In a sudden frenzy, I unzipped her pants and pushed them along with her hose down her legs. Her panties matched her bra, and her scent wafted to me. It was all dark chocolate, vanilla, and a trace of musk, and I inhaled greedily. I leaned forward and pressed my lips onto the base of her neck. Her silken hair caressed my face and I tasted her skin with pleasure. Legs unstable, I forced myself to remain standing.

Miriam's arms went around my neck as I nibbled her skin, tracing my way up to her mouth. Our kiss was feverish. "Miriam," I whispered against her lips. "Your bedroom?"

"This way." She took me by the hand and guided me through a small, but immaculate, apartment. Her bedroom was decorated in shades of white and grey, and the queen-size bed beckoned us with its velvet charcoal cover and a mult.i.tude of pillows.

I continued to lead, since Miriam seemed to sense that I was more comfortable that way. "Undress me," I said and placed her hands on the b.u.t.ton of my slacks. "I need to feel you, skin on skin."

"I'd love to." Miriam's nimble fingers unzipped my slacks and pushed them down. Soon Miriam had me in the same state of undress as herself. "Oh my..." She swallowed hard. "Please..."

I wasn't sure what she was begging for, but I knew what I wanted.

This was not going to be a fast, mindless coupling. I wanted this moment of pa.s.sion to last, and unless I'd become completely inadequate in reading other people, so did Miriam. There was no need for power games, but it was in my nature to take charge. I did what felt right and moved onto the bed, stacking a few pillows in the center of it. ''Trust me?" I asked and patted the pillows.

Miriam wet her lips and joined me on the bed. "How do you want me?" she asked with a husky voice.

''Naked, first of all." I smiled and cupped her cheek. "I'm going to make you feel so good." I brushed my thumb across her lower lip and her tongue immediately darted out to lick it.

I reached around her and unfastened her bra. It slid slowly down her arms and ended up on her lap where she knelt next to me. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were young, pert, and with plump, dark brown nipples. My mouth watered only to dry up instantly when I began to push her panties down. A neatly trimmed patch of hair did very little to hide her s.e.x, and the engorged folds drew me in and I had to struggle not to spread her open and plunge my fingers inside right away.

Miriam managed to kick off her panties without changing position as she reached for the hem of my sports bra. She pulled it off and smoothed down my hair.

"Like spun gold," she murmured and raised a tress to her lips and kissed it. My heart ached with the tenderness of her gesture, and I trembled when she removed the last of my clothing.

I needed to feel her against me. I pulled her tightly to me and reveled in the sensation of her hot, slightly damp skin. Miriam groaned and I echoed her as we kissed again.

"G.o.d, Miriam, you're so wonderful, so s.e.xy," I murmured in her ear. "I can't wait to have you, but I don't want to rush this. I want to pleasure you, so...tell me if I do something you don't like, okay?"

"I can't imagine you would," Miriam whispered back, her eyes dark with arousal. "Just touch me. Anything."

I pulled the small stack of pillows closer. ''Then get on these pillows so I can give you your ma.s.sage."

I half expected her to decline since getting on the pillows meant having her well-rounded bottom in the air and quite exposed. Such a position is vulnerable, perhaps too much so.

Miriam didn't seem to be of that opinion. She moved with grace and placed herself on the pillows as she pulled one more from the larger pile to hold on to. "Like this?" she asked huskily.

Oh, d.a.m.n. Yes! I stared at the alluring sight before me. Miriam kept her legs slightly spread and her a.s.s was elevated, which made it possible for me to see everything. The dark shadows between her legs were full of secrets, and the scent of her arousal was almost more than I could bear. "Yes." I slid my fingers across her back and then repeated the caress with my whole hand, pressing gently. Miriam moaned and shifted a little. I kept up the almost-soothing motion as I wanted her to be comfortable with my touch, but also because it felt so good just to stroke her.

I ma.s.saged her shoulders and traveled up and down her spine several times before I moved to her legs. Her thighs trembled as I caressed them and I could see a dark patch on the top pillow underneath her.

I finally let my hand make contact with her bottom. I kept the caress light, teasing, to begin with. Miriam wiggled and turned her head toward mine with a whimper. "Ellie...kiss me..."

I was happy to oblige. I took a firmer grip of one b.u.t.t cheek as I deepened the kiss. I examined every part of her mouth and lips as I kneaded her a.s.s. Miriam moaned out loud with every breath. I got up, coaxed her legs farther apart, and sat between them. With my right hand I parted her folds and found her rigid, drenched c.l.i.t. Once I had it firmly between my fingers, I moved over her and pressed my b.r.e.a.s.t.s onto her back. My hand was pinned between us, but I didn't need much s.p.a.ce to milk her c.l.i.t. With small insistent caresses I moved my fingers in a pattern that elicited even louder moans and whimpers from Miriam.

Her cries of pleasure made me wetter and I rubbed my center on the curve of her a.s.s. "That's right," I whispered in her ear. "You're so wet. So hot. And all this for me?"

"For you," Miriam groaned. "Oh, yes, Ellie, for you."

Her hoa.r.s.e voice nearly did me in. My own c.l.i.t twitched hard several times and I feared I would explode before she came, and I didn't want that. I wanted to pleasure her, to give her what she dreamed of when she wrote those notes...for what she did when she broke my solitude.

"Ellie! Go inside...please!" Miriam was undulating hard against my hand and it was easy for me to push my thumb inside and still keep in contact with her c.l.i.t. She gave a loud wail and tugged at the pillow she was hugging. "Oh, yes!"

I heard her voice turn huskier, and a fine shimmer of sweat beaded at the nape of her neck. I brushed my lips over the fragrant tresses and murmured my encouragement. "It's okay to come. Just let go, baby. Let it come."

Miriam was sobbing out her excitement, and I pushed my thumb farther inside, curling it slightly. Her o.r.g.a.s.m started with small flutters, which grew into tight convulsions around my finger. Miriam's c.l.i.t throbbed and grew impossibly large while more wetness coated my hand. I was a part of her body, and it seemed to welcome me in as Miriam's o.r.g.a.s.m went on and on.

I was almost envious at the length and magnitude of her release, but also proud that I was able to bring her such pleasure. My body shivered against Miriam's as she rolled over and turned to me.

"Ellie," she murmured and held me close. "Oh, d.a.m.n..." Miriam had tears in her eyes, and I thought she was overwhelmed by her own reaction.

"You're fine." I kissed her forehead and then her mouth. "I'm here."

"You are. You really are." Miriam sounded half in disbelief. "I've dreamed of this for so long."

"You have?"

"Yes." She sneaked one hand down between us. "I've dreamed of being with you and touching you...like this."

Small fingers slid along my drenched s.e.x and I willingly spread my legs. I hooked one thigh across Miriam's hip as the burning sensation sent new tremors through me. She found my c.l.i.t easily and circled it with quick fingertips. I gave a m.u.f.fled cry as I pressed my lips into her neck and bit down on her damp skin. My center was burning and I knew it wouldn't take long until I came. Almost afraid of letting go, I tried to hold back the o.r.g.a.s.m, but she brought her other hand down between us as well and began to push two fingers inside me.

I rolled over on my back and she followed me in a fluid motion.

She only let go of me with one hand and it returned instantly, this time followed by Miriam's hot lips and her very agile tongue. I gasped aloud and arched my back when she flicked her tongue over my swollen c.l.i.t and sucked at my folds repeatedly. It was right about then that I learned that I'm not above begging.

"Please, Miriam, please...take me," to I whimpered in a strange and alien tone. "Don't tease. Just do it."

More fingers filled me, stretched me, and it was such an extraordinary feeling. She possessed me and I happily surrendered. I felt safe, even though we were virtually strangers. Or perhaps because she was a stranger. Waves of heat washed over me, closed around me, endless and overpowering. The o.r.g.a.s.m erased everything else from my consciousness for precious seconds. My s.e.x burned, and only these waves could put out the unbearable fire.

"My sweet Ellie." Miriam's voice whispered terms of endearment in my ear. "You're so beautiful. You come so pa.s.sionately. " She drew on the last words as if tasting something delicious.

"Mmm..."

"Come here." For being so small, Miriam was remarkably strong, and she held me safely in her arms for long moments in silence. I curled up, sated for now, and protected.

"Thanks."

"No need for thanks, but you're welcome anyway." Laughter permeated Miriam's voice. "G.o.d, you're the s.e.xiest, most gorgeous woman I've seen or been lucky enough to hold in a long time."

Miriam looked up at me with her dark eyes and I saw how kiss- swollen her lips were, how her eyes shone with what looked like happiness. "I still have no idea what you see in me," I sighed, but couldn't help but smile. "But I'm glad you persevered."

"I'll make it obvious with time, what I see in you." Her face flushed. ''That is, of course...if you want to see me again. I...I..."

It was painful to see her pretty face so uncertain and to hear her uncertainty. "Yes. I do want to see you again."

Miriam looked relieved and she quickly kissed my chin. "Good."

I let my eyes roam her body and a new surge of s.e.xual energy stirred in the center of my stomach. Her nipples were still rigid, and they were irresistible. I lowered my head and sucked the closest one into my mouth. G.o.d. She tastes so good. Ripe and just the right size, her nipple filled my mouth, and my sucking motions made her whimper.

"Ellie! Yes, yes." Her voice trembled and her fingers combed through my long hair over and over. ''That's it."

As I worked her nipples Miriam was squirming, spreading her legs wide and tugging at me.

"I need you. I'm burning up. Just feel how wet you've made me.

Feel it."

I did. I plunged two fingers inside her without hesitation, and they met no resistance at all, merely silken wetness that enveloped me. I looked at her red s.e.x and I knew it was now my turn. Her taste was a mix of something incredibly sweet and spicy, and I lapped greedily at her.

Miriam hooked her legs over my shoulders and kept them open as wide as I imagine it was possible. She gave me wonderful access to her vulnerable folds and I sucked at them gently as I kept up the steady movements with my hand. I'd already added more fingers and knew from the snug fit how full she must feel.

I moaned into her and nibbled gently at the outer lips. "So good."

"Yours!" Miriam cried out and at that, I locked my lips onto her c.l.i.t and sucked it hard.

She came with a sharp cry that dwindled into sobs and whimpers.

Miriam undulated over and over into my mouth and I made sure I didn't let go. Her o.r.g.a.s.m lasted even longer this time and toward the end, I knew I didn't have long to go myself. When her tremors had subsided, I flipped her over on her stomach and I stretched out on her back.

"You drive me insane," I growled in her ear. "You're so f.u.c.king beautiful." My language was deteriorating, a sure sign that I was losing control. "Oh, G.o.d, Miriam..." I slid my legs down on the bed until I straddled her a.s.s. Pressing my heated s.e.x into her, I rubbed my aching c.l.i.t against her sweat-slick skin. "I'm going to come."

"Come, then," she groaned and pushed back against me. "Take my a.s.s like that and come for me."

Her language and the way she spoke, in a pressed, pa.s.sionate tone of voice, nearly did me in. I moved against her, with her, and she was right there with me, urging me on. Her voice entered me as if she'd pushed her fingers inside again, and I needed...more. Just a little more, to push me over. I pressed my hands in between her and the mattress and found her hard nipples.

Her cry, and the way her body tensed, was all it took. My c.l.i.t erupted and shot bullets of pleasure through my legs and my abdomen.

My own nipples burned where I rubbed them against Miriam's back. In wave after wave, the o.r.g.a.s.m took what strength I had left, and I slumped at Miriam's side on the bed, sweaty, tousled, and wetter than I'd been in a long time.

"I've got you." She wrapped one arm loosely around my waist, and it kept the connection going.

"Yes." It was all I could muster as I tried to find my bearings.

"You're amazing." Miriam was gasping for air and I realized that she had come again with me.

"You make me forget about everything else," she said. "And I love it."

I couldn't stop the satisfied, broad smile from appearing on my face. "I'm glad." I closed my eyes and listened to my heart slowly settle back to normal. "I'm really glad that I came home with you."

"I wasn't sure I was ready," Miriam said softly, ''but I'm glad you noticed me."

COMING TO A HEAD.

ANDREA MILLER.

imee's soft, pink tongue wrapped around verb conjugations with a grace rare in French 101 . And her first note (neatly A folded and furtively pressed into my hand) said she planned to major in the language-for her the next best thing to aesthetics.

Aimee hadn't wanted to attend university, but her parents had said they wouldn't pay for her to muck with lipstick. Looking at her big eyes and slender, snappable limbs, I would decide she'd enrolled because she was essentially a good girl. Then, looking at her chiselled cheekbones and straight back, I would decide that she'd enrolled because she was secretly sharp-shrewd. The compliant Aimee, after all, had a sw.a.n.ky apartment and a silver sports car. She didn't need a part-time job and she had ample pocket money for the creams and powders with which to practice technique.

Of course, by the end of September Aimee and I were as thick as thieves and she was practicing on me. On Friday nights she'd paint my lips a glossy red, perfect for dancing. And on Tuesdays she would slick hot wax on my calves, leaving me stone smooth. Weeks slipped by like this until it was mid-November. Outside, cold, the trees stripped bare.

Inside, a warm, yellow light from Aimee's lamp.

"Hmm, how should we do this?" she murmured, fingering a strand of her blond hair. "I know-you lie on the bed."

Aimee had never before given anyone a bikini wax and I'd never had one done. But for the past week she'd been insisting that men like panties with a high-cut leg and that the style required a little grooming.

As an incentive she'd even bought us lacy lingerie treats wrapped in tissue paper.

She laid an old sheet over the duvet and tested the temperature of the wax. "Perfect," she said. "Are you ready?"

We both looked down at my black pants, still neatly b.u.t.toned up, and a film of sweat suddenly glossed my skin. All my life I'd tried to avoid naked moments at sleepovers and in locker rooms. Moments just before nighties or gym shorts when other girls might catch a glimpse.

And now here was Aimee asking me to be more naked than I'd ever imagined and somehow I couldn't avoid her. The rhythm of her voice was too compelling. The slope of her neck.

Fingers trembling, I undid the b.u.t.tons one by one. Hesitated, then rolled the fabric down the length of my legs. But Aimee still stood waiting, looking at my thin covering of white satin. Finally I took a deep breath and pulled my panties off.

The bed had mounds of plump pillows and a wrought iron frame with shiny bra.s.s b.a.l.l.s. I sat down and felt the sheet, cool against my bare skin. "Keep your b.u.m close to the edge,'" Aimee said. "Lie down and let your legs dangle off the side."

As I got into position a blush burned from the tips of my ears to my chest. And I felt strangely like a mermaid or seal. Nothing separate about my legs. No possibility of a gaze falling between them.

Aimee sat down on a chair she'd dragged next to the bed and began to snip at the flat top of my triangle with tiny scissors. At first her touch jolted me like a bite. But quickly, I realized that being worked over with a cold silver mouth and warm fingers was not so terrible. In fact, it was giving me a strange, tingly feeling.

As Aimee made her way to the tip of my triangle, I let her part my thighs. My folds bloomed and I imagined how the glistening ruffles must look to her. I was now beginning to understand that my shame was burning into pleasure and the realization brought me, full-force, back into hot shame. I didn't want Aimee to know how delicious it all felt. I wanted her to stop; I wanted her to continue. I couldn't help but squirm.

Aimee's eyes-and mouth-were so close to me I could feel her soft, warm breath graze my now-clipped fur. She ran her fingers through her handiwork. "Beautiful," she said. "Now we're ready for the next step."

The wax, hot but not painfully so, was the color of honey and sticky like it, too. Aimee dipped a flat piece of wood into the vat and used it like a paintbrush to slick a small section of my hair. Then she pressed a thin, white cloth into her gooey art and in a single quick movement, she held down my skin with one hand and ripped the cloth off with the other, taking my hair with it and leaving a pink, tender spot.

Again and again Aimee slicked on wax and pulled it off. And I winced each time she yanked, but the pain felt necessary and right. Like it was my punishment for the pleasure I'd taken in her softer touch.

Finally, when I had a neat triangle edged with what felt like fire, Aimee rubbed me with a soothing cream. The tips of her long hair brushed my inner thighs.

"Let's see how you look in your new panties," she said, gathering up the discarded strips of cloth and putting the lid back on the cream.

I wobbled to Aimee's dresser and found the panties in a bag between bottles of perfume. I stepped gingerly into each lavender leg, careful not to sc.r.a.pe the lace on my raw skin. And then I modeled for Aimee. Making a catwalk out of the bedroom. No longer shy.

''Next time," Aimee said, fixing me with her blue eyes, "let's give you a sphinx."

"What's that?" I wanted to know.

''That's when we take it all off-make you bare like a little girl." I shivered then, thinking how much it would hurt. How shamefully wide I would have to spread my legs and how good it would feel to have Aimee ma.s.sage cream into every pink crevice. My breath caught in my chest and I felt a quick throb between my thighs. It would be so hard not to squirm, I thought. So hard not to squirm toward her warm breath and agile tongue.

I looked away and hurried to find my clothes. My new panties were damp with sticky traces of wax...and something else.

A few weeks later I was talking long distance to my mother. The reproach in her voice was heavy like winter layers and I was wavering, the phone cord drooping. Then I pictured Mum's fat fingers closing over chunks of fruitcake and Aimee driving away in a streak of silver. And I was suddenly firm; I was going, too. As soon as we finished exams Aimee and I were driving to Florida-to her grandmother's house. Her parents wanted to buy us plane tickets because they thought highways and motels could be dangerous for two lone young women. But Aimee sweet-talked their blessings out of them. We thought driving would be an adventure. And truly, it was.

We drove down the coast, peeling off layers with the crossing of each state line. We made up stories about the cars we pa.s.sed and changed our own ident.i.ties in every greasy spoon. But soon the sun was a hot yellow-white and we had the windows rolled down, our hair whipping in the wind. We had arrived.

After a sultry Christmas that smelled of salt and suntan oil, our skin was golden for New Year's Eve and we dressed in little more than heels and perfume. Aimee bad gotten her hands on fake IDs and the plan was to have our midnight kisses at a dance club. "Since I'm driving, I'll just have one drink," Aimee said. "But you have as much as you like."