Kiernan wasn't used to anyone ignoring her, and she found Ariel's disinterest galling. Over dinner she tried initiating a conversation by picking a topic she knew Ariel would like, discussing String Theory, but Ariel showed no interest--or feigned no interest was more like it. Kiernan had one more ploy to use.
"Ariel." This got her wife's attention. "I want you to come to my study with me, see some of my designs for a prototype light-speed ship, and give me your opinion."
Ariel's attention seemed to perk up. For a moment, she hesitated. "Okay."
"If you're finished, let's go."
Kiernan led Ariel down the hall and into her study where she went over to a table holding a few folders and pushed them to one end. She stepped over to a wide cabinet with thin drawers, opened one, and withdrew thick papers she brought back to the table to spread out. "This is one prototype I've drawn up, and it's probably the one I'll go with--or something similar."
Ariel studied the plans and asked questions, which Kiernan answered while pointing out various features. Ariel imparted her opinions while Kiernan listened and made notes in a digital notebook.
Impressed with Ariel's insight and knowledge of engineering, Kiernan said, "You would make a great aerospace engineer. You know, you can work for me when the project initiates in another couple of years."
"It's very interesting, but I'm not trained as an engineer."
"You probably already have a lot of the basic courses and could easily get into a degree program at Embry-Riddle, or at your alma mater."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am. You can attend most of the courses online and probably complete your degree before our baby is born. And work from home after she's born."
Ariel appeared distressed by Kiernan's comment and looked down at the floor.
Kiernan felt like a moron reminding Ariel of her 'main duty.' She gathered up the blueprints to put back in the drawer. "I think that's enough for one evening. You're still recovering and need your rest."
AS KIERNAN PUT the blueprints away, Ariel inspected the study. Her gaze was drawn to a bookshelf with various trophies on it. She walked over to investigate, discovering they were racing trophies Kiernan had won. There were photographs of Kiernan standing triumphantly beside her racing flitter, Solar Flair. Next to the trophies was a model of Celeste.
While stroking a fingertip over the sleek lines and admiring the workmanship, she heard Kiernan say from behind her, "You can pick it up if you want." Kiernan came up beside her as Ariel picked up the model and held it at different angles to study it.
"One of the engineering team made it," Kiernan said, "when Celeste was still on the drawing board, and gave it to Grandmother."
"It's beautiful and must have taken considerable time and effort to construct. Is it a kit bash or made from scratch?"
"Kit bash?"
"It means to use components from other kits to create new models."
"I really don't know. Didn't you say you put together model spaceships, as well as made ones from plywood and cardboard?"
"Yes, I told you that when we first met at the restaurant."
"You did. That's right. I remember everything about that night."
A tide of heat surged through Ariel when hearing Kiernan's words and seeing the warmth in her eyes. She hastily focused on the model of Celeste. "I do have some spaceships I constructed from kit bashing. Some are really wild ones that could never actually be built." Shifting her attention from the model to Kiernan, she added, "They were ships I dreamed I would explore the galaxy in and save the universe."
"Have spaceship. Will travel?"
Ariel couldn't help but chuckle. "Exactly. You said that had been your dream too, when a child." Holding up the model ship, she said, "And see, your dream did come true. You have a spaceship."
"Yes, I do. But I would like to see yours, if you don't mind sharing."
Ariel couldn't tell whether Kiernan was serious. A brief study of her face showed what Ariel believed was expectation. "I'll get them and bring them back here--next time I go home."
Hurt flashed across Kiernan's features when Ariel mentioned home. But she hastily said, "I would like that." Then Kiernan gently asked, "Do you have other dreams?"
This question surprised Ariel. She wondered why Kiernan would care about any other dreams but her own. Ariel saw her expectant expression and decided she would believe it was genuine. "When I was in high school I wanted to be an astronomer." Shrugging, she added, "But when Dad died I concentrated on physics instead."
"Why?"
"I wanted to stay home and help Mom with the twins. There were no positions for astronomers close to home." Seeing the soft gaze regarding her, she asked shyly, "Wh--What dreams do you have?"
"Build spaceships capable of light-speed to take us out of the solar system, and to the stars."
Of course, Ariel knew this. Kiernan needed her, needed a wife to help put that dream in action. And an heir. There was a good chance Kiernan could never realize her dream unless she got control of the company. Ariel could well be the catalyst that shaped the future. That sent humankind to the stars. But at what price? What sacrifice? The price of a child? What price would future generations pay if Kiernan couldn't build her dream? Ariel didn't know.
Ariel swallowed and quietly said, "I'm sure that dream will come true."
"I hope it will," was the soft reply.
Chapter Seventeen
THE NEXT MORNING Kiernan entered the kitchen to find Ariel at the table eating a stack of pancakes. Seated with her was Ricardo, who was busy entering information into an e-notepad.
Ariel peered up briefly, flicking a smile, and resumed eating.
"Those pancakes smell good," Kiernan said accusingly to Ricardo. "Why didn't I have them for breakfast this morning?" It pleased her to know Ariel allowed Ricardo to prepare her breakfast and wasn't eating cold cereal.
Ricardo squinted up at Kiernan and lifted his brow. "Because it's Sunday, and you always have ham, eggs, and grits on Sunday."
"Perhaps I'll change the menu to pancakes every other Sunday." At the coffee pot she poured herself a cup.
"I'll make note of that. Ariel, are you sure there isn't anything I can put on the list? No favorite snacks or food?"
"Hmmm, I think I would like trail mix and yogurt raisins. Oh, and dried apple rings."
Ricardo said, "The dried apple rings we can do ourselves. The Jonathans are ripe, and I can send Robert up to the orchard to pick a basket full."
Kiernan took the seat next to Ariel. "I'm taking Ariel up to the waterfall and orchard as soon as she finishes breakfast, and we can pick some for you."
"I'll find you a basket." Ricardo left the table.
Ariel finished her last bite of pancakes and took her plate and empty milk glass over to the dishwasher. Kiernan inspected Ariel's jeans and short-sleeved red shirt. "It's pretty cool this morning, so you might want to put on something with long sleeves over your shirt." Kiernan wore a pair of jeans, and a green plaid flannel shirt.
"I'll do that and be right down."
"Go through the backdoor here at the kitchen and wait for me while I get one of the electric carts to take us up the mountain." Kiernan would normally walk the half-mile up to the orchard and falls, but Ariel was still recovering from her illness and didn't need to exert herself.
Ariel left to dress and Kiernan exited and headed to the equipment shed. She found the electric cart she wanted and drove it up toward the back porch. Ariel exited, dressed in a long-sleeve blue denim shirt and carrying a yellow apple basket. Stopping the cart in front of her, Kiernan said with a jaunty air, "Hop in."
Ariel put the basket behind the seat and slipped into the cart beside Kiernan.
On the ride up the mountain they passed a few wooded areas and clearings. At one point, they drove through a shallow creek that crossed the road, and Kiernan told Ariel the name was Washboard Creek. "At one time, some of the original settlers used it to wash clothes. Four famil
ies originally settled on this mountain in the early nineteenth century: the McPhersons, the Porters, the Bearfoots, and the Daniels."
She directed Ariel's attention to the left, pointing out a low stone fence in front of an apple orchard. They rode past the opening in the fence. "Apples later. I want to take you up to the falls first."
The road wound and curved, going upward, making more twists. When Kiernan pulled off the road she stopped at a path leading to a knoll and said, "The falls are only two hundred yards away, but we'll have to walk from here."
Kiernan guided Ariel down a well-worn footpath leading into a hollow and back up. A faint rushing noise sounded in the distance. The closer they walked to the falls the more distinct the sound became until it was a soft roar. They climbed up an incline in the path and stopped. Thirty yards away was the twin waterfalls, called Deer Falls. The fall closest to them was some twenty feet wide and the other only slightly smaller. From a height of forty feet, the water spilled into a pool below. The spray caught the morning sun, forming a rainbow halfway down. Where the water hit the pool a fine mist floated, unimpeded by sunbeams at this time of the morning.
The sound of the falls was loud enough to muffle voices so Kiernan gently took Ariel by an elbow and led her over to a broad, flat rock shelf. She helped her up on it and they inched over to the edge, which overhung a clear pool that appeared to be seven or eight feet deep. Kiernan leaned into Ariel and said close to her ear so her voice was heard over the falls, "This is a great place to swim in the summer. Farther down the stream is a good place to catch trout."
Ariel nodded in understanding. They watched the falls for a few minutes more until Kiernan took Ariel's hand. "Let's go pick apples."
Ariel didn't remove her hand from Kiernan's as they walked back to the cart. Coupled with their interaction the previous night in her study, Kiernan couldn't help but feel some satisfaction. Ariel seemed to be feeling more comfortable around her.
Kiernan drove the cart back the way they came and wheeled through the opening in the stone fence, drove to the middle of the orchard, and stopped. The twenty trees sported low branches gnarled from age, but they were loaded with a lot of reddish apples as well as some still green with only a blush of red.
"The Jonathans are ripe now. The Romes won't be ready for another couple of weeks." Kiernan took the basket from behind the seat and walked through the ankle-length grass to the nearest tree. The limbs were low enough for her to examine the fruit. She picked a few, and Ariel assisted her until they filled the basket.
Near a tree trunk, Kiernan set down the basket and picked out an apple. She leaned against the rough, brown trunk, wiped the apple clean on her shirt, and took a bite, gazing at Ariel as she chewed. She twisted the apple in her hand until the side not bitten was visible and held it up to Ariel's mouth. Full lips touched the rose skin of the fruit, and the flash of white teeth crunched through the ivory flesh. Kiernan inhaled and held her breath, and liquid heat flooded her veins. Ariel's eyes were half-lidded, and her face fused with pleasure as she chewed. There was a bit of fruit on her mouth, and Kiernan couldn't help but reach up to remove it, brushing her fingertips against the soft, full lips. Her fingers strayed and gently caressed the dark spot above the left corner, feeling a slight bump. She longed to touch that spot with her tongue and kiss those lips, opening them for her to enter and claim Ariel as her own.
"Ariel." The name came unbidden, caressing her tongue and throat as it escaped. She wasn't sure she spoke it aloud until Ariel ceased chewing, her eyes nervously darting away from Kiernan.
There was a moment of stillness backdropped by the high trilling of insects in the grass, and the faint rub of leaves in the trees.
A sudden rush of icy anxiety raced through Kiernan's veins. She realized that openly showing her desire disquieted Ariel. "I think that's enough for this morning. Let's head on back." Ariel wouldn't meet her eyes.
The ride down the mountain was one of silence. Ariel sat next to her as if frozen in ice, her eyes distant and cold.
THE WISPY PULLS of cottony mist evaporated in the morning sun as Ariel ambled through the entrance of the worn, gray stone orchard fence. She glimpsed the glistening rainbow diamonds of dew strung along the strands of a spider's web bridging a blackberry bramble and the edge of the stone fence wall. She walked toward the heart of the orchard, where the old monarchs grew with their gnarled limbs heavy with fruit. Kiernan leaned against the rough bark of the oldest of them. Her eyes were deep green pools full of mystery and secrets. Her smile was one of welcome and promises.
Kiernan said nothing but held a red apple in her hand, as an offering to her. No words were spoken and no sound was heard except the early chorus of distant birds welcoming the morning sun.
Halting in front of the silent figure, Ariel took Kiernan's wrist in her hand, feeling the throb of pulse where she pressed her thumb. Bringing the hand with the apple up against her mouth, she flicked her tongue against the fruit's tender skin before slowly sinking her teeth into the crisp, ripe flesh, tearing a chunk free and chewing. The sweet flavor of apple flooded her mouth. She closed her eyes, still holding the hand offering her the fruit.
The feel of warm fingers caressed a piece of apple from her mouth, and she opened her eyes. The face before her was rapt with desire, eyes smoldering, lips partly open to say, "Ariel."
The sound of her name flooded her senses, tilting her world on its axis, pulling her into a new orbit around those eyes and mouth. She fell from orbit and descended, placing her lips against the inviting softness, demanding entrance with a tentative touch of the tip of her tongue. Entrance was granted, and she trembled from the taste and feel, liquid heat coursing to her center, bringing forth a rumble from deep within her chest.
She surrendered herself to the moment and to the feeling, pulling the hand she held, now free of the apple, to the waistband of her pants, pushing it between the rough denim and warm flesh to that place aching for a firm touch. The nimble fingers found that aching place, the touch of them firm and hot as she arched into them, seeking sweet release.
The first wave broke and shook her body. Her eyes flew open. She saw the grayness of the early morning and the darker shapes of objects in her room. She stroked her fingers rapidly against her aching need and broke beneath yet another surge, her cry of release almost breathless.
She removed her wet fingers from her vagina and rolled onto her side, feeling confused by her dream and wondering if she were a betrayer. Her subconscious didn't lie. She was attracted to Kiernan in a visceral way. A pang of anxiety struck when she realized as much as she could crush this attraction during her waking hours, she couldn't when asleep. She must always remember what Kiernan had done and not let this physical attraction trick her into emotional feelings. Believing Kiernan was anything different from what she was--a conniving and vindictive bitch--would only cause trouble. She had better keep her distance. Then maybe the--attraction--would go away.
Chapter Eighteen
ARIEL SAT NEXT to the chauffeur, Michael, while he drove Crestview Estate's big, dually four-wheel drive pickup truck to take her to visit her mother. Michael had offered up one of Kiernan's two limousines, but Ariel didn't want to take the chance of drawing the attention of any of the media lurking around. Fortunately, for the last two weeks, the media had been leaving her family alone, partly because her mother's neighbors would call the police and complain the media vehicles were blocking the parking places in front of their homes and driveways. A few neighbors took it on themselves to block in any media vehicles with their own vehicles, making it impossible for them to leave without seeking out the neighbors responsible and getting an earful. The previous week, the neighborhood association received permission from the city to declare the curbs in front of residences as private parking areas. The police enforced this by ticketing and towing away any unauthorized vehicles. Ariel had a suspicion Kiernan was behind this effort because the city was so willing to cooperate.
She called h
er mother the night before, telling her she was coming over to pick up her motorcycle and IMP, visit for a while, and then go riding. Her family had visited three times during her recuperation from her illness--the last time was a week ago. She had been calling her mother and siblings every other night to say hello. She tried to keep the conversations brief as her mother had a tendency to ask personal questions about how she was getting along with Kiernan. Ariel always answered with a vague reply, usually saying 'okay,' and hurriedly changed the subject to how the twins were doing in school or asked about the latest neighborhood gossip.
There was another person she missed. Mysha. She'd deliberately put off contacting Mysha, partly due to her illness rendering her unable to cope with something so potentially upsetting. She didn't know whether she could have dealt with the drama, and trauma, of facing Mysha and telling her the reason for what she had done. She was stronger now, and offering Mysha an explanation was important, and she couldn't put it off any longer. She wasn't looking forward to Mysha's reaction, expecting the worst. She couldn't blame Mysha if she refused to see her.
Michael pulled the truck into the driveway. Ariel got out. "Thanks, Michael."
"Anytime you need to go anywhere let me know."
Ariel hurried up the steps, palmed the keypad lock, and opened the door with a loud and excited, "I'm home!"
"I see you are." Joanna said affectionately. She hugged her, and keeping her arms around Ariel, she leaned back, examining her closely. "You're looking good. You're not overdoing it, are you? You know you have to take it easy and not ride your motorcycle all over creation."
"Yes, Mom. I don't think it will kill me to go riding and get some fresh air." She took a seat on the living room couch.
The Dreamer, Her Angel and the Stars Page 16