Kai groaned with frustration. Buried deep in the business section of the newspaper was yet another article about an independent bookstore closing its doors. Her own bookstore, Brownstone, had been recording steadily declining sales for the past four years. Still, she managed to hold on. In two years a chain bookstore would open its doors less than a mile from Brownstone. Although she was an optimist by nature, every day was a struggle not to worry about what she would do when those two years were up.
Kai looked up from her newspaper when a flash of color caught her eye. She knew that red hair. It belonged to Mandla Richards, a neighborhood dyke and a welcome distraction from her grim thoughts. She watched as the tall woman sailed through the parking lot. Her fox-red kinky curls bounced around a face that was nothing less than gorgeous—full, pouty mouth, dimpled cheeks, and heavy-lidded eyes that led inevitably to thoughts of fucking. A dress the color of iced coffee—the same tempting shade as her skin—hugged her full shape.
Mandla was the girl who Vivian, Kai’s most recent and painful ex, had left her for. Even after all this time Kai couldn’t see the two of them together, although she did spend many sweat-soaked nights imagining the women doing all kinds of things together, their heaving, heavy breasts, their mouths open to explore every inch of available flesh.
Mandla walked into the large chain bookstore next door to the natural foods market where Kai sat having a solitary late evening dinner and reading the day’s paper. What the hell was she doing over there? She better not be shopping. Kai stood up and packed her groceries in her Honda convertible. The car’s alarm chirped as she locked it and walked toward the bookstore.
Chain store robots perked up enough to look up as she walked through the door: a tall, slim woman with her thick hair shaped in a high, perfectly round Afro around a face of interesting angles and lines. She was handsome in her black slacks, tank top, and the open long-sleeved shirt that accentuated the lean grace of her body. Kai’s nipples instantly hardened in the too-cold store. She hissed in annoyance. Her eyes searched for the fire haired woman.
She found Mandla in the Philosophy section, standing in front of an overcrowded bookshelf with her head bent over a thick hardcover book. Her back was turned to Kai in the narrow dead-end aisle, allowing the slim woman ample time to appreciate her elegant back, the rounded ass and long bare legs under the dress.
“Mandla.” Kai greeted the woman with a smile that was not.
The other woman looked up then colored faintly with embarrassment at being caught in this particular bookstore. “Oh, hello. Kai, right?”
Of course she knew who Kai was. The dyke rumor mill buzzed with news of how badly Kai had treated Vivian. More than likely dwelling on details of her love of silk scarves and leather straps. All the better to please you with, my dear, Kai had always told Vivian. Back then, her ex girlfriend had sighed in wicked delight when Kai had contorted her incredibly limber body into pleasure inducing positions on the four-poster bed. And teased and fucked her until every orifice dripped wet with satisfaction. That was treating her badly. As far as Kai saw it, she just hadn’t treated Vivian like the princess that she thought she was. And Kai was willing to bet that this was also the reason Mandla was another ex.
“Yes, I’m Kai. You met me at the Wine’s Chalice a few months ago.” She named a local antique shop owned by mutual friends of theirs, a dyke couple who’d relocated fifteen years ago from Miami, Kai’s hometown. “When you and Viv were still together.”
Kai remembered the meeting very well, recalled the tight pants that had hugged Mandla’s high, phat ass like a jealous lover, the back-baring halter top that had begged for Kai’s teeth to loosen its string then follow the path that the smooth valley of her spine had led to…. Yeah, she remembered the meeting, remembered thinking that it was going to be hard seeing Vivian with her new girl but had instead gotten a fierce clit hard-on that led her around the party sniffing after her ex’s current, longing to ride that thick, firm ass to glory. Mandla hadn’t been oblivious to her need either. The fire haired woman had looked too long into her eyes once, seen the burn of desire and, Kai thought, had flickered alight with a companion flame.
“Ah.” Mandla’s eyes flickered over Kai now, lingering a moment too long on the stiffened nipples still visible through the two layers of cloth.
Kai smiled, wondering exactly what Vivian had told Mandla about her. She made herself comfortable on the low bench in the middle of the aisle. “So, what brings you to this place?”
Mandla looked around as if it should be obvious to Kai what she was doing in a bookstore. But her polite Southern upbringing couldn’t let her say the words out loud.
“I’m looking for a Cixous book with a particular essay in it.”
“Brownstone on the Square has a pretty nice selection of books by I feminists. Did you go there first?”
“No, I didn’t think they would have what I needed.” Mandla shrugged and managed to look uncomfortable and sexy at the same time. “Besides, it’s an inconvenient drive.”
Kai watched as the other woman’s cleavage rearranged itself in her neckline. The peaks of Mandla’s breasts winked at her. Guess she’s cold too, she thought with a wry grin.
“Honey, you only live a mile or two from the square. How is that an inconvenient drive?”
Mandla’s polite smile disappeared. “Are you stalking me? Why do you know where I live and what do you want?”
“Calm down. I’m not stalking anyone. I just wanted to say hi to you and remind you about supporting independent bookstores. They all need the support right now, especially with stores like this one,” she waved a hand to encompass the cool sterile place where they stood, “actively trying to put them out of business.”
“What are you, an ad for the small business co-op? I’ll spend my money wherever I chose.”
“How about spending your money to support a community that supports you? When you want that small press lesbian romance novel, it’s the independent store that you come to. Why don’t you buy your other books there too?”
“You’re not going to bully me into something I don’t want to do.” Just like you bullied Vivian. The unsaid phrase hung in the air between them.
Kai stood up. “I didn’t bully Vivian. What I did do was allow her to be free of her own mental restrictions for a while. She gave herself to me. I didn’t have to force anything from her.”
Mandla flushed from the sweet swell of her breasts to her fiery hairline. The book in her hands fluttered closed.
“Would you like to know how it feels?” Kai glanced around quickly to make sure their aisle was empty.
“Wait a second.” Mandla stepped back and, like a good librarian, put her book away. “I didn’t come here to be harassed by you.”
But Kai caught the flare of interest in her eyes. She wasn’t the only one with an itch. “Then why did you come here?” She stepped closer to the other woman.
“Vivian was definitely right about you.” Mandla put a hand against Kai’s chest to ward her off.
“What did she say about me?”
“That you were a bully, of course.”
“Hmm.” Her voice rumbled deep in her throat as the hand on her chest began to move in slow circles. “What else?”
“That you liked power games.”
“Yes. And?”
“That you were an awful girlfriend.”
Kai laughed. “Well, you know what I said about the bullying.”
“Hm hmm. That she wanted it.”
“As for the other things she said, why don’t you try me out and see?”
It was Mandla’s turn to laugh. “Pretty sure of yourself aren’t you?”
“And getting surer by the second.” Kai swallowed. “May I touch you?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Mandla’s eyes flickered around the deserted aisle. “What are you going to do?”
“Answer my question first.” Kai licked her lips, watching the quickening rise and fall of Mandla’s firm breasts. A fine coat of sweat covered them despite the artificially cold air.
“Sure. Why not?”
Kai laughed again and stepped even closer until Mandla’s back was against the bookshelves. “Was that a yes?”
The full-hipped woman cleared her throat and blushed again. “Yes. I guess it is.”
“Turn around.”
The two women were the same height and fit easily together: Mandla’s ass in the bed of Kai’s hips, the curve of the other woman’s back against Kai’s belly.
“If I do anything you don’t want, feel free to call on one of the helpful sales associates. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to come to your aid.” Her voice was ironic, at best. Kai’s hand slid up Mandla’s thigh, moving the dress out of her way. She bit the other woman’s ear, licked the soft skin at the back of her neck. Kai braced her booted foot on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. Her shirt flapped open like wings to hide Mandla’s thighs and the movement of her hand between them. She pressed her face in Mandla’s hair, inhaling its faint scent of coconuts.
A low groan left her throat when she realized that Mandla had left her panties at home. Kai’s fingers found her wet, already swollen with need for her touch. Mandla released her breath in a slow hiss and dropped her head back on Kai’s shoulder. Her thumb brushed Mandla’s swollen clit, drawing another hiss from the woman.
“Inside,” she murmured against Kai’s ear. “Please.” Kai slid her fingers into the waiting wet pussy. Her ass rotated against Kai, pushing back into the seam of her slacks and bumping the already sensitive clit. She widened her legs and pushed against Mandla’s ass. They both groaned.
“Faster, please.”
Her shoulder straps slid down and her breasts fell free, revealing fat juicy nipples that begged to be sucked and swallowed by Kai’s hungry mouth. Kai worked her mouth on the other woman’s neck instead, biting the soft flesh that strained and vibrated under her touch. Mandla bit her lip but she still panted, making loud, urgent sounds that moved Kai’s hips faster against her, in rhythm with the slick pussy riding her pistoning fingers and the thumb vibrating against her clit. Mandla’s soft cries increased in volume, becoming urgent pants and moans that in other place, Kai would have been glad to hear. Although the angle was awkward, Kai kissed her and swallowed the noise. She cupped a breast in her hand, pinched the responsive nipples as her hand slid between Mandla’s soft thighs, working the slick pussy that was beginning to clench around her fingers.
Mandla’s knee jerked against the shelf, knocking books loose. They dropped to the floor with a soft thud like footsteps, like the sound of urgency. Mandla spasmed, gushed, and came, shouting into her mouth, fingers clenched around the edge of the bookshelf. With a soft whimper, she pushed Kai’s hand away. But the other woman wasn’t finished yet.
“Wait,” she rasped, grabbing Mandla’s clothed hips. “Don’t move.”
Her sensitive nipples felt hot and tight inside her shirt. She rubbed them against Mandla’s back. Fire pulled tight in her belly, burning her from the inside out and peppering her body with sweat. She sighed when Mandla dropped her head forward and pushed back, grinding her ass into Kai’s pussy, bringing her closer to the relief she needed. She grabbed the soft hips tighter and thrust against that firm luscious ass until the electric flickers of sensation darting between her nipples and her clit overwhelmed her. Kai gave up her control as she came, shuddering against Mandla’s ass and panting into her neck.
“Thank you.” Kai braced herself against the bookshelf before stepping slowly back. Mandla rearranged her dress and turned to face her.
“No. Thank you.” She licked her lips and wiped at the moisture gathered above them. Her breath still came in ragged little gasps.
They both stepped away to lean against opposite bookshelves and admire the freshly fucked look the other wore.
“Don’t you own a bookstore?” Mandla asked, when she could speak again.
“Yes.” Kai nodded. “The one on the Square.”
“So let me guess, you want me to come there instead of here?”
“Ideally, yes.” Kai reached into her wallet for a business card then scribbled her cell number on it. “But in case you want it somewhere more comfortable, give me a call. I’m sure we can arrange something.”
Mandla slid the card between her damp breasts. “I’ll do that.” She picked up her purse from where it had fallen on the floor. “See you around.”
With a twitch of her behind, she turned and walked out of the bookstore. Empty handed.