Chapter 2

Despite Tina's efforts to persuade her that she could indeed enjoy another woman's touch, Marie's stomach was flopping around as she drove up to Holly's house. "This is something I don't want to do, but I HAVE to do it," she thought to herself as she walked up the front sidewalk. "But I'll be fucked if I allow myself to enjoy ANY of it! I don't give a damned what that bitch thinks!"

Almost immediately, the door opened and Holly waved her in. Marie had been expecting her to be dressed up in some gaudy, perverted outfit. The exact opposite was true. She wore a simple, though tight, white turtleneck which showcased the woman's ample cleavage. The tan pants were a nice contrast, and the flats she had on her feet gave a casual look to the outfit. Marie had decided to go with a very non-sexual outfit of baggy jeans and black shirt topped off by one of Will's old flannel shirts. She was not going to give Holly the satisfaction of seeing her in anything that could even come close to revealing or enticing.

Once inside, Holly took her coat and disappeared down the main hall. Marie walked into the living room and was impressed despite herself with Holly's decorating taste. Everything was done in white or black, with most of the cabinets highlighted with mirrored surfaces. It was a style she'd love to have in her home, but the kids made that impossible. She noticed that the fireplace on the far wall was lit, giving off a welcome heat that she was drawn to. Due in part to her nerves, and to the chilly temperatures of December in the Northeast, her hands were freezing. She held them out, reveling in the comforting warmth of the fire.

She was so engulfed in her own thoughts that she nearly screamed when a hand landed on her shoulder. She spun around to see Holly holding a bottle of what she assumed was wine in one hand. The taller woman's eyes were wide in shock. "I'm sorry, Marie! I didn't mean to scare you like that!"

Marie shook her head. "You didn't scare me. I was just zoning out. Trying to get some things under control."

"How about some wine while you think?"

"I know what you're trying to do, you bitch," Marie thought silently to herself. "Get me drunk and take advantage of me." Luckily, she wasn't a big drinker, and doubted her stomach could tolerate any alcohol this early in the morning. "No, thanks. Wine's not really my thing."

Holly shrugged. "I can always get you something else. Beer, champagne, wine cooler..."

"No. But what I COULD use would be some coffee. Milk and sugar, if you can."

"You got it. Care to join me in the kitchen?"

Marie shook her head. More likely than not, the kitchen was much smaller than the living room, giving her supervisor more opportunity to make a move. She wanted to keep her distance for as long as possible.

Once Holly had left, Marie sat in a chair near the fireplace and put her head in her hands. "If only there hadn't been cameras in that damned store room!" she cursed silently. Of course, it should have been rather obvious, but neither her nor Tom had been thinking about cameras and people watching at the time.

She sighed, wondering if she could bear up to all of this today. Of course, Holly had warned her that she'd turn the tape in if she wasn't "enjoying" the sex. "But I've faked orgasms before," she thought. "I can do it again."

Holly returned, handing the cup over to the younger woman. She noticed that she had purposefully worn baggy clothes. "Not that you'll be wearing those for long," she thought to herself. She wasn't going to let this drag on too long. After all, she honestly didn't want to turn Marie in. She did like the woman. But she'd had the hots for her since she'd first started working in the store, and this might very well be her only opportunity to get her into her bed.

"I just don't understand why she's so opposed to this," she wondered while Marie sipped at the hot liquid. After all, despite being in her late thirties, Holly knew she was a very attractive person. It wasn't a matter of ego, just something she'd heard often enough from her previous partners. "Aside from the moans of pleasure, of course," she thought wickedly.

"How's your coffee?" she asked Marie.

"Fine, thank you," she replied, with an obvious frost to her words.

"This isn't going to be easy," Holly thought. "But, then again, if it were, it wouldn't be any fun."

"Look, Marie, you don't have to do this," she said in an attempt to loosen her partner up. "I refuse to force any of this onto you."

Marie looked up with heat in her blue eyes. "Then give me the tape and let me go home."

"Am I that unattractive to you?"

Marie put the coffee down and crossed her arms over her chest. "It has nothing to do with your looks, Holly. I'm sure that a lot of guys, and some women, for that matter, would find you very pretty. But I just don't find anything appealing in the thought of two women being sexually involved."

"How would you know if you've never given it a chance? Take it from personal experience, it can actually be better in some ways."

She got up and walked towards Marie, stopping only after she was standing inches from her. She put out a hand. "Stand up and give me a chance to prove it to you."

"So, this is it," Marie thought in disgust. "Maybe it's better if we get it done and over with." She stood up without taking Holly's hands, her arms recrossing over her chest. "OK, here I am," she said. "You're obviously the experienced one. Let's just get this done with."

For a second, Holly almost gave in and sent her home. Marie seemed like she'd never relax and let it happen. But she gathered herself, determined to go through with it. She reached out and touched her face, letting her fingers run along Marie's cheekbone, down to her full lips. Marie closed her eyes tight, steeling herself for what came next. Holly reached out and uncrossed the younger woman's arms, having them hang by her sides. She then quickly unbuttoned the flannel shirt, sliding it off, getting no help from Marie.

What she found under the flannel gave Holly some hope. Marie's nipples were plainly obvious beneath the black shirt, sticking out against the cotton material. She smiled, wondering what was running through the other's mind.

Marie was trying her best to ignore Holly's touch. She actually didn't mind the caress of her face, but once Holly reached down and uncrossed her arms, she knew what was coming next. The shirt slipped off, and she felt her body betray her as her nipples began to harden. "It's gotta be the cool air," she thought vainly, not wanting to admit to any sexual excitement. But seconds later, Holly cupped her breasts in her hands. She felt a shudder run through her body. "No!!" her mind screamed, trying her best to will the feelings away.