by JJ Giles
“It’s been a long time,” Morgan protested meagerly.
Cherry didn’t respond, only stood strong and insistently, her hand open beckoning silently for Morgan to take it.
Too long, Morgan thought. Hungrily, she reached out and took it.
With a surprising strength, Cherry pulled Morgan into her grasp and started away. The sand under their feet was still warm. The melodic rhythm of steel drums gave way to the slower, more powerful song of the sea as waves, one after another rolled lazily toward them. Arm in arm they moved over the soft sand away from the dancing torchlight into the blackened sky filled with stars.
Inside, Morgan trembled, so emotionally ill-prepared for this. How much longer she could go without Brian she didn’t know. Would it be a year until he got it straightened out? Ten years? Thinking of Jerry she wondered perhaps thirty five years? An incomprehensible number. What was there to struggle against really? Save her heart, her soul, her body for him when he had so easily demonized her and was getting married in a few months with or without her? That’s what she was waiting for, she realized. To see if the wedding was happening without her.
But this little tryst with Cherry didn’t require an emotional commitment. Only her surrender.
A little more insistently, she hugged at Cherry as Cherry led the way into the surf away from anything civilized. The water retained the boiling heat of the day, a comfort against the cooling air. The tiny pinpoints of lights sailing over the curvature of the horizon was a cruise ship concealing another two thousand people from her. It was the stars mostly, a sky of her favorite black velvet embedded with the pulsing energy of life.
Around a sand dune strewn with debris, Cherry led her to a small cove, the most private place she could imagine in the midst of so much activity. Between outcroppings of rock, Cherry plopped onto the sand, her sarong swirling to the ground under her. She pulled Morgan down between her divided legs. Easily, Morgan fell into Cherry’s embrace, her back to Cherry’s chest, her head against Cherry’s shoulder.
“This is beautiful,” Morgan whispered nervously.
“You absolutely are,” Cherry breathed. Her hands slid up Morgan’s sides. Through the lycra, her palms rubbed soft circles at the sides of Morgan’s breasts as her lips brushed over Morgan’s neck.
Morgan trembled inside. Too long since she had had a woman. She turned her head just a little, to better feel the soft skin of Cherry’s cheek swirling over hers. The soft scent of her hair as if it had been washed in strawberries was intoxicating, but it was the long tremulous fingers at her throat swirling delicately under her chin that made her ache.
How long it had been simply evaporated in this transport. Her head fell into the crook of Cherry’s arm. Cherry’s malleable lips met hers to pinch softly at them, to gather one between hers and suck at it a moment. Cherry’s tongue strolled between her teeth into her mouth.
Morgan shuddered with the feel of it even as the water lapped gently at their feet. The murmur of the waves couldn’t drown the sound of her throbbing heart. Cherry’s hand never left her body, constantly stroked softly as her tongue took possession of Morgan’s mouth.
Morgan hadn’t noticed the button behind her neck was open or that the cloth was laid back from her body until the spray of water dashed against the rocks and tickled her naked breasts. But Cherry’s mouth was so insistent, so comforting, so heated with desire, and Morgan raised an arm to wrap around Cherry’s neck.
Gently, Cherry laid her back in the sand and slid beside her without breaking from her. Cherry’s leg moved over hers, the skin smooth, the weight of it like a scarf. Cherry’s arm pressed between her breasts so that her hand had control of Morgan’s jaw.
It had been a long time for Cherry, too. Such submissive flesh in her clutch. Such heated full breasts on a fully fleshed woman, a muscular woman, rather than the bony crags of a wisp. Cherry could tolerate it no longer and slid down Morgan’s body to feed.
Morgan gasped to feel the hunger in the mouth that devoured her. The insistence of the teeth as they sucked at that mountain of flesh, slowly making their way to the peak.
Suddenly, a wave of undiluted force washed over them. Quickly, Cherry sat up and pulled Morgan with her. She burst into laughter, the irony of this more than she could tolerate.
“Foiled again,” she said playfully. “High tide coming in.”
“I can swim,” Morgan murmured desiring only this.
“Uh huh. But unless you can climb the sheer face of a cliff, that hurricane playing around in the gulf is gonna smash us.” She stood and reached for Morgan’s hand.
Shit, Morgan thought as another wave washed over her to the waist forcing her back a bit. The sand under her butt shifted and she felt the first pull of the water sucking her into the ocean. “Okay,” she said heartily. Hurriedly, she chased after Cherry.
Cherry couldn’t help but laugh as she pulled Morgan away from the water. “Sometimes my life sucks,” Cherry murmured. She grasped Morgan into her embrace, her kisses adamant and alluring. “C’mon.” Gently, she rearranged Morgan’s suit and retied the sarong, leaving Morgan’s gorgeous breasts exposed.
“Isn’t this kind of a public place?”
“This is a private hotel,” Cherry whispered.
Hand in hand they bounced over the loose sand toward the torchlight dancing on the wind. It was a side entrance Cherry led her to, opened the door and let her pass through. Down the long hallway people gathered in the lobby, and Morgan turned toward Cherry to hide her nakedness.
How sweet, Cherry thought as she pushed the button to call the elevator car.
As soon as the doors opened, Morgan slipped inside feeling horribly self-conscious. But Cherry only advanced, a grin to stretch her lips, her hands open to take Morgan’s breasts.
Such inebriating blue eyes, Morgan thought as she gazed into them feeling wanton lust pouring through them.
The doors slid open but Cherry lingered with Morgan in her arms, Morgan lost in the sensation. Only the shattering ear-piercing scream of, “HOW COULD YOU?” could break the mood.
Quickly, Cherry turned and tightened in defense. “Would you go home, please,” Cherry commanded.
But the woman only stared indignantly as she studied Morgan head to toe. “Where’d you get this bitch?”
For a moment Cherry scratched angrily at her cheek. And then she turned to Morgan. “I’ll be there in a little bit,” she whispered.
“No you won’t,” the woman sobbed. “I love you.”
Morgan dashed out of the elevator like a gazelle. She stood in the threshold of Jerry’s suite a moment listening to the plaintive sobbing of a jilted lover. Rather than get involved, she was after all, the other woman, she slipped through the door into the suite.
Empty. Empty, of course, she thought.
Quickly, she made for the bedroom and slipped out of the sand-filled suit. Fuck, she thought, as she stepped into the shower. She certainly hadn’t meant to start trouble. But trouble was already brewing before she had arrived. Cherry didn’t want to take even her father to her apartment this morning. It hadn’t been working with this woman at all for Cherry.
Rather than dwell on someone else’s problems, she washed quickly and ran a towel through her hair. Without the aid of electric lighting, she slid into the bed.
At the moment she could think only of Jerry. Jerry was falling in love with her, at least it felt like love. He treated her so gently. Never offered the least recrimination for anything she did. She listened to the waves, let the breeze through the window dry her completely. And if Brian didn’t come back...
She felt a desperation she held at bay for three months now wash over her like the waves had. Not one frickin’ word from Brian in that time. Not a phone call, an e-mail or even a lousy note, except that bullshit about his wedding. And then there was only that one. Maybe the wedding had been called off.
But there was another woman in his life and there just might be a man in hers. And a woman.
Without will, she rolled to her side and pulled a pillow to her gut. She might go after him, chase him down and demand he explain it to her. Where he met this other woman that had more money, more beauty and possessed the youth Morgan no longer enjoyed. As if that weren’t enough, she thought sarcastically. Youth is a relative term. Jerry Abernathy doesn’t think I’m old. And he’s got more money than you, honey.
Three months. Three frickin’ months as a few tears slid under her lids. Damnit, Brian, she cursed and curled a little tighter.
If she had to be objective which was always a pain in the ass, what did she feel for Jerry? An unarguably attractive man, well-built, experienced, classy and don’t forget, dominant man. Unfortunately married for thirty-five years and seeming to want out of it. But what if he doesn’t get out of it? It’s not like he loves his wife. Just stuck with her. And if Jerry’s stuck with Cheryl, he won’t need a second wife. Just a lover. How often husbands and wives hate each other, but lovers are always in love. And then there’s a daughter he doesn’t mind sharing her with. What’s the down side?
She drew in a deep breath to cure the ache in her lungs. The music still carried on a breeze and soothed her.
Cherry stood in the threshold, certain Morgan hadn’t heard her enter. Her father was in love with her, that was more than obvious. But why not? This was the Morgan le Fey of his dreams. She was also the Morgan le Fey of Cherry’s dreams. The thought of sharing her, even with her father wasn’t the least bit comfortable at the moment.
Soundlessly, she slithered into the room, a silk scarf with a slip-knotted loop at each end in her hand and dropped to the bed.
Quickly, Morgan turned, didn’t realize she wasn’t alone. That soft hand slid over her waist to the front and tugged at her a little.
“I’m sorry,” Cherry whispered.
“No,” Morgan whispered in the deepest of night. “I don’t mean to make trouble.”
Cherry mewed, her voice as soft as everything else about her. “I met her in St. Thomas about a month ago. Invited her to St. Maarten sometime,” she said dryly. “Two days later she showed up and she hasn’t left. Already she’s fallen hopelessly in love with me. She doesn’t even know who I am other than the heiress of an empire.”
“And now you can’t get rid of her,” Morgan whispered.
Cherry huffed. “She’s packing as we speak. Finally. What is it about women?”
Morgan smiled and rolled toward Cherry to lay her head on Cherry’s shoulder. “I haven’t met a woman who wasn’t damaged in childhood,” she whispered as if childhood were a disease. “For the most part we recover as we age.”
Maybe that was it...the thing about Morgan, Cherry thought. A little age, not too much, a lot of experience...and wisdom. Emotional control. Restraint even. Yeah, that’s it, feeling Morgan’s heated breasts against her body.
“But you,” Cherry whispered, “are a most captivating witch.” She rolled Morgan to her back and slid on top of her. Her breasts forced to Morgan’s she tore into Morgan’s mouth.
Wantonly Morgan sucked on the tongue invading her body. The taste of exotic fruit filled with rum lingered there and Morgan drank it down. Yes, captivating, even as she felt the knotted scarf slide under her neck.
Morgan’s heart was once again throbbing understanding she didn’t have to concern herself with Cherry’s emotional state. Cherry didn’t want commitment, only company. And Cherry’s hunger was overpowering.
When she thought she was to be gagged she found her hand slipped into a loop. As deftly as Morgan could, Cherry had the other loop around her opposite hand and Morgan smiled inside. Nothing so drastic she couldn’t free herself if she desired but why would she desire to be free?
No, she could merely lie there and be the victim of Cherry’s tongue as it swept under her chin and over her chest. A most captivated victim to feel the teeth close on her nipple.
* * * *
Jerry peered around the room at JD’s ‘boys’, all men the same age his father would have been, all octogenarians. All guys who had stories to tell, some of them interesting. Rather than play out that hand, he folded and went to the bar.
“Screw you,” JD snorted to the dealer and threw in his hand. He waddled to the bar to speak to Jerry. “So who’s the little tart you got with you?” JD asked.
Jerry sneered as he studied his life-long neighbor. “Why don’t you tell me,” he retorted.
“C’mon now. You know she’s a hooker,” he whispered.
“Got something against prostitutes?” Jerry asked.
“Me? I never minded paying for a hooker, but I never introduced them to my kids. What’s the story?”
“The whole story and nothing but the truth?” Jerry said under his breath. “I’ll be divorced soon and I’m gonna beg that woman to marry me.”
JD gasped and stared into Jerry’s dark, sparkling eyes a moment. Almost exasperated, he grabbed Jerry by the arm and dragged him down the hallway to the bedroom. Without hesitation, he screamed under his breath, “She’s a whore!”
Inside, Jerry smiled. This was the perfect place to remind JD who he was talking to. “I prefer ‘courtesan’, if you don’t mind. My current wife, John, whom you visit every Friday for approximately two hours beginning at one o’clock and sometimes on Tuesdays, I wouldn’t even consider a whore. My current wife is a harlot.”
JD gasped and fell back a bit, his face reddening with the accusation, one that couldn’t be denied. It left him speechless.
Jerry watched quite amused as the shock coursed through JD and left him reeling. “Didn’t know I actually check into the security cameras, huh? But don’t worry about it,” Jerry offered. “She’s the one that’s available to all you retirees who have nothing better to do than walk the dog down the street for a couple of hours.”
“Jerry,” he whispered. JD felt terribly exposed and but not quite contrite.
“Don’t worry about it, JD. I know you and a few of the other neighbors wouldn’t be at my house if Cheryl wasn’t available. But since you and some of your ‘boys’ have been only too happy to use my wife through the years, I’m calling in a little favor here. When my divorce is final, I will ask Morgan to marry me,” Jerry rasped as he leaned in a little for definition. He knew that JD was the neighborhood gossip. “I expect you to keep this information to yourself until you get a wedding invitation. When the invitation arrives, I expect you and your little society groupies to be in front and welcome her.”
Still in shock that Jerry knew of his extracurricular activities, JD exhaled. Rather than ask forgiveness, he asked, “Jerry, what could you possibly have in common with her that a marriage would work?”
“That’s not something I need you to worry about,” Jerry shot back. “I’m just telling you up front how I want things to go or none of you will be seeing me around anymore. And if I don’t get a commitment on this from you, just for fun, I’ll have my ex-wife dropped off on your doorstep when she comes to make trouble for me.”
“Oh Jesus,” JD prayed.
“Yeah, I know. Helena can ignore the fact that you’re up to no good, but if she had to babysit...”
“Alright,” JD said. “I just wanted you to know I was concerned about you.”
Jerry hesitated. Actual concern wasn’t the motivation as much as this intrusion into privacy was entertainment to relieve boredom. Rather than press the issue, Jerry said, “I appreciate it. And not to burst your bubble, but Morgan isn’t doing the corporate thing anymore. She’s a licensed sex therapist, has been for seventeen years, JD. I’ve been a client of hers for three months now and I haven’t had her yet. Yet she was generous enough to come down here with me and support me while I told my daughter that she’s not biologically mine, because Cheryl is on the edge of insanity at the moment.”
In horror, JD stood abruptly. “Cherry?”
“Right. Brian’s not mine, either, JD, but I want them to hear my side of the story before it ends up in the press.” Now in charge of this situatio
n and just to drive the point a little further, Jerry added, “I don’t suppose you’d submit to a paternity test?”
“Oh, shit,” JD rasped. “I never knew, Jerry.”
“Now you do and I expect your support.”
Quickly, the old man nodded and backed away. Whatever was going on with the Abernathys would have to remain beyond his interest now. If Brian and Jerry were both doing her, what would he care?
JD threw up his hands not exactly sure where to go with this. Fearing that his wife would find out about his liaisons, he murmured, “Helena?”
“Trust me. When this thing with Cheryl and me blows up, Cheryl will be out for blood. If I were you, I’d leave Helena in London a good long while. So you worry about your problems and I’ll worry about mine.”
JD sighed heavily. More than anything he wanted to tell Jerry that she was supposedly Brian’s girlfriend, but the last thing he wanted to do was have to testify that he’d been visiting Jerry’s wife for decades...under oath. All he could think to say to get out of this mess was, “You can forgive me?”
“I could have put a stop to it years ago, you know that. Right now all I want is your support for me...and for Morgan.”
“You got it,” JD said quickly, chagrined but not ashamed.
“So...thanks for the hospitality,” Jerry said softly. He set the glass on the dresser. “Surely, you understand there is one exquisite woman in my apartment, and with guys like you around it’s not good to leave a woman alone too long.”
An embarrassed smirk puckered JD’s mouth. “You really are in love with her?”
“Yes, I am,” Jerry said without hesitation.
“Good luck,” JD offered. Because Jerry was going to need it badly. He remained in the bedroom as he watched Jerry depart. You’re gonna need nothing but luck, son. And if Jerry should insist on him being a witness for the plaintiff, then JD might just have to get Brian involved...let him know his daddy is doing his girlfriend.
Bullshit, JD thought. It’s none of my business anyway. He rose and waddled back to the game.
