softest embrace; like being reborn and the world is new and bright and loud and scary, but there is someone holding me through it with comfort and protection, kisses and caresses, sweet, heavy smells and precision.
Itâs the most intimate Iâve ever been with anyone. The most naked, the most fully seen and fully loved and accepted. Andâohâthe fireworks. Itâs like the sky has suddenly burst into a million million stars in a rainbow of colors. Thatâs the difference, really. The stars are no brighter, no more spectacular. The release is no less sweet. Itâs just that everything is bathed in rich, vibrant color. Yeahâ¦thatâs it.
Z was trying as hard as she could to imagine it. But she couldnât. She felt close when she remembered lying in the grass with her friends back home, listening to the bees buzz above them. Or the nights she would sneak out to the stream and hold hands with G, or with B, talking about the future when
they would all come to America. She felt Reagan watching her and her face went hot. Have you ever had an orgasm, Z? Her face grew even hotter as she looked down at her hands and slowly shook her head.
I donât really know. I donât really know what it is.
Wellâ¦hell, I donât know. Itâs like when youâre having sex, with yourself or with someone else, and, likeâ¦itâs that part where the love explodes and you see the starsâ¦all that.
No, said Z. I told you Iâve never done that with anyone. I canât until Iâm married, anyway.
Well, said Reagan, painting that sly grin across her cheeks again as she leaned in to whisper, you can do anything you want. You just have chosen not to do it until you get married.
No, said Z, tears welling in her eyes, I canât. You donât understand, she said, lying back on the grass. You canât understand! I must wait until I get married. After a while, Iâll have a marriage arranged from home and then Iâll do it. No one here would want to take me out, anywayâ
Whoa, there. You can stop right there, âcause you know that ainât true. Didnât I tell you Ronnie in pediatrics has been sniffinâ around after you like a lost dog?
You donât understand, Reagan. Justâ¦believe me. You couldnât understand.
What couldnât I understand? I have crazy, fanatical parents too. I moved away. Now I do what I want. I mean, at least you can get out the vibrator when your auntâs not home. Take advantage of different shiftsâ¦. Reagan stopped when she recognized that lost look that spread across Zâs face when she didnât understand a particular expression someone said. I know you know what a vibrator is. My god, you are from Earth, Z! They have vibrators everywhere.
Z just shook her head. She was trying to think of what the word meant, but all she could think of were pagers and cell phones. OK, said Reagan, as if sheâd just uncovered a
major conspiracy or was about to impart a wonderful secret. A vibrator is, like, a sex toy. You turn it on and it vibrates, like a pagerâkind of, Z nodded, but stronger and longer. You can rub it all over your body. But then, when you put it down over your clit, said Reagan, as she lay back and tried to illustrate, and rub it around, itâs just like someone elseâs finger or mouth or bodyâonly better. âCause you control the power with a flick of your thumb.
Reagan was about thirty seconds into laughing when she realized Z wasnât joining her. Instead, she looked like she was about to start crying again. Whoa, my humorâs not that badâ¦. Still no smile. Hey, whatâs the matter?
Iâ¦I canât do that. Z wished sheâd never asked the question. She wanted out of this conversation before Reagan tried to justify how everyone could have a wild and free life like hers. Before she had to explain why Reagan could never understand. I justâ¦I
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