Shizuma wrapped her arms around the other girl's waist.

"That would be ridiculously romantic", she whispered, "and a complete waste of time."

Amane leaned against the former Etoile, enjoying the firm body behind her. She had never expected to be this close to Shizuma. She felt secure, as if the firmness of the tall girl behind her offered a promise of guidance, which she was seeking. In what? In her position as Etoile. In that confusing whatever she shared with Hikari. And in her own entangled emotions that she simply couldn't explain to herself.

"It…it feels good…tobeheldbyyou." Amane stammered, without taking her eyes from the ocean.

A gentle smile pulled at the corners of Shizuma's mouth.

"To be honest, it feels quite good to be holding you", she answered, still whispering. Taking Amane into her arms had been an impulse. Lately, the new Etoile had seemed so…lost. Alone. Unsure. And young.

As if on their own accord, Shizuma's hands started to move, softly stroking Amane's flat stomach, sliding over her ribs, caressing her hips. Only when Amane's head settled on her shoulder, with closed eyes, a soft moan escaping her lips, did Shizuma realize what she was doing. But it somehow felt right. And Amane didn't seem to oppose, so she simply allowed her hands to do what they wanted.

They continued to stroke and caress, wandering slowly up the Etoile's body, sliding across the warm wool pullover. The thick fabric almost completely hid the Spican's breasts, surprising Shizuma when her hands brushed over the soft curve. Amane gasped.

The silver-haired woman glanced at her companion's face, noticing the closed eyes and the look of rapt bliss. Bending down slightly, her lips brushed Amane's neck, trailing kisses languidly from her collarbone up to her jaw.

The Etoile's breathing quickened. Her hands clenched her jeans as Shizuma's lips drifted over her cheek to her ear, fastening on her earlobe. She moaned when the emerald-eyed beauty nibbled and licked her ear.

Amane turned her head, placing her lips squarely on Shizuma's, which had slipped away from the Spican's ear. As the kiss deepened, the Etoile turned to face the other woman, just slightly breaking the kiss in the process.

Lips and tongues played for a felt eternity, Shizuma being bold and forward from the beginning, Amane kissing shyly at first, then loosening up quickly.

The Miatorian stroked her friend's back, more intensely as the kiss deepened. Amane's hands hesitantly moved over Shizuma's back, gaining confidence with each passing moment.

The green-eyed girl let her hands slide over the Spican's ribs, once again settling on her breasts, massaging them lustfully. She hadn't thought that being with Amane would turn her on so strongly.

The Etoile's kisses and touches increased as the young woman lost her inhibition. Shizuma moaned as her arousal heightened, leaning closer to feel even more of Amane's caresses. A lustful fog began to cloud her mind. Only a small part of her brain observed that the Spican was manoeuvring them toward the bed.

But there was something…there was something she needed to know…before things got completely out of hand. What was it? The Miatorian thought for a moment. Oh, yeah.

She placed her hands on the Etoile's shoulder, stopping their movement.

"Amane, wait."
Brown eyes viewed her quizzically.

"Have you ever before?"

"What?" The Spican asked, puzzled.

"Have you ever had sex?"

Amane cast her eyes down. "No", she mumbled.

Shizuma took her hand, pulled her over to the bed and sat down next to the younger woman.

"Then I'm sorry…I can't."

Amane's face fell. "Why?"

"Because your first time should be with someone you love, who loves you, too. With someone like Hikari, perhaps?"

"I don't know. First of all, I don't think Hikari wants that kind of intimacy with me. And I'm not sure I want it with her. We're always pushed towards a relationship. And maybe it's the right thing. But if it was, then no one would need to push us, don't you think? We would just do what we felt like."

"Yes, you would. You would do what you felt was right and you would be intimate." Shizuma said quietly.

"But we've never gotten really close. We just, you know, hold each other, cuddle. A small kiss sometimes. But never like it was with you." Amane blushed furiously.

Shizuma stared at her. "Amane, please don't tell me you have a crush on me."

"What? No! No, I don't." She paused, looking at Shizuma. "But you are incredibly gorgeous. And sexy." She blushed an even deeper red. "And you're so experienced. It would have been really great with you." Her voice became lower and lower as she spoke.

"And anyway, I'd be way too shy to have my first time with someone I love. I'd be too scared to mess up, to make a mistake."

Shizuma giggled. "I can tell you from experience that no one is going to think you're messing up if she really loves you."

"But what if she's as inexperienced as I am?"

"Believe me, you'll find ways to please each other." Shizuma eyed her thoughtfully. "Do you have someone in mind?"

Amane squirmed. "Maybe…but I don't want to talk about it."

The green-eyed woman laughed. "You don't have to. It's none of my business."

They sat in silence, Shizuma watching the storm, Amane looking at the ceiling.

"But I…" "So you…", they started at the same time. Both girls laughed.

"You first." Shizuma said.

"But I really think that…it would help me…if we…" her voice trailed off.

"So you want to have sex with me to gain some experience."

"Yes." Amane blushed again.

Shizuma sighed. "I can understand why you want to, but I still think your first time should be with someone you love. It's something you can only experience once. It's special. And I don't want you to be disappointed."

"I won't be. I know what I'm doing." Amane said forcefully.

The silver-haired woman looked at her, torn between wanting to help her friend and acting on her own judgement. But, when she thought about it, she had to admit it was Amane's life. And Shizuma could very well understand how intimidating the first night with a lover could be. Especially if someone was as shy as the Etoile. If Amane thought it would put her more at ease to have some experience before she ended up in a similar situation with someone she loved, then Shizuma would help her.

Without further ado, the green-eyed beauty leaned toward her friend and kissed her softly. Amane moved closer, pulling Shizuma into her arms, kissing her passionately. She fell back onto the mattress, the Miatorian landing on top of her. Hands stroked, caressed, teased. Both women's voices mingled as they gasped and moaned with their mounting arousal.

To her own horror, Shizuma realized that she felt nervous and unsure. Usually, she bedded girls because she wanted them and they wanted her. Sleeping with a friend because she wanted to gain experience was something that hadn't happened in Shizuma's past.

What did Amane expect of her? What did she want to experience, what turned her on, what did she like?

"Shizuma? Is everything okay?" Amane whispered.

"Yes. Of course. Sure." The silver-haired girl said with what she hoped was a convincing smile.

She resumed kissing her friend, pushing all unwanted thoughts away from her mind. Her hand slipped beneath the pullover, enjoying the soft skin, moving upward, settling on the small breasts.

"Your breasts are absolutely gorgeous", Shizuma whispered, pushing the pullover up over the Etoile's head, allowing her lips to follow her hands.

Amane panted.

"This feels…this feels sooooo good", she moaned.

"Honey, I haven't even started yet."

With agonizing slowness, Shizuma peeled off her friend's clothing. When only her panties remained, the Miatorian paused.

"Amane, are you sure you want this?" she asked quietly.

"Yes! Yes! Don't stop!" the Spican gasped, desperate for Shizuma's touch.

The silver-haired beauty obeyed, slowly pulling off the panties with her teeth, sending shivers down her friend's back. By now, her own arousal was so intense that her concentration was beginning to slip. She had been certain that she could easily maintain control, could hold back and focus on giving the Spican pleasure. But there was something about Amane that heightened her lust. She simply wanted to let go and make love to her friend, without thinking.

"Amane, if there is anything you…you feel uncomfortable with…please tell me…and I promise I'll try to stop."

"Just don't stop…this is wonderful…"

Shizuma stretched out beside the Etoile, kissing her, one hand sliding between the younger woman's legs, sending Amane into a storm of sensation similar to the one raging outside.

Afterward, the Etoile lay on her back, catching her breath, marvelling at what had happened to her. Shizuma was incredible. The brown-eyed woman turned to face her friend.

"That was…that was unbelievable." She said quietly.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it", Shizuma answered just as softly.

Amane slipped her arms around her friend.

"But that was only half of it, wasn't it?"

The older girl smiled. "Well, yeah."

"Do you…do you want me to…?" Amane suddenly felt nervous.

Shizuma pulled off her sweater and t-shirt, leaving only a hint of lace covering her luscious breasts. "Yes, I want you to."

Amane gulped. "Oh god."

Hesitantly, she brushed a hand across Shizuma's naked stomach, her eyes hypnotized by the full curves under the black lace.

"You don't have to if you don't want to", the silver-haired woman whispered.

"I want to…I really want to…I just…I just don't know how…how to…touch you…I think."

Shizuma took her friend's hand and guided it to her breast.

Amane drew a sharp breath as her hand settled on the soft skin, noticing the difference between the feel of skin and the rough lace. Her friend moaned softly. This encouraged Amane, and she grew bolder, strengthening her touch, softly massaging.

Shizuma arched her back, pushing her chest toward her friend. Deftly, she shrugged off her bra strap, causing the lace to slide down.

The Etoile couldn't resist. Acting on some kind of instinct, she bent down and placed her lips on the other woman's breast, sucking on the nipple.

Shizuma gasped, surprised and aroused. She hadn't expected this. Amane's lips and tongue were working pure magic, making her want more.

"Get me out of these clothes, will you?" she gasped, helping her friend to get off her jeans, bra and string. Then, she pulled Amane close, letting her stroke and caress, kiss and lick, guiding her whenever she faltered.

Half an hour later, Shizuma lay on her back, thoroughly satisfied.

"Amane, you're a natural. Every woman who's lucky enough to have you will be the cause of envy."

Amane blushed. "Thanks. But it's easy with you…and it really was great, better than I expected." She yawned. "What time is it?"

"I don't know. But I bet it's late. We got here rather and we've been here much longer than an hour." She shifted to glance at the alarm clock on the bedside table.

"It's after midnight. Let's sleep here tonight and see what's been going on tomorrow. I doubt anyone'll be in the living room at this hour."

"Sounds like a good plan."

Both girls settled into bed, snuggling close to each other.

"Good night. And thanks…I know you weren't sure if this was the right thing to do. But this really helped me."

"Hey, don't thank me. I had a really good time. You're great. Sleep well."

They slowly drifted into sleep as the storm slowly ebbed away outside.