Anna from Across the Hallway Pt. 06

I must say I wanted more of Erin (everyone in our little society ended up knowing about our tryst), but it turned out that Flannery took more of my attention.

A week after the wedding, she invited me over to look at her photos after she'd picked her best shots. We sat at her work table as she scrolled through her images on a large monitor. She was wearing leggings and a loose top, and her hair was pulled back into a bun. As she moved her computer mouse around, I couldn't help but notice her slender, long fingers, like the fingers of a pianist. As usual, there was no evidence of makeup on her, and her earrings were tiny stud pearls.

As we flipped through her work, it was obvious Flannery had done a wonderful job, and I told her so. "You could be a pro wedding photographer," I complimented. "You could make big bucks doing this."

"I suppose so," she sighed. "But it's not my thing. I never told you this, but my parents are very well off, and support me, so I don't have to depend on a paycheck. They approve of my art photography, and that's great." She smiled just a little.

I asked if she could give me five prints of me in the ceremony, and two prints showcasing my gown to give to Mr. Sam.

"Oh, of course," said Flannery, showing me her professional-grade photo printer. She scribbled down the picture-file numbers.

Then she showed me a large 11-by-17-inch print she'd already made -- her favorite. She'd converted it to black and white, and it showed me as I walked toward Dan/Erin, escorted by Mr. Sam. I looked so thoroughly female and bridal. Yes, that was really me -- bride Lisa.

I told Flannery the photo took my breath away, saying in a moment of passion, "It's too bad I couldn't be this woman all the time. It's almost an ache. I want to look beautiful."

Flannery looked toward me, still quite reserved, saying, "I can understand that, I really can. You must think Jerry the UPS man is a bit on the dull side. With the uniform and everything."

We both laughed. "Oh, yeah," I responded in my best female voice..

"When I was tweaking the photo, I was kind of astounded, too," said Flannery. "It really came home to me how feminine you can become. Rather sexy, if I may say so."

"Thank you. There was so much preparation to look bridal. I had no idea."

"So... I'm not a very forward person, Jerry, or Lisa, but first of all I should tell you that I have lesbian tendencies." She looked at me, waiting for that to sink in.

"But I've never had an intimate, physical relationship with anyone, male or female. I'm kind of standoffish. Somehow, sex seems so animal and coarse." Again, she waited for a reaction.

"So," she said, "I am not interested in any sort of hookup with Jerry or Lisa, just to make that clear."

"I hadn't thought of you in that way," I admitted.

"But I need a friend," she said, opening up more that I'd ever seen before. Her face softened a little. "A woman friend. Sure, I have some student friends, but they're all at a distance, and they don't invite me to their parties, and so on."

"You would like a Lisa friend?" I inquired.

"It crossed my mind. I don't know why I want a friend with some traces of maleness, but oddly enough it seems like it might fit."

"And how much time would you want to spend with Lisa?" I asked. "Just spend time here in your apartment, or go outside also?"

"Just here, at least at first. Maybe come over for dinner a couple nights per week, and say, maybe, half a day on the weekend... Oh, my request is all so unusual and limited -- would you actually consider doing something like this? I'm assuming a lot in even asking."

"Really, Flannery. I think it's a perfect idea. Just as long as you always relate to me as Lisa. And I would promise not to come on to you, because I understand where you're at."

*****

And so began the latest chapter in my increasingly interesting life. As with Anna, my Lisa time was once again increasing. I would come home from work on a weekday, dress as Lisa (becoming the person I most felt like!), and quickly make my way across the hallway to my galpal's place.

I was making Flannery smile more. Half the time she'd make a dinner, and the other half, I'd have the honors. I was learning more about cooking, as a woman should!

So there we'd be at her kitchen table, me with long hair, tits, shapely legs, earrings and all the things that defined Lisa. I became much more adept at listening, as Flannery opened up about her family, her studies and photography, her past (limited) relationships, her interest in my crossdressing, and her aspirations. She had such a complicated personality.

After seeing a lot of her other photography, I became convinced that she had a bright future if she continued on her current path.

After dinner, we'd go watch some PBS programs, which was about all she watched. Documentaries, concerts, dramas, the news -- she loved it all. I was really giving much more of myself to the relationship than she was giving. But more importantly, she treated me as a woman, as Lisa, and we were definitely women together. That was my reward.

Sure, over time, I wanted to have sex with her, but I never brought that up. Visiting her, I'd dress sexy and even put a tiny dab of perfume on. I'd ask her to tell me which clothing looked the best on me, or if my makeup was OK. She responded honestly, letting me know if I'd gone slutty or looked too much like a housewife.

I know it sounds a little weird, but when watching TV sitting on her sofa, we'd sit side by side, our bodies touching, giving me a little erection, but nothing happened. I just enjoyed being Lisa, Flannery's friend. With tits and long hair.

But talking took us to another level, sort of. One weekend when we'd had a bit too much red wine, she began opening up about her sex life, telling how she experienced her first orgasm (putting blankets between her legs and pushing against them while fantasizing about a female teacher). Then as she grew into adulthood, she said, she fantasized about being tied up by a woman and teased sexually. Finally, she said that these days, she often watched porn videos of female bondage, while using a vibrator. She'd even tried some self-bondage.

This was new territory for my tender ears. But she never asked about my sex life, and I never volunteered it. I'd become a professional listener. I wondered, however, if she would ever get around to asking if I'd tie her up! I wondered if she'd show me some of her bondage porn. But that didn't happen either, and I didn't pursue it. I let her go where she wanted to go. Sharing her sexual stuff amounted to progress.

Finally, her comfort level got to the point where we could go out as pals. I thoroughly enjoyed that. I loved imagining we were lesbian lovers. First, we'd just do little hikes in wooded parks. That progressed to visiting movie theaters, followed by the occasional foray to a nice restaurant. I felt like I was putting Jerry further behind, while becoming more and more womanly. I was absorbing some of Flannery's femaleness for sure.

People do that to me: I absorb them. We'd be hiking, and her nearness led me to feel even more womanly. What an exhilarating feeling.

I loved seeing a few beads of sweat on Flannery's face. I loved seeing the traces of her skimpy bra through her shirt -- her breasts were quite small and she actually didn't need to wear a bra, but she did anyway.

She picked the movies we went to since she always paid, anyway, and they were usually films starring women, in plots revolving around women. Every once in a while, there'd be a flic about lesbians, and I could detect her excitement. Sometimes she'd whisper something during a sex scene, like, "Oh my god!" or "Aren't they so beautiful together?"

So, my attraction kept building, while I had no idea if she felt anything toward me.

Finally, after one dinner at her place as we were sharing banana cream pie, I ventured, "Flannery, you know I'm not a forward person and I perfectly respect your territory and person, but I want to make an offer. You may hate me for this, or think I'm a clod, or want to get rid of me as a friend, but I just want to put this out there."

She was a bit taken aback, but then again we'd had some wine and was open to hearing more. "Lisa, dear, yeah, I don't know, but just go ahead. I have a feeling that... no, just tell me."

"Flannery, you were so kind to tell me about your sexual experiences. That was so honest, really. I loved hearing about bondage and all. I've never had bondage fantasies before... well, OK, I do enjoy seeing women tied up in a movie or something, but it's not a regular thing with me."

Flannery was looking on with interest, slowing raising a piece of banana cream pie to her slender lips.

"So... I enjoyed thinking about you and bondage, and I thought, 'Maybe I could tie Flannery up, and force her to have an orgasm by using a vibrator.'"

Flannery sighed, sounding exasperated. She rolled her eyes back. "Oh Lisa dear, maybe I should never have told you those things! Now you want some sort of sexual relationship. I've led you to that point, haven't I? But you are so considerate! You don't want any sort of sexual satisfaction for you, only for me. That's sweet. But I don't think so; let's go back to the way we've always been: pals; best friends; without all the messiness that comes with sex."

"Oh, of course, Flannery. I get plenty of satisfaction from merely being Lisa, and being accepted by you as a woman. That's what I most want."

*****

But after a month, Flannery turned a corner and said she'd try a bondage thing with me. She told me while we were hiking. She even held my hand for an instant. Patience has its rewards.