Take Me As I Am
Page 32
No matter how long it takes, you will be mine completely, loving you for eternity, improbable protector of my heart.
Take your time now darling as you watch me leave for a time.
Because you know, I’ll be back.
No one can ever replace you in my heart and the love we share.
In every way in any way, I’ll not let anyone take you away.
What I feel is real and will last eternally.
No matter how long it takes, you will be mine completely, loving you for eternity, improbable protector of my heart.”
As the ending chord of Jo’s guitar completed the segment, she bent toward Thea. “All yours, my love.”
Thea was unable to do more than tremble. “Do you know what you’re doing? That was a love song,” she whispered. “I...I can’t believe you did that. Are you mad?”
Joanna grinned wickedly. “Yeah, for you. Do you mind?”
Thea shook her head before dropping down from the stool and giving her partner a long-suffering look before leaving the stage.
“Did you know she was going to do that?” Pete asked. “Tell the world she loved you?”
She was embarrassed at the good-natured way Pete said what she was thinking.
“Nope. You didn’t, did you? She sure pulled it off. Next best thing to a proposal in this business, I’d say.” He grinned. “Listen to the audience cheering. Bet she does two encores at least.”
Pete left and Thea bemusedly watched the love of her life give her final encore.
†
Snuggling into the well-muscled shoulder of her lover, Thea reflected on what had happened the past night. After the concert, reporters had plagued Joanna and Thea hadn’t gotten away from the skirmish either. They repeatedly asked if anything was going on between them. Both had declined to comment, fueling the situation even more. They’d called Jack to tell him what had happened and he had said not to worry, that he’d handle the press.
Thea stood and watched Joanna pour them a drink, snatch a few sandwiches from the refrigerator, and settle onto the large sofa. Then Joanna looked directly at her with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Am I in trouble? Last time you looked like that it was about that photo of me and Tandy.” Joanna bit ravenously into a sandwich.
Thea sometimes wondered about her friend. She didn’t always see past what she thought was okay and gave little regard to what others felt. “I was surprised that’s all. I hate being made a public fool.” There she’d said it and it was out.
“What?” Joanna pushed the food and drink away before standing and walking to Thea.
“Joanna, I’m not like you. I hate the limelight and you know that.” Thea stood her ground because she knew if Joanna kissed her, she would lose her powers of reasoning and go to pieces. Sensual pieces. Incredibly pleasurable pieces. But pieces all the same.
“I wanted the world to know I love you. I’m sorry it didn’t sit right with you, Thea. I won’t take it back. How can I? It’s how I feel.”
The words tinged with sadness sent a simple yet powerful message to her heart. “Was this your way of proposing to me?”
The glum expression on Joanna’s face cleared as she smiled brilliantly, “I couldn’t have put it better myself. Do you have an answer for me?”
Thea stepped toward Joanna and tenderly traced the lines around her lips that the smile created. “I love you no matter what and if you need an answer, then there can only be one. Yes.” Flinging her arms around Joanna, she kissed her deeply, igniting their passion.
Several minutes later, they parted breathlessly. Joanna swung Thea up into her arms and strode purposefully toward their bedroom.
“Don’t you want to eat first?” Thea asked.
“Hmmm, sure. I have a wonderful appetizer in my arms right now that is waiting for me.”
A gurgle of sexual pleasure left Thea’s throat, as she knew exactly what that meant. “And?” Thea began teasing her lover by placing delicate tiny kisses along her collarbone and neck.
“And eating her might be an option.” They both laughed as they landed on the bed and made love until dawn.
†
Now, as she felt the tender stroking of Joanna’s hand on her abdomen, she marveled at how life could change, bringing so much happiness into it. She was happy, so very much so that sometimes it was hard to take and her heart felt like bursting.
“Want to share what you’re thinking?” Joanna’s voice rumbled against her.
“How did you know I was awake?”
“Easy, your breathing changed. You forget, my love, I have sensitive ears and they are very, very sensitive with regard to you.” The hand that had been doing a circular movement on her stomach now teased her by caressing the underside of her breast. Damn it, but Joanna could turn her on in a second.
“Oh, I was thinking about us and how happy I am.” Thea moved so that she could partially see Joanna’s face.
“I’m glad you’re happy because I know I sure am and it’s all because of you.”
“No, please, it’s all because of you.” Thea giggled.
“Oh, no, please, it’s all because of you, my love.” For several minutes, they traded like for like until the passion that they held in check bubbled and they found that making love was far better than trading words.
As their passion ignited to a flame, the improbable protectors went about their work by protecting and nourishing a love that had grown from an improbable meeting.
Anything in life was possible.
The End
Jo Lackerly’s Songbook
Traveling Girl
I’m a traveling girl.
I travel the world to find you.
One day I will
You and I will be together forever.
When you walked away, you didn’t know,
How much you’d come to mean to me.
It wasn’t easy then to tell you
Now that you’re gone I can’t find you.
I watched you go, never thinking
I’d never see you again.
It would never be the same when you went away
It would never be the same until you’re home.
I’m a traveling girl.
I travel the world to find you.
One day I will
You and I will be together forever.
Experience tells me that
You will never come back to me,
But I’ll search for eternity.
There’s always the chance
That I will see you looking out for me
And when you do,
I’ll be there to tell you,
I love you.
I’m a traveling girl.
I travel the world to find you.
One day I will
You and I will be together forever.
As I sit here singing this song for you
I look upon the sea of faces.
The only face I want to see staring at me
Is you and I will;
I will one day and have you back to stay.
I live to love you again
I will never fail to seek you out.
And one day soon you will know
How much I miss your smiling face.
I’m a traveling girl.
I travel the world to find you.
One day I will
You and I will be together forever.
Invaluable Friend
When you said you would be there for me,
I believed you.
When the darkness came
No one was around to shed the light
You brought a torch
You support me,
You have faith in me,
You hold my hand,
You will cry with me.
And when the time comes
You will provide a smile for me.
You are my invaluable friend.
When you saw me fail,
You picked me up,<
br />
Dusted me off
Told me to try again.
You never talked
You just grinned
Made me smile all over again.
You support me,
You have faith in me,
You hold my hand,
You will cry with me.
You support me,
You have faith in me,
You hold my hand,
You will cry with me.
And when the time comes
You will provide a smile for me.
You are my invaluable friend.
As I grow older,
I know that no matter where in the world you are,
You will always be the shoulder that I cry on,
The shoulder that I laugh on,
The shoulder that I rely on.
You will be the one thing that remains constant;
You will be simply my friend.
You support me,
You have faith in me,
You hold my hand,
You will cry with me.
And when the time comes
You will provide a smile for me.
You are my invaluable friend.
What Made You Change Your Mind?
What made you change your mind?
I can’t believe it you said you’re leaving with me.
Was it something I said?
Something I did?
Tell me please I need you so.
What made you change your mind?
You said you would come with me
Let me protect you no matter what.
I know I’m not the best that the world has to offer,
I would be there regardless the cost.
What made you change your mind?
When you accepted my offer you made my life come on fire.
My heart, it was singing,
My body was ringing
With the happiness, you were bringing.
What made you change your mind?
As I step out the door,
I wait to hear you take your place at my side.
As I leave this place my heart will ache
If you’re not here with me.
What made you change your mind?
How many roads will I travel alone?
What dreams will I shed now that you stay away from me?
Whatever will it take for you to come home to me?
For you are my home no matter the place?
You are where my dreams come my thoughts are true.
What made you change your mind?
What Do I See
I know I needed you like the soil needs the rain.
You are my love the one that makes me yearn
I feel no pain
In time, you will see you are meant for me
Who will care
Who will share my life
If you don’t stay beside me?
I look around what do I see?
My life spirals around me
No one to tell,
No one to share,
No one to wonder if I’m there.
You were so small
So insignificant
Something called.
I cannot say if you will stay
Why should you play my game?
Know only this I’m there for you
Until the end of time they say
I look around what do I see?
My life spirals around me
No one to tell,
No one to share,
No one to wonder if I’m there.
I know as I look in your eyes
It might be the last time, who knows
You gave me love and I’m thankful of
No devotion can you give that means so much as you do to me
Yet through it all I’ve never said what you mean to me
I look around what do I see?
My life spirals around me
No one to tell,
No one to share,
No one to wonder if I’m there.
I know as time goes by we might never be
I’ll always know you love me
Who can take away the pleasure that gives
No one here on earth I think
I look around what do I see?
My life spirals around me
No one to tell,
No one to share,
No one to wonder if I’m there.
Don’t Despair
Love is in my heart it needs you now don’t you know
Life brought us burdens that we shared and shed along the way
Who will know but us what brings us to this tryst
There can be no one for me but you and I know you know it too
Don’t despair
Let me repair that need in you
That calls to my heart
That binds our souls for eternity
I’ve never expected to be this secure usually always the one who’s bored
It doesn’t matter to my heart that you might never feel you take the part
I know that deep inside of me I’m calling out your name you see
Foolish people often say intelligence left that day
The very day you entered my life to stay
Don’t despair
Let me repair that need in you
That calls to my heart
That binds our souls for eternity
The stars will shine the heavens awake to my cry
I want you in my life again,
It doesn’t hurt you see anymore
Because I know, you will return to me if you go away
Your heart is mine if only you could see
Don’t despair
Let me repair that need in you
That calls to my heart
That binds our souls for eternity
My love will grow with endless energy
Make no mistake I’m here for you and if your tears flow
I’ll wipe them away and make you smile
Tomorrow will be ours for all time
Our souls guarantee that above all
Don’t despair
Let me repair that need in you
That calls to my heart
That binds our souls for eternity
Borrowed Dreams
A lifetime hidden with borrowed dreams
Waiting for a special chance
To create for real the happiness and love
I know exists deep inside me
You take a chance at times
Never knowing if it could be your last
Or if it will bear fruit along the way
So you go away
How we learn in this life
With the chances we take
Or those we mistake
We may simply forget
Break them apart before they arrive.
A lifetime hidden with borrowed dreams
Waiting for a special chance
To create for real the happiness and love
I know exists deep inside me.
I never realized you were my chance
Now I know and things have changed
Knowing that you’re out there
My life will never be the same
Yet a lifetime of fears
Disillusionment keeps us apart
A lifetime hidden with borrowed dreams
Waiting for a special chance
To create for real the happiness and love
I know exists deep inside me
For as we ducked and dived
Creating a shallow life
We both thought we were happy
Never taking the time to say how we feel
Letting it slip away
The chance to be with you
Allowing us to be free
Now we walk alone
Never to experience the warmth we gave
Losing you has changed my way
Allowing only despair to remain
&nbs
p; A lifetime hidden with borrowed dreams
Waiting for a special chance
To create for real the happiness and love
I know exists deep inside me
If one day a second chance comes my way
I’ll take it in my hands and to my heart for all to see
That you are my chance to be free inside of me
Where happiness blooms and dreams come true
You will see it too, my love
Once we take the chance forever more
A lifetime hidden with borrowed dreams
Waiting for a special chance
To create for real the happiness and love
I know exists deep inside me.
Be Mine
Days are uncertain we don’t know what to expect
Will we know what to do will we ever know who
There’s a place in our heart that knows the answer
Can we recall it and know for sure what saves our souls
In my heart, I’ll give you the sun though it may rain
As I walk the day, I’ll follow the road you take
The night crosses our path and I’ll be there
Holding your hand and yearning for you to take me inside
Thoughts of you flood my mind
As always, I’m putty in your hand
Foolish that may seem to you
Yet you smile and allow me to follow blindly
I’d give anything to know you love me for what I am