The Secret of Sleepy Hollow

by Andi Marquette

  Abby smiled as she finished unclasping Katie’s belt and then unbuttoned her jeans. “No, you didn’t.” She guided Katie’s hands to the button on her own jeans, and while Katie was occupied with that, Abby unclasped her bra and let it slip off her shoulders.

  Katie’s hands moved up Abby’s stomach, to stop right below her breasts. “Do you even know the effect you have on me?” she whispered as she ran her fingertips lightly over Abby’s nipples and what felt like an electrical jolt raced through Abby’s core.

  “If it’s anything like the one you have on me, then I can guess,” Abby managed as she encouraged Katie’s hands to cup her breasts. “Oh, God,” she said with a gasp. And then she wasn’t quite sure how Katie managed to remove her own bra, but she did and pulled Abby against her, and the heat from Katie’s skin against her own tore a soft groan from Abby.

  Katie backed her against the bed, and they fell together onto the covers. With a smile, Katie leaned down and kissed her.

  Abby caressed Katie’s breasts, and her nipples hardened against Abby’s palms. She pulled her mouth away from Katie’s and ran her tongue lightly over each of Katie’s nipples, then pulled one hard into her mouth while she gently squeezed the other, eliciting a gasp from Katie. Abby’s free hand slid down Katie’s back and she brushed her fingertips just underneath Katie’s underwear, accessible now that her jeans were loosened.

  “I need you out of these,” Abby said around Katie’s nipple as she pushed at Katie’s jeans with her free hand.

  Katie obliged, bracing herself on one hand while she kicked her shoes off then worked her jeans down her thighs, though she left her underwear on. And then she pressed the length of her body against Abby, kissing her hard for a few moments. She stopped and straddled Abby’s hips and pinned Abby’s hands on the bed above her head, their fingers entwined. Katie stared into Abby’s eyes before leaning down and unleashing a delicious assault on Abby’s mouth with her own, her breasts brushing Abby’s with her motions. Abby moaned against Katie’s lips and surrendered to her ministrations, burning in places she didn’t know she had.

  Katie stopped, breathing hard. “I really want to take your pants off.”

  “God, yes.”

  Katie laughed, low in her throat, and released Abby’s hands so she could help until there was nothing between them but their underwear. Katie’s thighs against Abby’s brought another jolt of heat and moisture to Abby’s core and the throbbing between her legs increased until she was sure that all Katie had to do was touch her and she’d come. As if she’d read her mind, Katie ran her fingertips lightly back and forth over the front of Abby’s underwear. Gasping, Abby automatically moved against Katie’s hand.

  “I need to feel you.” Katie slid Abby’s panties off.

  Abby reached for Katie’s but she was already taking those off, too, and then Abby lost herself in Katie’s hands and lips and the way her skin slid against hers. And when Katie finally entered her, Abby cried out at the feel of Katie’s fingers. She held on as waves of sensation rocketed through her until she crested and fell back to earth, trembling from aftershocks and something else she couldn’t name.

  “I’ve got you,” Katie said softly as she pulled Abby close and Abby almost cried. She kissed Katie, a tender meeting of lips that intensified quickly until Katie moaned, and Abby repositioned herself so that Katie was underneath her, and she moved her hand to Katie’s damp heat. Whimpering as Abby stroked her, Katie welcomed her fingers with a groan and wrapped her legs around Abby, moving with her tentatively at first and then with greater urgency. Abby matched her rhythm and increased her thrusts until Katie released with a long, low moan and fell back onto the bed, panting and shuddering.

  Abby gathered her in her arms and ran her fingers idly through Katie’s hair, hoping this wasn’t another dream.

  “You are so completely amazing.” Katie repositioned herself and looked into Abby’s eyes. “I’m so glad you didn’t want to be responsible tonight.”

  “We may yet have to. Eleanor is usually up pretty early.”

  Katie grinned. “And she’ll see me leaving if I stay.” She leaned in and kissed Abby. “I don’t care.”

  “I could tell her we were doing research. Maybe testing some theories.” Abby ran her thumb over Katie’s lips.

  “And I was so exhausted afterward that I just stayed.” Katie nipped at Abby’s thumb. “Yeah, that’s totally legit. She’ll buy that.”

  Abby giggled. “Just trying to help.”

  “And I appreciate it. But the fact is, I only care about being here with you.” She caressed Abby’s face. “And doing that every chance I get.”

  “You sure know how to get a girl all worked up.” Abby ran her hand along Katie’s arm to her hand, which she took in her own.

  “I’m only interested in getting one in particular worked up.” She smiled. “As long as I possibly can.” She moved, then, until she ended up on top of Abby, staring into her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know that there’s something between us and I want to keep exploring it.”

  “Same here,” Abby said, Katie’s words coursing like electricity through her body. She pulled Katie against her and kissed her. “Let’s do that now.”

  Katie grinned. “Good idea,” she said as she nuzzled Abby’s neck. “I’ll start.”

  Abby closed her eyes and let her.

  DREAMS

  Abby pulled into a parking space almost as close to the historical society as the first time she’d come to Sleepy Hollow, nearly two months ago. Strange, but it was like coming home. Did Elizabeth feel that way when she came to Sleepy Hollow? Like it was home in some way and a place she belonged? Abby had taken to thinking of Ichabod as Elizabeth, though she and Katie hadn’t definitively proven their theory. Some things just felt right, and seeing the legend with that perspective was one of the things that did.

  She grabbed the tote bag of gifts from the passenger seat and got out, stepping carefully in the slush underfoot. Since she was only a few yards from where she was going, she didn’t bother with her winter jacket. Her sweatshirt would be fine for the short trip inside.

  The trees no longer bore their autumn finery and instead stood dark and leafless, a thin blanket of late December snow spread across many branches. More snow was due, Abby could tell from the slate sky and the chill in the air. She locked her car and walked carefully to the sidewalk. Christmas banners had replaced the Halloween, advertising a holiday festival in the next couple of days. The city lampposts were wrapped in red, green, and gold tinsel and some enterprising soul across the street had decorated several tree trunks with red lights. She smiled and wondered if Katrina and Elizabeth had ever been able to spend a Christmas together.

  Abby stamped her feet on the thick rubber mat outside the historical society before she went in, where she wiped her feet on the mat inside. The doorbell sounded and Lu emerged from the back.

  “Well, hi.” Lu came around the counter and gave Abby a hug. “It’s so good to see you. And I have a lead on some papers in Boston I think you might want to see.”

  “That’s excellent. Load me up. Research rocks.”

  Lu laughed. “How about after Christmas?”

  “That’ll work.” Abby set her bag on the floor and took three small wrapped packages out that she placed on the counter. “Happy holidays,” she said as she handed one to Lu. “You can open it now.”

  “And ruin the surprise before Christmas Eve? I can wait until tomorrow.”

  “These are for Eleanor and Robert.” Abby gestured at the other two packages.

  “How sweet of you. They’re both gone for the day, so. I’ll put these in the back.” Lu took all three and returned a few moments later. “How was the drive?”

  “Slow. Lots of traffic, but the weather wasn’t too bad.”

  “Not yet. We’re supposed to get a good storm tonight an
d tomorrow.” Lu shrugged. “That time of year.” She smiled, sly. “Have you called Katie yet?”

  “Yes. I told her I would be stopping here first.” She was relieved that she didn’t blush.

  Lu started to say something but the door opened and a woman came in, wearing a blue lightweight winter coat, headband and gray trousers. She wiped her shoes on the mat.

  “Lu,” she said, “I need you to pick up the turkey—” she stopped when she saw Abby. “Hi. My wild guess is that you must be Abby.” She grinned.

  “Uh, yes.”

  “I’m Rachel. Lu’s sister.” She pulled her glove off and held out her hand. “Katie’s mom.”

  “Oh, wow. Hi. I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Abby shook Rachel’s hand, glad that Rachel had a strong, comfortable grip. And now that Abby looked at her, she could see the resemblance not only to Lu, but Katie. She should have been more nervous, but she wasn’t. It felt entirely comfortable, meeting Rachel like this without Katie as a buffer.

  “And I am glad to finally meet you. Katie talks quite a bit about you.”

  Lu laughed. “Nonstop.”

  This time Abby blushed, which made Rachel laugh. “It’s so nice to have you here for Christmas. I wish we had the room to put you up, but we’ve got Katie and her brother and sister in town and my other sister is coming tonight with her family.”

  “That’s okay. The holidays are crazy like that. Eleanor saved my room for me.” Abby liked Rachel’s welcoming and down-to-earth vibe. Katie had said that her parents were accepting of her, and for that Abby would be ever grateful.

  “My son is leaving Christmas Day,” Lu said. “You’re welcome to his guest room at my place when he does.”

  “That’s a great offer, but—”

  “Oh, take it.” Rachel took her other glove off and shoved both into her coat pocket. “Katie would insist, and I’m insisting now. Might as well get a good seat for the spectacle of this family gathering for Christmas. Besides, Lu and I both know what grad student budgets are all about.”

  “Okay. I’ll let Eleanor know. Thanks so much.”

  “Absolutely,” Rachel said. “And before I forget, Lu, could you pick up the turkey tomorrow? I already paid for it. I’ll get it when we come over tomorrow evening.”

  Lu wrote something on a sticky note pad on the counter. “What time are we eating on Christmas Day?”

  “Four. Do you need anything else for tomorrow?”

  Lu stopped writing. “I think we’re covered. Abby, is there anything in terms of food or drink that you’d like? Or anything you can’t have?”

  “Whatever you have is fine. I don’t have any dietary restrictions.”

  “Lucky.” Rachel mock-sighed. “Then we’ll be over tomorrow around five.” To Abby she said, “I’m sure Katie’s already told you, but we have a gathering Christmas Eve and open presents then. That way we all get to sleep in on Christmas Day and be lazy until we have dinner.”

  “She did mention that.” Abby smiled. “Looking forward to both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”

  “What about your folks?” Lu asked.

  Abby looked at her. “My parents took a cruise for Christmas. My sisters and I got it for them. So we already opened our gifts and had our holiday gathering.”

  “Then you get two Christmases. And we’re very glad one of them is with us.” Lu put the note she’d been writing into the pocket of her flannel shirt.

  “See you in a bit.” Rachel had just begun to put her gloves on when Katie burst in, grinning like she’d just won the lottery.

  She wore a thick cream-colored sweater under her barn jacket, which she hadn’t bothered to button, and her faded jeans bunched at the tops of her hikers. She looked like a co-ed lumberjack, and Abby adored her for it.

  “Hey—” Katie started. “Oh, damn. I wanted to introduce you to my mom.”

  “We managed.” Rachel smiled at Abby, then back at Katie.

  “Oh, Rachel, I need your opinion about something.” Lu motioned toward the back and Rachel went around the counter and followed her, wearing the same sly smile that Lu had.

  Katie pulled Abby into a hug as soon as Rachel and Lu left. “I missed you. Bad.”

  Abby held on tight. “Same here.” She hadn’t seen Katie in the flesh since the weekend before Thanksgiving at UConn. FaceTime and Skype just didn’t do her justice.

  Before Abby could say anything else, Katie kissed her, and it made her nerve endings smolder. Sparks shot up Abby’s back and she wondered if they were visible, floating above her head.

  Katie pulled away first. “I could do that all day.”

  “I’d let you.”

  Katie smiled and caressed Abby’s cheek. “How was the drive?”

  “Traffic, so it was slow. But it doesn’t matter because I’m here.”

  “Have you had dinner?”

  “No.”

  “Me, either. So how about we go get some and then I’ll take you to my folks’ house so you can meet a few more members of my crazy family?”

  Abby leaned into Katie’s hand, still on her cheek. “Sounds great. Let me drop my stuff off at Eleanor’s and then we can go wherever you want.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Lu said to Rachel as they emerged from the back.

  Katie pulled her hand away from Abby’s face, and grabbed Abby’s hand instead.

  Lu saw and smiled.

  “We’re going to get some dinner and then we’ll be over after that.” Katie pecked Rachel on the cheek.

  “Good. Abby should probably be well-fortified before she meets more of us.” Rachel gave Abby’s shoulder a squeeze. “See you soon.”

  Katie pulled Abby toward the door, opened it, and walked Abby to her car. “I’ll follow you to Eleanor’s. Is it okay if I drive you around while you’re here?”

  “I was hoping you would, since you’re my local tour guide.”

  “Seems you fit in pretty well already.” Katie kissed her again, which warmed Abby up a lot faster than the heater in her car would. “See you there.”

  Twenty minutes later, Abby was checked in at the bed and breakfast and buckling up in Katie’s SUV. Katie didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, she leaned over and kissed Abby, and this time she didn’t stop, not for what seemed like a long time, and Abby was sure the heat she felt would melt the snow outside the vehicle if she opened the door.

  “We’ll never make it to your parents’ house at this rate,” Abby said against Katie’s lips.

  “True. And then my brother will tease the shit out of me for months.” She groaned softly and pulled away. “Okay. Let’s go. We must keep up our strength.”

  “Definitely. And not just for your family.”

  “Saying things like that doesn’t make me want to get dinner.”

  “Hold that thought for later.”

  Katie groaned again and drove away from the curb.

  Clearly, New England reserve was not something Katie’s family was acquainted with, because the moment Abby stepped into Katie’s parents’ house—a big, rambling Victorian—she was surrounded by laughter and good-natured teasing. Katie’s older sister Krista was married to a man, and they had brought their two young children. Katie’s brother Thad was a year younger than Katie, but he had come alone because his girlfriend was in California with her family. Tom, Katie’s dad, was a tall athletic guy with curly blond hair and a booming voice that would have made a lot of preachers jealous.

  Katie’s aunt was almost as loud as her teen daughter, but they were drowned out when a few friends of Thad’s stopped by at one point, and two of them started reminiscing about high school with Thad and Katie. Abby slipped away to the kitchen for something to drink and for a few moments of quiet.

  Rachel and Tom had spent a lot of time and money on refurbishing the house. It retained many of its
original touches, but they’d updated all the windows, electrical, and plumbing. They’d also created a modern space in the kitchen, which looked like something you might see in a culinary magazine, with its urban chic appliances, tile floor, and granite countertops.

  Abby got a Diet Coke from the refrigerator and stood sipping it, listening to the laughter from the other room. She picked Katie’s voice out of the crowd and smiled as warmth spread through her chest at the sound of it.

  “Everything okay?”

  Abby looked up as Krista came in. She was tall, like her dad, but her hair was the same dark color as Katie’s and Rachel’s. She wore jeans and a baggy red sweater.

  “Fine. Just needed something to drink.” Abby moved so Krista could open the fridge. She retrieved a Diet Coke, too.

  “I know. We’re a little loud. We don’t take it personally if you need to hide in the kitchen for a few minutes. Plus, meeting the girlfriend’s family is always stressful.”

  Girlfriend. Katie had been referring to her that way with her family. That made Abby’s night even better than it was, though it was really good so far. “Maybe a little stressful. But I’ve been looking forward to it.”

  “Poor thing. You have no idea.” She opened her can of soda. “Katie tells us you have two sisters.”

  Abby smiled. Katie had indeed been talking her up. “Yes. One’s younger than me, the other’s older. We got our parents a cruise for Christmas. So that’s where the folks are. We celebrated Christmas early this year.”

  “What a great idea.” She took a drink just as Katie entered the kitchen.

  “There you are.” Katie took Abby’s hand.

  “Two little lovers, sittin’ in a tree,” Thad chanted from the doorway.

  Katie rolled her eyes. “Really? How old are we?”

  He laughed and moved away.

  “I told Krista about our possible encounter with the horseman,” Katie said.