Chapter 1

It all started 2 years ago. I was out, working in my garden, minding my own business, when up walked this absolutely gorgeous specimen of a man. I get goose bumps just thinking about him now. He stood about 5'8" and had broad shoulders. The tightness of his T-shirt perfectly outlined his bulging biceps and the urge to run my hands across them was almost unbearable.

"Pardon me miss," he said, with a smile that shot shivers down my spine. "I got into town and was hoping you could give me some directions."

His voice radiated through my body and I could feel myself getting wet just having him stand there. 'Oh, if only I wasn't married, ' I said to myself.

Realizing I was covered in dirt and most likely my hair was a mess, I quickly attempted standing, to brush myself off, but my legs were shaky and gave way beneath me. Purely out of instinct, I had reached out to break my fall only to find myself in his arms.

'So this is what heaven is like, ' were my thoughts. It had been far to long since a man held me, including my husband, who was never around long enough for anything more than a kiss on the forehead. I decided to work with what fate had handed me and enjoy the moment. Holding him tightly, I pretended to be catching my breath as if scared from the experience. I remember the feeling of his chest against mine, and the strong embrace of his arms. "Thank you for catching me," I panted into his ear, savoring the scent of his cologne and the feel of his body pressed to mine. His maleness bulging into me.

"Are you ok?" he sounded so inviting. I was about to answer when I heard the car horn, and there sat Cheryl with a grin on her face.

"I... I, am sorry. I don't know what came over me there. I am so embarrassed," I said as I moved away from him and took a few moments to collect myself. "Now where was it that you needed directions to?"

"Don't worry about it, I am sure it happens to a lot of people from time to time."

He was such a gentleman in every way. Made it very difficult to concentrate, but somehow I managed and gave him the directions to the motel in town. As he walked away I realized I never got his name, but what did that matter, I would probably never see him again.

Cheryl had emerged from her car and was walking towards me at this point. She is my best friend and I was so happy to see her. We talk about everything in our lives and if she hadn't just arrived, I most likely would have been on the phone to her to fill her in on all the details anyway.

"What was that all about," she asked, walking up to me.

"Oh just some guy looking for directions. But I have to tell you it felt like so much more" I said, as I gathered up the gardening tools, purposely avoiding her gaze.

She just looked at me with amusement as we walked into the house.

"So tell me about this guy". Cheryl was not one to scoot around an issue, always blunt and straight to the point. Despite knowing she would ask, I couldn't help but blush as I recounted the events of the moments before she arrived.

"I tell you Cheryl, I just don't know what came over me. You would think I had never been in the presence of a man before." I poured the coffee into a carafe, set it on the kitchen table, and sat down.

"It was like I had lost control of all reality, and I honestly can't tell you that I would have fought off any advances, if he had made them. Oh My God if Brian ever finds out about this; then again he is never here to even care". Tears started filling my eyes and I felt Cheryl's hands on my shoulders.

"Oh sweetie, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You slipped and he caught you, that is the truth and that is all Brian needs to know".

Her hands felt so good as they massaged my shoulders. Reaching up I clasped one of them and lowered it to my heart and kissed it.

"Thank you hon, you always know what I need to make me feel better". I glanced up at her, and saw her eyes were closed and her head tilted back slightly. "What are you thinking?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Oh nothing really". She smiled and continued my massage. "You are so tense, he really did get you worked up. Are you sure there isn't more to it than you are telling me". She let out a little giggle.

She must have leaned down to kiss my head as she had done a thousand times before, when consoling me, because when I raised by face to look at her a second time, our lips met. I don't know if I was in shock, or wanted it, but I did not pull away, and neither did she. Slowly moving her hand from under mine, she then lowered it to my breast, sending shivers down my spine like I had never felt before. Instantly I was aroused, scared, and shocked all at the same time. My heart was beating overtime as she massaged my breast. It was wrong, but that only made me more excited, and I could feel myself getting wet all over again.

"Cheryl!" I said as I pulled away abruptly.

Again she just smiled at me, but this time the smile was different: naughty yet soft and wanting.

"Cheryl, ah... What are we doing?" I turned to face her.

"I have wanted to do that to you for a long time" she said, "I know you are straight though. I'm sorry". She lowered her eyes to the floor as they filled with tears. I had often wondered why she never had boyfriends, and when I would point out guys for her, she would make up excuses not to go talk with them. Now it all made sense to me. I thought I knew everything about Cheryl, but obviously I didn't.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, taking her hand into mine and holding it tightly.

"I don't know. I guess I was afraid you would react like everyone else. That you would... well, try to change me. You know, try to convince me that I am wrong to want girls". She moved to pull up a chair and sat down, maintaining the tight hold on my hand.

"Truth is, I am in love with you, and always have been. When you got married I knew I could never have you. It breaks my heart to see you so lonely all the time. You deserve so much more and I know I could give that to you. I have just been unable to get it into words. And I honestly didn't know how you would react until now".

"What do you mean react? Did you think I wouldn't be your friend because you are a lesbian, oh I admit, it is a shock. But did you honestly think I would throw what we have together away because of it?"

"No, I guess not... but I couldn't stand you knowing and still not wanting me. I sense that you do want me though, don't you!" She looked into my eyes with such love. I felt the butterflies rise up into my stomach, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck tingle, and the subtle pulsating feeling between my legs as she asked.

"This is all so sudden. I am not sure that is something that I can answer right now. I don't want to hurt you sweetie, you are the best friend a person could ever ask for. And I do have feelings for you. I have just never looked at any woman in that way." I could see tears filling in her eyes and it hurt me deeply. "Why don't you let me think on this for a bit."