Drifting awake, I open my eyes and see Andie sitting close by on a chair, naked. She is drawing, charcoal I think. She smiles, radiantly, and I melt.

“Morning, lover. I couldn’t resist drawing you,” she says in a sultry way.

Lover, the word runs around and around my mind. And it fits, like a glove actually. “Morning, you. Am I now your model as well as your lover?”

Andie giggles. God, she is so cute. “You can be anything you want. But after last night… wow, I know you are something else as my lover.”

“Really? You took the lead, I just responded.”

“There was no ‘just’ about it. I never cum that quickly. We fit together, I really liked it. Move your arm, gorgeous, let it rest on your side…”

I know what that means and I coyly ask, “And expose my breasts?”

She looks at me and smiles, so sexily. “Exactly. But only if you are comfortable with me drawing your breasts.”

“Normally outside my comfort zone. But God knows, you so easily get me out of my comfort zone.”

I move my arm. She stares and then starts to draw. I say, “After you have finished can you show me your paintings downstairs.”

She glances at me, kind of inscrutable. “I would like that. But first, we have to go to my parents’ house, to feed Aurora.”

“Who?”

“My cat, large ginger boy. You must have met him?”

“I have seen a ginger cat in the yard, stalking birds.”

“Unsuccessfully I hope.”

“Yes, they always fly away. Wait a minute, a boy cat called Aurora?”

Andie giggles before answering, “He is gender fluid.”

“Have you told him that?”

“Yes, but on that subject, he doesn’t seem to value my opinion.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You are adorable.”

We both hear my phone ring. Andie gets up, gets my phone and passes it to me. I know who is calling. “Hi, Ryan.”

“Hi, honey. Sleep in?”

Andie sits and continues to draw.

“Yes, I did. Going to have a quiet day.”

“My golf starts shortly, but just wanted to hear your voice.”

My normal loving reply catches in my throat. “…That’s nice. I hope you play well.”

“Thanks, sweetheart. Got to run. Love you.”

“Bye, Ryan.”

I look over at Andie and reality hits me, again. She gets up and puts her arms around me, saying, “Bit of a dampener, let’s get out of here.”

I put my clubbing dress back on. As we leave her apartment she takes my hand. “You okay with this?”

I intertwine our fingers, replying, “Maybe.” And I am, being brave about breaking down my barriers. But that doesn’t last long, and I let go of her hand, saying, “Sorry, my bravery is still a work in progress.”

“That’s okay. If you want to stay the night again tonight, why don’t you pack a bag and come over and meet Aurora? And then we can go back to the studio.”

Wandering into my house, the place feels different. I see a picture of Ryan and I, and the girl in the photo seems not quite me. Feeling conflicted, even guilty, I know I have to quickly get out of the place I call home.

My phone distracts me and it is my boss, Charles.

“I was just telling Lorna that you two have done a great job. The case notes mean I am ready for court on Tuesday.”

“Thank you.”

“Lorna asked if I minded her not coming in on Monday. I said of course not, and I want to offer you the same opportunity.”

“Ryan thinks long hours are the life of the young attorney.”

“They were, definitely in my day and your dad’s day. Maybe still a decade ago when Ryan was a junior. But the world’s changing, Fleur, for the better. Make sure you get balance in your life and do what you enjoy.”

“But am I risking my career?”

“Not in my view. You are good at the law, you will succeed. Don’t let it be at the cost of other parts of your life.”

“Thank you, I would like to take tomorrow off. I know exactly how I will spend my day.”

I shower and get changed into jeans and a grey t-shirt. And as I look at myself in the mirror I realise I am dressed just like Andie, peas in a pod. Bag in hand, I wander next door and notice that Aurora is eating as if he hasn’t eaten in a month. Andie is beaming at him and I put my arms around her, and say, “You’ve been starving him.”

“He likes to give that impression. We should let him finish and I will leave him some food for the evening.”

She looks at me shyly. “Would you like to come upstairs and see my old room?”

I can’t help but tell her my good news. “Hey, my boss rang, I am taking tomorrow off. I want to be with you if you want to.”

“I would love that.”

“Your room? Yes, I like finding out about you.”

She takes my hand and we walk upstairs. In her room, she puts her arms around me. How I felt when I went home still lingers. “Hold me?” I ask.

We snuggle together. “You feel good in my arms, Fleur.”

“I went home and I’m scared.”

“I can guess why. Let’s just enjoy today. Tomorrow we will talk about the days that follow.”

“Yes, please. Now I am here I would love to see some of your things.”

My attention is drawn to her tennis memorabilia in the corner of the room. “You must be good, Andie, lots of awards.”

“Yeah, kind of. Played at university, that kind of stuff. But way too flamboyant and not disciplined enough. Scored great points, rather than a consistently great point scorer. You do sports?”

“Yeah, football at university. The opposite, rock-solid defensive midfielder.”

I pick up a photo and sit on the bed, looking at it. Andie is playing, bandaged presumably after a fall.

“I fell,” she confirms, “but still won that game. Persistent when I need to be.”

I look at her, smiling like I have just got an inside joke.

It takes a while but she smirks when she gets it. “Flamboyant and persistent Fleur. Good practice for last night, wasn’t it?”

I am, not for the first time, so amazed by just how easily we get each other. “Yeah, those skills seem to work for me.”

And suddenly I need her again. Lying down on my back, I pull her down on top of me. “Kiss me.”

Our lips meet and we softly gently kiss.

“I could so get used to kissing you,” I whisper.

“Me too. After our first kiss at the club, I was a mess. Completely shocked by how strong our physical connection was.”

“Really, I just kind of assumed…”

“Don’t you ever think you are just another girl for me. You must feel the strength of our connection.”

“I guess. I started singing, I kissed a girl and I liked it.”

“Twee, but sweet. I couldn’t sleep that night. I so wanted to see you again.”

“Is that why you played tennis?”

“No, that was more about running off my nervous energy. And then I saw you on the balcony…”

“… When we locked eyes, wow. Kind of scary for this engaged girl, just how much locking eyes with you rocked my world.”

“I was so determined to ask you out. I waited and waited until you got dressed. You took ages.”

Laughing, I just have to tell her. “Want to know a secret? After I saw you I had a bath and got myself off. You were on my mind when I came.”

“Wow. In the bath?”

“I find running water on my clit very satisfying. A favourite way of getting off since I was a teenager.”

“I hope last night I showed you an even better way to get off.”

I can’t help but giggle, and there is no way I can deny that reality. “Physically, I really enjoyed last night. New, exciting and ever so satisfactory.”

“But now I know about the bath, I am so going to try that.”

“Oh, my God. I can’t believe it. You are the only person I have ever told that little secret.”

Andie leans in and kisses me. “Hey, this may be so new to you that you don’t fully recognize it.”

“Recognize what?”

“Just how intuitive we are with each other…”

Aurora jumps on the bed and sits on us, and Andie gently scolds him, “Bad cat, can’t you see I am trying to convince this girl we have something that might be truly special?”

He doesn’t care; he starts kneading and purring. We lie close together, holding each other, and Aurora snuggles down between our hips.

I giggle, feeling like a teenager. “I like your pussy.”

“Oh God, do I have to put up with bad jokes?”

All innocent-like, I add, “I so don’t know what you mean. Your cat is very nice.”

Andie giggles. “I don’t think he is the pussy you actually like best.”

I smirk. “Not after last night. God, I feel so silly and giggly around you.”

“I love how interesting and complex you are, Fleur.”

I recognize the craving. I have to find out more about her. “I know. For me, it is about just discovering as much as I can about you. Tell me, how long have you known you were gay?”

“All my life, really. It has always been who I am.”

“And your parents are cool with that?”

“Yes. Mum says she can’t choose who I love. But she will support me whoever I choose.”

“Your dad?”

“Non-issue for him. He is more concerned about me being an artist. He doesn’t really think it is a proper job.”

“But you have a studio.”

“Mum and Dad bought that for me. The same time they gave my older brother money towards his house. Our inheritance and I furnished it with my modelling income.”

“You are so lucky with your parents.”

“Fleur, I know you aren’t straight. You obviously have girls in your past. Tell me.”

I trust her. “Okay, I think of myself as bisexual, but I don’t talk much about it. I discovered my feelings for girls with Phoebe. We were eighteen. Attracted to each other but ever so tentative. I fought it at first, but then we kissed. It felt good and one thing led to another. One Saturday we ended up in my bed and my fucking mother caught us. All hell broke loose and they made us break up.”

“That’s shitty.”

“It damaged me. While I am over her in a relationship sense, I will never get over the shame I feel for letting my fucking parents force me to break up with Phoebe. She deserved better from me.”

“Don’t beat yourself up too much. You were eighteen. I had an easy run with my parents, but many don’t. Don’t let it scar you for life.”

“I know you are right, but I still tear up sometimes when I think of her.”

She holds me, empathetically. But I know what I need, to discover more about her. “Hey, can we go back to the studio? I so want to see your art.”

*****************

The paintings are in racks and Andie tells me about themes. Landscape and light. Reality, imagination, and the surreal. And her latest, the nude, mostly charcoal drawings so far.

“There was a long history of the male nude in ancient times,” Andie explains, “Then the nude became female, but the artists were always male. There is a wonderful tradition in recent years of women painting male nudes, and interpreting the body through the female gaze.”

“And you want to interpret the female body through the lesbian gaze?”

She looks at me, surprise etched on her face. “Exactly, you get it. I mostly have sketches so far but I have a number of works in mind.”

“And then what?”

“An exhibition of all my stuff including the nudes at a private gallery. Some sales I hope.”

One of her charcoal drawings has what looks like a dildo in it, and I can’t help but ask about it.

“Yes," she confirms, "A strap-on actually. I am playing around with how to signal that the naked woman desires another woman.”

My mind loses focus on her art, and I can't help but ask, “You actually use a strap-on, Andie?”

“Yes, we can try if you like.”

“I don’t know… No, I want to, I want to experience your world.”

She draws me in, kisses me, and I just know she has a plan by her tone of voice as she whispers, “We need a bath, want to share?”

“Yes please.”

In the bath, she lies back against me, her back against my chest, and asks, “Comfortable, Fleur?”

“Very, I like holding you in my arms.”

My fingers brush her nipples, and she whimpers. “You have very sensitive nipples,” I point out.

“Mmm… I do and I like you playing with them.”

I like teasing her, and suddenly an idea materialises in my mind.

“Hey, you,” I say, gently pinching her nipple.

“Hey yourself. Mmm, that is nice... I think I know what you have in mind.”

She thinks she is so intuitive. “Easy for you to guess, I have already told you.”

She giggles. “So why do you think I suggested the bath, Fleur.”

Oh God, I think, this little minx is a step ahead of me. “You were plotting?”

“Yeah. Guilty as charged.”

I giggle and say firmly, “Then do as you are told; turn the faucet on and put your calves on the rim and slide forward.”

She turns and just stares at me, and I know there is something I don’t understand. She then kisses me as softly and gently as I have ever been kissed.

“Okay,” she whispers. And the penny drops, she isn’t used to being the one being bossed.

She puts her calves in the rim, and slides forward. I hold her as she leans back onto me, caressing her sensitive nipples.

“Raise your hips, and let the water fall on your clit,” I tell her.

She whimpers when the water hits her pussy.

“You are gorgeous Andie, strong beautifully hard body. I love your abs.” 

“Oh, God. This feels good.”

“I know, yesterday I did this and came thinking of you. I adore the thought that I am holding you and getting you to cum thinking of me.”

It doesn't take long for the relentless water to enslave her. And then, she almost screams, “Oh, baby girl. Fuck… Cumming.”

Breathing deeply, she recovers leaning on me, before saying, “Wow, I will always think of you when I have a bath.”

“I love that I actually have something new I can show you.”

“You do every minute. More than I think you realize.”

I giggle, pointing out, “I had to boss you.”

She turns and kisses me. And then whispers, “And I had to accept being bossed. Dry yourself and come to the bedroom for part two of my plan.”

After I dry myself, I find her standing next to her bed, wearing a strap-on. And the look on her face is catlike, predatory, even more so than last night.

“You okay with this, Fleur?” she asks.

“Yes, it felt good sharing my bath fun with you. I want you to share what you like with me.”

I step up to her. Our lips meet, kissing passionately. And her hand drifts across my pussy.

“I want you wet for me, Fleur.” Her tone is firm. 

“You in charge now?”

Her tone changes, a little bossy now. “Yes, Fleur. You said you wanted me to share what I liked to do with you. So don’t answer back.”

I get that she likes control. My hand draws her mouth to mine, and I kiss her, accepting her.

Her fingers caress my pussy and I am so responsive to her touch. Building my desire, until I’m ready. 

“I feel ready,” I whimper.

She looks at me, lust clouding her eyes, “My decision, baby girl.”

My heart starts pounding, my breathing now heavy. Ceding control to Andie has had an amazing effect on me.

“Fleur,” she orders, “Hands on the bed.”

She turns me round so I am facing the bed, and stands behind me. She pushes me gently on the back so I bend over, hands on the bed, bottom pushed out, exposed. I am too impatient to wait for long, and I turn my head to see what is happening. Andie is coating the dildo with lubricant.

“Erotic, baby girl?” she asks. It is and I shiver, not sure what is about to happen. But knowing I totally trust Andie.

I feel the strap-on rubbing at the entrance of my pussy.

“You want this, baby girl?” The rasp in her voice is intoxicating.

Whimpering, I answer, “Yes please, Andie.”

A pause, and then I feel myself being slowly filled by her cock. Pushing back, embracing her, I whimper, “Oh my God.”

Feeling her hands grip my hips, I feel her begin to fuck me. And then she picks up the pace, harder and faster.

It is different, exciting, and I surrender into her plastic cock. I don’t always cum from cock alone. But now, breathing, panting hard, the eroticism of the situation is driving my approaching orgasm. And I can't help but moan, “Oh my God, yes… Andie yes.”

And before I know it, the powerful orgasm arrives, strong, wonderfully strong, and rumbles through me.

I collapse onto the bed and rest against Andie who lies beside me.

“Well?” she asks when I have recovered my breath.

“Amazing, I liked that, very much. But you, honey, were a woman possessed; I loved seeing that.”

She kisses my cheek. “Um…”

“Spit it out.”

“More often I like to lead, sometimes I am okay with following. But I love giving it my all; I hope you don’t find that confronting?”

“Not so far. I seem to be into to whatever you do.”

“You are? Cool... Honestly, I am so thrilled by that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah really, we are so unbelievably in sync, Fleur. So, tell me what you want to do this evening? There are places open if you want to go out.”

“My perfect evening? Somewhere small and intimate, good food, a bottle of wine. Holding hands, making eyes at you. Talking, I don’t care about what. Then I want to dance, not for long though. Because I want to come home and fall into bed with you.”

“Your wish is my command. Let’s get dressed. I know just the place for dinner.”

Thong underwear on, we are standing in front of a double mirror, topless, applying makeup, completely synchronized.

She lights up a cigarette and inhales; then passes it to me. Looking at her in the mirror, I smile, and whisper, “Seductress,” before inhaling.

That is rewarded with a hip bump, and we both giggle, knowing that we so connect in all facets of our lives. We finish our makeup and cigarette in perfect harmony.

Andie dresses in apricot blouse and cream trousers. She looks gorgeous, as always. My choices are darker, deep blue silk blouse and black trousers.

“You look gorgeous, Fleur,” she says.

“You too. I love your style. Last night blew me away.”

“I took ages getting ready as I really wanted to impress.”

“Me too. That black dress is my best and the new bra certainty helped.”

“I was nervous waiting for you. But seeing you confirmed what I suspected.”

“What?”

“That you were as interested in me as I was in you.”

“Subconsciously, I think I was. I spent a lot of time preparing before I stepped out of the door yesterday.”

We leave the studio and walk hand in hand to the restaurant. It feels good holding her. The restaurant is small, intimate and Italian. I go to order the wine, Chardonnay, a high-quality label.

“The price?” she asks.

“Honey, I am well qualified, at a good firm. So, I can afford it, it is my treat.”

“Ok, but I know what I want to talk about over dinner.”

“What, honey?”

“You, baby girl. I want to find out more about you.”

We order and amazingly Andie doesn’t shy away from pasta. I can’t help but ask, “I always imagined models would eat like sparrows.”

“Most do. But I have a fast metabolism and I exercise. And frankly, I don’t care enough. Modelling for me is a temporary job to get money to follow my passion for art.”

The wine is served, it is deliciously buttery. I take a sip and appreciate it, before turning my mind to what Andie wants to talk about.

“Ok, Andie, about me. It’s kind of complex. I followed my father into law. Given what happened with Phoebe you would think I would rebel. But honestly, I love building arguments, helping people. It seems right for me.”

She reaches out and holds my hand, “You in your dad’s company?”

“No, I wanted to make it on my own. I can’t work with dad without worrying about whether I am getting special treatment. And helping people means less commercial clients. The other big company, which is the one I work for, is more progressive and will take social cases, often for free. Like the domestic violence case tomorrow.”

She looks pleased, “Law feels conservative. I like that you aren’t totally safe in your work choices.”

“Dad and Ryan were surprised. But it suits me and makes me happy.”

The pasta arrives smelling of sage and thyme. It is beautifully cooked and tastes divine.

“Family important to you, Fleur?” she asks.

“Yes, and I want kids too. Excitingly, in a couple of months, I am going to be an aunt. Makes me sound old but I am so looking forward to the baby.”

“Snap, me too. In six months for me and everyone is so excited. I really like my sister-in-law and how happy she makes my brother.”

“I know that feeling. My sister-in-law was just around when I was with Phoebe. She was so angry with my parents and didn’t hold back from saying so.”

“The close relationship between my brother and sister-in-law inspires me. That is what I want for myself,” Andie says.

We both have the Sicilian lamb. It is spicy, with lots of olives, and tastes of summer.

“You generally happy?” Andie asks.

I sip my wine, considering, before replying, “Yeah, I feel really content. My path seems stable and solid. But...”

She helps me out, and whispers, “I feel it too, Fleur.”

“You do? Around you... it's like I am in a different world. The same city obviously, but everything is brighter, more sensual.”

She reaches out and holds my hand, and asks, “You like that?”

“Yes, very much. Let’s finish our wine and go dance.”

We find a small club and are soon moving together on the dance floor. She is agile and in control of her body. I danced when I was younger, so we both move well. But, inexorably, we are drawn together, dancing close to each other, bodies touching. Both of us into the music and into each other.

Half an hour is enough, as the feelings she has created in me bubble over. I whisper, “I need to go home. I want you.”

I take her hand and we wander back to the studio. Whispering, giggling, and kissing, I am totally aware that my feelings for her have grown even stronger over the last twenty-four hours.

The door slams shut, and I take her in my arms and kiss her. My hand squeezes Andie’s butt into me, and she grinds her pussy against my thigh.

She giggles adorably, asking, “You taking charge tonight?”

I smirk, and gently smack her butt. “You have a problem with that?”

“Never ever with you, Fleur. Take me to bed lover.”

Upstairs, slowly undressing each other button by button, zip by zip. Her nipples are already hard little bullets. And when my finger touches her pussy, her dampness tells me exactly how turned on my lover is.

Pushing her onto the bed, I flop down beside her. Gazing into her eyes, I run my hand through her hair, drawing her head to mine. Our lips meet, our tongues touch, and we savour our connection.

I so want to please her. So I kiss her tiny breasts, sucking her nipples into her mouth, and adoring it when I hear her moan. Then I kiss my way down her firm tummy, stopping only when I hear her say, “Hey you don’t have to.”

Looking up into her eyes, knowing she desires me, I reply, “Maybe, but I like giving and I like you. This feels like the most natural thing in the world.”

She whimpers, so I continue kissing over her tummy. And then soft little kisses down her left thigh and up her right thigh.

I smell her arousal, it is intoxicating. With the most delicate of touches, my lips land on Andie’s pussy, as light as a butterfly.

"Ohhhhh..." she sighs.

Her juices coat my mouth as I run my lips up and through her labia. A pause, then using my thumbs to very gently spread her more open, I lick and kiss all over Andie’s pussy, savouring every taste and touch of her sex. And I even hear the occasional little slurp as I suck.

I adore the fact that Andie clearly loves what I am doing. Squirming, she is making little almost cat-like meows of pleasure. It is electrifying knowing I am able to turn this woman on as much as she turns me on.

Andie moves her knees even wider, silently begging me for more. And in response, I move even slower and even more softly, my slightest touch taking Andie’s breath away.

Tongue extended, I focus on lapping her clit, just like a kitten takes milk. And I hear her softly call out my name, again and again. Then a deep sigh as my full tongue caresses Andie’s clit a little faster and firmer.

Andie’s fingers curl, gripping the sheets, and her sighs become moans. Her body begins to tremble, “Oh yes… Fleur. Oh fuck, magic. Yes… yes… yes.”

As I begin to sucking her clit, her hips push up like they want to force themselves deep into my face.

"Oh my god. Yes… yes..." Andie screams as she is rocked by a shuddering long orgasm.

Looking up after I have licked her through her orgasm, I see her smile, so very, very sweetly. Kissing sensuously back up her tummy, I rest my cheek on Andie’s shoulder. And her arm envelops me, holding me close.

"That was beyond fabulous, Fleur. I loved it," she whispers.

“My pleasure.”

She kisses me, and then her mouth slides down my body. Drawing one nipple, and then the other, into her mouth. And she moves further down my body, and I shiver in anticipation. I am watching her, as she watches me and licks her fingers. Then she touches my dampness, and I lose eye contact and sigh, as her fingers enter my pussy.

Lying back, eyes closed, I anticipate the pleasure that is to come. Her fingers gently, exquisitely, begin fucking me and then, oh my God, her tongue caresses my clit.

My legs spread wider, drawing her into me. I want more of the pleasure that is building.

Taking control, I swing my leg up and over so I am sitting on my lover’s face. Andie doesn’t miss a beat, and her tongue and mouth work their magic on me. I grind my pussy against her lips, embracing the exquisite sensations that are building.

And the sensations build so fast that the orgasm is quickly on me, and I moan, “Yes, yes, yes. Andie… cumming.”

And the release is shatteringly explosive. The orgasm rumbles through my body, followed by aftershocks that merge into a continuous stream of ecstasy.

I lie beside her, recovering my breath, and I know for certain. I smile at Andie and she smiles back at me. She gets it too.

“Just perfect, Andie. Best ever.”

“Me too, baby girl.”

I am surprised when she says that, “I’m totally serious, Andie.”

“So am I, Fleur. Don’t you ever underestimate how good you make me feel.”

I am overwhelmed by happiness and sleepiness. So, totally relaxed, I drift asleep in her arms.

**********************

Drifting awake, I open my eyes. And see Andie out of bed, sketching me. My hip bumps against something and, looking down, I see it is the strap-on.

Andie smiles, and says, “You look so peaceful asleep. You know what I want to do?"

I shake my head.

"I want to turn my sketch into a full-scale painting. If you agree, of course,” she says.

“Yes, maybe… probably. But the dildo?” I reply, running my hand up and down the toy.

She stops drawing and stares at my hand, “Maybe in a second painting, limited consumption.”

Smiling at her, I give permission. But, knowing what I am doing, I keep running my hand up and down the strap-on, and then blow her a kiss.

“God, Fleur, you sure know how to push my buttons.”

“You too, honey. You too.”

“Are you still okay, Fleur?”

“With what?”

“With me dragging you out of your comfort zone.”

I promised myself not to be a coward, “Yes, surprisingly, way beyond comfortable. You make me feel free, kind of liberated. In two days you have changed me, for the better I think.”

She stops drawing and stares at me, eyes watery, “You too. But I only led the way at the start. You opened yourself to accept that you wanted to help create us.”

“Creating us, that sounds so sweet. What did you mean by you too?”

The silence is deafening. Andie looks uncertain, conflicted.

“Be brave,” I whisper.

She puts down her sketching pad, and sits cross-legged, physically exposed.

“Oh God, Fleur. I have been around, had lovers. You are right to tell me to be brave. You were and I should be…”

Brow knotted, Andie is concentrating on the right words, I think. Then she continues, “… Saturday was the perfect seduction. By you though, as much as me. It was like a dance, I led but you knew the moves. Part of you thought you shouldn’t, but I felt like you were drawing me into your web.”

I smile. “Deep down, I suspect I found you kind of irresistible.”

“And then yesterday was just perfect, we so connect. I hadn’t imagined anyone could make me feel like I am totally out of control and falling, helplessly, into a relationship. You do, and I love the feeling, I don’t want to lose you. But…”

“Don’t say it,” I interrupt, “I love what you have just said, as I feel it too. I know there is a fucking huge but, which we definitely have to talk about. But please later, and not here in your studio. Here I feel like we are in a cocoon, a place which it is just about us.”

And, on hearing my words, Andie looks kind of vulnerable, whispering, “I don’t want to think about the outside yet. I am scared, Fleur.”

A surge of emotion runs, like a tidal wave, through me. “Don’t be. Please, come over here and make love to me.”

Arms wrap around the other, and we just stare at each other for a moment, before kissing tenderly. Our hands run over each other’s bodies. This isn’t like yesterday, this is beyond a hunger for each other. We both know for certain that we can have something special together, if we choose to.

With that understanding, there is no pretence. Our eyes lock and our fingers play with each other's nipples, squeeze butts and graze pussies. I am beyond damp, and, when I touch her, I know she is beyond damp. Physically we are responding to each other but, trumping that, is the recognition of the shared emotional depth in each other’s eyes.

My finger scoops moisture from her pussy. Her finger scoops moisture from mine. She caresses my clit and I caress her clit. She moans, and I moan too.

Touching and caressing, we are more confident than last night. Staring at each other we know we are in deeper than last night.

Emotionally it seems like we are becoming one. She knows, and in her eyes, I see her acceptance of me. I suddenly get that me having a fiancé is actually harder for her than it is for me.

Opening ourselves totally to each other is magic. Our connection aided by our fingers, spur on our orgasms. And, like last night, we experience that little death together, in excruciating orgasmic pleasure.

But somehow petite feels like the wrong word, this is so rich, so deep, and so satisfying. And, with a shiver of excitement and fear, I realise there is infinite potential for us as a couple.

**************

We are sitting at her parent’s place; a bottle of wine in front of us.

“Let me say something first,” Andie says, “Fleur, right from the moment I saw you, I just knew I wanted you. You are completely gorgeous.”

“You too.”

“And our seduction was perfect. But something even more perfect happened to me over the weekend.”

“What honey?”

“I got to know you. You are complex, interesting and completely adorable. I have never been so quickly, so totally, into anyone as I am with you.”

But I have to ask a question to be sure, “But am I your Ryan, the girl who gives you stability?”

“Smart question, but no. No, I don’t feel very stable around you. More like on edge, excited, and adventurous. Look at how quickly we shared what we liked in bed, or the bath in your case, with each other. In bed, you just get me and you are my equal. But the physical reflects the emotional, and out of bed, you are something else. I so quickly opened up this weekend, and I love how I feel about you.”

“I have a lot of new feelings running through me Andie.”

Andie pauses, clearly thinking, then asks, “Am I your walk on the wild side before you return to Ryan?

“God, that is a hard question. No, I don’t think so, else I wouldn’t feel so connected to you. I get that we have something way deeper than physical attraction. Like you, I adored my weekend and I love being with you, in and out of bed. This morning was emotionally perfect. But…”

Taking my hand, Andie asks, “Be honest with me.”

“… But I am engaged. If I was single we would so be dating. But I’m not, and I have to go home and work this out. I’m conflicted. I love Ryan, but I love what is developing with you. It’s confusing and I just can’t give up on you, yet...”

“I will wait. But now that I have found you, I will fight for you.”

“I get that. Maybe our relationship will crash and burn. But, somehow, I just feel it is more likely to be transformational for me.”

Andie smiles. “You realize we will never know that unless we actually experience it.”

With a heavy heart, I do what I feel I must. I go into my home and get ready for work the next day. And Andie stays next door in her parents’ place. I hope Aurora is snuggly tonight.

Ryan arrives around nine, excited by his weekend. He has clearly missed me and chats excitedly about how I must definitely go with him next year.

************

By Friday, I am a complete mess. I go next door knowing Andie is overfeeding Aurora and she opens her door. Just seeing her is enough for my tears to flow. She holds out her arms and I sob on her shoulder.

She just holds me letting the emotion drain from my body. And when I get myself under control, she gently asks, “Tell me, sweetheart.”

Wandering over to the couch, I'm gripping her hand like my life depends on it. Which it kind of does.

“Andie, I tried and my feelings for Ryan are there, I still love him. I adore his stability and being with him. But now there is a second fire burning in me. I think I have to accept that I need to fully experience the passion you have created in me.”

“Oh God, everything this week has been difficult for me, as I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I don’t know what the future holds. This feels kind of high risk, high reward. But I want to see what evolves when I spend every evening in your arms.”

She takes me in her arms, “In my little artist studio?”

“No, in our little artist studio, if you will have me.”

A giggle, she is so gorgeous. “Of course. I can’t imagine anyone else I would rather be with.”

We kiss passionately and I feel our commitment.

“Ryan is at a work dinner tonight. But tomorrow I have to tell him. I won’t let him down like I let Phoebe down. Tonight, I want to prepare and pack some things. Can I come over tomorrow?”

She holds me radiating comfort and support. “Of course. I will be at the studio waiting for you. Promise me you will actually stay with me.”

I am giving up too much for half measures. “Yes, I will stay for as long as you will have me.”

“You might find that is forever Fleur.”

I draw her closer to me, and whisper, “Our weekend changed me for the better. I can totally imagine falling in love with you.”

“Good, I know I am starting to fall in love with you.”

*************

Twelve months later, I walk into her exhibition holding Andie’s hand. To ease my nerves as much as hers. I so want her show to be a success. And the fact that I am on the wall in a number of paintings, completely nude in one picture, doesn’t bother me like it once would have.

Nat rushes up, “Hi you two. Oh my God, Andie, I love them all. Especially the one of Fleur sleeping, it captures her so beautifully.”

Andie whispers so only Nat and I hear, “I did the charcoal draft in the two mornings after we first slept together. It is my favourite too Nat, and the only one not for sale.”

Andie’s agent comes up to us and says, “It is time for you to speak.” This is the part I know Andie is least looking forward to.

I am not concentrating on her speaking the words I helped her to write. While she talks about her art and thanks her friends, I enjoy looking at each painting one by one, remembering what they mean to her. And particularly the paintings where I am the subject as they have the most meaning for me.

But then, a sentence, immediately after her one thanking her parents, is unexpected and catches my attention, “Most of all I would like to thank Fleur. She entered my life a year ago.”

I look at her and she smiles at me, and adds in front of a room full of people.

“Fleur is my muse and my model for a handful of the paintings on the back wall. But more important than that she is the love of my life.”

I glance over at her mum and dad, they smile warmly at me. It feels great to be loved by one of our families.

“Our journey as a couple hasn’t always been well received, so I am grateful to her friends and work colleagues who are here sharing this with us.”

There is applause led by my boss Charles, who has actually had to put up with shit from my father. And, amazingly, I have learnt you don’t mess with my boss. His retaliation was to convince the partners to commission a mural on diversity for the foyer of our building. And Andie was chosen as the artist.

I feel like I am going to cry. Nat knows, and she puts her arm around me.

“There are so many ways Fleur makes me a better person. One way is on the walls tonight. Her passion and love over the last year have energized my most productive year. And, if I might say so, my most successful, as an artist. This whole exhibition stands as a tribute to Fleur. Thank you, darling.”

Nat finds me a tissue.

“I love you, Andie,” I hear myself say. Knowing for sure that Andie is the best thing that has ever happened to me.