The next evening Linda came over to Alma's apartment and brought Swiss chocolates and a bottle of French red wine. Alma opened the door wearing a colorful shalwar kameez and as Linda entered the modest lounge and saw the dining table set for two. She noticed that there were candles and a couple of wineglasses on the table so without hesitation presented Alma with the chocolates saying they were for dessert and then took out the bottle of wine saying she hoped that Alma liked red wine. Alma said that she hadn't expected these gifts and had a bottle of chilled white wine ready, so Linda said that two bottles were better than one and the night was still young and asked Alma to uncork the red wine and allow it to "breathe". Alma lit the candles and turned off the bright overhead lights saying that the food she had cooked was best consumed slowly in a relaxed atmosphere and filled their glasses with white wine. They toasted each other and drank the first glass of wine before eating the lentil soup Alma had prepared. Linda refilled the glasses and they sipped the wine looking at each other for a long moment without saying a word. Alma got up from the table and brought the main course while Linda refilled their glasses once again emptying the bottle of white wine. They drank the last of the white wine while eating slowly and talked a little about themselves. Linda asked Alma if she had been married and Alma answered that educated women in Pakistan who pursued a professional career were not regarded as good wives because most Pakistani men preferred to have their woman at home to take care of their needs and raise the family. She shyly admitted that she was having a relationship with one of her co-workers, a physicist at PINSTECH where she too worked as an engineer. She added that he was not the typical Pakistani chauvinist male as he had spent some time living in England and was an exceptionally gifted scientist. Linda smiled and said that she understood perfectly what Alma was talking about and said that in her college days she had tried having relationships with men but found them to be self-centered and childish without any understanding of her own needs. She surprised Alma by saying that the attitude of most American men towards independent career women was not that different. She added that she felt more comfortable in the company of strong-willed women than with men. By then the bottle of red wine was also empty and the two women were a bit tipsy. Linda stood up and said that she had to leave as it was getting late and Alma also rose from the table and walked over to Linda and said that she enjoyed the evening tremendously. Linda gave her a short perfunctory hug that turned into a close full-bodied embrace. Linda, who was a couple of inches taller gently kissed the top of Alma's head and when Alma turned her head up to look into Linda's eyes their lips met for an instant. Alma had never kissed a woman before and stood motionless for a minute before responding to Linda's delicate lips and their kiss became passionate. Linda who had some experience with women pulled back slightly and looked directly into Alma's eyes, and said that she'd better leave now but that they should meet again and the next time she would cook dinner for Alma. One last hug and she was gone. Alma stood staring at the door wanting to call Linda to return but feeling strange and embarrassed at the way her body responded to Linda's kisses. Linda too had an urge to return to the apartment but thought that there was potential for a long term relationship that she did not want to spoil by being overly aggressive.
The following week Linda called Alma and invited her to dinner. She thought that having a relationship, she did not regard this as an affair, with a lovely woman who worked for PINSTECH would allow her to combine business and pleasure. She was sure that Alma would be in great trouble if word got out that she was involved with an American woman, albeit with a CIA operative. Alma hesitated before accepting the dinner invitation as she was aware of the potential complications with her employer and the Pakistani counter-intelligence service, but she was intrigued and attracted by the very thought of having a relationship with another woman. She felt that this could be the excitement she found lacking in her affair with Anwar. Finally she reached a decision and called Linda saying that she would be delighted to see her again.
Linda answered the doorbell with a smile and as soon as the door closed behind Alma she embraced her in her powerful arms. Alma gasped from excitement as well as from the strong squeeze and clung onto Linda's shoulders and neck. Linda pulled back slightly and hand in hand led Alma to the dining table upon which as assortment of salads was laid out. She poured two glasses of wine and pointed at the chicken salad, egg salad, Waldorf salad and some cold cuts and other salads and said that she was not really a great cook. Alma sipped her wine and smiled saying that no one was perfect and she was glad that were together. After eating a little and drinking a lot of wine the two women sat close to each other on the narrow sofa and Linda told Alma that in the US this type of sofa was called a "love seat". Alma laughed and said that the name was perfect and cuddled up to Linda leaning her head on Linda's shoulder. Linda caressed her gently and patted her on the head while Alma purred quietly like a cat and put her arms around Linda. They exchanged long deep kisses on the sofa until Linda stood up, helped Alma to her feet and gently led her to the bedroom. The scented candle that was lit there spread a delicate aroma that was intoxicating. Linda slowly undressed Alma lingering and kissing every inch of brown bare skin that came into view while remaining fully dressed. Alma moaned softly at first and then more and more loudly as Linda bent down and kissed her exposed breasts and erect dark nipples, working her way down her tight stomach and to the curly black hair between her thighs. Alma pulled Linda up and started to remove her clothes. The sight of Linda's ivory white breasts with the dark aura around her nipples made her catch her breath before continuing to remove the designer jeans and underwear from Linda's lithe body. Linda sat on the bed and lay down inviting Alma to join her. Alma said that she had never been intimate with a woman and didn't know what to do but Linda told her not to worry about that and just behave naturally — and she will lead the way. Linda started gently caressing Alma's taut body moving slowly from her head, to her face and neck and then further down staying longer in regions where she felt Alma respond strongly. Her hands and lips, and especially her tongue, drew groans as Alma wriggled and started shaking in rhythmic undulating motions. Suddenly Linda stopped moving and Alma's writhing grew stronger and her moaning grew louder and as soon as Linda moved again Alma's body shook in a series of orgasm that left her breathless. Linda started caressing herself and when she saw that Alma recovered took her hand and guided it to the short blond hair at the pit of her abdomen. Alma's fingers found the wet opening between Linda's thighs and automatically massaged the enlarged clitoris bringing tears of joy and pleasure to Linda's eyes. Linda clasped Alma's hand and held it tight while she reached an orgasm. After that the two women kissed each other very gently and cuddled on the bed. The sight of Alma's limbs with their dark skin mingled with Linda's white limbs would have sent every photographer or artist into a frenzy had one been around to record the sight.
Linda invited Alma to spend the night with her and the two women fell into a sound sleep hugging each other. In the morning, after going to the bathroom and having a cup of coffee, they shyly looked at one another, kissed for a while and then made love again. Alma said that she had to go home because she invited Anwar to lunch and an afternoon tryst, saying that she had never experienced with him what they had together. Linda, now reverting to her job as a CIA operative, said that she was not jealous or even bothered by Alma's affair with Anwar because no man could ever feel what they had just shared. She added that they would have to hide their relationship even from their colleagues and friends or else they would get into trouble. After Alma left Linda went to the drawer in the dresser opposite the bed and removed the memory chip from the camera she had installed there. She inserted it into her laptop computer and watched the whole bedroom scene again — enjoying every moment — and then removed it and stored it among her lingerie. She hoped she would never have to use it for blackmailing Alma, whom she really liked, but her ingrained training took over and she made sure that she could always gain the upper hand in her relationship with Alma.