Midas Touch

by Frankie J. Jones

  Sandra eyed her to see if she suspected anything, but JJ

  seemed to be simply relating the facts. “Do you think I’m after her money?”

  JJ looked at her for a long moment, and shook her head. “No.

  I think you could probably buy everything Cory owns and not blink an eye.”

  Guilty as charged, Sandra looked away.

  “I thought so,” JJ snorted. Sandra’s actions had confirmed her suspicions. “Who are you anyway?”

  Sandra sighed and brushed her hair from her face. “Nobody really. The whole thing seems pretty silly now.” She trickled sand between her fingers. “My doctor suggested I get away for awhile and rest.”

  “And you decided washing dishes was rest?” JJ asked in-credulously.

  “I took the job to be near Cory, but in the long run it worked.

  I’m too busy to think while I’m working, and too tired to think when I’m not.”

  JJ nodded. “I can understand that.”

  “JJ,” Sandra said as she sat up. “I love her and I swear I’d never intentionally do anything to hurt her.”

  JJ blinked and looked away. “Unfortunately, it’s the people we love the most who we normally hurt the most, and it’s never intentional.”

  “So I should leave and let her get on with her life?”

  “Once you leave, you can never go back. The loss will hurt you a little more every year.”

  “Sounds like the voice of experience.” Sandra took JJ’s hand.

  JJ turned to her. Sandra was surprised to see tears. “I walked away from something that meant more than life itself to me, and I’ve never stopped regretting it.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I let someone convince me I was doing the right thing. That my leaving would be best.”

  “And it wasn’t?”

  Instead of answering, JJ looked at her watch and hopped up.

  “We need to get back or we’ll be late.”

  After meeting Nelda and Cory at the barn, they spent the rest of the afternoon riding over the sixty acres Nelda and JJ

  owned. The tension between Sandra and Cory eased as the day progressed. By the time they left to go fishing that night, everyone was in high spirits. They piled the gear into the bed of Nelda and JJ’s truck. Sandra and Cory squeezed into the small rear seat. Nelda drove a few miles beyond the cove where JJ and Sandra had talked earlier in the afternoon. Sandra wondered what it was that JJ had given up. Her musing was cut short by the truck stopping.

  “We’ll meet back here in three hours,” JJ said as they unloaded

  the fishing gear.

  Cory checked her watch. “All right.”

  “Why are we splitting up?” Sandra asked as she and Cory set off in the opposite direction from JJ and Nelda.

  “Nelda is convinced that the fish can smell people. She swears she’s never caught anything when she’s been fishing with more than one person.” Cory laughed. “I think it’s an excuse to sneak off in the dark with JJ. You watch. They won’t have a single fish when they come back, but they’ll both be smiling.”

  Sandra laughed. “I think it’s great they love each other so much. I can’t imagine ever finding someone who would love me like that.”

  The statement hung awkwardly between them as they walked out to a short pier. Sandra stopped to look at the night sky flooded with stars. “It’s so beautiful,” she murmured. “A billion pinpoints of light.” She closed her eyes and let the salt-laden air embrace her. A breeze tickled the loose tendrils of hair around her face.

  Sandra let her imagination flow. The wind became Cory’s hands.

  Her face was caressed with the softest of touches, and warm whispers of air trailed along her arms.

  Cory’s voice jarred her from her fantasy. “Let’s fish off the end of the pier,” Cory said, leading the way.

  A large light was positioned to point its bright illumination out into the water, while providing only a soft glow on the pier.

  “Bring your pole over here. I’ll show you how to rig your line,” Cory instructed.

  Sandra did as asked. She stood by and watched as Cory unsnapped a small brass object tied on the line.

  This is a swivel. It makes it easier to switch back and forth between an artificial lure or a hook for bait,” Cory explained. As she turned to show Sandra, a gust of wind caught the line and pulled it from Cory’s hand. They reached for it at the same time and their hands touched.

  Sandra gasped as a flame of desire shot through her. She captured Cory’s hand within hers. “Stop pushing me away,” she whispered. “I love you. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.

  0

  I’ll move anywhere you want to live. I’ll spend the rest of my life washing dishes, but please don’t push me away.”

  Cory’s free hand slid around Sandra’s neck and pulled her into an urgent kiss. Sandra dropped the pole she held, ignoring its crashing clatter to the pier, and pulled Cory into her arms.

  Cory broke the kiss and hugged Sandra tightly, “So help me God, if you’re lying to me, I’ll track you to the ends of the earth,”

  she sobbed as she clung to Sandra.

  “I’m not lying,” Sandra promised, blinking away the tears that burned her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered into Cory’s ear.

  Sandra shivered as Cory’s hands slid under her shirt and caressed her bare breasts.

  “I’ve wanted to do this since practically the first moment I saw you,” Cory moaned. The sound caused Sandra’s nipples to tighten more.

  “Let’s not waste anymore time,” Sandra pleaded as her lips moved across Cory’s throat. She pulled Cory down to the pier.

  “Ouch,” Sandra yelped as a splinter bit into her knee. They pulled apart and began to laugh. “This always works in the movies,”

  Sandra grumbled.

  “The sand will be worse,” Cory predicted. “Nelda and JJ

  won’t be back to the truck for three hours.”

  The abandoned fishing tackle was quickly retrieved before they raced back to the truck. They pitched the gear into the truck bed. Sandra caught Cory and kissed her hungrily. “I’ve never made love in a vehicle before,” she said, pulling open the door and climbing in.

  “I’m glad they didn’t lock the doors,” Cory said, scrambling in behind Sandra and closing the door. The sounds of the night disappeared once they were inside the truck. Sandra froze as a wave of insecurity crashed over her. She wanted to make Cory happy. She wanted to be the greatest lover Cory had ever known, but little pins of doubt began to pierce her confidence. Carol’s cruel jabs came back and threatened to puncture her courage.

  Sandra’s heart pounded in her ears. She was on the verge of leaping from the truck when Cory’s hand brushed against her

  hair.”You’re so beautiful,” Cory breathed as she continued to brush Sandra’s hair away from her face.

  Peace embraced Sandra like a lover’s arms. She looked into Cory’s eyes and felt an enormous surge of love and courage. “I want to make you happy,” Sandra said.

  “Then make love to me,” Cory said as her hands tugged at Sandra’s shirt.

  Their clothes scattered across the truck in their haste. Sandra pulled Cory beneath her and covered her face and throat with kisses. Her blood pounded with a lust as ancient as time when Cory ground her pelvis against Sandra’s leg.

  Sandra captured a straining nipple and sucked it into her mouth. Her head was caught between Cory’s hands and urged downward. Sandra slid farther down the seat, her legs bent in order to reach her goal. She grabbed Cory’s hips as they rose to meet her mouth. The delicious musky scent of desire fueled Sandra’s actions.

  Sandra was convinced nothing could be more powerful than the sense of smell. How could anything be more provocative?

  And then her tongue dipped into Cory’s wetness. Silky flesh surrounded her tongue as a delicate saltiness teased her taste buds. Cory was the tide, Sandra the moon. She pulled Cory deep into her mout
h before releasing her hold to send Cory crashing back.Driven by Cory’s cries of pleasure, Sandra feasted on Cory’s desire like a woman dying of starvation. The truck rocked wildly with their lovemaking. Needing to feel more of her, Sandra slipped two fingers into Cory’s wetness while her tongue continued its banquet of rapture.

  Sandra felt Cory stiffen in anticipation and she narrowed her concentration to the delicate point against the tip of her tongue.

  She held her breath as Cory’s body was racked by a tremor that escalated into a wild thrashing. Sandra fought to hang on. Sandra’s ears filled with Cory’s cries of release, while her shoulders became prisoners of Cory’s long legs.

  Unable and unwilling to give up the pleasure she was experiencing, Sandra continued to stroke Cory with her tongue until a second orgasm engulfed her. She tried to protest as Cory pulled her up into her arms.

  “I want you now,” Cory said, her voice shaky and thick with desire. “Sit up,” she insisted as she knelt on the floor. She spread Sandra’s legs. “Brace them on the dash,” she said, pushing Sandra’s legs up. “I want access to everything,” she insisted, lowering her head between Sandra’s legs and gently nipping the insides of her thighs. Her hands slipped beneath Sandra’s hips and pulled her to the edge of the seat.

  Cory’s tongue slipped between Sandra’s cheeks and gently rotated. The sensation was overwhelming. Sandra bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. Not even Dee had shown her this. Cory’s left thumb began a light feather stroke over Sandra’s swollen desire as the fingers of her right hand and began a gentle rhythm in and out of Sandra. Cory’s tongue and thumb created an inferno within Sandra like none she had ever known.

  Sandra thrashed as her body melted into Cory’s mouth and hands. She begged for release, but Cory kept her hanging at the edge. After what seemed an eternity, Sandra felt herself slipping into a state of total awareness. The feel of Cory’s hands and tongue intensified until she could no longer distinguish which was what.

  “Please.”

  She heard her voice from a distance. The pressure of Cory’s touch shifted slightly, and Sandra’s world exploded. Never had Sandra felt such an urgent need. Her hands locked onto the back of the seat as she screamed out Cory’s name. She felt the cool glass of the windshield against the bottom of her feet. She gave in to the sensations and let her body be consumed by Cory’s fire.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Sandra heard Cory’s voice far away from the warm fuzzy place where she now floated. She tried to speak, but it was too much effort. Cory’s voice took on an edge of panic. Sandra fought her way back to see why. She forced her eyes open and found Cory dressed and leaning over her.

  “Thank God,” Cory breathed loudly. “Are you all right?”

  “I think I’ve been screwed to death,” Sandra managed to moan.

  “Don’t make fun. I’ve been trying to rouse you for five minutes. I was about to start yelling for Nelda and JJ. What the hell happened?”

  Sandra could see the concern on her face and pulled her into her arms. “I love you,” she declared, holding Cory close.

  “I love you too,” Cory said, pulling back and gazing into Sandra’s eyes. “Are you all right?”

  “I’ve never been better.” Sandra smiled foolishly, reveling in

  Cory’s declaration of love.

  Cory kissed her softly. “You’d better get dressed. It’s almost time for Nelda and JJ to return.”

  “Already! They said three hours.”

  “Which is only a few minutes from now,” Cory informed her.Sandra sat up, still feeling shaky.

  “Let me help you.” With Cory’s help Sandra managed to get dressed.

  “We’d better open the doors,” Cory said and giggled. “Nelda has a nose like a bloodhound. She’ll know exactly what we’ve been up to.”

  Sandra was sitting on the running board with Cory leaning against the truck when Nelda and JJ returned. “They won’t have a single fish,” Cory whispered to Sandra.

  “How did you do?” Cory called to them.

  “No luck,” Nelda answered, much too cheerfully for someone who had spent three fruitless hours fishing. “How about you two?”

  “Nothing but a few nibbles,” Cory answered, smiling suggestively down at Sandra.

  “Really?” JJ asked, surprised. Nelda cleared her throat and JJ

  added lamely, “Guess this was just a bad night for fishing. Maybe it will be better next time, Sandra.”

  Cory and Sandra exchanged amused looks before climbing into the back seat.

  The four women rode in companionable silence. They were already on the main highway leading to the ranch before they met a car. The oncoming car’s headlights illuminated the truck’s windshield.

  JJ leaned forward. “Nelda, what’s this on the windshield?”

  “What’s it look like?” Nelda asked.

  JJ peered at the image. “It looks like a footprint!” Sandra felt her face flame, remembering the feel of the cool windshield against the bottom of her feet.

  “How did a footprint get on the windshield?” JJ asked, puzzled.

  Nelda chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” JJ insisted, staring at her.

  “I guess it was a fine night for fishing after all, sweetheart.”

  “What do you mean it was … oh.” She stopped and threw a glance over her shoulder at Cory who was intently studying the darkness outside her window.

  “Mighty fine night indeed,” Sandra agreed and squeezed Cory’s hand as they all burst out laughing.

  Sandra woke to the feel of Cory’s soft breasts pressed against her back. “Are you planning on sleeping all day, sleepyhead?”

  Cory asked, nuzzling Sandra’s neck.

  “Considering the fact that I got no sleep last night, the thought does sound appealing.” She turned onto her back. “But who needs sleep?” She pulled Cory on top of her and gazed into her eyes. “There are so many things I want to do with you,” she said, caressing Cory’s back.

  “Can we start with what you’re doing right now?”

  “Only if you promise to describe in great detail exactly what it is I’m doing.”

  Cory leaned forward, her husky voice tickling Sandra’s ear.

  “You’re making me very wet and very horny.” Her tongue teased Sandra’s ear.

  “I can do something about that.” Pulling Cory’s legs to either side of her body, Sandra wiggled down until her head was between Cory’s legs . Resting her head on a pillow she drove her tongue into Cory’s wetness. She suppressed a groan of excitement when Cory braced her arms against the wall and began to rhythmically rub her desire against Sandra’s face. Sandra lost track of everything but the feel of Cory.

  The smell of fresh coffee and bacon finally lured them from the bedroom. The large country kitchen held a warm comfortable atmosphere Sandra had longed for in her own home, but never managed to achieve. As they chatted, she began to realize it was not the house providing the warmth, but rather the love and

  friendship within the house. Their conversation gradually turned to JJ’s jewelry.

  “Do you work out of the house?” Sandra asked.

  “I have a small shop set up in the back. I’ll give you the nickel tour later, if you’d like to see it.”

  “That would be great”

  They finished breakfast and cleaned the kitchen together.

  “We still have time for another horseback ride if you’d like,”

  Nelda offered. Everyone agreed.

  “Why don’t we go out the back way and show Sandra the shop. We can go to the barn from there,” JJ offered.

  Nelda led the way down the long hallway. Cory and Sandra brought up the rear, sneaking a quick kiss.

  Nelda gave Sandra a run-down on the house’s history. “The house was built in the early forties by a retired banker. There were rumors he was a gangster from Chicago and he moved out here to live his last few years in peace. Of course, people being the suspicious, greedy sou
ls they are, thought he had hidden tons of loot out here somewhere. After he died, a lot of damage was done to the house by people trying to find his hidden money.”

  Sandra saw a flash of disappointment cross Cory’s face and knew she was thinking of the house she thought she had lost.

  Sandra felt a warm glow in knowing she would be able to give it to her.

  Nelda opened the door to JJ’s workshop.

  “This is it,” JJ said with pride in her voice.

  Sandra was greeted by a variety of pleasant smells she could not identify. A quick glance showed her a room full of color and plants. She looked with approval at the bay window that allowed light to pour in.

  “My eyes aren’t what they used to be,” JJ admitted, seeing Sandra observing the window. “We had the window put in a few years ago.”

  “It’s a fantastic room,” Sandra marveled, looking around. “No wonder you’re able to create such beautiful jewelry. I could …”

  She stopped short. The blood rushed from her head so quickly

  she staggered. Cory and Nelda helped her into a wooden chair JJ had pulled from her desk. A thousand thoughts ran through Sandra’s mind as memories from childhood rushed to overtake her. Could it really be?

  “Sandra?” Cory said as she hovered beside her.

  Sandra pushed her gently to the side and stood. She removed the faded photo of herself and Mr. Peepers from her wallet and compared the photo to the bear on the shelf. “Mr. Peepers,” she croaked. “It’s Mr. Peepers.” She pointed to the battered old bear with a plaid vest and an odd shaped hat that sat over one ear.

  A strangled cry came from behind her, and Nelda grabbed JJ

  as JJ’s knees buckled.

  “What the hell’s going on?” Nelda’s scared voice demanded.

  “Mr. Peepers.” Sandra could not stop repeating the bear’s name. Time stood still for her as she rose and made her way to the tattered old bear.