Kim Pritekel - Crossing Lines

"I would come out here all summer, spend hours and hours out here." She grinned over at Nina. "Guess all that yard work I did for you paid off, huh?"

"Definitely. I would have loved to see this in all its glory, before the cold began to set in." The brunette looked around, imagining in her mind's eye what it must have smelled like, being surrounded by so many different types and flowers.

"Guess you'll just have to see it next summer."

"Guess so."

The house was beautiful, various pieces of art- those made by Kansas and by other artists- were scattered throughout. Nina was led through a home office, a master bedroom, which she only peeked into, and finally an art studio that was the entire basement. Naked canvases were leaned against walls, old coffee cans were set out on a table, filled with various types of brushes, all well-used and cared for.

Standing off to one side, next to a large light and a fan, stood an easel, its canvas covered by a white sheet.

"Is this your newest work?" Nina asked, indicating the canvas. Kansas nodded, hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans, rocking on the balls of her feet. "May I, master artist?"

Kansas chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, indecisive, but then nodded, taking a deep breath. "Go ahead."

Nina flipped the sheet up and over the large canvas, her breath catching at what she revealed. Her image from eight years ago, reclining on the couch. The sari she had worn, barely covering her breasts, and her head turned away. The sensual lines of the work, the amazing definition and detail. It took her a moment to catch her breath. When she turned to Kansas, she saw the shy smile on the blonde's face.

"I've been working on that one for about five years," Kansas said softly. Little bits here and there. Seeing you again, well, it kind of rekindled the fire for that piece of work, I guess."

"That's exactly how you drew me," Nina said, her voice soft. "Where's the version you did for yourself? The one your mom told me about."

Kansas grinned, looking down at her bare feet. "I threw those out a long time ago."

"Why?"

The blonde took a moment to answer, but when she did, she met Nina's gaze. "Because I knew they couldn't compare to the real thing."

Nina's breath caught, her heart pounding. "You always made me feel so good about myself," she whispered. "So beautiful, smart. I honestly don't think anyone has ever made me feel like a woman. At least, not the woman that you see."

Kansas smiled, looking down, bangs falling into her eyes. "I have a small confession to make," she said, her voice barely audible. "I haven't been in a relationship, at least nothing solid, all these years because you've been my standard since I was 17." She looked up, looking deeply into Nina's eyes. "No one compared to you. Ever."

Nina was deeply touched by the honesty and sincerity she saw in Kansas' eyes. She meant it. She made a decision, and didn't plan to go back from it. Walking over to Kansas, who still stood rooted, she reached a hand out, resting it on the blonde's arm. She looked down, seeing where her long fingers met the blue of the sweater fabric. She ran her hand up a thick bicep to a strong shoulder.

"Since when did you get all this muscle?"

"Since I quit smoking six years ago." Kansas grinned at the disapproving look on the brunette's face. "Hey, at least I quit. I had to have something to focus my energy on."

The hand made its way up over the blonde's jaw until finally gentle fingers brushed hair out of green eyes. Kansas' eyes closed briefly at the touch, but quickly opened again to find themselves pinned with intense blue. Nina could feel her heart pounding as she looked deep into all that Kansas was, written there in her eyes. The younger woman always had such expressive eyes. Locked inside that gaze she saw desire, deep caring and. . . fear.

Brining her other hand up, Nina cupped Kansas' face. "Why are you so afraid?" she whispered, feeling the body heat pour off the younger woman.

"You scare me," Kansas said, trying to swallow her fears.

"Why? What could I possibly do to you?"

"Hurt me." Kansas lowered her head. "You're the only one who has." She was brought back up by two fingers under chin.

"I'm so sorry, Kansas. I truly am," she murmured as she pressed soft lips to the blonde's forehead. She felt tentative fingers rest on her hips, which made her move her body a bit closer. "I hope you know I never meant to hurt you like that," she said, placing anther soft kiss to one closed eyelid. "I was trying to do what I thought was best at the time." A kiss to the other eyelid.

"I-" Kansas stopped herself, taking a deep breath.

"You, what?" Nina pulled back just enough to look into the blonde's slowly opening eyes. She thought Kansas had the cutest dreamy expression on her face.

"I want to kiss you," the blonde whispered. Nina felt the words all the way down to the core of who she was. Looking down into her face, Nina realized that nothing had ever felt so right as the thought of being kissed by Kansas in that moment.

Kansas looked into Nina's eyes, trying to read the hidden message she knew she saw in them. Taking a chance, she tightened her grip on the brunette's hip with one hand, bringing the other up to cup the strong jaw, only to ease it around to the back of Nina's neck. Slowly bringing the darker head down to meet hers, Kansas closed her eyes, anticipating the softness of the full lips that had haunted her throughout her 20s. When Nina didn't move away, she relaxed into the kiss, moving slightly closer to deepen the contact.

Nina felt everything click into place- her desires, her wants and her needs, all wrapped up in one very talented little blonde- in that kiss. She buried her fingers in soft, blonde hair as she tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss even more. She smiled inside when she heard Kansas' sigh of enjoyment.

Kansas wrapped her arms around Nina, pulling their bodies flush. The body heat between them was immense, both nearly burned by it. Nina gave out a little whimper/gasp at the first touch of Kansas' tongue against her own. She responded immediately, leaning into the firm softness that was Kansas.

After long moments, the kiss broke, both needing to breathe. Nina rested her forehead against Kansas', trying to get herself under control. It wasn't working. Her sex pulsed with want, skin almost painfully sensitive to the touch. All he could do was flex her fingers in blonde hair rhythmically, unsure how to voice her desires. Finally Kansas did it for her.

Without a word, the blonde took Nina's hand in hers, leading them through the basement studio, shutting off lights as she went. When they reached the main level of the house, she headed toward the hallway that would lead to the bedrooms, pausing to glance over her shoulder at Nina to get a feel for what she was thinking or feeling. Did she realize where she was taking her? Nina urged her on with a quick squeeze of her fingers.

Nina's heart was racing almost frighteningly fast, though she was surprised that it wasn't fear that pulsed through her veins- she felt no fear at all as she followed Kansas down the long, dim hallway, ending in the large master bedroom, where she'd peeked her head in only a short while before. Standing just inside Kansas' bedroom, she broke the silence.

"Will your dogs be okay if you stay here tonight?"

Nina was touched by the question and concern. She smiled, nodding. "I left down plenty of food and piddle pads." They both chuckled to break a bit of the tension in the air, but soon, need ran supreme once more. Kansas, still holding Nina's hand, brought her over to the king-sized bed, gently pushing the brunette to lie back on it.

"How many women have been here before me?" she asked, somewhat leery as her inexperience came back to the forefront of her thoughts.