They walked away in silence, Kara with her hands shoved in her pockets, Ginny’s folded securely under her arms. When they reached the trailhead, the sun was already past the trees and shadows covered the path as they entered the forest. They were both silent as they walked.
"Are you upset with me?" Ginny finally asked.
"No."
"Then why won’t you talk to me?" Ginny asked.
"What should I say? That Phil’s a nice guy?" Kara thought she hated him.
"No. That’s not what I mean. You’re being difficult," Ginny accused.
"I’m being difficult? I didn’t even what to come here this evening," she said. "I didn’t want to see you with him. To see him touch you like that."
"Yes, it was a mistake," Ginny said. "You were right."
They walked on, slowly, along the path, both struggling with their thoughts.
"Have you enjoyed his company?" Kara finally asked.
Ginny ignored her question, instead, she pointed to the massive tree up ahead. "The Big Tree," she said.
"Jesus," Kara murmured and she bent her head back, trying to find the top as it disappeared into the sky. "That’s one big tree."
Ginny smiled, but it faded when she met Kara’s blue eyes. "Have you enjoyed his company?" Kara asked again.
"Don’t, Kara," Ginny said softly. She walked on, up to the base of the giant and leaned against it.
"You’ve slept with him?" Kara asked.
Ginny closed her eyes, not wanting to discuss Phil. Not now.
"Haven’t you?" Kara asked again.
"He’s sharing my room, yes," Ginny said.
"He’s made love to you?"
Ginny looked away, her hands reaching out to touch the rough bark. Made love? No. She wouldn’t call it that. Kara gripped her forearms hard and turned her around to face her.
"I’m just so… lost," Ginny whispered. "I don’t have a say in anything. He acted like we hadn’t been apart at all."
Kara stared at her, blue eyes peering into green. "Did he make love to you like I did?" Kara asked, her eyes holding Ginny prisoner.
"Kara…"
"Did you ask him to? Did you want him to?"
Ginny trembled under Kara’s angry gaze, but she couldn’t look away.
Kara pushed Ginny roughly against the tree, holding her there. "Did you want him the way you wanted me?" she whispered, pressing her body against Ginny. "Did you beg him to put his mouth on you?"
Ginny shook her head, her breath coming quickly through her parted lips.
"Did he make you feel the way that I did?" Kara demanded and she moved her face to Ginny’s, foreheads touching as their breath whispered against each other.
Ginny closed her eyes and waited for Kara’s bruising, angry kiss. But the lips that touched hers were soft and gentle, not angry and Ginny’s mouth opened to her, her hands moving to Kara’s face.
"Ginny… I can’t stand this," Kara whispered. She covered Ginny’s breasts with urgent hands, cupping them softly, feeling the nipples strain against her palms. "The thought of him touching you… like this," she whispered, her voice trailing away as she kissed Ginny. "Ginny, did you feel this with him? Were your breasts ready for his touch, like they are mine?" she demanded.
"No, Kara… never like you," Ginny whispered into her mouth. "Never like you."
Kara held her close, her hands cupping Ginny’s hips, pressing them to her, trying to make Ginny see how it was with them, how it could never be with anyone else. But Ginny’s hands wouldn’t still. They took Kara’s face and brought her mouth close and she moaned softly when their tongues touched.
"I want you so much," Ginny whispered urgently. "Kara, please." Ginny’s chest heaved as if she’d been running and she clutched Kara to her. "I need you," she whispered. "I need you to make love to me."
"Ginny… don’t," Kara warned.
"I mean it," she said and she took Kara’s hand and shoved it between her legs. "Touch me."
Kara could feel her wetness through her shorts and she was lost. She pressed Ginny against the tree and unbuttoned her shorts in one quick motion, her hand pushing past the waistband with ease. Ginny’s legs parted and Kara’s fingers moved through her wetness, touching her so gently that Ginny nearly cried.
"Oh, God."
"Ginny…" Kara breathed against her mouth.
Ginny’s legs failed to support her and she clung to Kara, her back arched against the rough bark of the giant tree. She had never wanted like this, never needed like this and she held Kara’s hand to her, harder.
"Yes."
Kara’s tongue in Ginny’s mouth matched the rhythm of her fingers and she held Ginny as she rocked against her, bringing her closer to orgasm.
"Ginny? Kara?" a voice called to them from the forest trail.
Kara froze at the sound of Phil’s voice as it carried through the trees. He was looking for them.
Ginny grabbed Kara’s neck and pulled her back to her. "Please, don’t stop," she begged. "Don’t stop."
"Ginny," Kara whispered. "Phil is coming."
"I don’t care about him. I need you." Ginny’s hands guided Kara’s mouth back to hers. "Don’t stop, Kara. Not now."
Kara moved on her again, her fingers frantic now and Ginny arched against her hand, her body convulsing, throbbing and Kara swallowed her scream, sliding down the base of the tree with Ginny as her legs gave way.
"Kara," Ginny sighed and she let her tears fall. "I’m so sorry," she whispered. "I’m so sorry."
"Ginny? Kara?" Phil called again.
"We’re coming," Kara yelled to him and she saw the beam of his flashlight through the trees and she just now realized how dark it had become.
"Kara, I’m sorry I made you do that," Ginny whispered against her mouth. "I just… needed you. I needed your touch."
Kara took her face in gentle hands. "You don’t ever have to be sorry for wanting me that way," Kara said and she wiped the tears from Ginny’s eyes with her thumbs. "Come on. We’ve got to get back."
Ginny let herself be pulled to her feet and she stood by numbly as Kara’s hands came to her and tucked her shirt back into her shorts. Oh, God, she thought. I’m in love with her.
"Ginny, honey, come on," Kara urged. "He’s coming."
Oh, Lord. A simple endearment can melt my heart. I love her, Ginny thought again. And on the heels of that: What have I done?
Kara took her hand and pulled her along the trail just as Phil’s light came into view. Their hands dropped immediately and they took a step apart.
"There you are," he said. "We were getting worried a bear had eaten you or something."
Ginny couldn’t find her voice and Kara spoke for them. "We got to talking and just lost track of time," she said.
"Well, come on. Nana’s starving." He draped a possessive arm around Ginny’s shoulders and walked ahead of Kara. Kara watched them, watched as Ginny’s legs attempted to keep up with Phil’s. She hated him.
"I was getting worried," Nana said. "It gets dark quickly in the forest."
"You know how girls can talk," Phil said.
"Open the wine, Phil," Nana said. "I’m going to celebrate." She smiled and clasped Ginny’s hands. "Why didn’t you tell me?" she asked.
"Tell you what?" Ginny asked weakly.
"That you’re getting married! Phil told me you talked about it yesterday. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it," she said.
"Married?" Ginny repeated in a hushed whisper. Her eyes flew to Phil, then, more importantly, to Kara.
"Isn’t it exciting, Kara? I suppose Ginny told you all about it in the woods," Nana said excitedly.
Kara couldn’t breathe and her eyes moved slowly to Ginny. "Yes," she managed. "Wonderful."
Phil walked up, practically beaming and Kara felt as humiliated as she ever had in her life. She forced a smile to her face and offered her hand to him. "I suppose congratulations are in order, then." She wondered if he could still feel Ginny’s wetness on her fingers.