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ntacted her clit, she shuddered some more. She knew the act of washing down there was removing the lubrication which had been flowing out of her the past few minutes but she also knew there was more to replace it.

Ainsley, using her hand, splashed water onto Rachel’s aroused center several times, rinsing it clear of soap and before Rachel had a chance to wonder what was next, she felt her clit being circled by Ainsley’s finger while at the same time Ainsley went back to licking that spot above her ass.

Rachel quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. It was almost too late.

She came so fast it shocked her.

Squeezing her eyes shut as she grunted and moaned into her hand with the release, she felt her pussy’s inner walls flutter and contract rapidly, pushing out a stream of her come onto Ainsley’s hand while the countless tiny explosions of climax took over her body, radiating outward from beneath her mound to spread through every capillary, vein, artery, organ and bone. Even her freshly shampooed hair seemed electrified.

And Rachel knew, as she rode out these several moments of pleasure, that this had been a different orgasm. It had come about not only because Ainsley first charged up her libido with anticipation and then had rubbed her clit expertly, but because Ainsley had stimulated Rachel’s other needs as a woman. The need to feel pampered. The need to feel cared for. The need to feel safe. The need to feel appreciated. Having those needs stimulated was the reason she had come so quickly and why even her toenails were tingling now.

***

That night in bed at Ainsley’s condo in San Diego, Rachel clicked off the TV mounted to the wall opposite. They had just finished watching When Harry Met Sally on Amazon Prime, Rachel learning during the movie that Ainsley had a huge crush on the young Meg Ryan.

When they both snuggled down under the blankets, Rachel reached over to tuck a stray lock of Ainsley’s hair behind the doctor’s ear.

“Hey,” Rachel said.

“Mm?” Ainsley murmured sleepily.

“I want to be your girlfriend, Ains,” Rachel stated.

Ainsley’s eyes opened wider.

Rachel went on.

“This is not just us having fun anymore, like we agreed. Whatever might split us apart one day, it isn’t going to be me suddenly deciding that I’m no longer attracted to you or that I no longer want to have sex with you because you’re a woman.”

Rachel had known this now for several days. Her hunger and desire for Ainsley only seemed to grow more and more with each rotation of the Earth on its axis. And then there was the deeper connection of their friendship. She and Ainsley just got each other! It really was like what she had with Amy: a deep kindred friendship between two women that became like a sisterhood; made stronger not only because of shared interests or other commonalities but by the shared experience of being women. It was special and it was rare. At this point in her life—finishing her twenties, her thirties staring her right in the face—Rachel had come to realize that no matter how many female friends a woman has; no matter how many women she hangs out with for coffee or cocktails, brunches or dinners; a woman has at most two, possibly three, great friendships with other women in her life.

With Ainsley, Rachel felt like she had found her second great friendship.

But, of course, unlike her great friendship with Amy, her friendship with Ainsley came with lots of incredible sex.

“Oh, thank god you said that!” Ainsley exclaimed, breathing a sigh of relief.

Rachel laughed.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I’ve been wanting to call you my girlfriend for a while now! Every time I mention you in conversation, I’m, like, wanting to say, ‘My girlfriend, Rachel, and I…’ or ‘I’m having dinner tonight with my girlfriend, Rachel.’ But I’ve always had to stop and use some other euphemism.”

“Like what kind of euphemism?” Rachel asked.

“Well, the one I use most often is ‘my lesbian trainee.’”

Rachel, laughing, playfully smacked Ainsley’s hip.

“I have also used ‘my lesbian cadet’ and, simply, ‘the rookie.’”

“Oh my god!” Rachel said, cracking up. “Why exactly do I want to be your girlfriend?”

“Um…because I’m a great kisser and I don’t snore?” Ainsley ventured.

“Oh, you snore!” Rachel informed her.

“Well, I guess that evens out because you snore too.”