Mallorca Ch. 01

"Shelley are you alright?"

Michelle Marks stared out the seaplane window with a blissful smile on her face as she tapped her foot nervously, her chest heaving up and down like she was running a marathon. She'd been in dreamland throughout their 15 minutes in the air, and it took more than a few moments for Izzy's words to register.

Her eyes didn't move from the Mediterranean below. "Don't call me Shelley please. Iz, how many times do I have to say it?"

"Well a bunch more for sure, I've been ignoring you since middle school. Babe, you are either panicking or the most excited person in the entire world, which is it?"

Michelle took a deep breath and smiled. "Can you believe how many different shades of blue this water is? I mean, I've been to Hawaii and the Caribbean, but this place..." Her voice trailed off as she finally turned to the seats across the aisle. Her friends Isabella Gardner and Kaia Cole were staring intently, eyebrows raised.

"Guys, I'm fine. I've been telling you for weeks that you're worrying over nothing."

Kaia chimed in. "Yeah, and WE'VE been telling YOU that, at some point, you're going to feel overwhelmed. We love you and we're gonna be there when it happens."

Izzy reached over and gently placed her hand on Kaia's knee in that casual way that almost goes unnoticed between people as annoyingly in love as they were. Their fingers intertwined and Kaia leaned in and gently kissed Izzy's shoulder. Michelle sighed and thought of Robert. Her breath caught in her throat and she turned to look back outside. The moment would pass, it always did.

The island of Mallorca isn't enormous, but it was getting so in the window as the pilot started their descent toward the resort. The confluence of events that had gotten Michelle here had been both unlikely and upsetting, but she considered this trip the beginning of the second half of her life. Still, Kaia's concerns were well-founded given the baggage Michelle was bringing on the trip.

About 2 months ago, her marriage had fallen apart. It was a long time coming, and there weren't any kids or money problems to amp up emotions or lawyer bills, but she cared for Robert deeply and losing him simply as a friend was tough. You can overcome emotional issues, communication issues or sexual issues, but rarely all three.

They had been married for 15 years, since Michelle was 23, and throughout their 20s and early 30s, they'd been electric in the bedroom. They fully embraced their kinky sides, had enormous appetites, and neither was afraid to ask for what they wanted. Thing was, Rob was uncomfortable with the one thing Michelle ached for most. Other people in their bed.

Michelle was adamant with Rob that it wasn't about feeling unfulfilled, just SUCH an overwhelming desire that she was scared she'd feel incomplete without the experience. He promised to keep considering it and talking about it, but it never came close to getting off the ground. And Michelle could possibly have lived with the disappointment, she really could have. Rob was wonderful to her. Until he wasn't.

About 3 years ago, Rob began to pull away. He let himself go too, gained about 25 pounds, didn't dress as nice or groom himself as carefully. Their sex life suffered, and he became perpetually detached and grumpy. Michelle tried everything from slutty lingerie and new toys to just sitting him down and talking, but nothing worked. Not even therapy. Then one final straw. She fell in love with someone else.

Michelle's marketing work for the Toronto Raptors was a dream job. She had played in university, been a fan since they'd existed, and she'd been in the front office for almost 10 years. When Kendra came to work for her, the job became something like perfect. She was smart, made everyone's job easier, had personality for days and looked better in a skirt and high heels than anyone should be legally allowed.

Michelle had long known that her attraction to women had been more than mere curiosity. In her own mind, and out loud to select people, she'd identified as bisexual for years, but certainly never to Rob.

As her husband became more and more of a stranger, this beauty almost 15 years her junior became, at first, a welcome respite during their hours together at work. Gradually though, Kendra went from distraction, to fantasy, to preoccupation, to a bit of an obsession.

Kendra talked lovingly about her boyfriend Jason, so Michelle was fine keeping those feelings where they belonged, at home with a vibrator. But after three years of spending over 50 hours a week together, plus social occasions, she realized the feelings she had for Kendra had become deep and frightening.

One Friday afternoon, she teared up simply bidding Kendra adieu as she headed off for a week's vacation down south. Michelle pictured her having marathon sex sessions with Jason while she slept in a cold bed next to Rob, and knew that she'd allowed herself to fall in love.

But it wasn't then that she sat Rob down to talk to him. No, it wasn't until about 10 days later, upon Kendra's return to work and "the incident". Of course, the young blonde looked glorious, rested, tanned and was smiling ear to ear. Kendra requested a private meeting in Michelle's office at the end of the day to discuss something important, and Michelle immediately made time for her.

"I'm pregnant," Kendra had said, smiling even wider now.

Michelle had hopped up. "OMG, get over here!" She'd never really HUGGED Kendra before, like lovingly embraced her, and the electricity that shot through Michelle in that moment instantly made her uncomfortable. She'd always been so confident in her ability to disguise feelings, but suddenly felt vulnerable. Michelle went to pull away, but both of Kendra's hands went to Michelle's ass, pulling her close.

Michelle's mouth was agape. She pulled away to protest, but Kendra filled it with her tongue. For several minutes they kissed passionately, conscious of the workplace mere feet away, but also not caring that much.

Michelle knew that if she broke the kiss, she'd either have to put a stop to it forever, or lock her door and make a clothing pile in the corner. Eventually, while Michelle's head swam with pros and cons for both, it was Kendra who broke it.

The younger girl dabbed at her lipstick and looked at the floor. "I...I don't know whether to apologize or not."

Michelle had come SO close in that moment to going with the door locking plan, but instead she exercised restraint she didn't know she had. "Kendra," she'd said, backing up into her chair, "why don't we meet at Paradise Grapevine in a half hour and talk?" Kendra had just nodded and almost run away.

The Grapevine chat was both wonderful and impossible. Michelle put Kendra at ease right away by telling her she wasn't angry, and Kendra laughed at the notion that Michelle had been hiding her feelings well. She'd known Michelle had wanted her for a very long time and told her she was a common turn on for her and Jason in bed. They had fantasized about Michelle forever.

This thrilled Michelle, but also broke her heart, knowing their jobs would always be a barrier. Kendra argued the opposite, stating that everyone was an adult, Michelle's marriage was clearly over, and it was just sex. But Michelle didn't want to risk her career, or that of her young friend. Plus, it wasn't simply desire for Michelle.

The agreement they came to that night was the smart one, but it made work difficult. Things weren't uncomfortable, they cared about each other deeply and worked well together still, but the heat. My god, the heat was always there. They had come so close to stepping over the line so many times.

The biggest victim of "the incident" had been Rob and Michelle's marriage. Michelle knew that night that she couldn't go on unfulfilled at home, and she had known for over a year that Rob wasn't going to match her effort to make things right. By that weekend, she was in a hotel in downtown Toronto and looking for a house.

It was less than 2 weeks later that Michelle sat in Kaia and Izzy's living room as they got the call that made this trip possible. For years, K and I and some friends had planned a trip to the Ella Festival, events put on by, and designed for, lesbians all over the world. There were events and festivals in a myriad of places, but it was the annual event on the Spanish island of Mallorca that her friends had long desired to be part of.

For 2 years, they'd had plans to travel with 3 other couples to the event for these two weeks, the one preceding the festival and the week itself. Izzy and Kaia did all the planning, nothing was left to chance and nothing could go wrong. Unless one of the other couples threw a wrench into the works that is.

Izzy fielded the call from their friend Katie that night and the three of them spent the rest of the night downing bottles of wine, consoling her, and coming to grips with their feelings about Lori. See, Lori had cheated on Katie...with Katie's sister...and brother-in-law. Wrench, meet works.

In the cold light of day, Izzy and Kaia had to brainstorm what to do about a 3000$/night villa they would be on the hook for. They had the money to cover it, and the other couples would help them share the cost to be sure, but it would be a painful hit.

It hit Michelle like a bolt of lightning. SHE also had the money to cover it. She was frugal about where she'd lived and was psychotic about socking money away into savings accounts. Her job paid her more than she deserved, she'd paid off her debt and one of those savings accounts was titled "Travel."

"I'll take the villa," she'd told her friends over blueberry pancakes in their kitchen and they'd laughed. But gradually, over the next several days, she broke them down.

Kaia and Izzy did NOT love the idea of their best friend getting over the hurt of a lost relationship by jumping into a brand-new lifestyle with both feet less than 8 weeks later. However, Michelle was the smartest person they knew, and it came down to trusting her to be honest with them and let them know if it was too much. Besides, selfishly, they wanted their friend with them, if for no other reason than her presence on a topless beach.

They'd always known about her desires for other women and figured if she wouldn't allow THEM to take her cherry, they could at least help her navigate the waters and have an amazing vacation at the same time.

How to describe the experience of touching down in the most incandescent blue water and pulling up to a dock in the most beautiful setting in the world? While the people you love most in the world beam at you in anticipation of what they're expecting to be the most glorious two weeks of their lives? Michelle was certainly battling some emotions, but pure excitement overrode everything as she stepped out of the plane.

The online gushing about the resort somehow didn't manage to do it justice. The setting was extraordinary. The beach stretched out in both directions as far as the eye could see, and layers and layers of more and more beautiful scenery stretched out in front of you as you gazed inland.

First the white sand beach, with gorgeous tanned bodies frolicking in and out of the water. Then, clear pools and swim up bars, surrounded by lush greenery and gorgeous lounging areas to either tan, get some shade, or be served by impeccably dressed, pure-white clad staff with cold drinks, hot food and warm towels.

The buildings that made up the campus itself were largely obscured by vegetation, but, behind the resort rose a hilly backdrop bursting with color and light that ended a few hundred feet up in a cascading, rainbow-drenched mist hiding the scenes further above.

Golf carts awaited the girls at the end of the dock and their bags were already aboard, along with a pair of stunning, olive-skinned beauties behind the wheels.

Michelle glided into the front seat of the first cart. "Hello, I am Lucy and welcome to Pleta De Mar!"

Michelle couldn't place her accent, but it was thick and lovely. "I will be taking you to check in. The front desk is a little backed up, so you may have a short wait at our main building, but we'll have you relaxing before you know it."

Michelle was more than a little intimidated by a supermodel-level beauty being her driver. She simply smiled and nodded, croaking a weak, "thanks." She looked back to the second cart and watched as Iz and Kaia chatted and flirted with Lucy's compatriot. Like ducks to water.

Lucy guided the cart down a stone path that cut through the beach and then wound through dense, beautiful foliage. When the pads, leaves, flowers and branches parted in the slightest, light would beam through and Michelle caught glimpses of a volleyball game, women lounging in bikinis, a marble walkway, and couples walking and holding hands.

They emerged back into the sunlight and Lucy brought them to a stop beneath a large dome-like structure. Michelle glanced around at the funky buildings dotting the campus. Arches, bricks, wood, ivy, bamboo all together in an initially awkward but ultimately wonderfully compelling mix.

The interior of the main building took Michelle's breath away. Parquet floors and a clear glass ceiling were the main attractions, but it was the people that quickly grabbed her attention. Women of all shapes and sizes and ages and races dotted the large groups gathered at the front desk and lounging about waiting. Not a single male face visible.

Izzy had come up behind her and kissed her on the cheek. "Muah Shelley, ain't this a trip!?"

Michelle giggled and threw her arm around one shoulder, pulling Iz close. "Isn't the festival next week? The next guy I see will be the first one."

Kaia had sidled up to the other shoulder. "We must not be the only dykes making this a two-week affair I guess." She smiled and ruffled Michelle's hair. "Intimidated yet?"

Michelle wasn't about to admit that to these two pains in her ass and simply smiled and shook her head. Izzy made a beeline for the front desk. "K and I will handle check in. Go take a load off."

Michelle glanced around for an open spot to sit just as a fit, tiny 20-something hopped up from a love seat next to someone with her head buried in a book. Michelle slowly took the seat as if she was concerned any motion would make the woman lose her place. She glanced over her page and smiled. Marking her place in the book, she reached out her hand.

"Hello, I'm Birgit."

She took the older woman's hand and smiled back. "Michelle, but you don't need to stop reading on my account."

"No! That would be horribly rude. I tried to be social with the last occupant of that seat, and she was perfectly nice, just more interested in Instagram than the old lady next to her."

"Old lady, hardly. She's young compared to all of us Birgit. I love that name by the way. Am I making myself look silly by assuming you're German?"

Birgit laughed and touched Michelle's forearm. "Not at all, it's Germanic, but I'm from the Netherlands."

"Well you speak lovely English, I'm afraid I don't have any Dutch for you."

"Michelle, I'm European, we all speak English, but I'm sure you're this charming in any language."

Michelle became nervous at the compliment. "Umm, are you here for the festival next week, or are you on your way home?"

Birgit laughed again. "If I had this awful tan going home, that would be sad. No, I'm here for two weeks, guessing you and your friends are as well? Which is your girlfriend?"

"Believe or not, I'm a single lady, I know that's hard to believe." It was Michelle's turn to touch Birgit and she, shocking herself even, chose a light rub of the older woman's knee. She quickly felt uncomfortable and pulled her hand back.

Birgit paused and grinned, looking Michelle right in the eye. Her face was lined with age in that natural, lovely way. Michelle placed her in her late-40's, with piercing blue eyes, small but sharp nose and full lips. Her makeup was impeccable, her hair blonde with a touch of silver, and her smile impossibly toothy and breathtaking.

"Well that makes two of us. I'm not sure how much in the minority we are, but significantly so anyway." Something caught her eye across the floor. "Well, looks like my room is ready, do you know which building you're in?"

She stood and untied the kimono-style beach dress she'd been wrapped up in, revealing the cut-off tee and striped linen shorts beneath. Michelle stared at Birgit's long sinewy form and flat stomach a beat too long. "Michelle, you there?"

The younger woman smiled and shook her head. "Sorry, umm, I've got a ummm, one of the huts?"

"Oh my, fancy. Lovely and rich too." And she laughed her lilting laugh as her own set of friends sidled up to her. "Nancy, Melanie, Kwojo, this is Michelle, she is my new friend." Michelle shook all their hands and they couldn't have been any nicer.

Birgit took her info from Melanie. "Suite 4 building 3 huh? Sounds like a lucky number."

And her eyes lingered on Michelle's for a few moments. The younger woman wanted to believe Birgit was telling her to remember the numbers and come find her. Her chest felt tight as the group gathered up their things. "It was nice to meet you all, don't be strangers."

Birgit flashed one last smile. "Darling, there are only 84 spots in the whole resort, our paths will cross again." She strode across the lobby to the far doors like she owned the place. Michelle wondered if she'd EVER looked that confident in her life.

"Earth to Michelle." Izzy's voice broke her stare. "What's going on?"

"Oh nothing, just repeating 'suite 4 building 3' in my head over and over again so I don't forget."

Kaia sputtered. "Well for one thing, type it in your phone. Secondly...what the hell are you talking about?"

Michelle glanced outside and Lucy waved them back over to their carts for the trip to their suites. She smiled and glided down the stairs. "Let's check out the accommodations and I'll tell you over a drink."

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"Let me get this straight, you ACTUALLY are wondering whether or not it was a come on?"

Michelle was pacing back and forth, already on a second glass of complimentary wine. "Yeah, for sure. Guys? I know they want to get their cocks into me. Her? She was classy, in control. Maybe she just was flirting or being nice."

Izzy did a face palm. "Girl, lesbians are hornier than most guys and you're a fucking smoke show. She wants you in suite 4 building 3 and in her pants. What the hell are you doing here? Isn't this what you wanted to come here for?"

"Yeah, ok, but this is fast. I wouldn't know what to do with a real lesbian once I got my hands on her. This girl has been around the block." Both Kaia and Izzy stared at her blankly and Michelle let out a frustrated growl. "I have to spell his out for you? What if I SUCK?"

"I'm sure she's counting on that."

"Shut up you know what I mean." She was making a path in the carpet at this point.

Kaia grabbed her by the shoulders and laughed. "Ok, but she's older? How much older we talking here?"

"I don't even care, she was GORGEOUS."

"Ok, so you run into her again, which you will, this is a pretty exclusive resort, and you talk, this isn't rocket science. Now come on, there's plenty of day left, let's get some sun and get hammered."

Michelle took a deep breath and sat down on the most comfortable white leather couch she could imagine. "I'm just gonna finish this glass and go change."

The girls weren't waiting for her and peeled off their sweaty travelling clothes. Michelle sighed and faked frustration. K and I had no shame and, while she liked to tease them about it, she loved it. And they knew she loved it.

They made no secret of the fact that she could join them in their bed any time she liked. For years she hadn't because Rob wouldn't go for it. Now, she was worried about killing friendships, and her friends had stopped asking.