Harvest Moon [ FF, cons, light bond, outdoors ] (1/4)


The small stones against the glass sounded as loud as a hundred tiny gunshots in
the stillness of the night. Kate cringed, positive that she was going to wake up
the entire household. She stood motionless on the back lawn, still breathing
heavily from her run but ready to bolt like a frightened rabbit at the first sign
of disturbance. She wasn't even sure that Linda would be there, much less if she
would respond to their old signal.

A diffused light switched on in Linda's old room, not the main light, a bedside
lamp perhaps. Kate's breath caught in her throat. She didn't quite dare to look
up to the second story window. Instead, she studied her feet.

Her running shoes were dusty from the mile run from her parent's homestead. She'd
taken the old path through the fields that wound between the Miller and the
Gibson properties. In early October, the path wasn't the awkward mudpit that it
was in May. The bottom of her blue jeans were also dusty from her jog and she
brushed at the dust with her hand. She had remained here on the back lawn for
fifteen minutes or so catching her breath and trying to decide whether or not to
continue this crazy adventure. She had taken a deep breath, told herself that she
had nothing to lose, and tossed the stones gently up to the second story window.
She didn't even know if Linda was home for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Kate heard the sash rise quietly. Her breath hitched and she prepared to dash
into the shadows. Faintly, she heard a horse whinny in the darkness to the right.

"Kate?" Linda's voice quietly floated down from above.

"Linda?" Kate whispered into the night. She looked up. Linda hadn't cut her hair
since the last time she'd seen her. Linda's long brown hair hung down like
Rapunzel's, silhouetted by the soft light of the bedside lamp. Linda leaned out
into the darkness.

"Just a sec. I'll be right down."

"Don't wake anyone up." Kate whispered back urgently.

"Have I ever?" Linda quietly closed the window and Kate could faintly hear the
lock click. Moments later, the light was extinguished in the room.

Kate settled herself on the ground and hugged her knees. She knew that it would
take Linda a few minutes to get dressed and sneak out of the house. That fourth
step creaked and Linda always had to be cautious of it. Kate felt the butterflies
begin in her stomach. She was accustomed to their appearance, but by now she had
expected the tingling to reduce on these midnight visits. Granted, it had been a
while since they'd seen one another. She hadn't even heard from Linda since
September when they'd parted to attend different Universities, University of
Waterloo for Kate, Queen's for Linda. Kate didn't even know if Linda felt the
same way anymore. University had a way of changing people.

She heard the faint sound of the back screen door; the hinges had always creaked
a little. Kate watched as Linda emerged as a silhouette. She carefully held the
screen door and prevented it from slamming shut as though she'd had years of
practice. Linda turned and scanned the dark yard for Kate.

"Over here." Kate whispered from the shadows.

Linda turned towards the sound and ran across the yard. Kate smiled in the dark
as Linda practically leapt into her arms hugging her fiercely. The two girls held
each other for a few moments until Linda spoke.

"God, I've missed you."

They parted. In the faint light, Kate could make out that Linda hadn't even
bothered with clothes. She stood barefoot in the grass wearing only her flannel
nightgown. She was breathing heavily and was flushed. Linda's perfect breasts
rose and fell beneath the white fabric as they gazed at each other.

Linda whispered, "I wasn't sure you'd come."

"I almost didn't."

"I'm really glad you did. I've missed you."

"I missed you too. I. I guess I just wasn't sure you ..."

"Felt the same?" Linda finished her thought. "Of course I do. Don't be silly."

Linda stepped in quickly and kissed Kate's lips in reassurance. Kate felt Linda's
fingers entwining with hers as she broke the kiss. The kiss had been far more
passionate than a friendly peck. Kate sighed contentedly; Linda still felt the
same. The butterflies trapped in her belly flew off to bother someone else far
away.

Linda began to lead them off towards the barn. As they moved away from the
sleeping house and down the dirt path, the girls began to talk a little more
normally, their voices melting into the darkness.

"I was sure that those stones were going to wake up the world. I'm surprised it
didn't wake *my* father up." Kate was referring to the clattering of stones she
had thrown lightly at Linda's window to wake her.

"Well, they certainly woke me up with a start. I don't think they woke up anyone
else, though. Never have before. I was having a nice dream too. Surprised that I
didn't wake up the house. Managed to stifle the scream, I think."

"What were you dreaming about?"

"You. Me. The apple tree."

Kate blushed. "I like that."

They lapsed into silence as Linda pulled open the big barn doors. The doors
creaked horribly loud in the silence. The horses shifted uneasily in the dark.

"Shhhhh. Shhhhh. It's just me and Kate. Shhhh." Linda spoke quietly to the
animals. The horses reacted to the familiar voice and quieted, snorting in the
pitch darkness of the barn. Linda and Kate petted the outstretched noses as they
passed the stalls. Kate smiled at the memories. Linda and herself riding like the
wind through the fields and forests together. She giggled as her memories flooded
back of that summer day three or four years ago. Linda had come up with the crazy
idea of both of them pulling a Lady Godiva together. Thank God she hadn't
listened to Linda and hadn't left their clothes at the stream as Linda had
suggested. Someone must have been watching over them that day when Kate had
spotted Linda's brother riding out to tell them that lunch was ready well before
he'd spotted them. She remembered that Linda had still been arranging her t-shirt
as her brother had found them. Neither of them had had time to put on their
underwear.

"The Lady Godiva thing?" Linda asked quietly after taking note of Kate's
giggling.

"Yeah."

"That was bloody close."

"Don't I know it."

"How old were we?"

"I don't know. Fifteen? Sixteen maybe?"

Linda laughed quietly to herself as she rooted through one of the tack closets at
the back of the barn. "Dammit. I should have grabbed a flashlight." She pulled a
few items free and turned to Kate. "These do?"

Kate smiled at what she saw in Linda's hands. "If you want to visit the Tree,
it'll be fine."

Kate lifted the old picnic blanket from its home on a back shelf and threw it
over her shoulder.

"You sure you want to do this?" Kate asked Linda. "You know we can just sit and
talk. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"Are you telling me that you don't want to do it anymore in your subtle way? I
want it more than anything in the world," Linda replied as they exitted the barn
and closed the doors. The shrieks of the hinges sounded like small banshees in
the stillness. "It's all I've been able to think about for a month and a half."

"Me? Not want to? I knocked at your window didn't I? At great personal peril, I
might add."

The two girls began walking towards the south field, softly talking and catching
up. Their quiet conversation flitted easily between professors, classes, new
friends, and their families.

The corn stalks were still standing, though it was late for harvest. A light wind
ruffled the field. The two girls stopped and gazed up at the sky. A billion
points of light were glittering above them. Kate gasped. She touched Linda,
pointing towards the eastern horizon. Linda stood transfixed staring at the
bright, full, amber moon hanging motionless in the sky above the fields. Kate
touched Linda's shoulder again breaking the trance.

"Harvest moon," Linda breathed.

Silently the girls continued. They entered the ocean of corn, gently pushing
their way through the field. A lone wolf howled somewhere off in the distance,
but beyond that the only sounds in the night were the rustling of the crop and
the girls' laboured breathing.

In the middle of the field stood an ancient apple tree untouched by farmer or
storm. The tired old tree no longer even bore fruit. It silently watched over the
fields like a lonely sentinal lost in the night. A small grassy clearing
surrounded the tree where the plow had never touched. The clearing and tree were
lit eerily bright by the now full moon. With no warning, the peaceful place heard
the patter of small feminine feet, one pair bare, the other in running shoes.

Kate sighed as she spread the blanket down under the old tree. She sat down,
motioning for Linda to join her. Linda sat facing her and they just held hands,
staring at one another.

"It's been a long time." Linda's voice was almost reverent.

The last time they had snuck out to the Tree was probably early summer. They'd
seen each other many times since then, intimately even, but the Tree was special.
They didn't want to break the magic of the place by meeting here too often.

"It's been too long. You sure you want to do this?"

"You ask me everytime. And you know that I do," Linda whispered.

Almost like a hesitant lover, Linda leaned over and kissed Kate softly on the
lips. Her hands wrapped around Kate's neck; her fingers connected holding Kate
close. Their lips met with a tingle of electricity. Kate gasped quietly as Linda
moaned to herself softly. They parted, both breathing harder. Kate gazed into
Linda's deep brown eyes and guided her down to the blanket. They kissed again,
just holding one another in the moonlight and feeling the familiar curves of one
another. Their breasts touched through the nightgown and Kate's light top.

Linda broke the embrace and sat up. She smiled and pulled the nightgown over her
head. She tossed it carelessly onto the grass beside the blanket. Kate swallowed.
She'd never tire of seeing Linda's nudity, no matter how often she had the
fortune of having it displayed for her. Linda's high firm breasts caught the
moonlight almost making her pale skin glow, her darker nipples high and erect.
Kate's eyes travelled over Linda, taking in her long legs, her face, even her
dusty bare feet. Laughing, Linda leapt back into Kate's arms, tugging at her
clothing. Kate could feel her hands running over Linda's soft skin, exploring
this person for whom she had ached so long. She felt her own top leaving her
body. She raised her arms to make it easier for Linda to disrobe her. She felt
Linda tugging at her jeans. She hadn't worn underwear tonight in the hopes that
she wouldn't be needing it. Kate whispered Linda's name as she felt her jeans
being tugged down her long legs. Kate's shoes dissappeared into the darkness and
she felt herself become as nude as her friend. She felt the warmth of Linda's
bare breasts lightly touching her own. Their nipples brushed sending tingles up
and down their spines. The two girls were breathing hard, kissing passionately,
and allowing their fingers to lightly caress one another. A month, nearly two, of
abstinence made itself intensely known in both girls.

Kate felt Linda's fingers tracing down her belly as she laid back. Linda teased
her by running her fingers lightly along her lower lips, only occasionally
touching inside. Linda leaned down, lightly teasing Kate with her tongue, just
enough to make her squirm and cry out.

Sighing, Linda crawled back up and kissed Kate full on her mouth. Kate gasped.
Her arousal insensified tenfold as she tasted herself on Linda's lips.

"You ready?" Kate whispered, breathing hard.

"I. I was born ready." Linda gasped.

Linda knelt and Kate scrambled to get the soft ropes that Linda had retrieved
from the tack closet. If Linda's father had any idea to what uses his eldest
daughter put his rope, he'd probably die of a heart attack on the spot.

Linda held out her slender wrists in front of herself, watching and shivering as
Kate tied them together. When Kate had finished, she pulled idly at her bound
wrists. She knew that she was never going to get free. Kate had been doing this
to her for far too long to allow her to wiggle free easily. Linda squirmed as her
arousal increased with the sensations of the rope holding her wrists. She sighed
as she got to her bare feet and padded over to the Tree. Kate followed a few
steps behind.

Kate guided the bound woman to the eastern side of the Tree. She wanted Linda to
be able to gaze at the stunning moon if she wanted. Linda walked willingly to
that side of the tree and raised her hands above her head. Kate stepped back and
regarded the picture. What she saw was her best friend, gloriously naked in the
bright moonlight, with her bare breasts pulled up deliciously, her bound hands
reaching for the sky. Linda's long brown hair curled delicatly over her shoulders
and down her back. Linda trusted Kate and waited quietly, enjoying the inspection
with a shiver. Kate took a deep breath and stepped forward again. She secured her
friend's hands to a low overhanging branch with a short length of rope threaded
through the lashing holding Linda's wrists. Linda shuddered. She knew that her
freedom was gone. She and the tree were one tonight; no way to separate herself
from it until Kate let her go. She idly wondered if this Tree was aware of her
bound to it, if the Tree could ever remember her after she was gone, if it missed
her. She almost felt like part of the Tree when she was here like this. She
wondered if any other girls had ever been secured to it in the past, like her. A
smile graced her face as she remembered the multitude of picnics with her family,
right here, with her knowing her secret about this place. She wondered if anyone
could ever imagine that she had made love countless times with Kate right here,
on the same picnic blanket. Could anyone guess that she had stood here, like
this, at midnight, so many times? Could anyone absorb the vibes from the favorite
blanket, or could the tree tell them what it had witnessed?

Linda's mind wandered back to her situation. She trusted Kate completely, but she
could still feel nerves in her stomach. What if Kate decided to take off, got
angry with her, and left her here, naked and bound to the Tree? How would she
explain that to her parents when she was found? She would rather die. Kate could
run and Linda had no way of stopping her. The tingles of her helplessness
pulsated through her body as her arsousal continued its upward climb. She loved
it here.

Kate had knelt in front of her. Linda gazed down at her naked friend, silently
begging with her eyes. Linda slowly parted her legs as she felt Kate's fingers
urging her. She felt the rough texture of the grass beneath her feet and she felt
the tension increase on her bound arms as she lowered her body closer to Kate. It
was all part of the experience. Linda cried out as she felt the first light and
teasing touches of Kate's soft tongue as it traced along her most private parts.
She could even feel Kate's soft breath against her thighs and Kate's small hands
cupping her bare bottom. Kate teased her for what seemed like hours and may have
been. Linda's cries filled the field and the night. They wouldn't carry to the
house, but the clearing reverberated with her soft moans. Kate's tongue finally
darted inside, teasingly finding Linda's clitoris and lightly stroked it to the
rhythm to which they were both so accustomed. Linda lost herself in the
stimulation, feeling her restraints, the helplessness, the openness, the moon and
the raw sensuality. She exploded as Kate's tongue relentlessly touched her and
Kate's fingers teased her bare skin. She pulled at her wrists, writhing as her
muscles contracted and lights exploded behind her closed eyelids. She whispered
Kate's name as her breathing became short and ragged. Kate's tongue continued to
tease her until the last strains of her climax had subsided. Linda had to gently
push the other girl away with her bare foot, letting her know that she was
finished and completely spent.

Kate knelt back on her heels, her face slightly damp with Linda's secretions,
very aroused. She smiled up at Linda who was just hanging by her wrists, her legs
not having the strength to support herself after the climax. Linda had waited two
months for that climax. And Kate had waited two months to give it to her. Knowing
that her friend was going to want to stay in the ropes for a few minutes
afterwards, Kate rose to her bare feet and kissed her friend on the mouth. Linda
responded greedily to the kiss and pressed her bound body against Kate. Her
tongue traced along Kate's lips.

Linda murmured after the kiss was broken, "Katie? Can I do you in a few minutes?
I know you're hot and bothered. I promise I'll do you. I'd just like to stay here
for a second? Okay? Please?"

"Of course, sweety. Take your time. I can even do myself if you want. You know I
don't mind." Kate whispered to the restrained, tired woman. Kate sank to the
grass, feeling the odd tickle of the turf against her vagina and her bottom. She
could still feel the waves of her arousal washing through her senses, all her
senses heightened and sensitive.

Together they gazed at the moon; it had risen higher in the sky shedding more
light on their illicit meeting. Kate could not remember ever having seen anything
quite as lovely or peaceful in all the time that she'd been with Linda. She felt
Linda shifting her weight beside her. Recovering, Linda closed her legs and
supported herself more with her feet than her wrists. Linda softly sighed.

After what seemed like an eternity, Linda whispered, "Katie? Thank you. I've been
waiting for months for that." She paused. "God, I wish we could be together."

"We are together."

"I guess I should be happy with what we have. I am. Really. I am."

"I know, honey. Your father wouldn't understand. And even if he did, the good
Reverend's church wouldn't. And I love them all like my own family. I don't want
to hurt them anymore than you do. We can't tell them. I understand. Really I do."

The girls paused, still absorbed by the bright globe hanging silently in the
night above them.

"I'm ready."

Kate looked up at Linda. "Ready?"

"Ready to be let down, you silly girl."

Kate rose to her feet and released the rope holding Linda's hands in the air.
Linda sighed and pulled down her still bound hands in front of her. Kate reached
for Linda's hands to release them, but Linda pulled back a bit.

"Leave them. Lie down. It's your turn," Linda whispered.

Kate looked at Linda quizzically but obeyed. It was almost a ritual with the
Tree. She released Linda afterwards, and then received the most mind blowing
orgasms of her life from Linda's soft knowing fingers. Tonight it didn't seem
like Linda was going to use her fingers. She closed her eyes and felt Linda kneel
beside her in the grass. The grass faintly itched Kate's bare back, but she soon
lost that sensation as Linda kissed her again. Her arousal, which had cooled a
bit while they'd gazed at the heavens together, flooded back into her body. She
felt her nipples rising with the kiss. Her clitoris throbbed at the renewed
stimulation. Linda softly kissed her way down Kate's bare body. Her lips found
and teased Kate's nipples until Kate was moaning and softly begging. Finally, her
tongue traced past Kate's belly button and through the fine thatch between Kate's
legs. Kate spread her thighs willingly as Linda motioned them apart with her
bound hands. Linda knew the rhythms of her friend. Her tongue darted inside the
soft folds, searching and finding the swollen clitoris. She slowly stroked and
circled it with her tongue until Kate held her breath and then cried out, arching
her body and biting her lip as she climaxed heavily.

As she felt her friend coming down, Linda rocked back on her heels. She would
never tire of seeing Kate's climaxes. Kate's full body flush was visible even in
the muted light. She looked beautiful lying in the grass, eyes closed and
peaceful, her breasts heaving as she struggled to control her breathing. Kate
opened her eyes and both girls looked at each other. They exchanged a look of
pure relief. Finally satisfied.

Linda struggled to lie herself down in the grass with Kate. Her still bound
wrists made the journey a bit difficult. She raised her arms and worked her
wrists around Kate's neck. Their lips touched again as Kate's arms wound around
Linda's small waist. They moved easily together; their bodies fit as though
they'd been designed to belong together. They peacefully held one another, their
skin still warm from their exertions.

Kate gazed up at the stars as Linda's breathing slowly fell into a shallow,
regular pace. Kate turned her attention from the heavens to her friend nude,
asleep, and cradled in her arms. Complete trust. She let Linda sleep for a while,
simply enjoying her soft presence. Kate's mind wandered back to their life
together, their childhood as neighbours, as best friends, and finally in high
school, as lovers. She didn't know if she was in love with this woman or not, but
she thought that it could become that. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but right now,
with Linda here in her arms, it seemed right.

After a while, Kate gently shook Linda. Linda mumbled in her sleep, kicking a
bit. Another gentle shake awakened her. Linda looked up sleepily, realized where
she was and tenderly kissed Kate's mouth again.

"Time to part, again? What time is it?" Linda asked quietly.

"I have no idea. But we've probably been out here too long as it is."

"I guess. I just don't want to leave."

"Me neither sweetheart. But you want to see me again don't you?"

"You know I do."

"Then we have to get you home before your father comes out looking for you."

Linda giggled seriously as she realized what her father would find. Her buried
and content in her lover's arms. It wouldn't be so bad, she was old enough to
make these decisions on her own, but it was Kate. He loved Kate as a daughter.
And he'd never understand or forgive them.

Kate gently extracted Linda's hands from around her neck. She rose to her bare
feet and shook her long hair out. She extended her hands and helped Linda to her
feet by grasping Linda's bound hands in her own. Kate again reached for the
ropes, and again Linda pulled away.

"Please? Not yet. I like it."

"Alright. You realize I have to untie you before you go back in, but if that's
what you want."

"I want," Linda spoke quietly.

The girls bent and gathered up the scattered clothing and the rumpled blanket.
Kate slipped back on her jeans, top and shoes. She threw the blanket and Linda's
nightgown over her shoulder. Linda cradled the remainder of the ropes in her
arms. They made one last circuit of the Tree, ensuring that they hadn't missed
anything that would give away their midnight rendezvous.

"Three twenty-two a.m." Kate whispered to Linda as she pressed the Indiglo button
on her watch.

"Yikes. I guess we lost track of the time. I have to get back."

The women gazed back at the moonlit clearing, smiling at the old Tree and their
secret. They turned and walked silently back through the corn.

Linda had to quiet the horses again as she replaced the blanket and all but her
wrist ropes into the tack closet. She rejoined Kate in the back yard.

The two girls hugged. Anyone watching from the house would have seen two
beautiful girls, one nude, one clothed, bathed in moonlight embracing like lost
lovers in the middle of the lawn.

They kissed tenderly, their lips still sending electric shivers down their
bodies. Linda stepped back, finally allowing Kate to release her hands. She
rubbed her wrists as she gazed back at her girlfriend. The bright light from the
full moon glinted off the wetness of her tears falling down her cheeks.

She gathered the soft rope and her nightgown into her arms. She hadn't bothered
to replace her sleepwear yet.

"Am I ever going to see you again? Like this?"

Kate did her best to smile. "Sweety. I really don't know. I hope so. Christmas
maybe?"

Kate bent and quickly kissed Linda's lips one last time. Linda, tears still
streaming down her face, attempted a smile, but failed. She nodded, knowing that
university and distance might separate them. No promises. She struggled with her
feelings, but could do nothing but turn on her bare feet and walk slowly towards
the back porch and her home. Kate stood and watched Linda's nude silhouette until
she had given one final wave at the door and slipped silently back inside.

She walked back to her own home following the path upon which she'd arrived. Her
tears fell slowly down her face as she walked. She already missed Linda.

Kate slipped silently back into her darkened bedroom. She pulled off her dusty
clothing, sighing as she remembered the last time, only a half hour ago, that she
had not been wearing them. She sat up for hours on the edge of her bed, simply
gazing at the harvest moon and dreaming. Linda, a mile or so away, was doing
exactly the same thing.