For a little while they sat half-turned towards each other, their knees touching lightly, and talked about the Ivy Garden, about being a waitress (Gwen hadn't had that kind of student job, and was genuinely interested) and about how Faith probably knew at least one worker in all the mainstream bars and restaurants in town.

While they talked, they used their glances and the way they each fiddled with their hair or jewellery to keep signalling the deeper interest they had in each other. Gwen enjoyed it, felt more and more comfortable, and even shifted her leg slightly so that it pressed against Faith's more obviously. The hem of her dress caught on Faith's knee and rested there for a second. Gwen saw Faith stare at it, and felt time slow as she reached out.

Faith's mouth was half-open where she had been saying something, but for the long moments it took Gwen's hand to descend she fell silent. Gwen thought Faith's lips were the most tempting sight she'd seen in along time. Faith felt the blood rush to her face, and the arousal throb deep inside just at the feel of Gwen's dress through her tights, and the sight of Gwen's hand heading towards her knee.

Gwen's fingers slid onto Faith's leg, as if by accident, and slowly brushed the dress away, and as her fingertips rested on Faith's knee for an instant too long, their eyes met and held and they both felt the desire jump between their locked gaze.

Faith recovered first, leaning back into the sofa and crossing her legs tightly, resting the crossed one gently but deliberately against Gwen's. She adjusted the hem of her skirt unnecessarily then slid her hand between her thighs. "So, what will you get up to tomorrow?"

Gwen didn't reply for a second, she was too busy letting her eyes slide over Faith's legs and body, then meeting Faith's wide eyes, and enjoying the throbs of lust that the sight of Faith gave her. She shifted on the sofa so that her leg pressed more firmly against Faith's. "Er, well. Actually, I've got to go to the university."

"Oh, yeah?" Faith shifted again, uncrossing her legs and turning to sit on the sofa properly, so that they were sitting more side-by-side but close, so that their shoulders and arms were touching. Enjoying Gwen's eyes on her, she recrossed her legs slowly, and this time didn't bother adjusting the hem of her skirt, leaving it crumpled across her thighs. "Why's that?" She rested her leg alongside Gwen's and twitched her foot a few times so that their legs rubbed gently.

Gwen fiddled with her necklace and cleared her throat. "Er. I've signed up for a course. Part-time, and it's mainly distance learning, you know, via the internet, tutorials on Skype, that sort of thing. But tomorrow is when we've got to register and so on. It was a good excuse to come and spend a few days here."

"And it's meant that we've met," Faith said quietly. She noticed Gwen's glass was almost empty and wondered if they were going to have another drink. She couldn't tell if it was too early to try going back to Gwen's room. It felt good to be so physically close to her on the sofa, and she was pretty sure that Gwen was getting turned on too. She smiled as Gwen looked at her seriously and nodded slowly in agreement, and she thought she could see a glint of lust in Gwen's eyes. Keeping the eye-contact, she drained her glass. "Are we having another?"

Gwen nodded. "Can do. My round, though." She leant down and pulled her purse out of her bag, then made to stand up from the sofa. As she straightened, she put her hand on Faith's knee, almost for support, although Faith was certain Gwen didn't need to. Her fingers were warm and it felt good, though, so Faith wasn't going to complain.

While Gwen was at the bar, she half-turned and their eyes kept meeting across the room. At one point, Gwen caught herself running her eyes all over Faith, and felt her pulse race as she was ambushed by her lust. She knew she was being obvious, but she couldn't help drinking in the sight of the girl, and she couldn't help imagining having Faith make love to her. With a hot rush, she suddenly wanted to give herself completely over to Faith's mouth and fingers. For a brief moment, she wondered what Claudia would think, if she knew Gwen was in a bar letting herself be seduced by a stranger – she'd probably laugh and not believe it. Gwen pushed the unwelcome memory down and turned back to the bar.

Faith noticed Gwen stare at her for a long, lingering moment, and had the vague impression Gwen was mentally undressing her. She felt the hot excitement spread through her insides, and stroked her hair and neck while she returned Gwen's stare and smiled. She also surreptitiously undid an extra button on her top. While she watched Gwen pay for the drinks, she wondered quickly what would happen afterwards. Faith didn't mind one-night stands, but they were never ideal, and she thought she liked Gwen more than that anyway.

After Gwen got back with their drinks and sat down close on the sofa again, they talked about Gwen's course – a postgraduate qualification in creative writing – and her day job as a civil servant. "Crunching numbers for the government", as Gwen put it with a smile. "Worthy but a bit dull." Her eyes flicked to the patch of bare skin at Faith's throat.

Faith smiled back and imagined working in an office. It wasn't something she'd ever done and she wasn't sure how she'd cope with it day in, day out. She liked to be able to move around, and she liked the interaction with the public; in an office, she thought she'd probably go mad. "The writing thing, then? Is that what you want to do, really?" Their shoulders and arms and legs were all pressed against each other, and Faith was resting her hand on her knee, enjoying the material of Gwen's dress soft on her fingers.

Gwen nodded. "Probably. I thought I'd give it a go, anyway. It's something new to do, a bit of a challenge." She twitched her knee against Faith, conscious of Faith's fingers on her dress, and hoped Faith was going to touch her. She moved her spare hand to rest on her knee, close to Faith's. Faith's crossed leg was also jiggling back and forth, rubbing against her.

"Meet new people?" Faith leant her head back on the sofa. Gwen nodded and blatantly ran her eyes over Faith's face and neck and throat, lingering on her lips. Faith stared at Gwen's lips as well, feeling the excitement rise again at their fullness and the sheen of moisture from the drink. Faith knew she was breathing quite hard, but she didn't care. In fact, she hoped Gwen noticed and realised it was because she was aroused by her. She saw Gwen swallow quickly and lick her lips, and the sight of Gwen's tongue darting out sent intense stabs of desire deep into Faith. The thought that Gwen's body might be responding in a similar way, be just as sensitive and ready, excited her. "Um, so, will you have to come up here now and again? To see your tutor, or whatever?" Faith moved her hand and pressed her fingers gently onto Gwen's leg.

"I don't know." Gwen swallowed again. She moved her hand so that their fingers touched. "I hope so."

Faith held her breath and ran a finger along the back of Gwen's hand. "So do I." Suddenly her voice sounded shaky. She could see Gwen holding her breath too. Gwen glanced at her, wide-eyed and serious-looking, and Faith decided they needed to be alone. She cleared her throat. "Shall we go?"

Gwen nodded, obviously also on the point of speaking . "I was going to say, we could have a drink back at my hotel, maybe?"

Faith smiled and decided that was practically an invitation to Gwen's room. "That's a good idea." They finished their drinks and stood up, enjoying the excuse to brush against each other as they sorted their bags out, and Faith pulled on her jacket. Out on the street, Faith linked her arm through Gwen's again and asked which hotel she was staying in. When Gwen told her, she thought for a moment, then nodded in recognition and led her away down the street.

They swayed against each other, like before, and it was just as much fun this time. As they paused on a kerb, waiting for a few cars to pass before crossing, Gwen glanced at Faith. "Er, Faith? You know this hotel?"

"Mmm? I know where it is, I've never been inside. Always looked quite nice, though." It was in a quiet street on the edge of the centre, in a row of impressive old houses that had all been converted into either smart flats or comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

"Well," Gwen scratched her head quickly. "There's no actual reception or bar or anything. It's kind of like a posh B and B, really." They crossed the road, and Gwen saw Faith was smiling, but they didn't say anything until Faith directed Gwen down anther side street. Gwen wondered what Faith was thinking. "Sorry."

"Why?" Faith was tingling with anticipation.

"Well, because I offered you a drink there. There might be a sort of minibar thing in the communal sitting room...?"

Faith grinned and squeezed Gwen's arm, brushing up against her. "We'll manage." She found Gwen's fretting quite sweet.

"But..." Gwen began.

Faith stopped and turned to her, reaching up to hold a hand to her cheek gently. Gwen's skin was hot and soft, and for an instant Faith felt another twist of desire. She pushed herself against Gwen, feeling the curves of their bodies meet, and she was pleased to feel Gwen catch her breath. "Gwen, I'm not bothered about a drink. Honestly." She studied Gwen's eyes for a moment, then suddenly leaned in and kissed her mouth.

Gwen didn't respond immediately – Faith didn't expect her to – and looked faintly surprised when Faith broke the kiss. Faith smiled and kissed her again, quickly, then stepped back a little and took her hand. "I'm more interested in finding other things to do, to be honest." She stroked the back of Gwen's hand. "And anyway, isn't there like some teabags and instant coffee or something? There always is."

Gwen chuckled – a release of tension as much as anything else. "Yes. And some of those little pots of UHT."

"There we are then." Faith took Gwen's arm again and started walking her slowly to the end of the road. "What more could we want?"

"It's a bit late for coffee now." Gwen said, not quite sure what she was saying.

Faith giggled. "We might like some in the morning, though."

Gwen shivered in pleasure, but also in sudden awareness of what she was doing. "Oh, god, Faith," she whispered. "I...I can't believe...I don't usually..."

Faith stroked her arm. "Shhh. It's not like this is usual for me either."

Gwen tensed a little. "You mean, another woman, or...?"

"Oh no. Always a woman." Faith stroked her finger over Gwen's wrist quickly. "Don't worry about that, I know what I'm doing there." There was a moment where Gwen wondered if Faith was trying to suggest she liked to take charge; Gwen hoped so, because the thought of giving in to the younger woman, of giving herself up to Faith, was deeply arousing. Faith went on softly, "No, I meant the way we got together, coming on to you at work and so on." A thought struck her. "Did you mean...about women? I mean, I assumed...Claudia..."

Gwen drew her breath in sharply. "Can we not talk about Claudia? Not tonight, anyway? Sorry."

"Of course. Sorry." She directed Gwen round a corner. She liked the implication that there'd be another night sometime.

Gwen looked around. "Oh. We're here already." She felt in her bag for the key. "No, like you, it would always be a woman." She found the key but hesitated, glancing at Faith and flushing. "Um, I know what I like there, too."

Faith grinned, and very obviously ran her eyes down Gwen's dress. "Lucky me." She stepped forward and pressed Gwen's hip with her hand. "Shall we go in?"

Gwen smiled and nodded her head, then turned to unlock the boarding house's front door. As they entered, she looked back over her shoulder, her expression briefly quizzical. "Were you coming on to me at work?"

Faith grinned. "I think so. I was definitely checking you out, and liking it." She ran the back of her hand lightly over Gwen's back, feeling the curve of her back and bum, then shut the front door softly behind them. "And the whole thing about leaving you my number in the card?" Gwen hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, and Faith ran her hand up her back. She leant in and let Gwen's hair tickle her mouth and nose. "That was me making a move." Her hand brushed Gwen's shoulder and slipped under her hair to touch the bare skin of her neck. "Actually, that was quite cocky of me, wasn't it?"

Gwen looked around, making sure there was no-one in the sitting room, or likely to wander past them. They seemed to be alone. She let her hand drop and felt it skim against Faith's skirt. She leant back slightly and stretched out her fingers, just feeling the tips brush Faith's leg. "No it was sweet. Bold, maybe. But in a good way. I'm glad you did."

Faith moved her face in Gwen's hair. "Can I be bold again, and suggest we go to your room?"

Gwen smiled and started climbing the stairs, feeling a little like some curious teenager sneaking a friend upstairs under her parents' noses. She couldn't quite believe what was happening.

**

Their hands brushed as they both put their bags on a chair, then they came together, holding each other in the middle of the room. Faith leant in and Gwen let her kiss her. Gwen had always found this stage slightly awkward – after the excitement of all the flirting, the actual start of the physical process was somehow quite daunting. The feel of Faith's arms round her was nice, and she enjoyed the way their bodies touched. The first kiss, though...

With Claudia, it had been at a drunken party in a gay bar, she'd hardly known what she was doing and they'd been surrounded by like-minded people, so it had been easy to let Claudia do what she wanted. There hadn't been any kisses since Claudia had left. She wished, for the first time in a while, that she could now stop thinking about Claudia.

Faith's mouth was soft on hers, and she tasted nice, of rum and coke mainly, but also of herself. Gwen sighed, cross with herself for letting a memory of Claudia slip through, and enjoyed the scent of Faith filling her nostrils. She put a hand on Faith's back and tried to let the kiss take over. Nonetheless, she was very aware that after so long coming to terms with being alone, and after looking forward to spending her birthday pleasing herself, here she was about to get as intimate as possible in a strange room with a stranger. And although it didn't feel dirty and hurried, or like some sort of easily-regrettable one-night stand, it was nonetheless not how she had planned her few days away. Was what they were about to do, the right thing to do?

Maybe it was just a one-night thing? She realised she didn't know what Faith had in mind for afterwards, and she wasn't sure what she wanted herself. Sure enough, they could meet when she was up for her course, but that was going to be infrequent to say the least. They both had settled lives, and normally those lives were nowhere near each other. Gwen wished she could stop thinking about it, and let her attraction to Faith take over.

Faith could feel that Gwen was a little tense. She wondered what had changed since they'd climbed the stairs. She wondered if, now they were in her room, it was going too fast for Gwen. She knew she could be quite impatient sometimes, if she thought she was getting somewhere with a girl, and sometimes didn't think about the consequences for the other person – maybe she'd hurried Gwen along too soon. She drew back from the kiss and ran her lips over Gwen's cheek instead, then down to kiss her throat.

Gwen felt the pleasure course through her as Faith kissed her neck. She put her head back and sighed, rubbing Faith's back. With her other hand she moved her hair out of the way of Faith's softly insistent lips. "I'm sorry, Faith," she whispered.

Faith didn't reply, just moved her mouth back to Gwen's and tried kissing her again. There was some response this time, Gwen softened slightly under her mouth. She reached up and let her arm brush Gwen's breast, feeling Gwen twitch in response. She tried her tongue on Gwen's lips. Gwen felt the stabs of pleasure as the tip of Faith's tongue massaged her lip, and she instinctively allowed Faith to turn it into a proper kiss.

Faith moved her hand and held her palm lightly to the side of Gwen's breast, under her jacket. Gwen caught her breath, and suddenly kissed her back hard. It felt good, but Faith was slightly taken aback by the force of Gwen's mouth on hers. They broke for air, and Faith looked at Gwen carefully. "Everything OK?" She moved her arms round Gwen, and for a moment they stood together and hugged.

Gwen moved off after a moment, running her hands through her hair and looking away. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what on earth's wrong with me."

Faith caught her hand. "There's nothing wrong with you. I'm sorry if I'm rushing you."

Gwen moved to sit on the bed. Faith sat down next to her and took her hand again, resting it on Gwen's leg. Gwen pulled their linked hands into her lap. "You're not rushing me. I want this." She looked at Faith, biting her lip, running her eyes over the girl carefully. "I want you. I really do."

"I really want you too, Gwen." Faith moved her leg so that it rubbed Gwen's, and reached up with her free hand to touch her cheek. "Shall we try again?" Faith could feel the heat of Gwen's lap through her dress, but when she leant in to try kissing the older woman again, there was still something not quite right. "What's up, Gwen?"

Gwen shook her head and ran a hand over her face quickly. Letting go of Faith's hand in her lap, she kicked off her shoes and pushed herself back onto the bed. "Sorry, Faith. I can't believe how stupid I'm being."

"How so?" Faith leant down and began unzipping her boots, while Gwen distracted herself by leaning the pillows up against the headboard.

"Well, here we are..." she waved her hand between them, "...in a hotel room together, we both know what might happen...probably..."

"Hopefully." Faith grinned and set her boots to one side in a neat pair.

Gwen smiled at her. "But that's it. Maybe. I'm not used to this." She watched Faith push herself a little further onto the bed. "Having an interesting young stranger throw herself at me..." She bit her lip. "Sorry, that sounds worse than I meant..."

Faith grinned and shrugged, reaching out to touch Gwen's ankle gently. "I can throw myself on you if you want. And I like 'interesting'. And 'young'." She drew a circle on the top of Gwen's bare foot. "I'd have put up with 'sexy', or 'irresistible' too. Just for future reference." She shifted a little closer on the bed, letting her bent knee touch Gwen's dress and twitching it closer until it pressed against Gwen's leg. It meant her thighs were at a strange angle with her skirt splayed across them, but she didn't care. She thought it might help. Her fingers rested on Gwen's ankle.

"You are, all those." Gwen shivered at the feather-light brush of Faith's fingertips on her bare skin. For an instant she imagined Faith's fingertips working all the way up her leg, under her dress, between her thighs, and the thought sent tingles deep into her insides. She watched Faith slide her spare hand onto her neck, her fingers inside the collar of her top and her elbow pressing the side of her own breast, and wondered how she could doubt that Faith's very being was throbbing with the same intensity as hers. "It's not the age gap, by the way. That's very flattering."

Faith slid her raised hand down from her neck, down her side and along her thigh. She flicked at the hem of her skirt, unintentionally exposing a small patch of lace at the top of one of her hold-ups. She glanced at Gwen quickly, and was pleased to see the woman had followed the movement with her eyes – eyes that were wide and bright and now lingered there for a while. She let Gwen dwell for a moment, then moved her fingertips onto the older woman's calf, just above her ankle. "Is it the 'stranger' bit that's worrying you?" Gwen's leg was soft and smooth and warm, and Faith had a brief, intense desire to kiss it.

Gwen looked at her, nodding. Faith shifted onto her knees, letting her skirt fall back down around her thighs. She leant closer. "I don't want to be a stranger. I want to get to know you so well. But we have to start somewhere, Gwen." She kissed the woman quickly, softy, on the lips. Her hand was still on Gwen's calf, and she moved it higher, stopping just below her knee.

Gwen felt her knee bend, her leg moving instinctively under Faith's hand and her dress hem skimming the girl's wrist, almost inviting her fingers to go further. Even so, she gently stopped the kiss. She felt flushed, and almost couldn't bear how good it was to feel Faith's face so close. "It's been quite long time for me, since...you know...and it should just, maybe...I don't know...take time?"

Faith paused, then withdrew slightly. "I do have to get up for work tomorrow, to be fair. It'd be an early start, if I'm to get home and change and stuff." She looked down, suddenly awkward. "Also, it's your big day tomorrow..." She refastened the button on her top that she'd undone earlier in the bar and pushed herself back from Gwen. "Um. Can we meet again, though? Before you go?"

Gwen realised in that moment that Faith was quite serious about wanting to get to know her – as well as wanting her. She realised too that she would always regret letting her leave now, and she suddenly knew that, if nothing else, she didn't want to wake up alone on her thirtieth birthday now she didn't have to. Faith had pushed herself to the edge of the bed and was reaching for her boots. Gwen twisted over and caught at the girl's arm. "Faith, wait. I'm being so stupid." She pushed herself over further and kissed Faith's mouth quickly.

Faith responded to the kiss for a moment then pulled back, leaning away to put her boot gently back down on the floor. Gwen went on, "Please stay, if you still want to. I can't believe I ever had any doubts."

Faith smiled. "Just being practical for a moment, I will need a pretty early start..."

Gwen felt for Faith's hand and linked her fingers through the girl's. "I don't care. Please, wake up with me? Whatever time it is."

Faith pushed herself back onto the bed and leant over Gwen. "It would be like 6 o'clock or something?" She put her face close, as if about to kiss her, and asked, "Sure?"

Gwen shifted to position herself partly under Faith and gently took hold of her waist. "Completely. Six is just another number as well, isn't it?"

Faith allowed Gwen to pull her down on top of her, and slid one of her knees between Gwen's thighs. "I like your thinking." They kissed, properly for the first time, fully, with a heady mix of tenderness and desire. They felt their bodies begin to respond to each other instinctively.

Faith broke the kiss, and nuzzled Gwen's throat. "Feels like we might not get much sleep anyway. Sorry." She stroked the back of her hand over Gwen's side lightly. "We could try and carry on through..."

"Now I like your thinking." Gwen glanced at her watch, then ran her hand down Faith's back, using her arm to push Faith's hand onto her breast. She arched her hips up against Faith and slid her hand over the back of the girl's skirt, enjoying the soft curves of her body. "That only gives us eight hours, though..."