by Darla Baker
Thalia pulls into the parking lot at precisely seven o’clock. Sammy and Janice are already seated at their usual table, but Annie hasn’t arrived yet. Thalia orders her lemon drop martini from the waiter and then exchanges hugs and kisses with Sammy and Janice before sitting down.
Just as Thalia takes her seat, Annie arrives. She flies in out of breath as if she had run instead of drove here. “Sorry, guys. I had a new patient to see, and I had to squeeze her in at the end of my day. So what’d I miss?”
Sammy replies, “Nothing yet. We’ve all just arrived, and you’re not nearly as late as Thalia usually is, so stop worrying.”
Thalia rolls her eyes at Sammy and motions for the waiter to come over and take Annie’s drink order. Thalia is bursting to share her big news, so she just blurts it out. “Amara and I are officially dating… exclusively.”
Janice nearly spits her drink. “Are you serious? When did this happen? I haven’t been that much out of the loop, have I?”
“Yes. Sunday. Yes,” Thalia responds and then laughs along with the others. “But seriously, Janice, we ran into each other at the animal shelter fundraiser, which, by the way, you didn’t attend.”
“I was busy.”
“Yeah, we figured you were ‘busy’…” Annie says with air quotes, “…when we tried to call you to join us and got no answer.”
“What can I say? Life is good, ladies. And with one less fisherman–or is it fisherwoman?–in the pond, my prospects are looking even better. So, here’s to you and Amara.” Janice raises her glass, and everyone joins in the toast.
“Thank you for your support, Janice,” Thalia says with a hint of sarcasm.
Annie asks, “What’s the number?”
“It’s not like that, Annie. I mean, yes, of course, we have orgasms. But it’s so much more. I can’t explain it without sounding cheesy as hell.”
“I’m sorry, Pro. I didn’t mean to make light of your relationship with Amara. I’ve never seen you like this. It sounds serious.”
“It is. I think I’m falling for her. I was afraid at first. But right now, all I feel is… happy, content, at peace.” Thalia’s phone vibrates in her pocket. She sees a message from Amara and a huge grin breaks out on her face.
Sammy asks, “Is that from her? What’s she say?”
“It could be private, you know? But it isn’t. She just misses me. We haven’t seen each other since this morning.” Thalia is giggling like a schoolgirl and her friends look at her as if she’s grown a second head.
Janice winces. “What have you done with Thalia?”
“I’m still here, Janice. Trust me. If it happens to you, you won’t regret it.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“I think I am. Enough about me. Sammy, what’s happening with you and Gina?”
Annie perks up. “Oh yes, Sammy. Give us the scoop.”
“For starters–and don’t freak out, Janice–we didn’t go home together after the dance at the animal shelter. But we did make a date for Friday, and we’ve talked on the phone a few times. It’s too early to say for sure, but I am cautiously optimistic.”
Janice has a shocked look on her face. “Am I the only one here who doesn’t know anything about Gina?”
In unison, the three girls respond, “Yes.”
“So, spill.”
“Gina and I met at the animal shelter. She demonstrated service dog training. When the fundraiser turned into the party, she joined us for dinner and later asked me to dance. We spent the rest of the evening together. She’s so cute and very sweet. She was in the Army full time, but now she’s in the Reserves. She runs a business training service dogs for people with PTSD. Many of her customers are former military. It’s cool what she’s doing to help them. Anyway, like I said, we’re going out on Friday, and we’ll see where it goes.”
Thalia has to ask, “Did you talk to Lauren about Gina?”
Sammy’s expression turns from excited to apprehensive. “Yes, I did, Pro. She’s supportive but urging me to take things slowly. She also suggested that I talk to Gina and let her know what I’m working on in therapy if it starts to look like things might get serious.”
“Good advice. And I would expect nothing less from Lauren.”
When it’s time to leave, Janice picks up the check, and they part with hugs and kisses all around.
THALIA QUICKLY CHANGES into her swim clothes to join Amara, who’s already in the hot tub.
“How was your day?” Thalia leans in to give Amara a quick peck on the lips before she eases herself into the soothing jets. She pours a glass of wine for each of them from the bottle she grabbed on the way up and hands a glass to Amara.
“Busy, but good. My parents invited us for dinner on Friday. I should say they asked me to invite you. I usually have dinner with them on Friday. Are you okay with that?”
“Sure.” Thalia tries to interject confidence into her response. She did have fun at the barbecue and would like to get to know Amara’s family better. But it’s still so new.
“Fabulous. I’ll let them know. Anyway, back to my day. The vet came out to check one of the horses who hasn’t been eating well. She thinks it’s an infection. Her temperature was a little elevated. She gave her some antibiotics, and we’ll keep a close watch on her. How was your day? How was your date with your friends?”
“My friends are quite interested in the woman who tamed Thalia Chase.”
“Oh, really? Do tell.”
“There isn’t much to tell. I spent most of the time getting Janice up to speed. She’s missed a lot lately.”
“When do I get to officially meet these friends of yours?”
“When do you want to meet them?”
“Let’s have them here this weekend. We can take the boat out, have some fun.”
“Brilliant idea. I’ll let them know. As for my work, it was a typical Wednesday. Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh, someone has approached me about turning Ask Thalia into a podcast. How cool is that?”
“Are you going to do it?”
“I’m considering it. It’s been my plan to eventually do a podcast once the stream of Q & A becomes steady enough to make it viable. I enjoy the Q & A. I feel like I’m giving something back.”
“You have a kind heart,” Amara says as she scoots closer to Thalia and shifts to put her legs on her lap.
“I don’t think that’s the consensus among those who know me. My dad always said I was cold. I think he meant it as a criticism, but I interpreted it somewhere between a compliment and an observation. Anyway, I’m okay with being cold, but if you think I’m kind-hearted then maybe it’s your presence in my life that’s warming it up.”
“Hmm, yes, I think I will take the credit.” Amara teases her hand between Thalia’s thighs and gives her sex a playful squeeze. She leans in to whisper into Thalia’s ear, which tickles her, and she starts to giggle.
“That wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for, darling.”
“I’m sorry. Perhaps the wine is making me a little giggly.”
“No more wine for you then. Are you ready to get out of here and let me take you to bed and do unspeakable things to you?”
“Be still my heart. Are the dogs squared away for the night?”
“Oh, I love it when you talk chores to me. Now talk to me about emptying the dishwasher.”
Thalia plays along. “Did you empty the dishwasher, or are you expecting me to do it?”
“Oh, baby, stop. I’m so turned on.”
“You are such a goof. Let’s get downstairs before all this talk of domestic nonsense ruins you for me.”
“Lead the way, my dear,” Amara says as she swats Thalia’s butt on the way out.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THALIA ISN’T AS nervous about dinner tonight as she was about the barbecue, but she’s still anxious. Amara is already at the farm. It didn’t make any sense for her to drive back to Somerset to meet Thalia. She has an hour-long drive to either spend inside her head or f
ill the space with a distraction. She decides to put on an audio book.
Lately, she’s been listening to a fictionalized true story about the life of Eleanor Roosevelt told from the point of view of her long-time friend and lover, Lorena Hickok. She’s about halfway through the book, and it’s been good so far. It should provide a sufficient distraction to keep her out of her head and make the trip go by more quickly.
She pulls into the drive and parks in the driveway at the back of the house. She enters through the back door into the kitchen where food preparation is well underway, and the smells are divine.
“Mrs. Liakos, if I keep coming here for dinner, I’m going to be as big as a house with all of this amazing food. What is that wonderful smell?”
“It’s lamb and eggplant moussaka, and please, call me Lettie.”
“Lettie, what can I do to help?”
“Do you like to cook, dear?”
A shiver runs down Thalia’s spine. “Not at all!”
The back door opens, and Amara walks in dressed in her riding clothes. Tight tan riding pants with leather reinforcements hug long, slender legs. Burgundy leather riding boots and a crisp, white shirt complete the picture-perfect riding outfit. Thalia instinctively wipes her mouth to ensure she isn’t drooling in front of Lettie.
“Mom, Thalia does not like to cook so don’t even try to put her to work in the kitchen.”
Lettie stretches up on her tiptoes to kiss Amara on the cheek. “Honey, you need a shower.”
“Yes, I know. Thalia, perhaps you would care to help me?”
The burn of a blush erupts across her face. “Amara!”
Lettie lets out a big belly laugh. “Oh, dear, you are really going to have to get used to us. Greeks are very passionate people. My daughter is the most passionate of all my children.”
“Mom!”
“It’s true, dear. Now, both of you get out of my kitchen and get cleaned up before dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they both say in unison.
Amara grabs Thalia by the hand and drags her toward the bathroom. “My mom practically ordered you to shower with me.”
Alone in the bathroom, Thalia chides Amara. “I am not getting in the shower with you. I’m not even dirty. And there’s no way I could relax with your family milling about.”
“Spoiled sport! Well, at least sit there on the toilet and keep me company while I shower.”
“I can do that,” Thalia says with more confidence than she possesses.
Her mind immediately begins undressing Amara even though she’s still fully clothed before her. Unable to resist the magnetic force, Thalia stands and walks over to where Amara is picking out her clothes for the evening. She turns around holding a yellow t-shirt and white shorts. Thalia finds her hungry desire reflected back to her in Amara’s dark, chocolate eyes. Before she has time to consider the prudence of her actions, she’s unbuttoning Amara’s shirt and tugging at her pants.
Amara lifts first one leg then the other for Thalia to remove the boots and pants, freeing her soft, long expanse of tender flesh. Thalia takes a moment to just drink in the sight of her lover’s legs that goes on for miles and miles in a nearly endless journey of sensuous delight. Thalia starts at her ankles and slowly runs her hands up each leg, careful not to touch her warm center too soon.
Thalia’s breath hitches when Amara opens her legs, inviting her in. There is no more arousing gesture than a woman who opens herself up for the taking. Thalia kneels in front of Amara and reaches her arms around her thighs and inserts her palms into her underwear. She pulls Amara closer and inhales her musky scent then tugs her underwear down, exposing the wet, pink folds.
Thalia leans back and looks up at Amara. She is looking down, her hair pulled over one shoulder, her head tilted to hold it in place. “What am I doing? Your family is just outside the door preparing dinner. We have to stop.”
“Shh.” Amara reaches down and places her hands behind Thalia’s head and nudges her forward toward her center. “Stop talking or they will hear you. Finish what you started.”
“Promise you won’t scream?”
“I promise no such thing.”
Thalia starts to rise, but Amara holds her firmly in place. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. And I’m about to come undone. Please, I need your mouth on me. I need you inside me. I need—” Amara shudders as Thalia pulls her clit deep into her mouth spreading her wider with her thumbs.
Thalia works her tongue deep into Amara positioning her thumbs to gently stroke her clit. She can feel her juices trickling down her chin. “Oh, baby. You are all I need. All I’ll ever need.”
Amara stiffens as the orgasm overtakes her. She lets out a whimper, trying to prevent a more primal sound from erupting out of her depths.
Thalia inserts two fingers into Amara to ride out the last of her orgasm. She places her cheek against Amara’s lower belly and nuzzles into her, holding her steady as she recovers.
“That was unexpected,” Amara says as she lifts Thalia up from her kneeling position and into a soft kiss. “Now you’re going to need that shower,” Amara grins.
Amara leads Thalia toward the dining room, their fingers entwined. As they take their seats, Lettie meets Thalia’s gaze, a knowing look in her eyes. A merciless blush overtakes Thalia’s face. Amara and her mother each let out a soft chuckle.
“What?” Markos says.
“Nothing, dear.”
Amara pats Thalia on the knee and gives her mother a wink. “Pass the moussaka.”
THALIA WAKES UP and instinctively reaches over to touch Amara. Her hand finds an empty space instead. She reaches over onto the nightstand to check her phone, seven-thirty, too early to be up and about on a Saturday. She looks into the bathroom, but Amara isn’t there. The smell of coffee wafts into the room and Thalia finds her feet on the floor before her brain has fully engaged.
She fills a mug with coffee and joins Amara on the front porch with the puppies. “You’re up early. What’s the occasion?” Thalia says as she leans down and gives Amara a sweet kiss on the lips.
“Don’t play coy with me.”
“Whatever do you mean? I’m completely in the dark here.”
“Are you telling me you didn’t feel your dogs jumping on the bed wanting out at six-thirty?”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, ‘Oh.’” Amara shoots Thalia a grin and smacks her on the butt.
“I’ve told you I have no maternal instincts. You could have gotten me up. I would have taken them out. They are my dogs, after all.”
“What happens when you’re alone with them?”
“They know better than to wake me up. You’re teaching them bad habits.”
“Really? How would you like it if I made you hold it?”
“All right, all right. I get your point. The gang’s not due here for another two-and-a-half hours. How should we fill the time?” Thalia waggles her eyebrows.
“Do you think of anything besides sex?”
“Hmm. Occupational hazard?”
“Try again. Last one to the bed has to make breakfast.” Amara takes off toward the bedroom, Thalia trailing behind.
“No fair. You got a head start.”
THALIA STEPS OUT onto the back of the houseboat and hollers up to the crowd above, “Who wants to go skiing?”
Once the gang arrived, they decided to take the houseboat and jet ski out to Eagle Cove.
Janice is the first to respond. “I’ll go. Annie, do you want to be our spotter?”
“Sure. But I don’t want to ski.”
“Okay. You can spot us both.”
With Thalia, Annie, and Janice away, Amara takes advantage of the time alone with the two people who know Thalia best, Sammy and René.
“So, Thalia’s gone. Let’s talk about her.” Amara giggles like a teenager.
René chimes in, “Not so fast. We have some questions for you first.”
“Yeah,” Sammy says as if she’s on a playground ch
oosing sides in a popularity contest.
“I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”
René begins. “Thalia likes to act like she’s God’s gift to women, gay or straight.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Okay, well, have you noticed the big heart she hides beneath all that bravado? Because she does, you know? And you better not hurt her,” René says.
“She hasn’t dated anyone since Diane. I met her after Diane. But still, even I know what a big deal this is. She’s taking a huge risk on you. You better be worth it,” Sammy adds.
Amara is both touched and a little bit frightened by the fierce loyalty Thalia’s sister and best friend show for Thalia. She’s not exactly an expert in relationships, so she’s struggling with an appropriate response.
Amara takes an audible swallow. “Wow! Down girls. I didn’t expect you to go straight for the jugular.”
“She deserves it,” René says with intense conviction.
“How can I promise I won’t hurt her? I don’t want to hurt her. I’m afraid too, you know.”
“I’m sure someone’s looking out for you, too.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone would protect me like this. Thalia’s very lucky.”
“Like René said she deserves it.”
“Can we lighten the mood here? What do you want to know about me?”
“Have you been a player?” Sammy needs to get this burning question off her mind quickly.
“No. I’ve had a few girlfriends, but nothing too serious. My horse farm has been my first love. And before you ask, yes, there is room in my heart for Thalia. She’s already there.” Amara whispers that last confession.
René takes a turn. “What about children?”
“What about them?”
“Do you want children?”
“No. You know about the baby, right?”
“Yes, we do. And we’re worried about how Thalia will react,” Sammy interjects.
“She has nothing to worry about.”
René leans forward, seeming to challenge Amara’s words. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. You don’t know her like we do. She’s not going to open up to you about her past. And I’m not sure it’s our place to clue you in. But trust me, what she’s seen and had to endure, affected her more than you’ll ever know.”
