IT HAD BEEN six weeks since she and Sarah had been in the same room. Every time Jaya had suggested they meet, Sarah came up with some reason not to. Jaya replayed their last conversation in her head. Just friends. Fuck that. If she can be just friends so easy, why the hell is she avoiding me?
Jaya tapped on the glass of the jeweler’s shop and the door lock buzzed. She gave her drawing to the engraver with instructions and paid the deposit. In the last six weeks, she had healed. Her head no longer ached. She had spent most of her time drawing and sleeping. Slowing down had been a good thing even if it had been forced on her. She looked at the receipt. She had four days to figure out how to get Sarah to talk to her in person. Not giving up. Not giving up on us. Together they could do this. She had to find a way to convince Sarah.
Chapter Twenty
JAYA STOOD OUTSIDE Sarah’s door. She raised her hand to knock and stopped. Sweat trickled down her back. She had faced down armed operatives and street muggers and been less afraid. She took a deep breath, then rapped on the door and stepped back. She heard a chair scrape on the floor. The battered metal opened a crack with the chain in place. Sarah’s red-gold curls framed her face.
“May I come in?” She hadn’t texted Sarah, afraid she would say no.
“I’m working.” She started to close the door and Jaya slipped her hand in the opening.
“Please, Sarah, give me a minute and then I promise I’ll leave you alone.”
“Move your hand.” Sarah’s gaze met Jaya’s through the gap. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line.
No mercy. Jaya pulled her hand away and stepped back. Sarah closed the door. I deserve this. How did I ever think I could make it right between us? I’m not what she wants. Jaya fingered the torque in her pocket and thought about leaving it outside the apartment, but the action seemed as pitiful as she imagined she looked right now. Fuck it. What was I thinking?
She was halfway down the first flight of steps when she heard the door open and Sarah call her name. She took the stairs two at a time back to Sarah’s door. Sarah stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
“What do you want, Jaya?” She stepped back. Opening the entry wide, she quirked her mouth. “Make it quick. I have to get this chapter finished.”
Jaya slipped past her. Sarah closed the door and rested her body against it. She crossed her arms, looking up at Jaya.
“You.” Jaya’s mouth was dry. She stepped closer and dropped to her knees in front of Sarah. “I made a mistake with Deidre. I’m sorry. I love you. I have loved you since I asked you to leave Rowan House and come home with me.”
“I know.” Sarah reached out and rested her palm on Jaya’s head. “You have shitty timing.” She cupped Jaya’s face with both hands and held her in a fierce gaze. She leaned down to kiss Jaya’s lips, slipping her hand around to cup her fingers at the base of Jaya’s neck. She broke their kiss and lifted Jaya’s chin. Tilting her head back, she rested her brow on Jaya’s head. “I love you too, you hardheaded, arrogant beast of a woman. I love you. I won’t share you with anyone, not even in play, and I don’t want to be shared. If we are going to be together, these are my hard limits.”
Jaya leaned into Sarah’s hand, comforted by her grip on the back of her neck. Hers. Hers as much as she is mine. “Yes. Yes, to all of it.” She held Sarah’s gaze and pulled the gold torque from her pocket. She lifted it to Sarah. She released Jaya’s neck and took it. Sarah raised an eyebrow as she ran her fingers over the engraving of two thorny vines wound around each other and two pillars.
“Explain.” Sarah held the collar close to her heart. Jaya smiled at the echo of her own words to Sarah so long ago.
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We two are infinitely entangled.”
Sarah handed the torque to Jaya and held her gaze as she lowered herself to her knees. They knelt together on the hardwood floor. Looking into Sarah’s eyes, Jaya settled the collar around her neck. She took Sarah’s hands, and they rose as one.
THE ROOM WAS hot and stuffy, reminding Jaya of every uncomfortable classroom in every school she had ever attended. She fidgeted in her chair, earning herself a look from Sarah.
Sarah was elegant in the tailored suit Jaya had persuaded her to let her purchase for her. Her face grew warm as she thought about their scene in the dressing room and she was quite sure the sales lady would never get over walking in on them.
Sarah. Her Sarah. That was how she thought of her now. I’m as much hers as if I wore a collar myself. The bond between them might stretch but would never break. She pulled her sketchbook out and drew as Sarah talked. Jaya listened until the math theory became too complicated for her to understand.
She looked forward to starting over somewhere—leaving this city and its memories behind. Sarah already had several post-doctorate job offers. Jaya knew wherever they ended up she wouldn’t mind, as long as they were together. Sarah was brilliant in her defense, answering every question and pushing back enough to let her committee know she understood what she was talking about.
And after, when they were settled in bed, after the champagne, after the pain and pleasure, they curled around each other and talked of their future together. Plans and possibilities spun out before them, infinite as their love.
About the Author
Brenda Murphy writes both short stories and novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Her nonfiction and fiction work has been published in various collections, most recently a collection of short stories, Dominique and Other Stories. When she is not swilling gallons of hot tea and writing, she wrangles two dogs and an unrepentant parrot. She writes about life, books, and writing on her blog, writingwhiledistracted.com.
Website: www.brendalmurphy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brenda.murphy.75
Other books by this author
Dominque and Other Stories
Also Available from NineStar Press
www.ninestarpress.com
Table of Contents
A NineStar Press Publication
Sum of the Whole
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
About the Author
Also Available from NineStar Press
Sum of the Whole Page 16