On unsteady legs, Morgan walked toward the doors. A buzzer sounded as soon as she neared them. She turned the knob, opened the door and the buzzer stopped. The door closed with a click that sounded like a bomb exploding down the cold white hall. Morgan immediately tensed and hurried her steps down the hall.
She came to a set of glass, sectioned with a plank of wood and a phone perched on one side. She slid onto the hard chair to wait, her heart hammering in her chest with a hint of excitement. She tried to gather her thoughts as a door on the other side of the glass opened.
A tall man in a black uniform walked with Dawn in his grasp into the room. Handcuffs, a gun, and a baton were perched snuggly on his hip.
Dawn wore an orange jumpsuit, her hands firmly encased in a set of shiny silver cuffs.
Morgan suppressed a laugh and met Dawn’s hard stare.
Dawn sank onto the chair and picked up the phone. Morgan copied her and lifted the phone from the cradle.
“Are you going to fucking bail me out of here, or what?” Dawn screamed at her.
Morgan felt all worries flee from her heart and soul, felt the weight of them release from her body. She gave Dawn a sweet smile. “As a matter of fact, that depends on you.”
“Don’t fucking play games with me, Morgan. Your faggot crew will pay for what they did to me.”
“Well, in that case, no, I’m not here to bail you out.”
Dawn’s eyes widened. “You’re going to leave me here after what they did to me?”
“If I have to, yes. Because you see, they were looking out for me because I’ve had enough of your bullshit. I told you to stay away from me. Rachel warned you to stay away from me. You don’t listen because you’re going to do whatever the hell you want to do.”
“That bitch can’t tell me what to do.” She leaned toward the glass separating them. “Do you miss me, Morgan?”
“Hell no. I can’t miss a piece of scum. I only came here to give you a choice.” She leaned back in the chair and crossed one arm over her chest. “If you promise to leave me alone and never bother me again, and promise that you won’t seek revenge on my friends, I’ll bail you out. If you refuse, then I’ll leave you in here to find another way out. I’m sure one of your few hundred fucks would be more than happy to come get your ass out of here. Don’t you think?”
Dawn sneered at her, teeth gritted so tight, Morgan feared they might break. Dawn opened her mouth to speak, but Morgan interrupted.
“I wasn’t done. You will walk away today and never look back. My friends were only looking out for me because I’m in love and they don’t want you to fuck it up for me. You’ve done enough damage over the past ten years. They’re through with watching it. Do we have a deal?”
“I can call any number of people to come and get me out of here. I don’t need you to do it.”
“You’re right. And by all means, do that. All I’m saying is you’ve seen how far my friends will go to make sure you stay away from me. Last night was only a sample of what they’re capable of doing. And that’s not a threat by any means. It’s just a promise because I don’t love you anymore and I want you to stay the hell away from me from this day forward.” Morgan took a deep breath while butterflies flapped in her gut. “Now, what’s it gonna be, Dawn?”
Dawn leaned all the way to the glass. “Kiss me, Morgan.” She pressed her lips to the glass.
Morgan took a long hard look at the lips flattened against the glass. Those lips she used to die for, couldn’t dream of living without, and yet she couldn’t stand to see them right now. Shane oozed through her mind, made her heart strum in her chest, made her gut tighten knowing she was waiting for her in the parking lot. She couldn’t wait to get back to her and tell her how fucking in love with her she was.
Morgan leaned forward, never taking her eyes off of Dawn. When her face was within a foot of the glass, she brought her hand up and popped the glass where Dawn’s lips rested.
Dawn didn’t flinch.
God, but it felt good to be out of love with this egotistical, self-centered woman … and in love with one that would give up her pride to sit in a parking lot and wait for only God knew what.
“It looks like I’ll be seeing an awful lot of you, Dawn. It’ll be my pleasure to sit back and watch the people that love me torture your ass. You already see what they are capable of doing. Please don’t think I won’t play a part as well. Don’t forget, the cops already think you’re a stalker. One more phone call and your ass will be right back in here.” Morgan dropped the phone on the desk, rose from the chair and walked back down the hall with pride.
She could hear Dawn screaming through the earpiece. She stopped, turned around and met Dawn’s blank stare. She couldn’t hear what she was saying, nor did she want to. But, the look on Dawn’s face assured her, she would never see her again.
When she turned back to the door, her heart was free at last.
She all but ran back through the doors, across the lobby and outside. Shane’s truck was still parked at the curb. Morgan jumped inside, pushed across the seat and planted her lips on Shane’s. She snaked her fingers through Shane’s hair and felt her respond even though she didn’t move a muscle.
Morgan leaned back, stared at Shane’s gorgeous green eyes, and felt her heart leap into her throat. “I’m in love with you. Don’t ask me how and don’t ask me why, just know that I am.”
Shane’s eyes widened and glazed over with tears. She gave a tiny chuckle, hung her head and eased her hand over Morgan’s. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words?”
“No.” Morgan smiled, hooked her fingers under Shane’s chin and lifted her gaze up to meet Morgan’s. “Tell me.”
Morgan’s heart leapt to the base of her throat as love fisted a knot in her stomach.
“I’ll show you.”
Shane pulled away from Morgan, yanked the truck into drive and peeled rubber leaving the empty lot.
Morgan settled against her, so happy she knew her heart would burst wide open.
———
Shane pushed open the door to the gallery and flipped on the lights. Her life, her home, her freedom from the world, surrounded her. And, the woman she was in love with stood by her side, loving her in return.
Shane couldn’t be happier or any more in love.
She walked zombie-like down the hall, opened the closet door and pulled out the tall box.
She carried the bulky carton back to the lobby, lifted the framed portrait from inside, and held it at arms length. The beauty of Morgan caught her breath, wrenched her heart. Tears welled in her eyes while she leaned the frame against the counter.
Morgan stared at her, still where Shane had left her by the front door. She gave her a meek smile, set the frame on an easel facing away from Morgan, and walked back to her.
She took Morgan’s hands. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Morgan smiled, confusion written all over her beautiful face. “I think so.”
“I’ve never had love at first sight … never believed it was real … until you.”
Morgan smiled as she waited for Shane to continue.
Shane gently tugged her arm, walking her slowly back to the painting. “Do you remember our meeting for the interview?”
Morgan gave her a smirk. “Yes. The one you never showed for.”
“I was there, Morgan.”
Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “You were not.”
Shane nodded. “Yes. I was. And I took one look at you … and fell flat on my face in love.”
Morgan swallowed, eyes glazing over with tears. “You did not. You’re just saying that. I was there … you never showed.”
Shane stepped around to the front of the painting.
She watched Morgan’s face as she caught sight of herself on canvas, trapped in her sad world, every frown, and every saddened feature of her face, frozen in time.
Morgan’s hand flew to cover her mouth as tears slid down her cheeks.
“That’s beautiful … and so damn sad.” She turned her gaze on Shane. “I was so damn pathetic.”
Morgan looked back to the canvas, reached out her hand, and ran her fingers across the painting.
“I’ve been in love with you from the second I laid eyes on you.”
Morgan turned her gaze on Shane. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” She turned and slipped into Shane’s arms.
Warmth from love rushed through Shane’s body as she wrapped her arms tightly around Morgan … her love … her future.
“I promise to never break your heart.”
Morgan smiled against her cheek, releasing a sob. “You better not. I just got it back.” She gave a soft sob. “I love you.”
“I’m going to paint you a perfect life.” Shane leaned back and looked down into Morgan’s beautiful tear-stained face. “I love you, too. More than you could ever know. And, I’m ready to spend the rest of my life showing you.”
Morgan crushed her with a tight squeeze. “You’ve already made me happy.”
After a long time holding each other, crying and kissing like crazy, they settled back to stare at the painting.
Shane gave her a gentle nudge.
Morgan turned those sky-blue eyes on her, catching her breath. “You ready to go home, kick our friends out of the house, so I can show you just how much I love you?”
Morgan giggled and stepped into her. “You can show me right here.”
Shane claimed her lips as they pulled at each other’s clothes, and headed for the back room.
Sheri Livingston
Sheri lives in the beautiful state of South Carolina with her partner and their beautiful and bratty children.
She writes lesbian erotic romance…where sex is not behind closed doors and hot, steamy passion is at its finest. Love and seduction colliding is what she aimed for…and succeeded.
Even though fantasies and dreams roamed her mind, she never realized it was stories screaming to be told until finally giving into temptation, and writing the damn thing.
Soon, In the Eyes of Love was born. Following close behind is I Dare You, published with Cobblestone Press.
The stories continue to come to life with the pecking of a keyboard, and seem to get hotter and more enticing, with every new idea.
Visit Sheri on the Web at www.sherilivingston.com.
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