Welcome to Longborn

by MK McGowan

  Darcy gulped. “We met in October.”

  “Did you know you’re the first girl she’s ever brought home to meet the family?”

  “Uh, no. No, I didn’t know that. You do know she’s …,” Darcy stopped mid sentence. What if she didn’t know? What if Elizabeth wasn’t out to her family? I certainly can’t out her.

  “That’s she’s a homosexual?” Mary finished for her. “Oh yes. She came home from college one year and told everyone who would listen – like she’d discovered the greatest thing in the world. That girl never could keep a secret. Always wears her heart on her sleeve. Unlike her cousin, Carol Lynne. Now, that was a surprise. I think that’s why it caused such a stir.”

  A crying baby prompted Mary to jump up and run toward the back of the house. She moved faster than a woman of her size should have been able to move.

  A few minutes later, Mary returned to the dining room and casually handed Darcy the sniffling baby. “Hold her a minute while I get a bottle,” she said. Mary disappeared. The child, from the look on her little face, was no more pleased to be held than Darcy was pleased to be holding her. In fact, they both looked like they suddenly wanted to cry.

  “Please don’t cry, baby. Please,” Darcy pleaded. Maybe it was the fear in her eyes or the desperation in her voice, but something caught the baby’s attention before she could work up another good head of steam. She squeaked a few times, looked up at Darcy in fascination, and smiled. That’s all it took; Darcy was in love.

  “Aren’t you a good baby?” she cooed. She jiggled the baby a little, and when the little one giggled, Darcy did too.

  That’s how Elizabeth found them – laughing and staring into each other’s eyes.

  “Amazing, for once, the little terror is quiet. Mom told me you needed this,” Elizabeth said, holding up a bottle of formula. Elizabeth sat down beside them. Darcy took the bottle with a smile and offered it to the baby, who attacked it greedily. She rubbed the soft down on the top of the baby’s head.

  “What’s her name?” Darcy asked

  “Her name is Eleanor, after Eleanor of Aquitaine,” Elizabeth said. “Frank, my middle brother, teaches European history at the university in Austin. She’s his youngest.”

  They watched Eleanor drain the bottle. A few minutes later, Elizabeth’s mother entered the room. She picked Eleanor up, and after sniffing the air delicately, carted her highness off for a diaper change.

  Finally alone, Elizabeth reached for Darcy’s hand. “Not that I’m not having a good time showing you off, but we don’t have to stay much longer,” she said.

  “Oh, thank God,” Darcy blurted honestly. Elizabeth laughed.

  “Come meet my brother Davey, and we’ll head out, okay?”

  Davey was in his early 20s and had Down syndrome. He obviously adored Elizabeth. And from the looks of things, the feeling was mutual. When Elizabeth introduced them, Davey flung his arms around Darcy and hugged her tight. Apparently, anyone Elizabeth liked was okay with him. Darcy felt herself getting misty-eyed. Now she understood Elizabeth’s dedication to the place. She realized that there was little chance that Elizabeth would move to San Francisco, even if they managed not to screw up whatever this was between them. It made Darcy’s decision whether to stay with Carolyn’s company after the relocation to Longborn somewhat easier.

  Elizabeth, Darcy, and Davey spent an hour or so talking. Mary found them all upstairs and told them to wash up because dinner was ready. “Davey, your daddy needs your help with the smoker” Davey ran down stairs, eager to help out. “Oh, and your friend Charlotte is here,” she said to Darcy. “She’s such a nice girl,” she added before heading back downstairs.

  “I guess our presence is required downstairs,” Darcy said with real regret. She was enjoying the break from the noise and commotion.

  Elizabeth leaned over and kissed her lightly. “Like I said, we don’t have to stay,” Elizabeth said. “I wanted you to know what you’re getting yourself into,” she said half in jest.

  “Thanks for the warning,” Darcy said with a smile. “But you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

  “Good. Because, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m getting kind of fond of you. Do you think it’s because we keep getting interrupted?”

  “Probably,” Darcy said with a laugh. “Does it matter?”

  “Surprisingly, no.”

  Despite their best intentions, it took them almost two hours to leave. Aunts kept forcing food on them, and everyone wanted to meet Darcy for themselves. After tasking Charlotte with getting Carolyn back to the hotel safely, Elizabeth and Darcy were finally able to sneak out the door. They practically ran to Elizabeth’s truck. They piled in laughing, and Elizabeth started down the road.

  “Wait, isn’t the hotel back that way?” Darcy asked.

  “We’re not going to the hotel. Too many interruptions. I’m taking you to my place,” Elizabeth said. “Don’t worry. I bought an extra toothbrush. You won’t be needing anything else,” she promised with a wicked smile.

  Darcy laughed, delighted. After about 10 minutes, Elizabeth turned off the main road and drove up to a small nondescript house set back from the street.

  “My place is pretty small. I know it’s too soon to talk about it, but if at some point we decide to live together, we’ll need a bigger place,” Elizabeth said blithely. “If you decide to move to Longborn, that is,” she added quickly.

  “You’re right. It is way too soon to talk about it,” Darcy said, breaking out into a cold sweat at the prospect of living with someone again. “Let’s see how the next three days go,” she said, smiling to lighten the mood.

  “It’s a deal,” Elizabeth replied with relief.

  Elizabeth parked the truck and got out to open Darcy’s door. Holding hands, they walked up the short path to the front door. Elizabeth unlocked it and pushed it open. For a ridiculous moment, she felt like she should be carrying Darcy across the threshold, but she shook it off. Not only was Darcy six inches taller than she was, but they certainly weren’t anywhere close to getting married. They were barely out of the one-night stand phase. Elizabeth took a deep breath and led Darcy inside.

  Elizabeth flipped on the lights, aware of how nervous she was. Up to now, everything had been about sex. At least that’s what she’d told herself. But tonight she’d introduced Darcy to her family. She watched as Darcy looked around curiously.

  “You live here? It’s so tidy,” Darcy said.

  “I’m not here all that much,” Elizabeth explained anxiously. “I’m usually at the hospital or at my Mom’s.” She winced. Great, now I sound like a workaholic mama’s girl. “Would you like something to drink? I picked up a few bottles of wine. And I borrowed my nieces’ DVD of the Grinch.”

  “I would actually like to see your bedroom,” Darcy said. “We can watch TV later. Much later.”

  Elizabeth’s nerves evaporated. Or rather they were replaced by a much more pleasant tension.

  “Right this way,” she said eagerly. She led Darcy down a short hallway into the master bedroom. She turned on the overhead light, thought a minute, turned it off, and switched on the bedside lamp. Much better.

  “Oh, a king-sized bed. Very nice,” Darcy drawled. She reached up and started to unbutton her top button.

  “Wait, I’ll be right back,” Elizabeth said. She ran into the kitchen, grabbed the wine and the newly purchased corkscrew and wine glasses, and hurried back to the bedroom before she missed the opening act.

  Elizabeth stopped in the hallway and took a long look. Darcy had kicked off her shoes and had unbuttoned but not removed her shirt. Elizabeth could see the barest hint of scarlet undergarments peaking out.

  “Keep going,” Elizabeth ordered from the doorway. Darcy smiled seductively and unzipped her pants. Matching panties peeked out. Darcy shimmied out of her pants and kicked them carelessly in Elizabeth’s direction. “Now it’s your turn,” Darcy said.

  Elizabeth sauntered into the room. She set the wine and gl
asses on the bedside table. She turned back to face Darcy. In one swift motion, Elizabeth pulled her sweater, undershirt, and bra off at the same time. In three seconds, she was completely nude.

  “Why do you keep doing that?” Darcy asked irritably.

  “Doing what?”

  “Getting undressed so quickly.”

  Elizabeth laughed at Darcy’s frustration.

  “Next time, slow it down a bit.”

  Elizabeth walked toward Darcy. “So, there’s going to be a next time?” she asked, as she reached out and ran her hand underneath Darcy’s shirt. She skimmed her palms up Darcy’s sides and pulled her close. Darcy shivered, then mumbled, “If we can keep from screwing it up.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll try, but it’s not my strong suit,” she admitted softly.

  “Mine either, but I’m willing to try.”

  That was enough for both of them. For now.

  Elizabeth leaned in and gently kissed Darcy’s cheek. “Now where were we?” she asked, as she slowly slipped the shirt from Darcy’s shoulders. She was beginning to see the appeal of an unhurried unveiling.

  “So you like a little tease?” she whispered in Darcy’s ear before she bit down lightly on the lobe.

  Darcy moaned softly in response.

  Elizabeth shifted her attention to the slender straps of Darcy’s bra. She ran a finger under each strap and slowly pulled them down. She kissed the now-naked skin of Darcy’s shoulders. Before Darcy was even aware of it, Elizabeth had the bra undone. The garment was trapped between their bodies. Elizabeth stepped back quickly, and the bra dropped to the floor, leaving Darcy nude from the waist up. She didn’t have time to ponder her situation before Elizabeth lifted her up and tossed her lightly on the bed.

  “Dr. Austin, you’re stronger than you look,” Darcy said appreciatively.

  “I’m sexier, too,” Elizabeth said as she straddled Darcy’s thighs. Elizabeth grasped the waistband of Darcy’s silky underwear.

  “You have such interesting undergarments, Ms. Fitzwilliam. So delightfully colorful,” she said, smiling as she pulled the garment down slowly. “If for no other reason, sex with you will never be boring.” She moved so she could pull the panties free. She twirled them around a few times then flung them over her shoulder. She straddled Darcy again.

  Elizabeth leaned in for a kiss, but Darcy planted her hand firmly in the middle of Elizabeth’s chest to stop her. Puzzled, Elizabeth sat back on her knees and looked down at Darcy.

  Darcy squirmed out from under her and moved toward the head of the bed. “We won’t be having sex,” Darcy said prissily.

  “We won’t?” Elizabeth couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice.

  “No. We’ll be making love,” Darcy said with exaggerated seriousness. Then, she batted her eyelashes playfully and grinned.

  Elizabeth didn’t respond for a moment. She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes when she finally nodded in agreement. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Okay,” Elizabeth repeated seriously before she reached out and grabbed Darcy by the ankles. She pulled Darcy roughly toward her and threw a leg over Darcy’s hips. Straddling her yet again, Elizabeth reached up quickly and pinned Darcy’s hands to the blanket. She looked down at her intensely.

  “And after we’ve done the dewy hearts and flowers, then we’ll have sex – dirty, raunchy, fuck you till you scream – sex,” Elizabeth promised right before she captured Darcy’s lips in a blistering kiss that left both of them breathless.

  When she could breathe again, Darcy looked up at Elizabeth and smiled like she’d just won the lottery. “You know, Texas might not be so bad after all.”

  The End

  About the Author

  M.K. McGowan currently resides in Austin Texas with her partner of 25 years and their devious and demanding drove of dogs and cats. When not writing, she can usually be found working in the garden, or, more likely, taking a nap.