Chapter 7

After twice in a few minutes blaming herself for things that others had done to her, Mindy understood that she had a long way to go. One thing she absolutely was sure of right then, though, was her love for Kyle and Mandy. She wasn’t ready for her first time yet, but she could feel stirrings.

When Mandy hugged her, with her head between Mindy’s breasts, she was shocked to find herself thinking of the other girl naked. She might not be ready to make love to her yet, but she consciously gave herself permission to think of Mandy as a lover-to-be, and to wonder what she would look like. She also realized that Mandy could help her feel clean in a different way than Kyle had. Keeping with the theme of consciously giving herself permission to grow and experience new things, she decided to act.

She knew she was blushing, but she looked at Mandy and said, “I know this might sound strange, but, um, would you be willing to shower with me, Mandy?”

Mandy smiled as she looked up at her. “I would love to take a shower with you! I even promise not to molest you. Well, not too much. Kyle, you’ll be fine out here, won’t you?”

“Sure,” he said. “I think it’s time to talk to Mom, anyway.”

Mindy laughed when Mandy said ‘not too much’ and bent down to kiss, well, her girlfriend and, she was sure eventually, her lover. Once they reached the bathroom, she found the courage to ask, “Can I undress you?”

The pleasure in Mandy’s eyes when she said yes stirred something else. It still wasn’t desire — in fact, she couldn’t work out what it was, but it gave her a warm, happy feeling.

Getting down on her knees, she quickly removed Mandy’s socks, then reached up and tugged her shirt over her head. Despite being amply endowed for her height Mandy wasn’t wearing a bra, so she found herself looking at another girl’s breasts up close for the first time. The feeling in her stomach got a little stronger, and she stared for a moment. She smiled when she realized she wanted to know what they felt like. Next, she popped the snap on Mandy’s jeans and tugged them down, which rolled her panties part way down her butt. Once Mandy’s jeans were off, she grasped her panties and pulled them down as well.

She hadn’t really doubted that Mandy was a natural redhead, but it was still fun to see her neatly trimmed red bush. She also got a strong whiff of a familiar scent — despite the church’s stance, she hadn’t been able to resist masturbating, so she knew the scent of an aroused girl well. She felt her cheeks warm as she intentionally took a deep breath through her nose to get more of Mandy’s scent. Now she was starting to feel some arousal.

As she stood up and looked, she realized something had changed. She’d understood the beauty of women all along, but she was seeing Mandy in a different way. She almost sounded worshipful to her own ears when she said, “Oh, my word. Mandy, you’re so beautiful.”

Mandy looked up at Mindy with her wide-open, bright-green eyes and said, “Thank you, love. May I undress you?”

Mindy nodded and prepared for a new experience. She expected Mandy to do much the same as she had, but instead, after taking off her socks, she kept working up from the bottom. Her sweats were next, and Mandy lifted her feet out of them as she went. Her panties soon joined them, then she jumped a little when Mandy blew a stream of air across her pussy. It was like a bolt of lightning — her breath went ragged, and her heart raced as the Mandy’s breath fanned the flickering flames of her arousal. At that point, she knew that Mandy could do anything she wanted, and she wouldn’t stop her. She looked down at her in awe, but when Mandy looked back up at her, she winked and smiled mischievously.

When Mandy stood up, she took Mindy’s shirt with her. Once the shirt was off, Mandy reached behind her and popped the catch of her plain, white bra, sliding it down her arms and off. She’d finally managed to get her breath under control when Mandy looked at her and said, “I already knew I loved you, but you’re even more beautiful naked than you are when you’re wearing clothes.” She then stepped forward and hugged her. The feel of Mandy’s breasts against her stomach, her hands on her back, and her breath on her chest sent her heart rate back through the roof. The feeling of being held by someone so gorgeous was wonderful.

Listening to Tyler’s metaphor, Amanda thought it could be a major part of Mindy’s healing. She knew it couldn’t be all of it, though. She even thought he might have overplayed his hand, at least she did until he told Mindy to go get ‘em and she laughed. She knew then that he’d seen something that she’d missed. She wasn’t in the dark for long, though. When Mindy bodily picked her up and tossed her to the ceiling, two things happened.

The first was that she realized what she’d missed before: Mindy was an Amazon warrior. If she thought of her as a warrior, things fell into place. She had the strength and fighting spirit to battle back. She didn’t ask to be healed, all she asked for was help. That was a key — Mindy knew enough to understand that she couldn’t do it on her own, and she was strong enough to ask for help. Amanda then thought back to the ferociously competitive Mindy beating Kyle at horseshoes at their family picnic — something none of the men managed to achieve — and knew when she’d started falling in love with her. After the picnic, she and Kyle had made it to every one of her volleyball games that they could attend. Watching Mindy on the court always got Amanda’s motor running.

The second thing she knew was that Kyle was going to get so lucky when she could get him alone. She knew that she was attracted to gentle strength. She was, herself, a strong personality, and she was attracted to it in others, but only if it was backed by gentleness and kindness. She loved to be picked up and held by her lovers, to be cocooned in their embrace. But she also loved the fire in their eyes when they competed, and knowing that someone who loved her was strong enough to help her win a fight. She was no slouch, but 90 pounds was still 90 pounds. After Mindy picked her up and tossed her to the ceiling, which was a Kyle move through-and-through, her panties were soaked.

When Mindy kissed her, she had to remind herself that the taller girl was still fragile, so having her clothes ripped off would be a bad idea. It was still tempting — Mindy might not have known it, but she was pushing all of her girlfriend’s buttons at once.

Then Mindy asked to shower with her. Amanda was ecstatic, not because she’d be there with a nude, soapy Amazon who loved her, but because Mindy trusted her and wanted her help to get clean, to peel off the layer of filth that she’d felt for almost two months. Not that she was going to object to being naked with a nude, soapy Amazon who loved her, but that was just the cherry on the sundae.

She was shocked when Mindy asked permission to undress her, but would never dream of saying no. Mindy didn’t try to be overly sexy, no teasing or tracing erogenous zones, but she wasn’t brusque or impersonal, she did it like she’d have undressed a child for a bath.

She wondered about undressing Mindy, but thought it might help her self-image. When she was face-to-fur with her blonde-haired pussy, she got a little playful and blew a stream of cool air across it. She wanted to let Mindy know that she was interested, but felt more than that would be too much. When she hugged her, she was happy to feel the taller girl melt into the contact.

For all of the ground that Mindy had covered, through, she was pretty sure she still needed time to be comfortable with more contact. She needed to explore that more before starting, so she wouldn’t overstep Mindy’s boundaries.

When she stepped back from the hug, she said, “How do you want to do this? Remember, you’re in control here. Do you want me to wash you?”

“Yes, please. That’s part of what I was thinking of when I asked you to shower with me. I want you to help me feel clean again.”

“I’ll be happy to do that. Next, do you want to wash me?” Seeing Mindy getting ready to answer, she held up her hand and said, “Before you answer, I want to say a couple of things. While I would love to have you wash me, you don’t need to do it for me. Everything I’m doing is because I want to do it, wholeheartedly, not because I want something from you. Please don’t do it because you think I want you to reciprocate. Only offer to do it if you’re absolutely certain you want to. You’ve had an incredible amount happen in the last couple of days, and this would be a huge step. I don’t want you to regret your first time doing things with me because it was too much, too soon.”

“Do you promise you won’t be upset if I want to wait for a little bit?”

Amanda stepped forward and hugged Mindy again, then just held her for a moment. When she stepped back, she said, “I promise. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come and so happy that you love me, I could just burst.”

“Thank you. I think you’re right, that might be too much so soon. But it will happen, and I think it will be soon. I love you, Amanda O’Connor — one day we’re going to be lovers. I don’t have any idea how girls make love to each other, but I’m going to learn and we’re going to have so much fun together!”

With the ground rules set, Amanda reached in and started the shower. Once the temperature was right, she led Mindy in and started to clean her. She’d discussed with Kyle what he’d done and why, and thought he had a pretty good idea, so she followed suit. She just used her hands, and made sure to be gentle and loving without caressing much, or in any other way making the actions sexual.

She started with Mindy’s back, using the soap almost like a massage lubricant, allowing her hands to glide over Mindy’s fantastic muscles and down to her amazing ass, giving it some special attention while trying to keep well inside the line of becoming sexual. As she moved down her legs, she didn’t avoid washing the insides, all the way up to just shy of her pussy.

When she turned her around, she saw Mindy was relaxed and probably a little bit aroused. That was fine. It was bound to happen, but it wasn’t the goal. She decided to start at the bottom, again letting her hands glide over Mindy’s skin with just enough pressure. When she got to her pubic region, she didn’t skimp, soaping her pubic hair and running her palm down along her pussy. Mindy moaned, just a little, but Amanda didn’t linger. She continued on up until she finished with her collarbone, then she pushed herself up against the still soapy girl and brought Mindy’s face down so she could kiss her. No tongue, but it was definitely the kiss of a lover.

When she did Mindy’s hair, well, she was so short, and Mindy was so tall, that she pretty much had to get close in order to reach her hair. Much as Kyle had done, though, she wanted Mindy to know she was desirable, so she freely rubbed her body against Mindy’s.

When she was done, Mindy grinned at her. “You wanted me to know that I’m desirable, didn’t you. That, to you, I’m not soiled goods or used merchandise,” Mindy said when she’d stepped back enough to be heard over the shower.

“I’m glad you understand that, but I also wanted to rub up against you because you’re incredibly sexy, and it was a lot of fun.”

“Thank you for being honest about that. I want to ask something of you. I agree I’m not ready to wash you, but when I was undressing you, I thought that I would like to feel your breasts. I think they’re cute and, well, I just want to know what they feel like.”

“I’d love you to do that, but I need to warn you that finally having the chance to touch you, to rub up against you and just be with you has me on edge. I’m almost panting right now, so there’s a good chance I’m going to cum when you touch my breasts. Are you ready to be the cause of another girl’s orgasm?”

“I understood that from what you said earlier. I’m not ready to be the source of another girl’s orgasm, and may never be, but I think I am ready to be the source of your orgasm.”

Amanda just nodded then. Mindy soaped her hands a little, then gently felt and then kneaded Amanda’s breasts. As soon as Amanda felt Mindy’s hands, she knew it was coming, she was just too keyed up. When it started, she knew it was a big one, and she rode it for all it was worth. In the lassitude that followed, she saw Mindy staring at her and just gave her a little lopsided smile and said, “Wow! I think I needed that. I’m so happy you were the one helping me get there. Let me clean up, and we can dry off.”

She was still a little wobbly, but with not much body or hair to wash, it didn’t take her long to finish. Once she was done and had turned off the water, she and Mindy stepped out.

Mindy surprised her when she said, “Can I dry you? My hands won’t be touching you, so it won’t be a problem and I think it’ll be fun.”

Amanda just smiled and spread her arms in invitation. Mindy didn’t linger, but she did make sure that Amanda was dry all over, then asked her to do the same.

Once they were dressed, the went back out front and found Kyle sitting at the kitchen table, looking at his phone. When he looked up, he grinned at her and said, “I know that look. You should probably sit down for a few minutes.” Then he sighed and said, “I just wish everything was that easy. While you were showering, I called and spoke with Mom. I think we need to head to my place and get some things ironed out.”

Mindy whimpered, but Kyle shook his head. “I know you’re scared, Mindy, but I’m not letting you go or letting them try to hide you away. It might get a bit bloody, but we’re going to make this work. I’m never giving you up.”

After speaking with his mother, Kyle knew the time had arrived. She made it clear that while she was thrilled for Mindy’s progress and would help protect her, her parents would also be involved. He was ready to face it, though he didn’t know exactly what he’d do. What he did know was that he’d never give Mindy up only to watch her slip away.

After a brief discussion, they all headed over to his home, Kyle in his car and Mindy riding with Amanda in her little green roller skate.

From what his mother had said, he was expecting the ‘greeting’ committee and wasn’t disappointed. He smiled when he saw how his parents had maneuvered things. They were between Mindy’s parents and where Amanda would park. After Amanda parked, Mindy unfolded herself from the Mini and quickly walked up to his mother. As she got to her, she gave her a megawatt smile and hugged her.

His mother rallied to the occasion, though he could see she was shocked. She looked up at her niece and jokingly said, “Who are you that’s smiling like this, and what have you done with Mindy?”

By that point, both he and Amanda had reached Mindy and each put an arm around her. She looked at her aunt and said, “It really is me, Aunt Chris. I’ve been in a terrible place lately. I’m so sorry I’ve worried you. But the last two days have changed my life. I think I’m on the road to recovery. It’s still going to be hard, but I’ve found what I need to make it through.”

His mother broke down in tears. “I didn’t think you were going to make it. I was so afraid we’d lose you! I take it my idiot son and his amazing girlfriend helped you out?”

Kyle chuckled at his mother’s comment. She’d been saying the same thing about him for ten years, and about Amanda since she’d first met her.

“Aunt Chris,” she said seriously, “your amazing son and his incredible girlfriend are the only reason I’m standing here, looking to the future, rather than sitting in the dark and thinking about making a trip to the Narrows.”

Kyle couldn’t stifle his gasp, and Amanda buried her head in Mindy’s side. His mother went white as a sheet.

Unfortunately, by then his uncle had arrived, and he asked, “What do you mean, a trip to the narrows?”

Kyle tightened his grip and felt Amanda do the same on the other side. Mindy looked at her father and calmly said, “It’s a long ways down.”

His uncle’s face got red, and he loudly said, “What?! Why would you think such a thing? That’s a mortal sin! You need to throw yourself at Jesus’ feet and beg for his forgiveness. If you do that, he’ll help you.”

Kyle tried to keep a hold of her, but it was a lost cause. She twisted free of him and Amanda, then advanced on her father, towering over him. Her voice tight with fury, she said, “That’s what you told me from the first. I tried it. He didn’t answer directly, but he did let his church kick me in the teeth. I was kicked out of school for no longer being chaste. Excuse me! I was raped! His representative, Father Michael, told me that I’m unclean and no longer fit to marry a good man, so I’m destined to be a nun. On His guidance, some of the people at church made me feel it was my fault! My fault that some asshole spiked a coke and raped me! My fault!! No, I’m still cleaning the marks left by Jesus’ sandals off my face. I won’t give Him another chance.”

Kyle saw his uncle’s fury building and was getting ready to intervene when his father stepped between his brother and his niece.

“Don’t you even fucking think about it, Russ,” his father said evenly. “I can see that Kyle would defend her, and you never want to make Mandy mad, but neither of them has been thrashing your ass since you were in short pants, and I’m right here. It hurts me to hear what she said about my Savior, but I know full well that the diocese has lost its way, so I can’t blame her. Personally, I think the Lord answered her prayers, He just did it outside the church and its teachings. I believe He sent Kyle, Mandy and Kyle’s friend from school to help Mindy out of the darkness. Mysterious ways indeed, but I can see the results with my own eyes. Regardless, though, you will not strike your daughter.”

To Kyle, it looked like a matchup between a weasel and a bear. The family joke was that Uncle Russ got stuffed into a garbage can by a ninety-eight pound weakling during his senior year in high school. His father, on the other hand, had walked on with the Huskies, but, even as strong as he was, he hadn’t been fast enough for Coach James’ defense. In the end, his uncle’s sense of self-preservation carried the day.

While his uncle fumed, Kyle’s mother went to her sister-in-law and said, “Jen, I think it will be best if Mindy stays here, at least for now and maybe for good.”

His uncle apparently heard that and turned to the two women. “If you want her, you can have her. Wherever she ends up, she’s not spending another night under my roof! I was willing to put up with her no longer being chaste, but I will not allow anyone in my home who would speak that way about my Lord and Savior. All of her things will be in the parking lot as soon as we can toss them out.”

His mother simply said, “You cannot legally throw her out, Russ. We will be happy to have her stay here, however, while we work out permanent custody arrangements. I’ll have someone get in touch with you tomorrow to begin the process.”

“You do that. We need to go home and throw out the trash.” With that, his uncle grabbed his wife and dragged her to their car.