by Melissa Good
Kerry exhaled slowly. “Do you think your mother will ever change her mind?” She looked up, right into Dar’s eyes.
Dar’s gaze dropped to the surface of the couch. “That’s different. She’s angry with me because she thinks I don’t understand how much she loved him.” Dar spoke quietly. “I told her… We got in a big argument after he died when I told her he’d gone the way he’d always wanted to, and she should just let him go.”
“Mmm.” Kerry twined her fingers with Dar’s.
“She told me I didn’t understand, and probably never would.” Dar remained silent for a moment. “Maybe she was right.”
“She must have loved him a great deal,” Kerry murmured.
“He was everything to her. She’d look at him, and it was like he was some god or something.” Dar sighed. “She knew, before they came to the house.
She’d been beside herself all day long.”
“Maybe, maybe they were soulmates,” Kerry said hesitantly, the word tasting sweet but strange on her tongue. “You know that old story—two halves, that kind of thing.”
A long moment of silence while Dar considered her words. “I…I never believed in any of that stuff, but…” She shrugged. “Who knows?” Her eyes studied the blonde woman. “Do you believe in that, in there being such a thing?”
Kerry kept quiet, thinking about the question. “I didn’t used to,” she admitted finally. “I never considered myself a romantic person, or someone who believed in great, mythical love.” A pause. “But, I don’t know, it’s a really nice kind of possibility, you know?”
“Yeah,” Dar murmured.
“When I was up in Michigan, I got to talk to an old pastor of mine, Pastor Robert. He used to talk about that all the time, so…” Kerry carefully kept her eyes on her hands. “And, um, well, he kind of told me about that, and how he thought you could tell. I mean, if you’ve found yours, that is.”
“Yeah?” Dar cleared her throat. “Just for argument’s sake, what did he say?” She propped her head up on one hand, and paid close attention to a 450 Melissa Good seam in the leather.
Kerry lifted her eyes and studied the dark, bowed head. “I, um…he…um, he said you can tell, because when you look at that person, you see everything you need to complete yourself.” Faintly startled blue eyes lifted and met hers.
“Which sorta makes sense, I guess,” Kerry added in a low mutter.
Dar simply breathed for a long instant. “In-interesting theory,” she finally managed to say, clearing her throat when her voice came out a touch hoarse, her eyes still locked with Kerry’s.
“Isn’t it?” Kerry replied softly.
“It, um,” Dar rubbed the back of her neck and exhaled, “…has a certain logic to it.” She pursed her lips, then glanced up into Kerry’s eyes again. “Did you say something about dinner?”
Kerry smiled, feeling a happy little jolt in her chest. “Uh, yeah. Let me go see what I can find.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against her lover’s, enjoying the tingle of heat that stirred up in her guts. “On the other hand…” she murmured, delighting in the distraction as her body forgot about dinner and concentrated on something equally as tasty.
Dar’s hand slid slowly off her hip, and she felt a teasing touch exploring her ribs under her T-shirt. “Mmm,” Kerry murmured softly, unbuttoning Dar’s cotton polo and tugging it loose from her belt. “By the way, have I told you how inspiring you are?”
Teeth nibbled her ear teasingly. “Inspiring?” the deep voice inquired curiously. “How so?”
“You ignite my dreams,” Kerry replied softly, her hands exploring hungrily. Dar’s skin was amazingly soft, and had a warm, silky texture she really liked. The muscles felt thick and strong under their light layer of softness, and the blonde woman traced their contours with sensual delight.
“I do?” Dar sounded a bit surprised. “Imagine that.” She let her hands slide down Kerry’s waistline, long fingers working loose the top button of her jeans with a soft pop. “Coincidentally…” Another pop, as the second button came free. “You…” A third. “Dominate mine.” The last button loosened, and she slid her hands under the heavy fabric. “I’ve been dreaming about us together since before that trip.”
Kerry arched her back, feeling the jeans slide slowly down her thighs, and the cool air of the room brush her bare skin. “So have I,” she whispered as she unbuckled the belt holding up Dar’s Dockers. “Guess it was just meant to be.” She ducked her head to allow Dar to pull her T-shirt off as she nudged the cotton pants off her lover. “Mmm,” Kerry growled softly as they slid together, and she kissed Dar’s belly button, working her way teasingly up from there.
A slow, teasing touch traveled up her thigh, and Kerry let out a soft groan as her body shuddered, anxious for her lover’s attentions. Dar had pushed her gently back and slid a leg between hers, and Kerry leaned into her, reaching for the soft skin that was so tantalizingly close. Every touch just made her want more, and she rapidly felt her senses forgetting where she was and focusing on the touch, taste, and scent of her partner.
Until the knowing nips and nibbles and touches wound her body up to the breaking point, then released it into a thundering wash of sensation that left her panting in a helpless shiver. “God.” She pawed weakly at Dar’s chest, Tropical Storm 451
as the taller woman gathered her in and wrapped her in a loving embrace. Her heart was pounding, and she clung to Dar, catching her breath.
Dar nuzzled her neck, rubbing her side gently. “You okay?”
“Ungh.” Kerry took a deep breath and released it. “Oh yeah. I’m great.”
She nibbled lightly across Dar’s bare collarbone and then moved lower. “So, where’s this scar from?” She licked the mark in question, near the taller woman’s shoulder.
“Mmm.” Dar found it hard to focus as Kerry slid an exploring hand down her belly. “Fishhook caught…oh…me.”
“Uh huh, and this one?” Kerry moved lower, across the curve of her left breast.
“Uh…”
Kerry continued her exploration, as her fingers felt muscles jump under her touch. “Uh? I don’t think I know what an ‘uh’ is,” she teased gently.
“Fell off my bike,” Dar managed to say, faintly.
“Oh yeah?” Kerry chuckled, moving in for a better angle. “Did it hurt?”
Dar had no idea what she was talking about as her body shamelessly abandoned itself to Kerry’s inquisitive touch. “No, it feels wonderful,” she finally muttered, finding a smiling pair of lips that captured hers, then slipped away and continued on their way.
THE SOFT SOUNDS of motion from the kitchen floated to her ears as Dar lay limply on the couch, about as totally relaxed as a human being could get and not dissolve into jello. She kept her eyes closed and let her mind drift from subject to subject, nothing really making an impact on her conscious mind.
Kerry, though relatively inexperienced, certainly seemed to have her number down pat. Dar stretched a little and relaxed again. That had never happened before. Usually it took time, to get to know the other person’s likes and dislikes, and have hers learned as well. Not this time.
Dar put her hands behind her head and exhaled, glancing down at her half-clad body. It was almost as though they were just…
“Hey.” Kerry poked her head out and smiled, letting her eyes linger over the long, bare legs extended on the couch. “You hungry?”
Dar enjoyed the look, indulging her ego guiltily. “Are you?” She lifted a saucy eyebrow and broke into a laugh as Kerry blushed a deep red. Dar found the mixture of gentle innocence and barely veiled desire incredibly attractive, and she rolled up and off the couch, padding over to where her lover was standing. The green eyes dropped as she approached. “Hey.” She gently laced her fingers through Kerry’s hair and tipped her head back up. “You’re beautiful when you blush.”
Kerry gazed at her, lips twitching a little. “I am?” she murmured softly.
Dar traced the
flushed skin, watching Kerry’s eyes flutter closed as she leaned into the touch. “Yes, you are,” she answered honestly, smoothing the fair hair back. “But I’m sure you’ve heard that before.”
Kerry shook her head. “No, I usually get described as, um, ‘cute.’ ” She let her eyes open and smiled at her taller companion. She wrinkled her nose.
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“Now you, on the other hand…” She reached up and brushed a fingertip over Dar’s cheekbone. “Wow.”
She was rewarded with a faint blush of her own. “Don’t you tell me you’ve never heard that,” Kerry chided with a grin.
Dar put her arms around her lover. “Never from someone I really wanted to hear it from before.” The words slipped out, startling her, and exposing a rawness she hadn’t really intended.
Kerry just hugged her back, giddily flattered. “C’mon, I’m going to burn something.” She slipped an arm around Dar’s waist and pulled her into the kitchen.
“So, what did you conjure up?” Dar asked as she sniffed interestedly at the pot bubbling away on the stove. “Looks like stew.”
“Ooo.” Kerry patted her. “Right guess, first time. Well, given what I had to work with, it was all I could really do. It’s got those two packages of the shish kebab meat you had in the freezer in it, some canned vegetables, and soup you had back in the hurricane supplies.” She peered at Dar. “Tomorrow, we’re going to go shopping, okay?” She tapped Dar on the shoulder with her serving spoon.
“Good idea,” Dar deadpanned, “I’m almost out of Frosted Flakes.” Her eyes twinkled as she dodged a mock blow. “Hey, I got you those little carrots and fresh fruit. Don’t I get points?”
Green eyes slid sideways and regarded her as Kerry stirred her creation.
“Actually, yes, you do. That was very thoughtful, Dar,” she commented.
“Makes me feel right at home.”
Hands settled lightly on her shoulders and squeezed. “Good,” Dar answered with a chuckle. “Can I drain those noodles for you?”
They took their dinner out onto the patio and set it down on the small stone table that faced the ocean. Dar disappeared inside and returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses, setting them down and opening the bottle with a graceful motion. She poured Kerry a glass and then herself one, then she sat down, propping her bare feet up on the spare chair. “Nice night out.”
Kerry leaned back in her chair and appropriated the fourth one as a footstool. “Very. Not too hot but not cold, either.” She picked up her bowl of noodles and stew and started eating, her eyes watching the moonlit horizon.
“Look at those lights. Are those cargo ships?”
Dar leaned over to see where she was gazing. “Mmm. One of them is; the other two are cruise ships. I think that one’s the Norway.” She shifted a little so their shoulders were brushing, then settled down with her dish.
“I always wanted to go on a cruise,” Kerry commented, biting a piece of stew meat in half and chewing it. “I’d love to take you on one, but I guess both of us disappearing at the same time for a week would be a little conspicuous, huh?”
Dar chuckled wryly. “Just a little. Pity, because the last bonus Alastair sent me was two tickets to an Alaskan Passage cruise.” She took a mouthful of noodles. “This is wonderful, by the way. You’re amazing.”
“Thanks.” Kerry smiled. “Alaskan passage, huh? Wow, I’ve always wanted to see inside a glacier.” She munched on a string bean. “I’ve seen the Northern Lights twice, when we had sunspots, and you could just see them at Tropical Storm 453
night up in Michigan. But I’d like to see them in their proper place, and I’ve heard you can hear them, too.”
Dar nodded, resting her head against the wall and gazing up at the huge, full moon. “They hiss, supposedly, kind of like the surf on the beach.” The thought of spending a week with Kerry exploring Alaska suddenly seemed very, very attractive, and she sighed quietly to herself. “Yeah, it is too bad.”
“Mmm,” Kerry mused, “do you like hiking?”
A chuckle. “As long as there’s a comfortable lodge at the end of the trail, sure. I’m not much for rough camping,” Dar replied. “Another reason the military was probably not a good idea.” She paused. “Maybe we could work a long weekend in, go up to Colorado and hike around a little. They’ve got good horseback riding there, too.”
Kerry grinned. “Ooo, I’d like that. I haven’t been riding since forever, I miss it.” She took a sip of her wine and swallowed. “Wow, that’s nice. Hey, have you ever been up to the wine country, in California?”
Dar shook her head. “No, can’t say I have, I hear it’s nice up there, though. Have you?”
“Twice. Maybe that can be another long weekend. You can take a tour of all the vineyards, and it’s really pretty,” Kerry replied enthusiastically. “I’ve always wanted to go back there.”
Dar felt a silly smile crossing her face. She masked it by lifting her glass and drinking a deep swallow. “That sounds fun,” she agreed soberly. “You interested in some diving tomorrow? Weather’s supposed to be nice.”
A nod. “After we go restock your kitchen.” Kerry pointed her fork at her.
“Even my creativity has its limits. I don’t think there’s much I can do with grapes, milk, pizza, and peanuts.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand how you haven’t just keeled over from scurvy or whatever it is people get who live on ice cream.”
Dar chuckled. “I take vitamins,” she admitted. “We should probably get you a BC that actually fits and a weight belt. That one you’ve been using is too heavy. Tell you what, we can go out to the dive shop and stop at the big Publix off Washington. How’s that?”
Kerry finished off her portion of stew and licked her fork. “Sounds good to me,” she agreed readily. “Though, I don’t know, give me a few months, and I think I’ll need that heavier weight belt.” She gave Dar a rueful look as she patted her stomach. “Not that everyone, with the exception of my mother, hasn’t told me how good I look,” she conceded.
Dar studied her. “To hell with what everyone says, how do you feel?” she asked bluntly.
There was a long pause as Kerry gazed out over the ocean. “Great,” she finally answered in a reflective voice. She let her hand fall to her bare thigh, flexing it and watching the muscles move under her skin. “Getting a lot more of these, I think, instead of just more padding,” she admitted. “Feels kinda good, actually.”
Dar reached over and extended her hand, smiling when Kerry took it, and curled her fingers around the taller woman’s. “Well, in my opinion, you look fantastic, and I’m the one who gets to see you naked the most, so…”
Kerry burst into an embarrassed giggle. “Dar!”
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“Hey, it’s true,” her partner protested with a smile, then she turned her attention to the water. “Can I interest you in a little walk in the moonlight?”
A squeeze on her fingers. “Absolutely.”
Dar stood and collected their bowls. “C’mon, I hear a hot fudge sundae calling me down at the market.”
Kerry latched on to the back of Dar’s shirt, following her inside. “Where you go, I go,” she assured the taller woman lightly.
They both stopped and looked at each other, twin shivers going down two spines. “Well,” Dar finally said softly. “I think I like that idea.”
Kerry nibbled her lip, wondering where the words had come from.
“Mmm, yeah, me too.” She smiled. “Guess we’d better put on some shorts though. Meet you back down here.” She trotted up the stairs, leaving a quietly reflective Dar behind.
Chapter
Thirty-four
“WHAT ABOUT THIS one?” Kerry picked up the nearest jacket and held it up. “It’s…colorful.”
Dar glanced up, then chuckled. “Oh yeah, no doubt about it. I’d be able to find you at 100 fathoms in that.”
The Dacor buoyancy compensator had bright pink and green pockets and
was dazzlingly bright. Kerry slipped it over her shoulders and faced her friend. “Well?”
The taller woman sauntered over and adjusted the device, buckling it across Kerry’s chest and stepping back to judge the effect. “Nice.”
Kerry grinned and bounced a little, then unbuckled the catches and shrugged out of the vest. “Okay, and you said a new weight belt, right?” She mentally added up the cost and nodded a little. Her bills were paid for the month, and her raise allowed for little luxuries like this. She picked up a dark pink web belt, liberally studded with small pink weights. “How’s this?”
Dar studied it, then hefted the weight. “Yeah, that’d be okay,” she judged. “Here.” She added a pair of snug-fitting neoprene booties. “Oh.” She went to a rack holding wetsuits and pulled off one with short sleeves and mid-thigh length legs. “This, too.”
Kerry fingered the thin neoprene. “Ah, to protect against jellyfish?”
Dar stepped closer. “No, I just think you’d look really good in it,” she muttered softly, her eyes twinkling.
“Tch. Dar.” Kerry’s face wrinkled up into a mildly embarrassed smile.
“Let me pass on this right now. It’s a little over my budget.”
Blue eyes flicked over the supplies, then to her face. “I could, um…”
A hand touched her arm. “No.” Kerry’s voice dropped a little, and she glanced around. “I appreciate the thought, Dar, but I’m responsible for myself, okay?”
The dark-haired woman drew breath, then let it trickle out her lips. “All right, I was just…”
Kerry smiled at her. “I know, and I let you get away with it with my fish and those plane tickets, but it’s important to me to stand on my own two feet.”
Dar looked almost comically crestfallen. “Um…” She looked around.
“Look, the truth is, between my salary and the bonuses Alastair keeps dumping on me, I’ve got this huge lump of funds stuck in a couple of accounts at the credit union, and I’ve…” She paused and exhaled. “I haven’t had anyone in my life in a while that I really wanted to spend it on.” She shrugged a little. “I didn’t mean to insult you or anything.”