Twenty-Four Days

by Janet Albert

  "Of course I do." Jamie let go of Miranda's hand and extended her hand to Valerie. "Thanks for coming."

  "Congratulations," Valerie said, shaking Jamie's hand. She handed Jamie a bouquet of orange roses mixed with baby's breath. "These are for you and we brought you a vase to put them in." Valerie handed her a tall, cut glass vase.

  "Thank you so much. They're such a beautiful color." Jamie waved to a young woman near the buffet table and beckoned her over. "Kim, please put these in water and set them out on the table, will you?" As soon as Kim left, Jamie introduced Miranda and Valerie to the other women she and Lilly had been chatting with. They talked for a while until Lilly and the other women gradually excused themselves and drifted off.

  "My sister owns a flower shop," Miranda told Jamie, once the others were gone.

  "Really? How nice. Is that where you got the flowers you brought me that time we went out to dinner?" Jamie took Miranda's hand in hers again and held it tightly.

  Miranda cleared her throat as she answered with a nod of her head.

  "Are you going to make a habit of bringing me flowers?"

  "Maybe--I know I'd like to."

  "I heard you were very sick," Valerie said. "I hope you're all better now."

  "I am, thanks to the good doctor here. I don't know what I would have done without her." Jamie smiled at Miranda. "She was so kind and caring."

  "I'm sure she was. That's my sister," Valerie said.

  "So, what do you think of my gym?" Jamie asked.

  "I think it looks great. It's a great space with good energy," Valerie replied. "There's lots of natural light in here and I love how you painted all the pillars and exposed pipes with those bright colors. It's inviting and cheerful. Do you have any members yet?"

  "Yes we do, a lot more than I expected at this point. We're running a two for one special for any kind of couple--straight, gay, lesbian or whatever and I've been advertising in the local papers like crazy."

  "That should bring even more people in," Valerie said. "Tommy and I would join, but it's too far from where we live and I think we'd end up not going as much."

  "You're right," Jamie agreed. "I always tell people to find a gym close to where they live or work. Otherwise, it's too hard to go." Jamie answered Valerie's rather exhaustive list of questions, although she found it nearly impossible to focus on anything other than her need for Miranda and the incredible softness of Miranda's hand in hers.

  "So, this must be Jamie, I assume?" Tommy asked as he came up next to Valerie.

  Miranda nodded. "Jamie, this is Tommy Fuller, my brother-in-law. I don't think you had a chance to meet him at Eve's party."

  "No I didn't."

  "Tommy, this is Jamie Jeffries, she's the owner of the gym and my... well, she's the owner of the gym."

  "And I'm her girlfriend is what she really meant to say." Jamie had a twinkle in her eye as she held out her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

  Tommy shook her hand. "Same here. So, you're Miranda's girlfriend, huh?" Tommy winked at Miranda as he emphasized the word girlfriend. "I'm sure glad to hear that."

  "Thanks. So am I." Jamie returned Tommy's smile, glancing briefly at Miranda.

  "Congratulations on your new gym," Tommy went on. "Here's to your success." He lifted his recently emptied champagne glass as if making a toast. "Let Miranda know if you need any legal advice. Business law is my specialty."

  "Thanks, but I already have someone. I'll keep it in mind, though."

  "What do they have to eat over there, Tommy? I'm getting a little hungry." Valerie tugged at his shirt sleeve and jerked her head toward the food several times. Then she winked and said, "Why don't you take me over there?"

  "They've got some great munchies and a huge tray of fresh fruit. Come on, I'll show you." Tommy held out his arm.

  "Excuse us will you? We'll catch up with you two a little later," Valerie said as she hooked her arm in Tommy's and they took off, leaving Miranda and Jamie alone.

  "COME WITH ME." As if she couldn't wait any longer, Jamie led Miranda to a secluded corner of the room and with Miranda's hands in hers, spoke to her in hushed tones. "I missed you so much this week. I couldn't wait to see you again, to kiss you and to touch you. I never thought I could want someone this much."

  "It was the same for me. I've been aching for you all week." Miranda fell into Jamie's adoring eyes and for her, nothing else existed. "You take my breath away. When I saw you tonight, I was sure my heart would stop."

  "And when I saw you, I thought mine would wear itself out from beating so hard. No one has ever looked as good to me as you did when you walked toward me."

  "I could see it on your face when you looked at me." Miranda freed one of her hands and laid it on Jamie's jacket, just above her left breast. "Your heart is still pounding."

  Jamie placed her hand on Miranda's chest in the identical spot. "So is yours."

  Miranda backed up a step and checked Jamie out from head to toe. "Have I told you how incredibly gorgeous you look tonight?"

  Underneath her tailored suit jacket, Jamie wore a formal shirt, crisp and white, with tiny vertical tucks down the center and small black buttons, the first three left unfastened. A suggestion of cleavage caught Miranda's eye, causing her insides to dissolve as a swift and vivid memory of Jamie's breasts seized control of her senses.

  "So, you like what you see, huh?"

  "God, do I ever." Miranda moved closer and slid her hands under Jamie's jacket. With her hands on Jamie's waist, she pulled Jamie to her until no space remained between them. "Did you mean what you told Tommy about being my girlfriend?"

  "I hope you want me to be." Jamie took one of Miranda's hands, lifted it to her mouth and kissed it. "Please say you want me to be."

  "I want you to be, more than you know. I guess I can't kiss you here, can I?"

  "I guess not, although I'm almost beyond caring and I'm about to touch you in a very intimate way in front of anyone who can see us." Jamie looked around the room and then back at Miranda. "I've got an idea. Come on." Pulling steadily on Miranda's hand, Jamie zigzagged through the crowd and made a beeline straight to a door in the back of the gym.

  "What's this?" Miranda asked as Jamie unlocked the door.

  "This is my private office, but it's not very private as you can see." Jamie waved her arm at the glass walls that enclosed the space. "I had it built this way so I could keep an eye on what's going on out there in the gym." She fished a key out of the top drawer of her desk and unlocked another door that led from her office. "Let's go in here." She held the door open while Miranda went inside.

  Jamie locked the door to the conference room behind them. "There, this is more like it. No one can see us in here."

  "I've wanted you so much." Miranda threw her arms around Jamie and walked her backward until she was up against the edge of the conference table. "I had a wicked hard time paying attention at the conference and working and thinking about anything but you. All I wanted was this." Fitting the length of her body to Jamie's she covered her mouth, kissing her with unbridled urgency.

  Jamie broke away and moaned against Miranda's mouth. "God, Miranda, I can't survive anymore without your kisses, your touch."

  With her hips planted firmly against Jamie's, Miranda fingered the narrow satin lapels of Jamie's jacket. "Do you have any idea how sexy you are in this suit?" Lifting the jacket from Jamie's shoulders, she tossed it onto the table behind them. "And this shirt...God, this shirt." After opening one more button, Miranda had access to the soft swell of breasts above Jamie's bra. Lowering her head, she kissed both sides and then, panting with need, she yanked Jamie's shirt tails from her slacks and ran her hands up the smooth bare skin of her spine. In one smooth motion, she unhooked Jamie's bra and pushed it aside to expose her breasts. Cradling one breast in her hand, she took the nipple into her mouth.

  "Jesus, Miranda," Jamie moaned, her breathing erratic, her face strained. "It feels so good, so damned good. I thought I'd die if you didn't touch
me soon."

  "I'm touching you now, baby." With trembling hands, Miranda unbuttoned Jamie's slacks and slid the zipper down. "I'm touching you right here, right now." She slid her hand inside Jamie's panties and groaned when she felt her. "I knew you'd feel like this."

  "Oh...oh, God, Miranda." Jamie slid her own hand inside her panties and laid it on top of Miranda's, pushing Miranda's hand more firmly against her swollen tissues. Her hand moved with Miranda's as Miranda stroked her and she came almost immediately. "I had no idea you were planning on attacking me like this." Jamie brought Miranda's hand to her lips and tasted her wet fingers. "I taste sweet, but not nearly as sweet as you."

  Miranda touched the wet fingers to Jamie's soft lips and then kissed her. "I can taste you on your lips," she whispered, after the kiss ended.

  "And do you like how I taste?"

  "You know I do. You're sweet and divine, like the nectar of the gods." Miranda's face burned and she struggled to draw breath. Reaching down, she fumbled to open her own slacks with one hand. "Touch me, Jamie," she begged. "I'm so, I'm so..."

  Jamie pulled Miranda's shirt from her pants and spread her hands flat on the hot skin of Miranda's lower back before moving them higher to undo the clasp on her bra. As she held Miranda to her with one hand, she used the other to cover one breast and pinch the taut nipple between her fingers.

  "Jamie," Miranda whispered, her breath hot on Jamie's neck.

  Jamie placed her hand on top of Miranda's where it rested near the open zipper of her pants and guided their joined hands into her panties. She groaned out loud as she slid their fingers through the slick warmth.

  "You know where I need you... please," Miranda pleaded, her eyes closed. With her hand still trapped underneath Jamie's, she rubbed her own clitoris.

  Jamie plunged two fingers deep inside Miranda. "Touch yourself. Make yourself come while I'm inside you." With their foreheads pressed together, they both looked down and watched as Miranda stroked herself and Jamie thrust into her over and over.

  "I love you so much," Jamie murmured.

  The orgasm began to gather force, spreading across the floor of Miranda's pelvis, the surging tension opening her, driving her toward release. She groaned loudly and moved her hand over her clitoris faster and faster as she pushed her hips against Jamie's fingers. "Deeper... please."

  Feeling Miranda nearing orgasm, Jamie drove into her and in an instant, Miranda cried out and held her breath as she rode out the force of it.

  When it was over, Jamie held Miranda against her and tenderly kissed her face.

  "I've never done anything like that before." Miranda said. She cradled Jamie's face in the palms of her hands and met her gentle eyes.

  "I'm flattered that you felt comfortable enough to do it with me." Jamie kissed her. "Do you know what I really wanted to do?"

  Miranda touched Jamie's lower lip with her thumb and shook her head.

  "I wanted to lift you up onto that conference table and take you with my mouth, but I couldn't be sure we wouldn't be interrupted." Jamie kissed Miranda's thumb and sucked it into her mouth.

  "Mmm...your mouth on me? Can I have a rain check?"

  "You bet, but why wait for rain." Jamie kissed Miranda's indescribably warm, supple mouth. Once she'd feasted long enough to satisfy her, at least temporarily, she said, "I guess we'd better get back out there. I haven't talked to everyone yet and I don't want to be rude to any of my guests."

  "I know. My sister's probably looking for us and she'll find us, trust me. She should get a job for the CIA or the FBI. They could use her." Miranda straightened her clothing while Jamie did the same. When she decided she was presentable, she turned to Jamie, her eyes heavy with desire. "I couldn't wait--not another second."

  "Me either and I haven't had nearly enough of you. Will you stay with me tonight, after everyone leaves? Please?"

  "Of course I will. I was hoping you'd want me to. I even brought a toothbrush."

  "I love a woman who plans ahead."

  Miranda went over to Jamie, wrapped her arms around her and gazed into her dreamy eyes. "What did you have in mind?"

  "How about going to my place?" Jamie continued to reveal her plans in pieces, sealing each part with a kiss. "How about getting in my bed...making love all night...my mouth on you...your mouth on me...sound good?"

  "For starters, it sounds wonderful, better than wonderful."

  "I can hardly wait."

  Miranda shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm sticky and wet. God knows, I don't want to wipe it off, but I'd better use the bathroom before we go back out there. Do you have one in here?"

  "There's one in my office. You go first and then I'll use it after you." Jamie ran her fingers through her hair. "You've destroyed me. I must look a fright."

  "You? Look a fright? Not even remotely possible. Do you think anyone will be able to tell that we just had sex?"

  "I don't know, but you do have a certain telltale glow about you."

  "That's just great. Valerie will figure out what we've been doing. She'll know." Miranda stood in front of Jamie again. "Kiss me one more time?"

  Jamie held Miranda's chin and kissed her tenderly. "I love you."

  "I know, Jamie. I know you do."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  THEY FOUND VALERIE and Tommy near the champagne table. When she spotted them, Valerie looked a bit peeved. "Where'd you two run off to? I looked all over for you."

  "Jamie was showing me her office," Miranda said.

  "Uh-huh." Valerie said with her lips pursed. Seconds ticked away as she scrutinized Jamie and Miranda and then she flashed a quick smile. "Nice of you to join us."

  Jamie hurriedly picked up two glasses of champagne and handed one to Miranda. "To us," she said, holding her glass up.

  "To us." Miranda hit the side of Jamie's glass with hers.

  "How sweet." Valerie turned to her husband. "Wasn't that sweet, Tommy?"

  "Yeah, sweet as can be." He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.

  The four of them talked for a good hour before Valerie announced that she was ready to go home. "Thanks a lot for having us," she said to Jamie. "We'd love it if you'd come to dinner some night with Miranda, wouldn't we Tommy?" She elbowed Tommy.

  "Yeah, sure, we'd love that." Tommy stifled a yawn.

  "Forgive my husband. He's not bored, he just works hard."

  "That's all right. I know how that is," Jamie said. "About that dinner invitation. I'd love to come, if it's okay with Miranda."

  "I'd love it." Miranda smiled, put her arm around Jamie's waist and held her close. "In fact, why don't you come have dinner with us next Friday evening? Remember I told you we get together every Friday? Is that all right with you Val?"

  "It sure is. Can you make it Jamie?"

  "Yes. I'll look forward to it."

  "So will we," Valerie said. "Are you leaving with us, Miranda?"

  "No, you two go on without me. I'm staying with Jamie tonight."

  "You are, huh?" Valerie smiled again. "Okay, well call me soon, will you?"

  "I'll call you tomorrow."

  "I won't hold my breath."

  Tommy said his goodbyes and gave Miranda a big hug. "Honey, I'll go get the car and pick you up out front in about ten minutes."

  "Go ahead." Valerie grabbed Miranda's arm. "Jamie, can you spare Miranda for a minute or two while she walks me to the door? I'll send her right back to you."

  "Sure, take your time. I see some people I haven't said hello to yet."

  "I REALLY, REALLY like Jamie. She's an absolute doll," Valerie said as she and Miranda walked to the door. "I'm so happy for you."

  "I know you are, Sis, and I really like her, too."

  "You really like her? Is that the extent of your feelings for her?" Valerie paused in front of the door. "She loves you. I can see it in her eyes. Has she told you yet?"

  "Many times." Miranda looked away.

  "I knew it! And you? Have you told her you love her?"

&nb
sp; "No, not exactly."

  "Why not? It's obvious to me that you do."

  "I don't know." Miranda shook her head. "I can't seem to say the words. Sometimes I want to and I almost do, but I always stop myself." She rubbed her eyes.

  "What's wrong? You do love her don't you?"

  Miranda looked at her sister with sad eyes. "It's hard for me, Val."

  "I know. Have you? I mean did you? You know what I mean."

  "We've made love, if that's what you're asking."

  "I kind of thought so. How was it?"

  "Like nothing I've ever experienced in my entire life. Like the stars colliding, like the earth moving, like a million comets..."

  "Okay, okay. I get the picture. And you still haven't told her you love her?" Valerie held Miranda's hand between her own. "Something this special doesn't come along every day you know. Don't throw it away."

  "I know, but this is hard for me. You know why."

  "If you're referring to your relationship with Ellen, I do, but I don't want you to blow this. I haven't seen you this happy in a long time and if you ask me, she's the best thing that's ever happened to you. Ever."

  "You don't have to tell me that. I know she is."

  "I'm glad you do." Valerie paused when they reached the door. "Well listen, I'd better go. Tommy will have a fit if I leave him out there blocking the street. Call me tomorrow or the next day and we'll talk more about this. Go to her and please don't be scared. Try to follow your heart. I'll be here if you need me."

  "That's the one sure thing I've always had in my life." Miranda kissed her sister and waved to her as she walked away.

  "THERE YOU ARE." Jamie took Miranda's hand in hers as soon as she returned. Together, they circled the room while Jamie chatted with any guests she hadn't spoken to yet. Jamie made a point of introducing Miranda to her trainers, some of whom were old friends of hers from college or from previous jobs. Little by little, the crowd dwindled until, about an hour or so later, the last two people closed the door behind them.