The Book Club
The Book Club
Stephanie still wondered at times where her life had gone off the rails. Well…that was not it really. She knew where and when just not the why. Only 18 months ago she had been happily married to the man of her dreams. At least that had been how she had seen it all. She and Jonathan had had this storybook wedding and her life until just recently was like living in a fantasy she did not want to ever end. Jonathan was drop-dead handsome. That was what had made her knees weak when she had first met him at Phyllis and Rodney’s dinner party almost a decade ago. And she knew she was not the only woman ogling him that night. She was no slouch herself with her long blonde hair that always seemed to give the appearance to her friends as if she had just come from the salon. She had long, athletic legs from years of running track when a student and even since college had kept her figure well.
She was tall for a woman but not overly so, and her flat stomach, toned rear, curvy hips, and 36-inch bust continued to turn heads well even after she had gotten married. College had been Steph’s real sexual awakening period as she was a late bloomer with few boyfriends in high school. In college, however, she blossomed fully and Steph took full advantage of her looks with her male classmates. She had even tried a sexual encounter with a woman just once, a friend of her roommate who came onto her at a drunken frat party. It had not been objectionable at all, but Steph found she missed the muscles of a man’s arms around her and that despite the careful engineering that dildos and vibrators were no substitute for a male penis.
By the time she left school Steph had a hefty palate of experience under her belt sexually. She had been open to most anything and as far as she could tell there had been nothing she had not tried at least once. Before she met Jonathan she had dated on and off with guys from her gym, her office, and just guys she bumped into at Starbucks or the grocery store but none of them had much staying power. Sexually all had been well, but as Steph got older she was looking for more. And that ended up being Jonathan Veldt. She spied him across the room at the dinner party that night at Phyllis and Rodney’s but he always seemed to be surrounded by other women angling to chat him up. She was taken by surprise when he found her later that evening and introduced himself.
After all the attention that night it was Stephanie that Jonathan had picked out. She felt giddy, self-conscious, and flustered but when they talked she saw how down-to-earth and centered he was and felt immediately at ease when she was around him. Well…that is how he was back then anyway…at least what she had thought. More on that later. Stephanie got swept up in his attention toward her and how successful he was in his career and was thrilled that this guy seemed to have a lot of the things that had been missing from others she had been dating. And when they first went to bed together, Stephanie knew this was the guy. He was gentle yet aggressive in the bedroom and never left her feeling like her needs had not been met. She could not count all the times when she had been reduced to a quivering mass of jelly as Jonathan seemed intrinsically capable of bringing her to one orgasm after another.
After a few months, she was lost in love with him and was then over the moon when he proposed to her during a weekend trip away. They had a huge wedding with all the trimmings anyone could imagine and they move into Jonathan’s small but elegant bungalow on Morris Street after an extended honeymoon touring the Greek Islands and a romantic few days in Venice. She was still floating on clouds days later and rushed home each day as she could not wait to see him. And for a long time they did have an idyllic life. Both from Steph’s perspective and from the envious looks she got from her friends when they saw her hanging on Jonathan’s arm around town. No one was ever openly snide but Steph had been around the block enough times to know when women were green with envy.
But now here she was alone. Jonathan had left her and she was still reeling in the aftermath of his departure. There had been no real warning or red flags that Steph had been aware of prior to his sudden departure. They still seemed to her to be getting along great…sure, there hadbeen disagreements or even the occasional spat or two, but what married couple did not have these? And when they did clash Steph knew once the issue was resolved that the makeup sex was going to make their regular sex life look tame. And on that issue, their regular sex life was fantastic. She knew her girlfriends in town that she got together with from time to time for coffee or lunch would be quite jealous if she were to reveal the frequency and intensity of her sex life with Jonathan.
He could still make her weak in the knees with just a look. But one day he just arrived home and said he was leaving. There was no discussion, no debate…nothing. He just packed a single suitcase and drove off. She heard later on that he had run away with this nubile young thing from his office, but she was not sure if that was just talk or it had actually happened. The only thing she ever received from him afterward was a single letter from him through a lawyer signing over the house to her with a paid-off mortgage. She supposed it was some small concession, but it hardly quelled the stab of pain in losing him.
Time went on and Steph did get out of her nearly debilitating funk over being abandoned, but for that first 6 months or so it was all she could do to get out of bed each morning and go into work. She knew she was just operating on auto-pilot for a long time and her friends were quite concerned for her well-being. But slowly, day by day she got better, and though Steph would not say she was back to normal now that was the appearance she gave. But as torturous and crushing as the experience had been, Steph still had this place in her heart that Jonathan held for her. He had certainly not been her first, but he had been, she thought, the love of her life. However, later on, she decided that she did not miss Jonathan as much as just being a couple and being with someone.
Certainly, she missed the sex, but technology had improved since she had been single and she had many devices now to alleviate the desire and longing that built in her from time to time. Initially, she fantasized about Jonathan when she brought herself to an orgasm, but as time went by that image faded as Steph imagined being with someone new…someone nothing like Jonathan. But when she forced herself to get out there and try and meet another guy, it just never seemed to go beyond a one-night-stand. She could not complain about some of the wonderful sexual adventures she was having, but most of the time it just left her feeling empty after.
Then a few weeks later, following her latest disappointing tryst, which she had come to see as just a brief hiatus from her vibrator, she stopped off at one of her favorite pubs after work. It was a sparse crowd that evening and Steph just sat at the bar and nursed her wine. She was lost in her thoughts when out of the corner of her eye this attractive woman sat near her and looked over and smiled.
“Pretty slim crowd tonight, huh?” the woman asked.
“Seems to be,” Steph replied, “guess the middle of the week and all…”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Sure…come on over…”
The woman picked up her drink and sat with Steph.
“Barbara Connelly…call me Barb…just arrived here in town. nice to meet you.”
“Same here…my name is Stephanie Anderson…you can call me Steph.”
A month or so ago Stephanie had gone back to using her maiden name in an effort to erase as much of Jonathan from her life as she could. They chatted easily and casually for a while until the woman excused herself to use the restroom as she touched Steph lightly on the arm. And that was when it happened. That simple act of human contact from Barb sent ripples of electricity through Steph’s body. What was that all about, she wondered? Then she recalled her one night with that girl back in college. At the time it had not been anything she wanted to pursue further but with her reaction to Barb’s mere touch was that indicating a shift in her now?
Steph sat and thought this over. She had told herself that she wanted someone much different from Jonathan. And all those men who had come through her bedroom since he had left…the ones that just gave her nothing but a brief sexual thrill…maybe this was a sign that her sexuality was changing as well. She looked up as Barb came back and gathered up her things.
“Was great talking to you tonight, Steph.” She said, “but I have to run. Maybe we can get together sometime? For a drink or lunch maybe?”
“Sounds great, Barb…”
She squeezed Steph’s arm lightly and when her sin brushed her arm as she took off, Steph felt a rush of desire in her body that she had not had since…well…since forever it seemed like. She finished her wine as a fat drop of nervous perspiration trickled from her neck and slid lazily down her cleavage. It was not until she stood up and paid her tab that Steph noticed her pulse was racing and that she was wet between her legs. She went home and tried to put this chance meeting out of her mind, but she could not. After tossing and turning for over an hour, Steph opened the drawer on her nightstand, fired up her vibrator, and moaned and gyrated as she climaxed thinking of Barb Connelly.
Time went by and though she spotted Barb around town from time to time it just never seemed like they could coordinate their schedules to get together. Steph knew what she had in mind might not appeal to Barb, but as days went by she could not stop fantasizing about her each night when she went home. She had never seen her with anyone, but Steph knew that did not mean anything either. Barb was attractive and had just as enticing a figure as Steph…maybe even more so, she thought, which made her sure that Barb could not possibly be unattached. The big question was, though, what would she think of her if she made a pass at her?
Over time Steph’s friends got concerned about her isolation in the house and suggested she throw some sort of event to try and make some new acquaintances.
“You mean to find a man?” Steph replied with obvious disinterest.
“OK…OK….” Her friend Melanie replied, “we get it…we did not mean that. Maybe some casual get together with some neighbors just so you have some more social interactions.”
“Like?”
“How about a book club, Steph?”
She considered this and the idea did appeal to her. She loved to read and she knew this kind of thing was popular now. But while Melanie and her other friends were suggesting this as a way for her to just expand her social circle, Steph saw this as a way to get Barb Connelly to come by. She was totally infatuated with her at this point and had to find some way to give it a try. If it blew up in her face, then she would be no worse off than she was now, she figured…other than the possibility of word getting out that she had propositioned a woman. Steph had reached the point of not caring…
So with this in mind, Stephanie sent out invitations to her small circle of friends and handed a special invitation to Barb one day when she spotted her at the farmer’s market since she did not know her address.
“Just a new thing we are trying in the neighborhood, Barb. Thought you might be interested.”
“Wow! Sounds wonderful. I love books!”
And with that Steph said goodbye and walked off her head spinning like she was drunk in anticipation of having Barb in her home. Only a few of her old friends showed up at the first book club gathering but it was a lively and entertaining discussion over this new book by an author that Steph had just discovered. They talked and ate and drank and as the late afternoon move into early evening, her friends began to take their leave one by one. Steph saw them off, thanked them for coming, and returned to find just Barb in the living room sipping at the wine she had.
“You’ve got some wonderful friends, Steph.”
“Yeah, I do.”
They chatted more and Steph racked her brain trying to figure out just how she would approach Barb. She had not ever mentioned anyone else in her life so Steph had no idea what her sexual preferences were. But as they sat and talked and laughed easily Steph’s courage grew as she looked over and saw Barb’s skirt riding high on her thighs revealing her sexy, toned legs. To try and distract herself as the moment just did not feel right, Steph began to collect the dishes and glasses from the meeting.
“Can I help you clean up, Steph?”
“That’s OK…”
“Don’t be silly…I’d be glad to pitch in.”
She stood and helped her collect the scattered plates and goblets and walked ahead of Steph into the kitchen. Steph felt her pulse heighten as she watched Barb’s rear sway back and forth against a very tight pair of leggings. Her heart was pounding and her back and armpits were damp.
“How about some music?” Steph asked as she set down her stack of dishes on the counter.
“That would be great.”
“You like jazz?”
“As a matter of fact, I do…”
Steph found Thelonious Monk’s CD, “Round Midnight” and loaded it. When she returned to the kitchen, Barb was already elbow-deep in suds and hot water working on the dirty dishes.
“How’s this?” Steph asked.
“Nice…who is that?”
“Thelonious Monk…my Dad was a jazz aficionado…guess I picked up some pointers from him.
She moved closer and came up behind Barb as her heart beat faster and she felt that old familiar wetness between her legs. It was now or never, Steph told herself, knowing she had to move now before she lost her nerve. She pressed herself into Barb’s back and began to kiss her lightly along the nape of her neck. She felt Barb relax and let go of the dishcloth and the plate she had slid under the soapy water. To her great surprise and relief, Barb turned from the sink to face her and kissed her on the mouth. Steph felt her legs tremble as she kissed her back.
“How did you know?” Barb whispered in her ear.
“I didn’t. I just could not stand it any longer….not touching you.”
“Glad you did. I have thought about you often since we met that evening at the bar.”
Steph kissed her harder as Barb slipped her slippery hands under Steph’s shirt and found her erect nipples. Together they undressed each other and returned to the living room where Steph laid her down and began to explore her vagina with her tongue in a manic and frenetic manner. Barb was soon moaning in response and she found Steph as well and they lay on the plush carpet pleasuring each other until they both came. Barb lifted her head from Steph’s crotch and found her mouth quickly as they kissed and groaned.
“You game for some more, Barb?”
“Absolutely…”
“Come with me…”
She stood and took Barb by the hand and led her to the bedroom. Barb threw back the linens while Steph rummaged through a shelf in her closet. When she returned Barb saw the enormous strap-on dildo that Steph had secured to her waist. She smiled as Steph joined her and they kissed and licked at each other’s nipples until they were both fully stimulated and eager again. Barb then kneeled as Steph slid the phallus slowly into her. Barb cried out in response and Steph began a regular but quicker thrusting in and out of her.
“Oh….that’s it Steph,” Barb blubbered between gaps for air. Yes….yes….”
Steph smiled as she rocked her hips back and began to speed up a bit.
“More, Steph…deeper now….”
She complied and began to push the massive device as far into her as was possible as Barb began to buck and arch as she moaned louder and louder. Steph could sense that Barb was nearing a huge climax and she kept up her efforts as Barb began to cry out in a near shout now.
“OK, Steph…” Barb sputtered…now as fast as you can…”
Steph was getting tired but she did not stop as she continued to thrust deep into Barb and added a pace that seemed to please her. I just a few seconds Barb threw her head back and quivered all over in this wild whole-body tremor like nothing Steph had ever seen before as she gave one last mighty bellow and fell as her legs just gave out. Steph pulled out and held her tight as the two women huddled together until Barb recovered from her orgasm. They lay still for a bit, lying face to face as they kissed gently and Barb played with Stephanie’s still very wet vagina.
“Thank you so much, Steph…that was amazing. It’s been a long time since I had such an orgasm.”
“You living alone then?”
“Yeah,” she replied as she gently fingered her, “had a nasty break up with my girlfriend back in Pennsylvania and just needed to get away.”
“Yeah, I remember you saying you were new in town.”
“And you?”
Steph was conflicted as to how to answer this, but it was likely she already knew and was just being polite.
“Oh…about a year and a half ago my husband left me.”
“I’m sorry…is this too personal?”
“More personal than us in bed now?” Steph laughed.
Barb chuckled as well and kissed her.
“Anyway, I have not had much luck in finding someone new.”
“Your first time with a woman?”
“No…tried it in college once. Was it that obvious?”
“Not really, I was just curious since you had been married.”
“Sure…can I make a confession to you?”
“Go ahead…”
“Ever since that night we met, I have not been able to get you out of my head. This um…book club thing? It was to get you here and hopefully alone…hope that dies not freak you out.”
“Hardly, Steph…actually I am flattered. I have wondered about you as well. I had no idea if you like women sexually, being new here and all…but I sure was getting that vibe from you when we kept bumping into each other in town.”
“You should have said something, Barb.”
“I was actually a bit intimidated, Steph.”
“Intimidated?”
“Yeah…you have any idea how incredibly sexy and sensual you are?”
Steph blushed.
“Was afraid you might be a bit out of my league.”
Steph kissed her as they pulled at one another’s lips playfully with their teeth.
“Seems we resolve that one…”
They both laughed.
“So…” Barb said after a beat, “you interested in something more, or is this just a one-time thing? I have no expectations and can go either way. Being new in town I’d be happy to meet someone I can just hook up with regularly without all the other baggage that goes along with a full-blown relationship.”
Steph’s eyes welled up.
“Actually, Barb…I am not very good at the one-night stand stuff and just getting together for sex arrangement. If you want to, yeah…I’d love to see what we might have for the long run.”
“Good…I was hoping you would say that. You’ve lived here for a long time. What do you know of the acceptance of same-sex couples?”
“Kind of dicey back where you were in Pennsylvania?”
“Yep…Claire and I…that is my ex…had to be pretty careful.”
“I think you will find it much different here. We have our share of same-sex couples and as far as I can tell there is no major problem. Always going to be a few bigots as you can imagine, but overall it is pretty cool here.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“The biggest adjustment I imagine will be my girlfriends when they find out about us.”
“Problem there? I don’t want to disrupt your life.”
“Not really I think. I am just more looking forward to the looks on their faces when we show up together with them one day.”
They laughed again.
“Wonderful. Now I think maybe I owe you. Can I borrow that thing?”
Barb pointed to the strap on that was still around Steph’s waist. She smiled and undid the buckle. Barb took the device and secured it to her own waist and greased it up with lubricant.
“We need all that KY?” Steph asked. “I mean I am still pretty wet.”
“I have a surprise for you, Steph. Can you assume the position?”
Steph nodded and got on her knees and elbows just as Barb had earlier. Expecting her to simply return the favor of their sex-from-behind earlier, Steph gasped in shock as she felt the dildo slide easily into her anus as Barb pressed her hips firmly to her rear. She had not had anal sex in a long time but somehow Barb must have picked up on how much she loved it. Much like Barb had earlier, Steph gasped and moaned and cried out in ecstasy as Barb skillfully thrust in and out of her. Occasionally reaching up to squeeze and pinch her erect nipples. It was an experience that made her forget about everything except Barb.
Her frustration and sense of loss over Jonathan just melted away and even all her day to day anxieties over work and money and everything else just vanished as waves of stimulation coursed through her until she screamed out in orgasm and they fell together in a sweaty heap. They fell asleep soon after still intertwined as they face one another and Steph floated on a cloud in her dreams looking forward to this new chapter in her life…
