Ann and I

Chapter Two

My mind raced as I drove home. How had this woman wound up with my groceries and how had I wound up having a breakfast date with a stranger in my own home? The embrace she left me with had also left her fragrance on me, and it seemed to fill the interior of my SUV. She had seemed nice and interesting, but was this really safe? Was she just lonely? Was she a thief? Had she forgotten to take her medicine? Was she a bisexual or lesbian looking for a sexual liaison?

"Just be calm Debbie", my mind said. I decided that I would have my cell ready to dial 911 in case anything strange happened. However reason also told me that crime and particularly woman on woman violence between strangers in this region was very rare. Things had moved so fast. This whole experience was so far outside my routine and it had me very uneasy. My instincts told me this was not right, but having agreed to it, I made up my mind to entertain this new friend calmly. Her sports car stayed glued in my rear view mirror all the way home and she followed me up our semi-circular driveway.

Ann bounced out of her car cheerfully and picked up one of the bags of groceries from the back of her car. Her smile was infectious and disarming and I began to feel more relaxed about the situation. She handed the bag to me and picked up another along with her purse, and followed me to the front door of my home.

I took pride in my home, a spacious two-story residence in a nice neighborhood. We stepped into the foyer, and while the house was not "guest-clean", it was still orderly. The warmth inside contrasted with the chill of the early winter morning we had come in from. Ann commented on how nice the house was and part of me wanted to give her a tour but I decided I better just keep this stranger to the kitchen, at least to begin with. I took off my jacket and invited Ann to take off her sweater and make herself comfortable. She thanked me, and smiled as she unbuttoned her cardigan. I saw that she wore a spaghetti strap lace camisole underneath. While certainly not model-thin, she also obviously took care of herself. Her breasts while not heavy were well rounded. The camisole fell short of her smoothly formed hips, revealing a pierced belly button adorned with a jeweled ring.

It was probably obvious that I had been admiring her very feminine form, for I looked up to find her watching me. Her eyes had that same twinkle and playfulness that I'd noticed right from the start. There was just a moment of awkwardness, but she quickly began to make herself at home in the kitchen. Ann washed the fruit, while I unpacked perishables. Our conversation took on a pleasantly light tone. She asked me about my family and life in the community. I rambled on, telling her more than I would typically tell a stranger, but she was a good listener and being able to just keep talking on such familiar topics helped to soothe my uneasiness. I brought out a bowl for Ann to mix the fruit in and then offered to help in the preparation, but she insisted that I relax at the table while she prepared the food.

I sat and watched her ease, impressed at how gregarious and confident she was to be able to make herself at home in a stranger's kitchen. During the conversation I learned that Ann was single. She was a free-lance artist and writer who resided in Manhattan, but who also traveled frequently. Her art was part of an exhibit that was to open the next day at our local college and she was in town for the opening. Although she and I were not apparently far apart in age, her bohemian lifestyle contrasted sharply with a settled life that was centered around my family and a 14 year marriage to the first boy I dated seriously.

As she finished mixing the fruit, she stopped, and standing at the tile kitchen counter, she looked at me and asked,

"Do you know what I love about fruit?" without waiting for my reply, she continued, "It is completely natural. Almost all other foods are processed in some way, adulterated from their natural state. Fruit not only comes to us as it is, plain and simple, but also with the most exquisite colors, scents and shapes the planet has to offer."

She held up a pear and asked, "How can anyone say this is not beauty and art?"

I had to admit, I had not quite looked at a pear that way, but looking at the curves in its form, its unique green, blended with swatches of red, I did see how it could be compared with any art created by a master.

"I believe eating fresh fruit helps remind us of purity and truth, wouldn't you agree?"

Again, without really waiting for my reply, she continued, "I think so many among us live without purity and truth. People live with processed everything, including lies and self-deceptions. They do this everyday until finally they come to accept it as normality. Don't you find yourself doing that Deborah?"

This time she waited for my response, her eyes gazed into mine, no longer with the twinkle I'd started to be accustomed to, but with a seriousness that probed into me. I had to think for a bit on her statement.

"Uh, yes, I suppose I do live with lies and untruths", I stammered, "but I do think that is natural. We can't be honest all the time. It could lead to hurtfulness. Sometimes we need to tell white lies at the expense of honesty."

"I'm not talking about that level of politeness, Deborah. I am talking about the day-to-day lies we live with. The unspoken lies that hide what we truly think. For example, didn't you think I was strange to be insisting on coming home with you?"

"Well, yes I did" I had to reply.

"Yet you didn't say anything. Perhaps you were afraid of hurting my feelings, but you also probably were uncomfortable with everything it might suggest. What did you think of me, honestly?"

I had to squirm a bit. Ann was correct, I was uncomfortable with complete honesty, and I couldn't quite be truthful in my reply. "Oh, I wasn't sure if you were not a thief." I replied.

"Is that all you thought Deborah? What do you think of me now?

"I think you are an interesting person, but I really don't know you."

"What did you think when I fed you the fruit in the store?" she asked, continuing her steady gaze.

I really felt uncomfortable with that one, but knew I had to respond at least somewhat truthfully. "I wasn't sure what to make of it" I hesitated.

Ann walked toward me with the bowl of mixed fruit. "Did you enjoy the berry?" she asked.

"Yes", I replied.

"I thought so. How could you not? I enjoyed watching you enjoy it."

Ann carefully selected a nectarine slice and took a bite. She paused for a moment to chew.

"Mmmm, that is perfect." Ann purred as she plucked out another nectarine slice from the bowl. She had momentarily closed her eyes as she enjoyed the taste of the fruit, but now her gaze turned back on me, her presence almost too close and penetrating.

"What did you think of me feeding you the berry?" Ann asked again as she held the nectarine slice.

"I have to say, I thought it odd and a bit uncomfortable." I replied, feeling that I was at last being honest.

"I could tell you did" replied Ann, "but you ate the fruit anyway. I knew then that my instincts about you were correct." She paused, "Don't you think it was silly that you felt uncomfortable?" Ann continued. "It was a gesture from one person to another, to share a little piece of purity in a simple and pure manner. A way to connect with a person who looked warm, beautiful and that I wanted to know better."

"Yes, I suppose that is so" I replied, seated at the table, my eyes looking up, uncomfortably trying to return Ann's ever-steady gaze.

Ann's fingers lightly turned the nectarine slice, her smile now starting to return. She now stepped right in front of me, extended the slice to my lips and said, "Taste this."

Was this seduction? Was this a psychological test? I wasn't sure what to do, but I felt for once in my life, I was going to do the unscripted. I parted my lips and moved to take the bite.

As my head moved forward, Ann also slipped the fruit forward, leaving it set in the tip of her right index finger as the fruit entered my mouth. Again, she gave a soft brush on the underside of my lip as her finger left my mouth.

Ann set the bowl on the table and plucked out a grape, holding it between thumb and finger, seeming to contemplate. I chewed the delicious pulp and watched Ann, my mind racing between thoughts. Ann finally spoke.

"You are a beautiful woman Deborah."

My mind and heart jumped. So this was a seduction. Now what was I to do? I swallowed the nectarine.

"Thank you" was all I could reply.

"You're welcome" Ann replied in a bit firmer voice. "I just speak what is on my mind and I find you to be an attractive woman. Do you find me to be attractive as well? Please speak truthfully to me?"

Okay, I did find her attractive, but clearly this was going to be more than the typical, casual complement I might give to one of my female friends. I had to acknowledge Ann's thoughts on truth and I realized this was now indeed a test of truth and what was within my soul.

"Yes, you are a very beautiful woman" I replied.

Ann leaned in closer. "I didn't ask you if I was beautiful, did I? I asked if you find me attractive."

Ann held the grape by my lips. "Deborah, I want you to be truthful with me."

I nodded and looked back into her gaze.

"You've never had a romantic physical relationship with a woman, but you've thought about it. Is that correct?"

"Yes that is correct" came from my mouth, but my mind was beginning to go somewhere else. My knees felt weak as all those conflicts I'd felt toward same-sex relationships flew about me. Ann was gorgeous, confident and sexual and I realized that there was going to be little resistance should she pursue this further.

Ann leaned forward again until her lips were inches from mine. "Taste it" she said in a firm, loud whisper, placing the grape between my lips. The grape slipped in and as I began to chew, Ann's lips followed and moved onto my lips. The taste of her breath mixed with the fresh grape, filling my mouth and senses. Her tongue began to slowly swirl on mine. The moment was electric. I felt the last shreds of hesitancy begin to melt. The warmth and softness of the kiss was irresistible and I knew that I was about to enter a place that I'd always feared, yet desired. The grape slid down my throat as Ann inhaled my breath.