Unexpected Ties

by Gina Dartt

  Kate groaned loudly. “God, you know it does.” Her breath was coming quickly now. “Faster, darling. Please.”

  Nikki increased both the pace and pressure of her thumb on Kate while she began to thrust her fingers in and out of her heat in a perfect counterpoint of rhythm. Kate’s attention to Nikki became somewhat haphazard as her pleasure grew, keeping her at a nice level of excitement but not escalating her to a pinnacle. Nikki was fine with that. She wanted to make Kate come first, wanted to see her expression as the sensation overwhelmed her, wanted to hear her throaty moans as she neared and then tumbled over the peak.

  Kate uttered short, sharp sounds, not quite grunts, but forceful expulsions of breath as Nikki plunged into her. She was close, Nikki could tell, could feel her shuddering from the sensation. Then abruptly she arched and cried out, half moan and half scream. Avidly, Nikki stared into Kate’s face, seeing her lover’s expression that was so wanton and so vulnerable and so perfect. Silky walls fluttered around her as she thrust into Kate a final time, thumb pressing tightly on her ridge before slowly easing her touch in slow increments, which corresponded to the relaxing of Kate’s body.

  “Oh, darling.”

  Nikki tightened the grip of her other arm around Kate’s shoulders, pulling her closer. “I’m here, baby,” she whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Kate nuzzled into her neck. “And you are so wonderful. God, what you do to me.”

  “I love doing it to you,” Nikki said, meaning every word reverently.

  Kate lifted her head from Nikki’s shoulder, drawing back to gaze at her as her lips parted in a sensual smile. She had never lost her intimate hold on Nikki, though it had ceased its intensity as Kate experienced hers. Now, she resumed her interrupted caress, rubbing Nikki gently, but with increasing demand.

  “Why don’t you lean back a little?”

  “Yeah?”

  Kate smiled and pushed her back against the side of the car. Nikki found it suddenly difficult to breath as Kate scrunched onto the seat and insinuated herself between Nikki’s knees, dipping her head. Her breath was warm on Nikki as she brought her mouth down, and it made Nikki tremble with anticipation. The actual touch didn’t disappoint, and she groaned loudly as Kate began to torment her with skillful lips and tongue.

  Looking down, she was overwhelmed by the sight of her lover pleasuring her so freely. Kate’s bluish-gray eyes lifted to meet her gaze, a smoldering look of desire and love that penetrated to the bone. Then it all grew too much, and Nikki had to close her eyes as her orgasm crashed over her in a wave. She felt rather than heard the cry in her throat escaping as she surrendered to all the emotion and joy flooding through her.

  Slowly, slowly she came back to herself, opening her eyes in time to see Kate sitting up and delicately wiping her mouth with her hand. It was an oddly charming moment, and tears stung Nikki’s eyes as she watched.

  Kate smiled at her when she became aware of Nikki’s gaze. “Good?”

  “Tremendous.” Nikki abruptly became aware of her awkward position and the crick in her neck. “Ow.”

  Kate laughed and Nikki gingerly untangled herself. They spent the next few moments pulling on their discarded clothes and straightening up. Then they wrapped their arms around each other and sat embraced in the back seat, exchanging slow kisses and affectionate caresses.

  “This was fun,” Kate said as she crawled back into her seat.

  “Yeah, it was.” Nikki slipped back into the driver’s seat and started the car, feeling very happy and slightly mussed. “You know, next time we do a road trip, we should stow one of our toys in the glove compartment.”

  Kate turned to her, a look of absolute surprise widening her eyes. But Nikki saw intrigued interest there as well and smiled placidly as she put her car in gear and eased on down the logging road to the highway.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Kate luxuriated beneath the warm water of her shower, appreciating it as never before. Privately, she referred to the canoe trip the previous weekend as her “wilderness excursion,” and despite the positive front she’d offered Nikki and her friends, she hoped there were no plans for another trip to the great outdoors anytime soon.

  Turning the water off, she wrapped a large towel around herself, adding another to bind her wet hair as she stepped out of the bathtub. She strolled into her bedroom and took fresh undergarments from her dresser. Across the bed, a simple but elegant dress was laid out, a deep, royal blue to bring out her eyes, cut low to offer a tantalizing hint of cleavage for Nikki’s benefit.

  Having declined her grandmother’s initial dinner invitation, Kate didn’t dare avoid the second request, or further delay the inevitable. Irene was determined to meet Nikki, and Kate could only hope the encounter would not be a complete disaster. Nikki didn’t seem overly nervous about meeting the formidable woman and if she displayed the same presence and aplomb as she had at the Historical Society Dinner, it should be more than enough to impress Irene.

  Not that Nikki needed to impress Gram, Kate reminded herself sharply as she finished drying off and began to dress. It would just be easier if she did. Contemplating her reflection in the antique mirror as she brushed her hair, Kate wished that Nikki were there to talk to, rather than coming by later to pick her up. Her thoughts drifted to their recent discussion about living together and what it meant to Nikki.

  Were they ready to move in together?

  She glanced around her small bedroom. She, and perhaps Nikki as well, had been assuming that when the time came, they would move into Kate’s apartment above the bookstore. Now Kate wondered if that was entirely fair. Nikki would have to give up her territory to move into someone else’s, which could be very difficult.

  Then there was Kate who tended to work long hours, a hazard of living right on top of her place of business. How many times during an evening would she pop downstairs to finish a task that could easily have waited for the next workday? She made a point of not doing so when Nikki visited, but was that because she was still a “guest” to a certain extent? If Nikki lived there, would Kate fall back into the habit of spending all her spare moments in the bookstore?

  Perhaps they should consider other arrangements altogether, maybe a condo or even a house. Asking Nikki to participate in a mortgage might be a bit much on top of her new car payment, but, on the other hand, Kate couldn’t see the contribution exceeding what Nikki already paid for rent.

  She took a deep breath. Thoughts of sharing a mortgage, of buying a home together, gave her an uncertain feeling in her stomach and suddenly made clear what Nikki had meant about this being a commitment. Perhaps Kate had been regarding the concept more lightly than she should.

  She finished doing her hair, frowning as she began to apply her makeup. Was she ready to “marry” Nikki? Simply wanting company around while she dressed for dinner was not sufficient reason to take such a large step. On the other hand, the thought of not having Nikki there in the future was like an ache in Kate’s chest, an emptiness that actually frightened her. They needed to discuss it further. Perhaps she would raise the topic after they returned from dinner, since Nikki would surely be spending the night. Kate could no longer imagine a Saturday night without falling asleep next to her lover, or waking up on Sunday morning without being in her arms.

  The sound of footsteps ascending the back stairs and the brief tap at the apartment door made Kate realize how much time she had let slip away as she stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

  “Sorry,” she called out as she heard Nikki come in. “I’m running behind.”

  Nikki assumed a much-put-upon expression when she appeared in the bedroom doorway. “Women! They take forever to get ready.” She blinked as Kate froze, staring at her. “It was a joke.”

  Kate shook herself. “That’s not it.” Hastily, she finished the last touches to her face and opened her jewelry box, extracting some gold earrings. “You’re so beautiful, I actually had to stop to catch my breath.”

>   Nikki blushed a deep red. Dressed in a new outfit that made her look even more attractive than she had the night of the Historical Society Dinner, she slowly pirouetted.

  “I hoped you would like it. I bought it yesterday afternoon.”

  A black silk shirt was tucked neatly into dark trousers that fell gracefully about Nikki’s long legs, while a rich wine blazer set off her blond hair and brilliant blue eyes. Nikki had obviously learned her fashion lessons well from Susan during their shopping excursions. She even had on a touch of makeup, her glasses replaced with contacts, her hair brushed neatly into a shining wave of gold about her face. Kate could see she was doing all she could to display her best side for Irene.

  “Is it always this formal when you visit with your grandmother?”

  “Just on special occasions,” Kate explained, slipping on her shoes.

  “Meeting me qualifies as special?”

  Kate paused, then immediately moved over to her lover and leaned provocatively into her body. “You’re very special,” she assured her throatily. “In fact, you’re the most special thing to ever happen to me.”

  Nikki leaned down, but didn’t quite kiss her, keeping their lips mere millimeters apart. “Lipstick.”

  “Damn.” Time was quickly slipping away and Irene appreciated promptness. Kate didn’t want to muss Nikki’s makeup either, so she stepped back and picked up her purse. “Shall we take your car or mine?”

  “Mine’s easier to get in and out of, especially since you’re wearing a dress.”

  “Good point.” Downstairs, in the alley behind the store, Kate slipped into the passenger seat of the blue Honda and smiled when she saw that it had been freshly washed, drops of water still beading on the hood. “I really need to buy a practical vehicle like this for myself.”

  “What would you get?” Nikki asked. “Tiffany Elliot drives a Mustang convertible. Those are really sharp cars.”

  Kate grimaced. “Let’s not discuss the Elliots this evening. Besides, a convertible isn’t very good in the winter. I’d like something a little more sedate.”

  They discussed the merits of various makes and models on the way to Bible Hill, where Kate directed Nikki to the Taylor home located in the Saywood Estates subdivision. She was aware of Nikki’s eyes widening as they turned into the paved driveway leading up to the large house on the rise, but all she said when they got out of the car was, “Pretty big for one person.”

  Kate privately agreed. but her grandmother had her own way of doing things and practicality didn’t always figure into it. She took Nikki’s arm as they walked up the front steps to the expansive veranda, wanting to reassure her. Kate knew exactly what she was thinking when they rang the bell and Irene’s housekeeper answered the door and showed them in, but Nikki managed to confine her reaction to a raised eyebrow.

  “Kate, it’s so good to see you.” Irene Taylor swept across the marble tile of the large foyer to greet them. She was dressed in a green dress that lightened her level gray eyes. Her snowy hair was up, and as she presented a powdered cheek to be kissed, Kate hoped she looked half as good when she reached that age.

  “This must be Nikki.” Irene looked Nikki up and down with blatant interest. “You didn’t tell me she was so stunning, Kate.”

  “That’s just the icing on the cake.” Kate hugged Nikki. “It’s the inside that makes her so special.”

  “We can stop now,” Nikki mumbled, her face flaming.

  “Modest too. I like that. It’s very nice to meet you, Nicole.”

  “Please, call me Nikki.” She shifted from foot to foot, obviously still uncomfortable. “You have a very nice home.”

  “It’s far too large for me,” Irene admitted as she led the way into the lavishly decorated living room. “But I don’t want to give it up.”

  She invited Kate and Nikki to take the love seat in front of the large fireplace before sitting next to them in a plush armchair. A small blaze crackled in the fireplace; the spring nights were still cool enough to warrant a fire this late in the year.

  “Would you care for some champagne?” Irene reached for the bottle that sat in a silver ice bucket on a tray in the center of the coffee table.

  Kate waited for Nikki to refuse the offer, but she accepted graciously and sipped the wine when Kate and her grandmother did, indicating nothing of her normal dislike for the liquor. Kate had never seen her drink and wondered how she would react to the alcohol content.

  “So tell me, Nikki, where are you from?”

  “I grew up outside of town. Beaver Brook.”

  “Is that on the way to the Annapolis Valley?” Irene responded.

  “One way.” Nikki’s tone was dry, and Kate decided that she probably didn’t think much of Irene’s lack of geographical knowledge.

  “I visited her parents’ farm,” Kate said. “It’s a beautiful property.”

  “I’d like to meet your parents, Nikki,” Irene said.

  Nikki looked very uncomfortable.

  To spare her a reply, Kate quickly changed the subject, asking Irene, “How is your garden?”

  “It’s fine.” Irene fixed her eyes on Nikki with a look that Kate had learned over the years to be wary of. “Tell me about Stephen’s funeral. I wasn’t able to return in time to attend.”

  Nikki brightened. “I didn’t go but Kate did.”

  Irene turned an expectant gaze on her granddaughter, and Kate resisted the urge to sigh “Well?”

  “It was a funeral, Gram. Depressing and sad and conscious of a life ended far too prematurely. What did you expect?”

  “I would like a little more,” Irene pressed. “You knew Stephen, didn’t you?”

  “Only in high school, and a lot less so once I left for college.” Kate sighed. “All right, I can tell you that the entire family was there, including a few I doubt Hannah has seen in decades. It was a little like vultures gathering to see what they could pick up.” She waited to see if that rather irreverent statement produced a reaction and was surprised when Irene’s expression didn’t so much as flicker. Disconcerted, she continued. “Uh, Andrew and Hannah looked pretty upset by the whole thing, though he was obviously putting on a good face…you know, the stiff upper lip of the Man of the House.”

  Kate allowed herself to dwell for a moment on that gray day when Stephen was laid to rest. She and Susan had stood slightly apart from the other mourners, conscious of being the only ones not related in some way to the family. Andrew had been standing next to Denise, comforting his dead brother’s widow, which left Tiffany somewhat on her own. She wasn’t isolated, though. Martin had been nearby, and the two had been exchanging glances. Kate hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now in retrospect, as she was thinking about it…

  She frowned and made a mental note not to share that with Nikki. Her lover needed no further encouragement to meddle in something that didn’t concern her.

  “Stephen was a good boy under all that reputation,” Irene said somberly. “He liked to have a good time, that’s true, but he never meant any harm.”

  “Did you know him well?” Nikki was staring at her keenly.

  “Yes, as a mat—”

  “This is wonderful champagne,” Kate interrupted. “What year is it?”

  The champagne was delicious, and Kate had been thoroughly savoring it. However, it seemed a bit too good for just a family dinner party, and she wondered if the selection perhaps indicated something about Irene’s nerves. Was it possible that her grandmother was as unsure about this meeting as Nikki and Kate were?

  Irene looked at her oddly. “It’s a Jost, ‘91.” Shaking her head slightly, she turned to Nikki with a charming smile. “I hope you’re not allergic to scallops.”

  “No, I like seafood a lot.”

  “Excellent. As soon as my other guests arrive, we’ll serve dinner.”

  Kate frowned. “Other guests?”

  “You know I normally host a dinner party the second Saturday I’m home, Kate. Of course, if we’d had
our family dinner as originally planned, I wouldn’t have had to combine both events tonight.”

  Kate didn’t like the sound of that. Her grandmother had that look in her eyes, a spark of contrariness that usually boded ill for someone. Nikki didn’t seem to be disturbed, but she didn’t know Irene. Kate wondered if this was some sort of punishment because their canoe trip had disrupted Irene’s plans the previous weekend. On the other hand, having other guests present could cause the dinner to progress more smoothly. It might even keep Nikki from feeling as if she were constantly the center of Irene’s attention.

  That comforting thought was completely blown apart when the doorbell rang, and the housekeeper escorted Hannah Elliot, her son Andrew, and his wife Tiffany into the living room.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  If Nikki was unpleasantly shocked when Hannah Elliot entered the room, Hannah appeared equally appalled to see who she was about to dine with. Nikki glanced at Irene, detecting a glint of what might have been glee in the light gray eyes as Kate’s grandmother observed everyone with keen attention.

  You old hag, Nikki thought with a mix of outrage and amusement, you’re enjoying this.

  She decided she wasn’t going to let Irene get the better of her. Besides, this situation might actually turn out to her advantage. Certainly, the inquisitive part of her was gleefully rubbing its hands together at the opportunity to find out more about the Elliot family; she was certain one of them must have played a role in Stephen’s murder.

  She suspected that Irene had devised this evening as a sort of test to see if Nikki could handle the level of society to which Kate was accustomed. If that were the case, then Nikki was determined not to let Kate down, whose eyes, she noticed, were thunder gray, and who was obviously grinding her back teeth.

  “Hannah, you know Kate, of course,” Irene said, apparently oblivious to Kate’s rising ire. “This is Nicole Harris, her…ah, significant other.”