XIX

“O-Oh,” Mari breathed, eyes closing as a flood of strange, exhilarating feelings overwhelmed her. Yukiko traced the outline of her ear with the tip of her tongue, before returning to the soft flesh of the lobe. Gently Yukiko took Mari’s earlobe between her teeth, causing Mari to jump slightly as if she’d been exposed to a live electric current. Yukiko flicked her tongue over the diamond stud in Mari’s lobe without releasing the skin from her teeth and Mari breathed in sharply, shaking. Mari’s fingernails scratched lightly along the skin of Yukiko’s back, causing her to moan once more.

Yukiko disentangled her fingers from Mari’s hair, gently setting Mari’s head down on the carpet before playing her fingertips along Mari’s thin pale neck before letting them slip over the outer swell of her breast beneath the thin fabric of the blouse bringing a murmur of pleasure to Mari’s lips. Yukiko positioned herself on her knees straddling Mari’s body and let the fingers of both hands play down her group mate’s body, whilst moving her lips down to Mari’s neck, leading each kiss with a sensuous lick and gentle nibble with her teeth. Mari’s breath was ragged by now and her body shivered in anticipation of every touch.

Yukiko’s lips reached Mari’s collar bone, as her fingers began to slowly unbutton Mari’s blouse, exposing her taut belly as the fabric parted. By the time Yukiko’s trembling fingers had released the top button her lips had begun to travel downward again, playing over the soft swell of Mari’s breasts. Her nose nudged the fabric aside as she kissed the top slope of Mari’s breast, the fabric fell away revealing the lacy black bra. Yukiko trembled as her inner thighs brushed against the skin of Mari’s belly as she straddled her. Yukiko glanced at the black fabric of the bra irritably before realizing it was a front-clasp.

Yukiko looked up at Mari’s face and her breath caught in her throat. She was absolutely gorgeous. Mari stared at her with a hunger she’d never seen with anyone. The look in her eyes was one of absolute need. Yukiko could feel Mari’s heart beating beneath her fingers, and her own ears thrummed with the sound of her own heart. Yukiko tore her gaze from Mari’s eyes for a moment to stare down at the flimsy strip of black lace and silk covering Mari’s breasts and trembled. Beyond this moment there was an intimacy which could not be forgotten or brushed aside.

Mari looked vulnerable and flushed beneath Yukiko’s body, something she’d never experienced. Mari always looked cool and confident and exuded an air of sexiness that drew everyone’s eyes. This was different. This was raw and undisguised need. Yukiko brushed her fingers lightly across the top of Mari’s bra, slipping the tip of her finger beneath the lace to expose the outer edge of Mari’s areola. Yukiko shivered with desire and need, her body reacting of its own volition, her cheeks flushed and she felt warmth spread through her belly.

“M-Mari, I-“Yukiko breathed before her voice caught in her throat and she was forced to swallow hard. She continued on, unable to keep the quivering from her voice. “I w-want you so badly I could cry if I don’t have you. It feels like my heart is going to explode. B-But I don’t want this if this is all it is. I don’t want to be your experiment to see if you l-like girls, too and I don’t want you to be m-my rebound from Akari.”

“Am I your rebound?” Mari whispered.

“No!” Yukiko exclaimed. “You’re not but I don’t want you to think you are. I want this to mean something. I want this to be something. R-right now, if we stop we can throw this aside or blame it on alcohol or stress or whatever you want to use as an excuse and continue on as we were.” Mari didn’t interrupt. “It may s-sound hollow coming from m-me but we’re at a border that if we cross will make me want to keep going and see what this new land is. If you want to stay here and not cross i-it’s ok.” Please, Yukiko thought to herself desperately. Please want to come with me, Mari. Yukiko quivered at the touch of Mari’s skin on her inner thighs as she leaned back slightly, lowered her head, closed her eyes and held out a trembling hand toward Mari.

In that moment Mari looked at Yukiko as if seeing her for the first time. She didn’t look like the confident, beautiful, playful woman that strode onto the stage next to her every evening on tour. She looked like a fragile, vulnerable, frightened girl holding her hand out to someone she cared for, even though she was terrified she’d get rejected. Mari’s heart thumped harder still in her chest. She already knew her answer.

Yukiko felt Mari’s hand touch hers and draw it downward until she felt silk beneath her fingers. Yukiko opened her eyes to find her hand held gently to Mari’s breast. Yukiko looked up to find Mari staring at her.

“I want to discover this new country with you, Yukiko,” Mari declared, her eyes never leaving Yukiko’s.

“A-Are you sure, Mari?” Yukiko stammered, her heart soaring. Mari nodded.

“What do you think?” Mari whispered. Yukiko could feel Mari’s hard nipples pressing against the palms of her hands and another thrill of excitement coursed through her. She leaned forward and brushed her lips against Mari’s lips tenderly, fumbling for just a moment with the clasp of Mari’s bra before unhooking it. The fabric fell away, exposing Mari’s breasts fully. Leaning back Yukiko slipped her dress over her head and unhooked her own bra before lowering her eyes once more to Mari lying beneath her. “Please lead me on the first steps, Yukiko.” Mari murmured, nervous, excited, thrilled and frightened all at the same time.

“Gladly,” Yukiko whispered, leaning back down to kiss Mari’s lips. Yukiko’s nipples brushed against Mari’s and she felt all the strength leave her body as a flood of desire coursed through her. Mari’s breath caught in her throat and she felt her body react, shooting what felt like waves of fire from her nipples through her entire frame.