The first rays of morning sunshine peeked through the large windows of the bedroom, alighting on the two sleeping forms loosely curled against each other underneath the thin, navy sheets. The downy comforter of light blue had been tossed off sometime during the night, but no one seemed to mind. One of them, however, did seem to mind the sunlight.

Samantha frowned in her sleep, her arms tightening slightly around her lover's waist. Suddenly, her eyes opened with a start as she lifted her head to glance blearily at the window. With even more alarm at the unfamiliar room, she sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. The morning air chilled her naked skin, bringing tiny goose bumps prickling on her arms and legs and causing her nipples to harden slightly. She couldn't help but shiver, though the coolness did help awaken her senses a little.

Sam finally glanced down at her lover to see Meaghan smiling up at her in a lazy, sleepy sort of way. "Is everything all right?" Meaghan asked quietly, her soprano voice just a touch husky. She pulled an arm out from under the sheets and pressed her fingers against Sam's hip, her hand curling around the soft curve before she slowly drew her fingertips up along Samantha's lean torso.

Samantha shivered once more and gave the other woman a shaky but genuine smile. "I'm fine," she assured just as Meaghan's hand cupped one pert breast, her fingers warm against Sam's skin. Meaghan ran her thumb gently around the areola making the nipple harden all the more. Samantha gave a soft gasp, her eyes half-closing as her lover clasped the nipple between two fingers, pinching lightly as she ran her thumb across it.

"Oh, you are too much," Samantha breathed, giving a shaky laugh as she collapsed to the pillows beside the other woman. She quickly leaned in, her arm sneaking underneath the sheet again to curl around Meaghan's waist, her head lowering until just inches away. Sam's brown eyes drank in Meaghan's vivid green for a short moment before they both smiled like children receiving an unexpected present. Their lips met, but gently at first, savoring the soft sensation.

Samantha held Meaghan tightly, her athletic arms wrapping possessively around Meaghan's small waist. Meaghan's body felt so soft, so sensual, so entirely forbidden. And yet here she was, pressed against Samantha's lean frame, her fair, white skin a gentle contrast to Sam's tones of olive with touches of tan in the usual places.

Meaghan's hand moved around Sam's stomach until she could pull the woman closer, her other hand reaching up to glide across Samantha's forehead, down her cool temple and across one downy cheek to tangle lightly in Sam's light brown hair. The ponytail had disappeared sometime during the night, leaving a soft indentation. Meaghan's fingers played idly along the gentle groove as she drowsily drank in the carpenter's tousled appearance. When her bright emerald eyes saw Samantha's looking back at her, Meaghan smiled warmly and gripped Sam's hair a little more firmly, her thumb brushing across a downy temple once more. She slowly leaned in and grazed her lips against Sam's, nipping playfully at the lower lip.

That simple caress simply added to the slowly awakening passion, the kiss deepening as Samantha pressed her hand against Meaghan's back before drawing it down to curl around the gentle curve of the woman's hip, pulling against the thigh and drawing Meaghan's leg up and around her own. Samantha then drew back slightly, her lips trailing kisses slowly along Meaghan's jaw line, lingering at the neck.

Meaghan gave a quiet, gasping moan as her hands slid down Sam's sides, hugging her subtle curves and letting her fingers play against the other woman's toned body. As her hands reached Sam's hips, Meaghan held them tightly and slowly drew her other leg up between Sam's thighs until she could feel the moist junction against her skin. Samantha groaned, her eyes shutting tightly as she pressed her body against Meaghan and nuzzled against the other woman's soft neck. Meaghan lifted her hips slightly, rubbing her leg a little harder against her lover's sensitive spot.

A soft hiss came from Samantha as she drew up then kissed Meaghan deeply, her tongue probing inside to delicately explore. She rolled to her side and took the other woman with her, pulling the smaller woman on top of herself. Meaghan's auburn hair fell to mingle with Samantha's brown as she pressed her lips to the carpenter's cheek, her lips brushing slowly along the woman's jaw until her tongue darted out, tasting the salty tang of Samantha's tanned neck. Her breasts pushed against the other woman's as her hands once again slid down to Samantha's hips, her thigh still pushed against the woman's damp folds, the heat like a gentle furnace radiating against Meaghan's skin.

Meaghan slowly slid down the soft sheets beneath her lover and pressed her lips to Samantha's breast, kissing gently down the outside before nudging it with her nose, her tongue darting out to caress the downy skin along the bottom crease. Sam's mouth opened in silent pleasure as her eyes closed dreamily, her fists clenching against the sheets as she began to stroke her increasingly moist folds across Meaghan's thigh in a slowly building rhythm, taking on a frantic pace as Meaghan seized the woman's hardened nipple in her mouth.

The puckered skin of the areola teased Meaghan's lips as she pressed them around the rigid nub, her tongue flicking once against the stiffened tissue. She slowly increased the pressure surrounding Samantha's nipple as she brought a hand up to caress the woman's other breast, savoring the exceptionally soft feel against her fingertips as her thumb toyed with the neglected nipple. She let her other hand trail slowly from Samantha's hip to tease the underside of the carpenter's thigh, bringing a light shower of goose bumps. As her hand slid farther around Samantha's leg, Meaghan could feel the heat coming from the woman's pussy just within reach. Her lips curved into a smile around Samantha's tight little nipple. She gave it a playful nip before she began sliding yet further down, her mouth leaving a sizzling path of kisses across the woman's abdomen.

Samantha was practically in a frenzied state of mind by now. Meaghan's teasing was going to drive her mad. As she felt the woman's thigh move away from her pulsing clitoris, Samantha gave out an exquisitely tortured groan, though the sound took on a suddenly different tone towards the end. Gasping, she leaned down just enough to look past her softly throbbing breasts to see Meaghan sliding her tongue up against that little hub of pleasure.

"My God, Meaghan, you're going to drive me insane," Samantha moaned, her body tensing.

"Mmm. maybe next time," Meaghan answered as she raised her head for a moment to glance up along Samantha's body to give the woman a wink. The hot breath moving across Samantha's pussy gave her another thrill of agonized pleasure as a shudder ran through her body. Meaghan seemed to sense this, and slowly pushed her tongue deep into Samantha's sweltering folds, the scent of that glistening skin causing her own body to heat.

She slowly drew her tongue out and up along those soft, slick valleys, savoring the experience with heady delight. It had been much, much too long. There was simply no comparison, she thought to herself as the tip of her tongue met the throbbing little nodule hidden within those flushed folds.

Samantha's moans took on a fevered pitch, her voice a near cry when she felt that stab of pleasure. Her hips bucked, smothering herself against that invading, teasing, heavenly tongue.

Meaghan increased her pace, spurred on by her lover's response. She traced her hand along the inside of Samantha's thigh until she slowly pressed two of her fingers into the woman's hot, trembling depths. Already wet for some time now, her fingers met no resistance. Samantha's pussy gave a soft tremor as Meaghan began working her fingers in a tempo to match the quickening pulses of those gasping walls. Her tongue flicked against the tiny clit before she pressed her lips around it, suckling for an intense moment before rubbing the tip of her tongue from her fingers back to Sam's blazing nub. At the last heated kiss from Meaghan's lips, Samantha screamed, her head falling to the bed as she ground her pulsing mound against Meaghan's mouth.

Meaghan continued to press her fingers into the throbbing opening, only slowing after Samantha's orgasm passed its crest and began to tumble down into rolling waves of pure pleasure. She slowly withdrew, savoring the sticky, sweet aroma as Samantha rolled over and collapsed onto the bed, her eyes closed in exhausted bliss as her chest rose and fell with satisfyingly labored breath.

Meaghan pulled herself back up along the clammy sheets and fell onto the pillow with a satisfied smile. She watched Samantha shudder through aftershocks of pleasure, and brought her fingers to her lips, still saturated with Samantha's juices. Inhaling deeply, Meaghan stuck the two fingers into her mouth and began licking them clean with slow strokes of her tongue.

Samantha finally reopened her eyes just in time to watch, her gaze dreamy in a way that caught Meaghan's breath for a second. She slowly removed the fingers from her mouth and smiled across at Samantha.

Sam laughed, her brown eyes twinkling in the increasingly bright rays of morning light. "You've got a little something on your cheek," she whispered, then leaned in to kiss Meaghan soundly. She drew away slightly, but only so she could run her tongue across that downy cheek, tenderly cleaning off her own juices before continuing down to Meaghan's jaw line, breathing in that strange mixture that was Meaghan's scent and her own.

Meaghan practically purred, her eyelids falling as she enjoyed the soft sensation while trying to ignore those same bright beams that made it seem as if Samantha were glowing softly. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to get anything done today," she murmured, her head rocking back as Samantha nuzzled against her neck, "knowing you're upstairs."

There was a sudden, strange noise interrupting the perfect morning, though they both chose to ignore it.

"I'm lucky we'll be doing nothing more than stripping today," Samantha replied. Then in surprise, they both laughed softly at the possible implications of that statement. "Sorry," the carpenter murmured as she reached out to brush her fingers through Meaghan's auburn hair.

Meaghan simply continued to smile, wishing the peaceful hour would last forever. They both heard the unmistakable sounds of a household waking up, however, and gave a collective sigh. They no longer had the old house to themselves.

"Mind if I borrow your shower?" Samantha asked, leaning in to kiss Meaghan's lips for a moment before pushing herself to her knees, a rosy hue still coloring her chest as she slid from the bed. "The guys have no illusions as to my innocence or inclinations, but even they might get a little edgy with certain, uh. situations."

Meaghan blushed, though her smile stayed right where it was. "No, of course. It's right through there," she replied with a light voice that sounded so cheerful to her own ears, she almost didn't recognize it.

Samantha quickly disappeared through the door to the small, private bathroom, leaving Meaghan to contemplate the night and its aftermath with dreamy consideration. Her eyes began to close as she let a hand run idly down her stomach to tangle lightly against her small bush of kinky dark hair. A crooked little grin slowly spread, and she slid from the bed, shivering lightly in the morning air.

Taking her robe from the closet near the bed, she slipped into the bathroom where Samantha was already in the shower, the warm air steaming easily. Meaghan held the robe closed and watched Samantha's vague silhouette through the frosted glass. Even now, the carpenter's body was obviously lean and trim, athletic, and yet so feminine at the same time. Her pert breasts rose slightly, and Meaghan could sometimes make out a pointed nipple. Further down, the straight waist gave way to the slight curve of the woman's hips, accented by the strip of dark hair.

Meaghan fought the urge to interrupt Samantha's shower, knowing the rest of the carpentry crew would be arriving shortly. She sighed and backed out of the small bathroom, taking a seat at the small desk adjacent to the wall of windows. Looking into the broad mirror, she pulled her hair into a loose bun and fixed it there with a wide, silver clip. She tucked the last stray hairs out of the way, then studied her reflection for a moment, particularly fascinated with the smile she hadn't seen much of in quite some time.

At that thought, the smile unfortunately faded slightly, which is when Samantha reappeared. She had toweled off, but left the towel in the bathroom. Meaghan took another opportunity to study the other woman, again finding herself grinning uncontrollably. "You really are gorgeous, you know that?" she told the carpenter's reflection before turning on the small chair to face Sam once more.

Samantha found herself struggling with a self-conscious tug that she tried to ignore. Instead, she laughed lightly and turned away to peer through the windows now suffused with morning sunlight. "That's something I could get used to," she murmured quietly before glancing down at Meaghan again. Reaching out, she touched the tips of her fingers to Meaghan's cheek, then bent down to touch kiss her ever so gently.

Meaghan's eyes drifted shut as she breathed in deeply, picking up the muted scent of her lavender soap and a whiff of something that was purely Samantha. Meaghan sighed gently as Samantha pulled away. Look up at the carpenter and seeing that lean body in the sunlight, she could only shake her head and smile. "A shame I can't keep you all day." She rose to her feet and just wrapped her arms around Samantha's shoulders, holding the other woman tightly. Meaghan rose up on her toes to whisper quietly, "Thank you."

Surprised, Samantha could do little more than wrap her arms in turn around Meaghan, her hands spreading against the woman's warm back. Her brown eyes closed for a moment as she bowed her head, resting her lips against the curve of the smaller woman's neck. She kissed Meaghan gently, then pulled back just enough to kiss those drowsy lips once more. Both women then turned to peer out the windows at the sound of a truck coming up the gravel path. Samantha gave a short, unenthusiastic laugh. "I'd better get going. Is it okay if I grab some coffee in the kitchen?"

Meaghan nodded quickly and stepped away, letting her hands fall with a regretful look. "There are probably muffins, too. Help yourself." She leaned casually against the back of her chair as she watched Samantha quickly throw on the clothes from yesterday. As the carpenter began to tug on her boots, Meaghan walked over towards the bed and took a seat behind Samantha. She leaned over to grab the woman's hair band from the nightstand and started gathering Samantha's damp hair in her hands. With nimble fingers that had obviously done this sort of thing before, she smoothed the hair into a ponytail once more and gathered it in with the hair band. Satisfied with her work, she scooted back a little onto the bed.

Samantha turned to regard Meaghan for a long moment, a grin appearing crookedly as the carpenter reached out to stroke her finger once down Meaghan's smooth, white leg. "You know where to find me," is all she said as she got to her feet. Quick steps brought her to the door where she turned once to look at Meaghan one last time, her smile both thoughtful and reminiscent. She then left without another word to find the rest of her crew and get on with the day's work.

Meaghan watched the door for quite a few minutes, a dreamy, half-lidded expression on her face. She finally slid off the bed and took her own shower, thoughts for the day mingling with memories of last night in a most distracting manner.



Samantha climbed the stairs to the second floor, a mug of coffee steaming away in one hand. She had a far-off look on her face that a couple of the guys immediately commented on, followed by some friendly bantering about trying to get on their patron's good side. Sam went along with it for the most part, then directed the crew to their jobs while she took to stripping the old, cracking paint from the window frames.

She was able to lose herself in her work for the most part, though now and then she found herself frozen, staring into nothing with her hands motionless on her tools. She would then blush a little and glance around quickly, though most of her small crew was elsewhere. With a small bout of reminders to keep her mind where it should be, she would then go right on as if nothing had happened.

It wasn't until lunchtime rolled around that Samantha became aware of a dull tingling in her breasts and pussy. She did not need to check to know she was already more than a little damp. Sam muttered a quiet oath under her breath and rested her head against the rough surface of stripped wood, her eyes shut tightly. When she opened them, she saw Meaghan in the yard below, watching her. The tingle intensified like the increasing whine of an old radio, making Samantha clench her fist around the paint-scraper to keep from rubbing at her now tender nipples.

To make things worse, Meaghan smiled and waved up at her. The woman looked even more petite from the second floor window. Meaghan was carrying a small basket, Samantha realized vaguely, just as the woman below crooked her finger once, winked, and began to walk off down a rough-stoned path towards an old barn.

Sam backed away from the window a couple steps, still able to see those swaying hips as Meaghan walked away. "I'm heading off for lunch," the carpenter called out towards her crew in the next room. One of them replied with something she didn't quite catch, but Samantha was already setting her tools aside and heading for the stairs.

She saw no one on her way to the back door where she slipped out into the cool air. The early spring weather had delivered another cool, damp day, and Samantha almost regretted not grabbing her jacket from the passenger seat in her truck. However, she could easily see the barn from here, so with a furtive look to either side, she quickly set off, keeping up a brisk pace just short of jogging.

The side door to the barn was slightly ajar, so Samantha slipped inside, fighting to keep herself from shivering. The scents of fresh hay and horses surrounded the carpenter, and the only sounds were those of the handful of horses stabled inside.

Samantha wrapped her arms around herself as she stepped in a little further, glancing up and down the clean-swept row. She was about to call out when she felt a hand on her shoulder. With a start, she spun around, only to stare down into a familiar, stunning pair of emerald eyes.

Meaghan smiled at Samantha as she reached up to rest a finger against the other's lips. "Now, now. Don't startle the horses, dear." She winked, then turned and started to climb the ladder built into the wall. "It's warmer in the hayloft," she called down over her shoulder before disappearing above.

With a shake of her head and a crooked smile, Samantha had no choice but to follow. The hayloft looked like any other hayloft with bales stacked against the walls and near the square trapdoors at either end of the barn. Stray pieces were scattered about the floor, but the long room was obviously as well tended as the area below.

Sam crawled onto the floor and brushed a couple pieces of hay from her knees before spotting Meaghan nearby. The other woman had spread blankets on a couple bales, and a small wicker basket was set between the two. "Hello, Miss Kirsson," Meaghan called over with a bright smile and a wave of her hand. "Care to join me for a bite?" Samantha grinned in reply and strode over to the young woman. She trailed a hand through Meaghan's hair, then took a seat on the opposite bale of hay.

"I think I could manage to take some time off," the carpenter drawled as she went back to hugging herself lightly despite the relative warmth of the loft.

Meaghan made a soft sound and got to her feet while removing her light jacket. "Really, Sam, it's only April," the young woman chided as she draped the jacket across Samantha's wiry shoulders. By her tone of voice, however, Samantha did not need to see her to know she was only kidding.

With a grateful smile, Samantha grabbed Meaghan's hand as the other woman was about to return to her own seat. She pulled the smaller woman into her lap and wrapped her arms around that petite waist. "I guess I just need someone to take care of me sometimes," Sam whispered, nuzzling Meaghan's neck.

The smaller woman rested her head against Sam's for a moment. Her pensive expression went unseen by Samantha. "I do what I can," Meaghan finally murmured in reply as she wrapped an arm around Samantha's shoulders. "Now. how about some food?" She leaned forward and flipped open one side of the basket. There was a tall, silver thermos which Meaghan carefully lifted out, followed by a couple travel mugs. She opened the thermos and poured soup into either of the travel mugs, then gave one to Samantha as she claimed the other. "Cheers," Meaghan said quietly with a small smile, lifting the mug in something resembling a toast.

Samantha laughed softly and imitated the motion before taking a slow sip. Usually, vegetable stew wasn't quite her cup of tea, but this was both delicious and warming. "Exactly what I needed, Meaghan. Thank you." Her smile brought a quiver of light from the smaller woman's green eyes as Meaghan beamed in reply.

They sat there for a long moment, just sipping the soup and enjoying the company of the other woman, together and yet alone with their thoughts. Finally Samantha broke the silence as she set her mug to the side and glanced up at Meaghan.

"I've been thinking about you all day," she began softly, reaching up to trace the delicate line of Meaghan's collarbone, just barely visible through the woman's navy blouse. "I can't help it, really. I mean, last night." She trailed off and grinned as a soft blush touched her tanned cheeks.

Meaghan set her empty mug on the ground and turned slightly in Samantha's lap to peer at the other woman closely. Her lips curved gently, and she pressed her warm hands against Samantha's cheeks. "Last night was amazing. And this morning. And right now." Leaning down slightly, she brushed her lips against Samantha's while her fingers slid forward, gliding against the smooth brown hair still in its ponytail from that morning. "I couldn't believe it last night when I saw you standing there above me. I'd been dreaming about you all day long."

Sam's blush only deepened at this admission, and her arms tightened around Meaghan's waist. "I couldn't stay away," she whispered as her crooked smile returned. "I only meant to tease you a little to see if you'd respond." She laughed and kissed Meaghan's neck again. "I guess I got my wish."

Meaghan's eyes closed at the caress of Samantha's lips, and her arm tightened once more around the carpenter's firm shoulders. She gave out a quiet moan, then slid from Sam's lap and onto her knees until they were facing one another. Meaghan stared into those light brown eyes for only a moment before her fingers lifted towards the top button of Sam's flannel shirt.

Samantha gave a startled sound and reached up to stop Meaghan's hands. "I should get back to work," she said hurriedly, sitting up and forcing Meaghan's hands to rest on her hard thighs.

Meaghan arched a brow high and pressed her fingers into Sam's leg, her hands gliding towards the other's waist. "Now really, Sam, I'd think you didn't want this anymore," she said, her voice sounding just a little forced, along with her smile. "You're not going to make me find a new carpenter, are you?"

Samantha froze for a moment, then quickly got to her feet. The borrowed jacket fell from her shoulders as she shuffled out of Meaghan's reach. "Please. don't say that," Sam said, her voice tight. "Don't. it wasn't supposed to happen. I mean. I wanted it to, but." She started to back towards the ladder, looking exquisite but frustrated. She gave Meaghan a pained look, then turned towards the ladder and scrambled down.

Meaghan was stunned, kneeling there in the scattered hay, staring at the place where Samantha had just disappeared. She winced at the sound of the side door closing below, then let out a long breath she hadn't known she was holding. Sinking forward, she rested her forehead on her arms, fingers clenching tightly into fists. She struggled with feelings of frustration and dismay until only a numb lump sat in her stomach. With a defeated sigh, she began gathering the things from lunch and eventually made her way back to the house, ignoring the concerned looks from the few members of the house staff.



Samantha's insides tightened into rocks of anxiety as she raced back up to the second floor. She all but threw herself into her work until there was nothing racing through her mind aside from her tasks, her hands fitting to the tools with practiced ease. The sky darkened and the crew brought out lamps while they continued to work.

Exhaustion began to seep into Samantha's muscles as she finally pulled herself away from the work to see what they had accomplished for the day. After just two days, the upstairs was almost ready for the real work to begin. She began to smile with satisfaction until she realized there was only one other crew member left upstairs, and he was gathering the last of the tools and moving the unneeded lamps out of the way. As he stepped into the front room, he gave Samantha a wary look.

"Hey Sam."

"Hi Ron. The others went home already?"

Ron frowned slightly and glanced at the nearest window. "Already? It's past seven." He finished winding a bright orange extension cord around his arm and left the loop on a makeshift workbench just inside the spacious room. "Hey. are you all right? You seemed a little spooked after lunch."

Panic gripped Samantha for a fleeting moment before she forced smile to her face and shook her head quickly. "Nah, just had something that didn't quite agree with me. I'm fine." She straightened and knuckled the small of her back for a moment. "D'ya need a ride into town? I think I'm going to pack it in for the night."

The two quietly finished cleaning up and turned off the last floor lamp before heading downstairs. Samantha's heart fluttered briefly as she prepared herself to confront Meaghan, but there was no sign of anyone in the house as they let themselves out through the front door and walked towards Samantha's truck. They both climbed in with companionable silence. Samantha started the old engine, waited for the idle to settle, then rumbled down the gravel path towards the county road.



Meaghan watched from the window in her study as Sam's truck disappeared into the night. She had already washed the dried tears from her cheeks, but it was still hard to fight the urge to add a few more. Things had really been going too quickly, she thought to herself, though the thought brought little comfort. She hadn't realized until it was too late that her words had hurt the other woman. The feelings she dealt with in the last two days had been absent so long, they were nearly foreign to her by now.

It wasn't that her life with Charles was that bad. She loved him, and she knew he loved her. Like any couple, they had their issues to work on. As she had discovered during the years before he came along, however, there was something about loving a woman that was so different, so unlike anything else, and it was a feeling she had given up with no small amount of regret when she met him.

And now, after the last five years with Charles, she felt those old tugs at her heart, and they were simply intoxicating. She found herself craving the feeling of Samantha's body against hers, so soft to touch, and yet so solid in her arms. Her laugh was delightful, and her eyes. Meaghan had never seen that shade of brown before in someone's eyes.

Mostly, Meaghan loved the way she felt so comfortable and so wanted. It just felt so right.

With a deep breath, Meaghan relaxed, her decision made. She ran to the front door and grabbed her heavy flannel jacket and the car keys from the desk drawer. With one last look at the silent house, she walked out into the night towards the carriage house, thinking distantly they would probably get frost overnight.



Ron and Samantha rode in silence, neither really interested in trying the radio. After a couple miles, Sam glanced at Ron quickly, then back to the dotted yellow line gliding past her left.

"So. how's Judy?" she asked, forcing a chipper note to her tone.

Ron couldn't help but reply with an almost giddy smile. "Oh, y'know. She's lookin' forward to being done with the pregnancy. She's so uncomfortable these days. and Mom's just about driving her crazy with all her helpful hints and demands."

Sam couldn't help but laugh softly, knowing all too well what the old woman was like. "She's always been like that. Knowing exactly what it is we're supposed to be doing and aren't. Especially what we're doing wrong. And heaven forbid she should keep her opinions to herself."

"Well, she didn't quite know what to say about you," Ron quickly replied, grinning over at Samantha. He let the silence drag on a moment or two before shrugging. "Not that it matters. You're cool with me, Sam. Mom will just have to deal. She'd always wanted a girly girl, and you just never fit the bill."

Samantha nodded after a moment, her hand resting idly on the gearshift as they began to approach the hill into town. She took a slow breath then smiled softly. "Sometimes I wondered if she was ever a little jealous of Dad. I mean. people always assumed you and Ted would follow in his footsteps. I think I kind of threw 'em for a loop."

"I hadn't thought of that," Ron said quietly, leaning against the arm rest so he could study Samantha a little more easily. "I suppose she was. but it's more than that, and you know it. She really didn't know what to do once you came out to her. Can't see how it should have surprised her, but. well. Mothers can be a little deluded about such things," Sam's brother continued, giving her a crooked grin identical to her own.

Samantha could only laugh in reply, and after a few seconds, the earlier silence crept in again.

Ron stared ahead into the night, unable to keep a worried look from his face for too long. "You know she's married, right?" he finally said quietly.

It was all Sam could do to keep her concentration on the road. The night hid her blush, but her grip tightened on the steering wheel until her knuckles stood out white. Ron had always been a little too good at figuring out her secrets. She tried to study him out of the corner of her eye, but he was still focused on the road ahead.

She could not really think of anything to say, but Ron seemed to pick up on that and glanced at her again. "Sam, I'm sorry. I mean. I know you think you're okay with it, but. Shit, girl, you got burnt so bad last time. I don't want to see you hurt again. Plus, this is a really good job. you know Jane and I need it."

Panic gave way to a flash of anger as Samantha gave her brother a frosty glare. "No need to lay on the guilt, Ron. I know what the situation is."

Ron just raised his hands in defense and sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Sam. It's just last time." But he trailed off and just went back to watching the road.

Samantha did not exactly need to be reminded. The crew had gotten pretty screwed over last time. All because she didn't think when their client's wife invited her along for a ride, and then some. Not only had the wife only been interested in jerking Sam around for spite, but the husband was so upset he canceled their contract on the spot and spread some stories around besides. The job at Meaghan's was the first one they'd gotten since that incident, and they were all feeling the financial pinch.

It wasn't so much that Sam was careless about these things. She was just achingly lonely. In the small towns of America, coming out to the world wasn't the greatest idea sometimes. She had suddenly found herself isolated and the butt of local jokes. It had been a hard road, but she had come out of it a better and stronger person in the end. It didn't make the empty apartment and cold bed any easier to bear, however.

And sometimes. sometimes she managed to find some unique soul out there that appealed to her. It worked or it didn't. And in the end, she was still alone. Her brother's concern just seemed to sharpen that latest wound a little too acutely. She fell silent as her own thoughts consumed her.

They topped the long hill and drove slowly into a tiny town they called home. The streets were already quiet at this time of night. After a minute, Sam stopped in front of a little house with new aluminum siding. Ron got out of the truck and turned toward Samantha for a moment. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead he just shook his head slightly and gave his sister a sad little smile. "See ya tomorrow, sis." The door slammed shut, and he headed in to greet his wife.

Sam sat there for a moment to watch the front door close, then crawled along the street with the engine rumbling just above idle. It wasn't a bad little town. Everyone knew everybody else. Most were pretty friendly and accepting. Most.

A couple minutes took her to the other side of town. The truck came to a stop outside a tall house and shuddered as Sam killed the engine. She grabbed her jacket from the bench in back where Ron had tossed it, then she shut the door and started to walk up the path towards her own door but stopped short.

Meaghan was sitting on the bottom step, wrapped in her flannel jacket with her hands in her pockets. She slowly rose to her feet and gave Samantha an uncertain smile. "I didn't want things to end the way they did," she explained quietly, watching Sam's face for any sort of sign.

The other woman was still standing on the cement path between her truck and the front step. Her hesitation was plain on her face, but as she saw Meaghan's disappointment, Sam quickly walked toward the other woman, then stopped again just an arm's length away. "Meaghan. I'm sorry. I overreacted." She let her gaze fall, then looked to either side, though the other houses were already dark. She studied the other woman then and offered a soft smile. "Care to come in? The cat and I don't usually get visitors."

Meaghan could only nod as she fought back tears of relief. She stood aside as Samantha unlocked the door and led the way upstairs to her small one-bedroom apartment.

Samantha tossed her keys onto the small shelf next to the door, then flipped on the light. The apartment was clean in a sort of scattered way. The dishes were washed but left in the drying rack. The clothes were folded, but still in baskets. Overall, the place had a vibrant feeling that appealed to Meaghan much more than her own house, which sometimes felt more like a museum. It felt like someone lived here. Knowing who that someone was only made it that much more inviting.

Meaghan suddenly realized Sam was watching her. She started to smile, but the smile faltered at the odd look on Samantha's face. "Sam. I really am sorry about earlier. It was a stupid thing to say." She ended abruptly and frowned at the other woman who was still silent. Meaghan glanced around the main room of the apartment and spotted the old sofa in the corner. She quickly reached out and took Samantha's hand in hers, then led her to the sofa where she forced the other woman to take a seat. Meaghan just stood over her for a moment, frustration making her hands clench. She could not take the silence much longer, so she knelt with her knees to either side of Sam's legs, took the woman's head in her hands and kissed her deeply.

Surprise only forestalled Samantha for a moment before she returned the heated passion with a fervor that had been held at bay all afternoon. She gripped the front of Meaghan's jacket to hold her close and leaned into her, intensifying the kiss.

By the time Meaghan pulled back, both women were breathing hard. Samantha's eyes were half lidded as she gazed at Meaghan's lips, a delicious shade of red after last night's gentle bruising and the last few minutes of intense attention.

Meaghan sat back a little and let her hands fall to rest on Sam's shoulders. "About this afternoon," Meaghan began again in a quiet voice as her thumb traced one quivering jaw line. "I am sorry. So sorry. It's been so long, and. well, I'm not sure what happened." Despite the promise she made to herself to keep it at bay, her green eyes began to water. "I didn't mean to hurt you or make you run. It's just so awkward, and I was covering for that by teasing you. I'm sorry."

Samantha sat still and listened. Her head tilted in towards the soft caress, though her eyes never strayed from that emerald gaze. "I'm sorry I ran," she replied once Meaghan went quiet. "I didn't want to mess things up. You're so irresistible to me, but I didn't want a one-night-stand. And yet. you're not exactly available for more than that. Are you." It wasn't really a question.

A tear spilled over Meaghan's cheek, which she quickly wiped away and sighed. She slowly lowered herself to the sofa beside Samantha and rested her head against the other woman's shoulder. "I don't know," she finally answered, her voice nearly a whisper. "I don't want to lead you on. my husband and I have always said we had an open relationship, but I've never taken him up on it. and as far as I know, neither has he." She fell silent for a moment and laced her fingers through Samantha's, holding her hand gently. After a moment, the small woman raised her head to glance up. Her expression was so helpless and adorable, Samantha felt like crying herself for a brief moment.

Samantha was about to tell Meaghan it was okay, but the other woman interrupted. "Sam, I don't want this to be a one-night-stand either. You made me. you make me feel so wonderful, and so. so cherished. I don't want to lose that. And at the very least, I want to get to know you better rather than just remember one hot night with someone whose smile makes me want to melt."

It was no use trying to reply to that. Samantha turned toward Meaghan and wrapped her arms around the small woman's shoulders, holding her tightly. Then bending her head, she placed a gentle kiss on Meaghan's temple that caused Meaghan to turn towards her. Samantha smiled softly and traced Meaghan's rosy lips with the tip of her finger. "I think I like that idea," she whispered, pausing only a moment longer to watch the light shimmer in Meaghan's eyes before leaning forward to brush her lips against one wet cheek, then the other, finally pressing against those slightly plump, cherry lips while her arms tightened around Meaghan's shoulders once more.

One last tear trickled down Meaghan's cheek as she relaxed in Samantha's arms, her own arms curling tentatively around the other woman's firm waist. After a moment, her fingers pressed more firmly into Samantha's back, pulling the harder body against hers as the kiss quickly grew more passionate.

Samantha needed no encouragement as she eased Meaghan back onto the sofa cushions. Her lips traveled down to that soft neck while she moved to kneel between Meaghan 's legs. She unbuttoned the top of Meaghan's blouse enough to reveal the lacy fringe of a black, silk brassiere and let her fingertips graze along the delicate border, bringing a gentle shiver from the woman beneath her.Meaghan's back arched slightly at the caress. She reached up and gripped Sam's shirt, pulling her down until she could feel Sam's body on top of hers, felt warm thighs graze her own. She looked up into Samantha's brown eyes and smiled crookedly before leaning up to kiss her once more. Emboldened, Sam prodded ever so gently with the tip of her tongue, stroking it along Meaghan 's lips until they opened. Meaghan returned the intimate probing, her tongue twisting against Sam's, exploring.

Meaghan could feel the carpenter's solid body grinding into hers, gently at first, though the action became more heated with each passing breath. Meaghan's legs parted a little more, and she gasped slightly at the muted pressure against her clitoris, hampered by their clothing. Meaghan nearly growled against Sam's lips until Samantha pulled back to glance at her curiously. Meaghan began to grin and let her hands clench in Samantha's shirt once more. "I think you've been in these clothes too long, my dear," the woman drawled, voice growing husky.

Samantha appeared momentarily surprised but pleased, her own lips quirking into a crooked grin. She sat up and began unbuttoning her flannel shirt while Meaghan watched and ran her fingertips along Sam's thighs. Samantha finally pulled the garment away and dropped it to the side of the sofa. Gripping her small breasts, she kneaded them for a moment before pulling the fabric of her bra down under the soft curves, causing them to lift slightly.

Meaghan licked her lips and fumbled at the button of Samantha's jeans until it came undone. Once she had pulled down the zipper, she sat up enough to curve one hand inside, grazing between the coarse material of the jeans and the soft cotton panties. Sam moaned once and thrust gently forward with her hips. Meaghan could not help but grin a little. "Well now. what do you say we get these wet things off you," she cooed, grinning all the more at the sudden blush that suffused Samantha's tanned cheeks.

"I have a better idea," Sam replied in a low voice. She took Meaghan's hands in hers and stood from the sofa, prompting Meaghan to do likewise. With one hand, Samantha reached behind her and unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor before taking one of Meaghan's hands once again and walking towards the back of the apartment.

The bedroom was small, narrow and extended the length of the apartment. A full-sized bed stood against the windows at the far end, while the length of wall near the door held a tall armoire of unstained wood. There was not much room for anything else, and the only light in the room came from the waxing moon through the crazed glass of the windows. The only view was that of the trees on the edge of town. A dark tabby cat meowed at them from the windowsill, then dropped to the ground to stalk through the door.

Samantha closed the door, led Meaghan past the armoire and gently pushed her down onto the bed, quickly undoing the rest of the buttons down Meaghan's blouse. She parted the delicate fabric and ran her hands across the black silk of the woman's brassiere, her thumbs grazing each nipple which caused them to peak slightly against the dark fabric. Samantha leaned down to run her tongue across the thin crevasse between Meaghan's breasts. Her hands tugged at Meaghan's dark slacks and slid them over nicely curved hips where the slacks fell quietly to the floor.

For a long moment, Samantha simply gazed at the body in front of her as she trailed her fingers along one moonlit thigh. She was not quite done, however. If Meaghan could have seen the intense look of hunger that flashed across Samantha's face, she might have worried. Instead, she drew herself further up onto the bed and beckoned to Samantha.

A slow smile spread across Sam's face as she shook her head slightly. "Wait here," she drawled before she slowly left the room. Meaghan was left staring at the door as it closed again. She got a better look at the room and drew her knees to her chest, enjoying the feel of the patchwork quilt against her bare feet. It had a comforting feeling against the silk of her panties, which matched the black of her bra. At the sound of the door opening, she quickly turned to look for Samantha and froze, her eyes widening slowly.

Samantha stood leaning against the doorframe. She was grinning rather wickedly at the other woman and was clothed in nothing aside from a black leather harness. The straps clung possessively to Sam's hips, the better to support a large dildo, which was strapped to the front of the harness. Its length nearly glistened in the moonlight, the silver shadows playing against the subtle bumps and curves of the black material.

"I've decided to make you mine for the night," Sam practically purred. She began to stalk towards the bed in much the same manner the cat had left earlier, again closing the door behind her. Meaghan marveled at the way Sam wore the strap-on, almost as if it were a natural part of her. She almost jumped when she noticed Samantha had reached the bed. "Now, don't hide yourself from me," the taller woman cooed. She let her hand drift to the dark dildo and ran her fingers along the underside, lifting it slightly. "You don't need to be afraid."

Meaghan battled the brief flutter in her heart down to a mild pounding and gave Samantha a shaky smile. Her legs straightened towards the end of the bed as she swallowed quickly and patted the bed beside her.

Samantha, however, was having none of that. She seized Meaghan's ankles with a firm grip and pulled quickly but steadily until Meaghan's ass was up against the edge of the bed. She then lifted and stepped in. Meaghan gave a tiny gasp when she felt the tip of the dildo nudge against her panties while Samantha settled the other woman's ankles against her shoulders. Meaghan gripped the bedcovers as a shiver ran through her body. Sam merely smiled.

She ran the end of the black phallus along Meaghan's panties, leaning in a little to press against the moistened crease hiding the petite woman's nether regions from her sight. Samantha reached down and hooked her fingers through the sides of the silk panties, then began pulling them up along Meaghan's legs. When they reached those slim ankles, Samantha bent her head down to take in a deep whiff.

"Mine," she breathed quietly. "For tonight."

The panties fell to the floor.

Meaghan shivered once more, feeling very vulnerable and even more aroused than before. A tiny whimper escaped her lips, rising to a groaning gasp as Samantha pressed the tip of the dildo against her outer lips. Sam pulled back and glanced down at the length in her hands and smiled. Meaghan could see her own juices adding to the gentle glimmer of moonlight. She moved slightly as if trying to get closer.

Samantha responded with a light ripple of laughter and shook her head slowly. "Who would have thought the quiet little woman would be so demanding," she chided softly, though her tone held no true rebuke. If anything, she sounded strained from holding herself back, but she meant to make the night last as long as she could.

Sam bent her knees and guided the shaft of the dildo until it rested between those wet lips. Slowly, she rocked the length of it back and forth, covering it amply until with a slight change of position, she pressed the tip through the inner lips and rested against the dark, trembling opening. Here she paused and looked down into Meaghan's eyes. "Do you want this?" she murmured, watching for the other woman's reaction.

It was all Meaghan could do not to shout out. She gripped the quilt more tightly and nodded. "Please," she whispered in reply, her gaze that of dark emeralds with the moonlight behind her.

Sam's breath caught at the sight, and she thrust forward, bringing a moan from the other woman who let her head fall back against the mattress. Samantha was sure to go slowly, but each thrust brought her further inside until the entire length plunged into Meaghan's pussy. Her rhythm slowly built until Meaghan's hips began to move, matching the heated pace. The small woman twisted and bucked as she tried to bring Samantha in deeper, harder, faster, her back arching until at times the only parts of her body still on the bed here her hips and her head.

Samantha gripped Meaghan's legs, lost in the rhythm as the gentle friction fueled her own passion, aided all the more by the sight before her. Meaghan's body began to twitch, softly at first, then building in intensity until she cried out, hands splayed against the bedcover. Her body quivered, shuddering almost violently at each thrust.

Samantha fought the urge to continue and eased to a stop while Meaghan shivered below her. As the woman's eyes opened once more to peer exhaustedly into Samantha's, the carpenter smiled softly and withdrew, bringing one last, intense shudder. Knowing Meaghan was watching, Sam removed the harness and carefully detached the dark phallus. She sat on the edge of the bed and brought it to her lips, drawing her tongue slowly down one side. She licked her lips and gave a quiet sigh, then set the dildo on the nightstand before turning back to Meaghan, who seemed quite unable to move for the moment.

Sam reached out to cup Meaghan's face in the palm of her hand, leaned forward and kissed her deeply. Meaghan could faintly taste the salty sweet tang of her own juices on Samantha's lips. She finally managed to pull herself up and crawled to embrace Sam limply as she pressed her lips to the woman's temple.

Feeling there was no need for words, Samantha pulled back the covers of the bed, and the two of them climbed in, snuggling quite contentedly against one another. The sheets had the downy feel of an old t-shirt and clung comfortingly to Meaghan's heated body. Her eyes slowly drifted closed as sleep took her.

Samantha felt transfixed for a moment by the look of utter peace on the small woman's face. She traced the delicate lines with the tip of her finger, the touch so soft that Meaghan never even stirred. With a tiny pang of desire, the carpenter wrapped her arms around her lover and met her again in the dreams that carried her off to sleep.