by Alex Tryst

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Feedback: Drop me a line if you’d like at alextryst@hotmail.com.

Dedications: To my angels, my nephews. Through the good and bad days, the joys and sorrows, the unconditional love and adoration you both exude makes the meaning of life apparently clear.

Copyright © August, 2004 by Alex Tryst. All Rights Reserved.

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Immediately they both were caught up with chatting with fellow alum, but the brunette kept her eyes out for the blonde who had been in her mind. It wasn't until she had made a full tour of the museum that she found her though. Elisabeth looked off in thought as she studied an exhibit.

Slowly making her way up behind the woman, Dara stepped slightly to the side of her and pretended to be looking as well. Neither said anything for a moment even though she sensed the blonde knew she was there. After an extended pause though, the younger woman said, "Elisabeth, I'm sorry about last Saturday. You hurt me by hiding your current career choice, because I thought you and I were more aligned politically than we really are. However, from a purely career standpoint, I understand why you're doing this. To be of a chosen few to set something of this magnitude in motion is extraordinary, and the significance of that shouldn't be shadowed by my vehement disapproval."

"You know, Dara, one of the greatest things about our country is the freedom to do as we choose. We can express any feelings that we have, and it's protected by our rights as citizens. You have a right to your opinions just as I have a right to mine."

"I know. Sometimes I get overly zealous to make people see things my way that I lose sight of that," the brunette confessed. "I want everyone to be a believer in social justice and equality."

Sighing Elisabeth mentioned, "Dara, I am a believer in most of your social causes. It's just that I value my fiscal opinions more highly. You are just the opposite. You are about social change regardless of the cost. I'm more economical in my approach, as is the President, I assure you. When he says he's a compassionate conservative, he means it."

"I don't buy that, Elisabeth. All he's done is fortify his base conservatives by striking out at certain foundations. What about Roe V. Wade for example? If he had his way, he'd ban abortions. A woman has the ultimate right to choice. And gay marriage? You already know where he stands on that."

"I'll admit he's better at foreign policy than domestic social opposition," the blonde stated.

"Foreign policy? He's alienated most of our allies with the war in Iraq. He lied to the American people. He said Hussein was linked to terrorism and had weapons of mass destruction, which was his justification for going to war. Neither of those things is true."

"He is taking proactive steps to rid the world of terrorism, Dara. He's the only one taking a stand."

"With lives of innocent soldiers. They are going to war for something totally unfounded. This directive from a man that never served in combat. He's sending uninformed young people to die for cause that doesn't exist."

"It doesn't exist?" incredulously the blonde questioned. "You tell that to the families who lost their loved ones on 9-11. Terrorism is something to be faced head on, and he's the only one doing it. What about those peoples' suffering? Tell me, Dara. I'm sure Lesley would agree with me on this. It is important to quash those responsible for the worst action on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor."

"And why do you think Lesley would agree with that?" Dara inquired, wondering where the conversation was headed.

"She was assigned to the Pentagon to pick through rubble, Dara. How do you think that affected her?"

"How did you know that? She's doesn't talk about that to anyone," the brunette mentioned.

"We both worked at the DOJ during 9-11. I've had the opportunity to read her briefs."

"That was way out of your jurisdiction."

"Not then it wasn't. I haven't always worked for civil rights. I transferred to it from domestic terrorism. The point is that the people who died and the people who were sent in to pick up the pieces were altered forever. Our nation's history is forever marred by that horrific incident. It should never be allowed to happen again. That's the President's priority, and he's not the kind of man to just sit back and let other people make decisions. He's made tough choices, but he's done it in the interest of the people."

"He's a liar, Elisabeth, and he's destroyed our foreign relationships. He's ruined our budget. He's bankrupting Medicare. Unemployment hasn't been higher since Reagan was in office. These are the issues people care about, not what happens on foreign soil. He's in Iraq for the oil and to settle a score. That's childish and petty. He's used our country's resources for personal vendetta. It's unacceptable."

"People still support him on the war on terror, Dara. It's his stronghold."

Shaking her head, the younger attorney cleared her head. "You know, Elisabeth, we could go round and round on this and never see eye to eye. We're the worst kind of politicians. We're too set in our ways. I just came up to apologize, and I got dragged into this battle again. That was not my intention."

"I know, and it wasn't mine either. I'm sorry as well for going off on you at the gym. It wasn't right of me, especially since you've been nothing but nice to Shelby and me. I didn't mean it when I said that we didn't have anything else to say to each other. On the contrary, I think there is still a lot left to be said."

"So do I. Do you think it's possible for us to table our political feelings?"

"I'd like to try, Dara. I want to be friends with you."

"I want the same thing but as long as we both kept our political aspirations out of it. Is that a deal?"

"I'll certainly try. Will you?" Elisabeth questioned.

"I'll try as well."

"Great. You know, I believe you promised me another outing."

"I believe you're right. We should plan that. Maybe we should bring Shelby though as a chaperone."

"I think that's a good idea," the blonde answered with a laugh. "Even better we should make it something we both hate so we have something to gripe about other than politicians."

Nodding her head Dara mentioned, "Like blood donation or something."

"Blood donation, that's perfect," Elisabeth stated.

"Except for the fact that I was only joking. I don't like needles."

Laughing lightly the blonde teased, "So, you're scared, huh?"

"I'm not scared, Elisabeth."

"Fine. Then you'll do it," the older woman pressed.

Begrudgingly the brunette nodded. "Oh fine. If I do this, then you have to do something for me."

"What's that?"

"Something you hate."

"I already am, Dara. Who said I enjoy giving blood?" the shorter woman countered. "Look, Shelby is a nurse. We can go to her hospital and get it done. She can chaperone. Then after that we can all go celebrate our accomplishment. What do you say?"

"All right. Set it up then. If that's the only way we're going to make this friendship work, then I suppose that's what we have to do," Dara said.

Smiling at the taller woman, Elisabeth touched her on the arm. "It won't be so bad. You'll see."

"I'm sure I will," the younger woman mumbled.

The following Saturday Dara arrived at Shelby and Elisabeth's house in the afternoon. Shelby had arranged their time slot for blood donation at her hospital, so the three of them went directly there. Upon arrival they had to wait for a few minutes but were then allowed to go in at the same time for their donation.

Seeing several tables set up, Dara waited for Elisabeth and Shelby to take theirs before moving to one on the other side of the eldest blonde. She was silent as the two sisters talked with each other. The brunette was nervous about giving blood due to her needle issue, but she didn't want to look scared in front of either woman, so she tried to act nonchalant about the event.

However, when it was time for her to actually have the needle placed in her arm, Dara felt herself becoming ill. Desperately she tried to focus on something other than what was going on around her. Catching eyes with Shelby, she noticed that both blondes were doing fine, forcing her to try to do the same. Closing her eyes, she made herself relax and think about other things.

Meanwhile as the two sisters chatted, Shelby mentioned, "Do you think Dara is going to be okay?"

Elisabeth shrugged. "I hope so. She doesn't look so good."

"Well, we'll see. The worst part is over. That should help," the nurse answered.

By the time both of the blondes were finished and recovering in their chairs, Dara was almost finished as well. The brunette had managed to make it through the whole process and was getting ready to have the needle removed. Adverting her eyes as it happened, she grimaced when the attending nurse pulled it out and stuck a bandage over the top of it. Feeling relief that the torture was over, the tall woman stood before the nurse gave her permission and suddenly things went black.

Elisabeth screamed in surprise as Dara hit the floor. She wanted to move, but Shelby instructed her to stay where she was, so she didn't faint either from the sudden movement. Gently sliding off own reclining chair, the youngest woman made it to the floor. Checking to make sure Dara hadn't hurt herself, she chuckled. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

"Is she okay?" the blonde attorney inquired in concern.

"She'll be fine. She just fainted, because she was trying to be tough. She'll come to in a few minutes. Don't worry."

"She really went down, Shelby."

"I know. That's what happens if you don't wait a few minutes while your body recovers. We'll get some orange juice for her, and she'll be better. I promise."

"Well, I'm feeling fine now. I'm getting up."

"Fine but move gently. I don't need you taking a dive either," her sister said as the other nurse came back with juice for Dara.

Elisabeth did as she was told, moving slowly off the chair. Coming to where Dara was, she knelt down next to the tall woman. Softly her hand went to the brunette's hair and stroked it back from her face lightly as she looked on in concern.

Dara flinched slightly before her eyes fluttered open. Looking up and seeing both blondes by her side, she asked in confusion, "What happened?"

"You moved too quickly. Here. Drink this and just relax," Shelby instructed, handing the cup to the brunette. Dara tried to prop herself up enough to drink the beverage, but she still felt too weak. "Let me help you," the blonde nurse suggested, slowly lifting the larger woman up, so she could prop her against her.

Elisabeth took the cup from the brunette. "Here, Dara. Let me get this for you," she offered.

The tall woman shook her head slightly and reached out her hand. "No. I'm fine, really."

"Dara, you're not fine. You just fainted. Let us help you," Elisabeth countered. Sighing loudly Dara didn't fight as the blonde attorney brought the cup to her mouth. She took the straw between her lips and took a sip. All three of them were silent for a few moments. Elisabeth took that time to study Dara. As tough as the brunette appeared, watching her faint humanized her in a way that was flattering to the blonde. It showed that Dara had a vulnerable side to her. Instinctively she reached for Dara's head, running her fingers through the dark locks in affection. "You feeling better now?" she asked when the cup was empty.

"Yeah. Thanks," Dara replied, looking between both of them. Rising to her feet slowly with their assistance, she said, "Sorry about that."

"It's fine. You don't always have to be so tough all the time," Elisabeth mentioned.

"Not a word about this to anyone. This would ruin my reputation," Dara joked lightly as both women escorted her from the hospital.

"We wouldn't tell a soul, Dara," Elisabeth answered with a smile. "But perhaps I should drive. The last thing we need is for you to be light-headed behind the wheel."

Figuring the older woman had a point, the brunette nodded and dug her keys out of her pocket. "Easy with her now, Elisabeth. This is my baby, and I don't let just anyone drive her."

The blonde attorney laughed. "I'll be gentle with her. I promise." When the three of them arrived at Dara's jeep, the blondes got the tall woman situated in the backseat before taking both the front ones.

"This is the first time I've ridden in the backseat," she mentioned.

"Bet you've done lots of other things back there, though," Shelby teased, winking at the brunette.

"Well, that's not up for discussion, but I'd be more than happy to show you some of my moves later," the attorney countered.

"I'll keep that in mind. For now though, let's focus on getting you some food. Where do you want to go?"

"Elisabeth can decide."

"Well, we had decided on going into Tenley Town to have Mexican. Are you still up for that, Dara?"

"Sounds good. Drive on, chauffeur." The brunette spent most of the ride quietly observing the two sisters as they chatted amiably. She found it much easier to deal with Elisabeth with Shelby as a buffer, but she did long for moments alone with the woman she found interesting. After the incident at the hospital where Elisabeth was stroking her hair, the tall woman wondered what was going on in the older woman's head.

Arriving at the Mexican restaurant, the three of them went to the bar while they waited on a table. Greeting the bartender with a dashing smile, Dara ordered three margaritas for them. When they were delivered the brunette raised her glass, "I'd like to propose a toast on a job well done by the two of you today. You came through like real champs."

"So did you, Dara. Most people would just give up and not go through with it, but you stuck to it until the end," Shelby stated

"Well, next time we decide to do something charitable, let's make it something we enjoy a little better. Let's feed the homeless next time. I'd much prefer that."

"That's a great idea," Elisabeth seconded. "Let's do that."

"Do what?" Dara asked.

"Work with the homeless. I think we should do that."

"Fine. I'll set it up if you just give me some times you're available."

"Me too. I want to come," Shelby jumped in.

"We wouldn't go anywhere without you, Shelby. I can't leave my favorite girl at home while I party with her sister at the local food bank," Dara jested. "It just wouldn't be right."

Smiling at her sister and wrapping her arms around the brunette's shoulders, Shelby asked, "Did you hear that, Lis? I'm her favorite girl. I'm the envy of the entire world."

Giving a demure grin in return, the oldest woman, answered, "You certainly are. You make a good pair."

A few minutes later their names were called for the table, so Dara led the way. Once they were seated the brunette excused herself to the restroom, leaving the sisters to themselves. Making sure Dara was out of earshot, Shelby inquired, "So, how do you think it's going?"

"Good. This is the first time we haven't fought since we met. Having you here has been a real help."

"I'm glad to hear it. I could feel the chemistry between the two of you at the hospital when she had fainted. It's obvious you care about her, Lis. Just take it baby steps at a time if necessary. I think this woman would be willing to wait if she sees your interest."

"Yeah. Let's hope so. Right now I just want to concentrate on being friends, though. If we can do that, we have a chance once the election is over. I still can't forget about that."

"I know. In the meantime though you don't mind that I flirt with her, do you?"

"Not at all. In fact, I think it's helping keeping the tension between us low, which is good for everyone."

"That's the feeling I got as well, so I guess I'm just going to keep doing it then."

"That's fine with me."

"You know, if this evening goes well and then our next little charitable adventure, whatever that may be, goes well, you should think about going out together, just the two of you. I know you think you'll run the risk of arguing, but I think as you two get to know each other, you'll find other things to discuss other than politics. I know you'd like to be able to get to that level with her."

"Yeah, I would. She promised me a ride in her plane sometime. I think I might take her up on that. After all, it's almost April, so the weather should only be improving. Seems like a good next step, especially since I know it's something she enjoys so much."

"Good plan," Shelby seconded.

Several minutes later the brunette returned. "So, what have my blonde beauties been talking about while I was away?" she asked casually.

"Your demise," Elisabeth joked.

"Oh, good topic. Well, if I must go, I'd like to die of pleasure, so please keep that in mind. Being smothered by a set of perfect breasts would be ideal."

"That can certainly be arranged. I happen to have a flawless set on hand," Shelby quipped.

"Maybe I should see for myself to judge," bantered the tall woman with a mischievous grin.

"Later. I don't want to get thrown out of here until I finish at least one more margarita. After you get me drunk, ask again. I'll be much more inclined to be receptive."

"I'll bear that in mind. And what about you, Elisabeth? Anything to offer to this course of conversation?"

"No. I think you're quite capable of carrying this one yourselves. After all, who am I to argue with my sister's claim?"

"Well, you might possibly be the only one who could," Dara mentioned as their waiter came to the table.

All three women ordered their meal and then talked quietly. Dara enjoyed herself immensely during the dinner. Both blondes were equally entertaining by the way they played off each other. She merely had to sit back and watch, issuing commentary when necessary to keep the dialogue going. When the meal was finally over, Dara drove them back to their house. The night was still early, but she didn't want to seem too eager to be in their company. Pulling up to the curb in front of their house, she decided to walk them to the door.

Upon arrival Elisabeth unlocked it before both blondes turned to Dara. The brunette smiled. "Well, it's not often I take two women out at once. I'm not sure of the protocol. Should I say my good byes to each of you in private?" she joked.

"You're not coming in?" Shelby inquired. "It's early."

"Well, I hadn't been invited. One of the first rules in dating is never assume anything and be ready for everything. I didn't know if you two had other plans."

"That's good advice. Come in. I'm staying here tonight. We can watch a movie, make out a little, whatever your heart desires," the younger blonde teased enticingly.

"You don't have to tell me twice. Lead the way, Shelby."

Heading inside Shelby gestured to the couch. "Why don't you have a seat? I'm going to the kitchen. You want anything?"

"A drink would be good."

"What do you want?"

"What are you offering?"

Smiling cunningly she answered, "I already told you, anything your heart desires."

Pretending to ponder the offer, the tall woman finally responded, "In that case, a shot of tequila with Lemon and salt."

"Haven't you had enough tonight?" Elisabeth mentioned as she took a seat in a nearby chair.

"I haven't had that much. Besides it seems that I'm not going anywhere for quite a while."

"Lis, you want something?"

"Water would be good. Thanks, Shelby."

When the two older women were left alone, the brunette asked, "So, do you have any big plans for the night?"

"There is a possibility that I might have to go to a meeting at work, but they'll call me if it's going to happen. Otherwise I'm just going to stay in."

"They would schedule an impromptu meeting on Saturday night? What if people have plans? How does that work?"

"Easy. None of us have lives," Elisabeth joked.

Dara laughed at the attempt to keep things light between them. "And when will you know if you have this meeting?"

Before the blonde could respond to the question, her cell phone rang. Seeing the number on the ID, she mentioned, "Right about now." Getting up and leaving the room, she answered the call.

Dara on the other hand decided to get up as well and moved toward the kitchen where Shelby was. "Need help with anything?"

"No, I've got it, but your company is always welcome."

Moving further into the space, the attorney sat at the table and waited. Shelby joined her after a moment. "Where's Lis?"

"On the phone. I think she is going to have to go to work."

The blonde shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time. That's fine though. Gives me a chance to get to know you better."

A moment later Elisabeth reappeared. "Looks like I have to go to that meeting after all. Sorry."

"No problem. Shelby and I will be fine. How long is it going to take?"

"I don't know. Could be a few hours. You'll probably be gone before I get back."

"Well, that's all right. There's always next time."

Elisabeth nodded. "Yeah. I'll call you about my schedule."

"Fine. Have fun if that's possible."

Smiling at the two of them, the blonde attorney replied, "It's all business. I'd much rather stay with you two."

Once she was gone, Shelby smiled at her guest. "Well, now whatever will we do with ourselves?" she questioned.

"Don't know. You look as if you have something in mind, though," Dara stated, seeing a quirky look in the blonde's eyes.

"I do, my friend. I just had a thought. You know, if you keep drinking, you won't be able to leave. It would force you to stay the night here. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"It does have possibilities."

"Then why don't we play a game to help us along."

"What did you have in mind?" gamely the taller woman asked.

"For each shot we take, we get to ask the other a question. It can be about anything, and you can't lie in your answer," she proposed.

"Oh, a little truth or dare without the dare, huh?"

"Well, the daring can come later once we're both smashed. What do you say? Are you game for that?"

Dara shrugged. "Sure. Why not? I'll even let you go first."

"Perfect," Shelby said. She grabbed another shot glass and poured herself some tequila. Quickly drinking it she smiled. "Well, first things first. How many people have you ever had sex with?"

Dara laughed at the question. "Going easy on me, I see. Well, I'll remember this. Let's see. How many people have I been with? I have to think about that for a moment. I would have to say twenty."

"Really? That many? I didn't pick you for that kind of girl. I thought for sure you'd be more conservative in that area."

"Well, I started in high school, and I was pretty wild back then. The older I've gotten the more reserved and cautious I've become. My turn," she mentioned taking her own shot. "Are you as wild as you appear to be?"

"More so. There are things about me that would surprise you."

"Such as?"

"That's a question for another drink," she joked. Immediately Dara took another to have her question answered. "Well, let's start with the most shocking. I'm not just a nurse. Lis thinks that's what I do for a living, but that's not my primary career. I own my own business actually."

"Which would be?"

"I am the sole proprietor of an internet porn site."

"You're kidding. Really?"

Shelby nodded. "Lis is gone so much, she doesn't know the hours that I keep. I set it up a year ago, and it's making me more money than I had ever imagined. I work at the hospital about twenty hours a week just to get out of the house."

"That's wild. Show it to me."

"Sure. Let me get my laptop," the blonde answered, getting up from the table. She returned several minutes later. Quickly she booted up her machine and went to her website. They looked at it together for a few moments. "I've got everything anybody would want that's legal. Pictures, videos, live performances, anything that you want can be arranged as long as it's within the law. You'd be surprised how many people are out there just looking for a safe sexual outlet."

"Are you featured on the site?" curiously the attorney inquired.

Shelby cracked a rakish grin. "I've been known to record my performances and post them. It's fun."

"Is that legal?"

"Yes, it's legal."

"Wow. You really are a wild child. Elisabeth doesn't know about this?"

"No. Please don't tell her. She wouldn't approve."

"I won't. It's not my business anyway."

"So, back to you. Were any of these twenty people men or do you just date women?" the younger woman asked, taking another shot.

"Nineteen out of twenty were women. I was young then and trying to be something I wasn't. It wasn't good, and it left me realizing I could never been anything but what I truly was. What about you? Have you ever been with a woman?"

"No. That's not to say I haven't wondered. I would like to know what the allure is, but I haven't found anyone that I would feel safe with. At least I hadn't until I met you. You seem like the perfect type of woman to be with. It's too bad you've got your sights on my sister instead," Shelby mentioned with a smile as she poured both of them more alcohol. "Still, at night I think both of us Gunter girls are thinking about the same woman as we go to sleep."

Dara flushed brightly. "That's very flattering, Shelby."

The blonde giggled a little. "I think this tequila is definitely starting to get to me. I wouldn't normally try to put moves on my sister's girlfriend."

"I'm not Elisabeth's girlfriend."

"But you want to be, don't you?"

Dara nodded. "I suppose I do. She's terrific, Shelby, and I can't help but be attracted to her. Enough about that though. Let's get back to you. How much do you want to know about being with a woman? What's it like to kiss or have sex?"

"Yes to both and everything in between. I know we can't have sex but maybe you could just kiss me. That way I would know at least what part of it is like," she proposed.

"Oh, I don't know if that's a good idea, Shelby," Dara resisted.

"Why not? It doesn't have to mean anything. It'll just be a tutorial."

The older woman thought it wouldn't necessarily be a good idea, but the thought of kissing the attractive blonde that so closely resembled Elisabeth intrigued her. It would almost be like kissing the woman she really wanted, her alcohol-induced cloudy thoughts reasoned. "Well, all right," she conceded. Moving from her chair, she came to where Shelby was sitting and kneeled down next to her to look into blue eyes. Leaning in she gave her friend a soft kiss on the mouth.

When the brunette pulled back again, Shelby smiled. "That was nice but not quite what I had in mind. That was just a kiss between friends. Kiss me like I was Elisabeth," she demanded softly.

"I can't, Shelby," Dara objected.

"Come on. One kiss. I'll even make it easier for you. Close your eyes." The attorney did as she was told even though she knew it was going to be a bad idea. She felt Shelby's arms come around her neck and the blonde's breath on her face. Nevertheless, she hesitated. However, then Shelby whispered, "Kiss me, Dara." Falling victim to the seductive directive, the brunette closed the distance between them. In her mind it was Elisabeth with her as she powerfully claimed Shelby's lips in a steamy exchange. Getting lost in the fantasy of it, several moments passed before they had to break for air.

Opening her eyes again, Dara saw Elisabeth's younger sister in her arms. "Oh God. What did I just do?" she mumbled, pulling away and returning to her own chair.

"You just showed me how much you really want my sister," Shelby replied. "That was incredible. You certainly know how to kiss."

"Well, thanks. Don't tell her I did that."

"I wouldn't dream of it. It's our little secret. Although now I wish I knew what the rest felt like. She's really missing out. So, tell me. Now that I know how much you want her tell me if you fantasize about her."

The brunette shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose I do fantasize about Elisabeth. She's amazing. It's hard not to."

"Do you touch yourself while you think about her?" Shelby asked, taking a sip directly from the tequila bottle.

With a slight blush, the attorney responded, "Don't we all do that?"

The younger woman nodded. After a moment she said, "I'm going to show you something. Come with me." Dara did as she was told, following the blonde who had the alcohol firmly in her grasp. Together they went up the staircase to the second floor, and Shelby opened one of the bedroom doors. "Come on in," she invited. "Take a seat on the bed."

The older woman hesitated a moment at the inducement. She knew that she wasn't capable of thinking clearly with the amount of tequila she had consumed. To be with the blonde in such a space, even though she was Elisabeth's sister, could be potentially catastrophic, because she knew it was in her to pursue something carnal with Shelby even though there was no true interest. Moreover, with the blonde's confession earlier about her sexual curiosity, Dara knew this was a bad mix. "I don't think we should be doing this," she half-heartedly mentioned.

"Dara, trust me. Lie down on the bed and close your eyes. I won't bite unless you ask me to," she whispered.

Going against her better judgement, the taller woman reclined on the bed and shut her eyes. She wondered what was about to happen next between them, because the whole night had been a surprise thus far. She felt Shelby rest beside her. "Shelby, I don't want to do anything we'll regret later," she stated urgently, knowing her willpower was beginning to fall to the wayside now that they were in their current positions.

"Don't worry. Now tell me. Did you look at this room when you walked in at all?"

"Sort of. Why?"

"Because this is Elisabeth's room. You're on her bed right now." The brunette didn't say anything but let herself feel her surroundings at the admission. "If you try you can smell her shampoo on the pillowcases." Dara moaned as her nose did pick up the scent to which Shelby was referring. "Now just relax. I want to read you something."

"Okay." Dara heard the blonde flipping pages for a moment.

Clearing her throat softly, the blonde began to read. "I can't believe what happened the other night. It was like a dream to be that close to her. The way she held my hand and kissed me so delicately on the cheek made me even weaker in desire than I felt like I have ever been. There is just something about her. Something I can't deny. She drives me crazy. Having her dominate my thoughts has made it difficult to focus on what is supposed to matter in my life right now. All I can really think about is her mouth on my body, her hands on my heated skin. I imagine her with me every night, her strong naked body hovering above mine. I need so badly to feel the weight of her pressed against me. Knowing my needs, she lowers her frame as our mouths come together gently at first and then with more passion as the moments pass. Her mouth tyrannizes my lips, but all I can do is moan in the utter satisfaction and wantonness of her urgency. Quickly she moves along my skin. Her mouth and hands seem to be everywhere at once. Then I can feel the wet heat of her open mouth covering the tip of my breast. I cry out to her, clinging tightly to her dark head while she suckles ardently as if a preface of her talents still to come. I'm insatiable for her touch. It burns me to my soul. Begging for the relief I know she is sure to give, I try to withhold my peak, but she is so persistent. I can feel myself slipping into oblivion, but I beseech her continue her quest before my body surrenders, for I have other wants this night. Immediately I feel her hand come to rest along my thigh. I know she's waiting for a sign from me that this is what I truly want between us. She is that kind of loving caring woman, but we both know permission is not needed. I have been captive since the beginning by her charm, and I willingly give myself to her. I want her inside of me. I need her there. I need to be possessed and taken with her knowing hands. She holds me in a loving embrace as I feel her in me for the first time. She's still for a moment but then gently begins to guide me to that place for which I have craved long before we were even together. I simply know she is the one who will be able to take me to the bliss I always wanted in intimacy. I let my climax enfold me just as her arms to my body. The power of the moment is so overwhelming I begin to cry as if a schoolgirl having just lost her virginity, but the tears I shed are not of pain. They are of joy and sadness. I am overcome by the delight of my ecstasy at her touch. However, there lingers a hint of melancholy, for it is in this moment I wish that she had been my first, my only. However, I am safe in the knowledge that she will be my last. She is now my lover, my life. As the tender moment of our lovemaking draws to a close, I pull her head to my breasts, so she can rest. My hands idly stroke her dark rich hair. We drift slowly to sleep with her still inside of me, where she belongs, her new home. My last conscious thought is to whisper her name lovingly as I kiss the top of her head. 'Dara, my sweet, Dara,' I mumble before we both sink into dreams."

A prolonged silence filled the room when Shelby stopped reading the passage. The whole time she had been talking, Dara had imagined it was herself with Elisabeth, but to have the knowledge of the piece truly being about them proved to be overwhelming to the attorney. "You shouldn't have read that to me," she slowly stated.

"Why not? I wanted you to know how Lis feels about you. Lord knows she won't tell you."

"Those are her private thoughts. I'm sure she never intended for me to be privy to them. How did you even know about them?"

"I found it one day when I came into to borrow some clothes."

"You shouldn't have read it the first time or shared it with me just now. How can I even look at her now? Those are intimate thoughts."

"But for you, Dara. Elisabeth wants you in a way she hasn't ever wanted anyone else, not even her first girlfriend who she thought was the love of her life."

Sidetracked by the comment, the brunette questioned, "Her first girlfriend?"

"Yeah. Her name was Suzanne. They were best friends in high school, but after they went to college things started to happen."

"Suzanne Howard?" the older woman questioned.

"Yeah. That's her name. Did Lis tell you?"

"No. Suzanne and I went to school together. It's a long story, but it's true then? She and Suzanne were lovers?"

"It's true. That's who Lis lost her virginity to, but it took the forever to do it, though. They were both sophomores in college for goodness sakes."

"And after that? Who else was she with?" curiously Dara inquired.

"No one that I know of. She was devastated when Suzanne dumped her. I'm not sure she ever got over it. As far as I know though, Suzanne was her only lover. Kind of sad to think about really. She just hasn't trusted anyone enough to let them that close. That is until now anyway. Dara, I know the situation is complicated. The political landscape in which you both find yourselves doesn't lend itself for you to have a relationship. I know that, and Lis keeps telling me that. However, in November when this election is over, there will be time to explore everything each of you is feeling. I'm begging you to give her a chance. As hard-headed as she seems right now, she wants to be with you. Promise me you'll give her that opportunity."

Dara sighed as she looked at the blonde. "Shelby, that's eight months from now. Her feelings could change and so could mine. I can't say what the future will be. However, if we're both still interested, and she's open to trying, it would be a great honor to try with her. There are a lot of differences between us, though. Some of those differences are harder to overcome than others."

"I know you believe that to be true, but I'm telling you, Dara, you're closer to each other than you really know."

The brunette just nodded her head even though she didn't agree with Shelby's assessment. Instead she focused on her surroundings. She took in Elisabeth's room for several minutes in silence, studying every bit of the space. On the blonde's wall next to her desk hung her diplomas from high school through law school as well as commendations she had received along the way. "What's up with the wall of greatness? Does she think that highly of herself?" the attorney inquired.

"To the contrary, Dara. Elisabeth has always had a problem appreciating her own value. I'm the one who put up the wall as a reminder to her of what's she's achieved."

"That's nice of you. She doesn't seem like that kind of person, though."

"Maybe not to the outsider, but those of us who are allowed close enough can see it clearly."

"Have you two always gotten along?"

"For the most part. As kids we had our arguments, but now that we're adults, we look out for each other. I can't let anything happen to her. She might be older than me, but I'm the real protector. She's fragile, Dara, emotionally, and I do everything I can to make sure she doesn't get hurt."

"And yet you read me excerpts from her diary? That hardly seems protective."

"You're different. I knew that since the moment she mentioned you. She'd much rather have the protection of your arms than mine. A sister can only do so much, but a lover knows no boundaries."

Chuckling lightly the older woman said, "A philosophical drunk. Somehow I had you marked as a horny drunk instead."

"Well, I'm that too," Shelby admitted. "Trust me. If my sister didn't feel the way she does about you, we'd be in my bed right now instead of hers. Like I already said, you have the imagination of both Gunter girls."

"Yeah, you mentioned that, but I'll confess, right now one looks a hell of a lot more appealing that the other, which is why I really think I should leave."

"You can't drive though, Dara."

"I'll call a cab. I like Elisabeth too much to let my hormones ruin what could be. All this talk about sex is making me wish for someone in my bed, and at the moment I don't even care who it is. I just know it can't be you if I ever want to look Elisabeth in the eye again."

"I understand, and I think you're right. Elisabeth means too much to me as well. However, I think I have a compromise in mind. I'm going to leave you now and go into my room next door. Stay here as long as you want and get a feel for the woman my sister is. Do whatever it is you need to do to regain some control, and I'm going to do the same."

The proposal Shelby stated intrigued the taller woman. She could be alone long enough to squelch any drunken desires she might have for young blonde while at the same time exploring the wonders of Elisabeth's sanctum. Nodding her head in agreement, she answered, "All right but only for a little bit. I don't want to get caught in here when she comes home."

"She won't be home for quite some time. Don't worry about that."

With that Shelby left the room and closed the door behind her. Dara continued to lie on Elisabeth's bed for a moment. She concentrated on the feel of it under her back as she thought about what Shelby had read her. She imagined the blonde attorney lying in her bed and thinking about the brunette. The idea that the older woman fantasized about her made feelings rush through her body and settle between her thighs. It felt good to know her fervency wasn't one-sided. Elisabeth felt it as deeply as she did.

Getting off the bed, Dara went to the desk. She saw the blonde's college yearbooks on one of the shelves, so she pulled down the first in the series. Quickly she found Elisabeth's picture from freshman year. The girl was astoundingly beautiful, even though there was an innocence about her young face. When she was finished with the book, she put it back and picked up the next. The photo from her sophomore year already showed a difference in her appearance. The long blonde hair of youth was gone and in it's place a more mature cut of the college scene. Her eyes were still bright, exhibiting a glow that could easily been seen even in black and white. Dara figured it was because of Elisabeth's relationship with Suzanne that had caused such a radiance. Her junior year book was next. When Dara opened the book to the page where Elisabeth's picture was supposed to be, she was surprised to find another photograph in between the pages. Looking at it, the brunette smiled.

She recognized the location, her own alma mater, and there was Elisabeth with her arms around Suzanne. Her old teammate was in her sweaty soccer uniform, and both of them were smiling brightly for the snapshot. It was clear they were a happy couple. Ironically Dara noticed herself in the background of the shot with other players. It had been her freshman year, and she had the face of adolescence still. Dara's mind drifted to the fact that she and Elisabeth were so close then and never even knew each other. She pondered what fate might have done to them had they met in school, if there would have been as much chemistry as there was now. Would Elisabeth still have pursued Suzanne or would she have wound up in Dara's arms? Would the blonde still have chosen a drastically different course for her life than the one she so obviously wanted in the picture Dara held? The woman in the photo was blissfully content. The corresponding photograph in the class pictures supported that fact.

Finally Dara opened the senior yearbook and looked for Elisabeth's picture. When she got to it, she found it more like the woman she knew presently than those of the previous years. Gone was the innocence and the brightness of her eyes. Instead there was a serious undertone even though the blonde was smiling. Flipping to other areas of the book where the blonde should have been in clubs and organizations, she found the demeanor much the same. Regardless of what the blonde was wearing, whether she was smiling or not, it was obvious that a part of her had been closed off by the virtue of the lack of gleam in her vibrant blue eyes.

Seeing loose papers in the back of the book, the brunette turned to them. There were acceptance letters to various law schools and congratulatory cards from various people, even one from Shelby, on her graduation. However, there was also an unopened letter. The attorney read the return address label, S. Howard, and sighed deeply. She assumed the blonde had never opened the letter from Suzanne out of the pain still fresh from their breakup but wondered what Suzanne could have possibly written. Putting the letter back in the book, Dara carefully placed it back on the shelf.

Her amorous mood had dissipated after the small stroll through Elisabeth's history. She could tell just by the pictures the amount of pain she must have felt at Suzanne's admission of being in love with a man and breaking the blonde's heart. At that age, Dara wasn't sure she would have been able to handle it either. Her own crush on Suzanne Howard-Bell had proved to be difficult to repress back then when they were all much younger and more naive, but unlike Elisabeth, Dara had moved on and found happiness in other college relationships.

Moving on to what appeared to be a photo album, the tall woman opened it to the first page. There was an old black and white photograph the date of which Dara couldn't tell for sure, but she recognized the landscape as Germany. By the clothes of the people and the modes of transportation on display, the attorney figured it was at least the 1920s or 30s. Flipping the next several pages she noticed all of them were from the same time period. However, turning the page once more, she was taken back by what was in the book. A German newspaper from 1935 was hidden in the sleeve folded to display Nazi propaganda against the Jews. Surprised by the find, Dara continued to the next page where she found a Third Reich military ID with the name Gustav Gunter written on it. Even in the faded black and white photograph, the resemblance of the man to Shelby and Elisabeth was undeniable. Continuing on, Dara turned the page and felt her heart stop. There was a full page picture of the man Jews the world over had hated for generations, and in bold handwriting it said in German, "To Gustav, for your loyal service, Adolf Hitler." The brunette felt her stomach turn at the realization of how close Elisabeth's family had been to the monster who had sent some of her relatives to premature extinction. Turning to the final page of the album, there was another picture of Hitler with Gustav and a young boy standing between the two men. Putting the book back where she had found it, Dara took a calming deep breath. Her emotions were whirling within her about what she had just seen. She had never known someone with such a history with the Reich, but it was obvious Elisabeth's family had been involved in the culture of discrimination against many non-Aryans, Jews and gays included. The realization was more than she thought she could bear, because she felt so strongly for the blonde.

Deciding to leave the blonde's room, she went out into the hallway, intent of getting answers from the younger blonde. She could hear Shelby in the room next door and realized that she shouldn't disturb the woman by the sound of things. Instead she headed downstairs to the living room and flipped on the TV. Lying across the couch, she watched the sports channel as her eyes began to close, but the images of what she had seen upstairs stayed with her as she pondered their possible meaning. She knew from conversations past that Elisabeth was adamantly against what the Nazis stood for, but it didn't answer the brunette's questions of why the older woman had such mementos.

Later that night Elisabeth was surprised to see Dara's car sitting in front of the house. It was after midnight, and she had just endured a painfully boring evening with the President. Even though he still hadn't made any sexual overtures towards the blonde, Elisabeth had become more aware of the way his eyes focused along her body as they spoke, leaving her with a nauseated feeling in the pit of her stomach. It made her feel like more of a distraction than a contributor that night during their meeting, which irritated the blonde, especially with how hard she had worked for the position in which she found herself. Thankfully though, other people were in their meeting, leaving no time for anything but professionalism by either of them.

Heading into the house, the attorney heard the TV on in the living room. Going in there, she expected to find her sister and Dara, but instead there was the brunette passed out on the sofa alone. Figuring Dara had been in no condition to drive and had settled down for the night, Elisabeth quietly turned off the television and then turned to the younger woman. She gently removed Dara's shoes to make her more comfortable and then pulled a blanket from a nearby chair over on top of her to keep her warm. She smiled down at the brunette lost in sleep and studied her for a moment. Her heart ached at the sight, because she wanted nothing more than to fall into the brunette's embrace. However, she knew she couldn't.

Finally she dragged herself away and up the stairs to her room. Turning on the lights, she began to shed her clothes and put them away in their proper places. Then she turned to the dresser and pulled out a pair of pajamas. Slipping the cotton top over her bare shoulders, she thought of Dara just downstairs. The brunette looked so sexy and vulnerable lying asleep that her mind instantly started to fantasize about going back to her. Putting on her pajama pants next, Elisabeth went into the bathroom while her mind spun a dream of waking the brunette with a barrage of hungry kisses. By the time she was ready to get in bed, her body was on fire for the younger woman's touch, but Elisabeth knew it wasn't meant to be, not that night anyway, so she slipped under her covers and extinguished the light. Allowing herself the pleasure of her own hands, she fulfilled her needs, all the while whispering Dara's name in longing.

The next day when the blonde attorney arose and made it downstairs, only her sister was around. "Morning," she casually greeted.

"Morning, Lis," her sister grumbled in return.

"Too much to drink last night?" the older blonde teased. Shelby weakly nodded her head. "Where's Dara?"

"She left awhile ago. Said she had somewhere to go. She said she'd call us though about the homeless thing."

"Okay. Good," Elisabeth mumbled, turning to get a bowl from the pantry for breakfast.

Continued in Part 4

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