by D G Barnes
Dana squirmed, her body yearned for more. Mac teased her nipples with her tongue as she kissed her way down Dana’s body. Dana bucked and clawed at the bed in response as Mac kissed her center, the new and powerful sensations washing over her. Mac’s tongue snaked out and slid up slowly to her most sensitive spot and swirled there. Dana came undone, unable to hold on any longer. She reached down and held Mac’s head in place, keeping her there as she rode out wave after wave of exquisite pleasure.
Her head fell back onto the pillow, an arm across her forehead as she sucked in much-needed oxygen. Mac was beside her again, kissing along her jaw. “Wow!” Dana sighed.
Mac chuckled. “Wow, huh?”
“Yeah. You’re so damn good at that. You should write a book.” Dana rolled on to her side, facing Mac. She pushed the hair from her eyes and kissed her nose.
Mac laughed, and Dana’s heart soared. “Thank you, but I think I will leave the book writing to you.”
“I need to touch you now,” Dana said letting her eyes travel the length of Mac’s body. Mac watched her, not saying a word. Dana palmed one magnificent breast, squeezing gently, and Mac closed her eyes, drawing a shallow breath. Dana’s hand traveled south, in no hurry, and enjoyed the feel of the smooth, toned muscles of Mac’s abdomen.
Her fingertips played in the small nest of red curls, and when she looked at the expressions of desire and need on Mac’s face, new heat pooled between her own legs. She pushed her hand down farther still, between her legs then inside. Mac moaned softly and pushed against her as Dana withdrew. She pushed in again, deeper and Dana felt her shudder as Mac dropped onto her back. She withdrew her fingers and entered once again.
Mac rocked her hips in rhythm, and Dana watched her face. Mac’s mouth opened slightly, her eyes hooded, her breathing quickening. Dana’s fingers moved easily through the warmth of her arousal, and she knew Mac was ready. “Is this what you want?” Dana whispered as she pressed her thumb to Mac’s most sensitive spot.
“Yes,” Mac hissed. “God, yes.”
Dana pressed harder, moving her thumb in small circles. Mac’s head rolled from side to side as she pushed her pelvis up against Dana’s hand. Dana increased the speed and pressure, which elicited pleading noises from Mac until she finally stiffened, her head tilted back and face frozen in the most beautiful expression of exquisite agony Dana had ever seen. She watched her closely and committed the image to memory.
She continued to stroke Mac, bringing her down, slow and gentle, until the beautiful woman had recovered. Dana moved to lay partially on her and kissed her lips softly, then lay with her cheek on her shoulder. “I love you. I don’t ever want to be without you again.”
Mac released a contented sigh. “I love you more, and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” She wrapped an arm around Dana. The declaration filled her with happiness. They lay there, cuddled together as Dana drew lazy circles on Mac’s belly with her finger.
“Is Ellie expecting you to show up?”
“Probably. But I’m sure she’ll forgive me when she finds out why I didn’t.” She kissed the top of her head.
“I think we should go over.”
“Really? Now?”
Dana sat up. “Yes. I think it’s only fair. It is her night after all. Besides, we have forever to romp around in bed.” Mac looked up at her with those beautiful emerald green eyes and blinked. She could stare into those eyes forever.
Mac gave a small groan and sat up “Okay. I’ll go anywhere you want as long as you’re with me, always.”
Dana moved to kiss her and yelped when Mac wrapped her arms around her and pulled her back down onto the bed. They would eventually get to Joe and Cait’s house, maybe just a little later then they had planned.
Epilogue
Ten Months Later
As the thunderous sounds of applause echoed throughout the auditorium, Dana watched from her spot behind the podium as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner took one more bow, then waved to the audience as she departed the stage.
Dana breathed a silent sigh of relief knowing this had been the last presentation of the evening and the Atlantic Canada Literary Awards had ended for another year. She hadn’t expected to be attending this year’s awards as she had only written one book this year and it didn’t receive any nominations, so when the call came inviting her to emcee the ACLA, she had been thrilled.
She had sworn to herself she wasn’t going to go down the same road she had with Gail. She wanted this relationship with Mac to work. So, she decided to take time off from writing and concentrate on building a strong bond between her and Mac, and Ellie too. And that is what she did, once she finished the novel she had started upon arriving in Emerald Bay that summer. She prepared to file the manuscript away and revisit it down the road, but it had been entirely at Mac’s behest that she finished it.
Even though the presentations for the evening were over, the butterflies in her belly were having a field day performing all manner of aerobatics. She scanned the audience, and many sets of eyes looked back at her expectantly. Glancing down at a row close to the stage, Mac and Ellie smiled up at her, along with Barb and Monica, Mac’s parents, her mother and brother with his family, Jenny, and Ricky. They were all here, every important person in her life. Dana smiled back at them and steadied herself for one last item.
She cleared her throat and spoke into the mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes this year’s awards presentations. Let’s have another round of applause for all our recipients.” She clapped as the evening’s winners filed back onto the stage and the audience rose in tremendous applause. When she had the stage to herself and the crowd had settled, she spoke again. “Before we adjourn to the banquet hall for refreshments, I would ask you indulge me for a moment longer as I make one last presentation, of a sort.”
There were murmurs from the audience, and for the most part, everyone remained seated. She glanced at Mac and saw her looking back questioningly. Picking up a small remote from the podium, she pushed a button. The large floor to ceiling projection screen behind her, the one which displayed the ACLA Logo for the evening, changed to display a photo of Mac and Ellie. The image showed the two sitting on the steps leading up to their loft above The Rusty Anchor. They both wore old jeans and tee shirts, and their faces were smudged with dirt and sweat making it apparent they had been working hard. Dana had taken the photo the day they had moved her into Mac’s loft a couple months earlier. The picture was one of her favorites.
Her family and friends chuckled at the picture, but Ellie had her face buried in her hands while Mac glared up at her, a hint of amusement pulling at the corners of her mouth. Dana turned back to the audience. “Folks, if you read about my death in tomorrow’s edition of the Chronicle Herald, this will be the reason why.” She pointed at the picture and elicited laughter from the audience. “The lovely woman you see here is my girlfriend and the love of my life, Mac Mackenzie, and the equally lovely young lady to her right is her niece, Ellie.”
Dana moved from behind the podium, stood at the edge of the stage and gestured toward Mac and Ellie. “They’re seated right down here. Wave to the nice people, Mac.” Mac’s eyes fired tiny daggers at her. Dana chuckled and moved to center stage. “Now before I make this presentation, I need to ask a very important question of someone.” She paused and looked directly at Mac.
“Ellie,” she said, “could you join me on stage, please?”
Another murmur moved through the crowd, and their eyes turned to where Ellie was sitting and mouthing no as she shook her head. Dana laughed and held a hand out toward the teen. “She’s a bit nervous. How about some encouragement, audience?” The room applauded, and Dana joined in. Joe whispered into Ellie’s ear, and a moment later she was up and on her way to join Dana on stage.
When Ellie arrived, she took a quick glance at the audience and smiled meekly. Dana keyed off the mic, leaned close to Ellie and whispered something in her ear. Ellie took a step back; her eyes went wide, and her han
ds flew to her mouth. She then hopped up and down a couple of times before wrapping her arms around Dana.
Dana keyed on the mic again. “So,” she said, turning to the audience, “I asked Ellie a question, and as you can guess by her reaction, she was excited by it.” She put an arm around Ellie’s shoulder and pulled her beside her. “Okay, Ellie. The question I asked you. Yes or no?” She held the mic in front of the excited teen.
“Yes, yes a million times yes,” she said, her voice cracking.
Dana chuckled and kissed her temple. “Now for the presentation.” She looked down at the front row of seats. “Mac, sweetheart. Please, join me on stage.”
All eyes in the room turned to Mac. With pursed lips and a furrowed brow, Mac stood and made her way to the stage, stopping a meter away from Dana.”
“Hi,” Dana said huskily, then held the mic out to Mac.
“Hi?”
Dana took Mac’s hand and turned to the audience. “A little over a year ago, I chose to summer in the charming town of Emerald Bay, just an hour south-west of here. My first day there, I stopped for some of the best seafood in the province at a wonderful tavern called The Rusty Anchor, owned and operated by this beautiful lady to my right. That same night, I literally fell for Mac when I slipped on a spilled drink.” She paused when the crowd laughed. “She nursed my twisted ankle, and our relationship blossomed from there. The rest, as they say, is history.”
She turned to Mac, still holding her hand. “Mac this past year has flown by so fast, and with each day I have come to love you more. You and Ellie have come to mean more to me than I could have ever imagined. But this past year wasn’t enough. I want the next year and the next, and every year that follows. I want to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with you in my arms.”
Emotions bubbled up inside, and she found it hard to continue. Looking at Mac didn’t help as she had tears in her eyes and a trembling lip.
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold it together.” Dana chuckled, and Mac squeezed her hand. “Mac, I love you more than anything, and I want to ask you in front of our family and friends, and this wonderful audience.” She took a knee and looked up at those wet sparkling emerald eyes. “Taylor Elizabeth Mackenzie, will you marry me?”
The room went silent for what felt like an eternity. Mac looked back at her and sniffed, tears flowing down her cheeks. She took the mic from Dana and spoke softly into it. “Yes.”
The room erupted into thunderous applause as Dana slipped a gold band with three diamonds onto Mac’s finger. Mac helped her stand and pulled her close, kissing her deeply. They held the kiss for a long time but not long enough for Dana’s liking.
They pulled away from the kiss as several hands patted them on the shoulders. Dana and Mac smiled and sniffed, seeing their family and friends around them. They remained on the stage talking and hugging well after the audience had left for the refreshments in the banquet room.
Later that evening when everyone had either driven home or settled into their hotel rooms, Dana, Mac, and Ellie sat together on the comfy couch in their suite. The adults sipped a glass of Chablis while Ellie enjoyed a Sprite.
“I love this ring, Dana. But why three diamonds?”
“One for you, one for me, and one for Ellie, silly.” She gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Of course. Duh!”
Dana laughed. “Speaking of Ellie.” She turned her attention to the teen beside her. “Sweetie, if you look in my shoulder bag, there’s a present in there for you.”
“Really?” Ellie said enthusiastically and jumped up from the sofa. Retrieving the small, brightly wrapped box, she returned to the couch.
“Can I open it now?”
“Of course,” Dana said with a chuckle.
She ripped the paper off to reveal a non-descript box. Opening it, she gasped. “Oh, my god! You didn’t!” She pulled a book from the box and held it up so they could see the glossy cover. On it, a black limo sat in front of a mansion. A beautiful woman dressed in a black suit and wearing a peaked cap stood by the driver’s door. The title read The Chauffeur, and at the bottom in bold letters was the author’s name: Ellie Mackenzie.
“My book has been published?” Ellie squealed and threw her arms around Dana.
“Not quite. This is a proof. You’re a minor, so you need your aunt’s permission first.”
Mac laughed. “As if I have a choice! Life would be hell if I said no.”
All three fell into one big hug, and Dana felt the love. She knew this time she was going to get it right. They were a family now, and even though their future had yet to be written, she knew they would write it together on the shores of Emerald Bay.
