Again, Addison stilled and buried her face into Mary Kate’s neck as if trying to rein in her impulse. “This is going to happen unless you stop it, Mary Kate.”
The whispered warning only fueled her hunger. She grasped the edges of Addison’s T-shirt and pulled it upward. “I want to feel you.”
Addison allowed her shirt to be removed and went to work loosening the buttons on Mary Kate’s top. Then she pushed it aside and lowered her body, bringing their warm skin together.
Mary Kate thought she might die from the softness against her. Her hands roamed across the smooth skin of Addison’s back, down the dip of her spine and back up the curved sides to start again. Craving the sensation throughout her body, she hooked her fingertips in the waistband of Addison’s shorts. “More.”
When Addison lifted her body to comply, Mary Kate pushed off her own pajamas. Then she held her breath in exquisite anticipation as their pubic mounds came together. “God, Addison,” she murmured, moaning with sheer bliss. Nothing had ever felt so right.
Another kiss followed, this one more urgent than the others, a signal they were past the point of no return. Addison’s hand covered and caressed her breast, teasing her nipple into a hardened tip. Then she dropped her head to suck it between her lips.
Mary Kate pushed her chest higher off the bed, willing it deeper into Addison’s mouth. She watched as if dreaming while Addison moved from one breast to the other, lavishing a tantalizing touch on the aching peaks.
Too soon, Addison left her breasts, but she didn’t stop. Instead, her warm, wet mouth drifted lower to the patch of curly hair.
Mary Kate covered the chill of her moistened breasts with her hands, kneading them in frenzy as her focus shifted to a stronger ache burning from her center. She could feel Addison’s warm breath against her thigh, and she instinctively opened her legs.
Addison’s tongue swirled through her folds, an intimacy beyond anything she had ever imagined. Every nerve in her body vacated its function to congregate in a single place, where a warm tingling grew more and more intense. When Addison closed her lips over that tiny spot, Mary Kate erupted, a million vibrations rushing like lasers to and from her core.
Nearly frantic with the powerful sensation, she jerked away uncontrollably.
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Addison whispered, crawling up quickly to envelop her in a calming embrace. “Easy. I’ve got you.”
Mary Kate shuddered again as Addison’s thigh pressed against her hypersensitive center. It was too much, and she squirmed to break free.
“Mary Kate, what’s wrong?” Addison shifted her body to the side but did not release her grip.
Words could not express what she was feeling—the most extreme embarrassment she had ever known. How could she ever have convinced herself that what she had felt during sex with Bobby was all she needed? He had never given her anything so intense, a physical and emotional release so profound that it left her weak and pulsing in its wake.
“Please talk to me.”
Mary Kate squeezed her eyes tightly shut to hold back tears, her body still trembling from what they had done. She felt like a naïve teenager who’d had sex for the first time.
“Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head and resolved to speak. Addison needed reassurance as much as she did. “I wasn’t expecting that. It was…” She drew in a deep breath. “I felt it all over.”
As if sensing her vulnerability, Addison pulled the sheet up over them, and then planted feather-like kisses on her brow and eyelids. “It was beautiful.”
“I didn’t expect it to be so strong. Or to happen so fast.” Most of all, she was surprised at how it had rippled suddenly from beneath Addison’s lips and spread throughout her whole body. It embarrassed her to think Addison had known her body better than she knew it herself.
“Sometimes it’s like that. It can—”
“I never had an orgasm like that before,” she blurted, feeling her face heat up as she took in the surprise on Addison’s face. “Nobody ever did that to me…with their mouth, I mean.”
Addison smiled warmly and slid her body back into place, resting her leg again in its intimate place. “Then I’m glad I was your first. You have the most wonderful taste.”
Bobby had kissed her there once, but only for a second or two. She had returned the gesture with a similar lack of enthusiasm, but—
Her panic rose as it suddenly occurred to her that Addison might want the same from her. She didn’t think she could do that.
“Will you let me touch you again?” Addison’s hand was already caressing her hip. “Please trust me. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
Mary Kate couldn’t have refused if she had wanted to. Her body was already rising in need, and when she felt Addison’s fingertips teasing her curls, she parted her thighs to grant access.
“This part of you, Mary Kate”—her hand slid through the wetness—“is the warmest”—her lips tugged gently at her earlobe—“and the softest thing I’ve ever touched.” Her finger gently entered the opening and began to stroke.
Though her hips wanted badly to thrust forward and take in more of the probing hand, Mary Kate didn’t want to make a fool of herself with another loss of control. Instead, she willed herself to remain still and concentrate on the sensations as Addison added another finger to her depths. Each time they withdrew, a thumb dragged gently across her clitoris, sending a tremor through her midsection.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” she whispered as the warmth bubbled up and gathered at the precipice. Suddenly, the walls of her insides clenched and gripped the fingers that filled her. Hot waves spilled over in rapid succession, finally receding to leave her numb.
Addison withdrew her fingers and dropped her forehead on Mary Kate’s shoulder. “You have no idea how good it feels to be pulled inside like that. Thank you for trusting me.”
“I do trust you.” Mary Kate was almost overwhelmed at the rush of emotions over what they had just shared. It was more than just the physical intimacy. Addison had vanquished her fears and doubts with more understanding and tenderness than anyone had ever shown her. “It’s like you’re looking inside me.”
Addison smoothed her hair to the side and delivered another kiss to her brow. “I will if you’ll let me.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Addison awakened just after dawn, pleased to find the warm body that had remained in her protective embrace through the night. They had gotten dressed again before falling asleep, and though she feared at times that Mary Kate would ask her to leave, Addison’s calming assurances had prevailed.
Mary Kate stirred and then blinked in obvious surprise at finding Addison looking down at her.
“Good morning,” Addison said, unable to mask her delight. “I’ve been waiting for ages for you to wake up so I could tell you about the most remarkable evening I had.”
“Remarkable, huh?” Mary Kate nervously fingered her collar.
“Truly.” She leaned down and stole a morning kiss. “I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, because I don’t think I could stand it if you didn’t.”
“You took my breath away.”
“I could say the same.”
“Except, I mean really. I had no idea…”
“It was beautiful,” she said, still hoping to reassure. “Your body was so responsive, so ready. All you had to do was let go.”
Mary Kate stroked Addison’s chest with her palm. “It wasn’t the sort of image I’d want a lover to see, especially the first time.”
“Why do you feel you have to project an image? You should always be who you are.”
“Nobody wants to look naïve in bed.”
So she was still embarrassed. “We’ve all been there. Besides, I meant what I said about being glad I was the one who shared that with you.” She kissed her again, this time on the cheek. “So thank you for waiting.” Mary Kate finally smiled, and Addison was flooded with relief.
“Do you think anyone knows about you sneaking down here?”
She shook her head. “It was dark. But I should probably go back and mess up my bed before the housekeeper comes around.”
“You really think they care?”
“It’s possible. Homosexuality is illegal here.”
Mary Kate’s eyes grew wide, but then she tipped her head as if pondering something. “It won’t be an issue tonight because we’ll be sharing a room.”
Yes, but would they share a bed? There was no mistaking Mary Kate’s uneasiness, and no opportunity for exploring its roots until they were alone again tonight. Addison didn’t think she would last all day trying to guess where they stood. “Are you okay about last night?”
Mary Kate stared back at her for several seconds—long seconds, since Addison was waiting anxiously for her reply.
“I just woke up a different person, Addison. It might not be easy for me to understand it all, but I can’t change what I know about myself now.”
Addison was gripped with uncharacteristic insecurity. “I want to be there with you when you figure it all out.”
Mary Kate pulled her down for a gentle kiss. “Good, because I don’t think I can do it without you.”
That was all the confirmation Addison needed that their night together had not been a colossal mistake. They said quiet goodbyes, and she tiptoed back to her room unseen.
Three hours later, they stood in the street in front of the hotel with the others, hoping for a break in the clouds that would grant them one last view of Kilimanjaro. The safari guides arrived before it happened, and they piled into their respective vehicles, vowing to meet up again at the airport.
Addison couldn’t contain her delight at finally being alone again with Mary Kate—alone except for their driver, John, a thin Tanzanian who spoke barely a word of English. They were situated in the backseat of a rugged Toyota Land Cruiser, the apparent vehicle of choice for private safaris. Their drive took them over a familiar route past the airport turnoff, and then onto a narrow two-lane road riddled with potholes.
“Maasai,” John said, pointing at the two red-clad tribesmen amid the small herd of cattle.
“Mei told us on the way into Moshi that the Maasai consider cattle to be sacred,” Mary Kate said.
“I read that too. There was a story not long ago about some tribesmen who were so saddened by what happened at the World Trade Center that they gathered twelve of their best cattle and made a gift to the United States ambassador here in Tanzania.”
“I’m not surprised. Mei said they were noble.”
Addison stepped out of her shoe and trailed her bare foot along the back of Mary Kate’s calf, well out of John’s line of sight. “So how’d you sleep last night?”
“Not bad.” Mary Kate smiled as a faint blush crept up her neck. “You?”
“Okay, I guess. I had a little trouble falling asleep. It was really hot in my room.”
Mary Kate nodded seriously. “Maybe it was something you ate.”
Addison covered a guffaw and felt her own face heat up. It was tempting to push the game a little further, but the sudden appearance of an ostrich in the field next to them reminded her they had come to view the wildlife on the outside of the vehicle.
John seemed to know the secret locations of all the invisible speed bumps and managed to miss the worst ones. Still, they were plentiful, random and not officially marked. In some places, the local warning system was a small stack of rocks on the side of the road. When they turned onto a dirt road, speed bumps were no longer consequential, as the road itself was as rippled as a washboard.
At midday, John pulled into a courtyard of shops and retrieved the three box lunches provided by the View Hotel. He exited the vehicle and opened their door gallantly. Without speaking, he indicated a wide porch that held a half dozen plastic tables and chairs and pointed also in the direction of restrooms and a small bar where they could purchase drinks.
Mary Kate bought Cokes for all three of them while Addison waited at a quiet table in the corner. It was their first opportunity to be truly alone since early this morning.
“Have you been reading my mind all day?”
“Yes, I think I have.” Mary Kate laughed. “And the irony is that I’ve come ten thousand miles to see exotic animals living in their natural habitat, and all I can think about is your foot rubbing my leg.”
“I’ll try to control myself,” Addison said, smiling playfully. “I look forward to spending every minute of the next four days with you, and the fact that we’re going to get to see these fascinating things together will just make them all that much better.”
“I appreciate everything you did last night.”
“Believe me, the pleasure was mine.”
“I don’t mean just the…you know.” She began to blush again. “I mean the way you talked to me. I’m really sorry that I—”
Addison interrupted her with a hand on her arm. “You have nothing to apologize for,” she said sincerely. “I care for you very much, and I hope I showed you that.”
“You certainly did.”
“You’re not the only one sorting things out today.” She smiled at Mary Kate’s quizzical look. “Believe it or not, I woke up a different person too, all because of how you made me feel. I can’t get this silly grin off my face, and it’s all I can do to keep my eyes off you.”
Mary Kate laughed softly and looked away, clearly embarrassed by the sentiment, but also obviously pleased.
“You might as well get used to it, Mary Kate.”
“Then you better hope we don’t get arrested.”
John signaled for them, and they walked back to the vehicle laughing. It was nice to have the air cleared, Addison thought. They seemed to do that regularly, but it always moved them forward.
Before entering the Lake Manyara Game Reserve, John pulled over and climbed onto the roof of the Land Cruiser. After releasing a catch, he folded back two panels, opening the roof of the vehicle so Addison and Mary Kate could stand for a safe and unobstructed view of the wildlife in their natural setting.
Within a few hundred yards of passing the park gate, they came upon three other vehicles stopped in the middle of the road. The party in front had encountered an elephant in the roadway, and following park rules, had to hold their position until the animal moved along. Unfortunately, the creature wasn’t pleased with the motorized challenge to his territory, and after a stubborn standoff, moved to charge the vehicle in front. All of the well-trained drivers responded in unison, reversing gears to back up quickly. Finally, the mighty beast turned into the woods, trampling the bushes and small trees in his path.
“Did you get pictures?” Mary Kate asked excitedly.
“A few, but I couldn’t see him very well from here. Why don’t we use my camera like we did on the mountain and I’ll send them to you on a disc?”
“Or you can take pictures of the animals and I can take pictures of you,” Mary Kate suggested, her voice low enough that John couldn’t hear. She raised her camera to snap a candid of Addison as she stuck out her tongue. “Now that’s what I call a wild animal.”
“I’ll give you more than a picture,” Addison said, feeling certain John couldn’t understand them.
When they cleared the elephant’s path, they stopped again as a family of baboons crossed the road in front of them…and another…and another. After almost half an hour, they had seen more than two hundred of the creatures, all passing within a few feet of the Land Cruiser. In some instances, the younger baboons rode on the backs of their parents.
Winding through the heavily wooded park, they got a close- up view of a small herd of impalas, then a fleeting glimpse of a dozen or so zebras as they rushed shyly into the bush, and eventually a long-distance look at two adult giraffes by the lake. Several trips around the lake yielded no new species, and finally John left the park for their first game lodge.
As its name suggested, the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
overlooked the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a natural zoo that spanned sixty square miles. The crater was home to hundreds of species, including zebras, wildebeests, hippos, elephants, lions and the very rare rhinoceros. Tomorrow, they would descend into the game reserve. But tonight, they would be treated to a buffet dinner and a traditional African dance program at the lodge.
Mary Kate waited with their bags while Addison checked in and picked up the key to their room.
“Lights out at ten o’clock, back on at six thirty,” she reported. “Our dinner slot is in fifteen minutes, and the show starts an hour later.”
“So we have fifteen minutes to freshen up?”
“Or to make out,” Addison said innocently. She opened the door to their room to find twin beds separated by a nightstand. Candles and matches were placed around the room for after- hours illumination. Since the crater ledge sat at over seven thousand feet amid dry vegetation, there were no mosquito nets. She took the bags from Mary Kate and tossed them aside.
They fell together onto one of the beds, kissing frantically. Addison resisted the urge to let her hands roam, not wanting to start something they couldn’t finish before their scheduled dinner. “I’ve wanted to do this all day, every time I looked at you.”
After several minutes, they tore themselves apart and left the room for dinner. There was a show—dancers, costumes, drums. It was all a blur to Addison.
When they returned to the room, she took a quick shower and slid naked into bed while Mary Kate finished up in the bathroom.
When she emerged, Addison raised the covers and offered the space next to her. By the familiar candlelight, she watched with growing anticipation as Mary Kate dropped her pajamas on the floor and climbed into bed alongside her.
Addison wasted no time in picking up where they had left off the night before, marveling at the easy way they moved together. She could feel Mary Kate respond. Everything she touched or kissed brought a gasp or a tremble, but it was clear she was holding back, as if afraid to let go. “Listen to your body, Mary Kate. It knows what you want. Let go, and I’ll keep you safe,” she whispered.
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