Chapter 9

“I was stupid or didn’t care enough about myself, but not my girl ... he wasn’t going to hit my baby. Tori was at a friend’s house, and I told Alberto I was leaving and taking her with me.”

The tears pooling on the rims of Mandy’s eyes spilled over. Wet streaks marked the brown skin. Mandy raised her hand and traced the scar with the tip of her finger. “He moved so fast. I didn’t expect it. I heard the snap of the blade, then it was against my face. It was cold for a second, then warm with my blood. He said he would cut my Spic face up so bad that nobody, not even Tori, would be able to look at me.”

Cindy trembled, and tears hot with a murderous rage rolled down her face. “I’m so sorry.”

“I stabbed him.” Mandy’s body heaved with three convulsive sobs. “I promised him I’d never leave, waited for him to relax, and I stabbed him. I had to. I couldn’t let him make my baby scared like I was. Could never let that happen to her. I love her so much. You, ah, you think I’m—”

“No, you were protecting your daughter,” Cindy said and turned Mandy around. “I hope I can be that brave and strong if somebody ever tries to hurt my baby.” She pulled Mandy’s head against her shoulder. Tears seeped through her shirt. “It’s okay. Let it out, let it all out. I’m here for you. I love you.” Cindy didn’t expect to say it, but she did love Mandy, and she wanted to make the woman’s pain go away.

“Marv Grunther will be up next with sports,” the TV announced, and Cindy realized she had missed the details about the senator and the weather forecast. Her legs were tired, so she took little steps backward. Mandy came with her.

When she sat on the bed and looked up at Mandy, the woman forced a smile and said, “Thank you, thank you for not rejecting me. I love you, too.”

Cindy placed her head on Mandy’s body. She could hear and feel Mandy’s heart thumping. She wrapped her arms around Mandy’s waist and hugged her, pulling her off balance. Because Mandy’s knees were against the bed she couldn’t stop herself from falling. Cindy didn’t realize what was happening.

Mandy flopped forward, knocking Cindy on her back. Her chest smashed into Cindy’s face. The fall lightened the mood, and the two women started giggling. Mandy rolled over on her back, laughing. Cindy turned on her side and scooted up until they were face-to-face. Mandy reached out, wiped Cindy’s cheeks, and pushed her hair back.

Cindy felt the mood change again. She cleared Mandy’s forehead and held her face compassionately. The young woman’s lips were moist and shiny. Without thinking, Cindy moved her lips to Mandy’s, then wondered why she hadn’t kissed her cheek.

Mandy responded as if she’d been waiting all day for the kiss. Her tongue traced Cindy’s lips, moistening them. Cindy’s mouth opened, and took the other woman’s tongue in. She was making out with a girl, and all of Cindy’s earlier concerns went up in flames.

Mandy sucked, nibbled, and pulled on Cindy’s lower lip while they stared into each other’s eyes. There was love, and the thing that had been missing in Cindy’s life for too long, passion. Her hand dropped from Mandy’s neck to her shoulder, upper arm, and inward. The mound of Mandy’s breast alarmed her but didn’t stop Cindy from fondling it.

The tip stiffened, and she pinched it. Mandy moaned into her mouth, her eyes saying she approved. Cindy reached down, found the end of Mandy’s shirt, and stuffed her hand under it. She needed to know how it felt.

Even though Cindy had held her own, the young lady’s breasts fascinated her. A nipple poked into her palm and tickled it in the most sexual way Cindy could imagine. She gasped, pulling Mandy’s hot breath into her mouth. The tip of her finger and her thumb came together, surrounding the growing nipple. She rolled it and gently pinched it.

Mandy purred and grabbed Cindy’s hand and squeezed her fingers, showing the inexperienced older woman how much pain she needed. What next, Cindy wondered. She didn’t know how to make love to a woman. Dick would have already mounted her and been halfway to popping his cork. Then he’d go to sleep and Cindy would think it was her fault that she hadn’t gotten off.

Impatient about the progress, Mandy got off the bed. “I gotta get out of this.” Her back was to Cindy. She stared at the sexy little ass. It seemed to change shape with every move Mandy made. In the gap between her legs, Cindy saw the silhouette of youthful pussy lips. A current buzzed through her own labia.