by Carter, Dawn
Annabel opened the door completely and saw Danni in the hall. “Stay here,” Danni whispered as she slipped down the hall and peered out the window. She eagerly opened the door to allow Frank access. Not a word was said as she pointed to the back and led the way through the cabin and out the backdoor.
“Where is he?” Frank asked looking around.
“He pissed me off. He’s taking a nap in the back of the van.” She let out a hearty laugh as she opened the sliding door.
He looked on at the man who lay unconscious. He shook his head side to side as he looked at her. “You’re wasting your talent. You would make a great federal officer.”
“Once all this is over Frank. Ask me again. I might just say yes.” She looked at him then turned her attention back to the cabin.
Frank loaded the man into his car leaving the van. “I’ll call you in the morning with directions.” That was all he said before he drove off leaving Danni watching from the distance.
Relieved Danni smiled, she knew if anyone could find out the truth from the dirt bag he could.
“Dinners ready!” Annabel stood on the back porch hand on her hips smiling. Danni stood in awe as she could see the silhouette of her curves in the dim light.
She extended her hand and smiled. “Come here. Join me for a few minutes.”
Annabel smiled shyly as their hands connected. For a second when she looked down, she could not see where Danni’s hand began or where hers ended. She could feel her heart skip a beat as Danni pulled her close into an embrace. She was dizzy with desire. Danni looked deep within her eyes, but Annabel felt like she could see into her soul when she looked at her like that.
“When all this is over,” Danni purred. “I would like to take you out on a date if that’s okay with you,” Danni whispered as their lips connected.
“I would like that,” that was all she could say before their lips joined and all her thoughts to spiral out of control.
They stood holding one another. They began to kiss again, hesitantly at first. They could hear the thunder crash in the distance. The fog of desire cleared as the clouds opened up and the rain let loose and poured down on them. They both laughed aloud hand in hand as they ran in the house.
Danni felt like a teenager again as they cuddled on the couch. She was nervous suddenly when she thought of where the night would lead. She did not want to be reckless like most first time lovers that move so fast that within a year they become bored of one another. It was time to put the brakes on for a little while longer. They had a case to solve first, but that was not the only reason. Danni still had an issue with mixing work with pleasure. How could she continue to work with her and have a relationship too? She knew she had other options. She never really took Frank serious until now, but then again she never wanted to have a relationship with anyone before Annabel.
“What’s wrong?” Annabel inquired when she saw the distant look on her face.
“I was thinking about tomorrow and the next day.” She hoped her answer sounded convincing. “We have to leave at first light. We need to get some sleep. I’ll take the couch and you can have the bed.” She really did not mean that. What she wanted to say was, ‘I would love to hold you in my arms, make love to you, and wake up in your arms for the rest of my life.’ But she needed to keep that distance to maintain rational thinking.
“I would prefer to hold you while we sleep if that is okay.” She put the offer on the table hoping Danni would agree. “We don’t have to do anything. I promise I don’t bite.”
With a hearty laugh Danni nodded her head. “Let’s go to bed then, I’m exhausted,” she finally choked out the words fighting the urge to admit she did bite even nibbled given the opportunity.
The sound of birds flocking and playing outside of the open window brought Danni out of her slumber. Eyes still closed, she sighed sweetly as she felt Annabel’s arm coiled around her waist. She had to maneuver carefully not to wake her up. When she turned over, she was face to face with an angel. “Good morning beautiful,” she whispered as she looked into the bright blue eyes that stared directly into hers. She casually peered over her shoulder to look at the hands on the alarm clock, she gasped softly. “Time to get up!”
Annabel snuggled in closer. “I don’t want too,” she whined. “Just hold me for a while longer.”
“Believe me. There is nothing I rather do than lay here all day, but we have to meet Frank in less than an hour.” She stroked her cheek then kissed her softly on the nose. Annabel giggled when Danni nudged her playfully. “Come on sleepyhead.”
She moaned in protest but did as told. She watched as Danni disappeared into the bathroom and giggled as she did not hear the door close all the way.
She was tempted to follow in pursuit, but stopped when she thought what Danni really wanted. If she wanted to make love to her, she would have when they cuddled side by side in the bed kissing and looking into one another’s eyes last night. She could hear the water stop as she gathered the last of her clothes and placed them in the suitcase. It drove her crazy to know that Danni was standing in the bathroom naked and knew if she walked in there naked and pushed her back in the shower, they eventually fall in the bed and have crazy passionate sex. She took a deep breath and shook her head. Being forceful was never her strong point, but she was willing to if she needed to be. However, this was going to take time, Danni was not one of those who would fall easily.
Danni stood allowing the water cascade off of her before retrieving the towel. She stepped out slowly and toweled her toned and tanned body dry. She wiped the steam off of the mirror and spent a long moment admiring her image. She was still very attractive for thirty-five, she knew when she walked in the bar, she still turned heads and made women half her age drool. Her large breasts were firm and her stomach flat, evidence of time well spent at the gym. After blow drying her hair she shook her head vigorously sending her hair billowing wild and free. She feinted playfully at her reflection, flexing her muscles in her arms. “You still got it Pacelli,” she said to her reflection and then blew a kiss.
She tried to style her hair, but it was getting too long, she missed her last hair appointment, and now wished she didn’t. ‘French braid it is’ she sighed. It was time to do the finishing touches. She carefully applied a subtle blush of mascara to bring out her eyes, plucked her eyebrows leaving impeccably groomed thin arches, and painted a light coat of clear polish to her fingernails. Perfect she thought.
She was putting in the earrings her mother bought her when she heard a tap at the door. “Can I come in?”
“Sure, I’m finished. Are you going to get in the shower?”
Annabel smiled and nodded her head. “Did you save me some hot water?” She laughed moving past her. She eagerly stripped off her t-shirt and shorts and turned on the water. Danni stood helpless trying not to look but not able to look away. ‘Beautiful’ she said to herself as she held onto the sink to support herself from tumbling back. “I would ask you to join me, but it looks like you already done.” She winked playfully as she closed the curtains.
The temptation to climb in the shower was overwhelming, but the rational side told her told her to walk out of the room and close the door behind her, and she did just that. “Fuck! If we didn’t have to leave, I would do more than take a shower with you,” she said aloud once out of earshot. “I am so overplaying the nice girl. She wants to play like that, she better be ready!” Danni chuckled as she peered back at the closed door.
CHAPTER TEN
The ride to the house was long. Annabel sat in silence as they drove. She smiled shyly from time to time as she caught Danni looking at her. The way she looked at her gave her chills and she wished she could read her mind when she looked at her like that. That was the look that said I want you and desire you. At least that is the way is appeared to Annabel. Danni was the first person she had trouble reading, she had prided herself in the past for knowing just what a person thought or wanted, but
not with Danni, she had a poker face. When she was sure what was going to come out of her mouth, she would surprise her with something else. It frustrated her. Annabel started to think Danni was not really interested in her. How could she stand there in the bathroom and see me naked, and not do anything? She frowned when it occurred to her that Danni might not find her attractive.
The quiet of the drive was excruciating. Just as Annabel found the nerve to just ask her directly what she wanted from her; they pulled down the long stretch of road that lead to the house. The trees that covered the landscape gave her some comfort. She loved the kaleidoscope of colors fall had on the trees. The picturesque landscape stretched for miles, she admired the brownish, red and yellow color of the leaves as they cascaded in the sky from the branches above. It reminded her of a picture that her mother painted when she was only seven-years-old. Annabel had begged her day and night for the picture, and one night as she climbed into bed, it hung on the wall above her bed in her bedroom. It was her favorite and it was the last canvas her mother painted before she became bed ridden. Life was not the same after that.
Her father would come home drunk every day, and yell and scream because she could not get out of bed and cook. He told her she was worthless and a waste of space on the earth. Annabel would be so distraught at night that she would cry herself to sleep and the only thing that gave her comfort was the picture. As an adult, she still carried the tormented memories and it made it impossible for her to date anyone for any longer than a month at a time.
Annabel was afraid that she carried her father’s mean genes, and never wanted anyone to feel the way her and her mother felt. It was easier to tell the girls she was dysfunctional and had too many issues to be in a relationship. Some women did not take it well, and it got to the point where she had to change her cell phone number so often, she had to keep a note pad with her number written on it to remember what it was. Then one day, the game was just not fun anymore, she started to just tell anyone who wanted to get to know her that she was not looking for anything more than a one night stand. That seemed to work over the past few years but now all of that was changing. Did she really want a relationship with Danni, or was it just a fascination, or a curious childhood dream she needed to concur, or was she really ready for the first time in her life to love someone and love them back? She knew if she was ready, she could not start a relationship built on lies.
She knew she would have to eventually tell Danni everything. But, she was afraid of what she would think. ‘What would she say if she knew the truth about what happened that night?’ The thought gave her chills. She sighed when they pulled in front of the house and eyed the enormity of it. It looked like an eighteen hundred’s Victorian style home with the big white pillars and a porch that wrapped around the house. “It’s beautiful Danni.”
Danni sat in awe as well, and smiled at the approving statement. “If I’m right the house has been in his family for centuries. I remember him saying it was his grandfather’s or his great grandfathers’ house.” She shrugged. “The only thing I’m sure of now, it makes for a great escape and a place to keep witnesses until the trial is over.”
As they walked the perimeter of the property, Annabel came to the conclusion it was time to come clean. She smiled triumphantly to herself and slowly turned to face Danni. “I would like to sit down later and talk about things with you if that is okay.” The words she had rehearsed over and over during the drive now seemed lame.
“Okay, sure. What kind of things?” Danni’s heart pounded in her chest as the worst case scenario came to her mind. She wants to end what has yet to start. She wanted to take her in her arms and hold on tight but instead she stood in place looking at her for a ray of hope.
“Just a few personal things about me I would like to share with you,” she stuttered shyly.
“You can tell me anything, you know that right?” Danni pulled her close when she saw the fear in her eyes. Danni was determined to hide her own tears when she witnessed a stream flow from Annabel’s eyes. They stood awkwardly looking at one another, still holding hands, like shy lovers. “Annabel…I…” She started to talk but she could not find the words.
Annabel could see the real compassion and the pain in Danni’s eyes and her own pain hit her, hard and raw. She threw her arms around her and cried softly. Danni would not allow her own tears to come. Instead she held her silently, protectively in her strong arms.
Slowly Annabel stopped crying and stepped back quickly. “There is so much about me you don’t know.”
She cupped her chin in her hand, and looked deep into the bright blue eyes. “You can tell me anything.” A single tear escaped Danni’s eye. Annabel carefully wiped it away with a kiss.
“Let’s go inside. After we eat, we can talk.” She took Danni by the hand and led her up the stair into the house.
They surveyed the entrance of the house together for a few moments, but when Annabel turned around Danni was gone. She eyed the large white pillars that stood erect on each side of the main fireplace in the hallway, Annabel thought it awkward that there would be on there, but then remembered the time when the house was built. There was no central heating or air, and the only way to keep the monstrosity of a home warm was to light a fire in each room. To the left, two large oak sliding doors were half open leading into the main sitting room. When she walked in, she covered her mouth with her hands as she eyed each piece of antique furniture. It was like stepping out of the eighteen hundreds. She stepped closer into the next room that displayed a long dining room table that sat sixteen. Annabel imagined the wonderful dinner parties that had been planned down to every detail and the extravagant meals that were served. She stepped through a pair of glass doors that led to a smaller room with an amour and mirror where guests could freshen up before dinner. She felt like she was in a movie scene and when she turned around, there would be women walking around in corsets and puffy dresses and men in tuxedos. To the right there was one single door, it led into the kitchen. It was twice the size of the dining room and living room combined. It was the only room in the home that had been modernized. There was a new side by side refrigerator, an electric stove, a microwave, and in the middle of the room stood a breakfast bar with stools and above hung the most beautiful set of pots and pans.
Annabel was eager to let loose her creative skills in the kitchen, she secretly watched cooking shows and would try to make the meal exactly as they did on the show. She would make some terrific meals and some were not so good, but she would keep trying until the food was cooked to perfection. She could hear Danni walk in the adjoining room, she entered, and she stood in awe of the entertainment room. It was a sport junkie’s wet dream. A fifty inch wide screen television was mounted on the wall to the left was an air hockey table and to her right was a pool table. In the middle of the room was one single sofa. She smiled as she saw Danni already flipping through the channels and sitting erect on the couch as she watched a football game.
She felt like a little girl exploring, she went from room to room. On the second floor were the bedrooms, but only one had a bed, the other four rooms were in the process of renovation. Plastic lined the floors with pain buckets waiting to be opened. She went back to the one room. A king size bed with mahogany posts that stood five feet in height and supported a silk white sheet that draped down on each side of the bed. She had never seen anything so beautiful other than in the movies. The adjoining bathroom had a single shower and a sink, she assumed it was the way they had it set up in the day the house was built. She smiled as she looked back at the room, then panic set in. One bedroom to sleep in, would Danni be willing to sleep with her after she finally told her the truth or would she chastise her from not only her bed but her life?
Danni stepped in the room behind her with the suitcases in hand. When she finished with the last bag and placed it on the bed. She eyed the bed, then Annabel. She recalled how good it felt to be held by her when they slept, and when she woke up in her arms,
she realized she had not been that happy in her entire life.
She must have stood there for several minutes because she could hear the clash of pans come from the kitchen. When she peaked around the door, she watched as Annabel prepared dinner. ‘I could get used to this’. She smiled at the thought.
It was a wonderful meal that consisted of roasted chicken, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy. For desert Annabel served peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. After dinner Danni insisted on helping her with the dishes, but Annabel refused and ushered her off to build a fire and relax.
Danni looked over the edge of her newspaper and pretended to read while she watched Annabel flutter around the kitchen. Annabel abruptly pulled out the oak kitchen chair before she sat with her arms folded across her chest and cleared her throat.
Danni looked over the paper and could see the serious look on Annabel’s face. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded her head as she got up and stood by the side of the table. She handed her a glass of wine and found a spot next to her. “How about we go relax in the television room?” Danni suggested ready to unwind after such a large meal.
Annabel agreed and within moments she snuggled in and sighed. “I am so happy when I’m with you. I never thought I could care this much for someone.” Danni blinked back at the statement, but smiled when she saw the shy look in her eyes
She caressed Annabel’s arm with her fingers, as she leaned in to kiss her. At first, the kiss was soft and gentle then it became rough and demanded more. Danni could not take the torture anymore she had to have her, to taste her, to breathe in her scent. She took her by the hand and led up the staircase to the bedroom. As they kissed, she guided Annabel backwards to the bed. First she removed Annabel’s shirt then her bra. She tugged gently on the button of her jeans. Annabel assisted and slid them off. Danni’s eyes trailed down as she memorized each curve of her body. She removed her own clothes and then pulled Annabel into her. She gasped as if the air was forced out of her lungs as their bodies touched for the first time. As eager as she was to taste her and to feel the orgasm drain from her, she wanted to trace, and taste every inch of her. She held her in place as she tasted her lips, her neck, and her breasts. When she moved down to the center, she slowly breathed in her scent. She could not wait anymore but she needed to make her take her time, she was not going to rush this, so she moved back up slowly allowing her tongue to trail along the way. Once their lips met, she gently maneuvered Annabel into the center of the bed kissing her and caressing each curve.
