All That Matters

by

S X Meagher

Chapter 9

Kylie and Nick went to the symphony the next night, and by the time she came home, Blair was sound asleep on the sofa. The doctor gently woke her and helped her to her feet. "But I wanna stay up and talk about being a lesbian," the blonde mumbled, her words sounding comical given her tousled hair and sleep-suffused voice.

"We can talk about being lesbians tomorrow," Kylie soothed. She was gently scratching the back of Blair's neck, knowing that a good scratch was as effective as ether on her roommate. By the time they'd reached the bedroom, Kylie merely had to urge her onto the bed and cover her with a quilt. "That's my girl," she said. She sat down and ran her fingers through Blair's hair for a few minutes, reluctant to leave. She'd hardly noticed it at first, but Blair was slowly scooting closer, and in a short while, she was curled up against Kylie, holding on tight. For an instant, Kylie was jealous, assuming that Blair was unconsciously seeking David's familiar warmth. But she smiled broadly when Blair nuzzled her face against her knee like a kitten and mumbled, "I love you, Kylie."

The doctor leaned over and kissed Blair's cheek. She kept her lips right there, placing tiny, soft kisses around Blair's ear, not stopping until the sleepy woman started to giggle. "Sleep tight," she whispered. She gave Mackenzie a pat and bent to kiss him. "I love you, too, Mackenzie. Be nice to your mommy tonight."

Blair was asleep immediately, and the doctor stayed for another few minutes, feeling content and peaceful just to be next to her.

„G

Blair was home when Kylie arrived the next night, and as soon as the doctor walked into the house, Blair called out, "Get changed! I brought carry-outs for dinner. We're gonna spend the whole night talking about the dangerous world of lesbianism."

"I have a feeling that someone's not taking my concerns very seriously," Kylie said when she walked into the kitchen.

Blair gave her a hug and said, "I take you and your concerns very seriously. But I'm confident that I've thought of the repercussions, and I know that once I convince you of that — we're gonna be fine." She gave her a dazzling smile and said, "Is it okay if I'm happy about that?"

"I suppose so," Kylie said, trying, but failing, to look aggrieved. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and playfully tossed her back and forth. "You're so darned cute that I can barely stand it!"

"Oh, you haven't seen half of my cuteness," Blair scoffed. "Just you wait, Doc. I'll confound you with cuteness."

„G

They went outside after dinner, and Blair was surprised to see that Kylie had a notepad with her. The doctor looked at her agenda and nodded, obviously satisfied with her script. "Okay." She tapped her bottom teeth with a mechanical pencil and said, "I think the biggest thing I'm worried about is how you're gonna deal with coming out as an adult. People are gonna treat you differently, Blair, and that might be very hard for you."

"For example?" Blair asked, smiling at her friend.

"Well … people in your office are gonna find this strange. What if your boss has problems with it?"

"Oh, he's as gay as they come," Blair said. "Real estate is full of gay men, and I can't imagine that people would be more tolerant of gay men than they would be of me."

Kylie scratched her head. "Well, no, they probably wouldn't be …"

"My clients don't need to know," Blair said, "although I doubt any of them would have a problem with it. You've got to remember that this is the Westside, Kylie. This is one of the most gay-friendly places in the world. Besides, you're a professional, and you don't have any problem with prejudice, do you?"

The doctor shook her head. "No, not really. I don't tell my patients that I'm a lesbian, but I certainly don't hide it, either."

"That's the way I'll be, too," Blair said. "I don't normally talk about my home life with clients. And when I have a client party, I'll just let people assume what they want."

"I could make myself scarce when you had people over," Kylie offered.

"That's ridiculous! I wouldn't dream of asking you to leave when I entertain. I might not introduce you as my lover, at least not at first, but I would never be embarrassed by you. Never!"

Kylie smiled at her. "I'd hate it if you asked me to leave," she admitted.

"You big goof! Why would you make an offer that'd make you feel bad?"

"'Cause I'm nice?" she offered tentatively.

"It's never nice to propose something that can hurt you or our relationship. Life's hard enough without asking for trouble." She sat on the end of the chaise and put her chin on Kylie's raised knee. "I know there'll be an incident or two where someone says something snotty about my being with you. But nothing anyone says or does will change how I feel about you. My feelings for you are genuine, and they run very deep. Can't that be enough?"

Kylie tenderly ran her hand through Blair's hair, then smoothed her thumb across her cheek. "Yeah, that can be enough. But you can't forget that other people are gonna be affected my this."

"I assume you mean my parents," Blair said.

"Yeah, they're important players."

"I know my parents very well, honey. I know they would have been very supportive if I’d told them I was gay when I was a kid. But now … now … they're gonna wonder about it. I'm not sure which one of them it'll bother more, but I know they'll have some trouble adjusting. That won't bother me much — really. Over time, they'll see that this is what makes me happy, and they'll be fine. It's just at first that they'll think you've tricked me into this." She giggled at the stunned look on Kylie's face, then gave her bare knee a kiss. "They won't say that. They might think it, but they won't say it," she added, still laughing.

"It sounds funny now, but they could say something that really hurts you. I'd hate to have that happen."

"Look, Kylie, I'm sure you're right. Some people who I love might hurt me. So what's the answer? Give up someone I love so that I don't ever get my feelings hurt? You've gotta admit that doesn't sound like a fair tradeoff."

"No, it doesn't," Kylie admitted. "But there are some people in your life who won't be so supportive. I can't imagine David or his mother will think this is a cause for celebration."

Blair's eyes closed and she slapped herself on the forehead. "Oh, God, Sadie!"

Kylie cocked her head and asked, "You're more worried about Sadie than David?"

"Sure. Sadie's gonna be in my life. She wants to have a relationship with the baby. But odds are, I won't see David much if at all. Besides, what's he gonna do? Divorce me?" She made a dismissive motion with her hand. "His opinion doesn't matter to me anymore. He obviously doesn't care if I live or die. Fuck him."

Kylie smiled at her, always enjoying it when feisty Blair reared her head. "I know you don't care about his opinion, but you don't wanna hurt him, do you?"

"Not intentionally, but I'm not gonna ask his permission to do what I want."

Gently scratching Blair's neck and shoulder, Kylie asked softly, "Don't you think he'll be hurt when he hears about this? Someone will tell him, you know."

"Oh, fuck me!" Blair put her forehead on Kylie's knee and growled. When she lifted her chin, she pretended to gnaw on the doctor's leg. "I don't wanna be nice. I want him to find out in a public place and wet himself."

Kylie stroked her hair, smiling at the fire that sparked in Blair's eyes. "Nobody would blame you if you didn't tell him. He really doesn't deserve much consideration."

"But you know I'll tell him now that you've brought it up." She pinched her thigh, and when Kylie yelped, she said, "I owe you about twenty more, but I won't deliver them all at once."

"Admit it," the brunette said. "You're a nice person, and you don't want to cause him pain or embarrassment."

Blair laughed wryly. "I'm not sure that's true, but I will tell him. Besides, it'll make me feel superior to be adult about this."

"That's my girl. Selfless to a fault."

"So, are we done?" Blair asked. "I don't wanna have to contact my friends from high school, but I will put an announcement in the Northwestern alumni magazine if you want me to."

"Oh, like people necessarily know how to read when they graduate from Northwestern," Kylie said, earning a much harder pinch this time. "Ow! Hey, don't bruise me!" She rubbed her leg and said, "Now we have to talk about the person who could suffer the most by your being in a lesbian relationship."

"I've already thought about the single men in Los Angeles who'll never get a chance to be with me. They'll just have to chase someone else. I'm yours." She crossed her arms upon Kylie's knees and rested her chin on them, then gave the doctor a sickeningly sweet smile.

"I mean Mackenzie," Kylie said. "This is gonna have a massive, lasting impact on him, Blair. You can't just shrug it off."

"Kylie, I've thought about this — a lot. There are really only two options. Mackenzie can have two parents, or he can have one. I think it's better for him to have two. Yes, I know he'll have some tough times, and I know he'll be teased and maybe even shunned by some kids. But I think the benefits of having two parents outweighs all of that — I really do."

"So … you want me to co-parent with you? That's a huge step, Blair. Really huge!"

"I know," she said, gazing into Kylie's eyes. "And I realize that I'm asking you to skip some really big steps — like dating." She smiled back at the crooked grin Kylie was giving her. "Do you mind jumping from friends to co-parents in one big leap?"

"No, I guess not, although it does sound a little crazy when you put it like that."

"It does," Blair agreed. "And it is a little crazy. But I think this'll work out, Kylie. I think it can work out for all of us."

The doctor nodded, her expression very thoughtful. "It wouldn't bother me to jump right into being a parent. But I would like to have a little while where it's just the two of us. We're not just gonna be co-parents, Blair. We're gonna be … well, we're gonna be whatever we call ourselves, but our relationship has to be rock solid for us to be good parents. This is a lifetime commitment."

"I know that," Blair said, looking equally contemplative. "There's another thing we should discuss."

"What's that?"

"Even though I know this will work, I can't make another ‘till death do us part' vow. I promised that to David, but now I realize that the vow doesn't mean anything. If things turn really bad, you break up. That's the reality, Kylie, and I want to be completely honest with you. All I can promise is that I'll try to be the best partner I can be. I hope to God that we're together for the rest of our lives, but to promise that just isn't realistic." She'd been rubbing Kylie's leg while she spoke, and she could feel the muscles begin to twitch before she was finished. "You don't look like you feel the same way."

Kylie gazed at her for a few moments, then closed her eyes and started to stroke Blair's arm. She was obviously deep in thought, and Blair didn't say a word. She simply waited, with her stomach in knots, watching Kylie try to make a decision that would affect all three of them. "From a logical standpoint, you're right," the doctor said. "Things change, and no one expects a couple to stay together if they grow to hate each other. But this is a big concession for me. A very big one."

"I can see that, just by the expression on your face," Blair said. "You look very conflicted."

"Yeah, that's what I am," Kylie agreed. "I want you, and I want Mackenzie. But I'm eager to make a lifetime commitment to both of you. It might just be words, but they're words that mean a lot to me."

"I understand that," Blair said, "but if you made that commitment, and I robbed you blind and cheated on you, you might just want to break up."

Kylie gave her a half-smile and nodded. "Yeah, I might. I guess it depends on who you were sleeping with."

"Mmm … your sister, Chris."

"Yeah. We're done," Kylie said, her smile growing. "Okay. I see your point. But I've got to know that you intend to be with me forever. Can you promise that?"

"Yes. Absolutely," Blair said. "I fully intend to be with you for the rest of my life, Kylie. I promise you that."

"Are you sure?" Kylie asked, giving her a deadly serious look. "This is a very big decision."

"I'm sure," Blair said. “I'm one hundred percent sure that you're the person I want to be with. And I'm one hundred percent committed to being a very good partner to you."

"I guess there's only one thing to do," Kylie said.

"What's that?"

"Go to bed and worry about the things that I'm sure I've forgotten," Kylie said, smiling warmly. "You know, I shouldn't admit it, but I'm starting to get used to this idea, and it makes me so happy, I feel like dancing."

"Come on," Blair said. She pushed off, using Kylie for support, then held out her hands. "Dance with me."

"Now?" Kylie looked around like she expected music to start playing.

"Yeah, now. C'mere and hold me." Blair grinned sexily. "You know you want to."

"I do," Kylie said. She put her arms around Blair's waist and shivered when the smaller woman pressed her cheek against her breast. "Feels wonderful," she said, threading her fingers through Blair’s hair and gently holding her head there. She started to move, just shuffling her feet across the stone patio. Blair followed her lead, moving slowly with Kylie's body. "It feels so good to hold you," Kylie murmured. "I love having the baby press against me, too." As if he'd been cued, Mackenzie let out a good one, and Kylie's eyes popped open. "I felt him kick!" She held Blair by the shoulders and squeezed her. "I felt him! I finally felt him!"

Blair hugged her tight, overcome by the look of radiant joy on Kylie's face. "I could never have picked a better person to fall in love with. You're the woman I didn't know I'd been looking for."

„G

Kylie closed the door to her room, her heart so full of emotion that she feared it would burst. She leaned against the door for a full minute, trying to get her mind around the idea that she and Blair were about to become lovers.

She was a little light-headed when she started to walk into the bathroom, but she knew it was just a symptom of the giddiness that she felt. Her smile was so wide that her cheeks hurt, but the magic of the evening was so overpowering that she knew it would linger in her heart for the rest of her life.

Damn, if Blair had told me she could only promise that she'd stay with me a month, I still would have agreed once I felt Mackenzie kick, she thought with a smirk. I’m so in love with her that I'd risk my heart for one chance in a thousand to make a life with her.

Instead of going into the bathroom, she opened her window and leaned over a little to rest her arms on the sill. Breathing in the early fall air reminded her that Christmas was coming, and with any luck, Mackenzie would be at home with them to celebrate the New Year. Her mind was filled with an image of the three of them cuddled together on the sofa with her arms tucked around the most important things in her world.

Forcing herself to get ready for bed, she flossed and brushed her teeth, grinning at the goofy expression she couldn't erase from her face. The night was warm, and she pulled the bedspread and the sheet down to the foot of the bed. She climbed in and fluffed one pillow, then molded the other to the perfect size and tucked her arm around it. Not surprisingly, she was too keyed up to even close her eyes, so she gave herself a pep talk. You have a full day scheduled, and then you're gonna come home to Blair. You're gonna need every bit of energy you can summon if things go according to plan, so you'd better turn off that brain and get some sleep. The talk did the trick, and in minutes, she was sound asleep, the goofy grin still plastered across her face.

„G

Next door, Blair was also wound up like a top. When she entered her room she didn’t even considered going to sleep. Instead, she turned on her CD player and lay down on her still-made bed. Her head was resting on her arm, and with the other hand, she stroked and patted her belly, communing with Mackenzie. "I think everything's gonna work out, Mac. Mama Kylie's gonna take a chance on us. I don't know about you, but I feel awfully lucky," she said, speaking in the soft, soothing tone she found that she used just for him.

Her body felt like a weak electric current had been passed through it, and she was still jittery from the jolt. Her hands shook noticeably, and she had to force herself to refrain from her insistent impulse to go next door and climb into bed with Kylie. It had felt so incredibly wonderful to be held and caressed while they danced that she still couldn't believe that Kylie had the fortitude to go straight into her own room. "I guess that's how people get to be doctors, huh, Mackenzie? Commitment and determination."

She smiled thinking about how adorable Kylie had been when she'd felt the baby kick. It was a moment she knew she'd remember for the rest of her life, and her heart ached with tenderness for the gentle woman she loved. "No matter what, she'll always be there for us, Mackenzie. If there's one person in the world you can always count on, it's your Mama Kylie."

With the thought of the smile that had become fixed to Kylie's face, Blair found herself drifting off, still lying atop the neatly made bed, music playing softly in the background.

„G

The next night, Kylie called Blair from her car. "Hi, sorry I've been tied up, but I'm finally on my way home. Do you need me to stop at the store for anything?"

"No, I bought you a great vegetable salad. We’re waiting patiently for you."

"Damn, that sounds nice. Where have you been all my life?"

"I've been a confused straight woman, Doctor. Do you think there's any hope for me?"

Kylie laughed. "Yeah, I think I can help turn you into an even more confused straight woman."

"Hurry home," Blair said. "I'm ready to start."

„G

Kylie got home a few minutes later, and when Blair saw her, she knew she'd had a tough day. She met her by the front door and had her arms around her before Kylie could put her briefcase down. "First, I love you," she said. "Second, you look beat. Go put on something sinfully comfortable and come back here so I can spoil you."

Giving her a squeeze, Kylie said, "I need a shower first. I would have taken one at the hospital, but I wanted to get home sooner. I'm just afraid I'll starve to death if I don't get something to eat in the next thirty seconds."

"Pretty dramatic today, aren't ya?" Blair patted Kylie on the butt. "Go put on your robe and have some dinner. Then you can take your shower."

Kylie looked indecisive, then nodded. "Okay. I'm getting a headache from hunger, and that's just dumb when there's a salad waiting for me."

"A vegetable salad," Blair said, "with all of your favorites."

"Poppy seed dressing?" Kylie asked hopefully.

"Yep. Now scoot!"

„G

Kylie walked into the kitchen just as Blair was sitting down. "Well, this looks delightful," she said. She sat down and gave Blair's shoulder a squeeze. "Is there anything better than coming home from a hard day and having someone tell you she loves you and … and … that she has dinner ready for you?"

"Yes, there is," Blair said, smiling sexily, "but we're not at the point where I can greet you at the door stark naked with a pizza in my hands, ready to worship your body while you eat. But if I get this girlfriend job, I promise I can think of ways to make you never want to leave the house."

"So …" Kylie leaned back in her chair a little and pointed the tines of her fork at the blonde. "You're still interested in the girlfriend job, huh?"

"Oh, yes. I need this job desperately." She leered at her. "I'll do anything, and I do mean anything, to get it."

"You know," Kylie said, "I've never had a pregnant woman look at me like she wanted to chew my clothes off." She nodded thoughtfully. "I like it!"

"If I get the job, I promise to help you fulfill every possible fantasy you've ever had about my pregnant sisters."

"You were never in the circus, were you?" Kylie asked.

"No, but I took gymnastics all through high school. Will that do?"

"Close enough," Kylie said, smiling broadly. She reached out and took Blair's hand. "What's got you so cheery and playful tonight?"

"Well," Blair looked at Kylie for a moment, then let her gaze shift down, lingering a while on the doctor's body. "I thought you might be ready to make up your mind about the girlfriend thing. And if you did, I thought we could … celebrate."

"You're certainly a girl with initiative," Kylie said, tingling a little at the look in Blair's eyes.

"You have no idea." Blair leaned forward and pressed her arms against her breasts, making them nearly pour out of the V-necked sweater she wore.

Kylie's eyes looked as though they'd fly from her head. "I've got a few more questions for you, and then I guess I'm ready." She swallowed, and Blair could see her throat constrict with anxiety.

"More questions? I think I can make you forget your questions, Doctor. Isn't a hands-on demonstration worth more than a few theoretical questions?"

"I … I have some worries," Kylie said. She shifted in her chair and tried to concentrate on her salad. "Uhm … I think I'm convinced that you've thought of all of the practical realities of being in a lesbian relationship, but there are a few … more down to earth issues."

Blair took her hand and noticed that it was trembling a little. "What is it? You can tell me."

"I'm … I don't mean to make this sound crass, but how do you know you'll enjoy having sex with a woman? I mean, it's a very different kinda thing."

Blair blinked at her. "Have you ever had sex with a man?"

"Yeah … kinda," Kylie replied.

"How do you kinda have sex with a man?"

"It's … not that difficult," Kylie said. "I was in high school, and a guy named Ivy talked me into it."

Blair giggled and put up a hand. "No, wait! You had sex with a guy named Ivy? Kylie, that was a girl!"

"He was not!" the doctor huffed. "His name was Chapin Danforth Hollingswood the fourth, and everyone called him IV, like the Roman numerals."

"Lake Forest," Blair said, shaking her head. "Go on, tell me about IV."

"We were in his car, and I was turned on out of my mind," the doctor said. "He had a Porsche, which isn't the best car in the world to have sex in, but he put the top down, and that gave us a little room to maneuver. Anyway, he climbed on top of me, and I somehow managed to get my legs up, and he … couldn't get in."

"He couldn't get in? Was it his first time?"

"Yeah. I was so wet, I'm sure he had a hard time figuring out exactly where to go, so he just kept poking at me and sliding around. It started to hurt like hell! He kept asking if he was in, and I finally said yes, just to get him to stop ramming into my labia."

"Let me guess the happy ending," Blair said. "As soon as he thought he was in, he … finished."

"You got it," Kylie said. "A night to remember."

"Honey, I hate to tell you this, but you haven't really had sex with a man." She smiled at the doctor and took her hand, kissing it tenderly.

"Why does it matter?" Kylie asked.

"It doesn't, really, but I was trying to make a point. This might not be true for most women, but for me, it took a lot of work to figure out how to be sexually satisfied by my male partners. I properly trained every man I ever slept with, and if I do say so myself, I helped each of them to be better lovers."

"So … you think you can do the same for me?" Kylie asked, looking not only confused but slightly offended.

"No, no. That's my point. I'm certainly not an expert, but I think it'll be easier to have good sex with you. You have the same parts I do, and you know how to use them." She raised an eyebrow and asked, "You do know how to use them, don't you?"

"Expertly," Kylie nodded, smiling confidently.

"That's my point. I know how to touch myself, and I can't imagine it'll be that hard to figure out how to touch you. You already know how to make love to a woman, so with your experience and my initiative — we should be set."

"It's not just about technique, Blair," the doctor said.

"I know that, sweetheart. Technique is the least important thing. But if that's an issue for you, you shouldn't worry about it. I'm sure that you'll be able to please me, and I think I'll figure out how to please you. Sex for me is all about touching and stroking and rubbing and finding the things that your partner likes. It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman. It's using my body to show my feelings. And I have very strong, very loving feelings for you. This will work out."

"Are you sure?" Kylie asked, her blue eyes fixed on Blair.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now finish your salad, and let's get busy!"

„G

After dinner, Kylie took a shower, and when she emerged, Blair was lying on the doctor's bed, looking about as good as Kylie had ever seen her look. She was wearing a simple, white terry-cloth robe, and she'd obviously showered as well. Her hair was a little damp, and it clung to her creamy white neck which looked long and lovely and very kissable. Her cheeks were pink and freshly scrubbed, and her eyes were clear and alert. She was smiling at Kylie, not in a lascivious way, but in away that made the brunette feel welcome and wanted. "Hi," Kylie said. "You look fantastic." She sat down on the edge of the bed and put her hand on Blair's smooth leg. "I've said it before, but I have to say it again. You are an uncommonly beautiful woman."

"You'd better not say that to all of the uncommonly beautiful women you find in your bed," the blonde said.

"You're the first," Kylie said. "I told my exes they were marginally attractive. That's as high as I've ever gone."

"Such a good liar." Blair ran the tip of her finger along the edge of Kylie's shirt, causing a riot of goose bumps to follow. "You're gonna get overheated. Maybe you'd better take off your outer layer of clothes."

Kylie looked down at herself. She was wearing a white tank top and a pair of blue cotton boxers. "I only have one layer on."

"I know."

Now Blair was giving her "the look," and Kylie had to force herself to stand up to escape the blonde's magnetic pull. "Don't be mad, but I still wanna talk about a few things."

"Come here," Blair said, gesturing for the brunette to come back. Kylie sat down again, and Blair started to stroke her bare leg. "I don't care if we sleep together tonight or tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. I want you to be sure about this, Kylie. I never want to push you into anything you're not ready for."

"Do you understand why I'm concerned about having sex?" she asked, looking so earnest that Blair wanted to kiss her until her eyes crossed.

"Yes, of course I do. You're obviously not very talented in this area, and you don't want me to find out how inept —"

"Don't you even suggest such a thing!" the doctor huffed. "I'm very, very capable in this area, Ms. Spencer, and you're gonna eat those words!"

"I certainly hope so," Blair said, "but if you're not worried about yourself, you must think that I won't be able to please you."

"That's not it at all, Blair! I want to make sure this is something you're really drawn to. What if you don't respond like you think you will? What if you can't get turned on by my body? I'll jump out a window if you don't enjoy our lovemaking."

The blonde lay down and pulled Kylie with her. Kylie's dark head rested on Blair's shoulder, and the smaller woman started to stroke her hair. "You've got to relax about this. I'm sorry that I'm being flip, but I don't have a concern in the world, and it puzzles me that you do."

"I know, I know. I'm not usually a worrier, but …"

"But why now?"

"'Cause this means so much," she said plaintively. "We're making this huge jump from friends to lovers and parents and partners. Life partners. … Life, Blair. It's such a big leap that I'm afraid you're assuming things that might not be true."

“What am I assuming?”

Clearly frustrated, Kylie’s voice rose into a near whine. “You act like everything will be fine. All of a sudden, you’re this huge optimist, and that’s not how you usually are.”

Blair ran her fingertip all along Kylie's jaw, feeling the muscles there tense and release. "We might have a few problems, but it won't be anything we can't work through. This means a lot to me, too, Kylie. But you can't just ask questions and have all of your fears evaporate based on my answers. You have to trust me. You have to put your trust in me and in my knowledge of myself. I'm asking you to take a leap. A leap of faith."

"Blair, I'd leap off a cliff for you." Kylie hugged the smaller woman to herself. "I'm just afraid."

"I know. I know that." They hugged for a long time, each woman feeling secure in the other's embrace. "It'll be all right. I know it will." She pulled back and looked into the deep blue eyes. "I've been fantasizing about you for a while now, and every time I do, I'm so turned on I could burst. I'm ready to stop imagining and start acting."

The doctor's eyes opened wide. "You fantasize about me?"

"Of course I do. Every night." She cocked her head. "Don't you fantasize about me?"

Kylie actually blushed, forcing Blair to stifle alaugh. Her eyes shifted, and she looked like a felon being shown the lie-detector test she'd just failed. "Sometimes."

"Only sometimes?" Blair stared at her lips and slowly drew near. "Only sometimes?" Kylie could feel her warm breath on her mouth, and she squirmed with desire for the smaller woman. "Who else do you fantasize about?"

"No one! I think about you every minute of the day! I can hardly concentrate at work any more, Blair. I've got to make love to you or take a leave of absence!"

Soft kisses greeted Kylie's declaration, and as the kisses continued to flow, her body started to relax. They kissed for a long time — lazy, soft kisses that made Kylie feel loved and very desired.

"God, I love you," the doctor whispered. Her head was resting on a pillow, and she pulled back just enough to look into Blair's eyes. "I know I have to jump in, but I'm so afraid of being hurt."

"I'm afraid, too," Blair said, "but loving you is worth getting past my fears. It's worth anything, Kylie. Anything."

"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." Blue eyes welled up, and Blair kissed the soft lids.

"It'll all work out. I promise. We'll work at this, Kylie. We'll have problems like any couple does, but we'll work through them because we love each other."

"Promise?"

"I do." Blair took Kylie's hand and pressed it against her breast. "With all my heart."

"Will you sleep with me tonight?" Kylie whispered, her fingers gentle on Blair’s breast, feeling her heart beat.

"Yes." Blair kissed her again, turning up the heat while Kylie softly moaned.

The kiss lasted a long time, and the brunette was nearly senseless, but she managed to say, "I really need to sleep. It's past 10:00, and I have to be up by 5:30. I don't wanna rush this. I wanna spend all night loving you."

"Call in sick?" Blair asked, looking like a hopeful truant.

"You know I can't do that, even though I wish I could. But tomorrow's Friday, and I don't have one thing to do on Saturday."

"How about Sunday?"

"Free as a bird."

"Not any more, you're not," Blair smiled. "You're mine, Doctor Mackenzie."

„G

The next night, Kylie came home to a house that looked like a set for a romantic movie. Soft, mellow jazz played on the stereo, and she smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen. She went in and opened the oven, finding a frenched crown roast of lamb and some rosemary potatoes.

The dining room table was formally set, and she knew she didn't own anything that adorned it. Tall, pillar candles were burning, imbuing the room with a slightly spicy scent. "Blair? Where are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding," she called back. "I'm getting ready for dinner."

Kylie walked by her room, slightly surprised the door was closed. "Should I dress formally?" she asked, only partially kidding.

"No need. Just be comfortable."

"Do you have the dogs with you? They're awfully quiet."

"They're at the baby sitter," Blair replied.

"The baby sitter? The dogs have a baby sitter?"

"They do now. I didn't want them to bother us, so I hired someone to take them to the dog park. The sitter is gonna keep them at her house until we come get them."

"You're full of surprises," Kylie laughed.

"Lucky for you," the blonde replied. "Now go get ready for dinner."

Kylie walked into her room and blinked at the remarkable number of large, burning candles, each inside a hurricane globe. In the middle of the bed, Blair had mounded a pile of red rose petals and shaped them into a heart; the entire room was suffused with their scent. Kylie changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a cotton shirt, then walked back to Blair's door. "I promise I won't expect this every night," she said. "But anytime you feel like it —"

The door opened, and Blair smiled at her, the mere curve of her mouth making Kylie's legs a little wobbly. She was wearing the outfit that the doctor had given to her on the trip to Chicago, and she looked even more beautiful in it than she had that weekend. "I wanted to make this a special night," the blonde said. "God knows we've waited long enough." She laughed, and Kylie bent and kissed her tenderly.

"You look almost perfect. Just one little thing's missing." She reached into her pocket and took out a necklace, quickly fastening it around Blair's neck.

The blonde's hand went to her throat, then she stepped over to the mirror so she could see her gift. "Oh, Kylie, it's beautiful." She fingered the small heart, studded with diamonds. "Thank you." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Kylie, murmuring, "Thank you so much."

Kylie made sure the clasp was at the exact center of her neck, then nodded. "Perfect. Diamonds suit you."

"Why has no one said that to me before?" Blair asked, laughing. "I've always thought diamonds were my best stone." She kissed the doctor again, then gave her a robust hug. "I didn't buy anything for you. You need something sparkly, too."

"The way your eyes sparkle when you look at me is all I need," Kylie said. "That's the greatest gift I'll ever receive."

Blair looked up at her. "Are you sure you were a science nerd? You sound like a poet."

"Well, that was my best material," Kylie admitted. "Now let's go eat that fabulous dinner you made."

"Fabulous dinner I bought," Blair corrected. "I'm not a great cook, but I can shop with the best of 'em."

„G

They’d had a long, leisurely dinner, with Kylie savoring a glass of the excellent Côte du Rhône that Blair had bought for her. "This was a very nice relationship kick-off dinner," the doctor said when they finished. She started to stand and gather the plates. "Wanna help me clean up?"

Blair gave her a deadpan look. "Now I know you're forty ‘cause the very thought of choosing to clean the kitchen rather than make love is positively geriatric."

Kylie took Blair's hands in hers and smiled. "I don't care if coyotes chew through the door and come in here and eat the leftovers. I was kidding. Only kidding."

"I swear I can never tell!" Blair insisted. "You're just the type to want to clean up first!"

"You don't know me very well," Kylie said, her voice dropping into a sexy timbre. "But you're going to."

"Now you're talking," Blair said. "Race you to the bedroom!"

Kylie caught her before she'd taken a step. "I'd like to take a shower. I guess we could do that together, but I'd like the first time I see you naked to be a little more romantic than stripping in the bathroom."

"You've seen me naked," Blair reminded her. "Just not all the parts at the same time."

"Well, you haven't seen me," Kylie said. "I'll take a shower and meet you in the bedroom. I'll be the woman lying on a bed of roses." She kissed Blair on the top of her head. "I love them, by the way. And you of course."

"I've already showered," Blair said, "so I'll be waiting for you. Make it snappy, good lookin'." She patted Kylie on the butt, receiving a wink in return.

It didn't take the doctor long to shower, and when she was finished, she slipped into a blue T-shirt and a pair of print silk boxers. Blair was lying on the bed when Kylie opened the bathroom door, and the brunette stopped short when she saw her. "I … I'm not sure how to react," she said softly. "I've never had my dreams come true."

Blair was lying on her side with one leg drawn up slightly. A hand supported her head, and her blonde hair shone in the warm candlelight. She drew her arm through the rose petals, and the scent wafted up to Kylie, making her smile when she breathed in. "I kinda thought you'd be … ooo … naked," Blair said, smiling sexily.

"Unh-uh," Kylie said, shaking her head. "I'm not … shy exactly, but I was a little nervous about what to wear. But then I thought it'd be fun to have you undress me, so I put on my jammies."

"You think too much, Doctor Mackenzie." Blair was wearing a turquoise silk robe that draped across the curves of her voluptuous body, and the visual stimuli were almost too much for Kylie's brain to process. "Come over here and kiss me," Blair said.

Kylie did, sliding across the bed to nestle against Blair's body. She molded herself along her partner as well as she could and rested a hand on her hip. "From this day forward, I will never say 'no' to that request."

Blair gently patted Kylie's cheek, her mouth quirked in a smile. "Such a beautiful woman. It's hard for me to believe that someone as wonderful as you wants to be with me. I feel so blessed."

Laughing softly, Kylie said, "Hey, I'm the one who feels lucky. I've wanted a woman like you in my life since I was in high school. You were worth waiting for, baby."

"What about that kiss? You haven't forgotten your vow already have you?"

Kylie didn't reply. She smiled gently and drew Blair close. With great tenderness, she brushed her lips across Blair's. Again and again she returned, barely letting their mouths touch, holding back until Blair started to move towards her. The moment she felt the smaller woman move, she slipped a hand behind her head and pressed her forward. Blair's mouth opened, welcoming Kylie inside. The brunette started to explore, letting her tongue search and probe with a determined insistence.

After a very long time, Blair pulled away, resting her forehead on Kylie's chin while she took in some shallow breaths. "I've never had my breath taken away so thoroughly," she panted.

"Get used to it," Kylie purred, trying to nudge her way back to Blair's lips.

Blair stroked her back, trying to slow her down. "Take it easy, sweetheart. I don't have my usual stamina. I get out of breath pretty easily."

"Oops. I forgot," Kylie said. "I guess we have to make some adjustments, huh?"

"Not many. I'm uncomfortable if I lie flat on my back for long, but that's about it." She put her hand on Kylie’s cheek. "More kisses."

Kylie smiled at her, charmed by Blair's calm, casual demeanor. She held the blonde in her arms and kissed her softly and gently, forcing herself to go slower than her raging libido demanded. She spent a very long time memorizing Blair's delicate features with her lips, lavishing attention on her brow, cheeks, nose, eyelids and chin. Then she moved down to her neck, so lovely and appealing. By the time she'd worked her way around to her ears, the smaller woman was squirming and moaning softly.

"I like this," Blair purred lazily. "You can do this all night if you'd like."

"I just might." Kylie leaned over her and smiled broadly. "You have the most kissable neck in the universe."

Blair tilted her head and swept her golden hair up with her hand, exposing even more of the pale, soft skin. "It's all yours."

Kylie got back to work, kissing and suckling and taking soft nips of the flesh, feeling her heart start to pound harder when Blair's body started to move slowly, grinding against her.

The kisses followed the edge of the silk robe, moving further and further south, until Kylie's lips were nestled at the top of Blair's ample cleavage. Kylie's hand was on the tie of the robe, and questioning blue eyes peeked up, meeting Blair's. The blonde smiled and stroked the dark head. She nodded, her smile growing when Kylie's eyes lit up in anticipation.

Tugging on the tie, Kylie smoothed her hand along the fabric, spreading it open and revealing Blair's luscious body. She stared, her mouth slightly open, taking in all of the wonders displayed before her. "You are so remarkably beautiful," she whispered. Then her hands were everywhere, stroking gently. She bent and kissed Blair's belly, then tapped on it with two fingers. "Go to sleep, Mackenzie. And don't worry when you hear your mommy screaming for mercy."

Blair grasped Kylie's shirt and pulled on it, with Kylie compliantly coming along. "Yes?" she asked, her head propped up on her hand.

"I feel awfully naked."

"You are naked, but there's nothing awful about it," the doctor said. "Awesome, but not awful."

"I'd feel less naked if you were more naked."

Kylie immediately reached for her top to pull it off, but Blair stilled her hands. "I've been fantasizing about undressing you, but it feels so good to lie here and let you kiss me that I don't have the energy."

"How about a compromise?" Kylie sat up and pulled her top off, then removed her shorts, revealing a lavender satin bra and panties. "You can take the rest off later."

"Such a brilliant mind," Blair said, patting her head. "It's sad you waste it on saving lives when you could be using it to have sex all day."

"I might change careers," Kylie said. She stood up and put her hands on her hips. "I hate to be so pragmatic, but we're gonna have rose petals … everywhere. Let me take the bedspread off."

"You are pragmatic," Blair agreed, "but pragmatic can be beautiful." She got up and helped Kylie carefully fold the bedspread so the petals stayed put. When they were finished, Blair lay on her side, facing Kylie, who quickly mirrored her position. The blonde trailed her hand up and down Kylie's body, the experience made even more sensual by the deliciously smooth satin. "Ooo … a thong," Blair purred. "Let's see …" She reached behind Kylie and palmed her ass, then gave her a hearty squeeze. "Yep, you've got the body for it."

"I don't like to brag …" Kylie said, smiling cockily, "but I've been told it's one of my best features."

"What's your best?" Blair asked, giving her a long kiss.

"That decision will be yours," the doctor said. "You've got the only vote that counts."

"I like the way you think," Blair said. "Now, where were you? Right about here, I think." She slipped her hand behind Kylie's head and pulled it down until it rested between her breasts. "Was that right?"

"Good memory," Kylie agreed. She placed a few dozen butterfly kisses on the fair skin, then gently rolled Blair onto her back. She pulled her arm from the robe, then turned her onto her other side. Now they were back to front, and Kylie started to work on her neck once more, smiling when she heard a soft mew of disappointment. "Don't worry," she soothed. "I won't ignore anything. Promise."

"But my breasts keep telling me they want to be kissed," Blair said. "You don't wanna make 'em mad."

Kylie slipped her hand under one of the pale mounds, hefting it in her hand. "Poor breast," she said, fighting her desire to scramble over Blair's body and drown in the luscious flesh. "All in good time. I promise."

"Fine," Blair said, "go ahead and worship the rest of me. I'll learn to bear it."

Kylie did just that, working slowly and patiently, covering Blair's entire back with gentle and not-so-gentle kisses. She paid rapt attention, coming back to every spot that appeared particularly sensitive or ticklish. She didn't torture her partner, but she kept turning up the heat, making the blonde groan and twitch her hips in frustration.

Blair had a ferocious grip on the sheets, but Kylie could occasionally feel the muscles in her arms start to relax. That's when she would find one of those particularly sensitive spots and swipe at it with her tongue or bite it just hard enough to make the blonde's hips buck. She kept her on edge the entire time, enjoying the delightful torment more than she could believe.

Finally, Blair flipped over on her back, staring at Kylie with desire-filled eyes. "The front of the body is getting jealous of the back of the body. There's gonna be trouble."

"Ooo …" Kylie soothed. She ran her hands lightly over Blair, touching every part, but not lingering anywhere. "Everyone's gonna be happy," she promised, speaking directly to the neglected body parts. "There are plenty of kisses for everyone. Just wait your turn."

Blair gurgled out another protest when Kylie scooted down to the end of the bed and spoke to her feet. "I hear that you guys feel neglected," she said, as if talking to small children. "Don't worry. Kylie's here, and you're gonna feel very well loved."

"It's not my feet that are throbbing," Blair moaned. "My feet aren't engorged with blood, swollen and pulsing and dying for attention."

"I need to make sure that doesn't happen," Kylie said. She grinned up at her lover and sucked a toe into her mouth. "Can't be too careful," she mumbled, her mouth very busy.

Despite Blair's earnest pleas, Kylie worked over the front of her body with the same single-minded determination, managing to keep the blonde on the brink of madness for what seemed like hours.

When Kylie worked her way up to the apex of Blair's thighs, she lingered for a few moments, reveling in the scent of the woman's desire. With great regret, she moved up to kiss a pale shoulder, then quickly made her way down Blair's arm, spending extra time on the crook of her elbow and her pulse point.

By this time, Blair was weakly thrashing about on the bed, trying to position herself so that Kylie would finally love the parts that most needed attention. The blonde finally asked, "Do you love me?"

"Yes, of course I love you," Kylie said, giving her a puzzled look.

"Then kiss my breasts," she said. "I ache for you, baby. Don't make me wait any more."

Kylie leaned over and kissed her hard, moving her body against Blair's. When she sat up, her face reflected rabid desire and true appreciation of the delights displayed before her. Her hands were steady as a rock as she brought them to rest just an inch above Blair’s breasts then trailed her fingernails over the skin with the lightest touch imaginable. “You are so stunningly beautiful,” Kyliemurmured, continuing to slide her warm hands over Blair’s breasts, her touch achingly gentle.

Her own hands were not nearly as steady as Kylie’s had been, but Blair fought through her nervousness and placed her hands on Kylie’s sides, then brought them up to unfasten the front closure of her bra. The doctor’s mouth quirked into a grin as she watched Blair struggle a little, then succeed in her goal. Blair’s smile quickly matched her friend’s as the creamy, white flesh spilled into her hands. “Wow. Just … wow. My imagination sucks," she said, grinning at Kylie.

Kylie sat up, and her bra fell from her shoulders. She braced herself on one hand as she discarded it. Placing a hand behind Blair’s shoulder, she drew her up, close to her, inseparably close to her, and kissed her, the passion flaring once again as their breasts slid together, rock-hard nipples pressing into pliant flesh.

Their kisses were so passionate that they tumbled over, back to the bed, never breaking the contact. Blair's hands were everywhere, feeling every delightful curve of Kylie's body. She returned, again and again to her ass, grasping it and stroking the baby-soft skin. Unable to stand even the small strip of cloth that separated them, Blair stuck her thumbs in the waistband of the thong and pushed. Kylie helped by lifting her hips, and then tugging the garment off.

Now two completely bare bodies rubbed against each other, both women thrumming with desire. Despite Blair's tenacious hold, Kylie started to move down, and when Blair realized her destination, she placed her hands on the doctor's shoulders and urged her along.

Kylie stopped and gazed at Blair's magnificent breasts. She pointed her tongue and flicked at the hard nipples until Blair threaded her fingers through her hair and urged her to open her mouth. As soon as Kylie did, her mouth was filled to overflowing with the alabaster flesh, both women simultaneously moaning in pleasure.

The brunette cupped one of the breasts in her hands and looked up. "I've never been happier," she said, her smile radiant and her eyes a bit glazed.

"Me, either," Blair said, beginning to pant. "Now show me that you're a breast woman. I haven't seen much evidence."

Kylie managed a rakish grin and lowered her mouth, keeping her eyes locked on her partner. She pulled a swollen nipple inside, then laved it with her tongue, sucking and tugging on it, gently raking her teeth over it. Blair's eyes fluttered closed, then her head dropped back against a pillow. Kylie continued to work, having to rhythmically clutch her thighs together to get some much-needed pressure on her aching clit. She suckled as if her life depended on it, filling her mouth to overflowing with the tender flesh.

Blair squirmed under Kylie's ministrations, her soft moans the only sounds she uttered. Kylie moved from one breast to the other, kissing and suckling each with equal fervor, her desire for the writhing woman growing stronger with each passing moment.

As her need grew, Blair was unable to lie still, continually trying to force more of her throbbing breast into Kylie's hungry mouth. She stroked her dark hair with one hand while cupping one of her own breasts in the other, offering herself up to the doctor's voracious need.

The pair was in such a frenzy that Blair lost track of her position. After a while, though, she realized she was on her back and had been for some time. She raised her knees to take some of the pressure off, but she was beginning to feel the discomfort. Kylie sensed her distraction and looked up at her. The doctor's eyes were barely focused, and she asked thickly, "Okay?"

"Back hurts," Blair said, wincing a little now that she was fully aware of the rest of her body.

"Can't have that." Kylie looked around, trying to figure out how to solve the problem. "I've got an idea," she said.

She helped Blair to sit up, then asked her to scoot down the bed a little. When she did, Kylie sat behind her, wrapping her legs around Blair's hips. When the blonde leaned back, she sighed with pleasure. "Nice backrest."

"Nice view," Kylie countered. She ran her nails lightly up the nape of Blair’s neck and into her hair, kissing the goose bumps in their wake, lingering here and there, trying to wait a few moments to make sure her partner was comfortable. When Blair started to squirm because of the kisses, Kylie knew her back was feeling better, and she got busy once again.

She started to play with Blair's breasts, using her hands, finding the experience just as enjoyable as when she mouthed them. They were so heavy and full, so exquisitely sensitive that the most gentle caress caused Blair's hips to sway sexily. Kylie was remarkably careful with them, but she was equally relentless with her explorations.

While Kylie continued to work, Blair's knees lifted until they were resting against Kylie's legs. The doctor saw a hand try to stealthily slip between her open thighs. She grasped Blair's wandering hand and brought it to her lips for a kiss. "That's mine," Kylie whispered. "No trespassing."

"I'll beg if I have to," Blair moaned pitifully. "You've got to touch me."

"I am touching you," Kylie said, giving each nipple a pinch that made Blair squeal.

The blonde grabbed Kylie's hand and tried to force it between her legs. "I want you here," she said firmly.

Successfully resisting, Kylie buried her face in Blair's neck and nipped at her skin, marking her lightly all along the flesh. "I wanna be there, too," she whispered. "I wanna make you happy. I want it to be so good."

Her hands slid down Blair's body, and the smaller woman's knees lifted even higher of their own accord, her hips blindly thrusting toward Kylie's touch. The doctor tried to soothe her, gently patting and stroking the fine blonde hair that covered her mound. Blair groaned in frustration, but it was obvious that Kylie wasn't going to be rushed. She continued to lightly and delicately touch Blair in the most gentle way, letting her get used to her caress before she moved on.

When Blair settled down, Kylie gently spread her outer lips and slid a finger down each side of her clitoris. "Oh, God, yes!" the blonde ground out. "Harder, please!'

Kylie suckled at her earlobe for a moment, feeling the woman in her arms shiver roughly. "Don't you wanna take this nice and slow?” she whispered. “I wanna touch you and touch you and touch you. Won't that feel better, baby? We'll let it build up until you can't bear to wait another moment. Don't you want that?" Kylie’s hands had remained where they were, holding Blair gently, but they were still.

"I can't bear to wait another moment now," Blair groaned. "Kylie, please, I feel like I'm on fire."

"Noo … " Kylie soothed. "We're just getting started, baby. Relax against me, and let me touch you." She slipped her fingers up and down, caressing with the force of a whisper on the wind. Blair thrust her hips in vain, then let her head drop against Kylie's chest. “That’s right, baby … relax.” Blair’s brow was furrowed in frustration, but Kylie knew that her unhappiness was only temporary.

The larger woman continued to gently rub every inch of the slippery flesh, sometimes using her fingernails to delve deeply into the folds. Soon, Blair's pleasure was evident in her moans, and she slowly moved against Kylie's fingers, riding a high that she never wanted to end.

The sensation built and built, but it escalated so smoothly and slowly that Blair didn't even realize she'd wrapped her hands around Kylie's forearms and was squeezing her tight. The doctor barely noticed the pain and knew she wouldn’t mind the bruises she was certain would result. She was so engulfed by the pleasure of the experience that she wouldn't have known it if time stood still. She was touching Blair in the most intimate way possible, and she'd never been happier in her life.

The quality and pitch of Blair's utterances changed, and Kylie knew that she was close. Touching her wetness with slightly more pressure, Kylie increased the pace, moving faster and faster until Blair cried out in a loud voice, and convulsed against her hands, thrusting her hips so forcefully that her ass slapped against Kylie's open legs. The orgasm seemed to last for a very long time, and Kylie held on tight, lightly stroking the quivering flesh until Blair finally relaxed against her — completely limp.

Kylie wrapped her arms around her and cuddled her tightly to her chest, murmuring soft, sweet words into her ear. She held her for a long time, the only sign of life in Blair, her still-rapid breathing. Finally, the blonde stirred, stretching her legs and then her arms. After another cat-like stretch, she flopped back against Kylie's body and draped an arm across her face. "I am dying, Egypt, dying." She craned her neck to look into Kylie's eyes. "What's the rest of it?"

Kylie laughed softly. "Uhm … something about not wanting to die until Cleopatra gives him a few thousand more kisses."

"Oh! Right! Let me think a second. I helped my mom when her theatre company produced this one when I was in high school. I'm sure I know it." She lay still for abit, then said, "Only I here importune death awhile, until of many thousand kisses the poor last I lay upon thy lips." She snuck another look at Kylie and said, "I feel just like Antony. Only I don't really think I'm dying."

"You're the first woman who's ever quoted Shakespeare to me after an orgasm," Kylie said. "Is this something I should routinely expect?"

"Only when you deserve it," Blair said, smirking. "That one deserves the entire St. Crispin's Day battle speech from Henry V, but I only know a few lines from it. “We few … we happy few …" She looked up at Kylie and giggled. "This is fun, isn't it?"

Kylie kissed her ears and her neck again, once more making Blair shiver. "Yes, it is. It's a lot of fun." She leaned close and whispered, "You seem to possess some definite bisexual tendencies. I hope I'm not overconfident, but I think I can flip your switch, Ms. Spencer."

"If I had been any more turned on, my central nervous system would have shorted out," Blair said, laughing.

"You know, that can't really happen," Kylie informed her. "I mean, you could possibly have a stroke, but it's not technically the same as shorting out an electrical system."

"How long have we been lovers?" Blair asked in an apparent non sequitur.

"Mmm … about an hour, I'd guess. Why?"

"'Cause you've already used up your allotment of 'I'm a doctor, and I know lots of stuff,'" she said, laughing softly. "I picked you for you looks, not your brain."

"Aww … do you think I'm pretty?" Kylie asked.

Blair swiveled her head around to look at her. "Are you kidding? Haven't I told you so a thousand times?"

"Uhm, I don't think you've ever told me," Kylie said. "Do you?"

Turning onto her side as well as she could, Blair looked up with her mouth open. "God, yes! I think you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen! You're … you're fantastic-looking, Kylie, and I can't believe I haven't told you."

"I don't think you have," Kylie said. "I'd remember."

Blair slapped herself in the forehead. "I feel like an idiot! You're always telling me how pretty you think I am. Why haven't I done the same to you?"

"I don't know. It doesn't bother me that you haven't. I was just wondering."

"You don't have to wonder any more, baby." Blair gave her a luminous smile and said, "I think you're absolutely gorgeous, Kylie, and I promise I'll tell you so every time it strikes me." She pondered the issue for a moment and said, "You know, I guess I'm used to lovers telling me what they think about my body and my face. Men don't seem to care what you think about how they look — as long as you tell them they have a fantastic penis, they're happy."

"Well, I'd like to think my vulva was the nicest one you'd ever had," Kylie grinned.

“I'm not the type to rush to judgment," Blair said. "I need to take a good, long look. Now would be good, I think."

"Now works for me," Kylie agreed, looking eager and willing.

"We just have to figure out how to get this ungainly body around yours," Blair said. "Got any ideas?"

Kylie scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed. "You know, in my fantasies, I'm always making love to you. I've never worked out the geometry."

"In my fantasies, I'm making love to you, but I'm not pregnant," Blair said, laughing. "I told you my imagination sucked!"

"This isn't a difficult proposition," Kylie insisted. "Let's just do this the easy way. We can get more creative later."

"What's the easy way?"

Kylie climbed out from behind her and placed a couple of pillows down. "Lie on your side and rest against those. I'll be right back." She was back in a flash, carrying Blair's body pillow. "I'll put this behind your back to give you some support, then we're good to go."

"Where do you fit?"

"Right in front of you," Kylie said. She lay on her side, facing Blair, sharing the same pillows.

"I like this," Blair said. "Looking at you this close-up is a treat. So easy to kiss you, too." She put her arm behind Kylie and pulled her close. They kissed for a long time, slowly stoking the embers that had begun to cool. "Such beautiful breasts," Blair murmured, touching them with the backs of her fingers. "And sooo sensitive." The nipples popped up immediately, red and ripe like a pair of raspberries.

"I've been on the verge of orgasm for about half an hour," Kylie whispered. "If I'm not sensitive, then you were right about my nervous system shorting out."

"See? Everybody thinks laypeople don't know anything until a nervous system blows."

"You know, I think I need to protect mine," Kylie said. "Why don't we get down to business?"

"I thought we were," Blair said.

"I swear that I love to be touched and stroked, but I can't wait much longer. I'm in pain."

Blair ran her hand through Kylie's curls, looking concerned. "Are you really?"

"Well … maybe not exactly pain …"

"You big faker. You're not getting off so easily, Doc. You tortured me forever!"

"I know, but I was torturing myself at the same time," Kylie insisted. "Can't you give me a little break?"

Blair gave her a facetious scolding look. "Oh, all right, but not until I kiss those breasts."

She started to bend to reach them, but Kylie scooted up to present them to the blonde. "Always willing to help a good cause," Kylie said. "Ooo … damn, I can't believe how sensitive they are."

Blair looked up, her mouth full of breast. "Too hard?" she asked when her mouth was empty.

"No, not at all." Kylie urged her head right back where it had been. "I'm very good about saying what I need. I'll tell you if I don't like something, and you'll be able to tell how much I do like something."

Blair gave her a wry smile and said, "I don't know why I haven't guessed that. You're a gabby little thing." After wrinkling her nose at Kylie, Blair got to work. She wasn't tentative in the least, which surprised Kylie a little. The blonde explored at her own pace, first licking the nipples gently, seeing how they reacted. She flicked at the hard tips, then ran her tongue around the areola, watching Kylie's face to see if she reacted. Back and forth she went from firm, pebbled flesh to the softer, smoother surrounding skin, experiencing the differences in texture.

Using the flat of her tongue, she started to lick Kylie's breasts like an ice cream cone, working all around the mounds. Kylie smiled down at her, one of her hands resting lightly on the back of Blair's neck. Experiencing Kylie this way felt so intimate — so close that Blair could have stayed just like this for the rest of the evening. But she hadn't learned much so far, and she wasn't going to stop until she knew what her partner liked.

Watching Kylie's face, she reached up and took one of the hard nipples between her fingers and began to roll it back and forth. That got the doctor's attention, and she pressed her hips against Blair's belly while letting out a soft groan.

Intrigued, Blair increased the pressure and twisted the nipple a little roughly. "Yeah," the doctor growled, her voice low and sexy. Blair sat up so she could reach both breasts at once. Kylie rolled onto her back to present herself more fully, and the blonde licked her lips at the mere thought of making the doctor make that sound again.

She plumped both nipples with her fingers, then squeezed each of them hard, her eyes sparkling when Kylie's hips thrust just as hard in response. Blair then bent over her and took a rosy red nipple in her mouth and raked it between her teeth, then sucked on it with vigor.

"Just like that, just like that," Kylie panted, her voice sounding hoarse and raspy. She quickly and repeatedly tapped Blair on the shoulder, urging her on, and the smaller woman realized the gesture was completely unconscious.

Blair suckled one breast until Kylie winced in pain, then moved to the other, going back and forth until her tongue started to ache. Just when she thought she'd draw blood, Kylie raised her knee and planted her foot on the bed. In seconds Blair could detect the scent of Kylie's desire, and she licked her lips, ready to move down and taste her. But the doctor grasped her hand and slipped it between her legs, moaning, "Touch me, baby, please."

Focusing all of her attention on this new delight, Blair touched Kylie's thigh and started to work her way up. But the doctor had an agenda, and she took over. "Suck on my nipples," she whispered. Blair blinked up at her, but did as she asked. Then Kylie took Blair's hand and grasped three of her fingers together and pushed them against her opening. "Come inside me," she said hoarsely. "In and out … yeah, just like that … perfect."

Kylie shifted her hips, opened her legs wide and started to touch herself, rubbing her clitoris around in a circle with three of her fingers. She started out fast and went faster and faster, desperately seeking relief. She got it when Blair sucked one of her nipples in and bit it, simultaneously pressing her fingers deep into Kylie.

"Yes!" she cried out triumphantly. "Yes! God, yes!" Her whole body shook and rocked, and Blair watched in amazement as a pink flush slowly covered her breasts and then her throat, her nipples fiercely erect. "Can you hold me?" Kylie asked tiredly. "I can roll over if you need me to."

"Oh, I can reach you," Blair soothed.

She tentatively withdrew, trying to pull out as gently as she could. Kylie stopped her at one point, murmuring, "Wait … wait … just a second." Her muscles were still spasming, and Blair could feel her wet flesh pulse against her fingers. When she'd opened up, Kylie took Blair's wrist and pulled the fingers out easily, then she rolled over and plastered her body against her partner’s.

Blair held her fevered body, stroking her damp skin and kissing every place she could reach. They lay together in silence for a long while, Kylie's breathing changing from quick and short to long and slow breaths. When she had recovered, she rolled onto her back again and looked at her partner, "I swear I don't always have to take over. But I was gonna die if I didn't get some relief, and I didn't want that on your head — especially your first time out."

Blair caught her nose and gave it a good tug. "You can tell me what to do any time you like. I like to work for an effective manager, and you sure as hell knew what you wanted."

Kylie looked at her thoughtfully. "That was a little different for me. I'm not usually into pain, but I had to have you bite me today." She shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows?"

Blair cuddled up against her shoulder and softly stroked her belly. "I had fun," she said. "A lot of fun. It was so cool to watch you and feel you get more and more excited. And when you came … with just a little stimulation, I could have come, too. It was sooo hot," she said, shivering at the thought.

"Huh," Kylie said. "Just watching me come could have gotten you off again. That's very interesting. I think we need to perform a little experiment."

"Such as?"

"Well, if you can almost come from watching, how much added stimulus do you need to come when you're not watching? This is something I need to know. Right now, as a matter of fact." She grabbed three pillows and pushed them against the headboard. "Sit up and rest your back against these," she said. Blair did as she was told, a smirk on her face. "Okay, now let me get into position." Kylie lay down on her side, her mouth exactly parallel with Blair's breast. She sucked gently on a nipple, while sliding her fingers into Blair's remarkably wet flesh.

"I love being partnered with a scientist," Blair sighed, as her head dropped back onto the pillows.

„G

Blair lay on her side, one leg and one arm thrown over her body pillow, her head resting on Kylie’s arm. Her lover was snuggled up against her back, placing delicate kisses all along her shoulders. “I dreamed this,” Blair murmured, her voice sleepy and soft.

“Dreamed … what?”

“That we’d just finished making love, and you were lying behind me, kissing my back.”

"When did you dream that?" Kylie asked, sounding equally enervated.

"The night I caught you and Julie groping each other on the sofa. I went to sleep, after masturbating furiously by the way, and I had erotic dreams about you all night long."

"You're such a little minx," Kylie said, her soft laughter making Blair's back vibrate.

"Yeah, I was in bed, dreaming about you, and you were next door having fun. I was more than a little jealous."

Kylie picked up her right hand and looked at it. "Hear that? She's jealous of you."

"What?" Blair asked.

"This is the only thing that got inside my panties that night," Kylie said ruffling her fingers in front of Blair's face.

"Are you serious? I thought you and Julie were … well, I thought you were well on your way to bed that night."

"You … don't … listen … to … me," Kylie said, taking a playful nip of Blair's back to punctuate each word. "I make love to women I love. I didn't love Julie, so even though I was massively turned on, I kept my wits and stopped before we got out of control. Your coming home when you did was a great help, by the way."

"Anything I can do to help," Blair said. She patted the bed in front of her. "Climb over me so I can look at you."

Summoning all of her energy, Kylie clambered over her lover, then settled down so they were facing each other. "Hi," she said.

"Hi." Blair stroked her face, then kissed her tenderly. "I'm so glad you didn't sleep with Julie. I love the fact that you set standards for yourself and do your best to stick to them. Even though it must have been hard for you to refuse her that night."

Kylie hid her face by snuggling it into Blair's neck. "You have no idea. When she started playing with my breasts, I almost came! Two years is a long time to wait."

"We'll make up for lost time," Blair said.

"If you want to make up for two years, you must have enjoyed your evening. Sure you don't have any complaints, criticisms, suggestions?"

Blair caressed her lover's cheek. “Not one. You, Doctor Mackenzie, are the most astounding of lovers. You made me feel beautiful and desirable and sexy. I felt absolutely idolized while you were touching me. You know, it’s been half an hour, and I’m still having aftershocks from that last orgasm — so I’d say you beat my expectations by a wide margin.” She kissed Kylie and grinned at her expectantly. “So, how’d I do for a rookie?”

Kylie wrapped her in a hug and kissed her repeatedly, her touch light enough to tickle. “If the Cubs had a rookie like you, they’d finally make it to the World Series,” she asserted. Her expression slowly grew serious, and she said, “You know, I’ve tried to shut down quite a bit for the last two years so that I didn't think of sex much. But now that my senses have awakened, I don’t think I’ll be able to go two days! It felt so unbelievably fantastic to have you touch me with such love. That’s what I’ve been waiting for, Blair. I’ve been waiting for the love.” Kissing her slowly, exploring her mouth for a long while, she finally lifted her head and murmured, “I felt so loved.”

"You always will," Blair promised. "Always."

„G

Half an hour later, Kylie was standing in front of the refrigerator, shaking her head at the dearth of desirable foodstuffs therein. “Why do we never have any good junk food?” She turned to Blair and said, “Oh, well, I can live on love.” She waited a beat for Blair to reply, then walked over to her, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

The smaller woman had her hand on her abdomen, and her face was tense. “My uterus is still pulsing pretty strongly, and it’s starting to worry me. I think I should call Monique.”

Immediately shifting into physician mode, Kylie said, "I have a disposable speculum in my bag. Let me take a look."

"Do you know what you're looking for?"

"Well, yeah," she said, slightly indignant. "I'm not a gynecologist, but I'd certainly know if anything was obviously wrong. I did a rotation in obstetrics when I was a resident, you know."

Blair pursed her lips and thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I don't think I want you to touch me clinically. I think it'd be icky."

Kylie bit her tongue and tried to think of Blair's feelings rather than her own need to help. "That makes sense," she said. "I only offered because you look pretty tense."

"I am."

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” the doctor said. “But if you’re worried, you should talk to Monique. Let me give her a buzz — then you don’t have to go through her service.”

“Kylie, I don’t want you to impose on your friendship like that. She has the service for a reason. I simply want her to call me when she has a minute and reassure me.”

The doctor sat down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar and drummed her fingers on the counter. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Why not? She's my doctor."

"I know, but she knows you're in the middle of a divorce. She might wonder …"

Blair touched her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Are you worried about what Monique will think of me?"

"A little," Kylie admitted.

"I think that's awfully cute," Blair said, running a hand through her hair. "Why don't I just tell her the truth?"

"That you just had sex with a woman?"

"No, you dope! That I just had sex with you."

"Oh, Blair, you don't wanna do that. You don't wanna come out to anyone this soon."

"Kylie, I don't wanna argue about this. I just want someone to help me stop worrying."

Kylie looked at her, a grin on her face. "I'll call my dad!"

"Your dad? You don't want me to tell Monique about us, but you're willing to call your dad to ask him about the intensity of the orgasm you just gave me. Do you see anything wrong with this picture?"

"It's just a medical question, Blair. What's the big deal? I think he'd like it that we trusted his opinion."

"Kylie, you've obviously lost your mind. Now, I can either call Monique, or I can just worry until this stops." She put her hand on her belly and said, "You know … I think it has stopped." She put two fingers together and flicked them at the back of Kylie's head. "You wasted so much time, the problem went away!"

"One of the first lessons I learned in med school," the doctor laughed. "If you make someone wait long enough, he usually gets better on his own."

"Or dies," Blair grumbled.

"Well, there's always a slight risk of that," Kylie agreed. "Stuff happens."

"Just for that, you have to go get the dogs from the sitter. And get some ice cream while you're out. I have to have mint cookies and cream, and don't even think about coming home without it."

Kylie shook her head, getting up from thestool. "I've been in a relationship for a day, and I'm already being ordered around."

Blair caught her before she could get away. "I'll only punish you when you're bad," she said. "Sadly, you're often bad." She kissed her softly, then turned up the heat a little when Kylie responded. "Thankfully, you're usually very, very good."

„G

Kylie came home with two happy dogs and two pints of ice cream, the second one of another flavor, just in case. The dogs, as always, knew exactly where Blair was, and they ran, in tandem, down the hall to her room. Kylie followed along and saw that Blair was on the phone. She blew her a kiss, then went and put the ice cream in the freezer.

Feeling a little at loose ends, she went into her office and spent some time on Medline, looking up information on the sexual response patterns of pregnant women. As always when she was searching for something in a database, other articles caught her interest, and she lost all track of time. It wasn't until her back began to ache from sitting in one position that she realized she'd been at her computer for over an hour. She got up and walked by Blair's room, finding her lying on the bed, talking to and petting the dogs. "Hi. Uhm, do you need some alone time?"

"No. I'm just too lazy to move. Do you need alone time?"

"No." Kylie was leaning on the door frame, looking very uncertain of herself.

"Come here," Blair said. Kylie did, sitting down on the bed. "What's going on in that pretty head?"

"Nothin'."

"Ha! There's always something going on up there." Blair tapped the doctor's temple and said, "Come on, tell me."

"Uhm … I don't … I'm not … sure how we should be around each other now. You know what I mean?"

"Unh-uh. Not a clue."

"Aw, come on. You must feel a little funny."

"Nope. Not a bit."

"Blair," Kylie said in a voice that came perilously close to being a whine, "you just had lesbian sex for the first time. That has to bring up some kind of reaction. It has to. And don't try to tell me you're not feeling funny, because you've been in here all by yourself for over an hour. That's not like you."

Blair stroked her leg, smiling sweetly. "Where were you for the last hour, honey?"

"On the computer. Why?"

"'Cause I was lying here, waiting for you to finish. You have to walk by my bedroom to go anywhere, so I knew I'd see you."

"Oh."

"I feel fine, Kylie. Really, I do. But I don't think you do. What's going on?"

Kylie blew out a breath, the force making her lips flap. "I've met a lot of lesbians in my life, and all of them, every single one, had pretty strong feelings about the first time she had sex with another woman. I'm afraid you're not facing your feelings."

"Sweetie, I am facing my feelings. I feel loved and cared for and sexually satisfied and very, very happy. Those are my feelings. But I also feel a little boxed in by you. You seem to need for me to experience things in a certain way, and when I don't … you're upset."

"I'm not upset," Kylie said earnestly. "I'm worried about you."

"You don't need to be," Blair said. "I'm an adult, Kylie, and I thought this through before I did it. I had no qualms before, and I don't have any now. I'm not that kind of person." She took the doctor's hand and chafed it between her own. "I told you last week that I wasn't a mad love kinda girl. Well, I'm not a mad kinda decision maker, either. I don't do many important things impulsively, and I never have. I want to have a relationship with you, I want it to be sexual, and I want it to be permanent. I'm not going to change my mind."

"Are you sure?" Kylie asked, looking at her through thick, dark lashes.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm sure. You're my love, and you're going to be until you're sick of me."

"Or you're sick of me," Kylie added.

"How could I get sick of someone who gets cuter every time I see her?" Blair asked, giving her a warm smile.

The blonde put a couple of pillows in front of her chest and urged her partner to lie down. Kylie did, facing Blair, her face nestled against the protruding belly. She pulled on the tie, letting the robe open, then bared her lover's tummy. "Hi, Mackenzie," she said, patting the skin gently. "Did you have a nice evening? Your house got rocked tonight, didn't it? We're trying to acclimate you to earthquakes before you're even born. See how well-prepared we are?"

Blair giggled, loving to watch Kylie talk to the baby like he was looking right at her. "Your house is gonna rock a lot, buddy, and I hope it doesn't bother you. But one day, you'll be outside with us, and you won't hear us making love — well, you might hear us a little, but you won't know what we're doing for years and years, and by that time, your mommy will probably have killed me."

Blair rapped her on the head. "I meant that in a good way," Kylie said, looking up. "I don't know if my heart can take many more orgasms like I had today. Oh, speaking of orgasms, I did some research while you were on the phone. I read a study that showed uterine contractions can last for up to an hour after a strong orgasm, and that it's nothing to worry about as long as they're not accompanied by pain."

"Far from it," Blair said, smiling. "They were accompanied by intense pleasure."

"So … did you really enjoy yourself tonight? Anything you wish I had done differently?"

"Hmm … there is one thing," Blair said.

"What?"

"You could stop asking me if I enjoyed myself. You know enough about the female body to know I wasn't faking it, Kylie." She stroked her head and said, "You were so confident when we were in bed that I thought you were over your anxiety about this. But now you seem worried again. What can I do to reassure you?"

"Nothin'," Kylie said. "I just have to remind myself that you're not me, and you're not a kid. Hell, you probably don't even think of this as a coming out experience."

"No, I don't," Blair agreed. "It's a falling in love experience. This doesn't change how I feel about myself."

Kylie stared up at her, unable to fully accept Blair's statement.

"It doesn't," Blair said, seeing the doubt in the concerned blue eyes.

"I don't get it," Kylie said, "but I guess I have to learn to accept it. I guess I don't have any option."

"Tell me how you felt after you kinda had sex with … IV." She smiled and said, "I couldn't remember which Roman numeral he was for a minute."

"I felt stupid, I guess. I'd been dating him for a while, and I loved kissing him and having him touch me, but it didn't ever feel very … uhm … I guess intimate. Yeah, that's it, it never felt intimate. It was kinda like masturbating with someone else's hand."

"Why'd you feel stupid, honey?"

"Because I didn't make him use a condom," she admitted, looking embarrassed. "Looking back, it makes me see how hard it is to convince kids to practice safe sex. I was a gynecologist's daughter, and I'd known about sex since I was a kid, but I still got into a position where I took a huge risk of getting pregnant. And I didn't even do it for myself. I did it because he wanted it so badly. When I got home, I lay in bed for hours, berating myself. I stopped going out with him after that. I didn't even want to have the temptation again."

"My poor baby," Blair soothed, stroking Kylie's head. "Everyone makes mistakes like that, honey. It's hard to be in an adult's body but still have a teenager's mind."

"I know," she nodded. "It was a hard time for me. I knew I was attracted to girls, but I didn't know it enough to do anything about it. I was in a strange place. I wasn't sure I was gay, and I wasn't sure I was straight. The fact that I got so turned on when guys touched me the right way only confused me more. I thought the fact that I could have an orgasm with them meant I might be straight."

"I understand what a tough time that was for you. You were trying to establish your identity."

"Yeah, I was."

"So, how did you feel when you had sex with a girl for the first time?"

Kylie smiled up at her, the sweetness of her expression making Blair's heart melt. "I knew I was a lesbian," she said. "It terrified me and made me face some things I'd been avoiding, but at least I knew where I belonged."

"That makes perfect sense. Tell me what was different about being with a girl?"

Kylie exhaled slowly. "Gosh. So much. I guess the biggest thing was the intimacy. I really opened up with Nancy. I let myself be very vulnerable and open with her. With guys, I always had my guard up, worried that they'd be too aggressive. But with Nancy — I let her touch me any way she wanted. And it didn't feel like masturbation anymore, either. She made love to me."

Blair hugged her as well as she could, given her limited reach. "You must have been so happy."

"Yeah, but like I said, I was frightened, too. I knew I'd eventually have to tell my parents and my friends. I was pretty worried until I got that all out of the way."

"Now that I understand what it was like for you, let me tell you what it's like for me," Blair said.

"Okay, but you'd better not say that this afternoon felt like masturbation," Kylie said, her eyes sparkling.

"I like masturbation as well as, or better than, the next girl, but making love is a whole different thing," she said, while tweaking Kylie's nose. "A whole better thing."

"Whew," the doctor said, wiping her forehead dramatically.

"We'll talk about today in a minute. First, some history. The first time I had sex with a boy, I didn't feel different about myself. I felt a little more mature, like I'd moved into the adult world, but that's about it. I was in love with my boyfriend, we'd been dating for a year, and I was on the pill. It just seemed like the next step in our relationship, you know? Kinda like you must feel now."

"Yeah, that is how I feel now," Kylie said. "How old were you?"

"I was a freshman in college, so I was seventeen or eighteen."

"Why were you on the pill if you hadn't had sex yet?"

"Because I listened to my mother, you big goof! She knew Jason and I were serious about each other, and before I went to college, she suggested I get on the pill if I was going to have sex with him."

"Wow, your mom's cool."

"She is cool, but she also knows me very well. She could tell it wouldn't be long before I had the opportunity to sleep with Jason, and she wanted me to be prepared. And since I didn't want to get pregnant, like my egg donor had, I was ultra careful."

"Right. I'm sure that was an issue for you."

"It was. Even though Jason was a virgin, I made him wear a condom. There was no way I was gonna have a baby until I was ready for one."

"Hear that, Mackenzie?" Kylie asked. "You're the chosen one."

"Yeah, I probably coulda whipped one out for nothing when I was eighteen. This little guy cost us a couple of Mercedes. Luckily, I think he's worth every penny."

"So tell me how you feel about today," Kylie said, getting back on topic.

"I feel a tiny bit like you did when you first slept with Nancy," Blair said. "I don't feel different about myself, but I do have to tell some people and face their reactions to my news. I'm not really looking forward to that, but I'm sure I'm not worried about it like you were. I'm an adult, and my parents treat me like one. Even if they don't like what I'm doing, they won't give me a hard time. They're just not like that. David and Sadie are gonna be hard, but again, what can they do? Sadie has to be nice to me just to make sure she gets access to Mackenzie. She's pretty powerless. And David can bite me! I don't give a damn about what he thinks."

"But you don't think you're gonna wake up tomorrow and look at yourself in the mirror and think, 'I'm a lesbian’?"

"No, honey, I'm not gonna do that. I didn't wake up after I slept with Jason and think, 'I'm straight!' Why would I do that now? I'm the same person I was a year ago, I just know something about myself that I didn't know before."

Kylie gazed at her for a long time. "It's really that simple for you?"

"Yes, it is. If you had tied me to the bed and made me call you mistress while you spanked me, I would have learned something else new about myself — if I'd enjoyed it. But I wouldn't have pulled the covers over my head and worried about being a masochist. It just would have been something I didn't know about myself. You learn things about your sexual self when you have a new partner. From you, I learned that I love touching your body, and I love how soft and smooth it feels. I love knowing what you're feeling … when you come, I know just how it feels, and it makes me even hotter for you."

"It does?" Now Kylie's eyes were sparkling again, but there was a definite sexual vibe coming from them this time.

"Uh-huh. And you know, there is one tiny complaint I have about this evening. I didn't get to explore you enough. You were so turned on, you couldn't wait … like I was forced to, I might add."

"Don't worry, you can explore anytime you want — as long as I'm not about to burst."

"I think I just have to get at you first," Blair said. "Before you're ready to explode."

Kylie smiled at her, then started thumping on various parts of her belly, trying to make Mackenzie respond. "I love doing this," she said. "I always wanted to before, but I thought you'd think I was crazy if I asked."

"I would have," Blair laughed. "Now I know you're crazy."

"I'm crazy about you and Mackenzie," she admitted. "Uhm … do you mind if I tell my mom?"

"No, of course not. You can tell anyone you want, honey."

"Really? You don't mind if I tell the guys at work?"

"Nope."

"My poker buddies?"

"Nope."

"David?"

"Yep." Blair caught her nose and gave it a tug. "He's my responsibility. I was gonna send him a letter, but I suppose that's the coward's way out."

"Hey, you don't have to be brave about this. A letter's plenty."

"Nah. I'll tell him in person. Then I know it's over. If I send him a letter, I have to wonder when he's gonna get it, then wonder how he'll respond. This way I'll know."

"Yeah, but you'll also be catching him without allowing time for it to sink in. He might be more upset if you do it in person."

"He might be," she admitted, "but I can't let that stop me. I don't have to think about it tonight, though. Unless a certain pretty woman keeps reminding me, that is."

"Sorry," Kylie said. "I'm just keyed up."

"Then let's relax a little," Blair said. "Come up here and lie by me. I wanna see those lips."

Kylie tossed the pillows aside and moved up so she and Blair shared a pillow. "Here they are."

"Now let me kiss them," Blair said, and Kylie willingly complied. She slipped her hand under Kylie's T-shirt, finding a soft, smooth nipple. "Not even hard yet," she murmured into the doctor's ear. Sliding her thumb over it just a few times had it plumped up and rigid. "So responsive."

"Uh-huh," Kylie whispered.

"I think this is a good time for me to explore a little, don't you?"

"I'm free," the brunette said, her eyes already closed.

"No, you're not," Blair reminded her. "You're mine. And I'm ready to stake my claim."

Kylie put her hands over her head and crossed her wrists like they were bound. "I surrender," she said. "Sweet, sweet surrender."

### Continued in Chapter 10

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