Awakenings - SF1 Read online

  Awakenings

  A glimmer of attraction, discovery of shared interests, growth of respect for one another, and the stirrings of desire. These are the building blocks for a nascent relationship. But so many more things are thrown into the equation. Family, friends, past relationships, social standing and life goals are just a few of the issues that will help support or destroy a new bond.

  In Awakenings, Ryan O’Flaherty and Jamie Evans, juniors at the University of California at Berkeley.

  Jamie is the only child of a prominent Bay Area family and has her future all mapped out for her. She will marry her fiancée in less than 2 years, he will work for her father’s law firm, and she will eventually parrot her mother’s life: supporting the right charities, attending the right parties, and fitting into the upper tier of San Francisco society.

  Ryan’s choices are far more numerous. She has nearly as many options as she’s had lovers since she stormed out of the closet when she was 17. Her life goals range from being a fire fighter to developing a cure for cancer. And given how much she’s accomplished in her life, she might get to do them all.

  The women meet in a psychology class—The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience. The class seems a natural choice for Ryan, but what would make Jamie, an English major, choose it?

  When they’re assigned to work on a series of projects together Ryan isn’t particularly surprised to find a seemingly straight woman in the class. She’s had more than a little experience in helping straight women take a dip in the lesbian pool. But Jamie’s inner confusion squelches any interest that Ryan might have had in giving her a little push into bed. They become friends—good friends, and soon become each other’s strongest ally.

  But as much as each woman wants to resist it, a smoldering attraction burns under the surface of their bond. Ryan wants only the best for Jamie and is willing to focus her feelings on their friendship. But Jamie’s resolve isn’t so strong. She finds it more and more difficult to keep her needs from destroying not only her well-ordered life, but also her friendship with Ryan. In Awakenings we share the struggles and triumphs of these two remarkable young women as they try to form a relationship. But that’s just the beginning… the beginning of the story of the rest of their lives.

  Chapter 1

  She grabbed the first shirt that caught her eye. In a casual move she slipped it on over the tank top she wore. The small blonde shop owner noticed that she did not look in a mirror to determine her satisfaction with the garment. It seemed as though she had an internal mirror to gauge her appearance. She stood for a moment or two until a look of pleasure overtook her handsome face. The shop owner met her glance as she made her way toward her beautiful customer.

  "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked, hoping to engage this woman in at least a conversation.

  "Yeah, I think I'll take this shirt," she indicated, passing her strong hands down her torso. "Do you think it suits me?" she asked with a twinkle in her clear blue eyes.

  "It definitely suits you, but then, so would just about anything I sell," the golden haired woman replied, openly admiring the statuesque woman.

  "That's the nicest compliment I've had all day," she drawled as a smile twitched her lips.

  "It's only 11:00 o'clock," she playfully responded. "I'll bet that you'll have more than you can handle by nightfall."

  Wow, she really wants to play. Well, I'm always up for a game...let's see how far she'll go.

  "Would you like to spend some of the day with me to help me fight off all of the compliments being hurled my way?" she asked with a wolfish grin.

  "I would," the shop owner stated hesitantly, as she darted a glance around the store, "but I don't have any other help today, and I'm open till nine tonight."

  "Hmm, that is late," the dark haired customer agreed with a regretful shake of her head. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows knit together for a moment and then her features broke into a sly grin. "How do you stop for lunch or a break?" she asked smoothly.

  "When business is slow I can just lock up for a little while." She blushed a bit as the implications of this thought and the knowing grin of her pursuer hit her.

  "I haven't seen another soul come in since I've been here," the dark woman said with a gaze that locked on green eyes.

  "I'm not sure I would have noticed if someone had," she replied, feeling just a little weak in the knees. She was astonished at her open flirting with this woman. This was generally not something that she did, but something about this woman called to her and she was unable to control the responses coming from her mouth or her body.

  "If you were to take a little break to nibble on something where would you go?" blue eyes darkening with open desire.

  Her dry mouth squeaked out, "I have a little office with a couch in the back of the store," and she felt her hand point weakly at a door in the rear of the building.

  "I'll be right back," soothed the stranger, as she made her way with confident strides to the front of the store. She glanced at the door and spotted a sign that mimicked a clock that read 'Will Return In' with little blue plastic clock hands. She moved the hands to noon, turned the sign around and slapped the bolt on the door in place. She was back at the small woman's side before the shop owner could take a step in either direction. The dark woman gently clasped her small hand in her own powerful one and guided her to the office.

  In less than the beat of a heart, she found herself sprawled against the worn dark leather of her couch, responding with ferocity to the caresses of her beautiful customer. The intensity of the touch and the powerful aura that radiated from this woman were truly overwhelming. She felt completely powerless to slow the pace or collect her scattered thoughts. She knew that this was very much unlike her, but she had no desire to stop the relentless assault to her senses. There was a fire within this woman and she needed to dive into the conflagration.

  She felt her clothing being gently removed...first her deep red French cut t-shirt, then her short black skirt. Both were tossed casually to the floor. She shivered a little at the coolness of the leather on her bare skin. The strong hands moved over her body rubbing her breasts through the lace of her bra. Then they slowly glided over her grinding hips to caress her curves through her silky panties. Those practiced hands then removed even these barriers to those fierce blue eyes and warm wet lips.

  Those lips descended on the small woman with a burning fire that ratcheted her desire up several notches. She craved more contact. She wrapped her fingers in the onyx tresses and ground the woman's mouth to her breasts, arching into the sensation. Reluctantly, she released her grasp when she felt the head sliding down her abdomen. She raised her legs and slid them around the powerful shoulders that paused above her for just a moment. She looked beseechingly at those clear blue eyes and uttered the only word that would tumble from her lips, "Please." She was met with a wide smile and a look of quiet pleasure from those beautiful orbs. The dark head dipped and tasted her passion, which flowed from her like lava, burning in its intensity. She gasped and tried to vocalize her pleasure, but was unable to utter more than a low growl. That tortured sound was met by an even lower growl that sounded like the contented murmurings of a panther over its kill.

  She thrust her hips at the mouth that covered her, watching with half-closed eyes as the dark head moved slowly between her legs. Long, blissful moments passed as she allowed herself to be completely consumed. But after too short a time she felt herself go rigid for a split second as she teetered on the edge of climax. One firm, wet kiss and she plummeted over, completely unable to hold back any longer. She grunted out her pleasure as she grabbed the dark head and pressed it against herself firmly. Finally she felt the mouth slowly still. She rested for a moment and then
felt delicate kisses begin to tenderly remove the traces of her passion. Her legs relaxed and she was finally able to speak. "That was wonderful," she languidly enthused to the dark head still nestled between her legs. The head tilted up and rested on her abdomen, smiling at her with twinkling eyes.

  "You did seem to enjoy it," the dancing beautiful blue eyes responded with a chuckle.

  "Let me return the favor," the small woman huskily responded as she reached up to unbutton the new shirt.

  "I wish we had time, but it's almost noon," the dark woman said with obvious regret. "The buying public is probably lined up outside your door. Remember, I did promise to only keep you for a little nibble."

  "There are plenty of other clothing stores on Telegraph Avenue," the golden haired woman responded lazily from her still blissful languor.

  "Yes, but none of the others have the great customer service that you offer," the dark woman teased. She was rising from the floor and straightening her clothing as she responded.

  "Are you really leaving?" the small woman said with genuine surprise. "But...don't you...I want to please you too," she begged.

  "You already did," said the smiling blue eyes. "I am glad I decided to buy this shirt, however," she indicated the rumpled garment with the wet marks gracing the placket. "The ah...design might not appeal to all of your customers," she stated with a quirky grin that lit up her face. "Although I think it will become one of my favorites," she added with a twinkle in those clear blue eyes. "Which reminds me, what do I owe you?"

  "I should pay you for that little lunch break," she said sheepishly. "Please consider it a small thank you gift."

  "Okay, but next time I'll try not to damage the merchandise before I've paid for it," she said with another twinkle.

  "Will there be a next time?" the honey haired woman asked tentatively.

  She was met with a confident leer, "Count on it." Then the tall woman turned and started for the exit, giving her one last dazzling grin as she paused at the door, and was gone.

  The small woman straightened her clothing and made herself as presentable as possible. She floated dreamily out of the office and walked behind the counter. Resting neatly on the glass surface were two twenty-dollar bills and a note that read, "Thanks for the nibble. You made my day."

  I hope I didn't make a mistake in taking this class. I'm just afraid I'll stick out like a sore thumb. And what I should wear? I really don't want to look too straight...hmm

  "Ohh, that feels really good sweetheart," Jamie murmured into Jack's ear. But as soon as the words left her lips she regretted her statement. In his defense, Jack was nothing if not receptive to instructions. Regrettably, he took them a bit too seriously. He seemed to reason that if something felt good, he should continue to do it until he was bodily forced to stop.

  "That's a little too much, Jack." Jamie did her best to keep the edge out of her voice. She sighed deeply and reflected that she was absolutely sure that she did not have instructions printed on her stomach but Jack acted as though he was following some kind of script. He was tender and sweet and very attentive. But he had no spontaneity...no intuitive sense of how to please her.

  He went back to his usual routine and Jamie fell back into her reverie. I can always drop the damn class if I feel too uncomfortable. It's really no big deal.

  Jack was close now and she whispered words of love into his ear to hasten his climax. She loved his ears...they were perfectly shaped and had just a light covering of downy blonde hair on them. When he was excited they glowed with an attractive blush that Jamie found irresistible.

  He threw his head back as his eyes became glassy and unfocused. He spent his release into her as she rubbed his back and murmured into his pink ear. After a moment as his breathing slowed he looked at her with concern in his deep blue eyes, "You didn't finish, did you?"

  "That's okay, Honey, you can get me twice tomorrow," she said with a sweet smile. "You look so tired, Love, put your head down here," she said as she patted her chest. He looked as though he wanted to argue, but she was gently tracing patterns on his back and he quickly lost his will to insist. He rested his sandy blonde head on her breast and was asleep in moments.

  She regarded his attractive tanned face with loving eyes. I am so lucky to have him, she thought. He tries so hard to please me. Not many men would be so concerned with my pleasure. I just wish I knew how to explain how I like to be touched. She lightly ran her fingers through the damp hair covering his forehead. I just wish I could relax about the whole thing, she thought. I'm only 20 years old and they say most women don't hit their sexual peak until they're in their 40's. Jack shifted a bit and nestled his head into her neck. Well, that thought really helped, she groused. I'll just wait 20 years to feel hot.

  Jack had turned 24 just the week before, the same day he had gone back to Stanford for his third year of law school. Their relationship had reached this stage of intimacy quite recently. Jamie's friends had teasingly called her the "last attractive virgin in California," for the past 4 years. But when Jamie made up her mind about something, it was tough to change it. She had decided when she was 15 that she would not have intercourse with a man she did not love.

  She steadfastly stuck to that resolve even when her hormones were on full alert. It had surprised her and shocked her friends that a guy like Jack had continued to date her for 2 years. But Jack, like Jamie, knew what he wanted and would sacrifice to get it. He was very happy when she relented at the beginning of the summer and they had consummated their love. They had spent a lot of time together during the past 3 months but Jamie continued to stay with her parents to avoid any questions about their relationship. It had been hard on Jack to see her for just a few hours a day, but he coped with the inconvenience like he did so many things.

  They were both looking forward to the start of Jamie's fall semester at Berkeley as a way to have more quality time together. They had made plans for her to come down to Palo Alto every Friday night to spend the weekend, and Jamie hoped these times together would give her some indication of what married life would be like.

  As she cradled Jack's head on her chest she reflected over the last 2 years of their relationship. When they met Jamie had just graduated from The Oaks, a private academy on the Peninsula. Much to her parents' displeasure, she was going to attend the University of California at Berkeley. Both of her parents were Stanford alum's and they were very much invested in having their only child attend their alma mater. But Jamie wanted to see a different side of the Bay Area. She knew that Stanford would be like continuing in high school. They same type of rich, smart kids. The same type of parties, although now in a fraternity house. She wanted to see the grittier, more vibrant side of the city that Hillsborough insulated her from.

  Jamie was taken with Jack from the onset. He was working as a summer associate at her father's law firm just getting ready for his first year of law school. She still remembered the night her father had brought him home for dinner. She took one look at the tall, well built young man and knew that her sparkling eyes were sending a clear message. Over dinner he responded with a matching level of interest and by the next weekend they went on their first date. He was tall, and well built with broad sloping shoulders and a runner's lean frame. He had a strong face with a perennial deep tan and his deep blue eyes were framed by pale blonde lashes. His hair was thick and straight, colored a nice shade of ash blonde that lightened a bit in the summer. He wore it parted on the side and relatively short in the back. There was usually a thick shock of it hanging just a little bit in his eyes. It gave him a cute, boyish look that Jamie loved from the start.

  He was such a welcome change from the boys she had known in high school. He was mature, and confident and very interested in her. But unlike her high school dates he did not seem only interested in her for sex. He wanted to build a relationship.

  As she watched Jack sleep in her arms she felt a fierce well of emotion build up inside of her. I'll try to be what you need, Jack. But I
need you to be patient with me while I figure some things out.

  Sunday morning dawned bright and clear. Jamie was up early, as was her custom. When Jack made his way into the small kitchen she was sitting at the counter drinking a large latte' and reading the New York Times.

  "Hi, sleepyhead," she teased as their eyes met.

  "Wow, I didn't realize how tired I was," he said sheepishly. "It's past 8! I never sleep that late." As he shuffled over to her she opened her arms and enveloped him in a big hug. "Maybe Dr. Jamie's sleeping potion was too strong for you," she murmured.

  He grinned down at her as he replied, "That reminds me, I need to give you a double dose of that potion today."

  "Okay, Doc, but at the moment I would like to get you into clothes, not out of them. Remember you promised we could go to church today."

  "Oh, right," he said as he remembered their plan. "Let me take a quick shower and we can get going. Did you want to hit the 9:00 or the 11:00 o'clock service?"

  "I thought 9 o'clock and then maybe we can play a round with Daddy if he's available," she said.

  "Sounds good, Sweetie," he said over his shoulder as he walked into the bathroom. "Why don't you give him a buzz?"

  The day was shaping up well. Her father happily agreed to play golf, but since her mother had just returned from her month long vacation to visit her family in Newport she wanted to come along and have brunch beforehand. Gosh, I can't believe I completely forgot that she was back this week, Jamie thought. I really should have called her on the day she came back.

  They settled into a pew near the front of the small, Episcopal Church on the outskirts of Nob Hill. As the choir began the opening hymn they turned slightly to watch the procession. As the acolytes, the verger and the choir filed past Jamie made eye contact with a gray haired elegant looking priest. She wrinkled up her nose a bit and winked at him. He gave her a fond smile and winked back.