before beginning.

"Well you already know I grew up in a small town. Even in high school I wasn't

very feminine." Riley saw a quick flash of pain cross Sam's face. She knew from

experience how cruel kids could be to someone who didn't conform to the

'norm.' "I'd already gotten my height and quite a bit of my bulk. I used to lift

weights with Jess. Anyway, the one thing I really enjoyed was the marching

band. They formed their own little group within the school and as long as you

played well they didn't care about the rest."

"What instrument did you play?" Riley interrupted.

Sam grinned. "I was a drummer, there were five of us. I was the only girl but

since I could outplay all four of them I was treated like one of the guys." Sam

smiled fondly in remembrance. "We used to travel with the football team to all

the away games. We'd put on a show at halftime. There were only 30 of us but

we sounded pretty good. A lot of the schools didn't have their own band. That's

how I got to know Steve. He was a fellow drummer. We just sort of started

hanging out together my sophomore year, next thing I know everyone thinks

we're a couple. We both knew we weren't but it was easier...being able to fit in I

guess." Riley nodded in understanding, she knew all about trying to fit in. "So he was my 'boyfriend' all through high school. We did experiment some, kissing and

touching through our clothes but neither of us seemed to get much out of it. By

my senior year I was sick of hearing my friends brag about how great sex was

with their boyfriends. I don't know why but I got this idea in my head that it was

time to lose my virginity and find out what the big deal was about." Sam glanced

over at Riley who was listening avidly. She felt her ears and face go hot,

knowing this was going to be the hardest part to tell. Riley reached over and

rubbed her stomach comfortingly. Sam took a deep breath and continued. "Of

course Steve was the most likely candidate to do the deed. As far as everyone

knew we'd been a couple for almost 3 years. I waited 'til I knew his folks were

out of town. I went over to his house that night and umm...I umm... I

umm...seduced him, he was a virgin too." Sam finally managed to get out.

Riley's eyes widened in astonishment. She flashed on an image of a young

Sam, determined to lose her virginity showing up at the house of the boy she

wanted. Poor kid never had a chance, Riley chuckled to herself.

"So was it what you expected?" she asked.

"No, he lasted about 30 seconds and besides hurting like a bitch I didn't feel a

thing." Sam admitted sadly. "We did try it a few more time over the next few

months," Sam said sheepishly. "But I could just never figure out what the big

deal was. It wasn't very comfortable and never lasted very long. I did run into

Steve when I went back to my 10 year high school reunion."

"I guess that was pretty awkward huh?" Riley said sympathetically.

"No, actually I had a good laugh over it with him and his partner." Sam waited for what she'd said to sink in.

"What!" Riley exclaimed. "He's gay?"

Sam grinned at her. "Yup."

Riley shook her head in disbelief. "So the only guy you ever slept with turned out

to be gay."

Sam muttered something Riley didn't catch. Sam's eyes were locked on the

sheet again.

"Sam?"

"He's not the only guy I slept with." Sam muttered a little louder. She glanced

over at Riley to see her eyebrow raised in question. Sam sighed knowing she

might as well tell her the rest.

"I went to college after high school. Jess was starting medical school and I was

hot to see the world outside our little town. They had a women's baseball team

at the college. I tried out and made the team. That's where I met Charlie." Riley

looked a little confused. "Charlie was the star pitcher of the men's team." Sam

explained. "The two teams shared a practice field. We started dating and I

decided maybe things hadn't worked out with Steve because we were both

inexperienced. So I slept with Charlie. I knew right away I'd made a mistake. I

thought maybe I was, I don't know one of those people without much of a sex

drive." Riley looked at Sam incredulously. Sam laughed. "Yeah...I know I was

clueless, but that was about to change. My second year back at school I got a

new roommate, I knew something was different from the moment we met. I'd

never had a woman look at me like she did. Charlene was a senior, how she

ended up rooming with a sophomore I'll never know. But I'm sure thankful she

did. I was shocked the first time she flirted with me. Not about her flirting but the

fact of how much I liked it. The first time we kissed I realized just what the

problem was with the guys I'd been with. Jess had come out to the family while I

was still in high school. So the thought of two women together wasn't foreign to

me. I was more excited just kissing and touching Charlene through her clothes

than I had been having sex with a guy. The first time we had sex...well let's just

say it was an incredible revelation." Sam chuckled. "Charlene taught me a lot

about all the different ways two women could make love and I'll always be

grateful to her for that."

Riley shifted suddenly uncomfortable. She was jealous of the woman who had

been Sam's first. "So do you still keep in touch with her?" Riley inquired praying the whole time she'd say no.

Sam's brow furrowed at Riley's tone of voice. "I used to but I haven't seen her in

over 5 years. Her wife got a great job offer and they moved to the east coast."

Riley felt her face flush. She was embarrassed to be so relieved that the woman

wasn't a part of Sam's life any more. 'How long were you together?" She couldn't

resist asking.

"We were roommates and lovers her senior year. We had a lot of good times

together..." Sam tilted up Riley's face making eye contact. "But I was never in

love with her."

Riley smiled brilliantly more than happy with that answer.

"After that I never went back, Steve and Charlie were the only guys I ever slept

with."

"And since then...?" Riley asked nervously. She knew from the way all the

women acted at the baseball game and later in the bar that Sam was very

popular with the ladies. She wondered how she would ever be able to compete

with them and just how long she could hold Sam's interest.

Sam noticed the nervous look on Riley's face. She knew this moment would

eventually come and she'd dreaded it. She pulled Riley back into her lap and

hugged her. She could feel her trembling slightly.

"I won't lie to you Riley. I've dated a lot of women and slept with quite a few of

them."

Riley couldn't help fearing she was going to be just one of the many women

Sam had slept with. Would this be it, now that Sam had gotten what she

wanted? She couldn't believe that of the caring woman who was holding her so

tight but her fears got the better of her. Tears started to leak down her cheeks.

"Hey, what's this?" Sam asked concerned.

Riley shook her head. "Nothing, I understand." Riley told her pulling slightly

away from Sam.

Sam went back over the last few minutes of their conversation trying to figure

out what had upset Riley. It finally dawned on her just what the problem was.

After hearing how horribly Riley had been treated by the only woman she'd ever

been involved with Sam berated herself for not realizing how Riley might react

and what she'd assume.

"Riley..." she called softly. Riley refused to look up and tried to move off Sam's lap. Sam tightened her embrace and put her fingers under Riley's chin pressing

until she looked up. Sam's heart clenched at the hurt expression on Riley's face

and the pain in her eyes.

"I have been with a lot of women... but." She added quickly. "I've never been in love with any of them....'til now. You're the first woman I've ever loved." She told

her staring deeply into her eyes, willing her to see the truth.

Sam herself was surprised, she thought she'd be petrified admitting her love to

Riley but it just felt wonderful. She watched as Riley's face took on a look of

wonderment and her eyes began to glow with love. Riley squeezed Sam as hard

as she could; her heart was pounding in her chest. She trapped Sam in her love

filled gaze. "I love you too Sam," she declared passionately. Sam leaned down

and took Riley's lips in a gentle kiss filled with love and promise. The second

kiss was more passionate and both women were panting when it was over. They

held each other tightly; both knowing their lives would never be the same. Sam

tried to stifle a sudden yawn. She glanced over at the clock on the night side

table and cursed. Riley lifted her head from Sam's chest.

"What's wrong?"

"It's 2 o'clock in the morning." She informed Riley.

"You're kidding?" Riley turned to look at the clock for herself.

"So much for you getting some rest." Sam groused.

Riley cupped Sam's face in her hands and kissed her softly. "I think our

conversations were worth losing a little sleep over... don't you Love?"

Sam couldn't help but smile at the endearment. "Yes I do think so Love, but now

it's time to get some rest."

They both got up to take care of business and get ready for bed. Riley again

marveled at their comfort level with each other. Neither one bothered putting on

any clothes; they slipped back into the bed and Sam cradled Riley in her arms

as they drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam woke to a protesting bladder. She tried to move and found herself pinned to

the bed by Riley. Somehow Riley had ended up almost fully on top of her and

her knee was pressing into Sam's very full bladder. Riley woke as Sam tried to

ease out from under her.

"Where are you going?" Riley asked sleepily, tightening her arms around Sam.

Sam groaned loudly, grimacing in pain, when Riley's knee pressed harder into

her. Riley slid off Sam in alarm. She watched as Sam scampered out of the bed

and headed for the bathroom. Riley enjoyed the view chuckling at Sam's quick

departure. Riley's stomach growled reminding her of its presence. Sam came

back and slid under the covers pulling Riley back on top of her. She leaned up

kissing her deeply.

"Good morning." She murmured as the kiss ended.

Riley's stomach growled loudly before she could respond. Sam chuckled.

"Could I interest you in some breakfast?" The continued rumbling of Riley's

stomach provided the answer and they headed for the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam rummaged in the refrigerator for the ingredients she needed. She was

going to make ham and cheese omelets.

"Do you have an omelet pan?"

"Umm...I'm not sure." Riley started opening cabinets and looking around.

Sam shook her head and pulled out a regular skillet. "I can make them in this.

Now, how about a whisk?"

Again Riley looked blank and started pulling open drawers.

"Okay, this is an easy one...how about a cutting board?"

Riley blushed as she looked around the kitchen trying to figure out where the

requested items would be or if she even had them.

"Have you ever actually cooked in this kitchen?" She asked Riley with a snicker.

Riley's blush was all the answer Sam needed. She started laughing and opening

cabinets to find what she needed.

"How about you make the coffee and I'll get the omelets made?" Sam

suggested.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam's omelets had been wonderful. They'd enjoyed a quiet breakfast together;

neither felt the need for any extended conversations. They were both just happy