"At First I was Afraid"

The Dumbarton Room of the Four Seasons Hotel was overflowing with
people.

Earlier that afternoon Sam Seaborn, Deputy Communications Director,
and Mallory O'Brien, teacher, had been married at the National
Cathedral in front of probably three hundred guests.

The guests had momentarily finished the Wedding Breakfast and were
now milling around, congratulating the couple and waiting for the
evenings' celebrations to begin.

Ainsley watched as the Bridegroom took his wife's hand and led her
around the room, meeting and greeting their guests. She was trying to
be happy for them but somewhere inside her it wasn't working.
Reaching for the half empty bottle of Merlot, she poured herself a
fresh glass.

Everyone had thought it would be her, who Sam walked up the aisle
with. And maybe it would have been if she hadn't been the token
republican on the staff and Mallory wasn't Leo's daughter. Of course
she knew they had dated before, but everyone had said it was over,
that Sam had screwed it up once and Mal wasn`t a forgiving girl.
Something must have changed because suddenly they were the darling
couple of Washington's society papers and announcing their engagement.

The White House grapevine had gone into overdrive. The Deputy
Communications Director marrying the Chief of Staff's daughter. Then
there had been all the speculation about the wedding -- where, how
big, how soon, along with the concerns that it had to be a shotgun
wedding.

As it turned out it was a marriage of love. Sam had proposed, mainly
because he was desperate not to let her slip away again, but also
because he truly loved Mallory and wanted to spend the rest of his
life with her.

Women everywhere were devastated that the most eligible bachelor in
DC was now unavailable, quite a few of them in that very room. The
problem was it was hard to hate Mallory, not that Ainsley hadn't
tried.

No wonder Mallory was thin, Ainsley thought, after eating the three-
course meal. It had been merely an appetizer and the buffet wasn't
due to be served for another four hours. Back home in North Carolina,
they would still be tucking into one of eight courses, and the food
would just keep on coming all night. At least that's how Ainsley's
family did weddings.

She sighed out loud and sipped at the wine.

Carol approached her cautiously and took a vacant seat. "Is there any
wine left?"

Ainsley tore her attention from Sam and handed over the last of the
bottle.

"Thanks. So he's finally off the market then?" Carol commented,
watching as Ainsley returned to watching her former boyfriend.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me for my rudeness. You're CJ's assistant, Carol.
You are, she tells me, a very good assistant."

Carol smiled and raised her glass. "My spelling sucks."

"But you have other talents, yes?" Ainsley asked, losing sight of Sam
and focusing on her companion.

"Many." She waited a beat before asking, "Did you think it would be
you?"

Ainsley lifted her glass to her lips and said nothing.

"Seems to me half the women in Washington are intent on getting drunk
tonight, because of our Sam. The other half are trying to get laid."

Ainsley snorted into her glass.

Carol, not wanting to sit in silence added, "The hotel is fully
booked."

"I couldn't afford it even if I wanted to." Ainsley's eyes held a
glazed quality that was only tempered by the lusterless air she
displayed as she searched for Sam.

"Not holding a torch for Sam myself, I thought I should stick with
the traditions of weddings and get drunk, maybe later I'll work on
getting laid," Carol chuckled dryly, draining the glass and picking
up various bottles on the table before discarding them.

"They're all empty, I've tried."

Carol appraised the young blonde woman and decided to cheer her up.
CJ was ignoring her, choosing to be politically correct by flirting
with Toby, and the rest of the room was distinctly too straight laced
for her taste.

"I have an idea," Carol grinned.

"I'm listening."

"Josh has the keys to the Bridal suite, and Josh is more than a
little tipsy," Carol whispered, leaning in conspiratorially. "So how
about we get the key and . . ."

"Go upstairs."

"Yeah, raid the mini bar, order a movie."

"Steal the toiletries," Ainsley agreed.

"If you want to, that is?" Carol asked, hesitantly, toying with her
wine glass.

Ainsley glanced across the room and caught sight of Sam kissing his
wife. "Let's go."

Carol grinned and picked up her purse.

The two women wove their way across the room in the direction of Josh
and stopped.

"Josh," Carol called, smiling and pulling her dress down to give him
more than a hint of her ample cleavage.

"Carol," he said, throwing his arms out and hugging her. At the point
in the evening he was hugging everyone, even the First Lady, which to
Jed's disgust, had left her grinning happily.

Carol slipped her hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and
removed the key card. As she pulled away she winked at
Ainsley. "We're just going to get some air. Won't be long."

Once in the lobby the women high-fived. "Like taking candy from a
baby."

*****

Carol stepped out of the elevator and waited for Ainsley to follow.

The blonde woman took hesitant steps as they moved down the corridor
towards the Bridal Suite.

They stopped at the door to the suite and Carol slid the card into
the slot. The light flashed green and she turned the knob.

The Bridal Suite was spacious and newly remodelled in warm spicy
colors. Someone had also gone all out to make it romantic for the
newlyweds, the lights turned down low, flowers on the dresser and a
fruit basket in the window..

Carol stuck her head into the bathroom and took stock of the array of
shampoos and soaps along the vanity. Two terrycloth robes hung on the
back of the door and she fingered the sleeves of one of them as she
imagined herself climbing out of the bath and enveloping herself in
it. She headed into the main room.

Ainsley's head was disappearing into the mini bar, and the clinking
of bottles could be heard. "Moet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Vodka . . ."

"Ainsley?" Carol called, flopping onto the bed. "Just grab anything."

The blonde head reappeared grinning. "Champagne, and . . .," she
added, pulling the cellophane off the fruit basket, "Strawberries."

"Excellent. Serves him right for marrying her."

Her response was silence as Ainsley lifted the lid on the box of
chocolates and began to suck the chocolate from around the
centers. "Praline, I love pralines."

"We've only just finished dinner," Carol groaned, kicking her heeled
sandals across the room. "You can't be hungry."

"Starving, that was an hour ago," Ainsley complained, her own pumps,
landing in a heap. "Nice room."

"At three hundred dollars a night plus it should be. King size bed,
whirlpool bath, and the extras. The flowers alone must be worth fifty
dollars," Carol said, lifting her head off the pillow.

"Mm."

"Do you ever stop eating?"

"Of course," Ainsley replied, looking offended. "When I'm asleep and
having sex, and then not always."

"Shame we haven't got any cream for the strawberries then," Carol
chuckled.

Ainsley head disappeared back into the fridge. "Nope, there isn't any
here. We could call down and get some."

Carol rolled her eyes at the ceiling.

"And maybe a little frois gras and some crackers, a few pastries and
a muffin," Ainsley continued.

Carol sat up. "How about some popcorn for the movie?"

"Oh yes, with butter though, because the salt makes me queasy, and
none of that low fat stuff because."

"I was kidding."

"Right."

Carol crawled up the bed and grabbed the remote control, leaning back
against the pillow, she flicked on a channel. "What do you want to
watch? Romance, action, porn?" she asked hopefully.

"Porn?" came a tiny squeak.

"Yeah, it's listed as Young, hot and slick."

"You mean they actually have porn, where men and women, well you
know."

"Have sex?"

"Yes."

Carol turned to channel six and cocked her head to one side. "Yep,
that's sex all right. That's Rob Lowe in his younger days."

Ainsley sat back on the bed and moved her head to get a better
angle. "Is that his butt?"

"You mean the tight one? I think so. Could be a stunt double though.
Not sure if that position is possible," Carol commented scrunching up
her forehead. "Are you going to open the champagne or not?"

The sound of a pop a few seconds later had Carol grabbing glasses
from across the room and trying to catch the flow.

Ainsley put down the bottle on the night stand and began to lick her
sticky fingers.

Carol stared at the young republican as she inserted each finger
carefully into her mouth and closed her mouth around it. Well, it
wasn't the most erotic thing Carol had ever witnessed but with
Ainsley's blonde hair falling across her face there was something
deeply sensual about it.

Ainsley sucked on the last finger and glanced up. She smiled when she
noticed Carol's wide eyes and reached for the glass. "Sticky fingers."

Carol nodded and took a careful sip from her glass. Her eyes remained
on Ainsley over the rim of her glass and for the first time she began
to study the woman carefully.

CJ had always described Ainsley as smart but dizzy. But she hated the
fact the boys thought Ainsley was ambitious and stupid. Misguided
maybe, naïve, definitely, attractive, always.

The outfit today molded to her body in all the right places. The
salmon skirt hugged her hips and the biased cut gave a glimpse of the
toned legs beneath.

As Ainsley crossed her legs and stared back, Carol's eyes drifted to
Ainsley's top. The matching salmon halter neck was held up by a knot
at her neck, and the back, well it was fairly obvious she wasn't
wearing any sort of bra.

"Am I, in disregard of public etiquette, showing too much flesh?"
Ainsley asked, glancing down at her chest.

"No," Carol mumbled and brought her eyes back up to Ainsley's face.

"Lipstick on my teeth?"

"No," Carol said, shaking her head. "I was just thinking how
beautiful you are."

The flush that crept over Ainsley's chest to her neck and over her
face was the exact same color as her outfit. Ainsley lowered her face
and her hair fell forwards.

Carol, on instinct, reached across and with her fingers lightly
tucked the silken curtain behind Ainsley's ear.

As her face, dominated by her deep blue eyes, rose up, Ainsley smiled
faintly. "Thank you."

"Sam's a fool," Carol announced draining her glass nervously and
motioning for Ainsley to fill it up.

"I think, maybe, that it's too late, and that, for all intents and
purposes, he would disagree," Ainsley mumbled, glancing towards the
television and shaking her head.

"Sam would probably like to have his cake and eat it too."

Ainsley nodded and licked her lips.

"Hungry again?" Carol teased, raising her eyebrows. "Want me to bring
the chocolates over?"

The grin that started at the corners of Ainsley's mouth and took over
her face was answer enough in itself.

Carol rolled over to lay down her glass before jumping off the bed
and crossing to the fruit basket. Grabbing the fruit in one hand she
picked up the box of chocolates with the other. Laying them on the
bed, she climbed back on and settled herself against the pillows.

The two women sat in silence as they drank the expensive champagne
and snacked on the chocolate and fruit. The television in the
background provided a surreal mixture of moans and eighties music. At
the sound of a woman climaxing, the two women exchanged looks and
broke out into giggles.

When she composed herself, Carol shook her head. "I consider myself
the expert at faking but god, it sounded more like she was working
out than making out."

"You've faked it?" Ainsley asked incredulous.

Carol took a lengthy pull of her drink before she answered. "Hasn't
everyone?"

"I don't understand, I mean, and I say this seriously, what is the
point of faking it. How can your partner know what you like if you
fake it?"

"Sometimes it's better to just get it over with," Carol
explained. "So you can sleep or leave quickly."

"You wouldn't rather just pleasure yourself?" Ainsley asked, her face
a picture of seriousness.

Carol coughed on the alcohol. "Okay, so you're not as naïve as
everyone thinks." She blushed furiously at her admission. "I'm sorry,
I'm drunk. I didn't mean anything."

Ainsley grinned and brushed her hair back off her face. "I didn't
really think you brought me up here to drink champagne and mess up
the newlyweds' bed," Ainsley said softly.

"Oh?"

"If I'm wrong, and invariably I am, I apologize, but I thought you
were trying to seduce me. And I came, because although naïve, I am
not inexperienced and certainly not adverse to the idea." Ainsley
took a breath and gazed up at Carol nervously.

Carol had the prudence to look sheepish at how obvious her intentions
were.

"Have I got the wrong end of the stick?"

"No," Carol managed to croak as she placed her glass down.

"Of course it's been a while since I've been with a woman. At Smith,
being republican and from the south, I was not really liked, and it
was only in my sophomore year that the other girls took an interest."

Carol waited for her to take a breath before she moved across the
bed. "I find the women in the White House talk far too much," she
whispered as her hand found its way to Ainsley's cheek.

Ainsley gazed deep into Carol's eyes, hoping she didn't look as
nervous as she felt. Carol's gentle caress of her cheek was only
prolonging the moment. Carol's brown eyes were almost like chocolate,
so rich and so luxurious that Ainsley found herself wanting more.
Lightly Ainsley leaned into the touch, hoping more than anything she
wasn't being too submissive.

Carol smiled and parted her lips. If the anticipation in Ainsley's
eyes was anything to go by, this wasn't going to be awkward and she
wouldn't have to fake it.

Slowly, almost painstakingly slowly, Carol inched closer. Carol's
eyes fluttered shut as her lips grazed Ainsley's.

A low moan emanated from deep in Ainsley's throat as the soft kiss
deepened and she felt Carol's tongue dart into her mouth, exploring
the roof of her mouth and clashing with her teeth.

It wasn't tender but it wasn't forceful either, and Ainsley felt her
own hand tangling itself in Carol's cascading black hair.

After merely seconds the two women pulled back and locked eyes. A
silent acknowledgment passed between them before they were once again
locked in a passionate kiss.

Ainsley's tongue thrust out to dance with Carol's and their hands
took their lead and began to lightly explore each other's skin.

It was, Carol had to admit, unique, the taste of champagne and
something very Ainsley against her lips. Soft skin beneath her
fingertips yielded to her touch and the blonde was moaning gentle
encouragement.

Breaking the kiss and taking a deep breath, Carol ran her fingers
lightly up Ainsley's back until she reached the knot of her top.
Gently at first, then with more intensity Carol tugged the fabric and
watched as the salmon cotton slid over Ainsley's collarbone to reveal
the swell of her cleavage.

Allowing her fingers to follow the fall of the straps, Carol traced
the small rounded breasts, before coaxing the fabric further down
Ainsley's body.

One chaste kiss on the lips and Carol was cupping a breast in the
palm of her hand and lowering her lips to caress the deep red areola.

Ainsley's whimper broke the silence and Carol grinned against her
skin.

Her back arched in response to the attention, Ainsley moved both
hands into Carol's hair and stroked her scalp. It was intimate and
gentle, with just the hint of something waiting to explode.

Carol continued to palm one breast, toying with the hardened nipple
as her lips closed around the second. She wanted Ainsley to relax
completely, to give herself completely.

Her hair fell across Ainsley's breasts, feather-light and teasing, as
Carol nipped across her taut stomach on her way lower. Her fingers
slid beneath the waistband of the skirt as her own need increased.

Briefly Carol glanced up to seek permission and found Ainsley
watching her with a mixture of amusement and fascination. Carol
grinned back at her before pushing the cotton down her hips.

Her hips off the bed Ainsley let out the breath she had been holding.

Carol was gentle, her lips soft as she took them on a gentle journey.
There was no sense of a goal to be achieved. No struggle to be the
one in control.

Moving Carol's hair to one side, Ainsley located the cold metal zip
on the lilac dress and eased it down Carol's back.

Carol gazed up at her, stopping her ministrations and sitting up.

"I wanted to see you," Ainsley mumbled. "Is that permitted?"

Nodding, Carol shrugged the lilac silk off her shoulders and waited
as it puddled at her waist. She reached out and covered Ainsley's
hand with her own, guiding them behind her until she could feel the
butterfly clip. The bra fell down her shoulders revealing her full
and pert breasts.

Ainsley's eyes turned sea green as she focused on the creamy white
flesh. Tentatively at first, then more confidently she took each
breast in her mouth, sucking and nipping at the skin as Carol arched
her back and groaned.

Carol shifted position as she felt Ainsley's hands pushing at the
dress. Laying back on the bed she lifted her hips and watched as the
lilac dress landed on the floor.

Ainsley's skirt followed and the two women sat on the bed in their
panties, letting their hands and lips do the exploring.

Firmly Carol pushed at Ainsley's shoulders, forcing her back onto the
bed. Lightly she kissed Ainsley before moving down, along her throat
and brushing her breasts. Softly she traced Ainsley's stomach with
her tongue.

Briefly she glanced up and found Ainsley laying back on the bed, eyes
closed and breathing labored. Carol ran her fingertips over the cream
lace panties, smiling as Ainsley's breath caught in her throat.

With surprising confidence Carol pushed the lace to one side and ran
her fingertips up and down Ainsley`s outer folds.

Ainsley whimpered and her hands moved to toy with the dark curly hair
that cascaded across her stomach.

Carol shifted down the bed and followed her fingers with her mouth.
Slowly at first she rolled her tongue over Ainsley's center, taking
Ainsley's whimpering and shuddering as her guide. Gently she inserted
one finger and had Ainsley clenching around her. By the time she
added a second Ainsley was gripping the sheets and moaning.

Ainsley's orgasm came hard and fast with her cursing and thrashing
hysterically.

Carol grinned at the language spilling out from the usually upright
republican. It reminded her of someone else and she shook off the
memory.

"You have a filthy mouth," Carol chuckled.

"I have a tendency, when drunk, to express myself loosely. However I
think you'll find you'll get to like what else my mouth does,"
Ainsley mumbled. Tugging Carol up for a kiss she rolled them over and
began to work her way down Carol's body.

Later after Ainsley had brought Carol to an earth-shattering climax
of her own, she spooned up against Carol's back and kissed her
shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of the gardenias, which would
always remind her of Carol.

*****

Ainsley climbed off the bed and wandered into the bathroom, appearing
a few minutes later carrying a selection of the toiletries. Dumping
them on the bed, she opened the wardrobe door.

"What are you doing?" Carol hissed, fastening her bra.

"I was wondering what outfit Sam had brought for his honeymoon." She
paused and then turned slowly around. "There aren't any women's
clothes in here."

"Maybe Mal's bag hasn't been brought up yet," Carol shrugged,
stepping into her dress, and trying to tug at the zip and hold her
hair out of the way at the same time.

"You may not know this, but I feel I have to ask, and if you can't
help, I will understand," Ainsley said softly.

Carol, tired of trying to comprehend the sentences, walked up behind
her and kissed her neck. "What?"

"Does Sam wear hand made suits?"

"I doubt he can afford them," Carol said dryly, more intent on
kissing her way up to Ainsley's earlobe.

"Then I think we may be in the wrong room."

Carol stopped what she was doing and turned over the fabric. "This
isn't Josh's either. Um, Ainsley, I think we're in Leo's room."

Ainsley's eyes went wide as realization hit her. "I'm mortified."

"Actually you're horny as hell," Carol moaned, stepping back and
starting to tidy the room.

"Leo has always been so polite to me. He is a gentleman, and I do
this to him. Oh my, what do we do?"

Carol shook her head and thought about how better suited those lips
were to caressing her body and picked up the empty bottle. "You get
dressed and we go back downstairs."

"But Leo. This room," Ainsley exclaimed, waving her arms about.

Inspiration hit Carol immediately. "We put the key back in Josh's
pocket and say nothing."

"And Josh will get the blame," Ainsley said sadly.

"Exactly," Carol grinned, "So hurry up."

The two women slipped out of the room unnoticed and headed back
downstairs.

It was only as they headed back into the function room and Carol
scanned the room for Josh, that she caught CJ's eye.

CJ licked her lips and grinned. She excused herself from the small
group she was holding court with and took a few steps in Carol's
direction.

Noticing Ainsley close by Carol's side, CJ raised an eyebrow and
allowed herself a small frown.

Carol grinned back before turning back to Ainsley. Gently she leaned
in and whispered against Ainsley's ear, lingering longer than was
strictly necessary.

Ainsley giggled and swung her blonde hair.

Carol glanced back at CJ, winked and grabbed Ainsley's hand. Fingers
entwined Carol dragged Ainsley towards the bar. Now she wasn't
afraid to give CJ a taste of her own medicine.

The end

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