Never Let Me Go Page 7
“Don’t stop, Kate,” Mary begged as she felt her body coming to life as this woman made love to her. “Right there.” Her hips lifted off the bed as she came, but Katherine wasn’t finished.
“Move up on the bed, honey,” Katherine asked softly as Mary’s body moved up. She now crawled up Mary’s body and kissed her deeply. Their bodies were pressed together as their tongues did a dance in their mouths. Mary tried to reach between Katherine’s legs, but instead she found her hands over her head. “Just let me love you, Mary.” Katherine released Mary’s arms, but they remained in place as she felt a hand gliding over her skin. Katherine’s lips took possession of Mary’s breasts and her tongue teased the nipple. Her hand dropped between them and Mary’s legs automatically opened allowing Katherine easy access. Katherine entered her gently and positioned herself so that she would have contact with Mary’s thigh. As her fingers moved in and out she found a rhythm for herself. Mary’s body raised up as the flutters of a strong orgasm hit them both. Their bodies were like two leaves falling from a tree. Gently they floated in the air until finally landing on the ground. “You are magnificent,” Katherine whispered resting her head on Mary’s stomach. “You fill my soul with your love.”
“Come here my romantic fool,” Mary said pulling her up to her mouth. She brushed at a tear that fell onto Katherine’s cheek. “Let me love you and show you what is in my heart.”
The only time they left the bed was to use the bathroom or put food into their bodies to keep up their strength. By Sunday night they were both exhausted and delighted.
“I hate to leave you, but I must,” Mary said as her head rested on Katherine’s shoulder at the front door. The cab outside beeped his horn again. “I have to go.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Katherine asked finally releasing Mary from her arms.
Mary nodded her head. “Of course.”
Mary walked into her work wearing the biggest smile she had ever worn. Her heart was full and her face showed every bit of that fact. “Hey, Mary,” Arlene called as Mary walked toward her office.
“Hi, Arlene. How are you?” Mary’s smile remained in place.
Arlene narrowed her eyes and then she snapped her fingers. “You got laid this weekend?”
Mary’s eyes opened wide. “What?”
“Don’t try and fool me. I can see it in your face. Both you and Katherine are wearing that same stupid grin.”
“Katherine?” Mary asked swallowing hard.
“Yeah. She must have gotten laid too.”
Mary let out the breath she had been holding. “I’m just in a good mood.”
“Yeah, from getting laid.”
“Would you please stop,” she said lowering her voice. “Do you have to let the whole building know?”
“Do I know the gentleman?” Arlene asked blocking Mary’s escape.
“No, you don’t.” As the words were leaving Mary’s mouth, she saw Katherine walking toward them. A smile was plastered on her face as she got closer. Mary could see her eyes twinkling.
“Good morning, Mary. Arlene, did you deliver that folder upstairs?”
“On my way right now, boss.” Arlene hurried off.
“Come inside for a second,” Katherine nodded with her head toward her office. Once the door closed, Katherine’s lips seized Mary’s mouth. “Good morning,” she said inches away from Mary’s lips. “I missed you this morning.”
“I missed you too, but Arlene knows we both had sex this weekend. Or as she put it, we both got laid,” Mary giggled.
“I can’t help it that I am so happy.” Katherine answered running her fingers along Mary’s cheek.
“Me too.” Mary slid away from Katherine. “I better get out of here before Arlene catches us together.”
“Can I take you to lunch today?”
“Let me see how much work I’ve got. Call me later this morning.”
“Okay.” Katherine came back for another kiss just as the door pushed against them.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Arlene said as she squeezed through the door. “I didn’t know anyone was standing there.”
“I’ll have Thomas give you a call when I hear from him,” Mary said trying to give an excuse as to why she was in the office.
“Please do.” Katherine turned and walked toward her own office.
“Are you okay?” Arlene asked Mary with curious eyes.
“Sure. I’ll see you later.” Mary fumbled with the door before she could pull it open and escape. Mary hurried to her office and pulled out her compact. Looking at her reflection she saw that her lipstick was still in place and Katherine hadn’t smeared it to tip Arlene off. She knew they would have to be more careful if they were going to keep this relationship under wraps.
At eleven thirty, Katherine chased Arlene off to lunch. “Hi,” she said as Mary picked up the phone.
“Hey.”
“So lunch?”
“I wish I could, but I’ve got-” Mary stopped talking.
“Are you there, Mary?”
“Hi, Arlene. No it’s all right, I’m on hold.”
Katherine could hear Arlene’s voice in the background asking Mary if she wanted to go to lunch.
“Sorry, but I really can’t stop now. I’ve got so much work here to do.”
“Do you want me to bring something back for you?”
“Thank you, but no. I’ll go down and grab something a little later.”
“All right. See you later.”
Mary came back on the line. “Sorry.”
“I heard. So you really can’t go to lunch?”
“I really can’t. I’m sorry.”
“I understand. I’ll call you later.” Katherine hung up the phone. Twenty minutes later, Katherine walked into the office carrying a bag. “I brought you something to eat.”
“Aren’t you sweet? Thank you.”
Katherine began emptying food onto the desk. “I’ll just sit here and be quiet. You go on with your work. I don’t want you to have to work late.”
“Why? Did you have something for me to do tonight?” Mary asked wearing a grin.
“Well, I was hoping…” Katherine answered wearing a matching grin.
Mary took a bite of her sandwich and went back to her work while Katherine sat there watching Mary as she worked.
Katherine was just collecting the sandwich wrappers when Arlene walked through the door. “Oh, sorry. I brought you a snack to tide you over until you got a chance to eat, but I guess someone else beat me to it.”
Katherine threw the bag in the garbage. “Yes, Thomas told me to watch out for Mary this week. It seems Ms. Rogers has a tendency to work through lunch.” She knew that Arlene would never have the nerve to ask Thomas directly if he actually did say that. “I’ll let you continue with your work.” She turned and looked at Arlene. “Are you coming?”
Arlene took one more look at Mary before nodding. “Yes.” They left the office together.
Mary laid her head in her hands knowing Arlene didn’t buy Katherine’s excuse. They were just starting a relationship and it wouldn’t be long before Arlene figured out the truth. When the phone began to ring, she nearly jumped out of her skin. “Congressman Kelly’s office.”
“It’s me,” Katherine said softly.
“She didn’t believe you.”
“Maybe, but she’ll never ask Thomas.”
“Katherine, I don’t want to be the cause of you losing your political career.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that,” Katherine said softly.
“I couldn’t live with myself if someone found out.”
“Are you worried for me or are you worried that someone will find out that you are gay?” Katherine waited to hear Mary’s answer.
“I would like my private life to remain just that way, private.” Mary’s voice trembled. “But I would be more concerned for you. They can’t just fire me because I’m gay, but you could lose all your backing.”
“Honey, plea
se don’t worry about me. If I don’t get reelected next November, so be it. I was an attorney before I was a politician.”
“But you could have become a senator or a governor,” Mary insisted firmly.
“Mary, I have no desire for any of that. If I campaigned for those offices, my background would be scrutinized. There have been rumors surrounding me for years that I’m a lesbian.”
“There have?”
“Honey, I’m thirty-five years old, unmarried and the only male arm I am ever seen on is Thomas’.” Katherine sighed, “Can we please discuss this tonight?” Mary didn’t answer. “I still have your suit in my closet. You could wear that to work tomorrow.”
“I could, could I?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be at your place around six.” Mary chuckled. “Have my favorite pajamas ready.”
“I will,” Katherine said before she hung up the phone.
The phone rang again, but this time it was Arlene. “What’s going on?”
“Excuse me?” Mary asked cautiously.
“You and Katherine.”
“What do you mean, me and Katherine.”
“You two looked awfully cozy when I came into the office.”
“Arlene, nothing is going on. Katherine brought me a sandwich and that’s it.”
“Yeah, right, that’s it,” Arlene grumbled. “I’m keeping my eye on you two.” A dial tone was all that was left of the phone conversation.
Katherine opened her door to Mary wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of sweats later that day. Their normal wear for the evening. “Arlene called me.” Katherine took Mary’s coat. “She knows something is going on with us.”
“Did she tell you that?” Katherine asked leading Mary to the kitchen.
“Not in so many words, but she said she was going to keep an eye on us.”
“Would you like to eat first or get changed?” Katherine asked calmly.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard.”
“I’ll get changed first.” Mary turned toward the bedroom.
“Before you rush off,” Katherine moved closer, “can I get a kiss?”
“I don’t know, can you?” she asked with a smirk.
“You need to calm down, Mary.”
“I know.” She looked into the green eyes and saw nothing but love. Instead of kissing her, she laid her head on her chest and wrapped her arms around her. “I love you, Katherine.”
“I love you too.” Katherine’s arms squeezed Mary to her. She now lifted Mary’s chin so she could give her a proper kiss. “Feel better?” Katherine asked rubbing her back.
“I will. Let me go get changed so we can eat dinner.” She turned toward the bedroom again, but stopped. “What are we having?”
“Chinese.”
Mary nodded. “We have got to get back to the gym. All we ate was junk all weekend and it looks like we’re off to the same start this week.”
“Go get changed, killer.” Katherine patted Mary’s bottom to get her moving. By the time Mary came back she had calmed down from her earlier tirade. “Feel better?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“I’ll be gone from Friday through Sunday,” Katherine said as she portioned out the food.
“Where are you going?”
“Helen Clayton has asked me to attend a Feed-the-Children fundraiser. Thomas is going to be there too.”
“Where is it?” Mary asked picking at her food.
“South Carolina.” Katherine glanced at Mary. “Would you like to come with me?”
Mary’s chopsticks stopped in midair and the food that had been there a second ago dropped back onto her plate. “Are you crazy? How would you explain what I’m doing there with you?”
“You are Thomas’ secretary.”
“Yes and Thomas is going to kill us both when he finds out we are together. Thank you for asking, but no.”
“Are you sure?” Katherine asked touching Mary’s hand.
“Very sure, Kate.” Mary could see the disappointment on Katherine’s face, but she wasn’t about to expose their relationship. Katherine was one of the good ones when it came to politics. She would be able to do a lot of good work for this country if given the chance.
“If you’re sure, I won’t push,” Katherine said softly.
“Thank you. You and Thomas go do what you do best and help these kids.”
Mary left for work before Katherine. She didn’t want them arriving at the same time. “Call me later,” Mary said kissing Katherine at the door.
“I guess lunch is out of the question?”
Mary rolled her eyes. “Kate, please.”
“I understand. I’ll bring my car today and pack an overnight bag.”
“You want to stay with me tonight?”
“Thomas isn’t around, so why not?”
Mary kissed her one more time. “See you later.”
The two women may have left separately, but Katherine arrived before Mary. As Mary walked toward her office, Arlene was standing in front of her office door. “Good morning, Arlene,” Mary said without looking at her. She unlocked the door to the offices. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“There’s something I can do for you.” Mary looked strangely at Arlene. “Because you are new, you might not have heard the rumors about Katherine.”
“What rumors?” Mary asked as she removed her coat.
“That she may be a lesbian.”
Mary’s shoulders slumped. “Why would you want to spread rumors like that?”
“I’m not spreading anything. I just wanted to warn you.”
“Warn me?” Mary sat heavily into her chair. “As a black woman I would think you would have more compassion.”
“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with her.” Arlene began to get indignant.
“Calm down, Arlene. I’m just saying that whether a person is black, white, gay, straight it shouldn’t matter. We are all people and what should be more important is people’s actions and nothing more. I appreciate you trying to warn me because of our friendship, but please don’t worry about my reputation.”
Arlene studied Mary for a moment. “Are you gay, Mary?” The moment she asked the question, Arlene’s hand went to her mouth. “Don’t answer that question. It is none of my business. I just want you to know that it wouldn’t matter to me, I mean to our friendship.”
“I appreciate you being so open-minded.” Mary stood up. “You better get to your desk before Katherine has your hide.”
“Lunch today?” Arlene asked softly.
“Sure.”
Mary had the feeling that Arlene would never bring up the subject of Katherine’s sexuality or her involvement with Mary again. The phone rang and Mary picked it up. “Congressman Kelly’s office.”
“Congressman Kelly here,” Thomas said chuckling. “How is it going, Mary.”
“Fine, Thomas. I heard you have a special task this weekend.”
“Katherine told you?”
“She did. Is there anything special I can do for you for this fundraiser?” Mary asked with pen and paper ready.
“Yes. You can go with me. I’ll need someone to take notes and such.”
“Isn’t Katherine asking Arlene to go?”
“Arlene can’t make it and that leaves you, honey.”
“Looks like I don’t have a choice,” Mary answered smiling.
“Sorry, but look at it as a chance to get away for the weekend. Katherine will have her car pick you up Friday morning and take you to the airport.”
“Will I be flying with her?”
“Is that a problem? I thought you two were friends.”
“We are. I was just asking.”
“Go buy yourself a nice dress for the dinner Saturday night. Don’t worry about the cost, I’ll pay for the dress since it’s a work weekend.”
“Thank you, Thomas.”
“I’ve got to go to a meeting. Talk to you later.”
“I am. It’s my parents’ thirty-fifth anniversary and I have to be in Maryland.” Arlene looked at Mary’s face. “I guess that means you got stuck?”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, it might be fun. You are going to meet the First Lady and maybe the newly-elected President.”
“I guess. Thomas did say he’d pay for a new dress for the fundraiser.”
“See, you get new clothes out of the deal.”
“Whoopee.” Mary was rolling her eyes as she picked up her sandwich.
CHAPTER 15
Katherine picked up Mary that morning and they went to the airport together. Thomas was going to be flying in from Virginia. “I know you would rather not be here, but please try to enjoy yourself,” Katherine said to Mary as they sat next to each other on the plane.
“I’m just nervous. I’m not used to going to cocktail parties and to the dinner that I’m sure is going to be well above my league.”
“All you have to do is pretend that you belong there and no one will ever know this is your first time. Katherine patted Mary’s leg. “I booked our rooms on the same floor. Thomas will be on another floor.”
“Oh really?” Mary asked smiling. “Did you plan on taking advantage of me Congresswoman?”
Katherine leaned over to Mary’s ear and whispered, “I plan on spending as much time with you as I can.”
The two women now walked toward their respective rooms. Mary’s room was first and Katherine stopped at the room next door. She opened the door to her room and immediately saw a dozen red roses in a vase on the table. Mary walked across the room and opened the card. These roses cannot compare to your beauty, but hopefully they show the love I feel for you in my heart. Always yours, K. “And she says she isn’t romantic.” She smiled as she went over to the door to the adjourning room and was surprised when the handle turned. As the door opened, she noticed the door on the other side was also standing open. “Hello,” she said poking her head through the doorway.
Katherine walked up to her and took her in her arms. “I’ve missed you,” she said kissing her softly.