"Wow, nice place." Bonnie complimented Chahna as the older woman closed the door behind them. The rented apartment was a modern, open-plan affair. Most of the floor space was taken up with a combined living room and dining area. To the left, there was a small kitchenette. To the right, a closed door that probably led to a bathroom or laundry. At the back of a room was a spiral staircase leading to a loft-style bedroom.
"It's very comfortable." Chahna agreed. "Can I take your coat?"
"Oh, here." Bonnie shucked out of the heavy garment. "Thanks."
"No problem." Chahna smiled. The older woman looked a little nervous. Bonnie, to her own surprise, was not. She'd built up so much worry and doubt over ever telling anyone she was gay; but now she finally had, she felt only a mild euphoria. And who wouldn't be happy to be spending the night with a beautiful woman like Chahna? Sure, there was a niggling little voice in the back of her mind, reminding her that she never would have done this if she wasn't on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. But you know what, little voice? You can shut the hell up.
"Would you like a drink? I have a bottle of red wine I could open."
"That would be lovely." Bonnie turned to face Chahna, and reached out to gently clasp the older woman's hand. "But, before you go ..."
"Yes?"
Rather than answer with words, the former cheerleader simply leaned in, brushing her mouth against Chahna's. The older woman stiffened for a moment, but Bonnie just held the light pressure, and slowly Chahna relaxed. The Indian woman's lips parted, and Bonnie deepened the kiss, her hands sliding round to hold Chahna by the hips. Finally, they broke apart.
"Wow." It was the second time Bonnie had used the word since she entered the apartment, but it had an entirely inflection on this occasion.
"Wow indeed." Chahna blushed and looked down. "That was ..."
"Wonderful." Bonnie lifted her right hand from Chahna's hip and gently lifted the older woman's chin. She smiled at the smokiness she saw in Chahna's eyes, and leaned in for a second kiss. This time her companion responded immediately, slim arms wrapping around Bonnie, one hand caressing the back of the younger woman's neck. For her own part, the former cheerleader dropped her hands back to Chahna's hips, then slid them around to cup the older woman's buttocks and draw her into a tighter clinch.
Finally, the second kiss came to an end. They stood, bodies pressed together, breaths mingling.
"I ... should really get that wine." Chahna murmured at last, her words a little shaky.
"Yeah." Bonnie barely managed to keep a tremor out of her own voice. "But you know ... red wine stains are awful to get out, and that dress looks like dry-clean only ... not a good combination given you sound a little unsteady right now."
Chahna gave a breathy laugh. "Perhaps a little. Maybe we should skip the drink."
"I had an alternative solution." Bonnie gently kissed the older woman's mouth; just a brief touch of lips this time. Then she slid her hands to the top of Chahna's zipper and raised her eyebrows in silent question.
The Indian woman swallowed, her nervous look returning, but she gave the slightest of slight nods.
Holding her breath, though not really aware she was doing it, Bonnie slid the zipper down, then pushed the fabric off Chahna's shoulders. The dress slid down, caught briefly on the swell of the older woman's breasts, and then fell to the floor.
Bonnie stepped back and allowed herself to savor the half-naked woman before her. Chahna wore no bra; something Bonnie had suspected from the sinous movements of her body beneath the dress. The Indian woman's breasts were full and round, and if they did not sit as high as a younger woman's, they were no less beautiful for all that. She had a slender body, without being skinny. Stomach just a little curved, thighs and arms a little softer than Bonnie's own. Black, French-cut panties concealed the most private of her charms.
"Beautiful." Bonnie breathed, watching in pleasure as a dark flush spread across Chahna's chest.
"I'm ... going to get that wine." The older woman carefully stepped out of the dress. She made as if to pick it up, but Bonnie gently stopped her.
"I'll get it." The brunette gathered up the dress, and folded it neatly over the back of a chair, then took a seat on the living room couch. This gave Bonnie an unimpeded view of Chahna as she worked the cork loose from the wine bottle - and that was quite the distraction.
After a minute, the Indian woman returned, holding two glasses of wine. She passed one to the former cheerleader, then kicked off her shoes and sat on the sofa.
"Come closer." The brunette encouraged gently, and the older woman leaned into her, resting her head on the younger woman's shoulder and curling her legs up underneath herself. Bonnie took a moment to silently sit there and savor the warmth of the beautiful, near-naked woman pressed against her.
After a few moments, Chahna spoke. "Have you ... done this before?"
That question momentarily rocked the former cheerleader's confidence.
"Um ... you mean been with a woman?" She asked, tentatively.
"No, of course not." From her brief smile, Chahna seemed to find that idea amusing. "I meant ... gone home with a woman you've only just met."
"Oh. No. Never."
"Neither have I." The Indian woman said quietly. "And I have never been with someone so young and beautiful. I ... I must admit I am rather nervous. I wish I could be as calm as you seem to be."
Bonnie chuckled. "Calm? I'm a better actress than I realized. I'm ..." She paused, looking for the right words. "Not nervous, exactly. And excited isn't the right word either. It's ... well, I'm sitting here with a beautiful woman in my arms, and ... hell, if the night ended now, it would still be wonderful."
"Very well. I'll get your coat."
For a moment, the brunette was taken in by the deadpan delivery. She shot Chahna a confused look, then saw the older woman's mischievous grin. Her panic subsided, and she gave a mock-scowl. "Minx."
"I can't let you have everything your own way." Chahna laughingly protested. "After all, you already got me half-naked, and you're still fully clothed."
"True." Bonnie pretended to consider the point. "We really need to do something about that 'half' part."
"Okay." To the younger woman's surprise, Chahna rose smoothly from the couch and moved to stand in front of her. I'm surprised, but not complaining. Bonnie leaned back, raking the other woman's body with an appreciative stare. Chahna raised her eyebrows in challenging fashion. "Come on then, my confident young lover."
"You ... want me to take them off?" It seemed the surprises weren't over.
"Well, I'm not going to do a striptease for you." Chahna's eyebrows arched even higher. Then she gave a salacious smile. "Not tonight, anyway."
The younger woman's mouth went dry at the mental images that conjured forth. But this was one challenge she certainly did not intend to fail. Carefully setting her wine glass down on the side table, she moved to the edge of the couch, reached out, and eased down the older woman's black panties.
Chahna lightly rested her free hand on Bonnie's shoulder as she stepped out of the panties. For her part, the former cheerleader lightly grasped the older woman's hips and drew her closer, planting a kiss on the triangle of soft, dark curls that had been revealed.
"Bonnie." Chahna's voice was husky, almost a growl.
"Yes?"
"Take me to bed. Now."
Well, it would be rude to refuse a lady.
Bonnie woke as Chahna eased out of the bed.
"Hrrrm?" The university lecturer murmured indistinctly. "What time is it?"
"A little after four." Chahna replied, in a near-whisper. "I'm just going to get a glass of water. Do you want anything?"
Bonnie raked her eyes up and down the other woman's naked body. "I certainly do."
The businesswoman laughed softly, leaning back over the bed to give Bonnie a kiss. "You had that already ... three times."
"Your point?" The younger woman broke the lip-lock and moved her mouth to Chahna's neck, something she had already discovered drove the older woman wild.
"Um ... oh ..." It seemed Chahna herself was struggling to remember what her point had been. Bonnie's hands, which had now cupped her breasts, probably weren't helping her concentration any.
Another kiss followed. And another. Chahna never did get her glass of water.
The next time Bonnie awakened, the bed beside her was empty, but a dim glow from below, and the soft gurgle of an electric kettle, gave her a hint as to Chahna's location. She rolled over and checked the electric alarm clock. 7:02.
Sliding from the bed, the young woman stretched, then glanced at herself in the dresser mirror. It felt almost strange that she looked no different than the day before ... no physical sign that her body had finally known the touch of a lover. Not that she had been a virgin, in the technical sense. But well ... sleeping with Brick had been a strategy. Sleeping with Chahna had been something far more personal and significant ... something she'd waited all her adult life to try.
Not bothering to dress; the room was comfortably heated; Bonnie clambered down the stairs to the kitchenette. Chahna was facing away from her, pouring water from the kettle into a mug. The Indian woman had donned a t-shirt, just barely long enough to cover her butt, and tight enough to draw Bonnie's attention.
The former cheerleader stood silently for a moment, both amused and exasperated - though more the latter - to find herself suddenly feeling bashful. For god's sake, three hours ago you had your mouth between her legs. But of course, that very intimacy was what made her bashful. Bonnie had never had a morning after. It had always been 'do the deed, then get rid of him and have a shower'. She wasn't really sure how to act. How about like a normal human being, idiot?
"Good morning."
"Good morning." Chahna turned with a smile, then stopped still when she saw Bonnie. "My goodness ... it would be nice to be greeted this way every day."
The younger woman blushed, but rallied. "You're not exactly hard on the eyes, yourself."
"Thank you." It was Chahna's turn to blush. "I was just making tea. Would you like some?"
"Yes, thank you. But first ..." Bonnie stepped forward and cupped the older woman's chin, then leaned forward for a long, slow kiss on the mouth. Only after Chahna's arms were wrapped around her and their bodies were pressed together did she allow their lips to part. "... now that's a proper 'good morning'."
"It certainly is." Chahna agreed softly, giving her another peck on the lips. "I wish I didn't have so many appointments today, so I could drag you back to bed."
It was disappointing to think this experience would soon be over. "Do you have an early start?"
"My first meeting's at nine." Chahna leaned against the younger woman, resting her cheek against Bonnie's shoulder. "Last one should finish about six, but then I'm having dinner with a client."
"Busy day." The brunette did her best not to hide her disappointment. It sounded like she was getting the brush-off. But then, it was probably silly of her to have hoped that Chahna would want to see her again.
"Yes." Chahna replied. She was silent for a moment, then spoke again, her tone tentative. "... if I reminded my client I'm flying home tomorrow, I could probably keep it from being too late a night. I ... could be back here around nine. I mean ... if you'd like to see me again."
Bonnie smiled, while fighting the urge to nod her head so hard it would fall off. "I would love to see you again. Last night was ... definitely an experience I want to repeat." A wicked thought occurred to her, and her smile broadened. "And of course I need to collect on that striptease you promised me."
"I ... what?" Chahna leaned back, looking confused. Then her expression cleared and she gave Bonnie a wry grin. "That is not quite how I remember the conversation."
The younger woman pretended to pout. "Aw. No striptease?"
"I suppose you'll have to come over tonight and find out, won't you?"
Author's Note: So Bonnie has finally - thanks to the distance granted by a Trans-Atlantic holiday - moved from the closet to the bedroom. And it seems to have gone well. Will she go back to her safe little box when she gets home? How will this taste of what she's been missing affect her? Should be interesting to find out!
First, though, she has a little more time to spend in London. Time enough to see Chahna again. And perhaps enough time for a few more surprises :)