Wine her, dine her, sixty-nine her.
Nona wasn't sure who, in her group of friends, was the first to come up with that phrase. Probably Steve, although it could have been Cindy for all she knew. It was the kind of thing she was likely to think of. Nona did know, though, that the expression became one of their group's arsenal of regular sayings long before she herself understood it. It was something silly, probably dirty.
That it now described her love life was scary, and wonderful.
She had asked Tammy to be patient. All around Nona on the ship, she had seen relationships form based, on friendship, yes, but at the start mostly on lust and sex. Maybe that was the adult way to do things. She didn't know. Nona had been the youngest of the group, if only by a year, and certainly the most romantically innocent. Even Justin had her beat, mostly because he had TRIED to find that special someone.
Nona had never bothered.
Now, there was someone she liked. Maybe loved. Someone who felt that way about her. And... she wanted some of what everyone else had. Oh, she knew it wasn't practical. There would be no dinner dates to small, out of the way restaurants. No long walks through crowded markets, hand in hand, just the two of them alone surrounded by crowds of strangers. Not for almost two months, and even then it was rare the humans felt safe enough on a planet to travel in small groups. Tammy tried, though. Tried to do right by Nona, and each effort opened the Malay's heart even more. The others had to be laughing. She could see it in their eyes. Her own eyes, though... those were only for Tammy.
****
Dinner that night had been set up in what the others had begun to call "the Malay Hideaway", the small patch of grass isolated from most of the universe by bushes and a SUV. Nona had arrived, as instructed, an hour after the usual shipboard dinner time. That extra hour had been needed, quite frankly. Nona was not one for fancy dress, and in fact HAD no fancy dress apart from what she had worn to recent weddings. That afternoon, though, a blue silk gown had magically appeared in her room, as had Hannah to complete a fitting. She CLAIMED it was just something she had whipped up, out of boredom, a change from doing outfits for her daughter.
Nona wasn't fooled. Tammy had arranged this. Tonight was to be special. Special enough for a dress she would never have the confidence to buy herself. Baring her right shoulder, it hugged every curve, flowing down to her ankles. A slit up the right side went up mid thigh. It made her feel sexy. Nona never felt sexy. Unless Tammy was with her.
Leaving the stone path, Nona's bare feet took her through the gap in the bushes into the grassy hideaway. The feel of the silk against her skin, the grass against her feet... already, the evening was special. A small round table had been set up in the clearing, table settings for two laid out. Even as she noticed the lit candle in the middle, the garden lights dimmed.
She smiled, shivering slightly. Yet another first for her, it seemed.
Alone, at least for the moment, Nona walked to the table, one hand touching the metal silverware. The store had made the journey to the stars with only the plastic place settings and paper plates and cups sold in aisle seven. This had been fine, for awhile, and the ship galley had some Orang dishes (although that part had not been fully stocked). Over the past year, though, various alien plates and utensils had been gathered. This one, she thought, had been picked up on that cat planet. Silver forks and spoons, beautiful wooden plates. The cups, stems of twisting green glass vines ending in red roses, had been found on a space station, origin unknown.
The sound of wheels on stone came to her ears. Turning, she almost fainted. Tammy stood there, long black dress glued to her body. It was cut low, thin straps traveling up to tie around her neck hinting the back was probably MUCH lower. Dirty blonde hair fell down to cover one bare shoulder. Her eyes... Nona's heart fluttered under that gaze.
Smiling, Tammy glided forward. Behind her, Goldie was walking, on two feet, pushing a two shelf hand cart with covered dishes and plates. The half human girl's face was adorned with bright red lipstick, blush, and a touch of eyeshadow. She wore actual clothing, a maid's apron. The sight was enough to bring Nona out of her romantic haze. Tammy broke into a grin.
"She wanted to help."
Nona laughed, going up to Goldie and placing a hand on her furry arm.
"You look beautiful, Goldie." The teen blushed.
"Thank you. So do you! I wish I had a dress like that!"
Nona felt the girl start to tremble a bit, hands gripping the cart handle tighter. Standing like this was not easy for her. Stepping back, Nona let her continue forward. Still grinning, Tammy came up and placed a hand on her back.
"Come. Sit."
Allowing herself to be led, she sat down at the table. Tammy pushed her chair in. Nona wasn't sure if she felt like a date being treated like a princess, or a little kid. Maybe there was no difference between the two? As Tammy sat down opposite her, Goldie moved the cart next to the table. With moves obviously well rehearsed, she poured dark red wine into each cup. Stepping back, she waited. Tammy took her glass, raising it.
"To two years."
Nona blushed. Two years. Two years ago, she had come to work at Bells. Two years ago, she had seen Tammy for the first time. Just an older girl working up in the customer service counter. No one special.
"To two years."
Their glasses clinked.
****
"Rendang!"
Tammy grinned. That one cry of joy had made the entire day of slaving over a wok worth it. The beautiful Malay's hands were literally trembling as she moved the fork to spear one of the chunks of spicy meat. It was sort of a curry, but not quite, one of the recipes she had contributed to their store of knowledge almost a year ago. It had been too spicy for some of the others, ingredients were hard to find (especially once alien meat had to replace their depleted Earth stock), so had not made the regular menu. For this special evening, though...
Nona took her first bite.
The change in the girl's expression was NOT good. Tammy groaned.
"Did I screw it up?"
She could see the warring emotions on Nona's face. She didn't WANT to say anything bad, obviously. Another bite, another involuntary grimace. Nona slowly put the fork down. Looking up at Tammy, her eyes were apologetic.
"It... it's not BAD, really. I've had worse..."
Tammy burst out laughing. She grabbed the cup of wine, raising it in toast.
"Just what every chef longs to hear!"
Clearly relieved no offense was given, Nona grinned and raised her own cup.
"To Rendang that tastes like I made it!"
"Oh!" Tammy put her glass back down, recoiling in horror. "You didn't say it was THAT bad!"
"You saying I can't cook?"
"I used your recipe!"
"Don't blame me!"
****
Goldie, back on all fours for the moment, watched the two women laugh and eat in the candlelight. It was all so... romantic. She had started to watch the romantic movies in the ship's collection, those her brother and the other men derided as "chick films". So, too, was she reading the few books Alicia had brought on her phone. Those were more... physical than the films, about kissing, touching. She always felt her body responding when she read those parts.
This, though... just seeing two people in love, was better than any movie or book. They would be kissing later. And dancing. And kissing. She'd be gone, then, though. After desert, she'd take the dishes away and leave them.
Would she ever have a candlelight dinner? Dance, with a boy or girl she loved?
"Goldie?"
Tammy was turned to her, smiling. Pushing herself to her feet, Goldie walked over to clear the table.
****
Nona pressed her body against Tammy's, swaying to the music. She had no idea who the singer was, and didn't care. All that mattered was the heart she could feel beating next to her own. She was lost. Lost to the passage of time, to everything that wasn't them.
"Hey."
Tammy's voice floated into her ear. Eyes closed, Nona just hummed in reply. She could feel Tammy's laughter.
"Having fun, my little Malay?"
"Mmmm..." Nona pulled her head back. The two women looked at each other, noses touching. Tammy's eyes... she could just get lost in them. Not even thinking, she leaned in, touching her lips to Tammy's.
It was the first time she had taken the lead. Nona could feel the surprise in Tammy, but there was only a moment's hesitation before the blonde's lips parted, soft tongue coming out to play. Her hands began sliding down Nona's back. She reveled in the feel of her lover's touch. They slid down, moving from her back onto her bottom... and she felt Tammy pause. Giggling, something she had thought she'd NEVER do, Nona broke the kiss off to look at the happily surprised woman in her arms.
"Yes?"
"Why you little..." The strong, yet delicate, hands moved again over her ass, the lack of underwear now accepted fact. Nona moved her own hands down Tammy's side, knowing she would find the same there. Suddenly, one of Tammy's hands slid over to the slit in her dress, touching the bare skin of her thigh. It moved up, and over, cupping bare ass. Nona gasped.
"Are you ready?" Tammy whispered. Nona nodded, eyes closed. She was ready. She had been ready, almost from the start, if she had been willing to be honest with herself. She loved Tammy. Loved her. Wanted her. Needed her.
"Love me..."
"I do..."
****
Nona lay on the grass, dress gone. The sky above was the colored streaks and swirls of whatever dimension warp travel took them through. Her mind, too, was all swirls of pleasure and emotion. She could feel light kisses traveling up her right inner thigh. She spread her legs farther, waiting. Waiting for the first touch. The first touch of her lover. The first touch that would make her a woman...
"Aaah!"
It was so light. Just a lick, at the edge of her sex. Another. A wet flick over the smooth wetness of her body. Her body was so tense, but it was the tenseness of eager anticipation. Every glorious touch seemed magnified, Tammy took her time, letting the girl accept each new feeling before going on to the next. When her lips were parted, Nona feeling that wondrous tongue entering her, she couldn't help but let out a cry. Others would hear. They were supposed to be in the lounge down below, watching a movie, but she knew they could still hear. Didn't care if they heard. Nona, stuffy, repressed Nona...
...was coming.
****
"When did you first fall in love?"
Nona's question, half muffled by the breast she was snuggling against, caught Tammy by surprise. She was still recovering from the girl's magic fingers. Nona's hand was sliding up her stomach, leaving a wet trail to cool in the evening air. Bringing a hand up to caress the dark girl's face, she considered.
"With you?"
"No... you love me?"
Nona's eyes still showed doubt. With all the serious in the universe, Tammy nodded.
"I love you."
She offered no further details. No further protests of emotion. Nona wasn't one to need that. The girl... the woman, could sense the truth. Nona snuggled her body closer, legs bending to intertwine with Tammy's.
"I love you. This has to be love. How do I know? What if it's just... lust? How did you know, the first time?"
Tammy sighed. Her mind cast back, over girlfriends, lovers. Sensing her thoughts, Nona pushed herself up, raising her own hand, still wet, to caress Tammy's face. Without any thought Tammy took the hand and brought it to her lips, slowly sucking each finger clean. Nona smiled, eyes waiting. Tammy rolled over on her side, the two women adjusting until they faced each other.
"My first love... my very first love, not a crush, not a girlish love, but REAL love... was the brother of a girlfriend."
"Brother?"
Tammy nodded. From the look in Nona's eyes, her own eyes must have shown the sadness that had suddenly welled up in her. Swallowing, wanting to tell, she lightly kissed her lover, and began.
****
His name was Brian.
Tammy first saw him the second time she went home with Cathy after school. The skinny, brown haired waif of a girl had come up to Tammy after a soccer game, gushing about how good she had been that afternoon, how cool she was. An old hand, by now, at picking up the signals of those who at least had some leanings in the same direction she did, even if they had never acted on them yet, she had looked the girl over and liked what she saw. A couple days of talking, some innuendo, inviting Cathy to "spot" for her as she worked out... Soon they were in Cathy's bed, naked and sweaty, making the most of the two hours before her parents got home.
The second time, though, as Tammy pulled her beat up Toyota into the driveway, Cathy next to her had a disgusted look on her face.
"Ugh. HE'S here."
"Who?"
"Brother."
They walked into the house. Cathy grabbed Tammy's hand, starting to lead her upstairs, when... he appeared at the end of the hall.
Brian was nothing special to look at. Especially to one, and this had been well established by then, who had no sexual interest at all in the male gender. He was fifteen, a year younger than the two girls, with curly black hair and a few pimples. A somewhat scrawny body was covered by a shirt for some band Tammy had never heard of and faded jeans. The look he gave his sister was... amused.
"New friend?"
"Fuck off!"
With that, Tammy was yanked by the smaller girl up into the hallway and into her room. The door was slammed shut, Mia Hamm poster protesting its home's treatment. Cathy threw herself onto the pink bed, rolling onto her back.
"God! Can you believe him?"
Amused, having seen this type of family dynamic before, Tammy crawled onto the bed over the slim girl. Cathy's face changed from pissed to yearning desire. With a growl, Tammy dove in.
****
Dressed again, Tammy quietly walked down the front stairs. It had been good. She liked the small, girlish types, and for someone who had never been with a woman before Cathy was very eager to please. She could still feel that last orgasm. If only Cathy had not seen the clock, jumping up to take a much needed shower. Tammy liked cuddling, liked a goodbye kiss...
The sound of a familiar video game came from down the hall. Curious, knowing there was still a half hour until the parents returned, she walked through the house. In the doorway of the den, she paused. The brother was sprawled on the couch, playing Grandia 2. Looking, she saw it was even the old Sega Dreamcast version, the familiar white controller in his hands. He was about mid game, if her memory was right.
"You two done for the day?"
His voice was... half amused, half resigned, with maybe a hint of disapproval. Or maybe she was imagining that last part. It's what she expected to hear.
"She's taking a shower. Has to wash the shame away."
There was a bitterness in her voice. She knew that wasn't it. Cathy was not at all reluctant. And, yet...
He turned to her, battle paused on the screen. His eyes... they seemed to look right into her.
"She's a good girl. It may just be a game to her now, but... give her time."
Tammy stepped back, shocked. Brian turned back to his game. She stood there, watching. Only when the living room clock struck the quarter hour did she finally make her way to the car.
****
For the next three months, she and Cathy were an item. They didn't try and hide it, too much. There were no public displays, to be sure, but both sets of friends knew. Tammy made appearances at the house with parents home, as a close friend, and if the adults suspected more, there was no sign (pro or con). Brian, too, was around. They talked. Whenever Cathy was busy, or if Tammy happened to stop by while she was out, somehow she always found herself sitting with the boy, talking. About old games. Politics. Religion. He made her laugh. He made her think. On days when Cathy was being a real bitch, which began to happen more and more, Tammy would bring her date home early, go to the nearby park to sit... and, a half hour later, Brian would come walking up to sit on the next swing over. They'd talk, about everything except his sister.
It was the happiest time of her life.
****
She saw it happen.
That was the worst, maybe. She saw the truck hit him. Saw him... saw...
****
Nona gathered the older woman in her arms, letting her cry into her bare shoulder. She shouldn't have asked. Should have known better. Naturally, every love before this would have ended in tragedy, or at least sorrow! Otherwise, it wouldn't be a "past" love!
But, still, how could this be a love? How could what she had felt for this, well, boy, qualify? Holding her close, she shook her head.
"I don't understand."
Tammy sniffled, composing herself. She pulled back, meeting her confused gaze.
"Love isn't sex. Isn't desire, or friendship. It's... real love is something beyond. Something that has nothing to do with gender, or age. I loved him. With every fiber of my being. He made me feel like no girlfriend ever has. If he had been first... if I had met him in middle school... maybe I'd consider myself bi. At the very least, I'd have learned to at least accept boys just to be with him. I still may have, later, if we stayed friends after Cathy and I ended. At the very least we could have been friends..."
"You don't love me, do you?"
Tammy didn't protest. Nona was grateful for that. She just looked at her through tear full eyes.
"Like that, no. Not yet. I do love you, Nona. You know that. Can feel that. But.."
"But it's too soon."
Tammy nodded, hand coming up to touch her cheek. Only when she felt the tears being wiped away did Nona realize she was crying too.
"We have forever together, Nona. I love you more than any woman I've been with. That, Love, is the truth. Open yourself to me. Let me into your soul."
Taking her right hand, Nona drew it to her heart.
"You're already there…"