“No, I came in here with a plate for you and saw you were sleeping so I ate it myself. If you’re ready, I’ll go make some more for you.”
“Thanks. I have to get up anyway. I’m getting stiff sitting here.” Chris moved Sadie off her lap. As she pushed herself up from the floor, she gasped aloud.
“Ribs hurting you?”
“No, they’re fine, just a little sore, is all.”
Mary Jo got up from her chair and went to Chris’s side. She gently tugged the shirt from Chris’s pants and lifted it up. “Jesus Christ, Martel!” The skin over Chris’s ribs sported mottled colors ranging from green to almost black. She made out distinct boot prints in the bruises. “Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor?”
Chris pulled her shirt out of Mary Jo’s hands and tucked it into her jeans. “I told you I’m fine. I know what broken ribs feel like. A few years ago a yearling blindsided me while I was out in the pasture. He broke three of them. So no, I don’t need a doctor.”
“All right, but I’m telling you, if you keel over dead on me, I’ll never forgive you,” Mary Jo scolded, trying to look stern.
“I won’t. I give you my word.”
Mary Jo looked at her watch and sighed. “Unfortunately, I’ve got to go to work. Will you be okay till I get back?”
“Only if you promise that you’ll come back.”
Mary Jo carefully pressed her lips to Chris’s in a long, gentle kiss filled with assurance. “Is that promise enough?”
Breathlessly, Chris said, “Oh, yeah."
Mary Jo prepared Chris’s breakfast but had to leave while Chris ate. “You take it easy until I get back here, understand?” As a quick afterthought, she put a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water on the table in the living room.
Chris mumbled something inaudible through a mouth stuffed with pancake.
“I swear, some things never change,” Mary Jo said as she let herself out the door.
Chapter 18
Chris spent the remainder of the day dozing in front of the fire with the dogs. When she wasn’t half-asleep, she was thinking about Mary Jo. Constant streams of thoughts and images ran through her mind. She had committed to memory the feel of Mary Jo’s lips on her own, the warmth of her embrace, and the comfort she exuded.
Between naps, she found the courage to call Frances. Thankfully, Frances was more concerned than mad. Chris assured her she was fine and that Mary Jo was looking after her, which caused Frances to giggle.
After promising she would stop by soon, Chris hung up.
Late that afternoon, she gingerly got up from the couch and felt stiff and achy. “I guess it’s time for more aspirin and for chores.” She groaned and clutched her side.
“You’re not lifting a finger out there,” a voice ordered from the mudroom.
Neither she, nor the dogs, had heard Mary Jo’s truck in the drive. The dogs jumped up and scrambled to greet her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I see you,” Mary Jo said. “Did you girls make your mom behave while I was gone?”
Chris smiled at the thumping of happy tails and Mary Jo’s conversation with the dogs. She dumped a couple of aspirin from the bottle into her hand and washed the pills down with water as the dogs led Mary Jo to the living room, prancing around her feet the whole time.
On entering, Mary Jo exclaimed, “Wow, the swelling has gone down a lot. Now I can see into both of those beautiful eyes.” She closed the distance between them and reached up to give Chris a tender caress. “But you, my dear, are going to have one hell of a black eye.” Mary Jo scrutinized her face. “You’ve already got a black and blue tinge starting to develop around the perimeter. And your eye is pretty bloodshot. But I think, fortunately for me, it won’t detract from your gorgeous face.”
“I’m glad you came back so soon.” Chris enjoyed the feel of Mary Jo’s gentle touch on her face. She leaned into it, closed her eyes, and blindly reached for Mary Jo’s waist. She drew her into her arms.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” Mary Jo said. “After I told them you’d had an accident and reassured them you’d be okay, Doc and Donna practically pushed me out of the clinic. Doc said he would take the last appointment for me, too.”
“That was nice of him.” Chris ran her lips along Mary Jo’s neck, tasting her, smelling her. “Remind me to thank him.”
Coherent thought became difficult as she explored Mary Jo’s neck with her mouth. She wandered along her jaw and finally stopped to claim her lips.
The kiss began gently and soon became more urgent. Mary Jo wrapped her arms carefully around Chris’s waist. Her mouth parted at the teasing of Chris’s tongue, and she accepted it into her mouth. Chris’s exploring tongue lovingly circled Mary Jo’s, gradually seeking more and more.
Regretfully, Chris broke the kiss. Her lip stung like a bitch. She looked at Mary Jo’s mouth and saw a smear of blood. Wiping the smudge off with her thumb, she noted Mary Jo’s concern, but chose to ignore it.
She leaned in for more, but Mary Jo abruptly stopped her by putting a hand against her chest and pushing.
Mary Jo stared at Chris’s mouth. “Oh, babe, look at your lip. We’ve got to let that heal some before we do that again.”
“I’m not sure I can wait. I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long.”
Mary Jo grinned. “Me, too, but we can’t do it like that. It’ll never heal.”
Chris let out an exaggerated sigh. “Okay, Nurse Ratched, if I can’t kiss you the way I want, what do you suggest?” She slowly slid her hand from Mary Jo’s waist to just below her breast. Mary Jo grabbed her hand before she could go any farther.
“It’s obvious I have to set some ground rules, Martel.” Mary Jo escaped Chris’s embrace. “As much as I hate to say it, I think it best we behave ourselves until you’re healed.”
Chris couldn’t hide her disappointment. “You’re not serious.” She had lain awake fantasizing about what it would be like to make love to Mary Jo. “We can be careful.”
Mary Jo laughed. “Oh, yeah, right. That last kiss was a good indicator of how careful we can be. I’m serious, Chris. I want to make love with you. God, I do. But I don’t want to have to worry about hurting you. And I don’t want you distracted by trying to hide the fact that you’re in pain.”
“You’re killing me here, Cav, you know that, right?” But Chris knew, deep down, that Mary Jo was right. “Good thing I’m a fast healer then.” The determined look in Mary Jo’s eyes told her she wasn’t kidding. “But I guess I can be patient.”
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Mary Jo asked as Chris walked past her into the mudroom.
“Have to feed the horses.”
“I’m coming with you to help.”
“No, stay here. It may take me a little longer but I think I can manage. There’s not much to do at night.” Chris tried not to look at Mary Jo as she put her boots on. “See, I figure the more I move around, the faster the bruising will go away. And the faster the bruising goes away…” She looked straight at Mary Jo. “The faster I can have my way with you.”
Chris’s heart swelled with affection and excitement of things to come, and a feeling of complete contentment settled in her chest as she finished pulling on her boots. There were finally no secrets left for her to keep.
In the mudroom, when Chris wiggled her eyebrows and leered, Mary Jo couldn’t help laughing. While the swelling around Chris’s eye had diminished a great deal, her lopsided attempt was comical. Mary Jo’s laughter was short-lived, though, because when her gaze locked with Chris’s, there was no mistaking the desire she saw. Her legs went weak. Calling on all of her willpower, she turned away from Chris and went toward the kitchen.
“While you’re out getting rid of your bruising, I’ll make us some dinner. I may even make some of that couscous you bought.” Mary Jo giggled as she went into the kitchen. She heard Chris mumble something about “smart-ass,” and she and the dogs left for the barn.
By the time Mary
Jo heard boots and paws at the door again, she’d put together a nice meal consisting of grilled chicken breasts, couscous for Chris’s benefit, and mixed vegetables. Given her state of heightened arousal, she was quite proud of how fast she’d been able to come up with something. She kept recalling the unguarded desire in Chris’s eyes. It had been a very long time since a woman looked at her that way.
“Smells great in here.” Chris hung up her fleece and tentatively pulled her boots off. She walked into the kitchen where Mary Jo stood pouring glasses of wine.
As Chris neared, Mary Jo picked up one of the glasses and handed it to her. Before taking a sip, Chris leaned closer, brushed her lips softly against Mary Jo’s cheek, and nuzzled her neck.
“I hate to do this, but would you please stop?” Mary Jo said. “You know we won’t be able to control ourselves.”
“Can we at least sit in front of the fire and snuggle while we wait for dinner?”
“Yeah, it’ll be about half an hour yet.” Hardly able to ignore Chris’s lips caressing the pulse pounding in her neck, Mary Jo pulled away. She put on a stern look, shook her finger, and said, “But don’t try anything. You have to promise to be good.”
“Okay, okay. Sheesh!” Chris put her hands up in surrender. “I’ll behave. Just sit with me and let me hold you. I’d like that.”
“So would I.” Mary Jo was having a hard time and so was Chris. She was sure of it. But for Chris’s sake, she needed to keep her libido in check.
After dinner, while sitting in front of the fire, Chris asked, “So when did you figure out you were a lesbian?”
Mary Jo chuckled and said, “During my first semester at Cornell. I met three women who were really good friends. They were so relaxed about it, and they took me under their wings. I found out that what I had been feeling for years was quite normal.”
“That’s cool. I never had any gay friends. Until you, that is.” Chris kissed Mary Jo’s cheek. “Did you have any relationships at school?”
“Are you kidding? My curriculum was insanely intense. Between classes, study groups, labs, and shadowing my mentor, who the hell had time?”
Chris looked at her incredulously. “So you’re saying you’re a virgin?”
Mary Jo snorted. “Not hardly. I slept around. Sometimes the need to take the edge off overwhelmed my ability to think. So my friends and I would go to one of the gay bars in Ithaca. I’d pick someone up, and off we’d go.”
“But you’ve never been in love.”
“No.” Mary Jo reached up and caressed Chris’s cheek with the back of her hand. “I avoided relationships like the plague. A couple of close friends broke up and had such a hard time of it, they both dropped out of vet school. I wasn’t about to let that happen.” She got up and pulled a quilt off the back of the couch. After sitting back down next to Chris, she draped it over both of them.
Chris was quiet for so long, Mary Jo wondered if she had dozed off. She turned her head and saw Chris staring intently into the fire. “Is there something wrong, Chris?” she asked.
“No. I was just wondering what you do now. I mean, to take the edge off.”
“You needn’t worry, sweetheart. I have my own collection of toys to keep me entertained. That is, if I have any energy at the end of the day.”
“Isn’t that what battery-operated toys are for? So you don’t have to do anything?” Chris gave her a mischievous look.
“I still have to have the energy to turn it on, babe.” Mary Jo yawned and Chris did, too. She should go home and let them both get their rest, but in all honesty, she felt she could sit right here forever.
Chapter 19
A week and a half dragged by with agonizing slowness as Chris’s lip and ribs healed. Despite Chris’s assertions that she could manage by herself, Mary Jo did whatever she could to help with chores. They had some delightful evenings when they held each other close and talked quietly while sitting in front of the fire. Mary Jo had laughingly slapped Chris’s hands when they began wandering. It was tempting to let matters go beyond the point of no return, but she still wanted to make sure their first time together had no distractions. Chris finally admitted to Mary Jo that she was ready for somebody in her life and assured her that she was the only woman she wanted.
This morning, Mary Jo drove up to the barn and quietly sneaked inside. The dogs had heard her open the barn door, but thankfully hadn’t made a fuss as they ran to greet her. She was hoping to surprise Chris, who wasn’t expecting her until much later since it was surgery day at the clinic. However, Doc had postponed the single scheduled procedure until after the New Year.
Mary Jo loved watching Chris work Stetson in the round pen. The relationship between Chris and the stallion, where the only language spoken was the graceful movement of their bodies, amazed her no matter how many times she witnessed it.
The barn was quiet except for the swish of hooves moving through the sand. Mary Jo glanced up and noticed a few sparrows that flitted soundlessly from rafter to rafter as they eagerly followed the rays of sun coming through the skylights.
She stayed out of sight and leaned against the opening to the ring, her legs and arms crossed to stay warm. The dogs had grown bored shortly after she’d given them their treats and calmly deserted her to go into the warm office.
Though her feet were starting to feel the cold, she couldn’t resist staying to watch Chris. Chris’s movements as she directed the stallion were unhindered, graceful, and confident, despite her layers of clothing.
Mary Jo recalled Chris lying naked by the pond last summer. The thought of that toned body on top of her sent her thwarted libido sky high.
The clink of the gate snapped her out of her daydream. Chris was finished and was coming back to the stall area.
Not knowing exactly why, Mary Jo ducked farther out of sight and waited for Chris and Stetson to pass by. As she flattened herself against the wall, she heard Chris talking to the horse in low tones. The sound of hooves hitting the cement floor was barely audible above the pounding of her heart. She held her breath, convinced Chris would hear her, and relaxed when they disappeared out of sight down the aisle. She was trying to decide what to do next when she heard the scuffle of boots purposefully coming her way.
Mary Jo felt like a deer caught in headlights as Chris moved toward her and Chris’s blue gaze bored into hers. Her breath caught. Chris strode closer, a half smile riding her lips. Mary Jo’s legs trembled as the distance between them diminished, step-by-step. She gasped when Chris stopped in front of her. Swallowing nervously, Mary Jo stared, fascinated, at the throbbing pulse in Chris’s neck.
She and Chris reached for each other at the same time and put their lips together in a kiss that grew hungrier and hotter with each passing second. Chris urgently ran her fingers through Mary Jo’s hair.
Mary Jo opened her mouth, inviting Chris’s tongue to dance with her own. Chris pushed her against the wall. A muscled thigh nudged between her legs, and she pressed against it willingly. She let go of Chris’s head and trailed her hands down to the swell of breasts beneath the shirt.
Boldly and without hesitation, Mary Jo yanked Chris’s flannel shirt out of the waistband of her jeans and reached underneath to feel her soft, warm skin. Goosebumps rose under her trailing touch. She wondered whether it was caused by the cold air or something else… something more exciting.
Chris’s moan, and the way her nipples instantly hardened when Mary Jo cupped her bare breasts, almost sent her over the edge.
Chris broke their kiss, breathing hard, her eyes filled with desire. “God, I want you,” she said. She grabbed Mary Jo’s arm and led her into the office.
As the door banged closed behind them, Chris turned, pulled Mary Jo’s coat off, and shoved her sweater and turtleneck over her head. Mary Jo’s nipples tightened under Chris’s stare.
“Beautiful,” Chris whispered. She lowered her mouth to Mary Jo’s breast, and her hand closed over the other.
Chris’s tongue twirled arou
nd her nipple, making it even harder. Mary Jo’s eyes slammed shut. She found Chris’s head and pulled that tormenting mouth tighter against her breast. “Jesus, Martel!” she gasped.
Chris undid her jeans, reached in, and shoved aside the crotch of her underwear. Callused fingers searched and then cupped her tightly.
“Oh, God, please, Chris,” she moaned as Chris’s fingers moved over her clit, through her wetness, and back to circle her throbbing center. “Oh, oh, God, yes.”
Mary Jo tried to take a deep breath, feeling the first stirrings of an orgasm as Chris’s fingers entered her and her thumb rubbed rhythmically against her clit.
In a few short seconds, Mary Jo climaxed. Her muscles tightened around Chris’s fingers. Her hips rocked. When Chris’s lips found their way to her neck, Mary Jo called out Chris’s name as she came, thrusting forcefully against Chris’s hand.
Mary Jo felt her own pulse against Chris’s cheek as she struggled to catch her breath.
Chris gently pulled her fingers out but didn’t move. She just stood there, and her lips rested against Mary Jo’s neck as she caught her breath.
When Chris finally pulled back, Mary Jo leaned in and captured Chris’s lips. She kissed her and allowed the contact to linger.
Mary Jo finally found her voice. “Wow, maybe we should make ourselves wait more often.”
“Two minutes?”
“Um, too long.” Mary Jo’s voice sounded low and husky to her ears. She pushed Chris backwards toward the cot. “Way too long.”
When Chris’s legs met the edge of the cot, Sadie barely managed to scramble out of the way before Mary Jo gave Chris another shove and sat her down.
Grasping Chris’s fleece and shirt, Mary Jo pulled the garments over Chris's head and dropped them on the floor.
Gazing at Chris’s bare chest, Mary Jo gasped. Chris’s tanned skin accentuated her beautifully sculpted body. She pushed Chris onto her back and settled on top of her, skin on skin. She ran her hand down Chris’s body and felt the muscles tremble at her touch as she kissed Chris tenderly. Chris drew a quick intake of breath as Mary Jo reached into the waist of her jeans and past her boxers, her hand barely grazing soft pubic curls.
Laurie Salzer - A Kiss Before Dawn Page 19