Passing as Elias (22 page)

Merrill’s chest rose and fell fast, and Elizabeth could practically hear her heart drumming against her ribcage. She felt Merrill’s hand run through her thick hair, the red curls slipping through her fingers like silk.

“You have such pretty hair,” Merrill whispered.

They retired to Elizabeth’s bedroom; Merrill holding her hand along the way, and they lay upon the sheets and wrapped themselves around each other.

“How can two girls make love?” she asked  after a while, in a shaky voice after they had been kissing for several minutes, “I have never thought about touching another woman. I do not think I would do it right.”

“It should come naturally, Merrill,” Elizabeth said. “Do you not touch yourself? It is much the same thing, I have found.”

“What a thing to ask,”  Merrill said with raised eyebrows.

Elizabeth smiled, “Well? Do you touch yourself?”

“Sometimes,” Merrill said, turning bright red.

“The thought of it,” Elizabeth said dazedly, “is rather exciting.”

“Does it please you to think about it?”

“I think it does,” Elizabeth said with a smirk.

“I have never seen another woman before. I mean, I have seen myself, but I do not think it is quite the same,”  Merrill said.

“Would you like to see me?” Elizabeth asked.

Merrill nodded silently, and Elizabeth felt a jolt of excitement run through her. She stood, and began to unbutton her shirt, letting it fall to the floor. Merrill gazed upon Elizabeth’s pert breasts, her own bosom rising and falling gently. Elizabeth then proceeded to pull down her trousers, until they were in a heap around her ankles. Stepping out of them, Elizabeth kicked the trousers aside. She now stood naked in front of Merrill, and it gave her the most amazing sense of freedom. She had nothing to hide, and she was not ashamed anymore.

Merrill looked away and bit her lip.

“Look at me,” Elizabeth said softly.

Merrill complied, and looked up and down at Elizabeth.

“Does it please you?” Elizabeth asked.

“I think so.”

“Is it different compared to when you thought I was a boy?” Elizabeth asked.

Merrill considered this for a moment, “It is the same, I think. I still want you. But I am more afraid.”

Elizabeth slid next to Merrill upon the bed, and allowed Merrill to run her hands across her naked body. 

“It feels so right with you,” Elizabeth admitted.

“I do not know how to explain what is going through my head,” Merrill said softly.

Elizabeth kissed her forehead, “Tell me.”

Merrill considered this for a moment, “We had an old couple living next door for years and years. They were so old. The man and his wife lived to ninety. One night, they both passed away in their sleep together. They were found holding hands, in bed.”

Elizabeth did not speak because she was not quite sure what Merrill was trying to say.

“I am sorry,” she said sheepishly, “that must sound strange. What I mean is, I knew that old couple was meant to be. I guess that is how I feel – why I could not stay away.”

“I feel as though we are meant to be, too,” Elizabeth smiled, and tucked a stray tendril of hair behind Merrill’s ear.

Suddenly, the loss of the apothecary did not seem so great anymore, for she had Merrill to fill the hole in her heart. Elizabeth knew that she had changed immensely since Merrill had entered her life – but she felt it was for the better.

There was plenty of time for Elizabeth and Merrill to build a life together, perhaps even open another shop. Elizabeth was sure that Merrill would not mind if she pretended to be a man again.

Taking Merrill’s hand, Elizabeth showed her where to touch. Merrill’s fingers were delicate and unsure as she slid between Elizabeth’s folds. Elizabeth nibbled her earlobes and ran her own hand up and under Merrill’s dress.

Goosebumps erupted over Merrill’s skin, and she visibly shivered.

“Are you all right?” Elizabeth asked.

Merrill nodded and kissed Elizabeth deeply again.

“I want to-” Merrill stopped abruptly.

“Tell me,” Elizabeth coaxed.

“I am embarrassed.”

“You do not need to be embarrassed with me,” Elizabeth reminded her.

Merrill did not say what she wanted, instead, she showed Elizabeth. Merrill got to her knees and slid down Elizabeth’s body, trailing kisses along the way. Elizabeth’s head was spinning as Merrill positioned herself between her thighs. First, Merrill toyed with the button between Elizabeth’s folds, the sensitivity of it increasing every second. Next, Merrill slid two fingers inside of Elizabeth, something that almost drove her mad with desire.

By this point, Elizabeth’s clitoris was swollen, and she was so slick with arousal that she was begging Merrill for release. The excitement grew more intense with each passing moment. Merrill placed her mouth over Elizabeth’s womanhood and licked the juices from her.

“My god,” Elizabeth breathed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Am I doing it right?” Merrill’s head popped up between Elizabeth’s thighs.

“
Yes,
” Elizabeth breathed.

Merrill ducked her head again, and kissed Elizabeth’s pussy, making her whimper.

Afterward, Merrill crawled up the bed to meet Elizabeth’s lips. She could taste herself upon Merrill’s mouth, and she found it extremely arousing.

Elizabeth used her hand to feel the soft inner thigh of Merrill’s leg. The hand slowly worked its way up her thigh until her fingertips found the first wisps of pubic hair. They were moist, and Elizabeth could not resist running her fingers along the slick wetness.

Then she withdrew her hand and brought her fingers under her nose so she could smell the sweetness of Merrill’s womanhood.

“Oh no, Miss,” Merrill averted her eyes, “do not.”

Elizabeth smiled, and licked her fingers, making Merrill gasp.

“Miss!”

“Relax, Merrill,” Elizabeth let out a small laugh. She put her fingers to Merrill’s mouth. Merrill was hesitant, but eventually sucked on them.

Elizabeth returned her hand to Merrill’s thighs. She sought out her soft folds with her fingertips, and relished in the wetness that she felt.

Once again, Elizabeth found her face in between Merrill’s legs. She savored the taste of the honey that Merrill made for her. Elizabeth tortured Merrill’s sex until she was begging for climax. She felt a chill run through her body as her tongue invaded this dark and private place. She licked, and dipped her tongue inside Merrill, before stopping suddenly, forcing Merrill to moan impatiently.

Elizabeth crawled up to meet Merrill and kissed her thoroughly, denying her the orgasm she so greatly craved. Merrill was panting hard, and looked at Elizabeth pleadingly. Elizabeth lay on top of her, their wet mounds pressing against each other, their clitorises meeting. For a while, they ground against each other in the way that a man and woman might, until the action became so torturous that Merrill was begging for release. Merrill’s heels were upon the bed, raising her bottom to meet Elizabeth’s thrusts. They were sweating now, droplets pooling between their bodies, as, with each movement, they came closer to the brink of climax. Their mouths met clumsily, tongues lashing, kissing and licking. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, their bodies convulsed in unison, and wave after wave of pleasure rocked their bodies until they were so exhausted that neither of them could move a muscle.

Elizabeth’s voice was hoarse, and Merrill did not seem able to form words. Merrill rested her head upon Elizabeth’s chest, and together they dozed off. Elizabeth had never had such a wonderful sleep.

Hours later, when Elizabeth’s mother returned home, she did not express any opinion regarding Merrill’s presence, and simply let them be.

They kissed again before Merrill said the words Elizabeth so desperately wanted to hear.

“I do love you.”

“And I you.” Elizabeth held her tightly, “You know, I think I might just cope with you by my side.”

Epilogue

George Greenwood made a small fortune selling Professor de Bard’s house and apothecary. This success was short lived, however, for he died only three years later at sea. Elizabeth did not find out about his death for several years.

Elizabeth opened another apothecary in a neighboring village, under the disguise of Elias, with Merrill playing the role of assistant. The townspeople came to love “that odd couple who ran the apothecary” and never suspected that Elias was a woman. Elizabeth made an exceptionally good medicine-man, making house calls, delivering babies, and caring for the elderly.

After several years together, Merrill and Elizabeth were wed under the disguise of Elias. At home though, Elizabeth was herself, and Merrill stayed by her side.