Kate shut the front door behind her, turning to find Caroline nervously running her hands down her skirt while she glanced around Kate's sitting room. Caroline had briefly visited once before, but that time the bright afternoon light had given the room a warm, welcoming glow. This time, the weight of falling darkness pushed in from outside, providing a more intimate setting and hiding them from prying eyes. The cleverly placed lamps around the room offered a subtle elegance, amplifying Caroline's jitters as she thought of this as a ménage de séduction.
"Come into the kitchen and I'll sort out a drink and some nibbles," Kate suggested, walking in front of Caroline to lead her through the house. She turned on various lamps along the way, painting a path of soft light revealing autumn coloured furniture over which calming paintings presided. The kitchen told a different tale. Vibrant and joyful, this room was full of colour and life; even the African wooden masks hung along the ochre-coloured wall were richly alive.
Caroline's first impression was how much like Kate it was, harmoniously moving from the soft palette of the English public space to the vibrant Nigerian heart. It made her realise how embroiled she'd been with dealing with John and her own reawakening, and how little she knew of Kate. She instantly regretted this lack of foresight on her part.
As Kate moved around the kitchen, gathering wine glasses and pouring the burgundy into a glass decanter, Caroline perched on a stool on the other side of the kitchen bench. She smiled to herself. Observing Kate always improved her mood. She could see Kate's increasing confidence now the teacher was on home turf, and wondered if that confidence might extend beyond the kitchen.
She was surprised, however, when Kate stood really close to her, placing the cheese platter within easy reach on the bench. They'd kept their distance since the tight proximity of the theatre, both needing the space to regroup after the intensity of the play, so this was a clear opening gambit. Caroline leaned back on her stool, opening the gap between them slightly. She'd had twenty years out of the dating scene, so she knew she was destined to be outmanoeuvred by Kate tonight, and as much as she wanted something to happen, it made her distinctly uncomfortable.
"So, Caroline. Did you like the play?"
Caroline watched Kate pour the wine into the large glasses, gathering her thoughts. "I did. It's been a long time since I saw The Vagina Monologues. I saw the TV special in the late 90s. I'd forgotten most of it." She picked up a glass and raised it carefully, momentarily distracted by the play of light on the liquid. "It was the variety of experiences that drew me in, although I am disappointed that so little has changed for women since Ensler wrote it."
"Mmmm, yes," Kate agreed as she slid onto a stool, smoothly rotating until she faced Caroline. She took a sip of her wine, closing her eyes as the liquid ran down her throat.
Caroline's eyes followed the path of the wine, mouth correspondingly dry as the eroticism of such a simple act surprised her. When she looked up she found Kate's brown eyes watching her. Caroline blinked, blushing a little.
Kate was delighted to have Caroline on the back foot a bit. She hadn't realised how easy it might be until the subject of the play came up during the meeting on Monday. They hadn't seen each other since then, so the trip to the theatre had been a bit awkward at the start, with both of them nervous and Caroline almost twitchy. Fortunately they'd settled in during the show, distracted by the intensity of performances as the actresses broke the proscenium arch to engage directly with the audience in a modern variation of the play.
A knowing smile played on Kate's mouth as she asked, "Not too many references to vaginas for you?"
Caroline sucked in her breath, a bit shocked by Kate's words. "Not given the context. No." She absentmindedly fondled the wineglass as she recalled the 75 minutes she'd sat with Kate in the theatre, hyper aware of how their arms were touching over the narrow armrest. She wasn't going to admit that she'd spent most of it vacillating between being absorbed by the stories and highly aroused by thoughts of the woman sitting next to her.
"And the word... cunt?" Kate smirked, wondering how far she could push her conservative boss, before the perfect exterior cracked.
Caroline's eyebrows fled under her fringe. She took a large gulp of wine, stalling for time. Clearly Kate was setting her up for something and it had her on edge. Not that she hadn't been beforehand. Her time alone the previous week had been spent sifting through memories of sex with her previous girlfriends, wondering if she'd still remember what to do after twenty years of John, terrified of what Kate might like in that department and masturbating madly, trying not to think of Kate while she did so. She'd even tried her normal methodology of research to reduce her nerves, but that had only made things worse. She now knew her knowledge of sex with a woman was 20 years out of date, and she still had no idea what Kate might expect of her. That she was still here was testament to how much she wanted Kate.
"No. Er, no. It's fine. It was... fine." She wondered why Kate was pushing. Perhaps this was dating now. She squirmed awkwardly on the stool, defaulting to a deflection and bouncing the question back to Kate. "And you?" She peered out from under her fringe, wanting to see Kate's reaction.
"Oh, not a problem for me. I've spent time in South London, so..." She smirked. "I don't mind it really. Quite used to it." Her eyes were sparkling, with more than a hint of the devil in them. "In fact, I quite like, it in some circumstances."
Caroline nearly stopped breathing. She swallowed loudly, took a large swig of her wine before shakily placing the glass back on the bench. "Oh." Heart racing, she dared herself to look Kate in the eyes, following the woman's lead. "And in what circumstances would that be, Kate?"
Kate laughed, low and dirty. "Well, Caroline..." She leant forward, placing her hand gently on Caroline's knee, slowly moving her hand up the firm thigh. "We could find out."
Caroline's heart was pounding in her chest, her breathing shallow. She watched Kate lean towards her, and then pause, like she was waiting for Caroline to be ready. And god, was she ready! Caroline's gaze flicked to Kate's sensual lips, aching to kiss, aching to taste. Her only option was to lean in.
The kiss was soft and light, a caress almost, while Kate's hand gripped tighter on her thigh, the one counterbalancing the other. Kate pulled back, eyes dark with desire. She cleared her throat before raising a hand to gently stroke Caroline's cheek.
"I want this. I want you." She lifted Caroline's chin a fraction, the seriousness of the moment providing a pause. "Is this what you want?" She leaned in for a gentle kiss. She waited, before prompting, "I need to hear it Caroline."
Caroline nodded, before answering, "Yes. Oh god yes, Kate." She slid her hand into the thick black hair, pulling Kate to her.
The kiss was luxurious, full of longing and a sense of connection finally made. Lips and tongues and warm breath intermingled, the taste of one another both memory and revelation. A moan slipped out before Caroline was aware of it, causing Kate to shudder. She gripped Caroline's hips, standing up to get closer. She pushed gently on the inside of Caroline's knee, briefly running her hand up the inside of Caroline's thigh.
Caroline moaned again, opening her legs, pulling Kate to her and when Kate stepped between her knees, Caroline wrapped her calves around the back of Kate's thighs, trapping her as she held onto Kate's back. The kiss was exquisite and her need was escalating faster than she'd thought possible. It had been so long since a kiss had provoked such lust. She was frightened of losing control entirely and pushed Kate's shoulders away from her, turning her head, gasping for air.
Breathing heavily, Kate held on. "Caroline, are you all right? Have I done something wrong?" The concern was written all over her face.
Shaking her head, Caroline didn't know how to say it. How could she say that she hadn't felt like this for decades, that she was worried she'd lose control? She raised her head and looked into Kate's eyes, seeing genuine care as well as desire. It only made it worse. It was easier to lose herself in lust.
Caroline grabbed a handful of Kate's shirt and pulled her in for a deep kiss, hands now roaming Kate's body, the feel of breasts against her own a constant reminder of both ancient history and the freshness of this. The need for more was overwhelming. She wanted it all.
It was Kate who put the brakes on, some minutes later, the two of them flushed and panting, her hands still cupping Caroline's breasts, thumbnails barely stilled from scratching at hard nipples through the bra. She rested her forehead against the messy blonde hair until she had enough air in her lungs to speak.
"Come to bed with me, Caroline."
A smile crept up the blonde's face, eyes dark with arousal. "Please. Show me the way."
Kate kissed her gently on the cheek, a smirk playing at the edges of her mouth. "Oh, I will."
Kate stood back and holding Caroline's hand, led her to the stairs and up to her bedroom. Caroline followed, mesmerised by the swaying bottom just in front of her, her mind filling with the need to caress it, to undress it.
At the top of the stairs Kate turned around, slowly walking backwards, her gaze travelling the length of Caroline's body. She knew that Caroline had dressed for her, wearing the navy suit Kate had gushed about the previous Saturday. Knowing that gave her the confidence for what she planned next.
Kate gently tugged Caroline into her bedroom before stopping to give her a welcoming kiss. A tender smile on her face, Kate said, "I'll light some candles. Make yourself at home."
With a small squeeze of her hand, Kate released Caroline, lighting candles and turning down the duvet on the queen sized bed, the sheets a soft, white cotton. Caroline looked around the room but her eyes continually drifted to follow Kate. She waited, the sense of sexual anticipation now thrumming through her system so strongly that her fingers tingled with the energy of it.
Standing in front of Caroline, Kate took off her waistcoat, flinging it over the chair behind her. Caroline reached out to touch Kate, but Kate caught her hands, kissed the palms and gently lowered them to Caroline's side.
"I would like to undress you, if you'll let me?" Kate asked quietly, eyes bright with desire.
"Oh. Okay." Caroline smiled coyly. She was a bit relieved, if she was honest, that Kate had explained what she wanted. She flattened her hands along her legs. Not always one for compliance, she'd do what she could to resist touching Kate.
Leaning forward to caress Caroline's neck, Kate's hands slid down strong shoulders and unsheathed the blue jacket, carefully putting it on a clothes hanger and hanging it on a doorknob. She took off her own shirt, tossing it behind her, before slowly unbuttoning Caroline's silk shirt. Taking her time, she leant forward to kiss her way down the soft skin underneath each button, noticing the shift in Caroline's breathing as she moved over her breasts and down her trembling belly. Peeling the silk off Caroline's shoulders, she kissed and caressed her way along each arm, using her tongue and lips to taste the freckles as she went. The unveiling of Caroline was something she'd dreamed about for months, even though she had no real idea of what would happen next.
It had been so long since anyone had paid such attention to her body that Caroline was almost delirious, the sensations Kate created along her skin, the sight of this beautiful woman exploring her body almost too much. She had never been confident of her body, even when she'd been younger and before she'd had the boys. More recently she'd spent her days stuck in her head, her body largely ignored unless it was hot or cold or in pain, so giving herself this time to experience the sensations as Kate's mouth travelled along her skin was glorious: time shifting even. There was a sense of shifting power too, an acquiescence to allowing Kate this time to please her.
Kate quickly pulled off her own shoes and socks before shucking her pants, kicking them to the wall behind her. She stood in front of Caroline, hands gliding up and down the shapely legs before reaching around to undo the skirt. Carefully sliding the skirt over Caroline's bottom, Kate gasped as the dark blue lace suspender belt with the tiniest of red ribbon bows came into view, hands shaking as the skirt dropped further, revealing matching blue lace panties that covered, well, not very much at all.
"Jesus fuck!"
Kate's brain stopped, her eyes glued to the dark lace over the pale skin, which was simultaneously elegant and carnal. Thoughts of anything else evaporating like morning dew in the presence of the sun. She just stopped functioning, barely breathing, hands shaking.
"So glad you like them," purred Caroline a moment later, resting her hands on Kate's shoulders for balance as she stepped out of the circle of the skirt, picking it up off the floor and throwing it in the general direction of Kate's pile of clothes. Before she could move further she felt hands sensuously running up her calves, hot breath on her thighs, lips in the crease above one of her legs. She gasped, her eyes snapping shut as her fingers found Kate's head, combing through the thick, dark hair.
Kate shifted, mouth finally finding the soft triangle of ginger hair under the skimpy lace panties, driven by lust to find the source of such an intoxicating scent. She needed to touch, to taste. Pulling the panties down so Caroline could step out of them, Kate then buried her face in paradise, hands sliding under the suspender straps over Caroline's arse, caressing the muscles tensing with strain.
"Kaaate!"
She'd thought Kate might start slowly, but she'd dived right in, her tongue and lips everywhere and just the right spot all at once. Caroline stumbled, widening her stance to give Kate more room to work, regretting the heels even though they were clearly doing something for Kate. Her hips were starting to move and Kate gripped her arse tighter, holding her in place. She gasped for air. Her blood was on fire.
Already struggling to stay upright, Caroline took a step back to hold onto the dresser, quickly followed by Kate, the vision of Kate on her knees pleasuring her not one she had ever imagined. It was the hottest thing she'd ever seen. It wasn't going to take long; she was already so close. Back arched and legs shaking, she held on until she came, legs buckling and nearly falling to the floor as Kate chased the last of her orgasm.
When her mind eventually caught up with her body, Caroline found herself clutching a dresser, legs spread and Kate between them tenderly kissing her c-section scar. She started laughing, a deep throaty laugh of relief, amazement and joy.
Kate chuckled contentedly, nuzzling Caroline's belly with her nose.
"Like that, did we?"
"Oh, Kate. That was... that was..." Caroline floundered for the words, grateful tears drying on her cheeks, her mind still in the clouds. "Wonderful." She caressed Kate's face, languid despite the blood surging through her veins. "Magical. Erotic."
Kate kissed her way up Caroline's chest, reaching Caroline's mouth for a slow kiss.
"We could try the bed now, if you like. I got a little carried away," Kate admittedly sheepishly. "Sorry."
Caroline stroked Kate's hair, chuckling. "I know you like the suit and I hoped you might like the lingerie, but I didn't expect that reaction."
"Oh, well, you've found one of my weaknesses," Kate admitted, lust still shining in her eyes, "And you are spectacular."
Author's note:
KatieDingo and I have been sharing the writing responsibility for all our prior chapters. We've taken turns writing them based upon our respective work schedules and they have really been a joint effort, until this chapter. As always, we shared ideas for this chapter. Basically, after we posted the last chapter, I told her we needed to get them into Kate's bedroom in the next 1500 or so words. We both agreed that you have all been exceedingly patient waiting for us to get them to this point and I feared a mutiny would be afoot if it didn't happen in this chapter. KD magnificently picked up the gauntlet I threw at her feet and took the lead with this chapter. When I woke one morning to find a draft of this in my inbox, I was just wowed and there wasn't much need for me to tweak it too much. Unlike our other chapters, this one is really all down to her and I felt she needed to get the credit for it, which is the reason for this little note. Writing with KD has been an absolute joy. If you ever get the chance to write with her, do. You won't be disappointed. ;)