“Very funny. I’ve been studying a map of Europe, and I know right where it is. You know Madrid’s where our European theme park is, and I’ve cleverly managed to convince Fernando that I could learn some things from the people there—since that was the last park to go on-line.”
“Clever. That’s a fantastic idea. When do you want me?”
She felt a lump form in her throat. “Right now.”
“But will we be able to spend time together? I know your schedule in LA. I’d like more than a few hours while you’re asleep.”
“Well…” She could feel herself deflate. “I need four days in Madrid. I’ll add a vacation day and we can have a long weekend. We can tour Madrid together for three whole days. Fernando will think I’ve lost my mind, but he’ll let me do it.”
“How about this? You do your work, then come to Amsterdam. If you want to know me better”—her voice lowered to a sexy register—"and I think you do, this is the place to do it.”
*
Two weeks later, after having spent three days grilling her fellow operations-staff team members about everything from weather problems to security issues, Laurie was ready to leave Teddy Bear Europe. She’d kept the poor people so late into the evenings that she was finished a full day before she’d planned, and she guessed each of them would call in sick the next day. She was on her phone on the way to the airport, finagling an earlier flight to Schiphol. “Kaatje,” she said into her earpiece when she’d arranged everything. “Change in plans. I’ll be there by six tonight.”
“Really? Then I’d better get rid of these other women and get dressed. I’ll be waiting.”
*
Because neither Kaatje nor her parents owned a car, Laurie took a cab from the airport. The Hoogeboom house was on a neat, well-scrubbed, narrow street, not far from the historic center of town. The tall black building with sharp, white trim had five floors, with three windows on each of the first four floors and one small window on the top floor. She was pondering why each floor was distinctly smaller than the one below it, when Kaatje poked her head out of the window on the fifth floor. “Come on up!” she called out, smiling a ten-thousand-watt smile.
Laurie’s one suitcase wasn’t hard to carry up the stairs. The stairs, though, were another matter. They definitely were built for someone with feet shorter than hers, and each flight curved strangely, taking up much less space than US staircases. Kaatje bounded down to meet her on the second floor. She tossed the suitcase behind her, then grasped Laurie in her arms like a treasured doll. “It’s so fantastic to see you,” she whispered in her ear.
“Kiss me,” Laurie murmured. “I’ve missed your kisses so much.”
They exchanged many, finally stopping when the second-floor resident excused himself as if he’d done something wrong when he had to wedge his way past them.
Kaatje picked up the suitcase and took Laurie’s hand. They climbed to the third floor, where they stepped into a space different from any Laurie had ever been in. She would have wasted a minute looking around if not for the pink, full lips located conveniently close to her own. They fell into each other’s arms. Laurie was not even aware that she still wore her heavy coat, scarf, and gloves. It wasn’t until she thought she’d faint from Kaatje’s fervid kisses that she realized she was ridiculously overdressed.
“Can I take off my coat?”
“If you insist.” Kaatje grinned at her while helping her out of her coat. “You know,” she said, taking her in her arms again, “as long as we’re at it, why not keep going?” Her eyes gleamed devilishly when her fingers played at the buttons on Laurie’s blouse.
“I’ve been working since dawn,” Laurie said. “How about taking a shower with me?”
“We can do something like that.”
It wasn’t that she was tired, even though she was. Being in Kaatje’s other home was very disconcerting. She even looked different, with her hair hanging loose against her shoulders, and her skin a shade or two lighter than it was in the summer. It would take a few minutes to reconnect with her. Minutes that Laurie needed to be clothed.
Kaatje took her hand and led her up an open set of stairs strangely located right in the modern living room. On the fourth floor a pair of bedrooms, bracketed a modern bath, all white, with sparkling tile and angular fixtures. The room was big, with a free-standing shower in one corner and an ultra-modern tub with a wide, flat lip.
Kaatje put her arms around Laurie again and kissed her gently. “Indulge me?”
“In anything.”
“I’d love to bathe you. I’ve been fantasizing about it.”
“I’ll never take another shower if it would make you happy.” That was true. In just the time it took to walk up the stairs, she was ready to reveal every part of herself.
After starting the bath, Kaatje slowly undressed her, an expression of intent interest on her face. After she lent a hand to help Laurie step into the tub, she sat on the side and lathered up a cloth. She washed her tenderly, tsking when her hands slid over the curves that had diminished since they’d been together. “Eat more candy,” she grumbled, a grin poking through her scowl.
“You should encourage me to be thin. I feel better when my clothes aren’t tight.”
“I feel worse. Doesn’t that count for something?” After she finished her task she helped Laurie to her feet and beautiful blue eyes glided over Laurie from head to toe. She wrapped her in a big, white towel and continued to gaze at her longingly. “You’re clean. I’m clean. Got any ideas?”
“Just one.” They were connecting perfectly now, as though it were just a few days since they’d seen each other. When she looked into Kaatje’s eyes Laurie saw concern, kindness, avid interest and that spark of eroticism that could emerge on a moment’s notice. It was out now, and Laurie took her by the hand and started to walk to the closest bedroom, but Kaatje cleared her throat and pointed at the open staircase. “Got it.”
They climbed to the fifth floor, where the ceilings were a little low, but a big skylight let in the grey light of twilight. The room was tiny, just big enough for a carved, blond-wood bed with small tables on each side that held thin, modern lamps. Kaatje flipped one on, and the room looked golden and cozy. Taking her time, Laurie began to methodically undress Kaatje. Her hair was a little longer, not held back in a ponytail, and her tan had faded, but the biggest change was Kaatje’s clothing. Laurie had only seen her in shorts and swimwear, and having her all covered up in a heavy wool sweater and jeans was odd. But once she got her down to her underwear everything was perfect. “I’ve missed these,” she murmured, placing a kiss on a nipple hardening through the soft fabric of her bra.
Kaatje reached down and opened the front closure, releasing her breasts to Laurie’s care. “They’re yours now. Do whatever you’d like to them. They’ve been lonely.”
Laurie tumbled her to the bed, where they rolled around for a moment or two, relishing the feel of their bodies contacting again. After peeling off Kaatje’s panties, Laurie sated herself on getting reacquainted with Kaatje’s delightfully soft skin. It had lost much of its golden glow, but tan or not, Kaatje was a beauty. A true beauty. And Laurie would have been content to stay right where they were until she had to leave in a very short three days.
*
They sat up in bed, eating everything Kaatje could rustle up from the refrigerator. “I don’t know what kind of hold you have over me,” Laurie said, “but I’ve never been more focused on sex in my life.”
“Tell me about that.”
“I just did. I think about you and I start thinking about having sex with you. I hardly ever think of you with clothes on,” she admitted, chuckling.
“Does that make you think about…oh, I don’t know…being gay?” She stared at Laurie with comically wide eyes.
“I’m done with that. I barely have time to squeeze in a few minutes of fantasizing about doing it with you before I fall asleep every night.”
“Interesting.” Kaatje got up an
d started to gather their empty plates and containers. She didn’t say a word as she busied herself for quite a few minutes.
“I said something wrong.”
Silently, Kaatje looked up at her.
“Come back to bed.” Laurie patted the surface. “Please?”
She didn’t rush to comply, but Kaatje finally meandered over. “Yeah?”
“I still don’t think you understand how busy I am.” Kaatje rolled her eyes but Laurie continued. “I mean it. I have to squeeze about twenty-four hours of work into an eighteen-hour day. The only time I have to reflect is when I force myself to shut off the pile driver that’s slamming around inside my head and focus on you. I lie in bed and write you a note, then try as hard as I can to keep those other thoughts out. You just don’t know how hard that is.” She looked like one cross look would make her break down, so Kaatje took her in her arms and cooed gently.
“I hate that you let yourself be this consumed by work. It’s not good for you, Moppie, it’s really not.”
Letting out a sigh, Laurie raised her head. “Moppie?”
Kaatje’s tan had faded, and no longer provided cover for her blushing cheeks. She nodded. “I hadn’t planned on that coming out.” She hated being such an open book, but she’d never been able to hide her thoughts or her feelings.
“What’s it mean?”
“It’s a pet name. Like ‘honey’ or ‘sweetie.’”
“I like it. Moppie,” she repeated, trying it out.
“Would my Moppie like to get dressed and take a walk around? I have an awful lot to show you.”
“Sure. Maybe we can get dessert.”
Kaatje touched the tip of her nose. “You get two. I have to put those curves back on you.”
*
They walked through Kaatje’s neighborhood, with Laurie stopping every other minute to remark on a house or a church. “How old are these buildings? They look like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
“Seventeenth century or a little later, for many of them. There are lots of sixteenth-century buildings a few streets from here. But when we get to the more commercial streets you’ll see some new, very modern buildings. It’s a nice mix.”
“This couldn’t be more different from LA if it were on Venus.”
“I haven’t been to LA.”
“But you’ve been to the US.”
“Yes. New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston just to do the tourist thing. Florida quite a few times to buy things. And a few friends and I went to the Grand Canyon to do a long river rafting trip. That was fantastic. Have you ever been there?”
“No, I’ve never been anywhere near it. Did you camp?”
“Yeah. It was a week-long trip. Pretty exciting stuff. We don’t have anything like that in Europe. Different animals, plants, everything. You should go.”
“Eh…I’m not one for camping. I’m not crazy about plants or animals either,” she admitted, slightly embarrassed.
“Maybe you haven’t been camping with the right people.”
“I’m lying. I might love camping. I’ve never been.”
Kaatje put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her. “I think you might be a little tentative to try new things. I don’t know where I get that idea…”
“Maybe a little.” They were now on a street teeming with life. People filled the sidewalk and filed in and out of restaurants and shops. “Let’s go to a coffee shop or a café and find a snack.”
“Do you want coffee, food, alcohol or marijuana?”
“Marijuana? Why would I want that?”
“That’s what the coffee shops sell. A coffee house has coffee. And a café has alcohol. All of them usually have food.”
Laurie pulled her to a stop. “You can buy marijuana? Legally?”
Laughing, Kaatje said, “You might be the first person to come here and not know you can buy marijuana. It’s not legal, but we don’t enforce the law prohibiting it.”
“Did this just happen? I haven’t been reading the news since I’ve been so busy…”
“Since before I was born.” Kaatje looked like she was going to laugh, but was polite enough not to.
“I’ve gotta get out more,” Laurie mumbled. “I just want something sweet. Is there a special place for that?”
“I can make you happy.”
*
They were soon seated at a small coffee house, with Laurie thoughtfully chewing on a bite of Kaatje’s pie. “Apples and raisins?” She took another tiny bite. “I’m not a big raisin fan, but that’s really good. I prefer my krumulvlie though.”
“Kruimelvlaai,” Kaatje gently corrected. “We’re going to have to spend some time getting your mouth around Dutch.”
With sparkling eyes, Laurie said, “You set yourself up for that one. You know you’re the only thing Dutch I want to attach my mouth to. But this krummel…stuff is fantastic. Although who would refuse crumbled butter and sugar is beyond me.”
“Have another piece, or two.”
“You’re not going to put the five pounds I just lost back on me that easily. Only one two-thousand calorie piece of pie a day. Unless we go to a coffee shop and get baked. Then I have no control.”
“Do you want to go?”
“No. I haven’t smoked since I was in college. Do you do it often?”
“Not often, but if I’m out with friends we’ll go and smoke a bit. You can order many different kinds. It’s a nice way to relax or get in the mood before a concert.”
“Different kinds? Really?”
“Really. Different kinds of marijuana and light and dark hash.” She chuckled. “Your eyes say ‘yes,’ but your mouth says ‘no.’”
Laurie took her hand. “It’s kinda late, and it’s obvious I don’t need any help getting into the mood with you.”
“Mood?” Kaatje looked positively innocent. “Do you want to have sex again?”
Laurie started to tug her along, but she was headed the wrong way. “And again and again and again. Let’s go!”
*
The next morning, Kaatje woke at her normal time. The sun was up, but the sky was gray and seemed close enough to touch. The difference in the weather between St. Maarten and Holland was enormous. Besides the temperature, the skies in St. Maarten rarely made her feel claustrophobic, but the low cloud cover in Holland sometimes did.
Even the weak, gray light didn’t dim Laurie’s beauty. Kaatje lay on her side and gazed at her for a while. It took only a few seconds for a knot of emotion to form in her chest. The perky, lively woman she’d started to fall for in St. Maarten now looked tired, and her pretty skin didn’t have the glow it did in the Caribbean. Even in this light, she could see the dark circles under her eyes. But that outsized work ethic had led them to this point, so it wasn’t all bad. If only there were a way to convince her to take better care of herself, but she wasn’t the kind of woman who took her responsibilities casually. The good thing about that was that she’d be a very devoted lover. There was no doubt about that.
Doing her best to stealthily creep out of bed, Kaatje went downstairs to make breakfast. In just minutes, Laurie shuffled up behind her and leaned heavily against her body. “I feel like I’ve been drugged. Did you take me to a coffee shop when I wasn’t looking?”
Reaching behind, Kaatje patted her. “No. I’m afraid you’re just a normal human being, trying to figure out what time it is. You’re body thinks it’s”—she looked at her watch—“one in the morning.”
“That’s about what it feels like. When I don’t have a million alligators biting at me, I actually notice how tired I am.”
“Go back to bed. We don’t have to do anything today.”
“What did you plan?”
I should say nothing, but… “Well, I thought we’d go to the Amsterdam Historical Museum and spend a few hours, then take a bike ride around town, have dinner, then we can stroll over to Het Concertgebow. Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest is performing Brahms tonight, and everyone loves Brahms.”
“I have no idea what that last part was, but if you planned it, I want to do it. I’m off to plunge my head into a bucket of cold water to wake up.” With that, she headed straight upstairs to the shower, emitting a shriek of pain when she turned the cold on full blast.
Kaatje sat at the table, eating while she waited for Laurie to join her. It really would be better for Laurie to sleep all weekend, but that defeated the purpose of the visit. Kaatje had been mulling over their options, and one was to have Laurie find a job in Holland. Giving up the boat would be a blow, but losing Laurie would be worse. Since Laurie had never been to Europe, or anywhere else for that matter, her adaptability to Kaatje’s home was critical.
*
That evening they leaned into one another high up in the concert hall while they waited for the performance to begin. “You won’t believe this, but I’ve never been to a classical music thing.”
“No,” Kaatje whispered, feigning disbelief. “Well, even if you’ve been many times, this hall is special. A lot of people believe it’s the most acoustically perfect hall in the world. Even up here, we’ll be able to hear every note.”
“I hope I like it. I know you love music.”
“You will,” Kaatje said, oozing confidence. “Everyone loves Brahms.”
As the music began, Kaatje’s confidence began to falter. Laurie wasn’t sitting particularly still. It seemed like she was struggling to focus, and that wasn’t a good sign. Laurie’s foot was tapping nervously, something she did much of the time. It was like she had an internal metronome that beat faster than anyone else’s—definitely faster than Kaatje’s.
Trying to reassure herself, Kaatje calmly considered that Laurie didn’t have to enjoy symphonic music. If she got a job in Holland, there would be many, many nights when she didn’t come home before ten o’clock. That would leave lots of time to indulge in her favorite pursuits—alone or with friends. Laurie didn’t have to like everything she did for them to get along perfectly well.
Dividing her time between listening and worrying, she lost track of Laurie’s reactions. Then, she glimpsed Laurie’s eyes flutter to a close and a sated smile settle on her lips. It was the satisfied expression she sometimes had after she climaxed. Thrilled to the core, Kaatje leaned over to kiss her head and murmur, “I think you like it.”
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