Wounded Bird Pt. 03

NOTE TO READERS: This series does contain some lesbian sex, but it's mostly a study of three young women's relationships. It's why I've listed it under Romance. Cheers.

Several days had passed since her intimate encounter with Meredith, and Amy could not stop obsessing about it.

The fling in the shower didn't amount to much more than light-hearted play. Still, Amy kept trying to uncover some hidden meaning as to why it had happened at all. What perplexed her most of all was Meredith's whole laissez faire attitude about everything. Even getting caught with her fingers between her legs barely ruffled her feathers. It was just like that kiss they shared late at night in Amy's bed. For Amy, it seemed charged with meaning, and yet Meredith seemed to ignore that it ever transpired.

The thing is, Amy liked Meredith. Lots. She found her fascinating to watch and enjoyed listening to her express her quirky ideas. But she was difficult to read, and her moods were mercurial. In a way, that's what made her so compelling to Amy. Despite the awkward moments, along with some confusing signals, one thing rang true: Meredith Addison had an uncanny ability to draw Amy out of her shell. Meredith made Amy feel as if she was part of a special club. And she liked that.

There was definitely a sexual attraction, and yet Amy didn't expect it to lead anywhere. Meredith was quite adamant about not doing relationships, and treated sex as if it were nothing more than a recreational activity, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. For Meredith, sex was just a bit of color you added to a work in progress.

What really cemented their friendship was the fact Meredith had seen Amy as someone she could confide in, and with whom she could share her most hidden secrets. Amy remembers their conversation as if it were yesterday.

"Does anyone else know what happened?" Amy had asked, after Meredith had revealed some pretty dark stuff.

"Nope, just you," she had confided to Amy, and for that, Meredith seemed genuinely grateful. "It really helped to talk about this," she had said.

"I'm glad you feel you can trust me."

Meredith did trust Amy, and Amy would do everything in her power to preserve that trust. She had to, considering all that Meredith had been through. Amy still couldn't get over her being so desperate that she would harm herself in order to escape her father's advances!

After having learned a few skills from watching and listening to her mother, Amy fancied herself something of a therapist. She wanted to help Meredith. She believed wholeheartedly that at her core Meredith was a strong person with a great deal to give the world.

Over the next few days, Amy took stock of her life. She was now at the center of a complicated three-way relationship, in which she was attracted to a fascinating new girl, while also being pursued by her gay friend. And to make matters even more dicey, Meredith and Ari had become friends as well.

Meredith's comments that Amy and Ariadne were a good fit, kept nagging at Amy's conscience. Ari had made her feelings clear to Amy. The problem was, Amy wasn't sure how she felt about that. Ari was a dear friend. She was kind and lovely, and her presence in Amy's life was a reliable and supportive constant.

But Meredith... Meredith did things to Amy. She excited her, and challenged her. And frustrated her. She was tantalizing and ephemeral... sexy and dangerous.

While Ari was... well Ari was, Ari.

Amy thought about Ariadne's sexy new swimsuit and the offer to do some night swimming in her pool. She had even mentioned the possibility of swimming naked.

"I should give her a call," Amy told herself. But Amy didn't have to make the call.

"Guess what?" It was Ari, calling Amy on the phone later that day.

"What?" came Amy's upbeat reply.

"My family is heading down to the coast for a few days. Want to come for over for that evening swim? I'm dying to try out my new swimsuit."

There was a seductive quality to Ari's voice, and Amy wasn't sure how she felt about that. But they had talked about doing this, and there really wasn't any good reason to keep putting it off. And if there was a confrontation to be had, Amy might as well face it now.

"Yeah, a night swim sounds fantastic. Should I plan to stay the night?"

"If you can, that would be great," Ari replied, doing her best to keep her excitement under control.

As soon as Amy made the offer, she questioned her decision. She had crashed at Ari's many times, but it was naive of her to pass this off as an innocent rendezvous between friends. The whole evening had a seductive vibe about it. Add to that, the skimpy swim suits and who knows what might happen?

But Amy didn't want to go back on her word. Their nighttime swim was on.

Amy's new bikini fit her perfectly. While her breasts were always capable of turning a few heads, in the new top, they looked even more impressive, nestled as they were in slender pockets of fabric. Her snug bikini bottom was daringly cut in front and in back, making her ass look as inviting as ever. Now that she thought about it her parents might have second thoughts as well.

It was a lot of skin to be parading around in public, but what the girls had planned was deliciously private. The whole point was to be able to show off their bodies without any prying eyes or unwelcome judgment. That said, Amy knew she was tempting her friend by wearing the suit, and that her friend might choose to act on that temptation.

"And what if we do take things further," she put to herself. "As long as we're open and honest with each other."

Amy's time with Meredith had freed her in so many ways. If things veered in a direction that made her uncomfortable, Amy felt she had the confidence to handle it. She told herself that it wasn't the intimacy that bothered her. It was the impact it would have on their relationship. Ari was beautiful, there was no denying that. But what if it all went wrong?

Amy cleared the sleepover with her parents and headed over after dinner. She'd debated on whether to wear her suit, or put it on at the house, but in the end, she wore it underneath her summer top and shorts.

When Amy arrived at the Petrakis home around seven, there was still light in the sky. Ariadne came out to greet her in a robe and sandals, and Amy tried to imagine what she had on underneath.

"Want some wine?" Ariadne asked. Amy nodded, and followed her into the house. Inside, there was soft music playing and the lights were turned down low. It was a romantic setting, removing all doubt as to Ariadne's plans for the evening.

"Here," Ariadne said, handing a glass of white wine to Amy. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and as Amy took the glass, she could feel her hand shaking.

"Want to sit out on the patio?"

"Yeah, it's a beautiful evening," Amy managed to say, as they made their way out to the pool. Before sitting down, Ariadne undid her robe and tossed it on the side garden chair. Amy nearly fainted.

Ari's black bikini was so hot that Amy was sure the air around them just got warmer. Of course, Amy had been there when Ariadne bought the bikini, but she hadn't yet seen it on her. The way the suit clung to her friend's body made Amy realize just how shapely Ari was.

She could see the bumps of Ari's nipples poking into the bra casings, and between Ari's thighs was a noticeable indentation. The panty wasn't a thong exactly, but more of a high cut cheeky bottom.

"What do you think?" Ari asked, extending her arms and twirling in place. Amy now saw the way the fabric stretched across her butt. For a moment, she couldn't find her voice and simply nodded.

Ari giggled. "I thought you'd like it," she noted with a sly grin.

"You look incredible in that suit, Ari." Amy meant every word, for Ari was indeed a vision of beauty.

"Thank you," Ariadne answered, her face radiantly happy.

The look in Ari's eyes made Amy's head spin. She knew when she agreed to this evening swim that there would be a reckoning. It really was up to Amy as to how things played out. But if Ari's hope was to lure Amy into her bed, then Ari had every reason to feel optimistic. There were stirrings within Amy that caused her to view Ariadne in a whole new light.

"So, do I get to see your new swimsuit? You did bring it, didn't you?" Ariadne asked. "Because if you didn't, then you're going to have to swim naked."

Amy stood up and stripped off her top and her shorts. She twirled in place, so Ariadne could admire her new suit.

The bikini's pattern consisted of a light blue ground decorated with horizontal black and green stripes. The suit was not as revealing as Ari's, though it seemed to make an impression on her friend.

"Bravo," Ari called out. "You look good enough to eat." Ari's comment caught Amy by surprise and she stared in shock at her friend, who broke into fits of laughter.

"Oh, the look on your face," Ari snorted with glee. Amy did her best to remain calm, but she could feel her face flushing pink with embarrassment. After all, context was everything.

Amy wondered if Ari had ever done that with another girl, but she didn't have the courage to ask her friend. Instead, she reclined in one of the lounge chairs.

Ari sat in the adjacent lounge, and soon, they began discussing plans for college. They still planned to attend the same university and share a living situation that coming fall. "I thought of the community college," Ari mused, "but if I did, I'd have to live at home, whereas the university is a good two-hour drive from here."

"I see what you mean," Amy replied with a conspiratorial smile. "Problem is, the university will cost my family an awful lot in room and board."

"Oh, Amy, it's not that expensive. We can make it work. We'll be sharing." Ari was definitely not pleased that Amy might choose to attend the local college.

Amy shrugged. "We'll just have to see. We've got time."

"Not that much time," Ari noted in a disappointed tone.

As the sun set, it began to cool, and not wishing to squander too much of the evening's warmth, Ariadne, stood up and dove into the pool.

Amy watched Ariadne's body plunge below the surface and then reappear at the far end of the pool. She let her friend splash around for a bit before diving in after her. The girls spent some time doing laps before luxuriating in the warm water under the evening sky.

Needing to rest, Amy swam to the shallow end and leaned her back against the left edge of the pool. Ari also relaxed in the shallow end, opposite her. Flashing a mischievous smile, Ari reached behind her and undid her top. She set it aside.

The poolside lamps weren't particularly bright, but there was enough spill from them to cast a soft, warm glow on Ari's exposed breasts.

Ariadne began to slowly make her way across the pool, catlike and predatory, until she drew up opposite Amy who was reclining against the tiled edge. From the outset of their friendship, Amy had often taken note of Ari's breasts. But until now, she'd never seen them so fully revealed, dappled with droplets and lit up by the pool lighting. Seeing them like this, fully exposed to the cool night air, on display for her alone to admire, made her thoughts swim.

Amy was sure that if she reached out and touched them, Ariadne would not object. However, Amy wasn't quite ready for that. Though she did allow her eyes to drink in the sight of them bobbing on the water's surface, round and creamy smooth, the nipples resting like berries in the middle of small bronze saucers.

After letting Amy admire her breasts, and enjoying every second of it, Ari moved closer. With unhurried movements, she draped her arms over Amy's shoulders and looked deeply into Amy's eyes. As Amy gazed in wonder and bewilderment, Ari leaned in and pressed her lips just to the side of Amy's mouth.

It didn't last very long, for it was a seductive prelude of things to come. When she pulled back, she gazed shyly into Amy's glazed eyes. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," she admitted. "You're just so kissable."

"I am?" Amy's voice sounded in a high squeak.

Ariadne giggled. "Uh, huh," she nodded animatedly. Ariadne then reached down Amy's back and fiddled with Amy's clasp. Amy willed herself to relax as Ari removed her top and set it aside. Almost instantly, Amy was aware of the cool evening air, moving lightly across her stiffening nipples.

"Lovely..." Ariadne sighed, as she took in the sight of Amy's breasts.

When Ariadne placed her arms about Amy's neck, Amy moistened her lips with her tongue. But instead of leaning in for another kiss, Ariadne eased her body closer until their breasts touched. Ariadne hummed a nondescript tune as she began to move her torso from side to side so that their nipples repeatedly brushed against each other. The spongy contact sent tiny waves of energy zinging straight to Amy's lower region.

This time, when Ariadne leaned in for a second kiss, Amy's hands gripped Ariadne's shoulders and held her at bay. "Ari, I'm not sure about this," Amy confessed.

Ariadne was surprised for a moment, then furrowed her brows. "Do you want me to stop?"

Amy wasn't sure. "No, not really. It's just... let's not go too fast," she pleaded, unsure if she'd just told a lie or not.

Ariadne's face brightened. "I promise to take it slow. As slow as you want."

Ariadne kissed Amy gently on the lips, but with an open mouth. Her tongue licked from side to side until Amy's lips parted so that Ariadne's tongue could enter her mouth. Ariadne began to kiss Amy with passion, her mouth opening and closing as her tongue laved Amy's teeth.

For the briefest of moments, Amy remained passive. But Ariadne's persistence coaxed Amy to engage. Amy's hands found their way around Ariadne's back as she began to respond with her mouth.

Amy was breathing hard through her nose as she kissed Ari with more fervor, her fingers clutching at Ariadne's shoulders. As the girls kissed, Ariadne gripped Amy's butt and pulled Amy closer so that their bikini-clad mounds pressed together. If Amy was wet down there, she couldn't tell, but she could definitely feel the heat.

It was at this point that the last of Amy's resistance gave way. She felt the surrender in every region of her body. Her tension dissolved as she let Ariadne take the lead, trusting in her friend's kindness.

As they continued to make out, Amy draped her arms around Ariadne's back, while Ari ran her hands up and down Amy's body. Suddenly, Amy felt a warm palm on her tummy. Her stomach muscles tensed as Ari's hand slowly made its way down to the waistband of her bikini. And without stopping, Ariadne's hand slid over her pubis and between Amy's thighs to caress her crotch.

Amy gasped as Ari's fingers began toying with the edges of the thin fabric between her legs, teasing the area covering her slit and along the edge of the fabric. When Ari's fingers increased their pressure, pushing hard into the center of Amy's crotch, Amy's hips moved forward in response. Again, Ari pressed, drawing out a soft whimper of need.

Then, the fingers were gone. Amy opened her eyes to find Ari smiling at her. The look in her eyes was one of pure hunger. It was a little intimidating. Amy had vowed to handle whatever came her way, but right then, she wasn't so sure.

Ever so slowly, Ari trailed the back of her fingers lightly down Amy's right cheek. Amy sighed at the touch, and Ariadne gave a satisfied giggle.

It was then that Amy became aware of how quiet it was outside. There were a few chirping crickets, the light hum of the pool filter and their breathing.

Ari's fingers had surreptitiously returned to Amy's waistband. This time, there was no doubt in Amy's mind where they were heading. Sure enough, her girlfriend's fingers wiggled their way inside the front of her bikini bottoms and continued on their quest.

"Oh, god," Amy hissed as Ari's fingers began toying with her fleshly, wet folds, spreading the moisture until they opened like a flower.

Giving in to the moment, Amy rested her head on Ariadne's shoulder and let her friend's fingers work their magic. When Amy's entrance was sufficiently slick, Ariadne eased a finger into her passage.

It was then that Amy brought things to a halt. "Ari, no.... please, don't. We need to stop," she pleaded. Ari quickly withdrew her hand, fearing that she'd pushed things too far.

"I'm sorry. You'd said you wanted to take it slow," Ariadne apologized, worried that the evening might come to an abrupt end. "I should have asked you first..."

"It's okay. I liked what you were doing, Ari, really," Amy assured her friend with a gentle smile. Then she chuckled. "You have magic fingers."

Ariadne gave a soft laugh. "You seemed to be enjoying what I was doing."

Amy gave a short laugh. "Oh yeah. I just don't want to rush it..."

"No, you're right, we should take our time. This is a very special night, and we should revel in it. And I don't want to do anything to ruin it. You do still want to spend the night, don't you? You can have Yanni's bedroom, if..."

"It's okay, Ari," Amy interrupted her friend, "I do want to spend the night. I just need some time to cool down. Why don't we go upstairs and take a shower, get all fresh and clean and then get ready for bed."

Ari couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "That's a great idea," she said, hugging Amy so hard that Amy pushed her away.

"Easy, girl," she said, laughing.

The girls exited the pool and grabbed their towels and tops, and with bare breasts jiggling, scurried like bunny rabbits to the master bathroom.

"You want to shower first? Or if you want, we can shower together?" Ari asked hopefully, as she prepared to strip naked.

At that moment, Amy recalled her time in the shower with Meredith, and experienced a pang of guilt. "Why don't I shower first," she suggested, her arms folded over her naked breasts. "Then you can go."

"Sure," Ariadne nodded, disappointed that Amy went all shy on her. Ari would have loved to have soaped up that lovely body, but she didn't want to do anything to frighten Amy off. As long as they ended up in bed together, all would be fine.

"You know where my bedroom is," she said with a wink and a smile. She paused to see if Amy would remove her bikini bottoms, but Amy stood there and waited until Ariadne left.

Only after Ari went to her bedroom did Amy take off her bottoms. Now naked, she stepped into the stall and began to soap her body, knowing that she would soon go to Ari's bed. She ran her fingers through her pubic hair and touched her labia, marveling that her best friend had just had a finger inside her. She always assumed that some guy would be the first to gain access to her body, but turns out it was her close friend, Ariadne Petrakis.

Amy shook her head in wonder. In little more than a week she'd gone from having never kissed another girl, to getting naked and making out with not one, but two of her female friends.

The prospect of sex with Ariadne had her feeling nervous, and yet the fact it was Ari, also helped calm her. Still, she wanted to make sure she was 'upfront and honest' with her friend about what this night might ultimately mean.

"If this were Meredith, we'd hop into bed, have sex and not make a big deal out of it," Amy reasoned with herself. "I just don't think Ari is wired that way. It's like this is a prelude to us living together..."

As she dried herself off, her mind drifted back to her time with Meredith, and she quickly tried to shake herself free of those memories. This was definitely the wrong time to be obsessing about someone else. But Meredith had a pesky way of wriggling her way into Amy's thoughts at the most inopportune times.

Thinking again of Ari, Amy reached into her overnight bag. She pulled out a fresh nightshirt and panties and put them on. Back in her underwear, she made her way to Ari's bedroom.

When Amy entered the room, she saw that Ari was sitting at her desk checking her computer.

"Your turn," Amy announced.

Ari got up from her desk and turned to see Amy standing in her underwear. Ariadne had on a thin bathrobe, but left it open in front, and Amy could see that Ari was still in her bikini bottoms, but without her top on.

"Feel better?" Ari asked in a warm and affectionate manner. Her concern was evident.

"Much. I'm all clean and ready for bed."

"Don't go away, I'll be right back!" Ari sang out happily as she skipped off to the bathroom.

The coverlet had been turned back, and Amy reached down and ran her hand over the soft green satin sheets. Aware that this was Ari's hopeful seduction, Amy didn't want to spoil it. After all, this was her friend, and she trusted Ariadne. In fact, she couldn't deny that she was somewhat excited to see this through.

Amy was about to get under the top sheet when she thought how fun it would be if she were waiting for Ari in bed, naked. Not wishing to overthink it, she quickly stripped out of her tee and panties and slipped between the sheets. Looking to steady her nerves, she fussed with her pillow for a bit before lying back to wait for her friend to return.

Amy's senses were on high alert. She could hear the clock ticking and feel the beating of her heart. She could smell the vanilla scent of the candle and the coolness of the satin sheets against her bare skin.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Ari progressed through one of the quickest showers she could remember ever taking. Normally, she liked to linger under the spray, but not that night. She brushed and flossed her teeth, slipped on her robe over her naked form and hurried back to her bedroom. The bedside lamp was still on and Ariadne could see Amy already beneath the covers, which were tucked up under her chin.

Moving to her side of the bed, Ariadne slipped off her robe, and posed naked for Amy, letting her admire the full gift, unwrapped for the first time. Ari saw the way Amy's eyes roamed up and down her body, her Mediterranean complexion bronzed by the candlelight.

Amy couldn't believe how sexy Ari looked in the glow of the light, her long dark hair full about her shoulders, looking every inch the Greek Goddess. Amy drew in a shaky breath at the sight of Ariadne's Delta of Venus, its folds peeking out from below a tuft of dark pubic hair.

Suddenly, an image of Meredith appeared in her mind's eye. Meredith was at her canvas, painting Ariadne in her all her naked glory.

'Fuck', Amy thought as Ariadne slipped under the sheets to join her friend.

Not wishing to lose the excitement of being in bed with the girl she'd been crushing on for so long, Ariadne turned on her side and ran her hand lightly along the side of Amy's body, lightly down the side of her breast, along her ribs and tummy and past her bare hip bone, confirming that her friend was also sans panties.

Their eyes met, and Amy shivered upon seeing the lust in Ariadne's look. "Uh, can we take it slow?" Amy asked, in a tiny, shy voice.

Ariadne smiled and nodded at Amy's now familiar refrain, removing her hand from Amy's bare thigh. "We don't have to do anything. I'm just glad you're here," Ariadne admitted, warmly.

"Me too," Amy replied. "By the way, I really like your new swimsuit."

Ariadne laughed. "Thanks! I like yours, too..."

Amy's compliment of her suit was sweet, but it was a distraction. Ariadne thought about kissing Amy right then, but contented herself by lightly trailing the back of her fingers down the side of Amy's cheek. Amy seemed to like this, and released a slow, shivering exhale of breath. Ariadne smiled, knowing she was making it difficult for Amy to think clearly. And stopping was the last thing she wanted.

Even so, she had to ask. "Do you want me to stop?" she asked, kindly.

After a moment, Amy shook her head. "No," she bravely answered, looking up into Ari's eyes and feeling her whole body buzzing with energy. "Just a little nervous."

Ariadne nodded. She was nervous too. "I've never done anything with a girl before," Amy said, knowing that it was a lie. It amazed her how many times she'd lied since first meeting Meredith.

"Me neither," Ari answered, truthfully. "I've wanted to, but it's pretty stressful to make it happen, and I think I was hoping that something might develop between us."

"I had no idea you felt that way about me," Amy admitted. Her tone was full of empathy, touched by her friend's romantic wishes.

Ari shrugged. "I've had to keep it pretty much under wraps. Can't be openly gay in my family. You're such a good friend, and we know each other so well that I really wanted my first time to be with you. For a long time, it was just a pipe dream, but I guess sometimes dreams can come true."

Amy was embarrassed by the outpouring of affection. Did she see Ari in that way? Again, she guiltily recalled her tryst with Meredith. That certainly didn't seem laden with significance the way this was.

Sex with Meredith was a fun thing you did to pass the time. Ari and Amy's situation was totally different. Their friendship had years of history, and there was a romantic quality to their evening together.

Amy's thoughts were coaxed back to the present by a soft kiss planted on her forehead. More kisses followed, beginning with her nose, then her mouth, neck and shoulders. Ariadne's pillowy lips worked their way down Amy's chest until they engulfed one of Amy's sensitive nipples.

"Oh," Amy gasped, her chest arching up off the bedsheet as Ari's warm mouth drew in her teat. Even as her nipple swelled and stiffened, lower down, she grew moist and hot.

With a sharp lip smack, Ari switched to the farther nipple, which required her to lean over Amy's body. She dipped her head and took the nipple between her lips, lapping at it again with her tongue. The act sent another surge of pleasure straight to Amy's core. Despite her wish to keep control, she was unable to stop her body from visibly expressing its pleasure.

When Ari placed her hands on the inside of Amy's thighs, Amy's torso jerked in response to the touch. "Sorry," Ariadne apologized.

"That's okay," Amy whispered. 'So much for taking it slow,' she thought to herself.

Surrendering to the moment, Amy eased her legs open. Though her head was far back on the pillow, she could see Ariadne's shadow on the wall as her body shifted into position.

"Oh, you smell so good," Ari cooed as she blew warm air along the length of Amy's slit. The subtle gesture elicited an even stronger odor from Amy's sex, and Ariadne felt as if she were the luckiest girl alive.

Amy's body was twitching in anticipation as Ariadne took a moment to admire Amy's finely trimmed landing strip and creamy smooth skin. "Did you shave before coming over?" Ari asked in a playful tone.

"Uh huh..." Amy sighed, clearly embarrassed by the question. But it didn't matter, for her mind was shutting down as she slipped further and further into a hazy fog of tactile bliss.

"It's looks nice," Ari said, as she studied her prize. "I want to make you feel good, Amy. May I do that for you?" she asked out of courtesy, though pretty sure what Amy's answer would be.

A softly uttered, "sure..." confirmed that Amy was ready to receive her first oral.

When it came to lesbian sex, Ariadne was a complete novice. But there has to be a first time, and as long as it meets with Amy's approval. Fortunately, the excitement she felt at getting to pleasure the girl who knew her best, helped buoy her confidence.

In her mind, Ariadne had made love to her friend many times and in many ways. How often had she despaired over it ever becoming a reality. Not wishing to squander the moment, she placed her hands on Amy's hips, and ran the tip of her tongue along the length of Amy's sex. When she approached Amy's clitoral hood, she pulled back to savor the taste.

At the touch of Ari's tongue, Amy's loins hitched ever so slightly, and she released a soft, sensual hum of pleasure. Encouraged by the response, Ariadne licked again, this time with the flat of her tongue.

"Oh!" Amy sighed as Ari's tongue licked her a second time, this time spreading open her innermost folds. Amy's response made Ariadne smile, though only for a second, for she was on a mission of pleasure.

Ariadne used her fingers to open Amy up. "So beautiful," she thought as she began to ply her tongue in different ways, probing and wiggling, licking and lapping. A flow of warm fluid began to gather and Ariadne scooped it up with her tongue. It was her first taste, and it was so much better than all her oral fantasies rolled into one.

For the next several minutes, Ari explored the contours of Amy's sex. She did her best to keep her desire in check, willing herself to relax, not only for Amy's benefit, but for her own as well. "Take it slow," she told herself, echoing Amy's wishes.

Ariadne thought it best to let Amy be her guide, letting the shivers, twitches and groans serve as tells for when to ease off or to give more. Being new at this, Ari felt most comfortable using her tongue to lick and tease, but as Amy's reactions intensified, Ari pressed her mouth to Amy and did her best to work more deeply. Amy's breathing was coming fast and hard now, and she was releasing a steady flow of fluid that Ariadne greedily drew into her mouth. There was now so much of it that it ran down Amy's ass cheeks to soak the satin bedsheet.

Amy's arms were extended toward the edges of the bed as her fingers clutched at the bedding. Her breathing and pelvic thrusts were occurring more frequently, and Ari hummed encouragement from between Amy's legs to let her know it was okay for her to release.

As Amy's thighs and buttocks tightened and flexed, Ariadne kept her mouth firmly sealed. Sensing Amy was close, Ari no longer held back. Her tongue wiggled and probed and her lips and jaw were actively engaged as well.

Amy's voice rose in pitch and urgency. "Oh... oh... oh! SHIT!"

A powerful spasm bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her body. Her pelvis arched up off the bed and her legs began to shake. She felt a tightness in her loins, and then that tightness released, sending a surge of fluid into Ariadne's mouth. Another spasm overtook her, and then another, each one causing her to release fluid.

As the intensity of her orgasm began to subside, Amy wrapped her legs tightly around Ariadne's back, and squeezed with all she had in an effort to extract every last pleasurable sensation.

Ariadne's mouth was alive with her friend's flavor. It was slightly salty and slick, and there was plenty of it. When Amy was finished, her body lost its tension, falling back into the mattress. Ariadne remained between her thighs, savoring her friend's taste and listening to her soft mewling of pleasure as she basked in the afterglow of her orgasm.

Amy was still attempting to get her breathing under control, when Ari crawled up the bed to sidle alongside her prone form. Ari could see that Amy was barely conscious.

"You feeling, okay?" Ari asked Amy, unable to suppress her elation.

Amy's eyes were closed, but she smiled weakly. "Oh yeah. Very okay..."

"Good," Ari whispered. She leaned down and kissed Amy gently on the lips.

Ari pulled the sheet and bedspread up over Amy's naked body and watched her drift off to sleep. It was over. Her evening of seduction had gone as well as she could have hoped. True, there were no passionate declarations of love, or any offers of returning the favor, but there was clearly affection and intimacy, and Ari was finally able to experience sex with another female. She was so proud that she was able to give Amy a night of sensual pleasure.

Problem was, Ariadne wasn't ready to sleep. Unlike Amy who'd released all that sexual energy, Ari's body was still buzzing with need. Seeing that her girlfriend was already in the land of Nod, Ariadne blew out the candle and tiptoed into the bathroom. She sat on the toilet and masturbated to images drawn from recent memory.

Her orgasm came quickly, and was so intense that she remained hunched over with her hand still between her legs, gasping from the power of the release. Eventually, she managed to wash up at the sink, and make her way back to the bedroom.

Feeling sated and happy, she crawled in next to her sleeping partner and spooned her from behind.

================

The next morning, Amy awoke to the sight of her best friend lying face down next to her, her naked body uncovered all the way down to her ass. Ari looked positively angelic lying there, though Amy now knew her friend had a little of the devil in her, too.

Amy idly ran her fingers through Ari's lush, dark hair, as images of the previous night appeared in her mind's eye.

"Morning," Ari croaked, turning head to gaze up dreamily at Amy.

"Morning," Amy answered, smiling down at her.

"Sleep well?"

Amy nodded. "Yep. And you?"

"Like a baby," Ariadne answered. "You up for some breakfast?" she asked.

"Greek omelets?" Amy asked, her hopeful eyes wide like a child's.

Ari laughed. "You are so cute. Yes, with lots of feta!"

As the girls made breakfast, their conversation stayed light. There were sly looks and suggestive smiles, and the energy between them had definitely altered, though neither of them felt the need to bring up the previous night. Instead, they talked about the upcoming college year, Ari's work schedule, and what they might do together to fill out the next few weeks. All that morning, not a word was uttered about what had transpired the previous night. Though their happy noises and affectionate looks suggested that everything was fine between them.

Not talking about last night was a survival tactic for both girls. Amy had all sorts of questions that needed answering. First and foremost, was making sense of these recent trysts she'd had with two of her female friends. Was she more into girls than she thought? Was Ari looking at last night as a one-off, or did she expect a commitment from Amy? Did Amy really want a sexual relationship with Ari? She knew before she came over that sex with Ari was in the cards. And while she was open to being intimate, she didn't want to lead Ariadne on.

And then, there was the issue of Meredith. Not always present, but never far from her thoughts.

For Ari, it was a matter of giving Amy space. As for loving women, she had no such qualms. She now knew more than ever that she was a denizen of Lesbos, and if allowed the chance, Ariadne would gladly spend her every waking hour in Amy's company, with many of those hours spent making love.

But Ariadne could sense that Amy was less clear, and she wanted to respect that. She also needed to stay in the closet, at least publicly. It was imperative that she keep her sexual exploits with other women hidden from her family, at least until she finished her first year of college and was able to live near campus.

Ari would like her and Amy to get a place together, but what if Amy chose to stay close to home? The summer was winding down, and at some point, they'd need to have a heartfelt talk about their feelings for each other, and their future. But for now, she'd give Amy the time she needed to process her feelings.

After breakfast, as Amy gathered up her things, Ari felt the need to address the elephant in the room. "Amy," she began. "I can't begin to explain how much last night meant to me. It was totally perfect. I think you know that I'd be up for more of the same, but it wouldn't feel right if your heart wasn't into it. I don't want to do anything to ruin our friendship."

"Ari, I don't want you to think for a second that I didn't enjoy last night. I just need some time to process things, you know?"

"Sure, of course," Ari nodded. "You're right, we should give it some time. To process."

"Yeah."

And so, the girls agreed to just take things easy and not force it. Later that week, they took a hike in the hill country. It was a cool day and there were lots of people out on the trail, so there wasn't much privacy. But just being with each other, knowing that they were now closer than before, made everything seem different.

"Want to swing by my place?" Ari asked. "I don't think mom's home, and there are some cold beers in the fridge."

"Sounds like a plan!" Amy agreed.

The girls pulled up outside and immediately saw that Ari's mother's car was parked in the drive. "Oh well," Ari sighed. "Still up for those beers?"

"Sure," Amy laughed at their lost opportunity. "I suppose it will give your mom a chance to catch up with us."

"Hey wait! Whose car is that?" Ari asked, seeing the tan Subaru parked at the curb. Amy recognized it as her neighbor's, and wondered if Meredith and Jane had stopped by for a visit.

"That's Meredith's car," Amy told her friend. "Well, it's her mom's."

"Huh," Ariadne nodded. It made sense, for Meredith had been over a few times to show Ari's mother some preliminary sketches for the painting she planned to execute. Though usually, Ari would pick her up.

As the girls entered the house, they heard Mrs. Petrakis call out, "Is that you, Ari?"

"Hey mom! Amy's here too."

"Come in here, girls," Mrs. Petrakis urged, sounding very excited. They entered the main hall and stopped in their tracks. There on the wall was a large abstract painting above the fireplace. And as they stared in wonder at the colorful, stunning shapes, Meredith came strutting in from the bathroom.

"Hey Ari, Amy. What do you think?" Meredith asked, glowing with pride.

"It's... wow," was all Ariadne could say in an understated way. She turned to get Amy's reaction only to find her staring intently at Meredith.

"Yes, isn't it just fabulous," Mrs. Petrakis gushed. "I swear, someday this young lady is going to make it big, take the art world by storm!"

Meredith made her way over to Ari and Amy, looking as if she was about to make an arrest. "Well, well, well, what have you two been up to?" It was clear from her tone and her sly smile that she was on to them.

Ariadne answered as casually as she could. "Amy and I just got back from a hike. Hey, mom, is it alright if Amy and I have a couple of beers?" she asked, hoping to escape Meredith's querying gaze.

"Not if Amy is driving," Mrs. Petrakis stated, narrowing her eyes in Amy's direction.

"I'll take her home," Meredith offered. "I have the car today," she explained to the girls. "And then Amy can tell me about her day," she added with prurient interest.

"What do think, honey?" Ariadne's mom asked her daughter, referring to impressive new painting hanging above the faux fireplace. Ari looked to Amy before going over to listen to her mother rhapsodize about the piece. She agreed that it was a very fine painting.

"Want to join us?" Amy asked Meredith as she got two beers out of the fridge.

"No better not, seeing as I'm the designated D. Mrs. Petrakis wants me to look at some French prints she's thinking of buying. Then I'll take you home. You mind waiting a half an hour?"

"No, take your time," Amy replied.

"Cool. Then you can tell me all about this lovely hike," Meredith added with a grin.

Amy just smiled, as Ariadne returned from visiting with her mom and Meredith went to check on the art prints. Train wreck avoided, Ariadne and Amy took their beers out onto the patio, leaving Meredith and Mrs. Petrakis inside.

"Think she suspects anything?" Ari asked Amy.

"Who, your mom?" Amy asked, unsure who Ariadne was referring to.

"No, Meredith."

Amy thought for a moment. "I got the feeling she suspects something."

"Amy, this can never get back to my parents," Ari fretted.

"Don't worry. Meredith would never say anything, though I think she's going to interrogate me," Amy joked.

"How are you under torture?" Ari joked.

"Not very good," Amy laughed.

"Well, if you trust her, then I suppose it's okay she knows we're seeing each other."

Amy didn't think she and Ariadne were officially seeing each other, and telling Meredith would only reinforce that belief. Amy wasn't sure she was ready for that.

A short while later, Meredith appeared at the rear door. "Ready?" she called out to Amy. "See you, Ari,"

Meredith watched as Amy stood up and the two girls hugged each other. Amy tried to downplay their parting, but it was obvious to Meredith from the way they embraced that they shared a closeness that went beyond mere friendship.

============

"Okay, Missy, how long has this been going on?" Meredith started in, as they drove back to their neighborhood.

Amy gave Meredith a confused look. "How long has what been going on? I've no idea what you're talking about."

Meredith smacked the steering wheel and snorted with laughter. "You liar! Don't pull that innocent act with me. You and Ari did the deed, and don't tell me you didn't."

"You're wrong, Meredith. There's nothing going on with us. We're just friends, I keep telling you that."

"Yeah, right. Tell it to a jury."

"Meredith... you didn't tell Ari's mom there was something going on between us, did you?" she suddenly asked, worried.

"Is there?" Meredith quickly shot back.

Amy refused to answer causing Meredith to shake her head disapprovingly. "Come on, Amy! What do you take me for? Of course, I didn't say anything. I don't 'out' my friends."

"Good. Thanks. Hey Meredith, that painting you did is amazing. I can't believe you did that. It's incredible..." Amy proclaimed, hoping to move the focus away from her and Ariadne.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you love it," Meredith interrupted. She had no wish to talk about her painting. She'd much rather interrogate Amy on her lesbian affair with the hot Greek girl.

Suddenly, Meredith steered the car over to the curb and shut the engine off. She turned to face Amy, looking stern and determined. "Okay, I know she's in the closet and I know you're shy and all, but I think I'm entitled to a little dirt. Amy, you know you can trust me."

"There's no dirt," Amy lied, though her expression said otherwise.

"There is definitely dirt. Now unless you come clean with me, I'm kicking you out of this car."

Amy rolled her eyes in frustration. "God, alright! Yes, we slept together. Are you happy?"

"I knew it!" Meredith's exclaimed triumphantly. "Good for you. About time! So, how was it?" she asked. "That girl is sizzling hot! I'd definitely do her."

"You'd do anybody, if it benefited you," came Amy's snarky reply. As far as Amy could tell, the girl was downright mercenary when it came to relationships.

"Hey! That was uncalled for," Meredith replied, hurt by Amy's nasty attack.

"Well, sometimes it seems that way," Amy added with a childish pout. "So, what...? Are you saying that you'd rather do Ari than me?" Amy pressed, unable to conceal her hurt feelings.

Meredith looked at Amy quizzically. "What are you talking about? First of all, I'm not doing anybody. And secondly, I would never hop into bed with your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend," Amy hastily replied.

"Then why do you even care? You're just fooling around, right? Just like we did. Remember?" Meredith gave Amy a smug grin, then started up the engine and made for home.

As they drove in silence, Amy wondered why this annoyingly talented and clever girl kept getting under her skin. 'Meredith kisses me, has sex with me--and then brushes it off as if it never happened! And I just keep looking for more,' she thought, with a tinge of bitterness.

For despite Meredith's meaningless flirtations and teasing, Amy felt there was a chemistry between them. Her quirky, unpredictable personality added color and dimension to Amy's outlook. Meredith was like a beacon of light showing her the way to a safe harbor.

"So, how long have you two been having sex?" Meredith asked, bringing an abrupt halt to Amy's internal monologue. "I bet she's good in bed. Have you gone down on her yet?"

"I'm not telling you that!"

Meredith continued with her speculations, even though her eyes remained trained on the road ahead. "Knowing you as I do, I'm guessing you haven't. But I'd bet my life savings that she went down on you."

"You think so, huh?" Amy replied in a tone that suggested Meredith had it wrong.

"I know so. I mean, Ariadne is a full-on lesbian. And she's been trying to get into your knickers for a very long time. The two of you in bed together? Oh yeah, she's definitely doing you," she pronounced with the flair of a detective accusing the murder suspect.

Meredith pulled into her drive and turned off the engine. She looked over at Amy who merely stared down at her lap, confirming Meredith's suspicions. Meredith unbuckled her seat belt and turned to face Amy.

"Amy, for god's sake, don't get upset. I am just teasing you. You don't have to tell me anything, if you don't want to. Ari is a sweet person."

"I know she is," Amy agreed. "I'm just feeling my way, you know?"

"Yeah, I get that. But once you two head off to school, you are going to start meeting all sorts of interesting people. All I'm saying is, a little bit of loving goes a long way... If that's what you want."

"I don't know what I want," Amy frowned.

The two girls sat in silence for a half-baked minute. Meredith's next words were soft and gentle. "You know, if I were into girls, I'd choose you over pretty much anybody. Even Ariadne."

"Stop it," Amy snorted her disbelief.

"I'm serious," Meredith protested. "Ari's gorgeous, there's no disputing that. But you and I are more compatible. At least, I think we are."

"I think we are too," Amy agreed. She eyed Meredith curiously. Was this an opening? Before she could stop herself, she replied, "I wish you were into girls."

Meredith drew back, her eyes fully wide. For once, she had no clever retort to offer up. Amy had thrown her feisty friend off her game.

"I'm not. I mean, I could be, but... besides, you and I... not a good idea."

"Why not?" Amy asked, as the girls got out of the car.

"Well, for starters, there's Ari. Doesn't that bother you?" Meredith definitely didn't want to be the one responsible for wrecking that friendship.

Amy took a deep breath before making her case. "Of course, it does. Ari is my best friend, and I don't want to ruin that. It's just that I'm..."

"... still trying to figure it out," Meredith finished for her.

"Yeah. My only experience has been with Ari.... and you."

"Amy..." Meredith gave her a disapproving look.

"Well, it's true. Before you, I'd never even considered doing something with a girl. Maybe we could practice a little, so I could see if I like it?"

Meredith grimaced. "Practice on Ari. It's not like she's going to flunk you."

"That's the problem. Ari is going to love me, no matter what I do. And she's going to be pushing for us to be together. Whereas with you, it's different."

"That's because I'm messed up, Amy. You have no idea how messed up I am. I'd love to have a normal relationship, but.. they take too much energy. And lots of trust, which I struggle with. Big time!"

Meredith was feeling emotionally on edge, even a bit angry. She wanted to escape this stupid conversation and seek asylum in the confines of her studio. But Amy wouldn't budge. She just stood there, looking lost and in need of rescuing. But Meredith wasn't in the mood to be throwing any life lines.

"You trust me, don't you?" Amy asked.

Meredith gritted her teeth and sucked in a breath. "Yes, I do. If things ever fall apart and I'm dangling by the end of my rope, you're the first person I'm turning to."

Amy smiled. "Good. But you don't have to wait until it's that bad. You know, I think about you often. I know you don't want to hear that, but that's just the way it is."

Meredith was caught off guard by Amy's heartfelt confession, and didn't know how to respond. Her reply sounded lame as soon as she said it. "I don't want to come between you and Ari!"

"I know you don't." After a brief pause, Amy added with a mischievous smile. "But you were the one who said it was good to practice."

Meredith gave an exasperated roll of her head. "Practice with Ari."

"With Ari, there are strings. I know she says there aren't any, but there are. With you, there are no strings, and you don't have to return the favor. I just want to try it."

Meredith couldn't hide her amusement as she shook her head in disbelief. "You know, Calvano, you should go into real estate. Alright, I'll think about it."

It was a noncommittal reply, but at least it wasn't a flat-out refusal. Amy smiled. "Thanks."

Meredith raised her hand as if to swat her away. "Now, get out of here!" Meredith spun around and trudged toward her house.

Amy watched Meredith head toward the house. She kept her eyes on her until she had disappeared through the front door. She then made for home, feeling as if she'd done something a little bit reckless, but necessary.