Love's Masquerade

by Radclyffe

  “As many as you want.”

  With more willpower than she thought she possessed, Auden moved away. She regretted it immediately as her body screamed in protest and her heart joined in. “One at a time will do nicely.”

  “There’s an endless supply, all with your name on them. Every rainy day, you’ll get a make-up day in the sun.”

  “I’ll love you no matter what the weather.” Auden kissed her, then jumped from the bed.

  Hays lingered a moment as she watched Auden leave the bed and start for the bathroom. It was such a small thing, but she cherished how simple, how normal, the moment felt. Auden had a way of making her life seem both ordinary and enchanted at the same time. Auden made anything seem possible.

  “Hays? Come shower with me?”

  Hays followed the sound of her lover’s voice, a line Rune had written playing through her mind.

  “If she had held out her hand, I would gladly have taken it and followed, unto death.”

  *

  -----Original Message-----

  From: AFrost@PalmPub.net

  Sent: Wednesday April 2, 9:59 AM

  From: Rune@HeartLand.com

  Subject: Dark Passions

  Attachments: DarPas-EditOneAF.doc 858KB

  Ms. Dyre:

  I’ve enclosed the first edits of Dark Passions. Please return with your revisions.

  If you have any problems or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time.

  Yours truly,

  Auden Frost

  p.s.: BTW – no one else writes like you do. You make me weak with wanting. Weather report says no rain tonight. AF

  Hays was smiling at the message on the monitor, no doubt looking like a lunatic, when Abel knocked on the door, entered the room, and walked toward her desk.

  “Morning, Abel.”

  “Hays.” He regarded her with an expression of cautious concern. “I’m used to you being here by seven. Are you all right?”

  Hays reached for her coffee cup. “I’m fi—”

  “Good God, Hays!” he blurted, all vestiges of restraint gone. “You’ve just been transfused. That shouldn’t be happening now. You are ill.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” She followed his gaze and, for the first time, noticed the bruise on her wrist. She remembered Auden grabbing her hand when they’d been making love, forcing her fingers inside. She blushed as a wave of arousal followed fast on the memory. Clearing her throat, she added, “That’s not what you think.”

  “You can’t lie to me.” His fear came out as anger. “I know what happens when your counts drop.”

  “It’s just an ordinary bruise,” she insisted. She saw the hurt he tried to hide. “Christ. It’s from sex, Abel.”

  His mouth formed a perfect O, and on him, it was so incongruous that Hays laughed out loud. “You do realize that once in a while I—”

  “That’s quite all right. I don’t require an explanation.” He looked at the door, and then back at her. “I just didn’t realize there was...someone.”

  “It’s Auden, Abel,” she said quietly. She didn’t tell him because she felt obliged to tell him, but because she simply wanted to say the words out loud. Auden had said she didn’t mind who knew, and just thinking about being with Auden made Hays’s heart lift in a way she had forgotten. She couldn’t help but smile.

  Abel Pritchard seemed a little less than overjoyed. “You think that’s wise?”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, I can think of any number of reasons. You haven’t known each other very long, she works here, and—”

  “I’m dying and have no business being involved with anyone?”

  He looked as if she had slapped him. “No. God, no.”

  She regarded him thoughtfully and saw the moment he realized the truth about what he really felt.

  “I’m sorry, Hays,” he said and turned away.

  She got up quickly and intercepted him before he reached the door. Closing it quietly, she then turned and placed her hand on his arm. “No, I’m sorry, Abel. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “Actually, I did.” She was right about what he felt, and he hated that she knew.

  “Okay. So we’re even.”

  He smiled infinitesimally. “Does she know?”

  “Yes.”

  “What does she say?”

  Hays was silent for a few seconds, thinking of everything that she and Auden had discussed. She thought about the things that Auden said to her without words, but with her touch. “She says that forever is only a series of moments, and that I should fight for every one.”

  Abel Pritchard did something extraordinary then. He touched her cheek in the faintest of caresses. “Ms. Frost is a very astute woman.”

  “Yes, she most certainly is,” Hays said softly as she opened the door and watched Abel walk away.

  -----Reply-----

  From: Rune@HeartLand.com

  To: AFrost@PalmPub.net

  Sent: Wednesday April 2, 10:23 AM

  Subject: Re: Dark Passions

  I’ll review your comments regarding Dark Passions as soon as possible. I look forward to working with you on this manuscript.

  Sincerely, RD

  p.s.: The weather report shows clear skies every day this week. Rune

  *

  Two nights later, Gayle hurried down the stairs to unlock the front door. She’d been watching the clock for the last hour. Through the frosted glass, she could barely discern the outline of a figure standing on the porch, but it was enough to make her heart race. She disengaged the deadbolt and pulled open the door, wondering for the tenth time in as many minutes if everything had changed during the time they’d been apart. Maybe it had all been just a weekend fling. Then she looked up into the softest brown eyes she had ever seen and watched the grin break out on Thane’s face. Friday night had never held such promise.

  “Hiya, sexy.”

  “Hey,” Thane said, leaning forward to kiss Gayle on the mouth. “I missed you like hell.”

  “Well, that was the perfect thing to say. You’re scary, how good you are.” Gayle put her arms around Thane, kissed her again, then took her hand and led her inside. “Then again, you are a writer.”

  “That wasn’t a line,” Thane said quickly, stopping Gayle at the bottom of the stairs with a hand on her arm. Her expression was very serious. “I meant it.”

  Gayle paused at the hurt in Thane’s eyes. Gently, she rested her palm against Thane’s cheek. “I’m sorry. That was me being tough. I was worried all week that you might change your mind about wanting...me.”

  “No,” Thane said softly, turning her head to place a kiss in the center of Gayle’s palm. “I want you. I want us.”

  “Jesus, you have to stop saying everything I need to hear,” Gayle admonished, but her tone belied her words.

  “Sorry,” Thane replied, her eyes dancing. “Can’t help it. I write romances.”

  Laughing softly, Gayle threaded her arm around Thane’s waist and started up the stairs. “Then write us one.”

  “We’ll collaborate,” Thane whispered.

  As they climbed to her apartment, Gayle said, “I sent Shylock off to camp again. Mrs. T likes to have him, and I figured there wouldn’t be enough room for all of us in bed tonight.”

  Thane smiled as she waited for Gayle to open the door. “Well, we can visit him, right?”

  “If I ever let you out of this apartment, sure.” Gayle closed the door and turned to study her visitor. “I didn’t make dinner reservations anywhere. I wasn’t sure what you would want to do. I can call somewhere or...”

  Thane dropped her overnight bag, put an arm around Gayle’s waist, and led her to the sofa where she pulled her down on her lap. “You know what I’d really like?”

  “What?” Gayle kissed Thane’s lips, her cheek, then nuzzled her neck, biting lightly. “What would you really like, huh?”

  “Ah...that would definitely be one thing.” Thane smoothed her hand down Gayl
e’s arm, then along her thigh, pulling her tighter into her lap. “Christ, you feel good.”

  “If you make me feel any better, you’re not getting any dinner.” Gayle couldn’t believe how quickly Thane could make her hot.

  “What I’d like to do,” Thane murmured, drawing her fingers up the inside of Gayle’s leg, stopping just short of the vee between her thighs, “is watch a video, eat pizza, and make love to you until you scream.”

  Gayle moaned softly, pressed Thane’s hand against the heat between her legs, and moved her lips softly over Thane’s ear. “Would you mind very much if we reversed the order?”

  Thane shifted until Gayle was beneath her on the couch and deftly opened the button on Gayle’s jeans. “Not in the least.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Gayle opened her eyes and realized that she was alone. For one heart-stopping instant, she thought that Teddy had left her in the night. The aching disappointment was frightening, because she couldn’t remember ever having cared that much about a woman before. She took a deep breath to steady herself and peered at the bedside clock, amazed to see that it was almost eight. Sitting up, she took rapid stock of her surroundings. Teddy’s pants were lying over the arm of a chair across the room, and her overnight bag was standing open on the floor. She’s still here.

  Quickly, she climbed from the bed and pulled on the first thing she found, an oversized flannel shirt. She didn’t bother with anything else. Dashing into the living room, she became aware of several things at once—the enticing smell of coffee emanating from the kitchen and, even better than that, the sight of Teddy, wearing a T-shirt, sweatpants, and no shoes, sitting in front of the computer. The simplicity of the moment was exquisitely sweet. Plus, just seeing Teddy the first thing in the morning was enormously exciting.

  “Hey, baby. What are you up to?”

  Thane turned from the computer, blushing. “I’m sorry. I usually wake up really early, and I knew I’d probably disturb you if I tossed and turned. I didn’t think you’d mind if I—”

  Gayle stopped her with a kiss. “I don’t mind. Well, I missed you when I woke up, but I forgive you because you made coffee.”

  “Good,” Thane said as she stood, threading her arms around Gayle’s waist and pulling her close. “Because I certainly don’t want you to be upset with me.” She slid her hands down Gayle’s back, over her buttocks, and underneath the tail of the shirt. When her palms met flesh, she drew a sharp breath. “Oh, man. Jesus...the minute I touch you, all I can think about is getting naked with you.”

  “You’ll get no complaints from me,” Gayle replied, pressing against Thane as she nuzzled her ear. “Are you working?”

  “Uh-huh.” Thane’s attention at that moment, however, was totally focused on the subtle contractions of the muscles under her hands as Gayle gently thrust her hips. The combination of Gayle’s body moving slowly along the length of her own and the heat of Gayle’s skin against her fingers was intensely arousing. “Writing.”

  “I like that. I think it’s sexy that you’re writing here.”

  “Sexy, huh? How about we get sexy in the bedroom?” Thane was breathing heavily and caressing the back of Gayle’s leg. She moved around to the front, intent on drawing her fingers up the inside of Gayle’s thigh.

  Gayle worked her hands under Thane’s T-shirt, then upward to her breasts. As she rubbed her palms over the instantly hardening nipples, she groaned softly. “Oh yeah. Good idea.”

  Before they could reach the bedroom, a knock sounded on Gayle’s door. Gayle groaned again, this time with frustration. “It’s either Mrs. T about Shylock or it’s Auden. Do you mind?”

  “No,” Thane said hoarsely, although already her body was pulsating with need. “Go ahead.” She settled her hips against the back of the couch as Gayle went to the door. Watching Gayle walk, enjoying the line of her long legs and the incredibly rich color of her coffee and cream skin, was almost as good as touching her.

  When Gayle pulled open the door, Auden took a step inside, saying “Hi,” then stopped abruptly when she saw Thane. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I completely forgot—”

  “It’s okay,” Gayle said. “We were just on our way back to the bedroom.”

  Thane laughed, and Auden blushed.

  “Sorry, sorry to both of you. Gayle, call me...later...or sometime.”

  As Auden started to back out the door, Gayle caught her hand. “Hey, no you don’t. I haven’t seen you all week.” She turned and looked at Thane over her shoulder. “Do you think you can keep things warm for a while?”

  “I’ll just set the burner to simmer.” Then Thane grinned her enchanting grin. “Go ahead. I’ve got some things to work on.”

  “Let me put some sweatpants on and then we’ll go down to your apartment, okay?” Gayle was already heading to her bedroom closet.

  Auden nodded, and five minutes later she was pouring coffee for them in her kitchen. “I’m really sorry about interrupting you two. I’ve totally lost track of time.”

  “I’ve been looking for you all week, but your apartment has always been dark.” Gayle reached for the coffee Auden offered. “Thanks.”

  “Things have been really hectic at work,” Auden explained. “I think I told you that we’re pushing to get Margo Elliot’s book published for the convention next weekend. And of course, we’re doing it with an entirely new team of people, not to mention that a lot of this is new to me as well.”

  “Mmm, you mentioned it.” Gayle observed her friend intently, wondering at Auden’s faint agitation. “Problems?”

  “Nothing that doesn’t happen fairly routinely, apparently.” Auden crossed her legs beneath her on the chair and rested her elbows on the kitchen table, her chin in her hand. “I think we broke some kind of speed record getting the galleys back, but when I overnighted them to Margo Wednesday, she decided that she hated the cover. Now, mind you, this was a cover based on the design that she sent us from an artist she’s been working with. And suddenly, at the eleventh hour, she decides it doesn’t fit the tone of the book.”

  “Can’t you just tell her she has to accept the cover?” Gayle pulled a banana out of a basket on the table and started to peel it. “After all, you are the big boss now.”

  Auden lifted a shoulder and made a face. “I could. But it would piss Margo off, and since I’m the one who stepped up the timetable and put a rush on things, I’m trying not to be too much of a dictator at this point.”

  “So what’s going to happen?”

  “I spent most of Thursday night and yesterday baby-sitting graphics and making sure that they were getting the revisions to her for her input. Somewhere around midnight last night, we finally got a consensus.”

  “So the book will be ready?”

  Auden blew out a breath. “Well, assuming that Margo doesn’t want any substantial changes to the text after she reviews the galleys this weekend, and assuming there are no delays with the printers, it should be a go.”

  “Cool. This is so exciting. I’m really looking forward to the convention.”

  “I imagine your excitement has a bit more to do with the fact that you’ll be spending the weekend with Thane as opposed to looking at books for three days.”

  “Well, there is that.” Gayle grinned, then eyed Auden speculatively, wondering what had really prompted the early-morning visit. “And what about you? I suppose you’ve been doing nothing all week except working? Which is why you’re never here?”

  Smiling softly, Auden ran a finger around the rim of her coffee cup, unused to talking about something so intimate. Because I never had anything to talk about before. “I’ve been at Hays’s every night this week.”

  “Now, why aren’t I surprised?” Gayle reached across the table and took Auden’s hand. “Is it fabulous? Are you happy?”

  Auden met Gayle’s eyes, and she didn’t even try to hide the tears. “It’s...she’s...everything is incredibly wonderful. It’s just that...”

  “What, honey? What?”<
br />
  “Is it normal that I can’t stand to be away from her? I’m not sure if I feel this way because that’s what being in love feels like, or if it’s because I’m afraid...” Her voice broke and she looked away. After a few seconds she finished, “Or if I’m just afraid of losing her.”

  “Oh, Aud. Sweetie. No.” Gayle felt like weeping. It was unbearable to think that something which should be so joyous could be accompanied by such pain. “What you’re feeling for her is absolutely, perfectly normal. At this point, you shouldn’t be able to think of much more than getting her clothes off every time you see her. In a few weeks, you’ll probably be able to have a conversation. It will take at least a few months before you can actually make it through dinner and a movie without wanting to rush home early and jump into bed.” Gayle squeezed Auden’s hand. “What you’re experiencing is the good stuff, honey.”

  “Listening to you, I feel tired already.” But Auden laughed, and her heart lifted. She refused to think about time and whether she and Hays would have enough of it for Gayle’s predictions to come true.

  “So how’s Hays?” Gayle hoped that her tone sounded normal. Just an ordinary question.

  “She’s good. She’s...unbelievable.” Gayle smirked and Auden smacked her on the arm. “Stop.”

  “Sorry.”

  Auden drew a long breath, knowing what the real question was. “Her health seems fine. Her color is good, she doesn’t appear to get fatigued, and there’s been no bleeding.”

  “That’s great.”

  Frowning, Auden confessed, “But I’m afraid that she won’t tell me if she doesn’t feel well.”

  “It’s probably going to take a while for her to be able to do that, Aud,” Gayle suggested carefully. “I’m sure that she wants to have as normal a relationship with you as possible and not dwell on her disease. Conditions like hers often lead to secrecy and poor communication. Just make sure she knows that you can handle the truth. Then you’ve got to give her some time.”