Pride and Joy

by M. L. Rice

Bryce looked at the ground, but smiled. “I still don’t know what you see in me, but I’m sure not gonna argue.”

  “I will proudly show you off. My brave, beautiful Coastie. You’re going to turn heads and make people jealous when I take you out in public.” She gazed adoringly at Bryce. “I never want to forget how I feel right this second. Everything is perfect.”

  Bryce restrained herself from taking Daniela right there on the floor of the airport. Instead, she offered a hand, which Daniela took gracefully. “Daniela Cordova, soon to be Broadway star, please come with me. I have a surprise for you.”

  *

  “No peeking, okay?” Bryce said, making sure that Daniela’s eyes were closed.

  “For the hundredth time, I’m not looking,” Daniela said with an excited smile on her face.

  “Okay, just hold on to me.” Bryce turned and started walking as Daniela held on to her shoulders.

  “Not a problem.” Daniela moved one of her hands down to Bryce’s hip and then slowly slid it forward.

  “Dani!” Bryce exclaimed in mock outrage. “Behave!”

  “Never.”

  Bryce giggled and led her outside. Daniela shivered when the chilly night air touched her face.

  “Okay. You can look now.”

  Daniela opened her eyes and gasped as she looked down upon the entire city of Seattle, lights burning brightly and the ocean beyond sparkling with the reflection of the brilliant full moon.

  “This is…beautiful. Where are we?”

  Bryce reached down and popped the cork from the expensive bottle of champagne that Jennifer had sent as a housewarming gift.

  “Welcome home, Dani…the West Coast version, anyway.”

  Daniela looked behind her into the new condo, dumbfounded. “This is yours?”

  “No. This is ours.” She poured two glasses and handed one to Daniela.

  “But…how?”

  Bryce smiled. “I got a great deal from a retired Coast Guard commander. She moved away and”—she gestured toward the room—“I bought it. You said you always wanted to have a good view.” Bryce looked out over the city. “Well? What do you think?”

  Daniela threw back the champagne in one gulp. “I think I’m about to do things to you that will make you forget your own name.” Her voice was low and sultry and the look in her eyes animalistic.

  Bryce shifted uncomfortably in jeans that now seemed far too tight and coarse.

  “Bryce?” Daniela said, putting down the glass and wrapping her arms around Bryce’s waist.

  “Yeah?”

  “I want you to know that I love you more than anything. I’m so in love with you it hurts. And I am so proud of you. I’m proud of both of us.”

  Bryce shook her head and smiled. “Dani, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re my family. You’ve made me live again. I will spend every last second of my life showing you how much I love you.”

  Daniela pressed herself up against Bryce’s trembling body. “If you don’t make love to me right now, Miss Montgomery, I will spontaneously combust right here on our fancy new balcony.”

  Bryce obliged by kissing her with all of the lust, the passion, and the love of years of longing. Never had she felt something more true, more perfect, more transcendent. The woman she loved was safely in her arms, and she knew that from that moment on, they could weather any storm. Their course was set.

  Bryce melted into Daniela’s embrace. She was finally home.

  About the Author

  M.L. Rice was born and raised in the plains of Texas. She graduated with a degree in Radio/TV/Film from the University of Texas at Austin where she was a proud member of the Longhorn Marching and Basketball Bands. After college, she moved to sunny Los Angeles, where she currently lives with her wife and three cats. She enjoys scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, swimming, spending too much time on video games, going to the theater, and playing in Disneyland. She volunteers for various nonprofit organizations, travels whenever she can, collects and plays multiple instruments including the trumpet, cello, and great highland bagpipes, and is also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

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