“I’m here,” Kayla said, sitting forward until the soft light illuminated her face.
Jackie didn’t know what to do. She stared hopelessly at the angelic face, not daring to try to claim it.
“It’s okay. Come here.”
Jackie took a tentative step forward. Kayla was sitting on an old-fashioned porch swing. The image was perfect and a smile edged into her lips.
As if sensing her hesitation, Kayla took her hand, leading her down on the swing next to her. Kayla’s thin fingers seemed fragile as they linked with hers, like holding a wren in the palm of her hand.
Jackie took a deep breath to prepare for what she needed to say.
“You were right,” Kayla whispered. “I got scared. It was wrong of me to push and I had no right to be angry with you.”
Kayla sat back against the swing and pushed off with her feet, rocking them gently back and forth. Jackie was afraid to move or speak. Kayla was working through something of her own and it was important to them both.
“Neither of us knows where this is going,” Kayla said as she brushed her thumb across Jackie’s hand. “I have to trust you to tell me if you want something else.” She stilled the swing and met Jackie’s eyes. “Just promise you’ll tell me.”
Jackie kissed Kayla’s cheek. “I promise, as long as you promise not to push,” she whispered, allowing the heat of her breath to brush along Kayla’s ear. She sat back in the swing, their shoulders touching.
“Agreed.”
Kayla leaned against her shoulder. Until that moment, Kayla had always been in control, she had called all the shots, and Jackie understood this was a simple gesture of surrender. Kayla shuddered against her and Jackie felt something inside her shift.
“I know I didn’t make the best first impression and I don’t have any experience with dating, but was it really that easy to think I would be out with another woman?”
Kayla sighed. “It was more about what I believe about myself than what I believe about you. My parents didn’t want to be tied down with a kid. They wanted the freedom to travel, party, and do whatever they wanted. I got in the way. My romantic relationships haven’t turned out any better. I have a hard time believing anyone will ever want to stick around. Despite making it very clear that you don’t want a relationship, I’ve let myself get closer to you than anyone in a long time. I guess I panicked.”
“I’m sorry,” Jackie said softly.
“No. I’m the one who needs to apologize. I let my insecurities create a problem between us. We have no commitment to each other just because we slept together. I had no right to take my issues out on you. I have no right to expect you to know what you want between us when I don’t even know that myself.”
“So what do we do now?” Jackie asked.
Kayla wasn’t sure what was next. If she continued, she was certain to get hurt. But despite the warnings, despite her fear, she couldn’t let Jackie go. She couldn’t shake the feeling of rightness she had when she was with Jackie. She had to take this chance.
“Come inside with me,” Kayla whispered. She stood, pulling Jackie with her. She brushed her fingers across Jackie’s collarbone, tracing the line she’d watched Heather’s hand take. Something primal rose inside her, making her want to claim Jackie. She wanted to wipe away any trace of another woman from Jackie’s mind, and her own. The fact Jackie was with her now and not with Heather said more than words could.
She led Jackie into the house and down the hall to her bedroom. She had no idea how things would work out between them, but she wasn’t about to go out without a fight. She would make sure it would be her hands Jackie would remember touching her.
Kayla shut and locked the door, then turned on the lamp on the bedside table. She wanted to see Jackie and she wanted Jackie to see her. Kayla moved in front of Jackie until they were so close she could feel the heat radiating between them. She leaned close and brushed her lips against Jackie’s, increasing the pressure of her kiss until Jackie moaned and gripped Kayla’s hip. Kayla pulled away, putting enough distance between them that Jackie couldn’t touch. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head. She opened the front clasp of her bra and slipped the straps from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. She cupped her breasts in her hands and gave her nipples a squeeze.
Jackie stood at the end of the bed watching her. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Her voice was coarse and strained.
“Right now, what I want is you. I don’t want to think, I don’t want to worry, and I don’t want to talk. What I want is your mouth against me and your hand inside me.”
Jackie growled and licked her lips, her gaze locked on Kayla’s breasts. Kayla’s pulse raced, her desire fueled by the feral look in Jackie’s eyes. She shed her jeans leaving only the thin layer of silk between her and complete revelation. She ran her hand between her legs, slipping her fingers beneath the thin fabric, and cupped herself. She stroked herself, feeling her clitoris swell beneath her fingers as she watched the storm brewing in Jackie’s eyes.
Jackie clenched her teeth, holding back the tidal wave of desire tying her insides in knots. If she didn’t touch Kayla soon, she would explode. Kayla’s hand dipped beneath the black silk making Jackie’s mouth water. She wanted to put her lips against the hot flesh beckoning her. She had to have Kayla. She wanted to feel Kayla’s skin against her breasts and the wet folds beneath her tongue.
Kayla’s hand sank deeper and her breath hitched. Jackie’s resistance shattered. She closed the distance between them and fell to her knees, pressing her lips against the back of Kayla’s hand, still stroking against her clitoris. Jackie curled her fingers around the thin waistband of Kayla’s panties, pulling them down her thighs in one swift motion. She pulled Kayla’s hand away, replacing the rhythm of Kayla’s fingers with her tongue. The instant her mouth enclosed the treasure, Kayla’s legs began to tremble. Jackie cupped Kayla’s ass in her hands as she pulled Kayla tighter against her mouth.
Kayla stroked the sides of her face as she rocked her hips in time with the strokes of Jackie’s tongue. Jackie brushed her thumb against Kayla’s opening, but before she could claim her prize, Kayla stepped away, breaking their connection. Jackie groaned in frustration. Kayla moved to the bed, lifted her knees and spread her legs. Moisture glistened against pink skin. Kayla’s clitoris was hard and swollen, nestled between perfect pink lips.
“Take off your clothes,” Kayla ordered.
Jackie fumbled with the buttons of her shirt as Kayla slowly moved her hand to stroke herself. Jackie ripped her sports bra and undershirt off in one swift motion, and hurriedly shucked off her jeans. Her skin burned with the heat of her need as her insides fluttered with anticipation of taking Kayla.
Jackie once again pushed Kayla’s hand aside. She licked her tongue up the length of Kayla’s shaft before tonguing her opening. Kayla whimpered. Jackie framed Kayla’s sex with her hands, opening her farther, and sucked Kayla’s clitoris into her mouth. She stroked the swollen clitoris with the tip of her tongue until Kayla’s legs shook. Jackie’s own clitoris throbbed in time with each beat of her heart, each stroke of her tongue. Kayla tasted so sweet. The sounds of her moans were like music to Jackie’s ears, urging her into a frenzy.
Kayla pushed against Jackie’s head as she squirmed against Jackie’s mouth. Kayla gasped when Jackie pulled away, slipping her arm beneath Kayla’s back, lifting her farther onto the bed. Jackie pushed Kayla’s knees back and settled her shoulders beneath Kayla’s legs. She braced herself against the bed as she took the weight and pressure of Kayla’s legs against her shoulders. She stroked Kayla with her fingers, feeling the muscles contract against her hand.
“Please,” Kayla whimpered. “Take me now.”
Jackie slid into Kayla in one swift motion, filling her with one, then two fingers.
“Oh God, yes. More.”
Jackie was lost in Kayla. The feel of her, the smell of her, the sound of her voice culminated into the perfect sto
rm. Jackie had the feeling that she was a part of something bigger than her heart could hold. Sweat gathered on her back making the air feel cool against her heated skin. Her muscles burned with each thrust of her hand. Jackie’s vision dimmed as her mind was flooded with a burst of color.
Jackie let Kayla’s leg slip from her shoulders and moved up Kayla’s body until the line between them blurred. Kayla’s breath became her breath. Kayla’s heartbeat became her own. Her body tensed as her orgasm began to coil in her belly like a firestorm ready to consume her.
Kayla’s fingers dug into her back as her body tensed. Jackie felt Kayla’s orgasm, as the small muscles contracted around her fingers. She fought to hold on to the rhythm that was Kayla as her own orgasm pulsed to life. Kayla shifted her leg, pressing into Jackie’s clitoris. The sudden pressure and the tremors radiating through Kayla pushed Jackie over the edge.
Jackie groaned as her orgasm rocked through her. Her ears rang, her lungs burned, and her body sang with wave after wave of pleasure so pure she thought her heart would explode. Jackie collapsed onto Kayla, her body and soul satisfied.
Jackie’s hot breath caressed Kayla’s skin. Kayla clung to Jackie, her arms and legs still wrapped possessively around her. She had given everything and hadn’t been disappointed in Jackie’s response. She shuddered as another aftershock rolled through her belly. She had given herself to Jackie, heart and body, and had never felt more alive than in this moment. Jackie’s lips brushed lightly against her neck as she mumbled something incoherent. Kayla brushed her fingers through the damp strands of Jackie’s hair, relishing the feel of Jackie’s skin on her skin. Jackie rolled to her side clinging tightly to Kayla, her hand resting on Kayla’s hip. Jackie’s eyes fluttered closed as Kayla listened to the changes in her breathing. She wanted to watch Jackie sleep but couldn’t fight the lure of rest. She placed a kiss to Jackie’s lips and drifted into sated slumber.
*
Jackie startled at the sound of a door slamming inside the house.
“Kayla!”
Kayla jumped up, hastily wrapping herself in her robe as she ran to the door.
“Oh God, K, I think he’s going to kill me.”
Jackie watched with growing confusion as Kayla placed her hands on Jen’s shoulders to make her stand still.
“Jen, look at me. What are you talking about?”
“It’s Mike. I think he’s figured out where I’m staying. He sent me these crazy text messages. At first he was just calling me terrible names and accusing me of cheating on him. But just now he started threatening to kill himself. He sent me a picture of him with a gun to his head with the text that he was going to take me with him.”
Jen was shaking and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Come into the living room and sit down, and let me see the messages,” Kayla said reaching for the phone.
Jackie jumped out of bed and grabbed her clothes. The sudden shock of being woken in the middle of the night and the idea that some lunatic might come there with a gun had her heart racing. Her muscles were coiled in tight knots ready to react to the threat. Jackie pushed into her jeans and grabbed her boots as she stumbled down the hall.
“Good God, Jen. How long has he been doing this to you?” Kayla said, holding Jen’s cell phone in her hand.
Jen’s eyes were wide with fear. “It’s never been this bad before.”
“Do you recognize where he is in this photo?” Kayla asked.
Jen nodded. “He’s at home. That’s the bedroom. I can see our wedding picture on the wall behind him.”
Kayla reached for the home phone.
“What are you doing?” Jen asked her eyes wide with fear.
“Calling the police.”
“You can’t. That’ll just make him even crazier,” Jen cried.
“I have to do this, Jen. He is threatening to kill himself and you. He has a plan and a weapon. I have to call the police.”
Jen’s knees buckled. She half sat and half fell as she crumpled into a chair.
Jackie was a bit shell-shocked by this sudden change of events, but she had clearly heard Jen say this guy knew where she was, and that meant they were all in danger.
“Look, call me crazy,” Jackie said calmly, “but if this guy is coming after you, shouldn’t we get out of here?”
Both women stared at her with confused expressions as if she were speaking a foreign language.
“We can call the police on the way to my place. You can both stay there until this blows over.”
No one answered. They just continued to stare at her.
Jackie threw her hands in the air palms up and shrugged. “What?”
“That’s a good idea,” Kayla said as if the information was just beginning to sink in. “Go get your things, Jen.”
When Jen didn’t move, Kayla grabbed her hand, dragging her to her feet. “Come on, Jen, move.”
Jen seemed to get with the program and went to her room to pack.
“Are you sure about this?” Kayla asked Jackie.
“Do you have a better idea?”
Kayla shook her head. “No, but you don’t have to do this.”
“Well, I don’t think we should hang around here arguing about it. I don’t want to be anywhere near this place if this nut shows up.”
Kayla kissed her. “Thank you.”
Jackie’s insides were shaking. It was as if every cell in her body had been electrically charged. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing at attention and she had the urge to run. She clenched her jaw. What had she gotten herself into this time?
*
Jen’s phone rang as they were pulling into the apartment complex behind Jackie. Kayla grabbed the phone before Jen had a chance to answer the call.
“What are you doing?” Jen asked.
“You can’t answer. It’ll only make things worse. He’s trying to blackmail you emotionally so you’ll do what he wants. If you feed into this behavior, things will only get worse. Let the police handle it.”
Kayla hated the fear in Jen’s eyes and she hated Mike for putting it there. She took Jen’s hand and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”
Jen held on to her hand as if her life depended on it. “What if he does it? It’ll be my fault. I shouldn’t have left.”
Kayla wanted to swear. She wanted to throw something, she wanted to kick Mike’s ass, but that wouldn’t help Jen right now. “Jen, honey, you didn’t cause this. He’s trying to control you by scaring you. That’s exactly what he wants you to think. If he does anything, it’s all on him. We called for help. That was the only safe thing you could have done.”
Jen let out a ragged breath and Kayla imagined she could hear the tears beating against Jen’s heart.
“I’m sorry.” Kayla put the car in park and slid her arm around Jen’s shoulders. When Jen calmed she pulled away. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Kayla and Jackie sat on the sofa with Jen between them as they listened to the belligerent voice messages on speakerphone. Mike was ranting and spewing violent threats. They heard the moment when the police arrived at his house, and he cursed Jen for calling them. The message seemed to go on forever, until he finally played the last card he had. Over the phone they could hear the police at the door and the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. Then came the single shot and the line went dead.
Jen screamed and buried her face in Kayla’s shoulder.
“He didn’t do it,” Jackie said, her voice eerily calm even to her own ears. This was seriously messed up, but she knew the type. She put her hand on Jen’s back. “He didn’t do it.”
Jen turned and faced Jackie, her expression pleading and desperate. “Why do you say that? How do you know?”
Jackie sat ramrod straight on the sofa staring at Jen. “It was a trick to screw with you. If he’d done it, the phone wouldn’t have gone dead right away. We would have heard…” Jackie paused. “We would have heard the gun hit the floor, something, but not an immediat
e end to the call.”
Jen sat up a little more and clutched at Jackie’s arm. She brushed at her tears with the palm of her hand. “How can you know that?”
Jackie grimaced. “Let’s just say, I’ve met his type before. People who are serious about killing themselves just do it. They don’t waste time making tons of phone calls making threats that would get them stopped. This was never about killing himself—it was about screwing with your head.”
Kayla didn’t miss the look of pain that dulled Jackie’s eyes. Oh, Jackie, what happened to you? Kayla picked up the phone and called the police station. She knew most of the officers and they knew she had reported the threat. She talked with several people and was transferred from one hold to another until she had some answers.
Jen sat huddled in the corner of the sofa with her knees drawn to her chest. Her eyes were red rimmed from crying and her skin was pale and drawn. Kayla hated Mike for doing this to Jen. She pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger in frustration when she was put on hold yet again. Her mind was racing. No matter what happened now, this incident was going to cause a big mess, and she was right in the middle of it.
Having finally gotten some answers, Kayla ended the call and turned to face Jen and Jackie.
“Okay. Here’s what we know.” She kneeled in front of Jen. “He’s fine. He told the police he was cleaning the gun and it went off as he was putting it away when he heard them at the door. He played innocent, but with the text messages we provided them and the photograph of him holding the gun to his head, they took him into custody and charged him with unlawful discharge of a firearm in the city limits. They want you to come to the station tomorrow to give a statement. I’ll meet with the DA and the judge to recommend a psychiatric assessment. He’ll be on suicide watch tonight.”
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