Rudy ran down the steps. "Keagan, wait."

Keagan turned around to see Rudy at the bottom of the steps; the same woman who couldn’t even undress herself ten minutes earlier. "Feeling better?" The sarcasm dripped from her voice.

"I think my little buzz wore off."

"Right. It stayed just long enough to manipulate me into undressing you." Keagan remained standing at the door.

"Did you really hate it so much?" When Keagan didn’t respond, but just locked her gaze with Rudy’s, she continued. "Why don’t you sit down so we can talk."

"About what? About how you faked being drunk to toy with me?"

"What?!" Rudy’s green eyes widened. "That’s not what I did! And even if I did, it wasn’t as bad as what you did!"

"I only did what you asked."

"That’s not all you did. You made sure I got excited in the process."

"What’s the matter? You can’t handle what you’ve been asking for all along?"

"It’s not me that can’t handle it!"

"I can handle anything, even a little flirtatious tart like you!"

"That’s what you’d like me to be, isn’t it? You wouldn’t find that so threatening!"

"I don’t find you threatening. I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Keagan turned around and reached for the door, but as she did Rudy went over and stood in front of it blocking her exit. "Get out of my way. We’re having a fight and I’m leaving!"

"We’re having a fight because you say so? I say we’re having a discussion and I’m not finished yet!"

"Fight!"

"Discussion!"

"Major argument!"

"Disagreement!"

"You’re impossible!" Keagan’s blue eyes were blazing with anger. She realized that she may have won the battle but Rudy was winning the war.

"Not half as impossible as you!"

Realizing that Rudy wouldn’t move, Keagan leaned forward and brushed her lips against Rudy’s. Her intent was to get Rudy to move away from the door by distracting her, but it was she who became distracted by the feeling of arms reaching around her. The kiss deepened and Keagan pushed her up against the front door. When Keagan pulled back, it was only briefly and then her lips found Rudy’s neck and she began to plant long, lingering kisses up and down it. Rudy struggled a bit, because it was expected, but her moans of pleasure that she couldn’t help suppressing let Keagan know her original plan was failing miserably. She’d have to stop soon, but at that moment everything felt too good.

She finally pulled back with Rudy still firmly ensconced in front of the door. They were both breathing heavily, having enjoyed the kiss, but neither one was through being angry. "Your meager attempt to get me away from the door failed miserably. Care to try plan B?"

"I don’t know. Plan B might be a little too much for you."

"For me or for you?"

Keagan’s mind reeled. She had never encountered anyone that challenged her the way Rudy did. What they had been doing together was pleasant and although she had never been much for physical expressions of affection she enjoyed it. But it was so much more than that. It was so totally irrational that it left Keagan feeling unstable, unsure, and always on the edge. And she desperately wanted to be safely secured far away from that edge. She wasn’t even able to avoid the party. Oh, she rationalized her reasoning for going, but the only reason she went was to see Rudy. Rudy knew it and so did everyone else. "I have a confession to make."

Green eyes looked at her calmly. "Yes?"

"I knew you had sobered up."

"You did?"

"I have an alcoholic family member. I can tell if someone’s really drunk or not."

Rudy blushed a bit. Of course she’d be able to.

"I just want to know one thing. Why did you do it?"

"I have a confession, then. I wanted to see if you’d really help me undress or if you’d be too shy. I got my answer, although it was unexpected." Rudy kept to herself the fact that she had very much enjoyed Keagan taking her clothes off her, even if it left her frustrated.

"You didn’t think I would?"

"Honestly, no. I thought you’d just bolt, but you saved that for later." She smiled at Keagan for the first time in minutes.

"I missed that."

"What?"

"Your smile. You do it often enough, that when you don’t I miss it."

"Hmm. C’mere, sit down with me. Let’s chat." Rudy held her hand out to Keagan who took it gingerly, but allowed her friend to lead them to the couch. Once seated, they unlinked their hands.

"Now let’s get a few things straight, Keagan Donovan."

Rudy’s habit of using her first and last names when annoyed got a chuckle out of Keagan.

"I like you. I think you like me, too or I wouldn’t even make the effort to discuss this. We’ve been playing games with each other that are a lot of fun. But the games have been turning real and that’s where you seem to have a problem. I don’t. So, you have to decide if you want to continue to play games with me only or if you want something more. I think we shouldn’t see each other until you decide." Rudy exhaled, relieved to have said it finally.

"Where did you get all that wisdom at such a young age?"

"It must be a gift."

"I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings."

"I know. But you do and you have. Keagan, I’m very interested in you. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"Yes, yes." Keagan sighed audibly. "I’m not that emotionally crippled."

"I don’t think you are but I can’t read your mind and when you don’t say anything I don’t know what to think."

"I’ve heard everything you’ve said, believe me, and I understand. Don’t know how I’m going to get through that grammar exam without you, but I’ll manage." She gave a short laugh, trying to expel the tension and pain she felt.

"I’ll still help you with--"

"C’mon, Rudy. That’s not going to work and you know it."

"I know." Rudy’s voice was quiet.

"I suppose we shouldn’t sit together in class, then."

"Probably not." The idealistic part of Rudy thought Keagan would say that she didn’t need any time and that she already knew.

Keagan got up, wanting to get it over with. "I’ll see you, then." She headed for the door and didn’t look back at Rudy as she exited the house. After she got outside, the fierce cold bit into her face. It was like a portent, telling her she had made an unwise decision. Keagan tried unsuccessfully to convince herself that her decision was the correct one on the short drive home.

The next day, Keagan awoke with a headache. And that wasn’t all that ached. Her entire body joined in as well. She was congested and her throat was sore. Joan called around 1 o’clock and the childlike part of Keagan answered hoping to get some motherly sympathy.

"No, mom, I’m fine, really." Keagan paused to cough. "I don’t need anything, really."

"You don’t sound good."

"It’s probably my own fault anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing." Keagan didn’t elaborate on her belief that personal stress directly affected health. And after her encounter with Rudy the night before she was convinced it was the cause.

"Do you feel well enough to talk to Sean on the phone, sweetie?"

Keagan turned away from the phone and blew her nose. "About what?"

"About him buying vodka for your grandmother, remember?"

It was on the tip of Keagan’s tongue to ask her mother why she couldn’t do it herself. "I don’t want to get involved in that."

"This has to stop! And I don’t know any other way!" Joan burst into tears.

Keagan rubbed her head and reached for an aspirin. "Okay. I’ll call him. Just don’t cry please."

"Thank you. I hope you feel better."

"Yeah, me too." When Keagan hung up the phone she felt like the dog of the family. What was the harm in telling Joan that she’d talk to Sean even though she had no intention of doing so? It didn’t matter who allowed Gerry to get vodka. She’d get it one way or another.

"So, what?" Brad Martin had stopped by Keagan’s with some Chinese hot and sour soup when he learned that his friend was sick. Actually he had brought her three pints, convinced that the spicy soup would burn right through her illness. As she sipped at her soup gratefully, the conversation steered to her relationship with Rudy.

"We’re not seeing each other. She wants me to decide to stop playing games or something. I don’t know."

"I like her, Keagan. And I haven’t liked any of the women you’ve dated."

"None of them? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"You don’t tell your friend that you don’t like their date, it’s uncouth. You wait until the friend figures it out for themselves and then you give support."

"Oh. Yeah, right."

"I can tell she’s the one for you. You shouldn’t let her go."

"How do you know? You’ve only met her once."

"I felt the chemistry, the connection, the rapport between you, the--"

"Okay, I get the point!" Keagan felt cranky from being sick. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss her non-existent love life.

"I have to go meet my date, girlfriend. Enjoy your soup." He headed for the door.

"Thanks, Brad."

Monday was a cold, snowy day, the first of February. But nonetheless, Rudy took a walk down Forsythe and turned onto 5th Avenue. She pulled her scarf around her face and enjoyed the feeling of a light snow falling. I must be crazy to take a walk in this kind of weather. But right now I’m simply too restless to stay in and too distracted to study. Eventually, she ended up on Neil Avenue, the street where Keagan lived. Knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea to stroll past her house, she turned around when she knew she was too close. As she was strolling back, a car pulled up along the street and stopped. A door opened and a long arm thrust something into the snow. From Rudy’s position, she couldn’t see what it was, but when the car took off speeding down the road, she approached it cautiously.

"Mew! Mew!" An orange tabby was walking in two inches of snow and failing miserably. Rudy immediately ran over to the small, abandoned animal when she saw it was a cat. She picked it up and cradled it to her. "Aw, it’s okay, kitty." She saw that the animal was wet from the snow and felt a flash of anger at the people who had thrown it out of the car. How could people be so cruel? "Mew, mew!" Rudy petted the small head and felt the creature begin to purr. "It’s okay, sweetie, I’ll find a place for you to stay." She didn’t think the kitten could be more than eight weeks old at the most. "But you can’t stay with me. I wish you could but my roommate’s allergic." Rudy smiled as an idea occurred to her. She began walking in the direction she had just come from.

Keagan sat on the couch drinking from a bottle of Nyquil. She thought it was a waste of time to measure out the substance in the plastic cup when she’d probably take the whole bottle anyway. She hated being sick and sleeping was preferable to being awake and miserable. Nyquil always did the trick.

She picked up the remote and began channel surfing finally landing on the Springer show. Jerry was introducing his guests. Why not? This show is like a really bad automobile accident. You can’t help but look at it. A woman came onto the stage that professed to be a lesbian. She had silky, long hair, lanky legs, and wore enough makeup to supply a bordello for a year. She was wearing a short, silver mini-skirt and pumps. "No way." Keagan took another sip of the Nyquil, feeling the thick liquid coat her throat. Hopefully, I’ll be asleep soon and will no longer be subjected to this tripe. ‘Keagan, just turn the channel’, her inner voice told her. I don’t feel like it. Besides, there’s nothing on at four in the afternoon except sitcom repeats. Keagan hated sitcoms because although some were funny almost all of them followed a pattern and a formula that she found too limiting.

"So, Trudy, what secret did you want to reveal today?" Springer was asking. Keagan chuckled. Trudy was the name Gretchen kept calling Rudy by mistake. Trying not to think of Rudy, she focused back on the show. "Well," began Trudy, with fake tears in her eyes. It was easy to tell when television tears were fake, Keagan thought. The tears always streamed from the middle of the eye. Anybody who has ever cried knows that tears almost always fall from the sides of the eye. "I cheated on my boyfriend. I slept with--" She paused for dramatic effect, "my boyfriend’s cousin’s mother’s brother’s ex-lesbian friend." She began crying and Keagan laughed. "Ex-lesbian? Why’s she sleeping with a woman, then?" She shook her head and began to question her mental state at trying to make sense of the show.

"And let’s bring her out, now!" said Springer. He motioned to the side of the stage. "Everyone, please meet Mo!" Keagan groaned at yet another reminder of Rudy. She recalled the evening they had role-played over the phone, with Rudy taking on the role of a character named Mo. Out walked a woman with short hair and bulging muscles, wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves cut off. She had a scowl on her face. Complementing her outfit were black leather pants and combat boots. "Char?" Keagan laughed at her own perceived sense of humor. "Nah, no keys." She giggled. At least the show was making her laugh.

It was at that point that she heard a knock on the door. With a groan she got up and headed for the door, wondering who could be dropping by. Most of her friends knew she didn’t like unexpected visitors. She looked through the peephole, and saw Rudy standing there. I could just pretend I’m not here. Maybe she’d go away. But my car’s out there. That probably wouldn’t work. Slowly she opened the door to reveal a snow covered Rudy standing there with a slight smile on her face holding a cat. "Hi."

"Hi." They stood regarding each other for several seconds. "Can I come in please?"

"Sure." Keagan stepped aside as Rudy walked in, taking in her appearance. She had sweat pants on and a T-shirt. Her hair was a bit disheveled and she looked pale. On the coffee table sat the Nyquil, a bottle of aspirin and a glass of what was probably grapefruit juice. Keagan sat back down on the couch as if it had taken all her energy to answer the door.

"Are you sick?" As she asked this, the kitten mewed.

"Just a little under the weather, nothing incapacitating. What’s that and why are you here?" Keagan didn’t even try to hide the irritation in her voice. The only thing she hated more than being sick was being visited when she was sick. Brad was just lucky he brought the soup when he came over. Aside from those consistent facts was that due to the current situation with Rudy, she had no desire to see her. At least not until she had figured out how to handle their situation and she definitely hadn’t figured it out yet.

"Aren’t we in a great mood." Rudy walked over to Keagan and put the kitten in her lap. "Hey!" She protested the intrusion, but soon found herself petting the small creature. Soon, the kitten had fallen asleep on Keagan’s lap.

"I think she likes you. It’s a mystery to me why, but--" Keagan frowned and looked at Rudy for an explanation. "Look, I’m sorry to just drop by like this, especially since we’re not supposed to see each other but I was taking a walk and found her, she’s just a baby, look at her, and I can’t take her with me because Courtney’s allergic and I thought maybe she could stay with you until I find someone who’ll take her? Please?"

"Sure." Keagan was too exhausted and weak to refuse. Aside from that, Rudy was using those gorgeous green eyes to her full advantage.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. And now for the other matter. You look terrible."

"You really know how to flatter a girl." Keagan coughed a bit. She was beginning to feel drowsy as the medication began to take effect.

"Who’s taking care of you?"

"Do you see anyone besides me around? I don’t need anyone to take care of me."

"Sure you do. Everyone does. I’m going to go to the store and get some cat food and a litter box for our little bundle of joy. Is there anything I can get you?"

"I don’t need anything." Keagan grumbled out her words. The little kitten stretched and yawned contentedly. Keagan rolled her eyes. The little monster was kind of cute.

Rudy grinned. Keagan was sort of cute sick, in a helpless, pathetic kind of way. She glanced at the television. "What is this tripe you’re watching?"

"I’ll have you know that Springer is high quality tripe."

"Ah." Rudy watched a few seconds. "Oh, I see they’ve got lesbians on today."

"Please. They have lesbians on every day." Keagan’s eyes remained glued to the television.

"But everyone knows they’re not real ones." Keagan nodded in amused agreement, and Rudy added, "I thought you didn’t like TV."

"I only watch it when I’m sick."

"Which explains why you know that Springer has lesbians on everyday."

The blue eyes turned back to Rudy, whose own were twinkling mischievously. "You said you walked here?"

"Yeah." Rudy headed for the door, hiding a smile. She could take a hint.

"Take my car if you want. It’s cold and there’s no reason you should walk back to your place for yours. The keys are hanging on that hook by the door."

"Okay. Thanks. I’ll be back." Rudy grabbed the keys and headed out the door.

When Rudy returned a half an hour later, she was treated to the sight of Keagan sleeping on the couch and the kitten perched on her stomach. It was so cute she wished she could take a picture of it. Smiling, she went into the kitchen and put the groceries away. A short time later, she had prepared the litter box and stowed it away in Keagan’s closet. The kitten was beginning to awake. "Perfect timing." Walking over to the couch she picked her up, being careful not to disturb Keagan. "Okay, little cutie, let me show you how this works." She set the cat into the litter and the creature stood there for awhile, but then began to scratch. "I’ll get you some food while you’re becoming acquainted with that." When Rudy had finished filling two bowls with food and water, she heard the familiar mewing sound, as the little kitten walked out of the closet. Soon, she was munching contentedly. "Now that you’re settled, I can go check on your friend on the couch."

Rudy found Keagan still sleeping. Bending down and sitting on the edge of the couch, she put her cheek against Keagan’s forehead. Noticing that she had a fever, Rudy wondered if she should stick around for awhile. When the blue eyes suddenly opened, she leaned back with surprise and slight embarrassment.

"Trying to take advantage of me in my feeble condition?" Keagan smiled weakly. She was a light sleeper. It didn’t take much to wake her although she was surprised that Rudy’s touch was able to break through the effects of the Nyquil.

"You should be so lucky." Keagan laughed lightly, but not with her usual fervor. "You have a fever, I think."

"Oh."

"I think I should stay here and make sure you’re okay. I can--"

"No, that’s all right. Can you just get the grammar homework for me from Dr. Vicky Marie Addison? I don’t think I’ll make it to school tomorrow." Rudy put her hand back on Keagan’s forehead. She touched her cheek briefly and gazed at the blue eyes that never left hers. Rudy realized right then that when Keagan felt badly, she did, too. And she had an overwhelming desire to stay right there, taking care of her until she got better. But she knew she would have to respect her friend’s wishes.

"Of course I can. I--"

"Thanks, Nurse Rudy." Rudy felt the familiar humor coming from her voice.

"I would be if you let me."

"Really, I’ll be okay. Besides, you said we shouldn’t see each other until I figure out my feelings and this definitely qualifies as seeing each other."

"But we’re not seeing each other. I’d just make you some soup, feed it to you if you want, give you medicine, change your sheets, bring you lots of beverages--"

Keagan couldn’t help but laugh. "Wow. I should get sick more often with that kind of an offer."

"No, you shouldn’t. I don’t like this one bit."

Keagan couldn’t help but be touched by Rudy’s concern, which she felt undeserving of. She looked back at her silently.

With reluctance, Rudy headed for the door. "If you need anything just call me. And if you get hungry anytime soon, I brought you two pints of hot and sour soup. They’re on the kitchen table. It should stay hot for a little while yet."

Keagan was silently amused, wondering if it was possible to eat five pints of soup in one day.

"Oh and your new little friend’s litter box is in the closet. She’s got plenty of food and water, so she’s all set. You might try to think of a name, so we don’t have to keep calling her cat or kitty." Rudy grinned.

"Or beast. Although I like that name." Hearing a mewing noise, Keagan looked toward the kitchen to see the small animal wobbling out and into the living room. Rudy bent down and picked her up, heading toward Keagan. She deposited the kitten on Keagan’s lap and the animal began to purr.

"Now, kitty, your job is to take care of Keagan. She’s a very good friend of mine and I don’t want to have to worry about her. Okay?" In seeming response, the animal mewed. Rudy laughed. "Kitten’s meows are so much cuter than grown cats, aren’t they?"

"Yeah." Keagan wasn’t done being affected by everything Rudy was doing for her. She wondered if the strawberry-blonde had any idea how special she was.

"I’ll see you later. Take care of yourself."

"Bye, Rudy." Keagan sadly watched her leave. It would have been nice to have Rudy stay but she wasn’t ready to face what the implications of that would be. Wondering if she ever would be, she stared at the little kitten that had fallen asleep again and joined her in slumber.

The next day, although she had to miss school, Keagan was feeling better by late afternoon. She finished her third pint of hot and sour soup and took the cold medicine Rudy brought. She was also shocked to see that her refrigerator was restocked with food. She made a mental note to repay Rudy.

The little kitten was still nameless. Keagan thought how silly that was when she was a writer who had a book with 20,000 names in it. Finally, since she was tired of calling her "cat" or "kitty", she began calling her Rudy. Keagan told herself it was just temporary, until she thought of another name. But the more she thought about it, the more appropriate the name seemed. Picking up the kitten, she stared into her eyes and when the sunlight streaming in from the window reflected off of them, they almost looked green. The orange of the cat’s coat wasn’t quite the same tone as Rudy’s reddish-blonde hair color, but it was close enough. The cat liked to talk a lot. In cat language, of course. The most notable similarity to Rudy was the cat’s voracious appetite. This cat liked to eat and Keagan had to remind herself to ask Rudy how many times a day a cat should be fed. Was five too much? The cat was small like Rudy, too, and she liked to torment Keagan. She smiled evilly, picturing the look on Rudy’s face when she found out.

At around 4 o’clock, there was a knock at the door. She got up and answered it, surprise lighting her features when she saw Rudy standing there holding her backpack and smiling. "Hey. I’ve got a grammar practice test for you. Thought you’d want it." Noticing that Keagan looked much better and less pale, she felt relieved. Thinking of her being alone and sick bothered Rudy.

"C’mon, in." As Rudy walked in, Rudy walked out...or rather ran. "Rudy, come back here!"

Rudy got an immediate look of confusion on her face. "Hmm?"

"Rudy, Rudy, here kitty, kitty!" The little monster hadn’t gone far and upon hearing Keagan’s voice walked slowly back into the apartment. Rudy shut the door.

"Please don’t tell me you named this cat Rudy!"

"Why not? It seemed appropriate." Keagan burst into giggles.

"Why you--" Rudy slapped her on the arm. "And just why is it appropriate?"

"Well, she just kind of showed up out of nowhere, and she seemed to take a liking to me instantly, and she won’t leave. And she likes to sleep in my bed." Keagan grinned.

Rudy didn’t know quite what to make of this. She needed to know more. "And what else?"

"She likes Chinese food and she’s, um...soft and cuddly."

"Oh, really? I think I’m getting jealous." The kitten rubbed Keagan’s leg and mewed.

Keagan smiled and her features softened a bit. She wondered where this conversation was headed.

"Does she like lobster?"

"I don’t think she’s ever had any."

"There’s a first time for everything. Maybe you should get her some."

"She might not like it. The real thing often pales in comparison to the anticipation."

"Or vice versa. How will you know if you don’t try?"

"I won’t know." Sometimes the only way to answer a question was in a forthright way.

"That’s right. You won’t know." Sensing that their conversation was growing too intense, Rudy changed the subject. Unzipping her backpack, she took out the practice test and handed it to Keagan. "Here you go. See you later. I’m glad you’re feeling better."

"Um, did you want to stay for a few minutes, or--"

"I can’t. I’ve got a study group at 4:30." Rudy leaned up and kissed her on the cheek, whispering in her ear, "Besides, you’ve got Rudy to keep you company." Grinning at the unreadable look on Keagan’s face, she turned around and left.

"See you later." Keagan looked at the practice test and went to retrieve her grammar book, but knew her concentration level would be very low.

Keagan returned to work on Wednesday, feeling quite back to normal. When she got home, there was a whining furball waiting for her. She fed the kitten and watched her eat, rather enjoying the feeling of caring for something. Walking into the kitchen, she glanced at the answering machine, which indicated she had three messages. Hitting the play button and retrieving a 7-up from the refrigerator, she sat down to listen. "Hello girlfriend. Brad here. I hope you’re feeling more spiffy than when I last saw you. And I hope you made up with the little, red-haired, spitfire. <laughter> Call me if you need anything more. Ciao, babe." click "Keagan, it’s me. Call me when you get in. I know all about you buying booze for your grandmother. We need to talk." click "Hi, this is Rudy #1,the one that isn’t a cat. <laugh> Just calling to see how you’re doing, for purely caretaking reasons, of course. You know where to reach me if you need anything. Bye."

Keagan thought it was funny that her friends inquired about her health, but her mother didn’t. In any case, Joan sounded much too calm and that could only mean trouble. Sighing, she picked up the phone, dialing slowly, wanting to delay the inevitable as long as possible. "Hi, mom."

"Hello. When I found out you hadn’t talked to Sean I got suspicious. Then I had a fight with your grandmother while she was drunk on the vodka you bought for her and she admitted it was you! How could you?"

"I’m feeling a lot better, mom. Thanks. And I didn’t buy anything for her, she bought it herself!" Keagan began to feel the usual tension building in her chest.

"You know that’s not what I’m talking about. You took her to the liquor store. You allowed her to do it! I can’t even trust my own daughter anymore."

"She’s a grown woman who has a lot of years over me. Who am I to tell her what to do? To set limits on her activities. She asked me to take her to the store. I--I did try to persuade her to just buy beer--"

"That’s noble! Why don’t I just send her over there to live with you? That would be really good for your little lifestyle, wouldn’t it?"

Joan never made comments about her daughter’s sexual orientation. Keagan reasoned that Joan was angry and wanted to get back at her and this was the tool she was using. Her mother didn’t mean it. "I won’t discuss that."

"Why not? I think you need to take a good look at your own life, before you start passing judgment on me and my decisions!"

"I’m not--" Keagan began to formulate a rational response in her head as she always did, but stopped halfway through. "Have to go. Bye." She set the receiver down. There was no need to be rude to her own mother by hanging up on her. And there was also no need for her to expend the mental energy required to come up with a suitable response, when her mother treated her with such disrespect.

On Thursday, in spite of their earlier interaction, Keagan and Rudy kept to their resolution and didn’t sit together in class. But strangely each ended up sitting in positions that gave them almost perfect views of each other. The first couple of times their eyes met they looked down embarrassedly, each thinking the other had seen her staring, neither one understanding that they were both guilty of staring at each other. Eventually, both women realized what was going on. When class ended, Rudy, who had been sitting closer to the door, quickly exited the room, not wanting to encounter Keagan further who considered going after her but didn’t.

Friday night found Keagan sitting at home with Rudy the cat. She sat in front of the computer, knowing what she wanted to write, but not knowing how to write it. Shaking her head ruefully, she picked up the phone, dialing the number of the bar. Cody answered. "Hi, Cody, it’s Keagan. Got a question for ya."

"Yep, honey, what is it?"

"I just need you to look around the bar and see if Rudy is there, that’s all."

There was a pause for a few seconds and then Keagan heard Cody’s voice again. "No, I don’t see her. You two have a fight?"

"No, just an agreement that we’ve resolved to stand by. I’ll see you in a few." Keagan hung up the phone, not privy to the confused look on the bartender’s face.

Twenty minutes later, notebook in hand, Keagan was sitting at the end of the bar, chatting with Cody. "So, let me get this straight. You aren’t seeing each other because she says although the games are fun, she’s tired of just that and wants more?"

"Yeah." Keagan scratched her head. "I haven’t an inkling of what she really means, though. But, I need to figure it out soon."

Cody shook her head in exasperation. "What exactly did she say, Keag?"

"I don’t know. Something like, ‘I’m very interested in you. Do you know what that means?’ or something..."

"Do you?"

"Huh?"

Cody reached over and knocked her fist gently on Keagan’s head. "Do you know what it means when a woman says she’s interested in you? A woman you’ve dated and presumably kissed?"

Keagan averted her eyes. "I guess so."

"You guess so?"

"I think maybe she’s become attached to me because we have the English major thing in common." Keagan took a drink of her rum and coke and glanced back to Cody, who was shaking her head. "What?"

"What, what, what? I will spell it out for you. In fact, why don’t I write it out for you. Give me that." Cody grabbed Keagan’s notebook and pen. Hurriedly writing, in a couple of minutes she was done and gave the notebook back to Keagan. "Now you’ve got it in writing, my friend." Grinning, Cody went to the other end of the bar to help a patron.

Keagan read what Cody wrote and sighed, labeling her as another meddling matchmaker among many.

She sought out Milligan and played a few games of pool with her, but remained distracted and irritated. Milligan tried to lighten Keagan’s mood with small talk but that only made her more annoyed. Eventually, she returned to the bar and the sanctuary of Cody. Sighing heavily, she asked for another drink and contemplated her plans for the remainder of the evening. Not knowing what she would do if Rudy did show up, she opened the notebook and read Cody’s words again. "What are you looking at?" asked the bartender as she sidled back up to her, placing a drink on the bar.

"A great work of fiction."

"I don’t think so." Cody glanced at the door. "Oops! Speak of the devil. I think it’s your La Roux."

Keagan’s head shot around to see Rudy walking in and heading for the other end of the bar. She stared at her, hoping to make eye contact. Rudy ignored her. "Cody, Cody, c’mere." The bartender shuffled over. "I want to buy Rudy a drink." Shaking her head knowingly, Cody sauntered down to Rudy.

"Hi, Rueday. That very attractive, raven-haired knockout would like to buy you a drink. What would you like?"

Rudy smiled. "Tell her thanks, but that’s not what I want from her."

Grinning, Cody returned to Keagan’s end. "She said to tell you thanks, but a drink isn’t what she wants from you."

"Ask her what she wants then."

"Why don’t you?"

"Cody, please. It’s a game we play. Please?"

"Okay, okay." Cody returned to Rudy’s end. "She wants to know what you want."

Rudy smiled slyly and gazed down at Keagan. "Tell her if she wants to know that, she has to come down here."

Cody dutifully returned to Keagan. "She says you have to talk to her if you want to know."

"Cody, I think she’s trying to reel me in."

The bartender chuckled. "I think so, too. The question is, will you let her?"

Keagan got up and walked to the end of the bar. Sitting down next to Rudy, she regarded her carefully. "You know, you’re not a very easy woman to pick up."

"And you’re not very easy to forget, you heartbreaker." Rudy gazed at Keagan and felt her heart pound.

"I thought you didn’t want to play games anymore."

"I’m not." Rudy’s voice was soft with a tinge of vulnerability.

"What about our arrangement? We probably shouldn’t be speaking at all."

"I think it’s okay. We can pretend we just met and that I was asking you a stereotypical question."

Ignoring the very real and obvious fact that it would be playing yet another game, Keagan asked, "Okay, then. What question?"

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Keagan smiled at Rudy’s cleverness. Indeed, she had never gotten around to explaining as she had promised. "I don’t even know if I believe in love."

"Why not?"

"Lots of reasons. But where love fails in the real world, it never has to fail in mine." Staying within the role, Rudy gave a look of mock confusion. "I’m a writer, you see. I can create any world I want to and manipulate anything. I can always have a happy ending."

"And what are you writing about now?" Keagan leaned on the bar and stared at Rudy. She smelled her cologne and the shampoo in her hair. Her closeness was mesmerizing. She had to remind herself to answer the question.

"It’s a story about two people, two women who are quite different, but discover they have a lot in common and--"

"Oh, don’t tell me. A love story." Rudy features softened.

"Yes, but it’s not that bad really. I’m just having a problem with them getting together. I don’t know how to write it." Keagan sighed.

"You don’t know how to write a love scene?"

Keagan nodded, embarrassed. "Everything I write comes out overly melodramatic."

"Maybe I could help you." Rudy’s eyes bore into Keagan’s blue ones.

"And how could you help me?"

"You could just make love to me and then write about what we did." Green eyes met blue and the recognition of what was really going on registered with them both. But neither said a word nor stepped out of character.

"That’s an amazing offer but what if it isn’t any good?"

Rudy leaned a bit closer and then whispered, "It will be."

Keagan felt a heat beginning to burn inside her. "It happens in an unconventional place."

"Where at?" Rudy’s curiosity threatened to overwhelm her as much as her quickly increasing desire.

"I can’t give away all my secrets." Keagan smiled mischievously and turned away. Things were starting to get way out of hand and it was past time to cool things down.

Rudy on the other hand, felt her desire quickly changing to anger. How many times would Keagan do this push and pull act? And how many times would she fall for it? "What the hell do you mean you can’t give away all of your secrets? As if you’ve even given away any! You know what? I’m through with you! Yeah, I actually am!" She paused for a second as if needing to convince herself. "I’m tired of being manipulated like one of your characters! Either you want me or you don’t want me and the signals you’re sending me are telling me you don’t!"

"Are we still in character?" Keagan had never seen Rudy really angry, and didn’t know how to handle it.

"That was not the right thing to say right now!" On the verge of tears and yet seething, Rudy got up and headed for the restroom, leaving a totally baffled Keagan behind. Some of the bar patrons watched the scene and then noticing its ending, went back about their business. Keagan was glad it was still early in the evening and most of the regular gossips weren’t there yet. Rising, she followed Rudy, while trying not to make it apparent that she was following her.

"Rudy?" Keagan walked into the empty restroom. There were four stalls but she didn’t know which one her friend was in.

"I came in here to get my composure back and you being here isn’t going to help."

Keagan made her way down to the end. Rudy was in the fourth stall near the wall. The door was locked. "If you open the door, we can talk."

"I’m not opening the door. And since when have you ever wanted to talk?"

"Open the door."

"I’m through!"

"I’m not."

"What? Now that I’m no longer interested, you’re going to chase me? That’s really shallow."

"I don’t think that’s the case."

"That you’re shallow?"

"No. That you’re no longer interested."

"Still full of ourselves, I see!"

"No, just stating things as I see them. I’ve been known to do that."

"Right. When you actually allow yourself to see them!"

"Are you going to come out of there or do I have to come in?"

Rudy wondered for a second if this was another game to Keagan that she was intent on winning. If it was, she intended to win. "I’d like to see you try!"

Glancing down at the floor, Keagan decided in a split second that she could fit through the opening in the bottom. It would take a little maneuvering, but it was possible. Moving her body gracefully to the floor, she let her legs slip through first and then crawled the rest of the way under. In a second, she was standing before Rudy in the confined space. Looking at Rudy’s astonished eyes, she took another step forward until their bodies were touching.

"Can’t give up the chance to win the game, can you?"

"Does this feel like a game to you?" With that, Keagan leaned down, capturing Rudy’s lips swiftly with her own. Her arms enfolded Rudy who struggled a bit and then relaxed, but Keagan had other ideas. Her tongue entering a willing mouth, she turned Rudy around and pinned her against the door. They parted after a few long minutes of heated exploration, both panting heavily, both forgetting where they were momentarily.

"No more games?" Rudy reached up and touched Keagan’s face, caressing it, thinking of how beautiful she was and of how she was so totally unaware of her allure.

Keagan slowly came back to her senses and they told her that she was in a bathroom stall in a bar, and that she was considering doing things that probably shouldn’t be done there. "I’m sorry, Rudy. I--"

Rudy pressed her body against Keagan’s, putting her arms around her waist possessively. Laying her head on the taller woman’s chest and inhaling her sweet scent, she couldn’t help but place a kiss on Keagan’s collarbone. "I don’t want to hear that again." Her voice was a low whisper and it did very interesting things to Keagan’s mind, body, and emotions.

"We should get out of here."

"Why? We have so much to catch up on. and it’s much more private in here than out there, don’t you think?"

Rudy drew the dark head toward her, capturing Keagan’s lips. She pushed her tongue roughly into Keagan’s mouth and felt her moan. When they parted, she began to kiss her neck, all the while beginning to explore her body. Moving her hands to the top of her shirt, she began to undo the buttons, never breaking eye contact with Keagan. "You never told me how you did on the grammar exam."

"No, I didn’t." Keagan’s voice was strained, her rising desire for Rudy slowly taking control of her body. She reached out and ran her fingers through Rudy’s reddish-blonde locks, her hand stopping to linger on her left cheek. She caressed it softly as she waited for Rudy’s next move.

Rudy moved her hands underneath Keagan’s opened shirt, feeling the soft, flushed skin there. "So how did you do?" She kissed down her neck and planted kisses along her collarbone. Keagan gasped.

"Did you like that? That’s good, because you know I’m kind of new at this." Rudy maneuvered them around so that now Keagan was against the door. As she did this her hands never ended their exploration of her stomach and they began to move upward to caress a breast. "Oh," was the only sound heard out of Keagan before Rudy kissed her again, this time tantalizingly slow, with long thorough strokes of her tongue lingering deep inside Keagan’s mouth. The taller woman matched her stroke for stroke, as Rudy continued to caress her breasts in spite of the barriers of her bra. The entire time, Keagan’s hands had moved to Rudy’s hips, softly kneading them. "So, how did the exam, go?"

It took Keagan a moment to register that Rudy was asking an intelligible question. Panting, she tried to speak as the sensual assault on her body continued. "I think I did all right," she managed to breathe out with effort.

"Just all right?"

"I would have done a lot better if I had you to help me." Rudy’s hands reached around Keagan’s back and unhooked her bra. Pushing it up and over her breasts she wasted no time in teasing a nipple with her tongue. "Ahh."

"I know you would’ve but that’s okay because you have me now." Rudy was now down on her knees with Keagan slumped against the door straddling her. Leaning forward she took her left breast in her mouth never breaking eye contact with Keagan and began a slow, steady, sucking. Keagan didn’t think she had ever felt such pleasure and if she ever did again, it would come only from Rudy. Breaking away from her with effort, she tried to speak coherently. "We can’t do this here. It’s not--"

Rudy’s hands moved over to Keagan’s jeans and unzipped them slowly. Leaning over so that her lips were right against Keagan’s, she stared into her eyes with unmistakable desire and love. "Will you stop fighting me? When will you stop fighting me?" And then her lips were crushing against Keagan’s who opened her mouth fully to take in all Rudy had to give. Somewhere in between her passion and her body’s betrayal of it, Keagan could hear Rudy reciting something. Although her hands were busily stroking Keagan’s firm stomach, she kept speaking. "And yet I dream of dreams fulfilled and rest somewhere before this restless heart is stilled and all its fancies blown to air."

As her lips reacquainted themselves with Keagan’s neck, she heard Keagan breathing heavily but speaking in between pants. "Bliss Carman, ‘The Vagabonds’, ah. I can’t believe you did that now!"

"And you’ve just proven how good you are." She nipped at Keagan’s ear.

"I haven’t proven anything yet. You’re the one who’s good." Her hands began massaging Rudy’s thighs as they stared at each other.

Rudy’s breathing increased and she felt the familiar pleasurable sensation building between her legs. "C’mon, Keagan, give me one, please."

"As if I could think." She leaned forward and kissed Rudy having been denied the pleasure of her lips for too long. It turned into another long exploration as she slowly moving her tongue inside Rudy’s mouth in desperation. Rudy intentionally avoided letting her tongue connect with Keagan’s because she hadn’t yet granted her request. They broke apart roughly. "You’re such a tease."

"Just give me what I want and I won’t be." Rudy’s lips met Keagan’s neck and proceeded to plant small kisses beginning from slightly under her ear down to her collarbone.

"I think you’ve developed a fondness for my neck. Not that I mind."

"Among other things. Please? Just one."

Keagan wondered how Rudy expected her to come up with a poetry quote when the young woman’s lips were affixed to her neck sucking soundly and her hands were busy exploring regions a bit lower. In spite of her passion, though, she thought of one, hoping to impress Rudy who she figured didn’t really expect her to think of one anyway. "Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touched from, oh...oh, Rudy."

"Go on...ah...please."

"The scent of these arm-pits aroma finer than prayer, this head more than churches, bibles, and all the creeds."

Rudy backed away from Keagan’s neck to gaze into azure eyes now blazing with need. "Oh, you bad girl, how sacrilegious. It’s Whitman, of course, ‘Song of Myself.’ Such an easy one."

"Thought I’d pick one from your namesake. Didn’t mean for it to be that easy."

Rudy smiled, leaning over to whisper into Keagan’s ear. "Sometimes easy isn’t all that bad." Seeing Keagan’s look of amusement at the double meaning, she laughed a little under her breath. "Honey, stand up a second." Keagan scooted up a bit, trying to focus on anything but the heated sensations moving straight to her center. Rudy pulled her jeans down a bit and placed her hand right above Keagan’s underwear. She began moving her hand in slow circles all around the area. "I like your underwear. I should’ve known you’d wear black." Her lips moved back to Keagan’s neck and began sucking hard.

"Sometimes I wear red...oh...or blue or green, I like colors." Keagan thought it odd that Rudy continued to talk. No one she had been with had talked much before. Keagan felt a very pleasurable sensation begin to stir throughout her body. It was truthfully like nothing she had felt before and it was at the hands of this young, inexperienced woman. "Oh, you must be a natural, La Roux," she breathed.

"I think it’s just you." Rudy slipped her hand inside Keagan’s underwear and made no move to take them off, but began to massage the area underneath. Keagan closed her eyes, the pleasure almost too great for her to accept. Is this really happening? And is it happening in a place like this? And do I want it to stop? No. Rudy reached up and caressed the side of her face. "Open your eyes." Keagan did as she asked and Rudy was treated to the most beautiful shade of blue she had ever seen. "I want to hear you say it. Say it, please, Keagan."

Looking into Rudy’s verdant eyes and taking in all that was happening, Keagan could barely speak much less know what she wanted. Closing her eyes again, she moaned as the caresses continued. Rudy leaned in close and she felt a warm tongue enter her ear softly. "Oh, that's good," Keagan moaned. Rudy swirled her tongue around Keagan’s ear all the while continuing to stroke her firmly below. Keagan’s hands were around her the whole time, but she was far too distracted to do much. "I want to feel more of you, Rudy."

"I know. Tell me." She spoke in Keagan’s ear in a sultry whisper.

"I want you...so much." With those words, Rudy leaned back and kissed Keagan soundly on the mouth, more of a reassuring kiss than one designed to spark further passion. And then Rudy slipped a finger inside her moving slowly in and out as Keagan cried out softly. Rudy was both surprised and turned on at the wetness she felt. "I think you won this time, ah--"

"I think we both won this time." Rudy pulled down on the underwear to get better access. Keagan was very helpful, pulling them down the rest of the way. "So eager," said Rudy. "I like that in my women." Keagan laughed in spite of herself and her situation. "What women?"

"I’ll tell you all about it sometime when I’m not so busy." Rudy looked into Keagan’s eyes and placed another finger on her. Unsure, she asked. "Do you want--?"

"Uh, huh." Taking in the light sheen of sweat on Keagan’s body and her flushed appearance, Rudy decided she was doing something right and that it was time to finish it. Keagan was still leaning against the door with Rudy stroking her firmly, gently. Rudy loved the way she felt and the pleasurable sounds she was making. Deciding to get bold, she inserted a third finger and began to feel her lover tensing around her fingers. Moving slowly in and out, Rudy watched Keagan’s face contort in pleasure and ecstasy as she reached the edge and went over it. Rudy stayed inside wanting to feel what Keagan did, until the waves had subsided and then bringing her hand up to her face, she erotically licked the digits, her eyes never leaving Keagan’s, who was still breathing heavily with a smile beginning to form on her face. The sight of Rudy doing this excited Keagan all over again. Remembering they were still in a public place, Rudy quickly reached down and pulled up Keagan’s underwear and jeans. Keagan was very little help at all but did manage to zip her jeans. She laid her head on Rudy’s chest and the younger woman wrapped her arms around her tightly and kissed her head. "I think I’ve just been made love to by a virgin."

Rudy stroked Keagan’s hair and started to chuckle. "And it was really good," she added. Then she reached up and kissed Rudy, this time their tongues meeting and connecting passionately.

"What did you expect? That I wouldn’t do any research before undertaking such an arduous task?"

"Research? What research? And it wasn’t that arduous, was it?"

Rudy began reaching around and put Keagan’s bra back in place and then began buttoning her shirt back up. "I would really love to discuss this in more depth, but I’d rather do it in a more private surrounding...you see," she leaned over and kissed Keagan’s neck sending instant shudders down her spine, "there are a lot of other things I’d like to do to you and I can’t do them all here."

Keagan pulled Rudy to her and kissed her. "Not half as many things as I want to do to you, La Roux."

"Let’s go back to your place." Rudy had unabashed lust in her eyes.

Keagan looked amused. "I wonder what they’re going to say about us out in the bar. I’m pretty sure I heard at least two people come in while we were, you know..."

"They’re probably cheering you on for deflowering me." She laughed. "Little do they really know." As they stood up, Keagan put her arm around Rudy.

"Uh, huh. That you’re the beast, not me."

"That remains to be seen."

Keagan merely flashed Rudy a mysterious smile. "Let’s go." Suddenly, facing the reality of exiting the stall and indeed the restroom itself, she developed a sense of propriety. "We can’t just both walk out at the same time, what if someone walks in? They’ll think--"

Unlocking the door, Rudy stepped through it without further discussion. "Honey, I think everybody’s figured it out by now and if they didn’t they can always look at your neck." Rudy began laughing.

"My neck? Oh, shit!" Keagan went over to the mirror. Sure enough, there was a hickey on the side of her neck. A big one. "I feel so cheap!"

Rudy leered at Keagan appreciatively. She was quite sexy all disheveled. "I know. So do I. Isn’t it great?"

Keagan looked at Rudy finding that she had only one conscious, lingering thought at that moment. She hoped to indulge that thought very soon. "Oh, yeah."

Rudy and Keagan looked at each other and collapsed into hysterics. They had just succumbed to the ultimate stereotype: the bathroom tryst.

Rudy walked out first and Keagan followed behind, remembering that she had left her jacket and notebook at the end of the bar and would have to get them before they could leave. "I have to get my jacket," she whispered into the strawberry-blonde’s ear.

"Okay. I’ll meet you outside." Rudy winked at Keagan and walked to the end of the bar she’d been sitting at, grabbed her own jacket, and exited quickly.

Several people sitting at a table nearby started laughing. Glaring and scowling, Keagan made her way back to Cody and her jacket. As she grabbed the notebook, she put on her jacket and made a beeline for the door. "Um, honey?" Cody.

Turning back around, Keagan sighed heavily. "Yes?"

Cody flashed Keagan a lascivious smile. "I take it you two made up?"

"You could say that." With a slight grin, she began to head for the door but turned back. "Thanks, Cody."

"Anytime, hon." Cody watched as Keagan headed out the door.

Keagan walked out of the bar and began looking for Rudy, but before she could look long, she was embraced from behind. Small hands moved their way up her stomach under her jacket and moved to caress her breasts softly. "What took you so long?"

"I was just looking for my date. I don’t think you should do that. She might not like it."

Rudy began a sensuous exploration of Keagan’s upper chest area, enjoying the effect it was having. "I don’t care if she likes it or not. Do you like it?"

"It might be more fun if you took my shirt off."

"That can be arranged."

Keagan spun around with effort and kissed Rudy, pressing her up against the brick of the building. "How about at my place this time?" she breathed when they parted.

"Okay, but you might have to talk me into it."

"Believe me, I was counting on it."

"A verbal seduction. I like that idea."

Keagan glanced around to make sure no one was around. "Or," she leaned up close to Rudy, cradling her head softly, "I could just give you what you gave me right here, right now." She proceeded to kiss Rudy soundly, not stopping until their tongues had enjoyed a thorough exploration.

"Too commonplace," breathed Rudy as they parted. "You’ll think of something more creative than imitating what I did." Her hands caressed Keagan’s body as she spoke.

"I know. I can’t let you win." Keagan smiled evilly.

Growing tired of this extended foreplay, Rudy leaned in close and peered up into the blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. Her voice was an erotic whisper. "I want to feel your body against mine, and I don’t want any barriers...and I want it soon...I want to feel your bare skin against mine and I want to writhe in passion at your hands. Let’s go now."

"You know, you kind of sound like one of those cheesy romantic novels." She snickered.

Rudy hit her playfully. "Oh, yeah? Like the one you’re writing?"

"Oh, no mine won’t be cheesy, it’ll be more...realistic."

"Hopefully, not too realistic."

Keagan leaned down and nuzzled Rudy’s neck. "I don’t know. I like the realism I’ve experienced lately." She leaned back up and gazed into Rudy’s eyes.

Rudy couldn’t help but be touched by the sentiment. "You do?"

Keagan simply nodded. "Let’s go."

It was still fairly early when they got back to the apartment. Keagan opened the door cautiously, not wanting the kitten to fly out the door as she often did. Sure enough, the little furball was right there, but they managed to get in and shut the door before she escaped. "She always tries to escape."

"Just like her owner."

Keagan felt nervous. Rudy the cat mewed and looked up at the humans for some attention, but at that moment their attention was riveted on each other. "Good one. And I am not her owner. This is only temporary." Little Rudy purred and rubbed up against Keagan’s leg. She sighed heavily and gazed down into Rudy’s beautiful, green eyes. "So, what do you want to do? It’s still early--" Keagan felt it would be highly rude to just grab Rudy, take her into the bedroom, and slowly remove all of her clothes, although it was exactly what she felt like doing. Feeling her heart rate increase with her uncertainty, she took the opportunity to take off her jacket, which she flung onto a chair.

"We could watch TV." Rudy’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Yeah."

"Or we could read poetry." Rudy took off her jacket and stepped closer to Keagan. Reaching out, she took her right hand and brought it to her mouth. Taking an index finger into it, she slowly explored the finger with her tongue. "Or you could just kiss me."

Keagan wasted no time bringing her lips down to meet Rudy’s in a passionate kiss. It continued for a few seconds until they parted for air. "Now are you going to tell me about this ‘research’ you did?" Keagan’s low voice trembled from the desire welling up inside of her.

"I’d rather show you. C’mon." Rudy took Keagan’s hand and led her into the bedroom. Shoving her playfully onto the bed she looked down into blue eyes that stared back with uncertainty. She wasted no time climbing on top of Keagan, whose arms came around her gently. "You know, La Roux, if you don’t watch it, people are going to start calling you the butch in this relationship. I mean, first you seduce me in the bathroom stall, and now you’ve cleverly maneuvered me into the bedroom and pounced on me." Rudy chuckled and kissed Keagan on the neck affectionately. "I guess you’re going to have to start taking over then, hmm? Wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation as the inexperienced, virginal, compliant femme now would I?" Before Keagan could respond Rudy kissed her, this time longer and harder. Their tongues met as the two women began to explore each other’s bodies in earnest. Soon, Rudy began undoing the buttons to Keagan’s shirt. "Deja vu," she murmured, as she listened to her lover moan.

Getting a brief flash of Dionne Warwick on the Psychic Friends Network, Keagan exploded in laughter. Rudy had her shirt undone and was planting a kiss right above her breasts. The blonde glanced up with a confused look on her face. "What’s so funny?"

"When you said that, it reminded me of Dionne Warwick, that’s all." She continued to laugh.

"There’s just no shutting down that mind of yours, is there?" Rudy began reaching behind Keagan to undo her bra.

"I guess not."

"Don’t worry. I plan on seeing what I can do about that." As Rudy pulled off Keagan’s shirt and bra with a little more enthusiasm than was probably necessary, she was treated to the sensation of a hot tongue teasing her breast. "Oh, that feels really good," Keagan moaned, "but my mind’s still turned on full throttle." Rudy moved her hands to Keagan’s jeans, unzipped them quickly and began pulling them down.

"You know what I think your problem is?"

"What?" Keagan felt a tongue dart in her ear.

"You need to get with me." Rudy kissed her with passion and allowed her tongue to dart in forcefully to express her point.

"It’s a problem that I need to get with you?" Keagan asked after they parted. Her face showed a devilish smile.

"No, that you haven’t gotten with me yet!" To make her point, Rudy tickled Keagan’s now bare stomach and watched with pleasure as she giggled uncontrollably.

"I have gotten with you. Right?"

"Nope so far we just had an unplanned liaison in a public bathroom. That does not a relationship make." She smiled mischievously and Keagan didn’t miss her meaning.

"Are you really sure that’s what you want?"

Rudy paused and appeared to seriously contemplate the question. "Not really. I thought I’d wait until after the sex and make up my mind. You know. See how it is first. But I’m getting kind of impatient now, so could you please get on with it?"

Keagan exploded into laughter and Rudy followed. "Get on with it? Oh, by all means, I intend to get on with it." Keagan grabbed her playfully and threw her on the bed so that she was now on top, her legs straddling Rudy’s waist. Leaning down, she whispered in her ear, "I’m tired of you having all the fun." Before Rudy’s shock had totally registered and her laughter completely subsided, Keagan’s lips had found her neck and she began a slow, steady sucking all the while enjoying the soft moans coming from her lover. Her hands moved to Rudy’s blouse and she began to unbutton it, tantalizingly slowly. Feeling her own body responding to what she was doing to Rudy, she stopped momentarily, leaning back and looking into the green eyes now rife with passion. "Rudy?"

"Hmm...?" Rudy was speechless, her body tingling all over from Keagan’s attentions.

"I didn’t think you were going to turn me on this much."

Rudy laughed. Sometimes, she didn’t know whether to take Keagan’s admissions as compliments or not. "You didn’t think I’d turn you on?"

Keagan kissed her. "Oh, no, that’s not it. I just didn’t think anyone could ever make me feel this good." Rudy leaned up and pulled her shirt the rest of the way off. Their eyes met and Keagan reached forward and almost gingerly undid the front clasp to Rudy’s bra. "Memories…" Keagan’s laugh ended when Rudy swatted her playfully. She leaned over and gently began to massage Rudy’s right breast while her tongue found the other one. Listening with pleasure to the soft moans coming from Rudy, she remained staring deeply into her green eyes the entire time. Leaning back, she exhaled loudly, as her eyes remained riveted on Rudy who panted softly. "I think I’ve built up this moment in my mind so much that I can’t believe I’m touching you."

"You’ve touched me before."

"But I’ve never touched your breasts." She smiled shyly almost, but kept her hands firmly on Rudy.

"So," Rudy felt her heart pounding. "What do you think of them?"

"I’m finding it hard to think at all."

"Then why bother trying?" Rudy placed her hand gently on Keagan’s cheek and drew her back down. Another heated kiss ended. "So is this lesson one?" she asked.

"Lesson one?" Keagan reached down to unbutton Rudy’s jeans and began pulling them off. Rudy squirmed a bit, attempting to help. When they were completely off, Keagan began placing kisses on her stomach.

"Of the love lessons you promised. Remember?" Rudy stroked through strands of silky, dark hair. Keagan sighed in pleasure and made no attempt to move beyond her current actions.

Keagan glanced up. "I didn’t promise you love lessons. You just asked." She began to stroke Rudy’s legs marveling at how toned they were.

In spite of her rising excitement, Rudy managed a small laugh. "Okay, fair enough. But just, ah, theoretically, if you were giving them, what would the first one be?"

Weren’t they supposed to be making love? Why all the talk? But Keagan admitted to really enjoying it. It added a dimension that was missing from her other relationships. A new level of excitement and mental stimulation that she found appealing. She moved up slightly and took each of Rudy’s hands in her own, guiding her arms over her blonde head and pinning her down. "Lesson number one would be, how to get your lover prone." She moved her hands back to Rudy’s breasts and began kissing her collarbone in earnest.

In spite of her body’s response to Keagan’s skillful attentions, Rudy couldn’t let go of their dialogue. It was too much fun. "And just how would you...ah...do that?"

Keagan looked back up and twinkling, devilish blue eyes met green. "Apparently very easily." She laughed.

"You calling me easy?" Mock indignation laced her words.

"What if I am?" Keagan had been denied the pleasure of Rudy’s lips for too long. How long had it been? Two minutes? Three? As she kissed Rudy, her tongue slipped out, attempting to gain entrance. But Rudy kept her mouth shut tightly after Keagan’s last remark. Briefly frustrated, but formulating a plan, she turned away and began planting long, sensuous, affecting kisses on her neck. This continued for a few moments until Rudy’s breathing heightened considerably and her soft cries of pleasure increased. At that point, Keagan moved back to her mouth that was by that time completely open from the panting. Dipping down with alacrity, her tongue smoothly entered Rudy’s mouth and they shared a long kiss, their tongues moving together, and their craving for each other escalating. They parted at last, after what seemed like minutes but was only a few seconds. Both breathing heavily, they stared at each other, Rudy recognizing the usual triumphant smile forming on Keagan’s face.

"Okay, okay. So I am easy. So what?" At this, they both collapsed into giggles.

"Nothing wrong with easy. Nothing at all." Keagan remained leaning over Rudy, but her eyes began to turn serious.

"I suppose that’s how you like your women, right?"

"What women? There are no other women. Just you."

"There aren’t?"

"No. You’re the only one."

"I am?"

Keagan rolled off of Rudy and pulled down her jeans. Repositioning herself near her, the only barrier remaining was their respective underwear. Refraining from making any further attempts at seduction, Keagan leaned over and kissed Rudy almost tentatively, waiting for her next comment. But none was forthcoming. They shared a mutual small grin, as their eyes both traveled southward. "The underwear." They said it in unison. Both tried to stifle another laugh, because this was making love, right? It was supposed to be dramatic and passionate, not funny. But what Rudy and Keagan were both coming to realize was that sex was funny, very funny in fact. A very funny thing to do.

Finally, as they both reached for their own underwear, Keagan stopped. "Lesson two would be how to undress your lover. Shall I?"

"Yes...please."

Keagan leaned over and placed an almost chaste kiss on Rudy’s cheek. The gravity of what they were about to do suddenly hit her. She slowly reached forward and began pulling Rudy’s underwear off. Apparently, she did it too slowly for Rudy who reached down herself and pulled it off the rest of the way. As Rudy threw the underwear against one of the bedroom walls, she pulled Keagan’s head back down and kissed her soundly. They came up for breath presently. "Too slow, huh?"

Rudy nodded. "And don’t worry about me being a virgin." At Keagan’s surprised look, she continued. "I know you are. But don’t be." She tenderly caressed Keagan’s face and kissed her softly. "I’m right where I want to be with the person I want to be with. I just...I love you."

Keagan’s eyes widened a bit and her heart began pounding. "Hey, La Roux..."

Rudy’s fingers were instantly at her lips. "Don’t say anything." They stared at each other for what seemed like a short eternity. Rudy’s next words were whispered against Keagan’s lips. "I don’t want anything to ruin this moment."

"Nothing could ruin this moment because you’re a part of it." She remained still until Rudy took her hand and kissed it. It was only then that Rudy realized that Keagan was shaking.

"Why are you shaking? I’m supposed to be the virgin here."

"I’ve never felt like this before."

"Then we have our own special feeling together because I’ve never felt this way, either." Words failing her, Keagan leaned forward and kissed Rudy again, feeling her mouth opening. For the first time she allowed herself to revel in how good it felt to feel her body against Rudy’s. The sensation of flesh on flesh was something she had felt before, but not in this way. This time it was different. She felt a sense of belonging and rightness she had never known before. It both scared and excited her. She let herself succumb to the feeling of Rudy’s tongue in her mouth. It was so soft, so sweet, and so inviting. And she tasted so wonderful. She had to have more. They parted breathlessly, and Keagan spoke with a slight smile on her face. "I think something’s--"

Rudy nodded her head vigorously. "Off, now." Not waiting for Keagan to take off her underwear, she reached forward and pulled them down. Before Keagan knew it, Rudy had maneuvered herself on top again and was kissing her passionately. "You feel so good," Rudy panted in between kisses. "Please don’t tell me this is a dream..."

"Sorry, but it is a dream. It’s my dream come true."

"A dream come true is a dream no more."

"That sounds like one of those famous quotations." Keagan moaned as she felt Rudy’s lips on her neck and hands on her breasts.

"Not yet, but maybe someday." They both laughed at this.

"I can see it now. ‘This quote was inspired by Rudy Whitman’s first foray into sensual pleasure’. And--"

"And that foray was long delayed because Rudy’s talkative lover couldn’t shut up long enough to--"

"Me? Talkative? Come now." The double entendre inherent in her own words was not lost on Keagan. She flipped Rudy over regaining the top position, and allowed her hands to explore regions a bit lower than she had previously.

"Ah." Rudy smiled and closed her eyes. "I’ve been waiting for you to say that."

"I wonder if you’ll stop flirting at the ultimate moment of passion," Keagan whispered, as she allowed her hand to slowly massage Rudy. Dipping her finger in briefly, she felt the wetness of her arousal.

"Why don’t we see? Ah, that feels so good." She felt Keagan’s finger slip in again and begin stroking her slowly, softly. "So," she began in between pants, "how many women have you done this to?"

"What?" Keagan sat back in exasperation. It seemed that she wasn’t the only one who had trouble shutting down her mind during sex.

Regretting that her inquiry had caused Keagan to stop, Rudy looked guilty. "I was just wondering--"

"La Roux, can we make a pact?" Keagan leaned down and gently kissed the tender skin between Rudy’s breasts, reveling in the heartbeat she felt speed up.

"Yes." Her reply was breathless.

"No more talking."

"Awww--"

"I mean it. You promise?"

"So if I don’t promise you’ll quit what you were doing?"

"Yep."

"Does this mean you aren’t going to answer my question?" Although Rudy gazed at Keagan guilelessly, she could still detect a mischievous glint in the young woman’s eyes.

"Yes. That’s what it means." Keagan tried to look stern but realized she was failing miserably. "From right now...this moment...no more words, Rudy, I mean it."

"Ooh, I like it when you take charge." She laughed.

Keagan put her hand over Rudy’s mouth. "Now what did I say?" She could feel Rudy about to speak and continued quickly. "Don’t answer that!" In spite of the mock glare she received, Keagan knew she could have some fun with this. "Now," she began, as her hands moved over Rudy’s hips, massaging them thoroughly, "You can moan, you can cry out...you can even scream if you want. Just no talking." She leaned down and planted kisses along the bottom of Rudy’s stomach. Working her way up, her lips eventually found a breast. Flicking her tongue out, she teased the nipple for a few seconds before placing her mouth firmly around the breast and sucking with ardor. "It’ll be worth it, I promise," she whispered. A short moan was the only response, as green eyes locked with blue. Keagan knew instantly she would be paying for this later. And she wholeheartedly looked forward to it. She then treated Rudy to an in-depth exploration of her body, her mouth and hands seeking out places she had always wanted to go. Her fear seemingly fled, and in its place was a burning desire to please this woman who offered her love freely, for reasons Keagan was still trying to understand.

Keeping her eyes riveted on Rudy’s, her hand once again found the source of her desire as she continued stroking. "You feel wonderful," she couldn’t help telling her.

"Wow, that’s so different." Rudy averted her eyes, knowing she’d be in trouble for breaking the pact.

"What’s different?" Keagan didn’t want to tease her about breaking the pact. Truthfully, she had missed the sound of Rudy’s voice and welcomed it.

As Keagan continued her slow stroking, Rudy found it hard to focus on coherent thoughts. "Oh...oh, ah...from when I’ve touched myself." Rudy couldn’t hold back and laughed.

Keagan grinned widely, amazed at this woman’s ability to be forthright, even while making love. "That’s good, isn’t it?" She could feel Rudy getting closer and increased her thrusts a little. "Just tell me if there’s anything you want me to--"

"You’re doing just fine and yes, that is good." Rudy’s breathing became labored at that point and although her intellectual thoughts were beginning to flee with the pleasure she was feeling, one fleeting thought remained. A request, actually. "There is something I want."

"Anything." Keagan continued to touch her, enjoying the feeling of warmth and wetness exuding from Rudy, who was so open, needing, and giving. She was many things all at once.

"Please kiss me. Please?"

Now panting herself, Keagan leaned up until their lips connected gently. She deepened it slightly, enjoying the feeling of Rudy’s soft cries entering into her mouth as their tongues met. This continued until Keagan felt Rudy’s release around her fingers. She had never felt anything so sweet. Staying with her until the contractions subsided, she kissed her forehead and then her mouth gently. Rudy’s eyes were closed and she was smiling broadly. "Can I talk now?"

"You talked before." Keagan stroked her hair, and chuckled lightly.

"I know, but--" She flung herself into Keagan’s arms. She returned the embrace, holding on tightly. Rudy wanted to profess her love again, but decided against it. She had done it once and that was enough for now. "That was so good." She leaned back and kissed her lover passionately. "When can we do it again?"

Keagan felt her body reacting to Rudy. "No time like the present, right?"

"So, that’s all there is to it? That’s what the big hoopla was about?" Sometime later, after Keagan and Rudy had enjoyed a thorough exploration of each other’s bodies, they lay together quite sated. Keagan had her head on Rudy’s stomach and her arm wrapped around her. With a chuckle, she sighed contentedly feeling fingers in her hair stroking gently.

"Yep. That’s all there is to it."

"Too bad. I was hoping you’d give me more lessons."

"What do I look like? A love instructor?"

"You could pass for one in a pinch."

"You think so, huh?" Keagan turned over and met green eyes. She continued to rest her head on Rudy’s stomach. Gazing up at her lover, the only thought she had at that moment was that Rudy looked like an angel that came to rescue her.

"Yep." In spite of her apparent nonchalance, her fingers began stroking Keagan’s face. Keeping her eyes focused on blue the entire time, she touched every facet of her face, ending with her lips. She felt Keagan’s breathing increase as her finger found its way into her mouth. Keagan gave equal attention to Rudy’s other fingers, sucking each one sensuously. "Oh, yeah, definitely in a pinch," she sighed.

"You have beautiful hands." She placed a gentle kiss on Rudy’s palm.

"C’mere." Rudy took hold of Keagan’s face, and felt her lover crawl up her body, positioning her arms on either side of her. Almost not knowing how to react to such a sweet sentiment coming from Keagan, she kissed her. Soon the kiss deepened, and soon after that they were both breathless.

"And beautiful lips." Keagan traced them with her finger. "And beautiful eyes." She looked deeply into them. "In fact, there isn’t an inch of you that isn’t beautiful."

Rudy sighed with delight and buried her face in Keagan’s chest. "You better watch it. You’re going to ruin your reputation as the taciturn loner."

Keagan leaned back and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, damn. What a loss." They both laughed. A few seconds after that, a noise could be heard coming from the hall.

"Mew!" Rudy the cat hobbled into the bedroom. She stared at the bed and tried to jump up, but failed miserably. Keagan exploded into hysterics. "You wimpy, little beast! You’re too small to jump up!"

Rudy hit her on the arm playfully. "You’re so mean. Making fun of a sweet, little kitten. Put her up here."

"Nah, I enjoy watching her pitiful attempts!" Keagan snickered with glee.

"If you’re not nicer to Rudy the cat, then Rudy the woman might not be so nice to you if you know what I mean." She had an evil grin on her face.

Keagan scowled. "Mew! Mew!" She looked to the cat and then to Rudy. Soon, she scooped up the little kitten in her hand and placed her on the bed. The small animal looked around cautiously, taking in the new surroundings. Then she curled into a ball and fell asleep. "I’m so sure. Withholding sexual favors for a beast." She sighed with mock disgust.

Rudy leaned over and climbed back on top of Keagan with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You’re more of a beast than she is, you know." Before she could respond, Rudy kissed her soundly, her tongue darting in and out of Keagan’s mouth passionately. "Again? You’re insatiable." Rudy took her hand off of a breast she was beginning to massage. "Well, if you’d rather not--"

Keagan put her hand back in place on her breast. "No, no. I didn’t say that."

Rudy sobered. "It is getting kind of late."

"Stay."

"All night?"

"It’s not like you haven’t before."

"Yeah. Well, right, but before we weren’t--"

"Giving in to the undeniable cravings of the flesh?" Keagan flashed Rudy a saucy grin.

Rudy smiled at the clever choice of words. "Right, but--"

"I want you to."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I’m sure. What do you think I am? Some heartless seductress who preys on young, innocent women and then throws them out of her bedroom when she’s done with them?" Keagan put on a mock look of indignation.

"No. I don’t think you’d throw me out. You like me too much."

"I don’t think I could ever throw you out."

Rudy leaned over for another kiss. Soon, they were engaging in another dialogue that led to another heated session of their new favorite activity.

"You raise your face from mine, parting my breath like water, hair falling away in its own wind, and your eyes--green in the light like honey--surfacing on my body, awed with desire, speechless, this common dream..." Keagan whispered the phrase from a favorite poem into Rudy’s ear and watched as she awakened, her eyes blinking slowly. Rudy smiled.

"What a nice way to wake up."

"I always aim to please."

They were facing each other, not touching. "You pleased." Rudy leaned over and touched the side of Keagan’s face softly running her hand down her cheek.

Keagan closed her eyes at Rudy’s caress and considered how to proceed. Declarations of love were not her forte and they tended to imply too much. But she knew that Rudy deserved that if that’s where they were headed. Is that where we’re headed? I have no idea. She told me she loved me, but it could have meant anything and she could have said it for any number of reasons. I could just ask her. Nah, no way.

"Can I ask you a question?"

It took a few moments for it to register with Keagan that Rudy had spoken. She was lost in thought. "Sure."

"Does this mean I’m your girlfriend, now?" Rudy didn’t want to make any presumptions. She wanted the truth upfront.

Blue eyes gazed back at her pensively. "Do you want to be?"

Rudy smiled and shook her head slightly. "I think yes, after what we just shared, I would like to be very much." Actually, way before we shared that.

"Is this the part you were talking about where you make up your mind after the sex?" Keagan allowed a slight grin to surface.

"Exactly. And I’ve had all night to think about it, and my answer is yes."

"As I recall, we didn’t do much thinking." Keagan smiled that sexy grin Rudy adored.

"Oh, I don’t know. I thought quite a bit." She leaned over and kissed Keagan’s neck and whispered into her ear. "I thought about what I wanted to do to you next, what I wanted you to do to me--" Rudy stopped to give more complete attention to the smooth, tempting neck she was sucking on.

"Umm, so is this...exclusive?" Keagan found it both challenging and exciting to carry on a lucid conversation while being aroused.

Rudy tore herself away from Keagan’s neck to look deeply into her stormy, blue eyes. "As in we only sleep with each other? Yes, I want that, too."

Keagan reached over and enfolded Rudy in her arms. She snuggled into them, placing her head under Keagan’s chin and smiled into her chest. "You sure have a lot of demands."

"I’m a very demanding woman."

"Oh, I know. Believe me, I know."

Rudy grinned. "Can we eat breakfast now?" She had a hopeful look on her face. Her stomach had been growling for the last half-hour.

"And yet another demand." Keagan got up, grabbing a T-shirt and shorts from her dresser. She put them on quickly and headed for the kitchen. Coffee sounded really good.

"You look so different with clothes on." Rudy, now clad in Keagan’s dark green terrycloth robe, chuckled as she made her way into the kitchen. She was holding Rudy and petting the soft head. "I kind of got used to seeing you without them."

Keagan stood at the oven preparing eggs and bacon. She allowed a small smile to surface, which Rudy couldn’t see. "We could always set aside some time for them to be removed again." She started laughing and turned around to see green eyes gazing at her with amusement. Spotting the robe, she noted that it was way too big on Rudy, but it made her look very cute.

"But we have an exam to study for, remember?"

"Can’t we study in bed?"

"Oh, right, and just how much studying do you think we’d get done?"

Keagan grinned. "A great deal, I’m sure." She turned back to the oven and flipped the bacon, while continuing to keep an eye on the scrambled eggs. "We’d be in a much closer space. We’d be able to focus more. You know, when going over the quotes."

"And you wouldn’t get distracted?"

Keagan grinned evilly. "Oh, certainly not!"

"What if I was naked, would you get distracted, then?"

Keagan appeared to think about that. "Only if you were trying to seduce me."

"Oh, I wouldn’t do that. Not while you were studying anyway." Rudy tried to appear the epitome of innocence. "I’m supposed to be an aspiring teacher, remember?"

"Yes and surprisingly you’ve taught me more than I thought you’d be able to." Keagan raised her eyebrows.

"My research, you know--"

"You haven’t told me about that yet."

"A girl has to have some secrets." Rudy poured two cups of coffee.

"If I recall correctly, you seemed to have a major problem with me and my secrets."

Rudy rolled her eyes and shook her head with disgust. "That’s because you were being pigheaded. I’m just being alluringly coy." With a mischievous smile, she deposited Rudy on the floor and went to the refrigerator for the orange juice. The little kitten mewed and went over to her bowl to eat.

"Oh, is that what it’s called?" Finishing up her cooking, Keagan prepared their plates, setting them on the table. Rudy got the bagels as they popped out of the toaster. As they sat down, Keagan spoke again. "Why is it that when I have secrets, I’m being pigheaded and when you have them, you’re being alluringly coy?" Rudy poured two glasses of orange juice, not immediately answering. She glanced down at her eggs, smiling slightly. As she salted them, she looked back up to meet challenging blue eyes staring back waiting for an answer. "Because extroverts are allowed more cryptic moments than introverts."

"Oh, is that so?" Keagan grabbed the grape jelly and put some on her bagel.

"Yep." Rudy smiled with satisfaction and began eating her eggs.

"And who made up these rules?"

Rudy snorted. "Me, of course. It only makes sense. We extroverts constantly wear our hearts on our sleeves. Sometimes, it can get a bit overwhelming, even for us. It’s then that we need a secret or two to keep us balanced. See?"

Keagan felt a sudden warmth that couldn’t be explained by the hot coffee trailing down her throat. She didn’t think it was possible for her to become more attracted to Rudy, but it happened whenever she turned an ordinary conversation into something thought provoking. "And about the pigheaded introverts?" As she bit into her bagel, her eyes never left Rudy’s.

"You see, introverts are pigheaded because they never give an inch. Everything stays inside until it feels like they’ll burst. That’s why just as it’s healthy for you to divulge some of your secrets, it’s healthy for me to keep some of mine."

"I see." Keagan got up and came to Rudy’s side of the table, kneeling down and leaning very close to her face, their eyes meeting. "And there’s nothing I could do to persuade you to...divulge...your secret?" Tangling her hands in Rudy’s long, blonde hair she bent her head back gently and kissed her neck softly.

Rudy’s breathing increased. "Well, um, there could be something...maybe."

Keagan kissed the other side of her neck, this time lingering longer. "Do you like grape jelly?" She whispered it into Rudy’s ear, feeling as well as hearing her sigh. Keagan enjoyed the effect she had on her. Reaching over to the jelly, her hand scooped out a generous amount of the tasty substance, which she proceeded to smear onto Rudy’s neck. As she began to lick and bite at it tantalizingly, she recognized the familiar soft moans coming from her lover. The taste combined with Rudy was heavenly.

"Ah, that’s going to be so...messy." But Rudy eagerly surrendered to Keagan’s lips and tongue which were making it very hard for her to think coherently.

"But so delicious." She kissed Rudy thoroughly on the lips, then, enjoying the sensation of her tongue combined with the grape jelly.

They parted both panting. "You’re crazy," said Rudy.

"You made me that way." Keagan’s mouth found Rudy’s neck again and lapped up the rest of the jelly. Soon, her hands wandered underneath the green robe, beginning to explore as her lips found Rudy’s again.

When they parted, Keagan breathed heavily and her body tingled. She definitely wanted to take their conversation where it was apparently heading. "We haven’t even finished eating yet."

Rudy got up from her chair in a rush, pushing Keagan on to the kitchen floor with fervor. "I don’t care. I know what I want and at the moment it’s not eggs and bacon."

Keagan almost laughed but before she could, Rudy’s lips found hers again, locking them in yet another passionate embrace. Keagan reached up and undid the belt to the robe. Surprisingly, she didn’t notice any discomfort at being prone on the hard surface.

Continued...Part 6

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