\u201cThis isn\u2019t the same tattoo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smiling, Andrea said, \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you wanted to practice Selena\u2019s tattoo,\u201d Michelina said, giving Andrea a curious look.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to practice my technique, not the pattern,\u201d Andrea said, taking the stencil from Michelina, \u201cthis one\u2026 I drew just for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust for me, huh?\u201d Michelina said, smiling warmly at Andrea, \u201cIs that why there are roses?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are your favorite,\u201d Andrea said, stealing a kiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are,\u201d Michelina said, smiling, \u201csomething to remember for Valentine\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe, I\u2019d rather have chocolate,\u201d Andrea said, holding the drawing so Michelina could see it, too, \u201cwhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, Chica,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty enough to have it on your side for a couple of weeks?\u201d Andrea asked, looking at the prepped henna paste.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely,\u201d Michelina said, taking the drawing from Andrea. Looking at it, she was smiling. When she looked back up at Andrea, she gave her a kiss and said, \u201cI can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, the paste is ready, if you are,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
Michelina stole one more kiss, before pulling her shirt up and over her head.<\/p>\n
Andrea took that to mean her girlfriend was ready, so she popped the cap on a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Pouring some on a paper towel, she quickly prepped the tattoo area. Michelina hissed as the cold towel touched her skin. Andrea gave her a sympathetic smile, said, \u201cSorry, Babe. I know it\u2019s cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the area clean, Andrea grabbed a second paper towel and wetted it with more alcohol. She popped the cap on a tube of Speed Stick deodorant, rubbing it generously on the damp towel. Done, she put the lid back on the deodorant and set it aside.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy the deodorant, again?\u201d Michelina asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps transfer the ink from the stencil,\u201d Andrea said, then laughed when the girl gave her a dubious look, \u201cI don\u2019t know why it works, but it does. Emma showed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shrugging, Michelina said, \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrea applied the alcohol\/deodorant mixture to Michelina\u2019s side, making sure to get a nice coating of it on her skin. Satisfied, she reached for her stencil. Lining it up, she pressed it to the girl\u2019s side and held it in place for a moment. She peeled one corner back, making sure the stencil was set, then removed it completely.<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh,\u201d Michelina said, looking down at the transfer, \u201cI guess I can\u2019t argue that works.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma did this with my first henna tattoo,\u201d Andrea said, smiling, \u201cshe didn\u2019t have any of her transfer gel at her apartment. Her ex-con girlfriend showed her how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laughing, Michelina asked, \u201cEmma was dating an ex-con?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA thirty-eight-year-old ex-con,\u201d Andrea added, laughing, \u201cthey used to get confused for mother and daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow old was Emma?\u201d Michelina asked, her eyes wide.<\/p>\n
\u201cEighteen-nineteen,\u201d Andrea said, grinning, \u201cso you couldn\u2019t blame them for the mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow,\u201d Michelina said, shaking her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma had a long list of bad girlfriends\u2026 Well, bad girl girlfriends,\u201d Andrea said, reaching for the henna paste and her applicator bottle, \u201clots of tattoos and lots of attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Andrea said, twisting the cap off the bottle, \u201cI was a little surprised when she started dating Selena.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey seem so perfect for each other,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, they are,\u201d Andrea agreed, smiling, \u201cSelena is just a lot different than Emma\u2019s past girlfriends. In a good way, trust me. Even my step-mom likes her, and she never likes the girls Emma dates.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI like Selena, too,\u201d Michelina said, then smiled as she changed the subject, \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see you in your bridesmaid dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are supposed to get it fitted in a couple of days. I haven’t even seen it, yet,\u201d Andrea said, crossing her fingers, \u201chopefully Emma doesn\u2019t pick something ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll look beautiful in whatever she picks,\u201d Michelina said, giving her a lingering kiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter stop that,\u201d Andrea husked, smiling at her, \u201cwe need to get this henna paste on your side, so it has time to set.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Michelina said, stealing one last kiss before stretching out on her back next to the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast chance to change your mind,\u201d Andrea said, scooping the paste into the bottle, \u201cI\u2019ll understand if you don\u2019t want to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just let it sit for twenty minutes,\u201d Andrea said, screwing the lid back on, \u201cit won’t be as dark if we don\u2019t leave it on as long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are leaving it on the full time,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
Meeting her eyes, Andrea said, \u201cAre you sure? It\u2019ll be like a month until it fades.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d Michelina said, smiling at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust don\u2019t get in trouble, okay,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t, Chica,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, Andrea squeezed the application bottle, making the first of many lines on her girlfriend\u2019s body. It was called tattooing, but it was more like decorating a cake. She had to maintain consistent pressure on the bottle, or her lines would become too thick or too thin. That was the hardest part. The second hardest was remembering she had to work from the middle outward so her hand wouldn\u2019t smear the design. The stencil helped. She couldn\u2019t imagine trying to freehand a design, building an elaborate masterpiece out from a single dot.<\/p>\n
Andrea had seen a video of an Indian woman putting a wedding tattoo on her friend\u2019s hands and the artist\u2019s skills had humbled her. A single four petal flower had become an entire work of art up her friend’s wrist, the woman working without a stencil. It hadn\u2019t looked improvised, but well thought out and planned, as if the artist could visualize the tattoo on her friend\u2019s untouched skin.<\/p>\n
Andrea doubted she\u2019d ever have that level of expertise, but she wasn\u2019t as clumsy with the applicator bottle as she thought she would be. The practice tattoos she had done on herself had bolstered her confidence some and, as the pattern began to emerge on Michelina\u2019s side, she was feeling better about doing Selena\u2019s for her wedding night.<\/p>\n
It was still a little nerve-wracking, though. It would be Emma\u2019s and Selena\u2019s first night as Mrs. and Mrs. Rosa. Andrea didn\u2019t want to sour that night for them with a bad tattoo, so she was putting a lot of pressure on herself to get it right.<\/p>\n
Thinking about her stepsister\u2019s soon-to-be last name, Andrea smiled and said, \u201cDid I tell you that Emma is taking Selena\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a funny story,\u201d Andrea said, laughing as she remembered how it went, \u201cthey were going to hyphenate their names, but it sounded goofy- Rosa-Thorne.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laughing, Michelina asked, \u201cSelena\u2019s last name is Rosa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Andrea said, grinning at her, \u201cthey thought it was too cute, so they ended up making me pick a number between one and ten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo they didn\u2019t,\u201d Michelina said, laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSelena won, so it will be Selena and Emma Rosa,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait, I thought your name is Kissinger,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma has a different last name than me,\u201d Andrea said, then smiled at Michelina, \u201cour name would be Kissinger-Vega or Vega-Kissinger if we decided to hyphenate our names.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelina smiled warmly at her, asked, \u201cThinking about getting married already?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI figured we\u2019d wait at least until we are out of high school,\u201d Andrea said, making a rose with the henna paste. Feeling Michelina looking at her, Andrea looked up from the tattoo. The girl looked amused, and Andrea gave her an embarrassed smile, said, \u201cAm I getting too far ahead of myself?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA little,\u201d Michelina said, putting her hand on the back of Andrea\u2019s neck and pulling her in for a kiss, \u201cbut I wouldn\u2019t mind being Mrs. Kissinger someday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo hyphen?\u201d Andrea asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just think Michelina Kissinger has a nice ring to it,\u201d Michelina said, smiling at Andrea.<\/p>\n
Leaning in for a kiss, Andrea said, \u201cWell, I won\u2019t fight you if you want to be Mrs. Kissinger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe after high school,\u201d Michelina said, playfully.<\/p>\n
—————————————-<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said she wants to be Mrs. Kissinger?\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrea sat in the passenger seat of Emma\u2019s car. They were going to the seamstress to fit Andrea for her bridesmaid dress, then to grab a bite of lunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Andrea said, smiling, \u201cI told her about how you and Selena decided on who was taking whose name, about the too cute Rosa-Thorne mash up. I sort of mention our name would be Vega-Kissinger or Kissinger-Vega. She said she\u2019d rather be Mrs. Kissinger\u2026 Well, after high school, maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma glanced away from the road for a second, then smiled, \u201cAfter high school, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just\u2026 you know,\u201d Andrea said, a little embarrassed, \u201cjust talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2026 a little under five years?\u201d Emma asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething like that,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think you\u2019ll still have the hots for each other by then?\u201d Emma teased.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d Andrea said, laughing.<\/p>\n
Emma smiled at her, said, \u201cPersonally, I think you two will still be together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d Andrea asked, looking at her. She thought the same thing, but she was curious why her stepsister thought so.<\/p>\n
Emma nodded, said, \u201cYou two just go together. You are like peanut butter and jelly.”<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so, too,\u201d Andrea said, smiling. She thought about asking Emma if that made her peanut butter or jelly, then decided against it. Seemed like she’d be setting herself up for a joke about her being nuts.<\/p>\n
Smiling, Emma said, \u201cMaybe it\u2019ll be my turn one day to help you pick out a ring for Michelina.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d Andrea said, smiling at the thought of hers and Michelina\u2019s wedding. Her mind started to wander, thinking about dresses and who would walk down the aisle, but Emma brought her back from her little daydream.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should get her a promise ring,\u201d Emma said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA promise ring?\u201d Andrea asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a\u2026 pre-engagement ring,\u201d Emma said, glancing at Andrea, \u201cit\u2019s a promise to be hers until you are ready to make it official.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh,\u201d Andrea said, thinking about that. Suddenly laughing, she asked, \u201cDid you ever buy a girl a promise ring?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t meet my soulmate in middle school like you did,\u201d Emma said, smiling, \u201cI just gave her an engagement ring.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAw,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
Laughing, Emma said, \u201cShut up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrea thought about it for a moment, then asked, \u201cDo you really think I should give her a promise ring?\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma shrugged, said, \u201cIt\u2019s just something to think about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides, you are the romantic of the family,\u201d Emma said, grinning at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a romantic,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Emma said, sarcastically, \u201cthe painting of you and Michelina\u2026 the matching tattoos when you came out at school\u2026 the paint incident…Yeah, you are definitely not a romantic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up,\u201d Andrea said, embarrassed.<\/p>\n
Emma put on her turn signal and turned into a little strip mall. She parked in front of Special Day Boutique. Turning off the car, she smiled at Andrea, asked, \u201cReady?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, yeah,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Emma said, opening her door.<\/p>\n
Following Emma into the boutique, Andrea looked around the flowery d\u00e9cor and had to smile. Emma and this place were like oil and water. Andrea found it hard to believe her stepsister had shopped here for her wedding dress and the dresses for her bridesmaids.<\/p>\n
The receptionist was a bubbly blonde with perfect makeup and a megawatt smile. Her smile faltered some when she saw Emma with her piercings and tattoos, but she recovered quickly. Without waiting for Emma to say anything, the receptionist picked up the phone and pushed a button. The line was picked up, and the woman said, \u201cStella? Your client is here for her fitting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma leaned close and said, \u201cI guess I\u2019m not their usual clientele.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you really buy your dress here?\u201d Andrea asked, dubiously.<\/p>\n
Laughing, Emma said, \u201cI\u2019ve known Stella since middle school. I\u2019m not sure I would have gotten in the door otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
The curtain to the dressing rooms drawn aside and a pretty brunette smiled at Emma and Andrea, waved them back.<\/p>\n
\u201cStella, this is my sister, Andrea,\u201d Emma said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet you, Andrea,\u201d Stella said, smiling at Amy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou too,\u201d Andrea said, stepping through the curtain, \u201cyou knew Emma since middle school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Stella said, laughing, \u201cshe had fewer tattoos back then, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFewer?\u201d Andrea asked, then looked at Emma, \u201cyou had tattoos in middle school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust the one,\u201d Emma said, grinning, \u201cI did it myself with a needle and ballpoint pen ink. God, it was horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave I seen it?\u201d Andrea asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Emma said, shaking her head, \u201cmy second tattoo covered it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright Andrea,\u201d Stella said, pointing at a padded bench outside one of the changing stalls, \u201chave a seat. I\u2019ll grab your dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting on the bench, Andrea wondered what sort of dress her stepsister had picked for her. With Emma being Emma, it was impossible to guess. Taking a deep breath, Andrea crossed her fingers and thought, please don\u2019t let it be ugly<\/em>.<\/p>\n Stella came back with a garment bag, hanging it on the hook in front of the dressing room. Andrea leaned forward as the woman ran the zipper down and pulled the bridesmaid dress out. When Stella turned with the dress, Andrea\u2019s shoulders fell. It was lime green with puffy sleeves. It wasn\u2019t just ugly; it was hideous.<\/p>\n This can’t be happening<\/em>, Andrea thought, unable to look away from the dress. It had the same gravity as a car wreck, drew her eyes even the fluorescent green made her a little nauseous.<\/p>\n Andrea heard Emma start laughing and she looked at her stepsister. She frowned when she saw Emma with her phone out and focused on her. When she saw Emma grinning, Andrea knew Emma was messing with her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not my dress, is it,\u201d Andrea said, giving her stepsister a sour look.<\/p>\n \u201cGod no,\u201d Emma said, laughing, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t make my worst enemy wear that thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSadly,\u201d Stella said, putting the dress back in the bag, \u201ca couple of poor women had to wear dresses just like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Andrea said, her eyes wide, “who would pick this?”<\/p>\n Stella gave her a sad shake of her head, said, \u201cI tried to dissuade the bride… showed her my entire catalog… even offered her a discount on another style, but she wouldn\u2019t change her mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose poor women,\u201d Emma said, making a face, \u201cI think I would have told the bride sorry, but I\u2019m not wearing that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of her bridesmaids did just that,\u201d Stella said, zipping the bag, \u201ctook herself right out of the wedding. This was her dress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s messed up,\u201d Andrea said. She wondered if the woman backing out of the wedding put a strain on their friendship. Then she wondered if the dresses wouldn’t have put more strain on the relationship. Andrea didn’t think she would still be friends with someone who made her wear a dress like that.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Stella said, then grinned at Andrea, \u201cluckily, your stepsister just wanted to have a little fun with you. Your real dress is stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost as stunning as mine, but not quite,\u201d Emma said, winking, \u201cwhich is how it should be. No one gets to outshine me\u2026 Well, maybe Selena.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me go get it,\u201d Stella said.<\/p>\n When the woman disappeared, Andrea gave Emma a dirty look, said, \u201cYou are an asshole.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Emma sat down beside her, held out her phone so Andrea could see the screen, and said, \u201cThe look on your face is priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n Shaking her head, Andrea said, \u201cYou\u2019d look crazy, too, if you thought you had to wear that dress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI asked Stella what was the ugliest dress she had,\u201d Emma said, laughing, \u201cshe didn\u2019t even have to think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod, I\u2019ve been so nervous about the dress you picked, and you pulled this…\u201d Andrea said, shaking her head.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone might have told me you were worried about the dress,\u201d Emma said, her smile widening.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMichelina,\u201d Emma said, then held up her hand, \u201cshe didn\u2019t know about the prank. She just said you were worried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou talked to Michelina?\u201d Andrea asked, surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Emma said, as Stella returned with another garment bag. Her stepsister waited until Stella unzipped the bag and pulled out the dress to say, \u201cI wanted to know what her favorite color was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s blue,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n Nodding at the dress Stella was holding up, Emma said, \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrea\u2019s breath caught in her throat when she looked at the dress. Putting her hand to her mouth, Andrea said, \u201cI- wow!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStunning right?\u201d Stella said, smiling at her.<\/p>\n Nodding dumbly, Andrea got up and took the dress from the woman. She stepped into the changing room, pulled the curtain. She heard Emma laugh and say, \u201cI guess she likes it.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrea did like it. It was an off the shoulder, floor-length gown in a pale blue color. Emma had said the dress was almost as stunning as her wedding dress and she was right. Andrea\u2019s hands were shaking a little as she changed out of the clothes she had worn here. The material of the dress was silky on her skin as she slipped into it. Smoothing it into place, she looked in the mirror, and her heart started racing.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s it going in there?\u201d Stella asked.<\/p>\n Gathering the dress up, Andrea stepped out of the changing room. Emma was smiling at her and Andrea did a slow turn.<\/p>\n \u201cMichelina is going to love it,\u201d Emma said, her smile widening.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Andrea said, going to her stepsister and hugging her.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t pick this dress for me\u2026 Or even you,\u201d Emma said, pulling back from the hug to smile at Andrea, \u201cI picked it for Michelina. I wanted her to see you wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking down at herself, Andrea said, \u201cShe really is going to love it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess this is the one, then,\u201d Stella said, pulling some safety pins out her pocket, \u201clet\u2019s see if we need to make any alterations.\u201d<\/p>\n ——————————————<\/p>\n As Andrea got close to their secret spot, she saw flickering flames in the husk of the burnt out building. Michelina had beat her there. Smiling, Andrea walked a little faster, eager to see her girlfriend, again. They had just seen each other at school, but that felt like ages ago.<\/p>\n Stepping into the hiding place, she found Michelina looking at the mural she had painted. Andrea moved behind the girl, wrapped her arms around her. Michelina melted back into her, and they stood like that for a while.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look so happy in this picture,\u201d Michelina said, the smile plain in her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Andrea said, squeezing her a little tighter.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long do you think a painting will last out here?\u201d Michelina asked.<\/p>\n \u201cEmma\u2019s has been here for three years, I think she said,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hasn\u2019t faded at all,\u201d Michelina said, looking at her stepsister\u2019s mural on the other still standing wall.<\/p>\n \u201cShe used acrylic paint and sealed it, same as I did,\u201d Andrea said, smiling, \u201cwe are going to be on that wall for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we\u2019ll still be this happy in three years?\u201d Michelina asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d Andrea said, kissing her girlfriend\u2019s neck, \u201cas long as you are my girl I\u2019ll be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning in Andrea\u2019s arms, Michelina smiled at Andrea and said, \u201cI would be happy, too. I love you, Chica.\u201d<\/p>\n Putting her arms around Michelina\u2019s neck, Andrea kissed Michelina tenderly. She pulled back and said, \u201cI love you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did it go at the seamstress?\u201d Michelina asked.<\/p>\n Andrea gave Michelina a look, asked, \u201cDid you talk to Emma about my bridesmaid dress?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Why?\u201d Michelina asked.<\/p>\n Andrea told Michelina about the practical joke Emma had pulled on her, having the seamstress show her the ugliest dress Andrea had ever seen. Giving her girlfriend a sour look, Andrea said, \u201cIt was hideous- lime green with big puffs on the shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelina said, \u201cI didn\u2019t know, I swear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d Andrea said, even though she believed her.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could have seen your face,\u201d Michelina said, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cAsk Emma to show you the video,\u201d Andrea said, shaking her head, \u201chell, it\u2019s probably on Youtube by now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Babe,\u201d Michelina said, kissing her, \u201cI was just trying to help. I didn\u2019t want you to have to wear a feo dress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeo?\u201d Andrea asked.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, ugly,\u201d Michelina said.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d Andrea said, smiling, \u201cluckily the real dress Emma picked out is beautiful. Not quite as beautiful as her wedding gown, but I think that\u2019s how it is supposed to work. At least, that\u2019s what Emma said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it look like?\u201d Michelina asked, her eyes shining with interest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to wait to the wedding to see it,\u201d Andrea said, playfully.<\/p>\n \u201cChica,\u201d Michelina said, giving her a dirty look.<\/p>\n \u201cEmma said she picked the dress out not for her or even me, but you,\u201d Andrea said, smiling at her girlfriend.<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d Michelina asked, frowning. Her eyes suddenly got wide, and she asked, \u201cIs it blue? Is that why Emma called and asked what my favorite color was?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Andrea teased.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are no buena, Chica,\u201d Michelina said, pulling away.<\/p>\n Smiling, Andrea reeled her back in and kissed her, said, \u201cI want it to be a surprise, Babe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelina said, sighing theatrically.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can I do to make it up to you?\u201d Andrea asked, her smile becoming playful. She ran her hand up Michelina’s arm suggestively.<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelina asked, \u201cDo you think it\u2019s that easy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n Michelina just looked at her a moment, then shook her head, \u201cYou are lucky you are so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrea laughed and kissed her. Taking Michelina\u2019s hand, she led her to the deck chair, sat down and pulled the girl side saddle into her lap. Their lips met, and Andrea knew she was forgiven for not telling Michelina about her dress. The kiss got heated in a hurry.<\/p>\n Running her hand up the inside of Michelina\u2019s thigh, Andrea drew a moan from the girl when her fingers found her bud through the jeans she wore. Michelina\u2019s legs parted a little, giving her easier access. Even through the denim, the pressure of Andrea\u2019s fingertips on Michelina\u2019s bud had her moaning into their kiss. Andrea popped the button on Michelina\u2019s jeans, ran the zipper down. The girl\u2019s soft sounds of excitement grew louder when skin touched skin, and there was nothing to dampen the caress of Andrea\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n Michelina broke the kiss, putting her forehead against Andrea\u2019s. In a breathy sigh, she said, \u201cThat feels so good.\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling, Andrea let her hand slip further into the girl\u2019s panties and eased her fingers inside of Michelina\u2019s ready pussy. Andrea thrust her fingers in and out slowly, forcing a moan from Michelina each time her fingers bit deep. When Michelina\u2019s body started pushing against Andrea\u2019s hand, she knew her girlfriend was ready for more. She let the pace increase, her fingers moving faster, deeper inside of Michelina. Each thrust of her fingers pushed Michelina closer to ecstasy, had her body writhing on Andrea\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n Michelina\u2019s fingers dug into Andrea\u2019s shoulder as she started to lose control of her body. Her cries of enjoyment grew sharper as tension began to build up inside. Andrea smiled because she knew her girlfriend was about to come. One, two, three more thrusts of her fingers and she felt the fluttering of Michelina\u2019s pussy as she climaxed. Andrea slowed but didn\u2019t stop, Michelina\u2019s hips jerking each time her fingers slipped deep inside. With no reprieve from the intense pleasure, Michelina\u2019s body succumbed to a second orgasm.<\/p>\n Andrea eased her fingers out of Michelina, gently massaging her bud to keep the lovely feelings working through her girlfriend\u2019s body. She smiled at Michelina when the girl finally pulled her head back. The girl looked a little dazed and out of breath, but she favored Andrea with a warm smile. Leaning in, Andrea kissed her, deeply.<\/p>\n \u201cStand up,\u201d Andrea said.<\/p>\n Michelina got to her feet, swaying a little. Laughing, she said, \u201cMy legs are like jello.\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling up at her, Andrea worked the jeans off Michelina\u2019s hips. She held Michelina\u2019s hand for balance as the girl kicked off her shoes and removed the jeans completely. Andrea admired the girl as she pulled her shirt up and off, too. She never got tired of looking at Michelina.<\/p>\n Her eyes went to the girl\u2019s side and, even by the light of the small fire and on Michelina\u2019s brown skin, she could see the deep red henna tattoo. It had set up nicely, and Andrea was proud of her work. She had been apprehensive about doing one for Selena\u2019s wedding night, but seeing the roses and thorny vines on Michelina\u2019s side and hip, she felt a lot better about it.<\/p>\n Tracing one of the vines with her fingertip, she said, \u201cThank you for letting me practice on you, Babe.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelina bent over and kissed Andrea, said, \u201cAnytime. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI like it, too,\u201d Andrea said, still tracing the lines on Michelina\u2019s skin. Smiling playfully at her girlfriend, Andrea said, \u201cI\u2019ll miss it when it\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelina kissed her, said, \u201cMe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelina helped Andrea out of her shoes, then reached in and popped the button on her jeans. Andrea lifted her backside off the cushion so that the girl could pull the pants off. Her panties came next, and they were tossed aside. Michelina grabbed Andrea\u2019s ankles, pulled her forward. Laughing, Andrea looked up at her girlfriend from her back. Smiling at her, Michelina kissed the knobby part of Andrea\u2019s ankle, then again on the curve of her calf and the sensitive spot on the inside of her knee. Michelina sank to her knees at the bottom of the lounger, placing a kiss on the inside of Andrea\u2019s thigh. Andrea shivered as the girl\u2019s lips just brushed against the baby fine hairs higher on her thigh. Goosebumps broke out on her legs, and her breathing got a little funny as she saw where this was headed.<\/p>\n Andrea moaned as Michelina\u2019s mouth found her bud. The hot caress of her tongue awoke delicious sensations inside of Andrea, ones that had her hips moving with a mind of their own. Her body wanted more, pushed against Michelina\u2019s mouth greedily.<\/p>\n Andrea bit her lip, but she couldn\u2019t keep her little animal sounds of excitement from escaping. She really wanted to be quiet, wanted to avoid drawing attention to them, but she couldn\u2019t. Michelina was making it impossible to hold in her cries.<\/p>\n Looking at the open end of the burned out building, Andrea\u2019s heart started beating faster. With only two still standing walls, this place wasn\u2019t the most private place to be doing this. The chance of being seen was both exciting and unnerving. The uneasy feeling that someone might be watching made sense, but she often wondered about the excitement she felt. Maybe there was a little exhibitionist inside of her that got a thrill from the danger.<\/p>\n Luckily, Michelina could do amazing things with her tongue and could distract Andrea from her imagined audience. Then the girl eased two fingers into her and Andrea forgot about everything but the pleasure the girl was giving her. Michelina found that magic spot inside of Andrea, teased it with her fingertips. The dueling sensations of her hot tongue and the delicious pressure on her g-spot drove Andrea\u2019s body crazy.<\/p>\n Those two separate sensations melded into one toe-curling, mind-melting one and Andrea knew she it couldn\u2019t last. Nothing this good ever could. It didn\u2019t take long for tension to enter her body, building and building like a water balloon on a faucet. There was only so much of this that Andrea could take and she was already at her limit. That tension got to its critical point, and she cried out as pleasure exploded through her. Her orgasm had its way with her, left her a puddle of happy nerve endings.<\/p>\n Michelina pushed Andrea\u2019s shirt up, and Andrea sat up so she could remove it, then her bra. Completely naked now, Andrea\u2019s eyes went to the missing walls, again. Feeling exposed, she thought, We need to do something about this place<\/em>.<\/p>\n That was the beginning and the end of the thought as she was distracted by Michelina, again. The girl crawled onto the lounger, lifted one of Andrea\u2019s legs up onto her shoulder, then moved forward until their bodies came together very intimately. Figuring out what Michelina had in mind, Andrea wetted her fingers with saliva to ease the friction between their bodies. The first roll of Michelina\u2019s hips brought a moan to Andrea\u2019s lips and the second forced it out of her. Again, the girl made it impossible to be quiet.<\/p>\n The crackling fire cast deep shadows on Michelina\u2019s lovely body as she moved. The effect was very sensual and incredibly sexy. Andrea couldn\u2019t look away from dancing shadows on Michelina\u2019s taut stomach as she continued to push against her. Mesmerized, she lost herself in the beautiful roll of the girl\u2019s hips.<\/p>\n Michelina hugged Andrea\u2019s leg to her, used it as leverage to really grind their bodies together. The lovely pressure on her bud had Andrea\u2019s nerve ending begging for more, and she clutched at Michelina\u2019s thigh, pulling her forward even harder. Their coupling became frantic in their growing excitement.<\/p>\n Andrea hadn\u2019t had time to recover from the orgasm Michelina had given her with her mouth and fingers, and already she felt another creeping up on her. Michelina either heard it in her cries or just knew Andrea well enough to know she was about to come because she really bore down on Andrea\u2019s bud. Andrea cried out as her body went crazy, then gasped as Michelina didn\u2019t even slow down. Andrea\u2019s breath caught in her throat as Michelina\u2019s body ground relentlessly against hers. The intense pleasure of her orgasm didn\u2019t subside, and her fingers dug into Michelina\u2019s thigh. She couldn\u2019t get the air out of her lungs to draw another breath, it felt so good. Too good, really Andrea realized as a second orgasm took her.<\/p>\n Michelina cried out and stiffened atop her. Even through the haze of her own ecstasy, Andrea realized the girl was coming. The orgasm shook Michelina, then there was a blessed stillness of their bodies. Andrea finally managed to draw a new breath, her whole body trembling.<\/p>\n With a dazed little laugh, she met Michelina\u2019s eyes. The girl was gasping for air, but she managed to smile at Andrea. Leaning in, she kissed Andrea tenderly.<\/p>\n \u201cBabe,\u201d Andrea said, appreciatively. It was one word, but it spoke volumes.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelina agreed, getting off of Andrea. She sat on the side of the lounger, still trying to catch her breath.<\/p>\n Sitting up, Andrea ran her hand over her girlfriend\u2019s back. Smiling, she said, \u201cYou are all sweaty.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelina kissed her, said, \u201cThat was a workout.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was amazing,\u201d Andrea said, kissing her shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelina said, smiling at her, \u201cwe are pretty good at that.\u201d<\/p>\n With a warm smile, Andrea kissed her.<\/p>\n ————————————<\/p>\n Lying on the lounger with the naked girl in her arms, Andrea smiled. As amazing as the sex was, she thought she craved this even more. Michelina\u2019s warm body molded against hers just felt right. Most nights, she wished she could sleep here because she missed the feel of Michelina\u2019s soft skin when she was alone in bed.<\/p>\n Really, she just missed Michelina when she wasn\u2019t around, whatever the circumstances. No sooner did she say goodbye, did she want to say hello, again. She never expected to be so hopelessly in love with a girl, but she was.<\/p>\n Emma\u2019s right<\/em>, Andrea thought, kissing Michelina\u2019s head, she is my soulmate<\/em>. Smiling, she wondered how much a promise ring cost.<\/p>\n Continue to Part Eight<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t the same tattoo.\u201d Smiling, Andrea said, \u201cI know.\u201d \u201cI thought you wanted to practice Selena\u2019s tattoo,\u201d Michelina said, giving Andrea a curious look. \u201cI wanted to practice my technique, not the pattern,\u201d Andrea said, taking the stencil from … Continue reading