One Way or Another

by A. L. Brooks

  She climbed back under the duvet, the small vibrator clutched in her right hand. Normally when masturbating, she’d take her time to get warmed up—caressing her breasts, her belly, and her thighs. Tonight that wouldn’t be necessary; her clit was already responding to the excitement coursing through her, and there was a definite wetness between her legs.

  One press of the soft silicone button that adjusted the settings and a gentle hum came from under the duvet. The vibrations running through her fingertips were steady and set an easy pace. She knew there were many other settings, but for a first time, this would do. Feeling slightly silly and quashing that thought as fast as it arose, she pushed the toy between her legs.

  Oh my good God!

  It was…exquisite. There was no other word for it.

  She gasped and moaned as the buzz stimulated her clit in ways she wouldn’t have imagined. Fantasies often played a role in her masturbation, and she didn’t see why that should be any different now with a vibrator, so she started to imagine someone there with her. Usually the woman was rather faceless, merely a means by which Bethany could imagine breasts and wetness and excitement. But tonight, her mind was full of Sarah, and imagining what her body would be like sent Bethany’s arousal soaring.

  She arched her hips, picturing Sarah’s fingers trailing exactly where the vibrator was, then swore as the toy tumbled from her fingers and bounced onto the mattress between her thighs. After a second or two of fumbling, she got it back in her hand and under control, and right back where it needed to be.

  Oh yes. Just…there. Or maybe…there.

  Oh, God.

  Rubbing it up and down between her legs, she played with where the sensations felt the best. Before long she was panting, having found exactly the right spot, and her hips were undulating to their own rapid rhythm. Sarah was there, leaning down to kiss her, her fingers pushing inside Bethany and—

  Her orgasm seemed to creep up on her out of nowhere, but when it found her, she could swear she saw stars.

  Oh my Lord.

  Breathing heavily, she flopped back down onto the bed, the toy still wedged between her legs where it hummed happily to itself.

  And, of course, the humming still felt rather lovely, and if she just moved it—

  Holy moly.

  The second orgasm had her gasping for air. How was that possible—two orgasms in a couple of minutes? It seemed fantasising about a real, live woman she knew and was attracted to could work wonders.

  And her body wasn’t finished yet. She groaned as she slid the toy further down—she knew exactly what she needed now. It slipped inside her so easily, and the sensation of it pushing her open while it buzzed out its steady rhythm had her holding her breath in wonder.

  She let her mind drift into some of her naughtiest fantasies, the ones that involved toys other than vibrators, the ones that delved into her deepest needs, and then came an image of Sarah pinned beneath her on the bed, her wrists tied to—

  Bethany cried out, her eyes shut tight, her legs going rigid, the toy shooting out of her as her muscles spasmed. She laughed, and collapsed back onto the bed, wondrous sensations still pounding through her body.

  Even as she sent a silent “thank you” to her imaginary Sarah, she winced with the guilty realisation that thoughts of Jessica, as beautiful as she was, didn’t have nearly the same effect.

  Sarah collapsed back on the sofa, her hand rubbing over her chest where her heart threatened to beat out of her ribs. That phone call was one of the most nerve-wracking things she’d ever done, and that admission made her shake her head in disbelief.

  But, she’d done it, and although it hadn’t gone quite as well as she would have liked, she had a second date—sort of—with Bethany this weekend. Well, a ‘perhaps’ date, if Bethany didn’t end up falling in love with that Jessica woman. Whom she’d liked for ages.

  Oh shit.

  She grabbed her phone again and dialled Jonathan.

  “Okay, I did it,” she gushed when he answered. “But it didn’t go that well and now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have bothered.”

  “Huh?”

  “I called Bethany! And I sort of have a second date with her on Saturday, but only if she doesn’t fall in love with some other woman tomorrow night.”

  “Sarah, what the hell are you talking about? I mean, I’m proud of you for asking her out, but…?”

  “Yeah, I know.” She stood up quickly, pacing to work off the excess nervous energy. As she strode around her living room, she filled Jonathan in.

  “Oh, I see,” he said, once she was done. “Well, that’s a little tricky.”

  “Tell me about it!”

  “Although, I do admire the woman’s gumption. She could have easily brushed you off, or spun you a yarn, but credit to her, she just came right out and told it how it was.”

  “Yeah, I was…well, I was kind of proud of her for doing that. For not bullshitting me.”

  “She’s got integrity. I like her.”

  “Yeah, well, me too,” Sarah mumbled, embarrassed to admit it. “And I guess we’ll see what happens on Saturday.”

  “So, on the assumption she goes ahead with meeting you, where are you taking her?”

  She outlined her lunch suggestion. “Should I have pushed the boat out for dinner instead? She seemed to like the lunch idea, and—”

  “Saturday lunch is a wonderful idea—it sends a clear message that you have no expectations other than a casual meal to see how things are between you. Oh God, please tell me that’s true?”

  “It is!” Sarah was indignant, but she could understand why Jonathan asked. This was entirely not her style, after all. “Plus she already told me she doesn’t have a lot of money, so I didn’t want to take her to one of my usual upmarket restaurants where the prices would probably terrify her.”

  “That is extremely thoughtful of you, Sarah. Well done.”

  Sarah’s blush deepened, but she was grinning. “Well, at the risk of sounding a bitch, let’s hope her night with Jessica isn’t all that great and I do get to take her on this casual lunch.”

  “And how would you feel if her date with the other woman did go well?”

  Sarah stopped pacing and stared out the big windows into the dark night beyond. “Gutted,” she whispered.

  Jonathan sighed. “Well, I don’t wish ill on anyone, you know me, but I can’t help being on your side in this. Bring on the shit date for her and this other woman.”

  Sarah laughed, her shoulders relaxing. “You’re terrible. But lovely.”

  “You know it.”

  She walked over to the doors and stepped out onto the deck to gaze down at the water below. “So, is Evelyn in bed?”

  “Yes, went up about fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Okay. Give her my love in the morning.”

  “I will.”

  “Oh, and er, no need to share this snippet of news with her just yet. Let’s see if, and how, the second date goes first.”

  Jonathan chuckled. “She’s going to be very miffed at you.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, if you take yourself off the singles market, where is she going get her fill of saucy gossip? God knows, she gets nothing from me.”

  “But that’s your choice too, isn’t it? I mean, I thought you hated the scene and all that sleeping around?”

  “Oh, I do, definitely.” He sighed. “I’m lonely, Sarah, that’s all. I’ve been single now for two years, ever since Stefan moved to Australia. I want to be in love again. I want the romance, and the candlelit dinners, and the tickets to the opera.”

  “I thought you hated opera?”

  “It’s a metaphor, darling. You know what I mean—I want the whole romantic, seductive works.”

  Sarah swallowed. “Shit, is that what I need to do too? I mean, assuming I get past this
second date with Bethany and want more, of course.”

  Jonathan snorted. “Sarah, I think we both know that is definitely what you want. So yes, you need to get in touch with your romantic soul. Do you have one lurking in that cold and bitter heart of yours somewhere?”

  “Hey, no need for that! Bitch.”

  Jonathan’s laughter rang out.

  Chapter 9

  Jessica was, once again, waiting for Bethany when the escalator delivered her to the ticket hall at Angel station on Tuesday night. Bethany’s stomach flipped at the gorgeous sight, and even though she’d been beset by doubts throughout the day and during the hour it had taken to get ready for this date, the sight of this beautiful woman smiling so widely at her did set her heart fluttering.

  They hugged in greeting, and once again Jessica’s light scent teased at Bethany’s nose, conjuring up images of walks in the park on hot summer days, picnics by a lake or river, and afternoons curled up on a blanket together with a book. While romantic and lovely, those images did not contain anything like the passion she would have expected to feel for someone who had set her on fire, metaphorically speaking, when they were younger. And passion was something Bethany craved as much as all of those romantic ideals.

  “You look amazing,” Jessica whispered, stepping back to rake Bethany with an obviously appreciative gaze.

  “Thank you.” Bethany blushed under the attention. The dress she was wearing had been chosen days before and ironed to within an inch of its life. It was red, a colour Bethany needed a certain level of bravery to attempt, but she’d given herself pep talk after pep talk to ensure she would wear it with the confidence it deserved. The dress hugged her chest and hips, finishing just above her knees, and she’d matched it with low-heeled red shoes and a black handbag. She’d liked the look on herself, and had to admit that Jessica’s wide-eyed stare and gentle blush were giving her quite the boost.

  She took in Jessica’s outfit and shook her head in admiration. The woman clearly knew how to dress her long-legged body to perfection. The grey dress trousers were slim-fitting, and tapered into her ankles to show off gorgeous turquoise heels that added at least two inches to her height. Her top was some sort of silky material in the same turquoise, and with her dark hair loose around her shoulders, the colour stood out even more.

  “You look pretty wow yourself,” Bethany said, smiling.

  Jessica flicked her hair back with one hand, her expression a little…smug? Something squirmed in Bethany’s stomach.

  “Shall we?” Jessica gestured to the exit and Bethany fell into step alongside her.

  “So, how has your week been?” she asked as they sidestepped a large group of young men who already seemed the worse for wear this early on a Tuesday evening.

  “Very good. I’ve had an excellent week of teaching, some real successes with my anti-bullying initiative, and I’m feeling so positive about all the activities I have planned for the summer. How about you?”

  Bethany wasn’t sure how to respond. Her own accomplishments felt small fry compared to Jessica’s, and she didn’t want to share about the call with Sarah—not this time. She’d promised herself she would give this date with Jessica a real chance, and she didn’t think mentioning Sarah in the middle of it would help.

  “Um, good. Yes. No one threw up on me, at least.” She chuckled but stopped after a moment when she realised Jessica wasn’t laughing with her. Instead, she was frowning.

  “Is that really something to celebrate? I mean,” Jessica rushed on, “I can’t imagine being so blasé about a child vomiting on me—and you’re making that into a joke.”

  Bethany stared at her. She’d done the same training as Jessica, but it was as if they were from two entirely different professions.

  “Well, yes. We all joke about it. It’s just part of the territory with the young ones. Surely you’ve experienced it at some point in your career?”

  Jessica grimaced. “Thankfully, no.” She smiled then, but it lacked warmth. “Good for you to take it so…calmly.”

  This was not the best start to the evening Bethany could have imagined. It was almost as if Jessica was judging her for being so tolerant of the children in her care. She didn’t understand—Jessica had been at the top of all of her classes, Bethany remembered, and she’d heard other trainees talking about her with awe. Maybe the reality of teaching full time had jaded her. Bethany could understand that; she loved her job, but there were days when she questioned why she’d wanted to do it in the first place.

  A change of subject was needed, but before she could open her mouth, Jessica pointed across the road.

  “That’s the restaurant. I phoned earlier and booked a table.”

  The Lebanese place was tucked on a corner of the main road and a side street, and painted in garish colours that made Bethany smile.

  “It’s ugly from the outside but the food is delicious, so I forgive them.”

  Jessica grinned but Bethany struggled to keep her own smile. The differences were piling up, and that feeling of disappointment was welling again as she followed Jessica across the street and through the front door. A delicious blend of aromas assaulted her nose and she breathed them in.

  “Yum.”

  Jessica cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “Indeed.”

  They were shown to their table and given menus.

  “Can I get you some water, perhaps some bread and olives to start?” the waiter asked, his smile pleasant.

  “Lovely,” Bethany said, but Jessica frowned. “What?”

  “Oh, sorry. Not a huge fan of olives.”

  “Okay. Well, you could order something else and I’ll eat all the olives,” Bethany said with a grin.

  “I suppose…” Jessica looked up at the waiter. “Perhaps some hummus?”

  “Of course.”

  They added a small carafe of the house white wine to their order, and he hurried off.

  “So,” Bethany said, looking up from the menu, “what do you recommend? It all sounds wonderful.”

  Jessica finally smiled, and Bethany breathed a subtle sigh of relief. “I can only speak for the vegetarian options, but they’re all marvellous.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realise you were veggie.”

  “Yes, my whole life. My parents were, and although they allowed me to choose my own path, I had no problem choosing to follow them. I detest the meat industry and all that it entails.”

  Bethany swallowed hard. “Well, I’ll have a look at the vegetarian menu, then.”

  “You eat meat?” Jessica seemed surprised.

  “Well, yes.” Bethany shrugged. “Always have.”

  “Oh.” Jessica dropped her gaze to her menu and Bethany had the distinct impression she had just fallen a significant level in Jessica’s esteem.

  She sighed and looked back to her own menu. Granted, the veggie options did all sound wonderful, so choosing something to eat wasn’t that hard, but she couldn’t help feeling she was compromising by doing so. Compromising as far as she had with Michelle? For one meal, perhaps not. But if she and Jessica were going to continue seeing each other, Bethany would have a real problem if she was going to be lectured on her choice of food all the time. Learning to deal with another person’s needs was like walking a minefield. Why had she been so determined to do this dating thing again?

  Trying not to groan out loud, she gripped her menu and made her choice. “Okay, I’m going to have the aubergine, and some mixed vegetables.”

  Jessica beamed. “Good choice. I’m having falafel with the trio of dips.”

  They placed their orders with the waiter, who had returned with the wine. When he had poured for them and left to attend to another table, Jessica raised her glass.

  “To us, reconnecting after all this time.” Her smile was warm, and her eyes shone in the low light of the restaurant. Once again, her beauty took Be
thany’s breath away, and all worries about the food and the compromising fell to the wayside.

  “Hear, hear,” Bethany replied, her voice a little raspy.

  They chinked glasses and drank.

  “So,” Jessica said as she set her glass down, “what are your plans for the summer?”

  Bethany grinned. “As little as possible.”

  Jessica tilted her head. “Meaning?”

  “Well, the first week will be my usual lazy time at home alone, catching up on sleep. Then the second week is my annual holiday with my mum. We go to Cornwall to visit one of my aunts. She spoils us rotten, we eat too much, and then she sends us home with far too much clotted cream.”

  “Well, that sounds…lovely.”

  And there it was again, that hint of…rudeness in Jessica’s response. As if she were sneering at Bethany’s life choices.

  “It is, actually,” Bethany said, her tone strong and not sorry about it. “I’m very close to my mum, and it’s always good for me to spend time with her.”

  “Oh, yes, I’m sure.” Jessica’s words were hurried, and her tone placating. “I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.”

  “Well, you know, it sounded like it.” Bethany wasn’t sure why she couldn’t back down from this, but she had no regrets about plunging on. “That’s the second or third time you’ve been a little snide about my choices in life, you know.”

  Jessica reeled back in her seat, her eyes wide. “I’m…I’m sorry, Bethany. But if I’m brutally honest, I think I always thought you would aim a little higher in life. I mean, I’m sure you find primary school fulfilling, but wouldn’t you rather be working with more developed minds, shaping their thinking, showing them—”

  Bethany snorted, which cut Jessica off mid-flow. “Wow, now you’re really hitting low, Jessica. I am shaping their thinking, and I am helping, hugely, to develop those minds that come to you next. You should be thanking the likes of me, not belittling us.”

  Jessica stared at Bethany, who stared back.

  “I’ve caused offence, and that wasn’t my intention.” Jessica’s tone was meek, and her hands clasped together on the table in front of her. “Please accept my apologies, Bethany.”