Smooth Sailing

by Susan X Meagher

  “I don’t know. Do I?”

  “Yeah. I think you do. Go below and get one that’s in a pouch marked 24-225.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  “Captain,” Kaatje called after her. “I’m the captain.”

  Chapter Six

  THE SUN WAS starting to set by the time Laurie had exploited all of the available photographic opportunities. Kaatje then took a few dozen of Laurie: sitting on a cushion, standing on the deck, acting like she was going to jump off the boat and, of course, holding the wheel.

  A sense of real melancholy descended on Laurie as she thought about the end of the day. Being with Kaatje had seemed like meeting a new kid in the park when she was young. Someone you clicked with, who thought you were funny. Someone who knew what kinds of games you liked and fit right in without asking a bunch of questions. But in the back of your head you knew you’d never see the kid again. It was fun because you could be anyone you wanted to be, but it was all too brief. And when you got home you had to get back into the “you” that everyone knew.

  “Now we can relax and wait for the sun to set,” Kaatje said. “I think I’ll set the anchor. Want a drink?”

  “Sure. What do you have?”

  “Name it.” Kaatje went to the bow, opened a small door in the deck, took out some sort of device and pressed a button. The anchor shot off the bow and splashed noisily into the water. Yards and yards of chain followed, then Kaatje returned to the captain’s chair, turned on the engine and backed up until the anchor caught. She reappeared by leaping onto the deck just inches in front of Laurie, startling her. “What’ll it be?”

  “How about…vodka and tonic.”

  “Excellent. I’ll have the same. Be right back.”

  Just minutes later, Kaatje returned and handed Laurie a glass with a flourish. “I pour a lot of rum out here, but I’ve never developed much of a taste for it. I stick to vodka, beer, and wine.”

  “I’ve had a lot of sake the last few years and I don’t think I’ll ever love it. Vodka’s my favorite, but I like beer on a hot summer day.” She raised her glass and toasted. “To a great, and surprising day.”

  “Those are the best kind.”

  “I probably shouldn’t drink, since I have a blazing headache, but what the heck.”

  “From the sun?”

  “No. Stress. I’ve gotten used to them.”

  “Want a hand?”

  “At what?”

  “I know a little acupressure. It helps sometimes.”

  “Uhm, sure. Couldn’t hurt.” Yeah. Sure. Watching the sunset with a pretty, flirtatious lesbian, having a drink or two, letting her work on your muscles. What could be dangerous about that?

  Positioning herself so she could put the tips of her fingers just over Laurie’s temples, Kaatje pressed with gentle but constant pressure.

  “Mmm, that’s…interesting.” It felt like having her head in a vise, but the pressure was strangely soothing.

  Kaatje let go, then put her thumbs on the back of Laurie’s neck and pressed again.

  “You know, it feels a little better.”

  “Give it time. It usually takes a few minutes for the blood vessels to open up and relieve the pain. Let me do a few more.”

  “No arguments.” Laurie sat there placidly while Kaatje applied firm pressure to several spots on her head, then moved down to her neck and shoulders.

  “These muscles are as tight as violin strings.” Kaatje increased the pressure on the big muscles that ran from Laurie’s neck to her spine. Then she started to rub them, digging her thumbs into them until Laurie whimpered. “Just bear with me for a minute,” she soothed. “This will help.”

  Kaatje’s confident manner inspired Laurie to let her continue, even though it was painful. As soon as she eased up on the pressure, Laurie turned to her and said, “It’s better.” She moved her head experimentally, then more vigorously. “It’s much better.”

  “Good. It doesn’t always help, but sometimes it can really be of benefit.”

  “What else can you do?” She took Kaatje’s hand in hers and shook it. “Do you have any more talents in those?” That was a dumb thing to say. There isn’t a heck of a lot of difference between a lesbian and a straight guy, and it isn’t fair to flirt when nothing can come from it. Gay or straight, nobody likes a tease.

  “Quite a few,” Kaatje said, smiling cockily. “But I can improve on one I’ve already showed you if you want.”

  “I do. I don’t care if it’s sailing, mixing drinks or rubbing my muscles. You’re expert in all three.” What the heck. A little flirting can’t hurt. It’s a nice way to stay in practice.

  “Give me your foot.”

  “My foot? My bare foot?”

  “Yeah. Your bare foot.” She looked at her curiously. “It’s just your foot.”

  “I’m not crazy about feet. Actually, they gross me out.”

  “Your own foot grosses you out? How’s that possible?”

  “I just hate feet. They’re always on the ground and they look gross. I don’t think I could tolerate having someone touch them.” Great. Now I’m coming off as a workaholic who hates her own feet. Thank God this isn’t a date.

  Kaatje nodded, but looked very puzzled. However, she didn’t press. She merely said, “Hands, then.”

  “Oh, no problem. I love having my hands rubbed.” Laurie presented her hand and Kaatje rested it on her thigh. She pressed into the meaty part of the thumb, then right into the center of the palm. “That feels fantastic,” Laurie purred. “Really good.”

  As Kaatje worked on each hand, Laurie, limp with pleasure, sank lower onto the deck. Eventually, she was prone, with Kaatje sitting right next to her head. When the massage was over, Laurie tilted her head and looked up at Kaatje like she was drunk, her words slow and sliding together. “Tha’ was won’erful.” She sat most of the way up, then their eyes locked, and the thought occurred to Laurie that Kaatje’s expression was much sexier than it was merely friendly.

  As the thought left her mind, Kaatje leaned over, pausing just a second. Laurie could have sat up further or even turned her head and the moment would have passed. It wouldn’t even have been too uncomfortable between them, as Kaatje’s overture was relatively subtle. But Laurie tilted her chin up, presenting her lips, which Kaatje tenderly touched with her own. Funny. Not like a guy’s lips at all. But it’s a little…sisterly.

  The kiss lasted a few seconds, and when Kaatje picked her head up, Laurie was gazing right at her mouth.

  “That was nice,” Kaatje said slowly, her pupils dilated, the low sun making fire of their pale blue color. “Very nice.” She reached out and cradled Laurie’s cheek in her hand, and their eyes met for a long time.

  That was more intimate than the kiss, and Laurie felt a twinge of sadness that the kiss had been so tepid. It was disappointing. Very disappointing. Having the great unexplored territory of lesbian sex out there had been somehow reassuring. When sex was lackluster or frustrating, it was nice to occasionally think about whether it would be more satisfying to kiss a woman. Now even that fleeting dream was snuffed out. What was it that made so many people risk everything for sex? Was she wired that differently?

  Dejected, Laurie sat up, and Kaatje shifted her weight, leaning against her for a second. Then she kissed her again. This time there was a sting to it —still soft and sweet, but with a little power lurking around the edges. Laurie’s heart skipped a beat when Kaatje opened her mouth slightly and showed a little possessiveness. She could have sunk right through the boat and into the water when Kaatje pressed into her still more forcefully. Now they were getting somewhere. Her mouth responded as if it had its own mind, licking and sucking Kaatje’s lip daintily.

  Screw it. The damage is done. If you’re going to kiss a woman just once in your life, make it count! She removed Kaatje’s cap, then released the band that held her dark hair back. Running both hands through the thick tresses, still slightly damp, she tickled along her scalp with her fing
ertips. When Kaatje shivered and let out a soft moan, Laurie whispered, almost to herself, “That’s why men like women with long hair.”

  “You’ve never been with a woman with long hair?” Kaatje was busily kissing Laurie’s eyelids, then down her cheeks.

  “No, never. I like it.” She kept playing with Kaatje’s hair and scalp, running her fingers down to the base of her neck. “Actually, I love it.”

  Kaatje threaded her fingers into Laurie’s hair, then slowly pulled away to let hanks of it fall to her shoulder. “This doesn’t sound very romantic, but your hair is almost the same color as my mother’s.”

  Laurie stopped. Was Kaatje really this clumsy? No one brought up her mom at a moment like this. Was she consciously slowing them down, maybe even reassessing? Shit, shit, shit. Maybe Kaatje isn’t into it. “I’m not thinking about my mom.”

  “I’m not thinking about her, just about your hair. Is it ash blonde?”

  Well, this is clearly over. Might as well talk about hair for a while before she dumps me at the dock. “Yeah, I guess that’s a good name for it. What do they call it in Dutch?” Was that right? Was that the language or the people? Damned if she knew. Damned if she’d have to learn since she was done experimenting with the Dutch.

  “Asblond. Or maybe peper-en-zout-blond. Maybe even donkerblond. But whatever you call it, it’s very pretty. Yours is straighter than my mom’s.”

  A decent lesbian would have had her panties off by now, and Kaatje certainly seemed like a decent lesbian. She must have just changed her mind. Fuck it all.

  Kaatje put her hand over her mouth. “No more talk of mothers. Promise.” Her eyes twinkled with playfulness. “But your eyes are very much the same blue as my father’s.”

  There was probably more bite to Laurie’s comment than she’d intended, but her feelings were hurt. “You might want to talk to a professional about your attachment to your parents.”

  “No, no, I’m not overly attached. My mom’s a psychologist. I’m perfectly sane.” She grinned again, remaining close enough that Laurie could count her long, dark lashes. She moved just an inch and placed another soft, sister-like kiss upon Laurie. “Having fun?”

  “Occasionally.” God only knew what Kaatje was up to, but this was a golden opportunity, and she wasn’t going to waste it. If Kaatje couldn’t make a move—she would. She slipped her hand into Kaatje’s hair again, then slowly expanded her territory to include her neck and shoulders, encouraged by sensual sighs. “Your muscles are very pliable.” While Kaatje’s eyes were closed, Laurie started kissing her chin, her cheeks, atop each delicate eyebrow.

  “Sailing is a great stress reliever.” Kaatje kissed her back, pressing harder into her as the kiss grew in intensity. “So’s this.”

  “I’d almost forgotten.”

  Kaatje pulled away and gazed into her eyes questioningly. “How long has it been?”

  “Two years.”

  “That was a serious relationship, right?”

  “Right. Very serious. With Colin. No one since.”

  “Two years is a very long time.” Kaatje ran the tip of a finger across Laurie’s cheek, then along an eyebrow, then caressed the shell of her ear. “Don’t you miss it?”

  “Right now I do. I miss it more right this second than I have in two years.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  Such an odd question. Such an odd way of interacting. Start, then grind to a stop. But now it was reasonably clear Kaatje was into it, and having her go slowly was strangely nice. Each step lasted longer, and those first steps were awfully fun. “It feels wonderful to be touched again.”

  “I’d love to touch you,” Kaatje whispered. “We could go lie on the trampoline and watch the sunset.”

  “Can you carry me? I’m limp.”

  “I could, but I’d spill my drink.” She grinned widely and stood, holding a hand out. When Laurie took it, she was pulled to her feet without helping a bit.

  “You’re strong!”

  “I know.” Kaatje showed that cocky grin again, then she took Laurie’s drink and scrambled catlike onto the upper deck. When Laurie joined her, Kaatje handed her both drinks and said, “Don’t go away.” She returned a few minutes later with her camera, now equipped with the lens she’d originally had on it, a soft blanket and a tray with cheese and fruit and bread. She put the tray onto a spot on the upper deck that must have been made for it, then spread the blanket down on the trampoline. Lastly, she wrapped the strap of her camera around a line that allowed it to swing freely without hitting anything.

  “You’ve done this before.”

  “Once or twice.” Kaatje sat down and patted the surface next to her. “Join me.”

  Laurie put the drinks on the tray, then gingerly sat down. Their bodies immediately rolled together, and feeling Kaatje’s warm body suddenly press into hers made things move too fast—like it was a given that they were going to have sex. She wasn’t sure she could go through with it. “I’m kinda nervous.”

  “You don’t need to be. I won’t push you, and if you change your mind…it’s okay.” She smiled reassuringly, then stroked along Laurie’s cheek. “No pressure. Promise.”

  That was better. They’d just play around a little. And if everything was perfect… “Okay.” She took in and let out a deep breath. “It’s just…you know. The first time you’re close to someone…”

  “Sex can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just the two of us.” Her eyes gazed out at the turquoise water that surrounded them. “And a lot of fish.” She chuckled and Laurie joined her, laughing nervously. “You’re single…I’m single…you’re pretty…I love pretty women…isn’t that enough?” She was just inches from Laurie’s face, and her smile was calm and reassuring.

  “You’re pretty, too.” She stroked Kaatje’s face, gazing wide-eyed at her as she did. “You’re very pretty. Such nice cheekbones. Well defined. And such a good nose.” She touched it with the tip of her finger. “Strong but not big. It matches your profile perfectly.”

  “Sounds like you’ve been studying me for a while.”

  Was that true? Sure. But didn’t everyone pay attention to detail? “I guess I have.”

  Kaatje took her hand and kissed the fingers, one at a time. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve been looking at you every second. When you came out of the galley in my shirt, I almost whistled. But I thought that would be unprofessional.”

  She’d been had. But it was awfully nice to have someone notice her. “Should it have fit that tightly?”

  Kaatje held up two fingers, spaced an inch apart. “Maybe it was a little tighter than it should have been. But I’m the last person to complain. You rocked that shirt. And I could draw a picture of how your butt looked when you were in the water. I almost plowed into you.”

  “Really?” When was the last time that had happened? When had a guy told her he was really into her? No, not her. Colin was into her. But he didn’t compliment her body once she gained a little weight. It was like he withheld any comments until she got back down to the waif-like size he liked. “I don’t get many compliments any more. I don’t go out much, and no one at work would notice if I shaved my eyebrows off.”

  “I would,” Kaatje said seriously. “And I wouldn’t advise it.”

  “Give me another kiss.” Laurie smiled as Kaatje responded immediately and they rolled into one another, one body pressed fully against the other. “Nice,” she murmured when Kaatje broke the kiss. “Let’s do that again.” The timing was strange, but kinda nice. She’d never had to tell a guy to keep going, but sometimes that testosterone-driven push made her feel like she was losing control. This felt much safer, and safe was good with a stranger.

  Now that she’d been given a command, Kaatje snapped to it, kissing Laurie every way possible. How long had it been since someone had immediately responded to a suggestion? “Good?” Kaatje asked after a while.

  “Very good. Kiss me any way you want.” Slowly, quickly, te
nderly then forcefully the kisses rained down. Every pace and pressure; making Laurie’s heart beat quicker, then slowly. “Very nice,” she murmured. “You’re a very, very good kisser.”

  “I could almost live on kisses.” Kaatje looked over Laurie’s shoulder and said, “Prime sunset picture time. Want some?”

  Laurie paused just a second to decide. “Yeah.” Why not take a photo break? That was no weirder than the start and stop pace they’d been keeping. “I’d love a picture that I can look back on and think about today.”

  Kaatje sat up and got her camera ready. She took shot after shot, getting up on her knees at one point and balancing herself on the bouncing, flexing surface.

  Laurie watched her, looking at the muscles in her legs as she knelt on the trampoline. They were remarkably taut and lean, like a long-distance runner’s. They were fantastic legs. Not soft and pillowy like her own, but really appealing. They probably felt great when they were wrapped around you.

  Kaatje turned the camera around and focused carefully on Laurie. Then she lay next to her and held the camera out at arm’s length. “This will take a few tries,” she predicted. It did, and they didn’t get a decent picture the first fifteen times. But Kaatje finally came up with one she was happy with. “How about one like this?” she asked, leaning in for a kiss.

  “How do I know that won’t wind up on the Internet?” Boy, that sounded far too suspicious. She’d been listening to too many people in Human Resources, always badgering them about keeping their anonymity whenever possible.

  “Uhm, I guess you don’t.” She turned the camera around again and took a few more shots of the deepening sunset while making appreciative sounds.

  Laurie touched her shoulder while the camera was still raised to Kaatje’s eye. “Did that hurt your feelings?”

  “What?” She turned and faced her. “About the Internet?”

  “Yeah.”

  “No. You’re right. You don’t know me. It’s best to be careful.” She put the camera by her side and lay back down. Then she extended her arm and Laurie put her head on it and nestled against her body. “The light’s beautiful on your face and hair. Your skin’s glowing with a color that’s perfect and I’d love to shoot it. I’ll give you the memory card if you’ll send me anything good from it.”