Gabby tipped the bellman and turned to survey the room. It was decorated in shades of blue, white, and a dash of taupe. The curtain on the sliding door was open, revealing a small balcony holding a table and two chairs that overlooked the beach reserved for resort guests. The room contained two beds; she’d made that last-second decision without consulting Lila because she didn’t want her friend to feel pressured. Gabby knew what she wanted out of this trip but Lila was more hesitant.
She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, dropping the leather bag onto the bed nearest her. It was just after noon local time. Lila would be arriving any moment. Gabby spotted a bottle of chardonnay in the minibar and pulled it out, twisting off the cap. She poured half the liquid into one of the wine glasses provided on top of the hotel table and carried it toward the balcony. When she pushed open the sliding door, an ocean breeze and the sound of waves rolling gently onto the sand greeted her. Splurging for the ocean view room now felt more like a necessity than a luxury. Gabby sat in the teak chair, her wineglass never leaving her hand, and contemplated what had brought her here for this vacation with Lila.
She and Lila met as roommates their freshman year at Michigan State. They occupied a dorm room on the old campus that was as small as it was full of character. There were occasional nights when fueled by ’90’s R&B and wine coolers, their lips would find each other, and their hands would fumble in the dark. Once or twice, they tumbled around a bed or floor with one of their respective boyfriends. Their friendship remained constant through graduate school, marriage, motherhood, Lila’s divorce, and the trials of their respective careers. This was the first time they’d see each other alone since becoming mothers. Their vacations until now involved strollers, bags of toys, and frantically chasing children around the beach. Now, they would be enjoying the trappings of an adults-only resort for four glorious days.
“Hello!” Lila’s voice broke through Gabby’s memories.
She stood, carrying her wine, and walked back into the room. “Hey, gorgeous!”
Lila’s linen pants were creased from her travels and her auburn hair was piled on top of her head. The two women embraced. Lila still smelled of Chanel No. 5, and Gabby fell instantly back into her memories of their shared dorm. Back then, Gabby knew she was attracted to women, while Lila was still wrestling with her Catholic guilt. It was often Gabby who had to swallow a lump in her throat and avert her eyes so she wouldn’t leer at her friend’s curves as she changed from her jeans into a party dress.
It was often Gabby who had to swallow a lump in her throat and avert her eyes so she wouldn’t leer at her friend’s curves as she changed from her jeans into a party dress.
“How long have you been here?” Lila asked, taking the sunglasses from her hair and setting them on the bedside table.
Gabby held up her glass of wine. “Half a glass long.”
Lila laughed and poured herself a glass, draining the remainder of the miniature bottle.
“Check out this view.” Gabby walked ahead of Lila to the patio.
Gabby sat in her previous spot, and Lila leaned against the railing of the balcony. “This is stunning,” she said after a long look at the ocean.
Gabby nodded. “How did dropping off the kids go?”
Lila turned to face her friend. “Well, seeing as Alan hasn’t taken them overnight in months, they were both like little cling-ons at first. But he got them a new puppy, so eventually, they unwrapped themselves from me long enough for me to run out the door.”
“I’m sorry,” Gabby said. “That must be difficult.”
Lila took a generous sip of her wine. “We can’t all be married to Roger.”
The mention of her husband made Gabby smile. It was true; most of her friends had marriages she wouldn’t dream of having. Roger was an equal partner in their relationship and parenting, and she never had to worry about leaving for a business trip – or a pleasure trip. The children would be well cared for, no matter what.
**************************************
That night at dinner, Gabby sat across from Lila on the terrace of the dining room. Their table was surrounded by tropical flowers, lending a sweetness to the night air. Lila’s hair was down, falling in waves over her shoulders left bare by a strapless floral dress. Gabby’s appetite evaded her; she was too nervous about their first night together.
They’d discussed the idea of sleeping together over the phone and during more than one late-night texting session. But, like always, getting in front of a woman she desired caused self-doubt to bubble up to the surface. She’d always been better at reading men, which is probably why she was married to one.
“Gabby?” Lila’s voice brought her back to the hum of diners around them and the brush of the breeze against her bare back.
“Sorry. What?”
Lila tilted her head and smiled, “Where did you go?”
Gabby took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she maintained eye contact with Lila. “I’m just nervous, Li.”
“Nervous?” Lila leaned forward, her elbows on the table, closing the distance and increasing the intimacy. “What about?”
“About this, us,” Gabby began. “We have so much…” she searched for the word… “history.”
“History is a good thing, isn’t it?” Lila smiled.
“Well, sure it is. It’s just that I don’t want anything that happens or doesn’t happen this evening – this trip – to change us.”
Lila sat back but kept her eyes locked on Gabby’s. “Gab, I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I need you. You’re my person.”
Gabby nodded. “So, then what are we doing here?”
“Well,” Lila started, “I brought something to break the ice a bit.” She winked, and Gabby felt a tug deep in her belly.
“Would you like dessert?” The waiter stopped at the edge of their table.
Gabby didn’t take her eyes off Lila’s. “No, thank you.”
**************************************
Gabby was in the shower when Lila unpacked earlier, so she didn’t see the velvet and satin bags Lila stashed in the bedside drawer. Now, as Lila pulled them out, Gabby felt her palms grow clammy. She bit her lower lip and kept her eyes trained on Lila’s hands as she opened each pouch.
The first was burgundy satin with a gold drawstring closure. When Lila loosened the top and tipped it over, a small purple U-shaped vibrator tumbled onto the bedspread. Gabby sat down at the foot of the bed and reached out to pick it up. The second pouch, a larger one made of hot pink velvet, opened to reveal a small green vibrator with a tiny nub. Gabby picked up this one, admiring its softness. The last pouch Lila pulled out was much larger, and Gabby was impressed that her inexperienced friend thought to bring such a large dildo on their vacation. When Lila turned the velvet pouch on the bed, however, a wand vibrator tumbled out.
“You sure had some fun at the sex toy store,” Gabby smiled at her friend.
Lila blushed and ducked her head, so her hair covered one eye. “I wasn’t sure what I’d like,” she lifted her head, making eye contact once again, “or what you’d like.”
Gabby reached out and tucked Lila’s loose waves behind her ear, letting her hand trail gently down her neck. “I have an idea.”
Lila raised her eyebrows.
“What if,” Gabby continued, “we use tonight to help you figure out what you like?”
Lila tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Gabby picked up the wand vibrator and clicked it on. It hummed in her hand. “I want you to show me where you like to be touched, what feels good.”
“I want you to show me where you like to be touched, what feels good.”
“Like,” Lila touched the humming toy, “masturbate?”
Gabby nodded. “Exactly.” She switched off the vibrator. “What do you think?”
Lila didn’t respond. Instead, she stood, unzipped her blue linen dress, and let it fall to the floor. Gabby sat, a lustful statue, as she took in Lila’s feminine curves clad in white lace. Lila caught her gaze, and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She lowered her panties and stepped out of them, keeping her lace bralette in place. When she laid on the bed, she pulled the wand vibrator from Gabby’s hand and retrieved a bottle of lube from the bedside drawer.
“Are you going to…” Lila’s voice trailed off.
Gabby met her friend’s eyes. “I’d really like to watch for a moment, if that’s okay.”
Lila nodded, leaned back against the pillows, and opened her legs. Her vulva separated with a faint clicking noise. Lila’s slit glistened in the dim light of the bedside lamp. She added some lube to her fingers, and stroked up the right side of her vulva, and circled her clit. Gabby watched, transfixed by the beauty of Lila’s dark pink opening. Lila let her eyes close, and her legs fell further open.
Gabby reached out and stroked the inside of Lila’s leg with the tips of her fingers. Lila shivered. Gabby let her fingers trace back down, and Lila shivered again, letting out a soft moan. Now, Lila turned on the wand and brought it lightly to her inner thigh. She traced circles around her mound, over her vulva and, finally settled it against her clit. Lila’s back arched, and Gabby could smell her arousal. Lila’s legs began to shake, and Gabby continued her light stroking.
Lila wiggled the vibrator back and forth over her clit, the head of the wand bouncing against her opening. Gabby felt herself grow wet and had an urge to touch herself, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Lila. Lila’s free hand slipped under the lace of her bra and teased her nipple. Then, she dove over the edge. Her legs stiffened, her back arched. She was silent for a moment, her mouth a perfect circle, before she cried out and melted into a puddle of lust.
Gabby crawled up the bed, letting her fingers trace along Lila’s thigh, over her hip, and rest against her stomach. She laid on her side, pressed gently against Lila’s curves. Lila’s eyes remained closed, her breath coming in short gasps.
Gabby pressed a gentle kiss to Lila’s cheekbone. “You’re beautiful when you come.”
Lila’s eyes fluttered open, still dark with desire. A smile danced across her face, and she bit her lip. “I think it’s your turn, now.”
Gabby took the wand from Lila’s outstretched hand and shifted onto her knees, pulling her dress over her head. Gabby had stopped wearing panties over a decade ago, and she unhooked the clasp on her bra, tossing it onto the floor on top of her dress. Then, she settled back next to Lila. Lila had her head propped against her hand, a post-orgasmic flush still painting her cheeks. Gabby flipped the wand on and let her fingers play against her vulva, parting the lips slightly to give the wand better access. She didn’t need lube after watching Lila.
Gabby pressed the vibrator against her clit, enjoying the pressure and the vibration playing together. Lila used her free hand to trace up Gabby’s stomach, lightly brush her right nipple, and then her left. Gabby sucked in her breath and bit her lip. Lila persisted, going from right to left and back again. Gabby pressed the vibrator more firmly against her clit and let her hips grind against it. She hit her peak fast and hard, her legs and belly clenching as she shook. Lila never stopped playing with her nipples, and when Gabby shifted the wand to the sensitive spot just under her clit, she hit the second wave of orgasm.
Gabby let the wand fall to the bed, and the two women turned to each other, letting their lips finally meet in a kiss deepened by years of friendship and a true sense of intimacy. They parted, staring into each other’s eyes, each with a hand resting against the other’s cheek.
“There are still more toys,” Lila said, a smile creeping across her face.
Gabby giggled, and their lips met again.
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