by Robin Roseau
She returned the smile. "Yes. And others for sleeping, some set up to induce specific types of dreams, some for just good, restful sleep. Or you and Heather could take one of my hypnosis classes, and you could learn to hypnotize each other."
"I don't know," I said. "I'm not sure what Heather would do to me. I'll think about that."
"Well, when you're ready, call me. You have my number."
"I do?"
She nodded. Then, arm in arm, we returned to the main party.
* * * *
I danced for another hour, but it grew late. Finally I found Heather and said, "I'm sorry. I had a great time. Thank you." We hugged. She arranged an escort to my car.
And that was the end of my fortieth birthday party, the best I'd had in years.
* * * *
The doorbell rang. It was after ten on a Wednesday night, three months after my birthday party. The idea of someone calling on me this late left me nervous. I grabbed my phone and called Heather.
"Someone's at my door," I said. "If you hear me scream, call the cops."
"I'm sure it's fine," she said.
I hurried to the door, flipped the light on, and looked out the window.
Kennedy stood there. I stared for a moment.
"Nevermind," I said. "It's a friend."
"Who?"
"Gotta go!"
"Jane-"
I hung up and opened the door. "Kennedy."
She smiled uncertainly. "Hey, Jane. I hope you don't mind."
"No," I said. "Is something wrong?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something. Could I come in?"
I held the door open and then closed it once she was inside. "Can I get you something? Wine? Tea?"
"Whatever you're having," she said.
"Tea then," I said. "It's herbal."
The pot was fairly fresh, so I retrieved a second cup and met her back in the living room. I poured for her and topped mine off, and then we sat back on the sofa, not quite looking at each other. I still remembered everything I had told Cristina.
And I remembered the spanking.
"You look good," she said, not quite looking at me.
"You always look good," I said. "Kennedy, is something wrong?"
"I'm about to embarrass myself," she said. "It's taken me three months to screw up the courage to do this."
She turned to look at me. "I know you're straight."
"Kennedy-"
"Let me say this." So I nodded. "I know you're straight. Lesbians asking out straight women is a complete cliché."
"Yes," I said.
"See? Even you know it's a cliché."
"No. I wasn't agreeing it's a cliché. I meant: Yes, I'll go out with you."
She stared.
"If you're here to ask me."
She nodded.
"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," she said. "But Jane, I have to tell you something else. I don't want to tell you. I think you're going to be mad."
"Did you do something wrong?"
"Not exactly. Someone else did."
"Does this person have a very seductive voice?"
She nodded.
"You heard what I told her."
She looked away and then nodded.
"She made me think everyone was gone."
"I know. She told us she'd never met someone who was as suggestible under hypnosis as you are."
"Did she do that to anyone else?"
"No. They woke everyone else up. You were there alone."
"Did Heather put her up to it?"
"I don't know. I'm guessing 'yes'."
It was my turn to look away.
Kennedy spoke quietly. "She said she talked to you for a while, but you probably wouldn't remember."
"I remember she asked me a few questions, then she told me I wouldn't remember for a while. I don't." I still didn't look at her. "I didn't think you could do things like that with hypnosis."
"I've done some reading," Kennedy said. "You have to go along with the hypnotist. I think maybe you wanted it out there. I think that's why she did it."
We sat quietly for a while, then I asked, "Were you embarrassed?"
"No. Flattered."
"Is that why you're here?" I turned back to her.
"It's why I'm brave enough to be here," she said. "If you hadn't said what you did, I wouldn't have asked. But I've thought about you for two years, Jane."
"You never said anything."
"Hello. Straight girl, or so I thought."
I took a breath. "When."
"When, what?"
"When is our first date?"
She smiled broadly. "You're not mad?"
"No. But there are rules. Take them or leave them."
"What are they?"
"You get three dates. If you date other people in between, that's your business. If there's a fourth date, we're exclusive. Don't ask for a fourth if you aren't serious. I'll turn you down if I'm not ready to commit."
She smiled. "Agreed."
"This is between us. You can't tell anyone unless I say 'Yes' to a fourth date. After that, we go public."
"I don't like that rule."
"Which part? Quiet for three dates or public after the fourth?"
"Quiet for three."
"Tough. I think I've put myself out there enough."
"Agreed."
"Next," I continued. "I don't play games. If you want a kiss, don't guess what I want. Take the kiss. If I don't like it, I'll tell you. If I turn down a date but offer an excuse, then the excuse is real, and it means ask again. If I don't want to see you, I'll tell you. I expect the same honesty from you."
She smiled broadly. "Agreed."
I tried to think of more rules. I sighed.
"What?"
"Heather had nine rules; I can only think of three."
She laughed.
"So, I want to be asked properly."
She leaned forward and grabbed my hands, staring into my eyes. "Jane, will you go out with me Saturday evening?"
"Yes, Kennedy. What are we doing?"
"Dinner and dancing?"
"Rule four," I said. "If you're asking, you're leading."
She laughed. "We're going out for dinner and then dancing. There's a milonga."
"I'd love to go, Kennedy."
"I'll pick you up at six."
"I'll be ready."
After that, we stared at each other for a while, both of us smiling inanely. But then she sort of shook herself. "I should go."
She didn't wait for me to respond but stood up, then pulled me to my feet after her. I walked her to the door. She turned to me, and I stepped closer to her, looking up into her eyes.
She stood still for a moment, then reached up a hand and cupped my cheek. I had my eyes closed long before our lips met.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as [email protected]. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
A Foxy Valentine
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Seer
Seer: Thrall
&nbs
p; Other Novels and Novellas
Blood Slave
Emergency Claus
Fitting In
Free to Love
Galatzi Trade
Galatzi World
In Custody
Lost in the Words
Privateer
Stark's Dell
Submission
Surprise
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.
Snow Fox
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
Surprise
Copyright 2015 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
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