Limits Ch. 13

"How so?" Lucy was concerned by her friend's obvious nervousness. "What's the problem?"

"Lucy, when you and Beth... I mean... when she... when you... Look, I can't...."

"You can't what?" Lucy asked gently.

"It's the group sex thing. OK, call me a prude but I can't get off on it. It doesn't feel right."

"So you don't want us to come back after the club?"

"Of course I do! I want you all to come and I don't even mind us all being naked except... well, I'm not happy making love with anyone else but Jude," Karen said quite firmly.

"I'm not sure that what we do on Friday evenings comes under the heading of 'making love'," Lucy said thoughtfully. "Making love is what Mel and I do when we're alone together. Friday nights are more about having fun with a few close friends."

"Please, Lucy," Karen was getting quite upset by her friend's apparent lack of understanding. "A couple of weeks ago I'd never been in any sort of relationship and, for sure, no one had ever seen me naked. I certainly never even dreamed I'd be... be... doing the things we do. Now, all of a sudden, I'm having a hard enough time coming to terms with the fact my boyfriend is a girlfriend. I'm trying to be open-minded but... the whole group sex thing is too much for me. I'm sorry, I really am, but I can't help the way I feel."

"Hey, it's OK," Lucy replied, concerned at the growing anxiety evident on Karen's face. "Look, we all have limits and we all respect each other. No one's going to make you do anything you don't want to. It's going to make things a little complicated but we'll work round it. Shame though, I was looking forward to kissing that pretty little pussy of yours."

"Lucy!" Karen was horrified. "That's exactly what I mean. I don't feel happy with anybody touching me like that, well, anyone but Jude."

"OK, OK, I was only joking. Seriously, everyone is really pleased that Jude has found somebody and we love having you as our friend. We'll work it out, one way or another. You may find that Andy has one or two things to say but that's just her way. She's really nice once you get to know her."

"Oh, and there's another thing...."

"Another thing?" Lucy asked.

"It's my time of the month. I may not be ready for any sexy stuff by Friday; I'll probably still be a bit yucky."

"Come on, we're all girls together, we all understand that one. It comes up all the time. There are plenty of ways you can still join in, if you want to. If you don't then, well, we'll miss you but we'll understand."

"Thanks, Lucy, thank you for being so understanding." Karen was relieved that her fears were being allayed.

"Hey, don't be silly," Lucy replied. "It's great to have you with us." She reached over and gave Karen a hug. "Oh! Am I still allowed to do that?" she joked.

Karen blushed but didn't push Lucy away.

That night Karen and Jude spent hours on the phone just chatting. Karen was keen to tell all about how she had gone shopping with Lucy and Jude seemed keen to listen. Indeed, when Jude finally brought the call to an end Karen was amazed to find out how late it was. As she took herself off to bed she felt a bit happier than she had earlier. Jude had been understanding, compassionate, loving. OK, so, naturally, there had been some sexy flirting, it wouldn't be Jude without, but Karen had felt more like a partner and less like a one night stand.

And, as she tidied up the house and got ready for bed, she realised how much she was missing Jude. Her house, her little house, for so long her safe little hideaway, now felt empty. She felt an almost physical need to have Jude there, to look after her, to pamper her, to be her helpmeet and then, later, it would be Jude's turn to do the looking after.

Monday turned into Tuesday turned into Wednesday and, as the week passed, Karen found she was looking more and more towards the weekend. Jude had confirmed that they usually got let out of the course around midday, which meant she could catch the two o'clock from Euston and be home in time for the evening meal. Jude told Karen that she would pick her up from her house and that they would go out to eat together before going on to the club. Karen noted that, as ever, Jude was taking charge and making decisions for both of them. However she didn't demur.

All the while Karen was finding that there were subtle changes happening at work. On Tuesday, the first day in the new clothes she had purchased with Lucy, she had felt nervous when she looked at herself in the mirror before setting off but, once she got used to it, she found herself walking taller and more confidently. She got an extra boost when Mel came in.

"Hello, sexy," she said as she came over to Karen's desk.

"Do I... do I look OK?" Karen replied uncertainly.

"If I weren't in a committed relationship...," Mel started but, seeing the look on Karen's face, she quickly backed off with, "Only joking." And, with a quick wink, went off to her desk.

For all her boost in confidence, came the weekly staff meeting, there were still enough trouble makers among her staff to ensure that she had little respect and, once again, she found herself tongue tied. She tried to make a plea about following the rules on smoking breaks but it was pretty feeble and, as soon as the meeting was over, she saw them going off, flaunting the rules as ever. As she put together the weekly performance statistics, again there was no improvement and she knew she was in for a hard time from Susan, her supervisor.

And then, at last it was Friday. Karen felt on a high all day. In a matter of a few hours she would be seeing Jude again and the very thought made her heart sing. It felt good to feel good; after all the years of loneliness the anticipation of being with someone special was a new feeling. It wasn't just that she was no longer dreading the long lonely weekends, she knew that in a few short hours she'd be with Jude and that was all she wanted.

"Morning, Boss," Mel said as she came in the office. "Someone's in a good mood this morning. Would that have anything to do with a certain police constable returning home?"

Karen just smiled, blushing slightly.

"Looking forward to some hot sex tonight, are we?" Mel went on as she came over to chat.

"Please, Mel!" Karen said aghast. "Keep your voice down. Anyway I can't; I've got my monthlies."

For a moment they just paused, each amazed that Karen had been so candid.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to embarrass you." Karen started.

"Hey, it's OK, really." Mel reassured her. "You'd need to do far more than that to embarrass me. Remember, I've seen you naked."

Karen and Mel looked at each other and burst out laughing. There was something about her down-to-earth ways and her no nonsense language that made Mel refreshing and good to have around. Karen remembered that she had originally been scared of her. Now there was something more like mutual respect.

And then, as soon as it was four-thirty, Karen was off, back home and straight up to her bedroom to get ready. She had a quick bath and then went to her dressing table to put on her makeup and do her hair. She wanted to look her best, she wanted to look pretty; she wanted to be everything that Jude desired. She ran her fingers through her hair; there was nothing wrong with it per se but it was so dull. There wasn't much she could do about the colour but the cut was as boring as her clothes had been before Lucy had had her way. Still, she would do what she could.

She put on the dress that Jude had given her. Its open neckline showed off the necklace but, now she was not at work, this was what she wanted. She was proud to announce to the world that she was Jude's. As she sat at her dressing table brushing her hair, she could see the dog tag glinting. For all her fears that it seemed to scream out to the world her perverse and degraded status, she was stuck with it. If she were being realistic, she had to admit that you had to look quite closely to read the words on the tag and, around town of an evening, she'd be safe with Jude.

Her phone burst into life and the screen showed '1 message received'. It was, inevitably, from Jude saying that she was just setting off and would arrive in ten minutes. Karen's heart raced. She fussed around the house tidying, rearranging, anything until, finally, there was a knock on the door and, through the frosted glass she could see the figure of her lover. She rushed down the hallway, opened the door and let her in.

Jude grabbed Karen, pushed her back into the house, spinning her against the wall and pinning her there. Without a single word she took Karen's face in her hands and kissed her long and hard. Then Jude gathered her in and Karen felt her knees weaken as Jude's strong arms took her, held her, squeezed her. She felt herself surrender, she gave herself up and let Jude do her will. However as Jude reached for the hem of her dress, as her hand moved up Karen's thigh, reality returned.

"You're wearing panties. Have you been a naughty girl or does that mean that...?" Jude let the question hang.

"Sorry," Karen replied. "Aunty Flo is in town. Maybe tomorrow."

"Oh well. It doesn't stop me kissing you." Jude led Karen into the lounge, laid her on the sofa and climbed on top. "God I've missed you," she sighed before showing how much in more physical ways. It was a full half hour before they broke apart.

"I hope you're hungry," Jude said. "There's a new Italian just off the Fishergate. I've booked for seven thirty."

"Seven thirty? But it's only just gone six now." Karen responded. "What shall we do in the meantime?"

"I'm sure I'll think of something. Now where were we?" She said as she resumed kissing.

It was almost time to go when Jude finally released Karen from her clutches and Karen nearly panicked when she saw herself in the mirror over the fireplace. Her hair was all over the place and, as for her makeup; it needed reapplying from scratch. Despite Jude's impatience, Karen insisted on going up to her room to repair the damage until, at last, they set off for town.

Karen felt as if she was walking on air. Maybe it was the way Jude looked at her and fussed over her but she felt pretty as a picture in her new dress and shoes and, hand in hand with her lover, she was proud and happy as they made their way to the restaurant and later on to the club. And then, when they got there, she was now part of the crowd, greeted with warmth and friendliness. For the first time in ages she felt as if she belonged.