"Lilith. It’s a beautiful name. It suits you well."
"Thank you. Have you seen anyone else like us around here?"
"No. You’re the first, but there may be others. Have you?"
Lilith shook her head no.
"Then perhaps we should look around," he offered.
"Yes. First, though, I would like to bathe in the lake. It looks refreshing. Do you mind waiting?"
Adam laughed. It was a pleasant sound and she smiled as she waded into the warm emerald green water. Glancing at its surface, she saw her reflection for the first time. The fiery red hair, blue-gray eyes and golden skin slightly darker than Adam’s surprised her. She hadn’t thought about her own appearance, but expected it to be similar to his. Why, though, she didn’t know.
Another mystery
, she thought.
Swimming a short distance and then back toward the bank, she enjoyed the warmth of the water as it caressed her skin. Refreshed, she emerged from the lake and joined Adam. He had watched her, intrigued that her shape differed from his. Of particular interest were the round objects protruding from her front and the lack of a small appendage between her legs. Several times he had glanced at his own and then back at her trying to decide if she was somehow concealing it. Eventually he concluded she didn't have one. His own seemed to shrink and grow at random intervals, making him uncomfortable at times. The strange behavior was a nuisance. He was much more comfortable when the appendage hung loosely between his thighs. Sighing, he stood and brushed the grass from his legs and buttocks and helped her up the slippery bank. Later he would think about these differences.
Another mystery,
he thought, sighing slightly.
For days they wandered across the land looking for others like themselves. Although they found a variety of birds and animals, there was no sign of anyone else. A few creatures resembled them, walking upright or jumping from tree to tree, but the dark hair covering their bodies and their strange noises assured both Lilith and Adam that they weren’t related.
"Maybe they are like us but speak a different language, or just slightly different," posed Adam, watching the animals playing with a stick and rolling around in the grass. Occasionally one would emit a high-pitched laugh and curl back its lips to show large teeth. "Like you and I are different," he reasoned.
"I don't think so. We could communicate from the very beginning. I think if they were like us, we would understand them."
"Perhaps they can only talk with each other like we do. They don't understand us just as we don't understand them."
"It seems reasonable."
"Yes it does," he replied, switching his gaze to the woman beside him. Once again he felt himself grow stiff and reached toward the limb to push it down, annoyed at its continual efforts to stand up.
"Does it bother you?" Lilith asked intrigued at the display. She had noticed the odd behavior before.
"At times. I think it means I'm happy or something. I've been wondering if it's able to think for itself. I seem to have no control over what it does at times."
"Possibly. If you can't control it, that certainly would explain the odd behavior. Does this happen often?" she asked, tilting her head sideways to examine the appendage.
"Yes, but only when I look or think about you. I find your appearance pleasing and it seems to also."
"Strange," she said, glancing at it again and then at herself. "I find you pleasing to look at, but I have nothing to show for it."
"Nothing?"
Feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment, he scuffed a foot.
"Well, nothing either of us can see. I get a strange feeling between here," placing her hand between her thighs. "But," shrugging, she didn’t finish the sentence.
"Oh."
The sadness in his voice made her uncomfortable.
"There is one more thing," she offered hesitantly, wanting to cheer him up.
"What?" he asked eagerly.
"These."
Lilith pointed at the small nubs protruding from the two orbs on her chest.
"These little things get hard and stick out, just like that," she said pointing to his hardened limb.
"Really? I never noticed. Is it painful?" Gently poking at one with a fingertip, he noticed it was rather firm.
"Sometimes, but if I rub them gently, it eases the pain."
"Oh. Do you think we are supposed to rub these things to ease the discomfort? I've never tried that but it might help."
"Well, I see no reason to think otherwise if it helps me. Why not try it and see?"
Agreeing with her, he did find relief but it was only temporary. Soon, however, like children, they began teasing each other and tried to relieve the other’s discomfort. Unfortunately, they quickly discovered the exchange created new feelings and very different reactions. Deciding it was better to keep their hands to themselves, they tried to ignore the growing urges... and that was the problem. It made them more uncomfortable and created an awkwardness between them.
One day Lilith and Adam were sitting by the lake watching several birds paddling near the bank. Both had been contemplating their dilemma, wanting to find a solution. Finally, tossing a small pebble into the water, Adam turned to her hesitantly.
"Lilith? I've been thinking about this difference between you and me."
"So have I. It's obvious you have this
thing
between your legs for a reason and I don't. We have discovered we like rubbing ourselves and enjoy stroking each other. Perhaps your limb was meant to give us both some type of pleasure. If you stroke me with it..."
"My thoughts exactly!" interrupted Adam, smiling broadly. "Would you like to find out?"
"I think I would."
Lying down on the lush carpet of grass, they tentatively ran their hands slowly up and down each other’s bodies, shy but determined to continue their experiment. Soon, flushed by unfamiliar passions, Adam rolled Lilith onto her back and nudged her knees apart.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, pushing him away.
"I... uh... what I felt I needed to," he replied, confused by her rejection.
"Need? You feel the need to climb on me?"
"Well, not exactly, but I thought you wanted me to rub myself against you."
"I don't see what that has to do with you pressing me to the earth and climbing on me in such a manner. Surely you don't expect me to enjoy that?"
Shrugging Adam couldn't think of a reasonable reply.
"I don't understand. I thought you wanted this? Do you not feel pleasure from what we have been doing?"
"Yes, but what has that to do with you lying on me? It's like I am less important than you. We shall lie side by side as equals."
Adam frowned. This wasn’t going exactly like he thought.
"Why?"
"Because that is how it should be."
"I don't see how that will work. And what does equality have to do with this? And why argue over something so ridiculous? Obviously, it makes more sense for me to lie on you. After all, it's I who will be stroking you therefore I need to push downward."
"That's ridiculous? If that's your only objection, I can have the top and sit on you. It's just as easy for me to position myself over you. .Besides, you're heavier than I. You would crush me."
"You're almost as tall as I am. I doubt if my lying on you would hurt you," he argued. "Now, enough of this! We're wasting time."
Pushing her gently down, Adam once again tried to mount her. Lilith didn’t know if she was more furious at his efforts to climb on her or that he was ignoring her feelings. Shoving him away, she jumped up and glared down at him, arms crossed defiantly.
"I will not be treated like this. Either I have the top or we lie side by side as equals."
Angrily, Adam rose to his feet and stood in front of her, legs apart, posturing with his hands on his hips.
"This is ridiculous! You're being unreasonable about something that is unimportant."
"I don't think so, and if it's so unimportant, you take the bottom"
"Me? Why should I take the bottom? I've agreed we're equals. That should be enough for you. Why do you keep pursuing something so trivial?"
"Why do you if it's so trivial?" countered Lilith, stamping her foot in frustration. "I tell you what. I'll even compromise on this. You take the bottom first. Afterward, if you wish you may lie on me."
"You really don't expect me to lie beneath you now when you have just said it's an inferior position? That means I would be less than you."
"Ah. I see. The truth comes out now. You expect me to take the bottom but you're not willing to. I was right. You think of yourself as superior to me."
"Lilith, you're beginning to anger me!" .
"And am I suppose to quiver from this anger of yours? Let me tell you something, Adam. I am the one who has a right to be angry. Either we do this as equals or we don't do it at all."
Adam sighed, shaking his head and feeling defeated. Perhaps he needed to switch tactics, he thought.
"Be reasonable, Lilith! Look at me! I'm bigger than you. I have more muscles. I can run faster, swim farther and am a lot stronger. It's obvious I was made this way for a reason."
"And that would be what, exactly?"
"Well... ummm... to be on top, of course," he mumbled, uncomfortable from the odd look in her eyes and unable to think of another answer.
Throwing up her hands, Lilith turned and stormed off.
"Where are you going?"
"Away."
"Away? Where?" he demanded, running after her.
"Anywhere... away from you... from this. I will not live with someone who believes I am inferior."
"But, where will you go?"
"Anywhere... away from you... away from this. It's not your concern, Adam. Just leave me alone!"
Imitating her behavior, he threw both arms in the air and decided now wasn’t a good time to reason with her. She’d eventually see that he was right. After all, he was Adam. When had he ever been wrong?
"Oh, all right! We can discuss this when you're in a better mood."
She was about to reply when a voice stopped both of them.
"Why do you argue?" it whispered softly.
Looking around neither could locate the source.
"Who are you?" demanded Adam, stepping protectively in front of Lilith. Giving him a disgusted look, she pushed him aside and stepped forward to stand next to him.
"Don't stand in front of me like that," she admonished, cutting him an angry glance. Rolling his eyes, Adam decided to ignore her for the moment and focus on the voice.
A deep laughter was quickly followed by the appearance of a large man with dark red skin. Bowing slightly to Lilith, he turned toward Adam. Smiling slightly, he spread his arms out, palms up in benevolent manner.
"No one you would know. I am the keeper of my Twin’s kingdom and guardian of his creations. This place is one of them... as are the two of you. Now, answer me. Why do you argue?"
"She is being obstinate!" grumbled Adam, nodding at Lilith. "We merely wish to explore these strange urges we are having and she refuses to cooperate."
"Me! I simply refuse to lie beneath you since you think you are superior to me. I will be treated as an equal," declared Lilith, shoving Adam away from her.
"There! You see! Stubborn!" he countered.
"Yes. I see."
"I thought you would. It's obvious you're like me. Naturally, you would understand my point of view."
"Naturally," chuckled the red giant,"but, I'm afraid I don't agree with you. She has a valid point, also. Why do you not take the bottom as she has suggested, Adam? Her compromise sounds reasonable."