Svetlana glowered at the droplet of sweat threatening to tumble down into her eyes. \u00a0She tried to blow at it but it stubbornly danced to the edge of her eyebrow, then plunked down on her cheek. \u00a0She sighed and prodded at another piece of garbage.<\/p>\n
Community service was stupid, when you got down to it, especially as a punishment for bad behavior. \u00a0Svetlana refused to call it anything else. \u00a0Bad behavior just sounded so ridiculous.<\/p>\n
“Hey, hon, you want a drink?”<\/p>\n
The sweet voice caught her attention and she jerked her iPhone’s headphones out with an elbow. \u00a0"What?“<\/p>\n
A pretty red-headed girl, tall and slender and dressed in a very modest green dress, stood at the doorway of the nearby church. \u00a0She waved, ensuring she had Svetlana’s attention, then cupped her hands over her mouth. \u00a0"I have lemonade! \u00a0Inside.” \u00a0She gestured and then vanished inside the church.<\/p>\n
Svetlana narrowed her eyes. \u00a0The day was oppressive, but she had an irrational fear of all things religious. \u00a0But. \u00a0The girl was cute, whoever she was, and maybe she could drag out a break to cover some of the pesky required hours.<\/p>\n
She left her stick and bags where they were and sprinted across the ditch to the church door. \u00a0Inside it was quiet and cool and smelled like old people. \u00a0She sighed and made for the one visible light, which turned out to be illuminating a kitchenette.<\/p>\n
The girl was standing over the sink, pouring lemonade from a pitcher into two Dixie cups. \u00a0Svetlana could not contain her chuckle. \u00a0"Are those for midgets?“<\/p>\n
"Sorry,” the girl said quickly, turning an apologetic smile towards her guest. \u00a0"They’re the kids’ cups. \u00a0It’s all I’ve got. \u00a0I can always top you off! \u00a0I’m Esther, by the way.“<\/p>\n
"Esther,” Svetlana repeated, then held out her hand. \u00a0"Svetlana. \u00a0Resident punk.“<\/p>\n
Esther laughed, and Svetlana found herself warming everywhere at the sound. \u00a0"I’m the preacher’s daughter, but there’s no need to pretend you’re awful.” \u00a0She reached for the pitcher again, but this time she spilled one of the little cups across her chest. \u00a0The dress immediately became see-through and clung to her skin. \u00a0"Oh gosh,“ she said, and rested her forearm between her breasts as if to preserve her modesty.<\/p>\n
Svetlana’s eyebrows rose. \u00a0"My fault. \u00a0Want help?”<\/p>\n
“Sure. \u00a0Yech. \u00a0It’s all sticky.” \u00a0Esther began to shrug out of her dress, and Svetlana almost withdrew her helping hands. \u00a0Almost. \u00a0She felt Esther’s silky-smooth skin as she lifted the sopping dress over the other girl’s head and left her standing there in granny panties and a loose camisole. \u00a0Somehow, it was the most adorable thing Svetlana had ever seen.<\/p>\n
She realized she was posing against the counter. \u00a0"Hey,“ she said suddenly, as if just thinking of it, "can I kiss you?”<\/p>\n
Esther turned hot pink, but the blush crept down her body and Svetlana knew she was not against the idea. \u00a0"I mustn’t,“ the preacher’s daughter said softly. \u00a0"It’s against God’s – ”<\/p>\n
Svetlana crossed the distance between them and planted her lips very firmly on Esther’s. \u00a0She wanted to search out the girl’s tongue with hers, but restrained herself, waiting for a reaction. \u00a0Esther stiffened at first, but as Svetlana did not move away she began to relax.<\/p>\n
They broke away for breath, both panting.<\/p>\n
“Gosh,” Esther said again, and then in a move that seemed almost practiced, she reached to put her fingers under Svetlana’s chin. \u00a0"I’d best try again. \u00a0Just to see if that’s really – what God – didn’t…“<\/p>\n
And she kissed Svetlana again. \u00a0They came together, body to body, keenly aware of sweat and lemonade. \u00a0Svetlana thought about how Esther tasted like lemons and sweetness, and she trailed her tongue hungrily along the other’s girl’s chin.<\/p>\n
"May I?” she asked as she slowly crouched. \u00a0Esther bit her lip, nodded.<\/p>\n
“Forgive me, God,” she whispered as Svetlana slipped her hand inside her panties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Svetlana glowered at the droplet of sweat threatening to tumble down into her eyes. \u00a0She tried to blow at it but it stubbornly danced to the edge of her eyebrow, then plunked down on her cheek. \u00a0She sighed and prodded at another piece of garbage. Community service was stupid, when you got down to it, … <\/p>\n