Matumaini Mema

4

Bit of lady love in this one. Enjoy!

Kara was happy... mostly... She'd woken up with Cat snuggled against her, one arm thrown across her hip and forehead pressed between her shoulder blades and had felt an overwhelming sense of peace... until she suddenly remembered Cat was going home in a few days and the peace had been shattered.

Now she was just lying in the pre-dawn dimness, thinking about what she wanted. Kara wasn't averse to one-night stands. Occasionally, she'd come across tourists or women travelling on business, during her visits to Mombasa, who'd been a welcome distraction from her not-loneliness. But Cat was different. Cat had snuck up on her and ensconced herself right in that space between lust and love, which made the thought of a four-night stand tempting but FAR from enough.

Cat's hand moved in a slow caress across her stomach as she shifted and took a deep breath, and Kara knew she was awake. "You're toasty warm. Where's my coffee?" the journalist said in a sleep-roughened voice.

"I couldn't bring myself to get up. I'm too comfortable," Kara replied with a chuckle. "Besides, isn't it your turn to make the coffee?"

"True," Cat agreed but Kara just turned over to face her, gazing at her for a long moment, as the hammock slowly rocked them. "I know we need to talk," the older woman added. "But I'm definitely going to need coffee first."

The guide's hand lifted, and her fingertips trailed down Cat's face almost reverently. "Can I kiss you good morning?"

Green eyes gentled. "Please..."

They spent a few lazy moments exploring each other and, if Cat had had any doubts about her attraction to Kara, they were completely assuaged by the slow deep throbbing that began between her thighs. She drew back slowly, breathing harder and then pressed herself fully against the guide, gently biting at the soft skin of her neck and making her groan softly.

"God, Cat..."

"I know."

"We should stop."

"Mmmm... yeah."

"Like any time... this afternoon."

Cat laughed softly. "Right."

"You're killing me."

"But at least you'll die happy."

Kara shook her head slightly. "Happy would be your fingers inside me."

The journalist swallowed hard. "Fuck Kara... now who's killing whom?"

"Your grammar skills are sexy."

"YOU'RE sexy… and surprisingly witty for having had no coffee."

Oh yeah, it would be so easy to fall… "Heh. Ok, I'll make it."

Cat reached out to stop her. "No... Kara... I c..." But hissed and winced as her back and shoulder protested the movement after the previous night's fall.

The guide smiled gently. "It's ok, stay where you are and relax. I'll make it and then I'll help you out of bed so you can stretch out slowly."

Cat nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

Kara dropped one more kiss on the journalist's lips, making her smile, and then eased out of the hammock to put her boots on and grab a head lamp. She made quick work of lighting the fire and putting the coffee on in a small, tin coffee pot. Then she grabbed some water and pain killers from her bag and brought them to Cat. "Here take these," she said, helping her lean forward and supporting her back.

"I'm sorry," the journalist said, green eyes contrite.

"For what?" Kara asked.

"For getting myself into this. For walking away last night. I was upset and..." She sighed softly.

"You needed some space. I get it," the guide shrugged. "It was an accident, Cat. It's not like you deliberately jumped into a pit with a cobra." She paused then and tilted her head with a little smile. "Or did you?"

Cat laughed and swatted her shoulder, already feeling a little better. "Very funny, Tarzan."

"I thought maybe you'd wanted to see my muscles while I pulled you out of there," the guide teased.

Cat's eyes immediately went to Kara's tanned arms and shoulders accentuated by her tank top. "While your muscles are quite a sight to behold, Kara, I can promise you, being in a pit with a cobra was the last thing I wanted last night."

Blue eyes turned serious then. "And what DID you want, Cat?"

The journalist chuckled. "I thought we were having coffee before we talked."

"Right, sorry," the younger woman replied. "Be right back." She returned moments later with two cups and passed one to her friend. "So..." she said.

"So," Cat replied.

"You were going to tell me what you want, Cat."

The journalist nodded. "Is it possible to be completely sure and completely unsure at the same time?"

Surprised blue eyes looked back at her as Kara wondered if Cat was feeling the same way she was. "I... yeah, I think it is."

"What I'm certain of is that I love your company, I'm very attracted to you and..." The older woman smiled almost shyly. "I can't stop wanting my first time... with a woman... to be with you." Kara melted and she took Cat's hand to bring it to her lips and kiss it. "Then there's the uncertainty," the journalist went on. "If I let it happen between us... how will I feel when I have to get on a plane home in a couple of days and most of all... how will YOU feel. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I care about you a lot, Kara."

The guide nodded but she smiled too, and Cat tilted her head in question. "You've basically just described everything I'm feeling. As much as I want this with you... and God, Cat, I fucking want it so much... it could end up really bad for both of us."

Cat nodded in return as she brought their hands to her lips. "Is... is it worth it, Kara?" she asked softly. "Is four nights together worth the potential pain?"

Kara looked down for a long moment, searching inside herself, inside that space between lust and love. Then she lifted her eyes, pinning Cat in place breathlessly. "Yes."

A broad smile lit Cat's face as she nodded. "Good. I think so too."

They kissed gently but Kara eased back then. "Are you up to hanging out at the poacher's compound today? I know things hurt."

"I need to see if I can get pictures of the rest of the crew," Cat replied. "We only have today."

"Yeah," Kara agreed. "We can camp here again tonight. Tomorrow we can take our time heading back to the village. We'll be there by the evening. Then stay there overnight and drive back to the resort on Friday morning. Your flight's on Sunday so you'll be back in plenty of time."

Cat grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

"And maybe... you could spend the day with me at my house on Saturday? I know Bozo would love to see you again," the guide added.

"I'd love that," the older woman said. "I'm sure Bozo is a gracious host."

"No, he's terrible," Kara deadpanned. "He hogs all the food and talks about himself VERY loudly all the time."

Cat grinned. "I'm sure you'll make up for him." She kissed Kara's nose and then smiled as the sun began to light the clearing. "We should get going. I need to stretch before I even attempt walking anywhere."

But to her surprise, Kara slid her arms under her and lifted her out of the hammock, kissing her gently before setting her on her feet, and then moving behind her to massage her shoulders and lower back. Cat closed her eyes and moaned softly, then her tone turned sensual as Kara kissed her neck, scraping her teeth over the tender skin.

The journalist's body growled, and she turned to push Kara against a tree and kiss her passionately. "What was that about fingers?" she whispered into the guide's ear. "Would happy be my fingers inside you... or your fingers inside me?"

Kara whimpered and closed her eyes. "Cat... you're really close to me no longer caring about getting those photographs."

Cat laughed softly and took pity on her. "Sorry... ok, Kiongozi, let's get moving."

Xx

"Holy shit," Kara whispered as she crouched in the foliage opposite the entrance of the poacher's base, her rifle lying across her knees. "Score."

Cat nodded as she raised her camera and started snapping pictures, making sure they were saving to the new memory card she'd put in. There were several men coming and going, carrying the boxes of tusks and pelts she'd photographed the day before and loading them into a light cargo aircraft.

"Just big enough to handle the boxes but small enough to not draw attention to the area," the journalist murmured.

"And small enough to be able to take off on this small not-a-runway," Kara added with a shrug. "Gotta hand it to them. They're organized."

"Mmmm," Cat agreed. "There's a brain behind this business."

Kara leaned forward then and pointed. "Maybe that brain?"

A man in a dark suit had exited the hut and before he turned toward the plane, Cat got a shot of him and then zoomed in on his face. She showed Kara the closeup. "Recognize him?"

"No," the guide replied, frowning. "Not at all. He must have come in on the plane. No way he hiked in, in that suit." They watched as he headed for the plane and got into the passenger seat. A moment later, the engine started up and the rest of the poachers finished loading the cargo and closing the hold. Cat smiled as Kara's arm came around her. "We got them, Cat."

"Hell yeah!" the older woman replied, kissing the guide's cheek chastely but making her grin. "I think we have everything we need and I'm starving. How about we head back to camp and..."

"Oh no," a new voice said from behind them. "I don't think you're going anywhere."

Kara sprung to her feet and brought her rifle up, but the man shook his head and pointed his at Cat. "Even if you shoot me, I can still kill her, Kiongozi."

The guide swallowed but she slowly lowered her weapon and pointed it at the ground. "Waruhiu," she said. "Don't hurt her, ok? I don't want anyone to get hurt. Come on, we used to be friends. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Cat drew in a breath and looked at Kara. "Friends?" she said.

"Waruhiu showed me how to navigate Matumaini Mema and taught me how to speak Swahili," the younger blonde replied. "Didn't you, Man?"

Brown eyes blinked and then Waruhiu looked down. "Yes, I taught you," he replied as he eased his gun down too. "I taught you everything you know."

"Then he decided he could make more money guiding the poachers than he could make off tourists, so he cashed in and left me to run our business on my own." She perched her hands on her hips then and tilted her head. "How are the kids? They must be big now."

The man nodded. "Getting very big. Yaro is eight and Zawadi is almost six."

"Wow." Kara sat the stock of her gun on the ground and shrugged. "So, what are we doing here, Man?" she asked. "If you hand us over to those assholes, you know what's going to happen." Cat looked at her again with raised eyebrows. "Oh, they'll tie us to a torture tree or something and leave us to die a slow and painful death."

"Thanks for that," Cat muttered.

Waruhiu pointed at the camera hanging from Cat's neck. "Just erase the pictures and I will let you go," he said. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Not a chance, Buddy," the journalist replied, holding it tightly against her chest.

The man lifted his gun again and pointed it at Cat's head. "Out of respect for Kara, I will save you the suffering of the torture tree by shooting you myself, but I WILL spare your life if you give me the camera."

"No," Cat said again.

"If he kills us, he'll just get it anyway," Kara pointed out, rubbing her nose hard as she held out her other hand. "Give me the camera, Cat."

"Kara... no..."

"Hey... trust me, ok?" Blue eyes pleaded with her. The guide rubbed her nose again and shook her head. "Damn allergies. Better to be alive to fight another day, right?"

Cat sighed and handed the camera over to Kara. The guide rubbed her nose a third time and then held up a finger. "Sorry..." She turned away and sneezed... once, twice, three times. "Phew! Sorry about that. Been having an allergy attack on and off all day." Then she stepped forward and handed the camera to her former friend before backing away. "You have what you want, Waruhiu. We're leaving now." She took Cat by the hand and started walking as the man shoved the camera into his backpack. "Despite the bullshit, it was good seeing you."

"You too, Kiongozi," Waruhiu replied. Then he got up and headed back toward the hut.

"Just keep walking," Kara said to Cat as she opened her mouth to start yelling. "We need to get back to camp, pack up and leave immediately."

"But... why... do you think they'll come after us?"

Kara nodded. "Yeah, I have a feeling they might." She held out her hand to show off the camera's memory card that she'd palmed during her planned sneezing fit, and Cat's eyes widened in shock and awe before pulling her close and kissing her quickly on the lips.

"Oh my God, Kara, you are fucking amazing."

"Say that again when we're safely back at the village," the guide replied. "I might have just sentenced us to death."

They broke into a jog and made it back to camp in about ten minutes. Then they packed up and ate Kara's last two beef sandwiches before heading out.

"What made you think of taking out the card?" Cat asked, as she took Kara's hand in hers and laced their fingers together as they walked.

"I dunno," the younger woman replied. "I just... desperately wanted to keep the photos and knew you did too. It just came to me. Sorry about losing the camera by the way. I know that thing was expensive."

"It doesn't matter," Cat replied with a grin. "I'll just expense a new one when I get back to National City." They continued walking quietly for a while but then the journalist squeezed Kara's fingers gently. "When you said you lost friends to the poachers, was Waruhiu who you were referring to?"

Blue eyes saddened as they looked back. "One of them," the guide shrugged. "I think part of the reason Waruhiu went to work for them was because another friend of ours, Absko, was killed by them and he was afraid of the same thing happening to him. His kids were small at the time, and he couldn't let them, and his wife starve."

Cat nodded her understanding. "Sometimes, we have to do what we have to do," she replied. "But I'm sorry you got hurt in the process and left struggling to keep your business afloat."

"Honestly," the guide replied. "I don't really need the business. I just enjoy meeting people and guiding them. I love seeing kids' faces when they see wildlife for the first time outside a zoo."

"But, how would you make enough money to live without it?" the journalist asked.

"I'm... um..." Kara looked down sheepishly. "Independently wealthy." Cat blinked. "My parents were rich and when they died, I inherited it all. I live a simple life and, other than my house and Delilah, I don't need much."

The older blonde chuckled and shook her head. "You really are Tarzan." At the guide's raised eyebrows, her smile widened. "In the original books, Tarzan was John Clayton II, also known as Viscount Greystoke, heir to the Greystoke family estate. He was wealthy but, after having experienced civilization and becoming disillusioned with it, he returned to the jungle with Jane to live a simple life."

"Aahh... so where do you have similarities to Jane?"

"Having romantic feelings for someone she met a short time ago and wanting to be with them, despite them being a noble savage," Cat teased.

Kara laughed and stopped them walking for a moment so she could hold the journalist by the hips and lean in to kiss her. "Well, this noble savage has romantic feelings for you too. And you'd better not call me a savage in front of Bozo. He thinks I'm perfect."

Cat's smile gentled as she looked up into Kara's eyes. "He's not wrong."

Xx

It was hour number six of walking. They'd taken numerous breaks, but Cat's back and shoulder were aching so badly that she finally had to tug on Kara's hand. "I'm sorry," she said. "I can't, Kara. I need to stop."

"Hey, no apologies," the guide replied. "You've done amazingly today and honestly, I'm knackered too. There's a lake nearby. Let's set up camp there." She helped Cat out of her rucksack and shouldered it along with her own. "This way."

Ten minutes later, they were stepping through the trees into a clearing that backed up to the large body of water and Kara quickly found a good spot for them and hung up the rucksacks. They put the hammock up and, as Kara was building a fire ring, Cat found a fallen tree to sit on. Then she closed her eyes as her guide kneeled behind her and started working out her kinks for her.

"God, that feels good," she groaned, leaning back into Kara's touch.

"Feel like a dip in the lake?" the guide asked. "I've swum here before. It's pretty safe."

Cat laughed softly. "I didn't bring any swimming gear."

Kara's eyebrows shot up. "Let me rephrase the question. Feel like skinny dipping in the lake?" She moved Cat's hair to one side and kissed her shoulder.

Cat turned on the log to face the younger woman, holding her eyes as she slowly began to unbutton her shirt. "Did you skinny dip the last time you were here?" When her shirt was open, she slid it off and then went to work on Kara's.

"Mmmm..." the guide replied. "I did." Tank tops were next and then Kara slowly reached behind Cat to open the catch on her bra and slide it down her arms and off. "Wow, you're gorgeous," she breathed. Then she swallowed as Cat took off her bra too and teased her fingertips slowly down the guide's abs.

"So are you," the older woman said quietly. "Kara, please touch me." And she closed her eyes as Kara's hands slowly caressed from her shoulders, down and along her collar bones and then down further to cup her breasts and run her thumbs over her nipples.

Cat's fingers hooked into the waistband of Kara's cargo pants to tug her closer and they kissed slowly, tongues sliding together sensually as her other hand cupped Kara's breast to return the favor.

"This..." the guide said huskily. "Is going to lead to sex if you're not careful." Her eyes were twinkling, and Cat felt a surge of need rush through her.

"Darn, you figured out my nefarious plan," she murmured in reply, nibbling on the guide's chin.

But Kara pulled back a tad. "Honey, you're hurting... are you sure?"

Cat didn't want to stop. She just nodded and Kara helped her out of her boots, pants and underwear before stripping off the rest of her own clothes. Then the guide backed up toward the lake, pulling Cat with her by the hand. It was pleasantly warm in the shallows and the journalist slid against the taller guide, fitting against her with a sense of belonging that made tears well in her eyes. She missed Clay... missed his touch... but this was different. This was a need that she'd never felt before and it drove her to rub her body against Kara's and then lift onto her toes to kiss her deeply.

The guide moaned softly, one hand riffling through Cat's hair while her other explored down her body. Cat's hands were both on her back, nails gently scratching downwards until she reached Kara's ass and cupped it to pull their hips together.

"Please," Cat whispered, and it was all Kara needed to hear. With a little whimper, she slid her hand between the older woman's thighs, closing her eyes at the warmth, and when her fingers teased at Cat's entrance, the older woman canted her hips forward to let them slide inside her. Kara's mouth was on her breast, lips nipping at her nipple as she dragged her fingers out and thrust back in. "Kara, God." Cat's eyes were closed, and she held the younger woman's head against her chest as those talented fingers dragged back out and then pushed in again. "I've just now realized that lesbians are much better at this than men," Cat joked, making Kara laugh a little.

"We have more practice," she replied, then kissed her way from Cat's shoulder up her neck to her ear, where she suckled the lobe. "And we're more motivated."

"Well, I, for... oh God... one, am loving your motivation, Kiongozi."

"No Gods here," Kara whispered. "Just someone who cares about you very much."

"Oh... Kara," Cat groaned as she felt the pleasure begin to grow and she lifted her left leg over Kara's hip to roll her own hips forward with every thrust, holding on tightly to her around her neck.

"Fuck, Cat," the guide whimpered as she closed her hand over the journalist's breast and palmed her nipple, her own need intensifying into insistent throbbing. She felt Cat clench around her fingers. "You're close."

"So close," the older woman agreed with rapid nods as Kara's thumb finally moved to her clit to stroke it. And then the clenching intensified as Cat tipped her head back and shuddered through an intense orgasm that stole her breath and tightened her arms around the guide.

Kara eased her through it, gentling her motions as she kissed along her lover's shoulder and up her neck to whisper in her ear. "It would be so easy to fall in love with you."

This time the welling tears crept down Cat's cheeks and she leaned forward to kiss the younger woman. "For me too," she replied, just as softly. Then she moved back just enough to be able to slide her hand down between them to let her fingers circle and stroke over Kara's clit. "You're an incredible woman, Kara." The guide closed her eyes and sighed. She was already so close and Cat's teasing caresses stole her breath. "Fuck," she groaned, burying her face in the crook of her lover's neck.

"Hmmm... I did promise you my fingers inside you, didn't I?" Cat teased and the guide grinned as she further parted her thighs to let the journalist slip inside her. "Oh my God," Cat moaned, instantly addicted to the sensation of Kara's warmth and wetness around her. "Why did no one ever tell me it would feel like this? Bad lesbians."

Kara laughed again. "Can't tell you questioning straight women all the secrets," she replied.

"I think that designation has been changed at this point," the older woman chuckled. "I think I'm firmly in the bisexual corner now."

"I aim to educate," Kara said as her eyes slid closed. "Oh God... Cat... I..."

"I know, Sweetheart. I've got you. Just let go."

With a whimper of pleasure, Kara came with muscles trembling and her teeth closed gently on Cat's shoulder. And as she slowly came down from her high, she examined that space between love and lust once more and found herself closer to love than she had been in a long, long time.

Xx

Watching Kara move around camp in nothing but her underwear, tank top and unlaced boots was something Cat could do forever. She was relaxing in the hammock, her eyes following the guide's tall form as she lit the fire and prepared the last bag of stew for their final supper in the forest.

The journalist was comfortably snuggled in the slightly damp sleeping bag nest they'd made. It was damp because they'd finally left the lake, and fallen into bed to make love again, not even bothering to dry off before they were inside each other once more.

Cat felt happy and sated but every time Kara looked at her with those amazing blue eyes, it sent another bolt of arousal to her core. To say the sex had been good was the understatement of her life. Well, maybe not of her life… but pretty fucking close.

"Penny for them," Kara chuckled as she set the pot into the fire.

"They'd probably make you blush," Cat replied lazily, letting one bare leg dangle over the edge of the swinging bed as she caressed her fingertips over her nipple, and giving Kara a view, she was finding very impossible to resist.

"Nothing makes me blush," the guide said, drawn closer by the slow lifting and parting of Cat's knees as she turned sideways in the hammock and offered an even better view. "Jesus Christ," she whispered. "You are SO fucking hot."

The move put Cat's core right there, and Kara knelt, lifting the older woman's legs over her shoulders and holding her thighs as she slowly leaned in to taste her. She smiled as Cat's fingers laced into her hair and her hips lifted to chase the guide's tongue as it flickered, stroked and pressed random patterns along the length of her. "This is the closest thing… to a sex swing… I've ever used," the journalist said breathlessly, and Kara laughed delightedly, her breath ghosting over Cat's clit and making her shiver with pleasure. Then the younger woman sucked the tiny erection into her mouth and moments later, Cat was coming, hand clenching into Kara's hair and hips bucking up into her.

"Smart, beautiful and fantastic in bed, what more could I ask for?" the older woman said as she relaxed and smiled down at her lover, enjoying the view as much as the tingles still running through her.

"Hmmm… better cooking skills maybe?" the guide deadpanned. She eased to her feet to lean in and kiss Cat's lips but started to laugh when the older woman's stomach growled noisily. "Long time since beef sandwiches, huh."

"Yeah," Cat agreed. "How about some dinner and an early night? God, I wish we had alcohol."

"Me too," Kara agreed.

By the time they'd eaten, cleaned up and settled back into the hammock, it was mostly dark, and Cat relaxed against her lover, tracing gentle patterns over her abs under her shirt and then moving higher to caress her breasts. "Mmmm…" she hummed contentedly, dropping a kiss on the nearest piece of skin she could reach.

"How are you doing?" Kara asked softly. "Feeling ok after your first time with a woman and all?" She said it a little teasingly, but Cat heard it for the way it was meant… with the utmost of caring.

"Honestly, Kara, I feel better now than I've felt since Clay died and that… it's a little… um…" Kara's arms tightened around her as she couldn't find the word she needed.

"Overwhelming?"

"Maybe," the older woman mused. "But not in a bad way… you know what I mean?"

"I think I do," Kara chuckled. "I remember the first time I met Sam; my eyes were opened. I'd slept with men… been left unfulfilled by it… but it wasn't until her that I really understood what sexual desire was."

"I definitely desire you," Cat stated. "That much is abundantly clear."

Rather than telling her, Kara decided to show her lover how much she desired her, which of course, Cat had to reciprocate and, several orgasms later, they fell asleep wrapped around each other under the still slightly damp sleeping bag.